NationStates Jolt Archive

Ixair laughed at the crow. "Ah, now you need help, Mienna. Well, I ain't gonna give you any because it seemed like you didn't appreciate me earlier," he chuckled before riding his horse over to the gate and opening it anyways.

*****************************

"It's alright, Luthien. I want to meet this Rimoru soon. I hope she does know of Bodista," Beatrice replied happily, taking hold of Luthien's hand and smiling, awaiting for their steed.

Mienna ignored Ixiars comment and jumped onto the now freed horses back and tried to think of a way for it to manage the creature, it didn't seem possible, but the horse was loyal enough, it was willing to follow Ixiar without prompt from a rider and could serve as a pack animal or somebodies horse if necessary.

"Alright, and I hope I can meet her as well." Lúthien replied as Lorathin called up the two phantom steeds for him, and the two girls.

"By the way your daddy and Ixair were talking about her, she seems...misunderstood," Beatrice said quietly as she remembered how Lorathin helped Luthien on the steed and knelt down so she could to so with the girl.

"I'm not sure what the situation is, but I know that daddy likes her and trusts her." Lúthien commented

"Do you think she'd be nice to me?" Beatrice asked curiously, waiting for Luthien to mount the phantom.

"I think she would." Lúthien replied as Lorathin came over to help them both onto the horse's back.

Beatrice smiled as she got up from her kneeling position and took Lorathin's help onto the steed, giving Lorathin a bright smile and thanks as she mounted behind the little elf.

The dark elf couldn't wait to meet this Rimoru. This wondrous woman could have the key to finding Bodista. However, she remembered hearing on how Rimoru was dethroned. Beatrice couldn't quite figure out what it meant.

"What's it mean to dethrone someone?" Beatrice asked curiously.

"I think it means to make a king no longer a king." Lúthien replied

Beatrice thought for a moment and looked at Luthien. "And so, Rimoru would no longer be a king?" she asked, not quite understanding the definition, since she could not figure out if Rimoru was a queen or a king anymore.

"Is she or he dead?"

Cobiesel and Cantrell had little to pack, so they were ready quickly. They came to the stables. "Ixair. I haven't seen you all morning. How have you been?" Cobiesel asked. She was surprised that he hadn't done anything irratating yet, and it made her happy to hear it.

"I am well, Miss Cobiesel. And how are you?" Ixair asked cheerfully. He was tempted on saying something like Ah, I thought I missed the sun shine, but it was only you or something along those lines. Instead he only chuckled and continued to smile. "Ready to continue and possibly finish our journey?"

"Actually I think she'll no longer be the queen, but dethrone is the same for a king or queen." Lúthien replied, "And daddy doesn't think she is. He wouldn't be here if she was dead, he'd be after whoever hurt her."

"Does your daddy have 'puppy love' or a 'crush' on Rimoru?" Beatrice asked curiously, referring to the words Lorathin used on Ixair when asked to give him a sweet roll.

She felt herself grow darker in the cheeks and laughed quietly.

"Ixair was talking about her having a child and a husband. Are you excited to meet them, especially the child?"

"No, but I think she has, or had a bit of a crush on daddy." Lúthien replied, at which point Lorathin looked over and asked, "Have you been reading my letters?"
"Maybe." Lúthien replied with a giggle.

Beatrice giggled and clapped her hands lightly. "Rimoru sounds nice," she exclaimed. She couldn't understand how or why Ixair wouldn't like her.

Each second that passed made her more giddy, made her want to meet this wondrous woman.

"Where do you think she is, if she has been 'dethroned'?" Beatrice asked as her eyes wandered to the stables.

"I'm not sure." Lorathin commented, "But I don't really think that it has happened. If it did, I'm sure she would have let me know. Rimoru has a way to get in touch with me when and wherever I may be if she needs to."

ooc: Gone for night

However, in it all, there seemed to be one faction purer than the others. Sebastian knew it only as the Order. And so, he had set off nearly five months ago into the unknown lands of the east. He rode atop Grael, a mighty lionoid creature that was impressive in appearance and regal in attitude. And eventually with its powerful strides, they reached the Orderlands...

High Templar General Mélaven inspected the recent batch of recruits. No...draftees.

The Order of the White Serpant had seen greaters times. In fact, the Order had never suffered like this. They were on the verge of ruin, each member knowing any second one of the many surrounding armies could give that final shove, sending the once beloved Order to oblivion.

The Gate War had cost them too much. But it was a necessary evil. The Patriarch had sacrificed himself that day to keep the remaining factions alive. It felt as though their leader forgot about his own Order. From the south, uncivilized goblins, brutish ogres, and war-hungry minotaurs had formed an unheard of alliance and charged up into the precious land that belonged to Zavers, the patron god of the Order.

Up until this point, it was a loose collection of goblin rabble, occasional ogre migrations, and a few ragtag herds of minotaurs. They were easily delt with and recruits usually trained against them, earning their experience and rewards easily and speedily. Any sign of a war party was easily put to rest by the great man who loved his people and was loved in return, but everyone and anyone. The Patriarch only needed to step into the battlefield for the fighting to finish.

But not anymore. With the Patriarch gone, the loose coalition tied themselves up and defiled the once fertile land, burning trees, grain, anything to put the peaceful people at discomfort, only for the sake of war.

And that was not the least of it. To the north, the strong Imperium, broke contact with the Order, refusing to give aid, and instead, began their own large invasion.

The Order of the White Serpant was nothing anymore. All that was left, was a few minor towns and Illuminata, the capital city of the Order. And those that remained part of the Order knew it's doom was approaching, especially with the news that Rimoru had been dethroned and the Morgrathien's having their own trouble with the Imperium. What they needed, and desperately, was a miracle.

And so when a lone rider approached from the horizon, the grizzled general and the high command couldn't help but turn their heads.

A young female skizzarish slowly walked up to the man and his mount and bowed. "Greetings, to glorious Illuminata, the bane of the invaders and the last hope for our people. I am Templar General Ikara. And who may you be, holy warrior?"

Ikara's eyes gleamed with a strange longing, a deep sadness of an untold horror. She looked away before the man could answer and stared upon a massive statue on the top of a nearby hill. It had the Patriarch, sword in his right hand raised defiantly, angelic wings on his back, outstretched, protecting the others behind him, who were in the act of roaring a challenge as well. The monument of the Gate Wars and the burial site for the Patriarch.

The only sign of their past glory was the only thing that seemed to comfort most of them anymore.

"I'm sorry," she sniffed and returned to the armor-clad individual on front of her. "You reminded me of someone. May I ask your name, newcomer?"

"I'm not sure." Lorathin commented, "But I don't really think that it has happened. If it did, I'm sure she would have let me know. Rimoru has a way to get in touch with me when and wherever I may be if she needs to."

Beatrice nodded and smiled. "You two sound very close," she replied with a dreamy and somewhat sad tone of voice. "I think Ixair wants us to meet him in the stables," she added quickly as her eyes looked up, towards the stables.

"We are and arn't." Lorathin commented, "We've kept in touch regularly, but I haven't seen her in a number of years."

Looking over at the stables, he added, "If Ixair wishes us to meet him, let's go pay him a visit."

The two horses, and a presently dismounted Lorathin, headed over to the stables to see what the amorous elf wanted.

"It must feel good to see someone after so long," Beatrice said quietly as they came upon the elf, a bird, Cobiesal, and Contrell.

"Pleased to see you guys join up," Ixair said as he turned his attention from the others. "I believe we may have lost Horatio." He looked at Mienna before smiling at the others.

"Shall we be off?"

"It does, and with a bit of good fortune, you'll be able to see Bodista soon as well." Lorathin replied

Mienna cawed a greeting to the ones who had newly arrived and tried to nod at Ixiars statement before fliying over to him and landing on his shoulder. She cawed again at the others in a tone that suggested they hurry up. She wanted to get back to the wilderness.

Beatrice beamed happily and would have given Lorathin a hug, had he been seated in front of her. Instead, she shivered in anticipation.

"I'm ready, Ixair!" She laughed excitedly making the other elf blush slightly.

He chuckled and looked at Beatrice. "Well, alright then. Let's...go," he said cheerfully, his eyes not leaving Beatrice's beautiful purple eyes. He turned away as he pulled Glurp off the ground and dropped him unceremoniously into one of the saddlebags.

"Dumb elf! Watch out for your master!" Glurp screamed as he fell headfirst into the pouch and left in darkness as Ixair closed the bag. A series of muffled curses could be heard, but Ixair didn't seem to care. His mind was elsewhere.

"I will drop you guys off in the upper west section of Rimoru City. You will have a short distance before you can get to the palace, easily reachable within a day or two."

"And if you don't mind me asking, what will you be doing?" Lorathin asked as he mounted his horse.

"Well, I do mind you asking, however, I will disclose this information to you. I am a bit uneasy about this whole Dispatching of Rimoru thing..." Ixair replied as he spurred his horse towards his destination.

"However, I may do a little search for Horatio while you guys go meet Rimmy. Who knows, maybe our paths will cross again."

Beatrice smiled as she curiously looked around her. She found herself actually wanting to meet Ixair again. She wanted him to remain with Lorathin and Luthien. Maybe they would bring him into their family.

The dark elf laughed at the idea of Ixair being the newest member of Lorathin's family.

"So you shall be off searching for the absent druid with his pet bird and your Glurp?" Lorathin asked, before turning to look at Bea for a second as he wondered why she'd just burst into laughter.

"Well partially, I also...have...important-" Ixair looked back at Beatrice, with a slightly amused expression on his face, yet was quite puzzled at what she was laughing about.

Beatrice noticed the looks and slowly quieted herself down and cleared her throat. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, looking to the floor.

Cobiesel smiled. Ixair was learning. "I'm fine. So, wehn are we leaving?"

"Don't worry if they look at you, there's nothing wrong wrong with laughter or happiness." Lúthien said comfortingly to Beatrice.

Beatrice smiled and nodded to Luthien.

"Aye, agreed. It's always a good time to let it loose and laugh," Ixair said with a smile, before turning to Cobiesel.

"Why, right now, Miss Cobiesel," Ixair smiled as he rode along. "So load up and come on!"

Beatrice continued to watch Ixair's back, before turning to look down at Luthien and giggled again. "What do you think of having a brother?" she asked.

"A brother?" Lúthien asked, "I've never thought of having or not having one, why?"

Beatrice shrugged. "I was just wondering," she said with a small chuckle. The dark elf couldn't help but see the duo with each other as brother and sister, bugging each other and all the other things siblings do. She let out a laugh again but put her hand over her mouth.

"Luthien, how did Lorathin become your daddy?" Beatrice asked.

"Ha!" came Teralynn's voice as she dodged another sword swing and the rock thrown at her. Instead of answering the question, she said, "You call me a coward, but who is the one who hides behind their toys? What is the matter? Too afraid to face me without help, ogre?"

Using the same trick as when she and Maverion were in the underground treasure room, Tera vaulted into a spot between two of the wooden knights, waited for them to begin taking action, then agilely leapt out of there as their swords came swinging in. With any luck, the two knights would damage each other instead.

After the bound, Teralynn positioned herself so that one of the knights would be between her and Kalzog, thus lessening the chances the ogre had of hitting her directly. She then focused her abilities on the ogre, this time trying to quickly heat up Kalzog's head, then suddenly evacuating it of all heat to make it frigid cold, then hot again, and back and forth. It would, she hoped, at least give the brute a pounding headache if not kill him altogether.

Getting old, are we? Tera thought to Habdebza, wanting him to show up right away to put a quick end to Kalzog. It never took you this long to get anywhere before.

***

As the swords would not budge, Jorian decided to take a different approach to the problem. As the swords were only pinning Maverion and Rimoru to the wall by their clothes, Jor started to remove the people from the swords rather than the swords from the wall.

Yanking at his father's bloodied shirt, there was a ripping sound, and one of Maverion's arms was freed. Jorian immediately went on to the next one.

"Daddy saved me from a bunch of monsters that had killed my mother and father and adopted me afterward." Lúthien replied with a touch of sadness at the memory, but she'd come to accept it over the years and it only bothered her a bit now.

"I only want to make it fun for you, Teralynn," Kalzog laughed as he walked forward and waved his hand behind the knight.

The wooden knight immediately stiffened up with his sword above his head. Kalzog picked up the knight's legs and waved him around like a club.

"Alright then, Teralynn. No more toys," Kalzog laughed as he felt a slight change in temperature above his head. The tattoos up there glowed brightly as they protected him from most of the spell. "Seems that your little trick can't affect me directly. And now, I get to kill you..."

With that, Kalzog roared, swinging both his clubs at the cloaked woman.

*************************

Habdebza chuckled quietly again in the rafters. I am only enjoying the view, Teralynn. You don't want an ogre to take your place as lord of the cult, do you? he thought back in an insidious, yet playful tone, before leaping to the floor and landing next to Jorian.

"Greetings, child," Habdebza smiled as two swords sprouted from his sleeves.


***********************

"Oh...I'm sorry, Luthien," Beatrice replied quietly. The sound of sadness in Luthien's voice slowly darkened her mood, giving her a small frown.

But she remembered Bodista giving her hugs when she was feeling sad. She wrapped her little elf friend in a big hug and smiled. "Luthien, I'm glad you're my friend."

Teralynn jumped back to avoid the blows, but the tip of knight's sword nicked her in the arm before she could fully get out of the way. However, her natural armor, tempered by the flames of Valtrox himself, protected her from injury.

Running toward the nearby wall, she launched herself high up it and kicked away hard upon coming into contact with it, so that she would vault up over the reach of Kalzog and his clubs. As she landed, a ball of flames appeared in one hand, which quickly shot forth. Instead of flying for the ogre, however, it went for the ground right below Kalzog. When the fireball contacted the floor, the resulting explosion tore the ground up as pieces of the floor flew in every direction.

Figures. You are more interested in little boys, Teralynn thought.

***

Jorian gasped and his eyes went wide as Habdebza landed right by him. He pressed himself up against the wall, as if it would help, but he did not dare run, as he could easily picture those swords going through his back and out his chest if he did.

Although, the idea of them going through his chest and out his back was not a particularly good one either.

"It's alright, now I have daddy to take care of me, and you as my friend." Lúthien replied as she turned to return Bea's hug. "I'm glad you're my friend as well."

Kalzog snarled as he leapt out of the way of the fireball.

He spun around to once again face Teralynn, but his eyes fixed upon a different figure. A cloaked one, two swords pointed directly at Jorian. He turned his head towards Kalzog and Teralynn and let out a snarl.

Teralynn, I will be sure to punish you for your insolence, he thought furiously, before suddenly springing into the air and diving in between Kalzog and Teralynn.

"Go take care of the child, Tera. Leave me to my old...apprentice..."

