Don't Let Your Hope Fade

Her hand fell from his face when he placed his fingers on hers, forcing a silly smile as he curved her lips upward. Just the action alone made the forced smile turn into a real one as she couldn’t help herself from laughing. He’s going to be just fine. She thought to herself, as he shot a playful wink at her and brought her in close again. Maybe he could tell she was worried, even though she tried not to wear her emotions on her sleeve.

Holding her head up, she stared down at his neck as he spoke. His story made her heart ache, tales like that were always hard to hear… which made her realize it must have been hard to say. It was nice to know he trusted her enough to tell her, but it was just another puzzle piece to his complicated and dark past that she was placing together in her mind. When he posed that question to her, she stood against him in silence for a moment. After taking a breath she quickly wrapped her arms around him and smiled widely. There was no way her words could describe how grateful she was at the gesture, so possibly squeezing with as much might as she could muster would be enough.

Stepping back, moving her arms to his shoulders she cheerfully smiled up at him through strands of wavy brown hair. “I would love nothing more, Nick! I will do my best to be a good sister to you!” Being an only child herself, it was a blessing to have someone she could refer to as “brother” , even if it was illegitimate. She thought he had finished speaking, but quickly added at the end mentions of Adam being attracted to her, triggering her to hide her face with a gasp so Nick couldn’t see the heat that had risen to her cheeks, the squeaking gasp sound she made was reminiscent to the sounds of a mouse. Nervous laughter erupted from her as she tried to mask her thoughts with rational explanation, “Don’t be silly, with real women like Rynn and Jenna around… I don’t exactly catch any eyes.” If Nick found out that Gavyn was even musing with the idea of being with Adam, he was sure to do something about it. But she couldn’t help but be easily smitten by him, from the moment he approached her when she first came into the group it was obvious Adam had a genuine kindness in his heart, even when he burst out in anger toward Nick, he was remorseful. And those beautiful gold eyes of his didn’t seem to help her case either…

With any form of love an admiration came envy, not hateful envy but a feeling of desire to be like the other girls in the group was apparent. Currently she was trying to work on her attitude alone, but if she had a body like either of them, it would be nice. Her style of dress was plain and not provocative in any sense, considering she mainly wore prairie like dresses, and her hair wasn’t cut or styled in any particular fashion. Living in a home where she was kept inside most of her days, she had no intention of impressing and only saw other styles of dress within foreign scandalous magazines her grandmother would sneak into the home to try and broaden the girls horizons.

Before she knew it, Nick had picked her up by her sides and placed her on his shoulders. “Ah! Hey! This is really high! Hold on a second!” She wabbled back and forth a bit before she finally got her balance, resting her hands in his hair as an insurance policy so he wouldn’t go too fast. She couldn’t help but giggle, but then the giggle turned into a loud laughter that drew even more attention to the two heroes. “Okay, Okay! Uhm…” Looking around she scanned the area, “We can’t goof off too much! Why don’t we try eating over there!” She pointed across the street on their left to a bar and grill type place. She figured they may be able to kill two birds with one stone by picking a place where shady characters may hang out as well. If they were lucky their ears could pick up some valuable information.

Adam sat with an unchanging face as Lauren began talking about the heroes being bad Well I'm going to go ahead and assume that this girl isn't part of any la'Ronk resistance SOOOO best to not mention anything negative about the la'Ronk. But I may be able to play this well enough to find out if she knows where resistance are. Adam's thought was interrupted by the sound of glass shattering and Lauren falling into his lap.

Shit, she's drunk...probably wont be getting any information from her now. "Don't be embarrassed Lauren." Adam carefully shifted the drunken Lauren off his lap, and then bent down and picked up the shattered glass and placed it on the table. "Now as for the heroes, I don't know much about them to be honest. During my travels to New Verga I didn't hear much about them, I know no more than anyone else. I didn't even know they would be coming to New Verga."

"And it's understandable not having faith, and I would think that the Heroes are attacking the la'Ronk because they believe they are doing the right thing. And on the note of wanting to be peaceful but violent, when I'm tending a garden at times I must uproot a very nice plant because while beautiful it is drawing to much water away from the other plants. Sometimes something must be destroyed so that new things can grow."

Adam took another sip of his drink, he knew that this girl was a la'Ronk supporter in some way and he needed to get information from her but he would have to be careful. "My dear this bar is quite crowded don't you think so? How about we go somewhere more private? I would love to hear about your views on the la'Ronk." Adam didn't really want to flirt with Lauren she was attractive by all means but he didn't see her that way.

Adam wouldn't admit it, not due to embarrassment but because he didn't want to creep out Gavyn. He was thinking about dropping subtle hints on and off and he hoped she felt the same way.

Whimpering, the woman grabbed at Adam's shirt before she flicked her arms around his neck. Going away, with him? It seemed like a dream come true. Without a doubt, she would spill everything to the male just because she thought their was a connection. Being the princess and all, it sort of happened that way. If you found someone, you got them even if they didn't want you. This was the case for Jenny Lynn. She wasn't interested in Arthur, but, once proposed to, the woman couldn't refuse (as she might have lost her head).

