Hayama

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=Navy]Ceara knew they were coming before she saw them. Then they came into view, marching rather un-stealthily up the path towards her. They stopped. ?Our master requests your presence,? one of them explained sternly. ?If you don?t resist, you won?t be harmed.? Ceara narrowed her eyes. She hated these people. They were men, that was reason enough, but she also hated them because they were trying to order her around. Ceara lowered her staff. ?Is your master the bastard sending those things after me?? When none of the guards answered, Ceara assumed he was. ?Fine, I?ll follow you? BUT! If you dare to touch me, I will no longer be peaceful.? ? Ceara stood atop the hill with 4 others. She had never seen these people before, but she felt like she knew them. It was an eerie feeling she didn?t particularly like. Suddenly, she saw man walking towards them.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT=Book Antiqua][COLOR=Sienna]Seimei knew where the local Vulcan lair was and Seimei knew that they were aware he lived in the area. He didn?t expect to be killed on the street corner in broad daylight. Oh no. They would try to drag him into an alley or murder him when he was walking at night. He was his parents? child, and that meant they wanted him dead. However, they were still a secretive organization. They would try to avoid making headlines. That was why Seimei and Inari had to wait until nightfall. They spent the day all over the city, and noticed more than once that they were being watched. Things were going exactly to plan. When dusk finally came, Seimei led Inari to a deserted area of the city park. They sat on a park bench, pretending to be watching the river. Inari was tense and jumpy. It could tell Vulcans were approaching. ?Don?t you dare give us away,? Seimei whispered. ?I am your master because I broke your seal and freed you. I say we have to wait until they are all close enough. You will not attack until I tell you to, that?s an order Inari.? The kitsune, still in the shape of a human girl, nodded slowly. ?Good,? Seimei whispered. He couldn?t understand why the fox cared so much about killing the Vulcans. It was always like this, anxiously anticipating the fight. Suddenly there was a hand over Seimei?s mouth and a knife pressed to his throat. Seimei looked over at Inari to find the fox in the same situation. ?You?re the Akiyama kid,? someone snickered, ?but who?s your pretty friend? What should we do with her after we kill you, hm?? Seimei could see the rage in Inari?s gold eyes, it wanted these Vulcans dead. It was time to let the fox do what it wanted. Seimei nodded his head ever so slightly. That was Inari?s signal?[/COLOR][/FONT]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][FONT=Times New Roman]Neiro looked at Loki and Ayumu. ?Does this mean that you teaching him how to harmonize helped him kill more people?? He frowned and turned away from them. ?Maybe you shouldn?t have taught him.? But Neiro had to wonder? Where was the future HIM in all this? Was he back home in his forest village? Or was he?. Neiro ran up onto Edgar?s little mound and gazed out at the approaching Future-Loki and Future-Ayumu. Behind them? not with them, but lagging behind them was a man dressed in an unmistakable shade of green.[/FONT][/COLOR]

?You?re back!? Kagome seemed pleasantly surprised. ?Of course we are,? Maius said, grinning. ?We have a job to do.? Inuyasha blinked, confused. ?Oh yeah? that amulet thing.? Kagome smacked him upside the head. ?Of course the amulet thing!? Maius smiled a little at the two of them fighting like an old married couple. He was relieved Inuyasha had given up on the fight. ?It?s sort of cold?? Sango noticed, rubbing her arms. Miroku inched closer to her. ?Let me warm you up then.? He received a very harsh slap across the face.

Maius shook his head. ?Of course not. There?s no shame in having feelings. It?s just... why? Are you mad at Inuyasha and I for fighting?? When Kyryan did not answer immediately, Maius assumed he was right. He sighed. ?I can?t answer for Inuyasha? hell, I can barely answer for myself. But, I am sorry. I want you to know I really didn?t mean to do that. I should have more self control, but I don?t. Thank you again, for stopping me before I really hurt someone.? He patted her on the head and turned to leave.

