Dante Navare


Amber Marie

Cassidy Hawksly

Nicholas Ravenworth

Amber ran through the tunnels with guards shouting at her. She did not make a sound but ran on as quick as possible. She had to get out of this horrid place and to a place that was safe. She ran faster than the guards and it was not long till she made it to a door. She kicked one of the guards guarding the door in the stomach and the other one she kneed in the groin. They both fell down groaning with pain. She shot past them and made it safely to the outside. She took a deep breath and continued to run. When she made it out of the palace she ran straight into a knight on a horse. She fell backwards her legs over her head and cried out.
"Watch where your going."

Dante looked at the girl a moment and then at the guards after her and grinned. He scooped her up onto his horse and took off at a gallop. As he rode his mind drifted.

"I love you so much Cassidy." "I love you to Dante." Their lips met in thier first kiss. Suddenly the doors to the library burst open and the bishop approached.
"You are under arrest Dante. You should never flirt with my girl."
Dante held onto her tightly. He would not give her up this easily.
"We love each other and you can not have her."

(I figure we can do this part together in bold and italic as the story goes on. For benifit of those reading. You can do the next part whenever you wish. )

A thief. How dare those imbeciles let a common thief get into his domain? How dare they?! Nicholas Ravenworth was not happy. Then again when was he ever? But that was besides the point. Today he was furious. Not only had they let a thief into his home they'd let her escape. Without apprehending her long enough to interrogate her. Could they possibly be any more imbecilic? No..they couldn't. They could have been as silly as that young flighty girl that had dared to disobey him. He was a bishop. One did not disobey a bishop with out serious repercussions. The sad thing was he'd loved her. He'd been head over heels for her and she'd been too young to possibly understand that. But she'd also been naive and that had worked to his advantage for a while. Until she'd met that accursed knight. But that was ok..he'd showed them both. His thin unsmiling lips curved up in just the faintest of smirks as allowed his mind to wander down memory lane.

He'd had his suspicions. Cassidy had seemed more dazed than usual. He'd always had a hard time catching her attention but as of recently her eyes had seemed brighter somehow and she'd just glowed. He wanted to believe that had something to do with him. He really did but in the end he'd let his suspicions get the best of him. So one night he'd followed her with a couple of guards in tow. He would put a stop these secret rendevous. But he hped he was wrong. For both his and her sake he prayed he was wrong.

Standing outside the partially opened library door he heard everything. He'd known it...exhaling slowly he strode forward pushing the door open his pale thin face a mask of uncontrolled fury as he pinned his dark brown almost black gaze on the passionately embracing couple. "You are under arrest Dante for attempting to seduce my girl." he spat jerking a hand forward in a silent command for the guards to do their job and dispose of this pest. Stepping forward he roughly grabbed a hold of Cassidy and jerked her away from him. "And you my dear are going to be confined to your quarters until he is properly disposed of. No soon to be wife of mine is going to be tramping around behind my back like some..some common whore!" he blustered. He'd intended to go on with his rant but just as soon as he opened his mouth to continue Cassidy's gloved palm had connected solidly with his cheek in an angry slap.

He was jarred out of thoughts by the sound of pained shouts. What on earth was going on? He strode over to the nearest window his enraged expression turning even more frightening as he saw his men on the ground and the thief escaping on horseback. They'd told him she'd arleady escaped..and the entire time she'd still been with in reach! Those fools!

Because it was daylight Cassidy could have no say or part in the events that were occuring. All she could do was watch. And while she'd admit having the eyes of a hawk did have some benefits it wasn't helping her mood any. And right now she was..jealous? No not jealous exactly but she certainly wasn't approving of the girl clinging to her Dante! She let out a piercing shriek as she folded her wings in close and dropped several fet until she hovered over Dante's shoulder her piercing green eyes focused on both him and the girl. Did he know her? How had he met her?

Yes it was silly of her to be this possesive but what girl wouldn't be just a tad bit protective of her loved one if she were stuck in this situation? Situation wasn't the best word to describe what she was going through. But she could hardly think of any word to better describe it. By day she was a hawk and by night she was human. And by day he was human but by night he was a wolf. She couldn't talk to him. She couldn't hug him...she couldn't do anything! And it infuriated her to no end. Why she wished she could go back to that night and change everyting. But..would it have really ended any differently? She'd asked her self that over and over ever since she'd first been changed by now..now she just wanted to forget it all. Giving another piercing shriek she unfolded her wings soaring up to hover just over two as she looked down on them her disapproval clear.

Dante rode the horse close enough to the guards to yell at them.
"Tell his highness the bishop that Dante is back and he will pay for what he has done to me."
With that he rode off full speed towards his house. He did not really have a house but he rented a place from farmers in order to be able to rest and relax while he was in this area. He pulled his horse up to its hitching post and stepped down dropping the girl gently on the ground. He put his arm out waitng for his hawk.......His hawk.

"No you can not have her." He fought with all his might to get them guards away from him. He tore after the bishop.
"She is mine. I love her and she loves me. You can not take her from me every again."

He thought about those words. Those were the words that had set the bishop off. He could not let another man lay claim to the girl he loved. He wanted her so badly. Navare did not know how bad his love was and how much it would cost him.
He looked at the girl.
"What is your name?"

Amber yelled as she was scooped up. Who was this guy and what right did he have to grab her when she was doing just fine on her own. When he dropped her on the ground she gazed up at him. She could not explain it but she liked him. He seemed like a real nice guy. But she did not appreciate being randomly grabbed up like that and drug to this guys house where he would do who knows what with her.

"My name is Amber. Now who are you and why am I here?"

Angling her wings slightly, Cassidy wheeled over Dante and the strange girl. 'The eyes of a hawk.' Such a silly expression and yet it was so true. She'd always had good sight before the change but now..now her sight was that much better. It was both a blessing and a curse. Why? Well for starters she noticed so many more details. Everything was bigger and brighter and sharper in focus. Like Dante. She'd thought him perfect before with his fair hair and his flawless complexion. Her opposite in every way and yet she'd still been drawn to him. Why? If she hadn't been drawn to him she wouldn't be stuck like this as some silly bird! Never mind that she was a strong powerful bird of prey she was still completely cut off from the human world! What did it matter if she had the freedom to soar amongst the clouds? She had freedom alright but there was naught she could do with it. All she could do was watch and wait and hope. And had it worked yet? Obviously not!

Cassidy was brought out of her thoughts by a sudden movement instantly her eyes darted towards it. Seeing Dante holding his arm out she neatly tucked her wings in close to her body and rocketed downwards. Just moments before she passed her intended target she snapped her wings out slowing her rapid descent until she was moving slow enough to perform a graceful landing on his outstretched arm. Listening to Dante and Amber speak her head kept turning her eyes looking back and forth between them. Her eyes narrowed sharply as she heard just how rudely Amber talked to Dante. Her eyes narrowed into deadly slits and she let out a soft chirp her beak clicking sharply. 'What a rude girl! He saved your life! Do you really think you would have gotten away if he hadn't showed when he did! You should be thanking him!' she thought vehemently. Although..she did have to admire the girls courage. She wouldn't have had th enerve to do that..not after what had happened with Nicholas..

Cassidy looked up at Nicholas as she tugged back wards. "I don't love you. I love Dante. You can't keep me locked up here. You can' expect me to smile and curtsy when ever you demand it. You can't control me." she said softly. Slowly she backed away from him moving towards Dante only to slam to a stop as she finally noticed the guards and whirled only to find Nicholas moving into grab her arm and jerk her in the opposite direction from Dante.

Nichlas scowled as his hand gently pressed down on the angry red spot where Cassidy had just slapped him. Striding forward her roughly grabbed her arm and hauled out of the hallway and down the long hallway with the guards and Dante following after. "You will never be together! And I will make sure of that!"he spat making a sharp turn down a darker corridor and led them into an even larger and more imposing room...'

"Nice to meet you Amber. I am Dante and this is Cassidy."
He motioned to the hawk.
"The reason you are here is because I need your help. You escaped from the prison of aquilla and you escaped with your life. I need to get in there. I have some wrongs to right and the only way is to slip in and kill the bishop. Only then will my vengence be justified."

Justification. That was a laugh. Just the idea of it.

"Now you will see the true power of the church." The bishop tied them each to a table and pulling two potions from his shelf he poured them into their mouths giving them no option but to swallow.
"See each other as human no more. My day a man and she a hawk but by night a wolf and she a lady. If I can not be iwth her then you will not either nevare."

Amber stared at the man who looked about to cry.
"Why in the world would you name your bird Cassidy. That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of."

Dante looked back at her a moment.
"She is not only a bird. She is the love of my life. We both used to be humans and thanks to the bishop we can never be together as humans. She is a bird during the day and I am a wolf during the night. That is our curse and the only way I can end it is to kill the bishop. Then it will be over."

Cassidy bowed her head nobly when Dante motioned to her. For the moment she was perfectly complacent how ever when she heard what the other thought of her name her head jerked up her eyes narrowing into deadly slits. She didn't disagree with that statement when it was aimed at her situation but she was not dumb! She was far from it. She was a smart, educated girl stuck in a bird body! Squawking softly she threw her wings out almost smacking Dante upside the head as she unfolded them to their full length in an attempt to show just how scary she could be.

How ever her anger faded hearing Dante's rich voice as he explained. That's right. She was the love. Of his life. Even as a bird. Fluttering her strong wings once more she carefully folded them around her body her gaze focused on the girl. 'Dumb..you don't have much room to talk girl. You just angered the bishop. Now that was a dumb mistake.' she thought slowly edging closer so that she was practically cuddled against Dante.

(Sorry my post is so short. Since the Nicholas isn't there I can't really do anything with him and Cassidy can't speak at the moment. )

(nope its fine. I dont expect my posts will be super long come nightfall haha. And as long as its long enough to work with I am good :P)

Amber stared at him a moment with a frown.
"So you need me to kill the bishop huh? What do I get out of it then? I do not tend to do things for free. My help is never cheap." She figured she could make a good amount of money off of this guy and hopefully manage to get a few things accomplished with that money. Hopefully it would work out like that. She stared at the hawk a moment.
"So this is actually a girl?"

Dante frowned. He had not thought about paying this girl anything. He looked up at the sky.
"We will discuss payment later."
He threw his arm in an up motion for the bird to get off and took off running. He had to get away before he transformed. If he did not he would risk something he was not willing to risk. He quickly stripped off his clothes and ran as far away as he could. He could feel the change starting already. He could see black fur growing all over his body and his tail was coming out. As he ran he growled as his jaw elongated and teeth appeared. He howled loudly as he fully transformed into his wolf form.

If Cassidy had had a lip at that moment it would curled up in a sneer. Unfortunately she didn't have lips. Although she did have a sharp beak and her talons were deadly. Hmm maybe she could knock some sense into the girl. Then maybe she'd reconsider the price of her payment. Did it look like either of them had enough money to pay her hefty fee?Stretching her wings again she carefully began preening her feathers before she felt a sudden jerk under her. Her head jerked up and she instantly threw her wings out allowing the soft evening breeze to filter through her feathers as she soared upwards. Angling herself she flew in circles over them until she noticed Dante's fleeing figure. Time to go!

Like every evening she took off after him her sharp gaze focused on him as she followed him into the woods. Maybe tonight she'd catch a few moments alone with him while they were both human. Tucking her wings around her she dropped towards the ground until she snap her wings out and slow herd top so that she landed gracefully as her own change began. It wasn't painless as a matter of fact it was the opposite. Letting out a squawk she folded in on herself shivering and cringing as her bones grew and popped back into the proper place for a human. It was so slow..would it hurt for the change to pick up speed for just one night? The last of her feathers had just disappeared signaling the end of her change. Panting softly she looked up hoping to see him..and she did. But not as a human. She winced softly hearing his mournful howl and backed away her slender arms wrapping around herself as she walked back along the path pausing to pick up his shirt and tugging it on. While it fit him perfectly the large shirt hung off her slender figure as she exited the forest her thick dark hair hanging in tangles. Pinning her gaze on Amber she spoke her voice hoarse from lack of use during the daylight hours. "Well I guess its safe to say the bird has flown the coop." she murmured with a wry smile. Holding out a slim hand to the girl she introduced herself. "I'm Cassidy. The hawk." she clarified.

(Alright ^_^)

Amber stared at the girl a moment. She put out her hand.
"Hi Cassidy. Names Amber. Since your boyfriend is gone I guess that means I am free to leave."
She stood up and walked away slowly humming a tune to herself. She saw no reason to stay around here. She wondered where she was going to go. Perhaps back to Aquilla. She could go back to her old occupation of stealing. It would work well enough.

The wolf walked up to Cassidy and licked her hand. He did so love her. He wanted to be near her. He wanted to feel her touch on his body. He whined when Amber started to walk away and ran up to her tackling her to the ground.

Amber yelped.
"Get off of me you mangey mutt."
She pushed the wolf off and stood back up trying to walk away again but he grabbed her long hair and pulled her back towards him. He whined at her.

Cassidy gave Amber's hand a firm squeeze before she let go running a hand through her tangled hair in some attempt to tame the dark wild snarls and curls framing her face. "You can't leave. Like Dante said we need your help. Sure we could discuss some type of suitable payment for you. We don't have much but what ever we do have we'd gladly pay if you'd just help us." Cassidy murmured. Her face was calm coll and business like but on the inside she raged. Dante had saved her life! What more could this girl ask for? She was alive. She was still human where as if she'd been caught by the bishops guard she'd be neither of those things. This girl owed Dante! She opened her mouth to let her verbal darts fly but she stopped feeling a warm damp tongue pressing against her hand. She looked down her angered expression fading. She smiled faintly allowing her hands to run through his fur her slim fingers easily burrowing past the coarse upper layer of fur to softer secondary layer.

Her full lips curled up in a soft smile as Dante romped forward to knock Amber to the ground. "The way I see it Amber you have you two choices: stay and help willingly. Or stay and help with Dante dragging you about by your hair. If I were you I'd go with the first option. Wolf slobber is a challenge to get out of your hair.." she mused amiably making her way towards the two before she grasped Dante at the thick ruff of fur around his neck and tugging backwards. "Let go Dante. Maybe we can convince her to help us in another more civilized way."

The wolf whined letting her hair fall from his mouth. He stared up at Cassidy his eyes full of love and devotion. He was a very loyal wolf. He loved her as a wolf and as a human. Nothing would make him stop loving her. He licked her hand gently and then walked over to Amber and sniffed her. He stared deep into her eyes and cried some more.

Amber sighed standing up.
"Fine I will hang around for one more day but you two had better have answers for me. I need to know exactly what is going on here and why you guys think you need me to help you."

Cassidy gently scratched behind Dante's ear to try and cheer him up some. She knew he was miserable it wasn't like he was alone in this situation. But right now she couldn't focus on their misery. She had to focus on trying to get out of this. Watching Amber stand up she nodded softly. "Alright. Would you like to go inside?" she asked motioning towards their small house. Ok maybe house was the was the wrong word. But shack didn't necessarily apply to their humble abode either. Shaking off her roving thoughts she quietly moved towards the house opening the door and waiting for their guest to step inside.

Once Amber had stepped inside Cassidy's brow creased softly in a frown. Where to start. Did she start before the curse had been put in place? Or did she start afterwards? No maybe she needed to before all of that. But it was such a long story..oh what the heck. She had nothing but time to spend waiting for the sun to rise. And then..well after it was back to her usual schedule.

Dante walked into the house and curled up on a chair. It was his chair and wolf or human he was going to use it. He let out a slight sigh and stared at Cassidy with love in his eyes.

Amber walked in and sat down on another chair. She stared at the wolf and smiled. Then she looked at the girl.
"So lets hear it."

Cassidy smiled faintly in Dante's direction as she paced around the small room. "Alright alright. Just give me a moment to gather my thoughts." she murmured softly as she perched herself on the edge of Dante's chair so she'd have somewhere to sit. Sliding her hand under his muzzle she lifted his head just enough so that she could sit comfortably in the chair. Once she'd settled down comfortably she set his head down so that it rested innocently in her lap. "It all started years ago..arrangements had been made for my marriage to the bishop of a near by town. That bishop was Nicholas and for a short while things were fine after I'd been allowed to make my home in the bishop's presence. Without delay he began courting me. I was flattered but at the same time I was a bit terrified of him. I'd seen him go into fits of rage over the slightest mistake from one of his servants I'd heard him screaming obscenities at a poor scullery maid who'd forgotten to prepare his favorite. Such little things and yet he seemed so angry. I started avoiding him.." Cassidy looked up blushing faintly She'd been rambling but she couldn't just give Amber the abbreviated version because with in her ramblings there were details and hints of Nicholas character and the pain it could-would- bring into both hers and Dante's lives.

Exhaling slowly she glanced down giving the other to take in an analyze her ramblings. Biting her lip softly she gently ran her fingers through Dante's fur petting and scratching him as a momentary distraction so they could both get their thoughts in order.

Amber stared at her a moment letting all of this information absorb and trying to keep her thoughts focused. This was a lot to absorb. She knew very little of the bishop. All she knew is that when she was kidnapped she would either get killed or turned into a slave for him. She did not want to do any of those things. She smiled at Cassidy to encourage her to continue. She loved how close her and Dante seemed. They seemed to truly be in love and it was so wonderful.