Icer snarled as that sword bit into her neck, white-hot pain, but she didn't care. Lashing out, she snapped, grabbing hold of the slayer's arm and giving a sharp yank, there was more than one way to disarm someone. There was the sound of snapping, just before Mathias had teleported away, and a cry of pain. It seemed Icer had broken something.

Lupinius falls to the earth, nearly on top of Icer. Before the tip of his sword can touch her, he releases it and it vanishes in a flash of light. Quickly, he turns to Kaleb as Mathias vanishes. "Kaleb! Track him!"

The wolf stopped digging upon feeling the wall was no longer there. Onyxia shifted and moved into the area in her war form. She had the slayers scent.

Icer didn't even feel the one that had nearly fallen on her. Nostrils flaring, her blood dripped down her neck, but she started tracking Mathias.

The huge, hulking demon that is Kaleb only nods once to Lupinius. Already, his form is shimmering away as Mathias is disappearing.

Nostrils still flared, though Icer seemed to be calming slightly. Still ignoring the burning pain in her neck; obviously she had lost the scent, though she moved toward the unconscious hatchling.

Hurt dragons? Not a problem. Kneeling down, Alicia places her ghostly hands on each of the dragons. She had quite the array of healing magic at her disposal. Again a blue aura would envelop the astral form and extend out to surround both the dragons would feel the warming sensation of mana course through their bodies and repair broken wings. Reset and heal both bone and tissue. Though all this spell casting was taking a toll upon the woman. Though she would not stop until both had been completely.

Onyxia wasn't a healer or a magic wielder, just your friendly neighborhood lycan. She further transformed back to her regular form.

Lupinius kneels next to the hatchling, in the meantime, taking account of her wounds... As the strange, guardian-angel woman begins healing Icer, he can sense the drain it has on her via his own abilities. He lends his own healing gifts to her, as they are not so limited by the burden of mortality, concentrating more on the hatchling than on Icer.

The hatchling had a nice gash through her wings and along her back, where blood was slowly pouring out. She was definitely unconscious as well.

?I'm fine.? Icer protested a little as she eyed Alicia, then the others. She continued to nuzzle the fallen hatchling, she'd deal with Mathias the next time she'd find him.

Lupinius places one hand on the gash along the hatchling's back, another on his amulet. Amethystine light begins to flow from his hand and into the hatchling. No simple task, this - dragons are much more complex than humans - but he takes his time.

Icer held still as she was worked on, at least not feeling the white-hot pain in her neck anymore. Ice blue eyes once clouded with rage cleared and she blinked, looking around the glen at those gathered.

Slowly - very slowly - the gash in the dragonling's back begins to knit closed, the flow of blood stopping. At last, that wound is closed, and he turns his attention to the wings.

Kaleb rematerializes, this time as a fairly ordinary-looking man of much shorter stature than his demon self - his gray eyes ablaze, for a moment, and he looks mad. "Son of a b****...I lost him.?

((Adapted from live play))

?Well chocolate flavoring... not real chocolate... those cost to much where I am from.? The woman replied.

Onyxia stood off to the side still.

Kaleb grins, "Ah see." He turns to Onyxia, "And yer Onyxia? I b'lieve mon frere Wolfe ment'n'd y'all to me... at some length." He grins at Lupinius.

The hatchling eyed Alicia, not trusting her one bit. So, of course, she didn?t even sniff the candy bar things.

?You really should eat them. They have the recommended daily allotment of nutrients for a human, but two should help each of you.? The woman prodded.

Onyxia chuckled softly, "I can well imagine." She arched that brow to Lupinius though. Lupinius tries to glare at Kaleb, but can't keep a straight face doing it, and instead seems to flush slightly.

Icer gave a nod to Lupinius then, ?I do believe you know my brother Brian. Though, of course, we are not related by blood. He took me in.? She said sniffing a bar.

"Family is family." Onyxia put in.

In the background, the woman bantered with the dragon about her van. It does seem that the earlier confrontation was them messing around.

"Indeed it is...which is why I won't be kicking Kaleb's ass for mentioning that." Lupinius doesn't even try to suppress the slight grin.

Kaleb chuckles, "Well, mes amis, much as I'd like t'stay and enjoy, I'm gon' try an' fin' me a bad guy. Au revoir." His form shimmers for a moment before vanishing.

"And I won't inquire as to what was said about me." There was a saucy wink from Onyxia.

