"We have to retrieve the feathers Ravin, the fate of the world depends on it... even if some of us don't like it... we gotta do the sacrifice" She knew that Otael was extremely uncomfortable with the idea. She walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder "Hey Otael, it'll be ok. We all are here to protect you as well from any kind of harm. Don't feel like you're by yourself in this" she rubed her hand softly on his arm smiling at him trying to comfort him. "I appreciate your effort and bravery by choosing to go to Ravenholt anyways, we'll try to be quick".

Fluffy was the first one to react to the mention of food, she quickly scurried off to where she could eat. Otael on the other hand, took the apple in his large hand "Thank you..." he could only whisper at this point, for his eyes were still burning from the tears and his throat still struggling to loosen up. Jessica came up as well, only giving Otael words of encouragement. It was when she mentioned his "bravery" his heart lifted, never had he been called brave, he only thought of it as a word that would apply to charming knights who always seemed to vanquish dragons and sweep away princesses. Otael had never thought an abomination like himself could be considered brave, and hearing this cut his tear ducts break time short. He quickly started crying tears of joy as he crushed both Desmond and Jessica in his large arms. "Friends!" He cried out in joy as he set them back down. After his impulsive joy subsided he quickly realized that Fluffy was missing, and was almost lost without her. "Fluffy!" He cried out chasing after her.

She giggled at the hug from the big man, and she huged him back "Hehe, you also have a huge heart, that's sweet Otael", then he decided to go after fluffy.

Jessica then said "If everyone agrees... we can move forwards, as long as we stick toghether we should be fine my friends" she said convinced of her words, she steped near Gabriel and smiled once again, simply waiting for others to continue their journey.

"Then moving forwards we shall." Septimius stated, folding up the map and pocketing it away in his ragged robes. "That reminds me," he took the map back out and placed it in his pants pocket. "Does anyone have clothes I can possibly change into, this robe is in tatters." He took off the robe and let it float to the ground. He stared depressingly at the destroyed article of clothing, it had been through so much with him. He sighed.

Desmond was carried up by Otael, the feeling of a hug extremely new to him. He tightened up until he was put down by the big man. He nodded to himself, assuring himself that was a good thing.

He looked to the sack and then at the scurrying Fluffy. The stitcher went to the bag of food and took out a carrot. "Fluffy?" He asked as he waved the vegetable around to get its attention.

Marcus was startled awake by the sound of Jessica knocking on the door and calling to him and Liss. He rolled out of bed from his deep sleep and still felt fatigued. The blanket was pulled off with him as he stood up wrapping it around his body he called back, "alright we will meet you all outside soon".

Marcus looked at Liss as she started to wake up, blushing Marcus threw the blanket over her body and quickly began to put a black pair of pants on that he grabbed from the abandoned clothing store. He could see Liss' head perk up from underneath the blanket as he buckled his belt. "Good morning, beautiful! How did you sleep?"

Marcus listened for her response as he pulled a white t-shirt over his body and climbed back in the bed with Liss.

OOC: I wonder what twists there will be given Ahriman's past.

"I not only spoke of Ravenholt. Otael and I were born there. The Ravencroft vampire family have been in charge since long before my death. I was outraged when I discovered their nature, but rumors suggest I was wrong about them. They seem more noble than most I've heard of. I owe the viscount an apology if they are indeed on good terms with humanity." Ahriman frowns, "That and thank them for keeping the city safe."

Jessica frowned as she heard Ahriman talking about... noble vampires? "What kind of bad joke is that..." she thought before saying "Nobles or not, they're still vampires. And in my book, they're enemies"

Marcus rolled over in bed, not wanting to get up. After a few minutes he picked himself up and moved in front of a mirror in the room. He reached into his bag and pulled out a rather sharp knife, and with one gentle glide he began to cut away at his long hair. He spent several minutes cutting away until his hair was extremely short around the sides, fading up towards the top of his head where the hair was about a half inch thick. He used a towel to wipe all of the excess hair off of himself before putting on a thick black leather vest with blood red markings cut into it, and a black guard that wrapped around his right forearm to better support him when he wields his sword. He smiled at his new look, rather pleased with his appearance. He slid on a pair of black leather boots and laced them up around his legs.

Marcus grabbed his sword and the bag of his and Liss' clothes and walked outside and across the street to another store. He found exactly what he was looking for, a backpack. He transferred everything in the clothing bag into the rather large backpack so he could bring all of his and Lissette's belongings with them.

As Marcus left that store he stopped by another shop. He walked into a cafe to see some townsfolk huddled together, talking about the events that had transpired in their town. Marcus wasn't interested in such things, but instead turned to the person manning the counter, and asked, "How much for some of these doughnuts and a cup of coffee?" The gentleman replied as he began preparing Marcus' order, "I tell you what, I'll even throw in two of me wife's fresh baked cookies for just eight copper pieces!" Marcus smiled and nodded, "you've got yourself a deal, friend." The man quickly bagged Marcus' order and fixed his coffee for him. The two made their exchange and bid one another farewell. Walking towards the group Marcus sipped on his coffee. Black, just the way he liked it.

Marcus approached the gang, ready to go as he ate his breakfast. He wasn't around to hear about where exactly they were going, and he did not care. The thought of traveling with this group was a good thought, they could spare him the details. The man was truly in a much better mood this morning, even after sleeping. Marcus' sleep was so deep that he couldn't even remember his dream. It was the same one, wasn't it?

The group ate their breakfast slowly, enjoying the first true quiet they've experienced in what seemed like an eternity. The sun was now high in the sky, boring down on them. It was a welcome sight compared to the night time moonlight they were accustomed too, however it temporarily blinded them. As they sat in mutual silence, it was eventually decided that it was time to go.

They all stood, and, with Jessica and Gabriel taking the lead, they began to walk back from where they came, except they would go southward toward Ravenholt, rather than the neighboring Falarog that was in shambles now. Considering the rest they had received, it was no longer a horrible task to walk down a path and occasionally talk. It remained like this for a little while, a couple of hours in fact, before Jessica stopped in her tracks. Gabriel stopped as well, causing the rest of them to follow suit.

In front of them was the path that would lead them to the fork between Falarog and Ravenholt. However, beside them was another, much smaller and narrower path. Jessica was drawn to this path, and began to hear a voice, booming inside of her head.

Jessica.... Its authoritative voice pierced her eardrums, and she turned to the source. A pair of red eyes far away in the trees. It sounded like...

Tibalt.

The walk towards Rvenholt has been quiet and peaceful, they stopped at a fork between Falarog and Ravenholt waiting for her team to take the decision to keep going... Jessica started to hear a voice calling her, in the split of a second she recognised it "That filthy scum..." she thought angry. Jessica started to approach the voice slowly with her hand on the handle of her sword and said to him straight to the point "Why do you know what happened that night ? Give me answers!!!"

"Hmm?" Gabriel looked over to Jess when she suddenly jerked, but all that came from her was silence and a growing sense of intensity until it all exploded out of her and the paladin suddenly realized who she was talking to. "What's going on?" He asked, placing a hand on her shoulder, concerned. "What did he say to you?"

As if I would tell you...When you're so far away. A chuckle soon followed. The wind began to gust, sending a mighty breeze through the branches

Jessica grit her teeth with each word, she didn't even pay attention to Gabriel and the demon's attitude towards her made her yell towards the source of the noise "SHOW YOURSELF YOU COWARD!!!".