A Taste of Humility

[Càrrec Lahey]

((This is your activity check. If we have three members left over after this, I will be happy knowing that I got through to someone. To complete the activity check, post a Role-Playing post that has depth, so that I know you are honestly serious about joining.

This thread will also help develop the plot further, so please be involved if you are interested.

Questions can be posted here.))

The scrolls were bound tightly by a thick satin ribbon, and a wad of melted wax detailed with the crest of The Council. Càrrec sighed, wondering why it was he that would be the only one sending these out. The others had disappeared into the night, unheard of since. Why he was spared, he would never understand.

Each scroll was personalized to each village, town, city on the Isle, though each message was the same: there would be a meeting of all races and classes to join together and finally find out the truth, if any, behind the rumors. Even Càrrec feared the truth behind these rumors, but he was expected to stand tall. When the last of the scrolls were bound, some thirty horsemen waited, each with one scroll, each with a mission to deliver it.

It was a miracle, Càrrec realized, that each of the scrolls was delivered safely. That one hadn't been intercepted, or perhaps one of the horsemen was a double agent in this game and willingly brought it to those that were feared most. Rewardingly, the Council member, perhaps the last, ordered them a feast for them and their families.

The day had arrived, and the buzz of voices outside was deafening. Transportation had been arranged, and the ferrying system between Bàrn Island and the main Isle had worked vigorously, and the Council paid them double what they would earn. Inns had been booked out, and most people now reverted to sleeping in some distant relative's home on the Island, or perhaps in the streets.

Càrrec dressed in a humble black robe. He tried as much as possible to avoid what would inevitably appear to be high-status person speaking down to low-status citizens. But with the crowd that had formed, it was unavoidable. He took in a sharp breath as the main doors of the Council castle opened, revealing all around him thousands of citizens, some applauding, some cheering. All not really caring, just wanting to hear what had to be said.

Càrrec raised his hand to silence them, though it was entirely unecessary. The crowd made it obvious: they wanted information and then wanted out.

He clamped his hands together and grinned. "Welcome," he started, and a soft murmuring broke out. "As you are all aware, the Council has invited you here today to discuss the rumors that have been wide-spread across the land." Again, whispers. "The most popular of these is the one I would like to address today,

"There are rumors that citizens of all races and classes have disbanded from the common life of our world and have begun a group that intends to plot the downfall of The Council and, furthermore, our way of life." At this, Càrrec took a deep breath. "What we can confirm is that there is, indeed, an existing group. They are believed to be somewhere in the Northern Expanse, particularly near the Wastelands and the Laurus Valley and Mountain Range. Their intentions are not yet understood, but their hostility and hermit-like nature is apparent."

By now, the whispers had escalated to normal spoken words and occasionally shouts, as some people willed to be heard over the noise. "Silence, please." Càrrec asked, frowning. When his plea was not given, he held a single hand out to the audience. In tongues no one could understand, he closed his eyes and whisps of smoke escaped from his palm, shrouding the audience. In a moment, they were all silenced; not by their own free will, but by the will of Càrrec's spell.

With his arm still outstretched, he spoke. "The day is young. Though I wish there was more purpose to this speech, the Council found it important to have you all here to hear it directly from us." Each mention of the Council - as a group of people, was like a punch in the stomach. He refused to bring up the reason for himself being the only one present, but he imagined that everyone was wondering exactly that.

"The Council," again, the pain of that word, "welcomes you all to remain in Omnus Valley for as long as you please. Ferry services back to the main Isle has been arranged, and will continue throughout the week until it returns to its normal schedule." Without another word, the aging elf fled into the castle, realizing that he was lucky to have made it alive, standing there on that podium.

[Avee Corlane]

[Taking place after "A Shock to the System" in Vestur City]


Avee Corlane had been in Vestur City for about a week, finding room and board at a small inn near the outskirts of the city, when she had heard the news running through Vestur like wildfire. Being a large city, the young woman had heard about the upcoming Council meeting from many people and especially the owner of the inn she was staying at. The short rotund human went on and on about how he hoped that they would all receive answers, finally. Avee was confused about all this; Lumen was still a strange land to her. She hadn't even been there a full month yet.

Days had went by, with Avee spending them walking throughout the city, looking for work or for places to spend her meager supply of gold coins on supplies. She had thought of moving on, but the city reminded her a bit of her home village, with all the farms and fields. She hadn't made it too much from the coast but already was ready to settle down. This was more because of her condition than for any true wanting to settle. If she hadn't been pregnant, Avee would have been more than willing to travel throughout this great island, discovering what she could, like new herbs and plants. To rekindle her love of potions.

She had gotten into a fair routine, waking in the morning, having breakfast at the inn and then strolling through the marketplace and occasionally asking various shops if they needed some help. Unfortunately, many people in the city didn't want to hire a woman who was with child. Avee was beginning to feel discourage by now, wondering if she would ever be able to afford to take care of her child by the time she was born; her coins were slowly running out.

It was then when she realized that the city was emptying out, many citizens making the long journey across the island to the smaller isle of Barn to answer the call of the Council. With everyone leaving and she not knowing when they would return, that she began to despair even more. Avee would not be able to earn a living, nor be able to buy any supplies until the villagers returned, and she had no idea when that would be, not knowing how far Piskra City was, nor Barn Island.

So she had packed up her small possessions and bid her farewell to the nice innkeeper and made her way to the roadway that led across the island all the way to the other coast and Piskra city. This was the last thing Avee wanted to do, travel cross-country in a strange land while pregnant, but she was at her wit's end by now. There was nothing else for her to do. She was only thankful that she was able to travel with a few others who had departed at the same time as her. The villagers were indifferent to her, but Avee was able to follow them quite ably most of the time, only needing to rush to catch up when she need a break to rest her tired ankles.

The small group stopped briefly in the town of Vindur before moving on, and Avee was glad for the extended period of rest. She gauged her pregnancy to be entering its sixth month or thereabouts, not knowing the exact moment of conception, and her child was growing steadily every day, her belly now more than just a hint of a bump but an obvious sign of the baby to come. Vindur was small, but it looked friendly enough, the farming community reminding her of her home back across the western sea. She felt another pang then, not from her baby but from her memories of her lost family.

