A Wounded Soul

As the rain pounded down on the window of the Inn Damion sat on his bed simply observing his companion. Akina sat perched on the window sill watching the raindrops hit the panes of glass. Downstairs Craven was talking to the innkeeper, paying for the night’s room. Softly Damion asked Akina “What you looking at?” “Just the rain… I’m thinking of going for a walk.” Akina replied softly, her eyes staring out the window and off into the woods. “You’ll get soaked if you go out there.” Damion said lazily from his spot on his bed. Akina rolled her eyes and returned her gaze back out the window. “Come on, it’s late. Not to mention that we’ve been walking all day.” He said nonchalantly. “Isn't that enough?” He asked with a smile. “It’s just a walk…no trouble in that.” Akina said as the door to the room opened and Craven walked in. “Hold your tongue!” Craven hissed as he shut the door behind him. “Why?” Akina growled. Her former cool gaze out the window was now sharp as daggers, and directed at Craven. “Because if someone where to see you we’d be run out of town.” Craven answered sharply. “We’re lucky the innkeeper is an idiot and didn’t notice your eyes, which would have found us out in the rain.” Craven snarled. Shock quickly replaced the anger in Akina’s eyes, her silver eyes. Damion shook his head; this was an ongoing battle, one that would never be won. Craven did not like half-breeds. He had asked him once to be a little kinder to Akina but Craven had told him to stay out of it, rather rudely, and had left it at that. Akina, however, had been suffering and shouldering the brunt of his hatred since basically the day they met.

Akina’s gaze slowly reverted back to anger. In the blink of an eye she was up and “flying” towards Craven and just as quickly Damion was holding her back. “Let me go!” Akina hissed. “I’ll rip his throat out!” she continued. With a sigh Damion picked Akina up and put her over his shoulder with little effort and headed for the door. “Move, Craven” he said calmly, Akina struggling to get down. “Why should I?” Craven asked back in a tone just as calm. “Craven, move!” Damion said with a little more force to it. Craven stepped out of the way, just far enough to be out of Akina’s reach. As tempted as he was to push the fiery red head, he was not in the mood for a physical fight. Damion swiftly unlocked the door, opened it and walked out still carrying Akina. The door clicked shut quietly behind them. Silence filled the room. Acting as if nothing had happened Craven took a seat on his bed and pulled a book from his pack.

Quickly Damion carried Akina, still fuming, downstairs and outside the Inn into the woods and rain. Once a descent distance into the woods he set her down on a log. He spared no time… “You need to calm down and think before you act” he said before she could start to rant and rave. Akina stared at him with a slight look of shock on her face. “What do you mean, ‘think before you act’?!? And why is it that I always seem to get in trouble when he starts everything?!?” Akina asked in a huff, rather aggravated with the whole situation. The rain was causing their hair to get darker and water began to make its way dripping down their faces. “Who said you were in trouble?” Damion asked with an amused look, while smoothing back his now equally soaked hair. Akina was obviously not amused. “Never mind, you’re not in trouble. And you know you need to think before you act.” Damion’s gaze narrowed slightly, a glint of worry in his solemn emerald eyes. “Obviously you didn’t up there. He could have killed you with the flick of his wrist and you know it.” He finished as he leaned on a nearby tree. Akina knew her friend was right and only trying to help, but that didn’t mean she was willing to accept it. She balled her fist and slammed it down onto the log she was resting on. “I’m just sick of his shit!” Akina’s words faded from anger to sorrow. “He is always pushing me harder then you and he is constantly putting me down.” She continued softly as she looked down at the ground trying to hold back tears that her pride would not let her shed.

Slowly Damion’s features softened as he pushed himself off of the tree and sat down next to her. He let out a small sigh and placed his arm on Akina’s shoulder comfortingly. “Did you ever stop and think as to why Craven might be acting that way?” He asked as he looked into her silver eyes. Akina shook her head, her soaking blood red hair falling into her face. “No, I just thought he was a grump by nature.” A small smirk appeared on the man’s lips. “He never used to be like that.” Damion said. “Then why is he now?” she asked. The rain had stopped and the sound of the woods began to cascade around them. Damion’s small smile disappeared. Akina noticed the quick change in her companion’s expression. “I don’t understand, if Craven wasn’t always such a hard ass… then why would he start now?” Gently Damion laid his palm against Akina’s burnt shoulder blade. “You mean to tell me you can’t think of anything that may have happened that could, in an instant, change one’s life forever?” It was then that Akina understood. Sometimes people are forced to change through means other than their own actions. Whether it be caused by the force of other people, or like her, by events out of their control…

