___

She nodded her head, having been the first time she woke up before the worst part started, she was feeling incredibly relieved. It was the one thing that made the start of each day so difficult, but she was freed from that worry... for now. He offered him some tea and biscuits, both warm to the touch even though they came from his inventory. She took a sip of the tea, tummy tingling as it warned her up on the inside, "Thank you, Kosan." They both took a bit of time to pause and enjoy their small snack, but he would interrupt the silence, "No, I'm feeling... a little better now. It's a shame the weather isn't fairing as well." She stood up and walked over to the entrance of the cave, Kosan's coat hung around her shoulders, "It's beautiful, isn't it?" She had never seen snow, it looked so much more fun than rain. Perhaps under better conditions, she'd be able to enjoy it better, "I'm sorry I reacted the way I did." She turned to face him, "Things weren't good for me in the real world and sometimes I remember them, but I'm sorry that I scared you..."

Red could feel the warmth of the man's breath on her neck. She wished she could break out of this despair, but she was even more powerless here than she was in the real world. At least there, she could struggle, but here, she had no control. He heard the man behind him whisper the nickname that he had come up for her in her ears, "Red..." This had been the name he had used for her for years, not having ever called her by her real name. Honestly, she was could have been called black or blue on an equally disturbing level, but he had a strange affinity for the crimson color. It was worse... so much worse... She felt him rest his chin on her shoulder and she closed her eyes, "Red..." She wanted to throw up everytime he said that blasted color, but something was different this time. The next words to fill her ears was nothing short of a miracle, "Red... Wake up." Everything started to fall apart as she opened her eyes, finding the man sitting ahead of her with a look of genuine worry, "Hmm..?" She rubbed her eyes, still a little tired, but surprised to find them still wet with fresh tears. He told her that she had a nightmare, but she knew good and well what it was, "I... I know. It's w-worse than that..." She didn't want to elaborate on it now, "T-thank you, Kosan. I've never been able to... wake up before i-it..."

She was shrouded by darkness, It's this nightmare again... First the darkness would fade, revealing a white room with no exit. She'd hear glass break, then a red splash of paint collide with the wall. It'd happen a few more times. Then the room would turn dark again, to such a point that you couldn't even see your own hands in front of you. She crumbled to the ground, knowing what was coming next, but she didn't want to accept it. She had overcome the terror of the bloodstained walls of the first room, but this part was what haunted her every day and night. When she was sleeping and awake, Please don't do this... She knew her thoughts, words, and action had no power here. She could feel the pressure of someone's hand on her shoulders, slowly falling to her back, chills running along the path. If Kosan were to look at her while, he'd notice that she would begin to tremble under his coat and tears would begin to stream down her face. I know you're there... Please...

He said he didn't want to see her cry, but he was the one that started all of this. If he wanted her to stop, he shouldn't have pushed her over the edge. It was his- She felt a pain deep inside her chest, though this time she couldn't tell if it was something to really worry about. She stood up slowly, taking in short breaths of air. Her message must have gotten across since he didn't offer her a hand, but that was a good thing. Red didn't want to be touched. She didn't want to be supported either, but she had to learn that it was okay to ask for help. This was a good first step for her, but she was still hesitant about it. She made her way into the cave, not waiting for Kosan to enter or check things out. She knew he was gathering kindling for a fire and she was grateful for it, but she didn't trust her voice to hold up well enough to say it. She sat down on a rock and leaned against the wall, the cloth of the hood making it not as uncomfortable as it might seem. It was cold, but she was tired. She'd was beginning to fall asleep rather quickly and would be completely out before Kosan returned, but she let out a faint whisper as she went under, "T-thank you..."

You'd only get the uncommon variety from a 20 LD if it's from mob loot.

She could hear him call out in worry as she collapsed to the ground, followed by the tip tapping of his shoes as he ran to check on her. She felt the slight vibration in the rock as he kneeled next to her and gulped as he said her name, almost as if the word 'red' formed a lump in her throat. That wasn't even her name... He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and a sudden flurry of responses surged through her. I don't want to be touched... It's so warm... I'm so cold... Why? She gritted her teeth and pushed him away, she didn't want to be touched, "Don't... Don't t-touch me." It was such a heartless thing to do. The only one that had ever touched her had been one that abused her. He made her suffer. It hurt to make contact. Even simple things like handshakes were enough to make chills go down her spine. Red didn't run or cover her ears like she had done time and time before, she was giving him the chance to say what he had to say. He wanted to be there for her, guide her and protect her. She wasn't sure if she wanted it, especially after how he had made her feel. However, she hoped she hadn't hurt him. There was enough of that already. She nodded her head, speaking between the short spurts of air, "I-I think... that'd b-be a... good idea." Her mind and heart ached; she could use a nap, even a short one.

