1: Onward to Oron-D-Narr

Jin had never seen the Ranger look at her with such coldness before. It was as though his icy glare poured a bucket full of ice water over her as he yelled at her for her actions. With almost every word he snapped at her, Jin blinked as the realization of what she was doing sunk deep into her soul. Shrinking back away from the angered Ranger, Jin actually recoiled from him as he continued to berate her. Jin wasn’t sure what was more devastating; the fact she broke her Goddess’ laws or that she had caused Lac’Nala to grow angry with her.

The truth hurts but sometimes that pain has to be experienced before one really knows the destruction one can do to themselves by pushing friends and companions away. Jin’s foolish pride had lashed out at what might be the only people that can help stop this madness from overtaking the world. All of their worlds.

Daring to cast her shameful look upon the others from beneath the safety of her cloak hood, she could see the look on all of their faces and knew she had done a terrible injustice to them all. Apologizing was not something the Drowess knew how to do but she had best do something for fear of severing the thinly woven ties that bound them all together. She could not face this battle alone but if she kept doing what she was doing, she most certainly would find herself very alone.

Jin’s eyes darted from Lac to the others as she tried to think of the right words to say. Somehow she knew that no matter what it was she wanted to say, it would never be enough or the right thing at all. Swallowing hard, she finally walked slowly back past Tiphereth. As she moved past each member of the small group, she could feel their eyes burning into her and knew they were looking at her with anger and dislike, perhaps even hatred. So long as they did not look upon her with pity. Anything but pity. When she reached the very back of the group, she turned around and gave Lac the sign all Rangers know to move forward. For the rest of their trip down the mountainside, that’s where she remained, seeking her own private, personal council once more.

Lac watched as Jin moved to the back of the group, noticing her suken shoulder, and knew his words had sunken in. He then looked at the others as she motioned for them to continue. Lac started down the mountain again, followed by Tiphereth, Brianna, Krakyn and lastly Jin. After several hours the reached the base of the mountain and began thier journey across the great plain of Azanulbizar.