Using his thumb and middle finger, the stanger pulls a ring from his forefinger, and tosses it to the ground. The ring expands and he steps inside.
"Step into the ring and the wards won't bother us. Or are you afraid?"
Lk snarls and leaps toward the man, shifting to his hybrid from, and swings his axe at the stranger. It's blocked easily, and Lk tries to claw the stranger.
Lk's claw catches on the man's cloak, and rips it away. Lk stares at the man's left side. His torso is covered in armor and he has no arm.
"Now you see my mistake. That doesn't matter though. You shouldn't have gotten angry, you became to angry to fight well. Don't you remember the competition for the shiny, or the fight with the goblins? Doesn't seem like it."
He lowers his axe to his side and waits for Lk to attack again.
"How does he know all that?, I need to calm down," Lk thinks.
"Fighting Style: Whirling Wind."
Lk spins into an attack, moving faster than before.
Despite Lk's new speed, each attack is easily blocked.
"Hmm, I seriously thought you could do better."
He slams the blunt side of his axe into Lk's stomach, causing him to cry out in pain and fall to the ground. Frowning, the stranger picks up the ring(which shrinks to fit his finger) , and vanishes.
Despite Lk's new speed, each attack is easily blocked.
"Hmm, I seriously thought you could do better."
He slams the blunt side of his axe into Lk's stomach, causing him to cry out in pain and fall to the ground. Frowning, the stranger picks up the ring(which shrinks to fit his finger) , and vanishes.
"You okay, LK?" she says rushing over to check on her friend a worried expression on her face.
"Oh, crap. How did that ring get past the wards? How the hell was it functional? That's not supposed to happen. Kiba, are you alright?"
"Oh, crap. How did that ring get past the wards? How the hell was it functional? That's not supposed to happen. Kiba, are you alright?"
"I would not fret too much Frogskin. I do not believe it is as much to be concerned with as you think. That ring was an exact duplicate of the one I constructed to allow Jack Hammer and Arielle to practice so that she can learn how to fight. I do not know how the stranger obtained one though."
"You okay, LK?" she says rushing over to check on her friend a worried expression on her face.
"I'm okay Arielle, just need to catch my breath. Any one figure out who he was?"
The sparring match is over before JH can intervene. And the stranger disappeared to quickly to question. Though he was rough about it, it didn't look like he meant to really hurt Lk. Just measure him. Regardless, JH is not pleased. Btwn the loss of the earth's power and this 'violation', his normalcy weighs heavy on his mind.
"You okay, LK?" she says rushing over to check on her friend a worried expression on her face."I'm okay Arielle, just need to catch my breath. Any one figure out who he was?"
"I have an idea. But I'm not sure if I'm right. And if I am right I am sure that it would be a bad idea to tell you."
"I have an idea. But I'm not sure if I'm right. And if I am right I am sure that it would be a bad idea to tell you."
"Okay... Any idea how that ring stopped the wards? I didn't think we'd actually be able to fight in the Eyrie."
The little grey bird is making a lot of noise. LJ, Djuhah(and possible Jay) hear: "Will somebody please open the cage?!"
"I have an idea. But I'm not sure if I'm right. And if I am right I am sure that it would be a bad idea to tell you."
"Okay... Any idea how that ring stopped the wards? I didn't think we'd actually be able to fight in the Eyrie."
"Oh, I know all about that ring. I have one just like it so my daddy and I can practice. I can't learn to fight if every time I try to hit something I get shunted to who knows where, so my mom had Djuhah make us a special practice ring."
The little grey bird is making a lot of noise. LJ, Djuhah(and possible Jay) hear: "Will somebody please open the cage?!"
Djuhah reaches out and opens the cage, releasing Kiba.
"Oh, I know all about that ring. I have one just like it so my daddy and I can practice. I can't learn to fight if every time I try to hit something I get shunted to who knows where, so my mom had Djuhah make us a special practice ring."
"So then, how did he get one? And why be worried about me losing my arm when we've never even meet? This is just plain weird..."
The little grey bird is making a lot of noise. LJ, Djuhah(and possible Jay) hear: "Will somebody please open the cage?!"Djuhah reaches out and opens the cage, releasing Kiba.
