moonfox walked along what seemed to be a path,  she was on a planet that
was very dence with forest, she was a native here.  her father the king,
had granted her permission, to go on this trip.  She never would have
let him rest if he hadn't, she had too many questions about the other
life on this planet, and she feelt she needed  to know about the people
that she was going to be handed down in her heratige.
       "after all" she said out loud "I am of age, and I know of the
dangers and risks involved."
       "akkkk! so you think my dear, I forsee you will fear, and be
feared... but many dangers lurk unawairs my dear!!!" sang a flying
cannarie.
       she was an elf of sorts, she 
had long brown hair, and her only abilities were to make plants grow. a
power that at first thought may not come in handy, but in this world,
can supply you with almost anything you could possibly need.  she knew
that there were other types of people, and other life that she had never
been premited to learn about, and she aimed to discover what they were,a
nd why they were kept secret, now was also a time for her to do some
soul searching, to see what it is she actualy wanted to do with her
life. being royalty was never her choice, she would have just assumed to
be in poverty.  but she ahd to take what was given to her....
                              *****
       "We need more block!", cried the mason master.  He sat upon a
high tower, calling orders to all the workers.  He was a bal man, dresed
in leather armor, and wielding a whip.  He was a man of great
discipline, and he tolerated no lagging.  To fall behind meant whipping,
to disobey meant whipping.  To strike the master meant death.  He loved
his job.

       A tall figure emerged from the quarry.  His broad back covered in
dust, supported a large basket filled with large blocks needed for the
contruction of the new barracks.  His legs flexed intense muscles as
his feet dug into the soft ground to set his footing for the long climb
up the step hill.  His arms, larger than a normal mans, flexed and
jumped as each step shifted the basket.  He ascended the hill with far
greater ease then any of the others and proceeded to take his load to
the work site.  The walk was 1/4 mile, and he walked it fifteen times a
day; if it were a slow day.  He dumped his load for the masoners to
continue their work, and returned to the quarry.  The eldest son of a
masoner, Undertaker was left no choice but to work here.  He had learned
no other trade, and not having the gift for mathematics like his little
brother, he was forced to preform the hard labor.

       His job was the hardest of all...he not only carried the loads to
the site, but was also responsible for breaking apart the large rock to
make smaller boulders that could be shaped into blocks.  He wielded a
large sledge hammer and was able to swing it with ease.  It was even
rumored that he could split a boulder twice the size of a man in one
shot.  He was peaceful in his own mind, but resentful for his
situation.  He longed for a better life, but knew that this was to be
his future.

       When the sun began to set, work was finished.  Not because it was
late, but because the masoners needed the light to make exact
measurements.  Torches had been used once, but it was proven that the
dancing lights interferred with dept perception.  Undertaker grabbed
some bread and mead from the basket his sister had brought him and
walked to the beach, his favorite place in the world.
                              *****
       The unicorn looked up from the river, where she had been
drinking.  A few sparkling drops fell from the tip of her golden horn.
She had heard something moving towards her while she had been drinking.
The sound of grass bending behind her made her whirl around, coming face
to face with one of the other unicorns.  No other than her sister.
       "Oh, it's only you."  The unicorn sighed.
       "You seem so happy to see me."  Her sister greeted.
       "Come on, Amber Rose, give me a break for once."
       "I'm sorry, little one."  Amber Rose laughed, as she laid down
onto the soft green grass.  "I just don't see why you are so down these
days.  You should be happily jumping about, just as all unicorns your
age do."
       "Little one?  Can't you find some other name than that?"  The
unicorn grumbled.  "Besides, I'm almost an adult now.  Just a year now.
And I will be."
       "Well, what do you want me to call you?  You won't have a name
until you become an adult.  Anyways, smile or something.  You look like
the end of our world is coming."  Amber Rose sighed, and looked up at
the light blue sky.
       "I don't know, anything but little one.  I have no reason to
smile, not with all of my lessons on magic and purifing.  I'm sick and
tired of the same boring things!  I want some excitement!  Some
adventure.  Don't you ever get bored doing the same things day after
day?  Don't you long for some change?"  The unicorn looked to her
sister, with eyes pleading for her to understand.
       "Change?  What is wrong with the way things are now?  Our world
is peaceful, and it's at the best it's ever been.  I think that you are
just overwhelmed with everything, what, with the preperations for
becoming an adult and all.  Besides, those lessons will do you some
good.  You don't know when you will need those powers, and you know that
you need to have some control over them."  Amber Rose snorted at the
idea of going off and fighting adventures.
       "I have PLENTY of control!  I've purified so much water, I could
make my own ocean!  I've heal so many cuts and brusies that if I see one
more, I just might go crazy!  As for everything else, my telepathy and
shape shifting, those are just as easy."
       "I think that I shall call you Dreamer, for you can't seem to
wake up and face the reality.  Anyways, not every unicorn has the powers
you have, so you should be thankful for your gifts.  And as for your
control, I think that you should practice more."  Amber Rose rolled her
eyes.  "Some unicorns just don't know what they have."  She muttered.
       "Dreamer?  Yes, I dream, but only because there's nothing
exciting here.  Anyways, I don't like that name.  If you can call it
that."
       "Yes, I think it would be the perfect name for you.  But back to
lessons, you shall be late for yours if we don't start moving."  Amber
Rose stood up.
       "I should be sooo sad if I were late."  The unicorn mumbled.
       "You shush.  Hmmm..."  Amber Rose looked up at the sky, and took
a deep breath of air.  "The winds are changing.  The are coming from the
mountains now.  Maybe they will bring the 'excitment' that you are
longing for."
       "I can only hope."  The unicorn sighed, and followed after her
sister.
                              *****
  P.a looked up from her reading, "Oh good day, Master Grolic."
   "Good day, P.a.  How does the research go?"
   "Oh just fine, but why am I looking up the history of the West
Tower?"
   "Because that is where your new studies lie, within this tower.  You
must study the past before you are able to move along in your studies
and learn the secrets of the Tower."
   P.a watched as Master Grolic left her to her studies.  P.a was an
average looking lady, her long black cloak hiding anything and
everything that she wished to be hidden.  She was often overlooked as
she walked around the castle and neighboring towns, since she seemed to
blend in perfectly with those around her.
   P.a had no real special powers herself, but she had a small companion
that rode with her most places, she seemed to be the only one who could
hear or understand her small partner; which was just a simply Warbel (a
small creature, slightly bigger than the average cat, very large brain
capaticy and intelligence, four feet, often seen standing on the back
two though, sharp claws, and a long slender tail, Warbel is covered in a
black and white pattern, but can often look brown as well)
   P.a is studing the arts of the Hidden Clan, a group used for
assianations, bodyguards, informants, and etc.  P.a is one of the last
students in known existence, although she has heard rumors of perhaps
one or two more.
   P.a picked the book up to move to a her favorite spot in a small
chair across the room, as she walked across the cold stone floor, a
piece of parchement fell from between the books binding.  P.a slowly
picked it up and slowly opened it, it was a map of the Castle, showing
several entrances where P.a knew none to be, but there was a lot more
detail about the West Tower itself....
                              *****
       From the shrounded and covered forest by the grand city of
Lakesdale a Ranger slowly emerges from the edge. He steps out and
breathes a cool morning breath and begins his way to the city below.
From his viewpoint he can see that even this early in the morning the
Taskmasters are working their slaves on construction.
       The Ranger wearing black leather with a purple feather stiffened
up on the left side of the hat marks him apprentice to the Ranger class.
His features are not of the norm a standing 5'10" fox complete with tail
marks him of a race not uncommon in these parts. His crystal clear eyes
almost hypnotising and almost as if you can look through them.
       The Ranger trots down the hill to get the growing hungar to be
removed from his belly. As he enters the gates the morning sun is now
over the hilly region almost compltely surrounding the city. He steps to
the city gates where he is asked to tie a white piece of cloth to his
sword scabbared. His arrows from his quiver are also tied to prevent
violence here.
       Being a Ranger the guards know that he is either evil at heart of
more of the terrain, living and protecting it. "Greetings my friends."
The Ranger says to the guards as he approaches the final checkpoint
before netering the city.
       "Greetings to you Ranger of the Purple Rise." A guard replies.
       "Please call me Fox." Fox says with a canine smile.
       "Ok then Fox. Please enjoy your stay with us and thank you for
your willingness to wear the tags of neutrality on weapons." the other
guard says.
       "Good morning then gentlemen." Fox touches the tip of his hat and
nods. He heads to a sign marked TAVERN and heads there for some
breakfast.
       Fox enters a beginning of the morning rush. He grabs a table
nearest the window and sits looking out the window watching the
happenings of the city.
       "Greetings fox Ranger." A bar-maid says to Fox waking him from
his staring.
       "Hello. I'll take whatever the special is miss." Fox replies.
       "Gotcha cutey." and the bar-maid disappears into the thickening
crowd.
       "Ahhhh.. the morning nothing quite like it." Fox says.
                              *****
  P.a rushed down the hallway, if she missed Master Grolic today of all
days, it would spell disaster.  She hated being late to anything, and if
that stupid maid hadn't been trying to go through her things she might
not have had to change clothes.  P.a smiled as she felt the parchment
map flapping lightly beneath her cloak, at least it was safe, and nobody
knew she had it.
  "Master Grolic, How are you this evening?"
  "I'm fine P.a.  I'm glad you have decided to honor us with your
presence this fine evening."
  P.a lowered her head, "I'm apoligize Master, but there are no excuses
for my lateness."
  Master Grolic let a small smile play on the edge of his lips, "I am
proud of you for not killing the maid P.a, but perhaps if you had more
control over your companion there, you would not have had to change your
clothes either."
  "Yes, Master Grolic.  I did not think his claws needed trimming yet.
I was mistaken."  She couldn't believe that he was just standing here,
couldn't they get on with the tests already.  P.a hazarded a glance at
her group of Masters; there was Master Altrec, her weapons teacher, in
his bright purple cloak; and there hiding in the corner was Master
Graliv, her herbs teachers, she was always hiding away in some corner;
and right next to her, Master Trelin, her healing teacher, those two
were never far apart.
  P.a continued to look around but couldn't spot Master Ulmen, her
studies teacher, or Master Preglac, her information teacher.  That was
strange, they were always nearby, she could almost swear that she had
often heard them while she was doing her morning routine.
  "Well, P.a after today, you will have your Journeyman name, and that
will be the name by which everybody outside of this circle will know
you.  But first, your first task will be..."

****

 P.a dropped down onto her bed, her cloak would need to have a small
design sewn into the edges now that she was a Journeyman, Azrael.  She
couldn't believe she had passed, now she just had to figure out where
she wanted to go, and with whom she wanted to work with.
                              *****
       "Ah, my child, the time has come."  Durand spoke, his voice
blowing like leaves in the wind.
       "The time for what?"  The unicorn looked up, bewilderment showing
in her eyes.  - What's going on? -  She thought.
       "It is time for your last lesson, my daughter."
       "My last lesson?"
       "Yes, now pay attention to what I tell you.  You have a great
many gifts, more than most of our kind ever have.  They have come to you
because you will need them.  This is the last one you will learn from
me, my child."
       "What is it?"
       "It is the gift of teleportation, you shall need it, soon, and it
will aid you greatly in your life."  Durand looked down at her, with
sorrow in his eyes.  "It is the last thing that I can teach you.  Now,
close your eyes, and open your mind, let my knowledge become your
knowledge as well.  See how it is done."
       Within the unicorn, she saw what she must do to conquer the spell
of teleportation.  "Yes, I know how it is done now."  She whispered.
When she opened her eyes, Durand was looking at her wistfully.
       "Practice your knowledge of the spells I have taught you.  But do
not rely on them completely.  Only a fool will depend on them all
together.  Use your mind, and always believe in yourself, my daughter.
I know that you will succeed."
       Durand then excused the unicorn, and she left, wondering what
that was all about.  Her last lesson?  "But I have a year before I am to
be an adult, what am I to do then?"  Looking up at the sky, she saw the
veil of night fall, and the stars slowly come out.  "Time has passed so
slowly, and now everything seems weird.  What shall I do before I become
an adult?"  She mumbled.  She laid down onto the grass, and listened to
Amber Rose's soft breathing beside her.  Before long, sleep blanketed
her, and she too, was lost in the land of dreams.
                              *****
  Deep within the confines of the plush and fertile forest of Englewood,
lie an ancient castle. The castle rises above the generation-old trees,
like a captain on horseback upon his troops. And the trees grew
uniformly around the castle, as a pack of wolves guarding their kill
from other predetors. The dark skies and the crackling thunder gives the
castle a gloomy, omnipotent, feel...something like the castle of Dracula
in Transylvania. The castle gives off a dull light green glow, magical
aura emitted from inside...for this is the dwelling of one of the most
powerful wizards in the world...

  "Concentrate! Concentrate you fool!" exclaimates the ancient old
wizard.

  "I'm sorry Master Bator..." squeaks the young apprentice.

  "That's Mastor BAYOR you blithering twit!" shouts the old wizard in
anger.

  "Not from what I saw last night..." mumbles the apprentice to himself.

  The ancient wizard, Domin Bayor, was at least a hundred years
old...the wise wizard had gone through many years of learning the arts
of sorcery and in return, became powerful and all knowing. Fearing that
he may succumb to illness, he decided to teach a pupil all of his
secrets. One day, he met a young lad named Q-Bert and offered him the
knowledge of magic. He chose Q-bert  because Q was a energetic young lad
with a thirst fer knowledge. Bayor knew he had potential...or so Bayor
thought.

  "Now try harder! What is wrong with you? Focus!" said Bayor in a
harsh tone.

  "What was wrong with that?? questioned Q, The flames didn't go out of
control like last time!"