Kalzog's brows furrowed and he backed up slightly. "Nice to see you again, Habdebza...taking in a new apprentice, I see?"

"Nah. After you, Kalzog, I have not taken another under my wing. Teralynn is..." he trailed off as he glanced at the woman.

"Love interest?" the ogre laughed as he tossed his club at the distracted demon, who leapt out of the way.

"Come now, Kalzog, you out of all people should know..." Habdebza snarled as he flung several daggers at the ogre.

"Love," Kalzog taunted as he blocked the dagger with his hand. In truth, Kalzog knew he didn't stand a chance against his former master. Although he knew many of his tricks, he still barely knew the creature. He truly was a master of his trade; killing.

With a swing of his spiked knight-club (lol), he beat the leaping Habdebza back. Or so he thought.

The demon only split apart and, like a fluid, ran along up Kalzog's arm until it reached his neck, when the demon once again formed. "Surprise," he growled as his grip tightened.

*****************

Eva jumped at the demon's entrance, even though she was still in hiding.

I have to do something, one of my best friends is in trouble! she thought as she searched the area for a weapon or an idea to save her friend.

"Daejan, I want you to wait here, alright?" the princess asked, before picking up the leg of a broken table.

Teralynn rolled her eyes. Habdebza was always punishing her for something or another. But she only had to take that for as a long as it took her to become Valtrox's most cherished of servants. Then Habdebza would not be able to do the things he did to her now.

Crossing her arms, she spun on her heels to look at Jorian. But she was much more interested in what Habdebza and his "apprentice" were doing. So when Jorian tried to inch away, a circle of flames burst up around him, entrapping him in place.

It was nice to just sit back and watch as someone else handled the ogre.

***

Daejan held onto Eva. "Don't leave me alone!" she cried.

Kalzog grumbled something under his breath as he struggled under the demon's tightening grip. Suddenly, a bright flash of light sent the demon to the floor, where he quickly balanced himself on one foot.

Kalzog took a deep breath as he regathered his plan of attack.

Meanwhile, the demon patiently waitied, balanced on one hooved foot.

The silence between them was awkward as the sound of fire burned in the background. Suddenly, Habdebza let out a deep cackle.

Kalzog could feel the demon attempting to lift him with his mind, however his tattoos protected him from that. Instead, he noticed a table soaring straight at him from his right. With a growl he gripped the table and tossed it back at the balanced demon, who didn't flinch as the thrown object stopped mere centimeters from his face.

"Not bad, Kalzog...not bad," Habdebza laughed as he leapt from his position on top of the table, before sending several other heavy objects the ogre's way, before leaping into the fray himself.

Kalzog growled as he beat the other items away with his makeshift club, but felt a heavy punch in his stomach that sent even his massive body backwards and taking his breath away. He coughed and gasped for breath before running at the demon again, who once again positioned himself on one foot. He swung his club horizontally at his master, hoping to take the demi-god out from his position, but was not surprised when he only bent at an impossible angle and performed a backflip, before speedily leaping under the ogre's legs and kicking behind him, to take the knees out from Kalzog.

And it worked.

Kalzog growled as he knew he wouldn't last at this pace. He needed to get out and quickly...

**************

Eva wrapped her arms around Daejan and sniffled. "Daejan, I'm gonna try to save your brother. Please, promise me you won't move from this spot unless I am capture. Then you must run to the nearest station and ask them to take you as far away as possible. The guards will know you."

"Will you do this for me?"

The fire around him was intensely hot, and Jorian felt like he was being cooked even without actually being in the flames. He looked around for some way to escape, but there was nothing.

Droplets of tears were slowly going down Daejan's cheeks, but she nodded with pouty lips and stood back, her hands grabbing onto her own clothes for lack of anything else to hold onto.

Eva turned away, trying not to show the girl the tears that were flowing down her own cheeks. This was becoming disasterous...she'd need the help of others to get her parents back, since it seemed the smelly ogre wasn't all he said he was...

Eva looked around and noticed the mean lady watching the duel with quite a bit of interest, and figured she may be the one that is keeping Jorian within the flame circle.

She looked at the table's leg in her hand and raised it over her head, bringing down as hard as she could upon the mean woman's head, barely able to reach it. She hoped that it'd work, or atleast give Jor a ways of escape.

Teralynn's hand reached out to catch Eva's makeshift club in mid-swing without even bothering to take her eyes off of the fight between Habdebza and Kalzog. Easily ripping the club out of Eva's hands, especially given her enhanced strength, Tera tossed the piece of wood away, which clanked along the floor before coming to a stop amongst some rubble.

She looked down at Eva, eyes flashing. "You dare attack me, child? Your insolence will be..."

Tera paused as she found the situation familiar. Suddenly, she was in Habdebza's place, and the girl before her was herself. The instinct to hit Eva in retaliation suddenly drained away from her, and she was actually uncertain of what to do.

But she had to do something, so Tera pushed Eva backwards and said, "Do not attempt that again."

Eva was shocked at the older woman's reaction. She had first expected to have hit the woman on the head, sending her unconscious but when Teralynn took the leg from her hand, Eva let out a gasp of horror. Who were these people? she thought in shock.

The princess was caught completely off guard when the mean woman only pushed her away. She had thought she was doomed...

Eva stood there with her mouth wide open. Her brows furrowed and she looked at Jorian. "Let them all go!" she screamed as she looked for something to throw at the woman.

Teralynn had crossed her arms again. "Do you not have some ponies to ride or something of the sort, child?" she asked Eva.

"Get out of here!" Jorian shouted at Eva, having watched the altercation. "Get Daejan to safety!"

Looking over at Jor, Teralynn noticed the slightly tapered ears and the almost imperceptible green tint in the skin. Was this Maverion's son? That would explain his presence here and his attempt to free Mave.

If he was the offspring of her former boss, and if he inherited the former powers of his father, then she could find use of him. He was probably too old for her to easily warp his mind to her will, but he was still young enough that, given time, she could probably brainwash to serve her.

The ring of fire surrounding Jorian died as suddenly as they appeared.

"And where, pray tell, will you go?" Teralynn asked of the two of them. Pointing to Habdebza, she said, "He managed to do this your mother. Do you think you can hide from him for long?"

Eva looked in shock at the demi-god battling the ogre. No, not battling, toying with him.

Where would she go? What would she do? She had revealed herself now and this woman was not incapacitated. At any instant, Eva could find her doom at the woman's hands.

Eva looked up at Teralynn, tears slowly dripping from her eyes. "We'll find a way," she sobbed, looking at Jorian.

******

Kalzog was out of breath. His former master was wearing him out. And he expected no less...His master had always been tough on the ogre, but he never actually killed the ogre...and now they were on different terms.

The ogre looked to his side and noticed a different kind of attack. The attack on will. Teralynn was taking on after his master...

He needed to go save the children before she takes them herself.

Kalzog growled as Habdebza tossed a heavy pole at him. He needed to get away from the demon first...

"It's alright, now I have daddy to take care of me, and you as my friend." Lúthien replied as she turned to return Bea's hug. "I'm glad you're my friend as well."


Beatrice smiled again. "I don't remember my parents...I...I don't remember much," she said sadly as she watched the carriages go by, along with horses and wagons.

They soon crossed the poverty line and were met by obvious change of scenery as houses grew larger, people dressed with more elegance, and factories were long behind them.

Jorian was sweating profusely and his flesh ached. There was little he could do aside from listen.

Teralynn shook her head with a smirk. "Do you not think that if there was a way, then your mother would have already figured it out? She has had countless centuries to do it. She is practically a goddess! And yet she could not stop just two of us from coming in here and disabling her."

Glancing briefly at Habdebza, she looked back at Eva and said, "He is not the only one, you know. Imagine several others like him hunting you and your family. When - and do note that it is a question of when, and not if - when they find you, they will not be as nice to you as I am."

"This," Tera waved a hand at the surroundings and at the three adults who were badly hurt by Habdebza, "will be but a fraction of the pain you will all undergo should that happen." A glance at Kalzog, "And even your mightiest warriors could do nothing about it."

She paused for a moment. "I can stop it. I can offer you all safety. But will you have to trust me."

Cobiesel and Cantrell were ready to move. They mounted their horses and prepared to leave.

Eva's lower lip quivered as her eyes went from Kalzog to Teralynn.

The woman was right. If her mother couldn't defeat them...who could? They had to be gods, even moreso than her mother. But how? How could they have defeated them?

Eva slowly raised her head and looked at Jorian, then at Teralynn. She nodded slowly. This woman would protect her. She didn't kill Eva when Eva meant to kill her. She would call off the vile creature that was fighting the ogre. She would keep Eva safe from harm. It seemed the only way...

"Alrigh-" Eva whispered sadly, her eyes lowering again as her head bowed, tears dripping to the hot floor.

Kalzog roared as he flung a large piece of debris at Teralynn, while blasting Habdebza into a wall with a sudden force of devastating wind.

He ran for the children, one meaty hand wrapping around Eva, before gathering Jorian in the other hand, and picking up Daejan with his pinky, and running out the door, looking for the best way of escape.

"We gotta get out of here, fast," Kalzog growled as he came to a small building outside the palace. He dashed in and looked about, searching for a possible hiding spot for the children. However, his eyes fell onto a certain childlike mage with a funny hat.

"You again," he growled to the tiny figure with the oversized hat.

*************

Habdebza shot out of the wall and snarled as he walked on his hooved feet. "Teralynn, tell me where they are going. Spy on them. Do not engage them."

He brought his gauntlet, and opened his hand, revealing a small black orb. "We all have are own little toys, now don't we..."

"You remember Bodista, and he cared for you and raised you, right?" Lúthien asked, "And you can make knew memories with your friends."

Beatrice smiled and nodded. Memories only made her sad. What's past has passed. It's now time for the present.

Besides, Bodista may be awaiting her at the end of this journey...

Time passed into darkness as Ixair and his band of travelers passed through, each minute Rimoru's Palace looming closer, each minute brought them to throngs of confused people. Guards marched here and there, unsure of what to do. They knew they couldn't defeat what Rimoru couldn't.

Ixair frowned as he heard gruesome tails of blood shed. He also heard there was no sign of the royal family. Something had definately gone wrong. And none of it went as Ixair had planned.

"Still want to visit Rimoru?" Ixair asked Lorathin.

"Of course, thought I still do not believe it is as bad as rumour makes it out. As I've said she has a way to get in touch with me, which she hasn't used, and should she die, I would know." Lorathin commented, "Most likely some die-hard and very lucky or skilled cultists or your friends made a suicide attack on the palace and got farther than expected."

"Cultists? But why would cultists come? They've got enough trouble at home. And I can assure you, this has nothing to do with me," Ixair replied.

As they continued to walk on, Ixair felt himself growing more curious, tugging him in the direction of the palace. Were these only rumors? What was the truth? Who could have done this?

Beatrice looked back and forth, her joy slowly being overcome by anxiety and fear. Too many people crowded in one place, too many guards with weapons, too much noise.

She gently tugged on Luthien's shirt and brought herself closer to the little elf. "I feel unsafe, Luthien," she whispered.

Horatio had made it to the gates before his description had been generally circulated allowing for an easy escape. He remained moving at a reasonable pace until he was far was out of sight from the guards and then broke into a run, letting the panic that he had staved off take him wherever it pleased.

It eventually lead him to a small wooded area, he was unsure of exactly how he got there and still somewhat panicked, but he could hear the sound of running water and made his way there. It was a river, the current didnt seem too strong and it seemed reasonably deep.

He took off his spare cloak and dropped his pack on theground. He took the scythe and magic cloak out before wading into the water, it was cool and refreshing, he felt a sense of calm returning and gradually took off his blood-stained clothes, throwing them onto the bank and examining his relection in the distubed waters. The most obvious change was the growth in his wings, they had grown significantly and if they contiued to grow he would struggle to keep them hidden, he stretched them a few times and flapped them, they felt more powerful, but were still too small to be useful. His horns were more obvious and had begun to angle backwards, he reached up to touch them and noticed his hands had grown leaner and more claw like.

He dragged himself up the bank and buried his face in his hands, ignoring the water dripping off of him and wondering what to do. It wasn't that he hadn't been able to contol himself that morning when he massacred the factory, it was that he had almost wanted to kill them, his blood had boiled with anger, he could almost have tasted the fear of the people he had killed, he could still taste their blood. He hadn't felt it before and it was disturbing to say the least. He was becoming what he had been trained to fight against.

"Daddy and me will protect you, but if there anything I can do to help make you feel safer?" She asked

Beatrice sat in thought for a few seconds before nodding. "Music," she replied quietly. "I like music," she repeated.


****************************************

Habdebza walked to the center of the large lobby, sending debris that littered the floor away, clearing a large area.

"My toys, however, are much grander," the demi-god said as he threw the small marble at the floor.

There was a defeaning roar and an extreme pressure change, as a small black portal opened up on the floor, sucking in a few objects. Habdebza's cloak flapped violently, as if it desperately wanted Habdebza to join in with the objects, into the hole. But the demon knew that was not why he created the hole. Instead, he spoke in a very low tone, in a voice that would send shivers down the bravest of men.

Crátan! Ve'ish Naü!

He was met with a roar. Then two. Then four. And finally six. "Approach, Maws of Valtrox. Your feast awaits you..." Habdebza barked as his cloak continued to flap in the breeze.

One long, nearly human-like hand took hold of the edge of the portal and raised itself up. It was one of the most gruesome creatures that could have been created. It's body was like that of a worm. It was a slimy creature, with many human-like qualities. This particular Maw (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/Blastit52/Clash%20of%20the%20Gods/Witch_Maw_Nephilim.jpg)had peach colored skin and sparse black hair adorned it's body. It mouth opened and it gave off a pained roar and growled gibberish that, if payed close enough attention, one might find it strikingly similar to the common tongue...

Yet the most horrifying aspect of the creature, was right above it's gaping mouth. A face, stretched painfully across it's forehead. A face that held an expression of pain and fear.

The lonely Maw was soon joined by it's five other companions. One with a dark purple colored skin and longer, bluish hair, another, almost black Maw with yellow teeth. The other maws were of different colors and sizes.

One of them, a pale one with bright red hair snapped at the demon.

"Shàla!" Habdebza growled. The Maw recoiled and yelped in pain.

"Go find the escapees. I want them brought back. If they kill one of you, kill them all."

The demonic creatures roared again and ran through the lobby, sniffing the air as they went. All of them, except one.

The one that snapped at Habdebza remained behind, giving a pitiful whine. The demi-god turned to that one and slowly placed his gauntlet on it's head. "Go find Teralynn. You will be my present to her. A...foreshadowing of what is to happen, should she get on my nerves..."

The demon squeeled as pain entered it's thick hide from Habdebza Guantlet. It ran for Teralynn immediately, leaving the demi-god to himself.

