Paws ill-suited for this terrain, the wolf walked. Tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth, panting to find some sort of relief from the sun. He'd been traveling for awhile, without food and without water. The canine wouldn't last very long out here. Finally, he gave a whine, and his legs gave out on him. The sands shifted, as the red wolf fell to them. Eyes slowly closing, his thought went to the only person he trusted. Someone whose scent he'd been following, that got him through the desert in the first place.


Something told Pheonix she should be here, in the desert. Her jacket removed, and shoved into the pack at her side, she walked. It was so hot, that even the feathers of her wings seemed dried out. Ears flicking back and forth in a vain effort to keep cool. But Pheonix couldn't leave. Not at least 'till she found out why she had the need to be here. Pheonix had ben travellign the desert for three days now. Knowing full well what sort of things the heat can do to a person, most of her travelling was done at night. But this morning, she discovered she wa srunning low on water. Pheonix had to find out what was drawing her here, and find it so she could leave. She used her staff to aid her in travelling over the dunes. Pheonix could've sworn she could feel the heat of the sands through her boots.
"Damnable heat."
Pheonix muttered, not daring to waste the energy to speak loudly. Besides, there didn't seem to be anyone her to talk to in the first place. Suddenly, her complaints were forgotten as the sands shifted beneath her feet, and she slid down a dune.

Cursing and shaking sand from her clothing, Pheonix stood. Her ears perked, as she caught the scent of something familiar. For though it seemed that this was a stroke of bad luck, in the end it turned out to be a good thing. At the base of this dune, was the very thing Pheonix had been looking for.
"Genisis?"


Pheonix knelt, holding the wolf's head in her palms. She rubbed a hand between his ears, searching for sign of life. The red wolf's tail slowly began to sway back and forth. The woman he'd been searching for was here! Right here in front of him! In his excitment, he tried to stand. But lack of water left him weak. Pheonix shook her head, and gave her friend the last of the water she had.
"Now the trick is going to be ... how the two of us are going to get out of here..."

"Perhaps I can be of help, miss." The azure-clad figure spoke to her through the flowing sands behind her, his steps almost unhearable as they come closer to the two figures before stopping at their side, two knees arching outwards as he kneeled down. "I can provide you with water, if that is your only concern, so long as you grant me your water bottle for a few moments. Of course, if you seek a way out, then I am afraid that the only suggestion I have is to use the staff and pull ourselves up."

Thomas looked upon the two of them as he was passing through and, out of pity, decided to see what they were doing in such unforgiving lands. Using his staff he navigated his way down the dune to them, rising up to his feet before walking to them, the sands offering silence as they continued to shift around him. He could tell that these lands would be unstable and so it was within reason to use the staff instead of the palms for stability.

"These sands seem like they want to continue moving." Thomas spoke to them both. "Let us hope that the winds around here do not pick up or we may find ourselves needing your wolf's senses more than we would like." Thomas then looked to the skies and around him. "Of course, there may be a chance that we could find food, yet in this heat, who can tell?" He then shook his head and sighed, holding his hand out to the female. "Anyway, may I borrow your bottle for a moment?"

Ears quickly swiveled backwards at the sound of a voice. More surprised than anything, Pheonix quickly turned. She usually prided herself on her natural ability to pick up the sounds and scents of anything that should happen to approach her from behind. But she'd been so distracted that she hadn't noticed, besides the fact that the sands muffled all footsteps. At the offer of water, she relaxed, finding out that the man now standing beside her was a helpful sort, and didn't seem at all phased by Pheonix's ... mixed heritage.

"Err .... thanks."

Pheonix was momentarily distracted by the wolf at her side. He'd grabbed ahold of her hand in his maw, and Pheonix wasn't quite sure why. She lifted his head, and looked him in the eyes; muttering something that only the wolf could understand. The canine closed his eyes, and lay his head on Pheonix's knee."He's been wandering out here for a long time just to find me....-Pheonix mentally shook herself, and looked back to Thomas.

"Sorry, got distracted. My name's Pheonix, and this here is Genisis."

Busy rubbing the wolf's ears, Pheonix reached for the bottle at her side and placed it in the hand stretched out to her.

"Thanks, again."

Smiling at the expense of their surprise, Thomas accepted the bottle and looked to it. -Sure enough, it's empty.- Thomas thought as his fingertip touched the rim of the bottle, his free hand reaching into the pockets and retreiving a particular book. It did not take long to find the page he wanted and he then looked once more to the bottle and sighed.

"Create Water"

In a few moments the water bottle began to fill, almost overflowing as water seemed to pour out of it. Thomas reached his head back as he taken in what was flowing freely out of the bottle - only a few mouthfuls, however, as he did not use the full energy that the spell could produce. -I want enough energy to survive.- He thought to himself as he looked to the owner of the bottle. Smiling, he offered it back to them, the book now being placed back under cover.

"Then it is a pleasure to meet you both, Pheonix and Genisis." Thomas spoke towards them. "I am Thomas. A mage, if you could not tell already, though I was once more powerful and needed no assistance from books." Despite the memory coming back to him, he smiled. "May I ask what you are, if anything? You do appear like a shapeshifter friend I once knew back in my home realm."

-Shouldn't have said that...- Thomas thought to himself as he blinked for a moment, distracted. He shivered slightly as he returned, the heat of his body acting for a moment that it could not feel the intense heat that was around them. Looking to Pheonix for a moment, he then turned to the wolf, extending a hand slowly to it, his smiling face hoping to show that he is no enemy.

Pheonix accepted the bottle back with a grateful nod, and immediatly offered it to her canine companion. Once he'd drank his fill, Pheonix took a little for herself and placed the bottle back into the pack at her waist.

"A mage, huh? I've only met a few, none in these lands 'till now though."

Pheonix shrugged, it wasn't a statement of real importance. Pheonix always just said whatever was on her mind at the moment. She only laughed at the 'what are you' question. She'd heard it often enough, and until recently, hadn't even known herself.

