Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze

Ariana

I thought, trying to come up with a good responce. But then I realized, I didn't really do anything special, I was just there. That depressed me...

"Nothing really," I said, "I help Davnix train sometimes, I'm decent with a weapon, but I'm too klutzy to be trusted to fight for very long with them. I guess that in the end I just get in the way."

For some reason I didn't bother to hide how upset I was about it, Riley seemed to suck every emotion I tried to hide out, and I couldn't help but adore him for it.

Riley-

I laughed. "You can't just do nothing. Everyone has a role."

"Not me." she mumbled. "Or, if i do have a role, it's the role of the girl who's always getting in the way."

"Well then, we'll just have to find you a respectable role on this little adventure, eh?" I said, happily, trying to cheer her up. I sat down on the floor next to her and wrapped my arms around her warmly.

"Don't be sad. We'll find you something you're good at, then you can show the rest of them!"

Ariana

I smiled and lenaed against Riley, "I don't think the others really notice though," I admitted, "this is the only potential trouble I've gotten us into, aside from when I was seven. But that couldn't really be helpped."

I knew I wasn't helpless, if I was I knew they'd realize that I was always in the way.

"We'd better find you a warm tunic, we can steal something from my father, it'll be easier to cut holes out for the wings from his stuff."

Riley-

"Are you sure?" i asked, frowning. I didn't like the idea of stealing something from Ariana's father. To tell the truth, he kind of scared me...

She laughed, aware of my discomfort. "Of course. He won't even notice."

I sighed. "Alright."

She stood up, took my hand in hers, and led me to her father's room.

"Where are they?"

"Who, my parents? Oh, they go out to the Inn every week on this night. They're not expected back until past midnight."

"Oh, ok."

Ariana

As I rummaged through my fathers drawers I was aquetly aware of Riley's discomfort and couldn't help but smiling, he was afraid of my parents. Aside from the stories they've told me and the demon battle I'd never seen them hurt anybody.

I found a dark green tunic that I had stolen once when I had gone on a three day hiking trip with my brother and cousins, i knew it was warm and we'd only need to cut slits in the back for his wings. He'd stay plenty warm.

"Here," I said holding it up before I shoved it into the bag that Natan gave us, "lets go catch up with the others."

Riley-

I stood up, flexed my wings quickly, and walked out of the room behind Ariana, shutting the door behind me. We went to the kitchen, gathered up as much food we thought we'd need, and went back to get Isabella and Max.

"Come on, are you guys ready yet?" Ariana asked, standing in the doorway.

"Yeah, we're coming!"

Ariana turned and nearly ran into me. I caught her in my arms and smiled.

"Slow down," i cautioned.

She smiled up at me. "Sorry. Come on, lets go."

We all exited the house, heading back towards Natan's.

Davnix-

I rummaged around in the pantry downstairs in Natan's house. Bella had gone off with my parents (who hadn't realized we were gone) and Nathaniel was still in his study. I stuffed as much into the odd bag Natan had given me as possible.

"I hope Nathaniel doesn't all of the sudden decide to come out of his study." I muttered to myself.

"Who? Me?"

Natan-

I heard a small shout come from downstairs. I cursed and ran down that stairs, catching myself with magic once when i stumbled. I entered the kitchen and saw my father glaring at Davnix who stood frozen on the spot. I came to stand in front of my father, my back to Davnix.

"What are you doing?" Nathaniel asked calmly.

"We're..." i faltered. "We're..."

"Packing?" he offered.

"Er...yeah..."

"What for?"

I knew he had us cornered, so why try to lie? I was almost positive he knew what we were doing.

I sighed. "We're leaving."

"Who is we?"

"All of us. The younger generation."

He laughed, and at that moment the door opened and in walked Ariana, Riley, Isabella, and Max. They stopped in their tracks when they saw us. My father paid them no attention except for glancing quickly at Isabella and Max.

Ariana

I froze, oh crap, Uncle Nat. We were busted! There was no way we were getting out of this, not without jinxing him. I glanced at Isabella who closed her eyes and focused. Then was blasted back with a force that knocked her into Max. Her dads sheilds were too powerful for her, but what about Natan?



Max

I caught Isabella as the force of her magic knocked her back. Then used the only skill I could offer to make her dad's jaw lock shut and him freeze in place.

"Sorry Uncle Nat," Ariana said, "but....that note explains it all."

"Sorry dad," Isabella said kissing his cheek.

*Stifles a giggle* Gang up on Nat time! Yes!

Natan-

I blinked.

Twice.

And yet again a third time, just to be sure i was seeing what i thought i was seeing. Yep, I was.

My father, who's furious gaze was frozen on me (of course) was frozen. I felt him trying to break free of the temporary enchantment and knew we had to get out of here quickly.

