Forum Thread

Upon seeing the burnt village, Freya could hardly think. Her thoughts were jumbled and conflicting. She could make out only one emotion among the tangled mess her mind was. Anger. There were innocent children who died because of the Mountain Men. Innocent men and women who were of no threat to the Mountain Men. They were going to pay. Freya lets out a guttural scream and throws herself into battle. Her greatsword flashing every time it caught the light, Freya fought to kill. Freya's fighting style was very different compared to the fighting style of the Mountain Men, which Freya used to her advantage.

Rose fought to control herself. The burning anger she used to let consume her fought to control her, but Rose knew if she gave in she would hurt innocents and herself. Rose let out a long breath and drew her bow. She slowly allowed herself to get to her feet. She took aim, paused and sent an arrow through the lung of a cloak. She heard a slight cracking of leaves behind her, and turned quickly, dodging a blade that would have embedded itself in her neck. She quickly relieved that cloak of his life. The sounds of battle clang and echo in her ears. Suddenly, an arrow whizzes past her head, slicing one of the flowers she had twined into her hair off. Watching it fall to the ground, Rose let out a low growl. "Damn you, that took actual effort to arrange." she said with a snarl. The hooded cloak stepped back several paces. "I can still hit you moron." she said, drawing another arrow. The cloak took more steps backwards before turning and running. "Oh no, you aren't getting away this easily." Rose says, growling again and giving chase.

---

Blossom was shooting the soldiers that were attacking her wagon with Star using her sword to cut down the Matchhounds. Leaf was at the moment trying to comfort Star's crying daughter, though technically Katniss was all of their daughters due to being in a relationship.

---

*As the battle unfolded and Tani fought the Cloaks bravely, Barry was hidden in one of the wagons. He held his hands over his ears to drown out the howls of Marchhounds and the screams of men. But then he opened his eyes for a brief second and saw Megumo walking towards Tani. He watched as Megumo slaughtered all in his path on his way to Tani. Barry then got out of the wagon and ran to save Tani. He tried to yell at her to move, but his yells were muffled by the battle. Finally, as Megumo nearly reached Tani, Barry pushed her out of the way and took the full force of Megumo's blade*

Megumo's vision was not clouded by rage. Somehow, unlike the other times that he had been in battle, this time, nothing was stopping him. He felt the brutality, but this time, he harnessed it, controlled it. So, he was fully aware of Barry, taking the blade that was meant for Tani. He growled angrily, kicking the boy aside. He had no sympathy for Barry, and would not treat him as such. Megumo held kindness for no one. He did stop a minute, however, spitting on the ground in anger at Barry's interuption.

---

*Tani looked back and saw a sword piercing Barry's body, and froze. Her eyes begsn to tear up and she gripped her sword tightly and yelled* NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

*Maddy looked out of the wagon and saw Barry's body laying on the ground. She saw as Tani screamed and felt pained. She could've saved him if she could fight. She could've saved them all*

Leaf looked up at Tani's scream and to her horror saw the sword in Barry's body. Moving quickly around the fighters, she clutched her medical bag and arrived at Barry's side. As she looked over the wound she felt herself freeze, a look of uttermost dismay crossed her face. The wound was too severe, but blood attempting to force its way out through the wound was an indicator that several vital organs had been damaged, possibly to point beyond anyone's hope of repair. Removing it would just kill him faster. For the first time in a while, she realized just how powerless she and her medical skills were.

All Leaf could do was stay by his side and comfort him until he passed.

---

A sudden scream cuts into Irida's rage. It's almost as if a blindfold has been torn off her face. She stands in place, her chest heaving as she takes in desperate breaths of air. She hadn't realized how tired she was until now. She felt like she had been fighting for four days straight...

She runs a hand through her hair, realizing too late that it has been sticky from layers of blood. She holds her palm out in front of her, blinking at it in disbelief. What happened? She wonders as she lowers her hand and glances around her.

There was still a battle raging around her. But now the screams of war had been becoming more and more noticeable. She sucks in a sharp breath, wincing at a small wound on her arm. When had she gotten hit? She couldn't remember.

She turns her head to Tani and Leaf, noticing them comforting a young boy. A stab of pain jabs her heart. How cruel were these Mountain Men? To kill a child? The rage seems to boil over again. She grips her sword tightly to stop her hand from trembling. Adrenaline courses through her veins, giving her dangerous strength. She was currently unhinged. She raises her bloodied sword up and continues her fight.
....
"You-..." Gwen's voice was sharp and cold. She slowly makes her way towards Megumo, sword pointed challengingly towards him. "You know, I was just going to kill you quickly at first. But now- I may just have to take my time." She glances down at Barry pitifully once. She wants nothing more than to comfort the dying boy. But the fight wasn't over yet, she had to finish this, and now.
{Royal is going to take over my characters for the time being}

Megumo watched the pitiful ones hurry to the boy that had gotten in his way, and he scoffed. The boy had done something so incredibly foolish and had paid the price. Why would they mourn for him? Megumo would never understand and didn't quite care that he didn't. It was all just more signs of weakness. He cursed, realizing that he would have to face the lot of them if he wanted to retrieve his sword. He pushed past them, removing his sword. He did hear Gwen's words, but it was not until he had stepped back to where he was, idly running a finger against the flat of the blade. He finally looked up, but not to respond to Gwen's threat. "Pull back!" he yelled. He curled his fingers around his blade, looked up at Gwen, smirked, and ran back to his Marchhound, who stood, waiting for him. He mounted the beast, moving back alongside the others retreating.

