Sloane looked over to Steven. He nodded. She jumped down from the tower. She landed, climbed to her, and pulled out her sword. She stabbed the blade into the guard standing in front of her. Steven jumped onto the second and knocked it to the ground, stabbing through the man's throat.
"Beautifully done", she said sarcastically to Steven.
He shrugged. "We can't all be so graceful. You're an Elf."
"At least he's dead", Sloane said, turning the man's head with the toe of her boot. Blood leaked from his mouth and the slit in his throat was bleeding heavily. "Let's go. I don't like it here."
Steven nodded. Sloane sheathed her sword and took of toward the Tavern. "Why are you still killing?"
"They are soldiers. They kill innocent people...and it pays well. Being a Queen can be very boring. You should know. You're a King", Sloane retorted. She loved Steven, but he asked to many questions. She slowed as she entered the town. The Tavern was very full. Good, she thought. She pushed her way through the crowd and into the back of the room. She sat down at a booth in the back corner.
A man sat there. "Is it done?" he rasped. Stevenn stood behind Sloane, watching the man warily.
"Yes. Where is my money?" Sloane answered bluntly.
"Soon enough. I need you to do somehting else for me first", said the man.
"No! You said that after twenty kills you'd give me one-hundred. I lived up to my side of the bargain, you need to live up to yours", Sloane snapped.
Steven squeezed her shoulder. "I need you to go to the Mountain Arch. There is a man there, Talthier, he will tell you what to do next. Do you understand?" the man explained.
"How much are you willing to pay me?" Sloane asked, slowly.
"Why are you so worried about the money?"
"Why do you care? How much?" Sloane snapped. Talking to this old man was always irritating.
"Two hundred added to your last assignment."
"Fine. We'll return when we've finished. I hope you have my money next time", Sloane said. She stood and pushed her way back out of the bar. Steven followed.
She stood outside against a tree trunk. Steven touched her cheek. "I hate this", he whispered.
"I know. But..."
"I understand. But when can we return home. I feel exiled", he said.
"I'm sorry. But I really need to do this. For now at least. Please understand", Sloane pleaded.
"I do."
"Thank you." She embraced him and he kissed her cheek.
"We should leave tomorrow."
"Why not now? I don't like it here", Sloane whispered, looking around.
"Alright then. Lead the way."
Sloane smiled and climbed the tree. From the middle branches, she jumped to the next tree.

"Someone is following us", Steven said, as the two skimmed the outer wall of the Castle. "Isn't this Lief's Castle?"
"Yes!" Sloane hissed. "Now stay quiet." The Wolf in her mind sniffed the air.
A Shade! It barked.
A what? Sloane asked, puzzeled.
They are not native to Varisia. Stay on yuor guard though, Princess. Then the wolf was gone.
She blinked away the stinging in her eyes. Talking with the wolf always made her feel disoriented.
"Look!" Steven nudged her. Sloane peered around the wall. Two soldiers were locked in battle with a girl. Sloane had never seen her before.
Wait...A Shade? I met a Shade once. Zatanya? Reb?

OOC-Thanks for Posting Star Gazer

OOC: Ok... I'm joining in.
IC: In the air, they saw the whole episode take place. Emrhyst dived towards the ground, bells jingling furiously. The wind rushed past Eriel's ears, howling like a tornado at its max. Emrhyst quickly pulled out of the dive and landed behind Sloane, sending dust and ashes flying in all directions. With her mind, Eriel told Emrhyst," Nice going Emrhyst, now the whole city knows we're here."

