[Sarah]

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Red padded onto the plain, the grass was almost as tall as she was in her animal form. The vast green land scape rolled across the land for miles. Her paw pads treaded softly on the grass, and she let a sigh of relief flow through her lips that there were no small snakes in Evelon. She wandered for a bit, her mind focused on one thing, as per usual; her escape from this land, back to her own world.  She felt the small Bleeder on her back; it sat in her fur comfortably. “I hope you know that you are going to help me.” She growled at him. Shock pierced her mind as he pushed his thoughts into her own. –Of course I am going to help you- he said his thought were calm, as always.  She rolled her eyes, but she felt content for the moment. -Good- she shot the thought back at him; Happy that they could talk privately this way. She never knew when uninvited ears where listening.

[Sarah]

Get your own Evelon Pet Today!

Marrisio’s only thought where of Red, his concern for her was great. He was happy that he could have this sister-brother bond with her. It would be absurd if they didn’t since he was basically made from her. It worried him however, the way she pushed herself so hard, over something she had no control over. He knew for a fact it wasn’t her fault their mind was one, if she had been the cause of anything he would have known it. He jumped out of her fur, looking around them. The forest was far behind them; his mind was at rest of unwanted visitors… for now at least. -Should we go to that flat spot over there?- he asked her, showing a picture of the place not far ahead.

[Sarah]

Red nodded. –Sounds good- she headed towards the flat spot, the grass was lower cut there, and there were a few holes that scattered across the flat surface. –That’s going to be a challenge- she thought bitterly at her companion. In return, he just shrugged at her. –from far away my sight can’t tell out details as small as these, beside you like challenge.- he said back to her apologetic. She just nodded, -ok get ready- she said to him. She felt his tiny weight jump off of her back. Smiling she turned, her form sparkled for a few seconds, then blinding light. She appeared heartbeats later in her human form, sword in hand. Marrisio was the same, his blade was shorter that hers, but he knew how to wield it, after many late night practices.

[Sarah]

Purple eyes scanned Red, -hand to hand?- He asked, always wary of her sword whether she meant him harm or not. -We haven’t sparred with swords for a while- she reminded him. –besides, you know I would never hurt you.- The amount of trust Red had for Marrisio made his will strengthen. –You’re correct- he said bowing his head slightly at her, drawing his large sword from its hilt. His sword was not as long as Red’s but he knew what he was doing. Red drew her sword as well; they stared at each other for a long time, daring each other to strike first. An outsider would have looked upon the silent scene and wonder if the people were statues. Thoughts flew though their heads, being scrapped or pulled into the front lines. They did not battle with their minds, for they had no magic to battle with only brute strength and strategy. Pure silence filled the field, no wind blew and the grass was still. The sun scorched their backs and faces, no sweat interrupted their silent unmoving dance.

[Sarah]

Red’s mind flew, her eyes scanned Marrisio; his stance, the way he held his sword. Her own sword was lighter than it looked; made from hardened obsidian infused with various metals it was hard to break. She sharpened it regularly, and it reflected the sun sharply, like a magnifying class. Though she had never killed ants with it, it was a great way to blind her enemies. She had never used it on Marrisio and didn’t plan on using it against him any time soon. A slight breeze flower across the plain, making the grass sway like ocean waves; a moment of distraction, Red saw his purple eyes flit to the grass; she felt his thoughts blank out for a moment.

[Sarah]

It took only a moment of distraction, Marrisio’s mind snapped back to the present, the flowing grass pushed to the back of his mind. He threw his sword up, seconds from getting a severed head. The clang of metal rang across the plain. He pushed her away, but she was more precise than him, and stronger than him. He wasn’t all lost, he had more endurance than she had, and had a high enough defense that she would have to wear him down for a while before he would fall, plus it was unlikely that he couldn't evade her since their speed was matched. –Very good- her voice chirped in his head. They stood across from each other. On lithe feet she moved towards him, her sword at the ready. –Afraid it would be over so soon?- he asked raising an eye brow. To that she swung at him, jumping back he narrowly evaded the attack. He raised his sword, leaping at her.

[Sarah]

Red watched him come at her, she rose her sword up to meet his, scraping, like that of nails on a chalk board deafened them for a moment. Leaping apart, ears ringing and eyes watering they paused. –That was unpleasant- she said to him, -most definitely- he laughed. They smiled. –Again?- she asked him. She had come here to spar, but she had never been to such a vast open space like this before. –We could always do this somewhere else- he reminded her. Desire to explore raged through both of them. Her adrenaline resided for the moment, and she sheathed her blade, as did Marrisio. –You can see farther than I can.- she said to him, motioning for him to lead the way. Happily he took the lead, Careful to step over or around the weird holes in the ground.

