Even now, in the dark, Cyphus was the only one up but Tad, who's turn it was to keep gaurd. He sat next to the blazing fire for the light to read a book. Tad squinted his eyes to make out the title. The Engineers Guild, By Thomdril Artur Seladon. Now THAT was something Skan would read!
Cyphus seemed totally absorbed in the book. However, a few hours later, he yawned loudly, which seemed to break the spell. He looked up from his books, blinking. "Hey! It's night!"
Tad rolled his eyes. "Oh, gee, you noticed?"
Cyphus scowled. "Shut up." He placed a feather in his book for a marker of where he was, rolled up in his cloak, and was instantly asleep. Very much like Skan.
Tad looked up to Ebony, Cyphus' chocobo. He didn't know that the man had a bird with him. It was pretty good, actually. Cyphus WAS kind of nice, though, letting Silvara ride it. But for some reason, the Chocobo seemmed to resist all of Tad's efforts to befriend it.
Tad yawned and decided to do something to pass the time. He would go hunting. How surprised everyone would be when they had a rich feast to eat in the morning! But Tad couldn't stray too far from the campsite, he WAS supposed to be the gaurd.
While searching for some game, he heard the whistling of an arrow behind him. Searing pain lanced through him as his back was struck, and he arched forward, grunting. Then, he crumpled to the ground, and darkness was all around him...
Skan was kicked again in the side, and he made a grunting/groaning, pained sound, coughing after the blow landed.
He was definately not in good shape. His coat, and all within it, including his weapons, were taken away. For some reason, they took off his shirt but kept on his sunglasses. Skan never liked having his shirt off, he was too pale and skinny for his taste.
Another kick knocked the air of of him. He went into another coughing fit. "Why...why are you...?" he barely made out. He had long ago figured out that they were after ransom money.
Another kick answered him. "Silence!" his gaurd growled.
"Silence... of the lambs!" said Skan, making as maniacal a laugh he could manage with cracked lips and broken ribs. He was rewarded with another kick.
"Be serious, Skandranon!" the gaurd barked.
"Kamitsuki watashi..." Skan mumbled. The gaurd, not understanding Japanese, bent down to face Skan. Skan tried hard not to hurl. The man's breath was toxic!
"Bite me... but first... in my coat... a pack of... of... Tic Tacs..." said Skan. The gaurd, infuriated, kicked Skan again. "I can't... give you the money... you idiot!" Skan practically panted, wishing he hadn't made his last remark. "I have to be... the one to withdraw the... damn money!"
Skan was greeted with a fresh batch of kicks. He was hoping that he could get out of here, alive. But who would know to find him, or where?
Tad awoke slowly, blinking. It was twilight, but whether dawn or dusk he didn't know. Tad groaned and realized he was on his back, his shirt stripped off and gauze was wrapped around his waist and back where the arrow struck him. He tried to sit up, but a hand gently pushed him back.
"Easy, friend, or else you'll undo all of my work," said a deep voice. Tad blinked again and looked up to see it's owner.
Even though he was sitting, Tad could tell the man was very tall. He was dressed in a blue trench coat, buttoned down to the waist. Two badges were on the left breast of the coat, neither that Tad understood. The man had Mako green eyes that were a sharp contrast to his silver hair, that hung halfway down his back. The man had a naginata leaned up against his shoulder.
"You did this?" asked Tad.
"If you are refering to the bandaging, yes, but I had no part in the shooting."
Tad sat up, and the man didn't try and stop him. "I don't feel any pain..."
"You shouldn't," said the stranger. He held up a green orb. "A level three Cure materia. It was enough to help you."
Tad nodded his thanks, then pulled on his shirt and vest, which were folded neatly next to him. His gun was still in his straps in his vest. Tad looked around. "Where are my friends?"
The man stood, and Tad also did. Tad was a foot under the other, and he was almost six feet! "I'm afraid that they were taken. There are signs of a scuffle, but it should not have been hard. They were all asleep. Odd that they would not leave a gaurd." The man cocked an eyebrow. Tad ignored it.
"I thank you for your help, but I have to be going," said Tad, examining the ground for tracks. "There seems to be about five or six of them..."
"Nine."
Tad looked up in surprise. "Nine, then. They have a headstart, so I think I should be going. Once more, I thank you, but I shall be off now."
"Alone?" asked the man.
Tad was once again surprised. "Are you offering to come with me? I have no money to pay you."
The man shrugged. "None are necessary. I have no reason not to, nothing is holding me back. And it might be amusing to help."
Tad shook his head in amazement. "Well, it seems I am far in your debt. You have excellent tracking skills, Mr...?"
The stranger held out his hand. "My name is Densetsu Lumin."
Tad took it and shook it. "A pleasure to meet you. I am Tad Erreden. Well, come on, time is running short!"
Densetsu started walking in the direction of the footsteps in the dust, walking at a relaxed pace and using his spear like weapon as a walking staff. "We shall catch them, never fear."
"You seem awfully sure..." said Tad, catching up to Densetsu. Desnetsu gaev Tad a side grin.
"I always catch my quarry."
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