The Shifters

***This is a chance to get everybody into the story. The orphans will come in whenever they can ***

ELINIA

Diana was here now too. Thank God they weren't all dead. "How are things back there?" Claudia asked hurriedly, removing her hands from my face. I had been ready to tell her to stop as I was trembling from her power in me, and yet the dizziness refused to leave me.

Diana shook her head. "Not so good."

I swallowed, trying to regain some strength. "Rilian, go scout out for others. Forlo will more than likely be alive still. Find him and bring back any others from our troops that are living." He sighed and turned to go, muttering something I didn't quite catch. "Not one soul gets left behind! If you find them living, bring them!" I shouted after him.

"Did that help at all?" Claudia asked me, worry edging her voice.

I shook my head. "I'm horrified to say it didn't." I put my hand up infront of me, making one last attempt at starting a fire. Nothing happened. I kept my fear in check. Panic wouldn't do us much good at the moment.

Angel cleared her throat. "What do we do when he comes back?"

"We can't go back to the palace for fear of being followed. We'll just have to wait and see I guess." I couldn't think straight, no real answer would come to me. A sharp pain started at the base of my spine and I did my best to ignore it.

Claudia

I nodded, waiting for when we'd be able to get back. I didn't mind being in the forest but I didn't want to stay here for too long when we were in danger like this...

I was silent as I sat down, pulling out a small knife and carving a block of wood.

What else was there to do?

ANGEL

I sat back, i desperatly wanted to help the others, but I tried to avoid using my power. Because whatever pain i releived others from, i gained. I watched as rilian ran off. I looked over at Elania she looked like she was still hurting. I didn't know elania well. But i still cared about her a great deal.
"Elania are you sure your okay?" she nodded. "don't pull that nonsense with me, come here." I focused my energy on her pain. A sharp pain shot through me and i tried to fight it, at the same time trying to help elinia. That wasn't working, so i just let the pain take over, I grunted as the pain flowed through me.

ELINIA

"Stop! Stop taking it!" I shouted at her. I wasn't quite so sure how her power worked, but she looked like she would dry up and break into tiny pieces like a dried up leaf. My own pain was growing stronger, not lessening. "It-it's getting worse!" I gasped, trying to steady my breathing.

Everybody stared at us with alarm. Claudia grasped Angel's shoulder as she stumbled a few steps. The pain grew stronger, wilder. It shot up my spine in streams. My lungs were burning as if I'd been running on days on end and my ribs felt like they were snapping in two. I tried to scream, but the pain seemed to overpower everything. My body was trembling, my vision swimming. I had never felt such an immense pain before. Finally I was able to let out a scream. The world faded.

Rilian

Rilian rudges his way back through the woods toward the battlefield, muttering to himself. Really, the way Elinia and Claudia had been going on, Rilian was just some warrior drone to do everything they wished. He had only been ordered to and fro, with no thought about himself.

Rilian paused as he reached the edge of the forest. He felt as if his stomach had been punched.

The camp was destroyed. Skeletons of half-collapsed, burnt tents dotted the countryside. Stray fires were still burning. Dark Warriors were sifting through the remains on the camp, looking for survivors. Rilian gulped, smoke burning his eyes. He was supposed to find survivors in that mess?

"Rilian!" came a hiss from the forest behind him. Rilian spun around, and saw a crouching figure behind another tree.

"Forlo?" Rilian whispered. "Is that you?"

"Of course," he snapped. Rilian frowned. Everyone seemed to be snapping at him recently. "Where's Elinia and the others?"

"Safe. They are in the forest. Elinia sent me to find you, and any other survivors."

Forlo shook his head. "No need to." Rilian felt himseld paling.

"You mean - ?"

"No, I mean that I've already searched for them," Forlo replied gruffly. Rilian narrowed his eyes and could make out a few more figures behind Forlo's. "Come on, Rilian. Show me where Elinia is. We need to discuss our next move."

Rilian nodded, and moved back into the forest quickly.

ANGEL

I watched as Nia disappeared. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief, ya she was gone.
"What! Where did she go?" I yelped out. Claudia leaned over to where nia just was.
"I-I don't know, elania? Elania!!!" We all looked around frantically.
"We have to find her!" I sprung to my feet. Then fell back as a wave of pain flow through me. I sputtered out. "Who's touching me?" It was the only reasonable answer, since i absorb other peoples pain.
"No one is, are you okay angle? I looked up at rilian as he and forlo came over.
"I, I don't feel so good." I fell back and lied back. Looking up at the sky.

Claudia

Oh no... Angel too. Not only was something weird happening to Elinia, now I feared the same thing might be happening to Angel. I quickly ran over.

"I don't feel so good," she muttered.

"I know, just... just..." I didn't know what I could do. This was a realm of healing I had never experienced.

