Richimon Lake was crystal clear and the bottom was easily seen. It looked like glass, expect for the part where the falls crashed into the water. Ariana stood on the edge of the lake, the water lapping against her ankles. Her hair fell about her beautiful face, and she made sure that she looked perfect. It always took her hours to get ready and so the sun was high in the sky by the time she actually made it to the lake. Her skin was silky this morning and she was very proud of it.

Being the vain creature she was Ariana stood looking at her own reflection. She ran her fingers through her hair and smiled at herself. She had clothed herself in a light material dress. It was almost transparent, and yet she planned on getting into the water anyway. She knew that it would draw attention and she loved it.

She hummed to herself and took a step deeper into the water. It was refreshingly cold and she shivered happily. She pulled back her hair and looked at her reflection once more. Once the water was still she took another step sending ripples around the water. She kept up the pattern. Sometimes the little things made Ariana happy.

Eliel sat in the tree, watching the woman curiously. She seemed to take pleasure from the rippling effect of the water. 'easily amused.' he thought to himself. As cold as he usually was, he was intrigued by this girl.

He watched her for a moment, then decided to make his presence known. He spun a rock in his fingers, looking back to her. He let the cold rock slide between his fingers, falling into the lake. The stone hit and sent large rippled across the surface, a drop of water soaring into the air.

Eliel dropped from the overhanging tree, landing softly in the grass. He watched the woman with his hands up, palms facing outward. "I mean no harm." He thought-spoke to her.

Dropping one hand, he unstrapped his cross-belt and it dropped, the sheaths rattling. Several daggers lay on the ground as a gesture of goodwill.

Ariana saw the ripples flow across the lake from the rock being dropped. She turned her eyes to the newcomer and regarded him curiously. She watched the man, he looked like an elf. She smiled at him warmly after he dropped all his weapons. In turn she pulled out her own dagger and threw it onto dry land. She smiled coyly at him.

“Welcome sir.” Ariana slowly started moving into the water again. “Do you normally drop in from the trees? Or am I just an exception,” She laughed lightly.

“I’m Ariana.” The water was now up to her waist and she stopped moving, watching her dress flow in the waters. She absently played with her hair while studying the man. “And you are?” She offered him another smile.

Eliel laughed, "Depends. But let's not discuss buisness, eh?" He said curiously, a shadow hidden behind his voice. He admired her. She was a beautiful woman, and his respect grew when she dropped her own dagger. Most other people would have placed the dagger around his general heart area, especially if they knew him.

"I am Eraspeola Usreanac, Also known as Eliel. But Eliel if preferred. Nice to meet you, Ariana." He said sincerely. He maneaged to keep his eyes locked onto hers.

Looking over his shoulder, he cleared his throat and called, "It's safe to come out now, she's not an enemy." He waited and glanced back at Ariana nervously. Gwen's black form slinked from behind the tree, the enourmous panther seemed to have a hard time hiding it's large frame.

Gwen sat by his side and looked Ariana over. She seemed unsure of ariana, eyeing her suspiciously. "This is Gwen. Wonderful friend once you get to know her, but suspicious as hell towards strangers." He chuckled and scratched her behind the ear.

Kyrus sat on a near bank watching the two, he wondered how long it would be before his friend Eliel caught a glance of him. Kyrus began to sing softly so that his words would drift over to both Ariana and Eliel, it seemed that his friend Eliel was getting on well with this young woman which caused Kyrus to smile. Eliel was a dear friend to him and he wished to see him happy, as for young woman there was only one who occupied Kyrus' thoughts and that was Xenith, a beautiful young half-elf he had met on the Taras Docks and fallen instantly in love with. He had taken her to the Songs Of Elves Tavern for a meal and had been delighted to learn that she too had strong feelings for him. He smiled as he thought of Xenith and in a romantic gesture dedicated his song to her, once he was finished he got to his feet and called out to Eliel "Eliel old friend, don't tell me you've gone deaf," he said with a good natured laugh.

“Nice you meet you Eliel,” Ariana did a small curtsy in the water, it sent a small ripple to the shore. She smiled into Eliel’s eyes and kept them locked on his.

His next words made curiosity shine into her eyes. Gwen. She was stunning. It was enough for Ariana to abandon the warmth of the water. Ariana slowly came out of the water and walked over to Gwen. She made sure she wasn’t too close to the panther to make her feel annoyed. Ariana lowered her eyes to the ground so that Gwen wouldn’t think she was challenging her.

“She’s beautiful.” Ariana gasped the words. She’d never been this close to a panther before. She crouched down on her haunches and held out her hand for the panther to sniff at. “She won’t bite it off will she?” Ariana laughed.

Another voice caught her ears and she looked up to see an elf standing there. He seemed to know Eliel. Since she wasn’t sure what he wanted she hung back and waited.

Eliel laughed and shook his head. "She won't bite unless i say so. Beauty, though, isn't she?" he said in an admiring tone. Gwen seemed to think it over for a moment, then relaxed. Her ears rose and she pressed the top of her head into Adriana's hand. Seeming to like it, Gwen purred, a deep rumble.

Eliel turned, startled. The voice had caught him by surprise. It was quite familiar, having met not too long ago in the tunnels of his homeland. "Kyrus, good friend. how are you doing? Please, join us. I was just showing off my furry friend here." He indicated Gwen, who seemed to enjoy herself.

He was surprised by Kyrus' presence, but couldn't be more pleased. Although meeting for a short time in an unlikely place, he had become close pals with his elven friend. "Ariana, this is Kyrus, a good friend of mine. Kyrus, this is Ariana."

