Memoirs of a FFXI Thief

Farwell for Brodie

2010-09-03T18:37:00.005-04:00

"I love him."

"I know! He's delicious." JenJen purred.

"I need him. I couldn't breath if I lost him." I groaned.

"You're silly." She smiled. "Marry him. You know you will."

"Why am I making this a big deal?" I was crying as JenJen flicked her mithra tail anxiously and petted my head.

"You'll be fine. You just need to let yourself be happy without punishing yourself with this girl stuff. It doesn't do anyone any good." Zerokb added as he nibbled some grapes near me. "I don't know why woman have to make such a big deal out of everything."

"Marriage is forever. This is a big deal." I insisted. "I'm talking about the rest of my life and with a Galka and my first husband was a hume. Why can't I fall in love with my own species like a normal Elvaan woman?"

"My brother Kjarbo would have you. We would be sisters!" Jenjen grinned. "l'll be happy to take Gurok off your paws. I can't believe he makes you breakfast every day. It's super cute."

Kjarbo was her brother by adoption and a good honest man. He would make a perfect husband for some lucky girl someday.

"I'm delicious too you know!" Zerokb complained and tugged Jenjen's tail.

She jumped up, pushing me over and launched herself at Zerokb. They rolled across the floor in a storm of laughter and tickling. I couldn't help but smile and relax my mood. He was so crazy about her. I wondered if they might be the next annoyingly cute couple in my linkshell.

"Crazy crying girl over here needing consoling." I announced with a wet flushed faced smile.

"You need medication." Zerokb teased.

They both ran at me and I stood to get away. Tackling me before I could get very far, we all bounced against my bed laughing. I hugged them both. "You two are the best. I'd share my cookies with you any day."

"You have boobs." Zerokb informed me while we all hugged.

I smacked him playfully and sat up. "I cannot believe you some days Zerokb. You are definitely strange enough to be a dancer."

"Yes, but why are you really going crazy over marrying Gurok?" He asked, distracting me from his strange attempt to lighten my mood before bringing me back down. "Do you have another man on the side? Need to keep the options open? Don't want to upset the other boyfriends? Secretly in love with me? You can tell me."

"Stop that!" I complained and paused. "The only other isn't alive anymore and yes, I want him back and yes, he's on my mind and in my dreams and haunting me. I see his form in the corner of my eye when I wake up in the morning and sleepily forget he's not there. I see a man from behind in heavy white armor and it makes my heart hurt wishing he would turn around and be my Brodie. I still have another man in my life. What if Gurok doesn't want to share me with him?"

"He already has for a long time." Zerokb said somberly. "He knows. He loves you anyways. He tries to understand. I can see it. For all his faults, he's not going to hold that against you."

"Mood killer." Jenjen said with big wet eyes.

"You know, we never had a proper funeral for Brodie. You weren't ready to accept that he might not have somehow survived. Maybe it's time." Zerobk suggested.

I hadn't even considered it, part of my reluctance to let go I suppose. No one would push me into it so I didn't. Now it felt right. To move on to the next chapter in my life, I needed to finally close the one past. Not to forget or abandon, but to open myself up to the life I still had to live.

I nodded. "Yes. Tomorrow as the sun is setting on the beach. Will you spread the word for anyone who might want to come so I can focus on the eulogy?"

They both agreed and excused themselves for rushed preparations. Some people would have to travel a long way, so they needed to start right away.

Running the entire way, I was winded when I found Gurok and threw myself on him.

"What's wrong?" he asked looking concerned.

"I need your help. I want to have a funeral for Brodie tomorrow. I want you to get a lot of cookies and drinks for me. Can you?" I looked up at him while I clung.

He kissed my head. "Ofcourse. It's been so long, I didn't think you wanted to ever have one. This is a good idea." He nodded and looked thoughtful for a moment before continuing. "Anything else you want me to do? I can bring you dinner tonight."

"Dinner would be perfect." I smiled. I adored him.

Belly down on my bed, I wrote while I kicked my bare feet behind me. I hadn't been to many funerals, so I didn't feel confident that I knew how to write a eulogy, but I knew whatever I did would help bring peace and that was what was important.

Knocking on my door startled me awake from a dream of sitting silently on the beach with Brodie on one side of me and Gurok on the other peacefully watching the sunset together. "Come in." I called, trying not to sound like I had fallen asleep.

Gurok lumbered in with a bag full of groceries and a smile. "I'm guessing you haven't eaten anything but cookies all day so I brought hardy muscle building food." He didn't wait to go straight for the table to start preparing food and I wondered if he felt at all uncomfortable with this all.

I came at him and he lifted his arm to pull me in close to him. "I glad you're here." I smiled.

He kissed me and stroked my face with his thumb. "I can't ask you to marry me when I said I would."

My mouth sprung open to protest and he moved his finger over my lips. "Let me finish." He smiled. "I still think we are made for each other and I will ask you to marry me, but I see now that you need to be the one to let me know when you're ready to be asked. I didn't mean to upset you and I only gave you the two days because I thought it was the surprise that made your head spin. I thought that if you knew when to expect it wouldn't make you feel panicked." He lifted his finger and kissed my lips.

"I love you." I said.

"I know." He said with a grin. Gurok squeezed me playfully until I thought my ribs might crack then we got back to making dinner together. It was right.

A fiery pink sky with streaks of gilded clouds painted the sky. Cool ocean breezes gently caressed my cheek in contrast to the warm summer air. Warmth filled my heart as I looked out over the retreating tide even though tears still fell silently down from my eyes. Over two years had passed since that day and it was past time for this farewell. I picked up my candle and turned to face the gathering.

Tonight is a night for healing. Not only for me, but for everyone who loved this humble kind paladin.

True to his calling, he was a protector and a hero. He was neither famous, nor flashy in his work, but when there was a wrong to be righted, he was there. When a friend needed help, he came, no matter the hour.

I remember when I met him so long ago. Always the hero, he literally swept me out of the mud and carried me away on his steed like a fairy tale hero. He won my heart months later with a shy laugh and the corniest pick up lines you ever heard as he helped me hunt the Carby ruby on a beach like this one. He made me laugh and I couldn't help but fall in love with his warmth and naked sincerity.

His death was tragic and too soon, though I doubt he regrets losing his life to save another if in the end we all must move on. It was just his way to protect. I hope he looks over us now with a pride and continues to watch over those he loves.

I looked back in the distance to the men I had seen earlier. I knew they were here because they still suspected my child Hope not only lived but was the child of a hume and a threat to their government. Because of them, I couldn't mention our child. It made my heart sad but I knew he would understand. I opened the paper I had written a poem on and read.

Death by Khalil Gibran

Then Almitra spoke, saying, "We would ask now of Death."

And he said: You would know the secret of death.

But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.

If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;

And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.

Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?

Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

I knelt down at the end of the long pier and kissed the little wax boat in my hands. "Love, I will hold you in my heart until we meet again and I can hold you in my arms once more."

Setting the floating candle into the retreating tide I watched it drift away for a moment before standing and walking back to the beach. Everyone had a chance to say a last goodbye and let their candle go until the darkening sea was filled with beautiful bobbing white lights. I didn't stay on the pier to listen to the private farewells.

I went to Gurok instead, to dry my tears on his good white shirt. I noticed that even to a funeral, his weapons where strapped across his back and I was glad that he was ever ready.

He just smiled his encouragement and held me firmly. "This is a healing moment for everyone. I'm proud of you my brave little Elvaan."

I couldn't fathom what it must be like for him to be here for this turning point in my life. I couldn't wrap my mind around how he must feel to be here and reminded that I had loved someone before him so fully, yet my adoration for Gurok still filled my heart so abundantly that it felt like it might burst. I was just grateful that my giant wall of a galka could be here with me with such grace and understanding. I needed Gurok. Even if I never touched another shinny for the rest of my life, I would feel wealthier than a queen for being loved by him.

Just an Idea

2010-08-21T21:08:00.004-04:00

"I love them." I whispered to myself as I admired my reflection. The emerald and diamond headband looked amazing crowning my fiery red hair. Every delicate detail in the metal work was absolutely stunning.

"Planning on keeping that?"

I had heard Gurok come into my house, but I had a hard time breaking the trance of beautiful shinny things. "It loves me back." I grinned.

"I think those gems are corrupting your brain." He jested. He presented a plate of cookies and I picked one up for immediate gobbling.

Chewing while I hugged him, I was on a trio of perfection high. I was wearing pretty shinnies, eating cookies and holding the man I adored all at once. I knew at that moment, life couldn't get any better than that and I didn't want to let him go. "I like you."

He smiled. "I like you too. I'm curious about this pretty emerald thing you're wearing. Business or pleasure?"

"I was commissioned to borrow it from someone who has been dead for one hundred and fifty years and doesn't seem to be able to show it the appreciation it deserves. I'm really torn though. I love it. I'm wondering how angry that crazy old trader will be if I wear it instead. He wants it for his young new fiancé, but it looks so much better on me. What kind of young bride wants to wear a dead woman's jewels? I bet I can talk him into something new and custom made right?"

"I think you're too lovely for your own good without any help at all."

I laughed and kissed him quickly. "That's not what I asked. I'll give it to him though. He does fund a lot of my business and he's much more pleasant to deal with than most. I guess it would be a shame to make him an enemy. I always could steal it back without him knowing if I just couldn't get it out of my mind." It was hard work trying to convince myself.

I took the lovely from my head and admired it once more before putting it back in my bag for delivery. I knew I would play with it again before I gave it to him and I still wasn't completely sure I would be able to hand it over. I was so weak for beautiful jewelry, but I also loved money and he was going to pay me a lot of it for finding the headband.

He scooped me up into his arms and I giggled in delight. "Want to hear what I've been thinking about?" He asked.

"Yes!" I loudly declared with a smile, still high on my trio perfecta.

"Did you even hear what I said?"

I'm not sure that I had. My head was spinning. Gurok looked a bit cross to put it mildly, but he kept still while I sat on his lap and waited as patiently as he could for me. He had been going on for awhile now and I'm not even sure I blinked yet. Blinking extra to make up for it, I stared at his big hand over mine. "So, you want to marry me?" I summed up.

"Well yes, that's what I've been saying for the last thirty minutes to eternity." He said as his brushed fingers through my hair. "You act like you don't think it's a good idea, but it makes perfect sense. You and I are good together. Don't you feel the same way?"

"You are the first thing I look for when I wake up and the one thing that keeps me awake longer at night for fear of missing you." I said almost mechanically as I studied every detail of his fingers. It was so honestly true.

Gurok chuckled. "You have a very charming way with words. Does that mean you agree with me?"

"That we should get married?" I repeated as if somehow we might have switched subjects without my noticing. I felt dizzier for some reason and my body felt so heavy. I had to lean against his warm chest.

"Yes…" he drew out. "Do you need me to repeat my speech again? You know how I feel about repeating myself but I realize this is a big deal. I admit, I'm a little discouraged that you're not shouting it from the tree tops."

I felt panicked and looked up at him with big pleading eyes, "Give me two days and ask me again? This is not the kind of decision I want to make without thinking it through." I was terrified that he would think that I didn't love him. This wasn't about that.

"The idea had really never crossed your mind?" He asked with raised eyebrows.

"Well, no. I just kissed you last week. I hadn't planned the rest of my life part yet. You're so right; I love you. I just want this to be one of the steps in life I thought through first. This needs to be a rare completely responsible moment."

"We've know each other for a very long time and we've always been close. This is something that has grown for more than one week." He paused a moment. "Hm… well, Ok. I'll give you two days to feel responsible and I won't bring up marriage again until then. Then, if you'll meet me in Ru'Lude Gardens, I'll run the idea by you one more time for an official answer. That sound ok for you?"

Relaxing a little with a smile, I kissed him. "Thank you. I'm sorry I'm full of crazy sometimes."

"I'm used to it." He kissed me back even though I could tell he wasn't as happy as he should have been after bring up marriage and I was full of guilt.

He held me quietly until he had to leave for some auction house obligation. I knew he was disappointed in me and it broke my heart. While he was much less showy about it, he liked having his way just as much as I did.

Why was I panicking? This wouldn't be the first time I had married. I let out a huge sigh and curled up on my bed as I started to put the pieces of my mind back together.

My first marriage had been the best time of my life and yet had ended suddenly in murder and devastation. In the back of my mind, I couldn't help but picture Gurok in that same position, married to me only to be torn gruesomely away much too far from old age.

Ofcourse, that was crazy and the logical part of my mind knew it. All I had to do was calm my heart. I wasn't cursed was I? There was no reason to think that I was some kind of black widow that brought death to the men I loved.

I was going to need my friends.

Target Practice

2010-08-01T21:23:00.003-04:00

I spotted Gurok from across the square. He was sitting against his favorite wall with his thick galka legs folded in front of him and his head resting back. His eyes where closed but he didn’t look asleep. He rested alert like this often when he was waiting for his group of friends to gather for an all night expedition. The familiarity made me smile.

I glided up to him quietly and slipped into his lap. “Hello Alison.” He said as he put one arm around me and pinned me against his armored chest without lifting his head or opening his eyes. “What kind of trouble are you going to try to talk me into today?”

“Nothing.” I replied with mock offense. “How did you know it was me?”

“No tail.” He said with a mischievous grin.

With that I hit him, though I wasn’t sure why. It’s not like I had made any claim on him. If he had other women on his lap with tails, why did I have any right to be upset about it? My body stiffened and I suddenly felt the need to run hard in any direction, but his arm holding me down was enough to stop me.

He opened his eyes and looked at me as if he suspected what was on my mind, though he didn’t say and I was sure I expected too much of him to think he could know about my inner struggles. One callus finger softly pushed my disheveled bangs away from my face. “Anything you wanted to tell me then?” he asked as his eyes studied my face.

“You smell like burnt charcoal, leather and iron.” I said sharply as if I intended it to be an insult.

“I’m glad you like it.” He replied with a knowing grin. “Did you come all the way from San ‘D Oria to tell me that?”

“No, I just…” I hesitated, afraid to tell the guilty truth, “I just missed you.” I relaxed and leaned against him feeling his usual furnace like heat radiating hot on my cheek.

“I just left you this morning.” He chuckled softly and rested his cheek on the top of my head briefly. “It’s nice to see you too. I have awhile before I need to meet up with my group. I can help you practice your marksmanship.”

I nodded, relieved to have something to do and he stood up letting me fall from his lap to the ground, leaving me to get my feet under me quickly enough to avoid landing on the ground in a very unladylike pile. I resisted the urge to stab him and shoved him playfully instead as I followed him to the outer gate.

Once outside I pointed at an old watch house. “That will do fine. I’ll go scratch a target on the back side.”

“You need practice hitting something that moves.” Gurok frowned. “You’re already experienced enough at hitting walls.”

The idea that he was talking about more than arrows tickled the back of my mind, but I let that thought go. “So what would you suggest? I can only get one or two shots each on living targets before they get to me and I have to finish it close combat.”

“You have me.” He smiled. “I’ll hold their attention on me, while you TRY to hit it. The only thing I ask is that you focus enough that you do NOT hit me or I cannot be held accountable for any loss of temper.”

I shifted uneasily at the thought of his temper. I had seen it lash out on many occasions but he never directed to towards me even if it meant someone else would pay. Only recently had I witnessed what he was capable of when Kallo became the focus of revenge. My heart hurt to think of hitting him with my crossbow bolt. “It sounds too risky. You have to work tonight.”

“You worry too much. That crease in your forehead is going to become permanent if you don’t learn to relax. Try to be a little more focused and your aim might improve.”

I rolled my eyes and nodded my head. “Ok, your thick hide on the line. I’ll just hope the air stays still and you don’t move around too much and I don’t get distracted...”

With that he lumbered out towards a green eyed dragonfly with a six foot wing span resting nearby. With one swat of his great hand the fly was up in the air and looking furious.

I held up my loaded crossbow and took a shot that zipped just over the top of the fly’s back, not even catching its attention. Gurok raised an eyebrow at me and said plenty with his eyes. I reloaded and took at deep breath. Steadying myself and clearing my mind of worries, I took slow careful aim and squeezed the trigger. This time I hit my mark and Gurok quickly slapped the bug with his sword to keep it from flying after me. “Again!” he shouted.

I smiled with pride and reloaded. I hit my mark a dozen or more times only missing three. Not perfect, but an improvement on my previous and embarrassing rate.

Things were going pretty well and I was starting to think Gurok might be a genius for thinking of this new training technique when something hit me hard between the shoulders. My hand was on the trigger, just taking a shot when it happened and a bolt flew wildly through the air striking Gurok’s thigh just at a seam in his armor and biting into his muscle.

My vision blurred with panic. I turned and stabbed the fly that had rammed me until it was down and at least on the way to dying before running to Gurok who was finishing off the fly he had been holding for me.

“Ouch!” he shouted and sat down to pull the bloody bolt out of his leg angrily and threw it against a tree splintering the bolt in half.

I was to him and on the ground beside him as fast as my guilt driven legs could carry me. Unbuckling his leg armor I kissed the bloody wound and searched my bag franticly for a potion to pour into the hole.

He smiled at me with raised eyebrows and wiped his blood off my lips with his gloved finger. “You know this is not a big injury for me. I’ve had much worse. You can calm down.”

“I’m sorry.” I begged as I finally found the healing potion I was looking for and poured it slowly into the bolt wound. He gritted his teeth together quietly, his neck tightening as he waited out the pain of healing that was often worse than the original injury.

I rested my head down on his newly healed thigh and stared at the small silvery scar that I knew was small enough to disappear in a few months. I touched it and thought about how many hits we had both taken and survived together. He was my life boat in a world that haunted me with nightmares of black waters and death and I needed him desperately. I wouldn’t forget that not so long ago I nearly lost him when he nearly slid off a cliff into dark rocky ocean below. It horrified me to think that I could have lost him too.

He watched me trace my fingers over his scars and he took off his glove to pull my hair tie loose. Running his fingers through my red hair he pushed it out of the way to stroke my face. “You don’t have to act like you’ve killed me. In fact your fingers are getting my attention far more than a single arrow shot.”

My head shot up and I blushed and looked away from him. “I’m sorry.” I muttered.

Cupping my jaw in his massive hand he turned my face back to his and studied my face. I struggled to get air into my lungs as I tingled at his touch. It was hard to push aside my feelings for him when he looked into my soul like that and it was impossible to suppress my embarrassing blush.

When I thought I would faint from the effort of breathing, he leaned down and kissed me lightly. So long I had denied wanting this that when he finally broke the dam, there was no going back. My head spun dizzily and I kissed him hungrily letting my feelings flow from heart to lips. My fingers searched his armor for his warm skin and settled on the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

I could hear voices calling distantly but they didn’t register through my ecstatic mind. Gurok shifted his massive body to reach down and pull out his linkpearl, tossing it into the brush.

It then registered in my mind who I was hearing. I pulled back and laughed still drunk with affection. “Your dynamis party is calling you aren’t they?”

“I’m not available.” he grinned as he trapped me in his massive galka arms and kissed me.

I giggled in delight as my kisses turned playful. “Yes you are. I know how important you are to them on this mission.” I nuzzled his face affectionately and tried to let our heart beats calm as I let what was happening sink in. I already knew I loved him, but wise or not, it was no longer my secret.

“This is how we are meant to be.” He said passionately as he stared into my eyes as if he were afraid I wouldn’t hear him. “You and I just make good sense.”

I glowed happily at his effort to say he loved me and kissed his neck tenderly as I clung to him. “I’ll be waiting for you when you’re done with dynamis.” I whispered. What I really meant was I would watch the whole thing from a safe spying distance and then rush back to meet him before he knew how crazy about him I really was and how little tolerance I had for being apart from him. It would be hard for me to fight my tendency to protect myself including my heart.

Grinning, he lifted me into his arms and carried me a few steps toward the city before letting me down to my feet. I giggled softly in delight and wrapped my fingers around his hand letting myself sponge in all this happiness hoping this was the start of a lifelong love story and not my silly heart getting me into more trouble.

I sat with him near the residential area in San D’ Oria while Gurok’s group gathered and organized into teams to go into dynamis. I smiled and chatted politely with the group while trying to stay out of the way, though I was completely distracted by my fluttering chest and tingling lips after the kiss I had just recieved. I loved dynamis, but I was loyal to Digital Back Spin, my own mission team and wouldn’t be fighting with Gurok tonight.

I let them all enter and wished them luck and then with the skills that earned me the title of thief, I snuck in after them. I loved to watch him in action. All the shield bashing and grunting as he welded that enormous sword made me giggle like a silly teen. Protecting his allies was his main job tonight, and he was doing it beautifully. I was so proud of him.

He would have been furious if he knew I followed him in there. It was dangerous enough in a group, let alone sneaking in alone when no one knew I was there. I wondered if he suspected that I shadowed him as much as I did after I caught him tossing Kallo over a cliff with bags of gold coins tied to his ankles. Such a waste of gold and a skilled even if misguided fellow thief. Could he have been saved? I wondered.

I had already spent a good enough time justifying Kallo’s death, but it still troubled me that my beloved paladin had ended him in such a dark though poetic manner. Kallo had turned me over to evil men just for the meager reward after I thought we had become friends. Even though he knew it was an innocent unborn baby they really wanted he didn’t seem to care. But, I wondered if the greater casualty was the dark spot burned on my white knight’s heart. I hurt for the bad things my best friend felt had to do keep me safe. Maybe my heart was more that of a white mage than a thief ever since I became a mother. Maybe I was just going dangerously soft.

I lay flat and still on a roof as I watched them work their way around to the last attack of the night. It was dark and the tiles where cool on my skin. The sky was clear letting the stars the countless stars light the sky with the big blue moon. I breathed in the crisp evening air and felt pretty darn good. They had already cleared every threat from the area but the last one and it was safe for me to come down whenever I wanted. If it was any other area, I would have been tempted to sleep there under the stairs all night, but I needed to get out of there and meet Gurok like I promised before he knew where I had spent the evening.

Dancing through the shadows, I made my way back home, washed the day off and dressed for night. I was just tying my red hair up when I heard heavy paladin boots coming up to my door. Before he could touch the door I had opened it and leapt on him throwing my arms around his neck. Catching me with a chuckle he held me up. “Did you eat ALL the cookies? You’re full of spring.”

“I did save one for you.” I smiled and kissed his white cheek, watching for any sign that he regretted kissing me earlier.

“Really?” he looked surprised and it made me smile that he realized how rare it was for me to have the self control to save a cookie.

“Yes, and if you would like to wash the spatters off first, Moogle helped me make a dinner fit for a famished white knight after a long night of battling.” It had been all Moogle’s cooking, but I didn’t want him to wonder what I had really been up to all night while I waited for him. I loved how natural all of this felt.

“Yes Mam.” He said with a grin that told me he was up to something and he bowed and disappeared to wash up for dinner.

I breathed in the smell of hot bread, a galka proportioned roast and my favorite sautéed carrots and felt like I had died and gone to heaven as I listened to my best friend humming as he splashed around in the next room.

As soon as the thought of heaven crossed my mind, I stiffened as my heart jumped with painful guilt. How could I love him when I had already loved and lost the love of my life? It felt like I was betraying Brodie even though he had been murdered and was gone to me in this life. It seemed like it had happened an eternity ago and yesterday all at the same time.

My mind was wiped clean with a new focus when I smelled the steam and soap as he opened the door and came out for dinner still slightly damp and barefooted wearing only his in town slacks. I thought he looked like a great furry white angel with a thick galka tail. How could I worry when he was here with me sharing a hot meal with bare toes and happy hearts? I was so impossibly twiterpaited.

Where One Road Ends

2010-07-18T09:20:00.003-04:00

This post was written by Gurok the Paladin. He told me that these characters are not ready for a retirement killing flies, so he has written this chapter to inspire more. Thank you Guork for writing some more fun for them and for being patient through my editing process of mailing this back and forth for tweaks for over a week. I hope you enjoy it.
________________

Alison meant the world to me and to be honest, I was never completely sure why. Her thieving nature constantly put us in danger, she tested my patience on a daily basis and she was dodgier in her relationships then her career. Yet when this… thing betrayed her and her unborn child it made me realize how much I cared for her, how much excitement she brought to my life and how much I appreciated it.

I swore that I would make sure both she and Hope were safe first, which I did. Then I started going about finding the miserable wretch. To his credit, he is a damn good thief and can stay invisible with the best of them. Unfortunately for him, to MY credit I have built a network of incredibly loyal and interesting friends with plenty of shadowy qualities of their own.

Konamy, a Mithra thief, was the one who gave me the idea one day while discussing my dilemma. “Gurok you made Alison a promise you wouldn’t go looking for him and you always keep your word!” she said to me with a sly look on her feline face I didn’t notice at first.

“I know Konamy, but the fact remains I gave my word to myself that I would go find him and make him pay for what he did.” I looked up at her to see a huge grin and almost lost my temper, but she cut me off.
“I never gave my word… Dkrchris said nothing of the sort. Matter of fact none of our Linkshell did, as I am sure most of your other friends didn’t. So, it seems to me that if we were to… stumble… across him and tell you then you could keep both your promises.”

I jumped up quickly, fast enough to make her flinch reflexively, and I gave her a big Galkan hug. “You are the best, get the ball of yarn rolling and keep me informed.”

It took all my will not to seem too hopeful around Alison and give it all away. I worried that the few times I did actually smile, she would see right through it and know I was up to something. The mental weight of her problems kept the chances down to a minimum. Even though she seemed very comfortable around me of late, there were times she drifted off into her own private hell.

It was Zerokb that caught wind of him first. “Hey G, Kallo just walked into San D’ Oria’s auction house, then he got on the airship headed for Jeuno. By the way, you know Ali will kill you and anyone that helped you if she finds out about this, right?”

“Then keep quiet.” I grumbled. Great guy, but he worried too much about upsetting women. Then again, they had peculiar habits of hurting him because of it. I chuckled to myself as I pondered blaming all this on him if we got caught, just to watch the fireworks.

Konamy and Dkrchris were already fishing at the docks when the thief arrived. She was complaining to Dkr that his Dark Knight armor was scaring all the fish away. Kallo glanced at them for a second and quickly made his way into Port Jeuno. Konamy kissed Dkr and followed Kallo stealthily as she could.

Alison and I were riding across Konschtat Highlands heading to my home in Bastok when I got the call from Konamy. “Hey Gurok, I have some good news. This guy is in Upper Jueno is doing business with an Elvaan that works at the bar. He is going to be here until tomorrow then their deal is complete and he is leaving to, I don’t know where. They are meeting at 3pm.”

“Keep an eye on him. Tell me if anything changes. I will be there tomorrow. I need a sometime to pick up a few things and arrange a good excuse for me to leave Alison for a few hours.”

I immediately got off with her and connected with Bob, another Galka Paladin. “Hey Bob are you still interested in that beautiful set of dark blue armor I have?”
“Why yes I am sir. Perfect timing, now I can actually use it.” “Good. Meet me in Lower Jeuno by the auction house tomorrow at noon. How much do you want for the full set?”

“It’s free, I just need a favor, tell you more tomorrow.”

Alison was watching me carefully when I disconnected. “Who was that?” she said with a suspicious smile.

“Well, if you must know, it was another woman. She is a sexy remarkable thief and she wants to have a clandestine meeting with me as soon as I can lose you.”
Alison gave a small chuckle “Ok, tell Kona I said hello when you see her next.”
I sighed and pretended to sulk a bit. “Is it so hard to believe someone else would want to spend time with me?”

This seemed to make her smile more. “No, silly, it’s hard to believe you’d want to spend time with anyone else besides me.”

That made me laugh and I let it go at that. In my moghouse we had a nice dinner and sat down by the fire listening to music and watching my fish swim around in their new tank for a bit before she spoke.

“You have something on your mind Sweetie. Feel free to tell me anytime.”

I grinned. “It was the call I got before. Dkr and Kona want me to come tank a behemoth tomorrow out in Quifim Island. Apparently their Ninja friend suddenly feels… ill. They know I need an item from its corpse to complete my Black Belt training as a Monk.”

I had been training as a Monk on the side for quite some time now. I liked the freedom of movement and focus it gave me when I wasn’t tanking. “Bob also called me and offered to buy my old set of tanking gear in Jeuno tomorrow, so maybe this was meant to be.” I frowned.

“Do you want me to come cheer you on?”

She is a sly one, I thought to myself “Well I would normally insist on not having you out of my sight, you know that, but unless you are in the group right behind me I won’t be able to focus on that behemoth. With everything that has happened I cannot help but worry and I’d like to be at my best.”

She gave me one of her beautiful smiles that made her seem like she never knew what it was like to even be upset and replied “Well then if I MUST stay here and relax all day then I insist I get a gift. Something shiny would be great!”

I leaned in close as I could and whispered “You are being too nice. I would never make you choose between shinnies and food. I will bring you some wonderful fresh baked cookies from the specialty shop in Jeuno as well as a surprise.”

She squealed and popped into my arms to hug me around my neck. “You spoil me as much as I deserve.” I gave her one of my annoyed that doesn’t make sense looks then busted out laughing.

The next morning I made her muffins with chocolate chips for Moogle to give her when she awoke. I grabbed all my gear and triple checked the rope, chains and bags of gil I was going to need. I was on the airship, eyes closed and concentrating on the wind blowing through my fur when I got the call from Konamy.

“Gurok I am sooo sorry! I don’t know how he knew! I tried my best really I swear!”
I tensed “Calm down! Speak plainly please… what happened?”

I heard her take a deep breath. “I was following him this morning to make sure he didn’t go anywhere else. He went to the tenshodo and I stayed outside to wait for him. I got distracted by… by… this beautiful silver music globe. It was gorgeous with gold accents and stained glass and…"

“Kona focus please, on KALLO.”

“He is gone Gurok. I lost him. I went back to where he was staying and it’s all cleaned out. He must have realized I was following him. Oh wait, the bartender at the bar is coming towards me. I paid him to keep me informed. Hold on.”

I gritted my teeth together and reminded myself that these people were my friends and they were offering their help to me unconditionally. This was all wrong. It was going to be perfect and now it was turning into a mess.