She took a deep breath in, closed her eyes, and let it out. Her mind was so cloudy that it was hard to focus on the words that were directed at her, but the deep breathing relieved it enough so that she could hear him. He began talking about how he wasn't the best fighter, in fact, hopeless much like she had been. She understood what he was trying to say and it hurt to know that even in a world where she could have the chance to fend for herself, she was still just as hopeless as before. She wasn't strong like Kosan. She wasn't mindful as Luci. She wasn't nice like Tyger. She was nothing more than a pitiful shell of a person that had long since died out, leaving behind only the torment and pain she had endured for those long years. She opened her eyes and looked down, seeing the droplets creating little specks on the rocks beneath her, remembering the soaked pillow that she had to sleep with at night through the living hell and corrupted nightmares. It was all too much for one person to contain, too much for one person to carry on their shoulders, too much for one to endure on their own. She slumped down on her knees and began to cry as she placed her face in her hands. She couldn't speak, but she knew what she wanted to say. If you really do understand, help me... Save me... Please... All she wanted was for someone to reach down and pull her out of the pit that she had been buried in. It was suffocating her and eventually, it would swallow her whole.

She could hear him call after her as she bolted off, pleading one more time that he hadn't meant it. She didn't care what he had to say after hearing him so easily brush off all that she had been through. While he hadn't meant to offend her in any way, Red was a rather fragile girl. She has gone through many troublesome times throughout her life, most of which weren't pleasant in between those periods, but for someone to... She gulped hard, I'm not going to let him see me cry... Nobody has seen me cry since the orphanage... It had been nearly four years since she left all those that truly cared for her, the ones that she was blessed enough to call her friends. She hadn't had anyone to lean on since then. Nobody to hear her screaming for help, crying out in pain, or sniffling as she drowned in fear. For someone to say that they know what that was like crushed her heart, there was no way that she could be as carefree as Kosan after all that she had been through. The overwhelming volume of the pulsing beat of her heart started to fade out as she heard the footsteps slow down behind her and the boy asking her to stop for one last time. She could only think to run, never having been given the option to face what was coming to her or running from what she feared. She slowed down a little... she didn't fear him, did she? She eventually came to a halt, a good ten meters ahead of Kosan, but she didn't turn around. She didn't say anything. This was Kosan's last chance to remove all doubt from her mind, be it for better or worse.

He seemed to get the message loud and clear as he began to follow suit, eventually catching up and walking side by side with her. He began fumbling through his words, trying to find the right way to apologize for what he said. He offered to make a campfire before they made it to the boss, assuming that Red had pulled up her hood and had her lip trembling because of the cold. However, he made one critical error in his words. It took a few minutes of silence before she broke, "Like that? What do you-" She choked on her words, finding herself growing upset over something so easily, "What do you mean by that?" She pulled off her hood so that she could stare him dead in the eyes, "How could you say something like that?" Her eyes were teary and her lip was quivering as she tried to hold it in, "Who are you to say you know what it's like to go through the things I have?" He hadn't experienced each day of anguish of not feeling capable of doing anything to save himself, "You're right, y-you..." She struggled to say the end of the statement, having not had the chance to say something so offensive in the last three years, "You really are a-a... a douche!" She ran ahead, tears starting to break through the wall she had built up for so long.

He stuttered a bit before he apologized, the way she said it must have affected him. He tried to call her an excellent fighter, but he hadn't seen her actually do anything more than hit two still targets that couldn't defend themselves. She watched him pull his sword and finish off the last wolf, but he continued trying to apologize to no success. It was a shame they were taking the wrong approach to each other, she knew that she wasn't making this trip any easier. If anything she was a burden, "You... don't have to apologize. I'm the one..." Her voice trailed off, but she finished the statement in her mind, ... who really needs to say I'm sorry... She walked past him as he kicked the rock and pulled her hood up, her actions speaking for themselves. She didn't want to leave the quest here and she intended to finish it with him, but she wasn't sure if she could speak with her lip trembling the way it was.

Wolf 4: [7357] 3

And then there was one... The last remaining wolf of its tribe and it was the weakest of the bunch, such a wolf wasn't fit to be the leader of any pack. However, if there was one things that wolves lived by, it was that they always fought as a pack. With that concept in mind, they lived as a pack and they died as a pack. It tried to attack to attack Red, but she avoided it, while it snarled at the far more menacing Kosan. It figured that the chances of picking off the girl were higher, but it was already extremely improbable for that to happen to begin with.

