Shain laid back in the cool grass. No work, no enemies, just him. His cloak was bundled up behind his head serving as a pillow. He sighed. The only thing missing was company. As a matter of fact, it would interesting to see another person who shared his job. That was unlickly, however, because what he did for a living was not exactly openly advertised.

Sweeping his black, shoulder lenght hair from his face, his startling white eyes stared at the sky. He was finally making friends in this land. Not many people wanted to meet a half elf, half drow. things might me headed for the better at last.

Sekuda was lazily walking along the dirt pathway. The day was beautifull to him, the sun was shinning, there was no work to be done and everything else was in order. The wind blew a gentle breeze, playing with his short hair for a few moments before dying down. As he continued to stroll along he noticed a figure laying down off in the distance. It was along the pathway to he decided just to following the path untill he met up with the figure.

Moments later he had arrived, to the area he was resting at. "Hello there sir!" he said with a smile on his face. "Lovely day isn't it?" he asked over shadowing him. His eyes noticed the features on his face but could not pick out all of them and was not able to tell what kind of elf he was, he would normally ask what he was but it seemed rude at the time for he had just met him.

In the middle of a field, somewhere off to the side of the dirt road, a young man could be seen. Black bangs of hair fell in front of blue eyes, almost faded to white. A perfect nose and mouth, and full lips gave off a completely beautiful face. Completely and utterly gorgeous. A black cloak went from his neck down, hiding underneath the black cloth a sheathed longsword. Before, the cloak had mostly been used to hide folded wings, but he had long since then started using his minor shafeshifting. Where the wings would once have been, all that remained was a normal back, although with a few scars. Underclothes, a black shirt and pants were the only thing else that clothed him. Banded muscles were all over his body, the man obviously in very good shape. Although, this wasn't a man. This was a Fallen Angel. This was a man known as Ethstar Solther.

Ethstar was silently sitting in the midst of the stalks of grain, intently studying one of the long, golden pieces of vegetation. His eyes scanned over the nearest piece of grain, a long stalk about an inch from his nose. Slowly, he looked te thing up and down, observing every little detail and trying to commit it to memory. He had been wandering in wilderness, forests, plains... he had wandered them all in the past few weeks, trying to find some sign of life. He had managed to do it at first, making his way through a forest and swamp, and over hills and green plains to reach his first town. Almost smiling, his eyes unfocused from the grains, and he remembered the great Library. He would have to go there again, and just spend some time to simply study the landscape of the material plane. It was a majestic place, one that aroused every ounce of his young curiousity. Yes, it wasn't as beautfiul as the Celestial plane, but it was something completely new and foriegn. That trait, he wasn't so fond of it in living, breathing things. But in this open world, where he could examine the... "nature" as they called it, to his free will... it held a different kind of beauty that the Celestial plane could not dare try and match. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly in a somewhat hidden smile, and he reached out and gently touched the golden stalk with his finger tips.

His moods had been random as of late. Usually, he was calm and collected, or when he fought, sarcastic and ruthless. But since being on the Plane, he had gone through spurts of happiness and sadness, worry and stress... he had been through about every emotion, and it was quite an interesting experience on his mind. He had bore in though, and simply continued on, not trying to sit and think his recent mood swings out. It was something he simply accepted as a side-effect of being betrayed, cast out, in hiding, and having no one to confide in. Except Amy and Kli, but they were the only two. Blinking, he refocused his mind back onto the grain. What exactly was it? All he had noted in his short travels was green grass, mud, or dead grass. Nothing as golden as this. He had tried to eat it, but had spat out the golden grass after about a second of chewing on the disquisting stuff. Blinking again, he gave up on trying to identify it, and just made an oath to visit the library in Taras and read up on in someday.

Shain opened his eyes to look at the human before him. "Hello to you too. You do not need to call me sir. I claim no such title." Sitting up he looked around. He could see Ethstar alittle ways off. He turned back the man in front of him. "It is a wonderful day. Where are you headed to, my good man?" This man could not ruin his day today.

"Sir is just not a title, if I may speak" he spoke with some intrest in his voice, "Sir is just a word put into a greeting for some." He bowed his head lightly showing that he ment no disrespect. "Now to answer your question, I'm just passing through..." he replied with a warm smile upon his face.

"I do not know which I may be heading to as of now, maby to the Green Gryphon Tavern, I've always fancied a glass of ale" he gave another warm smile then let his eyes scan the area around him. "So if I may ask a question in return, what are you doing here on this fine day?" he asked looking down at him with a puzzled expression.

While he awaited for the man to respond to his question, his hands fidgeted with the rim of his sleeves. An old habit, among others, that he has been working on lately to get rid of.

Sighing about this new type of grass, Ethstar looked up, and now something else that was new caught his eye. A grove of trees, right by a small creek. What was a minature forest doing out here in the middle of the plains? Getting up from his position, he headed toward the small area.

