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She was standing there watching them and they watching her, then someone out of the group broke the silence with a question.

"What is she doing this far?" Someone out of the group asked.

" Maybe she's homeless," Another added pointing at Azreal's leafy outfit.

" She sort of looks like she's been through hell." They all looked at her disheveled hair and dirty, sticky looking face and skin.

"Maybe she can join us."

"But we don't know if she's friendly, or hostile or like some kind of wild animal."

"Well go talk to her and see!"

"Why does it have to be me?!" He scrambled back to them when they pushed him forward.

"Because you're good at talking, and you always could understand the wild animals when we don't." He narrowed his eyes at them then sighed, "Ok." He inched closer to her hand raised to show he wasn't a threat. " Uhm, the fruit you just ate is poisonous."

Azreal looked at the plant she just picked from. "Oh, it's a good thing I spit it out."

"You're supposed to be dead. Even though you didn't swallow it, once it goes in your mouth, that was suppose to be it. Dead as a doornail." He let out a nervous laugh.

" Well I'm not dead." She flung her arms wide to show.

"What's your name?" The boy asked.

Azreal didn't answer. Last time she said her name she was attacked. She wasn't looking forward to a repeat. Then she noticed they were all wearing armor as if they were going into battle. Some were on horses with complete sets of armor with some sort of crest on it .

Realizing she wasn't going to tell him her name, he said instead. "Well my name is Shawn, we're heading back to our village. Do you want to come. It's not safe moving around alone." He scratched his head nervously.

" That would be great. I was hoping to find a village before it gets dark."

The crowd of people were relieved that she sounded civilized and could speak intelligently and they relaxed a bit, most especially the Shawn boy who was talking to her.

"How long were you in the forest?"

"I'm not sure."

"So you weren't staying somewhere? I'm just assuming you're lost or something."

"I can't remember."

He frowned and turned and addressed a blonde guy with a big sword in the group, asking if she could come along with them. Blondie, who Shawn called Zane nodded, giving the impression that he was the leader of them. The others weren't so pleased with his decision, but he was the leader, and it seems what he says goes.

Shawn gave her some water to wash and tidy up and then they were on their way. They travelled a good way and the day flew by. Finally, they decided to rest for the day and set up tents. No one invited Azreal to their tent, only Shawn but she was already making herself comfortable in a tree and didn't want to come down.

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