The Ballad of Sir Bitey

The Adventures of Final Fantasy PBEM Group 3

Chapter One

Blaize barely had time to pull his sword out of [the] wolf before he had to dive to avoid the leader's attack. [H]e shakes some of the dirt off his face, stands to face the leader and concentrates, he's gonna die, NOW he thinks. He focuses his energy to use dispatch on the leader.

Los remained on the top of the caravan watching the very chaotic battle. He had a dart ready in hand to throw in case a wolf broke free and he got a clear shot, or if a wolf tried to aproach the caravan. but he knew something wasn[']t right... the swordsman was here but where was the bag of food... THE FOOOOD!!!!

Taran lunges for [his] [w]olf and with one raise of his weapon digs it deep into the neck of the wolf. The wolf tries to howl but only releases a gurgling sound as blood flows from its mouth. After a few seconds of thrashing, Taran is able to hang on as the wolf falls to the ground. "Ewww..." Taran groaned. Death was seldom pretty, but that was one of the nastiest ways he'd seen. He put his foot on the wolf's shoulder joint and yanked his knife free, spurting blood all over.

"ALOUEN!! Let's get you out of here!"

Serena finally made it to Alouen and the strange Chocobo but reality hit her. How was she going to get Alouen out of this? Two wolves were left. The others seemed to be able to handle them, but Alouen looked very weak.

"Rest Alouen, I'm right here. I'll get you out of this."

Mille watches from the edge of the clearing with incredible intensity. Alouen seemed to be holding her own in the centre of the fray, and seemed to have dealt massive damage to the wolves, a testament of which was the corpses laying all around, all of them wolves. More importantly, Mille watched the woman, Serena, head towards Alouen with an almost rabid fervor. The woman turned aside attacks and dashed into the centre of battle, but for what? To be near Alouen? To save her? Alouen obviously was taking care of herself. This woman had to be watched. She was obviously up to something. But if only Mille could figure out what...

Los eyes the battle and quickly launches a dart from his nimble fingers. It flies from his hands and strikes the Wolf [Leader], who gives out his last blood curdling howl.

Taran runs with blade swinging for [his] [w]olf. The bloody blade flies through the air and strikes deep into [the] [w]olf.

Blaize who sees that the Wolf [Leader] is dead with a dart from his neck turns his attention to [the third] [w]olf who has just gotten slashed with Taran's knife. Raising his sword he lunges after the wolf and drives the blade down into the wolf, fur and blood bursting from the opposite side as the blade finds an exit. "Good job' Taran gasps, " Just one [w]olf left... Let's get him!!" He turns and goes after [the last] [w]olf.

Alouen turns for [the last] [w]olf and attacks with her gloves in a furious tirade of fist attacks.

Turbo runs following his master's signals and find himself attacks [the last] [w]olf. Preparing for his Choco kick, he misses.

Los hopped down from the carriage roof with ease taking the five Chocobo carrots out and throwing them into the caravan for safe keeping. [H]e dashed across the battlefield to Mille. Without a word he takes out Serena's knife which he has had since she fell in the sewers. "Here" He starts. "Takes this to protect yourself. Once the danger passes give it to that woman." Los turned away leaving the dagger and scanned the edge of the forest. Somebody needed to go back and get the food. Los prepared to take on any hidden enemy. Perhaps afraid that the wolf leader[']s last howl has warned another pack.

Mille peers at the person holding the knife out to her for a moment. Then, regretting the momentary distraction from watching Alouen, quickly grabs the knife, mutters a quick thank you, and turns back to the battle. Just in time to see her friend backing out of the fight, and positioning herself at the carriage. Obviously, Alouen didn't trust them either. Can't blame her, the people did kidnap us. No matter how nice they act now, I know they are still kidnappers. I quickly put the dagger in an appropriate pocket in the backpack, who knows, I might actually need it, heft my switch, and start to dash out of the underbrush. I intend to skirt the battle and get to Alouen. United we stand, and all that stuff. I just want to be with her...

"Humph," Alouen mutters, "If not for that brutish man kidnapping us, I'm sure I could still be in that park. Still, the forest has it's upsides as well..."

Taran looked around as he readied to strike the last wolf... Turbo however beat him to it, and kicked the wolf in the head! Taran runs over and hugs Turbo. "Turbo, you're all right!! "He handed Turbo a carrot he pulled from the ground. Turbo warked happily then continued to graze on more of the carrots.

[She] breathe[s] a sigh of relief as the last wolf falls to the chocobo's blow. Of course, [she] was still concerned with the group. Now that the distraction of the wolves was gone, [she] would stand out like a sore thumb. Mille was beside [her], watching the group intently [she] would assume[d], while [Alouen] was more focused on catching my breath. I don't know what to do, [...] there is what, 4 of them, one left...but the bird makes 4...it seems to be following one of them. I might be able to take 1 or 2, but that still leaves 2 more...

Los [...] left the party to fight the last wolf. He did not bear witness to the chocobo getting the killing attack in, nor did he care. Los only ran for food. He could not believe they had forgotten the food. Still, that just meant more for him, if no one else remembered. He could not remember when he last had a good meal, but if he could not remember then it had been too long.

Trees passed him left and right when suddenly he heard the howls off in the distance. They did not seem close and if they were going to be after anyone it would be the group by the wagon since there are more of them and they were making the most noise. Los continued his stealth and finally saw the camp up ahead.

In a small bag to the left hand side was the food bag, along with a few torches. He also sees where the opening once was from the cave was now a pile of rubble. So far everything was clear, not a single enemy in sight. He is left with a decision. Food? Torches? And where to go next, back to the group, or on his own?

Scanning the surrounding trees, [L]os breaks cover. He grabs two of the torches and slides them down into one of his many weapon belts[,] [...] then climbs up the tree where he had tied the bag. While getting the food bag untied he looks about for the nearby howlers....

Suddenly there was a loud howl then a cry of "DIE!!!" Taran turned and looked, just in time to see a small, shadowy figure cleave a wolf 3 times bigger then any Taran had seen before. "Woah..." Taran mouthed.

Mille: "An armoured, man, came out of the forest. A very large wolf is here...he's confronting it...he seems very strong..." She turns back towards the wolf and man.

The Imp [...] was nonchalantly wiping his blade. {Imp: There's a lesson in that, lads: There's always a bigger wolf.} He examines the blade and slides it home across his back.

[Alouen] quickly remove[s] [her] gloves, place[s] them in [her] pocket, smooth[es] [her] skirts, and say[s], "Come Mille, our saviour is here." [She] promptly stalk[s] to his glowing aura, which seems awfully small for a full grown man, but no matter. Then [she] realize that the brigands might try to stop me. [She] couldn't have that. [Alouen] change[s] from a quick walk to a steady dash to his side.

As [Alouen] near[s] him, [she] call[s] out, "Brave Sir! You must help me! These people you see are brigands, and their leader had me kidnapped from the nearby town! I request your aid in helping me bring them to justice!" If this man was who [she] hoped he was, a soldier of the light, than he would surely help [her]. If not, [she] had probably just sealed my fate with my kidnappers. Still, they weren't all that bad. Maybe [she] could convince the Magistrate to go easy on them. Maybe just take a hand, instead of a head.....yes, that would do nicely.

[She] look[s] at the glowing aura in front of me..."Please sir!"

[He] cock[s] [his] head and look at the stranger quizzically. The bushes rustle. Sternly, {Imp: Don't break ranks, lads.} [He] look[s] closely at the woman, then stare[s] dumbfounded. {Destiny surely smiles this day, lads! We have just rescued a prophetess from...} a glance over Blaize and Taran {...a vagabond and a boy!} [He] turn[s] once more to the desperate woman.

"I am Sir Bitey, Knight of the True Realm," scan[s] the surrounding area and its occupants. "Point out your brigands, and they will be dealt with."

"Oh No!" Taran thought, "They're using this as an opportunity to ESCAPE? By turning a soldier on us?? Oh great!" Then he noticed the look on Serena's face and took a precautionary half-step back...

Serena: "Brigands? BRIGANDS?!??!!?!? WE RISK OUR NECKS TO COME OUT HERE AND SAVE YOUR ASS AND THIS IS THE THANKS WE GET!?!?!?!?!?! HA!!! We should have left you as wolf food."

Serena was mad. She stormed over towards Alouen. Her fists were clenched with rage. Taran, Blaize, Mille, and this soldier. None of them mattered at this point. THIS was personal, this was between her and that woman.

Serena: "Correct me if I'm wrong but the man who DID kidnap you is now DEAD!! HE DIED SAVING YOUR LIFE!!!!! And correct me if I'm wrong but not once, NOT ONCE did we FORCE you to come this way. Why I do believe we helped you get out of the burning house ALIVE!!!! And did we or did we NOT come out here to help you with the wolves. Oh yeah you and your high and mighty magic did manage to confuse them for a bit BUT LOOK AT YOU!!! You're as blind as a bat and can't even stand you're so weak. If it wasn't for us you'd be dead and would have ended up as lunch for those dogs. You call us brigands when it is YOU who has no honor. We NEVER forced you to do anything. It was your choice AND ONLY your choice to go out into this forrest while we stayed at camp."

Serena was not only a couple of feet away from Alouen now still raging with anger. (RED AURA RED AURA!!!!)

Serena: "In short, see if we guide your blind ass around or risk our G'DAMN lives to save your scrawny, pathetic ass EVER AGAIN you UNGRATEFUL HARLOT!!!"

With her last words, Serena reaches out and slaps Alouen across her face as hard as she can. With a tear in her eye, she promptly turns around and walks back towards Blaize and Taran. She holds her arm out for a moment and speaks.

[Alouen] turn[s] [her] face to the side as the slap connects. By the light that hurt. Alot. It's liable to leave a mark for hours.

Serena: "This WOMAN", she says heavily laden with sarcasm, "has been free to do as she pleases. We have no use for her nor do we want her. Sir Knight if you would be so kind as to get her out of here before she gets us killed it would be appreciated."

She looks over at Blaize and Taran.

Serena: "Come on boys, we have a long journey in front of us tomorrow and we need our rest. Let's get back to camp and.." She turns around and glares at Alouen again "LEAVE THE TRASH HERE!!!"

Taran looked at Serena then Alouen. His first instinct was to make sure Alouen wasn't hurt, but there was that knight standing right next to her, and Serena would probably turn her anger on him if he appeared to be taking sides with Alouen... Awe, who did he think he was fooling? He crept towards Alouen, quietly calling for Turbo to follow him. He went over to Alouen. "Are you all right?" he asked.

But [the slap] wasn't [Alouen's] concern. [Her] concern was with the lady who had her facts wrong. And [Alouen] intended to set her straight. Before doing so, [she] spared a frown for the boy. Being concerned [...] was good, but this wasn't the time to show weakness.

Serena turned her head and watched the boy head over towards Alouen. Seeing his concern for her only threw fuel on the fire.

At the frown Taran took a step away. She obviously was fine, and he didn't want to be between the two of them when they went at it.

"Hmph... She's ready to turn you in as a thief for a crime you didn't commit and you're worried about HER safety? Some partner...."

She kept walking back towards camp. As she walked, she shot Blaize with the evil eye.

"Are you coming or WHAT?"

Bitey was gravitating in the general area of Alouen when the other woman slapped her. {It's worse than we feared, lads, they are all quite insane...} [He covers Alouen.] {Lads, bring the medical kit, we can at least tend to their physical injuries.} [He resolutely approaches Serena, watching Taran's approach with a sideways glance]

Bitey:"Miss, mad brigand or not, you would do better to remember where you are. If you think these..." [pointing to the wolves] "twisted beasts are the least the accursed woods have to offer, you are sorely mistaken." [eyeing her outfit] "Your armor has clearly been damaged severely and you would fare better here with" [looks to Alouen,]" ones who wish you no immediate harm... as opposed to those in the dark who would as soon ingest you."

Taran almost snickered when the Imp commented on Serena's "armor". If he were human, Taran would swear he was flirting with her.

Quickly gathering [her] skirts in hand, [Alouen] quickly intercepted the woman, which was incredibly easy to do, considering she seemed to be radiating red. Unusual, to say the least. Placing [her]self before [Serena], [Alouen] remove[d] all traces of sarcasm from [her] voice, and begin saying, "My Lady," which at this point [she] [swept] a curtsy graceful enough for any King's court, or, in this case, Queens, and continue with "I believe you have been mistaken in my intentions. You claim to have come to my rescue, when in fact, it was I who saved you. Had you not been here, the larger wolfpack you saw only moments before, would surely have found you and eaten you in your sleep. Not a prospect I would wish, even upon such a fine group of Royalty such as yourself.["]

Taran's jaw dropped. Royalty? She was claiming they were ROYALTY?? He quickly masked his emotions. This was going to be TOO good..."

[Alouen] pause[d] for a moment, to let what [she] [was] saying sink in, but quickly pick[ed] up the pace again. "I say royalty, because you claim to not be 'brigands', and royalty is the only other class of people that takes what they want from the other classes, without any thought of payment. And since you are such a great and powerful royal, as to go around slapping blind women, I do believe you should have much more followers than the ones that currently accompany you." Looking past her, towards the faint aura of the man who seems to gibber occasionally, "Excuse me, kind Knight!" [Alouen] call[s] to him, "I believe that I have found a royal to which you should swear fealty! Such a noble bunch as this deserves only the best in armoured protection."

Tarn watches Serena carefully. Would she actually act like royalty? He had seen her skill and daring, and this would be the con of a lifetime.

Alouen: "Do you require fealty, great Lady? I humbly offer myself to your wise and caring person." [Alouen] again flourish[es] [her] skirts, and dip[s] into a curtsy that very nearly brings [her] head to the forest floor. [...]

Serena stops for a moment. She couldn't believe her ears.

'Fealty? HER SWEAR FEALTY TO ME?!?!?!'

Serena: "Hmm hmm. Hmm. Ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha. HA ha. HA HA. HA HAHAAHA. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAA!" She began to chuckle. Raising her hand to her mouth and perching it there slightly she began to laugh even more. Soon, the clearing echoed with her insidious cackle. She managed to calm herself down a bit and resume her posture.

Serena: "Stand up. Not only are you foolish but you must be mad as well. First you call us brigands and now you insult me further by calling me royalty? My my my what a state of affairs THIS is."

She slowly struts around Alouen who is still bowing down.

"White dress, golden locks and manners. What a pretty little doll we are. Yet you know nothing about the world around you. You saved me from the large wolf? Well, perhaps you did.... Perhaps our look out would not have spotted him in time to warn us. Oh how great of you to willingly throw yourself before him to distract him."

She begins to laugh again.

Serena: "And what an indecisive mind we have. Why not more than 5 minutes ago you were crying to this "Knight in Shining armor" (during these words she clenchs her hands together, battes her eye lashes and puckers her lips. Her voice is heavily laden with sarcasm) to come and rescue you from us big bad mean people and now here you are. Layed out before me as if I were a queen. Oh the delicious irony..."

She walks in front of Alouen and reaches down. Firmly and quickly she grabs her wrists and pulls her up off the ground. Looking her straight in the eyes as if peering into her soul, she spoke.

"These smooth wrists of yours show no signs of shackles nor rope bonds. Your word against ours as to your "kidnapped state". This was a nice little act you've put on. You the helpless sweet princess and I the cold hearted queen. Well my dear you got one part of it right, but I am no queen."

She lets go of one of Alouen's wrists and starts pulling her towards Bitey.

"You are free to do as you wish, as you have been all along. Follow us, I don't care. However, I would suggest you go with your Knight, PRINCESS.." With her last words, Serena gives Alouen a rather forceful push towards Bitey. Nowhere near hard enough to knock her over, even in Alouen's weakened state, but enough to get her point across.

[...] Bitey: {Impish: Lads, get the medical supplies out here! I won't ask again...}

Two very small figures emerge from the shadows, covered from head to toe in bandages. Bitey's jaw drops.