Wobbling out of the booth, she slapped some cash on the counter before falling outside. The street wasn't as busy as she remembered. Maybe she'd been in the pub too long? An hour? Or two? And her guards? They were busy grinding against hookers so she was completely on her own.

Lauren sent a panicked look at Adam before she latched onto his shoulder. With a light purr, she rolled her eyes over to lock with his. "Have you a girl, Adam?"

Obeying her suggestion, Nick weaved his way between the people that were in their crowded little area. It was so much easier to sift between the people with Gavyn atop him as he didn't have to worry about losing her. Being freakishly tall compared to the others in the area, Gavyn had to look like a princess riding a dragon. The look in her eyes wasn't something one could just make up. No, it was genuine and real. A few people pointed to the pair and smiled. It was nice to see siblings play with one another, or at least that's what the people whispered.

As he reached the bar, he plopped the slender woman on the ground before patting his matted hair back to its usual messy style. Arm going around her neck, as he didn't want anyone to steal her out from under his nose, he brushed back the cloth door that lead to the inner workings of the pub.

Signaling a waiter with a three-fingered wave, the pair was approached by a handsome looking male that wore a nice pair of swords on his hip. A bit hesitant, Nicholas let Gavyn go forward with the man before he brought up the rear. It would be better for the woman to distract the surly looking man.

Seated at the bar, Nick nodded to the waiter when he asked if they would need a few minutes to figure out their order. The same green-eyed man had actually taken his shift off to accompany the two - Nick and Gavyn - for lunch. Rolling his eyes, Nick spat a few rude comments to the male.

"Tch, is this town not big enough for you?"

"Silence your tongue. I know who you are. Both of you," his eyes flickered in the dim bar's light. "I've been following your group for a while now. I'm a part of the resistance. I'm on your side," he said placing a hand on Gavyn's on dainty fingers. "The name if Michael Allen Kirk. I'm hoping I can be of assistance to you and the fair lady."

"Pffft, I have no idea what you're talking about. You better stop spreading lies, mister."

"Were you not at Dawn Castle yesterday? Was it not you that arrived first? And the message you wrote on the wall... does that language mean nothing to you?"

"Uhhhh..." Nick's attention drifted to the bartender. "I'll have whatever you recommend." Continuing to ignore Michael, he hoped that this ruffian would just up and leave. How was he to be certain that this green-eyed male wasn't really a la'Ronk spy?

Slipping off the tall boys shoulders, she wiggles around a bit, patting down her dress before he held open the entryway of the bar. Upon entering, her eyes scanned the dimly lit room, smoke floating above the heads of the patrons. Faint music played as shady characters turned their eyes toward the seemingly out of place “kids” walking through the entrance.

Without more than a moments notice, a broad shouldered man who looked in every detail reminiscent of a knightly character in storybooks from her childhood, approached them. Gavyn couldn’t help but take a step back into Nicks chest, her eyes glued to the blades hanging on his belt. It was strange, even though Nick and the others possessed power, she did not fear them. But those who carry weapons always seemed to frighten her some. Especially now that she was somewhat of a wanted woman, along with Nick and the rest of the clan.

But when Nick motioned for her to walk with the man, trusting his judgment she walked beside him, nervously twiddling her fingers near her stomach. Upon taking a seat, she realized this man wasn’t just escorting them inside, he was planning on sitting with them. His identity was a mystery until Nick roughly purged it from the mans lips.

One thing she had always noticed that people were more likely to give information if they were upset or trying to prove someone wrong, and Nick was doing a pretty good job of getting him to spill his identity. He didn’t look like your average member of the resistance, could he be telling the truth? Gavyn thought to herself, shocked to discover he really had been following them.

It was now that they needed to make a move with logic, not emotion… so it was a good thing Nick was at a loss for words toward the man named Michael. “You see, Mister Kirk, we aren’t exactly in a position to give out trust easily…” Her eyes glanced at his hand placing itself upon hers and then made their way back to Nick. Clearing her throat, she pulled her hand out from under his and smiled sheepishly, “It’s obvious you know exactly who we are, but we just know your name… and even if it is truly your name, it’s not enough for us to be able to trust you enough to even share a meal in this city, let alone discuss plans with you.”

Adam walked along the street basically carrying the drunken Lauren along, "No actually I don't have a girl, but there is someone I would like to be with." flashing her a grin. Adam knew that if he was going to get the info he wanted he would have to a degree seduce her.

Adam needed to get Lauren to a private area so they could talk about the la'Ronk. "Lauren my dear." Locking his eyes with hers "Perhaps we could go to your place and talk. I would absolutely love to talk about your opinions on the la'Ronk! I believe it would be quite an interesting conversation. It may last so long that I'll have to stay the night." giving her a devious little smirk.

While Adam wanted as much info as he could he knew that he had to be careful and that he could be walking into some sort of trap.

(sorry for the absence.)

Kyle looked up at the smug prince. He had really hoped never to see the bastard again. Whenever he did, he felt like his insides were boiling, calling him to kill the man on the spot, but the la'Ronk are powerful enemies. He couldn't do that, at least, not yet. He didn't take the horse, he'd rather walk anyway. He nodded at the soldiers as he pushed past them. He looked at Jenny Lynn and asked, "Where to know?"

