A Job Well Done.....Kind Of(Ruka, open)

[sumdood]

Creel brought the flaming strip that was Eiroch's extended blade around in a wide, sweeping arc, slicing the blade through a small group of shadow heartless that had leapt at him. He was here exterminating Heartless again, helping the people of the city out. He was, afterall, the last of an ancient order of Knights whose sole purpose was to protect those who could not protect themselves.

He continued slicing through Heartless, using Eiroch to cut them down and Glaeding to protect himself from their attacks. After so long, they quit appearing, and he searched around, looking for more. After a few minutes of staying on guard, he assumed they were all gone for now, and deactivated his swords' magic and replaced them in their sheath, the leather of his vest creaking.

He took in a deep breath and looked around. The Third Distrcit sure was a dangerous place, that was for sure. It's why he'd volunteered to exterminate Heartless here for Traverse Town's citizens. They paid him relatively well for it, and he got the satisfaction of helping people. It was a win-win situation.

[mizujakkaru]

Ruka rested her head on her knees, breathing out a sigh. From where she sat upon the rooftops of the Third District, she could see out across the entire quarter of town.

The stars above her, other worlds about to meet their own form of peril, twinkled above her. She watched them for a moment, wondering if any of them would call her home one day. If any of them were the remains of her home. She wasn't depressed, per ce... but she longed, and it had torn a hole in her heart.

Shaking her hair from her eyes, she stood once more, balancing precariously on the shingles of the roof. Steel soled boots did not make for the best traction.

Ruka had just begun to take her first step forward and find her way back down to the ground level, when she heard that unforgettable noise. She winced, turning slowly as she heard the ground rend upon itself and shadow seeped forth. Eyes glowed in the darkness and then clawed hands of Heartless lunged for her.

She yelped, fumbling with her crossbow. They were too close! She was a distance fighter! Ruka let out another screech and slipped on the hard shingled roof, her boots' soles losing their hold.

Down, down, she fell. By chance, Ruka caught the edge of the gutter, used it to straighten herself, and fell to the ground level. Her feet met ground, and she looked back up grimly. There... there were only three of them. With much determination, she loaded her crossbow, charged the bolt with fire, and sent it sailing straight for the middle Shadow.

The creature fell to the fire, and the others backed away, not seeking to follow her down to the ground floor. Strange... usually even the little ones chased her... they could... sense her weakness.

Then Ruka turned or rather, tripped over the body she'd landed on. She tumbled away, stammering her apologies to the other person. "S-s-s-sorry! The H-Heartless...!"

[sumdood]

Creel had just turned to walk back through the large doors that separated the First and Third Districts when he felt something slam into him from behind, barreling him over. He felt himself hit the ground on his back with a thud, and found himself looking up at a girl, almost ten years his junior by her looks, her eyes wide with apparent fear.

"S-s-s-sorry! The H-Heartless...!" she stammered out, rolling away from him. He immediately got to his feet, and found the Heartless that had apparently been chasing her. He nodded to her.

"No worries," he said, giving her a reassuring smile and pulling Eiroch's gleaming white blade from its scabbard,"I'll take care of them for you. Just sit tight."

He turned back to the Shadows, invoking Eiroch's magic. The Fireblade responded, the blade turning to flames in a loud whoosh of fire. Creel reared back and stabbed out at the Shadows, Eiroch's blade shooting forth and extending out quickly, stabbing straight through one of the Heartless. The black creature disappeared in a flurry of flames and black mist.

Then, Creel swept out with the flaming blade, the flames acting like a whip, and cut through the last attacker, sending it to join its mates in the Realm of Darkness. He then deactivated Eiroch's magic, changing it back to its normal state and length, and reasheathed the sword. He turned back to the girl, and smiled at her, dusting off his hands. A pair of shadows wasn't even anywhere near a big task.

"See? I told you, no problems," he said, reaching out a hand to help the girl up,"You okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?"

[mizujakkaru]

Ruka watched on in envy as the other boy, much older than herself, felled the heartless with ease. He reminded her of Torq... and he was about her brother's age, as well. She chewed her lip in nervousness as the boy turned back towards her.

"You okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?"

Timidly, she reached up and grasped his hand, accepting his help and getting back to her feet. Slowly she dusted her leggings off and glanced to the side. She could feel the blush growing... she knew how to handle her bow, and she was... had been the best shot in her wing... but none of that mattered. The second she found herself surrounded, she panicked.

Silent with embarrassment, she bent down and retrieved Rudra, swinging the crossbow back on her back in a practiced motion. She continued to nibble on her lip as the silence between them grew pregnant with unease.

Ducking her head further, she bobbed it in thanks. "N-no... they just s-startled me..."

[sumdood]

Creel's brow pulled together in a slight frown as the girl did everything in her power to avoid looking at him after he'd helped her up. She fumbled with her crossbow, dusted off her pants. She did everything but look at him, all while obviously chewing on her lip.

He just crossed his arms and stood there, looking at her, his eyebrow cocked in curiosity. She was really shy, apparently. She had to be the shyest person he'd ever seen, because he'd never seen someone act this shy. They'd always respond rather quickly, at least, instead of letting a long silence like this grow.

