Healing

[»Míríel«]

The resounding sound of the waves pounded against Neron's senses. They seemed to be lulling him asleep by the chant of their liquid tongues. It was a hypnotizing experience, one that he had experience long ago. The world about him had become so alive all of a sudden, it was strange. After he allowed himself to suffer the hardship he had been shunning so long, he actually felt released. It seemed like his senses had come alive like never before. Had the sky always been this blue, the grass this green, the air so fresh and the wind so warm? Neron knew that he was going to soak everything in.

So on this beautiful, almost healing, day he had allowed his feet to carry him to the cliffs, where his dark form stood like a shadow on a bright day. The wind tousled his hair roughly and lovingly. He was born to feel the wind, in fact he was a creature of the wind in a way. It rushed against him as he flew through the limitless skies. It carried him far and helped as well as hurt him. Now he had found it's source, it's home, the sea.

Relaxing his arm he let them fall to his side. Those piercing eyes of his closed as a serene look covered his face. Not many people would be so calm at the edge of a cliff, not even Neron would have been before his revival. Instead of the wind caressing his hair and calming him, it would have been whispering to jump and end it all.

"It's amazing what beauty hate can hide isn't it." A female voice carried on the wind. It was gentle and kind.

Neron took a step back and opening his eyes to reveal the green depth beneath he looked upon the figure of Miriel. "It is...Has this place always been so beautiful?"

Miriel nodded and as she approached him she gave him a friendly hug. "Yes of course. You've just been to dense to notice." She loked up at him with a silly smirk. He dark head bowed slightly as she looked down upon the water.

"Seems like I've been dense in a lot of regions. Aren't you afraid of water" Neron looked down on her with a warm gaze.

"I was, before I lost my memory. But after...It seems as though Damion is helping me cure that. Though...I suppose it will always be there, a little demon in the back of my head, itching to cause chaos."

"I know what you mean." He noticed how her faced colored slightly at the mention of Damion. Those two, they were so in love and so lost in it. He felt a pang of jealousy. "I suppose you are hoping to see him today."

Miriel turned her attention back to Neron. "Why do you say that?"

Neron raised an eyebrow and paused for a moment, thinking of something to say. His gaze shifted to the horizon. "Because you actually look good today."

Miriel slapped him on the shoulder. "Ohh... you.." She smirked at him. "Atleast I can clean up.. you on the other hand..." She shook her head.

"That is because you need to clean up, my friend. Me on the other hand I was born beautiful. Cleaning up isn't required. " He glanced down on her with a playful grin on his face.

"If you're beautiful...then I don't want to be." Miriel tossed her head before both of them remained silent for a while, enjoying each others presence. Then placing her hand on his shoulder she smiled at him. "It's good to have you back Neron...It's good to have you back..."

Neron's eyes clouded for a moment before his smiling face turned down to his friend. "It's good to be back Miriel." Then his gaze tilted back towards the horizon.

"Sorry to interrupt this touching scene but I thought I just might find Neron here." Ares walked near the edge of the cliff. "Though Miriel, you are an added bonus." He gave her a little wink.

"Ares." Miriel smiled at the fire haired man before her. "It's nice to see you again!" She didn't leave Neron's side but looked up at his face for a moment, it was unreadable. "We were just enjoying the ocean's breeze. It's fantastic isn't it?"

Ares nodded in agreement. The sound of footsteps caused him to turn slightly. " Looks like we won't be the only ones enjoying it either. "

[saerwen]

Damion had decided that today was as good as any to go for a walk. He wanted some time to think about everything that had happened. Ever since the day that Jaedon had found out she had killed Miriels father, she just hadn't been the same. He was really worried about her now. She had wondered what had gone on between her and Neron in the garden after she had awakened Miriel. He had seen them both leave, but he had never thought it right to seak to them after it. Jaedon was falling to pieces slowly and she didn't know how to put herself back together. He hadn't seen hide or hair of her since that day on the beach and he was hoped that she hadn't gone and done anything foolish.

Then erminder of what had happened at the beach. Now that was a shocker. How was it that Jaedon found herself in love?And more importantly how did it end up being Neron? What was Neron going to do in response? If he couldn't answer her in the way that she wanted to hear then what would she do? If she hadn't thought about suicide yet, she would then.

He heaved a sigh and shook his head.What was he gonna do? He felt responsible for Jaedon, like she was a little sister. Then a more agreeable thought popped into his head. He was responsible for someone else too. Miriel. She was another responsiility that he was a little bt more than serious about. But that wasn't a trial, not until she got hot. Then he would have to cool her off. He just wanted her to give up hot for a while though. He didn't want her to have to worry about defending herself. Miriel deserved a rest after everything that she had been put through on his account and everyone elses.

Right as he finished his thoughts and was fixing to plod down another, he heard Miriel's voice. She was cheerful as always...How on earth did just the sound of her voice have the ability to melt his soul. He was in love...that was just the simple truth.

She wasn't the only one there though. he could see them and hear them now. It was Neron and Ares. Damion remembered Ares' last meeting with Jaedon and their cold departure. He started wondering if he really wanted to see Jaedon now, for her own sake.

"No, I certainly hope we aren't the only ones. This place is too beautiful for just us." he smiled at the little group and held out his hand to Ares in greeting. "I hope that everyone is doing well." He then looked to Miriel and smiled sweetly. Then to Neron with a smile as well and his hand.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel turned at the sound of Damion's voice. A bright smile light up her face like a candle. “Damion!” Spinning around from the cliff she faced him. Her heart starting beating against her chest at a faster pace. It was so good to see his pale figure. Even though they had seen each other just a couple days ago, she couldn't help but feel like it had been months, no years. Is this what love did to you? If no one had been here she would have run up and tackled Damion with a hug. But considering Neron was here, and that he would devise some sort of snide remark, she refrained. As soon as they were alone though, as soon as they were alone.

Neron had been absorbed in his thoughts. Miriel's slap had hit his new wound on his shoulder. The wound that Jaedon had dealt not to long ago. It was healing roughly, as all magic wounds do, just one more scar to add to the collection. But he refrained from wincing, if he did Miriel would know he was hurt and she didn't need to heal him. She had healed him enough and if he could help it, she wouldn't heal him any more. But these thoughts were not what made up the majority. Instead he was thinking about another dark haired, green-eyed girl. She was going through pain, a pain that he knew and understood. Something that stretched you out for all you were worth and then punched you through with holes. No matter how much you wanted to defend yourself, you couldn't and no matter how much strength was needed to push that something away, you always ended up wanting. Fear, anger, disappointment, guilt, worry, insecurity, all just a part of the list that made up this thing. If Neron ever were to tell the truth he would say that he was worried about Jaedon, but he didn't know how to help. He had learned through his own experience that it was something he had to decide to do on his own. Yes, Damion had been there to encourage him but Neron faced it on his own. He wanted to help Jaedon, to be her, but he didn't think she would accept his help. So he had started sending her notes. Little poems. Little things that would encourage her to know that someone cared. One day he had left bouquet of pansies outside her door, another time it was a little sculpture of a panther, one that resembled her. Just the thought of her he raised his good hand and rested it on top of the wounded place on his shoulder and bowed his head slightly. He had left her a poem this morning. He slid it under her door and left without being seen. Jaedon hadn't been showing her face lately, hopefully nothing was amiss.

When Miriel had cried out the name Damion, Neron's thought process had been shattered. Turning he looked and saw two new figures. “Ares, Damion. Nice to see you two.” His hand dropped from his shoulder and hung by his side. “Sorry I zoned out for a bit...”

Ares smiled “Damion! It's good to see you.” After shaking Damion's hand he slapped Neron on the shoulder. “And good to see you buddy. I've seen you zone out before but that was something. You were out of it.” Then Turning to Damion he smiled and switched topics. “What brings you here Damion?”

Neron winced this time, but only slightly. His face turned serious, a mask to hide the burning sensation he was feeling from the jarring. “Damion, have you heard from Jaedon?” At the mention of Jaedon, Ares's smile turned fake.

[saerwen]

Damion just continued to smile at Miriel. He wasn't going to do anything to embarass her...not yet at least. In front of Neron, that would probably bring some smart alek remark and Damion would have to smack him for it. He didn't really feel like getting into it with anyone today, although he had a feeling that Jaedon was just bound to show up. Fate always played cruel tricks on that girl since she had stopped her former job. "Hello my dear."

Neron's little spell had not gone unnoticed by anyone, least of all Damion. He had noticed that probing look that had shown him Neron was deep in thought about something. He was wondering what it might have possibly been to have engrossed him so well, but he would poke around in that corner later. Damion then noticed his hand on his shoulder. He remembered that Jaedon and he had had a fight, which probably meant that was what was hurting him. "It's alright, Neron. I can understand having lots to trouble your mind." Damion looked at the ground and then gave Miriel a quick side glance before returning his gaze to the ground.

SLAP! Damion winced for Neron knowing that Ares had hurt his friend unknowingly. He pulled in a deep breath as he pushed down the strong temptation to tell Ares he probably should slap the other shoulder. "Ast." Damion shook his head, "My mind has been bothering me since 3 o'clock this morning. I decided that walking would cause my thinking to go faster, and thus far it has. What about this lot? What are your purposes for being out here?"

Damion gave Neron a very cutting side glance. "No, actually. I supose that this means you haven't either." He then turnedhis focus to the sea. So that's what Neron had been thinking about. Damion wasn't best friends with a mind manipulator fo nothing. Neron was worried about Jaedon as sure as the sun had risen that morning. "I sure hope she hasn't decided to do anything stupid." Then he turned to Ares, about to ask something that had been bothering him for a while, but then he saw that face. "Ares, what has turned you sour so quickly?" He had been about to ask what he and Jaedon had disagreed upon so stalwartly at the lake, but he figured that whatever it was, it hadn't gone away yet. He would just have to go around the bush to understand it.

As soon as Damion spoke he heard a heavy step behind them. Damion turned slightly to see who it was as the guy spoke, "What an interesting bunch of people." This was a fellow that he had seen before, he had been on the school campus way back when, but now he was here. He had a slight distaste for this guy in his mouth already because of his annoying ability to draw in naive girls like flies to a lantern, but he was determined not to be prejudiced. He didn't know how he treated the girls after they came to him, so he wouldn't pass judgement just yet. The guy was tall, blonde, and blue eyed. He looked like he had spent half of his life since he was 3 years old in the weight room, and had a very strange air about him. It instantly made Damion think Fluffy. He didn't know why, but it did. That was simply the first thing that passed through his mind.

"Interesting how?" Damion querried.

"Three guys and only one girl? I'm suspicious. The name is Zak btw(he literally said B.T.W.)." another brownie point lost...he was arrogant. Damion shook his head trying to make sure he wasn't being clouded over by prejudice or anger for the fact that he had already noticed Miriel's striking presence in the midst of them. He let out a quiet sigh in an attempt to clear his mind of any and all hatred that might be welling within him. He was determined to think well of this guy until he did something stupid.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel smiled again at Damion. It almost seemed like Neron and Ares were no longer there for a split second. Damion and she was alone on the cliff with the wind whipping around them and the waves below beating against the cliffs like her heart was beating against her chest. But their gaze was separated and then she was sucked back into reality. When Damion gave her a side long glance she glanced from him to Neron with a suspicious glare. What was going on between these two? Not to long ago they had been engaged in a fight to the death, but now they seemed like little pals. Plus it seemed like there was something in this dialogue, some secret code. She sighed. Boys, they were so confusing sometimes.

Ares smiled and then frowned slightly at Damion's comment. “What has gotten me sour is...” He couldn't continue before their group added another member. Ares didn't like to stereotype but he knew a Jock when he saw one and this guy...had a head lighter than air it seemed. Perhaps he would wait and see before he walked away. Sterotypes weren't always true....maybe this ...Zak, would surprise him.

Neron just stared at Damion with an indifferent gaze. He had seen Damion wince for him, but he just shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal and turned his face away from the group. He noticed the side long glance that Damion gave him as he answered his question. Turning slightly to him he smirked and answered,” I don't know maybe I have.” When he mentioned her doing something stupid Neron's gaze grew a bit distant once more and he shifted his gaze to the horizon once more. Why did he still worry that she had done something stupid. Heck, he was worrying about worrying. Why did he care. He was going to make sure Jaedon got through this then sever the relationship and be done with it, yet the more the thought of doing this the more he felt nervous about doing that. Just when he was about to slip back into his thoughts a new voice sliced through. Just the tone and the appearance of the man made Neron want to hurl. His nose wrinkled slightly in distaste. This guy smelled familiar like something he had been around before, but he shook it off. His eyes narrowed at this Zac.

“Which is more suspicious, the fact that they there are three men around one girl or that someone like you are walking all alone.” Cecily seemed to appear out of nowhere. Her elegant and slender silver form moved towards him. Her amber cat-like eyes blinked innocently. “After all you are such a strapping man....” She grinned an evil grin and continued. “Perhaps you should come over for some...tea sometimes. I'm sure you would like it.”

[saerwen]

Damion was wishing that Zak had not interrupted Ares. He had wanted to hear that explanation, although he was sure that it probably wouldn't have been the whole truth. He would never admit to a group of three people, all of whom were Jaedon's friend, that he had a quarrel with her. It was wisdom to keep the peace, but Damion wanted it settled instead of putting a bandaid over it. What was the point in that. That kind of peace would fall apart sooner or later. But that was a bit of conversation for another time.

When Neron gave his little reply, Damion could have just smacked him over the head as a show of irritation, but he refrained. "You do know. You wouldn't have forgotten something like that." Damion's faith in his previous thoughts of Neron worrying about Jaedon had been shaken by this one statement, but he was still going to hold to them. He was now afraid that he would turn out wrong and that Jaedon would turn out alone in the end.

Damion almost jumped out of his skin when Cecily arrived. Then he shook his head. Thus far, that girl had managed to just pop out of no where, enter their conversations by saying something that amazed the whole room, and then skip out without even a word of goodbye. He was getting slightly annoyed by it, but he also had a side that was curious about who she was. In this case though, it looked like all she was here to do was trick someone with a feeble mind and that was certifiably Zak, who listened with interest, but watched with even more. Damion didn't particularly like Cecily, but his impulse was to knock Zak out cold for the images that were undoubtedly popping into his head. Every guy knew what "the look" really meant. He just crossed his arms over his chest and turned away, the air became slightly colder very quickly. He had yet to think about what Zak was thinking about Miriel. Then again, that was probably a good thing because he would have killed Zak on the spot.

Zak was thoroughly entranced with this new character in the little group. She was gorgeous to be sure, and had a certain refined air about her. The refined ones were always the best, they were so easy to catch, and so funny when they fell. Her slender figure was more than attractive and he sized her up from head to toe. The silver hair threw him off slightly and her eyes were undoubtedly feline, which caused him a slight moment of fear, but he pushed it aside. He didn't care because she was practically giving him an open invitation to have fun with her, even though he had never had such an undercover yet blatant invite. He thought for a moment about what "tea" could mean...

"Man, I wish that someone had told me to come here before if the girls are as free as I have seen thus far." he muttered under his breath. Then louder, so that Cecily could hear. "Well, I never say no to the invitation of a lady. Tea sounds and looks great for the first time in my life."

Damion was between nausea and laughter. How stupid was this guy? Cecily was good, but anyone with half a brain could have seen that something[/b] was just not write about that statement. She was too sly, too open, and way too innocent. No one could be that innocent unless they were children, which Cecily most certainly wasn't.

Zak hadn't noticed that the white-haired buy was suddenly not able to face him. He was thinking of all the fun that he was gonna have in this cove, with this girl, and then suddenly, his eyes went to the other one. Oh yes, she was fine. Very fine. She had a perfect figure, beautiful face, gorgeous black hair, and piercing green eyes. He was not going to let that one go for sure. he was determined to steal a kiss from both of these girls, maybe more than one from both. "But perhaps we should rescue the other young maiden from these three guys, then we would fix both strange situations. The won't have a single girl in their midst, and I won't be alone!"

Damion suddenly lost his patients with that guy. His fist clenched into a ball, and his skin started to become slightly whiter. The wind was blowing furiously now with an iciness that displayed the anger in Damion's heart. He knew that Zak was looking at Miriel with the same eyes he had used for Cecily. If he turned around, there would be no stopping his transformation.

[»Míríel«]

Neron smirked again. "Oh, I know, but I don't know if I want you to know." He turned his face away. He hated putting on this front. Actually he felt a bad about it in a strange way, something he wasn't used to. Neron wasn't going to have Damion on his back about liking Jaedon, he didn't even know if he did like her. Plus if he told Damion he was interested in Jaedon who knew what was going to break loose, after all Damion was a bit...possessive. So Neron decided to keep it all locked within until he could figure all of this out. But he couldn't even hid from himself that he was worried about Jaedon and the feeling was gnawing inside of him.

This whole thing with Cecily and Zak was amusing but it was starting to bore Neron, he had better things to do. His peaceful and calm day had been shattered by people, once again. When would they just leave him alone for a bit. He didn't mind one other person but this was getting ridiculous. So he watched what was happening with half closed, uninterested eyes with his arm crossed in front of him.

Cecily smiled slightly at the guy in front. Her face lit up and she drew a bit closer to him. Those amber eyes of hers almost got a hypnotic quality to them. Reaching up she touched him on the nose slightly. It was gesture that she had seen mothers do to children when charmed. "Yes, you should experience my tea. You will never go back to anything else. " Just when she was about to push the hypnotic quality he looked away at the other girl, the Miriel that everyone had been concerned about earlier. A frown came on her face. This boy was more flighty then she thought and his head only emptier. But that didn't bother her to much, if things went well he wouldn't be bothering to many people anymore. After all she had a "tea" that she wanted to test.

Taking a step back she senses the coldness in the air and the wind's fierceness. The white one, her eyes shifted to him. He was upset and she knew why. The cafe scene between him and the Miriel had been very...warm. They definitely had some chemistry going on. She would help him out...not for him of course but her motive just happened to be helping him out a bit. Plus, though she would never admit it, she wanted some friends, especially friends that had the mentally stimulating quality which these had, well except the boy. But she didn't know how to achieve that.

So tilting the boys face away from Miriel she giggled in an empty little way. "Oh, don't worry about her. I'm sure she's not worth it. She seems a little below your league you know..." She cast Miriel a glance that said, forget that statement before continuing. "Plus you won't be alone with me." She smiled in a charming manner.

Miriel could see everything that was going on. Neron was distant and cold, he was worried about something, but what? She would have to talk to him later, privately. She knew better then to ask in this group, he would just push it off. But Zak, oh Zak. She shook her head and turned away from his gaze. She felt humiliated, like a piece of meat on a roasting spit. Miriel knew she would get over it and when she saw Damion she knew she needed to forget about herself. The last thing he needed was to know that it was getting to her. Leaving Neron's side she walked over to Damion's side and gently and carefully took his hand and pressed it against her cheek. Her green eyes looked lovingly at him and they sent the message of her love for him and only him. She wouldn't desert him like his other girl, she would always by him because she loved him. The feeling of humiliation was hard to push aside and she hoped it didn't show in her eyes.

She ignored what Cecily said and was actually glad for it. Perhaps this strange girl wasn't as bad as she seemed, but then again she seemed like a fox, a sly sort of girl. But she was a puzzle that would have to put together later. Right now she had to keep Damion from shifting forms, if he did all hell would break loose.

[saerwen]

Damion just pushed aside Neron's remark now confirming that there was no reason to doubt his initial hypothesis. He would leave Neron alone now. He knew what he wanted most to know. He now had to concentrate on calming down instead of on Jaedon. She could handle herself very well, but right now he was teetering on the edge. All it would take would be Zak saying one more thing about Miriel and boom. Even with Miriel holding his hand and silently reassuring him that she was there for him, he wasn't really in the mood to listen seeing as how she was the one being abused. If Miriel was ignorant of the fact then Damion was angry Zak was taking advantage of her ignorance freely, and if she did know, the she was feeling it, and that thought only made his skin grow colder, whiter, and eventually it was starting to take on a crystal like appearance like the scales that would cover his body if he didn't stop himself soon. It would have felt like holding tightly packed snow in your bare hands to anyone touching him.

Zak noticed that it had gotten significantly colder, but he just thought that it was the weather being irregularly normal. The weather soon became the last thing on his mind as the silver girl moved closer, touched him. He was suddenly completely consumed and looked at her amber eyes with complete oblivion. He was enamored with her, and anything that she might have suggested he would have done. He didn't care about the other one right now, he would hit her later. When she finished speaking all that he could say was, "Oh boy." Then he suddenly regained himself and said, "I'm ready to be converted to tea. Let's go and leave this dismal group in the dust." He quickly cast one more look in Miriel's direction as he just chuckled, thinking about how he had found two foxes on his first time out and about.

Right as he was about to say something to the other one, a voice came from behind, "Cecily!" It was the voice of another girl and all Zak could think was, No way, there is no way I've got three in a single day... He turned to see a petite girl with black hair and shockingly purple eyes. She was obviously Asian. For a second he wondered if they were contacts. She seemed flustered and was obviously cold as she held her arm with her other hand and shivered slightly as the rather chilly wind blew. She was mad at one of these girls. "Cecily Mansfield, you should be more considerate with who you decide to invite to tea[/b]. If you don't contain yourself then you're going to have some dirty problems on your hands." The girl stared hard at the silver one, cocking her hip slightly and placing one hand there, the other hung at her side....The silver one must be Cecily.

[»Míríel«]

Damion's hand in Miriel's was growing colder and colder, almost an unbearable temperature. She felt herself cool down, her hand seemed numb and it was spreading through her body, yet she didn't break the connection. Her body was starting to react though, it was heating up degree by degree, even though she was trying to fight the heat, she could only slow it down. Knowing that she was probably starting to hurt Damion she started to let go of his hand.

Cecily smiled into the guys eyes. "Converted you will be..." She smiled in a sly manner and just as she slipped her arm around his she was about to guide him away but she stopped. Her name had been called. The voice, it was from a very familiar voice. Turning around without letting go she saw the form of her friend approaching. "Ah, Eventide, what brings you here my friend?" She tried her best to wipe the slyness and mischief off her face. Innocence seemed to shine from her features, but the fox like gleam in her eyes didn't leave. "Oh please, I believe I can have whomever I want to come to "tea". I've been containing myself to long." Cecily dropped her voice and turned to Zak. "She's always been jealous that I have more people out then her and serve better tea. It's been such a problem in our friendship that I've had to stop...or at least do it without her knowing..." Looking back at her friend she continued, "Come now Eventide, why don't the three of us go. It's getting a bit chilly here."