[[Short post is short.]]

"Alaaronie, Nithium. To Nick's house. He has something we need. I left it there years ago." Turning her horse around, she rode off toward the land she called home. "It'll be quite the ride, but it'll do us all some good. We can see how the people are. How much they fear us...."

Cole grinned over at Jenna as she spoke. "Yes, this partnership is going to work well I think," he told her. Working together they should be able to get everything and more that they might need for their journey.

"Let's go to the shopping district, they'll have most things we'll need. Bags and batteries will be the easiest things to come by, so we'll get them first," he told her, leading the way for them. Her being powerless would be bad, especially if they ran into an enemy, so batteries would be a priority. He wasn't at his strongest at the moment, but he still had some power.

Seeing her pull up her cloak, Cole adjusted his hat, making a hundred percent sure that the tiara was not visible. Hats were common in New Vegra, so his wouldn't draw eyes to him, not like the tiara. It was a a bit ridiculous, but there wasn't anything he could do about it.

(...sorry I haven't posted...job hunting has been rough...)

((I'm sorry it's been rough! Job hunting sucks butt...))

Grinning Jenna nodded her agreement. She couldn't help but feel relieved that she was getting along with everyone. It would make things so much easier. When he started leading the way for them she followed behind closely. "I'm glad you know your way around here. Easier that way," she said with a small chuckle.

"After we get those two items I think we should go for blankets and things like that next." They were going to need something to sleep with. There was no way they could travel for however long without some comfort things.

Out of the corner of her eye she watched Cole shift his hat on his head. Jenna would have hated to have to wear the tiara. It was the hardest item to hide. Stepping closer to him Jenna wrapped one of her arms through his. "Less suspicious this way." She said with a smile.

As they reached the shopping district Jenna's eyes began to roam the place. She tried to pick out easy places to hit. Where they could get away with stealing and where they needed to buy from. Angling her body to the left she bumped into a guy. "I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed and only got a mumbled grunt from him. Turning her head to the side she grinned at Cole as they continued to walk. "Well now we have some money," she whispered to him and flashed him the coin purse she got off the guy before sticking it in a hidden pocket in her cloak.

Garnette was not too please with the way that Jenny Lynn introduced her to the group, but she did her best not to show it on her face. That wasn't the best way to regard the woman who was technically her boss. It didn't help that they couldn't stand each other.

She was about to give Jenny a scathing reply, but stopped herself as the prince arrived. He was one of the few people, with the others being his sisters, that Garnette would give her respect to. They had it all, and she wished that she had it too. It was part of the reason she was resentful of Jenny.

"Of course your Majesty. Anything to help your, precious bride-to-be," she told him, giving him a proper bow of respect.

She stood back, allowing the others to pick their horses, she had already arranged for her own steed be there. "If everyone is ready, lead the way Jenny Lynn," she called out to her.

For the most part, the trip was quiet. As they moved swiftly across the land, the team would eventually approach Nithlium. Moving ever so easily about the frozen tundra, the team drew nearer to the house of Nicholas Fusion. Traveling for a few days had probably worn the soldiers out, but no one dared to complain, especially with Jenny Lynn leading the way.

When they finally arrived in Nithlium, four days had passed. The horses they were on were a rare breed whose specialty was speed.

Sliding off their horses, the group would seek shelter in the various inns within the nation. They were currently approaching a pub. That very pub, according to Jenny Lynn, was a personal favorite of hers. It welcomed the la'Ronk with opens arms and even allowed them a place to stay. They would wait around a few days, knowing that the heroes would, eventually, show up.

[[ All posts should now take place in Nithlium. ]]

The Sixth Month of Twelve in the Morning
Four days after the start of our story

The la'Ronks have finally made it to Nithlium and are now resting in a pub. Their orders are to scout the area and gather information on the whereabouts of Nicholas Fusion. They are also to figure out if anyone has heard if the heroes were coming here in search of Nick and his rare book.

The journey here had been a real pain. Not only was her rump sore for riding so long, but it was also stiff since she rode so hard. She was dead set on making some remarkable time across the vast wasteland that streamed between the nations. It was nice to finally be off her fiance's horse and on a somewhat cozy cot. Granted, it wasn't as elegant as the prince's bed, but it was still nice for someone who greatly needed to ease their pain.

Prying herself from the cot, she wandered down the hall and toward the staircase that descended down into the pub. Although Jenny Lynn was donned in her night robe, no one seemed to care. It was expected at the crack of dawn. And her hair? It was all a part of the getup.

"Luke, can I have a glass of your finest?" Her voice was hoarse from riding in the ravenous wind for so long. Her cheeks, though naturally pink, were sore and burning redder than ever. Wind lash (or burn, if you will) was really quite a pain. Even her lips were suffering as they were chapped and almost mimicked the red color of an apple.

The handsome bartender and inn keep bobbed his head. He hardly looked a day over twenty-five, which was actually his age. "Isn't it too soon to be drinking such a drink, my lady?"

