Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze

My first character calls dibs on Natan!!! *huggles Maybe*

Name: Valentina (Val for short)
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Education: none to speak of; taught herself
Species: Vampire
Appearance: Long, black hair and violet eyes. Always seen wearing a long, violet cloak.
Personality: Shy; keeps to herself a lot. Val is surprisingly agressive, and a very good friend once you gain her trust.
Abilities: vamp stuff - fast running, reading of emotions. Although she lacks the normal gracefulness most vamps have.
Weapons: Prefers daggers to using her teeth, unless absolutely necessary
History: As a young child, she moved to the city in which Natan lives with his family. She has come to adore him, but he doesn't know her htat well. No one knows that hse's a vamp...yet.

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Name: Isabella (Bella for short)
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Education: High
Calling: Mage and Swords-woman
Appearance: brown hair (braided) and green eyes. Usually wears boy clothing, because she finds it easier to move in.
Personality: Is a real tomboy. She tends to trust people to soon, and ends up hurt by them. Is always happy on the outside, regardless of how hurt she may be inside.
Abilities: The normal magic, and advanced sword skills. Can best most men with a sword.
Weapons: Magic and sword
History: Has lived with her parents, Nat and Bella, and her older brother Natan, for her whole life. Her father tends to baby her, while her mother pushes her toward greater things. Bella was allowed to take the Mage test after her brother took it and passed with flying colors. She passed just as easily, but suffered I minor injury to her left arm. Luckily she is right handed.

Isabella~

I exited my room just as Natan led a man and girl through the house. I gave him a critical look.

*I'm going to help her* he said, using our mind link. It was one of the great things of being so close to another mage; you practically shared brainwaves sometimes.

*Are you sure? Did they come to see dad?*

*Yes, but he's tired, and I can take care of it.* Natan's voice was sharp.

*Okay. I shall come with though.* Natan did not reply, and I followed.

Natan-

I carefully extracted the poison from the girl lying on the bed, gathering it in my hand. I closed my fist, said a word, and opened my hand again. The poison was gone.

After a moment, the girl's eyes opened and she started around. She saw her brother, then me, and made to get up.

"She'll be fine. You brought her here on time, so the poison hadn't spread too far. She just needs to rest." i told the girls brother. He nodded gratefully.

I turned to see my younger sister enter the room. She stood next to the door and watched us curiously.

"My name is Natan, by the way. I don't think we were properly introduced. And this," i gestured to Isabella. "Is my younger sister, Isabella." i told the man, folding my arms across my chest.

Riley-

I wandered through the streets of some unknown town, keeping my wings wrapped around my body for warmth. The sun was just disappearing over the horizon, and a chill was slowly creeping over the land.

I searched desperately for a place to stay the night. I had two coins left; just enough for one more night in a inn. I would be able to catch food for myself so i had no worries about that.

A house, larger than most i had passed so far, stood at the end of the road. Lights were on in most of the windows and the dark silhouettes of people moved behind the glass.

Maybe thats the inn. I thought to myself. And if not, then maybe they can tell me where the inn is.

I began walking towards the building.

Davnix-

I sat in my room, polishing my sword with a simple rag. The days were getting increasingly boring as time wore on and i got older. I yearned for the freedom of the outdoors and the exhilaration of adventure.

But no, i was cooped up here, doing the bidding of my father, mother, and the town-folk. Not that it bothered me TOO much. I didn't mind doing some work here, practicing my fighting there. It was a easy life, but i just couldn't help feeling that there was something more that i could and should be doing.

The door opened and my father walked in. I stood up and set my sword and rag down on the bed.

"I'm going over to Natan's. I'll be back later." I said.

"Alright, just be sure to tell your mother."

I ran out of the room and past the kitchen, calling to my mother, Alise, that i'd be back later. I was out the door the next second.

