The Shifters

ANGEL

Nia grabbed my arm and dragged me away. Where were we going?
"I think we need to get back to the others." She nodded and continued walking.
"Agreed, they need our help, and my flaming sword." I rolled my eyes. She treasured that sword, like it was her first born child.

"Well where are we going?" She looked back at me.
"I figured that tree, the one we woke up under. It's the best place to start." That made since, i guess.

FORLO

"Yes, yes, 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." I said to Rilian.

"Shall I pass the message along and round up the other warriors General?" asked Rilian.

I smiled, "Yes it would. Thank you Rilian." I turned to Claudia, "Do you think you could get the other healer and the orphans together?" She nodded and ran off to the meditent.

So where does this leave me? The one and only in command due to unforeseen circumstances. Where did it leave Nia? We had to find her, I had to find her, and I wouldn't stop until I did.

ELINIA

I sighed and sat down under the tree we had started from and already I was feeling impatient. My head had cleared, which only made room for new worries to settle. How had we gotten here? How did we get back? What sort of chaos or sweet revalation had befallen our group of survivors?

I took a quick glance behind me. Most of the audience was still watching the battles intently, whispering between themselves. There was one man who was glaring intently at us. I recognized him as the man I had just defeated. I smirked, my powers hadn't been working earlier....but...

I focused and my hand lit into flames. His eyes widened in horror and my smirk broadened. He nudged another man and I immediately stopped, turning around. I could hear the men's thoughts when I focused, they were so terribly ungaurded. Total nutcase. No way can a girl make her hand start on fire and not be burnt. His friend wasn't very trusting, and that would serve me well.

I finally grew impatient and stood up, dragging Angel along with me. "What now?" she moaned.

"I am the boredest I have ever been in my whole life. Nothing's happening so we might as well go explore. Freak out the civilians a tad with our bizarre outfits..." I grinned. Something scaly brushed against my back and I jumped. Shale poked his head out of the top of my shirt and I laughed. "How the heck did I not notice her there before?" I stroked her head.

Angel shook her head. "I have absolutely no idea," she muttered. "Are we going or not?"

I nodded, setting Shale down on the ground. "Where to first?

ANGEL

I really just wanted to go home, i had to know the others were alright. We walked into what i would imagine to be the town square. I pulled away and Nia looked back at me.
"Still don't know your own grip?" I asked playfully, but in all truth she did have a strong grip, and i was still hurting from earlier. Wasn't she?
"Sorry, come on. This is going to be fun!"

"Don't do anything drastic. Please, all we need is a city of angry people chasing us." She nodded. Then rolled her eyes. At least she was having fun. I saw some sickly looking people, and my heart sank, i had nothing to help them except my power. But using that in front of all these people wasn't a smart idea.

I don't have too much to do at this point... THANK YOU, PhantomofthePotter, for recognizing my character! xD

Diana

I sat by rather helplessly as I watched Forlo give out orders to everyone. I leaned against Luvia, who was now lying down, and Akkio sat by me. He and I looked at each other. I grabbed my bow and quiver, stood up and began walking back toward camp.

"Where are you going?" The general asked me.

I turned back to him. "I'm going to get my arrows back," I answered. "And I want to see about putting out some of those flames." I held out my hand and water trickled down from it.

"You're aware that there are still Dark Warriors hanging around there, right?" He asked.

I shrugged. "Nothing I can't handle."

Forlo nodded slowly and I walked through the trees, Akkio at my heels. When we reached the scorched clearing, I looked around. Sure enough, two or three Dark Warriors were still looking through the broken and mangled bodies. I looked down at the canine by my side and nodded to him. He, too, nodded with understanding.

I slowly and quietly drew my sword and Akkio trotted out of the trees. As he got closer to his target, his speed and ferocity kicked up and he attacked the warrior menacingly. I also ran out at a couple of warriors and struck them down with ease. And these guys were supposed to be the most fearsome warriors in Aquariazzi? Please.

I shot spurts of water at a couple of burning patches of grass here and there. When all the fire had been extinguished, I went around and began collecting any arrows I could find. Akkio was also picking up the arrows that he came across. With every arrow that I pulled out of a Dark Warrior, anger grew inside of me. But every time I got one from a fellow warrior, it saddened me greatly.

