The Tavern }{ Anyone for a drink?

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang was getting ready to agree when the sound of voices came from ahead of them in the forest. Grabbing Jada and clamping his hand over her mouth, he dropped to the ground behind a bush so they could see the trail.

Ten men led the way, two of them holding a large bag, which must contain the other elf girl. That led Guang to remember the lycan. Lycan! Guang shouted. Over here! Guang hoped that this would be enough to allow the lycan to know that he was not alone in helping the elf girl.

Guang watched the two men in front reach for a hidden key and turn the lock to the barn. Then, they both pulled up the large bar holding it locked in place. Guang knew that now was the best time to attack with two at the door and two holding the girl. If the lycan helped with at least one of them, then he and Jada could take the remaining five or so.

Guang looked over at Jada and winked, slowly drawing his sword back out from its scabbard. He nodded at her and withdrew his hand. "Panther," he mouthed. He took a deep breath and bolted from the brush, slashing soundlessly at the two men next to him.

Before he could get another, the men turned, two of them dropping the elf girl to the ground in a heap. The other two let the heavy bar slam back down, keeping the door shut. Two down, eight to go. Guang wielded the sword and waited for the attack. It came seconds later....

[jada]

Jada morphed and leaped out of the bushes with her claws streached out. She landed on the closest man and tackled him, her claws dug into him and killed him.

She instantly turned around to find another man standing over her about to slash through her, it was mere seconds but just enough time for Jada to side step. The knife in his hand missed Jada's heart and hit her shoulder, better a wound then death Jada told her self trying to ignore the pain. She swiped her paw through the air cutting his hands badly and he dropped the knife. Jada let out a harsh grow and flung herself at him. She cut him up and moved on to help Guang.

Four down six left. Jada started to circle the men and coral them, hopefully she could back them up away from Kayne so she could save her. Jada gave another low harsh grow like she was going to pounce and some of the men backed away. This was what Jada hoped for, maybe she could scare some of them off. She jumped on a man in the middle of the group sending everyone else scattering. Jada tore at him, slashing. She hit him against the ground and saw his eyes close in pain and they never reopened. Jada turned to find her next opponent. She saw most of them running.

She looked around desparately for Kayne's body but someone had picked it up. Jada leaned down to the ground and snifted. Kayne's sent was freash, but which way did they take her. Jada moved quickly and found that Kayne had been moved to the other side of the barn but whoever put her there had left. Jada went to cut open the bag and three men jumped out from the bushes.

Three on one isn't fair! Jada thought, but she knew fair didn't matter to a bunch of pigs.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang had managed to slice another man down and watched as Jada took several down too. He wielded his sword against the final man as she took off around the barn. Guang dropped him and looked around. That had been too quick...and only a handful of bodies was there.

Guang heard the twang too late. The arrow embedded in his back and pushed through the left side of his chest, the sharp tip protruding about two inches through. Guang managed to gasp before he lost his sword and fell to the ground.

Lycan! Guang thought. If you are there, help Jada! With that final thought, he succumbed to the blackness around him, face down in the path, his blood mingling with those of the others.

************************

The archer climbed down from the tree and headed around back where he could hear the snarls of the panther and the curses of the men. Maybe he could get close enough to her too. He eased his way through the bushes until he was on the opposite side of the barn. He saw the panther eyeing the three men in front of her, protecting the sack with the other elf girl.

He pulled out another arrow, nocked it on the string, and aimed. Seconds later, he let out his breath and released with a loud TWANG!

[jada]

Jada was struck. She didn't even know where it came from but she was hit in her back. The arrow hit so hard Jada morphed and fell to her knees. Tears streamed down her face and blood ran down her back. She wasn't even going to try to pull the arrow out. All she could do was just try and breathe. Even that seem challengeing. Jada leaned forward and put preasure on her hands, and collapsed on the ground. Her shirt was stained in blood. All the men just stood there confused at what had just happened. One man gained enough sense to check out her wound. He pulled the arrow out slowly and carefully and wrapped her wound with her shirt, then boasted," Well we got the other one back!"

[Kaine]

The sounds of battle filled the air when Kayne awoke. Edward was no where to be seen, but as the elven girl spied around from her cloth-like prison, she saw a horror beyond realizing. Jada, her friend and ward was struck with an arrow. Rushing to her aid, Kayne didn't feel the wounds given to her from her stuggles. She called for Edward, he wouldn't respond to her mental screams.

//Edward, Lady Jada needs our help, I can not fight. My powers are wanning. Please come to my aid, no, come to our aid. I hear the man, Guang, he screams for you too! Edward, help us!\\

But Edward didn't come. For he was fighting aswell, closer than anyone would have thought. Something was happening to him, for he could not hear the calls of his friends. His hands morphed, fur turning to skin, four legs to two arms and two legs. He was changing for the first time in over four-hundred years!

[jada]

One man scooped Jada up and she lay in his arms barley consious. Her head was spinning and she was in terrible pain. The man who was carrying her was talking to someone and he turned around for a split second, this was when Jada relized what had happened. Jada saw a man hidden in the trees. Jada had no clue who he was working for but he obviously wanted her dead or in his posetion. Jada was carried off around the barn and the man fadded away.

