-The Assassin's Journey-(Allaire, Aurora)

[Desperanza]

The night held a slightly murky feeling to it. There was a hint of humidity in the air that had not been there before. The storm was ceasing and the rains were drying out but now the earth was feeling musky and worn out. The rainy season was taking its toll and every inch of the forest seemed to drip with moisture of some shape or form. Mist was beginning to rise and linger amongst the trees as the humidity was beginning to steam. The assassin felt the moisture around herself. A layer of condensation was beginning to layer her leather pants now as she sat atop her mare, keeping the mare’s pace slow and steady now. She was in no rush. Either the child would show up, or she wouldn’t. If she didn’t then the skills of the assassin would die with her later in life. This would be the last chance to gather the valuable skills that this woman contained within her own mind, unless she had children of her own and at the moment it seemed rather impossible and unrealistic. There was no man to the best of her knowledge that was interested in her and she doubted that there ever would be. It didn’t matter however. The monk that had raised her and taught her had never had any children of his own either, there had only been her and look how she had turned out? Just as well if not better than other children for she had come out with the skills to take care of herself early, as well as skills that would get her thru life. She had been self sufficient for some time now and without fail she had always cared for herself from the day when she was thirteen and she had struck out on her own. Now, she was taking an interest in teaching her skills both self sufficient and killing skills, to Allaire.

Making her way through the trees, the assassin once again gathered the reins and urged the mare forward into a loose jog among the trees as she weaved this way and that and drifted closer to the falls before moving a bit closer to where she had instructed Allaire to wait for her. As she approached, she spotted the child seated upon a rock with her pup and her horse close by. Sighing, the assassin nodded curtly. The child had one too many pets in her opinion but it didn’t matter. As long as it remained at only two. There was no need for any more and any more would be crowded and Aurora would most likely become impatient. As she moved Nesfira closer, she reined the mare in close to the stone before she slid from the saddle, coming to glance towards Allaire once more as she settled the reins at the chestnut mare’s neck and she came to glance towards the child thoughtfully once more. She circled Allaire for a few moments, holding her silence with only a curt nod of greeting for a few moments as she inspected the child thoughtfully before she turned her gaze, glancing among the trees for a moment before she glanced back to Allaire again with a slight grin as she straightened herself a bit to come and kneel before Allaire instead.

The assassin met the green eyes of the girl with her own emerald eyes, holding an inquiring and piercing look for the girl as she looked up at her thoughtfully for a few moments before she nodded slightly to the child. She listened briefly to the soft snort of her mare and the movements of Allaire’s colt now before she sighed softly, “You are sure that you want to do this child? Shall be taking you from your home, from Ellsinora and you will train and study hard with me for some years before you may be allowed to return.” She stated with a slight nod. She wanted to be sure that this girl understood what she was getting herself into. She wouldn’t be taking her with her only to be setting her loose once again only a few days later because the girl couldn’t handle it. She certainly would not be pleased to have to take Allaire with her to Murate, only to bring her back again soon enough, if she even brought her back. The assassin would not be pleased by picking a sour choice, a child with no heart or at the least, the heart of a coward. She did not want to face it if she made a bad decision on her choice of trainee so she gave Allaire one last chance to back out, if the child planned to. “If you agree, we will be moving out immediately. I see that you already have a ride. Good, you won’t have to travel with me. At this rate we will be riding out immediately and your training shall start as soon as we get there.” She stated with a slight nod as she eyed Allaire thoughtfully, awaiting the girl’s reply.

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[Taske]

Allaire sat with her chin set in the palm of her hands. She looked about her and at her companions. She loved them, even little Taske who she had just meet, and would never give them up for the world. The wolf pup padded at her feet and started to chew on the wet grass about her feet. The girl smiled at the animal, her face brightening. Comet stood protectively over Allaire, his blue eyes wearyingly looking over everything. Allaire knew that her choice would affect them both, Comet would not be able to see his dam and Taske would not learn to be a wolf from Ellesar. But she knew she had to do this, it seemed to be her only chance to make herself useful for both Black Star and Alexa, but did her companions understand that?

