(Sorry. I was waiting to see if Mr. Hatter would take my invitation. But I've given him plenty of time, so I'll move on.)

[Hilo]

Finally I found my legs. Stupid bastards, deserting me in my moment of greatest need.

But it didn't matter. I was off like a shot, putting as much distance between me and the horrid … thing as I could before I was out of breath. It was disappointing, actually. I didn't cover as much ground as I ought to have before stopping to rest. That would have to change. No way I should fight a dragon in the worst shape of my life. That would just be unreasonably stupid.

After catching my breath, I ran another length for good measure, then settled into a section of forrest. After steadying my breathing I went to work, carefully eyeing my surroundings for small furry mammals as I stalked silently through the trees, knife in hand. Before long I came across my first target. It was a ground squirrel of sorts. Little skinny, but he'd do.

I hurled my knife, missing wide right. The squirrel bolted. Not deterred, I retrieved my knife and continued the stalk.

I never missed after that. Rodents were common enough in a forest overrun with animal life, so it was easy to find them. They fell fast. I had a half-dozen before I knew it. I threw them unceremoniously into a leftover sack floating around in my shoulder pack, then made back for the clearing.

Karana

I listened.

The girl got to her feet as I listened. I could hear Hilo returning, but his heart was racing too fast to have just been walking.

He must have run at some point...but why?

"Never mind. Here he comes now," I turned and walked back into the clearing, using some of the wood in my pile to make a teepee campfire. Lighting it was a simple spell, I beckoned for our new companion - this misinformed girl - to sit with us as Hilo entered the clearing.

She followed, caustiously, not knowing what to expect.

"Who's your companion?" she asked warrily. "I thought you were alone. And, what quest? Why do you need me?" She frowned. She really didn't like this situation. But what other choice did she have? She was a female wizard all alone, in unfamilar territory, without a clue at where to go. So, she might as well start acting somewhat friendly.

She smiled. "So...what are you doing out here?"

Karana

I sighed. This would take some time.

"My friend..." I gestured to Hilo, "...is Hilo. He's not as fearsome as he looks, don't worry.

"As for this quest...you don't have to accept my offer. You can decline and move on your way. I won't force you into anything that would make you feel uncomfortable or threathened.

"We're in search of a creature, a thing that has caused me misery and loss. This thing lives in the mountains on the other side of the Corone territory, and I will get there on my own if I must.

"What I will need assistance with is this: this creature I intend to slay is a dragon."

I prayed that she would not run or call me crazy.

[Hilo]

Busy girl; found another ally already?

I didn't mind. As far as I was concerned, when fighting a dragon, the more the merrier. Only maybe not. I hoped she didn't expect too much, though; it was only an odd whim ans good timing that made me her companion. It seemed like she was Corone; that in itself could prove troublesome. Who knew what was running through her mind?

"Yes, I'm Hilo. Nice to meet you. I am actually quite fierce, though, with this bag of dead rodents as my witness." I took one from the sack and held it out by its tail. "If you're planning on accepting Karana's request, though, I do hope you like squirrel meat. But hey – d'you have a name?"

(hey can I still join? I'll post my thing and if you don't want me too feel free to ignore it.)

name- Ras
gender- female
age- 16
clan- no clan, she is an outsider to the valley.
race- Drake. If you don't know what a drake is they're immortal humans, born with dragon souls, they have the ability to shift between dragon and human, only those two forms though. The only way to really tell them apart from humans is their pointed ears, and slanted, jewel colored eyes. They're often mistaken for elves in human form. They are also soul-bonded to a duel-dragon. In Ras' case Fire is her dragon he has battle mode, where he's huge, and normal mode. Where he's is small enough to ride on Ras' shoulder, about the size of a large falcon. Fire likes sleeping on Ras' head.

appearance/personality- Hair is ruby-red, with eyes the color of amber/topaz, her skin is almond colored with a gold dusting on it. And she's around 5,4 in height. Sarcastic, and a smartass. But extremely loyal to her friends. With one huge temper. Likes to fight/party/gamble. Is a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Hates being called a kid and hates being called short.

background- She's a street rat, born and bred. A kid raised in the slums of the big city. She's a really good thief but had to get out of the cities for awhile when the price on her head got too big. Her race vanished centuries ago so as far as Ras knows she's the last of her kind, and therefore she has a lot of enemies. Her race wasn't well liked even when they were alive, Drake's are by nature arogant and prideful especially those of noble blood, which Ras is. The only thing that can make them, or her, truly respectful is to prove your strength in battle. Her parent's were human, for as long as she knew them, which was till she was 2, came to the mountains looking for her people when she heard rumors of drake's in the lands beyond the clans.