The little gray bird flies to Djuhah's shoulder.
"Oh, I know all about that ring. I have one just like it so my daddy and I can practice. I can't learn to fight if every time I try to hit something I get shunted to who knows where, so my mom had Djuhah make us a special practice ring."
"So then, how did he get one? And why be worried about me losing my arm when we've never even meet? This is just plain weird..."
"I, ummm, I think you have met. And you really, really need to listen to him. And yeah, it's definitely weird."
"I, ummm, I think you have met. And you really, really need to listen to him. And yeah, it's definitely weird."
"Well, I don't remember him. Still don't see how he blocked all my attacks and still managed to knock me around like that. He didn't even have a scent, at least not one I could pick up."
It seems that Lk is bothered more by the fact he was beaten so easily than the fact he was beaten at all.
"I, ummm, I think you have met. And you really, really need to listen to him. And yeah, it's definitely weird.""Well, I don't remember him. Still don't see how he blocked all my attacks and still managed to knock me around like that. He didn't even have a scent, at least not one I could pick up."
It seems that Lk is bothered more by the fact he was beaten so easily than the fact he was beaten at all.
"It's ummm....you'll understand eventually. And if you're worried about your fighting skill, then maybe you should practice. I know you don't really get along with your dad, but I bet he could teach you a lot if you'd let him. Just a suggestion," she added with a shrug.
"It's ummm....you'll understand eventually. And if you're worried about your fighting skill, then maybe you should practice. I know you don't really get along with your dad, but I bet he could teach you a lot if you'd let him. Just a suggestion," she added with a shrug.
"Hmm. Maybe your right. I'll go see if I can find him. Good-bye everyone."
He heads for the omniportal, dials in the codes for the Grove, and leaves.
"Oh, crap. How did that ring get past the wards? How the hell was it functional? That's not supposed to happen. Kiba, are you alright?""I would not fret too much Frogskin. I do not believe it is as much to be concerned with as you think. That ring was an exact duplicate of the one I constructed to allow Jack Hammer and Arielle to practice so that she can learn how to fight. I do not know how the stranger obtained one though."
It's different. That one was allowed by the goddess. It makes a difference. The worst part is, Kiba was goaded."
Frogskin seems to be talking to himself. "Yes, not at all good. We can't let that happen. There's not much we can do. But, really, this is terrible...dreadful. Do you realize the danger we're in? Yes, but the important thing is to stay calm." Frogskin clearly is talking to himself. "Training may not be safe. If the rings are permitted past the wards, things could get incredibly difficult. And if Kiba can be goaded...think about it. Bad. Something must be done. No, it's not a good idea. What if--yes, I know, but it could be necessary. If the Servants get ahold of one of these...no, not a good idea!" Frogskin looks up at the others. "We have to be elsewhere. Some..issues come up. Goodbye." Frogskin flies off.
"Oh, crap. How did that ring get past the wards? How the hell was it functional? That's not supposed to happen. Kiba, are you alright?""I would not fret too much Frogskin. I do not believe it is as much to be concerned with as you think. That ring was an exact duplicate of the one I constructed to allow Jack Hammer and Arielle to practice so that she can learn how to fight. I do not know how the stranger obtained one though."It's different. That one was allowed by the goddess. It makes a difference. The worst part is, Kiba was goaded."
Frogskin seems to be talking to himself. "Yes, not at all good. We can't let that happen. There's not much we can do. But, really, this is terrible...dreadful. Do you realize the danger we're in? Yes, but the important thing is to stay calm. Training may not be safe. If the rings are permitted past the wards, things could get incredibly difficult. And if Kiba can be goaded...think about it. Bad. Something must be done. No, it's not a good idea. What if--yes, I know, but it could be necessary. If the Servants get ahold of one of these...no, not a good idea!" Frogskin looks up at the others. "We have to be elsewhere. Some..issues come up. Goodbye." Frogskin flies off.
"Should someone tell Jay it's 30 minutes 'til Wapner?"
heads back to the table by the bar
Djuhah smiled to himself. Jay had such a bad habit of flying off half-cocked. Djuhah wasn't worried in the slightest. He knew his own handiwork well enough to recognize that the ring the stranger had been wearing was in fact the exact same ring that Arielle had. And watching humans age so many times over the years he had a pretty good idea of how the face changed from childhood to adulthood. Starsong had probably sent the boy here herself.
Kiba becomes human again, and bows slightly to Djuhah.
"Thank you for letting us stay here. Tell the Starsong I thank her as well"
He heads for the omniportal, and steps through. Five minutes later he comes back looking worried.
"I can't find him. Anywhere. The only place I could pick up his scent was about a yard from the portal. There were... there were signs of a fight."
Kiba becomes human again, and bows slightly to Djuhah.
"Thank you for letting us stay here. Tell the Starsong I thank her as well"
He heads for the omniportal, and steps through. Five minutes later he comes back looking worried.
"I can't find him. Anywhere. The only place I could pick up his scent was about a yard from the portal. There were... there were signs of a fight."
Arielle frowns.
"Do you think future LK took our LK somewhere else?"
Arielle frowns.
"Do you think future LK took our LK somewhere else?"
Kiba looks at her with a shocked expression on his face.
"What do you mean, future Lk?"
Arielle frowns.
"Do you think future LK took our LK somewhere else?"
Kiba looks at her with a shocked expression on his face.
"What do you mean, future Lk?"
Arielle looks equally shocked.
"You didn't notice? But I thought it was really obvious! I mean, I wasn't about to tell LK, cause if he was supposed to know then his future self would have told him, but...."
"Okay, what your saying is, a Lk from the furture came back to find the Lk from now? That explains why he knew how to stop me and how he was able to block your lightning. It also explains why he seemed to have no scent, I wouldn't have noticed it because it was Lk's. But that doesn't explain the signs of a fight or why they both weren't there. I hope nothing happens..."
"You didn't notice? But I thought it was really obvious! I mean, I wasn't about to tell LK, cause if he was supposed to know then his future self would have told him, but...."
Her thoughts are obviously tumbling over each other as she tries to sort the whole thing out.
"...but why did he forget about the thunder?....I don't think I like where this is going..."
"Okay, what your saying is, a Lk from the furture came back to find the Lk from now? That explains why he knew how to stop me and how he was able to block your lightning. It also explains why he seemed to have no scent, I wouldn't have noticed it because it was Lk's. But that doesn't explain the signs of a fight or why they both weren't there. I hope nothing happens..."
"Well, maybe future LK took our LK to see the future? To try and change it. I think maybe something really, really bad happened there."
"And all we can do is wait! Great, just great. Just another tine when I can do nothing to help him..."
Kiba leaves the Eyrie the normal way, and smashes a boulder before he comes back.
"Okay, I feel better. What can we do?"
"And all we can do is wait! Great, just great. Just another tine when I can do nothing to help him..."
Kiba leaves the Eyrie the normal way, and smashes a boulder before he comes back.
"Okay, I feel better. What can we do?"
"I'm not sure. LK isn't really very good about letting other people help him. I think that may be part of what caused his problem that was so bad that he had to go back in time."
"It's okay, Tristan. We're still gonna work on your problem, too. I didn't forget about you."
She kicks the slide with a small little burst of thunder as she does.
"Sorry about that. I'm still working on control."
"Yeah, I've noticed that about him too. Probably my fault."
He takes his wolf forms, curls up in corner somewhere, and just stares at a wall.
"Yeah, I've noticed that about him too. Probably my fault."
He takes his wolf forms, curls up in corner somewhere, and just stares at a wall.
"Not everything is your fault you know."
Goes back to playing with Tristan and Keehaar.
After a few hours with no news, a piece of parchment floats down to the playground from the Eyrie's sky opening. It takes the form of a canine when it touches the ground, and walks over to Arielle. It looks at her, then up to the sky entrance, then goes over and does the same to Kiba.
After a few hours with no news, a piece of parchment floats down to the playground from the Eyrie's sky opening. It takes the form of a canine when it touches the ground, and walks over to Arielle. It looks at her, then up to the sky entrance, then goes over and does the same to Kiba.
Arielle looks at Kiba and shrugs.
"Tristan you stay here with Keehaar."
She follows the paper, using the amulet that Keehaar gave her if it goes back up, albeit still with some difficulty.
