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**Z64** · 01-21-2013, 07:39 PM

Drake was confused. Why was this man already taking out his sword? Drake hadn't taken any aggressive actions or said any threats. Maybe the walking seemed more like sneaking up. Maybe the man was afraid of strangers. Whatever the reason, Drake had to figure out how to get this man to calm down or else this wouldn't have a happy ending.

"Hold it! Let's review what you've done so far. You've noticed me coming. Good. I could've been some villain of some sort wishing bad things upon you. You pulled out your sword. Over the top. You don't know what I want. And then you go to say that I am from Labrynna and you want me to say why I came here or else you will kill me. You are correct in saying I am from Labrynna, but I don't think you greet someone new with 'State your business or die!' And to finish it off, you say you won't go down quietly. Well, I'll have you know that I have little to none combat skill and I probably wouldn't be any challenge to you. We put this all together and you don't think all of this is just a bit crazy?" Drake sighed and shook his head.

"Look, I was sent here by the Baron to get to you guys, but I kinda forgot what I was supposed to go when I caught up to you, so I thought, 'If you can't beat them, join them!' Now how about you put that sword down and we talk?"

**Kairu** · 01-21-2013, 08:46 PM

"I knew you were sent by the Baron. I could tell by the branding on the horse. If you're here to join and secretly take the Princess while we aren't looking I will kill you." Kairu approached the man and touched the cold, sharp, metallic blade to Drake's neck. "Any funny business at all, the sword may accidentally slip. The Princess does NOT want to return. She is with me now and no one else can have her."

**Z64** · 01-21-2013, 09:18 PM

Drake looked Kairu in the eye.
"You know, I just remembered. I was supposed to kill you and someone else. Bring your heads for proof. And then I was supposed to capture the Princess. But you know what?" Drake looked away for a moment, then looked back at Kairu.
"I really don't have the heart for any of those things. I'll never have the courage to take a life, and I couldn't live with being a kidnapper. I'm just some poor, weak farmboy that got left behind by his parents who didn't care about him at all after his brother ran away." At this moment, a tear fell from Drake's eye.
"The real reason I came here was because I felt like I needed to start over. Get away from Labrynna. Forget about my parents, and maybe reunite with my brother." Another tear fell from Drake's eye, and he closed his eyes.
"If you really don't trust me, do it. End my life. I have nothing to look forward to in life anyway. But if you do..." Drake took a second, and then he opened his eyes again and looked at Kairu.
"...I'd be more than happy to join your group."

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 01-21-2013, 10:39 PM

Malina laughed at Ryli's assertion that her food was deadly. The young witch was about to offer to teach her friend how to cook, when she heard the muffled footfalls of a man and horse. She whirled to see a horse she recognized from her father's stables being led by a man she didn't know. She stared at him, her eyes wide with fear, afraid that he would force her to return. She relaxed when Kairu stepped before her protectively.
However, the strange man seemed to not want to take her away. In fact, he wanted to join her! Perhaps she was being naive, but she felt she could trust this forgetful boy.
On the other hand, Kairu's comment about her being with him and would belong to no one else, rubbed her the wrong way. She stepped closer to him and grabbed the wrist holding his sword, pulling him to face her. "No one else?" she hissed. "Lieutenant, I belong to myself and only myself. I refused your offer of courting, so you have no hold on me. Don't pretend you do, nor should speak as if you are my voice." Her voice was harsher than when she had scolded her father for sentencing Ryli, and more deadly quiet. If Kairu didn't get the anger shown by her voice or her hand, he would surely notice tnat she had address him by his title, which she had never yet done.
She turned to the stranger. "I welcome you to our camp. Excuse my guardian, he is a little jumpy after our flight. I am Malina, former princess of Labrynna. My friend there is Ryli of the Gerudo, and my guardian is Lieutenant Kairu. Please, rest your horse with ours and make yourself at home."

**Z64** · 01-21-2013, 11:04 PM

Drake stared in awe as Malina scolded Kairu. He had never seen a woman go up to a grown man and scold him before. It was quite a sight. Drake then grinned, knowing that this man who seemed to be bad with strangers had a weakness.

"Thank you for your kindness, Malina. It is very much appreciated." Drake said, slightly bowing. He led his horse into the camp and started to settle down when he realized that he forgot to introduce himself.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Drake Lomeli. Like I said earlier, I'm just a normal farmboy." And with that, Drake sat down and started to eat the food that he brought along. After all, he was hungry after the long horse ride.

**Kairu** · 01-22-2013, 12:29 AM

Kairu cursed under his breath and grumbled. He returned to Outlaw and put his sword back. After the day he's been having, he expected something better. Kairu approached the small fire and took a seat around it. He felt that oncoming storm about to hit with his introduction and his defense of Malina. In his mind he was reviewing it and he was sure that Ryli would not be pleased that he didn't even mention her. Then again, he already started to justify his statement because Ryli isn't the target right now, Malina is. And after Adriel's overreaction, who knew what he could do next. Perhaps the Goddesses? But then again, how long has it been since any of them returned to the mortal plane? Adriel even watched one die. How omnipotent could a mortal Goddess be?

