Autumn's Beginning, Autumn's Breeze [2]

Isabella--

As the mage led us down the hall, I began to worry. He assurably was not Kash, nor any other mage I knew. That meant we should not be trusting him. I grabbed Max's arm, pulling him to a stop. When we stopped, the rest of our group quickly followed suit.

"What's wrong?" Max asked worriedly.

"I don't trust him. Dad said to find Kash, or another mage we knew, remember? I don't know him..."

Davnix-

I cast my suspicious gaze over to the black-haired mage who had also stopped and stood, staring back at us with amusement.

"Well, c'mon, i havent got all day." he said, waving to us to follow.

"Should we follow him for now? Perhaps he really can take us to Trent." Velna said.

"Hang on..." Isabella murmured, stepping forward. "Can you take us to Kash, please?"

The mage raised one eyebrow. "Why do you want to see him?"

"Old family friend. Please?"

I stepped up. "I need to ask him something for my cousin."

"And who is your cousin and why couldn't he come here to see Kash for himself?"

"My cousin is Natan. He's ill. We need to see Kash right away, sir."

The mage smiled, sending shivers down my spine. I didn't like that look...

"Oh, I'll take you to Kash alright..." he murmured before waving his hand and whisking us off to who-knows-where. I cursed.

"This is why i don't trust mages, present company and close family excluded." i muttered.

Velna-


Velna looked at the mage then the others. She knew she didn't know much about mages, or anything of this tower. Their worry about his charactor scared her, if what they suspected was right, and he was bad, then if he had Trent.... The thought made a shiver run up her back. Was he ok.

TRENT She called in her mind searching for his, but he wasn't there.

We'll find him. Crest said, She clutched the amulet and mentally nodded, hoping he was right.

Riley-

I yawned and continued to talk with Gerard as Ariana and her mother finished making breakfast. I wouldn't have eaten any but it seemed that i didn't have much choice as Ariana prepared to force feed me. I laughed and nibbled on a piece of bread and a few grapes.

After everyone else had eaten, Alise stood up, grasping her husband's arm.

"We're going to go back over to Nathaniel's. We need to speak to Gerard."

I nodded and stood too at the same time Ariana did. "We'll come, too."


Natan-

My father continued to ask me how I felt, trying to drag the information from my weak mind.

Natan, are you alright?

I'm fine, father. I just need sleep, that's all.

After a while he gave up, reporting that someone was knocking on the door. He withdrew from my mind, leaving only Val.

How do you really feel? she asked.

Horrible. i replied weakly. But i don't want to make him feel worse than he already is. He's got enough to worry about.

Davnix-

When i opened my eyes, i instantly noticed that we were definitely not where we should be. The young apprentices had vanished. The hallway had vanished. Now, only the mage remained.

I looked around the dim room. If i hadn't known any better, I would have said that we were in the mage's living quarters. But, i knew this to be incorrect when i saw the iron bars on the door.

Isabella, Velna, and Max stood at my side, each of them looking around with expressions ranging from curiosity to suspicion to rage. I stepped towards Velna and away from Max.

"Where are we?" she asked, her eyes still traveling over the blank gray walls.

"You are now in the dungeons of the tower, charged for trespassing and disrupting the peace and order of those who come here to study." the mage said as all eyes darted instantly back to him. He wore a sneering smile across his face.

I shivered involuntarily.

Velna-

Velna glared at the mage.

"What did you do with my brother?" She demanded, "Where is he?"

She moved closer to Davinx, she didn't know what the mages could do, and she might've stepped outta line in being so demanding. He had put them in here easily. She didn't let her fears show on her face though.



*Oi vey**

Isabella--

I stepped forward, facing the mage.

"As a mage I have full rights to be here, and bring whoever I wish to bring with me. We have disrupted no one, and would be gone by now if not for this," I said informatively.

Davnix-

I smiled as I heard Isabella speak, glancing back at the mage. He wavered or a moment, casting his eyes to the side. Then he smiled.

"Nevertheless, you are to stay here until further notice. Your group earlier caused quite a bit of ruckus. Where are the rest of you?"

"They're not here."

"Yes, i know that, but where are they exactly?"

"Why should we tell you?" i demanded

"I assure you, my intentions are purely good. I wish you no harm."

"And we're supposed to believe you?"

The mage smiled again. "Fine, don't tell me. They'll show up soon enough..."

And with that he was gone, leaving us alone in darkness.

"I think his intentions are far from good." i muttered dryly.

Velna-

"I think your right." Velna replied, so looked around. "Quick question though. Do you think Crest would be able to break through these walls or are they covered in magic?" She looked at them. Maybe Crest could get them out. He had to eat too.