Kyrus smiled and greeted his good friend Eliel and nodded a polite greeting to Ariana "It is a pleasure to meet you," he said warmly and then turned back to his good friend "showing off Gwen again are we Eliel," he chuckled "I remember you doing exactly the same thing when I first met you." He grinned at Ariana and shot Eliel a playful glance "Eliel old friend, what am I going to do with you?" Kyrus laughed and gave Gwen a friendly pat, hoping the panther would remember him.

((OoC: Writers Block))

Ariana scratched the top of the panther’s head. So beautiful and yet so powerful. Gwen really was a creature to be admired. As the men talked Ariana remained where she was, staring at the panther. She was so impressive, so beautiful, she was almost perfect. Ariana almost lost interest in the men for the moment.

“Kyrus, nice to meet you,” Ariana dipped her head in greeting.

Kyrus smiled at Ariana, "So have you two just met or am I interrupting something?" Kyrus said with a playful wink. Just then Kyrus' pet Gryphon, Solomon came trotting up to them and nuzzled its master affectionately. The Gryphon had been his loyal companion for a long time now and they had developed a strong bond. Solomon looked to Ariana, he had not met her before so was curious about her. Kyrus laughed as his Gryphon cocked his head and watched Ariana, "You will have to forgive Solomon," he said "he's curious when it comes to meeting new people. He did the same to Eliel. Don't worry he won't bite, he's actually more likely to give you a big, slobbery lick."

Eliel stood in place, full of pride. His cat was surely a beautiful thing, yet not so beautiful when in combat.

Kyrus laughed and asked "Eliel, what am i going to do with you?" Eliel shrugged and gave gwen a good pat. His and kyrus' relationship was curiously friendly, what with their almost opposite lifestyles. an assassin and a wandering paladin.

No, we've just met, good friend." He chuckled and looked over Ariana and shot a wink at Kyrus when she wasn't looking.

Solomon approached and looked at Ariana. With the approach of the bird, Gwen's fur along her spine stood on end and she stood between Eliel and the hybrid. Apparently, confusion and wariness got in the way of Gwen and Solomon having a friendship akin to their owners'.

"You know, Kyrus, i stand by my statement about cats eating birds." He laughed as he watched Gwen, whose eyes shot lasers at the gryphon.

“He's actually more likely to give you a big, slobbery lick."

Ariana cringed. There was no way she was letting some bird-thing run its gross, slimy tongue anywhere on her body. She hid her feelings and smiled at Kyrus as though she was laughing along. She made no move towards the Gryphon though, preferring to move Gwen between her and the bird-thing. She was actually a little relieved when Gwen’s fur stood on end.

Ariana was a little throw off by the two friends together. It made it hard for her to judge them... she didn’t like being left in the dark when it came to people. These two seemed to have their own inside jokes and everything going on already. She debated leaving... but leaving would be rude...

“What brings you here Kyrus?”

Kyrus sensed that Ariana did not like his Gryphon and he frowned, Kyrus was very perceptive being a High Elf. "You do not like my Gryphon," he said sadly "it is that attitude that is pushing these magnificient creatures to the edge of extinction." He turned to Eliel "Well technically a Gryphon is only half bird, and also half cat," he said with a laugh. Kyrus was offended that Ariana did not like his Gryphon, his offence would show even though he tried to keep it hidden. Solomon looked down at Gwen and regarded him with cool interest, Gryphons were not hybrids, they were a pure species. Solomon acted insulted as if he had understood what the panther had thought. Kyrus chuckled and nudged his friend Eliel playfully "So have you been up to your usual mischeif Eliel?" Kyrus said with a happy chuckle and motioned for Ariana to come over and join in.

Eliel gave a hearty chuckle. "Aye, what little there is to be had." He smiled to himself, only he and Kyrus knew his true position in society, as he had only dropped a hint to Ariana.

Eliel Turned to Ariana. "I almost forgot to explain how kyrus and i came to meet. He found me in the underground tunnels, the home of my dark elf brethren. We are almost opposites in our chosen paths, but meeting during a goblin hunt and being two of a rare race, we became quite close friends." He explained to Ariana, who had seemed left out earlier.

He patted gwen, who seemed to relax.

“You do not like my Gryphon,”

Ariana didn’t really like this man. She didn’t let it show though. It wasn’t even something that could really be found out unless Ariana told him. It was a brief thought that merely flitted through her mind. She could tell he was offended but... She wasn’t going to let that thing slobber all over her. Arian began to absently smooth out her clothing and brush out her hair.

Ariana wondered what mischief Eliel would be getting himself into around Imythess. There was a lot she could think of... none that really interested her unless it got her something. She didn’t want anything at the moment. She had met Theron the other day and smiled at his memory.

“Exploration is always a fun past time.” Ariana smiled at Eliel once he had finished his story. “Is this some of your usually mischief?”

Kyrus went to Ariana and gave her an apologetic look "I am sorry Ariana, I do not mean to sound rude, I hope you will forgive me," he said in an honest, meaningful voice. He had always hated people not liking him, he did his best to try and get them to like him. "I understand that not everyone likes Gryphons and that is fine, to each their own. But Solomon here has been my loyal companion for such a long time. You asked what brings me here, nothing other than the joy of exploration and of course to catch up with my good friend Eliel." Kyrus offered Ariana his hand in a gesture of apology and hopeful friendship "Forgive me, if I offended you I am sorry, its just that Gryphons are a species dear to me. I just get a little worked up if it seems like people are shunning them. Again I apologise, may we start over?"

He held his hand out to her and started over "I am Kyrus Lynin, it is a pleasure to meet you Ariana," he put a warm smile on his face and his eyes sparkled with friendliness.