The Tavern }{ Anyone for a drink?

[jada]

"Wait don't go, I get off work soon anyways, I believe you about your sister, not many people would kill their own family. I live that way myself, we could walk together." Jada suggested.

She picked up the coin and hopped back over the counter. "I'll be right back," she said rushing off behind the bar. She returned a moment later, " Ok I can leve now!" she said jumping full over the counter without usuing her hands. She avioded all the looks she got and rushed out side.

Since Jada was part panther things such as jumping over a counter were simple and hard to hide because they were so simple. Jada had a lot more muscle then it looked like, all due to her panther half.

I really need to watch that, Jada wispered aloud to herself. She looked around to make sure no one herd her say that but too late, Guang was right behind her.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang stopped and waited as the elf girl raced back towards the manager to get out of work. He was pleased that she had not taken him for some sort of murderer and run away screaming. Most people did...but of course, that made sense. Guang smiled sadly and waited for the elf girl.

Suddenly, she was there and FLYING through the air, hopping the counter without touching the bar at all and landing smoothly on her feet...similar to the cat his sister had once had.

She muttered something under her breath and then flushed as she saw Guang that close by. "Interesting reflexes you have there," Guang said. "Train a long time to get that way or is that a natural ability you have to jump?"

Guang saw a glimmer of worry in her eyes, but couldn't fathom why. Why should she be scared of her ability to jump? If she was, why had she done it?

Before she could answer, a group from one of the tables by the door stood up....and stumbled in front of the door, blocking the exit. "This could be bad," Guang muttered, seeing that the group had somehow swelled to seven...probably more than he could realistically tackle.

"Missy," one of the older guys wheezed. "How about showing me that back at my place?" All the other guys in the gang laughed...and more heads turned.

Just great, Guang thought, his hand edging towards the knife in his belt.

[jada]

Jada's face flushed red with anger," I will do nothing of the sort you disgusting pig!" she hollered at the man.

I'm going to cut him into tiny slices if he opens his mouth again. Jada wispered. Her skin itched all over, she wanted so bad to change into a panther and make her escape, but what would Guang think? what would everyone else think? she would have to leave, but what about her mother?

Jada sighed and saw the group of men grow larger.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang silently pulled the knife from his belt and held it against his side. He admired the elven girl's spunk in yelling at the man who had been so callous, but that just seemed to make him more determined....which is the reason now Guang remembered why he chose not to drink. Why allow something else to control your stupidity?

He watched as the group now became ten...and started to circle them. It looked like he would have to take point and get out...but he wasn't sure he could make it.

He stepped between the girl and the group spokesman, who glared at him with bleary eyes. "Get outta muh way," he grumbled, speaking more to the floor than to Guang.

Guang smiled in a friendly fashion, causing a questioning look to appear on the group leader's face. "Indeed. I am just on my way out...and you are blocking the door. If you would move aside, so I can leave, I will gladly do so." The group leader had seen Guang talking to the girl and had probably thought him an ally, which he was, but was now uncertain.

Guang waited patiently while the man mulled it over. Finally, he nodded and grunted. A small path appeared and one of the goons even opened the door. "Thank you," Guang said, smiling happily. He started to head out, just hoping that the elf girl was quick enough to use the time he had bought her. Whistling, he stepped towards the door.

[jada]

Jada imediatly Changed form into a panther and let out a low growl. She stood on her hind legs to make helf taller and then leaped forward, scoping Guang onto her back as if she were a horse and pounce out of the tavern and away.

She ran into the forest, she couldn't stop, not for a while anyway, it wouldn't be safe. Finally she began to lose her breath and stopped letting Guang slide off her back and then she changed back into a elf and collapsed against a tree.

"Sorry about not telling you, no one knows I can do that,"she gasped refering to her transformation.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang felt himself get knocked onto the back of some sort of animal and held on for dear life. Several minutes later, the form underneath him stopped and deposited him to the ground in one of the forest groves outside the city. Guang rolled up against a tree and saw a panther in front of him. Guang grimaced...until the form shifted and it became the elf girl.

Guang relaxed and listened to her apologize about her transformation. He realized he was still holding his knife and slipped it back into his belt. He sat down and waited for her to regain her breath.

When she did so, he leaned forward. "Now that you are a little more relaxed, maybe you can tell me how you do that and why you don't tell people." Guang smiled and leaned back against the tree, waiting for her to get comfortable.

