It is in the middle of the dark ages, somewhere in Europe. For many, long years, humans have feared the half breeds, humans that have been mixed with animals, for an unknown reason. But whatever the case, the world is filled with the crossbred, and has long been hunted by the humans, discriminated against for their blood. However, times are changing. Now, humans are beginning to be less frightened by these half breeds, a time of peace seems to be nearing. But there are still those...who have other ideas.

It has been two years since Sarediss the snake king tried to destroy every man woman and child in the human world. He nearly succeeded, but a band of half breeds, the very people he was fighting for, thwarted him, sparing the humans of this kingdom for generations to come. Sarediss himself, escaped, and has been missing for some time. But the noble half breeds whose saved this kingdom have joined together to form their own tribe. It is called "Haven", and it is a place for all half breeds who wish to live in peace in this world. However, they are not the only ones to have joined together.

Large groups of half breeds, as well as dark humans, have joined together to meet their own ends. There are many tribes, and it seems a war could be coming. Will it simply be a feud...or will it determine what race will survive? What fate is in store...for the crossbred...

Join it here!
http://z11.invisionfree.com/Shadows_of_the...=399&st=0&#last
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarediss was kneeling before the alter, his every thought and movement sent to prayer. Before he had joined the Vor'Nass, he had never prayed before. However, now that he had been taken in, given a home, and another chance at life, he figured he had a lot to pray for, a lot of catching up on it to do. The Vor'Nass had introduced him to the Mother Goddess, a being who had created the world they lived in now, and whom granted blessings upon them. It had taken him awhile, but he had finally developed aan interest in this religion.

And so, here the snake king knelt. He knelt down to a small altar, in the high treetop home he had found himself living in. Sarediss looked around at his home, so different then the places he had been used to. It was dark, a darkness that would frighten some, but it gave the snake king comfort. He only left his home at night, for in the day time, he would easily be blinded by inhuman lights that coverred most of the world, seeking him out, seeking the day when it could claim his vision as it's own. In the distance, Sarediss could hear the windpipes of a Vor'Nass instrument being played. It was a very calming, relaxing tune, yet, in it's essence, almost haunting as it whisperred through the cold night. It somehow reminded Sarediss of what he had been through, and what he had lost to gain his own protection.

"Mother goddess..." Sarediss said out loud, turning back to his praying. "I am not much in the grand scheme of things, just a puppet...but, I ask of you three things, and three things alone. Please...help me bring honor to the Vor'Nass tribe, as well as the snakes that have served me all this time, for they deserve to be thanked well." He said, and became lost in his thoughts again. How long had it been? Two years? Only two? Sarediss could remember every moment as clearly as he could see. He rememberred travelling back to his fortress, in utter agony, having just barely escpaed death. Sarediss did not think it was his own strength that pulled him through, it must have been some form of divine intervention. By all scientific explanations, he should have perished that day, but he didn't. Sarediss could remember walking into his fortress, and finding it completely destroyed. His books had been burnt, some of the walls torn down, glasses broken, and worst of all...the snakes that had served him with their lives burnt to a crisp in that building.

It was then that Sarediss had realised, he had no more power,nothing left to bargain with, and needed a place to hide, to take shelter in as he started anew. It was then, that he went to the Vor'Nass. They had agreed to let him join, though some watched him suspiciously. Sarediss had been asked one thing, that he relieve himself of the souls, his main source of power, before he joined. Having no other option, Sarediss did just that, and now found his magic was incredibly weaker then it once had been. He could not even see through the snakes as far, though perhaps that was because there were less snakes.

"I also ask, that you help me regain the power I have lost, so i may better serve you and the Vor'Nass...."Sarediss said, turning back to his praying. But he had but one other request. He looked into the depths of his mind even further, to that final battle....

There Sarediss was, the snakes that had been brought in by the kings own ships attacking all the humans. Sarediss sat upon his new throne, about to kill the king, as the other half breeds arrived. They tried to stop him, betraying everything Sarediss fought for, but they failed. Sarediss was too strong. Far too strong. "Don't you see...I am a chance...a chance to no longer be questioned, hunted nor killed for being monsters. I have been chosen...I can lead us to freedom! I can make our races last for centuries. Together...we can-" he had said, as a sharp pain enterred his back. Sarediss had turned around, to look at a face he had not expected. Shadow Stalker...his adopted sister, her scorpion tail plunged deeply into his back wracking it with agony. "Wh-why..." Sarediss asked, as the poison spread through his body, making him fall to the ground. He squirmed, and tried to reach out for something, anything...that would help him.

He had been betrayed, by his own sister. The one person he had ever really trusted, had never meant to hurt, and it was her who had brought him down, who had stopped him. For that...Sarediss was to pay the ultimate price. He blacked out. They simply through his body out into the river, knowing him to be dead. But he wasn't...and as he awoke...Sarediss swore his revenge upon them...that was when he headed to his fortress...

So long ago it seemed, but Sarediss had not forgotten that oath. "and finally, mother goddess, please...please...help me get my revenge..." he said as his voice somehow unillingly became more angry. "Help me fight those who fought me...help medestroy them all....all the humans....and those wretched...treacherous half -breeds!!!!!"Sarediss said, and stopped. This was not the way to pray to a goddess. "I offer you everything I can give....if you will only help me..." He said to the alter, and stood up. It wouldn't be long now.....and THEn he'd get exactly what he wished for....

((will post as fox and Tyr later....long post...)

The winds moved under and over her big black wings as she soared towards a tree that had an outstretched branch, the sun was starting to annoy her; badly. She hissed and felt like she was on fire as her claws dug into the bark and she scampered down the trunk and hid herself in the shadows. True, she had adjusted more to the sun, but she still absolutely hated it. She sighed heavily as she folded her wings against her back and padded, through the shadows, towards a small den she'd made. She wasn't a wolf, but she did make herself a den in the ground, just so she could hide from the sun easily.

Her thoughts moved onto her brother, the one she had stabbed through the back, literally. She hated herself for doing it, but she had no choice... he had killed the one she loved, and had needed revenge. She yowled, and slumped down onto the ground, dirts and dust rising up and making her sneeze before she tucked her head under her large black wing, hoping to drive her memories away...

Her tail whipped around behind her as she padded up quietly behind Sarediss, her older brother. She knew what she was doing, knew it had to be done, but she still hesitated, but only for a moment. She held back her usual growl as she drove her tails end into her brothers back, her head was to the side, not looking at him when he turned and looked at her. She felt ashamed she had backstabbed him, more then just literally, but it was to late know.

"Wh-why..." Sarediss asked, as the poison spread through his body, making him fall to the ground. She finally looked at him, letting the rage that had built up after she found out he'd killed Locron show, as he squirmed, and tried to reach out for something that would help him, she let out a small hiss, her tail dripping both her poison and his blood. "Because brother... this is wrong, and you murdered the one I loved." She had said, but her words were to late, he was dead. Her head hung limply as she felt wetness come to her eyes, she'd felt these things, caled tears, so many times lately, it was enough to drive her crazy.

Her body shook as she yowled her pain for everyone to hear, before she leaped into the air, and soared away, her wings pounding hard against the air beneath as she tried to get away. But she knew she never would, this would stay on her shoulders for the rest of her life. She'd killed the one who had saved her from herself, the one who had allowed her to get her revenge for the petty sum of her soul. She didn't care about it, he had never abused her rights, used her wrongly..well that she would object to. And so she slew on, her wings flapping powerfully through the night air, searching for something, anything that would help her become 'good' and make her past fade.

She shook herself, forcing herself out of those thoughts, her ears perked up as she heard a faint whisper on the wind, but it was just her mind playing tricks. Her brother was dead, she wasn't hearing him, his soul.. nor his thoughts. She sighed heavily, and let herself fall back into her dream land, where she spent most of her days when she wasn't helping Fox and Earthsong with Haven. Her eyes closed as the gentle song of her memories faded to a lull, her mothers voice singing her lullaby, and even images of herself and Sarediss playing when she was just a kit, formed in her minds eye.

((Bleh.. time for bed.. school in a couple hours.. <_< ))

ooc: posting later today, can't at the moment- work.

Earthsong sighed loudly as she stared out at the hills of green grass and wild-flowers, the plants rolling for miles and miles. Her body relaxed slightly and she purred, feeling very content, as she lounged on a large treebranch, her tail swishing lazily.

Her ice blue eyes drooped slightly and her ears twitched, sleep suddenly lulling her body, as she placed her head on her crossed arms, using the powerful limbs as a pillow; soon enough, the she-hybrid would go to sleep...

At least, until something landed rather clumsily on the small of her back.

She let out a loud grunt, ears perking forward, before feeling small hands and feet scramble on her back, stopping on the top of her head.

Earthsong peeked an eye open, raising an eyebrow, when she saw the cute face of a wolf-lizard. He perked his ears up and his golden eyes twinkled, showing his excitement.

"Auntie Earthsong!" He cried, attempting to hug her neck from his position; sadly he couldn't accomplish it, instead he toppled over and off of her head with a yelp.

But, he didn't fall off the tree like he thought, for the wolf-cougar had caught him by the tail easily, raising her hand to look at him eye-level.

"You should be more careful, Blightpaw." She said, raising an eyebrow once again. He grinned, looking like a frown from his up-sidedown position, as he looked at his adoptive Aunt.

"I know. I'm just very excited!"

The she-hybrid cocked her head to the side, giving her adopted nephew a crooked smile.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah! My mother's allowing me to go on the Hunt for the first time, but as long as you take me along... Can you, Auntie?"

Earthsong rolled her eyes in mock thought, her upper fangs exsposing to nip lightly at her bottom lip. Blightpaw began to panic, waving his arms.

"Ne! Ne! PLEASE, Auntie?!" He asked frantically, giving the female a puppy dog face.

Earthsong laughed and unfolded her free arm from its crossed position, tapping her finger against the cub's nose.

"Of course I will. Let's just go and make sure it's okay with Fox, neh?"

She flipped the cub over and placed him on her shoulders, where he bounced with enthusiasm.

"Okay, Auntie! Thank you!!" He cried out joyfully, his little hands waving, as he placed a kiss on one of Earthsong's ears, making them twitch.

The female wolf-cougar smiled and continued towards the mansion they called home, following her adopted brother's scent to locate him.

The Sun had set, his last few rays dipping over the tree line, the pink-maroon streaked skies his bittersweet farewell. Mother Moon was on her way upward to race through the star-dappled heavens, ever on her search for her lost lover; Sun. Twilight was the time Lyrgra loved best, it was not the time when her body would start to wind down, but she would in fact be up for at least half the night yet.

The diner feasting had just ended, scores of lizard tribe-people milling around, getting ready to bed down. She cleared away the last of the dishes, placing them in a wash bin. Quickly she rinsed the dirty plates and bowls. She didn't waste time, knowing all too well that Sarediss would be waking soon, and wanting breakfast. The last of the dishes dried and put away she pulled out a plate that she'd stored near the flickering flames to keep warm. Nodding to fellow tribepeople as she went she walked over to Sarediss's hut, well tred walk-ways hung high in the dense branches of large trees.

