The Salquedor Grasslands were peaceful and quiet, as always. There was no one around to be seen, just the birds and rabbits. A forest could be seen in the distance, and that was all as far as landscape went. The rest was just flat terrain. Yet, in this show of tranquility, a strange shimmer appeared in the air. It was sort of like the haze that heat caused, yet this was different. There seemed to be something... magical about it. It glowed brightly, then, with a flash, disappeared, leaving something behind.

That "something" was actually a man, one with pitch-black hair that extended down to his waist. He hit the ground hard and his legs went out from beneath him, depositing him in the dirt. He groaned in pain, and then stumbled up, trying to get his bearings. As he glanced up, he froze. All around him was light. Burning, bright light! He immediately looked down again, a hand shooting up to cover his eyes, which had seen nothing but darkness for the past eleven years. His eyes burned, as they attempted to adjust to the light.

It took a few minutes, but finally, he was able to look up. What he saw amazed him. He was in an open expanse of land which stretched on past his vision. Where was he? The place seemed familiar...This must have been a place he had seen before. Obviously, though, it was hard to remember details. After all, he hadn't been on this plane for eleven years.

That reminded him. The demons! Were they still chasing him? They could come jumping out a portal at any second. He had to get moving! He began to stumble forward, wincing in pain with every step. He realized that he must have gotten beat up pretty badly in his escape. His shirt was soaked in wet blood, as was his leg. His wounds were obviously still open.

Concentrating, he focused his mind, drawing up the power for a healing spell. He began to draw energy from himself, directing it to heal his many injuries, but never managed to do so. He simply didn't have enough energy. Trying to do so fatigued him to great extremes. Deciding that his wounds would have to wait, he began to slowly walk forward, into this new, yet old, world.

Every step was torture. There was no way he could keep on going like this. Finally, his body had had enough. With another groan, he collapsed onto the ground, dust rising up around his fallen and motionless figure. There he lay for at least half an hour. Unable to move, unable to heal himself, unable even to shout for help. He was simply too exhausted. It wasn't until he felt a wet nose press into his hand that he looked up.

Bane froze. There he saw a four-legged creature sitting on it's haunches, looking at him. He had been gone from this world for a long, long time, but he knew what this thing was. A wolf. He had always been told that wolves were cunning, carnivorous creatures that should not be approached. Yet this one seemed to not be interested in hurting the wounded man. No, it was looking down at him with curiosity. Bane stared back at him, his body tensed. If it decided to attack, there was nothing he could do to stop it. But after five minutes, it lifted up it's head, and let out a beautiful, saddened howl. It was the most wondrous sound the man had ever heard.

The wolf turned from the fallen man and began to run, run for miles, it's tongue lolling out of it's mouth as it panted from exertion. It finally slowed, panting heavily, as it saw someone. It paused, it's head to one side, as it stared at this person curiously, hopefully.

With an irritated yet pleasant sigh, Daiki emerged from the forest that surrounded the grasslands. Hood of his cloak pulled over his snow white hair, he raised a gloved hand to his lips to wipe the remains of his lunch away. Luckily he had found a limp rabbit, enough to hold him over for a just a bit until he was able to find something larger. His shaded eyes shifted color from red to gray as the ever lasting hunger was tamed for the moment. Scanning over the area, the white haired vampire made his way toward the path that led to the Village of Estolad.

However, he had hardly made it a yard before a large, four legged figure headed toward him. At first he had hardly noticed it, but soon the scent grew stronger and was finally enough to pull his eyes toward the approaching wolf. Normally he would have taken advantage of this to have a second lunch, but a sense of urgency was shown in the canines eyes. Eventually, the vampire had beat down the urge to eat and started following the wolf as it started running toward it's destination. As the animal picked up speed, Daiki matched it with ease as they went on for miles, nothing but the soft rolling plane as far as the eye could see.

Soon enough though, something interrupted the peaceful landscape. Small pools of blood started showing in a line, signals of something wounded had been trying to make distance when it obviously shouldn't have. Only a few yards after the trail had started, it ended at a man sprawled on the ground in agony. The bright red blood that painted the front of his shirt and pants leg sent Daiki's eyes whirling red again, blood lust building tremendously.

'C'mon, he's half dead anyway! Just drain him of what blood he's got left. No one will know, there are no witnesses! Do it, you know you want to!'

Sieg's demented voice cracked through Daiki's mind, followed by an encouraging grunt and maniacal laughter. The vampire shook his head violently; he would not give into the evil tainted spirits wishes. He gave no mental response as he mentally shut out the voice, making his decision. He knelt down next to the frail shell of the man, examining him for where the wounds were. Gently moving his blood soaking leg, he, made a small rip in the pant leg where the most amount of blood was stained. He started with the only spell he knew, Minor Heal. It wouldn't completely heal the wound, but it would probably allow him to walk. Possibly painfully, but still able to... at east until they reached town, where he could get him help from someone more knowledgeable in the healing arts.