[7365] 5 - 5 - 6 - 7

Kosan: 33/33

Red: 15/15

Wolf 1: Dead

Wolf 2: Dead

Wolf 3: Dead

Wolf 4: 8/8

She nearly cringed when Kosan congratulated her on a job well done. She hadn't done anything at all to deserve congratulations, much less the opportunity to repeat the same process over again. It was like throwing a brick at a wall, plain and simple, but she felt as if she was being treated as a child. I might as well get this over with... She wasn't able to tell if he was being kind or cruel, though it left a sinking feeling in her chest as she walked over to the paralyzed wolf. She raised her rapier and stuck it into the side of the wolf, finishing it off. She turned to the second member of the two party group, "I may be new to the game, but you don't have to treat me like it." She frowned, this was a whole new world for her. A place that she could live without the fear of what her captor was going to do to her. In situations like this though, she felt cornered... useless... powerless. Why can't I do things right?

QUEST BEGIN

[7360] 1 - [1] - 19 - 3

___: 14/15

Ariel: 15/15

Raeyliff: 15/15

Bradley: 15/15

((Adjust your health to the correct stats if it is incorrect.))

Red smiled at Ariel's comment, having known about such wonderful tales as a child. She had a lot of time to read back in the orphanage and they were always open for donations, some of which included books. Common books, especially fairy tales and best hits that have died out over time, filled the small library that they had. Her nickname and robe was inspired by the tale, just as she had guessed, "I'm glad you like it." She looked across the desert, "I'm not sure what kind of monsters are out there. I just heard some rumours about the quest itself, but that was the only info I could pick up." She was by no means good at video games, this being her first, but she was trying to learn. She would lead the group into the desert, but she would be perfectly fine with anyone else taking the lead from there. Within a few moments, she'd notice her health would drop a single point, "Whoa, what was that?" She looked around, not seeing any monsters in sight, before shrugging it off and continuing. I must be imagining things...

Wolf 2: [7356] 5

Wolf 4: [7357] 3

The two remaining wolves crept back to a safe distance before throwing their heads up to the sky and letting out a cry for their fallen comrade and their late leader. Now that two remained, they must avenge their own and the one to survive was going to be the one to take over as leader of a new tribe - again, if they survived. They split up to attack each aggressor individually, but neither of them would be in successful at tagging either of the two players.

[7355] 8 - 4 - 3 - 7

Kosan: 33/33

Red: 15/15

Wolf 1: Dead

Wolf 2: 13/13

Wolf 3: Dead

Wolf 4: 8/8

Red was quite surprised when Kosan told her that she wasn't useless, considering that she was trying to make the comment with a tease. It was nothing more than a mere joke, but he seemed to have taken it pretty serious. It was kind of amusing to see him try to cheer her up, but when he started to coach her on how to hit it in the sensitive spot and even told her to strike the paralyzed wolf. It kind of felt like he was making fun of her and it left her disappointed that she was of no real help to this venture so far, but she did as Kosan told her to. Of course, she hit it without a problem. It was paralyzed, whoop de doo.

Wolf 1: [7349] 2

Wolf 2: [7350] 9

Wolf 3: [7351] Paralyzed

Wolf 4: [7352] 8

The wolves weren't quite capable of doing much harm to it as is, but even still, the only one to actually nip at Kosan wouldn't find itself doing any damage. It was a pitiful attempt, but there really wasn't much of a chance to win here, even in a pack of four. They decided to gather around the paralyzed wolf, understanding that it couldn't defend itself and was close to dying.

[7348] 3 - 2 - 4 - 6

Kosan: 33/33

Red: 15/15

Wolf 1: 7/15

Wolf 2: 13/13

Wolf 3: 2/12 - Paralyzed

Wolf 4: 8/8

It seemed like Kosan wasn't too big a fan of wolves either, but at least he didn't have some fairy tale that made it almost a coinciding joke between the hooded figure and the fanged beasts they were fighting. He dodged around them all, having no trouble avoiding them as he drew their attention. He attacked another one of them, paralyzing it and offering Red to finish it off, "Oh, come on..." She rolled her eyes, slightly frustrated with herself, "I'm not that useless, you know?" She charged towards the alpha male, intending to finish it off. I've got this! Or... at least, she thought she did. Her blade barely missed by the hair on its back, but she missed nevertheless.

