Unforgivable

[Miranda Frost]

The Tavern's atmosphere was something the pale soldier had grown accustomed to. The thick clouds of cigar smoke clouded the woman's features, leaving her appearing much like a dark spectre drifting in the mists of old. The heavy scent of alcohol in the air seemed to mask her rather metallic scent and the haughty laughter and boasting of the miners, bounty hunters, and mercenaries shrouded the mechanical whirring of the servos and gears in her prosthetic as she reached for the crystal glass full of the all familiar amber liquid she'd been abusing.

 The red light of her eye glanced over towards the bounties bulletin. The old flyers pinned to the wall donned both faces familiar and not so familiar, though one in particular struck deep within the confines of her memories. Its true that she had difficulty sorting out the muddled mixture of her past experiences. Memories of multiple worlds contradictory to one another, weaving a chaotic line of time from the recesses of her mind. The disappearance of the Mysterious Nealaphh had drowned her hopes of sorting them out.

 However this may be....

 One of the faces seemed to have a place in both of her memory lines. Her eye narrowed on the flyer in question and reached out, a single tug of her claw tearing the thick paper from the sheet metal bulletin. The dark sketch dictated a man in a dark coat with a pristine white mask with thin, curved eye slits. The man also wore a ragged wide brimmed hat that covered other features. Though this alone didn't catch Miranda's attention, the name inscribed below the portrait did.

 "November Frost", she'd read aloud, yet her voice was nothing more than a whisper when faced with the intense beating of her heart. This name rang synonymous with both of her memory lines. This man held the name of her older brother. This man had once held Miranda's admiration and served as the goal that she would have achieved. Because of him she became strong, but now he was here.... and committing atrocities no less. From what she remembered of him, he held the ability to do what the paper had described.

 This man had wiped out North Village, and apparently only one had escaped. Perhaps it would do Miranda well to pay this man a visit.

[Miranda Frost]

But first, a drink or two before the long, tireless trek. 

 Miranda twisted the flyer, rolling it up neatly and stashing it within her coat. She'd return to her seat, the silver metal of her hand reflecting the flickering light of the oil lamps the bar used to provide light to the otherwise dark, drunken mess of a watering hole. The thick cigar smoke that masked the air around her. She'd bring the glass of strong, amber liquid to her lips, the warming drink warming her as it traveled its way down to her core. By the time she set the down, it had become an empty, scratched shell of what it was before. What a pity. 

 Wiping the remains from her lips, she'd stand. Her heavy steps across the wooden floor rattled the nearby tables and glasses that stood among her path, yet ignored. Just as her life has been up to this point. She had taken part in important events, but who among those she had met actually remembered her name? For this reason, she felt out of place. She had yet to find a reason to belong here. Helping the Gorons to defeat the dragon tyrant Volvagia was something that gave her joy if not a sense of accomplishment. A few who had fought beside her dubbed her an "Angel of Fire". She had made sure the gorons put under her care would be free of the smallest of scratches. And then there was Zack. As much as she hated to admit it... she did hold a slight, miniscule crush for him. Who could really blame her? He was always uplifted and energetic. No matter their hardships, her made the best of them. He was strong, skilled, everything she could hope to achieve as a warrior, a soldier.

 Perhaps in curing this fiery realm of her brother could she find the drive to seek him out. 

 Or she could do something else. That was cool to.

[Dawnika Snow]

A few hours flew by as Rouge and Dawn napped. The vigilante was wore down after the experience of nearly dying to Koal. That bastard had gotten away from her, and she would make sure to get even with him one day. Albeit that does was not this one. She had to focus her current attention on expelling the demon that resides in the back of her consciousness. Kagetsume had overstayed her welcome in Dawn’s mind, and now it was time she evicted her.

She rose slowly out of bed in her pajamas. For living in a mountain near volcanoes, it was cold in this cave. The vigilante rubbed her cold legs with her hands trying to get rid of the goosebumps from the cold. Rouge rose from bed and stretched out next to Dawn.

“Morning girl.” She said petting her dog. She herself stood and stretched out her back raising her arms above her head and then reaching down for the floor. With a strained groan, she walked to her closet to find something to wear. She settled for a croptop and a short skirt that had trouble meeting her mid-thigh. Along with that was some boots that covered up her whole calf and some lace gloves that covered her forearm. After looking herself over in the mirror, the vigilante wondered if she should add some armor to her attire. Just some metal plates to protect herself from thin blows. She lit up her Omnilium glove and started to summon some metal plates with straps. This took a little bit of time but when she was finished, she now had some wrist bracers and shin guards to protect herself from blades. Also a thin chest piece to protect her vitals a bit better than cloth.

The vigilante swiped up her sniper next to her bed and set it in it’s holster behind her back. Although she wanted to Rouge to come along, this was going to be dangerous. She crouched down to her dog and scratched the back of her canine ear.

“I’m sorry girl, you’re going to have to sit this one out too. I need to release myself from this demon’s grasp.” She said. Rouge simply licked her master in the face. She seemed to understand Dawn’s plight and supported her no matter how she did this. With their goodbyes set, Dawn left their small room after filling up Rogue’s food bowl. She alerted Kuzuru that she was leaving, then headed out down the giant staircase.

Although she focused on the path in front of her, Dawn was mostly focused on her phone. She was looking for any kind of relics in this world that could relieve demons. She found mostly whispers of a some dark place in the Ashen Steppes that was used by a cult that worshiped demons. It’s better a start than any.

