In memory of past adventures -tag, Raiu-

[raiu]

Sheading fear and fight with all your might? That was a teaching that Raiu saw, for the most part, old and threadbare. How could some one shead fear, it is a basic emotion that is always there. No, you have to..."Accept fear. There is no way to shead it, it is always there. To be rid of it is to deny what you are, to accept it, to face the foe no matter your fear, that is the way to fight with all your might." That is what should be taught. Raiu stood up, smiled, something rare for him, and gave Jinn his answer. "I will follow you, till Fate seems fit to part us. I will not handle a weapon just yet though, your men will need them more than I do as of yet. Don't assume that the art of the healer is all constructive, we just know better than to use it like that. Now, rest. Let the charms do their work."

[Jinn]

Jinn smiled a bit, and laid awake thinking afterwards, sleep far away. His ideal was a good one, but it was kind of the same prospect. To accept fear makes it lose its power, it is no longer fear but caution. Its not hard to think of life in black and white like that. Jinn had spent her entire life in a shade of grey. She sees behind the mirror into the meaning of things different than most since she had long ago been taught the downfalls of letting fear control you.

Fear was never something she felt before going to battle or facing a threat, but caution and Adrenalin. "Fear...Fear is worthless. Accept it? Why? that is like accepting the thorn that slows you down and letting it poison your blood stream.." She muttered to herself.

That was her belief, but then fighting as long as she has she learned to let this fear go and embrace adrenalin instead. She stood, not one to take orders ever. She was getting mixed feelings of Raiu...one part that saw he wasnt willing to weild a weapon yet thought perhaps the war would not harden him fast enough and another saw that perhaps he is simply adapting. She felt angry in a way that he knew what she was, she had always been brave and fearless but for the first time in ever she felt the twingue. "Accept it..." She muttered to herself. That wasnt the Garnet way...but...

Jinn didnt like this uncertainty. She sat in the corner looking over battle stratagies instead of resting like she should, her hand over her wound. The memory of Rans fear filled gaze fresh on her head. Accept fear...A weakness...., pushing the thoughts again away. It was to soon for someone who was raised to think never for herself and feel nothing that would hinder her war spirit. It was not natural to her to question anything that had gotten them through. She had risen the ranks because she had never halted in a charge or faltered in a dire situation. Except for with Ran..

Jinn didnt realize the time when she finaly lost the ability to stay awake and slumped to the floor, using the book full of maps and plans as a pillow, her hair strewn about her face as the candle died leaving behind whisps of swirling smoke.

Dream-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Why do you fear this?! Have you no back bone!!" A man yelled, a tiny girl cowering in the face of the branding iron that waited to mark her as a member of the Garnet. She was hardly old enough to tie her shoes, but the girls hands were clutched around her legs as she shook her head. "Dont! Im afraid!" She answered, her tiny voice shaking as her father moved forward, the iron at his side. "If you cant even face down the honor of the mark, than how will you stand in my place!" he shouted. "Fear is the enemy, it is a disease that will render you motionless in the eyes of the enemy! You must cast it aside!" The man took two stepps forward and grasped the girls tiny arm. "Will you accept the mark? Or will you run and let the Garnet become leaderless?" He asked the terrified girl. "I...I...no..." She answered, the sounds of burning flesh filled the courtyard followed by a scream of pain.

The scene shifts, a six year old girl rushes through the forest, her clothing scarce and only a crude dagger clutched in her tiny fist. The sounds of paws could be heard from behind her, the yips and snarls of wolves hott on her heels... The snaps of their jaws.

-----------------------------End dream.

Jinn woke with a startled ghasp and she reached for her waist for a weapon, only finding she wasnt wearing any. Jinn glanced around the room and was relieved to see it had all been a bad dream, or rather a bad memory. She pulled her glove down, glancing at the tiny dagger insignia that had been burned into her skin so long ago. She had battled the wolves as a test, a way to get rid of her fear her father had concocted. She had to to survive that night-he would have let her die if she failed. It was tough love to him and it taught her to be strong. But why did she suddenly have this dream?

"Whats life but a dream within a dream..." She muttered, poetry she had once heard her mother reading out loud before her death.

