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[Toan]

OOC: Bear with me here. x.x It's long.

“I’m not gonna, no way.” A fairy-boy replied, shifting in place uncomfortably.

“Go on. I DARE ya!” The second fairy-boy giggled some more.

“No way! Haven’t you noticed how there are NO other creatures around here? Even the breeze stops here,” the first fairy-boy replied in panicked, hushed tones. He cast a glance around – yup, nothing was moving alright. The trees, the water in the pond, the moss, the very air itself… was still.

“Duh! That’s ‘cause the BEAST-“ the first fairy boy shuddered violently “-lives in there!” Without warning, the second fairy-boy seized a small moss-covered stone off the forest floor and heaved it as hard as he could out into the moderately sized pond they stood before. “NO!” The first fairy-boy screamed, clasped his hands over his mouth, and shuddered even more violently, his eyes following the wide arc of the stone. It crashed near the middle, breaking the silence temporarily. A few birds flew away… but the ripples in the water stopped extraordinarily fast. Before they knew it, the water and the surrounding environment was back to its still, eerie silence.

“See? Nothing lives out there, Peatre! Now I double dare ya!” The first fairy-boy had turned and whispered triumphantly.

“You probably woke it! I’m not swimming a lap in that pond, no way, nuh uh. You can keep your chestnut pillow, it’s not worth death, Mikel!” Peatre turned to embrace the loooong walk to find the path Mikel had strayed them from hours ago when a hand landed on his shoulder to scare him. Poor Peatre jumped, whimpered and wet himself simultaneously. Mikel’s hand slid off of Peatre’s shoulder and he fell to the ground laughing at how easily excited Peatre was. It was worth it, Mikel thought, to drag him out here just to see this!

SSSFNKCRKLCK-splishsplashshhhhhTHUD.

Mikel instantly stopped laughing. Suddenly quite damp, he turned so fast towards the sound he cracked his neck – there lay Peatre’s severed, mangled head.

Mikel was on his feet – he didn’t remember even standing, but now he was backing away. His laughter had died, his voice had died… all he could think to do was run, to get away, to get the blood off of him, to get help.

He made it two steps.

At that point, the forest began to spin, slowly at first, but enough to entirely disorient Mikel. He began to sway during those first two steps, and just as he went to take the third, the entire forest lurched out from under his feet and he fell, hard, onto his left side. Laughter from many different voices in every direction filled his ears… the laughter turned into screaming, and everything he saw went from dark green to dark red as the forest began to strip away at itself…. Mikel’s eyes began to bleed. A sharp blow to the chest and then to the face ensured that the last thing Mikel ever saw was his own blood that he frantically tried to blink out of his eyes.

… A creature knelt before the bodies and spoke:

“Móðir vor sem ert á jörðu,
Heilagt veri nafn þitt.
Komi ríki þitt,
Og veri vilji þinn framkvæmd ur í oss,
Eins og han er í þér.
Eins og þú.
Sendir hvern dag þína engla
Sendu þá einnig til oss.
Fyrirgefið oss vorar syndir,
Eins og vér bætum fyrir
Allar vorar syndir gagn- vart þér.
Og leið oss eigi til sjúkleika,
Heldur fær oss frá öllu illu,
því þín er jörðin
Líkaminn og heilsan.
…Amen.”

Toan had changed. The Lost Woods changes you, no doubt about that. He had unconsciously become what he’d be mistakenly cast out of Sæglópur for being – evil, practically a demon, damned by the Gods… though he still prayed to Them and, regardless of the peculiar manner, still remained loyal to Them and only Them. His skin was marred and dirty (as a result of a near deadly experience with an Ikana warrior), and so was his disposition against most of civilization. His corner of the Lost Woods even reflected so; the surrounding creatures had abandoned him ages ago. His Zora magic was no longer what it used to be. Now it mirrors what it is used for – dark magic for dark actions, after all. Toan’s magic even inadvertently contributed to the atmosphere that Peatre picked up on; his magic, in conjunction with the nature mystical nature of the Lost Woods, was what sustained Toan’s current home as the unnaturally sinister place it was.