"It's never too early! ...especially when you've got such daunting tasks ahead of you." Her fingers wrapped around the glass that contained a brown liquid. "Luke. Have you seen Nick?"

"No. No I haven't. Not lately. I believe he left town to go on a hunt. Man hunt, maybe? Not really sure." His blue eyes jumped from Jenny to the mug before him. Taking his apron off, he wandered out from behind the bar to take a seat beside the woman.

"Hmmm. That's not like him."

"He's not been himself since Deks passed away. I still cannot believe he died...."

"Neither can I...." taking a sip of the liquor, the blonde haired soldier pressed the cold drink against her temple. "...neither can I."

Mimicking his devious grin, Lauren played a kiss on his cheek before pulling him away to her humble little home. As the door opened to reveal a well-decorated house, the princess wrapped her arms around Adam. Lacing her hands with his, she sighed heavily as she breathed him in. He was, to put it simply, quite delicious. Her tongue danced around her lips and she hoped for a kiss and a rather wild night. But, recalling her nobility, she sucked her tongue back in and plopped herself on his lap.

"What would you like to know, my love? There is much to tell, you see." She batted her lashes a few times before she rang a bell, which summoned two women. "Could you get us some tea?" Nodding in unison, the maids walked away and returned moments later with fine Chinaware for the two to sip their tea from.

Lips curling up in delight, she let his naughty hands feel their way up Adam's shirt. "I think I shall start from the beginning. I am here for one reason only. To figure out the identity of the heroes. You see, I'm a bit of a myth lover. I simply cannot stop myself from wanting to know more about the heroes. But I still cannot believe that they call themselves heroes. They have done nothing much cause trouble for the people of the land. They have created a sense of hope, which has brought people to rebel against the la'Ronk. The la'Ronk, who seek only peace and happiness for the planet, have to quiet suck rebellious acts to prevent unwanted bloodshed."

"My lady," one of the servants stepped into the room. "You need to watch your tongue. Such vulgar words should never come from a woman's mouth."

"Oh, Abigail. I am merely telling stories. You need not worry about them. The la'Ronk will win. They have to. If they were to loose could you imagine the chaos that would engulf the world? People would die because riots would storm the streets. The la'Ronk, though hated, create order and peace. Although times might not be as bright as they would like, at least the la'Ronk can say that the vast majority of people are safe."

"This is true. But the la'Ronk aren't as holy as you are making them out to be." It was true, Abigail was none the wiser. She had no idea the woman she was serving was actually the High Queen.

"Yes, this is true. The la'Ronk do murder people in cold blood. But they do it to keep the bad blood out of the way. They kill those that appose them."

"So they kill anyone who might threaten their rule. It hardly seems fair!"

"Fair? Tch, fair isn't possible anymore. You either live or you die. Obey the law or find your soul floating to the spiritual world."

"The la'Ronk oppress the people! They are terrible. They never consider the people. They do what they do to appease the rich and the famous. They have, not once, asked us, the common folk, what we think."

"What do you think...?"

"They all need to die."

"What a shame. You would rather let someone else seize control? I find that foolish. What if you get someone worse?"

"No one is worse than the la'Ronks."

"That is where you are wrong. Void is worse. Void would surely seize control of the land if the la'Ronks stepped down. The heroes are so foolish. The la'Ronks can ward off Void. Once the la'Ronks fall, Void will rise to power and the Forbidden Underground City of Xe'fear will rise from the hellish flames, engulfing the planet and creating a true time of darkness. If the heroes want to slay the la'Ronks, I say let them. Once the demons come up from Xe'fear, the heroes will be hated. They will be seen as traitors, as pawns in Xe'fears undead army."

The house fell silent as tears had taken hold of Abigail. "I thought you might like to know this, Abigail, before you continue to tarnish the la'Ronk name."

Nicholas was thrilled that Gavyn had stepped to the plate to deal with this male. Had he been left to talk with the male, Nick was certain he would have thrown a table at him. He was not only annoying, but he was also far too open about his position. And theirs! Couldn't forget about theirs.

It was probably the thing that bothered Nick the most. How the hell did this guy figure out who they were? Was he greeting everyone like this? If so, what was to distinguish him from a la'Ronk? He certainly didn't come across as the enemy. His item even seemed to agree as it wasn't glowing. Maybe they could trust him? He might have something knowledgeable for them.

Leaning in, Nick gripped Michael's collar. "I swear, if I find out you're a la'Ronk, I'll kill your family." His eyes seemed to glow red for a moment as he felt the green-eyed male in his grasp.

"Very well. But I pray that you have mercy on my wife and kids."

His brow cocked as he looked at the male before him. "So you are with the la'Ronk!"

"I was. I left them. All the men in here have. We've been treated like dogs. We want better, which is why we're going to help you. We've rounded up a pack of wild Ninjackles for you and your friends to ride. They are faster than any horse, you know. We've also got men stationed throughout the planet that will offer you inns. Luke is one of them. You know him, do you not? He's from your hometown."

"Luke's going against the la'Ronk? That's not like him." Nick smirked. There was no way this guy was a traitor. He spoke of Luke and if Nick knew one thing that was certain in life, it was that Luke was a good man. "Heh, you've earned my trust, Michael."