Habdebza. You displease me... came the terrible voice from within the portal. Habdebza immediately fell to his knees and bowed his head. His master, Valtrox, did not seem too happy...

"Master, I have done what you have asked and-"

You lie to me, Habdebza. You cannot fool me with your pitiful lies. I would know had you completed your mission.

"Master, all in good time. It shall be completed within two years at most," Habdebza replied with a cringe.

And you have taken Teralynn away from her duties. She was supposed to be in control of-

"Master, look around you! We have defeated Rimoru and her family! Iskan is ours! And everyone will believe it to be Teralynn and...she will be hailed a queen and savior, much like she is in Zlatlan! All because of my planning, master," Habdebza replied.

There was a silence as the god thought it over. Alright Habdebza. Two years. I want Teralynn to have complete control of Iskan and the Cult in one year. And You had better not harm my prodigy...

Habdebza stiffled an angry snort at Valtrox's name for Teralynn. "Master, I have been forming these-"

Your attitude may need adjusting, Habdebza.

The demi-god fell to the floor wheezing as he clawed at the floor.

I have two more quests for you. My spies have felt anger within a certain creature...a druid. Imagine, the forces of nature at my side? Bring him into the cult. Make him mine.

Habdebza slowly stood up as the pain receeded. "Yes...master," the demon wheezed. "It will be done..."

There is the matter of another. A certain necromancer has caught my attention in the north. This wretched creature had killed the guard stationed at a small fortress along the border. A guard of cultists. This must not be done. You must kill her.

"It...will be done..." Habdebza replied.

The demon felt the presence of his master leave the portal, which slowly shrank into itself, before a loud pop resounded around the room.

Cantrell heard talk of cultists as they walked. He grew nervous as it continued. He rode over to Ixair. "Ixair, what do you know about these cultists?"

"Well, if it's from the Cult of Valtrox, we're in grave danger. The snake that is the cult enjoys trying to convert everyone to become a cultist, and kill those that don't. Worst part about them is that you can cut off it's head, and it'll regrow a new one. Inzikai, the cruelest mortal leader I know, was killed in the Gate War, however, it appears that they have gotten quite strong."

"They are not someone to mess around with..."

"Well, if it's from the Cult of Valtrox, we're in grave danger. The snake that is the cult enjoys trying to convert everyone to become a cultist, and kill those that don't. Worst part about them is that you can cut off it's head, and it'll regrow a new one. Inzikai, the cruelest mortal leader I know, was killed in the Gate War, however, it appears that they have gotten quite strong."

"They are not someone to mess around with..."

Harlin looked up from where he had been riding quietly and commented, "At this point, I'm not really too worried about the cult. There are other more powerful forces marshalling across the land. I have heard rumors of dragons attacking Iskani cities. I can't imagine that the same fate has not befallen the other nations of Lustria as well.

"My men also tell me of a new force, not of this land. They raise an army of the dead in the north. From the accounts of my spys, they have technology the likes of which I haven't seen since my voyage across the sea."

Looking out at the desert wastes that surrounded the city, he said distantly, "That's what worries me."

Lúthien began humming a pleasent melody to Beatrice, wordless but soothing.

*****************

"They are numerous, but at least amongst the non-demons are not very powerful, at least individually. They did have a few powerful people thought." Lorathin commented

He thought for a moment, "And if she became the leader as I think she might have, her skills were mostly illusionary, at least they were at the gate war."

Cantrell had grown almost pale as he heard the descriptions. "Do any of you know anything about this cult's inner sanctum? Or if they torture? I... I think they might be the cult that tortured me years ago." Cantrell had become incredibly nervous, and was now on guard, should anything happen.

"Torture? I'd imagine so. As to thier inner sanctum, I am pretty confident that a woman by the name of Teralynn is the leader of the cult, and there's a pretty potent demon kicking around somewher in the upper echlons." Lorathin commented

Cantrell thought of all the horrors that had occured. Then he thought something else. If this cult was as powerful as it seemed, then it would probably know who he was, and that Cobiesel freed him. He looked back at Cobiesel, who was staring of into space as she typicaly did. What would they do to hyer? All this thoughts made Cantrell sick. He vomited, which landed near Ixair's horse's feet. He grunted and said "Sorry. It's just that this cult is really making me nervous. I hope they are not the same group I think they are."

"But why would the dragons attack Iskan? Why would they attack anything at all?" Ixair asked as they continued to ride along. "The dragons are passive and I doubt that they'd do anything more than defend themselves. Plus, their dragoons, however powerful they may be, are so small in number," Ixair replied to Harlin. However, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous at the rumor...for he had experienced a dragon attack. Until now, he just figured it was a renegade group of dragons.

"How did you find out about that?" he asked Harlin with more interest.

"Oh, come on now, Lorathin. You can't make outragious claims like that. Rothargot was defeated and the gate closed. No demi-god could escape from that. And last I heard, there were two more cultist leaders attempting to sieze the throne. Two very influential ones..." Ixair replied to Lorathin.

As Contrell lost his breakfast at the feet of Ixair's horse, the elf frowned. "Did Miss Cobiesal do that to you?" he asked with a chuckle and a glance at the sandy-haired woman.

"Aye, the Cult is a bad group indeed..."

Cantrell looked at Ixair. "No. The memories did. And I think I should tell you that if Cobiesel hears you, she might kill you. She dosen't take lightly to those jokes. And nor do I." Cobiesel rode up. "Cantrell, are you alright? I saw you throw up!" Cantrell smiled at her. "I'm fine. It's was just something I ate." He gave everyone a look that said tell her anything and I will kill you. He just couldn't tell her that the cult might be the same one.

"But why would the dragons attack Iskan? Why would they attack anything at all?" Ixair asked as they continued to ride along. "The dragons are passive and I doubt that they'd do anything more than defend themselves. Plus, their dragoons, however powerful they may be, are so small in number," Ixair replied to Harlin. However, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous at the rumor...for he had experienced a dragon attack. Until now, he just figured it was a renegade group of dragons.

"How did you find out about that?" he asked Harlin with more interest.

Harlin looked back at Ixair, and said, "I don't know, perhaps just to reestablish the power and pride of the Dragons."

Smiling, Harlin responded to Ixairs last question saying, "You can find out a lot if you can be invisible..."

Cantrell looked at Ixair. "No. The memories did. And I think I should tell you that if Cobiesel hears you, she might kill you. She dosen't take lightly to those jokes. And nor do I." Cobiesel rode up. "Cantrell, are you alright? I saw you throw up!" Cantrell smiled at her. "I'm fine. It's was just something I ate." He gave everyone a look that said tell her anything and I will kill you. He just couldn't tell her that the cult might be the same one.

Harlin raised his eyebrow at Cantrell, 'What's with the constant threats? The man is just making a joke, for Arcturus' sake. Besides, if either of you tried to kill him, I'd dispatch both of you before you drew your next breath."

Harlin raised his eyebrow at Cantrell, 'What's with the constant threats? The man is just making a joke, for Arcturus' sake. Besides, if either of you tried to kill him, I'd dispatch both of you before you drew your next breath."

Cobiesel had already ridden away when Harlin made his response. Cantrell looked at him. "We've been through more than you can contemplate. So I suggest you lay off. And your confidence will leave you dead one day." Cantrell said nothing more to Harlin, finding him highly annoying.

Ixair smiled at Harlin and shook his head. "You jiltaken are always full of surprises," he chuckled. "Aye, I was in a town, a rather large one at that, when I noticed three dragons attacking. I had only figured them to be renegade dragons, or exiles that escaped their death. I guess I have trouble believing that some of the worlds guardians are now the worlds enemies..."

Ixair kept his mouth shut when Cobiesel arrived, however raised his eyebrows at Contrell when he recieved a mean look.

Beatrice cowered slightly as threats arose. "Please, no fighting!" she said in a not-so-confident tone of voice.

Ixair smiled slightly at Beatrice and nodded, before raising his palm. "Now now, everyone. We are all peaceful here," Ixair said sternly, before turning to Harlin.

"I appreciate your concern, old friend, but I feel that you should save your swords for a possible...encounter. I feel very uneasy with whoever could dispatch of Rimmy...If they did," Ixair whispered to Harlin.

"I think this calls for some rest. We can continue our journey tomorrow morning," Ixair said. "Or later on if we feel we just needed to fill our bellies with food and drink."

Beatrice shivered slightly, wishing she had Bodista nearby to lend her a hug...or a kiss...

Cantrell looked at Beatrice. "Don't worry, I won't fight. I just need to blow of some anger every now and then. And thank you everyone. If this cult is what I think it is, Cobiesel and I are in danger."

OOC- The look was not for remarks to Cobiesel, but so no one says anything about the cult. Hope that cleared things up.

Beatrice nodded slowly but didn't peel her eyes away from Contrell. "Do they hurt?" she asked quietly, indicating his chains with her eyes.

Cantrell looked at the chains. He smiled at Beatrice. "No. Not know. They did when they first were out one, but I'm used to them now."

"They may be." Lorathin replied to the violently ill man. He then turned to Ixair, "Not all dragons are good, guardians or anything near peaceful, and you'll have to trust my sources, but I can assure you they are most accurate."

"Who said I was taking about Rothargot. I happened to have a reason to believe that Habdebza, one of Valtrox's pet minions, is out and about." He added as the little altercation between the two touchies and Harlin broke out.

"The cult has it in for most of us, no reason for you to worry especially."

************

Lúthien ceased her humming and turned to Beatrice, "Would you like a hug?"

Ixair raised an eyebrow at Lorathin and shrugged. "I still don't see why dragons would attack randomly all of a sudden. And why would suspect a Habdebza? How could you pull that one out of the blue?"
"As for me, I ain't adding the cult to the long list of people who want my head. They don't want it at the moment and I haven't done anything to earn it...save...kill a few cultists, but that was self-defence!"

Beatrice smiled wanly at Luthien and shook her head. "No thank you...I'm feeling...better," she whispered. But she wasn't. All this talk about the cult, dragons, demons, dethroning. It showed her how bleak the world really was. Not full of music and hugs...barely a sign of love.

She looked down a bit and frowned. A world without Bodista...

"Some beings don't need a reason for actions save that they wish to." Lorathin commented obliquely.

"Are you sure?" Lúthien asked, before deciding that it didn't matter and gave her friend a hug.

"We gotta get out of here, fast," Kalzog growled as he came to a small building outside the palace. He dashed in and looked about, searching for a possible hiding spot for the children. However, his eyes fell onto a certain childlike mage with a funny hat.

"You again," he growled to the tiny figure with the oversized hat.

"Huh?" Loki said, startled awake by the crashing noise that was the giant ogre. The frightful sight that awoken him from his dreams was quite a sight indeed and nearly caused him to scream, but at the last moment the young mage was able to hold back.

It had only been a few weeks* and there was certainly no forgetting that monstrous looking figure. On one of his recent journeys he had encountered the ogre, though his memory did not permit him to remember where and who exactly he was... or more importantly, whether he was friendly or not.

Loki leapt out of bed with all the agility and grace he could muster, which next to any ordinary person was that of a simple baby. "Wha-at do... y-you want?" he managed to stutter as he raised his hands protectively.

*A certain characteristic of his homeland - the timeline is slowed.

"Ixair, I may be a bit late with this, but who is Habdebza? Who is Rothagort? Are they members of the cult? And who is Rimoru, and why do you dislike her? Forgive me, I have been away for the past few years." Cantrell asked Ixair.

A young female skizzarish slowly walked up to the man and his mount and bowed. "Greetings, to glorious Illuminata, the bane of the invaders and the last hope for our people. I am Templar General Ikara. And who may you be, holy warrior?"

It had been a long journey, far across the lands, and deep into unexplored territory. However, the journey had been made much easier by the help of his traveling companion and mount, Grael - the lionoid creature that carried him with ease and honor. Now, after months of travel, Sebastian had arrived in the land he knew only as The Order... a place of nobility and honor in a dark land of corruption and deceit, driven only by power and hunger for more power.

The white beast he rode began to slow down as he reached the crest of a hill and the sight of a town in the near distance appeared. A soldier, by all accounts, approached him bravely and bowed courteously - traits useful to all and known by very few. She greeted him with a pleasant tone and relaxed voice, "Greetings, to glorious Illuminata, the bane of the invaders and the last hope for our people. I am Templar General Ikara. And who may you be, holy warrior?"

Illuminata? Is this the capital of this forsaken land of holiness? Such a poor site for something so great... Sebastian lamented in thought. Somehow, she noted him as a holy warrior despite his magical cloak, which covered his entire body, head included, and allowed no sense, visual or otherwise, of his great armor or weapons beneath. "M'lady," the knight responded, "You may call me Sebastian. I have come in search of a land called the Order, for which I wish to offer my aid."

Ixair smiled slightly at Beatrice and nodded, before raising his palm. "Now now, everyone. We are all peaceful here," Ixair said sternly, before turning to Harlin.

"I appreciate your concern, old friend, but I feel that you should save your swords for a possible...encounter. I feel very uneasy with whoever could dispatch of Rimmy...If they did," Ixair whispered to Harlin.

Leaning in towards Ixair, Harlin whispered back, "I don't trust them. They fail to meet the one requirement of trust, which is that they must trust in return."

Turning back to the group as a whole, he said, "I will take the first watch tonight."

Kalzog heard a series of roars and looked behind him. "Infernal..." he grumbled as he set the children down behind him and placed his now free hands against the wall. His arms and shoulders began to glow a deep red as a chaotic energy enveloped his hands, before being released into the wall and blasting it outwards, creating another avenue of escape.

He looked back, his eyes falling on the figure named Loki. He sighed. Now I have 2 babies, one stubborn child, and a brat...what did I do to deserve this? he thought to himself. He picked them all up in his massive arms and leapt out of the makeshift escape.

"You oversized brute! She was going to call them off! She was going to take care of us!" Eva screamed as she pounded her fists on the ogre's shoulder.

"You have no idea what she is capable of. Not even I do. However, I know enough of the demon behind her to know that he isn't so easily persuaded otherwise, especially with mortals," Kalzog growled.

"Loki, right? Believe me, you don't want to know. Brat, where is the nearest exit? We need one closest to safety. Who knows what cultists have gathered around now..."

"Are you asking me? I am no brat, you infernal, big...fat...ugly...Ugh!" Eva continued to scream and pound at Kalzog.

"Tell me now or we all die!" he shouted angrily, baring his teeth, giving Eva a scare.

"K-k-keep g-going s-straight. B-b-behind Ivy...a wall....I-I-I can open it," she said quietly.

Again, the roar in the palace.

Mother...Father...I'm sorry... she thought to herself, as she let herself sob. And in the back of her mind, she felt hatred. Not only for the ogre, but for herself, for her mother, her father...


***************

"Sir Sebastion, you're looking at what's left of it," Ikara replied sadly. "And we thank you for your help, it is greatly appreciated...however..."