The vigilante trekked through the heat of the volcanic lava. Almost unbearable for her. Good thing she dressed lightly. A few basilisks got in the huntress’s way but that hardly stopped her from gunning them down. Tough creatures but rather slow because of their size. Dawn’s amazing sniper skills proved successful as a few shots to the head put her scaley enemies into the dirt quickly.

Hours of walking made Dawn’s feet a bit sore. It was in her best interest to take a break, but just as she was about to take a seat on an ash covered rock, she saw a tavern of sorts. A building in the distance that stood alone. She assumed it was an inn for adventurers who dared cross the Ashen Steppes in search of treasure. Either way, it’s possible they had food and drink for sale and Dawn was feeling a bit peckish. The vigilante pushed the door open and walked in, taking a seat at the bar. It was rather empty but still had business. A woman sat at the counter lost in thought. The assassin sat down next to her. Face was mostly covered by the trench coat-like wardrobe she wore. This woman oozed mysterious.

Dawn orders some food and a drink and paid for it as anyone would. While she waited for her meal, she glanced at the tall blonde and spoke up.

“What brings you to this harsh land?” She said trying to get her attention, and taking off her headphones, which still blared music slightly loud.

[Miranda Frost]

"Bartender, my friend.... another glass of whatever the hell this was.", the silver haired woman would lightly push the glass in the bartender's direction, who's apparel seemed masked in the heavy cigar smoke clogging the air. Despite the fact any normal eye could have trouble making out his expression, Miranda could tell without really looking. 'Twas the benefit of the mechanical contraption the took up space in her left eye socket. Miranda had already five glasses of what she assumed was this man's strongest liquor, and yet she appeared unfazed. His look was one of both concern and minor awe. He'd reach down, his warm hands transferring the heavily scratched glass, to his own. Miranda would hear the "Pop" of the bottle and then the familiar sound of the fizzing liquid filling the glass. The bartender would hand over the glass, the fragile cup once again nicked by her her bladed fingers. The 'tender merely sighed and greeted the other who had chosen to sit next to her.

 The girl... reminded her of her Father. Blue eyes, black hair, thin frame. Miranda could wager she was quick as well, though she doubt it was on her father's level. Her free hand would move up, a silver finger reminiscent of a razor's edge lightly tugging her large collar down, revealing her scarred face in full. She'd bring the glass once again to her pale lips, the strong drink inside bringing a rosy color to her otherwise snow-white cheeks. She'd lower the glass against the rough wood of the bar, her glowing crimson eye drifting over this girl. No... not girl, young woman. To be honest she may not be that younger than Miranda. Her alcohol influenced grin widened, mentally taking a note of this.

 "I've been here in this hellish landscape for some time. For how long? Who can really say." she'd start to answer, her eye's gaze returning back to the glass in hand. Her grin fell to a look of indifference, one that highlighted the scars that tainted her face. Though one just looking at a glass could believe she was still smiling, the thin grey scar stretching from the corners of her mouth and backwards emphasizing this, or one could believe she was crying, as shown by the slash mark making a vertical line over her left eye. "Guess I'm just trying to find something to do.... things seemed to have grown a little quiet since the defeat of Volvagia".

 "The name's Miranda. Miranda Frost. and you are?", she'd ask, letting the glass sit near empty upon the bar's surface.

 "Dawn Snow.", she'd answer, her piercing blue eyes seemingly glancing away when Miranda's swung her way. Was she... studying her appearance? Miranda grinned wide and let out a hearty laugh, reaching over and patting her prosthetic hand against the girls back, careful not to accidentally cut her of course.

 "Pleasure to meet you Ms. Snow. We colder types have to be careful around these parts, lest we melt."

[Dawnika Snow]

The vigilante grinned at the intended pun between their names. As Miranda patted her back, she could see the giant burn scar that ran down the young woman’s back from her shoulder. It was gruesome, almost like a birthmark. She may have not even noticed if she had not patted Dawn’s back.

“They tried to melt me, I assure you. My heart is as cold ice in the Frozen Fields.” She said as her food arrived. She chowed down on the meat, whatever it was really.

“Interesting.” Miranda said simply. Although Dawn was eating, she was still able to hold her conversation.

“Looking for work are you?” She said after swallowing a tender piece of meat. “I know a group of specialized mercenaries who would love some extra swords to back them up. Would you be interested?” Miranda’s eyes gazed to the side. She looked down in the glass of toxic liquid which could hardly give her a buzz. With another quick sip, she turned back to the vigilante and nodded.

“Sure, at least I’ll have something to do in this gods forsaken land. Couldn’t be worse than sitting around waiting to die from a heatstroke.” She replied, asking the barkeep for another round afterwards.

“Very well, go to the mountain range north of here. You can find our fortress carved into a mountain face. With these directions you should be able to find it pretty easily, but it is a bit out of sight, so be attentive.” Dawn explained.

“Will you not show me the way?” Miranda asked raising a brow. The bartender slid another shot her way.

“I’m a bit occupied with my own tasks right now. I’m afraid I’m a bit too busy to lead you there. It really isn’t that hard to see. The giant staircase is the biggest give away. Ask for Kuzuru and tell him that Dawn found new recruit. I’m sure he’ll be glad to have new people aboard.” She said. She might appear small, but the young woman had quite the appetite. Almost all the food she had ordered was gone by now. The silver haired alcoholic drained the small cup quickly and stood up.

“Thank you for the information. I hope we can meet again in the future.” Miranda said as she turned to leave. Dawn stood after she left, heading out to return to her own quest.