Nysia! Can you get over here? Sloane yelled.
The Dragon roared and broke through the trees. "What's going on? Sloane who are these people?" Steven asked.
"When I was looking for you, I met them in other places. They're our friends." Sloane smiled. Drawing her sword she ran into battle. She met the blow of a large soldier. Its eyes burned into her and she growled, throwing him off. "Vesa!" The soldiers around her flew back, scattering the ground with blood.
"Sloane!" She turned quickly, meeting another soldier. Steven was fighting in front of Nysia. "Behind you!"
Raising her hand, she screamed an ancient spell, that she didn't even know. In her mind, Fyrius was howling the words and they were pouring from Sloane's mouth.
Every soldier that sorrounded her fell to the gound, the few soldiers hiding in the forest wailed and ran straight into Nysia.
Steven was ripping a vine from his leg. "Damn, creepers!" he muttered.
"Are you alright?" She looked to Steven and Nysia in turn.
They both nodded.More Soldiers are coming, Sloane. We'd best hurry, Nysia warned. Sloane nodded, turning to her foreign friends.
"What happened? What brings you two here?" she asked.

OOC-Hi Eriel!

OOC: Lol hi!
IC: Eriel decided it was not the best time to use her bow. She stored her cloak in a saddle bag and drew her sword. A soldier came at her, blade over his head, "Fool..." Eriel muttered under her breath as she ducked and stabbed the sword clean through the man's abdomen, the blade a hair's breathd {sp} away from her. Noticing the danger she quickly cut upwards with the blade still in the body, causing the soldier to jerk and fall. A soldier caught her in the back, she gasped as the blade found home. Seeing the oppotunity, the soldiers rushed forwards. Eriel ended their lives with one, good swing. She then heard Sloane. She quickly replied, "Just resting. I'm on my way to mountain arch to... settle a score with an old friend on mine." Her eyes were momentarily lighted up with a deadly gleam. She yanked the sword out of her back. Blood started to flow. She quickly healed the wound and soon there was no trace of it execpt the bloodied sword.

"Steven!" Sloane called her mate over to her.
He whipped around and looked to her. "There are too many! We need to make it to the Mountains!" he reported.
Sloane sighed. "Where's Reb?" She couldn't see the Shade/Elf anywhere. She couldn't remember seeing Star Gazer either. "Eriel! We can't stay here!" Sloane yelled. She ran toward Nysia and climbed into the saddle. Nysia took to the air before Steven had climbed onto her back. She swooped over the soldiers spitting fire. Sloane yelled to Nysia, "Go back down!" Nysia growled and lowered herself. Steven grabbed Sloane's outstretched hand. She pulled him into the saddle.
More and more soldiers poured from the castle. "Lief's not taking any chances with me around..." she muttered. "There goes are chance at that."

Eriel fought to get to her dragon. It seemed inpossible though, for every soldier that died two more replaced him. She was finally forced to use magic, "Draumr Brisingr." The men fell to the ground, convulsing in pain. She quickly mounted her dragon and then said, " Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Nysia snapped in her wings and pelted toward Sealaya's Valley. Steven held tight to Sloane as the Dragoness plunged down and shot fire. Sloane yelled happily. For some reason she felt strangely relaxed.
Nysia dipped and spiraled stopping in the air above the Valley. She fanned out her wings and roared. Emrhyst and Star Gazer were just visable over the horizon. Dark Shadows fill this place now!, Nysia roared.
"Hold on!", Sloane yelled to Steven. He pressed himself against her back and shouted. Nysia once again plunged toward the ground, landing softly.
Sloane laughed and climbed out of the saddle. "That was almost fun!"
Steven scrambled down after her. "Sindra never did anything like that!", he exclaimed.
[i]My sister never takes chances[i], Nysia growled.
"Let's wait for the others. Then we will go to the Arch", Sloane said. she proped herslef against Nysia's side and waited.

OOC: mind if i join?

IC: Wil and Lucia had just flown over the battlefield at the end of the battle. Shoot, we missed it Wil thought. He saw Nysia flying off with Sloane and Steven. He decided to talk to them. He flew up beside Nysia and asked, "Hey, what're you three doing here?

OOC: sorry it's short but i have a lot on my mind...

OOC-Yay! Kaeras is here!
IC-"Headed to the Mountain Arch. I got a bounty up there", Sloane replied, casually. Beside her, Steven shifted uncomfortably. "He's weird about my job." She waved her hands vaguely. "We ran into Reb and Eriel back there. I'm wondering why all of youare here." She laughed.
"We are supposed to be preparing for a battle. She is just preoccupied", Steven said.
"You are so strange sometimes", Sloane teased. "Besides, I have my reasons. So, Wil, what brings you to Farelk?"

