The beginning

Soren chuckled softly. "You see a pretty girl. I see a future exorcist in the making. She's here to both assist and learn, as well as gain experience."

"Yeah?" Five said, scratching the side of his nose. "White hair isn't my thing, but you'd have to be gay to live in a house with a young thing like that and say 'it's just business', in my opinion."

India looked around her and picked up a metal rod with a chunk of cement on it. "You want a fight? I'll give you one! I'm not a mommy's girl!" She held the rod in front of her, waving it around.

Soren shook his head, smiling. "You have a point. Though, she's been my apprentice for a rather long time. After so long, temptations such as those fade. Also..." He suppressed a laugh. "There's the age difference."

"Tell a sixteen year old boy she's at least a hundred and see if he cares." Five smirked. "Just don't trust white-hairs. Never have. Figured she must be eye candy or something. No serious offence intended."

Soren looked over at Five. "I've been amongst you humans for so long now, and yet you never cease to amuse me." He chuckled softly.

Five ignored the remark, stopping and listening. "I hear something. Do you?"

Soren stopped for a moment, holding up a hand to stop Cala. "A voice?..."

"We don't have time to go look," Five said with a shrug. "Too bad. Sounds like another lady."

Cala frowned and looked to Soren.

Seth darted from the car to a slab of cement jutting from the ground. "When I catch you, you'd better know how to swing fast."

Soren looked at the boy and sighed. "Goes from talking about cute girls to shrugging off the imminent death of one..." He turned and walked in the direction of the shouting. "If we're late, then we're late. We will just have to attempt our best at exorcising a very powerful demon."

Ezekiel felt a spark of happiness while he nodded. "Of course I am," Then he paused, a worried expression crossing his features. "Was anyone hurt?"

"If you insist, but if we save her just for Athen to eat her, I don't see the point," Five mumbled.

Cala followed Soren, happy that, at least, they agreed on this.

Soren listened and heard another voice. "We will be fine," he replied vaguely, distracted by the voices.

Zander's face grew grim. "I won't lie to you, kid. There were deaths and injuries. They need the carriages for the wounded."

He stared a long moment, then chuckled nervously. "I probably could have put that together..you know. With the...whole...'Carts for the wounded' thing..." He looked away stupidly and coughed. "So, uh, do I just go up there and find these carts or what?" He asked, looking at the male again. "And do they need any other help?"

"The ambassador will be around later to pick you up." He looked down the street, keeping an eye on the refugees. "I think they have everything else under control. They're moving the survivors to another camp."

He nodded in compliance, looking at his own feet while trying to think of what else to say. "I'll just be around here, then. I'm glad anyone survived at all." He smiled bigger this time, without the awkward shyness. That's just terrible, but I'm glad I'll be of some use.

Zander patted him on the shoulder. "You have valuable skills, kid. Even the ambassador sees it." He shouldered his weapon and headed down the street. "Take it easy, kid. The ambassador'll find you when he needs you."

Ezekiel gave a confident nod and a small,shy smile. "Alright, see you later, Zander." He then turned himself to face the stands again. "..Looking around a bit more couldn't hurt." Valuable skills in doing what I like? Sounds good to me!

Five lit a cigarette. "Could be a female miser tricking you."

Soren grinned at Five. "Then the female miser will be exorcised." He walked into an opening, seeing a woman brandishing a pole. "Ma'am?" He called. "Are you being attacked?"

Seth stopped, grinning in the shadow of a broken building.