Callista felt a stab of worry flit trough her at the mention of Violet's death, though she knew Talis was right. It still made her feel sad, and heartboken but she managed to stifle the emotions. "I know you're right, but that doesn't mean I can't ... Mourn him." Her voice broke a little while a few tears welled up at the corner of her eyes, but that was all the young woman let herself show the dragon. He was dead, or as good as dead. Callista wasn't going back on her word, especially not since she knew it was the only way to be truly free. Still ... "Will you promise me though, that his death will be quick and painless? Please, that's all I ask!" Her mind was working frantically as she touched the fang, worrying at it with her fingers and slipping off a slender thread of spell, severing it and making it disappear. It was so tiny, and not a great part of the other working, so it didn't tax Calli. Not one bit.

Talis ran a hand through his hairs, scratching at his scalp just lightly. "You're free to mourn him. Just, you shouldn't waste tears for someone like him. Save your tears for someone that's worth it." Talis was frowning deeply, and when Callista asked him to promise, a stab of pain went through his heart. She was his friend, and hated not being able to assure her that he could or would give Violet an easy death. Talis shook his head. "No. His death will be slow, I will make sure he suffers before I finally give him to the sweet embrace of death. He does not deserve an easy death." Callista would be upset by that, he was sure, but better to tell the truth than to lie to her face.

The young woman frowned and let out a sigh instead of letting her tears fall. Turning from the dragon, she mumbled silently to herself for a few moments. Callista was rather torn between warring emotions, and contrary wants. The mage wanted to believe that Violet could change, that he did have some good in him, but his actions showed otherwise. And it was only truly because of this misplaced belief that she'd fallen for him. Though the time had been short, the silver haired woman was already realizing that because again and again she was thrown before this fact.

"Talis, I'm not arguing the fact that he deserves to know pain but for my sake please make his death quick. I know by freeing you I shall be ending his life, so give me this small comfort." She let him know, in a round about way that all she wanted to know was that it was a fast death. It was a compromise of sorts. Fast, quick, but in all probability painful. Turning back to the dragon, she bit her lower lip and tugged harshly at her hair.

"I cannot." He spoke the words grimly, but with a tone of finality. He could not, and he would not assure her of such a thing. "I will not lie to you. If I told you what you wanted to hear it would only be a lie. I will not comfort you with lies." His golden eyes were bright, fierce almost, but he wasn't angry. Just a little annoyed. Why did she plead so hard for the cruel man? Talis didn't really understand it, nor did he really want to. "Try not to think about it. Your thoughts shouldn't be haunted by things like that. Think of something else and put that man and his fate far from your thoughts."

"B-but I don't know how to forget. I'm trying, but it's not working." Lip trembling a little, the young woman turned her eyes from the fierce sight Talis offered. It seemed like such an easy thing for him to hate, to hate and not care. He'd been caged for so long though, she supposed she couldn't blame him. But her, it had only been a few years. Callista had always been naively forgiving, and trusting. It didn't seem like that had changed, even with her years of slavery. "I don't suppose you would know a way?" The young woman wanted to forget, she truly did, but it was such a difficult thing to do.

Murmuring softly in the fox's ear, he hugged Lily close. Sure, they were lying down on snow but Nereus felt so warm. It seemed like it had been forever since the knight had felt like he could actually trust someone. "My sweet Lily," pausing to place a light kiss upon the other's lips Nereus then went on,""I don't know how I've managed without you." He still clung to the other man silently seeking just a little more comfort, but at the same time trying to show his affection, and perhaps even love, for the fox eared man.

Talis sighed softly he was frowning, he didn't like saying cruel things to her. Surely that's what his words were, cruel. Lying to her would have been far worse though. "I don't know a way to help you forget. I think that's something you would have to find on your own." The dragon started to walk away, moving down towards the area where Lily and Nereus had disappeared at. As far as he was concerned this conversation was over, and the fox and human had been gone far too long for his liking. Still he moved slowly, he really didn't want to go bursting through the forest if they were doing something intimate.

Lily nuzzled Nereus softly, murring with contentment. His hears twitching lightly as Nereus murmured softly to him. His fluffy tail twitched and swayed. He smiled softly at the kiss. "Sometimes..people don't know what they were missing until after they've found it.." He whispered the words softly. It was something he had heard a long time ago, where or when he couldn't remember. Lily wriggled a bit as he laid against Nereus' chest, nuzzling and kissing at any easily reachable pieces of flesh on the other man. "..Calli and Talis will be worried about us...we should go back before they come looking for us.." That and if Lily laid here any longer like this, he would probably be ready for another romp very soon. Lily pressed his lips against Nereus', kissing him softly.