Ares stood still, observing the whole thing with interested eyes. Cecily seemed like a handful, but she was masterful at what she did, hopefully this new addition to the group wouldn't interfere with getting Zak out of here, though Ares found his naive character amusing. His gaze shifted to the girl who Cecily called Eventide. She was pretty, obviously from somewhere in Asia. It seemed like she was the boss of Cecily in some ways, but that didn't mean Cecily didn't fight back. What an interesting couple.

Neron still stood with his eyes half open. This was growing laborious and all he wanted to do was leave. Where was Jaedon, where would she most likely be? Usually he had an idea, but this time he was drawing a blank. The coldness in the air didn't come to his attention at all, he was so observed in his thoughts. Without thinking he started to wander on the edges on the cliff. He would go start looking for Jaedon. Why could Neron just imagine Jaedon coming into the group after he just left it, or her appearing in front of him. He shook his head, whatever happened he would circle back to the group in a couple moments, he just needed to get away from all the people, it was to claustrophobic.

[saerwen]

"Oh, you are smooth aren't you..." Eventide shook her head with a smile on her face.

Zak looked at the new girl with interest. She was small but cute. He could see that the two were friends and was starting to think that he should listen to the little Asian. "I agree. Eventide, let's all go together."

Eventide laughed softly, "You are a gullible one aren't you. Cecily, I wouldn't object if it weren't for the fact that he is a little too innocent for some of your tea's, perhaps a softer one. And by the way, I don't make tea." She looked at Cecily with the light of mischief in her eyes, then glanced at a shiny watch that Zak had on his wrist, then back to Cecily. A message that she had no intentions of stopping Cecily from taking him, but rather that they both wanted something from him, so they should work together. One of them was a thief and the other a murderer, to put it coldly, but they both found fascination in their pursuits. If Cecily did end up killing this idiot against Eventide's wishes, then Eventide would just use his soul for her magic.

Eventide had barely had time to scan the group, but she found only one person that she recognized, the one person that she wanted to see the least. The white hair gave it away, but of course, he wasn't looking at her, which was a good thing. She suddenly had a strong urge to leave. She went up to Cecily and Zak, taking both of their arms, she started to guide them away, almost bumping into another girl. She was tall with black hair and green eyes. She looked thin and pale, sort of sickly, but still strong and active. She had sweat beading down her forehead and neck as though she had been doing something like exercise recently. She was in a tight-fitting black top that had a slight spot of wet on the back and relatively tight black pants that were meant for running. She was quite the striking character to see and she obviously had not been paying attention to who she was running past.

Zak stared in wonder at the girl who appeared in front of Eventide. The way was dressed was open invitation for imagination. But the thing that got him the most was that she looked exactly like the other one as far as hair and eye color. Were they twins? "Woah, two green eyed beauties! I'm in shock and awe. Are you two sisters or something? Twins?" Double date was running through his mind. He was hitting the mother-load today. What a bunch of good fortune!

Jaedon looked at the tall, dumb blonde and smirked, "Sisters, naw. Friends though. Friends with an uncanny ability to scare little boys begging for punishment." Her green eyes glared at him, knowing that right now he was ready for some majorly minor mind games, but she didn't feel like wasting her talent on him. She could tell already that he was really stupid. Her dangerous look told him to back off before something got ugly. She then noticed that the air was icy cold, colder than it was supposed to be. She looked around for the source, Damion. He was mad, mad as a rhino staring at red. Miriel was obviously trying to calm him down. She shook her head, and looked for the other person that usually haunted her steps, but he was to be found high in the sky. She didn't blame him. With all of these people around, she wanted to just keep on running. "Damion, before you explode into ice I would leave. Take Miriel with you and you might come back hot." Jaedon spoke with a dull voice.

Damion heard Jaedon come up. She seemed to be in a worse mood than usual. He heard what she said and knew that she was right, he needed to vent. Before Miriel could let go, he grabbed her hand tighter and walked away from the rest of the group, not really giving her the choice of staying.

When Damion and Miriel were off into the distance, Jaedon noticed that it was just her, the group of evil little plotters with the dummy, and Ares. A chill ran down her spine as she remembered her last meeting with Ares. He had been angry with her, and she hadn't known why. She hoped that Neron would come back soon.

[»Míríel«]

Cecily frowned at her friend and then sighed deeply. "I suppose you are right. He is a bit....dense. Ah well, we can still have fun I suppose. Right Zak dear?" She smiled up at him before letting her gaze drift down to watch he was wearing. Eventide was so predictable. Everything shiny she was obsessed with and had to get her little paws on. "Like you pearl remember?" She sighed at that thought. Yes, like her pearl. Walking away from the group her eyes caught the figure that Eventide bumped into. It was that girl. She was looking worse then usual. "Hmph..." She looked curiously at Jaedon before turning away, lost in her thoughts. Apparently the girl had decided not to drink her little tea, for if she had, that vial had enough kick in it to knock out an elephant. It was strange to her how dragons could get past the deadly herb/grass's poison. Perhaps it was because they were so large, or the heat purified the grasses on the way down, whatever it was it was a mystery, something she wished to solve.

Zak's voice snapped her out of her thoughts and immediately she turned on the charm once more. "Yes, two green-eyed beauties. It must be your lucky day to be meeting so many beautiful women. But then again I doubt someone as handsome and as dashing as you are could ever be short on women." She smiled at him as they continued away from the group.


Miriel was surprised at seeing Jaedon in such a condition as she was currently. She was so pale looking. What was wrong with the two firebrands of her friendship. First Neron and then Jaedon. THose two you could never know what was going on with them or what to do and for them to open up enough to tell you was a rare occasion. Before Miriel could ask she was pulled away by the cool figure beside her, Damion. She didn't know what to say and by the look on Damion's face and the coolness of his touch she remained quite, plus he was moving so fast she concentrated on staying in step with him and not being dragged behind. What was with everyone these days?



Ares had remained in the background as Jaedon approached, he had been an observer but now it seemed he might just be a bit more than that. Those blue eyes of his had turned a stormy slate blue with his fiery hair brushing in them. Those strong hands of his were balled at his side. The air grew tense around the two, the wind only adding a dramatic effect. Ares couldn't speak for a couple minutes, anger was to prevalent. So this lady, this friend of Miriel's and Neron's was an assassin. Surely they couldn't know about this, but then again it seemed that they did. How then could they be friends with such a fiend? Everything was to tense and Ares knew he couldn't get past the question that was burning within. He would give this girl the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he had misheard with the Miriel episode, perhaps he had connected the wrong dots. Let this Jaedon deny it or agree to it. HE would not do anything until he heard from her lips what she was. So the question burst out from him suddenly, erupting from his mouth like the raging waves crashing against the cliffs below. "Are you an assassin?"



Neron was still a little ways off. HE thought he heard and angry voice, but it was probably just Damion or something else going on, or it was just the waves below. They seemed so angry and powerful. Their strong fists beating against the cliffs. IT was amazing that the cliffs could stand such a pounding for so long and still be as strong and stable as they were. "I guess this proves that it takes a beating to make you stronger...if you don't die from it first." Jaedon was still very prevalent on his mind. What was she doing right now? Why did he care? Those questions just circled around and around in his mind, when would they ever be answered and let him have true, blissful, peace?

[saerwen]

Eventide practically lost it when Cecily started her little stream of flattery. If they weren't careful, they would both have too much fun with this fool. "Lets get out of here before things get any worse. If anymore girls come up we might lose him my dear Cecily. It seems that his attention span is as short as mine." She dragged Cecily and Zak along behind her, her little form making tracks quite quickly. "I'm thinking somewhere concealed...what about you guys?" She looked to Zak and then Cecily. She hoped that Cecily got the message.

Jaedon was out of breath, slightly. She had already run 2 miles and she knew that she would probably go for another 2 if things here got ugly. By looking at Ares' dark expression she went ahead and prepared herself for the extra miles. Suddenly, she could hear the beating of her own heart and almost thought that she could hear Ares' as well. Other than the crashing waves and howling wind, it was deathly silent. Even though Damion was nowhere near them, the air still had the sting of cold in it. It was whipping her hair about her face and shoulders, causing the silky essence to look like water in the light of the moon. Her green eyes were focused squarely on Ares' face. "Are you an assassin?" The question burned into Jaedon's mind. She had been trying to answer that question for herself in the past few days, and now it was time to tell the truth, to herself and to Ares. She was afraid of the answer, but knew that she would never escape it. She stayed silent for a moment and then, taking in a deep breath she began, hoping that Ares would give her time to think through it seeing as how she was such a scrambled mess.

"In truth Ares, I have been wondering that myself." she looked up into the sky and saw Neron disappearing. She had never wanted his presence this badly before. "A friend once told me...no wait...a teacher once told me that you never stop being an assassin no matter how good you are after your first job. He said that it is ingrained in your soul and a fate that no one can escape. 'Some people are born to be assassins' he said, 'so when the reaper comes for you at the end, he won't even have to ask you who you are, because it's marked on your soul. They do it that way just to make it easier for themselves.' I don't know if that is true or not. I don't really believe in fate, but I do know this. I will never be rid of my tendency." She shook her head and let out a slight chuckle as she realized that this was just the question she had needed. She looked back to Ares with a darker personality seeping through her essence. "I was an assassin, and good lord, I had a great job, I'll never want for anything in life. It never sank into my conscience because of how I had been trained, but I am definitely paying for it now." She had a strange smirk on her face, "So in answer to your question, yes, I'm an assassin, even though I'm not killing anyone else, I am still a born and bred assassin. Killing will always be my forte, so i guess that I'll never be out of a job if things get bad for me right?" she shook her head again laughing at herself. "Gotta love the ironies of life." Then she sobered, glaring at Ares with a confidence that she hadn't felt in a while. "I think you had a point to that question though."

Damion had led Miriel further down to another point of the cliffs, far away from where they had previously been. He needed to get away from them, from him. He hadn't really noticed how fast he had been going or how he had been dragging Miriel along until he finally stopped. He let go of Miriel's hand and went to the very edge of the cliff. After staying quiet for a second he let out a sigh, then turned to Miriel. "I'm sorry, Miriel. I just couldn't stay back there, not around him." he ran a hand through his hair. "I just couldn't let myself hurt someone else again, no matter how much I dislike them. I wouldn't ever forgive myself. I still won't forgive myself for last time." He was thoroughly disappointed in himself. Then he remembered that he had been walking kind of fast. "I'm really sorry Miriel. Are you okay?" His skin was still white as snow and his eyes were practically glowing. The air around them had lost none of it's potency, and now, little snow flakes were starting to fall, but most of them melted when they hit the ground.

[»Míríel«]

Cecily smiled at Eventide. She started to guide the two away until they reached some trees that were located around. Her sharp eyes scanned around them. Right now they were far enough away from everyone that no sound would be heard and no one could see them clear enough to know what was going on. "What about this place, rather charming isn't it. The trees are a wonderful touch." Then settling down into a sitting position she patted the ground around her, signaling Zak and Eventide to sit down. "NOw you must excuse me Zak.. I'm afraid that I don't really have much of a china set with me...but I hope that this will do..." She pulled out a little vial that was a bit rounder then most. "It's a funny sort of cup, but it's hard to carry around real cups in a bag." She motioned to her silver bag that was at her side. Pulling out to more she gave one to Eventide and kept one for herself. The one Eventide and her were holding were purely water with a slight blue tinge to it. She did this so that she could mix her little concoctions together with it and not mistake it for the other poisons she carried. Also if all else failed the cork on the top had a W engraved into it with flourishing cursive script. The one that Zak held had a more green tinge to it. It was something that would put him into a deep, deep slumber. He would wake from it in a couple hours feeling like someone had hit him on the head with a crowbar, but other then that he would be fine.

Ares just listened, he clenched his fists tighter and when she had finished his form switched suddenly. There before JAedon there was now a sandy lion with a flowing red mane. Wings of pure white fading to a deep red were stretched out by him. "So you are an Assassin." His growl thundered at her. A deep hatred welled within him, a great prejudice. In all of his past he had never come past a good assassin. They were all scum of the earth, people who took advantage of you and then threw you out like yesterday's trash. He would not let his new friend, or his old one, get used by this female in such a manner. Those great claws of his dug into the dirt and his blue eyes flashed with anger. "I should have known." He scowled deeply. "You are at the top of your kind I'm sure, for you have a great talent in this area for me not to suspect it." Ares started circling around Jaedon. He couldn't decide what to do, did the others know? Now they did they had to, but what were they going to do about it? He could tell that Neron cared for this girl in a strange way, and he wasn't going to let his friend get seduced by this...witch. "You say you haven't killed anyone else in a while, well I'm sure that will change. Your kind don't go without blood staining their fingertips for long." His nose wrinkled in disgust. "You don't need to be around the others, you will stain them with your friendship, if an assassin can have such a thing. In addition, I will not have you seducing my friend Neron with any of your wily tricks. Even he doesn't deserve a fiend like you." The Neron thing had been an addition, he was the closest thing Ares had here as a friend. IT seemed like Jaedon and Neron were always together, one way or another, in fact it was almost like Neron was slipping out of Ares's grasp a bit. Ares couldn't comfort or sooth him like before. His words held no power and after Neron would leave in a moody state Ares would stumble upon him doing silly things like slipping things under Jaedon's door or trying to find her. It distressed him greatly. No, this could not continue, he wouldn't allow it. With his teeth bared he was ready for a fight.

Neron stood on the cliff his eyes showing a deep brooding. "Forget this.." He muttered underneath his breath. It was to great of a day to be standing here worrying his head about other people's business. Flying, that's what he would do, and perhaps he could see a familiar figure wandering beneath. Yes, that's what he would do. Letting all his worries stay behind He ran at the edge of the cliff and leaped off. When he rose above the cliff's edge he was in another form, his dragon's. His ebony scales slightly glowing against the sun's rays and it didn't take long before he was a great height in the sky. This was more like it. Little did he know that the person he was looking for was a little less then a mile away on the cliff. She was to far away to really notice his fading form as he soared in the sky and now he looked nothing more then a hawk in the sky.

Miriel gasped for breath when they finally stopped their mad dash. Her slender form had been bent over as she breathed deeply, but now she straightened and lifted her hand. "Don't worry Damion..." She brushed her hair back. "I am a tiny bit stronger then a look." She held up her fingers and showed the amount between her thumb and index finger. Then her laughter came from her and she smiled. "Though, that was a bit of a hike." Looking at him with eyes sparkling with love she sighed. The snow was sprinkling her hair with it's whiteness and her catching on her eyelashes. They didn't stay long before melting, but then another would take its place. "I understand Damion...though..." She sighed at the smile left her face and she looked down at her feet for a moment. "About that event...will...will you do one thing for me. It will probably be hard for you..but you must do it..." She looked up at him with a pleading look to her jade eyes.

[saerwen]

"Wow, you come very prepared little lady. But what exactly is this tea? Earl grey? Mint? rasberry? Probably mint from the green tint." He settled down next to Cecily as Eventide took her place beside Cecily. Eventide was examining Cecily's silver bag with slight interest, she moved it back and forth letting the light play on it, but then she lost her fascination with it. She took the vial from Cecily's hand and popped the cork off with her thumb.

"It's so nice to be able to have something to drink after walking to far. Thanks Cecily for the thougtfulness." Eventide was playing to make sure that Zak took the drink and downed it. Which after she said that he agreed and popped the cap off and sucked the whole thing down in no time.

"I agree with you there, I was in desperate need of something to drink. You know us football guys get really thirsty." He had no sooner downed the drink that he began to feel very...drowsy. He started feeling a little light headed and dizzy. He figured that he had just drank it too fast, but when it refused to stop after a little while, he couldn't help but wonder what was happening. "Woah, what was in that stuff? I'm feeling really sleepy. Strong tea." his speech was slurred and started getting less common. He looked at Cecily, but her figure was now blurred. In a few moments, everything was black and he journeyed to dream land.

"Nicely done Cecily!" Eventide said when he was gone for certain. She got up and went over to Zak, picking up his arm and pulling at the latch to his watch. "That didn't even take any hard work. You should let me borrow that stuff, cuz i bet it works in even smaller doses, right?" She eventually got the watch off and slid it into her pocket. She then dug her slender hand into his pocket, fishing for whatever she could find.

Jaedon could tell that Ares wanted a fight even before he changed forms. When he started circling her she rolled her eyes. "Gosh, you don't have to get all territorial. Men." She hadn't come here searching for a fight, but she wasn't the type to walk away from one unless she knew that she couldn't win it. She had an inclination that she wouldn't win this one, so she had wanted to avoid it as it formulated, but now she had no escape. "Jeez, I didn't come here to pick a fight. But, if you win, then at least I will have made a villain out of you." A smile caressed her face. With that said, she decided that she needed to change forms herself, seeing as how she would be much better suited to fight him like that. Her human form disappeared quickly, her soft white skin fading into fur of the softest and silkiest black. Her claws tapped against the earth as she took in her surroundings and the lay of the land.