Konamy popped back into my ear. “Gurok, he is headed out into Jugner Forest. I am going out after him. Maybe Dkr and I can pick him back up again. I am sorry.”

Her pain was clear, my silence was causing it, so I spoke. “Its fine Kona, we have all the time in the world to do this. I am sure you’ll find him and thank you for all of this.”

Her voice perked up, “You got it Gurok!”

When I walked into Lower jeuno I caught Bob traveling through on his way to the auction house. “Hello sir. Good afternoon to you.”

“Pffff. Not entirely Bob, not entirely.”

“What’s up?”

We sat down on the steps and I explained almost everything to him while I gave him the armor set. We sat in silence for awhile before he spoke. “If anyone is going to get this guy it’ll be you. For as long as I’ve known you, you never let anything escape you. From mobs, to goals, to Alison herself, mind you she is the most complicated problem of all.”

Bob and Ali didn’t get along very well. They had a hate/hate relationship. His loyalty to me though was the only reason he was bothering to involve himself at all. “Come with me” I said. “I have to get a few things for Alison so she doesn’t suspect anything.”

We had gotten the gourmet cookies, an aquamarine and some gold ore I was fashioning into a pendant while I waited for her bouquet to be arranged. I was sitting outside the florist when I looked up and froze. Across from me was the bar Konamy had spoken of. There was Kallo and he was shaking hands with the bartender who let him in and put out his closed sign. Suddenly it all made sense. My day was looking up, it was time…

I grabbed Bob from buying some new fishing rig. The guy was always fishing. “Put my armor on now! Not the purple set, MY set. You are about to do that favor.”

He eyed me suspiciously. “How?” he said with more than the usual amount of caution in his voice.

“Kallo is here, now, at the bar. The bartender is working with him and misled Kona. I am going to need your help to pull this off.”

We went around back and dragged several heavy barrels against the back door. I took a good look at him in my armor. With my helmet on, he easily passed for me as long as he didn’t speak. As I put on the blue set I spoke quickly. “Don’t say anything to him. He’ll expect me to be enraged. Break anything you want in there, including anyone that helps him, but don’t you DARE kill him or underestimate him… Watch your back, he IS a thief.”

Bob just grinned. He kicked the door so hard the framework shattered and the door took out the first table and chairs.

I quickly darted around back and got into position by the back shuttered window. When I heard the thump of the door against the barrels, I knew it was working. In a graceful arc, Kallo tumbled through the shutters onto the ground like a cat coming to his feet… when my shield caught this particular “cat” in the face.

The force combined with his momentum threw him off his feet and into the wall. The back of his head hit the wall and I hit his face again with my shield twice. As soon as I was sure he was out cold, I searched him to remove his lock picks and his blades. I bound him in rope threw him over my shoulder.

As more crashes came from inside the bar, I tried to get to Bob on my linkpearl. “Got him. Meet me at North Qufim cliffs as soon as you can.”

My heart was pounding, my mind racing. Was I really going to do this? It was working smoother then I had possibly hoped for now that it was all in motion. I expected to feel… haunted, but I did not. Instead, I felt a hunger, a primal drive to see this through.

Bob must have taken some time to relish in his fight because by the time he found me in Qufim, I had already gagged Kallo and bound him in chains. I was staring out at the cold raging water slamming into the jagged cliffs several hundred feet below when Bob spoke. “It sucks to be him.”

“You did great today. Thank you for your help. Give me back my armor and this set is now yours. Say nothing to anyone about this… ever.”

After we were both back in our gear he turned to me with his fist on his chest. “From our heart to our shield, it’s what makes us good at what we do.” He turned and left.

I don’t know how long I stood there waiting for him to wake up, but my thoughts were on Alison. I felt bad hiding anything from her. All I had ever wanted to do since I met her was be there for her and that meant honesty, but I wondered what she would think of me for how I went about this. I didn’t give this garbage a fighting chance. I set him up and took advantage of his nature… which was exactly what he had done to her. I only hoped she would see that and know I was still trustworthy.

I saw his eyes open and with admirable reflexes he instinctively went to reach for his blades and spring up but they weren’t there. When it soaked in he was bound and bound tightly his eyes filled with rage and locked onto mine. I stared back calmly and knelt down next to him. “I could have killed you at any point, but death wasn’t my true desire here. I want you to know a few things before you go away on your next journey. First, although I may be a Paladin, I warned you never to hurt Alison and that nothing would stop me from killing you if you ever really did. So, I needed you to know it was me that tracked you, tricked you and caught you.”

He subtly tried to find his picks. I stared plainly and held them up for him to see, his eyes showed a flicker of panic. “Second, your own arrogant loner nature is what makes this so simple. No one will be looking for you, they will think you slipped out the back and disappeared like the rat you are.”

Now he started to openly struggle against the rope and chains so I put my hand on his chest to hold him still. “Last thing and we are done. I won’t keep you waiting any longer. It’s a few hundred feet to the water and rocks below, so you’ll have time to think about this. It was gil that you turned her and her unborn child in for, so if you want it that badly, I will send you off with all I have. There is over 5,000 gil in those bags chained to your feet and it’s all yours.”

I stood up and kicked one of the three bags of gil over the edge. The shift of weight brought on fresh screaming through his gag. I was about to kick the second bag over when I heard her voice.

“Gurok!” She was standing about 15 feet away looking confused and uncertain at what she was seeing.

“Alison, why couldn’t you stay back at my home?” I closed my eyes as I spoke; I couldn’t bear to look at her.

“I think I can ask you the same question. Is that Kallo?”

“Yes, I can explain things a bit if you are willing to listen, but I have to do this first.” I kicked the second bag, but he must have gotten his hand loose while I had my eyes closed because it had enough slack to grab my ankle as the bag went over.
He slid, I slid… the third bag went over and I grabbed a large rock, but with hardly any grip.

Alison crossed the distance in a blink. She spoke with anger, but to Kallo not me. “You have taken enough from me!“ She slammed her dagger into his wrist causing him to let go and slip over. A scream quickly lost over the roar of the crashing water so far below.

She hugged me and I put my arm around her. “I am sorry I lied to you but I didn’t intend for you to be part of this Ali. You have seen enough death and loss, but even as I did this to protect you I come out owing you my life.”

She buried her face against my chest, shaking it back and forth. “Shush.” She begged. “I understand… just... shush.”

I waited in silence for her reaction, afraid of what my broken promise would mean to her.

When she finally looked up at my face, it was full of an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher. “Never do that again.” Now here she looked angry and stepped back shoving against my chest and then pounding me with her fists when I didn’t move. She gasped to hold back tears and threw her arms around me. “You know I hate cold water. I would have frizzed my hair jumping in to save your furry hide.”

“The rocks would have done more damage to your hair than the cold water.” A glance into her eyes let me know that humor wasn’t my best route here. “Cookies?” I asked as I held her tightly, hoping to distract her by holding up the bag I had gotten her from the specialty shop. Usually an easy thing to do, but anger could improve her determination.

She nodded without looking up. “Yes, cookies.” Taking the bag she paused and glared up at me. “I will NOT lose you to the sea. Never scare me like that again!”
“Promise.” I said, ignoring the dark thought that flickered in my mind, wondering if I would be able to keep that promise.

I held up the aquamarine necklace I had made her. “Something shiny.” She said as she looked away from the edge of the cliff. “I’m not sure how I feel about that yet…” nodding back towards the drag marks in the dirt and stone “,but this is nice. Thank you Sweetie.” She smiled warmly at me as I put the necklace on her.

I nodded and moved her away from the cliffs. I would have to remember not to underestimate her curiosity again. I was confident I had done enough good things for her to outweigh any negativity she felt about this, especially after what he had done to her, but Alison was slow to change her feelings about things. As always I would wait patiently.

Dancing Edge

2009-10-24T19:20:00.004-04:00

I looked over my shoulder at my friends and giggled despite myself. I needed to be stealthy as I hunted the dragonflies, but I was really having a good time. I had forgotten how much I loved working in a team with friends. The party was nearly finished killing the giant dragonfly they were attacking and I was already crouching in the brush eyeing my next prey. Our goal was to kill the seventy-pound insects as fast as we could without getting anyone seriously hurt, but I wanted them to feel pretty dang close to death. It made it more fun for me.

Even before the party's fly started to tremble and fall to the ground , my crossbow bolt was flying to another one. I missed. I squinted and rawred in frustration. A good marksman I am not. I just hoped no one had seen me miss; it was so embarrassing.

The bolt whooshed by the giant flying bug and it took notice. Buzzing furiously, it came after me and on long fast legs I sprinted back to the protection of my friends. Once I raced passed the paladin, I skipped back to the group and took my favorite place, right behind the wall that was Gurok.

"Oh come on!" the Jenjen complained, "Can't we at least catch our breath?" The group had not quite finished off the first fly and I had already brought them another. Jenjen jumped up and down on the first struggling fly and it took its last breath.

Gurok laughed. "She's having fun and we can handle it. No one has even hit the ground from blood loss yet."

I took notice of his "yet." I would have protested, but I could get carried away when I was in a good mood and sometimes people were... damaged before we finished. I glared at him anyways, as if he could feel it through the back of his head. He swished his tail at me playful as I stood behind him and tried to execute my sneak attack combos on the fly without being tripped.

Garness' wyvern Rover seemed to be having a good time too . He was breathing fire on the hopeless fly and toasting little holes in it's wings. In his zealousness, he also managed to singe Martin's arm. "Careful!" Martin hollered and whacked Rover across the rear with the flat of his broadsword. That did not make Rover happy. In a red whirlwind, Rover had attacked Martin and rolled him to the ground in a heap.

Garness wrapped his arms around his body and laughed a huge rolling galka belly laugh without offering Martin any help. "Rover doesn't like to be spanked."

The angry wyvern bit holes into Martin's heavy warrior armor and shook his lovely head enthusiastically as he growled. Letting Martin go he glared and bore his teeth as if to warn him to keep his weapons to himself next time then flew back to Garness' side. Garness petted Rover's scaly head and the wyvern nuzzled his master’s hand affectionately in return.

Gurok was handling the brunt force of the fly's powerful attacks while half the party was distracted by Rover and Martin rolling around on the ground. His face was getting moist from the effort and I could tell he needed a hand. The fly was turning the tide of the battle and pushing Gurok back towards the tree-line. He could take a lot of hits but when he was armored up like a tank, he couldn't swing as hard to do a lot of damage. That was our job, if anyone was paying attention. "Not to rush you..." he complained.

Zerokb shared a little healing magic with Gurok with a quiet smile of amusement. I jumped up behind the fly and slashed it back and forth with gracefully lethal slices before killing it with one final powerful gouge up forcing the fly to give up the ghost. "Lovely." I complimented myself.

I didn't go for another victim quite yet. Instead, I flopped down in the grass nearby and rested my hands in my lap. After Rover and Martin's little wrestling match and killing a respectable number of dragonflies, I thought we could take a break to laugh and eat a snack. Gurok didn't look like he was ready to quit, but I was in charge of picking the fights today so he shook himself slightly to get his mind out of fight mode and smiled as he relaxed.

"I guess that means it's break time." Martin said as he jumped up in the air and fell onto a pile of leaves then pulled out a piece of jerky. Rover, still angry from earlier, stole Martin's jerky and flew off with it. Martin stood to his feet awkwardly in his heavy armor and chased the wyvern into the brush out of sight. We were rolling with laughter as we listened to the shouting and rawring not far away.

Wiping a happy tear from my eye, I hugged Jenjen. "I'm sorry." She looked confused. I pulled everyone else within reach towards me and tried to hug them all at once. "Oh," she said as she started to understand and hugged me back. She grinned. "You're you, and we love you and I'm glad you're feeling better today," she purred as she nuzzled.

Martin stumbled back looking a little singed and out of breath. "I missed something." he said flatly and looked disappointed. Then he grinned mischievously, ran, then jumped on top of the group hug nearly breaking my head with his big body. Gurok grabbed him by the back of his armor launched Martin out of the huddle. He got some impressive air before rolling to a stop on the ground "Ooowww..." he groaned as he laughed.

Rover flew back to Garness’ side looking very very proud of himself. I smiled as I looked around at my friends. Today was a good day.

(Thank you to Stephen for another educational editing session. You rock. Check out his blog at http://fourthdayuniverse.blogspot.com Oh and sorry this one took so long. My pc died and I had to wait for a new hard drive and motherboard to be installed. It was painful.)

Friendly Nudge

2009-09-09T23:00:00.004-04:00

I was hypnotized by the motion of the water and the musical sound of the water drops falling from my finger tip into the dark reflective fountain. I was just daydreaming again. With my knees pulled up under my chin, I dipped my finger into the dark water and watched the rings ripple away from me making the reflection of the red moon dance and shimmer.

I imagined his face in the water staring back at me. I wondered where he was and what he was feeling. I hoped his spirit wasn't miserable like I had been lately. He always had a knack for remaining cheerful even when things looked grim. Could I love him as much as I thought I did or was it just the misery of having him ripped away from me that made me feel this way? It had been one year, four months and six days. Would I ever be able to let him go?

I was fine while I was desperately struggling to protect my daughter Hope from the politicians who feared her birth, but once things settled down and she seemed safe my emotions caught up with me and flooded my mind. The pressure was crushing me. The more my life stood still, the more my own thoughts and feelings seemed to cripple me. I knew I needed to do something but I just couldn't yet. I felt like I could sympathize with this frustrated fountain shut off for the night. What's the point without flowing and motion?

Leaning my forehead on my arm, I watched the tears roll off my nose and puddle on the stones. Then my hat flew off my head and an unseen attacker started beating me with it.

“Don’t be such a weak Elvaan fool! Pull it together. You’re embarrassing me just to see you embarrass yourself.”

I turned to see Foxx glaring at me with my hat in his hands. Throwing it at me in fury he asked, “What’s the matter with you? Have you no pride? Get up, form an experience party, and stop wallowing in self-pity when there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Your legs aren't broken. Work them.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. He definitely caught me off guard, something I would have been humiliated about if he wasn’t him. He could sneak around anything undetected.

“I’m a woman. It’s my prerogative to be emotional if I please.” I said with a glare.

“Well it’s my prerogative to want to kill you for it.” He retorted with a bit of a snort.

“Look at you. You have good friends who love you, you’re a reasonably respectable thief when you’re not so distracted by your emotions and you have a long life ahead of you to try to make this perfect life you think you're entitled to. Be bold and stop being such a ninny.”

“What kind of man uses the word ninny?” I said with a grin.

With that he clutched his dagger and stabbed me in the leg. “Get up, get up, get up! It’s time for you to do something productive. This overindulgent self-pity is disgusting me.”

I yelped in pain and held my hand over the gushing wound. Pouring a potion over it healed the injury, with the temporary side effect of feeling like a hot iron poker was knitting the edges of my tissues back together. I suffered this kind of blow many times but the treatment still made me whimper a little. “Did you have to stab me?”

“Do you have to ask? Look at yourself. Stop asking stupid questions and go buy some arrows. Your marksmanship is shameful.” With that he bounded off in half-airborne taru strides without even looking back. There was a time I would have gotten up and followed my old trainer to battle to study his every technique, but not tonight.

I swirled my hand in the the pool and splashed away the glassy stillness. I would find my way in life. I just wouldn't be pushed into doing it any way but my way. Grinning, I played with the gold coin I had just lifted off Foxx. I was not as crippled and useless as he thought. I was still a master of distraction enough to steal from a infamous thief. There was hope for me yet and I could feel the gentle swish in me of the only constant in life, change. This time I welcomed it.

(Thank you Stephen for being my editor and teacher on this one through two versions. Check out his blog at http://fourthdayuniverse.blogspot.com )

Healing

2009-08-09T19:00:00.002-04:00

With lightning speed, he instantly blinded my view of the goblin in front of me and with a thundering crack broke the goblin shield in half. Leaping just in time, I avoided being swiped over by his great white tail. I knew him well enough to know he had tried to trip me on purpose and he knew me well enough to know I wouldn't lose my balance that easily.

"Careful there Gurok; your tail is going to be the end of me." I growled as I pushed on him in protest without actually moving him an inch springing myself back instead.

"I'm pretty sure it's the end of me and if you prefer I could let them keep stabbing at you until you black out." He grumbled but defiantly not under his breath.

"I had it under control. I wanted the hate." I assured him. "I'm trying to improve my dodging skills."

At this he roared with laughter, pinning the gasping goblin under his foot while he doubled over to make all the more show of his amusement. I scowled. "You're dodgy enough already my dear." he said with a mischievous grin.

It had become a game or maybe a dance between us of playful fighting with a mockingly serious face. For months we had traveled like nomads together. I had become reclusive and he had become my great looming shadow. He would leave on occasion for the usual obligations of our modern day heroes during this time of unrest, but I didn't vanish from him as often as I did with some of the other people I loved lately. I'd wait patiently pretending not to wait at all, but be busy with my leather crafting hobby, or fishing or meditating or whatever struck my fancy that day.

I guess it was only a natural evolution of a rogue thief to keep to the shadows, watching the world around her, and waiting for her opportunities or desires to drive her out like a mouse to cheese ever cautious of the inevitable trap.

I smiled as I watched Gurok hang the goblin up in a tree by his belt. When he woke he would be in for a nasty surprise. I did pick this fight when I stole his coin purse, so this encounter wouldn't be fatal for him. I just wanted to hone my skills and keep my daggers lightning fast. I had become a little more sensitive about delving out death and Gurok indulged me quietly. It was an uncharacteristic move on his part that I took for affection and I wasnt about to ruin it by asking him about it.

"Enough exercise, time for lunch." Gurok chuckled as he started walking towards the lake. He was always in a good mood after battling any enemy he could find though he very much preferred the larger prey that could be made into lunch after.

I watched him walk away without following him. He was tall as any galka I had ever seen and that was saying something. His skin and hair matched in snow white softness and his head was covered in a thick soft mane that framed his huge wide thin lipped mouth. His eyes where blue and bright when he smiled and icy dark when his ungalka-like natural tendency to rage caught him. He was built like a wall, square shouldered and thick with muscle like all of his kind were. They moved slower but they never went unnoticed.

He didn't turn around to see if I would follow. I don't even know if he wanted me to but he knew I would. He drew me like a moth to a flame. I didn't know why, but maybe it was the way his huge frame could physically block out the world that made my spirit feel comfortable and safe. As powerful as I knew he could be, I never feared harm even when I knew I had excited his temper. Other things might be broken because of me, but he was my paladin and protector and would always keep me safe.

I don't know how I earned his loyalty, but in this time when a storm raged deep within me like a hurricane tearing and breaking my very soul I was grateful for a shelter.

He was laying down on the sandy shore of the large lake with his hands behind his head when I caught up. I sat down next to him under the tree and searched my bag for what I had packed this morning. "It's about time." he complained. "I'm starving."

I set out a few fruits and a crisp crusted half loaf of a dark bread. He looked over at me and raised an eyebrow. "That's not food, that's what food eats." he said with a grin as if that were the first time he had said that to me. I reached in and pulled out a huge piece of cured meat that had weighted me down all morning. "Carrying this thing made for good strength training. I guess I can let you eat it." I chuckled.

We ate in silence, and I watched him in my usual creepy manor that didn't seem to bother him as I thought. I couldn't figure out why he followed me. I felt consumed in pain but I couldn't bare to let it out so I tried to hide it inside though I know it showed in my eyes at the least. I felt like an ogre was constantly standing on my chest, crushing my heart and forcing the pain to ooze out of every pore... not to be too over dramatic about it but it was what it was.

I tried to talk some sense into myself but I couldn't seem to shake it. My dreams woke me in cold sweats at the image of death and screaming. Images of past and feared futures haunted me in the day and night. I was losing my mind and I couldn't bare for those who I respected so much to see me like this so I hid.

Kjarbo was the one I felt the worst about avoiding. His heart was so kind and generous it pained him to see me hurt so badly that it just added to my pain to hurt him so I started slipping away from him more and more often until it had been over a month since I had come out of hiding to let him know I was ok. It was a cruel attempt at mercy that ended up just being selfishness. Still, though I told myself to stop and just calm down and let myself heal, somehow I couldn't. I was broken.

In Gurok though somehow I felt peace. He didn't try to fix me. He didn't want to talk it out, he was just here eating lunch with me and keeping me company while I obsessively practiced my skills and trained my body. It was peaceful.

Limit Break Radio

2008-08-12T17:39:00.003-04:00

I'm exploring a new media! It was only a one time thing but it was very fun.

Alison the Amazing Thief is now on Limit Break Radio as a guest host for Juxtaposition, a Limit Break Radio intern, on his Simply Summerbreeze episode.

Check the link and give it a listen. I hope you enjoy it. :D

(image this week comes off the LBR website.)

http://www.limitbreakradio.com

Maat’s Final Challenge

2008-07-30T16:02:00.003-04:00

“It’s you again.” He chuckled as he looked up at me with his winkled leathery face.

“Yes and I’m ready to pass your little test this time.” I said confidently. “I have a new ring now that I’m sure will give me the edge I need. I was almost kidding when I said one little ring would make all the difference but I really hoped it would. It wasn’t a big improvement over the other times but I was always so close to beating the old fart.

Old and withered he was, but the small framed hume was the best trainer in the world without contest. Everyone who was anyone has gone through him. He was tough and ruthless and broke many a man’s spirit and it made the successful all the better.

A few more times now than I care to admit he had pounded me to a pulp and left me laying on the ground dazed and defeated. This was his final challenge for me before he would help me reach my full potential. I had to prove I was ready for it by beating the stuffing out of the old man until he couldn’t take it anymore. Twisted if you ask me but I wanted it so I was willing and so far I had not come close to straining him one bit.

“Do you have the testimony I asked for?” he asked as he stretched his boney old legs.

With a nod I gave him the parchment I had stolen off of a goblin that very morning. He pinned them on the poor stupid beastmen and asked his students to go fetch them before he would take them into the fighting arena.

He put the paper into his pouch and smiled. “Ok then. Let’s see what that little ring does for you.”

A quick teleport and we were there. He waited for me in the middle of the arena as he bounced around on his toes like a boxer warming up. I had a plan and I felt good about this time being the one. Using a magic reraise scroll I gave myself two shots at this fight.

“Are you ready little girl?” he taunted.

Grinning to myself I pulled out my best sneak attack combination and stealthy stabbed him in the back driving my blade in deep before taking it back. Spinning around he looked a little angry then a little pleased I had caught him off guard. “Very good little girl but that alone will not prove yourself.”

With blinding speed he slashed at me with his short daggers ripping open the belly of the scorpion harness I had on loan as I leapt out of the way just in time to save my body from harm. “Darn you old man! This is new!” I spat angrily.

“Go ahead and let your anger take over your mind. I’ll have you beat all the faster.” He laughed.

Every time anyone squares off against Maat they come away saying the same thing, "Damn, he is old, how does he move that fast?!" My profession has taught me to move like lightning so the two of us were a blur of motion. I thought my younger body would give me an advantage but it was all I could do to keep up with him. For a few short minutes I kept my focus perfectly and dodged everything he tried to come at me with. It felt darn good.

After stabbing him in the back there was no way he was going to let me out of his sight again so my favorite attack was out. Crouching down to avoid a fast swing I sprung up and off to the left slicing a nice hole across his ribs to avenge my own. Before I could even crack a smile of satisfaction he kicked out at my front foot and followed my immediate stumble with a dagger handle upside my head and another small slash through my scorpion harness. Blood trickled down my back but with the rush of battle I hardly felt the wound.

Grinning he closed in again. I tried to lunge and stab him in the chest but he caught my wrist, parried it away and locked my arm at the elbow bringing my eyebrow down into his knee with a horrible thunk. I was dizzy and my vision was blurry from the cut over my eye dripping crimson down my face. My dagger had gone flying and the metal screamed across the stone floor as it glided out of my reach. Locking my arm and he kicked me in my ribs hard enough to lift me into the air and let my body fall limp on the floor. "Had enough little girl?" he taunted.

Rage boiled in me and I rose with newfound speed to elbow upwards into his chin with a satisfying CRACK. I was in a frenzy, adrenaline flowed like I had never felt before and I used it to land a chopping strike to his exposed throat. He dropped both of his daggers to grab his injured neck and I took the opportunity to sink my last dagger into his thigh to the hilt. He let out a half scream-gurgle and then it happened... Just as I thought I had won a strange power emanated from Maat, his whole body almost glowed with energy. A psychotic look overtook him and he came at me with his fists striking so fast they were a blur even to me. Getting out of the way was impossible this time. I tried to get my elbows up to block like I have seen some of my front line fighting friends do but he was too fast. The few I managed to block meant nothing overall and I hit the ground once again.

Maat stood over me for a moment before he turned to walk away, eyes gleaming in triumph. The world was going black as I realized I had landed on my lost dagger. Luckily it wasn't lying point up I thought to myself. The scroll of reraise kicked in and I mustered all my strength to stand quickly and quietly.

With the grace of a stalking Jugner tiger I crept up on him and struck him between the fourth and fifth rib. A spot I playfully poke on Gurok often when he tanks for me but deadly when it's a dagger. He tried to cry out as he fell but there was no air left in his pierced lung. He looked up at me and held his hands up weakly to yield. I reached into his bag and stole the warp scroll prize. Strange as it seems, his look of terror quickly dissolved as he warped out of the arena and I swear I saw him smile and mouth the words “good job” and my heart swelled with pride.

Using the magic scroll I sent myself back to Jeuno to meet him. I had finally done it. Whether by luck or the skill that comes with not giving up I had finished my final trial and was on my way to be one of the great ones. It felt dang good.

Thank You Lady Ari!

2008-07-28T17:00:00.003-04:00

She colored it for me! I didnt want to wait until I had a story to match it so it gets it's own post. Thank you Ari. <3 I love it. I'll update the photo and link to the right when I get another little window of time.

It's a Living

2008-07-03T11:41:00.003-04:00

Dizzy and confused as to where I was, the light was so blinding I couldnt see. It stang and pulled tears from the corner of my eyes and my entire body was burning as if I had been set on fire.

A form stepped between me and the sun allowing me squint them open. He smiled a crooked grin and laughed. “Well hello goblin bait. I think you’ll be ok as soon as your head clears.”

“Zerokb?” I asked as I tried to focus on the face inside the hooded robe.

“Yeah, it’s me. I’m glad I found you. Who knows how long you would have baked out here in the sun until someone found you.” He offered a hand and pulled me to my feet. His grip shot tingles up my arm as his healing magic gave me a little bit of energy. “What are you trying to do out here?”

“Get rich quick.” I said as I tried to brush some of the dust off my culottes.

He chuckled and offered me a drink. I didn’t need to know what it was. I was parched. I carried it over to a shaded spot against the rocks and sat to rest and drink deeply.

“I already stole quite a few.” I said in my defense, giving my bag a little pat to let the jingle prove it.

The white mage nodded and smiled warmly. “Maybe I should stick around awhile.”

“That’s very kind of you but I’m fine. I just have to be more careful. I won’t get into trouble again.”

“I doubt that.”

I sat quietly and pretended to concentrate on recovering myself. I really couldn’t argue the “won’t get into trouble again” part. Even if it was not today trouble tended to follow me.

“Have you seen Jenjen lately?” he asked breaking the silence.

“No, but I know where she is. She left on some business with her brother for a few weeks. She’ll be back.” I was happy to talk about something besides my embarrassments.

He frowned as his eyes glinted with mischief at the thought of the mithra. “Too bad. She’s grown on me since the first time I met her in that tiny port town. She has life.”

“That she does.” I smiled and softly laughed to myself. It thrilled me to discover the crush. I do love to see people I care about twiterpated.

He glowed and closed his eyes briefly as he gathered energy. My chest burned with the warmth of the white magic that briefly paralyzed me while it healed. My own skin glowed pearl white for just a moment before leaving me to gasp in a refreshingly painless breath. “Thank you.” I managed to whisper out.

“Anytime.”

A New Start

2008-06-10T16:04:00.002-04:00

I felt like I had aged thirty years in the last year. Things were finally quiet now and I was trying to establish normality again and find things to keep myself occupied so I wouldn’t dwell on my thoughts. I stayed in Whitegate and it became my new residence though it would take awhile for it to feel like home.

As for Hope I made the very painful decision to keep my distance from her for awhile. People would surely be watching for me to be around an infant and I couldn’t put her at risk. I planned to play with her and love her as a family friend once things settled down but she couldn’t know I was her mother until she was an adult. It was much too big of a secret to ask a child to keep.

“You look lost in your thoughts again.” Kjarbo smiled as he sat down and touched the top of my nose.

I nodded and smiled. The sun was rising over the walls of the Al Zahbi district and I was sitting on top of one of the highest ones. I loved the way the long rays of the sunrise made the stones glow warmly. It was a beautiful city and always active and busy. It was growing on me.

Kjarbo handed me a small plush dhalmel with a stitched on smile. “It’s on loan to you from Hope.” He smiled. “She is doing well and growing strong.”

I leaned over and rested my head on his arm as I smelled the little toy and glowed with joy to hold something my little angel had held. She lived in Windurst now with Yamari and Zhirin and I longed to see her more often but I was greatly comforted to know she was well watched over and loved by many people.

“I’m have been training with Maat.” I told him. “He seems to think I am nearly ready for my final test.” Maat is the undisputed master trainer of highly talented adventures. His expertise covers all disciplines to the point where some question if he is not endowed with supernatural or godly powers. I just find him aggravating but I have the good sense to respect him for his genius.

“I have no doubt you’ll be up to any task.” Kjarbo smiled.

I had to laugh and smile. “You spoil me with praise. You spoil me with sweets. You dote on me and stand by like my unfailing protector. It makes me blush.”

He looked down.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“No, not really but I came out here to tell you I have to leave for awhile. A few weeks I think. A friend of mine from my life as a fisherman is in need of help. I’m taking Jen with me.”

“Jen? I thought she would want to be here now with Beldin showing up out of nowhere.”

“I don’t trust him and I can tell something is bothering her about him. She’s been very upset. She needs the time away.” He said as he brushed my hair behind my ear carefully. “If you need me I’ll come rushing back.”

