It was quick like a blow to the head.

Hot, crippling pain exploded in Erin's skull. A piercing light flashed behind her eyes. A terrible, trembling horror ripped through her like knives of ice. Blinded, she felt as if she were falling, falling from an impossible height, down and deep into a hungry hot chasm stretched wide to receive her like the great maw of a beast. Its damp swirling breath smelled bittersweet, like chocolate laced with a hint of cinnamon --

"What do you mean, she stole the gryphon?!" an elderly woman's voice snapped in the distance.

Erin awoke at night, sprawled on a dusty, warped wooden floor, surrounded by a chaos of books and bones and dried herbs and splinters of wood; everything was bathed in a soft red light. A shattered mug lay beside her, alongside an open torn book on herbology and a stiff squirrel with hollow eye sockets.

All around her, the little one-room cabin was in shambles: mirrors, apples, jars, and shattered and broken metallic devices were flung everywhere. A closet at the back was propped open, and masses of armor and weapons had spilled out of it onto the floor: breastplates and helmets, boots and gloves, swords and staves and bows. All of the equipment was etched with odd sweeping symbols. A mechanical, owl-sized bird sat in a corner, whirring quietly.

Above her, the wall and roof appeared to have been recently invaded by thick tree branches and sprawling roots; the wood panels were freshly shattered around the bark of the trespassing tree, as if it had suddenly attacked the cabin. Wood dust was piled on the countertop, and a deep cut had been made in the largest of the branches that thrust in through the kitchen and poked out of the broken ceiling. A glimmer of a starry night sky shone dark through the holes in the roof.

At the center of the cabin, on top of the sturdy table that was the only thing that had survived the attack, sat the source of the eerie red light: a lantern with iron casing etched with symbols that seemed very different from those that were carved into the piles of armor. The iron enclosed a glass encasement, within which there was no flame -- instead, the source of the red light appeared to be an egg, protected within the lantern, the size of a small melon.

"I'm telling you the gryphon flew off with that girl on its back!" a male voice growled outside.

Two people were outside, in back of the cabin; their voices carried over the nighttime sounds of crickets and toads and a faint gurgle of running water.

"Well you'll need another way to get back, then. Your brother's under the spell of that sun-child who's calling herself the Lady of Light, and who knows what she'll do to him. Don't fuss at me, just let me sit down."

"The legend says they're supposed to help us, Baba," the man raged in frustration. "What's happening?"

"Everything's going to pot, that's what's happening," the old woman wearily griped.

---

Oseely watched with great humor, his arms folded, as Artemis discovered a new and unconventional way to mount an unruly gryphon. Her triumph brought a hearty laugh and a few big-handed claps of applause; it was refreshing to see someone actually being resourceful around here.

"Hah! You wanna summon the fire-god, hah? Use your connections to your benefit, then? Hum!" His white grin flashed with humor; Artemis was nothing if not entertaining. "I tellya what, I'll do ya one better. Hold out yer hand."

He stepped forward -- when Nura started fidgeting, he calmed her with a quick "Sh!" -- and he simply tapped Artemis' palm with one finger.

After a moment, Artemis would feel a gentle burning sensation in her hand, as if she'd just touched a hot coal. It faded after a moment, and a jagged rune glowed orange on her palm. After another few seconds, that too faded away.

"There. I'll share a bit of my power with ya. Fire and smoke, yeah? You'll figure that out on your own. If ya still wanna call me up, you'll have to make a fire and dance around it, and chant 'Orim Allin Siridu Say' until I appear in the flames." He said this very seriously, though he was trying very hard not to smile. None of it was necessary to summon him, but he thought it would be funny to see her try.

He pointed out over the trees. "Oyagun Nai is straight that way, you'll see it. Watch out for wolves." He gave her a wink and immediately vanished -- as if he had never been there at all.

The dead forest loomed cold and dark around her, the burned trees like white bones sticking out of the ashes. The moon was low on the horizon, and the stars shone deep in the endless sky behind the mountain; the wind and the lights from before were all gone, and there was no sound.

The shadows seemed to be moving -- undulating like ripples in water -- but then, it could just be a trick of the light.

The first Artemis would see of Oyagun Nai was the sharp spire of a bright white lighthouse that flashed over the beach and the glistening ocean, highlighting the silhouettes of fishing boats and schooner sails. The village was clean white and bright blue -- all stone and glass and seashells -- their white round houses and long docks spilling out into the cove. People rushed and shouted in the dark, holding fire-flickering lamps that cast shadows on frozen gears and pulleys, dark glassy bulbs and still wires.

Streetlamps hung dark over the docks; huge mechanisms over the ports were still and lilted, as if they'd collapsed; a panicked group of people in fishing boats chased after a barge that floated sideways away from the port, released from the machinery that had suddenly stopped working. A box of fresh bread and milk swayed suspended on one of the many dead pulley lines that crisscrossed above the village.

The only light -- besides that of the lighthouse -- shone from a squat domed building that sat on the beach a small distance from the village itself, connected to it only by a straight stone road. Billows of white steam puffed out of several smokestacks that riddled the smooth roof; occasionally the light in the windows flashed green or blue or silver before dimming to the dull orange of firelight. The white stone building was covered in blue sweeping runes.

---

Peck remained quiet and frightened, a few paces behind Anise, not daring to interrupt or even to look the Lady of the Pond in the eyes. His upbringing had taught him to never trust the Lords and Ladies, and to always show them the highest form of respect: complete and utter fear. When Anise spoke to him, he met her eyes for only a moment before he nodded silently, so intent was he to assure the Lady of the Pond that he wasn't here at all. He bowed his head again in respect, and waited for the conversation to be done.

The two Kith, meanwhile, murmured between themselves and kept a close eye on the Lady of the Pond and the mysterious tattered girl who commanded two of the five Lanterns, both at the same time. They were entranced and enamored by the sight, and never once considered that they could be spotted.

The Lady of the Pond peered into Anise for a moment, considering her words. "You're concerned for my safety, at the hands of the Lord of Shadow?" Her perfect lips formed an amused smile. "He is powerless against me. The water is unaffected by darkness; it flows in light, it flows in pure shadow. He could send the dead into my waves and they can gather at the bottom of the lake for eternity for all I care. He cannot threaten me, no matter how angry he might be. The Lord of Flame could boil me, The Lord of the Breeze could suck the lake dry; the Lady of the Stone could dam my rivers, and the Lord of the Wood could fill the lake with forests til their roots have devoured it -- but the Lord of Shadow is nothing. Keep that in mind, Lady of Light, as you discover the power I've drawn into your hand."

She stepped back over the surface of the water, smiling dimly. "Touch a circle in the surface of a bowl of water, and I will appear to you," she told Anise. "Should you have need of me, Lady of Light." With that, she dissipated in a shimmer of faint fog, and then there was nothing but the lap of the sparkling water of the lake.

Peck released a breath he'd been holding, and he wiped sweat from his brow. "Well. That went okay I guess? We gotta do that again, huh? The Lady of the Stone?" He was not at all happy about this. "She's probably down in the old caverns under the mountain. That's a forbidden place, where the Dragon used to be sealed up. Haunted, too." He shifted from foot to foot, hoping Anise would just forget about the whole thing but knowing very well she was determined to keep going.

