In memory of past adventures -tag, Raiu-

[Jinn]

Blood, it was everywhere in the rain soaked marsh land the Garnet fought a hoard of Illyx soldiers on. It was shed to fast to be washed away it seemed-rain and blood making it hard for the warriors to fight, but for Jinn it was just another battle, and the water suited her well for how well she could confuse her enemies. She swung her daggers around in her hands, slicing men down-knowing her own men from the Illyx soldiers easy enough.

Her hands were sliced and bleeding from catching an enemies blade in time to stop it from peircing into her comrads neck, the brutal swing could have been the last thing the man saw. "Sir!! Ran!! She doesnt look like she is doing so well!" Came Jasha's voice from beside her. Jinn looked towards where she heard her friends destinctive battle cry.

All she saw was a headless coarpse..

----------------------------------------------------

"NO!! RAN!" She shouted as she bolted up from bed, before wincing and crying out in pain as she jarred her wound. The nightmare had already begun..Jinn for a moment couldnt recolect where she was and why, but it came back. She was taken here after she was sliced by the Illyx soldier. But that was only the second thing she noticed, under her shirt it seemed that her wounds had been wrapped.

Jinns heart began to beat as she realized what that meant, someone knew, mayhaps her entire crew! She tried to stand but dizziness from lack of blood made it near impossible and she flopped uselessly back down and tossed her hand over her eyes. for once not bothering to observe her surroundings or present company.

Her hair was loose around her face, blue eyes dull from sadness when she finally lifted her head and glanced to where she knew another person sat. A man her age give or take a year or so was busying himself with medical instruments seemingly oblivious to 'his' staring. Jinn was uncertain or not if the medic had wrapped her wounds or one of her men which was a big possibility- they could have brought the medic to check up on her.

"You, Who are you." Jinn finally spoke, her voice lacking warmth or friendlyness. Expected since she had just seen her best friend and second in command beheaded.

[raiu]

Raiu was busying himself by rearangeing the herbs and medicines in his medicine bag when his patient, the cross dressing leader of the Garnet woke up screaming. He didn't bother talking to her just yet though, once the woman spoke some sane non screamed words then he would talk. He didn't have to take long before Raiu answered, somewhat coldly, "Good, your awake. And acting like you are in the presence of a fangless snake, better." Turning to her, he spoke again, "I am Raiu Vernasa, a traveling healer, and you are the leader of the Garnet, the ones who are trying to stop this cursed war. Don't worry, the only ones who know about your secret are in this tent right now."

[Jinn]

Jinn at first had gotten a feirce gleam in her eyes when he mentioned her secret, but at the mention of how he hadnt told any one she calmed a bit, wincing as she once again sat up, never being one to let her wounds keep her down. "Jinn Night" She finaly spoke, having studied him for signs of lie; finding none she figured she may introduce herself, but still used her 'male' name. Not ready to aknolege that she was a girl out loud. It had been so long since there had been any that knew her secret, not even Ran had known. (AN:// decided she wouldnt know xD ) She didnt trust this man yet, not by a long hall. though his 'fangless snake' remark had almost brought a grin from her but the threat of exposure stopped her grin from forming.

"So, why did you keep quiet? You know how much money someone would pay to get information about the Garnet leader, that was that shocking?" She asked wryly, it had been known that a spy was in their midst, and she is still searching for the culprit but its not easy to weed him out. She was at her most vulnerable, in no condition to fight-if this healer had a mind to he could kill her himself and drag her into a port to get the bounty.

[raiu]

"The ammout of coin would be about ten times as much as it would for someone who is considered a traitor in Illyx for the head, twice as much alive. Nor would anyone listen to a man with no kingdom, an outsider." As he talked Raiu looked Jinn over, seeing that the bandages that were binding her wounds were still crisp and white, holding it all together as the small charms in them sped up the healing. "You are most certainly lucky to be alive, if you were not treated then you would have died of blood loss before you woke and the Garnet would be without a leader." Anything further after that was not needed to be said.

