'Mercy, My boy....is what separates us from them. Monsters won't ever grant their prey a second chance, or even consider it. Know that in their eyes, forgiveness is futile. Their is no light inside them...no inner peace, no hope or repent. '
The boy hopped up next to his father with a glint of interest in his eyes as locked them onto his Elder. The bench they were sat on was comfy, squishy perhaps as the pair sunk back into the cushions supporting them. The warmth from the hearth in front of them fought the evenings cold as it flowed through the dimly lit house.
'Though sometimes, My son, You have to do what is right... even if that means becoming the exact thing you fear. It's something we all have to face at least once...'
With slight effort, Vanden lifted his arm up onto the back of their seat, letting the child cuddle up to him for warmth as his eyelids sealed his steel blue pearls off from the world. His features were mature, though he'd look rather young for a man in his mid thirties. An exhale parted his lips somewhat as he dosed off, the child seeming to do so as well...
-
The Forest around the camp was dense. The only light to be seen was the dying embers in the middle of the circle of tents surrounding it. The woodlands were not at peace however, as the air was suddenly filled with a dark, twisted cough coming from inside the camp.
"I gave you a chance...I gave you the option to lay down your blade and run in whatever direction you chose. Though clearly that was silly of me..."
Vanden scoffed, his blue eyes darting around the camp. Upon a glance, it was clear the man was in his early twenties, however without knowing his exact age, some may suspect him of being older. The campsite was covered in several bodies, holding themselves still against the grassy terrain underneath them. They were limp and bloody, their crimson innards once hidden to the naked eye, now covering the green flora underneath them.
With an unamused grunt, Vanden focused his gaze onto the man at the end of his grasp, his knuckles turning white as he held the collar of the brigands shirt tightly.
"That little bitch stole from us! What do you expect us to do? Let her go?" the brigand scoffed, his words stuttering as a failed tough persona shattered with each word, his light whimpers showing fear.
Vanden sets his eyes on the sobbing harlot behind him. The girl looked as if she hadn't seen anymore then twenty winters. Her exact height may have been hard to tell as she was curled up against an old tree not a few paces away from the camp, hugging her knees, though she may have stood at around 5ft7, perhaps less. The little clothing she had on was torn, clearly ripped off without a care in the world. Small, gentle tears formed in the corner of her bright emerald eyes, eventually springing free and trailing down her faintly bruised features. Her split bottom lip quivered as she met his gaze with clear shock, her tears starting to refrain from falling.
A moment of silence passes before Vanden looked back at the man now silently begging in his hold.
"You're a smuggler! A thief! You should know of our struggles! I-..If someone were to steal what little you had, wouldn't you take it back? You and I, Vanden, are the same." The male said with a tremble, offering a toothy grin as an attempt to win him over.
With a grunt of disgust, Vanden ran his blade across the mans throat with speed, lightly throwing him onto the soil below as he began to choke on his own blood, "The lass is barely strong enough to hold a sword and you beat her? Why did you ever think you were going to see the sun rise, eh?" He asked the man, though the question seemed more rhetorical as it was obvious the crook wasn't going to respond any time soon, "We all have a code. We all have rules, and we all have morals. You broke them all, meaning you had to pay the price. You know how it works." his tone was stern, his expression blank as he lowered his hood, squatting down slowly to perch himself on the log by the fire.
The forest fell silent. Only the wind, carefully kissing the leaves on the branches above could be heard. Vanden tilted his head up at the nights sky, the silence was blissful. Suddenly, it shattered, as the familiar crinkle of dead leaves on the ground filled the air. He'd turn his body around so he could face the girl, now standing. He would stand in turn, his eyes following her as she threw a blanket over her half-naked body with a shiver, covering herself to keep warm.
"Take whatever you can and leave Bree. There's an old warehouse about thirty minutes north of here where you can stay without fear of being found. Meet me there and You can sort yourself out. OR, you can find your own way, but whatever you do, leave town and watch your back."
Without hesitation, He'd turn back towards the fire. With an inaudible step, he'd walk over the bodies scattered around the camp, the girl seeming especially keen on the new addition by the log, his pockets seeming to rattle with coin as she searched his bloody armor. Vanden glanced back at the girl for no longer then a moment before lifting his hood back over his jet black hair, masking his face in the shadows around him before slipping away into the woodlands with a light dash.
