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[Chevalier-Ange]

Kori stared at the goings on around him quite perplexed. "Only enchanted fire can do this..." he thought to himself. But where did it come from, and better yet... whom was responsible for its creation. 

He scanned the area for anyone he thought might be capable of doing so.  If human nature held true, the   'creator' would be nearby watching his handy work... if for no other reason... just the thrill.  He saw no one he suspected.  One man futilely attempted to douse the flames, "he could not have done so... too amateur." He thought to himself. 

Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw the young women he had bumped into, literally, earlier.  She had her face hidden, but her aura had a distinct look about it.  He had noticed that earlier as well in his fit of shyness and almost stuttering talk. She was scanning the area as he was.  "I wonder?" he thought as he started walking towards her... sighing at the prospects of speaking to her again as he did.

***

Kristen slowly peered from around one of the other buildings as she watched the fire fighters hopelessly trying to perform their task.  "This isn't right." She thought.  "Dammit."

She began walking towards the engulfed building.

***

"Well hello again." The young woman said with a now revealed coy smile. "What brings you here?  You don't seem the type to enjoy fire 'Icy' one." She added with a smirk.

"I-I d-don't actually." He muttered out. "W-wait... I-Icy one?"

"Yes, Icy." She replied smiling again. "Your hair... it reminds me of ice."

"Oh... umm..." he began as he blushed a bit.  Thankful, it was still too dark for her to notice right now. "I-I never heard that one b-before.  M-my friends usually c-call me 'S-Snow'"

"Snow?" she said with a wide grin. "I like that actually.  May I call you 'Snow' then?"

"Umm..." he began but was interrupted by a voice from behind him.

"Snow?" the female voice asked. "Kaze Tatsou Kori? What are you doing here?"

Kori spun around quickly to face the person talking to him. He immediately noticed that the Kings Crest was upon the clasp fastening the front of the womans cloak."The same as you Knight. The fire." He answered without a single hint of shyness. "What business does His Majesty have in this place if I may ask?" he added as he stared at Kristen.

"You may not." Kristen replied. "And since when are you in the habit of being in the company of a female?  I heard you had a shyness issue, and that's why you are in fact not commissioned to this day."

"Yes, well..." he began as he noticed out of the corner of his eye the young women beginning to leave. "W-wait... Y-you don't have to l-leave."

Kristen laughed silently to herself as she saw the man's poor attempt at conversation with the female.

"It seems to me, you two know each other, so..." she began as she covered her face once again to hide her obvious disappointment.

"Haha... no, we've never met before actually." Kristen replied half laughing, "I just know 'of him'."

"Oh?" the young women replied, again revealing a smile.

"Umm..." was all Kori managed to mutter out at this point.


EDIT: Plot Hole - Kori and Kristen may only 'know' of each other, and since they never met, he would hardly recognise her voice anyways.

[Mike Caron]

Suddenly, they heard a shout from near the burning house.

"There's someone inside!"

Kristen spun on the spot, to face the building, and noticed that it looked rather close to collapsing altogether. Clearly, there was no time to lose.

"Kaze Tatsuo Kori, come." She said, glancing back. "Miss, if you'll excuse us." Kristen ran off, pushing her way through the crowd. Kori looked at her, and glanced back at the woman.

"I... I'm sorry." He said, before dashing off after Kristen.

"Kaze Tatsuo Kori?" The woman said to herself. "Why is that name familiar...? Hmm, well, this should be interesting."


Kristen pushed her way to the front of the crowd, where she was stopped by the city guards.

"Miss, please move back." One of the guards said, holding up a palm.

"I am Kristen Arthas, of the Royal Legion of Dragon Knights, representing his Majesty, King Lance, I order you to let me pass." She pointed at the clasp as proof of her identity, and the guards quickly moved aside. By this point, Kori caught up to her, and they both approached the building.

By now, the fire fighters had given up on trying to fight the flames. Instead, their mages were working on soaking the adjacent buildings to prevent them from catching. However, each time the building creaked, they all moved back, until they determined that it was not going to fall just yet.

The captain who was coordinating these efforts noticed Kristen and Kori being admitted, but did not recognize them, so he quickly approached them. Kristen spoke first.

"Captain, I am Kristen Arthas, of the Dragoons." The Royal Legion of Fire Protectors was also part of the army, so they were familiar with eachother's areas of specialty. "Is it true that there is someone trapped in the building?"

"Aye, but there's nothing we can do to get her out of there. It's too dangerous, the fire is too advanced." The captain replied, sighing. "More than likely, she's not even alive any more..."

"I don't care." Kristen said, steeling her resolve. "Any way to avoid loss of civillian life must be taken."

"Nay, we cannot do that. Our mandate, as is yours, is to avoid loss of life altogether. If I send one of my men in there, and they both die, then we're worse off than before."

"Captain, I order you to send someone in to rescue her." Kristen and the captian both knew that he outranked her, so he ignored her.

"Kristen, he's right." Kori said. "It's too dangerous, even for me..."

"If you two won't, then I will!" Kristen said, dashing off towards the entrance of the house.

"Kristen! No!!!" Kori cried out, running after her.

"What the... You bloody fool!" The captain cried out.


Each Dragon Knight owned a special cloak, an enchanted cloak designed with their partner in mind. Kristen's mount, Crystal, was a Fire Drake, and so her cloak was enchanted against fire. That way, she could not be harmed by her breath, if she were to be caught in its crossfire. It was amazing how useful this simple fact could be.

However, now it was useful in another way. While wearing the cloak, the fire around her was harmless. The smoke, not so much, and if the building did collapse, the cloak would be useless. But, for its use, it served well.

She held the cloak over her mouth, to avoid breathing the smoke, and plunged deep into the inferno.


Kori hated the heat. He really did. However, his abilities were useful. There was quite a bit of steam in the smoke, and he was able to channel the water out of it, and form a protective "shield" of water around him, so he could pass through the flames. It still bothered him, but he would make do.

He quickly lost sight of Kristen through the smoke, so he used his other senses to try and locate her. He heard her footsteps ahead of him, so he pressed forward.


There she was. Miraculously, unharmed, and somehow, sleeping. The bed was singed, but not burnt, which Kristen thought was impossible, but didn't wait too long on the matter. She took a deep breath, and let go of her cloak, so she could pick the girl up. As soon as she was safely in her arms, the bed seemed to explode in a fury of fire. Kristen staggered back from the force. She crouched, to keep low to the floor.


Kori heard a crack, and then a low creak, and he realized there wasn't much time left. He entered another room, where he saw a new flame burst out of nowhere, as if something flammable had, somehow, not caught on fire, and only now had combusted due to the heat. He heard someone stumble back at this, and he assumed it was Kristen.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash.


"Captain, it's coming down now!"

"Oh dear god no..."