Why was it his home, anyway? Having nowhere to go, Toan had traveled north until he hit land, whereupon he learned the pirate raid was just one attack in a massive, daresay worldwide, war waging between the three Dorms. Eager to rectify his sins and earn glory amongst his people, Toan joined the Lost Woods forces against the primarily the Pirates (the Ikana undead meant nothing to him)… until a nearly fatal encounter with Rhiannon left him unable to continue. Toan fell back, deep into the Lost Woods, to tend to his wounds where he grew even more bitter and religious.

He had had plans, too. Toan was going to prove his devotion to the Gods, to prove he wasn’t what the elders had made him out to be, to earn his way back into Sæglópur. As time went by and as the seasons changed over and over again, so did his plans. From earning his way back in… to forcing his way back in …to revenge against the elders… until, finally, Toan wanted nothing to do with them. All that concerned him now was his devotion to his Zora Gods, and his vengeance against the pirates and Rhiannon in the names of those Gods. After all, everything he did, good or bad, was in Their names… including the deaths of Peatre and Mikel.

They wandered into my holy sanctuary, Toan had justified. They were besmirching the holy land, disrupting the spirits… But Toan had prayed over their deaths, all the same, wishing them eternal glory in the afterlife. Seizing both of the corpses, each collar in a hand, he began to drag them to the waterfront to feed… until Toan noticed a newspaper on the ground, muddy and bloody. He wouldn’t have paid it a second glance had it not been for the large article on the front titled “DESERT RAID”, which interested him mildly enough to pick it up. The picture on the front was what took the cake, however.

…Her. Now Toan knew exactly where the godless creature that destroyed his chances against the pirates in their time of weakness, thanks to the picture. Rhiannon is in the desert.

Toan stood entirely still for a moment. Was he truly ready to set out? To abandon his holy sanctum and finish what the pirates began in the names of his Creators? He cast a glance around. Other than additional spiritual reflection, nothing more could be gained from this dismal setting… Forgetting the bodies, he rummaged through his brown cloak pockets to make sure he had what mattered: his few bits of gold and his necklace, emblazoned with spiritual symbols and blessed by the high priest himself. He kissed it and threw it around his neck – divine protection would be welcome for such an adventure. Toan took a step and it landed in the pool of fresh blood. He looked down… and looted the bodies of anything they might have of worth on them. Some gold, a bit of string, and a vial of some liquid were all the Zora could salvage. With that, he set out on his way… Due west until the Lost Woods were no more… From there, he’d have to trek through Roslen and Uradiel… It would be a difficult journey…

…It’s in the Their hands now, Toan thought. Protect me, Oh Holy Protectors… Heilagt veri nafn þitt.

[Rhiannon]

Rhia was sleeping, somewhat less than soundly in the corner of the castle where she had collapsed after trying to hide. Her face contorted into little fits of fear for her mind was playing evil tricks on her. A most horrid nightmare of two kids being brutally murdered seeped into her mind. She could picture everything so clearly, as if she were really there. Once both kids were dead, she could see herself being pushed by an invisible force into their pools of blood. Who was doing this to her? her subconcious wondered. Suddenly, she saw him. A most handsome creature for sure, but there was something not right about him. His eyes were so dead, and not the normal dead either, for she had seen many of those. He looked straight at her, his eyes peirced her body, she felt weak, helpless, hopless...

Rhia awoke screaming. Sweat dripping from her face. She had never had such a vivid nightmare as the one she had tonight. She hugged her knees and quished herself deeper into the corner, eyes darting everywhere she silently cried herself into a dreamless sleep.

Edited by Rhiannon, 11 June 2006 - 03:56 AM.

[ninja kitten]

Wrenched from her dreams Shiima slid off her bed, landing in a heap of arms and legs on the floor. Struggling to straighten herself and untangle from the mass of sheets and blankets that had fallen with her, she finally defined what it was that had awoken her. It was a scream from somewhere nearby.

"They'd better be missing something very important," she muttered, "because they will be when I'm finished with them." A few minutes and swear words later she was finally free. Quickly rising to her feet and grabbing a nearby object, she headed toward the door. Throwing it open, Shiima headed out into the hall with murder on her mind.

Wandering around the castle in her bare feet was something that happened quite often. Enjoying the feel of the cold stone beneath her feet, Shiima almost was distracted from her midnight quest. Her adventure ended when she reached the source of the annoying scream that had awakened her. Debating as to whether she should kill her now or just let it go, Shiima stared at the sleeping form huddled in the corner. Taking a deep breath and setting down the pillow she had brought with her, she removed her bathrobe and knelt. Gently covering the sleeping Rhia and wiping away some of the tears that were already drying on her face, Shiima hugged her tightly before leaving. Someday she'd fully accept the evil she desired, but until then who said she couldn't be kind.

