~He walks across the Manor and peeks into Thirlia's room, wondering if she's there right now. He frowns and closes the door as carefully as he opened it and just head to his room. Once there he plunks down in the corner near a window and pulls out his colouring book and some coloured wax sticks where he proceeds to colour his journal entry 'stead of writing it. The words go over in his head~

'Lo Kobe, I's is back cause FUrliahh ain' here fer me to 'lay whore wif righ' now so's I's fought yew wood like som'one to talk to yew. Yew know wha'? Furliahh calleded me a GROWNED man yesserday!!!

~he puffs his chest out proudly~

Yew know wha', kobe? ...dose gerls are a'ways cossing trubble like a'ways!! T'day I's was in th'dome wif Sahhreeyahh an' she's AXED me if she's mine tassle in a dress! (As you know--damsel in distress) CAN yew b'live tha'? She's says, A'kane... "is I yur tassel in a dress?? or is Tirla"[verbatim]

~he frowns, remembering the tough position he was placed in that he didn't know right off how to get out of and how he thought carefully before replying~

An' Kobe, I's tol' her "Yew's boff a tassle". So I's finks I's says th'righ' fing, whachyew fink?

~he sighs, frustrated.~

AN'how.. I's god to go now an' fine my daddy so we can git somefin' from th'shoppes, I's fink I's jus gonna gib th'shoppe keep-her ALL mine gold an' buy MY daddy a new name 'stead of gitting th'other one back.

~he pushes the book aside, dropping the coloured wax sticks next to it. He stands and sets out to find his father.

He'll be searching for a while~(sigh)

--Journal entry 27 July, Alkane Blade Carazzi

~yawns and rubs tired eyes. It's late afternoon but she's only now awakened. Her new house seems very very empty, something she's not used to, having lived in a buzzing keep in Haven, a family-filled manor in Meadowood, various loud inns on her travels, Carazzi Manor, the small cottage with two others, and even Mags' Manor~

Yesterday was interesting. This whole week's been kinda interesting. We'll take it from the beginning, when I decided all Breuse really needed was a chance to live his life without his father breathing down his neck, telling him he shouldn't. So I won this weekend getaway at the resort, and decided I'd be taking him. There we -or more importantly, he- wouldn't be interrupted, so he could maybe discover some things about himself, what he likes, what he might want to do in life. Then I got the idea in my head, what with all this fuss about being sold to Alterio, unable to go back to the cottage or lose the Maichen name, sort of living at Mags', refusing to live at Alt's, to buy a house of my own. And low and behold, Ali hasn't ever used the one she had built, and she decided to sell it to me. I gave her a fiar price, and was ecstatic. My plan was to ask Breuse to come stay with me. I even planned to have a room decorated to suit him. He hates it at the guildhouse, so I figured I'd give him an open, comfortable environment in which he could grow, express himself, and really actually discover himself. It's on a private piece of land, too, so we'd rarely be bothered.

So those were my ideas. My attempt to help my fellow man. He even agreed to the weekend getaway. But then, ridiculously, of course, everyone's decided I love the guy. The writer of the gossip column in the paper was so callous to suggest that since I couldn't have Alterio, I was "settling" for his son, and inquired if I liked him because he "paid attention to me". What kind of crap is that, is what I'd like to know. Plenty of people "pay attention to me" and I'm not falling into any of their arms. It takes a little more than attention to make me give a damn. As for settling for Alterio's son because I couldn't have him? I left him. So the point is moot. End of story.

Anywho, moving on to this whole drought thing. I admit, I panicked when I heard. I saw the effects of famine on the plains in Haven and it's not pretty. I was determined not to let it happen here. So I sent my suggestions to Torlin, but he never did anything with them. When I asked about what the SSAG was doing to help, he snapped at me, wouldn't tell me anything, and threatened to arrest me for "harassing" him. That was the last straw. I teamed up with Tiggy and we gathered others like Ali, Lina, and Ben, to start a private effort of gathering food. It was going rather well, too, and it calmed my nerves.

Then comes yesterday. First thing, Alterio tried to drown me. I don't know what's gotten into him lately. He's not the man I once knew anymore. Or maybe he is, but he's giving me his "armour" instead of his real self. Either way, I don't like it, and it's making me furious. The man has no empathy, far too large an ego, and he needs to be humbled. Maybe his little "trip" will teach him humility.