Smiling in agreement, the white haired man licked at Lily's lips softly. He didn't want to move, but soon enough a panicked voice filled the air around the two making Nereus grimace. Gently squeezing Lily tightly against him, the knight then pushed him aside lightly. Grabbing his clothing the man dressed quickly then bent down to offer the fox a helping hand. "Time to go love." Nereus looked forward to the day when they found a safe haven for themselves and could finally take the time to simply be together. This had just begun, and already it was frustrating the knight.

There was certainly a way to help her forget, but Callista was far too reluctant to voice it aloud. It was hard to even think of asking Talis, anyone really, to kiss her so she could see if her feelings for Violet were still strong and true. Mulling over such things, her head wiped around when a probing sensation brushed over her. Making a face, the young woman ran to Talis and tugged at his arm lightly. "He found another mage, or someone else is looking for us. We need to leave now!" Capturing the last sentence up in a gust of wind, she threw it out to Nereus and Lily.

Talis blinked when Callista ran to him and tugged on his arm. Golden eyes flashing fiercely for a moment at the thought of fighting Violet's men. He shook his head slightly. "He's probably offering a very large reward.." Talis grabbed Callista's wrist gently and tugged her along behind him. It didn't matter if they caught Lily and Nereus being intimate, they had to go. So he rushed off the path and went in the direction Lily and Nereus had gone in, pulling Callista along with him. He stopped suddenly, his eyes on Nereus and Lily. The two were dressed and up. That was good.

Lily's ears twitched a bit and he frowned. When Nereus pushed him aside gently, he pouted lightly. He didn't really want to move some more, he had pouted because he had been very comfortable laying against Nereus like that. Though he knew they had to go, he didn't want to. When Nereus offered him a hand, he took it and stood. Ears twitching and blinking softly as he righted his own clothing and tugged that short dress down a bit. He smiled slightly as Talis and Callista came into view, but he didn't say anything.

Letting herself be tugged along behind Talis, Callista was relieved to see that both Lily and Nereus seemed to be in a good mood. Of course she suspected what had happened but that wasn't important. "I might be able to find a way to get us clothing and such when we get there." She could start creating and selling small charms that would sell quickly. Callista had done so before a few times, and was certain she could do so again with even the most sparse of materials. Glancing up at Talis, she tugged lightly at her silvery hair with worry.

Tugging Lily in close for a hug, the knight glanced up at the others and smiled slightly in their direction. The blush staining his cheeks made it obvious that they had been up to something intimate and he hoped not a word about it would slip from the other's lips. "Alright well, we should probably stick to the forest for a while, and then rejoin the road nearer to the city. Luckily it's a rather large one, so we have a change of losing our pursuers there." He doubted that would happen, but Nereus didn't stop himself from hoping. With a disguise for all of them, there was a chance especially since people were looking for a group of three, and not four, people.

Talis ignored the blush on Nereus' cheeks. There was more important things to focus on than teasing the human. For now at least. "If I could change my form, I could fly you all miles and miles from here. In such a short time. I could take you all to safety." Talis grit his teeth, his hands clenching into tight fists. "I would fly you somewhere beyond Violet's reach." The dragon felt useless, he wasn't really worried about his own safety. But the safety of his friends, including Nereus, was rather important. Anger burned in his golden eyes and his look was fierce. He really did want to kill Violet, then his friends would be safe, and so would a bunch of other people. The world could do without people like Violet.

Lily clung to Nereus, his eyes on Talis. It made the fox pout for a few moments, then he shook his head. He slipped his hand in Nereus' and gave it a slight squeeze, a little tug. "..We should hurry then.." Lily was eager to put as much distance as he could between him and Violet and Violet's men. A shiver ran down his spine and he was frowning a bit. Maybe he should just go hand himself back over to Violet. He was almost certain that man would leave his friends alone if he just returned to him. Lily didn't want to go back though, but..for his friends, he just might.

Moving to press a gentle hand against the dragon's arm, Callista ended up wrapping her arms around him. Squeezing Talis lightly, the young woman looked up at him with determination as she backed away from him. "You know I'm doing everything I can to set you free, I'm so sorry that it's taking so long. If I could I would break all the spells binding you in a heartbeat." It was just taking so long, and took longer because they were running. If that had not been the case, Calli would have been able to concentrate all her efforts on helping her friend.

