Bob Biter

(OOC: FLASHBACK)

[I]The boy stood there helpless, as he watched his uncle writhe in agony. That and the soft chuckle of the man behind him, was all he could hear. The assassins went about their work with a frightening lack of passion, as if they were doctors operating on some unknow patient, stabbing here, cutting there...

When it was finished, Mano was reduced to a whimpering mass of mangled flesh. Never before had Dreggan seen such carnage, but there it was, and he would never forget it.

The nameless assassins then turned their gazes towards the boy for the first time, but were looking at their leader instead. Mano, despite the unspeakable things done to his body, managed to turn his ruined face towards his nephew.

- "Don't let the... demons take you, Dreggan. Re... Remember this... day..."

- "Do you really think we will let that happen?"

- "..."

- "Do it."

As soon as Sekine had spoken this command, 3 blades found their way into Mano's heart. His eyes widened, only to close slowly. His body shook violently, only to subside.

As life departed his uncle's body, Dreggan simply stood mute, unable to cry or speak. Sekine had let him go and joined his underlings, facing the now totally orphaned boy.

- "Tell me, Dreggan. How would you like your death? Quick and painless or slow and agonizing?

The boy's gaze lifted slowly from the cooling corpse lying at his feet to the dead eyes looking down at him. His face was calm, his grey eyes piercing the inner pain and sorrow he felt to even give the assassins pause.

- "Slow and agonizing. So that I may remember what it was like to be alive."

- "..."

- "I'm waiting."

- "Heh. You are very brave, boy. Braver than most men I've seen in such conditions. However, I still have a purpose for you. Since you were not in our contract, I can do with you as I wish.

Sekine snapped his fingers and his henchmen went into action. Dreggan didn't even see them move, but felt the sharp blow to the neck and the sack pulled over him. Before losing himself to blessed unconsciousness, he did manage to hear a few words.

- "I always did want a son..."

(OOC: BACK TO THE REAL WORLD)

The thief woke with a start, but noticed something odd. He was moving. Rapidly. Downward. A loud thud and a pain on his side reminded him to avoid sleeping on narrow branches again and he cursed under his breath as he got back up.

His dreams were coming to him more frequently and he did not care for it. Especially now, when his demeanor had so thoroughly convinced the others of his aloofness. Why must he torment himself so? Climbing back up the tree to get his pack, he saw something that made his blood freeze. A steel needle, just like the ones he used, was lodged in the tree trunk near where he had slept. A thin strip of cloth with something written on it hung from the weapon, slightly flowing in the morning breeze. Slowly reaching for it, he dreaded what it could mean, but in the back of his mind, he knew what the intent was.

Dislodging the needle, he read the message: "Remember." Tears welled up in his eyes, but he wiped them away angrily. They had found him, but had not taken him... why? Why must they torment him still? Discarding the needle, Dreggan dropped down from the tree and composed himself. Vanelee was gathering fruit, ever the consumate "good-guy", so he most likely heard him fall the first time. Putting on his game face, the thief walked to him, smiling.

"So, I see someone's up early! And productive as well! My, my... I can tell she'll fall for you hard."

Vanelee's ubiquitous smile slowly dropped; a huge question mark floating above his head.

- "What do you mean?"

- "Whatever you think I do, mister!"

With that, Dreggan snatched a few berries from Vanelee's hand and stuffed them into his mouth. Smiling the whole time.

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A plan is just a list of things that don't happen.