Ikara looked back at her people sadly. "We all know that doom approaches. To the south, the Uncivilized Alliance kills everything they see. To the North East, the Imperium conquers and brainwashes what they can."

"That leaves us with one option for which our people can run and seek refuge. Iskan. But even then we leave them to their death in the unforgiving deserts..."

"I'm sorry, Sir Sebastion. But you have come at a bad time. We are all that is left..." she said, her voice wavering. "You may die if you remain with us."

***********************************************************

"Somewhat. They are demi-gods of the cult. Two very deadly and powerful ones. Rothargot, I had the pleasure of meeting a little over fifteen years ago. Ruined my ship and killed many good men. But a strange ogre got rid of him."

"Habdebza...a madman. A creature that only lives to kill. The only demi-god of Valtrox that wasn't made by the vile god. It wouldn't be wise to cross blades with him, much less cross him. I cannot tell you much more, for I barely know the beast," Ixair replied to Cantrell.

"Rimoru...she was the Empress of Iskan for ever since I can remember. As well as everyone young and old. Her powers are godlike and her beauty..." Ixair fumbled for the right words. "I'll admit, she is the most beautiful creature I have ever laid my eyes upon. But she is vain and uncaring. She cares not for her people or for anything but herself."

Ixair smiled slowly at Harlin's comment. Trust...so hard to gain...so easy to lose... He frowned as he seemed to be looking out in the distance. "I don't think we'll need any guards...we are in a city..."

Nevermind...riots could fall in the streets...why else would people be amassed?

"Aye, nevermind. Alright, choose your times. I can watch at any time someone cannot fill in," Ixair corrected.

Beatrice frowned. "Luthien...I don't know...I feel as though I should be happy...but I am not," she whispered to the little elf.

Lúthien smiled at her friend. "It's alright to be sad at times, but no matter how dark things may get, there is always light."

Lorathin had a number of suspicions as to the fate of Rothargot, both his person and legacy as well as a number of other things. "Habdebza is indiscribably arrogent, very cunning and quite sadistic."

Beatrice smiled weakly at Luthien. "You know so many good lines, Luthien," Beatrice chuckled. Her mood was lightning, if only just a little.

Ixair raised his eyebrow at Lorathin again. "How would you know so much about him? It's almost as though you know the bugger personally," the elf chuckled.

Beatrice smiled weakly at Luthien and nodded slowly. "You know so many good lines," she chuckled quietly, her mood brightening ever so slightly.

Ixair raised an eyebrow at Lorathin again. "I'd almost think you knew him yourself..." the elf replied.

"I say what daddy said to me when I was sad." Lúthien replied, "He's a very wise man."

"I have talked with him." Lorathin commented

"Ah...the demon whisperer," Ixair chuckled. "Over some tea?"

Beatrice nodded to Luthien and looked to the floor again. "Are you excited to meet them? Rimoru and her family I mean."

"Actually over Rimoru's life." Lorathin commented as he looked over at Beatrice and Lúthien. He was starting to feel paternal toward Beatrice and to a lesser extent Ixair as well, which left him conflicted, as he felt a desire to protect Bea which meant keeping Ixair at a distance, but he also wanted 'the children' to be happy.

"Yes, Rimoru seems nice from her letters." Lúthien replied

"Oh? So, Habdebza has something over Rimmy? My, she's gotten herself real deep then..." Ixair replied. It was somewhat starting become possible that the cult would get rid of the god-empress, however, it still didn't make sense on how the demon would escape from the underworld...unless he snuck out...

Beatrice smiled. Family. That's what Rimoru had. And it seemed she was happy until then. Family...that's what Beatrice needed.

"If Rimoru loved your daddy...then why didn't she marry him instead of...whoever she is married to now?" Beatrice asked.

"No, he was trying to trick her into killing someone and suicide. I had some rather harsh word to share with him about it." Lorathin replied

"You'll have to ask daddy as I don't entirely understand him sometimes, but he's said he's not interested in getting married." She replied with a shake of the head as she didn't agree and thought he needed a wife-type to keep him in line sometimes.

"Does she talk about it often?" Ixair asked. She had never disclosed such information to the public before, much less the whole Library debacle until people finally found themselves finding out about it themselves...

Beatrice looked at Lorathin and smiled weakly. "I can't understand why he wouldn't want a wife....I wanted a husband for the longest time. I remember...but...things got in the way..."

"Would you want a mother?" Beatrice asked Luthien.

"It's one of those things that just doesn't really come up, you know." Lorathin commented with a chuckle.

"You could always ask him about it if you want." She suggested before continuing, "I had a mother, but I think I'd like a mommy." Lúthien replied slightly wistfully. The two sets of words, mother or father and daddy or mommy had quite different meanings in her vocabulary. A mother or father had a child, but a mommy or daddy raised them. Most mothers and fathers were moms and dads as well, but not all of them and not all daddies or mommies were mothers or fathers.

Ixair nodded slowly. "I suppose it wouldn't," he replied quietly with a smile. He leaned over to Lorathin and whispered, "Tell the truth. Did you sleep with Rimmy...when...you know?"

Beatrice was confused as to how Luthien responded, but shrugged in the end. She figured she should get off the subject, lest she bring Luthien to a sad mood as well. Beatrice hugged Luthien surprisingly. She felt like an older sister of some sort. Or a younger one, considering that Luthien always helped tell her what things were.

Ixair stopped and smiled. "Shall we eat now and if so, shall we go to a tavern or make our own food here?"

"In the sense you mean, no. In the literal sense, yes." Lorathin replied quite truthfully.

"I think we should make our own food. I've always found homemade food tastes better, most of the time anyway." Lúthien replied, before calling out, "Daddy, can we stop to make lunch?"
"Sure, those who want to can join us, those who don't ..." Lorathin replied as both he and Lúthien reined in thier horses.

Ixair slowly cocked his head. "You're not a eunich, are you?" he chuckled before nodding to Lorathin's offer. "Sure, I'll go, before a good nap perhaps?"

Beatrice smiled and nodded her head. "I want to come," she said happily.

"No, I'm fully functional in that department." Lorathin replied, adding slightly sarcastically at Ixair's nap commented "Up to our guide, oh wait, you are our guide."

"Good, it wouldn't be the same without you." Lúthien replied as the two got down of thier horses and Lorathin came over to help Bea down as well.

Ixair chuckled as he got off his horse. "Well, the guide allows it then. A nap for all."

Beatrice giggled quietly as she gladly accepted Lorathin's aid. "Thank you, Lorathin!"

"You're welcome Beatrice. Would you like to help me cook?" He asked as she seemed to like learning to cook and most chefs started off as assistants. In many cases the best way to learn was to do afterall.

"Yes please!" The dark elf giggled happilly, recalling their earlier cooking lesson.

Ixair laughed. "I have never seen anyone so happy to cook," the blonde-haired elf added. He loved how Beatrice would get so happy. He loved her laugh, her smile, her eyes, her-

"Glurp want food too!" shouted the formally quiet goblin from within Ixair's saddlebag as he climbed out and fell in a pile onto the floor. He brushed himself up and looked at the others. "Oooo, Dumb elf on date-Ow!"

Glurp yelped as his foot was stepped on.

"Oops, sorry," Ixair smiled mischieviously.

"Alright then." Lorathin replied, "What would people like, and don't expect overly extravagent."

"I somehow thing that last statement was meant for me," Ixair chuckled. "But no need to worry. Growing up with pirates and rebels had gotten me to eat rather plain things. Just get me something lite. No meat, preferrably no egg. I do enjoy vegetables, however."

"Vegetables?" Beatrice asked, cocking her head slightly.

"Aye, broccoli, celery, green beans, peas, corn, all of them," Ixair smiled. "Beatrice, I love your curiousity."

Beatrice blushed again and hid behind Lorathin. "T-T-thank...you?" she said uncertainly. What Ixair couldn't see, behind Lorathin, she smiled brightly as her cheeks glowed a dark purple.

"I see someone has a guilty consience." Lorathin commented with a bit of a smirk directed at Ixair. "Does anyone have objection to soup?"

Ixair chuckled quietly. "I don't know what you mean."

Beatrice leaned in towards Luthien and asked in a hushed voice, "What's a guilty conscience?"

"Glurp want bug soup!" the goblin announced in a loud fashion.

"Of course you don't." Lorathin replied with a grin.

"It's something people have that makes them sorry they did something bad, like stealing. Daddy says only good people have them while only bad people need them." Lúthien replied

"Bug soup?" Lorathin asked as he looked over at the goblin, "Do you happen to have a bag of bugs tucked away on you?"

Beatrice nodded and continued to smile. "You and Lorathin both have one, right?" she asked as she continued to peek out at Ixair and Glurp. Do I have one? Am I a good person?

"Ugly human wait. Glurp find some bugs," the goblin replied as he reached into his shirt.

"Lorathin, you don't want to ask," Ixair replied as he stepped on Glurp's foot again.

"Dumb elf! Elf girls and ugly man want bug soup! Glurp give them bug soup!" the gobling screeched as he bounced around on one foot.

Mienna was woken when the horses stopped, she had been sleeping on Horatio's horse, which had followed the others. At the mention of food she cawed and leapt to the floor, waiting to see what they would make. Since they had seemingly decided to have soup, she flew off in search of a mouse or some other innocent little vermin to eat.

The hunt was on...

The dogs barked as the hunt for the murderer began. Mage detectives as well as non-magical detectives followed on horses, soldiers riding behind, searching for the suspect of the factory massacre.

And they believe they've found a lead.

The dogs barked as they chased the scent of this particular murderer out of the town and into the nearby woods.

"The woods? I'd have expected them to remain in town...some house or something..."

"They may be headin' for the water!"

"Hurry! Keep your weapons at the ready, men!" an officer shouted as they entered the woods on foot, leaving their horses at the edge of the forest.

"Yes, and so do you." Lúthien replied

"If your extravagent goblin companion wants bug soup, then I'll try my hand at making it for him." Lorathin commented, "But I do not want it nor, I would imagine either Beatrice or Lúthien would have any interest in it."

Horatio has dozed off near the river and awoke to hear what sounded like a fair few people trying to move through the forest nearby, he heard them refer to the 'murderer' and to 'keep your weapons ready'. He scrambled up, grabbed his things and looked around, he couldn't cross the river quick enough before they would notice, so instead he turned and ran directly into the forest.

He had the advantage, he could move through the forest with ease, the natural elements moving for him, whereas they should be having difficulty.

He began to make his way closer to the origin of the noises, but he heard several barks and growls, the dogs had smelt him and he heard a shout of "This way!". The noises began to approach him.

Horatio was tempted to run, but a stronger desire began to burn within him, the desire to kill, these people had entered the forest, his forest, and now they were coming to kill him. He looked around him for something he could use to distract them. He was surrounded by the lowest denizens of nature, the most overlooked, the insects.

He smiled as the perfect spell came to mind, he closed his eyes and focused, several spiders began to grow, rapidly expanding to roughly the height of a cow. Their strenght and toughness increased in proportion, but well armed guards should not find them too much trouble if they didn't get scared or cought off guard. And that was exactly what Horatio wanted to happen. The spiders climbed up several trees and began to fashion dangling webs which they could lower like a net onto the guards as they passed, or single vine line strands strands which they could lower into the path of the guards and would stick to them, then the spider would pull them up to their death.

Horatio turned away looking for a vantage point to watch from, he saw a tree and rapidly ascended to a branch, using his new clawlike hands to claw his way up. Eager to watch the effects of his spell and ready to join in the combat himself. But before it began he etched some markings onto the tree next to him, a backup, just in case they were better armed than he expected.

Cantrell watched Glurp hobble around. He smirked. "So Ixair, how did you get paired up with bug boy here?" Cobiesel had come back. "So, I hear we're making soup. Sounds great."

The hunting party slowly crept along, observant as can be, occasionally taking a glance upwards. The dogs sniffed and circled around a river, barking ferverously.

Several of the guards in the back looked to the floor and frowned as they searched for footprints, only to find themselves being pulled upwards in a net.

"Help!" Five guards in total called out as they were being hoisted by a large silky net.

"What's going on?" the officer growled as he ran under them and noticed giant spiders. "By Rimmy, what abominations are those?"

He pointed his gun at a spider and fired, the remaining guards doing the same, desperately trying to save their comrades.

****************

Beatrice smiled and nodded in acceptance. "I want to be a good person," she replied as she began to wonder about all the good things she can do.

"Glurp, you...uglier human! Glurp the Great!" Glurp snapped at Cantrell.

"Long story, short...kinda ran into each other," Ixair chuckled, as he didn't wish to recall the whole tale. Not yet atleast.

"I know you will." She replied returning the smile.

"So does anyone else have dietary restrictions?" Lorathin asked

Beatrice looked at Lorathin and scrunched up her face. The dark elf couldn't remember what foods she liked or didn't like. But, that's what trying is for...

"Nope," she said happily, recieving a smile from Ixair.

"Then let's get started on the soup. Glurp, do you have the bugs for your soup?" Lorathin asked

Glurp smiled as he raised a fistful of cockroaches. "Big tasty ones... Glurp found them in tavern, in front of lady room," he smiled, picking one up and tossing it in his mouth, chewing with a loud crunch.

Ixair winced slightly. "You're going to make both soups in two far away places, right?" he asked.

Beatrice smiled and bent down to Luthien again. "Are bugs tasty?" she asked quietly.

"Yes I will." Lorathin replied, "You won't have to worry about bug bits in your soup."

"I'm not sure, I guess if they were properly seasoned and cooked they might be alright." She replied

"So can you put them in a bag Glurp?" He asked the goblin before turning to Ixair, "Can you get a couple fires going, medium sized?"

"Well...Alright then," Ixair laughed as he walked to the nearby park and began to gather branches.

Glurp frowned as he wondered where he could get a bag. He walked up to the taller Luthien and smiled. "Can you hold these?" he asked as he began pushing the cockroaches towards the elves.

Beatrice took a step back. "Uhh..." she whispered, not quite sure if she liked the idea of little bugs crawling all over her...

Soon enough, Ixair had two fires crackling, about ten feet apart, within a clearing about twenty feet wide, surrounded by a few large oak trees. "What a nice, cozy spot..." he said.

"I don't like touching bugs." Lúthien replied, but she pulled out a small cloth bag, "You can put them in here."

As Ixair started the fire, Lorathin began taking out or in some cases creating, various vegatables and grains for the soup as well as most of the other tools. "Beatrice, could you fill these with water, you help as well Lúthien."

Glurp smiled as he shoved his hands in the bag, picking up the stragglers and popping them in his mouth with a loud crunch.

"Mmmm...Glurp find good bugs..." the gobling laughed.

Beatrice smiled and nodded. "Of coursed, Lorathin," she replied as she took hold of the pots and stumbled about, towards a nearby lake.

