RPG The Clash; A meeting of the worlds

[Talon]

[color=teal][i]Fox dashed forward, cleaving the first orc he saw in half. He drew out a chain whip, flinging its lethal morning-star end at the nearest ogre. The beast fell dead, and Fox saw an elven blade embedded in its back.[/i]

[b]Deedlit:[/b]I'm not about to lose you again. Not when I've just met you. Ah!

[i]Deedlit was knocked unconscious by a huge hammer. A small trickle of blood dripped from the cut on her forehead, but she was otherwise unhurt. Another scream pierced the night. Siren was in trouble! Fox turned, and he saw a huge ogre holding her by the wings. He leaped over the axe of one ogre, battling valiantly to get to her.[/i]

[b]Fox:[/b]SIREN! I'll come back to you! I WILL SAVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!

[i]Suddenly, another axe swung, glancing off of Fox's collarbone. A huge rush of blood poured from the wound just over his heart. Fox jammed Alaris into the ogre, decapitating it. He jumped onto a tree stump, nocking an arrow to his bow. He launched the missile at the ogre holding Siren. The ogre died, dropping Siren as he fell. The battle was over. Fox hobbled over to Siren, lifting her onto his right arm. He limped over to his mother, lifting her light frame onto his left shoulder. They walked into a cabin, where a scene of carnage unfolded. Goblins lay dead on the floor, and Ryoko's teeth were covered in gray-black blood. Weapons all over were stained with the same blood. Only a little bit of red blood was on the floor, and it belonged to Fox. He put his now-conscious mother on the floor at the same time as he put his lover to the ground. He swayed where he stood, then fell unconscious. He didn't think he'd wake up...[/i][/color]

[Raquel]

Siren cried out and crawled to Fox, gently pillowing his head on her still damp cloak... Tears shone brightly in her golden eyes as she quickly unsheathed her dagger and cut the shirt away from his wound... Blood gushed from the wound onto her hands and onto the floor... Soon her pale skin was stained crimson and Foxes breathing slowed... He was dying... Siren pressed her hands over the slash, desprately trying to stop the flow...

Siren: No... You can't die... Not yet... I won't let you...

She franticly searched her memory for any charter of healing... The only one she knew was the charters of binding linking and renewing... But in order for it to work she would have to travel to the brink of death and tie his soul to his body... She could keep him alive just long enough if she linked her life to his... But if Fox died... So would she... She blinked and realized that it was the only way and that she would do it even if she died... She straightened and pulled her hands from his wound and she placed the dagger to her wrist... She cut it swiftly, then did the same to him... She pressed her wrist to his and spoke the charters required... She shouted the Master mark And the minor charters required to bring her into death... Their wrists bonded and Sirens life force drained into him, healing his wound... Siren felt the current of the river of death tugging at her knees... She screamed the words and threw herself back into Life... Neither Siren nor Fox seemed concious...

~*In the dreaming*~

Siren: Fox...

He turned, startled to find her here...

Fox: Where are we?

Siren: I've linked our lifeforces... Your healing... This is more or less a dream created by our subconcious...

Siren started to fade in his eyes as did he in hers...

Fox: What's happening?

Siren: We're returning to the living world... I'll see you in the waking...


Sirens eyes fluttered open and she turned to see Fox waking as well, a fresh and tender scar in place of the open wound...

[Talon]

[i][color=teal]Fox's eyes flickered open, he stared at Siren. He felt his scar, then saw that she, too, had a scar just above her heart. He felt her scar, then looked into her eyes. He stood, picking her up with him. Deedlit gasped, her son's eyes open. Fox pulled Siren close, kissing her as best he could without hissing through the pain in his collarbone. Deedlit wrung her hands and prayed to the elven gods in thanks for bringing her son back...[/i][/color]

[Deedlit]

[color=green]Deedlit-Fox! Siren! Thank goodness both of you are alright!

Fox-For the most part, anyway. How long has it been?

Deedlit-About three hours.

Siren-I see. Has Ryoko explained what we were summoned here for?

Ryoko-Not yet, I haven't. We're still waiting for a few other arrivals.
-----------------
ooc: sorry for such a short post. There's not much I can post on until Ryoko explains to everyone what we're here for.[/color]

[Talon]

[color=teal]OOC:MDE will be unable to post for while.
She's at her mom's house and there is no comp over there,
so ON WITH THE FILLER POSTS! Oops....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[i]Fox pulled Siren down close to him as he sat up,
leaning against the wall. He removed his shirt, exposing
the scars of previous battles. A particularly nasty one
stood out, extending all the way across his chest. Siren
moved her hand along it as Fox moved and bent one of his
wings to caress her cheek with its tip.[/i]

[b]Siren and Deedlit:[/b]Where'd you get that scar?

