"How fortunate," the sibilant hiss came again, engulfing Nakaida where she stood now, utterly lost and panting from attempting escape through the suddenly enclosing trees and brush. "Thossse clossse to a Keeper run certain...risksss..." it trailed off suggestively, leaving Nakaida frozen. "What do you mean?"

"Only that perhapsss your...preoccupation...hasss kept you from accomplishing your purpossse."

Because of Orindil Nakaida had failed to defeat Okandar? That didn't make sense - and yet he had occupied her thoughts during the fight. She'd been worried, afraid that Okandar would slay their companions...but him especially? Nakaida couldn't deny he meant more to her than she ever would have guessed...

Horribly unsure, she flung out her hands in the darkness. "What do you mean? Where are you..." but the presence was gone. Still Nakaida could not see the fire and darkness surrounded her like pressing fog.

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[quote="Artemis"]Naidele almost jumped out of her skin when Khienro bolted upright from where he was laying. She placed a trembling hand to her fluttering heart, trying to calm herself once again.

When her eyes landed on Khienro's face, she cocked her head to the side a little and a worried expression came over her face. "Khienro?" she said his name softly. "What is it? What's wrong?"[/quote

Khienro, still scared by the all to lifelike images in his mind, could only mutter something regarding Okandar, screaming, flames and falling rock. But then as he seemed to return to reality, he looked Naidele in the eyes, his own filled with pure dark fear.

"Naidele... I saw you! You and mother... You screamed... You were burning an-and.... Naidele," He paused, wide eyed and dilarious, "You died."

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

Naidele's eyes widened in fear, and for a few moments all she could do was stare at Khienro. "Died?" she murmured softly. Then as if the word was a key unlocking something in her mind, images poured into her mind, momentarily blocking out everything in her field of vision. The pictures flashed to quickly for her to discern much, but she got the general feel of it all. Death. For a brief and suffocating moment, death was all she could see.

With a flinch, the images left her, leaving her with a sickening feeling and a fierce headache. It was as if whatever had sent the images to her had tried to rip her skull apart. She placed her hand to her temple, trying to soothe the ache.

When the pain subsided a bit, her eyes found Khienro's again. "I don't think that was simply a dream you had," she whispered to him fearfully.

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I'm back!

Khierno, who had more or less come back to the real world save his lingering fear, shook his head. No! Not after all this! Not after I just found her... She can't die... Nakaida can't die..... Mother can't die! Thoughts raced through his mind, and he got up and then knealt infront of Naidele, his eyes still locked on her's his head still shaking.

"No.... No. I won't let it happen." His eyes filled with shocked tears, and his blinked them back as his mind started to reason, "But... But what does it all mean?"

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

Naidele was moved to see the emotion in Khienro's eyes. "I don't know," she finally whispered in answer to his question. She wrapped her arms around her body and shivered, the air suddenly seeming frigid. "But I'm frightened...." She trailed off and then looked around. She didn't see Orindil or Nakaida. She had seen Orindil pacing only a little ways away a short while ago. Where had he gone? And it had been awhile since her and Nakaida had parted after their talk, and she hadn't seen her sister since. Worry creased her brow as she looked around.

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I'm back!

Kheinro, though he was frightened as well, put a hand on her wrist,

"It'll be fine.." He said, then whispered, almost unaudibly, "It has to be..." He gently rubbed Naidele's wrist, staring off in the direction of the small grove of trees behind her.

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

Aeryn sighed. Sometime was wrong...but he couldn't place a finger on what was. He listened silently to Khienro and Naidele's confrasation, worry coming over his face. "If it means anything, I will do anything for either of you to help you." Aeryn said to them.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Ominous darkness enveloped him as Orindil plunged into the sickly forest that dotted the bleak wasteland. Scraggly branches, bare and hostile, snagged his green cloak as he tracked Nakaida with waxing urgency. Her tracks zigzagged and frequently crossed over themselves, as if she'd been unsure of her intent.

And then he heard it. Unmistakable, it was her voice, crying out in the darkness...

His bow was out, an arrow quivering on the bowstring, by the time he burst like a ghost into sight. So desperate was he that he dove down on one knee in front of her, bow leveled at the oppressive shadows. "Where is it?" he half-demanded, half-snarled.

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Darkness seemed to suddenly clear as Orindil burst through the encircling forest, and the ghostly pale Nakaida had to gulp frantically before she could summon the necessary power of speech to reply. "I - I don't know," she stammered, voice a trembling quaver. "I couldn't see it, or anything...it was so dark..."

But she too found herself scanning the brush fearfully, heart pounding in her ears. You idiot! What were you thinking? she berated herself furiously. You could have gotten yourself killed!

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"You could have gotten yourself killed," Orindil unwittingly echoed Nakaida's thoughts. After another meticulous scan of the surrounding wood, he concluded that either the assaulter was impossibly adept at concealing itself or there was no assaulter to begin with.

