What are stars? They’re so small yet bright, letting everyone see their glory. Almost everyone loves them, from the good to bad and no matter how hard someone tries, no one can seem to reach them. Stars are untouchable, unforgettable. When the time is right, they glow bright for all to see.

That is how Kenji wanted to be. Well, sort of… He didn’t want to glow bright. But he did want to be untouchable, unforgettable. He wanted everyone to be below him, to respect him. At the moment everyone took him for granted. They called him a pest, an imp, a low-life and much worse things when he angered them. Most beings on this land consider him a thorn in there foot rather then a shinning star. But that would change someday. This torn in there foot will fall out and become something grand. But first he would have to figure out how to get out of this forsaken tree!

He was dangling there, in a lone tree with rope around his ankle. No, it had not been a hunter’s trap he had so foolishly run into. (Though he has done that before.) No, this time he had been tied here on purpose by a group of elves. They said something about him eating all there food and ruining there fire. He really hadn’t paid attention to what they were yelling about. All he had been paying attention to was how bad his hand hurt.

You see, he had found this small bed of coals and over top of it was a big juicy dear simmering to perfection. Then suddenly he had fallen over. His hand reached out for something to grab but all there was, was the dear! It just happened that the dear was hot, so of course he had burnt his hand. He figured since the thing burned him that he had all the right in world to eat it. So he did. At the same time he decided to smother the fire. They where dreadful things, Only good for cooking meat.

The next thing he knew a voice was yelling, “Oy, Where our buck!” Before he had any time to react to the voice, three very angry elves had surrounded him. Each was glaring down at him, arms crossed with anger spread across there faces. Kenji was about to tell them what had happened but they didn’t seem to be in the mood for talking… or more so for listening. They grabbed him up by the neck, started yelling about some stuff he wasn’t listening to and saying that he was bad luck. One of them then grabbed hold of his leg, tied a rope around the ankle and attached the other end onto the tree. Packing up there stuff, the elves said goodbye to Kenji, a bit of mockery in there voices and left. Ken figured there sudden happiness made them forgetful because they forgot to take him down from the tree.

That had all happened about two hours ago, when the sun was just starting to go down. Now the sun was completely down and Ken had nothing to do but hang there study the stars. Most likely why he was thinking about them. He had tried to get down but it was too hard. Yes he did have a small, very dull, and rusted dagger but he had drooped it trying to get it out of his pocket. Maybe the Elves were right. He was bad luck.

Phiros was admiring the night sky as he traveled through the familiar Richimon Lake. It's bosom shone brihgtly as the stars heavenly glimmer collided against it. The light reflected off of the lake's breast and radiated upon Phiros' walking path. His head was lowered, so he could see the radiated light exceptionally well. It was soothing to even his rough exterior. While he was walking, his slightly drenched boots pressing aginst each grain of dirt that spread across the earth, a noise would reach his ears. It sounded like rope rubbing against something else, perhaps it was but a regular child's swing, then again, what crazy parent would allow their child to make the fabeled Richimon Lake their playground?
And so, Phiros felt it neccessary to investigate the noise....

Finally, upon coming within twenty feet of the source of the sound, Phiros' blackened eyes fell upon the individual before him, Kenji. He was a demon, no doubt. Phiros was running into more and more demons lately it seemed, good luck on his part, for he'd hate to run into an angel or something else of the Angelic Realm. He examined the man for a short time before finally choosing to speak to him, before that though, a thought would come to mind; What a fool of a demon, to be caught in such a trap. Heh heh... I guess it can't be helped... he looks awfully young. Phiros raised a brow at Kenji, and at the same time; separated his sharp lips and spoke aloud, "To be caught in such an idiotic state," his arm revealed itself from under the trench coat, a staff placed firmly in it's grasp, "That is the way of the foolish child." Phiros snickered to himself as he extended his beloved staff outward and sent a small current of lightning at the rope, slicing through it like a knife through butter....

OOC I rushed through this post, so if there are numerous typos..... you know why haha

((That ok))

"I wonder if they ever fall from the..." Kenji was saying his thought out loud when he heard footsteps coming his way. It seemed someone else was finely coming his way which meant he had a chance of getting down! Unless it was one of them angels... then he was pretty sure he was doomed. But he would rather not think about that. To his luck, it wasn't an angel. Just a scary looking man. A man who would hopefully let him down.

"I’m not a child!" Kenji snapped back not knowing the truth in other man's words. Before being able to add anything else to his testimony the rope was cut and he fell to the ground. His hands helped brace his fall but his head still hit the ground sending a sharp pain from his skull down his neck. Slowly, very slowly, he sat up, grumbling all the way.

"My head... and neck... and head..." He complained rubbing his head in which he was sure a bump would form. His pain was all forgotten, however, when he spotted his dagger laying on the ground beside him. A smile quickly rose on his face as he scooped the dagger up and greedily tucked it back into his robs.

With a look of satisfaction Kenji sat up straight his dark blue orbs falling upon Phiros. The grin upon his face turned to a frown as he had already forgotten the other man was there.

"Thanks." He mumbled quickly, looking back down at the ground as he spoke. He felt that he had to thank the stranger as he was grateful to be out of the tree. But at the same time Kenji didn't much like the other man. He was just like all the others he had met, calling him a child and all.

Phiros merely scoffed at Kenji. He may have said he was no child, but the tone in his voice told Phiros otherwise. It was as if a child were trapped inside the body of this man. That, or he was just normally childish. Phiros returned his staff wielding arm beneath his trench coat, for he only revealed it when the occasion called for it, and this wasn't one of those occasions. Kenji was not a threat, not even a minor threat.... at least, not yet.

Phiros narrowed his eyes to Kenji as his form slowly, but surely, lifted itself back to a nice, firm stance. His head drooped to the floor, his gaze fixed upon the ground. He reminded Phiros of himself for some reason.... even though he did not remember his past, or how his immature self was, something about Kenji told Phiros they were alike, so far though, Phiros did not agree with his feelings. "Don't thank me. I just happened to be around, consider yourself lucky. If I was in a crappier mood than this, I would have just left you hanging... and I wouldn't stop there, I'd do something to you so that hanging all by your lonesome wouldn't be your only worry." Phiros raised a brow at Kenji as his statement came to a close. He thought he stated his point well, so hopefully Kenji would catch on..... hopefully.

OOC - BAH!!! Sorry again, this post took me a whole F'in hour to post.... I was drawing a blank, but I wanted my 200 gold right away haha

Anyway, perhaps you should create some sort of objective for us....cause uh, yeah, im drawing a blank, like I said.... heh heh next post will be way better, i promise you that.

((Lol, no worries, I can come up with something rather random to do. Though I apologize for spelling and grammar errors. I don’t have spellchecker on this computer))

"But you didn't" Kenji retorted back still not looking at the man. Though he was not showing it, the man's response actually made Kenji feel better. Odd that someone would feel better after that but it was true. After all, it meant Kenji no longer had to feel as if he owed this man something. Not that he had been planning on giving anything in return.

After a moment of sitting, staring at the ground absentmindedly, Kenji finely looked back up at the stranger with questioning eyes.

"So why are you out here anyway?" He asked, not bothering with manners, "And who..." His last sentence came unfinished when he heard a faint mumbling and shuffle of movement only a few feet away. Instantly Kenji's attention was turned to the sound, his dark eyes landing on an extremely old looking man.

"Yes... yes... Oh no... Yes..." The old man was muttering to himself as he walked. He held one of his long, bony hands up to his white bearded chin while the other hand held a long, aged looking piece of paper. His green watery eyes seemed to be fixed on the paper as he continued to mumble and walk. Then without any warning the old man looked up from his paper, eyes falling upon Phiros as wide grin crossed his face.

"Oh, yes, yes! You there," He pointed one of his long, skinny fingers at Lord Phiros a sparkle of excitement growing in his shallow eyes, "You will work just fine. Fine indeed. Come, come, and listen to my words." He took the finger he had pointed at Phiros and held it up as if to say 'Wait a moment' before digging into the pocket of his long purple robes. After a second of digging in his pocket he pulled out a crocked wooden wand and looked back down at the piece of paper he had been looking at before.