"Velna, Trent, finish up quickly!" I called up the stairs, keeping my eyes on my father.

"Coming!"

Two pairs of booted feet came racing down the stairs. Velna and Trent appeared before us.

"We're ready, right?" i asked everyone quickly.

"Yes, let's go."

They filed out the door until it was just Isabella and myself left. We walked forward to out father.

"Sorry," we both said together.

"I hope you can forgive us." Isabella said quietly.

"But please don't come after us."

"We're doing this on our own."

"We'll let you know as soon as anything happens, be it good or bad."

"Good-bye." we both said before turning and fleeing out the door into the night where our friends waited.

Riley-

I watched as Natan and Isabella came running out of the house, stopping in front of us.

"Are we set, then?" Natan asked, beginning to shiver already in his thin, black robes.

"Yes, let's get going." Davnix said, walking close to Velna and Trent. I moved closer to Ariana and once again wrapped my wings around her.

"Cold, love?" i asked.

Ariana

I felt Riley wrap his wings and arms around me, "cold love?" he asked.

My heart skipped a beat. What did he just say? I felt my eyes widen in complete and total horror, but I quickly ereased the look off my face, he probably called all his friends that.

"Only slightly," I said snuggling closer, "not anymore."

Riley-

I walked in silence for a little while, my wings wrapped closely around Ariana and myself. After a moment i yawned.

"Don't start that again," she teased.

"Start what?" i yawned again and smiled.

I looked over at the others. Davnix was talking quietly with Velna and Trent, Isabella and Max walked close behind them, and Val and Natan walked side-by-side. Natan was shivering uncontrollably, as was Davnix.

"Cold?" i called out.

Natan turned to stare at me for a moment before nodding and turning away again. Davnix appeared to have not heard me.

"What a lively bunch," i commented.

Ariana

I laughed, "My brother doesn't talk a lot when he's cold," I commented. "Like he's afraid his tongue will freeze to his teeth."

Riley laughed slightly rumbling in my ear.

I projected my voice out to reach the rest of the group, "maybe we should find a place where we can stop and light a fire," I suggested, "get warm and a good nights sleep before we start moving again?"

"Sounds like an idea," Natan called back, "but where do we go?"

Davnix-

"...stop...fire...warm...sleep..."

I looked up. We were stopping? Lighting a fire? Getting warm, and sleeping? Finally...

"That's an idea, but where do we go?" Natan called back to my sister.

"There's a cave...over there." i said, pointing off in the direction of a few hills.

"Yeah, i remember now," Ariana said. "We'd stop there when we were hiking. Let's head there now."

Riley-

"Are we far enough away from your parents?" I asked.

"We'll be fine. Besides, if they do come tromping through the woods in search of us this far, I;m sure Natan and Isabella have a few spells up their sleeves."

I laughed. "Let's hope."

Ariana

I leaned against Riley in the cave, the fire heating up the whole place, but still he wrapped his wings around us both keeping us warm. I felt so open with him, I did hide my fare share, but that was the part I hid from everybody, the part of me that talked to herself and could tell when things were going to happen. But didn't say anything, why should I? I wasn't a psychik, or a prophet...at least I didn't think I was and they wouldn't take me seriously.

I yawned feeling sleep slide in, "Riley?"

"Yes?"

"I think I'm falling in love with you."

Velna-


Velna pulled Trent's trench coat tighter around her shoulders as she sat next to the fire. Trent slept close to the back of the cave. Velna couldn't sleep as easily. She stared into the fire. She was worried about Crest, he hadn't said a word all day long and he usually went out hunting about now. She didn't want to disturb him though. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rocked back and forth looking further into the fire. Her skin started to burn, but she ignored it and kept rocking. She hadn't faced a demon sense she was really little, and she didn't want to lose Trent to them. But they needed to help the people that had helped them. She looked around and saw others fast asleep. She needed to sleep too, but she couldn't.

Going back a bit...

Riley-

I smiled as i felt Ariana's body relax against me and remembered what she said.

"You're not the only one." I whispered into her hair, knowing she was already asleep. I glanced up to see who was still awake. Only Natan and Velna still sat huddled next to the fire. Davnix's snores echoed around the cave occasionally.

I laid Ariana down on the pile of clothes she was using as a bed and went to sit next to Natan facing Velna.

"What's your story?" i asked to either of them. I didn't care who answered.

Natan glanced at me, as did Velna.

"I grew up in Verlmil. I helped rebuild the town after it was destroyed and learned from my father all that he knew. I took my test to become a mage two years ago and passed easily. My sister took the same test only a few months ago, and she too passed with ease. Nothing exciting has happened in my life, really." Natan said, ending with a wistful sigh. He stared intently into the flames, their light reflecting in his pale blue eyes.

"What about you?" i asked Velna. "Do you have a story?"