The Tavern }{ Anyone for a drink?

[HoudiniDerek]

"That might not be a good idea," Guang advised as Jada started to head out of the thicket. She looked at him confused, but stopped.

"I think that might make things worse. We might want to know everyone a little better first before you invite them all home for one. Two, some of the goons at the bar might know you and where to find you. If you don't go home, they might not wait long...but they will expect you to go there first. I think it would be best if we could all settle down and see if we can figure this out here...and then, go tell your mother about tonight."

Guang finally relaxed, as speaking tended to do to him. He slid his knife back into the belt and waited for the others to do the same. Maybe it just took a little bit of courage from one person for the others to see that there was nothing to fear.

In the meantime: "I'm still waiting for an answer, wolf," Guang thought at the statue by his side.

[jada]

"Your right, glad I have you as a friend Guang, I didn't even think about that," Jada said to him.

Jada sat down against a tree and closed her eyes listening to the sounds of the leaves ruslte in the wind. The wind blew her caramel hair all arond her tired looking face. She wasn't quite asleep but it was comming soon. Todays events have drained much of her energy.

Jada let her ears keep her awake with all the noise.

[Admin]

Orik spun on the other elf. "An' ye? What's yer business here?" Orik though he was a bit harsh, but why shouldn't he be? Troubling times called for extra caution.

Orik then looked to the gnome. "Where are ye from, me friend?" Gnomes and dwarves had no problems with each other, so Orik decided to be cordial toward him. And, Orik didn't expect any troubles to arise from a gnome anyway.

[HoudiniDerek]

"I'm from the Truestren Way," Guang answered, closing the distance between himself and Jada, putting himself equal distances between the elf girl and her lycan...and his back to the tree Jada was by.

Guang kept his eye on the lycan now as the dwarf had been no problem as of yet, except for his continued brashness. But Guang knew that dwarves were inordinately paranoid in situations where they thought there might be battle. Something in their blood chemistry attuned them more to it, he supposed.

"And what brings you to Tamasha this time of year?" Guang asked, leaning casually against the tree, one eye still on the lycan.

[jada]

Jada was watching them all move around, and their conversation grow.

"I better stay quiet, not that I have much to say..." Jada said to herself.

She watched Guang back up into the tree she was leaning against and he also now leaned against the tree, talking with the dwarf. All Jada could think about was how to tell her mother.

"Mom, I...I tried to tell you before, but I couldn't find the right time, nor the words to tell you...." Jada began creating her convincing speach in her head.

" You see I have this gift, the same one my father had. I only just discovered it, and it's time you now know that I can shapeshift. That sounds convincing," Jada continued thinking about exactly what she would and wouldn't tell her mother.

[Admin]

Orik responded without looking at the gnome. "Good times, I suppose. Can't find a better place than Tamasha fer a good time an' a bit o' ale." The dwarf kept his eyes locked on the two elves.

A thought suddenly came to Orik. Are they together? It was a horrible thought, for two elves could easily outsmart Orik...but he couldn't believe he was admitting it! The truth was there, though--two elves conspiring together could mean trouble for everyone else here. If Orik was forced to choose sides, he would easily pick the gnome--after all, they had no problems in history. Orik lowered his ax a bit, but kept it at the ready in case any trouble were to arise.

[jada]

Jada felt the eyes of the dwarf lock on her. She felt unfomfortable, and the hair on the back of her neck began to rise. She shivered as the wind pushed past her, and wished she was home.

Jada looked around, unsure what to say or do. She pushed off from the tree and walked over to the dwarf," I'm Jada, but you would know me as the bar tender girl," she said sticking out her hand waiting for him to shake it.

After shaking hands Jada's saphire blue eyes looked up to the sky. "I really need to be getting home, my mother would have expected me home at least an hour ago, she must be terribly worried. I know it's not the smartest thing but I can't wait much longer, I am going to have to have to trust you all. I need to get home." Jada sighed looking back at everyone.

Jada looked to Guang now. She looked for reasureance in his eyes, but all she could find was curiousity. He looked like he wanted to know more about everyone. Jada had a feeling she wouldn't be going home for a while.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang realized that Jada was getting restless, but that did not by any means increase her caution. Probably her basic instinct as a human was to run, but her alternate form had the mindset to stay and to NOT run. Irony indeed.

It looked and sounded as though she wanted to go, but not without the group, or at least not without him. That might be putting too fine a point on it, but it was nice to know that SOMEONE enjoyed his company, not that he had much time for it most days.

"Jada," Guang said, the voice floating on a breeze so there was little need to increase his volume. "I think your mother would understand...and I think it wise to know the business of everyone before we traipse on home. Like the dwarf, I would prefer to know the nature of our...acquaintances here. It would be better to hear their side of their story before we move on."

Guang nodded his head slightly at the dwarf, hoping he would get the signal to move closer to Jada while he brought his gaze back towards the lycan. This could get messy, but maybe they could just win out as friends. Stranger things had happened, Guang supposed.