Shaking her head, she turned from him and followed Nereus as he moved away into the trees.

The knight tugged Lily lightly along behind him. He felt bad for Talis, but they needed to move in order to escape. His breakdown had already delayed them long enough for someone to find them. Hopefully they could get away quickly enough that these people didn't catch up with them, if not ... "Lily, if someone catches up I want you to run with Callista." Looking over his shoulder to lock eyes with the dragon, he smiled grimly in his direction. "Talis and I will fight them off and find you two later." All the while the knight was forging a path trough the underbrush and snow covered ground as he spoke.

When Callista hugged him, Talis expression had softened a bit and he had reached up to pat her lightly on the head. "I know you are and I know you'll set me free, I don't really care how long it takes. I just wish I could do more than what I'm limited too by this body." He moved to follow them. "Fight them, I won't fight them, I'll kill them. But he's right, Lily, you and Callista will have to run. Fast and far if it comes to that." He ran a hand through his hair, glancing over his shoulder as he followed the others into the trees.

Lily held tightly to Nereus hand. The fox only nodded at what Nereus and Talis said. He knew what they wanted him to do, if things came to it. He also knew what he would have to do to keep all of his friends safe. Lily wouldn't run away, he would do what he had to, he would give himself up to protect the others. Of course, he didn't tell them that. They would disagree, they would try to stop him. His tail flicked gently behind him.

The mage and the knight moved forward silently, both pondering their own thoughts. The silver haired woman wanted nothing more then to stop this constant need to escape by ending the life of that man, the lord who'd captured her. Callista was resigned to the fact that he would meet his end now. The fact that this would be partially her fault rankled, but she voiced it not. No, instead she glanced at the dragon who closed their little party and smiled a little for him. Freeing him, it haunted her ever thought now. She tried to chase away imaginings of how their parting would be, to replace it with other things. It was a difficult task.

The knight was busy thinking of a way to escape their pursuers. Or at least, he searched for a way for the two less battle ready of their group to escape. Pulling the fox man behind him at a steady pace, Nereus let out a small sigh. It didn't appear like any of them would find that happy ending they so longed for. "Lily, everything will be just fine." The words were spoken as the sound of baying hounds reached the little group's ears. A hunting party was fast coming their way, and they were the prey. Nereus grimaced and glanced to Talis. It seemed like their words would have to be proven much sooner then they had thought, and the next town was so close too!

"I'll buy you guys some time. Keep going, don't look back, I'll catch up with you. If they make it past me, Nereus, you'll have to protect them. At least this way you'll make a bit more headway if I distract them." Talis had stopped moving, he had turned his back to the others. He stood ready to face the hunters and their hounds. His golden eyes burned fiercely, and his tone voice had left no room for argument. He didn't glance over his shoulder to see if they kept going. He expected them to keep going, he was certain he could handle their pursuers easily enough.

Lily had jumped slightly, and then Talis was telling them to keep going. The fox looked back at the dragon and frowned deeply. Of course he trusted Talis and he knew the dragon as right. It could give them more time. Lily hesitated and nearly stumbled, but his grip on Nereus' hand tightened. "We should trust Talis and keep going." Lily didn't want to leave the dragon behind, and it was hard to say those words, but he intended to do exactly what Talis had said. He glanced at Nereus and at Callista.

Only glancing back for a brief moment, the knight nodded towards the dragon. Once they reached the city everything would be easier. Nereus had a few friends in the city. Well they were more like business acquaintances who helped him get supplies for various journeys, then friends. Either way, from them they would be able to get everything the four of them needed.

Setting a hasty pace, Nereus knew that at the rate they were going it wouldn't be more then half an hour before they reached the thriving city. So many people passing trough, exotic and strange one and all. It would be an easy feat to get lost with them.

The silver haired mage looked back at the dragon and stopped in her tracks. She was terrified of losing Talis. And there was that little thought she'd had. It would only take a second. Turning around Callista leaped towards Talis and placed her lips upon his for a quick, but surprisingly emotion filled kiss. Pulling back with a blush, and heart beating fast, Calli let out a small sigh. "You had better catch up to us soon, or ... or ... Just find us again." Quickly running away to catch up with the others the worry filled mage did her best not to think about Talis and how much danger he was in. The man was a dragon, and he had access to at least some of his powers. He would be just fine.

She didn't even notice how quickly they reached the city. The young woman was far too preoccupied with Talis to care.