[b][color=39b54a]Meirin Kurenai[/color][/b]

The college students and the caravan master left shortly after their talk. Meirin knew from the look on the caravan master's face that it didn't go in his favor. Meirin was worried just what happened however, as she occupied her time keeping Lyn away. The red haired girl was still a bit sore over Alaira's actions, but was trying her best to look past it. It was obvious that Alaira was going to need a lot of help. She could play tough as long as she wants, but the fact is that there are major flaws that Alaira needs to fix. No one has to be perfect, but Meirin still believed that she could fix her mistake.

It wasn't long before the caravan master stopped in the middle of the road. Meirin wondered what it was all about when he told the others they had a few hours to find the bandits. Meirin was glad that the caravan master accepted the deal, but as everyone else left she began to worry. It was only going to be Lyn and the caravan master if everyone left. And while she did want to fight alongside Ssarak, Darius, and Alaira, they still needed to guard the wagon too. 

[color=39b54a]"You guys go ahead, I'll stay with the wagon. Since they won't have the element of surprise on their side, I know you can take care of them, easy! If anything shows up, I can deal with them myself."[/color]

There wasn't much room to debate since they had a time limit, so the two groups left. Meirin stayed in the wagon as it moved through the forest. This forest felt familiar to her and she probably went through it once in the past. But that only reminded her of the dangers that lied in wait. It brought back memories of demons and her failures. Before they could get the better of her however, Meirin took out a container with her medicine and gulped down two pills. Her mind was at ease, as though it was able to forget her troubles and give her a moment to collect her thoughts. Once she steadied herself Meirin looked around.

The caravan master hide the wagon in the only part of the forest with a thick brush and overhead cover. It wasn't totally dark, but not much sunlight broke through the canopy. It was a good place for hiding, but that could easily be used against them. Picking up her weapon Meirin got out of the wagon and stood guard. She waited... And waited... And waited. A younger Mei would have grown impatient and started to slack off, but this Meirin was diciplined enough to remain steadfast. She kept note of every sound and sight she could detect. After a while, she was able to figure out what was normal and what wasn't. If something new came along, she'd know it.

However there was one thing on her mind. The Caravan Master. She didn't like how the rest were treating him. Alaira was being... Alaira, and while she knew Ssarak was doing his best to be nice, he was still taking advantage of him. She knew it was for the good of the college, but Meirin still couldn't sit comfortably knowing that they were pushing him around. She wanted to say something so she did. Walking up to the caravan master Meirin called out softly.

[color=39b54a]"Excuse me, do you have a moment?"[/color]

Unknown to Meirin, around that moment Lyn also wandered off into the forest.

Waking up with a start the caravan master nearly drew a knife on Meirin. It wasn't a proper fighting dagger, more like a kitchen knife. He didn't have a proper weapon because he thought he'd have bodyguards, but right now the only people to protect him was this red-haired floozy and that little girl. "Nhh, what do you want? Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?" More like nurse his hangover, which he wasn't improving by drinking more of his hooch.

[color=39b54a]"I just want to say sorry. Sorry for everything that's happened. I promise that the college will do everything it can to make this all right."[/color]

"NO!" The caravan master jumped to his feet, standing over Meirin. It helped that he was still on the wagon. "Right?! The right thing to do would have been to find someone else! First that crazy elf bitch burns the fields, than she attacks guardsmen, and now here I sit, waiting for her to go cut a path of destruction in the country side. Don't think that makes you special. I came to the college hoping for once I could find guardsmen who weren't trying to be goddamn heroes or insane! But nooooo it looks like everywhere I go, there's always someone who wants to fuck around!" The Caravan master was red in the face from both booth and anger. He throw his bottle at a tree in anger, causing some birds to fly away from the shattering glass.

"All I wanted was to get to Hysteria in two days. Hell, I came all the way from Sanguine in only three, and the worst I had to deal with was bandits making me pay a tenth of my profits to go free. Nooo trouble at all. But than I hear talk about demons and figured, hey, why not ask the college for help? They're must be more professional than the other drunken idiots who pass as demon hunters! BUT NO! THEY'RE ALL THE SAME, EVERY LAST FUCKING ONE OF YOU!"

The caravan master panted heavily at Meirin, nearly spitting all over her face in his rant. Any notion of stealth was forfeited in exchange of letting himself vent. He sat back down and curled up, ready to sleep.

Meirin was quiet. She let the caravan master speak his thoughts while she kept a calm face. He had every right to be angry so she was going to let him say what he wanted to say. But when he stopped, Meirin spoke.