Lúthien also took a few pots and walked with Bea to fetch some water for the soup.

Beatrice smiled as she knelt down next to the lake and looked around. Her eyes gleamed as she looked around her, watching kids play in the cool waters and women wash clothing, or men fishing.

"This is a pretty place," she said quietly.

"It is." Lúthien agreed as she began filling up the pots.

Beatrice smiled as she finished up filling the pots and put her hand into the cool water. She looked over at Luthien and splashed some on her with a giggle.

Lúthien smiled and replied, "After lunch, we can get Ixair and daddy, so let's save it for them."

Beatrice laughed and nodded. She couldn't wait. "Alright," she replied as she hefted the heavy pots and began making her slow trek back.

"Do you know how to swim?" she asked, stealing a glance back at the lake.

"Only a little bit, more drown-proofing than actual swimming." Lúthien replied as she likewise carried the heavy pots for the food.

Beatrice giggled. "I don't remember trying...but I would like to sometime," she said dreamily as they closed in with the guys.

Ixair glanced at the two girls as he lay in the grass. "About time someone got to work around here," he chuckled, stretching his arms.

Mienna had feasted on a smaller bird which she had brought down and then washed the blood off of herself in the lake, watching the others take the water back, then flew over to the group and perched on a low branch nearby.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Horatio watched as the spiders began their attack, but was dismayed when he saw the guards begin to shoot rifles at the spiders, in the trees they would have some cover, but it wouldn't take long for them to be killed.

He let off a loud hiss and the spiders began to skitter through the treetops, swinging the dangling guards like maces into their comrades, the webs should stick the trapped guards and some of the others together, hopefully taking them out of the fight until they were freed or managed to pull themselves out.

Two of the spiders were hit, one only mildly and the other took several and died almost instantly. Large drops of blood dripped down onto the guards below, followed by the dead spiders corpse falling with a squelch next to them, the guards in the sack the spider had been carrying were left in a rather sticky pile on the floor nearby.

Horatio considered joining in the fight, but decided to try and confuse them even more. He looked at the dogs and speaking in the language of nature said "I am a druid, friend of the forest and of animals, your 'masters' wish to harm us all, will you stand for this travesty? Or will you join me and fight against these scum? Remember your roots, you are not meant to be trapped and used as pets or attack dogs, you are predators, show your true nature." It should at least confuse the dogs, maybe turn them on their owners, it would depend how well trained they were and how much they liked the owner. The guards would have heard his speech, though not understood it, and may have been able to realise where he was.

"Uglier human?" Cantrell said, raising his one eyebrow. "Well, look who's talking, little goblin." Cantrell thought of doing something, but resisted the urge.

"We were waiting for water, it's usually difficult to have soup without it." Lorathin commented dryly.

The guards screamed as their comrades were beaten by the net of guards, before it fell to the floor in a rather sticky pile. They began to saw their way out, using their knives, hoping the spiders don't do anything else.

"They're retreating!"

"I doubt the spiders could massacre a whole factory though..." the officer growled as he continued to search the area.

The dogs started to whine and circle about in confusion as a strange voice spoke to them. The guards looked around them as well, trying to pinpoint where the voice was coming from.

Suddenly, a dog barked as it fell atop one of the guards and began biting him. The most of the other dogs followed suit, taking their own targets.

"What the?"

"Kill them!" the officer shouted as he fired his pistol in the closest one and used his sword to take out the next.

***********************************

"Glurp no human! Glurp is edimitipy of handsomenessness," the goblin growled as he popped another cockroach in his mouth from inside the bag.

"Epitimy of handsomeness, Glurp," Ixair chuckled, before turning to Lorathin. "Actually, I meant it's about time when the girls did some work. I've been working all after noon, trying to prepare for the soup," he said with a wink as he turned himself on the soft ground, laying on his side.

"You've been lazing around since you made the fires." Lorathin commented

"Oh, I've been working the hardest!" Ixair yawned, before breaking into a smile.

Beatrice smiled and looked towards Luthien. "He is not working, is he?" she giggled quietly as she brought the pots to Lorathin.

"What should we do with these, Lorathin?"

Horatio watched as the guards killed their own pets, anger coursed through him. The animals were defenceless from the guns that the guards had. He leapt down from the tree behind the guards and planted his scythe in one, and with a wave of his hand turned another into a frog. "I believe you're looking for me."

"Can you put those over there." He replied pointing to a spot. "After you're done, we can commence your lesson."

The guards turned their attention from the dogs, most of them having been killed already, as they spun around to face the druid.

"Are you the one that massacred the poor souls in the factory? If so, you are. And you're penalty is death. Kill him!" the officer growled as he reloaded his pistol.

Several men fired their weapons at the druid, as mages readied their spells.

"Told ya he was a druid!" One of the investigators growled to his partner.

"I hate druids!"

******************************

Beatrice nodded and set them down to the indicated spot, before walking hurredly next to Lorathin and looking at him with large, round eyes, excited for the lesson.

Horatio laughed, and threw himself sideways, out of the ways of several bullets, he rolled and leapt upwards, diving directly towards the guards he swung his scythe in a wide arc, trying to hit one or at least scare them and hoping to get the others to stop shooting in fear of friendly fire.

As some ingredients had needed cutting, Lorathin had pre-cut them as he remembered Beatrice's aversion to knives. He then began explaining the proper proportions and cooking times as well as seasonings. As he explained, he also did. "Feel free to stop me if you have any questions." He commented

Meanwhile Lúthien was making the bug soup, substituting vegetables for bugs.

One of the men who were unfortunate enough to be cursed with a slow reaction speed screamed before he was beheaded by the druid.

"Monster!" the closest guards screamed as he shot at the druid with his pistol, before even throwing it back at the man and pulling out a scimitar. Many of the guards did the same and waited for the man to make a move.

One of the mages had his spell ready and shot a bolt of lightning at the druid.

"He's gone rabid, like the animals he cares for!" growled the officer as he reloaded his rifle.

************************

Beatrice nodded slowly as Lorathin explained to her how to cook the soup. Her wide eyes continued to follow Lorathin's hands, but in her expression, one may be able to tell that she was getting a bit confused over all the times and measurements.

Ixair laughed from behind the dark elf, giving her a jump and a slight scramble towards Lorathin.

"I'm sorry, Beatrice. It's just...All these directions and numbers? Just test and find out what is best for you," Ixair said lazily with a smile as he looked into the pot of soup. "Afterall, someone with little taste for spices may not wish to have the recommended amount. I say, create to your taste."

Beatrice smiled and looked at Lorathin. It certainly seemed an easier way. The elf also said it would taste better.

There weren't as many numbers as Ixair implied, but he was rightish. "You've got a point there. My own initial culinary attempts consisted of the 'throw everything in the pot and pray' method. If you'd like, you can try to make some soup yourself in another pot." Lorathin suggested to Bea.

Ixair wore a look of shock as he stared at Lorathin. "You surprise me, Lorathin!" he chuckled. "I don't think I've ever heard you agree with someone on something...especially me!" He laughed again.

"Alright...only if you will watch me. To make sure I am making it right?" Beatrice asked as she backed away from the two guys.

Ixair laughed again, but didn't say anything, other than the, "Time to make another fire!"
***

Glurp had slowly inched his way to Luthien and peered over a pot of water at the girl, his long nose hanging over the pot. "Need more bugs?" he asked as his eyes went from the soup to the girl. "They still crunchy right? Has small elf girl ever eaten fly soup? Has small elf girl ever eaten grasshopper juice?" The goblin asked a question a second as he slowly inched towards the pot and Luthien.

Horatio hadn't expected the pistol blast and it cought him in the shoulder, he recoiled from the blow and then saw a mage casting, just in time he cast a shell of resistance on himself that would reduce the impact. Though the blast sent him back and smoke smoke rose slightly from his charred clothes and leather armor. But he hefted the scythe and charged again. This time at the captain who had insulted him.

"Rabid?" He sneered, "You couldn't be more wrong." His wings whipped out from behind him, lifting him from the ground slightly and lending him more speed, his scythe began to glow with fire.

"I didn't agree, I conceeded you had a point." Lorathin replied, "And sure, I'll watch over and make sure you don't burn yourself or something."

***

As Glurp stuck his nose close to the pot, he got a whack from Lúthien's ladle. "No, no more bugs and they'll still be crunchy. No I haven't eaten any bug foods."

Ixair rolled his eyes and laughed. "Mmm hmm, sure. Same ol' Lorathin," he said as he walked around, gathering more branches for the next fire. He built the fire in much the same way as the others, close to Lorathin's, but not too close.

Beatrice picked up a pot of water for herself, giggling at Glurp and Luthien before bringing it to the fire Ixair had made for her. She glanced at Ixair who had resumed a sitting position nearby, watching her closely. She smiled a bit as he waved, immediately lowering her nervousness around him.

Beatrice stared at the pot of boiling water and stole glances at both Lorathin and Ixair.

"I think you need ingredients, Beatrice," Ixair chuckled as he stood up, taking it upon himself to help the poor girl.

"Oh yeah," Beatrice replied as she walked hurridly towards Lorathin. "I need ingredients, Lorathin."

****

Glurp yelped and rubbed his nose, glaring at Luthien. "Mean elf! Dumb elf no hit Glurp like mean elf! Glurp only being nice and asking mean elf questions, and mean elf just beats up Glurp...Poor Glurp! Mean elf broke Glurp's nose!"

Horatio hadn't expected the pistol blast and it cought him in the shoulder, he recoiled from the blow and then saw a mage casting, just in time he cast a shell of resistance on himself that would reduce the impact. Though the blast sent him back and smoke smoke rose slightly from his charred clothes and leather armor. But he hefted the scythe and charged again. This time at the captain who had insulted him.

"Rabid?" He sneered, "You couldn't be more wrong." His wings whipped out from behind him, lifting him from the ground slightly and lending him more speed, his scythe began to glow with fire.



"He is no druid! He's a demon! Kill him!" The captain screamed as he pulled out his sword, several more bullets flying, despite the knowledge that a bad shot could result in a guard's casualty. And, of course, several did.

"Pull out your swords men!" the second in command barked as he ran after the druid, swiping as he did so. "Why couldn't your kind die in the Gate War!"

"I was not in your 'Gate War', but i will have to make up for that by killing you now!" Was Horatio's reply as he brought his scythe round towards the captain, compared to it sword looked somewhat insignificant. He heard several shots and felt something hit his leg, if he had been running he would have stumbled, but he wasn't currently on the ground. Another shot pierced his wing and he gritted his teeth, adding more power to the swing.

He was vaguely aware of another guard attacking him from behind and tried to kick backwards with his uninjured leg. His tail swishing out of the way of the mans swinging sword.

The captain's scream was cut short as he was beheaded by the beast, recieving a good amount of gasps from the surrounding guards.

"Foul beast! Die already!" the officer from behind shouted as he thrust his sword at Horatio's backside, however, his blow was kicked off target by the demon's back leg, sending his thrust into a nearby tree. The officer cursed as he attempted to pull it out.

Several other guards ran around the demon, thrusting their sword out at it.

Horatio whipped round, using the scythes handle to block as many of the blades as he could, he was stuck on the defensive. He tried to brace himself against on the floor, but the leg that had been shot almost buckled when pressure was put on it. He leapt with hid good foot and flapped his wings to lift himself high enough to pass over the guards so he wasnt surrounded.

He landed, roared and threw the scythe at the guards before charging them, slashing and grabbing with his claws, trying to tear out throats or generally cause lots of pain, under the influence of some form of beastial rage.

The guards were getting ripped apart by the beast. Although they stabbed at him with their swords, it seemed it had no effect.

"He's gone berserk! Mages! Kill him or stun him!" the officer shouted as he pulled his sword out of the tree and dodged out of the way of a dead guard.

"Men, get your nets! Try to restrict his movements!"

"Of course, and I've already prepared some." He replied as he'd planned on Bea cooking some soup as well.

****

"Goblins that stick thier noses in the soup get them whacked." Lúthien replied, "And your nose isn't broken, only sore."

Horatio paused, having hacked through the nearest guards and glanced around, there were still a fair number of guards and the number of wounds he had accumulated was beggining to have its effect, he was tiring and and finding it harder to keep his balance.

At the mention of magics and nets his tail wrapped around his scythe and whipped it up into his hands and he turned and started to try running away, more limping, but he mutted some words and a wall of throns began to grow, thick and dense enough to cause an obstuction and should harm those who tried to pass through unless they were well armed. He hoped it would buy him enough time to hide somewhere.

Beatrice smiled as she recieved the ingredients and walked back to her place, to find Ixair carefully examining the boiling water.

"What are you doing?" Beatrice asked uncertainly as she walked to the opposite side of the pot.

"Making sure everything is set right," the other elf replied, backing away.

Beatrice watched him, smile on her face, before she began reciting what instructions Lorathin had told her, making sure she had all the ingredients. "If you were making sure everything is right..." Beatrice asked suddenly, her eyes slowly meeting Ixair's before falling to the ground. "You weren't following your directions."

Ixair smiled and nodded. "Correct to an extent, Beatrice. You need the proper temperature and boil to make the soup...Well, alright, you are correct, but trust me, the soup will be better this way," the elf replied, slightly surprised that Beatrice caught it.

The dark elf only giggled and brushed hair behind her long ears before dropping a few of the ingredients in.

"Wait, wait, wait," Ixair called, hurredly walking around the pot to where Beatrice stood uncertainly. "Make sure it's what you want! You may not like carrots!"

Beatrice gave Ixair a wide-eyed look of uncertainty.

"Here," the elf prince chuckled as he pulled a slice of carrot from her hands and brought it to her lips. "Eat it and tell me if you like it."

Beatrice stared at Ixair, before opening her mouth slowly and putting her mouth around it. She chewed slowly and smiled. "I like it!" she giggled as she proceeded to put the carrot slices into the pot.

Ixair smiled and nodded as she tried all the vegetables and poured the ones she liked into the soup.


*******

"Mean elf! Picking on poor Glurp for being smaller than her! If Glurp were big ogre, mean elf wouldn't be so mean!" Glurp continued before taking his hands off his nose.

"Looky, Mean elf! Glurp's nose is not straight! Glurp has ugly curve!" he yelped. It was still the same, minus a little darker green mark that was slowly going away. "Mean elf see it? Mean elf see it? Huh? Huh? Glurp got ruined nose!"

At the mention of magics and nets his tail wrapped around his scythe and whipped it up into his hands and he turned and started to try running away, more limping, but he mutted some words and a wall of throns began to grow, thick and dense enough to cause an obstuction and should harm those who tried to pass through unless they were well armed. He hoped it would buy him enough time to hide somewhere.

The guards gave chase, but were shocked as a torn wall grew in front of them, catching a few guards itself.