  "You fool! You were suppose to LEVITATE the table! Not burn it to a
crisp!" muttered Bayor angrily.

  Q-Bert is a young stout lad with black hair. His hometown is Euclidia,
where his parents own an inn. Ever since he was young, Q enjoyed
dabbling in magic. His thirst for knowledge and adventure always got him
into trouble. Q-Bert would make a great wizard, though he had one
flaw...he was incompetant. Sure he could easily cast simple spells, but
people fear when he tries to cast advance spells. They rarily turned out
as he wanted, sometimes backfiring or doing something completely
different! Only if he had a little patience...and a LOT more practice.

  "Now try it again, on the chair...and don't try to char-broil it, I'm
running out of furniture." Bayor said in a sarcastic tone.

  Q began to concentrate, deeply, and pictured in his head the chair
levitating. Slowly the chair began to twitch, then it rose into the air.

  "Good! Good my lad!" shouted an overjoyous Bayor.

  But he spoke too soon, couple of seconds later, the chair began to
vibrate violently and exploded into a jillion pieces. Q, being startled
by the blast, peddled backwards into a black cauldron spilling its
contents out. Seeing the frog's legs, bat's wings, and dragon scales
mixed into a thick black liquid, Q figured he tipped over a recent
project.

  "Oh! I'm so sorry for screwing up your magic potion Master Ba-"

  "What magic potion? You ruined my dinner!!" shouted Bayor fuming,
"That's it, I have had it with you. I have had enough of your
blundering! I am expelling you! Begone!"

  Before Q can mutter a plee, a portal opens up underneath Q and sucks
him in. Seconds later, the portal opens up outside of the castle 10 feet
off the ground and Q falls to the ground with a big thud. A second
later, a second portal opens and drops all of Q's belongings on top of
Q's head. With a sigh, Q gathers his stuff, casts a spell to keep them
in a magical storage space, and trudges off into the unknown....
                              *****
       Fox wanders the cityscape looking all around. Tuesday is market
day so several merchants stand about with their carts open to the
public. Each cart has a cashier a merchant and a guard. Fox looks around
to see all races bunched together from anthromorphs to Zidal Elves.
       Fox passes a merchant who starts striking his horse. "You damn
animal get UP! UP I TELL YOU!!!" snaps from his his crackle down hard
upon the injured horse. A crowd forms but no one to aid the animal. Fox
being a Ranger has love for animals and he soon intervenes.
       "Sir. Striking the animal will not do any good." Fox says to the
fat bald man.
       "Get out of my way fuzzy or I will make a hansome fox fur coat
for my wife." The bals man says and strikes the animals once again.
       "I'll will pretend I did not hear that human." Fox grabs the whip
from the man as he stretches hs arm back to strike the horse again.
       The fat man swings with all his might but as his arm comes before
him Fox taps the fat man in the butt with his foot. The man falls into a
a fresh collection of scat. The crowd laughs as the man pushes the stuff
from his face. Fox walks over to the horse and looks at its eyes and
says not a word.
       "LOOK OUT!" a voice rings from the crowd.
       "You bastard!" the fat man snaps but Fox's quick reflexes kick in
and Fox moves out of the way. Fox sticks his leg out and trips the man
this time heading into sewage.
       Fox looks back at the crowd a nods his thanx for the warning,
even though he heard the man coming. His attention comes back to the
injured horse. Fox pulls out an object from the horses hindquarters. A
jagged piece of metal somehow got stuck there and caused the horse to
collapse. The crowd cheers and Fox hands the reigns of the horse to an
elf who was standing close to him.
       Fox touches the tip of his hat and smiles then walks on through
the marketplace. A fountain in the middle of the road sets up what Towne
Square's location is. With a quick breath and and a slow exhale he
approaches the fountain. He looks at the water ripples slowly passing by
then he decides to have a seat on the edge of the fountain.
       "This towne is roudy on Tuesdays." Fox chuckles to himself. His
attention wavers to the main tower to the south. A castle is what that
appears to be. Then his attention moves toward a man covered in scat and
dripping in black goo approaching him. "Ahhhh... human, come to say you
are sorry?"
       The man does not answer but another crowd forms. "Listen here
fuzzy do you know who I am?"
       "A fat, bald, dirty, stinking, slobbering, soulless, inhuamne
fool?" Fox says and the crowd laughs then haults when the fat man looks
at them.
       "I am the Royal Captian of the Guard."
       "You are royal at that, a Royal pain in the...."
       A horn blows stopping Fox in mid-sentence. A white carrige
appears from the direction Fox dropped the Captian. Four white stags and
a Pegasus leads the carrage. The carrage stops before the fountain and a
man appears from it.
       Everyone in the towne area stops their doings and bows. All
except Fox. What would appear to be a king steps out and 6 guards stand
next to him. The king laughs as he sees his Royal Captian covered in
slop.
       "Ahhh... Dartanian. Looks like you need a bath." The king jokes
and the crowd laughs.
       "Sire." Dartanian stands "That anthromorph did this to me." He
points over to Fox whom has not bowed before the king.
       "You probably deserved it Dartanian. You there, fox. Please
approach." The king waves to Fox.
       Fox obliges and comes up to the king and kneels on one knee.
"M'Lord might I present myself?"
       "Please do."
       Fox stands. "My name is Fox McKloud second rank of the Purple
Klan. At yourservice sire."
       "Ahh the Purple Klan. Rangers are rare in these parts and would
explain your ignorance of me. Please answer me this, why does my Captian
look like this?"
       "Beating a stag who was obviously injured sire."
       "Guards lock him. Please Fox do come with me. I would like some
company to the castle. I have a few questions to ask." The kings says.
       The guards tie up Dartanian and attach him to the back of the
carriage. Fox waits for the king to enter it before he follows. He jumps
in and looks at the king. A aging man white hair and long white beard
decorate him. Brown eyes that look like a childs marble scan Fox. The
king is not heavy set but muscular in build and he smells like a well
scented flower.
       Fox's attention looks out the carriage door which closes shut. As
the door closes the people rise and Fox smiles. His smile turns to
disgust as he looks out the fox fur coat the king has sitting next to
him.
       The king notices Fox's expression. "Sorry Fox but the animal is
rare. Do not worry we use the meat as well."
       "I like mine where its at." Fox smiles. "Atleast all is used."
       The king laughs loudly. It reminds Fox of cool winter thunder
before the onslaught of rain. The king looks out the window. "Adventurer
are ye?"
       "Aye, M'Lord. Just passing through."
       "I might have a proposition for you when I collect the rest of a
team. Until then you will be boarded free of charge in the castle."
       "Gratefully excepted sire."
       "Excellent."
                              *****
       The dark room is lit only by candle light and now very many of
those either. A man sits in a chair at the table with scrolls scattered
all over it. A dragon looks attentively at the man. THe other lies
sleeping on the floor.

       "I can't believe it! I have to wait another year before I have to
try again!" the man mutters to himself. He is about 5' 9". His salt and
pepper hair makes him look distinguished. "Another year for an attempt
at immotality and ultimate power ..." He stands and his black and white
robe staightens itself out. He walks over to the fire unaware the
dragons are there, checks the cauldron, and goes back to the table. "She
must not have been the virgin that she said she was. No, that would have
had some serious side effects." The man falls silent as he gets lost in
his thoughts.

       "Malcom, why don't we just take it out on the villagers?" asks
the alert dragon.

       "Not yet." He turns to the voice and sees the dragons for the
first time. "Will you guys knock that off?" He gestures with his hands,
but nothing happens.

       "Stop that, you two!"

                              *****
  Azrael watched The King's carriage return from town, they must have
gone down to fetch find out what trouble Dartanian had caused today.
Wervil gave a small sqeek -There is someone inside with The King, he is
not human.
  Azrael grinned at her small companion -You know that's very
informative, considering there are only hundreds of different species
here.
 -It smells like the forest and animal.
 -Well we will just have to go downstairs and wait to see who it is.
I'm sure we will have plenty of time to get to see them and what they
are like.

Azrael turned and started quietly down the nearby steps.  It wasn't very
long before she was walking through one of the kitchens, a small loaf of
bread and some cheese quickly disappearing into her cloak.  -Hey, I'm
hungry too.  "Excuse me Cook Helgret, could I possible have some meat
for my Werbil?"
  "Certainly Ma'am,"  Cook Helgret hated that thing, she didn't know
what it was suppose to be a cat, a racoon, a dog, or even possible a
possum; and it's Mistress was even stranger, nobody knew who she was or
what she was doing here, but she was always polite and never came to
bother them except for her Werbil.
  Cook Hegret handed Azrael a small piece of leftover bird from last
nights feast, "I certainly hope this will keep him satisfied."
  "I'm sure it will.  Thank you."  The two of them quickly slipped
through the other door and were soon on their way to watch the newcomer.
                              *****
       moonfox woke up from a good night sleep in her tree. she got
down and pulled out a cherry tree seed from her seed sack... in a matter
of minutes she was eating perfictly ripe cherries, from a young cherry
tree.
       when she finnished she tried to decide which direction that she
wanted to go in... she finnaly decided that she would vere off the main
trail a ways... she thought she might like to head twords a group of
hills that she saw in the distance... now she knew that hills and
mountains were often dangerouse places... but they also intreaged her,
and she wanted to explore... she would just have to remember to stay
hidden, an ability that was handed down and taught from generation to
generation.  she could hunt and walk for days without leaving a trace,
or sent of any kind.
       and she started walking down the clearest trail she could
make.....
                              *****
       The unicorn was asleep, she was galloping throughout the lands,
when the dream changed.  She was being wrapped up in something, and was
being carried away from her sleeping spot.  She was being placed down,
and she felt as if she was surrounded.  The unicorn opened her eyes to
find that she was somewhere else.  She was in the middle of a circle
surrounded by her friends and family.  Amber Rose was looking at her
proudly, Durand was sitting and looking sorrow-filled, her mother,
father, and friends were all there as well.
       The unicorn opened her mouth to speak, but Durand spoke before
she could utter a sound.  "It is time, my daughter, it is time."
       "Time for what?"  She asked.  - Am I still dreaming? -
       "It is time for your initiation into our family as an adult."
       "But that isn't for another year!"
       "No, it is now.  We told you that it was in a year so that you
would be caught unawares and we could see what you would do."
       The unicorn's thoughts were wild. - But Amber Rose's was right on
time.  There was no surprise.  Why did they do this to me? -
       "Now then, our newest member needs a name fit for her.  Any
ideas?  Speak.  Now is the time."
       Many names went by, and yet none of them seemed right.  One by
one they came and went, until the stars hid back into the sky, and the
moon and it's cloak of night started to fade out.
       "Is there no name fit for out young adult?"  Durand spoke.
Silence was his answer.  "Then there is only one thing that can be
done."  Turning to the unicorn, he spoke to her, and yet, somehow to the
rest of the unicorns.  "You shall leave our lands, in search for your
name.  You will know when you have found it, and you shall return to us
when you have.  Let your magic aid you, and never loose faith withing
yourself.  Before you go, your family has gathered some gifts for you.
Let them come forth."
       Much to her surprise, her mother and father came forth, and
Amber Rose stayed a step or two behind.  "Drink this,"  her mother said,
and looking down the unicorn saw a bowl full of red liquid.  Obeying her
mother, she drank it all, until there was nothing left.  Fire raced
throughout her viens, and suddenly she knew what the morning birds were
singing, what the crickets were talking.  "It is the gift of tounges."
Her mother explained.  "We know you will need it in your quest.  A
dragon willingly gave us three drops of her blood, and we have given it
to you.  We wish you luck, daughter."
       Amber Rose then came up, and smiled.  Whispering some words, a
bright glow appeared around the unicorns neck.  "This is a magic mirror.
It shall show you what you wish, look upon it, and see how we are doing.
You shall be alone out there, and may you beable to be with us, in a
sense anyways."  Amber Rose then spoke lower for her ears only.  "Here
is your adventer, my sister.  I shall miss you greatly, but I know that
you can do this.  Keep us in your heart, as we shall keep you in ours.
Good luck."
       What happened next, happened so quickly.  The unicorn was sent
out immedatly, in search for her name.  "No long goodbyes, good luck."
Was what Durand had said, and she was off.  Lost between the world of
sleep, and awakeness, she laid down next to a river, and once again went
into the land of dreams.
                              *****
       Malcolm looks at the two dragons. One is still sleeping. Turning
to the other, "While you are like that, why don't you get the dragons to
destroy the area around Lakesdale. The king there will be so glad to see
them." He starts to turn away, "Oh, and have them say that the Evil
Wizard Malcolm sends his greetings."

