The clouds of ash hang low in the air. Streaks of lightning shot down to the earth, only to have deep thunder sound a few seconds later. Therab Volcano was a distance away but the deep rumbles from inside were in ear shot. An enormous pillar of black smoke rose from the vast crater of the mountain. It was a beast of a mountain indeed. The sides of the volcano were impossibly steep. Sun light could not penetrate the stubborn blanket of ash in the air. Jasmine was at home.

Calphurnia, Jasmine’s phoenix, could be seen flying in the air, getting close to the comforting heat of the volcano. Jasmine smiled her pleasure at seeing her fire bird happy. She stood on a rocky ledge, giving her view of the rest of the trail toward the mountain. Staff in hand, she leaned on it for support. The hike had been tiring and had lasted for days. She was not sure if she had rid herself of Kellen’s soldiers. Ever since that one day at the small village, they have been out for her arrest. The blood. The gore. The pain and suffering. It was a good day for Jasmine, watching those people suffer in agony, until that angel came. Eden. That was his name. Jasmine hated him and wanted him to suffer for it. He had gotten in her way.

Not many people understood Jasmine. She wanted only to please her needs and wants of blood. People got in her way and it angered her so. She would let most of them live. To Jasmine, death was only a release, an easy way out. How people come to regret what they have done to her if they were not alive? She let most live a life of regret and pain.

When Calphurnia found a good spot for camp, she flew down to the spot and landed. Jasmine smiled once again and stood upright. It would be about an hour’s walk from where she stood. She stretched and then set out for her camp area.

Tanner huffed and puffed his way up the mountain side, his bow attached to his back and his quiver hanging limply from his side. He was sure he had seen a woman in need here and a large firebird that he had no doubts had kidnapped her. The rocks tore at his callused hands as he continued climbing, an arrow in his mouth was ready to be sheathed and he was prepared to fight the fiery bird to the death if he had to.

The thick smell of sulfur hung in the air, and Tanner's mouth was drier then the rocks he was climbing on. Taking a quick brake while clinging to a large rock, he reached back to the back of his belt and pulled out a large bladder of water. Making sure to conserve the rare liquid, he only shot a few squirts into his mouth before tightening the nipple, placing it back into his belt, and continuing up the steep mountain towards the potential beauty in danger.

He breathed a sigh of relief as his right hand shot up and touched off firmly at the top of the large cliff, but at the same time his stomach tied in knots with the thoughts of the firebird. Quickly, he took a big swig of his water once more and pulled himself up onto the top, quickly catching his breath and brushing himself off. After a few moments of cleaning himself up he gazed up and his eyes fell upon a girl with a gleam of something in her eye, he couldn't tell what. Bowing deeply, he made himself known.

"Greetings, m'lady, I am Tanner Rokos, house of Rokos. Tell me, what is a beautiful woman such as yourself doing in a place such as this?" Xion flourished his rimmed hat and smiled widely.

Before Jasmine could take more than ten steps, a voice sounded near by. Her hand immediately went for the hilt of her sword. Eyes wide open; she spun around and looked at the source of the voice. A man was looking at her. Jasmine did not know what to think. She was out in the middle of nowhere, so very far away from the Village of Kellen. They could not have followed her out this far. She was sure of herself that she lost them somewhere along the way. Her mind raced only for an instant. She took in the man with her eyes, quickly inspecting the potential threat. Her hand was firmly planted on the hilt of katana, ready to strike at any instant.

The man had mentioned her being beautiful. She only slightly blushed at the comment. Who could he be? Could he be a special assassin out for her arrest? Should jasmine be concerned about the current situation? Of course, she was out near the volcano. No one went out there. He bowed down in greeting. Jasmine showed no emotion. She did not respond to his question and instead asked, “What are you doing out here? This is no place to be.”