"Good to know. Luke said bringing up his name might be wise. Who'd have known it would help with our cause."

"So you say that there are people like you stationed about the globe. How will we know who is an ally?"

"Simple," a woman approached the two. Holding up her arm, she pointed to a bandanna. She then pointed across the room to a man who had one wrapped around his leg. Then she directed her finger to Michael, who was wearing one around his neck. "We are in bandannas. They are made from a rare fabric and colored with a rare dye. Only those of us in the alliance have them. If a la'Ronk were to get their hands on one, your item would glow. So, you will known."

"Remember, red is dead. If you see anyone in a red bandanna, it means they are secretly working for the la'Ronk. We've got white bandannas as white stands for pure."

"Ah, I see. So avoid those in red?"

"Yes. They are the enemy."

"I think it is time you take your leave; you've a long journey ahead of you."

Rising to his feet, Nick bowed to the people in the room. "We thank you. Know that your honor and bravery inspires us to carry out our mission. Your courage is what will guide us to our victory. Thank you." Offering out his hand to Gavyn, he, too, decided it was time to leave and regroup with the others.

Adam's face flushed slightly when Lauren placed the kiss upon his cheek, he knew she was someway involved with the la'Ronk but still twas nice. When they finally got to her house Adam surveyed the area as best as he could without looking suspicious. Upon entering the house Adam was impressed with the decor of the home.

"You have a lovely home Lauren." While Adam knew he had a job to do he couldn't help but be taken back by Lauren's beauty. Were he a weaker willed man he would've easily attempted to make a very forward move right then and there, but he knew he had to focus. I have a job to do, don't be distracted by her looks!

Adam nodded mentally to himself after his thought process. After re focusing Lauren was playfully licking her lips towards Adam Damn you gods! No I don't mean that...but COME ON! There better be some awesome payoff if I restrain myself from mounting her right now! Adam playfully bit the air getting very close to Lauren's mouth.

Adam was suddenly thrust into a chair by Lauren who placed herself right in his lap Dear gods...you are not fair...as payment for controlling myself and being loyal you should let Gavyn and I have some alone time to get to know each other. I think that is a reasonable request!

Adam sat doing his best to control his urges, Lauren running her hands up his shirt was not helping Really gods? Really? Adam sat a listened carefully to what Lauren had to say on the la'Ronk and the heroes. "I don't believe they called themselves heroes at first, from what I've heard people called them that and the name stuck. And with any new rule there will always be some bloodshed, and chaos at first but over time things works out."

I believe the heroes want what is best for everyone, they may believe the la'Ronk aren't what is best for everyone my darling." Adam slowly caressed her back from inside her shirt I'm allowed to have a little fun okay gods! Almost immediately after he did this one of the servants entered the room, embarrassed Adam quickly removed his hand from the inside of her shirt his face blushed bright red. OH COME ON GODS! Now you're just being mean!

Adam sat quietly and listened to the verbal battle between the two, there was a palpable tension in the room. The servant is against the la'Ronk...this could be useful Adam needed more information before he could declare his recon a success, and needed the servant out of the room for him to continue to gather it "My dear I would love to just have you all to myself right now." giving her a smirk.

Lauren's eyes dilated with delight. So what if he was defending the heroes. If he were truly a traitor, she could just kill him after their little play date. Sending Abigail a giddy look, Lauren bounded down the hallway toward her quarters. Not tugging Adam along, she knew he would come with due time.

While he was still lingering in the main room, Lauren slipped from her attire, leaving only her fine lace garments on. If all goes well, I'll get laid and I'll get to see what the people really think of the heroes. If the rumors turn out to be true, I'll just have to kill my brother. He's the weak link that is holding us back from killing all those that oppose us.

Twirling her hair around playfully, Lauren danced over to her perfume tray. Pouring it on in great gobs, she smirked at how intoxicating the scent was. He would, without a doubt, not be able to control himself. With a dirty smile on her face, Lauren crawled into the ruby-colored silk sheets and waited for her playmate to join her.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Abigail shook her head. "She's wrong. The heroes won't let the people down. They will destroy the la'Ronk and Void. They just have to. They have to!" Her eyes shifted away from Adam as a blush coated her tan cheeks. "The lady if lucky to have such a handsome guest to woo. I hope you find your... I hope you enjoy yourselves. I shall take my sister Josie out while you two go about your... pleasures."

With that, both the servant girls left the house.

Adam watched as Lauren headed down the hallway to the bedroom, he was perplexed as to what he was giving himself into. Adam knew he was in a sense swimming into shark infested waters. Adam stood from the chair and began to walk down the hallway when he heard the servant speak.

Adam stopped walking "I have the upmost confidence that the heroes will succeed in their quest to take down the la'Ronk. And I thank you for your support, it means a lot to know that people do want us to succeed."

Adam plucked one of the seeds out of one of his many pouches, and tossed it back to the servant. He began walking towards the bedroom "From the ashes of destructions breathes new life"

Adam entered the bedroom and his face immediately flushed bright red at the sight of Lauren. She was gorgeous barely covered in her lace undergarments, and laced with an intoxicating smell for a second Adam's legs gave out but he quickly regained composure. My gosh...the gods are not fair...FOCUS ADAM FOCUS!