Kristen heard the crash, and realized that this was the end. If only she had done her job quicker, then everyone would've been fine... She closed her eyes, and awaited the inevitable.

...

But, it did not come. Instead, it felt just a tad cooler. She opened her eyes, and found herself face to face with a large Ice Drake. His wings were spread wide, and she realized he was keeping the roof up. Her eyes widened, until she realized who it was.

"Kori? Is that-"

"Get out!" Kori said, in a low rumbly voice.

Kristen did not question him, and so she ran back towards the entrance with the girl.


Out of the smoke, Kristen came running, with a small child in her arms. Kristen's clothes were sooty and blackened, but they were more or less whole. The girl looked as thought nothing happened. However, Kori did not follow.

Kristen laid down the girl, and turned to dash back to the house. But, she did not re-enter. She just waited for Kori to follow. But, he did not come.

"Kori..." She said quietly. Then, the house finally collapsed. Ash and smoke went up in the air all around, and no one could see anything. Kristen, along with everyone else, quickly fled from the building, not wanting to breathe in its remains. And, they waited for the dust to settle.

When they could finally see again, there was nothing left of the house but rubble. It had been razed to the ground. But, curiously, the fire was essentially extinguished. The fire fighters were dousing it again, and this time, it was with success. But, there was still no sign of Kori.

Kristen ran back towards the rubble, and started to climb all over it, trying to see some sign of the guy who saved her life, but there was nothing. Then, she heard a voice.

"Looking for something?"

Kristen knew the voice, and looked towards where it was coming from. Then, for the second time in as many minutes, her eyes widened. There was Kori, standing on the far side of the rubble, behind an adjacent house.

"Kori! You made it out!" Kristen said, wiping away a tear.

"Of course I did. I couldn't make it out the front, though, so I... uh, made a back door."

"Made a... but, there was so much smoke, I thought there was no way anything could survive..."

"That was mostly me. I didn't want anyone to see me in my other form, and I couldn't get out like this." Kori said, smug grin on his face.

"... Well. At least you're OK."

"My safety was always assured, Knight. But, you took an unnecessary risk."

"... I could not let someone be killed like that. I can not."

"And, if I wasn't there, it would've been two."

"... That is not the point. We are taught to put others' lives ahead of our own. If we get killed saving someone, then it is an honour for us to have served our country. But, if a civillian gets killed due to our inaction, then it is a shame. A deep shame which you never quite get over. If you understood this, you might be standing with me, serving His Majesty." Kristen took a deep breath after her speech.

"... If you say so. However, I have other things to attend to." Kori turned and strode off through the back-alley. He stopped for a second, and almost glanced back, before striding off.

Kristen frowned as she watched him leave. I could've handled that better. He did have a few valid points... She thought.


Ugh, I totally screwed that up. I mean, I'm right. But... I probably could've handled that better. Maybe I can make it up somehow... Kori slumped down against a wall as soon as he was out of her sight.

Edit: fixing a slight error, RE the girl's clothes afterwards

[Shadow Spector]

   Waking up to the crowd's noise, Thian rolled over and found himself fully healed. "What happened to me I thought I was dead. Could that girl have ..." Shaking his head, Thian headed into the town once more, to find smoke rising to the sky. Rushing over to the spot where the fire had once been, "So they started with out me have they?" His thoughts left him a bit betrayed, "This is were I was going to sleep last night till that guard came by." Putting his hand on his forehead, he wiped his brow. As he lowered it, "For once in my life i was saved by an guard and not persecuted by one."
   Walking over to the ashes thoughts raced through his mind, "so if they want to play it that way, trying to kill me off like that burning me alive, then they will get another thing coming." Thian walk off rather hastily, without creating suspicion., planning on extracting revenge on the cult for doing this. "At least this is the cults calling card, so they must be the ones behind it." As he turned down a dark alleyway a dark cloaked figure with his hood down gave him a look of surprise.


thx for those that fixed it for me

[WhiteRoxie]

Aidan watched as the remaining embers and spot fires of the house were doused with impassive eyes. Kaze Tatsuo Kori or 'Snow' had disappeared out of sight and the other woman, a knight of some kind apparently, seemed deep in thought. Aidan tugged her cloak tightly around her, her hand curled in a tight fist. She turned on the spot and wove her way through the crowd and escaped down the street. After moving on some way, she stopped and giving a small scream of frustration turned to go back. But before she took another step, she stopped, scowled and stamped her foot on the ground in impatience. She fumed silently, racking her brain for a clue. Aidan knew that name from somewhere, yet she couldn't remember where from.

Then a window across the street caught her eye. Slipping a small hand mirror of her own out of her bag, Aidan acted like she was fixing her hair.

"What do you know about him?" she hissed at the mirror. Her reflection shrugged and looked at its nails.

"Who?"

Aidan snarled, "you know who. Kaze Tatsuo Kori."

The reflection met Aidan's gaze and held it for a few moments pause. "I don't know anyone by that name."

"Liar!" Aidan hissed and shoved the mirror back into her bag. She forced her eyes closed and relaxed, but she couldn't focus on her memories. Her search was turning up fruitless. A voice interrupted her.

"Are you alright miss?" Aidan's eyes flicked open to a glare at the unlucky man. She flicked her wrist and cocoon of ice swirled up around the man's legs, encasing them entirely so he couldn't move.

"I'm fine," Aidan smiled sarcastically and stormed off.

----

"Where are you going?" Aidan pretended not to hear the question. She picked up her pace, but nearly all the buildings along this street had glass windows.

"Aid'. C'mon, talk to me. Did I do something wrong?" Aidan snapped and turned to the window, glaring furiously. She opened her mouth to speak, but the reflection spoke first.

"If this is about that Kori kid, I really don't know anything about him. Honest!"

Aidan sighed and rested her forehead on the glass. "You wanted to head back for the city, right?"

Her reflection looked at her sceptically. "But aren't you interested in Kori? And he is right here. In this village."

Aidan pulled a face. "First you want to leave, now you don't. Make up your mind, ya goose."

Blargh.

[Chevalier-Ange]

Kori rubbed his face in a perplexed fashion.  "Dammit." He said to know one in particular and lowered his head a bit as he pondered some more. "Why didn't I just tell her the truth?"

"Tell who the truth?" a female voice asked.

Kori looked up a bit and saw the unmistakable colour of the purple cloak he had seen earlier.  Following it up further, he was once again looking the young female from earlier...straight in the eyes.

"Oh...H-Hi." He said as he stood rather hastily. "Where did...you - you come from?"

"Well, that's not really important right now." She began "but I heard you talking as I was walking passed, and recognized your voice."

"Oh I - I see." Kori replied slightly embarrassed.

"Is something the matter?" she asked.

"N - no - not really." He answered as he looked around shyly.

"Heh...I don't believe you 'Snow'" she replied with a smirk "I can tell you by the way you're fidgeting."