*more background on drake tribes and abilities as time passes.*

Strength- heat/fire of any kind, sunlight, is stronger with her duel-dragon Fire close to her.

Weakness- several thing, ex: cold, shiny things (drakes are perpetually curious and hoard treasure)
-----------------------------

Ras shivered, the woods hear were too quiet, something Dark was stalking the creatures hear, she sensed it as clearly as she stared into the campfire. Fire hissed, curling his tail tighter around Ras' neck, the duel-dragon dug his talons into her shoulder and the ridges on his spine stiffened as the did when he wanted to fight, his scales gleamed like millions of different jewels, gold and orange and red. They shone with there own flame, burning so hot, that if anyone but Ras touched him they would burn. Images flickered in the flames, as Ras struggled to divine the future, images of blood and deaths. The future was changeable it always branched into any many paths and those paths changed depending on your choices.

She bent closer to the flames, all the paths before her seemed only to lead to war, and she could only see a shadow, a man standing at the heart of it.

Glancing up, Ras looked around the near silent forest, further down the river she could see smoke, and bet that other people were eating too. Turning back Ras was just about to douse the flames when she started, the image that rose in the flames was of the present not the future. Which wasn't surprising in itself. It was a shock the spell had actually worked, considering 99 times out of 100 she blew things up when she tried to work magic.

The image in the flames was of three people sitting around a fire, two girls and a boy, close to her age. What was shocking was that as she looked into the fire one of the girls looked back, and knew Ras was watching.

Suddenly the girl reached towards the fire and pulled her through the flames, Fire screached as he held on tighter so that he wouldn't lose her, when Ras opened her eyes she was sitting around the other fire with the three people staring at her.

But one of the girls was staring at Fire with a look of rage, almost hatred.

Karana

I watched her, my fury of the past sending my body into tremors. I did not hate this particular girl, but her creature's cousins and what she could become.

This girl looked like an elf, but I knew better. Too-pointed ears, jewel-like eyes, that leathery, thick appearance of her skin. This girl was a drake, one of the dragon-souled people.

"Drake," I spoke, my voice soft and shaking in my fury. "What compels you to spy upon us? What brings you here? I know full well your kind are not wanted in this valley."

I shivered. I had to keep control. I had to maintain myself, to calm down, to keep my magic and fury under control. I couldn't risk starting a fight yet; what if I was injured? What if I hurt the others? What if...?

I exhaled slowly, closing my eyes. "Also, do not make the assumption that it is you I hate or have issues with. Do no even guess that I will be sharing my story yet, for it is hard for me to control myself every time I speak of the events of my past."

I opened my eyes to her face, but I knew I was somehow calmer. My hands wouldn't stop shaking, nonetheless.

(one issue her skin is not leathery, more metallic)

Ras studied the elf girl. She was confused, "I don't know what you mean by not welcome here, I was raised by human's and know next to nothing of my people, since they vanished centuries ago. I'm surprised you knew me for what I was, drakes haven't been seen in a long time, as far as I know , i'm the last of my kind."

The others were staring at her, the boy looked confused, to humans her race had passed into the realm of myth, the sorceress curious and wary, and the elf was still angry, but had relaxed a little.

"I'm passing through here because I'd heard rumors that the Shadow Dragon Tribe used to dwell beyond these mountains. I am of fire, but if I go there, maybe I can learn more of my race.

"As for why I was spying on you I wasn't, I tried to scry the future, and instead looked through your fire. Which isn't really surprising, my majic is unstable at best uncontrollable at worst."

Ras reached up and rubbed her fingertips over Fire's scales. The dragon stretched his neck crooning as little tounges of flame streaked out of his mouth. "I've spilled now why don't you tell me why the fates showed me your fire, even by accident, when all I can see in the future is blood and death?"

*Sorry, this might be long...*

Karana

This was unbelievable! A drake raised by humans? Was that even possible? Could she really be the last of her kind? I highly doubted that.

I bit my lip, turning to stare into the shadows of the forest. She had already seen too much. She had seen the future, and it worried me. Blood and death? Whose blood, and whose death?

"Hilo, explain for me," I said as I stood and walked around the fire. "I'm going for a walk."

I left before they could say another word. I would just walk in circles. I'd put one hundred meters between me and the camp, then I would walk in circles around it.