“It’s ok. I’ll be busy training. Today I plan on practicing my stealing and evading skills on the goblins near Bibiki Bay.”

“That sounds like a dangerous thing to do alone.” He frowned.

“Not at all. They’re not very smart. I practice my archery on them, steal their gold when they get near and then hide. They’re not bright enough to find me and they give up and wander off. It’s a great way to vent frustration. New shinny gold coins always make me happy.”

He chuckled and stood up. “Well then, good day and good luck hunting my lady. I must be off to catch my boat.” He bowed.

I stood up and hugged him. “Be safe and quick to return.”

“As you wish.” He kissed the top of my head and hurried off towards the south port.

I sighed and sat down with the little toy. I decided now was a good time to start on my own day. I tucked the little toy into my vest so it could snuggle near my heart. I had a lot of work to do to prepare for my next lesson with Maat.

Family

2008-06-02T20:43:00.005-04:00

I found myself on a boat once again and feeling rather sentimental about it though I didn’t say so out loud. Some things I preferred to hold secretly in my heart these days. It was early morning now and I could hear the shore birds welcoming the boat as we grew nearer to port.

I reluctantly passed Hope back to Yamari where she wouldn’t be noticed as unusual. No one thought twice about a hume woman with a hume looking baby. I had already counted her little fingers and toes countless times on our long ride over. It never got old just to hold her and look at her tiny sleeping face. I laid my head on Yamari’s shoulder and put my hand over the tiny girl in her arms.

By some cruel joke of the gods I still looked pregnant so I kept concealed under loose mage robes. They were much more cumbersome than my usual clothing but comforting and warm and I was starting to like the feeling of being unseen.

The boat slowed to a stop and I heard the thump of the ramp extending to the dock. “Let’s hope there isn’t a royal knight waiting for us.” I only said what everyone already was thinking I just wanted to break the nervous silence that had settled around us the entire ride over.

Gurok smiled confidently. “If they’re here we are ready for them.” He clutched the sword at his side as if to show me he did indeed know where it was and how to get to it quickly. I couldn’t help but smile back.

All around cheers of agreement and encouragement bounced around the cabin from friends who came along to make sure things went well. I smiled broadly. These were all people I loved deeply. They were family to me and our near death and back adventures had only made us all the closer.

We exited the boat without incident. I don’t know why there would not be someone representing San d’ Oria checking these traveling hot spots but I slipped by without making eye contact with anyone and Hope only got oh and ahs from admiring attendants. I had kind of hoped that no one would notice a baby at all but we were safe all the same and it felt good to breath a sigh of relief.

“I have a house in the residential area not far from here. We will be safe there while we figure out what to do next.” Tastywaffles said as he looked back to make sure we were following. “I spend a lot of time in this area. People tend to mind there own business here.”

“Yes and no.” Someone said. I turned around to stand nose to nose with Beldin and nearly screamed in surprise.

“Much too convenient timing.” Gurok said as he drew his sword. “How did you know we would be here?”

“I didn’t actually but you stand out. I couldn’t miss you.” He said.

I hugged him open mouthed and still in shock. “We thought you were dead. Where were you?” Jenjen was frozen.

“Can we wait till we’re inside to chatter?” Tastywaffles said looking a little annoyed. He was right.

The people of this area dressed strangely and the buildings were like nothing I had ever seen before. I felt like I was in an entirely different world. It was perfect. Things were going to change.

As soon as we entered Tastywaffles’ house Beldin was the first to fall onto a long sofa and sprawl out like he was already at home. I noticed he winked at Jenjen and patted the seat next to him to invite her to sit with him but she turned away from him. I wondered what could be running through her head right now. I made note to find out when the time was right. Kjarbo as always was keeping a protective eye over his sister.

I sighed deeply in relief and sat down in a large pile of plush pillows and reached for Hope. Kammy was already here and nearly crushed us both as she leapt to hug me. “You’re safe!” She yelled and stuck her face into the bundle of baby and rubbed her cheeks against Hope in typical mithra fashion.

“Gentle!” I protested as I pushed her enough away to be able to see Hope’s little face again. Kammy’s frowned but obeyed.

“Our moogles are all here.” Tastywaffles announced. “It seems they have a plan.”

The moogles came in and bowed to me as low as they could without touching the floor. “Congratulations on the birth of your daughter Kupo!” My moogle smiled widely as he spun in excitement. “I have met with the HEIR council while you were away and we have a plan for you.”

“HEIR?” I asked. “What do you mean.?”

“Well Kupo, a need arose to protect the tiniest of heroes from those who feared them so the Hume Elvaan Infant Rescue was formed to help. I told them about you and they were very excited to help. They don’t get many opportunities to actually do something since they are not needed very often.”

“Very pleased to meet you both, Kupo!” another moogle chimed in excitedly.

“So what do we do now?” I asked. Kjarbo knelt down next to me and gave me a plate with a steak and carrots along with a tall mug of chocolate milk. He smiled and nodded silently as if to encourage me to eat without interrupting this little meeting.

“Well we need to make Hope disappear Kupo.” Moogle explained.

“You can’t take her away! Not a..!”

Moogle interrupted. “No no, don’t worry Kupo. We don’t want to take her away we just need to make the rulers of San d’Oria and Bastok believe that she..” he hesitated, “not to offend or upset Kupo but.. We just need to make them think she’s dead.”

I clutched Hope tightly and I caught more than one eyebrow raise and hand twitch ready to take a weapon in response to my alarm. “What are you saying?!”

The moogles turned and whispered to each other as their wings fluttered. “HEIR used their numerous connections to obtain a certificate of death for your child Kupo. It says she was still born and unnamed and most importantly, elvaan, Kupo. It just needs to be delivered to San d’Oria. They will not risk a war with West Aht Urhgan by coming here in force to question an official document but I’m sure there will be spies to check on it. We will need to hide her Kupo.”

“I will take the certificate.” Beldin announced. “I have some influence there.”

Someone in the room huffed at him but I couldn’t tell who. I ignored it.

“Thank you Beldin.” I said sincerely. “How do you suggest we hide Hope?” I asked Moogle.

“In the past HEIR has placed babies with families that match what the child looks like. The babies have always taken after one parent or the other Kupo. We can’t leave her to be raised with you or they will surely catch on and protecting her will become very near impossible Kupo.”

“I won’t give her up. Come up with a new plan.” I glared.

“No one is saying that you have to give her up Kupo. Look around at what trusted hume couples you know who would look natural with a new baby. Its best if you are not seen with a child but moogles will always keep you safe in your homes Kupo. It’s our honor to protect and serve Kupo.” He glowed with pride and I was humbled by his selfless kindness.

I only knew one hume couple but I did trust them entirely. Question was would they raise my baby in public so I could keep her close to me in secret? I looked at Yamari and she smiled at me and nodded. She knew she was the only hume woman I knew who was in love with a hume man. She didn’t have a child of her own and I’m sure the thought of caring for my baby must have terrified her but she didn’t show it. Her inner strength shone brightly that day.

She put her arm around me and let Hope grasp her tiny hand around her finger. Keeping Hope safe would be a life long linkshell effort that would bond us together as a family for our entire lives. We had no idea what we had to look forward to but we had full confidence that we could handle it together.

Babycakes

2008-04-01T15:02:00.004-04:00

“Babycakes?” I muttered with my jaw dropped. It looked kinda like him but kinda not. Was it really him? He smiled at me showing bits of seaweed in his teeth. His face glistened with a bit of a damp sliminess and his skin was pale.

“Hello hot stuff.” He grinned as he opened his arms waiting for me. “I missed you.”

Half because he looked pretty dang gross and half because I had it set in my mind that he was dead I hesitated. “Where have you been?”

Frowning and dropping his arms he looked broken hearted that I had not run to him. I couldn’t take it any longer. Rushing him nearly pushed him over as I threw my arms around my husband. “Brodie I missed you.” Tears welled up in my eyes and fell down my cheeks onto his wet armor.

He felt cold. “I think you need a hot bath.” I told him as I looked up at his face trying to brush his wet hair away from his eyes.

“I think I’ve had more time in water than I ever wanted. I’ll pass thanks.” He replied with a warm smile. “How about we have some hot chocolate instead?”

My weakness. He knew me so well. I was a little unsure about his strange appearance but for now I would enjoy having my heart swell with the joy of my family being whole again. Altana was smiling on me I could just feel it glowing from my insides out. I would tell him about our new baby as soon as Yamari arrived with her. He and I had a lot of catching up to do.

(April Fools!)

Welcoming Hope

2008-03-10T22:43:00.003-04:00

In the distance a pack of dogs howled in unison. “I think they may be upset.” I said as I straightened.

Tastywaffles smiled warmly at me and jogged ahead to check the next turn and with his nod of approval Kammy grabbed my hand and pulled me after him. Sneaking around stealthily we carefully made our way to the only logical way out.

The pain didn’t go away completely. Every few minutes we would have to stop while I leaned against a wall to grip myself. No one said anything anymore and I pretty well figured out what was happening and it had nothing to do will any spell. It was clear we needed to get out fast. Terrified I wouldn’t make it my eyes showed the anxiously desperate panic that was gripping my heart as tightly as the contractions gripped my body.

“Last turn.” Tastywaffles said as he glanced back at me without making eye contact. “There are four spooks in the way and I don’t think we should take the time to try to send them back to their maker and I can not charm these things.”

“Let’s just distract them while Kammy helps her outside. They won’t follow us out there.” Zerokb instructed.

Kammy and I stayed around the bend while Tastywaffles and Zerokb turned the corner and shouted at the dark forms. They turned their eyeless faces towards the men and started plotting their worst.

One rushed the hume summoner and reached its tiny black arm out and slapped him. Zerokb cringed and shuttered as his eyes rolled back into his head briefly. Shivering the hume tried to straighten himself but he was clearly slowed by the dark effects.

The ghosts were shrieking angrily and lashing out at the two heroes their full attention set on ripping them limb from limb for having the nerve to intrude on their domain. Tastywaffles whistled and a hecatomb hound, possibly even the same from earlier, tore around the corner and came to their aid.

“I think now is a good time.” Kammy said. “Are you ready to run for the moon light?”

I nodded. I wasn’t sure how fast but exiting sounded good. I wanted out and now was an understatement. Yesterday would have been better. Even better I wish I had never been in this awful place. I should be in the care of elvaan midwives not in a forgotten part of a San d’Orian prison but dwelling on the bad hands dealt to me was not going to help. I shook my head as if to shake out the unhelpful sorrow and ran.

Gurok was just outside and when he heard and saw us running towards him he got up as quickly as a huge galkan paladin can manage. He just got to his feet as I crashed into him wrapping my arms around his waist and bursting into tears.

“Whoa now. Don’t cry. You’re out now and everything is going to be fine.” He patted my head nervously and gave Kammy a questioning look.

Peeking out I witnessed Kammy as she pointed at her belly and made motions to tell Gurok the baby was coming now. She spotted me spotting her and blushed cupping her hands over her mouth. “I’m sorry Alison.” She gasped.

I was about to tell her there was nothing to be sorry about but a contraction caught me off guard and I screamed as I crumpled to the ground. Gurok sat down with me and pulled me into his arms. “How in the world did you get her out like this? Someone could have told me and I would have come in and helped.” He was clearly upset.

“We needed you to keep a look out for soldiers just like we planned.” Kammy whined to Gurok. She whimpered to me. “I’m sorry Alison. I don’t know what to do.”

“I do.” Zerokb panted as he came out looking tired but none the worse for the wear. “I called Yamari and she said she could help. I don’t think Alison is ready for a long trip. I think the baby is going to come first whether it is good timing or not.”

“She can’t stay here.” Gurok barked as he picked me up and started walking south.

“I don’t know how much longer they can keep the guards ready before they get into serious trouble.” Tastywaffles muttered.

“Who?” I asked.

Kammy perked up. “I helped think of it!” she announced. Tastywaffles chuckled. “See we ‘borrowed’ things from the Orcs and everyone ever loyal to the Thumbmonkeys dressed as Orcs and captured near sighed old Palcomondau and his heartless friend Zovriace and tied them to trees. Those stupid old scouts never helped anyone anyways. Then they staked torches all over the woods to make it look like tons of troops were in there. THEN they marched out to the edge to the tree line and made tons of noise. They are dodging in and out of the trees and banging on shields in the woods to make it look and sound like huge hoards are just inside the trees outside the gates of snooty old San d’ Oria.” Kammy looked very proud. “Ok maybe I didn’t think of everything but I helped a LOT!” she smiled looking very happy with herself.

“We only have until the knights get tired of waiting inside the walls of the city for us to get clear. If they march everyone plans on warping away and leaving the knights there to scratch their heads and wonder what happened. Even if they are not the army of their glory days the knights still greatly outnumber us when united.” Tastywaffles explained.

“How far do you plan on walking with her?” Zerokb asked.

“As far as I need to.” Gurok said with a determined frown.

“You have about five minutes.” I whispered and Gurok nodded and walked faster as he surveyed the area.

“Beowulf you have to keep it up a little longer. I’ll call when we are clear and safe.” Tastywaffles said over a communication pearl.

“He knows not to use the linkpearl right?!” I said with alarm.

Tastywaffles nodded. “Yeah we’re only using friend pearls now. No linkpearl. Don’t worry about it. Yamari is here and is going to meet us in a sheltered nook in the rock near here.”

The baby didn’t take much longer to make her great entrance. My less than lady like vocalizations where drown out to the occupants of the city by the banging of drums, shields and whatever else they could come up with. By the end Gurok had blood trickling down his arm where my fingers had dug into his thick snowy white skin as he tried to be supportive. Permanent scars that would forever be a reminder of the day.

Yamari wiped off her little face and handed my tiny screaming girl to me. I looked her over and cried as I leaned against friends who were huddled near to see. As chubby a baby as I had ever seen she had fiery red curls on top of her head and her father’s perfect hume features. I held her close to my chest and the crying stopped as she looked up at me with steely blue eyes and wrapped her fingers around mine. “She’s amazing.” I said between tears.

“What is her name?” Kammy asked with wide mithra eyes full of astonishment.

“Hope.” I smiled. “My perfect little angel is named Hope.”

They allowed me a few minutes to hold her but clearly everyone grew anxious. “The soldiers are coming out to challenge the Orcs.” Tastywaffles said. “The Thumbmonkeys are leading them back to Fort Ghelspa but they are running out of time and the army is flooding the area. We have no time. You have to be gone.”

“I’m ready.” I said as I held Hope tightly in my arms.

Yamari bit her lip. “We need to teleport you out now but Hope doesn’t have the ability to teleport yet. I need you to let me take her and meet up with you right away.”

“Not a chance.” I said clutching my new infant.

“I love you. Trust me. You can NOT be spotted by them. They will not bother me. No one is looking for a hume baby. They would be looking for an escaped pregnant elvaan woman if anything. I’ll meet you within hours. Don’t worry.” She assured me.

“Ok Yams.” I said and I let her take my frail new baby from my arms reluctantly as my heart broke. I trusted Yamari with my life but my baby was harder let go. In an instant Kammy had teleported us away and the image of Hope faded.

Heartburn

2008-02-26T15:29:00.006-05:00

No way I could sleep even though it felt like it should be night time by now. Pacing circles in my cell nervously with the super charged energy given to me most likely by the combination of the red curry soup and my nerves my mind raced to figure out what was going on. At least that’s what I though was making me so anxious.

My ears pricked. I was sure I could hear the sound of some distant rumble outside the wall of my stone prison. It had been going on for nearly an hour or so I guessed. It was so hard to judge time down here. Michael had been rushing back and forth from somewhere, glancing at me then hurrying away again.

“What’s going on?” I called after him.

He shuffled around nervously. “San d’Oria is being attacked by the Orcs from Fort Ghelsba. Sinless has gone up with everyone else to defend the gates. I’m sorry, I’m going to see what I can find out. I won’t be long. Don’t worry, they’ll never get all the way down here.” He scurried off again.

Very odd. Usually they preferred to wait until we came out from the security of the city walls to pick weaker adventures off one at a time. Attacking the fortified city seemed like craziness. These were very strange times indeed.

“Hey Alison. Are you alone?” I heard someone familiar hiss to me in a mithran whisper.

Rushing to the front of my cell I called back. “Yes, yes hurry please I want out.”

Kammy skittered out quickly followed by a much slower moving and watchful Tastywaffles and an easy striding Zerokb. She grabbed my outstretched hands and a deep rumbling purr erupted from her. “Arrrre you ok?” she purred shaking her head a little as she finished. “Garness said there were no locks so we brought in some muscle.”

Kammy bounced back into the arms of the beastmaster elvaan named Tastywaffles who was her nearly constant companion and he caught her pushing her hair back away from her face without even looking at her as if it was so habit he didn’t even think about it anymore. I couldn’t help but smile at them and miss that kind of familiarity and affection in my life.

So distracted by them I didn’t even notice what Zerokb had done until I heard the ground crack under the giant’s great effervescent feet. Smiling in such a way that it made the hair stand up on the back of my neck, Titan winked at me. The most perplexing sense of déjà vu swept over me but as much as I struggled to grasp at it I couldn’t figure out why, like some strange dream forgotten as soon as I woke.

I’m not sure how he fit into the hall but he did. Great hands bent the bars as his fingers pushed through them to get a grip causing the steel to scream as it gave way to him. Devouring the spicy curry soup earlier had given me terrible heartburn as well as the energy burst but now it seemed to reach around my ribs crushing me like I was in the talons of the dragon I consumed. It caught me off guard and I cried out like the steel as we both felt ripped apart. Knees to the stone I watched the bars bent apart as effortlessly as taffy candy in his hands.

“Thank you old friend.” Zerokb said as he smiled and nodded to Titan. The giant bowed lower if that were possible in his current cramped quarters and disappeared as quickly as he had arrived clearing room for my friends to leap in to help me.

“Ouch.” I whimpered pathetically as the pain went away.

“What in Altana’s name was that about?” Zerokb demanded. “Did that spell link you to the cage?”

“Maybe.” I replied still feeling a little shaken as Kammy pulled me to my feet. “Let’s get out of here already. Someone is going to want to know what all that noise was about.” Pulling me along I stumbled after the mithra in the dark between the occasional torch hanging from the damp stone walls.

It wasn’t long until we heard the snarl of one of the large dog-like creatures that stalks the tunnels at all hours. I nearly slid as I stopped abruptly and jumped back just in time to avoid it’s long fangs as it lunged at me. Tastywaffles the beastmaster stepped in front of me showing the angry beast his palm and yelling at it to stop. To my great astonishment it laid down shaking its head and snarling but not attacking as the tall elvaan stared it down as if he was willing it with his eyes alone.

Scratching of toe nails on stone echoed against the walls as another dog ran to catch up with his companion. With a flick of his wrist Tastywaffles sent the first creature racing to meet the second leaping at him and catching his neck in his jaws. Crashing to the floor the dogs tore and snapped at each other until the second dog ran in a panic followed closely by his turncoat pack mate.

“Time to move.” Tastywaffles commanded us but my knees had already hit the floor again from the gripping pain.

“The bars! The bars! The bars!” I shouted as I held my abdomen tightly.

“Shusssh!” Kammy hissed.

“What in the world is she talking about?” Zerokb said clearly a little exasperated as he frowned at me.

“We need to hurry if we don’t want to be trapped in here by soldiers on one side and beasts on the other. Can’t you carry her?” Tastywaffles asked sounding a little tense himself.

“Do I look like a monk? She’s huge!” Zerokb complained as he pointed at me. “Why can’t Kammy just teleport her?”

Kammy glared. “You can’t teleport a prego Stupid. She and the baby could be very unnicely separated in the process this late term.”

“I can walk all by myself, thank you.” I snapped as I struggled to my feet. “I’m ok now.” I turned and glared at Zerokb and he gave me a flirtatious nod and a wink in return. Problem was I wasn’t entirely sure how long I could keep going on like this but stopping was not an option. I told myself it would be ok if only I could get to the fresh night air outside of this awful stifling place but I didn’t really believe me.

Red Curry

2008-02-20T13:18:00.003-05:00

I held my precious purple link shell in my hands. It was cold to the touch but it warmed my little thieving heart to have it back. Poor naive child had it in his pocket. He was so willing to let me near him.

Why did they put me down here with only a child? Did they that wrongly underestimate me? Did they plan to keep me here with him locked away forever for being unacceptably different? Maybe they just wanted to keep me long enough to see if my child would have the proper length ears. I really did not want to birth this child down here and it wouldn’t be long now. I needed to get out.

I couldn’t believe that a Sandorian would treat another elvaan this way. I had to hope that this was very temporary and someone would come get me out and explain this madness before the end of the day. I was curious what they had in mind but I really didn’t want to stay here any longer to find out.

I didn’t hear anything near me so I put a pearl in my ear and heard it crackle briefly as it activated. “Can anyone hear me?” I whispered.

“Fearless Leader!” Garness rawred in excitement. “Where have you been? It’s been chaos without you. Naturally I stepped in and made due but we have been worried and…”

I had to interrupt. “Slow down big guy. I’m in trouble. I need you to listen.”

“Ok.” He responded in a markedly more business tone.

“I think I’m in the Bostaunieux Oubliette but I don’t know for sure yet. I only seem to have one guard right near me but I don’t know what could be down the hall. My cell doesn’t seem to have a lock so I have no idea how we’re going to open it. Can you get help? I really want out of here fast.”

“You get in more trouble than anyone I know.” He said with a bit of a chuckle.

“I know. I’m sorry. You’re the best. Don’t call me unless I call you. I don’t want it to give me away.”

“Understood” he replied.

“By the way, I’m pregnant.” I said matter of factly.

I heard him drop his pearl on the floor, no doubt in surprise, and I turned mine off now that he had all the important information. I needed to go quiet again and I really didn’t want to try to explain it all to him right now.

Then a horrible thought occurred to me. What if they had set it up knowing I would steal that linkpearl and call for help and now they knew my friends where coming and could listen in on their conversations? “Curse my absent minded spontaneity.” I mumbled and kicked a bucket hard against the wall venting out some tiny bit of my frustration.

I quickly turned the link shell back on. “Don’t use the pearls! There are spies listening!” I hissed in a rushed hush before flicking it back off.

“Are you ok Mam?” I heard the boy call as the flickering light came down the hall with him.

“Yes, I just don’t like captivity and I’m hungry.” I grumbled as I shuffled the hay against the wall looking up into his eyes angrily.

He looked a bit surprised at my change in demeanor. “I’m sorry. Sinless said that tomorrow you are going to be taken to the Chateau d’Oraguille to be a guest of the prince himself. I’m sure you will like it much more there. I’m sorry you don’t like it here.”

He looked genuinely sad that I was unhappy. He was such an odd and kind hearted boy. I’m sure he could have the potential for greatness if he wasn’t hidden down here and told he was a hideous beast unfit for the life with the rest of us. It just added to my anger. I wondered how naive this boy was. “Can you let the door stay open while I wait for the prince to call for me if I’m just a guest? I hate cages. It makes me feel just ill. Maybe you could come sit with me while we wait.”

He twisted his face and wrinkled his nose like a child. “I can’t open it. This one is magically sealed especially for you. It’s to keep you safe. Nasty monsters are lose down here and I wouldn’t want you to be hurt if one slipped past me. I do have food for you though. I’m sure you’ll feel better after a meal.”

He handed me grape juice and a bowl of hot red curry soup with some bread. I took it slowly and awkwardly so he wouldn’t notice that I dropped my link pearl back into his pocket. “Wow this is a nice meal for a captive. I don’t normally even eat this well at home.” I tasted a bit of the dragon meat and the heat of it burned in my chest and made me feel ten times stronger than my normal self. It was very good.

“It comes from the king’s own kitchen. You’re not a captive. You’re an important guest.” He looked cross that I didn’t seem to understand.

I let a huff of frustration sneak out. Honored guests don’t arrive by force to be left down here in this dank dark place. “Michael, you can slay the monsters down here alone?”

He nodded. “I have a lot of time to train and practice and Sinless brings me new weapons and amour when I earn them.”

I raised an eyebrow and sipped my soup. Really really odd things where going on down here and as much as I would love to find out more I needed to get out fast for Hope’s sake.

The Boy

2008-02-08T00:10:00.001-05:00

Added 2/23/08 Thank you Shiyu-Chan for another beautiful illustration!

“Jen?” I mumbled as I reached out and grabbed straw to steady myself.

“No one here but you and me today.” A young voice answered.

I was cold and confused. “I was with…then…” I paused to think harder as I tried to recall. “Someone attached us.” A moment passed before I groaned and squeezed my eyes closed at the pain of betrayal. Curling up tightly I held myself in a moment of indulgence. “Kallo.” I said painfully. “Where are my friends?”

“You are the only one they brought.” He answered.

I was in a cell about ten feet by twenty feet with hay piled up in one corner and a water trough in the other like an animal stall. It was dark and had no windows. Only torches in the hallway dimly illuminated the darkness making long shadows.

“Who are you?” I asked the boy. He was a tall adolescent and pale skinned with long wavy black hair peeking out from his hooded cloak. The torch he held reflected off the most captivating sky blue shade of eyes I had ever seen.

“I’m the caretaker. This is my section. They give me responsibility over the very most special things. You are the first person ever though. They said to watch you very close. I have to tell Sinless as soon as you start to act oddly. They said you’re my very most special thing yet.”

“Are you a human or an elvaan?” I asked. I couldn’t tell. He was tall and slender featured like an elvaan except for one important thing. His cloak draped snugly against his head without the support of elegant elvaan ears. The boy dropped his face and turned away from me.

“I’m elvaan. I’m sorry if I offend you. With my hideous deformity I stay here where Sinless protects me from the eyes of normal elvaans. He’s like a father to me.” He held his hand over his ear and slumped down in a nearby chair.

My mind raced. What if it wasn’t a deformity at all? What if this child was like mine. My moogle had told me my baby would look either hume or elvaan and no one would be able to tell the child was blended but one looked pretty blended to me.

“I’m a healer. May I touch them? Maybe I can help.” I lied.

He turned and looked at me with a shocked expression. “You could heal them?” His eyes were wide with hope.

“I’m not sure but I would like to look and see what I can do.” I said with a warm motherly smile.

Slowly he approached the bars and removed his hood. His face flushing red with shame but his eyes wide and full of trust as he knelt in front of me looking up at me with his jaw and hands clinched bravely. How could someone so innocent and trusting be in a place like this?

He was remarkable. He looked as I had hoped, an oddly beautiful marriage of the two races. His ears where those of a hume except for a lovely upward point at the top rear. On his chin he had the youthful beginnings of a hume beard. His neck was too short like a hume and but other than these clues he was the perfect picture of a young elvaan nearing adulthood.

“Can you help me?” he whispered anxiously.

“My name is Alison. What is yours?” I asked warmly.

“Michael.” He answered.

I reached out and pushed the hair away from his unique ear. “I am very glad to meet you.” I said as I smiled reassuringly to the young man.

“It’s not a curse that can be magically erased. I think you are one of the most special and handsome boys I’ve ever seen. Sometimes it’s good to be a different.”

He looked sad and disappointed as he stood up and dropped his eyes. “You’re very nice. I’ll bring you your breakfast.” He shuffled down the hall kicking rocks. The light went will him leaving me in near total darkness to take in what my eyes had just witnessed. I couldn’t help but wonder how many more there were like him. Meeting him almost made me forget the desperate situation I myself was in but not quite.

I knew where I must be. Deep under the stone walls of the Chateau D’Oraguille in Bostaunieux Oubliette is where I would expect knights from my home country to take me. In the dim light I looked around for some way out. A trap door, a lock I could pick, a loose bar, anything. I pulled at every bar of the cold cage until I was sure none were weak or loose in any way before falling down on the pile of hay to rest and think as my stomach growled to let me know the day was moving on and I was hungry. What I would do for a good cookie.

Trapped

2008-02-01T11:58:00.000-05:00

Jenjen stuck her arm out and caught me across the stomach as we both came to an abrupt stop. “Shhhh!” she hissed. “I smell something.”

I stopped and listened but had a hard time over the sound of my own heavy breathing. This baby felt like she could come any day now and moving at all was hard let alone sprinting. I could hear the normal noises of wind and the grunt of the large beasts of this area… but… as I listened closer I could also hear the tinkling sound of someone in chain mail armor moving about. I could even possibly make out the sound of more than one person not far outside of the cave we were about to dart from. We needed to get a better idea of what was going on.

“A lot of someones are out there and I think they want to fight.” She whispered wide eyed.

“I don’t want to fight today.” I whimpered as I supported my belly in my hands.

As Jenjen reached for her cesti I put my hand over her arm. “There must be a better way. Let me go peek and see what exactly we are dealing with.”

“I have to protect you. My brother will never forgive me if you get hurt because I let you go alone.” She whined.

I flashed her my most charmingly confident smile. “I’m still a thief, remember? I can handle this. They’ll never know I am near.”

Jenjen held her lip in her teeth as she nodded with wide concerned eyes. Hiding myself I crept to the end of the cave and peeked around the corner cautiously. I almost gasped too loudly when I realized what was happening. My heart raced as I backed slowly away and turned to creep back to Jenjen.

“It would appear the whole of the Temple Knights are here to welcome us and they brought a few goblins and…” I paused a bit taken back by my heartbreaking disappointment. “Kallo is with them and he doesn’t look like a prisoner.”

My mithra friend hissed in anger as her face tightened. “I’m going to trap that rat and make him suffer as I kill him slowly. How dare he!”

“Not too loud! We need to think of some way around them. There is no way we can handle them all even if we waited for Gurok and Kjarbo and I wont be responsible for my friends getting killed or imprisoned.”

Her face lit up. “Cakes!” She squeaked in delight as she dug through her bag.

“I do love cake but I just can’t eat when things are this dire.”

Jenjen giggled and held out Mithra rice cakes. I smiled back at her. “Purrrfect.” I giggled and took one. The Rhinostery in Windurst developed these magical little delights and used them as a novelty treats during special holidays and events. I eagerly popped one into my mouth and hummed in delight at its sweet smooth taste.