[b]Fox:[/b]Whoa! Twins! Heh. Just joshing you, mom. I got
it from...from a man. He was a human, a man with no respect
for anything or anyone. He'd been posessed by dark magic and
charged with killing me. His axe left this scar, my sword
scarred his skull.

[i]As everyone drifted to sleep after cleaning the mess,
Fox and Siren found time together and away from the others.[/i]

[b]Fox:[/b]So you bound us together?

[b]Siren:[/b]Yes, I did. I didn't want to lose you, not
after just finding you. I never want to lose you.

[b]Fox:[/b]Nor do I wish to lose you. By the powers
in my heart, I just want you to live on in our eternal
lives with me at your side.

[i]Siren and Fox sank to the floor in each other's arms.
Fox was glad. He had someone to love, and that someone
needed very little protection on her own. That suited him
just fine...[/i][/color]

[Raquel]

Siren rested her head aginst him and closed her eyes as she drifted into sleep... Her body slowly relaxed in the warm circle of Fox's embrace and she slipped into dream...


~*Dream*~


Siren climbed up the side of the cliff, shale crashing down in her wake... She slipped and cut her hands on the sharp stones... The blood slickened her palms, making finding a purchase in the stones difficult... She pulled her self up the last four feet and rolled onto the slim pinicle of stone... She looked out to the horizion and her eyes widened in horror... The sky was dark with Icari and Gryphon... A whisper sounded in her head...

Voice: Siren...

Bodies fell like rain and tears streamed down Siren face... A body of a small child hit the ground in front of her and a cry escaped her lips... It was a girl, her expression frozen in fear... Bloody gashes marked her body and her wings were torn and broken... Siren wanted to launch into the sky and join her peoples fight but her body moved towards the body, halting steps... The voice sounded again...

Voice: Siren....

She tried to turn away but she seemed to have lost control of her body... She kneeled and gasped... The bloody face that stared at her was her own... She reached out slowly and the face changed... Siren screamed silently in her mind... She knew what was going to happen next... The wave of sorrow hit her with a force the stole the breath from her body... Her mind went numb and the body opened it's mouth and screamed...

Dead Child: MOMMA!!!

Siren was suddenly in control of her body... She was stumbling, running from the child...

Dead Child: MOMMA!! COME BACK!!

Siren sobbed and suddenly there was no ground underneath her feet... She lurched forwards, over the cliff... The voice, now deeper, closer and male, tore at her mind...

Voice: NOO!!

She twisted in the air, and tried to open the air to slow her fall... Too late she realized her wings had dissapeared... Siren felt strangely calm as she plummeted, watching as an emerald green streak followed her down... It was the owner of the famillar voice... Everything slowed suddenly, moving as if life was fighting it's way through molasses... It began to rain blood, the drops splattering on Sirens face... The voice cried out again

Voice: Siren! NO!!

She turned in the air and watched the rocks rushing slowly up at her... Everything accelerated then and there was a flash of white and she woke up to the voice...

Fox: Siren!

She gasped and threw herself from the cliff face, into Foxes arms... Siren looked up at him... It was raining...

Siren: Where... Where are we? What's happening?

Fox: You got up and left the cabin... You flew out here... it's about three miles away... I was calling your name... Why diden't you hear me?

She trembled and looked at her hands... They were cut and bleeding... She whispered, horrible realization in her voice

Siren: I did...

If she haden't woken when she did, she would have fallen to her death, convinced in her dream that she had lost her wings... She checked quickly... Rain streamed dowm her face...

Siren: It was a dream... Just a dream... I've been having it for years... But this never happened before...

She frowned...

Siren: Lets get out of the rain... I'll tell you when we get back to the cabin...


OOC: *Blinks* Wow... That's quite a filler post...O.o

[Talon]

[color=teal][i]Fox held Siren close, flying her into the cabin. She told him everything, crying against his chest. She realized that he was wearing only his jeans. She led him into a private room in the cabin, layed him down in the bed, and pulled off her shirt. She laid down next to him, her hands bound from bleeding. Both of them drifted to sleep in each others arms again.[/i][/color]

[Shinkoru]

[color=royal blue][I]Ryoko lifted her nuzzle to the air and sniffed.
She nodded her head and growled, calling everyone in the cabin.

