Taj and Aero: Advent of the Feather King

Rose didn't really catch the look that Rethin had on his face, only noting that he looked down. If she had been more awake she would have probably become suspicious of the action, but as it was she took no mind. It shouldn't have been a surprise then that she didn't pull back when Rethin leaned forward. She felt paralyzed, her breath caught in her throat when he came closer, and then it was over. Rose could only stare after his retreating back, her face turning full scarlet as the blood rushed to her face.

*~*

It took all his strength of character not to bust out laughing. This was just perfect, wasn't it? The look on Demetri's face… Alex took a small step to the side out of swinging range, his gaze flicking between Rose's very red face and Demetri's intense glare. Could this have possibly worked out any better? He hadn't expected thing to come to a boiling point until Demetri found hi manhood and finally had a talk with Rose, but this new development would probably make for a more exciting time anyway. All he had to do now was watch.

Oriana wanted to pat Rose on the shoulder, the girl looked so surprised that she could literally faint. Reaching over, Oriana did in fact put a hand on her shoulder. "Rose? Are you alright?" She asked, noting how red her face was. "Be glad Demetri isn't here, okay?" She tried to bring her back to her senses bringing up Demetri to she could pull herself together.

Demetri listened to what was happening, not wanting to move and reveal he was there. She did nothing to stop him, not even a flinch so now he would wait to see what she would say. He turned to Alex and saw the amused look on his face, there really was no way to hide that expression from him. "Leave, Alex, now." He hissed, leaving no room for argument in his voice. He could care less how Alex would want to be around him right now, he wanted to go after that man and stick a blade through his stomach.

~*~*~*~

Rethin held Enroy closer to him, sighing sadly. "I'm sorry Enroy, I know you liked her but we can't stay..." He whispered not really wanting to wake the boy if it were not needed. He did have somewhere to go, he knew exactly what he had to do.

Rethin took to the skies for a good half hour before he saw the town of Juluria in his sights. He landed as gently as he could, holding his brother as he began looking around suspiciously. "Come out here!" He called, holding his brother as close to him as possible. "I know you are here!" He growled.

He waited for a few moments with nothing but the wind whispering back to him until he heard rustlings behind him. Out of no where a figure was standing in front of him, with a broad grin on his aged face. Rethin knew it was the guy he was looking for, the man wearing dark robes that hung from his thin frame and a hallow smile that promised evil things from him.

"Lomaren", Rethin growled but it seemed not to bother the man as he circled around the avian like a shark, running a finger through Enroys hair. Rethin whipped around, going to punch the man in the face when all his fist hit was smoke.

"Now now, my dear boy is that really how you treat someone? Did your parents not teach you manners?" He laughed stepping back to give Rethin some room now. "I assume if you have come here you have found them?" He hissed, coming in closer, the excitement hanging in his voice.

Rethin let his head drop, fighting with himself if he should really tell the man anything. He shouldn't but..."Come now, Rethin, don't you want to see your parents again? They beg me to not come near you, Rethin, but I told them you made a deal with me to reunite you to them. Tell me where they are..." He said sweetly, carefully his mouth practically watering from the idea of the information he was about to get.

Rethin looked to Enroy, and hugged him closely. "I'm sorry Rose..." He whispered, looking up to Lomaren with renewed determination. "Around twenty miles west, their fire is easily seen in the air..."

What perked Lomaren's interest further was that he said the name Rose, there was a female among the ones he spoke of. "How interesting. As promised, I will reunite you to your parents." With a snap of his fingers, dozens of floating armored things surrounded Rethin and Enroy. "What is this?! Lomaren! We had a deal you would free my parents!" He had no weapon, no way to protect himself and his brother. Before he could even try to think what to do he felt a hard blow to the back of his head. He fell forward, dropping Enroy.

Having been half awake half asleep, Enroy was totally awake when he hit the ground hard, rolling away from his brother. He looked up to see giant scary glowing things and he screamed, beginning to cry, unsure of where Rethin was.

"Enroy!" Rethin called out when a floating being picked up the boy and hit him on the back of the head so as he would pass out. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Rethin charged, pushing into the metal armor of the thing holding his brother but it was to no avail, he felt several more blows to his back and head before he slumped on the ground, blood forming around him. He tried to call for his brother again but he felt himself be picked up and then darkness came over him.

"Such a naive boy." Lomaren laughed, "Take him to his parents, and the others.The rest of you come with me." He grinned, looking in the direction of the west. "Lets go find this Rose, shall we?"

Mutely, Rose could only nod in response to Oriana's question, still feeling quite stunned as she did so. "Yeah, I.. I just wasn't expecting that… at all…" She touched her cheek gently, wondering if all men were actually like this and the very few the she had actually be exposed to were the odd ones. Oriana didn't seemed too phased by it, so maybe…? "I uh… I think I'm going to go to bed now. If I wasn't tired before, I certainly am now. Today has been very… taxing. In the emotional sense, if nothing else." Rising to her feet, she gave Oriana a weak smile and headed for the tent, ready to put an end to this day before it got any stranger.

Alex backed off when Demetri got his rage on, lifting his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Just don't do anything reckless. Like killing anybody." He beat a hasty retreat before the big man could make him the first victim, and made his way to the tent after Rose had gotten in it, looking like a man on a mission.

