Aqua laughed at Shadow and Alice arguing. Her laugh sounded like bells chiming. What was wrong with her? Where was her old self? Aqua sighed. It was pretty funny the way Alice and Shadow talked to each other.
"Stop it, you guys," She said giggling. "Lets go check on Blaze. And then, if we're lucky, maybe Alice can cook us some dinner?"

"I'll stop if shadow stops calling himself 'sparkling scum at the bottom of someones shoe'. Okay I'll cook dinner after we check on Blaze." Alice smiled and looked at her brother. Alice was so happy that Aqua was feeling better and shadow was still alive. Now we just have to see if Blaze is okay Alice thought.

Blaze heard whispering. It was a beautiful sound; almost like her dear mother's. Her eyes were still weary but she lifted them open anyway, with effort. She found herself gazing into the eyes of Aqua. She looked radiant, so she'd probably taken a bath or something.
"Nice look, Aqua." she said. Blaze's heart stopped. She could... talk...? "Wow," she whispered, taking it all in. Aqua ran her fingers through Blaze's fox head. Her eyes drooped. She found herself sniffing her foot. It was more tightly bandaged in a different cloth, but it was already red. Blaze carefully lifted it so she could see the wound. She licked it tenderly, being careful not to hurt it too much, then slid the cloth back on. "Thank you Aqua," she muttered, her sleepy eyes already half-closed.

Alice smiled when she saw that blaze was okay. Alice looked at Blaze and said "Okay! I'm going to start on diner. Now what shall we have?" Alice looked around, she could see an apple tree. she smiled and said "Is it okay if I make fried apples?".

"Mmmm, apples!" Aqua said, licking her lips. "Sounds good, Alice!" She squatted next to Blaze and used some of her shirt to wrap a small bandage around Blaze's hind leg. Then Aqua did the same to hers, wrapping some of the purple cloth around her ankle. Then Aqua tied one around Alice's wrist. And finally, rather unwillingly, Aqua tied one around Shadow's neck. "We're a team now. Whether we like it or not. So i think we'd better start looking like one." She nodded to each of the members. "We all have a different skill. Mine, for example, is healing. And Alice's is cooking. Blaze... what is your skill? And shadow, yours?" She glanced at the two.


"And also... Should we have a name? Or would that be too cheesy?"

Blaze settled her head on her hands in a very un-fox-like way. She pondered the question. "I'm a good navigator. I have a good nose and I get some of my air navigating skills from my mom-" Blaze felt like punching herself. Oops...

Aqua nodded at Blaze. It was true that she was a very good navigator. "And you're fast, too," Aqua said, watching Blaze's tail swishing back and forth. "It's always good to be able to react quickly."

Aqua thought about what Blaze had said. Air navigation? Was Blaze's mom some sort of pilot? Or could she... could she fly?
"Blaze," Aqua said, looking up solemnly. "Who is your mother? We need to know. You are part of us now."

"I think it would be cheesy to have a name." Alice said with a happy tone of voice. Shadow smiled and said "Well Aqua I'm good at making love.". Alice smacked shadow and said "You pervert! She didn't want to know that and nether did me and blaze! Sorry about that guys my brother is a bit of a pervert. You can sue him for sexual harassment if you want.".

Blaze suddenly found an interest in the forest floor. She knew Aqua's piercing gaze was resting on her and so were the others'. She felt her face break out in a sweat. "I-I can't... can't tell..." She tried to make them understand that this was the reason she had been kicked off the human world. "I can't tell you." she said more firmly this time. "I already made this mistake once. The second time they kill and there's no stopping it." She turned away in embarrassment that she was keeping a secret from her friends. "I'm sorry," Blaze said sadly, "But there's nothing I can do."

"It's fine Blaze you don't have to tell us." Alice said that with a faint smile on her face. Alice started to make a fire so she could roast them. After she made the fire she went to the apple tree and picked some. When she came back to the fire she grabbed some sticks and put the apples on the sticks. Then she placed the sticks with the apples on them in the ground next to the fire.

Aqua giggled at Shadow. She liked him a lot, he was so funny.
But she wasn't satisfied with Blaze's answer. Who had bullied Blaze into not telling anyone? And couldn't Blaze understand that she was wounding the team by not telling them? Without information, they wouldn't be able to stop the Damned. And that was the whole reason they came to this damn world... wasn't it?