[color=39b54a]"Your anger is justified, and I won't make excuses for our faults. But we're not the same as the others. We aren't here for gold or to the thrill of killing. There is a greater threat that looms over us. What we face now, these bandits and vampires and demons, they're just a shadow of the monster that wants to destory us. Of Kudd Gro'Freesah."[/color]

Meirin let her words sink in for a moment. She knew about the great demon god after some more researching behind the attacks. She's heard of the bedtime stories the people of Djarkel had about the demon overlord who would steal away naughty children and turn them into little monsters. And yet somehow those children's tales become much more frightening to Meirin, knowing that it may be within Kudd's power. But all the more reason she had to fight against him and anyone who would serve him. She had to protect the people she loved, and surely the caravan master wanted the same thing.

[color=39b54a]"In these dark times it's hard for anyone to think clearly when so much is at stake. It can be crushing to think. Before, I was simply a student of my art and magic. I didn't have any greater aspirations but to perfect both. But when the demons attacked my home... Even if I wanted to run, I knew that war was upon us. So I had to fight. But it's is not something that is so easily done. Take for example Alaira. The stress of the war she had entered has... Made her paranoid. You must understand this, don't you? Demons are easy enough to spot, but when we heard word that Kudd had humans among them, suddenly everyone could be her enemy. She cracked, and only wanted to protect others by destroying those who would harm them."[/color]

The caravan master said nothing. His face was covered up bu his sleeve and hat. But he wasn't snoring, though his breathing could be heard. Whether he was asleep or not was hard to tell, though that may have been done on purpose.

Letting out a sigh Meirin leaned against the wagon. She still kept an eye out on potential enemies, more so since the caravan master's outburst might have alerted potential threats. Still she spoke, hoping to make a breakthrough.

[color=39b54a]"Do you have a family, sir? Wife and children?"[/color]

The caravan master said nothing and continued to feign his sleep. However he dropped the act as soon as he spoke. "My daughter... She wanted to run the caravans, just like me. She... I wanted to spoil her. I wanted to keep her at home, where she would be safe, and after every trip I'd bring her something from my travels to show her that I loved her. She... She's gone now. Left with her first caravan... And never came back. I that was five years ago. She was only fifteen years old... But she was always my little girl."

The caravan master didn't really make a connection with what Meirin was saying about Kudd and such. He knew the name, but he wasn't in the right state of mind to care about it. All he could think about was what happened to his daughter. What might have happened. "Do you know how it's like to feel that powerless, woman? I could... I should... Have stopped her. Saved her. But... She... It wasn't my choice. I had to go along with it and... And this is what happened. That was what happened when I didn't get to even have so much as a say of what could happen. First I lost her and... I don't even know what to do anymore. I just... Don't care anymore..."

Sitting next to the caravan master Meirin looked down at the huddled up old man. He was so small right now. [color=39b54a]"That little girl with us, Lyn, she's someone's daughter too. Don't you want these roads to be safe for children like her as well?"[/color]

"..." The caravan master didn't responds.

[color=39b54a]"I know we aren't doing the perfect job at it. But the college wants to help. No one else should have to suffer. I'm sorry for your lost. But we'll do our best to make sure it never happens again. You have my word."[/color]

"... I don't know. Your word holds no meaning to me, college girl. I... I've been promised so much. How can I possibly believe that the college would ever hold to it?"

Suddenly, there was rustling. Both Meirin and the caravan master shot their heads towards the sound. Meirin react just in time to avoid an arrow from hitting her in the shoulder. She jumped off and grabbed her weapon, holding it at the ready.

"Heh heh heh... Well lookie here. A fine woman, and a wagon full of goodies. Looks like this was a good hunt after all, eh lads?" From the forest came three bandits, each armed with a bow. Dirty, grimly thugs. However their armor and equipment suggested they weren't mere brutes, but potentially deserters from a Djarkel Baron. They wore Splintmail armor, armed with shortbows and twin shortswords. Meirin would recognize the hilt design of the swords belonging to a former baron in Djarkel, who had been recently displaced and turned to banditry. They're well known for their dual-wielding weapon style, but better known for their pack-like combat tactics. And it was three-on-one, giving them a slight advantage. "Hey girlie, why don't you put that shovel down and play with us? I promise we won't hurt you! Heh heh heh... Not too badly anyways." 