"Huphum!" The old man cleared his voice before reading the paper like a letter.

"Dear Stranger,

Listen to the words of messenger. They will lead you to great and wondrous powers. Powers that save thy soul from being sent to a land of unspeakable horrors. Fallow threw a gate of magic with a stranger by your side. Speak of no evil and do no good pass this gate for if you do it shall become your grave. Use the wind as your guide and the dead bird as your goal. Once there dig into the heart and pull out your gift. You be most pleased I am sure. If you decline then this letter will be passed to another. The best of luck to you stranger.

Your truly,
The one and only,
James Plumper Diref.”

As the old man read the letter by the oddly named James Plumper Diref, he swung his wand around in circles. Once the letter had been read a rather large doubled door stood in front of them.

“Do you accept or decline?” The old man asked his grin growing on his face once more, “Of, of course you’ll have to bring that boy with you.” He waved his wand in the direction that Kenji sat his bright green eyes still set on Phiros. Kenji on the other hand was rather confused with what the old man had read, unsure if it was a load of nonsense or the truth. He had to admit he was curious to see what was behind the large door which he guessed was the gate written in the letter.

Phiros gazed up at the night sky, as he loved to do every night. The stars were flickering and the moon was still and bright.... a most beautiful night to be cherished. Then words would come from the demon he had let free of the trap. His words interrupted Phiros in his state of awe, that made the half-fiend regret having stopped for the little demon. It was a question that came from Kenji's mouth. A question Phiros did not know the answer to, nor did he care. Just as he told Aether Draka, he would float upon the currents of the wind, and wherever he was sent, that would be his destination. Just before Phiros was going to tell Kenji that, a slight scuffle was heard coming from the trees. Quickly, Phiros revealed his staff yet again, this time small bolts of lightning were surrounding it, symbolizing that the staff was fully charged and ready to launch a high velocity of energy toward any target. However, the staff was returned to Phiros' side when the scuffle was found out to be an old man...

Just then, a scoff would come from Phiros, as well as a shrug. "Stupid old man..." He murmered to himself, tapping his sharpened nails upon the exterior of his staff. The old man approached both he and Kenji, who was still looking as if he were dead. The old man spoke to Phiros and admired his towering figure, as if he were some sort of god or something. What the hell? Phiros sidled back from the old man, not feeling entirely comfortable with an old man eyeing up his body. "What the hell are you doing?" Phiros placed his left palm against the man's forehead and pushed him back. Weirdo.

As the old man spoke to Phiros, he was all ears, until the last statement. Take him with me? Phiros shifted his eyes to Kenji, who was STILL looking like a dead man. He then repaid his attention to the old man, who had just revealed the doorway. "Hold on there, old man. I didn't say I was going to accept, quit getting ahead of yourself. Now tell me..." he stepped closer and closer to the mysterious doorway, scanning every inch of it, "How do I know this isn't a trick of some sort, you can't simply think I'm going to walk into this thing..." Phiros raised a brow, looking back at Kenji. You better be stronger than you look....

The old man began to laugh when Phiros asked his question. His eyes opening wide like a mad mans. He laughed long and hard before his laughter changed to hard coughing and wheezing. His face began to turn a horrible white, his body began to tremble and his eyes now looked as if they were going to pop right out of his head. Then with one sharp breath inward, the old man became silent, almost freezing in his spot.

As the old man did all this Kenji finely stood up from his spot. At first his eyes had been on the door, ignoring the old man's laughter. But when he began to cough he couldn't help but turn and look. As the old man suddenly became quiet, Kenji couldn't help but get a little closer.

"I think he's dead." Kenji announced looking closer at the old mans ugly mug of a face. "Shitty luck."

"Not yet!" The old man suddenly spoke, breathing a long, hot breath into Kenji's face. It caused Kenji to stumble back, waving his hand in front of his own face.

"Powers! You sure as hell smell dead!" Kenji complained, his face turning a bit green from disgust.