Icer watched the shimmering, before snapping up another vitamin bar. The woman moved to her van and pulled out a torn-up boot. She tossed it to Icer, ?There.?

Lupinius chuckles softly as he says in a low voice. "I wouldn't be at liberty to say, m'lady... Well, not right now, anyway. Suffice it to say, you would have found it quite flattering."

It was Onyxia?s turn to blush, "Ah, well." The smile did not leave those lips.

Icer was chewing on her boot now, twitching her tail and grinning to Alicia. ?My mate and I figured with how we were raised, we might help others that otherwise wouldn't have a chance.?

"Filet of Sole...heh" Onyxia quipped.

Lupinius chuckles and blushes a little himself... Well, what can he say? He likes her, and even though it may be a bit obvious, he chooses to keep the spoken knowledge of it to himself, for the time being. "I'd have thought a dragon might wants something a bit...tastier...for a chew toy."

?She drug me across the inn to get it off my foot.? The woman replied.

?I dun remember that.? Icer said eying Alicia.

?Sure you don?t..? Alicia swats her snout playfully.

?But then I was younger at the time.? Icer continued gnawing on the boot. A playful rumble was given at the swat. The banter continues in the background.

Onyxia is getting the hint though and she moves over to Lupinius to murmur. "(vq) I like you."

This time, there is no doubt there is a blush to Lupinius? features, but he looks right into her silver eyes and smiles. He speaks in those same low tones* "I like you, too, m'lady." He looks down at the amulet around his neck as it glows dimly "And of course..." He is cut off as the nexus swallows him whole.

Onyxia can feel as Gabriel is taken away. Not something she likes, but what can she do.

((Adapted from Live Play))

He smiles, finally. "So...were you born with your abilities?"

She nodded, "Yes. My parents were... powerful beings in their own right, though what my father saw in my mother is beyond me."

He chuckles, "Some men like the 'damsel in distress.' Personally, I've always found a woman who could possibly beat me in a fight to be more attractive."

She smiled at him, "I like the idea of being partners not subservient.

"My thoughts exactly. The problem being that - for the most part - the women who could beat me in a fight have a more... Masculine... look than I like." He looks at Onyxia, this time being obvious without being, well, chauvinistic.

"(vq) Not all of us, though."

He smiles, a warmer look to his brilliant blue eyes as he looks into her silver ones. "So I've noticed, m'lady."

"(vq) Maybe... We can." She trailed off; her turn to blush, as she wasn't sure how to voice what was on her mind without appearing too forward.

His eyes don't move from hers, now curious and flickering in their depths with violet light as he sees her blush... He speaks as low as she does, moving from his place on the hearthstones to the couch on which she sits* "We can...?" He asked quietly, as he's not sure what she's saying (yeah, he may be intelligent but he has his oblivious moments).

"(vq) Maybe see where things go?" She asked softly as she watched him sit.

He smiles at that - as he sits, his fingers touch the back of her hand. Interestingly, the touch is gentle, almost feather-light, for hands that last night had brought a sword down onto a magical barrier hard enough to puncture it. ?M'lady Dragonsbane -" Too formal, he says instead, "Onyxia... I wouldn't have it any other way. After all, you never know where the trail leads without following it."

She moved a little close and turned her hand under his. The first light touch for the woman that had strong enough to rake at said barrier.

Lupinius seems, for some strange reason, almost...well, shy. Perhaps it was understandably so, since he's never had a close relationship with anyone, really. Yet, instinctively perhaps, interlaces his fingers with hers as she turns her hand under his - not taking his eyes from hers.

She spoke softly as he free hand reached up to caress his cheek , "(vq) One day at a time, Lupinius." She only spoke his true name knowing they were alone for all intents and purposes.

He smiles, enjoying for the moment that gentle caress, as his own fingers from his free hand come up to brush over her cheek. "I have lived my entire life by that very principle, Onyxia... I certainly wouldn't change it now."

She nuzzled this fingers lightly, "I'm glad to have met you."

As he looks into her silver eyes, truly a shade he had never seen before, his own sapphire orbs light up with a warm, violet light that lingers for a moment. Not the usual flickering that could be mistaken for the eye shine that some animals have this time, but an actual light. "As am I to have met you, Onyxia."

((Adapted from Live Play))

Fiery eyes looked around the inn. Firedancer didn?t actually recognize those who had helped her, as she had been unconscious or spell-bound to a sleep during the time. But, she felt mischievous today... With a puff of flame, she had vanished to reappear in the rafters above Onyxia in a similar puff of flame.

Onyxia was a bit focused on Lupinius, but hey who wouldn't be. Lupinius smiles as Onyxia curls up against him, slipping an arm around her... Yes, he is quite comfortable.

Comfortable might not last very long. Fiery eyes looked down at them, as if debating what Firedancer wanted to do... Then, a small puff of flame was shot out, right at Onyxia's hair.

The ball of flame that stops before making contact in midair "Now, that wasn't very nice..." Lupinius scolded gently.

Onyxia looked up and sighed, "Baby Dragon mischief."

Was that a pout when her fire didnt hit its mark? You bet. Plan b then. Just as Onyxia looked up, the orange hatchling dropped from the rafters in their direction. Onyxia?s reflexes were good. She easily caught the baby fireball. The ball of flame dances in the air for a moment, before reforming itself into the shape of a tiny dragon identical to the one just above them.

Firedancer was caught by Onyxia, and was staring at the fiery likeness of herself. A blink, and she sniffed it, recognizing it was a mirror image of herself. ~I look amazing, dont I?~

Onyxia was quite comfortable lounging with Lup. "Vain little thing."

Lupinius chuckles, ?According to my friend, many of them are." Using that little magic trick he knows, he makes the fiery likeness fly a couple of circles around the room before allowing it to dissolve.

Onyxia shook her head as the hatchling poofed and leaned on his shoulder. She was getting more and more comfortable.

He sighs softly. The way she leans on him has his mouth close to her ear, and he whispers with a smile. "Are you comfortable?"

She murmurs softly, "(vq) Very, you?"

Lupinius murmurs back, "I am, very...now if there's no more drama for which we are required..."

She tilted her head to look up at him, "(vq) That would be quite a miracle."

He looks back down into her eyes. "Yes, it would...but who knows? It could happen..."

She smiled at him, those sapphire eyes so deep, "Well, the day has been very good so far."

With his free hand, knocks on the wooden top of the nearby table, still not looking away from her eyes though. "Then let's hope it stays that way."

She was content to lean against him. Big step for her, but then he put his trust in her with his secrets.

He sighs contentedly. He's never, in his whole existence (which is a long span of time indeed), done this with anyone, nor indeed been content to share much about himself. Odd that he should be so comfortable now.

A little black hatchling peered around with icy blue eyes. This wasn't the nest, where was she? Tiny nostrils aquiver and she did what any child would do.., She wheeled and dived straight under a couch.

Onyxia grinned: ?(vq) 10 to 1 you are going to deal with Kaleb busting your stones.? She caught the lost hatchling diving under the couch out of the corner of her eye.

The tip of the hatchlings snout poked out from under the couch, but did she make a move? No...

((Adappted from Live Play))

Slowly - very slowly, so as not to spook the baby hatchling; Lupinius peers over the edge of the couch, not putting himself too close - just to where he can see.

Stormdancer watched the movements, and seeming as though they weren't threatening, she finally made it all the way out, she was smaller than her sister Firedancer, and obviously not as bold.

Onyxia carefully picked up the hatchling and cradled her. "Definitely not as bold as the other one." She smiled at Lupinius before sitting back up.

Muscles tensed as Stormdancer was picked up, but she calmed ever slightly. Peering up at the one holding her; she was trembling, partly from her fear, and partly from the cold.

Lupinius smiles as he leans back with Onyxia, blue eyes watching her as she cradles the hatchling. His voice is a soft, warm murmur. "You did that very well, m'lady."

Onyxia brought the little one close to her crooning softly. Odd it was especially since her own mother never did this for her. She smiled up at him, "Thanks." The warrior had a heart despite what she's seen.

The kitchen door was nudged open with paw, light grunting growl of sound as the beast prowled in, tail swished behind her in slow rhythm.

Stormdancer had just started to relax, when ears perked at the growl and she buried her head against the woman holding her, giving a startled whimper.

Lupinius looks to the fire, which is not very far away, and, using the same magic he had used with the other hatchling earlier, encourages it to blaze brighter, warmer. The fire does so at his bidding, sending a wave of heat to where they are on the couch.

Onyxia stroked at those scales soothingly, "It's alright, little one."

Stormdancer was still trembling, though peeking her head out as she curled up in the safety of those arms. Her muscles relaxed a little more as the heat flared.

Snort, A flick of ears. Sinew rolled and moved with every step, stretching with muscles adjusting to subtle changes. A sprawl out along the length of floor in front of the bar.

Lupinius looks over to where the beast is entering the Inn, sapphire eyes glimmering for a moment with a violet light as he looks the big cat over. No outward aggressiveness is sensed, so he turns his attention back to Onyxia and the hatchling, speaking in his own low, soothingly smooth baritone* "Tis all right, dragonling... just a big kitty."

Kitty, a lash of tail at that. Claws unsheathed and dug into floorboards.

Peering at the "kitty" before peering back up to those with her, Stormdancer snuggled a little further into those arms. Onyxia was relaxed and crooning to the hatchling. As much as she liked little ones, she had come to the conclusion she wasn't in any hurry to have them herself. Stormdancer snuggled in those arms, peering up as the tip of that tail of hers found her jaws.

Onyxia murmured softly, "(vq) Hungry little one??

Hungry perhaps, but more likely it was like a built in pacifier. Icy blues peering around as her tail remained between her jaws.

Lupinius has a certain fondness for animals, and those who show kindness to them. As he watches Onyxia with the hatchling, he grins, "Had much practice?"

((Adapted from Live Play))

Stormdancer reached with her forepaws to grasp the finger as it wiggled, growling and rumbling in a pleasurable game until she gave a little hungry whine.

"Hungry now?"

Stormdancer?s tail tip coiled around the finger as well, and she whimpered again as her belly gave a hungry rumble of it's own.

Lupinius raises an eyebrow, a quizzical look. "What does one feed a baby dragon?"

Onyxia looked up at Lupinius. "Hrmmm. Good question."

There was a puff of flame on the bar, that seemed to have no source whatsoever. When what little smoke there was cleared, one would see an orange cat-sized hatchling with fiery red eyes, and a fire-rune marking on her forehead. Firedancer gave a look around.

Lupinius smirks, "It can't be like feeding a baby wolf..."

Stormdancer was eying her sister again, but not moving from those arms, her belly still giving little rumbles of hunger.

"I hope not." Onyxia stuck her tongue out at Lupinius then.

Lupinius laughs, "Careful with that - I might think you intend to use it." He eyes the dragonling again* "Think it eats steak?"

Oh.. Well, there was her sister again. But Firedancer didn?t feeling like moving, so she settled down on the bartop with a lazy yawn. Sissy was lucky she was comfy as well, otherwise there might be trouble.

"Maybe, I would try it. Tiny cubes might work." Onyxia replied.

Loath as he is to move from his place next to her, Lupinius knows he has to - he doesn't want the little hatchling to go hungry, after all. He gently moves from his place on the couch, flashes Onyxia a grin, and heads for the kitchen. "Back in a minute, then." He comes back with a small plate, with a small heap of very neatly cubed, raw steak on it...then sees the dragonling is gone. "The Nexus...?"

She nodded and smiled up at him. Stormdancer gave a slight whine as the Nexus tried stealing her, and she wiggled a little, trying to get comfy again as she waited for food.

Onyxia chuckled again. "Well, that was not so bad."

Lupinius takes his seat next to Onyxia, still holding the plate of steak, cut into cubes just small enough for the hatchling to consume without choking on them. "Very true...not like getting bounced around to the other side of the planet..."

Stormdancer was wriggling now, trying to get closer to the plate, tiny wings fluttering as if that would help her balance. Onyxia adjusted her position so the little one was able to eat.

Lupinius offers the plate to the small dragon, putting it in easy reach* "You must be pretty hungry, little one."

The serpentine neck snaked out as she remained in Onyxia's arms, and she sniffed the steak thoroughly before snapping up a piece and swallowing it without even bothering to chew. It was truly a domesticated scene. Onyxia was going to have to kick slaver butt double to make up for it.

Lupinius chuckles. This close, they are touching, and with touch his empathic abilities double - he can catch little bits of her thoughts. "There's nothing wrong with showing a softer side, Onyxia? though I wouldn't want this getting back to Kaleb. He rags on me enough as it is."

Onyxia prowled into the inn looking to curl up at the hearth. The sharp nose caught the scent of her kin and she woofed once to greet her.

Snorlax sipped his coffee, patting Shariane on the head. Shariane chuckled and gave a nod to Onyxia as she entered.

Onyxia curled up in wolf form by the hearth. There's a sharp *pop* as the nexus opens and deposits Lupinius in a heap on the couch next to the hearth, in his humanish form. He sits up and looks around, catching sight of the wolf by the hearth. Her scent tells him who it is, and he smiles at her as he looks up for a moment and mutters* "Thanks, Val..."

Onyxia woofed softly and transformed. Good thing for clothing that transforms with you otherwise that might be mighty embarrassing.

Lupinius smiles softly at her, his blue eyes sparkling with violet light for a moment. "Well, hello again, Onyxia."

"Hello yourself, Gabriel. The Nexus seems to have grown jealous." She winked at him.

Lupinius chuckles softly, "Too bad for the Nexus."

A wave was offered to Onyxia in recognition from the prior evening. Easing off the bar stool Lani moved to find a more comfortable perch, that tranquil grace made her near boneless as she collapsed with a sigh into the cushioned bottom of a booth seat. Legs stretched out as she sighed in contentment, subdued still relaxation was a gifting grace she managed to find for this particular day

Onyxia waved to Lani and curled up on the couch next to Lupinius, "Good." She murmured, "Was worried."

Lupinius smiles again and traces the tips of his fingers against her cheek "Oh, I can take care of my self, m'lady... Even against the big, bad Nexus."

Onyxia chuckled, and tilted her head into that touch. "Yeah well, still" She was at a loss to explain.

Lupinius was still smiling "Well...I know you can take care of yourself, but I'll admit I might have been concerned a bit myself, in your place."

"That hunter came back. If it wasn't for Baron DeMeur."

?Hunter...the one that was after Icer?"

"Yes."

Lupinius growls, "You'd think he would have learned his lesson the last time..."

"Apparently not." She sighed softly.

Lupinius raises an eyebrow and grins, ?Did the Baron manage to give him another lesson?"

She nodded with a chuckle, "That he did."

Lupinius smiles, "Well, then let us hope for his sake he doesn't make the same mistake a third time."

"For all his power, he strikes me as obsessed."

Lani gave an agreeable nod to those words. They fit for explanation. Seemed since her return there were many that read far too much into her that she believed she kept restrained and guarded.

The way it was said spokes that Onyxia would be amendable to getting to know her further, but she was not one to assume like that.

Another sip taken, considering in her sweet way of contemplation. Those dark eyes moved, a glimmer in eyes offered a shimmer as rare as black diamonds. "I am Laniandra Valendria." Dark honey voice that offered name as easy as that tongue could twist a pure incantation.

For the moment, opts for the Lupinius alias - his true name is entrusted to only a select few. "Gabriel Wolfe, m'lady." He bows his head slightly to her - the rest of him doesn't move, as he is quite comfortable where he is, thanks.

Low, on all fours, Penance gently bumped the front door slowly open, even the small touch such as that scraping fine wooden shavings from the finish of the polished wood as it brushed against her hair. She pushed with a bit more intent and slipped in, loping to a spot under a table just near the doorway and looked out from beneath, firelight sometimes twinkling off the silvery padlock that hung from her throat.

Onyxia nodded, "Onyxia uth Dravon Dragonbane." She murmurs tongue in cheek, "I do not live up to the last."

Alias. Lani knew them well. As well as birth names. Surnames. Gaze flicked from Gabriel to Onyxia. Weighted without judgment, but still there was an inquisitive gleam in dark depths. "Well met, Gabriel Wolfe." His name was soft in murmur, light, gracing for one that held alias she kept that name as calm sanctuary. "Well met, Onyxia uth Dravon Dragonbane." Corner of mouth moved in a languid smile that never fully touched her lips. "Sometimes we don't reach the nature of our names, but we still bear them as crests and burdens, honor and sin." A bow of head as another sip of the cider taken.

Onyxia nodded to the words, "And in some circles, to know one?s name is to give you power over that Person."

Featureless, pale blue orbs looked out from a curiously frightened face and looked back and forth to the lips of those that were speaking.

Lupinius almost smiles at that last. Anyone who knows his true name is able to summon him at will, and therefore his name is only given to those he trusts most. Of course, 'summoning' him didn't necessarily imply control...

"Worse then a photograph." Chin lifted as lashes fell low over those dark depths, shimmering gleam like starlight within midnight fold of sable skies. "Names have power but the names we choose for ourselves can hold just as much strength, can easily be as controlled." Soft. A threadbare shiver of emotion along flesh. The nature of panic licking her spine. Not her emotion ever. Gaze moved to the one exuding such emotion. A tsk of tongue. "Peace, ma petite, we will not harm you." Softly called, a rest of hip as a brow quirked to Gabriel. There was a knowledge in that summoning, demons and gods oft would grace their chosen with a summoning name to call them so full control would never be obtained but still they would come. Proper circles indeed. The expression was autumn enchantment and star kissed beauty of the night, she rather liked the pair.

While they had been talking a girl had slipped into the in. She looked feral and abused. Her actions spoke of fear. They had done what they could to coax her to eat. The fear however could not be conquered in this setting and she had bolted.

Lupinius stands there for a moment, utterly nonplussed* "...I hadn't been expecting that..."

Onyxia shook her head, "Names, Gabriel." Drawing his attention to their previous conversation.

Lupinius smiles as he looks back into hers, "As do I." What happens next, he doesn't even think about - it is as if gravity had drawn him in, as he leans down towards her and touches his lips to hers.

She is acting on instinct herself as her lips respond to his.

His lips linger on hers for a long, timeless moment before he finally pulls away, looking down into her eyes again - he blushes slightly as he smiles. "I've...umm, actually wanted to do that for some time..."

She murmured softly, "(vq) Yeah, me too." She was definitely not complaining either.

Lupinius grins at her, looking into her eyes, which are pretty close to his own - from here he can see each facet of them. "Well...I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one."

She laughed softly, "(vq) You do know you are stuck with me."

He chuckles softly, not looking away, and speaks very quietly. "Oh, quite aware...just as you should be that you are stuck with me. It's be hard for either of us to get away from the other, you know."

She was almost breathless as she spoke, "(vq) Wouldn't have it any other way."

Lupinius chuckles as he leads her to the couch again. "Good...because I have no intention of letting you get away."

Onyxia settled on the couch comfortably and smiled up to him. He settles onto the couch next to her and slides is arm around her again, pulling her close to him and looking around. He opens his mouth to say something...then stops himself. "I was going to say something, but maybe I shouldn't jinx it...."

She moved close, nestling in. The curiosity written in her eyes, "Oh"

Lupinius chuckles and brings his lips close to her ear, whispering softly. "I was going to say we're all alone again, but the last time I said that, someone came in again."

She made a quietly little sound with how close he was to her ear.

Lupinius chuckles softly in her ear. "Well, it looks as if we are having a bit better luck than we have previously for the moment."

Onyxia nuzzled close to him, "(vq) Indeed." She tilted her head up to look at him. "(vq) As cheesy as it sounds, I adore the color of your eyes."

He grins, looking down at her, "Well, then, let me match cheesy with cheesy - I do love the color of your eyes... In fact I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like them." She smiled softly at him.

Lupinius grins, "It's true. You don't see someone with silver eyes just any day of the week, you know. Well, not naturally silver, anyway."

?I'm different, that's for sure."

?Definitely. Which is a good thing - if you were normal, you'd be boring."

She laughed softly. "Who's normal and why would I want to be him?"

He chuckles, a low, almost animal sound, as quiet as it is. "I believe Kaleb told me that 'normal is a setting on a dishwasher."

She laughed softly, "I like Kaleb."

Lupinius looks around at the new entrants to the Inn, not moving except to turn his head and scan the place with his eyes. As his gaze alights on each of them, his eyes flicker with violet light for a moment, and then move on to the next. When he is satisfied he has looked them all over thoroughly, he turns his sapphire-blue eyes back to the flames.

Onyxia pushes through the door of the inn. She took a look around the inn and grinned at the figure behind the hearth.

Lupinius does a double take as the presence of a familiar face and voice suddenly register in his mind and he turns back to the direction of the bar and waves at Lani* "Good eve." As he does so, he spies Onyxia, and a look of real pleasure lights up his eyes as he smiles at her. "Well, hello there."

Onyxia smiles and gives a wave over to Lani before turning to Lupinius, "Hello yourself, handsome."

Lupinius grins as he gets up off the couch and walks over to Onyxia, setting his glass down on the table beside the couch as he goes. "Handsome doesn't fit me as well as beautiful does you."

When he is close enough to do so, Onyxia drapes her arms across his shoulders. "Hrmmm, call it even. How are you?"

Lupinius slips his arms around her waist as he gets closer to her, still smiling as he pulls her close. "Well... I've had worse days, certainly. Much better since you got here, though."

She is grinning up at him, "Oh I know that feeling." Yeah, she was wearing a goofy grin on her lips.

Lupinius unable to resist, he leans in close and kisses those grinning lips for a long, lingering moment before pulling away again. "Now if only I had a way to make my nights go as smoothly as my days, I'd be all set."

