Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze

Alise nudged Silvin playfully, "you should stick around longer this time, lifes not as much fun without you around."

"Lifes more disturbing with you around."

Alise looked insulted, she couldn't tell if that was meant to be a compliment or an insult, but she didn't like it.

Intrigued she turned to Gerard, "hello Gerard...you're too afraid. That is your biggest weakness, at least right now it is."

"How do you know this?"

"As your brother said, its a gift. I've always been able to tell that much about someone."

Alise stood up suddenly and walked over to Are and the little dog just in time to hear the comment.

Nathaniel watched the vampire suddenly get up and walk over to the newcomer. Gerard continued to talk with Silvin and Bella as his brother got up and followed Alise, ignoring the curious stares he received.

Nathaniel came to stand next to the vampire and asked without looking at her, "What is it?"

The woman looked up, startled, to see she had company. "Oh, hello."


*all i've got.*

Alise looked at the dog, ignoring the girl and Nathan. "What was that again? I'm afraid I misunderstood."

"The town is in danger," the little dog said, "some new creature is coming."

"How many?"

"At least two dozen."

"How powerful are they?"

The dog did his best to shurg, "I don't know."

Nathaniel looked at Alise in puzzlement. "You speak to animals?"

"Yes. And i believe she does too." Alise said, nodding to the girl. Nathan glanced back at the newcomer curiously before turning to Alise again.

"What did it say?"

"Somethings coming."

"When?"

"Soon."

"Come on, we'll go to our place. We never sold it before we left. You had best come too." Nathaniel said, gesturing for the newcomer to follow. He continued walking as he passed his brother and the other two, waving his hand towards the door.

"Come on, they're obviously not going to show up, and somethings coming.
Lets go." he called behind his shoulder, directing his words to his brother and Bella. They exchanged confused glances before getting up and following Nathaniel, Alise and the other girl out of the inn. Silvin brought up the rear.

"What's wrong? What's coming?" Gerard asked Nathaniel, catching up to his brother.

"Don't know. We'll get to our house and handle it from there." Nathaniel said, leading them all up a dark road. Finally he stopped in front of a small, dreary looking house, laid his hand on the door and spoke a single word. The door swung open silently and everyone crowded inside. Nathaniel laid another spell on the door and turned to look at the young girl and Alise.

"What exactly did the dog say?"

The girl spoke this time, having heard the whole conversation, "he said something was coming, he didn't know what it was, and that the city was in danger."

Alise nodded, "he repeated that to me." Then she paused for a second and fought back a laugh, "I didn't know I could talk to animals. I can't do that to humans."

Gerard spoke up, "We have to find it, then! If the city is in danger, then we should fight!"

"Peace, brother." Nathaniel said, gesturing for Gerard to sit back down. "We should know what we are getting into first."

"A reconnaissance mission?" Gerard looked puzzled.

"Yes."

"Who goes?" Silvin asked.


*I'll leave it up to you guys to decide. But, Gerard stays/goes with Alise, if you please. *nudges alice* time to put our plan into action. *

Without hesitation Alise said, "I'll go." She then felt the need to describe why she would help, "I would be able to tell their weakness the instant I saw them."

Gerard decided to challenge this, "whats my greatest weakness?"

Alise stared at him breifly before turning away.

"What is it?" he asked.

"You won't believe me," she protested.

"I'll try to."

She turned back to him, looked him square in the eye and said, "your heart."

Ara watched all this, she was quiet for the most part, not uncommen for her.

"They are by the south entrance of town, I believe," She said just loud enough for the vampire to hear. She had just said something about a weakness to one of the men. He looked like he was pondering it so she spoke up with the information. "If you give me a few minutes I can probably figure out where exactly they are."

Everyone seemed to shrug and Ara stepped to a window and looked around. She quickly spotted a bird and started conversing with it. He was still perched up in a tree watching her.

Bella had learned not to tarry over Nat over the years; he had never showed much interest in her, even though he did confide in her more than others. Still, she had to resist the urge to hug him when he walked into the bar. She had missed him over the years.

"I shall come," Nat decided. Bella nodded in agreement.

"So shall I," Bella agreed. Gerard eyed her, but didn't comment. He knew her secret; he was the only one who knew. She had noticed immedietly that he had a think for Alise too; although how deep it was was unclear.

"Then is anyone staying?"

Silvin sighed, "I'll stay and keep watch. I'll perch myself on the roof and use my greater eye sight to see what's happening and make reports until the fighting begins. Now, if we're only gathering information only one or two of us should go, so who is it going to be?"

Alise raised her hand immeadiatly, "I'll be able to hide very easily."

Gerard stood up as well, "I shall go with her."

Alise looked at him flirtatiously yet sternly, "if you slow me down, do not expect me to wait. I'll leave you behind."

Gerard smiled, "don't worry, that won't happen."

"If you're keeping watch, what should the rest of us do?" Bella asked, turning to Silvin.

"Well, who's left here...Nathaniel, Ara, and you, correct?"

"Yes, and you, but you already have a job. We need something to do."

Nathaniel thought for a moment before turning to Bella.

"You come with me."

"Where?" Bella and Gerard both asked at once.

"Back to the inn. If any of our friends DO show up, they will wonder where we are. We will leave a note with the innkeeper, telling him to look out for the others and to tell them to come here." He then turned to the other four. "Gerard, go with Alise. Ara, stay and keep watch with Silvin."

"You sure you'll be alright, Nat?" Gerard asked worridly. Nathaniel shot him a glance that made his twin shiver and hastily take his question back.

"Come on." Nathaniel said, and walked out the door, Bella following close behind. Alise and Gerard exited too and headed off in the opposite direction, away from the inn. Soon they were engulfed in the shadows.

Bella followed Nat in silence; for some reason, his silences were rarely, if ever, awkward. The walk back to the inn was short. Nat held the door open for her, and they walked straight back to the innkeeper.

"May I help...you?" the innkeeper asked, obviously recognizing them from earlier on.

"Yes, we need to leave a note, incase some of our friends show up." Bella answered before Nat even had his mouth open. It may have been her imagination, but she could've sworn that he cracked a smile before continuing for her.

"We're waiting for Unther, Sabal, and James. Well, not waiting for them; we're leaving a note for them. If they come, they need to meet us at Nat and Gerards house."

"Alright, I'll make sure to tell them. I'm pretty sure I remember them," the innkeeper agreed. There was a loud bang from outside, causing many people to turn their heads towards the doorway. Suddenly Nat grabbed Bella's arm (she would've been estatic, had it been any other situation) and pulled her towards the front door.

Nathaniel cursed as he led Bella towards the door, his staff making a loud thump every time it hit the wooden floor of the inn. He pointed at the door and it flew open to show the little dog standing right outside.

"Lead." Nathaniel commanded and the little dog obediantly turned and ran off. In the distance, faint bursts of multi-colored lights burst into existance before fading to darkness.

"Nathaniel? What's going on? What's attacking the city?" Bella asked.

Nathaniel did not reply, his gaze abstracted as the seemingly followed the dog with sightless eyes. Bella grew silent, no doubt recognizing he was casting a spell.

Suddenly Nathaniel's eyes grew focused again as he thrust his hand out in front of him, as if to ward off a blow. A shadowy figure materialized from nowhere in front of them.

"W-what is that?" Bella asked.

"A spectral." Nat answered. He turned to the shadow. "Go investigate the south gate and report back to me immediatly." he commanded. The spectral bowed before vanishing.