Mary
**Two Clans, One Mountain**

It had taken Volgras longer than he had expected to find his way to the retched land that was Salvainia. One wouldn't name the demon sailor of the year, nor would he like the title. Unbeknownst to him, Volgras missed his mark. Where he had been shooting for New Salvainia, or at least a neighboring city, he had overshot the distance greatly. The waters pushed his vessel north, and only by the grace of chance, did he hit land. Except, this land was nearly halfway up the continent; long enough for the oni to grow sick of fish—the only form of sustenance for a 'sailor' lost at sea. 

He despised ships but not as much as the hatred he felt crawling through his skin like spiders itching to break free. *My clan __banished__ me. Everything, ruined!* His mind seethed as he wondered aimlessly through the seemingly endless parade of forest trees for days—not a town in sight. Fortunately, he still had his horse, which bore the burden of his equipment. Crown among the group of weapons was his composite bow, which he had used to scrounge up some local game. His archery skills weren't the best, but when someone was hungry enough, the arrows kept flying until they hit their mark.

After his dismissal, his family had taken his prized armor saying that he wasn't worthy of bearing it. Lucky for him, the man's sentence wasn't a permanent one; he had at least been allowed an immediate family member's gift—coin. Coin enough for his horse, his leather armor, a lance and the sword he carried at his side. It wasn't *His* Sword, but it would do. Volgras had gotten used to using magic lately, but his battle acumen with it was nearly non-existent. If he got into a scrap, it would come down to his skills with a blade—which as with most Oni, were advanced.

Days had gone by and something new entered his field of vision: a mountain. It wasn't a long peak by the looks of it, but it was *Different*. Different than the forever forest and perhaps different food.
Rene
After separating from the woman camping near there, Kora took her own path and kept exploring the mountains for a bit more. Along with her horse, she held tight her sword in her fist while her shield and some carrots she had collected were attached to the horse. Kora knew she had to eat soon or could suffer consequences, but where could she find people at this mountain? She stopped for a bit, sitting against a tree and lightly hitting her head on the wood, her cyan eyes looking up to the cloudy sky.

Kora held her sword in front of her body, staring at the runes written on it and thinking about all the pain she suffered and all the events happened in such short time. Her left hand ran through her own hair and landed on one of her knees.

*Is it my fault? Why do I need to do such a thing? I just wish you were here, Kai...* She thought and looked around, leaning the sword on the tree and walking toward Bloom, the Clydesdale with Kora's shield and loyalty. "I think we will need to stay here tonight, Bloom." She chuckled and kept her smile for some seconds before it could disappear.
Mary
One wouldn't call the oni a loner per say, but even during his time with his clan, he had begun to separate himself. His clan had attempted to bring him into the fold again, he knew that. He had seen their efforts to soften his need for battle, although, they had been in vain. In truth, that had fueled his passion for the sport—seeing how much they wanted him to stop made the power he felt all the greater. It wasn't until they had shown him magic, the arcane, that his blood lust tempered. The best in anything are alone; they are at the top of the pyramid and equals become fewer and fewer. Volgras had become aloof within his the band of his own people. At first with the sword and then all the time he spent pouring over books.
-
It was with this understanding of the solitary path that the demon trekked foreign territory, now. Volgras had grown to grab loneliness like a blanket on a cold night; a night like tonight where he assumed it was just him and his horse—the only companion he felt the need to talk with when he ventured. Everyone else be damned. Humans, elves, and all the rest... They didn't care about the oni, and now, the oni didn't care about him. *Fine. I don't need them. I don't need anyone.* It was a brooder's tone. A sentiment that he carried with him even before his banishment; the mood had only grown deeper like a maiden realizing her face is now that of crone: always there but now apparent to even herself.
-

The stars began to twinkle as they do, and the tall blue figure decided it was time to break for camp. The cold air didn't bother him so much, but he didn't feel the need to fight off wolves while he slept. Fire aided in that department, plus he still had today's minute kills. Throwing his leg over the dark haired horse, it came to a stop where the man properly dismounted. The benefit of an endless forest was the limitless supply of firewood. After gathering enough, he began the slow process—unaided by magic—until there was a satisfying crackle in the air. Fiery sparks snapped and blew with the light cool breeze, while his horse fed on some oats after their jaunt up the mountain. The air was cooler here, fresher. It too knew the benefits and costs of solitary life.
-
Pulling out the rabbits he caught earlier, he impaled them with a sharp stick and fashioned a stand to rest above the whipping flames. Those with a nose for food, eyes to the sky or just the watchful traveler might wonder into his camp. Volgras hadn't changed form yet, so he sat on a tree stump in his natural blue form. Youthful golden eyes with a tinge of blue and purple lit the camp as his arms coaxed the fire with another stick, sending bright embers sailing through the wind.
Rene
Kora couldn't handle her hunger and all the feelings consuming her inside. She got up to take a breath and her eyes and horns slowly began to turn and glow red, which could be seen from a place near as the sky got darker into the night. She took her sword and began to walk.