Then he started talking about Neron and Miriel and all of the rest. Her head perked up and her ears shot up. Then she started laughing. She was laughing so hard. "Wow...you really are clueless aren't you? You dummy." She could hardly speak for laughing but then she sobered to tell him her truth. "I have been friends with Damion for longer than I have been friends with Miriel or Neron, and I don't think I have worn off too much on him. I have been friends with Miriel longer than I have been friends with Neron, and she has had no ill effect, in fact she is just the same as when I met her, except that she is a little happier with Damion. And Neron, I have been friends with Neron for a while, and thus far, the only thing that has happened is that he has changed from and angry, rampaging idiot into a much more dependable idiot. Granted, that change is no thanks to me, but I certainly did nothing to damage it." She looked down for a moment and then back up, "You need to recheck your logic, little man."

She pulled herself up to her full height again and looked at him dangerously. Although she was tired and degenerating quickly in her current state of mind, a fight was going to be good for her. She would either be victorious and walk away with pride, or she would lose and die. Either would make her just as satisfied. She had no fear of death and no fear of Ares which allowed her to appear before him, fearless, and strong. "But I can tell that no amount of logic is going to sway your anger. It's actually a lot like Neron's when he used to get angry and go off. Anger causes you to lose sight of a lot of things, especially sense. So, if you want a brawl, set the chess board up and take your first move."

Miriel was trying to cheer him up, Damion could tell, and thus far it was working. As her laughter rippled through the air, he found himself unable to keep from smiling. As selfish as it was, he kept the snow coming and in fact, made it fall even harder simply because he liked the way she looked with the snow falling on her. When she asked him to forget something, he wondered what it would be, and his mind jumped within him saying that whatever it was he would do his best for Miriel's sake. "Oh, and what is that?" he stepped closer to Miriel and further away from the edge of the cliff. His blue eyes surveyed her face carefully, looking for any sign that she was hurt or in trouble. That was something that she could not hide for long.

[»Míríel«]

"Oh, it is something of my very own concoction. Many say it goes down as sweet as honey." Daintily she took a sip from her own little vial and she smiled over the top at him. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring anything more...potent, or offer you another glass. I'm afraid that's the only vial I had with me." Her amber eyes narrowed as she watched the liquid do it's job. It didn't take long at all and when he was significantly asleep she raised an eyebrow in disgust. "You're right Eventide, those with fewer brain cells are not nearly enough fun to suit my taste." She sighed once more before taking the drink from his relaxed fingers. Turning the vial between her fingers she muttered, "That was enough to put an elephant to sleep. Looks like the poor little thing is going to have a wonderful nap." She smirked. Turning to Eventide she rolled her eyes, "Of course I have this is smaller doses. Though thanks to sleeping beauty and you I wasn't able to test my new concoction." She held her hand out for Eventide's vial. "Now I'll have to wait for another subject and...collect more supplies." She glared at Eventide in her moody little way "That "stuff" he just drank took about three weeks to sit and ferment but no one cares, they want to only use my talent and pay no attention to the science within. " Her eyes dropped to Eventide's hand, "And what are you looking for?" A curious gleam rose to her eyes.

Miriel focused her gaze on DAmion and said with a perfectly straight face, something that was hard for her, "You must...must forgive yourself." The smile broke through, though it was only a slight one. " Because I have forgiven you long ago my love." Miriel forced the smile away as she continued, "Please, try to forgive yourself, for me." She bit her lower lip slightly as a expectant and pleading look came over her face. Her hands were clasped together and held over her chest. The snow now stayed on her hair for longer, and it looked like sugar on top of a some dark chocolate. Those thick eye lashes of her were crowned with the delicate flakes. Even though she was starting to get cold she didn't let it show one bit, plus if she wanted to warm up she could crank up the heat herself, but she preferred to keep it where it was. The snow was so pretty and Damion would be repelled if she grew warmer. No she could endure the cold for a while.

Ares narrowed his eyes at Jaedon. All this might be true, but to could tell with such a person. Usually people like Jaedon could tell you a lie straight to the face. "Yes, Miriel is just the same, though I'm sure killing her father was something that had no effect on her, it's not like she cared about him anyways right?" He showed his teeth and forgot his pacing. "Though I'm sure you wouldn't know what it felt like, you being an assassin. All the assassin's I knew killed their parent's, you're probably no exception." He stared at her with his blue eyes glowing like a flame. "So what are you going to do little kitty? Surely you aren't to scared to fight against a big bad Lion." Ares was totally gone now as the other side of him started to get in the way. HE was angry, not exactly at Jaedon, actually he sort of liked her but because of her being an assassin he couldn't admit to that. So he resorted to trying to evoke anger within himself and her. He needed to have her attack first.

Neron soared far above the rest, his wings were caressed by the wind. IT was so good to be back in the air again, free. It didn't take long before he pulled a couple of barrel rolls and flips before letting himself get down to business. Those scaly lips of his curled into a smirk/smile as he let his green eyes start searching the ground beneath. IT was nice to have eyes like an eagle, it let you see things far down on the ground in great detail and clarity. Damion and Miriel seemed to be separated fro the others and that strange silver girl, her asian friend, and the airhead that put Damion to shame, were together. Nothing interesting there. Stretching his wings out he let himself glide on the wind, letting it guide him here and there. Jaedon was no where to be seen. With a sigh he turned around to comb the land he was at before, perhaps she had come to the group after he left. What met his eyes wasn't a pleasant sight. Ares, his friend, was in his true form, something that never meant anything good, and there was another cat, she had lovely black fur. Neron's eyes widened. "Jaedon" Pinning his wings to his side he let his body fall.