[COLOR=DarkGreen][FONT=Times New Roman]Neiro leapt to his feet. ?You know where we are?? Edgar gave him a cold glare, as if to say ?settle down.? ?I mean,? Neiro began, a little more calmly, ?if you know where we are, maybe we can figure out how to get back even without the Traveling-glass. Or maybe we can find out why it brought us here.?[/FONT][/COLOR]

?Kyryan!? Maius shouted when he spotted her. He ran towards her and stopped just as he came up behind her. Even though her back was to him, he bowed slightly. ?Thank you? for stopping me? I really didn?t mean to go berserk like that?? Suddenly, Maius stood up straight. ?Kyryan?? He put his hand on her shoulder and spun her around to face him. ?Kyryan? Are you crying?? OOC: Welcome back ^^

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=Navy]Ceara stood face to face with what, at first glace, could have been her reflection. The longer she looked at her stalker, however, the more differences Ceara noted. The girl before her had dead, black eyes in place of Ceara?s blue. Its skin looked cold and greyed. Its clothes and staff, too, were different. They were both pitch black. ?Who are you?? Ceara ventured. The girl didn?t answer but instead leapt forward, attacking. Ceara blocked the blow, finally shaken from her stupor. ?Who the hell are you!? Ceara screamed, pushing her attacker away. Again, the girl answered Ceara with an attack. Ceara blocked it with her staff again, but this time Ceara couldn?t push the girl away. Despite desperately trying to hold her ground, Ceara could feel herself being pushed back. The girl flashed a cold grin. In one swift movement, Ceara?s attacker shoved her back so that she lost her balance. Then, it swept her feet out from under her with its staff. Ceara had barely realized she was on the ground when she felt here attacker?s staff against her neck. ?She?s too fast,? Ceara thought, trying to push the black staff off of her, ?and too strong.? With the black staff against her neck, Ceara couldn?t breath. She started to panic but nothing she did seemed to get her attacker off of her. [I] I don?t want to die here? Not like this?[/I] Suddenly, the gem around Ceara?s neck burst into a blue glow and streams of water erupted from the ground. The streams twisted in the air and twined themselves around Ceara?s attacker. They tightened their grip and lifted the girl off of Ceara. The girl gave an inhuman shriek and Ceara heard a sickening crack. The girl fell to the ground, motionless. The streams of water subsided and Ceara sat up, coughing. ?What the hell?? she whispered. She grabbed the gem around her neck and looked at it. This was the third time it had saved her.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=Navy]Ceara was being followed. As she walked along the path, something had been traveling towards her through the brush. When it had gotten close enough, it let her pass and was now trailing her. She couldn?t see it and she could barely hear it, but she could FEEL it. It had the same eerie sensation to it as the monster that had attacked her home. The only difference was that this thing was quieter. The monster had crashed about and attacked with brute force. This new threat, however, was moving with stealth. ?It has to be smaller,? Ceara told herself. ?There?s no way something like that monster could move through the brush like that.? Suddenly, Ceara hear a soft swish of branches. She whirled around, staff in hand, ready to fight, but when Ceara saw her stalker, she froze. [I]It?s? me...[/I] [/COLOR][/FONT]

