Flower petals scattered to the ground as she silently made her way through the woods. Every now and then she heard the faint whispers of the Woodwhisperers. The thiefs of the woods.

But she wasn't in any danger to encounter one of them. They didn't harm her or robbed her. What she had, she willingly would give if only asked.

'It's another splendid day in the forest. I do hope I run by someone interesting to talk to.' She chimed to herself, then stopped as she noticed something was off. Several trees were scarred and a few trees away she saw something out of the ordinary.

'What happened here?' She bended by the nearest person she saw laying around
'Excuse me? Can you hear me?' She shook the body lightly, looking around. The sound of the whispers were giving away what could've happened.
'They tried to rob, it seems. Hello? Can you make a sound or move something if you can hear me?'  

--Last edited by jinnkitten on 2009-10-27 22:55:48 --

Mirk woke to the sound of someone's voice. It sounded urgent. He shook his head, there were no more urgent things to attend to. He was what he had sold, and Lu was gone. He finally opened his eyes when it was apparent the speaker did not intend to leave. His body hurt, it seemed like there was some kind of fight, or accident, it was hard to tell which.

He sat up and nursed a bruise on his head as he took a good look at the girl who was calling. "My name is Mirk," he said after a moment, dismissing outright the idiotic question of 'what happened'.

Though he was dressed in the simple garb of a slave and had a warded collar on, Mirk exuded confidence. Time spent as a slave didn't impact him as much as others thought it would. "What's your name?"

Xiao Mai felt relieved the man finally opened his eyes. Though frowned slightly as he chose to ignore her question.

'Xiao Mai.' She finally replied after she had been silent for a while. 'Did the Woodwhispers make you their target for items?' She asked, just to be clear if it was, or wasn't them.

The woodwhispers were known for their nature to cause accidents during robberies. Though it looked very serious this time. Plus their whispering nearby wasn't ignored as well.

'Come, I shall treat your wounds at my home. There you can rest until you are better, is that alright with you?' She asked, taking one of his arms to help him up just in case.

Mirk looked around at the scene as she spoke, who the Woodwhispers were was a mystery to him, but if they were magical in nature he'd have no way of detecting them right now. He flinched away when Xiao Mai took his arm, the first sign that his confidence was less deeply rooted than he'd like others to believe. He forced himself to relax and got to his feet.

"Xiao Mai is it? I'm afraid I wasn't... awake when the incident occurred. Your guess is as good as mine." He stared at the bodies amongst the wreckage for a while, then nodded. He couldn't see any keys and was too tired to go searching in the pockets of the dead right now. And often the collars required a spell rather than a physical key.

"I'm sorry to impose, but it seems I have to take up your offer."

She nodded, looking at his collar 'It's certainly strange they have not taken that, which is around your neck. It must've been a hard job. Seeing as you are still alive, I'm guessing you weren't their target.' Bushes rustled and a small hat was seen before it disappeared. Silently whispering at the same time.

'Woodwhispers, they are the thieves from the Woods. They are like elves, or trolls. But more human in appearance and less noticeable until they sense something of value on you. But they are friendly creatures.' A bag was dropped next to Xiao Mai, she looked up, seeing a boot disappear just behind the curtain of leaves.

'Ah, medicine. Like I said, friendly creatures. Shall we be on our way then?'

"There were lots of valuable things being transported. I guess I was lucky." He followed the sound of rustling and saw the hat disappear. Any normal human might have shown some surprise or apprehension, but for Mirk, demons, spirits and monsters were just part and parcel of the world.

"Friendly?" Mirk pointedly stared at the wreckage even as the bag was delivered to Xiao Mai's feet. "I don't see how friendly they could be if they did all this, but you know them."

He nodded and went to pick up the bag. One thing could be said about slavery, Mirk no longer expected others to do the menial tasks so automatically anymore.

Xiao Mai chuckled 'That, dear Mirk. Is the result of how clumsy they are at times. Never trust them to carry plates, might as well throw them on the ground yourself.'

'I shall ask around if anybody has clothes in your size. Unless you are comfortable wearing robes. In different colors...' She pointed at the robes she was wearing, Feminine just screamed at the top of their lungs.

On they went, to the place she called home. Various creatures ran by, but none of them could be called Woodwhispers.

Mirk didn't comment on the Woodwhispers clumsiness, it seemed unnecessary, considering the evidence. "I'd appreciate that," he said in reply to her offer to clothing. "I don't mind robes in general, but perhaps yours are a tad gauzy... and colorful."

He followed her carefully as they moved through the woods, aware of how vulnerable a sorcerer is without control of his magic. He scanned the undergrowth a little obsessively for signs of danger, but they were not bothered.

"Why do you live here? It seems far away from town."

Xiao Mai looked over her shoulder with a smile 'Because I was born here. But, I am scared of them as well, towns look so cold and so many beings who have lost their sense of nature. I prefer my home and it's wonders. For we have, Woodwhispers, Furleins, Florauns, Aquaris, and many more. Races you will never meet in the towns...' At exactly that point, a small human skipped by on a ball 'And not to forget, we have Pubbles here as well.'

Finally the wood opened up inside of the valley, the waterfall glistering beautifully in the sunlight 'Can you see it? In the waterfall?' She pointed, hoping he was able to see her house.

Mirk listened and took note of each race she mentioned. Though the Pubble gave him some difficulty. That one seemed like something out of a children's book and gave him the disturbing thought that he was perhaps still lying somewhere in a ditch and this was all some strange dream.