       The dragon scampers away. - Now why didn't that spell work? Maybe
I picked the wrong solstice ... - Malcolm thinks to himself.
                              *****
       One stormy afternoon, a craftsman was going about his business of
completing an order for a customer. As he was finishing his turns on the
glass lamp a flash of lightening lit up his workshop. Not thinking much
about the lightening, he casually finishs the lamp, not noticing the new
darken tint of the glass. Finishing the lamp's blow job, he stored it on
a dusty side shelf, that looked like it had not been cleaned for years.
As the lamp was set down it created a small dust cloud, the craftsman
thought he heard an "achoo".
       "It must have come from outside." he grumbled to no one in
particluar; and continued to fill the order.
                              *****
       The King is helped out by the Royal Guards and Dartanian is taken
to the quarry to "work" off his anger. Fox hops out of the carriage and
lands with grace. His golden eyes scan the happenings of the Courtyard.
His fur shines in the brilliance of the afternoon sun. Fox is tapped on
the shoulder and he spins around to see a elf female standing before
him.
       "Your cloak sir?" She asks him.
       "Thank you." Fox removes his cloak and hands it to the elf and
the king hands her his Red robe.
       After takinf the cloak off Fox's tail is now revieled red in
colour except the last 1/3 is white. Fox follows the King and the female
elf seems to be fascinated with Fox. He keeps looking back at her
because he feels her eye stare on him. She diverts her attention when he
looks at her.
       "Lieutenant Marsh will see you to your quarters and you will be
summoned to me when I have enough adventurers. Until then you will be
given this token, which entitles you to free food in the city and minor
articles of intrest." with that said the King continues down the
corridor leaving Fox and the Lt. together.
       "This way sir." Lt. Marsh says and leads Fox down another
corridor.
       Fox upon entering the room dismisses the guard and he looks out
the window across the room. From this vantage point he can see the
entire towne below and the forest he emerged from. "Well it looks like I
have a key to the city. Time to find out what it opens." Fox then heads
out to the courtyard.
                              *****
  (the)Unicorn awoke, and remembering her dream about becoming an adult
and being sent off into the unknown lands that didn't belong to the
unicorns, addressed Amber Rose.
       "You won't believe the weirdest dream that I had last night,
Rose."  She groggily said.
       "Amber Rose?  Who is that?"  A watery voice whispered.
       The unicorn jumped up, startled by the sound.  Looking around,
she realized that she hadn't been dreaming after all, and that she had
been sent off to search for her name.  "Who said that?  Where am I?"
       "You are in the forest of Englewood, unicorn.  Next to the
Whispering River.  I am the spirit that lives and watches over this
river.  Who are you?"  The spirit asked.
       Turning back towards the river, the unicorn saw a figure made of
mist and water, above the water's level.  "I.. I don't have a name,
River Spirit."
       "Don't have a name?  Puh!  The first unicorn to come this far in
ages, and she doesn't have a name.  You're mighty young to be wandering
around alone."  The river spirit said, as it looked over the gleaming
white unicorn.  The golden spiraling horn, and the snow white mane.  The
most interesting thing about the unicorn was her eyes, that seemed to be
all of the colors of the rainbow, and sometimes showed different
pictures all together.
       "No, I don't.. " Mumbled the unicorn, and explained about her
quest, and the weirdness of her being surprised by being made an adult
when her sister and all before her hadn't ever been named on a day other
than the time it was right.  Once she was done, the unicorn looked up to
the river spirit, in surprise.  The spirit was chuckling.
       "My poor little daughter of the earth, they didn't tell you the
real reason, did they?  I'm sure that you are different than most of the
unicorns around you, maybe more magic or someother little gift."  The
river spirit was only guessing, but was correct.  "They needed to give
you some reason, for there is something else stiring in the land,
something evil, watch, my friend, look into the water's surface, and
see."
       Looking down, the unicorn saw a town, and further off in the
distance she saw some dragons flying towards it.  "The town of
Lakesdale, those dragons are up to no good."  The river spirit spoke.
"There is something odd about the one in charge, it's magic isn't from
the earth, but bits of it's magic are being used against the others.
That's why they are going that close to the humans."
       The unicorn just watched, in horror, wondering what they were up
to.  She wished she could be there now, but her curiosity had frozen
her, and she sat, watching, and wondering what would happen next.
                              *****
  Azrael watched from a far corner of the courtyard.  She watched as the
antromorph handed his cloak to the elf maid standing nearby.  HIs fur
was such a golden red Azrael felt a moment of wonder at how beatiful it
really was.  She waited a few seconds before slipping behind the King
and the antromorph.
       She overheard the King leaving the fox to Lt. Marsh, now that was
a man with some wierd night activities.  She watched as Lt. Marsh lead
the fox down the hallway and put him in one of the far rooms.  Well that
was a good sign, a good veiw of the towne and forest, and far enough
away from the entrance and main going ons that she should be able to
hide easily.
  She watched Lt. Marsh take off back towards the kitchen where his
current lover was working, Azrael didn't pay him much mind.  She walked
down to the end of the hallway and quietly opened a small door behind
one of the wall hangings, she had hung up the covering herself.  She
didn't notice the tall blonde night astride the pure black stallion with
the moutains and forest of Englewood any longer.
  Quickly going following the turning paths she ended up behind a small
crack in the bricks and heard the fox talking to himself, "Well it looks
like I have a key to the city.  Time to find out what it opens."  -Oh
that means he's going out, well this could be interesting, not many
people knew antromorph's and it had been generations since a fox had
been seen, Azrael headed out behind him.
                              *****
       Fox reaches over and grabs his cloak from the nightstand and head
outside. He cocks hs head and looks to his right. Then he straightens up
and nods his head then heads towards the castle's main court. Once there
he sees a few maiden gardening and a few singing for a group of knights.
       "Elves, humans and dwarves. What's next dragons?" Fox chuckles.
He passes the party and heads towards the castle gates where he is let
out.
       "No horse?" A guard asks.
       "The towne is much to close for that." Fox replied.
       "Close? That's a quarter of a days ride. You'll get there by
dark."
       "That's fine." Fox said as he waived the guard off. "Humans.
heh... they'll never understand." Fox looks to see that the guards left
the area then he looked back in the direction of the city. "It'll take
less than a few moments to get there.
       Fox got down on all fours and he quickly shapeshifts into a red
fox. his clothes slowly wrap tight around him then disappear and his fur
looks like it eats them. His colours of red body, white tail and chest
with four black paws and black tipped ears shine in the sunlight. Then
he bolts for the city as fast as he could.
       He gets to the city in about a minute then shapeshifts into his
normal form. "Quarter of a days ride. heh." Then Fox heads into towne
and looks about.
                              *****
  Wandering in the darkness of what is known as the Forest of Englewood,
Q marches warily looking fer a way out of the forest maze. After hours
of wandering, Q begins to feel tired, but he knows he cannot rest for
Englewood is known fer many dangers...especially the rabid wombats...

  "Damn! Where am I?" curses Q.

  He regrets that he hadn't master the spell of navagation, or the spell
of teleportation. And he dares not try unless it is an emergency, fer he
might end up inside the belly of a dragon...or maybe somewhere worse,
like school...
  After many many hours later, he began to feel very tired...and with
no signs of exit, he was getting desperate to find a safe place.

  "Crap, might as well TRY ta teleport out of here." Q thinks to
himself, as he had remember hearing rumors of Englewood Forest being
the headquarters of the elite group of vicious raiders known as Butt
Pirates. With deep concentration, Q opens a portal and steps in.
Moments later, he his spitted back out into the open. Q begins to check
himself and check fer any missing limbs...

  "Alright! I'm gettin da hang of this!" gloats Q to himself, being
especially proud of himself.

  He was in a great open savanna. This was the perfect place to get some
rest. The twinkling skies and the many brightly shining moons overhead
reminded Q of the days where he would adventure out with his best friend
at night. He began to feel homesick.
  Q began to get ready fer bed. He casted a spell to open up his magic
storage space and pulled out his sleeping gear. He gathered nearby rocks
and lined them up in a circle. Closing his eyes, he pointed his finger
at the circle and a spurt of fire flew out. The spurt of fire was
quickly blown out from the cool breeze. Undaunted, Q pointed again and
shot a  stream of fire from his finger. The fire became bigger and
bigger until Q "accidentally" pointed his finger away from the circle,
to scratch a itch on his leg. Instantly, his pants caught fire and he
ran around the savanna setting fire to the grass and shrubs. Q quickly
casts a spell and a black cloud floats overhead. A second later, the
cloud rained thick balls of hail everywhere. Luckily the balls of hail
melted under the intense flames of the wildfire and put out the blaze.
Unfortunaly, Q takes a giant hail ball in the head which temporarily
knocked him unconsious.
                              *****
  Q slowly wakes up to find a sword pointed at his head. A knight in
shiny armor stands before him with a look on his face like he's
constipated.

  "Up you scoundrel!" snorts the knight, "Arson is an offense punishable
by death kid."

  Q, still a bit dazed from the blow looks around to see the  grass
charred and burnt to a crisp. Q recalls the out of control fire from
last night, and how he tried to stop it.

  "Look sir, it wasn't me who started this fire. All I remember was I
was walking along when all of a sudden Butt Pirates came and burned the
place up. I ran and fell and hit my head."

  "I don't buy it! I know you started it! You rowdy teenagers, all of
you are alike, wild, untamed, psychotical, booze monkeys. chuckles the
knight.

  "Am not! Well..well..well I'm rubber and you are glue..." Q knew he
was in deep trouble, "Ok, how about I give ya 20 gold pieces and you let
me go?"

  "Har har har! What do you think I am? A politician? Besides, it'll
cost ya at least 50."

  "But I don't have 50..." grumbles Q.

  The patrol knight ties Q's hand together and ties him to the horse.
The knight mounts on the horse and rides of with Q dragging behind.
After a brisk 15 minute journey, the knight enters the castle gates and
unties Q. After a few hours of bandaging and primping, Q is ready for
his sentancing by the King. Q is led in by the patrol knight and gets
down on his knees.

  "What is the crime?" booms the King.

  "Arson sire, and one count of bribery, my liege."

  "The crime you have commited is heinous in all of its ways" booms the
King again, "How do you plee young lad?"

  "Sire, I-"

  "I would sentance you to death, boy, but I feel you are too young to
recieve such a sentance, therefore I sentance you to 50 years in the
dungeons! Do you have anything to add boy?"

  "Sire, I-"

  "Silence, you talk too much, Sir Ramonious, take him to the dungeons."

  "Yes my liege..."

  Q is taken down to the basement dungeons under the castle. Many
different races and species of people hoot and hollar as Q is taken into
a small cell at the end of the hall. With the iron doors closed and
locked, Q wonders what to do...
                              *****
 Azrael watched as the antromorph changed into a stunning red fox and
disappeared towards towne, she realized right away that there was no way
she was going to be able to follow him to towne like that, well there
went that idea.  -Umm P.a just what are you thinking, you have me,
remember.
 -Oh, yea.  I'm sorry Warvil, do you think you can get to town to find
out what he does??
 -DUhHH, I think so.  Like it's that tough to follow a morphed fox, what
do you take me for, A DOG??
 -Well go then!  Wervil quickly takes off down to towne following the
fresh scent of the strange morphed fox.

Azrael headed back inside, she hadn't missed the King's order to that
strange lad who hadn't said anything in his defense.  She had overheard
the story about him roasting several acres in the edge of the forest
last night, and of the freak hailstorm that followed.  The one thing she
had learned through her years of training was to always learn the story
from the person there.  She headed down to the dungeon.

It wasn't very long before she was there.  She wasn't a stranger down
here, but she felt safer down here than just about anywhere else int eh
castle.  These people knew her, and trusted her, and she knew a couple
of them with whom she would trust her life if not her money or
belongings.

She quickly found the youth sitting in the cell at the far end of the
hallway,  -Well that's strange, there's a secret door there, and
everybody knows about it so they don't use it.  Why would the King put
him in there?  Well, I wonder what this kid is like??
Azrael stopped in front of the cell doors.
                              *****
The room was dark except for the single column of light that shined down
upon the lone figure. The man was tall, nearly six and a half feet tall
and well muscled. The man was was weighed down in a kneeling position by
the weight of the chains that bound him. These were no ordinatry chains,
the were mystic bindings.
The man looked up and scanned the little of the room he could see. Just
outside the light sat a U-shaped table with eight chairs. Four of the
chair were draped with black satin cloth in rememberance of the men and
women whom had once occupied them. The man smiled remembering how each
had looked in their last minutes of life as he had killed them with
either sword or spell.
His thoughts were intrrupted as a secret door in the back of the room
opened and the remaining members of the council walked in. Most looked
haggared and beaten. All except her. She was the one who had caught him
and brought him here. If it had not been for her he would have killed
them all and now ruled everything. She would have to pay.
The woman sat next to one of the chairs dawned in black and stroked the
soft material remembering her mother had once sat here next to her. Now
she was dead... thanks to her own father. Her gaze turned to him and
their eyes met... the looks that passed between them would have frozen
the soul of demons themselves.
The elder of the coucil rose and rapped his staff upon the ground to
gain immediate attention.
   "We, the last of this once mighty council are gathered here this day
to pass judgement upon one of our own." he shouted. "You stand accussed
of murder of your fellows and the failed attempt of starting a war."
The man sat there and listened as the elder listed all of his crimes and
as each was read his smile only grew bigger. He already knew they would
attempt to strip him of his powers and banish him but he had other
plans. As the elder continued on endlessly he began to focus the energy
he had left to make one last attempt to rid himself of these fools or in
the least kill his daughter.
As the elder finished the list of charges he turned towards the man and
spoke again.
   "Do you have anything to say on your behalf before we pass
judgement?" he asked.
The man smile. "Yes I do..."
                              *****
   "No!" the woman shouted. "He has spoken enough, lets pass judgement
and be done with this all."
    The man's icey glare turned on his daughter. He would have loved to
have knocked her through to the next room but he had to conserve his
magic if he wished to make any form of defense against the councils
punishment.
   The elder rose from his seat again and began to speak. "Since the
others agree we shall fore go your words and go directly to sentencing."
   The man braced himself for the mystic assault he knew would be coming
soon. He ignored the old mans words preparing to lauch his remaining
power into a last effort.
   The elder continued. "You, Lord Coris DeKaos, master war-mage, have
been found guilty of the murder of your fellow wizards and are here by
sentenced to banishment from this plane and are here by stripped of your
magic for the term of one hundred years!"
   With this the council began its chant to strip Coris of his power and
banish him to another plane. Mid way through the incantation Illysa,
Coris's daughter, noticed that her father was goiong through an
incatation himself. She saw that his would be finished long before the
councils and quickly tried to bring it to the others attention but it
was too late.
   With a burst of energy the bonds holding Coris exploded. "You think
you can stop me? Never! I shall see you all dead before this is
through!" Coris shouted. Coris began to weave another spell but was not
quick enough. the spell of banishment struck him just as his own magic
was coming into existance. The resulting clash caused a great explotion
the devistated the councilroom. However, it still had the desired effect
of banishment.
   As Coris felt himself being sent from the world he had always known
he screamed one last defiant sentence "You have not won I shall live to
make you all regret not killing me..." And with that Coris vanished.
  Illysa looked up from the debris that had once been the councilroom.
Her spell of protection had worked on herself, however as she looked
around she spotted the bodies of the other surviving mages. Her scream
of anguish fell upon deaf ears for she was the only one alive.
   She looked at the spot her father had been standing and said. "You
were right we should have killed you and if it takes me all of my life I
shall find you and make you pay with your life for all that you have
done!" With that Illysa sank to the floor and wept.
                              *****
       The sleeping dragon stirs but remains asleep. Malcolm looks up as
the "other" dragon enters through the window. The flapping of wings as
the flying dragon lands, encourages the sleeping dragon to stir again.

