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Nikk couldnt believe what he was hearing. "Your powers will come back in 45 minuets. And why would I thank myself for coming up with MY plan?" He walked over to a counter with a bunch of jars. "I dont carry weapons. You should know that because Im a mage and I dont fight with anything, but magic, Kinda like what I did a few minuets ago." He was really starting to get irritated with this woman. What did she want from him?
Nikk took a bag and started to put random things inside it. Stuff that he might need to use, but never to much. He didnt like to carry alot with him. He would pack two other pairs of clothes and hope that he would get to wash them atleast once a week. Nikk started to think about the timeline of their upcomming adventure. "When we get to Marrow Cave All of us are going to find a 'base'. Its where we will stay as we gather information. Akino will go out everyday and trail Farlow. When Night comes she will come back to base and tell us everything. At night she will be with us. I dont want her to sleep in a town she doesnt know byherself." At this point Nikk wasnt even thinking about sleeping arangements, but Bia was. "Its going to be like a huge sleepover!" She exclaimed. "It will be fun." Nikk didnt like the sound of a sleep over. It was a litte to girly for him. What was he getting himself into. So many girls to deal with at one time and one of them wanted to kill him and another was bipolar and causing more pain than he really thought was necessary. |
“What do you mean your idea? I was the one that suggested using Akino! Hey if she’s afraid of being alone I could always put a barrier around her and she’ll be able to fly with it. Then if something happens I’ll sense the barrier’s disruption and we can totally kick some butt and save the day!” She looked from Nikk to Akino, “Come on it’s a good idea right?” Then she commented on Bia’s excitement about having a sleepover. “A sleepover, huh? I’ve never been to a sleepover before…but we should totally have a pillow fight!”
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"NO!" Shouted Nikk a little to loud. "No pillow fights." He did not like the way that this was going. "And yes a barrier on Akino would be a good idea. Lets talk about this on the way to Tooka Hill. If there is a huge problem then we are wasting valuable time." He slung his pack over his shoulder. "Indious lightous." He pointed behind his back and his pack all of a sudden became alot lighter to carry. He wasnt the strongest of people after all.
"Ready." Said Bia as she mimicked Nikk with her pack. "Indious lightous." She echoed and her pack did the same thing. She was jumping around in circles around Nikk. "Yay! AA sleepover at Marrow Cave!" |
“What do you mean no pillow fight?! That’s like saying no s’mores and no facials, I mean you gotta admit Teva could really use the facial. Just look at how much fun Bia’s having and we’re not even there yet.” Hehehe take that Teva, too bad she hadn’t said anything about Teva not needing to eat too much. Oh well, at least they were under way now and she was glad to have her leather boots that silenced her footfalls. Unlike some centaur that was practically crashing through the forest.
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"Bia has fun wether you want her to or not." Said Nikk. He started out the door with Bia right behind him. She was in complete agreement with him. As long as they werent in the house anylonger she was able to have fun wherever she was. Nikk had to be sure to take her out on walks every now and then so that she wouldnt get into things in the house.
"Tooka Hill isnt to far away, but I have to warn you. If you argue with the fairies or do anything that they dont want you to then... well your in alot of trouble. So Elaina I would prefer it if you did not speak once we got there. They dont take to people like you lightly. Teva will be fine and Akino, you will be at home there. As long as you are polite, which you shouldnt have any problem with, they will accept you." Nikk thought about explaining to Akino about Fairy Hills, but that was definetly a story for another time. |
“Hey, why do you automatically assume I’ve never been to Tooka Hill? I’ve visited there many times, I was once assigned to protect the royal treasury. Those little guys sure know how to fight well, though I always wondered why they wanted us along? They weren’t as good at gambling either, come to think of it that one guy still owes me money…” She looked around and noticed everyone was way ahead of her. “Hey wait for me!”
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Teva, in two weeks, hadn't collected more than most basic survival gear. Aside from the quiver and bow, carried on her human back, she had her knife, a small satchel with flint and steel, and a half-full water skin, all tucked securely in her belt. Carrying food had proven to be a losing battle. It hadn't taken long for Teva to appreciate just how much her horse half needed to sustain itself, not to mention how much she'd had to change about her hunting habits. Hunting, for Teva, meant standing perfectly still for long periods of time, sometimes hours, and tail control had been difficult to come by. It seemed to have a mind of its own.