"Good luck Lord Phiros." The old man gave a small bow in the direction of Phiros before his skin suddenly began to change. It happened faster then a drop of a dim. The man's skin turned to dust that disappeared before it could fall to the ground. The robes he had been wearing fell heavily to the ground in a huge heap. The heap of clothes then began to move a bit and small, smooth head of a snake emerged from inside them. For a moment the snake hovered it's head, looking at it's surroundings before lowering to the ground and slowly slithering away. As it began to slither away, pieces of the clothes began to attach to the snakes body, turning into shinny, purple scales until finely there was nothing left.

The whole time Kenji just stood and watched, a look of half disgust and half interest on his face. When finely the snake was full and looked to be on it's way, Kenji turned the other direction.

"Well that about does it for me." Kenji announced, "Not a hope in hell that I'm going to enter that thing. You're on your own." With that said Kenji began to walk away. As interested as he was in the door he was now rather afraid of it. The old man seemed to be rather crazy to him and after seeing the clothes turn into a snake... well that was much too odd for the boy. It was true that Kenji could not remember much of his life but he was sure that this had to be the weirdest thing he had ever seen.

Walking with her head tilted up bright purple eyes set on the starry night above she cherished the stars more then most may think, as it was the only light she ever saw, the only light that didn't hurt her. Her sight shifted to the big bright moon, as her ears twitched, and picked up on sound, not paying attention she walked towards the sounds head still back oblivious to the world. The trees rose up to block out some of the stars, Nyla moved accordingly to avoid the trees, and still watch the stars.

Now then as Nyla is walking almost blindly, as she is not paying attention, she fails to notice the piece of rope hanging from a tree, a rather large free-standing set of double doors, the old man, a young demon, and an older half-fiend.

As she walked the rope appeared suddenly in her line of vision panicing she moved to run into the old man, barely getting out the fist syllables of an appology she ran into the half-fiend, and imidiatly tripped over the demon, Kenji, almost falling into the giant doors.

Standing she quickly looked around what she had mistaken for a snake was rope and she had run into two people and tripped over a third. "So sorry! I wasn't paying attention much, and that rope gave me quite the startle!" She said half laughingly, as she looked to the door, she gave a curious look, and fixated on it for a few seconds. She then turned and took in the faces of the people hoping for forgiveness.

Phiros glared at the old man as he commenced in the onslaught of screeching laughter. The way he sounded... it made Phiros sick. Such a disgusting tone of laughter. Then, it happened. The old man drifted away into the wind in the form of black dust. It would quickly dissipate into nothingness before even leaving the sight of both Phiros and Kenji. The cloak that the old man wore, however, did not simply float away amongst the gentle currents of the wind this night possessed. Instead, it would fall to the soft soil below and a snake would emerge from underneath it. At first glance, it looked as if the snake was a regular snake that simply had the cloak fall on top of him. But when Phiros watched the snake further, it was soon apparent to him that the snake was, in fact, the cloak. It then slithered away, now fully in the form of the snake. Utter shock and surprise would show up on Phiros' face then. He quickly lifted his staff and pointed it at the snake before it could slither away, out of sight. "Not so fast, old man!" a small bolt of electricity then emmitted from the tip of the sharpened staff held by Phiros. The bolt shot the snake and immediately, it halted it's movements.

Suddenly, just as Phiros was about to approach the snake's now motionless body, a person, a woman yet, bumped into the tall form of Phiros. Her body litterally bounced off of his nicely toned torso and she was forced into the form of Kenji. Apologies came from the girl, her tone sounding laughable. This angered Phiros greatly. Not only was this not a time for laughter, she strayed his sight from his current target, the snake. Quickly, the eyes of the half-fiend shifted back to the snake. It was gone. Why that wretch! his eyes widened in anger, his pupils being filled with what appeared to be a black smog of sorts. He then turned to face the girl, who caused this anger, simply by showing her face. "You better have a very good reason for being here, wretched being!!" he roared a great and terrible roar, one that if heard; you would think it came from a full blooded demon.

"Stupid." Kenji grumbled after Nyla stumbled over him and towards the door. His slightly angered face told that he was a annoyed by her. One would think it was because she had just tripped over him, but the truth was, he just wasn't happy seeing her again.

