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Enter- Alane and Harrier

“No worries, Kasumi,” Alane smiled back at the younger girl, “If I leave now they will get the message before you all reach town. And by the time you get to Har's place they will already start informing the families. As much as I'd love to help,” she looked back at the building with soft eyes, “I think I should be there to plan our next moves.”

Harrier nodded, “The storm may have just finished but the threat of beasts are still high. Alane will be fine for the amount of time she is away. The sooner we reach town the sooner we can treat Gio and Kasumi of any ailments.” 'Not to mention I still have that bloody scratch, 'need to check if it got poison in it.'

“Healing or not, everyone is of use. We just need to find our niche,” he said absentmindedly as he watched Alane give a brief farewell before turning to the forest line and taking off.

–

Alane took off in a quick sprint to the edge of the canyon, she fiddled with her shirt until she found her whistle and she blew a long blast. She waited on the edge, looking down as the wind blew her unbound hair around. She reminded herself she shouldn't have taken it down after she went indoors.

A minute later Maurik flew up, in a leap and bound the black wyrum fluttered over to the wasteland next to Alane. The young woman gave a grin and a pat as she hopped on bareback. The saddle and bridle were lost in the carnage at the moment, she would just have to claim it later from the rangers. Or just go free, the way she learned it.

She gave another wave in the groups direction, seeing as they were still in distance, and nudged Maurik forward and down the canyon. The dragon eager to comply spread his great wings and plummet downward until Alane directed him eastward to where the Ranger Guild was. It took a many good minutes to get to the small enclave, weaving in and out of the many bridges that connected the sides and platforms of the city. The guild was on a middle one, on the outskirts of the center hustle and bustle. People were now just coming out of their holes and continuing their day as if the sandstorm never happened.

Alane landed Maurik right next to the large guild building, carved mostly into the dry canyon wall. She slid off his back and motioned for him to stay before walking into the guild. The wyrum curled up in a ball, tail over nose and wings until chin, eye poking out and observing the few people overhead.

A little bell rang as the entered the area, the head of one of the older rangers peeked out of a door to the left.

“Ah, Alane. What can I do for you?” the kind man asked.

She ducked her head down to hid a grimace, and a few tears, “I'm afraid much.”

–
“No matter. We wait until the rest of the storm has left and then we move,” Harrier went back into the building and helped Suri with placing the bodies, as much as it pained him to look at his companions' dead faces. He owed them that much in respect from the years.

Exit- Alane and Harrier

Miya nodded politely to Rigo, slightly relieved that he accepted her answer, even if he didn’t like it. Though she was a little surprised when he called her “Lady Miya”; she hadn’t been referred to as such in many long years. Her answer had not fallen on only Rigo’s ears. Orin seemed to mill the idea about in his head before addressing her.

"Wait, if it was not the Fate Crystal that was controlling Gio in that fight, and if he indeed cannot control said crystal, then what force is acting as the puppeteer to that boy? And is he stable enough to travel with us?"

Miya noticed Jolyre shift closer to the pair, and she could only assume it was to hear her answer. Well, she wouldn’t like it, but Miya couldn’t give answers when she had none and it wasn’t in her nature to lie.

“I have no idea what is triggering this power within him. I would like to say it’s clearly on our side, but I cannot. There might be something else inside him that doesn’t relate at all to the Fate Crystal, or perhaps it’s being affected by the crystal shards,” Miya paused to shake her head, almost like a lion shaking it’s mane to fend off offending flies. “I don’t think the boy is stable, at least not in combat situations, however I do not think he is a threat to us.” Miya looked over to the still figure of Gio. He had protected Kasumi, hadn’t he? “In the end, it doesn’t really matter if he is stable or a threat because he has the Fate Crystal shards inside of him and we need them. There’s a reason the shards are reacting to him and resting within him. Bearer or not, there is some link between the two of them that I aim to study and protect. If that means I must fight this…thing that he is able to become, should it become a threat, then so be it.”

Though her words were tough and full of confidence, Miya didn’t feel quite as such inside. She was a wonderfully skilled warrior, but what Gio had briefly become would be too much even for her. If she called Ifrit to aid her she might have a chance, but then even with Ifrit she doubted that chances of their success…

Deep inside her, she knew that Gio would never harm them. The others would never accept a ‘gut feeling’ as acceptable proof. All she could so was emphasize his importance and hope they understood. The crystal bearers were all extremely important, none more than the other, but their roles were fairly well defined, whereas Gio’s purpose was a mystery that would take more information to solve.

Miya felt the presence of the ice crystal inside Orin and took an involuntary step backwards. She’d always been fairly sensitive to other crystals, but none affected her quite like that cold, hard ice.