She was started when he came in, spinning quickly and nearly knocking him out with her wings, her jacket half off her shoulders with one arm still in the sleeves. "Alex?" She asked, her heart in her throat when she spoke. "By the- What are you doing in here? Go back outside and make mushy faces with Oriana. I'm in no mood to deal with you." Turning her back on him once more she finished getting off her jacket then sat abruptly and started pulling off her boots.

"Oh come on now, don't be a stick in the mud. At least listen to what I've got to say." Alex sat behind her with his hands on his knees, trying to sound like he was one of those people that just helped other people all the time. It wasn't working on Rose.

She laughed, a humorless sound and threw a dirty glare over her shoulder. "What could you possibly have to say to me that I would want to listen to?"

"Oh, I dunno. Might have to do with that large gloomy guy you're so attached to. But hey, if you don't want to hear it…" Alex waited for a long moment, watching Rose's back when she went stock still, in a silent war with herself debating whether or not to let him keep talking. When he saw her shoulders slump, he knew that he'd won. "You know blondie, I'd never have believed it if I didn't see it, but I think that you've actually managed to make the man grow a heart."

Again she cast him a dirty look, though this time situated herself to that she could look at him without having to turn around anymore. "He's always had a heart."

"Physically, yes." Alex replied with a sagely nod. "Emotionally? Not so much. But you should have seen him tonight when he saw that new kid kiss you."

Immediately Rose's face went red. "You saw that?!"

"Oh, not just me." He couldn't help the grin that forced it's way to his face. "Demetri too. And he was angry, let me tell you."

Rose seemed shocked by this statement, the color draining from her face and her mouth hanging open slightly. "He… he was angry?"

"Livid is probably a more accurate way to describe it." He got the satisfaction of watching Rose go even more pale.

For a moment she was dumbfounded into silence, then tightened her fists, a look of anger descending on her normally cheery features. "And what right does he have to be angry?" Oh, this was turning out so much better than he could ever hope for. "It's not like he really cares about me or anything. He didn't even bother to try and talk to me about last night. Didn't bother to do anything. Just ran away! Well fine! He can keep running for all I care." Tears had started forming in her eyes by now, and with a few blinks to stem the tide she angrily got up, inserted herself into her sleeping bag, and turned her back to Alex. "Now shut up and get out of here."

Oriana watched as Rose left, giving her a slightly concerned glance before poking the fire with a random stick hanging around the pit. The camp was silent all for about ten seconds before Alex walked by and straight into the tent. Her concerned look was replaced by one of confusion and while she wanted to go after him to find out what he was up to, he seemed like he was on a mission. Leaning back on her hands, she waited for him to come out and tell her whatever trouble he was getting himself into.

Demetri stood angrily as he watched Alex go, fully wanting to punch Alex in the face, or at least rough him up to relieve some of his pent up anger and emotion. This was the most frustrated he had ever been in his life and he had no idea how to fix it. Well, he had an inkling thanks for Alex but the thought of seeing Rose only made his more angry. He turned, rising his fist and ramming into the nearest tree as hard as he could. Pain shot through his hand and up his arm but it temporarily took his mind off of Rose. He pulled his hand back to look, noting small trickles of blood running down his fingers and the blueish color of a bruise already starting to form.

Demetri sighed, shaking out his hand and walking into the camp where Oriana sat and took a seat across from her. He could feel her stare and he did his best to ignore it, casting a look back to the tent for a moment and then back on the ground.

"She isn't coming back out." Oriana reassured him, getting an icy glare cast on her in return to which she could only hold her hands up in defense to. She had no intention of pushing the gloomy man, not having Alex's flare for pushing people's buttons.

~*~*~*

Lomaren spotted his target far before he could see anyone, the fire a dead give away as to where his little informant had told him. He grin only widened at the thought of Rethin, what a pathetic child. When he found him, Lomaren's first instinct was to take the child with his parents but that one had fight in him. And that fight would bring in bounty for him, Lomaren could only laugh at how well the boy did. He waved his hand for his floating guards to close in around the group and then vanished.

Demetri looked up from the fire all of a sudden when his ears perked and he heard the snapping of twigs. The floating metal beings were never graceful and always made so much noise when moving. Oriana looked at him for a second in confusion and put a hand on the hilt of her sword. Demetri gave her a nod and stood. He wanted to call into the tent, to warn the others of the impending attack but he was scared it would give them away if they had any advantage at all.

"So, might this be our precious Rose?" Came a whisper of a voice, seemingly out of no where that sent a chill down Oriana's spine. She felt a hand in her hair that gently ran through it, before disappearing again. "Who are you?!" She growled, having no idea why she was being called Rose or how he knew of her. She hoped she was loud enough to draw out those in the tent, drawing her sword and going onto the defense.

"Come now, Rethin told me all about you." Lomaren slowed appeared from the dark, his dark robes seemingly floating around him. "Now why don't you be good kids and come with me." Rethin had not told him how many of them there were, only of Rose and 'a few others'. He held off his floating warriors for now, waiting to see how the two would react.