As the amount of healing that could be done from the spell had been exceeded, he moved onto his torso, finding the wound easily. The scent of the blood was ripping at his nostrils, beckoning his fangs to glide easily into the wound. Eyes flashed red as he took in the sight, but still fought the urge. He would not become one of them, one of the vampires that gave every human ample reason to hate them should they ever discover his secret. Licking his dry lips, he ignored the hunger that had returned as he continued working on healing the wound. Strange, to think that only minutes ago he had been fully content, and now he was nearly drooling at the sight of the torn man. As the healing was finished -- well rather, as good as it was going to get, Daiki leaned backward and examined the man's current state. He still wasn't in great shape, but undoubtedly better off than he had been when the white haired vampire had found him. Patting the wolf on the head, he looked down to the man once again.

"How are you feeling?"

How long he lay there, Bane did not know. The wolf had left him, and now that he was gone, he was saddened by it's departure. Now, he was truly and utterly alone. Sure, living in the underworld had been horrible, but his sister had always been at his side to keep him hoping, to keep him sane. Now, he had escaped, leaving her behind, only to bleed to death in the middle of nowhere! He silently roared with frustration.

Some time later, he heard someone approaching. Looking up, he saw, much to his amazement, that the wolf had returned. At it's side was a white-haired man, who walked to Bane's side and knelt down. Bane watched him warily, wondering what he was going to do. Surprise and relief spread through his mind as he saw the stranger cast weak healing spells in an attempt to seal the terrible wounds that Bane was sporting. They did next to nothing to the vicious cuts, but it slightly dulled the extreme pain that the black-haired man was feeling.

"How are you feeling?" he was asked.

Bane glanced up at the fellow, his eyebrows raised. How was he feeling? Couldn't the man figure that out without asking? He was bleeding like a stuck pig! He was feeling horrible!

"I'm...not feeling very good." he answered. It was a severe understatement.

Getting up off the ground was a grueling and painful task. He braced his arm against the ground and shoved up, closing his eyes and groaning as his whole body began to throb. Eventually, after several unsuccessful attempts, he was able to get into a sitting position. As he sat there, gasping, the wolf walked over to him and put it's head in his lap, looking at him with it's eyes. Bane stared down at it, feeling a strange sense of gratefulness. It seemed impossible, but the beast had somehow known that he was dying, and had gone for help...

"Thank you," he whispered to it.

He then set about a much more daunting quest: standing up. He didn't think his legs would support him. Yet he couldn't sit here all day. He hadn't forgotten about the demons that would surely be looking for him. He doubted that the beasts would cut their losses and let him go. Surely by now they had realized that he was no longer in the underworld. Therefore, with that motivation pressing him forward, he shakily stood up, gritting his teeth to endure the pain that was shooting through his thigh.

Panting slightly, he studied the man that had come to his aid. For the past eleven years, the only mortal beings he had seen were those that were confined along with him in the demon's camp. The sight of this being was new and interesting. He didn't appear to be very old: Bane himself was certainly older. Of course, he had no idea what his own appearance was like. There were no mirrors in the underworld. The only mental image he had of himself was one that was current eleven years past, when he had only just become a teenager. Certainly, years living in the underworld had changed that.

"Where am I? he asked the man. It would probably seem a strange question, but he truly had no idea. The only memories he had of the mortal plane were vague and hard to recall.

OOC: Heh, I read over that this morning and went "Why'd I ask that?" Keep in mind I wrote this at 2:00 in the morning... not my best time for writing >.>
P.S: Sorry for shortness, being rushed by the evil homework T_T
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Daiki thought about that question for a moment, then looked over the broken man once again. 'I'm... stupid.' He thought to himself with a frown. Perhaps it was the lightheaded feeling he was getting, looking at so much blood and restraining the urge to drink it. Shaking the thought from his mind, he looked as the man looked at him like he had three heads for asking that, and he had to admit he would do the same. Anyone to ask a question like that from someone that was in that condition... had to be mental. Resisting the urge to slap himself in the forehead, he listened as the man dramatically down played his pain. It was obvious to anyone with eyes the amount of pain he was in.

Looking over the man's wounds, he began to wish he could do more, but his skills in magic were limited to that one spell. He needed help, and the man's next actions certainly weren't going to make it any easier. As he struggled to stand up, Daiki reluctantly went to support him. Standing while in that amount of pain... it couldn't be good. The vampire found himself wishing he had learned more about the medical arts when he had the chance, but then the reason he had decided not too hit him. Being around that much blood, all the time... there was no way. He was surprised he had even been able to use this one spell. Sighing, he tried more so to support the man's weight, but gently so as not to upset the wounds; he wouldn't make it far if he were to try to make it alone. At the man's question, he glanced around to find the path to the village. Luckily, it wasn't really that far from where they were.

"The Salquedor Grasslands, the Village of Estolad's not far from here, hopefully someone with medical experience can be found. Um, maybe you should sit back down... I can go get someone that can help."

The white haired vampire urged; he was no medical expert, but it was obvious what needed to be done. He would leave the wolf there with the man, head into town, find someone that could help, and there you go. He sent an encouraging glance to the man, then questions began ticking at his mind... but those would have to wait until he got back from the village with medical help. Until then, he would work on convincing the man that he shouldn't move.

Bane stumbled, finding it increasingly difficult to remain standing. Fortunately, the man came to support him, and he found that with the man's help, he was able to keep himself from doing a face-plant into the dirt. Still, it was difficult to stay on his injured legs. Every second took energy, something that he was lacking in. But he couldn't stop. He couldn't give up.

"The Salquedor Grasslands, the Village of Estolad's not far from here, hopefully someone with medical experience can be found. Um, maybe you should sit back down... I can go get someone that can help."

"What!?" Bane said, panic spreading through his body, causing it to tense up. "No, I can't! They'll be after me soon enough, if I stay here they'll find me! I have to keep moving! The demons..." he shook his head, trying to clear his scattered thoughts. He had been running for so long on adrenaline, and now that all of the motion had finally stopped, he was forced to stop and ponder the events of the last few hours. He still remembered his sister's face, as he was forced to leave her behind and go on alone. If he waited here, surely the same thing would happen to him. His pursuers would catch up, and in his current state, would be powerless to stop them from bringing him back into that literal hellhole.

"It won't do any good." he finally said, trying to sound calm. "I can heal myself, I just don't have enough energy right now. All I need is rest...but I can't stop here." He took a few hesitant steps forward, wincing every time he put weight back onto one of his legs. After only about ten paces, he drew his katana from it's sheath and stabbed it into the ground, using it to support his weight.

"You may want to get out of here," he said, speaking to the man. "It's highly likely that demons will be showing up here pretty soon. I'd suggest running before they arrive. Otherwise, they might try to take you as one of their prisoners as well. I appreciate the help you've tried to give me...but trying to assist me any more might put your own life in danger."

Sighing, he looked down to the ground, wondering what he could possibly do to escape this scenario. It was possible that the demons didn't know where exactly the portal had placed him, meaning that he would be safe for now. But he couldn't take that risk. He glanced back at the curious man that had come and tried, selflessly, to help him. Surely, faced with a possibly life-threatening situation, he would leave immediately, not caring what happened to the man that he had found bleeding in the middle of nowhere? It was the kind of thing that one who had lived in bleak darkness for half of his life would expect.

Daiki stumbled slightly in shock as the man started panicking at the thought of waiting there. He was about to try to get the guy to calm down, freaking out couldn't be good for his condition, when suddenly he started going on about how they would be after him. They? Who was -- wait, demons? Well, that explained one of the questions the vampire had in mind. 'How did this happen?' The white haired teenager felt a pang of sorrow for the man; he had dealt with his fair share of demons and darkness in his past, except he had almost always gotten away unharmed as they naturally assumed him one of them.

As the man suggested that he run, Daiki froze in place. What, and just leave him there? What chance did he stand against any amount of demons, even if only one? He knew the damage the darkness could do, his own element being that of shadows, and he had no doubt that this man knew of their power as well. Yet the torn man suggested that Daiki, fully capable of taking him to safety and fending off any attacking demons, leave while he who could barely walk just sit around alone and wait for his death? He walked over to where the man had stabbed his katana into the ground and looked at him with a bewildered expression.

"You expect me to just leave you here, knowing full well that I could get you to town or at least fend them off to buy you some time to get there? You're suggesting I just let them come and kill you? No way in hell, I'm helping in any way necessary. Whether it's carrying you or killing those bastards, you're getting out of here. Got it?"

He suddenly found it his responsibility to get this man to safety; something about helping people and saving lives made him feel... like the opposite of what he was, and he liked that. Long ago he had made it his duty to help and save people as he entered the army in his human life, and it still applied here. It made him feel as if he was helping in some way, despite the fact that if anyone found out what he was, then they would forget all of the things he had done and develop a burning hatred for him; it had happened enough times to know that if it happened with this man, he would die fighting the demons pursuing him.

Daiki grinned and withdrew a gloved hand to the inside of his cloak, resting it on the hilt of his hidden long sword. He thought about the situation for a moment, and a strange irony was set over his mind and the grin quickly disappeared. This man, who was so devastated and so set on getting away from the demons... was being aided by his very enemy. It was probably more important now more than ever to make sure that this person didn't find out about his true bloodline. Should he find out that the blood that ran through his veins was tainted by darkness and evil that he had never wanted, that he was the very thing he was trying to escape, there would be no way in hell he would accept his help, and he would surely die.

As long as he didn't find out until after they had gotten to town where he was safe, everything would be alright. He didn't care if he found out later and hated him with every fiber of his being, he wouldn't blame him after what the demons had seemed to do to him.

((OOC: Argh, really short post. Sorry about that. I was wondering, would you be interested in having a continuation topic in Estolad? I don't think this one will last but one or two more posts, but I'd like to continue RPing with you.))

"You expect me to just leave you here, knowing full well that I could get you to town or at least fend them off to buy you some time to get there? You're suggesting I just let them come and kill you? No way in hell, I'm helping in any way necessary. Whether it's carrying you or killing those bastards, you're getting out of here. Got it?"

Bane was momentarily speechless. Why would this man help him? He had no obligation to help the man he had randomly happened upon. The prospect of death would override anyone's conscience, even the most moral of men. This stranger should be able to leave without looking back, not concerned in the slightest. Yet he was going to stay and aid him?

Bane decided that it warranted no further discussion. If the man wanted to help, he would let him. He knew full well that if he wanted to get anywhere anytime soon, he need someone to assist him. So he merely grunted, and took a few more steps before pausing to rest again. As he looked down, trying to catch his breath, the wolf came to his side and began tugging at his sleeve, the insistence of the action almost causing him to tumble over. Bane smiled down at the four-legged creature.

"You're right." he murmured to it. "I've gotta keep going. Didn't I tell Karie I'd come back for her? If I go down here, that won't be possible..." He turned to the man. "You were saying something about a village, weren't you?" he asked. "Just how far away is it? It probably would be a good idea to stop there." After a moment of thought, he added, "Thank you for helping me."

((OOC: Sorry for short, late and craptastic post. Real life issues have been getting in the way lately. Also: Sure! To Estolad it is.))

Daiki smiled as the man gave in with a grunt. As the wolf nearly caused him to topple over, the white haired vampire went to help support the man. At the question of how far the village was, Daiki scanned the area to find the path again, and was pleased to see that it was only a few yards away, hard to see only because of the trees that bordered the area somewhat blocked it from sight at a certain angle. Calculating the distance of the path, he made a rough estimate of about half a mile, maybe a bit less in fact. Now, whether or not the man would make or not was something he couldn't determine -- that would be up to him.

"Umm, the village is roughly half a mile away... probably a bit less."

He gave a questioning glance, as if asking whether or not he could make it that far, but the words wouldn't form. It was after a moment that he really took the time to take in the appearance of the man beyond the obvious and the wounds. The man was obviously older, but not by much - maybe by six or seven years. Then there was his height; he seemed around six foot tall, about five inches taller than himself. These details obviously didn't need to be focused on right now, but as he ran through possibilities of how to get him to the village before passing out due to blood loss, something nagged in the back of his mind, for once not Sieg. The nagging thought was how it would appear; a teenager helping a twenty some year old to safety. This was obviously unimportant, but the knowledge that he was actually about a century older than this man stuck with him for some unimportant reason. He snapped back into focus after a minute of thought, waiting to see if the man thought he could make it to the village; if not, the white haired vampire would most likely have to resort to... carrying him...

(Alright, great. I'll PM you with the topic once it's made. It might be a day or two, my schedule is a little uncertain at the moment.)

"Umm, the village is roughly half a mile away... probably a bit less."

Bane nodded. Half a mile...that wasn't very far. He could make that. He knew he could.

"Just...just give me a second," he said, as he leaned heavily on his sword. He closed his eyes, trying to catch his breath. There was a painful stitch in his side, but he managed to block it out of his mind, thus throughly ignoring it. It's just pain... he told himself within his mind. Pain can be ignored. Concentrate on something else...

So he focused his mind and cast out a mental hand into his surroundings, drawing within him pure, sweet magic. He did not use it, just held it within himself, reveling in the feeling of power. It comforted him to know that he had such power, made him feel more confident. Once he he gotten some rest, these wounds would all but disappear under his healing magic. Then, he could start planning on how to rescue his sister.

One step at a time. he opened his eyes and pulled his sword out of the ground, then sheathed it. Without the support, he swayed for a few moments, but managed to regain his balance, and the dizziness faded away. Experimentally, he leaned heavily on his injured leg, putting most of his weight on it. He didn't collapse. Exalted with his new found strength, he too a step forward, though he still needed to lean on the stranger to keep him upright. However ,he found that he could walk, even if somewhat unsteadily.

"I can make it." he said with certainty. "Let's get going."