As soon as I swallowed the fast acting magic made my whole body tickle and caused me to giggle and squirm uncontrollably as I shrank into the size and image of a mithran child complete with short ears and long tail that waved with a mind of its own. Jenjen bounced and clapped her hands together in delight. Her cake had already shrank her down too and we looked like twin sisters.

“Who’s in here?” A gruff voice called into the cave.

Jen and I giggled in response and purred as we skipped innocently in circles arms locked loosely with one another. “No one but us.”

“Children shouldn’t be in here alone.” The red haired elvaan said as he put his hands on his hips and tried to look stern through a smile. “What are you two up to?”

Holding hands and stopping to look up at the man we smiled warmly as I explained to him. “We want to see Tavnazian Safehold like we heard about in school. The mean taru in our class said we were not brave enough but we are plenty brave.”

“Way more than them.” Jenjen chimed in.

“We don’t care if it’s haunted. We’re not afraid of any silly ghosts.” Jenjen and I let out a unified rawr and ran past the elvaan. We had to make sure to get by them all before our magical cakes wore off.

The elvaan caught us both by the back of our shirts as we ran by and carried is out. We yowled and struggled but it was no use in this little form. “These two say they are little adventures out to see the Safehold. What should we do with them?” he asked his superior officer.

Kallo laughed and took us one in each arm. “Well aren’t they just the cutest little girls you have ever seen? Like little matching dolls aren’t they? I suspect they will grow up quicker than you think. You girls down mind keeping us company while we have a little bit of a lunch do you?” He looked at the knights. “They must be hungry right?” He grinned evilly. He knew.

I began to tickle and I knew we didn’t have long. “We don’t want to stay with you!” Jenjen protested as she squirmed. Taking a cake from her bag she tried to stuff it in my mouth but Kallo reached around her and took it. “That is our lunch! She hollered.

I reached for it but it was no use. Kallo held us tighter. “I’m sorry dolls.” He said almost sincerely as he handed the cake to a knight. “Eat this.” He commanded.

The elvaan raised an eyebrow and ate it. “It’s quite good.” He barely got out before he became our triplet.

“I was raised in Windurst too.” Kallo said as he held us tighter. To our horror we transformed back into ourselves in his arms. He kissed our noses. “Aren’t they just too cute for words now?” he chuckled back to the others.

Jenjen bit him hard and he pushed her away into the waiting arms of two of the knights who she preceded to pummel with her fists and feet as they tried to get a grip on her.

I head butted Kallo causing his nose to bleed and pulled lose reaching for my daggers as I lunged forward. Kallo grabbed me again and I spun around and stabbed his arm. “Run back Jen!” I cried.

Our bodies locked as we became trapped in a cocoon of magic. Someone had cast a bind spell on us. “Never send a thief to do a black mage’s job.” Someone chuckled as another used his healing magic on Kallo.

“You’re a little out numbered for running.” One of the knights said. “Tie them up and let us get back quickly. The wife says if I am late for dinner one more time this week she’s going to stop feeding me all together.” He chuckled and seemed very pleased with himself. I couldn’t wait for the bind spell to wear off so I could kill his ugly face.

I couldn’t help but let hormonal prego tears roll down my face. “Why?” I cried as I looked at Kallo.

“Thief, please check it.” He said as he patted the heavy looking gil purse on his belt. It amazed and hurt me to see how simple minded and evil a person he really was. I really wanted to hope that there was more to his betrayal than met the eye but I feared that it was nothing but self-centered greed. He turned his back on us and walked away.

Ambushed

2008-01-20T16:57:00.000-05:00

This chapter was co-written (meaning pretty much totally written) by Gurok and is from his point of view. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you Gurok for helping me write again. It feels good. You're my hero yet again. <3

For some reason unknown to me Jenjen and Alison were busy rolling around in the sand laughing and didn’t seem to notice when a nearby group of fisherman started pulling serious weapons out from under their ragged looking clothes while watching us menacingly.

“It’s an ambush!” I shouted. “To the back of the cave!”

We all scrambled to take a defensive position but it was a cave not a fortress. The best we could do was duck behind the corner of the bend and try to take stock of the situation. “Jenjen, take Alison through the portal to Tavnazia get her safely to the stronghold. We’ll catch up with you there after we handle this.”

As I saw Alison about to protest I spoke before she could speak. “Ali, you can’t move as fast as you used to so we need to buy you time and protect this baby. I’d prefer to be by your side every step of the way but this is our best option. Not like Kjarbo and I can’t handle ten bandits.” I saw her worry and gave her a confident grin.

“Don’t take too long.” She snapped back trying to hide her distress with venom.

I could see her struggling with the facts but she didn’t argue. Even in her current state she outran the mithra easily and disappeared into the vortex. I like to think it was her confidence in Kjarbo and my ability to handle ourselves that made it so easy to run away when things got too dangerous for her.

As soon as they had gone through, the group outside began to move toward the cave from behind the trees and rocks outside the entrance. I gave Kjarbo cover and he began casting gravity on our attackers. Answered with a volley of arrows I barely managed to block I called to my partner, “Something is very wrong with this.”

“You mean something other than the fact we are outnumbered five to one?” Kjarbo responded quickly.

“Yes, they are moving in formation. Bandits aren’t normally this organized... I don’t like this. Can you lay down some offensive spells and buy me some time?”

“Sure can try… what are you thinking?”

I replied simply “Getting help.”

I got on my linkpearl and scanned to see everyone’s location. We we’re in luck. Two of my best were in the area. Konamy, my second favorite thief in all of Vana’diel and Dkrchris a dark knight I had barely beaten in a fight once before. We almost killed each other and it was just for fun. He could do damage like no one else I knew and Kona was capable of using mithra reflexes and daggers to an extreme. “Dkr… Kona… I need your help and FAST.”

“Sure G, what’s wrong?” Dkrchris replied.

“Long story after you help, short now: I am pinned down in the Tavnazian portal cave by around ten bandits. I’m with a red mage named Kjarbo. They are organized better then they should be and they have archers and a mage. The two of us will not last if they attack intelligently and if we don’t stop them... Alison is in a lot of trouble.”

Konamy spoke up first “Be there in less then a minute Gurok. Hang on.”

Kjarbo had been casting spells and I could smell the fire and ozone mixed with some other dark arcane taint. “Nice work. Thank you.” I said. As he smiled back as an arrow that whistled by me hit him in the forearm. I dragged him back behind the corner, snapped the shaft and pulled it through as he grunted in pain. “There you go, heal that.”

“OWW! Next time please warn me before you do that.” He protested to distract from the pain through gritted teeth.

They had entered the cave and were moving fast. Five elvaan men armed with swords, three men with bows and at the back a female mage in dark robes.

“You ready?” I asked. Kjarbo is a great guy for a red mage. He fights with his heart and would give his life to protect his friends. I have a lot of respect for that but at that point I really wished he wore heavier armor.

“As I’ll ever be.”

“Let’s kick their teeth in.” I rushed out shield in front, head low and sword held back. I slammed into three of the elvaan with everything I had sending them sprawling. The archers fired and I could hear arrows shattering on my armor and the cave walls, all except the one that got through the space between my chest plate and shoulder pauldron.

Kjarbo locked swords with one of the other two and I could hear the deafening crackle echoing off the stone walls from his enthunder spell as they hit. The mage was focusing her energy with her eyes tightly closed and never saw the butt end of the scythe that knocked her out in one shot. As she collapsed I could see the proud grin on Dkr’s face as he looked at Konamy and said, “See that? One shot!” He moved in fast and used a spinning scythe technique to cut down the other swordsman as he tried to get behind Kjarbo.

Konamy was dodging arrows with speed and shadows to keep two archers busy. I kicked one of the fallen Elvaans in the face hard enough to hear the jaw crack but the other two had regained their feet. Kjarbo rushed past me to help Konamy as Dkrchris took up the fight with his swordsman, blocking a strike with the end of his scythe and sweeping him off his feet with the blade. I didn’t see but I could hear the sound of the scythe striking through armor, bone and ground.

The other two Elvaans flanked me and I managed to block the one to my left with my shield but the other knocked my sword from my hand, which was steadily going numb and weaker from the arrow stuck in my shoulder.

Kjarbo had slept one archer and Konamy was pouncing on another as I saw the third take careful aim on her. I grabbed the Elvaan to my right by the throat and picked him up hurling him back into the archer taking aim on my mithra friend as the arrow went off landing his shot into the chest of the archer Konamy had her hands on. Dropping him to the ground to die she looked a bit annoyed to have her prey stolen so unexpectedly.

Dkrchris had just gotten his scythe free of the ground and the body when he shouted “G, look out!”

The Elvaan on my left cut my cheek open with a well-aimed slash causing me to drop my shield. I quickly punched low to the groin and with a metal gauntlet. The sound was… rewarding. I grabbed his tiny skull and head-butted him with my helmet. He fell to his knees and I hit him again in the back of the neck with both fists for good measure and picked up my shield.

Kjarbo was immobilizing the final archer and Konamy was fighting a slow moving elvaan that Kjarbo must have gravitied. She slipped behind him and kicked out his knee, quickly putting a blade to his throat and saying with all the menace a Mithra can muster “Drop the sword now!”

Dkr spoke up “I’d listen if I were you. She REALLY likes to watch stuff bleed.”

As I walked towards the last conscious member of our opponents I saw his cloak had torn away and underneath was the armor of San d’Oria. I realized all at once “They are Sandorians. This was a setup… Ali and Jen are in danger.”

The dark haired Elvaan spoke up with contempt. “You are right galka. We outsmarted you and controlled your every move. Your group could not hope to outmaneuver the brilliant knights of Sandoria.”

Every bit of rage I had been holding back for weeks bubbled to the surface. “If you all were so smart… you’d have known when to keep your mouth SHUT!”

Konamy let go just in time as the edge of my shield came down across his head harder then I’ve ever hit anything before and the blood sprayed across her and Kjarbo. Fantastic ideas of what I would do to the body next raced wildly through my mind but Kjarbo interrupted before I could follow through. “Umm, Gurok… we need to get to them. Now.”

I paused only briefly to take a deep breath and regain myself. “You’re right. Nice work, let’s go. Dkr and Kona, thank you.”

“No worries G we’ll stick with you guys for a bit to make sure everyone is ok.”

We rushed the portal afraid to think of what we might find or not find on the other side. I hit the ground at a run and raced out into the field. I couldn’t see her. I had to find foot prints or something that could tell me if she had headed to the safe hold or been picked up or worse, hurt, by the knights. I called her on my linkpearl but I got no response. I tried not to panic but the furious urge to break things was building in my head to the point of nearly blurring my vision. I would find her and someone would die for this.

Moving Day

2007-12-02T16:50:00.000-05:00

I was frustrated and I felt like picking a fight. My round middle was so large now that I couldn’t even see my feet when walking and my body felt cramped and uncomfortable. I should be home resting on pillows and making cute little baby blankets but no, not for me. I was being jarred along on a chocobo with an attitude problem that wouldn’t stop shaking its head and wings whenever I asked it to slow down a little so my insides didn’t feel like they were being shaken like a baby rattle.

“I hate birds.” I grumbled.

“You love chocobo.” Gurok replied calmly.

“This one hates me.”

“Well you keep pulling on his face rather roughly.”

The nerve he had to disagree with me. “That’s because it won’t listen to me just like every fricken other thing in my life.”

Gurok raised his eyebrows as he watched me battle the poor bird as I pulled on its head heard enough to make it squawk franticly and take a few steps backward.

Kjarbo got down off of his chocobo and took mine by the reins. “I’ll have a talk with it.” He said with a warm smile as he walked on leading the two birds quietly. My mount lowered its head to nuzzle Kjarbo’s shoulder appreciatively and Kjarbo rubbed its cheek with kind affection.

“I’m glad he likes you.” I grumbled ungratefully as I flopped backwards against its back and stared up into the sky. I didn’t even know where we were going. I don’t think they even knew where we were going but no one wanted to tell me anything. They just told me not to worry and try to rest and other such worthless nothings.

Pulling a ginger cookie out of my bag I gnawed on in with beast-like ferocity as I scanned the party. They all looked completely preoccupied with their own thoughts. I could hear them whispering about me when they thought I couldn’t hear and it just added to my agitation.

“Where are we going? It’s nearly dark and I really could use a steak. I’m hungry.” I pouted.

“Oh me too!” Jenjen perked up and bounced on her chocobo as she licked her teeth.

Kjarbo smiled patiently up at me. “Almost to a good place to camp.”

“Camping? Please tell me you’re kidding. Did I mention I’m pregnant and I can hardly get comfortable in my own bed let alone this goddess forsaken wilderness.

No one said anything. I just rolled my eyes and went limp against my mount in a childishly overdramatic gesture of displeasure. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out loudly I watched Kjarbo as the birds plodded along slowly. The sun was going down now and soon the ghouls and bats would start to wander. Not that they were any threat to us physically but they did make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. If you looked into what could be called eyes the painful emotions of the beast would intrude into your brain as if they were your own. Not only creepy but I didn’t want to risk the baby feeling it. Who knows what that could do to a developing mind.

I became aware of the feeling of being watched. Without moving I listened first before scanning my peripheral vision. I thought I heard an extra set of footsteps in the gravely earth. I locked wide eyes with Gurok and he seemed to see what I was thinking. He stopped and looked around before getting down off his chocobo.

“Are we here?” Jenjen asked excitedly as she jumped down.

Gurok shushed her and I spotted it, a set of foot prints that didn’t belong to anyone. I pointed and a little cloud of dust ploomed up and a new set of phantom tracks started. Waving his sword over them something small fell and slid to a brief stop in the dirt knocking off the prism powder that had kept it hidden from view.

It was a short ugly little goblin. He stood up and started to run. Jenjen’s ears pricked and she was off like a shot. Tackling the little stink she took it to the ground and they rolled to a dusty stop. Biting into its neck she pinned it down her tail swishing excitedly in the air.

“Nice catch.” Gurok said with clear admiration. She looked up at him and smiled as he pushed his blade against the goblin allowing Jen to let it go. “What do you think you’re doing following us like that and then trying to run away like a coward? Not very goblin like.”

“Lusafix is sorry.” It sniveled. “Lusafix just traveling to sell wares. Don’t hurt Lusafix. Lusafix wasn’t going to harm the nice galka. Just traveling I was. No harm. No harm!”

Gurok pressed his sword into the goblin harder as he growled low and deep. “I mean you harm for coming too close unless you can convince me why I shouldn’t kill you now.”

Sliding down I pulled Kjarbo in front of me and buried my eyes in his mantel. The sight of blood made me queasy lately though it never had before and I was sure some was about to be spilt. I wanted to see what was happening but I didn’t all the same.

“Lusafix is nice peaceful merchant. Lusafix give galka nice deal on wares. Very nice.”

“I don’t believe you.” Guork glared. “I think you were following us and I want to know why. How can I convince you to tell the truth?” Gurok grinned as he stepped down on the goblins neck causing him to howl and squirm in pain.

A bomb went off and Gurok’s pants where on fire. Batting out the flames and swearing under his breath he extinguished the fire with the help of a water spell by Kjarbo. It didn’t do him too much harm but his lovely paladin armor was in need of repair and his poor calves were burnt. “That nasty lying beast. We should hurry. I’m sorry Alison but we have to travel faster. It’s not far now.” He was shaking with rage and I could tell he was holding back what colorful things I’m sure he would have said if Jenjen and I were not in ear shot.

I wanted to help. He was a little frightening when he was angry and looked like he might explode with ten times the force of the goblin’s bomb as his pale white face turned red with feeling. Coming close I clutched his coarse white hair and pulled his face down to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.” I said with a warm smile and scurried back to pull myself clumsily onto my chocobo.

I realized as unhappy as I was they were sacrificing all they could to help me. I could be a little less like a spoiled child and a little more like a dignified elvaan mother with the strength to conquer the world for my child. Holding my head high with these new ideals in my head I smiled mischievously down at my friends. “Well let’s get going then. Adventures await.”

Broken Plans

2007-11-24T17:15:00.000-05:00

The reaction to the news that nothing awful had happened to explain my disappearance such as death, becoming the foot massage slave to an Orc, or being lost at sea was positive among my friends. To my great dismay my slight fame in my home city of San d’Oria put me in a position to be ridiculed over being pregnant. I wouldn’t say I’m considered a hero of the people or anything but anyone who doesn’t know my name is most likely comatose and near death. Sneaking around West Ronfaure one late afternoon I overheard two gossipy chocobo walkers out exercising adolescent birds.

“Oh did you hear about Alison? She popped up after being unseen for over a month.” The woman in blue started.

“No, I didn’t hear. I’m sure she needed some time to mourn. Poor dear thing.” The white haired woman said as she lowered her eyes and shook her head sympathetically.

“It’s not that. You won’t believe it. She’s pregnant and pretty far along too. I hear she could bear a child any day now!”

“How scandalous! She married that short hume for Bastok. Who’s the father?”

“Well I hear it’s an Elvaan from Windurst. He’s a fisherman and a respectable mid-level red mage.”

“Well that’s better than a hume but wow, so much for Elvaan pride. I never took her for such a dishonorable woman. She seemed so nice and always so helpful.”

“My question is: What if one of them is responsible for the death of the hume? Could it be something sinister was planned?”

“Oh goodness me, I hope not. That is not the kind of story we need going out about our people.”

I sat still as the tree I was leaning against as I listened and cried out of sight of the two yappy women as they carried on. I know I was too quick to tears with all these crazy hormones but it did all sound awful. I knew it must have gotten back to my mother but I certainly didn’t have the nerve to go into the city and talk to her yet. What if I had made a huge mistake making such a mockery of Brodie and my love? Stories like this would forever define how we would be remembered and honored and how our child Hope would be respected.

Gurok was, to put it lightly, a little miffed that I had kept him out of the loop and gone into hiding without a word to him and no excuse I could come up with would satisfy him. I even told the great beast the truth in a fit of frustration over all his questions. Crazy thing is I think he was the only one who actually believed me and finding out the truth just made him angrier that he was left out. He had taken to sleeping outside of Kjarbo and Jenjen’s cottage like an enormous guard galka reluctant to let even those with ThumbMonkey linkpearls inside without questioning.

Near the Kibubu Lighthouse I was sitting at the top of the cliffs with the water crashing below me watching the tall dhalmel chew contentedly on tuffs of grass. “I wonder what it would be like to tame and ride one.” I thought to myself. I bet they are faster and more exciting than a chocobo.

That’s when I would get the call that would crumble my peaceful plans. My linkpearl buzzed briefly as it turned on to get his call. “So Alison, we had a visitor come looking for you at the linkshell lobby.” Garness’ distinct voice reported.

I laughed. “We don’t have visitors. Either you know where the location is because you are a pearl carrying ThumbMonkey or you don’t and you can’t be transported there. Funny funny Galka.”

“Ah well I forgot to check for a linkpearl before I broke his arm.”

I stopped to think before responding. It was not like Garness to harm new linkshell members. Usually that was Beldin’s doing. I missed that crazy corsair’s mischief. If Garness had broken someone there must have been a good reason. “And why did his arm need braking?” I asked him reluctantly. “I do trust your judgment but I like to know.”

“Ah well it was kind of a spur of the moment decision. See, he said he was coming in to arrest you for crimes against your country and I said I would break his legs first. I feel kind of bad about being dishonest but his arms were simply easier to reach than his legs. As I said, it was kind of spur of the moment.”

“Now it’s both arms? Garness, dear man, I think you should tell me the whole story. Who was he?”

“I already said that. He was coming to arrest you on behalf of San d’Oria. He is a Royal Knight.”

“So what crime am I being arrested for?”

“Didn’t think to ask. He got pushy and I had to break him. I promised him I would and I am nothing if not a man of my word. I feel bad about the mix up on limbs. Think I should go find him and break his legs too?”

“Yes.” I said dryly. I’m not sure if I was kidding or not. I knew he wasn’t. I was frustrated that my plan seemed to be a failure.

“Yes Boss.” He responded dutifully. I thought I could almost hear him smiling.

“But Garness, be careful. I think I might need you in one piece and not in prison soon.”

He cut the transmission and all was quiet but the sea and the munching dhalmel. I looked over at Gurok and Jenjen sitting a good distance away but watching me. I felt bad about yelling at them earlier to let me have some space. I guess I could get a little moody lately. I smiled. Jenjen was sitting on his broad shoulder weaving little flowers into his thick white hair. He seemed completely oblivious of her. It was so cute.

I stood up and waved my arms to signal him as I called Gurok’s name over the roar of the ocean.

He leapt up as quickly as an enormous galka can, sending Jenjen tumbling off his shoulder and looking a bit surprised. Catching her in one of his great arms he lumbered over towards me carrying an angry looking Jenjen like a pack. It was time for a new plan and I figured this time I should enlist the brain power of my friends simply because I didn’t know what to do.

Buns in the Oven

2007-11-16T14:12:00.001-05:00

Footsy was being played under the table. Jenjen and this summoner batted at each other as she grinned seductively at him fluttering her thick lashes. I was only aware because I was the occasional mistaken recipient of Zerokb’s attempts to push Jenjen away as nonchalantly as possible. She seemed quite taken with the hume. I just wanted him to go away and let things be as if nothing ever intruded. I didn’t want my beautiful plan ruined.

“We should keep him.” Jenjen smiled.

“We should not.” I retorted.

“Maybe I should get home.” Zerokb said as he tried to rise. “Thank you for..”

He was interrupted as Kjarbo slammed a bowl of vegetables down on the table in front of him. “No, please, stay.” Kjarbo smiled wickedly with his hand on the summoner’s shoulder pushing him back into his chair.

I pulled Kjarbo over to me and whispered to him. “You’re not poisoning him are you?”

“No. Should I?” he smiled as he kissed my head.

“No!” I exclaimed a little louder than I meant to and Zerokb raised an eyebrow at us.

I smiled back at him sweetly. “Sorry, Kjarbo is just protective with our first baby on the way. Please forgive us if we get a little carried away. We’re new to parenting.”

Kjarbo choked on his drink and spit it all over his sister. Pounding his chest a little and reaching for a cloth to wipe up his mess he seemed maybe a little surprised. I held my breath as I watched his reaction. Maybe I should have mentioned my idea to him before I blurted it out, but out it was, same as his drink. There was no taking it back now.

“Ummm yes, I’ve always wanted to be a father. I love babies.” He smiled as he raised his glass cheerfully before taking another drink his eyes never leaving me. “Sweetheart, can you help me? The buns in the oven may need buttering.” He took my hand and pulled me out the front door.

“The oven is in there.” I said as I looked back.

“I lied about the bread.” He said. “Are you sure about this?”

“We can let him go and tell everyone the baby is yours and mine and no more worries.” I explained.

“I have not questioned you at all while you have been here but I feel like I should better understand what you are thinking, what you are planning, and what I am going to do to help. I only ask because I think it is important for me to know if I am going raise this baby with you.” He paused before continuing. “Who is the father and why do you want people to think it’s me?”

I pursed my lips as I gathered courage to try to convince someone again.

“I’m honored and thrilled to be asked. I really am. It’s just…”

I spoke over him. “Brodie.” I blurted.

He thought for a moment without looking away from me. “He’s hume.”

I had to chuckle a little to myself. He said this as if I didn’t know; same reaction as his sister. “It’s true.” Taking about five minutes I gave him the quick explanation including what moogle had told me. He just listened wide eyed and quiet.

“I am at your service and by your side as long as you’ll have me my lady.” He said humbly with a little bow.

Jenjen poked her head out of the house. “So how are those buns doing?” she called.

“Still baking.” Kjarbo called back. “We should go inside and finish dinner with our guest.” He said to me quietly.

“Letting Zerokb tell everyone that we are having a baby together should satisfy any suspicions that might have put us in danger.” I said almost as a reassurance to myself. I grasped his wrist. “Thank you for being so perfect about everything. You’re my hero.”

He smiled warmly and I felt good about the direction things were going in my life. Maybe things were starting to go my way again.

Zerokb the Summoner

2007-11-09T12:02:00.000-05:00

*Picture done my the fabulous Shiyu-chan aka Asrielle of Kujata.

Someone was watching me. As a thief I can sense when something is just not right and as I sat with fishing pole in hand subtly scanning my peripheral vision my skin tingled. I admit a little bit of paranoia along with a whole variety of other unpredictable emotions had victimized me lately but I was sure this was something this time.

A hume approached me. Setting down my pole and wrapping my fingers around the hilt of my dagger I looked up at him menacingly.

“Bad time?” he asked with a warm smile.

I stared hard.

“You’re Alison aren’t you? I’ve seen you around but I haven’t had the chance to say hello.” He extended his hand in typical hume greeting. I ignored it.

“I’m Zerokb. You can call me Z if you like. Mind if I rest my feet?”

I nodded acceptingly and he sat near me pulling his summoner robes out from under himself as he got comfortable on the dock planks.

“I know that name.” I said. He had thick strawberry blond hair and a youthful warm face hidden behind thin framed glasses. Clearly he was a well experienced summoner by the look of his gear and the easy confident air about him.

“I know yours.” He said with a chuckle. “Gurok talks about you all the time. He makes you sound like quite the woman. He and I have been friends for a long time. The big guy has been worried about you. He said you went missing and not even your linkshell mates have seen you and if I spotted you I should tell him right away.” He looked at my round middle. “That’s why I had to make sure it was you.”

Without thinking I brought my arm protectively around my belly. “Have you told him yet?”

“No. Is that why you’re hiding?” he went to touch the arm over my belly and before he could react I had stabbed his hand pinning him to the boards beneath us. He hollered in surprise and pain before clinching his teeth and looking at me through squinted eyes.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have...” He groaned. “I won’t do it again.” He pleaded in a hushed pained voice.

“I’ll make sure of it.” Kjarbo’s blade was at the summoners throat and Jenjen was running up behind him.

The dagger was lodged into the hardwood planks firmly and I had to wiggle it back and forth a bit to get it free. The motion sent the summoner howling in pain again. Freed he eagerly clutched his hand to his chest as he quickly muttered a healing spell on himself until only the blood stains on his clothes showed evidence that anything had happened to him.

“I guess that means I’m not invited for dinner.” Zerokb said with a remorseful smile. “Friends of yours?”

“I think it’s time for you to move on stranger.” Kjarbo firmly insisted.

“He is a friend of Gurok’s.” I said.

“Is that why you stabbed him?” Jenjen said cheerfully as she picked through Zerokb’s pockets. “I think the whole town heard him squeal like a girly man.”

“You can’t tell anyone I’m here.” I pleaded as I pushed Kjarbo’s blade away from Zero’s neck. “It’s a secret.”

“I can see that.” He said a little wide eyed. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I make it a policy to stay out of people’s personal affairs. I really only meant to say hello for Gurok.” Zerokb reached in his bag and handed Jenjen a handful of ginger cookies without even looking away from me as if he knew exactly what she was looking for. He was right. Jenjen took them eagerly and sat down fearlessly close to the hume as she gobbled them.

“You were going to be a dancer at my bachorette party.” Jenjen smiled mischievously. “Kammy told me all about it.”

Kjarbo raised his eyebrows. “A what?”

“A stripper.” She chirped as she swayed her hips in demonstration.

“Just a little talent/hobby of mine.” Zerokb smiled clearly pleased to be known as he winked at Jenjen.

Covering his eyes and sighing deeply he said, “Some things I really don’t want to know Sis.” Kjarbo looked at me. “So what is he? Friend or foe? He already knows too much now. What do you want me to do with him? I’ll kill him if you like.”

I knew he wasn’t kidding about the death part though his desire to protect was stronger than his skill as a red mage. He improved daily until I interrupted him with my little emergency. “I’m not sure. Let’s invite him in for dinner and find out.” I replied.

“You heard the lady. Up you go.” Kjarbo prodded the now smiling hume lightly with his sword as if to remind him he had one.

“So, what’s for dinner?” Zerokb asked cheerfully as he stretched.

“Fish.” Kjarbo answered dryly.

Cat's Out of the Bag

2007-10-26T22:00:00.000-04:00

“Good morning sleepy.” Kjarbo said as he handed me a cup of hot chocolate as soon as I came out of my room.

It was late in the morning. After my late night up with Jen I needed a bit of an extra rest. I took the cup gratefully and watched Jenjen bounce on her toes behind her brother as I sipped. “Thank you and good morning to you two.” It was nice to see Jenjen in a better mood but something was up.

Kjarbo grabbed me and pulled me in for a hug. “It will be ok. We’ll help you.” He said.

“What are you talking about?” I asked as I glared at Jen.

“I know all about it.” He said.

“Jen!” I shouted and her ears fell flat against her head.

“Family doesn’t count! Family doesn’t count!” she said as she ducked behind her brother.

I sighed. “Who else knows?” I looked around the lobby but everyone else had already left for the day.

“We didn’t tell anyone else. Promise.” She said as she put her hand over her heart still keeping hidden behind Kjarbo.

“I’m glad she told me.” Kjarbo said. “You shouldn’t do this alone.”

“I don’t think you understand.” I said as I rubbed my face in frustration. “I need to get away before anyone else finds out.” I turned on my heel back into my room. “Moogle?”

“Yes Kupo?” he smiled.

“Pack our things. We’re leaving.”

“Ah, good idea Kupo.” He spun and got right to work. “Is it a bad time to tell you a package arrived Kupo?” He dropped a box on my bed.

“Pack it with the rest. I think we should hurry.” I said as I went to my closet to find clothes.

Kjarbo and Jen were standing at my door watching me run around in a panic. “You need to come home with us.” Jenjen said.

“What? We are home. I need to get away from home and hide.”

“You shouldn’t worry so much. Your friends love you no matter what.” Kjarbo said in his best attempt to reassure me but he just didn’t understand.

“Mhaura. Jenjen said. Our home near the docks. That is where we want to take you if you feel like you need some privacy.”

I stopped to look at their kind faces looking back at me. It wasn’t a bad idea. Not bad at all. “Thank you.” I said and I went to hug them both. “Thank goodness for true friends.”

