Session+42


 * 3-22-14**
 * Yuki's Mother's Release, Fun with the Gypsies, and Rescuing Loch **

Destiny arrived in the elven kingdom of The Sun's Heart, a verdant valley secluded within miles and miles of the trackless ice of the arctic north. At the center is a great tree... larger than any of us have seen before. We set the ship down in a vast lake near the tree. Thousands of feet up above exotic trees such as cherry blossoms blowing in the wind... is a great white light warming the city. Tyrian walked with our companions down the ramp to greet the elves of his city. Guards dressed in black and gold armor go to one knee, "Hail Prince Tyrian!" Echoes of "The Prince has returned!" roar across the city. Tyrian nods to them and offers his hand to Yuki who accepts it graciously, refusing to embarrass him in the slightest. More echoes of whispers scatter into the crowd of Arabelle's return... one female elven voice in particular doesn't seem to be sharing in their joy of such a return... "It can't be... It's impossible!" As we glance over toward her, she has the appearance that she had been waiting there for the prince's return. Yuki does her best to ignore her...remembering experiences with catty priestesses in the temple. Yuki looks around the area in awe, whispering quietly, "The mythal does this?" Erevin, standing close to her, nods, "They are quite powerful..." Tyrian announces loudly to the crowd, "My people... I present to you the prince of Myth Coramanth. Lord Erevin Lionspaw," and gestures to the elven ranger just behind him. Whispers of "Erevin?" and "Myth Coramanth?" go over the crowd as not many recognize the elven lands of Rawlinswood. Erevin bowed graciously and humbly to the people. Yuki leaned in closer to Tyrian, "Are you sure this is alright? They kind of think that I'm Arabelle... isn't that going to cause problems?" He smiled at her, "I'm sure it will." Mali looked around, noticing the different woodland creatures... elf cats and whatnot among the trees. We walk along a marble road around the tree. Opaque crystaline towers rising up 40 and 50 ft tall with lattice balconies house beautiful elves who sing with hauntingly beautiful voices... they seem to be growing the crystals with their voices, creating a bridge from the palace to the tower for us to cross. Tyrian nods up toward them, "Those are the crystal singers... the mythal's rays have turned some of the ice into crystals that can be sculpted and shaped through song... that is how we have grown many of our structures here. Though there are the more traditional of our people who prefer to live in the trees... but the crystal is as hard as stone and resonates with the sun's heart as well." "It's beautiful!" Yuki nodded, still looking around in awe. "It's fascinating, Lord Tyrian," Erevin walked just behind them, his arm linked with Shri's as they took in the amazing sights. Kale, Axton, and Wren also look around, very struck by the beauty of the The Sun's Heart city. Mali took Ursus's hand who accepted it gratefully, feeling a little out of place in his furs. Heading in to the palace there are gardens of flowers as well as crystals sculpted into flowers and plants. Mali looked at them curiously, "What happens when you take the crystals away from this place?" Tyrian nodded to her, "They become more brittle... but they retain their shape. They can't be sculpted outside of the mythal." Sun elves outnumber the moon elves here... tan, golden, and bronze skin with red blood, golden hair, and gem colored eyes vs the paler skin of the moon elves and their exotic blue blood. The sun elves are also called high elves and generally a little more snooty. A few whispers are heard about a drow among us, but since she walks with Erevin and Tyrian... no one seems to get aggressive toward her. We are all given beautiful rooms in the palace. Tyrian escorted Yuki to her room where it felt very warm and loving... everything is where Yuki would expect it to be... left a little still and quiet. A grand painting of Tyrian along with a human woman who appears a little older than Yuki but very similar to her. The two are looking at each other lovingly in the portrait. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Ursus and Mali sat together on their bed. He smiled at her, "We haven't had much time to talk... how was Waterdeep?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She nodded happily, "I rode a gryphon!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Did you? I heard they were rather evasive creatures... how did you get close to it?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I spoke with it," she grinned, pleased with herself. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"It makes me wish I was able to go with you... and Yuki? You were able to take care of all of her business?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Mostly... she's going to have finish that here." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He nodded, telling her about his mostly boring stay on the Destiny in her absence. Poker, wrestling with Uther and throwing each other around. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She goes on to tell him all about the dungeon in Waterdeep. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"You nearly died?!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She nodded, "And I caught Wren's head in my hands!!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He shuddered, "Did she say anything?!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"No! It was just her head... and it faded away into mist!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">As they continue their conversation, she picks up that he's nervous about something... inquiring about it, she asks if he slept with Crowe. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He laughed, "No! Well... not that she didn't offer... Wren's sister is a bit of a... mmm what's the word... slut... whore," he nodded, "but I'm not nervous! What do you mean nervous?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali sat there calmly with a raised eyebrow, "You're nervous..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"We're getting close to our old lands... and I'm worried." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Why?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"As my father had said... there were two other tribes of barbarians... and though we weren't the same tribe, we were allies. We made agreements on boundaries and where to hunt and we were... if not friendly, then good-natured rivals. We made stronger connections... bonds between the tribes." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"What kind of bonds?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Usually between young men and women." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali looked at him, "So you were married... and I'm the mistress?" She stood up and grabbed her staff. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"No! No-no! We were never married!" he shook his head quickly, "When I was younger..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali gave him a stern look, "I was younger yesterday... that doesn't mean anything... Did you make an oath? Are you an oath breaker?!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Ursus shook his head, trying to reassure her, "Let me tell the story..." but Mali stood in front of him, arms crossed, tapping her foot as she waited for his explanation. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"This was around 8 years ago... a young woman from the Black Elk tribe who was a shaman like me, attuned to nature and shape shifting... Her father and my father deemed that we would make a fine match and arranged for us to meet. I found her to be brash and head-strong... and even though she had a strong spirit bond with the animals, she had an ambition that I found disturbing." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Ursus continued, "She thought that our people should have more than we did... more than we needed. I tried my best to council her... but there is a spirit quest that all of the shaman and druids have to complete for our coming of age. She took it upon herself to take on a foolish one. She sought to recover the Crown of Fangs from an old temple of Melar." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The barbarian sighed, "I tried to convince her that it was too dangerous... and I think at that point we knew that we could never get along in the way that our fathers wished for us to." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali nodded, calming down as she listened and sat back down next to him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"After she left... I never saw her again... and I have the feeling that that is what brought this doom down upon our tribes." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali tilted her head curiously, "The crown that she went after?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Ursus nodded, "The artifact supposedly has the fangs of the beast lord himself. He occasionally lost one of his fangs throughout time taking down large and dangerous beasts. These lost fangs were later put together into a crown. An ancient barbarian warlord wore this crown and united all of our tribes." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He looked over at Mali a little hesitantly, "I'll say some acts were committed that were not... pleasant. However, one of the great barbarian heroes of my line managed to kill this wretched man and his fortress... cleaving his head, destroying his fortress, and taking the crown. What happened to it after that... my father may know more... but the three tribes were divided once more, deciding that would be best lest the blood rage overcome us again." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali nodded, "And it looks like it has..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Ursus nodded, seeming to be earnest and regretful, "I think that she found the crown wherever it was and I fear to meet her again." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali tried to comfort his fears, "Your shaman said that your clan would be saved by the littlest bear. Posy just caught the elven flu, she'll be okay..." She smiled, speaking softly, "So why are you nervous?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I fear seeing her again and what she has become... Though I did not have the feelings for her that our fathers had wished... I certainly don't want to be the one that ends her life." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Are you asking me to do it?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"No... no... I'm just worried that that's what it will come to." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She took his hand and patted it, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Alright," he nodded, relieved that she no longer wanted to decapitate him, and took her into his arms. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki was bouncing happily away on her princess bed when Axton walked through the open door of her room, looking around, "Wow! You have quite the room..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She whirled around to see the fiery haired priest as she bounced on the bed in front of the painting of Tyrian and Arabelle, trying to block it and failing miserably. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Axton looked at her and the painting beside her, "Wow... she does look like you, doesn't she?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"It's not 'my' fault!" She continued bouncing down, her skirt fluttering around her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I didn't say it was your fault," he shook his head and watched her bounce up and down, "You really do like princess beds, don't you?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She gave him a silly, happy grin, "Yeah... very much!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He nodded to her, "I'll keep that in mind." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Got any advice?" She dropped to the bed on her bottom, flouncing into a sitting position. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Well..." he sat down on the bed next to her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki glanced at him and then glanced at the door worriedly, "Are you sure that's wise?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He stayed next to her and continued on, "I suppose that depends on who you ask.... there's a lovely elven woman... a princess and several of her ladies in waiting here that I think would be very happy to see me sitting here." He smiled. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki sighed, a little jealousy in her voice, "It figures you would be so quick to find the elven princess, wouldn't it?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He turned to her, "Well it wasn't incredibly difficult... one of her ladies in waiting was lingering outside of your doorway." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Hmm..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"So my advice would probably be..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Avoid her?" Yuki interrupted him quickly, "At all costs?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He smiled, "Yes..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She nodded cheerfully, "I can do that!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"But everyone else seems to kind of spookily think you're this Arabelle and worships the ground you walk on..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Really?!" She beamed a little excitedly and then paused, rethinking, "Oh, wait... that's not good, right?" She flopped onto her back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, "What am I going to do? ...Arabelle loved him a lot! We're priests of love! What do I do, Axton? I mean she LOVED him." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He nodded, "You honor that love." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"But how? 'cause... I mean... I'm not a complete idiot. I see the way he looks at me! I'm not a dummy!" She protested. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I know you're not a dummy... I know it has to be difficult to see someone look at you like that and not feel the same way in return," He nodded to her calmly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I mean don't get me wrong, he's really beautiful and amazing and he's a prince and everything! I can see why she loved him!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Axton stared at her, not sharing in the joyous overflow of compliments about his elven competition, "Go on..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Her voice quieted to a kindwhisper, "But I'm Yuki... and I don't... love him," she reached out and touched his hand softly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He nodded, squeezing her hand. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"You know..." she looked around the room, "Am I wrong to think this room is like... a shrine?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He nodded, "It is rather shriney..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"That's not creepy, right?" She tilted her head back at him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Nooo..." he shook his head, looking a little thoughtful. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Shri sat down next to Erevin in their room, "Not exactly the warm welcoming elves of Myth Coramanth... I certainly don't want to be traveling alone here without you." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin nodded to her, "Well... The scars go deep." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She nodded, "I understand... My people are hated by many." She looked directly into his face, knowing he was one of the ones who hated the drow. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"It is true... It was less than 25 years ago that they actually attacked Evermeet itself... I fear those wounds will probably never heal." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Well... as we've seen from the other drow that we've met... the wounds haven't healed with them either." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Exactly," he nodded to her, "Whatever seeds those gods have sown so long ago... it can not be undone." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She shook her head, "I do not believe things are that bleak... the dancing goddess hopes that one day our people can be reunited." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Still resentful of the gods, Erevin snorted, "That and a gold piece will get you coffee down the block." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Erevin!" she scolded him, "You should not be so..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I know, I know... a copper piece," he interrupted her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She cupped his chin, drawing his face to look at her, "Where has your faith gone?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"It..." he frowned and shook his head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"What have I done wrong?" She gazed into his eyes. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He took her hand from his face and held it in his, "You have done nothing wrong," he shook his head, "The... moon doesn't shine quite as bright as it used to... but that has nothing to do with you." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She leaned in closer, "Every once in awhile... a dark cloud passes over the moon, but the moon still shines. It's my job to help you find it." She kissed his lips softly, but Erevin was stoic and didn't even respond to her kiss. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"It is not just the moon that has dulled... Corellian didn't lift a finger either... to his own paladin's city," He shook his head, "They don't need us... I don't need them." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Shri sighed and hugged him, "Oh my sweet Erevin... you need them now more than ever." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Only to guide my arrows to their proper targets." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Kale was lying over Wren on their fluffy princess bed, pinning her with her arms outstretched above her head. She was playfully resisting, feigning a struggle, and grinning up at him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">An amused feminine laugh came from the doorway, and the two glanced over to see Crowe walking in. She smiled, "Oh don't stop on my account... I thought certainly you'd be out of your clothes by now." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren laughed softly, "Sometimes it's more fun to draw it out..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The elder sister sashayed gracefully toward them, "You left me alone for so very long... and you've hardly come to speak with me." She sat on the bed beside them, despite Kale's tunic half-open already. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren wrapped her legs up around Kale's, her arms still pinned above her in Kale's hands, and turned to Crowe, nodding, "You would've liked Waterdeep... delightful baths with half naked men and women frolicking all over the place. You could've had a lot of fun there. You would have caused so much trouble." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"And yet... I wasn't invited... imagine that... it makes me feel like i'm not wanted on these little excursions anymore." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Aww," Wren gave her a pouty face with a sad sing-song voice, "Someone's feeling neglected?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"A little bit..." she leaned in between the couple, toward Wren, who tilted her head out and kissed her lips softly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Kale's voice was a low growl as he turned to Crowe, "Did you come here for a reason?