She did her best to ignore Elaina, though she wondered what the angel meant by "facial." Apparently that was a female activity, and yet it was nothing the primarily female Queen's Rangers had ever done. Teva herself practiced basic hygiene as best she could, depending on whatever ponds and lakes she came across and bathing frequently. That had taken some getting used to, what with the fur and the hooves and... she didn't want to think about it. She really didn't. She walked slowly, so as not to get ahead of the group. Stopping frequently to listen really had become a habit, and this helped slow her pace down as well. Her sensitive ears, which looked like a cross between horse and elf, flickered, trying to filter out the group's trail noise. It didn't all belong to her, though much of it (to her unrelenting frustration, did.) Elaina in particular was less trail wise than Teva suspected the angel knew. And the unending chatter about pillow fights certainly didn't help. |
Akino rode on Teva's shoulder and listened to the chatter with a smile on her face. "A pillow fight sounds like fun, but so unfair to me! I think I'd rather sit around a fire and tell scary stories. Just like I used to at camp way back when," she said, referring to her previous life before being a pixie here.
As a small creature, she really didn't have much need to carry stuff with her unlike Nikk and Bia. The earth was plenty bountiful and a few berries could last her all day with a sip of nectar from a flower for a drink and she could honestly bath in a dewdrop if need be. Its was such an easy life to be a pixie! |
Nikk took them through the woods in the only way he knew how. If there was a shorter way, he would know it. Tooka Hill wasnt that far away, but Marrow cave would take them atleast a week to get to.
Nikk laughed at the sound of scary stories. "Now that is something Im willing to allow." Nikk loved telling scary stories to Bia. She was always scared so they were succesful, but he wondered how they would stand up to the rest of the group. He would have to use more magic. That was if Bia allowed him to tell stories. "No scary stories." Cried Bia kinda laughing cause she really did have fun. "Where do you guys get your scary stories?" |
Teva laughed a little, too. It was contagious, and besides, she did know scary stories. Stories and songs had been an important part of the ranger lifestyle, for after the day's work was done, what else was there to do but sit around the fire and talk until sleep came?
"From the shadows of the distant hills to the mists above the mossy wastes, from the songs of the ascended ancients to the cries of the newborn babe," recited the centaur. "From there and then we take our tales." She hoped that didn't sound too lofty. It was something all the traveling bards had said in her world, though their words varied somewhat. And everyone else just learned from the bards. |
Elaina was a bit ticked that no one wanted to do a pillow fight. Then there was talk of scary stories, “You know I have a few stories that would turn your hair white! The best part is that they’re all true. So who’s going to tell the first one, you know so Teva will know the difference between scary and dreary.” Elaina was taking soft and careful steps through the forest, though it wasn’t her ideal place to be she had been trained in her youth to be prepared for any circumstance. She loved the smell of the earth though. As they walked along she tucked her wings behind her and close to her back. She’d caught up to the rest of the group, but Teva kept taking the lead.
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Akino poked her tongue out at Elaina. "I bet your hair would turn white before mine! I'm not scared of no stories, true or not!" She crossed her arms over her chest and grinned smugly, enjoying the banter between them all. "Goodie, now I can't wait to get around a fire and start telling tales!"
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Nikk looked forward then at the sky. It was going to be getting dark soon and the forest was no where to be at night, but Tooka Hill was definetly somewhere to be. There were feasts and music and dancing although all of them, but Akino were to big to dance in their tiny halls. Nikk would have to ask that he stay the night there. He never liked to owe fairies favors.