Before we left, I knelt down in the clearing to pay one final tribute to my fallen warriors. Akkio and I then ran out of camp, back towards the survivors.

ELINIA

I smirked. "Me? Cause trouble? Never..." I chuckled at the horrified looks of the passer-bies. "Angel, I have a freakin' cowbra slithering beside me. I won't have to do anything bizarre."

She shook her head. "Wonderful," she muttered sarcastically. I just chuckled, earning me a few more glances. Just for good measure, I reached over and stroked the top of Shale's head affectionately.

A daring man had the guts to walk up to us. "May I ask what in bloody hell you two think you're doing?"

I shook my head. "No, you may not." I set my lips into a firm line. "It is no business of yours." I crossed my arms and Shale hissed. He seemed to realize that the man could pose a threat.

He glared at me, and I returned the gesture. "It is my business. I will not be shunned by an impolite young lady who seems to have forgotten her place."

I laughed. "Forgotten it? No. Lost it, yes. Look, I'm not in the mood. I black out and wake up in a strage place where women are treated as little dolls. Do not test my patience."

Angel tugged at my arm. "Let's just go Nia," she murmered.

I really didn't feel like leaving, wherever this was, the men really needed to learn their place in society. Not above or below, but on the same waveline as women. I ignored Angel and prattled on, smile turning to a fierce snarl. "I am a feared and respected general where I come from. Do not get on my nerves."

The man's glare intensified. "Well, this isn't where you come from. This is England."

I rolled my eyes and shoved past him, towing Angel beside me. The man shouted at us to come back because he wasn't finished, but I completely ignored him. Shale slithered on beside me, hissing at anybody who dared flash us a disgusted glance.

ANGEL

The men here were really obnoxious and testing nia's patience. I was surprised she held back with that last guy. I spotted the guy from earlier, he didn't see us. He was laughing with some of his friends, the girl who was with him didn't seem impressed. I pulled my arm away from nia agian, she had one good grip.

I looked over and say a fight had broken out. Not a duel, a hand at hand fight. If you could call it that, one man was beating up another. I grabbed nia's arm to stop her, when she looked back i pointed at the fight.
"Look!" we bolted over to the fight and nia broke it up, delivering a few good swings at the guy who started it.I helped the other guy up, propping him against the wall as nia nonchalantly walked over, everyone quickly got back to what they had been doing before the fight.
"Thanks a bunch ma'am." The young man said looking up at nia. She smiled looking amused at what she had done.
"It was nothing. Really." I looked between him and nia, he looked like he was in agonizing pain. I just happened to gaze down at his arm, it was rather swollen and discolored. I took his arm and moved it slightly and he yelped in pain.
"I think your arm is broken. This might hurt a little." I prepared to heal him but nia grabbed my shoulder.
"I don't think that's such a good idea angel." I shook my head and looked back at him.
"I have to nia, i don't like seeing people in pain, are you ready?" I asked the man. HE looked utterly confused. I put my hands against his broken arm and focused all my energy on it, at first it wasn't so bad.

As it got worse i closed my eyes and began breathing heavily. He gasped as i started to whimper in pain. I could feel the swelling going down under my fingers as they became cold. Pain surged through every part of my upper body, my ankle began to hurt to. This guy took quite a beating. As the pain became less i steadied my breathing. As soon as the pain was gone i pulled away falling back. I looked up at the guy who had stood up. Nia helped me up, she looked clearly concerned, sure she goofed off a lot but she still can become stern.
"What did you do?" He asked checking himself over and shaking the previously broken arm.

I smiled he looked very happy at what i had done.
"I healed you, try not to get beat up again. We won't be here to help you next time." he smiled.
"I have to tell my friends about these two glorious women who saved me!" I smiled as he took off. Then i looked up at nia, she was looking down at me, clearly unimpressed.
"I told you not to do that, you should have left him. Do you know how hard it was for me not to pull you away?" I frowned and looked away.
"I'm sorry." She sighed as i crossed my arms.
"Don't be. Come on let's go." She grabbed my arm and we were off again. I sighed.

**No problem, Rayne. I myself am hoping that this is the last run Rilian is sent on. It seems that every other post he is ordered away from the rest of the group.

Rilian

Rilian stalked through the forest once again. Forlo had already said that he had found most of the survivors. Why, then, had he sent Rilian after others?

