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Anastasia's muscles burned and ached as she continued on towards...where ever it was she was going. Many surrounded her, though she couldn't quite see them, traveling away from the destruction of their home. Many where hurt, others were helping the wounded get away. Tears stung her already tired eyes as she thought once more of her missing family and could only hope beyond hope that they were alright and on their way to better places.
A wayward strand of hair stuck to her sticky cheek and she paused for a moment to put her once immaculate hair back in the tie that was holding the frizzy mass from her face and neck. She had been unable to walk away from the destruction as fabulously as some, her once finely sewn dress with its many beads and trinkets was now sooty, filled with holes, and un-graciously hanging off of one shoulder, refusing to stay in place since being torn.For a moment she wondered if she had ever been so dirty in her life, then snapped back to attention in time to keep herself from tumbling over her feet, eyes back on her surroundings for any sign of her loved ones.

(( Using a very disheveled, humanoid version of Anastasia. ))

(I will be using Mikasi'Nell his familiar and his daughter whom had just arrived as a basket in soq for now but, may toss in more later c8 )
The devastation had been swift.
It left the man shaken..heart wrenched as he cradled his new daughter near..the one he called friend anxiously flitting about..her own eyes overflowing with tears. What would they do?
Where had his beloved gone and, his other precious daughter? He'd sworn to protect them! Sworn to give his life for the sake of theirs should the need arise yet, now Mikasi' Nell found himself alone..their whereabouts currently unknown. Rain's Song stood tall even at her tiny height, sniffles left her..heart, body and soul trembling like a newborn on unsteady legs. Beside her friend the usually bouncy female felt nothing but dread. Despite the fear and, anxiety rushing..pulsating among not only him..the others nearby. All around them seemed equally lost. Mikasi' Nell wouldn't leave anyone else in shambles. So with a small breath the tall male handed his squirming child over to Rain "Keep her close..let us help our brethren. Then I will find her..no matter how long it takes." All hope had not been lost yet. Surely there could be a glimmer, a shimmer of hope for a better tomorrow if they all believed hard enough. Spotting a stumbling, disheveled woman (Anastasia) he moved forward wondering if she too had lost someone special. "Be careful Miss..are you looking for someone as well? Perhaps we can look together." Rain trailed after him with a silent sense of determination returning..the tears had faded..leaving clean 'tracks' down her sooty little face.

Neva kept out of the way of those she saw, though if anyone paid any attention, they would hear the slight ring of bells. Her staff was wound with a red ribbon and small bells, and if one looked closely they would see blood stains on the once pure silver bells.

There was chaos all around, and the elf was still gathering the information she needed. And also, she was looking for the perfect victim, and while they were all stragglers, there had to be one she could further break down. And so she kept moving, and kept looking.

He walked slowly, his mind blank of anything but the instinct to look for his family, and his eyes glued to the charred dirt passing beneath his feet. It had been a bad idea to move, despite the many reasons it had seemed like a good one at the time. Or, perhaps, it was just the land he had chosen poorly. Evangeline had assured him it was a lush, prosperous land, a new place for the family to start again. Now, now there was nothing but ash and dust.

His fingers clenched around the shaft of the weapon in his hands, thoughts of his daughters flowing through his head. Were they alive? The family that Jessamine had created (however accidentally at the time) had been scattered around and he wondered if he would ever get the chance to meet them now. There were others who he had some concern for, ones he'd met in the short time he had lived in the new land, but if they were gone he would not be broken, not like if his family was dead.

If they were dead...he would...

Vincent looked up from the ground in front of his feet abruptly and glared at the air in front of him. Resolve shone in his red eyes, and he forcefully pushed the deep melancholy to the back of his thoughts. This was not the way to solve anything, wondering about the future instead of acting. He would search until his last breath for what remained of his family and they would pick up the pieces and start anew. It would not be the first time. That was when he noticed the shapes that seemed to be traveling in the same direction as he was (where was he actually going anyway?).

((First time I've actually made a real rp post for Vincent that wasn't just plots. Too bad this is what it took. :C ))

The male tensed. He heard bells.
He heard... bells.

A slight ringing in the distance, an omen that seemed to send shivers down his spine. Something felt... wrong. So many things were wrong these days, but... how could a sound that came so welcome from some possess such disharmony from another? Then, a closer bell tinkled its merry tune, and his focus returned to that which was here- now.

His breath caught as the female form rose and her lips formed- his name! It was her!
A grin touched his face for the first time in what felt like forever as joy bubbled up inside. He started to rise, but she had crossed the distance quickly, and her one-armed embrace soothed his weary soul.

She was okay.
The forest...

Struggling with some ingrained sense of propriety, he almost did not return her embrace- but emotion overrode self-control as he slung a quiet arm around her, pressing her lightly against his chest as he gazed at the dying embers in her other hand.
"Yáviel.... i'm sorry." His words trailed off into a broken whisper. It wasn't his fault, none of this was, but was truly sorry to see her in such a state... to see the land in such a state.
But... she was here now.

And maybe, somewhere, there were plants that he could help her nurture.
New life for this new chapter in their lives.


His fingers curled around her subconsciously as he pulled her slightly closer- then released his hold to allow her the freedom to make her own decisions. He had remembered those distant, eerie bells- and a familiar dread returned.
Let this chapter be kinder than the last.

Anastasia jumped at the sound of anothers voice, having been so focused on what she was trying to find in the distance that she had failed to notice the immediate. She calmed herself and turned to face the man standing behind her. She tried her best at a composed face but her emotions were weighing heavily on her, she imagined she looked like a kicked dog. "I'm...um..." Her gaze had shifted to behind the kind stranger to see a small woman carrying a child with likeness to the man. Tears immediately sprung back to life and rolled down her cheeks. How was it that this little life was expected to endure this hardship? Where was it written that this had to happen?
Ana inhaled a steadying breath and closed her eyes, counted to three and then looked back to the man. "I'm sorry...yes, I've been searching for my family, or any sign of them being alright."


Amon carried his book, its cover charred but he was able to stop the flames from claiming it before it was destroyed. It was his only possession, the flames having taken all else he held dear in the lands he had only just arrived in. He had hoped to have found adventures, but was met with only destruction.
When a voice met his ears it had been quiet for so long that at first he thought it was the creation of an over active imagination, until he heard it again in the midst of his dismissal. It took him seconds to start tearing through the woods in the direction of the faint voice. How was it he moved so fast, when moments ago he barely felt the urge to walk? But he was running, slowing some when the sight of charred feathers and fresh blood met his green eye. In moments he had dropped to his knees next to the bleeding figure of a woman. His voice was soothing and gentle as he spoke to her, though his hands shook as he gently brushed hair from her face. "My name is Amon Murray, it would be my pleasure to help you miss." Amon focused his hands to hover slightly above her and willed his healing magic to help the struggling woman to survive.
(( Using Amon Murray as character reference. ))

Her name, a summons.
Her breathing hitched as that familiar voice rang out in the dark. Calling her. Calling her home.

Home is where the heart is. And her heart was with him.

There were no doubts, not anymore. Had there ever been doubt, or had there been only fear of the unknown?
She moved in one direction, and then stopped and fled in the other. She had heard him. And he came... from....

There.

She ran, her lithe limbs stretched to their max as adrenaline and sheer joy spurned her towards his waiting form. She ran over ash, and debris, and charred remains- she ran past those who lingered with their loved ones or searched desperately for their soul's pair. There would be time enough to help those in need...
For now, all that mattered was getting to him. Getting back into his embrace, where everything was and always would be Alright.

"Bliss!" she gasped, barely slowing her momentum as she flung herself into his arms.
I'm here.