RPG Mists of Aurocon

[Little Serenity]

Irima sat by the window in her room. A few women were standing around her, tempting her with food and other things.

"I could draw a bath for you Lady Maria."

"How about some tea and cakes? Or chocolate Lady Maria?"

"I could arrange for a walk in the garden, Lady Maria."

"Lady Maria-"

"I would like to be left alone, thank you." The women looked at each other.

"This isn't all because of that ruffian Sariyah Jovan, is it?"

"Please, leave me. Leave me alone..."

"You heard the lady, scram." Tyniah stood in the doorway. The women gave him superior looks, but left anyways. He sat near Irima. "Don't worry, you'll forget about him."

"I don't want to..."

"C'mon. You've got me!" Irima half laugh, coughed, and sobbed. Tyniah held Irima and she cried against his shoulder. "It's alright... it's alright..."

"If I didn't have you around, I don't know what I'd do. I hate being here! I'm not someone's doll to play with!"

"Don't worry. I'll keep those old biddies off your case. Who knows. Maybe you'll be giving them orders someday."

"Maybe..." Irima watched the red sun dip behind the mountains, wondering every second where Sariyah was and if he was alright. Slowly, the moon shined through Irima's window.

"I have to change. I'm tired."

"Fine." Tyniah kissed the top of her forehead and left her. He looked over at Irima's old clothes and armor on the bed. "I'll just take these and keep them somewhere... special." Irima nodded, but didn't take her eyes off the moon. Tyniah sighed and left.

Irima changed rather slowly into her flowing white night gown. She sat on her bed, unable to get Sariyah's condition off her mind. "I guess... he got what he wanted... I'm not there to bother him anymore." A cloud covered the moon and Irima's room was dark.

[Dragon Warrior]

"Wakie, wakie, sleepy head!" Sariyah didn't bother opening his eyes, but pawed at whatever visitor he had. He opened one eye, saw a blurry figure on his knee, then opened the other.

"A bird?"

"Hehehe! Yes!" Sariyah jumped and hit his head at the sound of the bird's voice.

"A talking bird!"

"I am a Gordalian Parrot, you silly! Arcametes, you may refer to me by!"

"O... kay. What do you want from me?"

"Simple. Hehehe! I come from afar to bring you back to a town called Koralass."

"Oh, I remember that place. Very beautiful with it's in-town waterfalls."

"Quite," the bird chirped and jumped to Sariyah's other knee. "We need you back there. Being a bounty hunter, you may probably also be able to track a particular creature?"

"Well, I have been known to slay a dragon or two."

"Excellent. We want you to go after the Baldorsen Dragon!" Sariyah choked.

"Are you mad?!"

"No. I'm quite happy, thank you!" The bird hopped to the stool next to Sariyah's bed. "You must leave immediately."

"Forget it." Sariyah wrapped himself back in his blankets.

"The pay is larger than the Black Quessir." Sariyah turned over again.

"What dragon did you say?"


Monte walked out of the cabin with a large pack on his back, flung over his shoulder. "So, we're off to slay a dragon, aye?"

"Yeah," Sariyah replied, on his knees tying a bag. Boots wobbled out of his small cottage with a few packs as well.

"Don't forget me!"

"You're coming too, Master Boots?" Sariyah asked with amazement.

"Of course! You're not gonna ditch me so soon, are you? WE just made friends! Besides, you'd die without a little white magic here and there."

"Quite." Sariyah smiled and flung the back over his shoulder. "And we're off." And so, they started down the trail, a new companion by their side and an old one rejoined. But as they left the area of the Kingdom's wake, a dark mist was cast over the castle, and a laugh of pure evil was heard echoing across the land...

[Little Serenity]

A chill ran up Irima's spine. "What WAS that awful... noise...? Must have been an animal or something..." Irima crawled into her bed and drew the covers up to her chin. She closed her eyes, wishing that the cloud that drew over the moon would pass. Something cold and clammy brushed across her cheek. Irima sat up. A kind of black mist was hovering around her bed and room. She stood up in horror, thinking to run, but stayed where she was. She knew the properties of this mist. She reached for her bedside lamp, but it was knocked out of her reach as a staff came across her face heavily. Several black figures loomed out of the mist.

"'Ello there, Princess Maria..." Irima's eyes grew wide and she screamed.

"What the-?!" Tyniah, across the hall and halfway through undressing, threw his shirt on the ground along with his sword and ran into Irima's room. Irima was writhing on her bed and screaming.

"Shaddap!" A rough, slithering voice yelled as it struck Irima over the head. She was silent and limp.

