The forest was nice and quiet. The early morning air still had a little bit of a chill to it but everything was warming up as the sun got higher in the sky. Things moved about in the forest; rabbits, chipmunks, birds and traces of deer that she more heard then saw. It was nice here. She didn’t have to worry about things like trying to avoid people trying to save her somehow or not break laws she didn’t even know existed. She pushed those thoughts away. She didn’t need to ruin the wonderful calm here by getting upset about things that already happened. Besides, she had managed to get far. She had friends she could count on and she didn’t have to worry so much anymore. Not about herself at least. She was going to have to worry about her friends though and she did have someone she owed… once more she shoved the thought away.

She had been sitting on a stump of a tree to take her boots off. She had tucked those nicely away now with all her other things in the small bag on her hip. After that, she stood and caught the edge of her skirt and tucked it into her belt. She repeated the process with the other side so that her skirt was now folded more than in half on each side and a good deal shorter. It would still be fairly cool in the shade of the forest but as the day wore on it would no doubt get hotter. She hadn’t bothered with the extra layer between her and her doeskin bodice. The fabric only clung to her when the humidity got too high. She had pulled back her thick hair so it was off her neck with a wide bit of leather. Feeling more comfortable now that the air could help cool her off she had started walking along the deer trails. She debated waking Turin so she would have someone to talk to. But he had been up most of the night with her and while she didn’t sleep, he did. Perhaps she could wake him up later?

"Where are you? I didn't mean it! Come back!" Gibbon ran further into the forest. He didn't know why he had gotten mad at Lil'D. His anger got the best of him and the bird didn't like it when he was mad. It was a dispute over Diablo’s ability to hit fireballs back at Gibbon. Gibbon thought he could. He lashed out at the bird in response.

Gibbon didn't feel the warmth of the forest this morning. He never did really, the whole fire thing made that easy to tolerate. It was a beautiful day of though and that was what brought Gibbon out here. He was looking for a good area to for a home for his wife and himself. Staying at inns and outdoors is only fun for so many years. Fin insisted he find a good place in the forest. So, he came out here to look. He’d rather have it in the mountains but that another discussion for another time.

As Gibbon came up to a clearing in the forest he saw something in the distance. He thought it was Diablo. He ran onward, toward the figure. He got nearer and yelled, "Hey comeback! I promise to behave!" What he didn't know was it wasn't the phoenix, but rather a girl. When Gibbon got closer he realized this and apologized. "Hey, sorry! I'm looking for my phoenix. Have seen one pass by here?" he walked up to the women hoping she knew his whereabouts.

What Gibbon failed to realize what the potential help this lady could offer him. Beyond finding his feathered friend. His quest for the knowledge of fire had a connection with every person he met here in Imythess. This one was no different.

((OOC: gah! I almost didn’t make 200 words… :( Just to let you know, I normally can’t get on Fridays. D&D ^_^ ))

Not a moment after she had thought about waking up Turin, a voice broke the calm, though didn't shatter it. She turned around in confusion until she saw a man coming towards her apologizing at the same time as he mentioned he was missing a "Phoenix?" She asked, and then shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I can help you look if you want though.”

She once more debated waking Turin, but it might be better to summon something fist. The Roc might help, being a bird too. She really wasn’t in the mood to deal with the angels or demons though. They took too much focus and the treant might not want to have anything to do with a bird of fire. Or even faster was her first summons, before she had even found the book she had been learning from. She didn’t think it would manage to burn down the forest like her hellhounds almost had tried to do.

Then something else came to mind, why did he loose it in the first place? Wouldn’t it be hard to loose a bird that was on fire? She tipped her head to the right slightly then. “What’s you do to loose track of a phoenix?”

Gibbon was half paying attention. His eyes wandered here and there, hoping to see the bird. He realized Diablo may have gone back to the mountains. "No worries!" he said then focusing his attention toward the woman. He heard her ask how he lost the phoenix. He chuckled and smiled. “This would be a funny thing to her.” He thought.

"I lost him over an argument over his abilities. He claims that when I send a fireball at him he can't hit it back. I think he can, but who knows. He might be right, though. I tried it before and it went right through his wings. I just think he could hit it back." he shook his head wondering about it. "It's silly I know but we are like best friends. You'd be surprised how intelligent they are." he didn't know if she knew of this. He wasn't the most thought out guy.

He then realized he never introduced himself. "I'm sorry, I failed to introduce myself. I am Gibbon Lightheart, aspiring pyro-warrior. And you may I grace my eyes on?" he tried to say as elegantly as he could. Bowing and smiling big. He realized then when he looked up that she wasn’t like any other person he met so far. She wasn’t a drow or any type of elf he saw. She did have pointy ears, but her hair was a reddish color. He was very puzzled by her appearance. “May I ask what race you derive from?”

