Sojourn of Shadow

[Zulma san]

The war was over. The chaotic twins which once threatened the Kingdom of the Knights of Valor, were no more. The fighting had lasted for years, weakening the lands, the bodies and the minds. The four factions had triumphed. The Red Guard for balance, the Knights of Darkness for power, the Dawn Striders for freedom and the Knight of Holy Light for life.
The victory was theirs.
But victory had a bitter after taste. They all had lost something or someone. Some more than others, but none would ever be the same anymore. The memories they were all now carrying would haunt them forever.
Now was the time of healing for all...but the Grand Theocracy of Light, the ruling council of the Holy Knights. In an attempt to prevent such being as the chaotic twins to ever be born, the Grand Theocracy of Light has started a 'witch hunt' against any being containing darkness. Trials succeeded to trials.
A strange shadow spread over the Kingdom of the Knights of Valor, a shadow coming from its brighter faction, the same one who swore to protect the citizens from darkness.

 

[Zulma san]

Characters

Name: Dimitri Solidari

Age: Now 36

Race:Human

Gender: Male

Former Rank and Faction: 1st Class of the Knights of Holy Light

Elements: Light, Fire, Wind

Weapons: While Dimitri is capable in the martial arts of hand to hand combat, his primary weapon is a blade that has served him for many years in the service of the Holy Light. It is a lightweight broadsword with little to be remarked upon aside from its decorated hilt and runes etched upon the base of the blade. Inscribed it states: "I fear not what comes, for life is too short to fear at all."

Dimitri, after defeating the Deadly Sin known as Wrath, salvaged several electrified scales from its body and has took them to the dwarves who originally formed his silkstone armor. After a week of master smithing, the Holy Knight has received a reforged breastplate. The chitinous resin of the electrified scales combined with the dwarven runes and smithing, a chestpiece was created for Dimitri: Deep Thunder. This chest plate is hard as stone and as masterful as any work that has ever come from the fantastic craftsmen of the dwarven race. It generates constant heat that Dimitri is now able to call upon at will and is highly resistant to fire, thus capable of surviving transformations into either the Avatar of Retribution or the being of fire.

Techniques:

Heat Manipulation - Fire rages within Dimitri's burning heart and exhumes itself, redirecting its focus to anywhere in his body. Able to absorb outside heat and force it into a focused attack. When called upon, Dimitri begins to move at a blinding speed, almost too fast for the naked eye to see, leaving a scorched trail from his departure. The length and speed of his movement determines the impact upon his stamina and fatigue.

Wind Manipulation - Able to bend the air around him. Capable of gaining temporary flight. Sustained flight is extremely draining however and unable to remain airborne for extended periods of time. Further manipulation allows him to use the winds to form defensive barriers or offensive projectiles.

Inner Focus(Avatar of Light) - Calling upon his years of disciplined training with a blade, Dimitri reaches into his soul and concentrates on becoming one with his sword. The rune-etched blade glows brightly as his mind becomes completely focused on the task at hand, increasing his combat melee skills dramatically, however he begins to lose touch with reality if this ability is kept in use for too long.

White Wind - When called upon, the winds surround his intended target and enclose themselves upon it, wrapping around and flowing through any wounds they may have.

Passive Ability:Fiery Redemption - When nearing death, there is a chance that Dimitri will be struck by divine light, setting his heart and soul ablaze, curing all wounds and beginning an astonishing metamorphosis. His eyes go white and angelic wings that ignite in fire extend from his back and twin blades of flames are formed in his hands as he completes this transformation. When this form is finished with its task or defeated, Dimitri will likely fall unconscious.

Bio: Once a devout follower of the Holy Light to a fanatical extent, Dimitri Solidari began to question his current position in life. Though the man is over thirty years of age, he was uncertain he had a purpose in this world. Becoming more and more distant from his fellow comrades. When any call for aid has come from the Holy Light has been issued, Dimitri Solidari rushed to the frontlines, searching for an answer to his own life-long crisis.

It was not until he met Gabrielle Camille that his life took a turn in the correct direction. He found purpose and meaning by her side. Dimitri follows her and aids her in any way he can as she copes with her condition of slowly overwhelming vampirism. He has found that he will give anything to remain at her side and to see her happy.

Personality: Solitary and sullen, carrying an apathetic heart and a distracted mind, Dimitri Solidari rarely keeps close friends with anyone these days. Although the quiet man puts on a friendly face when approached, he is always insightful and tries to see meaning behind meaning, leaving him to be a very distinguished and defensive individual. The only one he truly opens up to is Gabrielle.

Appearance:


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User Name: Zulma san

Name: Gabrielle Camille

Age: Now 32

Race: Human turning vampire - vampire

Gender: Female

Rank: 1st

(Former) Rank and Faction: 1st Class of the Knights of Holy Light

Elements:Wind - Water - Lightning (lost as she turned into a vampire) - New unknown ability

Weapons: Two katanas: one attached in her back, the other one at her belt. In her back is Eosy, which enhances her control over the wind. At her belt is Aqual, which enhance her control over the water.

Techniques:
Living Nature: Gabrielle is able to use the water contained in plants, roots and even to a certain extent animals, to control them and launch attacks. She combines this attack with her control of air to add in strength.

Deepest Fog: Using the moisture in the air and the clouds, if needed, she is able to create a deep fog/mist in which people cannot see. She uses this technique to stop a useless fight and escape if needed.

Invisible Arrows: By sharply shifting her katanas is special angles, Gabrielle is 'bending' the air to launch shock waves which can pierce as sharpest arrows. IF she concentrates and uses her control of Lightning in the same time, the arrows can turn into the Electric Arrows.

These are her special abilities, to which adds usual control of wind, water and lightning. Her tiredness due to her constant internal combat prevents her from using her lightning abilities without damaging consequences for herself or people/nature surrounding her. So she currently restrains herself from this technique.

Bio: Since she was born Gabrielle has been raised in the faith of God and of the 7 virtues in a monastery. She was found as an infant on the front steps of the abbey. The Priest who found her, raised her among the monks. More because she wanted to be 'like the others' than to hide her femininity from the others, she took the habit of dressing like a man. At the death of the Priest who raised her, when she was 16, she left the monastery to fight the Darkness and preach the Light.

Despite her youth, she was a skilled and clever warrior, always wearing white clothing and bringing peace and happiness around her. But one day, something went wrong, she lost her fight against a vampire. Although she killed him, he managed to bite her first and several drops of his blood reached Gabrielle's lips and mouth. She was 25.

Since then, she is wearing only dark closing and she became quiet. However, she took this ordeal as a Holy wish and it reinforced her faith that Darkness should be destroyed. For the last 7 years, she had been fighting against the growing darkness in herself and hoping to find a cure.

Her encounter with Dimitri brought her hope and love. Despite not seeing each other a lot in the past years, the bond they created seem stronger than anything.

Personality: Gabrielle is very quiet but not shy. She analyzes everything, sometimes drawing conclusion which are wrong. She has difficulty to trust people and is hiding her secret deeply. She has an iron Faith.
She tends to be hard on men, because she wants to protect herself and themselves from what she becomes if she stays too close.

Appearance:
Gabrielle is a tall woman (5'11). She had long black hair and light amber eyes. She is well muscled due to her training and years of fighting. Since the 'accident' she always wears dark clothing, which is strange for a Holy Knight. She tried to hide her femininity and is often confused for a man.


Picture 1: for her eyes color
Picture 2: for her overall appearance, except that she has more of female shape


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Name: Lord Marius Ironfist

Age: Unknown, he looks like an old man

Race: Human (Ascended)

Gender: Male

(Former) Rank and Faction: member of the Grand Theocracy of Light

Elemental Control: Fire, Shadow, Earth and Light

Weapons: Diamondhide Gauntlets- Lord Marius has always used his fists as his only weapon. The gauntlets he uses now are merely an extension of his own manipulation of the earth and stone which bend to his will. When faced with any problem, these fists will crush through any opposition.