'Can't you tell? I'm a pure-bred mutt."

Genisis only twitched an ear as a hand was stretched towards him. If Pheonix was relaxed, then he would be relaxed. Besides, he was too tired after his long trek to get into a fight today.

"Well, I'm a shapeshifter as well, I suppose. I can change into a wolf if I need to."

Thomas gazed upon them both as Pheonix spoke to him, Thomas' hand gently stroking the fur on Genisis as he looked between them both. He partially sighed with relief that she had not asked about his 'home realm' and nodded to reassure himself. The mention of her being a shapeshifter came as a little surprise to him, but not enough for him to show it. It was hard for him to tell between a shapeshifter and a normal being, though talking animals definitely meant something was wrong. Shapeshifter is often the more obvious choice.

"You seem akin with your wolf partner, Pheonix." Thomas spoke softly to her so as to not alarm Genisis. "You both seem as calm as each other. Not often do I see a carnivore such as a wolf tire as much as another being, shapeshifter or otherwise." He smiled to the wolf for a moment before rising up and looking around his surroundings. "So do you journey much across these lands?"

The question seemed odd, but he knew nothing about this land he was in. He could not think as to where he was in relation to Livarencia nor guess. He sought comfort in the form that his companion will take him away from all that this land can deliver, the Planeswalker, Zackar. He knew inside that this would not happen soon, though, and realising this caused him to sigh loudly. With a further, more gentle sigh, he lowered himself once more to Pheonix and Genisis' level, feeling content that there was just them.

Pheonix nodded, she and the wolf had been travelling together for about a year now. Of course, her being partly wolf only speeded their friendship and brought them closer. Pheonix slowly stood, brushing sand from her clothes with the back of her hands.

"I don't often travel these lands."

She stretched her arm out, and swung her hand along the sands, motioning to the desert itself. Pheonix had never been to this desert before, though she'd explored most of the forests in Imythess, and a few of the towns. Dropping her hand to her side, Pheonix leaned on her staff a bit.

"I usually stick to the forests. They suit Genisis better, and me as well I suppose. But my reason for being in this desert in the first place was because Genisis and I were seperated a while back. I just had the feeling that I should walk through here, and then I stumbled upon Genisis. I'm not sure how long he's been out here in this heat though. Thats why he seems kinda lazy at the moment. He's just tired."

After a moment, Pheonix slide back to the sands, resting a hand on Genisis' muzzle. The wolf was sleeping, despite the heat.

-'I don't often travel these lands.'- Thomas repeated to himself. -Seems like she knows a lot about the other lands in this realm. If we get out of this desert perhaps she can tell me about it.- The thought giving him something interesting to look forward to, he looked to them both. Nodding as she mentioned that Genisis was tired, he looked upon him, smirking at the sleeping wolf.

"Well at least he's comfortable enough to sleep with me around." Thomas commented, pinning down his laughter after a brief escape. "I guess I could be thankful for this heat. Usually wolves tend to want to bite me." Relaxing himself, he sat himself upon the sands, closing his eyes for a moment before smiling, his gaze falling upon Pheonix. "Anyways, what would you like to do once Genisis awakes?"

This was a question of interest, especially since he could not really talk under this heat. Reflecting on the heat made him a little surprised then that the wolf was fast asleep by Pheonix's side. His mind wandering, he withdrew the sapphire jewel from his tunic and sighed, placing it into the gap in his forehead and wriggling it a bit. -Why can't I be what I once was?- Thomas thought and openly sighed, lifting off the jewel and looking upon it, his eyes gazing upon its structure and colour before slipping it back into the pocket and sighing, gazing upon the sands.

"Nah ... he wouldn't bite you anyways. Genisis 'ill only bite if I feel like biting someone. Then he'll do it for me."

Pheonix smiled along with the comment. Despite the heat, she was in rather good spirits. Then again it didn't take much, as Pheonix was generally an easy-going sort. Pheonix leaned back, and lay on the sand; not seeming to care that she was getting sand all over her clothing. Pheonix was a lazy sort as well, except if there was a fight to be dealed with. But there was no threat of that, so Pheonix closed her eyes against the harsh sun and shrugged.

" 'Sides getting out of this blasted desert you mean? ... I dunno. Just aimlessly wander about like we usually do. That's my life, in a nutshell, so to speak. Wander here and there, usually getting myself into trouble along the way with my big mouth."

It was true, Pheonix always got herself into trouble with her smart-ass comments. But she'd never thought about changing that, it was just the way she was. Despite all that though, Pheonix has a good heart, always taking the time to help others in need. That was another thing that got her in trouble often. If some innocnet person was in need of aid, Pheonix would do things so that all the oppressors anger would be turned to her instead. Then Pheonix always dealt with the matter.

"Prolly the first thing I'll do though. Is get something to eat. Soemthing for Genisis too. He must be starving."

"Then I should be glad you don't want to bite me, then." Thomas laughed in response. Feeling Pheonix rising up with high spirits, Thomas felt more comfortable also, crossing his legs as he sat more comfortably on the sands, his palms gently resting on the soft fabric. -I need to change...- Thomas thought, but he needed other clothes to change and he had none. Sighing, he looked around once more before he turned and looked upon Pheonix again.

-A wanderer...- Thomas thought for a moment as she mentioned that she had no specific plan. -The sort that journey everywhere and know about noplace. I should be one of these - or maybe I am?- His mind pondered this for a moment, thinking that perhaps he was, seeing as how he knows nothing about where he's been or where he's going to. All he knows is that the lands are a part of the realm of Imythess.

"Yes, I think we all need something to eat." Thomas replied in relation to her suggestion to get some food first. "We can have as much water as we like, but we will need more than that to get us moving. Where do you suggest we start looking for food in this desert, though...? There has to be some chance of an oasis or something before we have a chance of finding much here, don't you think?"