Comet snorted at the sound of on coming hoofs, the girl looked up to see the clocked figure upon the mare. She slumped a bit more. It was neither Black Star nor Alexa but her new human companion Aurora the assassin. She got to her feet then, her eyes watching as the woman moved the horse around her. The colt though did not take the movement of the assassin well, her snorted once again and pawed the ground. I DON't like her, and I don't like this. Allaire gave her bronze horse a sad look, Hush Comet, shes not a bad woman, and this is my only chance to make myself useful. The colt snorted again, his head bobbing a bit. What ever you say, small one, whatever you say. The horse knew this game, he knew that his girl would not listen to him so he would have to do what he could and protect Allaire for both him and Alexa. Allaire looked up at Aurora her eyes full of fire, she knew Comet was only looking out for her but she had to do this, she had to get this special training. This is her only chance to make herself.... Strong....

"I understand, I understand how hard on my body this maybe, more then you know, I understand that I may not see my family for years, I understand. But I have to do this, for myself and for the people around me, I have to be strong, I have to give them back what they have given me, I will not back down and I will not give up." She looked at Comet and held out her hand, a silent command, he snorted again irritation showing his his very movements. But he did as Allaire asked, he went to her and put his face close to her chest, and nudged her lightly. Showing the girl that just because he was irritated did not mean he was not her companion. "This is Comet, he comes from a strong line of horses, a gift from the princess herself." Next came Taske, her butt wiggling with the silent command as the girl held out her hand. "And this is Taske, a gift from Ellesar and Erech. They are my closest friends." The girl push the hair in front of her face behind her ears, wanting the water that drip from it away from her face. If the Assassin was as observant as she should be, she would see not one precious gem in the little girls ears but two, a decent sized diamond in her left and a emerald in her right, both in the top of her ear, and flanked by it where two more on both sides.

The girl looked up at Aurora and smiled, fire still in her eyes, she then moved to Comet's side and and hefted herself up onto his back, she did not need a leg up anymore, she was used to jumping on his back bareback, she kicked the colt forward closer to the assassin. Taske's tail wagged lightly as she fallowed the horses hoofs. "I am ready to go." She gripped the horses mane within her small hands, fire in her eyes. she was ready for the next chapter in her life, she was ready to leave everything she loved and wanted behind. She was ready to give up everything to give herself the ability to be of use, top help the people she loved.

[Desperanza]

Aurora gazed upon the sight of the orphan, falling silent for a few moments as she listened intently to the girl’s words before she smiled, satisfied with Allaire’s reply. She nodded curtly before she straightened again, folding her arms across her chest as she watched Allaire introduce her friends from the colt to the wolf pup. She arched a brow and shrugged, turning to mount Nesfira once more as she turned her mare to cast a glance towards the girl, glancing between her ears thoughtfully for a moment, no doubt gifts from those that cared for her once again. She nodded slightly, not knowing who Erech was or the fact that she had fought him inside of the inn but she didn’t bother asking for she really didn’t need to know. She reined her chestnut mare around with a flick of her hand, “Come then, we leave.” She replied with a curt nod, glancing back at Allaire briefly, “Keep up, child.” She stated gently before she turned and spurred Nesfira forward. The young mare’s nostrils flared, her muscles clenching as she bounded forward with a squeal, tossing her heels to the wind as she leaped forward and darted among the trees as Aurora smoothed her out. Easing the mare into a swift canter, she settled.

The assassin leaned forward in the saddle a bit, glancing back only once for the child before gazing ahead once again. Her mind was now on Ohanzee, their first destination in Murate. The town would be the primary home of the child, for a few days at least. The child would come to know the town that belonged to the wicked lands and soon after, the assassin would take her to the sanctuary. The home of the monk. It was the most sacred place that Aurora held dear to her heart for it had been her home through her life from the age of two until the age of thirteen when she left after killing the monk but she had been taken into his home and cared for like she was his own. That would be their destination. As the assassin made her way among the trees, weaving in and out of the trees that approached head on, she thought of the temple. It was a simple building, one room and made of stone. She wasn’t even sure that the place was still standing for when she had buried the monk and his sword, she had left and had never returned and she had not planned to, that was until she gained a student. She would cut them off from the rest of the world for some time while she taught her student in private. She would teach her many things and release her when she was satisfied. She was not her daughter though, so she would not teach her everything but this girl’s mind would be implanted with skills that she would never find anywhere.

