Young Writers Society

Cathy would like lvl 1 ice and what does bio do please? Adam would like lustrious dance, taunt and steal item. And uh... I take it he can't have hide without having fleeting command first, yes?

Cathy

Out of doors, Cathy had thought that a good woods guide had the advantage against any ninja or thief but the rules possibly didn't apply to Adam. It wasn't until he was standing two steps away from the tree that she moved, turning around and springing back, her new stave coming up to guard against the sudden attack. Except of course, it was only Adam.

"Woah, take it easy... startled you did I?" He grinned carelessly, running a nonchalent hand through his hair as he radiated bravado but it was a quiet bravado, a silent pride that he clearly expected to be acknowledged without need for the victory to be voiced except in a craftman's tongue.

"We are going?" Cathy asked, setting off toward the camp, setting a fast pace so that the thief had to scuttle if he wanted to catch up. He didn't draw along side her. Surprised, Cathy looked back and saw that instead he dawdled at his own pace and she was forced to walk on alone or indulge his whim and await him catching up. Fool. They didn't have time to waste with walking slowly. Cathy stalked on.

"If you have loved ones who live near here, you might wish to tell them goodbye first. We have allowed time for that," Adam called to her. Cathy stopped and he walked faster to catch up. They set off again at a regular pace.

"You should not have come for me yet then. There is no one I need speak farewells to." They had reached the camp now and awkwardly, Cathy sat down amongst the others. Social situations were not her forte.

"I am... I am glad to meet you all," she said.

(If you have any questions on what a certain skill or ability does, go down to the bottom of the site I made and click on "Abilities." And for magic you click on "Spells" which is located under the paragraph labeled "Magic." But for Bio I guess I didn't put it under any categories, huh?

Bio is a magic attack that creates a gelatinous ball of acid that deals damage to an enemy and poisons it as well. And yes, Fleeting Command comes before Hide.

I'll post in a bit, I just woke up and I need to feet the dog, cat, and myself.)

**Balaes will take level two dark.**

Balaes

It was a good thing they were able to wait a while before venturing into the town. Balaes did realise that their window of opportunity was small, that they needed to get in before another gate was opened, but he knew they'd have at least a little while before that happened. And they needed this rest, in all probability there'd be more creatures waiting for them in town.

After a short time, the woman Balaes had glimpsed before passing out on his return arrivied back in the camp, Adam trailing behind her. She sat amongst them, looking uncomfortable, and looked around at them. "I am...I am glad to meet you all." She said.

Balaes managed a smile. He still hurt a little, even after Sir Ro's healing. The simple fact was, he'd taken a beating when he let the Clannfear get too close. "Glad to meet you too, miss, although I don't think we've actually met properly yet." He held out a hand to shake, "I am Balaes."

Everyone else who hadn't already introduced themselves did so now. "It's a good thing you came along when you did," Edgar said when the introductions were complete. "You were a great help during those battles. We might not have made it without you."

They all sat around the fire in the middle of the survivors' camp, tending to their wounds. Some of the villagers made them food. During the operation they had all forgotten how hungry they were. While they were eating, Captain Matius said, "We'll rest for fifteen more minutes, then we'll go in and save the survivors in the chapel." Everyone nodded to show they understood. Salvian then went off to the side to speak with Ilum and his remaining two soldiers.

Adrian looked at Cathy from across the fire. "From what Edgar told us you're good in battle, Cathy. Because you helped us I think it's only fair we tell you what all this is really about." Adrian explained everything as quickly as he could. They only had fifteen minutes after all. He told her about the king's assassination, Mehrunes Dagon, the Oblivion Gates, and their mission to bring Martin to safety. "This mission may very well determine the fate of Arcadia, and we would be honored if you joined us."

Cathy would also like Bio then and yeah, I did look for an explanation before asking XD

(Okay, just checking. I just recorded it, and you have 6 points left, just enough to purchase Daggers if you wanted to.

And as for Balaes, you still need to purchase two more skills on the tree before you can get Lv. 2 Dark. The two you need are Poisonous Cloud and Crazy Gas.)

***I would like Lv.1 shell and pray for Enya and two-handed swords for Kai, please. I'll post later...my uncle just died of cancer...***

(I'm so sorry to hear that. It's hard losing a loved one. Hang in there.If you ever need someone to talk to you can talk to me.

By the way, Kai already has two-handed swords.)

(Ayumi is on a week-long trip to Arkensas this week. Let's try to keep the story alive while she's away.)

Adam

Feeling more than a little like a sulky child, Adam festered as he watched Cathy shake the hand Baleas offered. She seemed hesitant about it, as if this were a custom she wasn't used to. No one to say goodbye to huh? Just what was she doing out in these woods on her own, other than watching them that was. She must have been to join the battle at the exact moment she was needed.

