August Hill

Raesa

Raesa whipped around. She felt the color drain from her face. A man, only in the loosest sense of the word, plunged toward her from the depths of the wood. She cried out in shock.

Lazona growled and snatched the back of Raesa's dress, quickly yanking her out of the man's path. He skidded to a halt in from of them, but took one step forward threateningly.

"What are you doing here?" he snapped viciously. Lazona took an angry step forward.

"I see no point in your question. We have just as much right as you," she spat back.

"Lazona!" snapped Raesa, horrified. Lazona ignored her.

"We," spat the man. "need no right. This is our domain. Our forest."

"Your forest?!" cried Lazona indignantly. "What a - "

Raesa cut in. "We're sorry for intruding," she said quickly. "We had to stop. A Rage boar was attacking some other people here, and - "

"This is a mother's territory," snapped the man. "Were they complete buffoons?"

"Well, that's what I told them - "

Lazona laughed derisively.

"Not," finished Raesa firmly, shooting a glare at Lazona. "in so many words, but close enough."

The man inspected them. "Where are they, then?"

"They went off... I guess they go to Urchin Academy or - "

"Brilliant!" interrupted the man. "Now our forest has become a retreat for school children!"

Raesa pursed her lip, irritated at being interrupted so many times.

"...You enter charging mad, and now your having pleasant conversation?" came another voice. A woman emerged from the wood.

"By no means is this 'pleasant conversation'!"

The woman tactfully ignored him. She looked over the two witches.

"And you are?"

Nadira slipped out of the bush smoothly and gracefully eyeing the two witches and the Vashhan standing there pleasantly unguarded. Vashhan turned toward her eagerly with a side smirk. He was planning something. She slipped beside him and grasped his shoulder putting a little reasuring pressure to remind him she was here. She knew he meant trouble, and she did not wish to start a battle with witches.

"...You enter charging mad, and now your having pleasant conversation?" She said in nearly a whisper but she knew that they could hear her easily enough. She dislike witches.

"By no means this is a 'pleasant conversation'!" Vashan objected, gesturing towards the two. These two have told me that a bunch of academy students students are wandering our forest! I will not accept to this. He quickly thought to Nadira, the arrogance clearly evidable.

By no means, this is our land anymore. Our people are dead. There is no point fighting it. We cannot protect this land alone. She thought solemnly to Vashan seeing him cringe ever so slightly. He knew she was right. There was no point dening it.

I am surprised you spoke so much. Usually you do not speak so much at first encounters. Vashan gazed lightly over the two witches, one who had gentle features and he could tell by her delicate frame and the slight jittery-ness in her eyes that this girl would be the most reluctant to fight. The hat that set upon her head was slightly crooked and her darkish brown hair was in a slight mess. She looked absolutely raggled. The other one on the other hand had hrash features that gave her a subtle challenging look. By the wide set of her shoulders and how her feet seemed to be planted on the ground, with her broom seemingly more like a weapon than a prop, he could tell that that one would be the problem to deal with. The distance between them was far for comrades. They did not like each other very much. The challenging one raised an eyebrow ever so slightly when she noticed that he was looking at her. Her lips curled up in a slight smirk. She wasn't that bad looking... for a witch.

Stop examining them so foolishly. They could turn you into a mere pup if you say anything wrong. Keep your interests and your thoughts to yourself. "Who are you?" Nadira said after she concluded her train of thought to Vashhan. Typical males.

Aye Aye Captain. Vashhan quickly replied and waited for both their response.

"I am Lazona at your service." The challenging one bowed mockingly. She then swiftly gestured toward her partner. "And this here is Raesa. We are just merely passing through these woods and we would like to get going if that is much of a problem." Her voices was edged with a threat.

"That could be a problem." Vashhan stepped forward swiftly, gliding along on his tip toes then settling himself in front of Lazona, staring down at her.

Vashhan... Nadira's warning breathed through his mind. His smirk grew into a grin.

"How do we know that you aren't assisting the monster of a human named Daemon?" Vashhan's eyes showed merriment. He was looking forward for a good fight.

"You dare insult us that way? We would never help that beast." Lazona replied, gazing directly back at Vashhan, challenge evident in her tone.

"W-wait!" Raesa stepped forward and grasped Vashhan's arm who quickly straightened out and looked at her unimpressed. "You know who Daemon is?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then you would know where to find him!" She eagerly gripped her broom tighter, her eyes filled with joy.

"Let go of him." Nadira stepped forward and pulled Vashhan back skillfully. She did not like where this was going.

"But you would know where to find him right?" Raesa looked hurriedly at Vashhan who only stared at her bewildered.

"No, if I did, he would already be dead." Vashhan growled. Lazona picking up on his emotions slightly stepped forward ready to intervene if a fight broke out.

"You must help me then!" Raesa stumbled toward him, Nadira letting a snarl escape her lips. Raesa paid no heed to her warning.

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No worries, Phantom of the Potter, you got them fairly well, all you need to be careful of is that Nadira doesn't like to speak to strangers and is extremely edgy about them. Sorry if I did not get yours right. Tell me how to fix it if there is a problem.

~Incognito

** Oh, you nailed them perfectly! I'll post another scene later -

Raesa

Raesa glanced back at the woman as she snarled. She had the look of a aggressive wolf about her. Raesa reminded herself that she knew not who these people were, nor what they were. She took a thoughtful step back.

Lazona bristled at the challenge. She began to snap back at the woman. Raesa elbowed her, then looked back.

"I'm sorry," said Raesa carefully. "Its just - Daemon - " Raesa took a deep breath, then continued on in measured words. "We have our - our own personal reasons for - going - going after Daemon."

Thalia

Stop it, she told herself harshly. Lazona rolled her eyes.

"'We' have nothing. Raesa has reasons. I care not."

Raesa glared at Lazona, who looked coolly back.

"Do you deny it?" she asked Raesa plainly. Raesa looked away. They were in dangerous waters. Raesa never managed to stay dry long while Thalia was in the picture.

"As I was saying," continued Raesa slowly. "Perhaps it would be best - as we seem to have similar goals - that we - "

She broke off at the woman's threatening glare. Raesa might be approaching this too quickly. She decided to back off.

"I don't believe we have gotten you names," she said apologetically. "Perhaps that would be best, before I continue - "

Lazona smirked. "You're beating around the bush," she hissed in Raesa's ear. "You know how irksome that can be. I must say, though: What do you think you are doing?! Are you honestly trying to invite absolute strangers to join us?"

"Quiet," whispered Raesa back. "You'll spoil everything. I believe things like this are best done in groups, anyway..."

The man coughed loudly. The woman glared at Raesa and Lazona hostility.

Stop scaring these two, Nadira. It seems we have a chance to get more allies to fight Daemon. One certainly seems willing. Vashhan nodded his head ever so slightly at Raesa. They may be valuable allies.

Do you really wish to ally yourself with witches. I cannot bear them Nadira hissed. She did not trust them no matter how valuable or convinced Vashhan was. They were not apart of the lycanthrope race. They did not deserve their trust because they could not see truly into their hearts as they could do so with the others of their kind. Not that there was many left of their kind.

"Do you really wish to know who we are?" Vashhan smiled wickedly, his sharp canines were now visible as they peaked over his lip. "Or would you rather know, what we are?"

Raesa stumbles for a minute trying to figure out words to speak but when none came she just merely nodded vaguely. Lazona looked at her and rolled her eyes plainly. "I believe the answer to that question is a little bit of both." Lazona sneered. He was only playing games with them.

"I am Vashhan at your service." He gave a mocking boy with a grin. "I just happen to be one of the last lycanthropes in existence."

"Oh pity you." Lazona said sarcastically but got a swift elbow from Raesa.

"I do deserve pity thank you very much." Especially with what I am going to do. He leaned back on his heals and stretched his arms high in the air. "And her over there, is my partner in crime, Nadira. She to, is a lycanthrope."

Nadira looked at him coldly and stepped out of the clearing quickly, giving no notion to where she was going. Vashhan had the instant urge to run after her, restrained himself, feeling the connection between them pull. He had business to attend to and he would not let one of her hissy fits get in the way.