       Slowly the sleeping dragon changes. The scales turn to skin,
blond hair grows, the body begins to shrink and ripped clothes cover the
body. "Fetch a mirror, Malcolm. He, or should I say she, awakes."
Malcolm reluctantly grabs the nearest mirror and hands it to the dragon.

       "You and your practical jokes. Someday they will get you in
trouble. I pray you did as I asked?"

       "Of course I did. They should be there before the day is out."
Malcolm returns to his studies. The once sleeping dragon stirs awake.
The now awake female form rubs her eyes and brushes the blond hair out
of her eyes. She sits up from a laying fetal position. She is very sexy
and innocent looking. Her clothes are ripped barely covering the correct
parts. Suddenly she notices the dragon and jumps up as if to attack it.

       It's then that she sees part of herself in the mirror in the
dragons hand. She grabs it away and looks at herself. She steps back in
horror and turns to Malcolm. "If you weren't my brother, I'd kill you
right now. Malcolm looks up from his work and gestures again. Nothing
happens again.

       She turns on the dragon. "Why do you do this? Are you having
fun? Knock it off and return me to normal." She looks even cuter when
she gets mad.

       "Not a chance. This is too much fun." The dragon flies off with
the young blond chasing after it.

       Malcolm mutters to himself, "Maybe it was the unicorn horn. Maybe
it needs to be fresh."
                              *****
  Q lays down on the small wooden cot in the corner of his cell. The
place was cold and damp, it had an earthy smell to it, and occationally,
you could hear the squeaks of the huge rats running down the hall
outside of the cell. As Q lays down to think about his options, he feels
a sharp pinch in his bum. He jumps up to see a dungeon crab teeter back
and forth on his cot. Disgruntled, Q grabs the crustacean and tosses it
thru the bars outside. He sits back down and thinks about his options
again.

  "Let see, I have two options...I could TRY to teleport out here, but
then I might end up somewhere worse. And if I did manage to 'port right,
the King would surely hunt me down. And who knows what he might do to me
then...or I could rot here fer only 50 years..." thinks Q to himself.

  Seeing that this'll take a while ta figure out, Q lays down and
decides to spend the night ta think about it. Besides, he was in no big
rush.
  After about an hour or so, he hears foot steps come towards his cell.

  "Hey! It might be a guard coming to free me....or a guard with my
execution order..."

  Not knowing whether to hide or confront the approaching footsteps, Q
sits up and stares at the iron door with wide and eager eyes. A
mysterious figure walks up to the door, someone dressed in a black
cloak. From the light that shone on the lower part of the figure's
face, he knew the lips of that figure could only be of a woman. The hood
revealed nothing more, fer she looked like the angel of death. With a
deep gulp, Q walks up to the door.

  "May I ask who you are? Are you sent here to execute me?" Q says in a
quivering voice.

  The figure does not answer at first. Annoyed, Q yells out: "WHO ARE
YOU??"
                              *****
 Azrael stood outside the door of the cell, staring at the young man on
the other side.
 "May I ask who you are?  Are you sent here to execute me?"  The young
lads voice was quivering.
 -Kill him, no, she didn't want to kill him, at least not yet.  She
didn't think she would have to.  As for the who she was, how did she
answer that, nobody else in this place knew her name, but her teachers.
 "WHO ARE YOU?"
 Azrael looked up at the yelled question.  She raised a
hand straight out in front of her palm towards him, "Sit, silent,
listen, then you may talk."  She hated being forceful, but she had grown
used to it.
 "My name is of no real concern, but you may call me Azrael.  I am not
sent here to kill you, I came to hear your story.  I wish to know about
you, and what you thought you were doing setting fire to such a large
area of the forest.  After that, I may have something  I wish to tell
you, now you may speak."
 The young lad looked up at the figure waiting silently outside the
bars, well at least somebody wanted to hear his side of the story, he
better make this good.
 -I certainly hope he dosen't lie to me, I really do not feel like
getting mad and leaving him here.
                              *****
       Fox wanders about in and out of stores that intrest him. He does
not however purchase anything and the shoppe keepers are curious to why,
he has the key but does not use it. Walking into yet another store the
shoppe keeper spies Fox walking in. The keeper has heard through other
mercahnts that he holds the key but doesn't use it, it's almost making
them feel bad. He steps forward.
       "Greetings." The mercahnt starts "anything I can help you with?"
       Fox's attention jumps to the obese merchant. "No thank you. I
will just look."
       "Ahh.. I see, I see. Well you know where I am if you need
anything....." expectant look.
       "Call me Fox."
       "That's easy to remember." the man chuckles and heads to a
waiting customer.
       Fox nods and looks around the shoppe. Fox being brought up with
the "Look with your eyes not your hands" command does just that. He
looks at a set of necklaces made from crystals. His eyes scan the
colours of the crystals and he finds one he likes. It's a deep puprle
colour with a red centre and is attached to a black leather strap. Fox
reaches for the necklace and examines it closer. "Something about this
one seems to have caught my eye." Fox whispers to himself.
       He looks over at a group of silver flatrock and puts the necklace
on. The necklace imediatly shows its location as if it almost glows on
his black outfit. Fox grins. Then he takes the necklace of and walks up
to the mercahnt.
       "Where did you get this?"
       "From a Elven villiage in Englewood. You've got quite an eye for
fashion. Would you like it?"
       "Yes please. How much?"
       "40 gold pieces."
       Fox forgetting about the key tries to barter and then sticks his
hand into his pocket and hits the key. "Oh wait nevermind. I forgot I
had this."
       "40 instead of 25 then?"
       "It would be only fair."
       "Excellent. I appreciate it." The fat merchant puts a metal stamp
on the card with the appropriate price. "Thank you my friend."
       "Good evening."
       "'evenin'"
       Fox walks out to see that the skies have darkened since his
journey through the towne. "Time for bed." Fox walks behind a building
shifts into a fox and bolts to just outside the castle walls. Here Fox
shapeshifts and heads to his room. Soon he falls asleep.
                              *****
  The mysterious woman finally spoke.

  "Sit, silent, listen, then you may talk." spoke the woman sternly with
her palms stuck out like she was a crossing guard.

  "Talk about bossy." Q thought to himself, "She's just like Bayor..."

  "My name is of no real concern, but you may call me Azrael.  I am not
sent here to kill you, I came to hear your story.  I wish to know about
you, and what you thought you were doing setting fire to such a large
area of the forest.  After that, I may have something  I wish to tell
you, now you may speak." said the woman, gently.

  She sounded sincere enough, but how can Q trust her? She was the only
one who wants to listen to him, but she might be a spy the King. Q
goes back to his cot, sits down, and ponders about what to do. Thinking
that she might actually be his only way out of this place, he decided to
trust her. He hope his instincts didn't betray him.

  "It's like this...I was the apprentice to Domin Bayor. "Complications
occured and I got expel-er...I mean I left him. I casted a portal and I
entered it, and it took to the plains. The fire was an accident, but the
King must think that I did it on purpose...I'm sentanced here fer 50
years."

  Q looked up and looked at the figure, she seemed reluctant to believe
him. Q hopes to God that she doesn't betray his trust. The figure stands
there, aparently trying to figure out if the story holds water...what is
there to not believe? Q gives her time to think...
                              *****
 Azrael loked at the young lad sitting on the bunk.  His story seemed
true enough, but she sincerely doubted that he had left his teacher on
purpose.  She would bet anything one of his accidents had gotten him
kicked out.  Well, we will just have to trust that he will listen, and I
hope he can prove he has some common sense.
 Azrael pointed to the cell, "Pull the bed away from the wall."
 The lad just looked at her like she had lost her mind.
 "Do you not trust me?  No, I see you do not.  There is a secert passage
behind this cell, that is why it is never used, why they placed you here
I am not sure, but enter the passage and go all the way to the end.
There is another blank wall, this time press the stone off to the right
of the exact middle.  There is a small room, wait for me there."
 With those few words Azrael turned and walked off, it was up to the
young lad now to follow her words or not, she was going to talk with the
knight who had found the lad, Sir Ramonious.

 Wervil reached the edge of town just seconds behind the morphed fox.
He followed the walking fox as best as he could, mostly using his nose.
-Why does he insist on entering each store?  Why in the world do these
stores intrest him.
 Wervil had several problems at the meat store, but the meat man
wouldn't be coming near a Warbel anytime soon.  As for that clothing
store, they didn't really need that wooden stand to hold up everything,
and it had felt so good to sharpen his claws.
 The Warbel watched from a top an awning across the way while the
uprigth fox entered the jewlers.  He could see the flash of somethin gin
his hand.  -Hmm, I wonder what he has finally decided to buy himself.
Smart too, buying from the jewlers, the best one too, that will impress
the shopkeepers with his taste.  Although not using it for other things
is strange.
 Wevil jumped to his feet as Fox left the store, the new necklace
hanging around his neck.  He followed the fox back to the castle, time
to report to P.a.
                              *****
   Many things have changed...
   The lone figure stood upon the small hill looking down at the city.
The last time he had been through here he was unfamilar with this world.
Now after so long it was a second home to him. He had quickly learned
that while his sword arm was still good the mystic forces that impowered
his magic were far less here causing him to have to use his spells
caustiously.
   The mans thoughts were interrupted by a sound behind him coming from
the forest. As he watched a pilgram stepped out and continued on his way
to the city with little more then a nod of recognition. This people
were cautious of strangers, he liked that.
   Looking at the city again the man began to walk towards it. Little
did anyone know it but Coris DeKaos was walking right towards them...
                              *****
       As the craftsman filled the order just in time, a serf from the
Great Manor showed up to deliever it to his Master. The journey was not
long, but it was bumpy. The Lamp and her friends, or so she thought,
were all carefully packaged, in cloth rappings.
       Having arrived at the Manor, the Lady of the household, stared to
check the order to make sure there were no flaws. Coming across the
Lamp, after inspection, The Lady of the Manor saw that there was some
dust on it. Taking a soft silken clean cloth she rubbed at the surface
of the Lamp.
       "Ohhh... that feels good" a quite mutter was audible. "More to
the left..."
                              *****
  In utter disbelief, Q stares at the mysterious woman in bewilderment.

  "Pull the bed away from the wall? Who does she think I am? An interior
decorator?" thought Q to himself.

  The mysterious figure, sensing his bewilderment, begins to explain
about the secret passage. This made Q even more cautious than before.

  "Why in the world is she even helping me?" thought Q, but he learned
never to look a gift horse in the mouth and decided not to question the
woman.

  As the mysterious woman vanishes like wind, Q cautiously pulls the bed
out and notices sure enough that there is a small passage leading
straight thru. Q gets down on all fours and begins to crawl. The passage
is dark and smelly and Q couldn't see 5 feet away from him. He raises
his left hand and casts a spell. Instanly the hand is engulfed in
flames, making an instant torch. Now crawling on threes with his hand
raised in the air, Q's progress slowed. The passage began to get bigger
and bigger, until Q had enough room to stand. He reaches the blank wall
at the end and stands there. Thoughts began to race into his mind.

  "What do I do if this is a trap? What if she does help me but the King
put a bounty on my head?"

  Reluctantly Q pushes the stone aside. With a loud grining noise, the
room is revealed. The room looked like a small war room. In the middle
of the room there was a chair and table, and at the northern wall of the
room there was a fireplace, with a fire glowing radiantly. It seems as
if someone was expecting Q. He pulls up a seat, and waits....
                              *****
       Undertaker smashed yet another rock into small boulders.  The
quarry men all cheered as he managed to do it in two swings.  They
mastered techniques that utilized Undertaker's immense strength.
Carefully places spikes obsorbed the entire strike, and drove through
the large rock face like a hot knife through butter.

       Laughing and sweating, Undertaker and the others smiled as lunch
was called.  They all departed to their desired eating locations.
Undertaker's was the beach.  He sat down on a log and quietly scanned
the horizon.  The waves slapping against the surf, birds soared through
the air, and the sun light, beaming off the water.  Suddenly, all went
into darkness.

       "Guess who?" a female voice called out.  Undertaker was startled
by the sudden darkness, then realized someone's hands covered his eyes.

       "Ummm....a big FAT dragon?" Undertaker mused.

       "What?" the voice cried out and the hands were removed from his
eyes, so that hey could be freed to start whacking on Undertaker.
Laughing, he attempted to block the feeble attacks.  He love his sister,
as she loved him.

       "What's for lunch today?  COuld it be bread and mead?" he asked.
He had always had bread and mead.  It was all they could afford.  They
had money, but they were saving it...for when they left.

