It was a good thing how wrapped up she was. It was absolutely freezing! Her newly acquired cape-coat, fuzzy arm, fingerless gloves and bobble hat; courtesy of Katt Batten, on top of a thick white woolly jumper did its best to lock in as much heat as possible, but even still, her single layer of tight fitting blue jeans and white sneakers did little next to nothing to stop her legs and toes from feeling like they were about to drop off.
Struggling to restrain a yawn, Rose trudged through the light snow that whitened the Marketplace's square, shivering as the bright moonlight threw an eerily enchanting glow across the city during the early hours of the morning.
The Docks had been in an uproar as of late with the fires, that much she knew. However, more specifically, she had been told not to patrol the area by Isuelt, clearly outlining that it was far too dangerous for someone her age.
Okay, granted, she shouldn't be on patrol at all.
She was still too young and clearly not experienced enough as a Scathachian to warrant being out alone at night, especially in Rhy'din. Rose knew it was not because she couldn't handle herself" but moreover, she suspected, perhaps Isuelt feared what would happen to anyone else that would run into her and get on her "bad side."
They had enemies running about all over the place, after all" and some pretty powerful and terrifying ones at that....but Rose was the amalgamation of once sworn enemies. Maybe it was them Isuelt was protecting from the latent darkness that could just be glimpsed from just under the young girl's eyes, even though she had yet to break from her high moral compass, to which proudly inherited from her Mother.
In fact, almost every redeeming quality about Rose came directly from Isuelt and while she barely had any vices to speak of, there was always the underlying threat of that other side of the coin, that was genetically purged from her body specifically to prevent it from breaking through the skin.
Under the microscope, Rose was genetically more of a clone of Isuelt, with some minor impurities inherited from the Egorwrathian bloodline.
It was just enough taint to twist even the most pious and despite her smiling face and confident, happy attitude, Rose fought a battle against herself every single moment of every single day since she first opened her eyes.
Rose's walk through the Marketplace was interrupted to a sudden stop when she caught something move just out of the corner of her eye, disappearing quickly as if ducking to hide out of view.
Her smile wavered as she closed her eyes, her taking in a sharp breath as if to steel her resolve when in fact, she drinking in the scent of a male upon the wind and it was fading fast.
What got her attention was not because there was another occupant of the Marketplace, but because the scent was laced with blood.
Her eyes sprang open as concern grew upon her features.
Was he injured"
Turning about, she walked in a brisk pace boldly in the direction she saw the figure disappear down a side-street and once there, she peered down there to discover absolutely nothing staring back at her.
Her eyebrows knitted close together as she looked all around her, clearly confused as to what to do about the situation.
Upon glancing down, Rose slowly dipped down into a crouch, staring at a spot between her legs while reaching out a finger to run it against the cobblestone below.
The liquid she touched was cooling, though tepid, sticky and slick when she rubbed thumb and forefinger together.
"Blood?" Rose whispered, her heart clenching as the scent infected her senses and drew saliva to collect about her tongue.
Swallowing hard, she wiped her hand in her jeans and stood up slowly, suddenly feeling very uncertain as to whether she were able to deal with this alone.
But somebody could be hurt. She reasoned internally. I can't just leave.
"Hello?" Rose called out, taking cautious steps into the blackened street, a lamp ahead flickering its light as it desperately tried to cling to life. "Are you injured" It's okay, I know some healing magic that can help you-"
It was then that Rose felt something far colder than the icy air bite at her back and wrap its cruel fingers around her lips, cutting off her yelp as hot breath washed over the back of her neck.
"What're you doin" up so late" Isn't it past ya bed time?" An insidious chuckle grunted next to her ear. "I'm sorry honey, but give me what I want an' you can go on home to Mommy, otherwise?"
Rose screamed into the palm of the man's hand, as he clenched at her face tighter still to restrain her cry, the blade sinking deeper into her flesh.
"You're just gonna be another statistic in this hell hole."
Struggling to restrain a yawn, Rose trudged through the light snow that whitened the Marketplace's square, shivering as the bright moonlight threw an eerily enchanting glow across the city during the early hours of the morning.
The Docks had been in an uproar as of late with the fires, that much she knew. However, more specifically, she had been told not to patrol the area by Isuelt, clearly outlining that it was far too dangerous for someone her age.
Okay, granted, she shouldn't be on patrol at all.
She was still too young and clearly not experienced enough as a Scathachian to warrant being out alone at night, especially in Rhy'din. Rose knew it was not because she couldn't handle herself" but moreover, she suspected, perhaps Isuelt feared what would happen to anyone else that would run into her and get on her "bad side."
They had enemies running about all over the place, after all" and some pretty powerful and terrifying ones at that....but Rose was the amalgamation of once sworn enemies. Maybe it was them Isuelt was protecting from the latent darkness that could just be glimpsed from just under the young girl's eyes, even though she had yet to break from her high moral compass, to which proudly inherited from her Mother.
In fact, almost every redeeming quality about Rose came directly from Isuelt and while she barely had any vices to speak of, there was always the underlying threat of that other side of the coin, that was genetically purged from her body specifically to prevent it from breaking through the skin.
Under the microscope, Rose was genetically more of a clone of Isuelt, with some minor impurities inherited from the Egorwrathian bloodline.
It was just enough taint to twist even the most pious and despite her smiling face and confident, happy attitude, Rose fought a battle against herself every single moment of every single day since she first opened her eyes.
Rose's walk through the Marketplace was interrupted to a sudden stop when she caught something move just out of the corner of her eye, disappearing quickly as if ducking to hide out of view.
Her smile wavered as she closed her eyes, her taking in a sharp breath as if to steel her resolve when in fact, she drinking in the scent of a male upon the wind and it was fading fast.
What got her attention was not because there was another occupant of the Marketplace, but because the scent was laced with blood.
Her eyes sprang open as concern grew upon her features.
Was he injured"
Turning about, she walked in a brisk pace boldly in the direction she saw the figure disappear down a side-street and once there, she peered down there to discover absolutely nothing staring back at her.
Her eyebrows knitted close together as she looked all around her, clearly confused as to what to do about the situation.
Upon glancing down, Rose slowly dipped down into a crouch, staring at a spot between her legs while reaching out a finger to run it against the cobblestone below.
The liquid she touched was cooling, though tepid, sticky and slick when she rubbed thumb and forefinger together.
"Blood?" Rose whispered, her heart clenching as the scent infected her senses and drew saliva to collect about her tongue.
Swallowing hard, she wiped her hand in her jeans and stood up slowly, suddenly feeling very uncertain as to whether she were able to deal with this alone.
But somebody could be hurt. She reasoned internally. I can't just leave.
"Hello?" Rose called out, taking cautious steps into the blackened street, a lamp ahead flickering its light as it desperately tried to cling to life. "Are you injured" It's okay, I know some healing magic that can help you-"
It was then that Rose felt something far colder than the icy air bite at her back and wrap its cruel fingers around her lips, cutting off her yelp as hot breath washed over the back of her neck.
"What're you doin" up so late" Isn't it past ya bed time?" An insidious chuckle grunted next to her ear. "I'm sorry honey, but give me what I want an' you can go on home to Mommy, otherwise?"
Rose screamed into the palm of the man's hand, as he clenched at her face tighter still to restrain her cry, the blade sinking deeper into her flesh.
"You're just gonna be another statistic in this hell hole."