ENDLESS JOURNEYS (O/A)

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Alec was about to throw in his two cents when he was cut off by Nova. He couldn't believe that jerk had the gaul to just stomp out and start berating her again. He opened his mouth to rebute, but he was once again cut off, this time by a verbal onslaught aimed in his direction.

Alec was beside himself. He had no idea how to respond to a concept like overpowering Kerana. The wolves were supposed to be subordinate. The train of thought didn't last long as something caught his attention.

Blood, it was the scent of blood. It became more prominent with each of Nova's coughs. Alec's canine instincts made it clear to him.

He looked to Nova with concern, and with little hesitation asked, "You're dying, aren't you?"  

[Nova Blancke]

He really wished he could have kept it hidden from those kids. But it seemed fate had other plans in store. Nova wiped the corner of his mouth and bluntly replied " Yes. Which is why I am to make the most of my time. Soul Sickness as I call it. Continues rebirth without delay slowly destroys the soul. If you want a good indication of my age....ask your spirit wolf. We are old friends." Nova confessed. After taking a deep breathe he apologized. " I am sorry for how I acted but I hope you can understand my current predicament. I need the both of you stronger than you are right now. That is why I made those books. Because I am not sure how much longer I have."  

[Nova Blancke]

Nova slowly regained his posture. He had a bit of a smile on his face. " You remind me of my wife when you act like that."

"Very well." He replied." You really should act a bit more like this. It's good."  

[Nova Blancke]

Nova managed to chuckle after this ordeal. Here he was thinking the fox couldn't get mad or stand up for herself. The kids now knew he did not have a lot of time. That could work in his advantage. He turned to face Alejandro.

"Alejandro, it's your time to shine. We are off to your village. Lead the way my feathered friend."  

[Kittyusha]

Ale looked back at the gathered group that now stood near him, each ready for the last leg of the trek. He looked back at the large mountain that lay before them only miles away, anticipation of returning home after so long growing inside of him. Silently, he glanced around to see if anybody was observing them, then back to the group. "Everyone, we are going up there." He simply said as he pointed to the top of the peak that was partially hidden in the clouds. "I would wish that we could just hop on my back and I fly us all to the top, but its not that easy. We will need to stop at the forest that grows on the mountain side first if we wish to reach the top. I'll explain more once we get there..." He explained as he placed the drawing he was sketching down on a small wooden table beside him. "So, without further delay, let us be off." He said as he led the group out from the safe haven of the inn.

But as they got further and further away, a dark cloaked figure picked up the .jpg]image. "Just what has happened to you... Hasaii?"  

[Nova Blancke]

Never ending enthusiasm eh? We might need just that on our journey.

"Excellent suggestion Kerana." Nova said as he followed Alejandro." Don't forget to study up now. The journey might take a while." He said with a bit of a wink and a smile. " Let us be off"  

[PixelMuse]

Nova Blancke

"Kids...." Nova muttered. "Do they even realize the danger of this at all? " He wanted to say something else but he suddenly erupted into a series of coughs. Hard violent ones. More time... Please give me more time Covering his mouth hardly helped as the blood seeped through his fingers. It was a relief when it stopped. He was going to die. He knew it. His only wish right now was more time. Wiping off the blood on the inside of his robe he got up. "Well time to go fix this....We....I don't have time to delay. We can't send them back because of that damn Necromancer. Blast it!" Nova said growing angry. He really didn't have time for these petty fits of a child. "I'd like to leave soon Trinity so when you are done eating please join Alejandro if you would" Nova had to keep this group together until the end of his time. And none knew when that was.

Trinity simply nodded at his frustrated remark on kids. As he started his rant he seemed to be interuptedb by a series of coughs. She stood up wanting to help but it seemed to die down. The only thing that came to mind was That man doesn't have much time left... and if that's the case I better learn what I can from him, while he's still with us.... She fished the last bites on her plate and joined the others.

It seemed that Kerana was filled with a lot of energy for the journey ahead. Trinity on the other hand kept quiet, trying to review what happened last night, what they covered.  

[Kittyusha]

Alejandro Inazuma

As they walked, Ale tried to estimate whether they would reach the half-way point in time or not. At their current walking speed and the distance that they would have to travel, they might have to camp it out near the location. But the problem was what lived there, and what it fed on... He looked back at the group, one fox-kin, one wolf-kin, one mage/sorcerer/magic user and one paladin. All very tasty to the thing that lived up there, and none, including him, had the strength to fight it, even if they took it on together. How long had it been since he had seen it, seven years maybe? Eight? He didn't keep track, though he probably should have...

Another thing that was on his mind was the fact that he was returning to a place he had not seen in who knows how many years, and wasn't sure how he was going to react once he saw the remnants of the massacre... Not to mention that he hadn't actually been there during, or after the attack. Also being a spiritual clan, would the souls of the dead come to haunt him? He wanted to push these thoughts to the back of his head and not worry about it, but they kept poking at his side like a thorn. And without anybody knowing it, there was a thorn that watched them from a distance, one that would turn into a lethal poison...  

[Nova Blancke]

As they traveled Nova talked to the kids. Mostly about their magic and how they could improve while walking. He had hoped that they understood his haste now that they knew. Kerana would manage but he felt like Alec needed the extra push. So he gave him more attention than Kerana that day.

Nova also gave Trinity advice on her newly acquired water magic and suggested learning Earth that night. His coughs weren't as badly as before. Perhaps it was because he was calm or back in nature. He wasn't sure.  

[PixelMuse]

Trinity tried to focus on her water magic. Yet something was bugging her. She couldn't help but get the feeling that they were being watched. Usually her gut is right, she looked around from time to time. She approached Nova, and asked softly "Hey Nova, is it just me or are we being watched?"  

[Nova Blancke]

Nova glanced over to Trinity." You may be right." He stopped and placed his hand on the ground. Like he did before a green circle came from his hand and into the soil. It expanded rapidly. Soon he got confirmation of Trinity's hunch.

"Yes we are. But as long as it doesn't do anything I don't see why we should. Best not wake sleeping dragons if you know what I mean."