The sun was rising once again as she flew high in the night sky. The city far below was the one she was looking for, but it seemed wrong somehow. It seemed to have changed. Weather that was for better or for worse was yet to be discovered. Ivory leaned forward and folded her wings. Like a rock, she fell out of the sky. As she plummeted down she hoped to glance some life. That was all she got anyways, glances of life.

She opened her wings carefully as she neared the city, slowing with a slight spiral to flair her wings open in a narrow off street. Suspended in the air for a breath Ivory once more folded her wings. This time, they vanished and stayed gone as she dropped about five feet to the ground. Landing harder then she intended she bent her knees to take the landing and managed to not rise as quickly as she felt she should have.

She glanced around and shook her head. There was no one here that she could see, which only meant there weren’t dead right here. Pulling a gray cloak about herself she started to look for a place she could sleep for the night. The night and the nearly full moon made the contrast between her skin and the cloak even more obvious.

The city was silent, and silent was how he liked it. It meant he would not be disturbed, as he slunk through the shadows, avoiding anyone else in the streets that happened to pass by. He was getting hungry, but not so hungry he needed to kill for his food. Dûrion had his tattered black cloak on, with the hood pulled down, so that when the moonlight hit him, his face was clearly visible to be an elfs. He smiled as a guard passed by, remembering how easily he had killed one a few nights previous. Then he had met that dratted purple cloaked figure. But he shook this thought off and continued along his way.

He eventually reached an intersection of four streets, and decided to leave the shadows. He got up, and walked into plain view, pulling up the cloak of his hood as he did so. Now his face was entirely hidden, and he smiled. He then put a hand under his cloak, grasping the katan hidden under, in case of any attackers that might jump out, thinking to mug him, or kill. He then noticed someone in the street ahead of him, and stopped, watching the person in front of him.

As she walked she noticed a figure up the street. At first she simply planned on walking past the stranger, but then she noticed something odd happened when she looked at him, she could see him. She could actually see him, a person, a living, moving being.

Ivory stopped where she was as soon as she noticed this and without giving herself a chance to realize what seeing him meant she simply pointed to him and blurted, "I can see you!"

The moment the words escaped her mouth she realized her error. First was that honestly she really couldn't see the stranger's face, but the hands were there. The other being something she had heard about often enough that she should have realized it before now. Why she hadn't thought about it was simple enough. She had not yet met anyone, not that she knew of anyways, who was undead. Undead were not living; zombies, vampires, ghosts, and so many more. She would be able to see all of them, even in a city full of life she would be able to clearly see those who walked among the living but were not a part of them. She pulled her pointed finger back to her chest in a fist, suddenly concerned about the reaction. Was she going to be forced to flee here too?

He was quite surprised, and most definitely amused, when she pointed at him and told him she could see him. In fact, he started laughing right then, a normal laugh by most standards, hearty and true. "Well, of course you can see my, m'lady. I am after all, a visible person, clearly walking in the middle of the street in full moonlight. And I see you as well." He started towards her at this, bringing his hand out from under his cloak, but still tense, prepared to defend himself should she attack him.

"Why is it so important that you see me? No matter I suppose. The fact that you can see me is proof enough you are not blind. But, if I may ask, who are you? And what are you? You seem to be a sort of elf, but I cannot place exactly the breed? Are you perhaps a mix?"

She set her jaw when he started to laugh at her. It was not a laughing matter. What was wrong with this man? Being dead might do that to someone. She wouldn't know. Ivory had never met a dead person before. Not one that walked around like a living one at least.

"It's not funny, it's not." She spoke softly. Her fist was still held against her chest. She fell silent then. She tried to study the undead man. She was still trying to get over the fact she could see him. Ivory stayed where she was he closed the distance between them.

She straightened her shoulders and stood her ground. She didn't want to talk to him. He was dead and she wasn't sure how to deal with already dead people. "My name is Ivory. I'm a forest elf, just an albino one. Why do you ask?"

He stopped laughing, but continued to smile. It was quite funny to him. "I'm sorry, but it kindof is. Why would you not be able to see me? I am not dead, or anything like that, so why could you not?" He shook his head, chuckling slightly. He did not understand what was so great about being able to see him.

He cocked his head to the side slightly at her response. She seemed very defensive. "Just curious, you just look a little different than any elf I've ever seen before, other than your albinoness. I apologize if I offended you." He gave a slight bow, still smiling slightly.

Her hand dropped limply to her side and she simply looked at him for a moment. She tried to see his face under the cloak. Then she let her gaze move down to his feet before going back to his face. There was no mistake. She could see him perfectly fine. Even what he was wearing was clear and sharp. He said he wasn’t dead or something. Perhaps he meant like a ghost. The living seemed like ghosts to her sometimes. She didn’t know what a ghost would look like now. She hadn’t met one yet.

"It’s not funny because of just that. I can't see living things. So, if you're not dead..." She trailed off, trying to figure out why she could see him. Ivory started murmuring to herself. She had to think of a reason why she could see him. "Perhaps a construct then, like artificial life. Like a golem or something. Or perhaps he doesn’t know anything is wrong. Something has to be or I wouldn’t see him.” She lapsed into silence as she tried to think of why. She really wasn’t paying attention to him at that time.

His ears picked up everything she was saying, of course. He was not deaf after all. So she couldn't see living things, could she? That would be an interesting curse, to be sure. "You cannot see anything at all alive? Well that is interesting to be certain. And I assure you, I am not a construct. And I know I am alive, well, in a manner." He removed his hood, and bared his teeth, revealing his fangs. "See, I am a vampire, an undead. Perhaps that is why you can see me."

She twitched when he spoke. Realizing she had spoken out loud when he replied she started to feel embarrassed. Before the blush could form on her cheeks she went pale. It didn't actually change her looks any. After all, a pale albino is just as white as normal. She took a step back. Than another. She was far enough away to take wing now. Feeling just a bit safer she asked, "A vampire?" nearly choking on the word. If he was going to kill her he wouldn't have told her what he was. At least she hoped he wouldn't. Provoking him wouldn't help her any.

Ivory kept her eyes on his to avoid staring at his fangs. She took a sharp breath and let it out slowly. "So I can see vampires. Just wonderful. I can't see my own hand in front of my face but I can see you. What is the point of that?" Her voice was bitter now. Ivory crossed her arms. She wasn't asking him. Not really.

He smiled. "Yes, a vampire. But do not worry, I do not want your blood, I feed mostly off of corpses. As for seeing me rather than yourself, I can't help you with that, unless you'd rather be a vampire like me. Then you could see yourself, if I understand your curse correctly. As for the point, I would not know, for it is not my place to understand your curse. That should be your job." He did not appreciate her bitterness, but understood it in a manner.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't asking you. I should be asking Koray but I can't. It's his fault anyways..." Her crossed arms tightened around her for a bit and then relaxed. Her arms fell softly to her sides.

"I don't think being a vampire would help me any. I would be likely to starve or something stupid like that. Knowing my luck the next person I would met would be a vampire slayer." She smiled weakly at him and hoped he thought that would be a bit amusing. Honestly she hoped her luck wasn't that bad.

"You wouldn't know a man called Yul or a woman named Akilan, would you? They are both humans and would be about," she paused to think for a moment, "about forty I think." She doubted he would know them, but it was worth a try. She had to find her childhood friends. Even though she was barely into adulthood as an elf, her friends would no doubt be near the ends of their lives. That is if they were alive at all.

He smiled slightly. "It is easy to not starve, just suck someones blood, that's all the food you really would need. As for slayers, they are not as numerous as you would think, and they are usually stupid as well. And I am afraid that I do not know your friends. I have not seen many people this night, and you are the first I have spoken to. I am sorry." He wondered how she knew these humans, but decided perhaps it was not best to ask.

"I would rather not. Thank you anyways. Finding out what to do about my sight would probably be a better solution." She only had one lead and that was Yul. He was going to go to the Academy of Magic when she left Cascadia. He may not even be near here. He was the only trained magic user she knew. Where else could she start?

"I doubt they would be walking about now. Perhaps in a few hours. Thank you for your help though. If you'll be around for a bit I may see you again." She held out her hand to say good bye. It was a gesture her father had used a lot. Ivory wasn't sure why she was using it now. "May I ask your name then sir?"

He smiled when she denied his offer of sharing his gift, or curse as it may be. He had yet to find a person that wanted to be a vampire that wasn't already. He supposed they just didn't understand how easy it made life. But he supposed it was difficult at times, especially being confined indoors during the days. And having to avoid the slayers. But other than that, he didn't mind it much

He looked at her hand for a moment, then shook it. "My name? Um, my name is......Dûrion. Now, what is your name, m'lady?" He was unused to shaking hands, but he had seen it before, somewhere. He just couldn't remember where he had seen it.

"I'm Ivory. It was a pleasure to meet you. I'm glad I can see someone. I have to go find my friends now. You may want to head inside or something though." Ivory shook his hand and then let go. Her hand dropped to her side. She had noticed the city lightening some. The sun was rising. It would fill the city with light and life. None of the life would reach her eyes. The light would though. Not that she minded the sunlight. Except for sunburns. She couldn't tan if she wanted to.

She would walk past him then. She had been up for some time now. A place to rest would do her good. Even if the timing was bad for it. Before getting to far she would glace back and wave. Then she would continue on her way.