Meirin's responds to the bandit's words was throwing one of her hidden daggers at the bandit, piercing through the hand holding the shortbow.  [color=39b54a]"Please stay back, caravan master. I will protect you."[/color] With the other half of the lungchuan tamo, she hurled it at the same bandit as before. He dodged but still got nicked on the shoulder, on the same arm that got stabbed.

"You bitch! Ooooh.... You're going to pay!" The bandits who still had hands drew and arrow and tried to shoot down Meirin.

But Meirin was faster. In a single bound she got close to the three bandits with her weapon ready to cleave through their bow. With one well practiced swipe, she sundered through the wooden shafts of their short bows, just barely missing their hands. But she didn't stop there. After her swipe she pressed the attack and stepped towards the first bandit, dropping a quick but hard stomp right on the side of his kneecap.

There was a sickening crunch as Meirin broke the bandit's knee, much to the horror of the other two. However they still had enough sense to at least draw their short swords. One of them did anyways, while the other only managed to draw one. He charged at Meirin with a blood curdling roar, stabbing at her mid section while the other moved in to flank.

Puller her leg back from the bandit's knee she kicked him aside with a flick of her leg just in time to see the other two move in. She parried the one-handed bandit's stab with the crescent end of her staff, spinning it just once through the air so that she could plant the spade end right into the shoulder of the first bandit she took out. Her weapon could not break through his armor, but she used his armor to slide the sharpened spade head right into his unprotected neck, partially decapitating him. 

The dual wielding bandit lunged right as Meirin sunk her weapon into the first bandit's neck, one blade going towards her staff and the toher towards her hand. He intended to hold her weapon in place and wound her while his friend get ready to stab Meirin in the back. Indeed, recovering quickly from the parry the bandit ducked low and stabbed towards the back of Meirin's legs.

Not wanting to be attacked from both sides, Meirin moved her hand down the shaft of her staff just in time to avoid getting her hands cut but the bandit's blades. When her hand was close to the crescent head of her staff she jumped into the air, holding onto the staff as leverage while sinking it further into the neck of the first bandit. She avoided the one-handed bandit as she did a hand stand on the top of her staff. With a twist she fulled decapitated the first bandit and got the made out of the shaft. Pressing against the crescent blade Meirin pushed herself off the staff and further into the air, where she preformed an aerial weaving movement. Before she landed she shot a blast of air right down onto one of the bandits.

Unbalanced from Meirin's acrobatics the dual wielding bandit was knocked onto his stomach from Meirin's wind attack. The second bandit had no idea what to do, and didn't get a chance when the Caravan Master threw his knife at the bandit. He meant to do that just to distract the bandit, but his blade managed to land right into the bandit's neck, severing an artery. The caravan master was just as surprised as the bandit.

Stepping up the the last bandit Meirin put both her feet on the back of the bandit's arms to pin them to the ground. [color=39b54a]"I will be merciful and spare you if you answer my questions honestly. Where is your base? Who is your leader? And what have you and your gang been doing?"[/color]

The bandit was nearly crapping in his pants if he had anything to eat. Scared for his life he stammered out answers to Meirin's questions. "T-to the west! We marked out path with red leaves! The boss is a guy name Yogol, big orc fella, knows magic! He brought some friends along and said if we worked with them we'd be rich! Please don't kill me, you gotta understand, Djarkel is a horrible place! It... It does horrible things, you have to adapt, you have to be willing to get your hands dirty! It was just trying to survive!"

Listening carefully, Meirin stood, one foot on his back. She kicked the swords out of his hands before reaching around his neck. She put the bandit into a sleeper hold as he struggled against her, but in ten seconds he stopped moving. He would be aware, but light-headed, within a few minutes. And just to make sure that he didn't give chase she used his own belt to tie his feet and legs together. Assuming the wolves don't get to him, he could undo the belts and live to see another day. 

Meirin gathered her weapons back together and returned to the caravan master. She even gave him back his knife. He seemed shaken at the sudden conflict but she put a reassuring hand on his knee. [color=39b54a]"I want to see Djarkel be a better place. It is my home, and it brings me pain to see my people forced to kill each other for something as simple as survival. These are dark times, but the college aims to be the light in our darkest hour. Please believe me."[/color]

The caravan master looked at Meirin. His face was full of mixed emotions. He didn't like fighting. He wanted nothing to do with it. But at the same time, for once, he was grateful that someone was doing their job and protecting him instead of starting or looking for fights. He only wanted this to be a safe trip, not one disaster after another. but than the caravan master looked around and noticed something was off.

Meirin realized it as well. Gripping her staff she went to the back of the wagon. She was gone. 

[color=39b54a]"LYN!"[/color]