At first she'd been not too happy being up so high. The rope bridges swung under her knocking knees, and the wind seemed to want to blow her over. Even the littlest breeze would make her grip on the ropes tighten and her knuckles blanch. But weeks up high slowly dulled her fears and calmed her nerves. But it could never satisfy the ache of the gaping hole in her chest where her heart should have been. When she first entered this village she'd been the opitamy of mess. Her fur was matted with fetid swamp mud, her eyes cold, unfeeling, and her mind as wild as her whole breed cousins. She remembered the faces, looks of unease she she was brought in... There was not much more than that, she remembered snippets at best. Chanting, a singing woman sighing prayers over her, a fire's warmth, more looks of concern. A tray of uneaten food pushed aside, ans tears, enough to pool at her side, but not enough to drown herself in.

And then she came back, her mind now broken of it's wild stupor, regained a level of consiousness. She became herself again, and she became a part of a community. The Vor'nass took her in, giving her shelter and in turn Lyrgra gave them her services. She could heal, and she could cook, and that is what she did, trying to forget what made the wind blow through the hole in her chest.

It didn't take her long to become familiar with every person within the tribe. But there was one, the very last for her to meet, who... what was the right word... Insipred her to keep going, to live like every day was a blessing. Sarediss was an enigma, and sometimes it seemed that she'd never understand him. He scared her the first time they met, but she instantly changed her mind. He was weak, fractured, nearly a shell of his former, (if there was such former power inside him.) She felt sush sorrorw for him, and if she had a heart it would have went out to him. But alas, none of the feelings she wanted she showed to him. What he saw was the same fractured, empty soul that she saw in him. Perhaps it was destined they meet.

She reached his hut, knocking ever so slightly on the door frame, and as he was obviously not there, she waited, wanting him to appear. Unknowing of his visit to the temple.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fox was in the mansion looking out the window as one of the other half breeds sat down and talked to him. For this reason, Fox was feeling a bit down. They had decided to keep this quiet, but the fact of the matter was, the mansion was not enough. They had been letting in anyone who needed shelter, a home, food, and protection from anyone who wished to hurt them. The problem was, there were a lot more crossbreds out there then Fox had realised, and they didn't have enough rooms for all of them. Another problem was, they were also going to run out of food, not for a few months, but soon if they did not figure out a way to prevent it.

"I hate to say it Fox, but we might have to stop accepting everyone....we just can't do it..." the other crossbred said.His name was Gerome, and he looked to be a cross between a parrot and a wild boar, a very odd combination. But, they had seen odder.

Fox considerred what he was telling him for a couple of seconds, before finally turning around to face him.. "So what would you advise? We can't just leave them out there...they need help. We created haven so that we could help everyone, to the best of our abilities. The reason we are in this kindof trouble is because it's working. We've started something Gerome...hope. The humans don't bother us, we havn't had anyone here get hurt. We've given them food, shelter, medicine. We've started something...and the news has spread. That is why we are having trouble. But all it means is that it's working. Some of the crossbreds have come a very long way, hearing about us from across the border. We won't make them come for nothing. We will do what we've been doing...and we will continue to..." Fox said.

"But Fox..." Gerome began to argue. Fox just shook it off.

"We will start to share rooms. Any of us used to sleeping on the floor are going to. Hell, i've already given up my bed. As for food, we'll meet at the Fox and Hound tavern tomorrow, and talk about making a food team. We don't want to scare our guests, but we need to deal with this. Anyone who can grow food, or hunt for it, will have to be asked to do so.

"Fox, i don't think that will be enough..." gerome said, with a bit of a bleak look on his face. Fox put a hand on his shoulder.

"You're looking at it the wrong way. The increase in guests means we have to do more, not less. We may have to make this mansion larger, we may have to make some sort of food trade with the humans. I don't know yet...but we'll figure this out. We'll make it through this. Now, i want you to go to your room, spend some time with your family, and forget about this for now. You've done enough my friend." Fox said, offering the man a smile. He smiled just a bit himself, and walked out of the room. Fox sat down, the smile gone, and a tired look on his face. Keepin g Haven running was an endless struggle, and it took a lot out of him. But if he showed how much it took out of him, people would start to lose hope. And he couldn't have that. He looked out the window, as the sun set, and realised that soone nough, Shadow-Stalker would be there. Besides him, she and Earthsong were the leaders of this group, having founded it themselves. However, Fox took a lot of the burden onto himself, because he cared about Earthsong too much, and already knew that she had sacrificed part of her childhood for the sake of others, and because he knew how much Shadow-Stalker had sacrificed as well. It was only because of her actions, her defeat of Sarediss, that they were able to do this, and he could never thank her enough for that. He knew how much she hurt, and tried to take some of her burden off her hands and onto his as well. But because of this, Fox was always having to worry about the things noone else could handle.

He sighed, then out of the corner of his eye, saw Earthsong come in. He walked over to her, the smile back on his face. "Hey little sister!" he said, and gave her a hug, noticing the wolf-lizard.

"And hello there Blightpaw! I spoke with your mother today...getting excited for your first hunt?" Fox said, actually seeing the engy being given off by the wolf-lizard.

"kids..." he couldn't help thinking, looking at the two.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarediss walked outside, the world now shrouded in darkness. He was lost in his thoughts, thoughts of revenge, and of the blows that had been dealt upon him, when suddenly he saw Lyrgra standing by the front of his cabin.

Lyrgra had interested him, right from the start. When he had come inot the tribe, like him, she was some sort of...accepted outcast. She was welcomed into the clan with open arms, but, like him, knew she didn't entirely belong there. Sarediss could look at just about anyone, and know exactly where they stood, but not her. She was...different...unique. He didn't know about her past, and had never asked her, but som,ehow, Sarediss felt like he could malmost, not quite, but almost connect to her.

"Lyrgra...sorry if I kept you waiting..." Sarediss said, giving her a nod, as he opened the door to his cabin. "come on in..." he offerred her, and sat himself down on a chair, next to a smallw ooden table. There was an empty seat on the opposite side, which he pulled out for her before sitting himself down again.

Sarediss, in the end, wasn't used to company, and had spent most of his life alone, except for his sister. When everything seemed bleak,, and he felt most alone, at least he had had his sister, but not anymore. His sister had been the one to nearly end him, and he still on occasion felt the sting of her tail, as if the poison was still eating away at him. Ever since that day, Sarediss had gone from somewhat alone, to completely alone. However, because of Lyrgra, he had not completely lost hope. It was...refreshing, to have someone in a similar boat as himself.

The fumes of the meal she had brought wafted into Sarediss's nose, as he looked at it hungrily. "Thank you Lyrgra..." he said, and decided that he ought to try and be more friendly to her. But the trouble was, Sarediss had opened himself up to one other person...his sister...and she had stabbed him in the back. If such a thing ever happened again, it would destroy him. Sarediss looked into her eyes for a moment. HE found something there all too familiar...sadness...pain. It was everywhere in her form, it swam over her, threatened to bury her, and yet...she continued moving onwards. She was truly a puzzle. "I....appreciate...all that you've done for me recently Lyrgra..." He said, and considerred asking her something, maybe about her past. Sarediss didn't know why, but he felt like he was TRYING to be his usual, solemn self around her, as if...he wouldn't be otherwise. And when she left, sometimes Sarediss found a smile, an actual smile, creep along his face, for a few moments. Not finding the words, Sarediss said all he could.

"If you ever need anything from me, feel free to ask. I owe you much...for what you do..." The Snake King said to her, his eyes meeting hers. he simply stared into her eyes for a few moments, before he decided he should eat his food, before it greww cold. Digging his fork into the the platter, he was about to bring it up to his mouth when he felt something on his arm move. A small snake, a gardner snake by the looks of it, slitherred down his arm and over his hand, wrapping itself around his wrist as it rose up towards the fork. Sarediss did not move, nor try to stop it, and watches as the tiny reptile took a small bite out of some of the meat he had in his fork. It gave a happy hiss and slitherred on to the table, making it's way down the tables legs. Sarediss's eyes followed it for a moment, but he soon began ignoring it. Turning his attentions back to his food, Sarediss placed the delicious morcel in his mouth, tasting the delicious meat with a great deal of satisfaction. Sarediss then turned to stare back into Lyrgra's eyes, as if he could see right through her, into her very soul.

"Where...did you learn to cook this well?" he asked, trying to think of something to say.

She was surprised to see him coming from the general direction of the temple, but she knew it was not polite to pry into his business, so she didn't bother to ask where he had been. She meerly cast her eyes away and gave a slight nod. How she longed to smile, but her memories could not, would not allow it. How dare she be happy when her family rotted? A small shudder went through her, quaking all the way down to her frame; she was thankful Sarediss had gone before her so that he wouldn't see.

She handed him the plate wordlessly as she sat in her assigned chair. He seemed quite thankful for the meal, as was apparent his hunger... But when she looked up at him, catching his glance something in his eyes seemed to indicate that he was studying her. It was not a cold and unfeeling stare, nor was it overly warm and caring, but she wondered what he saw. Could she pretend to look happy enough, was she able to pull off the level of sanity that came with being a person with a heart? When he looked away again she knew that her mask was cracked... But what had he really seen?

She tried so hard to hide from herself, her past. She kept herself so busy that it was impossible for the memories to creep back in with thier poisons and spines. She was no longer held back by blinding pain when there was so much work to be done. Countless nights had she worked herself so hard that she collapsed, luckily, always within the confines of her own hut. The slated floor was as good as a bed when all you want to do is drift off into a dreamless slumber... But there were always the bad nights... If she didn't work hard enough then the nightmares would come back and she'd awake in the night with a scream, the hole in her chest burning, and not have the nerve and curage to fall back asleep...

His thanks and appreciation almost didn't register with her, being so unfeeling to anything nowadays. There might have been a small spark of true appreciation deep inside her, but all she managed was a soft, and equally unfeeling "It's my pleasure,". She quickly busied herself in studying the small snake that had found itself in their presence. She watched it with empty eyes, as if the lights were on, but no one home. Eventually her stare led her to watch Sarediss as he took his first bite of the meal she'd painstakingly prepared. She saw the liking in his facial features, the slight upturn at the sides of his mouth and the way he closed his eyes in deep satisfaction. Another pang of some warmer feeling whisked through her, but there was no name, and no long thought to try and discover it.

And then something happened, he looked at her with that deep-eyed study again, and she remained unsure if her were trying to pry deep or if it was plain to see, but in loo of keeping the conversation going he asked a simple, but ever so deadly question. "Where did you learn to cook so well?"

It was fire and ice, pain and sorrow, welded together, fashoined with sharpened points and hurled at her. It's accuracy was lethal. The hole seemed to get ripped, just in the slightest, bigger and she flinched. She forgot her cardinal rule: keep busy. Now the flood gates were open and her past leeched in. She knew where she'd learned to cook... From her beautiful mother, Teygris. Her mother knew more herbal recipies than most old witches. She could rattle off herbs and their healing properties at the drop of a hat, and would often do so when cooking. When she was little she would sit by the fire-side and listen soaking up the information like a sponge. How she idolized her mother, yearning to be like her... Not knowing what little time they would actually have together...