Rilian coughed as smoke from the fires reached him. He blinked as it stung his eyes, but continued on. Rilian whipped out his bow as he entered the camp's ruins.

He glanced around for remaining Dark Warriors. The camp seemed nearly deserted, with an exception of -

"You there!" yelled Rilian, pulled his bow taught toward a silhouetted figure in the smoke. "Stop!"

The figure froze. Rilian saw that it was a woman. Rilian slowly crept toward her. He glanced down briefly as something moved at the woman's feet, but kept his arrow trained on her.

Until that something growled. Rilian froze, and in that moment the woman pulled out her own bow and trained it on Rilian.

They stood still for a moment, the smoke still too thick in the night's blackness to allow either of them to see a face. The something at the woman's feet gave a short bark. The woman relaxed, and lower her bow. Rilian tightened his grip on his bow suspiciously.

The woman sighed. "Put it down, Rilian. It's me."

"Diana?"

"Yes."

Rilian lowered his bow, and picked his way toward her. "Sorry," he said. Diana shrugged.

"I might have just shot you."

Rilian flashed her an incredulous look. "What are you up to?" he asked after an awkward moment.

"Gathering my arrows."

"Care to join me in my second search for survivors?"

Kena

I get up from the grass, and look around. The road was mostly empty. Two Dark Soldiers go running mere feet from me. I try not to scream, but still hide my face in my hands and fall to the ground. They seem not to notice me, and just keep going.

I take off running towards the woods. I could remember everything said to me before I left.

An old man came up to me. His beard stretched to his shoes, the color of new snow. the cap on his head was far to large, and his clothes to tight.

"Kenakora," he had always used my full name, "just a word of advice before you go. As to where you go, the woods would be best for you. There are dwarfs there that were friends of your village. They might even recognize you, with your hair, your eyes. Another thing, stay away from the Dark Warriors. They shouldn't bother a child like you, nonetheless, be careful."

"Thank you." I said, beginning to cry. He had patted my shoulder, and handed me a small necklace. I shrank back from his touch, and emitted a little squeak of fear.

"What's this?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"In time, my dear, you will see." He smiled.

I finger the necklace again after I stop running. A red stone hung from a gold chain. I hold it up to the light again, and I swear I can see little words printed in the stone, but can't make them out. I sigh, adjust bag on my shoulder, and walk towards the woods.

ELINIA

Ah yes, a score to settle. I slugged the man in the jaw and sent a kick to his gut and he stumbled backwards into some of the spectators. They pushed him back and I punched the side of his mouth. He slumped over. Satisfied, I turned back towards Angel and the other man.

"Thanks a bunch ma'am," the man said, turning his head towards me. Ma'am...I wasn't even called that by the trainees anymore. It was always simply General, General Nia and Elinia.

"It was nothing. Really." I replied. Nia glanced at me and then back to the man.

"I think your arm is broken. This might hurt a little."

I grabbed Nia's shoulder. "I don't think that's such a good idea Angel."

She shook her head. "I have to Nia, i don't like seeing people in pain, are you ready?" The man looked horribly confused. I rolled my eyes, this could not be a good idea. Hadn't Angel just been talking about not starting a spectacle? She put her hand on the man's shoulder.

Angel whimpered and it was all I could do not to grab her arm and yank her away. The swelling was going down, but Angel seemed to be in pain. Finally it was over and she pulled away. I helped her up, face expressionless.

"What did you do?" he demanded, looking over his body and giving his broken arm a good shake. Angel looked thrilled with herself.

"I healed you, try not to get beat up again. We won't be here to help you next time."

"I have to tell my friends about these two glorious women who saved me!" They both smiled and the man took off.

I stared down at her, frowning. She finally looked up at me and I took the chance to scold. "I told you not to do that, you should have left him. Do you know how hard it was for me not to pull you away?"

She looked away. "I'm sorry." She crossed her arms and I sighed loudly.

"Don't be. Come on let's go." I grabbed her arm, pushing my way past shocked spectators, trying to ignore their whispers.

Witches. It seemed to be the word of choice. I was far from a witch. I turned around and held up my hand. I had everybody's attention. Angel groaned and pulled at my shirt, but I ignored it. Why not give them all a nice memory of what had happened here today? My hand burst into high flames and the crowd gasped.