"Its just right there." Said Nikk pointing to a dead looking tree in a clearing. It was on top of a hill, but it was still just a dead tree on a hill. "This is where you have to be careful or else the fairies will..." Nikk looked around and noticed that Bia was missing. "Of course that would happen." The fairies always played pranks on Nikk especially because he was so easy to do it to. "Aw geez." Just then there was a small sound coming from the tree. There was a small old fairy playing a harp on one of the branches. "Can we have acess?" Asked Nikk. The old fairy looked up and recognized Nikk immediatly. "They took your Bia not but a minute ago." He said slowly and out of breath. "YEs yes I know I will get her back as soon as you open the door." The old fairy thought for a moment. "Nikk?" He asked "Yes." He replied. There was a silence. "You know they took your little ram right?" Nikk started to get frustrated. He hated it when the gate keeper was old. Then Nikk remembered that he was traveling with others and the fairy was just being annoyingly cautious. "This is Teva, Akino, and Elaina." He said. "We are here to get armor for Akino... and you guys owe it to me for the last potion that i made you guys." The old fairy looked back at Elaina and made a face. Wether she had been hired or not she obviously didnt leave a good impression. "Enter." Said the old fairy. There was a glow in the middle of the tree and it began to unravel. It opened up to the interrior of a bright castle. There were fairies everywhere doing all sorts of things. Some of them recognized Nikk and Elaina. There were others that would stare at Akino. |
Akino found herself flying now, unable to help but use her wings when around other fairies. Her eyes stared in wonder as the door opened to reveal a castle full of pixies like her. She felt like saying a million things at once, but words just failed her. She was so busy staring not paying attention to her flying that she started to veer off course from her other companions, not even noticing that she was.
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((New Character: Eli)) Eli was tending to his raven when he saw someone he didnt notice flutter past him. "Uh excuse me." He said to the fairy politley. "Are you lost?" Eli had a sensitivity to the light wich made his eyes burn alot so he was forced to wear a blindfold at all times except for at night. It was a wonder that he could see anything. The raven next to him was nearly as tall as Eli. It fluttered its wings and cawed at Akino. |
Teva's eyes widened as she gazed into the castle full of fairies. They darted about like busy little lightning bugs, trailing sparkles as they flew. It was magical. It was beautiful. It was... troubling.
In spite of Elaina, she had been feeling fairly upbeat during the walk to the hill. She had so many stories to tell. And to listen to! That was the fun of stories. Teva may not have been the greatest teller of them ever, but she could hold her own. She'd had practice. But now she was back to feeling more out of place than ever, big and clumsy. What in the world was she supposed to do here? |
Akino blinked rapidly and nearly collided with a fairy. the first thing she noticed was his blindfold. "Huh, wha? Lost? No I'm...." she looked around and saw that she was not with her companions any more. "OH! maybe I am lost...Where did they go? I was just with them!!" she exclaimed, spinning in circles and looking this way and that for her new friends which should have been pretty obvious, being so much larger than anyone else. Her eyes were drawn to the raven and Akino just kind of stared at it. It was just a little bit bigger that her and well....scary looking.
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"Oh this is Emma. She wount hurt you. She loves other people." The bird looked at akino and cawed again and flapped its wings. "Who did you come with." Asked Eli. "I might be able to help you." Eli also fluttered his wings, which were black making his skin look really really pale. "Did you come with people bigger than a fairy? I can tell your not from around here." Eli was definetly a sweet person.
"Oh my god." Said Nikk as he noticed that Akino also was missing. "They are taking all the short ones." He knew that Bia would be in the grand hall waiting for him, but Akino probably wandered off. It was going to be hard to find her. He just hoped that she remembered the enchated item that he gave her so that she would be able to find him wherever he was. He turned to Teva. "Uh are you okay?" He noticed that she looked a little stressed. |
Akino gave the raven one last wary look and turned back to the other fairy. "Oh yes, I came with a centuar and an angel, and ram people!" she exclaimed. If this were any other place, that would have sounded really weird, but she'd gotten over the lack or normalcy in the portal. She had the feeling she was supposed to remember something that could help her, but she was too interested in this new place to bother to think at the moment. She knew whatever it was would come to her if she really needed it.
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Eli laughed. "Everyone gets taken to the Grand hall if they are not living here." Eli mounted Emma like a horse and it hopped over to Akino. "I can take you there fast if you would like." He offered his hand out to Akino and smiled. "It would take us quite a while if we used our wings."
Nikk found the entrance to the grand Hall where Bia was already eating and having fun with the fairies around her. "Nikk Nikk you should have seen it! They took me through another door!" She squealed. "Wonderful." Said Nikk sarcastically. he really just wanted for all of them to stay together and not get hurt. He was praying that there would be no casulties on this trip. It was already not two hours and they had already lost two people. Atleast one of them was found. Nikk did not worry about Akino to much. He knew that atleast one of the fairies would help her get to the grand Hall. After all visitors were allowed no where else in the city or castle. Some of the fairies that were dancing asked Nikk and his friends to come in and sit down to the food. They would have someone come to their aid soon. |
Elaina was getting frustrated with the pixies dancing around her. She had her arms crossed and her wings tucked in as close as possible. She wished she had her powers back so that she could put a barrier around herself and get some space, “Hey how much longer tell my powers come back, Nikk? Come on it’s been forever!” She was ticked off, this wasn’t something she was used to. Damn him for cutting her powers off, if he’d been an enemy and done that he’d already be dead.