Off topic, anyway...okay, I was sitting on the beach, trying to catalogue relatives to see if maybe I had a mage in my family that could come help give us rain. I was coming up blank when suddenly I was pulled backward into this hole. It was Alterio, and he started burying me.

Disoriented, I thought little of it, thoughts still on the drought, and I wanted to know what he was doing about it. Then he packed me in and left me there...and the tide was coming in. To make a long story short, if it weren't for the strength desperation lends, and the help of Tiggy, who I'll be eternally grateful to, I know full well I would've drowned. Alterio's reason? A wake-up call so I'd stay away from Breuse. Would I stand for that? Hell no! I yelled, I stayed my hand however, informed him he had no right to dictate me, and he'd given up any right he may have had to dictate Breuse when he refused to treat him as a human being. Then Breuse came in, and vanished into the office. When he came out he was sporting a fat lip and a black eye, but he had a new...gait. Bah, nevermind. He said his father had cut him off financially, that he was to make it on his own, that he was to leave the island. Damn Alterio anyway. I spoke with him briefly, gave him something to put on his eye, asked him what he wanted to do, if he wanted to leave, or stay with me, or what. He didn't say much of anything and just...left.

Twice in one day that Alterio infuriated me, tried to ruin two lives (indeed take one) in one stretch. Nice. Now I'm left to wonder what Breuse has done with himself, and to worry over the treacherous waters, and sharkmen, and whether he's even left the island. Khlamar, I wish he was here, with me, at my home instead of being thrust out into a world that holds no love for anyone all on his own. I suppose he'll be alright. I mean, I did okay when I was twelve. But there were so many near misses. It makes me nauseous to think of it. I had great things in mind. Great things... Alterio ruined everything.

Later in the afternoon, I missed a great adventure. The drought has ended, so there's no need for the stores gathered, or for those I requested from Uncle Kiernan. I'm pleased about that. Lina and Lorax have to care for an egg now. Heh heh. Ben and Alterio aren't turning into sharken, and Vix and Ali aren't turning into mermaids. So good and grand, life is relatively back to normal...until, of course Alt and Nems get into a fight.

A duel for a 30 day banishment. Nems won. Alterio was forced to leave the island for a month. Mairin, Ali, Vix, etc. were devastated. When Alt was brought in, good and bleeding, head nearly severed, Vixen literally dragged me into the office and asked that I heal him, said she'd pay me anything. I, of course, said no. I'm not want to heal a man that tried to kill me just hours before, and pretty much thought he'd sent his own son to his death in the same breath. Vix asked again, and because I'm a big moron, I was grudgingly ready to do it, but Ben got to it first, which suits me just fine, so I turned on my heal and left. Do I feel remorse for those actions? No. And if anyone tries to condemn me for it, they're a hypocrite. Do I feel upset about Alterio's banishment? No. He deserves it, I think. I'll be upset if he dies, of course, because that's how I am. But the man tried to kill me as far as I'm concerned.

So I'll forgo my sympathy, thanks.

So that's that. Life is generally unpleasant, so I'll gnaw on my thumbnail awhile if the world doesn't mind.

--Journal entry 27 July, Jane Maichen

:: and sits down at her desk in the guildhall, settling to write in her journal::

Hmm...first night taking care of an egg...Interesting to say the least. This thing is kinda heavy to carry around though. I hope Ben gets that cart soon. I will be ever grateful for it.

Ah I really didn't sleep last night. I was so worried over Alterio and my taking care of this egg. Thank the Gods that Lorax is helping. I really don't know what I'd do with out him right now. I am so afraid of cracking this lil' guy...I mean Lorax and I have the weight of the entire Island on our shoulders. That's alot to take... Everyone is being so nice, offering to help with this task. Though I doubt Vix will find the time, so no need to bother her, unless I nedd a few more blankets from her store. this whole thing with Alterio I am sure is really hitting her hard.

::laughs a bit then goes back to wirting a small smile on her lips::

Lorax is great, so nice to sit and talk with. Heh, even Claude offered his help, should I need it. I guess he isn't nearly as bad as he seems.

Anyway, I have been rambling about nothing, so now I'll stop.

--Journal entry 27 July, Lina Metallium

*Lia sits up quietly the next morning, sleep deprived as is her usual way and picks at the loose threads in her blanky staring idly at everything and nothing. Sighing she makes her way to the library again picking up the empty volume she talked to the evening past and opens it a few times until she finds a satisfactory blank page, smoothing it meticulously with her hand, a pained look crosses her face, tears prickling her ageless eyes, she whispers to it gently..*

I fink mebbe Sar-yah weened. Cuz…she is a big'url and I fink e'erytime I gess sad bou' A'kane wikink her better da'he juss gess sadder…so I c'just be his fren and if he's wansa be Sar-yah his tassel inna dress den dass'ok wiff me.