"It'll take at least half a day to walk there. Wish I hadn't sent my gryphon away, we could --"

Peck suddenly fell forward, facefirst in the sand; a tendril of shadow had curled around his ankle, and dragged him instantly into the darkness of the woods. A dozen shimmering spirits -- rippling and bright-eyed -- stood beneath the branches, staring through Anise with a dead, chilling hopelessness.

---

It was quick like a blow to the head.

Hot, crippling pain exploded in Naia's skull. A piercing light flashed behind her eyes. A terrible, trembling horror ripped through her like knives of ice. Blinded, she felt as if she were falling, falling from an impossible height, down and deep into a hungry hot chasm stretched wide to receive her like the great maw of a beast. Its damp swirling breath smelled bittersweet, like chocolate laced with a hint of cinnamon --

She awoke at night on the dusty stone floor of a wide gray tent; a pale violet light illuminated wooden tables full of old books and used dishes, a half-empty mug of what smelled like dishwater beer, and a lumpy old mattress on the floor beside her. There was a spindly old man asleep on the mattress, a sheet wound around his wrinkled legs. He drooled as he snored.

The violet light came from a lantern that sat on the floor by the closed flap of the tent; this lantern was made of iron and etched with strange markings. Inside there was no fire; instead, the light seemed to be coming from inside a melon-sized egg within the glass enclosure of the lantern.

Outside the tent, Naia could hear the murmur and laughter of voices, and the quiet whistle of a flute. There were more people out there, gathered around a bonfire, leaning against their sleeping gryphons as they told stories of dragons and sunlight.

"You're concerned for my safety, at the hands of the Lord of Shadow?" Her perfect lips formed an amused smile. "He is powerless against me. The water is unaffected by darkness; it flows in light, it flows in pure shadow. He could send the dead into my waves and they can gather at the bottom of the lake for eternity for all I care. He cannot threaten me, no matter how angry he might be. The Lord of Flame could boil me, The Lord of the Breeze could suck the lake dry; the Lady of the Stone could dam my rivers, and the Lord of the Wood could fill the lake with forests til their roots have devoured it -- but the Lord of Shadow is nothing. Keep that in mind, Lady of Light, as you discover the power I've drawn into your hand."

Anise nodded still uncertain. She was fully aware that the Lady of the Pond held extraordinary power, but the Lord of Shadow had been gathering power for millennia. She certainly preferred caution over arrogance, but perhaps the Lady was right in that the Lord of Shadow couldn't harm her. She decided to accept her response.

"Touch a circle in the surface of a bowl of water, and I will appear to you," she told Anise. "Should you have need of me, Lady of Light." With that, she dissipated in a shimmer of faint fog, and then there was nothing but the lap of the sparkling water of the lake.

Anise smiled again brightly and genuinely. "Thank you." Now she knew the Lady respected her position which left her with a stronger feeling of confidence than she had before. She turned to face Peck whom had remained silent behind her.

Peck released a breath he'd been holding, and he wiped sweat from his brow. "Well. That went okay I guess? We gotta do that again, huh? The Lady of the Stone?" He was not at all happy about this. "She's probably down in the old caverns under the mountain. That's a forbidden place, where the Dragon used to be sealed up. Haunted, too." He shifted from foot to foot, hoping Anise would just forget about the whole thing but knowing very well she was determined to keep going.

Anise clasped her hands together letting the Lantern of Flight hang in front of her. The mixture of white and blue light flickered over her mixing energetically in a dance around her body. The sound of a haunted cavern sounded about as pleasant as taking a walk through the Forest just for fun. Even so with this recent success, Anise felt even more eager for more.

"It'll take at least half a day to walk there. Wish I hadn't sent my gryphon away, we could --"

She noticed the tendril of darkness approaching his leg far too late to warn him. As he disappeared into the shades before her she reached out reactively to try and grab his hand but even that was too slow. She would have to have faith in the rune of protection she gave him to keep him safe from the dangers presented by the Lord of Shadow and his minions. She had absolute faith that she had enough power to match him and that inexperience and doubt had been her biggest problem with her last confrontation with him.

She fiercely reached out towards the shades with the power of Spirit to usurp the Lord of Shadow's control over them. She was not going to let Peck die, but first she needed to tear through the Lord of Shadow's ranks. "I'll not let you take him, Lord of Shadow! That is my friend! My comrade!"

She knew the only reason he would take such an action would be because he feared her power or at least the potential she held to bring back the Dragon. "I am the new Lady of Light. I am the Dragon's Herald. I am the Guardian of this Forest! You make a poor king to allow your kingdom to fall this far." She pointed towards the shades before her. "Release Peck!"

Erin sat up shortly after waking, shaking her head slightly to try and dislodge the feeling of unease she had. She jumped at the sudden sound of a woman’s voice. She thought at first it could have been her mother, but… As she looked around herself she got the feeling that she was suddenly very, very unlikely to ever hear her mother’s voice ever again.

The.. cabin, she supposed, was a mess. A strange, strange mess. Books and bones and many broken things littered the place, while the building itself looked as if it had been attacked by nature incarnate. The only thing in the room that didn’t look broken or cast aside was a lantern which shone with a soft red light.

She carefully rose to her feet, attempting not to touch anything that had been on the ground near her. ”All this is so strange, these books and symbols… Have I been taken by a witch?” She couldn’t help but speak her thoughts out loud, but she realized her mistake as she heard the conversation going on just outside. Luckily she had spoken quietly, it didn’t seem like she’d have been heard. I have to get out of here. She thought to herself after listening to the conversation for a moment. She looked around again, this time trying to decide if anything here might be useful to her in her escape.

Through the holes in the roof she could see that it was nighttime, so she had to take the lantern if she wanted any chance of finding safety. Unfortunately that meant that the people outside might be more likely to see her as she left, their eyes drawn to the movement of the light. She considered taking one of the the weapons or armor, but they were all piled on top of each other so that she doubted she could pick up what she wanted without making a heap of noise, and she didn’t like the strange symbols she could see on them. The witch could have put some nasty curse on it all. Instead she walked carefully across the cluttered floor to the nearest sharp-looking piece of metal lying around. It was small and difficult to hold without cutting herself, but it was better than nothing.

Next, she made her way over to the table that the lantern was on, but just before she touched it she noticed that it too was strange, but not the same strange as everything else here. She hadn’t looked very closely at it before, why would she have? It was a lamp. Now, however, she realized that it wasn’t a simple flame producing the light, but rather what seemed like a large egg of sorts. Engraved into the iron of the lamp were more symbols, but these were obviously different from those on the armor and weapons. The first thought she had was that these symbols were a better kind of strange, a sort of strange she was willing to deal with as opposed to pretty much everything else around her right now.

She didn’t hesitate in picking up the lantern and carrying it over to the door. The voices she’d heard had been behind the cabin, so perhaps if she went straight forward they wouldn’t see her leaving. She gripped the small piece of metal tightly as she pushed open the door, hoping for a silent escape.

Naia stared upwards when she awoke, wondering where she was. She sat up slowly, thinking through possible scenarios. Her first thought was that maybe this was a dream, but a quick, stinging pinch of her forearm quickly disproved that theory. Then she thought that perhaps she had been kidnapped, to be ransomed for a large sum of money, but then she realized that they would have contained her somewhere far better than in a tent. If she was to find out what had happened to her, she would have to uncover more information.

