Mirima turned her attention back to the genteel young woman. "I am a guardian of these woods, yet rarely do I travel in this area. The balance of my forest has been disturbed of late. I set out to discover the intruders, and all trails led here." She shifted her stance slightly, her blue eyes darting around the glen every so often. "Perhaps I could ask you what brings your journey into these woods, thought I fear I know the reason," Mirima paused dramatically, "Princess."

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Thanks Haldir and Gil!
"You said: I know that this will hurt, but if I don't break your heart then things will just get worse..."

"Guardian of the forest?" Marcius thought. "Why does she think we were intruders? We couldn't help what we did. We had to flee."

_________________

I was cured all right.

*waits* (I can't reply to your thoughts!)

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Thanks Haldir and Gil!
"You said: I know that this will hurt, but if I don't break your heart then things will just get worse..."

*sorry I haven't been able to get online all day*

Ziara nodded as Mirima told her that she was a guardian of the forest. "Yes," Ziara replied after a moment, "I fear you do know the reason. That evil creature Manethredon has a warrent out for my capture. If he were to find me, I would be condemned to live with him under his rule for the rest of my life." She paused, but after a moment she resumed deciding that she could trust this woman,"I must take back the palace and the throne, for I am its rightful owner. I plan to do so soon, I must. But I fear we do not have enough people." She dropped her gaze to the ground with despair, but soon she rose her eyes defiantly and said, "But that does not matter, I do what I must, no matter what."

"Numbers do not matter, milday," Marcius said to the princess. "If we only had means of recruiting some vampires, we would be able to take back your kingdom."

_________________

I was cured all right.

Ziara raised her eyebrows and said,"Perhaps you are right, Marcius. But still larger numbers would be a comfort. Vampires? Yes vampires would be helpful. Is there anyway you could find some?" She paused then continued, speaking almost to herself. "Yes, if I had a way to get into the city unnoticed, I think I could persuade some of the guards to help me. It would be risky, but some fo those men have known me since I was an infant. They trained me! At least one of them must be willing to help me. But then how would I get a small army into the city walls unnoticed." She shook her head in frustration then turned to Marcius. "Do you have any ideas?"

Mirima absorbed the information quietly, nodding in all the right places. "Perhaps I can be of some assistance. Long ago I foresaw the need for such a force, although I was not sure why. My men are well trained, hardy, and thoroughly loyal, but their numbers are still too few. In the entire forest there are gathered less than 100 good men that I would trust to this task. Yet I believe their worth to be thrice that number."

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Thanks Haldir and Gil!
"You said: I know that this will hurt, but if I don't break your heart then things will just get worse..."

Ziara's eyes brightened at Mirima's information. "Every bit of help I can get is appreciated. How long will it take your men to be ready? I need to move soon."

"If it is a question of persuasion.." Marcius began. "There shouldn't be a problem." He said with his teeth bared. "As for the Vampires, they reside in the citadels in the northern mountains. They usually don't trust humans but I'm confident they will trust me. My brethen are more than capable of passing through the city walls unnoticed once we get them on our side. Though the recruiting process will require some money."

_________________

I was cured all right.

"I do not think money will be a problem," Ziara replied to Marcius, "I may not hold the same station I did before Manethredon took what is rightfully mine, but I managed to escape from the palace with more than just the clothes on my back. We must leave now to go and find these vampires. Marcius, I most definitely need you to accompany me and Mirima, your help will be appreciated. We ride as soon as possible. Make ready." With that she began walking toward a large oak tree where she had Gaidin her large black stallion tied. She mounted him and said, "I will go back to camp and get money and what provisions we need. Be back here by sundown." And with that she rode off.

"As you wish, milady," Marcius said. "But first I need to replenish my supplies. I need neither food nor water but without blood, I will be of little use." With that, he transformed into a bat and flew towards the city, searching for a servant of Manethredon. He found one, patrolling a section of the wall. In the shadows he landed and transformed back into a human. Drawing a dagger, he threw it at the guard. He fell quickly. Marcius strolled up to the guard and bit his neck. Fresh blood poured into his mouth. After drinking what he needed. He took out a couple flasks and filled each one with the remaining blood. The body was then thrown off the wall. He then found another guard, this one more alert. He ran towards him, brandishing his spear. He took his long sword and thrusted it into him. This time, he didn't need to bite him; his wound would suffice. Before long, he was closing the lid on a filled flask, threw the body, and after turning into a bat once again, flew away.

_________________

I was cured all right.

Ziara urged Gaidin to a fast gallop and quickly she was at her destination. She kept her money and supplies a little ways away from the camp. She was almost certain she could trust all of these people, but she should never be too sure. She tuckked a large wad of money into a pouch on her belt and then she gathered some food from a large suppley she kept hidden there. Once she had filled Gaidin's saddle bags with food and other necsessary supplies, she was ready to go. She grabbed her bow, threw her quiver of arrows over her shoulder, mounted hr stallion, and was off. In a short while she was back at their designated meeting place. It was still a little while untill sunset, so she dismounted and waited patiently for the others to return.

Marcius flew to the planned meeting site and found the princess. He landed and transformed into the human form.

_________________

I was cured all right.

Ziara looked up and saw a bat flying towards her. "It must be Marcius," she mused to herself. Her suspicons were confirmed when he landed and turned into his human form. "Are you prepared? As soon as Mirima arrives we will go." Ziara stared off into the distance thinking about the task at hand. Going to ask the vampires for aid would be easy compared to taking back the throne. She looked up at Marcius and asked doubtfully, "Do you think I can pull this off? Defeating Manethredon, I mean." She didn't like to appear doubtfull. It made her seem weak, but sometimes she felt she had to share her thoughts with someone.

Kiana had listened intently to the conversation. They were trying to get rid of that evil man. "good ridance" She growled. She was now a wolf, pacing the clearing. "Should I help her?" Kiana thought. Manethredon was no lover of the forest, or creation. He was cruel to his animals and careless when he walked through forests. Kiana suddenly switched to her hawk shape. She flew to where the group said they would meet. She landed on a branch a little off from where the meeting place was. She saw a bat fly by, and thought how good a meal that would be, but stopped as she relized it might be the vampire. She changed again, this time to her human form. She had the power to appear in clothes when in her human form. She walked toward the two.
"I can bring help to. " She said suddenly.

Ziara watched as a hawk flew to a nearby branch. Suddenly she was on her feet with sword in hand as the hawk changed into a human. "I can bring help too." The woman said. Ziara eyed her with suspicion and said, "Who are you? Are you loyal to the rightful ruler of Dashiara?" She galnced at Marcius wondering what he thought of the newcomer.