-Shut up, Thomas. Now!- Thomas yelled at himself in his thoughts and he zipped the lip as fast as he could. Lowering his gaze, he wished that he had said nothing on that subject. -You've said it already. Now just stop being a dork and move on. Do something.- But he did not know what to do and so he continued to sit, still uncomfortable with what he had said to Pheonix about the food.

Shaking her head, Pheonix laughed as well at the comment.
"Nah. I only want to bite people who deserve it. Like ... mean people, you know?"
Once one gets Pheonix talking, not much can make her stop. She enjoys friendly conversation immensely, mostly because she rarely gets a chance to speak to people on friendly terms. She supposed it was partly because of the three different species that made up her person; which most people were afraid of for some reason, and partly because Pheonix was brutally honest and always sarcastic. But for those that get to know her, Pheonix can be a fun person to be around.
"Hmm .. an oasis? ... That would probably be the best place to look. That is, if there is one out here."
Pheonix wasn't quite sure why Thomas had suddenly stopped talking. Pheonix guessed he was just thinking about something. Pheonix sat up, and began running her fingers in the sand, drawing idle patterns.
"But if there is an oasis, we'll find it. Don't worry, me and Genisis are good hunters. And I think I'm a pretty good cook, so everything'll work out. Alright?"

His surprise almost became obvious across his face. She had not seemed bothered with what he had said at all! What praise was smiling upon him seems to be working so far. But he held his composure as he looked back to Pheonix, his gaze sensing the knowledge of their own abilities as well as their confidence. Satisfied, he nods, looking around him once more before parting his lips.

"Of course, to cook we need a fire." Thomas commented. "Even though this heat is immense, it will not cook whatever we find. Perhaps I could make the campfire once we have food to cook or, if it is possible, we could boil what we have." Thomas grinned at this. "I heard that the meat goes rubbery and very tender when boiled, so I would like to try it sometime."

-Hopefully she is a good enough cook for this.- Thomas remarked to himself within his thoughts as he rose to his feet, his mouth opening to yawn silently as he looks to her water bottle. -Seems there's still water in there.- Thomas ponders as he picks up his staff from the sands and smiles to Pheonix, waiting for her to lead the way.

Pheonix was always confident, in her abilities and in herself. Most of the time, she was usually too confident. And though that fact often got her into trouble, Pheonix did not care. Overconfidence was better than doubting one's self; at least, thats the wy Pheonix saw things. "If we happen across some kind of bird or something. I bet an egg would cook if we cracked it on a rock. I heard somewhere that one can fry an egg on a rock if the heat is bad enough. And its pretty hot out here." It was hard to tell whether Pheonix was serious or not, but it was true that someone told her that once.

"Annnnnyways ..... Ok, then." Pheonix stood, and shook the sand from her clothes. She gently nudged Genesis with a foot, and the wolf blinked at her and slowly stood. "Guess, what Gen. We're goiing to look for some food." The wolf stood; his tail swayed from side to side at the very mention of food. Pheonix laughed and turned back to Thomas.

"Genesis acts like such a pup sometimes." She smiled, and picked up her staff. Looking over the sands, Pheonix tried to determine the best course to take. Her ears twitched. "What d'ya think Gen .... North? ... or West?." Genesis only stared at her, and Pheonix suddenly turned West. She knew that there probably wasn't anything to the East, as that was the direction the wolf had walked. And South was where Pheonix had travelled, and she knew there was definetly nothing there.

-Cooking eggs on rocks...?- Thomas thought for a moment. -Not a good idea, what with all this sand here. We'd be eating more sand than egg!- Shaking off his laughter with this thought, he turned and watched as the two decided which way to go. Genisis' happiness brought a pleasant, warming smile to his face, further enhanced by Pheonix's comment about him being a pup at times.

He suddenly felt glad that she decided not to head 'north' for, if he was honest, he knew nothing was there. Yet he had lost all sense of direction from all that had occured and was thankful that his newly-found friends could navigate better than he. Satisfied, he turned to thinking about what they would have for their meal and how it would be cooked. The desert had seemed to be barren and lifeless for the most part, which made Thomas wonder as to whether they should head for some sort of town or something before they wear away from hunger.

Wishing to remain silent, though, the weakened battle mage walked on, his staff helping him navigate the terrain and helped with his balance over the dunes as he followed Pheonix and Genisis through the barren wastes that laid before them. Thomas never thought that he would be out looking for food in this place but he soon understood that he had to find food or nobody was going to last as long as the nearest town.

Pheonix smiled back, she was oddly enough, in rather good spirits dispite the fact that they were kinda lost in the middle of the desert. But Pheonix was always a carefree sort, never stopping to take time to worry about much. She continued walking, pausing every so often to make sure Thomas was still right behind her. Pheonix walked fast sometimes, and so she was trying to make sure she didn't right now. Her ears flicked back and forth as she walked, trying to make sure she didn't miss anything that might possible be out here in the desert. Pheonix didn't hear anything, other than their own muffled footsteps on the sands. Pheonix wasn't one to keep quite long, so she decided to make conversation.

"So ... what made you decided to wander about a place like this anyways? Few stop here for a vacation."

-She seems so free-spirited...just like I was at one time...- Thomas thought as he let out a sigh before smiling back to her. Her constant checks upon him, he felt, were unnecessary so he tried to catch up to them with all the speed he could make. He was also alert for even the slightest chance of food but all he could hear was the odd call of a passing vulture, often circling once or twice overhead before realising that those beneath him still have energy and life left. He could not attack one with whatever strength was granted him (not that he wanted to - he didn't like the taste of the last vulture he tried to eat) and he felt almost certain that Pheonix and Genisis could capture one.

The question was a welcome relief from the silence so he responded quickly. "If you mean this desert, then I can only say that it is the desire to regain what strength I had and to learn more about Imythess that brought me here. If you mean Imythess itself, then that is one question I cannot answer, for I know not what force commanded me to this realm far from my own. The only hint I have been given is to 'regain my power', though I sense that it has a deeper meaning that that of magic or blade."