“We thought we had it all.” Damion began. “”We were allowed to grow up, live, and thrive in a beautiful forest just beyond the Western mountain chain. We lived in what seemed to be a place untouched by the time of war; a place where the sorrow didn’t exist. Craven and I would spend endless days just running because we wanted to, not because we were forced to…” As Akina listened it seemed as though she too was finding herself lost in a similar memory. She had tuned out some of the story when her attention was brought back to Damion. “Craven was always one for adventure, that’s why we all looked to him as our leader. He got us into quite a bit of trouble when we were younger though. Especially his pranks…” Akina raised an eyebrow. “You mean mister grouchy elf actually had a sense of humor?” Damion chuckled and looked up at the stars. “The best... Well one day when we were about 13 he lead us to explore a cave much further from home than we’d ever been. We weren’t 10 feet into the opening when we heard someone crying out in pain. Quickly we hurried in after the sound and found a boy a bit older than us. He was barely conscious… but Craven, being who he was, scooped him up and carried him all the way back home, no questions asked.” Damion’s body seemed to tense and he closed his eyes. Akina looked over her older friend. It was so painfully obvious that something was hurting him. “What happened?” She gently asked as she gently laid a hand on his. Damion slowly re-opened his eyes and offered one of his fake smiles. “Well, as soon as the boy we rescued recovered he and Craven became inseparable. His name was Trendan. Ever since they became friends it’s like all I was to Craven was his weak little brother, the one he had to protect. I began to be left out more and more, he lived with us for 2 long years. That was until Trendan had to return to his own village, or so we thought.” Akina interrupted. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Damion rubbed the back of his head. “Well that’s what he told us, and we had no reason not to believe him. It didn’t really matter to me though, I had my brother back. That day we went running in the forest, like old times. Sure he was bummed, but everything seemed to be looking up. That was, until… we smelled the smoke. Quickly we ran back to warn our family, only we found that it was our house that was on fire.” Memories of her own horrific experiences with fires came flooding back to Akina, causing her to shiver. Damion continued, a single tear formed in his eye. “Our family was trapped inside and the house was surrounded by human villagers. Trendan was standing there with the villagers, wringing his wrists but doing nothing to help the only people who ever befriended him. Trendan had ratted our family out. We had no idea… Had it not been for Craven I would not be here right now, I wanted nothing more to run out there and tear that bastard Trendan’s head off… Craven kept me hidden, along with him, on the border of our property. We watched as our mother, father, older sister, brother-in-law, and baby nephew burned alive. We heard their screams right up until the very end.” Damion said softly, his eyes glazed with the memory. Akina couldn’t believe it; if Damion himself hadn’t been the one to tell her she never would have believed it. There’s no way the Craven she knew would have hidden in the woods, he would have gone through and killed every single one of those villagers, or died trying. “I’m sorry, really I am, but that doesn’t explain why Craven hates me.” Akina said as she put a gentle hand on Damion’s shoulder. “Not just you…” Damion said quietly. “All half-breeds...” Akina was confused; she cocked her head to the side. “We didn’t know it at the time, but Trendan was a half-breed, just as you are. That’s why, on that same day, after their prime objective, the villagers severed Trendan’s head. In our society it was viewed as taboo to be born a half-breed. It was only after we found out that the one who shattered our entire world was one that Craven swore he would never trust half-breeds again.” He finished. “What about you? Do you hate us half-breeds too? I mean, you have every reason to.” Akina muttered as she lowered her eyes to the ground. Damion lifted her chin and his emerald eyes sought out her silver ones. “No, I used to but I realized I was wrong in doing so. I hate the villagers, not half-breeds. I wasn’t hurt the way my brother was, or nearly as deep. I just wish he would give you a chance… I don’t regret my doing so.” Damion said with a soft smile. Akina grinned slightly back at him. “You know, you can’t tell Craven that I told you any of this, or that you know anything.” Damion said with a laugh to lighten the mood. “I know.” Akina said. They sat for awhile in silence then slowly walked back to the Inn.

Craven sat on his bed reading a book, enjoying the silence. Just then Damion and Akina walked into the room. Akina simply grabbed her night clothes and headed off to the wash room. With the girl gone Craven peeked over his book to speak with his brother. “Have a nice walk?” Damion didn’t answer at first then he turned to his brother with a smirk. “I rather enjoyed it.” Craven scoffed. “You’re soaking wet, aren’t you going to change?” Damion simply took off his jerkin and shirt and climbed into bed in nothing more then his leggings. “The silent treatment eh? You know that hasn’t worked since we were kids.” Damion rolled over, towards his brother and lazily opened one eye. “A lot has changed since then, hasn’t it…?” Just then Akina returned dressed for bed. Without a word she slid into bed and covered herself so that only the top of her head showed. Craven soon followed suit climbing into bed after blowing out the candle.