Suddenly Adam didn't feel so weighed down by his jealousy of her. His head cleared and he considered seriously the thought that she might be some sort of spy. She was wary of them, that was clear, she didn't trust them to watch her back though she seemed happy to watch all of theirs. Something wasn't quite right. Adam was used to dealing with con merchants and double agents and women were always the worst. Especially the pretty ones. He'd have to keep an eye on her... not that he'd mind doing that anyway. She was attractive afterall. He'd need proof before he insulted her integrity.

Everyone who had been absent introduced themself and Cathy was cordial to each but in a distant and almost awkward way. Could it just be that she wasn't used to society?

It's a good thing you came along when you did," Edgar said. "You were a great help during those battles. We might not have made it without you."

"Some of you are very experienced fighters, I know that some of you would have made it," Cathy responded. Adam didn't like her phrasing. Or the impassive reaction she had to Adrian's explanation. She took everything at its word, not even showing surprise that the king was dead or that he had a living heir who was unknown to the world. Did she already know all that? Or did she just not care?

"This land is important to me," Cathy said, a small smile coming to her lips as she touched the stave that lay across her lap and the wand that she had now found a place for at her belt. "I feel that you should know something more about me before you offer me a place amongst you though. I have no knowledge of diplomacy or the running of your society. You are protectors of the town but I was never destined to live in such places. I am a protector of the forests and the streams, the golden planes and everywhere that life can grown. Even your towns if it comes to that though I am uneasy there. Nature has given me some skill in magic and long ago, humans taught me how to fight. I would be honoured to use these skills to protect the land but only if you still want me."

Confused and subdued by her speech, Adam remembered giving his own. It was times like these that made one want to be dramatic. Adam... or rather Tyson had told them flickers of his past. It came to him now and he thought he could almost recall a face. It was soft and kind, it had brown hair that was short and spiky, a youthful smile and it was a man's. More often it was the man's face that he recalled and that didn't seem fair to Adam. He longed for glimpses of his mother not... an uncle. However, it did explain where Tyson's brown, curly hair came from. His mother's hair had been the colour of honey. He recalled her quite well, a very extraordinary looking woman, a woman who had given him up sooner than care for her son. His father's hair was greying blonde.

Adrian smiled. "Welcome aboard, Cathy. We're all honored to have you fight along side us."

Ilum came up to the group. "Get ready everyone, we're heading out now." As everyone readied themselves for whatever was waiting for them beyond Kvatch's gate, Ilum's gaze settled on Adam. He never noticed it during the battle, too much fighting going on. He saw an odd familiarity in the way Adam moved, slouched, even the sarcasm in his words. It all reminded him of a comrade he fought beside long ago.

He dismissed the thought, though. He would worry about it once the job was done.

(Can someone post, please?)

(...Anyone?)

***I just got back from Orlando, FL. I've missed a lot, but I'll try...***



Kai and Enya stayed near their father, picking up any items that might come in handy in the village. A better, discarded sword for Kai, in particular, and some extra fabrics and herbs for Enya's medical collection.

Kai watched his father closely. Something seemed to be on his mind... Whatever it was, was it even his business? He shook his head, dashing the thought.

"You okay?" Enya asked, looking at her brother.

"Oh, yeah," he nodded, smiling for her sake. "You ready?" She nodded once, but Kai could see the fear in her eyes. He pulled her into a warm embrace, squeezing her slightly. "It'll be fine. You wait and see; Mom will be running the place just like she does at home. Okay?"

They made their way back up the hill. In a few minutes they were back in front of Kvatch's gate. The remnants of the Oblivion Gate were still smoldering and giving off steam. The smell of scorched earth filled the air. Today had been a victory, but the war was still far from over, so to speak. Now that the demonic portal was out of the way, they would be able to get into the town and find Martin.

They all had to work together to pull open the massive wooden gates in order to get inside. What they saw on the other side made them stop in their tracks. The town square was riddled with bodies, human and demon alike. Houses were still on fire from the initial attack, and most of them were reduced to rubble. The town was dead, there was no other way to describe it. In the state Kvatch was in, they would be lucky to find even one survivor.

"Kvatch...it's in complete ruin," Kai said.

"Dammit!" Captain Matius shouted as he kicked the dirt. "If only I had arrived a little sooner!"

"You did the best you could," Ilum said. "If it hadn't been for you the survivors that did make it out in time wouldn't have stood a chance."

A sound from one of the piles of rubble caught everyone's attention. They all turned to see what it was. "Is anyone there?" Adrian called. There was no answer. He started to move closer, to see what had made the sound. After a few steps, something jumped out from under the charred wood. A blood-covered Clanfear charged right at them. But it was taken down as quickly as it had appeared. One moment it was running, the next it was on the ground with an arrow through its skull.

Enya recognized the arrow. There was only one person in the entire town she knew who had them and could make such a difficult shot. She looked up at one of the windows to the chapel across the street. She saw a woman standing at the window. "Mother!"