"What are you?!" Tyniah gasped. The lot of them looked like scaly half-humans mixed with some other type of animal. They began to advance on him. "Hell!" Tyniah cursed under his breath. He extended his arms and concentrated on bringing all the monsters into his illusion. Suddenly, their bodies filled with ice and they fell to the ground, dead. Tyniah ran over to Irima's bed. "Oh God Almighty..." He held Irima's body close to him. "Don't take her... don't let her die... I need some kind of help but... this mist is probably all over the castle..." Tyniah looked out Irima's window and to the path Sariyah had traveled. "I need him." Tyniah wrapped Irima in a sheet and carried her out of her room. He grabbed his sword and her clothing and staff and lept lightly out the window.

[Dragon Warrior]

As the two of them made their escape, Tyniah turned to see a shadow cast over the castle. It was the mist. He was sure of it! A hideous laugh grew along with the haze and Tyniah took off at a run, still holding Irima gently in his arms.

"Sa... riyah..." Irima mumbled in her slumber. Tyniah gave her a look. He should've been watching a head for he smacked his head on a branch and tumbled to the ground unconscious, but not before saying "stupid low branches."

Within the castle, everyone was captured by monsters emerging from the mist's dark cloud. The king was being held down on his thrown as the main court's doors swung open. In walked a being with mangy clothes and an even mangier hat. He grinned and perked his ears.

"Ah... thee king, I surpose?"

"Yes. I am the King of Aurocon! What is it that you want, fiend?!"

"Now, now. No need to call peeples nermes. I am Mangee, Keeper of theses mists, here! And I wished for youz to give me your kingdomness."

"Never! You'd have to kill me for it!"

"That'd could be arranged." Mangee lifted up a hand which bore a large metal claw weapon. He was about to bring it down when a sound of a small voice was heard from behind.

"Mangee! Stop messin' wit 'im, eh?" Mangee turned and grunted at Poncho.

"You are notted the leader of this's operation!"

"Yeah. Too bad too, toots. If I was's, this would be all cleaned up, ye know what I mean?" Poncho laughed and wiped his face with his bandana.

"Scram! I didn't gived you orderz to be here!"

"Yeah, but Masta did. And last I checked, he's higher on the food chain than the both of us. So, back off!" Mangee growled and turned back to the king.

"This isn't over. Oh no..." He nodded at the monsters and they dragged the king off. Mangee then turned to the small winged cat creature, Poncho. "Az for yous, gets back to work!" With that, Mangee stormed off and slammed the doors.

"Yeesh. What a jayerk," Poncho grunted.

[Little Serenity]

"Owwww..." Tyniah got up around an hour later. Irima was lying next to him in her sheet. He grimaced and wrapped it tighter. "Hold on Irima, we'll get to Sariyah and... and he'll help you... right after he kills me... Irima?" She was unconscious. Tyniah broke through the forest and onto the road. It was still dark outside and there was no sign of any mists. He sighed, relieved, but he noticed that the sheet was getting redder and redder. "I have to hurry!" He ran along the road for what seemed like hours. Finally, a cart came up on Tyniah.

"Whassat you got there sonny-boy?"

"Sir! Good sir! I need a doctor!"

"A doctar, eh? There's not one for twenty miles. He's in Koralass."

"Twenty miles?!! My friend won't live till daybreak!"

"Well... ifya need some help, there were dees three men awalkin' on the road. Didn't pass 'em but twenty minutes ago. One of 'em appeared ta be a white mage. P'raps yer friend could enlist his help eh?"

"Three men? Tell me! Did one of them have a sword?"

"Two of 'em did..."

"Well... well what about a cloak? It would be blue!"

"A cloak... well yes. One of 'em did. Kinda scruffy lookin' guy. Kept lookin' back at the castle."

"Sariyah..."

"Yes, that was the man's name. Well, I would help yeh, but I need to be going. Got a delivery for the castle."

"Don't go my friend."

"Whassat?"

"I have in my arms the dying Princess of Aurocon. She was attacked in her sleep by viscious monsters. Don't go..."

"How do I know yer not-" Tyniah pulled the sheet back. The man's eyes grew very wide. "Holy Gods above... Sonny-boy, take my horse! Take him now! Get to the city of Koralass now!"

"I thank you!" The man unhitched the horse. Tyniah stradled Irima over the horse and he took off into the night.

"Ride fast sonny-boy!! Daybreak's in a mere four hours!"

"I know... I KNOW!" Tyniah muttered.

---

"So how far are we from Koralass?" Sariyah asked. He, Monte, and Boots were camping for the night. None of the party was particularly tired.

"Around fifteen miles. Maybe ten." Boots mused. Monte sighed, staring into the fire.

"So Irima's a princess, is she?" Sariyah nodded numbly at Monte's statement. "Too bad. I could have married into royalty." Sariyah rolled his eyes and gave Boots a 'yeah right' look. The steady sound of hoofbeats pervaded the silence.

"A rider? At this hour?" Boot frowned.

"I don't like this..." Sariyah stood and drew his sword. Monte stood behind him.

"Right behind you, pal!" Sariyah sighed. A black horse with two riders burst into the clearing, rearing, stamping and whinnying. The three men gasped in fear, scrambling to get away from the hooves.

"WOAH!! WOAH easy there!" The horse stood down, Tyniah peering through the darkness to see who it was. "Sariyah! The old man was right!"

"Tyniah?! What are you doing here?! Aren't you supposed to be back with Irima?" Tyniah dismounted.

"Sariyah, you have to help her!"

"She sick of life already?"

"No!" Tyniah laid Irima's figure on the ground and unrolled the sheet. Sariyah looked at Irima in shock and horror. Monte covered his mouth and even Boots' eyes widened. Irima had been slashed to ribbons. She had been stabbed twice in one shoulder, once in another. She had a long gash from her chest to her face. Her arms were covered with slashes and stabs. She had been slashed in her abdomen and stabbed in her side. Her legs were also a melee of slashes, like her arms. "She was attacked, Sariyah."

[Dragon Warrior]

"Stand aside," Boots said, pushing his way to Irima's limp form. He knelt down beside her and hovered his gloved hands across her body, centimeters away from touch. He reached into a pouch latched to his belt, then sprinkled some dust across her body.

Then, carefully he chanted as he waved his hands again. Irima began to glow and her wounds began to close, leaving scars. The others stood dumbfounded and amazed. "Let her rest now," Boots said calmly, standing up. He wasn't much taller standing than he was kneeling.

"Thank you... uhh," Tyniah stammered.

"Boots. Call me Boots."

"Very well." Tyniah nodded and smiled as he shook Boots' gloved hand firmly. In fact, they all had a good rest that night. Sariyah did feel uneasy, though, with Irima in his presence once again.


When morning came around, they all packed and started off. Tyniah walked the horse as Irima's unconscious body balanced on it's back. The others just walked, pacing themselves down the dusty trails.

Sariyah perked his ears at some noises in the forest around them, but nothing too special happened. Though they only seemed to travel for so long, they appeared in Koralass sooner than expected.

"Is that..." Tyniah began.

"Koralass," that same weird bird from before interrupted. He perched on Sariyah's shoulder and chriped.

"Who's that?" Monte questioned.

"This is Arcametes, the bird I told you about earlier. He was the one who sent me on this ghastly quest in the first place."

"Oh," Monte replied, giving the bird a funny look. "Weird fella, ain't he?"

"Hey! Watch it!" Arcametes flew over Monte's head and dropped presents on his head.

"Oh, c'mon! That's nasty!" Monte wiped his head on some leaves before they proceeded into town. There at the gates, Sariyah was guessing, was the Mayor. He rejoiced at the sight of them.

"Are you Sariyah?" he asked calmly.

"Yes," Sariyah nodded. The calmness of the old mayor faded and he danced around with joy. He stopped immediately, though, for the sake of business.

"Please, the beast is just north of this town in it's cave. About a mile out. Slay it, and you will be rewarded greatly." Sariyah stood with great pressure, like a ton was pressing down on him and he had no choice, but to hold it up or be crushed.

"This is just about me." Sariyah peered over at the white mage. "Well, me and Boots. I need him as well. Can you give the other three of my friends a place to stay while I work?"

"But of course!" The Mayor was almost too happy to do such a thing. He led Monte, Tyniah, and Irima, who was still unconscious, to a nice inn in the town's center. Sariyah and Boots, after preparing, set off North of town to do what they had to do.

[Little Serenity]

A ray of light danced across Irima's face. She stirred a little, but found that it hurt to move.

"Don't move Irima. You're still injured." Tyniah sat next to Irima's bedside in a small wood room. Irima looked at her arms in shock and horror.

"Wha- what happened to me?!"

"Calm down. You're okay now. I found Sariyah and his two companions and one of them-"

"Sariyah?! Where is he?! I want to see him!" Tyniah stood up and faced one of the walls.

"I don't want you to see him."

"What?" Irima was throughly confused.

"You don't know this, but... Sariyah hasn't even mentioned one word about your condition. He could only stare at you bleeding to death in your sheet. His companion Boots, a white mage, healed you, but the scars are still there."

