PBEM-G6

The Adventures of Final Fantasy PBEM Group 6

Chapter One

Outside the forest, it may well have been twilight, but inside it was becoming as dark as night. Using the last of his plant to tend the werewolf's injury, Brand wondered if the moogle would come back. If she didn't, he was sure that the other knight was as good as dead. And his own patient was little better. He felt as if he had been led into a trap. "But whose?" He took off his helm, revealing his long hair, partially covering an iron band that rested lightly on his head. He jumped up from the fallen wolf and moved into the darkness.

A light appeared, slowly working its way into the vicinity of the horse. It was the broad, armored sillhouette of Burke, the glow coming from his shoulder while his free arm held his sword aloft. As he walked near the unconscious lupine, his light hovered and started floating away. "Blast! Come back here, you," he growled quietly, tripping over the body in the dark. Crouching over his discovery, he felt around, touching fur, teeth, and what felt like blood. He jumped up and grabbed his light, waving it around over the horse, taking in the animal and his predicament. "I... uh, Icy... Lupine, are you dead? " he whispered loudly. He set the light on his shoulder and retrieved his sword, not liking the situation one bit.

Isianu sat there for the longest time, spying on the two soldiers tending to the wounded werewolf. What is one of my kind doing out here? was churning through her mind. It probably had something to do with this war Burke told her about. Soon both soldiers left and a light came from the forest that turned out to be her newfound companion. Cursing a little bit, as he tripped over the injured Lupine, Isianu emerged from her hiding place and went over to Burke. "Here let me hold that," she said once reaching the knight pointing to the light. She then looks down at the injured Lupine with an intense look on her face. "I'm sorry Burke that I didn't come back sooner," she said not looking up from the injured werewolf. "It's just I wasn't sure who these two where and what they were doing. I didn't catch much, but it seemed like there was a battle recently and this was one of the prisoners." For a moment, she looked back up at the injured man before her with questing eyes, "Did you see them, before they left? Could you tell me if those were troops for this Baron you speak of or some other force? They were definitely soldiers and I don't think we should really stay around here much longer..."

Burke dropped his sword and waved his light at Isianu, a little relief showing on his face. "I thought you were done for," he whispers. "I thought I heard someone yell and I thought I heard a horse, but I didn't see anything... or anyone. Not after that shadow jumped us." He lets her take the light, a glowing fist-sized insect. "Don't eat her. They taste terrible." Plucking his sword again, he tries to see the other lupine. "I'd have to see the soldiers... the Baron wouldn't send more this soon, but... where else would they have come from?"

A snapping twig alerts them of an approaching person. He fumbles around in the dark for a while and finally gets a small fire going. He begins to heat first a cup and then a small pot over the fire. Tapping the cup to check the heat, he allows it to cool and pours a small amount on the dressing of the werewolf's wound. He tilts the stricken Dragoon's head back and forces him to drink some of it. Burke leans over where he can see a faint light where Isianu covers the beetle and shakes his head, "no", indicating the man.

Kupita and HP played a strange mix of tag and hide-and-go-seek, slowly making their way back to Brand's camp. They finally arrive to find the High Lord tapping his foot, waiting impatiently. "All right, where is-- oh." The injured knight staggers into camp, attempting a weak salute. He is led over to the campfire and checked over. "These wounds don't look as bad as I thought. You'll be fine. What's your name, soldier?"

"It's... Kyle, sir." The knight, Kyle, sits by the fire. He doesn't say anymore and appears to have been traumatized.

Brand grabs Kupita and examines her. "You look like you're worse off. Sit still." He tends to her injuries. "There, why don't you both try some of the tea." ::Kupita, +4 hit points::

"Why don't we all try some of the tea," he says into the darkness. "Spies or no, we can at least be civil." He pulls a few small cups out of his horse's bags and begins pouring.

Isianu's eyes go wide for a second before narrowing, letting out an almost inaudible growl, and slight snort at being found out. She looked at the lord, then at Burke trying to see what would be the best thing to do at the moment. Cursing a bit at the only choice that wouldn't get them killed right away was accepting their hospitality. Standing up to her full height and taking a few steps out of the underbrush showing she was disarmed, other than the glowing beetle. "Well at least it's nice to know that the soldiers here have manners..." she commented at the group in front of her, hoping Burke wouldn't take offense. Striding up slowly to where the cups where placed, with all of the grace and poise she gathered over the years. Sitting down on the ground, she put the luminescent insect and picked up an up as daintily as possible. Looking around at the assembly of troops mustered around the fire with a slight distain she asked, "Well, since we have more to fear from you than you of us, I think it would be prudent to introduce yourselves first and why you are here. Then I will be happy to comply with my name and reason for being here." I really wish I had my black robes on right now... Isianu thought, It's just not the same doing this without the proper wardrobe.

