7 Chapter 7: Where did you come from?

Hearing the prompt Jayson vigorously nodded his head, "Yes, do it." His right hand acted on its own, reaching out toward the attack. Vibrating in the air for a moment the tips of his fingers started to shine, a hand that looked both solid and liquid emerged and extended out. Flying through the air past the horrified Were-Lion, who stopped to watch, the fingers wrap around the broad end of the strike. The hand enveloping the Draining Strike soon after contact, halting the attack an inch from Annie's sword.

Annie chuckled, " Do you have anymore tricks? If not, would you mind being my test kitty?"

As she spoke a cute smile slowly appeared, however there was no warmth, but bitter cold within that smile. The Were-Lion watched as the hand that stopped his attack retreat back towards Jayson, the light fading within his hand as the skill finished it's job. Turning back to focus on Annie was it greeted with sight of her cold smile, without another moments hesitation it rushed toward the surrounding trees.

"Screw this, those kids are weird. That move he used just now ate my attack, I doubt I can deal with it on my own. I'll just return home and get backup, they'll be easy for us to find no matter where they go." The Were-Lion muttered to it's self while running for the trees, looking back to make sure they were not giving chase, what it saw drove it to run faster. Annie was hot on it's tail, the look on her face resembled a predator that found a weak prey.

"Don't run kitty, stay and be good." Annie said casually, with a light tap of her foot she flew into the air out of the Were-Lion's sight, her giggles echoing through the trees. Coming before a tree the Were-Lion didn't stop running, instead raised one its powerful claws, slicing through the trunk of the tree in a single swipe. It was hoping that the tree would be enough to slow down the weird little girl, to his dismay the giggling continued on growing louder with each passing moment.

"That's enough Annie, we got better things to do than to chase a frightened cat." A gruff yet light voice rang through the forest, shaking the trees as it traveled. Faith, Jayson, and Kenny flinched as the voice originated from beside them, bearing the brunt of the noise they all gritted their teeth. Faith staring at the cause, a mass of golden brown fur with a long wagging tail. A long pink tongue hanging out its mouth, as it panted heavily. Alan the dog had materialized seemingly out of no where, using his hind leg to scratch behind one of his floppy ears.

Looking in the direction of where the Were-Lion, and Annie had run off too he shot a clear look of annoyance. Turning his nose in the air enabled him to look down on them, "If you can't even catch a frightened cat, how do you expect to survive? I'm surprised no one has eaten that thing already considering how weak it is." He commented as though he was giving an evaluation. Dropping down from the trees, Annie watched as the Were-Lion vanished into the depths of the forest. Pouting she looked at Alan, "You could have let me catch it, when will I ever see a cute animal like that one?"

Kenny's shoulders were heaving up and down as he listen to the both of them, settling himself down as quickly as he started. His eyes met with Faith's for a moment, who turned back to stare at the village in the distance, "I figure we should probably secure a place to sleep before it gets too late, let's head to the village and find us a good one." Faith silently nodded her head, still focused on the village. Annie returning to the group sighed, "Well at least we've got the cute dog, I'll take that over a kitty. Jayson, that skill you took, what happened to it?"

Jayson shrugged, "No idea, I'm pretty sure it was taken by whatever came out of my hand, don't know where it. . ."As he started talking he was cut of by the system's response, "Stolen attack has been added to the list of usable abilities." Having gotten the response she was after Annie stood next to Alan, who was busy gnawing lightly at the longest part of his leg. Looking up from his leg to scan the faces of the group, Alan sniffed the air around them sneezing soon after, "You all smell horrible, forget the village, should just dump you into the nearest body of water. Did you all roll in a pile of dung before hand? I mean, it looks like something bad hair cut would do, HEY GET THE HECK OFF ME!!"

Before he could continue berating the group,, Annie stooped down, wrapping her arms around Alan's body pulling him into a bear hug. He flailed about trying to free himself, but couldn't get away from her monster hold. Alan looked to theothers for help, however got none, " Annie, let him go. I'll agree with one thing he said, we've got things to do." Faith spoke as she stood up focused solely on the village in the distance. Setting off with Kenny behind her, Jayson looked to Annie for a moment, re positioning his glasses, " I guess we do what she says for now."

Annie pouted slowly releasing her hold on Alan, to follow behind Faith and Kenny. Jayson looked down at his fingers, flexing them a few times before following the group. Alan heaving a sigh of relief, shook his head, "These guys are weird, but I have a feeling that they might amount to something. No use in worrying about that now." Thinking to his self as he caught up with the fast moving group. They walked along in silence, taking in the sight around them, Kenny being the first to break the quiet, "This place is heavily forested, from the top of the hill I could only see this village. Not much else, any of you?" Turning to look at Annie and Jayson respectively to which Annie responded, " While I was chasing the kitty I didn't see anything other than more trees and you all."

Jayson shook his head, "I was trying to figure out how to take down an animal that was taller than us, didn't have time to look at much else and even if I did, I would tell Faith not you." Turning his nose up in response. Faith glanced back, shooting a glare toward Jayson, feeling the oppressive gaze upon him a sweat broke out over his forehead. Kenny and Annie chuckled as they pressed on, Faith however stopped suddenly, turning toward Alan pointing, "Where did you come from? I saw you leaving our subconsciousness but you didn't appear with us. Why?"

Alan sat down, tilting his head to the side in a seemingly confused manner, "Didn't I tell you that I'm a supreme tier familiar? I'm always with you all whether you see me or not, just depends on how I feel or if you call for me. Have you never summoned one before?" Watching them all shake their heads, Alan felt helpless as though he was saddled with newborns. Kenny walking up laughing, " We aren't from here, haven't you noticed? We are just as confused by all this, we have questions, a lot of them, but for now we need shelter and food. Let's wait until we do that first." Patting Alan on the head Kenny returned to Faith's side indicating the urge to move on, with a silent agreement they continued for the village.

Alan sat there for a moment, a vein popping up on his forehead, "Don't pet me with your unclean hands." Muttering to himself taking the rear of the group's trail. It was not long before they reached the gates of the village. Two men stood guard, spears gripped tightly in their hands, they wore little clothing. Wearing only pants that seemed to be made from yarn, they both were tan of skin with muscular frames. A fierce and disciplined gaze they wore, as though hardened by years of grueling battle. They didn't move until Faith got near the gate, side-stepping before her arms extended, "Who are you?" they grunted in unison.

Faith looked down at the spears for a moment, "A-are those glowing?" she whispered to herself surprised, the tips of the spears glowing with a faint blue light. " Analyzing, confirmed. Magic Weapon registered. Low-Tier Weapon : Frost Spear added to Crafting List." The System rang through their heads, this causing Jayson to glare for second as he registered what he heard, "Crafting List? The heck is that?" thinking to him self silently."The Crafting List is composed of items that can be made by collecting certain materials."

Hearing this Jayson's gaze eased while Kenny walked forward smiling,

"Hello there, my friends and I aren't from here and got lost on our travels. We are looking for a place to rest and regroup."In face of his bright smile the guards expressions softened a bit, they stepped past Faith toward him and began chatting merrily.

"He always has a way of attracting people that I just don't get, like a freaking magnet or a puppy at the beach. Weird." Faith preoccupied by her thoughts didn't notice Kenny approach her, patting her shoulder brought her back, "The kind guards are going to let us pass, told me where a local inn is, and gave me these coins to get rooms." Kenny giggled silently as he opened his palm revealing a small pile of bronze and silver coins.