[COLOR=Sienna][FONT=Book Antiqua]Seimei woke up to an empty apartment. He knew that as soon as he noticed the $50 bill on the kitchen counter beside a note that read: [I]Back in a week (business trip) this is for food only.[/I] Uncle Mark was gone? what was new? [I]?My business doesn?t stop just because my stupid sister got herself killed and dumped me with a kid.? [/I] That was all Seimei seemed to hear from the selfish, arrogant man. Being alone, however, was not without its perks. Seimei stuffed the cash into his jeans pocket and went back to his bedroom. ?You can come out, Inari. He?s gone.? A small, red fox slipped out from under Seimei?s bed and, in a burst of heatless sliver flames, it morphed into a huge, nine-tailed fox. It watched silently as its master flopped down on the bed. ?Change into something inconspicuous, we?re going to see if we can track some of those bastards down today,? Seimei muttered, rolling over. Inari obeyed and when Seimei sat up, in the beast?s place stood a beautiful young woman, dressed in a kimono. She gazed innocently at Seimei with her golden eyes. ?I?m not in the mood for games Inari. I said something INconspicuous,? Seimei ordered. With a sly smile and another flash of sliver light, the young woman was now dressed in jeans and a black sweatshirt. ?Better,? Seimei said tersely. He stood up and walked past the fox. ?Let?s go.?[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Book Antiqua][COLOR=Sienna][B]Name[/B]: Seimei Akiyama [B]Age[/B]: 17 [B]Appearance[/B]: Though he has black hair and brown eyes, Seimei is often told he doesn?t ?look? very Japanese because his mother was European. He?s somewhat short and thin. Everything about his appearance seems to blend into the background. He usually wears things like jeans, polo shirts and sweaters. [B]Pet's Name[/B]: Inari [B]Pet's Appearance[/B]: A kitsune, or mythical fox. Although it can change its appearance, it?s ?natural? form is that of huge, nine-tailed fox. ~[URL=http://www.mutantfrog.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core:DownloadItem&g2_itemId=208&g2_serialNumber=2] statue [/URL]~[URL=http://www.wildnatureimages.com/I%20to%20R/Red-Fox-2.jpg] real fox [/URL]~[URL=http://www.coyotes.org/kitsune/media/ninetail.jpeg] mythical fox [/URL]~ [B]Bio[/B]: Since his parents had gotten themselves killed, Seimei was supposed to live with his uncle Mark, his mother?s little brother. However, when they died, Mark was in the middle of a long business trip that had him bouncing back and forth across Europe. He had absolutely no time to take care of a kid and it would be a few weeks before he would be home. So, Seimei was temporarily sent to live with his only other relative, his grandmother, in Japan. Seimei?s grandmother did not live in Tokyo or any big city. She lived in a small town on the island of Hokkaido. A few days after Seimei arrived, he was sent outside to play and went exploring in the forest. It was there he came across a small, abandoned [URL=http://www.japanvisitor.com/ikj/ji/forest%20shrine.jpg]shrine[/URL]. It was roped off and covered with paper charms to form a seal. Curios, Seimei ducked under the rope and entered the shrine. His presence alone shattered the seals and Inari was released. Because Seimei had broken its seal, the kitsune was indebted to him. When Seimei did go to live with his uncle, Inari went with him. [/COLOR] [/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkGreen]Neiro didn?t exactly like the way they were talking about him but it wasn?t as if he could do anything about it. ?If I don?t like to kill stuff why should I have to?? he muttered, sitting down on the ground. He was tired, but he didn?t dare admit it. He wasn?t about to be labeled weak on top of naïve. Since the others seemed to be taking a breather as well, he figured no one would notice. Beside him were the tendrils Neiro had grown to stop the orcs. Some of them were still attached to their prey, but a few had returned to the core of the plant. Neiro took one of the tendrils and began to absentmindedly run it through his fingers. It coiled and wove in between his fingers as he watched the others. Neiro noticed that Loki was acting strange. He wondered at Loki?s frequent glances at Salmina, but decided it must be nothing. ?Should you really be touching that?? Kenzai asked, referring to the poisonous vine in Neiro?s hands. ?It won?t hurt me,? Neiro replied, glancing down at the green lattice the tendril had woven on his hand. ?I grew it, so it obeys me and I am immune to it. That?s part of my power.?[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=Navy]Ceara stood at the crossroads for a long time. She had a choice. She could take the right fork and flee from what was chasing her. She could try to hide from it, elude it, wait for it to pass. Or, she could take the left fork and face it, fight it. She had seen this crossroads in her nightmares. She knew it was important to whoever was pulling the strings. Her fingers grasped the sapphire gem around her neck. ?I?ve always been the type to stand and fight,? she told herself, ?but I?ve never struck at shadows before. I barely defeated that monster? How will I fare against its master?? Ceara sighed and began walking down the left fork. ?I?ve always been the type to stand and fight,? she said aloud, forcing a smile. ?Why change now??