The assassin stared ahead as they began to leave Celeste Falls behind and her fingers curled to the reins lowered closer to the mare’s withers with a slight smile as she stared ahead. The thrill of the ride was refreshing but not exciting. It was the killing that excited her truly. The feeling of life slipping out of a human’s veins, the light leaving their eyes, their warm crimson blood staining her blades yes this was exciting. It seemed to be what made her mind tick. Her emerald eyes took on a sharp gleam at the thought as she gazed ahead silently, urging the mare ever faster. She now collected the mare forward into a swift gallop as she moved out of the thickest area of trees and she no longer looked back for the child. First lesson, learn to ride fast or die trying. Perfect. Surely the girl knew how to ride by this point for she did have a horse though for how long? Aurora didn’t know. Nor did it matter. If Allaire was lost on the trip then it was over and she would return to Ohanzee alone.

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[Taske]

The Girl looked down at the wolf, she knew that it would be hard for the pup to keep up with a fast ride, Taske, Jump.[/color] The girl swooped just as the pup jumped in the air. hooking her arm under the pups front legs she kicked Comet in a full gallop after Aurora. It was a fast ride, but Comet was young and strong, he was able to keep up no problem and the girl was so used to riding him, that she moved as if she was apart of him, girl and horse where one, he moved and she moved with him, she did not fear falling nor dropping Taske. The pup held still a small whine rising from her muzzle, but even though the animal held still, focusing on the exchange of both Comet and Allaire. The only reason for her ability to ride her companion was rooted in the fact that she communicate with him and they both knew what the other wanted from each other.

The sights where blurred but she knew that she was passing the sacred falls and was drawing close to the mountains where she grew up. The home she was leaving behind, the place that held so much hope and love for her, but she did not regret leaving, she would not back away, this was her biggest chance, her only chance to get skill to help her loved ones and she would never back out, not even if those people who she held close found her again and begged her back, no she was doing this, no matter what.

They raced through the woods, the horses hoofs polling up the dirt and grass. The girl looked up as they passed through the mountain pass, she was half expecting the Lord Dragon himself to fly over head, his brown body shadowing them, and then demanding why they where passing through his woods, never mind that she was part of the Grellons, but that fear for him still burned. And besides this pass was accessible to traveler, as long as they held no weapons out in the open, and was not a war band. Kaori may be demanding but he was not dumb, if he did not let anyone pass into his mountains then there would be a war on him.

Comet raced ahead, the small girl holding onto his mane with a stone grip. The colt pulled up next to the assassin and the girl smiled, she knew where they where heading now, they where heading to the one place she was never allowed to visit, Murate. She knew that Aurora had to have came from Murate, but she did not know how she felt about going there, she had never been allowed... Allaire let it go, she would have to go with the flow, she was not staying, she would return when the time is right, and never return unless she has a job. The girl kicked Comet forward racing into the clearing at the end of the trail, she pulled back on her horses mane and looked down, it was as dark as she thought it would be. The city that was in the distance held little to no light, and the buildings where a bit rundown. Yes she was glade that her parents had gotten out of that place before she was even born. She looked back, taking one last look at her old home, and then turned looking at what will be her new one, at least for the next few years...

[Desperanza]

Aurora’s eyes remained ahead as they often did throughout the journey. She often did not come to check on those that traveled with her as she expected that they could care for themselves but now and again she sent a glance to Allaire, at least to make sure that she was still stuck on her horse. Other than that her emerald eyes stared ahead once more as she pushed the pace faster and came to settle Nesfira at a slow gallop as they edged their way out of the forest and out into the countryside instead. By the time Aurora moved the pace downwards a bit, the sun was beginning to sink and they were making their way towards the edge of the countryside and out towards the more harsh climate and textures. The assassin gazed out towards the desert and furrowed her brow, watching as the heat waves radiated from the dry and tarnished ground. From here on out they were going to hit the immense heat and the open flat lands that often killed people. Aurora untied her cloak and rolled the black garment up to tie it into her saddle bags. Her mare now picked her way along the ground at a walk but Aurora slid the mare to a stop and slid from the saddle, motioning for Allaire to stop as well. As the woman reached to her saddle bag, she retrieved the leather pouch of water that was hidden there and tipped it to drink deeply from it before she emptied a bit into an empty leather pouch and passed it to Allaire, “For yourself and your horse, you will both need the liquid before we start the next journey for you will either make it out or die here and the water will be needed.” She promised in a simple warning before she turned back to Nesfira and offered her the rest of the water. Once the mare polished off the liquid the assassin retied the leather and climbed back into the saddle smoothly, turning the mare in a few circles before she paused to wait for Allaire. Her eyes glanced out among the desert play lands once more, sighing. This was always the hardest leg of the trip no doubt and she pondered whether the child would be able to keep up. If the child died from heat exhaustion there was nothing that Aurora could do. She would bury the child and check the horse. If the colt was close to dying she would slit the throat and let him die peacefully as well but she would leave him for the buzzards, it was energy that she couldn’t afford to waste in the desert. However if the child managed to make it back to Murate without being buried in the sand, then Aurora would be pleased. She gave the child enough time to drink and let her colt finish off as well before she eased the mare forward at a walk, within a few minutes they would be back at a slow gallop once more and on their way to cross the Arido Desert.