When [Taran] saw the two Bandaged kids It was all he could do to turn his laughter into a coughing fit.

Bitey hefts one child, Rusty by name, overhead and busily twirls him about, unwrapping and rolling the recovered bandages and attempting to slip them into a pack. {Impish: I do believe you two have soiled every bandage we have. This time, so help me, I will take a switch...} He glares at the children, then softens his gaze. {Hm, well, consider this a warning. Yes, this is the last warning. Next time, it's the switch for you.} Bitey continues, half listening to the human's antics around him as he mechanically removes bandages. Sometimes Destiny laughs, but this seems cruel. A herd of fickle, bickering humans about to be devoured by demons, and yet completely oblivious or resigned to their fates. How have these creatures survived? And the trader's tales of cities full of them? Preposterous! They ignore reason and thrive on their own self-importance. They follow each other off of cliffs like sheep. I see nothing redeeming about this species. And yet... Bitey sets Rusty down, the small imp staggering dizzily and falling unceremoniously into a tiny green heap.

Serena: "Bitey is it? Cute name. Anyways attack me if you like. This little quarrel was between her and I, it does not concern you or anyone else. Oh, and if you DO attack me Mr. Chivalry, remember that I'm unarmed."

She points to her sides which are completely devoid of any weapons.

Serena: "That and I have shown no aggression towards you or any other male present. Only her." She points to Alouen.

"Choice is yours Lancelot. Better choose wisely."

Bitey listens at the sound of his name, then lifts the other child and begins the unraveling process again. {Impish: Much like one of your puppet-plays at home, lads. Except that, thankfully, you don't understand a word of it.} Rusty sits up. {I have perhaps been too hasty. Destiny would not have us here to listen to these mad creatures. It is just an unhappy coincidence.} He smirks. {Still, it might be wise to keep an eye on them.}

She chuckles a bit and walks away and heads for Taran. Once she's up to both Taran and Turbo, she starts to stroke the bird gently. Her insidiously evil smile still adorning her lips.

[Ed. Note: Bitey should have kicked her heinie]

Serena: "What a pretty chocobo. It's a shame we have to attach the wagon to him. But we better get going. The night is wasting away." She shoots a quick evil eye to Taran and taps her foot a couple of times.

Taran wilted under the Evil Glare and begin quickly hitching up Turbo. "Here boy," he said, offering him a carrot he found in the cart.

Stumbling to a stop, [Alouen] grasp[s] at [Serena's] words. 'She took me literally?', [she] quickly think[s], 'She doesn't see it...the blind seeing more than the Seeing...ironic really.' Quickly reaching another conclusion, [Alouen] right[s] [her]self, and gracefully turn[s] around. "Dear Lady, I do believe you are about to commit another crime. That carriage you are so quick to take does not belong to you. Or did that fact skip your mind completely?" Shaking [her] head, [she] walk[s] forward, in the general direction of the carriage. While walking [she] also reach[es] into [her] backpouch and draw[s] the Knife from it. Stopping where [she] stand[s], [...] [she] swivel[s] [her] head left and right, taking in everything [that she] can and cannot see.

Taran looks up from his work, "I believe Salvage laws apply. It was clearly abandoned..." Under the withering glares he received for his observation he quickly went back to work.

Alouen: "If you plan on leaving, it wouldn't do to go without protection. Take this, the boy gave it to me, but I have no use for such an object." Wrapping it in air, [she] give[s] it a little toss in [Serena's] general direction, and let[s] the wind carry it to her. "And because you are so adept at words, I will let it pass that you did in fact have me kidnapped. Lack of bonds or not, I had a knife at my back, and a trap keeping me where I sat. If that is not kidnapping, I do not know what is. I fare thee well Queen, and I hope that perhaps in the future you will not be so..." For lack of a better word than something insulting, [she] trail[s] off.

Serena stops and watches the the knife fly through the air. It landed on the ground with a soft thud. She smiled.

'I'll be damned to Tarnek... She's got guts going up against me for this long. Most women would have crumbled by now.'

[Alouen] had no intention of actually trying to turn them in[.] [I]t wasn't exactly them who kidnapped [her], but they did make no attempt to 'save' [her], or prevent it, and, on top of it, and [her] whole reason for this confrontation, was to get them to admit to kidnapping [her]. This reminded [her] of a little poem [her] parents had [her] do back when [she] was a beauty-queen...the truth of the matter.

Alouen: "The truth of the matter is a strange thing, Truth is both restricting and liberating, Let your soul free to take wing, In the end, the truth will make your heart sing."

Trailing off, [she] glance[s] around. [She] hadn't quoted anything from [her] past before. It wouldn't do to have someone recognize [her]. People would ask questions of a survivor from a town all but gone from a freak occurrence of nature. Back in the present, [she] finish[es] [her] part of this grand play, "Woman, I hope your heart will sing one day. Then, then perhaps we can be friends. Take the carriage with my blessings, the owners will not return, and I wouldn't want to stop you from leaving, to where ever you and your friends wish to go."

Serena: "Girl, you got guts. I almost hate to admit I admire that in you. There may be hope for you yet."

She walks over to her knife and retrieves it. Carefully she stores it within its hiding place between her [breasts]. Sighing heavily[,] she visibly calms herself. Her hands unclench and resume their positions on her hips.

Beckoning to Mille, [Alouen] walk[s] to the radiating aura of the Knightly figure. "Sir, my friend and I would appreciate your assistance in leaving the forest. I cannot see very well, at all really, and it is quite dark. We would be happy to accompany you and your little friends for awhile, if you will have us."

[Bitey] look[s] up at the woman, then look[s] around curiously. 'Are they talking to me? Gads, I think they are...' {Impish: It seems we are being requisitioned, lads.} [He] continue[s] unwrapping Rudy.

"Indeed Miss, it is not my place to turn you away. *Ahem* I am Sir Bitey, Knight of the True Realm, Emmissary of the Imp Kingdom and my little friends are my charges. The one before you is Rusty," {Remember you manners, child. You are being introduced.}

Rusty bows low, then sneezes in Alouen's direction. [Bitey] quickly hold[s] Rudy before him, "Yes, well then, this is Rudy."

Rudy drools happily.

T[u]rning to Mille, [Alouen says] "Leave them, they will forget us soon enough. We are not worth remembering, and if we were, would we want it? No, it's best we fade away again. The next town on would be a good choice. I'm sure the kind man here would be glad to escort us."

Looking back over [her] shoulder, [Alouen] listen[s] to the sounds of the bird being hitched to the trailer. [She] thumb[s] the books in [her] pocket, and turn[s] back to the Man. No point looking back anymore.

Bitey prepared to leave. "Now Miss... and other Miss, you would do well not to assume that everyone you meet, even those that help you, are 'kind'. A Good Soldier always keeps his eyes sharp." He looks at the women. "That means always be aware of what is happening around you. Always have a backup plan. Sometimes your life depends on it."

Taran looks over at where Alouen was preparing to leave. He knew he should say something, but couldn't think of anything that wouldn't just start them fighting again. Still, he had to try. After Checking the straps one more time he sidled over to Alouen. "You know, I saw that cool magic-thingie you did with the wolves, we could really use that kind of skill going up against Du'thal and Gundaga. He's the one that torched that house you know... If we're going to stop international war, using ancient magic from a long dead Age, we'll need all the help we can get..."

Bitey stares, eyes wide... "Excuse me lad, what did you just say? D'tal? Phunbaba? Ancient Magics? War? Long dead ages?" {Impish: Things take a turn for the better, lads.} "Please, stop. Explain yourself..."

Taran turns and looks at the Knight. "Huh? Oh, well... Blaize could tell it alot better than I could, but in general it has to do with this ancient, funny, glowing scroll he's carrying around, an ancient book he saw, and these guys that burned the house we were staying in to get at him." He gives the Knight an appraising look, then glances over his shoulder at Serena. "If you want to know the details, I suggest you ask Blaize... Serena will kill me if she catches me talking to you."