Shrugging, he slips on the desert sands and, with the staff shifting sidewards, Thomas fell upon his face. Immediately lifting his gaze upward, he blew out the air within him like a horse would and called the words "Create Water!" once more, washing his face with the flowing fluid. Shaking his face as the water continued to pour he rose to his feet, quickly stepping aside from the moistened sands as he motioned to drink from the running water spout he had created of his fingertip, drinking his fill before looking into the distance and spotting something that appeared to be a leaf-like colour dot on the horizon. He said nothing, though, as he stared upon it, hoping that it will not suddenly melt away.

Pheonix was curious about what Thomas had said about regaining a power that has a deeper meaning that that of magic or blade. She felt like she kind of understood it, but was also somewhat confused. But she didn't say so, instead Pheonix just nodded. "Well, whatever it is you're a looking for, I'm sure you'll find it."

As they walked, Pheonix found herself kicking at the sand from time to time. Suddenly, she realized that Thomas was no longer walking beside her. Pheonix turned, and saw that he had tripped, and was making her way over to help him up when he got up himself. "You alright?"

For a moment, Pheonix followed his gaze across the horizon. There was sometihng out there something ... green. Pheonix only hoped Thomas saw it as well, because that would mean it wasn't a figment of her imagination. "You see it too?" Hopefully yes. Because green meant that there was plantlife out there which in turn meant there was water. And both things would mean there had to be some sort of animal out there.

"Do I see it too...?" Thomas replied. "Do you see it? It's not just me?"

He glanced to her then back to the green dot then back again to Pheonix. He could hardly believe the luck, if he was honest, and without a moment's hesitation he dashed off, his leather footwear swiping across the sands and his staff high in his hand as he rushed to towards the dot. unfortunately for him he slipped about 5 feet from where Pheonix was and, once again, his face was plastered in sand.

"Create Water!"

Washing water over his face again, he sighed, learning that he has to walk over this stuff before running. Not to mention that his leather footwear was starting to wear down a bit. Sighing, he turned back and looked to Pheonix, shaking his head in embarassment.

Pheonix nodded. Good, they both saw it. "Well, I guess there's nothing to do now but head towards that, and hope its an oasis or whatever." Pheonix took a step forward, and stopped when Thomas suddenly tripped ... again. "Looks like you're having trouble in walking." Pheonix couldn't help it, she laughed. It wasn't mean laughter at his misfortune, but Pheonix was obviously amused.

She took a step forward, whne Genesis took it upon himself to grab Pheonix by the pants leg and make her fall over backwards. She just lay on the sand a few moments, staring at the cloudless sky. "Well, look at that. I never knew Gen had a sense of humor before." Pheonix laughed at herself this time, and quickly grabbed her wolf friend by the neck and ruffled his fur.

After catching her breath, Pheonix jumped up and shook the sand from her clothes. "Ok,ok. That was fun and all. But lets see if that there oasis is real or not. I'm hungry."

Thomas smirked back as Pheonix added to his embarrasment, shaking his head more as he thought about what was going wrong with him. Her laugher then only served to stem his laughter, starting it up like placing a flame into a flammable gas. The next thing he knew, though, his eyes saw Pheonix flat on her back in the sand and Genesis by her side, Thomas thinking that Gen was laughing himself inside. Gen's actions further confirmed by Pheonix's comments - not to mention the ruffling of his fur - Thomas started to laugh as well, walking to the wolf and stroking him.

Pheonix soon recovered, though, and her first comment had caught Thomas' attention. "Definitely." Thomas responded. "I think we could all use something other than my creative water. Come along then. As long as I don't slip again, I'll lead the way." He could not help but give off a chuckle at this, turning himself around and looking once more to the green dot.

The journey, with as few slips as was possible, did not take as long as Thomas first thought. It was unusual to see that the palm trees seemed to thrive among the strange grasses in this oasis - not to mention the green-like water - and Thomas, at first glance, thought this to be a real mirage. It had, in all respects, looked like something he imagined up. Of course he could not imagine what could live in such a place but he knew that this was something that he must have read out of a fairytale. It truly appeared like a forest in the middle of a desert in his eyes. He could not believe it. So untrustful of his sight was he, he once more uttered "Create Water" to give himself something to drink. Such was his thirst that he drank most of what the spell threw out.

Pheonix laughed, and in passing the wolf she gave him a light flick to his ear. She laughed again, and started walking alongside Thomas. "Alright. Come on Genesis." The wolf jumped up, and matched Pheonix's pace.

By the time they'd reached the oasis, Pheonix had no doubts that it was real. The scent of water, and plantlife, had given her the security of knowign that. "Wow its ... pretty. I've never seen an oasis before."


((Shortness ... My brain ... it died.))

((Don't worry about it. Really.))

"So this is real?" Thomas responded, surprised. "You're not trying to string me now...this is the real deal?" He blinked to Pheonix with wonder as he wondered himself if he should believe anything anymore. "It seems like something I would have imagined up. How I am unsure at the moment but it seems like fairytale thing."

Still having his doubts, he planted his fist into the water and, sure enough, his hand sank through it, the moisture of the water bouncing up from the impact and splashing him across his face. Shaking his head and wiping off the moisture, he blinks into the water, watching as his reflection surfaces. -So this is real...- Thomas thought. -Everything is real. Everything here...wow...-

It was not long, though, before a bird suddenly flew out of the trees and whipped past Thomas' gaze, forcing him to lose his balance and fall into the water, the mighty splach from the flat-back fall causing a wave to fly up from where Thomas' body hit against the water's surface. Rising up to the surface, he shivered, shaking himself off as he reached dry land. He suddenly wanted to know a spell for drying his clothes as he wore them, but he did not know of any that he could use (though he heard of one 'Body Heat' that would do just the trick) so he stood there, slowly drying as he looked to the trees.

"Why do I suddenly get the feeling that we're not alone here...?" Thomas asked Pheonix, almost casually.