Adam walked over to the bed removing no clothing and sat at the end of it, he had to focus and get information out of her but it was getting harder for him to think straight. "Lauren...umm...why're you so defen...defensive of the la'Ronk umm I mean I like uhh things but I wont get really defensive about them, why the passion for them?"

Cole nodded, glad to hear that they were on the same page. That made working together easier and made the job they were doing easier as well. "Makes sense. Then maybe some food. Non-perishable stuff. That's easier to travel with and then we don't have to worry about it going bad," he added, listing off more things they needed to get.

He was slightly startled at first when she looped her arm into his. He gave her a brief smile and nodded. There were others ways to avoid suspicion in the city, but he didn't actually mind this one. "Right."

As they entered the busier areas, he kept his eyes open for anyone suspicious. Even though they easily blended into the crowd, it never hurt to be careful.

"Good job, let's go shopping," he whispered back as she showed him the coin purse. He was impressed with her pickpocketing ability. Something that was actually considered a useful skill here.

((Mother of Pearl! I deleted everything I had just wrote:( I was almost done to...err!))


Smiling Jenna nodded and then looked around for a stand that had bags. Spotting one she led Cole over to it. "How many do you think we'll need?" She guessed they could get one for each person and then a few extra. But she wasn't sure. Jenna wasn't use to thinking about other people. For awhile now it had just been her, doing whatever to survive.

Eyes roaming the stand they were in she spotted some batteries and other gadgets like it. Slipping her arm from around Cole's she made her way over to them. After picking up an arm full she went back over to Cole. Setting them down on a table she showed them to the seller. "Ok we can cross these off the list." Looking up at Cole she gave him a smile then began putting them in a bag she had chosen for herself.

Jenna spotted a few other things she thought they would need and quickly went around picking them up. Then stand they were in had a little bit of everything, only little things though. She grabbed a lighter she thought Rynn might like. That way she could always have a flame near her. From experience Jenna knew it was easier to use your power if you had a little bit of your element to draw from. Setting them in her bag she stepped back towards Cole.

Watching as Nick leapt toward Michael, Gavyn slid off her chair to place her hands on Nicks shoulder nearest her, in attempt to keep him at bay. “Nick, please!” Sometimes his quick temper worried her, they had to deal with enough violence, they didn’t need to induce any more than what was necessary. But his threat seemed to pay off with valuable information.

“An ex la’Ronk?” Gavyn gasped, taking her hands off of Nick, staring wide eyed at Michael. These people wanted to help them. In truth, the heroes have been so focused on worrying of those who were against them, it was difficult to see those who supported their cause. It was a relief, a comforting feeling that was accompanied by excitement once hearing of Ninjackles. Gavyn had never seen one in person, but she had read of them, and seen sketches. They were mysterious yet beautiful beasts, that aside they would also do a much better job in getting them where they needed to go, with great speed. Seeing as they were also able to see in the dark, they would make it even easier to travel under the cover of night.

It still didn’t seem to relax her raven haired partner, nothing did until Michael mentioned the name Luke. It relaxed Nicks body language completely. He seemed less like a defensive animal, which in turn made Gavyns body loosen itself up. She would have to inquire about who this Luke was later on.

Standing by the table, Gavyn watched as a woman approached the conversing group. It seemed that the heroes have acquired an alliance. “The Alliance” to be precise. This would prove to be very helpful, the others will be happy to hear this, especially Rynn. Everything they said, she catalogued and filed away in her head. She wouldn’t forget the faces she saw today, or the information she gathered.

“Thank you ever so much, Michael, all of those who are with you in this. It’s truly amazing.” Offering a warm hearted smile, she bowed her head to them all and nodded to Nick, it was true, she did want to get back to Adam and the others. Gavyn began to wonder how Adam was doing, out on his own. It seemed he always got stuck doing things on his lonesome, even though he was very able to handle his own, it still made her worry.

Walking out she looked up at Nick, “Are they bringing over the Ninjackels now? Or are we to pick them up under the cover of night?” She was curious about the newly gifted beasts.

For the most part, most of the groups had a rather successful time going about their business. Nicholas and Gavyn were able to secure the group money through a means that Nick never wishes to speech of again. The two also met the one of the spearheads to The Alliance, a group of ex-la'Ronks that are relaying the heroes information and supplies.

Meanwhile, Adam was busy trying to seduce information out of the High Queen. Or was it the other way around? Perhaps she was seducing him, trying to lure information from him? Either way, the couple has taken the negotiations to the bedroom and it's only a matter of time before things get wild (interpret as you see fit).

At the same time, Rynn and Devyn are off surveying the area and working on getting some 'eras and eyes' on the la'Ronk's movement. Believe it or not, Rynn and Devyn ended up crossing paths with Michael, the man who Gavyn and Nick just previously met. He would future go into details with the Fire Heroine.

Lately, Cole and Jenna were going about their day gathering supplies. They had actually run into a gypsy-like character who warned them both that great danger was approaching. She warned them that "blood will swallow someone whole and their body shall forever mark the start of a long war."

