::One Is A Lonely Number:: {Open}

[Kalanie]

<sup>The sun, a thing that was once reguarded as a mere thing than a necessity. Now, it didn't so much as peak through the clouds to glare down on a young lady that pushed her way through the rubble of what was once the Grid. Her visage held no sign of recognition as she passed a heap of twisted metal that she assumed was a car. Something inside of her told her that she had been here before yet she could come up with nothing to match the scene of apocalypse and her memories. A sigh passed from her lips as she climbed over another pile of twisted concrete, metal, and glass. The sound of breaking of glass faintly reached her ears as she slid down the opposite side, stumbling slightly but remained on her feet. A sigh of relief passed from her as she started walking again.

A whirl of memories overtook her as she patiently walked around the Grid. The familiar sounds of car horns blasting as impatient drivers sat in the traffic. The various smells of corndogs, gas, and pollution. It all seemed to whirl around her, making her dizzy and unbalanced. Shaking her head to rid herself of the annoying feeling, she haulted before a large sign that laid before her. A small snort escaped her as she walked around it, observing from all angles. She suddenly felt rather alone. Turning her gaze up to the sky, she gave a sort of whine as she stood there. She heard a slight rustle from an area not close by, causing her to start slightly. Perhaps venturing to call out for someone would work... Gathering up her courage, she spoke. "Hello? Anyone out there!"

No answer. This puzzled her but she made no motion to move or flee the scene. Instead, she merely stood there, wondering if it had only been her imagination playing tricks on her again. It seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. I am such a fool! she reprimanded herself mentally as she stood there. Nothing is out here to get me so I might as well stop being wussy and get on with life. Shaking her head in defiance of whatever might be out there, she turned and started up a walk again. It was probably a dog or something like that, nothing to be worried about.</sup>

[Mina Crow]

Is she new here? She seems to be at a loss. This might be a trap, but I don't think so. She feels alone. I wonder... John shot a last look around him. No one. Too close to Vampire territory for his liking, but he was still on neutral ground. And so was she, but he had to stop her before she wandered into the area of Rhymes Square. And the walls had ears; those kids somehow managed to have scouts everywhere, or at least make it seem so. There was no time to lose if the girl was to live - and keep her from joining the ranks of the Vampires. In the end, it would be her choice, but he could at least make sure she survived until then.

With his right hand closed around his switchblade - he could not afford to make a mistake, if she had already been recruited by a Tribe -, John walked out of his hiding place, regretting the glass he had stepped in when entering. Fortunately his boots were strong enough to support the cuts wit out being ruined. He stepped lightly, but was careful to make his approach audible to her. With his left hand up, he studied her face as he walked to the newcomer.

"Hush. Not so loud. It's quite dangerous out here."

[Kalanie]

<sup>A look of surprise flitted across the young woman's visage as the young man approached her. She stood silently, nodding dumbly as he spoke of being hushing. She trembled slightly but made no move to show how weary she was of this young man. She thought she caught a glint of a blade, causing her to step back a few steps but she merely shrugged it off, once again reprimanding herself for being an idiot. Nevertheless, she stood wearily, ready to flee if it was necessary. Friend or foe, she could decide which one this young man was. "Sorry," she whispered. She glanced away for a moment before wearily glancing back to the young man. What was he doing out here? The same reason she was there? Or perhaps it was a bit different. Snorting, she shifted from foot to foot for a moment before stopping.

She wanted to blurt out rudely and ask who in he was but refrained. "I... I'm Kal," she offered, wondering if that had been a rather stupid thing to do. Acting before thinking had always been one of her weak points and now wasn't the time for it to show. Danger? This made her ponder for a moment as she wearily touched the outside of pant pocket. She could feel a small pocket knife in there but she didn't draw it. For all she knew, he was friend. She left the pocket alone and focused more on what was at hand. She knew this place bordered a territory but which one it was she didn't know so she had wandered here anyways, hoping they would be friends. All she knew was that she was a part of the Cigarette tribe.