Tanner's face colored slightly as she blushed, but he quickly recovered when she asked the question as to why he was here. "Well, in all truth, I was wandering in the mountains looking for my friend's dropped convoy when I saw a figure of a women and this great big firebird flying by it, so here I am to save you, m'lady" He bowed again, flourishing his white lined blue cape and winking at the girl.

"I have always wanted to save a maiden in distress, so come now, lets go. I have a long ways to carry you!" Tanner removed the string from his bow and placed it in the pocket on his quiver. "Well then... Let us go. These mountains are no place for a pretty thing like you!"

((OOC: Dreadfully short post))

Laughter bellowed from Jasmine’s belly. She nearly keeled over from laughing so hard. Here she thought this man was a threat to her, and he was thinking he would come to the rescue from an unknown threat. Jasmine leaned on her staff to keep from falling over. Tears filled her eyes as she calmed to a soft chuckle. She had not a good laugh like that for a good while. Finally, her laughter died and a serious expression came to her face. Maybe this was his tactic. He would get on her good side and then he would move in. This was not going to work. Jasmine took her katana from its sheath and pointed it to the man. She had an evil glint in her eyes. “Well Tanner Rokos, I am no ordinary woman. I think I can survive on my own. I am a big girl, you know.”

Jasmine slowly stepped toward Tanner. Only one step. That was all she needed. She put on a show of trying to be seductive. She tilted her head to the side, letting her hair fall to her shoulder. With her free hand, she pulled down her sleeve from her shoulder, stopping just enough to show the top of her breast. Her legs straightened, butt perked out, and on her toes, she slowly bent forward, gazing into his eyes with unnecessary lust. Her tongue touched her upper lip as she moaned. In a soft and seductive voice, Jasmine asked, “Do you think I am some woman whom you can save and take to your bed? Do you not think this a place for a beautiful woman such as me?..... Tell me Tannoer Rokos, do you like what you see?”

(((Edit: Omg, wrong character to reply with... -.-'')))

(Delete this please)

Tanner's eyes, which were before the moment happy and expectant changed over into the blink of an eye. His light blue eyes suddenly took on a menacing look as he glared at the woman. "I thought you were in trouble, and I see that you can indeed take care of yourself. If you are going to try and kill me just push me off, I will not fight a women, even a women as teasing as you. Now how about you respect yourself and put that piece of sleeve back on before your mother runs along and boxes your ears in." He glared at the girl but quickly changed with a cough and a slight blush.

"I'm sorry, sometimes I just get that way about women and such... It's not that I'm not attracted to you or anything, its just that well, you shouldn’t use yourself that way, is what I'm trying to say, because I do think your beautiful but... Augh, women!" Tanner's tongue-tied knots around itself, confusing him more and more by the moment. Sometimes he had a tendency to get angry that way, and he did indeed hate it and was trying to fight it, but sometimes it was just overwhelming.

Jasmine smirked at the boy. He was young and pleasant to the eye, but he was no match for her. Jasmine did think there could ever be a man for her. She was too cruel at heart, and this man was here to save her. What was the world coming to? People should understand that there is no point in trying to save life, for it would end. Jasmine was here to quicken that end. People had no understanding of life and death. She did not understand why people cared so much. Death, torture, pain, and suffering were the only things that excited Jasmine. She had a bloodlust that could not be subdued.

She stood upright and pulled her shoulder sleeve back up. With a shrug of her shoulder, she turned around and continued on her way. Looking back at the man, she said, “You can come along if you would like. I am just warning you now, if you try to stop me, I will kill you. I want to show you something. I think you will like it.”

Tanner frowned as the woman turned and made her way, asking him to follow if he wished, and of course being the way he was he did indeed wish to see, no matter how dangerous she told him it was she had sparcked his interest. Seeing that she had made some distance on him while he dreamed of what it could be he sighed and trotted after he, stopping by her side and gazing at her. "There is something different about you. You almost seem a touch, erm, not good I suppose is the word... No offence!"