*she sighs gently, obviously pained at speaking such words but closes the book quietly wiping her eyes and goes back to curl up on the floor before her bed*

--Journal entry 27 July, Thirlia

:watches Saria jump around in the water outside the Dome, takes out his quill and parchmnent and looking towards home he begins to write:

ah... here I am. back but for a moment. I could not let another day pass without a gift for Saria so I gave her my mother's Tiara. *sighs in longing* Tiger I miss you sooo much. never have i felt such a feeling. If only I could stay now.

I can't wait to hold you again but I must finish something first- I love you!

--Journal entry 28 July, Vrax Lorinar

--walks into the now empty and quiet house on the bluff she goes to her room and speaks with her bird a bit feeding him then goes out to the table in the kitchen after feeding the other animals and sits down to write--

I finally returned to the dome tonight for a short bit and spoke with Lady Lina so much has happened since I had decided to stay only at the shop and house doing my chores I miss my master and Lady Mags and even Nun I work hard and try to keep busy ......

After the last time Nemesio frightened me so I had decided to steer clear of him I returned to the dome for a brief bit tonight to read the paper and have a cup of tea and he approached me and said the strangest thing he wishes to meet with me ... where we last spoke but Lady Lina has forbidden me to walk on the beach with out her or someone else along and I feel so confused by this man he is so mysterious he causes me to feel fear yet excitement anger yet I blush when he looks at me ... He is most handsome and It seems many do not trust him .... I am not sure I do either one moment he is kind and most gentelmanly then the next he is telling me he should drown me .

I so wish my master would return I feel so lost as to what to do with myself alone . I have not seen Fierjen in some time nor have I recieved as much as a scroll I know not if he has found another he be interested in and if he has I wish him only happiness and joy in his life. He is a good friend and I understand the hardships my Master placed on him. But he will always have a special place in my heart for he is a kind and loving man and I will always be proud to call him my friend.

I read the news of Sir Carazzi having to leave the isle for 30 days and was agast with the news and when I heard the duel was with Nemesio It trully caused me worry for I fear that man is up to something and no good be its name..

I will be coming to the dome when I am able after my chores are thru perhaps and visit with Lady Lina and the others but I shall watch my back when it comes to this man Nemesio for I do not trust him I fear he has some plan to try and get me away from my master perhaps even the isle tho Slave I may be he will find it a hard chore shall he try anything of this kind for I will suffer the slave pits before I would let him take me away ..

--Lays down her quill and stands to prepare herself a simple supper--

--Journal entry 28 July, Jasmin Rose

::She looks up from the waves rolling in to the egg , a constant beside her since the incident with the surpreme serpent and sighs heavily. As she pulls out her journal, she rubs her tired eyes.She finds a blank page and goes to writing::

Sleep has been a tricky one to obtain lately. I doze off when I try to sleep, only to wake at every noise I hear. I have barly eaten as well. Eh this whole egg hatching thing is more stressful than anyone could have imagined. But, it is only for a short time and not the rest of my life, as someone had pointed out at one time.

Let's see, Benjamin is off on another business trip, and Ali had asked me to stop by, though I haven't as of yet. She has company though, with Tiger and Saria staying with her.

Everyone seems happy for the most part. People close to Alterio, I suppose, are trying to seem happy and forget their troubles for a while anyway. When I am not trying to sleep and at the Pleasuredome, I have been spending alot of time on the beach. The ocean is such a beautiful thing.

::Finds it hard to keep her thoughts straight and keeps jumping from one thing to another. She rubs her eyes again then goes back to writing::

Jane seems to believe in fairytales...she tld me that people should every once in a while. As I told her my thoughts on them, she said I was turning bitter. Bitter? Me? Nah, just realistic. I believed in fairytales once up on a time. Then I waited a year for my prince charming to return. That's when I stopped believing in them. I finally realised that they were a waste of time and only caused yous saddness in the end.Ah well..to each his own right?

As for Nestasia, I am happy for her. She seems to be getting along with Claude very well lately. I truly hope he isn't playing games with her. Though who knows, he seems to be in a good mood as of late...not so brooding. Let's see...Well, I think thats all for now...

--Journal entry 30 July, Lina Metallium