Rebirth

[Jen]

The journey from the isle that had captivated their attention took no longer than a day and a half at most. Isabella had been surprised when there were few boats willing or able to make the journey to what was left of Xexoria. It was only when she saw the coastline (after a harrowing night of clinging to the railing as storms lashed the sea) that she realized.

Xexoria was no longer what Isabella remembered, but an island. There could be no telling just how changed the country had become since the End but they had to try. Isabella turned to the captain, one hand shielding his weather worn face as the other held fast to the ship's wheel.

"When can we make port?"

"Port, lass? There is no 'port' on this god-forsaken island. I will set anchor and have my men row you to shore, but after that make the gods be with you. No one has bothered rebuilding after the End. There are tales of strange peoples wandering the inner island areas and of ghosts. The place known as Rivenfelde is haunted, miss -- if you don't mind my saying so."

Isabella nodded as she stared at the darkened splotch on the horizon.

"How long until we reach the island?"

"Half a day." The captain had learned the previous day not to pepper the group with questions. The beautiful red haired girl spent most of her time below decks with the lovely looking children, while the stunning brunette lurked above decks. The captain had feared that she might be lost during the night as a powerful storm raged over the sea between Xexoria and the mainland. He was under the assumption that losing her to any natural disaster would be horrible indeed. He wasn't sure why, but he figured the woman was someone vastly important, that he should remember her. His crew felt he'd gone daft, but he caught them staring at her longingly, as only men of the ocean might a goddess of the sea. She had never mentioned her name, but this was not the sort of crew that took the name of a patron, only their money.

Isabella remained cloaked, attempting to hide herself within the shadows of her hood. Her beauty might have been stunning at night, but it was phenomenal in the glaring sunlight. There had to be a way to tone down her looks, but Isabella had not had the time to figure that out. Vylrath wanted out and on his way. She barely knew how to control her powers, but each day she found new ways to control herself. She doubted she could have managed the control had she not been a High Priestess of Tempus where control was part of a daily routine.

------------

It had only taken two days, but as the long boat neared the rocky shore Isabella swore this could not be her same country. It looked so...different! Her eyes lingered to the children, Caela, and Vylrath. The children looked a little green and Caela fared no better. Vylrath looked like a strapping young lad, but he had hardly any of her coloring. Just how would she explain him away? She couldn't use the name Vylrath either, that was a known (and possibly still loathed) name in this country. Gaar seemed too gutteral and harsh -- but if he stuck with that name she would have to make do.

"Home sweet Home." Isabella smiled briefly from the confines of her cloak. She envied the children their freedom suddenly. It was a little too warm for her liking under the dark cloak, but she would not complain -- only endure. It was a trademark of hers, one which Vylrath slated to stubborness. Perhaps he was right. Isabella took a deep breath and when the long boat ground against the rocky shore she glanced up at the dark forest beyond the thin strip of beach. Just what would this new world hold for her? How could she possibly get this catastrophe on its feet once more? Why did she let Vylrath talk her into this mess?

As doubt loomed dark and forboding in her mind, Isabella was aware of the sound of departure. She watched as Caela handed the children over and then was helped over by one of the men. He was strong, the man, and he carried her as if she weighed nothing at all -- depositing her on the beach by her children. Isabella was dimly aware of a man asking a comrade to steady the boat for her imminent departure, but she shook her head.

"I can manage." Before anyone could object Isabella launched herself over the side of the boat. The water was ice cold and she almost regretted making the lunge. She trudged her way, sand and rock becoming the bane of her existence, as she staggered and nearly fell more than once. As she gained the shore Bella glanced around herself, her hood falling back to expose her gorgeous features. She was soaked from the waist down and had a myriad of men (from the rowing crew that brought them ashore) pushing blankets on her. She smiled but declined and looked at her family.

What am I doing here? Her brain refused to register any plan or scheme that might have brewed to fruition during their short journey. It was still early in the day and she wondered if they might be able to find some shelter before night fell in unfamiliar territory.

"Vy---Gaar." Isabella caught herself and grimaced a little as she walked toward her 'son'. This was going to take more concentration than she had bargained on. "We should move immediately. Do you know a way to find shelter?" It was a subtle hint that she was not sure what to do next, but would be willing to blunder through the forest until they happened across something or someone who could fix their immediate need. Surely there couldn't be a village too far off? Even if it was abandoned?

Isabella watched as the men piled back into the long boat and rowed back to the ship. As the ship set sail and lumbered on its way, she turned to her family.