A few moments later, Ethstar walked his way through a nearby grove of trees, his eyes set on the fruit hanging from various branches. Red, orange, green... all of the colors seemed to be held within the fingers of that particular feat of nature, and he was planning on testing out the fruit. He had only had three different types of edible food while on this plain, and they were quickly getting old and tasteless to him. He had merely been wandering around like he usually was, and luck had managed to lead him to this little grove. The thought crossed his mind that someone might own it, but it was soon banished. They wouldn't mind if a hungry stranger only took a few pieces, and anyway, he didn't see any human buildings in sight. Perhaps it was wild fruit. Nearly smiling to himself, he reached out a hand from under his cloak, and picked a ripe, red apple off. Examining the fruit closely, he sniffed it once, then opened his lips for a bite.

A few mintues later, he was calmly strolling down the edge of the creek, staring at the water, happily munching away on the apple he had picked. He had never had one of the juicy fruits before, but it was proving to be quite the treat for his hungry stomach. He tried to commit the fruit's appearance to memory, and made a small note in his own mind to come back to the fruit trees once inawhile, and try out some of the other fruits that had graced the smooth branches. His light blue eyes scanned the water bank, somewhat distant in appearance. The Fallen Angel was wearing a black cloak at the moment, which came around his body completely, hiding everything from the neck down to leather boots. For added safety, he had his Angel wings shapeshifted into his back, shifting them to look like any other normal human back. Perhaps a bit more muscled then most, but still.

As he saw the two men, his mouth lifted at the corners slightly. They were an odd pair, the drow and the human. Pulling the fruit from his mouth, he lifted his hand in something he had seen the humans do. A wave as they called it. Waving slowly at the two, he let a gentle word slip from his mouth. "Hello."

in truth, Shain did not know what he was doing actualy. He ran through his thoughts to find an answer. "I'm taking a day off, I guess. I am unimployed at the moment and decided to rest in this feild as I was passing." Shain looked around him. it was a beautiful field, the grass was a golden green. If one inhaled deeply, they could almost smell the breath of life. he looked back to the man. Slowly standing and stretching, he poppoed his kneck and looked back toward the man. He seemed friendly enough.

Hereing a call off to the side, he saw a figure standing by the nearby lake. Waving back to it, he called out a greeting as well."Hey. How are you? Why don't you come join us?" He turned when he saw the figure move. he couldn't see him clearly, but that man sparked something in Shain's memory. he couldn't place a finger on it however. hereing another screach from above, he peered upward into the sky. He spotted to gryphons wheeling around each other through the air. They were truly magnificent creatures. The body of a lion, head of an eagle, they were the natural embodiment of pride and valor. He also enjoyed hippogryphs, the mix with a horse instead of lion. Shaking his head he looked back at the man standing in the road. "I appoligize. I as a little side tracked. Do you have a name, something I could call you?" Shain wondred what the man did. An odd habit, but he constantly thought about others occupation. He always wondered what it would be like to meet another assassin. He looked at his copany expactantly.

Sekuda gave a warm smile to the man, while he listened to what he had to say. Even though it was smiple enough to say he got all the informatin he really needed except the other man's name. Now this not seem much to other people but it Sekuda it did mean alot. Now he was left with an awkward moment not being able to think of anything to call this man, so he just went on with what he had used before in their conversation.

"Well Sir, my name is Sekuda if you must know" he nodded his head in agreement with himself. He still had his warm smile upon his face as he looked around casually. He eyes spotted the man out by a creek, and gave a short wave also asking if he would like to join them. When his wave was finished he went back to the conversation with the other male. "So Sir, what may I call you?" he asked with the same warm smile still printed on his face.


(Sorry writer's block >_<)

Oh. He knew these two. He recognized the voice of Shain, and simply remembered Sekuda from earlier adventures. Ethstar slowly made his advance toward the two, realizing they did not seem to know it was him yet. Shain might not even realize it was Ethstar anyway, since the dark forest hadn't given either a clear glimpse of each other. Keeping a polite look on his face, he simply kept on walking toward the two men, lifting the apple to his lips for yet another bite. Taking a nice sized chunk out of the fruit, his eyes widened as he bit into something rather disgusting. Blinking again, he quickly spit out the small object. Glancing down at the apple as he walked, he noted the little black things within the fruit. Seeds. They had seeds in the Celestial plane, but the fruit that held them was much more tasty and even more beautiful. Sighing slightly, he flicked his wrist and released the apple, sending it spinning off to the side.

In a few more moments, he had reached the two, well within seeing range now. Every ounce of his lower body was hidden, he having withdrew his arm back into the folds of the cloak. Like he did at least once every time he approached another being, his right hand lightly touched the hilt of his blade. It was something that he used to comfort himself, and it had turned into quite a bad habit as of late. Noting that he was doing it, he slowly pulled his fingers away and let the arm rest at his side once again.

As soon as he noted a lull in the conversation between the two men, he let loose another greeting, this time a bit more personal and warm. “Sekuda, Shain, nice to run into you.” A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and he inclined his head to point at Sekuda, eying the tall being in the face. “Come to visit the horses?” After he said this, his eyes pulled away from Sekuda to regard one of the great griffins in the air. He had gotten used to all of the strange creatures that this world had put upon his curiosity, and these things were no exception. Eying them curiously, the small smile slipped from his face to turn to a serious line. New creatures and landscape always intrigued him, and it usually took his attention away from anything else. A little rude perhaps, but hopefully the two would not react angrily because of it.