We are now watching our heroes and they finish up their duties. It is nearing the evening and they can't stay long as they plan to head out at the crack of dawn.

Michael's large grin continued to widen. As he directed Rynn and Devyn around to the back entrance of a rundown barn. Pointing into the blackness, a pair of glowing teal eyes opened for them to see.

"We gathered ten of them for you. Figured you could use a few extras in case anything happened. You know... the road from here to wherever you're going will be dangerous and full of la'Ronks. We'll do out best to alert you through the messenger birds, but you know how reliable they aren't."

He drew in a deep breathe before he stepped into the rickety old barn. As his feet collided with the wooden flood boards, a creaking sound filled the air. "Pardon the condition. But we knew the la'Ronk wouldn't look in here. This building is condemned. It's also... haunted." Guiding his hands through the air as if he were slicing butter, he pointed to a pile of skeletons that decorated the floor in a rather uncanny manner.

Clearing his throat he added, "You know them la'Ronks, they are afraid of all superstitions."

Sighing, the blonde frowned. She rested her head on Kyna's shoulder. "Nick's... missing." Her throat swelled some as she tried to fight off the feeling of crying. It didn't seem to work, so Jenny grabbed Kyna's free hand and squeezed it for a good five seconds. "Is it bad that I still love him... even if I'm engaged to the prince?"

The male seated beside her shook his head. "It's not bad, Jenn. The world knew it. Everyone in the town knew it. The way you two would run around together, it was priceless. I remember wishing I was Nick. He's what... a few years younger than me... and he was running around with a woman like you. Hardly seemed fair." Luke leaned forward to give Kyna a friendly wave. "You must be Kyna Riddle. Jenn told me all about you. It's a pleasure to meet you. Oh, and I have some food for the hounds. I figure they don't like the slop stuff, so they can have the spare meat we couldn't sell."

He pointed to a slender door that lead to a backroom. "You can help yourself, girl." The door was cracked open just a bit and, should she choose to go see what was behind the door, she would have found a bowl full of freshly cooked stew.

Taking Jenny's other hand, Luke gave it a good squeeze. "With Deks... dead and... Nick... gone... this place has been pretty lifeless. I wish he told me where he was heading. The last words that guy uttered to me were... hmmm... what were they. Oh, "I have a mission. The next time you see me, we might not be friends." I was mighty confused. Whatever do you think he meant by that?"

Her blue eyes closed as she released her hands from both Luke and Kyna. "I hope it means he's not doing something foolish. He... he might be joining The Rebellion." There was a dark tone to her voice as she spat out the last word. The Rebellion was the group that opposed the la'Ronk. They are the same as The Alliance, only The Alliance is the term used for the heroes.

Kyle sat in the back of the bar. He hadn't slept. He never really did. It didn't make any sense, but he didn't sleep. He was a simple person. He had to punch a man last night when he was drunk as hell and harassing a girl. Apparently the man didn't take to being punched well and swung at Kyle. He had to punch the man again. Yet again, the man swung. Getting tired of this, Kyle caught the man's hand, twisted his wrist and broke it. Knowing the man was a farmer and probably didn't have the ability to pay the medical bills, Kyle paid for it himself. After that he ordered a drink and the girl who he had helped got it for him. They talked for a little while. Kyle noticed that she was about his age. She was a pretty girl and he could tell she was flirting. He never gave in of course; he could never let someone into a life of turmoil.
SO there he was, sitting it the back of the bar, seeing ghosts of his past. A young girl and boy playing on the bar. A woman smiling at them both. People dancing. And a gun shot.

[INDENT]He had a very difficult job. Kill a man for the sake of killing a mam. Nothing behind it. Except a minor accident, the smashing of the vase. He had a gun, which his employer had given him to kill the man with. The man who was supposed to be killed had a party. The employer was there, as was the target. He decided to change it up. He wouldn't kill the target, he'd kill the employer. Once the shot rang out, he admitted the crime, and gave a justifiable reason for doing it. The signed contract. It gave the name of the employer, the target, and the motive. He explained that the man wanted the target dead unjustly, so he changed the contract. After that, he dropped a smoke bomb and ran.[INDENT]

She had been wary of the man at first, but he had mentioned both Gavyn and Nick and it sounded like they'd had a good meeting. It was all quite heartening, hearing that there were normal people risking their lives for the heroes. It made Rynn smile to herself as she followed the man to the barn. It was certainly creepy enough to be a hideout, but Rynn wasn't all that frightened. She figured she could handle most anything a spirit could throw at her, and besides- the gods were on their side.

"Ninjackles? Very nice. They're absolutely beautiful." Rynn said, looking at the animals and grinning wildly to herself. The idea that they'd have a mount was wonderful. Not to mention that ninjackles were pretty intimidating to others, even if they were mainly an ally. "Are the other heroes meeting here? otherwise I don't know how to transport this many ninjackles around with just myself and Devyn..." Rynn laughed, walking up to one and petting it. Soemthing about this particular one spoke to her, and she decided right then it would be hers.