Oh she melted against him with the kiss. Just what she was looking She slipped a runestone into his pocket. "That might help."

Lupinius feels her put the stone in his pocket, raising an eyebrow as he looks at her* "Hm... and what might that be for...?"

She murmured softly, "Consider that a house key." She winked but then got a little serious. "(vq) Shariane set a spell to the stone that will allow you to recall to House Uth Dravon should you or your Brotherhood have need of a haven." Then she grinned again, "Or if you want to visit."

Lupinius chuckles softly* "I see... well, I don't think we'd need a haven - we have our own, of a sort, that is very well protected, though I do think I would like to visit. But, since you have given me a key..." He takes a hand from around her waist and closes it into a fist. From in between his fingers comes a sudden blaze of brilliant, violet light for a long moment, and to anyone in the Inn there would be a sudden feeling of thick, ancient magic in the air for a moment, which fades as soon as the light in his hand does. When he opens his hand again, there is a perfectly formed, smallish amethyst point in it, attached to a slender silver chain. "As you have given me a key, let me give you one of my own."

She nodded looking at the stone. Then she looked to him, "(vq) Thank you."

Lupinius smiles, "A gift for a gift. This will access any one of the portals that leads to our Chamber...or, if you need to, you can call to me anywhere I might be with it." He takes the necklace in his hands and slips it around her neck, clasping it - not surprisingly, it fits perfectly.

She leans forward and smiles. The chain leaves the stone resting at the top of her breasts.

Dark Dawn ? Lupinius has never heard of it, but then, he has friends who have traveled to places he has not. If they haven't been there, chances are they can get there with greater ease than he himself can. His hand, already touching the amulet at his neck, tightens around it for a moment, and a brief, brighter glow of amethystine light shimmers in his fingers for a moment. "Well...I can't say I've heard of where you're from...but I think I know of someone who could help find it, if he has not been there himself."

There is, for a moment, a pinpoint of blue light that appears in the air. All around it wavering a dark, vaguely humanoid form that swiftly grows darker as the blue light glows brighter. In a moment, it has resolved itself into a human male, wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and cowboy boots, along with a thick silver chain much like Lupinius', complete with the amulet of stone - except his glows blue rather than violet. "You called, mon ami?" Kaleb said.

Cavina blinks tears slipping down her cheeks she looks to the fire. "I can pay... How much would he charge for rescuing my sisters from that place?" Cavina has spoken to many in this land about rescuing her sisters and had all come to the same thing gold and jewels. She suddenly shifts to her lioness form and leaps for the rafters: eyes wide and fur bristled at the new and sudden arrival.

Lupinius nods to Kaleb before looking back to the girl, who had suddenly vanished to the rafters.

Kaleb looks up too, a look of amused surprise on his face, at where the lioness had gone. His deep, baritone voice has the musical/guttural Cajun accent to it when he speaks. "Well, mon fr?re Wolfe, she's a li'l jumpy, non?"

Cavina was looking down at the two men as she snorts narrowing her eyes.

Lupinius chuckles softly as he looks up at the rafters. Kaleb could have arrived in a better manner. "You can come down, m'lady... He's harmless, unless you're a slaver or other form of evil being."

Cavina tilts her head to the side watching a moment before dropping down in front of them, as before her Human form returns as her feet touch the ground.

Onyxia pushed her way into the inn. She had expected to see Lupinius, but not Kaleb as well. This was a pleasant surprise to say the least; until she learned why he was there.

Lupinius looks up as Onyxia walks in, and smiles in genuine pleasure as he gets off the couch and walks over to her* "Well, hello again, beautiful."

Onyxia walks up to Lupinius and wraps her arms about his waist. She takes a quick look around to the other lady present.

Kaleb grins sheepishly as the girl comes back down "My apologies, mademoiselle. T'big bad Wolfe there didn' tell me what he needed me here for."

Lupinius slips his arms around Onyxia as they drew close "I was beginning to think you weren't coming." He said teasingly.

Kaleb directs his gaze around to see Onyxia and Lupinius embracing, raising an eyebrow at the couple, a look of surprise on his face for a moment before he wipes it off again.

Cavina steps back a few steps her eyes shifting to the woman coming in. Fighting off the fear she glances again at the rafters. Taking a deep breath she looks to the man speaking to her, her silver eyes flashing in the firelight. "Forgive me sir I am and escaped slave and I fear that my punishment if I am recaptured is death. "

Onyxia grinned at Lupinius, "(vq) I would find a way to tell you if I couldn't." She winked at Kaleb and the focused her silver gaze on the other lady; the scent of cat and dead things on her.

