Tika growled low in her throat. "The king deserves death. One he is dead I will leave the tribes to be as ther are. I just want to destroy the paleds." she licked her pils, that were still hidden. "Besides, you need my skills, I was the kings best Assain, his favorite weapon, and to have that on your side, in your cause. I have seen they way the humnas have been treated, and since the death of the man I held dear, I have becomed more and more sickiend by what he does."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Aryann sat and thought for two long minutes. She stood suddenly. "You will be treated the same way the rest of my warriors are. You will obey my commands, and my officers' commands through me." She paused. "The word will be spread of your existence here, and that you are a Paled. You are under my protection. Should any of the men or women under my command harm you, or threaten you in anyway they will answer to me. Do not take it into your hands. Am I understood?"

_________________


Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Tika gave the woman a curt nod. "I understand." she said. "Ans as for me being known I do not need to be so hidden." she took her scarf off her head and let it drap on her shoulders, her ears, face, and long black hair exposed, as was her tail now.

((Do I need to repost the piture of my character?))

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

((That might be helpful, Tika ))

Aryann nodded as Tika revealed her ears, face, hair, and tail. "I expect to see you awake and ready to travel before dawn.

(( Elenriel, could Alena be back with the tribe by morning? **Pretty Please**))

_________________


Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

(I'll try. I'm hoping Rain will post so that Alena won't be so rude as to just running off)

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

((Here: http://media.photobucket.com/image/cat% ... .jpg?o=166 ))

Tika nodded. "where shall I make my bed tomight?"

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Imediatly, as was reflex, at the challenge, Xavier lept forward, sword drawn. He plunged his sword into a Paled, cursing him as he fell to the ground, and cut his throat. Xavier then turned to another to parry a few blows, waiting for an open spot. After a minute of clashing swords, one was found, and the Paled was missing at arm. With it's one intact claw, it scratched Xavier across the cheek, leaving a mark. He fell back a few steps before recovering and charged at the Paled, cutting off it's head in two strokes.

Looking up, the tribe leader saw that they were dead. He glanced over at Alena.
"Are you alright? I bet Aryanna would have my head if you were hurt. I'm on thin ice with her as is," he said quickly, wipping his sword clean in the grass and sheathing it in a fluid movement.
"You should probably go. Your leader might be missing you. I will take care of the bodies, to keep my promise."

_________________

(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

"Near me would probably be good for the first night. It also proves that I trust you." Aryann said to Tika. She turned away, then paused. "I'll have a horse and saddle bags prepared for you." she said, then continued on her way. She walked to the edge of the clearing. Her bags and saddle were laying on the ground. Thankfully the nights were still warm enough that they did not need their winter gear yet. She glanced around, and spotting Reed, beckoned to him. He jogged over to her.
"Yes?" He asked, then remembering himself, he bowed.
"Tika," she pointed her out, "Is going to stay with us. Have a horse and bags readied for her immediately." she said. Reed bowed again, then set off towards where the horses were tethered for the night.

_________________


Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Alena looked at Xavier after sheathing her sword as well. "I'll be fine," she replied, ignoring her leg wound. Just then Thalion bounded into the clearing, his claws stained with the blood of the paled he killed. "Aryanna does not need to know of our meeting tonight," she said quietly. "If she asks, I'll just tell her I needed time alone." She then glanced around at the bodies littering the area. "Thank you, Xavier." she whispered as she mounted the great lion. "I hope we will meet again under fairer circumstances."

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Tika sat in the spot near the tribe leader, she nodded to her self, reminding her self that she was staying breifly befroe living on her own.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Within a few minutes, as the last rays of sun were disappearing, Reed walked over to Tika, carrying heavy laden bags, tack, and leading a mare. She was small and compact, but was very strong and had great endurance. He bowed to Tika and put the bags and tack on the ground. "This is from Aryann." He said. He then handed her the reins of the mare, bowed, and walked away.

