Direct all discussions, questions, or input you have to the Discussion Thread Kendall has set up. This story has been written by the authors; Robin-Author and Kendall-Co-author. There will be continuous updates. Thank you for reading.
The moonlight shone through the trees, briefly illuminating a flash of dark red hair. A shadow was silently, and quickly, moving through the trees, a hood hiding their appearance. The figure approached a dimly lit cave entrance, shrouded by several looming pines. In their hands was a parcel, wrapped with the thin pelt of a hare. They were waiting for something, or someone, their breath escaping into the night air in small clouds. Nothing but the whisper of a leaf announced another hooded figure. Straightening up, the first figure threw back their hood, revealing a girl with the dark red hair. She tipped her head slightly, greeting the other. "Razor. Right on time as always." She grinned, leaning sideways on a tree beside her. A slight chuckle came from within the other hood, before it was pushed back to let the moonlight shine on spiky black hair, the tips dyed red. "You would know that, Robin." Razor took a step forward, examining the package in the girls hands. "Did you forget the mint this time?" He smirked, coyly tilting his head. Robin sniffed, extending the parcel forward. "That wasn't my fault. You never actually notified me that you needed mint." She countered. Razor took the parcel from her hands, opening a pouch on his back to slip it in. Robin crossed her arms across her chest, gaze flicking up to the top of the mountain. "Are you sure it's up there?" Her voice was slightly doubtful. A snort escaped from Razor, as he motioned for her to follow him. "Of course it's up there. Vampire's honor." He started up the steep mountain path, his lithe form allowing him to move quickly without tiring. Robin sighed, and began trudging after him, keeping up with her strength. They were both silent, before Razor stopped, tilting his head. "What-" Robin began, but was silenced by a wave of his hand, and a sharp look. A faint pittering was echoing off the side of the mountain, as a small pebble bounced down, coming to a rest at Razor's foot. Both their heads shot up, as a few more pebbles flew down the path towards them, followed by a rumbling, crushing sound. "Rockslide!" Razor shouted, grabbing at Robin before quickly scanning the side of the mountain, looking for foot and handholds. Tugging her, he let go, and leaped up onto the gritty side, hauling himself up until he reached a small ledge jutting out, quite high above the path. Robin was left slowly making her way towards him, her heavier cloaked form weighing her down. Razor's eyes flashed to the quickly approaching boulders, before stretching his hand down. "Grab it, Robin, just grab my hand!" His voice loud, and slightly frightened. Robin gave a last scrabble, before jumping up towards his outstretched hand. He snatched her hand and arm, feet rooted to the ground to pull her up as the rockslide crushed the spot Robin was just stuck in. Shifting herself so she had a foothold on the edge, she pulled Razor's arm to finally secure her against the mountainside. They were both panting, Robin's war paint slightly streaked from her sweat, Razor's gray eyes flashing red before going back to their darkness. "Never... Never a moment of peace, huh?" Robin forced out, chuckling. Razor leaned his back against the mountain, breathing through his nose to slow his heartbeat. She eyed him, before cautiously peering over the ledge to check the rocks. "It looks like it's over. Just some loose gravel, now." She announced, dropping down to the path again. Razor flinched involuntarily, before twisting and landing beside her. "Hey," she stepped up onto a large boulder, peering at the side of the mountain that had caved from the rockslide. "Here's another path. It leads the same way, why don't we take it?" She grinned, crossing into the mountain before waiting for an answer. Razor quickly walked after Robin, sliding across the boulder and following her across the much shorter path, reaching the mountain top after some steep climbing. He brushed past her, fingers tracing a strangely carved boulder, following it until some bushes blocked the view. Robin curiously followed, watching as he hopped over the foliage barrier, and approached a rock with thick ivy trailing down from the top. His fingers wrapped around the hilt of something, and he gave a sharp tug. Unsheathed, was a long, narrow, straight sword created from tempered obsidian, a curve ending it. The handle infused with smoothed rubies, a skull as the pommel, and a spiked cross guard. Turning, he walked back to Robin, wielding the blade with ease. "Robin-Song, as my payment to you for giving me valuable supplies throughout these past months, I give you Arkus, bloodslayer of the warriors. It is now yours." He grabbed her hand, pushing the swords handle at her, along with a sheath. "I'd say that completes most of your repayment." He said, watching her silently. Robin stared at the amazing blade in awe, sheathing it and wrapping it around her waist securely, before glancing at Razor curiously. "Most of it? This is more than I could have ever asked for. This is... Truly amazing. Thank you, Guild-Master Raze Reaper." She replied, before starting to walk back to the face of the mountain. Razor hummed quietly, causing her to turn around. "What's wrong?" She asked, taking a step back towards him. "Hmm." He closed the distance between them in a few quick strides, running