Techniques: Currently Unknown

Bio: Lord Marius has been one of the ruling council members of the Grand Theocracy of Light for several hundred years. He has been granted longer life due to some divine activity, it is unclear what act truly has given him this longevity, however he is certainly using it to its fullest potential. It is also for this reason that no one questions his age, as it is irrelevant considering how well he carries himself.
Considered brash and a bit fanatic in certain views by his peers amongst the council, Marius is one of the most active members within the Order of Holy Knights. He has banished more demons, repelled the undead and fought back a great deal of the blatantly evil creatures of the realms than the vast majority of any knight of the order.
It is through this narrow view that he has come to hate all that which even represents a threat to the peace and security of the masses. Marius has become more zealous and more lustful for righteous battle than several of his peers would approve. Despite this however, he is still a reputed member of the council and his word is respected by many.

Personality: Cold, Brash and Determined to a flaw. Marius is a man who clings to tradition and to the black and white views of the past. He sees everything as one way or another and if it does not conform to him, he forces his will upon it. Once his mind is set upon a task, it either will fall before him, or consume him until the task is done.

Appearance:
Marius's face is showing the signs of passing time, however he does not look like an old weak man despite his long grey hair. Marius is 6'6" for 198 lbs with dark brown eyes.

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Name: Azimeana Blanche

Age: 20

Race: Human

Gender: Female

Rank and Faction: 1st Class of the Knights of Holy Light

Elements: Light, Thunder, Lightning

Weapons: Azimeana possesses a staff with a white orb at its top which is no bigger than a child fist. Hidden in her staff is a blood, the pommel being the top of her staff. Azimeana is proud to have never had to use her blade in real combat as she was able to defeat her adversaries first.

Techniques:
Crushing thunder: By manipulation of thunder and its sound wave, she can transfer the waves to the buildings or earth around her, resulting in the equivalent of an earthquake.

Dry storm: Azimeana can create located artificial storms (with no rain) with the ability to manipulate the lightening coming out of the storm. She uses the lightening to electrocute or burn.

Purifying light: By concentrating and imposing her hands on someone's forehead, she creates a light filter which runs through the person's brain and remove all darkness. If the darkness is more than the light, then the person dies. Most of the time it makes the person debilitated for the rest of their days.

Blinding light: She can create a light blast which blinds her adversary.

Bio: Azimeana comes from a Holy Knight family known in the Kingdom for its fervor: the Blanche family. In this old family, it is a duty for each generation to produce a Holy Knight. The first child of any marriage in the Blanche family, is to become a Holy Knight, girl or boy alike. This led to a high number of Holy Knights actually being somewhat blood related.

Azimeana was the first child of Ezea Blanche, from an unknown father. Despite their affirmation of the contrary, her mother and uncle were disappointed to have a girl. They were her first professors and soon their disappointment turned into a pride, barely dissimulated. The girl was gifted. Good and bad were engraved in the child's mind before she could even say her own name. The best masters were hired to train the girl. And may it have been the truth or a way to flatter the parents, none of them were stingy with compliments about their pupil. This climate created a young woman determinate to be the best and sure that she was.

Her first missions for the Grand Theocracy of Light taught her obedience and duty. Her skills did not belong to her but to the greater good and she would do what needed to be to insure the peace and happiness of the people of the Kingdom. Despite her lack of questioning of the orders she received, Azimeana strangely needs to rationalize within her mind the good of her actions. She always finds a way to be in peace with her mind, but she needs that certitude that she is doing Good.

Her determination and skills made one of the youngest knight to ever reach the first rank amongst the Holy Knights.
Since the raising of the chaotic twins, she has been around the countryside, 'purifying' lost souls and bringing Good back on the foreground.

Personality: Despite the praises with which she was raised, it was never accompany by softness or tenderness from her mother. She was a knight before being a person. On top of that, her masters encouraged her aggressiveness during the fighting sessions. That lead Azimeana to become a cold, distant person who never questions an order and yet fierce in combat.
She asked once her mother about her father and the answer was 'He died doing his duty'. However the ton and eyes of her mother led Azimeana to never question again on the subject. Her uncle became her father and she never tried to discover who he was.

