(Mood Music: Secret of the Forest - Chrono Trigger Remix)
Winry sat by a bubbling brook, reading a tome by the light of a glowing orb hanging from her long, tri-tipped ear.
Lucus followed the coastline of the shore, using advice from a friend he knew. If he followed this path, he was told, the Lupe mage with a realm portal spell would be found. Lucus started to jog. Alona wasn't aware of him moving this quickly, but he could see his sister slipping more into longing for her family. It was time to take a risk.
Winry: A turn of the page and she paused in reading. The wind whispered to her that a ranger was on a path to meet her. Winry closed the book in curiosity and stood to wait for the guest.
Soon Lucus saw a glow in the distance and slowed his jog. Within moments he stood face to face with the Airii.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg"You travel to seek me ranger. What do you want with me, Winry, Mage of the Winds, and mercenary for hire?"
Lucus took a moment to catch his breath, seeing how winded he ended up.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Lucus%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"Are you the mage that can grant passage to the Old Country?"
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg"I do know the spells of the great winds. Why do you come to me? Surely you wish not to go back to a world of strife and chaos?"
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Lucus%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"In all honesty, no, but I and my siblings have many questions, and many who know us that we worry much about in the Old Country. Can you get us there?"
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg"Perhaps. It'll cost you greatly."
"Name you price mage."https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Lucus%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg"I have a name ranger. It is Winry. What is your name, and where are your siblings? They must be made aware of everything I tell you and must decide for themselves for this spell to be taken on."
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Lucus%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"Lucus, Lucus Stridar. My siblings are a day?s journey from here."
"I see. Do you know where they are in your mind?"https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Lucus%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"Yes."
?Take my paw then."https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg
Lucus took her paw.
At a cozy campsite in the woods:
Wolfy had fallen asleep at the campsite, full on rabbit meat. He was curled up, asleep and exhausted on one of the blankets Alona had made and twitched in his sleep.
Griss was at the camp sitting by Wolfy with a paw gently petting his head and stroking his ears while he slept. He sort of couldn't believe how close he and Wolfy were getting to each other. It felt strange, but it was a strange feeling he was enjoying. He didn't like to leave Wolfy's side much since he wanted to watch over him, make sure he was safe and that he wasn't going berserk and hurting others.
A few more twitches Wolfy settled in his sleep. His dreams had him back home, fighting side by side with father once more, killing in battle and protecting the villages of survivors.
Griss was waiting for his sister to come back, too. He was hoping she was okay on her own. He just could not help but worry over his little sister any moment she wasn't in his view, but he had to keep telling himself to trust her that she'd be okay so he wouldn't worry to death. For now he stayed there by Wolfy at the camp and looked down at him and watched him sleep peacefully. At least he hoped he was sleeping peacefully.
In a swirl of wind and sand they vanished. At the campsite a small whirlwind of leaves heralded there coming and Winry and Lucus were with Griss and Wolfy.
Lucus staggered a moment, not use to magic or teleportation.
Wolfy's eyes snapped open and narrowed. "Mage."https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Wolfy%20Dracuul%20Head.jpg
Wolfy sat up and looked at Winrii.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg"Indeed." she took a sniff. "Blood Beserker."
Winrii looked to Lucus. "Are these your siblings?"https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg
His bearings back, Lucus looked to Winrii.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Lucus%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"Griss Sprintar is, that is Wolfy Drakuul. My sister is... missing?" he looked to Griss.
Griss quickly noticed Lucus and Winry there. He kept a paw on Wolfy's shoulder. He also gave a small bow to Winrii when Lucus introduced him to her.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Griss%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"It's okay, Wolfy. Alona went to the cabin to check on it to see how it was doing. I believe she'll return soon. "
Wolfy just watched Winry, uneasily.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Lucus%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"I'll go get her, keep Winrii safe. This mage can get us back to the Old Country." He took off running again, his old knees starting to complain.
Winrii simply took a seat at the campfire and watched the other two without looking ruffled.
"Is he often this flighty?"https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Griss%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"We've been wanting to return to our homeland. I think he is just ready to go. My sister's family is there and he wishes to help her as much as possible to get her back to them. She's been very worried. I have been wishing to return to home as well. I was forced into this realm, unfortunately."