She didn't know when during the memory she had brought her arms to cross in front of her chest, nor when the tears started to flow. To Sarediss it must have seemed like he had just insulted her, but he had no clue that his innocent question would lead to such bitter-strong emotions. To try and stop her crying she started to rock. Keeping her eyes averted she whispered to him... "It was my mother... My mother... My dearest mother..."

Earthsong grinned and hugged her brother back, only to laugh when she heard him ask about Blightpaw's excitement of the hunt.

"Yep! Yep!" He cried out, his tail wagging and hitting against her chest. Earthsong only scratched an ear gently before looking back at at Fox.

"I wanted to make sure that him coming to hunt with me will be fine." She said, smiling at her brother, before looking up at the mansion.

"And... it looks like you need a quick break. How about you join us on the hunt? What do you think, Blightpaw?"

The little cub bounced in her arms, very happy and excited, feeling honored to hunt along side his very leader.

"Yeah!"

Earthsong grinned, gazing at Fox. "So, what do you say?"

Without turning Kali'Tara spoke, rebuking her guards "Lower your weapons," she said in an annoyed voice "the one before you is my personal bodyguard and I will not have him harmed." Hearing the voice of their Sorceress the guards lowered their weapons and parted to allow Voran to approach their mistress. Still not turning Kali'Tara spoke "So Voran what brings you here this morning?" she said as if she didn't already know "not to sneak a glimpse at him like so many of our male youth seem to like doing," she added with laughter in her eyes. Her tail, hanging down from the branch, flicked absent mindly as she waited for Voran's reply.

LORRIER NEDASEER:
The youngest of the Priestesses sighed as she walked along one of the many and sturdy walk-ways. Blue and purple coverings and fabrics adorned her lithe body, save for her feet. Her bare feet hardly made a sound as her lithe form traversed the night towards the hut in which Sarediss now lived. She smiled at the thought of meeting her freind again, and at the sounds of a quiet melody of a piper's instrument, the soft yet distantly haunting tune that came from the Vor'nass wind instruments were utterly beautiful. As to why she was happy to see Saredisse again, she was the first to talk to and trust the snake-blooded male, and was also the one to help the Snake-King negotiate a way into the Vor'nass tribe.

At the cost of many souls he had captured, Lorrier had been also been able to personallu induct the male into the tribe. Although such a thing had her heart pounding at the time, she only thought it as the chance to see an outsider that was not intentionally hostile.

Such a thing came in the form of another outsider that had joined the Vor'nass. Something akin to a cat-like being; Lygra. A sweet feminine creature that had been found by scouts in some mud. She had been told this Lygra had apparently given up the proverbial ghost, and remembered with pain in her soul as she stopped to let a younger couple past, having come to a cross-over of multiple walkways. She watched the male and his pregnant mate slowly move past after they had bowed their heads to Lorrier, for much respect did the Priestesses acculimiate.

She smiled and bowed her crested head back to her fellow Lizard-folk, her long white hair spilling around her delicate body.

Looking back, she heard another piper's tune, as though the latter was a resopnse to the first. Clutching the small necklace of mana crystals, Lorrier resumes her origional path along the quiet walkways and onwards into the eastern part of the Vor'nass tree-based settlement.

Her tail gently moved in a snake-like fashon as the Priestess found herself deeper and deeper into the eastern parts, where not far from here was the mountains that surrounded and often became parts of the base of trees and the occasional barracks.

One hand touching the bone-mold and rope rail to her left, Lorrier's bright blue eyes spotted the tent flap and door of Sarediss' home, yet her nose told her that Sarediss was not alone... She smiled and slowly moved from the current bridge to move into the small bridge that lead straight to his door. Smiling, Lorrier Nedaseer set to quietly walking towards the door, hoping not to disturb him and whomever was visiting...

Come to think about it, few actually visited Sarediss, save for Lygra... She thought to herself with a developing smirk, a soft smirk. Although such a thought made her happy, the odd fluctuations of emotions that radiated from within almost disturbed her, what was happening inside? What were the pair talking about? All these questions and more raced through her mind, yet she remained calm. If either of the pair had a problem, they would come to her or any of the other Priestesses. Comforted in the knowlege of this, she quietly left the necklace on thedoor-handle and turned to leave...

=====================================================

ES'AXEU:
The Matriarch's chamber, a great room at the center of one of the largest huts built within the high village. The hexegon-shaped chamber was dimly lit, for the Matriarch was sensitive to light, or at least sudden shifts of light. Taperistries hung on each of the wood and stone walls, patchs and the framework of bone-mold held the huts together.

A single hanging light were supported from the ceiling, a chandiler of sorts. Crystels allowed the small flame inside the glass chandiler to illuminate the room sufficiently, with the occasional wall mounted glow-globe, small stones with glowing white runes, lighting most of the few darker patches.

Shelves, hunting trophies, chairs and a table was lit, also the throne was caught in the few sources of light.

So was the Matriarch, for she sat in her wooden throne of sorts, golden eyes half-cast and half-awake. Arms laid upon the dull yellow arm-rests of bone-mold material.

Her flawless blue skin reflected a little of the light, giving her expose arms, neck and head a minor glow, whereas her well-proportioned torso and thighs were cover by armour and purple coverings. He feet shifted, claws raking across the soft rug below her.

Es'axeu, the Vor'nass Matriarch and leader, had long been bored of meetings, the occasional cerimony and desired to return to her old life as a warrior. Yet she knew, by necessity for the survival of the tribe, she could not give up nor become bored nor tired of her reigning position.

Her tail, wrapped around her curvious waist, twitched a little. She was falling ill, she knew that, yet she had never been THIS weakened before... Hopwever, none knew of this, for the Matriarch never showed weakness. Never showed fault nor did she show how bored and tired she felt at the meeting with the Priestesses, one her own loving daugher, Scholars and senior warriors.

The wind whistled playfully through the dancing branches, small butterflies sailing on the wings of the subtle breeze as larger colourful birds saronaded the sun, which in all its glory washed the land in a golden haze. Deep within this bountiful lush forest, thick with shimmering emerald gems scattered over the delicatly silver skins of trees was a grove. A grove of unimaginable beauty, and unimaginable allure, and unimaginable darkness.
The trees parted in a near perfect circle around a modest plot of land, containing a modest pond. A deep and gorgeous pond of velevety saphire shimmered and danced before the eye, flecked with gold as the sun painted it's art over the surface like a flowing canvas. Around that pond flowers grew. The most beautiful flowers in the forest- roses, and lillies, and orchids, and violettes, and chrysanthamums of all colours and breeds swayed gently, framing the perfect picture in a rainbow of fragile grace and exquisit frailty.
Within those fields of ravishing, radiantly soft colour, there stood a small cabin of plain wood. It had large windows on all sides, the breeze wafting through the open door to caress the gentle washes of cream silk overing the windows, stirring through the neatly tidied kitchenet, bedroom, and small living area.
Amidst all of these ordinarily extrordinary ammenities sat perhaps the most beautiful thing of them all. A slim and lightly airy woman with skin of such pale snow that she seemed almost to be translucent, while at the same time radiating waves of energy and life sat amongst her flowers- tending to the beds with such love and tender care they may have been her children.
Her back was turned to the cabin, her form low and hunched as she gently wove her slender fingers through the tangled vines of flowers, seperating them carefully. She wore a long and startling white cloak, spread over the ground on which she had crouched on, it's satin body laying over the luscious and thick grass under her beautifully shaped, bare feet. It's large hood covered her face and hair, making her features undistinguishable. Those pale eyes- so easy to lose oneself in were covered in thich black curvacious lashes, as her plump and sensiously curved lips were hidden by the waterfall of thick and generous silvery- blonde hair which cascaded in radient waves down her back and side. High cheekbones, a prominent-yet soft jaw line, all invisible as she hide from the world.... for now at least.
Lilith..... yes, Lilith was her name. A name that held a dark beauty to it and just enough innocence to lure anyone. Or anything. She sat perfectly still, her muscles steadily unwavering even after hours of keeping the exact same position. She adored her flowers- adored them for their frailty, for their beauty... for their short lives. Sighing after the time she sat back down on her legs and frowned as a small black spider found her amongst the thorns of the roses she had been tending and began to confidently climb up her lithe form, up the silken wrapped white dress whch left her creamy shoulders bare, until it reached the peak of her shoulder to sit calmly there. " yes.. i know.... the time is soon appraoching....." She murmured to the small creature, a tremor running through her as she suddenly felt the earth tremble ever so softly beneath her. " A guest?" She breathlessly whispered, lowering her head and closing her eys to better feel the approach. She always knew when and where everything was exactly, and what anything or anyone was going to do before they even did it. The slightest movment on the earth told her theese things, and she could feel rather then smell or hear a person comming nearer for quite a while before they actually caught up to her. However today she had become rather enraptured by the fragrent flesh of the blooming oragnisms in her garden.. and anyway, these pitter and patters were very light, like those of small children. And there were two set of them, running out of unicin.
A small smile curved her lips as she felt their presences approach, breaking through the grove of trees around her. Begining to retend her flowers she started humming, her perfectly melodious voice wafting like the aroma of a delicious pie towards the children- and something else that stirred after them.
A few metres away from her back she could feel the thud of their hearts as it travelled into the earth, vibrating beneath her. The children stopped, cautious now, eyeing her back wearily.
And slowly, ever so slowly she stood to her full height, turning so the hood fell to her shoulders, exposing her youthfuly glamerous features and delicatly soft teresses. Smiling kindly towards them she parted her lips and spoke, her voice soft and breezy, comforting and beautiful in its essence, filled with light. " What would two children such as yourself, be doing braving such a dangerous forest all alone?" She laughed softly going down to one knee so that her height was equal to theirs.
The children, soothed by her stunnign appearance and sweetly kind voice grinned, the boy turning to the girl as the small girl gawked at Lilith in awe. " seeeeee!" He taunted gently. " I told you sooooo!!!! There is no witch in the forest! haha!" He scoffed, puffing out his chest in delight of his victory.
" oh?" Lilith raised one of her eyebrows percaciously in mock shock. " A witch? Now who told you such nonsense!" She pretended to scold, placing her arms on her waist. She knew well the tails of a witch living in the forest, and she knew well why those tales were put in place. " yea.." The boy spoke up once more, a blush rising to his fair and sweet features- much like his sisters. " My kid sister made a bet with me that a witch lived here who ate children!" He giggled gazing adoringly up at Lilith's face with awe.
Lilith smiled back at his trusting gaze, her heart beating with mroe vigour as she finally felt the stronger presence come upon them. " Well never the less, chasing witches is nto a thing for young children- your parents must be worried to death for you!" She exclaimed.
" Yes. Indeed i am." A deeply husky voice reached her, causing a trail of goosbumps to rush violently down the small of her back. Giving a soft gasp, she opened her sexy and alluring eyes until they gained the appearance of a doe-like innocence, placing her slender hand over her left breast in a very good rendition of being startled.
" Oh my! You startled me!" Lilith cooed, her voice calling to the man like honey to a bee as she batted her thick black lashes at him, lowering them modestly over the brim of her eyes just so to conceal the breathtaking wonderous gaze they gave.
" I .. uh..... i'm... im sorry....." The man whispered, momentarily shocked by her translucent beauty before he attempted to regain his composure. " I was just uh... my children.... forest..." He murmured, his words trailing away into nothingness as his mind could slowly focus on nothing else then the ethereal beauty before him.
" Looking for witches?" She laughed faintly, her laugh echoing liek a crystal bell of cashmere against his ears.
" yes..." He managed to pull himself back for a moment before he was lost in her gaze once more deeply amoured with the woman before him.
" Well children... you have been brave enough for one day... why don't you run.. home...." The command was barely whsipered, but it held such a potent air to it, the children would not think twice of disobeying and ran off immediatly towards home. " And why don't you..... come in for some.. tea?" She suggested, her voice changed immediatly from caressing and cooing to a sexy, husky allure that suggested much more than tea to a grown man. Grining devilishly she turned on her heel, facing the wind so it lifted her hair so perfectly to flash her bare shoulders gleaming delicatly in the fading sun.
Going into the cabin, she shut the door behind him and placed a kettle on the stove, taking a seat across from her latest prey at the small table, her knees nearly brushing his under the table. " So..... what happened to your wife?" She asked. He seemed surprised that she knew, but from the very moment she heard his voice before she even saw the well sculpted body of the middle aged man- the bronzed skin, the slight trace of stubble on the weel chisled features she knew this man had gone lonely for many nights.
Sighing wearily he frowned sadly. " She died..... giving birth to Nicola... my youngest....." The memory seemed fresh in his mind and she did not probe any further on the topic. " You must be.. lonely then...." And she saw it. She didn't need to hear him say it, she saw his answer when he lifted his head, his eyes filled with an empty sorrow, a ravid need to feed his hungers, his muscles tensing for a moment as she could feel his restraint nearly breaking before he held himself back. She could feel the strain- the tension in his muscles- his loins, and she knew he intended to have her with or without her permission if it came to her. Driving a desperate man to the edge like that was dangerous- but it was what made her life fun. Just a small push... on little push and he would be lost to her. And she knew exactly what the push was. Using her hand she swiftly knocked over a fork and apologized briefly before ducking down to get it, brushing the inner of his thigh ever so delicatly as she did so. And that small touch was enough to sned him over the edge as his big powerful hands wrapped around her arm, hauling her up, shoving her against the wall, his mouth savagly capturing hers, drinking from an empty well that seemed to be the most moist plentiful river to him and all those driven by desperation. She let his hands rome around her body as they pleased for a moment or so, enjoyed the feeling of the sweating, hot body of the human against her, his slick lips moving to her neck, his teeth tearing at her flesh. Smiling she threw back her head and arhced her body against his, her thigh rubbing up gently against the bulging hardness of him as she felt her excitment become aroused as his drove his hands to shake, and to become coarser with her as he picked her light body up and threw her to the bed, pinning her non to gently beneath him.
As his hands lifted her thin dress up, his fingers roaming up the milky smoothness of her legs and thighs, he traveleed to cup her soft and supple breasts, moaning as he roughly stroked them lowering his head to her stiff nipples. But as his tongue began to lap at her skin and she began to feel the waves of pleasure coarse through her she glanced out the window and saw the darknening sky.
shit...... she though, mentally smacking herself on the head. How could she forget.... tongiht was the unravelling of her plan. A grand masquarde ball was being held where everyone who was anyone would be attending with masks and rich atire ofcourse. Not tha she had issues in either of these two areas. And all she needed was a coupel of hours in the royal castle to bring an empire down. Grining to herself she suddenly became conscious of the moving mass atop her and sighed, stopping his hand centimetres away from entering her. He looked up at her, confusion written on his face. This was no normal woman's grasp. This grasp he couldn't break... couldn't even MOVE in. And worse.. it seemed his whole body wouldn't move anymore. Confusion turned to shock, and shock to panic as he realized his body would refuse to move for him under her steel grasp.
Lilith's eyes turned steely grey as she frowned at him. " So sorry m'dear but i seem to have forgotten i have a .. previous engaement.... we will have to cut this alittle short....." She bite her lip as she instructed his body to stand and watched as he stood perfectly straight. Walking up to him she placed a soft kiss to the tips of her fingers and blew it in his face, watching the deathly poison take effect instantly as black viens bulged out of his face and a yellow pus crusting over his eyes, his body falling limply to the floor nearly 5 seconded later. He was dead. As a doornail.