"I may not like you much, but I still owe you for helping me out back in town." [...]

"The cart is fair game. No owner in sight. If the real owners want it back, they can have it. At any rate, you and Mille might as well hop on. We'll give you a ride to the nearest town. Or you can refuse and be eaten. Your choice."

Listening to her offer, [Alouen] calmly await[ed] its completion, and then grin[ned] [...] [her] biggest grin. "I was hoping for this." Swinging into [her] neatest curtsy, not to much, but not so little as to be disrespectful, [she] straighten[ed] [her]self, and beg[a]n walking towards the wagon. "I thank you for the offer, and I gratefully accept. Of course, our friend, Sir Bitey it was, absolutely must join us. Such a fascinating man he is. With his little charges." [She] chuckle[s] a little at the thought.

"Same goes for you Shorty the Mighty or whatever your title was."

Taran grabbed some carrots and headed back to the wagon. "just grabbing some carrots for Turbo..." Is all the explanation he offers, in an artificially cheery voice. He climbs on the Wagon in the Front seat and grabs the reins.

[Serena] heads back for the wagon. Walking behind Taran, she leans over and whispers in his ear.

"You ok kid? One thing though, if you EVER do something like that again that wolf's scratch will seem like a tickle compared to mine...."

She ruffles his hair a bit before climbing into the wagon.

Hearing the creaking of someone getting in the carriage [Alouen] quickly [...] dash[es] over to the back of the wagon [...] say[s] hastily, "Don't light anything in there for the blessing of Gaea! It's full of gunpowder! The whole carriage could go up with us as well!"

Bitey listens intently to the exchange among old cronies. Looking at the cart dubiously and the surrounding crew even more dubiously as everyone climbs on board. {It would appear that we are to be taken for a ride, lads.} Before he can finish, the twins are already at the back of the cart, lifting their arms and bleating to be lifted up into it. It looks like no more information is forthcoming... They are so quick to air their grievances and involve total strangers in their business. Yet, the first bit of useful information they offer is immediately retracted. They surely tease me. These creatures are perhaps not as stupid as they look. Or sound. Or act. [looking around for the boy] "Wait, lad, this Blaize...? Was he that dirty man?" A glowing scroll and an antisocial hobo. Somehow this does not surprise me

Bitey lifts the children onto the cart and calmly climbs on board, a little bit on edge. He examines the inside of the cart closely [...] {Don't cause any trouble...} he says as he makes his way to the front in hopes of riding shotgun.

Alouen: "Phun-who? Magic scroll? What is he talking about? I haven't detected any magic? Someone, please explain this..."

Taran: "You ran off into the woods when Blaize explained it. The scroll that Killjoy threw to him is enchanted somehow. Supposedly it leads to something great but no one knows what. Killjoy and Blaize have been traveling from town to town in search of a group of suckers to help them get it. The old man died in the house trying to get you and us out of it before it burned to the ground. Now we're all being chased by some psycotic black mage..."

Searching around, Serena begins to look at the various items in the cart.

"You said there's gun powder in here?"

After they get on Taran turns and looks back into the wagon. Everyone here? After confirming everyone currently with them was in the wagon, Taran clicked his tongue and cracked the reins. "Get-up, Turbo!" he called. Then he started driving the wagon in the direction of the camp.

Bitey shifts unsteadily on his feet and looks for a place to safely sit. {Sit down lads and stay put. No sense in getting hurt tripping around this...} he trails off, seeing the two are already snoring and drooling in turn. He strips off his livery and pulls some cloth from his kit, making a sort of makeshift bedding and blanket for the children. He takes a deep breath and turns his attention to the travelers around.

Then [Taran] turned and looked at Bitey. "Yeah, he was 'that dirty man'. The guy who went back for our food... and teammate." Taran thought for a moment. Then he added "Oh yeah, thanks for coming to our timely rescue... So, what were you doing around here anyways?"

Bitey looks at the lad appraisingly, then attempts a bow on unsteady footing and failing that, nods and tips his cap. "That would indeed be a long story..." He almost says something more, then stops, somewhat self-consciously. "For now, let us say that Destiny has brought our paths together." He smiles as cheerfully as possible. "I am Sir Bitey, Emissary of the Imp Queen. I do not believe that we have been properly introduced..."

"Name's Serena. This is my partner, Taran" she ruffles Taran's hair playfully.

"You've already met Alouen and her friend Mille."

She turns towards Bitey.

"If you don't mind me asking, why on earth is an emissary in these parts of the woods?"

Bitey looks at Taran questioningly. Partners? In what profession? A dubious look at Serena, then an expression of sincerity. "Very well, a fair enough question. As both Knight and Emissary to the Throne, I travel many places and undertake many quests, seeking always to properly represent Her Majesty as I also follow the Destiny laid out before me. Specifically, I am in these woods because my Destiny called me to be, as the events of the day have proven." He pauses and nods, satisfied. "Not knowing this, I might have put the same question to you, regarding how a blind prophetess, a mute, a boy, a vagabond, a bird, and..." [pause, breathe] "well, I dare not say anything regarding your occupation... but how this lot came to be arguing in the depths of this forest surrounded by wolves and well on your way to being devoured... it's curious, to say the least.["]

Serena laughs at this comment some. A little light hearted perhaps.

Bitey: ["]Destiny surely laughs, and we learn patience and humility in the process." He squats comfortably near the head of the cart and looks out into the night. "I hope that satisfies your question. It was much to say, but as the proverb goes, 'no price too great for learning', or some thing like that. Perhaps you will reflect on these things, Miss... Serena, and awaken with new understanding."

Bitey turns again and scans the forest, keeping watch.

Serena:"We go where the wind takes us performing small jobs and tasks for people in exchange for money. Nothing major really. We're what you would call wanderers. As for why we're all together, that's another story in it's own." [...]

Bitey: "Yes, we have those where I come from... we call them mercenaries."

Listening abstractedly to the exchange up front, [Alouen] realize[d] [she] ha[d]n't slept in a very long time[...]. Looking around, [she] decide[d] that the sacks were probably the most comfortable place to lay[...]. [She] didn't really think the group was going to slit [her] throat, much less in [her] sleep, so [she] had absolutely nothing to worry about. Laying back, [she] let the sway of the cart drift [her] to sleep. Meanwhile, Mille has draped herself across another sack, so she uses [Alouen's] lap as a cushion while she tries to sleep in a postion of comfort and defense, not that she'd be defending much asleep. Adding her warmth to [Alouen's], and the carts gentle swaying, sleep comes before [Alouen's] head even hits the sack.

[Serena] pauses for a moment and shoots a quick glance at Taran. 'KEEP YOUR LIPS SHUT YOU LITTLE TWIT!!!'

Taran's Natural instinct for BS, combined with that wordless glance told him all he needed to know. He turned and [s]tudiously began studying the forest for Los or Blaize. Still he kept an ear on the conversation. It wouldn't do to blow his cover story because of ignorance.

Serena: "You see, Taran and I were working for the local authorities trying to track down a notorious criminal. We infiltrated his gang and proved ourselves to be members by a simple little pick pocket display. On our way back to his hideout, Miss Alouen and her page Mille stumbled upon us as we were heading back. Our benefactor, dubious as he was, kidnapped the poor girl and drug her and us back to his hideout. Before our boss could arrive to arrest him though, some psyco mage torched the house nearly killing all of us. Fortunately we made it out. The man, Killjoy, was killed in the fire. Blaize was also there but I don't know his involvment so Taran and I never revealed ourselves to him for fear of exposing our position."

She shifts herself calmly and recrosses her legs. Once situated once more, she continues.

"I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't reveal any of this to Alouen or Mille or Blaize. It could jeopardize our mission." She smiles.

"Anyways there's one other with us. Los. He just kinda tagged along looking for food to eat. No idea who he really is or what he wants either. Time will tell."

She leans back some and smiles again.

"So that's our story. Complicated, isn't it?" Bitey listened patiently to Serena's tale, scarcely moving from the head of the cart where he had finally perched. I wonder. If this be so, who is your commanding officer? And what rank do you hold? It appears that someone now admits actually having a hand in kidnapping these poor women. No law enforcement that I've ever encountered, to be sure.

She smiles once more and chuckles. Reaching over she ruffled Taran's hair once more.

"Ain't that right kiddo? Life's just one big mess."

Taran looked wistfully of into the distance. "Ain't that the sad and sorry truth?" He said. Then he shook his head, "Ahhhh... What am I doing thinking like that? I'm too young to be this cynical."

Stirring at the boy's remark, Bitey casts a long glance in Serena's direction. "Indeed, lad."

Taran looked at Bitey. He looked like he could drive a wagon. "Here," [T]aran said, "You want to drive?? I'm going to see what was so important in this wagon. Then maybe I'll go back to sleep..." Taran handed over the reins, then crawled in the back, carefully to avoid any of the already sleeping party members.

[Bitey] takes the proffered reigns. "Such concerns will soon be laid to rest... we'll find these authorities and collect what's due you." He glances at Taran, then apparently turns his full attention to guiding the cart through the dark, warking softly to the chocobo from time to time.

[A]fter glancing idly through one of the books, [Taran] leaned against a barrel and went to sleep.

Serena sits near the back of the wagon. She too is feeling the clutches of sleep creep up on her.

'Where on Tarnak are Los and Blaize? They should have heard us coming a long time ago and met up with us. And what's with this knight tagging along? He's going to make things rather difficult while he's around' Her thoughts swirled in her head.

Slowly, sleep overcame her as she fought so desperately to stay awake. Her shapely body gently draped itself over a sack as she fell asleep. Her soft skin gently meeting the burlap of the sack. Her mind drifted off into a dream.

Bitey's head snaps up. {Mustn't doze off...} he mumbles to himself, discovering that little has changed in his moment of inattention. "Well, fellow," he says softly to the chocobo, "it seems there is some merit to this primitive contraption. You certainly don't need me to tell you where to go. It's like having some sort of... automatic driver. Now that's a novel idea!" He smirks, then sheepishly confides to his newfound feathered friend, "Who sounds like a daydreamer now? It's bad enough to be gallivanting all over the world, but then to fall into old habits just like that..." He leans forward and whispers, "Let's just keep this between us, all right?" He nods and sits up straight, trying to keep his mind occupied as the ride drags on.

The wagon is on the move. The bumping and lurching tosses the occupants from side to side inside, and as Bitey held the reins he too bounced from side to side. The group was quiet for now. The arguing had stopped and after all that had happened most of the riders had taken this time to sleep.

On the road Los was watching as the wagon approached. Blaize had called out his name and he was aware that it was only he and Blaize that were on foot. Still, he longed for food, drink, and some clean clothes. Sniffing the air he realized he needed a bath more then ever.

The wagon came into view and in the driver's seat was an Imp in armor. Los was not sure who this was, but he was able to see some of the others in the back. Another traveler had just joined them and he wondered what the story was. [...]

Los climbs down from the tree slowly to stand next to [B]laize and await the wagon and its driver. 'Hmmm that must be the owner of the chicken and the wagon' he thought to himself. "Come on sword boy... lets hop this ride, your friends are already in there." Los's voice was quiet and raspy [and his] face is disguised by that old looking scarf... so you can[']t tell his age. .

The covered wagon was coming up and he was sure by now Bitey had seen Blaize calling out from the side of the road. [...]

"You there!" Los's voice doesn[']t seem any louder but travels up to Bitey. "I see this is your carriage... can we get a ride to the next town?" Los sounds old, very old. Obviosly still hurt and feeling his age.

"Ho there, stranger." Bitey urges the chocobo to halt, shrugging. "It seems that for the time being I am a collector of the unwashed. Perhaps Destiny will have me spirit them away to a bath house." Sighing, "I cannot see your face, but I don't believe that we have met. I am Sir Bitey, Knight of the One Kingdom, Emmisary of the Imp Queen[.] [He] stands and raises his fist[.] Now you have my name..."

Los hopped up onto the carriage without another word, avoiding conversation. With just two very acrobatic movements he landed softly on the canvas that stretches across for a roof and lay there staring up at the sky. Slowly the carriage travelled on and the people below kept talking. noise. Los just lay there resting... nibbling on the precious food every now and again.

Taran groggly blinked his eyes. He had heard something. it sounded like conversation. Then he heard Sir Bitey introduce himself and groaned silently.He rubbed his eyes to get the sleep out. But when he heard the sound of someone climbing in the wagon , he caught the unmistakable odor of the sewers... He quickly turned and looked. "Los? and Blaize? Cool! Now everyone's here!" he said. He looked over to Blaize and asked, "You grab the food? Anything exciting happen?"

[T]he sight of the wagon was a pleasant one, though [Blaize] was a bit surprised to see Bitey 'hmmm, so that's his name' driving it, 'Fate, it seems, has decided he should go with us.' Blaize looks over to Taran, who had started to talk to him, "Hullo Taran, Los should have the food, and, other than some slight paranoia, nothing exiciting happened a'tall. So, Bitey, I guess, is with us now, eh? What's his story, d'he tell you? God, I'm tired."

"Ahhh... Nothing specific. He just said he served his Queen then spouted some mumbo-jumbo about Destiny calling him. But your right it's late..." Taran laid back against the barrel and drifted off to sleep.

"ZZZzzzZzzzzZzzzzZzzZzZZzzzz....." Alouen felt very comfortable on the sacks of things, but then, all thoughts of comfort were banished when she went to sleep...how long ago? Hours? Minutes? Days even? She didn't know inside the dream. Time didn't matter. Warmth filtered through, and she knew Mille was using her as a pillow again, as she so often did. The dream was a pleasant one, where she spent her time with Planet, learning all that she could of the world from which she was born. Dreaming of the day in that clearing, the day when...when.....the dream suddenly turned black. Darkness flashed through her head, and her body stirred on the sacks.

The dream turned nightmare so quickly, Alouen wasn't sure she had ever dreamed happily, but had instead been in the darkness for eternities on end. Looking through the darkness, she saw the spirit of a forest, the forest where she gained her strengths. The forest near her hometown. Sudden light blinded her, and when she opened her eyes, she could see, she could SEE her hometown. Burning. Burning to the ground around her, while bandits ransacked everything, and killed her family. Her mortal body recoiled on the sacks, stirred violently, like trying to flee the mind it contained. Without success. Looking around, Alouen saw her mother and father, dead. She saw her neighbours, dead. She saw Mille, running towards her, screaming in absolute terror. Flash. Back in the clearing. On the dais, in the sleep of Planet, with Planet. She learned wind, and fire, and earth, and...and water. She must learn water, for without the one, there was no balance, and without balance, there was nothing but chaos. Raising her hands, she created wind, brought earth and fire to bear, and ravaged it all with water. Flash. Alouen stood on the edge of a clearing. The heat seared her face, and she thought she must be standing in fire. But she couldn't see. Blind again. Still. Raising her hand, she heard Mille, screaming, running. Flash. She saw Mille, running. Flash. Heard her screaming. Flash. Saw her, dead. At the feet of bandits. And Alouen screamed, like before, at the edge of her village, and raised her hand. Like before, she called the entire planet to her, and washed the world in death.

Her mortal body was coated with sweat, long hair matted to her forehead, and every inch of her frozen cold. With a gasp, Alouen woke back to her body, freed of the dream of death. Opening her eyes, unable to see anything, she struggled to recall something. Something she needed to remember. Where was she? Feeling, she found something, feeling, it was Mille. Taking in a breath, Alouen checked, and released the breath when she felt a pulse. Mille was alive. Of course. They were travelling, and Mille was using her as a pillow again. Smiling briefly, she thought she had nothing to worry about. But why was the earth rocking? Panic rushed in, and so did memory. She was still with Mille, but in the company of those who had kidnapped her, however much free she was now. Gripping her skirt in her hands, she forced herself not to scream. Not to bring more attention to herself. What if they were watching? They could all be around her now, pointing, laughing. Maybe she was deaf to, how could she know? No, no wait, she heard someone up front, talking. It sounded like that pleasant knight man who they encountered in the forest. Sighing, she kept her eyes straight up, and thought on the things of the past day. Sleep would not come again, not this night. Feeling a chill, she went through the days travails, and thought about her future. Outside, a cold wind blew strong.

All the comotion, the talking, the wagon stopping, the noise. Serena was awakened, uhappily.... She sat up and with the iciest glare EVER to cross her eyes at Los, Taran and Blaize, she spoke.

"WILL YOU THREE SHUT UP??!?!?!?! WE WOMEN WOULD LIKE TO GET OUR BEAUTY SLEEP!!!! It's late.. SLEEP FOR CRYING OUT LOAD!!!!! Bitey, just pull the wagon somewhere secluded and get some rest yourself. It's not fair for you to stay up all night."

Bitey rubs his eyes and shakes his head, a little bit apprehensively. "I'm not really all that tired. I'd rather put some distance between us and... the spirits of this wood. There is little sense in delay this night." He sits up straight with a stoic expression and watches the newest riders. Seeing everyone on board and hearing them whispering amongst themselves, he turns back and asks whether or not the chocobo feels like pulling the group any further this night.

[Serena] slumped back over and turned on her side. Soon, she was back asleep.

Taran, now thoroughly awake after Serena's outburst, went to the front of thge cart. He looked at Turbo who was [...] standing there. "Sure" he said, "looks like he's fine. He probably didn't do much while I was in the city... Anyway, you say there were worse things then the wolves out there? I know I don't want to face them..."

Yawning and stretching, Bitey tries to get some circulation going for more travel. "Not spent much time in the wilderness, lad? There are far worse things in the woods than its natural inhabitants, although the wolves may be an exception of sorts. Best be warned, lad..." He furrows his brow and casts his gaze in the darkness to and fro, saying in a hard whisper, "there may be... well, just keep a sharp eye."

Taran: "You saw that last wolf right??? If that was one of it's 'natural inhabitant's, I'm a Paladin! That thing was easily 3 times bigger than any wolf I've ever seen. And he *looked* MEAN!!!

Listening to the voices of the people talking wasn't helping [Alouen's] demeanor any. When Serena suddenly yelled [she] jumped half out of [her] skin. That was that. Heart racing, [Alouen] figured [she]'d be more likely to suddenly fly than fall asleep, so [she] gently moved Mille's head onto an unoccupied sack, stood up, and worked [her] way to the front. [...]

"I can talk if you want to keep going," [she] say[s] low to the people up front. "I don't really....feel like sleeping right now." Brushing the strands of hair from [her] face, [she] hope[d] none of them notice me flushing. "So, sir Bitey, I heard you were a Knight of the Imp kindom. Would that make you an Imp?"

An expression of bemused confusion crosses Bitey's face, then he smiles. "What an interesting philosophical question, prophetess. I have never thought of it in that way. Indeed, does being a Knight of the Imp Kingdom make you an imp? It stands to reason that it does not, as becoming a knight of a human kingdom, assuming they have them, would not make me a human. Of course, that brings up the question of what makes one an imp. I'm afraid it is purely an issue of birthright, and not being born one you could not actually become one." He brightens and rushes on, "Except by magic, perhaps. Magic accomplishes many things. So I believe that Knighthood would not make one an imp, not in reality, perhaps in spirit, though. However, I've never known a Knight who was not born of the Imp Kingdom and I can only guess. If one earned the honor, then who is to say that they are not worthy?" He grins broadly at Alouen. "But you are testing me. Is my answer satisfactory? Do you have another riddle, prophetess?"

"Your answer is quite satisfactory Sir Bitey. A riddle, you wish? I do have just one more, for a man such as yourself." Taking my hand, I gently place it against his face, palm to cheek. "My riddle is this, Sir Bitey, do the blind see?"

Bitey's expression becomes serious, but his eyes glitter with excitement. "Aha, prophetess, I must admit that I have unfair advantage. I have had the answer to your riddle for ages now, in the words of the Elders. It is written that the mortal eye that beholds the face of the Divine is only concerned with the things of the next world. The result is the eye that does not see... and madness. The words of such a prophet... or prophetess... are from the beyond the veil." He looks down, sorrowful. "But mortal mind can only perceive so much and the prophetess lives in constant danger of breaking. It is the blessing and the curse of knowing; it is why I was afraid to ask you before. I am afraid of the curse, but it seems that Destiny would have me return the riddle to the one who can truly answer it..." Bitey takes a deep breath and looks up at Alouen's eyes. "What does the prophetess see?"

[Alouen] calmly fold[ed] [her] hands in [her] lap, [...] look[ed] straight ahead, and [...] laugh[ed]. A soft, gentle laugh. Not in mirth, but a laugh of pure, knowing. "Sir Bitey, you do indeed hold me at a disadvantage. And you speak truth. Your Elders are wise, and Destiny guides you well. What does the prophetess see." Reaching up, [she] pull[ed] a leaf from a passing tree. Cupping it in one hand, [she] hold the other overtop it. "Sir Bitey, madness in knowledge you say." Focusing a thin stream of nature into the leaf, [she] uncup[ped] [her] hands, and h[e]ld up a tiny, trefoil leaf. Releasing it into the wind, it quickly wilts away. "I see life, as it grows, and I see its death. All in the blink of an eye. I do not see as much of the future as I see more of the present, which, I suppose, gives me more insight into the future than some. Or less. Come, let me show you what I see." Reaching into [her] pocket, [she] withdr[e]w [her] precious sketchbook. Flipping it open to the first page, [she] run[s] [her] hands along its edge. "This is some of what I see, but not anywhere near the splendor I see it in. This first is a spirit, the first I saw. It is Gaia." Smiling down to him, "I'm not sure what you see, but it is probably just nothing to you." Flipping through a few more pages, [she] come[s] to one that would seem a mass of scribbles in someone elses eyes. "This, this is a spirit too. He was very angry. He didn't go peacefully. He had so much pain in him." Flipping some more, [she] come[s] to about the center of the book. The page is nigh impossible to make out in the darkness, because of the rampage of black across it. "This[,] Sir Bitey, is my hometown. Was my hometown." The smile leaves [her] face completely, leaving no trace of it ever being there. "You can see nothing but scribbles, am I right? Watch..." Turning the book on it's side, the image distorts and reveals screaming face after screaming face. All different from the last, until finally, the book rests on it's side, showing a town in full flames.

With great fascination, Bitey watches the woman's actions, leaning in close to see the leaf and then examining the sketch pad quizzically. Sighing, he stares intensely and shakes his head, uncomprehending. 'It is not time, I cannot interpret the visions.' "I am unable..."

"My pain is not in the future, my pain is in my past." Snapping the book shut, [Alouen] replace[d] it into [her] pocket, and beg[a]n crying. "My pain..."

As Alouen cries, Bitey appears crestfallen, but as he looks around the forest his eyes shine again. "Do not cry, prophetess. We only hurt because we have not healed." He raises his fist in salute, "And you have Sir Bitey at your service. Diligent, Patient, and in all things Faithful. No matter what ails you, he will find the cure. It's my personal guarantee."

Over the city the sky started to turn a slight tint of orange. The foretelling that dawn was soon approaching. The travellers were happy with their find of a wagon and with the chocobo pulling the wagon, they knew they would cover a lot of ground.

***MEANWHILE***

A bird flew in from the South and landed on it's perch. Jumping around it flew to the ground and in a flash of light transformed into a man. Standing naked he strode into the room and quickly servants ran up from the shawdows to cover the man with robes of silk. With a wave of his hand the servants vanished, he tightened the robes around him.

"What say you Gundaga?" The voice bellowed from the darkness and seemed to come from all sides.

"I have returned my lord. I have my report." Gundaga bowed on the carpet and bowed his head.

"Report." Gundaga still kneeling with head bowed began to report his mission. He started with finding the thieves and following them into the sewers. He followed them until they came out and reported their meeting with a woman and child in the park. He spoke of their hideout and how his men burned it down but found no remains.

"I'm sorry my lord, but it seems they have escaped, I do not know where they went." Gundaga feared retaliation.

The darkness was quiet, and all that was heard was the deep breathing of someone or something in the dark. "Go back, find them. I want what they stole. If you fail me you will not live long enough to regret. Now rise!" Gundaga stood up slowly. "What more do you need from me to succeed? What is it that you desire in order to finish this mission."

Gundaga stood quiet, but he knew that if he only asked he would get. Still he did not want to anger his master. "I will need more soldiers, but competent one[s] this time. And some of your bloodhounds, they will be most useful. I'd also like to look into your magery dungeons, I'm sure I can find someone in there willing to help me for a price."

"You wish to tame those in the magery dungeon? I do say that is very bold of you. What's to say they will not turn on you?"

Gundaga laughed and pulled out a golden necklace. "I have my assurances." The two laughed as the servants looked on from the darkness hiding behind whatever they could find.

Nagging questions kept coming to Bitey's mind. 'Where are we going? What lies in store for this strange mix? Will the prophetess be saved from her fate? Can I trust any of these humans enough to let them drive the cart?' Bitey glanced around the mostly comatose band. 'The lad shows promise, but he no doubt needs his rest. As do the two filthy, sullen fellows. That leaves the females. Between a blind prophetess and a temperamental mercenary, the best choice is the mute bodyguard.'

His mind made up, Bitey watches for a good place to stop and rest the chocobo. Upon finding it, he settles the bird and speaks, "Prophetess, it has been a hard journey. I think it is best if I step down as driver for the time being. I believe that your... bodyguard would be the most reasonable replacement. She is not mine to command, however, so I leave that up to you." That done, he climbs into the back of the cart and slides into a corner, gently pulling the children close to him and bringing his cap down low over his eyes. He is relaxed and breathing slowly in a heartbeat.

Feeling as Sir Bitey climbs into the back, [Alouen] rub[s] [her] face with the back of [her] hands. [She] was still raw from that breakdown. Such a strange thing to do in front of a stranger. However, now wasn't the time for that. He wanted Mille to take over driving, but she had barely gotten any sleep as well, so [Alouen] thought it best to let her stay sleeping. [She] thought about taking the reins, for [she] could see where the trees were not, and [she] could see the mass of auras that made a town not far off. But, a blind woman driving is not safe, in any circumstances. 'Looking' around, [she] sigh[s] lightly, and decide[s] that [the group] should have some sort of watch. From the sounds of the breathing, either the one [they] may of had had fallen asleep, or was very good at controlling their breathing. Carefully moving [her]self over, [she] sit[s] on the edge of the seat, so [her] legs and skirt hang down the side, facing the road. Well, facing the area that doesn't have any trees for a pace that would seem to indicate a road.

Sitting upright, [she] listen[s] as the birds awaken to the rising sun, and begin singing their songs. [She] hoped someone would wake up soon so [she] could try to get some real rest. On my perch at the edge of the seat, [she] patiently waited for something to happen.

Serena: "Zzzzzzzzz..... ZZzzzzzzz.... Zan... You shouldn't have spent so much money.............It's beautiful..... zzzzz....."

Serena appeared to be dreaming about something. Her breathing has settled and now she was peaceful. Upon her face was an angelic look of peace and happiness. She smiled sweetly. Her arms seemed to wrap around one of the nearby burlap sacks as she continued to dream.

"Zzz... ZZZZzzzzzz.... ZZzz..... Thank you for your patronage.... "(singing slightly) It's just a whisper, of a distant memory....."

A few more mumbles are all that she says before all that is left are the sounds of her peaceful snore.

Taran jumped out of the wagon, and unhooked Turbo. He scrached Turbo's for a minute then said, "Go On, Shoo... Go find something to eat while everyones sleeping." Taran then climbed up into the front seat. He looked at Alouen then said, "We'll get to the city soon..."

A small, green-capped head peers up from a tangle of cloth in the back of the cart. He peers over at his brother and shakes him roughly, drawing only a whimper. "Bah!" says the child, pinching the others nostrils closed. The afflicted twin snorts and begins kicking wildly, rolling until he is completely wrapped up in a bundle. "Bah!" says the child again, turning his attention to the other interesting things in the cart. The other sighs and contentedly sleeps on.

He watches Serena talking in her sleep for a moment, then picks up one of the books. A moment later he throws it out the back. "Gah!" he says, producing a stick which he uses to hit one of the sacks several times. "Ha." he says, apparently proud of himself. He climbs over the sack, poking and prodding at it as it changes shape under his manipulations. He sniffs it, then sniffs some of the other bags. With a sly glance around the cart, he buries his [entire body] in the nearest bag[...].

Serena: "Mmm?... huh....Mmmmmm...mm.. wu... Huh?"

Serena wakes up some from the noise comming from the back of the cart. She groans and stretches and yawns some.

The rebellious imp munches messily, climbing out of his bag. Stopping and watching Serena skeptically when she gets up, he stands, frozen[...].

"Mmm.... Morning already? I can't wait to find a nice comfortable bed to sleep in...."

She looked around the cart. Bitey, Blaize and one of the imps was still asleep. The other imp child was busy making trouble. Looking towards the front of the cart, she spotted Taran and Alouen. She carefully made her way up.

"Well it looks like the two of you are already up. Not a bad day considering everything we've been through."

She reached over and took the bandage off her shoulder. The gigantic bruise had now healed enough to allow her leave it open, but it was still a little tender.

"I hate bats....."

Looking over at Taran she continued.

"Hey partner, you have a water skin? I'll go get us some water to drink. I'm sure everyone's going to be thristy when they wake up."

It's then that she looks over at Alouen.

"Oh my. Dear, you look as if you haven't slept." Carefully making her way close to Alouen, she took one of the maiden's hands in her own.

"Look, if it's about what I said yesterday, I'm sorry. I didn't want Killjoy to kidnap you or Mille and get you involved. But it was true what I said about the cave and the forrest. You were free to go. We didn't have any intention of keeping you captive. When you called us brigands (this word was said in a harsher tone), it hurt! I mean we came out and tried our best to help you and that was the thanks we got. I'm sure if the situation was reversed, you would have felt the same way. Anyways, go back and rest. After last night, you need it."

That said, she stepped down off the cart and walked forward towards Turbo.

"Bah!" [the imp child] exclaims, spitting crumbs and brandishing his stick in her general direction, once she is safely outside. He sits on the floor and looks at his feet. Eventually, he catches sight of a bug, which he yells at. It jumps on him and he shrieks, dropping his stick and jumping to the safety of the bag he just climbed out of.

Serena: "Here birdy. Nice birdy. Come on boy. You want to go with me to find water?"

Listening to Serena, [Alouen] just nodded, and watched her start to go off in search of water. Deciding to save her some time, [Alouen] quietly call[ed] over to her the location of the nearest watersource [she] remembered from [her] talk with Planet. With a short nod, [she] rub[bed] [her] tired eyes some more, [...] g[o]t up[,] and crawl[ed] into the back, fully intending to sleep till dinner time.

As [the imp] cautiously crawls out once more, Alouen climbs into the cart. "Yah!" he yelps, scrambling back into the bag.

Taran, feeling mischevious, snuck around behind the wagon. He waited until the Imp kid buried himself in the bag again. Then Taran quickly ran up and pulled the bag shut. "Hey, what were you doing??" He demanded, quietly enough that he not wake anyone else up. "You can't go burying yourself in whatever this stuff is..."

All the noise the little imp was causing, had wakened Blaize from his dreamless sleep. He opened his eyes just in time to see Taran talking to the imp, "Taran! what the hell are you & that little imp doing. [F]or sake, don't you ever sleep?" he said sternly, but not overly loud. 'Crap, [I] sure could've used a bit longer nap, but hell, I knew I'd have to make some sacrifices to stay alive. [P]lus it's not like I've never gone without sleep before.' [H]e paused after that thought to realize that he and Taran and the imps were alone. [H]e then turned back to Taran, "where's everybody at? what happened?"