"Oh dear, it seems that she has left..." Raesa responded quickly. Lazona's shoulders fell in ease for the person who was indeed the most trouble for conflict was now gone, which was reassuring. But still she felt at unease. How close these two people were together was unreal. She would not be far off.

"No worries about her. She will come back. She has some issues to deal with." He said with a tiny sarcastic edge to his voice. "But I have a question to ask of you too. Would you like to come a long with Nadira and I?"

Raesa's hoped perked up. Thalia was the first thing that came to her ravaged mind.

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~Incognito

Raesa

Raesa glanced at Lazona excitedly. Lazona turned slowly, almost painfully to Raesa. Raesa fell back slightly, but still turned back to the man, Vashan.

"We're a team, then," she replied happily. Lazona made a 'tsk'ing noise in the back of her throat. Vashan cocked an eyebrow in her direction. Lazona met his gaze coldly.

"I will make this plain," she said in a classic monotone. "I do not, under any circumstances, trust you."

Raesa's eye widened. "Don't mind her," she said quickly. "Lazona tends to be... blunt, at points. Not to mention rude." Raesa glared in Lazona's direction.

Vashan chuckled softly. "No matter," he replied, unfazed. He fixed Lazona with a stare. "I will have you know, Nadira trust you two even less."

"Glad to know the feeling's mutual," spat Lazona furiously. Vashan smirked.

"Um," said Raesa quietly, wanting to interrupt the moment's verbal sparring. "Just one question: Why doesn't she trust us?"

Vashan turned to her impassively. "You are a witch," he said calmly. Raesa paled.

"Does that - ?"

"It matters."

"Oh," said Raesa awkwardly. "Right."

Lazona growled in irritation. She mounted her broom. "Let's go," she snapped at Raesa. "We don't need to waste our time with these people..."

Raesa grabbed her broom handle quickly. "Don't you dare go running off now!" she cried.

Lazona jerked her broom away. "Make me," she hissed angrily, before zooming away. Raesa cried out.

"Lazona!"

Raesa's face hardened for a moment. She snapped her fingers. Lazona's broom halted in mid air. Lazona twisted around to glare at Raesa.

"Don't you dare," she hissed dangerously. Raesa pursed her lips, and brought her hand plunging down. Lazona's broom broke into a wild dive. Lazona jumped off of it just in time to be spared the horrible, splintering landing.

Lazona glared furiously at Raesa, who met her gaze emotionlessly.

"Lazona," Raesa began. "You can't possibly leave now... We just got new hope!"

"You got new hope," spat Lazona, approaching Raesa threateningly. Raesa stood her ground stubbornly. "I am living a nightmare..."

Lazona snatched her once-pristine broom off of the ground. She retreated into the shadow of a large oak, muttering furiously to herself. Raesa stared after her, then turned back to Vashan, who was looking at Raesa sharply. He seemed to be calculating something. Raesa suddenly felt self-consious.

**Sorry, I wasn't sure exactly what you meant with Ballow. I'll get it right from now on, though.**

Shaiel

Rason was on the brink of insane fury. He was in the middle of the equivalent of storming through the rooms of Shaiel's mind, You're not seriously going to agree to that, are you? You heard what that bastard Ringo said just as well as I did! He said 'slaves'! You have to kill them now, for our own good!

Shaiel turned away for a moment with a muttered, “Excuse me.”

He dropped his voice as much as he could, to little more than a whisper, not wanting the other two to hear what he was saying, even if they knew he was speaking. Let them think he was crazy.

“Ballow’s still on our side. If we attack his alter ego, though, that could change in an instant, however much they hate each other. Besides, they can get us closer to Daemon more easily, and once we’ve killed him, we can kill them too.” He sighed, “I’ve seen Ringo’s true face, now. I know all he’ll do is hurt innocents, while Ballow will only protect him, in all likelihood.”

Fine. I’ll wait till then. But you will give me blood. Or I’ll take it from whosoever I please.

