The day drug on. The sun was high above the horizon now, yet Angelic knew that she still had a long day ahead of her. The path she walked upon grew more dry and cracked as she struggled to keep from kicking up dust. The sun beat down at her black hair, warming her body toward an uncomfortable temperature. Angelic paid no attention to the heat as she walked to an unknown destination. I wonder how the elf is fairing? She thought to herself as she glanced about the forest around her. Birds floated high above, as if watching the creatures of the earth. Others sung, hidden within the thick brush and trees along the path.

Angelic reached up with a steady hand and brushed her hair past her ear, yet she still felt the point of it. Her tainted blood. Memories of her elven mother flashed through her mind, a mother who never loved her. Her hands shook as she covered her ears as memories of work, pain, and the unforgettable blood flashed. Memories that she never wanted to live through again, memories that no one should have.

Angelic's steady pace slowed a bit as the forest quieted. Dropping her hands down slowly, her eyes scanned the forest around her. She sniffed the air, it was thick with the sent of blood. What the hell is that? She thought to herself, glancing at the trees to her left. She sniffed the air again, turning her head toward the right. Angelic placed a hand on the hilt of her sword, completely stopped now.

"Who's there?!" She shouted, but silence was her reply. Angelic took a few steps toward the edge of the path, the sent of blood even stronger. Taking her hand away from the hilt of her sword, she rushed toward the brush along the path. The plants jagged branches scratched at her bare arms, cutting them.

The sent of blood is almost always followed by the stench of death, if and only if not attended to. The thick brush opened up slightly, revealing a body within a small pool of its own blood. The grass around it was crushed from a recent struggle. Angelic hesitated a moment, but there was only the scent of blood, nothing more.

Angelic kneeled down beside the body, turning it over. A young white male, covered in scratches, gashes, bruises, and blood. She placed a hand over his nose and mouth; a soft stuttered breath blew against it. He's fading fast. Moving her hand from his nose and mouth to his forehead, she held her other hand over his chest. Closing her eyes, she began to whisper a soft prayer,

"I call upon the powers of Helm, the great god of protection and honor. May you hear my prayers. This man suffers from wounds from an outside force. Whether it be from the creatures of the forest or from the people who travel these parts, may your powers allow me to call this man back from the gates of death." A warmth filled Angelic's body; Helm had heard her prayers. Her hands began to glow gently. A soft voice filled the air around the two,

"Angelic, loyal to the calls of help from those who do and do not have a voice, loyal to me, loyal to those with trust in you. I hear your calls and may this child of man be called from the gates of death."

The man's chest rose, his lungs filling with the warmth of Helm's touch. His body stopped bleeding as his major wounds closed and repaired themselves. Angelic repeated her prayer over and over again until the man was able to breath on his own. The soft voice filled the air once more,

"May this man find trust in you as you have in me," then the light faded and the forest was filled with the songs of birds. The scent of blood still strong, Angelic opened her eyes slowly, looking down at the man. He was still unconscious, but he was alive. Angelic smiled up at the sky, thanking Helm for his kindness and gentle heart. She fell to her back as the light of the sun faded into darkness.

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