"We had best get moving if we expect to have a place to sleep tonight or any type of shelter." They had provisions, packs, and everything that was required of a journey sans the horses and pack horses.

[Vylrath]

He had to move away from the stench of the men, assisting Isabella and the children. He smiled at her, when he caught her correcting herself about his name. “Gaar” was foreign to most and he doubted any had heard of his father. It would be safe for now and she would have to get used to the fact that he would never be the same to her.

“Why do you think I should know this place?” He suddenly felt distant from her and so very free. “Maybe we should ask this place where we belong..”Gaar said, cryptically. He felt an explosion of force pocket his body in a hushed whisper of acceptance- he was the host of this new power and now he was commanding it to aid his family.

It was as if he could shake the world and all of the emotions that collided with his power. Silence came between him and the Earth. He could only feel his presence connecting with outside forces. Isabella no longer existed, or Caela, or her children.

Concentrating, he felt as though his powers could reach the edge of the sky- time was of no consequence to him. Right now, he needed guidance. He didn’t want to make his family wander aimlessly and find themselves in the hand of an enemy. He wasn’t ready to fight yet.

Emotionally, he would feel the connection to the correct path. It wouldn’t necessarily shine, or be something you would physically see. In his mind, shadows took shape of old ruins, with the forest growing around it- shaping its ancient splendor. He knew that man no longer rested there.

It was an emotional pull that would take them to their safe haven. The ground underneath his feet seemed to darken, almost to an ashen color, but he wouldn’t notice the strange effect he had on the land.

He paused, only to look back at Isabella, with a smile full of anticipation.

“…This way! Be quick, if you want us to reach it by sundown!” “Gaar” headed north, his mind swept up by his newfound discovery. He didn’t even turn back to explain his plot to Isabella, whom surely followed hastily. He would make it his own haven since he knew the ruins could easily be rebuilt.

He would make sure to spill his blood against the stone that would house them. That way, he could feel who entered and who left- it would be like a makeshift heart akin to his own that beat wildly in his chest. It would be his choice and he would be damned if Isabella stopped him. He almost wanted to pierce her eyes with a sudden glare, but he thought better of it. He had never felt so compelled to protect a simple structure.

He walked ahead of them, not worried about the pace he was keeping. Nature seemed to sway to his movement, captivated by the creatures persistance.

[Jen]

They followed Vylrath without question, hurrying to match his pace. Isabella held Trydian while Caela held Sebilla because the children's legs were far too short to keep pace. When they had gone what seemed miles, Isabella cleared her throat.

"Vylrath, just where are we going? The children are tired." She kissed Trydian on the temple as he slept with his head firmly on her shoulder. Sebilla was not far behind him, but Caela had been wise and rigged a sling out of one of the blankets from the ship. Isabella was not weary from holding her grandson, but she felt that her elbow might forever be stuck at an angle.

It was then that Isabella glanced around, looking at her surroundings as if for the first time. It was getting dark quickly and the forest was no help. For most of her life in Xexoria there was only open sky and sand for as far as the eye could see. This side of Xexoria was different, almost feral. There was an uneasy feeling about the woods, as if eyes were on them and following their every move.

"Are you even sure where you're going? This isn't the Xexoria we're used to." It was then that she noticed his effect on the earth. Her eyes could hardly believe what they were seeing. Anyone could follow the trail of destruction left in Vylrath's wake. Anyone could follow them.

"We need to hurry. I don't like being out in these woods." She caught up to Vylrath for a moment and murmured against his hair, her motions quick, "You are leaving a trail behind us."

[Vylrath]

The ruins kept playing in his mind. They were shadows of his past and his mind knew that fact. He was beginning to grow a fever from his obsession. Gaar ignored Isabella and pushed deeper into the woods. Animals kept their distance from the crazed creature whom cut past his surroundings by force.

He paused, making Isabella and Caela wonder at his motive. Had he finally gone insane? Yes and no. He was transfixed to help his family achieve a simple goal: shelter. His eyes gazed ahead, easily penetrating the darkness so that the shadows became visible objects in the distance.

“We’re here.” “Gaar,” pushed aside a marble-like structure that had been blocking his way, like it had been nothing more than a small bough of a tree. “We’ll find shelter inside. Some of it is still intact. Looks like it was once a temple…” He paused, thoughtfully. Just how safe was it? He ignored her worrisome inner-voice about his path. “It will disappear before daybreak. If someone is tracking us down, at this moment, then they might have luck, but I doubt they are. They would just be wishing for their death.” He said, boasting.