[Toan]

Have the Gods forsaken me?

Night fell yet again. Toan has been silently trekking through the woods with very little on his mind other than his destination, his goal, and how his faith will bring him to salvation and the afformentioned... but after several days without sight of water, the Zora was getting concerned. The Woods is a scary place - usually deadly, if you're trying to get out...

He clutched his rosary hanging loosely around his neck, kissed the pendant, and closed his eyes. It's a test of faith. The Gods know how worthy I am. They are all knowing, of course. They are testing my endurance of faith... Toan opened his eyes again and their renewed appearance quickly vanished.

...

...

...Shit.

Those dancing flames ahead in the distance meant only one thing. Toan has stumbled across the Faery's holy sanctuary, the Forest Temple. Religions don't easily mix, everyone knows that. Toan knows he doesn't want to start trouble, but he couldn't help but scowl as he trekked on toward the Temple. As much as he hated it, Toan needed to reaffirm his directions with locals... besides, why not benefit from their mistaken religion and charity to get some water and food? Still, the Zora was wary - they'd surely spot the rosary and pendant hanging around his neck...

Heaven protect me from any unseen heathens that lurk at their palace of heresy...

[Gabe Puratekuta]

Gabriel suddenly opened his eyes. There was a dark, almost evil, presence nearby.
"Could it be....?" he whispered. Theer was no way to tell until he saw whoever, or whatever, he sensed. The scar that lay across his neck wasn't resonating any pain. As a samurai, he was ready for any situation. Is it who I think it is...?? he thought. As soon as he opened the door, a bucket of cold water fell on his head. "Great!" Gabriel started to wring out her hair and clothes before continuing to where she sensed the presence. SHe looked around the corner and was surprised at who she saw. "IT'S YOU!!!!"

[Paladin Anthony]

Ayden paused at the edge of the forest surrounding the Forest temple. He felt a presence there that disturbed him, but he also felt this is what Raiyu had lead him to. Ayden has sworn to go with Ken, but then Raiyu, who as far as Ayden could tell was Ken's ancestor or protector in spirit form, had lead him back into the woods.

Ayden was unsure is Ken had followed, but he was determined to find what he was searching for then track down Ken if he had not. This quest would complete the ability to control his alter-ego, so it was vital to being able to aid Ken anyway.

Ignoring the evil presence, Ayden boldly walked toward the front doors of the Forest Temple having explored it many times before. He pushed open the doors listening as the creak of the doors echoed inside, but were completely swallowed outside.

Again he paused, hearing footsteps behind him, and around a corner at the same time. The creak of the door, even after being swallowed by the mysterious forest magic, would have been heard. Hiding was of no use. Ayden turned slowly to face the being behind him.

[Toan]

He had reached the front doors. They were already ajar and the floor was littered with a single bucket, while its former remnants could be found splattered down across the stoney floor and across an... individual who had shouted "IT'S YOU!". Was it male or female? Inconsequential, thought Toan. All that mattered right now was more of the nourishing water he saw, and maybe some day old bread before he... "kindly"... departed.

A moment after the first individual appeared, another appeared too after a series of turning. This one was quite male from the looks of him... and speaking of looks, Toan was on the recieving end of two quite incredulous looks. Internally shrugging it off, he spoke.

"Greetings, fellow foresters. I am in dire requirement of some water and bread. I've not had the opporunity or resources to renourish myself in days. I've... been travelling. I need directions out of the Lost Woods..." Toan proclaimed in hushed, almost whispered tones. Looking up from the ground after he finished speaking, he met eyes with dry male and awaited some sort of reaction.

[Paladin Anthony]

Flashing a peaceful grin, Ayden nodded. "I can help you out... after I've gotten what I came here for. As for water..." He pulled off a cantine wrapped around his shoulder and tossed it to the Zora. "It's not much, but it's all I have."

Ayden glanced over at the other being and nodded, "Hello." This was very strange. Ayden had been here in these woods for ages... and granted they were vast, he had never seen this many people in one place unless they were traveling together and had lost their way. Ayden was alert already due to the evil he had sensed, but he was confident in his ability to handle it, in fact his only concern was letting his own evil out... and being able to bring it back under control.

