Dark Beginings

*Please Disregard my first post. I can't seem to edit it, so I am simply reposting. Thank you!*

Bella walked into the inn, making sure her purple cloak was covering her face completely. THe only other inhabitants of the inn were a group of men talking in the corner. Bella ignored her curiousity until she was seated at an empty table, an elderberry wine in her hand. Then she looked over at the group.

One man, and elf, to be specific, caught her attention. She focused her magic, trying to get into his head. He looked up, and whispered something to the larger man-type-thing that was with him.

Unexpectedly, Bella was being dragged toward the corner by the orc.

"Let me go!" she snapped. He stopped dragging her, holding her stationary by both arms. The elf reached forward, pulling her cloak up to see Bella's face.

Bella looked up for a brief moment. The elf, whose name she had gathered to be Rask, was amazing. She didn't need to do anything mroe than attempt to read his mind to know this. Very few people could block her from their thoughts, yet he had managed to do so. He was also attractive.

She averted her gaze, not wanting to let him know her thoughts.

Senra slowly released the invisible spell and looked at the Stormlord smiling. "This better?" She asked carefully. She glanced at the others that were a few feet away still talking. She was glad for it too. She would rather face the single Stormlord then all of the elves put together with the Stormlord. Though rumor had it that the Stormlords and the Vampire were alot alike. The Stormlords out did the vampires in strength and she was only half vampire, but the elf in her would be a good defense too. 'Why are you acting like he is going to attack you?' A voice demanded, 'He doesn't look like he will unless you give him a good reason, so don't.' He didn't look much older then her, she had been bit on her sixteenth birthday, but had now lived for three hundred and sixteen years.

<Rain>

I felt Fire go rigid under my hands, as the dragon sensed majic being worked nearby. Slowly I sent a swirl of air to tell me who it was. Then after thinking a bit I added a spark of flame that lit underneath the other evesdroppers. It wouldn't be long before they realised there pants were literally on fire.

After waiting a beat I looked over at Karana. "Seems these woods are pretty popular for visitors today." I finished talking just as a yelp came from the woods and another couple of evesdroppers jumped into the stream.

Tanis crossed his arms and began to laugh. Karana gave him a sharp glance and he quickly settled down. "You two, reveal yourselves," no answer. "Now!"

Slowly two figures began to appear. One was a Storm Lord, the other a vampire. The lord was patting his pants, the vampire glaring at the Drake.
"You tried to set our pants on fire!"

The Drake sighed, "And I almost succeeded, what a shame. And I was in the mood for a good laugh too."

The vampire sneered, but Tanis intervened, as well did the avian. Tanis spoke up, "There is no reason to be hostile." He turned toward the Drake who only diverted her gaze. "Lets all get along. I am Tanis Highwind. I've been traveling for 5 years and counting. If you wish I was heading for a town not far away. We could grab a drink and talk about our plans."

Karana

"Yes! Let's!"

I wanted no trouble, either. And, as crowded as this place was getting, I would soon be uneasy, which no one needs.

I beckoned for Tanis to lead the way.

<Flint>

Flint grinned happily, knowing that already his new adventure was about to start.

"What do you want?" Flint asked the female.

As if totally ignoring him, the lady kept on trying not to stare at Rask.

"Hey, you!" Flint shouted annoyed, he wasn't being listened to.

The woman's head flicked towards him, her black hair flying around, finally noticing the small kender.

"What do you want?" Flint asked again slowly loosing his enthusiasm.

Kahlak started to bend her arms inwards, they protested that they didn't exactly bend that way.

"Answer the thief or I'm going to bend harder." the orc told her. She didn't make a noise.

Rask continued to watch silently intrigued that she hadn't answered yet. He spoke,

"Who are you madam? As to be watching us so intently and knowing of and actually managing to mind read? I repeat, who are you?"

The woman's hair suddenly came undone. Kahlak, still holding the woman's arms watched Flint fish around in his coat, apparently his enthusiasm had bubbled up again.

"Ooooo, can I ask another question too? Can I?" he asked while dishing out a golden hair clasp.

Kahlak snorted and Rask rolled his eyes thinking, You just did, didn't you? What makes you think that another will matter?

Flint taking their actions as a yes, twirling the hair clasp around in his hand questioned,

"What is a poor looking robe wearing woman such as yourself doing with a GOLD hair clasp?"

Rask, suprised that such a dull witted species had found such a small flaw in the woman's disguise, was absolutely mind-boggled. This Flint, isn't as dumb as he likes to appear

The woman silently cursed herself, she had changed her facial features, her clothing, her body shape, but yet still had forgotten to take off her hair clasp.

She was impressed and answered as thus,

"My name is Bella-Luna Maria and I know about and can do mind reading because I am a powerful mage, this is my question to you, dear drow friend of mine, who is he?"

She motioned her head towards Flint.

Flint's eyes widened mischeviously and he grinned hard. He said,

"Hey, I'm not just a he! I'm a Goddamn Royal Bastard, is what I am!

The tavern went silent.

<Kahlak'tisht>

Kahlak ignored the kender, and kept on bending the human's arms inwards.