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren lit up instantly, "You know how I love that growl..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Crowe glanced over at him, sarcasm dripping off of her, "Ohhh so fierce!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He growled at her, "Can't you see we're busy?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The white-haired elven woman grinned, "I see you're 'very' busy..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren purred softly and nuzzled her cheek against his neck. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Crowe turned back to her sister, "I just dropped by to let you know I was taking some shore leave from the boat and I'm going on the prowl so to speak... so you two carry on." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren grinned up at her, nodding, "Alright. Give me a couple of hours and we might head to the colorful tents out on the edge of the city if you want to join us." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"A couple of hours? Oh my..." Crowe cupped her hand around Kale's buttock, "Such stamina." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren laughed, "Don't be jealous... go find someone to play with for a little while." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Crowe's hips swayed gracefully as she walked to the door and Wren called out after her, "Elven grace and all that... it seems a little more uppity here." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The elder witch glanced back over her shoulder with a sly smile, "Oh I plan on gracing many." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The raven-haired younger elf shook her head giggling, "Try not to drag my name through too much mud, okay?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">We gather at the welcoming home feast for Tyrian. The food is strange and exotic to us, but delicious. Elven women perform after, singing with the crystals... telling the story of when the drow attacked Evermeet and Lady Lionspaw and her companions drove Lolth out... forming the shape of a half spider / half woman as a shadowy shape in the crystals among elves... different colors lighting up in the crystals. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The crystal forms continue on into another story... the forms merging together to form a crystalline heart tree and the story goes on to tell of the queen giving her son, Tyrian, an acorn from the tree... The prince traveled to the main land, traveling for months into the arctic north near the glacier where he planted the seed to grow a new heart tree where he built this city with the Sun's Heart... an elven mythal that rose from his hands to float above the tree, bursting into bright light and growing the tree strong and tall... forming the kingdom of The Sun's Heart. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Applause ensues and Tyrian stands, "And we have Prince Erevin's mother, Horitsu Lionspaw, and her companions to thank for my mother, the queen's, safety... we are honored to have him as our guest today." He gestured once more to Erevin sitting near to him at the table. Everyone in the room cheered and applauded. Erevin stood up and bowed graciously, thanking them. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Tyrian nods, "And I know many of you are wondering about the lady that I've brought to The Sun's Heart..." he turned and gestured to Yuki at his side. All eyes of the room upon her, she holds herself in perfect elegant form. He continues on, "I know many of you believe that this is Lady Arabelle returned..." he raises his hands, calming the murmuring and gasps of the crowd as Yuki continues to stand by his side with a beautiful serene smile, "This is not Lady Arabelle... This is Lady Yuki Ashdown of Lyrabar..." The elven princess watches with a speculative look as he continues on, "...but make no mistake, she is as welcome here as Lady Arabelle was." Yuki bows gracefully and thanks him, taking note of the cold stare of the elven princess. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Tyrian takes Yuki's hand and leads her to the floor for the first dance of the evening. He leads her out to dance alone in front of everyone. Her eyes flicker over the crowd at her friends, lingering for just a moment on Axton before turning her full gaze to the elven prince as the lights dim around the room and light shines down on the two of them. She leans in whispering, "Are you sure this is a good idea? Was Arabelle a very good dancer because I'm really not..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He smiled at her, taking her into his arms to dance, and whispered back, "No..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki laughed softly, a little relieved, "Oh good..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">An elven prince with centuries of experience dancing... Tyrian is full of grace and leads her easily around the floor. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki follows his lead, "You're a very good dancer... blessed!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He smiled at her, "I can't think of anyone I'd rather be dancing with... in all of the world." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She blushes, stunned to silence by his compliment and all the...things it could mean. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren watches Crowe disappear with an elven man... comes back, disappears with another... then two women at once. Everyone dances and enjoys the evening. Erevin dances with the elven princess, and makes a showing of dancing with Shri on the floor. Watching as Tyrian didn't let Yuki out of his site, Wren gracefully stepped in to ask him for a dance, allowing the priestess to dance once with Axton. His arms fit with her perfectly and the two of them sweep across the floor in grand elegance, lost for the moment in each other. Eyes of the elves watching the two of them dance almost divinely. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Tyrian escorted Yuki back to her room at the end of the night, his arm around her, "I had a wonderful evening tonight." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She nodded, nervously chatting, and thanked him for telling the people that she wasn't Arabelle, "It must've been hard..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Harder than I thought..." He nodded to her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"She loved you a lot!" Yuki tried to assure him, "She REALLY did." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He nodded, "And I loved her..." he leaned in closer, taking her her face gently into his hands and gazing into her eyes as she blinked up at him nervously, and he kissed her gently on the forehead. Yuki crumpled slightly... half with disappointment, half with relief... Random thoughts tumbled through her head... //What was that? Am I like a....a daughter? Just a little girl... Does no man take me seriously? If that was Wren, she would have gotten a good kiss on the lips! Goddess! What 'am' I thinking?! I have a boyfriend!// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He smiled at her, speaking softly and slowly sliding his hand from her cheek, "I hope you have the sweetest dreams." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Faltering slightly, Yuki nodded, "uh...huh... m...me too! I mean you too!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She sighed, drawing a scarf over her face after he left, "What am I going to do? Why is my life so difficult? It's so much easier with other people..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Hearing giggling, she glanced down the hall to see a young elven woman with her clothes in disarray leaving Crowe's room and the elven witch stepping out with her white hair disheveled to wave at the departing woman and giggle. Crowe glanced over at Yuki who looked back at her, a little in disbelief. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Really?" Yuki peered at her, "I swear I saw you with a man earlier." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The elven woman smiled, "Several..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki waved her hands back and forth, "Don't want to know! Don't want to know!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">A sly smile crept over the elven woman's lips, "You look a little frustrated... would you like to.." she gestured into her room invitationally. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"What? No! ...NO!" Yuki shook her head at her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Crowe just shrugged and smiled, "Suit yourself." She stepped back into her room and closed the door. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki shook her head, "Swords! Swords not sheaths!" and stepped into her own room. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The following morning Yuki found her father resting in a chair outside of her mother's healing room, rubbing his eyes. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She approached a little tentatively, "Whatcha doin... daddy?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He looked up and smiled at her, "Ah, my sweet little Yuki. I'm just taking a break. It's hard to stay in there for too long... but I don't want to be far away from her." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki offered to look after her while he slept for awhile in her room. Sending him off, she opened the door and had to squint up and shield her eyes... the room was SO bright! It had been mirrored all over and mirrors had been set up outside to reflect the mythal's powerful light into the room. Her mother was lying on a princess bed... the only shadow in the room seemed to be around her and it was hissing and writhing in the light. In it's seemingly weakened state, Yuki stepped closer to the bed and cast out a break enchantment over her. The shadow burst out from her mother and the room went pitch black! As the black faded... Yuki found herself standing on the familiar edge of a snow-capped mountain looking at a great black dragon. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Huge shadowy dragon head with deep purple eyes leans closer to her with his deep rumbling voice, speaking slow and ominous, "And...here...we are...again, 'Yuki'." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Meanwhile across the city, Erevin, Shri, Wren, Kale, Mali, and Ursus wandered up to the colorful tents on the edge of the verdant valley. Amused elves wandered about with trinkets and good luck charms. The people here were humans, dressed colorfully like gypsies. We're welcomed in warmly. Erevin inquired how they ended up here and Georgio explained that they were travelers... and they used to journey over the ice and snow to various places to trade, including the lands of the barbarians... especially the Red Bear clan who found their performances and trinkets to be amusing. About a year ago they were attacked by barbarian tribesmen who killed about half of their gypsy family before they were able to escape across the dangerous ice to seek refuge among the elves of The Sun's Heart. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"The elves are safe and protected in this realm... and they don't really want to get into the matters of the barbarians... but there was something not right about the barbarians." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">We look to Ursus who nods, and Erevin turns back to Georgio, nodding, "It's what we've been hearing." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He gave us a tour of their camp. Mali sampled and ate at all of the food vendors as we walked, happily exploring all of the new flavors! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">An old gypsy woman smiled as we grew close to her table, "Might I give you a reading?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren nodded, stepping up close to the table. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She pulled out an ancient tarot deck and spread them out over a table, looking over Wren and then turning a few of them over, "Hmm... The Star inverted, that's a troubling sign... it means some sort of lies and deceit." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren smiled at the woman and glanced over her shoulder to Kale behind her and giggled. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy woman smiled, "Are you keeping a secret perhaps from this strapping young elven man that's holding your hand?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren laughed softly, squeezing his hand, "Ohh... he knows them all. He helps me keep them." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy nodded and looked down at her cards, "Mmm The High Priestess... this is strange in conjuncture with the other cards... more of a secret knowledge waiting to be revealed... a reflection. You should look within yourself... perhaps there's something that you've missed." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren nodded, "Alright..." she contemplated for a moment. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Justice," the woman went on with the next card, "I see justice... fairness... a logical choice that you will have to make." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren nodded, thinking of the road before them. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"And even further in the future... I see boldness. The right action... The Chariot... you will move in a positive direction." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren nodded, excited, "Well that sounds like a lovely future." She nudged Kale beside her, "You hear that? We're going to drive a chariot." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Kale laughed and shook his head, "I don't think that's what that means..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Overall," the gypsy woman nodded, "I see much change in your future. You will become much bigger than you are." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren's mind jumbled with images of great dragons and gods and her mother, tentacled, and reaching for her. She shook her head, "Metaphorically speaking, right?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The woman smiled, "Nothing is certain." She placed a pretty beaded necklace around Wren's neck, and Wren nodded, thanking her, and dropped gold into her jar. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy woman smiled at everyone, "Anyone else?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali shrugged and stepped up to the table, watching the woman spread the cards over the table and flip over a few. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"In your past I can see something unfavorable... a loss... someone very close to you. It led to instability... The Hanged Man inverted... a worthwhile sacrifice. Reinventing oneself. I sense that you are renouncing your solitary ways." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali listened quietly and nodded. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"This card is also inverted... The World. I sense in the future there will be confinement," She looked up at Mali with her old gypsy eyes, "You should use caution. Be careful." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali looked at her with wide eyes. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She continued on, "Farther in the future... The Moon. Keen intuition. Fertile. Oooo..." She glanced up at the muscled human man wearing furs who was standing beside Mali, holding her hand, "Perhaps a forthcoming blessing." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Ursus blushed. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Overall... Oh! The Lovers... Love and harmony. I sense that there is a great bond between you and those that you love," the gypsy looked up at Ursus and out at everyone else around Mali. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren was looking around for Yuki, wondering how they had missed dragging her along for this. She would've loved it! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy placed a shiny beaded necklace around Mali. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The old gypsy woman smiled at Erevin, "And what about you, my fine elven man?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">A moment of hesitation from the elven prince and Wren nudged him forward, "Oh go on! What's it going to hurt?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin sighed and stepped forward, appeasing everyone, but watching the woman very skeptically. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She smiled up at him, spreading out the cards, "An upside down Devil... in your recent past I see an obsession of something... dark... an obsession that if left unchecked could lead to your destruction." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Hmm," Erevin shook his head, "No idea what that is..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Lies and deceit," Wren whispered to Kale. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"But now in the current," the gypsy went on, looking at the next card, "The Wheel of Fortune. A welcoming change." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"We do need to make some change," Erevin nodded. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"That's another way that the card could be interpreted," the older human nodded. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She looked at the next card, "In the near future, The Magician. A new beginning. Choices and options. Control over your world." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin nodded, "That is good to hear." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The woman smiled, "You are a prince, are you not?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin nodded, "I am... but I do not stand to inherit. Simple woodsman." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She smiled and nodded, "The Word in the far future... Accomplishment. Entering a new world. You will see your dreams realized." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin looked at her, still a bit skeptical, "Fascinating." He nodded. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"But for now... overall... Justice. You will need to make a choice... what is just and what is right, young prince... simple woodsman." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin took her hand and kissed it, "Thank you." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She nodded, "You are welcome." She placed another beaded trinket necklace over his head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Back on the mountaintop, Yuki stood with her pretty princess gown fluttering about her in the ice cold winds, "Mr. Harbinger... what are you doing?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">His voice rumbled as he moved in closer, "I'm going to eat you up, little Sunite." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"C...Can you go back to your other form? It's much prettier. This one is a little scary and a little... well... can we just talk a little about this?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The shadowy dragon let out a deep vibrating laugh. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"You know we could just... eat some cake," she watched as he loomed ever closer, the scent of tears and loss lingering on his breath, "Have some tea...? Or... just sit...for a moment." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">His dark voice was bitter, "Where was my cake? Where was my tea... all those centuries ago? Now? Now you bring this to me? I will rend you to nothingness!" He stepped forward, ice shattering under his great talons! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"So big... and scary..." Yuki stumbled back, falling in the cold wet ice and snow. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Why should we talk?" He continued, "Here you are trying to undo all... my... work." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Work?" She looked up at him uncertainly, "You mean ch...change you back into a normal person instead of a big scary dragon? I don't understand..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"No..." he almost hissed the word out and then growled, "Removing your mother's just reward. She made a deal." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Y-your voice is very scary... Can we please just talk normally?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He smiled, giant sharp razor teeth... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki backed up a little more, putting her hand on her ribbon, "What big teeth you have..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The maw of the shadowy dragon opened impossibly wide, the handsome human form of Harbinger, stepping out. Yuki felt suddenly relieved to see him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He smiled at her, "Is this better?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She nodded, exhaling softly, "Yes..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He floated over next to her, "I assure you that I am no less deadly like this." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki's eyes widened then...curiousity won out over fear, "Mr, Harbinger... didn't... didn't you want me to be born?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Of course I wanted you to be born." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Then why punish my mother for doing what you wanted?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"She made a deal." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"But she gave you what you wanted." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"What does that matter? One doesn't make a deal with Shar without knowing that there will be a price to pay. There's always a price. There are no takebacks with Shar." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"But she twists the rules," Yuki protested. "She never..." Yuki looked up into his face, "Is that what you did? You made a deal... Do you expect her not to twist the rules for you too?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Shar twists the rules to suit her." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"So to you too?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I am but her servant... and you will too... soon." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"No," Yuki shook her head, "Never. I serve Sune." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"So you've told me before..." he nodded, "This is the last time." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"The last time? What do you mean last time?" after a pause, she asked him again more insistently, "What do you mean last time?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"This is it, 'Anauria'... the last little piece of you... Once she has you..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Then what happens?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I think you know..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"No," she shook her head adamantly, "I don't know." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"You will become the play thing of the dark mistress." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"But... I don't want to be a dark mistress's play thing... if I wanted that I'd have taken Crowe up on her offer. I mean! I don't want to. I want to remember." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"What you want and what will happen are two different things." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"No," she stood firm, "I refuse. ...and... I'll...I'll take you back with me!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He laughed. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She continued on, "But you said the last piece... what do you mean by the last piece? She has other pieces? ...of me? MY soul?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He turned to look at her, "All of them." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"What?! My soul?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He nodded, "Your soul." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"How many pieces?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"That... is a secret." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"But..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He stepped closer to her and she took a step back. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She continued to protest, "But that's cheating! If I'm the last... how many were there?... Wait! Do you mean..." She started counting all of the priestesses' names from the list from the temple in Waterdeep. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He nodded, "Yes." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Wait... wait... wait!.... so... so..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Don't you want to save them?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"In Wren's mask... Axton... you were standing behind him. What does that mean? And others... there were others!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He stepped next to her, stroking her face. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Her voice a mere whisper, "Mr. Harbinger...?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Ah Anauria... if only I could believe that you would remember." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I will remember! I CAN remember! I HAVE remembered! I'll do it!" she tightened her grip on her ribbon. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He leaned in a little closer, "Either way... we'll be together again." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">A breathy tch escaped Yuki's lips, "You think she'll let that happen?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">In a swift movement, he thrust his hand through her chest... plunging his cold shadowy arm through the very core of her being, blood dripping off of his hand, "Still want to save us?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Choking on her own blood, Yuki managed to gasp out, "...yes..." She pulled her ribbon, gasping out the words as she was drowning on her own blood, "...heart...Power... Makeup..." Light radiated out, engulfing both of them as she clutched the clothing on his chest, his arm still through her... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Damn..." he whispered as they faded... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She opened her eyes in the light filled room, coughing up blood... her mother's voice, filling her ears, "Yuki! Yuki are you alright?!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Her mother held her in her arms on the floor of her room, "Speak to me! Speak to me, my daughter!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Heal..." Yuki gasped out, calling a healing spell over herself. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I'm not a priestess!" her mother shook her head worriedly, clutching her daughter. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I'm... healing myself..." Yuki nodded, trying to reassure her. No blood on her chest... no open wounds... but Yuki could feel the damage inside her. Able to breathe easier... but still retaining the iron taste in her mouth, Yuki looked at her mother to see the shadows were gone. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"You did it! You did it! I'm free!" Her mother hugged her and Yuki clutched her tightly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">A shadowy voice whispered in her ears full of venom, "I wont forget this..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She shook her head, encouraging him to remember, "...don't." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Back in the gypsy camp... "I have to carry it too?" Ursus is carrying a big plush bear that's as big as Mali for her that she won in a ring toss. A couple of elves giggle at him as they go by, and he glares back. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin is sure that these gypsies are lying thieving bastards as he fumbles with the flimsy little bow and warped suction cup arrows that would hardly cling to anything. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali teases him, "What's the matter, Erevin? You want me to win you the big fluffy one?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Shri lingering close with big eyes. "I want a bear too..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin looked at the bow and arrow in his hands, a heartbeat away from pulling out his real bow and arrows, and he glanced over at her sweet pleading face as she shrugged, "I'm just going with it..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He shook his head at her, "You're killing me..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Shri smiled sweetly, "I would never mock Erevin... simple woodsman, archer extraordinaire." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He nodded to her, "Never mock me... ever." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She nodded to him with feigned seriousness, "I mean those targets are a good ... 15 feet away." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He turned his head slowly to look at her with one eyebrow raised. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Eventually he figures out how to adjust and wins her the bear, spending far too much gold on it. He holds it out to her, "Here's your bear." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Aww! It's so cute!" She beamed at him, "Ursus is carrying Mali's... will you carry mine too?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Ursus is carrying Mali's because it's bigger than Mali..." he shook his head at her pouty face, "but yeah... I'll carry your bear." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Thank you!" she giggled happily. Mali winked at her, the two of them giggling as they turned to the booth behind them... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Kale was hitting the target with the big hammer to ring the bell. Wren stood beside him, watching confused. She knew how strong he was... what was he doing? ...pretending it was difficult? was he even trying?? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Happy to see it wasn't only him being swindled by these games, Erevin nodded at his swing, "Nice..." he teased him, "Four feet there, Kale." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"What are you doing?" Wren flailed her arms, "Put some muscle into it!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Kale glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, gritting his teeth as he spoke, "I AM putting muscle into it." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She watched him again a couple of times, his frustration growing... until he snarled and she noticed his gritted teeth get a little longer... sharper... and gong! the bell rang at the top. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I knew you had it in you!" she cheered beside him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He shoved a stuffed dragon into her arms with her melting over it, squealing with delight, "Ohh! He's ADORABLE!" She kissed the little stuffed dragon with a few quick pecks, and then pulled Kale in for a long kiss, "Thank you!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin nodded, "You could carry it for her..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren glanced back to see Erevin and Ursus carrying big stuffed bears and she tightened her grip on her adorable dragon, "No! He's mine!" She spun in a little circle, hugging it. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"And so you've been replaced..." Erevin teased Kale beside him, watching the witch adore the stuffed toy. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Kale shrugged, shaking his head, "Well... if it can fulfill 'all' her needs..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren put her arm around the dragon's neck and linked her other arm into Kale's, leaning against him softly, "No one can fulfill my needs like you..." she winked up at him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He glanced at the dragon as though looking it over for anatomical parts and she nudged him, giggling. She dragged him off to the next table where she picked up various bells and scarves and they all sampled some of the strange foods they offered... Wren made a face at Mali's rat on a stick and shared a strange pastry with everyone called an elephant ear, "Yuki would love this! We have to bring her here!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">One of the gypsy girls taught Wren, Shri, and Mali how to do a scarf dance, removing one scarf at a time while the guys watched. Erevin nodded to the others, "I'm looking forward to Shri's version of this..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">As the afternoon waned, the six return to the great tree, laughing and giggling. Yuki had recovered and her parents were hugging non-stop... the young priestess shaking her head, "Be lovey! ...but I don't want to know!" She left them, closing the door behind her. She looked up to see the little troupe coming in the door, wearing bright colored ribbons and bells, and carrying plush animals. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She tilted her head, curious, "Erevin, you're carrying a stuffed bear..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Don't remind me." He sighed. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She looked over the others, "And Wren... you're carrying a stuffed dragon... and, and..." She looked at Mali hugging the bear that Ursus set down, "That bear is bigger than you!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I know!" Mali squealed happily. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Ursus leaned in to Yuki, "I think she plans on creeping me out later and wearing it while she walks around..." He mockingly teetered about like his arms and legs were stiffly outward. Yuki laughed with delight. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Everyone talked to her at once! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"We got our fortune's read!" Mali exclaimed excitedly! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Fortunes?!" Yuki turned to her only to whip her head back to Erevin... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"And they have this wispy cotton candy..." he nodded to her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"And elephant ears!" Wren chimed in, nodding. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Sugar? Pastry? Prizes?!" Yuki looked around at everyone, blinking big eyes. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"We had so much fun! Where have you been?" Wren tilted her head at her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Scarf dancing!" Mali nodded. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"And the prizes came from the games," Erevin nodded to her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"And how was your afternoon?" Ursus smiled down at Yuki. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Uh... well I almost died..." Yuki said a little softly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"What?!" Mali and Wren turned to her at once with Erevin saying, "Huh?" at the same time. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"We can't leave you alone for a second!" Wren exclaimed, looking her over quickly to assess any lingering damage, "What happened?!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Well... I went to check on my mom and the room was really bright... with just a little bit of shadow left, so... I thought I would just disenchant it." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin sighed and shook his head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"And then the room went black... and I was back on the mountain again and the shadow dragon was looking at me and Mr. Harbinger walked out of it's mouth... and we talked... and well..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Did you talk nice?" Erevin looked at her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"If she almost died? No!" Wren shook her head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki shook her head in protest, "I'm sure he didn't mean to..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Try to kill you?!" Mali exclaimed at her, "No... I'm sure that was an accident! Again!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Again!" Erevin echoed. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Yuki..." Wren's voice was soft, and she stepped forward, hugging her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I just..." Yuki looked a little overwhelmed. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Wake up, Yuki!" Mali insisted with a light slap. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Ow! I almost died today! ...and you all got teddy bears..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren put her arm around Yuki, comfortingly patting her shoulder, "C'mon... let's go get you a teddy bear..." She glanced back over her shoulder, sweetly smiling, "Kale?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki was nodding, "Kale?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Kale sighed, "My back hurts..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki leaned against Wren, blinking pretty pleading eyes up at him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Now hold on a minute..." Axton walked into the room, "What is all this about a teddy bear?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Oh good!" Wren cheered, "Axton will come win you a teddy bear!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki whispered up to Wren, still leaning on her, "I hope you only heard the bear and not the other part..." Wren giggled and nodded to Yuki. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"If anyone is going to win Yuki a stuffed bear, it's going to be me," Axton nodded. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Really?!" Yuki smiled up at him excitedly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Sure!" he nodded, "How hard could it be?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Kale and Erevin were motioning behind the beaming girls that this was a bad idea he was about to regret. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Don't miss the fortune teller," Erevin nodded to Yuki, innocently, as she turned to look up at him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren and Mali happily drug Yuki back out of the tree toward the colorful gypsy camp, the others walking along behind them. Wren was chattering on about fortunes and Mali was spinning with scarves trying to teach her the dance. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Mali is so cute!" Yuki giggled, watching the halfling spin about. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"My parents kicked me out of their room," Yuki looked up at Wren. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The young witch looked her over confused for a quick moment before she put it together, "Oh! Well that's good!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The sun was setting on the horizon and the bright sunstone mythal dimmed slowly as colorful lights and lanterns came alive in the gypsy camp. For a moment Yuki panicked seeing the mythal dim, but noticing that everyone acted like it was a normal event, she relaxed. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy fortune teller smiled at her, pleased to see that we brought back more people. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She spread out the cards, "I am not surprised to see that the first card for you is The Sun... for your beauty and radiance shines like the sun." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Oh! Aren't you sweet?!" Yuki exclaimed, "I just love her!