The red Oni could hear and smell someone's presence near hear, which made her go crazy in some way. It had been a few days since she had felt anyone around this forest. Her horse followed Kora through the woods, approaching the camp made by the Blue Oni. The flames getting brighter as the two approached. Kora's senses never lied to her while she used them. 

The red glowing eyes stared at the flames, her face and eyes shinning more by the light made from the flames. Then, Kora's eyes could slowly glance at the Blue Oni. As she caught sight of him, memories could run through her mind. Her hand landing by a tree hiding her body, and her fangs appearing as her mouth half opened.

*"The fire... I saw it everywhere. I heard my family and friends, all suffering and screaming as mysterious shadows attacked them behind the high flames. I saw everything... Even my loved one, Kai, didn't survive it. Why do people need to take everything from me? Why can't I have the life I wanted when I was younger?"* Kora thought after remembering the most painful scene of her life.

The woman decided not to show any aggressive expression or movement, slowly walking from the shadows toward the Blue Oni and his camp. She had red glowing eyes, a long straight pink hair going down to her hips, with bangs. Her red horns were short-medium. Fearless and confidence could be seen in her eyes while she took a few steps toward the unknown man.
Mary
Volgras spit off to he side. "Sneaking up on folks is a way to get killed, you know." His voice was calm as he knew his blade was only inches from his hand, its hilt resting on the stump with him, however, it was still sheathed. The scent of charred rabbit would fill the camp. Four skinned creatures cooked nicely over the kissing fire. 

Flashing his eyes up to the newcomer, the Oni met a familiar look. Physically, the red in her eyes gleamed like the woman he had been partial too before 'the accident'. The sight of them stirred his stomach not unpleasantly. However, there was something else in her eye. Volgras wasn't the best with emotions, nor did he care for them. Life was simple, and he liked it that way. But *That look*, well, it was like looking in a mirror—color be damned.

"Not too many out in the mountains on a night like this. Hungry?" He raised a hand to the empty stump a third around the fire ring. "If you're here to hunt me, I'd rather my opponent not look half-starved." He had assumed that this red-skinned brothers sent an assassin after him in a revenge effort, but Volgras would be damned if he was going to fall to someone on the verge of the shakes due to hunger. If anything, he was a fair man—at least when it came to bloodshed.
Rene
Kora slowly walked toward the stump, holding her sword tight into her right hand. She sat down and stared at him with her eyes still glowing. Bloom could just lay behind Kora and look toward the blue Oni. "Even if I'm hungry, you don't have the type of thing I eat. Thank you, anyways." She looked up at him, with a try to control herself and make her eyes go back to their cyan color.

He could see the sword with runes written down on its blade, the runes were similar to some old runes Onis used in the past. Its blade seemed sharp and light at the same time.

Kora looked at the sword next to the man and glanced up at him. "Don't worry. I'm not here to hunt you. And I don't want to fight." She sighed, adjusting her shirt and sabatons. "Who are you...?" She arched an eyebrow at him, trying to know more about him with simple questions. She leaned back where Bloom was, crossed her arms and put a leg over the another. She seemed to be thinkful and peaceful while her eyes glanced at the stars dancing by the night.
Mary
Volgras raised his dark shaded eyebrows and pulled back his tight facial skin into a grin. "Suit yourself," He said without lowering his grin. He liked them feisty. He soaked her figure in with his eyes, which landed on her weapon of choice. *Another sword fighter,* He mused silently. The marking hadn't gone unnoticed; seeing them on her blade pained him slightly. He lamented the loss of his own blade and armor. The imposter blade at his side was solid in its own right, but it was *His*. 

