::she sighs as she sits at the beach, watching the waves roll in.. thinking over the latest turn of events::

The past few days have been good. Though good may be an understatment, atferall, some would say I was always one to understate the facts. I suppose so makes it easier, if it's bad, then it seems not too bad, and if its good, it wont be so good as to get my hopes up too high. I suppose it's one of my little defenses I have. I have been witness to few things, including being the one to inform Vixen that Saria did not stay at the orphanage the first night she became a ward. This led to accusations of Sethin kidnapping her. I just hope they understand I have the girl's best interests at heart. She, being only four, does not need to be running wild and sleeping in the woods. that is far too dangerous for a child of that age.

I realised last night, that a man has caught my eye. Yes I just realised, and it has been for about a week too...sometimes I can be a bit slow on the uptake...

::She smiles softly as she thinks of this particular times last eve::

I sat and talked with one of our newer citizens, Alex Windale, and found myself admiring more than listening. He is a wonderful person once he actually speaks. As we took a walk, talking of this and that, he told me how he felt for me, and me, finally not being defensive and to myself, told him how I felt. I feel so alive now... and counting the hours till I see him again. I must sound silly, definantly not my usual self that's for sure. But then again, I don't feel like my usual slef. I feel happier, and such. I am supposed to meet him this eve. I hope I don't loose track of time, as I tend to do when I am working on my writings and such. Though, I dred going back to the Pleasuredome after something I have witnessed earlier today. Alterio brought in the dead body of Alex Giovanni...as a greeter, had the body sitting in a chair and everything. How...disgusting...

I do not see how someone could disturb the dead in such a way. And I think i will keep to outside along the beach until someone can dispose of the Pleasuredome's most recent employee...which I hope is soon. I doubt that many would stand to eat drink and try to have a pleasant evening with a dead elf's body staring at them.

::she shakes her head lightly and wrinkles her nose, her stomache turning at the thought::

Well that is all for now...

Until I have more pleasent things to say,

--Journal entry 7 July, Lina Metallium

Ah, Hello. Well, I have took up residence in the isle now, Hitching the wagon near the woods, and sleeping by night, studying the flora and fauna by day. Such a wonderous place! I figured I would, take in the scenery..To be honest, the place was overwhelming such enigmatic people, with such personas...There flaws, and traits of virtue, seem amplified by the isle's magic...I am sure it is here!

Though another magic, has caught my eye...Lina Metallium...I first spoke to her, knowing she and Torrent, were involved in the Volcano incident. Though, after talking to Torrent, and Lina...I found the Volcano incident, was more the volcano and circumstances more than the two mages. Though, I am much more interested in Lina, than her past role in the isles incidents. So, enchanting...So very wonderful..full of life. Her smile, is so very charming. Well, I am quite taken with her obviously...But I must make sure not to overwhelm her, or myself..I haven't felt like this in so many years...Well it looks, I missed her tonight anyway...Goodnight.

--Journal entry, 7 July, Alex-Windale

Hello there, I am slowly begining to understand the value of a moment. Today, I was running dreadfully late, on my research..I then realized the time, while riding to the Pleasuredome, I know Lina does hate, to stay up to late, and I pushed the horse hard, to make it on time. I hurried to the door, almost ready to fly apart from my flight, and then made it through the door to see, well nothing. No Lina, no welcome. Only moments later, Halfdan spoke in hushed tones. " You Poor Sod, You missed Lina by 1 minute. " it took me a second to figure how he kept so good time, but that is of little consequence.

Vixen, told me Lina wished to speak with me about something, What I am not sure..Could be that dreadful papers, rumortorium...but in any place gossip is needed, sometimes the best form of entertainment. I, a warlock? I detest dependence on magick, its hardly something needed or required. And Jane and I a item? She provides occaisional conversation, and her role in the previous occurances of the isle, is a large one. Her involvement with Carazzi, made her in the Limelight for a moment.