"Who knows? Maybe Lucia, Kag, and I were after the same bounty?" Wil said. He felt lightheaded, as if drunk. He couldnt remember drinking anything strange, unless... "Damn that dwarf! He slipped something into my drink at the last village we visited!" Wil shouted. He laughed so hard he almost fell off Kagraign. "Wow, one sip of Dwarven Gut Buster did this to him. He's such a lightweight..." Kagraign said shamefully, shaking his head. Wil giggled again. Lucia just rolled her eyes. "H-hey Sloane, watch this," he said. He held his hand up, pointed at Kagraign. "Draumr Skulblaka Brisingr," he said. He saw Kagraign double over, then he belched out blazing emerald flames that licked everything to the forest floor. Wil released the spell. The flames hadn't touched a thing. It was like they were never there. Wil giggled again. "Isn't that cool?" he asked. He looked back at the ground where the others were. "Hey K-Kag, why dont we show our cool trick to them too?" He asked. He had no clue that they werent going anywhere near the others.

"Wil? Wil are you alright?" Sloane walked toward him. "May I?" she asked Lucia, pulling out a phial of her mother's Earthen Healant. "Wil! Look." Sloane made a stupid face and Wil doubled over laughing. She held his head back and poured the Healant down his throat. "Look at me." She stared him straight in the eye. "Try and calm down." He remained silent for a moment, then busted out laughing again.
Sloane shook her head. "We don't have many Dwarfs around here. I don't know how to counteract there substances."
Nysia walked toward Karagain. She sniffed his scales. What village were you last at?, she purred.

Wil looked at Sloane. When he tried to think about it, his mind clouded up. "Uhmm, the one where there's a pointy hatted old grey idiot standing right in the middle of the fountain. He's so stupid, I just tried to talk to him before we left and he didnt say anything, he just stood there holding that stupid sword." Wil said. He heard an animal scuttle through the woods. "Thrysta vindr," he said. He heard the animal stop cold. He stumbled over to it. It was a demon squirrel, with big bulgy eyes and a purple hairless body. Wil looked at it where it was. "Draumr adurna" he said. The demon squirrel's eyes bulged out even more, as if they would fall out of it's head. It screamed in it's own language and fell over, unconscious. Wil burst out laughing. He fell over and rolled on the pine-leaf bed. Lucia looked at Sloane. "I'm sorry about him, the dwarf's name was Hgorthrag. He was a fiesty dwarf, grabbing at me like I was his own personal..." she trailed off into a string of curse words. I'm sorry for my Rider's behavior as well. He should really use that poison tracing spell more. Anyway, the village was called Vindagh. I believe it was on the western border of Farelk, just after you cross the barrier. Kagraign said.

"Are you sure? I've never heard of it", Sloane said. "He's fine for now. I've had to deal with him when he's drunk." She pointed at Steven.
"That was once! And you know it", he retorted.
Sloane shrugged. "I can't drink well. The first time he gave me ale, i wretched{sp}"
A yowl echoed through the valley. "Sealaya?" Sloane called. She walked toward Wil. "Come on!" She grabbed his hand, pulling him back toward the others. Another yowl sounded. "Sealaya!"
"Ava..." I turned. Ava was making her way over the stone pathway.

