(Unknown POV)

Gasping for breath I leaned back against a tree. I had just barley escaped from a horrible fate. Digging up some dirt I rubbed it over my bloody swollen wrists. Wincing at the sting I listened for any noise to indicate pursuers. By now I would have a bounty on my head. I can’t go to any towns or meet with anyone.

Ah, how am I going to leave this place. My escape routs have all been cut off. Pushing my back into the tree in frustration I closed my eyes to better focus on listening. Birds chirped quietly and insects buzzed around going about there day. Really no matter what happens the world will go on.

I chuckled to myself at the thought. Well the animals are not a part of the human world to begin with. Way would they care what happens there. Smiling while trying to relax my tense muscles, from running all night, I heard a scream. No, an animal shout?

Stilling to hear where it came from I was met only with silence. Must be my imagination. I have gone quite a while without sleep. I sighed while relaxing my hearing again. There’s no way someone would find me this early after my escape. I am just scaring myself.

Leaning back into the tree I tried to doze. Even though these mountains were known as Terror Mountain there really wasn’t anything to scary about them. In fact it was really tame compared to what I’m used to. However it would keep most people away being this deep in the forest. A good place to rest and make a plan.

Several loud shouts and screeches echoed through the forest making me jump to my feet. I definitely did not imagine that. Listening closer, I realized that the birds had gone silent. The sound of shouts and things being thrown made its way to my ears.

It was far enough away that I would be able to escape without notice, but also close enough that I could go take a look and see if it is really is a threat. If its just normal people then they will die from the attacks and I can get some new cloths and more importantly food.

However if they survive then it will just put me in unnecessary danger. Hm, well I do need new cloths. The ones I’m wearing now are covered in blood and holes. Not that cloths from people killed by monsters will be any different, but at least they will be warmer then this thin pair. I also really need food.

Ok, its decided. I will go see what’s going on! I crept my way through the underbrush trying to stay hidden as much as possible. Finally I reached a slightly open area. The sight was horrifying! Moss Monkeys were strewn all over the ground and blood fell like rain from above. Looking to the center of the area, where most of the noise was coming from, I saw a short girl swinging around a sword as big as her. She buried the sword into the side of the last monkey and huffed.

Terrifying! Are they from the Church?? Slowly she drug it out from the monkey and lifted it up onto her shoulder ignoring the blood dripping down the blade. How can she even lift that?

“Lave, what are you doing? Why did you start killing the Moss Monkeys? Now there is blood on the Dragon Root.” Said the short girl. The blood rain came to an end. However laughter replaced it. “Geez, I wish you could understand what I was saying.” She stabbed her sword into the ground and started cleaning it with leaves. “Though your laughter is beautiful…” She sighed happily.

I just crouched here in stunned silence. Her companion Lave can’t speak Common? Who is it? Someone I know? While holding back the urge to go ask I hid in the shadows scanning the surroundings for the person laughing. When I looked up into the trees I almost screamed. Moss Monkeys hang down, as if floating, out of the trees. Blood dripped down from higher branches soaking into the bark dyeing the tree red.

Suddenly a woman flipped out of a tree and landed near the shorter girl. Lave, I guess. Her body was coated in blood as if she had bathed in it. Slowly she lifted a finger up and licked it. Gross. Her pale red eyes flashed and turned to look at me. I froze. She was staring strait at me. Does she know who I am? Is she here to take me back to that hell? I won’t let her.

Pulling up into a sprinters run, so that I can make my escape as soon as she moves towards me, I waited. Make your move creepy blood lady. She just kept staring at me while she liked the blood of her hand.

“Lave! That’s so gross. What are you doing?” The short haired girl noticed what Lave, was doing. She pulled out a cloth and handed it to her. “You look like a vampire. Its scary. Though it would be so cool if you were one. Are you a vampire? Please say yes.” The girls eyes sparkled. Way are you hoping that she is a vampire!! Are you crazy? Why don’t you know what she is? She’s human right?

Lave just stared at the girl with cold eyes and took the cloth to wipe her face and hands. The girl chuckled. “You look just like when we first meet.” Does this often happen? Is she often covered in blood? Thats scary. Why would you talk to someone like that?

The short girl finished cleaning her sword and put it up. “I’m going to get the rest of the Dragon Root. We will need to clean it in a river though.” Lave ignored the girl and turned back towards me. Stretching like a cat she headed over to a Moss Monkey that was floating in the air. Slipped a dagger out from who knows where, she threw it at the Moss Monkey. The knife passed above it severing something casing the Moss Monkey to drop.

Walked she pulled out a jeweled dagger. I squinted my eyes to get a better look at the unusual design. It looked familiar, I’ve seen it before but I can’t quite place it. She attached something I couldn’t see to the end of the dagger and threw it. What is she doing she just got it back? However despite my thoughts the dagger swung in a circle flinging the blood off.

Lave smiled apparently satisfied with the result and put it away. She then made a yanking motion and the other dagger came flying back. Invisible sting? Moving over to the next Moss Monkey she repeated her actions. “Your so cool Lave.” Cooed the girl digging Dragon Root out of the ground.

What is up with them? Well one thing is for sure they are not from the church. They seemed to be on a quest to gather Dragon Root. My stomach growled quietly announcing the fact that I haven’t eaten anything in two days. Maybe if I ask them for some food they will give it to me? Also I really want to know where this Lave woman comes from. If she doesn’t speak Common than she might be from Zell.

Standing up I dusted myself off and walked into the small blood covered area. The short girl stopped and looked at me, while Lave just kept retrieving her daggers. “Hey there.” I said cheerily trying my best to make a friendly smile.