       "When are we leaving this awful place?" his sister asked.
Undertaker looked at his sister, her eyes blue and innocent, stared at
him in wonderment.  She longed to leave far more than he did.  She was
beautiful and young, naive and immature, but she was also extremely
bright.  She knew that if she remained her, she would merely become a
wife to a quarry worker.  Her only goal, to become a cook, lover, and
breeder of children.  That was not here plan.

       "Soon" he reasured her.  "soon".  And turned his attention back
to the sea.
                              *****
       ALaina, Undertaker's sister, was on her way to the quarry with
lunch for her and her brother.  Since she didn't have to work the
quarry, thanks to Undertaker's sacrifice, she had time to read, write,
and cook.  SHe took care of her brother for her took great care of her.
She was nearing the edge of the quarry when three of the guards emerged.

       "Well, what's a pretty thing like you doing out her all by
yourself."  One of the guards asked, scanning her body/

       "I'm just delivering lunch to my brother.  He works hard in the
quarry." she said, naively.

       "Well, we work hard to.  And I think that we will make you OUR
lunch" the guard spoke and the three fell onto her.  They began to tear
at her clothes exposing her firm young body.

       "My my....would you look at this.  We got ourselves a good one
here, boys." the second guard said, trying to get his pants off.  Alaina
began to scream, but was silenced with a sharp smack across the jaw.
She began to scream again, this time, the guard punched her, nearly
knocking her unconcious.

       "Now, young one.  You shall know what it feels like to be a
woman."  one of the guards said softly.

******************************************************************************

       Undertaker was walking home.  His belly grumbled, but it wasn't
empty.  One of the workers kindly shared his lunch.  Undertaker was
worried  and upset at the same time.  His sister never missed lunch.

       "You missed lunch" Undertaker said as he entered their small
cottage.  He walked into the cooking area...no sign of her.  THen he
walked into the sleeping quarters.  Nothing.  Now, he was worried.
Suddenly, one of his friends burst through the door.

       "YOUR SISTER!  SHE WAS ATTACKED!  COME QUICKLY!" He screamed and
burst back out the door.  Undertaker followed quicly.  He sprinted
through the grass and weed till he saw a circle of people i laying on
the ground....bleeding.hrough the circle and saw his sister

       "DO SOMETHING!" he screamed.  Everyone looked lost and confused.

       "There's nothing we can do." one of the elder women spoke.
Undertaker looked at her with tears in his eyes.  He didn't belive her,
she could see it.  But at  the same time, he recognized that she was
right.  He slowly turned his gaze from person to person, searching for
someone to help.  THen he looked at his sister.

       "You're going to be alright" he told her.  He took her hand in
his and squeezed it gently.  SHe looked at him and her eyes were filled
with tears.  SHe bleed from her mouth and from her lower abdominal area.
Too much blood from an assault, he searched he stomach...and found a
large sword wound.  He gasped and the thought of his sister laying here
dying.  He held her close.  Crying as he felt her slowly slip away.

       "It was the guards" she whispered.  He pulled back and looked at
her.  She was becoming weaker.  He laid her back down and held her hand
tightly.  Her eyes slowly closed and she mouthed her final words.

       "I love you"
                              *****
       The backpack sat on the bed, filled to its complete capacity.
Clothes, rations, water, weapons, and some memoirs were stuffed into
this small, leather backpack.  Undertaker grabbed his hunting bow, his
father's hunting knife, and a couple of maps.  When he had everything he
needed, he walked out of the house and headed to the quarry.  He knew
that he would be on the run.  So, he was preparing as best he could.

       He placed the back pack near a tree just 1/4 mile away from the
quarry, where no one would see it. Then he headed off to work as usual.

       He began work like any other day.  The works comented on his
bravery for showing up only two days after his sisters gruesome death.
They hadn't anticipated his next move.  Undertaker began to grab his
shoulder, as if he were injured.  The guards approached him.

       "Get up!" one screamed.  "Get up NOW!".  Undertaker remained on
the ground.  "Fine.  Ten lashings"  Two guards grabbed Undertaer, while
a third retrieved a whip.  When the third guard returned, the Task
Master walked down and took the whip.  It was his 'honor' to whip the
'guilty'.

       "For lack of progress you shall receive ten lashings." explained
the task master.  The two guards held Undertaker by his arms, with his
back facing the task master.  Having been whipped so many times,
Undertaker knew his timing. He had to be perfect.

       The Task master lashed out with the whip and undertaker lunged to
one side.  THe whip cracked down on the back of one of the guards and he
cried out in agony.  The second guard was hoisted in the air by
Undertaker and impaled onto a pickaxe.  The third guard initially caught
by surprise, drew his sword and charged Undertaker.  Undertaker picked
up a rock and hurled it at the guard.  The large boulder, the size of a
kettle, slammed the guard in the head, crushing his skull.  THe first
guard, still crying out from the whip, looked up just as Undertaker
brought his hammer down across his chest, crushing all his bones and
organs.  THe wide eyed Undertaker turned his crazy gaze at the Task
Master.

       "You have whipped us, beat us, and raped us.  You shall do it no
LONGER!" Undertaker screamed as he charged the task master.  The task
master, having never dealt with this form of revolt, was armed only with
the whip.  His sword lay up at his tower.  He lashed with the whip
again, catching Undertaker across the cheek, opening a large wound.
However, it did not deter Undertaker.  The large hammer crashed down
across the right knee of the task master.  The master crumbled to the
knee as Undertaker slammed him with the hammer a dozen times, before
stopping.

       Undertaker spit on the corpse of the task master, looked at the
surrounding workers who just stare at him in bewilderment.  Then he
looked at his father, who looked shocked and angry.  Finally, Undertaker
bolted from the quarry, grabbed his back pack and fled into the woods,
with hammer in hand.
                              *****
       Malcolm continues to study the papers at the table. Still trying
to figure out what when wrong with his spell to give them all
immortality and ultimate power that he cast in the summer solstice.

       Meanwhile, the volumptious blond young lady is chasing the flying
dragon through the halls. THe young lady grabs for the dragons tail, but
her hands pass through the tail as they catch air.

       THen the dragon dives under a low beam. The young lady who is
shorter than the beam runs underneath it and falls onto her back. The
dragon sees her lying there, turns around, and lands near the young
lady. With a puff of smoke the dragon becomes a young woman much like
the one laying on the floor. The main difference however is that THis
one has black hair that reachs the small of her back and wears a navy
robe with stars and moons on it.

       The dark haired young lady waves her hand and just the way the
dragon became the lady on the floor, the lady on the floor becomes a
mirror image of Malcolm. THe young lady says, "Come on, Mordoc. Let's go
see if we can help Malcolm. We've had our fun for now."

       Mordoc lying on his back onthe floor groans. "Ok, but you'll need
to help me."
                              *****
       Suddenly Mordoc begins to float. The young lady pushs Mordoc's
floating body back the way they came. Shortly, they reach Malcolm.

       "Mordoc got hurt again, huh?" He says with out looking up, "How
many times is that today? 3 or 4?"

       "7 or 8?" she says trying to figure it out.

       "10," says the floating version of Malcolm, "Man, I am going to
have a bump the size of Lakesdale."

       Ashamed the young lady says, "I should go and do something else
before I hurt him again." She leaves the room and Mordoc crashes to the
floor. With a groan, he gets up and sits across from Malcolm.

       "It's good to see you as yourself again, brother."

       "It's good to look like myself again." Then changing the subject,
"What do you think so far?"

       "Right now, I've got three different possiblities for why it
didn't work. But we can't try them out until the autumn solstice."

                              *****
 Azrael closed the door behind her when she left Sir Ramonious.  -What a
jerk, she really should let the King know he was stealing from him, but
she really didn't care and she needed to meet back with that young lad.
It did help to know that the King wasn't planning on keeping him in the
cell, and now the King wouldn't go looking for him down there, Sir
Ramonious would tell him to contact Master Grolic.
 Azrael headed back to the West Tower, along the way she started feeling
cozy and warm, that could only mean one thing.  She stopped by her
apartment and saw Wervil lying beside the fire.  -Well it's nice to see
you back, how was it in towne??
 -I do not like following the fox creature, whose name is Fox, by the
way.
 -I knew that.  What did he do?  Did he use the key?
 -He just walked, that's all, in and out shops...just like you,
wandering in and out and never getting anything.  I don't get it.
 -So he didn't buy anything at all?  Did he talk with anybody?
 -He bought a necklace at that jewlers near the middle of towne.  He
didn't talk to anybody.
 Azrael smiled at her small friend,    -How much havoc did you yourself
wreck.
 -I didn't do anything, but the meat man tried to catch me again, and
now my claws are sticking to the fabric of my bed.
 -Which means you were in the clothing store weren't you.
 Wervil just looked at his tall friend.  -So what's up with the kid in
teh dungeon.
 -He was suppose to see the King but now the King will have to come to
me for him.  He is waiting in the room off of the dungeon passage.
 Wervil climbed into his normal spot near to and almost under the cloak
near the floor.  -Let's go.
                              *****
 It didn't take long for Azrael to reach a passage way taht would get
her to the room.  It was actually a meeting place from four different
areas, and was really easy to find if you knew it was there.  Azrael
pushed ona rock on teh east wall and entered teh small room to find the
young lad sitting in the chair at teh table.  His head on his arms, he
was asleep.
 -Well I didn't mean to be gone taht long, but it's time I told him
about the King, and show him the tower.
 She walked up to the young lad and shook him awake.  He sat up and
scooted the chair back so fast it and him went falling to the floor.
Azrael stood by watching while he sat up, "What is your name lad, I must
have something to call you."
 She waited...
                              *****
  After waiting fer hours, Q began to feel drowsy waiting for this
mysterious woman who calls herself Azreal. All of the excitement took
it's toll on him and Q gently falls into a light sleep. After what
seemed like hours, two hands gently shakes Q awake.

  "It's about time.." he thought.

  "What is your name lad, I must have something to call you." said
Azrael, in a low tone.

  Q begins to rub his eyes and stretch out, trying to get sobered up.

  "My name's Q-Bert, but most people call me Q..." mutters the half
dazed Q.

  As his vision focuses in, he turns to look at Azrael. To his
amazement, he notices a funny looking creature beside her. The creature
looked like a giant stuffed animal.

  "What da hell?? Jeez the rats grow big around here!" exclaimed Q.

  The "giant rat" didn't look amused. But then Q wasn't here to amuse
strange looking animals...he was here to find out what is going on
around here. Besides, the animal looked harmless enough, and he/she/it
looked like a pet of Azrael.

  "Sheesh, I hope that thing doesn't bite." Q says sarcastically, "But
I'm sorry, please, tell me why you brought me down here."

  Q hope this encounter would shed some light on the events taking
place....
                              *****
       The unicorn was intently watching the picture that the river
spirit was showing her.  Her eyes, currently a dark blue, were fixed
upon the sceen before her.  Right before anything happened, the picture
went blank, and once again the pool of water became ordinary water, with
no pictures in it, save the reflection of the unicorn.
       "What happened??"  The unicorn asked, confused.
       "I don't know."  The river spirit stuttered, just as bewildered.
"That shouldn't have happened.  The last time any vision went blank was
when there was a great evil in the lands.."  The river spirit stopped in
mid sentence.  "This evil that I sensed is even worse than I immagined..
something has happened, giving it immense power?  No.  That does not
make sense at all.  Maybe there could be more evil than I originally
thought?"  The river spirit shuddered.  "What ever the cause of this
cannot be good.  I must travel to the home of the four winds, only they
can tell me of this."
       "But what about me?!  What can I do??"  The unicorn cried as the
river spirit began to dissapear.
       "Daughter of the unicorns.  Child of the earth."  The river
spirit chuckled, dispite the seriousness of the situation.  "Were you
not already given a task?"  As the unicorn began to open her mouth, the
river spirit hurried on.  "I know.  You cannot look for a name, knowing
that something evil is abroad.  Go to the town of Lakesdale yourself.
You may find answers, or just a new direction to go.  Now, I must go,
and so shall you.  The night comes more quickly as autumn slowly
approaches.  Farewell.  Perhaps we shall meet again.  Perhaps not.  I
wish you luck, young unicorn.  Fair the well."  The river spirit
dissapeared, once more the river was only a river, the only movement
being ripples in the water from the wind.
       "I guess it's time I got moving."  The unicorn told herself.
Looking up at the night sky, she wondered what was going on.  Heading in
the direction where she could sense, something, she wasn't sure what,
she could only hope it was the town of Lakesdale.
       "What shall I find there?"  She asked the wind.  A small whisper
that ran through her mane was the only answer she got.
                              *****
       Bolting out of the castle and shooting by the room Azreal and
Q-Bert were Fox goes by. Fox gets down to the Castle Gates and those
already are opened for him. Fox shapeshifts into his animal form and
heads east and his fastest speed. The coldness of the winds don't effect
Fox with his fur coat whispering in the night. He know it will only take
a little time to travel over 4 miles but the one he is after is probably
atleast 4 miles away from that point.