[Jinn]

Jinn glanced at Raiu, wondering why he was considered a traitor..what had he done to earn the war mongers ire? Would he tell her if she asked? Why did she even want to know at this point. Jinn sighed, Ran was her best friend but she was taking this to hard...she had known from the start that her life was decided for her, loss was a part of it that couldn't be avoided if she wished to gain anything. Equivalent exchange. "A traitor? Who searches for you?" She asked as she reached over, wincing as the stitches pulled a bit with the motion of leaning over and stretching.

Jinns shirt was swiftly donned, she noted someone had taken her old one, and replaced it with a clean off white muslin shirt. She noted her wrist guards had also been removed and cleaned and set beside her with great respect. Her men were worried, a thought that brought a feeling of accomplish, only a great leader deserves the respect and worry of their men. But she wondered if it was not taking her to long to gain head way in stopping the war? They had saved many, hid 'traitors' from being harmed and had stopped stolen goods from going from one kingdom to the next and causing fighting to erupt again.

But it wasn't enough... Jinn pulled on the wrist guards, thinking on what he had said about her being lucky to be alive, and how the Garnet would have been without a leader. A twinge of shame at how brashly she had acted, how undisciplined she had been for that moment she attacked in blind rage that was extremely unlike her. Jinn vowed never to do it again for anyone. "Then, the Garnet would be doomed..." She muttered. "The culture, and traditions are held high in our hearts and minds, they would be confused if there was no one of Garnet blood to take the lead position. They think that I can simply find a woman and settle down to make heirs...but they don't know how impossible that is, nor can they ever. Even though I have proven myself strong in their eyes they are not ready to be led by a woman. They would feel insecure." She told him as she tightened the bindings at the wrists that tightened the guards to her wrists regardless of the wrappings around her wrists and hands from her risky move of catching a blade with her bare hands.

[raiu]

Jinn's question made Raiu pause completely in what he was doing, movement was not something that could be associated with him right now. After a few long moments he answered, "Many of them now lay in the shallow mass grave that your men dug nearby. A better buiral than those basti deserve. More than anyone in their kingdom deserves. Damn them all." It was clear that Raiu was pissed off but it quickly faded, replaced by the same cold stare that seemed like a natural part of him.

Raiu watched as Jinn donned her shirt and arm guards, makeing sure that the bindings did not loosen and allow the wounds to bleed, listening to her wispered talk about her role. "That is the curse of being the last of a blood line, especialy one like your's. To die would be to condemm lives that could be saved from the war, a heavy burden." He motioned to her bandaged hand, "The loss of a hand would be equaly as condemming. Trying to catch a blade, too reckless and dangerous. If you were off by the mearist of a moment you would die before you hit the ground." He placed the few items that he had left into his medicine bag and stood up, his eyes still on Jinn. "If your wounds open back up then tell me, the healing charms can only do so much before they fail."

[Jinn]

Jinn wasnt suprised to hear how scathing he had sounded when talking of the Illyx 'warriors'. The Garnet had protected many refugee 'traitors' from Illyx that had at the mention of them gone into rages, broke down crying, or in Raius case- declaired their hate for them and hope for their tyrany to end. Jinn was however very curious as to why he was so spiteful of them; Not that she didnt share that distaste.

Jinn glanced down at her hands- covered in bandages and ignored the stinging in her palms, they would scar for sure, so would her abdomin. Not that she minded having scars, they were a mark of honor for her and her family for generations, said to be stories of past battles fought and survived through. But the hands had been reckless in a way. She had trained in doing things like catching blades but she caught this blade without protective gear, usually to do such a thing gloves were nearly always worn but she wasnt one to stand by and let someone get harmed if she could help.

"It was one of the things the former leader of the Garnet taught me, but I was off a fraction do to the enemy not being in my direct line of sight. The former leader was known for his ability to catch enemy blades from thin air. Throwing daggers, arrows you name it. I have not reached that level of skill but, it is something I try if nothing else would work." She explained as she remembered her father. The man was a legend for the Garnet- A Tiger shifter as well, where her mother had been a puma.

Jinn watched as he readied himself to leave. She wondered if her men had set a tent up for him yet? But that wasnt all that made her curious. "There is one more question I would like to ask, with your leave." She requested, not wanting to just outright ask, since the question was of a personal nature. She was curious as to why he was on the run. How had he become an outcast? She was curious for a reason really. Jinn had always had a gift at judging some bodies character she wanted to see if he was Garnet material. There was something about him that didnt seem like he would be content to be a simple traveler. He spoke of the war with distaste, like he would change it if he could.

[raiu]

"Well, your father must have been quite a fighter but skill like that is not genetic, though the aparent lack of grasping the concept of ducking might just be genetic. Arrows out of the air, really. A tree would work just as well, or better yet, a stone wall." Raiu's lips streached into a smile after he said the somewhat joke, a good rest from the cold as ice personality though a short one.

"If you have a question on your mind then you should ask it. If I answer it or not is up to me. The answer might not be to your pleaseing though, it hardly ever is." His eyes were locked on Jinn's as he waited for her question, his mind was somewhat elsewere, mostly on finding a nice spot to shift and sleep, something he desperately needed right now.

[Jinn]

"He, like I was have trained for this since childhood, he started five. I started four." She said in answer. "So I hardly count on genetics for my fightin skills." She finished with a grin in reply to his joke. Truthfully the first time she had ever been shot at was before shed lost her first tooth. Her family took fighting very seriously-learning to do things that people consider to dangerous to be done knowing that one day they may be cornered and have to use extreme stratagies to get out of that sticky situation.

"Why are you on the run? What could you have done to earn Illyx' wrath?" She asked as she stood, slowly of coarse so as not to harm herself any further than she was already. Jinn wondered idly if he would even answer. It wasnt a big deal if he didnt but she couldnt offer help if he didnt want any. Maybe she should just come right out and offer him protection. After all, just because I lot of the men they had slain were ones after him doesnt mean hes out of trouble yet-they keep traitors common knowlege.

[raiu]

Raiu was silent for a few long moments, his eyes glazed over like he was viewing something far off. When he did speek, it was in a low, mornful voice that didn't fit his cold persona. "Raiu Vernasa. Wanted for assisting traitors of the kingdom, three counts of thief, ten counts of resisting arrest." His eyes refocused and his voice went back to where it was before. "Thats why. Good bie 'Mr.' Night, contact me if you need any wounds to be tended, even if you don't want them to." He then left out the tent front flap and made his way though the now dark camp and found a nice oak tree before placeing his bags down and shifting into his wolf form and curling up, falling asleep soon after. Just who was this Jinn Night?

[Jinn]

Jinns sleep was restless that night, hardly a second after her head would hit the pilow the nightmares began, and she would awaken and stare wordlessly at the ceiling of the yurt like tent. Soon she grew agitated, despite it being night outside she slipped from her tent, after placing her hair in a low pony tail and slipping on her boots. She walked through the tents, nodding at the centries that glanced worriedly at their wounded leader. "Lord Night...how are your wounds?" One man stopped her to ask making her wonder if she should have just stayed inside to avoid the fuss.

"They arent hindering my movements to harshly, should they start I will call on your aid." She assured him before going on her way. It was early morning, the air around her crisp and the stars still twinkling above her. Bats occasionaly passed overhead and she could hear the owls calls from the stunted trees around the marshlands. The yurts around her rose up in the misty night almost ominously but none the less, grand. The few men out were either leaning against the yurts sleeping or standing guard. Some were in their animal forms, a few cheeta's and a panther stretched out in the camp in lazy comfort. The shock of losing their leutenent wasnt near the shock of nearly losing their leader in a moment of brashness extremely unlike 'him'.