The time in the small town went by quickly, and the small group was again on the road again, heading towards the center of the island and what the others mentioned as Stor Lake. They would be passing to the north of the expanse of water, taking a path between it and the Smar Mountains. All these names went over Avee's head; she was focusing all her will on putting each foot in front of the other and making sure she got enough food to eat to last herself and her child. As the days went by, her food supplies taken in Vindur were slowly dwindling, and she hoped they would reach another village soon, or even Vestur City. She didn't know enough of this wilderness to eat any of the berries and plants they passed by; the others in the group ahead of her not willing to discuss it with her, nor she willing to ask.

The trip across the island went much like that, with Avee mostly just using the villagers in front of her as something to follow on the way to Barn Island. She followed their lead, pausing when they did, hurrying when they also did. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, but she wasn't about to risk being caught too much behind the group, and so she went with it. However, she was still not able to discover what they were eating. Whether they had lots of supplies with them or were scavenging in the forest, she never saw. Avee just chewed on her small piece of bread and cured meat, praying that she would have enough to last the rest of the way. She would not be able to sustain herself on water alone, not with her child needing nutrients to grow. He--as she was convinced her child was another son--would kick even more furiously when Avee felt he was hungry. It pained her to think of her child suffering, suffering before he was even born. But she kept putting one foot in front of the other, step by step.

Finally, after just over a month of traveling from Vestur City, Piskra City could be seen in the distance. They had just passed nearby Mani Lake, and the morale in the group ahead of Avee visibly brightened. Their trip was almost over. Just a few more days and they could be on a ferry to Barn Island. Just a few more days and Avee could finally fill up on supplies and eat to her full. When in Piskra, she would no longer need the group, satisfied that she would be able to find her way once there.

But Avee was a little disappointed when they finally entered the coastal city; it wasn't as vibrant as Vestur City had been. Though it was filled to capacity now with all the pilgrims, she could tell that it wasn't used to sustaining a mass of people this large. The extent of the buildings in the city were not numerous by any means, but she found herself a booth where she could buy some food for dinner and some extra to take with her on the trip to the smaller island. The prices also surprised her; she had but few coins left after all was said and done. She really would have to find a means of earning a living if she and her son were to survive much longer on this island.

She now wished to return home, now that she was no longer afraid of going back or wanting to run from her problems. The trip across the Isle of Lumen had burned that out of her. Now she just wanted to be among her people, with her son. But she had no money for the passage back and would have to stay here until she could manage it. Definitely until after the baby was born.

Avee carefully sat down on a nearby bench, lowering her seven-month-along belly along with the rest of her, giving care not to jab herself with the longsword. If she really came to dire straits, she mused as she ate her dinner, the sword could always be melted down and sold for extra coin. Though, right now she was loathe to toss away one of the last remaining things she had of her husband Vard. For now she and her child would be all right. She would make it so.

[Hyacinth Erasmus]

After a few days of staying in Piskra, Hyacinth had already had enough of the werewolves and their lifestyle. It seemed that she couldn't get their stench out of her nose, and she felt like she was suffocating. After her run in with the werewolves and her angel, Hyacinth had fled the town for fear of retribution. But When her supplies ran low outside, she had to give the city another visit. She kept to herself, her hood a constant shield from unwanted eyes, and she spoke only in low whispers. Only once did she raise her eyes, and it was to get a look at the angel she had traveled all this way to watch. She was the brightest, most vibrant thing in the dark town, Hyacinth thought, and it was a treat to see her in the streets.

Hyacinth was making her last rounds to the shops, selling or trading game for money and supplies. Her clothes were getting to the point of no use, and she needed new leather gear. Thankfully, her black cloak was just as sturdy, if not clean, as when she first bought it. Hyacinth stepped into a tailor shop, in search of new garments and footwear. The bawdy man behind a table looked up and her and grunted before returning to his work. Hyacinth ignored his rude greeting and browsed the place with her eyes. She found what she had been searching for, a decent pair of shoes and another pair of trousers. Stepping up to them, she felt their material.

"'Ey! What do ya think yer doin'?" the man barked at her, and Hyacinth turned her head to him. "Thems for payin customers." he continued, taking long strides to her and yanking them from her grasp. Looking at her up close, not being able to see her features clearly, was unsettling for him. Hyacinth could tell he thought her a petty thief, but something about her put him on edge. As if I'd come in here if I didn't desperately need to. Hyacinth's lip curled in distaste, but she kept it out of her voice as much as she could. "Of course, sir. Now, how much for the garment and the shoes?" she asked, her voice serious. She was prepared to haggle with the man, and pulled back her hood to make him feel a little more comfortable.

Clearly he wasn't expecting what he saw, with her bright blue eyes, pale skin, and pale hair. He was silent for a few moments, deciding whether it would be smart to try and overprice her because she might be dull, or to listen to his instinct that told him not to mess with her. For fun, Hyacinth smiled at him. It wasn't a sweet, innocent smile, but a cynical, 'I know what you're thinking, and I don't like it' smile. He nodded once to himself, and calculated in his head. "20 fer the pants, 10 fer the shoes." he finally gave, and Hyacinth thought it over. It was a little pricey, especially for the pants, but she had made well on her last kill, so she agreed. She paid the man, and then noticed a large stack of clothing lined up on the wall. Curious, she gestured to it.

"That seems like a lot of work and material to make in advance, has someone ordered so many things?" she asked, this time keeping her voice light. The tailor glanced back and shook his head. "Na, they fer the meetin'." he said, as if it was common knowledge. Hyacinth gave him an inquiring look, and he went on. "The Council is hold'n a meetin' in a few weeks, people from everywhere should be comin'. They be passin' through 'ere on their way to the ferry to Bàrn Island." Hyacinth's mind processed this, and she thanked the man before leaving. outside in the street, she could see other shops preparing for the upcoming flow of people, and wondered how she hadn't noticed before. She walked up to a posted notice with the details, and started making plans for the ferry over.

She knew if she wanted to get a good place on the Island, she should get there before the crowds, and thanked coincidence for having her so close. She had heard the rumors, but now it seemed as if she would get some answers. She wouldn't mind fighting, it was what she was born to do. It would be a great chance to prove her worth, and make a name for herself. Maybe she would be able to work with her Angel, whose class Hyacinth didn't know. But if she was a mage, they could fight with magic and sword, become an unstoppable team. Hyacinth fantasized this for a while, and made her way to the ferry dock. She was slightly surprised when the next leaving ferry was already full, but waited for an open one.

Roughly two hours later and she stepped into the busy streets of Bàrn Island. Many people had already made their stay for the meeting, and again she was boggled that she hadn't heard the new earlier. She pulled her cloak tighter around her and started walking, searching for an inn. The first two she found were already fully booked, and she wondered if she would have to camp out, but the next she found had a few rooms open. She made a reservation for the few nights surrounding the meeting, and left. She didn't need the room now, it would just be a waste of money she didn't really have. She stopped on the side of the road and put her new shoes on. Her feet throbbed from her days of journeying in worn out shoes, and she rested them barefoot on the cool ground. She looked over her shoes, and decided she would keep them, in case she needed them.

She rubbed her eyes, looked up at the fading sky, and withdrew her blanket. The sky was clear, with no chance of rain, so she didn't feel the need to pitch her tent. She would only be spending the night there, she told herself, and drifted off to sleep.

{{I imagine I'll be writing more later, with her present at the meeting and after... but I'd like to RP with someone before the meeting? If no one wants to, it's fine though lol}}

[Avee Corlane]

((I decided to just end my post and do another... so it doesn't get too long. And I can keep Avee on Barn Island before going to the meeting, if ya want to RP with her. ))


After arriving in Piskra City with the rest of the group from Vestur, Avee had lingered a few days in the city, resting and getting cleaned up. A bath was one of the few luxuries she had still allowed herself after running away from her problems just a couple months' prior. Traveling through the bush rarely allowed chances for such things, but the young woman made sure to find time to get a tub of fresh water to wash herself and later soak her swollen ankles.

But now, feeling a little bit more refreshed and her coin purse even lighter, she was waiting at the harbor for the coming ferry to continue on to Barn island. She had briefly considered just staying in Piskra, but after the long journey, she didn't want to stop when she was so close to the end. Plus, after hearing more rumors about what the meeting might entail, Avee was more than curious to find out what this Council had to say about everything. What their purpose was. What all this talk of trouble was about.

It was one of the last boats before the setting sun and so the young woman debarked onto Barn Island when the first stars were appearing in the sky. A few she recognized but most were strange to her. This really was a strange land to her. She hadn't met any of the other strange beings that lived on this island, elves and werewolves among them, but the other villagers had whispered about them. Avee wasn't sure if she wanted to come across any of them at this time at night.

She shouldered her pack and adjusted her longsword before heading out of the harbor and into the main area of the city, Omnus she thought it was called. But she couldn't be sure. One of the later arrivals, it took the young woman almost an hour of searching and knocking on doors to find someone who had a room to let her. All the inns she had checked in the vicinity were full, and she hadn't the energy to walk to the other cities on the island to find lodging. But this kind of woman had compassion on her, cleaning up her small spare room for Avee to stay in. It wasn't much, but at least she would have a roof over her head. She didn't even have to pay the woman any coin, making an agreement to help out where she could with the cooking and cleaning. Avee was glad for the opportunity to keep herself busy again.

The next day, after a good restful sleep in the small cot in the cottage's tiny room, Avee found herself whistling to herself as she moved around the old woman's small kitchen. She had pulled a couple of old dried herbs from her pack and was using them to add some seasoning to the dishes she was preparing for breakfast for the two of them. Despite her growing belly, she moved easily about the kitchen, from stovetop to counter to table. Cooking was one of the few tasks where Avee felt a natural at. It had been a little rough at first after being dormat so long in any kitchen, burning the toast a little bit, but she soon found her stride and made good progress with the meat and eggs.

The two ate in silence most of the time, engaging in chitchat here and there, the old woman giving her tales of the island and her time there, Avee speaking little about her past but revealing stories of her journey across the Isle of Lumen. Afterwards, the young woman scrubbed up the pottery before grabbing her pack and sword to wander about the city and see what else she could discover about this upcoming Council meeting.

Avee found herself within the marketplace of Omnus, browsing various wares with a small pang, wishing she had the money to splurge on little trinkets for herself or her child. Absentmindedly, her hand went to her belly as she walked along the stalls slowly, admiring one booth filled with clothes obviously made for children. She would need something like that; all the things from Trev were back in her home across the western sea. Avee had nothing to hand down to her newest son.

Regretful, she moved away from the staff and found a bench to sit down on to rest her feet awhile. The temptation to buy something had been too much, and Avee had to get those clothes out of her site. However, she had a new resolve now in her heart to make sure that she found a way to earn her keep. Her life was no longer the most important to her now. The son growing within her would be the focus of her mind for the next couple of decades or more.

[Alissa Lennox]

'Am I horrible,' Alissa wondered. After the girl had gone from Piskra, Alissa had not been able to resist following her along. She had saved her life and had always gotten Alissa to wonder what was behind her hood.

Alissa had always been curious though so she figured this was no exception. She had always remembered her mother telling her all of the trouble she would run into when she was little and curiosity would overtake her. Hearing about this council thing was Alissa's next plan.

Alissa stopped. She watched as the girl walked inside a tailor's. Alissa wondered if she should head in with her or if it was too risky. The girl had glanced back several times and had almost seen her and Alissa knew she wanted to not seem crazy to her. Although Alissa was not positive it always seemed as if that girl to had stuff on her mind to not have already caught her.

'Perhaps,' Alissa thought, 'she too is getting curious about the council as well.' She couldn't help but to give a small laugh. Alissa decided to wait outside on a bench. She figured she would watch carefully from that distance. She could hear the man inside yell about how something was for the customers.

Alissa's eyes narrowed. She knew that the girl was the only one in there unless someone was hiding extremely well. 'How dare that wretched man yell at her so!' Alissa thought aggravated. She turned around. She considered going in but decided to learn how the girl would handle it.

The girl pulled her hood back to reveal herself to the man as well as Alissa who had crouched far down. She had gorgeous hair and pale skin. Alissa couldn't see her eyes for she was facing the other way. The man looked taken aback but said the prices. 'Overpriced' Alissa thought.

The girl bought the items though and headed to the door after talking about the council with the man. Alissa realized just how right she may have been with the guess about her being curious too. She quickly scampered into the nearest building.

Alissa watched her travel and figured she would look around in here while the girl and her got some distance between them. Alissa soon thought of a wonderful idea. She decided that in order to get to the girl she would by her something. Alissa guessed that soon after wards she would have to give it to her. 'But what to get!' Alissa thought suddenly wishing that she had bought the girl the clothing.

Then Alissa remembered how the girl had used a bow. She surveyed the store and found bows and arrows quickly. She looked at the bow prices. The tag read:65. Alissa frowned she couldn't make enough money for them in 10 years of work. Plus she had to hurry or she would lose her friend.

Alissa sighed although arrows were not the best gift they would have to work.she looked over a pack of five arrows for 10. 'Not bad' she thought. She bought the arrows but searched more. She found a locket. It would take almost all her as it was 20. Alissa realized soon though that the girl may not want it. 'I'll try' she thought and bought it.'Besides,' she figured,'if she doesn't want it I will keep it.

She raced out of the store and placed the locket and the arrows in her bag. She quickly caught up with the girl as her stomach started to growl. She was torn. She could eat now and catch up or continue along. But when the girl made ferry arrangements Alissa followed. It would be some wait though so Alissa went off to find something to eat.

She quickly found a small restaurant and grabbed the cheapest thing; a grilled cheese and an apple. She ate outside where it was easier to watch for her ferry. Soon it came. She climbed on after the girl and found a seat a bit away from her. Alissa gulped. She was never a fan of water so when the deadly two hours were over, she scrambled off and threw up a bit away from the dock.

She quickly regained control of herself although she was still shaking a bit. The girl got off soon after though. She walked and soon found a spot to sleep. Alissa lay her blanket about 7 yards from the girl behind a couple of trees where she could watch the girl but not seem weird.

It was rough since sleep refused to seize her. It was a hard night. She did get to sleep her dreams were filled with water and drownings. Eventually Alissa cried out after a particular horrid dream where she finally met the girl but the boat started to tip and she grabbed her down with her.

She glanced in the girl's direction, but couldn't see her given the time of night it was. Alissa sighed. 'I almost wish she had heard my cry' Alissa thought .Why she was thinking of the girl as her protector Alissa didn't know.'She is like my mother who stays with me' she thought.

Alissa watched her bird land a bit away from her. He traveled up in the sky but Alissa would watch for his shadow in the day and watch for him at night. He usually came down to rest then and would wake when she did. He dropped a coin near her then put his head under his wing and slept. Alissa stroked him and put the coin in her bag. She rolled over to look in the direction of the girl but then Alissa closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

[Hyacinth Erasmus]

The nights passed without much incident, with Hyacinth sleeping under the stars. As the mysterious council meeting came closer, the streets began to fill up more and more. Soon, Hyacinth wasn't the only one sleeping on the edge of the roads. People arriving later found that most of the inns were already booked, and Hyacinth thanked her luck on getting one before it was too late. After a few days, Hyacinth began having a peculiar feeling, that she was being watched. She would look around her in the busy streets, hoping to catch someone hastily looking away, or doing something else suspicious, but she found no one.

Occasionally, she thought she spotted the familiar blond hair and pretty figure of her angel, and wished there was some way she could talk to her. It would be odd of course if she were to just walk up to her and strike up a conversation. Cin doubted the girl would remember her. It had been at least two months ago when they briefly met in Veifa. And though their little run in with the werewolves was more recent, who knows if the angel had recognized her from so far away? It was safe to think then that she would have to time her introduction well.

Despite her efforts. Cin couldn't seem to shake the feeling of being followed. It was getting more and more concerning, and she began to sleep with her bow in her lap. She woke every morning at dawn and ate mostly meet that she caught. Sometimes she would go to a shop to buy something sweet, but she knew she shouldn't waste much of her money that way. She had always been able to make a decent living by selling her kill, but things in this day and age were pricey. She didn't have much to spare. Eating the some of the rabbit she cooked a few days previous, Hyacinth gathered her things. The streets were always quiet this early in the morning, and not many people were out and about. As Hyacinth began weaving her way through sleeping bodies and small camp areas, Hyacinth saw someone sleeping that made her stop in her tracks.

It was her angel! Out here, sleeping only yards away from Cinth. Hyacinth was filled with excitement, but also anger. She was too frail to be outdoors, she deserved a nice, warm, cozy room with shelter from the elements. Hyacinth counted the days until the meeting in her head, and realized with a little surprise that tonight was the first night of her reservation. She would be sleeping indoors for the rest of her stay, but the thought didn't comfort her much. She was used to the outdoors, and she now obviously knew there were people on the streets that needed the room more than she. A sudden idea came to her, and she smiled.

Cinth would confront the angel today. She had the perfect reason now, she would offer the angel a place to stay. The inn room was large enough for two people, and Hyacinth had no trouble sleeping on the floor. But first, she would let the angel sleep. Cin continued on, browsing the shops she had browsed countless times before during her stay. There wasn't much new, but she had a fondness for watching as the shopkeepers all opened up and settled down for a busy day. It was a few hours later, when the sun was distinguishable over the treetops, that she spotted a pregnant woman on a bench.

The reason she took interest in this scene, however, is because the woman was sitting alone, and there was room enough for another two persons at least on the bench. Hyacinth, feet still a little stiff from breaking in her new shoes, decided she would take a seat there. She pushed back her hood to expose her face in the sun, and walked over to the woman with a smile on her face. "Excuse me, Miss. You wouldn't mind if I joined you?" she asked politely. Her little run-in with the angel and her new found purpose to talk to her filled Hyacinth with a light heart. She was feeling a little extra friendly, and hoped it wouldn't turn back to bite her in the end. But, seeing as the woman she was speaking to was heavily pregnant, she deduced she wouldn't have much to worry about in a fight.

[Avee Corlane]

The young woman had sat there for quite a while, not knowing exactly how long, just staring off in the distance. Looking at the nearby wares and stalls but not really seeing them, Avee had slowly stretched out her legs after slipping off her sturdy shoes. Slowly, with some maneuvering she had been able to massage and rub her legs, even a little bit. But even that little motion made her feel tired, and she had to sit up again, her legs outstretched, her bare feet spread in the sun.

Avee had laid her pack and sword next to her on the bench in order to lean more comfortably against the back of the bench. It wasn't soft, but it was better than sitting on the ground, for sure. Finally, after much time spent rearranging herself and her belongings, she felt relaxed and comfortable, sitting on the bench in the marketplace, watching people walk past her but not letting her eyes dwell on them.

She just scanned the area in front of her, trying to keep herself awake. For some reason, she was beginning to feel sleepy, though she had only been awake but a few hours, after having a restful night in the old woman's cottage. She tried to suppress a yawn, forcing her eyes to focus on something in the distance. But she didn't fear about staying awake; just then she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. Her son was wide awake and kicking her. She adjusted her position on the bench a bit, now bringing her legs to rest backwards under the bench and sitting up straighter. It was all to no avail, though. Her child was definitely getting restless.

Knowing he must be moving around for some reason, and feeling a little hungry herself, Avee reached for her coin purse. She would have to buy something in the market, not feeling up to walking to the cottage for some lunch. Something nearby and hopefully cheap would have to do. As if for emphasis, another sharp was aimed just under her ribs, and Avee had to wince. Yes, she would need some food and the sooner the better.

She was doing this, her head down and her long light brown hair framing her face, ignoring the kicks of her unborn son when a soft voice interrupted her thoughts. Avee's head went up, her hair swinging in a light breeze and from the sudden movement. Before her appeared to be a girl, just a few years younger than herself, blonde and with pale skin. Having grown up around farmers in her village back across the sea, Avee wasn't used to seeing women who weren't tanned from working outside, tending gardens and animals. And even among the many people milling around in the market, she stood out a little bit.

But she appeared friendly, and so Avee offered a smile in return. Perhaps this woman was a local, and she could help her find a place to find a cheap meal somewhere nearby. Plus, she had her sword, though mostly useless in her current condition, to protect her. Avee also considered herself a pretty good judge of character. This woman seemed harmless enough so far, but she would keep up her guard. However, it wouldn't hurt to chat with the young woman.

Avee broadened her smile and moved her pack and sword over to the other side of her, patting the bench where they had just been. "Of course. Please, do." She sat up even straighter then, wrapping her arms around her belly and hoping she hadn't just put herself in harm's way. Even though she had traveled pretty easily so far across the island, one never knew when in a strange land. Especially one that was having a meeting to discuss some rumors that vaguely sounded like war brewing.

[Alissa Lennox]

Days past and Alissa was getting tired of it all. With the council not far off it was getting hard to maneuver and watch her friend. It was like a needle in a hay stack even with her friends gorgeous features. On top of this whenever Alissa could catch up and see what she was doing it always brought her down even more.

One day she had actually been keeping good watch but Alissa found out that day that her friend had a room at some inn. Aggravated and hurriedly Alissa had asked for a room. The man was set on his answer and shooed her out. Alissa stomped away not even looking backwards.

This particular day had gone wrong as well. Alissa had slept in and now she stumbled over bodies tripping over some children from people who had come as families. She had to find the girl it was the only thing that kept her going.This girl had helped her and she still had her gift anyway.

'I've got to find her and quickly!' Alissa thought cursing as a dog ran under foot. She saw now that of course the girl had woken up before her. Alissa wanted to die. It was bad enough the girl had been getting more suspicious about her and now she had probably even seen her!

Alissa went back to her bed and grabbed her bag which contained the usual; herbs and money. Alissa looked up at the sky. She spotted her pet soon and whistled for him. Trained as he was he flew down and landed atop of her shoulder.

She walked along hoping that wherever the girl had gone catching up would be easy. She stopped. 'There she is!' Alissa wanted to jump for joy. It was mere luck that the girl for once took a break to sit. Alissa also spotted another girl there who was heavily pregnant.

Alissa suddenly knew exactly what to do, this would be how she could meet the girl. The pregnant girl was grasping her stomach. She dug through her bag and found the right herb, Marigold Root. 'This will indeed help with her stomach pains,' Alissa thought. She only hoped that the girl really did hurt or else Alissa may make a fool of herself. She wasn't the best healer, but Alissa could often tell when someone was in pain. She also hoped Marigold Root was the right herb as well.

She walked over to the girl on the bench. "Excuse me ma'am, but if you're having stomach pains, this should help. " Alissa said. Praying the girl took the herb willingly.

[Avee Corlane]

The girl had settled beside her, and Avee was thinking of an appropriate question to ask her to break the silence between them, perhaps something about the weather or the upcoming meeting, when she spotted movement from the corner of her eye. Of course, being in the marketplace, there were dozens of people milling about, but this one figure seemed aimed directly for the two women sitting on the bench. Avee tried not to look nervous, turning instead to the girl beside her to offer something to say. If this other person wasn't even coming their way, she didn't want to show any undue concern to the girl.

"So... are you from Omnus?" She smiled at the girl on the bench next to her. Avee figured it was as good an icebreaker as any, and something that wouldn't be taken as too usual, given that many people were traveling to Barn island for the big council meeting. But just because she herself was not from the village, didn't mean that this girl wasn't a local. If she was, that could be good for her. Perhaps she could point Avee to some local places that had some cheap food and wares. Or perhaps even somewhere that would hire a pregnant woman. She had a place to sleep for now, but she wanted to be able to earn some semblance of a living to be able to buy things for her son.

But before her new companion had a chance to respond, the figure whom Avee had identified as a woman was almost directly in front of them. No chance of her wanting to speak with anyone else; she was definitely there for her, or for the girl. But the appearance of this mysterious woman wasn't what made Avee gasp slightly. There was some kind of... creature perched on her shoulder. An animal that she couldn't readily identify. Unconsciously, she pressed her back against the bench behind her, trying to put some distance between her and the creature.

The woman spoke then, holding out some kind of herb to Avee. She was surprised; for sure she thought the strange meant some ill will towards them, for she seemed to have approached them with purpose. But she still didn't know if she was there for her or the girl. Though, it wouldn't do to be impolite. Avee turned a smile on towards the woman standing before her. "Not at the moment, no. But thank you." Hesitantly, she picked the herbs out of the woman's hand. Avee hoped that she wasn't being too forward by taking the roots from this stranger. Or doing any harm to her child if she would eventually take them.

[Hyacinth Erasmus]

Hyacinth gave the woman a thankful smile, and sat down in the vacant spot next to her. Her feet gave a few painful throbs before settling down and relaxing in the vacation. "Thank you, Miss." She said, and closed her eyes. She didn't want to impose on the woman, but then again she had asked to join her. After a pause that Hyacinth did not attempt to break, the woman spoke. Her question was polite and didn't tread into any dangerous territory, so she opened her eyes and shook her head slightly. As she was forming her answer, she saw the woman's eyes glance to someone in the crowd, and Hyacinth, out of curiosity, followed them. Her eyes widened when she saw her angel, standing almost upon them. Hyacinth quickly stood up when she approached, feeling suddenly very nervous and excited. She would finally be able to talk to her again.

She watched the angel hand over some herbs, and how the woman took them with some caution. Hyacinth understood why, and agreed with the caution. For all the woman knew, those herbs could be poisonous. Right before her was her opportunity to introduce herself, but words escaped her. She stood there like a mute, even when neither of the women spoke. Clearing her throat, Hyacinth bowed her head in greeting. "Hello, Angel." she began, her tone one of respect. "You may not remember, but we have met before. In a pub in Veifa." she continued, watching the angel's face for any sort of recognition. "I never properly introduced myself then. My name is Hyacinth Erasmus." she finished, the introduction also intended for the human woman.

Before the angel could respond, Hyacinth beckoned to the bench. There was room enough for all three of them to fit comfortably, and courtesy demanded it of her. She would wait until the angel sat before she sat as well. She remembered the woman's question of where she was from, and she returned to it. "As for your inquiry, no. I have spent the last twenty-one years of my life roaming Lumen. I have stayed mostly in the southern half, spreading from east to west. I plan to travel north soon, if I can. But that is not of your concern. Before I left to my doings, I spent my early childhood in a village due west of Fljòt City." It didn't even strike Hyacinth that there was a possibility neither of them knew where Fljòt was, so she didn't bother to elaborate.

[Alissa Lennox]

Alissa said the name over and over again in her mind."Hyacinth, Hyacinth, Hyacinth." It was so good to know it now after how long of not. The Hyacinth had given an introduction of herself than gestured for Alissa to sit. Alissa shook her arm a bit to get the young phoenix off her shoulder. She figured he didn't help the other girl get a good image of Alissa much, she had seemed wary when taking the herbs. Alissa had prayed they were the right ones again. She now sat pondering how to introduce herself.

She started. " I do remember you Hyacinth. I have been. . . following you actually. My name is Alissa Lennox." Alissa could already feel herself turning read at the following part. She just hoped the pregnant woman didn't find it creepy too. Alissa thought about it all and decided to let Hyacinth think about the following before Alissa thanked her for the werewolf fight and gave her the gift. Alissa thought about how much money she had before purposing the next idea. she decided to give it a shot. "How about we all have something to eat. I'll buy." Alissa asked looking at both girls.

[Avee Corlane]

Avee wasn't sure what to do next, so she merely remained quiet, grabbing her pack and putting the offered herbs away in a safe place, if she should ever have need of them later. Then the girl who had joined her first, stood up and started talking to the newcomer, as if she knew her. A little puzzled, Avee listened to their conversation quietly, seeing if she would be able to discern anything of their prior relationship, or whether either of them might do her or her child harm.

An angel? This must indeed be a strange land. In Avee's place of birth, there were no angels, at least, not physically walking around with the rest of the people. She knew that some of the older people in her village believed they were up in the sky watching over them, but she herself had never decided which side of the spectrum she believed in. Perhaps this woman, if she were really an angel, would change her mind forever.

She nodded when the other woman spoke her name, meaning it for both of her new companions. Avee smiled at Hyacinth then, too stunned at the moment to offer forward her own name to her. So she merely moved her things over to make room for this angel to join them, after Hyacinth offered her a spot on the bench.

After they were all settled again, Hyacinth finally turned back to Avee, to answer her question before the angel had interrupted with her presence. She nodded as she spoke. So the girl wasn't from Barn island, but she was from Lumen, taking her to mean the 21 years as her age and being a native of the isle.

She was just thinking about how best to introduce herself in the ensuing silence after Hyacinth spoke, when the angel spoke up, giving her name as Alissa Lennox. Now Avee would be the first to admit she was no expert on other wordly things, but to her it seemed a strange name for an angel to adopt. It sounded... human. But she nodded at Alissa and smiled. Then, finally, she had a moment to give her own name. Avee cleared her throat, looking at both women before speaking. "It's nice to meet you both. I'm Avee. Avee Corlane."

Soon after, Alissa suggested going to get a meal. And that she would pay. For Avee, this was too good to be true. Before Hyacinth had come by, she had just been contemplating herself what she would do for lunch. As if for emphasis, she felt another hard kick in her belly. Forgoing any wariness she had, knowing that if she didn't eat with these two women soon, she would be eating eventually somewhere else, and probably alone. Though they were strangers, at least she would not be by herself, still trying to get used to this city and this strange land. Hoping she would not regret it, Avee answered, "Thank you very much. That is kind of you." She smiled.

[Matthew Jameson]

"I am maddeningly, intensely, severely insane," was all he could manage to say. The skies were blue and the sun was shining - there wasn't a cloud in the sky. He held in a yawn, suffocating it behind a slack hand. The tavern was busy enough this afternoon: there were the regulars, and even though he was not one himself, he could point them out a mile away. There was the gambler in the back trying to coax over the travelers from the main Isle, who made up the rest of the tavern guests. A barmaid sat behind the table, speaking with what was obviously only half-interest to an already drunk elderly man.

The window Matthew sat next to grew dark, and he heard a Click, Click. Glancing out the window, he was met with the curious expression of a brilliant raven, who was perched precariously on the small windowsill. Snorting, Matthew opened the window to allow his pet in. "You agree, then," he asked the bird, smiling. Indeed, the travel to (and, eventually from) was an unpleasant one, and finding a place to stay was even harder. He had managed to get lucky, however, with a loft just above a blacksmith's shop which he was sharing with two others - a couple.

His eyes had not really left the windowsill, and he caught interest in the sight before him: what looked like a Human female, who was most definitely pregnant sitting on a bench. He suspected she was not an Elf for her height, but her ears were not visible. There was another woman beside her, who could have been an Angel, perhaps. She was a little too pale, but there were no distinctions in her appearance to make another assumption. Of course, her wings - if she had any - were not visible. Finally, another woman who was standing a short distance away, who was most certainly an Angel from her large, feathery wings. He took interest mostly from the oddness of the group - it was rare at best to see three people of separate races speaking together. In such times, where alliances were being questioned, it had become even more rare.

Matthew smirked and averted his gaze, focusing on the mead stewing in front of him. Swirling the glass, he finished it in a gulp and stood, placing three silver coins on the table. The barmaid, an exceptionally stunning Vampire winked at him before turning back to her undoubtedly less-than-fantastic conversation. The sun burned his eyes as he exited the pub, and he fought back another yawn. He had about a day left before the Council meeting, and he wanted to make the most of it. His since-forgotten pet cawed loudly at him before flying to his shoulder, digging her thankfully well-trimmed claws into his flesh. The enormous bird drew attention to say the least, and it gave Matthew a sort of crook in his step.

"Shoo now, go on." he told the bird, trying to lift her claws from his shoulder. After shrieking at him again, she took off to a nearby rooftop where she sat to rest only after giving him a dirty glare. Wrapping his thin leather vest around him a little more tightly from a hardly hindering breeze, he trudged down the road, glancing at the three women before it looked obvious. His leathery wings rested against his sides contently now as he entered a small, local bookstop, stealing another glance at the group before being lost in the store's shadowy interior.

[Hyacinth Erasmus]

To think that after all the time and concern Hyacinth had spent over trying to keep hidden from the angel, so as to not startle her into thinking Hyacinth had ill intent, that the angel had actually been following her. A bemused smile lit her lips, and laughed inwardly. No wonder she had felt eyes on her... it was probably just her little angel, keeping tabs. Hyacinth's rescue in Piskrà must have triggered the angel's curiosity, because Cin had definitely been hearing about around the city and Barn. In fact, her little stunt had gained her some infamousy, though of course her identity was a secret.

"That pleases me to hear it, Miss. I fear I must have a confession to make, as well. I have been following you since Veifa. You... intrigued me. I was not there to save you by coincidence." she admitted, speaking in a whisper to the both of them. She didn't want word to get out that she was the hooded miscreant that wounded several werewolves and got away without a scratch. After she spoke, however, she realized how careless she had just been. She had no idea who this human was, who she could be working for... how much money she would be paid to selling Hyacinth over.

Her eyes swept warily over the human again, sizing her up. It would be false to say that her look wasn't hostile, because Hyacinth trusted no one. Even the angel didn't have her full trust... only her admiration. She was fascinated with the creature, obsessively so. If the woman was smart at all, the expression on Hyacinth's face would show a clear warning to keep her mouth shut. Hyacinth would hate to fight the woman, knowing that such a fight would certainly kill the unborn child... but Hyacinth doesn't forgive easily.

Hoping the woman got the message, Hyacinth brought her gaze to the angel again just in time to catch the introduction. "Alissa Lennox, I assure you it is my pleasure." She said, inclining her head again. She directed the human again, making the same gesture. "And to you, as well." She tried to keep her tone respectful, not wanting to scare the woman off after such a stare. When Alissa announced she would pay for a meal, Hyacinth immediately spoke up. "Absolutely not, my angel. I will gladly pay. I make a decent enough living by selling my kills. It is no trouble." she said, speaking to them both, but mainly directing her gaze to Alissa.

Just then, a dark figure caught her eye in the background. A man had looked over at them. Not just any man... he seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place it. At first, she thought nothing of it because plenty of males might want to eye the three up. Still, Hyacinth kept her gaze on the figure as he moved about, and caught him glance again before he went into the store. Looks like trouble... she thought to herself, and she fought the desire to pursue the guy. She finally met up with her angel, and she didn't want to leave her just yet. The man would have to wait...

[Alissa Lennox]

"How about we split the meal price?" Alissa said to Hyacinth. Hyacinth had asked to pay and Alissa still felt awkward after following her and wanted to pay her back in some way. Without waiting for an answer Alissa began to look around for a place to eat.

Alissa began to think of the council meeting and how she was sure to be deserted by Hyacinth and the other girl. She wasn't sure she wanted to separate either. It had taken her way to long to catch up with Hyacinth and Alissa didn't want to leave her. Plus the pregnant woman might need help as well. Alissa figured that her best bet would be just to wait a bit. She figured she could get to know the other girl too.

"So," Alissa started, " what was your name again?" She looked at the pregnant woman awaiting her answer, as her thoughts over took her mind for a bit. She was thinking about how the council meeting would go now. 'Is it tomorrow, or is it the day after?' she thought. 'What if prices rise afterwords and I can't get away from here?' She let her thoughts crowd her mind until an impatient landing on her shoulder snapped her out of the small trance. She saw a restaurant and pointed to it. "Shall we eat there?" Alissa asked her new friends.

[Avee Corlane]

Her eyes widened slightly as Hyancith waved away Alissa's offer to pay, instead saying she would pay. Avee began feeling a little awkward then, wondering if she should have offered to pay herself, instead of letting the others fight over who would get the task. She had very little money of her own, but she was sure she could scrape enough together to get herself a small meal to eat with the others. But she sat there on the bench, mute, not knowing how to interrupt as they argued.

It was then she felt something chilling, as if someone was watching her, and she knew it wasn't the two women sitting beside her, because they were speaking among themselves. Avee took a few moments then to glance around the marketplace, looking for whatever or whomever was making her feel uneasy. Not seeing anyone who looked particularly offensive, she put the feeling out of her mind. It was probably just an effect of her being in a strange land, not knowing anyone. Everyone was probably looking at her for some reason or another.

A grimace passed quickly over her face as her son kicked her again, furthering her response to turn back to the others and see what was going on in terms of their noontime meal, not seeing the figure who was staring at her leave a tavern down the street. Feeling like the discussion had ended in some kind of conclusion, Avee stood up, a little slowly, and slide her pack over her back along with the longsword. She had put aside both items upon setting upon the bench for more comfort. But now she wore them again, not wanting to leave them behind, hoping whatever establishment they ended up at would allow her to take them inside.

Some lightly spoken words brought her back away from thoughts of her last possessions from her husband and her old land. She turned to the angel Alissa and smiled. "Avee Corlane, ma'am." Avee wasn't sure how to address an angel, but decided it wouldn't hurt to be a little courteous. "Again, it's a pleasure. To meet you both." She let her gaze move from Alissa to Hyacinth then, including her in the gesture.

As the angel pointed down across the marketplace as a place to eat, Avee nodded in agreement. It was close by; she didn't think she could manage to walk very far at the moment, being so hungry and her child so active. Again, she felt a little embarrassment at not having offered to pay as well, but saying something know would probably just embarrass her further, and the other two as well. She felt it best to remain quiet and follow the others in for a meal.

[Matthew Jameson]

As he entered the small, cramped bookshop, Matthew averted his thoughts to the three women sitting just a short walk away. Had one of them noticed him looking? Furthermore, why did he care so much? Sure it was odd, seeing the two (maybe three) different races holding casual conversation, but it was certainly not taboo, just uncommon. No, there was something intuitive that unsettled him. He decided not to press the matter much, there were far more important things on his mind.

The interior of the bookstore was damp and dark, lit only by what little light came in from the doorway and a single window against the wall. A small candle illuminated the rest of the room on the counter. The walls were completely covered in bookshelves, which in turn were packed with books. In certain places the sides of the shelves were beginning to break, and in others they were completely bare. Behind the counter were the largest, and probably most expensive books.

He glanced around at the texts idly. Some were plainly very old and covered in a thick layer of dust, while others looked like they had just been stocked. Occasionally he had to wipe away the dust to see the names properly, and other times the titles had simply been lost with age.

He was not looking for anything particularly, and it was a good thing: for how small the shop was, it was certainly filled to capacity. As his curiousity peaked, he grabbed the candle from the counter and carried it to see the bookspines properly. Apparently, this sudden movement of light was enough to startle the shopkeep, who bustled out of the back room in a hurry.

"Wa's all this, then?" the man asked groggily, his eyes only half open. Matthew took a step back.

"I was just looking," he returned, bringing down the candle to look at the man properly. He was probably drunk: his clothes were very dirty and his hair was a mess of brown strands. He obviously hadn't shaved in ages.

"Oh, well then, nevermind me," the tired man said, looking embaressed. He waved his arms at the room. "Carry on, carry on." He hadn't taken his eyes off of Matthew, and as he browsed the shop he could feel the man's eyes on him.

"Will you be buying anything?" the man asked impatiently after only a few moments. Matthew hesitated.

"Well, no...I was just planning on looking." The bookkeeper did not look at all pleased.

"Well then I can't imagine why you'd be here. Off with you, then!" the sudden change of personality was startling enough to convince Matthew that perhaps it was time for him to leave. With much coaxing from the shopkeep, Matthew made his way out noisily to the streets, gathering a modest amount of attention.

[Hyacinth Erasmus]

It went against Cin's better nature to let Alissa pay for her food, but she wasn't going to argue further. When their bill came, she would simply take care of it. Speaking only slightly mischievously, Hyacinth lowered her head. "That seems very reasonable, Miss Alissa." She wondered if either of them caught the hidden message in her tone, the smile in her voice. With that she let it drop, and followed the angel's gaze to a small restaurant. It seemed like it might even be too small, the tables packed closely together. When full, people would be sitting back to back with each other.

"Looks.... cozy." she said, her lip turned down. The prospect of eating there in the busiest part of the day wasn't exactly appealing, but Hyacinth wouldn't refuse. Both of her new companions had agreed, and so she would suck it up. Avee started moving, and she noticed the woman wince at something, then pull on her bags and took up her longsword. Hyacinth frowned inwardly at the woman's struggle. Being pregnant, well it was something Hyacinth was nowhere near considering. She wasn't even one hundred yet! Even when she arrived at the appropriate age, she wasn't sure she would settle down. It wasn't in her nature to be motherly. She was a warrior, and she would fight until there was no more need to. And with the recent news of war brewing, she doubted she would see the end to the battle.

Hyacinth turned halfway toward the restaurant, and was distracted by a ruckus. Some man, the same one she had seen watching them, was thrown out of a store. The owner didn't look happy, and Hyacinth instantly assumed he had been caught stealing. Her eyes narrowed. He was turning out to be trouble, and she felt the need to protect her angel. The human wasn't as important, but seeing as she was there, Cin would provide protection for her as well. Her hand deftly reached for her bow, which was slung around her shoulder, and she fingered the wood. If he made any sudden movements, crazy and untamed as he appeared to her, she would be ready.

After a few moments, Cin relaxed slightly and muttered to her companions. "This man looks like trouble. We should stay clear of him." Keeping her eyes trained on the guy, she started walking toward their destination, having to pass the man on their way. She kept her hang poised on her bow, ready at a moment's notice, and studied the man's face. Suddenly, she recognized him as the waiter from the pub where she had first met Alissa. Utter surprise made her lips part, and she almost stopped walking. She recalled seeing him throw a menu, which doesn't sound abnormal, and watch as it glided effortlessly, as if powered by an unseen force. Now she realized he must be an air elemental, and her guard shot up even higher.

[Avee Corlane]

As the three of them started to move off towards the small restaurant, Avee contented herself to remain in the back. Partly because this was a new land to her, and even though the establishment had been pointed out to her, there were still a whole host of problems that could arrive due to local culture and customs. She felt it best to let the two who had been in this area longer than she to take the lead, and let her follow in their steps.

And also she remained behind just because of the walking required. It was a short distance, but her child had decided to be especially active at the moment since she stood up. Perhaps he was hungry as well, his mother haven't eaten anything until early that morning. Avee put a little more speed in her steps so as not to be lost in the crowd from her two new companions. She wasn't sure yet whether to trust them completely, but she did trust them more than any of the others who were total strangers to her.

She had been keeping an eye on the backs of her two new friends when Hyacinth spoke up, something about a dangerous man. Avee hadn't noticed the commotion of earlier when the man was kicked out of the book shop, too busy was she making sure she kept the two in sight. At her words, though, Avee glanced around to see who the other woman had meant, spotting a man who appeared angry and out of place, almost stalking heavily through the crowd. Hurriedly, she skipped ahead closer to her companions. The same chill she had felt earlier was creeping up her spin again.

Thankfully, however, they were almost in reach of the restaurant's doorway, and Avee's thoughts turned away from any possible danger from the man in the streets. She was content in the fact that the two with her would offer enough protection. Or at least a distraction so shes could get away. Even now she was also feeling hungry, her stomach rumbling slightly. She couldn't wait to get inside and sit down, rest her feet and eat.

[Alissa Lennox]

Alissa walked towards the small restaurant. She had a tendency to take huge steps so she was a bit ahead of her companions. She still, however, heard Hyacinth mumble something about a strange man. Maybe it was bad how little Alissa thought about strangers, but she merely glanced at the boy and continued not seeing any harm in him. 'Lots of reasons for being thrown out of a shop,' she thought, 'I'm sure there is nothing to worry about.' Still she felt as though maybe she should trust Hyacinths judgment.
Alissa reached the restaurant first. As Avee and Hyacinth came Alissa held the door open and let them go in first. She pointed out a table near the back of the room and the three sat down at it.
Alissa figured now was the time to give Hyacinth her gift. It was starting to get annoying and Alissa had no use for arrows. Besides now they were friends. She thought of Avee. 'Maybe Avee can have the locket.' Alissa finally decided she would give Avee the locket, but she decided to wait until after the meal. She figured everyone was starving at this point and she knew she would not be able to present the gifts with her stomach protesting rather loudly. Alissa picked up her menu that was on the table and began scrolling through it. Several sandwiches stood out to her and she began narrowing down her choices. When she finally made her decision she put her menu down and waited for a waited to come. "After we've eaten," Alissa said to her Cin and Avee, " I have something for each of you."