She looked down at the baby before stepping away from it, she couldn't endanger that which could not even protect itself...

*I can't let him have you! you are the one that can save us. My life means nothing if you are dead!* Azder sent back.

"I will kill him if you don't show yourself little girl!" Vazerdian threatened.

I'm sorry Azder, I just can't let him kill you. Sa'vere took several steady steps forward, I promise I won't die...

Azder suddenly struck out at Vazerdian. *I can't let him have you go back to safety!* He struck his uncle once more before he was hit by lightning.

"Azder!" She gasped, glaring at his uncle. Don't get yourself hurt for me!

Azder struck back growling at the pain. Suddenly vazerdian vanished. "Sa'vere!" Azder gasped rushing toward her.

She suddenly felt a strong hand clamp down on her shoulder. "Move and she dies!" vazerdian said as he pinned Sa'vere's arms with his other hand.

She merely stood there, not daunted by the hand. She glared
appeared near Kahtale.

Vazerdias lost his temper and struck Azder, dragging him away.

"Azder you idiot! Kehtale, we have to hurry!" Sa'vere said, her gaze pleading with him.

"Alright, climb on my back, Sa'vere, and we'll move quickly." Kehtale said, lowering himself, "He is not too far for my legs to bring us quickly to his aid."

"Good!" Sa'vere said, securing herself on his back, and the tharashile took off like lightning over the vast expanse of land.

Unfortunately Azder and his uncle were nowhere to be seen. A blood smear led to a clearing, then vanished.

Sa'vere flung herself from Kehtale's back, "Take this baby back where it belongs or where it will be taken care of!" She ordered Kehtale, who was about to protest, but upon seeing the look in her eyes thought better of it and secured the child in his jaws, shortening her teeth before taking off at a fast run towards somewhere safe.

"Azder!" Sa'vere called, her tone frantic, "Azder!" She knelt and touched the smear of blood sadly, "You did open your stitches, didn't you?" She brought the bloodied hand to her chest and closed her eyes.

Mean while Azder fought to regain concousness as he was dropped on a bed roll in his uncle's camp. "Should we stitch his wound?" One of the demons asked. "No. Let him suffer." His uncle replied.

She began to walk again, with no general direction in mind. Azder had been her first friend, how could she have failed him and allowed him to be taken captive? Tears sprang to her eyes but she kept moving, certain that if she stopped she wouldn't want to move again. She was afraid that if she stopped he would certainly die.

Azder opened his eyes. He was in terrible pain, but he felt Sa'vere's presence, he only hoped she didn't show herself.

"Where are you..." Se'vere couldn't stand the thought that he was injured and had been taken captive.

"So, are you the child that Vazerdian lost?" A male voice asked playfully from behind her.

Sa'vere turned quickly, holding out her staff to find that she was faced with a long, deadly looking sword. "Who are you?"

"Me? I'm top guard of the second precinct, Calghiew." He grinned, "My lord will be pleased that I have found the young escapee."

"Who says I'm an escapee?" Sa'vere questioned.

"Don't question me, I know who you are, child." His grin faded, becoming a scowl, "I could kill you right now."

"I don't have time for you." Sa'vere said, knocking his sword aside with the staff.

"Well, that's too bad." He leapt forward, attacking her, and for the next few minutes they exchanged blows, attacking, blocking, attacking again.

Sa'vere felt something pierce her chest suddenly, and a grin lined Calghiew's face once more. She stumbled backwards, numbness spreading through her body, originating from the wound his sword had given her. No sound escaped her lips as she fell to her knees and he raised the sword with the intent of taking her head.

As it came down her head snapped up and a brilliant glow consumed her form. The sky above glowed with hues of pinks, oranges and purples, like the dawn skies of years past. Calghiew stumbled backwards as his form was engulfed with heat, and he vanished in flames. For a moment warmth lit up the dying lands for miles around.

"S....Savere!" Azder screamed fearing she was dead. He was silenced by the kick to his side. "Find the girl! She is close!" Vazerdian snarled, the light stinging his eyes.