“Take the children inside and rest. I’ll take a look inside and make sure it’s completely deserted.” He tried to comfort her. He wouldn’t need fire to see ahead, his vision did that well enough. “Make a fire. We have plenty of wood around.” He smirked, walking ahead into the belly of the ruins.

He knew it was ancient and that bothered him. He felt as if he were stepping across time, something ancient and provoking. “We won’t be here long.” He spoke aloud, as if he expected the dead to hear him. Looking up, he could see the moon barely pierce through openings in the great ceiling. There were misshapen faces carved into the walls, probably their Gods or Deities. Writing was also present, but he didn’t care enough to decipher the language.
This was their home now.

He knew what he had to do to make it secure. Picking up a broken shard of stone, he cut it across his arm. He hadn’t actually seen his blood for some time, not since the wars, so it shocked him to see it a different pigment.
He had to hurry, before this new blood began to heal his wound. He grasped onto his arm, hushed with pain. Little droplets began to form into puddles. The thickness wouldn’t last and he could already feel his body fight to correct his mistake.

He smeared the blood across the walls with a quickened pace. Each corridor he had passed was now covered. It looked like a broken mosaic in the moons glow. The harsh wall penetrated from behind the delicate blood. It almost smelled chemical.
Placing his palms into the collected puddle, he concentrated on his task. The foundation began to move, inch by inch, with each purposeful request. The ceiling was no longer allowing the light to enter. He was carefully reconstructing the temple.

His body wanted to collapse, his mind screamed for release: stones found their base, each one linked to the other, pulsating with his own blood. Outside, plant life forced it to be whole again, weaving through the empty spaces that could not be whole otherwise. Everything seemed to call out to him: the blood roaring in his mind.

What was once a visible Temple, now became sheathed in the woods. It was perfectly cocooned. They were hidden, for the time being. His body was now fully at its limit. He felt himself with weak breaths, his eyes becoming dull.
The blood seemed to thin, to a point where it became a mere sleek scar. His body tried to mend its inner wounds, too overwhelmed with the power that he displayed. The blood darkened on the walls, almost matching the obscure language he had once observed.

[Jen]

They were linked by their minds and so as Vylrath got weaker, so did Isabella. She didn't realize why, at first, her energy was draining -- though it would not be as severe as the situation Vylrath had put himself in. Bella blinked her eyes as she stared into the leaping flames of their campfire. While Vylrath had been off rebuilding their haven the women and children had searched out what was once a sheltered garden open in the center to the sky. It was here that they built their fire because it had been the most intact area of the temple.

A rustle alerted Isabella to the rebuilding efforts Vylrath was overseeing. She left the children and Caela to their dinner because she was not hungry (and come to think of it she had really felt no desire to eat much of anything since Vylrath had corrupted her). Lurkin in the shadows Isabella held the rebuilding with interested eyes. She caught the last bit of stone and vine tying itself together, and then she found Vylrath. She knew that her weakness would not allow her to carry him, though at any given time they could have easily lifted each other. With a huffing sigh she sat heavily next to Vylrath.

"I refuse to call you "Gaar"." She knew that she wasn't speaking to a corpse because of his shallow breathing and her heart still beating. "What have you done? You have only just recieved this power and you are pushing your limits. Do you wish to die? Think of the children. Where would they be without us right now?" Her tone was chastising but tender. She cared for her ex husband.

Isabella pulled her cloak from her shoulders and draped it over Vylrath's prone form, resting one hand on his chest as she situated him to lay on his back. He was so very different than when she'd married him some thirty years prior. Gods but she had been gone some sixteen or seventeen years! Time had made no difference to either party, though he had been hardened by his loss of her. He would not admit it, she wagered, but she had missed him too. Now he wanted her to marry someone else, anyone else. She pursed her lips, moonlight filtered through an overhead ventilation window and pooled at her feet. Isabella doubted she even knew how to find a husband much less put herself on the market again.

"You are impossible." She muttered as she drew her arms around her knees and rested her forehead against her forearms. "You expect so much out of me when I am an impotent leader."

[Vylrath]

The curse plagued his head like a thousand screaming demons. It was more than upset at him. In fact, he was beginning to worry that it was producing its own ‘self’ in him. He shouldn’t have been so careless with it, but the greed had taken. It also didn’t help that he was beginning to remember his other side.

Vylrath felt the warmth draped over his body. He had forgotten all about the power connected to Isabella: idiot! Do you want your Queen dead? The curse promptly reprimanded him for his actions. He sat up, catching a full breath. “Are you a Goddess?” He chuckled at his own personal joke, but he knew she would most likely slap him for finding this humorous.