The officer began to hack at it with his sword, many of the other guards doing the same.

"Halt, in the name of Rimoru! You are under arrest and must face the charges!" he shouted over the dense plants. "Mages, prepare to burn it down!"

"Did ya hear that? We'll burn this whole forest down, ya mangey mutt of a demon!" the officer screamed. They wouldn't, of course. Not without the Mayor's consent of course, and considering the forest was in the middle of the desert, he would probably have the guards' head if they did.

Lorathin smiled as he watched Ixair and Beatrice.

*******

"I'd whack you if you were an ogre sticking his nose in the soup as well." Lúthien commented, "Daddy could always make you bigger if you have such a napolean complex. And your nose is not ruined."

"If you try and burn down the forest, you will burn yourselves, and the forest may have some surpises left for you." He called back as he lent against a tree, examining the wound in his leg, The bullet had gone straight through, he placed he focused and the skin and muscle began to grow back together it was an exhausting process consdering how tired he already was, but he had to be able to walk.

He then turned and clawed his way up the tree, considering his posibilities, if they did set fire to the forest he had some ways to deal with that, but he would leave himself almost completely drained. The other option would be to active the runes he had scratched into the tree earlier to bring it to like in the hopes that it finish off those people, but that too would leave him drained and if they did start a fire he wouldn't be able to do much about it. Currently he just planned to wait them out.

Beatrice began to put in the spices, before stopping herself and bringing pepper to her mouth.

"No! Beatrice!" Ixair called as he tried to stop her, but it was too late.

Beatrice got a faceful of pepper and began to sneeze violently, making her stumble a bit backwards. Ixair couldn't help but laugh as she stumbled about sneezing and rubbing her nose.

The elf prince, however, did step behind her right as she tripped over a tree root as she walked backwards, landing within Ixair's arms.

Beatrice sneezed once more and opened her slightly watered eyes and looked up at Ixair's blue ones.

Ixair could feel his heart quicken, beads of sweat form on his forehead as he held onto her smooth, soft bare sides, her muscular stomach.

Then he saw terrible fear within her eyes as she began to quiver. Ixair immediately brought her back to her feet. The dark elf immidiately crossed her arms around her waist and looked to the floor.

"I'm sorry," Ixair replied taking a step closer to Beatrice, who, in turn, took a step backwards.

"Alright. I won't bother you," he whispered, his pale cheeks turning a rose color.

***************

"Make Glurp...bigger? So Glurp can stomp all over? And Glurp can stomp on dumb elf prince who always stomps on Glurp's foot? And Glurp can be ruler of world because Glurp so big?" the goblin asked as his eyes widened to an unnatural level. As Luthien's attention seemed to be on the goblin, he snuck a few worms into the soup.

"If you try and burn down the forest, you will burn yourselves, and the forest may have some surpises left for you." He called back as he lent against a tree, examining the wound in his leg, The bullet had gone straight through, he placed he focused and the skin and muscle began to grow back together it was an exhausting process consdering how tired he already was, but he had to be able to walk.

The guards continued to hack at the thorn wall, before they finally made a small path for themselves and slowly filed in, one by one, to the other side.

"Sir, the remaining dogs are no help. They won't find the druid anymore," one of the guards said to the new captain.

"Then kill them. Maybe it'll bring this madman down to face his execution," the captain replied as he searched around.

The mages looked about but couldn't find the man either. One of them conjured a large eye which began to scout around, searching the trees as the guards searched the floor.

"Are you alright Beatrice?" Lorathin asked as she seemed a tad distraught.

***************

"If you wanted to fight with Ixair, you could I guess." Lúthien replied, "But I don't think you'd have much chance of world domination, maybe able to take over a goblin tribe that that'd probably be the limit."

As he tried to sneak in worms, the ladle smacked down on his wrist. "No messing with my cooking without permission."

Beatrice looked over at Lorathin and shook her head. She felt slightly confused and felt a bit sick. Last time someone held her by the waist, it was because of rape.

"I promise I didn't do anything," Ixair whispered to Lorathin.

**********

"Glurp real big, Glurp squish castles with foot-OW!" the goblin squeeled. "Give Glurp soup thingy!"

The goblin wrapped his hands around the ladle and pulled.


ooc: brb, dinner lol

"Would you like a break from cooking?" He asked Bea.

"Then apologise." Lorathin replied to Ixair's whisper, a hint of thundercloud about him.

**********

"You wouldn't be that big, average ogre size maybe, but not big enought to step on castles." Lúthien replied as Glurp grabbed onto the ladle. As he pulled, she let go so he'd go flying and it'd vanish in about five seconds anyways as his soup was almost ready and just needed to be cooled.

Cantrell had strayed a few meters away from the group. He decided to practice. He summoned his sparing partner, a skeleton that always wielded a random weapon. This time it had two axes. The two clashed. The skeleton wirled around swing his axes. Cantrell ducked, barely dodgeing. He slammed his chain into the warrior. It stuck into it's rib cage, and Cantrell pulled, almost pulling it apart. However, the skeleton came foward, and hit Cantrell in the arm with an axe. Cantrell spun him around, slamming it to the ground. Then he held up his hand, and the skeleton was encased in a small, translucent box of energy. It was then crushed to dust from the pressures within the box. Cantrell smiled and sat down to recoperate. He rested a bit, then went to the group. "Soup done?"

"I did already!" Ixair hissed as he looked at Beatrice who was slowly lowering herself to the ground. Ixair sighed and walked up to Beatrice, who slowly looked up at him, making sure he was a good distance away. "I'm sorry, Beatrice. I really am..." he said quietly.

Beatrice stared at him, then looked behind at Lorathin, before returning her eyes to Ixair. "It-it's...alright..."

The dark elf once again looked at Lorathin and nodded. "Yes please," she said in a hushed reply. Sounds of a fight reached Beatrice's sensitive ears and she immediately began to shiver even more. She looked up at Ixair as if asking for protection, and gave the same look to Lorathin.

**********

Glurp stumbled backwards into a series of bushes and fell into a small hole. "Mean mean, grumpy rude, little elf! Poor Glurp, just giving hints but no, mean little elf just beat up Glurp..." the goblin grumbled as he lifted his hand with the ladle, only to have it slowly fade from existance.

"No!! Bad soup thingy! Bad mean girl! Fooling poor Glurp! Why Glurp have to put up with this?" he sad rather sadly.

Lorathin nodded and incanted a spell to put her soup to be in stasis. When she gave the look that seemed to say 'Protect me', he nodded.

"The soup is not yet done, and I must insist you do not practice so near to the rest of us." He said to Cantrell.

**********

"Too many cooks spoil the soup, and you Glurp, are one more than necessary." Lúthien replied to the goblin's whining. "It is not polite to try and take things from other, or to insult those who are doing nice things to you. If you'd like to continue complaining thought, I can make you even smaller."

Ixair looked at Cantrell and shook his head with a small smile on his face, before sitting down in front of Beatrice. "Don't worry, Beatrice. Everything will be fine. He's a nice guy, remember?"

Beatrice nodded slowly as her shaking began to slow down. She slowly looked up at Lorathin and back at Ixair. "Come sit with me, please?" she asked Lorathin.

Ixair raised an eyebrow, but otherwise said nothing.

**********

"Glurp only trying to help mean elf! Dumb elf helped purple skinned elf, so Glurp come to help mean elf without knowing mean elf would be so mean to poor Glurp. And why Glurp want to be smaller? Glurp no want to be smaller!" the goblin growled as he tried to push himself out of the hole he was lodged in.

"And mean elf no know how to cook bug soup! Mean elf just being mean to poor Glurp!"

Lorathin nodded and took a seat beside Beatrice.

**********

"First of all, call people by names, or I'll start calling you little pest." Lúthien commented as Glurp was being very irritating. She wondered how Ixair could stand him. "Try the soup and see if it's to your liking them."

"Glurp no know mean elf name and Glurp probably can't pronounce it. Dumb elf's name is wierd for Glurp. Glurp only know dumb elf's name," the goblin said. He held out his scaley hand to Luthien. "Glurp can't try unless Glurp get unstuck!"

***********

Beatrice, you have to face your fears someday. And to face your fears, you must encounter it, right before your very eyes, Bodista's deep voice said soothingly.

But...but...I don't want to...what if I die? cried the little Beatrice.

You won't die! You only need to introduce yourself to the new Avian child. I will assure it that he won't hurt you!
***********

Beatrice looked at Ixair, then at Lorathin and sighed. "I'm sorry...I...it's just...no one has every touched me before...I mean...touched me kindly. Bodista was the only one...after that..." tears slid down her face, before she wiped them away gently.

"But Bodista always told me to face my fears. I want you two...to...touch me..." she said quietly.

Ixair raised his eyebrows at the strange request. "You want us to...touch you?"

Beatrice nodded slowly. "My arms, please."

"Well...Alright..." Ixair replied. He'd have no problem with it...

"Then please call him by his name. If you can't pronounce Lúthien, then call me little elf." Lúthien replied as she reached over to help the irritating little goblin.

************

Lorathin mentally smiled as she wasn't quite right, as he'd touched her when he helped her onto and off the horse and earlier when he carried her to his temporary abode.

"As you wish." Lorathin replied as he lightly touched her on the arm.

Glurp tried to pronounce Luthien's name, but each time he said it, it would come out as "Lutheen."

"Glurp thanks mean-Glurp means Lutheen," Glurp replied as he looked up at the tall elf. "How old is Lutheen?" he asked as he dusted himself off and began to walk towards the bug soup.

***********

Beatrice closed her eyes tightly as Lorathin and Ixair gently touched her on an arm, one for each, and slowly opened her eyes.

"We aren't that bad," Ixair smiled as he sat next to Beatrice. Her light purple eyes looked into his again, breifly locking before they fell to the ground.

"No you aren't," she replied quietly, however she did have a smile on her face.

"You are welcome to touch me, if you wish. It may help. I'm pretty sure Lorathin would not mind."

"In terms of years, I'm twenty." She replied to the goblin as she smiled that Gurp was now making an effort with her name rather than just false descriptions.

***********

"Now this is the first time we agree." Lorathin commented, "If you think it would help, you may touch me."

"Aha!" Glurp shouted suddenly. "Glurp is older than Lutheen! And Glurp still so small...How tall Lutheen get?"

Glurp finally got to the pot of bug soup and smiled as he sniffed the air with his 'broken' nose. "Smells good, Lutheen. Maybe Lutheen know how to make bug soup...maybe Lutheen actually ate bug soup before but didn't know it."

*********

Beatrice slowly looked at the two and looked at Lorathin, her hand slowly inching towards his arm, where she prodded gently and smiled.

She turned to Ixair next, who returned her smile and opened his arms up wide. Beatrice smiled as she slowly inched closer to him, her index finger extended, before she prodded him on the side.

Ixair jumped slightly and giggled, before clearing his throat. "Ticklish," he mumbled as he held his side.

Beatrice giggled and looked at Lorathin. "Are you ticklish too?"

"Probably around the same height as daddy." She replied

"As to bug soup, I know I've never had it before, nor am I interested in having it now." Lúthien commented

*********

"Yes, but not where Ixair is." Lorathin commented

Beatrice giggled and brought her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth.

"Well? I think she wants to know," Ixair laughed as he lay himself down on the grass, enjoying this moment of bonding.

*******

Glurp frowned slightly. "Lutheen too tall already. Lutheen needs to shrink herself," he chuckled. "How Glurp eat? Glurp eat from pot or Glurp find bowl?"

Cantrell wiped some sweat of his brow. "Don't worry, the skeleton won't hurt anyone, it's just a trainer, and will only target me. However, if Beatrice doesn't like it, I'll refrain from it." Cobiesel had seen him train. "What was it this time?" Cantrell smiled. "I'll tell you later."

"Do you?" He asked Bea, hoping against hope she'd say no.

*******

"Does anyone else want bug soup?" Lúthien asked the group. "If no one else wants to share, then you can eat from the pot, otherwise bowl."

"As enticing as bug soup sounds, I'll pass." Cobiesel said.

Ixair chuckled as he watched Lorathin, detecting a bit of dicomfort. "I think she does," he laughed, before looking at Luthien.

"No thank you, Luthien. I'm surprised you even made the stuff," he chuckled with a warm smile.

Beatrice looked into Lorathin's eyes and slowly lowered, but her smile got wider. She giggled a bit, before she finally spoke. "Only if you want to, Lorathin."

"Aye, Cantrell, I just don't think Beatrice likes the sight of violence," Ixair said as he looked up at the darkening sky. "Oh, come on, Ms Cobiesel. I can tell by the look in your eyes that you'd just love some bug soup!"

Beatrice nodded slowly. "I do not like it...but you must, then...you can," she said.

***************

Glurp smiled as he slowly inched towards the pot before stopping. "Lutheen should try some! Just a little bit! Please? Then Lutheen can tell others that Glurp not eat bad stuff! Pleeeeeeease? Lutheen do for Glurp?"

"Well, if it worries you, Miss Beatrice, then I will only tain at night. Please forgive me, I haven't had much time to work on my people skills or manners. Also, I'll decline the bug soup. Do we have any regular soup?"

"Spots on my feet and an area of the back of my neck." He confessed,"And yes there is regular vegetable soup for those who wish to pass on the bug soup."

***************

"The next person to say my cooking is bad stuff will be the first. But be that as it may, I'll pass, but daddy will try some." Lúthien replied

Beatrice giggled and looked at Lorathin for a few seconds before bursting out in another giggle. "You guys are funny," she said as she rocked back and forth. Beatrice decided that she may try to tickle Lorathin when he least expected it. It would be funnier that way...

Ixair smiled as Beatrice sounded as though she was enjoying herself and looked towards Luthien. "Luthy, come over here and join us. Leave Glurp to his strange tastes," he laughed.

"Aye, Cantrell, Lorathin and Beatrice were making vegetable soup for the rest of us," Ixair replied to the chained man.

Glurp, furrowed his brows and gave Ixair an angry face, but otherwise looked at Lorathin. "Hey, 'Daddy'. Lutheen says you want some. Come get some Glurp food. Then Daddy can tell others that Glurp food is best food!"

"Glurp, I'll have a bit of soup. I'm a bit hungry, so this will hold me over." Cantrell said suddenly. Cobiesel laughed. "You sure?" Cantrell shook his head. "I've been through worse."

Lúthien headed over to get some vegetable soup, smiling sweetly at Lorathin who instantly suspected something. He was confirmed when the goblin called him over to try the bug soup.

With a faint glower at his daughter, he picked up one of the bowls and headed to get a partial bowl of the bug soup. "I'll get you for this."
"Of course."

"Everyone help yourself." Lorathin commented as he filled the bowl up about halfway with the bug soup.

ooc: Will be gone in about an hour

"Glurp knows that 'Daddy' and..." he looked at 'Lutheen' before coming up with a name for Cantrell. "Chain-man, will enjoy Glurp food. Glurp knows bugs are best food ever!"