"So... so I see..." Irima looked down at her arms. Tyniah must have made some kind of mistake. Sariyah would surely feel concern for a friend being cut to ribbons. "Tyniah? You can't be- I mean, you're not really... are you sure he didn't..."

"Why are you so stuck on a man that won't even mutter your name when you're injured!" Tyniah yelled. He sighed and his voice was softer, "I was so... so scared that I'd lose you. I was frantic. Everything last night is a blur." He sat down on the bed and held Irima. "I'm happy you're alright..."

[Dragon Warrior]

The cave was dark and mucky and the two of them, Sariyah and Boots, were not too fond of the place. Who would be except the dragon? Sariyah shivered at a small chill that arose on him from a gentle breeze in the cave. Must've been holes in the walls for the air to pass through. The wind picked up as they went further down the trail.

They came to winding paths and different exits, sometimes a fork in the road. But they kept following the misty smoke that crept across the floor in hopes that it'd lead to the dragon.

The cave became rather humid as they went further. It was like inside of a volcano and it made Sariyah rather uncomfortable. Even with all the clothes on, Boots still seemed undazed by the heat. This made Sariyah ponder if he even felt different temperatures or not. He hadn't even seen the white mage's face.

Finally, they came to a new room. It was very large and open, and possessed of two large floors. The first floor was circular and was above the other floor which was actually a large hole in the center of the top floor.

And down in the bottom floor slept the dragon.

"There he is!" Sariyah shouted, but caught himself by putting a hand over his mouth. They had to be quiet here to survive. He slowly drew his sword silently and leapt down onto the backside of the beast. He gradually crept up across the scales of the dragon to it's neck, then to it's head, stopping on the center of it's cranium. He rose the sword up, tip facing down, ready to drive it into the monster's skull, killing it in an instant.

Unfortunately for Sariyah, the dragon awoke at this time and bucked him off to the ground, slamming a clawed foot down on his limp body, holding him there. He was going to devour Sariyah. But first, the dragon toyed with him. He took his claw and scratched a gash across Sariyah's chest. Sariyah winced at this.

The dragon kept smacking Sariyah around like a rag doll, smoking fuming from it's nostrils with pleasure. Then, the dragon collapsed in an instant. A huge beam of light had shot through it's side and out the other in a split second. Sariyah looked around to see where it had come from. It was Boots' doing.

"Boots! You sly devil, you!"

"Sariyah! Look out!" The dragon was back for more. Faking it's own death, it took advantage of Sariyah's stupidity and whopped him into the wall. Sariyah's head was bleeding heavily now. He was almost into unconsciousness, but he pulled himself together and brought up his sword. The dragon swung it's claw at him again, but Sariyah countered it with a slash of his magnificent falchion. The dragon screeched with pain, then charged the wall.

Sariyah went wide-eyed as it crushed him into the stone, rumbling the cave. Suddenly, the roof caved in and crushed the dragon to it's death. Boots was luckily too far away to be harmed by this incident, but he knew Sariyah was not as lucky. But he had no time to check. The cave started to come down where Boots was and he was forced to retreat out of the cave.

"I'll be back, Sariyah! I will!" And so, Boots escaped the collapsing cave. The rocks sealed the entrance, making it impossible to ever get in or out again.

[Little Serenity]

[i]"The western wind is blowing fair,
across the dark Aegean Sea.
And at the secrect marble star,
my Tyrian galley waits for thee.

Come down, the purple sail is spread
the watchmen sleeps within the town
Oh leave thy lily flowerbed
Oh lady mine, come down."[/i]

Irima stepped outside her door, peering around. Tyniah was at the foot of the stairs, [i]singing.[/i] "Tyniah! Shh!! People will hear!"

[i]"Come down,
Lady come down,
Come down,
Lady come down."[/i] Tyniah ran up the stairs striking a rather silly pose. "Come on Irima, I know you know this one. I memorized it from you after all." Irima sighed.

[i]"She will not come, I know her well,
Of lover's vows she hath no care.
And little good a man can tell
Of one so cruel and so fair.

True love is but a woman's toy,
They never know their lover's pain.
And I who loved as loves a boy,
Must love in vain,
Must love in vain!"[/i]

[i]"Come dooooooown!
Lady come down!"[/i]

[i]"Come down!
Lady come down!"[/i] Irima collapsed on her bed in a fit of laughter. "I haven't sung like that in years! Thank you Tyniah."

"Ah, it's nothing." Monte poked his head inside Irima's room.

"Miss Irima? Is Sariyah in here? You're making such a racket..."

"No, he's not here... MONTE?!! How the... what the...? I know that I-"

"Boots." Monte simply said. "Is he gone too?"