The brunette observed her surroundings, taking in the sights and sounds, making a mental checklist of what to investigate. She stood slowly and carefully so as to avoid making a sound. First, she observed the contents of the tables, quickly looking over the titles of the books. After a quick observation of the old man, she moved to the flap of the tent. She picked up the lantern, looking at it closely. The color of the light was very pretty, and the markings, though strange, intrigued her as well. What stood out the most was the source of the light. Naia knew that there were no eggs that should be able to glow like that.

Then, holding the lantern in one hand, she peeked outside the tent, pulling the flap back just enough that she could peek outside, but not enough that anyone would notice. She took in the sight of the creatures, which looked like beasts of myth. Naia, always a lover of stories, listened for a while. In doing so, she realized that they spoke of the sunlight in their stories as if there hadn’t been any for a while. She stored that theory and the stories away in her mind, and retreated back into the tent.

Processing the information she had unearthed, she came up with a conclusion. She was nowhere near home, in a foreign land with many strange things. That realization, that she was seemingly far away from home, far away from her mother and father, far away from the desk and chair she loved to sit at and write stories on late into the night, it both saddened and frightened her, and yet, at the same time, this new place intrigued her, and ignited in her a curiosity that burned like a wildfire. Then the frightened feeling won out as she realized that, in order to discover what happened to her, and where she actually was, she would have to talk to people. Her grip subconsciously tightened around the handle of the lantern, which she still had not realized was still in her hand.Pulling herself together, she walked over to the mattress, where the old man slept, and kneeled down.

“Um, excuse me, sir? Uh, hello?” she said, trying to wake him up, hoping he could help her. Her voice, though normal volume, seemed quiet and nervous, but clear.

Eventually Artemis found herself trying not to slink as she made her way through the back alleys of Oyagun Nai. Nura had been hidden away at the edge of the town, along with the staff (trying to leave with it had only ended with the gryphon following and nipping after her) and the rabbit mask (Artemis was fairly certain any benefit it would've granted her wouldn't be worth the swift imprisonment and/or death she'd face if she was caught with it).

The Oyagun Nai was a marvel, even in the dark – sandy and sea-kissed, laced with odd runic machinery Artemis didn't know how to begin to understand. Voices echoed through the streets, shouts and cried joining to make a single murmuring blanket that covered the village.

Food, clothes, weapons, gear.

The list repeated in her head as she crouched behind a building, listening to the passing of footsteps. Her own steps were silent as a secret thanks to her runes. The echoes of the rune Oseely had burned into her hand still tingled her flesh, itching for use. Not for the first time, she eyed the pulley system above her, basket ripe with the promise of supplies. But she didn't have enough control over Nura yet to grab them on a fly-by, and with this many people out and about she didn't trust that she could climb up and grab the loot without being seen. Of course, the darkness would work in her favor… But getting caught fifty feet off the ground on a tight-rope wasn't the most appealing idea.

The footsteps she'd been tracking disappeared deeper into the village, and Artemis took the opportunity to dash from her hiding spot behind a building to an alley across the road. It was lined by two buildings, houses or small stores, if she had to guess, wide open windows revealing the interiors were dark and still. The alley was maybe forty feet long, turning left at the end. Artemis hurried across the road, intending to follow the alley.

"Come on, Jani said north end's a wreck!"

A voice bounced off the walls and Artemis cursed as her heart jumped to her throat. She'd already entered the alleyway when she saw the flickering of torchlight dancing on the walls. Without thinking, she dove right, through the window of a building. Artemis toppled over herself, landing flat on her back and shaking the floor, but the collision was a silent one, at least. It wasn't one of her more graceful moves. Her skirt was a mess around her, lifted dangerously high on her torso. Her hand was crushed over her mouth, trying to stifle her coughing after her fall, tears burning her eyes. She tried to get a hold of herself as whoever was running to the north end passed by her window without incident.

Artemis took a moment to just lay there, not-choking and definitely not-reviewing-all-her-mistakes. When she was finally confident she could breathe without wheezing, she let her hand fall from her mouth. Placing it on the ground, she used it to push herself up with a wince and a stifled groan. That landing had hurt.

Artemis blinked and took in her new surroundings.

Artemis took a moment to just lay there, not-choking and definitely not-reviewing-all-her-mistakes. When she was finally confident she could breathe without wheezing, she let her hand fall from her mouth. Placing it on the ground, she used it to push herself up with a wince and a stifled groan. That landing had hurt.

Artemis blinked and took in her new surroundings.

The darkened room smelled like pickling juice, dried fish and old soot; someone outside the window rushed past, and the moving torchlight spanned a white-stone kitchen. The room was dominated by a squat cold hearth, heavy polished tables, and shelves laden with glass jars. The jars were filled with vegetable preserves, pickled fish, salted meats, fermented and candied fruit; dry herbs hung in gray bunches from the ceiling, and more boxes on the tables held stacked cured fish and hard biscuits. One of these boxes had been recently dumped out onto a table, and bits and crumbs were strewn on the floor. The owners of the house were out -- but Artemis had found the window open only because someone else had snuck in through it first.

A child crouched like a cat underneath the farthest table, staring brightly at Artemis with eyes that glowed blue. She was barefoot and wore loose brown clothing, riddled with biscuit crumbs; her tawny blond hair was short and messed in all directions; a rune was tattooed to her forehead, and more runes were etched into the iron collar around her throat.

She stared at Artemis with narrowing eyes, slowly moving her feet under her, coiled and crouched like a small animal ready to spring at the slightest indication of danger.

---

Her grip subconsciously tightened around the handle of the lantern, which she still had not realized was still in her hand. Pulling herself together, she walked over to the mattress, where the old man slept, and kneeled down.

“Um, excuse me, sir? Uh, hello?” she said, trying to wake him up, hoping he could help her. Her voice, though normal volume, seemed quiet and nervous, but clear.

"Hah?" The old man sniffed and yawned widely; he barely had any teeth, and his breath indicated he had recently eaten pickled fish. He blinked up at Naia with bleary eyes.

"Oh, Palla, what's the matter?" he said in a smiling voice -- he had mistaken Naia for someone he knew. With a creak and a huff, he pushed himself up into a pained sitting position. "What's happened? Did Cod run off again? He's a little adventurer, y'know, just like his grand-pap."

He tilted his head expectantly, squinting at Naia with a slightly confused expression. "Why ain't you on patrol? What time is it? Something happen?" He pointed a rickety finger at the violet lantern. "Is Rhea wantin' that back now? 'Cause she can't never make up her mind, y'know."

Outside the tent, a group of people around a bonfire had broken into song and laughter.

---

She didn’t hesitate in picking up the lantern and carrying it over to the door. The voices she’d heard had been behind the cabin, so perhaps if she went straight forward they wouldn’t see her leaving. She gripped the small piece of metal tightly as she pushed open the door, hoping for a silent escape.

Outside the cabin door was a starry night, a wide grassy clearing bordered by a circle of low etched stone, and beyond it a shadowy forest chittered and rustled and creaked. The cleared, open area around the cabin suggested that whoever owned this house had very purposefully encircled their home with a barrier against the forest -- perhaps to avoid the very disaster that had befallen the cottage when a single tree got too close.

A breeze rustled in the darkened trees; the air was sweet and smelled richly of flowers and sap. Straight ahead -- across the open grass and across the low barrier that marked the edge of the trees -- a concentrated swarm of fireflies drifted and flashed their lazy beacons, illuminating a thin traveled path that cut through the brush. The rest of the forest was hidden in a deep, thick darkness.