Pheonix yawned slightly, and scratched an ear. "Nah. I'm not kidding you. This place is real." She looked around, cracking a smile as Genesis ran off to do ... whatever. Probably went hunting or something. "Yeah ... I guess it is like something you'd read in a fairy tale." Not that Pheonix had ever read one; neither had anyone ever read one to her. But, that didn't much matter.

She took a few steps forward, until the toes of her boots touched the water. Pheonix knelt, still twitching an ear, and placed a hand in the water; slowly. "Smells like real water, feels like real water. So, I'm figuring its not just our imagination." She fell backwards when something whipped past, and Thomas fell into the water. Pheonix stood and shook the water from herself. Even though she didn't much mind being a little wet. "Heh. If you wanted to go for a swim, you should have just said so." She laughed slightly, then shifted her gaze across the place. "Well, if we're not alone, then Genesis will find who or whatever else is here. 'Sides, whatever it might be, is no match for me."

-No match for her?- Thomas thought to himself for a moment. -She's got spunk...good. Looks like we may need it.- Grasping his staff in his left palm and a dagger in his right he waited, looking to the trees, waiting for something to appear. A few moments passed but he caught sight of nothing. -Perhaps it was just a passing bird.- Thomas thought to himself dismissively. Sighing, he shakes his head before turning back to the water.

"You have a lot of confidence, friend." Thomas spoke to Pheonix. "I just hope that you have more than a sharp mind if it does turn out to be something." At this he glanced to her. "After all, it was not like I wanted to go for a swim. I got enough water in my magic." He laughed at this comment lightly, turning back to the liquid surface. "Though I wonder what creates something like this in the middle of nowhere. I mean...why here and nowhere else?"

The curiosity did not last long, though, as a flock of birds started flushing out of the trees, black in colour, flying outwardly and carelessly, Thomas directed the staff forward and with a yell of "Create Water!" a blast of water rushed out of the staff, the dagger deftly cutting any of the birds that threatened to strike him. Yet despite his mobility Thomas could not block them all and slowly he was knocked now and again, the water spluttering out for a few moments. Then a bird he did not catch sight of in time impacted against his cranial mass, knocking him back from the force and disturbing the spell. Yet even though the spell was disturbed Thomas had used up some of his magical energy and he was tired from the ordeal. Worn out, he could only lie on the floor as one or two howls started forming from inside the forest. -Sand wolves...- Thomas thought to himself as he watched the last of the birds fly into the atmosphere, weakened and exhausted.

Spunk ... that probably the nicest way anyones ever described Pheonix's way of thinking. Arrogant, overconfident, annoying. People usualy just called her that. Pheonix glanced quickly around, ears twitching all the while. Unconciously, she sniffed the air. So far she'd caught scent of some kind of birds, and ... wolves. Wolves that weren't Genesis. For the moment, she didn't mention it, though she did draw the katana from her side. "I've got more than just a few tricks up my sleeve. Dun you worry about that." She smiled slightly, and with a flick of ear she'd turned and raised her sword to ward off the flock that had suddenly arisen before them. "Damn birds." She muttered, and by then the birds had flown off.

Pheonix lowered her hand, and turned to Thomas. She looked slightly worried for a moment, but she quickly hid it. "Ey .. .you alright?" Pheonix's hand tightened on her sword, her ears twitched in the direction of the howls. She knew what it meant. "Wolves ... they don't take too kindly to trespassers. This is their territory, and they'll fight to keep it." Pheonix muttered a curse under her breath. "Genesis!?"

She called out, in the direction he'd run off to. If there was a pack of sand wovles out there, then Genesis would be in trouble if he ran into them. And especially right now, because Pheonix knew he was in no condition for fighting. The canine had just gained strength back from his long journey in the desert. "Genesis, get over here." Pheonix strained her ears to cath some sort of bark, or a howl from Gen, letting her know if he was alright. But all she'd caught sound of was a feirce growl. A growl she knew didn't belong to Genesis.

"Well Thomas. Looks like we've got a bit of a problem. Still ... I can handel it. Don't you worry none." Pheonix was still confident as always. Her stance shifted to a defensive one, and she raised her sword in front of her.

Glaring up to Pheonix as he himself heard the growl of the wolves, he knew that this was not the best of news. Pheonix's response was expected and, typical of Thomas' stout and arrogant nature, he shouted loudly, leaping back to his feet, a small glow flowing from his pocket but was not noticed by Thomas as he grasped his staff tightly in his right palm and the dagger in his left, raising his staff to the sky and calling "Heal!" as energies winded around him, restoring his strength. With adrenaline running through his body, pumping with the spirit he once had, he rushed to the trees, catching sight of one of the sand wolves before it pounced out at him, Thomas whipping the staff between the teeth of the attacking wolf, throwing it to one side as another wolf appeared behind him.

-Come on, then...- Thomas thought as the wolf behind him leaped up, the slight shift of grass and sand being heard by Thomas adrenalin-fuelled ears and Thomas' dagger, spun in reverse, flashed upwards behind him and catching the attacking wolf on the back leg, making it wail in pain as the first pounced at Thomas, the staff meeting abruptly the sand wolf's cranial mass and sending it hurtling across the terra. Recovering from the motion, he watched the second, blood still dripping down its leg, leaping at Thomas, aiming for the neck. Thomas meanwhile held the staff firm and, as it came close, whipped it up from the ground, catching it on the underside of the cheekbone, narrowly missing the neck as a yelp of pain parted from the wolven lips as the first came for round two. Instead it was met with the metallic blade that was held in Thomas' grip and its neck was pierced by the sudden strike, sending it sideways and throwing it to one side, leaving it to slowly meet its demise as the partner wolf promptly ran, yelping in fear of the battle mage.

Watching them rush off, Thomas wondered what had become of Genisis, looking fearfully to Pheonix. "You want me to help you find him, Pheonix?" Thomas called to her. "I don't feel that we may have much time, so whatever you decide, decide quickly." Continuing to look around with the alertness that came from the adrenalin rush, he summoned more magic to his aid, casting his healing spell once more and recovering from the strains placed on him by the movement of his weapons and of the palms that gripped them. If he was to go into battle against wolves he had to be ready for anything, including injuries and awkward combats against multiple wolves. He could not guess at the size of the pack, in any case, so he had to make sure he was ready to harm and be harmed.

Seeing as how Thomas seemed to be alright, Pheonix turned her attentions back to the undergrowth. Something was there, and Pheonix was ready. Without warning a wolf had leapt from the brush, fangs bared and poised to attack. Pheonix caught it's jaws in the hilt of her katana, and quickly gave it a swift kick. The wolf landed on its feet, and pounced at Pheonix again; but she evaded the canine easily enough. This time, the wolf missed its footing, and immidately fled into the tall grasses. "That right ... you better run."

Pheonix took a glance to Thomas, and twitched an ear when she saw an odd glow from his pocket. "Hey, Thomas .... Just thought I'd let you know. You're pocket is glowing."

Her attention were diverted for a moment, as she caught some sound from behind. Pheonix jumped back, her wings gave her a bit of lift and kept her a few feet above the ground. The wolf that had attacked her, lay in the dirt; shaking his head. As soon as she felt her feet touch earth again, Pheonix took a step forward, and drew her staff. With a quick turn of her wrist, she'd hit the canine with her weapon. With a yelp, the wolf ran off; with its tail between its legs.

"Help me find Gen? ... Yeah. That'd be good. Thanks."

Pheonix's swift motions caught the sight of Thomas and he was pleased to see such swordsmanship from the formation, but what made him stir more was the fact that she pointed out the glowing object in his pocket. "The glow-- The sapphire?!"

Sharply Thomas wrenched it out and looked to it, but before he had the chance, it had dimmed back to its dull reflective glaze, becoming nothing more than ordinary. -What was up with that?- Thomas thought as he released a sigh. He watched her strike the beast just in time and heard eventually her response to Thomas' earlier query.

"Then let us not waste time with these!" Thomas called and with staff in one hand and a dagger in the other, Thomas rushed into the dense mesh before him, clambering over grasses and twigs, looking for anything that might give some indication, suddenly hearing a whelp to his right and, rushing to see what it was, he became surrounded by the wolves, teeth bared before him.

-Damn you creatures...- Thomas thought as he spun around, the words "Create Spark!" fluttering from his parted lips and sparks of flame ushered out of the tip of the staff, setting it alight and stinging the eyes of the wolves with the small unsung embers, blinding the wolves around him.

Putting her staff away, Pheonix gave a nod in reply.
"Alright then. I'm pretty sure Gen went ... this way."
She turned, and ran through the brush. Pheonix glanced back; seeing Thomas just behind her, and continued forward. She stopped suddenly, ears giving a twitch. Pheonix heard the yelp, and turned to see Thomas rush off.
"Eh?"
Without further thought, she followed.

Pheonix flicked an ear at the create spark. -Hm ... I should learn some spells someday. Would be a heck of a lot easiler.- She waved off this pondering, and spun her katana in one hand.
"I have to admit, this little pack o wolves is getting a tad bit annoying."

"Oh-ho, you think?" Thomas retorted back to Pheonix as he arced the staff once more, grasping its tip and sriking each of the front row wolves as he spun a full circle, diving to the ground as he could sense that they would all leap in after him, the wolves doing so on time as they then proceeded to clash against each other's teeth and fur, biting at themselves and making them fight amongst each other.

"Move now!" Thomas called back. "Before they discover what's going on."

Thomas did not hesitate and sped off to the direction of the yelp, making sure that the path was cleared before him. Missing some unknown object on the floor, he tripped and stumbled into the grasses. Quickly pouncing to his feet, he could see the wolves giving chase to him. A stone glare was returned to them as he called out the words "Create Water" and blasted them back, being careful to avoid Pheonix if she was near.

"Go ahead, Pheonix!" Thomas shouted to her. "I'll keep these at bay! GO!!!"

With that last shout a pulse of water blasted out with an odd strength to it, the sapphire glowing once more as Thomas was slowly tiring from the use of the spell. Concentraing his effors, though, he fazed off the tiredness as he struggled to keep the spell going as small shots of water now launched out to them.

It was after a while of this bitter urge that he suddenly called out "Create Spark!" and embers erupted out of his staff, catching in the dried fur of the sand wolves, sparking them alight. They suddenly started squealing around, running in misinterpreted directions, bumbing into each other as the pyre grew. Feeling pity on them, he shouted "Create Water!" and doused the rising flames that gathered on them. Somewhat thankful that none of them were killed, Thomas began to step back. Yet the wolves had surrounded him soon enough and a new pack had emerged, seeming to have the same idea as the wolves he saved.

-However you interpret this, it doesn't look good...-

((OOC: There will be a twist to this, Pheonix, so don't attack the wolves just yet, wait for later. You'll see... ))

((Heh heh. Okie. I shall wait and seeeee.))


Pheonix sidestepped a pouncing wolf, which growled at her before running off to rejoin it's pack. Pheonix wasn't much phased by that though, and gave a nod when Thomas told her to go ahead. "R-right. And you be careful, yeah?" She turned, and immidately ran in the direction she believed Genesis to be in. She'd failed to notice how Thomas was no longer behind her. Pheonix silently cursed herself for losing him, and was about to go back and se if he was alright. Then she was quickly distracted by a howl; one she recognized. Genesis wasn't too far off ... But, should she go back and hep Thomas out, or should she go aid Genesis. After a few moments of thinking about it, Pheonix was pretty confident that Thomas could take care of himself. And Genesis was in more dire need of assistance.

Pheonix sheathed her katana for the time being, and ran. She could easily follow Gen's scent, being partly wolf herself, and it didnt' take long for her to come across a clearing. It was somewhat odd, though. There was just this circular space of cleared grass, surrounded by forest on all sides. But Pheonix didn't let that stop her. Her ears flicked at a whine, and Pheonix caught sight of Genesis. The wolf was laying in the middle of the clearing, ears flat against his skull. "Gen?"

The wolves' snarls and howls filled the air around him, making a mesh of noise in all directions, almost deafening Thomas as he covered his ears from the sounds. Suddenly he could spy them rushing towards him from both sides and Thomas used the staff like a leaping pole, pouncing on it and jumping out of the way of the wolves. Those that he had set alight earlier met the new pack and Thomas was now behind them. To his surprise, however, the wolves he had saved now fought against the wolves that came from nowhere.

-Are those wolves now fighting for me?- Thomas looked to them in confusion, watching the massacre before him unfold. Shaking the thought from his head, he then thought of Pheonix and, wasting no time, he dashed off to see how she was, calling out "Pheo! Gen!" at every opportunity. He then heard a howl, something that sounded slightly different to the other wolves' howling. -Gen...?- Thomas thought as suddenly he caught sight of the wolves pursuing him again.

"Dammit!" passed his lips as he rushed off again, managing to keep his balance over the unstable terrain, eventually coming to where Pheonix was, if only through sheer luck, and turned around. The wolves had them surrounded. -Why did I bring them here...?- Thomas thought to himself.

But then one of the wolves stepped toward Thomas slowly, tail between its legs and head bowed, whimpering. Thomas could only blink at this and, having some knowledge over animals - however limited it may be - he could tell that this wolf had something to say to him. Thomas was simply bewildered as he found himself kneeling to the ground and stroking the fur of the wolf. The wolf did a half-bark half-howl noise then and turned its head to one side, showing Thomas his injuries.

"Ah...I see..." Thomas spoke, placing his hand on the injury, a green mist gathering around his palm as he spoke out "Heal!", energies extending into the wolf and regenerating the torn flesh that his neck bore, the wolf happily barking soon afterwards and, to Thomas' further astonishment, licking the healing hand and cuddling into the battle mage. Totally lost in this, he could only look to Pheonix in shock, disbelief and a plethora of other emotions, among them being joy and relief.

((Heh ... plethora ....))


Pheonix quickly stood, hearing a voice calling out her name. She recognized it as Thomas, and gave a reply as quicklyas she could. "We're over here. ... And we're fine so don't worry about that." It wasn't long before Thomas did show up, and Pheonix was more than happy to see that he'd gotten here in one piece. She was about to say something, when both a growl from Genesis and her own acute hearing took notice of the sudden appearance of more wolves. Pheonix quickly drew her katana, and tightened her grip upon it.

But then, her grip loosened. One of the wolves had appeared fro mthe underrgowth. It approached Thomas in a posture of utmost submission. Very strange. What was even more odd was that the wolf seemed to be requesting aid, and was so grateful whgen Thomas gave it to him. Pheonix was just as confused as Thomas was at the event. But suddenly, Pheonix leaned back and laughed. "Looks like you've got a new friend."

Pheonix regained her composure, and went back over to where Genesis was. Kneeling next to her companion, Pheonix quickly checked him over. The wolf had a minor injury across his muzzle, but otherwise seemed just fine. "Oooo k ... Now what?"

Thomas could only blink at the remark made by Pheonix, his hands stroking the animal before him as the other wolves gathered around, barling playfully and lightly around him as they gathered, all seeming to be happy with this new-found friend that has been made. Thomas was trying to hide the tears, the emotion of the moment seeming too much for him to bear. Yet he made a concentrated effort to told back the tears of joy and his hands spread around the group, stroking fur belonging from all of the group with a smile across his face, each of the wolves he petted seeming to chirp happily as they passed by, some of them now looking to Pheonix and Genesis with little barks of their own, calling for their attention.

"Have you ever seen such a sight, Pheonix?" Thomas spoke to her from his kneeling position, unable to look to her from the tears of amazement and joy at this spetacle. "Have you ever seen such a group made so friendly so fast? In all my years of existence I have never encountered such a thing in my life and I am more than glad to see it happen now." Thomas smiled, turning around and crawling over to Genesis, placing a palm above the muzzle and calling once more the spell "Heal!", mending the wounds that were cast upon him.

"I do not know what you both want to do now, but I think we could all use a drink and something to eat, don't you?" Thomas commented, wiping away the tears and overcoming the emotion. Just as he mentioned eating, though, the wolves barked and seemed to face in one direction, a few of the wolves trying to get their attention. "Are they saying goodbye...?" Thomas asked as the wolf Thomas healed earlier had licked his nose and, shaking from the coldness of the tongue, suddenly became aware of their want for attention. "Pheo..." Thomas started as that same wolf then stepped forward and then turned back, looking to Thomas with a peculiar gaze. "Are they trying to say something?"

Dispite her long life of wandering Pheonix had never seen anything like this either. She sat, thinking upon the matter for a few moments, when she suddenly got an idea of what was occuring. "Wolves are pack animals. High social structure within the pack and whatnot. Guess, since, you fought them and managed to hold off the whole pack ... Supposed they think of you as maybe they're leader sorta." Pheonix wasn't completely sure this was the case, but it seemed a good enough explaination, at least she thought so.

For a moment, uncertain, Genesis had flattened his ear against his head warning the other wolves to back off. He seemed to be considering something, and then a moment later he had relaxed. Pheonix laughed slightly at this, because for some odd reason Genesis had always disliked being around other wolves. However, it seemed such matters were quickly forgotten, as Genesis stood and touched noses with a wolf much younger than himself. "Whatever the case, at least we don't have to go around fighting them anymore."

As the heal spell was cast over his muzzle, Gensis had shut his eyes for the second. He then sat, and licked Thomas' hand as if to say thanks.

Pheonix was about to reply to the question asked, when her attentions were drawn to the wolves. "I .. dunno. Maybe ... they wants us to follow them somewheres?"

Thomas continued to look on as the wolves made friends with the three among them, the smile on his face making him forget every problem he's ever had - as well as the predicament of being so far away from his homeland - as he gathered himself and nodded to Pheonix. -She knows more about wolves than me, it seems, in any case, so I should take her word for it.- Nodding to himself he walked after the wolves and they chirped gleefully as most led the way, the others keeping guard of the three others.

"I assume you were right, by the looks of things." Thomas commented to Pheonix. "Though I have to wonder: Is this the first time you've ever been escorted somewhere by wolves?" Thomas glanced to Genisis for a moment before returning his gaze back to Pheonix. "That is other than Gen there, obviously."

Somehow he had a funny feeling that the lone wolf would take offence to that statement and, not knowing how to apologize to a wolf, he turned back, continuing to follow the wolves as they made their way out of the grasses and into an enclosed oasis, a few trees dotted on the other side of the lake. Several creatures, an assembly of what the wolves have prepared for food, rested on the western side of the bank while on the eastern side the wolves started drinking their fill. Thomas looked around him with open-eyed amazement as he smiled with the knowledge that they won't have to starve in the desert. One thing that concerned him now, however, was that there was now not so bright in the sky, meaning that the night was closing in fast.

Pheonix stood, and brushed the sand from her clothes. With a grin, she started walking after the little pack. Scratching an ear, Pheonix laughed slightly at the question. "Nope. I have never been escorted by wolves. I've never even heard of wolves escorting people for any reason. But I guess since these wolves live out here in this oasis. They have no reason to actually fear people. The only reason they attacked us to begin with was because this is there territory." She looked away from a moment, and laughed again. "Then again I could be wrong. I usualy have no idea what I'm talking about."

While she was reflecting over her own comment, Genesis had let out a bark. Her attentions being drawn to whatever it was the wolf was alerting her to, Pheonix was, needless to say, taken aback. She had never imagined a pack of wolves to do anything like this. Turning back to Thomas all Pheonix could manage was a: "Whoa..."

"You taken the words out of my mouth, Pheo." Thomas commented to her sudden yelp of 'Whoa', Thomas looking around once more as he tried to understand what was going on. "Whoa, indeed." He finally commented after several moments' silence.

Not knowing at all what to do, being new to all this occuring around him, Thomas blinked, sitting himself where he stood, simply awe-struck at the flow of events that had transpired in what had seemed to be mere moments of his life but as significant as many of his years in combat. He could not say anything more but his thoughts at least tried to start doing something, yet even they gave up after trying to think of something to say. As a result Thomas could have seemed blank to everything around him for some time.

It was only after his thoughts asked him what he should be doing did he notice one of the pups bouncing over him, gnawing playfully at his cloak. Thomas chuckled, tugging his cloak in playful response, the baby wolf growling and wagging its tail in happiness: This was fun for the little one. Thomas was enjoying the company himself as the pup continued to play, several others watching, giving little chirps of encouragement to the fighter and the strange fur it was fighting against.

It was at this time some of the wolves picked up their cubs and carried them off, the one he healed earlier barking at Thomas and taking a few steps toward the food then turning back to watch him. "Do you want me to eat...?" He asked, to which the wolf responded with a wag of the tail and a small chirpy bark accompanied with a shake of his fur. Did Thomas see a smile on the wolf's face? He could only imagine how a wolf could smile without making it look too surreal, though it was obvious a smiling wolf would be out of the ordinary anyways, so Thomas followed the wolf to the food with this trail of questions ongoing.

Scratching an ear, Pheonix took a deep breath and recovered from the initial sort of shock. Genesis grabbed the cuff of one pant leg, appearantly wanting Pheonix to get moving. Grinning broadly, she gave a sort of shrug and started walking forwards. Turning back and seeing Thomas sitting there playing with a pup, Pheonix laughed. Still not really knowing how these rather odd events transpired, Pheonix mentally shrugged the question away and decided to just sort of live in the moment.

Pheonix started off again, following Genesis. He seemed to be enjoyinh himself as well, something Pheonix was glad of. The wolf needed the peaceful moment and Pheonix knew it. It had been a long time since Gen had even seen another of his own kind. Even though Pheonix was part wolf, it still wasn't exactly the same. Suddenly, Pheonix felt a gentle tug at her own tail. Looking down to see what had done so, Pheonix laughed at another youngster who decided Pheonix would be a good toy. Kneeling next to the pup, Pheonix playfully rolled it over onto it's back. After awhile of this, a familiar bark snatched Pheonix's attentions.

Genesis was standing just behind her, gnawing on something that Pheonix couldn't quite place. He seemed to be wanting Pheonix to join him.

As Thomas kneeled down by the water with the wolves all surrounding him, he sat by the collection of meat, looking from the meats to Pheonix, who seemed to be distracted by Gen and something he had by his side, before turning back to the stack of meats. Thomas was afraid to touch any of the meat in case the wolves started to take offence towards him taking the meat without any warning. His delay, however, served to worry the wolves. This continued on for about a minute before eventually one of the wolves stepped forward and grabbed one of the large legs of meat that rested on the pile and dropped it gently in Thomas' palm. Thomas stared at the meat for several moments before deciding that it was reassuringly his and he placed a finger on the meat, whispering "Create Spark" and creating a fire over his left palm while holding the meat in his right, cooking the meat.

Thomas turned back to Pheonix to see how she was faring but he quickly got distracted by a small pup that decided that the battle mage's belt was a toy bell to start kicking and biting on as it rang lightly in the air around them with each deft strike.He allowed the pup to play as he continued cooking the meat, some of the wolves now appearing to huddle around each other and one by one daze off into a sleep. Only a few stood up, determined to watch over the pack and its newcomers, including the wolf Thomas healed earlier. The meat hardly cooked, Thomas decided it was best if he left it until he awoke again and, stashing the meat in the backpack, he gathered his cloak and wrapped himself up, slowly drifting off into a deep sleep.

((OOC: Sorry about the shortness, but I'm trying to get enough to buy a wolf so that one of these guys will become a companion of mine. Go figure, eh...?))