Walking down a main path, Zero was just having his ordinary day and never to expect a gryphon to come and attack him. He was walking eagerly to some sort of destination, it was till then he saw out of the corner of his eye a gryphon charging at him but for no reason at all. Zero then opened his eyes wide and ducked down as the gryphon flew inches above him. He then saw a girl approaching the scene, unaware that a mad gryphon was getting closer and closer to her. HEY!! LOOK OUT!! A GRYPHON!! He shouted in a loud tone of voice and ran at full speed after her....hoping that she would not get injured.

Jasmine was walking in the Debon Planes to get peace and quiet. She had been walking for several hours now, talking to her self and reminiscing. She had been a good mood and her peace had not been disturbed all day. She was amazed at the fact that she had not been bothered by anything all day. Some thing might have been wrong or she was just having a great day. “Wow,” she said with mirth, “I am having a really great day.” She continued to walk with a smile on her face until she heard a scream in the air. She looked at where the scream had come from and screamed. A gryphon was headed right for her. She could not move, her fear planted her to the ground. Just before the bird got about ten feet away, it looked as though as Jasmine had exploded into flames. The bird missed and Jasmine was gone. Almost instantly after the explosion of fire, Jasmine was in the air, in the grasp of her phoenix. Octavious had come just in time to rescue her. The bird tossed Jasmine into the air and she landed on his back. Octavious was now speeding toward the mad gryphon now and ready to kill it. Jasmine tightened her grip on the great phoenix and yelled, “No! Do not kill it. Go down!” At her command, Octavious flew down and toward the man who alerted her about the crazed bird. They landed and Jasmine got down. “Hello sir. I thank you for saving my life. If I had not known about the gryphon and screamed, Octavious here would not have come to get me. Thank you.”

Zero looked up with the shock and terror look on his face and to see that the gryphon had swiped the girl off the ground. If Zero could have done somthing to help her, he would have done it way before she was thrown airborne, it was untill then he noticed a flaming bird come to her rescue. Zero was glad that the bird came and saved her from falling and hitting the ground at a massive speed. Though Zero came with an instant thought that the bird that came to save her belonged to the very same girl, as she yelled out commands to the phoenix.

Though he was surprised that she was ok after what just happened. She went up to Zero and and thanked him, she then mentioned "Octavious". That must have been her pheonix. Hey no problem and your welcome. But are you ok? It looked kinda rough up there. But I'm just glad to see that your safe though. Zero then looked up and scanned the bird as it had left the scene. Though Zero knew that this wasnt the last time that they would see the gryphon, and he got the impression that it would eventually come back for more. Revenge of somewhat. Was that your pheonix that came to your rescue? It was an amazing thing to see. He must be very fond of you.
Zero then sat down on the ground with his legs criss-crossed and waited for an answer or comments.

Jasmine smiled and sat down with Zero. She watched Octavious fly up into the sky and soar around them. “Stick around for more,” she said only half joking. She knew that gryphon would get more to come back with it. They always do. Gryphons are creatures to be respected and honored, and they knew it. Jasmine learned all of this from her friend Jahesd. He was an adventurer who kept archives of many different animals and critters. She had to stay on the alert side for now.

Jasmine was not so happy that she had been disturbed. She was having such a nice day. Her peace was good while it lasted. She got comfortable sitting down and looked at Zero. She smiled and said, “I am okay. I am used to riding on Octavious. It was not rough at all. He is my phoenix. I love him so. And I am sure that he is very fond of me. This is not the only time that he has saved my life.” Jasmine looked up at the grand bird of fire. She looked back at Zero and asked, “So what are you doing in the Debon Plains?”

Rich laughed as she was half joking and then looked up at the bird of fire. It was amazing to see how she raised such a bird, that Rich knew they were a little hard to tame, but not so. Rich then got a thought and a bad feeling that the gryphon would come back, but Rich tried to keep the negative thoughts out of his mind. He then looked at the girl and she did look quite familiar. Just out of curiousity Rich wanted her name and if she was in some certain kind of guild. He then decided to answer her questions first and make any comments necessary. Thats great, Its nice to see someone share their lives with their loved animal companions, and share bonds between them as they are very loyal to do so. Rich then looked around him, somthing came to him but was indecision. He was then asked what had broughten him to the plains. Umm... that I really dont know. I guess I spontaneously arrived here, without a purpose. I travel and walk alot so I can end up anywhere by fault. Heh heh... Then he decided to ask her for a name and if she was in any sort of guild. But before he bothered asking, it struck him that she was in the same guild as her, he remembered her name as well, though it had been hiding in his memory. Jasmine. The name came to him instantly. He asked her anyways to start a conversation, Umm.. May I have your name? I am sure I have seen you in Orodreth but I dont think we have ever talked before. Though Im pretty sure I have seen you around. Rich then stood silent and waited for a reply of some sort and hoped he answered her questions clearly.