[Gabe Puratekuta]

Gabriel could tell that the two were confused about her appearance, not to mention her prescence in the temple. "Well, I've only been here for a few months. The temple spirits like to have me around on acount of this *ability* I have." She wrung out her hair once more and tried to get water out of one of her cat-like ears. "They're a bunch of tricksters." She then sighed. "But, it is kind of nice here with some very interesting people to talk to, despite them being without caporeal forms."

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken looked up at the forest temple fairly confident that Ayden was here.

The boy watched as Raiyu guided Ayden into the forest, and started to go in himself when he heard the Silver Wolf's voice tell him to wait. He stopped right there and sat down, his legs crossed.

<Follow the will of truth, not the will of impulse.> Raiyu's voice spoke in his mind, <As another finds his strength, so must you.>

Ken then took that as the indication to go, and went into the Lost Woods again. He would not let himself be lost this time.

The boy went through, entering many forks and splits in where he could go. There were many spots where it seemed the right way to go, almost seeming to tell Ken, "I'm the right one! Come here!" but he ignored them, going in what seemed to be the true direction.

"I will not be easily lead astray." he said to the forest around him

Ken looked down the prints in the ground. People definitely had to be there. The swordsman walked forward past the front doors to see three others, including Ayden. He looked at the zora a little bit before reminding himself it was impolite to stare.

The boy looked around the inside of the temple, feeling the many spirits around and about. He stepped forward, his footsteps being echoed by the power of his weight, the large blade slung by his shoulders, and the temple itself. He looked kind of embarassed of the noise, but continued on, hearing the conversation.

Edited by Ken the Wandering Soul, 22 June 2006 - 07:17 AM.

[Gabe Puratekuta]

Gabriel looked at the newcomer. "Hi there." She then paused as one of the Temple spirits whispered into her ear. Her eyes widened. "What!?! Just because I'm physically a woman doesn't mean my sexual preferences are that of one!" she said and blushed. "Plus, I already have someone waiting for me in my home village."

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken bowed to Gabriel's greeting, but got mildly confused when she seemed to be responding to no one. He quickly figured it was the spirits in the temple, though he decided not to inquire as to what was said exactly.

Just before he could another step, the boy heard a spirit whisper in his own ear. He tilted his head in a curious manner and turned a little to the side where he heard the whisper.

"What does my sword have to do with compensating for something?"

[Gabe Puratekuta]

"You can hear them, too?" Gabriel was intrigued. She then squinted her eyes at Ken as if she was trying to see him clearer than she already did. "Ah, yes. Your aura tells me that you are pure. Only those that have a pure heart can hear the spirits." She then looked at him normally and smiled. "Besides. With ears like mine, you'd think I could anyway." she said, pointing to her ears, and laughed a little. Suddenly, she heard something outside. "What the--" That aura....feels familiar.... she thought to herself Is that who I think it is...??

[Toan]

Closing his eyes and lifting the canteen to his lips, Toan drank slowly, savouring the smooth and cold flow of water through the beginnings of his digestive track.

When he was finished, he lowered the canteen."Mmmmm...." Toan half hummed, half growled. He never would have growled like that, but hey, as previously stated... the Woods change you.

He opened his eyes and began to take in his surroundings. He'd heard others join the small crowd that has now formed, but they were insignificant in Toan's eyes. Right now, his goal was the directions out of the Lost Woods, and from there, finding Rhiannon... and pleasing the Gods with her sacrifice. He flashed his eyes over and locked them on the water-bearer.

Toan handed the canteen over, gracefully and smoothly; nothing about his motion was abrupt. He returned his arms to the inside of his cloak. In the same calm, low voice, Toan spoke again with his half whispered, hushed tones. "You have my gratitude. I respect your quest, but these directions are integral. It is best if I get what I came for and be..." He glanced around at the small crowd before returning his gaze on the water-bearer. "...on my way."

[Gabe Puratekuta]

"I can probably help you with that." Gabriel said to Toan as she turned to him. "The spirits of the forest tell me where to go whenever I get lost out there." She then cupped the scar on her neck. "But only if I can go with you."

