Ngea nearly shook, her rage evident as she stared off towards the trees. She spat out a harsh sounding word, one which was basically a curse word in their language, then shook her head trying to calm herself. It took several moments and a few very deep breaths. "They said you were dead... I'm so glad you're not." She didn't want to break the news of their parent's deaths to her, not yet. Not until she was free from the shackle and had regained some of her memories.
Ngea wiped tears from her face and then gave a little smile. "I'm so glad you're alive."


Adlaide listened from afar, it was obvious everyone here hated the night-folk. For good reason as well. She was just glad that not all of Ngea's family was dead. Obviously that had been a huge strain for the young wolf-woman. That made a lot of sense of course, Adlaide understood that much. She'd lost all her family, well everyone except for James.
Speaking, or rather, thinking of James she glanced towards him. He was very good at hiding things from her, but she so wished she could tell what thoughts were going through his head. She felt somewhat awkward just then, and shifted going to rise and walk away perhaps even find some chore she could attend to.

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The young woman jumped at the sudden aggression from both Mordecai and Ngea. That had been unexpected. She felt some form of joy, though, she couldn't explain why. What was she missing...? This was... This was her sister. Yes, this was her sister. "I... I... Off?" She gently tapped the shackle, then, about her neck. "She promised..." Adlaide had promised she'd get it off, but hadn't yet. Why hadn't she yet? Her gaze slowly drifted then to the siblings, and she noted one was like a stone wall, and the other was moving off.

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Adlaide was already on her way over, the wire now bent in a funny loop like shape. She inserted it into the lock then twisted it carefully. She glanced towards James, this was one skill he'd never known about. Both siblings had secrets it seemed.
She gave a sharp twist to the left, then slowly twisted it to the right. There was a mechanical click and then the shackle fell to the ground. Adlaide stepped away, that wire trick had worked way better than sitting around picking the lock. She raised her brows slightly looking at the little wire before tucking it into her pocket.
The only reason she had neglected to remove the shackle earlier was due to the fact she wasn't sure she could do it, and Mordecai's wounds had been on the front of her mind. She stepped back and turned awkwardly moving to open the somewhat stinking bundle.

Ngea watched Adlaide work, her brows rising a little bit. Well, that was fast, and a good skill. Adlaide didn't look like the type to be able to do something like that. Then again, Ngea didn't exactly look like the type to be super emotional about meeting a sister she had thought dead.
Her golden eyes flashed, her mind had fallen to dark thoughts, most likely about what she'd do to those night-folk next time she met them. They'd hurt her sister, stolen her memories, hurt Mordecai, and who knows what had killed her mother and father. The night-folk would not like Ngea much next time they met her, then again they already seemed to hold some sort of grudge against the creature. Who knew why, but who cared. Her pupils shrunk as she glanced towards the fire and then towards the sun which was climbing the horizon.

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"We need to move soon..." Mordecai said. "The sun, Ngea..." He glanced to her sister, the young woman already shying from the rays. She gave a soft hiss, even, whimpered softly. Her immunity to the sun and its light was, in all honesty, zero tolerance.... She's grow used to it with time, and gentle exposure... But this was to much, to fast. James seemed to pick up on it as well, and it was... Well, it wouldn't be good if she caught the full sun. They needed to go... And soon.

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Adlaide picked up the bundle, her eyes widening as she realized exactly how heavy it was. Well, she wasn't carrying it. She set it back down and started kicking some earth over the fire, causing it to go out rather quickly. Only Ngea knew exactly where they were headed after this stop, she just hoped they would actually be able to stick around the next place for a little longer.
Her stomach grumbled but Adlaide ignored it. They needed to get a move on. She sighed, this wasn't the life for her. She hated always having to be on the move, always heading somewhere else. She'd have to grow used to it, especially since she was going to be stuck here the rest of her life, still, she wasn't sure she'd ever like it much.
It made her weary to think they'd always be on the move like this. There'd be no time to learn anything, they wouldn't be able to sit down and prepare. Her brows furrowed and she bowed her head, she let out a forceful sigh and then continued cleaning up the area, making sure to wipe clear the signs that they had been there.
Oh, how she longed for a good book she could just disappear into, leaving all the struggles and hardships behind to enter a world which was gone now. That was the one thing she regretted not being able to snatch before getting on the pod, not grabbing any books. Even a little instruction manual would have been enough to drag her from reality and keep her from actually pondering the problems of this world. Perhaps it would even bring her some great ideas which would help them out some.
She could always go back in her photographic memory and reread the books she had read, it wouldn't be the best way.... but it'd be the closest thing to actually having a book. Maybe she could pen some of her thoughts, write down some of the books she remembered best.
Either way, this world was beginning to put its forceful strain on the young woman, her shoulders were more stooped, and she felt like her eyes always betrayed her worry. She'd try to pretend it wasn't really weighing her down so, but she doubted she would be able to hide it well. Perhaps she should try to smile more, keep her mind and hands busy.