The light vanished almost as quickly as it had come, and Sa'vere collapsed, panting heavily and clutching at the wound on her chest. It hadn't pierced any of her vital organs, for that she was lucky. Slowly she reached out and grasped her staff, forcing herself shakily to her feet. "What was that light... so warm- is that what it's like to feel the sun?" She murmured to herself.

Vazerdias dragged Azder to his feet. "Come out girl! Or I kill your boyfriend!"He commanded as he placed a dagger to Azder's thraught. *Sa'vere if you are alive, just go!* Azder pleaded.

As she walked she dimly heard Vazerdias's voice somewhere nearby. She stumbled and fell, her staff rolling out of her fingers as Azder's thoughts touched to her mind. He was near... She stretched for her staff and struggled up again, swaying, glad that she at least had the staff to help balance herself. ...Az...der...

*Try to get back to the others!* Azder sent her, worry evident in his voice as the people in the camp began to search for her.

I don't want to leave you again, She strained her body to move forward.

*Just go! I will be all right!*

Haha... I can hardly even move... She leaned heavily on a rock, And doesn't your uncle read thoughts?

"Got that right girl." Vazerdian says as he grabs Sa'vere and begins to drag her back to the camp.

Damn... I can't even- Darkness claimed her mind.

"Sa'vere! Let her go Bastard!" Azder commands as he tries to struggle to his feat. One of the other demons laugh and kick him hard in the side. Azder to is claimed by darkness.

Keh'tale released the child to a young couple that had been frantically searching the grounds of a small cottage. When they saw the child in his jaws they panicked, thinking he meant to devour the child. You've got me wrong. His thought was a silent whisper as he laid the baby down between them and turned and trotted away.

Azder fought to regain consciousness. But he was tiring and losing blood. His ucle noticed how serious the wound was and began to roughly stitch it, not caring about the pain he caused Azder. "stupid boy!" He muttered.

Keh'tale finally found the spot where he had left Sa'vere- she was nowhere in sight, and he couldn't sense her. He trotted in circles around the area, forcing himself not to panic and hoping that she was alright.

Sa'vere groaned softly, shifting and attempting to sit up, though failing in her attempts.

A "man" began to stitch Sa'vere's side as well. But was more gentle.

Her eyes fluttered slightly, "Who are you?" She asked thickly.

He ignored her as he finished the job. "My lord. She is awake." He said in a grating voice.

Vazerdian walked over and looked into Sa'vere's eyes. "Do you love my nephew?"

"Love? What does it matter to you?"

"He is incapable of true love." Vazerdian replied.

"I don't care what he is capable of. Azder is dear to me and I would protect him at all costs." She retorted.

"It won't matter, you will be killed most likely, and he will be punished 'tell he sucombs to death."

"I've never feared death." Sa'vere stated simply, "Besides, even if I die, another will come along eventually."

"And what about him?" He said pointing to Azder and kicking him in the side. Azder moaned and curled up trying to protect himself.

"I said I would protect him..." Sa'vere glared at him for kicking Azder and managed to pull herself into a sitting position.

"How...noble."

Suddenly and arrow sings through the air and hits some skin. Runs over fast and manages to give a healing liquid from her village. "You know it is not good to underestamate oppionents." Sakura still stays hidden.

"I love a good challenge." Vazerdian said grabbing both Sa'vere and Azder. "How far will you go?"

Sakura remebers the training but still feels edgy about it. He sounds close to the guy who betrayed her village. "Well why ask such a question. I'm just a lowly fighter. I remember one of your men calling me that..." Seatly shoots another arrow but not hitting anything or so it seems.

"S-Sakura..." Sa'vere's chest burned from the wound, but she didn't let it show outwardly.

There was a viscious roar from the opposite side of Sakura, and a white figure shimmered in and out of existance.

Keeps shooting but tries to get something to Sa'vere. Unfortunately Sakura feels a hand and she is forced to use her staff but finds out she has been cut.