Something rumbled like quiet thunder behind and above Erin, at the side of the ruined cottage.

Bright yellow eyes stared down at her from an impossible height, and long yellow fangs shimmered in the red light of the lantern in Erin's hand. What seemed at first to be a deeper shadow that loomed beside the house was something much more dangerous. A monstrous, shaggy black wolf stood as tall as the cottage itself -- towering over Erin -- and its attention was focused entirely on the escaping young woman. It was a dark, colossal, imposing presence that promised to outrun her in a single bound, no matter how fast she sprinted.

From behind the cabin, the old woman's voice went on: I can barely walk right now, let alone fight. Take Reus, go to Oyagun Nai, they can sound a warning to the outposts -- if their blasted machines are still working. I'll reset a barrier, but I can't make promises.

The monstrous wolf's nose twitched; it stared at Erin without blinking, waiting for her to make a move.

---

"I am the new Lady of Light. I am the Dragon's Herald. I am the Guardian of this Forest! You make a poor king to allow your kingdom to fall this far." She pointed towards the shades before her. "Release Peck!"

A low, rumbling laughter chuckled throughout the shadows between the trees. Gray spirits flickered like ghosts among the brush, but they did not move closer; the power of the Lantern and of Anise's will had weakened their ties to the shadows, and they merely watched, confused.

High above, a gang of monkeybats chittered and shrieked in the boughs.

Anise knew, instinctively, that Peck could not be physically harmed -- the rune she had given him would ensure that much, and the Lord of Shadow would quickly find that nothing he did could pierce that protection that surrounded him -- but this was not enough to protect him from fear, and fear was the greatest of the Lord's weapons.

The shadows had swallowed Peck whole, and he would remain alive and unharmed until he begged for death. This was the promise that entered Anise's mind, hissed from the shadows. The darkness grew deeper, swallowing the trees and the stars; the Lord of Shadow flexed his power, fearlessly showing Anise that her determination and her two measly Lanterns were nothing compared to the vast power he maintained over the island. And yet, he did not attempt to destroy her here.

Come alone to the mines under the Mountain, the Lord of Shadow's voice rumbled in her head. I'll be waiting.

---

It was quick like a blow to the head.

Hot, crippling pain exploded in Lalna's skull. A piercing light flashed behind his eyes. A terrible, trembling horror ripped through him like knives of ice. Blinded, he felt as if he were falling, falling from an impossible height, down and deep into a hungry hot chasm stretched wide to receive him like the great maw of a beast. Its damp swirling breath smelled bittersweet, like chocolate laced with a hint of cinnamon --

"eeeeeEEEEEEE!"

Lalna awoke to the piercing screech of a frightened girl. Before he could open his eyes, something crashed and clattered behind him; the panicked girl leaped over his prostrate form and dashed out of the tent and into the cool night.

The tent flap fell closed behind her, and everything was still. Lalna was lying on the dusty floor of a room-sized tent, between a low table and a toppled chair. A small iron pot in the corner glowed with hot coals, offering warmth to the small space. A squished pillow was beside it, and a scatter of hand-drawn playing cards made of tree bark. The girl had been surprised suddenly by Lalna's appearance, and had dropped her game of solitaire while she had tripped over the chair in her escape.

Everything was illuminated in a soft green glow: its source was a lantern on the table, which shined its curious light without a flame. Within the glass of the lantern was an egg the size of a small melon, shining from deep within the shell.

Outside the tent, Lalna could hear a distant song and laughter; a group of people were chatting around a bonfire at the far side of the village, and hadn't heard the girl's scream -- but he could also hear the faint stammer of the girl's voice as she explained herself to someone outside, sobbing in hysterical fear:

"There was a flash and then he fell on the floor in front of me, and I know it's a shade of the Lord of Shadow, he's come for us, he's coming for us at last!"

Anise did not blink or shrink away from the display of power shown by the Lord of Shadow. However, the fact that he made no attempt to destroy her puzzled her. The fact that she knew Peck was still alive relieved her. She would free him from the Shadow's grasp. Then came his voice:

Come alone to the mines under the Mountain, the Lord of Shadow's voice rumbled in her head. I'll be waiting.

Slowly, he faded away leaving Anise alone. Quite very alone. Frustration was Anise's first feeling after the Lord of Shadow left. Frustration that just after making a new friend he was ripped away from her. She lashed out and kicked a nearby tree which hurt, but she refused to acknowledge the aching pain that resulted from the kick. As she cooled down she just stood there staring at the tree.

Could she do this alone? With only two of the Lanterns? She shook her head to shake off the doubt that struck her. She grabbed the Lantern of Flight and started prying the frame apart. Freeing the Spirit Egg had done something significant now the time had come to completely free the Flight Egg. She used the nearby stones to help tear it apart. She felt a sharp pain as one of the wire-thin pieces of the frame pricked her hand. Blood flowed from her hand, but that didn't stop her efforts. Before too long she had completely dismantled the Lantern and pieces of it laid all over the ground.

Another thought ran through her mind as she stared at the pieces and she grabbed the same piece of the frame that cut her in her uncut hand. The hand she had injured was opposite of the one that held the rune the Lady of the Pond gave her. She channeled her frustration into her hand as she dug out the symbol of a sun into her hand. Her eyes watered as the iron rod tore through her hand and blood pooled, but she grit her teeth and persevered through the pain.

Her goal was the bring back something the Forest hadn't seen in a long time: light. True light. Something like that brief moment of sun that happened the other day. She focused her energy and power into this new rune. Soon the hot pain from the self-mutilation turned into a cool burning sensation. She wanted something she could use against the Lord of Shadow. Something that would send a message: the Lady of Light was back.

Upon finishing this task, she called on the healing waters using the gift of the Lady of the Pond to cleanse the wound. As the water washed away the blood and poured away the palm of her hand now had burned into it a symbol of the sun. She balled her hand into a fist and called onto the Flight Egg to pick her up.

Anise flew with the Eggs of the Dragon onward toward the mines of the mountain. Her face set with grim determination.

It was fierce, like a wave crashing into him with the wrath of the oceans, burning his head in searing debilitating pain, and dragging his soul away into the depths of the ocean to spiral downwards towards a cold, hopeless end, ever drowning, ever falling.

It was quick, and just as a wave, it washed away, leaving him in the shores of emptiness, staring into nothing but a piercing light, still falling..

what was that smell..

was this death?

"eeeeeEEEEEEE!"