The amulet of amethyst that Lupinius had given Onyxia has many functions. Among them is that it allows him to sense her, wherever she is. As he focuses upon it, it tells he she's curled up on one of the chairs in the upper level of Teas'n'Tomes, the place they have taken to visiting to avoid the chaos of the Inn when they are spending those rare, snatched moments together.

He pushes the door open and enters the shop, looking for once as though he's comfortable with himself again. It has taken some getting used to, but he's adjusted to having the wings on his back. He looks up and just spies the top of Onyxia's head, given away by the telltale green of her hair. For a moment, he looks at the stairs, then grins and looks around. There's just enough room for this. He sweeps those wings wide and crouches slightly, then leaps up, the wings pushing down and cupping the air, pushing him upwards with great strength. The sudden commotion draws a shout from the old man that runs the place as he ascends to the balcony-type second floor and lands lightly on his feet with a grin. "You know, love, I do believe I've gotten the hang of this."

She laughs softly, "I dare say you have. Much to the chagrin of the owner." She smiled at him softly though. The upper levels afford them a bit more privacy in the secluded nooks.

He smiles back at her as his wings fold in close to his back once more and he walks over to her. "I think he'll get over it. At least I didn't tear the place up in the process."

"Thankfully." She uncurls and stands to greet him properly. That means wrapping herself around him for a kiss. As she steps close to him, he wraps his arms and wings around them both and capturing her lips with his own for a long, tenderly lingering kiss. A throaty sort of groan escapes his vocal cords as they kiss. Her lips dance across his and the groan excites her a bit. She has missed him even if it has only been a few hours.

As they finally break apart, his blue eyes glow with that inner, violet light for a moment as he stares into hers. Quietly, he whispers, "I missed you."

She doesn't move from the circle of his arms "I've missed you too."

He sighs, making no move to let her go. "Maybe we need a new occupation." For a second, he is almost able to keep a straight face saying that.

"Maybe, but we would get bored fast."

"Quite true. Besides, if we quit, that would be two less champions the helpless would have. And I couldn't see us doing anything different with our lives." He smiles at her. "So...if we were to make things official...who would you want to invite, if anyone?" They had a couple nights previous been talking about the possibility of getting married, but they had really only touched on the subject...he's been thinking about it ever since.

She murmurs softly, "Just my family. I truly don't know anyone else beside you and Kaleb. The Guardians would be a given."

"Well, naturally. And I would certainly hope you would want your family there. And I can't think of anyone else, aside from maybe a certain Jedi I know, and perhaps Sir Roland if he had a mind."

"Yes, ROland, and maybe the Baron."

"The Baron...I've met him once, in passing, but I think he would like that, from what I know of him." He stops, suddenly, tilting his head at her. "I know it's a funny question to be asking now...but you would really want this?"

She reached up to caress his cheek, "Yes. You?"

His hand comes up to stroke her cheek with his fingertips. "More than anything...though there is one thing that needs to be done first."

"That is, love?"

He grins, and without warning, he kneels, dropping to one knee in one fluid movement in a most traditional manner. The wings curl around the two of them, forming a circle in which she is enclosed, and from seemingly nowhere, he produces a ring, a thick platinum band set with three stones - a cut and polished emerald, flanked by two, smaller amethysts. It looks very sturdily made, yet feminine at the same time. "Onyxia Uth Dravon Dragonbane, I love you and can think of no other I would desire to be my love, my mate and my wife for as long as we shall endure. Will you marry me?"

She blinks back the surprise. As unorthodox as they are, having this traditionally done only endears him more to her. "Yes, Lupinius." She says it softly, and he does not miss the surprise in her voice.

He grins at the surprise that registers clearly in her eyes and in his own mind as he takes her hand and slips the ring on it. It would fit perfectly, of course - he had had it magically made. As he stands, he wraps her in his arms again, looking into her eyes. His own shine with happiness. "I couldn't think of continuing that conversation without asking you, my love...and it had to be done right. So...shall we go somewhere to celebrate?"

"Yes, home."

He grins, tightening his arms around her. "Your wish, my love, is my command." The violet, shimmering light consumes them both as he takes her where they wish to go, and a moment later, they've vanished.

http://www.arkadiancollection.com/files/SR40.jpg