There and Back Again Once More...

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ten years have past since the Ring of Power was ended and the rightful King returned to the throne. Peace has been across the land, all the races in harmony for the first time since the casting of the rings. All believe that the darkness will never return, that evil will never rise again. But evil, much like the weed in the garden never truly dies. It simple hides in the soil till the gardener is not looking to rise out and take the life of the plants around it. A new evil is rising from the shadows of the fallen...but who will face this coming darkness? Will the fellowship return? Or will darkness finally have its time...

The tarven was packed the late night, the bar maid serving drinks and food as men sang and danced in their drunken daze. One of the maids walked over to a couple sitting in a corner, the man with a mug of beer infront of him and the lady with nothing, her hood covering her figures. She smiled at them and said "I thought you two were leaving town when the job was done?" The man drank from his mug and said "We were, lass until she had one of her feelings. She thinks something is coming and she wanted to see it" The maid looked at the woman and said "Should I be concerned?" The woman shook her head. "Its nothing to fear...I just feel we need to stay here for a little while longer...." The maid and the man looked at each other, then she nodded and left the table returning to her work. The man looked at his companion and said "You know, you could jsut tell me what's got you so worried" She shook her head. "Not yet...I'm not sure what I'm sensing...but its not time yet"

[AutumnRaven]

The soft clopping Sound of hooves Followed the young woman as she skillfully guided her horse Down the street, her body heavy with weariness. She had traveled a long time that day And the night was well ripened As she guided her mare Towards a familiar inn. As she reached the well worn Building, She silently handed off her mount To a stable hand that came out Of the nearby building. They simply nodded to one another Before he retreated again and she gathered her cloak around her, Shivering slightly As she glanced over the dark and silent town. Blinking her bright green eyes once, She turned towards the front door and stepped inside.

At first, the sound was overwhelming And she hesitated on the threshold, Avoiding meeting any drunken gaze As she quickly searched for someone to help her. Quietly, she pulled back her hood Revealing her long blonde hair That was loosely pulled into a ponytail, braids Randomly woven throughout it And dotted with Green and white beads. The innkeeper caught her eyes And he quickly Made his way over to her, weaving Through his customers With a skill that had Been earned after years of practice.

"Ye'll be Havin' a room then Lassy?" He Asked in a friendly tone, recognizing her face almost immediately.

"You know me so well. I will also take some dinner." The woman said in agreement, smiling Slightly before following him to the back of the room. It was out of the way and she shouldn't be bothered to badly By any of the men also in the room. She sat down at the table And placed her hands on the smooth wooden surface, Interlacing her fingers. Several times, she found herself glancing towards another table Where a man and a woman sat together, Both of them hidden beneath cloaks And talking quietly to each other. She didn't recognize them, so she didn't understand why she Kept feeling so compelled to glance in their direction.

When her food arrived, she did her best to keep her attention on the meal, But found her thoughts scattering And refocusing on the strangers. Ridiculous.. She silently scolded herself, concentrating extra hard on cutting a piece of Potato And placing it into her mouth.

[MegaraFoxfire]

The man looked at his partner and said "my lady, we need to keep moving. Staying in one place is very risky" she looked over at him from under her hood and said "we will wait until the time is right. He told me that I will know the ones to come with us when I see them. And one of them will be found here" the man shook his head. "your faith in him is very noble. I know you both go back a ways but still....my senses don't like this"

[AutumnRaven]

Though She didn't know what the man And woman were talking about, She herself Couldn't help but feel that it had to be Something of great importance. If she had nothing else to go on but the expression on the man's face,, Especially. Frowning slightly, she again wondered why it was that she felt so compelled To pay attention to them. It was about the point where she finished the last bite of her food That she had resolved to Simply go to bed And not worry herself sick over the matter That the innkeeper approached her.

"Miss Kaylia, yer room be Properly prepared for ye. T'is yer Usual." He Said politely, Gathering up her dirty dishes As he spoke.

Kaylia blinked, Glancing up at the rotund man And returning his easy smile. She had been here so many times, it was no wonder that he knew exactly what she would look for in a room. "My thanks Master Yolan." She said in her voice that was like Velvet, standing up from her table and curtsying to the innkeeper. She hesitated for only a moment before turning to the back of the room, heading towards the staircase. Halfway there, she started to pass by the table With the couple sitting at it And her bright green eyes turned to Look straight into the woman's face.

[MegaraFoxfire]

The man looked up then said "we better turn in my lady" she nodded then started to stand. "you go ahead bane. I'll catch up with you later" he nodded and headed up to their joint room. She went outside and went into the gardens behind the inn, finding a quiet place to sit and look up at the moon. "I hope I'm doing the right thing....you would tell me right?"

[AutumnRaven]

Kaylia Quietly, yet quickly, made her way to her room And bolted the door behind her as she stepped inside. She tried to shake off the feeling Of her unsettled stomach As she quietly undressed and folded her clothing. Placing these on the table with the washbasin, she splashed her face and Dried it with a soft towel Before trailing over to the bed. For a moment, she stood by the window and looked up at the moon, pale light Falling across her face. Then she Let out a Heavy sigh and crawled beneath the covers, Biting at her lip As she let Her head rest against the pillow.

Outside, a black wolf Quietly watched the woman in the garden With intelligent yellow eyes, his ears forward, Tail tip Twitching slightly. After a moment, he sniffed At the air, tilting his head very slightly. Uncertainty in the air Made his fur ripple, But he didn't seem to feel any need to step forward. He simply watched.

[MegaraFoxfire]

The woman looked up at the moon again when a voice said "Your far from your home land my lady" She smiled at a white wolf walked over to her side, sitting down and letting her rub his ears. "Shadowfang...I have missed you old friend. Has there been word?" He shook his head. "Not from our mage friend not yet. But there hasn't been enough time passed. What are you doing here anyway?" She chuckled and said "I feel I will meet the first of our fellowship here. Though I don't know who or when, but it will be here" He nodded and laid down by her feet. "Well, I hope they hurry. The darkness is getting stronger, and I'm not sure how long your ranger friend can keep things going without somehting being let out of the bag"

[AutumnRaven]

The black wolf Bristled slightly at the appearance of his white counterpart, Though he didn't understand the Agitation. After a moment, he huffed Slightly And got to his paws, Quietly trotting over to the inn And the woman in the garden. Before he reached her, he Came to a hesitant stop, tail Twitching once again. "... Trouble in the world?" He Suddenly asked in a voice that was all baritones, Yellow eyes Narrowing very slightly.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Shadowfang looked over and said "more old companions far from their homes. Pack brother what brings you here?" The woman turned towards the black wolf, her face still hidden under the shadow of her hood. "Indeed there is trouble blooming. From the darkness of past evils. I don't believe we have met. What do they call you friend?"

[AutumnRaven]

The Wolf Considered for a moment before quietly sitting down on his haunches, Thinking over what had been said and what his possible answer could be. After another heartbeat of silence, his voice came in deep and rumbling once again. "IAM Lunus, Bringer of the darkened sky. I watch over a woman Who is precious to the pattern.." He hesitated for a moment, one of his ears Twitching back. "The shadow, has it to do with The ring of Chaos?" Everyone who has lived through those times would never forget the shadow that the great eye Cast over the land, The scar through humanity it left behind, nor the brave souls who brought about the age of prosperity.