Vazerdian takes a dagger and jabs Azder in the back with it. He turns to do the same to Sa'vere but Azder takes it instead, falling to the ground. This allows Sa'vere a chance to run.

Sakura feels desperation so she uses the sacred arrow and hits Vazerdian in the leg but not directly. Another cut appears on Sakura but she still fights with the staff knocking the figure down.

Sa'vere stumbled and fell near Azder, "You make things so difficult for me..." She said to him, "I can't leave any of you behind you know... Keh'tale!" The tharashile rushed to her side, "Help me with him." He nodded and lifted Azder into his jaws. "Now hurry and get away from here... I need to help Sakura." She winced as she climbed to her feet again, pulling the jeweled knife out of a hidden sheath in her leggings.

"You are trouble!" Vazerdian snarled letting lose a huge fire ball towards the girls.

Runs with her remaining energy and hits the fireball with her staff changing it and sending it back to Vazerdian. "YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE!" Sakura pants finally realizing what kind of blade she was cut with...it was the same one that killed her family.
He absorbed the fire and seemed to grow slightly bigger. He drew out a sword from nowhere that was made of fire.A wicked gleam in his eyes.

"Oh blast...SA'VERE GET OUT OF HERE! ADZER NEEDS YOU!" Sakura leads Sa'vere toward the way out...and is prepared to take the hit. "GO SA'VERE MY LIFE IS NOT WORTH AS MUCH AS YOURS!"

"Are you crazy!?!" Sa'vere grabbed the girl's wrist, "If anything we'll go together!" She clutched her knife tighter in hand.

"NO YOU HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE YOU ARE IMPORTANT I AM NOT! ADZER NEEDS YOU! I'D JUST GET IN THE WAY!" Sakura is willing to die to help someone this important...She knows she needs to prove Adzer wrong.

Vazerdian watches ready for any trick as he silently constructs walls to prevent them from leaving.

Sakura knows he'll conduct a wall so she moves Sa'vere to the end of the line and tries to get her across. "Aren't you just giddy you get to kill the last savior of Isinese Village?"

A smile moves across his face for a moment.As a lightning bolt blocks their retreat.

"Oh aren't you just nice..." Sakura gives Sa'vere more of the healing liquid. *So this is what Adzer was talking about. I got to at least make sure Sa'vere is safe.*

"Sakura... I can't just leave you." Sa'vere said, "Besides, he's got us blocked in. I can fight, and besides... fire is my element." She said mysteriously.

"Then I will change it." He muttered his weapon turning a greenish black as he suddenly slashed down at them.

Sakura uses staff to negate the slash. And manage to scrape his cheek. "Hmp seems like you think this is easy."

Sa'vere raised the knife, "Sakura, watch yourself, you're getting all cut up," She said, worried.

"I was trained to fight even with cuts as long as he does not hit a limb head on I will be all right." Sakura still is confused on why people would worry about her life...it is not like she was important after her village fell into destruction.

The wound on Vazerdian's cheek heals as he strikes Sakura in the left arm, reverses direction and back hands Sa'vere with the hilt. A nasty burning sensation spreads from the wounds.

Sa'vere touched a hand to her cheek tenderly and lashed out with her knife, cutting through his left hand, the gems glowed for a brief moment when blade tasted flesh.

Sakura grimences but uses the staff to help the damage. Sakara manages to get another arrows and stab his shoulder.

Suddenly he turns into a large armored demon, and lashes out hitting both of their chests.

Her wound, which had stopped throbbing and had begun to heal when Sakura had given her the medicine reopened when he struck her. She stopped her fall and straightened herself quickly.

"I will bring your corpses to my lord!"

"You...will not kill Sa'vere." Sakura gives Sa'vere a good portion of her own energy and uses the plants to give her more stamina...Sakura's wounds start to bleed more.. "Sa...Sa...Sa'vere make sure guard dog behaves....I..am glad you were my friend." Sakura grabs the sacred arrow and pierces the armor and gets hit in the right arm but cause damage to the skin of the demon.