Shaiel turned back with his broad smile again, "Fine, I'll show you the way to the Urchin Academy, I don't think it's too far from here." He laughed, "I don't particularly want to die smothered in leather and honey." He rolled his eyes at Ballow, seeking a laugh, but got none. "Although," he continued, "I don't know if I'll accompany you from there on, wherever you might go. I'll have to leave that up to later, if you decide to tell me where you're going from there."

His eyes locked with Ringo's, the steely look that Rason always wore lying just below the surface. He knew exactly where Ringo intended to go, Ballow himself had told him. But he needed to gauge the depth of Ringo's attempt at deception, so that he'd know when to act later.

*Ehem, anyone who's with me or in the Academy gonna post?*

"I think he's calling us," Desanda mumbled. Now, it was Aeriz's turn to roll his eyes.

"Of course he is. We're the only Water Nymphs here, ya know? I see faeries, ooh a couple of elves, but we're the only ones here who look like this!" He waved his hand around to emphasize his point. Desanda shrugged and shuffled over to the ones who called them. Aeriz realized she was leaving, and hurried after her.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Aeriz asked.

"You guys, why are you here?"

"We- uh... Were looking for Urchin since this sounded like a good place to stay. Besides, one can't get too old for education," Desanda said. The boy raised his eyebrow dubiously.

"That's a pretty obvious lie," he said. Aeriz sighed, and patted Desanda on the back.

"Trust me Des; you're a horrible liar. Leave all that stuff to me." She swatted his hand away, though a playful smile could be seen on her face.

"Alright. The truth, now."

"We're headed to August Hill," Desanda said under her breath.

Zire

"Ahh good then we have something in common" I said.

It was time to get a little serious now.

"Tell me, do you know anything new about August Hill, something the usual rumors do not tell us?" I asked.

They paused and looked around.

"Sit down my friends" I said pointing at the empty seats on the table.

They did.

Zander

At last, i sighted her, our table was the only one with any extra chairs, even after the water nymphs sat on two of the chairs. Most of the students feared me, although i didn't know why.

I watched as they looked for some place to sit and then walked towards us.

*Did I portray your characters right?*

Aeriz shrugged. "Nothing beyond the usual. I've heard about the Daemon guy slaughtering everyone, but nothing after that. All I know is that all the oceans turned red after that. Or maybe during. I dunno." He shrugged, and noted that everyone else shirked away when he mentioned Daemon.

"So, nothing useful then," the boy, Zire, sighed. They sat in silence for a while.

"Say, you heard about the Wanderers?"

"Of course. Who hasn't heard about them?"

"I was thinking they could help us." Aeriz eagerly rubbed his hands together, a grin on his face. Desanda had both her eyebrows raised. He's actually using that? He usually doesn't listen to what I say, especially if it's about asking help."Think about it. They know how to be self sufficient since they're nomads. They got resources none of us know about. Besides, they probably hate Daemon as much as we do, maybe even more."

"But they're nomads," Desanda interjected. "How are we going to get in contact with them?"

"It isn't that hard to find a Wanderer's path. They actually have a schedule, you know? Every single time there's some sort of humongo disaster, they head to the caves up near the mountains."

"We can't leave now!" Desanda protested. Aeriz turned to their new-fround allies.

"She says no. I say yes. What about you?"

Vashhan

"It seems we both have a partner to contend to. Will this end up being a problem?" Vashhan said, never taking his penetrating gaze off of Raesa. He saw how her breathing staggered and her movements became less graceful. She was self-conscious. The thought almost made him out right laugh, but he held his composer and glanced off towards the tree where he knew Lazona was standing behind. He could hear her plainly swearing under her breath.

"I dare hope not." Raesa said following his gaze to the tree. "Please excuse her, she just tends to get into these moods. She actually is a delightful person."

Vashhan heared a scoff from behind the tree coming from Lazona and smirked lightly. This route was going to provide something interesting. But the tugging at his connection kept on pulling him making him eager to just run off to her, but he would not. She would be perfectly fine on her own. He would not give in. She was hoping that he would change his mind, so that she would not have to stand being allies with witches.

Vashhan sighed. "I expect you have no idea where Daemon is either. We have a lot of work to do."