"Oh?" he said questioningly "Is th - that a f - fact now."

"Yup." She replied with an even wider smirk.

"W - well...hey, stop that ok." He said sounding somewhat annoyed at her obvious ability to see right through him.

"Hehe..." she replied laughing softly "if that's what you want?" she also added with a wide-eyed grin.

"Hmm...you - you're enjoying th - this aren't y- you?"

"A little...yes."

"I - I can t - tell..." he began but was interrupted by the sound of someone else calling his name.

"Kori?  Kori?  Are you here?" the voice called.

"You're friend is looking for you again Kaze Tatsou Kori."

"..."

"Kori?  Kori? Where the hell are you you arrogant drake?" the voice called again trailing off softly. But not before the young woman heard her.

"Drake?" the young woman asked astonished, "That's where I've heard that name before."

"Dammit Kristen." He said "I'm over here you bloody Knight." He added in a louder voice.

Running from around one of the buildings, Kristen arrived to see both Kori, and the young female from earlier as well.

"I wanted to appolo..." she began "oh, I see you've found your friend again?"

"She found me rather." He began as a scowl fell upon his face "and thanks for letting out my secret you impatient, arrogant..."

"Don't worry 'Dragon man of wind and Snow'" the woman interrupted smiling, "your secret is safe with me I promise you." She added. "I've heard many tales of you by the way."

"Dammit." Kristen said aloud completely angry at herself "I'm sorry Kori...I was just..."

"Frustrated Kristen?" he asked interrupting.

"Yes...something like that." She replied embarrassed.

"A - and what t - tales w- would that be, umm?" he asked turning to look at the young female again.

"Aidan," she began "I'm Aidan Dellcaine. And many tales of the 'watchers from the mountains', that until now, I assumed were just that...tales."

"..."

"I'm really truly very sorry Kori. (ugh, tongue twister)" Kristen said sounding quite ashamed now.

"Yes well," he began angrily " its too late now isn't it. AND, I really should pull rank on you and send you back to Kiris with your mounts tail between its legs. But I wont simply because there seems to be something not right in this little village these days."

"Pull rank?" Kristen and Aidan asked in unison.

"And how would you be able to do that?" Kristen asked perplexed and somewhat angry now.

"Who is it you think I answer too." He said matter of factly "If not King Lance himself."

"..."

"..."

[Mike Caron]

"Oh? Really. And, what do you know of my mission here?" Kristen asked.

"I know that you're wasting your time here." Kori replied, after a moment.

"Wasting my time? What do you mean?" Kristen asked, sounding a bit suspicious. Kori took a deep breath, and turned to face the mountains to the north, white-capped giants towering over the town.

"The cult is based somewhere in that mountain range. Where, we do not know."

"Who is we?" Kristen asked.

"And, what is this 'cult'? Is it the one about which rumours have been flowing like water?" Aidan chipped in.

Kori and Kristen both pursed their lips when they realized that they had been speaking freely in front of her.

"Aidan, what we are about to discuss is top-secret, classified, Etc. Do you swear to keep it in your confidence?"

"I don't know, how dangerous is this knowledge?" Aidan inquired, with half a smile on her face.

"... It depends on who you speak to about it." Kristen said after a pause.

"Touché." Aidan replied. "I swear it."

"I am on a mission to track down and gain information about a recently-founded cult. They have been suspected in a number of criminal goings-on, ranging from arson to theft. However, we can see few patterns in their behaviour. What we can see, however, is... disturbing."

"Oh?" Aidan said, interested.

"But, Kristen," Kori said, finally. "This is not the place to be talking about it, is it?"

"... No, I guess it isn't. Kori, Aidan, are you staying anywhere?"

"I planned to... uh, sleep outside the town walls." Kori said, carefully.

"Hm? Oh, well, I have a room at an inn, but I was planning on leaving tomorrow anyway." Aidan said, still curious about Kori.

"Well, then, how about we meet up tomorrow some time? Probably early on. All this excitement tends to wear one down, doesn't it?" Kristen said, smiling.

"..." Kori remained silent, and only glanced at Aidan.

"That sounds like a fine idea. How about 10 'O clock?" Aidan proposed.

"Sounds good to me. 10, at the town square." Kristen confirmed. Everyone nodded, and Kristen left them, heading back for her inn.

"Well, now that we're finally alone, big guy..." Aidan smiled coyly, and Kori blushed.

"I... uh... I have... I have to go..." Kori stammered, looking around.

"What's the hurry? We could have some fun here." Kori blushed more, although on him it was but a slight tint.

"No, I... have to... really, I must... must go." Kori turned, to leave, but Aidan quickly put an arm around him, and pulled him back, pressing him against her.

"I can tell that you like me. We both know that. And, you intrigue me." Aidan could feel something odd on his back, and that just made her more intrigued.

"A... Aidan, there's something... you don't know." Kori replied, pulling himself away.

"There's a great many things I don't know about you. And, a great many things you don't know about me. But, 'Snow', I think a bit of time together could melt your cold exterior..."

"... I must... I have to go." Kori repeated, dashing off before Aidan could stop him.


Kori had removed his clothes, and had packed them away in his bag. He much prefered to sleep in his drake form, in case something decided that it wanted to poke him while he slept. However, before he could change into said form, he heard a voice behind him.

"Now, that's not something you see every day." The voice was low and rumbly, but that's not what made Kori start. The fact that it was in Draconic did, however. Kori turned, and saw a Fire Drake there, staring at him.

"You startled me." Kori replied, in the same tongue. It was his native tongue, and his prefered one too. In truth, he was thinking too much about other things, he hadn't even sensed the drake approach. Now that he was paying attention, however, he felt her distinctly.

"You must be Kaze Tatsuo Kori. The half-blood." the Fire Drake said. (Editor's note: There is no direct translation for what she said. However, it is with a good connotation).

"I am. Who are you? You must be the one I was sent down to find." Kori said, staring back at the drake.

"I am known as Crystal. You need not fear me, I am a Dragoon mount. I am trained not to eat those weaker than me without reason." Crystal emitted a sound which can not quite be explained, but was the equivalent of draconic laughing.

"A Dragoon mount? You must be Kristen's mount then." Kori stated, prompting a nod from Crystal.

"You know the girl? Has she caused any trouble yet? I fear she will sooner or later."

"I met her. Is she always so headstrong as to barge into a nearly-collapsed burning building?"

"Oh, is that the commotion I heard? That sounds like Kristen alright. ... You know, you are quite famous, even amongst us Fire Drakes."

"Is that so? Hmm. Tell me, are there any good herds around here? I haven't been down here in a few years."

"I can show you, if you decide to sprout wings at some point." Crystal laughed again, as Kori quickly transformed into his drake form. "Come with me."

They both took to the sky, slowly wheeling around the town, to avoid being seen. However, little did they know, they had already been seen.