She turned out not to be too upset, but Red wasn't going to make that mistake again. She was flustered with the color of her nickname, embarrassed that she had taken such valuable time out of someone's day, even if they were exaggerating the value of it. In the end, she should have closed her shop a few minutes earlier. She hadn't had any customers within the last hour, after all. I really am to blame for-... "Whoa," she yelped as she felt her balance being propelled forwards, "Yes, you're right. I'm surprised you know so much about the game." Granted, that wasn't the greatest compliment from Red, considering she started knowing next to nothing when she first started.

She was surprised that she was in so much trouble, considering that the person in front of her was nearly half her age. Red didn't quite understand what was so important about time here or in games in general, but it must have some degree of significance, "I-I... Uhm, I'll try not to be late again." She apologetically bowed her head down a bit, "I'm sorry, Luci." This was the second person that approached Red out of their own will, asking her to accompany them on a quest and she was already screwing up. She picked her head back up, "Well, now that I'm here... Are you ready to start the quest?"

She genuinely had not been paying attention to the time, but she knew that it was nearly time for her to meet up with Luci. She was really scandalous in her clothing and Red didn't understand why she would particularly want to dress up in such revealing clothing, especially in a game filled with a bunch of men. She swore she'd never wear such skimpy outfits again after... She shivered. Why do I keep thinking about that? It's behind me now, I never have to worry about it again. She tried to bury the thoughts as she approached the bench they had promised to meet at, "Sorry I'm late, Luci. I had to close up the shop."

[7046] 10 - 5 - 2 - 5

[___] 11/13

[Wind Wasp Queen] 0/30

Taking this shining golden opportunity to her advantage, Red struck again then hopped off as the Queen began to fly up in the air. She was certain that if she held on for any longer, she would have taken some damage from the fall. Though that was of her concern no longer as the Queen began to violently shake, flying into the walls in a blind rage. After destroying some of the structural integrity of the chamber, the Queen faded out of existance. Red sheathed her rapier and plopped down on her bottom, "I can't believe it's over. That was too easy." She checked her health, "Geez... I only lost two health?"

[7045] 10 - 6 - 17 - 8

[___] 11/13

[Wind Wasp Queen] 7/30

Instead of flying up or backwards to create a distance, which was the advantage for such a huge monster as this, the Queen slammed its stinger down so that the blunt force of the blow would be enough to succeed. Unfortunately for Red, it was right. Fortunately for Red, it was a mistake. The Queen had set herself up so that Red could grab onto the stinger and hop up while the stinger crashed on the ground after hitting her. She ran up the length of the stinger and struck the Queen in the stomach or at least what Red thought lied beneath the surface of the front of the monster.

[7044] 8 - 3 - 15 - 2

[___] 12/13

[Wind Wasp Queen] 14/30

It acted as if it understood what Red had commanded and hovered low to the ground. Obviously, it knew it was bigger and the Queen wasn't going to play the pitiful game of Cat and Mouse once it knew that it was the mouse. It flapped its winger a little quicker and used the increased force to close the gap, where her stinger would collide with Red's rapier, but it wouldn't damage her. She would take the rapier along the length of the stinger and twist her wrist to flick the stinger up, leaving an open space for Red to stick the rapier in, "Only three more hits Red, then this is over..."

[7043] 6 - 8 - 20 - 3

[___] 12/13

[Wind Wasp Queen] 19/30

The Queen reacted in a rather violent manner, considering it jolted up in retaliation and flew up, demolishing part of the top of the hive's enclosure. She stepped around the falling degree as the Queen started to zoom downwards, but she was able to avoid the narrow stinger and reach the bum of the Queen, "Come on, fight me down here!" It was a pretty unfair fight both ways. She was tearing through the field boss's health while the field boss had the ability to use the air to its advantage so there really was no middle grounds for the two to have a fair fight, which made it just a little more troublesome than Red had desired.

[7042] 9 - 11 - 5 - 6

[___] 12/13

[Wind Wasp Queen] 24/30

The Queen was massive, but it was pretty agile for its size. It was quick on the initial approach and struck Red with its stinger, but she had been prepared the moment she stepped inside the room. Rapier unsheathed, she used her own stinger-like weapon to strike back at the Queen. They traded blows, but Red had the clear advantage. She inflicted six times as much damage as the Queen inflicted on her, which was far more than she could have imagined. Wow, if the group was bragging about beating this thing, they must have just started the game. She was only level 5 and was going to have an easy time.