League of Assassins [[PG-13, semi-lit, Accepting, STARTED!]]

[.:Blu:.]

After being slapped, Riohs fell onto his butt and rubbed his face. "Ouch.... What was that for? I was only joking jeez...." Riohs said still rubbing his face. Riohs then leaped back up to his feet and smiled. "Wow, that was a pretty strong slap Reina. I guess you don't hold anything back huh, hehe." Riohs kept his happy persona knowing that Reina probably didn't mean to do it so Riohs just let it go. Besides, he wasn't the type to fight against a girl if he had a choice. Riohs then leaped onto his horse. "Alright Reina. Hold on tight alright? Oh, and hopefully I won't do anything to get you mad while I'm riding the horse because that'll be bad for all three of us." Riohs said with a smile referring to him, Reina, and the horse they were riding on. "Alright, let's go shall we." Riohs said as he began riding off following the others.

[CristalFlames]

Reina held onto him. She knew he was right. She was still trying to figure out why she slapped him. What was going on with her? She sighed. She wanted to apologize but couldn't get any words out. Reina just stayed quiet and held on. Her head lowered. She kept her gaze on the ground. Reina felt like she made a mistake. She wanted to change it but couldn't She just sat there behind him hiding her face and her tears.

[.:Blu:.]

Riohs continued on riding as if nothing ever happened. He looked towards the positive side of things and rarely hold anything against anyone, especially not a friend. "Sythgren huh? That's our destination. Sythgren's capital is overflowing with guards. It'll be tough to get through without having any confrontations so we need our full energy for this mission." Riohs explained to Reina, but wasn't sure if she was listening at all. "Umm, Reina.... About earlier.... You don't need to worry about me alright? I've been slapped by a girl before, I'm very thick-skinned." Riohs slightly joked to try and reassure Reina. "I'm not mad at you or anything so you don't need to appologize. It may be my fault afterall for joking like that. I hope you're not mad at me, or you?" Riohs asked.

[DarkAngel787]

Selene heard the remark about Sythgren, but anything else that Riohs had said was drowned out by the horses' furious hoofbeats.

"Don't worry, I have a deception in mind. Just let me do all the talking unless you have something helpful to add in!" she shouted back over the rush and roaring of the wind in their faces, and the horses' mad speed.

She smiled as her black robe billowed out behind her and she let the wind cool her down. She loved the feeling of riding fast on a horse. She loved her horse as well.

"We'll stop for a break in ten minutes, Moondapple, keep it up!" she cajoled quietly.

[CristalFlames]

"I'm not mad at you.." Reina told him. She really was mad at herself. She shouldn't of gotten upset like that. Reina blinked her tears away and lifted her head up to look at him. "I'm not mad. I'm sorry..I should of calmed down before attacking anyone. " Reina realized that she had her arms around him so he could see her bruised wrists. She started to pull her arms back. She didn't want to be questioned by anyone.

[.:Blu:.]

"Deception? Heh, well I hope it works! But why should I be worry? I'm a professional thief!" Riohs said with a smile. After hearing Reina's reply, Riohs gave a smile. "Heh, that's good to know. Don't worry Reina, sometimes even I can have outbursts, we're just humans afterall. Sometimes it's something beyond our control so you don't need to think too much about it, alright?" Riohs replied while looking back to Reina with a smile. When Riohs saw her wrists, Riohs' eyes widened with surprise. "Wh- Reina, I know you probably don't want me asking, but what happened? Who hurt you? I don't want to see someone get hurt, especially a girl. So if you can, tell me who did this.... Well, that is if you want to.... I know I may seem overprotective, and I'm sorry...." Riohs said as he turned back to face the front.

[DarkAngel787]

Selene smiled slightly from Riohs's response, but slowed down slightly, intending to give the horses rest.

"Stop here for a bit!" we can't wear the horses down too much, she thought, letting Moondapple graze while filling a bucket with water. ONce full, she hung the bucket in front of Moondapple and the weary horse enjoyed a drink. "I think we should take it as a light canter from here on, we're past the capital walls and we're on open terrain."

She stroked her horses mane.

[CristalFlames]

"I got into some fights before going back to the inn..." Reina told him. "Thats all." She didn't want to go into any details. She had ended the fights quickly and found out her father said she had gone missing. Her mother said they hated her and kicked her out. But her father said she was missing. Maybe her father did care and that was why he looked so hurt that night he mother yelled at her for not getting married. Maybe. Reina wouldn't know unless she asked but she wasn't going to turn back now.