"Hmm. That's not something you see every day." Aidan said, sitting in a tree close to where the two had been talking.

[OnewingedDragon]

"That it is not madam."

"What the hell- who said that?" Aidan whipped her head around and looked down at the ground but could not see anyone.

"Um...up here" Looking up, Aidan followed the voice to a much smaller branch to her left where a small man-thing was sitting, legs dangling.

Daemon let gravity pull his body backwards as he put his staff over the branch and grabbed it with his hands, flipping over until he dangled just above the limb Aidan was on. "So what brings you to my humble abode, besides spying on your friends."

Aidan snickered, "Humble abode huh? Sure looks like a tree to me."

"Oh great master of the obvious, how shall I compare with your skills." Daemon gave a mock bow. "At any rate, you never answered my question."

"What I do in your tree, " she retorted with mock seriousness, "is none of your business. What are you doing up here anyway?"

"Honestly? Avoiding the crowds. And the smoke, do you know what happened?"

Aidan raised an eyebrow. "There was a fire. The only survivor was a little girl, who was somehow completely unharmed."

Daemon almost melted with relief that his spell worked, but he quickly composed himself, only the even higher raising of the eyebrow gave any indication that Aidan felt something was amiss.

"You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" Aidan asked

"Nope, not me." Daemon responded, hoping he wasn't too quick.

"Uhhu...Hey, come with me, there's someone I want you to meet." Aidan said, as she climbed down from the tree.

"Um...Who?" Daemon asked, fear forming a small knot in his belly.

"A new friend of mine. I think you'll like her." Aidan flashed a grin as she dropped to the ground. "Come on."

Feeling trapped, Daemon decided the only course that wouldn't immediately attach guilt to him was to follow along.

"So who is this person?" Daemon queried Aidan. "And who are you?"

"My name is... well, you'll find out what my name is later. In the mean time, we are going to meet..." Aidan hesitated, seemingly unsure whether she should give names or not.

"Who." It was not a question.

"Kristen."

"Who?"

[WhiteRoxie]

Aidan smiled and clasped her hands behind her back, swinging around to smile innocently at Daemon.

"She's a," Aidan pondered what exactly she should give away, "well, like I said, she's a new friend. She's interesting."

Though not as interesting as someone else I met today, Aidan's eyes sparkled and she mentally laughed.

"And why exactly would she want to meet me?" Daemon asked with suspicion. Aidan laughed.

"Who wouldn't be interested in you? You live in a tree of all places."

Daemon said nothing as Aidan motioned him to stay where he was and picked up the bag the Ice Drake had dropped, rifled through it and pulled out a light, sleeveless shirt. Smirking, she put the bag back where she found it and put the shirt into her own bag. Aidan winked at Daemon then started heading for the town.

"Well, let's go!"

----

Aidan didn't actually know where Kristen was so she wandered almost aimlessly through the streets, careful to pass by the site of the fire. She stopped at the wreckage and whistled lowly.

"Looks pretty bad, huh?"

Daemon swallowed and nodded mutely. Aidan looked at him slyly. "Y'know, I heard a rumour that the fire was set by magical means."

Daemon shifted, "what makes you think that?"

Aidan laughed and turned to keep walking. "Well, I don't know if it's true. But, it'd be pretty exciting if it was true. That would mean it was likely to be arson."

Aidan finished in a whisper, her eyes flashing animatedly. Daemon shrugged and they walked in silence for a while. Aidan looked up at the  inn they were standing in front of.

"Oh. We're here."

----

The large man behind counter of 'The Light's Prophecy' looked Aidan and Daemon up and down when they entered.

"No vacancies," he grumbled. Aidan waved her hands in front of her.

"Oh, we're not looking for a place to stay. My friend's staying here. She's this tall," Aidan waved her hand about five inches above her head, "green eyes, short hair-"

"Yeah, I know who you're talking about. Second floor, second door."

Aidan smiled and headed up the stairs, "thanks!"

----

Kristen hadn't meant to go back straight to the inn, but after today, she felt exhausted and had gone back to lie down for a while. There was a knock on the day and frowning, the Dragon Knight got up to answer it. Opening the door, she found herself looking at Aidan and a shorter... man.

"Hi Kristen! Remember me?" Aidan asked happily. Kristen didn't move.

"Yes, how could I forget. What are you doing here? Aren't we supposed to be meeting up tomo-"

Aidan cut her off with a flick of her hand. "Yeah, but I meet this guy. He's really interesting. His name is... I don't know. What's your name?"

Kristen shook her head and walked back into the room, leaving the door open. Aidan followed her.

"By the way, I have something for you to look after," Aidan pulled the sleeveless shirt out of her bag and tossed it to Kristen who caught it and looked at Aidan's strangely.

"Whose is this?"

"Kori's," Aidan looked around the room innocently. Kristen threw the shirt back at her.

"Idiot! Kori's..."Kristen glanced at Daemon, she'd already split Kori's secret once today, "well, you know how Kori is. He can't go wandering around with no shirt on!"

Aidan blinked, holding the shirt, then she pouted. "Aw damnit. Fine, I'll take it back to him." Aidan's eyes glinted and she smiled slyly.

"Why don't you two stay here and chat while I drop this off," Aidan glanced in what she hoped was a meaningful way at Kristen, "we were discussing the fire before."

Aidan winked and left the inn room, heading back outwards where the two Drakes had taken off.

[Chevalier-Ange]

Kori and Crystal were resting under a few trees after a much needed meal.

"I hope no one notices the missing live-stock?" Kori said rather nervously in Draconic of course.  Crystal just rolled her eyes.

"So, you never did finish your story by the way." Crystal pointed out "regarding your Mother I mean."

"Oh...didn't I?" Kori spoke up "must have been the thrill of the hunt that distracted me."

"Haha...hunt?" Crystal asked sarcastically "You feasted on a sleeping cow if memory serves me right."

"Yes well...I was hungry ok?"

"Haha...enter the fierce 'Ice Drake'"

"..."

"Haha...sorry." Crystal apologized "Please, continue your story though ok?"

"Hmm...very well." Kori said half smiling at the semi smirk on Crystals face. "I am the last known 'Ice Drake' to be born.  The fact that I am, as you say, a half blood, makes no difference really. I am still that which I say I am.  There are only 11 of us left...well, 12 if you count the Legendary Kaphnos who disappeared shortly before I was born.  That was...about 675 years ago.  The Ancient one is, about 3500 years old he is the oldest, and I...the youngest. He knew my mother as well.  Hmm...My mother was a beautiful woman...and, a beautiful person as well.  She truly loved my father that was without a doubt and she agreed to my being kept by the drakes simply for my protection.   I saw her every two or three days until the day she passed away.  My only regret...is that she never saw me completely in human form."

"Oh?" Crystal interrupted "Why is that?"