It was no time before they had unpacked the few essential items I brought. There simply wasn’t room in the small home for me but in I would squeeze anyways. I smiled as I looked at the beautiful gold accented cradle I brought sitting against a wall. I could almost see the tiny little angel bundled up in it as I thought of her.

“That is the last of it.” Kjarbo smiled. “I hope you don’t mind sharing the back room with Jenjen. She can purr rather loudly while she sleeps but I’m sure it wont take long to get used to it. “If it gets too bad we can always make her sleep in the kitchen.” He smiled at her as Jenjen’s tail swished with annoyance.

“You just keep watch at the front door and leave us girls to worry about girl things.” Jenjen nipped playfully. She was clearly excited about her new roommate.

I crawled into the hammock so graciously given to me by Kjarbo with the intentions of giving it a test nap. So much had happened lately I had hardly had time to breath but at this moment I felt good.

Pulling the package that had arrived for me into bed I unwrapped the red paper around it. I smiled. It was half a heart chocolate with a note. It read: I didn't want the last thing we shared to be the death of a friend. –Kallo

How sweet of him. I broke off a piece and sucked on it letting it melt on my tongue. That’s when the idea struck me. I knew what I needed. I never thought I would think this again but I needed a man. An elvaan man…. I stared at Kjarbo as he prepared the fish he would cook us for dinner.

I hoped Brodie could forgive me but the best way to protect our child would be to tell everyone the baby wasn’t his. I cringed and my heart hurt but it was the best I had for now. Now I had to figure out a way to ask Kjarbo to help me raise my child as his.

Meeting in the Moonlight

2007-10-23T20:06:00.000-04:00

*Image by Votm*

It was impossible to sleep with the yowling. My head was still fuzzy with dreams as I tried to determine where it was coming from. Getting up and peering out my window on my tippy toes I could see the moonlight glowing off her ruffled hair.

I pursed my lips. Poor mithra. With my own troubles I had not been as sensitive as I should have been to her worry. Gathering a plate of cookies and a wide glass of milk I shuffled outside sleepily. The wet grass chilled my feet quickly and I regretted forgetting shoes.

She drank eagerly. “Hi.” I said simply.

“Hi.” She said with a whimper and a sniffle.

“Full moon. Very pretty.”

She nodded and scooted closer grabbing a cookie in each hand. “Why isn’t he back yet? He can’t be dead.” She said with a quiver in her voice.

Wrapping my arms around her I kissed the top of her soft plume-like hair. “I just don’t feel it in my heart that he’s dead Jenjen. I know he’s been gone and not said a peep but I just don’t feel it.”

“Altana kept him. I just know it.” She yowled again and buried her face against my arm her hot tears chilling on my skin only served to remind me that it was too cold to be outside like this.

“Give him time. We both know how unpredictable Beldin can be. I’m sure his reason isn’t a good one but I’m sure he’ll pop up soon.”

“That’s not what you said about Brodie.” She spat out almost spitefully.

I had to pause a moment as twang of pain shot through my heart at the thought.

Wide eyed she looked up at me apologetically. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up like that.”

I smiled to reassure her but I had to look down at the ground away from her eyes. “It was the feeling. I knew as soon as the water swallowed him I would never see him again. I pray that I am wrong but…” my voice trailed off.

“All I feel is frantic. I’m desperate to tell him I love him. We were fighting and…” She started yowling again and her angry tail slapped my back.

“He knows and I expect him to walk around the corner any moment with that self-assured look on his face expecting us all to throw him a welcome home party for a hero.”

She sat up to look around as if she thought I had seen him coming. Sighing deep and hard she slumped down and drew her knees up to rest her head. “Can I ask you about your secret yet?”

I was a little startled by this sudden change of topic.

“I’m sorry but I need to think of something else and I have been really good not to say anything yet because I understand why you wouldn’t want to say anything. It must be really hard for you.” Jenjen started stuffing cookies in her mouth like she hadn’t eaten all week.

“I don’t know what you mean.” I said a bit wide eyed and grateful for the darkness.

“The baby.” She said through a mouth full of cookie.

I gasped and my heart raced. If she knew than who else did too?

“The fainting, throwing up all the time, your pants are way too tight even though you have hardly been eating a thing lately and you’re forever sleeping. You knew you were pregnant right?” she said as she angled her face under mine to look questioningly into my eyes.

I nodded and looked at her with pleading eyes. “You can’t tell anyone! No one can know.”

Wide eyed and gaping mouth she asked. “Who’s the father?”

“Brodie.” I said as a surprise tear rolled down my cheek.

“He’s a hume.” She whispered as if she thought I might not know.

I nodded.

“You’re an elvaan.” She continued as if she hoped that might help her point sink in.

I looked at her and she handed me a cookie. “Who is it really?” she whispered. “I won’t tell.”

Her ears where completely erect and attentive as she chewed a bite while she waited for me to answer. I didn’t.

“Wow…” she said. “You really are in a pickle. “I can understand why you wouldn’t want anyone to know you got pregnant while you were newly married to a hume. You can tell me what happened. We’re like sisters now. You can trust me to help.”

“That’s the thing Jenjen. It was only Brodie. I have Brodie’s baby.” I don’t think she believed me from the look on her face.

“I’m so glad its out. I won’t tell anyone your secret. I’m going to help you. I love babies.” I could tell her normal bounce was returning as she grew in excitement. I’m not sure if it was over the thought of a baby coming or if it was being the soul trustee of my greatest secret but I was glad to have someone to share it with.

“What are you doing outside at this time of night?” She said as she popped up and pulled on my arm. “You can’t be chilled in your condition.”

We both turned as a bush shook and a goblin ran out. “Odd, don’t they usually run toward people?” I questioned.

“I bet we scared him. We are extra mighty.” She smiled.

She wasn’t concerned but I had been around long enough to know that was not normal behavior for a goblin. It could be my motherly instincts making me more protective but I was eager to get inside away from the prying eyes of night.

Prophecy

2007-10-09T15:33:00.000-04:00

Moogle brought me a cup of my favorite mint hot chocolate with a dollop of decadent whipped cream. “I was reading up on your little surprise while you were away on your completely inappropriately dangerous adventure Kupo.”

I wiggled my toes nervously as I sipped my drink on top of my bed. I knew he was right about the dangerous part. I shouldn’t have gone when my baby could have been hurt. I felt horrible and it didn’t make me feel very hopeful about my potential as a mother. I had not really fully absorbed that she was real then but with a name I was beginning to really feel her with me. I just nodded shamefully and he stopped spinning and continued.

“Children born to hume and elvaan parents are not impossible but are extremely rare and often look so much like one or the other race that they go unnoticed which is a very good thing for them.”

“School yard bullies?” I asked.

Moogle chuckled and rubbed his head as if remembering some distant memory. “No.” Fluttering away to the table he picked up a book twice his size and bobbed back to drop it in my lap. “A prophecy very unpopular with the leaders of both San d’Oria and Bastok. They try to keep it very hush hush but my moogle libraries are full of theories on its vague details. The popular opinion in moogle circles is that it’s the vagueness of the prophecy that drives the leaders of these prideful nations to be so defensive.”

I shifted uncomfortably and pulled a blanket protectively over my belly. “Please hurry to the part about my baby.” I begged nervously.

“Well, read here.” Moogle pulled the great book to the page he wanted and pointed to a section highlighted with gold foil lettering.

A child shall be born of the blood of the kingdom of San d’ Oria and the republic of Bastok to unite the great races and bind them together in love for one another and the people will rejoice and praise the name of the child for she will bring down the haughtiness of the great evils and lift the extraordinary showing forth the true strength of the people in unity.

I read it a couple of times before looking up to Moogle. “This is my child?”

Moogle spun as he bobbed. “Oh, I don’t know. As I said yours is not the first child to be born of hume and elvaan blood. Although it’s very rare it’s happened before. A secret your country would like to keep from its people.”

“Why?”

“Ah well, the interpretation by their great scholars and wise men is that this child will crush both governments and make one all encompassing or that one government will overtake the other. Neither is a popular idea with either. Another possibility being that citizens of mixed blood will become common place and the line between hume and evlaan will become unclear forcing a merging of countries. This is simply unacceptable to the pride of either race.”

I rubbed the outside of my mug in my hands as I looked down at the book and let the words sink in. “And I thought I was worried about how to tell the ThumbMonkeys before…”

“Oh Kupo,” he spun wildly, “it’s not my place to tell you what to do but it might not be wise to tell anyone about this Kupo.”

“How can I not tell them?”

“If either government finds out who’s child you are carrying there could be grave consequences as both races have vowed to prevent a child from harming their beloved way of life Kupo.” Kupo laughed musically. “In this one way she has already united them ironically enough.”

“I don’t see the humor.” I scowled.

“Forgive me Kupo. Ofcourse.” Kupo flew over and hugged my neck in his tiny arms. This being the first time he had ever hugged me I was a bit startled. “It will be ok. I will take this news to the council of moogle right away. Don’t worry Kupo.” Patting his warm head I smiled and did feel a bit comforted.

I really had full confidence that I could hide this child’s lineage from those who would harm her. I had just survived a great trama in my life. If I disappeared no one would think it was unusual. Now I just needed a plan and place to hide. For her, I would do anything.

“Oh and Moogle,” He turned to look at me. “Any word from Beldin yet?”

“No, but don’t worry, hope is not lost just yet for him Kupo.” He smiled widely causing his tiny eyes to squint closed as he spun wildly.

I smiled back and sipped. I had a lot to think about.

Hope

2007-10-05T11:20:00.001-04:00

That’s the last things I remember. Explosion, forgot to breath, heart wrenching pain, and then lightness. Ok well things went black but I felt light as a feather. I even remember the sensation of floating along like a bobber on water with the faint awareness of voices around me.

As sensations returned I found myself laying comfortably in the firm arms of a slowly plodding galka. The rocking rhythm of his heavy pace was soothing. I didn’t want to come back.

“She’s moving and groaning.” he reported.

Startled that I was making noises I didn’t intend I opened my eyes and looked up into the face of Gurok.

“Ah yes, defiantly awake now. How do you feel?” He stopped and all the sudden I was looking into nearly a dozen wide eyed faces and feeling a little embarrassed.

“What happened? Did something hit me?” I asked still a bit dazed.

“No, you fainted.” Kjarbo said with a warm smile.

“Again.” Jenjen added looking rather cross and clearly distraught by worry but not over me.

“Been out long?” I asked.

“Nope, less than a minute. Didn’t want to wait for more cave-ins so I decided to help you move along.” Gurok said as he started to walk again. His arms were as big around as my waist and he made me feel so protected.

“Can we hurry? I’m worried about Beldin. I need to pray to Altana to return him to me.” Jenjen said with tears still running down her reddened face. “I’m so worried she’ll keep him.”

“We really need a black mage in this linkshell. I hate walking.” Martin grumbled as he continued on.

Gurok seemed happy to carry me and I was happy to let him for a minute longer. I’m not sure what I expected to feel after killing Pete the Meat but I had hoped it would be more than this and I was worried about Beldin now on top of the baggage I was already packing around. What if I had lost a dear friend over this only to make things worse? After my vengeful battle meant to end it all I still felt sad. Immensely painfully sad. Like my chest might implode at any moment from the deep emptiness left without him and it made it hard to breath if I thought too much about it.

I rested my hand gently over my abdomen and my head over Gurok’s heart. I hadn’t told anyone yet. Barely confirmed by Moogle I had a hard time believing an impossible miracle myself. I had never heard of such a thing happening and I figured people would call me a liar and think me insane. The second part I think I would have a hard time debating with lately but I didn’t care. A child was on the way and I knew who the father was even if no one believed me.

I knew I would have to slow down for awhile and it actually sounded like kind of a nice idea. My pursuit of riches had cost me too much. A quiet life with me and our child had a nice feeling to it. It made it seem as if he was watching over my shoulder not so far away as I caressed the blessing he was forced to leave behind.

Thinking of her I had to smile. Knowing she was coming lit my soul and chased away the pain that had consumed me. That day I named my child Hope. I had no idea at that time just how fitting a name it would be for her. Not just for me but for everyone.

Sacrifice

2007-09-24T15:00:00.000-04:00

This was chapter co-written with The Dread Pirate Beldin. I hope you enjoy his special touches. :D

The team stood at the top of the tunnel as Kallo came fleeing towards them dragging Alison behind him by her hand. “Everyone,” Kallo shouted, “Get ready! They’re coming this way!”

Garness with his axe, Gurok sword and shield and hand, and Beldin now duel-wielding hexaguns stood grinning. Even Kammy who was apprehensive before was hungry for some action. Jumpingtaru on the other hand stood toward the back jumping up and down excitedly from a safer distance.

“LET THEM COME,” Beldin shouted, “LEAD THEM STRAIGHT INTO THE HELLFIRE!”

Gurok chuckled, “I like your style pirate. Maybe after all this is over we ca-“ He fell backwards as a bolt took him in the shoulder from somewhere down the tunnel.

“Gurok!” Alison screamed, dropping to the galka’s side as the others rushed forward. “Take him to the back so I don’t trip on him,” Garness ordered eyeing the raging mob approaching.

“I’ll fix it!” Kammy chirped in and hurried to bless Gurok with her healing magic.

Alison stood as a tear ran down her cheek. Her knives slid from her belt with a steely hiss and a vengeful fire burned within her. “I want him dead,” she growled, “I want Pete the Meat to suffer for what he did. His blood is mine.”

“You can have your theatrics later,” Beldin snapped, letting off a few rounds, “We’ve got a fight to survive at the moment”

The mob rushed forward soon over taking the party. Garness stood laughing as he fended off three humes with his gigantic axe taking each one down as if he were swatting flies. Foxx, despite his size, was going toe-to-toe with a Galka easily side-stepping his blows and chopping at his legs with his knives. Beldin stood more like a paladin than a corsair making quick thrusts with his rapier and slicing at those who came for him.

Pete the Meat charged through like an angry bull and straight towards Alison swinging a giant scythe over his head. Standing her ground with her teeth clinched angrily she met the murderer of her husband head on. With evasion only a thief could have, she moved gracefully to avoid his savage blows not allowing him any satisfaction.

Frothing at the mouth in rage Pete continued to swing wildly, forcing Alison to retreat backwards to avoid the massive weapon. Catching her heel on a stone jutting up from the rocking floor she fell back unable to catch herself until her hands hit the floor.

Pete, an evil and insane glint in his eyes, grinned as he prepared to deliver a deadly blow. “Peace of cake.” He sneered. “Weak, just like your dead lover.”

Rolling forward she evaded his strike as his scythe sent chunks of rock flying from the force of the impact. Pete the Meat roared as only a galka can as the cold steal of her dagger bit into his belly and split his blood. She pushed up hard to slice through him. “Doesn’t feel good does it?” She hissed angrily.

Picking her up by her vest he lifted her into the air. His dark magic was draining the strength from her body in a visible channel of death. “I’ll break you with my bare hands if I have to.” He spat. “You’re nothing but an annoying little rodent in need of extermination.”

Gurok charged at Pete the Meat driving his sword into his bicep causing him to drop Alison at his feet as he howled in pain. “I don’t think so. She won’t be harmed as long as I still live.”

Beldin caught the scene out of the corner of his eye and joined in. “You stupid son of a mangy hound,” he swore through his teeth. You say you’re looking for the killer of your brother, well he’s right here!”

Beldin blocked a swing of the dark knight’s scythe with his rapier and flung it aside knocking Pete the Meat off balance. Then, with Pete’s guard wide open, Alison stood and shoved her knife to the hilt into the scar on Pete’s throat and gave a forceful twist.

Clutching his throat in an all too familiar scene he tried to staunch the flow, but it was futile.

“I loved him.” Alison cried out painfully as she watched Pete the Meat gasp for his last breaths. Overwhelmed with emotions she fell to her knees as the fight continued around her. Resting a hand on her shoulder Kjarbo watched protectively in case someone were to break through the circle her friends formed around her.

“Not a good time for resting sweetheart.” Gurok muttered over his shoulder as he used his foot to thrust an evlaan’s limp body off of his long blade.

Kammy took the chance to jump wildly on the fallen evlaan. “I got this one! He’s dead!” she shouted triumphantly. “Oh, and I’ve drained all my magic to keep you strong. I have next to nothing left. You should hurry up and be done soon.”

“Taru down!” Martin called as he tossed Jumpingtaru into Kammy’s arms.

“Oh yuckie!” Dropping him promptly onto the hard floor she looked appalled as she tugged at her tunic to examine the blood that was sure to leave a stain. “I already said I can’t fix him now. Let me rest a few minutes.”

“I could use a little help with these two.” Foxx announced. Tastywaffles sent a pugil to bite down hard on a taru bandit and shook the poor red mage right off his feet.

The battle continued on in a whirl-wind around her but she didn’t really notice. Sitting in a stupor she felt nothing but her chest rising and falling with each breath. It’s hard to say how long it took before she heard Kallo’s voice.

“Anyone hurt?” Kallo asked, surveying the field.

“They are,” Martin snickered.

Tastywaffles’ pugil pet snaked through the area ensuring that no one from the heartless gang would rise to strike again that day.

“No time to talk you fools,” Foxx snapped looking down the tunnel, “Here comes the rest of them!”

The entire team turned and stood in awe at the fifty or more bandits that flooded the tunnel.

“Oh I think it’s time to go now!” Jenjen said as she shifted nervously.

“Agreed.” Kjarbo said as he grabbed his sister’s hand and pulled Alison to her feet.

The entire team turned and fled back. Garness lifted tiny Jumpingtaru onto his shoulder away from the onslaught. They raced up the tunnels but Beldin stopped by the Golden Door as the other ran past him.

“Beldin!” Garness shouted. “Bad time for sight seeing.”

“Alison, I’ll fend them off and give the rest of you time to escape.” Beldin turned to Jenjen with a smile and a wink, “Jenn, I love you.” Kissing her quickly he pushed her into Kjarbo’s arms.

“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING BELDIN!” Foxx shouted as he paused to turn and yell.

Beldin drew his rapier and grinned widely as he crouched slightly to wait. Turning towards Garness he spoke, “I want you to get them out of here as fast as you can, and please, watch over Jenn for me.”

Garness opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind and clamped it shut with a nod. Turning he pushed at the rest of the team to keep running.

Looking back over her shoulder as Beldin shut the Golden Door, “Garness…” Alison muttered questioningly.

“Run now, talk later.” he barked as he leapt over a bounder rather nimbly for a galka.

The party of friends had not gotten much further before the entire tunnel shook as a massive explosion rocked the mountain and the team was thrown to the floor. Everyone stared back down the tunnel they had just run through…

“What in Exarcabard was that-taru?” Jumpingtaru demanded, rubbing his head where a rock had assaulted him.

“Beldin…” Garness panted, “The fool…. He….”

“He blew up the tunnel,” Martin finished for him. “He blew up the tunnel and
all those who were chasing us.”

“We’ve gotta help him,” Jenjen screeched, tears flowing down her face as
Kjarbo took her in his arms to hold her back from running to the unstable rubble.

“There’s no use.” Kjarbo said quietly. “Nothing could have survived that.”

A stunned silence hung over them all as they realized the sacrifice that had just been made.

Kallo cleared his throat, “We’re not outta the woods yet folks. There could be more of them. I think we are done here.”

Nothing Like Cookies

2007-09-14T14:25:00.000-04:00

“So what did you do?” I asked

Looking a little annoyed he tried to shush me with an angry glance.

“That bad?” I continued.

“Nooooo, we’re trying to be sneaky and you’re running your mouth like a woman.” He replied.

“I know what I can get away with and she’s too far ahead to notice us. She’s a hume and too busy talking to herself to hear us.”

“Nosey.” He mumbled under his breath as he watched the woman sit down and open her bag. She pulled out what I hoped was some kind of jerky though from the distance it was hard to know any more than it looked icky. Nothing like cookies. “Of course she has to stop and eat.” Kallo said looking exasperated.

“In a rush?” I asked.

“Well yes. I’m hungry and I don’t want to be here all day. I have stuff to do too.” He grumbled like a pouting child.

“Get a little cranky when you’re hungry don’t you.” I smiled and handed him sushi and biscuits. He was kind of likable in a childish sort of way. Without even looking away from the monk he popped them in his mouth eagerly.

“Sorry.” He said flatly.

“It’s ok.. I shouldn’t be so nosey. I like my secrets too.”

The monk stood up and started walking again. She was still talking though this time I think it was to a linkshell. “It was twelve against two! I can’t be blamed for not being able to handle more than five by myself. Maybe if I had better equipment. I need a bigger cut. I don’t get enough for all I do.” She grumbled at them. Pausing at a wall she pushed hard against the stone revealing a small entrance.

“Bingo” I said.

Kallo gave me a curious look. “A what?”

“Never mind. I guess it’s time to pull them all out.” Grabbing my arm and pulling me against him, Kallo smiled a devilish grin as he pushed my hair away from my face.

“Let me go make sure Pete the Meat is actually in there before you bring the entire group down on us. We don’t even know how many there are.”

Pulling free from him I nodded and turned away from him to watch the door.

“I’ll be right back Doll.” He said as he tugged my pony tail and walked into the room like he had been there before.

It did occur to me that maybe this was a trap and I should run now before he tried to turn me over to the gang. He seemed just a little too confident. Shifting nervously as I thought over all the horrible things that could go wrong. I settled on my trust in Washu and held my ground but kept my body angled towards my friends so I could take off quickly if needed.

It seemed like forever I waited there. I couldn’t hear or see anything that gave me any clues to what I was missing. He could have been killed as soon as he stepped inside for all I knew. He did seem like a bit of a fool.

“Run run run!” he shouted as he hopped out of the hole like a rabbit with his tail on fire. Behind him two galka were lodged in the door as they tried to come out at the same time. I stood stunned for a moment as I realized it was Pete the Meat snarling like a wild dog. In my mind I could see Brodie’s eyes as he looked at me shocked and panicked and the feelings from that day washed painfully over me.

Grabbing my arm hard for the second time that day he nearly pulled me off my feet. “Do you not know what run means? Now would be a good time.” Kallo yelled.

“He’s here.” I said a little shocked though I don’t know why. It was what I think I was hoping for.

“Yes, that has been confirmed. Now is not the time to chat it over.”

Snapping out of it I dug my toes into the loose gravel and ran hard for my friends. This was the time for it all to be finished I hoped.

*Image by the amazing Krilldog*

The Battle of Jumpingtaru

2007-09-06T09:40:00.000-04:00

I feel I must tell you I was not actually here to witness this part of the story as I was busy with the group at the gold door at the time. I am telling you how it was told to me from various points of view that I have patched together to form one telling. I am rather suspect about some of the details but I’m sure its close enough to call history. Let me begin.

Jumpingtaru came running. The tiny taru warrior looked panic stricken as he stumbled over the rocky terrain. “I’m here-taru!” he shouted. “I want to helpy-welp…” Coming up behind him was quite possibly every monster and beastman from the entire cavernous area. “but get these things offy-wawfy me first!” Jumpingtaru dove behind Garness the great towering galka, a sharp contrast in size from the taru. Pulling out his little axes the taru put on his meanest face. “Come and get-taru me now beastie-weesties!”

“What did you do you fool?” Foxx said with a twisted angry glare.

“I did not a thing-taru wrong. They attack-tarued me without-taru reason-weeson.” Jumpingtaru stuttered. He usually didn’t use taru speak outside of his home land unless he was exceptionally nervous. The back of his trousers where shredded from the attempts of the creatures to stop him for a proper stomping and he must have narrowly made it.

During all this chitter-chatter the monsters had gathered in a great herd in front of the group of friends. Snarling and speaking to each other in their tongue I’m sure they were discussing their great fortune to have the band so hopelessly outnumbered.

“Stand together!” Garness demanded as he readied his great axe and took a defensive stance.

Gentle Kjarbo sword in hand had already been casting his best defensive spells on his friends in preparation for the inevitable battle. His mithran sister stood with her tail looped around his knee cracking her knuckles in anticipation of a good fight.

With a roll of dice Beldin announced with a pleased look on his face, “Luck is with us today. This will be easy.”

“Die or run for your lives beasts.” Garness growled as he led the charge meeting a cluster of thick shelled big claws and bowling them over like child’s toys. Like a blue ocean wave they rose up to try to overpower him. Garness whipped his great axe around his body in a cyclone of steal cracking the shells of the snapping creatures and sending crab parts and fluids flying in every direction. Alive with excitement Garness was all achatter. "RAAWWWWWWWW" "Damn you" "PINCH MY TAIL WILL YOU!?! EAT STEEL!!!"

Whoossh WHAAAP CRACK

"RAAWWRRR" "Hunh? YOU WANT SOME TOO" "Dammit Fox, that's my Tail not a shuagin's. Quit jabbing it with those thumb tacks you call a dagger!"

“At least twenty down by my hand.” Garness announced triumphantly. “How is everyone doing?” he asked, the thrill of the fight apparent in is voice.

Foxx pulled a sata attack from behind Garness and grumbled something about appreciation of thieves as another Sahagin fell to his blade.

“Fifty at least” Beldin called back as he shot another down from the back of the group. “I lost count honestly.”

“The lies!” Jenjen spat as her dragon kick sent a pugil flying towards Beldin at blinding speeds slapping its wet body hard against his nearly knocking him from his feet.

“You only do so well because you have Beldin and me to enfeeble the little beasties and magically super charge you.” Kjarbo smiled the pleasure of the fight evident in his face even over the intense concentration.

The pile of bodies was forming a great wall between the heroes and the flood of angry beasts yet the fish-like creatures and crabs continued to creep over their fallen comrades to take a shot at spilling blood.

Deciding to take a more offensive stance Foxx raced up the back of Garness as he was hunched over slightly after an especially hard swing. Leaping from Garness’ shoulders he flipped head over heals in a blinding flash of daggers and landed in the middle of a group of sahagin. With a cyclone attack half of the group where finished and the other half where easily taken down by the blades of the fearless party.

They were winning the battle of bad odds but even with Kjarbo working hard to keep the group fresh they were tiring. It was perfect timing for the coppery tentacles of a sea monk to creep over the pile of warm bodies. Everyone already had their hands full on the last of the creatures and hardly noticed as it wrapped a powerful tentacle around the tiny body of Jumpingtaru. “A littl-taru help please!” he shrieked as it slapped his tiny body against the floor.

“I got it!” Jenjen shouted as she turned to attack the creature ten times her size. Leaping onto its head she aimed her punches at its tender eyes causing it to buck up and shriek angrily. Dropping the tarutaru on his ample little bottom it focused its attention on the mithra riding it.

“Weeeee!” Jenjen shouted as she grabbed hold to ride wildly around the small space.

Beldin took aim. “Hold still gorgeous. I’ll shoot it down.”

Wide eyed Kjarbo leapt at Beldin knocking him too the ground but it was too late. The shot was fired in the chaos. Gasping from the shock of it Jenjen grabbed her thigh and fell from the beast as blood saturated her koshita.

Panic stricken Kjarbo and Beldin stumbled over each other to get to her. “Look what you did.” “Idiot” “Fool” “Son of a Dhamel” and other such statements where hollered by both but it was tiny Foxx who took care of it. Sneaking behind the sea monk he sliced it to sushi sized bits in a furry of swinging daggers.

Scooping his sister up in his arms Kjarbo cast healing magic and held her close.

“I wouldn’t have missed.” Beldin grumbled angrily as he looked over her with remorseful eyes.

“Good warm up but we have already taken too long to bother with resting. Time to pick up and get going.” Garness said as if he had not even seen the mishap. Slinging his axe over his shoulder he headed off towards the gold door. Once again assuming they would naturally follow soon enough.

*This story written with help from Garness the Great.

Job for Thieves

2007-08-24T13:17:00.000-04:00

An arrow bounced off the wall behind us. “Yeah, we hear you too.” Two figures stepped out about thirty feet away from us with evil looking smiles and chuckling. “There is a fee for coming into our territory. Hand over anything of value and you can live.”

Slidding down off of Tastywaffles Kammy still had a handful of his coat in her hands unwilling to step out from behind him just yet.

Not very tough or very smart looking for that matter and I had a really hard time taking them seriously. They seemed to match the description of the group we had been told about. “They’ll know where Pete the Meat is hiding.” I whispered to Gurok.

“I was thinking the same thing.” He said.

“It sure would have been nice to surprise them instead of the other way around.” I said with a crooked frown.

“Lozzi! Crazy story about how I lost your linkpearl. I’ve been meaning to catch up with you soon.” Kallo smiled and approached one of them.

Tearing off her face mask she threw it at him. “You dog! This one dies. Then we can get his fee off his cold body.” Face twisted with rage she spun around aiming a high kick to his head. She had the musculature of a miniature galka and was defiantly not the kind of woman I would want angry at me.

Grabbing her foot he pushed her off balance. “Don’t be angry Doll. I have just been busy with work. I need to be able to afford the life you deserve.” He whined in an insincere tone. It was no wonder she looked so angry.

Kammy was muttering softly and lifted her hand toward the heavens as she whispered. “Slow down Lozzi” and a slow spell was cast with a gentle glow of her aura. Without a hesitation she started another spell with quiet concentration.

Still guarding Kammy with his body, Tastywaffles called sweetly to a dire bat that listened intently as it chirped back at him. Kallo seemed busy catching up with his lady friend.

“Let’s go ‘question’ the other one.” Gurok said as he was approaching the second man.

Drawing his sword the warrior stood his ground as Gurok confidently strode towards him. “All your gil!” the hume demanded nervously.

“We just want to talk.” Gurok said with that twisted grin of his as he drew his own sword in response.

“We don’t mean you any harm. We need to know where Pete the Meat can be found.” I said sweetly as to not provoke him.

As the warrior lunged at me and I dodged behind Gurok. Frowning Gurok swung his shield around bashing it into the hume’s face knocking him off his feet and leaving him cross eyed and stunned.

“I don’t think he wants to talk. Might as well kill him.” Gurok said as he lifted his foot to stomp on the man.

“I want to talk!” he squealed as he covered his eyes and curled up in a fetal position.

Smiling Gurok put his foot down harmlessly on the ground.