[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkGreen]?I can fight without killing,? Neiro muttered. He looked around the barren landscape. There weren?t really any plants he could use. ?Looks like I?m stuck using seeds,? he sighed. Neiro reached into his pocket and took out one large seed. He set it gently on the ground and stood back. ?Heed my voice and subdue these violent strangers with poison of stillness.? The seed burst open in a flash of green light and tiny, delicate tendrils sprouted forth. Each one was coated in tiny thorns. They ran along the ground until they drew near an orc. Then, the tendrils ran up their legs and coiled around them. A few orcs jumped away before the tendrils could reach them but most came in contact with those thorns. Even if they shook the tiny vines off them, it was too late. Soon, orcs were dropping to the ground. ?I thought you said you didn?t like killing things,? Kenzai said, stepping back as the orc he was fighting fell. Neiro frowned. ?They aren?t dead, only paralyzed. They?ll be able to move again tomorrow.? [/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=Navy]?Leaving?? Nora asked, her pale blue eyes reflecting concern. ?But this is your home?? ?That?s why I?m leaving!? Ceara cut her off. ?That monster was after ME, but my brothers got hurt instead. What if someone dies next time? I can?t live with that thought.? ?But you killed the monster,? Riordan pointed out. Ceara was shaking now. ?It?s more than the monster? I?ve been having dreams? horrible, awful dreams and I ignored them? but now I know better. That monster won?t be the last.? Oran grabbed her arm. ?Like hell you?re leaving! It?s because someone?s after you that you should stay here.? ?I?m not a child!? She shouted, wrenching her hand from his grasp. ?I?m going to leave and find out why this is happening. And, when I stop whoever is responsible for this? I want all of you to be here waiting for me.? Riordan looked at Ceara for a very long time. ?I understand,? he sighed at last. ?What?? Oran shouted. ?You?re going to let her go? What?s wrong with you! What would mom say to that if she were here?? Riordan looked away. ?She?d smile sadly and remind us that Ceara really [I]isn?t[/I] a child anymore.? ?And dad?? Oran pushed. ?I DON?T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THAT BASTARD!? Ceara shouted. She turned away from everyone. ?I?m going back to sleep and then I?m leaving in the morning.? Oran opened his mouth to object again, but a stern look from Riordan silenced him.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=Navy]?Ceara!? Riordan cried as he ran down the pier towards his sister. ?Are you okay? Where?s that monster?? His arm was hastily bandaged and obviously still bleeding. ?I killed it,? she whispered. Riordan wrapped his uninjured arm around her. ?Are you okay?? Ceara nodded. ?Then let?s go home.? Back at the house, Nora was waiting in the doorway. When she saw Riordan and Ceara coming, she ran out to them, golden hair streaming behind her. ?It?s not coming back, is it?? Riordan shook his head. Inside, while Nora bandaged Riordan?s arm properly, Ceara sat down beside the still unconscious Oran. ?Hurry and wake up, you idiot,? Ceara whispered, taking his hand, ?so I can stop worrying about you.? ?As if I want a midget like you worrying over me,? he whispered, putting his free hand over his forehead. ?Damn? my head is killing me.? ?Idiot!? Ceara shouted. ?Not so loud?? Oran moaned, sitting up. Ceara dropped his hand. ?Making me worry for nothing?? she muttered, irritated. But then the tone of her voice changed, grew sad. ?I?m going to leave tomorrow.? ?What?!? Riordan and Oran both said at once.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=Navy]?If you came for me, I?ll fight you? But get out of this house!? Ceara screamed. She ran at the creature and jammed the end of her staff into its chest. The creature wasn?t forced back much, but it DID move. Ceara ducked away from a slash of its claws and made for the door. As she ran out into the misty night, the monster followed. When she was far enough away from her house, Ceara spun around to face her opponent. The creature was faster than she had thought, it was right behind her. ?What the hell do you want?? The creature answered with a strike. Ceara blocked it with her staff. Because its attack had been blocked, the creature threw its weight into the staff and knocked Ceara over. She rolled down the hill and the creature leapt after her. That?s when Ceara heard it, the sound of rushing water, the river. If she could lead that thing to the pier, she could knock it in. So, Ceara got to her feet and ran towards the river. A sudden blow from behind left Ceara sprawled out on the wet grass. The creature stood over her, looking as vicious as ever. ?Damn it,? Ceara hissed as she tried to get to her feet. She could see the river? she was so close? Ceara looked up at the monster, and with all her strength, she struck it across the face with her staff. The creature barely seemed to care but it was distracted enough that Ceara could get to her feet. She took off running and this time managed to get to the pier. She ran to the end and spun around, panting with exhaustion but still ready to fight. Her attacker charged down the pier to attack head-on, of course. Ceara waited. She had to wait. When it was only a few feet from her, the creature leapt into the air, intending to attack mid-jump. This was what Ceara needed. She swung at the monster with her staff and knocked it out of the air. It landed in the rushing water with a chilling wail and began thrashing about, trying to stay afloat. [I]Drown! [/I] Ceara thought. [I]I want it to die. I want it to die.[/I] The gem around Ceara?s neck exploded with blue light and the river began to churn around the struggling creature, as if complying with Ceara?s request. The creature was dragged under and Ceara stood on the pier for several minutes afterward. She had to make sure that thing wasn?t coming back.[/COLOR][/FONT] OOC: sorry for posting so much so often ^^;; I wrote a huge chunk all at once and its hard not to post it...