"Well, coincidentally, I hadn't mastered my 'changeling' ability until the day I was informed my Mother an Father had been killed.  They were with a group of Elven Archers who were defending the Elf Kingdom.  It was being invaded by a rag tag group of marauders from some far off land at the time.  And since my Mothers original dragon mount had been killed some time earlier, my Father assumed his Drake form, and was..."

"What?" Crystal interrupted in haste "She was your Mother? They were your parents?"

"Umm, yes..." Kori replied somewhat perplexed "Why?"

"Well, its just that some people believe, she was the first actual 'Dragon Knight' commissioned by the ruler of Kiris at the time."

"Yes...those words have passed by my ears more then once.  It honours me when I hear them, yet..."

"And so it should Kaze Tatsou Kori...so it should."

"Yes..." Kori lowered his head sadly "I am just thankful her spirit was able to see me in human form."

"How was that possible?" Crystal asked confused.

"A very old and very powerful friend of my Mothers made it possible.  He was a friend to all at that time, and when the ruler of Kiris begged of him this favour, he shed a tear and brought me to my Mothers spirit so we could say 'good-bye' to one another.  She had such a proud smile on her face...yet a sad one as well.  I was told, that no one had ever seen a soul cry.  She shed a single tear, and in the fog and the mist of the mans shroud that day, not a single person could speak."

"Even to me Kori that is a beautiful story.  Honour her well drake."

"Oh...that I do.  I took all of her writings, all of her stories and texts, all of her spell books, and I swore to the ancient one, I would become a 'human' force artist to do just that.  Adding my true-form abilities makes me all that much more gifted."

"Heh...you're still an inferior 'ice' drake to me." Crystal snickered.

"Well...let us hope we are never on opposing sides then shall we.  I wouldn't want to have to prove you wrong 'fire eater'"

"Haha...yes, let us hope that indeed."

Kori stood up and turned towards the trees where his bag was.  "Umm, if you don't mind turning around..."

"What?" Crystal asked "Oh...umm", she added noticing the bag in his hands. "Of course." She added thinking this was altogether ridiculous, but she humored the shy drake nonetheless.

"Dammit." Kori said in common tongue "Where the hell is my shirt."

"Hehe..." came a coy familiar voice "Looking for this?"

"Aidan..." Kori snapped back then said something to Crystal in Draconic.

"Yup...that's me." Aidan replied as she stepped out from behind another tree "you two sure are easy to sneak up on." She added with a smile.

"What?...Huh..." Kori began "We were umm, ..." he added but didn't know whether or not to let out Crystal was capable of talking or not.  The he glared at her, and ducked behind another tree.

Crystal rose from her resting spot at that moment.  Staring at Aidan, she released a small growl and small shots of fire expelled through her nose.

"Looks like someone is jealous." Aidan said with a sly grin as she curled her right hand into a ball. "I can't have that no can I," she added as Kori, in drake form, rushed her, and Crystal grabbed her by the cloak, and placed her on Kori's back. 

"Hey!!!" Aidan objected as Kori began flapping his wings, and slow began his accent.

"Ok...this isn't funny Kori." Aidan added in a semi nervous way "Put me down now...I demand it."

"Heh...you demand." He said in a low growl "Hold on." He added as began flying higher and higher still, chuckling to himself the entire time.

Aidan reached over and grabbed on to his neck tightly "I swear to you Kaze Tatsou Kori, if you don't land this instant..."

Kori did not reply, instead he flew higher and faster.

"Kori!!!!"

***
 About 15 minutes later Kori landed and a rather disheveled Aidan jumped off his back and glared at him intensely.

Crystal let out a sound Kori knew was a laugh, and then he too began to chuckle once more.

"It's not funny." Aidan replied as she drew back her hands quickly and projected two very fast 'ice bolts' at Kori's torso.

Watching them hit his chest and disintegrate into nothingness, he then gazed at her and was about to speak when she beat him too it.

"Oh shut up..." she said sheepishly "It's not like I wanted to hurt you or anything."

Kori let out a roaring belly laugh "That'll teach you." He said while still laughing.

"Oh really?" she asked sarcastically "I was about to ask your friend over there if she was any better a ride then you are?"

Crystal could not help herself at this point, and let out a roaring laugh "She has you again Kaze Tatsou Kori." She added in Draconic.

"Oh shut it Crystal." He said blushing as he walked back behind the tree to 'change'

Aidan just squinted at him and smirked.

[OnewingedDragon]

"Um...Hi. What's up?"

[Ares]

After gathering what could easily be a small army, the town had finally succeeded in stopping the fire. If nothing else, the fact that the town mages were worse at taking out the fire then he was comforted Illyas.

At least at first.

The firefighters approached him shortly after extinguishing the flames. Approached him rather....cautiously.

"Thank you for your help, sir." one of the firefighters began, extending his hand to Illyas.

"Oh, it's no problem. It's not like me to leave some building on fire."

"Yes, well....I don't believe we have met before. You are not one of the town mages, are you?"

"Heh, what gave me away?"

The firefighter smiled and motioned to the bow in Illyas' hands, becoming aware that the hand grasping the weapon was bleeding.

"Yeah, don't worry about that. Too many arrows. These things happen."

"So then who are you?"

"Illyas. I'm a mercenary."

"A mercenary? One who just happened to try putting out a fire for no pay?"

"There wasn't exactly time to negotiate back there. You saw how crazy those flames were."

"I think you should come with me, Illyas."

                                               ----------

"I just wanted to draw attention to the company."

Sitting alone at a table, Illyas was very aware he was about to meet some trouble. The firefighter had told him to wait here, in this small inn. The same inn he had been staying at only yesterday, but it felt different then.

The door swung open as the firefighter from before, along with a few othes, entered the room.

"So....Illyas, is it? You're a mercenary who tried to help us put out a fire. Very noble."

"Um....thanks?"

The largest of the men, probably their chief, came face to face with Illyas.

"What do you know about this fire? It was not normal, that is all we know." he said, glaring at Illyas. Accusations were on their way.

"That's pretty much what I know too."

"So did you start this fire?"

"......no. I can't manipulate fire."

"Um, boss?." one of the other firefighters asked.

"What is it?"

"Why don't we find that Dragoon?"

"Who, Kristen? The one that saved the girl?"

"Wait, someone went inside that building? Wouldn't she need magical protection or something?" Illyas questioned.

"Exactly. She's a Dragon Knight. It's common for them to have fire-resistant clothing since their mounts are Fire Drakes. Kristen would have more experience with this type of fire, I'm sure."

"Alright, so you go find her, and I'll go back to the inn." Illyas said, getting up from his seat.

"Not so fast. We need to find her as soon as possible. You're a mercenary. How about you find her for us? Tonight."

"That depends. What are you paying?"

                                             ----------

It was night now. And Illyas had not seen Kristen anywhere.

"What was it she looked like again? I think she had green hair..."