He wondered who this exotic looking woman was. She seemed experienced in adventures by her wares. He only wondered if she was a nice person and not like allot of the people he met so far, since he came back. That would be the last thing he needed, right now.

Aether Draka shook her head at his explanation. She waited for him to finish speaking though before she bothered to say anything. She smiled at him and decided to answer his last question first and go from there. She often didn't run into people who asked questions like that and she had always played the game of questions when she was little. It didn't work if the other person didn't ask questions too though.

"I'm of mixed blood. Human and elven, good and bad." She shrugged slightly and didn't bother explaining any more. It wasn't a topic she liked. She did offer her hand though in greeting. Her right hand, palm slightly turned up. The palm of that hand had a scar across it, noticeably lighter then the rest of her skin. It was smooth and straight, like a very sharp blade had been drawn across it. "I'm Aether Draka. I'm no expert on Phoenix, but I do know that fire elementals can control their own fire. I've never heard of them being able to control other fire though. I might have to ask Lynthaer to test the idea of having some fire based magic tossed at it to see if it can reflect it back or not. That might be useful. A way to make an attack come from an unexpected direction."

She would let her hand drop to her side once more, weather he had accepted it or not. She smiled and decided to ask her own question now. "So, what is a pyro-warrior? And... where would you expect to find your Phoenix? In the air or closer to the ground?"

Gibbon smiled as he accepted her handshake. He heard her suggestion of testing it with this Lynthaer guy. If it might help that would be great. But before he could ask a question about Lynthaer, she asks him about his profession. It was an honest question, he wasn’t sure himself.

"A Pyro-warrior is a made up name for a fire wielding warrior. I am highly skilled with a blade, but a pack a mighty punch with fire spells." he then answered the question about his bird. "He might be heading back for the mountains." he pointed in the direction of the mountains. "He lives there till I can find a home for my wife and me."

His mind wandered back toward this Lynthaer guy. Who is he? Can he help in his training? It wouldn't hurt to ask. "May I ask who this Lynthaer is? Is he highly regarded with magic or something? I mean how he would be able to help with my silly problem?" he went off asking too many questions again. He tends to do this allot when he gets thoughts in his mind. "Don't mind me, I'm just always excited when people offer to help Me." he smiled and let the lady talk in reply.

AD decided that she really liked this man. He wasn't at all stuffy like so many city dwellers and for some reason that made her happy. She grinned when he asked her about Lynthaer. "I'm not sure how much he could really help but there shouldn't be a problem asking him about it. He could call himself a Pyro-Warrior too I guess, but he calls himself an Inferno. He's my best friend! But perhaps we should find your friend first..." AD beamed, then tucked a stray braid behind her ear and pulled out some cards. With a practiced ease she flipped through them and selected one. Placing the others back in the small pouch on her hip she took the one and held it before her. Her eyes flickered around them then.

"I'll need more room." She said simply and went back the way he had just come from to where there was more open space. Her movements didn't seem to effect much of the foliage as she went and her footfall was nearly nonexistent. She paused just outside the open space and then held up the card once more. Shadows curled around her as she started her spell. Traveling from under the trees and even Gibbon's own shadow. They formed a disk around the card and she let it go. The shadow illusions solidified into her summoning circle around the card and she simply reached out and touched it. The card turned black and a black sphere formed around it before swelling and distorting into the shape of a giant bird. Then the shadows seemed to break apart and return to where they had been from. In it's place was a huge roc. AD smile and looked over her shoulder at Gibbon. "Want a ride?"

Gibbon still wonders about this guy. Maybe he could help with his training. “He is an Inferno you say. I’m interested, I have to meet him. He could help with my perfection of blade and fire. Who knows I could teach him something too. I have been at this for a while.” He smiled as he followed her to a clearing.

Gibbon stood back watching Aether summon the roc. It was a site to see, lots of spiffy magics. He wondered what else she had up her sleeves. She seemed to be a well seasoned adventure or it seemed that way. She asked him if he wanted a ride.

"Yeah sure! He should be too far away. He is the one who would be leaving a scorch trail through the forest." he was jesting as he climbed on the bird. "So, how many of these creatures do you have? You seem the type to be very skilled. I am lucky you’re nice and not some crazy vampire out to bite Me." he made that comment only because of his crazy encounter with just that a while back. "Never mind that last comment. I have a few issues with the undead and vice versa." he smiled and awaited the search for the stubborn firebird.

AD was about to climb aboard the roc too when his question made her pause. She tipped her head to the right and started counting silently on her fingers. She got to seven rather quickly and then paused, added two more, and then a tenth. Then AD paused as she tried to think of more. She dropped her hands. "Eleven total, and rain. I was going to learn more but I had some trouble with the guards in Taras and haven't gone back there yet. Apparently summoning became illegal there somehow. I don't get it. I was thinking I might enroll in the Academy of Magic instead of trying to learn anymore on my own though. Perhaps I'll get some more summonings then." With that she hopped up on the roc in front of him. She peered back at him out of the corner of her eye and asked, “Ready?”

Before there would have even been time to answer, the huge bird lept into the air. The initial rush of wind made AD grin. She loved to fly. The sky opened up above them and the trees lay below like a soft green carpet. As soon as the roc set itself on a steady beat, AD looked around., then glanced back over her shoulder at him once more. “Do you see anything?”

((OOC: sorry it took so long, it was at 197 words form like an hour after you posted... :( ))

As they flew in the air, the site was spectacular. Gibbon hadn't flown before, he had only been very high up on a mountain. This was a new site to him. He looked below with awe and wonder. He saw far into the distance and the ground seemed like a field of broccoli. With all the trees bunch together so close. He wonders if it wasn't a bad idea to travel on his own bird. It was big, but only big enough to carry him if anything. And he wondered if he would get burned by Diablo. “Nah” he thought.

Aether asked him if he saw anything. He saw a tell tale sign of his bird, his molten waste. Diablo disposed himself in a form of a molten rock. It stuck out like a sore thumb in the forest. And it smelt like sulfur too. "See that?" he pointed down at the smoldering rock. "Let's look down there. He may be near that molten rock there." he only hoped the phoenix was near enough for him to do his call. If not they would have to search on. “It will smell bad but don’t worry I’m sure you have smelt worse.” He smiled with his joke, knowing the roc must make a much worse mess.

AD nodded and the roc turned towards the rock he had mentioned. She wasn't sure what he meant though by it smelling funny and that she had probably smelt worse. What sort of person did he really think she was? She hoped he didn't think her to be some law abiding citizen who was nice to everyone. She honestly ignored most people, but she wanted to meet this bird of his. It sounded interesting and he also seemed interested in meeting Lynthaer. That idea made her happy.

Gibbon couldn't join the guild though. He wasn't demonic at all from what she had smelled of him. Lynthaer could tell better though. He had been the first to actually smell her celestial blood and the first who didn't seem to care. Her best friend... She would have to make Gibbbon promise not to attack Lynthaer. Perhaps he could keep a promise unlike Gregory had...

The roc landed a little ways off from the place Gibbon had pointed out simply because there wasn't enough room between the trees for the large bird to land low enough. AD didn't think he would mind though as before it looked like he had been looking for the bird on foot. AD stayed on the roc though. She could smell it from where she was and smells bothered her sometimes. That was the only reason she had taken to killing rotting undead. She just couldn't stand the smell.

Gibbon down at the pile and saw it was very fresh. They weren't far from Diablo. He figures his whistle should work from here if he was still around.

"I'll try whistling and he should come back." he whistled and he heard the familiar yelped of the phoenix. It flew up next to the Roc and greeted Gibbon a flare of his fiery wings. "This is Diablo, Aether. Diablo this is Aether. See I knew you would come back to me." He smiled as he hugged his bird.

Gibbon wanted to find a clearing for them to land safely. He looked off in the distance and saw a strange clearing with something lying motionless. He thought it be best to land there and see what was up. "I think we should land and see what that is over there." he pointed at the object in the distance. It looked like a creature of some sort.

When his whistle did get the bird to show up AD looked at it in wonder. A bird of fire! That was so incredible! Was it magical or like her fire elemental? She was about to ask him about it when he pointed at a small clearing with something there. Curious about that too she directed the roc there before looking back at him to ask the question. “Are Phoenix... Phoenixes?” She shook her head and gave up on the plural of it. “Are they magical like dragons or are they more like elementals? Like a fire elemental?” She asked as the roc circled the clearing once to find the best place to land.

Then it started it's decent and AD turned around with a noise that sounded like “uop!” and held on while the huge bird dropped below the trees and flared it's huge wings to slow the landing. It hopped a little as it landed and AD was glad the landing was over. Landing was the only thing she didn't like about flying. Though she had seen a few good landers. The roc was just not meant to be on the ground, though it looked almost too big to fly. She was thrilled that it did though. It had been her first offical summoning after she had found the book.