Another year passed Rain was eleven but it didn't seem to matter much to him. His entire life felt empty. He hadn't made any friends in the city in fact he barely spoke to people at all. It was six months after he had moved in with the Draven family before he had spoken a single word. He focused on training to be stronger. Each day he woke up and trained only stopping to eat and then he went to bed. Some days he would train alone strengthening his body. Other days he would spar with Lieutenant Draven. He had given up on meditation. He could not keep a calm mind as he was. He no longer mourned the dead. He held that in and moved forward now more than ever he had decided to follow through on his oath. He would be the strongest person in the whole world. Stronger even than the great King of the First whose name was wiped from history. That was the sole thing that pushed him forward. Today he woke up knowing he would have to help Eric Draven's wife Leanne with going to the market. He rolled his eyes at the thought of it. It was time that could be spent training. Still he did live with them now so he needed to help as he could. Being as he couldn't make any money this and a few other odd jobs was all he could do. He went out of his room to see she was already getting the bags ready. Rain smiled at her as he went to help. They didn't talk much but she was nice enough to him. She knew about what happened to his parents and had tried to console him before but she quickly stopped trying when he turned cold toward her. She smiled as she handed him a few bags to put the groceries they would be buying in. "Well, come along Rain." She said smiling through her words. Her voice was sweet as she ushered him outside. It was a half hour walk to the market and they'd have to get there early to get the best meats and vegetables. It was a long tedious task but he held through as she haggled with the merchants though with Rain standing there with his massive backbreaker sword strapped to his back and his unfazed hunter green eyes staring at them very few merchants tried to cheat the sweet woman. Toward the end of the day at the market she told Rain he could go look around for a while if he wanted. At first he couldn't have cared less but they had been giving him some money throughout the year he had lived with them and he hadn't a reason to have spent it. So he wandered off into the markets. Stumbling around the milling crowds he saw a glimmer of red hair. His eyes darted over and he saw her. He recognized her. Though he didn't remember from where. When her eyes caught his gaze she turned abruptly and ran through the crowd. Rain wasn't sure why but he followed her. Shouldering his way past the people around him. Ignoring the disgruntled chatter. He watched her slip into an alley and he followed suit. He followed her until she disappeared seemingly into thin air. "Wait!" He shouted but she was gone. Dejected he slumped his shoulders and started to head back as he realized he didn't know where he was. He looked around trying to find something, anything. That would tell him which way to go. He heard a low whistle and turned to see where it had come from but there was nothing. No one was there. Then he heard a thud. He turned to see six boys blocking his path then he heard it again the low whistle. He didn't turn again but knew there were more behind him. "Well well. You look like ya worth a pretty penny." The biggest of them whistled. They moved slowly surrounding him. "Look I don't want any trouble. I'm just trying to find my way back to the markets." Rain said in a low voice. As they got closer he saw them. They couldn't be much older than him and certainly not older than thirteen. "Trouble? That's not us. We don't bring trouble we just collect coin. Call it protection fees." Another said. He wasn't as big as the other guy but he was older. Clearly the leader. "You won't be getting much from me. I'm just an orphan." Rain replied. They sneered. Obviously they didn't believe him. "Well if you ain't got coin how about you gimmie that sword. That much iron would fetch a nice price eh? Besides not like a punk like you could use it very well, gotta be half ya weight kiddo." He said as they closed in on him. Rains eyes narrowed. "You'll have to pry it from my dead hands." He said roughly. "Well we could arrange that but honestly I dont stomach killin too well. Suits Feltz here just fine though." He said as the big one made a gruff noise. "Well let's have it. Give it up boy." The guy said pointing at his sword. Rain made no movement. "Alright then we'll just take it." He said and then the big one jumped his fist flying right for Rains face. But Rain just ducked and stuck out his leg tumbling him down. The others rushed him and Rain was in an all out brawl. Though a few untrained streetfighters weren't much of a match against Rain. In just a few minutes he stood above them as they groaned in pain. The last one the leader. Looked him up and down as Rain began to walk toward him. "Wait." He said and Rain cocked his head. "What?" The boy stood and looked at his fallen friends. "You said you's an orphan. What's yer name?" The boy said straightforwardly. Rain thought about giving him a fake name but then he didn't bother. He was able to beat the brakes off of them if they tried to swarm Eric's house. "Rain Alister. Last of the Alister family." He said in a low and deadly voice. "Well Rain, I'm Jinx I ain't got a last name. Never met my ma or pa. We is all orphans. It turns out you's a pretty strong punk. I bettin if you used that there blade we'd all be dead right about now. I've taken a pretty liken to ya. Why dontcha join us Rain? We promise a pretty penny at the end of each day and a decent place to hole up." He said smirking. Rain thought about it for a moment and shook his head. "I've got better things to do than just be a cutpurse." Rain said as his mind wandered to the girl with red hair. The boy moved his arm and started to speak. "Well that's too bad the Dragons are in need of new blood.. those blaggards across the city is gettin kinda risky." He said Rain could tell the boy was inching his way forward but his mind stopped as the boy said 'Dragons'. "The girl." Rain said and the boy stopped and cocked his head. "Girl?" He said. "She has red hair and hazel eyes. She told me once she was part of the Dragons." Rain replied. The boy made a smile. "Maron? She's a feisty one kid. Bout your age I reckon. But i doubt she'd give ya a second look. Came from a noble family. Ran away when she was naught but six." Maron. Rain finally had a name for her. "I'll come with you." Rain said softly. The boy gave him a lopsided look but shrugged. "All the same. I could use a hand carryin theseuns back before the coppers come through to give us a beatin and throw us in the hole for the rest of our lives." He said pointing at the group now regaining consciousness. "Welp come on let's get em up." He said as him and Rain started to lift the others up the biggest one Feltz was still unconscious but Rain shouldered him like a child and followed the group through the alleys. They stopped in front of a dingy little mortar and stone building. They heard footsteps, the sound of marching. It was the coppers the patrolling military units. Jinx opened the door quietly and ushered them in quickly. Rain stumbled in as the door creaked shut. Rain peered out the slats of the wooden doors and saw the men in dull blue uniforms covered with copper colored cloaks. He shuddered for a moment then turned and saw the others dragging the big guy further in. "Rain. Come on." Jinx said tugging his sleeve so that he followed. There was no light in the dingy room they were in but Jinx navigated it as if he'd been there his whole life. He opened another door and they slid through. This room was lighted. There were pillows all over the place and trays where there had been meals and no one had cleaned up after. But what caught Rains attention was the girl in the center looking at Feltz wounds. "Maron." He said before he realized he had spoken out loud. Luckily she didn't notice his words. She turned to Jinx. "The coppers getim?" She asked and he shook his head. "Fresh blood." He chirped through a grin pointing at Rain. "Says he knows ya." He laughed as she glared at him then her eyes turned on Rain. "Who the hell are you?" She asked as Rain moved closer and into the light she saw his raven hair and green eyes. "You!" She screeched. "You was the one who caught me tryin to lift that man's coin!" She said drawing her dagger. Once again Rain had no idea where she could have hidden the damn thing. "Woah. Woah." Jinx hissed. "No blades here. You know that Maron!" He said as she retracted the blade. "This guy stopped me from gettin a good mark Jinx!" She retorted. "Yeah well he's one of us now so drop it. Or you two can fight it out later!" He said before dropping himself onto a pillow. "'s Feltz gonna be okay?" He said and she looked down then back up. "He's bruised up. But hell live. No broken anythin." She replied laying an icepack on the boys shins. "Well I guess introductions should be made." Jinx said as Maron rolled her eyes. "Much good it'll do. Your lucky to have made it to fourteen." She said obviously pretty annoyed at this point though Rain wasn't sure if she was mad at him or Jinx. "Yeah well. She's right unfortunately we don't live long in this life. Whether it's the Rucks across the city that get us or the coppers throwing us into the hole either way it's hard to make it past thirteen." Rain looked around the room. There was about fifteen people including him and the three who he knew. "Well anyway this is Rain. He's new blood but he's already proven to be worth eight of us in a brawl. Rain, this is Maron, Sadie, Cat, Halt, Swift, Cleft, Blades, Coin, Chink, Alex, Zim and ya already now me and Feltz." Rain looked around they certainly were a rowdy looking bunch but he had chosen to go with them he didn't think they'd let him leave so easy like might as well stay a bit. "Nice to meet you all." He said though a wave of laughter came after he spoke. "We got us a real learned one here. Listen how he talks!" They laughed but Rain was confused he didn't understand what was so bad about knowing how to speak properly. "Well I say if he can give the Rucks the time he gave youns he's a welcome here!" Another said and Rain realized that half of them in the room were drunk. He laughed for a moment. This was his first time actually being with people since he'd arrived. "I think yous'll like it here" Another said smiling at him. Rain smiled and Jinx offered him a drink. "No thanks I dont drink." He said stiffly but as soon as he got the words out Jinx was shoving the glass almost down his throat. "Gotta learn kiddo. We live together, eat, drink, steal, fight and die together!" He said with a roar of applause from the others as Rain grudgingly accepted the drink. The day quickly turned to night and everyone but Rain passed out. He looked at the door. Wondering if he should go back. At least to let Draven know he was alright. He was startled by a voice behind him. "If your planning on leaving, now would be the time. They are all passed out. They wouldn't be happy you left knowing where our favorite hideout is but I doubt they'd do much after what you did to Feltz." Rain turned to find it was Maron who was speaking to him. "No it's just.. there are some people who were watching over me.. I'm sure they'll be worried about me." He said softly avoiding her gaze. "Well. It's now or never Rain." She said softly almost as if she didn't want him to leave. "Before you go… Jinx said you knew me? Who are you..?" She asked her cheeks tinged pink. "Uh.. no it's not like that… it's just a long time ago when I was younger I came into the city with my dá…" The word formed a lump in his throat he hadn't spoke of his father since he passed. "We met that day.." He said with a dumbfounded grimace on his face. "Oh.. I thought maybe you were another who ran away from your parents.. My mistake.." She said then turned to go over to a pillow. "Wait!" Rain said trying to be quiet so as to not wake the others. "Maron.." She stopped and looked at him. "The way you spoke just now was different from before." He said softly looking at her and she sighed and sat down beside him. "Yes. I'm a runaway from a noble family. So I had tutors growing up. But this bunch doesn't talk like us. I learned to pick up the slang they use. If you're smart you will too." She smiled at him then got up again. "Welcome home Rain Alister." She said before going to a red and black pillow beside a low table. Rain smiled and leaned back against his own pillow. His sword rested beside him and he watched the others before finally he dozed off himself. 'Home.' Was the last thought he had that night. Rains eyes opened quickly as he felt someone jerking his sleeve. "Rain get up!" He sprang to his feet clutching his blade expecting a fight. It was just Jinx. "Hey come on. The coppers are out and they're looking for someone. Might be you. What with those people yous talkin bout las night." Rain saw the others were gathering up the few things they had and heading for another door just opposite the one they came in. "You sure?" Rain asked though he felt the truth tugging at him. Eric probably called in a favor to find him when he hadn't returned. "Yeh come on now. We're gonna head to the south part of town. The coppers are bad but even they can't scavenge the entire city. Not well enough to find someone all quick like. Don't you worry though in a couple of days the heat'll be called off and you'll be chocked up to just another runaway. In the meantime we'll teach ya the ins and outs of the alleys and hideouts and how to be a decent cutpurse." He smiled and Rain found himself smiling too though he wasn't sure why. The life of a criminal wasn't one he had thought he would revel in. He got up and slung the large sword over his back as it clicked into place he was already following Jinx and the others through the door. It opened up into an alley and once they were outside Jinx spoke softly so as to not be overheard. "Vice thirteen we meet by sundown. Scatter and no lifting till the heat clears got it!" He snapped and everyone nodded they're understanding then they disappeared scattered into different alleys and Jinx was dragging him down a separate one. "Come on step fast and watch out for coppers." He said as he let go of Rains sleeve. Rain followed him as they ran down alleys like they were being chased by demons in a labyrinth. Stopping on occasion to catch their breath and make sure that the coppers weren't tailing them. Jinx was a known criminal and Rain was seemingly abducted. If they were caught it wouldn't be good for either of them. They had a few close calls with copper squads who passed through but Jinx knew these streets better than anyone. He and Rain tucked away in the shadows soon as the metallic glint of their capes came into view until they were well out of sight. While they rested Jinx looked up at the sun to gauge the time. "Blood and bones it'll be dark by the time we get there at this rate. The fucking coppers are thick and swarming. What the bloody hell are they after you for? Murder?" Jinx said though Rain couldn't tell if he was joking or not. "No.. The man who was watching me was a Lieutenant in my dás regiment." He replied briskly. "Oh Bloody hell a lieutenant… that's why they're so thick. He prolly pulled there damn strings to find you." He said sounding exasperated. "Are the others gonna be able to make it?" Rain asked softly. "They'll be fine. That lot has escaped worse." And with that they were on the move again. But they couldn't have picked a worse time to start going. As soon as they stepped into the alley they saw them. The coppers. Not even twenty feet from them. "Bloody Hell." Jinx whispered under his breath. The coppers turned and saw them. "Stop right there!" They yelled but Jinx tugged Rain along and flipped them off as they ran. "Fuck off Coppers!" He yelled as they took up the pursuit. They followed at their heels for the better part of an hour before the darkness started to settle as Jinx and Rain ducked from alleyway to alleyway. Finally they lost them. "Come on we're almost there everyone'll be worried if we don't get back soon." Jinx said tugging Rain on. The sun set and the two were bathed in darkness before they reached their location. They turned down another alleyway and Jinx pointed to a craggy looking door of a long since abandoned building. "We made it." He smiled pulling Rain inside. They made their way through the dark corridors and rain realized they were in a complex of some sorts. Probably abandoned apartments. Jinx opened another door and Rain saw that everyone else had made it. A smile broke across his face knowing his newfound friends were safe. As he looked out though he noticed Maron and the two other girls were missing. Jinx noticed that Rain was looking for them and whispered in his ear. This place is big enough for the girlies to have their own place." He laughed and patted Rains back. Rain smiled content with that answer. "Ey Coin, Blade. You two get to train up the newbie on how we do things. Dont worry too much about the alleys I'll teach him where to go and when." He smirked as the two groaned at their new responsibilities. As the two walked in the door behind them burst open and Rain drew his blade turning to face the newfound threat but it was just Maron. And she did not look happy. "Where the bloody hell have you been Jinx?? We thought the bleeding coppers had got you!" She half screamed as she demanded an explanation. "Well uh the streets were thick an all so we kinda had to take an out of the way route ya know." He said as the others giggled in the background. She glared at him then at Rain. "Put that damn thing away. We ain't got no use for blades that big anyway they got no finesse." She murmured as Rain put his blade back in its sheath. "Well. You're here now so I guess you made it back safe." She mumbled then stalked out of the room. Jinx poked Rain in the side with his elbow. "I think she's warming up to you kiddo." He smirked as Rain blushed. "No it's not like that!" He argued but Jinx just continued to smirk and Rain sagged his shoulders he knew couldn't win this fight. "Well let's hit the hay." He said still smirking at Rain. Rain nodded and threw his pillow against the wall facing the door and laid down.