Nora had changed greatly since her last appearance at Taras. Her wings had become black, she had become less of a young-looking girl, and now seemed to be in her late 20's. She also wore black clothing instead of her previous maroon and blue.
Her personality had changed as well. She was dark, reserved, and cold. Friendliness was something she only showed to her true friends (Or friend, rather), like Orion. Orion had become her only companion, as they dwelled in Hauntwood, and only a few travelers passed through that area.

She tucked her black wings into her back, and shivered. The marsh was particularly bone-chilling today. She wrapped her large black cloak around her shoulders, and waded towards the little shelter she had lived in for the past four months. Orion had taken his usual perch on her shoulder.

"Nora?"Orion inquired through their mind link.

"Yeah?"

"When are we leaving this place? I really would prefer a nice inn or a tavern."

"I don't know if we can return, not after...Not after it happenned."

Orion felt like asking more questions, but kept silent. Nora was feeling terribly guilty. She had been decieved one night by a man she had fallen madly in love with, and ended up murdering an innocent person whom she was told was her father. Her lover had tried to turn her in, only to end up victim to her blade as well. Luckily, her looks had changed, almost entirely, after that ordeal, but she still couldn't bare seeing another person. She was terrified that she would be lied to again.

Their little shelter was on a small peice of dry land that popped up out of the marshes, seemingly from nowhere. She dragged herself onto the little hill, while her little black cat scampered under the shelter of their home. Their 'home' consisted of a few sticks made into the framework of a tent with a very weather-beaten canvas laid overtop. Nora sat outside this little tent, burrying her head in her knees. She sat there, sobbing, and wishing everything would just cease to exsist.

Ranewen kept her head dipped low as she rode upon the back of a frigid steed, one of which she had bought at an auction back in Taras for about 500 Gold or so. She couldn’t remember, nor did she care. Vholk moved silently underneath her, his hooves making the green, swampy grass turn to snow until he lifted his hooves once again. They were as hard as diamonds, and as pretty as them too. Stretching whilst on his back, Ranewen looked around. And she swore that she had heard sobbing—somewhere. She shrugged her shoulders and used the reigns she had and steered her familiar in that direction.

Was I hearing things? Nah, I couldn’t have…Vholk’s ears twitched, too. Hopefully it’s nothing bad… I’m not that prepared for a fight… But whatever it is seems to be crying. And someone who is crying wouldn’t be able to fight. Therefore, they hold no threat, so there’s nothing to worry about. Unless there’re more, but I don’t see any footsteps anywhere… She kept reassuring herself and then looked ahead of her to find some tent-looking shelter. She shrugged her shoulders and made towards it.

With her black and red tinted wings drooping to her sides around the frigid steed, she slipped her slim frame off of him and landed on the ground with a light thud. She drooped the reins around a low-hanging branch and stretched, cracking her back. She then walked slowly towards the shelter, the sobbing seeming to grow slightly louder with each and every step. Perhaps it was only her imagination, though. She was now behind the shelter, crouched low, breathing lightly and every once in a while, trying to make as little noise as possible.

Orion's fur stood on end. Someone was approaching.

"Nora! Nora! Someone is coming!," he informed her, arching his back as he sudennly appeared on her shoulder, "Quick! Hi-"

"We are not hiding," Nora replied. She had spent too long hiding in the marsh and wouldn't stand for it any longer. No, this time she would confront her fears, paranoias and anxieties. But of course, she would do this with her hand on her sword at all times, and her cloak wrapped firmly around her slight body.

She stood up, steadied herself, and then lifted off the ground. She usually flew at night, but now she decided it didn't matter. They were going to leave this god forsaken swamp forever. She spotted a woman riding on a white horse. Not just any white horse, she realized, it was a frigid steed. It left snow in it's tracks, which was slowly fading into a brownish slush. With a few beats of her black wings, she was just above the woman. She pulled her hood over her head, and descended in front of the woman. Somehow, Orion had managed to stay perched on her shoulder the whole time.