       ****10 minutes prior****

       "Fox I need you to manhunt someone." The kings thunderous voice
storms. "There was an incident on the Eastern Barage Quarry this
afternoon. It appears after the incident two days before that a man lost
a loved one in some kind of accident. Well today he went berserk and
killed three soldiers."
       "If this happened an hour ago how did you get this information so
quickly?" Fox asks.
       "A wizard that happened to be in Rakar City saw the man kill two
of the guards and he teleported here as soon as he could."
       "Sire then why the hour lapse?"
       "We were not sure what corse of action to take. It took time to
figure out what to do and you, being the quickest, could catch him in no
time anyway."
       "Sire his scent might not be as strong as it was if I had been
there earlier."
       "Enough! Fox, you as a Royal Agent must find this man and bring
him to me, alive. I am taking it you know the location of the city."
       "aye."
       "Then what are you waiting for?"
       Fox turns around and bolts out the double doors. He shoots passed
several rooms and heads outside.
                              *****
 Azrael gave a small smile as the you lad rubbed his eyes and stretched.
  "My name's -bert, but most poeple call me Q.  What da hell?? Jeez the
rats grow big around here!  I hope that thing dosen't bite."  Q looked
up at the strange lady, "But I'm sorry, please, tell me why you brought
me down here."
 "Actually I did not bring you down, you are on teh same level as the
dungeon, you are near the West Tower.  That rat, as you call him, is my
friend and companion Wervil, he is a warbel.  I have some news for you,
the King was not going to keep you in that dungeon, but he was going to
send for you to join another person he has here in the castle.  I do not
as yet know what for, and all I know of the other person is his name is
Fox McKloud and he is a fox antromorph."  Azrael watched Q's face, but
it didn't change expressions, so he didn't know him either. "He is a
Ranger.  The King does not know you are with me, but he will be informed
to reach a friend of mine, and then I will take you to the King so he
can inform you of what he wants.  But first I will show you the West
Tower and where you can stay without need of worry about being found
before you want to be."
 With those words, Azrael pushed on one of the stones on the east wall,
entering a narrow tunnel she reached for a small torch.
 "Here allow me." Q once again lite on of his hands to show the way.
 "Thank you, this path will take us up and around to the middle of the
Tower.  This is one of the better known passages, so always be aware you
may run into anybody in here, and you must never disclaim who you do see
and recognize."
 Azrael headed for the small room, near her own, which she had picked
out for the young lad.  It had a great view of the valley, forest, and
part of the towne.  It should allow him to learn the land without having
to leave his room to much.
                              *****
       Fox arrives at the quarry where he sees a monk saying prayers
over the dead soldiers. Not minding them he looks around for scents.
"Damn 800 people must travel this path a day." He says to himself. He
walks to another guard and asks him if he know what happened.
       "Mind your own business fuzzy, you'll live longer."
       "Watch you mouth peon and you'll keep your tongue. I am sent hre
by King Oberon to bring in the culprit."
       "How did you get here so fast then?"
       "Shut up and tell me what I need to know."
       The guard tells Fox what went on during the passed few days and
explains what happened today. Then he tells him that the man's name is
Undertaker and the his cottage is down the way and points. Fox nods and
bolts off into the shadows and transforms again hoping to make up for
lost time. He arrives at the cottage and looks around.
       "By the gods. It should be hard to track this guy down. His scent
is outrageous." Fox mummbles and then looks around in the dark. He walks
around looking at everything as if he can see perfectly like it was
daylight. Fox calculates possible locations that Undertaker might have
gone then he heads out to where the sister was murdered.
       Here he finds evidence of his scent receantly. "He must have said
his final goodbye not to long ago." He looks at the dirt and then at the
nearby forestry. Fox closes his eyes and takes a deep breath and
caresses the necklace he wears. Then his eyes open and he walks forward
as if he sees something he missed.
       A broken treebranch. Fox heads towards the tree and looks at how
the branch was snapped off. Fox smiles and locates Undertakers scent.
"Anyman that could do what he did today has to have a motive. I must
find him." Fox slowly walks into the forestry and follows the scent.
*Caution is the key* he says in his head. Alert Fox knows he should find
this Undertaker by morning.
                              *****
       looking around moonfox headed up the third hill... there were
quite a few pathes at this point... which in ways woried her... and in
others intreged her... she wanted to know where they lead... but so many
told of only two things.... a nearby village.... or a family of
animals... and by the sixe of these trails, and the prints in the
dirt... she could not distinguish which it was yet.
       she walked on and as she started to reach the top of the hill she
started to see a town filled with..... people?... no.... horses....
noooo.... what the hell WERE these things?!?!?!?!she just hid at the top
of the hill... looking down at them... wondering if it would be safe to
openly go in and introduce herself...
       "no, I think I shall just sit here and watch first... make sure
that it is safe first." moonfox went over and sat just out of site, but
where she could see everything.
       the fact that moonfox was so cautiouse was one of the main
reasons that her father had let her go out on her own... still she knew
her father... she was sure that he would... if he hadn't already... send
someone to keep an eye on her, and make sure that she wasn't going to
get into too much trouble.
       so as a result moonfox had been paraniod that someone had been
watching her.  and when that feeling came again she decided that she was
going to ignore it.  but when a tip to an arrow gently tapped her on the
shoulder she jumped ten feet in the air... she didn't know if she was
more scared because the half man / half horse creature in front of her
hadn't made a sound, or if it was the fact that she didn't trust her
instincts...
       lauging the young stead looked upon the curiouse creature
watching his town, he wanted to know what it was that she was up too...
he certainly didn't mean to scare the living shanolla out of her...
       "may I ask what it is you are doing?" the HUGE creature in front
of her asked...
       blushing she was rather lost for words... "well I uh....."
                              *****
       "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!  More to the left?" a shocked
Lady of the Manor said almost dropping the Lamp.
       Unbeknowst to the personage in the Lamp, a fine wisp of smoke
appeared, that had a light rosy smell to it, but looked like some one
lit a cigarette. As the smoke settled on the ground, a young lady
apeared from it; about twelve years of age to human standards.
       She stood, on very wobbly legs at first, but quickly got the hang
of it. She stood about 5'2" in height and was wearing a blue almost see
through wrap around her, draped over one shoulder, leaving the other
bare, and it was fastened around her slim waist with small gold braided
rope. Her dress was revealing her development, but not. Her arms were
bare, and her legs were bare.
       "Whoa! That was Cool!" Jeannie said with a laugh.
       Still in shock, the Lady of the Manor just fainted away from the
sight of all of the ruckus.
       Shrugging her pretty shoulders, Jeannie picked up this cool
looking lamp and took off, practicing this weird shrugging motion;
leaving a fainted Lady of the Manor on the floor, and a hint of roses in
the air.
                              *****
       THe bear lunged out again, only to met by a swiping punch that
knocked it ten feet side ways.  Undertaker chuckled slightly and smiled
at the bear.

       "I am hungry, it's cold, and I will win!" he said to the bear.
The bear regained its footing and charged Undertaker again.  Undertaker
attempted to block the attack, but caught a large swipe from the
enormous claw.  Blood spewed from the gaping wound and Undertaker cried
out.  He grabbed his arm and took a few steps back.

       "It looks like you got a good shot in, my friend.  It looks like
I had better end this soon." Undertaker said to the bear, as if he would
understand him.

       The bear stood on his hind legs and roared loudly.  The deep roar
startled Undertaker for a second and he had considered not killing the
bear.  Then he realized that he must.

       THe bear went back to all fours and walked towards Undertaker.
Suddenly, it lunged at him, and Undertaker dropped to one knee.  The
bear landed on top of Undertaker, as Undertaker grabbed a hold of the
bear by the scruff of the collar and its hind quarters.

       Slowly, Undertaker rose to his feet, bear pressed high over his
head.  HE held the bear, even as it squirmed and roared, for a few
moments, then dropped the bear on a large rock, crushing it's spine,
killing it instantly.

       "Sorry, my friend", Undertaker said. "Your sacrifice shall be
honored".  A saying his father had taught him during their hunting
trips.  Undertaker drew out his knife and started the long skinning
process.
                              *****
After leaving the Manor, and all it's inhabitance, Jeannie made her way
off the land by a back trail. Walking tiredlessly for about 5 minutes,
she stopped and plopped down under a tree. She pondered her call in
life. But being that she was only like 5+ minutes old, she didn't know
what life had to offer her, so she made a discision, and decided to
explore and discover ALL it had to offer.
       Seeing a bird fly by, she thought to herself, I wish I had wings
like that. And in the next blink of an eye, her pretty bare arms turned
into shapely wings that mimmicked the crow she saw flying by. Of course
she had to fly now! After a few attempts that were udder disasters, she
thought to her self, I wish I knew how to fly just like that bird did.
And that's exactly what happened, she started to fly, and flew right to
where she saw the crow land in the tree. Oh man, she thought, what now!
She was stuck in the tree, and still didn't know how to fly. Without
consentrating, she revered back to her young girl shape. After sitting
there for awhile, she couldn't think of a way down, so she shimmied
down. Scrapping up her arms and legs in the process.
       After reaching the bottom, she wished to her self that she never
done that, and in the next blink of an eye, she couldn't remember why
she was looking up at this enormous tree, or what brought her to the
tree. Being that she still wanted to explore and discover life, she set
out on foot, bare foot that is, again. ]
       Walking for awhile and getting cranky as all young people do when
don't want to be doing what they need to do, she started to hear voices.
Finally coming up upon them, she sat down and watch the two personages.
Feeling grouchy, and wanting to have a bit of fun, Jeannie thought that
it sure would be funny if, the centaur's arrows turned into a harmless
little green garden variety snakes, and of course they all did turn into
snakes!
                              *****
       Fox heard a roar of a bear in the thick of combat. Thinking that
it might be of interest to see who was fighting he divereged from his
path and headed towards the commotion. Fox's smll form allowed him to
hide in the underbrush and watch the combat. A well built figure was
actually trying to take on a bear.
       "Your death would be in honor." was the man's responce as the
bear laid still like a mid winters night.
       Fox shifted his attention across the clearing where two figures
also took their attention to this man's ruckis. Fox laid closer to the
grow with one ear towards the three humanoids and one tilted back as
defence behind him.
       Apparently the strong human noticed the crackle sound of a twig
snapping for his attention looks in the direction. The man put his
hunting knife away.
       Fox not knowing what do do but was ready to help the human if he
needed to. Then Fox realized who the other two figures were. Fox's
expression turned black as he realized that with his vision no heat
could be seen. Then there was a sound like a low burbling belch. Fox
looked at the humans actions for it was apperant he thinks they are
living.
       -Zombies- Fox thinks to himself -that must mean there is a wraith
or churchyard nearby in abundance of evil.- Fox's golden eyes continued
to watch as the undead soldiers headed this way.
                              *****
       "may I ask what you are doing up here?" asked the tall creature
standing in front of her.
       "well I just.... I am .... well you see.." moonfox just stoped...
took a deep breath looked down on the city and started over.
       "my name is moonfox, I am daughter of the king, I am on a qest to
learn about the many types of people, the land, and of all the dangers
that it holds... before I inherit it all without knowing what it is I am
getting myself into. I am traviling alone, and I did not want to take
the chance of getting into a situation that I can not get out of, I have
never seen any of your kind before..."
       the small delicate elf that seemed to have a lot mor guts and
spunk then one her size seemed right to have, was actualy scared of a
city full of centaurs... one of the oldest supporters of her father!
       "my name is aoramon, I am pleased to make your accuantaince, your
highness. now if you will allow me, I can take you down and show you
around... and I can guarantee that you have nothing to worry about"
       the centaur held out his hand, she never expected such a
greeting, she could tell that she would be able to trust him... but she
did not want to be treated as royalty, she wanted to get to know her
people, as one of the people.  as she extended her hand for him to shake
it, he just reached over and picked her up and put her on his back...
       "HEY! WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" she yelled as he
started galloping twords the city. she desperatly tried to find somthing
to hold on to, she ended up putting her arms around his neck and holding
on for dear life.... finaly aoramon stoped at the bottom of the hill and
helped her down... his face returning its proper shade after her death
grip had nearly turned his head purple!
       "thank you.... I think."moonfox looked up at him with a half
glare "I need you to make me a promise... I don't want you to tell
anyone else who I am"
       this took a minute to register, he couldn't understand why she
would feal this way, but who was he to question her request, so he just
shrugged his shoulders
       "yes, ma'am" he noded
                              *****
       "Isn't is a beautiful morning?" asked the huge cracked lips to no
one in particular.
       Not getting the response that was sought, the visage of ugliness
turned to look at the feline creature that was laying curled up on the
floor in a corner.  - That has got to be the best work I have ever
done... - the grizzled ogre thought to himself.  "Do you remember your
name yet?  No?  Well, I'm sure it will return.  Meanwhile, I think that
Malcolm will not bother you again anytime soon.  Last time he and I
faced off, he lost miserably and he hasn't faced me again since.  So be
cheered."  The change that was made to that countenance, supposedly a
smile, looked more like the stone of a mountain was twisting in on
itself.
       "I do remember him, but only what he did to me.  Again, I thank
you for saving my life."  the cat-woman said quietly.
       "I fear I was unable to help you enough.  As it was, you will
never be the young woman that you once were.  You are now half cat,
which means that you have abilities and senses that no human has.  The
drawback is that you may be shunned by humans for being different.  Like
I am."  The ogre shook its ponderous head.  "But you will live, and so
long as I am alive, you are welcome here in my tower.  By the way, how
are you coming along with that spell?"
       The question took the young cat by surprise. With a small smile
of self-satisfaction, she said, "I think I almost have it now.  But why
are you teaching me a spell that stops all other magic?"
       With a small shake of the head, the ogre patiently began to
explain it all again.
                              *****
       - That funny looking dragon told us to torch the city ahead. She
said it would repay our debt to Malcolm. - The first dragon thinks, - I
guess we should do something, but what? I don't have much experience
with this kind of thing or much of anything else. I guess I'll got to
the castle because that's where the King that I'm supposed to give the
message to is. - THe first dragon flies to the castle.

       "Malcolm sends his greetings and this," the dragon says and blows
fires at a nearby tower. Some bricks fall off and land nearby.

       The second dragon thinks, - Wow, that looks fun. I think I'll
join him. - and flies to join the first.

       The third dragon thinks, - I should probably keep the people from
getting away. I'll set fire to the forest. - Soon, some trees are
ablaze.