Kallo was still busy getting the stuffing beat out of him by his very burly woman friend but at the moment he appeared to have the upper hand as he sat on her and had her arms pinned down. “Why the hostility Doll?” he said before she spat at him somehow managing to roll him over and get the upper hand.

“Don’t call me Doll. I’m going to strangle you with my own hands.” She growled through clinched teeth.

In a furry of clawed toes and wings the dire bat attacked the woman’s face. She shrieked and batted at it trying to get it off of her giving Kallo a chance to regain his feet. Sinking its teeth into her neck and wrapping its wings around her tightly it drained her blood thirstily as she tried in vain to get it off her.

“Sleep her Kammy.” Tastywaffles asked calmly.

Kammy went to work muttering her spell as quickly as she could. Casting seemed to take away all of her nervousness and endow her with a grace and power that only added to the mithra’s beauty. “Sleep Lozzi.” Kammy commanded and without a struggle the tough as nails monk fell to the floor and looked as peaceful and harmless as a sleeping child.

Tastywaffles called his winged friend back to his side and petted its tiny furry head.

Everyone’s attention now was on the man on the ground who rolled and picked up his sword.

“I’ve got him!” Martin shouted as he leapt off a near by rock using his weight to drive his sword into the heart of the man we wanted to question.

“Martin No!” I shouted but too late. The hume disappeared only leaving a hole in the rock where the sword had shattered it.

“He home pointed.” Tastywaffles said with a sigh and we all turned and glared at Martin.

“Where did Martin come from?” Kammy asked.

“What? Why the dirty looks? It looked to me like you were in battle with these people. I was just doing what needed to be done. We are here to kill the people responsible for Brodie’s murder right? I got that one. Yay me!” Martin looked a little confused.

“Yes, but I wanted this man to tell me where Pete the Meat can be found.” I said with a sigh as I hugged Martin hello. “I’m glad you came to help.”

“I would never miss it.”

“I have an idea.” I said as I turned my attention to my linkshell. “Garness we found the general area. There is a woman here I’m pretty sure we can follow to their main base. Can you bring your group and wait just outside of the gold doors? I’m going to lure them out past the door. If you are hidden I’ll run them to you so we can surround them and get the upper hand.”

“Sounds good fearless leader. We are a little busy right now but we’ll get there as fast as we can.” Garness replied sounding a bit out of breath.

“Kallo, this is a job for you and me. Everyone else should wait here.” I instructed.

“I don’t think so. I’m coming too.” Gurok said as he stepped closer.

“Gurok this is job for thieves and you know it. We need to be undetectable as we follow her back to the man we want and we need to be sure we can stay just out of reach until we get back to the main group here at the door. You know that’s my specialty. Let me do this my way.” I asked. “We need to hurry before she wakes up.”

Gurok grunted and nodded unhappily as he found a place to hide and wait with the others.

The monk groaned and started to stir as Kallo and I hid ourselves and watched.

"I Hear Bad People"

2007-08-16T23:13:00.000-04:00

“Move it along. I have a hunch.” Kallo said as he departed with long purposefully strides.

“What kind of hunch? Could it be that this hunch is inspired by knowledge gained while consorting with them?” Gurok said with a raised eyebrow.

Kammy leapt onto Tastywaffles’ back and dug her claws in clinging nervously with her face pressed into his fuzzy armor. She was one of our less experienced members and she was right to be concerned about wandering too far from us. Tastywaffles reached up and scratched behind her ear calming her considerably.

“Gurok if Washu sent him to guide us then he is trustworthy enough. Try to be optimistic.” I said with a sigh.

“Oh I’m loaded with optimism. I just don’t trust him. My job is to protect you not be a cheerful greeter of every stranger you bring along.”

“They’re called the Gold Door Death Dealers.” Kallo said as he rolled his eyes. “So my hunch is that their hideout is behind the gold door. They’re thugs not geniuses.”

That seemed to be a satisfactory answer and we were able to continue on. It didn’t take us long to get to the door. A short hike and a hidden Kammy and we were standing in front of it.

“It requires a gold beast coin.” He said as Kallo held out his open hand to me.”

I wanted to argue about giving up one of my precious shinnies but now was not the time. I always had a handful of them on me as I never wasted the chance to take them from passing goblins or anything else I could steal and hide from effortlessly.

Putting my coin in his pocket he smiled and held out his hand for another. The entire party glared and put their hands on their weapons in unison.

“Ok fine. Not the time for jokes. Sheesh.” Removing the coin from his deep pocket he pressed it into a hollow. It hovered and glowed a dark purple before the coin fell out of sight into the massive door and it rolled slowly open the ground trembling from the size of it.

“It gets a bit more dangerous from here out.” Kallo said as he took out his daggers ready for whatever might be waiting.

Ears twitching Kammy pushed herself up high off Tastywaffles’ shoulders. “Shush shush!” she hissed. We all stopped. “I hear bad people.” She whispered.

(Picture temporarily borrowed from the fabulous http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org)

Gathering Strength

2007-08-04T15:40:00.000-04:00

It was a great comfort to me to see some of my closest friends waiting for me. This whole experience had left me feeling weak and out of control. That something like this could happen made me question how much power I actually had over my life. I needed this to regain something. I honestly didn’t know what I expected to get out of the hunt but I felt driven along this track like a train with no breaks.

Yes I know, I’m a thief and confidence and strength are essential. At the time this all happened I tried to hide what I felt was a serious weakness of character from all but those who knew me best and couldn’t be fooled. I wanted to be thought of as tough as nails and unshakable.

Looking back now after it has been so long ago I don’t mind admitting that I was more like anyone else than I wanted to admit. At some point all of us feel shaken by life. It’s not what we are given that makes us who we are it’s what we do with it.

Sorry, back to the story. So, there they were, all the Thumbmonkey friends who could be found on such short notice which wasn’t very many. Jenjen in the arms of her brother Kjarbo with Beldin hovering nearby, Garness my always wise and faithful galka with Foxx, my tiny taru mentor who never ceased to pop up in dire times of need. Kammy our wild little mithra was there too. She looked a bit nervous as she clung to the fuzzy garb of Tastywaffles the beastmaster who I had not seen since Kammy introduced me to him on the docks so long ago.

Beldin pulled out his gun and shot at Kallo. “Who is he?”

Kallo rolled out of the way and drew his daggers. “Wait!” I shouted. “No need to go shooting every person you don’t recognize Beldin. He is here to help me so you will be civil or leave.” An empty threat. He knew I didn’t want him to leave any more than he wanted to go.

Beldin kept his gun aimed at Kallo, and the thief crouched low with his daggers drawn staring hard at the corsair. “I’m not exactly thrilled you left without telling me. How am I supposed to keep an eye on you if you sneak out like a thief in the night?”

Jenjen took his gun and smiled warmly at me giving me a big hug and nuzzling her face into my neck tickling a little. “Hello. I’m sorry Beldin is so bad today.”

“You don’t need to apologize for him you know.” I whispered to her. “He’s his own man and you can’t be responsible for his compulsion to shoot people. Maybe we can put his energy to good use today.” She smiled warmly and gave Beldin his gun back. He looked at her with sad longing eyes as she turned away. They were speaking now but the friendship was clearly fragile and emotional.

Kallo none too pleased took the opportunity to flick a rock at Beldin and hit him square between the eyes. Beldin raised his arm to take aim again.

“Please!” I shouted, “Can we just go and get this over with?”

Beldin frowned and put his weapon away.

“I’m assuming our goal is search and clobber. You find him, I’ll clobber.” Garness said as he beat his hands together anxiously.

I nodded. “We will divide into two groups and use our linkshell to communicate when we find him. Me, Kallo, Gurok, Kammy and Tastywaffles should go as one group and Beldin, Jenjen, Kjarbo, Garness, and Foxx should go as the second. Garness, I’d like you to lead the other group if you would.”

Garness smiled a wide blood thirsty grin and nodded in acceptance. “Let’s go then.” He turned to march off in search of blood to spill.

Beldin turned away from Garness and walked up to me looking very displeased. “I feel responsible for you. I want to keep an eye on you not wander off in the opposite direction.”

I smiled at his kind intentions. Stepping closer to him I spoke in a hushed voice. “I need you to help me. I need you to be my second pair of eyes on this search and to watch over and guide my friends. I’m a call away. If I’m in danger you’ll know right away. You don’t need to worry so much about me. I don’t need it.”

Beldin smirked at my response but nodded and followed after Garness. I was pleased he didn’t make a bigger fuss about it. He had become so protective since that day when Brodie was lost to the sea. I think he felt somehow responsible though of course that was nonsense.

Kjarbo took the chance to say hello and pulled my face in close to kiss my forehead. Pausing to smile warmly at me he followed after Garness who was already nearly out of sight. He was always such a kind and sensitive soul. He smelled salty like the sea and I knew he must have come from his home to join us. I lost myself to my thoughts for a moment as I watched the group leave. I had to smile at the speed at which Foxx could travel with those tiny taru legs.

Kallo cleared his throat. “You done there? I’d like to get back by dinner time.”

Gurok glared at the thief with a low gravely growl before turning to me. “Let’s get going Alison.”

Norg Biscuits O.o

2007-07-30T12:12:00.000-04:00

Walking into Norg the leathery faced outlaws half glanced up at us without making eye contact. They were used to occasional adventures coming here because of the tenshudo in Lower Jeuno but that didn’t mean they trusted us and the feeling was mutual.

More of a cave than a village it opened to the open ocean to allow the boats to come and go secretly from their shady voyages. Dark and damp it was lit by intensely hot torches that left black smoky residue on the ceiling of the cavern and the heavy smell of burning fuel.

Feeling it was my turn to be in charge I knew right where I might find the kind of information I wanted. Jumping down on the wooden planks around the dock I intentionally steered a bit clear of the large torches. Fire always made me a bit uneasy though I didn’t really know why I saw no need to take any chances.

Twenty feet in the air a watch man glared hard down on me with a scowl. The last thing we needed was an entire village of angry ruffians chasing us. I’d be fine but Gurok couldn’t run as fast and there is a limit to how many he can take on at once. We’d have to be careful not to draw too much attention. Five of them or so I could take one handed but making trouble with these people was not my goal.

Continuing up the stairs I pushed open the heavy oaken door to the left. Inside were the usual group of drunken fools. Gurok grabbed the first hume by the back of his shirt and lifted him a foot off the ground. “This one looks like he knows things.” Gurok grinned.

“Washu!” I smiled widely and hugged my old family friend who stood near the kitchen door.

“Child you are too thin! How is your mother? Oh, hold that thought.” As she scurried into the kitchen Gurok let out a loud groan of disappointment and set the hume down on his feet. The startled man chose to leave as quickly as possible without a peep instead of retaliate or ask any questions of the looming galkan attacker.

When Washu came back she had a basket full of the hot steaming buttery biscuits that she knew I loved when I was a child. “Oh Washu you’re heaven sent.” I gave one to Gurok who seemed like he felt a little left out and took one for myself tearing off one little piece at a time to put in my mouth and savor.

“Mother is well but I come with solemn news. My husband was murdered by a galka and I am here to find his killer and bring him justice.” I said matter of factly. “I really hope you can help me find out where Pete the Meat can be found.”

Her countenance fell. “Yes dear, I do know where he and his gang can be found. I’m so heartbroken to hear about your husband. Pete the Meat is known for being quick to anger and deadly. His gang likes to creep about Sea Serpent Grotto in search of lost adventures to mug. As accomplished as you look, you really should bring more help with you. His group varies in size and strength but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. I don’t want to be the one to bring your mother bad news.”

“Very good biscuits mam. Thank you.” Gurok complimented as he sprayed crumbs with a mouth full of his third for fourth biscuit.

She smiled warmly and brushed crumbs off his whiskers. “Sweet boy.”

“Thank you for all your help Washu.” I hugged her tightly.

“I have one more bit of help. I can’t go with you but I want you to take my friend Kallo with you. He knows all of Pete the Meat’s favorite hiding places and every twist and secret of Sea Serpent Grotto. He’s always coming around here looking for something to eat. He’s a bit of a scoundrel but invaluable in these sorts of situations and he owes me a favor or two. Kallo, I know you’re ease dropping again. You might as well and say hello.”

“I wasn’t ease dropping, I was eating lunch.” He said as he sat up from a nearby table. “and yes, I’d be happy to help if it allows me to check off one of those favors I owe. This one should be easy as stealing...” The evlaan thief trailed off and bowed low to kiss my hand without breaking eye contact.

Washu beat him with a hand towel. “Knock that off! Her husband just passed. Show some respect. She’s not one of your girls you understand me boy?!”

“Yes Madam!” He shouted mockingly for mercy as he winked at me.

Gurok had already turned his back to call my linkshell. “Yes, it’s time to gather.” I heard him say in a low voice. Turning back around he gave Kallo a hard glare and stood between us. “Let’s go meet everyone at the gate.”

Washu tucked a warm box of her biscuits in my bag and the three of us waved goodbye and headed off together to finish what needed to be done.

Visiting Norg

2007-07-13T12:19:00.000-04:00

“We’re going to Norg.”

I rubbed my eyes. The sun wasn’t even fully up yet. “Gurok?” I mumbled.

“Of course it’s me. Who else? I have good news for you. We found out that Pete the Going-to-be-Dead-Soon makes Norg his home. We’re going to pay him a visit.”

“Norg? Should we gather help then?”

“No, if we need back up we can call for it. I don’t want to scare him into hiding and lose him again.” Tossing my clothes at me he grinned as he stopped to look at me then left my room.

The morning was still cool and dewy when we arrived at Kazham. I always loved the beauty of this island. Lush and in full bloom year round the exotic fragrance and musical wildlife made it a thrill for the senses.

Racing out of the small port town on rented chocobo I urged my bird to go faster cutting down the route the best I could. Competitive by nature I often turned the casual ride into an undeclared race.

“You may be able to win a foot race against me but on chocobo is whole new game.” He called ahead to me. He was on to my game.

“Well then why am I winning?” I grinned.

Turning hard around a blind corner my chocobo leapt over a goblin. Stunned the goblin turned to curse at us only to be kicked off the path as Gurok came racing behind me. Laughing hardily I forgot for a few moments the unpleasant reason for this trip.

Holding the saddle tightly I braced myself as my chocobo plunged down a dark hole near the outpost nearly unseating me as we landed. I always hated that part of the trip. Through a tunnel we ran towards the light that opened into a green damp valley with waterfalls coming down a cliff wall and a crystal clear lake. It was breath taking here.

Feeding his chocobo a speed apple it called out loudly and pushed into its bridle surging past me in a cloud of kicked up dirt and vegetation. Racing behind a waterfall Gurok vaulted off of his mount and let it run back to the stables.

Coming up behind him I patted my chocobo gratefully and gently slid down. “You cheated!” I accused.

“You must be rubbing off on me.” He laughed and turned to walk inside the cavern hidden behind the falls.

Inside was damp and dramatically cooler. In the dark I stumbled a bit until my eyes adjusted to the low light. The creatures that lived there looked up at us but didn’t bother challenging. They were an easy kill for seasoned veterans like us and they knew it.

Turning right and climbing the incline to the secret community of Tenshodo I resisted the urge to put Gurok between me and the skeletons that often wandered outside the gate. I knew they couldn’t do me any real harm but they still gave me the creeps. Without thinking I reached out and grasp the edge of Gurok’s armor as one turned and stared at me with his hallow eyes.

“Time to do some questioning.” Gurok smiled as he turned his head to look down at my fingers wrapped around his mantle. “Are you ok?”

If I were honest I would have told him my head was spinning and I felt sick ever since I got off that chocobo. Huffing I let go and straightened myself. “Of course. Save the silly questions for some pirate or something.”

“Hum... Yes, good idea. I can think of a pirate that I’d like to question with the edge of my sword.” He grinned in a rather frightening manor as he turned his blade in his hand. I had the suspicion that the pirate he wanted to use his sword on wasn’t going to be in there.

Brief Explaination

2007-07-10T17:29:00.000-04:00

“So why did you tell Kjarbo that my life may be in danger? What happened on that boat?” Beldin asked as he handed me a cookie. Cookies have a very positive effect on me and this one I think was meant to sooth me. Everyone kept expecting me to come unwound again but I had done my crying and I didn’t intend to burden anyone anymore with it.

“Our histories are more connected than you realize.” I nibbled the edges of the ginger cookie and sucked the strong flavor out of the pieces more crushing it with my tongue than chewing.

“Meaning?” he asked.

“You killed a galka dark knight in a tavern a long time ago. I was there. I was working with him. I hated him and the story is more complicated than I need to tell right now but he was my partner for a job. His name was Bruto.” I looked up to try to read his face.

“He wanted to kill me.” Beldin said with a raised eyebrow.

I nodded and looked down at my cookie. “It seems Pete the Meat was his brother of sorts. He said I turned him over to you to die.”

“I didn’t know.”

“I know. I kinda hoped it might stay that way.”

“Well I ‘kinda’ wish you had told me now.” He said a bit exasperated. “Maybe I could have…” he stopped himself and we sat quietly for a few minutes that felt like eternity, both of us looking down at the valley below us.

“The ferry captain said a small boat picked up the galka before he could get to port. They just don’t have the security on those ferries to stop attacks during transit.” He paused and rested his hand on my shoulder. “We will find him Alison.”

I smiled weakly. I wasn’t sure I had the heart for more death and it seemed only blood would satisfy our angry friends.

The Hug

2007-06-28T14:50:00.000-04:00

One, Two, Three, Four. Yep, still four beams. All just like before. Straight and perfect. Aged yet so strong.

Why was I counting beams? How do I know how many there should be? What are beams for anyways and who gave them that funny name? Do they actually have a purpose besides being pretty? Do I?

This is my room I think but I’m pretty sure I’m dreaming. Feels like dreaming. Very quiet and I feel odd. I feel sad. I don’t think I want to be here. Maybe I should close my eyes again.

“You look a lot better.” A man said. “Your face is pink again. You looked almost dead for a couple of days.” He paused for a few moments. “Alison, I’m sorry.”

“Why sorry?” I thought. I was reluctant to come out of my head but curiosity won and I lifted up to see blankets then a man sitting on a stool near the foot of my bed.

“Beldin.” I said aloud. My mind painfully began to realign and I remembered. I remembered everything. Tears welled up and threatened to spill down my cheeks. I wanted to go back to counting beams and I laid back.

Reaching out he took hold of my hand and squeezed it. Gasping for air I began to sob without even thinking of the reason why. I just hurt. Everywhere, everyhow, hurt. Pulling me up he held me close and let me tremble and cry out while I let it go. It flowed from me like an avalanche. Rolling, and crushing, and pounding emotion making my whole frame shake. I’m not sure how long it went on but it blinded me from anything going on around me.

Then the peace came and I gasped and caught my breath letting it enfold me. I just breathed and enjoyed the warm cocoon of arms around me. I realized as I calmed that I wasn’t alone. I looked up and Beldin kissed my soggy eyes. All around me my friends had gathered. More than I even realized I had, gathered in a group hug around my bed.

I think that was the moment I realized my greatest strength. My friends who never failed to rally around in times of need. I had no more doubt that things were going to be ok somehow. Not the same, maybe not even as good, but ok. With them I would never feel alone and together we would do our best to make things right no matter what.

Found

2007-06-22T23:07:00.000-04:00

I could hear their muffled voices around me but I didn’t really want to. My heart ached. Turning on my side I moaned. Soft fingers ran through my hair and I could hear Yamari calling my name. Suddenly it occurred to me that if someone had found me maybe they had found Brodie too.

“Brodie?” I asked as I sat up and looked around. Just about everyone I knew was there in my mog house watching me as I lay in my bed but suddenly they were very quiet. My eyes dodged from face to face looking for an answer but they just looked down at the floor to avoid me.

Garness broke the silence. “I’m sorry, no one could find Brodie. He’s um… missing.”

Suddenly I felt dizzy and sick. Leaning over the side of the bed I threw up salt water and everything else into a rusty bucket by my bed. Whimpering I slumped back down into my bed pulling the blanket over my head so they couldn’t see me cry. “How could this happen?” I thought to myself. “These things don’t happen like this. He can’t be dead.”

My mind turned to the dark knight. I had to find out what happened to him and if need be, finish him off. He needed to pay for Brodie’s brutal murder. I was a horrible fluke that he got the better of us while we were unsuspecting and he would not be so lucky ever again. Anger swelled inside my chest and pushed away the tears.

Coming out from my hiding place most of the people in my room had left. “Is Beldin here?” I asked.

“No, haven’t seen him in months. Not since the wedding thing with Jen.” Kjarbo replied. “Maybe Jenjen has seen him. I think they are still talking. Do you want to see him?”

“I think the dark knight that came after us will look for Beldin too. He should be warned to keep alert.”

“I think someone is always trying to kill him. I don’t think he’s ever not expecting it. Don’t worry about him. You need to rest. We’ll get him the message.” Kjarbo looked so sympathetic. I hated it.

“I’m rested.” Placing my bare feet on the warm floor I felt a bit queasy again but shook it off.

“At least a good meal first then?” Kjarbo asked. “Then I will go with you to do what needs to be done.”

Moogle flew over and brought me my boots which I slid on walking out to the lobby in my night gown not meaning to ignore Kjarbo but had other things on my mind. “A galka needs to die. Who would like in on the action?” I announced.

Gurok and his linkshell Bonds of Blood was there and he raised a great eye brow in my direction. Whether it was over my appearance, my announcement, or my sudden recovery I’m not sure but I brushed it off. Triumvirate was also there making for a very full lobby.

Martin was the first to speak up. “Killing sounds good. Let’s go.” He was always ready, always the hero whenever action was needed.

“Go where? Look at her. We can go tomorrow first thing.” Zhirin said. Yamari was with him and nodded silently in agreement.

Garness came out with an apron on and a warm bowl of soup. “You’re pale as a ghost and sweating. Here, drink this. It’s a special windhurstian bit of magic. It will help bring back your strength plus some.”

Taking it without another thought I drank down the smooth salty soup and tried to continue to tell them my plans but I couldn’t. Staggering to the side my legs gave out and my body went limp. Someone caught me before I hit the floor and just before I fell into a deep sleep I heard Garness’ voice. “Added a sleeping potion. She should feel much stronger after some much needed rest. Let’s get started on those plans.”

The Dark Day

2007-06-18T21:59:00.001-04:00

The next few weeks were a blur of bliss traveling wherever our hearts desired paying no attention to the rest of the world. We took the time to spread the word of our happy union but had not allowed much congratulations as we basked in each other hiding away from anyone who might try to damper our spirits. It was the happiest I had ever been and if it had never ended my joy would have been legendary. I didn’t care if I ever returned to normal life. I loved him truly and I didn’t care what it would take I wanted to stay by his side for the rest of my life.

This day was warm and sunny and we decided to take a trip to Purgonorgo Isle to spend a few days digging for clams and enjoying the beauty of the island with all of its secret coves and crystal blue waters. I had already made a few trips out here since the wedding. It was one of my favorite places though Brodie didn’t like how the sand collected in his clothes he did like how happy I was there so he indulged me.

First we had to take the ferry from Selbina to Mhaura across the dark cold ocean waters. The air was crisp and salty and tossed our hair about wildly as the boat sped along. The sun beat down hot on our skin contrasting the cool breeze that came off the icy waves. The water still looked so inviting I could hardly wait to get to the sandy beaches of the Isle to play in the gently lapping water.

Holding each other like the twiterpated lovers we were, we leaned on the railing and watched the fish below us chase the boat.

“I love you.” I said kissing his bare shoulder and smiling at him mischievously. He had already abandoned his armor and weapons for red swim suit trunks and a bare chest because he knew I loved to see him like that. It was still a bit too cool on the boat for me to follow his example.

“I still love you too.” He laughed. “I can’t believe you’re making me roll on that sandy beach again. I think I still have sand in my crevices from last time. Next week we go skiing again ok?”

“Deal. I want to get a fishing pole.” Kissing him deeply I slid out from under his arm to go to the small shop on the boat.

I was near the door when I heard a deep galkan voice. “I've been looking for you.” He said in a low growl.

As I turned I saw a massive black galka swing a scythe at my beloved Brodie who was still gazing down at the water below him. I felt my heart stop. Without even having to think about it I drew my daggers and leapt at the galka who was attacking the only thing that mattered to me anymore. I called Brodie’s name to warn him but it was too late.

His scythe struck before my daggers. Brodie had heard the commotion but had not turned in time. He straightened just in time to feel the scythe pierce through his body jutting out his stomach and up towards his chest like a deadly fish hook. Brodie grasped the blade to try to push it out of his body blood tickling down his arms as the blade tore into his bare hands. Reaching for a sword that wasn’t there he tried to turn to his attacker.

“Touch her and I’ll kill you.” Brodie yelled. Rage in his eyes he began to concentrate his paladin ability to be invincible for a short time but he must have been a split second too late.

Driving my daggers deep into the dark knight’s back with a rear sneak attack he winced but lifted my husband into the air Brodie’s weight tearing the weapon at least half a foot through his body. I struggled to keep my grip as his evil blood trickled down the hilts.

“Bruto was my twin brother, body and spirit. Your betrayal got him killed.” The galka said to me. “You were his partner. You handed him over to that pirate to die.”

“You have it all wrong. Let him go and I’ll explain.” I pleaded as I doubled then reached deep within myself to triple my attack taking advantage of his distraction and my speed but it seemed he was determined not to stop no matter how much damage I did. I knew he couldn’t possibly take much more of my attack before he would go down. His armor was shredded and his body riddled with gushing wounds. I had reached level seventy in my training but still he frustrated my attempts to detour him from his mission.

“You took all that mattered to me. Now Pete the Meat will show you how that feels.” As the galkan dark knight pulled the scythe out of Brodie’s body the motion of his arms coming back threw me down. Sliding across the deck cracking my head against the wall my vision blurred for a few moments.

Brodie clearly wasn’t conscious anymore as he slumped on the wooden deck. His blood was pooling alarmingly quickly. I had no time to waste to end this and get him to a white mage.

The dark knight lifted Brodie’s limp body by his neck. Tears of fury formed when I saw blood dripping from his mouth and nose. I roared and charged at the Galka once again.

“Drop him now!” I demanded as slit his throat using a powerful swift viper bite attack. With that the dark knight grasped the gaping hole in his neck as he thrust Brodie far over the edge of the boat then fell to his knees. Hearing Pete the Meat gurgling from the wound as I pushed off of the wretched beast gave me a fleeting feeling of satisfaction.

Slipping on my true love’s blood as I tried to dive off the boat, I tumbled with a graceless flop into the icy ocean. Under the water the world was eerie quiet. I couldn’t see anything. Even the fish seemed to have fled. Coming up for air I yelled Brodie’s name. Dispirit to find him the wind seemed to carry my words away to nowhere. Driving again and again I began to be aware how painful the cold water was. Like tiny razors in my skin it chilled me quickly but didn’t slow my determination.

Diving deep and trying to see any trace of him when I surfaced, franticly I searched but after an eternity I simply couldn’t find him. The ocean had swallowed him and I failed to pull him from its icy grasp. I continued to dive and call his name but I was growing so tired and my body hurt so badly to move. Every limb was stiffening. I’m not sure how long it took but I began to realize he was dead and I was going to die with him.

Surfacing I began to sob. I looked up for the boat but it was gone. I couldn’t see anything over the rolling waves. No land, no boats, not even a bird, just the mocking sun and the black glassy water. I wanted to die. Brodie was gone and it was my fault. All I could do was cry and curse at the gods.

Letting myself sink under the water I wanted death to take me too but when my lungs cried for air I instinctively surfaced to satisfy them. I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t have to. The cold of the water was taking its toll and I didn’t have long until the ocean would claim my life as well.

Resuming my dives I began to lose awareness of where I was or what I was diving for. Dreams of Brodie took over and I saw him smiling down at me the sun behind him as we lay in La Theine Plateau. I felt so happy with him. I just wanted to touch his face again. One way or another we would be together and I felt at peace.

Following Our Hearts

2007-06-13T11:48:00.000-04:00

Dynamis is the closest thing I have to a regular job. At a set time I show up, slaughter things that would normally giggle and roll me over in an instant if I was alone, and hopefully leave with a purse full of things to sell for gil to pay for the needed supplies for the night. Even if I don’t get a new piece of artifact armor which is what I really hope for, we have a good time together. Every other thing I fill my day with is on a whim or a one time thing.

Tonight started no different. Coming out of dynamis-Jeuno I felt pretty good about myself. I had managed to make enough gil stealing coins from the beasts to pay for supplies needed to go into the fight and I had not lost consciousness one time. The great beasties really can knock one senseless even when we’re being careful.

Walking down the steps I carefully wiped my daggers clean making sure to leave no cranny unpolished. Brodie was sitting near the residential area and jumped to his feet when he saw me coming.

“Wow, what a surprise! It’s been so long since I remember seeing you in the city.” I leapt at him throwing my arms around him and kicking up my feet forcing him to grab hold of me with one arm and brace himself against the wall with the other.

“I thought it was time to come see you.” He looked a little nervous and I settled down to look him over.

“Something wrong?” I asked.

“No, I hope there isn’t. I just needed to ask you about something.” Kneeling down his soft eyes looked a bit scared as he held my hand in his. “Alison, marry me.”

I felt the air sucked out of my lungs and I had to fall down to my knees too or risk fainting. He certainly wasted no time getting to his purpose. “But we never even see each other anymore. We’ve already talked about it. How could it work?”

“I don’t want you to marry anyone else. I love you. That’s enough. Forget the rest.”

Feeling a little more confident I sat on his knee and ruffled his silky chocolate colored hair playfully. “So, tell me how this works. You have my attention.”

“I love you, you love me, and we live happily ever after.”

I had to laugh at how idealistic he was all of the sudden. “Well I do love you, and you love me, and happily ever after sure sounds nice.”

“Marry me tonight. Please don’t say no.”

“Tonight?” I said as I raised my eyebrows.

“Yes, I have the chapel on stand by already. We don’t have to wait we can just do it before we over think and chicken out again. I love you Alison. Stay with me for the rest of our lives. I can’t stand to wait anymore.”

