[b]Miriam 
Chapter 2: The persecuted[/b]

Clouds. Dark, threatening and impending rain clouds. Miriam ran a hand through her raven hair while watching them hover closer towards her. Of course the forces of the sky weren't actually pursuing her, but sometimes she wondered if Mother Nature had something particular against her. Miriam tediously dragged her shoddy hood over her head and glanced back over her shoulder towards Leia. 
	"There's a storm coming." She declared idly. The dog returned a blank stare before settling down on her belly and noising a gruff of disapproval. "Fitting response for such lame conversation, I suppose." Miriam continued as she strolled back beneath the roof of their cover. Some old farmer's house off the main road, several miles from anything alive, which hopefully meant it was far away from anything dead, as well.

Miriam settled down cross-legged by the fireplace she had built in the center of the small house, she picked one of the items previously gathered and casually dumped it into the fire for kindling. A wooden statue of an owl, made for warding off evil presence or the likes. Miriam scoffed at the idea and leaned back, proclaiming to the area. 
	"Come one, come all, Evil spirits. Can't be worse company!" She nudged her notched boot against the resting dog and snickered. Leia only exhaled in a derisive snort which made her floppy ear flip over her face. Ignoring the blatantly insane human and her rambling.

Before too long the rain caught up with them, a single roll of thunder struck out above them and then the pouring started. The heavens opened and the drench swatted the muddy ground remorselessly. Miriam glanced up at the ceiling and listened to the rain pelt it, and for a moment she considered herself fortunate. Alas, the universe had a way of taking from Miriam and a sudden creak alerted her senses. Both Miriam and Leia twisted about from their sitting positions to face the noise, Miriam looked from the far end wall to Leia, then back at wall. She pursed her lips in anxious discontent and made ready to stand up when a voice spoke out from behind her, at the door. 

	"Hi there!" Miriam turned, alarmed, to face the voice. Spotting the posture of the man and how much he clearly despised the rain, he was certainly no undead. Miriam did not resign her guard however, and grasped her pick-axe, while giving the man a scrutinizing gaze. He entered past the door, giving its frame a light tap for good fortune before raising his arms in peace. All very confident about himself. 

	"Ho' there, friend. I do hope I am not intruding in your home." It was an elderly fellow, his voice was grandfatherly and quite soothing, in a pipe-smoker sort of way. He was dressed in a large flanking cloak and soaked through and through, so Miriam couldn't quite pinpoint what he wore beneath. His face was covered by a hood but Miriam could distinguish a scraggly beard on his chin. "Though, I doubt this is your home, truly." The man continued, taking a few more steps into the house, he was approached by Leia who arched back and murmured a threatening growl. 
	"Who are you?" Miriam returned, she had met her share of brigands in the wilds, and knew better than to be naive. 
	"Ah!, yes. My name is Walter, and I am a scout for King Averheim's army!" The old man tutted proudly and seemed  to strike a pose, though his eye was kept attentive on the wary pooch. Miriam scoffed, folding her arms up. A soldier true, or a lying bandit, Miriam wasn't sure which she preferred at this point. The man kept speaking, as Miriam did not. "Now, I realize you have little reason to trust me, young miss, though I ask humbly of your assistance. Or at the very least to share your shelter until this terrible storm passes?" Miriam clenched her lips in consideration and gave Leia a short glance while clutching her pick-axe...