Michael looked at the merchants on the road from behind a tree.
"Oh their purse's must be so full. I want them so bad. But how many guards do they have?"
Counting he found the caravan boasted 25 guards. All were armed with swords but a few carried bows and one of them held a man-sized axe. They guarded the caravan with an alert eye and always had 2 on horseback. There would be no way for him to attack that party and get what he needed. Turning around he limped silently back into the woods.
"If only I had a real weapon. Not this old broken branch." Throwing it across the cave he called home, Michael sat down by the banked fire, or so he thought it was banked. Getting ready to put some wood on the fire he found the ashes cold. "Damn it why does my bad luck always happen at once?" Sighing he started to work on the fire. Later that evening he was laying in his one real luxury. A stolen bedroll with goose feathers. Using a pillow he had made out of grass he did what he did every night.
(Try to take over the world. Narf not)
Actually he thought back on how he arrived at this place. He had no memory of his life before a month ago. He had awoken next to a large tree bleeding heavily.
"Probably I was a member of a bandit gang and they threw me out."
He was only thought at that time had been to get up and get away from this place. Slowly he did rise but when he stepped forward he tripped and fell back, knocking his already bruised head against a tree, and slumped back into darkness. Awaking hours after dark he tried to figure out if the blackness he was seeing was him or the night. Deciding it was half-and-half; Michael again tried to stand. Slowly lifting himself with the help of a tree he was able to overcome the majority of the blackness. Preparing to walk, or crawl if he fell over again, his foot bumped into something. Looking down he spotted a long branch with a knob at one end. Gingerly picking it up, he examined it with his one good eye.
"This would help. I could lean on this and it would help me. Yes it would help." He sighed happily, one good thing had happened to him. He had found a walking staff, now if only he could walk. Placing one foot before the other he leaned heavily on the staff. "Knowing my luck it will probably break on me." However, the staff did no such thing, it supported him without a word of protest. Then continuing on the two became one as the dark forest engulfed them.
Xelloss swam in nothingness. He was in pain, even in nothingness he could feel it. His legs, he couldn't feel them but he knew they were broken. He had a huge whole in his chest from the lance his master had pinned him with. But what hurt the most was the lost of his staff. He was bonded to it in such a way he couldn't live long without it. And with the wounds he had now he didn't have much time left.
Thinking back to that time, Michael felt guilty. Crawling out of his bedroll he went over to where he had thrown it. Patting the wood as he picked it up he said, "Sorry old friend, I was just angry and depressed. I didn't mean to take it out on you." Faintly and for less then an instant the top of the staff appeared to glow a light red. Michael never noticed, he went back to his bed and with the staff by his side, he feel asleep.
Today was not a hunting day for Michael. He knew how to read the signs, winter was coming and he had to be prepared. This morning he would spend it gathering plant life. Storing it away for when the lean times were upon him, and he knew they would be. Grabbing a bag and his beloved staff he set out from his home. Hiking his way across the forest he came upon his favorite grove. Here was where all the healing plants he knew of grew. Stooping he plucked as many as he could and still have some for the next spring. He went on to gather wild food as well for the winter, going back to his cave only long enough to place them on the rock he used as a table. Then he would go out again and bring more plant life. Finally late that night Michael brought in the last bag for the day. Going over to the table he started to sort them out.
"Food plants: Potatoes, carrots, wild rice, squash, corn, little plants with no name but make good seasoning.
Medical plants: Sunburn plants, coughing, cold, bleeding stoppers.
Yes very good haul today. Now to sort the little buggers." Enjoying the work Michael sorted late into the night.
"The pain it's getting worse. If only I had access to my magic, or someone's magic. I could heal myself. Except I don't think I have the strength for it anymore." Xelloss continued to float in space determined to live even if it meant running forever.
"XELLOSS. I don't know how you escaped, but believe me, I will follow." Howling her frustration she led her pack onward.
Michael looked out the mouth of the cave. Snow was falling lightly covering everything it touched. Michael scowled, yes he liked snow but he really needed to get out and see if he could rob anyone. He was running low on a few supplies, like salt. Not liking the inevitable he picked up his staff and started out into the forest.
"I don't like this. It is way too easy to catch hypothermia in this weather. I wish I had something warmer." Looking down at his own tattered clothing Michael grimaced. "I look like a bandit, right down to the less the nothing foot coverings. But somehow why do I feel like I was so much more." Sighing he started to jog.
"Lina when are we going to get here I'm hungry." Whined Gourry.
"Gourry if you don't shut up, I'll shut you up." Snapped Lina.
"But Lina."
"Gourry." She warned him.
All the while their third companion wisely remained quiet.
"Oh look at them, three wondering travelers. The woman seems to be beating up the blonde guy." They had a third companion but he was hard to see cause he was dressed all in white. "Should I make a try. I've taken on more people at once. I can handle 3 so yes I will." Clutching his staff a little tighter, he waited for his prey.
"Gourry shut up and leave me alone. We will get there when we get there." Lina was getting irritated. She liked snow but she didn't like traveling in it. What she wanted right now was a hot bath, a hot meal, and a soft bed. In that order.
"Lina we only have about 2 hours of walking left so take heart." Zel said quietly, smiling behind his mask. She and Gourry all they could really agree upon on were food. Still smiling he followed his friends.
"They're almost here just a little longer." Tensing his body Michael waited for the three approached. Finally they were close enough. Springing he jumped out brandishing his staff in front of him.
"Your money or your life." He shouted.
"Lina kept arguing with Gourry, or trying to anyway." Zel just watched while walking behind them. Suddenly a figure jumped in front of them. Welding a staff before him he said.
"Your money or your life."
Lina looked at the figure and began to grin. Just what she needed to distract herself from Gourry.
"This is going to be fun." She thought to herself.
"Ahh, they're not scared. Well I can take care of that." He thought. "Just do what I say and no one gets hurt.
Lina and Gourry both burst out laughing. Well Lina did, Gourry just thought that if Lina was laughing then he could as well. Zel on the other just narrowed his eyes.
"Something about that bandit is familiar." Zel continued looking at the being, taking in how he was dressed. He wasn't armed with any bladed weapons, but the look of him bespoke something more.
"Yeah right, why don't you give us your money and we won't hurt you!" Lina taunted.
"I don't want to hurt you but I will, to get what I want!" Michael said
Lina laughed but quickly became bored and lobed a fireball at the bandit. Michael easily dodged it. Trying another fireball she missed him with that as well. He on the other hand was so quick that he was able to knock her on the head with his staff. This made Lina furious.
"A bandit, a mere bandit is actually fighting me. Well if that's the way he wants to play it fine by me." She fumed mentally. "Okay you want to dance let's dance then."
(Signs of not having eaten in last 30 minutes, makes one irritable and have over whelming urge to take it out on something or someone. Very powerfully)
"Darkness beyond twilight
Crimson beyond blood that flows
Buried in the flow of time
In thy great name I pledge myself to darkness
Let all who stand before us be destroyed
By the power you and I possess
!!!!DRAGON SLAVE!!!!
At the same time Gourry shouted. "Lina no don't!"
To late she cast the spell at the lone bandit.
"Oh shit what have I gotten myself into now?" Dodging left and right he couldn't stop. Suddenly he looked up and found she had stopped firing at him. She was chanting some words. Michael asked himself. "Now what is she doing, she has stopped, she's looking at me. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
She threw the spell at Michael. All he could do was throw up his staff as a defense. There was a bright red flash and then silence.