"Yeah," Tyniah sighed, "They went off on an [i]important mission.[/i]"

"Oh, the dragon thing." Irima was silent, staring at the floor.

"When are you going to change out of that nightgown Irima? It's covered in blood..." Tyniah grimaced.

"Monte!!" There was the sound of heavy footsteps coming up the stairs, "Monte!!" Boots burst into the room. "Monte! I need your help! Sariyah has been crushed by rocks in the dragon's cave and I can't get him out on my own!"

"Sariyah?!" Irima gasped. "He's trapped?!"

"I fear the worst Lady Maria!"

"Just call me Irima, please. Tyniah, I need some other clothes and... oh no... I left my staff at the castle..."

"Don't worry, I grabbed it before we ran out, and..." He presented Irima with her old clothes, "I grabbed these as well." Irima smiled at him. "Thank you."

A few minutes later, Irima, scars and all, threw open her door and ran down the stairs. "Let's get him." Tyniah, Monte, and Boots followed her out.

"The cave's there!" Irima saw a pile of boulders that had some resemblance of a cave. The ceiling had caved in. "I can't exactly move the rocks in the entrance and I..."

"Move." Irima stuck her staff in the wall of rocks and boulders. "Everyone clear out, now." She rose slightly off the ground and hovered there, glowing white. "HOLY!!" The wall exploded, rocks blew everywhere, but the entrance was still blocked. "HOLY!" Irima flinched slightly at the next explosion that cleared the entrance. The aura vanished abruptly and Irima stumbled to the ground. Tyniah steadied her. "I'm fine..." They entered the cave, navigating around and through various rubble. Finally, they found what resembled a dragon claw.

"He was covered here!"

"Alright... here we go... SOUL SPLITTER!!" Irima's soul erupted from her body, shining white. Boots and Monte stared at it in awe.

"I never get tired of seeing that," Tyniah grinned. Irima's winged form threw rocks aside as if they were pebbles.

"Strength of will... I suppose." Boots mused, nodding. Irima suddenly uncovered Sariyah's form. She screamed, covering her face. Tyniah ran over to her.

"Don't look! Oh God... he's worse than you were..."

"Nevermind his condition, move!" Boots kneeled near Sariyah and murmured a few words. His wounds vanished, leaving scars like Irima's.

"Thank God he's alright..." Irima sighed. Suddenly, a transparent black claw burst through a boulder that Irima was standing next to and grabbed her. She passed through the rock yelling.

"What in the name of hell was that?!!" Monte yelled.

"It's the dragon's soul!" Boots picked Sariyah up. "It's angered that it's dead and is taking it out on Irima! It can't interact with anyone in the physical world, but Irima's soul is on the same plain! We have to help her! Monte! Watch over Sariyah and Irima's body!"

[i]OOC: The song at the beginning is from The Importance of Being Earnest, the movie. I didn't write it, it belongs to them. O_o;;[/i]

[Dragon Warrior]

OOC: Sorry. School's a real pain. Stopping me from postin'.
-------------
Sariyah was still a bit dizzy from recovering so he wasn't all together. He was together enough to see Irima's soul being wisked away, though.

Boots immediately left his body limp on the rock slabs and flung his soul into the rock to follow. The others stood in disbelief.

"What now?" Tyniah asked, arching an eyebrow. "Last I checked, my body wasn't capable of splitting itself into two forms of matter."

"We wait," Sariyah answered, staring at the rock that swallowed the others. "We wait and hope."


Boots found himself in another realm. Fire flew about and large boulders emerged from the ground's surface. The wind, even though he was a soul and couldn't feel things, was cold and numbed his bare skin.

He couldn't see Irima or the dragon anywhere. He walked along the path, peering over stone and arch. Cliffs were formed from some new type of matter Boots was not familiar with. Never before had he seen such a bizarre landscape.

"Where am I?" Without knowing, the dragon's soul formed behind Boots and swallowed him whole like it did with Irima.


In the realm of Aurocon, the others waited impatiently. sariyah, the most. "What's taking them?"

"They stopped to camp?"

"Oh yes. Their souls stopped to camp. Great theory, Tyniah."

"Hey! You didn't call me pretty boy!"

"I'm too worried to." Monte leapt down from the rock he had been sitting on and picked up Irima's staff.

"Maybe we can tap into her power."

Sariyah scoffed. "Don't be rediculous. None of us can wield magic." Sariyah turned his back and missed a sudden flash of light that came from the rock that swallowed Boots and Irima. Sariyah turned and saw Boots and Irima getting up.

"What the..." He rushed over to them. They gradually stood on their own two feet and looked around.

"How?" Boots wondered out loud.

"The staff," Monte shouted with glee as he shook Irima's weapon. He handed it back to her and she looked at it as if it were the first time she'd ever laid eyes on it.

"How could you tap into it?" Sariyah managed to squeak out even after his amazement.

"It must've been because my soul was not present," Irima answered for Monte, though Monte didn't have a clue anyways.

"Well, I'm just glad your safe, Lady Irima. And you as well, Mr. Boots." Suddenly, the rocks burst and the dragon roared. It was back to life.

"Not him again!" Sariyah whined.

"When our souls returned," Boots explained, "his soul must've returned as well, reviving him!"

"Well," Sariyah drew his sword, "I suppose this means we have a battle to be won." And so, it began once more.

[Little Serenity]

"All of you just stand back!" Irima yelled, clutching her side.

"Miss Irima," Boots strode up next to her, "I will not allow you to do this alone."

"Do you know the Holy spell?"

"I do."

"Then let's get on with it." Irima and Boots slipped through a hole in the boulders, leading to the other side.

"Alright!! On three Boots!!"

"Of course!" Irima and Boots posed in perfect synch.

"[i]HOLY!!![/i]" The dragon, who had only given them a passing glance shrieked in pain and horror as it vanished without a trace. Boots stumbled a bit, but regained his composure. Irima coughed blood and fell to the ground.

(OOC: Tag, you're it.)

[Dragon Warrior]

Back at Koralass, the mayor was quite pleased. He shook all of their hands, even Irima as she lay in a bed and was tended to by nurses. Everyone's wounds were also medicated, but they were able to walk around.

Sariyah got his money and beamed at it. He split it among Monte, Boots, Tyniah, and himself and set aside a pouch for Irima. "Not like she needs it, being a princess and all," he mumbled under his breath.

"What was that, Sariyah?" Monte said, looking up from counting his gold.

Sariyah peered up, not moving his hands from his work of counting money. "Nothing." He laid back in his chair, his feet on the table and two chair legs on the floor. He turned his head just enough to catch sight of Irima out of the corner of his eye. "Goofy."

The door swung open and Tyniah pranced in with a letter in his hand. Monte immediately recognized it as an invitation. "Tyniah?" Monte looked up at Tyniah with excitement.

"A party!"


Dancing and singing was going on. Lots of feasting and the sound of children laughter echoed the alleys and streets of all of Koralass. It made Sariyah wonder. He walked over to Monte and pulled him away from a couple of beautiful women. He wasn't exactly happy about it. "WHAT?! I had it going on!" Monte complained.

"No. No you didn't," Sariyah pointed out. "Why are feasts always brought to attention when something happens in this gosh-forsaken world?"

"Got me," Monte said, looking around at the crowds while sipping a pint of ale. He winked at some women who giggled amongst themselves. "Excuse me," he stared off, but was pulled back by Sariyah.

"Keep it in your pants." Monte grumbled as the women walked away laughing. He was suspecting it was because they found his humorous and ravaging. Sariyah knew they were laughing at the bird droppings in his hair which he was still unaware of. Sariyah even cracked a smile.

Though Sariyah meant for Monte to stick with him, Sariyah ditched the ex-gambler and went back to their rooms. He walked in and over to his desk to grab his sword and supplies and prepare to leave tomorrow. Just then, Irima woke up in the bed that was in the room and spotted Sariyah.

[Little Serenity]

"Why do you resent me?" Sariyah almost jumped a foot. Irima lay there calmly, her face straight.

"I don't resent you."

"Really. That's good. So I guess it was just a fluke that you weren't concerned about me when I was cut to ribbons. You didn't even flinch when I was coughing blood."

"You can take care of yourself. Or have someone do it for you."

"What?"

"Go back to your friggin castle and eat your damn bon bons! I don't care!"

"Sari-Sariyah I thought you knew that I hated it there. I don't even know if it's safe to go back..."

"So you want to!" Sariyah practically screamed in Irima's face. She cowered beneath her sheets. "I'm leaving. I'm going somewhere else. I'm sick of everyone."

"Sariyah..." Irima stood up, wincing as she walked. She put her hand on his shoulder, "Don't-"

"GET OFF ME!" Sariyah turned around and slapped Irima across the face. She fell to the ground, blood running from the corner of her mouth, unconscious. "****..." Sariyah muttered. He turned to leave.

"Lady Irima! I-!" Tyniah dropped the tray he was carrying. He was face to face with Sariyah. "What are you doing in her room?"

"Nothing." Tyniah passed Sariyah in the doorframe and saw Irima on the floor, her face slightly pink.

"You struck her."

"She was being annoying."

"THAT'S HOW YOU JUSTIFY HITTING HER?!!" Tyniah drew his sword.

"Put it away."

"Like hell I will! I'll kill you first!" Tyniah charged at Sariyah. With one fluid movement, Sariyah jammed Tyniah's sword into the door frame and punched him square in the jaw. Tyniah stumbled back.

"Is that how you want to play? Fine! I'm ready for you!" Tyniah put up his fists.

[Dragon Warrior]

Tyniah tried to make a few decent blows to Sariyah's chest, but Sariyah dodged all of them and sent Tyniah crashing through the banister of the staircase. He then fell to the first floor and landed on a table which broke more than just his fall.

Sariyah grunted and leapt down to the bottom floor. He walked out of the inn, the party, the town.

He marched into the woods with his supplies and money, ready to find another quarry to do his job on. His pace was trudging, his mood was terrible, he felt as if he was possessed. He even took his sword to a tree and shouted out in anger. The tree collapsed. Sariyah heard a laugh and looked up at a small, black creature munching an apple up in a tree.

"You find this humorous?" Sariyah bellowed at it.

"Not at all." It was Poncho. He took a bite and leapt to the next branch lower. "I just can see you are upset because of what happened back in Koralass."

"You knew about it?"

"Oh yeah. Everyone knows about it," Poncho lied. "The police are after you. It's a mess, I tell you what. HA! You are in deep trouble, toots."

"They coming for me now?"

"Yeah. If I were you, I'd amscray, ya know what I mean?"

"Of course." Sariyah began running down the path. He could hear Poncho call at him as he wandered into the distance.

"You're gonna get caught just running like that." Sariyah turned to the curious creature who was now running up aside him. "Trust me, toots. I know. The most simplest way to lose those punks is to follow me, ya catch my drift?"

"Uhh... not really."

"Come with me."

"Er... why?"

"LOOK! You wanna get caught? Fine. Stay. If I were youz, I'd follow that incredibly handsome guy named Poncho to his safe, cozy home just south of here." Sariyah rubbed his chin.

"Fine. Show me this 'safe and cozy' home of yours." A small smile crept over Poncho's face.

"You won't be disappointed."

[Little Serenity]

Irima sat up, rubbing her face. "What happened? I don't remember anything! I remember..." Irima replayed Sariyah hitting her, then all went black. "That's right." Irima's cheek was swolen and there was dried blood at her lip.

"Master Tyniah?! Master Tyniah!"

"So prettyboy took a fall, huh?" Boots and Monte were downstairs. Irima took one look at the broken banister and panicked. She ran to the landing. Tyniah was lying on the remains of a table. Irima gasped. Boots looked up at her.

"Lady Irima? Why is your face swollen?"

"I- I fell. Into my beside table."

"Your table." Boots arched his eyebrow.

"Yes! Is Tyniah alright?"

"Just a few cracked ribs. He'll live." Tyniah groaned and opened his eyes, seeing Irima.

"THAT BASTARD! Where is he?!!"

"Slow down Master Tyniah! Who are you referring to?"

"Sariyah! He smacked Irima a good one!" Irima's hand shot to her face, covering the corner of her mouth.

"Sariyah hit you?!" Monte exclaimed, "Jeez, I never thought he had it in him."

"I don't care if he hit me or not! We have to find him! He must have gone out into the forest, and if he did... the mists will get him!"

"Wait just a second here!" Tyniah stood up with the aid of a chair. "You want to go out and rescue the guy who just popped you one? WHAT ARE YOU, INSANE?!"

"I have to! Tyniah, I was hoping you would help me."

Tyniah paused for a few frustrated seconds. "Irima, I hate Sariyah's guts right now, but I love you, and I'll make sure that nothing happens to you."

Irima smiled down at him, "Thank you."

"Don't forget us down here Irima." Monte raised his eyebrows at her, "I'm single too." Irima sweatdropped and laughed nervously.

"I will accompany you as well. I've become quite attached to Master Sariyah and I am curious as to the reason why he hit you."

"Right," Irima nodded, "Let's go, first light, we're off."

[Dragon Warrior]

Sariyah was slowly lead through the creepy woods that were supposedly along the path to Poncho's "safe and cozy" home. He still untrusting of the creature, but he never really trusts anyone anymore. He has to trust sooner or later. "Hey, little guy, how much longer."

"Look, toots," Poncho began to say as he turned.

"Sariyah."

"Yeah, whateva. If ya keep flappin' yer gums, we're neva gonna get to muh place, got that?"