FORLO

"Come on, Rilian. Show me where Elinia is. We need to discuss our next move." I said, walking off towards camp. He nodded silently and lead the way.

When we arrived at camp we were mauled by Claudia. "General Forlo!" she exlaimed, "Something terrible has happened!"

I grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her, "Slow down Claudia, what happened."

"I-I don't k-know," she stammered, "You left Elinia and I went to heal her but she got worse and worse and she starting screaming, really loud actually. I think she was in pain. She must have-"

"Get to the point, what happened!?" I snapped.

Claudia gave me a scared look, "She's gone." No, no, no, no! Not Nia, no she wasn't dead. Claudia seemed to know what I was thinking, "She isn't dead!" She exclaimed, "She went poof, she disappeared into thin air. General Elinia is gone.

I could feel the color draining from my face. Was it some sort of dark doing? Were the Dark Warriors responsible for this?

Claudia's face went solemn, "Another disappered too, one of the healers."

Sitting up in bed, I began to pant violently my heart racing with adrenalin. That voice, that man they had seemed so real. To real for a simple dream. Slipping from the long bed, I stumbled tiredly towards the window staring out at gas-lit tunnels. The white cloak that had covered the man's thin body from my dream remained in my mind.

Come to me... The voice cooed loudly. Stepping back I began to stare frantically around the room. It sounded so near, what the hell was happening. The white silk gown covering over my slumped figure whipping around my body. Moving towards the rocking chair, I placed my hands on the hard wood trying to stabilize my shaking body.

"Come to me!" The voice screeched loudly. Placing my hands to my ears I groaned in pain. My knees buckled out from under me, my room beginning to spin. Forcing my eyes closed I let out a gurgle, hitting the ground I curled into a tight ball. My eyes snapped open, screeching loudly a gust of wind rushed through the window, darkness entombing around me.

ELINIA

I groaned, forcing my eyes open. I blinked against the sudden light that flooded them, rubbing my throbbing head. I pushed myself up slowly, gawking. My heart pounded violently and my stomach churned. I was laying on the grass under the shade of a lilac tree, but this wasn't the forest. Heck, it wasn't Aquariazzi at all.

I glanced to my right to see an unconscious Angel. Her chest heaved with laboured breathing. Where were we? I scampered over to her and slapped at her cheeks, hoping to revive her. She shot up, rubbing her cheek. "What the heck?" She paused, gawking. "Where in heavens name are we?"

"I have no clue. Sitting here and gawking won't do us much good though." I turned my head as the sound of steel against steel caught my attention. "Good Lord, those are swords!" I rose to my feet, running towards the sound. Angel was at my heels. I rounded a building made from perfectly cut red stones to see a small fighting-ring and two men battling with swords. The edges were protected by some foreign material.

I scanned the area. The women really caught my attention. They were all sitting on uncomfortable looking chairs, clad in the frilliest dresses I had ever seen in my whole life. They were actually quite pretty. I leaned against a tree, watching the men fight. "They really know how to make a mockery of sword fighting don't they?" I chuckled.

"It's horrible!" Angel replied, giggling. "You should go challenge the winner."

I grinned. "I think I will do just that." We waited patiently while the men brawled. Finally one of them fell and I strode over, ignoring the gasps of the audience.

A man walked onto the stage. "Who dares challenge our champion?" he bellowed loudly.

Champion? They had to be kidding. "I dare," I announced, grinning.

"You can't let 'er! I won't fight no woman!" the man scoffed, spitting to the side.

I raised an eyebrow and stepped into the rink. The announcer nodded at me to continue, he was obviously ammused. "And why pray tell not?"

"Because I won't!"

I pulled my daggar from it's sheath and grazed the man's arm just enough to draw blood. He yelped, glaring at me. "And what about a woman who is daring enough to cut you? Just think of me as man and you'll be fine." I smirked.

"Gimme that sword!" he hissed. The man handed us each a sword and backed off.

I had to hold down my laughter. This was going to be the most ammusing fight I had ever been in.

Rilian

Rilian paled. "But I thought you healed her!" he cried at Claudia.

Claudia turned to Rilian, defensively. "I tried to, but it didn't work! She was still in pain when - "

"You're a healer!" interrupted Rilian. "How could you not have - ?"

"Enough, you two!" snapped Forlo quickly. "Claudia, you say that a healer disappeared too?"

Claudia nodded. Forlo looked grim. "Very well," he said slowly. "We need to re-group."

"General," said Diana quickly, leaping up from her place beside the campfire. Rilian noted somewhat huffily that Diana had no problem sitting by the fire, despite her earlier protests to its creation. "Before she disappeared, Elinia had recommended against going back to the palace. She said that the Dark Warriors would only suspect - "

"Yes, yes," said Forlo quickly. "We won't go to the palace. We are going to the Mirage Hills. It's outside of the city, so we'll be able to get supplies. We'll be able to stay in hiding for a while as well."