Demetri's expression grew dark, he knew that kid was nothing but trouble and this only proved it right. He felt something off about Rethin and it wasn't all that he became so close with Rose so suddenly. What a traitor to his own kind! If only he were here, Demetri would not hesitate to bash his face in.

Alex was more than happy to leave Rose to her solitary moping, and stood, careful not to step on either of the passed out twins when the left the tent. He had just set foot outside when he heard Oriana's call into the dark and was immediately on alert, his hand jerking to his sword and his eyes flicked around the trees to spot the danger. His blood ran cold when he saw the bodiless warriors, and he felt his heart stutter nervously at the sight of them, fear creeping its way into his heart. Flashes of being captured by those things came to him, steeling his resolve to fight.

So, Rethin's presence hadn't been as fortuitous as he'd thought it was. "Rose." He hissed, knowing that the girl was still awake, probably silently crying. "Wake the twins. We've got the bad sort of company."

Rose couldn't have known what was going on outside the tent, but she knew that there were very few things out in these woods that would cause Oriana to call out like that and to have Alex go dead serious. She heard the tremble in his voice and kicked her way out of her sleeping back, shaking her brothers vigorously. "Tristan, Ilario! Up!" She tried to keep her voice down, not knowing what was going on outside.

Oriana was slightly relieved to see Alex come from the tent, seeing as how he could warn the others now, but the dark smile that formed on Lomaren's face caused her heart to stutter, a cold weight dropping into her stomach as she realized she just gave them away. He was looking for more of them.

"Oooh, the little flower has another protector?" Lomaren asked, looking from Demetri to Alex. "How sweet of you to join her young prince, but we really must be going. I give you one chance to come peacefully or I might have to handle such a..pretty..girl a little roughly." His eyes set on Oriana and he was met with a fiery glare of a challenge. This was turning out better than expected, three so far! Perhaps there were more inside the tent.

Oriana gripped her sword tighter, wanting to lop the guys head off that very second but to most hastily seemed like a terrible thing when she herself could use no magic. For once, the twins might come in handy to use their gifts. The sentence left a bitter taste in her mouth but it was really their only option. "What makes you think we'd ever go with scum like you?" Oriana hissed back in response.

"Forgive me, my name is Lomaren, and it would have been such a pleasure to meet you but...Tsk tsk, here I thought you might wish to see Rethin and Enroy again. You know, they spoke highly of you, Rose. But, alas, all they wanted was to see their parents." He stopped for a second, letting the cold truth settle in over the camp. "So I granted their wish, they are on their way to see them now."

~*~*~

Tristan groaned, not liking the idea of waking up after such a beating with his brother, and decided to ignore Roses' call for the time being. But as her voice grew more stern, Tristan realized something was wrong and sat up quietly, kicking away his covered and grabbing at his sword. There was only one type of monster usually after them and the nasty beast couldn't seem to leave them alone. Closing his eyes for a short moment, Tristan recalled the spell that would enchant their blades, thinking hard to recall each and every word. As it came to him, Tristan recited the spell, watching as his blade began to glow blue and he quickly put it in its sheath to keep it hidden.

~*~*~

Oriana knew the moment Tristan was awake, feeling the odd tingling sensation in her hand as her blade began to glow. Well it was all well and good that she could defend herself against the floating beings but she thought it would do next to nothing against Lomaren.

Ilario had been sleeping like the dead, tired after the extended sparring/grudge match that he'd had with his brother when he was awoken quite suddenly by a kick in the shoulder from a booted foot. He yelped and sat upright, looking around frantically only to see Rose half dressed and looking like she was about to have a panic attack. "What in the blazes-!"

Rose clamped a hand over his mouth and made a hushing sign. "Enemies! Grab your sword and get out there!"

He saw Tristan moving out of the corner of his eye, his weapon aglow and groaned, feeling a drain on his small stock of reserved energy as the spell took effect. "They have perfect timing, don't they?" He grumbled, then stood and grabbed his sword, ready to charge out and meet the danger, shirtless or not.

*~*

Alex gritted his teeth, tense and ready to spring but knowing that doing so now would be no use, not until Rose got the twins awake. He didn't have to wait long before his sword started glowing, and without waiting for anyone to take notice of the phenomenon leapt at the wizard fondling Oriana's hair, aiming a straight thrust at the man's middle section.

Ilario, seeing that things were being put into motion leapt out of the tent as well, taking a second to look and see what exactly was going on. They appeared to be surrounded by the floating metal manless suits of armor. Well, that wasn't good news. But when was it ever? With a battle cry he went for the nearest floating suit of armor with his sword, attacking viciously.

Tristan sighed gently as he felt the magical energy being pulled from his body, as per norm whenever he did a spell. He did not have to wait long for action to start, watching his brother shoot out of the tent first, and then Alex after him. "Well, better join the fun. Oi, Ryleon, let's go." He looked back to his cousin, who did not seem to have a particularly happy look on his face, and no intention of moving.

"I'll stay back and protect Rose." He offered, giving his cousin a small smile before looking back to Tristan, to which the twin simply shrugged to and made his battle charge onto the camp, finding his first group of floating men to attack.

~*~*~

Demetri was standing with Oriana, sword drawn and ready to attack when he saw Alex lunge forward to fend off Lomaren from Oriana. He watched for a second before turning his attention on Rose. He made for the tent, going around it to one of the floating men advancing upon them and with two hands, brought his sword right down the middle of the first floating being he came across, eager for more to take his pent up emotions on.

~*~*~

Lomaren looked up from Oriana in time to see Alex coming his way, simply floating out of harms way and a bit away from the angry looking man. "Does this Rose have a keeper then?" He smiled, looking from Alex to Oriana. When he got no reaction from the girl, he simply shrugged. "If you don't want to play nice then we shall have to play rough then." Lomaren said, holding up his hand and pointing it Alex's direction. He opened his hand fully, palm out to Alex and let a bolt of lighting fly.

Oriana growled, she did not like being teased, or treated like some little doll that could break so easily. Though it seemed Alex would be taking this guy on she would not pass up the pace to kill him if so given to chance. She turned before the bolt of lightning was sent, meeting her blade with part of an arm of the floating being. Jumping back, Oriana ducked to avoid being nailed in the head with the other arm and brought her sword in low, cutting the armor just below where she presumed its stomach would be.

Rose half wanted to go out and help fight, but she was scared to leave Ryleon's side and knelt next to him, her heart hammering in her chest. She had been so tired before, but now she was wide awake, her adrenalin running high. What would happen if someone got hurt, and she didn't have the energy to heal them? This was all so horrid…

Outside the battle was in full swing, Ilario hacking madly at any of the floating armor creatures got close enough for him to hack at. He was sporting a few cuts from claws as the creatures tried to grab him and drag him away. Those were now little more than molten puddles of metal, his battle high fueling the deadly fire that he called to his fingertips at will.

He wasn't entirely sure why the man kept calling Oriana Rose, but he wasn't about to correct the dangerous wizard. Obviously, that rat that had wormed his way into Rose's heart had told the man where to look for them, and perhaps even Rose in particular. Alex was about to attempt another rush at the wizard when the man cast his spell. Without thinking Alex ducked to the side, flapping his wings hard to move him far out of harms way when the lightning shot out. The hair on his body rose as the lightning passed and gooseflesh broke out all over his skin at the thought of what that might do if it actually hit him. Alex got his feet under him before trying to close the gap between himself and the wizard again, rushing forward and bring his sword low, the hilt near his hip and thrust up and toward the man when he got closer, hoping to run him through at best and scratch him at worst.

Ryleon put a comforting hand on Roses' shoulder, pulling her back into the tent slightly. "Let's not make it so that creep can see you." He said softly, stepping in front of Rose, sword drawn and ready to defend his cousin if the time so called for it. He kept at eye out on the wizard, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand on end when the bolt of lighting went passed them, thankfully not hitting Alex or anyone else in the process.

As Demetri took out the floating being that had been going for the tent, he spun a full 180 digging his sword into the side of another creature. There seemed to be a rather large amount of these things this time, he took notice. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw yet another one going for the tent, this time it grabbing onto the material, trying to get to the people inside. Knowing full well Rose was in there, Demetri completely dropping his guard and running to send his blade through it's belly. He sighed in relief as it dropped to the ground. "Are you alrigh-" He was cut short after he felt a cold, sharp pain down rip down from his shoulder down to his hip. He fell on one knee, after letting out a loud groan, feeling a set of claws close around his arm as it began to drag him across the ground.

Panic blossomed in his chest, as a cold sweat came over his body. He realized It was just like the first time he was captured as a cold sweat formed on his body. There was no way he was going back, not while he was still alive. Despite the pain running through the left side of his body, Demetri found the strength, through sheer determination to dig his feet in the ground, flip himself over the floating beings arm, and run his sword through it. Instantly he felt the grip release on his arm and he dropped back on the ground, his sword being the only thing keeping him up as a small pool of blood began to form around him.

Oriana kept herself busy, fighting along side Tristan now, fighting back to back to keep the floating men at bay. She was far more comfortable with his style of fighting, having learned it from her parents fending off pirates.

Lomaren on the other hand had a scowl on his face, not liking that his lightning didn't strike the boy in front of him but not even any of the other avian children around him. He was slightly taken aback as Alex came for him, only getting mostly out of the way. There was a distinct sound of ripping fabric from his robes and he felt the cold blade on his skin. A minor cut that he could heal later. Chanting a few words, the wizard jumped back, concentrating on the spell he was now reciting to drain the energy from Alex.

Rose watched the ensuing fight from behind Ryleon's protective shoulder, her large golden eyes flicking between fighters quickly, her whole body atremble. Her gaze strayed to a flurry of movement to the side and she watched as one of the dreaded creatures came for her. Rose's breath seized in her throat, her eyes going wide in fear, and then Demetri was there. The resulting split second of relief was shattered into a thousand pieces when he was suddenly struck down, and she was sure that she screamed when he fell. Her heart seemed to stutter in her chest, then beat rapidly when the monster picked him up and began dragging him away into the forest. Her hands went to Ryleon's arm, gripping the fabric of his shirt with white-knuckled intensity.

Alex's attention was divided when he heard the scream, whipping his gaze around to see what had happened, who had died. The distraction proved enough time to let the wizard's spell take hold of him, and he felt suddenly weary, as if the enchantment he was fueling with his own strength were suddenly drawing far more energy from him than he was used to. Alex tried to take a step forward and his legs failed him, instead driving the point of his sword into the ground when his knees threatened to collapse on him. Growling with irritation, he gathered what strength was left to him and lunged forward with a flourish of his sword.

L(wizardman): *lunges after Alex*
Ryleon: *grabs Demetri and drags him back to Rose*
Demetri: *bleeds*
Oriana: *fights off floating men with Tr*
Alex: *dodges backwards and swings sword*
Rose: *panics over Demetri* Are you alright?
Tristan: *having a grand ole' time*
L: *gets cut, groans, mumbles chant for attack*
Demetri: *looks over her* Did you get hurt?
Rose: No, no, of course not! I was with Ryleon-
MetalMan#4: *rushes their way*
Alex: *rushes forward to stab*
Demetri: Good..*sees metal man 4 and moves in front of Rose*
Ryleon: Goodness they don't stop do they? *goes after*
L: *jumps back and continues to mumble, looking around at the people in camp*
Alex: *growls* Sand still and let me kill you, damn it! *continues pushing the offensive*
Rose: *watches fearfully*
L: *ignores comments, jumps back and lets out spell to suck energy again from Rose and Or*
Oriana: *stops mid fight* What the hell..?
Ryleon: *continues to fight*
Rose: *gasps and collapses to her knees suddenly*
Alex: No! *strikes out*
Oriana: *falls to knees, swatting floaty men away*
L: *put energy into force of his swing and blocks Alex*
Alex: *sees O fall out of the corner of his eye and turns to look* Oriana!
Demetri: Rose? Whats wrong?
L: *takes chance to stab*
Oriana: Fool! Behind you, don't worry about me!
Alex: *stabbed in the side and backs away, bleeding'* Damnit, that was a novice mistake.
Rose: *trembling* The man... *points* It's him.
L: *evil laugh* Just give in boy, it would be a waste to kill you!
Demetri: *looks to L, back to Rose* Can't you do anything? Heal yourself?
Oriana: *continues to swat at floating men*
Rose: *trembles* It's not... hurt, he's taking power...
Alex: Tch! You think I'd give up, just from this? *lunges forward with sword*
Demetri: *helpless look*
L: *dodge*
Oriana: *attacks L from behind*
L: *stabbed in hip* Gaah! Wench! *kicks Oriana away*
Alex: *goes for his legs*
Rose: *continues to tremble*
Ilario: *cuts down a couple of Metal Men* You doing alright Tristan?
Tristan: Better than alright! You?
L: *gets stabbed again, punches Alex in the face*
Oriana: *rolls away, and remains laying*
Demetri: *hugs rose to him*
Alex: *staggers back and spits out blood* Nobody puts a mark on this face! *retaliates with a vengeance*
Ilario: *flames a bitch* Yeah! They're not that tough when you melt their faces off!
L: *not expecting anger, caught off guard*
Tristan: Ppffft, I bet not! *finishes off a few more* Any left?
Ryleon: *backs Alex up*
Alex: *attempt to ploughdrive L*
Ilario: *kicks one in the chest then cuts off its head* Nope. *looks at L and Al fight* Looks like just one left
L: *gets sword run through chest, manly scream, spits out blood*
Tristan: *looks around* Oi, Demetri, don't bleed on our sister.
Demetri: *glare*
Alex: *twists the blade then kicks L in the chest* Now stay dead.
Rose: *blushes*
Ilario: *stands next to Alex, ready to fight incase L isn't dead yet*
L: *stares at Alex for a long moment, falls over dead*
Oriana: *looks over to alex and sits up* Are you okay?


((Lets just say Aero and I wanted to get through that so we did it chat style. Regular rp will come back next post.))

Alex stared at the body for a moment, gratified to see the blasted man dead and flicked some blood off the edge of his sword, breathing hard for the exertion of the fight. He turned to assure Oriana that he was all right, but the wound inflicted on him flared with pain when he took a step in her direction, and he visibly stumbled. “I’m more okayt than he is, at any rate.” Alex managed with a wiry grin, recovering from his stumble with a bit of effort, favoring his side. “But what about you? What did he do?”

Rose squirmed slightly in Demetri’s arm, the blush on her face not dissipating at all since he was still so close. Wasn’t she supposed to be angry at him? It was hard to be angry when he was holding her so gently, and it took all of her willpower not to simply relax into his firm grip. “Thank you Demetri, but you can let me go now. I think… I’ll be fine, now that he’s…” She couldn’t say the word dead, and refused to even look at the broken corpse of the man that had lead the latest attack on them.

Snorting, Ilario sheathed his sword, walking over and kicking a gauntlet out of his way. “Let’s hope he was alone. I swear, if I see that damned kid, I’ll kick his ass for this.”

Panic flared to life in Oriana's chest for an instant as she watched Alex stumble, wanting to rush to his side but the lethargy in her limbs kept her from doing anything more than staying in the sitting position. After her brain began to fuction, and focus on what Alex asked her, she shook her head, looking down to her shaking hands. "I don't know, every bit of energy I had is gone." She answered frankly, looking to Rose to see her in the same condition. Her eyes trailed over the wound down Demet's side and brought her attention back on Alex. The blood splattered on his face and clothing gave way to his now pale skin. He was putting on a brave face, but there was no way he wasn't in pain. Taking a deep breath, Oriana pushed herself off the ground and on shakey legs to walk herself over to Alex.

Demetri did as he was asked, letting go of Rose, and looking down to her for a short moment to ensure she was alright. His attention was brought back to Ilario when he spoke. "You'll probably never see him again if he was already taken." There was a twinge of bitterness to his voice as he looked away from the twin, putting a hand on his side to focus on the pain oh his wound rather than what he had just said.

Ryleon felt the tension in the air, from Demetri at least and it was enough to make him uncomfortable. He shook his blade free of any bits of metal and replaced it to its sheath. He looked to Tristan and nodded to him, "You alright?" He asked, walking over to his cousin. He got a large grin in return from the man. "Of course my little cousin!" Tristan wrapped an arm around Ryleon's neck and rubbed his hair roughly.

It worried him that the wizard had the ability to drain the very energy out of people, and was all the more glad that the man was now dead for it. Alex ran his tongue over his split lip with a fair measure of distaste and spat out the blood in his mouth. That would hurt tomorrow for sure, and it stung to smile. But the wound in his side was throbbing and leaking a fair amount of blood. After assessing that Rose would be no help at all, he shrugged off his shirt with some difficulty, pulling his undershirt away from the bleeding wound causing the most pain. "I guess that we're going to have to fix ourselves up the old fashioned way." He managed through clenched teeth, taking a deep breath to try and assess how serious his wound was. It twinged if he breathed to deeply, and so let his breath out in a steady stream and pressed his hand against the edge of the clean cut wound, glancing up at Oriana. "I don't suppose you're any good at stitches, are you?" He tossed his shirt over his shoulder and extended a hand to steady her with, seeing that she was still weak at the knees from the wizard's spell.

Though she got what she wanted, Rose didn't feel any better for it. The peculiar drain of her energy still had her feeling weak, and she honestly felt like she could pass out right here on the ground. Her eyes trailed to Demetri's side and she saw the blood there, her heart rising in her throat. "That looks bad…" She muttered, struggling to keep her eyes from fluttering closed even when faced with the seriousness of Demetri's wound. She had already been tired and ready for bed before the attack, and now she was just utterly drained. Rose didn't even have enough whit about her to grimace at the reminder that she'd aided the two that had brought this attack down on them. "I should… heal that…"

Frowning, Ilario walked over to Rose and in a rare display of kindness scooped his sister up. She protested weakly, but gave up the moment that she figured out she couldn't struggled out of his grasp. "We'll look at his wound." He assured Rose, then gave a pointed look to Demetri. "Don't move, or you'll make it worse. Those metal heads got you good."

Oriana bit her lip as she watched Alex remove his shirt, her eyes normally drawn to his sculpted chest were locked on the blood stained area around the wound. She took his hand gently, when he offered it to her and looked at the wound once more, examining it closer. "Yeah, I stitch myself up a lot when my family makes runs out to fight pirates." She said nonchalantly, going to her bag and pulling out the needle and wire and then walking back over to him slowly. It was far more effort for her to stand than a moment ago and while her vision was starting to get fuzzy she figured she had enough time to patch Alex up. "Ready?" She asked, getting on her knees to be level with his hip and then not really waiting for a reply she went at the wound methodically as if she had done it a thousand times before. Now and again she would pour water over her work to keep the blood from covering everything up but when it was all said and done, she leaned back looking at her work with a satisfied nod. "I think...your good for now..." She managed to say, before her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell on her side unconscious.

Ryleon pushed Tristan off of him with a groan, flattening his hair back down after his cousin had turned it into a wild mess. He caught Oriana fall from the corner of his eye and quickly went over to her, looking up to Alex for a second and then back down to her. "She's probably exhausted like Rose..." He mumbled, picking his sister up in a similar fashion to Ilario and bringing her to the tent.

Demetri frowned, looking at Roses' state and his heart melted for the girl, she was so tired. "Later." He said quickly before Ilario came and picked her up and took her to sleep in the tent. He knew the wound was serious, the amount of blood loss alone being a danger but what use was it to worry her? He sat still as instructed, not really sure if he could do otherwise at this point and slowly peeled his shirt away from his skin, hissing in displeasure as he did so. The stinging ran all the way up and down his back so he wasn't sure the full extent of the cut he had received.

Her family… fought pirates? Alex's entire thought process screeched to a sudden and abrupt halt at the admission, wondering what father would ever let his daughter fight pirates. He was going to question her about it, but when she returned with the needle and wire and looking about ready to drop dead of exhaustion, he kept wisely silent. Still, for being in a state of near collapse, her hands were steady as she stitched him up. He winced a few times when the needle dug too deep or the thread pulled badly, but otherwise kept silent, determined not to hamper Oriana's wavering concentration. When she was finished, Alex nearly thanked her before she simply collapsed at his feet. Without thinking, he moved to pick her up naturally worried for her health, but stopped in a half-crouch when his wound flared with pain, the recent stitching hampering the movement.

Luckily, Ryleon filled in for his momentary lapse of chivalry, and Alex thanked the younger man before following the two into the tent for the night, tired from the sword fight. Illario passed them on the way out and looked at Demetri for a moment before scooping up Oriana's stitching supplies and knelt behind him, threading the needle absently after digging around for a water container and cleared up the wound. "It's a good thing that we've got Rose." He muttered, poking the needle through the ragged edges of Demetri's torn skin. "It would probably be hard for you two to fly tomorrow with injuries like this otherwise. Speaking of which, Demetri, I'm going to give you some advice, from one man to another. When opportunity comes along, sometimes you just have to grab it by the balls. Or in this case, boobs, I suppose. If you want to get anywhere, then you're going to have to be calling the shots, understand?"

Demetri watched as Ilario thread the needle and held back a groan as it plunged into the inflamed skin. "I don't know how much worth your advice is, or why you'd give it to me..." He said playing with a rock on the ground to keep his attention off his back, "But at this point I'd take any advice..." He mumbled the last part as the stitching continued. Once done, Demetri decided to sleep on the ground outside of the tent, not in belief that he'd be able to stay in a tree with his wound otherwise.

~*~*~*~

Oriana woke with a groan as the morning light shone through the tent and on her face. She sat up slowly, stretching her sore muscles but was mostly recovered from yesterday. She looked down to Alex laying next to her and for whatever reason did not remember even coming into the tent. Shrugging it off, she reached down gently to move a small lock of hair from Alexs' forehead and her fingers brushed his skin as she did so. Concern colored her face as she quickly realized his skin was hot to the touch, and took great care to remove his covers enough to see the wound. It was red and angry looking and she felt her heart skip, he had gotten worse over night.

Another thought came to Oriana's mind as she very quietly stood, and opened the tent flap. She was blinded for a second from the bright morning light but her eyes soon adjusted and she began looking for their gloomy friend. Scanning the trees out of habit, she nearly tripped over the man as she had come forward from the tent. "What the?" She looked down and saw Demetri, he was pale and his skin too was hot to the touch. "Troublesome boys..." She mumbled and went back into the tent to wake her cousin. "Oi, Rose. The boys need saving, wake up." She shook her gently, and then made her way back to Alexs' side.

Ryleon was half asleep still when he heard Oriana wake up Rose, the boys need saving? The sentence confused him because he believed himself to be fine the last he checked. Sitting up, it sooner became obvious that she meant Alex and Demetri and suddenly the morning made sense again. He looked over to Tristan, half sprawled out on his brother and smirked, amused at how the two could sleep like that.

When he woke, Alex squeezed his eyes shut, feeling something against his face and squeezed his eyes shut against the feeling. Hearing the movement in the tent woke him fully, and consciousness brought with it pain. The wound in his side throbbed with dull pain, the simple action of breathing pulling at the stitching. Such an awkward place to get stabbed… He opened his eyes when Oriana came back in, smiling ruefully at her words. He fingered the edge of his wound and understood what she meant, his skin was hot to the touch around the wound and he could feel himself sweating. A fever, maybe? With some effort he propped himself up on his elbows, but didn't dare try and situ up any more than that.

Rose grumbled and tried to pull herself deeper into her sleeping bag. However, when everyone seemed to be moving around and making noise,she finally managed to rouse herself, pushing back her wealth of golden hair irritably and yawned, taking a moment to get oriented. Once realization dawned on her however, she burst out of her sleeping bag and stood in a flurry of movement, nearly falling again when her head hit the roof of the tent. "Are they okay?" She asked frantically, her liquid gold eyes wide with concern.

The sudden exclamation startled Ilario awake, shoving at Tristan in a blind panic to get his arms free in case of an attack. "WHAT?!" He thrashed around, limbs flailing everywhere in his desperate half-awake bid for freedom.

Oriana watched as everyone woke, looking down to Alex as he began to move and gently put a hand on his chest. "Stay down before you bleed on everything." She mumbled, looking at him for a second and then back to Rose. "He's got a fever, and I think Demetri does as well...but he is outside." She responded to Rose looking at the entrance to the tent. "Make sure not to trip over him if you go outside." She warned, having nearly done so herself.

Ryleon was still half asleep when Ilario began thrashing around and was now dodging his flailing arms, "Ilario! Cut it out!" He growled, only to have Tristan to start as well from being thrown off his brother. "Honestly!" Moving carefully, Ryleon picked his way out of the chaotic tent and founding himself standing over Demetri. He looked pale and sweaty, he kneeled down to touch his skin and confirmed he too had a fever like Alex. "Rose, Demetri doesn't look so good." He called back moving to the other side of the man so people could leave the tent and not run into him.

Rose stood back from the chaos going on between Tristan and Ilario, careful not to fall over the two while they fought. When Oriana and Ryleon both confirmed the two's bad condition, her heart leapt up to her throat, restricting her breathing. "I'll go heal him right away!"

Alex chuckled when he watched Rose run out the the tent, laying back at Oriana's direction as prompted, a small grin on his face. "Hah, she didn't even look in my direction. I must be really low on her list of things to help. Geeze." He lifted his hand and placed it over Oriana's, his gaze wandering her face. "I don't think that I'm going to die just yet though, so don't worry."