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[Taske]

Allaire sighed at the change in pace, She had no problem staying atop Comet but at a gallop it was hard on her legs and Comets nerves. The colt just wont let her be sometimes hes always fretting about her and her balance, but that was just him, always a moody prick. He moved easily behind the mare his head up into the air, sniffing and testing, she was not the only one that was there for the first time. A little movement in her arms made the girl look down, the pup had her nose also in the air and a small growl lifted from her muzzle. Thoughts raced into Allaire's mind, it was the puppy's memories, so it seemed that Taske was the only one out of the three to be here and she ad never wanted to go back. But now? Now one thought was clear. I will protect Allaire from the bad humans. With that the pup looked up at her companion and gave the girl a worried look but yet still determined. Nodding to the small pup Allaire looked forward, knowing just how the wolf felt...

The girl looked around her taking in the transition of forest to desert, it was odd to look behind her and see the shadows of a well watered place then look in front of her to see nothing but sand, a land deprived of water. Things are bound to get harder, on wolf, horse, and girl. She sighed, she would not give up but she could regret her choice. She would be inane if she wouldn't, she was about to lose years of her life in a unknown place, not being able to see the three people she loves most, but she would not give up, she will be strong for Black Star and Alexa and Erech; she will not be a burden to them anymore.

She pulled Comet to a stop besides Aurora's horse and watched as the woman dismounted and pulled out a canteen of water and take a swig. The woman looked at Allaire and tossed the water to her. "Thank you." The girl slipped of the colts copper back and set Taske on the ground. It was sure to be hot, but... The girl looked up at the sky, the sun was going down, and she had heard stories of the Desert and hoe no matter how hot it is the night can be bone chilling, and Allaire would not be prepared for that, not in her tattered cloths. The girl sighed again and dank a few swallows of the water and then gave both Taske and Comet some as well. With that taken care of the girl griped the wolf again and lifted up onto the horses back.

They pressed on, the horse speedy and swift, It was a nice afternoon, it started out hot, but as the sun sank further it grew cooler, and now with the red molten globe on the horizon it was chilly. The girl huddled with the pup in her lap, small trimmers flowing through her body, the pup wined again as she looked up at her companion seeming helpless, seeming to already to feel helpless and thinking she was breaking her promise to her. The girl looked up her eyes blurry, she looked for hope, any hope of warmth. but past the sand and red light was nothing but dark stone. going from one unforgiving terrain to another, never giving them a break.

Allaire slumped against Comets neck, causing the horse to snort and sidestep in his slow grit. He modified his movements in order to accommodate the girl and shoved on, he was a young thing, and was able to go far longer then even the girl who he knew had a weak body. He picked up his pace then and moved next to the woman he did not like. He eyed her hating what he had to do, but yet knowing just what needed to be done. He looked at the woman his eyes looking her over, wondering if the hard woman would do anything. He snorted again and then whinnied. Do something!

[Desperanza]

The assassin stared ahead as she guided her own mare across the desert. The sun set within a few hours and they were left with the darkness. She sighed, gathering her cloak around herself before she settled again as she glanced across the landscape thoughtfully for a few long moments before she turned her gaze again as she guided the mare forward and made her way back into an easy yet quick jog. Urging her mare to continue, she cast a glance to the colt as he drifted alongside of her mare and she sighed, glancing at the girl at his back before she rolled her eyes and shook her head with a frown. The girl was weaker than she had anticipated. She grit her teeth and gave a stiff look. She had anticipated that the girl would be able to hold her own. She doubted at this point that she would be able to teach the girl very much anymore. She cast a glance to the colt again, looking to the girl for a moment before she rolled her eyes and eased her own mare back down to a walk. She untied the cloak at her neck and came to wrap it about the child with a stiff frown before she tied it around her and straightened in her own saddle again, glancing at the silly trio of creatures before she sighed and turned her gaze again, pondering why it was that she had chosen to take the child with her. She had not brought her with her to baby sit her or take care of her like a mother because she wasn’t. She had plenty enough to do in her own life. She didn’t necessarily want the child to die but she was no doctor. She frowned and cast a glance to the child before she looked ahead again with a shake of her head. By mid day tomorrow they would reach the end of the desert.