Lalna's eyes shot open as the scream pierced his ear, and his surroundings flooded him. where am i? his eyes drifted onto a card, fluttering towards the ground as he heard the sound of the cloth being pushed aside and hurried footsteps. slowly he raised himself to a kneel and picked up the card he was watching from amidst the others that rested on the ground. a Joker from a simple print deck. It wasn't long before his attention fell onto the embers and coals that heated a pot in a corner of the tent he found himself in.

something seemed off.. Lalna slowly stood up as he watched the embers, walking towards the warmth and allowing it to embrace him with a smile.

what is it.. He checked the pot, nothing but boiling water, someone was probably going to use it for something, maybe the one who screamed?
this light.. His expression shifted as he realized it, the room's lighting had a soft, greeninsh tint, quickly he turned around and found the source, a table, specifically, a lantern resting on it. a curious lantern infact, upon closer inspection. The sickly green light emanated from within, yet no flames burnt inside, only some sort of egg. alongside that, the lantern itself had an interesting layout, symbols and runes etched on its surface, he had never seen any like these before.. curious indeed..

his right hand slowly grasped the lantern, as thoughts flooded his mind, all of this was so foreign to him, he found himself in a tent, he had no idea how he got here, or where he quite was.. was this judgement? the thought crossed his mind but he quickly shook it away, he could not have failed Kall, his life had been dedicated to her, if he had truly died, he would've been in paradise.. surely.. Lalna decided to take the lantern, bringing it to his side, as a token of sorts, it represented this dilema he'd found himself in, in a

Bringing his left hand to the symbol upon his chest, he quickly whispered a few words in prayer, but decided not to spend to much time here, he had to figure out where he was, so lantern at his side, Lalna made his way outside the tent. towards the voices.

Artemis froze when she saw the child.

Shit.

Her eyes darted over the small body, taking in the runes, the collar, the messy clothes, the glowing eyes. She was fairly certain that wasn't normal. Then again, few things were on this island. As part of her mind frantically started putting pieces together, another part was looking for options.

In her (admittedly limited) experience, half-feral dirty barefoot children tended to be Kith. She didn't see a mask, but that collar around her neck was dropping a few hints.

Options. What were her options.

Fighting… was not an option. Artemis wasn't gonna fight a kid.

Turning her in… was just barely an option, but screwing over a kid like that left a bad taste in her mouth. Plus… Artemis wasn't exactly innocent here either – she'd broken in too, and was already known for stealing from Pirates. It'd be too easy for the girl to rat her out for being a thief. Although… the girl didn't necessarily know Artemis was a thief. Artemis brushed that idea to the side. What did that leave her with?

Finding common ground.

Slowly, Artemis raised her hands up to the girl, palms open in a show of surrender.

"Hey, hey," she whispered in a placating voice, "don't worry, I don't want any trouble. Sorry to barge in. I was just looking for somewhere to lay low." As subtly as she could, Artemis moved her legs under her, trying to make sure she was ready to move if this kid tried anything. "If you don't want the company, I can go find somewhere else."

Bringing his left hand to the symbol upon his chest, he quickly whispered a few words in prayer, but decided not to spend to much time here, he had to figure out where he was, so lantern at his side, Lalna made his way outside the tent. towards the voices.

The green lantern offered bright illumination to Lalna's path -- maybe it was his imagination, but it seemed brighter now that he was holding it. Everything around him sparkled emerald.

Just outside the tent flap, he was greeted by a vast starry sky swept by distant purple galaxies and clusters of pinprick stars. The moon was bright and waning over the edge of a great dark mountain that towered in a silhouetted landscape far below. Faintly, he could see a duality of light -- white and blue -- soaring over the treetops below, toward the towering mountain.

"SQUAAAK!"

A hooked beak and big yellow eyes lunged at Lalna; the gryphon's gray wings flared, and for a moment Lalna's vision was filled with feathers and claws. The beast hissed, squinting in the brightness of the lantern.

A meaty fist gripped Lalna's collar from behind and yanked him back, away from the gryphon.

"Looks like we've got a thief," a low voice rumbled with a slightly sadistic air. The big man had a goatee and a bloodstained smock, and he was smirking.

"That's him! He appeared out of thin air!" the girl squeaked from a few yards away; she kept her distance, her hands clasped at her throat. "Oh don't manhandle him! What if he's a Lord?"

The burly man turned his head and spat on the ground, then set Lalna with a suspicious glare. "What if he's a Kith?" he hissed with disgust.

The gryphon remained nearby, its feathers puffed and its eyes unblinkingly set on Lalna.

---

"Hey, hey," she whispered in a placating voice, "don't worry, I don't want any trouble. Sorry to barge in. I was just looking for somewhere to lay low." As subtly as she could, Artemis moved her legs under her, trying to make sure she was ready to move if this kid tried anything. "If you don't want the company, I can go find somewhere else."

The little girl was motionless and silent for a long moment -- so much that it almost seemed she wouldn't react at all -- and then a smile slowly grew on her soiled face while her eyes remained unblinking, calculating. "You're hiding, too." She jerked her head at the window. "From the Pirate scum." She was quiet a moment longer to gauge Artemis' reaction to her thoughts on Pirates -- and what she saw must have been a point to Artemis' benefit, because the little girl sat down to finish eating her biscuit.

"You can stay here I guess," she said through a mouthful. "Why are you hiding? Are you a murderer?" She grinned at this thought, her eyes gleaming with excitement at the prospect of hiding out in the company of a killer.

A key rattled in a lock in the next room; immediately the little girl leaped to a corner beside the kitchen doorway, curling up as small as she could. She craned her thin neck to see the panel of dim light that played across the floor as the front door creaked open. A strong old sailor shuffled into the house in the next room, carrying an oil lamp. He left the door half-open, and the floorboards groaned as he made his way to the back of the house and started rummaging in drawers, never looking toward the kitchen.

The little girl pressed farther into her corner; she couldn't see the old man from her angle, but they could both hear him. She swallowed dryly, and her lips moved soundlessly: please don't come in here please don't come in here please don't come in here . . .

---

Anise flew with the Eggs of the Dragon onward toward the mines of the mountain. Her face set with grim determination.

The Mountain loomed dark above her, while the Lake glistened bright far below and behind. Occasionally she might glimpse the gray mist of a spirit or the flash of fireflies or the blink of red eyes in the treetops.

Above and to her left was another gleam of light: a bright, steady green point of light atop the next cliff. It pulled gently at the two eggs that accompanied Anise through the cool night sky, beckoning.

The blue egg's power warned Anise of an approaching consciousness before she would hear the soft rush of feathers on the wind. A gryphon flapped closer, to glide alongside Anise at a distance to her left. Its rider didn't look at her, but had all her attention on controlling the beast.

A second gryphon came up from behind and soared along at Anise's right, its rider also focused entirely on his task; the gryphon-riders were flanking her, intimidating her as they decided what to do with her.

A third gryphon flapped after them, a distance behind. It seemed every sentry on the island had taken notice of the two bright lights flying over the forest.

Holy shit this kid gave Artemis the creeps. But she played along like the good lying thief she was, letting the corner if her mouth twitch up like she was indulging the kid in some shared secret.

The sound of the door opening interrupted them though, and Artemis' blood froze. She ducked behind one of the huge iron tables (admittedly not her best hiding place) as the Kith hid beside the door frame. Artemis could barely breathe as heavy, plodding footsteps thudded across the creaking floorboards. A voice rumbled low and incoherent as the newcomer moved past the kitchen door. An old man, by the sound of it. Heavyset. She peered through the table's legs to see the girl frozen and scared, her mouth moving in a silent prayer.

What a mess of a situation. But Artemis had landed herself in worse before. And she hadn't had the advantage of runes at the time, she remembered in a spark of inspiration.

Slowly, achingly slowly, Artemis straitened her legs under her, just enough so she was in a low crouch, rather than a full squat. She took a step forward. She was silent. Her heart thundered in her chest as she took another step, then another. She heard the sound of a drawer opening as she crept her way around the table, to the old hearth. It was little more than a raised brick platform, a mess of blackened wood and charcoal piled atop, and an old metal pot hanging above it.

Long fingers curled around a charred remain, some piece of log that had fallen away after a fire had eaten through it. With it in hand, Artemis made her way to the doorframe, opposite the girl. She was on the hinged side of the door, and had to crane around it to catch a glimpse of the man – broad and graying, slow but no doubt strong. Probably wouldn't take well to uninvited guests. Luckily his attention seemed to be elsewhere at the moment.

She glanced back towards the front door. Still open. So he probably wasn't planning on staying long. Maybe she'd get lucky and he'd find whatever he needed and leave, none the wiser. Hopefully whatever he was after wasn't in the kitchen. That'd be just her luck.

Artemis pulled back, behind the safety of the door again. She curled her free hand around the doorknob to hold it in place, and brought the piece of charred wood to the old door.

She flinched at the sound her makeshift pen made as it scraped against the wood. But it was soft and muffled, she knew, too low for the man to hear (she hoped). After an eternity of seconds, a familiar rune was drawn on the door – silence. She pulled her hand from the doorknob and touched the charcoal image, careful not to smudge it. It took a moment, but soon enough it began to glow a soft white light. Artemis slowly pushed the door closed. She kept her eyes trained on the shrinking sliver of light on the ground until finally the door was closed.

She felt the latch click into place. But the house was silent save for the old man's muffled rummaging. Her heart dropped with relief, her adrenaline switching from fear to excitement. Her eyes found the Kith girl and Artemis raised a single finger to her smirking lips. She was about to move away from the door when she paused, another thought coming to her.

Lifting the wood again, she drew another rune, above the first one. This time there was no sound when she drew, she noticed with some satisfaction. When she was done, she brought her hand up and activated it as well. A spiraling rune glowed in her eyes.

Still.

Hopefully if the man did decide to come into the kitchen, her rune would slow him down and give her enough warning to escape.

With that done, she finally moved away from the door and began her work. It was easy enough to find a bag and empty it of… some… vegetables? Artemis had no idea. As quickly as she could while still keeping quiet, Artemis put dried meats, fruit, jars of who-knew-what in the bag. The room was so huge with so much to choose from, it was overwhelming. Where was she? Who needed to feed so many people? Some sort of school? Inn? Barracks? She didn't plan on sticking around to find out.

Artemis kept one eye on the Kith girl as she moved, sure to grab a small knife that fit easily in her hand. Her time was running out, she knew. Her bag was halfway full when she decided she had enough for the time being (she had other stops to make, still – other things to steal) and she moved back towards the window.

The feeling of flight was the most freeing sensation Anise could imagine. The air flowing through her hair and around her body. Everything about it felt calming and safe. She found herself smiling with pleasure despite everything that had just happened. She had realized in her time here that she needed to accept the small pleasures in this Forest, or it would consume her. If that happened then she would more likely destroy the Forest than save it. That simply was unacceptable.

As she flew along Anise became distracted by the sensation caused by the visibility of the green light she saw in the distance. She knew that light. She had seen it before. If she could acquire it, then she would be even safer and stronger if it came to a battle against the Lord of Shadow. She found herself drifting towards the light of the Green Lantern instinctively.

The sensation of the approaching griffons and their riders startled her more than seeing them with her own eyes. She imagined that they would be confused and concerned about the flying lights. Perhaps she could send some hope to the denizens of the Forest. She imagined word would likely spread quickly through the Forest.

She reached out to each of their minds and sent them a message. I am the new Lady of Light. My position has been recognized by the Lady of the Pond. I have come to return the sun to its proper place. Please, tell the others of this news and remember there is hope.

She focused on the sun rune she carved into herself remembering the warmth and brightness of the sun she had felt only days ago. Even if she could bring just a piece of that warmth into this world she could present a real case for hope. The Lord of Shadow's reign of terror would not last long.

She noticed that she was getting close to the Green Lantern, and her concentration on the rune broke as she prepared for a landing.

As the man awoke, Naia scrunched her nose up slightly at the smell, though only for a second. She looked at the man as he spoke, listening intently to every word he said, already formulating a response.

“Oh, sorry, I was just looking at the lantern, I guess I forgot I was holding it,” she said as she put the lantern on the ground next to her, “Actually, sir, I’m not, um, ‘Palla’. I actually have no idea how I got in your tent, I just woke up here. I was hoping you could help me and, um, maybe tell me where I am?” All the talking she was having to do was making her nervous. She knew there was no way around it if she wanted to know what was going on, but that didn’t make her any less uncomfortable, the nervousness evident on her face. The man seemed friendly enough, but that was most likely because he had thought she was somebody else.

Briefly wondering if perhaps the cause of his mix-up was poor eyesight, though not coming to a conclusion on that thought, she subconsciously adjusted the glasses adorning her face. Another thought flitted across her mind, that she should clean the lenses of her glasses when she had a free moment, and she hoped she would be able to find a cloth, but she quickly tucked that thought away for later. She needed to focus on the matter at hand.

Lalna hadn't quite though of how odd his sudden appearance was, not only to him, but to the people currently here, the realization dawned on him as the rough, imposing and slightly scary looking man grabbed him by the scruff, pulling him away from a even scarier, although majestic in a way, winged creature that screeched and lashed out at

"Oh no no no no" he said putting the lantern down and raising his hands to his sides, looking at the man and forcing a smile to his face.

"I realize how strange this must be, but i'm just as confused, you see. The child speaks truthfully" he nodded his head towards the kid that had ran away from the tent.

"I did.. actually seem to, appear, here. and i have just as much of a clue as to why as any of you" he began slowly lowering his hands to a resting position as he talked.

"I apologize from starting with the wrong foot, you see, I don't even know where this place is, or how i got here. all i remember is feeling a flash of pain, and then being in the tent."

He extended his hand to the man, hoping he wasn't about to get dragged of somewhere.

"Name's Lalna, pleasure to meet you"

Artemis kept one eye on the Kith girl as she moved, sure to grab a small knife that fit easily in her hand. Her time was running out, she knew. Her bag was halfway full when she decided she had enough for the time being (she had other stops to make, still – other things to steal) and she moved back towards the window.

The girl watched with big eyes while Artemis silenced, closed and stilled the door; she stared at the emptied bag and the jars and boxes being stuffed into it, occasionally sparing a glance toward the two charcoal runes drawn into the wood of the door. On the other side, the man was grumbling at the other side of the room; he hadn't noticed a thing.

She heard the shift as Artemis clambered up to the window, and immediately she got to her feet. There was no question and no hesitation: the girl tied up a cloth with several loaves of bread inside, then she followed Artemis wordlessly, nimble and silent in her movements.

Something shuffled on the other side of the silenced door. They couldn't hear the man's hand on the door handle, nor the shove of his shoulder against the wood. They could, however, hear his grumbled curses. A slow grin spread on the little girl's face, and she lighted out the window after Artemis.

A fog was brewing outside; billows of vapor clouded the alley and spread out into the moonlit street, where several shadowy figures rushed about with torches and lanterns. Many of the townsfolk were engaged in pulling on a set of ropes near the dock, dragging a huge vessel to shore that had lost the ability to steer. Their heave-ho! voices fell like stones in the mist. The other, smaller boats had been left unattended while the fishermen's efforts were otherwise required.