"Yeesh, fine," Sariyah said, shrugging his pack again and continuing on behind the short cat creature. Soon enough, just up ahead was Poncho's fine home. It was a hollowed out oak tree, no doubt older than dirt. The thing looked fresh, though, and smelt of beautiful spring. Poncho opened the gate around his humble abode and gestured.

"C'mon, in. I have a spring that's just dying to be soaked in." Sariyah nodded uneasily and entered past the funny cat. Lights lit up the tree and made it seem more home-like. He began feeling better and trusted Poncho.

"Looks great," Sariyah commented, turning back to Poncho.

"Of course," the cat beamed. "Anything Poncho is great."

"Poncho? A coat?"

"No, stu'id. That's muh name. Yeesh." He leapt over to a chair in the lawn. The lights around near the fence easily made the dark night light up bright. He poured some ale in a glass and drank as he admired some fish in his small fountain, noting to eat them later for a snack. "What are you? A statue? Make yerself at home! C'mon! Live a little, toots!"

"Why do you always call me 'toots'?" Sariyah questioned, seating himself while putting his pack aside for the time being.

"I jus' do. Live wit it." He was nibbling an apple as usual.

"You got a spark, ya know."

"Yeah? You got an ugly face, but I'm not gonna point it out because in life there are some things best left unsaid. Now have some ale." Sariyah followed Poncho's gaze and took a glass already filled with ale. He lifted it and held it up for Poncho to clang his against.

"To you, Poncho, and my new life." He beamed and slowly drank while Poncho's grin grew ever larger.

[Little Serenity]

That night, Irima's thoughts and dreams were filled with horrors that she didn't quite understand. With Tyniah snoozing gently on the floor, Irima thrashed about in her bed, sweating bullets and saying random snippets of senseless language.

[i]"Whe... where am I?"[/i] Irima looked around her subconscious, squinting through some kind of mist. [i]"Tyniah? Boots...?"[/i] A figure appeared in the mist, dark at first, then he became clearer. [i]"Sariyah!"[/i] Irima's heart lept. She began running, stumbling over unseen obstacles and reaching for him.

[i]"Sariyah! I'm right here! Over here! It's Irima!"[/i] Sariyah's form turned, his expression stoic.

[i]"What are you doing here?"[/i] He sighed, looking down at her with a hint of disgust. Irima swallowed, but her smile returned.

[i]"You... you ran off! I was worried but, here you are!"[/i]

[i]"You shouldn't be here. Didn't I tell you to beat it?"[/i]

She took a step back. This seemed worse than a slap in the face. [i]"You want me to leave...?"[/i] There was silence, then an ear-splitting shriek. Irima covered her ears in agony, but Sariyah seemed fine. He drew his sword as several humanoid creatures loped out of the mist. [i]"SARIYAH!"[/i]

[i]"Go away!"[/i] He yelled as one of the creatures with a particularly nasty set of claws sliced his forearm. [i]"You're only holding me back!"[/i]

[i]"I-I could heal you! I'll do my Holy spell! Just let me-!!"[/i] Several more creatures came out of the mist, blocking Irima's means of escape.

[i]"You're only holding me back!"[/i] He didn't even cry out as his shoulder was sliced open.

[i]"You're going to die without my help! LET ME HELP YOU!"[/i]

[i]"You're only-!"[/i] This time, several creatures ganged up on Sariyah. Irima didn't quite see what happened, but when the monsters cleared, Sariyah was a heap on the floor, lying in a pool of blood. Irima felt her face grow very hot. Her knees locked. The monsters passed her by as she twitched, in total shock.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!" Irima, knuckles white, gripped her sheet and drew it up around her. She lost her balance and fell on top of Tyniah.

"YAI! What the-?!" Before Tyniah could finish his sentence, Irima had thrown open the door and was halfway down the stairs. "Irima?!"

She kept running blindly. All she knew was the inn's door and that she had to get to Sariyah. She ran, barefoot out into the cold night, down the road, and into the forest. Tyniah, hopping on one foot and trying to put on his shoe, tried in vain to catch up. "IRIMA! Come back!!" He caught sight of the white sheet, and made a beeline for it.

"Leave me alone Tyniah! I'm going to find him myself!"

"Like hell you are! I'm coming with you!"

"I have to talk to him!"

"So he can hit you again?!"

"I have to ask him! I have to ask him if-- YAAAAAAAAAA!!" In her blind rage, Irima had run straight into some kind of bandit's trap. A thick rope net rose up around her and hefted her high into a tree, sheet and all.

(Sorry everyone for leaving this thread dead for a couple... months... ^_^;; School can do that to ya, but now I'm back! ^^)