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=Navy]Ceara was woken by a crash. Had Oran taken up drunkenness on top of womanizing? Or could it be? ?Thieves?? she breathed. What on earth did her family have worth stealing? She grabbed her staff and slipped out into the hallway. Riordan was already out there, waiting at the top of the stairs. ?If it?s Oran waking me up coming home drunk?? Ceara whispered. ?I?m a lot of things but I?m no drunk,? someone hissed behind her. Ceara whirled around to see Oran standing behind her. His date must not have gone as well as he planned. ?It looks like a man but it moves like a beast,? Riordan whispered as he watched the intruder shuffling around downstairs. ?It?s heading this way, we have to stop it. Ready Oran?? ?Of course.? ?What about me?? Ceara complained. ?If it gets past us, you can?t let it get upstairs. Protect Nora for me, okay?? Riordan whispered. He turned to Oran, nodded, and the two men charged down the stairs at the creature, staffs ready. Riordan struck the creature with a blow that would knock a normal man unconscious. The creature however, seemed unphased. It rewarded Riordan by slashing into his arm. ?Bastard!? Oran shouted, moving in to attack. The creature merely spun around and slammed him into the nearest wall. He slid to the ground, unmoving. Ceara was practically frozen in shock. This? this THING had just taken out both her brothers effortlessly. Instantly, her shock turned to rage. She walked slowly down the stairs. The gem that hung as a pendant around her neck was glowing. ?I?m going to make you wish you never came here,? she muttered. The creature was pleased. This was just the person it had been seeking. ?I came for you,? it growled in an inhuman voice.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=Navy]?You?ve gotten slow, brother,? Ceara laughed as a blow from her staff knocked Riordan down. The man sighed and sat up. ?Either you?ve improved tremendously or I?m out of practice.? Another man walked up to them, laughing. ?No brother, you?re just getting old.? Ceara frowned. ?Don?t be stupid Oran. 27 isn?t old at all. Besides, you?re 24 yourself.? ?It?s just a joke, Ceara,? Riordan said with a smile. ?Oran knows I can still beat HIM at least.? Oran offered his brother a hand. ?Your wife sent me out here to tell you supper is ready.? ?Oh?? ?Yay!? Ceara cried, spinning in a circle, ?Nora?s stew is the best!? ?You only say that because everything you cook tastes horrid!? Oran teased. Ceara hit him lightly with her staff. ?Does not!? ?Whatever,? Oran laughed, a stupid grin plastered on his face, ?I?m not staying for dinner anyway. I have [I]other[/I] plans.? ?Filthy womanizer,? Ceara hissed. She hit him with her staff again, a little hard than before, and took off running up the hill. ?Oy!? Oran shouted, chasing after her. ?Come back here you midget!? Riordan watched them and smiled. They really never change. Suddenly, the light caught, blue and sparkling, on something around Ceara?s neck. That gem she found 4 years ago at the river? she still had it with her always.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkGreen]Neiro was partially awake before he actually opened his eyes. He was conscious enough to realize he was on something moving, something warm and alive and moving. Someone was carrying him? Opening his eyes a little, Neiro could half make out the people walking beside him. With a sigh, Neiro half pushed, half slid himself off of his carrier. The result was that he landed on his feet, however unsteady they were. ?I can walk myself,? Neiro whispered, forcing himself forward. Despite being conscious, Neiro didn?t think he had ever been so tired before in his life. He KNEW he had never had such a dreadful headache before. Suddenly Neiro stopped. He had just noticed the Traving-glass floating beside him. ?I?m surprised,? Neiro muttered, ?that you wouldn?t just take this thing and leave me, especially you, Kenzai. This IS what you were looking for, isn?t it?? Kenzai shrugged and smiled. ?What kind of people would be to leave a kid behind?? Neiro frowned. ?The kind of people who just stormed a castle and killed more knights than I can count? And I?m not a kid,? Neiro added. Loki glared at Neiro. ?There?s blood on your hands now too, don?t forget.? Neiro flinched but didn?t argue. As much as he hated to admit it, it was true. He wasn?t innocent anymore. ?We want to go back,? Edgar explained, ?and you?re the one who can return us.? Neiro reached out and took the mirror. He peered into the glass but all he saw was his own reflection. ?I can?t? not here or now.? ?Why not?? Ayumu asked, sounding considerably ticked off. ?The way the spell is,? Neiro explained, ?it asks to be taken from ?here and now? to wherever fate dictates. The spell won?t work if the time and place aren?t right.?[/COLOR][/FONT]