[jada]

"Fine, it is reasonable to do so. But as soon as we know we have everyones trust can we go? The night is growing darker and colder and a wind is picking up." Jada said rubbing her tan arms to stay warm.

Jada looked at him plaedingly. She really wanted to get home and sleep on her warm bed. She wanted to hug her mother and brother, and tell them her secret. She wanted so much and coulldn't wait for it to happen. Her excitment had to be held back though, at least for now.

[Admin]

All this talk of 'trust' had Orik agitated. These people spoke of trust so easily, yet Orik could tell that not much trust had gone around the circle. Although Orik felt nothing from the gnome, Guang, from what he heard the elven girl called him, he couldn't so readily trust him. True bonds of trust took many months to form, and these people acted as if everyone could be trusted.

Before Orik could say anything further to the group, a shower of arrows rained overhead.

"Cover yerselves!" the dwarf shouted to the rest. Orik deftly dove behind a nearby tree, careful to hold his ax away from his body. Orik, though he couldn't explain why, hoped that everyone else had moved to safety as well.Jada and HD, your text is really hard to read on the dark background. -

[HoudiniDerek]

The rain of arrows showered over ahead and the dwarf cried out. Suddenly, Guang seemed to be standing alone in the small thicket. Apparently, he had not been agitated enough to jump to safety...probably to his misfortune.

Out of the nearby thicket came a group of men...the same that had threatened Jada at the bar. Not only had they found them again AND brought more men, they seemed to have sobered as well. Not the best odds considering that Guang knew that Jada was somewhat more concerned with her family and that the dwarf still seemed too hesitant.

Cautious, but unconcerned, Guang drew his knife and watched as the men approached. IF everyone here decided to ally themselves with each other, the men oncoming would have no chance...IF. Not that it mattered, Guang realized a moment later: The group was splitting up, working to flank him, Jada, and probably the dwarf since they had heard them. Maybe they had the advantage if the other elf girl and her lycan were friendly.

Guang decided to call attention to himself and stepped forward, knife glinting in the firelight they carried on their torches.


"I think that's far enough, gents," Guang said, smiling coldly.Tor: It was GREAT with the ORIGINAL skin you had, you know. ;) -

[jada]

Jada came up to Guang's side. Her hands turned into hard fists. She was scared of all the men but angry. Horribly angry. She could easily change into her panther form and slash them all to pieces. Well, some of them, there were to many for her to take on all of them.

Jada's fear was slowly building though. "What if they catch me? What will they do to me? WHAT IF THEY CATCH ME?" She cried over and over in her head.

Then the anger came. It flushed all the fear away. "They won't catch me because they are slow disgusting pigs. They are drunks. They are worthless. They will not catch me." Jada reasured herself.

[Admin]

As the shower of arrows ceased, Orik got up and brushed the dirt and leaves from himself. Seeing the approaching men, Orik once again raised his ax to the ready. Orik suddenly stopped. They can fend fer themselves. The dwarf decided he would find out who had released the arrows upon the motley party.

***

Careful not to make too much sound, Orik made his way in the direction the arrows had come from. Trying to calm himself, the dwarf screwed open the top of his flask and took a swig. Somewhat refreshed, he closed his flask and pocketed it.

As Orik approached a small stream, he heard voices. Silently, the dwarf shot behind a nearby tree, out of sight. Orik listened intently.

"...came just as the arrows passed!"

A gruff voice answered, "Perfect timin'. They won't be gettin' away too soon."

Orik heard a few indecipherable mumbles and then made out, "...to get that panther-girl."

The dwarf heard a few affirmative grunts. He then heard the crackle of leaves as the party took a route toward the west. Orik, realizing the group's true intent, rushed back silently where he had left the others.

[Kaine]

Kayne, who had been silent most of the time, had hid from the horde of arrows being rained down upon the small party. She hid with her friend Edward the lycan and turned lycan herself for fear of slow imobility of the human form.

Kayne came across the elf girl and the one named Guang who where speaking silently. She sat down along side Edward, the two of them looked like ying and yang. Kayne and Edward would play as the panther-girl's guardians, her protectors. Kayne sent a mind-message to the panther-girl.

""We are with you brave one""

[jada]

Jada jumped, she wasn't quite prepared for a telipathic message. She responded politly though, "thank you for your help."

Jada proceeded to look ahead to the oncomming hord. "Just breath and be prepared for anything," She told herself. Jada's eyes lost the sight of sleep and became alert. She wanted to catch eyes with Guang to make her more comfortable. She couldn't help beinging scared out of her mind. Those men wanted her awfully bad to have chased her down.

Jada stood by Guang's side and took a deep breath. Almost as if was going to be the last one she took. She gazed around looking for an opening to run again, but the woods were thick and for all she knew, she could be surrounded.