[Toan]

Toan closed his eyes. Shit, he thought. As much as he wanted out of the Woods, he didn't want any extra "luggage", so to speak. This is a solo mission.

Opening his eyes again, he played for time. "...Would the spirits lead you out of their domain when you are so influenced by them?"

[Gabe Puratekuta]

"I am not influenced by them, sir. It's just that most of them are mischievous little bastards." she replied. "Besides, I have my own reasons for leaving this place." The aura she sensed earlier was getting closer. No!! Don't come any closer!! You'll be trapped!!!

[Paladin Anthony]

Ayden took back his cantine and wrapped it around his shoulder again. he listened as Toan's mannerisms suggested a calm and noble person, but his eyes revealed a quite rushed individual. Ayden was unsure what to say.

He was likewise on a mission, and couldn't abandon it just yet. "I apologize, my friend. I have something I must do before I can help you. Directions cannot simply be given out of these woods. Without spirits as she says, or some sort of magic quide, you'll never leave the forest alive." With that he turned and headed farther into the temple.

It didn't take long for him to become frustrated. The temple wasn't huge, or at least not complex. He had checked door after door and found nothing. Even the normal spirit activity was almost completely devoid of movement.

Then he saw Raiyu. The wolf nodded to him then entered a door that Ayden could swear wasn't there when he passed it a minute ago. He narrowed his eyes and follwed.

Upon entering the door slammed behin him, creating a deafening echo behind him and leaving him feeling horribly alone. Raiyu stood at the far side of the room looking at him through piercing eyes. He then suddenly disappeared. With his disappearence a puff of smoke was left. This smoke began splitting into a black one and a white one. Each formed into the figure of a human then began to fill in.

Ayden reeled in shock as both took the form of... him. Staring back at him were to Ayden's. The only difference between them could be seen in the eyes. In one he saw himself, cool and collected, just before a battle. In the other was a seething hatred. Instantly Ayden recognized him, and his other half.

Ayden knew what was coming, but wasn't sure how he could handle it. Both charged him at amazing speed and Ayden was hardpressed to dodge his darkside and ward off the blow from his light side. Ayden kept his lighter half between his real self and his darker side. Everytime he scored a hit on his light side, it simply disapated and then reformed, throwing him off balance so he was soon bruised badly from getting caught with his defenses down.

Suddenly his darker half lept through the air over the lighter and slammed a fist into his arms. Ayden slid back as a deafening crack rang out. His darker half had nearly broken his forearm. As the pain ran through him, both spirits took advantage. In a matter of second Ayden was laying on his back, hardpressed to breathe and all but unconscious.

Ayden lay on the floor knowing what he had to do... ^Aiden... I need your help.^ Aiden flashed into his mind. ^Took you long enough. I thought you were going to let us die first. Now I can crush these morons and take my body back.^ Ayden didn't have the energy to argue about that.

Aiden, now in control of their body, stood with energy anew. He smirked through a bloody smile and cracked his knuckles. Aiden jumped in with a yell that nearly made the two spirit disipate from sound alone. His first strike took the dark spirit and passed through his head, with a heel kick sweeping through not allowing the spirit to reform. The legs soon faded into nothing and the entire form was gone. Aiden turned on the light spirit and began his attack.

With no effort at all, Ayden was flung through the air and slammed to the floor. With try after try, Aiden found his way to the floor as the light spirit simply used his attacks against him. ^You've gotta be kidding me, they want you to have control again. Screw that!^

Aiden got up and ran to the door. He grabbed the handle and was thrown across the room by some unseen force. He got up and slammed a fist into the foor. ^Damn you Ayden, handle this bastard so we can leave.^ Ayden again had control and though still tired, Ayden exploited a weakness in the spirit that he had noticed during Aiden's attack. Ayden led in with a hard kick aimed at the spirits face. The spirit caught his foot and began to throw him, when Ayden arched back and grabbed this spirits ankle. As the spirit pushed Ayden along, his carried his own ankle with it, slamming the spirit to the floor and pulling Ayden around to his feet. The light spirit was in smoke form, and the dark one re-emerged from the floor. They swirled in the middle of the room for a moment before forming into a katana laying in the floor. Ayden lifted it feeling that it was light, perfectly balanced and some sort of power eminated from it.

Raiyu stood before him with what could only have been a smile, then he too dissappeared.

Ayden knew this was what he was supposed to get. Now he must return to Ken, his debt now doubled. Picking up the sheath to the sword he now held, sheathed it and started toward the door and out of the temple.

He emerged from the temple wondering how long he had been in there and if anyone else was still here.

OOC: Sorry about that... definitely not as good as I had hoped... but it served my purpose, heh.

[Gabe Puratekuta]

Gabriel was already running toward the exit of the Temple. She didn't care if anyone had decided to follow her or not. I've got to hurry!! OR else I won't be the only one from my village that's lost in these woods!! she thought as she reached the final door. As soon as she stepped through, she leaped and landed several meters from the staircase that connects the entrance of the Temple to the rest of the forest.
Se then stood up with a smirk on her face. "I know that was unnecessary, but I couldn't resist." she whispered to the spirits surounding her.
Suddenly, a slender pair of arms wrapped around her in a tight hug. "Father, I've found you!!" a beautiful voice exclaimed from behind Gabriel

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken himself had wandered into the other rooms. He had hoped to follow behind Ayden, but his feet only carried him away from the other's path. The mysteries of the temple warped the world around him. Within a short while, the boy had found himself in an aged room - the ceiling had caved in a long time ago from the looks of things. Looking around, Ken's eyes centered on an altar in the middle of the room. He walked to it, climbing over the rubble in his way.

As he drew closer, Ken noticed that the air seemed to change - something was definitely different about this place from the rest of the temple.

As Ken stood before the alter, looking over the carvings in it's surface when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around, seeing another boy about his age standing at an archway leading into the room. He had blood-red hair mixed with black, and wore a warrior's robe of the same colors. The oddest part was his yellow eyes.

"No..." the red-haired boy uttered, "Your not ready yet." he continued in a panicked voice.

It was then that Ken noticed a glow out of the corner of his eye. He looked down, seeing that the red jewel on his sword was glowing. Blood-red mist was pouring from it. The other rushed forward, pushing Ken towards one of the doors.

"You should not be here - get out of here, now! While he is still sealed!" he exclaimed.

"W-what?" Ken said, startled.

The other boy grabbed Ken by the hand and pulled him, going down the hallway. He eventually pulled Ken into a another room, checking the swor himself to see the mist was retreating back into the orb. Satisfied he looked up at Ken, looking him straight in the eye.

"You must leave at once, and do not come back until you are ready to face him. Do you understand?"

"I - uh - I..." Ken stuttered, not understanding at all what was happening.

^Give him the strength to start.^ a voice called.

The red-haired boy's eyes widened again.

"Raiyu..." he said looking up, "If that's what it take's then I'll do it."

The red-haired boy held his hand to Ken's chest, uttering a few words. He then looked Ken in the eye again saying one more thing.

"Your blade is heavy, even with the power drawn from the spirit. When you need to, concentrate your own spirit into the blade, and shall become light as a feather - for a time."

"Who are you...?" Ken uttered, finally forming a sentence in his confusion.

A pulse of energy was sent down the other's arm, into Ken. Ken's sight started faded, and blinked his eyes a few times. He tried to pull his eye lids open one more time when he saw that he was outside the temple. He saw the back of someone hewould know as a traveling companion, just before he completely blacked out and collapsed.

"Ay... den..."

(ooc: This is going to be my cover for the time that I'm gone. Feel free to drag around Ken's unconcious body until I get back.)

[Paladin Anthony]

Ayden spun as he heard his name. With lightning reflexes he slid to his knees catching Ken just as he was about to faceplant on the marble steps that lead into the temple.

After further examination, Ken had no cuts, no bruises, he hadn't been fighting or hit. He had passed out from what seemed like exhaustion. "What in the world have you been doing?"

He laid Ken down and started searching for something to carry him with. The combined weight of that sword and Ken was just a bit much, especially considering how deep into the forest they were.

It didn't take long however to find two pretty sturdy limbs and some vines with which he lashed together a crude gurney. He took Ken's sword and lashed it across his own back, taking a moment the get familiar with the new weight, then set Ken on the gurney and began dragging him away from the temple. This was going to be a long journey out of here.