[raiu]

From what Raiu had heard, Jinn truely had a messed up childhood, and she talked in her sleep. He had shifted infront of her tent and was curled up next to the entrence. Aparently her father hadn't been that much of one, more like a military drill sargent than anything else. It was a step above haveing no parents...well....More like a half step. He didn't expect his words to have such a profound effect on her though... He would have to figure her out a bit more... "Alright...Why do I get the feeling that I will be repeating the events of three hundred years ago..." The breaking of the Oath...

[Jinn]

Jinn wanted to rest, but she knew they couldnt stay, being in one place to long is hazerdous for them. So with a grunt of pain she stood and removed her chest bindings, which had been covered in blood from the attack, and sighed as she enjoyed the feeling of circulation in that area again. Glancing at her features she scowled, they werent large, but extremely noticeable without bindings. She didnt waste anymore time, never knowing when one of her men could pop in with urgeant news.

She cussed in pain as she began to re-wrap her chest, tightening it until one would think breathing not possible and winding it several times around her chest down as far as she could go without touching her wound. She tied it off swiftly and dressed with little difficulty, though she did have to be a bit more careful in her movements lest she tear a stitch. Once her sword was back on her waist and her other weapons secured she brushed her hair back and tied it at the base of her neck, a few strands hanging down in a manish dissarray that added to her disguise.

She left her tent, standing for a second with her hand over her eyes to block the sun, before lowering it and glancing at Raiu. "We have to leave today, its not safe to linger...is there any bussiness you need to attend to first?" She asked, certain there wasnt but asking anyway to make certain. Her voice was back in its gruff tone, not masculine but not feminine enough to give her away.

[raiu]

Raiu looked more than a little annoied when Jinn walked out of the tent but he didn't say anything as he shifted back into his human form. Her question was a bit unneeded though, "I do not have any pressing matters, or other wise, though one of you men was wounded by a mage and may require that I deliver him to Mercy." He then took off, walking towards the medical tent.

It was worse than he thought, the extent of the injuries, both phisical and mental, were a testimate to the skills of the healers that the man was still vaguely alive. He didn't have any more time, the time for recovery passed and the man would stay that way for what ever time was left. Neither of the healers knew how to preform the Mercy, a technique that was almost banned and useable only by a senor healer, i.e. Raiu. "You both have done well, your efforts are not in vain. Rest easy my friends, your work here is over." The healers left, obviously saddened at what would happen, leaveing the tent silent except for pained breathing.

The Mercy was accualy a straight forward technique, simply useing a spark of magic to stop all vital organs and letting the body die, though it was reminicant of the magic used in the Oath Breaking and was only handled by those who were skilled enough not to use it without due cause. "Rest my friend, my brother. You will be carried into the halls of the gods, to be accepted into their great flock as a warrior of greatness. Rest." As quick as the words were said, the man died, leaveing the tent silent and empty when Raiu left.

[Jinn]

Jinn felt her wound as 'he' went over business, making sure her orders went without a hitch. The pain in her stomach was strong and insistent but she was stronger and ignored it. She couldn't look weak in front of her men. She had to make it out to be no big deal. And despite her slightly slower movement and how she avoided bending when possible she did pretty well with that. Still when a man deposited a heavy barral in her arms without looking (Probably thinking he was giving it to another of the men that wasnt his commander) She felt the wind knocked out of her and her wound protest.

"Commander!! im sorry, didnt see you there!" He explained, taking the heavy barrel she would normally have had no problem lifting from her arms as she prayed that no one noticed the pain that had spread on her face. It was bad enough she made such a foolish mistake without her adding to it by making her men worry that she cant perform her usual duties. Times like these would have been easy with a second in command. Jinn nearly swore at herself as she thought of Ran again. She couldnt dwell on fallen comrads.

"Dont worry about it. keep packing, we have to get out of here and back to the ship." She commanded as she stalked into the areas surrounding camp, listening for spies or any other dangers that might be about. They had won the battle but she couldnt help but feel like a failure. This battle had been dangerous.

[raiu]

"Take the body away and bury it, a simple marker should suffice, he earned that did he not?" The healers, both men older than Raiu yet not senor healers yet, provided no arguements and they entered the tent and brought out the covered form of the man who recieved Mercy. They walked away from the camp, avoiding anyone they could. While they did that, Raiu walked to around the center of the camp, to where Jinn was. "Quit thinking about things like that. Dead is dead and this is not the place to morn death. You should be able to help out with lighter lifting, though not with stuff like the barrel that was placed in your arms. Healer's orders."

[[Sorry that this sucked so much. Its late and I need to go to bed soon. GOMEN!]]

[Jinn]

Jinn grinned a bit. "First time anyone has ever ordered me around, besides my father of coarse." She said, though she sounded amused, not mad. It didnt bother her really. She glanced in the direction of her ship, she knew she had to go and get things together there, like Navigation and overseeing her men as they filled the ship with the items they would need. She also needed to check their supplies, make sure they had enough water and food to last the trip to the next port.

The Queen Anne's hope is large, and swift and impressive to see, though at times hard to hide without rowing to it a distance. The row boats hopefully were still in tact. "I need to travel to the ship. I'm going to be taking a handful of men with me, if you want to come along to see it and help out there you are welcome to, if you are needed here still for my men I shall return shortly." She told him. She waited to see if hed come, she knew she could show him around the ship later but figured the sooner the better, so he would know his way around.

[raiu]

"I doubt you want you little 'condition' to be exposed to the entire Garnet. Plus, your still injured and I don't completely trust your healers. They may be older but they are not trusted enough to know any advanced spells that could be of the most service to you. Also, I just want Ilyx to pay dearly for what they did to me." Raiu couldn't say much more as he walked off, disappearing into the crowd like he was never there. The mark of someone who grew up on the streets of the capital, the mark of a pick pocket.

[Jinn]

Jinn nodded and went on ahead. She slipped through the trees mostly silently, their stunted branches offered little cover and the marsh's wet ground did hinder her movement. The slight limp was also something that she wasn't to happy about on this day. She was joined by about three other men as she trekked in the direction she knew the ship, Queen Anne's hope to be, she didn't slow down from the slight run, not comfortable until she is safe aboard her or rather 'His' Ship.

It wasn't long until the familiar hulking shape of the impressive and grand Ship came into view, it was clear it was armed, cannons peeked from holes in the side that told anyone they aren't an easy target, of coarse with the Garnet flag its not every day someone wants to challenge them. Jinn knows to keep a low profile though and the flag isn't always up. Now however it was, signaling their intent to war. It was a forboding sign for their enemies to come in flags raised and ready for fighting.

They arrived to the ship in no time at all, rowing across to it was an easy task for her men, the only one who had discomfort was her, the action jostled her a bit more than she would have liked. But it could not be helped, she didnt however want to have to do it again if she could help it. Maybe she should send one of her men back to inform the others and Raiu when they were ready to load and depart.

It didnt take long for Jinn to get to work giving the ship a once over, ordering her men about to do certain tasks, like taking inventory and reporting to her with their findings and clearing way for new provisions. She did the math and found they had enough to last them until next port but they couldn't hold off for long. Thankfully they had plenty of fresh water and food. She charted coarse once, knowing she would do it again just before they depart. She glanced around her on deck, the winds were good, and the sea was fair.

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

Jinn had found everything to be sound, it did not take long but she knew they had to round the rest of the crew up if they were to make good time. "Alright men, were ready to round up the crew, you, Ravi. I want you to go and give them leave. Tell them to be swift about it and stay on their guard. We dont want an ambush. You should stay in animal form." She told the man in the same no nonsence voice 'he' always uses. "You two will accompany him but stay in the woods around him and keep watch." She told the others. Aware that that left her alone on the ship. She wasnt worried about it, she had fire bombs and other weapons. And besides, the ship wasn't close enough to land for them to attack in a group, they would come one at a time and that was easy pickings for her.

Now to await the return of her men and hope things go smoothly. She went below deck, her arm clutching her hurt stomach, now sore from all the movement and sat at her desk, pouring over maps and occasionally scribling notes on a worn peice of parchment.