Temathil was flying as fast as she could low over the ground. she loved doing this, dodging the trees and following the land, it gave her a rush nothing else could. Her hair was swept back by the wind, and her robes flapped behind her. She had to gain some altitude now to dodge a grove of trees. thats when she them. A group of three people standing along the road. One was laying down and the other two seemed relaxed. Curious she slowed her speed and and wheeled over to a nearby tree. she landed gently on an open branch on the farside from the group, and picking her way through, got to an area mostly covered by leaves. Moving a branch she found herself within ear reach of the group. She crouched down, and watched them. they seemed to be talking about the day. The man on the grass was laying his head on a cloak, and she suddenly realized he was part drow.
"This is intresting." she thought.

Shain looked as Ethstar appraoched. He rembered him from a meeting in gloomwood. Shain shudered. That had not been fun. "How are you Ethstar? I see you already met..." Shain looked over to Sekuda. It would be an odd introduction. "Pardon, my name is Shain." He hoped that the man wouldn't mind to much. This was the first ime he had talked to so many people. He turned and followed Ethstar's gaze to the gryphons. Beautiful. Addressing Sekuda again, he asked, "Are you into the horse buissness? I no nothing much about them myself."

While waiting for a reaply, he heard another fluttering of wings. Not the stong flaps of the gryphon. Out of the corner of his eye, Shain saw a white winged figure in a tree off to the side. What was that. it may be that strange type of elf he had met once. Or an angel. Nether thought placated him, and a hand reached under his cloak to grab his dagger. Oppenly, he showed no noticing of the person

"So Ethstar, what brings you here?" Shain didn't know much of the man. He had only met him once in that blasted forest with those flaming dogs. It had been a rather painful encouter. Shain hoped that Ethstar did not attract that sort of company again. He waited in silence for the response.

Temathil watched the men intently. One of them casually reache dunder his cloak.
"Hes going for a weapon probably."
The others showed no notice to it. Sheathing her sword carefully she drew out her bow and knocked an arrow. She drew it and sighted along the shaft. This man was turning out to be an odd one. He seemed quite evil to her and she wouldnt mind dispatching him before he hurt the other two.
"As long as that dagger stays sheathed, he lives." she thought.

Sekuda only had a warm smile on his face as he watched the man wander closer. Soon it turned into a smile of pure surprise. "Ethstar is that you?" he asked with much excitement. His memory came back to him of their journey to Kellen to help him find a job. Another smile of a different type pressed across his face of the memory. When a question was directed to him about horses he couldn't hold himself back. "Love horses...all my life riding them and such...." he started his mind racing with more facts to add to it all, "I do have to say I'm more comfortable riding a horse then even walking!"

Across his face he still held his smile looking at them both. It was great to meet a new person and also have a friend by his side that already knew this man. It made it all the more comfortable to him. Usually he wouldn't know what to say, maybe getting alittle lost in it all, but Ethstar somehow pushed it all away. "Yes Ethstar, what does bring you here?" Sekuda then asked, following this new man Shain. He glanced over at Ethstar with a smile, awaiting his reply.

(terribly sorry for the bad post in a rush today.)

Ethstar returned each smile with his own beautiful smile and a graceful nod, deciding to answer each of their similar questions at the exact same time. Ripping his eyes away from the graceful beings in the air, he let his glances revolve between the elf and the tall human. As he reached an area that was within a few feet of each person, he stopped his advance, crossing his arms under the black cloak. A slight breeze managed to pick up his long bangs once again, tossing them carelessly to the winds. Ethstar fought the urge to let out a growl, knowing quite well that there was nothing he could do that would ever keep the strands in place. And even if they were in place, he would likely start to grumble about them getting in the way of his vision. "I was just..." He paused for a moment, a little unsure of exactly what he was to say. His face reflected this somewhat, a slightly worried look adding to his features. He couldn't tell them he had been trying to figure out the mystery of the strange colored plant on the ground, that would make them quite suspicious of him. He was fairly certian each person here had his own questions about his motives. "I was just taking a walk, observing the scenery. I was headed toward the inn, and managed to run into you two on the way." There, that sounded quite nice. The worried look relaxed quite a bit, giving him his calm and peaceful face of before.

"What about you two? Perhaps on another walk?" He noted that Sekuda hadn't really answered his question about the horses, so he simply assumed that it wasn't the reason the man was here. He lifted his eyes up to regard the tall human in the face, questioning Sekuda with his sky blue eyes. The same look was soon given to Shain as well, simply an inquiring look that wondered exactly what they were doing here. He didn't really consider it important, but he did know it was best to keep up some form of conversation between them. He didn't notice the winged elf in the tree at all, the girl doing quite a good job of hiding herself from Ethstar's senses. Not a glance was spared in her direction, not a single motion given to acknowledge he had noticed her or the drawing and cocking of her weapon.