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg"I see. So you yearn to go back as well, and you?" she looked to Wolfy.
Wolfy looked to Griss, a mix of hope and fear in his eyes. "Home?"https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Wolfy%20Dracuul%20Head.jpg
Griss looked to Wolfy and rubbed his back to comfort him.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Griss%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"The Old Country, yes. Do you want to come with us, Wolfy? I won't leave your side if you do. I'll be there for you." Griss said with a smile.
Wolfy looked down at his paws, and they trembled some. To go back to the Old Country, back to the realm his father died in. A land full of strife. More trembling of the paws, but he saw hope. Perhaps he could get stronger and beat his blood berserker nature.
"I... I will come with you and the others."https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Wolfy%20Dracuul%20Head.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Winrii%20Head.jpg"I see. So far there are three, and now a fourth we wait upon. I do hope you all are ready for the price."
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Griss%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg?Things will be okay, Wolfy. We are just wishing to reunite my sister with her family and I can even show you the old home we grew up and lived in."
Hearing Winry he looked over to her. "What is the price?"https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Griss%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg
Off at the newly built cabin:
Alona was at the cabin taking on a thick rabbit skin rug in front of the huge stone fireplace, the cabin had been completed but there was no furniture inside at the moment, she had gone back to the cabin to check up on things, she had ended up sitting watching the fire in the fireplace, she was now deep in a dream, it had been a long time since she had dreamed so vividly. In the dream, she was in her thirties again, she was walking the halls of a master's home back in Lupinoss, looking down at her paws and fur, scars she had were fresh, some wounds ached, it was after she had been scolded by a slaver...the dream was real enough she could smell the flowers in the vase on the table next to her...a paw moved to touch the marble table, she walked on down this hall in the image of her mind the dream went on and she found herself crossing a yard, the night was cool that?s how the nights usually were in the sandy lands, her masters called home, she could hear parties going on in the large estates.
Soon found herself in front of a small hut set back from the other slave quarters,...inside the sounds of Lupes sleeping or having a drink could be heard, she heard laughs coming from a conversation, she could nearly hear the voice of a male telling a story but it sounded muffled..but that was him...her mate..her Lum...she remembered...well it should have been.. She reached to knock on the door but it was as if her paw couldn?t hit the door.
The cabin wasn't too far away. Lucus made it in good time panting more. He stopped by the front of the door and bent over gasping for air. Old age sucked.
In the waking world she turned over on the rabbit skin rug, a soft whine passing over her muzzle, the dream had become very real in her mind, but she slept on..and the dream continued...images moving and changing in her mind to a few years past the last scene. Her sleep settled but she continued to dream, the scene she was in, she sat at a fountain and a young male Lupinossai, a Wuudrii with possibly some Erthrii lineage, stood there with her, her heart raced...she was so close to the mate she had missed for so long...and they were young again...so young....she looked peaceful in her dreams for the moment but that would change.....the two had been caught...her dreams left her and she continued to sleep...it was a troubled sleep.
Catching his breath, Lucus opened the door and found Alona asleep, dreaming. He crouched by her and watched for a moment sensing she was in her memories. Then he put a paw on her shoulder and shook her gently.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Lucus%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"Alona. Wake."
After a few moments, those brown speckled eyes flickered open, she blinked a bit and looked around but then saw her big brother there.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Alona%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"Big Brother... must have fallen to sleep" It took her mind a moment to bring everything back to reality, her minds cloudiness cleared and she smiled a little.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Lucus%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"Yes, you did. I have a visitor in the camp. Winrii the Mage. She can get us home."
Alona heard him and sat up, she slowly stood, a small curious smile on her muzzle but then hearing they could go home, the smile widened.
"Then we shouldn't keep her waiting.."https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Alona%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg
The longing to be with her mate and family again was growing more and more every day...to be back in Forest Wind Woods too.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/93832244/Lucus%20Sprintar%20Head.jpg"Then I hope you can run, sis. She is at the camp with Wolfy and Griss." he chuckled and opened the door.