Ngea nodded and walked over to the pack of meat, swinging it up onto her good shoulder. "Let's get moving then. This next sight will be far better. We may even get to stick around there long enough to heal up and start training the siblings." With renewed vigor and steadied nerves, the wolfish female was took off swiftly up the hill behind them and towards the sight which she had originally picked out. It was sheltered from the wind and rain, it was far more defend-able than this point, they wouldn't be vulnerable getting up to it. The enemy would have a hard time reaching them, in short is was a near perfect tactical, and survival area.
The only trouble was getting there from here. Especially on an empty stomach.

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It would be troublesome, yes... James soon got hismelf to his feet, moved to his sister and opted to help her with the pack she was trying to carry. He managed a smile for her, and soon moved along. Mordecai, as well, followed after them. He gave poor Adlaide a gentle nudge, and motioned to his back. "Tell her to get upon my back, you, too. We'll get there faster this way, and she won't need to worry to much about the sun." That was a big issue right now. Vampires didn't spontaneously combust, but it was still dangerous for her nonetheless. Nasty blisters could become fatal to them, if they gained one to many.

(Short post is short.)

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Adlaide attempted to smile back at James. It was not much, but... it worked well. It was far more then the last grimace of a smile she had given earlier. She glanced at the sun as it's peak was nestled very gently between the tops of the many glorious trees.
She loved the smell of the morning back on Earth, the smell was different here but it still was the same frosty sweet scent like home. Yes, that was what she needed to do, just remember the smallest bits of home. Compare this place to home, and keep reminding herself that there would be a way to survive this and maybe, someday thrive in this place.
Her thoughts had been so involving she hadn't heard anything anyone had said, whether to her or anyone else.

(Short post is short, so is my short post. xD)

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(XD Heh, short posts FTW!)

Mordecai rose a brow at that, and nudged Adlaide. "Earth to Pup. We need to get moving before the newborn gets hurt." So, he instead moved over towards the poor vampire. She was nervous, but after a bit of encouragement, she got upon his back. THe young creature nestled down into his fur, found warmth and comfort there. This was nice...truly, it was. "Let's go." That was when he began limping after the other two, glancing back now and again to make sure that Addy was following. She was being rather slow...

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Ngea nodded. "Alright. Just follow me. Stay close the trail isn't the easiest to follow." She moved swiftly, her gait half way between a walk and a slow motion jog. Either way she was moving quickly enough.
Adlaide watched them move and grabbed James arm, "Hang back for a minute," she whispered, refusing to meet his eyes. "I need to talk to you about something." She wasn't proud of the thoughts running through her head, even if she had all the numbers and reasons in the world which supported them. Clearly they hurt her deeply as her eyes were shimmering, clearly tears where threatening to fall.

She watched as the rest of them got down the hill before starting after, walking slowly next to James. She spoke fluidly and yet it was strangely slow. "James, don't interrupt me with what I'm going to say, or else... I won't be able to get through it. Before I start I just want to let you know it hurts me as much as it hurts you to hear what I have to say. Just listen, and promise me you won't interrupt. Alright?"
Adlaide's gaze was strange when she finally met Jame's eyes. They were fierce, but in such a sad way they seemed they might melt under the very pressure which seemed to be burning on the inside. Their soft silvery sheen, no matter how fierce or determined seemed ultimately depressed and aching, to say the least something was bothering her.
She took a deep breath then launched into what she had been thinking about for the last few days here in this terrible place. She'd slowly been building up the argument, but... it still didn't feel at all right to say what she was about to. "James, you've proven over and over you can survive here. You're a survivor, willing to do whatever it takes to survive in this new place. I knew you would survive all this when you got those tickets." She held her hand up and shook her head. "I'm not going to ask about how you got them... but I know for the same reason you won't tell me I know that you are meant to survive here."
She took another breath, this one shook a little, and her next words were somewhat slurred with tears. "I'm not like that. I'm not willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Gosh, I could hardly stitch up Mordecai's wounds without my hands threatening to shake to pieces. The little device I made to keep those night-folk away... I was scared to death, I didn't want to hurt them even though they were coming after us." She closed her eyes for a second, took in a large gulp of air then continued. The tears seemed to disappear and her voice ceased to tremor. Her face had taken on a cold look though her hands still shook. "I'm a drain on the precious resources, I've not proven myself at all. I'm not capable of surviving here. No, don't say I can and will... I'm not strong enough. I'm not willing enough, I may be stubborn but I am to soft to survive." She paused, obviously to let James get a few words in. Perhaps ask her a question, or whatever. She didn't exactly care at the moment, she was having a terrible time try to get her point across.