"Who are you?" she said, her voice ragged after such a long period of silence," And why are you here?" Orion was hissing on her shoulder, and Nora made no attempt to stop him. He was there to protect her, that was his job, and she would let him do his job.

Ranewen wrinkled her nose as she looked at the girl in front of her. Did she just ask her why she was there? And where did she come from? Ignoring those pointless and stupid questions, she shrugged her shoulders to herself and lifted her head slightly to look at the girl. She, too, had wings, but hers were differently shaped than her own. She let her black and red wings stiffen slightly and the horse behind her neighed cautiously. She was thinking of a spell to use if needed. But, she doubted a spell would do good, so she took out her fire and ice sword. Well, she kept it hidden in her cloak still, but she had the double-sided sword in her hand.

“My name is Ranewen. I used to be the Goddess of Darkness, now a member of the High Council. My home is in these swamps, but on the other side and I am rarely ever here…” She looked at the bird on the girl’s shoulder. It was hissing at her. She glared at it for a moment, and then looked back at the girl. She knew that her wolf would do the same thing if she were there. Rahvein…where was she? Ranewen knew she had brought the winter wolf in here with her, but did not know where the mud-stained white female wolf went off.

“How about you? Who are you?” she asked and shifted her weight so it was evenly on both of her booted feet. Her boots were stained with the mud from the swamp just from walking this far and helping her frigid steed walk through the marshes. He didn’t need the help, but she felt the need to help him. She sighed lightly and focused on the moment, her eyes traveling over this woman and then the bird on her shoulder. He obviously didn’t like her. Oh well. He’d have to deal with that, now, wouldn’t he?

"I am Nora," She said. She was going to lie, and use the name 'Gwindomiel Atalan', but decided not to lie to the ex-Godess. She hadn't used the name she and Mosvani had devised since she last saw him, which was a very long time ago. Though she hadn't used the name, she had become much better at lieing, and almost noone could tell if she was telling the truth or lieing anymore. She continued," I live in the marshes, in that small tent." She pointed to her more-than quaint home.

A little tinge of happieness tinted her heart, and she let down her hood. Her dark hair spilled down her shoulders, and around the little cat-form of Orion. His back was still arched, and he was still growling quietly. He didn't trust this lady, but that was nothing new. Honestly, he didn't trust anyone upon first meeting them, especially not if Nora didn't either. For some reason, he was itching to get his gold and emerald collar off and unleash his hellish fire-shadow beast form. But, he restrained himself. He wouldn't risk harming Nora.

"I'm leaving," Nora quickly added," Today. I'm leaving these marshes forever."

((Ahh, sorry, I got Orion confused with another being. Grr. And sorry this is short!))

“Hmm, where are you going to go?” she asked sarcastically with a sarcastic look on her face. Then, she waved her hand to show that it was a joke. “If you need a better place to stay than that, I have my home, which is about one kilometer from here. Not far if you can fly, which I can tell that you can.” She smiled and nodded in the direction of which she had been originally walking. She released her hand from the fire and ice sword and let both pale arms hang at her sides.

“Unless you prefer more populated areas like Taras? I have a place there, too… A room with two bed at the Inn. The Bloodseal Tavern and Inn, to be exact. A nice place to meet criminals. Nah, not really nice, but not bad either,” she said with a hint of sarcasm. She used her telekinesis to untangle the reigns of her frigid steed and called Vholk over to her. She grinned at the horse, then turned back to Nora. “Pleased to meet you, Nora, by the way,” she added with a smile.

((That's ok! :) ))

"I am pleased to meet you as well, Ranewen," Nora replied, bowing her head, and rising it to meet Ranewen's face," I suppose I shall wander, but I thank you for your offer."

Orion had calmed down, not enough to pur, but enough to relax his back and stop growling.
" I like the sound of the tavern she metioned," he informed Nora, "A nice warm bed sounds positively wonderful. Actually, any bed sounds positively wonderful."

