The Traveler

[EdwardQuinn]

Taking a deep breath, Edward stood up from underneath the tree that had been his sleeping place just a few minutes prior. Yawning, Ed shielded his eyes against the blazing sun and began traveling into the town he was right outside of. It had been a while since he stopped to get supplies for his travels and he was getting low on food. A good sharpening job on his sword wouldn't hurt either.

Almost lazily, Edward strolled through the town until he arrived at the market place. Beginning to look around, he spotted a stand selling some sweets. Jackpot. Ed wasted no time on buying a handful and he happily ate it. Ed was a sucker for sweets, no matter how much it was 'bad for him'. Besides, he would eventually work it off with all the walking he did. Continuing to look at all the trinkets, Ed finally spotted the blacksmith.

"Gotcha." Ed smiled and started towards the man in the greasy apron. "Excuse me sir, I need you to sharpen my sword." The man told him how much it would cost him in a gruff voice. Inwardly flinching, he handed over the money reluctantly. This place sure was expensive... The Blacksmith told him to come back in an hour and it would be ready for him. Ed took this chance to gather some more food for his travels. He bought enough to last him at least a week, but knowing Ed he would have it gone within three days tops.

[elena]

Elena pulled the hat down farther over her head. She couldn't let these people learn that she was an elf. Trading was only allowed in Hopskil, but she had went straight to the source. The bow across her back screamed 'I'M FROM THE FOREST!!!!', but no one had seemed to notice. They all appeared to be too busy to bother with the random pale blond girl who was covered in dirt. She probably wasn't good enough for these humans.

Finally reaching a spot with clothing displays in the windows, the girl walked inside. She needed some green fabric to make a new dress for Sarah. Though it was kind of pointless to be buying cloth of this value, she couldn't care less. Picking out multiple green colors, she handed the money to the clerk and got three yards of each. Stuffing the neatly folded wares into her pack, she spun. The woman caught a gllimpse of her bow.

"What a strange weapon... where did you get it?" Ears twitching slightly under her hat, the girl turned. "I traded it in Hopskil. The man was wanting a nice dress for his wife, and he had this bow to trade. I thought that it was nice..."

"Certainly you realize it was crafted by elves and is a meager, worthless weapon?" The woman had a tone of disdain in her voice. As if on que, Elena's face turned red. That was not a very nice thing to say. "I'll have you know that you are the ugliest, pig faced, nasty woman I've ever seen, yet you insult elf handiwork? Clearly you cannot even use your own loom, for this cloth is poorly woven, yet you say my bow is worthless? You humans are a pitiful, sickening race! You'll meet your fate some day!"

With those harsh words, the girl spun around and took off out of the shop. Surely she'd soon have some of the King's cronies on her heels.

[EdwardQuinn]

Ed had walked by a store and heard someone yelling, although that wasn't saying much because so many different people were talking at once, it was hard to even hear himself think! Ed shrugged it off and kept walking.

Once it seemed as if he had searched the whole market and gathered everything he needed (and a few things he probably didn't), Ed headed back to the blacksmith to pick up his now perfectly sharpened sword. He thanked the man for his work and walked back out onto the street. It was probably almost mid-day by now. He should start moving again. Sighing, wishing for another nap he knew he wouldn't get, Ed headed towards the outskirts of the town.

[elena]

Sure enough, as soon as she had found a decent hiding spot behind a nearby hedge, a group of guards ran by. Staying as still as possible, Elena began to weave her way back out of the city. Just as she was approaching the exit, a man spotted her. "The elf! She's there! GET HER!" Elena growled. This sucked. Thing never went as she planned. All because that stupid woman had insulted her bow.

Turning quickly on her heels, the girl took off back to the other end of the alley. "I hope they don't..." More guards appeared in front of her, confirming her fears. Using her last resort, she whistled, summoning a small glowing gold boy. The boy looked up at her, nodded, and turned into a giant bird. Picking her up in his talons, he flew up above the city and took off. Setting her down just outside, he disappeared as quickly as he had came. Stupid, stupid humans. Hopefully this wouldn't endanger her people...

[EdwardQuinn]

Just as Edward had made it to the edge of the city, he heard someone yelling something about an elf. Well that was just lovely... What was an elf doing in these parts? Didn't she know she could get in real big trouble here? Ed looked around, silently looking for the mysterious elf girl. He knew helping her wasn't the smartest option, but he also knew that he would help anyway. It was in his nature. He never stood around and watched someone else suffer. It just wasn't right. Although he knew he could get in trouble, it wouldn't be the first time, and he was SURE it wouldn't be the last. What was one more. Ed saw something fly over his head and watched as it landed a few yards from him.Taking a closer look, he immediately knew it was the elf. Smiling he waved at her.

"Hey! Come with me if you don't wan't the guards on your tail!" He knew she might refuse, but he would try anyway. No one was getting this elf as far as he was concerned.

[elena]

Elena turned around and say the little guy waving at her furiously. What in the world did he want from her? After hearing what he had to say, she considered the offer for a moment. "But how do I know you're not just going to lure me into some kind of trap?" She couldn't help but to be overly cautious. After all, she was running from humans and he was a human. Yet, for some reason, she didn't think he was on their side.

