Midnight Call^^

Mel~

Me and Haya were in the woods practicing, my aim was getting better with my black fire, but not so good that I could actually do any harm. I sighed to myself, as I went to gather up my targets. I turned around to where Haya was a moment ago, but she was gone!

"Haya." I called looking around but I couldn't find her.
-----------------------
Kia~

I was walking in town, when I was ran over by some crazy guy!

"Great." I muttered to myself as I tried to clean off my dress. I looked around to see the guy falling over the wall. What a strange man. I thought as I gathered my herbs that I just bought and skipped off towards my and Mel's house. When I got there Mel was in distress.

"What's wrong Mel?" I asked.

"I can't find Haya." she started to hyper ventilating. Man she really needed to get other friends instead of just worrying about that cat. I thought, but since this was Mel I couldn't say no so I went to help her find her dumb cat.

(Rayne I made Haya go off and follow you if that's okay)

**Considering that Marten (the prince) has already been claimed, I reckon it'd be interesting if him and Allison were betrothed and really didn't want to be.**

Marten

The entourage of the Lafavre family was nothing grand. In fact, with the recent reports of the resurrection of a certain cult, and the resurfacing of a certain family member, the king had not wanted to create much of a fuss of his son travelling to another nation to meet the woman who was supposed to be his betrothed.

Marten didn't like the idea either. He didn't want anything approaching a fuss over this whole ordeal. In fact, as he'd said to his father, he had more important thins to worry about than political alliances. And he wasn't remotely interested in an arranged marriage.

"How much further is it, Gesin?" He asked one of the two bodyguards assigned to him as they rode.

"Barely three days, Marten." The soldier replied. They'd been instructed not to use his title while on the road. "Then you can be back in a palace and not sleeping on the flea ridden beds of these small-time inns."

Marten nodded sadly. He'd been enjoying his time in the towns, they weren't as oppressive as the capital. They didn't hold any expectations, the townspeople were happy to let you go about your business as long as it didn't interfere with theirs.

"There it is, sir." The other guard, Rello, said. He froze up a little at Gesin's glare at the word 'sir'. Then he continued, "Thats where we're staying the night." He squinted for a few moments, "Looks like something of a commotion within the walls..."

A gate guard walked forward to meet them, apparently having heard the last twords of the conversation, "A commotion, sirs? Aye, that there is. The thief king is at large within, so, if you're passing through, "I suggest you keep one hand on your treasures ad the other on your blades." He eyed the elaborate basket guard of Marten's rapier, "Though it looks like he two are one ad the sale for you, my young friend."

Marten nodded, smiling a little, then looked to his guards, "You know the drill. I'll find my own entertainment for he next few hours. I'll meet you at the town square at nightfall." The guards nodded, turned their horses and trotted away.

**Anyone feel free to jump in.**

Amnash

Amnash attempted to wince (which is, of course, impossible for a skeleton to do) as an arrow flew through a chink in his armour. As he travelled through the outer reaches of the forest, he made himself invisible, so the local archers could not see him as they trained. All they would have seen was the arrow change its direction slightly as it bumped across his bones. No doubt they blamed it on the wind.
'Champion Amnash', as Amnash's original personality was now known by those who were aware of it, was struggling to maintain control of its body, as its 'brothers', 'Grey Amnash' and 'Destroyer Amnash' attempted to control his limbs. They wished to kill the archers - Grey Amnash to improve his chance of living, Destroyer Amnash simply because he wanted to.
Amnash knew a town was nearby. Champion was damned if he was going to let Destroyer Amnash take control now.

Champion was searching for the cultists who kept him going. And once he had destroyed that evil sect, he would end his own life.

Distracted by this thought, Champion let out and outraged cry as his neck was swivelled towards the archers by Destroyer. He was glad to see two of the archers walk off, but the other didn't notice the disappearance. Champion gnashed his teeth as Grey took control of his right leg, dragging his body towards the remaining archer. Champion sighed with relief as the archer noticed her missing companion, and ran away to search for her.