"Would you like to check it out? I've heard of it before. Supposedly full of vampires and whatnot. Could be interesting. And a good place to hide. hopefully noone will recognize us."

"Sure, but how long can we hide out for? Remember, I'm attatched to your emotions, I know how guilty you feel about what you did. If we go it must remain a secret, forever. Can you live with that?"

"Yes, yes, yes. We'll be able to hide for long enough. Mabey I'll tell someone someday, but for right now I can't be concerned with feelings and such. It's a plan."


"My friend," she gestured towards Orion who sat regaly on her shoulder," Thinks the Bloodseal Tavern and Inn is a good place to start our journey. Perhaps we will meet there someday."

Ranewen smiled. Her usually malicious smile was gone. She was smiling honestly for once. “Most likely, Nora. Most likely. I am there a lot, making deals with the criminals and whatnot… Stealing things from people, pick pocketing… You know the deal,” she said with a wink and shook her head so that her hair flew back behind her shoulders. Using her polymorph spell, she let her wings disappear. She looked like a normal human girl now. Approximately fourteen years of age. She had the same physical, seductive-like features still. For that was what she was—a demon inside her was in Erinyes, which seduce men. And that was what she was good at. That’s what she did in her spare time, but in a different form: A more seductive looking form. But no one knew that, did they? She hoped not, and no one would know what she did in her spare time, which she rarely had. But it did get her money, did it not? She didn’t exactly ask for the money…She took it. And that was that.

“Do you mind if I stay for a while for a rest? I’ve been traveling from Taras… A long walk, although I have Vholk over there. I have to get off him once and a while and walk myself. I don’t know why, but I do. I’m sure he wants the rest, too,” she said and nodded towards the steed who was right behind her. His icy blue eyes looked from Orion to Nora, then back to Ranewen, watching what his master did. He scraped at the ground with his diamond-hard hooves. He then shook his head, tossing his white and light blue mane from side to side. Finally, he settled down, his gaze landing on Ranewen sometimes, and other times on Orion or Nora, never staying on the same person for more than a few seconds.

"Not at all," said Nora. She smiled. Smiling felt odd, and she was sure the corners of her mouth must be twitching as she hadn't done this in a long while. She resumed her usual placid demeanor, though she was slightly surprised to see Ranewen's wings disappear.

"Let's go," Orion whined.

"Alright. What's gotten into you? What happened to can-you-handle-it-kitty?"

"He ate a bad mouse. Really, I'm itching to go. We need to get to the Bloodseal Tavern."

"Ok. Ok!"

"I'm afraid I cannot stay," Nora explained to Ranewen," I must leave at once, as Orion believes that we must get there as soon as possible."

"I know we must get there as soon as possible," corrected Orion.

"Forgive me- he knows we must get there as soon as possible. Be thankful you do not have a pet who can communicate telepathicaly," Nora said, grinning at her black cat who was looking back at her with contempt.

Ranewen smiled. "Do you know the way to the Bloodseal Tavern? Or need you a guide?" she asked simply, not caring if they wanted her to go or not. She could always just call to one of her dragons to come take them to the Bloodseal Tavern. They could travel faster than her frigid steed. Unless they would rather view the scenery. Then, Ranewen would just call for Maral. She'd ride the nasty Nightmare and Nora would be able to ride Vholk.

"If you do so wish to go with me as your guide, there are two options - well, Three. You can either ride atop my frigid steed, ride on one of my dragons, or walk. It's your choice," she said and gave a nod, looking over at Vholk, who shifted uneasily.

((Sorry this is so short!))

"Orion knows the way, so I think we shall be fine. I will fly; I need to stretch my wings," Nora said," Though, I thank you for your offer."

She lept from the ground a little, and hovered. Orion mewed a soft goodbye, and purred. Ranewen had gained his trust with her offer.

"We will see each other again," Nora said as a final farwell," Goodbye!"

And with that she rocketed into the air, and disappeared into the fog, setting out for a third try at life.