Outside, Rose very nearly tripped right over Demetri's body, and her eyes widened in horror. Was he dead? No, she could see him breathing, but… She crashed to her knees in the dirt next to him, her hands framing the long ugly gash on his back. "Idiot." She mumbled, delving deep for her reservoir of power. She still felt a little weary from the day before, but paid her own tiredness no heed. Demetri was injured badly, and all that mattered was that she could fix him. Taking a deep breath, she began to sing.

Oriana also watched as Rose ran out of the tent, nodding silently, agreeing with Alex and looked down when she felt his hand come over hers. "Who said I was worried...?" A light blush came over her face but she made no move to remove her hand from Alex's. Of course she was worried, and she knew he knew as well but saying it out loud as a lot harder than she had expected.

Ryleon watched Rose, the expression on her face was so soft and worried and it was a side of his cousin he wasn't used to seeing. "He'll be alright." He reassured her softly, sitting back to let the healing commence.

Demetri began to stir once Rose started to sing, feeling the tingling warm sensation run through his body and more precisely on his back where the dull ache of the wound had been. Shortly after he opened his eyes, looking up to see Rose on one side of him and Ryleon on the other. "Rose." His voice was rough from lack of fluids and held a wealth of emotion.

He couldn't help the self-satisfied grin at Oriana's blush, knowing that he's struck the nail right on the head. "You're cute when you're being difficult." He grumbled, and let his eyes close, content to rest until Rose was done patching up Demetri.

When she was done singing, her shoulders visibly drooped, the stress of healing up Demetri's wounds taking an immediate toll on Rose's body. When their eyes met, Rose felt like she was paralyzed, and when he said her name she felt tears prick her eyes. Hastily she tried to rub the tears away, sniffling. "You idiot…" Her voice was trembling, her hands pressed against the tops of her folded knees until her knuckles turned white. "You could have died." She mumbled, her face turned down. "You could have died, and then what would we have done?"

Oriana sort of help helpless, unable to deny she was being difficult but couldn't say anything either. She relaxed slightly when Alex closed his eyes looking over him. She wasn't used to seeing him weak and it worried her that she was helpless to do anything. "Hurry up Rose." She whispered, looking back to see her taking to Demetri.

Demetri frowned, reaching out and gently taking one of Roses' balled up fists, pulling away from her lap to to his lips, pressing softly against his lips. "I didn't die. It's okay." He reassured never taking his eyes from hers. She looked so sad and all he wanted was for her to smile again.

Ryleon stood there for a moment, looking away to give the two a private moment and then cleared his throat. "Rose, I believe Alex still needs your help..." He kept his eyes averted and then looked to Demetri. "I'm sure we can get you some water or something, eh Demetri?"

Tristan finally stopped thrashing around when he realized he was fighting with his brother and looked to Oriana with a sly grin. "Look Ilario, even the wild beast can have a gentle moment." He teased and recieved an icy glare in return that promised at least one punch to the face.

She bit her lips when Demetri took her hands, finding it almost impossible to look him straight in the face with her emotions running so high, barely able to decide whether to be angry or relieved. Rose was in the middle of a retort when Demetri kissed her hands and her mind went completely blank for a handful of seconds. Then her face turned an interesting shade of scarlet and her heart hammered against the cage of her chest, something in her stomach flopping over weakly. Ryleon's soft words shook her out of her state of momentary mental collapse and gently she pulled her hand away from Demetri. "Yeah… Alex… I should go check on him…"

She interrupted Oriana and Tristan's glare-off to heal Alex, much to his relief. Afterwards she was left to rest while the rest of them struck camp, exhausted from having to heal two people so early in the day.

*~*

After a few days of traveling South, they had settled down on the edge of a ravine that overlooked the Everplains, a magnificent view if any were to be found. Camp was set up some distance from the edge in the lee of a large rock, the back of their tent set up against the lone monolith. A small fire had been started for their dinner, but it wasn't nearly as impressive as usual despite Ilario's best attempts to make the fire a huge thing. The true forest was some distance away from where they had set camp, and only a few scraggly trees poked out of the plains.

They were all settled in for the night when things started to go wrong. At first, none of them had any idea what was going on until Rose cocked her ear toward the sky with a worried expression on her face. "I hear horses…" She mumbled. "Lots of them. Heading this way."

Not more than a handful of minuets later the horses had come, and on them was a large group of rowdy looking grubby men, obviously of the criminal sort if their mis-matched weaponry indicated anything. They were laughing and cajoling one another, brought by the fire that the small group of avians had made. One came forward, a huge grin on his ugly bearded face and drew his sword with the sort of flourish that drunk people made. "Whooo! Look at this boys! These ones got wings!" the others behind him chuckled, and he leveled his sword at Alex who had stood and flared his wings, effectively hiding Oriana from view and drew his own sword.

"Oi! Chicken boy! Whatchu think you're gonna do, eh? Fight all of us?" He laughed, and the others did as well.

"Oooh! Boss, take a look at that girly!" Another one pointed directly at Rose, who looked horrified that he would even dare to level a grimy finger in her direction. "She's got a nice set of legs, that one." This roused a whole other set of chuckling from the dirty bandit group.