Guiwen rolled out of the rip in the Material Plane that lead to the Ethereal Plane she had taken refuge in when she was ambushed by a squadron of angry orcs. Using the powers she gained by entering the Ethereal Plane, she killed the orcs from her hdiding place. Lieing next to the burnt bodies, and staring up at the sky, she started to cough. It was a hacking, barking, burning, stinging cough that made her spit up blood and left her gasping for breath.

"By the Planes,"she rasped,"I can't do this anymore. Not alone."

She closed her eyes, breathing in the smell of burning orc. She wrinkled her nose.
Foul scum,she thought,Thankfully I didn't pass out. Knock on wood. It's not safe going through those holes anymore. I haven't got the health or the energy. I'll end up dead if I keep this up!

Tears were rolling down her flushed cheeks like a river of saltwater. Her chest heaved, and she felt another cough coming on. Another terrible, lung-splitting cough. She spat up more blood, and rolled over onto her stomach. Her long braid of naturally silvery hair swung into her face. Supporting herself with her lower arms, she managed to get to her knees. Even that was painful. She fell onto her face again.

She sat like that for a while, face burried in the tall grasses, poking at her face like needles. She moaned, and using what strength she had left, managed to drag herself over to a stunted tree. Using the small tree for leverage, she pulled herself onto her feet. Naseua welled up inside her, but she quelled it with sheer willpower and defiance. Swaying a bit, she took a few steps forward, and fell, yet again, flat on her face. Rolling onto her back, and spitting the grass out of her mouth, she screamed.
"HELP! PLEASE!,"she screamed, pretty sure that was the end of her voice.

Ahren rested peacefully in the plains, laying on his back with his wings spread, letting the warmth from the sun bask over him. He was enjoying the day so far, it had been one of the only days where he had been able to relax and not worry about anything. His pegasus was resting a few feet away, asleep in the warm sun. With a contented sigh, he stood up, stretching as he stood there for a few seconds. Picking up his weapons, he prepared to resume traveling. Turning, he saw his pegasus had already gotten up, apparently it hadn't been asleep after all. With a smile, he began walking, sending out a handful of wind to search the surrounding area for anything that might prove dangerous. After a few minutes, one of the winds returned, bringing with it some news. Ahren immidiately changed directions and sped up, running at a swift pace through the tall grass, his pegasus easily keeping pace.

Spreading his wings, he took to the air, wanting to get a better view for what the wind had told him. His keen eyes soon spotted the figure on the ground, lying there unprotected. Diving quickly, he landed and immidiately raced forward, not even bothering to furl his wings. He stopped and knelt down next to the figure, looking over her with concern. She didn't appear to be injured by any weapon, but she looked in bad shape. She would have to be healed before she could get anywhere, and luckily Ahren would be able to heal her. Casting a quick healing spell, he waited for her to react. He knew that the spell could heal even the most serious of wounds, but she would still need to rest if she wanted to get better.

(sorry, it's kind of crappy)

((It's quite alright! :) ))

Guiwen's eyes were glazed when Ahren had reached her. Against her hopes, she had passed out, and what was worse was that she had left herself vulnerable. The last time she had managed to prop herself up against a tree and merely looked as though she was sleeping.

Strange thoughts were going through her mind. Images of a face and-what was it?- wings? Yes, beautiful feathered wings. She felt warmth pass through her body as Ahren cast the healing spell. She stirred, her eyes regaining clarity. She stared up at Ahren, looking at the strange winged-man who was leaning over her with a concerned look on his face.

The spell had worked. She was far less fatigued, and her voice had returned, though it was somewhat quieter. But something else had happenned, entirely unrelated to the spell. The light that emmitted from her figure when she was outside of the Material Plane was shining brightly. Gasping at the dead give away, she managed to give an explanation,

"Thank you, I was weakened when I passed through to the Material Plane from the Ethereal! I don't think I could thank you enough! Y-you must be part of my mission,"she mentally scorned herself for this, noone was supposed to know about that,"Forgive me, I have gone ahead of myself. I am Guiwen, Maiden of Life and Death, or if you have walked outside of your Material World, I am also known as Giver-Taker-Walker. Giver of Life, Taker of it as well, and Walker of the Planes. My mission is to close up the rips in the Planes. They are unseen, for the most part, unless you know much of the Planes. When I was made (Yes, made, for I was made of the same stuff that makes up Ethereal, the Abyss, and Celestia) they told me three things. One, that to accomplish my task I would need a partner (Perhaps this may be where you come in), Two, that I could never walk in Celestia again after I had killed something ,"she pointed to the pile of burning orc corpses,"And Three, that to accomplish this I must die and be reborn." Feeling as though she had divulged too much, she looked at her aura for reassurance. It glowed bright, and she knew she had done the right thing.

Ahren gave a small sigh of relief when he saw the girl's eyes open, glad that she was going to be okay. He folded his wings flat across his back, backing up a little bit to give her some room to breath. He then noticed the light that was eminating from her, something that he hadn't caused. Just as the question was forming on his lips, she began talking. After a few tries to speak, he gave up, deciding to let this strange girl finish speaking before he said anything. What was curious was that he knew he had heard about this light somewhere, probably in the library at the Temple of Air, but he couldn't remember what it was exactly. It came back after she mentioned the planes, and it came as a surprise what it meant. A person that can walk the planes, I have never even heard of one before, and then I happen to just come across one. Ahren tried not to let the surprise show on his face, continuing to listen intently as the stranger continued her explanation of what she was doing.