The Kith girl pulled up the collar of her grimy dress in a poor attempt to hide the iron ring. She padded barefoot behind Artemis, silent and staring around them, keeping an eye out for anyone nearby.

Several narrow alleys led to dead ends, while others opened onto the dock or the farms opposite the sea. Many of those alleys were strung high with clotheslines laden with vibrant tunics and trousers, dresses and socks, waving like flags high above the cobblestones.

Along the main wide road, the clink of the blacksmith's hammer echoed dully, accompanied by a crowd of murmuring voices. The tailor's shop was locked and dark, but the tavern was bright and bustling with all the townsfolk who couldn't find anything useful to do.

---

She focused on the sun rune she carved into herself remembering the warmth and brightness of the sun she had felt only days ago. Even if she could bring just a piece of that warmth into this world she could present a real case for hope. The Lord of Shadow's reign of terror would not last long.

Anise's voice sounded in their heads, and the two gryphon-riders veered slightly off-course with the shock and unfamiliarity of it. One of them shouted in surprise and banged his knuckles against his helmet, staring desperately across at his comrade -- but the look he got in return told him that she had heard it, too.

And then, the light.

Anise herself began to glow with a warm sunny light. She, herself, was a beacon in the sky; at the center of the light, her tattered dress and injured skin appeared bright and flawless. She was the Light itself.

The gryphons squawked and flapped, falling behind a moment before the riders brought them back under control. They shouted between themselves: "How do we handle this?" "There's no protocol!" "No outsiders!" "Well she's sure as hell not a Kith!"

While they were arguing, the third gryphon swooped underneath Anise and rose up ahead of her. This gryphon was bigger than the others, pale and gray with aged feathers. Its rider was a young girl in full leather armor and helmet, a few years younger than Anise. She looked back over her shoulder at Anise.

"Please let me announce your arrival. You'll frighten the Roost, and that won't help your cause. Follow us."

The great gray gryphon flapped silently, and with enormous grace it reached out with its talons and grasped a wooden perch on an outcropping just outside the Roost. Its rider dropped onto the landing, patted the beast's aged beak, then stepped aside for Anise to land. "Please wait here, I'll get the captain."

While the rider walked away, the blue egg began to whisper to Anise: something was very wrong here.

“Oh, sorry, I was just looking at the lantern, I guess I forgot I was holding it,” she said as she put the lantern on the ground next to her, “Actually, sir, I’m not, um, ‘Palla’. I actually have no idea how I got in your tent, I just woke up here. I was hoping you could help me and, um, maybe tell me where I am?”

"Eh? You're at Gryphon's Roost, little lady! At least, I hope you are. If we're someplace else I think I might be in trouble with my mem'ry again. An old coot like me don't keep up like he used to, hah?" He wheezed a laugh and slapped his knee.

After a moment he coughed, sniffed, and screwed an eye at Naia. "So yer not Palla, huh? What's that funny thing on yer face? Yer from Oyagun-Nai aincha then? They's always got funny things like that."

He glanced down at the Lantern and tapped his gray stubbled chin. "Sun-child, eh? Well, then."

He was interrupted by a voice outside the tent. "Captain, sir!" The tent flap parted, and a girl of about fourteen looked in; she was dressed in leather armor and held a helmet under one arm. She glanced uncertainly at Naia before addressing the old man. "There's somebody here claiming to be the Lady of Light."

"Preposterous!" the old man blurted immediately.

"She has two glowing eggs and seems very convincing, Sir."

"The Lords and Ladies want nothin' ta do with the eggs! This is a doppelganger in league with the Dragon, here for the Lanterns." the old man hollered and huffed.

He looked over to Naia, this time with a sharp and scrutinizing eye. "You, girl, pick up that Lantern and don't let it go. It's very important. You're a sun-child, kid, better get used to it." He shoved his feet in his boots and put on a jacket. "Palla, make sure this impostor never gets her hands on that Lantern. Or this nice girl here."

The girl in armor -- Palla -- stood tall. "Yes, sir." The old man picked up his walking stick strode out past her with hurried authority.

Palla blinked after him, then stared in at Naia. "Uh ..." She glanced behind her, then motioned Naia to come out. "Sorry, you're probably confused. Hi. I'm Palla. We should go quickly before someone sees. I'll explain on the way. Can you wrap that in something so it's not so bright?" She pointed at the Lantern. "And how fast can you run?"

"I apologize from starting with the wrong foot, you see, I don't even know where this place is, or how i got here. all i remember is feeling a flash of pain, and then being in the tent."

He extended his hand to the man, hoping he wasn't about to get dragged of somewhere.

"Name's Lalna, pleasure to meet you"

The burly man's fist tightened in Lalna's shirt collar, and he gave him a deadly glare, completely ignoring the outstretched hand.

"You just appeared in the tent, huh?" he spat. "Just found yourself in my sister's tent, don't know how you got there, huh?" His face twisted into a hideous snarl. "I'll turn your insides out and make you choke on them."

He pulled back his fist -- but just before he could take a hearty swing at Lalna's face, a walking stick smacked the brute in the back of the head.

"That's a sun-child you nincompoop!" an old man hollered. "What the hell's going on? Two at once! After hundreds of years -- dangnabbit put him down!" He smacked the burly man repeatedly until Lalna was put gently back on his feet. The burly man took a few confused and apologetic steps back, his eyes wide.

The old man stepped closer to Lalna and peered at him with a screwed eye. "I'll give you the short of it, 'cause there's no time." He pointed with his walking stick at the green Lantern. "Guard that with your life. That Lantern brought you here, it can protect you, and it can take you home." His stick pointed out toward the edge of the village. "There's somebody here now calling herself the Lady of Light. She wants that Lantern. Under no circumstances can she have it. Ya understand? Good. Now skedaddle. Run. 'Fore she ketches ya. Find the Witch." He smacked Lalna upside the head and pointed toward the trail that led into the trees and down the back of the mountain. With that he spun around and hobbled resolutely toward the edge of the village, never looking back.

The brute and the child stared, dumbfounded, at Lalna. The gryphon put its head down and warbled in its throat, watching Lalna.

The old man went out to meet the so-called Lady of Light. As soon as he caught sight of her, he stood still and watched her with a skeptical frown. She'd have to get through him first.

For Anise, releasing the light felt perfect. As if everything could be made right. She felt warm. Clean. Happy. She looked at herself to see the dirt and wounds on her appeared to be washed away. She found herself paying little mind to the squabble going on behind her. Then one pulled ahead of her on a larger and older gryphon.

"Please let me announce your arrival. You'll frighten the Roost, and that won't help your cause. Follow us."

She nodded once with a smile. "Very well, go ahead."

As Anise watched the lady walk away the blue egg whispered to her. She listened as hard as she could, but she couldn't tell what it had to say, and something seemed wrong. This instantly put her on guard, and while she waited for the lady to return she decided to keep glowing softly. She could still see the green lantern from here. She then remembered Rhea and the purple lantern from before. Perhaps it was here as well.

She closed her eyes and whispered to herself. "Peck, I promise I will do everything in my power to save you."

When she reopened them she saw an old man standing before her with a skeptical look on his face. She considered for a moment how she should introduce herself. She understood that not everyone believed that she was the new Lady of Light. She would have to earn that, and she knew for a fact that wouldn't be easy. However, she felt she would lose all credibility if she just used her real name to introduce herself.