Slowly Damion opened his eyes and guessed that, being as his night vision was kicking in still, it was about three in the morning. Still dark but with the smells of dawn on the wind. Quickly he scanned the room. He found Craven, as usual, lay sleeping as if granite. Akina, however was sitting on her bed next to the window, her legs drawn up to her chest with her muscled arms wrapped around them. Silent tears were traveling down her cheeks. She had obviously zoned out and didn’t notice anyone was awake. Slowly Damion sat up, hoping the movement would snap the half-elf’s melancholy stare from the window to himself. He was wrong. Other then a slight movement of her head Akina didn’t acknowledge him. Quietly Damion got up and headed towards the washroom. Not too long after, he came back and sat on the bed next to her. "What's going on?” he asked coaxingly. Akina shook her head slightly. “You’re lying” he whispered. “Tell me what's wrong.” he urged further. “It’s just…” Akina looked down at her hands then back out the window. “That’s how I lost my family…a fire.” Akina said. Damion's eyes widened slightly as his gaze fell to the floor. “I was in the house when it was ablaze. My father managed to get me out by the bedroom window. He told me to find my mother.” Akina said very softly. Damion leaned back and eased himself onto his palms. He had known that Akina had been in a fire and that her father had been murdered, he just didn’t know how her father was murdered. Now the pieces were starting together. Most of the time, when family was brought up, Akina stayed out of the conversation, much like Craven did. It became apparent to Damion that this must be why. The memory seemed as though it was important to him as well…

“So that means that there is a possibility that your mother is still alive somewhere?” Damion suggested as he put an arm around her shoulder in a comforting manner. “I guess…” Akina said half-heartedly. “But why would she want to find me? She gave me up! Not to mention I am a mutt. I’m all but worthless to anyone trying to pass as normal. Whether Elven or Human” She whispered harshly. Taken back by the statement Damion shifted his weight and spoke a bit uneasily. “You are not worthless... Why would you think that?” He asked. “I’m a half-breed; I stick out like a piece of rotten lettuce on a head. Silver eyes, remember? Sign of a ‘Taboo Birth.’ Who in their right mind would claim me as a child of theirs? Like I said, I am worthless to someone who is trying to pass as normal.” Akina spoke angrily while still staring intently out the window. As if the blowing wind would take her pain with it. “Since when do you care what other people think?” Damion asked with a slight smile. Easier to handle this fireball angry rather then when upset, he thought. “I don’t!” Akina protested, anger slowly showing itself in her gaze. “By the way you are acting now, you could have fooled me.” Damion replied, knitting his eyebrows. Akina growled but said nothing else. “I don’t understand why you worry so much, things will be fine. Besides, you have family right here.” Damion said as he stood and retrieved something from his belongings near his bed. “Here, I’ve been meaning to give you this, I just haven’t found the right time till now” He slowly held out his hand. Resting in his palm was a silver ring that had elfin designs etched into it. Then without missing a beat he left Akina without an opening. “Get some sleep, we are going to be walking for quite awhile tomorrow.” he added as he ruffled her hair a bit. Akina nodded slightly, her face awestruck as she shifted her position and laid down on her bed, her eyes closing as her head hit the pillow. Damion frowned slightly at the redhead.

As he slowly drifted off to sleep it hit him why Akina’s memory seemed important to him as well. He sat bolt upright, his emerald eyes shimmering with the shock of what he had remembered. He had lit the torch that started the blaze that killed Akina’s father. A movement caught the corner of his eye. Craven had rolled over and was looking at him with dark violet eyes, wide awake. Slowly Craven looked from Akina’s sleeping form to Damion. “You know that, sooner or later, you are going to have to tell her…” he whispered as he sat up in the bed. Damion glared at Craven. His emerald eyes glistening with anger and sorrow. “I can’t…” he stated stiffly. “The damned half-breed is going to figure it out sooner or later.” Craven hissed. “What am I supposed to say? ‘I’m sorry to tell you but I am the one who placed that scar on your back. I burnt down your house because when I was younger I was wronged by hate half-breeds and decided to take it upon myself to burn every one of them the way they burned my family.’ Yea, that will go over real well. Not to mention that the ring I just gave her…happened to be the one I found in the ruins of her house” Damion replied as he looked down at his hands and fiddled with his own silver ring. Craven glared at him. “You gave her the ring of Nobility?!” he spat. “How could you do that?! You know what that ring symbolizes in our culture! The queen is going be pissed!” Craven hissed. “You think I don’t know!?” Damion spat as he lay down and closed his eyes. Craven growled once more before he laid back down himself and fell asleep.

Akina slowly opened her eyes a crack. All she could see was the wall with the window next to her bed. Tears fell from her eyes at what she had heard. How could he have not told me? She thought as she slowly cried herself to sleep.