Wayfarer's

Chapter 8.

A crisp breeze hissed over the planes of the ruins of Westfold. The ground laid bare, black dirt clashing with the dark clouds and trees. Overhead the sky grew darker, more so than usual, causing the land to feel more bitter. Dismal. Colder than other days. The wind beat ruffly against the old shudders of the large manor house, making them bounce and ricochet wildly. The sound was deafening.

However, other than that, nothing stirred in the strongholds ruins. Everything was silent. Except, maybe, in one house at the center of the town. In the days of old it would have gone unnoticed, for those were happier times. Times full of laughter and late night galavanting. But, as nothing stirred or even dared to move, the small actions of a single person were noticed easily.

A young girl wandered through the large -once beautiful- house, her long brown hair braided messily to the side. She glared at the floor as she walked, slipping easily into a smaller room. It was large, all the same. Tapestries hung battered and ripped on the walls, and the old drapes sagged to the floor, giving the room an all-around haunted feel. The once pristine, wooden floors were rotted and worn, creaking violently as she stepped over them. Over in a corner, an old dresser sat at the far end of the room, dusted and old. Things that once resembled books and scrolls lay untouched on the counter, sagging with age. In the center of the room sat a large bed, it was old and full of holes. But, compared to everything the world was now, it looked quite comfortable -as did the figure laying fast asleep.

"Eradan!" The girl shouted and kicked the bedpost, the causing the bed shudder. The loud creaking as the legs threatened to give out made the young girl cringe.

The blonde man opened his eyes with a soft groan, rolling onto his side and blinking lazily. He stared at his sister thoughtfully.

"There was a girl.... Where'd she go?" The young man attempted to sit up, failing when he fell back onto the pillows. Eradan sighed helplessly, accepting that he wouldn't be moving anytime soon. His young sister glared at him, slowly gliding towards a bed-side table. Her silver eyes narrowed and she lifted a glass bottle from its placement by the bed. The girl scowled.

"You're drunk.... Or high... Maybe both." The brown haired woman growled impatiently, crossing her arms over her chest. She stared down maliciously at him.

"I'm a idiot-"

"I will make no argument there." She snapped at him, drumming the toe of her boot against the floor.

"But there was a man, Frea. Right?" Eradan asked, propping himself up on his elbows. Blearily, he blinked his eyes rapidly to clear his tired vision.

"Yeah. He's downstairs. With six arrows in the chest-"

"That was an accident, Frea." Eradan protested indignantly, trying to weasel his way out of the oncoming lecture.

"How do you shoot someone six times on accident?!" Frea asked heatedly, throwing her hands up in anger.

"Well.... It wasn't a accident.... But my dear sister, it pays to be careful." Eradan said honestly, deciding it wasn't worth it. Trying to fight his way out. So, without another word, the youth pushed himself off the bed, sliding to his feet. He immediately staggered, hitting the wall with a soft thump.

"We came here to take and plunder you idiot. Not take a nap!" His sister turned towards him and glared for the millionth time, annoyance clear on her face. Her brother simply paraded around the room like a drunkard, assumably trying to find something. He didn't answer her, which made her blood begin to boil.

"I'm going to slap you! We are thieves. We need to survive! Not diddily doddle around!" Frea looked angrily away from him, replaying what she had just said in her head.

'Diddily doddle' that was something her brother would say, not her. He was rubbing off on her. Great. She thought glumly with a deeply annoyed frown. I'm spending too much time around him.

"Now now sister! Don't go and look like orc." Her brother stepped shakily forward and patted her cheek with a drunk smile, pushing clumsily past her. That earned an annoyed growl from the young girl.

"I hope you fall and break your neck, ridding me of your stupidity!" She shouted after him. Jerking her head in his general direction, she growled, not knowing which room he had wandered off to.

"I am to fleet footed to do tha-"

Crash!

Frea cringed, the loud bang coming from down the hall hurting her ears. There followed a few more afterwards.

Probably tripped over something. She thought, holding back a triumphant snicker.

"What were you saying brother dear?" The darker haired sibling asked snidely, turned on her heel to go find him. She honestly hoped that something bad had happened. Did she think that made her a bad sister? Not really.

Hours later, and once her brother sobered up, the two continued ransacking the house, gathering any supplies they may need. Afterwards, the siblings strode eagerly side by side, making their way down the broken, cobble stone streets.

Suddenly there was a noise. The two skidded to a halt, looking around suspiciously. Was that... laughter? Both wordlessly came to a conclusion, it was most likely orcs.

"What a tender scene we have walked in on." A bow legged orc snarled, hobbling towards them. It's arms hung barely above the ground, swaying like a limp fish. In one hand, he held a jagged sword, and the other he raised above his head, calling for aid. Half a dozen orcs appeared at his elbows. The siblings gave them an odd look.

Eradan groaned in protest, clearly annoyed by the comment. "Uck. She's my sister, creeps." He snapped irritatedly, stepping forward. With almost a casual movement, he swung his arm out, turning his palm to face the foul party. For a moment, nothing happened.

However, a charm that hung loosely around the man's check began to let off a blue glow. The light traveled down the man's broad arm, flowing off his finger tips like a stream of water. It left his finger tips in a pulse of power, heading straight for the orcs. The blast turned to a large ray of bright light, the force sending the orcs flying backwards.

The ones that did not die, or were knocked unconscious from the fall, moaned lowly in pain, their skin burning off like acid.

The siblings exchanged a look, both raising their eyebrows. Frea rolled her eyes.

"That wasn't necessary. We could have easily taken them out." She protested in a soft grumble, pushing past him. They walked among the orcs, listening as they screeched in pain from the unseen acid on their skin. They would soon be dead.

Her brother only shrugged and tucked the jewel down the front of his shirt. Huffing softly, he shrugged his bag further up his shoulders and chased after his younger sister.

Authors Note:

Ah, well... More characters!!! Yaayy! I hope you like them.... Cause.... I do.... They're all my children.... My babies.... But anywayyyyyyy! Hope you've enjoyed!!! Sorry the chapters are kinda short... But... I've got no excuse. I'm lazy. Let's not sugar coat it. XD