"But aren't castles really big? And how do you find so many white ones? And how do you chew them? Aren't they really hard?""Well, Jacks can get real hungry sometimes. The problem is that you can't eat just one white castle."
"Why would you eat a white castle?" Arielle asks, confused.
"Nah. We use a shrink ray on 'em first. Then they're just crunchy."
"Nah. We use a shrink ray on 'em first. Then they're just crunchy.""But aren't castles really big? And how do you find so many white ones? And how do you chew them? Aren't they really hard?""Well, Jacks can get real hungry sometimes. The problem is that you can't eat just one white castle."
"Why would you eat a white castle?" Arielle asks, confused.
"But don't the people who live in the castles mind about your eating their houses?"
"But don't the people who live in the castles mind about your eating their houses?""Nah. We use a shrink ray on 'em first. Then they're just crunchy.""But aren't castles really big? And how do you find so many white ones? And how do you chew them? Aren't they really hard?""Well, Jacks can get real hungry sometimes. The problem is that you can't eat just one white castle."
"Why would you eat a white castle?" Arielle asks, confused.
"We only do it to empty castles. We shrink 'em, then put white frosting on 'em if they are gray. Too bad our shrink ray is broken right now. I could go for some white castles."
"We only do it to empty castles. We shrink 'em, then put white frosting on 'em if they are gray. Too bad our shrink ray is broken right now. I could go for some white castles."
"Mmmmm, frosting. I like frosting. That does sound yummy, Daddy."
"Mmmmm, frosting. I like frosting. That does sound yummy, Daddy.""We only do it to empty castles. We shrink 'em, then put white frosting on 'em if they are gray. Too bad our shrink ray is broken right now. I could go for some white castles."
"That's my girl."
LJ's shoulders are shaking with silent laughter as she listens to this exchange.
LJ's shoulders are shaking with silent laughter as she listens to this exchange.
"Why would you eat a white castle?" Arielle asks, confused.Sitting out of the way, Ellara tries to keep her laughter silent.
LJ meets the equally amused eyes of Ellara.
"How do you do?" she asks, barely holding back the laughter as she spoke. "I don't believe we've met yet."
LJ meets the equally amused eyes of Ellara.
"How do you do?" she asks, barely holding back the laughter as she spoke. "I don't believe we've met yet."
"No, I don't beleive we have."
:And since you are the goddess everyone here knows, I won't try to keep my name hidden from you. I am Ellara Duskwalker.:Keeping her ruse going,
"My name is Ellara, and you must be Lynora-Jill. You have a beautiful temple here."
"No, I don't beleive we have."
:And since you are the goddess everyone here knows, I won't try to keep my name hidden from you. I am Ellara Duskwalker.:Keeping her ruse going,
"My name is Ellara, and you must be Lynora-Jill. You have a beautiful temple here."
"Thank you, though I can't take much credit for it. My grandfather and Djuhah have had a good deal more to do with building and maintaining it."
:Duskwalker. Any relation of Kaelar Duskwalker?:
The raven flashes in, and hears the group talking. He smiles sadly, and vanishes again.
"Thank you, though I can't take much credit for it. My grandfather and Djuhah have had a good deal more to do with building and maintaining it."
:Duskwalker. Any relation of Kaelar Duskwalker?:
The elven lady smiles.
"Still a beautiful temple, no matter who created it. The man up in the nest has a surprise. Something about a party(that part isn't the surprise) tonight. He is hoping the lady up there will be ready for it. As I saw him prepare it, I can say it will be an electrifying experience."
:We were married once. We are rarely in the same place nowadays. He thought the Eyrie could use some help, so he swallowed his pride and called in a few favors. I'm glad I decided to come here.:
The elven lady smiles.
"Still a beautiful temple, no matter who created it. The man up in the nest has a surprise. Something about a party(that part isn't the surprise) tonight. He is hoping the lady up there will be ready for it. As I saw him prepare it, I can say it will be an electrifying experience."
:We were married once. We are rarely in the same place nowadays. He thought the Eyrie could use some help, so he swallowed his pride and called in a few favors. I'm glad I decided to come here.:
She laughed. "Oh, then I am looking forward to whatever surprises Sky has cooked up. I gave Blodwen a little healing boost, so hopefully she will wake soon. I would hate for her to miss the fun."
:Ah. I see. Well, I am glad you are here as well. Not to pry too much into your personal life, but I'd rather not step in where I oughtn't later on. Is Rio your son?:
:Ah. I see. Well, I am glad you are here as well. Not to pry too much into your personal life, but I'd rather not step in where I oughtn't later on. Is Rio your son?:
:You could say that. But genetically? No, he isn't.:
:Ah. I see. Well, I am glad you are here as well. Not to pry too much into your personal life, but I'd rather not step in where I oughtn't later on. Is Rio your son?::You could say that. But genetically? No, he isn't.:
:But you still think of him as your son? That is the important part.:
:But you still think of him as your son? That is the important part.:
:Yes, I still think of him as my son. I am very angry at Kaelar for bringing him into all of this, especially since my latest whorl revealed Rio is currently traveling with a ex-vampire. I beleive he is trying to help her. But he is making friends everwhere, so I am happy for my Little River.:
:But you still think of him as your son? That is the important part.::Yes, I still think of him as my son. I am very angry at Kaelar for bringing him into all of this, especially since my latest whorl revealed Rio is currently traveling with a ex-vampire. I beleive he is trying to help her. But he is making friends everwhere, so I am happy for my Little River.:
:Rio is a good boy. And we do our best to look out for him. Do not be too hard on Serafina. I know what it is like to be in her position. She did not do those things, but often has to pay for them anyway. Rio cares for her, and will likely react badly to any attack on her.:
:Rio cares for her, and will likely react badly to any attack on her.:
:I just hope some one is there should that sun priestess be the one to do so... again. He will need somebody to make him stop before he goes to far.:
:Rio cares for her, and will likely react badly to any attack on her.::I just hope some one is there should that sun priestess be the one to do so... again. He will need somebody to make him stop before he goes to far.:
:I will ask Djuhah and Sky to keep an eye out. And I will try to reason with Alaina the next time I see her. She is a good friend. I understand why she feels the way she does, but I hope I can also help her to see the other side of it. Hopefully one of the others will be near if it comes to another confrontation.:
Meepo flies in, a ring of flight visible on his finger.
"Lyn, listen. I need to tell you a few things. First of all, Alaina saw Serafina, and upset her a great deal. Rio seemed very angry. I tried to convince him to avoid her, but you need to be very careful."
Meepo flies in, a ring of flight visible on his finger.
"Lyn, listen. I need to tell you a few things. First of all, Alaina saw Serafina, and upset her a great deal. Rio seemed very angry. I tried to convince him to avoid her, but you need to be very careful."
"Yes, I know. I will try to talk with Alaina. We should not be fighting amongst ourselves."
"Yes, I know. I will try to talk with Alaina. We should not be fighting amongst ourselves."Meepo flies in, a ring of flight visible on his finger.
"Lyn, listen. I need to tell you a few things. First of all, Alaina saw Serafina, and upset her a great deal. Rio seemed very angry. I tried to convince him to avoid her, but you need to be very careful."
"Second...okay, this is for Frogskin to tell you, not I. But third, is...Esmerelda!"
"Second...okay, this is for Frogskin to tell you, not I. But third, is...Esmerelda!""Yes, I know. I will try to talk with Alaina. We should not be fighting amongst ourselves."Meepo flies in, a ring of flight visible on his finger.
"Lyn, listen. I need to tell you a few things. First of all, Alaina saw Serafina, and upset her a great deal. Rio seemed very angry. I tried to convince him to avoid her, but you need to be very careful."
"Yes? She asks, appearing.n She smugly floats in the air.
"Yes? She asks, appearing.n She smugly floats in the air."Second...okay, this is for Frogskin to tell you, not I. But third, is...Esmerelda!""Yes, I know. I will try to talk with Alaina. We should not be fighting amongst ourselves."Meepo flies in, a ring of flight visible on his finger.
"Lyn, listen. I need to tell you a few things. First of all, Alaina saw Serafina, and upset her a great deal. Rio seemed very angry. I tried to convince him to avoid her, but you need to be very careful."
"It's time to tell her what's happening."
"It's time to tell her what's happening.""Yes? She asks, appearing.n She smugly floats in the air."Second...okay, this is for Frogskin to tell you, not I. But third, is...Esmerelda!""Yes, I know. I will try to talk with Alaina. We should not be fighting amongst ourselves."Meepo flies in, a ring of flight visible on his finger.
"Lyn, listen. I need to tell you a few things. First of all, Alaina saw Serafina, and upset her a great deal. Rio seemed very angry. I tried to convince him to avoid her, but you need to be very careful."
"Ah yes." She sighs, then turns to Lynora.
"We have lived long in this world. I know many spells, and one of them is an age slower. But, as you can see, it doesn't last forever. We have aged anyways. And now, we are the equivalent in human years of about 96. We have lived long."
"Ah yes." She sighs, then turns to Lynora.
"We have lived long in this world. I know many spells, and one of them is an age slower. But, as you can see, it doesn't last forever. We have aged anyways. And now, we are the equivalent in human years of about 96. We have lived long."
"You wish to say goodbye?"
"You wish to say goodbye?""Ah yes." She sighs, then turns to Lynora.
"We have lived long in this world. I know many spells, and one of them is an age slower. But, as you can see, it doesn't last forever. We have aged anyways. And now, we are the equivalent in human years of about 96. We have lived long."
Esmerelda nods.
"Yes. We are going to die soon. I don't know how to tell Frogskin, but...we're going to try to bring Kobold Cleaver back one more time before we go. We just thought you should know. And...yes. Goodbye. Thank you for all you have done, you've taken on a huge burden and dealt with it admirably. And look at you. You've come so far.""Aye. When we first met you, you were such a little thing, barely holding on against a dreadful creature. Now, you're a goddess yourself." Meepo nods.
[i]He sighs, and the two fly off into the distance.[i]
Esmerelda nods.
"Yes. We are going to die soon. I don't know how to tell Frogskin, but...we're going to try to bring Kobold Cleaver back one more time before we go. We just thought you should know. And...yes. Goodbye. Thank you for all you have done, you've taken on a huge burden and dealt with it admirably. And look at you. You've come so far."
"Aye. When we first met you, you were such a little thing, barely holding on against a dreadful creature. Now, you're a goddess yourself." Meepo nods.
He sighs, and the two fly off into the distance.
Before they go,
"Goodbye, and thank you for everything. Here." she hands Esmeralda a small glowing marble. "It's something I made for KC. In case he changed his mind about serving evil. It's a living body. All he has to do is break it open and his spirit will be transferred into it. Obviously, the choice is, as always, his. But after everything he did to finally let me have a choice in my own life, I felt I owed him this."
Esmerelda nods.
"Yes. We are going to die soon. I don't know how to tell Frogskin, but...we're going to try to bring Kobold Cleaver back one more time before we go. We just thought you should know. And...yes. Goodbye. Thank you for all you have done, you've taken on a huge burden and dealt with it admirably. And look at you. You've come so far."
"Aye. When we first met you, you were such a little thing, barely holding on against a dreadful creature. Now, you're a goddess yourself." Meepo nods.
He sighs, and the two fly off into the distance.Before they go,
"Goodbye, and thank you for everything. Here." she hands Esmeralda a small glowing marble. "It's something I made for KC. In case he changed his mind about serving evil. It's a living body. All he has to do is break it open and his spirit will be transferred into it. Obviously, the choice is, as always, his. But after everything he did to finally let me have a choice in my own life, I felt I owed him this."
"Thank you, child--no, you are no longer a child. You are a woman. Bless you."
As LJ and JH settle down in the Eyrie to focus on raising Arielle 4 bound spirits decide that is time for them sleep once more. As the new family sleeps, the spirits rise out of the bracers and the hammer and gaze upon the retired heroes. The lioness and the lion nuzzle each others spirit form one last time, before they slowly walk straight thru the walls of the room and into the mountain itself. The eagle mates simply launch themselves off of the balcony and spiral every higher, eventually disappearing from sight altogether. Before they disappear, they call out once more in farewell.