Brand laughs, then says to Burke, sternly, "Put the sword away soldier. If I wanted to kill you, I'd have already done it," as Isianu and the knight reluctantly enter the area of the firelight. Burke self-consciously puts his sword in his belt again. "It is usually the weaker party that makes the concessions, Miss. Besides, you already know our names. But I'm nothing if not a good host." He stands and bows low. "I am Brand, if that means anything to you. These over here are members of a local militia, the moogle being Kupita and the man being Kyle. The werewolf on the ground there ran afoul of some bad people. I don't know his name." HP looks up indignantly and warks. Brand continues, "We are here because we are separated from our contingent. Do you two care to introduce yourselves and explain your presence, or should I just guess? I like to know the names of people who can sneak up on me."

Kupita, looks up from tugging at her bandages, and upon seeing a werewolf standing in the middle of their camp, falls backwards off the log she was sitting on, ^^What the?! Whoa!^^ H.P. nudges her back up with his head. She leaps to her feet and pulls her sword nervously. She then proceeds to drop it in the fire. She pulls it out again, but it starts to burn her hand so she drops it a second time, this time it lands in the kettle of tea, making a splash but not knocking it over. Oh, forget it! She thinks as she sits back down. H.P. Chuckles at her in his chocobo way, moving his head back and forth with a, "Wark wark wark wark!" ^^Shut up, H.P.^^

"Wark?" He sticks his beak in the air, turns around and kicks dirt behind him at her. She dusts herself off, retrieves her sword and pours H.P. some tea into a bowl. ^^I'm sorry H.P. Here, drink this.^^ As he dips his head down to scoop up some tea in his beak, she ruffles his feathers affectionately. The whole time looking over her shoulder at the werewolf and her companion. After he is done drinking she walks up to them and introduces herself. "I am Kupita, and my friend here is H.P. Who might you be?"

"Well," Isianu started smiling a bit at the last comment and swirling her tea in a slow motion. Then the little bear thing Brand identified as Kupita began to fumble about with her sword and eventually gave up. Shaking her head in a disappointed motion and putting her cup down she placed her paws in her lap and looked out at the leader of this disorganized band of warriors. "Very well, I am Isianu Veenous, sorceress extrodinare and Mistress of magical beasts. I have fleed my land to escape the tyranny of the warlock Bernuka and perhaps find a way to go back to my beloved country to restore justice to it. At the moment I'm merely trying to survive and not be caught up in this war that is brewing in this nation." Giving a glance at her injured companion she said, "I will not put words in my compatriot's origins or desires. He is his own man and I am not privy to all of his secrets." She then stays silent while Burke introduces himself and looks at Kupita in a condensending manner. "So little one," she asks as coversationally as she could, "You just joined this milita did you? What did you do before hand, certainly it wasn't fighting."

A small smile plays at the corner of Brand's mouth throughout Isianu's introduction. When prompted, Burke glowers at the man, saying, "Name's Burke," and crouches uncomfortably at the edge of the firelight.

The tea is bitter and it burns going down. It leaves everyone who drinks it feeling slightly nauseated for a brief moment. "The tea takes some getting used to, but it has saved lives many times," says Brand. "I care very little for local politics, but this is interesting. This Bernuka turned his army on one of your own cities. That poor soul," he says, pointing to the fallen wolf, "was a very specific target for assassination. It would seem he must be important to Bernuka... and therefore to you. His assassin is important to me." He looks at her shrewdly. "I offer you a deal. The poison may still grip him, since he hasn't awakened. I don't have enough...poultice to treat him again and he won't survive the trip to get it. I need to leave immediately if I want to save him. Someone with a stake in his survival should remain with him. I can be back within three days. What do you say?"

Ignoring the conversation, Burke sneaks forward and sniffs the tea. He drinks some, looking around at the others.

That dark thought about what to do with the crippled Lupine in front of her mind again. Well from what she gathered he wasn't sent to bring her back but was another renegade, like herself. But still there was the question on what he would do when he first saw her, in most likely hood, he would want to kill her. Still, another ally, and this one would serve her better than just the human, although it wasn't exactly a step up in any way. "Alright," Isianu said looking down at the prone werewolf, the looking up at Brand, "I'll do it. But I don't think it's such a good idea to stay out here in the wilderness for three days with two injured men. Also remember that Burke needs some healing. Is there a small hamlet or farm around here were we could shelter them and meet up with you later?" Isianu just stared at Brand, trying to gauge his reaction to her suggestion. She still didn't trust him, and three days would be plenty of time to call reinforcements to slay them easily.

Kupita paced uneasily. This werewolf woman is a piece of work. She thinks she's better than me just because she caught us by surprise. I could surprise her if I took the notion. Big stuffed shirt. "Welcome to the group!" she said cheerfully, then she added ^^I hope you fall into a vat of Cheese!^^

Brand prepared his horse for departure. "Move if you have to, but keep the pace slow. The five of you shouldn't attract any attention. Everyone is... busy." He climbs on the horse, then says in rudimentary moogle, ^^Remember... Glory^^ He spurs the horse and is gone.