(Long post is long... also makes me wonder why I am stomping on my own heart. xD)

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James paused at that, frowned a little then. "Adlaide... That's not true at all. If you were to soft to survive? You wouldn't have made that little spot light. You wouldn't have sewn up Mordecai's wounds, and you wouldn't have taken on that single elder by yourself. Survival isn't always about finding the courage to survive...but getting past the fear so you can survive. It's about putting aside your fears so you can live to see tomorrow. You got what it takes to survive, Adlaide. Don't say you don't, because you do."

He meant that, too. Being soft was just who she was, but she was a kind, strong woman, too... She could'nt forget that, and he'd not let her.

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Adlaide shook her head, tears starting from her eyes. "But if I make the wrong decision, it wouldn't just effect me. It would effect everyone, it could get you, Mordecai, Ngea, and her sister hurt, or even worse killed. It wouldn't be fair to them. I used to have faith in humanity, but that was ruined long ago. Now they think we'll help save their world. When we just ruined ours." She continued walking, lifting one hand to her face to wipe her tears away.
"I'm trying, but I can't keep trying. I can't bear to see them loose everything like we've lost everything. I couldn't bear it even more if it was my fault." James had more of a point than Adlaide realized, but the girl believed herself too weak to be able to survive here very long. She fell quiet and walked in silence, her eyes on the ground as they followed along behind the three natives.

Ngea glanced over her shoulder and seeing something seemed wrong she couldn't help but give a sigh. She turned forwards once more leading them on a winding way towards a place a mile out. It wasn't too far by now, and they could even see it. From here it looked even more fortified and easily defend able than she had first seen it as. Then again last time she'd swung by there numbers had been low, and she'd been aching. Now she felt a large gleam of hope.

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James soon grabbed his sister's arm and swung her to face him. He gripped her hands firmly in his own, stared her in the eye. "Now, Adlaide, you know I've got my secrets, but there is one thing I've never done to you, and that was lie. Ngea and I would have died if not for your decision. The truth about choices is that we won't always make the best one. We're two people! The earth was ruined long before we were even born, so you can't even say we had any sort of impact upon it. Putting that aside, what these people need are fresh eyes, eyes that haven't seen their world. We may be the ones to find something they have missed, Addy... So stop being so hard on yourself, alright? You're far more brave than you give yourself credit for...."

At this point, he pulled her into a hug, held her close. "Besides...I'm not leaving my sister behind..." He refused to do that....

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Adlaide whimpered some then sniffled, nestling into the hug. She wanted to believe James, with all her heart she longed to believe every word he had said. However the little seed of doubt was still there, even if most of the plant had been torn away. She knew he would never leave her behind, and that made her heart ache all the more inside.
She could've stayed in the hug all day, but they had to move on. She gently pulled away and attempted a little smile. "Let's get going then, and James... thank you." She murmured, turning to face forwards. She supposed that was the way she'd have to look for now on.
Forwards, to hope, and maybe eventually peace. In mind, spirit, soul and the world. It seemed distant, maybe even clouded and blurry, but Adlaide would search for it. Perhaps even cast away the last remaining bit of doubt. She squared her shoulders and took a breath, walking quickly over the ground.

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James smiled then at his sister's sudden resilence. It was good that she felt more like this. He gave a soft sigh, and soon followed after. They needed to get to wherever it was they were going. Mordecai obviously hadn't stopped. He'd gone into the fortress-looking place, and set the young vampire down. She was so weak it seemed, so tired and exhausted... She'd need blood to survive. It'd do her plenty good, if she got it.

"You two alright?" The wolf then asked. "Ngea was worried for you..." As was he, to be honest. There was no two ways about it, at all.

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Ngea glanced at Mordecai with a slight nod, then glanced at her sister. She shook away her human form and took a bound towards the wilds then paused. "I'll be right back everyone. Get a fire started and perhaps start making some more of those spears. Also get started cooking that meat, we'll all be at each other's throats soon if we don't get some food." She gave a nod then turned, shooting away to go find her sister something edible.

Adlaide glanced at Mordecai. "We'll be just fine." Those words felt good to say, and to hear them made a little shiver roll down her spine. Just fine, yes, maybe even better than just fine, but she'd have to work hard to make sure she continued with this little streak of courage.
At Ngea's mention of food she turned and gave a little nod. Perhaps that was another reason she had grown so downcast, lack of food, lack of energy. Either way she wanted to forbid any more of those thoughts from her mind, that would not only help herself but maybe even James. He wouldn't have to feel so inclined to always looking out for her. Of course she rather liked the idea of her brother helping her, but it wouldn't be helping him, always having to keep looking over his shoulder to make she was doing alright. Yes, she'd do better.
She started moving some earth aside, starting to make a little area where they could start a fire out of the open.

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