---

With the sword no longer keeping the wound closed up blood started to gush and Leaf snapped into action as she tried to stop the blood flow even though she knew it was pointless. Leaf worked quickly to stop the blood flow, her brow knit in concentration in her race against time.

Blossom, who had rushed over after seeing Leaf rush to Berry's side, clutched his hand and gave him an anchor as Leaf worked on closing the wounds.

---

"Coward!" Gwen screams out as she watches Megumo mount the Marchhound. She knows that there was no way she could possibly chase him down, but her fury made her irrational. She takes off after the Marchhound and probably would have tried to follow it deep into the woods if it weren't a hand grabbing her arm. The sudden stop nearly causes her to tumble to the ground. Somehow, the same hand manages to steady her and stop her fall.

"Don't be stupid" Irida tells Gwen sternly. She shoves Gwen back a bit. This time, the momentum throws her onto the ground. Gwen's hands clench and she turns her rage onto Irida. She opens her mouth to say something cutting but closes it upon seeing Irida's shocked expression. Irida curses to herself as she surveys the area around them. The devastation was enough to drain the fight out of Gwen. She slowly rises to her feet and gasps at the amount of bodies that littered the floor around them. Still, her eyes keep returning to Barry, who was still laying motionless on the floor. "Go to him" Irida urges. Her voice was hard and her face was unreadable. Gwen would be impressed by Irida's ability to hide her pain if it weren't for her own heartbreak overshadowing all her senses. "Go" Irida says again. It dawns on Gwen that she had been standing here starting at Irida.

"Will you be okay?" Gwen asks. The question was stupid, but she felt like she needed to ask it.

"I'll be fine" Irida snaps. "Go to him" she repeats. "I'll deal with-" a single crack seems to break through the wall that she had expertly put up, because she winces at the verbal assurance that all of this was real. "-This" she finishes.

Gwen knows that she should help Irida with the bodies, help Irida reassure the group, help get the group moving again. At one point she would've been able to do that. But she was weak and gave into her emotions. She walks over to Barry, but respectfully keeps her distance away from the four. "I'm sorry" is all she says, her voice was barely audible. Who she is saying sorry to, and what for is a mystery.

*Tani dropped to the ground and cradled Barry's head. She began to talk to him and try to comfort him* Hey Barry, your going to be fine! Your going to make it! *Tani looked up at Leaf and Blossom with her eyes on the verge of tears* He's going to be alright! Right guys?!

Leaf didn't answer Tani, her hands were flying over Barry's wound and her medical bag, her face knit in fierce concentration as she worked desperately to save his life. Barry's life force just kept expelling itself from the wound, but it was slowing. Normally this would've been good, but Leaf didn't dare get her hopes up, not with the possibility that Barry's vital organs had been ruptured.

Instead, Blossom voiced for the both of them. "Honestly Tani, I don't know. The wound's pretty deep, and judging by all this blood he's already lost, the sword busted something vital. Probably one of his organs." Something warm and wet was touching Blossom's knees, Blossom looked from Leaf and the dying boy to her knees. Barry's blood was soaking her dress at the kneecaps. Her stomach dropped, all of her years taught her that once a blood pool had reached a certain point, there was no going back. Blossom looked up at Tani, a look of anguish swam in her eyes. "It's going to take a miracle for him to make a full recovery, just to get him patched up properly is going to be a full miracle within itself."

---

*Luke stumbled around the battlefield, he felt around as he went along and heard as Tani was talking to Blossom and Leaf.* Tani? Are you ok?

*Tani looked towards Luke with tears in her eyes and then it occurred to her. Luke and Barry were basically brothers.* Luke, just stay where you are! We- *Luke interrupted Tani* Where's everyone? Where's Barry? I lost track of him in the fight *Tani's eyes widened. She didn't know what she was to say. Her voice began to break* He- *Tears began to roll down her face and land on Barry's cold skin. Tani saw as Luke slowly made his way towards them. His face was inquisitively looking in her direction. But then stopped when he felt his foot hit Blossoms medical bag, knocking out several things. As Blossomrushed to pick up the things, he slowly knelt down and felt around looking for the things but then felt something. It was Barry's boot. He slowly moved his hands up Barry's body and felt his bloodsoaked clothing. As as his hands inched closer to Barry's face, his skin began to lose its color. Then her felt it. Barry's face. It was cold. Cold as ice. Luke began to cry* Barry?? *He heard no response. He grabbed Barry by the sides and shook him* Barry answer me!