Burke watches the High Lord's preparations and waits until he no longer hears the horse. "I could take 'im." He looks at the comatose knight by the fire. "What's his problem?" Then he shrugs and looks at Isianu and the moogle. "There were some farms and cabins this far north a long time ago. They were evacuated and burned after..." he looks down at the unconscious wolf. "After the slayings. The Baron s-- well, there's no convenient place to hide for some ways." He warms himself by the fire.

A little part of Isianu began kicking herself in the head while Brand rode off into the distance. Why was she trusting this man who she meet only a few minutes ago and was now separating himself from the group! Burke was understandable, he was one man and she could easily keep her eye on, but not like this. Well there was nothing she could do now but wait for rather dire fate. Sighing she moved closer to the fire and sat looking at Kupita and Kyle wearily. The moogle said something in her native language that only seemed to consist of the word 'Kupo.' Isianu wasn't sure what she said, but somehow it seemed to have an angry tone despite the high pitched and utterly cute sound. Giving her companion a sideways glance she said, "I don't doubt it. But I don't think we could withstand another squad of soldiers coming down our throats..." Looking back at her new teammates, she put her paws up in a defensive position, "No offense to your organization. It's just I know next to nothing about what's going on here and who I should put my trust in, especially in the dangerous situation I am in." She gazes over at Kupita, still taller than the fuzz ball sitting down, shrugs in her direction. "How about you Kupita, is it? Do you trust your commander as a man who would keep his word to a bunch of vagrants in the woods or just use them and arrest them? From what I saw of him, I would say the earlier, but I know that people are rather nicer to a big monster all alone in the woods..."

"Although I really haven't known Brand too long, I believe he is trustworthy. His only concern is to rid the world of what he believes is its greatest scourge, Technology. I myself am indifferent towards it, in most cases. I joined up with him and his troup so that I may have a grand adventure. I think that he is one who sticks with the "If you aren't with it, then you're against it" mentality. I suppose that the opposite is true aswell. Anyway, If you will fight becide us, then he will have not reason to lash out at you. As far as arresting anyone... He definately wont do that. Most of the black knights that we are associated with are former criminals. Many of us still have the urge to cross the line. Brand included. I once saw him steal a man's sword, then when the man protested, he cut the man's arm off with his own sword, then beat him to death with his own arm." Kupita's deedalee-bobber quivered and her right cheek twitched as she said the last sentence. that should scare her! Kupita thought. Come to think of it, Brand probably IS capable of doing that. I'd better not tick him off again.

Isianu sighed and nodded at the moogle's latest comment. "Well being a sorceress I'm not too fond of technology, mostly because the men that use it aren't disciplined enough to effectively use it. Other than that, I couldn't care less. I wouldn't worry about conflicting points of interest little one." Putting a paw under her chin as Kupita went on talking about Brand, she just said, "Hmmm. Well he actually cut it off instead of ripping his arm off before beating him to death. I guess that's a step towards civility. But what did you say about your unit?" Isianu asks leaning a little more towards the moogle. "A company of black knights? I might guess what they are, but what about a few specifics? What was your mission here, who do you serve, and are you part of a larger army?"

It was past dusk, and the events of the day were taking their toll on everyone gathered around the fire. Kyle turned away from the fire and stared blankly into the forest while Kupita and Isianu talked, eventually drifting off to sleep. Burke listened with interest to the werewolf and moogle's exchange. He snorted at Kupita's claim that her commander beat a man with his own arm. All the talk about dark knights was beginning to set him on edge. "Maybe... maybe we should think about resting..." he ventured, interrupting. "I wouldn't sleep without a decent watch set, so how about I take a watch and then the two of you can choose second or third?" He looks at the sleeping knight and smirks.

"Well first off, our Army is called the Shadow Knights, I'm a member of the Green Wing. It is comprised of new recruits. Brand is our leader. You no doubt heard our argument about the mission. We trained well, but in real battle it isn't quite as simple. The Mechs we were fighting were faster than I was prepared for. If H.P. hadn't been there, I doubt we could have made it. Chocobos are SO much better than horses."

"Wark Wark Wark!" said H.P. proudly. He trotted confidently around, and tripped over a root. Kupita laughed at him. "Wark!" He said as he stuck his beak in the air and wandered off in the other direction.

"Quit acting so silly H.P.! It could've happened to anyone who wasn't watching what they were doing!" Kupita laughed again.

Isianu just sat quietly for a while Kupita rambled on and her mount tried to impress her. The sorceress sat there for a silent moment looking at Kyle's wounds and the shape of the werewolf in front of her. "I take it these mechs are some sort of mechanical war machine? From the way your commander talked about it, that would be my first guess."

As the moogle went to discribe the enemy they had just faced, Isianu's mind was at two places at once. Three days, that's a long time to wait. What are we going to do in the meantime? Even though he might be telling the truth, there's something about being in an open clearing that disterbs me... Nodding to Kupita's discription of what they were facing, Isianu tried to change the subject. "Well if these things are still around, maybe we shouldn't spend the entire three days here. We should probably move a little into the woods, not to far, just to conceal our pressence from unwanted visitors." Looking back down at the prone dragoon she commented, "I only hope in doing so we don't harm him."