I couldn't lose it now, and I was so close to doing it! I couldn't lose my temper, my wit, my strength!

Of course, like this, you'll never defeat me, that voice taunted me again.

I growled, stopping in my tracks somwhere between my destination and camp. "You're pretty confident, beast!" I hissed, clenching my fists.

Of course I'm confident! You've got emotional problems, you've got a human and an enemy witch for companions, and now you're losing your temper just because of a drake! That's pathetic.

"Shut up!" I put my hands to my head, falling to my knees. "Shut up...please."

The voice just chuckled and his presence disappeared.

I broke down in tears. Was I really able to do this? Would I really be able to kill a dragon? I was strong enough physically and magically, and my determination was anchored, but was my will up to it?

Everywhere I turned, something was going wrong! Something settled between me and my goal! How could I keep going like this?

I sat back against a tree and hugged my knees, letting the tears fall. I let the memories consume me, taking me back to that burning village where I had seen my family last...where everyone I knew had died. Where I was the only survivor only because I came in at the very last moment, returning from a hunting trip in the neighboring woods...

(Sorry, I should have told you guys. I was grounded so I couldn't post. I guess I'm out now)

Caley started freaking out. What was happening to him? Immediately, she called upon her power and started to easy the pain that her new ally was feeling. She hated to see people experience pain.

"I'm Caley by the way." SHe said addressing Hilo. "And I don't care who you are, actually. I kind of deserted my clan." SHe smiled at him, a dazzling sparkling smile.

"I hope your comfortable with me reading your thoughts." She grinned.

Then she turned back to the other wizardress. "Feeling any better?

(You don't have to drop, Hatter. You just missed one opertunity. There will be plenty of others.)

[Hilo]

Karana did not just pull someone out of a fire.

Oh wait. Yes she did.

What the hell.

Newer new girl looked like an elf, but apprently she wasn't, according to her prickly exchange with Karana. Then Karana got flustered again. Annoying, because I just spent the greater part of my most recent existance getting her unflustered. Why'd she have to go and yank this girl out of the fire if she was just going to get angry again? Before I could do anything to help, she stalked off.

"I'm at loss to explain why no one ever introduces themseleves," I said, watching Karana's retreating form before returning my gaze to the newer newcomer. "Greetings, being who apprently has the ability to travel through fire, how do you do? The elf you've just driven out is Karana and," I motioned toward the other girl, "this seems to be … Caley, was it?"

I turned to Caley. "You can read my mind all you want, but I'm going go attend to my friend now, if you'll excuse me.

I dropped my sack of squirrels and made after Karana.

"Touch my squirrels and I will dismember both of you," I added cheerfully, increasing my pace as I left the clearing; Karana walked fast.

When I stumbled across her, Karana was curled up under a tree.

Crying.

My throat dried. This I wasn't expecting. Seriously. Why…?

"Something… wrong?" I managed.

Ras sighed, jumping she felt Fire uncurl his tail from around her throat, the duel-dragon crawled onto her head and with a flick of his tail went to sleep. Rolling her eyes Ras pulled her pack from her shoulders and pulled out some dried meat, she started to chew as she glanced around the clearing. Finally she looked at the other girl.

"Caley right? I don't suppose you know why that Karana girl hates dragons do you? It doesn't really matter to me, I'd just like to know in case she gets the itch to attack me. I'm Ras by the way."

Sighing Ras reached toward the fire and palmed the flames letting them lick over her sleeveless arms.

Karana

I heard him. I heard his voice near me. I looked up to see Hilo standing there, watching me, worried...

I sniffled, using the back of my hand to wipe the tears away. "It's n-nothing..."

I knew he didn't believe me. I didn't cry over nothing, and he had already seen me upset.

I sighed, putting my head back down, against my arms, as I fought to control the tremors and tears.

[Hilo]

Hoo boy. I was useless at this stuff. "Nothing" was the default answer for "Something wrong?" whether it's obvious that there is, certainly, something wrong. As was the case here.

Stupid. Should've known that.

But now what?

Logic dictated that it was her problem, and therefore it was her choice if and how she wanted to get over it. Whatever it was. I had no idea. Except… last time she got emotional, it was because the dragon had been harrassing her. Might've happened again, only worse this time. Something about the dragon was screwing with her. She wanted it dead.

The motive?

That was the key. But it was up to her whether she wanted to hand said key over or not. I wouldn't force the issue.

"Well, I know that can't be right," I said, trying my most delicate voice. "I can't help if I don't know what's eating you. But if you want to be alone, that's fine."