Be that as it may, she couldn't risk a wrong decision. Nolan wouldn't offer much help the next time. So she could either run right now or hang around a second for him to talk. So, in her opinion, he'd better make it snappy.

[EdwardQuinn]

Edward scoffed. They really didn't have time for this! Tapping his foot, Ed sighed. "Look, miss, The last thing I want to do is get involved with the government. I'm a traveler. I never stay in the same place for more than I have to. I can guarantee you'll be safe if you stick with me so make up your mind. Do you want to come with me or not? They'll be here soon. If you absolutely have to, you can ask questions later." Ed looked around and spotted some guards creeping towards them. He shifted his weight, getting ready to run as soon as she made up her mind.

[elena]

Elena shrugged. She didn't know how to respond to that kind of a reaction... "Fine. See if you can keep up. I'll meet you at the front of the forest. Got it? Good." She was running out of time, so she figured it was best to keep things short and sweet. Perhaps that was just her opinion, though. As soon as she had finished speaking, she took off like a bat outta hell toward the forest, sprinting nearly the whole way there. It was probably a good thing that she was trained with the boys when she was younger, considering how every time she did this it only seemed to get her into more and more trouble.

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[EdwardQuinn]

Edward sighed in relief and took off after the girl. She was fast, he'd give her that much. Luckily, since Ed was in good shape, he didn't have much trouble keeping up with the girl. Only one problem; the soldiers were still on their heels. They were really a pain in his butt. All of the government was. It didn't matter where he went, he never seemed to get a break!

Once he reached the edge of the forest, he kept moving, dodging through some of the trees, hoping the girl would follow suit. It seemed the only way to get rid of these guys without a fight would be to make them lose their trail. Ed's breath came in short puffs now and he was getting more tired. Still, he pushed himself harder and kept moving at all costs.

Risking a glance back, Ed looked for the guards. They were nowhere to be seen. That was a good sign... He took the chance and slowed down a bit to catch his breath.

[elena]

Elena was tired of being chased by these morons. She was done running from them. Grabbing a tree limb, she pulled herself up and hid in the top of the tree. Readying her bow, she took aim at a nearby tree. Just as the guards were about to run by, she shot an arrow in front of their face. Barely missing his nose, he stopped dead in his tracks. "Leave the woods and you won't die. Missing you was no mistake." The man looked up at the tree. Thanks to her natural appearance and talents for camoflauge, Elena was hidden safely in the leaves. Sure enough, the man turned around.

"We'll have to go back, then. Girl, if you come back, you're dead." With those few words, the man left as quickly as they had ran after her. Getting down from the tree, Elena looked for that other boy. Where had he gone?

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[EdwardQuinn]

Finally able to catch his breath, Ed leaned against the closest tree and looked around for that girl. He knew he had saw her come into the forest... Oh boy... What if she had gotten herself caught? Ed knew he shouldn't care less, but he had practically promised that girl her safety, and, darn it, he wasn't a man to go against his word! Pushing away from the tree, he headed back the way he had come. Pausing in his tracks, he could have swore he had heard someone... He slowly started towards the direction the voice had come from when he saw one of the soldiers running away. Ed pondered this. "Well that was weird... Soldiers don't usually run away like that..." Ed had that habit of talking to himself. It would get him in trouble one of these days, he just knew it.

[elena]

Elena growled, pulling her arrow smoothly out of the tree. Well, as smoothly as she possibly could, of course. "Should've shot him in the head, making me waste a perfectly good arrow like this on the likes of him." Putting the projectile back into her quiver, she turned, only to hear that boy talking to himself. He seemed to be just on the other side of the tree. Peeking her head around the huge trunk, it seemed that she was right. Thank God she wasn't the only one who talked to herself. Though it really wasn't that much of an Elf thing to do.

"There you are. I was beginning to wonder where you went. It's not very masculine to run away."

[EdwardQuinn]

Startled, Edward jumped at the girl's voice. "Oh my God... Don't do that! Are you trying to give me a heart attack or something?!" Ed gripped his chest and sighed in relief. For a minute there, he thought it had been one of the soldiers and that he was going to have to kick some major butt. Thank God it was her. He was too tired for a fight right then. "Anyway.... Where did you even go? One minute I was running, then the next minute I look back and you're gone."

[elena]

"You humans are so silly. I simply climbed up the tree and shot an arrow at the leader guy's head. They all chickened out and ran away. Not really that much of an accomplishment, but it's nice to know that they'll leave me alone now." Elena didn't really care that he hadn't noticed, nor that she was capable of accmplishing such things. She wasn't going to brag to him about it or anything, but she figured she could still take him in a fight. After all, he was just so... bite size..

[EdwardQuinn]

Edward blinked at the girl. He decided then that he wouldn't get on her bad side. Although he was an excellent fighter, he still doubted his own skills against an elf. He didn't want to push his luck. "Ah, I see. Well with that interesting escapade done and over with, I think I should take that as my exit cue. I don't think you'll need my help, but where exactly do you plan on going? It's not that often I see an elf around these parts anymore." He supposed it didn't matter, but he was a curious person.