All thoughts of leaving this place with hug door had escaped Kenji’s mind with the coming of Phiros anger. Normally Kenji would have been gone in a blink of an eye after hearing something so threatening. But this time it wasn't directed at him. It was at Nyla. Being the slug Kenji was, he couldn't help but wait and see if she was going to be punished. It would be something well wroth watching.

"Now you’re in for it." Kenji hissed at Nyla, a grin crossing his face as he took a few steps back.

Last time he had saw Nyla it had been at a tavern. She had been drunk. She did save him from being robbed and most likely beaten to a pulp, but he still didn’t like her. She was.. well a girl… She could also turn all his insults towards her back on him. He hated that.

Nyla heard the yell and stood up straighter all laughter leaving in a second. "And if I don't, what will some one like you do about it? Its my choice where I travel, and I have applogized, I don't think you need to raise your voice to me." She said in a voice that was as stern and strong as his was terrifying. She glanced down at Kenji when he commented, she wasn't much in the mood for his words and gave him an angry look. "Didn't I save you? I think I can take care of myself!" She Glared at the man, and kept her shoulders square and her head held high, as she put her hands on her hips with her face set in a stern glare.

Her hands were on her hips, but she made sure that they were close to a weapon her bandits sword on her left, and a couple of daggars on her right, and her ice-spear on her back, she glanced down to the dragon jewel glowing softly as it held her cloak together. If she was to be attacked she wouldn't be left defenseless. Keeping eye contact with Phiros, she really did hope that he wouldn't attack...

Phiros snickered at the girl, quite impressed with Nyla. Judging by her appearance one would think she was but a defensless little girl who decided to play adventure near the cold body of water known as Richimon Lake. However, when she stood her ground and retorted against Phiros' spine shivering roar, that was when all his views on her changed. She wasn't no regular, ditsy girl like he thought, no... she was something more. Something better. A warrior.
However, as impressed as Phiros was with the girl, he was also angry with her. So he too decided to state a little retort of his own, "You don't think? It's either you're sure about something, or you're not. If you were to make that mistake on the battlefield, you would not survive the first minute against me. Remember that, for it is a fragment of common sense, something you apparently do not have." a slight scoff would occur now, coming from Phiros. His eyes were slowly returning to their original look, the black smog that seemed to fill his pupils but a moment ago seemed to fade away into complete nothingness.... just like the old man did previous to this situation.

That's when Phiros remembered the doorway...

The eyes of Phiros wandered away from Nyla now, having been called to by the giant doorway that was before them all. It was something you could not simply ignore. Wonder where this goes... this question lingered within the dark mind of Phiros, and there it would stay, until he finally stepped through the doorway.... that is, if he decided to step through the doorway.

Putting the portal aside for now, Phiros returned his gaze to Nyla, who was still standing firm before him. Just then, a grim smile appeared upon Phiros' smug face. He then spoke to her once again, "Now what in the non-existant god's name are you doing here?" his eyes narrowed over to Kenji, who was looking expectangly at both him and the girl, "Because me and the kid have business to attend to." with that, Phiros revealed a single wing from underneath his trenchcoat. He stretched it out toward Kenji and wrapped it around the collar of the demon. "You're coming with. It's what the old man instructed, and I'm not one to leave vital items behind." he then approached the portal, Kenji within the grasp of his mighty wing.

Nyla just glared as he retorted, he was smarter when it came to these things, not like Kenji, he she could turn his comments back on, but she just had to give the other man, a look that showed her anger at being defeated by his comment. "I already told you it's my choice where I travel, and it just so happens I've chosen to travel in this direction." She said her voice still stern but a little more casual in the tone, perhaps that would annoy him; she wanted to get him back for his retort.

She followed his gaze as he looked back at the door, though she found it odd, and was slightly curious as to what was in it, she was more curious as to why Phiros needed Kenji, and also a little annoyed that he was brushing her off like this. Out raged she took a few quick steps. "How dare you just brush me off, don't you walk away from-" Her sentence was cut off, as a protruding root found its way around her foot, and she stumbled forward, pushing Phiros, Kenji, and herself through the doorway...