[Gabe Puratekuta]

[OoC: I think I'll wait until later to post my next one]

[Rhiannon]

Rhia was asleep for the night once more. Once again, she had a dream. Of course, not quite as tramatic as the one before but just as vivid. Someone was in conflict, angry. She did not know who, or why. She did not know why she was sensing this person so strongly but something inside her wanted to help whoever she kept dreaming of. This person was angry, so maybe a little cheering up would help them out.

"What's wrong?" she mumbled aloud in her sleep, in her dream, trying to reach the individual.

[Gabe Puratekuta]

"Motoko, I told you not to leave the village!" Gabriel released herself from her grip and turned around to look at the young woman. She was an exact duplicate of Gabriel, except for her hair's emerald green, her eyes are light blue and her ears are that of a normal human's.
"I-I'm sorry, Father, but........I missed you so much!"
"Well, I guess it doesn't matter anymore." She noticed Ayden and an unconscious Ken near the staircase. "I wonder what hapened to him...."

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken's eyes kept themselves shut as he was pulled along by Ayden.

In his sleep, Ken found himself leaning against a tree. He felt tired, but comforted in the shade of tree. The boy looked beyond the shade the tree to see a great and bright field. He turned his head a little to left, seeing another person.

The other person had her back turned to him. She then turned around, offering Ken a warm smile. Ken's eyes widened--her teal hair, her green eyes, her face...

Ken's mouth barely moved as laid on the gurney, but one word escaped from his lips.

"... Sister..."

[Gabe Puratekuta]

She moved one eyebrow upwards as a spirit told her of what happened to Ken.
"Oh, I see." She then started to walk toward Ayden.
Motoko reluctantly followed. Father....

[Ken the Wandering Soul]

Ken's dream became short-lived as his eyes fluttered open. The vision of his older sister from 4 years ago slowly faded to the forest canopy.

The boy slowly observed that he was being pulled along. He tried moving his arm, but the limb felt exhuasted, along with the rest of his body. He felt like his entire body had gone through weeks of non-stop movement and training. Ken's body and spirit were still recovering from the technique taught directly to him by the other boy. He did not feel sleepy, but his body just did not feel like moving much.

His curiosity gaining a larger vote than exhaustion, Ken looked up to what was pulling him on the gurney.

"Ay... Ayden?" he barely let out, breathing hard.

[Paladin Anthony]

Ayden hadn't gotten far from the temple when Ken shuffled on the gurney. He stopped and set it down, moving to Ken's side. He was only vaguely aware of Motoko's presence.

"Ahh you're awake. Just lay still and rest for a bit, I do believe we're on our way out of the forest again." As he said that he looked inquisitively up at Motoko and Toan, trying to verify that was the plan.

ooc: Short post... um... where's the fish?

[Toan]

OOC: I'm sorry; life got to be a random shuffle with college visits and other... scenarios. I'll do the best I can to keep up better this time.

Toan only watched as the events around him unfolded - Ayden politely refused to direct Toan out fo the Woods as he had unfinished business he needed to attend to, which seemed to be taken care of after he burst out of the temple doors after an indeterminable amount of time. Ken followed, and he too stumbled out of the temple before falling to the ground, seemingly unconscious. Even Gabriel ran in and out, soon accompanied by a near clone of herself, apparently named Motoko.

He shook his head to himself. There's a lot of demon-work around here... but this loose "team" is my only ticket out of these Woods and, ultimately, to salvation. He sighed aloud, and spoke in the same tone as earlier. "It appears that the Gods have deemed you few to be my shepherds to Their Highest Hands. I have but no choice to follow you out of the Woods."

All I wanted was some stale bread and water, but the Gods had different plans for me. Toan withdrew his hands from inside his robes and bowed his head in silent prayer, awaiting a response.

[Mystic Kitsune]

[OOC: Ill try my best to somehow stuff my character in here...correct me if i make a mistake somewhere.]

Outside the temple, the half demon Kitsune eyed the people going in and out of the temple. He had no desire to talk to anyone. He just eyed them, studied them, and watched them pass. Not giving them a second thought, unless something attracted his attention.

His desire to become a full demon was emitting dark energy that he was afraid would attract attention. He knew there were different types of people in this forest, and he was weary of those who could sense darkness. So, he decided to stand still and just simply lean against the great tree, and would try to supress his radiant dark energy by thinking of something else...but it wouldnt go away...

One thing caught his eye though...a curious scene of two people...apparently one person being dragged...but that wasnt what caught his eye...it was the sword.