Leaf had eventually stopped working when she had tried to restart his heart, only for her attempt to only push more blood out of the wound. With a very heavy heart, she looked at Tani and shook her head then started to clean and pack up her medical supplies. When she had finished with her stuff, Leaf started to pick up Blossom's things as well. There was nothing more they could do for him.

Blossom gently pulled Luke away and sat him down as she braced herself for Luke's outburst that would be driven by denial and anger and refusal at Barry's death. "Luke. He. . .Barry didn't make it. His wounds were too great and despite Leaf's vast knowledge, it was already too late. I'm so sorry."

---

*Luke hugged Blossom closely and began to cry. She slowly began to pat him on the back.*

*As the others grieved the dead, Maddy sat in her wheelchair. Another one of her friends were dead because of her inability to fight, but it wasnt just anyone of them, it was Barry. Sweet innocent little Barry. It was just one more death Talla was responsible for. One more death that Talla would pay for.*

Rose watched from behind Tani. "I'm sorry." she says, moving forward to stand beside her. She didn't know what to say. Her absence from the nation left her feeling fairly lost. Her eyes cloud over as she stares into the distant trees. She remembers the horrible morning, when Mallory went missing. Rose had gone out to find her, only to find her mangled body hung in a tree. Rose pauses. "They probably feel like this now." she thinks, still unsure of how to continue.

---

*Tani began to take deep breathes in as she tried to calm herself. She put her hand on Rose's and held it tightly* Rose... If we ever find that Cloak, make sure he suffers. Ok?

A lone figure stands inside the treeline. He is hidden within the darkness. He would be almost invisible if it weren't for his long white hair. His clever eyes scan the group, seemingly looking for a certain person. He straightens up, spotting his target amongst a group of people. They all were huddled over the body of a young boy. He lowers his head in shame. He should've done something, instead, he stood here, cowering in the darkness and the hopes that he wouldn't be spotted.

He raises his head up, his eyes sharpening as he steps out of the woods. He forces himself to release his guilt. He had a job to do, he couldn't do the job if he were dead. D*mn you Megumo, d*mn you Winters thinks to himself as he moves through the caravan.

Nobody seems to notice the strange man moving through the crowd, their eyes were dazed. Most were either filled with shock or agony, or even a mixture of both. They were too focused on their own thoughts to him. He moves over to a lone woman standing outside of the group. She doesn't even notice his presence until he places a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for your loss" Winters whispers to Gwen sincerely. Gwen jolts in surprise, she twists away from Winters and pulls out her sword.

"What are you doing here!?" She shouts. But before she can drive her sword through Winters' ​chest a body suddenly slams into her. Strong arms wrap around Gwen's body, pinning her arms in place so that she can't move them.

"Winters... I thought we agreed that you'd return to her when we arrived at Kestrian" Irirda growls as she fights to keep Gwen in place.

"You know him!?" Gwen asks in bewilderment. She manages to shove herself off of Irida. "You!" She shouts while pointing her sword at Irirda, "Tell me what's going on!"

"It's a long story" Irida replies calmly. "One that we don't have time for. I promise I'll explain everything to you later. For now... let's just say that he is an ally."
...
How are you holding up?" Sage asks Maddy. She had noticed that Maddy was alone inside one of the wagons and had wanted to check up on her. Sage knew that Maddy had been close with Luke and Barry. "Stupid question... you don't need to answer" Sage replies quickly. She holds a hand out towards Maddy. "Would you like to say goodbye?" She asks softly.

*Maddy's eyes began to tear up and she spoke in a whispered rage.* Take me to them... *Sage looked at Maddy with pitied eyes. She opened the wagon and helped Maddy out before wheeling her over the rough terrain to Barry's body. She saw small pools of blood forming near every corpse they went by. But then she saw Barry. His eyes were glassy and seemed to stare at her. She looked away and began to breath heavily. Then she saw Winter's and looked up at Sage.* Take me over there

Sage nods, even though there was no way that Maddy would've seen her nod. She wheels Maddy over to Winters, Irida, and Gwen, who, despite Irida's assurance, seemed prepared to attack. She had yet to drop her sword and kept switching between pointing it at Irida and Winters every time they attempted to try and step forward and disarm her.

"What's going on?" Sage asks warily.

"Irida seemed to forget to mention that she befriended a Cloak" Gwen growls. "The same one who has been trying to assassinate me" she adds.

"Oh don't be so dramatic princess. I've only been trying to get your old charm back- we both know that your fighting skills have worsened" Winters fires back. "Would you have given me the same energy if you didn't think that you were fighting for your life?" He asks.

"He left the Cloaks" Irida explains to Gwen.

"How can you trust that?" Gwen asks. "How do we know that this recent attack wasn't part of his doing?" Gwen asks.

"Because that attack was partly meant for me. Megumo- I'm sure you met him, was sent to take me down" Winters explains.