While Wil was stumbling around in the background, Lucia looked toward Reb and Sloane. "Again, I'm so sorry about his actions. I don't think there was any actual poison in the drink, but after Wil took a sip, the dwarf giggled and leaned over toward me. He said, 'I put a wee taste of Dwarven Gut Buster in his drink. That's a strong dwarven ale from...well, I don't have a clue where it's brewed. I only wish I could see it take effect!' and watched Wil the rest of the night. I should have asked why he did it or what a village like that was doing in the middle of the forest. It was a rowdy place. There was much drink being chugged, all the towns women were harlots, and all the men were too drunk to know the difference between their wife and the next door neighbor." Lucia explained. "Draumr-" "Wil, don't you even dare!" Lucia cut him off. She knew he was planning another prank with some nightmarish thing. She then gathered some wood fallen from the trees. "Brisingr" she said. The wood immediately fired up. She got some herbs and a pot out of her pack. "Adurna" she said. The pot filled with water. She sighed. "What would we do without magic? I've used two spells in the past half-minute, just to boil some herbal tea..." she said no more, because she knew everyone was thinking the same thing. Except, of course, for Wil, who was torturing another demon, this time it was a giant spider though. Lucia just put the herbs in the water and shook her head. Kagraign, on the other hand, was enjoying watching Wil like this. He was giving Wil all sorts of suggestions to do stupid, crazy things. He laughed every time Wil stumbled, or did one of the things he suggested.

"That's pretty bad", Ava murmured to Sloane as she walked past.
"Where are you going?" Sloane asked.
"To see your mother. Nia needed to see me." Then she was gone.
"Norally that womans talks for hours", Sloane mused. "Strange."
"Shouldn't we get going?" Steven whispered in her ear.
"Not until Eriel is here and Wil can walk normally", Sloane whispered back.
Wil stood by a tree and smoke started to rise. She realized he'd probably sad the word for fire.
"Wil! No!" She shoved past him and drizzled water over the burning tree trunk. "Uh!" Placing her hand on the tree, she returned its life. "Not the trees!" she stormed. "Mess with those squirrels all you want, but not the trees!" Wil giggled.

OOC: haha thanks for that Lux. I was all out of ideas for what a drunk Wil should do.

OOC-no prob. i haven't seen Sloane pissed since my opening post.

"I will not move to Gil'ead or harm any elves," Wil said. He the drink was starting to wear off. His head started pounding horribly. He looked at Reb, and then turned aside and puked on the ground. "Ugh, I feel horrible... What happened? Last I remember that dwarf was...the dwarf! That sneaky little..." Wil said. Then he got really stubborn and wouldnt talk to anyone, even Kagraign. Lucia gave him the tea and then went and sat by Reb. "He should be fine...for now. He probably won't talk to anyone for a while." she said.

Steven watched Wil storm around the fire. He cocked a brow. Sloane shook her head and sat down by the fire. "Gil'ead?" she muttered. "Where's that? Reb, have you seen Eriel?"

OOC-sorry its short

OOC:wow..I can FINALLY reply... I was so confuzzled with the past posts.

IC: "I'm right here." Eriel said as she emerged from the trees. Emrhyst landed with two deers in her claws and one in her mouth, this time, she made sure she made a 'soft' landing. Who's hungry? She asked. Eriel then said, "Sorry for being late. I was...help up by afew guards. They're all dead so... I'm sure we're not being followed. 'Sides, I covered up my tracks." She said with a smile.

"Hello, Eriel", Sloane said, eying the deer. "Eriel this my husband, Steven. Reb I don't believe you've met him either." Steven bowed his head to them both in turn. "Before we go to the Arch, we need to go to our Castle." Steven flinched.
Nysia blinked. Is that wise?
Sloane set her hands on her hips. "Ava and Duentra both profesized his return. He came to me, himelf, and told me he'd be in Celesta. Surely you cannot argue with that!" Her eyes flashed. She almost felt tears.
Steven pulled her into his arms before she could lose control. Sloane...I know your pain. Are you sure you want to look so soon?
She nodded. "You could come with us, if you wished", Sloane said to the others.
"Sloane!" howled a voice.
"Mage!"
Mage came hurtling from the trees towards her and Marox chased him. "We saw Sealaya! He's here!" Mage cried.
"I'll wait a while. For you to rest", she said to her other friends. Wil still stomped around the camp. "Wil?"

OOC: Who's turn is it?

OOC:I think it's mine. but i'm all out of ideas so i'm giving Lux or someone permission to use a couple of their ideas on my charry. i'm really sunk for ideas right now...