She jumped to an empty chair and looke around as everyone came back in.[/I]

[B]Ryoko:[/B] *thought speaking* I'm ready to tell you...[/color]

[starlight]

[i]Karina was roused from her deep sleep by Ryoko's thought-speak. She got up slowly from her spot in the corner. and walked over and sat on the ground in front of Ryoko, still keeping her distance, she was still unsure of the wolf and her intentions.[/i]

Karina: Good! I would like to know exactly what the meaning of this whole campout in the woods!

[i]She clapped her hand over her mouth immediately after she said that. She hadnt meant for that outburst to happen. But by then she was going crazy from the tension and the suspence of why all of them were there.[/i]

Karina:...Sorry

[Shinkoru]

[color=royal blue][I]Ryoko spoke privatly to Karina..[/I]

[B]Ryoko:[/B] *private thought speak* *chuckles* I'm sure your pertty nervous.. *smiles lightly, the corners of her muzzles lifing oddly* I shall tell you what the task is as soon as your fellows return..

[I] with that Ryoko nodded to Karina and hoped she approved.[/I][/color]

[Raquel]

Siren rolled out of bed and tugged her shirt over her head... She looked down at the sleeping form of Fox and smiled... She stapped on her weapons and leaned over him, waking him with a soft kiss...

Siren: Ryoko wants us... C'mon...

She turned and sliped through the door followed shortly by Fox...

Siren: Who are we waiting for?

[Talon]

[i][color=teal]Fox didn't bother to put anything back on and regretted it when he heard his mother whistle loudly. He sat down, holding Siren close and listening intently to the wolf who had as of yet not spoken. He tightened his hold on Siren slightly as he remembered the legends of the Icari, the darkangels that dranki the blood and ate the souls of their spouse. He wondered whether he should give Siren the ring, but then decided for it. He cared not for his own life, and she'd saved it once already. Ryoko began cleaning herself, so Fox took the oppurtunity of Ryoko's business to ask Siren. He pulled out the small box, looking around slightly sheepishly, and opened it to Siren, dipping down onto one knee.[/i]

[b]Fox:[/b]Siren, my love, would you do me the eternal honor of being my wife? Would you marry me, my dearest?

[i]In secret, he wished to all hope and to all Heaven that she would say yes. He prayed that he could enact Aeriel's kindness to Illyrath in that legend. He wished she would allow him to cut out his heart and replcae hers with it, and that she could cut out her own and give it to him in place of his heart. He sighed as he saw a tear slide down Siren's cheek, and he wondered what that single tear meant. Ryoko stopped cleaning herself to hear the answer.[/i][/color]

[Raquel]

Siren sat down with a thunk, as another tear rolled down her face... She loved him and would gladly marry him without a second thought... If she were anyone else... As it was, she was an icari and bound to her duty as one of the last... She must fulfil her destiny or die... She looked at him and saw love in his eyes, love she knew was for her... She despreatly wanted to accept and let that love warm her frozen heart... But... She would only bring him sadness... She loved him and wanted nothing more than to be with him...

Siren: I... I can't... I... Have to complete my quest...

She turned away, stricken by the greif on his face... Tears ran unchecked down her face... A touch startled her and she looked up into the eyes of Ryoko...

Ryoko(private thought speak): Siren... I know of your quest... And it's plain to all of us that you love him... It's okay... You can still carry out your revenge... Your love for Fox shoulden't hold you back...

Siren nodded her unspoken gradititude... Siren turned to Fox and smiled at him... She threw her arms around him... There was no reason why her quest should be held back by her love... She whispered softly into his ear...

Siren: Yes... Yes I will... To death and beyond beloved...

She stood, pulling him up with her, wiping the tears from her face...

[Talon]

[i][color=teal]Suddenly, an arrow flew through the window, aimed directly at Fox. He caught the arrow in his bare hand a scant millisecond before it pierced his breast. he shook his head fiercely, the broad smile from Siren's answer vanishing rapidly. He kissed her once and drew out twin daggers, muttering to himself about vengeance as he leapt through the window.[/i]

[b]Fox:[/b]How could he? My own best friend firing an arrow straight at my heart. No, my chest, for my heart is standing in that cabin, her wings aching to cushion my descent into Hades. I should never have allowed my prophecy to come true, Ortega. But I will kill you for what you did to the Dragonstomb Keeper. You will pay, Ortega!