His beard tickled my lips as I kissed him. “It’s all I ever really wanted. So, no over thinking? Just do it now and run off together?”

“That’s my plan.”

Smiling widely now I was filled with excitement. I wasn’t sure how it would work but I was beginning to catch the spirit of love over logic. Biting my lower lip I little I gathered my nerve. “Let’s do it.”

“Really?” He said looking a little surprised.

“Yes, I love you.” Standing up I pulled him to his feet and held his arm tightly. “Take me there.”

Grinning widely now too he raced me down to Upper Jeuno and into the chapel where an elderly evlaan looked like he was hoping we would come. “Are you two ready?” he asked politely.

“Yes, please hurry.” Brodie said has he kissed my head.

“Do you have rings?” he asked.

The look on Brodie’s face made it clear he had not thought that far ahead.

Taking the ring Brodie made for me so long ago I gave it back to him. “I want this to be the symbol of our love.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Very. I even have one for you.” Taking one from my hand and kissing it I smiled at the old priest.

“Well then, let’s begin.” Repeating after him as instructed I began:

"In abidance with the laws of the Jeuno,
I, Alison, take this man, to be my lawful wedded husband,
to have and to hold, in sickness and in health."

Slipping the ring on his finger I began to cry as it hit me that he would finally be mine. Brodie took his vows:

"In abidance with the laws of the Jeuno,
I, Brodie, take this woman, to be my lawful wedded wife,
to have and to hold, in sickness and in health."

Putting the ring I loved so dearly back onto my finger he smiled loving at me and wiped away my tears.

“Congratulations. With Altana here bearing witness, and by the power vested in me by The Grand Duchy of Jeuno, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Tenderly embracing we exchanged our first kiss as husband and wife. Everything else would have to wait until we were good and ready to face it. For now only this moment mattered.

(Special thanks to Brodie for doing this screenshot over and over and over again until I got just the one I wanted. Thanks sweetie.)

Little Visits

2007-06-11T20:25:00.000-04:00

“Why are we doing this?”

“Well it’s a warm sunny day and I thought a picnic lunch would be romantic actually. See, I figured I’d soften you up with white chocolate chip cookies and then see if you’ll let me kiss you today thought in hind sight warm sunshine and chocolates are not a good combination.”

I looked at him and chuckled at his response. “That’s not what I meant.” Leaning to him I kissed his temple and wrapped my arms around him tightly. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too. This separation has not been easy for me either but it can’t be helped right now.” Wrapping his arms around me he lightly rubbed my back and kissed the top of my head.

I started to feel myself get a little angry but I didn’t dare express it. He didn’t have to be away, he chose to be away from me. Since he left I found myself feeling completely lost and constantly getting myself into awkward situations I would have never had to deal with if he was there. I knew it was my fault for getting into trouble all the time but I was still angry at him. I just pressed my face against his neck as I held him as I tried to push the bitter feelings away before he could see them.

“I’m tired of these every other month visits. It makes my heart ache. I hate it.” I think I sounded angrier than I meant to.

“I’m sorry. You know you don’t have to wait for me. I just want you know that you are happy.” Brodie lifted my face and kissed my lips gently. “I’m not sure I’ll ever return to adventuring like we used to do.”

Exaggerating a frown at him I replied, “Yeah, like your kiss makes me wanna run for the hills.”

“You think it’s easy for me to hear of you with these other men?” Now he sounded a little angry.

I looked down at my knees feeling a little ashamed at my selfishness. I had gone back to dating a little more than I had admitted to him but I have always been pretty shabby at keeping things from him for a thief. I wanted him to know everything about me. Besides, my idea of a great date usually ended with picking the entrails of some beast off my mantel, nothing that made me feel like I was really moving on from this waiting game. He was always in the back of my mind.

Pushing a wisp of red hair away from my face he sighed deeply. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for that to sound like that. I mean it when I said I’m happy if you’re happy. Forgive me?”

He always let me walk all over him. He was not wrong to be sad. He was a solid as a rock paladin known for his immovable strength and I made him mushy and vulnerable. He had strange effects on me too though. Normally selfish, dodgy, and always consumed with a need to run he made me want to give everything to his happiness and with him I felt content.

“I just want to be with you.” I said softly without looking up at him.

Pulling me in close to him he offered me a melty cookie. “Me too Alison, me too.”

Sacked

2007-05-23T10:42:00.000-04:00

“Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home…” I sang with a stuffy nose and a moan as a rolled over pulling a blanket tighter around my neck.

“You’ll live. Stop singing. You’re going to kill us all with that noise.” Garness threw a box of tissues and a pillow at me and tightened the mask he had over his face. “I’m going out. I’ll be back when this place isn’t a bio hazard.” Picking up his axe he lumbered out the door, turning so his huge galka figure would fit through the frame.

“You know, you don’t have to stay out here in the lobby on the sofa. Your bed must be more comfortable.” Turning I met eyes with the soft smile of a handsome elvaan sitting next to me. Relatively new to our group he was only around a level twenty red mage. Offering me a hot mug of something that smelled so bad even though I couldn’t breath through my nose I cringed at the scent.

“I get lonely in there. Besides, someone might need me.” I replied. “What is this awful cup of something for? Is it some sort of disinfectant cleaner?”

Instead of the laugh I had hoped for Kjarbo gave me a firm look while he wiped my forehead with a cool cloth. “No, its medicine Foxx made for you. He stopped by while you were sleeping but he wouldn’t come in to see you. He said it’s very fast acting, and I quote, ‘should have you back to your annoyingly peppy self in no time.’ Drink up” he demanded.

I could picture the little taru smiling in delight at the thought of my drinking his fowl concoction but I trusted the evil man knew what he was talking about. He always did. I pinched my nose out of habit and gulped down the chunky slime as quickly as I could. It burned my mouth and insides all the way down my chest to my gut. Out of reflex more than anything my tongue shot out and my eyes squeezed tightly together forcing out little tears. Expecting to belch out flames at any moment I was surprised when I tasted a chocolate on the end of my tongue.

“This should help.” Kjarbo smiled at me and put another chocolate in my mouth.

“I think I’m going to be sick from watching you two.” Martin scowled from across the room as he polished his blade. “She only has a cold. She’s not dieing.”

“You’re not very sympathetic for a paladin and protector of the people.” Kjarbo glared.

Before Martin could retort the door opened and someone I had only ever seen use his pearl once came in. “I thought I would find you here. You’re late. What are you sleeping for? Don’t you know you have dynamis in Xarcabard tonight?” The immensely powerful ninja stared down at me from over Kjarbo’s shoulder and from the look in my caretaker’s eyes I was afraid a fight was about to start if I didn’t react and I didn’t want to see how that would turn out.

Putting my hand on his arm to prevent anything I introduced him. “Kjarbo, this is Sinlessrogue. He’s a friend who does dynamis with me. I promised to go.”

“You’re sick. Stay here and rest today.” Kjarbo said as he pushed my bangs to the side lovingly.

“Not an option. We are short on thieves tonight and we might need her special skills.” With that Sinless moved Kjarbo out of the way and bent over to toss me over his shoulder more like a sack of produce than a well respected leader.

“I might die.” I cried and cleared my nose with a tissue.

“Good chance. We have white mages for that. Don’t worry. No time to complain. Siara is outside waiting to teleport us.”

Still feeling a bit groggy but giggly from the fast working effects of my special gift from Foxx, I blew kisses to the linkshell members as Sinless carried me out the door. I’d like to think they all were sad to see me go but I think most were relieved. I’m not sure but I think Willowkarr was more cheering Sinlessrogue on than waving goodbye.

His callus hands from his extensive fighting experience felt like scratchy gloves against my skin and his arms where riddled with old scars. He really could have used regular hand beauty treatments of some kind. Before we even closed the door behind us Siara was warping us away to the Xarcabard zone for dynamis.

“Ah good. There she is. We needed another thief to sacrifice to the dynamis gods for more armor drops. Why are you carrying her?” Airamis questioned.

“She says she sick.” Sinlessrogue answered.

“Ah, fine. Get in a party and let’s get going then. I’m trading hourglasses in five minutes.” Airamis ordered.

Laying in the snow I woke up to the sound of weapons clashing and demons shrieking. I must have fallen asleep and it did me some good. I assumed Sinlessrogue had carried me in. I felt much better even if I was a little cold.

Lordcrow lifted me up by the back of my vest setting me down on my feet. “Up you go. You’re going to get hurt laying around like that.”

Drawing my daggers I went right to work assisting Aurani with a nearby flying eye. They are not exactly my favorite. The eye blood is more like slime and is so plentiful it often runs down my weapons onto my hands and I have to stop mid fight to wipe my hands on the nearest warrior so I don’t lose my grip. Nasty creatures that reminded me a little too much of my recent ailment making me wrinkle my nose and stab at them with one eye squinted closed praying that they wouldn’t spurt their slime on me.

All signs of my illness seemed to be gone. Moving quickly from monster to monster I didn’t have much time to do anything but react to Aurani’s directions. Our unified efforts brought down each creature so fast I often only got in two or three hits before moving on the next kill. With Nairne keeping my strength up with her spells I didn’t have to do much thinking, just reacting as quickly as I could.

“Let’s sack Alison.” Unctgtg said to Airamis.

“What? That doesn’t sound nice. What are you talking about?” I asked.

They just looked at me and smiled as they continued to talk about me as if I wasn’t there. Nodding to Airamis, Unctgtg finally looked me in the eye. “We need you to move a whole pack of monsters out of the way so the rest of the group can get by safely.”

“Oh, well I’m happy to be able to help. What do I do?”

“Use your flee and perfect dodge abilities then grab their attention and run them north as far as you can. Let us know when you’re dead.”

I choked a little. “Dead? You’re kidding right?”

“No.”

“Oh, I see. Ok… North you said?”

“Yes. Any questions?”

Swallowing down my nerves I slowly approached the pack. “Here I go.” I announced to the linkshell and as I did a demon turned and looked at me. Panic stricken I realized he had heard me. Digging my feet in deep into the snow I ran north as hard and fast as I could calling on my ability to perfectly dodge all their swings for a short burst of time. I didn’t bother trying to defend myself, I just ran without looking back. Unfortunately I can not dodge magic spells and other things that give me disabling status affects.

I had not gotten very far before my vision went black and my limbs lost their strength. Stumbling I fell face first into the snow paralyzed by a sleep spell I slid to a stop. Great black feet came crushing down on me braking my body. Driving their great swords into my back and spilling my blood the last thing I remembered was seeing the pack run for my friends. I had failed.

My bones shifted within my body and I felt the familiar but often painful surge of life from a raise spell that brought me back from the brink of utter destruction on too many occasions. I smiled shyly at Nairne and thanked her as I dropped to one knee to rest in my weakened state. Rehtul had pulled me back to the group while the white mages where busy casting raise on my companions. I was so ashamed that I had caused the death of the entire group that I wanted to lay back down in the snow and be dead again. I lowered my head against any angry looks.

Unctgtg chuckled and put his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t look so upset. It was your first attempt at sacking. You’ll get it right next time.”

It was a great comfort that the general feeling expressed in the group was not to kill me again for good measure but they took the mistake in good humor and tried to comfort my obvious distress.

Soon our run was over and we returned to our home points to sleep for the night. I was still feeling a bit embarrassed and didn’t want to go home yet. I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

It didn’t take long for me to find the great galka figure in the crowd of the city. He was sitting in his paladin armor hoping to find a group to fight with that night. The cool of the night seemed to be his favorite time to fight.

“Coming to find an experience party with me?” Gurok asked as I sat down close beside him.

“No, I killed them all.” I pouted.

Chuckling he asked to me explain as he handed me a small sack of chocolate chip cookies. My old friend was always a great comfort to me. I trusted him to be kind and honest and no matter what stupid things I did, he never turned me away and almost always managed to lift my spirits. After telling him my whole story his laugh made me feel much better.

Laying my head across his leg I drifted off to sleep feeling safe with the galka’s great warm hand resting reassuringly on my back.

The Big Day

2007-04-25T09:54:00.000-04:00

“Which one?” He was fastening the buttons and looking up at me through the top of his eyes. I was a bit surprised to see Beldin looking so relaxed. “That one looks more like me but this shirt is more formal.”

He actually looked rather handsome and the weather was always perfect and sunny on Purgonorgo Isle. It was a perfect place for a wedding. The air was sweet and salty, the sand silky and white, and the water perfect crystal blue. It was a tropical paradise. It took some time to get here by boat but it was always well worth the trip.

“I think you should ask Jenjen. I’m surprised you don’t already have it decided before today.”

He just chuckled and smiled. He seemed much more at ease than I would have expected. “I think the more formal look is what Jenjen will like.”

“hum… I would agree. So you talked to her already then?” I inquired.

“Well just at the party. That was fun wasn’t it?” He grinned.

“So, she’s coming?” I prodded.

“Why wouldn’t she. This is her wedding too.” He was starting to look a little concerned.

“She was really mad about the party. Remember the rock hitting and stuff? I think you should find her and make sure she’s ok.”

He started tuning his communication pearl. Taking it out of his ear and shaking it he tried again. He started to look a little pale as he turned to me with his mouth dropped open. “She’s not online. Why would she have her pearls off on a day like today?”

“You need to find her.”

He wandered slowly to a beautiful lagoon while he fiddled with his pearl. I started to follow him at a distance.

“I need to be alone while I wait.” He said without even turning to see me following. Understanding I walked far off but still in eye shot. He dropped to his knees in the water and let his head fall to his chest while clutching the pearl. It was heartbreaking. How could he not have known she was angry?

She still had fifteen minutes to show up before she was considered late. I started asking who was coming but everyone was so sure no wedding would happen today they didn’t even bother taking the boat trip. I just sat down in the warm sand pulling my legs to my body and waited.

Shadows moved across the sand as the sun rose to midday with no bride. Neither I nor Beldin had moved in three hours. It didn’t seem right to leave him alone like this.

Then he got up and walked away. I knew he didn’t want me to follow him so I quietly watched him go. This is not exactly how I thought my duties as a chaperone would end. I could only hope they could work it out, really for Beldin’s sake. She was just what he needed. Maybe selfishly I wanted her to stay around too and I knew if she left Beldin behind she would leave the Thumbmonkeys. We were already very in love with her too. I didn’t want to see her go.

Girl talk

2007-04-21T14:09:00.000-04:00

I was a bit surprised and maybe a little nervous when she came in the room. No one else had come even though I told them she/I might need some support. I guess they figured the other party was enough excitement for one day.

As tempted as I was not to come myself I felt duty bound to sit sipping my favorite drink and wait. The archduke was letting us use his sitting room and it was very cozy in front of the crackling fireplace. It would have been a great place for a little party.

She didn’t say anything at first. It did horrible things to my nerves. She just walked into the room with her ears drooping and fell into the sofa. She looked so defeated. It broke my heart. Handing her a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream I waited for her to speak. Still unsure of my standing I didn’t know where to start.

“It’s a good location.” She said as she licked the cream off the top of her drink.

“I thought I was very cozy. I’m sorry it’s not a bigger party.” I replied.

“It’s better. I don’t feel like being around a big group tonight.” Her bottom lip quivered slightly as she finished.

“I’m so sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I would never…” She cut me off before I could finish.

“No, I know. It’s not your fault. He’s just and idiot.” Her eyes were sharp and angry.

I couldn’t argue. “He does love you.”

“I love him.” She said as her face softened back into a pout.

“I know he didn’t mean to hurt you. He really does seem completely crazy about you. He listens to you like he never has to anyone else before. He just has some old habits that are going to be hard for him to break. He’s far from perfect but you’ll never find anyone else like him.”

She chuckled a little to herself. “He is one of a kind. I knew about how he acted around women but I thought he would change for me. Why am I not enough for him?”

“You’re right, he’s and idiot. He doesn’t deserve you but he’s adventurous and has a wild imagination and playful nature like no other. Seeing the world the way he sees it makes things more exciting and beautiful.”

She smiled, “Yeah, I noticed that about him.”

I was not about to bring up other traits we obviously both admired about him do to the delicate nature after current events.

“I guess it comes down to does the good outweigh the bad enough to make it worth the risk and can he give you what you’re looking for?”

“Good questions. I don’t think I know. I guess I have some thinking to do.” She sipped the hot chocolate and held the warm mug close to her body.

I nodded and leaned my head on hers sighing audibly. “I’m sorry. I still love you. Do you love me?” I asked sheepishly.

“Of course,” she said as she threw her arms around me. I jumped as she splashed some hot chocolate on me. I suspect it might have been on purpose but I may have deserved it so I didn’t make a fuss. “I was there. I saw what happened and you were not to blame. This is something Beldin will pay for.”

“I’m glad we’re ok.” I said as I hugged the little mithra tightly. “One question though. Will you get married tomorrow?”

She pressed her eyes against my sleeve as if she wanted to hide from the question. “I don’t know yet.”

Leaning my head on hers I stroked her hair. I felt so bad for her. This is not a bride’s dream come true. I was so glad I wasn’t in trouble in Jenjen’s eyes even if I still felt some responsibility for somehow not preventing this disaster but if it could happen the day before the wedding then why not after too? It was something they needed to address and it’s always better to get these things sorted out before the rings are exchanged and there is no going back.

Dear Brodie

2007-04-05T12:09:00.000-04:00

Dear Brodie,

I admit I was a little upset when I received your last letter but then I realized you’re right. I’m not really the marrying type either and timing isn’t so good. I am awfully young and have a lot of training still to do. We are just fine as we are right? I understand why you would tell me to go marry another but I think I’ll just wait things out a bit longer and see what life throws our way.

I have missed you while you’ve been gone. The wedding between Jenjen and Beldin might have a little hiccup. I won’t know until tomorrow morning when the ceremony is scheduled. I’ll be sure to tell you more about it in my next letter. I wish you were here to help me with it. It seems like I get in a lot less bad situations when I have my paladin to watch over me. Just having you around cheering me on helps so much. I hope you can forgive me for being selfish in my desire to have you with me.

I hope your family is doing better. They must be thrilled to have you home after the tragic death of your father. Ever the paladin I would have been disappointed if you didn’t go home to help your mother raise your young brothers and sisters. Your life is not over, you just need to do something different for awhile. You made the right choice. I know it has been hard on you but I hope you know I will not forget about you just because our paths are separated for awhile.

So you are studying beastmaster now? It seems like an excellent way to develop yourself while you are away from experience parties for awhile. I’ll be sure to bring you some new equipment next time we can get together.

Please don’t wait too long before writing again and please reconsider using your communication pearls. You don’t have to do this alone.

Love always,
Your Alison

Sealing the letter and handing it to my moogle for delivery my heart was heavy. I missed him so much and planning for this wedding made me want to be married more than ever. I knew I couldn’t say that to him right now. It was something I needed to keep to myself. Learning a little more independence had to be good for me.

Now I had the overwhelming task of going to talk to Jenjen. Willowkarr called Zerokb for me and canceled our food and entertainment. It was just going to be the chaperone and the bride for some girl talk. I still wasn’t sure if she even wanted to see me at all but I went to Jeuno to wait for her hoping she would come.

Fountain Fun

2007-03-27T13:52:00.001-04:00

“Alison, I’m getting married tomorrow. How do you like that?” He said sharply paused, then sputtered out a laugh.

“I’m delighted for you Beldin.” I said rather suspiciously. I had a feeling something might be wrong. Jenjen and Beldin were crazy about each other and tomorrow we would marry them on the beautiful beach of Purgonorgo Isle with all their friends and family there to witness and celebrate. It was going to be beautiful. I wondered if he had some pre wedding jitters.

“I’m going to have a party too and you’re invited. You can be the guest of honor Miss Chaperone. Why don’t you come on over and join us now? We are enjoying a jolly good time in snooty San d’Oria.” With that I heard a loud splash and giggling over the linkshell pearl and Beldin’s connection was lost.

“Anyone else think that sounded like trouble?” I asked.

“Yes, let’s go join him!” Willowkarr said with a smile as she hopped down off the bookshelf where she had been looking rather bored while studying her finance records.

“I think we should all go. A wild party is just what we need today.” Moltov said as he pulled his boots back on.

“Who doesn’t love parties?” I tried to reassure myself. Nothing wrong with a bit of a party the day before to get the excitement pumping.

Beldin’s last transmission was from Southern San d'Oria and that is where I found him. Saturated boots lay across the bench and Beldin the dragoon lay in a fountain with a bottle of rum comfortable as if he was in his own bath tub. It was a rather warm sunny day and it did look like a wonderful idea even if it was a bit unconventional.

I chuckled as I took off my boots, “They are going to come arrest you soon. You know how Elvaan love their rules.”

“Nope, this dear woman, is all mine today. You think you are so smart. I have permission from the king himself to use this area. There is much you do not know about his charming young pirate.” Winking he offered me a drink.

“You really should learn to teleport. It’s so much faster.” Willowkarr was walking out of the pub with what looked like a fudge ripple milkshake. “Try this. It’s my special mix.” She handed me a glass and I was captivated in one sip. It was fudgy creamy intoxication and I drank it in one long pull.

“Oh my goodness that is the most delicious thing I have ever tasted! More! More!” I cheered. I was already sitting on the edge of the fountain letting the water roll down my legs. It really did feel wonderful.

Linkshell members started showing up and joining our impromptu fountain party. Moltov came with Kammy riding on his shoulders. Kjarbo, Martin, Zhirin, Yamari, Arcon and others started arriving and making themselves comfortable strolling in and out of the nearby pub. There was even a bard playing there just for the occasion. A bit of jealousy might have crept into my brain considering my party for Jen was not going to be quite so flashy. I chuckled to myself. Ok, maybe more flashy in some ways but less in others.

A dripping wet bar maid arrived with drinks and Beldin stopped and looked at her like she was filet mignon being served to a starving man. His mouth gapped a bit as he googled her with his eyes in an almost frightening manor. I guessed she was the giggling splash I heard over my pearl.

I glared in disapproval. “So Beldin, how is Jenjen?”

“Don’t know.” He replied simply while turning away from the attendant to look at me. “I haven’t seen her all day. She’s probably picking up flowers or talking to the baker or something. You need to stop worrying so much.” Reaching up he caught me by the front of my vest and the attendant by her skirt and rolled us into the water with him with an enormous splash. “Now this is more what I had in mind for today”

The bar maid laughed in delight as she threw her arms around him. “Sir Beldin, you naughty man.” She giggled as she batted at him with her hand then pulled a few gil out of his pocket and tucked them in her shirt.

“Lets get food for everyone.” He smiled as he lifted the maid out of the fountain by her waist. Taking a long drink he looked at me and laughed with his whole body. I was sopping wet as I sat letting the fountain cascade down my back. My hair style was ruined and plastered to my face. Rubbing my hinney I was feeling very very unhappy. I would have stabbed him already if I wasn’t in charge of his wedding the very next morning. “Let me make it up to you.” He said with a sly smile.

Leaping at me like a wild cat he caught my head in one hand wrapping his fingers in my loose hair and cradling my waist with the other arm. Spinning around in one smooth motion he kissed me as if it has been years in the making instead of the drunken foolish whim that it was. I sheepishly admit that I probably could have struggled a little harder to break free but all I managed was to weakly slap at the water behind me.

I heard a glass break and then Beldin fell onto me submerging me into the cold pool of water. He leapt off drawing his gun and I came up sputtering and making death threats. Seeing a large rock next to me and looking up to see Jenjen angrily shooting daggers out her eyes at us with clinched fists I realize she had lobbed the rock at his head when she arrived and saw what he was doing.

“Holy Crap” kept repeating in my head over and over again as a feeling of guilt stricken panic welled up from deep in my gut. I was horrified and sat with my mouth gaping open.

“Jenjen my love.” Beldin said as he smiled at her innocently.

“This party is over.” She shouted. “Everyone leave now!” He tail was stiff and erect and her face and fist were so tight I looked like she might explode at any moment.

I was petrified. It certainly wasn’t my idea but at that moment I was sure I was going to die for this all the same and I felt so guilty death was starting to sound like a nice fast way out.

Entertainment

2007-03-13T15:15:00.000-04:00

“Strippers? You must be kidding. I didn’t even know such a thing existed.” I said after closing my gaping mouth.

“Don’t be silly. Its tradition where I come from and one I am sure JenJen will love you for including in her party. I will be happy to interview men to find the best. I’ll search all of Ragnarok if I have to.” Willowkarr grinned as her tail swished anxiously.

“Thank you Willow. You’re expertise is greatly appreciated. What would I do without you?” I could tell by her eyes that she was delighted to have a task and I set out to make sure all the ThumbMonkey woman knew about the event.

I was in Whitegate when Beldin spun from around a corner to step in my path. “Alison! I’m so glad you came to find me.” He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and squeezed tightly. It was a little unnerving. “I heard all about the party and I think it’s an excellent idea. I have my best subligar all ready to go. Just tell me where and when and I’ll put on the best show you ladies have ever seen.” That said he started to put on a little demonstration with some hip circling.

My words came to me after a moment of shock. “You want to be the dancer? That doesn’t seem like what Willowkarr described to me. You’re the groom remember?”

“Don’t let Willowkarr tell you what to do. This is my wedding after all and you’re doing a fantastic job. I even bought a gift for you.” Beldin pulled out a small sack of ginger snaps and opened them to me.

Bushing off the rush from the smell of the cookies I resisted tasting them knowing it would dampen my ability to think clearly and I had a feeling Jenjen needed me to be careful with this situation. “Willowkarr is in charge of that tradition. You need to take it up with her.”

Dang woman. Always sticking together even when I only have your best interests in mind.” Scowling Belding closed the sack of cookies and walked away.

“See you at the wedding!” I shouted with a smile and a wave.

Without even turning around, Beldin raised his hand in a half hearted wave. I was surprised he gave up so easily.

Crackling slightly before turning on, Willowkarr spoke through the friend pearl. “I found him! He’s perfect: Hume, experienced, and very talented. You’re going to love me forever.”

“Anyone I know?”

“No, I don’t think so. He’s a friend of a friend. A summoner named Zerokb. I can hardly wait. This is going to be the best party ever!” Willowkarr shouted and then settled into an endless purr.

“Well I have Kammy in charge of food and drinks and I made a linkpearl just for the event. I think our guest list looks like about 6-8 woman. I will not disclose the location until hours before the event to avoid it leaking out to the male members of the linkshell who seem to be a bit upset about being left out. I don’t know why they can’t just have a party among themselves. But forget them! This should be a night none of us will ever forget!”

Happy Birthday to Me!

2007-03-07T07:27:00.000-05:00

Yep, today we celebrate the birth of the sometimes infuriating but always loved writer of this blog. On this momentous day of days loved ones near and far are thrilled to shower me with the finest of cookies or face my wrath. Let the showering commence.

Chaperone

2007-03-06T12:46:00.000-05:00

“She asked me to chaperone her wedding.” I had to grin to myself as I heard the words roll off my tongue.

“Jen told me. Congratulations, that’s quite an honor.” Kjarbo said.

I sat quietly for a few minutes and listened to the buzz of the summer insects and breathed in the warm smell of the lush grass. I loved sitting here in the sunshine meditating on my life thus far and relaxing from the pressure to succeed that often caused me so much tension while in this adventure’s program.

“There is more to the story.” I said as I pulled my knees up to my chin and stared off into the trees pretending to keep an eye out for Jaggedy Earred Jack.

“I know.” He said. He pulled out a box of sugar cookies from his bag and handed me one with a warm smile.

Wide eyed I sat up looking him in the eyes to search for an explanation. I hardly noticed the sugary treat in my hand. “How could this new comer know about my complicated feelings?” I thought to myself.

“She knows.” He said simply.

“I see. I guess that’s a good thing. I’m not a fan of too many secrets. Makes things too complicated.” I leaned my head on my hand and nibbled the edges of the soft cookie and licked the sugar crystals off my lips. “Thank you.”

“If you need to talk, I don’t mind.” He said sincerely.

Scooting over to hug his arm and lean my head against his shoulder I felt like I was smiling from the instead out. “I’ve noticed and I’m very grateful. I’m glad you decided to stay around for awhile. You’re very soothing to me and it’s a refreshing change of emotion.”

“It’s been my pleasure my lady.” He smiled as he pulled me in for a gentle rocking hug.

“The linkshell wants me to plan a bachelorette party. What am I going to do? I’ve never even been to one.” I looked up into his eyes searching for anything.

“Alison, I’m afraid you have asked the wrong man.” With that he leaned back and indulged in a deep unsympathetic belly laugh.

I was on my own to figure it out but I had to make sure this event was one to be remembered. I wanted to make it clear that I supported this union whole heartedly.

Kammy's Birthday

2007-02-21T12:24:00.000-05:00

“Do you know what today is?” Kammy sang. “It’s your favorite kitty’s birthday. Bring forth the gifts.” She said with a wide smile as she leaned over beating her hands on the coffee table and flipping her tail anxiously in the air.

We all exchanged questioning looks but it was clear no one knew. Beldin to my surprise was the one to rescue us from Kammy’s inevitable wrath if she knew that we were unprepared. “No one can give gifts yet. We have to do that at your birthday party. Don’t spoil it with impatience Kammy. It’s not until tonight.”

Kammy jumped up in the air and clasped her hands together in delight. “A party!” She shouted. “Oh, where, where! It’s positively purrrfect.” She purred. The wild wagging of her tail knocked over a lantern but Petru caught it as he walked by without saying a word and placed it on another table.

“The only place you can have a party of your stature and with a guest list as large as yours will clearly have.” He replied.

She leaned forward as if it would make it possible for the words to reach her pricked ears faster. Turning Beldin walked away with a grin on his face. “Where?!” Kammy shouted as she pounced onto his back, drawing blood with her nails as she climbed to sit on his shoulders. Beldin cringed but took it silently. Leaning over she clutched his face in her hands and stared upside down with her large round eyes.

“Oh, I thought you would know. It is your party. It’s scheduled at the hostel in Whitegate of course. Tonight we gather at sunset. We even have attendants, food, and fireworks paid for already.”