OOC-okay...i'll try

IC-Wil stomped around the fire, still fuming about the Dwarf drink. Lucia rolled her eyes again. "When are you going to stop moping?"
He stopped and looked around at everyone. "We'll come...", he uttered to Sloane. Lucia sighed.
Back to your old self? Or is something on your mind?, Kagraign asked.

Sloane nodded. "Thank you. We could use your help."
Steven smiled. They are good people.
Sloane smiled back at him. "How about the rest of you? It's not far from here. It's important that we go before we go to the Arch. So, are you in?" Sloane waited for Reb and Eriel to answer.

"I will go, as will Emrhyst." She grunted her approval. "But first... does anyone want dinner? Caus if we don't, I'm going to start shredding it." Emrhyst looked at the two deer in her claws with eyes that said ,"I'm going to eat you! Eat you!" She put them on the ground and started munching on the deer in her mouth.

Sloane nodded. "Good...We can't go by ourselves."
She watched Emrhyst tearing at the deer and laughed. "Thanks, Eriel, but I don't eat meat", Sloane said. Steven remained silent.
She turned and brushed his cheek with her thumb. "You alright?"
He looked up and his eyes brightened. "I'm fine..." He kissed her cheek, then paced towards the trees. Sloane watched him, sadly. He still wouldn't talk to her about what was clouding his mind.

Lucia watched Steven as well. He was still the same as when they'd first met. Quiet and mysterious. Something in her didn't trust him. Wil looked up. "Sloane...who is Dezlen?" He watched her eyes widen as she realized he'd heard her.

OOC- I hope I'm doing alright

OOC: thanks lux, i can take it from here.

Emrhyst looked up with glee, Yay! More deer for me! She continued tearing at the deer. Eriel merely laughed. "Well then, I'm going to start shredding the deer." She mouthed a phrase and drew her knife. She started cutting up the meet faster than an elf. Within a second she was done and started storing them into flour bags for Emrhyst to eat during the journey, she poured some of her energy into each of the sacks so that eating it would restore more energy than usual. "Okay. I'm done."

OOC-i think its Star's turn

OCC: go on without me

OOC: So... It's Lux's turn now?

OOC-I guess, unless Kaeras wants to go

nah. i barely remember where we were. get us started again and i could probably think of something.

OOC-okay

IC-As Eriel and Emrhyst finished the deer, Sloane tightened the straps on Nysia's saddle. "Home...", she muttered. She rubbed her eyes. "God..."
Steven laid a hand on her shoulder. "You alright?"
She smiled. "Yeah. Just alittle worried. What do you think they'll say?"
"About Dez? Oh, Sloane, you worry too much." He smiled. "Besides, he can help himself. It'll be fine."
She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the Dragon. His grey eyes pierced her and her eyes snapped back open. "He's so close!" she exclaimed. Then she was aware that everyone else was watching her. "Sorry." She dusted her hands together. "Ready?" Her ind was spinning, sure she still had a bounty to collect, but her son was coming home. She wondered if he would remember her. When she'd come out of her coma, she couldn't remember anything. Or anyone, she thought, casting a sad glance at Steven.

Reb was to busy to answer any of them. She looked at her reflection in the water. " Zantya, how come I don't age? I am still seventeen, and you are what two hundred years old?" Reb asked.
" Well, I guess it has something to do with me letting you live, but heck I don't know." Zantya answered then fell silent. Reb snorted in disgust and then climbed atop Star Gazer and took flight.
Efriam sat in the shadows upon Woodrew. He had heard their entire conversation and thought it quite funny that the man was drunk. He had almost laughed if not for the fright of being caught, also his eyes were glued to a beautiful young girl with brown hair with red streaks. She wore black and purple clothes and judging by the way she fought she was very strong. But he shook his head and then climbed atop Woodrew and waited until all the dragons were gone and then took flight.

OOC: Keares should go, he hasn't posted in ages!

Ok, guys. I'll be gone for a while. June 23-28. You can go on without me or you can wait, but I'll catch up and be back on as soon as I get home. See ya guys!

OOC: Hm... We'll continue? (looks at the others) But we won't leave you too far behind. (Looks at them again) rofl. Have a nice time there!