"Sakura, I refuse to leave here without you, I won't let you die!" Sa'vere growled at her companion.

vazerdian struck out hard breaking Sa'vere's right arm.

She didn't even cry out as the bone broke, merely tightened her grip on the knife that was in her left hand.

"Do you want more pain?" He asked striking out once more.

Sakura gets in front of the knife and uses her last arrow to strike back at him...."You really are predictable.."

Sa'vere leapt backwards to avoid the attack, "Sakura, don't do anything stupid..." She murmured.

"I think I may have all ready...don't worry I won't die easily.." Sakura still does not understand why Sa'vere is still wanting to protect her.

Vazerdian strikes Sakura on the right side of her chest breaking a few ribs.

"Sakura!" Sa'vere rushed forward and attacked Vazerdian, forcing him away from Sakura.

He snarled and lashed out.

She dodged his attacks and even threw in a few of her own.

Sakura falls to the ground but shoots the last arrow she has directly into his leg. "I...guess...guard dog was right...I am stupid..." *It's better this way...Sa'vere is his affection...I fought hard and did not fail like I had before...I hope you are proud of me father.*

"Sakura, don't talk that way!" Sa'vere said, worried for the other girl.

Suddenly a bright light appears and Vazerdian vanishes as he snarls in anger and protest.

Sakura coughs and smiles at the fact Sa'vere is safe..."Sa...Sa...Sa'vere go...you are safe...I...can't move..."

"Then I'll carry you!" Sa'vere said simply, "I'm not just going to leave you here."

"Sa'vere you should not worry about me...go...I will only slow you down...who knows what all ca be after you now.." Sakura tries to offer a stern but gentle smile.

"You really are stupid....if you give up..." Comes Azder's voice.

"You all ready established that...I am not giving up yet but Sa'vere here does not need me to weigh her down... WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE! YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO BE HEALING!" *WHAT IS WITH THIS MAN...OR WHAT IS WITH THESE PEOPLE!* Sakura's smile turns into a scowl.

"I am healed finally, it is the right time of the week." Azder said walking over and handing a potion to Sakura. He still looked pale but better then before.
"My uncle knows I am a traitor now, so we must hurry. Odds are he went for help."

"What, big guy couldn't handle a couple of small girls?" Sa'vere grinned slightly, "Yeah... we really ought to get going... I'd rather not be here when Vazerdian returns..."

Sakura still feels confused this is all so new but she drinks only half and give the rest to Sa'vere... "I guess he didn't get to kill the last survivor of my village."

"I'm glad for that," Sa'vere said, finishing the potion.

Kehtale appeared nearby and padded over to them silently, I am glad that the both of you are in such fair condition. He said, relief evident in his tone.

"Ok seriously can I get a warning system in place so that I know when one of your commrads will appear." Sakura looks half scared and annoyed.

"My u.. I mean Vazerdain should not have given up so easily. he is up to something I am sure. Or perhaps he is reporting me." Azder replied, not wanting the newcomer to know who he is.

Sakura gives Adzer a questioning look and is able to get up but her ribs still hurt. She stand with a limp. *hmm.*

"How about before anything else we just get out of here?" Sa'vere asked, catching Sakura's questioning look

"All right but where to?" Sakura decides to let go of the question look for now.

"There is an abandoned fort that will provide us with some protection,it is not far from here. I could lead the way." Azder said.

"Are you certain it is safe?" Sakura uses her curious tone.

"If it is not safe we will make it so." Sa'vere said, "For now it seems to be our only option- lead the way, Azder."

Ader headed east, keeping the pace steady, but careful not to jar any injuries. Despite his assurance he was still healing, though better than before.
After a while the place came into view. "There it is."

"Looks like it's a pretty sturdy building," Sa'vere said, looking it over.

Sakura just nods as she is still confused about this whole situation.

Azder motions for them to stay as he enters to insure it's safety, after awhile he comes out and leads them inside.

Sakura just stays quiet as she notices...some herbs around the fort and gets some.