How could Blaze not understand that she was safe with them? Aqua knew Alice wouldn't let Blaze die. Aqua wouldn't either. Blaze was definately safe with them. Why, WHY couldn she see that.
Aqua sighed in frustration and turned to Alice. "Can I help?"

Alice looked at Aqua and said "Well...You can go get some more apples. We'll need more for what I'm making. And if you can could you get some fish from the river over there?". Alice could tell Aqua was frustrated but Alice didn't know why. "Aqua is something wrong?" Alice said with a worried look on her face.

"Ye- No.... No. Nothing's wrong." Aqua turned abrubtly and stalked over to the stream, where she kneeled motionless on the edge. She thought as she waited for fish to come. Should Aqua persue Blaze and try to figure out who Blaze's mother was and what Blaze's story was? Aqua's hand flashed out as she grasped a fish out of the water. She slapped it down on the bank. But would Blaze eventually tell Aqua? She doubted it. Blaze was keeping her secret... hugging it tightly... but WHY? Splash. Another firsh. Aqua grabbed them and jogged lightly back to Alice. "Here," She said, dropping them by her feet.

The she left and went to get some apples. Aqua stuggled to climb the tree's wide branches. If Alice had been here, she could have climbed from branch to branch in seconds. Aqua balanced on a branch and slowly reached towards an apple with one hand. Slowly, slowly...

Her fingers met the smooth surface of the apple and she tugged on it to loosen it. But it wouldn't budge. Another hand had made it there at the same time.
Aqua screamed. A boy with dark hair peered out between the branches. His eyes were a deep green color and his spiky hair was jet black. He put a pale finger to his lips and smiled faintly.
"Shhh... I won't hurt you..." He murmered. Aqua started to back away, grasping the branches with her hands. Her eyes were wide. Who was this stranger?

Alice looked at Aqua and said "okay, but is anything is bothering you know you can always tell me..." When Aqua left Alice frowned. Alice knew SOMETHING was wrong. When Aqua returned with the fish Alice said "Thank you Aqua.". Alice was gutting the fish she herd some commotion at the Apple tree. So Alice put the fish down and went to the apple tree to see if something was wrong. When Alice got there Aqua was hanging off a branch and there was a guy there to. "Aqua is every thing okay?" said a little confused. Alice grabbed a branch and climbed up the tree then she sat on the branch next to Aqua and offered Aqua her hand and said "Need some help?".

"Erm... Yes, please, Alice." Aqua was red with embarrasment. The boy stared at her with amusement.
"It's rude to stare," Aqua snapped, glaring at him. His smile widened, revealing two sharp canines.
Aqua gave a little shriek. "You're... you're a vampire!!" She whispered, whitening.

"Yes." His voice was like honey. He offered a hand. "I'm Jac."

Aqua lifted a trembling hand and shook Jac's freezing cold pale one. "Aquamarine," she mumbled. "But call me Aqua."

Alice was surprised when Aqua said that boy was a vampire. "Cool! I've never met a vampire before. My names Alice." Alice said with a smile on her face. Alice wanted to shake hands with Jac but she was still helping Aqua up. "Stop squirming Aqua. You're going to make me fall!" Alice said.

"Sorry, Alice," Aqua said, her eyes still on Jac. Where..where are you from? She asked, while Alice helped her lower herself to the ground. Once she touched the floor, there was a soft thump as Jac landed beside her.

"I come from life. Its I live on its tongue, breathe its breath, and survive on the springs that run in it. I am part of Earth." He stared solemnly at Aqua under that long spiky black hair. His green eyes shone, and Aqua knew he was telling the truth.

"I see..." She said, not seeing. "Well. Uhm. Let's go back to our camp and introduce you to the rest, shall we?" She took Alice's hand and marched her firmly away from Jac. He followed with long, graceful strides.
"There are more?" He said, licking his lips.

Alice was confused when Jac said "I come from life. Its I live on its tongue, breathe its breath, and survive on the springs that run in it. I am part of Earth.". She just smiled and said "okay...". When Aqua grabbed Alice's hand and dragged her to the others Alice said "Ow! You're hurting my hand Aqua! Let go! Are you trying to smother my hand to death?. Alice took her hand from Aqua. Alice looked at Jac and said Yeah there are more. Theirs Blaze and unfortunately my brother Shadow.".

Aqua saw anger in Alice's eyes when Aqua had grabbed her. But couldn't she see Jac was a potential dager? Hadn't she noticed the red gleam in his eye when he learned there were more people? How could Alice not see...?