Appearance:

Azimeana is of an average height and build, slightly on the thin side. She wears her blond hair short with a bang, as she does not want it to be in her way when she fights. Her eyes are of a very light silver, almost white, giving her look power.

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Name: Baron Clovis Nethercut

Age: 684

Race: Vampire

Gender: Male

Elemental Control: Darkness, Sonic/Sound

Weapons: Though the vampire lord has countless weapons at his disposal, ranging from simple throwing knives to far more intricate instruments of pain, he favors his rapier most of all. This rapier, deemed as "Sufferspike" by its master, is a wickedly sharp sword that manipulates the sound waves nearby with each swipe. The sounds can become even more dangerous than the blade, should Baron Nethercut will them to.

Bio: Baron Clovis Nethercut is the head of a particularly vicious clan of vampires within the realm. They are spoken of only in whispers and are often seen at night only before screams of terror can be heard. They are known as the Night Stalkers. They prey upon anything that amuses them.

Recently however, there have been rumors of dissatisfaction amongst the clan. One such rumor was quickly snuffed out, when the bearer of bad news alerted the Baron... he was executed personally... and immediately. Whether there is such an individual who defies the will of "Hell's Baron", it is unconfirmed, the one thing that is certain however is that Nethercut... enjoys the hunt.

The Baron is always on the lookout for new members for his "family" and attempts to recruit more than just a few renegades who wander between clans. Those who accept are placed within his band of sadistic demons and welcomed appropriately, those that refuse... die.

Personality: The vampire lord is a sadistic and twisted individual who takes immense pleasure in killing, scheming and all around doing everything possible to cause chaos. His typical demeanor belies the sinister and evil soul underneath the almost child-like behavior.

Appearance:
As dark as the night, his eyes and hair reveal his sadistic face and gaze. A tall skinny looking vampire.

---------------------------

Name: Alexander Finch
Age: 68, appears 29

Race: Vampire

Gender: Male

Former Faction: Night Stalkers

Elements: Shadow, Blood

Weapons: Alexander's unique abilities allow him to channel his own body's energies to sharpen his hands into the same composition as steel. these claws, so to speak act as his primary weapon. While he does possess other smaller weapons, such as a hand-crossbow as well as a dagger, he tends to rely primarily on his enhanced body.

Techniques:

Muscular Morphing:Alex is capable of charging his body with his own energy, increasing his physical strength immensely. He is also able to change the composition of certain areas of his body, making them act as armor or weapons when necessary.

Shade Form:Calling upon his gifted vampirism, he melds with the shadows, becoming as much a part of the darkness as the darkness itself. He is capable of moving at immense speed while in this form, but is unable to attack in any way aside from simply pulling others into the shadow realm with him.

Bio: Alexander became a part of Baron Nethercut's cadre fairly early since his turning to vampirism. He was told he would grow to enjoy the killing, the feeding, the chaos, but it never sunk in. Alex began to hate his life... or lack thereof. He, unknown to the baron, began to undermine his efforts, by placing false bodies, or protecting the weak by only taking what blood he needed and allowing them to move free afterwards.

In life, he was a gifted musician, it was unfortunate that everything seemed to no longer please him now that he lived as an undying soul, unable to prevent himself from feeding.

He continues his work still and hopes to find a new way of life.

Personality: Detached and as a result is cold towards others at first but has a good heart. He remains a beacon of hope that not all that is labeled as "evil" truly is just that.

Appearance:
 

[Zulma san]

The war was over...
So it seemed. The twins were no more. And yet...
Looking at her fellow comrades, most dead, some alive, she wondered if the victory was truly theirs. After all the twins had won, bringing chaos and destruction with them. Each face was echoing her own sorrow. They had lost much on those dark years. She coughed, retrieving a hand with some blood on it. She sighed.
Her eyes looked around, she was looking for him. But she knew he would not be there. He had his own fight. The twins had been split and despite their will to stay together Gabrielle and Dimitri had been separated. She prayed that he was still alive and would have a happy life.
She knew that she needed to hurry. The smell of blood was starting overwhelming her.