Ayden was out of breath. The morning air was cold, but instead of refreshing it held nothing but her own fear. She had been picked up as soon as she entered town. The marks on her face had given her away easily.

She had to lose them, she thought. She couldn't lead them to the only place her mother had ever loved. She had ridden her horse deep into the woods, leading them on a wild chase. They got her with an arrow and she hoped off and transformed, heading into the underbrush. She muttered a curse and pulled the wooden spike out of her arm.

She could hear their big feet crunching down, not caring about the noise they were making. That's the problem with humans... so cocky. She listened and could hear when they separated. She started out, giving them a wide birth, and working her way around until she was behind the smaller of the two... ready to pounce. His sword glimmered at his side and she decided it was better to let them go. There were better fights, against much more worthy adversaries.

She left them to their search and headed far west on foot. She was more comfortable in cat form so that's how she stayed. Her arm ached and blood matted her white coat, but she didn't stop. She had memorized the directions she'd found in her mothers diary, so when she looked up and saw the large mansion looming overhead she knew she was there.

She slowed, lulling slowly, back of the leg, the paw, the claws. Her shoulders swaggered up and down, her long stride stretching comfortably onward with a slight limp. Her eyes were fixed in their permanent menacing stare in this form. All her feminine traits were gone and she was all tiger.

Inside, her stomach twisted into knots. She'd never met another of her kind.. except her mother. When she died she knew she needed to find the others... it was like they called to her, like a beacon... she didn't know why but she needed to be here.

As she drew nearer she saw many odd creatures. Some of the half breeds don't transform but are forever fixed in a half in half out state. She could transform completely into a tiger, and into a human with faint tiger markings. She saw a half deer grazing awkwardly in the front lawn and nodded to her. She smirked at the look she was given. Even if they were a half human that predator prey thing still held it's effect, and the fawn backed up slightly. She let out a purr and bowed her head and continued on, towards the entrance to the great place, and hopefully to answers.

It is well known, though not vastly spoken of that there are dark places in this world. There are simply some places where the light has never touched, some places where human hands would never dare approach. Places where creatures hid in the shadows, waiting to strike. These tunnels were one such place. They spread for miles and miles, winding their way across this kingdom, like a noose as they gradually began to draw ever closer, and grip tighter on the towns of this land. In the cold, damp crevices of this pit, no man, least not a human, had ever set foot, for men did not make them. Liquids unknown dripped from the ceiling of this black abyss, layering the ground with an unappealing scent, and leaving room for mice and various other vermin to creep along the ground.

However, despite all of this, a human ear would say the worst part of the entire place was the buzzing. These tunnels were constantly filled with a never ending buzzing, inhuman in form, which spread across most of the passageways. When there was not buzzing, there was a clicking noise, one that would drive mortals to insanity if heard in these abyssal places.

This place, was the temporary home of the colossal Manhataran army, and as a small fight was going on between an ant and a centipede creature, Tyr was spending time in his private chamber, thinking. He personally hated it down here. These black pits were nothing more then a reminder of what Tyr wanted. Even as a child, Tyr had craved being in the land above, craved to be in the sunlight, to live like the humans did in their grand castles and glorious cities. It wasn't too long before Tyr had his wish. After being made the leader of the Manhataran army, Tyr led them out into the human city, overwhelming them, and soon taking over. For a couple of months, they lived in those lands, satisfied with their glorious victory. But it wasn't long before the Manhataran army grew bored. Soon, they began moving to different cities, taking over more lands as they went along. After a few years, they had owned a whole country, and soon, they would own another. Tyr knew how to control his army...death. They fed on it, they fought for it, they craved it, demanded it. If not for him providing them with their satisfaction, they would easily turn on each other, divide, and destroy each other in the process. And that was why Tyr was here. That was why Tyr was here, and living the same hell he had been born in. It was simply a matter of time, before they would come out of the shadows, and take this new country And after that, it would only be a matter of time before the process would start all over again.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his door, soon followed by the sound of it opening. Tyr looked up upon his throne, his shape changing as he did so. There was a slight sound of cracking, as a huge, hideous form was slowly being replaced, bones growing into each other, and snapping into different positions. The creature’s hideous exo-skeleton was soon covered in a thin skin, and the last things to change were his eyes. His eyes grew pitch black, before actually quickly flicking to a regular, human eye. Tyr, now in human form, finally decided to speak.

"General Stag, is it done?" he asked, a smile written upon his face that seemed so out of place from the surrounding area. He looked almost friendly, and yet, the smile was deceptive, as his eyes were examining every detail about his general with up most care.

"Yes sire, every soldier is prepared, fully trained and armed, as you requested. They are all awaiting orders." Stag said. Stag had a very blank facial expression on his beetle like face. It was cold, heartless, and unmerciful. Stag had been born, bred, and raised to kill. In his first year of life, he was supposed to kill his brothers and sisters, for only the strongest of his race was allowed to live. Now, Stag worked alongside other beetle men and women who passed the same test as he. But there was more to this creature then met the eye, hidden behind a cold exterior of rock solid ice.

"Excellent, now, if you'll excuse me, I have a dance to attend..." Tyr said and waked off of his throne, heading past his bed, and towards a small wardrobe.

"I wouldn't advise this...so close to the humans.... so near to our strike. It doesn't seem necessary..." Stag said calmly. Tyr just laughed.

"Ill-advised? Unnecessary? General, you need to realize something...I know what I’m doing. I did not lead us to victory after victory by taking risks. Have the centipede men watch from below, should anything go wrong. As for necessary, well, yes...it is. Tomorrow, our army will strike, and the humans will be killed. Now, why waste the chance to actually enjoy myself in their company? Besides...I’m no fool Stag. I'm also watching for anything that could possibly stand in our way, finding any more defenses, finding anything worth knowing. By the end of tonight, the city will be guaranteed to fall." Tyr explained, his voice not becoming any less friendly all the while, but containing a hint of sarcasm.

"My apologies sir, I shouldn't have questioned you..." Stag said, bowing his head. Now Tyr's face became serious.

"No Stag, you shouldn't have...let's hope I don't need to teach you this lesson again. You are the best I have, and I recognize that...but I am leader for a reason...remember that. Go tell the soldiers they will feast tomorrow...and get yourself a costume...your coming with me." Tyr said, and finally began picking out an outfit from his wardrobe. Stag nodded. "As you command..." he said emotionlessly, and left.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarediss had asked a simple question. One thing he had not excpeted was the reaction he got. To his surprise, he saw the sadness in her eyes begin to cloud her vision, attempting to escape their internal fortress. Sarediss stood up, looking at her curiously. As she wept, he cautiously strode over to her, until he was so close he could touch her if he just reached out.

"Your mother...." Sarediss said, considering it as he watched her. The Snake King stayed silent for a very long time, until finally he decided to speak. "You feel alone...don't you?" Sarediss asked, not expecting her to look up, as he himself turned away. The word "alone". Such a painful word.

"You've been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders...and you don't have anyone to help you with your burden. You feel lost...out of place...purposeless. I just...." He said and stopped himself, sighing for a moment.

"I just want you to know, your not the only one..." He said, possibly admitting more about himself then he would have liked, as the very incantation of his past began to tear at him. He began to feel a rage, a never ending rage, against those who had cursed him to the life he had lived. What's more though...he began to feel a unfamiliar sorrow. A sorrow, for the family he never had. As he looked at Lyrgra, he felt things he had forgotten that he felt in himself, as if part of his soul was imprinted onto hers. It was quite possibly the strangest sensation in the world. The Snake King felt as though he was staring into a mirror, yet not seeing his own reflection. He felt somehow more connected to her then he had noticed before, and for a second, even the Snake kings mind had nothing to say.

He stared at her for another long moment, before finally, his hand reached out, and touched her chin, lifting it up gently so she was staring into his eyes. "What is it Lyrgra...what is it that causes you such suffering?" He asked unaware of how close he was to her.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While Sarediss was busy talking to Lyrgra, a single, large serpant had been watching as the priestess came and placed the necklace on the door handle. The Snake flicked it's tongue out curiously, and slowly began following her. her scent guided him, as it followed her, and finally got within speaking range.

"It has been awhile..." The snake said, an actual smile forming on it's mouth as it spoke, for this was the same snake to have originally talked to her.

"How are you? I was not sent by the Master this time...not this time....soon to be ex-master....." The snake said, and then looked surprised at itself, having given away something.

"My apologies...it's just...well..." The snake said, trying to figure out what to say.

"The master is...losing his power...he is not what he once was...soon...he will lose us to...and...he doesn't yet realise his time is running short. I shouldn't have said anything...." The snake said, and looked up at her curiously.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fox looked at earthsong, her smiling face actually managing to cheer him up. Earthsong had a way about her, a very special talent at even making the gloomy days seem grand. With a bright smile, he gave a little chuckle.

"Of course i'll come. what are we waiting for sis? Blightpaw looks like he'll die of anticipation if we wait much longer." he said, chuckling as he walked outside.

He was about to dart out, when he saw a face he didn't recognise. he suddenly stopped, and looked at a white tiger that had managed to find it's way to Haven. Fox's smile did not fade, as he looked at her. "Welcome to Haven. I'm Fox..." he said, extending his hand to her.

Urgh.... Lilith mentally reprimended herself for putting off the preparations for her little.... show tonight for so many hours. Shaking her head and groaning as she tossed back her luscious locks, watching them bounce back into the glare of the cromson sun as a streak of blood red splashed across them momentarily. She had some work to be getting to. Glancing down at the stiff body at her feet she sneered, turning her nose up- yet another mess to clean and with so little time. Shrugging she moved fluidly like the passing air towards a box where she had saved her disguise for that evening. The body would be no problem.. already she could feel her little pets straining anxiously to get to the fresh carcass. They would never infront of her, but how could she refuse the pleas of such amiable, gorgeous creatures- especially when the prey had wandered so willingly into her hand....
Waving her hands nonchalantly she gave them leave " You may have him my sweets....." She whispered in her alluringly temptatiously sexy voice. Suddenly out of the growing shadow a large, hairy leg crept shyly into the light. Lilith didn't need to see the creature to see it, feel it, it's every feeling, movement, thought. This was one of the biggest spider breeds in existance, and far larger then anythign the clumsy humans have descovered- and lived to tell about. The creature zipped over to the body soundlessly and dragged the carcass, bowing on it's way out.
Smiling to herself Lilith opened the box she had paused upon the entrance of one of her lovely creatures. Openeing the box the rest of the way to reveal the amazing masterpiece she had stored inside she gave a content sigh as she whirled the whole thing out and layed it across the bed...... such a shame this was the last thing it's maker had made before he..... sadly, oh so sadly passed away. Of course he was one of them mentioned in the gossip- the greatest dress maker in all of Milan had died of an inexplicable fever on night... and the final creation he was supposedly working disspaeared with his last breath. But no one knew for sure- he never revealed any of his pieces until he had shown them privatly for Kind and Queen first. So really, it was all speculation.
Leaving the dress where it was Lilith walked out into the dusk- the air thick and heavy- powdery settling around her, without actually touching her. Fireflies began to light up around her, creating an ethereal glow in which she bathed. So unlike the soft caresses of the moons sheen- this light was gentler, mroe fragile, and yet so much brighter it made it seem as if though she were abthed in pure gold. More and more of the fantastic anamolis converged around her and the pool, their shimmer throwing off the glass surface of the cool pong- relfected back onto her pale face and gave her pale eyes the look of pure hot and roiling magma liquid.
A slow, deceptive grin spread across her perfect porcaline face as she slipped her white silken dress off, basking in the feeling of the surrounding light illuminating her entire body in all it's perfect glory. Stepping with one immaculatly curved leg into the cool water she watched the ripples break the mirror like surface, distorting everything just so perfectly that the atmosphere seemed to dance for her. Giggling she bit her lip ever so delicatly, slipping into the velevt clutches of the beckoning midnight deapths.
After nearly an hour of gliding through the still waters, weaving in and out of the various flowers that grew within it Lilith swam beneath the surface, feeling the water become her air as she revelled the feeling of it's strong fingers pushing at every inch of her exposed form. Breaking the surface once more, her chest heaved up and down, her breasts just peaking above the waters as she did so as the excitment began to mount on her. Slowly at first, but with an increasing speed until she felt she might explode with it all inside of her like that. Smirking to nothing in particular she pulled a bottle she had laying near the surface closer towards her and unscrrwed the top, giving the contents a wary sniff. The deliciously inviting aroma of lilacs and vanilla hit her, casuing her to sigh back in a content sort of calm. It was a formula she herself created- much better then the terrible soaps the humans were using. She didn't need to bath becuase of filthy tendencies - like the mortals really should have- but she enjoyed smelling like a woman none the less.
After Lilith had finished her washing routine she ascended the waters, walking calmly towards her cabin to grab a towel. Removing the final beads of moisture that insitantly clung to her skin and hair, she then began the long process of making oneself presentable to the world. First she donned the dress, a beautiful thing crafted for gods. The theme of the Masquarade Ball was... animals, ironically enough and she had chosen a depiction of the the Bleeding Heart Dove. In reality the bird was rather small in size- favouring cold snowy temperatures- as it blended in perfectly with the crystaline snow with it's pure white coat of feathers. It's distinction and source of name came from the red stain right over the heart- making it to appear as if though the bird's heart was bleeding through.
The dress itself was a white pure enough to match that of the bird and the snow- a very difficult colour to achieve for the times, with a stain-looking area covering her heart created from soft and tenacious crimson feathers - each feather plucked individually from the Bleeding Heart Dove's " bleeding heart". The rest of the dress fell past her shoulders, resting at the top of her upper arms isntead. The sleeves were of transparent silk, and slit across the length of the arms. The slits were held together by single ruby tears the size of her thumb nail, and the rest of the sleeve hung down all the way to the floor, sweaping a coupel of feet behind her. The bottom of the dress was layered with many petticoats, a layer of transparent glossy silk embroidered with pearls and white diamonds covering the final layer.
Around her neck she wore a chocker worth the price of a small kingdom. Each pearl was embeded with many, small diamonds- the main gem at the center of her neck a blood ruby the size of her fist, rimmed in more tear shaped white diamonds. With long dangling earrings of sequined diamonds, Lilith finally moved onto her hair. Tying the large mass into a semi- messy bun on her head, she let a few soft curles run down the nape fo her neck, and around her face to frame her features. Besides that her head held several ruby ornaments in it, with small pearl beads threaded into strands of hair. She didn't need much make-up and after a smokey layer of eyeliner and a thin coat of glossy lipstick in a clear peach colour She finally stood- pleased with her appearance.
Slipping into a pair of dainty heeled shoes, Lilith stepped out of her door and began to make her way into the deep, dark forest. All traces of the sun had gone and the only light beneath the heavy canopy of leaves and branches she found was that of staray fireflies. Even the smallest ray of light would catch on her many diamonds, causing her to glow within the darkness like a torch of silver fire.
Walkign with her mask held up to her face, she removed the pieced and looked it over once mroe with some interest. It was lined in lace, the body created of silk covered poracline made of the same white as her dress- with small ruby vines growing around it, almost liek tears streaming from the eyeholes. Shrugging she affixed it to her face and continued onwards.

Ayden watched as a slender man, in his mid to early twenties came out into the yard. He held an air of leadership, and his eyes fell on her immediately, as though he knew everyone here, and she was strikingly out of place. He looked nice enough, his smile, tugging up the corners of his lips, turning his face into a charming ray of light.

He greeted her reach out his hand in greeting.
She sniffed it tenderly, giving him a look that clearly said, "You're kidding right?" She stiffened, settling back on her haunches, warily, assessing him. Usually she would rather have stayed in her animal form where it was safer, but she needed this place... she needed to show that their was trust.

She reached her massive head up to Fox and pulled on his jacket. She'd need something to wear once she changed. She tugged on the hem with her teeth and purred, reassuring him she was a friend... just a friend in need of clothes.

Valchtyrs squinted her eyes as Tyr walked in and began to pick between costumes in his colection. She would have hissed and spat at the sight of him if she felt like getting back-handed. Her right cheek was still a vivid purple hue from the last time she felt like she didn't have to obey him and could do what she wanted. She wished she could talk to her son, but she was told to keep quiet untill she was spoken to. So she hid in the shadows and watched with a heavy heart as her favorite son turned to leave the room. His gaze met hers and she gave him a faint smile which was echoed by his own. Her gaze once again turned back to Tyr as he picked out pieces to his attire for the night. He placed them down near him as if they were waiting to be put on him, but not by his hand. The anger built up behind her placid facade, what indignity to have her work like some common slave for him. Of course he wanted her to dress him...

She started to get up from the back area where she spent most of her time during the day when the gaurds that stood beside her noticably tensed up. She paused for a moment, looking up at one and staring him in the eye. They knew better than to act hostile around her when Tyr was in visual or hearing range.

Though she was kept out of sight it was for good reason. Valchtyrs was Tyr's way to becoming immortal, with each egg she laid inside the corpse of his enemy his blood-line went on propelling him into the future. Out of all the egg-laying females (which were very few numbered) she was the strongest, and by far had bore the most children. Stag was her crown jewel of children. She prided herself whenever she saw him, and was even more enthralled that it was not Tyr's loathsome genes that coursed through his viens. No, Stag was different and she had always told him so...

Unfortunetly her peace was short lived, for not long into her egg-laying seasons she was quickly scooped up by Tyr and forced to bear his children. For who knows how many countless months she produced more and more eggs to feed his want of a larger army. It did not tire her, for she knew some day she could be set free and revenge would be hers...

Valchtyrs continued and stood slowly shuffling over to Tyr who was at the end of his wardrobe choice, he turned to study her approach and she bowed her head, then got down on her knees, knowing all too well where he thought her place should be. Her wings which were bound tightly to her back screamed in protest at being squeezed in this position, but she knew better than to get up before she was told. She grit her teeth and waited at his feet to be spoken to, or given an order, which she was sure to come.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lyrgra had no idea how badly the place where her heart used to be could hurt. Each fractured, wounded beat was agony to her and it felt like her chest was being sorched with intense heat and compressed by a set of immense invisible hands. Her breath was ragged but managable and was not loud enough for her to not hear Sarediss.