She smiled and looked the old man in the eyes. "Greetings, I am the new Lady of Light. I know that the previous Lady was slain by the Lord of Shadow. I understand the challenge that is before me because of this." She paused to let him think about what she said. "I am here because a friend named Peck has been taken by the Lord of Shadow. I would like to gain possession of the Lantern of Scales to save him." She stared off towards the mountain feeling that time was pressing. "I am afraid I cannot stay long. I know this is no small decision to make, but time is of the essence."

Anise felt certain that the urgency of the situation got across to him. She faced the old man again. "With or without your help, I must save him. I must do it by myself, but that doesn't mean I can't get help from others before I arrive." Again, she paused. "Even if the answer is 'no', I thank you for your consideration."

"Eh? You're at Gryphon's Roost, little lady! At least, I hope you are. If we're someplace else I think I might be in trouble with my mem'ry again. An old coot like me don't keep up like he used to, hah?" He wheezed a laugh and slapped his knee.

Naia smiled, partly to be polite, as the man was laughing, and partly because it was a joke. Gryphon’s Roost, huh? That sounded like a good name. The man continued, and Naia looked at him as she listened, until he mentioned the glasses adorning her face.

“Oh, they’re just my glasses. They help me see,” she said. His next words after glancing at the lantern intrigued her. Sun-child? What did that mean? However, before she could ask, another girl interrupted. So he was a captain? Naia listened to their conversation, not wanting to interrupt. She didn’t understand some of the information, but that didn’t stop her from storing the information away for later.

Then the old man addressed her. She listened intently to his instruction, picking up the lantern when she was told, holding it close. He had been nice to her so far, and he was a captain/leader, meaning he clearly knew what he was doing. She watched as the man hurried past the other girl, whom she now gathered was Palla, lightly tugging on one of the fingerless gloves she always wore, as they made it more comfortable to hold a quill with and kept her hands warm during the cold nights when the only heat came from a single candle.

When Palla motioned for her to exit the tent, she began to stand. Upon the mention of covering the lantern, Naia quickly grabbed the sheet that had been wound around the man’s legs, wrapping it around the lantern as she began to walk out of the tent.

“Oh, um, my name is Naia, and, er, I’ve been told I can run pretty fast. But if we’re running, maybe you should save the explanations for later?”

Lucky for Erin the door to the cabin didn’t squeak or creak as she made her way outside. By the red light of the Lantern she could see a clearing spread out in front of her edged by the looming trees of a dark forest. She paused a moment to listen to the sounds of the forest around the clearing, and to try and hear if the people were still talking or not. She could see a path through the forest ahead, a relatively straight shot across the clearing. She could make it in a few seconds if she ran.

Before she could though, a sound directly behind her made her freeze. Looking up, her fractured green-and-gold eyes met a pair of bright yellow ones, accompanied by sharp fangs and, as her eyes adjusted to make it out of the darkness, a huge, monstrous body. It looked like a giant wolf and, despite the stab of fear she felt, Erin had to wonder again where exactly she was. Could witches make such creatures?

She was glad her instinct had been to freeze, because now as she thought what to do next she was sure that if she had tried to run or hide back in the cottage she would either be caught in the wolf’s jaws now, or trapped in the cottage where the witch would be able to find her. Slowly, Erin began to back away from the wolf, into the clearing. If she ran, it would probably chase her, but if she could get close enough to the trees before it realized...

She kept eye contact with the beast as she backed away, until she felt she was about halfway to the treeline. This had to be enough for her to have a good chance at getting into the forest and away. The wolf didn't look like it could maneuver the dense trees very well. She took a breath- her only attempt to ready herself before she ran for it.

Artemis mirrored the citizens' urgency as she moved through the streets, careful to try and look like she belonged. It was dark, people were frantic, and fog was rolling in from the sea – hopefully that would all be enough to keep eyes off her. She didn't like how she stood out though. Her uncommon features usually drew at least passing attention, and Artemis knew even without those she looked odd. Her clothes were wet, torn, covered in soot, she was barefoot, she somehow had picked up a Kith of all things who looked up to her for being a murderer or something…

At least the soot dulled the white shine of her hair to an ashy grey. That was… something, at least.

Artemis needed to blend in better if she was going to spend any more time in this city. And she needed to figure out how to ditch the creepy kid before a Pirate noticed her and zapped them both with lightning.

She looked up to see lines of clothes hanging high above the streets. Well, it was a start.

Ducking into a deserted alley, Artemis started rummaging through her bag.

"I'm sorry, did I invite you on this adventure?" she said to the Kith girl as she pulled out her stolen knife and a persimmon. Shame. She liked persimmons. "Get lost kid. I don't need someone catching me with a Kith." Her hands were busy carving a crude, sharp-edged rune into the skin of the fruit. She looked up one more time to make sure the coast was clear and then peered high above at a line of clothing. Artemis set her jaw. She'd always had terrible aim.

Artemis cranked her hand back and threw the persimmon. It didn't even come close to hitting the line. For one thing, it flew at least a yard below the line. Artemis tried to not close her eyes at the embarrassing display. The persimmon landed on the cobblestone ground with a muffled splat and… and another sound. A sound like cracking stone. Artemis blinked in surprise at the half-squashed fruit. Then a small smile began to curl the corner of her mouth. Hurrying forward, she bent down and picked it up with careful fingers. One side was completely caved in, the skin torn apart on the impact. The meat of it, once hard, was more of a squishy pulp. But below it, almost hidden beneath juice and bits of fruit on the cobblestone, was a small, clean cut.

Damn, but Artemis loved runes. A new idea came to her then. Knife in hand, she drew another small, plane rune under the first one (it hadn't been on the side that'd been destroyed at least) and stood back up. Artemis cocked her hand back once more and threw.

This time even her terrible aim couldn't stop the persimmon's flight. The second rune guided it up with perfect aim to the line. The moment the fruit touched the cord it severed. The persimmon fell to the ground again, but Artemis wasn't looking at it. She was beaming, watching the line fall, bringing the clothes with it. It wasn't quite long enough to reach the ground when it was still attached at the other side. But Artemis was tall with a long reach, and her prizes were well within her range. Artemis ran and plucked clothes from the line. At least now she'd have something better to wear than her heavy, ruined skirts.

Looking around the alley once more she ducked behind some sort of large trash bin. It'd have to do for. Artemis started stripping out of her old clothes and putting her stolen goods on.

Lalna's expression had already changed as he closed his eyes and prepared for the pummeling he was about to receive, yet, it didn't come. instead the man holding him pulled back as a cane hit him on the back of head with a loud whack.

standing behind the man was an older gentleman, seemingly scolding the one that was giving Lalna a less then friendly greeting.. something about a sun child? well, whatever it is, it seemed to work as the rude one stepped back, apparently taken aback by current circumstances as the older man stepped forwards.

of the words spoken, one rang true. home.. according to this man the lantern that he had found was his way back home, out from wherever this place is, and if what he was told was true, then he had to run, guard it from someone calling themselves a lady of light?

turning around, Lalna began running down the path the old man showed him, apparently supposed to find a witch? this kept getting wielder and weirder... was it some odd dream? thoughts rushed through his brains alongside his own rushing down a path unknown, where was he? who where these people, a witch, a lady of light? this all didn't make any sense. but as it stood, his only goal was to run towards those woods, and make haste. he needed to protect his only way home