The Holy Knight stood up, staggering a little. So weak... Yet she knew that she needed to find the strength to get away.

"Are you alright?" another knight asked.

"I just...need a private moment." she winked at the knight, who smirked back. Not a pervert smirk, just the smirk of complicity between two people who fought side by side and faced death.

She walked away, he did not add anything, concentrating on the dying friend he was holding in his arms.

Gabrielle was soon out of sight from the group. She was walking slowly but steadily.
She wished that she had been able to reach the Shining Foothills where she first met Dimitri, she wished that she would die in a place filled with happy memories...but it was too far, far too far.
Gabrielle was smiling without joy. All those years to find a cure which did not exist. Her transformation had taken so long only because she had drank but a drop of the vampire's blood. She had prayed for days and nights that her God would protect her or that she would die protecting the country of the Knights of Valor.
But here she was, ready to succumb and yet still alive. She wanted to live and that was why she had to end her life, before the monster in her awoke and forced her to live a cursed life.

The woman continued her journey, covered with her own blood and the ones of her comrades. She had no time to cry them. She would soon have all the time in the world. For now, she needed to hurry.
She let her thoughts go back to Dimitri. She remembered when filled with fever she had almost tried to kill him, how could she allow that to happen. He had saved her from herself without knowing it. She had come to love him, despite the distance, despite her duty. And now she could not let herself become a threat for the one she loved, or for any of the people she had sworn to protect.

The smell of the ocean started filling the air and the woman knew that she would soon reach her destination. She smirked at the irony of the situation: the Cliffs of Suicide, the very same place from which came the twins. The loop was completed...
The noise of the waves calmed her somewhat as she repressed another coughing and a grin of pain. "Hold on girl..." she scowled herself and pushed herself forward as the Cliffs appeared in front of her. The wind blew in her hair and tears came to her lips at the beautiful landscape. Some more steps and she let herself fall more than she really sat on the ground. She could feel the mountains shaking every-time the waves were crashing at its feet. She stayed silent, jabbing both her sword in the ground in front of her. She wanted to feel peace and she prayed in silence to have the strength to end her days before the vampirism spread across her entire body. She allowed herself another minute, her mind filled with Dimitri.
 

[Tonash Drahow]

He was searching everywhere for her.

So many lives were lost in the struggle against the Twins of chaos. He prayed fervently as he flew about the battlefields that she had not met the same fate. Dimitri had finally found purpose in his life by standing by her side, he would not abandon her now.

She had been the light in his life, providing new meaning to an existence that was based solely on duty instead of choice.

He could only imagine the test of will that was raging within her at the moment, as her vampirism clearly became stronger while she was in a weakened state. If now was the time that she would lose herself, he could not forgive himself if he were unable to be there for her.

"Gabrielle!" He called out over the battlefields.

No answer.

"Gabrielle!"

He willed for the winds to push him along faster still, there were only a few places left outside of his watchful gaze.

He grew closer to the enormous cliff-face up ahead, the same place those horrid twins spawned.

"Gabrielle!" He cried out again, hoping for anything.  

[Zulma san]

Gabrielle was fighting against the will to just lose conscious but she knew that she would probably awake as a vampire. The mist of dizziness was tempting and several times she felt her head rolling to her shoulder.
She had to end all this. She could not let that happened. She needed to protect him, she needed to protect them. If she become a vampire all what she had worked for, all her life would have been a waste. How would she feed on others?
She painfully put herself on her knees, holding her wounded side which was aching. She coughed, more blood. She needed to act quickly, she had not long to live.

The wind brought her a voice...and a familiar scent.
Dimitri...! She gasped and with difficulty prevented herself from shouting or running in his direction. He was probably further away, the sound seeming close because of the wind. She clasped her hand on Eosy, her katana.
Dimitri...my love...don't come closer...I would not be able to find the strength...love my memory, but let me go.... she silently said her farewell to the only man she had ever loved. She wanted him to go away, to forget about her. She wanted him to be happy and she would never be able to grant him this happiness he deserved.