Kupita thought on it a moment. "I agree. Perhaps we could fashion a type of gurney to pull him behind H.P. I'd suggest just draping him over him, but H.P. is so accident prone I'm afraid he'd drop him. In fact, Since Kyle isn't in the best of traveling shape, he can ride on H.P. A conscious man should be able to remain in the saddle. What do you say Kyle?"

Kyle snorted in his sleep, obviously not hearing any of the conversation. As everyone slept, or pretended to sleep, Burke kept watch over the camp. His thoughts drifted back to his childhood, to the stories about these woods. The Haywood. Stories about how all the woods north of the castle were haunted. And now he had a face to put behind the hauntings. The face of intelligent wolf people, who no doubt could come and go as they pleased inside the woods. Who could make people think they were seeing ghosts and frighten them away. Who could kill people and mutilate their corpses. His head hurt from so much thinking. He was supposed to be on watch and all he could see was her sharp teeth and that look in her eyes. He started, sure he heard something in the dark. Was it a voice? He was sure he heard voices. He cursed himself as a coward, ever since childhood he had been unable to prove to himself that he was worthy. His father a hero, and he could never measure up.

The night passed uneventfully, with each hearing strange, almost voicelike sounds. Clouds rolled in over night, on a breeze smelling of sea air. A light rain began to fall, deflected by the forest canopy. A Fog rose from the forest floor. Kupita was sitting near H.P., the chocobo sleeping soundly and refusing to take any share of the watch. "Leave... this... place,"said the ghostly voice. Kupita looked up, turned around. She blinked. She hadn't heard that. "Kupita," said the voice, raspy and melancholy. Kupita stood, apprehensive. "Good morning," boomed Kyle from behind her, causing the moogle to jump and stifle a scream. He smiled good-naturedly, carrying an armful of firewood. "Didn't mean to scare you. I was just getting firewood. Figured if we're going to be here a while, gotta have firewood. Great day, isn't it?!"

Burke and Isianu awoke, groggy and sick. "Ugh," groaned Burke... "Feel like something trampled me. Didn't have any beer." He looks at the smiling Kyle suspiciously. "I'll find us something to eat." He leaves the camp for twenty minutes, leaving Kyle, Isianu, and Kupita awkwardly looking at each other. H.P. continues to sleep. When Burke got back, he fried up a number of sausages and served them with berries. "Eat up, we'll all feel better after..." The need for a plan hung over their heads as they prepared to breakfast.

While the night passed uneventfully, Isianu had a hard time going to sleep. The cold, hard ground was quite a change from her Roc down, double thick mattress in her Empress sized bed. Despite the discomfort she endured and when the morning came she was hesitant to wake up. She stayed there, huddled under her blanket and went back to sleep. Soon the smell of browning meat wafted to her sensitive nostrils. Eventually she crawled out from under her blanket and saw her knight companion cooking breakfast. Taking a big whiff she commented, "Wow, smells good Burke. I didn't know you were a chef." Doing her best to daintily eat the sausages and berries with her paws.

"Well," she said finishing her breakfast, "What shall we do now?" Looking down at the injured Lupine that hasn't moved since last night. "We should probably be concerned about keeping him safe until Brand comes back. Then concern ourselves with keeping all of us safe. Maybe Kupita should take that bird of her's and scout around the area to see if anybody is nearby or a spot that might be more inconspicuous. Preferably in the underbrush not too far away." Eventually her gaze went back to the injured knight, "Um, does anybody have any medical training, by the way?"

Trent walked into a bright light. He gasped, looking around... the forest was on fire, his home was burning! White hot flames danced around him, and over him the sneering face of Bernuka loomed. He'd seen it once before, but would never forget it. He reacted instinctively, going for his weapon with a cry of defiance. His home was gone, but he would have vengeance. His lungs burned with the effort and his wound screamed out, while his slowed hand found nothing but air. He had managed a crouch but now fell, catching himself. He felt weak and sick. And hungry. The smell of burning forest became the smell of cooking. The fires turned to a cloak of fog. The face of Bernuka became the face of another, a female Lupine. He scrambled up, finding astonished looks on strange faces all around. The pain of his wound lessened and he saw a bird, a moogle, a lupine, and two armored humans sitting before him around a small fire, while around him mists swirled amongst trees and a slight drizzle pattered in the tree tops above him.

Trent was confused. Here he was, in a forest with a bunch of strange people. How did I get here? I remember my city burning, me running through the ruins... I was attacked... then nothing... I must have blacked out. Shaking his head as if to ward off his confusion, Trent finally managed to gruffly ask, "Who are you?"

Burke was looking at his arm after Isianu's question. That was a pretty fine splint, if he said so himself. But he didn't. Instead he cooked. The sudden movement of the prone wolf took him by surprise, and he dropped a few of the 'sausages'. "Augh, the grubs!" he lamented. While the wolf backed away, Burke took the opportunity to scoop the grubs back up onto the pan. No one will even notice, he thought, turning his attention to the now alert werewolf. Cut Scene #1: A Glimpse into Conspiracy

Kupita looks at the Werewolf. "Oh! He woke up." Then she walks towards him. "It's okay, we're all friends here." She says hands outstretched in friendship. "I'm Kupita. That there is my Chocobo, H.P. The men are Kyle and Burke, and the other werewolf is Isianu. We are waiting for my commanding officer to return, however we were thinking of moving out of this clearing and into the shelter of the forrest. Are you well enough to travel?"

Rubbing his eyes with the back of his paws Trent got rid of the last of his confusion. Extending his hand Trent shook the moogles smaller one. "Greetings. My name is Trent. Yeah, I'm well enough to travel. Excuse me, but how did I get here? I don't seem to remember much of anything of the last few days." Trent looked at the group questioningly one by one until he got to the female werewolf. Trent narrowed his eyes and looked sharply back at Kupita. "Did you say her name is Isianu?"

When Trent stirred from his slumber, Isianu immediately hopped a little in surprise but tried to regain her composure. This was an inevitability that would have to be dealt with, but she wasn't expecting to do so this soon. While she might have wanted him to stay under for a while longer so she could get the knights on her side. At the moment if he said she was a pup-eating monster waiting to devour their souls, they would more likely than not believe it. She probably should have killed him while the others were asleep, but the fact that she promised Brand that she would take care of him prevented that course of action. Of course there was no use dwelling on old plans that have been ruined, now she would have to think on her paws to escape this without any major harm to her, and if possible, to the others.

While Trent began to ask his questions, Isianu began to shy away from him a bit. Absent-mindedly trying to cover her face with her sleeve, she tried not to look at him or really call attention to herself. While she really wasn't all that exposed to the public back in Goranthor, she was usually present at most major events and could be easily recognized. Even if he had not actually seen her, her name and general appearance would probably be enough to be identified. For the most part she took after Bernuka more than Urtieel, she had a more mysterious face than the wonderful beauty of her mother. That and the servants at the palace occasionally said she had the same eyes as her father, and could command the same fear as Bernuka with a harsh glance.

After Trent learned of her name Isianu decided it might be best to try a different strategy. Putting her arm down and looking in the Draconian's general direction she started to inform the poor Lupine. "I am not entirely sure the circumstances behind you being so far from your homeland or what happened in the past few days. I can only tell hazard that, for some reason, you were attacked in your travels and these two," gesturing to Kupita and Kyle, "Saved you. Currently their commanding officer has gone to a nearby town to fetch some tonic to help your wounds. He should be back in another day or so, so I suggest you not strain yourself, you must be very weak from such a horrible ordeal." Pausing for a second at the last question, she looked the knight in the eye before responding. "Yes... my name's Isianu... But pray, we have not heard your name?" Noticing she was trying to stare him down, Isianu immediately glanced away hoping that he hadn't provoked him.

Trent regarded Isianu for a moment. It's probably just a coincidence. I haven't ever actually seen her. I'm sure there are plenty of Isianus. Unless... I'll have to find out later. I'll have to find out the truth. "As I said, my name is Trent. My city was destroyed then I was attacked. I don't remember anything after that. Thank you both for saving me."

Kupita blushed. "You're welcome! It was no easy task I had to use all I had! Swords were slashing, guns were booming, Feathers were flying (that was H.P.) and there I was saving your life! H.P. took out one of the giants all by himself. He attacked and then H.P. gave him a big hard peck and the thing just blew up! You should have seen it. He tried to take out a second, but I had to come to the rescue. But I must remain modest, if it weren't for my commanding officer, perhaps none of us would be here. They swarmed from all sides and he rode out of the darkness and frightened them off with just a glance. As I asked before, are you well enough to travel? There is something ill boding about this clearing. I had a nightmare last night that a voice told me to move on. I've never had a dream like that before. Most of my nightmares involve... I don't want to talk about it."

Trent had to hide a grin as his gregarious companion rattled on. Trent carefully schooled his expression when she asked him if he could move. "I'm well enough to travel. I won't know exactly how bad it is until I try to do something but it seems well enough."

Isianu breathed a slight sigh of relief, at least he didn't recognize her right off the bat and she had a while longer to live. As Kupita started to regale the group with her tale of rescuing the lonely Draconian, Isianu just stared at the odd tale. She then stared in disbelief at the chocobo whom she guessed was this HP not believing this overgrown chicken could do such a thing. While Trent stated that he was up to travel, Isianu stood up and looked around at the rest of the group. "Well good knights," she started, "If you are up to it, I suggest we start after Brand. The sooner we meet up with him, the better. We might run into some unfriendly people judging by Kupita's story, so we should stay a bit off the beaten path." Turning back to Kyle and Kupita, she asked "Do you know of the town he would have gone too, or just blindly head in his direction until we run into him?"

Kyle answered the question. "Well, our orders were secret, but if the High Lord left us here together, he must have thought it was ok. I remember the map. The first rendezvous point was north of Goranthor, where there was a ship waiting to sail us around the mountains. If anything went wrong, we could meet up at the second point, on the other side of the mountains. He said since we knew..." he looks at Burke, then goes on, "he said we could pick our way south and go around... the city and then we could make our way back north. That's where we're supposed to go. I think he went ahead to get his healing herb. I know..." he pauses again. "I'm sure I can find the way."