As she sat there atop her chestnut mare she left the cloak with Allaire and simply settled the reins at the neck of her mare before she slowly folded her arms over herself and closed her eyes. She would not be falling asleep however no, she would be meditating and she did so clear through the night and into the morning. As the color began to rise within the sky, she still meditated. It was a form where she could rest without truly sleeping at times as she rested her mind and rejuvenated her body and revitalized herself and finally, she opened her eyes. She first gathered where it was that they were at and how much farther they had to go before she then checked on the girl with a brief and long glance. She inspected the sight of the child atop the colt’s back before she raised her gaze again as she urged the mare forward a bit quicker. The edge of the desert was approaching and the wastelands were coming next. The rocky terrain with nothing in it, it was also not necessarily a place to stay either and it would not be easy. Sighing, the woman cast a glance towards Allaire for a brief moment before she turned her gaze again as she looked around herself for a brief moment as they edged towards the edge of the desert. Once again, Aurora now moved her mare forward into a swift canter and eventually a slow gallop. The sands were tossed to the wind at her heels as she moved the mare forward swiftly towards the edge of the desert. She would check to be sure that the child was alive there for it would be the last place she would have a chance to bury her if need be. If the child died in the wastelands there would be nothing to do but dump her among the stone and attempt to cover her a bit but the landscape was simply stone, there was neither burial ground nor area for humans to create grave areas. She didn’t expect the child to make the trip. The night before when she had sunk rather quickly when the temperature had dropped, Aurora had faced the chill of the night to let the child be warm. She was not allowing herself to grow close to the child, at least not yet if ever. She rather didn’t close to much of anyone to be honest and now as she edged to the edge of the desert, she finally began to slow her chestnut mare to a stop before glancing towards Allaire and the colt, “Child.” She muttered inquiringly to the girl.

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[Taske]

The girl sighed as warmth covered her, letting Comet pick his way alongside the mare, Allaire knew that the colt would not lose there guide, not after the assassin gave his master the little kindness she seemed capable of. Which surprised the horse, he had never thought that Aurora would give the girl her only clock and face the chill that now filled the air, but she had and now Allaire had a chance to survive the night and maybe this crazy endeavor. But the colt knew that it would push his friend to her limits, it would cause the girl much pain and much determination, just like this little journey was doing on the small sickly girl. The horse snorted at the increase in speed, it was also pushing him, making him do more then he ever thought he had to, but he would not give up, he would do anything for Allaire, the little girl that pulled at his heart strings. The little girl who charmed his the very first time in meeting him, the little girl that thought him a lord in the standing of Zephyr. Yes he would do anything for her and he would push on and make her dreams a reality no matter what he had to do.


The little girl stared when the pup started to squirm in her grip. The sun was far into the sky and was again betting down on them. But the girl found some comfort in the small breezes coming from the slow gallop, and the shade the clock created on her body and her head. The girl held onto the pup, her grip tightening, she could not let go, the pup would never be able to keep up with the horse. Taske, you have to stop, or you will be lost in this desert. The pup wined but stop her moving her mind seemed to fill with the need of her body. Allaire sighed, her small form still leaned against the Comet's neck.

The girl almost sighed when the the colt began to slow his grit and came to a stop. About to release the pup to go water a bush or something when the assassin's voice came into her ears. The girl sat up her eyes alert, she looked at the woman with a questioned look, yes she was tiered and hot and her body hurt from the long ride, but she was no where close to death, she knew that feeling, she knew the feel of her self lifting from her mind, and now was not it. She guess that was the advantage of a sickness that caused her so much pain, she had the advantage of knowing just how much abuse her body could take and how much pushed it over the edge. "Yes, master?"

