Grave of the Shadows (Starting!)

Reyna
I saw Kyle look into an alley, and knew what he was thinking. When he suddenly dashed away, I ran after him. Rodr stood there, kind of lost. He hadn't seen me, or Kyle disappear. I caught up with Kyle, and saw him sit down in a shadow.
"Kyle, I know you need time, but we've gotta stay together!" I whispered, so as to not give us away. He tried to escape again, but I caught his arm.
"Reyna- Please. I need time to myself!" he said. I nodded.
"I understand. But you know, there's nobody that knows how to hide better than me. I can find you. I know where there are spots." I said. Kyle nodded, and looked down. I put my hand on his shoulder. "Please, we can stay here as long as you want.... I will let you think. Just don't leave. I can't lose you.... I've finally found you." I said, while pushing us into an even darker corner. "Okay? Look, and to hide more, try putting your head down. We won't be noticed here." I said. He nodded again, and we waited there. Rodr could take care of himself. He might be concerned, but, I could take care of myself just as well.

Kyle

Inside I was fuming. This Reyna was too fast and I hated her for it. She said she understood but no one did. This growing hatred towards my fellow shadows was bothering me but I pushed the thought out of my mind. For the moment I had to focus on escaping from Reyna. For the moment I felt like she was the Night that I was running from. It was scary to think that way, but why wouldn't she leave me alone?
"Um Reyna?" I whispered. "I need to um you know... Use the restroom."
"Oh," she said. "Follow me. I have a friend nearby."
"You have friends everywhere! And I never see you go out! And you're so solitary I didn't even know you had friends!" I bit my lip, knowing I had said something wrong.
"Whatever. At least I don't spend all day drawing imaginary things and shutting out the real world," she replied stiffly. I hung my head and followed her like an abandoned dog.
"Here," she said as she knocked on the door. It opened and a girl around Reyna's age ushered me in and pointed to a door on the left. I went in and instantly saw the window. Reyna wouldn't catch me this time! I leaped over the windowsill and darted off into the nearby alley.

Ugh, I'm torrid. Sorry- Cailey, you've been fantastically wonderful keeping up.

Caleb Noel

I was angry at myself for letting Kyle get away, but Alexa and Anna were more important- and, clearly, that was obviously the right choice.

"Alexa..." I muttered.

She gave me a look that clearly said Caleb, I'm thirteen. Let me go. I sigh, and Anna squeezes my hand.

"So Celeste and Alexa are going to go find Rodr and Kyle... isn't this a bit to many people out at the same time to be safe? I mean, I know it's important to both of you to find them..." I trailed off. "Why don't we all just meet at the house when we're done- just to be safe."

Anna and Celeste nodd, and Alexa gives me a look that said thank you. Anna gave Alexa a hug, and she and Celeste walked off.

"... We need to go back." I told Anna. "We really do..."

Spoiler

Okay, if everyone gets a chance, I would appreciate it if you could stop by the DT. Sunshine, I've just been in a lot of dead end SBs and want this one to last. But yes, I would like to get some kind of plot started, I've had some suggestons and want to make sure everyone knows what's going on.

Alexa Noel

We found Rodr moving back towards us. He was working on blending in, and that coupled with his already emotionless face made me wonder if he'd seen us at all. But I caught the one moment when his eyes met Celeste's and his head bent in a short nod. As we passed Celeste pretended to bump into him, and I noticed he was using our secret tapping language. I imagined he was telling Rodr where Caleb and Anna were.

Rodr tapped something in return while murmuring at Celeste for having run into him. To the passerby it looked like they had never met before. Celeste then moved to my arm and began tapping. Reyna and Kyle ran off together. Kyle's acting strange. I nodded. I had seen Kyle's moods, his explosions. I'd had a few of my own, and knew how hard it was for him to get control sometimes.

Suddenly a magpie flying over the rooftops caught my attention. I barely noticed the flash of red in its eye. "Celeste," I murmured, sitting on a snowy doorstep, "I think something's wrong. We'll find them tomorrow, let's go back."

Spoiler

Okay, so now it's definitely nighttime. One or two posts can be made, but we really do need to actually sleep. We aren't superheroes. Plus, the Shadows should all be a bit hungry now. So try and wind down to night, then check the DT!