I made my way to Natan's house quickly, not that it was far. Just a few houses down. I knocked on the door and was surprised when it was my little cousin, Leira, who answered.

"Hi Leira, is your brother home?"

"Yes, he should be. Want me to tell him you're here?"

"No, i'll find him myself, if you're all not doing anything."

"Nope, come on in. He's either in his room or the patient room. I thought i saw him and Isabella go in there earlier."

*sniff* I had a really long brillant post to bring Max in but I lost it so I'm going to do that later, unless Ariel would like to for me ^_^ I'll tell you what my idea was later.

"Davnix," I breathed in his ear, he jumpped.

"Holy crap!" he shouted, "how'd you get here!"

"I walked," I said, "and that isn't a very nice way to greet your little sister."

"I'm sorry, you just startled me."

I shrugged the thought off, "I just came to see if you were going to practice with me today or if it was safe to lock myself in my room."

"Why don't you spend the day with us?"

"I'd rather not."

"There are new people here, you could scare them."

I had to admit that that held a certian appeal, but I decided I didnt' really want to. "No I'd rather just go home."

I turned and started walking off into the cold night air. I looked towards my house and saw an avian going towards the front door. "Oy!" I shouted, "who are you?"

"I'm Riley," he replied. "Is this the inn?"

"No this is where I live."


*I'll intro max later I think*

Riley-

Darn. Not the inn.

I lowered my head and blushed, wrapping my wings tighter around myself. I scuffed one heel in the dirt.

"Well, do you know where i can find lodging for the night? i asked, raising my head and letting my hair fall over my eyes in a shy manner.

Ariana

"Here, its not an inn but its warm." I said without hesitation, mom and dad would be upset with me put the poor avian looked on the verge of death he was so cold.

"But its not an inn?"

"Of course its not, but I highly doubt my parents would be all to upset about it concidering the temprature out here."

I led the Avian inside and pulled up a chair by the fireplace for him as I went in search of my parents to tell them of the Avian staying the night.



Max

I had been watching the Avian for sometime, I had been the one who had stolen his shirt. Somehow I knew he would lead me to Alise, and I enjoyed the . And when he ran into her in the town I almost willed him to follow her, but I needn't have done so, he went of his own free will. That pleased me.

I snuck up to the door and opened it. Willing the avian's eyes to remain staring at the fire. Then I saw her.

I couldn't resist any longer. I flew at her, pinning her against the wall and kissed her. She fought against me but I was stronger, and it didn't do too much good. That was...Until she kicked me, where it wasn't nice to kick.

"What the hell are you doing? and for that matter who the hell are you?"

"Alise," I groaned, "you don't remember me?"

"I'm not Alise. I'm. Not. Alise."

I looked up at her confused, "then who are you?"

"Her daughter, Mom! Dad!"

Her kick had been painful, but hearing her shout the words "dad" was worse than any injury I'd ever felt. It felt as if a two ton weight had just been dropped on my heart.

Riley-

I heard the door open and a small struggle ensue behind me, but for some reason, i could not take my eyes off the fire. I tried as hard as i could, used all of my will, but couldn't stop watching the dancing flames.

"Mom, Dad!" the girl who had brought me in called, and finally the thing holding my eyes and body in place loosened it's grip I jumped up and spun around, getting ready to help in any way i could.

I vampire stood near a far wall, his face a mask of pain and confusion. The girl was backing towards me, keeping her eyes on the vampire. Suddenly, two other people came running into the room.

"Ariana, what is it?" the man asked. Then his eyes caught sight of me and a low growl emitted from his chest. He drew a small dagger from it's holder on his belt.

But the woman who entered after the man was not looking at me or the girl, but the vampire leaning weakly against the wall. But i wasn't concerned with that, though. Right now i was concerned for my life, threatened by the big man in front of me.

"I'll explain the Avian in a minute," I said drawing my fathers attention away from the innocent man, "he says he knows mom!"