Kupita had a quick feeling of panic... She hadn't paid attention during briefing. North, up the eastern side of the mountains? That would bring her dangerously close to... home. Kupita shook off a bit of fear. She couldn't, she just couldn't go back there. Especially with H.P. at least not yet. True she fantasized about going home and destroying her parent's farm. But until she hones her skills a bit more she doesn't stand a chance against the moogle elder's guards. If it comes to it, she reasons, she can heavily powder herself, as to appear a white moogle. Perhaps no one would recognize her. But what to do about H.P.? Perhaps some Yellow paint...

Burke was lost in thought. When she was sleeping, the first wolf was a monster. But when she was awake, it was hard not to believe that she wasn't just some noblewoman magicked into a beast's form. The second was worse; looking and acting just like a real soldier. Already he felt a kinship with the... man? Burke's headache came back, forcefully. He knew there was something important. Something was wrong. It was the Baron. Something was definitely wrong. He tried to listen to what Kyle was saying, but his thoughts wouldn't let him. Something was nagging him about this man, too. Burke put his hand to his temple and tried desperately not to think.

Isianu winced a bit when Goranthor was mentioned; she had come so far and didn't want to go back. "Well, I would suggest the second rendezvous. I wouldn't suggest going through Goranthor, even if along the outskirts. They're not very tolerant of intruders, especially human intruders." Looking at an oddly worried Kupita, she continued, "I don't want to meet up with any werewolf patrols guarding the boarders. If you know of a safe way to get around those obstacles, I think it would be well worth it."

"Here Is how I see it," starts Kupita, "We need to move on, to find somewhere safe to camp. I say that we go South, following Brand. We'll be sure to find him because when he starts to return he'll find us! We'll run right into each other. Going South will also Take us further away from the battle. WHO IS WITH ME?" She ends with almost a yell. Before any one answers, she starts packing up anything of value in the camp. She also adjusts H.P.'s saddle on him so that it is snug fitting. SHe climbs up onto H.P. "Onward to adventure!" She yells as she trots H.P. over to the edge of the forrest, then she turns and looks at the others. "Hurry up! No time like the present."

Kyle nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, let's go." He looked around himself. "Uh, I'm ready to go already." He walks over to Kupita and stands, expectantly.

Burke looked at the two knights, fighting the urge to give them any grief. Just stay low-key. He looked over to the two lupines. I know what I'm gonna do. "Uh, what do you two think?"

Isianu shrugged at this plan not really knowing what else to do. "It sounds like the best plan so far, and since thest two know where he would be better than us. That and the sooner we meet up with Brand, the sooner we can get some where else..." She then goes over behind Kupita, but far enough to the side just incase HP had to 'drop' something. "I am willing to go if Trent is."

Trent followed the conversation, but didn't talk as he didn't know much of what lay beyond his homeland. As Isianu finished speaking, Trent regarded her closely, unable to dispel the silent naggings he was feeling. "I have no reason to stay here anymore." Trent stated slowly. "So let's go."

The party set forth, traveling the day through the forest, making their way south. With his injury, Trent moved slower than he might have even though it no longer really pained him. It just seemed prudent to avoid straining the wound. Other than Kyle and Kupita's chatter and the strange whisper like sounds of the forest, there is little to hear. A solemn quiet descended on them, until Burke finally broke the silence. "Probably ought to bed down for the night, if there aren't any objections. Don't know how much ground we covered, but this isn't a very big forest. South of here is a whole lot of open plain." He sniffs the air. Turning to face everyone, "I guess we keep going, but I don't know of any way to keep hidden on the plains."

Trent growled disappointedly. He had really wanted to get as far away from his home as he could, but there was no help for it. "I think we better stop here." Trent finally stated, glancing at the others. "With my wound slowing us down there's a good chance we could get caught out there."

For the longest time Isianu reverted back into her instincts of keep running and don't look back, staying quiet so as not to give Trent any ideas about her. Looking around at the clearing Burke has selected with a very critical gaze. "Well, I think this will do for tonight. Tomorrow, I guess we will just have to hope that the Blessed Pack doesn't try and test us." Sitting down on the grass, she dug into her pack and pulled out a ration, basically jerky with some bread baked on to it, and began to gnaw it. Eventually she noticed some of the others watching her eating. With a slightly odd look on her face, she drew out another ration from her pack. "Does anybody else want one? They're nothing much, rather tasteless, but they'll keep you alive. I don't know if anybody here knows how to hunt game or the like, so I didn't know if you would have wanted one."

Burke went out foraging, bringing back more berries and grubs. "Plenty to eat in the forest until late Spring. I'd hunt, but I... left my bow behind. And I'm an arm short, too." He listens. "I don't know if we want to risk another fire. These are just as good cold anyway."