Jasmine smiled and looked at Rich. She might as well have answered his questions, since he had answered her questions. It was only fair. She was sitting down now, her legs crossed and her backpack in between her legs so she was not so revealing. She smiled when his face had finally come into memory. She had seen him before in the Orodreth guild. She smiled and began to converse with him.

“I am Jasmine of Laurudy. Please just call me Jasmine. I do recognize your face. You are also from the Orodreth Guild are you not? I am pleased to meet you. I was just strolling through the plains, thinking that no one comes out here. I was wrong. I was enjoying a peaceful walk. I do not think this is the normal behavior for gryphons to attack out of nowhere.”

Jasmine kept her smile and hoped that she had not come off so rude. This was her first impression and she did not want to ruin it. She had only met the man several minutes ago and she did not wish to lose his trust so fast. Nor did she wish for him to think any thing wrong of her.

Rich listened carfully and tried to put everything she said in his head one at a time. He thought right. She was in the same guild as he was, though he didnt really want to talk about the guild right now, cause he has gone through some hard times, trying to blend in but it seemed as if there was someone in particular Rich had in mind, it had been bugging him since the first few weeks he has been in Orodreth. He kept a look on his face that seemed to bug him, but then tried to whipe it off before Jasmine questioned him about this. It still had not gone away, but then Rich got the thought that she wouldnt notice. Though it was pretty noticable.

"Well hey you know what, thats great, my name is- umm....... well call me which ever one you'd prefer Rich, Zero, which ever one I dont care. And Im glad to meet you as well. And like I said, I arrived here by fault not by choice." Rich for some reason couldnt shake this off. It was really bugging him, he went on and proceeded not caring anymore if she did question him or not. "Oh! umm... the gryphon, yeah he was angry I guess but I dont know what for." Rich then had been messing with his sheath and messed around with the hilt of his Angelic sword. Rich was a little excited that he made a new freind today and that she was part of the guild he was. It was always great meeting someone new every once in a while. Especially some one familiar.

Rich was a little eager to know more about Jasmine and that he felt like asking as soon as he got this thing off his mind. He tried relaxing some and then asked her. " So would you like to tell me more about yourself, Im interested in hearing." Rich then had this expression on his face and was pretty much eager about the whole situation. She was a cool person to talk to and stuff, so Rich kept this convo. going.

Jasmine smiled at him. She was happy to have been disturbed now. For if she had not been interupted, she would not have met Rich, or Zero. She wondered about the expression on the face of this new friend of hers. She did not expect a face like that. She hoped that she had done nothing wrong. She did not want to offend some one so new to her.

"I am sorry, but I could not resist in asking, but are you okay? I hope I did not offend you in any way. Please tell me. What is wrong my friend."

After saying that, Jasmine heard Octavious shrieking in the air. She looked up and then looked in the direction that the phoenix was headed. More gryphons. She immediately stood up and and called down Octavious. The fiery bird instantly flew down to her and landed some fifteen, twenty feet away. There must have been at least ten huge gryphons off in the distance. Jasmine was curious as to why the gryphons were acting this way. She withdrew her katana from her sheath and looked at Rich.

"Looks like we wont have much of a conversation right now. I do not want to kill any of these magnifiscent creatures. They will only attract more gryphons. I will slap them with the flat of my sword. That should do it for them. If yours or my life in danger, then we have no choice but to kill."

Jasmine mounted Octavious and decided that she would use her fire lash. She returned her katana to its home sheath and muttered a few archaic words and a long and fiery whip emerged from her hand. She tap her foot on Octavious' side and with one flap of the phoenix's wings, it was up in the air and floating.

"I am going to go air born and battle these creatures. Keep an eye out for me and I will keep one out for you. Good luck to you Rich. May the celestials keep watch over you, as I will. Just give me a holler if you are in need of help and I will do the same for you."