[jada]

"Well, I guess I am a bit more interesting then I lead you to believe earlier," she laughed," My mother told me not too long ago that she herd my father could shapeshift, she didn't find out til after his death and found no reason to tell my brother or myself, until she got curious to know if eaither of us could shapeshift. I didn't believe it until I was in the woods and I became . I could smell a rabit nearby and I began stalking it. I spotted the small creature and pounced." Jada laughed.

"That's when I discovered I could shapeshift. I didn't tell anyone because then Everyone would use me, I can hear it now, Hunt for me, and me, It's so easy for you to hunt. Or they will fear me, and I'll really be an outcast. I guess I surely am now. I guess the trueth will come out to my mother, I wonder what she will say." Jada said as fear crossed her eyes.

Will she believe it? Will she accept me as her child? Or ban me like everyone else, or even use me? What will my brother think?

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang listened to the tale and his heart went out to the young girl sitting across from him. He knew what it was like to be an outcast from your people, no matter if the fault was yours or not. He could sympathize.

"Your family will not desert you," Guang said, drawing her eyes up to his. "Family is never like that. My family is always with me, if only in spirit. Yes, your family may have to spurn you or go with you, but family never falters...it is stronger than any ONE thing in this lifetime. If you believe in that, you will always have company wherever you go."

Guang smiled and stretched. "What are your plans now? Are you going home? I am still headed that way myself if you want company."

[jada]

"yeah your right, I need to tell my mother. I will go with you." Jada said getting up. Her hands were red and worn from all the running but she was used to it.

"that is why I don't drink,"jada laughed," because ugly old men could have a better opertunity to take advantage of me."

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang helped her up and brushed off his pants from the tumble she had given him. He had to admire her spunk and ability to adapt. Her life might well be over as she knew it, and yet, she was coming through quite well.

Guang started to head towards the city when two things distracted him: One was a growl from the elf girl. The second was a sound from the brush immediately ahead of him. He froze, waiting to see what would happen.

[jada]

"We are not alone,"Jada said smelling the air. She shifted back into a panther and walked ahead through the bushes. She stopped at the sight of an elven woman. Jada backed up and reshifted into herself.

"only another elf," Jada said walkig straight through to meet this mysterious elf. Jada had gained confidence that night, and lots of it.

[Kaine]

** thanks**

A wolf emerged from the brush. Its fur coat was a beautiful black that shimmered in breeze. Another wolf followed it, its fur white as snow, this too was followed by yet another animal. A tall black mare followed. A Nightmare. This figure dissapeared as soon as the elf and man looked upon it. The white wolf stepped forward and transformed into a girl with the looks of seventeen. She had long ebony hair and crimson eyes. Her dress was strange. She wore a type of men's pants called "trip" pants and a small top shirt and some sort of red shoes. The black wolf stayed a wolf and the girl stepped forward.

"Neirs Änliepps Éðójeialdk ÕÑöd fearăāĆß ØlkopeÞ?"

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang waited as the elf girl prowled the bushes to see who or what was there. When she came back and reported another elf girl, Guang was amazed. How many elf girls are out running around town at this hour of the night? Of all the years he had spent in Tamasha, this was something new to him...maybe he was just getting old.

But what surprised him more was the blase way that his companion changed back to an elf and then strode bravely through the brush. Her confidence had undergone a MASSIVE transformation, that is true, but you think her common sense might have kept up.

Grumbling about women in general under his breath, Guang placed his hand on his knife and set out after her. After all, just because it was an elf girl didn't mean she was harmless...as Guang had seen.

[Kaine]

"Neirs Änliepps Éðójeialdk ÕÑöd fearăāĆß ØlkopeÞ?" the girl said again. She reached her hand twards the other elf girl and smiled, two wolf like fangs protruding her scarlet lips. The black wolf sat down and stared at the knife in the hands of the man coming twards them. The elf girl switched to the language to which the other beings were speaking.

"You are like me, a child of change?" she smiled again. She had found what she had been searching for.

"I have been looking for a traveling partner.." the black wolf growled," A partner the same as me, my dear Edward.." the wolf calmed and returned its stare at the man. The girl sat down most unlady-like on a large root that stuck out of the ground. "Would you travel with me, my friend, my sister?"

[jada]

"Well, This is all rather sudden. I have never met anyone like us before, and..." Jada was at a loss for words. This is what she wanted, to travel, to maybe find her father still alive somewhere, to have adventure. Was she going to pass the opritunity?

"What will mother say if I tell her then just leave?Will she understand? Maybe she'll say it's for the best? ...maybe...

"I'll go, I just have to say good-bye to my mother first." Jada turned to Guang," You are a wonderful friend Guang, Will you join me?" Jada hoped he said yes because he truely was her first friend.