Snippet #1483603

North Ridge: Sparring grounds

"Are you alright!? I'm so very sorry!" Lily apologized profusely to Thanaros. The orc- no, half-orc it seemed. Lily finally had gotten a good look at the man and he looked to be more... Handsome than a normal orc. A furious fluttering erupted in Lily's stomach. Butterflies? Yes... Butterflies. In the middle of the rain before the storm... A great place to have them. The butterflies felt as if they could carry her off. Indeed, she wished they would, seeing as she had just embarrassed herself in front of the man. Oh, and plus she had inadvertently injured him! Great... Great, things were going swimmingly.

"I-I think I'll leave now... before you get hurt-" She was interrupted by Thanaros. The burly man was still rubbing the back of his head, but a playful smirk was tugging at his lips. "No, no. It's quite too late for that." He said, quite humorously... Or attempted humor, seeing as Lily blushed even furiously and began to shake in the beginnings of a sob. Thanaros realized what he had said and began to backpedal, "No, no! I didn't mean... I meant.. Not like that. I wasn't trying to be..." He said, flubbering. He had realized that the owner of the apologetic and crisp voice was an elf... A rather young elf, but showing the beauty and elegance her people can have. She had... Curves. Her skin was a dusky tint, almost like she was eternally in the shade of a great tree. She was like a wildflower hidden under the canopy of a great forest.

That only made things worse however... He had placed blame on the elf (even if it was her fault), and she seemed to have had her feeling hurt by it. An awkward moment all around!

Lily was the first to speak, "I'm sorry, 'Ros," She reiterated, looking a bit downtrodden. This time Thanaros managed a better word choice, "No, don't be sorry, it's not your fault," A lie, "I should have been paying attention. I should have saw you in my trance," Another lie. The man was too focused on striking the dummies and wouldn't have noticed the elf nothing short of riding a dragon... Though if he made the elf feel better, then the lie was worth it. "What are you doing over here anyway?" The man said, trying to eliminate any negative connotations from his voice.

Lily blushed, yet again... If the blood keeps running to her face like that, she may pass out very soon, "I had to... get away. From... Everything." Lily stammered. She didn't want to reveal her weakness. She didn't want to tell him that she shied away from the execution. She didn't want to tell him she couldn't stand to be in the tent, where everyone had another... Though, the battlemind saw right through her farce. Thanaros had seen her flee from the execution. However, he had no words to comfort her. As a member of the Blackguard, they were bound to see worse than that... If they were captured? They were going to experience worse...

Thanaros looked away from Lily for a moment and stared over the camp, where Gilleas was executed... Then he spoke, "Be strong, Liliana. You are going to need it in the coming days. We all are." He finished, finally meeting the eyes of Lily again.. Those baby blue orbs... Thanaros felt his face redden. Good thing Lily had averted her gaze to her feet.

"I know... It wasn't the blood. It wasn't the execution itself.. It was the fact that he was one of us. He was just thrown away like a busted arrow! Abandoned!" She said, finally meeting the man's eyes again. A knowing look, as if she knew the feeling of being abandoned... Perhaps she had seen herself in Gilleas's place. Tears were rolling down her face, but the rain hid it well. "He was one of us. Yes, he had problems. I bet he even had shortcomings and was different, but what right did that give them to just kill him like that!? Why did they have to abandon me... Him! Him." Lily caught herself, but it was too late. She had already said it...

Thanaros looked at her quizzically. Her? Abandoned... "We- I never would abandon you," Thanaros said. "I... Would hope so." She added, unsure. She seemed.. Weaker, more fragile. Then she threw all caution to the wind and hugged Thanaros. A gesture Thanaros was not expecting in the least... He hesitantly patted the girl's back, clearly unsure what to do in the situation. "Please... Don't leave me." She said in the embrace, "Don't leave me like they did..."

---

North Ridge: Mess Hall

Mikana had seated Caine at a table in the mess hall as she ran to get two trays, piling as much as she could in one. Clearly that was the Caine's. She came back and placed the tray in front of him and sat her's in front of herself. It was a quiet eat, neither speaking much (Matter-of-fact, Mikana didn't speak at all). Caine enjoyed this elf's company, even though he didn't know a lick about her, except for maybe a fleeting vague familiarity. However, he had shared his past with her, and that alone cemented his trust in the girl. She was the first he had actually told the story to. With that, a fondness for the elf grew in his heart.

The black treacly anger Caine held began to seep away, slowly. Still there were pangs of temper and frustration, but not as serious as before. He could actually be called... Amiable now. However, enough rage and fury burned within himself to last the coming battles. He still held a burning grudge for those who took Liera away from him. He would still fight like an unhinged beast. Yet, this would be complemented by Caine's new fondness for Mikana. He would remain in control for her sake. Not only would he be a raging demon of retribution of what he's lost, but a solid shield and unbreakable force for Mikana as well.

Tranquil Fury. Instead of his anger using him... He would use his anger.