Satisified with myself, I turned again. My stomach was churning. How long had it been since I had eaten? "Ange, I need food. Quickly," I whispered, taking a few deep breaths. She nodded and we looked around for anything that might help. A woman walked out of a building, carrying a small cake. "There," I whispered, pointing. Of course that probably costed money, and money was something we didn't have.

Claudia

I followed the orders I had been given, but inside I was steaming. How could I have let Nia go? They were right I really was useless... I shook away the thoughts.

But they were to stubborn to leave. I had to find them... to make sure that I wasn't going to step down even though I had failed this time.

Yay! :3

Diana

"Care to join me in mysecond search for survivors?"

I laughed. "Second?!" Rilian turned away a little, his face showing a look of annoyance. "Might as well. I'm invisible back there as it is," I said, nodding towards the other survivors.

"Although," I continued, "I don't really see the point. I thought Forlo had gotten all of them? And it's not like anyone could have survived...this," I said, suddenly becoming quiet as I looked at the destruction.

Rilian shrugged. "Nothing better to do, I guess. And you never know - the Dark Warriors may have missed someone." He rolled his eyes.

He and I then began picking up charred and holed pieces of tents and logs of many shapes and sizes, looking for non-existent survivors. Akkio stuck right by me the entire time, smelling everything, trying to pick up a scent. But every scent was one of either death or someone who had already been rescued. I sighed with great annoyance.

"This is pointless," I eventually said. Rilian turned to me with a face that said 'No duh'. I sighed again. "May as well go back."

"Wait," he said quickly. I looked at him. "Someone could have gone into the forest."

I let out a short, sharp laugh. "Are you suggesting that we search the entire forest for our people?"

"Well--" He was quickly cut off by the sound of rustling leaves and moving feet.

Akkio perked up and ran towards the sound. Rilian and I shot quick glances at each other, then slowly followed him. Just before we reached the trees at the edge of the clearing, a girl burst through them, startling all three of us back.

---

That'd be Kena, I believe

Kena

I start panting at the sight of the two people.

"Please don't hurt me," I say, starting to shake.

"Why would we?" the girl asks.

"I don't know, you're people, and people do bad things..." I say, my voice trembling.

"You're a person too." the boy points out.

"Well, yeah...but...I," I can't seem to form reasonable logic.

"Trust me, we aren't here to hurt you. I'm Diana."

"I'm Kenakora, but, uh, people, you know, call me Kena. Or Kora. Whatever you want. But people call me Kena." I say, and try to swallow.

"Well, I'm Rillan." The boy says. He puts out his hand. I take a step back. He withdraws it.

I have talked to Isha and we have placed our camp in the northern part of the Corromen Forest. Check the map if you don't know where that is.

FORLO

We were almost assembled and ready to make the trek to Mirage Hills. Claudia had rounded up the healers and orphan's, just as I had asked. Most of the warriors were there and hanging around. But where were Rilian and Diana? I stood up on top of a barrel and called, "Can I have your attention please!" Most people quieted down and turned to look at me. "I see some of you are becoming restless and I am glad to inform you we will be departing shortly. But first has anyone seen warriors Diana and Rilian?"

The crowd burst into sound, I heard someone shout "Kena and Akkio are missing too!" and another shout, "Leave them behind!" I was most definitely not leaving them behind. If there was one rule I lived by it was that no one gets left behind. Besides, these were my two best warriors and an orphan I was talking about here. I would just have to find them my self.

"Everyone stay here!" I ordered, "If you disobey, there will be no waiting. We need to get moving as soon as possible. We will leave you behind." Okay, so that was a little lie, but you needed to be firm when dealing with the public.

I wandered off in the direction some one had said they had seen Rilian go off in. I got to a small clearing and could see two figures and, an animal? Just off in the distance. I wasn't sure if it was the warriors or not so I hid behind the trees, slowly sneaking up to them. A small figure jumped out at them and they took aback. Was it attacking them? I realized it was a girl, more than likely Kena. I was sure I had found the warriors too. "What do you three think you are doing!?" I demanded.

Claudia

As he walked off, I stayed with the healers and orphans, waiting for the signal for us to leave. Of course we wouldn't leave anyone behind. We never left anyone behind.

I could hear people talking in the distance but didn't worry to much. I had to take care of the people here... I had to.