I noted how the Avian relaxed a bit when my father looked at the vampire instead of him.

"Who are you?" dad asked.

"He's an old friend," mom said wistfully, "what kind of havoic have you come to wreak upon us now?"

The man snickered.



Max.

Now this was Alise, I could smell it. But she didn't look like I had seen her last. When I had seen her last she had looked like the girl Ariana standing close to her father. She had been a vampire then too. She wasn't now. How was that possible?

"As much as possible," I replied cooly. "Perhaps a lot, perhaps a little."

"So wait," Ariana's father said, "who are you?"

"Maximum Sheilcit, former lord and master of the great Trianth provence. Which hasn't existed in over three hundred years. Alise and I used to run it."

I watched as the girl Ariana took the Avian's hand and led him away, I could have sworn that I heard her say "you may not want to be here for this. I'll find you something to eat."

Riley-

I smiled "Thanks. I'm not for reunions i don't belong in."

She led me into a small kitchen and sat me down at a small table. I wrapped my wings around my body and suppressed a shiver.

"What do you want?" the girl, Ariana, asked, opening a cabinet.

"Don't worry about me, I'm not hungry." i said, glancing around. "So, do you have any siblings? How long have you lived here? Is there anyone interesting? What do you do while you're here?" i asked, plunging into questions. I blushed and looked down. "Sorry. You don't have to answer any of those if you don't want. Sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me."

Ariana

"Curiosity shouldn't get you into too much trouble around here, except with me."

"You don't like curisoty?"

"I don't generally enjoy company," I said trying to distract myself by warming up a small pot of soup for the Avian and herself.

"You honestly don't like company?"

"Most company," I corrected, "if I spend time with people its usually because my brother has dragged me along with him."

"You have a brother?"

"His name's Davnix."

Davnix stuck his head around the door, "you rang?"

Davnix-

I stepped into the kitchen and jabbed my thumb behind me. "Whats going on in there?"

"Mom and dad are having some sort of reunion." Ariana said, shrugging.

I glanced curiously at the Avian sitting at the table, his head lowered and his wings hugging his body. Poor thing looked to be only skin and bones and feathers.

"Who's this?" i asked Ariana, nodding towards the Avian.

"This is..."

"My name is Riley," the avian said. "Your sister was nice enough to take me in. I was looking for the inn."

"Weren't you over at Natan's?" Ariana asked, raising an eyebrow.

I grabbed a piece of bread and leaned against the counter. "He was...busy."

"You say that as if it's a bad thing."

"Well...i wouldn't say BAD...but if wasn't good, either."

"Oh? What happened?"

"Well, as far as i could gather, Natan took in a patient that was meant for his father."

"Did he-"

"No, no, she's fine. He did a good job, as far as i could tell. But Nathaniel found out that Natan took in a patient without telling, and so...yeah. I left as soon as possible."

The Avian coughed lightly, alerting me of his presence again. The guy was so quiet, it wasn't hard to forget he was there. I turned to him.

"Sorry, family going-ons. Didn't mean to exclude you."

He shrugged. "If you don't mind me asking, who is Natan and Nathaniel?"

"Natan is out cousin, Nathaniel our uncle." i said, gesturing to Ariana and I. The Avian nodded.

"And you mentioned healing...they're healers?"

"Healers and Mages. Both of them are extremely skilled."

"I see..."

Ariana

I was grateful when Davnix showed up. But I was figuring out a way to get him to take care of Riley without insulting him.

"Well Riley," I said, "I leave you in the capable hands of my brother, I am off to bed." Then I turned to Davnix, "don't scare him, and let me know how the reunion thing works out okay?"

At his nod I walked up the stairs and into my room where I locked the door and laid on my bed doing absoloutely nothing until I fell asleep.

Davnix-

I watched my sister as she left the room and turned and sat down at the table with the Avian.

"So what are you doing here?" i asked.

"Your sister invited me in."

"No, in this town."

