Clay sat dumbfounded his home in a charred pile of ash. Questions filled his head as he stood their. Crackling sounds of movement filled his ears but this did nothing to stir his body which was like stone. The ash filled air was mesmerizing but the devastating power that did this made his stomach clench in fear. The sound grew louder till a lumbering form was upon him. Again he urged his feet to move but there they stayed. A black hand gripped his shoulder. As Clay focused on the black and charred form, the smoke had covered him in black soot. Red caked some of his clothing, a lump formed in Clay's throat. Finally the form spoke revealing a raspy voice, obvious damage from the fire but still the commanding tone was their. It was the Lemurinian whom he had cut a deal with, the question had merely bounced around in his head. He didn't have an answer he hadn't been in time to reach them. Was it his fault? The alarming thought made his throat close up. But the Lemurinian's gaze drifted and soon fell on something that made his heart sink.<br/><br/>One of the females from earlier she sat curled up, the male Lemurinian was at her side in mere seconds. Clearly in pain he removed what still remained of his clothing giving it the female. She seemed to be in shock, but what had happened to her clothing? Puzzles filed Clay's mind as he watched the two.<br/><br/>Hotaru continued her chant her last string to her normal self. Nothing but ash and screams filled her mind. Even now she could see Akami fade from her vision. And it had ripped apart of her out. The rustle of wood and voices began to emerge from the wreckage. Her green eyes barely registering the sounds. Only when a hot handed gripped her jaw did her eyes begin to focus again. It was Xiu, and seeing his face brought both joy and heartache. She had not hurt him, not like the other's.<span style="font-style: italic"> Akami, Raedine</span>. They would always be her victims, if she wasn't going to be killed before she would now.<br/><br/>The slight sound of stuttering filled her ears forcing her to focus. Xiu had asked her the one thing she didn't have a positive answer for. Were they alive? Her eyes closed as she tried to will herself to speak but only managed to shake her head from side to side slowly. As she began to focus on things around her she felt the gently touch of the cloth Xiu had removed and covered her naked form.<br/><br/>Just as she started to feel again Xiu’s strong hold gripped her elbow forcing her to her feet. She stumbled here and there but refused to utter a complaint. Xiu’s tone filtered through her mind.<span style="font-style: italic"> The villagers </span>. Xiu was right they should move, one hand gripped the front of her clothes covering her nakedness, the other pulled into by Xiu.<br/><br/>Clay had stood in the same spot watching the two intact, the woman clearly was in shock. The man clearly in pain but seemed willing to only die on  his feet. When his hard gaze focused on him it made his blood chill. A small word a clear command, with amazing luck it was enough to move Clay's Feet. QuickTime he moved to obey the Lemurinian's order. The frightful sound of the horses could be heard everywhere. But Clay rendered the horses that the small group had brought. As his mind focused his feet obeyed. Quickly he came upon four horses two were still, wooden shrapnel protruding from their bodies. Clay swaddled the large lump of fear that beat through his body. Mustering his courage he approached the speed creatures. QuickTime and gently tried to sooth their panicking hearts.<br/><br/>As the whispers of the villagers got lost Clay got lucky, the horses had calmed and had allowed him to bring them to the wreckage were the were reunited with their riders. "I found them, I'll take her so you don't have to bear her weight. You need to be healed before you can handle anything else." He replied on handing over the reins to one of the steeds. His other hand free offering to take hold of Hotaru.<br/><br/>Hotaru's gaze switched between the men, she was too weak to argue at the point. She just wanted on a horse and out of this nightmare of a town.<br/><br/>Via DragonGrame... Rawr