FinalHavenLarp.com

I speak no oaths, only facts. If you fear to be alone, you need only to stay. Stay, and you will be as safe as myself, Azara, or any other in this town. Stay, and you will no longer have to face anything alone. Stay, and you will find friends, you will find family, you will find purpose. You will have hope and a chance at a happy life.

Those who live at Haven do so for the mutual support and protection that a village can provide. They live here for the community and the comraderie. You need never be alone unless you chose to be.

*Looks over at Dallid and the girl*

Dallid is right ya know. Ya are safe as I keep tellin' ya. There is no way any of us are goin' ta forget Bear, not after what we saw that he did ta ya. Not after what all he has done.

What Dallid here is doin' is offering ya a chance for a new life. There are people here who do stick together and are there for each other no matter what. I'm only speakin' for myself, but I'm willin' ta stand by ya and protect ya from those beatles, Bear, or whatever else might come lookin' for ya.

Us woodsey types need ta stick together. Take it from someone who was alone for my father died a few years ago. I was once alone...*looks at Dallid*...and well although it took time I know now that I'm not. Ya have a chance here for the same opportunity.

Ya are not alone anymore....

I've been meaning ta ask ya, what is your name? You there isn't exactly a greatin' and well since we are gettin' ta know each other, callin' ya by your name would be nice.

At the mention of family she lowers her head, staring at the ground and at the mention of Azara's father, she gets even more distant. In the softest of voices, she says, "At least you knew him...you must even remember his face...To me, my parents are nothing more than scribbled ink on parchment, mere drawings..." Looking down further, even quieter, "I don't even have those anymore, lost to me...How long has it been? How long since I've been gone? I know not how to track time, to make sense of it..."

She looks up, eyes swollen, "Name you ask? I have been called Cheetah so long I forgot the name my parents gave to me...I don't want to be called Cheetah anymore."

She closes her eyes and dips her head, resting it in her small, dirty hands.

Your past may be lost to time, but the present and future are still yours. You are young - you can start anew. Remain in Haven and start a family of your own. It will take time, but all the time in the world is ahead of you. It is never too late to learn to live.

And you may start your new life with a new name. One that you like and suits you well. What do you think of 'Mara'?

*Azara looks at the girl as if with understanding*

In a sense I know how ya feel. See, my mother died when I was born, so I did not even know her. My da used to say I looked a lot like her, but to be honest I will really never know for certain.

Over these past few years, things have been crazy with tha way things are. It is ta the point to be honest, I am fogettin' his face. His teachings linger, for what I know as far as bein' skilled in the woods lingers.

*She pauses*

Dallid is correct, ya have a chance ta start over and gain a new family. Sure they are not related ta ya in blood, but people who will stand by your side and all is a gift.

Change your name, stay among us and start life anew.

"Thank-you for your kindness. It will not be forgotten. Mara is a nice name...I do not want to forget anymore than I have already. I have drawn their faces every day since my capture. Most have been lost or destroyed...well all of them now I suppose...Would you happen to have some parchment you could spare and somethign to draw with? I hate to ask after all you've done, but it has always brought me comfort in the past...I do not know how I will repay you for your kindness to me...it's been so long since anyone treated me so...I barely know what to do."

A flitter of a smile crosses her face so quickly you wonder if it was just your imagination. Her face quickly resumes its somber state.

Bark and charcoal at the very least. Parchment and ink if they can be found. For now, simply rest here and recover your strength.

We do have important questions to ask of you. Questions about Bear. Do you feel up to dealing with this subject now?

The girl shudders at Bear's name, but she nods and meekly answers, "I will tell you what I can. What questions do you have?"

Thank you, Mara. Your courage is commendable and hints at the great strength within you.

So Bear is seeking a new place to continue his studies. Do you happen to know what he is researching?

"I believe him to be studying fear...pain...power...and transformation. He seems to crave dominance over others but most of all he wants to become the animal he associates himself with. His research of late has been a way to transform himself into that powerful animal."

Was his last place of study destroyed during today's collapse, or was it lost before that?

The girl looks at you blankly for a moment and then responds, "I do not know what all was destroyed in today's collapse, but he does most of his experimentation above ground...He just keeps his subjects below, hopefully they are okay and not killed by the cave in...now the studies in pain and fear are done below...in the dark...and the cold." She shuders again. "Perhaps he is buried in the rubble," she says, a glint of hope in her voice.

Unfortunately I suspect the collapse occured in accordance with his will - a desperate act to defend himself against our intrusion into his lair. He is likely still active, though temporarily in retreat. However, you had mentioned earlier that he seeks a new and safe place of study. Do you know what became of his last study place?

"Nothing came of it...it is still where it always was...he simply felt or suspected a coming resistance, namely all of you...and so he's ready to move, planning on leaving, but I think maybe he'll stay...I think...well if this is where the people are and he needs people for his experiments...then it would seem he would stay here...Maybe that's why he attacked...to scare you off so that he can continue in peace."

I see. Yes, this is one of the few places where he can always find people, thus he is likely to stay at his current location.

Do you happen to know where that location is? We must find him to make him stop hurting people.