She flitted her eyes before pulling herself from the silky sea of sheet. Crawling across the canvas as if she were a cat, she snaked her way toward the male. When she was beside him, she wrapped her delicate fingers around his bicep and squeezed ever so gently. A playful yet devious grin crossed his face and her lips drew ever closer to the flesh of his neck.

Placing a kiss on the nape of his neck, Lauren's eyes dilated with joy. Euphoria overwhelmed her, which sent a shudder down her spine. Peeling herself away from him was going to be harder now than ever. His scent was what really pushed her over the edge.

Lauren's now rosy red cheeks were permanently stuck this way. Her body even seemed to squirm and wiggle on its own. Tucking her legs beneath her, she leaned away. With her back arched, her hands did their magic.

Leaning forward, she let her right hand and its prize drape in front of Adam's face. "I'll let you have the pleasure of taking my panties off," she whispered in his ear. As her naked chest collided with his arm, she shifted her weight so that she was siding on his lap. Her legs were wrapped around Adam's waste and her chest was in full view of his eyes.

"Are you a bad boy? Or, better yet, would you be my bad boy?" She batted her eyes a few more times before lightly trying to push him backwards so that he would be laying on the bed. In her mind, things were going just as planned. It was a shame though, she was getting a little too worked up over this. He really was whetting her appetite.

[[Just a side note, since this isn't rated M for Mature, if anything happens it'll have to be time-skipped.]

Michael could only laugh at Rynn's comment, which confused the hell out of Devyn. "What's so funny?" he said with a look of sheer confusion playing on his face.

"Of course the other heroes will need to meet here. It's not like you can just parade them across town. You'll have to gather your friends and bring them here."

"Oh. That makes sense. Why don't we meet up at my place, like planned, and bring them over here after we've checked our supplies?"

Nodding his head in agreement, Michael walked over to the Ninjackle that Rynn had taken a liking to. "Ah, I see you two have bonded. This is good. This young pup will go far and do well. She's quite stubborn though. She won't admit it, but she's secretly in love with that guy over there. The two are destined to mate. Not sure if you have someone like that, but if you did, I would suggest that he... or she... would take charge of her mate. Her mate is actually the older brother to a pair of twin sisters." He pointed to two smaller Ninjackles. "Those two are actually rather young. I'm not sure a man should ride either. Oh and if you have someone with an electrifying personality, they should get this big guy. He's a wild one. A real handful. Those three over there are all the offspring of this old girl. I'm afraid she won't be of much use soon as she's reaching her ripe old years."

Walking over to a taller one, he beckoned that Devyn come. "This one's blind, but fast and sharp as hell. Since you're not a hero, I recommend you take either this one, the old one, or the two-toed one. Not to be mean, but I think the seven heroes should take the seven best."

"Oh, I agree. I don't mind this one. She's quite a beauty." Stroking her softly, Devyn turned to Rynn with a smile. "Maybe we should get some food for these guys? The others, aside from Nick and Gavyn, don't know about them so they wouldn't know to buy food for them."

"Well, if you won't be needing me, I should get going. I'll be sure to send messenger birds your way if we hear anything. I've got friends scattered about the globe that will be of great use, too. I forgot to tell the others this, but if you look for inns with a white, gold, and black sign, you will know you're in the hands of The Alliance. To confirm it, ask this question when you enter the bar. "If I were to ask you for to write out the initials of the greatest people alive, what would you answer?" If you don't receive this answer, leave. "N-M-E." Make sure they write it. If they wright "enemy," it is wrong. It has to be "N-M-E." So be wary of it."

Making sure they understood, Michael wrote it when some hay as he didn't want to leave any traces behind that could later be leaked to the enemy.

Adam sat at the edge of the bed trying desperately to focus, Lauren crawling towards him scantily clad. Her simple touch on his arm sent tremors done his spine, Adam swallowed slowly. Adam had to stay focused and needed more info, but it was clear she wasn't going to talk anymore.

Okay Adam you have to get information somehow, clearly she doesn't want to talk though...ummm hmmm...okay think Adam how can I find ouAHHHHHHHH Adam's thoughts were quickly interrupted by Lauren kissing his neck, Adam's eyes dilated. Her lips against his skin was intoxicating, Adam's breathing became heavier, thinking was becoming a near impossible task.

When Lauren backed away Adam had to asses the situation quickly Very pretty girl kissing my neck...my gosh that feels so good. Think Adam think! There has to be a way to get some type of info, think think thioohhhhhh bare chested girl...my gosh it's as if her breasts were sculpted by the gods themselves...YOU GODS ARE PROBABLY LAUGHING AT ME NOW AREN'T YOU?!

Lauren whispered in Adam's ear causing Adam's face to turn bright red all he could manage to do was let out a small "Ahhh..." Adam was keeping his calm as best as he could, he was doing well then her naked breast met his arm sending tremors throughout his whole body.

Lauren shifting around in his lap and locking her legs around him truly tested Adam's willpower. Adam had to act fast less he fall to his strong urges, Lauren asked a question in a seductive tone. Adam took a deep breath "Tell you what my dear, answer my question I asked and I'll remove an article of clothing. Deal?"