When she stopped, Ahren stood up slowly, thinking over what she had said. Now Guiwen thought that he was a part of her mission. He couldn't deny that the thought of another adventure appeased to him. "Well Guiwen, seems like you have an important task. I don't know if I am the one that will help you, but I can at least get you to the next town so that you can rest." Turning around, he brought forth his pegasus, resting his hand on it's neck. Giving Guiwen another look, he sent out more wind, wanting to know exactly where anything was that might give them problem. "There shouldn't be any problems, the only thing that I know of that is in the plains are gryphons, and they normally don't bother people. Besides, if you do travel with me, it will be the gryphon that has to be careful." He spoke with a smile, hoping that he wouldn't have to use the spells he had against a gryphon, but he wouldn't hesitate to defend himself if attacked. Waiting patiently, he watched Guiwen carefully, wondering if she would accept his offer to travel together.

Guiwen closed her eyes. She was exhausted. The healing spell's effect had taken the edge off her pain, and her fatigue had left for some time, but it returned stronger. Forcing herself to open her eyes, she responded to Ahren's reply,"Thank you, again. I would be happy to travel with you."

Realizing she was still lieing on the grass, she propped herself up on her elbows. Wincing at the ache in her back, she managed to pull herself onto her feet. Looking to the pegasus he had summoned, she smiled. "I've only seen a pegasus once, it was a spirit in the Ethereal Plane,"she mused,"They are beautiful creatures."

She straightened out her dress, and swung her long braid of silvery-hair across her back. Staying awake with absolute willpower, she spoke again, looking at her rescuer,"I am sorry, I have told quite alot about myself, but know nothing of you. I suppose I must appear selfish to talk so readily of myself." She smiled, but she knew that had always been one of her flaws. She peered inquisitively at the winged-man before her. Wings were nothing new to her, she had expirimented with many shapes before being set to sleep and often took the shape of an Avariel.

Ahren waited patiently, knowing that she must still be tired. Sadly the healing spell didn't do much for fatigue, otherwise it would be one of the most sought after spells in the world. He was glad to see that she was strong enough to stand, but it still worried him some. He would have to watch to see if she tired. If she became fatigued, then she could ride on his pegasus, but he didn't want to hurt her pride by offering her a ride if she didn't want one. Beginning to walk, he looked over at her, still wondering why she had chosen to trust him before she even knew who he was. "Yes, they are beautiful, and this one has been my friend for some time now." With a smile, Ahren rested a hand on the pegasus' mane, remembering when they had first met.

With a low laugh, Ahren realized that he had yet to tell Guiwen his name, and she had told him so much. "Where are my manners? I am Ahren, Sentinal of Air, follower of the Goddess Ciara." With a bow to Guiwen, he remembered why it was that he had come here. A troubled look crossed his face, lasting only a second before being replaced with a smile. "You do not appear selfish, and I am the one who should be apologizing. I let you continue on without even telling you who I was." Looking at her once more, he pulled the air over them, creating a cool breeze to protect them from the sun's heat.

"It is a joy to meet you, Ahren," said Guiwen, struggling to keep awake. She forced herself to keep her eyes open, and awkwardly inquired,"If you don't mind, I believe it will be hard for me to walk. May I, perhaps, ride on your pegasus?"

She felt a bit strange, asking someone she had just met about riding upon such a valuable steed, but walking was out of the question. Her ego had been a bit scorched, and the little voice in the back of her head was calling her a various array of names, but she didn't care. As long as there was an inn open in the next town with a warm bed, she'd be fine.

So, with the appeal of a warm bed, her heart lightened a bit. Well,she thought,At least I won't have to walk the planes for a while. Mabey, if Ahren is the my 'partner in crime', I can teach him how to walk the planes...And spare myself the trouble! She amused herself a bit at that thought, but her other side scorned her, No, I've got to do it. That's what I'm here for. That's why 'Walker' is in my name.

When Guiwen asked to ride on the pegasus, Ahren almost burst out laughing. She sounded like she had never asked for something in her life, and that she had just bitten into a lemon. Still, he managed to contain himself. "Certainly Guiwen, it is acceptable given the circumstances. I apologize for lack of a saddle, but I never needed one. I hardly ever ride him, and the few times that I have I didn't have any problems." With a smile, he stopped, moving the pegasus over next to Guiwen. He wasn't sure if she would need help getting up or not, but given the fact that she couldn't walk, he was willing to help her.

Standing next to his pegasus, he held out his hand, planning to help her even if she didn't want to. From what he had seen, it didn't appear likely that she coudl clamber up onto a creature that was as tall as she was. "You don't have to worry about him bolting or anything, he is extremely calm, and he won't let any harm befall you." Ahren had a half-smile on his face when he said that, remembering his recent trip up north. The pegasus had remained calm despite the fact that there were wolves outside the cave where they were hiding.

Guiwen noticed Ahren was choking back laughter, and her brow furrowed for a moment. Regaining her calm composure, she awkwardly mounted the pegasus. She felt somewhat lopsided, as she had never ridden a pegasus, nor a horse for that matter. Rather clumsily, she held on to it's neck, praying she didn't look nearly as foolish as she felt.

Don't worry,she assured herself,Just hang on and you won't fall. Cool down. Everything is fine.

She didn't dare to glance at Ahren, she knew laughter would be coming anyways. Straightening herself up, she pulled the hood of her white cloak over her long braid. It shadowed her flushed face and the lip she was biting.

I certainly won't be buying a pegasus anytime soon,she thought,No matter how beautiful they are.