Ahru glanced up at the sickly excuse for the sun that hung in the hazy sky. It had been far longer than an hour? yet only she and the Wolf had returned. ?Idiots,? she muttered aloud, probably just to break the silence, ?Volkmar said be back in an hour. They?re late.? Suddenly, a thought surfaced in her mind. What if they weren?t coming back? ?That?s just stupid,? she hissed to herself.

[COLOR=Navy][FONT=Palatino Linotype][B]Name[/B]: Ceara Hannay [B]Age[/B]: 19 [B]Gender[/B]: Female [B]Personality[/B]: Ceara is quick to anger and easily frustrated, so much so that her friends joke about her ?flash-flood temper?. Her sense of pride is such that she would never let anyone see her cry. She doesn?t want to look weak or be weak. Her contempt for men (other than her two brothers) is extraordinary and usually gets her into trouble. [B]Gem[/B]: Sapphire [B]Weapons[/B]: A wooden staff she made out of hard maple (light colored wood) and etched with symbols. [B]Appearance[/B]: ?Small? and very sensitive about it, Ceara is only 5 feet tall. She looks deceptively weak. She has long, wavy black hair and deep blue eyes. In the winter she?s very pale but during the summer she manages to work up a tan working in the sun all day. Ceara has been considered beautiful by many people? too bad she refuses to marry. ~[URL=http://www.animevisions.net/Pictures/girls/PrettyGirl.jpg]picture[/URL]~ Ceara either wears a simple sundress or a blue tunic with long pants and boots. ~[URL=http://www.yale.edu/anime/imgarchive/Scrapped%20Princess/design-raquelle.gif]outfit[/URL]~ [B]Bio[/B]: 4 years ago... ?Ceaaaaaaaraaaaa!? a tall, green-eyed young man called, walking down the pier. ?You can?t just wander off! You?ve got to mind the nets properly!? ?I AM minding them, Oran,? Ceara hissed from her position crouched on the pier?s end. Oran laughed and ran his hand through his black hair. ?Oh, I didn?t see you there! You?re so small, after all.? Ceara leapt to her feet, ready for a fight, but someone grabbed her by the shoulders. ?No fighting on the pier,? a second young man scolded her. ?You want to fall in the river?? Ceara glared up at the boy. ?But Riordan, Oran called me small again!? Riordan gave her shoulders a squeeze. There was sympathy in his grey eyes but there was worry too. ?I don?t want you to fall in. The river?s dangerous here and you know it.? He looked up. ?And Oran, leave the kid alone. It doesn?t matter if she?s small.? ?I am not?? Ceara began, but Riordan silenced her. ?There?s nothing wrong with being small,? he explained. ?Now, you go play and let your older brothers watch the nets for a while, hn?? Ceara sighed, nodded and walked away, upstream. Those brothers of hers? Suddenly, something sparkling on the riverbank caught her eye. It looked like a blue stone, but by the time she got to it, a wave had washed it into the water. Squinting, Ceara peered into the river. There it was! Upstream, the river was slow enough that the stone hadn?t washed away! Ceara waded into the river up to her knees and reached out for the stone. She almost had it? almost? With a sudden splash, Ceara fell into the river. Her hands clutched around the small stone but the current had suddenly gotten stronger. ?Riordan! Oran! Help me!? she screamed as she was dragged down the river, barely able to keep her head up. Ceara clutched the stone harder. [I]The water?s moving so fast? Make it stop? I don?t want to die? I don?t want to die?[/I] Riordan was about to leap into the water after her when something made him pause. The river? the river had stopped completely.[/FONT] [/COLOR]