Kasumi looked at the dead bodies and clasped her hands together. 'May your souls rest in peace.' she prayed. She listened to Orin and Miya talk about Gio. "I refuse to believe that." she said. "I refuse to believe Gio would turn on us." she said as she stayed by Gio side, waiting for him to wake up. "You make it sound like he is a tool." she said, looking at Orin. "Maybe we are, all of us, are just tools." she said quietly as she looked at her crystal.

She shook her head. "Nevermind, forget it." she sighed. "Gio won't loose control. Im sure of it. He doesn't want to be a killer." she said smiling gently. She knew that they both spoke the truth about Gio but she didn't want to believe it, she wouldn't.

Kasumi looked at Gio and smiled. "Gio, your finally awake." she smiled as she hugged him. "Im so glad. I was worried." she said. She noticed she was still hugging him and let go quickly, blushing slightly. "Sorry acted on impulse." she laughed slightly. But she was really glad that he was awake now. She had been really worried about him. "Oh here is your cloak back." she said as she took it off and handed it to him.

She listened closely to what he said. She understood most of it. That probably explained why he could heal her wounds and also use all those weapons. Kasumi saw Gio look at the bodies and then at all of them. "Thats right. Were all here to help Gio." she smiled. "I know you won't be a danger to us." she said.

The boy was indeed someone special, and a force to be reckoned with depending on just 'what or who' took a hold of him. As they waited for Alane's return, conversation revolved around the unconcious Gio, with Kasumi attentively at his side should he wake. Suri smirked, "Sweet girl you are, Water Bearer, your kind spirit befits your Crystal nicely. We're lucky to have someone on the soft side around here." He said with a grin as he observed the others. They were all coming to their own conclusions about Gio, who was finally awake, and Gio was attempting to do the same. Whatever the rhyme or reason, it was beyond all of their control, including his. During the conversation, he noted Miya's 'dislike' of Orin's Crystal in proximity to hers. It made sense with the elements opposing each other, that it would also affect the Bearers similarly...did he feel the same thing from Kasumi?

Deciding to answer this for himself, he got up and made his way to Gio's side along with Rigo and Kasumi. He looked weak and battered, but might be able to stand on his own soon enough. He drew a little closer to Kasumi and felt a certain 'void' feeling that he couldn't quite explain. It wasn't pleasant, nor was it terribly unpleasant, but it wasn't a positive attraction. He felt like all his energy could be sapped into a deep pool of water, and he'd be left lifeless in the oceans that backed this Crystal. Which was true enough, his energy-source was primarily electrical. Were he submerged in water he'd probably short-circuit and lose conciousness. As an addition to that, he obviously couldn't swim either, too heavy with all that metal.

Knowing Kasumi was probably feeling something similar in response to his Crystal, he moved only a foot or so further, and the feeling dissipated. "What a curious reaction." he remarked as he stared at the Crystal about Kasumi's neck. He had nothing personal against the Bearer herself, and was in fact drawn to her kind and caring nature, but their Crystals were based in the game of opposites, though Suri could see some definite battle advantages combining Lightning and Water. "I wonder if that feeling ever fades...probably not." He wondered aloud as he glanced at Orin and Miya. She'd obviously had her Crystal awhile, it didn't look any more pleasant for her than Kasumi's Crystal did to him.

Suri's door decided to un-jam itself at that moment and slip open once more before being solidly rammed back into place with an aggravated fist. "First thing I'm doing when Alane gets back and we get to moving, is finding a good solid hammer and whacking this thing back into place. If the crash hadn't knocked it awry, that monster Aztherus would never have come so close to taking my Crystal." he said as he looked out the gaping hole in the wall. The storm was gone, and Alane should be returning any minute now. Then...then they could begin what Suri was sure would be an 'interesting' journey.

<< Just a quick post, I'll write more later! >>

Orin noticed Miya's displeasure and registered it as fear. She shook her head at the ice bearer and felt her cheeks flush a pale pink. She hadn't known he had picked up on it and felt slightly embarrassed.

"Not fear... Just discomfort. I've always been fairly sensitive to the ice crystal. It's far too cold. I dislike cold climates as well," she offered, hoping he understood that it was nothing personal. in fact, although Orin asked pointed questions, she appreciated bluntness. It reminded her of home, where no one tip toed around any subject. If you had something to say, you said it. Miya was slowly losing that attitude, and she could only assume it was because she was rarely among her people anymore. As though to prove to Orin that it was merely a physical reaction, not a mental or personal one, she showed him the goosebumps on her arm.

Gio awoke and Miya took the opportunity to step away from Orin and turn her attention to him. He was confused, as they all were, but unharmed. She was visually relieved. Now they could deal with the matters at hand.