Soon, Champion found he had no control over his body - Amnash was now Destroyer Amnash, and he wanted nothing more than to visit the nearest town and shed blood.

*anyone can encounter Amnash*

Luke

I gave a small cough. "I don't see why not I suppose." Fenedir smiled for a short second. "But I need to leave for a moment. I'll take you to where I'm camping and my friend here can stay with you.
Dakota made a low hissing noise through her beak. She obviously didn't like the sound of that. I nudged her as descreetly as possible with my head, signalling her to try to be friendly.
"So what buisness do you have in town?" Fenedir asked conversationally as we headed into the think fortress of trees up ahead.
"I left my horse at the town stable. I need to collect her again."
"Surely it is not too late for that?" I could feel Fenedir's eyes burning into the side of my head as we stopped by a small opening in the trees, where the dying light shimmered against the damp grass.
I decided not to answer, as my teeth were beginning to chatter a little as my wet clothes clung to my skin like slippery leeches.
Dakota pushed against my shoulder, her huge wings spreading to meet the air as she drifted towards her usual perch on one of the bottom branches of a tree. Her soft brown eyes still eyeing the stranger.
I excused myself for a short moment to change from
"I'll be back. Stay out of trouble Dakota." I felt a little remorse leaving her with the stranger as he began launching into questions again. But I'd known Dakota all my life; I knew that she was capable of looking after herself.
Now, for the real fun.
I had heard of Prince Marten's visit to the town; of course this piked my interest. I hated the man really; the king was a fool and his boy wasn't much different. How he had gained such popularity was beyond me...
So why not make a fool of him? They wouldn't be so keen then. I grinned to myself at the prospect of this.
I passed the town stable as the soft whinnying of horses met my ears. I looked around as my mare, Summer poked her head around one of the stalls. She neighed loudly, throwing back her head. I wouldn't have time to collect her yet.
I slipped through the gates easily enough; the guards in this town were idiots. Marten took no time at all to find, I spotted the crowd of swooning girls around him easily enough from one of the rooftops.
I laughed as I flung myself from the roof top, landing on the ground in front of him.
"Good day to you, sir," I said in a slightly mocking voice, bowing at him with a grin on my face.
"May I help you?" Marten said in a curious voice, raising an eyebrow suspiciously as the crowd around him fell silent. I saw his hand grip around the hilt of his blade at his side.
"Yes you may." And with that, a unsheathed my sword and slashed it towards his throat, stopping inches from his jugular.
"I challenge you to a duel." The crowd gasped, backing away. I laughed at Marten's angry expression. Suddenly Marten pulled out his sword and clashed it against mine, the metal shrieking against each other.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Marten said in a calm voice, pushing his blade hard against my own.
"I am." The clang of metal against metal as our swords met again twice. Marten was a fair fighter; and I knew that. The difference is: I wasn't. It was the only advantage I had over him; after all he was one of the most skillful swordsmen in the country.
Our swords clashed again, this time my boot met with his chest and I tipped him on to his back on the courtyard. Suddenly, the roar of guards met my ears.
"Time for me to leave. Well met, Prince Marten," a said with a wink as the guards rushed the square.

Fenedir

Fenedir gazed at Dakota curiously. It wasn't every day you were left alone with a talking bird.

"So what are you, exactly?" Fenedir asked.

"Me?" Dakota mocked surprise. "Why, I'm the King, didn't you recognise me?"

Fenedir looked at him, genuinely confused.

"I was being sarcastic."

"Oh."

Fenedir realised he wasn't going to get on well with Dakota. He considered killing it now before Luke got back, but decided against it. If it could talk, it could do anything, as far as Dakota was concerned, and he wasn't willing to risk his life on a sarcastic bird. He grinned at the strangeness of the situation, and sat down.

"Well," Fenedir said, "if you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I guess the affairs of talking birds is none of my business."

In truth, he desperately wanted to understand this creature he was with - he suspected that he would have to fight it if he were to achieve his objective.