Creel was about to say something else to her, but before he could, she responded with "N-no...they just s-startled me...". He gave her a reassuring smile and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Well, they're gone now," he said, patting her shoulder gently,"Nothing to worry about anymore, all right? So, what's your name? Mine's Creel."

[mizujakkaru]

"Nothing to worry about anymore, all right? So, what's your name? Mine's Creel."

Ruka nodded again, bobbing her head almost like a skittish bird. She continued to stare with great interest as the specks of dirt on her boots. She was going to have to clean those. Back home, her Officers would've scolded her. Granted, they scolded everyone for anything, but that was beside the point.

She let it mull around in her mind for a moment. Her name? Well... of course she knew it. But she hadn't given her true name to anyone since she had found herself in Traverse Town. It was an old Drasil Drill mantra. When you're in strange lands, never betray yourself.

But she wasn't likely to go home, and only few had known of Beo-Migarts in the first place. She blinked with sudden determination and lifted her chin, just a smidge, to study the other person through her bangs.

Well... he did kind of remind her of Torq, so, maybe it wouldn't hurt. With that, she ducked her head back down and replied, "Ruka. R-ruka Hrafn... spelled w-with a H..."

[sumdood]

Crele smiled as she spoke, her head tilted a little up. It seemed she was trying to open up a little. That was good, at least. She wasn't going to just close up and shut him out. He'd hate to see someone he'd just helped close up to him like that.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Ruka," he said, an encouraging smile on his face, "So, what're you doing here in Traverse Town?"

[mizujakkaru]

Ruka frowned a bit at the boy's newest query. She didn't even really know the answer herself. At first she had tried to find a way home, but she was almost certain that... that there wasn't a home waiting for her anymore. And if there was, would she want to return to the ridicule?

Yes. She would.

It was better than being in a place she knew nothing about, and being chased by creatures that lunged from every corner of the map. She let out a shaky sigh and brought her thumb to her mouth to chew on it a bit.

She was mad at herself, for being so shy. Surely the boy thought she was slow or something. She just... it took a lot of courage to reply. And her courage was in short supply ever since being torn from her homelands.

"I... I'm not s-sure..."

[sumdood]

Creel thought about Ruka's answer. She didn't know how she'd gotten here. That suggested her world had been destroyed, much like his, by the heartless. It was possible it hadn't, he admitted, but it seemed the most likely way for her to get here without knowing what had happened. He himself hadn't had a clue how he'd gotten to Traverse Town when he'd first arrived here.

It probably had something to do with one of those big, black holes. One of them had sucked him up, and a lot of other people here had been sucked up by others on their own worlds too. He'd heard someone mention a name for them. What was it?

Corridors of Darkness? Something like that.

"Well, how long have you been here?" he asked her. He felt a little weird peppering her with questions like this, but...he didn't know if she had somewhere she was staying here yet, or....well, anything. She was hardly talking. He wondered why she was so shy? Was it just lack of self confidence? Or, maybe she just didnt' like talking to people.

[Ellie who has 0%]

"Well my dears, I doubt that's the proper question. I find it that the question 'how long you're going to stay here?' is more appropiate."

That's was the words of Jadis after she entered the opening of the third district from seperate detour that led to a peculiar door. She was curious to what was behind it the door with the flamed symbol, but her senses didn't pick up anything of importances. Turning around, she left the area only to see the two before her hence her dialogue.

"I know that it's quite obvious that this district isn't the safest, especially for you two." Jadis on the other hand was her own protection. It was unwise for a young heartless to act a youtful yet elder witch in her prime. She would destroy it's frame before taking hold of it's heart for her own liking. "And you child seem deeply frightened. I'm hope you aren't going to continue your inquiry here of all places?"

Her focus was now on the boy as her arms softly folded over her chest with a wand in her grip.

[mizujakkaru]

Ruka blinked at the sound of a second voice, and with hurried steps, backed away from Creel. The other speaker came into her scope of view, and she eyed the woman with a mixture of awe and fear. She certainly put up a magneficant apperance. But then, so did Creel. She regarded them both with fear.

Well. She regarded everyone with fear.

Ruka dipped her head down once more, shuddering a bit from a chill that clutched at her body. She was scared. Of the Heartless, of everything it seemed, and the woman's words had brought that to surface.

She chewed on her lip once more, her hair sheilding her eyes like her silence shielded her soul and she managed to mumble out a reply to both Creel and the woman. "I d-don't want to stay here f-forever... and, n-no, I d-don't want to stay... h-here, either." She waved her gloved hand vaguely, meaning to refer to the District they were in as per the latter half of her comment.

Ruka shuffled her feet in nervousness, glancing up through her bangs to study them both. Both of them appeared quite capable. She seethed with a tinge of envy. If only should could learn that trick herself!

[sumdood]

Creel turned to face the woman as she spoke. His eyebrows knitted together slightly as he summed her up. She wore a very beautiful, ornate dress, almost like a Queen's gowns. She carried a wand in her pale hand. The rest of her matched that hand, a kind of flawless paleness to it that screamed too-perfect perfection to Creel.