"So how long do we plan on staying here?" Sa'vere asked, looking around curiously.

Azder shrugs. "I have nowhere to go now."

"Probably until this whole mess calms down... or better yet once we've all fully healed from our injuries..." Sa'vere nodded to herself, "I'll have this place more livable within the next few hours." She tugged up her sleeves in determination.

Sakura grabs her hands and has a stern look. "Sa'vere I would not advise you to use magic...there are sensors here. A great battle took place here and some of the sensors are still working. Allow me to help make the condition a little better the old fashioned way." Sakura goes into the woods and comes back with logs.

"Who said I was going to use magic?" Sa'vere blinked, "Hell, I don't even know how... I was talking about cleaning this place up, we can't very well just leave it like this if we're to stay if even for a small while."

Sakura blushes and lets out a sigh. "Sorry...You can do that I'll repair and replace some of the weak foundaton."

"I'll go get some fresh water, I remember seeing a small stream near here, I'll be back soon, promise." She rummaged in her pack until she brought out a fairly decently sized pot before heading out the door.

Azder sat in a tree keeping watch, trying not to allow his thought to distract him.

Sakura does some of the building make everything more sturdy. After she is done she messes with the herbs again.

Sa'vere returned a few minutes later, lugging the filled pot of water with very little problem, not even a drop of water sloshed over. Once inside she began to seriously work, sweeping with a makeshift broom, picking up random knicknacs left behind by whomever had stayed in the fort before them, and then she began to scrub. After about two hours she lifted the empty pot and left the fort again to gather some more water.

Sakura smiles at her work and becomes thankful she learned how to survive. Sakura waits for Sa'vere to return to offer help.

At the small stream Sa'vere splashed cool water onto her sweating facing, allowing it to dry in a relieving breeze as she relaxed for a moment before filling the pot with water once more. She set it down and stretched before lifting it again.

Azder remained alert as he carefully stretched to relieve the acs in his side.

Sakura looks up at Azder and shakes her head. "Guarding over us eh Azder."

Sa'vere headed swiftly back to the fort, slipping past Sakura and Azder. She didn't have much to do, then she'd go in search of something to make for them to eat...

"Yes." He replies. "Sa'vere don't stray far."

Sakura shakes her head. "I can follow her and make sure she will be safe."

"I won't go too far," Sa'vere called over her shoulder as she headed out after finishing the last of the cleaning.

"If you follow her, you be careful too." Azder whispers.

Sakura goes to walk but her ribs start to hurt again. She is forced to sit down and breath deeply. She sighs and just talks..."I guess this is why father never wanted me to go on the missions..."

Sa'vere hummed to herself as she found a patch of special cooking herbs, and she joyfully set to the task of carefully picking them. She wrapped them in a damp cloth and set them easily into a pouch at her waist where she wouldn't accidentally crush them as she continued her search.

Azder handed over a blue vile to Sakura. "This will help."

Sakura just nods and drinks it, she hands the vile back to Azder. "Thanks...you don't have to be nice. I'm just a homeless fighter."

"I hear these are generally tasty..." Sa'vere said to herself, twisting a knife in her hands as she caught sight of her prey.

It snorted once as it caught sight of her and took off at a run. Shoot She thought, running after it.

"You are in this for good or for bad, so deal with it." Azder replied.

"Hmp well at least you aren't claiming me like you tried earlier. I still think the name Guard-dog fits you." Sakura feels a little annoyed with his tone.

She leapt at the running beast, scrabbling to gain a hold on it's back as it fled. I'm sorry, but I'm not letting you get away... She thought, managing to drag herself fully onto its back as it continued to run.

"If you cotinue to call me that then I will call you stupid girl." Azder growled.

"Fine ruin my fun...but I do agree with you to some extent I am stupid..." Sakura remembers her training and how she was called stupid all the time. *I guess some names never do go away*

She finally managed to stop the fleeing beast by tugging on its ears. It squealed and reared up, toppling backwards with her in tow. Sa'vere rolled and stood up, shaking off momentary dizziness.