That was it? All Phiros was going to do was insult her? Kenji had been hoping that Phiros would kill her but he supposed that would be to great of an honor. Ah well.

“B-b-but I…” Kenji stuttered when Phiros wrapped a huge wing around him, “What if it’s trap? You heard the old man’s cackle before he turned into that… that slithering creature. He was crazy!” Keni wasn’t about to try and struggle free from Phiros. He was smart enough to know when he was over powered by another. But it did not stop him from trying to talk his way out of it. After all, it was his quick mouth that often got him in and out of trouble.

All his hope and effort of trying to talk Phiros out of going threw the door was failed. Nyla, the stupid girl, had tripped once more knocking both Kenji and Phiros threw the door. Kenji had half expected to hit the doors and there stumble would come to a stop. But the doors seemed to have sensed them coming for they opened before any of them could hit the hard magical wood.

After finding his bearings, Kenji stood his eyes widening a bit as he gazed upon his surroundings. Everything around them looked the same as it did before they went threw the door with but one small difference. Everything was in grey. The land looked washed out and lifeless having all it’s colour stripped.

After allowing himself some time to take in his surroundings Keni turned around, looking for the doors they had entered from. But when he turned to the spot they should be standing there was nothing. Nothing but the open land behind him.

“Powers! That’s just great.” Kenji growled his anger now rising for the first time this night, “Now we are stuck here! Trapped because of that brainless girl!” Every word spoken grew louder as Kenji’s anger grew. He turned towards Nyle after speaking clearly blaming her for there misfortunes. The frustration sparking in Kenji’s deep blue eyes as he glared at her.

“Now what the hell are we going to do?”

Phiros offered Kenji his full attention, for he spoke to him. He listened to what the boy had to say, and quite frankly, he thought it was the first time the kid said anything that was even remotely intellectual. It may have been a trap, but Phiros cared not. If anyone, or anything, was going to try anything with him and Kenji, they would pay dearly with their souls and flesh.... they would pay with their very existence. His sharp, lean lips then separated from one another, summoning forth; Phiros' own words of intellect. "You are smart to question, Kenji... but do not let your fear for the old man's tone get in the way of your judgement..." Phiros dove into his own mind, This kid... there's something about him that doesn't seem....right. with a shake of the head, Phiros returned from within his mind and continued with his statement,"Heh... even if he was crazy--" just then, the small figure of the girl, that is Nyla, bumped into Kenji, forcing him into Phiros. As a result, the three were knocked into the doorway....into the portal. As the body of Phiros entered through the portal, these thoughts would cross his mind, Wretched girl! I don't want her with us! his mouth gaped, revealing his razor-like teeth and split tongue.

Upon reaching the other side of the doorway, Phiros could only think about the display of idiocity done by Nyla. Seriously, how clumsy could she be? First she 'just so happened' to bump into both Kenji and Phiros in the small body of trees, then, yet again, she 'just so happened' to bump into them again! In the one place both Phiros and Kenji did not want her to be present. Hell, Kenji didn't even want to be present, but alas, pure pressure got the best of him.
Phiros stopped himself before he could fall to the ground, using his extraorinarily long legs. Fortunitely for the small demon, Kenji, Phiros' hold over him with his monstrous wing was loosened in the scuffle caused by Nylas stupidity. As a result, Kenji was no longer held prisoner by the demonic wing of the half-fiend.

Phiros immediately twisted his form to face Nyla, a now expressionless look on his face. Sure, he was angry with her, but at the same time he knew there was nothing to be done about it.... unless he decided to do something. His eyes were locked upon the figure of Nyla and just like previously, his eyes were filled with a black smog. "Stupid girl! Do you not have any self control!? Watch where you plant your feet, wench!" he grinded his teeth, trying desperately not to get too overwhelmed by his aggression. He didn't want to kill the girl, what would that gain him? However, she was beginning to become a great burden, even though her existence was only known by Phiros for a short time. I see why Kenji dislikes this pathetic excuse for flesh so much... she's hopeless. he scoffed, averting his gaze from Nyla now. He didn't care what she had to say, and he let her know that by the cold shoulder he sent her way.
He then rested his gaze upon his surroundings. It was fascinating... truly fascinating. The setting was exactly the same to where they just were... but with a unique twist that Phiros couldn't help but love. The rich color that was once the world, was replaced with a dull grey and jet black. Phiros' eyes widened in amazement, still, he gazed in admiration at the sight of this new world.... this new realm.

"I must say... the old man has taste. I like this place already." Phiros grinned maliciously, only for it to form into that of a maniacal laughter.... a sick and twisted maniacal laughter. His wings stretched out as wide as they possibly could. With the total wingspan, Phiros could have easily wrapped his wings around both Kenji and Nyla, but there was no point in that... however, just knowing it could be done made Phiros laugh just a little longer.... and just a little more crazy.

Then he stopped, still looking at the new setting. He looked as if he wanted to kill someone... anyone, no matter the quantity or race of the victims. Little did Kenji and Nyla know, this look was one to be treasured, for it was the look that graced the face of Phiros whenever the rare feeling of happiness decided to show up. Suddenly, that look would be a thing of the past, for the countenance of the winged demon would alter now; into that of a serious one. His head drooped down, his sight being thrown upon a fixed spot on the grey soil they all stood firmly atop. "I feel like.... like I've been here before. What is this place?" he murmered seemingly to himself, not caring if it would be heard by his temporary companions.

"Now then, to use the wind as our guide...."

Watching the ground coming up toward her face, Nyla put a hand out and quickly pushed herself back onto her feet, and as she stood she heard the demon's words, which angered her, it wasn't her fault she wasn't used to seeing, it affected her depth perseption. Sticking her toungue out at him when he turned she looked around. "What happens when it's day? Is there a sun, if not, I could love this place, but the lack of colour is a little depressing..." She said as she began to wander around, pulling out a daggar, and bending over to mark an X in the soil, if she happened to get lost, she could leave a trail of clues to find...well, it just made her feel a little better, even though the portal wasn't there any more.

The trees were the same, and the grass was the same, just differant, no colour, and it bothered her more than she would let on. Looking at the sky, she tripped again, over the same piece of root, and she snarled at it, pulling out her bandit's blade she hacked at it in a rage; until she remembered her company, and giggled as she put the weapon away. Watching Phiros's display, she realized her 'malicious' attack on the root didn't seem too bad now. Big deal wings, I've seen it before... She thought as she watched him.

"Follow the wind? What kind of direction is that?! If you follow the wind, anything that could be on your path will know you're coming a mile away!" She said annoyed with the vaugue directions, there should be a path or something right? Or perhaps a more tactful way of doing things, she closed her eyes and sniffed the air, and let her ears twitch around a bit, there was nothing to smell and nothing to hear. Sighing, she undid her back pack, releasing the chipicana, who flew around quite confused at the lack of colour, and he began to poke and prod the leaves. Nyla let him wander around, testing the air, and general area for traps, as she pulled out her ice spear, she wasn't going to be caught off guard.

"Well I don't like this place." Kenji complained taking his angry glare away from Nyla, "I don't like it one bit. What if we're trapped here forever, Huh? I don't want to be trapped here with that!" He had looked at Phiros while he lifted his hand and pointed at Nyla. It was clear that he was really wasn't interested in any adventure given by an old crazy fella and even less interested in doing it with Nyla around.

"Fallowing the wind was the first clue the old man gave us." Kenji snapped at Nyla when commented that fallowing the wind was a bad idea, "But be our guest and take your own root. I'm not going to complain."

He was going to fallow Phiros from this point on. He knew neither Nyla or Phiros very well but for some reason he already trusted Phiros more then Nyla. He figured the Half demon was more likely to get them out of here then Nyla was. Besides that Nyla had not heard the letter that the old man had read to them.

"Did someone say something about fallowing the wind?" A slightly squeaky but powerful woman's voice called out. The sound seemed to come from every which direction making it impossible to find where the speaker was. "Oh my, oh my!" There was a slight moment of silence before the ground began to trouble. With in moments a tree was shooting up from the ground, growing until it was size of a large double floored house. But this was no ordinary tree. It had the face of a rather plump looking woman. The leaves formed around the head making look like she had long green hair. There were large bumps on her trunk forming breasts and legs. As she moved it became clear that two of branches were used as arms and hands.