OOC: So guys, are we going to w8 or continue?

OOC: Hello?

OOC-I'm back! Hi, I missed you guys. Anyone go head and start, I need something to work with

OOC: Its going to be very short, but it'll give everyone an opportunity to reply and to react.

IC: Eriel coughed a little then said, "Well then, shall we?" She smiled a little and mounted Emrhyst.

OOC: Okay... whos turn now?

I'll pm star.

Star Gazer took off after them.
Woodrew snorted at Efriam. " No way, get it out of your head. We are here to find other dragons. Nothing else. " Woodrew said.
" I think i'm in love." Efriam said and then laughed. " just kidding." He added then they followed.

OOC: Sigh... I'll post 2morrow.

Emrhyst craned her neck to see if the others were following, she smiled as she spoted them afew paces behind then picked up speed. She stopped as she saw a great arch on the mountains.Whats that?

Star landed with a thud and her rider fell to the ground in search of the mysterious crystal. " I've got it." Reb called and held out a crystal for Sloane.

Efriam stared from the sky. They were looking for something. But he kept his eyes on the black dragon.

While they were fiding the crystal, Eriel found a peculiar herb. Emrhyst, sniff it, is it poisonous? Emrhyst bent her neck and smelled it a little before turning away. Poisonous to dragons I believe. I doubt it works on other races though. Eriel smiled and took the herb to Sloane.

"Tell me, what is this herb, it is a poison or an antidote?" She laughed a little as she saw Emrhyst shower Steven with dust. Oops. She laughed,

" No problem." Reb said and smiled then she heard the faintest sound that not even an elf could hear. She dragged her dagger out of her belt with lightening quick speed and threw it in the air so fast you couldn't have seen it unless you were watching her. And then a boy fell from the sky. He hit the ground with a thud. The dagger in his chest. She walked over and pulled the dagger out of his chest.

" Damn! That hurts." Efriam cursed as he rolled on the ground trying to get to his feet. Woodrew landed and snarled at Reb but somewhat pulled back when he came face to face with Star Gazer. She was huge compared to him yet he didn't back down.
" You hurt Efriam." Woodrew snarled.
" You dared show your face after eaves dropping." Star snarled right back and got into his face.

Eriel looked at the new comers in surprise. She strode forwards and stood beside Emrhyst. She frowned as she saw hostility rising between Star and Woodrew. "Who are you?" Emrhyst snarled at them, she circled and landed behind them, cutting off their escape into the town. Speak or I'll make you. She threatened.

Eriel shut her eyes as she saw blood pouring out from Efriam's chest. She started to heal his chest at a pace which was not too obvious but could be felt. Emrhyst then said, What will we do with them...

OOC: It was? Well I'll bring in Gryfendel now.

IC: Eriel swayed lightly as her spell started to take its toll on her. Reb's dagger had cut deep and it wasnt easy to heal the wound.

Gryfendel flew along the mountains, smiling jubilantly as he noticed a group of travellers after being alone in the wild for so many days. He smiled wider as he noticed dragons with their riders. He landed silently behind Stargazer, his scales blended perfectly into the light from the city.

OOC: If I keep joining these I'm not gonna remember which story is which, but hey, I love RPing.

IC: Your time is up! Or do you wish to hasten our journey to oblivion?
It would make things easier, but I'd rather not die.
Aeraldi landed near the peak of a mountain. Dragons had lived here a while ago but not anymore. It made his dark half sicken to know that they were defeated so easily. Aeraldi shuddered with pain as his other half fought for control. He wasn't willing to give up his body but he knew it was necessary.
His scales changed colour and his light half rose through once again. It sent a great deal of snow down the mountain, probably caused an avalanche. His white half hoped fervently that nobody was down there while his dark half hoped that there were.

OOC: it doesn't have to be the mountain you're under. It's whatever mountain you choose.

OOC: Lux isn't on too often now..

Eriel winced as a dagger embeded itself in her left thigh, centimeters away from her scar. She looked back and saw a crowd of men coming out of the city.

OOC: Pass turn