<span style="font-style: italic">"It is not normal at all for Master Daido to go against protocol. And he would usually leave a person to fight for themselves unless the outcome held great importance. But Daido is my personal master. I cannot go against him without tearing the honor I've built for myself to shreds. Honestly though, I have no idea what I was saying back there. The words just came out of my mouth. I have absolutely no idea what they meant. I am also not sure what you mean by 'the mark of Quetzalcoatl'. I have assumed it is referencing the mark on your hand, Faustina."</span>Faustina gently unfolded her hands from across her lap refocusing her mind on the words that Denen spoke instead of the painful ache in her heart. Her rather tall bunny like ears twitched as sounds inside the forest disturbed the brief pause that had taken over.<span style="font-style: italic">"I suddenly sense, many active presenceâ€™s. They are not human, but I believe they are hostile." </span>Denen broke the silent pause as the sounds from deep within the forest became louder. So loud that the sound echoed inside her ears.<span style="font-style: italic"> "Please just trust me on this. It would be better for us to get away from here. I have a very bad feeling. Faustina we must leave. I swear if you cannot walk or move fast enough I will carry you myself!"</span><br/><br/>"So demanding! I can try to move. I guarantee my body will hold up but -" In reaction the words she tried to stand and steady herself. Her feet were killing her, and the fact that one of her feet had a twisted ankle now wasnâ€™t helping any. She watched Donta stand up suddenly his eyes focusing on the depths of the forest. It was then that she registered the thunderstorm like smell that covered the forest.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"I will carry her if needed." </span>Donta spoke unclipping the buckle on his shoulder making her feel even more like a burden. If anything it just drove her to feel even more embarrassed about the whole situation. Then she watched as a katana scabbard came free, and a duffel bag seemed to plop helplessly to the ground.  As if this was a normal occurrence the moogle quickly unzipped one end, and began shoving the katana inside.  Even though logically that shouldnâ€™t have worked, but somehow the sword slid into the bag without trouble. Then he shoved his hand into the bag and it seemed for a moment as if it disappeared completely. Once his hand returned from where it went.. he crouched in front of her.<span style="font-style: italic">"Hurry, get on. Denen, if we attract attention, grab my arm or something. I can hide us."</span><br/><br/>"Really?" She heaved a sigh in aggravation. "Well at least your taller than me thatâ€™s a plus." She got on his back hoping that she didnâ€™t drag him down anymore than needed.<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">I do hope they aren't going for Belazir..." </span>The moogle muttered ,she almost wanted to agree with that. But then a rumble of activity came from within the forest. A large amount of buzzing was coming their way.  As her eyes focused further into the opening that led deeper into the forest she noticed a rather large bird with electricity swarming out of itâ€¦except it was rolling on the ground withâ€¦was thatâ€¦was that a man?<br/><br/>"Well isnâ€™t that a sight to seeâ€¦what the hell ..how did.." Before she could manage to finish a swarm of little birds with white electrical sizzling wings came swarming out of the forest. Her immediate reaction was to leap off of the moogle which unintentionally caused her already twisted ankle into a even worse twisted ankle. However , she didnâ€™t allow it to bother her as she faced the many birds swarming in on them. "Talk about an entranceâ€¦"<br/><br/>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-style: italic">"I am all right, shaky from a searing pain Iâ€™ve not felt since I started working in the forges. As to the help, it would be nice if you could help me gather my scattered possessions." </span>The stranger spoke gesturing the scattered on the ground to Surina in a manor that reminded her much of the Dolvisar way of not trusting a person but she figured at least she could do something. Anara on the other hand still seemed oddly winded from the entire situation. <br/><br/>"No problem sir." Surina smiled and watched the man strap his rather large sword upon his back. "Are you capable of at least getting to your destination?" Her hands worked their way on the ground till she found a few items that belonged to the man. Neither the thought , nor the deed to steal crossed her mind. For some reason she felt that she had stolen enough today, and anyways the man was badly hurt. However, her eyes wandered to Anara who seemed to have a mark over her right brow. One that reminded her of the very mark that rested on her own shoulder. "Anara are you sure your OK?" The concern was simply because the girl was still stumbling around, and unable to hold a damn thing. <br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">Yea..yea.."</span> Anara mumbled this time dropping some sort of item back onto the dull green grass. Her hands seemed to tremble, and her eyes still seemed to be long away from reality.<br/><br/>Surina shook her head in disbelief then went to hand the man one of the items that he had lost. Her hand touched his, and for some reason she felt a presence of the guardian phoenix who must have tried to help alleviate some of the manâ€™s pain. "I donâ€™t know what exactly just happened but some of your pain should be gone." She smiled and then nodded. "And Im sorry about this but I am Surina. Yes a thief , but not a thief from those that do not have much for themselves. Apparently , thieves even have a code of honorâ€¦.or some of us do."  </span>