[i]A shadow appeared, solidifying into a being half again as tall as Fox, yet the thinness of his body was so cruel to his frame that he could have hidden behind a birch sapling. Ortega Delraunde stood, laughing menacingly, before Fox, his dark-red hair fluttering in the air. He held up two daggers, both stained with blood, towards Fox.[/i]

[b]Ortega:[/b]One for the woman who called you her foster-son, one for the man whose blood runs inside you. It was fun murdering Parn, watching your mother call helplessly for him when she could not find him. 'Tis a pity you never really met the man, for it would have been more enjoyable to see you weep, too, at his demise. Your mother knows not of her husband's fate. Nor will the ugly Siren know of her husband's either. No matter. I will kill you in due time. 'Til then, I leave you with a scar of remembrance.

[i]With that, Ortega drew a third dagger, slashing Fox viciously across the eye. Before Fox could react, ortega had blinded him in his left eye, damaging his peripheral vision. Fox slashed Ortega with a scar of hos own, in the same eye. Both glowered fiercely as Ortega vanished, his shadow magic allowing him to slip away. Fox looked down to see a wound in his stomach, another scar left by Ortega. He saw the poison-black of the Aconite on the edge of the wound. He pulled some highlandweed from a tree, rubbing it into the wound and healing the poison. He walked back into the cabin to see Siren in tears and Deedlit shaking with rage, hatred, fear, and sadness. Fox left his wounds untended as he pulled his mother close, doing his best to console her for Parn's murder. Siren sat and stared at his scarred eye as she poured the Bind-wine into a chalice. Even in the midst of this tragedy, the wedding would go unhindered. As karina helped prepare the drink that would bind the heart and soul of two lovers together, Fox and Siren attired themselves appropriately and dressed the wounds on Fox's eye and stomach. As they drank of the Bind-wine, even Deedlit and Ryoko found the energy to spare a smile for the newly-weds. When the ritual was over, Fox and Siren redressed themselves and sat to listen to Ryoko's tale.[/i]

[b]Ryoko:[/b]Now we may begin. I must tell you of the errand we must undertake...[/color]

[Shinkoru]

[color=royal blue][I] Ryoko nodded as the last had not yet made himself known,but it was to no matter, time pressed as she jumped back up to the comfortable chair.

she bowed her head as she thought spoke to everyone.[/I]

[B]Ryoko:[/B]*thought speaking* Before I begin... Siren. I know of something but I am not shure you wish everyone to know.

*thought speaking privatly to siren* I know you are not a full icari. For your appearecne is to beautiful and your eyes, deep but amazing. Trust icari are know to be ugly souless creatures. Heartless as well. But you posess the ability to love, and i know you have soul. You are just as Irrylath once was. Do not worry.. i shall not wisper to anyone else your secrete, for I have been speaking to only you these past few moments...

[I]Ryoko looked to Siren, but her expression showed no emotion. Good. At least she'd learned to not let tell all with her eyes.

Ryoko then sat back on the chair, lifting up, her front paws in the air, so she sat up as a person would. She began to change.

Her fur grew cream colored as around her head turned green. Her eyes turned a deep maroonish purple. Her body hrew, her paws leghtend and turned to fingers as her arms and legs got longer. around her bust a dream colored top formed while fur was still there, as did a small skirted bottom, being all one peice it tied at her right, the tethers hung loosely. A Silver ring appeared around her right ankel, it was slightly bigger then her ankel and could eaisly slip off, but somehow it remained.oments later she was fully changed.

Her long green hair flutterd lightly as a breeze enterd through an open window...

She looked to the group as they stared slightly in awe. She smiled.[/I]

[B]Ryoko:[/B] Well, This is still not my true form, you doubt you shall ever see thst, but this is how i am as a human.

[I] Moments latre a brown ropelike necklace appeared around her neck. A talon hung from it. looking down to it she smiled.[/I]

[B]Ryoko:[/B] If this give you any hint as to my true form, lest u might know now. If anyone of you can guess it I shall not hesitate to transform,but for now I shall remain as I am.

[I] She smiled as she crossed her long slender legs.[/I]

[B]Ryoko:[/B] Now my new compainons. it is time to tell you why you are here. As we are yett missing two people. and now Fox is a i belive the only male here. *slightyl giggles* I shall continue and fill the other two in soon. But for now.