Bringing in a Dragon Knight for questioning. The firefighters needed her help with this case, but they were all spent from the day's fire. Not an amazing job, but at least a safe one.

"Hm....I'm leaving as it is. Maybe I shouldn't even bother with this job. I have other things to do after all."

Quickly checking his supply of money, Illyas realized that he could very well leave this job and still be fine. So the archer left towards the outskirts of town. Except he had no idea where Maya had actually gone. Or rather even what direction.

"Aimless wandering it is. I'll just ask around outside town if anyone has seen her. And maybe I'll run into Kristen too."

                                                 -----------

There wasn't a whole lot outside of town. At least not the way Illyas had gone. Just many, many trees.

"I guess there wouldn't be an inn out here considering the town is so close." Illyas said to himself. "Still, I'm surprised I haven't seen a building yet."

This was a stupid idea. Why couldn't they just wait until tommorow to find Kristen? A little night travel was always fun though."

Illyas unfastened his bow as he sat down, his back against a large tree. The night was clear. Beautiful. A glowing moon. Sparkling stars.

"Wait, a drake!?"

Seemingly out of nowhere, a drake had flown into the skies, twisting through the air and interrupting Illyas' peace. But that wasn't important now, and the archer was quickly on his feet again.

"Unless there are two Dragon Knights here, that must be Kristen."

Continuing to watch the drake fly wildly, Illyas judged it's distance and quietly made his way towards it.

EDIT: Lots o' edits. Mainly the second half of the post.

[RedAxie]

Omgsh, it's a novel...grab your food now and turn off your cell phones, I had no idea it was this long  Sorry, guys.
but I'm finally here, and that's all that matters!


Name: Quintessence Yula Elthora
Goes by: Quinn
Age: 20 years.  She looks about 13-14 years old, but her elven and nymph heritage shines in this area. As of late, noone knows her real age.
Race: Part human, part elf, part nymph.
Appearance: Average 14-year old human height (five feet, zero inches), bright blue eyes, blond hair with pink tips, human-looking ears. She is quite pale, but not in a sickly way.
Clothing: A knee-length white dress, black sandals, silver bracelets.
Fighting form: (yet to be unleashed! ) Red pants, golden sandals with white wings (XD kawaii~) a red leather sleeveless shirt with a mesh long sleeved shirt underneath, and a long red scarf wrapped around part of her face. (It's a badass scarf) Pictures of Gaia-style sprites:
normal
fighting
Personality: Sticks to her young demeanor, Quinn is a very happy child. Of course, her happiness was shaken about with the destruction of her home and the death of her parents. She is nice to everyone who passes by her, but has secretly sworn revenge on the starter of that fire.
Abilities: She has yet to discover all her abilities, but her natural ones are the ability to hover above the ground (not full flying, as she hasn't trained her magic at all), to sense people emotions when they are hiding them, view-shifting (can close her eyes and see what is going on elsewhere, but only if she has an image in her head of where/what/who it is). The new ability that she has found so far is only one, and that is to change her appearance at will. As in hair colour, clothing, eye colour, skin colour, things like that.
Background: She lived in the city, until her family was killed in a magical fire.


The doctor looked down at the young girl.

She lay there, still sleeping soundly, her chest rising as she inhaled and exhaled. A sigh escaped the doctors lips as the white robed cleric tapped his chin in confusing.
"I really do not know what to say, Sir Lorenthelm. It appears to be a magic-induced slumber...yet I do not know how she got this way, which specific spell was used. I have never seen such a powerful protection spell fused with a slumber spell."

Sir Lorenthelm led the mage out of the girl's room and shut the door behind him.
"How long do you think it will be until she awakens, Revered Son?"

"That...I cannot say either. It could be days, weeks, months, never, or any minute." The cleric paused, and looked up at the towering Lorenthelm. "How are you going to tell her?"

"There is only one way..."

"But...good sir, she is but a child! You must be careful with your words."

"I'm quite aware of that, Revered Son, and pray to the gods that she has family."

"Have you located any of them?"

"..."

"I guess not, then." The cleric took of his spectacles and wiped them with the hem of his sleeve. "Sir Lorenthelm, I am dreadfully sorry, but I must take my leave now. There is nothing else I can do for this child. You will have to just wait and see what happens."

Lorenthelm sighed, rubbing his forehead with his hands. "Alright..alright."

The cleric went to leave the hallway, when Lorenthelm stopped him. "Revered Son, I forgot. Were there any changes in...in..."

"The aura?" Lorenthelm nodded. "If anything, it is getting stronger, good sir. I can tell that she has much natural magic, most likely born with, passed down from her ancestors. But this spell placed upon her has either added to it, or enhanced it. Please, Sir Lorenthelm. Take care while discussing the passing of her family. If her magic is released in a concentrated blast, she...could most likely destroy this entire city."

Lorenthelm's face drained of all it's colour. "Praise be to the gods..."

The cleric pulled his hood to his head and bowed kindly to Lorenthelm as he opened the front door to the hospital. "I bid you good night, and I will pray to Paladine for the girl."

Quinn opened her eyes slowly.

Everything was white!! Where was she!? Why was she in a bed she had never felt before, not in her own pajamas?!

She glanced around the room and took in the hospital setting. Breathing heavily, she flipped her blanket back and swung her feet over the side of the bed to the floor. Her clothes, where were her clothes...or better yet...

"What the heck is going on?!!?"

Her cry echoed through the silent halls of the hospital.

Footsteps were heard, and her door burst open. Standing, looking exhausted in the doorway, was a tall man in a white jacket. (omfg descriptive eh?)

"You've awoken!"

Quinn stood up. "Sir Lorenthelm?! What!? Of course I've awoken, why wouldn't I? Where am I? What's going on? Where is Mum and Dad?"

The tall doctor lowered his head, and shut the door behind him as he stepped fully into the room. "Quintessence...I..."

"Sir Lorenthelm, do not hold your words back because I am a young girl. Please....tell me...where is Mum and Dad?"

Lorenthelm sat down at the end of Quinn's bed, and motioned for her to join him. She sat down carefully and looked up at the doctor.

"Quintessence...there was...a fire at your house last night. We don't know who started it, or why, but...your house was destroyed. And...your parents perished with it...I'm terribly sorry..."

Quinn's eyes went blank. Her mother and father...she couldn't not believe it.

"No."
"Quintessence..."
"No. They cannot be dead."
"I'm...sorry."

Quinn looked up angrily at the Lorenthelm. "Then how on earth did I survive? Why me? I was in the house! Why am I not dead too..." Her eyes suddenly filled with sadness and she lowered her head to stare at her knees.

Lorenthelm sighed. Damn... he thought to himself. How do I explain this...

"Quintessence, a spell was placed upon you. Some sort of enchantment to make you sleep through the fire. And, somehow, it protected you quite well. We had a cleric from the temple examine you, and he concluded that the enchantment somehow enhanced your natural magic ability. You are quite the little mage now...I'd think."