It seems, the Carazzi family, operate like Alterio does, like a plague. Spreading and feeding. However, in Alterio is a good man...To a extent, however not all the Carazzi's are the same..Though some of there antics could threaten the well being of the isle as a whole. My slight run in with Knight Trione, may also be a hint. I was wining, though my mind seemed to fail on me, and I could not longer fight. Then, that odd thing with that dreadful pirate Lloyd. A bard he says, then dares to insult Lina? He needed the thrashing I gave him, he barely laid in a blow. Truly he should work harder on his combat...He mentioned The Order of the Dark Sky...I checked on it, no such guild exists here..Or Knighthood. Though I heard of there activities on one Isle.

Thievery, Assasination, etc etc...But I thought Lloyd worked for Claude, though Captain Torrent, has disappeared? Perhaps he found Miss Sinclair...Though I do doubt he found Rowsy. In any rate, Lloyd will return..He wishes something from me...I do know the secret to the Black Powder...And how to make the fireworks....I was so eager to show, the skill to others, I may of spread the secret when showing off, the fireworks. Well aslong, as no one comes for the secret, none shall see or know of it. The Easteners, trusted me..I must not betray the trust. Right now, I am still researching the volcano, and the sharkmen...I even found a corpse, With all my inspections...We have one problem..I cant found out how they were created...Magicaly? With therapy? Crossbreeding?

Well, all questions for another night. Good night.

--Journal entry 8 July, Alex-Windale

:::sighs softly as she sits at her cabin, on the pourch, journal in her lap, leaning to write::

I have returned finally from the mainland. I was hoping to be met with happier news than what I was met with. Uncle Alterio's in the asylum (of sorts)...I knew something wasnt right, but, I couldnt quite place it all.

Ben says Uncle Alterio had Alex's body raised by the volcano..::shakes her head:: He would never have done that if he had been in his right frame of mind..never. I know Ali must be mortified..but, she seems to be handling it well enough.

Ben also tells me my Uncle tried to slay himself...he better be glad he is already locked away, and has the reasoning of being a bit deranged at the present. It is so unlike him to do all of these things...I pray he gets better soon.

I have not seen Taelie since my departure...I miss him terribly, and was hoping to see him upon my return. Perhaps I shall see him tomorrow.

I am too tired to think clearly, so, for now, I will quit rambling, and write more when my mind is not so fuzzy...

--Journal entry, 9 July, LyriasDreams

::she yawns softly, glancing about the nearly deserted Pleasuredome and begins to write::

I have been idly sitting around the past few days, making idle conversation with some person or another. Some being rude as can be and some just wanting someone to talk to and such. But my mind keeps wandering as I look about, at all the happy smiling faces. My thoughts keep turing to the other night, and my talk with Alex. I usually snap out of my thoughts finding myself smiling. I ca not waiit to see him, though, I have missed him both nights, but just barely. I just sigh softly and absorb myself into a poem, song or something to that extent. I have been graced by a few scrolls, only to answer them as soon as I recieve them, not being able to wait to talk to Alex again.I hope to see him some time this eve....

I found the sweetest delivery earlier this morning. I was given a dozen red roses from Alterio and Vixen, thanking me for the music I play at the Pleasuredome alomst nightly. Such a kind thought of those two...I hope Vixen got the gift I had delivered to her for the baby. I need to send them a thankyou card. Well I suppose that is all for now...I seem to be rambling.

Until next time

--Journal Entry 9 July, Lina Metallium

Well what has happened this last week while lyri has been gone.

I missed lyri deeply, that almost doesnt even need to be said.

One eve the lonliness got to me badly, I called Az and sat on the beach with her, Jasmin joined me and talk to me for a while trying to cheer me up...

The next day was even worse, that morning I lost 2 friends in Alterio and Vixen.. then later that eve the lonliness hit me again, I spent time with Azorah on the beach again, Ali tried to cheer me up with Jasmin's help though it only worked to limited avail. Then I got into an arguement with Azorah..

She roared at me then flew away still roaring, its left me with a tempory deafness...

