Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-5726563-20131102172324/@comment-17711695-20131128080633

"I see your new friend is sharper than she looks." Grayson rose from his sitting position, while Annie was shocked.

"True, I was pretending to sleep. But I was curious as to why Annie was acting weird. It's comforting to know that now." He put on a relieved smile. "To be honest, I was wondering if you had a fever, but you said you were fine. I just do wish that you had told me this sooner. I wouldn't have made a scene out of it, although now that I think about it, the news would spread anyways..." he surmised, thinking about his other teammates back at the dorm.

"About that, though..." Annie looked up.

"I'm not sure about it." Grayson had a sad look on his face.

Annie was shocked once again. "Why?!"

"There's a bit of history behind that. You know my village we visited a while back? Why the villagers resent me? I gave you a fake reason."

Annie's eyes widened even more as Grayson continued on.

~

''"Grayson! Wait!" said a young girl running after what was a 16 year-old Grayson. The girl had raven hair, with two clips holding up part of her hair, the rest of it flowing down her back. She had bright brown eyes, and her nose was delicate. Her thin dress rustled gently through the nighttime wind as she came up to Grayson.''

''"You know you shouldn't be out here, Lucy," scolded the green-cloaked teen. "Seeing as you're the daughter of the village elder, after all."''

'Lucy was a very important figure in the community. I was asked to do a lot of guarding at the time, since White Fang members were after her head, for some reason. And, as a result, she grew close enough to me that she began to love me. '

''"I have faith you can protect me, Ranger," she said with a teasing smile. Over the years, Grayson had earned his nickname for the protection of the town, as well as his appearance.''

''Grayson looked over his shoulder with a worried glance. "There's going to be a lot of Beowolves tonight," he said as a howl sounded through the darkness of the forest.''

'I didn't want anything to do with it, at first. I led a very dangerous life, protecting myself and others from Grimm. People wanted me. The villagers knew that it was dangerous having me around, but only Lucy had the compassion to make my life brighter. She visited me when others couldn't. She often made my food for me. She would always talk to me, even if I wasn't interested. She even defended me when I was discriminated against. She did all of that for me. My life felt full again.'

''"I don't care about that. I want to be with you tonight." She looked with pleading eyes.''

''Grayson sighed. "Then at least come back to the village."''

'Yes, I liked having her around, but as a friend only. If I died while I was bonded too close to someone, it would hurt too much for the other person to bear. And thus, I kept refusing her.'

"I wanted us to be alone, though."

"There'll be enough time for that back at the village."

At first, I thought there was going to be enough time.

Grayson, locked in battle with dark wolves, was barely protecting Lucy, who was trying her best to dodge the swipes.

'I honestly thought we were going to make it out of there alive. With her alive, more importantly.'

''Grayson heard a crunch behind him. He quickly turned around and saw a falling Lucy. Blood was flowing from her head.''

''In that small moment, she mouthed something. Grayson's eyes widened. ''

'It happened again. For a third time.'

''Grayson's eyes began to glow a furious green. He roared and let all his Dust out. Huge elementals and large, twisting vines began tearing the Beowolves apart. He took part in the massacre, spinning his axe expertly, yet with a fervor. He shot and sliced until there was no more of that strange dark fur to be found, no movement. ''

Then he tried to do something.

For yet another time, I couldn't grieve properly for my friend.

The battlefield was littered with blood, and Grayson looked up at the sky in despair.

'How long would this curse last? How many would die and cause me pain before I myself would face my own death?'

'After that, I brought her body back, my head down. This time, there was no one to defend me. I took all the blame for her death. I couldn't do anything about it. It was really all my fault. Nobody could be at my side after what happened.'

A haggard Grayson was sitting in his house when there was a knock at the door.

''He sighed. "I don't need any more harrassment," Grayson said as the opened the door. What he found instead was a strapping young woman.''

''"I've heard good and bad rumors about you," the woman said formally. She had a short black and purple cape that ended in strands. Her blond hair was tied up neatly in a bun. A riding crop could be seen at her side.''

"I'm Glynda Goodwitch. I'm here to give you a chance at a new opportunity at Beacon Academy. Would you like to consider?"

~

"We're Hunters now. We're not invulnerable. We die. Just like any other being."

"What did she whisper at the end? Lucy?" Annie quietly asked.

Grayson looked at her as the ship docked at their destination.

"Goodbye, my dearest."