"It seems so." Raesa said timidly. She felt incredibly awkward standing beside this man alone in the clearing even though Lazona was close by. "I have a slight question."

"Which is?" Vashhan said returning in analytical gaze back toward her.

"Well, from all the books I have read, I know that Lycanthropes don't necessarily hate witches. Why is Nadira so hostile with us?" Raesa was curprised at her own courage. Vashhan just looked pitingly down at her.

"Well, let's just say her mother was killed by witches." Vashhan looked ballantly at the sky. "Her mothers fur was black, as black as the sky, and a witch, for one of her spells, needed the cloak of the wolf, the cloak of the night, so she killed Nadira's mothe ruthlessly." I wish you were here with me now Nadira, come back. He knew perfectly well that she had heard the confession of her mother and she would be hurting most off all at this moment. That was most likely the reason she ran off. She knew that the truth would eventually have to come out.

"Oh dear! I can assure you that we would never do such a horrific thing!" Raesa said looking concerned at Vashhan.

"I trust you. If I didn't I would be gone too, for Nadira's mother was my own."

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~Incognito

Raesa

Raesa stared at Vashun. "If it helps," she said cautiously. "The form of magic that uses animal parts has... died down, mostly. I'll not go so far as to say that it is completely gone, but it is frowned upon by the Witches Council..."

"Unless deemed appropriate..." muttered Lazona from the tree. Raesa's eyes widened. She spun around to gawk at her fellow.

"Tactless!" Raesa mouthed furiously to Lazona. Lazona ignored her, and resumed picking bark off of the tree. Raesa rolled her eyes and turned back to Vashun.

"You must ignore her," she told Vashun earnestly.

"As you do?" he responded lightly. Raesa blushed furiously.

"I," said Raesa, taking a deep breath. "feel responsible for her actions, as she, in a sense, is me."

"Strange for two halves to despise each other so," said Vashun dryly. Raesa sighed.

"That is, alas, tradition. I'll not deny that witches have a bloody history, many times from one witch's other half fighting the witch. I remember my mother being astonished by how well we could tolerate each other. Other beings say it must be lonely to be a witch. Yes, it might be, but how can you miss something you never had?"

Raesa glanced at Vashun, whose expression had hardened at the word 'mother'. Raesa chided herself.

"Sorry... I didn't mean to - "

"Don't mention it," said Vashun quickly.

"You shouldn't have mentioned any of it," snapped Lazona. Raesa jumped. she had not heard Lazona's approach. Lazona glared at Vashun. "Happy now? You have gleaned a minuscule understanding of witches," she turned to Raesa furiously. "which should never have been revealed without sufficient need!"

"That," snapped Raesa. "is a ridiculous rule! As a people, we are too exclusive, too solitary! If ever the need arise, who could we call upon for help?!"

"Ourselves!"

"Ridiculous!"

Lazona snarled. "You have no respect!"

"You call this big-headed egotism respect?!"

A flock of sparrows erupted from the nearest tree, squawking angrily. Lazona looked up at them and laughed.

"Sparrows! Intimidating!"

Raesa saw Vashun glance up at the arousing ruckus. The forest was becoming restless. Lazona was laughing shrilly at the sky, her whole body shaking. Raesa looked around and saw just how many animals she was influencing.

Stop.

The mental plead spread like a shock wave throughout the forest. One by one, it became silent once more. Raesa took a shaky breath. Cooperation and teamwork was what needed to be done if they were to get anywhere. this was not the answer.

"We obviously have a difference of opinions - "

"I should say so!"

" - but I think the best thing at the moment would not be to get into a discussion of witch ethics. That will only cause anger and frustration."

"Ever the logical one, aren't you?"

Raesa carefully ignored Lazona's biting comment. She looked back towards Vashun, whose critical stare was back again.


"Sorry. That is one thing that will get me angry. Witch politics. They just - "

Lazona shot Raesa a challenging glare.

" - but, anyway... Er - Where do you suggest we start? To find Daemon, I mean..."

Vashhan

"That is indeed an interesting question." Vashhan muttered to himself. There didn't seem anywhere else to look other than the place of the massacre itself, August Hill. Vashhan cringed at the thought. He had refused to step foot there ever since the happening with his father, using simple excuses to change his opinion; like Daemon certainly wouldn't stay at the place of the crime. But that is what everyone was thinking, so technically, that dreaded black would be perfect to hide out. "I do believe he lies around August Hill." Vashhan said in nearly a growl.

Raesa breathing caught. The place of Thalia's murder.

"Are you absolutely positive?" Raesa said looking hard into the forest as if she could see the place from where she was standing.

"What, are you scared?" Lazona mocked unpleasantly. "It seems that you do not wish to go there."

"Leave her alone." Vashhan snapped quickly in Raesa's defence. "I do not wish to step foot on that land either. That land is now cursed." At that moment, a small wolf staggered into the clearing. Its fur was as chestnut brown, almost black. It stepped toward Vashhan and stood against his leg, almost in a sign of reasuring. Raesa alarmed, took a hurrying glance over at Lazona, think that she had conjured up this beast to mock Vashhan pain of his mother. But that idea was changed when Vashhan ran his fingers delicately down its spine. "Thank you for having the courtesy of coming back."

The wolf sent a wary glance over at the witches and looked up at Vashhan. The will be of no assistance to us. They will just be dead wait. I hav caught Daemon's scent. Let's go.[i] Nadira's familiar voice penetrated in his mind and he only shook his head.

[i]You have no seen what these two can do. Vashhan thought back, showing a clip from his memories of the animal's that had appeared and come to life all at once. These two will definetely be helpful.

Just watch your back. I do not trust them.

As you trust nobody. Vashhan replied. Nadira transformed into her human form, he hair once again let free in the slight breeze. She stepped beside Vashhan, the anklets jingling, a sound that was pleasant to Vashhan's ears. That was sound that he had grown up with. That was a sound that was one of the only familiar things to him anymore. Nadira turned forth to look at Raesa and Lazona.

"Oh, it seems to decided to pleasure us with your company once more!" Lazona said, an edge of sarcasm easily identible.

"I have found Daemons scent. We are heading there, if you like it or not. Follow if you wish. We are not responsible for you." Nadira grasped Vashhan's arm reasuringly, and him, in a happy state that she was back transformed into a hulking prestine white beast. Nadira followed after him, and looked at him. I will lead this time. She stated.

As you wish. And with that, they both took off into the forest at immeasureable speed.

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And so they go off in search of the one they all hate. I am sorry if that was placed to early. LaReina, if you read this, I have a question to ask of you in the discussion forum. Thank you dearly.

~Incognito

Raesa

Raesa stared after the wolves for a moment, surprised by the sudden change of motion. She ran quickly to snatch her broom off the ground and sped off after them.

Twigs and leaves battered Raesa as she darted through the trees filling the wood. Raesa was not the most skilled of flyers. Lazona was a thousand times better. She managed, but Raesa knew she would be feeling the results of the ride for days to come.

Raesa kept her eyes locked on the white blur about twenty feet in front of her. A few times she had looked for signs of Nadira, but she was well blended with the forest floor. Vashun, on the other hand, was not.

As the day progressed, Raesa began to feel extremely exhausted. The Lycanthropes showed no sign of stopping. Raesa knew Nadira would be only too pleased to leave her behind if she stopped. So Raesa continued on.

Around three in the afternoon, Lazona cruised up to Raesa's side. Raesa breathed a sigh of relief. One less stress factor she had to deal with. She knew Lazona had been lagging behind. The bond to her other side had been stretched far to thin for comfort all day.

"Finally caught up, did you?" yelled Raesa over the noise of the flight.

"It was easy. I just followed the trail of broken tree limbs."

Raesa's cheeks colored. She had had too many near crashes for her comfort today, but the trail couldn't be that obvious...

Raesa chose not to reply, and the rest of the day passed in silence. Night came, and with it fears that the Lycanthropes would not see fit to stop for the night. Raesa was forced to conjure an Illumination Orb to light her path. She prayed the Lycanthropes would remember their less hardy companions soon...