But she was a Keeper. Be it physical or mental, whatever could daunt a Keeper deserved credit. Nonetheless, as he studied her pale face now, he recalled her less than healthy condition. The same study revealed to him her fear, and the way her willowy form trembled in the cold air.

"It's all right," he murmured, drawing her close. Her blond-white hair spilled over his chest as he soothingly rubbed her back. Despite his reassuring words, he continued scanning the trees for danger.

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Nakaida wanted to shut her eyes and bury her head in his reassuringly solid chest to block out everything that had gone wrong, their whole spoilt quest and the confusion and debilitating fear that seemed to consume her - but suddenly hissed words coiled sinuously through her thoughts. She stiffened instantly, pulling away. "I was stupid," she murmured, not meeting his eyes. "Thank you, for coming for me."

It's true, she thought miserably. If I let him get close to me there's no telling what'll happen, and he doesn't deserve to die because I didn't have the willpower to prevent it.

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Naidele placed her hand on top of Khienro's hand as it rested on her wrist. She leaned her head gently on his shoulder, glad to have someone to reassure and comfort her. She blinked back a few tears as she thought about all that was happening. Had she done something terribly wrong during the battle with Okandar? She couldn't help but feel that it was at least partly her fault.

She turned her face towards Aeryn when he spoke. She managed a small grateful smile. "Thank you, Aeryn," she replied, "I'm glad to have you hear helping me." She turned her eyes back up to Khienro. "Both of you."

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I'm back!

Though surprised and pained by her abrupt withdrawal, Orindil worked to conceal his emotions. She was a Keeper, one of the Goddess's chosen. A mere mortal could not begin to fathom the power she undoubtedly controlled. Who was he to elevate himself to that status, going as far as to come to her rescue? Understandably so, she likely thought him a complete fool.

He ducked into a bow. "I apologize, my lady. Shall we return to camp?"

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My lady. It cut Nakaida to the core. She nodded silently and brushed past him, now able to see the dim glow of the fire in the distance but glad that it was far away enough to conceal the tears that sprang to her eyes. She wondered bleakly why anyone would ever wish to be a Keeper, and found herself clinging fiercely to the only hope that remained - that detaching herself from Orindil would keep him safe at the very least. There was nothing else to hope for.

Goddess, I can't! she cried out mutely. But there was no answer, from anywhere, and Nakaida was faced with the fact that she was alone. The reality was so stark that by the time they had returned to the dark camp and the dying glow of the coals in the fire, her heart felt akin to a small cold lump, vulnerable to failure should it melt.

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Khienro put his arm aroud her shoulders for a quick hug,

"I am too. You both are good friends to have." He smiled, then looked back to where Nakaida and Orindil had left. "I hope they're all right...

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You may (or may not) know me elsewhere as Elfpen

The night wore on uneventfully for those dozing in the camp of the Revolution. The silence was punctuated by the occassional flapping of wings or the howls of wolves. Clouds passed over the full moon, engendering evanescent shadows that flitted across the barren wasteland like wraiths... or shades...

Shades they shall be... when the moon wanes and waxes full yet again... moonturn will pass before the end... Upon the ultimate tower, flanking the pedestal that held the Soul Shard, two beings just conceived upon this plane recited their prophecy. Their eerie laughter echoed tenfold off the cold stone walls.

From the rift between the planes flew elementals, shrieking apparitions that circled the tower before vanishing out the window, melting into the night as if they'd never been.

When our power grows... beware Keepers who fight this losing war... for in the end, you shall be no more... The amorphous beings were solidifying. Their forms became slender. Hair sprouted to fall in soft waves down their backs. When their births were at last complete, the Soul Shard emitted a single ray of hellish light that bathed the entire tower in vermilion. The same light accentuated the faces of both entities and set their hair aflame like glowing halos...

One white-blond, the other a bright red...

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Northkeep was easily the most depressing human city that Orindil ever had the misfortune to set foot in. Among the dozens of cities he'd journeyed to, this fact spoke volumes.

They'd traveled the entire day, soon leaving the wastelands far behind. Now they stood in a soggy evergreen forest. Peals of thunder and obscuring storm clouds mantled the would-be still bright evening in oppressive darkness. Through the haze of windswept rain, the high gray walls of a fortified city could be distinguished silhouetted against the crown of lightning.

But the stoic men that remained of the Revolution complained little as their horses squelched through the driving downpour to the gatehouse, flanked on either side by an imposing tower. They were detained in the unfavorable conditions by the paranoid sentries, who interrogated Andron for no less than ten minutes before allowing him entry.

It soon became apparent upon entering the bleak, austere city that Northkeep had been constructed for one purpose and one alone: War.

It was here that they parted from the Revolution. Astride the horses they'd bought from their temporary allies, the five of them soon found themselves walking alone down the cobbled streets. "Anyone sight an inn?" Orindil shouted over the storm.

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