She looked around and noticed Teva’s discomfort, her large form was so out of place in this tiny city. They found Bia having a good time and eating, but Akino was still missing. Elaina had been her many a time, she recognized many of the pixies that flew by on different errands. Damn tricksters, the last time she was her they took her throwing daggers. They weren’t just any throwing daggers, they came back to you once they struck their target or stopped moving in general. She wondered everyday why they hadn’t come back to her yet. Looking around she wondered if she’d find the pixie that owed her money. |
Teva just shook her head, numb. No, she wasn't okay. She hadn't really been "okay" since she'd arrived in the Portal. She'd been coping. Some days (and moments) had been better than others.
Her legs seemed to follow Nikk of their own free will, which was fortunate, since otherwise Teva might have remained silently in the entrance, still staring. Soon enough, they came upon the little lamb girl, who seemed to be having a good time. That helped, and so did the prospect of a meal but... fairy food? Teva had heard stories about fairy food. In those stories, it was never wise to eat that sort of thing. "No, thank you," she replied to the fairies as politely as she could. She could always go hunting later, after this errand was done, right? |
Elaina looked at Teva in shock, “You can’t refuse their hospitality, it’s rude!” Elaina knew that rumors abounded about fairy food, but they weren’t true. They made amazing meals, even if they were only bite size. Refusing was like spitting in their face, and that wasn’t the impression they wanted right? “Teva, you idiot newborn! Eat the food, it fine look.” She accepted a plate from one of the pixies and wolfed down the two bite size morsels. Her cheeks were stuffed and she chewed and swallowed it. Then she looked at the pixie that had given her the plate, “That was amazing, did you guys start making new food since the last time I was here? Those were a bit spicier then the other dishes I’ve had.”
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"Could you not be so loud." Said Nikk as he ate. "You are giving me a headache." He felt sorry for Teva she didnt look comfortable at all. He wondered if he would see any centaurs on their way to Marrow. It would probably help her if there were other of her kind. It would be better if it was one that was more experienced at living like a centaur.
"What brings you to Tooka Hill." Said a very neatly dressed Fairy. Nikk turned his attention to the little creature that was on the table. "We are in the need of some fairy armor for a friend that will be traveling with us, but she seems lost at the moment." The man nodded at every word that Nikk said. "Well when your guest arrive we can set you up with a smith." The man bowed and fluttered away. Nikk turned to his crowd. "It looks like were going to be here till Akino gets here so enjoy everything while you can and hope that Akino doesnt run away because we will be here FOREVER if she does not come." Nikk really meant it when he said forever. If Akino did not come they would be locked in the grand hall forever. You always had to be careful around the fairies, but he had to admit they were alot nicer than the pixies of the forest. They definetly liked to screw around with people that walked into their rings wether they ment to or not. It would mean certain death if anyone walked into an active pixie ring. With that all said Nikk was not worried about it. Most new people went straight to the grand hall anyway. They were not allowed else where unless given special permission by the fairy king. Nikk had only been there once to help a few fairies that had gotten ill, but he was unable to concentrate on his surroundings because of all the chaos that the fairies were causing infront of him. |
Teva had met one or two people like Elaina before. They were not so over the top as the "angel," but still put forth an attitude of knowing everything when, in truth, they knew very little at all. They were not the sort of people that you trusted. Still, everyone else seemed to be eating without ill effect. A morsel or two couldn't hurt, right? So, when a green-winged fairy clad in what looked vaguely like birchbark offered her a dainty, sweet-smelling biscuit, she gracefully accepted.
And then she realized that, while the biscuit was delicious, eating it was a mistake. The last thing she'd needed was to whet her appetite, especially in a place where every portion was miniscule. Remaining here for too long would take some exceptional willpower. She'd definitely need to go hunting and gathering later. |
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