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The woman smiled, "Clarity and constructiveness. Vitality and confidence...." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Mmm that's more... nevermind," Yuki looked at her uncertainly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Oh come on!" Wren nudged her encouragingly, "You saved your mom today! Be valiant!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Valiant!" Yuki nodded to her and cheered, "Heart Power Makeup!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy woman nodded, "And this one in the present... The Star. Total acceptance of your destiny. Have you accepted your destiny?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki pondered this for a moment and then nodded, "Yes. Sure... whatever it is... I'll take it... I'm just not 100% sure what it is yet." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"That's kind of tough to accept then..." Erevin nodded to her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"But I'll accept it," she nodded, "Whatever my goddess has in store for me." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"And the near future..." the gypsy woman went on, "interesting... The Lovers, but it is inverted... inappropriate relations? Oh! Are you and the young man over there? ...Oh! How bold!" She glanced at Axton. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki became excited, leaning closer to the fortune teller, "Really? How scandalous is it?!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Axton whacked her on the back of the head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Ow! H-hey!" but Yuki continued to press for more details. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"The cards only reveal generalities," the woman shook her head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Perhaps a loss of virtue..." Yuki nodded excitedly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy woman looked over the next card, "The wheel of fortune also inverted... Crisis. Bad luck coming in the far future." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"What?! Bad luck in the far future?" Yuki looked up at her with big eyes. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The woman nodded, "Some kind of crisis... a danger... a darkness." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki nodded, "Well Shar is dark... and that's where we'll have to go..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Overall.. The Chariot. Positive engagement. Movement." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Engagement?" Yuki interrupted, suddenly excited and not hearing anything else, "Did you say engagement?!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">As the fortune teller continued to the oblivious priestess, "Boldness. Right action. You will do your best." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I'll do my best... to get engaged!" Yuki cheered, "Yay! I'm going to get engaged!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Axton shook his head at her, "I don't think that's what that card meant..." but Yuki, undeterred, excitedly hugged Wren and Mali exclaiming, "I get engaged in the future!" The girls laughed softly, returning her hug. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy woman continued on, "Well that's..." she made a startled yelp, drawing everyone's attention to see all of the cards turn black. Wren gasped, putting a hand to her mouth and Yuki looked at the table stunned, "...but... that's not nice! That's just mean!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki looked at the gypsy woman and extended a comforting hand to be sure she was alright. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The fortune teller shook her head sadly, "Such... sorrow, young one... such loss. You have a difficult road ahead of you... but I hope that my foretelling has helped." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"It has," Yuki nodded, "Of course it has... S-sorry about your cards." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy smiled, "I have another..." she swept the blackened cards into a wastecan. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"You know just hypothetically speaking..." Yuki waved her hands as she spoke, "if I'm feeling that loss, any suggestions on how to counteract it? 'Cause my kinda version right now is just to love a lot. But-but I'm not sure if I'm getting through... I mean..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy woman smiled, "I'm sure if you just let him know how you feel..." she glanced at Axton and back to Yuki, "then it will work out." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Axton looked over at Yuki and smiled. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Aha..." Yuki nodded. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The gypsy leaned closer, whispering, "Then maybe you'll get that engagement... or inappropriate scandals." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki gasped. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Axton raised an eyebrow at her, "Can I win you the damn bear now?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"The pink one! Not the ugly purple one... the light pink one... That one!" She pointed up at one of the giant dangling bears. After numerous tries Axton succeeded in winning her the big pink bear with a heart on it. He turned to the guys, shaking his head, "They lie and they cheat!" Erevin quick to agree with him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki turned around, "It's not really fair to cast dispersion on others for your lack of..." Poof! Axton hit her face with the pink bear, the rest of her words muffled under it. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Look! It loves you!" Axton wrapped the bears arms around her face, as she mumbled something under it. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I... can't breathe... I don't want to die twice in one day. I mean! I didn't say that outloud!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"What?!" Axton pulled the bear back from Yuki's face, "What was that about dying?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Wren!" Yuki ran to the witch's giggling arms, "Weren't we going to try one of those sugary pastries?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Oh yes! Elephant ears!" The elven woman happily dragged her off to another booth. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Axton walked behind them, shaking his head to the others, "I left her alone for just a few hours and see what happens?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Kale patted his shoulder, "You'd be amazed how much trouble they can get into when you leave them alone for just a few minutes." Erevin nodded to Kale, agreeing. Second time through the gypsy camp... the elven prince was hammered on elven wine. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki came back exclaiming, "Erevin, you were right! It's pink!" She was pulling pieces of cotton candy off of a cone and happily melting it in her mouth. She looked him over, "Erevin's drunk... quick, let's paint a picture so we can terrorize him with it later!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Oh the caricature man!" Mali exclaimed and all three girls cheered, "Yay!" at once. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin leaned heavily on Shri as they walked to the booth, posing all of the women around him for the painting. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The following morning, Erevin shielded his eyes... his head was throbbing. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki rolled over into Crowe's arms in her bed. Jumping back with wide eyes she cast dispel evil and circle of protection. "Holy smite!" she tried to bolt her, but Crowe slipped her arms around her... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Don't turn me away after last night..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki jerked awake, clutching her chest and panting! "N-not my favorite kind of dream..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki thanked Tyrian with a warm hug when she told him that we were leaving on Destiny for just a short time, "It should be like we never left... we'll be right back... but I wanted to thank you. My mother is safe! Thank you so much..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He smiled at her and nodded, "I seen your parents at dinner this evening. They seemed quite happy. She was going on and on about how you risked your life saving her..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Uh, right! We'll be going now..." she tried to hurry off as Axton perked up, "What was that?!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She hurried up the ramp to Destiny as Axton caught up to her, "I'm never going to be able to leave your side... I'm going to have glue myself to you. It seems that whenever I turn around you almost die!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"No! It's not on purpose!" Yuki shook her head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren nodded behind her up to Kale, "See!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Axton glanced back at her, "If you only had any idea how many times I've heard 'It's not on purpose'! That was just one of the cries she always used in the temple... 'It wasn't my fault.' 'I didn't do it on purpose.' " <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Hey!" Yuki protested, "But it wasn't my fault ...and it wasn't on purpose! Aren't we supposed to be rescuing someone?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Azarius tinkered with the ship, "It's been awhile... but I think recall just how to do this..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren nodded, "We have full faith." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Whitestrake steered it into the astral sea. The tentacled Ghanauder sphere still lingering close to ours... a multitude of eyes opening and closing... looking out as we go by. As if the universe itself could never fill it's endless... almost maddening hunger. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Arcs from the sea recharge the ship as we fly. Gregori helped Wren on the deck with the ceremony to cast out a strong red ribbon to find Loch. It goes much easier and faster than some as she was personally close to the missing ghostly white witch. Days pass. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki, Erevin, and Kale comfort Wren who nervously waits on the deck as the sphere approaches. It looks like blue sky... Destiny calls out, "Prepare for sphere impact." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The ship shakes as we enter, and everyone starts grabbing hands tightly, but we're in a wave from a blast and large shredded fragments of wood blow across the ship, knocking us down! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Struggling back to our feet as Whitestrake turns the ship to see utter chaos! A dozen ships flying all over... one of the ships above us is broken apart spilling thousands of elves into the sky... with no sign of land below us. Some already dead from the blast, but there is a roar of screaming.as many more fall... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki eyes go wide and she prepares massive healing spells. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin lays a hand on her shoulder, "There is no land below us... they would just live longer to fall." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki shakes her head, "Our ship can catch them!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Not all of them..." he shakes his head. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Some of them! Erevin, some of them!" She insisted, wanting to save as many as she could. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin nodded, "Let the good captain do what he can." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren looks up, following the red ribbon to the unconscious body of Loch falling from the ship, "LOCH! Whitestrake, there! That way!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Multiple elementals of air, fire, and earth swoop to land on our deck! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali unsnapped the collar around Melleron's neck, releasing him into battle. He leapt onto the earth elemental heading for her, chunks of earth and crystal flying out as he tore into it with his claws. The earth elemental smashed into him as a fire elemental burned into him! Ursus transformed into a giant bear and tore into another earth elemental descending upon them! Wren tore her eyes from Loch to cast out suffocate to steal some of the fueling oxygen of the enormous fire elemental, dimming it slightly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">An elemental woman made of fire moved in, and lashed out at Yuki, leaving a long blackened burn instantly across her! Erevin was surrounded by several elementals attacking him at once. Mari and Shri teamed up on the giant earth elemental as Erevin stepped in with his moonblade, piercing a fire elemental with it's icy strike dissipating it into nothingness! Axton bravely fended off a fire elemental as Yuki cast out a protection from fire over Kale who stepped forward to block another fire elemental from coming any closer to Wren and Yuki. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren stepped over, pushing Yuki behind her as she blew out her cone of cold on the fiery woman attacking the priestess, snuffing her out! Melleron, covered in dirt and rocks, manages to tear apart the earth elemental as Mali calls down her lightening storm over the other to help Ursus who continues to maul it in a great clashing battle! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">A giant air elemental charged over buffeting Yuki who miraculously manages to grip onto the rail, but Axton's clothing rips off in her hand as he and Wren are tore off of the ship! Yuki screams out, "Axton!" as the air elemental drags them out into the sky beating them in it's swirling torrent! Wren and Axton struggled to reach each other while Kale, glancing back worriedly toward her, stepped over to protect Yuki from more fire elementals moving in closer. Yuki sent out a powerful wave of healing, staying behind Kale. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin charged a smaller fire elemental striking it down with his icy moonblade as Mari bites and claws into the thick earth elemental that slams into her harshly! Shri's long daggers infuse with the light of the moon. Mali sent Melleron on a fire elemental making him very unhappy because ... fire is hot! Mali bolted the earth elemental again as Ursus shakes off dirt and stone from his fur, leaping from the downed earth elemental into a fire elemental! Kale kept Yuki behind him, driving the fire elemental forward with his blade, "Stay back, stay back! Save Wren! Save Wren and Axton!" Yuki nodded, about to say something as another shred of Axton's clothes wafted into her face.... Yuki breathing it in just for a moment, "It smells so good..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Axton and Wren manage to clasp hands together, fighting the winds as they're thrown about. Yuki sent out a thundering command over the large air elemental, "Stop!" The winds slowed around Axton and Wren, allowing Axton to be able to heal the witch. Erevin made his way closer to Kale and Yuki, joining Melleron to snuff out yet another fire elemental! Shri's shiny blade carved a gouge into the massive earth elemental as Mari kept it from attacking the drow priestess. Mali called lightening into one of the smaller air elementals buffeting Wren and Axton as Melleron and Ursus clawed into one of the remaining earth elementals. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Two fire elementals move in to drive Yuki off the edge of the ship, but she holds one of them paralyzed! Kale still drives the large one back as Wren and Axton make it back onto the ship, Axton smiting the other elemental on Yuki. Erevin moved in next to Kale, snuffing out the last of the large fire elemental's life. He turned to the priestess behind them, "Are you alright Yuki?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">She nodded, "Yes... but my clothes are all torn from the winds and...Hey! Just where are you looking?!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Your eyes, Yuki... and your hair has a wonderful wind blown look about it, even in combat." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Aww..." she melted. There was NO WAY Erevin could be a pervert! Not Erevin. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Mali's summoned bear and Ursus take down another fire elemental as Mali calls down more bolts of lightening into the air elemental, causing it to blow out a wave of wind as it went out. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Finally we're able to clear the last of the elementals as Whitestrake maneuvered the ship as best as he could through the falling elves toward Loch, collecting those that he could. A giant rent rips open in the sky, people screaming as ships pour into it! Erevin spots Loch wearing robes and shoots an arrow passing it over his diamond through her hand, forming it into a rope to pull her in to the Destiny as Wren and Mali form webs in the sails to help soften the catch of the living elves. Yuki was casting healing spells as fast as she could, calling for help from Axton. A beautiful winged woman with a great flaming sword leads waves of a thousand elementals and heading for our ship! Erevin pulls Loch into the ship and Wren fell to her knees to cradle her as soon as he pulled her over the rail. Yuki turned to put a powerful heal over her unconscious body. We managed to save about a dozen of the lunar elves and one white elf, Fayrun, who had been knocked off of his wyvern trying to save the lunars. We exit the sphere. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki sent off wave after wave... all that she could... of heals over everyone on the ship in the astral sea. One of the elves stood up and went up to her, touching her hand, "How did you do that? You're not an elf... and you healed us. I am in your debt, Milady." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"I'm a priestess of the goddess of love and beauty..." she smiled at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"You saved me... and my..." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Yuki, still crying over all the death, "Not enough! I wanted to save more!" and she hugged him tightly, apologizing. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">He hugged her, "I can't thank you enough. My name is Fayrun Bloodlaced." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Fayrun... I'm sorry!" Yuki hugged him again. "I'm so sorry!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin glanced out into the astral sea, and nodded to everyone, "Get them below deck. They don't need to be exposed to this." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Fayrun looked around the deck for his wyvern, and sighed when he realized it was indeed gone. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Loch opened her eyes, still cradled in Wren's arms, "Am I dreaming? Have I died? ...is this heaven?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Loch..." Wren hugged her tight, covering her face in kisses, "you're alive." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">"Wren... it's so good to see you... I knew you would come for me. I've been dreaming of this for 10 years... and I never took another lover." tears ran down Loch's cheeks. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Erevin shook his hood off, throwing out his voice in an angry command, "Get them below deck!" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Wren scooped up Loch, helping her downstairs as the others guided the elves below deck. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Whitestrake turned the ship toward our sphere and headed home.