"We did." Kenji replied to the tree, looking at her as if he was trying to decide if she was a dream or not, "An old man told us to fallow it. He also told us to speak no evil and do no good."

"Evil! Oh no Evil! Ohhh!" The tree screamed, her arms waving around her in furry. It caused Kenji to jump back to keep from being hit, "Us tree's hate the talk of evil. We kill those who talk of evil. Smash them, beat them, kill them! Oh please, do not speak of evil things. It scares us." She calmed herself a bit, fanning herself with her large leaved hand before looking over at Nyla.

"Oh now aren't we a pretty young lady. Oh so pretty. I will tell you about the wind," The tree bent over a bit so that it's large head was closer to Nyla, "The wind here is like any other wind unless you have dead fairy dust." The tree explained, trying to whisper its words to Nyla. Though the tree was so large that it seemed even it's whispers could be heard from miles away, "The dust follows winds correct path. But you can only get dead fairy dust if you kill a fairy! Ohh but that's evil! Oh so evil! Do not speak of such evil things. Ohhh the poor fairies!" The tree began to weep, huge tears falling down it's wooden face.

"Where can we find a fairy?" Kenji attempted to ask but the tree would not answer. It just continued to weep. Giving up with out trying any more then that, Kenji turned to look at Phiros a rather confused and little disturbed look upon his face. He had been feaked out by the messenger but this tree was freaking him out even more.

Phiros simply rolled his eyes at the young Nyla, who knew nothing of the current situation. All she knew was she was in a strange realm with two guys who didn't care whether or not she lived or died. To be quite frank, Phiros wasn't really sure if he was even going to back her up if something were to happen, such as an attack from some type of strange enemy. However, if the threat were to provoke him, he would most likely take the threat out, if he helped Nyla in doing that, it wouldn't be on purpose, but a mere coincidence. "Nyla...seriously, you really need to shut that hole on your face. You're really annoying right now." Phiros said, his attention now returning to the soft wind that inhabited this new land. It was....strange, the wind seemed as if it did not exist, Phiros could not feel the currents of the wind brushing against his gigantic wings like usual, nor could he smell the multiple fragrences the wind normally picked up. Surely, something truly weird was going on here. Abnormality in the wind... what the hell is going on here? thought the winged demon, still; his attention set on the wind... that was not there.

Suddenly, the voice of the old woman was heard. Just then, a tree emerged from within the earth. It towered over all the other tress, as well as Phiros, Nyla and Kenji. Surprisngly, Phiros did not find this weird or anything like that, since even mutated trees roamed the lands of Imythess. Phiros, however, said nothing the entire time the tree spoke to both Kenji and Nyla, and seemed to ignore him. He did speak when the tree exclaimed the following statement, "Us tree's hate the talk of evil. We kill those who talk of evil. Smash them, beat them, kill them! Oh please, do not speak of evil things. It scares us."

"Oh?" mumbled Phiros, bringing his hand to the base of his staff, readying it for battle, just in case, "This place doesn't exactly give off positive energy, you know. In fact," he narrowed his eyes to the left, where the old woman stood her weak stance, "It gives off the energy of an evil being... far surpassing even me. So don't feed us this crap that you imbeciles are good, or anything remotely good." his staff was then brought up to Phiros' shoulder level, which was a good couple feet above the old woman's head, it's point directed at the tree's strange looking face, his eyes still lcoked on the old woman. "You two are in league with this darkness I sense...I'm sure of it." a smirk then appeared upon Phiros' face, the smirk revealing his sharp teeth, which were now waiting to sink themselves into the flesh of the wrinkly wench.

Very strange... as soon as I looked at that wrinkly old bag, I could sense darkness emitting from her... dark intensions.... but I am usually able to sense things like that from a mile away... why not now? What is this place? Is it blocking my senses.... or what? Something isn't right... I don't like this!

Suddenly--

OOC - Sorry, had to cut this post short due to stupid people over here...