Jasmine's war attitude was taking over her now. She had not been this way since the great fall of her home land. She was barking out orders to her new friend like he was an insubordinate. She felt terrible, but she wanted him not to be harmed.

He didnt want to answer Jasmine now, or ever about the question Rich had been asked, but he would've told her anyway since he didnt want to upset somone he just met. Hopefully Rich could have told her clearly what had been going on with him. He could talk to her as she was his guild leader and she was the person to talk to now. But slowly his expression on his face grew out of the stage that put him into this situation that bugged him. He still was indecision and didnt know if he could tell her this or not. Usually he doesnt tell anyone things like this unless he really knows them well, so he just met Jasmine, still not sure. He decided to answer her so that she didnt feel all ignored.

"Can I please talk to you about this when we pretty much know each other well. I really dont talk about these things to people I just met. No offense though. I just need more time to mend the situation Im in right now. But I appreciate you trying to help me and all........just now is not the right time to be discussing this. Im sorry, but if I knew you just a little better."

Luckily for Rich, Jasmines pheonix had saved Rich's converstion untill a better time, as if now was a time to get ready to defend themselves. Though Rich made bad, but not too bad, impression about Jasmine wanting to talk more about the situation he was in. He would try dropping the subject if it were asked again, but if Jasmine really wanted to know the racing thoughts that went in his head, there might have been a good chance that she would hear Rich out, though she might have been one of the few people Rich ever talked to about these things.

Rich noticed Jasmine sheath out her katana, preparing herself for self-defense or to scare off these gryphons, though Rich really had no idea what she exactly was about to do. She mentioned if things got out of control then she would not hesitate to kill if necessary. Rich wanted to help her out as well, but for now he would remain on the below Jasmine as she would eventually ride her pheonix and do what she had to.

"Hey I would love to help as well, ok. Ill watch out for you. Though I dont have any kind of transportation that will give me flight, so I will remain here. and keep a look out. Though I do not feel comfortable you going up there by yourself with all these gryphons. Somthing might happen. But if you are confident and think your very sure about yourself then go right on ahead, I cant really cant stop you can I?"

Rich then saw her almost taking off, he waited to see if she would respond to Rich. If she didnt then there was really nothing he could do but wait there keeping an eye out for her, making sure that she does not get injured. He thanked her for the comment she made to him. Though there was once a time where he did refuse to believe that he was angel, though it doesnt bug him anymore about that situation, this time there was a new situation that he did not really want to talk about.

"Hey! Jasmine... you be carefull up there alright. Like I said, I will keep an eye out for the both of you and your pheonix." He wanted her to know that she would feel safe than to go up there without any support.

Zero then waited patiently and looked up for anything that could happen now. He would sheath out his sword when the time came. But for now, all he could do was watch over her and make sure everything turns out allright. The gryphons now seemed to be approaching and wanted her to hurry off and do what she needed.
When they would get back, if Jasmine was still intersted in hearing what came to Rich earlier then she might have been told what was going on with him. But for now all that needed to be concentraited was the gryphon's and self-defense.

Jasmine looked at Rich before she took off. She was going to thank him for his concern right then, but a huge gryphon came charging at him on ground. The beast was running straight for him. She pointed with her fire lash and screamed,

“LOOK OUT! Turn around Rich! Right behind you!”

Jasmine was going to send Octavious to charge at the bird, but as she made him turn in the air, a gryphon had tackled him in mid air. The collision was hard and knocked Jasmine off of the fire bird. Claws were digging in to Octavious’s side. The gashes that the birds made were wide enough to stick your hand in it. Fire and magma was spouting out of his side. The shrieking of the phoenix was so loud that Jasmine had to cover her ears. The gryphon the was charging toward Rich changed its’ coarse and went to Octavious. Now five gryphons were on top of the phoenix, despite the burning. Jasmine was extremely angry at this. She loved her phoenix so and she did not want to see this. Her eyes started glow with a red and her fire lash started to even hotter. She ran toward to pile up and whipped the birds on their back. A crack could be heard when the flame whip struck. There were now explosions coming from the phoenix and the gryphons started to fly away once they saw that three of them were dead, burning on the ground. Tears ran down her cheek as she saw Octavious like this. She ran up to the bird as he lay on the ground. It seemed that she stood in the magma unharmed, but it is only the same thing as if were her friend’s human blood. She dropped to her knees placed her head on his side. His breathing was weak and his heart beat slowing down.

“Oh Octavious,” she said with sobs in her voice, “Why? Why did this have to happen to you? You will be okay. You will be okay. Don’t worry now. You will be okay.”

Jasmine repeated those words over and over again. Time seemed to cease and the air seemed to stop moving. All was silent and the world around seemed to not exist. It seemed as though it was there but it was not there at the same time. Jasmine brought her head back up and looked around. Confused, she looked at Rich and then back to Octavious. The bird of fire looked back at Jasmine and seemed to smile. It lay its head back down on the ground and a deep rumble came from inside the bird. Jasmine got up and walked backwards from the phoenix, afraid of what was going to happen. If this is what she thought, then Jasmine and Rich would be one of the few people to ever witness such a site. Jasmine now knew what was to happen. She turned around quickly and grabbed Rich by the arm. She pulled him away from the phoenix quite a distance and then turned the both of them around. The sky had turned black like ash and the air warm. They watched phoenix from there safe distance.

“You might want to shield your eyes. A friend told me that this tends to be very bright.”

Jasmine told Rich to shield his eyes as she did to hers’. She watched the fire from afar in eagerness. In an instant the bird seemed to swell and explode. The explosion was too bright to watch. It sent flames and magma thousands of feet into the air. It looked like a volcano out of nowhere. All was heard from the explosion was an extremely loud pop and then a ringing in the ears. After the brightness dimmed down, Jasmine was able to look. All could be seen from the fire was a small black pile on the ground. She smiled and ran to the scene of flames. The flames seemed not to be hot to her. She fell to her knees and sat next to the pile of what turned out to be ashes. She waited there, looking for any sign of movement. A smile grew on her face as she saw a little bald head emerge from the ashes. A chirp rose into the air and Jasmine cried with tears. She picked up the bird and said,

“Hello Calphurnia, you are my new baby phoenix.”

Rich had seen Jasmine turn around to tell him somthing, it was till then he saw that Jasmine had her fire lash whiped out in front of her and had an expression of shock and terror on her face. She yelled out to him to warn him that a gryphon was charging at him. Once he heard loud and clear from her, Rich had rapidly turned around to see that a gryphon came charging at massive speed toward him. Rich's jaw had dropped straight down and his eyes were wide opened. He ducked down fast but then lost balance and fell on the ground as the gryphon came near him fast and to change its coarse. Rich put his arm over his head as he thought he was going to get hit.

It was sad to see that the gryphons came to attack Jasmines pheonix, as he also saw her fall off the bird of fire. Rich noticed to see Jasmine clearly, he saw the look of angerness in her eyes and noticed her lash's fire seemed to rage even more. He saw her run up to the gryphons and to attack them violently. Rich then had to follow her, but before then Rich drew his angelic sword out from its sheath and now began to follow. When she would strike Rich heard the sounds of the lash whipping at the gryphons. He then came to notice that her pheonix came to the point where it began to die on her. This was sad and almost depressing. He saw Jasmine go up to her bird and sat there crying. Zero didnt really like moments like this and went up to Jasmine to cheer her up.

"Hey Jasmine....umm... are you allright? Its sad, I know, I know how you feel, I have been through things like this.But hey look on the bright side, you will be getting a new baby phoenix." Rich tried to get the words out of his mouth, but the words werent quite there as if all he had in his mind were were some sympathetic thoughts, but then he had a sympathetic look on his face. He really didnt know what to do.

He felt Jasmine's hand grasp his arm and pull him away from the scene. Rich knew why she did this. It was because an explosion was to occur in a moment. As he was being held back, Rich followed her lead, when he noticed the sky turned dark
and the oxygen seemed to warm. He then would see a scene he hadn't really seen in his life though. He was then bieng warned that he should sheild his eyes. Rich did so when the bird started to combust and specs of magma fly in the sky. Rich then put his arm over his his head protecting himself from any harm that could be done. When the sky seemed to clear she would then be left but a pile of ashes and to see that a baby pheonix crawl its way out of the ashes that slowly piled up.

Rich then went up to the bird and came to his knee's to place a finger on its soft warm head. "Hello little birdy. How are you doing. Soo cute." Rich said to it preciously as he enjoyed to see things like this. Though it was cute to see this bird make its way out of its ashes. "So Jasmine are you happy with your new baby pheonix? I was astonished to see what happened to Octavious, I never seen such a thing. Though it was sad to see him..well you know." Rich didnt want to sound rude to say it and hoped that Jasmine didnt find him so rude. "Well....hey Im sorry to see what just happened to Octavious.I hope you will never have to go through this again." Rich then came to sit down with his legs crossed and his hands resting on the ground.

Rich was then wondering if those tears that Jasmine had were tears of joy, and excitement of if they were still tears from experiencing Octavious's death.
He waited to see if she had any thing to say to Rich as he stood there quietly with a smile on his face, eager to see that she enjoyed her newborn pheonix. Rich hoped that, that was the last of the gryphons and hoped that they wouldnt come back for another random attack on Jasmine and him. " I really hope that more gryphons come back to attack, that would be horrible." This time if the gryphons were to come back with another attack Rich would then have to kill, only for the sake of their lives and her baby pheonix.

Rich this time would not stand back to see such tragic moments. He would stand next to Jasmine and fight back along side with her. For now he enjoyed the moment with Jasmine as her bird came along.

Jasmine was so happy with her new phoenix. What she had seen just a few moments ago was amazing. She had never the likes of it before. She looked up at Zero and smiled. She was holding Calphurnia in her hands now. The tiny phoenix was very small and warm. It had big black eyes that looked up at the two strangers and then chirped at Jasmine. Calphurnia started to stretch her little wings and slowly flap them. It got to its two feet on Jasmine’s hands and moved around a bit before tripping on its own toe. Jasmine laughed and looked at Zero. She smiled and took her attention back to her baby phoenix.

Jasmine got up and saw that Calphurnia was strong enough to stand on her own and be perched upon Jasmine’s shoulder. She got up and smiled at Rich. She was happy now. For some reason she was not even worried that some more gryphon could possible come back and attack, but that just seemed to be too much. She put her arm over her friends shoulder and said,

“Come my friend, let us go to another spot on these hills and plains. I am glad you are with me. I could have very well died right just a few moments ago. I am also happy that you are here this moment, because I am sure that you would stop me from seeking the gryphon nest and destroying them. That is some thing I would do you know. They have hurt my poor, poor Octavious and now he is dead. I would very much like to seek revenge.”

Jasmine walked away from the ashy scene with a smile on her face. Despite what had just happened a few moments ago, it seemed as though nothing had really happened. Maybe it was that Jasmine was hurt so by the tragedy of her Octavious, she was not really able to feel any more upset emotions. Perhaps the tragedy had taken the bad emotions out of her momentarily. For all she knew, Rich may have been all kinds of upset, but she was not. She walked, not paying attention to anything else. She walked, staring blankly into the air. As of now she had not destination, she had no motive but to learn more about her new friend and wished not to be disturbed this time.

Zero now was at least happy to see that Jasmine had been really excited and happy about her newborn pheonix. He watched the little pheonix enter the new world and get used to the enviroment around him. Zero had this smile of joy on his face to see every one was doing ok. Though it seemed as if Jasmine forgot all about Octavious. But Zero didnt pay much attention to it and tried hard not to, he knew that it might upset her once again if it were mentioned. Zero didnt say a word about Octavious, though it was quite sad to see such a thing, but yet amazing to see how the new phoenix came to Jasmine.

Zero then heard her words that she had to say to Zero as she rested her arm on his shoulder. He then answered back to her. "Hey its no problem, Im glad I met a another person today, Im glad its a freind as well. I will help you out in any way I can if you ever need help." He then heard her speak of Octavious, he didnt want to talk about him and have a converstation over him because it might have brought her to point where she could get a little sad. This is the last thing Zero ever wanted to do, to get her sad again. But maybe she didnt really care now since that she is more concentraited on her newborn pheonix.

Zero then felt like he could trust her now. But then he forgot about the converstation he had with her earlier. So he wouldnt be bringing this up any time soon."So where are we going? To the other side of these hills you say?It sounds good to me, I dont want those gryphons coming back, but I doubt that'll happen. And as for revenge I could care less if I went with you to go and get back your revenge, but I dont think that would be somthing wise to do."

Zero then walked with her as they were heading to the other side of the place. He then decided to start a conversation with her, but he just didnt know what to talk about right now. All that was in his mind was the scene that he just saw, and how he witnessed a birth of a pheonix. "So, do you have anything to talk about. Wanna start a conversation?" He asked her as he didnt know what else to talk about.They still needed a little while longer to get on the other side.

Jasmine laughed as Rich had nothing to say. They had just witnessed the miracle of a birth of a phoenix. She had Calphurnia on her shoulder and one hand up to pet its head. She was happy now that she had a phoenix again. She had decided that she did not want to stay angry at the gryphons and not to remember the horrible death of her phoenix. She looked at Zero while she was walking, smiling, and said,

“I am surprised that you do not have anything to speak of. Well alright then. Let me see here. What do I have to say…. Oh yes. Thank you Zero. I am indebt to you. You saved my life and your very presence prevents me from doing idiotic things that I would later regret. I thank you. So tell me. What are you interested in. What type of life do you prefer. Do like to adventure, use magic, fight in armed combat? What do you prefer?”

Jasmine gave her attention to Calphurnia for a moment as she squawked once again and jumped around on her shoulder. She looked to Rich to see if he was going to reply right away and reached into her pocket and took out some of her bread. That was her meal when she traveled or aimlessly waltzed through the wilderness. It gave her everything she needed. The only other thing she needed was water to drink and that could be found nearly any where. Jasmine gave the baby phoenix the piece of bread and it ate away.

Jasmine trusted Rich a lot now. She felt like a close friend to him now and she enjoyed that feeling. It had been a long while since she had felt that way. She had not a close friend since the days were bright and her family lived in her home land. That was a while ago and the days are no more and her family no longer live in her home land because it ceases to exist. The closest friend she ever had died in Jasmine’s arms while trying to defend what was left of Laurudy from the invaders. Jasmine has almost forgotten what Laurudy looks like anymore. Her royalty status meant nothing to the invaders and it was taken away from her like the lives were taken from her loved ones. How she missed the good days.

The past is the past and Jasmine now has a new trusted friend. She was afraid to loose this. She had already been through too much. It was uncommon for a teenager to lead a rebel group and to fight in war. She was blessed and cursed at the same time. She is one of the leaders of the Orodreth guild because of her experiences in leadership, war and tactics, but what teenager should experience the things she has? She has too much to lose. She would be careful around Rich. She did not want to mess things up with this new tie between her and this trusted friend.

Rich was laughing along with Jasmine as well, he really thought it was funny that he didnt have anything to talk about. And usually he had somthing to to say all the time, and he would especially have all kinds of conversations with people. But sadly he had nothing to dicuss with her. Somtimes he would joke around and be funny all the way but the times of being funny were no longer in mind to him. He would be somtimes funny but not quite, he had grown out of those clowning around moments. Though he was always a nice and great guy to be with. Kind and outgoing.

Luckily for him Jasmine brought up a conversation so they could speak more and get to know each other a bit better and would be his perfect chance to maybe know her life a little better as well. He noticed her searching for a conversation in her mind for the both could speak of. He then answered her question as she had came up with somthing. "Hey thanks, if there is anything that I can do to help, just ask, I will and would be glad to help you out in any sort of way." Zero then noticed her speak of what his interest where. He had interests sure but he really had nothing to speak of. He stood silent after this one. He searched his racing mind and then came up with an answer. "Im actually interested in a lot of things. Im interested in meeting lots of knew people and get along with as much as I can. Im glad to see were both doing great right now. As for combat, I try to use a little bit of both magic and armed weapons. And the life I prefer would be just an ordinary and easy life, you know, I just like to kick back somtimes and get entertained."
He then turned his head to the side to look her in the eyes and told her, "What type of life do you prefer and basically everything you just told me.

Zero then waited to hear her anwser but then moved his eyes towards her baby pheonix. It looked cute just standing there on her shoulder and enjoying its self to its new owner. He noticed that the pheonix ate the bread it was offered in a hurry without any explanation to it. It was funny as Zero giggled seeing the bird enjoy life. Rich then felt somthing within him and that this bond of freindship between Jasmine and him would go on and on and not seem to stop. It was like they were the best of freinds a person could make and share things others wouldnt. He was calm though waiting for a relpy from her.