[.:Blu:.]

Upon hearing what Selene said, Riohs stopped his horse and let it rest. Riohs jumped off the horse and then turned around to face Reina. "That's all? Hmm.... Well at least be more careful next time alright? I'm gonna go get something to eat from the nearby forest. Maybe there are fruit trees nearby. Do you want some Reina?" Riohs asked then turning to the others. "Selene, Dante, do you guys want some fruits? I'm going to be heading into the forest for five minutes." Riohs said.

 

-Meanwhile-

 

Saph, Gauge, and Laguna rode their horses towards the Avith region. "Alright guys. We're gonna sneak into Avith ourselves. It shouldn't be too hard. We'll disguise ourselves as Avith soldiers." Saph said as he stopped his horse towards a nearby river. Saph, Gauge, and Laguna then got off their horses and took a seat on the nearby flat-surfaced boulders. "So what's the plan?...." Laguna asked. "Heh, like we need one? Find some Avith soldiers protrolling the borders and BAM! Give 'em a knckle sandwich and then take their gear." Gauge said. "Heh, that's right, or just charge in like what Gauge did in Sythgren that other time." Saph joked. "Heh, right...." Laguna responded. "Hey that time was an accident!" Gauge yelled. "Sure, it always is huh?" Saph asked with a smile.

[DarkAngel787]

Selene nodded, slightly hungry. "That'd be alright, but hurry. I have this idea...we've gotta make it to the Sythgrenian castle though..." she trailed off, looking troubled. She thought about it. Troubled thoughts seeped into her consciousness. What if they were caught? She was wanted and known in Mislet, maybe Sythgren had misletian spies?

No, no, that would be wrong, she thought. Desria's allied with Mislet, not Sythgren..

[CristalFlames]

Reina nodded. She lowered her head again staring down at the ground. She was trying to find out how to get down. She managed to get on the horse but getting down. Reina had managed to get on without embarassing herself. What if she did mess up getting on it next time? Reina just decided to stay on the horse She didn't want to risk being embarassed so she just sat there on the horse still.

[.:Blu:.]

"Alright then everybody, I'm off!" Riohs said enthusiastically as he ran towards the forest, after he passed Reina, Riohs stopped and look back at her, noticing she was looking towards the ground and not getting off. Riohs gave a slight smile and walked over to her. Riohs held his hand out towards her. "Want some help? It's alright if you need some help. I'm always here." Riohs said with a smile as he nodded once.

 

-Meanwhile-

 

"You guys, look." Laguna said as he jumped down and hid behind some boulders, followed by Saph and Gauge. The three peered around to see a group of eighteen soldiers protrolling the area. They were coming closer to the river where Saph, Gauge, and Laguna were hiding at. Saph looked at the three with a smile. Gauge looked back with a smirk. They all knew that they had the same idea.

[CristalFlames]

Reina nodded and took his hand. She didn't want anyone to know she had failed riding lessons growing up. She felt bad. What was said before about her slowing them down was true. She didn't like telling herself that but it was. What was she to do? Reina didn't like asking for help either. She rather just try and do things herself. In this case she didnt want to be embarassed so she just let Riohs help her down.

[.:Blu:.]

"There you go." Riohs said as he helped Reina down. "Look Reina, from the look on your face. I would say that you didn't really wanted help did you?" Riohs asked. "I know you don't want to appear like you need to depend on others, but sometimes we just can't always do everything by ourselves. Sometimes it's good to have help from others so don't think you would appear weak if someone helped you alright? Anyways, I'll be right back you guys." Riohs said as he waved goodbye and ran off into the forest.

[CristalFlames]

Reina looked at the other two. "Is he always like that? Can he read minds?" She asked them. Reina felt like he was reading her mind. Reina couldnt believe what he just said. It was like he read her mind. She had to be careful around him now. She didn't want to think something and him repeat it. Reina just watched him run off wondering what she had gotten herself into. Her stomach growled. She didnt eat anything at the inn or before they left.

[DarkAngel787]

Selene smiled slightly, looking back at Reina. "no, I doubt he can. None of us can with pure talent, though I'd say he does have a talent for reading into people's feelings. That guy's pretty darn perceptive." she continued to care for her horse, lettign it graze on the grass to the side of the road.

That day was a clearshot blue sky, with very little clouds. She smiled at the sunlight, though fo rassassination jobs she preferred night time.