Blodwen awakened, as usual, to the sound of a hatchling fussing. She smiled to herself. It was good to be home.
Blodwen awakened, as usual, to the sound of a hatchling fussing. She smiled to herself. It was good to be home.
:Hey sleepy-head. How are you feeling today?:
Blodwen awakened, as usual, to the sound of a hatchling fussing. She smiled to herself. It was good to be home.:Hey sleepy-head. How are you feeling today?:
She stretched out and sat up. :Much better, thank you. My head doesn't even hurt.:
She looks over at the hatchlings and sees them wearing the new clothes that Sky made for them.:Oh, they look so darling! Was I really out for that long? I mean, that must have been a lot of work,: she added picking up a fussy Lark and bouncing her gently until the hatchling made a gurgling noise that indicated amusement.
She stretched out and sat up. :Much better, thank you. My head doesn't even hurt.:
She looks over at the hatchlings and sees them wearing the new clothes that Sky made for them.
:Oh, they look so darling! Was I really out for that long? I mean, that must have been a lot of work,: she added picking up a fussy Lark and bouncing her gently until the hatchling made a gurgling noise that indicated amusement.
:Not really, I was part of a tribe remember? I learned to make clothes for all seasons. I can't wait for the party to start so I can show off our little nestlings!:
:Not really, I was part of a tribe remember? I learned to make clothes for all seasons. I can't wait for the party to start so I can show off our little nestlings!:
:So was I, but we all just wore feathers,: she said with a laugh. :Clothes seem like a very complicated thing to make to me.:
She concentrated very intently for a moment and managed to gently move the pieces of the mobile, much to the amusement of Nodin and Notin. Thankfully Amiri seemed occupied munching on his toes since her hands were full with Lark.:Party? What party?:
:Party? What party?:
:Since LJ is back it seems Djuhah is going to thow a party for the entire Eyrie. I even set up some decoration for during the party before I began to make the little one's their new clothes.:
:Party? What party?::Since LJ is back it seems Djuhah is going to thow a party for the entire Eyrie. I even set up some decoration for during the party before I began to make the little one's their new clothes.:
:She's really back? I wasn't sure if I dreamed that or not. So, when is this party supposed to start?:
:She's really back? I wasn't sure if I dreamed that or not. So, when is this party supposed to start?::Party? What party?::Since LJ is back it seems Djuhah is going to thow a party for the entire Eyrie. I even set up some decoration for during the party before I began to make the little one's their new clothes.:
:Yeah she's back.": He point to his eyes, which become the swirling galaxy that is LJ's holy symbol.
:No idea when when the party's going to start though.:
Puting the last touches on Lark's party dress, Sky stands up and stretches, popping his knuckles and sighs.
:Done. Now all the nestlings will have something festive to go to the party in.:
:Yeah she's back.": He point to his eyes, which become the swirling galaxy that is LJ's holy symbol.
:No idea when when the party's going to start though.:
Puting the last touches on Lark's party dress, Sky stands up and stretches, popping his knuckles and sighs.:Done. Now all the nestlings will have something festive to go to the party in.:
She tilts her head to the side, a quizzical expression on her face.
:One is supposed to alter one's clothing for a party?:
She tilts her head to the side, a quizzical expression on her face.
:One is supposed to alter one's clothing for a party?:
:Well no not really. I'm not going to. I just thought the little ones should have something new to wear on their first time out of the nest, especially since thier first time out is to attend a party.:
:Well no not really. I'm not going to. I just thought the little ones should have something new to wear on their first time out of the nest, especially since thier first time out is to attend a party.:She tilts her head to the side, a quizzical expression on her face.
:One is supposed to alter one's clothing for a party?:
:Oh. Alright. That makes sense. I'm sorry,: she added, a little embarrassed. :I'm still not entirely used to not always being a bird. And there's a lot more to learn about human customs and such than I realized when I first changed. I feel like I'm always asking stupid questions.: