James rolled his eyes at this, and shook his head. "And I've been in the field where a hunter cut his own finger off out of sheer stupidity, and continued to work against my calling. Now, while you've no missing finger, a wound is a wound, and no matter how small it is, a wound needs to be addressed."

The man crossed his arms at this, and just stood there like a bump on a log. There was no way she was moving all of that without his aid...not with how badly she was shaking, and he knew it.

"The needles from quiverbark tree work wonders. They have this hole where the needle leaf holds fast to the branch. THey're tough as iron when heated up in a small fire." Mordecai knew that she'd need some guidance on that. Fires here were fickle things.

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"The..."Ngea started to say something then huffed. "Never mind." She growled under her breath then shook her head. She set the knife down hard, the sound of the metallic blade hitting a rock making quite the sound. "If I didn't need your help moving this I'd ignore you. However I need your help moving this so..." she waved one hand and lifted her chin in a annoyed and sassy fashion. "Have it your way."
It was as she said, she'd be just fine shutting James' voice out any other time. But she did need help and he was probably right about her shoulder. She'd never say that aloud of course, her stubborn streak would never permit her to admit anything like that.

Adlaide nodded. "Sounds easy enough to find. I nearly pricked my hand on one of those trees when I was hiding from that creep." Her mouth wrinkled into something like a scowl. She went off again soon returning with three of the short needle like spines. She then remembered she had several items that might even work as needles, but she needed those pieces of her past more now than ever. Especially if the came in handy later.
While she didn't have the spark warm or even well lit, it would work well enough to start a fire. Soon enough she had a little fire burning brightly. It was very hot, hot enough it barely even smoked.

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There was a shake of his head given at this. "I'm no child of fancy royalty and crap," James sighed after a few moments, moving over to look the injury over. "But what I do know is one must always have an open mind...especially when they're in a seat of power... Earth, the place I come from, lost all kinds of respect for that seat, and the planet practically killed itself because people were to stupid to settle their differences and get on an even level... Out of the billions of lives living there on Earth? Only ten ships, each carrying about a hundred people, were sent out into the vast space to find other planets to live on... From what I know...? THere's only two now..." Two humans alive... He and his sister were practically an extinct species...

Mordecai forced himself to sit up a little more, ears standing straight up and his attention upon what Adlaide was doing. She was... Wow. She was quite resourceful. Brilliant, really. "...You and your brother...where is it you come from again?"

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Ngea blinked, she shifted into a wolf and lay down her dark head on her paws. She didn't see what his rant had to do with this situation but understood he felt deeply about the topic. She looked into his eyes and sighed. That didn't sound easy at all, a entire planet dead? Only two people left. Just two, and Ngea knew exactly who those two people were. James and Adlaide. She'd probably never understand how it was to loose an entire planet, but she understand loosing most everything and everyone.
She didn't say anything, she stayed silent and still while he looked the wound over. The poor man. It was then she realized the last thing he needed was her sympathy. She kept her mouth closed listening, drinking in the words as a friend might listen.

Adlaide sighed and sat back away from the fire. "It was called Earth." She said softly, eyes staring into the sparkling yellow flames. "I took so much of it for granted..." She murmured, more to herself than to anyone else. Her eyes flickered up from the fire and narrowed suddenly. "Don't ever do that, take something for granted... who knows how long it will stick around."
She fell quiet, her eyes flashing back down to watch the fire. Her heart twisted and wrenched in her chest, a sudden sadness washing gently over her. She'd taken the ship for granted as well. She'd been one of the lucky ones though. She supposed that experience had been like the Titanic, too many people for the amount of life boats built.

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It was truly hard to tell how the siblings felt... James held back all he felt, even from his sister. Sure, he seemed distant quite a bit, but by how he was tending to Ngea's wound, it was easy to tell that this man cared a lot. He soon had her wound covered as best as he could manage, and ran his fingers through her coat. "Well... Shall we get moving...?" They had a carcass to take care of. The bones were bound to come in handy. He could already foresee a use of those antlers on the strange rabbit thing.

Mordecai was silent at the sudden outburst. It wasn't anything serious, but the emotion behind it was raw, powerful. He glanced then to the young vampire girl nearby, she just messing with her hands at the moment. "I don't, if it helps. I know how much life costs... Taking things for granted often makes you lose them faster..."

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Ngea stood to her paws and twisted trying to see her shoulder, it certainly felt better. "Thank you James." She nodded and shifted back into her human form. "Yes let's get this meat out of here." She started wrapping the meat in the hide, storing the more useful bones here and there as they fit best. She too was thinking of a use for that splendid rack the rabbit had had.
She paused turning slightly and peering across the meadow. She could hear movement, and smelled something... she couldn't quite tell what as it was swirled with many other scents she knew well. She started moving faster then, eyes flashing up every once in a while, she also kept the knife handy, simply tucked where she could reach it lightning quick.

Adlaide nodded numbly and glanced up. "I suppose it does." She replied softly. The needle was done, and she had carefully strung some of the string like fibers as she would when sewing back at home. She rose and moved over to Mordecai, carefully stitching the worst wounds close. She was very careful, each movement quick, precise only accompanied by the slightest grimace ever so often.
She noticed that several of the cuts had also sliced muscle, not too deeply but deep enough to cause worry crease her brow as she worked.

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James noted her worry, glanced towards where her gaze had gone. A small frown was given, and the man gave a soft sigh. This was such a mess, in all honesty. Shaking hsi head a bit, he wondered what it was they couldn't do. That was when he pitched in, packing what meat they could. Much as he hated to say it, the stomach was bound to make a good waterskin... It made him wrinkle his nose in distaste, but what more could he do? They didn't have a choice, but to live off the land.

"Don't worry to much about it," Mordecai chuckled, sensing her worry. "They'll heal just fine." Wolves healed far better and faster than mortal men. So did vampires, for that matter...but he'd not bring that up just yet.

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Ngea finished up her load and tucked the skins edge in, folding it in such a way that it would not be able to unbind itself. She picked up the load holding it balanced on her good shoulder. With her free hand she scooped up the rack of horns. When they were done all that was left were some of the useless guts, a few bones and a few slippery bits of fat Ngea had discarded when butchering the thing.
The packs would be fairly heavy, actually very heavy, but it was good they were gathering all that. Still, she could hear and smell things approaching, causing her to be somewhat on the tense side. As soon as James was finished packing his load she started out. The rabbit like skin smelled terribly, dragging out a rather ridiculous expression and placing it firmly on Ngea's features.

Adlaide nodded, carefully breaking the last thread before withdrawing with a nod at her handy work. It wasn't the worst sewing job in the world, in fact it was probably one of her better sewing moments. She wiped her sweaty forehead with the back of arm, holding her slightly bloodied hands in a funny way.
She used the remainder of the soft grass to wipe it off then she sat near the fire. "This place is going to take a long time to get used to." She muttered to herself letting her chin come to rest on her knees.

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This made James snicker a bit. He couldn't honestly help it. Ngea's face was absolutely pricesless! It made him laugh, no less. "You need me to carry anything?" he asked. What he had was relatively easy, in all honesty. He'd carried deer back before whole. Easy as pie, but he also did work out a lot, so that helped him to stay in shape. Seemed he'd be refining all that work here, and putting it all to good use.

"Mmm... It'll grow on you. This is home for us. Beautiful, wild, and a little dangerous most nights." This was all true, and it caused Mordecai to smile. He soon forced himself to sit up though, being mindful of the stitches that were in place. "You can weave a small back from the fine fibers as well, and store the rest of the strands and needle inside."

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(I still haven't figured out Ngea's hair. Each time I sketch something it just doesn't seem right.)

The expression on Ngea's face fell away to be replaced by a near glare aimed at James. "I'm perfectly able to carry this." She knew her face had probably been hilarious, but still, she hated to be laughed at. Had she seen it though, she would have laughed at it herself.
Most of the intricate braids that kept her hair from her face were falling loose, Ngea took note of this and sighed. "I'll have to re-braid it later." She muttered under her breath. The reason for keeping her hair up all the time was purely for practical reasons, having any amount of loose hair in battle wasn't any fun when against hair pulling enemies. The richly colored nearly black colored locks finally fell free from all their braids and now bounced gently with her every stride. This seemed to get on her nerves as she constantly tried to push most of it into a simple bun with one hand to keep it off her neck. The bun idea failed miserably and a low huff was given as it once more fell free.
She fell into thought as they tromped through the heather covered meadow up towards the terrible little ridge. James was far more than a little useful. Once he got a hand with his other form he would be quite the formidable hunter and fighter. He was strong, and it seemed he was perfectly fine with hard work. That was perfect, for in this place in this time all that could be done was hard work.
Her mind fell further back as she began to ponder the prophecy. What did it mean? How were humans to save this world. Wouldn't that mean they would be the rightful leader? While she'd be fine with this the populace might not, they were used to having her family lead and rule. Her family had indeed done it well, the people had looked on them with great respect and honor. While Ngea wasn't at all looking forward to leading, it almost would feel wrong for her to shrug of the responsibility to the humans.


Adlaide nodded. "I think I'll grow to like it better once it's fairly peaceful again." Her hands got to work weaving the soft grasses into a little pouch. It wasn't a very intricate or beautiful weave, it was going to be a thick and sturdy weave that was for certain. She didn't have to focus much on what she did, and for this she was glad.
Brainless work her hands could do would be nice for a few moments. The fire snapped and crackled, and the warmth felt good on her skin. One thing she had noticed since being turned into a wolf-folk, she didn't get cold half so badly or as quickly now. The fire would be helpful once James and Ngea got back too. They'd be able to cook some of the meat on it, fairly fast too, since the fire was so hot.
"One things for certain though, this sure beats the boring, grey and white way of living on the ship." Her nose wrinkled. "Though all that time being bored out of my mind has been helpful. That's when I took up sewing, weaving and a few other hobbies. I suppose now they'll be somewhat essential now that I'm here. I won't ever get bored here, that's one thing I can appreciate in this moment." She glanced towards the Vampire girl, thinking back to when that one person had been lost to the night-folk. She wondered if this being knew what had happened to that said person.
She blinked her silvery blue eyes and fell silent, her thoughts whirling softly in her head, each one following a precise and careful pattern. Some thoughts branched off into others and soon enough her hands had stopped working and she stared her head cocked to one side, into the enchanting red and orange fire.

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(That sucks. :/ Hopefully you get something soon!)

What it meant was honestly a mystery.... Who knew what would come of it, if anything at all. A soft sigh was given, James glancing back towards the skeleton they'd left behind. Hopefully whatever had been watching them wasn't going to follow. They couldn't exactly afford to fight again... "I wasn't being rude..." he then muttered softly to himself. These people had absolutely no idea when people meant to offer help, and when they were being ridiculed did they...?

"What's on your mind?" Mordecai asked after a few moments. No, it didn't occur to him that this young woman might be a ranger. Her clothes were tattered and torn, she in a rather bad way. Ngea hadn't seen her yet, but chances were...? She wouldn't be able to miss those eyes of hers.... Those were her sister's eyes.

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That wasn't the complete truth. They knew to some extent when they were being offered help and when they were being ridiculed. Ngea just, well she was sick and tired of someone always trying to help her. She was royalty for goodness sake, every servant at the castle had asked her if they could help her with something. Did she need help getting dressed? Did she need someone to run down to the kitchen to fetch a plate of food? This was just her way of pushing back against that life. She wanted to be able to do something without help, or being asked for once, if she needed help. She took a breath, a slow easy one which betrayed her thoughts. She was capable of doing this, sure if she wanted help she'd ask for it if she wasn't being stubborn.
She leaned forwards, marching up the hill, her gait jerking and slow. She was plenty strong, but balance was hard with such a bundle and a steep hill. Her golden eyes cut back to glance at James. Perhaps she should apologize? But how, she wasn't exactly the best at apologies.

Adlaide's eyes snapped back into focus and she looked up. "Hmm? Oh, just a simple little notion." Simple enough sure, but little? Not exactly. A soft little trill rose in the back of her throat, rising to a gentle hum as she glanced down at her work and got started once more.
It would be done soon enough. She figured her notion would be proven or not fairly soon. Her fingers flew, finishing the pouch within a few short minutes. She then tucked the needle and some left over thread into it. She smiled and tucked the little pouch within her pocket. Her assortment of odds and ends was growing wildly. Perhaps she should sort out all the things she had stashed within these new pockets. She considered it then decided against it. She could do that later, and most likely she'd probably throw some stuff out. Which wasn't a good idea really, especially since most things she had stashed in her pocket could be re-used as something different but important.

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She didn't really, truly, need to apologize. James was awfully silent the rest of the trip though, and once back up to the ridge? He set down the bulk of his load. He needed to understand where Ngea was coming from as well, really. The fact was that he didn't quite understand her position. He and Addy had always had to fight tooth and nail to get what they wanted, and getting on that ship of theirs hadn't exactly been a cakewalk, either. James wouldn't admit how he had even gotten them their ticket onto the ship in the first place when he'd been confronted by Adlaide. One couldn't exactly blame him...

His attention did not go anywhere in particular, to be honest, but he did move to sit off by himself, a sort of lookout, if one would. Food was far from his mind, and he didn't even pay any attention to their fifth party member...

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Ngea's bundle dropped from her shoulders and she gave a cry of joy. She spoke somewhat rapidly, in her native tongue. The words were fluid and swift as she practically flew to her sister. It was only after she saw the chain and her sister's new form did she stop for a second. Tears glittered coldly in her eyes and she gave a half sob. "My sister." She threw her arms around her sister and hugged her for a long while, tears trickling from her eyes in a steady crystalline flow.
Back home she had been told her sister was dead. She wasn't. She was alive. Ngea's emotions ran hot and cold, the icy hatred for the night-folk, the fiery passion... it all ran together in a warm quickly flowing tide. She released her sister and stepped back, struggling to reign her emotions back in. "Look what they did to you." She almost whispered, her voice so hard and cold it was nearly a shock to her own ears.


Adlaide hadn't been wrong at all, nor had she known how right she would be. She jumped to her feet, catching up the bundle Ngea had let drop. She took it over to the fire, but paused to watch the reunion. She glanced at Mordecai and nodded, this is what she had been thinking. She hadn't known the vampire girl as Ngea's sister, but she'd thought she might be the lost ranger.
She pulled the bit of wire from her pocket, fingering it. They'd have to get that chain off her neck. By the looks of it, and by the sound of it, Ngea sounded about ready to tear off after the folk that had done this to her sister. The only person that remained of her family.
She then moved off and sat next to James. She wanted to say something, but didn't seem to be able to form any words at that moment. Finally she just didn't try and stayed quiet staring off towards the fire for a long moment. Their numbers were slowly creeping up, but why would that change anything. Those shadow things just regenerated as soon as another was killed.

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The young vampire girl gave a squeal of surprise, and a bit of fear, all mixed together. Her own memories were slow, fuzzy, but that was a voice she recognized. Vampires.... The evil ones were cruel, heartless, often ripping memories from their victims they chose to turn. The good ones were few and far between, often nursing the victims back to health. "S-sister...?" It was the first word she'd spoken since having come up the mountain. It seemed her broken language might return, if the memories from her former life could be given back to her.

Mordecai, honestly, was in pure shock over it all. He just watched, staring. The fur along his neck and back raised, canines bared momentarily before his jaws clacked shut, the sound like iron. It was clear just how he felt for this family...and it made his hatred burn all the more for vampires, the night-folk. Cruel, heartless creatures....

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