He knew it was his instincts telling him not to trust this woman. He'd been a part of toppling entire monarchies from power before back on his homeworld, and he could knew how people could hide their true intentions and emotions behind a mask. This woman, his instincts told him, was doing just that right now. Despite the fact that he wanted to trust her purely for her beauty, his head and his guy wouldn't allow it.

"Well, I can assure you, my lady, that I can handle a few Heartless," Creel said, standing straght and tall, his voice not waverng from its pitch in the slightest, nor his eyes from this woman's, showing her he knew how to play these mind games that nobles and such always insisted on playing. He had a strong feelng she was up to something. He couldnt' explain it, except that she had a kind of dangerous, ominous air about her, as if anything nearby was in a lot of danger,"I'm a Sytraean Knight. We know how to take care of ourselves, and others at the same time. So long as Ruka s with me, she's as safe as she can be, for the most part. It would take more than a few Shadows for her to be harmed."

He watched the woman carefully, trying to measure the effect of his words on her. He doubted she'd show any emotion that might betray her true intentions, if she was really hiding her true intentions at all. But, he needed to watch to make sure. Maybe he was just being paranoid, but when you were involved in the things he'd been involved in from birth, paranoia became your friend.

[Ellie who has 0%]

The witch looked at Ruka as she stuttered and nibbled on her lip. Poor child was shaking like a leaf. The White Witch concluded that she's a new arrivale; she wouldn't be the first she had seen. Ariel was crying her eyes out when she emerged in Traverse Town.

Her focus adjusted like binoculars towards the knight. He had confidence in his strength and tried to examplify it through his stature and posture. Jadis chuckled softly at the him at the vow of protecting her. Her red lips curled into a small smile.

"How amusing you remind me of my knight." She chuckled lightly, while looking up at the stars wondering where Xavier was at the moment. Slowly she approached Ruka studying the child. Her aura revealed the rings of her age, but still to an old youthful sorceress, she would still be a child. Her eyes softened at the sight of her; she was so frightened, while a elements coursed within her. Perhaps she can produce a student out of her.

"He's also quite protective. The difference is, this child doesn't seem convinced and certain, while making it clear to not linger in this district." Her focus was now on Ruka, "if you like, I can invite you a room in the hotel in the Second District. The children of darkness hardly bothers me and won't harass those near me. That would gaurantee protection and warmth; you shiver as if you have a chill."

"You can come along to Sytraean Knight unless you want to continue your escapade with the ever heartless. The Shadows aren't the only children who lingers here."

[mizujakkaru]

Ruka blinked suddenly, caught off guard as the woman stepped towards her. She blinked up at the sorceress, timidly taking her apperance in fully, now that they were so close to one another. The woman was dressed so finely, in the purest whites and silvers... Ruka had no doubt she was a sorceress. If her regal didn't prove it, her scepter did.

Ruka flinched only a little, trying to set herself away from the woman. She knew magic, and while magic and mages themselves did not scare her, the thought of magic itself and the lives it could take did. She feared magic, as it had taken her brother, and that was why she had never been able to fully apply herself as a mage.

Then the witch's words rang in her ears. No... she wasn't convinced that Creel could protect her, the woman was right about that. Creel scared her as much as the woman. Being a knight did not mean one was invincible. Torq's death had proved that to her.

Ruka's fingers twitched slightly, seeking something to knead, and she grasped her scarf out of habit. Her fingers toyed with the silver-white trim, pulling it in every direction. The weeks she had been in Traverse had seen her doing the same thing, day in and day out. It had been murder for the threads of the scarf, causing them to fray.

"...The Shadows aren't the only children who lingers here."

Eyes widening, Ruka let her scarf fall from her fingers, and she looked up at both Creel and the witch, meeting their eyes with sheer fright.

"T-t-there's o-others?"

[sumdood]

Creel grimaced as the witch spoke to Ruka. The woman was obviously scaring the girl, but she didn't let up. When the witch started talkng about things other than the Heartless, Creel chose to intervene. He quickly stepped between Ruka and the witch, giving the older woman a hard, glaring stare.

"Stop. You're scaring her," he said, looking her straight in the eye, "I agree we need to get out of here, but you don't have to scare Ruka witless to do get us to do it."

He was definitely starting to take a dislike to this woman. She had the kind of gaze that spoke of terrible deeds. There was no telling what this might have been, but...One thing was for certain: She was most definitely dangerous. He felt around for Glaeding's power, in case it be needed. He didn't want to be caught of guard. He wouldn't makethe first move, of course, but he wasn't going to let his guard down around this woman. He hadn't survived life ths long by being complacent.

He turned to Ruka and said,"Don't worry. They won't hurt you. there are things other than the Shadows, but the majority of them here in Traverse town aren't any more dangerous than the shadows. In fact, the Second District s where the majority of the more dangerous ones here pop up. The First District is the safest. They don't show up there, and I have a home there. If you need a place to stay, you can stay with me. You'll be guaranteed safety."