Kupita took her and H.P.'s shares of the berries and grubs. H.P. ate all of the grubs, stealing them right out of Kupita's hand and she started to eat them. ^^Eh! Go ahead and take them, I'm satisfied with berries.^^ Kupita ate them carefully and well guarded from H.P.'s greedy beak.

Trent graciously accepted his share of berries and grubs from Burke. "Thank you. If I wasn't wounded, I'd go hunting as well, but as it is?" Trent shrugged indicating their position. As they sat eating Trent contemplated his situation. What am I going to do? I need to get away from Goranther, that's for sure. But after that? I need to go back and kill Bernuka. But when? I don't think I am ready to do that now. I guess I'll figure it out later.

Letting his gaze wander over the two men, the black chocobo and the moogle, Trent felt his sight invariably set on Isianu. What about her? I need to confront her sometime, if at least to confirm my fears. Sighing softly Trent continued eating, wondering what the next day would bring.

Burke watched everyone's preparations. He still felt ill at ease and wanted a watch set. Maybe this night he would be able to sleep. "So, I'll do first watch, who else wants to volunteer?"

Kyle opened his mouth as if to speak, then shut it again quickly.

Trent thought for a moment before he spoke. "Yeah sure, why not? I don't feel like sleeping much anyway. Just tell me when it's my turn." With that Trent lay down amid the forest and tried to make out the stars through the leafy top.

"I guess H.P. and I'll take the third watch." Kupita said. H.P. whipped his head up and looked at her. "Wark-wark!" he said, as he turned his back on her and ruffled his tail feathers. Then he lay down and pretended to sleep.

^^Don't give me that!^^ Kupita scolded, ^^We have to pull our own weight around here. Now get some REAL sleep before our watch.^^ Then she lay down next to H.P.

The night passed uneventfully. The morning was much like the previous day's, with the gently falling spring rain and the smell of the sea. Burke woke, nodding to Kupita as he made his way into the forest. He wandered for a short time, finally clearing the trees.

"Breakfast will be a little short this morning," he said upon his return. "This part of the forest has been picked pretty clean. In an hour or two of travel, we'll be out of the forest. We'll have most of the day to travel south, in the open. I think we should be able to cross out of the Baron's territory in two days after tomorrow. I think everyone may want to think about their destinations after that. There's a world of possibilities." There was some difficulty rousing Isianu and Trent. Everyone ate a little, then stowed their gear and set out.

As Burke had said, the forest thinned within two hours and the group found themselves facing the prospect of travel out in the open. "You know," said Kyle, "we could probably follow the coast to the west. The territory doesn't really extend that far and we could avoid a lot of travelers that way."

Burke shook his head. "The Baron lays claim to the western territories, too. Just because he doesn't have the manpower to hold them doesn't stop him from trying. He has twice as many watches and troops that way." Cut Scene #2: The General

Another morning with little to eat, meant Isianu had to dip into her rations again. While she had enough to last her for a while, she would like to save them if she had the chance. Getting up she had a chance to look down at her clothes, they were getting pretty dirty, not to mention herself. What she wouldn't give for a nice bath right about now... Of course that was a minor matter, what was really important would be what would happen once they got to town. Isianu did not have any idea on where to go, or what she wanted to do, other than the vague notion of defeating her father. "Now I believe that is the main question puzzling me," she let out after Burke's comment. "Do they have a magic university or other place of fine magical learning at the town we are going? If so, I think I might want to try that place first."

Once they got to the plains, Isianu stood there silently in awe for quite a while. The way the grass looked like a green sea when the wind blew, the lovely blue of the sky, and the sun on her face added to the mysticism of this place. Of course that could not hide the fact that this terrain was dangerous for those not wanting to be spotted. Listening to both of the knights give their ideas on heading out, the werewolf sorceress nodded and looked down the main trail. "Well if is a choice between a lot of travelers and a few soldiers, I would take the travelers any time. They might be in all respects ignorant on who we are and what me might have done. If we keep to the road and stay quiet and civil, I don't think we will have any problems."

She had said it again. Magic. As they traveled, Burke fell into step with Isianu. "Uh, Isianu," he began, watching the others suspiciously. "Seeing as how this is enemy territory, I don't think there will be much call for talking our way out of things... but if you don't mind, you might try to keep the crazy talk to yourself. I'm sure you're making everyone nervous." He realized how insulting it might sound and quickly went on. "I... I don't know what you, wo-- lupines... believe, but... people don't believe those old myths anymore. Here in Aldersgate we have gotten past all that superstitious... stuff. You certainly won't find any temples of magic or anything like that in the Kingdom. And with the hostility. We'd all be better off going to the south. I've met some of the peoples that live there. Besides the fact that they're thieves, they're pretty reasonable. They just accept things and they don't ask questions. If there's really a kingdom forming, then they'll need... our help."

"Hey, Kupita..." said Kyle. "Get Burke away from Isianu for a second... I want to say something to her..."

Kupita agreed. She went over to Burke's position. "Hey! Did you see that? Something MOVED in the woods over there!" then she spun around. "Whoa! Something is over there too! Maybe it's something we can eat!"