[Desperanza]

The assassin glanced towards the child that sat atop the colt. This time as she looked atop the colt’s back to the child, she smiled slightly, pleased. All at once her denial of the child’s will to live left her and she breathed a sigh of satisfaction. Finally, the girl was showing her sign that she would be able to handle her lessons. She reached out to pat the child’s head gently before she gathered the reins once again, “Our journey is now about half over if not a pinch over half. How are you doing?” she inquired, curious as to the child’s condition. She had nothing more to give her however. As the sun climbed higher they would be crossing the wastelands without much cover. The child held her cloak but she could deal without it. The sun was high within the sky and it would be beating down upon the dark landscape of the wastelands. As she glanced out among the rocky landscape, her eyes peered across the rocky inclines that met her gaze. The assassin sighed softly and she held her breath for a moment, biting her lip as she cast a glance towards the child before she turned and urged the mare forward once again, “Keep up, child.” She stated. Her tone was simple and commanding but this time it held a hint of a softer tone. She was pleased that the child had not died and further, appeared as if she had made it out no worse for wear other then the slight problems that she had had with the cooler temperatures. Despite that fact, she managed to keep her shoulders square and she no longer looked at the child once again for their journey began all over again.

All the way through the wastelands she glanced ahead. The night was creeping around once again by the time they had reached the farther edge of the wastelands. She had led them all through a bit of a short cut that she knew of to cut off part of the journey. Now, as they headed towards the swamp she once again cast a glance to the child before glancing ahead once again. She inhaled slowly and shifted within the saddle before settling once again. She realized that there was a dragon that lived around this area once again but she ignored that fact now as she glanced among the landscape for a few moments before lowering her gaze again as she rode forward. She took a few deep breaths and the stench of the poisonous waters met her. She huffed and glanced around herself thoughtfully. She remained silent, having nothing to say at the moment as she urged the mare into a sweeping jog once again. When they came close to Ohanzee, she skirted the town and avoided it completely as she edged away from town instead. It nearly appeared as if they were headed right back to the wastelands but soon enough she came to run parallel to the landscape that would lead them there. Finally, she seemed to hit a patch of land that held a teeny bit of grass here and there and where it was much more quiet in the area. As she rode forward, the late afternoon sun was once again beginning to set and she sighed vaguely. A three day journey it had been this time. They were quite a ways from Ohanzee by the time the temple finally came into view and she paused, moving her mare to a stop as she glanced to the temple that she watched thoughtfully for a few moments.

The building was quiet, and stood solo on the top of the hill. The building was one room and the high windows in the roof were hard to get to. The entrance to the temple held no door and never had. There was a tattered cover billowing in the slight breeze in the doorway of the temple and the building in general held that empty stature to it. There, a few yard to the right of the temple sat the burial ground of the monk that had once called it home. There was nothing there to state that it was a grave site. There was no stone to mark the fact that someone was buried there, he just was. His head was buried approximately three inches from his body and about three feet from the end of his feet was buried his sword. She sighed, closing her eyes slowly as she remembered the day that she had murdered and buried him. The same day that she had made her own blades by hand in the fire that she had built herself. She sighed, shaking from her memories as she slid from the saddle of her mare as she motioned for Allaire to follow. She made her way forward closer to the temple. She slid the tack from the horse and patted her shoulder gently. She freed the saddle bags and carried the tack and bags into the temple. She held her breath for a moment as she glanced towards the room. The place was empty other than half burnt candles and the gold statues that sat at the end of the room. There, a few inches from the statues and candles was a dark splatter on the floor where the monk’s blood had stained the stone and she turned her head away, tucking her bags into the corner. She retrieved the grains from her bag and slipped back outside again where Nesfira wandered untied about the front of the temple. She fed and watered the chestnut before slipping back into the temple silently once more to wait for Allaire silently.

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[Taske]

"I am fine, just a bit tiered." Allaire nodded then leaned back against Comets neck. She was tiered and knew that in order to do what was needed to do she was going to need as much strength as she could muster and the sleep she got while the colt worked would have to do, the girl did not like the fact that the colt was having to pick his way on his own but he understood and told the girl so, he told her to rest to gain as much strength as she could before this assassin laid her claws into her. The horse knew that this may not be the best way to gain the power Allaire desired but he also knew that it was a good way and as long as she survived it Allaire would gain the power she wanted and she would be able to protect her loved ones.

The colt almost snorted with pleasure as the dark stone that made his world currently faded into the soft grass of a more horse friendly land, but as her grew closer he could tell that even this land was still not the best, patches of the grass where brown in the middle of summer he may add with a curt bob of his head, He did not like this land beyond the mountains where his companion lived with her loved one, no he did not like it at all. He snorted and kept on anyway, in a few years he would go back to that land he was born and he would frolic in glee, but dread if he ever had to make his way back again...