**Ryli** · 01-23-2013, 11:55 AM

When Kairu defended Malina and referred to him as "his," Ryli felt an overwhelming wave of cold sadness. Her temperature dropped drastically as a response and she was able to see her own breath. The way he spoke of Malina seemed more like a love interest, and less like something that simply needed to be guarded. She didn't really care that he didn't try to defend her, because Ryli knew she could easily take the boy. Then again, Ryli thought, Kairu doesn't even know the extent of my power now. He had only seen the old me, clumsy and in dire need of training and protection...

Then she heard Malina scold Kairu, which brought a broad smile to her face and the familiar fire returned to her, changing her sadness into determination. She was determined to show Kairu that she would not put up with him having someone on the side. Now I know how his wife felt... Ryli thought bitterly. She felt ashamed that she would cause some other woman to feel the way she did now.

Returning to the present, Ryli smiled at the boy. "I am Ryli Akilah, pleased to make your acquaintance."

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 01-23-2013, 12:58 PM

Malina bobbed a curtsy. "Pleased to meet you, Drake." She turned to the saddlebags and started pulling out her pot and different vegetables, herbs, and dried meat. She filled the pot with water and placed it next to the fire, then procceeded to dice the vegetables, meat, and herbs before putting them in the water. "Why did my father sent you after me? Why not any of the soldiers?"

**Z64** · 01-23-2013, 07:00 PM

Drake stopped his eating to answer Malina's questions. "I don't really know." Drake said. "I guess I was the only one who offered to help and maybe he thought I could approach you guys without being recognized because none of you know me. And I mean no offense by this, but if I'm the only he sent, your father probably isn't the sharpest knife in the shed." Drake backed up a bit just in case Malina started to get angry, and then resumed eating.

**Kairu** · 01-23-2013, 09:11 PM

Kairu remain seated and quiet. He decided that he didn't trust Drake or even like him. Sneaking up on one's own Princess is inappropriate. He didn't appreciate it. And being sent from her own Father, he had even more of a reason to not trust him. All he showed was ignorance to Drake and his whole demeanor.

**Z64** · 01-23-2013, 09:47 PM

Drake stopped eating once again looked at Kairu. It seemed he wasn't taking his humiliation too lightly. Drake wondered what was wrong with him. Maybe he was raised on a farm as well and he just came out a few days ago. That might explain why he doesn't know how to treat strangers. Drake thought. Drake reviewed how the whole introduction thing went and tried to find if there was something wrong with that. He might think I was sneaking up on them, but I was about to say hello when he started threatening me. Maybe I should make my approach louder. Or say hi earlier. Even after he was done, Drake still couldn't understand Kairu. As he thought, Drake unconsciously refocused his attention on his food and resumed eating.

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 01-24-2013, 10:50 AM

Malina smiled sadly at Drake's comment. "He's smart," she said quietly, "but he didn't think beyond war and the accompanying paranoia. He'll send others after me, but his main focus will be the safety of Labrynna. The guards will follow his orders to protect the country from the approaching war with Holodrum, but he won't be able to win it in his greif for me. Labrynna will fall." She spoke to herself but her words were loud enough to be overheard. She hadn't thought about the affect her departure would have on her father, she had been so focused on fleeing. But the arrival of Drake made her think about the home she had left and her father. A tear slid down her cheek as she glanced at one of the saddlebags, inside which was a portrait of Adreil with his daughter, and a golden diadem. Malina's only treasures she would refuse to part with.

**Kairu** · 01-24-2013, 11:03 AM

Kairu changed his glance to look at Malina, her sorrow adding to his. "Don't worry, Malina, we'll return. When you are ready to rule and reunite the future Labrynna. You'll be praised and welcomed. For now, we need to focus on our safety and the safety of them." Kairu nodded his head in the direction of Castle Town and its impregnable shield. "We need to see if there is any way we can get through, whatever that is. People are scared and dying and I want to know what the hell happened!" Kairu slammed his fist into the ground with cofusion and frustration. "I will kill whoever is responsible! And my duty as a soldier, deserter or not is the safety of Princess Zelda and his Majesty. With that, I plan on investigating in the morning."

**Ryli** · 01-24-2013, 04:49 PM

"I'll go with you," Ryli said with a look of determination on her face. "I'm not sure exactly how much you remember, but the whole reason I fled the desert and my father and began my training was to defend Hyrule and its princess. This is the chance I've been waiting for, and I'm ready. You haven't seen me fight in a long time. Trust me, you will want me by your side in there." Part of her knew that he would rather be beside Malina, but where Malina may have Kairu's affections, Ryli knew that she was much stronger in a fight than the princess from Labrynna.

**Z64** · 01-24-2013, 08:06 PM

Drake looked at the place they were talking about and his eyes widened. When he came to the outside world, he never expected anything like this.

"I don't know, guys. I feel a very dark presence in that direction, and I've never touched magic." Drake said, trying to hide the terrible vibe he was getting from the place. He looked away and concentrated on his food. Drake hoped he could forget about it, because it was sure to give him nightmares.

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A Doomed Trio

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