• tab Drake's outlandish sobs could be heard for miles. She had buried her face into Vaughn's shoulder to silence the wails somewhat. Vaughn didn't mind the saturation of his clothes, he had spares he would change into later.
    tab "Their all gone!" she had shrieked at him when he had first approached before he could calm her down.
    tab Her terrible shrieks and cries were nothing in comparison to the wails that she had emitted prior to Vaughn's comfort. She was still trying to stifle the muffled cries that she herself couldn't explain. The misery was overwhelming. One cannot begin to understand the woe that consumes the soul after losing everything that could ever be loved by you. Though Drake felt she no longer needed to cry, she couldn't stop the tears of perpetual sorrow from rolling down her cheeks.
    tab "Your shirt." she mumbled as she finally quieted the sobs. The tears hadn't stopped completely, but there wasn't much energy left in her, not even enough to cry.
    tab "'Tis fine." He said as he brought Drake back to her feet. "But we must leaved this accursed place immediately." He said urgently, grasping Drakes had firmly in his. He towed her carefully back to where he had left his horse.
    tab And what a magnificent horse it was. Its coat and mane were as black as coal, and its eyes glowed gold as if the horse had been enchanted, which it had. Her name was Everwind, and she was over 350 years old. The horse was rare and very mysterious, its origin virtually unknown. Vaughn wasn't the one who had chosen Everwind to be his life long companion, she chose him.
    tab With a slight heave, he lifted Drake atop the large and untamed mount. She was a little edgy, but Drake really had no room to argue. Vaughn quickly swung his leg over, careful not to accidentally kick Drake in the face, and urged Everwind onward toward the decrepit and ominous woods on the outskirts of the demolished elven village.
    tab "We must ride onward to Oakhaven, where we may find refuge at the Temple of Demidarsa." Vaughn said. "There we may stock up on supplies and find a ship to sail you over to Kimport." He added.
    tab "I'm staying with you." Drake said defiantly.
    tab "That is out of the question." He said seriously.
    tab "I MUST avenge my family," She cried out. "You wouldn't understand."
    tab At that point Everwind had halted abruptly, sensing his master was in distress.
    tab "Listen to me little girl." He screamed harshly at Drake. "I witnessed the massacre of my entire family when I was only five years old." He said sorrowfully. "To this day I can still see their tortured faces and disassembled bodies. NEVER tell me I wouldn't understand."
    tab Drake fell silent as death.
    tab As the hours passed, Drake watched as the green scenery flashed past them in a rush of evergreen trees. They would soon arrive at their destination of Oakhaven where Vaughn would leave her abandoned once again. Drake could feel the despicable tears roll down her cheeks once again. What would she do once Vaughn left her in the dark again? What horrors would be knocking at her door?

    To be continued. . .