Diana nodded. Rilian glanced at the spot where Elinia had, only moments ago, lain. Rilian had liked Elinia. She'd been a fair general. He hoped, wherever Elinia was, she was safe.

**Thought that this might tie into what it said in the into, how we are supposed to meet the English shifters on the Mirage Hills...

ANGEL

This was Ridiculous. Why did i even suggest this? I watched as their metal clashed, i gasped each time. I looked away, covering my eyes. I hated fights, even if hey were for fun, who was i kidding... The only reason the guy agreed to it was because he was so sexist. I wondered where we were? How did we get here? That had been the most painful experience of my life, i was used to feeling pain, but not like that.

I looked away from the fight and at one of the spectating females.
"my friend and I and my friend are lost? Can you tell us where we are?" She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.
"England, your not from here are you?" I frowned and shook my head, looking at the ground.
"No. Is England close to Aquariazzi?" i looked up, she looked confused.
"What is an Aquariazzi?" She didn't know of the great land of Aquariazzi? This place WAS strange.

A guy walked over and wrapped his arms around the girl.
"Marion is this freak bothering you?" I scoffed.
"Freak, sir i believe it is you, who is the freak. what is Aquariazzi, are you that dull?"
He back-handed me across the face. I put my hand up it my cheek, fighting back tears. I looked up at Nia, she didn't notice, good. I could prevent a fight.
"I don't know where you are from, but here, women do not back talk men." I nodded and they walked off, i looked up at nia again. I hoped she would be done soon, i wanted to go home.

**This is tied into an Aquarian story....when Eli talks about Sariniah that is**

ELINIA

I laughed. This man really, really couldn't fight could he? "I suppose I should actually start trying now hmm?" I taunted, enjoying every second of it.

"You bloody little..." he made a blow to my arm and I dodged. I smirked, plotting what I would do first. I planned on making a specatcle, showing men that women were more than just play-things and dress up dolls. Aquariazzi had it's sexist moment once, back about five years ago. Sariniah had put up a resistance, gaining back woman's rights. She had always secretly been my hero.

Finally deciding on what to do, I crouched quickly, spinning with one foot out and hitting the man in the ankle. He fell over and I shot up, intertwining my sword with his and giving a flick of my wrist. The sword flew from his hands and clattered to the ground. I held the tip of my sword to his chest, grinning like a cat.

The audiance gasped, utterly shocked at what women were really capable of.

"We have a new champion!" the announcer cried, running back into the ring and lifting my hand high. The crowd cheered, a few bolder women jumped to their feet and clapped wildly, earning them glares from their husbands. I eyed Angel, her cheek was reddened. What had happened to her?

ANGEL

Nia came out of the ring, letting two new comers have the ring. for now...
"Angel what happened to you?" I looked up terrified, i knew lying was wrong, but this was to help a friend, she might be a general but we weren't in our land anymore.
"Nothing is wrong, why would you even fathom that?" She obviously didn't believe me, i wasn't the best liar ever.
"Your not supposed to lie to me." I looked away.
"Then I shall not speak." I crossed my arms. I looked to see if that guy was gone. Yup no where in sight.
"Angel...." I cut her off.
"Let's just say, the men are very sexist." I looked up at her, she looked at my cheek menacingly.
"Where is he?" I frowned and looked away again.
"He's gone."

ELINIA

I glared at the crowd. "He had better be," I hissed. I really had no patience for jerks at the moment. "Shall we figure out where we are?"

"A place called England. Nobody here seems to have heard of Aquariazzi and they think we're freaks," Angel informed me.

Of course. I sighed and stared at the strange buildings and outfits. We were the freaks? I wrinkled my nose in disgust. As if. "Well we should try to figure out how we got here then." I sighed and walked up to one of the women who had been bold enough to rise to her feet and applaud visiously. "Excuse me, miss."

She turned, eyes wide. "Where did you learn how to do that?" she asked, flabbergasted.

I sighed. "Where I come from, that's trainy-fighting. I'm a general. I've trained people with that move."

She looked amazed. "A woman general?"

"Yes, a female general. I was actually hoping you could help me." I shifted uneasily. My armour obviously clashed with everything in this messed-up world.

"Anything!" She smiled sweetly at me.

"Alright, as you can see I'm not really from here. Have you ever heard of Aquariazzi?" I asked, crossing my arms.

She shook her head, smile fading. "I can't say I have."

I sighed. "Well, I suppose I leave you be then. Sorry to be of bother." I turned on my heel and grabbed Angel by the arm. We needed to get back to the others.