[center][h1]Sam I am....Sam I am.....I do not like that Sam I am[/h1][/center] [sub] A collab feat. [@Aerandir ] and [@Wildeyes][/sub] Everytime Taran thought that the boy...Sam... has died, he'd give out another patheic weeze of life. In the end, he ended up simply smashing the boy's head in with a rock. Although head was giving it far to much credit, it was mostly ash with a little bit of jelly like blood seeping through. He didn't really feel like going anywhere, not even when he heard the other witches return, so he just...sat there next to the ashes. Taren suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Alphonse standing behind him. "That was a hard thing you did there. Are you alright?" Taran jump as he felt the hand touch him. He looked around and saw Al standing behind him. [color=708090]"I'm fine, this is what we do,"[/color] he said. [color=708090]"This is what I do," [/color] His voice kept the same ton as he drew circles in the dirt. [color=ed145b] "Yeah, it is."[/color] Al hunkers down next to Taran. [color=ed145b]"First time's always the worst."[/color] He hunkered in silence with Taran for a moment, taking in the macabre display. He could guess well enough how this scene had played out.[color=ed145b] "I'm glad to see it's them lieing here though. Instead of you. I wasn't sure if you had it. The will to survive."[/color] Taran glanced ove at Al, an eyebrow raised at the man who, when last they met, tried to blast him for not wanting to fight. [color=708090]"It...wouldn't be so bad...if they didn't think they were honestly trying to help me," [/color] [color=ed145b] "That's the problem with hunters. They mean well enough. They even do a lot of good work, but they won't trust us. When they see us, with all the power we have, they see a monster. They spend so much of their time fighting against real evil. They can't help but see it in us, lord knows, there are plenty of witches that have planted the idea deep in their minds."[/color] "[color=708090]I want to go home,"[/color] he said finally. [color=708090]"Not back to Castle Bloodrose, but back home. Where there aren't hunters and ...I guess I'm the only witch that even knows that it exists," [/color] [color=ed145b] "Go home and do what?[/color] Pretend that you never left home? That you were never a witch? Could you go back to hiding everything that you are from everyone you care about? I don't know about you, but tonight, I'm gonna put back drink, and spend the night amongst folk that know what I've been through. Who I am, and what I've done, and accept me for all that." [color=708090]"I never wanted to leave, and now I don't have to worry about setting things on fire if I don't want to," [/color] He muttered, looking over at Al. [color=708090]"But seeing how I don't want to even accept, me I don't think your plan is a choice, so...have fun drinking the night away," [/color] This was when Alexina seemed to form the darkness and the tree near by. She had been only a few meters away, licking her wounds. Her bandages nice a white, compared to her dirty face and bloody clothes. She stood in front of both of them. She glanced to Alphonse... then to Taran. [color=00a651]" Taran."[/color] She said in a short and soft voice. waiting for him to look up at her.[color=00a651] " You made a promise to Medusa, to protect this coven. To protect your sisters. To do that you must also protect yourself. Fleglings are often sacrificed to make a snake stronger. It is a sad fact of life, but it is a well known one. "[/color] Taran looked at Alexina for a moment. "....I have no idea what you are talking about," He said, rubbing his head as he blinked up at her. He kept up with her till she got all metaphoric, but he was in no mood to try and solve riddles. [color=ed145b] "To be honest, I'm not exactly sure what she meant by that either. She's right though, it's a dog eat dog world out there, dammit now I'm doing it!."[/color] Alphonse pressed his fist against his head. "I'm gonna give you some space. If you decide that you'd rather be with people, you know where to find me." Alexina let out an irritated sigh, She had found out from her forest animals what had happened to Taran...to everyone actually. She watched as Alphonse stood up and left...leaving silence between them for a moment.[color=00a651] "What I mean to say, the weak are often killed to make one stronger."[/color] She looked down at him.[color=00a651] "I know what happened... It is always sad when a child is killed."[/color] She folded her arms and rubbed them while then continuing. [color=00a651]"But one of the biggest lessons you must learn is that everything must be use to it's fullest extent, especially if it means taking a life. When you kill a deer... do you let it go to waste? Or do you use it to nurish yourself? make yourself stonger?" [/color] [color=708090]"I'm not eating him," [/color]He interupted quickly, his face going white as he pushed himself away from the body. She narrowed her eyes at him.[color=00a651] "I'm not saying to eat him Taran!" [/color]She sighed, [color=00a651]"I'm saying use this to remeber why you did this in the first place! Don't let his death be such a waste."[/color] [color=708090]"I didn't do anything in the first place!"[/color] he shouted. [color=708090]"I tried to kill the father and the boy just got caught in the flame! The boy didn't even know he was being attacked! HE thought he was saving me from...from you!"[/color] angry tears started falling down his face. [color=708090]"There is nothing to be learned from this besides the fact that all I can do is kill people!" [/color] Alexina stood in silence... She let out a sigh. He missunderstood her again...But she did feel a pang of regret of draging him to the coven now. He seemed to sweet and innocent. She knelt down infront of him and looked him in the eye after lifting his cheek with her hand gently. She looked at him, with firm but caring eyes.[color=00a651] "Taran..."[/color] She said softly. [color=00a651]"You did do this. This did happen. Take responsiblity for that boy's life. Though you may have not meant to kill him, it happened. Because you are still untrained." [/color] It seemed like a harsh thing to say. But she was trying to be as kind as she could.[color=00a651] "Take responsibilty and learn from your mistake. Use this to hone your ability so you wont accidently kill someone again. THAT is how you make it so his death was not in vain. He was a hunter, be it a young one....he knew this was a dangerous life..."[/color] She wiped a tear from his cheek with her thumb. Taran froze up at the witch took his face, he looked at her, the last of his tears being wiped away by her thumb. [color=708090]"But...we...still have to get the castle, Medusa cannot aid me out here...I cannot further my training on my own,"[/color] he said quitely. [color=708090]"I don't know what to do. I don't want to disobey Lorelai and not fight, but...am I safe to...keep fighting when...it could be one of you if you get to close to me,"[/color] [color=00a651]"When you do not have someone to further your training, you train on your basics, by doing them over and over and over again. I can tell you what is holding you back though..." [/color]She paused for a moment to gently poke his forehead.[color=00a651] "You keep doubting yourself...which is just as bad. You are holding yourself back because you don't believe in yourself...you don't think you can ever control your fire. That is when it consumes you. Bend it to your will Taran. Don't leave it up to chance if your friends get hurt. Make sure they dont. Belive in your self Taran...Like I do." [/color]She said softly as her hand went from poking his head to stroking the side of his face and ending on his cheek. Taran felt his face flush a bright red color as Alexina spoke to him. While believed in himself enough to know that he could keep his fire from happening...controlling it was another story. [color=708090]"I...I will try Mistress,"[/color] he said, and he truely meant it. [color=708090]"I-If it is all the same to you, I think I might just...g-go to bed now," [/color] She shook her head, "No Taran. You will do it. There is no trying." [/color]She stood up and nodded. "Goodnight Taran."[/color] As she turned and walked back into the night, away from camp.