There was a sharp snap as one of her arms broke.

Kahlak threw the mage to the ground, with the whole tavern watching.

The orc growled, "I HATE humans!"

The kender jumped up and stood by the tall orc. Rask got off his chair and said, "You shouldn't have tried to mind read me."

The three newly aquainted aquaintences took their leave, not seeing the human mage healing herself with black tinged magic.

They took of into the night, before the tavern guards could catch up.

The kender still had the witch's golden hair clasp in one tiny fist.

Dakto walked with the others, a single spark playing across his hand. He glared at the Drake's back, still smarting with embarrassment from her petty flames.

'How easy it would be,' he mused, 'to reciprocate the action.'

He shook his head, the spark blinking out. He would not sink to her level. He raised his head a little as Tanis introduced himself.

"I will join you, then. My name is Dakto Taos, and I have been travelling...a little longer than you have, my friend," he said with a wry smile.

'A good deal longer, actually,' he thought, 'As, I imagine, some others of us have.' He glanced momentarily at the Vampire, wondering how much power the one who bit her still held over her. He would have to keep a close eye on her. On all of them. The Elves seemed a little too friendly, especially for Elves, and the Drake certainly seemed to be itching for a fight.

Tanis smiled as he watched the Storm Lord. Turning back he faced the road a head of him. Even though he had lived to be 130 the past five years had felt pointless. he wished to find more about his father, the supposed traitor, but has found nothing.

"You okay?" The elf asked.

"Fine, just thinking."

<Rain>

I just KNEW Dakto, wanted to shoot something back at me, it's what I would do, if someone had done something like that to me. But then I was seventeen and had been raised in a human city. In short, no manners or control, on top of lots of power.

"Well, if we're going to the village i'm going to fly ahead if that's okay with you." The others seemed puzzled but I didn't wait for a reply, I took off running letting Fire flash into his fully grown form, the one he only used for battle or travel. He was huge with a 200ft wingspan and 30ft long tail, lethal talons, And spikes all along his spine ridges, except where the saddle would normally go. But I always rode bare back.

Lightly I jumped up onto Fire's back and hagged his neck, pressing my face against his gleaming flame colored, sun warmed scales. I laughed as the two of us took to the sky. I'd meet the others in the village, but first I wanted to soar.

Arastone took off after Fire and Rain. She followed behind quietly as the two soared around the forest.

((I don't understand what's going on. Can someone explain?))

(Okay, you, me, Fire, the Storm Lord, the Elf, and Vampire are making there way to a village. The others have there own little plot. I'll create a DT so you guys can ask questions.)

"Dammit, I hate it when people try to perminately harm me," Bella murmured, bending her arm to make sure everything had healed correctly. Then she jumped to her feet. "Why is my hair in my face?" she realized suddenly. "That goddamn kender!" she snapped, getting to her feet and running out of the inn, into the night.

Bella had changed her appearance, back to the way she normally looked. She was wearing her regular clothes, not the disgusting rags she had worn earlier on. She kept the purple cloak, the only real piece of clothing she owned. When you can simply magic your appearance, why own clothing?

Bella caught up to the group in mere minutes, but stayed out of sight. She stuck to the shadows, eventually climbing up into the trees and following from above. She just hoped the elf didn't notice her...

Rask-

As we had gotten farther away from the inn, our flight had slowly lost its speed. Now we traveled at a simple walking pace, talking about the upcoming heist. I listened and put in my word where it seemed fit, but otherwise remained quiet, only half listening to my new comrades. The rest of my attention went to looking out for the human mage, whom i knew would eventually follow.

As it turned out, i was right.

A soft rustle in the branches a few meters back caufht my attention immediatly. A sound so small that even the Kender's keen ears were unable to detect it... but he hadn't been listening for it. I turned my head a fraction, watching behind me from the corner of my eye.

A dark shape moved quietly through the treetops, almost invisible to even the quickest eye. I smiled secretly to myself.

"I had not expected you to follow so quickly," I called over my shoulder. My companions turned to look at me curiously. I smiled and winked to them, jerking my head behind me and putting a slim finger to my lips, signaling silence. They understood immediatly.

I waited for the girls answer.

"You have something that belongs to me," Bella replied simply, jumping from the tree and landing gracefully a few yards behind the group. They had already turned, however, which put her in front of them. "I would like it back."

"Really?" The elf replied, his voice smooth, playful even. Bella smiled involuntarily. "And how do you plan on getting it back?"

"I was rather hoping you would just hand it over, but I am not naive enough to expect anything that easy."

"Actually, I would quite prefer to keep it," the elf chuckled, taking the hair clip from the kender and twirling it in his hand. Bella saw it sparkle in the dim moonlight. "If you want it so badly, come and get it," he taunted. Bella rolled her eyes, becoming invisible.

She would only stay invisible for a few minutes and had to put it to good use. The Orc and Kender had already moved out of the way, and Rask was standing alert in the middle of the path. Bella ran straight at him, putting one foot behind his ankle and pushing him, making him trip backward over her foot just as she became visible.