[centre][color=crimson][h1][b]Vitius Dragomir[/b][/h1][/color][hr]Collab Between: [@ZAVAZggg] & [@NorthernKraken][hr][/centre]

[center]Vitius let out a contented sigh as he strode through the cool early morning air. It was just the kind of silent relaxation that he needed after the little confrontation he'd had yesterday with Colin. Striding in between the cool, dark shadows being cast by the tree's around him, Vitius made his way towards the Keeps exterior sparring area, a place he knew would be deserted at this time of morning.

After a few more minutes of walking, Vitius finally arrived at the sparring field. He paused upon reaching the edge of the circular dirt clearing and let his eye's wander over the area as his mind briefly lapsed back into thought. Into the memories.

[i]He could still recall it with such clarity. The Hood's had surrounded him and Liro, forcing them to fight back to back. The Red's had begun to close in and Liro had taken some swings, wounding those who had foolishly strayed too close to the battle hardened warrior's blade. A few of the Hood's had tried to close in on Vitius as well, but were immediately driven back by his blade, superior strength, and fangs.

[color=gray]"Give up already."[/color] One of the hooded men spat. [color=gray]"It's too late for you to escape. As you can see...we have you surrounded."[/color]

[color=silver]"Way to state the obvious, jackass."[/color] Liro replied, pointing his blade at the man. [color=silver]"Now allow me to do the same. We're not surrendering to you or your lackeys. I know what you bastards do to people like Vitius and I'd rather die than hand him over to you!"[/color]

Even in this lighting and from this distance Vitius could see an amused smirk slowly creep its way across the man's face as though this confrontation was nothing more than a game to him.

[color=gray]"Are you absolutely sure that's what you want to do?[/color] He asked, calmly clasping his hands behind his back.

[color=silver]"Aye, it is."[/color]

[color=gray]"Hmph. So be it."[/color]

The man's smirk vanished as he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers. The Red Hood's surrounding them acted immediately, rushing in from every direction with their weapons drawn. Vitius and Liro tried to fight them off, but it was in vain. Their superior numbers and training gave them the advantage, even over a vampire like himself. The next thing Vitius knew, he was pinned, face down, to the ground, with a the tip of a blade being pressed into the back of his skull. 

Liro wasn't much better off. The Red Hood's had him surrounded, a few of their weapons coated in some of his blood. While his wounds didn't look too debilitating, there was a nasty gash across the back of his left leg which caused him to limp a bit as he did his best to fend off their attacks. He managed to fight them off for a while before they eventually disarmed him as well.

[color=gray]"I warned you."[/color] The man said in a patronizing tone. [color=gray]"I gave you a chance. A chance to give us the leech and run back to your village, but you refused my gracious offer and look at what its gotten you."[/color] The man made a small tsking sound as he approached Liro, twirling the axe he carried menacingly.

[color=silver]"Go to hell."[/color]

The man paused for a moment and gave a slight nod to the Hood's currently restraining Liro. They reacted instantly, forcing their prisoner to the ground as the man strode over and rested the edge of his axe against the nape of Liro's neck. The hooded man shook his head in a disappointed manner, as a parent would when scolding a child, and then raised it high over his head before bringing it down on him in one quick motion...
[/i]

Vitius was violently snapped out of his thoughts as a stray beam of early morning sunlight pierced the clouds above and shown directly into his face, charring his flesh slightly. Letting out a pained hiss, he pulled his yellow hood over his head and turned away from the offending light as he strode into the center of the sparring area. After taking a moment to let his flesh repair itself, Vitius drew his sword and began to go through the various forms and stances his father taught him when he was younger as the sun slowly climbed higher and higher into the sky.

 A woman, one of the reds, appeared from the small cluster of trees to the side of the training grounds. She didn't seem to be in any rush as she strolled up to the edge of the loosely defined patch of dirt that marked the designated 'beating the shit out of each other' area. For a short while, she stood, watching Vitius, keen eyes tracing his movements with apparent interest, before eventually huffing in frustration and calling out, [colour=#FFB74D]“Oy, Vampy! Loosen up! You look about five seconds away from spontaneous combustion - and [i]not[/i] just because of how much that hood of yours is slipping.”[/colour]

Vitius paused mid swing and turned his head in the direction of the voice. There was a dark haired woman wearing the traditional red of the order, standing at the very edge of the field, an annoyed expression plastered across her face. Turning to face her fully, Vitius lowered his blade and readjusted his hood which had, as she had pointed out, begun to slip off of his head. Sliding his weapon back into its sheathe, Vitius walked over to the edge of the field and leaned on one of the rough waist high wooden fences surrounding it.

"What do you want?" He asked, his voice showing no trace of emotion or care. Not because he didn't care, but because he wasn't certain of this woman's intentions and didn't want to show it. She may be a Red Hood, but that didn't mean she was trustworthy.

Usually it meant just the opposite.

 She smirked, cocking her head to the side momentarily to consider him, then closed the distance between them in a couple of quick strides and hopped up onto the fence. Only loosely secured in the ground, it creaked and swayed under her weight, but she didn't seem to mind as she peered at Vitius, curiosity evident in her eyes, [colour=#FFB74D]"Wow, I hadn't realised that 'having a shit temper' was a requirement to join up this go round, although"[/colour] she trailed off, chewing at the inside of her cheek, [colour=#FFB74D]"Nah, exception that proves the rule."[/colour] she blew a strand of lank brown hair out of her eyes, [colour=#FFB74D]"Anyway, ignore me,"[/colour] she chuckled awkwardly,[colour=#FFB74D]"Just an old hood's ramblings. You,"[/colour] she turned fully to Vitius and planted a finger on his chest,[colour=#FFB74D] "are on loan from Finlay's group."[/colour]

"For some kind of mission I assume?" Vitius asked, casting a brief glance down at the finger she had placed on his chest as he leaned back slightly. He hadn't heard anything about being on loan to another Hood, but it didn't really surprise him that much. After all, he was just another Yellow. Just another grunt, so of course no one would have told him anything until now.

[colour=#FFB74D]"Yup!"[/colour] She said perkily, withdrawing her hand and leaning back slightly, [colour=#FFB74D]"A little village just outside Stathford. A blacksmith who we owe a favour or two to needs someone to go and check out something for a friend. We don't have lot to go off, but from what we've been able to tell, the situation seems like something the lot of you should be able to handle."[/colour]

Vitius nodded, crossing his arm's. "Alright, and who else will be going on this mission besides us?"

[colour=#FFB74D]"Sending four of you yellows, and the blacksmith and her friend are meeting you there,"[/colour] she replied, [colour=#FFB74D]"My advice?" [/colour]She said, voice taking on a more serious tone, [colour=#FFB74D]"Don't get bogged down. You're there to solve a problem, not save the whole town or any other heroic bullshit. Look out for each other, and if you can't handle it, tap out. Not many survive the trials. The fact that you all did makes you valuable, regardless of what you might've been told."[/colour]

Vitius let out a small grunt of affirmation as he walked around the wooden fence and exited the field. Letting his arms fall to his side's, he looked over at the woman. "When do we leave?"

[color=#FFB74D]"I'd say... probably got half an hour,"[/color] she replied, [color=#FFB74D]"carriage at the front of the keep, it won't wait if you're late, so if I were you, I'd hurry up. It'll be a heck of a lot worse for you if you miss it, trust me."[/color]

Vitius gave a slight nod and pulled his hood down a little bit further to block out the rogue beams of sunlight that had managed to peek through the clouds. Turning away from her, he strode off towards the Keep's entrance, both eager and apprehensive to start the mission. Eager because he'd finally see some action, sitting around here did get boring after awhile, and apprehensive because of the utter lack of information both on the mission itself and the problem they were being sent to solve. Hell, she hadn't even told him [i]who[/i] specifically he'd be travelling with, only that they were other Yellow Hood's like him.

That meant he could be working with anyone who had earned a Yellow Hood and not just those who were part of his little group, a few of whom he already had problems with like that ranger. He let out a small, frustrated, sigh as he walked along. 

It was almost as if the Red Hood's were still trying to kill him.[/center]