Reyna
Oh, stupid me! Trusting him... how could I??? were my thoughts when my friend told me about the empty bathroom. I sighed, and looked away.
"It's okay, Rey. He'll, I hope, come back.... He just needs some time." she said comforting me.
"I know, I just thought...." I said quietly.
"...you thought he could trust you." she said. I nodded. She knows me.... I know I can trust her. I let her hug me, and we walked inside.
"I don't have to stay, if you don't want-" I said.
"My! How could you ever think I wouldn't want you here! Goodness!" she exclaimed.
"I'm a shadow, and you know it. I don't want to put your family in danger.... The Nights are about here...." I said slowly, and quietly. She patted my back.
"I'll go get some biscuits and milk." she said. "Oh, and don't forget--- You're my best friend." she said. It feels, well, good to be loved.... It is nice to not be asked about appearances... like hair.... scars....

Jackie

Now that I wasn't running for my life, I realized just how exhausted I was. The others were exhausted, too--Jazz had curled up on the ground, and Liam had nodded off, with Tess still in his arms. Even poor Justia had stopped squirming. I tapped Jazz lightly, to see if he was awake, but he didn't respond.

I laid down next to Jazz. Suddenly, my brain refused to work, becoming sluggish and detached. Celeste and Alexa aren't back yet, I thought. And someone should keep watch... But I didn't feel any urge to do something about it; I was just too tired. Besides, I was a light sleeper. If someone showed up uninvited, I'd wake up.

That was the last thing I remembered thinking before drifting off to sleep.

Liam Knightly

The world began to grow darker and I watched as Jazz and Jackie fell asleep. Tess was already curled up on my lap with her breath coming out evenly. I wondered where the others were. A part of me knew they would be alright and could take care of themselves. Another part of me worried and wanted to run out into the night and find them and bring them together.

I knew that was not an option. Still, even though I was almost positive they were safe, I wanted to know for sure. I remembered another spell my father had taught me. It was simple, just a way to reach out and find each Shadow. I was tempted, but magic could attract the Nights. Regretfully, I decided to let them each fend for themselves. I would go out in the morning if they weren't back, but until then I needed sleep. I would be no help to my Shadow Children if I was exhausted. I closed my eyes and let a gradual sleepiness overcome me.

Rodr

We stood there for a moment, catching our breath.

"Where now?" Reyna asked. "We've lost them."

I nodded, looking around, and realized something was wrong. "We've lost more than the Nights," I said. "Where's Kyle?"

But Reyna was moving even as I spoke, running off into an alley. Knowing she'd catch him, I walked after her, and then murmured an oath as I heard them take off; I sped up, but to no avail. They were gone - but where? Had we really lost the archers?

Suddenly I felt watched. I turned slowly in a circle, my hand on the blade of my sword. I stalked through the alleys, expected someone to attack at any moment - a Night, or a cutpurse.

Then I noticed Celeste and Alexa, and started towards them. Celeste bumped into me.

"Watch it," I murmured, tapping discreetly against her arm as I spoke. I ran into someone who knows I'm a Shadow - Kyle was there; we ran away and met with Reyna. They ran off a minute ago. Kyle's acting weird.

Celeste nodded and tapped against Alexa's arm; I assumed she was repeating what I had said.

"Celeste, I think something's wrong," Alexa said, sitting down. "We'll find them tomorrow, let's go back."

"You can go back," I said, "but I'm not."

"Rodr, don't be stupid," Celeste began, but I interrupted.

"Justia's still sick, and I plan on finding someone who can help her. We're running out of time, in case you haven't noticed." The sun was already below the horizon; I realized that I needed to sleep, but I didn't have time to rest. "I'm not going back until I've found someone, got it?" With that, I left.

I wandered for some time, but I hadn't realized how tired I was. I staggered on, though. I have to find someone... My eyes kept trying to close, and my legs didn't want to work anymore. Come on, for Justia... I fell against something wooden, and didn't realize it was a door until someone opened it. Too tired to even question who it was, I entered. I guess it was obvious how exhausted I was, because an old woman led me to a bed, where I collapsed.

"Don't you worry, child. You don't have to sleep on the streets tonight." She thought I was homeless. I guess I was, if the Nights knew where we lived... but they didn't, right? My thoughts were all jumbled, but they began to quiet and fade away into darkness as my eyes flickered closed.

Spoiler

Sorry for the long post.

Reyna
"Here, you can sleep with me." said my friend.
"Thanks so much, Ruby.... I appreciate it." I said. She nodded. We both lied down, and rested.
"Reyna.... will they kill my family if they find you here?" said Ruby.
"Uhhhh. I hope not.... And the point is, I won't be found. I won't!" I said.
"Okay. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Ruby."