That's absolutely fine, chinchillagirl

Daybreak-

Nightfall peered out of the bushes, very much alert. I stayed where I was and watched her closely. Her eyes popped ever so slightly for a second, then returned to their original size. I raised an eyebrow, a little confused, and leaned back a little. She ducked down and slowly backed away from the bushes. She backed up slowly to me, her unnaturally bushy tail swishing cautiously from side to side. After a bit, she turned to me and knelt in front of the deer again. Her yellow and green eyes flitted back and forth between my own eyes.

Suddenly, a small black blob appeared in the corner of my only properly functioning eye. I turned towards it quickly, as did Nightfall.

A small black cat was standing to the side of us, her thin black tail swaying gently from side to side. She was staring at Nightfall intently. I looked at Nightfall, who was smiling at the cat. Normally, every smile that appears on her lips is sinister and threatening, but this wasn't. It was...different, somehow. I'd seen the smile once, maybe twice before. She smiled like that every time she saw a cat. It was like a little kid on Christmas morning, when they got a new puppy or a new toy they had wanted for forever.

Nightfall extended her hand towards the feline and she eagerly scurried towards her. Nightfall lifted her into her arms and stroked her gently with her inhuman claws. She gazed at the tiny cat lovingly and I heard soft purrs being emitted from both of their throats. I couldn't help but smile. Nightfall was in touch with her sensitive, childish, playful side.

In all my years of being alone with Nightfall and getting to know her, I found that she had 4 sides; Angry, or vicious, which was predominant, mischievous, which usually came out when merchants passed through the forest, playful, which I rarely saw, and hurt, or sad, which came out whenever something happened to me that she couldn't prevent. I knew there had to be another one in there somewhere. One that I had never seen, but that everyone was capable of; Love. I knew she loved me, so why couldn't she feel love for someone else?

While I greatly appreciated Nightfall's love and protection, sometimes I thought that I was the only thing she ever cared about. Everything is in my best interest; she never does anything for herself. Sometimes it bothered me, but I knew that Nightfall knew exactly what she was doing. She always does.

After a bit, she leaped from Nightfall's arms and trotted happily back towards the bushes. With one last look at Nightfall, she disappeared back through the bushes. She watched after the cat, then looked at me, the smile still radiating on her face. I smiled back.

The sound of a snapping twig made me snap my head towards some bushes and trees to my left. A pair of yellow eys and the faint outline of a wolf's head was there, watching me. It was like it was staring right through me with those piercing yellow eyes. I couldn't look away.

Nightfall looked as well, and when she saw it, she became enraged. She morphed into an enormous black cat with yellow colored stripes and roared menacingly at the figure. It looked at her for a brief second, then vanished.

I looked at Nightfall and made a mental note to figure out the names of all her forms. The only ones I knew were 'cat' and 'saber-tooth'. She turned and looked at me, a little concerned, but quickly changed back into a human and sat down next to me and we began skinning the deer again.

---

Haha...sorry it's kinda long. Anyone can pick up.

P.S. The cat she turned into at the end was a tiger ^^

*Melody*

The plan changed when Ana and I watched as Luke ran away from the prince, guards running after him, leaving the prince unguarded. Now or never, I guess. I thought as Ana gave the signal for me to enter. As I made my way through the crowd, I saw Ana poised and ready to get her job done. As soon as I was close enough, I nodded and she ran right into him.

"Oh, I am so sorry!" she gushed as he held her to steady her. "I don't know why I'm so clumsy." She distracted him as I crept up behind him and saw his pouch hanging off of his belt. I took out my small knife and cut it off. I backed away and gave Ana the signal to stop her acting. She gave the prince one last smile as she turned and ran off.

I was about to run the opposite way when I ran into a solid wall of muscle. I didn't have time to react when two hands grabbed my arms and forced me to the ground. I didn't struggle, just prayed that the makeup that I wore today would disguise me well enough.

"So, m'lady, trying to steal from the prince, are you?" a gruff voice asked mockingly.

I said nothing, and the guard pulled me up. I was thrown completely off guard when I found myself looking into the prince's angry brown eyes.

Ana

I stopped running once I was out of the sight of the guards. When I turned I noticed Melody was not with me, but in the hands of royal guards. I shook my head in disapointment. "Oh, Melody."

A vendor nearby was selling long cloaks that looked regal enough to me. I bought one with the money I had managed to get earlier this morning. Well, there goes dinner. I sighed as I gave over my last few coins.

I pulled the cloak around me and marched back towards Melody.

"How dare you attempt to steal from the prince!" a guard was yelling at her.

"Excuse me sir." I said in my most important tone. "I see you have something that belongs to me."

The guards and the prince looked at me suspiciously. I only hoped the prince would not recognize me beneath the cloak.

"You seem to have one of my servent girls in your captivity." I pointed to Melody.

A rather burly guard glanced to her and back to me. "This servent," he gestured toward Melody, "was attempting to rob the prince."

"I do not believe you." I said. "My servent here is always on her best manners, aren't you?"

"Yes ma'am." Melody nodded. I was relieved she was playing along.

"Just look at my coin pouch!" the prince said, turning to show the remnants of the pouch still holding to his belt.

I leaned in and inspected it. "Well that could have been caused by anything."

"It was caused by your servent!"

"My servent has no possible way to have cut that from your belt. I bargan it was a jagged branch or stone, or maybe some other common theif or beggar. I can not believe you would insult me in this manner."

The guards automatically let go of Melody. I fought back the urge to laugh. Royal guards were notoriously dense. The prince, on the other hand, did not seem fooled.

"Search her." he demanded.

"You will do no such thing!" I shouted as I stepped beside Melody. She snuck the coin pouch to my hand without anyone noticing.

"I can not let her leave otherwise." he said.

I sighed. "Fine."

The guards searched her roughly. "Nothing sir." one said.

The prince looked bewildered. "I- I'm sorry."

"You should be." I said. I grabbed Melody's arm and escorted her away from the prince and guards. We continued through the city and eventually passed into another alley. Safe at last.

Melody and I looked at eachother and burst out laughing.

"Brilliant Ana." she said.

"Thank you." I took a low curtsy. I pulled the coin pouch out and we examined the contents. It was much more than what I had spent on the cloak, so I was glad. "Now let's get out of here."

*Sorry for taking an eternity to make my first post! Also, who is Marten claimed by?*

Princess Allison~

My eyes fluttered open to see Gabriel smiling at me. The sun shone through my window behind her, making her teeth glitter as she shined.

"I'm sorry Princess, but you wouldn't want your Father waiting." Gabriel said, slowly taking the covers out of my grasp. It can't be morning already, can it? So bright....

As if Gabby read my thoughts she said, "Its nearly noon, m'lady. Please get up!"

I hated when Gabby read my thoughts. I guess its inevitable as my lady in waiting but it still made me feel like I couldn't think on my own. I sighed. You do this every day! Be happy for being a Princess. Gabby soon left the room to leave me to dress myself. At least, I can still do that.

I decided to wear my long golden dress with frills at the bottom. I looked myself in the mirror and dashed down the halls. My many servants nodded and bowed to me along the way.

Once I got down to the Dining Hall, Alex came running towards me.

"Three more days, Ally!" He smirked, sticking his tongue out. I merely shook my head and looked away.

"Oh come on! We both know that Dad's just using you to strengthen the country's ties. You marry Marten and--" Alex sneered but I interrupted him by hitting him in the stomach.

"Shut up! Ugh, I'm not hungry for breakfast anymore. Tell Father I'm out in the village doing rounds." I said, briskly exiting the room.

Twin brothers can be so annoying. Especially when they have a point.

*I hope thats ok Dream Walker!*

**Marten's claimed by Melody**

Marten

The prince stood in the middle of the road, twice embarrassed by these commoners. First a duellist who wouldn't fight fair, then a pair of thieves who he couldn't manage to get any evidence on. "Gesin." He mused, "Find out all you can about the second of those two."