With tears in her eyes and trembling hands, she raised the sword in front of her, ready to stab herself. "Farewell..." she whispered.  

[Tonash Drahow]

Dimitri could finally see her. Kneeling, panting, at the top of those cliffs.

He called to her again.

She would not turn to regard him, she raised her blade as though she was about to take her life.

"No!"

Dimitri's eyes filled with anger as he flew closer then with the force of the wind on his side, he willed a powerful gale force wind to knock the blade from her hand, suspending it mid-air as he closed the distance with her.

Half-tackling, half sweeping her off her feet, Dimitri soared in and scooped her into his arms. He looked at her with tear-filled eyes and ran a gloved hand across her cheek.

"Do not leave me, Gabrielle. I swore I would never desert you, no matter what. You may have what you consider to be a curse, but do not let that blind you to the fact that you can still do some good in this world! All you have to do is fight it! Let me help you!"  

[Zulma san]

Gabrielle gasped as her blade left her hands. She looked at it and did not have time to think further than strong arms lifted her. She knew he would not let her go, she had hoped to be faster than him...but he was there and she would now need twice much more courage to finish her life. His eyes were filled with a silence promise.

"Dimitri..." she coughed and blood came on her hand.

His hand, even if she could not feel his skin, she could feel the tenderness of his gesture. She sighed...she was growing weaker and weaker, maybe death would embrace her before she full turned into a vampire? She smiled bitterly, she knew it would not be the case, her body wanted to live...
Did she want to live?
She looked at Dimitri and pressed her lips against his with strength and passion. She loved him so much, could she be strong again and fight at his side? A vampire? She had hated the idea for so long that she could not accept it.

"Dimitri..." her voice was growing weaker. "Do you love me?"
They had been together for so long and yet always separated. As she felt life running away from her, she felt the need to hear it. She knew it, she felt it but she wanted to hear it.
Her amber eyes half gone in the mist of unconsciousness where trying to clasp on his silver eyes, hoping for an answer.  

[Tonash Drahow]

Dimitri's face brightened as they embraced and his eyes widened for a split second as the blunt question was asked as directly as possible. He did not falter, however, there was no shaking in his hands, nor weakness in his voice as he offered a sincere smile and another graze of his gloved hand across her tear-soaked cheek.

"Gabrielle, you are my reason for living. You are my love and my desire. No matter what form you take, no matter what choices you make, I always wish to be at your side. I do, Gabrielle, I love you."

He could see her eyes slowly fading, her skin becoming more pale periodically.

"And I will not let you die. You still have too much of a life to live."  

[Zulma san]

Gabrielle smiled tears of joy in her eyes. She wished they had met in a world of peace. She wished they had met before. But 'what if' were useless.
Her blooded hand caressed his cheeks. She closed her eyes and tried to take deep slow breath. She felt safe in those arms. He loves me... the thought was as warm as the arms in which she laid.
She forced herself to reopen her eyes. She wanted to tell him how much he meant to her, how much she loved him but she was running out of time.

"Then you have to promise me one thing...you'll have to swear...promise..." she coughed, a grin of pain on her face. " that you'll kill me if I become a threat." she grabbed his shirt with a surprising strength as she finished. She needed him to make that promise and she would live, else she would leave.

She could already feel the inner fight of life and death playing within her own body and mind. She coped with keeping her eyes open for a little longer.  

[Tonash Drahow]

"I promise... as long as such judgments are left to me."

He held her close and set them both back down on the cliff-side, returning the blades to their resting places. He simply sat there and cradled her, knowing full-well the pain she was going through.  

[Zulma san]

Gabrielle closed her eyes with a smile, satisfied and she let go. The only feeling she kept with her was her will to live, live with him, live happy.
The blast of pain which she had expected came at once. A shriek escaped from her lips as she convulsed several times. Her hand was holding Dimitri's with an iron grip. He was his link with the world. He was why she wanted to live, despite the pain, despite the tears, despite the blood.
A little stream of blood was flowing at the corner of her lips.
All her muscles were tensed at once and she could not refrain tears from pouring from her closed eyes.
She felt colder and colder and shivered. She realized that life was leaving her and that she would never be able to bring a warm hand on the face of Dimitri, her fingers would be cold forever...
For a second, she panicked and opened wide eyes filled with fear? What if she was really dying and not transforming, what if she had not been strong enough? All her thoughts flew in her mind and then it was black.
Gabrielle's body fell motionless and lifeless in Dimitri's arms.  

