Avoiding the Unavoidable

[Frost]

Ithellia Whitethorn, elder Immortal Healer, stumbled through the dense undergrowth, and hit the ground with quite a force. She groaned slightly, then propped herself up with her arms, eventually getting to her feet. Looking around with one pale green eye that stared out from hazel strands, she wondered where she was. Something didn't feel right about this place. Her youthful face contorted in worry. Where was she? The dim rays of the Sun were already fading into the distance. A shroud of darkness covered her. A distinct chill ran down her spine, but unfortunately, she wasn't able to cure fear, for fear could not be cured. It had to be overcome. Shadow poured over her form, sliding over her robe of dark silk. The diamonds that hung from her braids shimmered faintly in the dark. She had to get out before any unseen enemy got her. She couldn't heal herself if she was dead, and anything could attack her. She was only a mere healer, only posessing the expert abilities to heal and cure, but she had barely any attack spells. A thousand thoughts swirled around in her mind. Why was she running away from the battle that was about to take place int he future anyway? She thought again. I'm so confused...

[Christa (htmlkid)]

Torin was walking through the recruitment grounds alone. Yes, he had brought a small party of soldiers along with them, but splitting up would give them a better chance. The sun was beginning to set, and they had found no one. Sighing, he began to turn back, when he spotted a figure, not far off.

Relief spreading over his face (something was better than nothing), he headed over towards the figure. Coming closer, he realized she looked quite lost. "Excuse me," he said, trying to be somewhat polite.

[♥Aerith♥]

<sup>Annelysa stalked through the recruitment grounds, a forest of dense treetops with little sunlight able to permeate through. Her long hair swished in the light breeze, lighted up by several thin rays of light,"It's so humid..." she thought, her eyes showing no emotion or whatsoever. Annelysa continued to storm into the forest, getting irritated as tree branches begin to hook her hair to them. She frowned and looked behind.

"Argh!" she screamed as she accidentally bumped into something....or someone. Annelysa apologized immediately,"Sorry! Sorry!" she exclaimed, her hair caught into another sharp branch. Annelysa tugged at it and it released her.</sup>

[Frost]

A voice startled Ithellia suddenly. Snapping out of her rapidly darkening thoughts, she looked into a face, seemingly flooded with relief. "Yes?" She managed to utter, some of the words losing themselves on the way to her mouth. Well, she thought in her mind. At least there were others here. She straightened herself up, gripping her healing staff tightly. The heirloom of the elder healers. A sharp pain seared through her, and she reached down and pulled a bramble out of her leg. Muttering a quick spell, the transparent ball on her staff glowed and the would healed within seconds. Her confidence slowly returning, she managed to speak other words. "Do you know where we are?" Just as someone bumped into her from the other side. She looked to see a young woman, who was apologizing rapidly.

[♥Aerith♥]

^{"Yes, actually, we're on the Recruitment Grounds, where people choose which side their on. I'm Annelysa." she introduced herself quietly. Annelysa glanced down at the place where a bramble had just injured her new acquaintance,"Are you a Healer by any chance?" Annelysa asked, wondering if she was able to convince her to join the Light Army.}

[Christa (htmlkid)]

"As she said, this is the recruitment grounds," Torin said to Ithellia, though his eyes watched the mage. A light had come as well? Heh... there would be trouble here, especially if she was a healer. "I'm Torin, pleased to meet you."

[Frost]

Ithellia now turned towards the young woman who had addressed her. Annelysa. "Yes, I come from an ancient tribe of Immortal Healers. I used to be one of the elders, but now the tribe has been disbanded." She added with a sigh. "This...war. It's tearing the realm apart." Her mind was a haze of messed up memories, she was unable to place them at all. Her visible right eye cast its pale green gaze at Annelysa, and then back at Torin. "So are you all being recruited?" She managed to ask again. She didn't like the idea of recruiting, since she was trying to avoid the "final confrontation" at all cost.

[Christa (htmlkid)]

Torin smiled lightly at the woman, "We're the recruiters."

"You're correct that this war is tearing the realm apart, but it's my oppinion that it is better to have a nice, organized battle than the random raids and conflicts that happened before."

[♥Aerith♥]

^{"We're the ones recruiting." Annelysa shot Torin a look and looked down,"Should I go for this? It could be trouble, especially since he is the Dark Leader....What does he want anyway?" she thought, thinking twice before she said anything else,"Yes, you are right, Healer, that this War is causing terrible destruction and the loss of many lives. And that's why..." Annelysa took a deep breath,"...We need you." she finished, not looking at the Dark Leader's direction,"Okay, I'm going to make a run for it if he tries to attack me..." she prepared herself, defences raised as she waited for the Healer's reply.}

[Frost]

Ithellia took a few steps back, eyeing the two recruiters with a look that was half-frightened, half-confused. Was she just about to be recuited just like that? To join a battle that she didn't approve of? But it looked as if she had no choice. "W-what do you promise in return?" She stuttered, trying to keep a tight hold on herself. She at least wanted some kind of promise that these kind of wars wouldn't happen again. At least not when she was still around. Perhaps she would soon be felled in battle. All the other healers she knew had already picked a side.

[Christa (htmlkid)]

Torin glanced over at the mage, giving her a flash of a sarcastic, irritated smile. He then turned back to the healer. "Healers are very scarce on both sides. Dark or Light, either would be very glad to recieve you," he said in a calm voice, noticing the healer's nervousness. "I can only, however, speak for Dark. Should you join our camp, you will recieve full wages, slightly more than the average soldier because of your talents. You will also be issued uniforms, equipment, food, anything you need. And if it's any comfort, you will not be in the line of fire during any battle. The injured will be brought back to you for treatment."

[♥Aerith♥]

^{"You shall have a tent of your own, food and a weapons infirmary at your dispose. There will also be well-trained Healers there to teach you new skills and guide you along in everything you do. I would be glad to show you around the campsite as your guide." Annelysa smiled, shooting Torin another icy look,"During the battle, the injured will be brought into the Healer tents where another four Healers would be working with you. I trust that you will like them well enough."}

[Frost]

"But what if the side I choose wins the fight? Will there be peace promised? I do not wish for a fight like this to happen again." She lowered her eyes to the ground, then straightening her grey healer's robe, she slowly regained her confidence to speak. "I will join the side that will promise me the most of what I want, which is for life in Aravaen to go on." She nodded, acknowledging both the recruiters. It was time to leave her wandering status. She couldn't remain a rebel forever.

[Christa (htmlkid)]

"That is something I would not attempt to promise," Torin said, his face completely serious. "Peace and war cannot be promised, or predicted. What I can promise, is that I will do my best to prevent unnecessary loss of life, though in war death is inevitable, and that once this war is over, it will not be re-fought."

[♥Aerith♥]

^{"Peace cannot be promised, Healer, there is sure to be remaining Evil lurking around in every corner of the Realm. But life will still go on in Aravaen." Annelysa replied quietly, wondering which side will the Healer take,"I'm not saying that the Light side is better, it's just that we, I, can promise you that we will win the battle." she gave her a small smile and ignored Torin as much as possible.}