Bleeding Heart 73 Shadowstar

A young man perched cross-legged on a mossy rock. It was a little odd that they had not noticed him there before as he seemed quite comfortable and quite out of place. But he seemed totally at ease and unafraid as he peered down at them, despite his youth.

The teen had curly coppery brown hair that wildly framed his lightly tanned face. His eyes were an electric yellow that gleamed in the lengthening shadows. He had pointed ears, but they were not long enough to be an elf's, nor were they shaped right to be half-elven. It gave him an almost fay look.

His clothes were made entirely of hide from various animals. Surprisingly enough he seemed not to have any weapons on him, save a bow with a string that had snapped and been tied in a way that if it was fired it would not work quite right.

"What? You goin' to stare at me all night or somethin', my lady?" An amused look came to the boy's face. He had a rolling accent to his voice that seemed to constantly be on the verge of laughter, and there was something extremely casual in his way of speaking. "I ain't that interestin' surely?"

He grinned, revealing some rather sharp looking canines. Dawn cleared her throat, and then asked him pointedly, "Who are you?"

"Who am I?" He tilted his head and seemed to seriously consider the question before pealing out in loud laughter, "Depends on who's asking and on the day."

"…" Dawn had no real idea how to respond to such a vague, yet so confidently spoken answer.

"So, who are you right now?" Raven had come to stand by Dawn's side and he seemed to be somewhat wary of this stranger.

"A stalker!" He laughed a little again, then as they became tense, continued, "But not of ya'll. Na, watching your fight was coincidental. Glad I caught it though, I love watching fights!"

"So, are you going to tell us your name or-?"

A serious look came onto his face as he spoke with less mirth than he had been, "Names have power. Until I get my master to accept me, I am afraid that I can not just give out my name w.i.l.l.y-nilly. Call me what you wish."

"Your master?" Dawn felt confused now. People did not go around finding masters usually. It just was not normal behavior.

"Yeah. I said I was a stalker. Who da you think I'm stalking?" He flashed an almost impish grin. "She doesn't trust me yet, so I have to make her get used to my presence slowly. But I'm sure that soon enough- why am I even telling you all this!?"

He suddenly looked a bit affronted, and then he rolled his eyes, "Uggh… I really need better control…."

Then he lept up and jumped from the rock, landing in front of Dawn. He tilted his whole body, and with a smile asked, "What about ya? What be you doing in these parts. You don't seem to be Nix'Rylians…"

There was curiosity in his voice. But as he stepped closer he suddenly tilted his head and sniffed the air.

Suddenly he just stepped right up to Raven, who stumbled back in shock as the man sniffed him. A huge smile came onto his face and he beamed at Raven, "You smell like the wilderness! I like you."

"Umm…" Dawn was realizing that this man seemed to jump around a lot and did not seem to focus very well on any one thing.

It was quite disconcerting. But he seemed harmless, at least from what she could see.

That thought was quickly dispelled though as Gysen spoke up, "You radiate quite strong magic, but I can't get a handle on it. What is it?"

Laughter bubbled up from the man again, "Oh! I'm a powerful spirit whisperer! And… a somewhat okay sorcerer?" He then paused, "Oh, I'm talking to much about myself again… Seriously… you all caught me on one of my more talkative days… Ah, well… that's the way life is…"

A bit of a helpless look flashed across his face and then he shrugged, "Anyway, I think you all have the advantage. You've already found out several things about me and I still hardly know anything about you other than the fact that you've got one of the best druid-warriors I've ever seen with ya." He then paused, frowned a little and gave Raven another look, and then asked a bit tentatively, "Are you one of Drez's Heirs?"

"You know of Drez's Children?" Dawn was flabbergasted. This was the third person they had run into.

"Of course, I do! I'm a Shadowstar after all!" He then paused and groaned. "Aw, seriously. I much prefer being in one of my more silent moods. It looks more cool… Now I'm just a blabbermouth who can't keep a secret to save his own skin…" Then he shrugged, "Not like the name even means anything any more though, so…"

Dawn was starting to get confused with the way this person spoke. But she had a feeling that the more they talked with him the more they would find out. "What does that have to do with knowing what Raven is?"

"…." He clasped his mouth shut for about half a minute before he gave an answer, "My family has its roots in the old kingdom. We still remember the old ways… and the great heroes. How could we ever forget Drez? His role in dealing with the Calamity was as important as Summit's. In its own way. Not to downgrade Summit or anything, what Drez did would have no meaning without Summit's sacrifice!"

The last sentence was hurriedly said. But it seemed not to be aimed at them, but instead he seemed to be talking to the air itself.

"…"

"Anyway, I doubt you all want a history on what happened all those years ago…" He coughed a bit embarra.s.sedly. "You were about to set up camp, right? But you probably don't want to set it up here now, with all these bodies. Why don't I help you find a new spot? I know these lands better than anyone!"

Dawn accepted his help. The guy seemed a bit ditzy but not exactly like he was particularly harmful.

It did not take him long to lead them to a secluded spot that was far enough away they could not smell the blood. As they set up camp, he helped them with a grin and an overly helpful att.i.tude.

They invited him to spend the night with them. Surprisingly, he hesitated a bit before nodding. "Alright. I'll join you all!"