Jinn had forgotten to ask the healer if shifting was wise in her state, so she didnt, not wanting to push it seeing as she was already to weak to even be out as it is, her foot falls lacked most of the grace they usually exhibited and her skin was noticeably paler than usually from bloodloss. Her bandages also felt a bit sticky...not that she took the time to check as she reached a tree and glanced up at the starry sky.

[raiu]

When Jinn glanced up at the sky, a low growling came directly from the tree. The one causeing the noise was a black wolf that was curled up next to the tree around two bags, one Raiu's medicine bag. "Don't tell me the healing charms already ran out. You really should be in bed, too much movement will open the wounds back up." After the wolf spoke, it shifted back into Raiu, who pressed his finger lightly against the bandages, soaking them with a deep dark scarlet. "Bloody hell. You have to be treated again, the wound was more severe than I first thought."

Raiu practicaly dragged Jinn back to the camp and into her tent. "Lay down, the healing charms are one of the few things that aren't trying to kill you right now and they are almost out. Ill have to change them again."

[Jinn]

Jinn listened to him, absently realizing this is the first time anyone had gotten away with bossing her around so easilly. But for some reason it didnt bother her in the least, perhaps because he was a healer and its his job to boss. "Sorry. Im not used to having to stay still..." Jinn said as she watched him remove her bandage, her wound had reopened. Her eyes showed signs of pain but she stayed still for him, and didnt flinch away. And it dawned on her that having him around would be useful for her men and for her. That and she didnt want him to have to wander aimlessly and be hindered constantly by the warmongers.

"I have been thinking, instead of sleeping tonight...Are you content to just wander?" She asked curiously, not with any notion that she was insulting, simply inquiring. She had been pondering what she would say to hint him in to her thoughts about having him come with the Garnet and perhaps be one of them, She knew it was a big decision to join since its dangerous, never know which battle will be your last.

[raiu]

"Force yourself if you have to. With the ammount of blood you lost I can use the excuse that the wound was severe enough that it would completely destroy the moral of your soldgers if they saw it. Thats not that much of a lie." By the time the bandages were off completely it was clear that the healing charms had held the blood at bay and had even healed it slightly. "Hmm...This is going to scar over ugly, if it will ever heal. Consider yourself lucky that you are not already in a shallow grave." All conversation after that fell on deaf ears as Raiu started casting a healing spell, this one normaly cast on three men at once, though Jinn's wound was enough for that same ammount. Green light rose from Raiu's hands as the hovered over the center of her injuries, the wound slowly and painfuly healing. It was clear that holding this spell for even a fraction of a minute was the limit of Raiu's abilites as his arms grew pale and started to shake, thankfuly after the bleeding had stopped and was starting to look as normal as a grevious wound can be.

Raiu streached his arms and forced the blood in his body to his arms and hands, clearing the paleness and eraseing the quivering. "You will have to be very careful with this wound. Stay in this form, it will speed up the recovery but shifting will allow the ground to feast on your innards." He then pulled out another roll of bandages, the healing charms on it almost crackleing with energy. "This should tide you over untill you reach your home, though try to rest as much as possible. Sit up." Once Jinn did, and the bandages were on tightly did he give any mind to her question. Would he be content to heal and travel? So far yes but not in the forseeable future would he be completely content. Plus, Ilyx would have to pay for their sins.

"Content to have no real home and no real name as far as the kingdoms are concerned? I am content to heal but not to just let the war continue any more than it need be. What do you sujest?"

[Jinn]

Jin sat up a bit, ignoring any pain she may be feeling to glance at Raiu. He certainly had an attitude...it didnt bother her but rather made her curious. It was true that Jinn herself had no reall name in the eyes of the kingdom either. As far as they knew 'He' didnt exist in the records at all. And her men had never learned her reall name, neither did Raiu.

"This battle has taught my people long ago that you must be aware that we may die for our beliefs at any moment and only when you accept that fully will you shed your fear and fight your battles with all your might. If you have it in you to take up that belief and draw strength from it my suggestion would be to come with us." She said as she pulled her shirt back on and waited for his answer.