"So...my magic is more powerful...because of some spell. But...I've never used my magic before. I've never had a reason to. So it's pointless then..."

"Maybe, Quintessence, you will learn to use it? Hmm?"

Quinn's eyes flashed. "You know, Sir Lorenthelm. I would like to, now that I think about it. And I'd like to find the person who did this." She clenched her fist, her slim fingernails digging into her palm.

Lorenthelm pet Quinn on the head playfully. "But first, you should learn how to harness your ability. The people who rescued you could withstand the fire, maybe they know something about magic. Perhaps you could find them, and they could help you. Of course, if they are willing."

Quinn's anger changed to delight in a heartbeat. "That is a great idea! Where can I find them? May I leave now?"

"Of course you may leave. There is nothing wrong with you. We were just waiting until you woke up. Regarding your rescuers, they were not from around here, I heard. There was also a light rumor floating about that one of them was staying at The Light's Prophecy. Perhaps you could check there?"

Quinn jumped to her feet. "All right then!" she stared down at herself, at the nightshift that a nurse had dressed her in. "Erm, I can't wear this..."

At her thought of needing clothes, Quinn's body seemed to glow, and the doctor stood up, startled. "Quintessence!"

"Sir Lorenthelm!! What's happening?!"
"I don't know!"
He went to touch the girls arm, but his skin burned upon contact. A small flash of light nearly blinded the poor doctor, so he shut his eyes tight. When he opened them, Quinn was wearing a plain white dress, a pair of black sandals and has two silver bracelets around her wrists. Her hair was slightly shorter, and tipped with bright pink.

"Doctor...I think I like my magic." She said, twirling around, admiring her new ability.


Quinn walked down the main road of the city, trying her best to remember where the damned inn was.

"I must have walked by it countless times on my way home...Oh dear..."

Quinn stopped and looked at the door to her right.

Etched on a wooden sign read the words "The Light's Prophechy"

"Ah. There we go!"

She pulled the doors open and walked inside casually. The front room was slightly empty, being the middle of the day, but there was a man behind the counter. Before she could even say a word, the innkeeper looked down at her with sadness in his eyes. "Oh, little Miss Elthora...I heard about the fire at your residence last night. I am truly sorry...Your parents were good people."
Quinn felt her eyes begin to tear, but she brushed the starting droplets away and smiled. "Thank you. Um. I was wondering if you could help me. You see, I was rescued last night by a woman, and I wanted to thank her...she isn't from around here..."

The innkeeper stroked his chin, thinking. Then, he snapped his fingers. "The only person that I can think of would be the lady who returned last night covered in soot. Her name, and her room, let me get for you." He flipped open the inn keep's book to the most recent check-in's.

"There we go. A miss Kristen. She didn't give her last name when she checked in. She'll be in room 404, miss Elthora."

"Thank you, very much." Quinn smiled at the innkeeper and bounced up the stairs.

404...404...Ugh, I can't find it! Quinn thought to herself, as she tread through the hallway. Ah! There it is!  A smile crept upon her face as she raised her fist to knock on the door. But she stopped. The sound of two voices crept through the wooden door, and Quinn didn't want to intrude. So she sat down across the hallway, directly in front of it, and stared up at the numbers reading 4.0.4, waiting for someone to come out.

[Chevalier-Ange]

Aidan looked at Crystal and smirked again.  "Heh...he's so shy isn't he." She said as if she were expecting Crystal to reply. But of course, Crystal did not say anything but rather just looked at Aidan as if to say "Nice try."

Kori got dressed, and returned to where Aidan and Crystal were standing.

"Awww..." Aidan whined as she put on a phony pout "I liked you better without your shirt on." She added winking at Kori.

"..."

Crystal was laughing in Draconic again, but quickly stopped as her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of something in the trees.  Adding a few words to Kori, she then quickly disappeared beyond the tree line.

"Tsk...was it something I said?" Aidan asked in a sheepish fashion.

"N-no...n-not really." Kori replied looking past her and into the trees towards the village. "She just needed to leave for a while."

"Oh." Aidan replied, "Oooh...now we can be alone for awhile 'Snow'" she threw in with a wide-eyed grin.

Kori looked straight at her, his mind in tactical mode, and smiled back "You know...I was thinking the same thing." He said as he started to walk towards her.

Aidan did a double take, and began looking at the tree where Kori had changed. "Ok Snow...you can come out now!" she said still looking at the tree.

"Aidan?" He said as her got close enough to put his hands on her shoulders.

"Snow?" Aidan asked slightly confused, yet happy at the same time "Are you ok?"

"Yeah." He said as he put his arms around her and pulled her closer to him.

Aidan pulled back a bit and stared at Kori wide eyed "It's about time 'icy'"

"Shhh..." he whispered in her ear "We're being watched by someone in the trees.  Human male I think."

"Oh?" she replied playing along "How can you tell it's a male though."

"Well, umm..." he began "Females have a different, umm...body heat displacement." He added as her looked at her chest quickly then back to her eyes.

"Oh." She said sheepishly "I never noticed you looking there before."

"..."

"Hehe..." Aidan giggled, "What're we going to do about him then?"

"Hmm...what's this?" Illyas said to himself as he watched from the trees "Two lovers in a moonlight romp.  This should make for an interesting show."

"I-I'm n-not exactly sure r-really" he replied, his shyness obviously showing through again "But Crystal is m-making a wide c-circle to come up behind him."

"Hmm...she needs a distraction then."

"Y-yes...th- that's the i-idea."

"Heh...no problem." Aidan said as she took a few steps back, and removed her cloak and threw it at Kori.

"Come on Snow...I know you want to see more." She added with a wink as she began backing away from him slowly.

"A-aidan...w-wait...umm." He managed to utter out as he caught her cloak in his right hand.

"Ah come on, lets see if I can warm you up my 'icy' friend."

"..."

Getting a more comfortable viewing spot, Illyas watched intently "Hmm...this is getting interesting." He said to himself "Very interesting indeed."

"Aidan." Kori said in a loud whisper "Stop moving away."

"Oh why is that Snow?" she replied coyly not catching his hint "You want another hug?" she added as she ran towards him and threw her arms around him.

"He's only about 30 meters away from us now." He whispered in her ear, making it look like another hug.

"Where exactly?" she asked in a very serious tone still holding him though.

"Directly behind you...beside the only Oak tree there is, but...." He began but Aidan quickly released him, and spun around and motioned both her arms in an upward fashion.  Seconds later, the tree up-rooted and began falling to the side.

"Oh damn...I guess they see me." Illyas said as he quickly began running away from the falling tree.  Not ten paces away, Crystal appeared, causing him to do a very quick turn in another direction. "Oh shit."

"I've got him." Kori said as he began running towards him.