I know you are all, or were all wondering why I was covered in blood. Well, that has to do with your tast. I foguht with the evil that ails this forest. *looking to the Elf* Deedlit, can you not feel it? The pain.. and the portals. You know as well as I they should not be here. The evil has sent many minions to falter us. But we must defeat them. We must travle to the center of the forest, it is many many days walk from here. Three weeks ot be exact. We cannot go in a straight line either, for that path would cost us our lives. I shall navigate through the forest for you, u must keep follow to me, and I can be sure we shall get seprated more than once. If it happens do not move. I shall find you. We will encounter grave termoil and it may or may not coust one or all of you your lifes. I ca die, though nothign we face can kill me, only the evil may, I do not yet kow what it is i fought with. A creature, hooded in a all black cloak...lookignat it.. made me want to just die right there..

[I] Ryokos voice cut of as the memory flodded her. Tear drops fell from her eyes. The shatterd as they hit the floor. As if made of glass, or.. Ice, for a pulled remained in the wake of the shards..[/I]

[B]Ryoko:[/B] Yes.. I cry tears of ice, I.. oh I should weep, i must be strong but...

[I]....*her voice failed again as she almost fell form the chair, Fox sprung up to catch her, as did Deedlit. She fainted in their arms as Fox took her in his and paid her on the empty bed.

He then looked at her, She seemed to be struggling with something, She was out, obvously, but it was as if she dreamed, for she occasionaly cried out, sometimes screamed. No words she mumbled were aduable. She jerked about often, as if struggling. Fox wiped his eyes before returning to his wife. They say beside the bed as the others talked, they awited her awakining, Fox held hopes she might tell her what it is she drempt..[/I]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC: Lookit pickie, isnt Ryoko so pretty?[/color]

[Talon]

[i][color=teal]Fox suddenly had a freakish idea about that burst of love he'd felt for Ryoko. He jumped up, staring at his mother.[/i]

[b]Fox:[/b]Mother, did you have another child? A daughter that you gave up to the shapeshifters, where she could learn and study their art?

[b]Deedlit:[/b]How did you know?

[b]Fox:[/b]Because I think Ryoko is my sister![/color]

[Raquel]

Siren looked at Ryoko...

Siren: Everything seems to fit... But... Is this coincidence? Or... Somthing... Else...

She stood and paced the cabin restlessly, her hands clenching and unclenching with her thoughts...

Siren(thinking): Did Ryoko plan this all? Did she even know... How is it possible... Prehaps I'm just being suspicious, but this seems to... To convient...

OOC: Space filler post... Ack...

[Talon]

[color=teal][i]Fox paced the room rapidly, chewing his fingernails to the bone almost. He began muttering to himself, cursing to the gods, blessing them, then cursing them all over again. Suddenly, he too fell into a trance-like sleep as Ryoko herself awakened. Fox dreamt...

Fox, a boy of only three, weaved in between the trees as he ran to his mother and father. Deedlit had just given birth to a lovely baby girl and Fox cried out his first word, the word in elven that meant "beautiful".[/i]

[b]Baby Fox:[/b]Ryoko!!!

[i]Parn and Deedlit smiled. The gods had given them two blessings that day: a daughter and their son's gift of speech. The priests had all said that Fox was going to die by the age of four and that he would never speak. Parn and Deedlit had cied for hours and hours when they found that their son had a cancerous tumor in his brain, one that would almost eliminate his life. They had found relief, however, when the tribe of shapeshifters told Parn and Deedlit that if they gave Ryoko, the name of the child in honor of her and of Fox's first word, to the tribe, Fox's life would be spared, even he would still have a fatal disease within his body and a Berserker fury invoked by his rage. Fox snapped awake when he saw his sister being given up to the tribe, tears in Deedlit's eyes...[/i]

[b]Fox:[/b]Mother...why didn't you tell me I would have died if you didn't lose Ryoko? Why?!?!

[i]Ryoko heard this and found herself staring at Fox and Deedlit, her hair moved from its original place where it had covered her hand and wrist. On her wrist was the same birthmark that Fox had, a circle with a slash through it. on Ryoko's ring finger was the Bondring, the symbol of an elven daughter or son before their parents deemed them worthy to take them off. Fox's eyes teared up as he saw the ring glowing brighter as he moved his own near hers. He looked into her eyes, seeing tears within the shadows of them.[/i]

[b]Ryoko:[/b]I knew many things about you Parn, and you, Deedlit. But that you were my mother and brother...that I never knew. My family...I had always thought that they were the shapeshifters. I have a brother!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope you don't mind this, Dani. PM me, IM me, E-mail me, whatever, if you don't want what I posted in this RPG. See ya.[/color]

[Barra Maral]

OOC: Hey all,sorry for not posting, but I have been so busy and forgot all about this rpg. But I will be posting now. :)

IC: Meanwhile, in the forest of time.......

Vensir: Later, Mom, Im going out to test another of my inventions!

Vensir's Mom: Ok, dont be too late, and dont hurt yourself!

Vensir: Ok

Vensir is walking throught the forest and decides to stop and test the invention. The invention was a flying machine. He gets it all ready to lift off and he does. But then something goes wrong....he flies right into a tree.

Later......

Vensir: Ugg...What happened? Who am I? where am I?

OOC: Well, theres my first post, I will be posting more frequently from now on.

[Raquel]

Siren heard a loud crash come from the outside of the cabin... She looked around... No one seemed to notice... She loosened her swords in their sheaths and patted Fox's shoulder absently... She made her way to the door and slipped outside silently... A man lay crumpled on the ground... She walked wairily over to him and nugded him with her blade... He sat up suddenly and Siren sprang backwards...

Vensir: Ugg...What happened? Who am I? where am I?

Siren: Apperently, you hit a tree... You, apperently, are the source of the crash i heard only moments before... And finally you are near the cabin of Kredion...

She sheathed her swords and crouched infront of him, lightly touching his forehead where blood seeped slowly from a shallow wound...

Siren: You seem to have a concussion... I don't suggest moving too quickly...

[Talon]

[color=teal][i]Fox stood, walking outside. He briefly grasped Siren's hand before rushing out into the darkness, unfurling his wings and flying upward, up towards the canopy of the forest. He stared in the direction of Valis, his hometown, aware that Siren had arisen and followed him. He flew into the city, landing gracefully in the streets and staring at a nearby inn-sign. It read "Crystal Forest Inn". Fox suddenly crumpled to the ground, his wings splaying out around him in a painful and undignified manner, but he didn't care. He couldn't believe his father was dead. He felt a cold hand grab his shoulder forcefully and he turned. There, in front of him, stood Ortega, who moved his hand down Fox's wing, stopping about midpoint down. Suddenly, before Fox could react, Ortega shook his hand violently to the side, snapping Fox's frail emerald pinion. Ortega then jumped a wall, laughing victoriously. Fox simply sat in the street, crying from the pain and from the loss of his wing.[/color][/i]

[Raquel]

Siren landed hard some yards behind him and stumbled forward ot his side, before gathering him in her arms... She kneeled in the street with him, murmering softly to him and stroking his hair... She looked around franticly for anything she could use... Not finding anything she lifted him and took off towards the cabin, worry etching lines across her face... A cramp shot through her wing and she grimaced... It was the life link...

Siren: It'll be ok... Just hang on...

OOC: Sorry for the short post... I have to go

[Talon]

[color=teal][i]Fox sat in a corner, crying uncontrollably after they settled into the cabin. Siren held him close, feeling every pang of pain he had. Deedlit noticed it wasn't just his wing that was drawing the sobs from her son's throat, She saw him holding a note in his hand, a note he'd snatched off the door of the Crystal Forest Inn before Ortega had snapped his pinion.[/i]

[b]Note:[/b]Here in Valis, we are attending the funeral of the hero, Parn Lightblade, so he is named for his feats of defeating Karla. We are closed for this reason. May Parn rest in peace, and may his wife and son lead long, fruitful lives. We mourn for you, Deedlit and Fox.

[i]Deedlit clenched the note, tears forming in her own eyes. She couldn't believe her husband, Fox's father, Parn, was dead. Fox continued weeping in Siren's arms, his head against her shoulder. Deedlit then saw something else Ortega had done to Fox without his noticing. Fox was bleeding violently, but painlessly, through his left side. Deedlit wrapped a bandage around his waist, staunching the flow, and also wrapped her arms around him. She'd lost him once, and now she'd lost Parn. She wasn't going to let her son go. Fox's sobs slowed down as he fell asleep in the two womens' arms.[/color][/i]