[Tonash Drahow]

Dimitri's eyes welled up with tears. He tried to shake her, tried to force her to wake.

No response.

"Gabrielle... You can't leave me... Please, don't leave me..."

He held her limp form close as a myriad of thought and sorrow flooded through his mind. He felt heartbroken. He felt furious. He felt helpless. He felt despair. He felt... hope.

His head leaning over her, his runewood holy symbol dangled from his neck. With one hand he grasped it and felt a warmth of light entering his body. It was as if assurance had simply washed over him. She was not gone. Not yet. He was her one and only and he would not be the one to leave her now, in any event.

He smiled for a moment, looking at her face, it almost seemed peaceful. He placed her two swords onto his back with his free hand as he lifted her up and willed the winds to carry them away from this treacherous place.

He gazed at her again as they moved. She would not wake up to an unwelcome environment. There would be a warm fire and a hot meal awaiting her for when she did awaken, whether she needed it or not.  

[Zulma san]

Gabrielle's mind was going back and forth between consciousness and unconsciousness, between light and darkness. She could feel that Dimitri was carrying her. She could feel his arms. She could smell his scent.
She was certain that she would not die now. She was saved. Dimitri saved her, but at which cost. Her senses were slowly shifting, hence the pain and the strange state of her mind. But that was nothing compared to what could happened when she would be fully transformed and awake.
No risk at that moment though. She felt weak but she felt in peace. A smile came to her lips as she fell back in sleep.

When her semi-consciousness came back again, she tried to speak but nothing had come. Strangely she could feel that she was losing some of her power of Holy Knight. She felt that the power of bending lightening was not with her. She knew she still had control over air and water but not her last power...not that she had really used it anyway. She wondered if she had gained any vampire power. The thought brought a strange smirk on her face before she fell back asleep.
 

[Tonash Drahow]

Arriving in a thicket near the Shining Foothills, the place where they had first met, Dimitri set Gabrielle down against a stone.

In a matter of moments, he placed a pile of wood and tinder in the center of the clearing. The battle with the twins of chaos had drained him as well and the pains of the fight had finally begun to take their toll on his body. He had used up a great deal of energy just to carry them both here safely. Normally he would just light the fire using his innate heat manipulation, but he wanted to save as much energy as he could now that he had secured their position.

Working with a stick, he began rubbing rapidly until the tinder set aflame and bathed the area with golden warmth.

Dimitri looked to Gabrielle once more as his tired eyes. She was pale, but he could see the faintest smile across her face. His heart was bright as his hope was renewed. He began to slip into the brush, searching for animal tracks. It wouldn't take long, but he'd have a meal prepared for her.  

[Zulma san]

Gabrielle awoke, a nice warm fire in front of her. It took her a while to realize where she was, but the scent in the air chased any doubts. "The shining foothills are close..." she whispered. She tried to moved cautiously and noticed that her side was not in pain anymore. She looked at it with some horror and curiosity: it was fully healed. She blinked and calmed herself with a deep breath. I am still Gabrielle...I am still Gabrielle... she kept repeating herself. But she knew that she now was a vampire. She would have to accept what she was.

The woman looked around, Dimitri was out of sight. She slowly stood up and stared at her hands. If she had been a pale woman before, she looked white now. The warm of the fire was nice but strangely she wasn't cold. The wind was blowing softly from the north, so when she heard a movement in the bushes south of the camp, she could not smell what it was.

To her surprise she rushed and jumped on her prey before she had even realizing that she had been moving. Everything went so fast that she found herself rolling downhill with Dimitri before she understood what had happened. As they came to an halt, the woman on top of the man, her eyes were dark and her lips curled up revealing her fangs. She blinked, staring at the man's face in front of her.