"Even if you were, I wouldn't worry. Death in battle is honorable, but I can appreciate not seeking a fight." He poked the fire again before placing his prodder on the ground. Grabbing hold of one of the longer skewers he used for one of the rabbits, he drew the morsel near but didn't take a bite. Not yet, anyways. "It seems you entered my camp. Who are you?" He squinted in her direction before allowing a smirk to escape. "But if you must know. . . I'm Galin, the wandering Oni." It was a lie. He disliked people knowing his business, and he wasn't too sure of her intentions. Plus, he *Did* Just upset the entirety of the Red Oni clan at the Six Demon King Festival. Announcing himself as Volgras, the Banished, wasn't survival smart. He would serve his five year sentence and prove them all wrong by claiming renowned without them. Without his family.
Rene
Kora got her posture back and coughed once, glancing at the fire with a little smirk forming on her lips. "I understand." She smiled at him and continued to look at the fire. "My name is Kora. I come from a foreign land and I want to- I mean, it doesn't matter." She looked at Bloom with a kind of sad expression, thoughts running in her mind. After hearing his name, she smiled once more. "Nice to meet you, Galin!" She yawned lightly, putting a hand to cover her mouth.

"So you're a Blue Oni, uh?" She assumed it by seeing his appearance. Kora didn't have any problems with other Onis, she didn't care about their clan or skin color. Kora held her sword and landed it next to Bloom and her Kite Shield.

If "Galin" Had attention enough, he could see a family crest attached to one of Kora's belt. It had the symbol of a bird spreading its wings to fly.
Mary
She was right. It didn't matter, at least not to him. Volgras had half a mind to shoo his guest away, but selfish boyish whims combatted his good sense. "Kora," He said testing the name out on his tongue. It sounded human, which was fitting for someone who chose to look that way. Conversely, he preferred his natural form when possible, but humans seemed jumpy in the company of demons. The elves were less so, but still denied his kind due to some form of racial elitism. Thinking on it, the Oni had become a little like that over time. Not with each other necessarily with regard to other species. So much so that they had ostracized themselves—at least in the case of the Blue Oni, who lived alongside the Beastkin Tribes away from 'civilized' society. 

"I am," He replied cautiously, taking note of her fatigue and her show with the blade. "So, you fancy yourself a swordsman?" He took a bite of the rabbit on a stick; truthfully, the small game wasn't to his liking either, but if he didn't see a fish for a year, he'd be fine with that. "What does a swordsman do on a mountain, alone?" His eyes gleamed in her direction as they changed color to a bright azure.
Rene
She sighed and close her eyes for some seconds, looking back at him with a serious and sad expression. "Uh, it's not like that and... Well, I'm trying to restart my life..." She crossed her arms, thinking for a bit before continuing. "I come from a distant Kingdom, its name was Kingdom of Aurae. Unfortunately, something horrible happened. Many deaths... Probably I'm the only one that survived it." She looked at the flames, anger covering her eyes and filling her inside.

"And you? What are you doing on a mountain? If I can, I assume you're not relaxing or just traveling."
Mary
*Well, I didn't ask for all that...* This was becoming much too serious for a conversation between strangers. He didn't even like to talk to others. Did he have the words `Tell me all your problems.` written on his forehead? He hoped not because that would make his banishment unbearable. 

"Aren't we all," He said insensitively. He wasn't here to babysit the girl, although, age was a bit difficult with their species. She probably wasn't much different than him in years. Volgras was only thirty-two, and since hitting twenty, he hadn't aged a wrinkle. "I haven't heard of no Kingdom of Aviary." He mispronounced the place but in his defense, he wasn't paying much attention to her plight. Everyone had their issues. It was best to keep it that way—unless there was coin in it. That was different.

The stick was proving annoying to him, so he ripped apart at the lean meat with his strong hands. "I'm looking for New Salvainia or work. Whichever comes quicker." This was the truth. It was known that fancy boys and girls had even prettier coin that they'd spend sooner than break a nail or dirty a shoe. Volgras would have no problem taking some of their purse's weight if they were willing to share the load.
Rene
"Hm..." She stared at him for some seconds before yawning once more. Kora took off her sabatons and her gauntlets, placing them next to the horse behind her. "If you don't mind, could I stay with you until we reach the nearest city?" She arched an eyebrow, knowing the possible answer he was going to give. "I promise I won't disturb you!" She smiled at him, laying down on the grass next to Bloom. She looked up at the stars and glanced again at the man, a smirk forming on her lips.

She got her knees up, digging her toes into the dirt. "And, I can be useful. Not saying that you need someone or that you care. I just want some adventure." She raised her right hand o the air and thumbs up to him, looking straight to the sky. "Oh and the name is *Kingdom of Aurae*, not *Aviary*, silly." She chuckled for a bit.