Jada looked in horror at Guang's body on the ground. He wasn't moving and she saw he was covered in blood. "I should have neve left his side." Jada whispered under her breath. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she slowly drifted to blackness.

Two other men approached Kayne," Well since your awake will give you an option, walk with us or we will drag you concious or not." They laughed at the rude threat.

*****

The man in the trees jumped down and hid in the dark shadows. He would reveal himself when the time was right. All that was on his mind was to get the girl away from everyone else. She was wanted by his boss and he would be granted freedom in exchange for her. Hurting her was allowed, death wasn't an option. The arrow that hit Jada was filled with a powder that could knock a person out cold for at least a day. He planned on stealing her in that time. He saw the shot hit her hard but the men standing there attended her wound so she'd be fine.

When she wakes up i'll pretend I saved her from those disgusting men. Little will she know where I'm takeing her will be much worse then those men. The man felt a little sorry for the girl but his freedom mattered more.

[Kaine]

Kayne glowered at the men and knelt by Jada. The injured elven girls had little to do but be there. With Jada passed out, Kayne was on her own until, maybe even IF, Edward came. She stood tall, putting on the best face one could at a time like this. With determination, she walked after the man in front and they slowly passed the spot where Edward was lying, breathing hard from a forced and unexpected change.

****

Edward fell. His change complete, he was now a boy of 19. His hair was an ebony never seen before in this land. Golden eyes remained and his ears stayed. Slight fangs protruded from his lips. His skin paler than would be expected. Panting and , he slowly rose upon his hands as Kayne and some men with Lady Jada walked by. Edward cried out, but nothing sounded. Edward saw Kayne, his best friend and slight crush, though she knew this not, turned twards him and their eyes met.

[jada]

The small party of men, Jada and Kayne headed for the small dirt road some ways ahead of them. Jada lay still in a bigger man's arms. Her head was pressed against the mans chest and her arms were folded over her chest. Her feet dangled down. Her Caramel hair swayed in the slight breeze as the man carring her walked on. Another two men stood on eaither side of Kayne and one behind her. They walked on aways and became closer to their destination.

***

This was the archer chance. He'd have to take out the other girls body guards first. He pushed an arrow to his bow, aimed and realeased the arrow. It struck the man on Kayne's left side. Before anyone realised what happened he aimed and fired again hitting the man to the right of Kayne.

The man behind Kayne relized what was happening and pulled Kayne inbetween him and the archer. Then man holding Jada did the same.

"Shoot!" the archer cursed under his breath. He couldn't hit them now the ladies were in the way. "Although they still haven't seen me!" He said cheering up a bit. He stealthily moved to postion himself behind the two men. It would take some time, but once he was behind them they were easy targets.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang was six...happily playing with his sister in the treehouse of his best friend, Braish. They were playing with several sharpened sticks and doing their best to throw them onto a target across the room. The children did this a lot because it was fun and it would help prepare them for war, as all gnome children are taught.

Braish threw another one, which landed squarely in the middle of the target. He laughed and went to collect it as Guang frowned at him. "Come on, Guang. You can do it too, you know."

Guang squared himself and threw the long, sharp stick at the target. It hit in the dead center as well. Guang jumped up and yelled excitedly, but he tripped and fell backwards towards his sister...she was holding a sharp stick straight up...it pierced his back....

Guang awoke, coughing up blood and mud. He was facedown on the trail, his left side burning and not responsive to any movement he tried to make. Finally, he pushed with his right hand and came to a kneeling position. His left arm caved and he fell back to the path.

Guang waited a moment and realized that his arm was probably being hurt by whatever was causing the burning. Slowly, he rolled over to the right and looked down. He saw the arrow protruding from his chest and realized that he was lucky to be alive.

Struggling to a sitting position, Guang looked around him and saw several dead bodies...as well as the footprints of one of the young girls leading away down the path. "Damn," Guang muttered.

He reached back with his right hand and found the shaft of the arrow. Luckily, it had been broken off and was easy to grasp. Breathing quickly, he yanked hard, causing the wound to gape even more, spilling more blood onto the path. Guang cursed for a few moments and came to the point of retching, but managed to hold it in.

He waited for a few more minutes and finally made it to his feet. He knew he would have to track the people leaving, but first, he would have to make a sweep of the barn. Several minutes later, this was accomplished and Guang got ready to head down the path, weary with the massive blood loss. He was just getting ready to start out when a young man stepped onto the path.

[jada]

The archer stuck to the shadows as he stalked around the two men left holding the girls hostage. Once behind the men he had the advantage he needed.

The archer drew his bow and shot an arrow. It hit the man holding Kayne square in the back. He topled over dead instantly. She was free, now all he needed was to kill Jada's captor.

He ran up behind him and pulled out a dagger from his belt at the waist. He stabbed him in the back and he fell to the ground. The archer bent down and carefully picked Jada up and retreated to the shadows. Now he had to make his getaway, Jada would wake up soon.

Jada felt terrible pain as she moved slightly. She opened her eyes and remebered being shot with an arrow. Jada was startled by the man sitting next to but she didn't move anymore the pain was to much. Instead she spoke," Who are you and what happend to those men, and where are my friends?"

The archer herd Jada's questions but hushed her," You need some sleep now, I know you want awnsers but rest is what you need to heal. I can see you winceing. Just close your eyes and relax." He brushed the hair out of her eyes and gazed upon her beautiful face, It was ashame such a beautiful girl would be in his curent masters clutches for the rest of her life. But the archer couldn't care much beyond that, his freedom deepended on her capture.

Jada obeyed as the mysterious man hushed her. Sleep sounded nice anyway. She did want awnsers but she supposed they could wait a little longer. Jada was worried about her friends but there was nothing she could do for them now anyway. Jada closed her eyes and fell into a soundless sleep.

[ladywarrior]

The young woman crept out of the shadows of the barn. "Bloody hell," She uttered, sapphire eyes widening. "What happened to the lass?" No one answered. But she expected THAT.

[Kaine]

, sorry i had a post but it went byebye~))

Kayne started to plot. Should she take out the two guards on either side of her? Or the guard holding Lady jada? Just then both of her guards fell and the one behind her took her and used the elf girl as a sheild. Before kayne could shift to her other form, her guard fell as well as Lady Jada's. Kayne started to go to the fallen elf's side, but a man cut her off and took Jada away. //NO!!\\ Kayne waited one hour before following in her wolven form.

_-_-_-_-_-_

Edward panted, he had finally gotten rid of the wolf ears, but his fangs wouldn't leave. He wasn't sure why, but they just wouldn't change all the way. His canines stayed sharp. He slowly rose to his hands and knees, the first time in over 400 yrs. Moments passed after Kayne walked by without seeing him.

*******

Edward stiffened, the man named Guang, was still alive. He moved slowly at first, but he eventually rose and started after the girls. Edward stood up and staggered to the pathway. He stopped infront of Guang and sighed out.

"Guang, I'm here to aid you, will you find me a weapon? I will save Lady kayne and help with the rescue of Jada."

Edward knew that his voice in his human form was the same as his wolven tele-voice, he just hoped that Guang would recognize it too.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang swayed woozily on his feet as the young man came into the moonlight. He thought he heard the voice of the lycan, but it seemed to come from the mouth of the man standing in front of him. Guang shook his head and held onto his knife a little tighther. Guang knew that the lycan was an animal and not a man. So either the lycan was somewhere nearby speaking mentally to him or this was an imposter and Guang was delirious.

"Who are you?" Guang slurred heavily. "I have to warn you that I am not able to judge reality too well. If you attack me or try to keep me from following the people who have left here, I will defend myself. I have no quarrel with you that I know of...and I would hope you have none with me."

Guang swayed again, but took some deep breaths and his vision started to clear. He would have to rest soon and bathe his wound. Hopefully he could apply some salve as well to keep the wound from tearing. He took his hand from his knife and drew his sword.

"Now, please stand aside or I will be forced to open the path...through you if necessary." Guang stepped forward, but stumbled. The sword swung down, plunging into the ground. The momentum carried him to within a foot of the man. Guang looked deep in the eyes and saw the tinge that reminded him of the lycan.

"Lycan...." Guang mumbled in surprise. This WAS the lycan. He blinked rapidly, but his sight kept diminishing. For the second time that night, Guang fell face first to the path and was unconscious. His sword fell by the feet of the lycan.

[Kaine]

Edward breathed deeply, the man wasn't understanding! But just as the new "boy" was about to completely explain himself, Guang fell to his feet and became unconscious. Edward backed-up when Guang's sword tumbled in front of him. Bending down, the lycan-boy picked up the sword and took Guang's sheath, adjusting it so as to fit to his back instead of his belt. Sliding the weapon in its holder, Edward knelt once more and slung Guang over his back, he seemed almost weightless to the strong young man. And once Guang was secure, Edward ran into the night with the passed-out man over his shoulders.

**********

Kayne ran on and soon found a split path. The sent trailed both ways. //Smart man\\ She thought to herself as she ran twards the right, the path that felt the warmest to her. //Please, Lady Jada, stay alive for me...\\

[jada]

Jada awoke to the mysterious man sitting next to her. He kept looking around widly like someone was comming. Jada slowly pushed herself into a sitting position and found that he had tended to her aroow wound on her back. He had wrapped a cloth bandage around her several times to keep it from bleeding. "Thank you for tending to my wounds. But I must know, who are you? and why did you save me, and where are my friends?"

"I slayed all the men holding you and your other female friend but I could only help one of you. You looked like you needed the most help. She can take care of herself. Actually I think she was following me, but I can't leave you by yourself otherwise I would have gone looking for her. If you have more friends than that I haven't seen them, I'm sorry." The archer said to Jada.

"So that still doesn't explain who you are and what you are doing here." Jada said imaptiently.

"I am Cadmus, but you can call me cad. I was just out and about hunting. See there are my arrows."

Just then it clicked in Jada's head...he's an archer...I was shot with an arrow, along with Guang, and who knows who else...HE SHOT US! but why?