"NO..." Aidan said in no uncertain terms "I have him." She added as she chanted a few words, the only one being recognizable to Kori was 'Crystal', and two more red-drakes appeared in his path.

"Dammit." Illyas said out loud as he quickly made another turn, only this time...straight into the fallen tree, smacking his forehead in the process.  A split second later, he fell to the ground in a thud.

"Hehe...gotcha." Aidan said giggling.  Waving her hands again, the two other drakes vanished into thin air.

"Nicely done." Kori said still running towards the fallen man.

"Why thank you." She said with a smirk, as she too ran towards the man.

By the time they got there, Crystal had already assumed a 'guard' position. The man, barely conscience, looked up at Aidan and said "...you sly little..." then his head slumped sideways...presumably, he was now out cold.

"Sly maybe..." Crystal said in Draconic tongue "...but definitely a fast thinker when it counts."

"Haha...you're right." Kori replied with a smile.

"What did she just say?" Aidan asked curiously.

"She was complimenting you."

"Oh, well thank you Crystal." she said with a smirk.

Crystal made a low growling sound to that.

"She said you're welcome."

"You can understand me?" Aidan said slightly amazed.

"Yes...she can.  Why?" Kori replied for Crystal.

"..."

"What's wrong?" Kori asked noticing the blank, yet embarrassed look on Aidan's face.

"So, everything I was saying back then, she could understand?"

"Oh yes." Kori replied with a slight snicker.

"..."

EDIT: Deleted Crystal talking to Aidan at the end of the post

[Gnaborretni]

Name: Does not let people know his real name. Goes by Spoon, or Bard
Sex: Male
Age: 27
Appearance: Average build, about 5'10", likable face and amiable expressions. Darker complexion, received from the fact that he spends a lot of time on the road.
Clothes: Travel-worn leathers, which are a light brown. Also has a pair of fancier clothes, which is a snappy dark red suit. Has a lute strapped to his back, and a bag strapped to his belt, which contains all different kinds of eating utensils and condiments.
Occupation: Wandering bard and traveling gourmet/chef.
Weapons: Lute, and various kinds of cutlery and condiments.
Personality: Mysterious, but instantly likable. Despite being outwardly flirtatious and witty, is really quite introspective and keeps to himself.
Other: Can use his culinary magic to turn his cutlery into massive versions of themselves. His name Spoon came from his preference to use a massive spoon to bludgeon enemies into submission. His sense of taste is very finely developed, and he can tell the origin of foods by tasting them. As well, because of all the different tastes he has developed and encouraged, Spoon has an immunity to almost all poisons, and he rarely becomes ill as a result of spoiled food. As a result, he can eat practically anything, although he much prefers gourmet quality dinners. He preforms magic effortlessly, possibly a sign that he is much stronger than he appears to be. He is independently wealthy, a remnant from a past which he seems to be trying to escape. Even though he could have a comfortable life, he lives the life of a vagabond. Is wanted by the Crown, although not seemingly for a malignant reason...
Spoon wandered into the town, wondering what culinary wonders he could find here. He looked around, looking for the most prosperous looking inn, as it would probably have the tastiest food. Of course, he'd have to try all of the inns, but this would be the best place to start.

"'The Light's Prophecy.' Seems like a good enough place to start." Spoon pulled out his lute, and wandered into the inn.

After all, he had to earn his meal.

I would put more, but on the road, my internet is about to be shut off. This gets my character off the ground, at least.

[Chevalier-Ange]

Kori crouched down beside the fallen man to check his condition "Hmm..."

"What's wrong?" Aidan asked, "He isn't dead is he?"

"No...its just...I-I saw him b-before trying to p-put out t-the fire."

"You mean the guy with the strange bow?" Aidan asked.

Crystal looked on confused; not knowing what either of them was talking about of course.

"Yes." Kori replied "Y-you s-saw him as w-well?"

"Yeah." Aidan answered smiling "He isn't very good at that is he?"

"Heh...no, not really." Kori said smiling at her.

"Ooh." Aidan said squinting her eyes again "Nice smile 'Snow'"

Crystal mumbled something and just rolled her eyes. Aidan noticing this looked at Crystal and with a very sheepish look said "Don't worry Crystal, I'll let you play with him when he's a drake, but I get him when he's human."

Kori stood up quickly and stared right at Aidan "WHAT?"

Crystal and Aidan began laughing quiet loudly at that point. Kori drew a blank look on his face, which of course, caused Aidan and Crystal to laugh even louder.

"Oh you two are just hilarious aren't you?" Kori finally said "Let's just get this guy on his feet and go find Kristen ok?"

"Owww...my head." The man then mumbled. "You know Kristen?" he added in a low voice.

"I do." Kori replied, "And I assume you do as well?" he then asked.

"Oww..." he replied placing a hand on his head "No I don't, but the Fire Brigade wants to talk to her...and...and hired me to find her." He finished trying to sit up now.

Crystal mumbled a few words to Kori, and then vanished through the trees.

"Kori?" Aidan asked.

"I'll tell you later." He replied giving Aidan a look he hoped she caught.

Aidan smirked "Nice eyes 'Snow'"

Kori furrowed a brow and turned his attention back to the man on the ground.  Hearing Aidan giggle in the background he began questioning the man.  A few minutes later, Kori was helping the man to his feet, satisfied that what he was saying was the truth.

"Ok." Kori said to Aidan "We're going back to the Inn to talk to Kristen. Things are just getting really confusing now."

"You're telling me." The man said still holding on to Kori "I'm Illyas by the way."

"I'm Kori, and this is my new friend Aidan." Kori replied as Aidan just smiled politely "When we get to Kristen, we'll try to figure out what's going on here."

"Sure." Illyas replied, "Oh...can you grab my bow please?"

Aidan stared at Kori, and he at her.

"Umm...one of you please?" Illyas asked again.

Again, Kori and Aidan just looked at one another.

"Well?" Illyas asked slightly annoyed now.

"I'm not carrying it." Aidan finally piped up "I would look ridiculous carrying a bow."

"Well, I-I'm h-helping Illyas w-walk." Kori said "B-besides, it w-was your t-tree that d-did this to him."

"..."

"I-I'm r-right." Kori said.

At this point Illyas pulled himself away from Kori and went over and grabbed his bow himself.   Using it as a walking stick to help steady himself, he walked straight back to the two of them and stared at them rather annoyed.

"New friends huh? " he asked sarcastically "You'd swear you two were married by the way you act." He added as he slowly started walking back towards town.

"Hmmm..." Aidan said as she grinned at Kori.

"H-hey w-wait I-I'll h-h-help y-you." Kori stuttered out as he quickly walked to catch up to Illyas.

Aidan giggled loudly as she watched Kori walk away from her.

"Hehe...he's so shy." She said to herself as she then quickly caught up to the two men and walked beside them.