"Which two, sir?"

Marten sighed inwardly, Loyal, but thick. "The two girls you were about to arrest. Find out whether the second one actually owned the first." Gesin, finally understanding, nodded and left. Marten turned to Rello, "And I'd like you to find out who and where that duellist is. When you do, let him know that I'd like him to attempt that again."

He said this with a wry smile, and loud enough for the nearby townspeople to hear him. There was some laughter from them, which died down as Marten produced a second pouch, this one from within his coat, and tossed it up before catching it, "Now, where's the best inn around here? I'd like to buy someone a drink." There were roars of approval from the men in the crowd at this, and Marten had to stop himself being dragged there by them.

He slipped the larger pouch back into his pocket, hoping that at least one of those two thieves had seen it. It was, after all, a perfect opprtunity. Logic dictated that he'd be drinking, distracted by people telling him stories of their town's greatness so he'd pay for another round of drinks, or otherwise distracted. In truth, Marten resolved only to have a drink or two, no more than that, so he'd catch the thieves when they tried to steal right out of his coat.

The commoners, if they knew this, would have been slightly perplexed. After all, wasn't prince Marten the one who gave money to the poor when they asked? Wasn't he known to visit towns merely to help people there? Why should he care if he lost a few coins to people who needed it more? In essence, he didn't entirely care. He just didn't like being outwitted by anyone. Catching these two in the act would (in his mind at least) prove that they could do no such thing.

And besides, the one Rello had caught had been quite pretty. Marten shook his head, pushing the thought aside. It was a little too late to be thinking such things now.

Matthias~~ *Going to first person*

The guards opened the gates and I slipped through with the rest of the people. I blended in perfectly, the armor I normally wore now the common clothes of a peasant. The only oddity was the cloak thrown over my right arm so that the mark was hidden from anyone who might look at me. My gait was easy but anyone who looked in my eyes would see my inner sense of unrest. I wasn't supposed to be here. If any of the guards saw me, I would be killed on sight.

I moved through the crowds and when I was sure no one would notice I slipped into an alley way.

I took the alleys to the other side of the city, the royal courters. I stopped at the mouth of the final alley before the gate. There was a five man patrol on the top of the gate that left a thirty second window for me to cross through the wall. I sighed and readied myself for the next caravan that would pass through the gates. I waited and right as it walked through I joined it. The caravan passed through and I sped up, trying to join it. The gate loomed up in front of me and my breath caught.

"Hey! That man didn't check in!"

I kept on walking, hoping beyond belief that the guards would think I was with the caravan, but I hadn't been lucky in the last three years.

A guard grabbed me and threw him up against a wall, "Where do you think you are going?"

"No where. I was with the caravan."

"Well you weren't when we checked them."

I cussed silently. When did they start checking people?

"Come on. We're taking you to the prison." Another guard joined him and they started to drag me off, but the guard on my right arm lost his grip and threw my cloak over my shoulder. He recoiled when he the blood red mark stretching up my forearm.

I reacted instantly. I threw the other man off my arm and took his sword from its sheath in the same smooth motion. I turned to face the other guard who already had his sword out. e swung at me but I dodged easily and threw his sword out wide and then snapped the blade with a slash. I turned to leave, but more guards were filing off the walls.

I'm dropping out, guys.

I'll bring John now. Also he is a very good smooth talker.

Jonathan

I stalked the gate to the castle; the guards were spread a good distance away. Not to close to make so many, but not to far to miss anyone. My goal was to wait for a mere glance away. That would be just enough time to get to the blind spot between the guards, without being seen going there. That time came soon. The guard glanced away, and before his head was away for a second my body was in the air, a moment later, in the court yard.

I had chosen the right spot. When I landed, I was in the middle of a garden, right behind a hedge. Quietly, I walked through the garden, ducking into the bushes every time a guard came into sight. Finally, with much luck, I made it to the castle. There I was met with a sight. A guard stood right in front of me.