Allaire shifted up on the colts back, her eyes looking all over the terrain that she did not remember see when she had closed her eyes. But she had slept a long time, and going from unforgiving desert to stone then to more forgiving grass would be possible.... But not the large looming building that seemed to swarm with dark power. Allaire did not like that place very much, it was to dark and it seemed to scream of death, even Comet and Taske seemed to shy away from the building. But the girl would not leave her new master waiting, no she would do this assassin training and she will gain the power she wanted so she could help the people who mattered most to her, Black Star, Alexa, and Erech, the three people who looked past her weak body as Aurora had, and given her love and affection, something no one gave after her mothers death those years back.

The girl nudged the colt on with both words and feet and slid of his back when he pulled in beside the munching form of the assassin's horse. Allaire still griped the wolf in her hands, digging her fingers into the wolves under pelt, when Taske squirmed the girl put the wolf down and then went up the dark steps into the dark altar room, she did not look at the floor she looked at Aurora's form in the shadows again thinking of the use she could use that for, the ways she could help Black Star with it, oh how Allaire desired to be able to do that with her slight form, oh how she wished to have SOMETHING the others around both Alexa and Black Star did not have, and that was it, the quite steps, the shadow walking, the gleam of the blade before the finale stick. Yes Allaire knew the sticky business of the Assassin, and she was more then happy to accept them, she will be useful and strong, with power over her life and not the sickness that raged her body every now and then. The girl nodded to Aurora her eyes again full of fire. "I am ready for training, but I got one request, I want to be able to go back to the mountains in two years time, I want to see my family and have free reign to come and go, not a lot, but the ability to once or twice a year. The rest of the time, that includes the two years I will be at your beak and call." The girl held out her hands ready for anything and willing to take it, she will not give up this chance, she will become strong and able, she will show Black Star her strength and become someone she will be able to lean on, not just the little sickly orphan girl...

(Des you can rap it up better or we can leave it as is, seeing we seem to have less time xD)

[Desperanza]

The assassin set up a rather modest bed at the end of the room, settling her saddle bags and tack to one end of the room before she turned and strode forward to the head of the room that was empty of everything but the candles and the statues that sat on the floor. There was no bed to sleep in, no seats to sit on, no altar to rest books on, no place to store food it was just an empty room with high, open windows like rectangles carved out of the dried clay home. It was however sturdy, seeming to have grown right out of the ground seemingly. When it rained, the water came in, when it snowed the snow fell through the windows, when it was sunny the rays lit up the room at the edges and when the storms raged you could hear every crack of thunder and flash of lightning. For most children it would be frightening and fray the nerves. It would make them nervous and many would not stick it out in the temple but to Aurora, it was home. Sighing, she closed her eyes and folded her palms together as she sank down onto her knees at the floor, her lids drifting closed as she prayed softly to the memory of the monk that had once lived here with her. Sighing, she flicked her eyes open once again with a slight smile as she glanced around herself briefly before looking to Allaire as she stepped into the temple and the assassin lifted to her feet with a curt nod, frowning slightly however. Trips home to see family? She shook her head. She never took any trips to see family. She didn’t have any family. She gave a pained sigh and watched her silently for a moment before she frowned, deciding not to ask much about it, “Fine, once a year. That is all.” She replied quietly to her as she lowered a hand and patted Allaire’s head before motioning to the temple, “This is our home now, for a few years. I expect you to be up at dawn and in bed by midway through the night three days of the week. Two days of the week I expect you not to sleep at all and the last two days I expect you to sleep outside, in the trees or on the ground, anywhere that you believe you can sleep without being harmed.” She stated simply with a curt nod, “If I take a trip from the temple I expect you to practice every moment until we return. I expect you to eat one to two meals a day and four at least three rotations of the day, I want you to meditate. You need a strong connection with nature and things around you. I want you to sit out front through the weather and meditate for three solid hours. I want you to hunt for your food child and I want you to trip into the forest now and again for water but it is not far to get there.” She stated as she motioned towards the trees yards behind the temple before she sighed, nodding a bit, figuring she had covered most of the basics. Smiling, Aurora glanced over Allaire thoughtfully before she trailed around the temple once more, “Now, get some rest. Dawn will be here before you know it.” Came the simple reply that ended the conversation.

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