Aqua stared back at Jac. He looked serious but innocent, sort of like a little boy. His pale skin was smooth and flawless. He seemed... alright. So why did Aqua's instincts tell her to get away from him? Jac noticed her staring and smiled at her. Aqua quickly turned and looked ahead, embarrassed.

A few minutes later they were at camp. Blaze was sleeping peacefully on a boulder. She was still in fox form, her legs sprawled across the rock. Aqua decided not to wake her, not yet.
"Shadow!" Aqua called, looking around. "Where's your brother?" She said to Alice.

Suddenly Aqua felt like someone was watching her. Of course. Jac. It was almost as if his stare was making ice out of the sweat on that was running down her back. Aqua did not turn. She knew if she did, she would meet those deep green eyes and be hypnotized by them once more. And Aqua still wasn't sure about Jac.

"Jac. Do you expect to spend the night here?" She said, avoiding his gaze.

"It all depends on if you want me or not. But... to be honest, I have been waching this little... 'team' for a few days and I decided I wanted to be part of it." He smiled uncertainly at her. "If you'll have me."

Aqua didn't know what to say. This... young man wanted to join the team? And he thought he could get what he wanted just by asking his way in? It wouldn't do.
"Jac," Aqua said firmly. "We can't accept you like this. We need someone with skills we can benefit from, and most of all, loyalty. To join, you would have to stay with us one week and carry out our chores. In other words, we will consider accepting you if you pretend you are part of us for one week." Aqua watched Jac's expression carefully. His smile did not waver. "And," She added hastily, trying to make him more uncertain about wanting to join, "You will have to complete all the tasks, quests, and tests that we assign you during that time."
Aqua looked at Alice, her gaze saying simply Do you think I've made the right decision?

((Wow, uber long post o_o sorry everyone lol))

Alice looked around frantically for her brother. Alice frowned and yelled "Shadow if you don't get you're but over hear I'm not letting you have diner and I'll beat you to a pulp!" Alice was shocked at what she herd. "Hold up! You've been watching us? And you want to join the team? Alice said. Alice eye twitched "Okay, you know I've been trying to stay calm and not panic and freak out today. And I'm having a hard time because my friends nearly died, I was kidnapped, and We found a girl that was half dead on the beach. As you can see I've had a lot on my plate today. I don't think I can put up with another person to have to feed, protect, and worry about. But, I guess I can consider having another person on the team, As long as I don't have a hart attack. So if you do join then you better last! I mean it! You can't die on me man! If you pass the er test then I guess you can join. But if I find you sucking any my friends blood then consider you're self dead meat! Alice said while her eye was twitching. Alice sighed and said "I think I need to eat and get some rest but first I need to find my brother..." Alice placed her hand on her eye that was twitching. Shadow came bursting out of the bushes. He had a few rabbits in his mouth. Shadow walked over to the fire and placed the dead rabbits there and said "I'm back with some more food every-" Shadow glared at Jac and said "who is that?" shadow said with displeasure.

Aqua started worrying about Alice. Her left eye was red and swollen, and she looked exhausted. "Alice. You need to rest. You've lasted this whole day and now i think we should all sleep for a bit. It's getting dark. And we obviously all have a lot on our minds."

"Shadow, meet Jac. He's a... vampire. We're goig to let him stay for a week, and if he proves himself to be useful, he will stay."
Aqua started organizing the sleeping bags in a soft patch of grass. She made sure to put Jac's further from the others.
"Bed straight after dinner!" She called to everyone. "Those apples look great, Alice!! You're the best cook in the world."

Shadow growled at Jac and said "I'm keeping my eye on you boy!". Alice smiled and said "Thank you Aqua. Dinner should be ready now.". Alice put her hand on the ground and chanted a few words to a spell. She lifted her hand up and 4 flat stones the size of dinner plates rose from the ground. Alice washed the stone plats off and set the food on them and said "Okay everyone it's time to eat.".

Aqua took her plate and helped herself to the apples. There were delicious, slightly crispy but soft and sweet inside.
"Mmmm," She said, her mouth full. "Yummy."

((I think i have writer's block D: I can't think of anything to write ))

Alice smiled and said "Thank you Aqua. I did a good job cooking the apples. You can't tell that this was my first time making them!. Alice looked at Jac for a moment and then she said "Soooo Jac do you have any family?"

((I think I have a bit of writer's block to!))

Jac stared at the girl. She had asked him if he had any family. Didn't she know vampires rose from ashes of roses?
"...No. I don't," He said. "And you?" He said, trying to make conversation.