       The forth thinks, - What's that? Some people in a clearing? They
should be fun to play with! -

       The four dragons hover where they are at not know ing what to do
next. Two hovering around the middle of a castle tower, one flying near
a clearing, and one wandering around the edge of the forest.
                              *****
  As Azrael was heading out of the door, leaving Q to get settled and to
check in with Master Grolic about the king she heard a noise outside his
window.  Q and her ran to the window, looking out they saw two dragons
flying around the tower.  Azrael couldn't belive this, the dragons were
usually so good, and they stayed away from human populated areas, just
then she heard the dragon roar, "Malcolm sends his greetings and this."
Just then a shot of fire blasts the tower.  Bricks fall towards the
ground.
 -Wervil, what are we going to do? I can't do anything.
 Looking to Q she notices him just watching one of the dragons he looked
to be in deep concentration.
 -I have no idea P.a.  I don't know anything about dragons.
 -Oh well, let's see, they seem to be of the Class B, which means that
their scales are mostly decorations and are really rather thin...
 Azrael glanced down at Wervil, -Didn't you say your claws were getting
too sharp??
 -UMM, no, no I wasn't....
 The Warbel started backing up,  -Get back from me P.a!!!!
 Azrael scooped up the heavy Warbel, and walked to the window, -Now
let's see, I know you will be ok, and I'm sorry for this friend...here
we go..
 Azrael watched as the smaller dragon came closer, this should scare you
away, she let go of the Warbel, he landed on the back of the dragon.  In
his fright he clampd on, digging his sharp claws through to the
underneath of the dragon's thin scales. -AHHHHHHH, HELP ME P.A!!! GET ME
OUT OF HERE!!! HELP!!!!!
 Azrael watched as teh dragon started doing turns and leaps in teh air,
she hoped Wervil would be ok, -HANG ON!!! HANG ON!!!  When he gets close
to the ground, or the forest jump...
 She watched as the dragon did aerobics in the air slowly going away
farther from the castle, -HANG ON Wervil....till it's safe to drop.....
 She prayed hewould be ok, "Please let him be ok."
She turned to Q, seeing the look of utter concentration on his face she
watched.
                              *****
   Coris was about half way to the town when the sudden flapping of
wings caight his attention. Looking up he saw several dragons, probly
young ones by their coloring, were making their way towards the town.
After a moment of hovering they broke off into different directions. Two
went toward the castle, the other off in another direction for no
apparent reason and another right towards Coris.
   "Great, just what I need a young Wyrm looking for a meal." he said to
himself. "Well I don't intend on ending up in the belly of such a foul
creature."
   The young dragon saw the lone human standing on the road and though
it would be an easy start to the destruction that they had been ordered
to do. As the dragon got closer he could sense immediately that this
human was not of this world, this made him worry, it was not often other
worldly travelers came around here. "Still," the dragon thought, "what
is one little human going to do against me, I'm a Dragon after all,
he'll probly run in fear."
   Coris stood his ground as he watched the approaching dragon. With a
quick glance he surveyed his equipment. He was wearing his black robes,
on his right hip he has his silver scimitar buckled, his elvish made
chain armor was still strapped sercurly on too. As the dragon fleww
closer gaining speed he braced his feet knowing the dragon would attempt
to knock him off his feet with the rushing air as it passed...
                              *****
   The dragon swooped by the man and sent clouds of dirt swirling
everywhere. As the dragon spun in mid flight to see how fast the man was
running it was amazed to see him still standing, in fact hehad spun to
face the dragon and was swinging his arms is weird circles. He looked to
be in a trance or something so the dragon thought now would be a good
time to roast the little man.
   Inhailing deeply the dragon drew forth a billow of flame and directed
it at the man as the dragon spun for a possible second pass. The gout of
flame struck the ground just in front of Coris and then suddenly
engulffed him. The dragon smiled know that no ordinary man could survive
that. It smile faded quickly as it noticed the man still swinging his
arms with little more then a slightly burnt robe.
   The dragon howled in anger and flew straight at the man with the
intent of crushing him in his jaws.
   Coris felt the heat of the fire and smiled knowing that the amulet he
had made would protect him. He wished he could have seen the dragon's
face when it saw how little it's breath weapon had done. He had other
concerns now though, if the dragon was anything like all its other kind,
it would be sweeping down on him right about ......Now!
   Just as the dragon cam with in twenty feet of the man he just
suddenly vanished. The mans sudden dissapearance starlted the dragon and
it began to look around frantically.
   Coris reappeared thirty feet to the left of where he had been. With a
flick of his wrist he let loose the last spell he had been casting. Out
of nowhere thounsands of unusually large spiderwebs errupted from Coris'
finger tips and shot around the dragons wings entangling him making
flight suddenly impossible.
  The dragon felt the webbing wrap around his wings. He quickly realized
that his ability to fly was hampered. Then he noticed the forest rushing
at him, or the forest that he was quickly rushing towards. With a great
crash the dragon flew straight into the forest bolwing over nearly a
dozen trees. The dragon was shaken up and bleeding from several wounds,
the only good thing was his wings were now free. The dragon took to the
air quickly and fled from the city heading back towars its hom as
quickly as it could...
                              *****
       The unicorn looked up at the castle in the distance.  The town
of Lakesdale was nearby.  Looking up at the still light sky, the unicorn
grinned to herself.  "Darkness indeed.  Running as fast as the wind
does help."  Looking around, she saw that she was at the edge of the
forest.  "Something smells rather odd."  She mumbled.  "Fire!"  she
cried as she saw the burning trees.  "What is going on?!"
       A rush of air at her, brought her attention to the four figures
flying in the sky.  Two were by the castle, one was a ways off, but the
one that held her attention was the one that was flying right towards
her.  "Whoa!"  She cried, galloping out of the way.  "Watch where you
are going!"  To her surprise, the dragon stopped in mid-air, and looked
at her strangely.
       "You are speaking my language.  How did you come to such
knowledge?"  The bewildered dragon asked.
       "It was a gift."  The unicorn warily explained.
       "A gift?  Then you are a friend?"  The dragon asked, as it landed
nearby.
       "Of course I'm a friend!  Can't you tell by my appearance?
Unicorns and dragons are both children of the earth, brothers and
sisters of the same family.  It has always been that way.  What is
happening anyways?"  The unicorn asked, looking at the smoking forest
surrounding her.
       "A fellow dragon told us to come and do this, saying that
'Malcolm sends his greetings.'  I don't know who the dragon was, we
figured she was from another clan.  Why?"
       "Malcolm, hmmm?  Well, I think that maybe you should go home, and
rest a bit."  The unicorn was surprised.  These dragons didn't know any
better at all.  It was likely that they were only babies, newly hatched.
"I think that Lakesdale has taken enough.. you really should go home.. "
The unicorn looked up, hoping that the dragon would listen without any
further questions.
       "Very well.  I am tired."  The dragon said, and with a wave of
it's wings, it was off, flying towards home, at least, the unicorn
hoped it was.
       "I guess I should see what happened.  This is Lakesdale alright,
I could recognize the place the river spirit showed me anyday.  What
secrets is it holding?"  With that, the unicorn set off, debating
whether to see the town, or the castle.
                              *****
       Blackness. Light. A man stands over me. I can't move. Pain.
Colors. More pain. Lightning. Darkness. Nothing.

       The cat creature startles awake. The ogre enters the room.
"Another bad dream?" he asks.

       Sorrowfully, the cat nods her head. She turns to him and says, "I
know my name now. It's Catherine."

       The ogre smiles again, "Then I guess it would be fitting to call
you Cat."

       Cat smiles momentarily, and then returns to her sorrowful look.
"I can see this is a bad one. Care to tell me about it?"

       She begins. "I don't remember much. Just that there is this man
standing over me with a knife and I can't move or get away. Then I hurt
all over and then somethings I don't understand happen. And then he
leaves."

       "Well, that's where I found you. You were in Malcolm's Castle and
You were in very bad shape and I joined you with a stronger life form in
an attempt to save you."
                              *****
       "So, why did you save me?"

       "Because I could never kill or let someone kill an innocent
life."

       "But then, how did you find me?"

       "I've been keeping an eye on Malcolm for years ever since he
decided that he wanted to be the best wizard in the land. As it happens,
I saw him doing the 'Incantation of Immortality,' and you there as part of
it. Then he left you there to die, the cruel fool, and I just had to
save you. It must have used the last of the cat's lives to pull you
through."

       "Thank you again for saving me." Cat curls up and begins to clean
herself by licking her paw and running it over her body. A loud purr of
contentedness comes from her.
                              *****
       - Now what can I do to stay out of trouble? - She thinks to
herself. - I have been beating up on Mordoc all day. But it sure was fun
to see the look on his face when saw himself as a woman. -

       She pauses considering doing it again then decides against it. -
Maybe I should clean up my room. Nah, too easy. -

       With a gesture the room cleans itself. - Maybe a book will help.
- She closes her eyes and cast a random book spell at the bookshelf. A
worn book falls out and turns itself to a certain page. She walks over
and reads it with dis-interest until she comes to the part about the
"Answering Rock."

       "I need to get that!" with a little more reading, "And it's near
the castle! That should distract me for a while." She gathers a few
things together and levitates out her window and down to the ground
below.
                              *****
   Nearly a weeks hard ride out side of Lakesdale in the forest there is
a grove of trees that had been standing for nearly two hundred years.
They had stood guard over the forest and the surrounding silence with
ever vigilance. That silence was suddenly shattered.
   A sphere of mystic energy errupted into existance destroying half of
the trees in a thirty foot radius. As suddenly as it had appeared the
energy just vanished. In its spot stood a young looking woman, she stood
roughly 5' 10", was wearing leather breeches and shirt and a fine fur
cloak. Tucked in the womans black riding boots two daggers could be seen
as well as two more silver daggers strapped on to her hips. The woman
had long flowing blonde hair and emerald green eyes that began to survey
her suurounding.
   "Damn," the woman shouted, "the stupid spell was supposed to put me
within thirty feet of his location."
   Drawing a crystal sphere from her backpack the woman gazed into it
and spoke. "which direction do I travel to find him, show me the way!"
she shouted.
   Instantly the sphere began to glow and emit a ray of light. The light
pointed right towars Lakesdale. The woman smiled sinisterly and began to
walk in the direction the ray of light had pointed. As she walked she
spoke out loud.
   "After all this time father I shall finally find you. And when I do I
will kill you as we should have so long ago." With that Illysa DeKaos
began walking towards what she hoped would be her final meeting with
Coris... her father.
                              *****
  Q starts to follow Azrael to the middle tower. She brings him to a
small room. The room was quite cozy...it contained a small bed, some
shelves, and a big window. Q walks into the room and stares blindly out
of the window. It had a great view, you could see a good part of the
city.

  "This'll help me get aquainted with the city..." Q thought to himself.

  As Azrael began to head out of the door, Q looks around and hangs his
cape on the back of a chair. With a snap of his finger, Q's material
possesions drop out of thin air from his magical storage space. Q sorts
out his stuff and begins to put various books and items on the shelf.
Suddenly, a great big noise occurs outside of the castle. Azrael runs
into the room and joins Q as they both stare out of the window. Two
freaky lookin dragons seem to be attacking the city for some
strange reason. Just then, one of them flies by and shoots a blast of
fire at the tower, knocking some blricks off of the foundation. Q knew
he had to act fast. The city was in total chaos.

  "Oh crap, what to do?" thought Q, "I know, I'll fight fire with fire!"

  Q began to concentrate deeply...trying summon the biggest fireball his
scrawny butt can, he began to whisper ancient words. All of a sudden,
his concentration is interrupted by a short little cry. As Q opens his
eyes, he sees Wervil on the back of one of the dragons. He turned to
Azrael but she was busy concentrating on the dragon Wervil was on.

  "I better get rid of the other dragon before she throws me onto his
back..." said Q softly to himself, trying not to give her any ideas.

  He went back to concentrating...he closed his eyes and open them
again, carefully fixing his attention to the other dragon. All of a
sudden, a black cloud looms over head and a hailstorm starts to occur.

  "Damn blasted spell!" curses Q....

  The hailstorm pelts the dragon a few times and the dragon flies around
dazed, crashing into the side of the tower.

  "Ok, let me try that again then..." Q says to himself.
                              *****
Being one of the hairs in the horses tail... Jeannie following this
strange girl and this half man/ half horse creature down to the city,
Jeannie was planning on some mischief. She over heard the girl tell the
strange horse creature not to tell anyone that she was a High-Ness.
Figuring that she didn't want anyone to know that she was on drugs, she
kept that little notion to herself for the time being.
But since she wanted some fun right now, being of the instant
gratification sort, Jeannie discide that since my garden snakes weren't
noticed, I'll just have to make them be noticed.
Jeannie, making herself into one of Moonfox's hairs, covered the centaur
all over with the snakes, and being a horse creature, he freaked out!
Running away screaming and farting, as all scared horses do, right into
the rest of the city/herd. Causing the young ones to stampede out of the
other side of town, into the forest; and the adults realizing that the
scare was lame, canter-loped off to recover the foals.
                              *****
  Q goes into another deep trance, this time staring deeply at the
dragon with his hand pointed out to it. After a few moments, the half
dazed dragon flies high into the air and stops. Suddenly, he begins to
vibrate violently and blows up into a jillion pieces, splattering the
the whole city with dragon innards. The dragon's skeleton (now fully and
disgustingly exposed) falls on top of a few houses, crushing them flat.

  "Talk about deja vu..." thought Q, "Wow, I've blown up furniture,
plants, walls, food, and small birds, but never dragons."

  Q began to feel quite good about himself. He turns to Azrael, who
gives him a look of amazement and horror. Q just shrugs and surveys the
town. The town lays in ruins, as many people are injured or killed. He
saw clerics outside trying to heal the wounded.