Burke looked back at the woods, already receding in the distance. "Are you sure? Can you really see that far away?" He stops, trying to decide whether to delay.

Kyle shrugged helplessly at Kupita.

Walking silently in step with the rest Trent wasn't really paying any attention to the others conversations until he heard Burke's conversation. Trent pointedly stared at Burke when he called magic superstitious stuff. Speaking more sharply than he meant to, Trent said "It is not 'superstitious stuff'. It is very real, and very powerfull." Trent recalled to mind yet again the fresh memory of his city destroyed, doubtless with Bernuka's magic having some part in it. Clenching his fist tightly Trent suppressed the urge to hit something.

"Oh, I don't know anymore. Perhaps it was only the heat. But I THOUGHT that I saw something. Moogles can see pretty far, you know. Why don't you and I run back and look. You can ride H.P. and I'll fly, we'll be back in no time. Don't worry he's very tame. I'll talk him into it."

"H.P.! Come here!" H.P. trotted over. "Give Mr. Burke a ride to the woods." ^^The ride of his life!^^ H.P. ran over to Burke stuck his head between his legs and lifted him up off the ground and threw him onto his back. Before Burke even knew what was happening he was hanging onto H.P.'s tail feathers and H.P. was going wild. He ran around in a big circle and then jumped several times. Then he stared running back towards the woods, in a zig zag fashion. "Just hang on! He knows where he's going," she hollered after them. Kupita walked over to Kyle. "Okay, you can talk to her now. Then she flew after H.P. and Burke. "Wait up you two!"

As Burke was catching Trent's remark he was suddenly hoisted into the air and carried away. He grunted as the air was knocked out of him. Isianu and Trent watched as Moogle, Knight, and Bird quickly ran back the way they had come.

Kyle wasted no time making his way to Isianu's side. "If you are really interested in magic, there's a powerful wizard who lives to the west. It's said that he's the last true magician. That way would be safer anyway."

Burke managed to fall off of the chocobo and was laying sprawled out in the high grass.

Kyle nodded conspiratorially, "I don't think you'll find another place to practice the art... Just think it over."

At Burke's little comment, a flash of sharp teeth was seen on Isianu's face for a moment. Even though she was trying to shed almost all of Bernuka's teaching, her respect for magic would never leave her. She had trained her whole life to be the best sorceress she could be, even her very existence was due to magic! Before she could get off a witty remark Kupita took care of the injured knight. Flinching back a bit at this rough treatment of her companion, she said to the flying moogle, "Be careful with him. He might not be the brightest or the most tactful knight, but he's a good sort..."

As the Dark Knight addressed her, Isianu just stood there paying close attention to what he had to say. "Well," she said once he finished, "That really is useful information and I'm sure will come in handy. Of course I would like to get to know the customs outside my country first. I don't want to go barging in uninvited to a grand magus without knowing the right way to butter him up." Her attention then turned to look at the road ahead with a rather worried gaze. "First I would saw we would need to get our act together and find out which way we're going. From what I hear the middle road seems to be the safest, stay away from the main road and away from the southern provinces. We shouldn't meet any unfriendlies there, right?"

Kyle looked past Isianu; Burke was still down. He could have been hurt. "The main 'road' is a worn path from soldier's boots. It goes east-west. As far as north-south, it's trails worn by migrating animals, like chocobo tracks. There's nothing north or south for people to be interested in. But the wides are easy travel anyway. Flat. People avoid traveling this way because there's no food. And the soil's lousy." Kyle smirked to himself. "I don't know about that guy and going south, but east is right into the heart of this Baron's kingdom. West is best, away from there. No--" Kyle shut his mouth and slipped away as Burke approached, rubbing his shoulder with his good hand. He stopped, working the socket and grumbling a little bit.

"Look," said Burke, somewhat hotly, standing before Trent and Isianu, "I don't mean any offense. It's not like I believe evil spirits are going to come get you because of all this magic talk. I know better than that. Nothing will come of it, except that it's just going to bring unwanted attention. When we get south, just let me do the talking." He looks surprised at his own words. For a moment he looks unsure, then his expression becomes blank again. "Let's just go..."

Trent looked surprised for a second then grinned apologetically. "Your right. Talk about magic in a technological world would bring attention to ourselves. So then, we have to decide which direction to go. It seems to me we all have different goals..." Trent paused, searching the others faces, especially Isianu's before continuing. "As for me, I just want to get away from here for a while, so any direction is as good as the next."

With a solemn nod, Isianu turned back to Burke and said, "Of course, best to keep our certain 'abnormalities' to ourselves. Those of them that we can be hidden with any ease. We will probably be hounded enough," shrugging a bit and adding, "No pun intended." Looking out at the road ahead, the sorceress struck a dramatic, but tasteful, pose to the open countryside. "Shall we be off to what ever adventure awaits us?"

Burke grunted, then continued walking, heading due south. Kyle looks back, glancing from Isianu to Trent to Kupita. Grumbling to himself, he follows Burke.