"Keep dreaming," Ixair laughed as he got up and held out a hand for Beatrice.

She looked up curiously to the tall blonde-haired elf with wide purple eyes. Then she did what Ixair had not expected...She took his hand.

Ixair couldn't help but smile as he helped Beatrice up, but he could feel her gently tugging away once she was up. He shrugged and thought Just a little at a time, I suppose, as he walked behind Luthien and got a bowl for himself and Beatrice.

"So, Luthien, what are you favorite foods anyways?" Ixair asked as he looked around for a spoon of some sort.

Cantrell took his bowl of bug soup. He tried it. "Compared to somethings I've eaten before, this is a delicacy. However, I think I'll have the vegatable soup instead. Here Glurp, take mine. By the way, it's Cantrell, not Chain man."

"Sweet foods, ham and daddy's funny foods." Lúthien replied as she took a bowl of soup and pulled a spoon from seemingly nowhere.

Lorathin looked at the bug soup, and shrugged as he knew she was a good cook. He likewise pulled out a spoon from nothing and began eating.

"Cantrell...Glurp can pronounce," The goblin said as he took Cantrell's bowl. "Glurp food real good, yes?"

The goblin immediately slurped up the juice and crunched on the few bugs that escaped with the juice.

Ixair frowned as he saw no spoons and watched Beatrice attempt the same hand movements as Luthien. She frowned slightly as she did them several times with no results.

Ixair chuckled as he walked to his horse and opened a saddlebag, one Glurp was never in, and pulled out a spoon and brought it to Beatrice.

"Thank you," she said with a smile.

"Think nothing of it," he replied.

"Funny foods? What are those?" Ixair asked as he sat down in the spot he was previously, motioning the others to come too.

"Fire jelly, ice cream*, gracelin, things like that." Lúthien replied as she and Lorathin took a seat near Ixair and Beatrice, Lorathin now with a bowl of vegetable soup as he'd finished off his bug soup, leaving the rest for Glurp.

ooc: * Not our stuff

Cantrell had finished his soup, and he laid down. He stared into the sky with his eye. He spaced out, remembering things. Remembering his friends. He could see it all. The good times. Thayil and Ament. Would he ever find them? Or would he die? Would the clan find him, and turn him into bones, like his foe? As he thought this, a single tear went down his check. Not for him, but for Cobiesel, and what might happen to her.

"Sounds exotic..." Ixair smiled.

"Would Lorathin be able to let me have some, one day?" Beatrice asked with hope. Beatrice's eyes left the other for a second, before they rested on Cantrell's tear.

"Cantrell...are...are you sad?" Beatrice asked quietly, getting up from her seat and settling down next to him.

"A bit." Cantrell siad, still staring of into space.

"You'll have to ask him, but I'm pretty sure he'll say yes." Lúthien replied as many of the really exotic foods were quite expensive, rare, and took a while to get.

"Why?" Beatrice asked Cantrell as she scooped up a vegetable and drank it with a bit of soup.

Ixair smiled at Luthien, and turned to Lorathin. He was curious as to their earlier talk. Why had Lorathin refused Rimoru? Even if he did...she would push him to it...wouldn't see?

"Luthien, what are your aspirations?" he asked, his eyes falling to his soup.

"Could you keep this secret?" Cantrell looked around. Everyone else was busy, and wouldn't hear. "He whispered to Beatrcie. "Memories. I used to travel the world with Cobiesel and two other friends. Then something bad happened. I don't want to scare you, so I won't go into details. But it seperated us, gave me my chains and eye sewings, and made Cobiesel come and save me. Now I'm afraid that what did this to me might find us. I'm not worried for me, but I fear for Cobiesel, she has not had to go through anything like I have. I could survive it, she might not be able to. Please kepp this a secret, Beatrice. I have never told anyone this."

"To be a great mage like daddy." She replied, "What are yours?"

ooc: Gone for night

Horatio had been grabbing a small rest in the tree as he watched the guards stuggle on their fruitless search, while he himself enjoyed a fruit from the tree he was sitting in.

He heard them calling to eachother and heard the yelps of the dogs as they were killed. He was tempted to attack them again, but he was too tired, he would have to think more about this. He lay back and out of the corner of his eye saw something floating past, it was the eye. He ducked round the tree and used a simple spell to create a small ball of fire floating in his hand. Not truely a magical fireball, more of a light and heat emitting orb, but it would be hot enough to set things on fire. He watched the eye and waited till he had a clear shot at it and fired.

Though now he had revealed his position he would have to act, another orb of fire appeared in his hand, the spell would spawn several such balls one after the other and launched them one at a time at the guards as he scrambled across the branches and leapt from tree to tree to make himself harder to hit. They didn't seem to want to set things on fire, but he would be able to quell these fires if they didn't take too much of a hold.

"To make the people of Iskan happy," Ixair replied with a bright smile. "Perhaps get married, have a family...a few others," His eyes seemed to take a dream-like state, before they slowly lowered to lock onto Luthien's eyes.

"Good luck, Luthy. You're already doing well in your studies, from what I've seen."

****

Beatrice listened to Cantrell's sad story and nodded slowly. "I think you are safe with us, Cantrell. Lorathin and Luthien has taken care of me like I am...like I am family. I think they wouldn't mind taking care of you either," she whispered. "I have been running too...running and searching."

She looked up at Cantrell and gave him a brief smile. "I think it will all be alright."

**************

The guards screamed and shouted as they lept out of the fire's path. Two men weren't so lucky and were lit afire. The remainder brought out their rifles again and shot at the druid-demon.

"Confound it! We have lost too many in this escapade! How can a druid do this to us?" the officer growled as he used signals for the mages to put out the men on fire.

"That sounds like a good goal." She replied with a smile.

The guards screamed and shouted as they lept out of the fire's path. Two men weren't so lucky and were lit afire. The remainder brought out their rifles again and shot at the druid-demon.

"Confound it! We have lost too many in this escapade! How can a druid do this to us?" the officer growled as he used signals for the mages to put out the men on fire.

One of the bullets hit Horatio and threw him off balance enough to make him fall from the tree branch he was in, he spread his wings and managed to slow the fall, but still landed in a heap on the ground. Groaning he stood and shook his head, trying to clear his vision. "Going so soon?" He asked as he lifted a tree branch which he had picked up by accident instead of his scythe.

Ixair returned the smile and gently ruffled Luthien's hair. "You're such a sweet girl. And a good chef from Glurp's expression," he chuckled as he glanced at Glurp who lay sleeping inside the pot, already having finished the soup.

He looked up at the setting sun and smiled as the light show of a sunset should reveal itself soon. "Luthien, has Lorathin let you see the sunset of Iskan?"

********

The guards laughed as they surrounded him, guns at the ready, while all he had was a tree branch.

"I dunno who's leavin' yet, demon, but it's time we gave ya what you've been askin' for!" one of the guards growled.

The mages stood in the background, their hands glowing brightly.

"I saw it last time we where in this part of the world." Lúthien replied

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Ixair asked as he got onto his feet and walked to the nearby oak. He sprung up slightly, letting his hands wrap around the lowest branch, where he swung slowly. "Care to join me in watching it?"

"Alright, but I think Beatrice might like watching it with you as well." Lúthien replied

Ixair nodded and smiled as he pulled himself up, where he sat, perfectly balanced, on the branch.

"Beatrice, I have a surprise for you!" Ixair called out.

Beatrice could hear the elf speaking and smiled as she looked up at the tree. "Don't worry Cantrell. I think everyone here will protect you..."

She got up and walked around a few bushes to see Ixair sitting on the lowest tree branch of the large oak tree.

Ixair's smiled immediately grew as he noticed the white-haired, purple-skinned beauty peer from the side of the bushes. He chuckled and waved her over.

Beatrice slowly walked over and looked up at Ixair. "A surprise?" she asked with her wide curious eyes.

"Aye, something that you don't know about...but this one, I think you'll love."

"Alright," she smiled as she looked at Luthien. "Can you climb trees, Luthien?"

"Normally, not one like this." Lúthien replied as she muttered a few words. A second later, she was scampering up the tree like a squirrel.

Ixair shook his head and looked at Beatrice, holding his hand out. "Do you know how to climb?"

Beatrice leapt up to the branch Ixair sat on and smiled as she swung herself up, landing with perfect balance. "I think so," she giggled as she stood up straight.

"Do you think you can beat me in a race to the top?" Ixair challenged showing her a cocky grin.

"A race?" Beatrice asked as she hung on the next branch up.

Ixair smiled devilishly as he stood up and walked up to Beatrice. "Aye, a race. A competition...to see who is faster to reach the top."

Beatrice looked up as she hung and pursed her lips. She couldn't grasp the meaning of competition, but she thought that she understood what a race was if it meant getting to the top faster than Ixair.

"Alright," she grinned happily as she began to climb. Suddenly she burst out in laughter as she felt warm fingers rapidly stroke her bare stomach. She fell to her feet on the branch below her and eventually fell crouched into a ball as she tried to protect herself from the tickling Ixair. "Stop...wait..." she giggled.

Ixair halted and pulled away with a smile. She slowly looked up at him and let out another giggle or two and continued to smile. For a moment, she thought she saw Bodista where Ixair stood, but blinked it away as she stood up. Her cheeks were a dark purple as blood rushed to them as she let out another giggle and looked up.

Ixair couldn't help but laugh. Beatrice was in so many ways, a child. "You have to wait until I say go, alright?" he chuckled as he walked closer to her, extending his arms.

Beatrice took a step back and giggled again. "Alright," she said shyly, extending her arms to the next branch again, but keeping her eyes on Ixair.

Ixair only smiled as he extended his arms upwards. "Ready? Go!" he shouted and immediately began to climb. Beatrice did so too, at a slower rate than Ixair, but still pretty fast.

Horatio swung his branch at the nearest guard, only to have it snap, he blinking in confusion wondering why his scythe had snapped before realising it wasn't his scythe. His senses were slowly reawakening and he looked round in slight bewilderment at the people around him.

Over one of the guards shoulders he saw a mages hands glowing and in the back of his mind a little voice kept saying Danger, duck, jump, do something, anything!. He shook his head and looked around again, he saw the guns in the guards hands and grabbed for one, hoping to use it to shoot at the mage, though if he did get one he would probably miss.

------------------------------

Mienna had watched their race and flew to the top of tree, cawing triumphantly.

Lúthien smiled as she scampered up as well, but not racing Ixair or Bea to the top.

Ixair laughed as he leapt up to one branch and proceeded to do so until he was close to the top. He looked down, only to see Beatrice still right behind him, only a branch lower. Ah, I'll let her win, he thought to himself with a chuckle as he rose up to grab the next branch. He failed to grab it, however, and instead fell forward. However, using his elven reflexes, he caught himself with his legs, handing upside and looking up at Beatrice and a rather...enticing view, considering the girl wore somewhat of a skirt.

He laughed as he closed his eyes, believing it improper to view when the poor girl probably had no clue.

Beatrice gasped when Ixair fell, but smiled when he laughed as he swung on the branch and slowly began to raise himself up. She did, however, take advantage and put a couple branches between them, before finally reaching the top.

"I win!" she cheered, holding her hands up high.

Ixair scampered up after and chuckled. "That you do, Beatrice, that you do. If only it weren't for these cheaters!" he laughed as he gave a look at Mienna and Luthien.

********************

"Get away!" the man growled as he pulled his gun away as several of his comrades beat at the druid with the butt of their guns.

"Time to face your fate, druid. You are a cornered animal, about to die. There is nothing you can do..." the officer growled as he had his pistol trained on the druid, his sword in his other hand.


Something, high in the trees, watched the Druid and the guards battle it out, debating whether it was the right time to show himself. He silently crept to another branch and crouched where he watched patiently, four hands gripping sword hilts...

A dulled sense of pain stabbed through him as the guards hit him and helped push away the confusion, he clenched his fist and his tail slinked towards one of the guards wrapping slowly around his leg as Horatio made peacable gestures and tried to backup, he foot tapping his scythe. He stumbled over it and then kicked it at the officer and jumping forward after it reached under his cloak drew his rapier in a slash, the forward leap should pull the guards leg who his tail had wrapped around out from under him.

"You lost fair and square." Lúthien replied, even thought she was pretty sure that Ixair had tossed the race.

The guard collapsed to the ground as the druid leapt forward. The officer yelped as he dodged the scythe, which ripped through his gun, barely missing his arms and fingers.

The other guards shot at him, while the mages let loose their magical fury. One sent another bolt of lightning at the druid, while the other fired a small star-like ball towards the druid, that, when hit, would stun whatever it hit for atleast ten seconds, usually enough to give the others time to regroup and subdue the unruly target.

****************

"Nuh-uh!" Ixair said with a giggle as he shook his head childishly at Luthien, smiling brightly as he sat on the branch.

Beatrice smiled as she sat on the other side of Luthien. "Do you have any ticklish spots, Luthien?" she asked happily.

Horatio continued after the officer, hoping to use him as a shield against the magic, he wasn't sure if it would work, but it was worth a try. Unfortunately that meant ignoring the bullets 2 of which he felt hit his back, one got cought in his armour, he felt the other bite quite deep and let out a groan. If he couldn't catch the officer he would be in serious trouble, though the lightning should still affect him through the other person anyway.

------------------------------------------

Mienna cawed in protest at being called a cheater and pecked at Ixiars hands.

"Not telling." Lúthien replied

Lorathin, who'd been listening decided to get his revenge for the bug soup and called up, "She's quite ticklish."

ooc: Grrr...blasted infernal jolt eating up my posts...TG Kitab

The officer kept walking backwards, his face full of fear as he hacked and slashed his sword in the air, trying to keep the druid away from him. "Somebody stop it!" he shouted.

The mage's lightning headed straight for Horatio, however, one of the guards rushing to save his officer, was caught within the blast instead, sending him over both the attacker and the defender.

The creature from above smiled as he watched the action unfold below. He felt that he should make his appearance soon...

***************

"What a mean, cheating, bird!" Ixair laughed as he brought his fingers away and scooted himself closer to Luthien. He looked at Luthien and smiled, ruffling her hair again, and stealing a glance at Beatrice, who smiled in return.

Ixair nodded slowly and at once, both Beatrice and Ixair brought their fingers to Luthien's side in attempt to tickle her, waiting to see if Lorathin was right.

Lúthien swatted at and dodged Ixair's tickling fingers, but wasn't agile nor endowed with sufficiant hands to keep Beatrice as bay as she began getting tickled and giggling.

Horatio had been knocked down by the flying guard and struggled to push himself back up, his muscles aching. As he stood he sheathed his rapier and hefted his scythe again, half stumbling, half charging towards the nearest mage, hoping to hang on long enough to deal with these last few.

---------------------------------------------------

Mienna cawed in indignation at these blatant lies and watched with curiosity as the others seemingly attacked eachother, she gave a curious caw.

OOC: are animals ticklish? its never occured to me before.

ooc: Going back to college...will be back online within 2 hours methinks

Ixair chuckled as Beatrice had at Luthien, the two girls giggling and laughing away blissfully.

Beatrice was soon exhausted from all the laughing and wrapped her arms around Luthien. "Luthien, you are like family to me. You and Lorathin," she said happily, but a hint of sadness was in her voice. She could not remember her true mother and father. She remember Bodista as her only other family member.

"I can't thank you enough."

Ixair smiled weakly at the two and watched the sun set, his mind bringing up images he connected with the setting sun. The one he loved most.

Horatio had been knocked down by the flying guard and struggled to push himself back up, his muscles aching. As he stood he sheathed his rapier and hefted his scythe again, half stumbling, half charging towards the nearest mage, hoping to hang on long enough to deal with these last few.

---------------------------------------------------

Mienna cawed in indignation at these blatant lies and watched with curiosity as the others seemingly attacked eachother, she gave a curious caw.

OOC: are animals ticklish? its never occured to me before.


ooc: I think they are. Or atleast dogs lol. Dunno about birds...I think they are too, but they just hop away or shake their heads or something like that, maybe a sneeze lol.

The mage walked backwards, a sneer on his face as he noticed how tired the druid seemed. "We got this beast...we otta put him in the zoo along with his animal friends," he growled as he readied another spell.

Suddenly he looked down at a long sword protruding from his chest. He let out a silent scream as air escaped his lungs. The mage slumped to the ground as the attacker was no where to be seen.

"What trickery is this!?" shouted the officer as he got up, only to lose his head, much the same way as the previous captain did.

That's when the attacker showed himself. A tall four armed creature that walked on two spindly legs. In each arm was a long sword that glowed in what little light surrounded the group. It's face was hidden beneath a cloak, yet two red eyes peered through the darkness.

Again, the beast disappeared and soon stabbed at the guards, one at a time, as they fearfully shot in random areas, and attacked the air.

When all the guards were dead, the creature walked back in the light and looked at Horatio.

"Greetings, master druid...My master has been wanting to see you..." he wheezed in a deep, raspy voice.

Horatio looked about in surprise as the guards started to die and dodged the random fire. As the being materialised Horatio almost collapsed, he put his weight against the scythe. "My thanks, to you... and your master. I will accompany you." He rasped, exhausted and took two steps towards the creature before collapsing on the ground.

"You're like a sister to me." Lúthien replied, "But you should thank daddy as without him I'd have never met you."

She then looked over at Ixair and gave Beatrice a mischevious grin. "Shall we?"

The ogre's roar made Teralynn turn her head in the direction of the beast. When the piece of the palace came speeding at her, she had no time to move out of the way. Instinctively, she summoned the powers that Valtrox had given her and created around herself a heat so intense that the parts of the debris that would have collided into her instantly vaporized instead, leaving a Teralynn-shaped hole in the piece before it smashed into the wall behind and shattered.

Teralynn dropped to her knees, using one arm to keep herself from completely collapsing on the ground as she breathed heavily. Everything around the edges of her vision began to darken, and all she could hear was the loud beating of her own heart. She could barely tell what was happening around her, as if they were all distant events that she saw from atop a tall mountain peak.

By the time she recovered, the children and the ogre were nowhere to be seen, and Habdebza's feet were clopping toward her as he gave her new orders. Slowly rising to her feet, uncertain as to whether her legs would even support her weight or not at the moment, she only made a grunting noise before unsteadily moving in the most likely direction of the ogre's escape route - outside.

Her legs felt weak, and she wanted nothing more than to be able to just sit or lie down and rest, but there was no time for that. With some effort, she sent her mind out in search of the ogre. In the blurry and fuzzy reading she was getting, she found no such creature on the premises, but she did find three children moving at an unusually high speed. Where the children were, there too would be the ogre. And so, walking along slowly and using the walls as a support, she headed in the direction of the children.

It was not long afterward that the air was filled with the roars of some hellish creature. Teralynn turned around, her eyebrows furrowed. After a few moments and nothing came, she continued on her way. But come something did, and when an ugly creature started prowling up some distance behind her, Teralynn turned around again and prepared for a fight. Her face twisted into one showing disgust as she saw the creature, and her heart loathed the idea of having to fight it, given her already tired and wearied state.

Yet, the worm-like beast showed little signs of aggression toward her, but rather had a submissive, almost scared and pained demeanor. Teralynn furrowed her eyebrows again, and decided to approach the creature. Staying on guard, in case it should decide to attack her, she walked up to the creature that cowered before her and reached out a hand to touch it. The thing cringed, as if expecting more of the pain it received from Habdebza's gauntlet. The thing's skin felt as disgusting as it looked, but when physical contact was made, and no pain coursed through it, it suddenly reacted to her in a more friendly manner.

And idea came to Teralynn. As she did not exactly feel like walking around, and this beast seemed to have taken a liking to her, perhaps she could use it as a mount? Although unsure of how exactly she would steer the beast, she struggled up onto it with some effort, and they shot off toward where she sensed the children were.

***

"Let go!" Jorian struggled as he was being manhandled by the ogre. "We can't just leave the others behind!"

Cantrell felt the weight lifted from his shoulders. He felt that Beatrice was right. But he still needed to find his friends. Perhaps they would help them. He walked back to the group.

Lorathin looked around and decided it was as good a time as any to continue his work.

"Lúthien."
"ya, what is it?"
"I'm going be retiring to the house for tonight, feel free to invite the others in, and stay away from the lab."
"Alright, please don't overdue it."
"I won't, night sweetie."
"Night daddy."

With that, he waved and the stuff that had gone into making the soups disappeared. Reaching out he seemed to take hold of a door handle, open a door and disappear, a faint flicker of light coming from where the door would be when it opened and closed.

Beatrice chuckled and nodded as she lowered herself to the branch below them and went to the other side of Ixair.

The elf raised an eyebrow and looked at the silent, but smiling Beatrice as she climbed up next to him.

"You look like you're up to something," Ixair said to Beatrice, then turning around to look at Luthien.

"We just want to sit by you," Beatrice smiled as she sat down next to Ixair and watched the sun, swinging her legs out below her and taking sidelong glances at Luthien.

***********************************************************

The creature smiled as he sheathed all his swords and gently picked Horatio off the ground and in between his two arms on the right side.

"I waited for the most opportune moment. I did not wish to interfere with your battle, as it may hamper your rage or misdirect it," the creature said as it nimbly jogged through the woods.

***********************************************************

"Well, you can, and I will," Kalzog growled as he held onto Jorian tighter. "I'm not going to let you two become the newest pawns in this game of chess."

"Chess? I don't play chess!" Eva fumed as they came to an ivy covered wall. Eva felt the ogre's grip on her loosen, before she fell to the floor unceremoniously. "You know, when my mother gets my palace back, she's going to put a bounty on your head so high, even the mer-people will be leaping out of the water to get to you."

"I doubt it. And if you do, I'll be glad. I live for a good fight," Kalzog returned as he looked behind him. The creature's roars certainly weren't a good sign.

"Well, what a load of good fighting you did...All I saw was you getting-"

"Just open the infernal door," Kalzog growled angrily. "You don't know what Habdebza is capable of."

"The nerve...I'm the princess, I should be the one giving the-" Eva stopped mid-sentence as several veins on the ogre's neck were beginning to pop out as the ogre placed his free hand on his face and wiped it with a growl.

"I'm going, I'm going...hold your flies," she grumbled as she felt along the wall and casually poked around the ivy. She frowned as she pulled one piece of ivy down causing the leaves to fall upon her in a makeshift crown. She couldn't see it, of course, and just wiped it off with another grumble, before feeling around and finally taking hold of another branch of Ivy and pulling. Suddenly, the stone wall opened up, revealing an opening in the store room of a general store that was run by several of Rimoru's "Most Trusted". In fact, it was run by nobles, and Eva's current, now former, boyfriend.

"'Habby' now?" Eva giggled as she walked in the gateway.

"I don't see how you can be so happy, considering your family and your friends are being held captive and-"

"I'm trying to keep myself from breaking down, alright!" she screamed, stomping her foot on the floor for emphasis, tears already dripping down her face. "Just...Shut up about it until we can get someone who can fight them and free my family!"

Kalzog remained quiet and leapt off his rock, before looking behind him again. That's when he saw the beasts approaching. "Get in, now!" he shouted before he whispered something and pushed the kids inside, the secret entrance once again shutting.

The hovering rock suddenly shifted before it soared towards the Maws, crashing into one of them, head on, and sending it a few feet away, before spinning around like a deadly top with rough edges.

Lúthien climbed up so she was on the opposite side of Ixair as Beatrice. "Yes, is there anything wrong with siting on a tree branch beside a friend?" She asked before adding, "Now." And began tickling Ixair.

Cantrell and Cobiesel saw the rest up in the tree. "Think you can get us up there Cantrell?" Without answering, Cantrell, launched a chain into a branch, and swung up. They landed on a sturdy branch, near the others. Cobiesel smiled. "I knew you could. So, Ixair, where are we headed to now?"

"Well, I suppose-" Ixair began before he broke out laughing as the two elves tickled him ferociously. He curled himself into a ball, much like Beatrice had, but instead of giving up, he overcame his ticklishness and attempted to tickle the two back, one with each hand.

He continued to laugh, but his laughter was soon joined by Beatrice.

Lúthien ceased her assault to ward off Ixair's counter-attack. After the tickle fight had ceased, she asked. "What now?"

Ixair chuckled as he put his arms around the two girls and held them close. Beatrice was slightly jittery, however she calmed down a bit as they watched the rising moon.

"Well, the sun has set and the moon has risen. I suggest we get down first," he chuckled.

Cantrell lept down. He then hurled his chains into a branch while crisscrossing them. "You guys can climb down on these. Hurry up though!"

Lúthien scurried down, leaving Cantrell's chains alone. She found them slightly creepy, truth be told.

Ixair chuckled at Luthien the squierrel girl, and thanked Cantrell as he gently used the chains.

Beatrice, on the other hand, followed Luthien in that she still had trouble accepting the chain-appendages of Cantrell.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly as she passed the chain-man.

Ixair leapt down the last few feet and smiled, adding a nod to Cantrell. "That's very handy, Cantrell. Now what happened to Cobiesel?"

Cantrell smiled at Beatrice. "It's fine. I understand." Cobiesel lept down from the tree, landing near Ixair. "Right here Ixair. Now, where's Luthien's father is what I'd like to know."

"Daddy's doing lab work." Lúthien replied

"Lab work?" Ixair asked curiously before nodding to Cobiesel. "Where were you this whole time, if you don't mind me asking?"

Beatrice smiled, but was puzzled at the word 'lab'. "What's lab mean?" she asked quietly.

"Some experiment." Lúthien replied, "Lab is short for laboratory."

"I was practicing my combat skills. Umlike Cantrell here, I practice far away from others."

"Ah," Ixair replied, very curious as to what this 'experiment' was, but deciding not to press on with it.

"Aren't you a good girl," Ixair chuckled to Cobiesel. "But seriously, thank you for doing that, Miss Cobiesel."

Beatrice nodded her thanks as well, before yawning, opening her mouth wide.

"Well, I'm tired," he yawned, stretching out his arms. He seemed to have caught the 'contagious yawn'. "I'm off to go to bed."

"Daddy said to offer you use of the house if you wish, unless you want to sleep under the stars. I think I'll be doing that." She added partially to herself.

ooc: Gone in a couple minutes.

"Ummm, where exactly is your house? I'd definitly like to stay there. I;m to tured to sleep outside, I need a bed." Cobiesel said before yawning. Cantrell stretched a bit. "I think I'll be taking the house as well."

"The door's right there." She replied, pointing at nothing. After noticing thier expressions, she blinked and shook her head. "Sometimes I forget it's only cued to me and daddy." Lúthien confessed as she went and opened a door that wasn't there until she'd opened it.

"After you." The first to take up her invitation would find themselves running into a wall, a wall that would be there for all of them.

"Sleeping under the stars? I'll join you, if you don't mind," Ixair said to Luthien. "Cobiesel and Cantrell have been pampered too much," he added with a chuckle.

Beatrice wondered where she should go, but decided she wanted to be near Luthien for the night.

Cantrell rolled his eye. "Go through the tortures I did, come back with chains and one eye, and then we'll talk."

Lúthien went to step through the door but found it no longer doorish. Placing her hand where it should have been, "I'm afraid I have to apologise, it seems daddy's locked it down for some reason. I can make you bush beds thought." She apologised

Finding five bushes, she muttered a spell at each one, and it reshaped into a bed-like shape that would be comfortable to sleep on. "I'm going to stay up a little longer, but good-night to those sleeping now."

"Trying to trick us, you little trickster?" Ixair chuckled.

"Oh, I already have all that. I'm just hiding it," the elf chuckled to Cantrell. "I'm kidding, friend. Sorry...I shouldn't talk about it." he added more seriously afterwards.

"Going to stay up longer? Mind me asking why?" Ixair asked as he bounced onto his 'bush bed'.

"I'm not tired enought to go to be yet." She replied, "But don't let me keep you up."

"Don't worry about it. Most people think I'm a criminal and try to have me hanged when they see the chains." Cantrell fell onto his bed. It was surprisingly comfortable. Cobiesel also went to hers, and she was asleep as few moments after.

Ixair smiled and nodded. "If you need anything, Luthien, or if something...bad comes, feel free to wake me up," Ixair replied as he wrapped his fingers behind his neck and reclined on his makeshift headrest.

Beatrice silently sat down on her bed and watched Luthien curiously. She looked down to her bed, as though thinking of something, but said nothing. Whatever was in her mind at the moment would remained locked there, it seemed.

Lúthien nodded as she walked away from the group a bit and sat down at the base of a tree. She began singing softly to herself, a strange melody both encaptivating and repellent.

Horatio gave a weak nod to the creature and struggled to ask it the question. "Wh. Who, is your master?"

-------------------------------------------

Mienna kept her perch in the the tree and watched the otheres go to sleep, she resolved to keep an eye on them and sleep later.

"My master is the warmaster, the ultimate champion of fighting. He is an friend to his allies and nightmare to his foes. Rest, druid. You may ask when you are fully restored," The demon said as it hurried through the forest.

*************

Ixair looked up at Mienna and wistled to her, motioning her to come down, while making sure he didn't awake the sleepers.

Beatrice, had reclined in her seat and rolled to her side, back facing Ixair.

Ixair could have sworn he heard sniffling, but decided not to press on with it. Atleast not now. Sleep was on everyone's mind.