  "Maybe I should go help??" says Q to Azrael.

  Azrael gives no answer as she seemed worried about Wervil. Q looks
back outside and began to examine. The sight of the crushed houses from
the skeleton made Q feel bad. He saw people crawling out from underneath
the rubble. Not being able to bare the fact that he might have caused
harm to innocent people, Q began to crack. He runs to his bed and begins
to cry.

  "This is too much for me...I'm just a boy, why is this happening to
me? I can't fight dragons, I want to go home, have a normal life!" Q
cries out.
                              *****
       Undertaker hovered over the bear, softly humming to himself.  His
wound covered to stop the major bleeding, ached with each swipe with the
knife.  He stopped when he heard a twig snap.

       "Hmmm, might be another bear or other creature" Undertaker
thought to himself.  "I wouldn't want to hurt another creaturem so I'd
better put this away"

       Undertaker returned the knife to the sheath in his back pack.  He
surveyed the forest, dancing with shadows from the setting sun.  HE
listened for a few moments, then shrugged his shoulders.

       "Must have just been wandering by.  Man, am I getting jumpy"
Undertaker chuckeld to himself.  He grabbed his knife again, and began
to slice away at the bear.  Then, the smell hit him.

       "God, what the hell is that?" Undertaker thought, smelling the
extremely foul odor.  ANother twig snap.  "If that is a bear, it sure
smells bad.  OR could it be..."


       Undertake jumped up and sheathed the knife.  He picked up his
hammer and again  surveyed the forest.  He gripped the hammer in a white
knuckled grip.

       "If that is someone after me, I will not go back."  Undertaker
thought to himself.  Then slightly chuckled. "I doubt it tho.  There is
no way anyone could have reached the quarry, figured out my direction,
and then find me."  Another snap.  "But, just to be safe"

        Undertaker stood ready, ready to fight for his freedom.
                              *****
       Watching the dragon fly off, without causing too much trouble,
made the unicorn smile.  Just as she started thinking about how the
forest would be put out, clouds rolled in, and hailed down, causing all
of the flames to stop, and die where they were.  As quickly as the
clouds came, the suddenly dissapeared.  Sniffing the water, the unicorn
exclaimed, "This has to be some sort of spell.  This isn't from the
earth at all.. but was created.  There must be a wizard at the town.
From the direction of which the clouds came, they could have been near
the castle.  I should go there."
       In no time at all, she was looking at the walls of the castle.
Looking at the people, she concentraited and changed into a young woman,
with yards of black hair, and eyes that were like looking into a
rainbow.  Her clothes were those of a merchant's daughter.   Seeing a
croud of people, she walked forward, and saw the bones of a dragon.
Looking about, she saw all of the remains of a dragon that had been
killed, from the inside out.
       Walking up, the unicorn kneeled at the bones of the dragon, and
felt tears come to her eyes.  Quietly sobbing, she whispered to the
dragon's long gone spirit.  "Child of the earth, and sibling to my
family.  I wish I could have saved your life.  I wish I could have
stopped you, before such a great tradegdy happened, but I have failed
you.  Please forgive me."  Bowing her head, she wept, paying no heed to
those around her.
                              *****
       moonfox half glared at aoramon after he tromped off with her in
tow on his back.  she supposed it was faster.. but MAN! that was too
much! and she was more then happy to be back on her own two leggs.
       all of a sudden aoramon seemed to be covered in snakes! she
watched as he ran scared into the crowded city, and watched in dispair
as the whole city seemed to be abandoned within seconds.
       without realizing it moonfox went to scratch her own head, and
freaked out when she found out her own hair was filled with snakes as
well!
       "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCKKKK!" she said at first
turning her head upsidedown and swiping at her hair wildly, when she was
sure they were all out of her hair...she started swiping at her
clothes.. with a bad case of the creepy crawlys.  when at last she KNEW
that they were all away from her she looked around... and saw the entire
city cleaned out...
       great! all I need is for them to think that I somehow did this!
moonfox thought to herself.... NOW what am I supposed to do? and she
looked around the deserted town one last time.  with a shrug she started
through what seemed to be the main road in town.  she looked in the
windows of what seemed to be very large shops, and in return the
storkeepers closed the curtain on her.
       In the distance she could see a fountin in what seemed to be the
city square. so she pulled out her bag of seeds to see what gift she
could leave. she dug through her bag as she walked down the street, by
the time she found one she thought might be suitable she was at the
fountain.  she threw the seed in the middle of the fountain and
concentrated on the one seed.  as it grew she concentrated on it even
more. to make it grow in the shape she wanted. when she was done there
was a beautiful bush shaped into the form of a centaur standing on his
hind leggs holding an armed bow.  she made her bag of seeds disappear
under the sleeve of her shirt. when she was just about to go, she looked
up and saw she had gathered a crowed.
                              *****
       Fox with the flick of his ear heard the flapping of wings. Fox's
attention shot to behind him and that's where he sees yet another
problem, dragon. Fox jumps up and shifts to his bipedal form and quickly
rushes towards the mlarge man. Fox hears the closness of the flyinfg
creatures windrushful thuds. He knows from experience that a dragons
first attack is usually hit or flame.
       Fox pushes the large human away just in time for a blasting
fireball to strike the ground. Muffeled screams from the staggering
figures fill the air along with the blast of fire striking the ground.
The large man looks to his saviour in the face.
       "What never seen an animal save your life? This means trouble."
       The black dragon lands on the ground surveying the bodies it
toasted. It laughter rumbles as loud as thunder. Then it cocks a head
and looks in the direction of Fox and Undertaker. "Well anthromorph,
you're kind isn't easy to pick up from animals. However, your human
companion is a scent that could turn the scales of the Great Goddess."
       "where is your lowly master Malcolm?" Fox snickers.
       The black dragon moves its body towards the two. Its red glowing
eyes go into Fox's direction. "Busy. But...." The dragon rears back.
       Fox jumps almost 20 feet away from the blast of flames. "Well
human now would be a good time!" Fox yells at the man.
                              *****
       Aoramon stepped out twords the guest.  she was not of a normal
clan, he did not think that she had done the snakes but some of the
others thought that it would have to be her. she was the only outsider
around.
       moonfox just watches as the friendly centaur approached her.
       "the city council would like you to join them at the areana." the
shakey stead said.
       moonfox watched him carefully, she knew that he was still shook
up by what had happened.  and she knew that the city council would want
to discuse with her, what had happened.. as far as the snakes were
concerned.
       "are you alright? where did those things come from?" she finnaly
asked
       "I am fine."
       "I will walk" moonfox said as Aoramon held out his hand,
intending to have her ride again.
       aoramon shrugged his shoulders and lead her through the town
       "you know it may help your situation if you told the council who
you are. "
       "It could also get me into more trouble, you see there are a few
things wrong with this picture. number one. I am by myself. and number
two I don't appear to have any supplies with me."  she noticed as she
looked up at the stead, of which she just couldn't seem to remember his
name....
       the centaur stoped at a door and opened it for moon.
moonfox walked in and waited for Aoramon to lead the way through the
maze of tunnels that streched out in front of her... soon they were
walking into a large opening. on the floor of the arena were three lare,
older centaurs all armed, and talking among themselves.
                              *****
 Azrael looked at Q-bert lying on his bed, she glanced back out the
window.  The dragon skeleton was huge compared to the houses it had
crushed.  She knew that they young kid hadn't meant to blow up the
dragon, even without his words, she didn't think he could have done it
on purpose.
 Azrael approached the side of his bed, and gently sat down next to him,
"It's all right Q, you didn't mean it.  Do you know what happened to
your spell?"
 Q just laid there quietly sobbing, wishing to go home.
 "Do you really wish to go home Q?  I think we need you here, I really
do.  I guess I will leave you here, if you need me my room is down the
hall.  It's the third door around the corner to the left.  I must go, I
need to talk with my Master and see if I can find Wervil."
 Azrael quietly left the young boy to think about his own problems.  It
didn't take her very long to reach the library a few levels down.
"Hello Master Grolic, I have something I need to ask you."  Azrael spent
the next few minutes talking with her old teacher, seeking his advice on
how to handle the young lad, and the King.  She left feeling better,
knowing she did the right with taking the lad out of the dungeon before
the King did, and the King would be able to reach her now, anytime he
wanted to see the lad.
  Azrael headed out doors, she needed to see if she could find her
friend.  She stood inside the courtyard and tried to concentrate on
Wervil.  She got an instant hurt feeling in her left arm, and her head
started to quietly pound.  She could feel only the closeness of trees,
and the smell of fresh growth.  Well he was in the forest...if only she
could tell where.
 She started walking out to the forest, concentrating on the feelings
and in which direction they got stronger.  She came across her friend
lying half buried in an old tree root. -It's about time you got here.
My foot hurts. AND I'm mad at you.  Take me home.
  Azrael picked her friend up and headed home.
                              *****
       Undertaker stood surveying the surrounding brush.  He was just
about to return to skinning the bear when a figure burst from the brush.
 The figure plowed into Undertaker and cause him to stumble a few steps
back.  Undertaker tripped over his pack and fell on his rump.  Then, the
ground burst into flames and scroching heat surrounded Undertaker.  The
flame lasted only a few moments and then dispersed, with a few brush
fires remaining.  The figure walked up to Undertaker.

       Undertaker jumped back at what he saw.  It appeared human at
first, but when it got closer, Undertaker thought it resembled a fox.
yes, a fox, with its red and white coloring and that distinct face, it
was definitely a fox.  A fox, walking on its hinds???

       "What's the matter? Never had your life saved by an animal?" the
fox said.

       'Jesus, it speaks' thought Undertaker.  He stood back up and
studied the fox, who was looking upward.  Undertaker turned his gaze in
the same direction, and nearly soiled his shorts at the sight.  A large
winged beast.  It was black in color, with red eyes and large limbs.
Undertaker had never seen a creature that was this large or that even
looked like this creature.  It began to spout off in a strange dialect
and it seemed to be directed to the fox.  Then, the dragon turned its
attention to Undertaker.

       "Well, human.  The timing is now!" the fox yelled.  Undertaker
was still in shock from the talking fox when the large claw lunged at
him.  He quickly regained his composure and swung rapidly at the
advancing claw.  The hammer struck in the center of the dragon's claw
and the dragon holered out in pain.  It roared loudly, and spewed
another column of flame into the darkening sky.  It turned back to
Undertaker and this time, lunged at him with its large head, jaws wide
open.

       Undertaker swung the hammer upward and caught the dragon on the
bottom part of the jaw, slamming the dragon's mouth closed, right on
it's tongue.  Again it roared out, but silenced quickly as Undertaker
leaped and brought a crashing blow to the top of the dragon's knoggin.
THe large head slammed into the ground.  Slowly, the dragon raised it's
mighty head and shook the stars away.  Then, it fled into the sky,
disappearing into the darkness.

       Undertaker then turned to the location of the fox, but it was
gone.
                              *****
       Way to the north east of Lakesdale, 5 or 6 days flying time or at
least a month traveling by land, past the dense forests, perilous
mountains and terrible desert is the castle of Malcom and family. The
castle is called Destruction of Souls.

       Malcolm and Mordoc sit at the table and look at the spell
ingredients, spell proceedures, spell times, castle location, and
various other trivial information. Malcolm finds himself daydreaming as
a break from all the concentrating. He gives in and lets it run it's
course.

       An ogre appears. - That stupid ogre, he is all that stands
between me and being the best in this kingdom.- Then another wizard
appears in the ogre's place. Malcolm laughs at the new one. -Ha! That
Master Bayor can't even get himself together, let alone take me on.-
Then yet another wizard appears. -Ah, and his would be apprentice. He is
another matter. Still not as stong as I am, but he is unpredictable and
that's dangerous.- The ogre comes back. -Dang! I need more power to be
able to defeat him. I must rule the world! And he is the only one that
stands in my way!-

       Malcolm snaps out of his dream and goes back to studying.
                              *****
Still clinging to Moonfox's hair, tho a bit raddled after the good
shaking she got, Jeannie caused some more mischief...

As all were walking to the Council's arena, Jeannie turned and looked at
the bush centaur. She wanted to make this right, since if your going to
be a mischief maker you best not screw up! She quietly consentrated,
folded her arms with care and blinked. The bushy leafed centaur came
down onto all fours, un-notch his arrow, and leaped off the fountain.

The Bushy Centaur followed the rest of the centaurs to the arena; as he
was passing a young foal, he saw that the young'n was about to eat a
delicous fresh red apple, Bushy screamed at the young'n, "You

And what seemed to follow Moonfox was a nice pleasent rosey smell.

                              *****
       Mordoc looks at Malcolm. He sees his brothers eyes glass over.
-He must be daydreaming. He needs the rest. I'd better not disturb him.-
Mordoc watches Malcolm face turn to anger and then to joy. THen to
concern and then to anger again. Malcolm comes back and returns to
studying.

       Mordoc quickly and quietly excuses himself and goes to his room.
Once there, -I bet Morgain didn't do the job she was sent to do. I bet
she fouled up again by sending weak dragons or something. It's time for
me to do something. Something that will make an impact. But what? who?-

       He pauses in his thinking, and then continues, -It would have to
be in Lakesdale where the King is. Bit who? Surely not the King, yet,
that would be too much too quick.- "Messenger!" He calls out his window.

       -I know I could use the cameleon that we have in the castle. It
can do the job. But what job?- A sprite enters the window and stops by Mordoc.
"Just a moment." -Ah, I should have it kill its masters. The last thing
I need is for one to come and stab me in the back while I'm sleeping.
Yes! THat will do nicely.-

       Malcolm explain to the sprite who to go to and what to tell them.