Continuing to coo Turbo, Serena continues in the direction Alouen told her for the water. Upon her arrival, she carefully reaches down and fills the stolen water skin full. After watching the chocobo drink from the water himself, she leads him back to the cart. Once the duo arrive back, Turbo takes off a ways to look for food. Serena looks in the cart to see Taran with an imp child in a bag and Blaize scolding him.

"Hee hee he.. Ah come on Blaize, lighten up. They're just having a little fun. Let them play. If you're thirsty, I've got some water. Otherwise we should consider rehitching the chocobo up and continuing on to town."

She stands near the end of the cart, smiling sweetly.

The bag writhes around as if something inside were doing somersaults, then goes limp. "Ah?" it says, hearing all the voices around it. The other child yawns and stretches, then watches the surrounding people and events with excitement. The bag remains silent for a long while, then suddenly shouts "Rarrrrrrrrrrrrr!", twisting and turning in Taran's hand. Finally, it goes limp again, sighing.

The free child picks up the discarded stick and approaches Taran and the bag. He gives Taran a knowing look and starts swinging the stick at the bag dangling above him.

Taran had fun for a while, watching the Imp boy swing the stick while he pulled the bag out of reach. After a while he tired of the game, and put down the bag. He wandered over to Serena. "Hey where did you say that water was?" he asked.

The dazed imp staggers in the open air, free from his prison at last. By the time Taran put the bag down, the stick-wielding brother was already panting on the floor of the cart. The two immediately begin to fight amongst themselves, pinching and wrestling, chattering excitedly all the while. Suddenly, they stop for no apparent reason. They both adopt sneaky poses and carefully approach Taran. The first exclaims, "Rar!" and they both jump him, each grabbing a leg. They appear to be struggling to pull him over [...] [O]ccasionally one of them falls off and lays panting on the floor for a while before jumping up to try again.

Laying back near Mille, [Alouen] groggily listen[s] to the happenings. There was quite a lot of panting an 'Ar'ing' going on.Laying [her] hand across [her] face, [she] mumble[d] to whoever's there, "People...please, I need some sleep. Please?" Laying back, [she] just hope[d] to get some sleep before [she] had to do anything important, like move.

Serena couldn't help but laugh a little as she watched the trio.

"Ok you three, away from the cart. Alouen needs her sleep and so does Bitey."

"Don't get them too excited, lad," advises Bitey, not moving an inch from his reclining position, "they bite, and it's... disturbingly painful."

"Really?" Taran said inquisitivly. He grabbed the most aggressive one and held him up to about eye level. Then he gave a mock growl and said quasi-ferociously, "You bite me, and I'll punt you into next Thursday, got it?" Then he put the Imp down and "Now why don't you go wrestle with your brother or something..."

[Serena] goes up to the other imp still clinging to Taran's leg and picks him off. She pushes his towards the front of the cart.

"Shoo you little bugger! Go play up front and leave the people to sleep. We'll be along shortly."

She smiled as she gave the child a gentle push.

Holding out the water skin, she held it out to Taran.

"Here, go get the chocobo hitched up if you would please. We need to get these two sleepy heads to someplace semi-quiet to sleep AND get the rest of us something to eat."

Taran took a swig from the waterskin. "All right... You think we'll be at the city by breakfast time?" Taran began hitching up the Chocobo. "I mean we got an awful lot of food in the wagon, I wonder who just left it here?"

Blaize stumbles out of the cart and takes the waterskin from Taran & gets a drink, then says, "I don't know who left it here, but its ours now, & that's really all that matters, huh. We might get there by breakfast, but you'll have to hitch Turbo up pretty quick, why don't you go & do that now, huh?["] He ruffles Taran's hair as he leaves, then Blaize says to Serena, "I guess I forget sometimes that he's still just a little kid. I'll try & go a little easier on him and the others. God knows we'll all have plenty trouble soon enough without me adding to it, eh?"

Serena: "I wouldn't worry about it too much. We're in this together, like it or not.... Anyways we'd better get ready to go. Those two won't be doing much till they get some much needed rest..."

She points to Bitey and Allouen.

Taran quickly finishes hooking Turbo up. "All Right!!" He said, "Turbo's all hooked up, All aboard." then he jumped up in the Driver's seat and grabbed the reins. "Everyone ready?"

Grabbing the other imp child and placing him back in the wagon, Serena pushed Blaize back into the cart as well.

"Let's go people, we're wasting time here."

She hops up next to Taran. Leaning over, she gives him a kiss on his cheek.

"Move it sweety."

'WOOO-HOOO' Taran thinks, 'She kissed me!!' Then his ears jostled his brain again. "Move, right. He-Yah Turbo, Gett-up!!" He snapped the reins. Turbo took off for the city, dragging the cart along at a good pace. "So, whats the plan? After we get breakfast, I mean."

"Simple really. We ditch the witch and the warrior imp, then we rustle up some funds. After that, we decide with Blaize what to do about the scroll."

She smiled at him for a second.

"Then we decide what to do about the "rest" of our trip."

Taran looked over his sholder nervously, Alouen and Bitey both appeared to be asleep, but then Bitey had warned him while looking just as asleep. " Keep it down!!" Taran hissed.Then a more normal but extremely quiet voice he continued, "Anyway, why would we ditch them? the Knight I could understand, but *her*?? Did you see the kind of power she was throwing around??? She could be a great help in fighting the whatever it is..." He threw another nervous glance over his shoulder.

"Yeah still.... She doesn't exactly agree with us or our position. She doesn't want to be with us. The knight will stay by her side, not ours."

She looks over at Taran and winks. The look in her eyes conveys on message, "trust me"

"Yeah,well..." Taran looked unconvinced. "If you say so... But You could try to persuade her to our position. Or at least get Blaize to tell her the whole story. That was some pretty serious stuff he was talking about, and I rather face it with Earth-shattering might by my side. Plus I think the Knight might already want to join our side. He was evesdropping when I told Alouen about the basics of what Blaize said. And he sounded really interested when he asked me about it... Isn't fighting Evil part of their job description somewhere anyway?"

Serena laughed.

"We're not exactly saints you know..... But if you insist, I'll see what I can do. At any rate, we can't force them to join us. They'll come if they wish."

She sat back and regained her sinister smile.

"Yeah, but we're hardly the Big Ultimate Evil (hoo-hoo-hah-hah)!" Then Taran noticed her sinister grin. "Do you have something planned that I should know about?? Don't go out of your way to make life miserable for them..." He pauses for a second. "Or just her..."

"Don't worry my dear boy. I won't harm Alouen or make her life miserable. I'll play nice."

She looked at him and grinned.

"Promise."

She chuckled to herself calmly.

"As for your other question, I DO have a plan. I'll clue you in later. For now let's just say I have another angle and another card to play."

She stopped smiling for a moment and winked again. Looking back, she checked to see if Bitey and Alouen were awake. Leaning back over to Taran, she spoke only two more words.

"Chess anyone?"

She giggled.

'Chess anyone?' Taran pondered the meaning in those words. He knew what chess was only in a basic sense, Mostly from metaphors his father had used, long ago... He knew it was a game rich people payed which supposedly required a lot of foresight, planning, and second- guessing your opponent, [h]ence his father's passion for it. So was Serena planning on some sort of long-range plan? Something that would result in her benefit no matter what? Or was he over-analyzing those words... Only one way to find out. "I'd love to but we don't have a set." Taran said, smiling in his most charming manner. 'Let her think about that...' he thought.

Serena took a double take.

"What?......"

She sighed heavily.

"Nevermind....."

'Ahhh...' thought Taran. 'So she's not into metaphorical mind- games... Hmmmm... She assumed I was talking literally. Oh well, Life is often subtle, you can either be three moves ahead of people, or mearly react. Try for the first, but be darn good at the second. that was one of the sayings his father had left him with.' Thinking about his father, Taran got quiet and stared of into the distance, his mind wandering to aplace far away, and a time long ago...