_________________


Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

"Thank you." said to the man. she set up her area and laid down, tucking her knife under her make shift pillow.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Aryann watched as the last of the warriors bedded down. They weren't ones for staying up late. "They've learned well." she said amusedly to herself. She smiled slightly then layed down, her head on her saddle bags. She closed her eyes, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

_________________


Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Even though Tika had laid down, she was far from ready to sleep. She looked into the sky, her senses taking in all those around her.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Alena gazed up at the heavens, realizing that she had already tarried far too long. "Thank you for everything, Xavier." she told him again. "Farewell." With that she urged Thalion out of the glade and back to camp with all the speed the lion could muster. She knew that if she did not arrive by dawn, Aryann would be extremely cross with her. They raced to the woods until the came upon the camp. Clinging to the shadows so as not to disturb anyone, she made her way to where her horse and supplies were kept. Rummaging through her sack, she pulled out the herbs she had and sat under the starlight to treat her leg wound.
"Where have you been?" a voice spoke from the shadows and her hand immediately flew to her sword until she recognized it as her brother's voice.
"Go away." she told him crossly, not wanting to deal with him yet.
"Come, little sister. Still mad at me?" Gareth asked.
Alena sighed then, she knew that he had probably waited for her all this time, figuring that she would go to check on her horse first and grab whatever supplies that she needed.
"Do you regret what you said earlier?" she asked-referring to what he said about Xavier.
"No."
"Then I'm still mad at you." she said simply as she continued to rub the herb on her wound before bandaging it herself.
"You're hurt," he said frowning a bit. "Alena, what happened?"
"I was attacked by paleds. They are now dead." she told him, leaving out the fact that she had talked with Xavier alone and fought alongside him, knowing that her brother would be wroth with her if she did.
"Alena..."
"Gareth, I'm fine. I have had scrapes before, this is not the worse of them." she hissed.
Gareth sighed. "I worry about you little sister. You are all the kin I have left."
Alena smiled at her brother. "And I love you brother dear, though you can be utterly annoying at times," she said with a smile.
"Come then. You should get some rest," he said as he gently helped Alena to her feet and then supported her as she limped. As the walked, brother and sister passed Tika.
"A paled in our camp?" Alena whispered, her hand instinctively grabbing the hilt of her sword.
Gareth only shook his head put his hand on hers, removing her hand from the sword.
"What?" she questioned and Gareth motioned her to silence as he led her to a spot where they could talk without disturbing anyone, not glancing at Tika as he passed by her.
When they came to the spot, the two sat down and Alena looked at her brother questioningly waiting for him to begin.
"The paled is Tika."
"You mean the woman we met earlier is the Paled King's greatest assassin? What is she doing with us?" she questioned in shock, understanding now why Thalion had growled at her earlier, he had recognized the paled scent.
"She has disavowed her king and wants to kill him. She is to join our warriors."
Alena fell silent not knowing what to say and Gareth just looked away. He had grown fond of the woman he was fighting alongside in that short time and now to discover that she was of the race that he hated the most-the race that had killed their parents. He did not know what to think of her anymore.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Aryann rolled over frantically, sweat beaded on her forehead. "No..." she muttered.

"Please, Aryann." her sister smiled up at her, "Please let me go, I've never gone anywhere before." she said sweetly.
"I know." Aryann said.
"Please..." her sister said..
Aryann thought for a moment. "Okay, Kaylee."

"No!" Aryann yelled, the sweat pouring off of her forehead. She unconsciously thrashed around.

"Have you asked Father yet?"
"Yes. He said I can."
"Then get your horse and lets get the rest of the warriors."
"I already have." Kaylee ran behind the barn which stood behind her, a few yards away. She came back out leading her short, compact horse. "Come on, let's go get the others." she said.
Aryann nodded, "We better hurry if we're going to get there by the appointed time."

"No, don't go." Aryann said. She shook uncontrolably.

Aryann jogged after her sister, leading her stallion. They came into the middle of the village . There half of the tribe's men stood, horses at their side. Her father came out of a large hut. He nodded to his daughters in greeting.
"You must not fail me, Aryann. You know how much this means to me." he said, looking Aryann straight in the eyes.
She nodded, then bowed. "I will not fail you, father."
"Let's go, Aryann." her sister said.
Aryann nodded, then mounted, and the others followed suit. Without uttering a command, they rode off together, silent as the rays disappearing behind the mountains.

"No!" Aryann screamed.

_________________


Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel