High tech security, hum?? *hides behind the tree*

indeed! high tech security on the storage for the gold and such

*sits upon a low lying branch and watches the river below with the little trout swimming think that perhaps she shall go for a little swim*

what are you looking at. *tilts head to the side and looks from the water to catc and back again*

the fish are lazily swimming in the river and thats all. its peaceful to watch and often I see something I'd like and I get it *jumps down and leaps in the water and dives down in the center and pulls up a shiny piece of a sapphire * Like this!

oh wow thats neat, you got some good aim. is that a spphire, a real sapphire? who knew that was in your river? *looks down into the river, and looks for some more. ( wait goesnt a cats fur get poofy when it gets wet?) backs away slowly*

*sits on the bank of the river in human form. I take of my boots and dangle my legs in the stream, laying back with a relaxed sigh.*

*jumps up in to the tree and lays down* this is a nice view. *looks up the river and sees something floating down towards the group* hey catc, silveera somethings coming down at you guys. Maybe you should get it out and see what it is.

*sits up on my elbows and watches the thing drift towards us down the very middle of the river* Catc'll have to get it, I can't swim.

doesnt it look like a closed up wicker basket? i wonder what could be in side. *sits up on my haunches and watches it*

OOC: yeah it does IC: *is still in the water so I wait for it to approach and grab it as it drifts towards us and slipping on a rock in the process and I go spluttering back to teh surface with teh basket thingy*

great catc! bring it up and lets see whats inside. *watches intently*

*doesn't get out of the water do to puffage factor and sets it on the bank. Then drifting down streama bit I get out and shake off.* POOOOF!!

heheh, maybe silveera will pet down your fur for you. *jumps down and walks up to the basket* i wonder whats inside *looks at it from all sides, and notices that its locked* locked, a locked basket? what are they trying to hid? *starts to nawg on the lock with my teeth*

*heck with it!* gets out a pocketknife and picks the lock. then steps back to admire my work

woha! hey dont sneek up on a guy with dimond teeth, you might lose a finger.

*laughs lightly while taming my fur afro*

opens the basket to find that its filled with odd stones covered in runes

*pears inside* Shadow, can you move your head? im trying to read the runes. all i see is "kill", "end", "world", and "dragon" what does that mean

*leans over the basket with Shadow and keeper* They look like casting stones....*picks one out of the basket. It is a white colour and shines dully* I think they're made from moonstone. Magilla, had a set like these. Casting stones are usualy bound to someone *looks up stream* they might belong to a mage... I think we should go upstream and see if there is anyone who's been hurt

ohh, Shadow, dont moonstones also give some people power, like you? who is Magilla? and maybe shes hurt or killed, like the stones said "kill"

*looks away* Magilla is dead.....

oh, im sorry. *looks away and down* how could i be so stupid to metion the word kill. well then we better hurry to see if the owner of these stones isnt hurt. *looks up river*

Oh my well I hope the owner is both friendly and not hurt. *has tamed the puffage and stretches and then stands* Hmm perhaps we should split into two teams and each go on a side since the river up stream takes a few turns and bends the basket could have easily switched sides

that does sound like a plan. i'll take the far side of the river, who wants to be my partner? *looks at every one expecting a definite awnser* please not Shadow

*changes to dragon form* I'm going to fly over head *takes off, buffeting everyone with the gusts from my wing beats*

so that kinda messes up the teams thing, doesnt it? *changes to wolf form. jumps into the river and dog paddles across* this water is at a nice temperature, i might just stay in the water and watch both side. *gets out, shakes out my fur, and waits for Shadow and Catc* so what are you going to do catc?

I shall run along in the trees and see if I can find anything the grasses and weeds are pretty tall in some places. *heads off intot eh woods and keeps about 6-8 feet from the river*

*changes to a pergrin falcon.* uh silveera, stealth is the way to go incase the guy is bad. and a dragon isnt exactly inconspicious

fine, i'll get the land...i wanted the water though. *starts off upstream*

*snorts* If they are bad, let them try anything. They will live very briefly

um, yeah,whatever, lets go.* takes off and starts flying circles around silveera* i forgot to mention, while one of the smallest birds of prey, i am one of the fastest* divebombs a rabbit at 100 mph(not kidding they can go that fast)

That may be, but they can still be taken down with magic *continues to fly, searching the ground around the river for any sign of movement.* (i can 'zoom' my vission in and out, giving me better sight)

yo you two lover birds, stop bickering! were all in this together ya know, and this isnt any different! you better be ready to fight if we have to!

I doubt we have to fight I don't sense anything dangerous just remember to not be impulsive and to observe before you leap and throw flames

@ silveera: i can be taken down with magic, but only if they can see me. * i hate flying however as it is tiring, so i dive to about 20 feet and then i turn into my human form, then i do a flip and land perfectly and continue on* i think im going to scout ahead* draws arwen and then turns into a shadow and then i'm, gone from all sight. shadow traveling, is only done when your in shadow form. it takes practice though. a few run ins with a brick wall and a few trips to china. all beings in shadow form can do this*

dont act all cocky you hear!?

*sighs* We should be taking it steady and slower in case we miss something of importance *cuts over closer to the river and picks up a rock that looks like tthe ones from the basket* Like this *holds it up to look at it*

that does look identical, *notices another lump floating down the river* hey whats that?

*hovers over the lump keeper noticed in the river. Stoopes sudenly, leveling out above the limp body of a man in torn robes* I think you just spotted our mage Klepter *I gently pluck the man from the water, swooping to the side of the river and placing him down gently and landing a few metres away, but staying in dragon form*

*grasps the rock and hurries over to the man and peer curiously at him and his torn robes.* It appears that he is has cuts and holes all through him. What could have done this. Is he still breathing Silveera??

Qwiss...*stairs off up the river* oh-no i hate Qwiss.

*i reappear* nothings out there, whoah, you found him. Sitka! * my companion appears amd begins to heal him. i recognise the guy.* guys his name is peter shonkar. He is (or perhaps now was) second-in-command of the rangers of Malkari, which is sort of like a international police task force. i am currently the commander of his squad, but i havent seen him in years.

its too late Shadow, Qwiss suck the blood out of its victims then leaves just the bones and skin, they live in salt water, but i've never seen one this far up stream in fresh water.

damn he was a good man* kneels and puts my hand over his forehead and says a few words of blessing. when i take my hand away, his body dissolves and when i look up at the stars ( i'm saying its night) and some stars brighten, forming the shape of a man holding a sword* live in the skys forever my lieutenant

OK...lets get away from the river and travel father up stream. is there a town or city near by?

dunno. im usually somewhere else. i dont spend much time here at dragnix. *turns to dragon form and then surveys the area.* there's a town 5 miles west of here

ok, then check it out. lets break camp in the trees so if its still around we wont end up like peter.

ill scout* i'm pretty ticked off that one of my friends is dead so i really want to be alone right now* shadow travels and is lost from sight

fine. *pulls out a sorta tent like object and trowes it up into a tree* im ready.

*reappears* bad news. pit scorpions are coming ( they are about 6 inches long and can jump 15 ft. their stingers can pierce armor) btw: i think this quiss attack is sort of like the shark attack of 1916. * i draw arwen* let the quiss or pit scorpions try something.* i see holes filled with fire starting to burn in the ground* they are here

*laying up in the in the tree at a safe distance away from the ground* can i sit this one out, im a little spent from walking all day in the blazing sun? i'll make it up to you all.

oh thnx, a REAL friend would help us get rid of these monsters

fine, but i dont want you going and getting your self hurt then. *leaps down to help out the team*

all right, alright ill stick with the group.*attacks yelling at the monsters* thats one for Will, thats one for Horace, and thats one for Clarisse. Go back to what hole you came from.

wow wait, what were the names for, and who were they? *jumps behind one and slices off its tail and stinger with a double handed "c" slice*

the other members of the rangers of malkari. they were killed by pit scorpions about a year ago. these pit scorpions.* points to a scar on the back of a pit scorpion that i just killed* that scar was made when i attacked them until i was wounded.*continues attackig

do you really think this is the time to bring up your past? *leaps over the last scopion, cuts off its stinger, and stabs my blade through its head.* that should finnish it, i hope.*wipes my blade im the grass, sheathes it, and jumps in the tree again.*

perhaps not but its a good time for revenge...Klepter, dont move.* whips out throwing knife and throws it, cutting in half the scorpion on klepter neck then retrieves knife*

whoo thats too close for comfort. why didnt you warn me?

um i did, and either way i never miss.* mutters something about how great it was that my friends trust me. straightens up from picking up the knife.* come on, we have to get out of here before the Neverweres get here. (neverweres, a creature of darkness are a dog-like animal that has black fur, red eyes, and has magical powers that if it bites you, or scratches you with its claws, you will literally have never existed. no one will remember you. they generally follow pit scorpions

CAN YOU STOP JINKSING US! Stop talking about stuff you've encountered, because it always seems to find it's way to us. *walks to the river and kicks a small pebble in* how about we just protect ourselves with magic and camp for tonight? How does that sound? *walks back to the tree and jumps up* and I didn't say any thing about not trusting you, I just didn't like the scorpion on my shoulder, I already have nezerr there.