"Ah, good old Benjamin. The map was just as you sketched. Thank you for your help," I told the guard, happily, as I approached. The guard smiles, and stepped aside. His huge body had covered a side, door.

"Tis my pleaser," Benjamin said, as he opened the door. Once in the door, I pulled a sack out, there I changed out of my commoner clothes, and into more formal ones. Aside from my grungy appearance, I looked like a prince, a messy prince, but a prince.

When I was changed and ready, I stashed my clothes behind a piece of furniture, and set off to work. Step one, find the gold. Step two, find the valuables. Step three, get out. Step four, give and sell. An easy plan, I had done many times on my travels. But still, a not a walk in the park. Well the way to the castle was.

The castle was large, and complicated. After what felt like a day, I finally found something. An unfinished mutton leg, lying on the table. Instincts took over; I had not eaten in days. The leg was in my mouth before I even knew it.

"You’re the prince?" I heard someone say, with a chuckle. I turned and saw two people, a boy with straight brown hair, and a girl with jet black hair, wearing a noble dress.

The girl looked disappointed, the boy amused.

Peter

I wandered the busy streets of the city with a mission. Ana had disappeared again and was probably getting herself into some sort of mischief.

The town was busy today. Word had spread that the Theif King was about and that a prince was in the area too. Plenty of ways for Ana to get into trouble. I thought.

Eventually I came to the square where most of the shops were. I still had no sight of Ana, or that girl she spent time with. Who was it? Melody maybe? The inability to remember her name didn't bother me. She is just another of Ana's bad influences, or maybe Ana is the influence on her?

I sighed heavily as I searched the square. I'm going to need to do something about Ana, she can't keep running off like this.

----
If anyone would like to interact with Peter, feel free to.

Samuel

Samuel Lafavre was amused to see a hulking skeleton making his way towards the village. Amused for two reasons - firstly,
because it was supposed to be invisible, and yet Samuel could see it as clear as day. A low level spell, then. The second was that he'd expected better of the 'great' Amnash. Samuel knew he should have expected this, after all, the ancient warrior was only a warrior. By even so, Samuel would have thought that someone who had been elevated to godhood would be able to muster a little more magical energy than this.

"He is somewhat...divided, master." His latest servant spoke. The creature was barely more than a shadow, an emaciated, charred wisp of a man who had until recently been a powerful wizard. Now, though, his secrets belonged to Samuel, as did his life. While he had a servant, Samuel did not need to eat, drink, sleep, or even age. Nor did the servant, for that matter. Ironically, Samuel's curse sustained its victim even as it slowly devoured them. The one thing the wizard still had were the vestiges of his power, which he could only use in Samuel's protection.

"Divided, yes, but knowledgable nonetheless. And his followers, too, possess great power," Samuel's voice reflected the hunger sparkling in his eyes. He had no desire for their cheap ressurection gimmick, at least not to put it into practice. Undeath was so overrated to his mind. But the ritual's syntaxing, its inner workings could be of great use, if incorporated into his great plan. Tweaking them with what he already had could put him one step closer to godhood.

He set off towards the skeleton, the servant following behind, bowed like a whipped dog. When they reached him, Samuel gave a slight bow, magic surreptitiously flowering within him. There was only a one in three chance that he would be speaking to Amnash's 'friendly' side. If he wasn't, he'd simply blast him into the ground until he decided to play nice. "Amnash the Champion, I believe? My name is Samuel Lafavre, and I am a scholar of sorts. I would like to travel with you for a time, and perhaps meet your high cultist. I am compiling something of a history of magic."

What he'd said had been largely truthful, but of course he'd have to explain that he was, in fact, a sorcerer if Amnash asked about the servant. But even then, Samuel was prepared. He'd spent his entire life being mistaken for a well-intentioned youth, and could easily explain that while he had saved the life of the poor fool behind him, the magic had not been strong enough to save him completely, and so he was still heavily injured, and only dying more slowly.