Shamed, he looked down at his arm, which was now a jagged black line, to remind him that he shouldn’t take advantage of something so profound. He covered it with his bloodied sleeve. She most likely caught a glimpse of it, but he would never speak of it again.

“I did what I had to. I’m not going to let you suffer, because of my past actions. They wouldn’t care if you were once Queen, they would still kill you for being affiliated with me. The same goes for the children. Do you think they want more demons running around? They still have the blood. That’s why I suggested blessing them with this…thing. It cures them of my taint!” He stood up, only to fall weakly against the wall. He held himself there, leaning against his own weight, so she wouldn’t see how truly weak he had become. The curse reminded him that he was lucky to be alive.

“I will start aging again. Not to the extent of who I once looked like, but I’ll look the part to be by your side. If you want that again…”

“The children can come in here. It’s safe. I made sure that nothing can pierce through these walls. Not even the darkest magic. Everything is weaved and connected by me-” He said, a revelation struck him. If he was connected to this place, wouldn’t that make him rooted? What would happen to Isabella? He cursed out loud. “I’m tired of running for our lives!” He struck an already-injured fist into the wall, watching the stone’s face transform into a small, crater-like appearance.

“I heard everything you said and I’m sorry I ever put foot into your miserable realm. At the same, you wouldn’t have been the woman you are now.” He inched away from the wall, sitting down on what looked like a broken sacrificial altar. He lifted the tattered sleeve: the curse, (what he considered a plague) had begun to map around his arm.

“Damn…”

[Jen]

Isabella smiled at Vylrath and pointed at the ground, expecting him to sit back down on the floor. Her turquoise eyes looked about the room and she nodded briefly with everything he said, though it could be argued she heard nothing of what he spoke. She smiled at him when he was through, a sign that she was indeed paying some attention, and then stood in one fluid motion. Grace had nothing on this woman as she paced before her ex husband.

"The children are comfortable a few rooms away. We found a whole room while you were rebuilding this place. I suspect they are sleeping by the campfire as we speak." Isabella glanced in the direction where her child and grandchildren lay and smiled warmly. She doubted she would ever lose her love of family even in the haze of what Vylrath had given to her.

"I think you are correct when you say that people will revile you for what you were once in Xexoria. I should perhaps take another to husband, though I do not know how my new appearance or powers will affect a man. Not to mention if I become pregnant in the union, how will our powers affect a child?" Isabella frowned, a gesture that was impeccable even in her state of worry. She stopped in mid stride, her forward momentum threatening to cause her to trip at the very least. A smile spread across her lips as she skipped lightly to avoid a very ungraceful tumble.

"I wonder how we shall get your strength back. How do we regain our strength when we use our new power? It is a blood disease, yes? Should we consume blood?" Disgusted, Isabella's features fell into a pout, and she shook her head. "We are not vampires. I do not feel a pull to suck the blood out of any living creature. I do not desire to drink blood. I feel hungry, though, and I would wager that is your fault for spilling your blood. You must remember that when you weaken yourself you will weaken me!" The last was spoken in a frustrated fit of emotion. It was true, Isabella could not feel the beat of a pulse or the draw to human blood -- so they weren't vampiric in nature. However, there must be some blood transferred from a source not of their own.

"You must consume something with blood in its veins. Not our children or grandchildren preferrably." Isabella shot Vylrath a glance, as if to test his own mettle with her ultimatum. She felt she had no other point in life, at this time, than to order her ex husband to do exactly as she bid. "We are in a forest, there are bound to be things to consume here. Shall I bring you back something?" Though weak, Isabella was not exhausted beyond compare -- and she was not horribly tired even after the day long march.

[Vylrath]

He caught her during her fall, his strength not completely lost. Kissing her, he relished in her beauty. He had missed it so much! Now he was nothing more than a young boy to her. He helped her steady her feet, while his hands played around her subtle waste. (Her eyes would still be his favorite part of her- they were the first thing he had woken up to in the past.)

Vylrath was certain that she knew he was lonely, but not just for any lover.

“Let’s figure it out tomorrow. I want the children in here, so I can watch them. We don’t know this strange land yet and I’d like to figure it out before we stake claim here.” he said, sternly. It wasn’t that he would go against her wishes, but she had no idea the effect this thing was having on him alone.

He collapsed into a sitting position, his body looking frail, even for who he was. As if his body understood the inner turmoil, he fell asleep against the flat-stoned altar. (Very Narnia, I couldn’t help it!)

Dreams encased him in fear and longing for something that didn’t exist. Colors wrapped around his emotions like waves of fire. Nothing in his dreams made sense, but a voice spoke to him plainly: the daughter….the daughter is your pillar….The fire in his head continued to burn with a persistence, while the voice sounded like nails grating on stone. He tossed, turned, fitfully in his sleep. He spoke the sentences out-loud, as if he were conversing.

The voice instructed him, that if he contained Caela with his blood, that she would be their everlasting source. The child had to be of a firstborn female- she was just that. He cringed inwardly at the thought-the mere notion of betraying Isabella startled his sleeping mind.

The pillar…Images of Caela continued to flash inside of his head like broken glass. None of the images connected fully and he tried to make sense of it. In the morning, when it was truly dawn, he was sure the madness would go away. He tried to sleep once more, his mind growing numb.

[Jen]

Isabella smiled and nodded at Vylrath's advice. She knew the children would be safe within the temple proper, but she would humor him. As he lay down to sleep Bella wandered back into the garden where the children slept. Rousing Caela with a gentle push on her shoulder, Isabella scooped Trydian and Sebilla into her arms. When Caela was up Isabella motioned for her to follow. Ever the good child that Isabella never had the chance to raise, Caela followed her into the room with Vylrath.

"Your father wants all of you close so that we may watch over you." However, hearing the muttering of her ex husband on his little altar -- Isabella led the children into a room off to the side. It would have been where the priests that looked after the altar stayed. Taking care not to trip over any residual rubble on the floor, Isabella handed Trydian to Caela and fished out ferns that were once growing in a derelict (but newly remodeled thanks to Vylrath) temple and made a bed for Caela and the children. Without speaking Caela helped her mother and when the task was through she collapsed next to her children and slept. Isabella covered all three with Caela's cloak and smiled. She kissed her fingertips and pressed them to each of the children's foreheads -- though one was no longer a baby.

A soft sigh escaped Isabella's throat and it was truely forlorn. All the woman had wanted was a daughter and a son. Truely she had been surprised to have become pregnant to begin with -- but she had been chaste for her role as priestess. Then, when she had the hope of a daughter her son turned and sold them out to Jordan. Crouched as she was next to her daughter and grandchildren, Isabella watched without seeing anything in the present. All she thought about was that one blessed moment when she had held Caela in her arms after birth -- when she gave the newborn her name. Then there was only darkness and a deep unfathomable fog. She so wished that she had been strong enough, then, to see her daughter grow.

Vylrath's increased muttering and sudden jerk awake caused Isabella to come back to herself. The woman got to her feet with the faintest whisper of sound as she slipped from the side room into the larger chamber beyond. Vylrath had fallen back to sleep by the time she entered and she shook her head. This was hard on him, this running around and being strong for everyone. He looked pitiful and weak in his sleep -- and it would seem that the world was caught in the dark morning hours, hanging fast to the darkness in hopes of garnering more rest for a very weary world.

Isabella was restless -- the fatigue she felt was fleeting and she thought she should make herself useful. In a matter of minutes she had all of their packs moved from the garden where they had set up camp, to the large room where Vylrath slept. In her pack she pulled free a long knife and unhooked her hunting bow and quiver from the side. It was a trademark of hers from when she was alive -- she went nowhere without her long knife and hunting bow. Creeping from the temple from an arched side door, Isabella picked her steps carefully until she was well out of earshot of the temple -- but still within sight of it.

It had taken longer than she supposed, but by the time dawn was just starting to color the sky, Isabella had three squirrels, a rock pigeon, and a large turtle. She made her way back into the temple very carefully and set her catch down long enough to gather firewood and set it up in the fire pit in the corner of the room. A vent above the pit allowed the smoke to escape so that it didn't become irritating. Isabella set herself to skinning and cleaning the squirrels and rock pigeon -- setting the critters on a few flat tiles she found lying beside the door. They worked perfectly to start cooking the food. The turtle she let cook in its shell directly on the fire. Before long the entire room would smell fantastic. Isabella sat back and stared at the fire as she set aside the hearts of the three squirrels and the heart of the rock pigeon. The rest of the innards from those creatures were set in a bowl outside the door on the perimeter of the temple property as an offering to the more carniverous of the animals.

Isabella flipped the food and set out the plates and silverware that they each had to travel with. She realized that they needed to find water soon because their stores were running low. In a fertile land such as this Isabella doubted that a water source, especially for a temple, would be far.

By the time Isabella was cutting up two of the squirrels and putting them on plates, portioning out some of the flat bread they carried, the sky was a brilliant shade of pink and blue. Dawn found Isabella, the once Queen of Xexoria, playing a homely housewife -- and it seemed to make her very happy indeed.

[Vylrath]

The food woke him up. The sound of her cooking, the sizzling, and the basic aroma, lifted his head in wonder. The voices that had been webbing in his mind, had left that night and he was grateful.

"You want me to eat....this?" Moving from the altar, he looked disgusted at the hearts, but pleased at the sight of her cooking. He didn't know why it pleased him so much to see her being domestic. It certainly didn't seem to fit her in the past.


His stomach no longer growled, or made the notion he was hungry. It was purely based on the strength, that continued to wane, that gave him a hint that he needed food to replenish. He sat up, stood and walked toward her. The smell was memorable, but it would do nothing for him, like it might a mortal.

Immortals didn't worry about food or drink. Eating and drinking were purely optional and best used recreationally. It wasn't as if his very life had once depended on the stuff, like it did for her and the children. He was amused that she had been so thoughtful, but it bothered him that she had to resort to gutting.

"What will our children eat? I know that I saw a watering well in the most inner-corridor. I can help you gather it, if you need me to." He sat by her, admiring the display of food laid out for them. It was impressive, even if it had only been done with the least diserable rodents.

"I won't stoop so low as to have to hunt creatures that lurk in the woods...and neither will you!" Vampires did that sort of thing, maybe even lesser demons, but he had never been known to hunt the things that scurried along the forest floors.

"Rest and I will eat what you give me. You are my Queen and I should take advice."

[Jen]

"There is nothing wrong with hunting what the earth has to offer. Humans do it, and I did it before I died. There is no dishonor in eating the smaller creatures." Isabella sat forward on her knees, her cloak balled up under her so that the floor did not bruise her delicate flesh. She stuck her long knife into the fire and plucked the turtle from between the cooking tiles. She set the turtle to the side to cool before cracking it open, and if she did it properly they would have a decently sized bowl from the fired shell.

"You will do as I say." It wasn't a question but an affirmation and Isabella placed four hearts on Vylrath's plate and handed him his skin of water. He may not desire to drink, but it would take the taste out of his mouth once the hearts were consumed. Bella smiled and placed a little of the squirrel and a bit of bread on the plate as well, the squirrel meat was shredded and it looked like it could have been any sort of meat. "Eat the hearts first, they will give you strength. Then you will consume everything else on your plate and wait for further instruction. We can go get water together."

By that time Caela and the children were awake and entering the room. Caela smiled at her mother with one child on her hip and leading the other by the hand. She was the quintessential mother figure, even if the rest of the world decided that she did not deserve to live for her demonic half. Isabella mused as she handed plates to Caela and watched her set them on the ground in front of her children, Caela would need to be married once they had the Kingdom back under order. How would she take that bit of news? She had never been married before, from what Isabella knew. Would a man take her with her children? Part of Isabella didn't want to put her daughter in the position of having to marry without love -- but then she had done so with Vylrath in order to escape a rather disturbing trap.

Isabella sat back on her heels and picked at her plate, eating part of the rock pigeon with her fingers and some of the squirrel wrapped in the flat bread. She was mildly hungry after Vylrath's use of power. When she was done she dusted her hands on her pants and collected the plates of those that were finished. As she was headed out to a bin she had found full of water to wash the dishes. The water was not fit for drinking because Isabella wasn't sure how long it had been sitting there -- but she figured that washing the dishes would not be harmful. Caela, however, figured what she was up to and stopped her -- taking the dishes from her hand and waving her off. The children toddled out behind Caela to play in the dirt and grass in front of the door as Caela washed the dishes. It was a homely sight and an endearing one. Any man that had the pleasure of having her daughter as a wife would not be disappointed in her skill as a mother, wife, and Princess.

"We should go find water while they are occupied." Isabella turned to Vylrath and waited for him to acknowledge her. "We should also find where these people washed, because I know I could use a bath and I am sure the children will need one once they are done playing in the dirt."

[Angelos]

The world around the man was a vast wasteland. Bodies of his soldiers fallen and bloodied around him. Fires scattered over the countryside faintly illuminated the goriest parts of the scene. The man's white eyes surveyed the damage. In the distance, his castle, also aflame, was battle worn and crumbling and he could see faint outlines of his enemy's troops looting what they could from the devastation.

His armor was torn, and his body felt no better. Blood stains decorated the leather-like fabric where the swords had penetrated and slashed, but beneath all that shown was scarred skin. That battle had taken its toll on him and drained him of most of his power. He felt weak, and tired. How could this have happened?

"What have I done?" he whispered to himself. His hand ran through his long white hair as he looked down at the body of his daughter, lifeless; for now. It could be years before she woke. The damage was so extensive. He should have never allowed her to fight in this war. Damn her stubbornness. "Rhiannon..."

"My lord," a voice said behind him, "It is time."

"I know," he replied as he crouched one last time to run his hands through is daughter's hair. "I love you. And I will return." He looked up at the wizard, "Rion, take care of her in my absence."

His old friend nodded and smiled. "I will, old man. But for now, you must go. Your kingdom need their king, and if you are dead, you cannot help them."

Rion's staff suddenly gleamed in the darkness, and the king felt the warlock's power wash over him like a tidal wave. The faint light suddenly became blinding and he was forced to look away. He felt a gust of wind blow his cape out behind him dramatically, and when he looked back a large, swirling portal stood before him. An amazing mix of blues and yellows, mixing and churning like a sun trapped in the sea.

"Angelos, leave now, and return to us when you have regained your power. I will do what I can to hold off the horde that has caused this destruction." Rion smiled once more and pointed to the portal, "Go!"

The king shook his head, not in disobedience, but a sort of shame. He should have been strong enough to prevent this, and as he stepped forward, he caught the gaze of the warlock. "I will return, old friend. I promise you."

Rion nodded,"I know. And I will be here." Angelos smiled at this. He knew that Rion would do everything he could to protect his kingdom. With that comforting thought, he stepped into the portal that lead to a world unknown.

The deam ended abruptly and Angelos' eyes shot open. He was surrounded in blackness and dirt entered his eyes. He opened his mouth to yell out, but was silenced by the earth around him. Instinct took over and his arms started to dig through the dirt like a swimmer against the tide. Within a few moments his gloved hands broke the surface and he pulled himself out of the hole.

Dirt and grass fell from his mouth and he spat over and over to get it all out of his mouth and lungs. Using his right hand, he wiped the dirt from his eyes and attempted to look around. His vision, though blurred, revealed a deep forest shrouded in night. Why did he wake? He could feel that he was not fully healed, and shouldn't have risen for another few years. What drew him from his tortured slumber?

Another cough and he pulled himself to his feet. His hands brushed the dirt from his armor, his cape must have decayed. It was the only part of the uniform that was not created from his essence. Another quick look around the forest and he pushed off the ground, taking to the trees. He grasped a branch and swung around it, releasing at the apex of his swing and tossing himself higher into the air. Another grasp on another branch and he swings around it, releasing, flipping, and landing on it in a crouch. Better to stay higher up in this weakened state, he thought to himself.

Then he felt it as his power crept over the forest, subconsciously his mind had flowed over the trees and the ground, searching, and keeping him alert. That's how he felt their presence. That's why he awoke. A group of travellers. But why here? He chose this place because of its lack of population. He could sleep peacefully here. But sure enough, there they were. He gently probed one of the younger ones minds, then another, and then an older female. Finally, he came to whom he figured was the leader of the group.

What power! It was a new power, he could feel that much, but a great one nonetheless. Suddenly the thirst kicked Angelos in the gut. He needed to feed. He forgot how strong the lust was after a resting period. It had been so long since he had gone to ground to rest. Centuries. But now he needed to feed, and then investigate this group.

Another push with his powerful legs and he was off into the night, heading in the direction of the travelers. He would find out what they were doing in his forest...

[Vylrath]

The food was rubbery- the look of it didn’t help either. He held back vomit. The smell took over his senses and he was vaguely reminded of why he needed to eat this crap. He looked at her, hoping that she was playing some sort of cruel joke, but her expression didn’t change and her words made it final. Feeling like a child, he played with the food in front of him. He picked at the ends, making the hearts bump against one another, before placing one in his mouth.

It goes down easy enough...I can’t believe I ate this shit!

He swallowed, hoping he didn’t choke on the awful thing. He felt his body replenish what was lost, it was like a hot liquid running through his veins. Yawning, he stretched and offered her the remaining heart. If he was going to suffer, she would follow suit.

“I saved the best for last…” Folding his arms, he waited for her reaction. It almost felt like an initiation. It would be one of the more humorous moments they’d share together.
He got up, suddenly effected by a mere feeling, foreign power, entering their lands. The temple spoke to him, but not in literal terms. It gave him an idea of what was coming, but not exactly who was responsible.

The blood in the temple spoke to him with vivid imagery. They didn’t last long and he realized he failed to gather the power’s true identity. Was it a real being, or a manifestation of his own?

“Get them inside…now…” He looked at her fearfully, not understanding the rise in him.

“There were rooms with basins. Take them in there.”

He began to feel helpless, not able to contact with his telepathy. The telepathy had extinguished its use days ago. What use were these new powers, if they couldn't protect his family?

[Jen]

Isabella flicked her eyes toward Caela who was soaked to the elbows from the water in the large stone basin. She was nearly twenty, about half a year shy of it. The twins played quietly at her feet, using the mud to make mock castles. Vylrath's voice, strained with emotion, caused Isabella to move as swift as a hawk. She snatched up the twins so quickly that they cried out in surprise. Isabella barked a soft but urgent 'quiet' before looking at her only living child.

"Inside. Now. There is trouble, your father feels it but doesn't know what it is." Caela left the plates in the basin and fled inside, her lavender skirts dirty from travel her arms shining with the cold water. She was pale in comparison to her mother and confused children. "Take the children and hurry into the next room. There are no windows and you cannot be seen."

Isabella picked up her knife, coated in animal blood. The heart of the rock dove was still on Vylrath's plate. Without any whining she picked the small organ up and popped it into her mouth. It was cold and the blood was congealed, but it tasted not unlike a rare piece of venison. Taking a deep breath, Bella glanced at Vylrath and wiped the blade of her knife on her cloak.

"What are we up against?" Isabella's wary gaze shifted around the room and out the door. Her long chesnut brown hair fell in waves down her back and she wished, vaguely, for a tie to keep it out of her face. It had been so long since she had need of physical violence -- short of murdering a squirrel for dinner of course. There was a small nagging worry at the back of her mind, that she may not be able to fight like she was taught as a High Priestess of a battle god. Damn it, that had been so long ago! Why hadn't she bothered to keep herself in shape?

Isabella was in a fine shape. In fact all of her muscles were in complete working order and very finely chiseled. Vylrath's power seeped through her veins, even now her blood ran a darker and more menacing shade than it ever had before. Her turquoise eyes were ringed in a void of black so dark that light itself seemed to shy away from it. If ever there were a woman that mingled danger and phenomenal beauty together, it was Isabella Rivenfelde. She was taller than Vylrath by about a foot and her long legs were covered by a pair of traveling pants. She had changed from her dress to a more suitable traveling attire sometime the day previous. Her chest rose and fell evenly beneath a tight cotton shirt that had a low cut v-neck that was not laced together. Isabella had not been planning for a visitor, but there was no time for modesty when Vylrath sensed danger.

"How close?" If he thought that she would hide with Caela and the children then he was sorely mistaken.

[Angelos]

Angelos leaped from tree to tree with ninja accuracy and speed. To him, at was if the world was in a super-slow motion, in fact in mid-stride, he stopped to grab what seemed to be a bird frozen in mid-air and sucked it dry of all its blood before it could even consider what had just happened to it. It wasn't the greatest way to strengthen up, but if this force he was about to encounter was hostile, he needed to keep his strength up.

He stopped in a tree high above the ground a few miles away from the source of this power. He could get a much better read now. There seemed to be five of them. He closed his eyes to better probe their minds, which turned out to be suprisingly difficult. He could only latch onto what they were saying, which was enough for him to grab their names and who was apparently in charge.

"Vylrath..." Angelos muttered as he stood in the tree. Suddenly he realized he was foolish at probing so hard. They had sensed him! No, only the male had. But this was enough for them to take guard. He sensed the younger of the group separating and moving deeper into their dwelling. With that, he made mental note of their position and pulled his mind back into his own, masking his presence as if he was never even there. Had anyone been in tune to what he was doing, it would be like a light turning off in a cell. He simply just disappeared.

"That should do it," he murmured to himself. Then continued on through the trees, swiftly and silently.

--------

It only took a few moments for him reach the perimeter of what he now saw was a temple. Interesting he thought to himself, I can feel this Vylrath's power coursing through this place... What exactly are you, friend? He sighed to himself softly and gazed upon the two standing outside. He was behind them and to the right, so he knew that if they were relying purely on any form of telepathy, assuming they had any, they wouldn't be able to see him.

Vantage point would have told him to take the high ground and perch atop the Temple, but something told Angelos that this was a bad idea. He could feel powerful similarities between the structure and the lad. So, safety sake told him to stay in the trees. Another jump and he was a bit closer and more to their right than their rear. He sniffed the air faintly as to not make too much noise and could smell confidence oozing from them both.

This could be fun, he thought as he chuckled in his head, a perfect chance to strengthen myself up a bit before I return home... If I ever get that chance...