[.:Blu:.]

Riohs walked through the forest looking at the trees. "Hmm.... There sure are a bunch of trees here, but none of them appears to have fruits. Maybe I need to check a little higher up!" Riohs said as he feet began glowing orange. Riohs then leaped up into the tree line, jumping from tree to tree with relative ease. "Hehe, I haven't stretched my legs in awhile! This feels great! Whoohoo!" Riohs said happily as he somersaulted through the trees. "After awhile of jumping around wildly, Riohs spotted a couple of apple trees. "Huh?" A smile formed on Riohs' face as he landed and ran over to the trees. "Hehe, this is great! Finally something to eat!" Riohs quickly took as much as he could hold and began jumping towards the resting ground again.

[CristalFlames]

Reina sat on the ground waiting. She didn't sleep or eat for a while so she knew she was hurting herself. She sighed wondering how long Riohs was going to take. Reina was trying to stay awake. She stared up at the sky wondering what time it was. She didn't know how long it was until they reached where they were going. Where were they going? She looked over at the others again to see what they were doing.

[.:Blu:.]

"Hey guys I'm back!" Riohs said walking out of the forest into open view holding eleven apples, three oranges, and a banana. "Sorry it took me awhile. I stumbled upon some other fruits as well, hehe. Anyways, help yourself." Riohs said as he set the pile of fruits on a flat boulder. "Dig in everybody. It's not a fest for the eyes, but at least it will help with your rumbling stomachs." Riohs said as he took an apple and jumped up into a tree, landing on a thick branch. Riohs then sat down on the branch and began eating. "Mmm, this is sure juicy." Riohs said as he took another bite of the apple and then peered up into the sky.

[CristalFlames]

Reina just sat on the ground not touching the food. He found it so it was his. She did nothing but sit there so why should she have any? She didn't earn it. Reina looked away staying quiet. She was tired and hungry but didnt want to eat or sleep. She could be attack or something in her sleep. Reina wasn't going to take that chance. And eating she could be poisoned. She didnt want to take that chance either.

[.:Blu:.]

Riohs soon finished with his apple and jumped down to get another one. "Man that was good." Riohs picked up another one and then walked ove to the tree. Passing, Reina, he noticed that she wasn't eating and seemed rather depressed. "Hey Reina, are you okay? Why aren't you eating? I thought you were hungry?" Riohs asked. "It's delicious, you should really get something in your stomach before we move on later, or else you won't have enough energy to do anything." Riohs said.

[DarkAngel787]

Selene finished eating and had saved an apple for Moondapple. The horse ate it gratefully, and she began readying it for new arrival.

"We go straight to the Sythgrenian Capital," she informed them all. "We need to get to Sythgren's plans easily and readily. Let's get going." she turned to Riohs and Reina. "You two holding up alright?" she asked, hoping that they could get going soon.

She attached her knapsack to the side of Moondapple and swung back onto the horse.

[.:Blu:.]

Riohs after hearing what Selene asked, turned around to face her. "You know me, I'm fine, but something's wrong with Reina. She doesn't seem to want to eat and she looks depressed. I'm trying to ocnvince her to eat something. Afterall, you'll need full energy to get into a place like the Sythgrenian capital. By the way, do you have a specific route in mind when we get to the capital? If not I could show you my secret pathway. I've been to the capital before for a couple of missions so I know the layout pretty well." Riohs explained.

[DarkAngel787]

"Sure. I pretty much know my way around Vidrain and Mislet,but that's about it." Selene acknowledged. "Reina, what's the matter?" she asked, turning to the girl and trying to be as understanding as possible. She shook her head. She was terrible at this. She turned back apologetically to Riohs. "I'm terrible at talking to people...sorry..." she muttered, a flush in her face, and then she got back on her horse.

"But really,we need to get going..."

[.:Blu:.]

"Oh alright then. Then I'll lead the way once we get there. Oh, and I hope you guys don't mind being underground for awhile cause that's where my secret route is at." Riohs replied. After seeing Selene's attempt at trying to cheer up Reina, Riohs just gave her a smile. "Hey no problem Selene. We can't all be good at everything. Just like how I'm not very good at keeping still for too long. Well, that is if I can help it." Riohs said. "You're right, we should get in some more riding before finding a place to camp for the night. C'mon Reina, let's go. I'll bring you a couple of apples to eat while we're riding if you want." Riohs said turning back to Reina.