She sighed almost impatiently, still ready to flee if necessary.</sup>

[Mina Crow]

John stole a long look at her face, frowning. She reminded him... "Wait. I know you. You're from my tribe." Relieved, he put out the switchblade. "I'm John. From the Cigarettes, as you are." He pointed at his white face paint. Strangely he had not noticed hers before; maybe because he was so used to seeing it on the faces of his clan mates. "Come, Kal. We're too close to Rhymes Square, and the Vampires have scouts even during the day. It's not safe to wander here." He brushed his head with a hand, slightly embarrassed for doubting her. "We should hurry."

[Kalanie]

<sup>Kal almost tilted her head as he studied her for a moment. Her face brightened a little as he spoke of their tribe. "Pleasure to meet you John," she said, nodding her head in acknowledgement of who he was. She gave a weary look as he spoke of the Vampires. So that tribe was the one who patrolled these areas. Nodding in agreement, she approached him a bit slowly at first, still allowing the weariness that she had felt before melt off of her. She quickened the pace slightly so she pulled up beside him. Her sparkling cerulean eyes turned to gaze at him as if to impatiently say. "Well? Aren't we going?" Not in a rude way of course, but merely excitement.

"I had forgotten which tribe controls an area close to here... My foolishness might've gotten me killed. I thank you for stopping me," she said, her tones still a bit hushed, yet gentle nevertheless. Her golden locks hung lightly in her face until she brought a lightly tanned hand up to push them out of the way so she could see clearly. Her legs trembled slightly at the sound of something shifting. She could defend herself if need be, don't be fooled. It was merely the natural fight or flight instinct that made her so jumpy. She sighed softly and looked away, unable to keep eye contact.

Stupid habits.</sup>

[Mina Crow]

John shrugged. "You're welcome." With that, he started walking in the general direction of the Ghetto, keeping a close look on the debris surrounding them. Anyone he could have hoped to find with ideas of trespassing into their territory was most certainly gone, due to Kal's loud call, but you never knew who wandered the Grid. The boy kept silent, as was usual with him; apparently lost in himself, but his frown revealed he was deeply focused on something. The Cigarettes couldn't afford to lose any members due to foolish wandering, and it was by pure chance he had been there alone; John, like most of the Tribe, didn't venture too far from the Ghetto on his own. And so should Kal - what had gone into the girl's mind? He shrugged again, shoving his hands into the pockets of the camouflage pants, still walking.

[Kalanie]

<sup>Kal studied John for a moment, finding that he wasn't very talkative. Fine with her, she could be silent if she needed to. As they trudged along, she couldn't help but feel that she had been in the wrong while walking here. Sighing softly, she walked along like an obediant dog who knew nothing but the commands given to him by his master. She knew not what to say to John - that bothered her greatly. Shaking her head to rid her eyes of her golden hair, she fiddled with her fingers, looking down at the ground as she walked. She raised her gaze to look at the various amounts of material that had been torn up and whipped around like a children's toy. "So... uh..." she began, trying to find the right words to spill.

She let out a heavy sigh. "I donno," she said finally, looking away from him, embarressed that she was being so fumblefooted. "We going back to the Ghetto?" she asked, wondering if this was the direction in which she had come from. She felt so air-headed and blonde. She wanted to scrunch up her face but decided not to.

OOC// Should we post there??</sup>

[Mina Crow]

[Sure, we can move to the Ghetto.]

"Yes." John was fidgeting around with the lighter and the switchblade, one on each pocket. He always felt quite awkward if he was only with one or two persons; they always expected him to talk. It was easier with a bigger group, where his silence would go unnoticed.

Now that he thought about it, Kal's memory lapses were rather known on the Tribe. He just hadn't paid them too much attention, as he did to so much things nowadays. This could be dangerous - this time he had found the girl in time, but the next could not go as well. They could not afford to lose another Cigarette, not after Seraphim had disappeared. That was enough, and too much. Taking one hand out, John wiped out the sweat from his forehead. The weather was changing everyday, it was hard to predict when it would rain or be sunny. Still the army was not there - and would not leave, whatever the weather might be.

The youth sighed inwardly. Maybe he should take Kal to Vox. She might have something for the girl's memory.

[Kalanie]

^{OOC// I'll go post there}