*reappears from behind a giant tree root, some pit scorpion blood on my fur and paws* Perhaps moving from this general area would be best perhaps walking and or flying over water and through it to mask the scent. I don;t like the feel of this area. Something must be here that is drawing the beasts to this area.

OOC: its Jinx, not jinks. *i like catc's idea. or maybe i should just go. trouble follows me like a faithful dog. plus it would be easier to get back to the Shady Tree than make camp and expend energy on magic (which i hate). lets get out of here.* watches as Sitka flies onto my shoulder, then creates a rip in the space and time continuum says see ya in a minute and walks into the portal.

*watches silently as this rolls out* that's not what I mean *jumps down, walks to the rivers edge and looks up and down the river. After a moment of silent starring I turn around to face catc* I'm not liking this mood. *falls back into the river and floats down stream, with an arrow in my back, sticking out my chest. I slowly black out*

appears in front of the shady tree and begins to scout around, just in case anyone is around. flips up cowl of my cloak.* well sitka, its just you and me. just like old times eh?* finds deer tracks and follows them to find a beautiful silver deer with gilded golden horns. i think to myself i wish the other guys could see this

*appears next to shadow in phantom form* quick, shadow, get my body out of the river before i drown to death!! *looks over at the deer* where did that come from?

startled by klepters sudden appearance, i quickley draw my blade. i put it back then tie the deer to a stake. i whisper to it and say ill be back then i jump into a shadow and i immediatly land next to the river bank. jumps into the river and drags klepter out. i get out my first aide kit while Sitka go to find some herbs* oh boy. this sort of wound is hard to heal. if i were to break of the broadhead and pull the arrow, he would bleed to death.* looks over at catc* i can slow the bleeding but we need profesional help, not just a teenage dragons field kit.

Oh great, just great, I'm going to die by some unknown assassin that has a good shot, well I'll not so much a die but just reincarnate my self, while in phantom form.,

*I launch myself to the top of a tree, then into the air. Pit scorpion blood coats my tail spikes and claws. As the arrow lances through Keeper, I see movement in the bushes on the other bank of the river. I dive at the bushes, roaring in anger. The assassin looses an arrow at me, but i catch it in mid air, snapping it with my jaws* *I crash into the bushes, hearing a horse whinney in fright followed by the sound of racing hooves. I screach in rage, breathing a jet of fire after the fleeing horseman, not being able to pursue because of the close growing trees. I snarl as I pull my self from the bushes and glide to where Shadow has pulled Keeper from the river*

*notices silveera scrambling from the bushes* did you get him? He might of been helpful for this wound.

*sees the man and horse running and I take off after him ignoring the slight pain in my paw from a cut. The fur changes to a dark black and I blend with the shadows of the trees. I gain some distance towards the horseman and am now quite a distance from the others*

don't kill him, I need him alive!

i could get him. shadow traveling is pretty easy and i could just land on him. however, its extremely tiring.*looks at the arrow and under close inspection i see an odd green tint* great. great great great great great . the arrow was poisoned. and the poison is magic-tainted.

Crap!!! why does it have to be poisoned?! And poisoned with magic no-less.....wait I have a remedy for magic poison.

*catches up to the horseman and tackles him and I dig my claws into his shoulders as he lands off his horse with suprise etched on his face. I get my face so close the whiskers brush on each side of their face* Ye shall come back with me or ye will die where you lie

*sigh with relief at catc jumping on the horse man and him falling to the ground* can you knock the horse out while your at it? I'm going to need some protien once you get me cleaned up

hey, the horse had no part in the guys evil. wait. remember that deer that i found? the silver one with golden horns? it may have healing abilities. ill go get it *disappears to go get the deer

No, I want some horse meat. I think it's really fatty and delicious.

has found the deer and i begin to make my way to the clearing the deer lets me ride it and i am there in a few seconds*

*watches with interest as Catc hauls the assassin/horseman to the edge of the river* *snorts dissaprovingly at Keeper* Unharness the horse and let it go, there is a wild herd over in the next vale. She can go live free with her brethren. *the horse, having been startled by catc, had bolted, and got it's riegns caught in a bush*

i dont like it. usually assassins go in teams or pairs. the fact that there is only one man may not be a good sign. * as soon as the words i was speaking have left my lips, i feel the cool steel of a dagger against my throat and here a voice behind me that tells me to tell my friends to drop their weapons or he'll slit my throat. * guys do what the man says.

*hisses at the intruder and slips unnoticed into the shadows and leaves the man unconcious in a nearby tree top. afterwards i step out my hackles rose* who are you to intrude on us?

What can he do to a group of four, when he is only one man? *doesn't have a weapon so does not heed what he says* what can he do to a phantom? *disappears fully*

OOC: wait how can you take an arrow out if you are held captive by the intruder .> IC: *steps closer to the intruder* Ye didn't answer stranger! I'd advise ye drop your weapon. You're surrounded ye fool. play along he may not know we are all of this group, it may work There are many others coming behind us we merely went ahead to scout the trail, if you're smart you yourself will drop your weapon.

OOC: sorry, i thought you meant when you said that you left the man unconcious you were talking abut my captor. i'll pull the comment. *the man says that he and his companion have been watching us since we were at the shady tree and that Catc is bluffing. after that he puts more pressure on the blade causing rivlets of blood to roll down my neck.*seeing how this guy has things more to his advantage id say we just cooperate with this guy.. * my hands are still free to do what i want with them and i quietly draw my hunting knife* hey guys, i might be able to knife him. get ready to fight

OOC: oh lol sorry IC: *sees a slight glint of shadow's knife and I pause glaring at the intruder* I'll distract him Do you have a name stranger perhaps we should become better aquainted *my tail swishes to and fro the balde glinting in the late afternoon sun*

as my captor is distracted by catc, i flick the blade back, catching the guy in the gut. then i pull the blade and knock him in the head with the brass pommel. * ok, sow we can heal his wound and then get info from him when he wakes up

best to tie him up in case he does something or tries something.... *dissapears and reappears sometime later dragging the horseman and lean them against a tree. I dissapear again into the brush and forest. When I come back now that imminent battle is over for the time being, in my anthro dragoncat form and some dark tan capris and a black t-shirt the red visable on my neck. In my hands I have some thick vines with little thorns on them* these should hold them well

ah, my throat hurts *well it could be worse, i mean he could have killed me. takes dagger from the man and switches to dragon form long enough to melt the blade. then i'm back to human/ elf form,. i reach into my pack and get a new shirt as my old one is ripped and bloody. my mithiril chain shirt glints in the sun.* ah better. ok now we need to figure out a way to heal klepter. the deer might be able to do it but wed have to get klepters permission because if we take out the arrow and the deer cant help klepters dead

*appears behind shadow* now that wouldn't be to good now would it? *looks at the captives* now we need information from them?

aye as soon as they wake up.we need to know who they work for, and why they came to murder us

*I lay down a few feet from the assassins* How fast do you think they'll talk if they wake up to a suposedly hungry dragon lying in front of them?? (OOC: FYI, my personality changes slightly when I'm in dragon form. I become a little bit savage)

that would probably do it XD

Just don't eat them, since you didn't save me the horse. *sullenly looks at my immobile-body* catc, what if they didn't have to kill all of us, just me, and he didn't do that good of a job, considering that I'm still here?

what would make you more of a target than any of us? i got my throat slit cause that guy tried to use me as a bargaining chip. wait weve lost the reason were here. we came here to find the owner of the casting stone and found peter. maybe.. * i walk over to peter and find a journal in one of his pockets. i skim through it until the last entry which i read aloud January 6, 2011 ; I 'm onto something big and the whole of dragnix is at stake because of my ignorance. A large spike of Chaos has been placed on top of glass mountain. it attracts monsters like moths to a light. and when the monsters get there, they form ranks. the end may be near. thats why the monsters are drawn near. were under the shadow of Glass Mountain. and when peter was trying to cross the river, a quiss trying to get to the spike attacked.

Wow, are you for real? Give me that I want to see that for my self. *takes the book from shadow and rereads what shadow just said* dang I didn't want that to be true

ok because ursa major (big dipper) is there *points due west at the constellation.* then ursa minor (little dipper) must be there. *points at the northern constellation* so that must be Glass Mountain so thats where we need to go. if you dont mind, ill scout ahead in horse form. as silveeraa said, theres a herd of wild horses around so no one will notice. *changes to my black horse form, then gallops towards glass mountain

perhaps we should wait until the unconsious people wake and they can tell us what is going on. *lazily leans on a tree trunk and slides down to sit*

*changes to human form* uh ok. * decides i dont want people asking question about the cut on my throat (its not easy to get) so i get a black bandanna and tie it around my neck.* so we wait here? great just what a guy with ADHD needs. to sit patiently