She was glad that her head was lowerd, he would not be able to see that shock in her eyes as his words cut through her. Truer words could not have been spoke about her feelings. It was almost as if he studied her so hard that he had found a way into her very thoughts and peered at them and was now using them to speak. But she was not expecting his touch.

When his fingers slid over her skin it was like an electric bolt rippled through her, and the hairs at the nape of her neck prickled. He gently lifted her head untill her tear streaked eyes were visible to his. And his eyes... What sorrow and pain did he hide behind, what had he seen that could cause him to admit that they were on common ground? It was not her turn to ask, and the same question was posed to her. She knew what had killed her from the inside out, made her a walking shell for months. She could remember with a crystal clairity what happened to make her seek out her own death... But could she tell him?

She dropped his intense, but caring gaze, averting her eyes to keep the pain within herself once again. She felt so horribly open, pitiful, and weak. She bit her lower lips as if a spell had forced her into silence, but after a few moments hesitation she spoke. "I have suffered more hurts in my few years that I could ever give foregiveness to... I have nothing but my weary, shattered body in this world, and because of that I've often longed for the next." Would he be so shocked to hear her death wish...? She doubted it, not too many people took her serious enough, then again not too many people knew her well enough to know better.

LORRIER:
Smiling to herself, despite the odd waves of emotions, feelings and possible desires that manifested themselves as sublime auras or scents, Lorrier felt her heart warm at the thought of the pair inside, a snake-being and a cat-like being, being so close nowadays. Turning away from Sarediss' tree-hut, she kept her smile as she slowly began to walk away, when she suddenly noticed that a old freind of a serpent was on the walkway, no more than a metre or two away.

Tilting her head and linking her hands, the smile deepened and widened slighty as it asked how Lorrier was today, yet... was slightly un-settled, disturbed or had her morbid curiousity piqued.

"Yes... I am doing well lately, but... if I may ask my freind... what do you mean he is losing power? Why would he be your fomer master? For he is well, healthy and supplied with mana crystels of my making.... is there something you wish to tell me?" She spoke a quiet yet freindly tone. Kneeling down, the Vor'nass Priestess offered a slim and smooth arm for the snake to wrap around on, a few layers of blue fabric softly spilling around her elbow..

Tyr watched as Stag left the room, a smile on his face. Things were going quite well for him. Tyr was about to dress himself in his costume for the night, when he saw Valchtyrs enter his room.

"Well, well well, if it isn't the Manhatarans most honored female..." he said, turning towards her.

"Are we in a better mood today then we were yesterday? I'd hate to have to hurt my most cherished trophy once more." He said with a smile, as his eyes flicked black for just a moment, an action that would have terrified many. Valchtyrs was if anything, a nuissance, but she was a neccesary nuissance. Tyr had started out with a small rabble of soldiers, until he had gained more power through conquest. However, he had never had an army until he had captured Valchtyrs. Valchtyrs, once a queen, was now but a slave to him. But her ability was precvious. She was an egg laying machine, capable of laying thousands for the manhataran army. She was untrustworthy, but neccesary. For her defiance, Tyr made sure she always suffered.

"I have a very big day tonight. You will be locked in your room, and chained. Can't have you interrupting anything now can I? Your room will be guarded...and anyone who goes to it may find themselves tomorrows meal. Just thought you ought to know..." Tyr said, looking at her with a great deal of spite in his eyes, as he motioned for her to dress him. As she started, Tyr put the mask, shaped like a devil, onto his face. As Valchtyrs put on the last of his uniform, he smiled.

"Now, that wasn't so bad...was it?" he said, then turned to two of the guards standing outside of the room.

"Take her to her room, you know what to do..." Tyr said with a possibly evil grin, as he walked out of it. He was going to be late if he didn't hurry. After a few moments, Tyr crawled out of the caves, and into the now star lit earth.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The snake watched as she lowerred her arm towards it, and with a bit of a happy hiss, it slowly wrapped around her arm, holding her smooth skin with it's own. But then, it acknowledged the question she had asked, and it bowed it's head, as if embarressed.

"Times are changing...long ago, Sarediss made a deal with us. We saved his life, and recieved his soul. But, for the deal to be completed, Sarediss must bring honor to the snakes by conquering the humans and claiming this land for us. That is what we asked of him, and he did try. But, the master failed, and now, some of us no longer believe in him." The snake said, slithering up her arm furhter, so as to whisper into her ear.

"As long as he has not filled his end of the bargain, he will gradually lose us. He hasn't noticed it yet, but less and less of our voices reach the masters ears. The Snake King is losing subjects, and some of us are becoming...deadly. What's more, the master is dieing. As long as his debt is not paid, the soul can not be claimed in full, and it is detereorating over time.If it disappears, the master will fall." The Snake said, and then looked around the area, as if worried it had been overheard.

"We must keeps such things secret. The more magic the master has, the stronger he will be, and the longer he will live, but it won't work forever...." The sanke said, and slitherred off of her other arm, until it rested on the ground.

"Please...help him..." it said, and with a flick of it's tongue, it turned around, and slitherred into the night.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarediss watched her as she spoke, continueing to examine her, or was it possible he was examining himself. Sarediss had felt his share of suffering, and it all came back to him as he looked into her tear washed eyes.

He could remember being enslaved, yet locked inside at all times. He rememberred being in that hellish prison, where he was told he would never see the light again. He could remember having to eat his own flesh in order to not starve. He rememberred being raped,, beaten, tortured mercilessly, and yet..he lived. He had long wished for suicide, but what drove him on was simple, hatred. He hated the humans for what they did to him, and the only way he was going to allow himself to die was over their corpses.

Sarediss was brought back from his past as she spoke again. As she spoke of her death wish, he nodded He had known that feeling, the feeling of not being able to escape your suffering, the feeling of being hurt so much, you would kill yourself to end the pain. He knew it well, and now, he was staring at a creature that had felt as he felt, sufferred as he sufferred. The pain never went away, but he knew what had saved him. A purpose.

"Your life...must not end Lyrgra. Rather, it should begin anew. If you die, you let the pain win. It may be unstoppable...but you don't have to face it alone." He said, and grabbed her hand. He didn't know what was causing him to make such an offering, nor what was forcing him to act, not quite like he would act around any other. But Sarediss simply had to do what he was doing, simply had to say what he was about to say.

"I am with you...if you need me...I will always be with you. Ask of me anything, anything that could help you relieve your suffering...or else...let's start anew together." He said. It felt more personal then he had meant it to be, and oddly enough, Sarediss found a small blush forming on his cheeks, which he tried to hide. Then, he thought once more about the rage he had built inside of himself, ready to release upon his unsuspecting enemies.

"Lyrgra, I. I plan on starting again...but...I can't do it alone...I feel myself weakening. But it's the only way, the only way my pain can ever end. Please...can you help me? I...I need you...." He said, blushing once more, though he could not figure out why. She would know of what he spoke of. He spoke of destroying the humans..he spoke of his previous actions, which had been stopped by the very ones he had foughten for. But then, Sarediss realised what he was asking of her.

"I...nevermind...you don't wnat any part in what i am going to do. The last time...i trusted someone...I was nearly killed. I don't think you are the same...but...for both our sakes...it may be better you just walk out of here, leave me...and never come back. I....I...mihgt...hurt you...and...i can't...." Sarediss spoke, now thinking of his sister. There was no question to what Sarediss was...he was a snake. And now, he was asking her to join his regime. It was selfish.

"Just...promise me one thing. Don't hide your eyes....you have...beautiful eyes. They remind me of the sun..." Sarediss said, and, turned away from her. "I've never seen it...but i've always dreamt of it. I've always imagined it would look like your eyes..." he said, and bowed his head down, expecting to hear her footsteps leave the building. he was a snake...he did not deserve to be near her. To Sarediss's surprise, he found that he himself, had let a single tear slip down his face, a mark deeper then the blackest scar...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fox found himself blushing a bit at his stupidity. He gave a light hearted chuckle, and took off his jacket, giving it to her.

"Sorry about that, wasn't really thinking." He said.

ooc: tomorrow i promise -.-''' :unsure:

Shadowstalker smiled slowly as she felt the sun begin to sink farther down, true she had basically just gotten into her den, but she didn't stay there often. She was either at teh Haven, or with Tyr, or on a mission of some sort. She hissed as she let one of her paws move out of her den, as if checking that the sun was actually down, and it was. She grinned, and gave a very cat-like stretch, her wings stretching out tiredly before she flapped them once, then twice. The wind they caused blowing things away from her.

Her dark wings had once been so weak she couldn't fly far at all, but now, they were so strong she could easily soar for miles upon miles, as long as there as a nice breeze moving through her pelt, and over her wings she'd be perfectly wing for hours. She chuckled to herself, before realizing she had to get to haven a.s.a.p. She growled lowly, it was true, she was part of both haven and the 'bad guys'' team, but hey.. her.. brother had once been the Snake King, but now.. since she had stabbed him in the back- literally- he had been replaced by Tyr. She yawned, her canines showing off to anyone that was watching her, and she took off at a run, before leaping up into the air. Her pelt and body changing into that of a blue being.

She gave a whine as bones and muscles shifted, but that didn't pause her in her flight. Her wings continuing to move with the currents easily towards Haven. She felt her entire black body changing, and wished she could control it better, but she couldn't. and thats one of the main things that bugged her. Her blue hair hung in her face as she flew, her strong -now blue- wings carrying her, while her body continued to shift it's form. It knew where it was heading, and was perfectly fine with changing, even if Shadowstalker, aka Regan, didn't wish to change. She liked her cat like form better, although this one was still kind of cat-like, it just wasn't the same.

She sighed, knowing that soon, after she talked with Fox, and Earthsong, she'd soon have to go see what Tyr was doing, she knew he was planning on going to some human thing, and it kinda made her sad she couldn't go with him, since she didn't think she had a human form. But she'd shrug it off, and continue with her orders, just like usual. She spotted where she usually landed, and noticed that not to far away, Fox was taking his jacket off for tiger. She smiled widely, they had a new member to join to their family. She was still quite a ways away from teh ground, but that didn't stop her from letting her wings fold up, and send herself spiraling towards the ground.

She knew Fox must've seen, or heard her, and would possibly make sure no one was in the way of her usual hurried landing. And just as she suspected, no one was when she thumped to teh ground and shook her mane, her wings settling back down on her back easily while she padded towards Fox, and Earthsong. She grinned widely, her long canines, that already stuck out of her mouth, showing a lot more easily. "Earthsong... are you guys going on that hunt soon?" she asked before quickly adding a glance to Blightpaw, her eyes sparkling brightly, her mood suddenly seeming bubbly, even though she knew Fox and Earthson could probably see through it, know something was bugging her, but they wouldn't ask, she hoped.. as it was just memories from her past.

((Sorry.. kind of a rushed post, been kinda distracted (I need to get back into charrie..again.)))