*sighs and puts his stuff away sick of writing lately**

--Journal Entry 10 July, Taeliesyn

~covers a yawn, listening to the sloth's odd sounds resounding through the halls. She scowls and, for lack of anything else to do since sleep is out of the question, begins to write~

Well sixteen is a disappointing age. I anticipated more, some sort of revolutionary change in my life. But no, the day passed rather quietly. I got a few chorusing "Happy Birthdays" from my friends. That was nice. But when the milestone turned out to be little more than a pebble, I went out on the beach to take a moment to myself. A moment that was destroyed initially by Alterio, whose cheese has slid off his cracker. He's going off the deep end, but I can't feel badly. At the moment I am viewing him as a selfish bastard. After that whole Alex thing... *she makes a face* That pissed me right off (pardon my strong language). The man has no respect for anyone or their feelings, and he seriously lacks tact. I don't care if he's going out of his mind. Maybe once he's crazy he won't be such an ass. *her vehemence is spawned by something else, and she writes furiously* And I'm glad I retched on his boots. Not my fault he got in such a stupid duel and had his pretty face all carved up, and his groin kicked in. But still I have to be dragged in to heal his sorry arse when I've been sick with influenza for days. What'd he think was gonna happen? Then the coward goes and tries to kill himself, and I'm hauled in to heal him yet again. I'm almost sorry I bothered. Almost. Hrmph. Maybe if he actually took responsibility for his actions now and then, he wouldn't be so loopy.

Then there's Sirra. What the hell am I to do with her? To get back at me for moving out and telling her she needs to get on with her own life and quit hiding behind mine, she turns around and tells Ker Frost, my childhood nemesis, she'll marry him! She threatens to leave the island to marry him, because she totally misinterpreted my message as hostile. I don't get it. Well, she didn't even threaten. I would've never known if Ker hadn't sent me a letter to gloat. Bah. I quelled that problem, and I guess Sirra plans to try to become more social instead of sociopathic. I'll believe that when I see it.

So anyway, about this being sixteen thing...I was talking to Torlin about it, and he thinks my life is nuts, and that's why I'm so weird. Go figure. Meadowood customs never seemed weird to me. Marrying at twelve was commonplace. Every girl I knew was married by sixteen. And then he had a huge fit over arranged marriage, wanting to know what a twelve year old knows of love. Momma said I'd grow to love Wesley if I married him. Torlin said that's stupid, and love doesn't come out of respect. I felt patronized again. Just because people are older than I am doesn't mean they know more about things. Bah. *mutters to herself, sick of being treated like a child*

I had a nice chat with Wesley on my birthday. Haven't amounted to much. He's disappointed in me, too. But what can I do? I say it's an accomplishment that I'm still alive. Not a great accomplishment, but it's something. He's angry that I quit fighting, though. I know it. I was his pride and joy, his legacy, and I left all that in the dust. My intentions are honourable. Maybe I shoulda mentioned all that to him. Oh well.

Lina and Alex are happily together. Tael and Lyr, Alterio and Vix, Mags and Dan, Ali and Ben, Tor and Raven. Sixteen's supposed to be a romantic year. In Meadowood, these coming-of-age type balls were held on the sixteenth birthdays of unwed maidens. Big parties, with flowers, bands, and the latest gowns galore. Dancing with every eligible male in the town... Ridiculous and flighty as the custom is, I have to admit I wanted it.

I want to know what I'm missing way out here, wearing these old breeches and oversized tunic. When that girl, Liliain, had hers the week before the wedding, I had the barest taste, though I danced only with Wesley. Just to be caught up in the merriment, to be all dressed up, to feel pretty and delicate and graceful...I don't know, the air of romance was magical, and while I usually scoff and stuff like that... just for one day it might've been nice. One day of my own. But I suppose it doesn't matter.

~she scowls as the sun shines through the window at just the right angle to annoy her, and rises to close the shutters, abandoning her work~

--Journal Entry 10 July, Jane Maichen