Kyle

I dodged two more people before crashing headlong into someone. I stumbled backwards and looked up at who I hit. A beautiful woman was looking down at me giving me a reassuring smile.
"Hey!" she said. "Looks like you're a little lost."
"Um... yeah," I replied blushing. She offered me a hand a pulled me to my feet.
"Are you hungry? You sure look it!"
"I sure am!" I brightened up instantly and the look in this girl's eyes seem reassuring.
"Come, follow me." As I strode along beside her I noticed that she wasn't that much taller than me. She was muscular though, and she was dressed in a black suit. I had never seen her around these parts before.
"Are you new around here?" I asked.
"You might say that," she replied grinning. That's all the answer I needed. I fell into step beside her and we headed in the direction of town I had never been before. I was a bit nervous but what would the Shadows say if they saw me now? I laughed out loud and received a funny smirk from the girl.

Spoiler

DON"T DIE STORYBOOK!!!!

Reyna
I sat up. It was bright out, and I looked beside me. Ruby wasn't there. I stood up, and ran downstairs. She had fresh warm milk and warm freshly baked biscuits with strawberry jam. I sighed.
"Mmmm! That smells great!" I said.

Liam Knightly

Before long the missing Shadow Children began appearing alone or in small groups. I nodded at each of them, feeling relieved. However, I began to feel uneasy, as if someone was missing. A lot were, but I felt like someone was not going to come back. I shrugged it off, assuming it would be Reyna, as she tended to stay away from the group for longer. Then she appeared in the doorway with some fresh bread in her arms.

"Is this everyone?" I asked, but even as I was speaking I knew Kyle was missing. A few more seconds and I saw that Rodr wasn't there. "Kyle and Rodr," Celeste and I spoke at the same time. We glanced at each other with worried looks. "Does anyone know where they are?"

Just then Rodr appeared with a vial in his hand. It was made of a dirty green glass and some kind of liquid swooshed back and forth inside of it. "Justia!" His face was calm and emotionless, but Celeste didn't try to hide her relief at seeing him and her joy of seeing the medicine. She took it from his hands and ran to Justia's side.

"Drink this," she whispered as the younger girl's eyes fluttered open and she tried to get the liquid down. A feeling of relief spread through the cave when they saw the last of it disappear into her mouth.

"We just need to find Kyle," I stated, standing to check on each Shadow Child. Tessa followed behind me, whispering her missing brother's name. "Not yet though, we all need a rest. Reyna, can we share some bread? Tess, don't worry, Kyle's fine." The truth was, my stomach was churning and I knew we had to find Kyle soon.

Spoiler

I didn't want Reyna to meet you guys yet Cailey. Oh well

Reyna
Ahh. I finished eating, and Ruby gave me two warm loaves of bread, and a bottle of warm milk and a ladle.
"Oh Ruby! You didn't have to!-" I said. She smile.
"Take it over.... I'll let you go if you absolutely PROMISE to come back as soon as possible. Okay?" She asked. I nodded, then slipped out the door. I ran to where I knew the Shadows were, but taking back alleys. I arrived, and passed Liam my bread, and milk with the ladle.
"My friend--" I said. As soon as I gave it to him, he asked,
"Have you seen Kyle?"
"Actually, I was with him. He left me though...." I said. Before he could thank me for the bread, I ran off again. I just wanted to be with Ruby. She understood me.

Spoiler

Ruby looks like this.

Jackie

The sound of voices woke me, and I jumped to my feet. I reached for my knife, but then realized that it was just the other Shadow Children. I let out a deep breath, and tried to let myself relax.

"What's going on?" I asked. No one seemed to hear me. Instead, they were all clustered around Justia. Celeste and Rodr kneeled next to her, Celeste helping Justia choke down some sort of liquid. Rodr watched, a green vial in his hand. It must have been medicine!

Once Justia had drunk all the medicine, Liam stood up and surveyed the group. "We just need to find Kyle," he said. "Not yet, though; we all need a rest."

Someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned around. Jazz stood behind me, clinging to my coat. "I'm hungry," he said quietly.

"Alright," I replied. "Let's get you some food." I grabbed his hand and pulled him over to where Liam and Tess were sharing some bread. "Did you hear about Justia?" I said to Jazz. "Rodr and Celeste found medicine."

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Jazz asked timidly.

"Of course," I answered, ruffling his hair. "I think she's going to be just fine."