She follows the paper, using the amulet that Keehaar gave her if it goes back up, albeit still with some difficulty.
The paper wolf leaps from ledge to ledge, obviously aided by whatever magic created it*, and Kiba follows the same way. When it reaches the top of the Eyrie, it bursts into flames. Both Kiba and Arielle hear the crunch of footsteps on the snow and turn to see Lk and the (possible)future Lk.
"Hey Arielle, hey dad. Did you miss me?"
She follows the paper, using the amulet that Keehaar gave her if it goes back up, albeit still with some difficulty.The paper wolf leaps from ledge to ledge, obviously aided by whatever magic created it*, and Kiba follows the same way. When it reaches the top of the Eyrie, it bursts into flames. Both Kiba and Arielle hear the crunch of footsteps on the snow and turn to see Lk and the (possible)future Lk.
"Hey Arielle, hey dad. Did you miss me?"
"We were getting kinda worried, yeah."
"Well I should hope so! I was gone for a mo-"
The older Lk cuts him off by placing a hand on his shoulder.
"It was only a few hours to them, little wolf. Sorry about that cage... Kiba. I was surprised it could even hold you, the First Wolf's replacement, for as long as it did."
Lk looks at his older self.
"Can I show them Canis? Can I?"
"If you'll let explain first. In the time he was with me, I taught him a new way to use his... talents. His way of fighting, his styles, were lacking. Since he can't shape magic into spells, I taught him how to channel it into his styles. I only taught him two, an Ice and Rain style, and he only just enough control to work them right. He'll have to be creative enough to make any more. Please stand back."
At the mention of the First Wolf, Kiba's hackles rise and a barely audible growl raises from deep in his throat. Nevertheless, he takes a step back.
At the mention of the First Wolf, Kiba's hackles rise and a barely audible growl raises from deep in his throat. Nevertheless, he takes a step back.
Arielle also takes a step back.
"You shouldn't get upset so quickly."
Lk seems to glow from within, and he slams his open palms on the snow.
"Ice Style: Wolf Fang Avalanche!"
Snow higher up the mountain begins to fall toward them. Before is can reach them though, all the falling snow takes the form of gigantic wolves that stop next to Lk and lick his face with their freezing tongues. He laughs and the wolves become piles of snow again. He stands, brings his hands together and raises them toward the sky.
"Rain Style: Canis Lupis Cirrus!"
Now the clouds above them begin to swirl, and rush downward in the form of wolves. Lk laughs again as one of them pick him up and shakes him gently. Slowly these wolves dissapate, and when the clouds clear, the older Lk is gone. Lk just sits down and smiles while breathing a little bit harder.
Arielle laughs and claps her hands.
"That was really cool!"
Arielle laughs and claps her hands.
"That was really cool!"
"Thanks, it took me a long time to get them right."
Now that she isn't watching the snow and cloud wolves, Arielle can see Lk has a few new scars in the exact same places as on the older LK."Let's go play now!"
Kiba becomes human again.
"Wait a moment. This... Canis, said he taught you those techniques. Did he teach you anything else?"
Kiba becomes human again.
"Wait a moment. This... Canis, said he taught you those techniques. Did he teach you anything else?"
"No. Are you asking because he called you the First Wolf's replacement? He was being silly, you're mortal, not a god."
"No. Are you asking because he called you the First Wolf's replacement? He was being silly, you're mortal, not a god."Kiba becomes human again.
"Wait a moment. This... Canis, said he taught you those techniques. Did he teach you anything else?"
Something flashes in Kiba's eyes.
"Okay, you can go play then."
"No. Are you asking because he called you the First Wolf's replacement? He was being silly, you're mortal, not a god."Kiba becomes human again.
"Wait a moment. This... Canis, said he taught you those techniques. Did he teach you anything else?"
Arielle starts to say something and then thinks better of it. All these secrets. It was weird. It's a good thing grandpa Azuri'ith had explained to her what a secret was or she'd really be making a mess of things about now.
"Sure, we can go play."
LK smiles as he looks for the quickest way down. Finally, he just shrugs and jumps. He lands as if he had only jumped a few feet down. He waves at Arielle and runs for the playground.