Earthsong smiled at Fox's agreement to the Hunt, but when he turned at spoke to the tigress standing before him, she perked up her ears. 'Hm... we're gonna need a lot more help with the hunt if we want to feed another mouth.' She thought, her smile still remaining on her lips.

When the Tigress pulled at Fox's jacket, her ears twitched, assuming that she wanted the clothing, especially when Fox did comply.

'And it looks like this female may need some clothes... just in case.'

"Hi, Shadowstalker!!" Earthsong turned and gave a friendly twitch of the ears to greet the other newcomer, smiling when Blightpaw bounced in her arms when she asked a question.

"Yep! Auntie Earthsong said so herself! And she said I get to come with her! You're coming too, aren't you, Shadowstalker?" The pup said, smiling at the winged female.

The she-wolf looked at the grinning Blightpaw and ruffled his mane, causing him to look at her with a confused look. "Hey Blightpaw, why don't you fetch some proper clothing for the newcomer. I'm sure she'd appreciate it."

The pup looked at her for a moment, his eyebrows creased in disappointment. "If you do, I'll let you track the first kill of the Hunt. Deal?" The pup lightened up at the statement immediately, his grin returning to an eager visage.

"Okay Auntie! I'll be back, Shadowstalker!" And, with that, the pup took off, speeding towards the mansion to fetch the clothing.

Earthsong shook her head and turned to look at the Tigress, impressed by the lovely coat and stripes; yes, she has seen a tiger before, but never one with a coat as white as snow.

It intriged her to no end.

A smile ruled her lips once again and she looked at Shadowstalker. "As Blightpaw said, we are going on the Hunt soon, and I was going to search for you to see if you wanted to come, but it seems that you found me." Ice blue eyes bore into Shadowstalker's orbs, sensing her uneasiness, but decided not to question; she'd confront her about it later, when the other felt ready to talk.

The alpha female turned to look at the tigress again and nodded another greeting, smiling again. "And, I'm sorry for the very late introduction. My name's Earthsong, and, as my brother said, welcome to Haven."

She twitched her ears in a friendly motion, turning when she felt a tap against her thigh. "Here you go, Auntie!" Blightbaw said, handing her a pair of baggy jeans and a t-shirt.

Earthsong held them out to the tigress, offering the clothing. "Here are some clothes, if you'd perfer these over a jacket. And there are clothing in the mansion that you'd might perfer over these. But, until then, you can wear these."

Earthsong tilted her head.

"And, as you've heard, we're about to go on the Hunt. You may join us, if you'd like."

Somewhere far in the distance, a camp was made by a band of vagabonds and crooks of all kinds. After facing stinging humiliation and being chased out of town after town after town, tensions were tight and all were eager to redeem their lost egos. Suddenly the leader looked up and scratched the rugged hair on his chin. Swearing he got up and walked to the edge of the fobidden realm, squinting to see through the trees. Yup- he was sure of it. He HAD seen a light. A bright glowing light, in the form of a woman. And not just a woman... she looked like she wore many glittering jewels in her hair and on her clothes.
His men all scurred, like desased ratrs around him, trying to get a look at what he saw. Shushing them- least the alret the lady he led them silently back to the camp, rubbing his roughened hands together as his laughter eachoed around them.
" gentlemen.. i think we've found our little treasure..." The men looked abit confused by this but went along anyway. Who knew- maybe he WAS onto something.
Laughing to herself, deep within the woods Lilith spun around in her dress, watching the skirts dance about her. Of course she knew about the bafoon- and knew that they knew. She knew about them DAYS before she allowed them a glimps of herself. The walk was long and she needed some entertainment along the way anyway. A few days beforehand she saw through the eyes of her spiders that a clan of delinqents had camped right on thr border of her forest- known to outsiders as the forbidden realm. They would not ordinarily go through the passageway- so naturally she needed to flash abit of incentive. She may have gone naked to further coax them- but this was just as good, and they were just as starved for jewels as they were for flesh.
She could feel the bumbling idiots thrashing through the forest like a pack of elepahnts already- and heading in the wrong direction as it were. Rolling her eyes she began to hum. None too harshly- but loud enough that her breezy voice would reach through the trees and find them on their path. Like flies caught in her web.. they would have no way out, and no reason to wish out before it was too late anyway.
Soon enough (for they weren't THAT dull) they caught on and hurridly changed their course, comming closer and closer. Her heart rate increased- would any of them be able to pull off any sort of fight? She doubted this- but had her hopes up at any rate. Her chest began to heave slightly as her breath quickened pace with their steps, as her feet drew up into a halt. By the time they were close enough to see her fully, she could feel the tremours of deliciously moist excitment run through her nerves like the tidal waves of the ocean already. A small bead of moisute ran down the side of her neck, balancing delicatly at the edge of the sweel of her breast before the water found the smoothest path and slid into her cleavage.
Her face perfectly stotic, she allowed them to circle her clamly. Thats when the laughter and jeering began- and her lips twitched almost into a smile.
" ooh... look boys. It would seem we have a jeweled princess in our midst." The leader jeered, mock bowing to her.
Her lips curving lusciously at the corners she arched her perfectly aligned eyebrows beneath her porcaline mask. " Are you boy aware of the rumours a witch lives in these parts?" She asked sweetly, her voice flowing like liquid sugar and cashmere threads as her words wound around their senses, making their heads spin.
Although she could see the nervous beads of sweat run down their chests as she mentioned a witch, she could see they were not in the least bit detered. They expected an old woman cloaked in black, hunched, her face scarred- a crooked nose covered in god awful welts and pusy soars. Not a young woman with soft skin, swimming in beauty and diamonds- her alluring scent drawing them in like the warmth of a golden flame.
Suddenly- (as if the unexpected lurch would surprise her) two men rushed at her. One from behind, and the other from directly infront. If she had more time she's thrive off the fight these men would put up- feel their sinews and muscles struggle helplessly against her. But- she was in a hurry and going to be late as it was.
Her senses, reflexes, agility were sharper then the tip edge of an immortal blade. There was nothing that could surpass her in speed becuase her senses of feeling were so tuned that she bordered on precognition.
A milisecond before their hands collided with her silky skin, she had lept. Lept with such speed and agility, the two men did not even realize she was gone before they were grabbing eachother. Stunned they stepped back, shock rebounding off their faces as they looked around eachother.
" How...... WITCH! she vaished! you saw it!" Squealed the first man to his leader. Before the leader could answer they heard a sound, so melodious, so enchanting they looked up to the moon, where they saw the lady in white seemingly hovering in mid air. Finishing the note she lowered her pale arms to her sides and looked down at the men through her mask. " Darkness is always held in the glow of the sun..." She smiled kindly. " And you will be sure to find the most beautiful flower if the most deadly of them all...." Whispering her words to the startled men below she gracefully reached up and tugged her mask off, showing them her full face.
" p...p...p..lease, we didn't.. k.. know..." The leader stammered, half in awe of her, half in total terror. Her favorite coctail.
" shhhhh...." She cooed, closing her eyes as if though she were focusing to a tune they could not hear. All of a sudden they found themselves grabbing at their necks- clawing, the passage of air to their lungs seemilgy cut off. As each body dropped to the floor none could reach it and it was an odd scene to behold of limp dangling bodies suspended in- what seemed like- mid air..
The faint glow of the moon moved then as the breeze ruffled the silver leaves of the forest, reflecting the light onto the scene. To look at the perfect moment, illuminated by the silver light of the moon one would see nearly invisible, but deathly strong silver threads extending in a criss cross pattern from tree to tree. Lilith was standing in perfect balance on one of these threads, a like thread wraped around the throat of every man in the clearing. Extending her hand before her, she sqeezed her palm into a fist, the heads of the men slipping clean off their shoulders one after another. By the time she came back- their bodies would have already been devoured.
looking to the moon Lilith cursed softly and sped up her pace as she darted across the nimble tree tops towards the looming castle. The little encounter had put her even further behind schedule.
Slowing to a stop as she entered the cobbled roads of the city paths leading up to the steps she took a breif moment to ensure all of her garments were in order before daintily picking up her skirts and entering the light- heads turning as they saw her. Smiling politely to men in high top hats carrying ceremonial daggers and swords she made sure her face was well masked as she trotted to the doorway. Without even asking the bell man lead her inside after but a glimps to the riches she wore- enough to buy a small kingdom he knew. Exhaling deeply as she swept into the main entrance her gaze immediatly darted around the immaculately dressed people. Judging by what they wore- she would find the ones she wanted. The queen, the king, and the prince. But she had time to mingle, and grab a glass off happily fizzing soft gold champagne as she passed by a waiter.

LORRIER NEDASEER:
Watching as the snake slithered onto and up her slender arm, Lorrier smiled a soft smile as the snake made it's way up her arm. Keeping herself in a crouching position, so that the snake could get off at any moment, she listened to what it said, light blue eyes tracking it's own face, particular for expressions and facial posture as it were.

Tilting her head as it mentioned about times changing, she almost frowned, and did so to an effect seconds later when it also mentioned that Sarediss had given his own soul to these snakes. It was a bizzare thing, but also rather... deeply disturbing thing to do. No matter what, the Vor'nass were taught that the soul was the one most precious thing that any man or woman could have, perverting souls was a horrible thing. Something that would lead to one being exiled from the tribe.

Souls were a sacred thing, Lorrier knew better than the majority of the tribe, and even the Matriarch, but concern was worn on her sharp yet soft eyes. If Sarediss was slowly dying... then how could I help? She immediently thought, as was her nature, to help.

Qithout even realising it, the snake was narly gone by the time she snapped herselfback to reality, and watched helplessly as it slitered along he walkways, into the perpetual darkness...

She should have chased after it, inqure and learn about this soul-bond or deal... yet she crouched there on one knee, un-sure as what to do...

Somewhere in the Vor'nass treetops, a pair of unseen eyes watched anything. There were no indicators of the creatures presence, as it ever so silently strode towards its goal. His deathly white eyes took in the all too familiar details of the lizard people. As he walked, he couldn't help but smile, a smile that would be found incredibly disturbing, if anyone could see him. A Vor'nass warrior walked past him, so close they would have been touching had either of them extended an arm. But the warrior did not see him, walking by quickly to carry on with his business. The warrior had no idea he was not alone.

The hidden man considerred killing him for a moment. It would be so easy, and he was feeling hungry...but it would alert the Vor'nass, and he couldn't have that. Not until he was ready at least. His name was Carn, an ex-member of the Vor'nass, long banished from the clan for commiting crimes that would damn him for eternity. But to him, they were just a start. Carn strode right on through this land where he would be killed on site, confidenty that his spell of invisibility would keep him more then safe. Provided of course he could resist the urge to kill anyone.

With the slightest chuckle at the idea, Carn creeped stealthily through the night, until he finally reached his destination: the matriarchs hut. Bypassing the guards standing outside, Carn crept, like a shadow, along the floor, leading to her throne.


and then he saw her...

that form, that woman he had seen so long ago. The one who took everything from him, but, had once given him that everything to begin with. He could feel his white eyes change, as he watched her, unknowingly walking ever closer to her. He seemed to be in a trance, his mind unable to cope with seeing this face again. And yet, he couldn't turn away. He had come here, for a single purpose, to kill her, but as he came ever so closer to her, he felt his mind feeling feelings they had not felt for ages. He came so close, yet still unseen, that he need only reach out to touch her.

"Es'axeu...." he whisperred out loud, without realising it, as his hand slowly reached up, ad stroked her cheek once. As soon as he had done so, he realised it with horror, and backed off. he took a couple steps back, and just stopped, afraid of making any sound whatsoever.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voran Daggertail walked out of his hut, weapons and armor already in hand. Voran smiled a bit as he felt the cool night air, peaceful, tranquil. It didn't seem like his services would be needed tonight, but he would not take any risks.

It had been just a few weeks, since Voran had been reassigned from hunter, assigned to guard the priestess Lorrier, a highly respectable job. Voran had to wonder, if his father would be prouid of him. With a bit of reluctance, he realised that perhaps not. Voran had always been trained as a warrior, always dreamt of following in his fathers footsteps. But, when his father's skills were not enough, and he died in battle, Voran had refused to act as a warrior again. His axes had long been put in a large cupboard in his hut, to collect dust for eternity. That's not the life his father wished on him. But Voran didn't care. He was himself, not his father.

Walking towards the priestesses home, he was surprised to see her on the way. She seemed to be talking to someone, though he could not see who. When she stopped talking, Voran walked up to her.

"Lorrier?" he asked, curious as to what she had seen or heard.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tyr walked the streets, the streets he wished were his own. The hustling and bustling of the city should have dimmed at this point, but Tyr found himself not surprised to see incredibly large groups of people, all heading toward the city fortress for this rare and special occasion.

Tyr followed suit, not being able to help being a bit excited himself. It was not very often that he recieved the chance to go to such an event.


As Tyr enterred the large ballroom, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment. the humans here...so loud...so obnoxious...so...pointless. The room was abundent with ugly women who tried their best to please presumptious men...and men who had not worked a single day in their life. It made tyr's eyes flick black for just a moment, luckily not being noticed. When asked his name, he replied with "Jean-Claud gastravelle". ironically, the name belonged to the one he had taken the costume from originally.

Tyr watched the dances that were taking place with a feigned boredom, instead deciding to look for anything that may have added something to look at besides the rambunctious guests, snivveling in their so called "glory". There was the king, chatting happily with some of the guests, and then..a woman in a frilly, green dress. he looked at her for a few seconds, before looking away. She was not beautiful. She believed she was...but she wasn't. Noticing a few heads turning, Tyr turned to watch a woman. He to turned, and saw absolutely gorgeous female descend into the room, making so many of the other females pale in comparison. Tyr couldn't help but smile beneathe his devil shaped mask. Maybe this ball wouldn't be a complete bore after all....

Ayden smiled, her feline fangs glimmering beneath the curves of her furry maw.
She allowed her hand to transform and took the jacket. Then her arm was again human and she slipped it over her shoulder. As the jacket covered her, the rest of her changed, as fast and easily as taking one shirt off and exchanging it for another.

The jacket was big on her now petite frame, hanging down just enough to cover her backside. She hugged it tight, so that she was concealed within its warmth. It smelled of evergreens. The dark musk of the man in front of her surrounded her.

She looked up at him curiously, and then to the others around them.

"Hello." She spoke, awkwardly at first. "I heard this was the place for freaks without a home?" She said, as if freaks was a fond term, like saying the name of a best friend.

Earthsong smiled before shrugging, tossing the clothes over to Fox, not really minding if he saw them coming or not; call it a sibling thing.

Before she could even open her mouth to answer, little Blightpaw let out a high-pitched growl, cutely excited, as he tugged at her tail, making her look down.

"Look, look! Prey! I see a moose!" He howled, bouncing in his spot, as he pointed at the thick forest, a wide grin plastered on his lips.

Earthsong followed his gaze and let out a little yip of surprise; she hadn't seen too many moose, seeing that human hunters hunted them constantly. Finding one now was a true privilage. 'That outta feed more than half of the pups! And if we find a herd...'

Her train of thoughts were abruptly cut short when Blightpaw bolted away from her, charging for the moose that was three times his size. The herbivore balked and turned tail, running swiftly into the forest with the young cub on it's heels.

"Blightpaw, no!!" Earthsong howled, reaching out her hand as she saw the cub disappear into the walls of trees. She turned and gave Fox a look that said 'follow whenever you can', and took off on all fours, barrelling through the thick forest bushes and tree branches.

Having longer limbs made it much easier to catch up to the chasing pup, and Earthsong wasted no time, grabbing him by the scruff his neck with her powerful jaws and jumped away from the lashing moose.

She watched as the moose escaped, leaving her and Blightpaw alone, before putting the said pup down, gazing at him with scolding ice blue eyes.

"Blightpaw, what were you thinking?" She asked firmly, watching as the pup's ears lowered. "You shouldn't have ran off like that. This may be you're first Hunt, but you should know better than to leave me like that, especially in the woods!"

Blightpaw, looked down at the earth floor, ashamed, as he sniffed, his ears flattened against his head. "S-sorry, Auntie..." He said, his shoulders hunched as he tried to hold back a sob.

Earthsong lowered her ears, feeling that she had been too hard on the pup, and plopped down on her rump, pulling the pup into a hug. "Hey now, don't be upset. Look, I just don't want you to run off like that; you get hurt, and I don't want that to happen. Promise me that you won't leave my side when you're hunting with me, okay?"

Blightpaw sniffed again, smiling a bit when the she-hybrid ruffled his mane with affection, before nodding, confirming the promise. Earthsong grinned at her adoptive nephew, patting his shoulder with encouragement.

"But, I have to give you credit, you did spot one heck of a moose. He was pretty huge!" She said, watching her language around the pup, as she placed him on her shoulders, standing up on her feet.

Blightpaw, to her relief, grinned back, feeling his upset mood disappear to be replaced with pride and joy. "I guess I did find a big one, didn't I, Auntie?"

"You sure did, pup. And, you just gave us a head start on the Hunt. With this moose's scent, I'm sure we'd find its herd; that'll be enough to last us for weeks!"

Blightpaw's grin grew even wider, feeling encouraged by the praise, as he bounced on his Auntie's shoulders, making Earthsong laugh. "Let's go find hat moose herd!"

The white she-hybrid laughed again, reaching up and patting the pup on his head. "Not right now, pup. We have to wait for the others first; that, and we have let the moose calm down first."

"Why's that, Auntie Earthsong?"

"'Cause, the calmer the prey is, the easier it is to sneek up on it for an ambush." Blightpaw let put a enthusiastic grunt of understanding, and Earthsong smiled, her glacier colored eyes darting over in the direction the other's were, awaiting their arrival.

Valchtyrs
She waited until he was well out the cavern door and on his way to the surface until she let the low, guttural growl resonate from her throat. It was an odd sound, more like a series of metallic clicking than the menacing sound that a mammal would create. She hated being used like a common slave, one day she would have her revenge... By the poison that flowed through her she would live to see the day when the Lord of Insects would fall. As the guards grabbed her roughly by the arms and started dragging her away into the darkness she called her bedroom she smiled, her index fingers tingling with anticipation. 'It won't be a day too soon to see him squirm under me,' she mused to herself. 'Just a pinch of poison to seal the deal, and he'll be dead before desserts.' Her maddened laughter rang off the walls, ringing with a hint of lunacy. A quick cuff to the side of her face by a hard insect claw demanded her silence once again, and she was fleet to obey.
Without so much as a twitch of resistance she was swallowed up by the darkness of the bug tunnels, incessant in it's insect chatter, and dragged backwards until the faint light of luminescent fungus that grew on the damp walls was but a flicker, then nothing, nothing but a memory of her frail, and quite murderous mind.

Lyrgra
She listened in silence, not even daring to breathe to loudly for fear of interupting his heart that was pouring out onto the floor. Being a healer she knew that some wounds need to bleed before they healed, and sometimes the scab had to be removed. She felt horrible to watch him be in pain, but she knew she had to wait for him to finish. As his head fell forward she could smell the salt-tang of his tear as it fell ground-ward and what was left of her small and blackened heart went out to him.

Her hands lept to his face and she carefully pulled it to the sky once more. She made sure that her gaze met his, pulling him into the shining orbs, so filled with luminoscity that they sparkled like wet saphires. "It would be a sin for me to hide the sun from you, I would not dare it." Her hands kept his face firmly but gently and she continued, still with her own tears on her cheeks. "It's been you that I live the day through, there is no greater pleasure that I can find than being in your presence. I will walk where you shall and I will hide in darkness if you so wish. You have nought but to ask it of me." She quickly threw her wieght forward and her arms around him enveloping him in a warm embrace that could only be shared by two souls sharing one common destiny. His body was colder than hers, being a reptile she wanted nothing more than to warm him to share what was hers with him... She whispered her next words, so that only he would hear, "I will help you in whatever task you set your heart on, I will not leave you."

The music danced in whisps like frozen architecture around them. It circulated like the warm currents of a hot spring in the mountains, warming the blood and pumping the heart to its own beat.
Weaving and winding her way through masses of rose scented primped and polished humans, Lilith could still taste their melody on her tongue sharply. Swirling the essence in her mouth she found differnt people that way. The king had his own essence of speldor and command, while the prince tasted softer- sweeter, and far more wild. Her senses almost salivated before she laid eyes on his frame. Build tall, and with supple limbs that suggested speed instead of brutish force he was distinct from his slightly pot bellied, but still attractive father. The queen tased very bitter as she picked up on her unique medly.
This brought a smile to Lilith's sensously pouting lips. She liked that- it suggested the wife was jealous- cheated, unahappy. Probably harbouring a deep rage within her core which she hide so well under the abundance of perfumes from the east. It wouldn't take much to have her.... or the others. The son would go because of his lust- the king because of his taste for dominence (and young women by the looks of it).
Suddenly mid step a sudden phenominan rushed temporairily through Lilith. A sensation like that which she had never felt before. The very walls vibrated with a presnece that gave her, her own shivers. For a moment everything seemed to slow to a stop and she felt far too much- and not enough, felt the sensation of her own skin against her, felt her heart rate increase as she felt the oddest tingling in the pit of her stomach...
As everything around her resumed pace she stood frozen as she felt a pair of eyes look at her. And not the same kind which have been gawking all night at her dazzling jewels, or the exquisite make of her dress. Becuase of the masks her face remained half hidden but that is not to say men haven't flocked nearer and nearer in hope of lusting after her moist pouting lips, or unearthy glittering eyes.
These eyes looked straight at the back of her head, and through it it would almost seem. The feeling gave her a wave of goosbumps and a sudden rush of blood spurted through her, causing her to flush radiently as she turned, slowly to see the creature (for she could tell the second his body entered the room he was no man) who could hold her so rapt as none could before. Such a thrill washed through her from a mere gaze across a crowded room, she shivered to think how it would feel closer..... had she finally found what she had been lusting for?
Their eyes met. For no more then a fraction of a nanosecond but even in that time her vision took in the startling vision of crimson- stark against her pure white attire, and then those eyes. Clear like t