Then the woodland receded and the roar of a waterfall filled his senses. He frowned a little and shook his head sadly. If he had all his powers it would have been trivial, but he was reduced to mere human senses now. "I'm afraid I can't. When we're closer maybe."

"Though... how are we going to get behind it?"

Xiao Mai frowned slightly 'Maybe you're right, closer you might see it. Though I'm surprised you think it is behind the waterfall. It could've been anywhere really.' She chuckled, maybe he saw it, but didn't notice it really.

She walked until she reached the edge of the lake, daintily stepping onto the water that seemed to form a light path towards the waterfall 'Maybe, even closer?' She suggested hopefully.

For the first time in his life, Mirk felt apprehensive of magic. This was the first time he had seen unfamiliar powers demonstrated since he became a slave, so it was also the first time he did not have the aid of his natural prowess to help him explain things. He shook his head again. "I don't know what I'm looking for."

He followed her though, stepping onto the path after her. Blood seeped slowly from his bare feet, but he didn't notice the sting till now. And it didn't really bother him. He had been harsh to some of his own slaves before, so it would have been hypocritical of him to seek sympathy now. "Perhaps if we go closer," he agreed.

'Can you see the house?' She asked, the waterfall opening up like a curtain. She turned to look at him and then her eyes followed the blood trail in the water.

'They must've really hit the clumsy meter this time, it seems. Had you said so before, then I would've treated it.' She stepped onto the shore behind the Falls and was ready to proceed to her door.

Mirk stared through the opening and shook his head. There was nothing there, maybe it was just something magical, but he had a feeling it was something else. He followed Mai's gaze to the blood and shook his head. "Sorry, and I don't think it was your Whispers."

"... I can't see your house, Mai. I'm sorry." He put the bag of medicine down next to her and smiled weakly. "At least it's under cover here."

Xiao Mai looked surprised 'You. Do not wish to go somewhere?' She asked, looking from her door to him. 'Wait here, I shall bring out supplies to make your stay more comfortable.' And with that, she vanished into her house.

Minutes later she came out, holding blankets and lamps. 'The nights can get cold, this should help you stay warm, until you desire to go somewhere.'

Mirk blinked in response. He was a little confused at the question, and pondered it while the girl disappeared. He put it down to something like a warded space and waited, his mind occupied. He did not want to go somewhere? Where?

Anywhere, his mind supplied helpfully. There was nowhere to go. He could go anywhere and it wouldn't be where he wanted to be. The place he belonged to was no longer there. Mirk's pale gaze returned to the screen of water and the valley beyond. Luan was dead. Where ever he went, this would be true. So...

He looked up as Xiao Mai returned with various things, mostly to keep out the chill. He tried to muster a smile, but couldn't. "Thank you."

"... If I understand you correctly, I don't think I will be using your house at all." He managed to smile then, but it was as weak as a midwinter sun.

Xiao Mai studied him for a while 'Nonsense, you might think you have nowhere you want to go. But, your heart might eventually decide it wants to see someone. Even if it's a patch of dirt.'

She vanished inside her house again. Only to come out with food supplies, pans and various other objects. 'I shall ask one of the Furleins if they have clothes available for you. As I saw you, I mistook you for a Furlein. Your hair and your gaze have traits of them. You'd do a good job as a master I suppose.' She spoke calmly, though she was burning with curiosity.

'What happened, for you to look as though you lost all sense of happiness?'

"I don't know about that," Mirk said softly, but didn't expect to be heard. He arranged things as Xiao Mai brought them out so they wouldn't be in her way. He stopped doing so when she spoke next. Both her questions were hard to answer, but he felt she was owed an answer.

"You will have to tell me what Furleins are," he replied, then fell into thought again for a while before continuing. "I was a Master once. I traded in slaves and bred my own."

He lowered his head as he spoke, uneven bangs of black hair obscuring his white eyes. "Someone very important to me died. I was unable to prevent it, even though I had tried for many years. After that..."

It was hard to explain how he came to be a slave. There were many enemies to someone who was young and successful. Even when the magical war was over, the fact that he had lost Lu made him an easy target in the family feuds. As he a slaver, he understood the risks of losing, but he didn't care at the time.

Mirk returned his gaze to Xiao Mai and shrugged. "I lost a lot, and now I don't have anything to care about save my life."

She tapped her lip for a good while, then figured out how to explain it 'Furleins are a kind of race, that's hard to place. All that's certain about them is, they have a dominant streak to them. Very cold and collective at times. They collect slaves for training purposes and end up killing some in the process. It's hard to track down a Furlein, mainly because they're aggressive beings.' She paused 'Your black hair isn't long enough, though your eyes are sharp. You would fit in with them, I suppose. If you'd ask what animal a Furlein traces back to. I'd say, black panters.'

'So your reason to not go somewhere, is because you are still mourning. I respect that feeling. Then, take as much time as you need to settle your mind.'

Mirk tilted his head curiously and seemed bemused for the moment. A genuine, if small smile crossed his lips. "My hair would be longer if not for the collar. It's hard to keep a long-haired slave on the road, usually it's hacked off for convenience and allowed to regrow later. I'd be curious to meet one of these Furlein."

"Thank you, Xiao Mai." He said at her understanding words. "Revenge would have gotten me going probably, but there's no one to take revenge on either."

In a way, he realized, he must not care enough to even want to go into Xiao Mai's home, otherwise he might have seen it. "I'm sorry," he said, though didn't explain why.

"Would you like me to cook something? It might not be all that edible. I used to have people to cook for me."