"Oh, I'm just passing through."

"Ah. So, what do you do?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are you a swordsman, archer, healer, mage...?

"I am a healer and a practicing archer. Yourself?"

"I'm a swordsman, just like my father," i said proudly.

As if in cue, a loud shout came from the other room. I stood immediately and went to investigate. Last time i checked, reunions dont really include shouts or cries.

Maximum

I dodged out of the way as Gerard lunged at me with his sword. I knew with where he was aiming he wouldn't kill me, but it would still hurt like the devil and give him the oppertunity to actually kill me.

"I didn't mean to insult you," I said quickly.

"Insult me?" Alise shriked and I winced. "You kissed my daughter and-"

"I thought it was you!" I shouted in defense.

"That's not much better," Gerard growled.



Alise

Even without my vampiric speed Max wasn't able to anticipate this next move. I stole my husbands dagger out of its hilt and pushed Max up against the wall holding it to his chest.

"When I left I said that I never wanted to see you again!" I shouted.

"I...I..."

"How long have you been following us?!!!"

"I just happened apon the town! I was following the avian!"

"Why were you following me?" The avian said from the door way with Davnix.

"Dave go upstairs with your sister."

"Ariana's asleep."

"No I'm not," Ariana said from the other door way.




Ariana

I couldn't believe what I was seeing, mom was holding a knife to the vampire's chest. And he looked scared out of his mind.

"Ariana, Davnix, go upstairs," mom instructed.

"Nu-uh mom," I said.

"Ariana," dad said sternly, "go upstairs we've got this handled."

"Dad," Davnix said sternly, "we're not going anywhere."

"Especially me, I have a right to know why I was malled by him."

"Go upstairs!" Dad boomed.

Davnix-

I shook my head stubbornly. "No, we won't. Ariana's right. And the Avian has a right to stay."

My father looked about to say something else but at that moment Nathaniel walked calmly through the door, brushing at his sleeves and mumbling under his breath. He looked up and raised an eyebrow.

"Trouble?"

Another figure appeared behind my Uncle, then another. Natan and Isabella has come, too. I sighed and relief.

"No, we've got it all handled. Davnix, Ariana, take the Avian and go upstairs. Your mother and i can deal with this."

"Deal with what?" Nathaniel asked, walking into the house. I had to suppress a laugh; my uncle reminded me so much of a bumbling old man...except that he wasn't old, and he had a lot more memory than a bumbling man. I respected my uncle greatly.

"Nothing," my father growled. "We've got it."

Nathaniel caught sight of the vampire. For a moment his features were distorted by fear: his eyes grew wide, his hands clenched, and his mouth clamped tightly. But it was gone in a moment and he sighed. I had heard the stories of how my uncle had been poisoned by a vampire and nearly died, going partly mad in the process.

"Ah, a vampire. Do you know him?"

"I do," my mother said, never moving the dagger from the vampire's chest. "We used to be old acquaintances."

I edged over to stand beside Natan, dragging Ariana and Riley with me.

"I heard you healed someone today. How'd it go?"

"Fine." Natan said stiffly.

"Where's the patient?"

"Back at the house resting. Her brother is there with her, along with my mother and Leira."

"Ah."


Gerard (By request of Alice)-

Why did everyone pick NOW to show up? Now, of all times.

"Nat," i said in a slow voice. He turned to me, his face impassive.

"Yes?"

"Take the kids to your house and keep them there. Alise and I can handle this."

Nathaniel snorted. "You expect me to leave, now?"

"Yes."

"You don't know me at all."

I sighed. I figured he'd say that. He was too stubborn, and curious, to leave.

I went to stand behind Alise, drawing my sword and holding it to the vampire's neck. I knew that even if i pierced him there, he would not die. But at least it'd cause him a lot of pain.

"Alright, vampire, why were you following the Avian? Why were you seeking out my wife? What do you want?" i demanded.