**Sorry all I could think of. **

Isabella--

I considered Velna's idea. It was crazy, really. But, crazy seemed to be our specialty, eh?

"We could give it a try," I agreed.


>.< tired...no ideas....rawr...

*We seem to be losing speed here (so to speak) so AB3 might be starting soon, if we all agree. I've gotten a few PM's from people asking if they can join so...yeah. What do you guys wana do? I'm up for whatever.*

Davnix-

I nodded to Velna. "Go ahead. I doubt the magic the mages put up on these walls could withstand the force of a full-grown dragon."


Natan-

I wasn't sure how long i stayed unconscious. Seconds, days, minutes, weeks...it all melded together, making it impossible to tell. Val stayed with me from time to time, sharing memories back and forth. My father only dared to enter my mind one more time, but left soon afterwards.

When i was finally able to push the blackness aside and open my eyes, i was met with even more darkness. A sliver of silver light shone through the window, falling to rest on the figure curled up beside me. I smiled, recognizing Val's smell.

Best let her sleep i thought, yawning slightly. I gazed out at the moon, not even bothering to make an effort to move.


Riley-

We followed Alise and Gerard out of the house and through the small village, heading towards Natan's house. The sun was already beginning its descent.

Alise knocked on the door and Nathaniel answered.

"Yes?"

"Is Davnix here?"

Nathaniel cast his eyes to the side and didn't answer.

"Well?" Gerard demanded.

"No."

"Where is he?"

"At the tower. He went with Isabella and a few others to get one of their friends that was accidentally left behind."

I looked over at Ariana. "Trent." we both mouthed.

"Great." Gerard muttered. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, well...send him home once he gets back. And i swear, if anything happens to him-"

Nathaniel held up his hands. "You may hold me responsible."

I was surprised at how tired and worn he looked. Dark blue and purple bags outlined his eyes, his hands clasped and unclasped nervously. I glanced over at Ariana who in turn looked at me.

"Let's stay here and see if we can help." i mouthed silently.

She nodded and together we slipped past Nathaniel and into the house before Gerard and Alise could say anything. We made our way to the kitchen and found Bella sitting at the table. We sat next to her.

She glanced at us. "What are you two doing here?"

**OK, I'm up for it, just lets get a new Thread**


Velna-


Let's go, Crest.


I thought you would never ask! She felt the amulet shake a little,

"Everyone move behind me." She said as he slowly started coming out. When they were all behind her he jumped fully out and streched his long claws.

Take the wall out, fast She told Crest, he bobbed his head then swung his claw into the wall. It crumbled down without a problem.


Tell them to get on my back! Crest said, They'll have heard the wall fall and will be down in a minute


"He said we shoudl get on his back, the guy'll be back soon!" She said looking at the others.

*No lets keep the same thread, its the longest one!*

Ariana

I smiled, "sticking around to see if we can do anything to help."

"Help who?"

"You guys."

"Good, I don't think Alise would be very merciful to either of you if you got away on my watch."

"We're-"

"Whatever. Where's your uncle?"

"Getting it from Dad."

*We'll probably keep the same thread. I dunno, though. We'll take a vote. *

Riley-

Bella smiled. "Well, i wouldn't doubt it."

"So is there anything we can do?" I offered.

She thought for a moment. "No, i don't think so. Everyone is gone except Natan and Val."

I nodded and pulled Ariana onto my lap. "Anything new with Natan?"

Bella shook her head. "No, other than that Val reporting he's fine."

I nodded again and let time seep by. Nathaniel came into the room after a little while, yawning, and sat down next to Bella, burying his face in his hands with a long sigh. Bella put her hand on his arm reassuringly and I laid my chin on Ariana's head.


Davnix-

I helped the others onto Crest's back before jumping on myself. With a great roar, he soared into the sky. I looked back over my shoulder and saw the mage staring back at us, his arms crossed, a frown of frustration on his face. I couldn't help but stick my tongue out at him as we flew away from the setting sun and into the gathering darkness.

Ariana

I smiled and leaned into Riley, for a moment before patting my uncle's shoulder. "Don't worry uncle Nathan, they'll be back soon and then you'll have dad on the lesser side."

"Yeah but he's never lost one of my kids."

"They're not lost," Riley said, "they knew exactly where they were going. They'll be fine."

I leaned into Riley's warmth again. "He's right, you know Isabella and Davnix, they'll be fine."

Velna-

Crest, can you smell Trent anywhere? She asked him,

Yes, he is in the tower, not far from here. Crest replied turning towards the tower.

Wait, let me ask the others what we should do. I don't want to get caught in that situation again. Crest stopped and flew up a little hiding behidn a cloud.

"Crest says he can smell Trent. He is in one of hte rooms towards the top of the building. What do you think we should do?" She asked the others.