a finger across her jawline. She froze, staring at him, but staying quiet. Razor ran the finger under her chin, tilting it up slightly before leaning over to cover her lips with his. A lingering second past before he stood back, tilting his head. "I'd say you're repayed, now." The smirk traced across him mouth again, before turning and disappearing back into the mountain. Robin jerked, still slightly confused and shocked, her lips tingling. "Right. Right. Should be heading back." She cleared her throat, and quickly followed him. They made their way down the path, stopping once again at the bottom of the mountain, where their exchange started. Razor glanced at Robin once, before throwing his hood over his head once again. She did the same, both of their features now cloaked in shadows. "Goodnight, Robin." Razor spoke, brushing his fingers across her shoulder before swiftly turning and disappearing into the darkened woods. A slight smile tugged at the edge of her mouth, before she turned back in the direction of Ulferia, and started back to her housing unit. Razor didn't have to go far, using his extra speed to reach his outpost destination, Ragnax, at a reasonable early hour. His eyes flickered with thought as he pushed through the doors to the main hall. What greeted him was a normal late night/early morning scene. Two of the less controlling vampires were tearing at the stomach of a deer carcass, their thirst for blood unmanageable. Bits of deer intestine and spatters of blood flew from the mess. Razor curled his lip, before turning towards the spiraling stairs that led to his sleeping quarters. Brushing underneath a blood red flag with black symbols, he started to make his way up the stairs, before nearly running into the vampire Nervauna. She took a step back, onto the step higher than Razor, blinking rather seductively. "Oh... Hello, Guild Master Raze Reaper." She bowed, before gazing at him. "You were away for a while tonight. It must be awfully tiring to go on adventures." Razor could almost choke on the flirtatious aura she had around her. He didn't have time for this, he just wanted to get some rest. She was blocking the way up the remaining steps, though. "It is tiring. And you're just wasting my time to sleep." He snapped, eyes tinted red. She took no notice of the notion, instead stepping down towards him. "I could help give you a VERY good night of sleep, Guild Master." She ran a hand up his arm, resting it on top of his shoulder. "I've been told I can be very good with a man... Have them asking for more." A sly, suggestive grin replaced her before pleasant face. Razor's eyes turned a darker shade of crimson, his hand reaching up to grab hers, an unpleasant snapping noise disturbing the quietness of the stairwell. "The only thing that you could ever do to pleasure me, Nervauna, is to lay off me, and expose yourself to someone who ranks lower than you." Razor's grip on her hand tightened. "Leave me be, or I will gut you myself." He released her hand, then pushed past her, continuing to his quarters. Closing his door, he quickly stripped of the travelling gear, and sat on the edge of his bed, the darkness of his room comforting. He sighed, then swung himself under the sheets, sinking into a dream filled sleep.
Robin entered the capital city of Ulferia, Mendetti, shortly after her and Razor parted ways. She strode towards her housing unit, people nodding to her in greeting along the way. Her immediate family was quite well respected, her father having led many of the charges into battle. Most of which had succeeded. Robin moved aside the curtain that stood as the door, and stood before her father. "Robin-Song. You were out late tonight." His voice was low and raspy, after shouting many war cries. She nodded to her father, hands drifting down to her waist where she had hooked the sword Razor gave to her. "I was out scouting, for caves and for deer filled pastures." She replied smoothly, meeting his unwavering gaze. "I found a few caves. Two were empty, old badger holes, but one had this." She motioned to the sword on her belt. Her father narrowed his eyes, studying the belt. "Let me see it." He extended a tough, calloused hand. Robin hesitantly unsheathed the blade, placing it carefully into his hands. He held it up to the torchlight, eyes scanning it carefully. "This looks like vampire craftsmanship." He said suddenly, running a finger along the flat part of the blade. "Which cave did you find this in?" Robin's back flinched, something that happened when she got nervous or anxious. "I'm not exactly sure. It was out of Ulferia, part of where we have not explored yet. It caved in shortly after I exited." She tried to make it sound like the full truth. He grunted, and handed the blade back to her. "Very well. Go get some rest." With that, he turned and disappeared into his section of the house. Robin let a silent breath of relief escape her, as she sheathed the blade and walked to her bed. She took the blade and it's sheath off, along with her traveling boots and gear, before sitting on her bed. A yelp interrupted her, as a small timber wolf writhed out of her sheets, it's paw under Robin's butt. She sighed loudly, and leaned to the left, off of him. "Balthazar! I said to stay on the floor!" She grabbed his muzzle playfully, and wrestled him off the bed. The wolf wagged his tail, before prancing to its deer fur mat on the side of Robin's bed. Snorting, she snuggled deep into the covers of her bed, licked her fingers, and sizzled the candle, leaving her in darkness.