Sakura feels a little worried about Sa'vere. Sakura just shakes her head to get the negitive thoughts away.

*Sighs* "You are not stupid. I am worried about Sa'vere she has been to long. Care to help look for her?" Azder asked a little ashamed at himself, he had never understood what fun was.

Sakura nods. "I should've guessed you have been sheltered. I would not mind helping you."

In the end she managed to slay the beast and worked on cleaning it there so that when she took it back it's weight would not slow her down as much.

Azder carefully searched for Sa'vere's trail after he found it he lead the way.

Mean while a stranger walked in the forest, he soon cought sight of sa'vere and began to watch her. *I wonder if my brother is near.*

Sakura picks up another signature and gets the staff out in defense. *Great can we not just go one day without being attacked*

He leans against a tree. "I didn't attack you did I?"

Sa'vere's preperations were finally done and she made a sling for the beast out of her cloak and several peaces of wood so that she could drag it easily behind her.

Sakura quirks an eyebrow. "You were about to..I saw the rage in your eyes. I don't think Sa'vere is alone out here. I feel someone else near by."

Azder nods.

"I was not. I came out here to clear my head and I saw you." The stranger replied.

She began to hum again as she checked to make sure the herbs hadn't been crushed before heading back towards the fort, her gaze rivetted on the path before her but her mind elsewhere.

Sakura feels confused and just shakes her head. *GREAT NOT ONLY AM I WEAK BUT CLULESS TOO! THIS IS JUST BRILLENT!*

"So.. who are you?" Lanzer asks Sa'vere.

She stopped and blinked, "My name is Sa'vere, and yours?"

"Hawk." He lied not wanting this girl to know who he was, there was a strangeness about her he didn't understand.

Meanwhile Azder was still on the trail, he was growing uneasy the further the trail led from their camp. "Damn girl didn't listen!" He mumbled.

Sakura decides to whack Azder upside the head. Walking ahead but feels the stanger has a similar energy signiature as the bone head she had just hit. Although now she feels much more satisifed after she hit him.

"Hawk, huh? What're you doing way out here?" Sa'vere asked curiously.

"Clearing my head and you?" he asked feeling the presence of the others as they neared.

Azder snarled "What the Hell was that for?!"

"I was getting something to roast for my supper, and to have for at least a few days after." She didn't make mention of her comrades, uncertain if this man was friend or foe at the moment.

"I see. Do you have friends near by? You seem a little young to be on your own." Lanzer replied.

"I don't owe you an explaination..Stop complaining Sa'vere is ahead with someone..." Sakura feels the similarites between the signature.

"I'm perfectly capable of being on my own." Sa'vere retorted, huffing slightly in frustration.

"Do you know of a man by the name of Azderias?" Lanzer asked as he cocked his head in thought, hiding the a smile as he could sense them.

She faltered slightly, "And if I did?"

Sakura pulls Azder into a tree. *I think something is not right here...Is he guard-dogs brother*

*Don't Call Me Guard Dog!* Azder sent back but remained alert. He didn't have a brother as far as he knew.

"He is a friend of mine I have been worried about him." Lanzer replied, which was partially true, they had been friends.

*sorry...but I think he is related to you..was he a friend*

"I... met him a while back, but he is not here." Sa'vere said simply.

Azder shakes his head in disbelief. *It can's be...*

Lanzer looks slightly dissapointed. "Do you know where he was headed?"

*Well he is after you...what other reason could there be?*

"No, I am sorry." She said firmly.

"I see, Thank you and take care." Lanzer said as he headed into the woods, he quickly made himself undetectible, even to Azder and watched the girl, she intreguid him.

Azder let out a slight hiss as he lost the scent.

*CALM DOWN! Sa'vere is safe don't get too mad*

Once he was gone Sa'vere continued on her way, albeit uncertainly and nervously.

Another man of similar appearance to Lanzer appeared beside him, "Where have you been, brother?" He asked, his presence also undectectable.

wid- chapter 5