[Sarah]

Ecstatic that Red would allow him to lead; he happily bounced in front of her, His bare feet squishing the soft grass. His fingers trailed the grass stalks, and he let his mind get lost in the endless waves of the wind-blown grass. The soft breeze was a nice thing to have when the sun was out beating its heat down on them. Content, he let his mind relax; in turn Red let her mind relax a slight bit as well. Even in the open, he felt secluded from the other creatures of Evelon. He even dared to speak aloud “it’s a pretty day today.” He observed, looking at red. Her silver eyes betrayed a hint of shock; she had never heard him talk before. His voice was deep, and demanded the attention of those around him. She nodded, “indeed.” She replied, her smiling lighting up her face. It was seldom that Marrisio ever say red smile, and when she did it made his day even better. he smiled back at her and continued walking aimlessly.

[Sarah]

Red’s skirt ruffled in the wind, her cape ghosted up at her side. The warm air was pleasant enough, but she wished she was home. She always wished she was home. She wanted her friends and family… she shook her thoughts away, her family was slaughtered, her friends abandoned her. Pain split her heart, that was how she had earned Marrisio, who she had to admit was as close as family as she could get. She didn’t want to lose him, even if it meant going home. She lied to herself, going home was still number one on her list of things to do.

[Sarah]

Marrisio’s purple eyes scanned the landscape; for miles in all directions was grass, and small rolling hills. He looked closer; the grass was tall, about waist height in some spots. Nevertheless some rare spots seemed flat, with the grass growing only about to his ankle. Small holed dotted the areas, he was leery about their meaning. He was well educated enough to know that they didn’t just show up without any instruction. “We should see what are in those holes.” He looked back at Red, who seemed to be in her own world.

[Sarah]

Red snapped back to the present, she had no reason to be sulking about in her memories. “I don’t know…” she said quietly. “They could be dangerous.” She caught the look he gave her. It was Obvious that he wanted to explore. Marrisio had not traveled very far from Barakka. “Fine.” She grumbled giving in. rather quickly they came upon such a spot, flat for the most part. The grass was sparse, and cut down compared to the flowing grass around the spot. It was almost perfectly rectangular, with five small holes indented into the dirt. It was shielded from the blue expanse of sky above them, and the hot sun that charred the plain.

[Sarah]

“Well, it’s not like we would be going into them.” Marrisio said to himself, bending down next to one of the holes.  He noticed red had her sword drawn. He felt a little better knowing that she would have his back if something came out of the hole. Lying on his belly he squirmed up to the hole; cursing the dirt for getting on his favorite sweater.

The entrance of the hole was surprisingly dark. Not that it would have much of an effect on his eyes. He felt his eyes adjusting to the dark, the entrance to the hole was unmarked; the walls where circular and smooth like they were pure stone, and not dirt. Looking farther into the hole, he noticed the tunnel split in two, one too an almost ninety degree turn to the right. The other stopped and widened out, to some sort of nesting chamber by the looks. It was packed this with grass, the walls where lined with it, and a small part of the floor was sunken with grass weaved in a dome shape above it. He dared not go inside, though the tunnel felt cool, and smelt faintly of whatever lived here. Whatever the creature was it hadn’t been around for a while.

He brought his attention back to the tunnel that split off to the right. The tunnel was wide enough for him to slip though, but only just. He decided against going in. Red would hate him for leaving her, and he would be very embarrassed if he got stuck. Pushing himself up off the ground and into a sitting position, he motioned for red to take a look. She shook her head. “No thanks.” She seemed content to hang back away from the tunnel.

[Sarah]

“Doesn’t look like anyone is home” Red commented, annoyed. “We would look closer to the clump of trees.” She said pointing in the opposite direction they had been traveling.  She waited as Marrisio thought it over. “I guess…” he didn’t look to please about going near the border of the plain. Especially since the clump was trees want even ten yards from the tree line. She had to admit she wasn’t to ecstatic about getting near the forest either, but she had her mind set upon finding something.

[Sarah]

Marrisio was tentative in his answer to Red; he was not looking forward to being close to the tree line. It was a very good spot for attackers to hide unnoticed. In contrast to the inner part of the plain, the rim of it seemed wetter. Stubby trees grew close together, and the grass was slightly taller. “How do you know anyone will be in the trees?” he asked her, tilting his head slightly. All he got in return was a shrug. –Many different animals could live in the trees- she said to him not caring to be specific, reopening their mental connection. He understood her need of silent communication. –Very well- he said, he was not one to argue with Red, he just wanted to see her safe.

[Sarah]

It took until the sun was setting to reach the small group trees. The sun lashed its angry red and orange fingers across the sky, as if scolding it for being to drastically blue all day long. Red had to admit that the blue sky overhead of the green plain made her head hurt. The way the flat plain met the flat blue sky seemed like some sort of optical illusion. The sun that burnt bright overhead had worn her eyes out. She smiled at the thought of the cool dark violets of night. She approached the trees cautiously, hoping that whatever live in the brush, if anything, would be friendly.