OOC- Kenzai is now an NCP, at least for the time being. [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkGreen]Neiro looked down at the object in his hands. He expected to see some weird scenery but instead, his own pale, shocked face stared up at him. He felt the others? eyes on him. ?It looks like what I saw in the glass, but? I? I don?t know where we are. I didn?t mean to bring you. I didn?t even know if the spell world work.? Kenzai looked a little surprised. ?You cast a spell without knowing what it would do?? ?What spell?? Salima asked. ?From what is, at the time and place I take this breath, to where the flow of fate shall steer me, I command thee take me?? But even as Neiro finished telling them the spell, his vision began to spin. ?But? It made me? really?? He didn?t even finish his sentence before sinking to the ground. ?The kid fainted?? Kenzai asked. Loki nodded. ?Think about it. If he cast that spell, it was HIS energy the traveling-glass used to bring us here.? Everyone?s eyes fell on the blue-glass mirror, which floated a few inches off the ground beside the unconscious Neiro.[/COLOR][/FONT]

For alot less money, you could subscribe on the VIZ website. That's what i did ^^ Although I suppose you would want to try it out first... I'll bet they have samples on the website.

[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkGreen]Neiro had made up his mind. He set the free half of the traveling-glass down and held his wooden box in one hand. ?My voice commands. Break thy seal.? The box split open with a soft crack and Neiro took the lid off. The sound that then filled the room was not a sound Neiro had ever heard. The now unsealed half of the traveling glass was vibrating, filling the air with a low, eerie hum like a tuning fork. Neiro carefully held the two pieces, one in each hand. The attraction between them was like two huge magnets. Taking a deep breath, Neiro let them pull together. In a blinding flash of white light, the two pieces melded into oner. The humming stopped and Neiro gazed down into the complete, azure mirror in his hands. He expected to see his reflection but instead?. Neiro practically threw the glass to the ground and pressed himself back against the door. ?Wha?. What is this?? It didn?t help Neiro?s nerves that the mirror didn?t hit the ground when he dropped it. Instead, it floated in front of him. Reluctantly, Neiro reached out and took the mirror again. He looked into it again and the same scene was reflected back up at him? A barren plain, some sort of ruins, a grey and people-less place? ?The ability to do what has never been done before?? Neiro whispered. ?Is that why it doesn?t show a normal reflection?? Neiro?s boyish curiosity was growing and he wondered what sort of incantation was used to make this thing work. ?My voice commands! Activate thy? no? make thy? damn it,? Neiro sighed. He was used to incantations on plants and such. He had never done an incantation on a piece of glass. He didn?t even know what it was supposed to do. Neiro racked his brains trying to remember anything that might give him a clue. Suddenly, an idea struck him. It was stupid really, but worth a try. In Neiro?s village, there had been a small shrine dedicated to the half of the traveling-glass his people were entrusted with. At the doorway of the shrine there stood a large tree and carved into its bark were words, words that Neiro had seen every day but had never understood the meaning of. Standing up and gazing down at the traveling-glass, Neiro began to recite those words? ?From what is, at the time and place I take this breath, to where the flow of fate shall steer me, I command thee take me!? With those words, the traveling-glass exploded with a blinding blue light. When Neiro?s vision returned, he wasn?t in that storeroom full of books anymore? He was standing on a pile of rubble. Patchy, colored lichens covered the rocks in some places and tufts of grass grew out from the cracks. How long had this place (wherever it was) been a ruin? ?Over there!? a voice called. Neiro turned around to see Loki and the others standing on the rubble several yards away. Neiro just stood there, dumbstruck with the traveling-glass in his hands. What had he done? [/COLOR][/FONT] OOC: So, the traveling-glass has transported everyone somewhere. If you?re still playing, you got dragged along. If you?re not playing anymore then just don?t post anymore and we?ll all assume you got left behind. Okay? Okay! ^^ For now I?ll only say one thing, this place everyone?s been brought to isn?t friendly.