αяяσωѕ ριєяcє тнє нєαят

[~echo~]

[αвzυ σηℓу]

The path was lit by the tiny bit of sunlight struggling to fight its way through the thick leaves. Wind whispered dark secrets to passersby, the mutterings of birds seeming only to be a foreign language. The sole inhabitant of the road was a small woman, clad in forest green and sporting a light cloak and hood over her head. She carried a bow in her hands, beautiful and supple in her pale hands and a quiver of arrows adorned her back. A satchel was strapped to her back, leather. A few leaves poked out of it. An arrow was nocked to the string of her bow and she crept along, looking for something to hunt. A twig broke, making a cracking noise and Alexandria swiftly drew her arrow back and pointed it where the noise had come from.

[abzu]

"whats A sweet girl like you doing out in the woods?" Came a light tenor. The voice was behind her. A tall man leaned against a tree behind her. He appeared around 19 years old. His hair was golden and his eyes were a sheering ice blue. He looked her over with a calculating calm although a smirk tugged on the corners of his mouth. He was dressed in well made but warn leathers and furs. If none knew better they would think he was a hunter or trapper. But bandits were known to live in the woods. He was clearly one of them. A nice sized scythe hung on his back and dual swords at his side. Throwing knives were hidden in various places and only one was visible. "You know these are dangerous woods."

[~echo~]

The girl glared. "I've come prepared," she growled, not letting her arrow fly nor undoing it from the string. "You would do well to move along, sir. I have excellent aim."

[abzu]

He chuckled and pushed off the tree "As do I my dear." There was suddenly throwing knives in his hands, probably from his sleeves or sides. "why don't I accompany you to make sure you get out of the woods, intact. While you can take care of yourself I don't think you will fare well against a hoard of bandits." True concern glittered in his eyes although his smirk remained on his face.

[~echo~]

Alexandria drew the arrow back even farther. "Do not come any closer. I can handle myself. I am only hunting and gathering. And you would know what it would take to defend yourself against a horde of bandits. I know what you people do to unsuspecting women," she growled, threatening with her body to loose the arrow.

[abzu]

Jericho didn't move any closer but shrugged. "seriously not every bandit is the same." he chuckled and returned to leaning on the tree. "If you want to get attacked, kidnapped and have unspeakable things done to you than be my guest. I was just offering to help."

[~echo~]

"I have never been attacked in these woods," the girl said. She loosened her shooting arm and brought the arrow back, stowing it in her quiver. She kept her bow out, though, and glared at him. "Stay there."

[~echo~]

Bump

[abzu]

(sorry about that, grounded n stuff)

He smiled "that may be so but its raiding season for us. Pillaging and plundering and all. These woods are teeming with criminals." his eyes glimmered mischievously. He ran a hand through his hair but didn't move from his spot. He was sure she could have that arrow notched in her bow within seconds. Not that he wasn't a fast shot but he wasn't a hunting hawk

[~echo~]

(No problem xD)

Alexandria glared at him. "Why do you care anyways? You're clearly one of them. Don't you like to do what the others do?"

[abzu]

"its true that i'm one of them but that doesn't mean I share all their likes and pleasures. By your logic since you're a girl that means you should be into sewing and cooking and cleaning and general womanly things. Not hunting with a bow." He responded with a smile totally ignoring her glare.

[~echo~]

She considered this. "I always thought of bandits as murderous people, the lot of you."

[abzu]

"never judge a book by its cover my dear." he says "although don't get me wrong there are some murders in our ranks. Also thieves and other sorts of people. But hey its a way of life, sometimes chosen sometimes not."

[~echo~]

"I am not your dear," she said flatly. "But I understand. I of all people shouldn't judge people," she said with a shrug.

[abzu]

He shrugged and smirked. "so what do you say beauty? mind some company? I promise not to harm you or rob you."

[~echo~]

She regarded him calmly. "I have a name, sir. It's Alexandria," she said curtly. "What is your name?"

[abzu]

Jericho smiled "Well Alexandria my name is Jericho."

[~echo~]

Alexandria nodded. "Nice to meet you, Jericho."

[abzu]

He chuckled "Likewise." pushing off the tree he rolled his shoulders. "so what are we hunting for? deer?"

[~echo~]

She chuckled indulgently. "It is unlikely we will see them. I only see birds and rabbits and squirrels. It's been years since I've seen a deer I would shoot. I won't shoot a doe."