"This feels.. wrong." Nightshade shook her head sadly. "Something is amiss. The reaction to the scrolls should not have been so strong." The witch sniffed the air and somewhere behind the scent of strawberries, behind the scent of wood and earth was the smell of burning leaves. The scent of the Shadows.

Malowa finally decided to help the witches and moved towards the door, suddenly completely visible, startling whatever few birds were still around. She knocked once, impatiently.

((I forgot to say how old she was, she's 15 but she looks 10))

Alice flicked her wrist and the door flung open."Not to be rude,but who are you?" Alice asked looking up slowly.

"Unfortunately for you, the harbinger of bad news," Malowa stated curtly. "That big burst of magic one of you just used, the shadows want it. You should run. You've still got about a day or so. They like to come out during bright moons." Malowa felt like she was starting to talk too much and shut herself up.

The faint scent of burning leaves was much stronger now. It filled Nightshade's senses. It made her head swim. Though the scent was not unpleasant her associations with it certainly were. Shadows had slaughtered a significant portion of her family many years ago and the recent threat on The Kingdom did nothing to heal old wounds.

Tears stung her eyes but they were largely hidden by her veil. Only her mouth was clearly seen. She bared her teeth in an animal fashion. Nightshade was human enough but the gesture was something primal. "Shadow! Half thing. If you value what passes for your existence you will leave this place."

Malowa stood back and grimaced. "So you're one of those, are you? Okay. I was only trying to help." She made a move to leave, but stopped with her profile to the other girls. "I am not your enemy today, and I have no intention of ever being so." And then she left, blending back into the shadows and stopping once again in the trees to observe the girls in the light.

Alice got up."This won't be simple..." she said.A broom with an exorcism slip hanging off shuffled out of the kitchen to Alice.

The truth in the half things parting words struck Nightshade. She didn't know what to do with all of the thought racing through her head. They had killed people close to her. They had vowed to destroy The Kingdom. That this one could be different? Didn't register. An exception to the rule, perhaps? She couldn't dwell on that now. The witch and these young women had to leave, that one of them was sleeping made things a little easier.

Nightshade only had to convince one of them to take only what was needed and leave the rest of her life behind. "We may never be able to return here." She said with her back to Alice. "Take what you can carry."

Alice nodded solemnly."I understand." she said,a small bag appearing."Its an infinite space bag,but it stays light no matter how much is in it."

Nightshade nodded. The girls were better prepared than she had hoped. "I'll fix a cart for your sister to lay in and we'll go when your ready."

Malowa stood there, hearing as only a Shadow can hear and listening to the girls' conversation while on the lookout for other Shadows. Wow, it's a wonder no Shadows have come to this place yet. So much magic, all around...

"Alright."Alice replied,taking her broom and the bag."Her books,all our spell books,and papers."

A thin high whistle.. like a tea kettle filled the room. Nightshade held out her hand and a piece of parchment floated down toward it. It was a bulletin from The Kingdom stating that the annual festival held at The City by The Sea was being canceled. Not pushed back but canceled. All travel plans should be terminated and a curfew has gone into effect. No travel or any sort after nightfall.

Nightshade crushed the parchment angrily. The festival has been an annual event for three centuries that the threat was so paramount... it frightened her. And it made her very angry.

Curfew or not they had to leave this place. The danger in staying far outweighed the worry of prosecution for violating this new ordinance. There was no time to petition the higher ups either. They were leaving. Soon.

Malowa just stood there, taking in the whistling noise. They're making tea at a time like this?! I though they said they were leaving! She almost moved in her debate against herself to go in and drag them out herself or stay. She decided to stay; she wouldn't intervene unless it was absolutely necessary.

'Bad news.Of course.' she thought.Alice sighed."Let's go." Alice said,a cold gleam in her eyes."I don't want Naomi to get hurt."

Nightshade looked right into Alice's eyes. "I swear to you that if it is within my power to protect that girl - I will. No harm shall befall her so long as I live." Those last words hung thick in the air. A sort of static tingle accompanied them. Nightshade had made a vow and a witch's word was nothing to be taken lightly.

Malowa continued to listen in on the girls, but she could feel the Shadows coming closer by the minute. Go on, leave already, She silently willed them.

The cart that waited for Naomi was not elegant but it was impressive enough. A dark wood box with four posts leading up to a durable tarp canopy. There was a simple wooden bench-seat for Alice and Nightshade and the whole thing was hitched to a cow. Nightshade looked sheepish but admitted a horse would have been noticed missing from the royal stables.

She filled it with soft blankets and two feather pillows. "Help me put your sister inside?"

((I have to go soon! I have a way to write myself out but we need to be on the road first.))

(Okay)Alice nodded,lifting up Naomi.'Things can't get worse.'

With the youngest girl safely nestled in the blankets, it was time to leave. Nightshade felt a pang of empathy in her gut. How hard this must be for Alice. Leaving her home, her sister in a mystical sleep.. the witch bit her lip wondering if she should attempt to comfort Alice.

Then again what could she possibly say?

((I have to go..))

The sun was setting. A glorious blend of orange and pink clouds covered the skies. They had been on the road for a few hours now. Suddenly, Nightshade tugged the reigns and the cow stopped. "You have to hide!!" She exclaimed as she leapt from the cart. A flurry of strange sounding words flew from her lips and the cart began to fade from sight. When she finished her incantation she pleaded with Alice... "don't move until I've gone from your sight or they will find you. I gave you my word no harm would come to your sibling and that holds true even if I am not with you."

Nightshade then turned and walked down the road. Moments later soldiers from The Kingdom had arrived. She must have sensed them. They chastised her for being on the roads so late and explained about curfew in a tone that said she should have known better. The witch was flippant with them and said something about not reading "every little notice sent" to her. They took her by the arm and lead her further away and then she was gone.

Alice watched quietly.(Bye!)

Malowa had been following silently. She looked at the girl, the one who was left. She probably didn't know what to do, or how to fend off Shadows. Malowa felt a pang of sympathy; she knew what it was like to be alone with Shadows coming for you.

Although, at the time, they had accepted Malowa and taken care of her. Now they wouldn't hesitate to kill her.

After the soldiers were sufficiently far enough away, Malowa once again let herself be seen and stepped out of the shadows. "My name is Malowa, and I am on your side. As I said earlier."

Alice turned and looked at her."I"m Alice.Its nice to meet someone who isn't trying to kill me or discipline me for ignoring a notice."

(wow this story has realy progressed, sadly this is not my computer and im jsut looking in for now T_T)

((I'm gonna wait for you, blankgirl, before I post with the story some more. x] This is fun. I've never done a temporary RP before.))