Leaning too far forward she rolled over Beldin’s head and into his arms. “I have to find something to wear!” and with that she leapt from his grasp and bounded off to search her mog house for the perfect boots.

“Wow, nice save.” Ryger said as he breathed out audibly. We chuckled in agreement and with that I was off to find gifts and hurry to Whitegate to make sure we could in fact get reservations.

Willowkarr acted as the official greeter and made sure only who was invited was allowed to trickle into the small courtyard. Walking in and looking around I couldn’t help but be struck by the resemblance of one of the male attendants to my own favorite bearded hume. Brodie was missing again and I could only assume it was because of my failure to answer his proposal. My heart ached as I stared maybe a little too long at the server who approached and handed me a drink with a smile and retreated to refill his tray.

Willowkarr whispered to me over our friendship pearl. “She’s here. Get everyone ready.” My heart skipped in excitement. I do love parties.

“Everyone, gather and be ready. She’s coming!” I said in a hushed shout. Kammy came in followed by Willowkarr. Everyone cheered, “Happy birthday Kammy!” and lit off fireworks around her. Jumping back in fright she tumbled over Willowkarr and burst out laughing. I had a feeling this would be a fun bonding event for our linkshell.

Showering her with little gifts and trinkets seemed to make Kammy feel like the princess she was sure she was meant to be.

“I have a gift for you!” Kammy announced. “I invented it myself.” The servers came out with trays of tall glass cups brimming with her treat. A strange blue bubbling drink that was surprisingly cold. A blue-green mist rose from the cup and crawled up our arms before falling to the floor. It was as if it had a magical life all its own. Overcoming my nervousness about such an unusual beverage I tasted it and found it had a delightful fruity flavor that made me want more, and more I did have. Lots more. We all did. Maybe too much more because it seemed to have the strange power to make us all act without inhibitions.

We felt like a bunch of drunk Mithra. We danced and leapt from the furniture and carried on like wild things, each trying to outdo the rest. It was great fun. There was a sizable bit of canoodling that to this day I will blame on that blasted drink. Beldin wanted to dance with me and I couldn’t get enough. It seemed like he was dipped in chocolate and offering me diamonds because I couldn’t say no.

I barely remember even getting home. Most of the linkshells members didn’t make it to their beds at all. I think the attendants just pushed us out the door and left us on the steps after our reserved time expired. Everyone was scattered all over the world by morning, some of them crossing impressive distances with no idea how they did it without being beaten to a pulp by a passing beastman.

Waking in the morning I felt refreshed and energized like I had slept for days, which apparently I had. Walking out my door I was handed a cup of hot chocolate by Kjarbo. “I thought I heard you stirring. Good morning my lady.” Kjarbo smiled and bowed slightly. “I’m glad I avoided Kammy’s drink or else who knows where you would have ended up. It’s generally a good idea to pass on Mithran concoctions of any kind.”

Then I vaguely remembered. He was the one who delivered me to my moogle the night before. “You’re here waiting on me?” I asked.

Kjarbo chuckled. “Well yes, and I decided to move into the ThumbMonkey house with the rest of you. If I’m going to take up adventuring I might as well live the life fully. Making a linkshell my home seems like a must do on the check list and if Jenjen says this is the place to be, I trust her judgment. I’ll keep my house in Mhaura to use from time to time but I’ll live in adventure housing with a door connecting here from now on like the rest of you. Besides, I like the leader.”

I was glad to hear he was joining the linkshell for good. He was a very unusual yet very likable person himself. I would remember his advice. No more Mithran specials for me. I could only hope no real harm had been done by them.

Thing of Beauty

2007-02-12T12:01:00.000-05:00

If ever I could have a relationship based on lust this would be it. I just sat in the grass and watched him wield that sword like a natural. I was completely fascinated by him but I didn’t really want to get involved I just wanted to watch him. Every glistening tanned inch of him.

He announced that he was going to sign up in the adventurer program with San D’Oria soon after our dinner party together. He said he thought he should spend some time closer to home with Jenjen’s engagement. He didn’t even know Beldin and that bothered him.

He paused occasionally to smile at me but wasn’t visibly bothered that I followed him around as he accumulated his experience points killing off the local pests. I didn’t have any mage skills so I couldn’t heal him but I could kill the occasional threat with one shot from my bow so I felt somewhat helpful.

Brodie came and sat down next to me in the soft grass. “So what are we hunting today?” He grinned as if we had not missed a beat.

“Jaggedy-Eared Jack.” I replied without looking away from Kjarbo.

“He is a bit bigger than I remember but I’ve been away awhile.”

I nodded in agreement. “How are you and Rebornsoul?” I didn’t really want to beat around the bush too long; didn’t see any advantage to it. I wanted to know.

“Humm... Well we ran into some trouble. She loves me but I love you and just friends didn’t fit into her life plan. We had to part ways not long after.” He said as he turned to look at me.

I couldn’t help but gasp as he said those words, “I love you.” My face flushed but I didn’t want him to know he could soften me that quickly so didn’t even turn to look at him.

“I’m sorry I’m an idiot. I just never imagined that any woman would have any romantic interest in me let alone someone like you. It’s really just been me and my sword all these years. I didn’t think I even wanted a relationship but when Rebornsoul offered I had to find out if it was something I wanted. When you told me how you felt I was stunned. I couldn’t say anything then, but now I need you to know that I love you. I didn’t know what happiness was until you came to me. Now I can’t live without you.” He took my hand and got up on one knee. “Alison, please marry me.”

I was stunned to silence. That was all I ever wanted to hear for so long yet now it seemed sudden. He had been gone for weeks. He left me. Now he wanted back for good? My brain told me he was a scoundrel and to get rid of him but my heart missed my best friend and wanted to make this life long commitment. Time seemed to slow down as I let the words roll around in my head. Too much rolling of the words around my head and I started to feel faint. I turned to lean on his chest and he wrapped his arms around me.

“Alison, please say something.” He pleaded. Sweat beaded up on his forehead and his skin was flushed. With my head against his heart I could feel it pounding but my words didn’t seem to work.

Then I breathed and the tension left me. This felt good. I was in the arms of my paladin and all was right with the world again. “Alison, do you need time to think about it?” he whispered after a few minutes sounding somewhat defeated. “Actually no, I meant will you forgive me? The other thing just came out without me meaning to. I take it back.”

I cleared the fog in my brain enough to answer him. “Don’t take it back, just don’t make me answer yet. We need time for us for awhile. We’ve been apart. Let us catch up.”

He nodded in agreement and after a few moments of comfortable silence we got back to chatting light-heartedly about all the things that had happened while we were away from each other. It was as if we had never been parted. It felt good.

BRB

2007-02-10T14:07:00.000-05:00

Yeah, after not missing a week for months Ive taken a bit of time to figure out what direction I want to go next. I think I figured it out. I'll have a post up by Sunday night or Monday. Have a fun weekend yall!

Kjarbo

2007-01-28T16:23:00.000-05:00

“Hello?” I said. A friend pearl must have rolled behind the cabinet and been lost. I didn’t know who to return it to. Using it seemed like the fastest way to solve the mystery.

“You are not Jenn.” A masculine voice said. “Who is this?”

“Oh I just need to find out who this belongs to. I’m don’t mean to intrude. She must have lost her pearl. My name is Alison. Jenn joined my linkshell last week. Exciting news about the engagement isn’t it?”

“Oh yes, that. Well my lady, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He said sweetly. “My name is Kjarbo.”

I had to pause. He had an odd way of speaking and had a bit of a Mithra accent though he clearly was not one. His voice was too deep. I was perplexed and curious.

“So, how do you know Jenn.” I questioned.

“She hasn’t mentioned me?” He chuckled. “I guess I slipped her mind with the recent excitement. We are very close but work keeps me away for long periods of time. I’m a deep sea fisherman and a mercenary of sorts. Great income but it is hard to keep in touch with family. I am her brother.”

“I see… I don’t mean to be nosey but you don’t sound like a Mithra.” I had to purse my lips a little while I waited for a response. I felt so rude asking so many questions to some one I didn’t even know but I was dieing with curiously over not only him but Jen, our newest addition to the ThumbMonkey family and current fiancé of The Dread Pirate Beldin. Though now that I think of it, finding she came from a family of fisherman brought up more interesting questions. Sure she could be attracted to Beldin’s seaman side but pirates are not exactly loved by the more law abiding stewards of the ocean.

He just chuckled softly. “Well my lady. It sounds like we have Jen in common and should get to know each other. I have a small house in Mhaura and I am in port for a few days. If you would do me the honor of joining me tonight I would love to make you dinner and tell you our story.”

How could I resist? It was an occasion when I wondered if something other than armor would be more appropriate but I shrugged it off since I didn’t have that luxury anyways. I think my mother just momentarily intruded into my brain and whispered silly nonsense about social etiquette. I did have moogle wash up my armor and put a fresh polish on my boots so I felt spiffy. I had never been invited to someone’s home for dinner before and it was exciting.

Before I could even knock upon arrival the door swung widely revealing the excited Mithra within. Jenjen greeted me looking more mirthan than I had ever seen her. She clutched her hands together tightly and bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. “Alison’s here!” she exclaimed as if the entire village was waiting to hear. Jumping into my arms she hugged me tightly yet briefly and bounced back into the house.

I assumed I was to follow her so I closed the door behind me and stepped inside. The house smelled amazing. A rich mix of spices swirled around the small warm room. The home was cozy and decorated in strange exotic looking treasures I imagined he must have collected on his adventures to unknown islands and far off places. The larger living space was mostly kitchen and dinning area with two soft pillowy seating areas in one corner near a well stocked bookshelf defined by an ornate rug. An adjoining room was visible that appeared to have hammocks for sleeping and a small en-suite water closet.

Kjarbo spotted me and wiped his hands dry on a hand towel then set it down to greet me. “Jen, you didn’t tell me she was so beautiful.” He said without breaking eye contact with me. He took the flowers I brought as a gift for them and kissed my hand. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Jen has told me all about you today. And these flowers are exactly what we needed tonight. Thank you.” He said with a gentle smile and turned to put them in a vase for a center piece.

I had never been greeted this way before and as strange as it was I had to admit I liked it. I liked it a lot. “I’m glad you like them. I grew them myself. It’s a bit of a hobby.”

Kjarbo I must tell you is an amazing cook. I don’t have much skill in that department myself so a well cooked meal is very appreciated. My taste buds were in heaven with each bite of the amazing fish he prepared for us. No wonder Jen was so excited when her brother was home. I’d miss this kind of cooking too. She said he always made meals a big deal. I was envious.

“I hope I’m not being too personal but I must ask; how is it that an Elvaan and a Mithra are siblings?” I watched their eyes carefully checking for any sign of offense.

Jen was the first to answer. She leapt from her chair and cupped Kjarbo’s head in her hands kissing the side of his head and ruffling his slate black hair. “He was lost so we took him home. No parents turned up so we kept him as our very own. As a child he expected to grow a tail. It took a long time to convince him he wouldn’t. He was the cutest little thing.”

Kjarbo smiled warmly at his sister. “Yes, we were very similar in age so we grew up very close. I was only a toddler when they rescued me. I was wandering alone and nearly taken by the Yagudo. They were the best family a boy could have ever dreamed of having. I still expect to grow a tail by the way.”

I assume he was kidding about the tail. The relationship between Jenjen and Kjarbo was very interesting. She was full of boundless energy in typical Mithra fashion while Kjarbo seemed to almost move in slow motion by comparison with his gentle patient ease. It was as if they attempted to balance each other out by covering two extremes creating an oddly perfect harmony. They were more family than many siblings I knew that had blood relation.

When the time came to go home I found I didn’t want to leave. Kjarbo tucked one of the flowers I brought behind my ear and kissed me sweetly on the cheek as he said goodnight. I was so twiterpated by it I don’t even remember saying good night to Jen. They were such fun to talk to and so easy to like. They welcomed me in like family in a beautifully genuine way. I felt like I had struck gold with these two new friends and Altana willing I hoped to keep them around for a very long time.

Dynamis, Awake

2007-01-24T12:16:00.000-05:00

“Oh yes, here you go.” Airamis said as he dropped the new linkpearl in my hand without even looking up from his clip board. “Welcome to the linkshell.” He said as he took a moment to glace up at me and smile before going back to whatever he was looking over. It seemed a bit odd to me to see a ranger wearing reading glasses but I wasn’t about to say a word but thank you for the pearl and sit down to wait for more instructions. He looked a bit busy.

Naturally since this was my very first dynamis Paganlorre was home sick and we were going to the area known for being the most difficult of all of the cities. Figured. Dynamis-Windhurst was going to be a challenge for a first run but I knew I could tackle it no problem.

“You’re going to be knocked out cold… a lot. We don’t call it Die-in-mass for nothing.” An Elvaan with long slick black hair said as he looked down at me with a mischievous grin. “Don’t worry, we wont leave you there. We’ll patch you up and drag you out in one piece.” I just looked up at him and a worried expression escaped. “You don’t remember me do you?” he asked. I shook my head no and he tilted his head back and laughed. “I’m called Sinlessrogue. Let me know if you need any help.” I think I did recall an incident in Lower Jeuno but before I could give it any more thought I heard them call for me.

“Alison, you’re in my party.” Wheeldog said as he waved to me from across the group.

“That means you jump to your feet and go line up behind him.” Sinlessrogue instructed with a chuckle. I wish I could remember why he would find such delight in teasing me but I didn’t have time to worry about it. I didn’t want to hold up the group.

Wheeldog was much more optimistic and helpful. He gave me a run down of how it would go. “I am in charge of leading us melee fighters to the immediate target. Just keep assisting me when I call for it. Never attack on your own even if something swings at you first. Stay focused and listen the instructions on linkshell chat and you’ll do fine.” He instructed with a soft smile. He did really make me feel good about it. I had heard really bad things about end game linkshells being not so fun and full of arrogant mean people but Wheeldog was very warm and helpful.

I was a bit concerned when I realized I was in an alliance with Airamis and all the other big dogs of the linkshell including Sinlessrouge who seemed to be delighted to play on my apprehensions. I was sure Airamis was watching and waiting for me to mess up horribly so he could boot me out. I was not about to give them a reason.

“Trading hourglasses.” Airamis called out to us. I was given my own hourglass and used it to enter my first dynamis.

It just looked like regular boring Windhurst until the first group of beastmen came running in a large pack. My eyes grew wide as they approached and I could only hope this was how it was supposed to go. In experience parties I’m expected to bring one target at a time back to my group. This certainly was not one beastman.

“Attacking Vanguard Liberator. Melee, assist me!” Wheeldog shouted out. Clutching my daggers tightly I ran to attack with him. This was not a small linkshell. Counting nearly fifty people here did bring a sense of security but I found myself struggling to get my hits in without nicking one of my comrades by mistake.

They just kept coming and coming as fast as I could move from one beast to the next. Beads of sweat formed on my brow and adrenaline pumped through my blood. This moved crazy fast. I had to pause on occasion to wipe off the beastmen’s blood that dripped down onto the hilt of my dagger to keep them from getting too slippery.

In the zone I almost didn’t notice when Airamis called out my name. “Alison, lot on the bonnet.” I did as instructed and went back to killing. The group got really excited and congratulated me on my incredible good luck. I was a little confused. I thought that was the point of coming here was for special items.

“Wow an artifact hat drop for you on your very first run. Congratulations.” Gainsborough said. “Is that unusual then?” I paused to look at him. He grinned, “Yeah it is. Some people wait months to get theirs. It’s a big deal.” He laughed and went back to work. I shrugged shyly and looked my new hat over. I couldn’t use it for another five levels but I was very pretty and looked like it would come in handy. Smiling and thanking the group and put it away to keep from staining it before I even got to use it properly.

Continuing like this for awhile we didn’t seem to have any major problems. We even managed to pass the “death house” without attracting unwanted attention. Airamis had us walk slowly single file along the opposite wall away from the death house as the called it without even a wrong sideways step or even a hard look in the direction of the building in question. My nerves causes me to reached out and clutched Gainsborough’s robe at one point without even thinking about it but he just looked back and smiled at me.

It was all fun and games and I was feeling pretty confident that I had the swing of things but when people started dropping around me in large numbers I became a bit concerned. Worried chatter started to bounce around the group. “Stay focused and keep fighting.” Airamis instructed. I did just that but it wasn’t long before I took a hard blow and was knocked down too.

We all lay in the dirt. Mounds of us moaning, some of them laughing like men gone insane, but all of us down for the count. Once the beastmen wandered off to celebrate their vengeful victory the mages who keep reraise spells on themselves at all times began to raise us up too. “Death number one.” Sinlessrogue whispered to me. “Congratulations you are now nearly broken in.”

I fought till the end and with my evasion skills and ability to not attract much hate from the beastmen I was one of the very last down. It brought a sense of pride that I did pretty well under pressure even if the beastmen won that round.

We did have one last thing to do before we were finished for the night. The mega-boss had to be taken care of if I was to get credit for clearing this area so I could move on to the bigger ones in the future. Ironically this would be the easiest part of the run for me.

“Whatever you do, don’t look at it or it will doom you to death.” Airamis warned us. All melee faced east as the ground shook to announce the coming of the mega-boss. This was for the mages to handle. The most squishy and fragile had the responsibility of defeating the most powerful advisory in the entire area. Go figure. They stood to the front of the group and with their combined efforts nuked the life out of it in a surprisingly short amount of time.

Once it was down I turned to get a good look at it. Huge as it was it just looked like a great bird statue. I examined the place where it had fallen and that was it. I had what I needed from it without so much as glancing it’s direction. Again, I thanked the linkshell for helping me with my first dynamis. They were all so friendly it made it easy to enjoy myself and feel confident.

All and all not a bad experience. Yeah, Sinlessrouge was right. I have died many many times doing these but I have also collected some very lovely new articles of clothing and one ugly rusty looking dagger and I do adore cute clothes above almost anything else. And of course there is the fun. I do love to go out with Digital Back Spin and kick butt on a weekly basis. It’s a bonding thing. There have been some ups and downs but I think I’ll tell about those another day.

Dynamis, Attempt One

2007-01-16T16:49:00.000-05:00

“You know what you need now don’t you?” Paganlorre said with a wide smile as he wrapped his arms around me in one of him famously warm hugs to congratulate me on reaching level 65 as a thief.

“What’s that?” I asked as I pulled back to look him in the eye. I admit I was hoping he was talking about something divine like white chocolate dipped sugar cookies. That’s the kind of congratulation I could really sink my teeth into.

“You need to join me for dynamis two nights a week.” He said. I had no idea what dynamis was. I had never heard of it or had any idea why people would do it but I was thrilled to have a new thing to do with him. It always seemed like he was the one helping me and I wanted to spend time with him while pulling my own weight for once.

“Oh that sounds very exciting and grown up. Anything to spend two nights a week with you. How do I get in?” I asked trying to hide the disappointment of not getting a sweet. He laughed as if he could read my mind and pulled a cookie out of his bag for me. I nibbled the cookie in my usual circular pattern savoring each taste as I temporarily forgot Paganlorre was there.

“Come with me.” He said as he took my hand and yanked my arm as he ran off. It felt exciting like a secret mission and I followed him eagerly. He took me to each person I needed to talk to and each location I needed to examine and then finally to a message board for DBSDynamis. “This is the hard part.” He said. You have to read all of the rules and instructions then sign up once you’re done. He sat down next to me and tilted his red mage hat over his eyes to take a nap.

“Why would this be the hard part?” I thought to myself as I started to read, and read, and read some more. These were the longest list of instructions and rules I had ever seen. It was amazing in its length and detail. You must understand reading puts me to sleep. Maybe it’s because Dad always read to me before bed as a child but I can’t get past about one page of reading before I get drowsy. It was indeed the most challenging part of the entire quest that day but I was determined to finish. I couldn’t let these rules keep me from joining my first upper level linkshell with Paganlorre.

Despite my head feeling fuzzy with sleep and my eyes losing focus from time to time I managed to read the entire thing. I signed my name with my last bit of energy and slumped down next to Paganlorre wrapping my arms around his arm and leaning my head on his shoulder. Drifting off to sleep myself I dreamed.

“On your feet solder!” a Ranger shouted at me.

Startled awake I grabbed my daggers and looked around to discover I was surrounded by other adventures of every race and occupation. Only similarity was their great experience evident by armor only worn by the seasoned.

“Sleep around here and you die. I will not loose good men to come back for the careless. Look alive.” He said as he glared down at me. Somehow I knew this must be Airamis, leader of the DBSDynamis group, and I was ashamed to be caught sleeping at a time like this. With a rush of wind he was airborne above our heads wind rushing around him like a storm. He pointed west and the group charged in that direction.

I heard screaming from the back of the group. Confused and terrified I stayed as far in the middle as I could. “They’re picking us off one by one from the rear.” Dagas reported calmly. Members where simply disappearing in a cloud of dust. I couldn’t see anything attacking. “The penguins…” Airamis said solemnly. “All turn and attack!” he commanded from his airy perch.

As I stabbed at the air my dagger met its mark in something soft and squishy and the great beast suddenly appeared. A massive penguin it was imposing in its size and stony expression. We surrounded the exposed attackers and took them down in a blaze of magic and melee until they were no more.

Before we could celebrate the earth began to tilt as if the entire city were being lifted like a boxed diorama in the hands of a child. We slid along the stones of the city walkway towards what appeared to be an enormous mouth with great yellow teeth. Catching a light pole I dangled until I saw Paganlorre slide by. “Come with us! This is fun stuff!” he called.

I dropped into the abyss and landed on the back of a great orc. Larger than anything I had ever seen, he shook with rage as I tightened my grip around his surprisingly thin neck. Hand to hand combat was not my way but desperate times called for desperate measures and I put everything I had into strangling the life out of it.

“Alison let go!” it cried. “How did it know my name?” I thought to myself as I continued to squeeze. “I can’t feel my arm. You know I love the cuddling but do you have to cling so tightly?” he asked.

I opened my eyes and realized I was still by the message board with Paganlorre and my victim was not very orc-like at all but rather dashing. Paganlorre rubbed his arm when I released him. “You are much stronger than you look.” He said with a warm smile. “It’s late and I’m hungry. Care to join me for dinner?” he asked.

“Sounds wonderful. I have a crazy strong craving for poultry.” I grinned.

Welcoming a New Member

2007-01-08T13:58:00.000-05:00

The door flung open widely as a tall Corsair stepped with long purposeful steps stopping in the middle of the room as to announce himself with his stance alone. “I’m back.” Beldin belted out.

I had been reading quietly and enjoying a hot drink when he entered. I was thrilled to see him back after a long unexplained absence. A little crazy and reckless he may be but never boring and I felt a special connection with him I didn’t have with anyone else. I missed him.

He had disappeared after the shooting Brodie incident, not that I had been around to notice much anyways. I did find myself feeling a little disappointed when I came home to find him gone. Somewhere in the back of my head I had considered him a bit of a back up plan though I wouldn’t dare say that out loud.

Reaching down and taking my hand he pulled my up into his arms and lifted me off the floor in a warm embrace. I gave in and let myself openly enjoy it as I leaned my head against his and hugged him back. It felt so good to see him.

He set me down and kissed the top of my head. I tried to discourage the casual kissing but trying to get Beldin to do anything but exactly as he pleased was impossible. “I brought someone for you to meet.” He said with a wide smile. On cue an unusually attractive Mithra came in the doorway with a shy smile. “This is Jenjen, my wife.” He said.

“Future wife.” She corrected. “We haven’t been married yet. Nice to meet you Alison, I’ve heard a lot about you.” She smiled and gave a small wave.

Surprised would be an understatement but I was delighted to have another female member in our family. Reaching down and hugging her I smiled, “Welcome to the linkshell. We are so happy to meet you. Tell us how you found this scoundrel pirate of ours and brought him home to us. I want to know everything.” She sat down between me and Beldin to start her story.

“I felt sorry for him.” She said as she smiled and reached over to take his hand. “We were in a linkshell together and he was kicked out for being himself. It didn’t seem fair. I went to him and we haven’t left each others side again. I don’t know what I ever did without him.”

With that he scooped the tiny Mithra up in his arms and bent his head down to kiss her passionately. Jealous? Me? Yeah a little but I knew I’d get over it and I am always happy to see the people I care about happy even if it means enduring P.D.A. when I myself had no one to be annoying with. I bit my lip.

“Well he certainly does ensure you will never be bored with him by your side.” I said as I handed them a platter of cookies to break them up. This only led to watching them feed each other. I was sure I was going to have to stab myself.

Just like super heroes, Yamari and Zhirin showed up together. Zhirin was a good friend of Brodie and only recently around more often. Soft-spoken and easy to miss when so many of our members are so… how do I say it? Energetic, he tended to blend in. Yamari was a newer member. She was shy and conservative and I adored her like a sister. A pretty Hume girl, I found I felt the need to slap around some of our boys when they got too anxious for her attention but she always seemed confident and at ease when Zhirin was with her.

Beldin jumped up when he saw them, launching the Mithra on his lap to the floor with an un-cat like thud. Drawing his gun he took aim and shot Zhirin in the leg.

“Beldin no!” I shouted as I took his gun from him.

“Why did you shoot me?!” Zhirin said with a bewildered look.

“I’m just shooting the intruders.” Beldin said with his best innocent look.

“Beldin, these are linkshell members and Zhirin has owned a pearl longer than you he just hasn’t been here when you were around.” I scolded.

Yamari quickly healed Zhirin’s wound before it could do any more damage and glared angrily at Beldin.

Jenjen found her feet and yelled “Sit! Now!” To my indescribable amazement Beldin dropped to the floor so quickly I’m sure he must have hurt his hind end. “Be good.” She commanded and with that said, settled down in his lap.

“Wow” escaped my lips and I looked on in a bit of shock. I had never seen anyone successfully tell Beldin what to do. I had to admit this must be a match made in heaven. Well, for me at least. I didn’t know how she did it but I was impressed. Laughing a little to myself I smiled at the new couple. How could I be anything but thrilled for them?

ThumbGalka

2007-01-02T10:06:00.001-05:00

It was time to take my newly tanned self back to the linkshell lobby. My little vacation felt great but I missed my friends. Well honestly they were more than friends. The ThumbMonkeys had become my family and it was time to go home to them where I belonged.
I don’t think I could have prepared myself for what I would find. As I approached the building I could hear a very unusual amount of ruckus coming from inside. I meant to be quiet as I opened the door and peered in but a bucket propped against the front door made my appearance well known.

The room went deathly quiet as they all turned to look at me. Garness was standing in the middle of the room holding Petru upside-down by his ankle with an apple in the little taru’s mouth and in the other hand a puppetmaster’s puppet. Moltov, Marrcus, and Apocolipse, and others were scattered about the room looking a bit disoriented. Garness dropped the limp puppet on the floor, tossed the Taru behind the sofa, and smiled warmly at me.

“Welcome home fearless leader.” He smiled as he sheepishly removed a roughly made crown from his head.

Foxx burst into the room and yelled, “Thumbgalka!” as he tossed Kammy into the room bound, gagged, and face painted in reds and yellows. Tall dinner candles where tucked in the ropes around her body and she appeared to be listless and drooling. Garness cleared his throat loudly and Foxx stopped in his tracks, looked at me, and left the room without a word.

The entire house looked sindged and disheveled. I noticed Garness had one foot on a sizable lump under the carpet and his lance was lodged in the wall.

“Thank you Garness, it’s good to be home.” I said as I continued to survey the damage. My nose wrinkled at the smell. “Is our maid on vacation?” I asked.

“Umm… Yes, well I had to fire him.” Garness said as he shifted nervously. “He made terrible cookies and I know how important quality is to you when it comes to sweets. I’ve already started to look for a new more qualified candidate.” Rover peeked his head out from around an over turned table and ducked back when he made eye contact with me.

“Yeah I think we should be quick about it. I looks like you went to war in here, and what is that smell?” I questioned.

The lump under Garness foot started to shift slightly and the Galka reacted by stomping it vigorously until it stopped. Garness started nudging me off to my room as he answered, “Yes, maid, and umm cookies in the kitchen for you. Welcome home. You should go relax. I’ll take care of the lobby. Needed a new look in here anyways. Don’t want to let the look become stale.” He gave me a final shove into my room and shut the door behind me. “Did I say welcome home?”

All I could do was laugh. As much trouble as I knew they all could get into I trusted them to be able to handle whatever was going on without me if that’s what they insisted. At least my room was as I left intact. Moogle did an excellent job of keeping it secure from intruders. “Welcome home Kupo” he buzzed.

I smiled at the familiarity of being home again and fell backwards onto my bed. “Thank you moogle. Any news?”

He chattered on about something but I was lost in thought and didn’t hear a word. I had a good trip. I wiggled under the covers and fell sound asleep in my dusty clothes despite the increasing clatter outside my room that I assumed was my linkshell mates trying to hide evidence of whatever they were up to while I was gone.

Call Home

2006-12-29T12:33:00.001-05:00

I was sitting in Selbina watching the boats come and go while I enjoyed the warm fullness caused by my latest meal from a small local inn when I first spotted the Beastmaster. He was a tall Elvaan with red hair barely visible from around his ram-like head piece. He was dressed in impeccably clean white fur armor that exposed his tanned muscular abdomen. I’m a big fan of a well sculpted body. Who isn’t? Anyways, I had never seen a Beastmaster who looked like him so I couldn’t help but stare a bit.

It was a thing of great curiosity to me. I didn’t know much about them or understand them at all. I had never met one in an experience party where I would normally learn about a particular occupation. Beastmasters generally seem to prefer to go alone or with a companion of the same job. The only time I ran into someone who took more than a casual interest in the job was when I happened to see them wandering about heavily trafficked areas like Jeuno.

“Sheepy!” the shrill voice of a Mithra shrieked. Kammy bounded up behind him and he smiled warmly at her and caught her to his side with one arm. She looked so small next to him. Seeing her always made me smile. Her seemly boundless energy was contagious. I waved and called her name as I hoped down off the shipping box that had been my seat.

Kammy leapt up into my arms in what I thought was an enthusiastic hug until she reached around my neck to pull warm pumpkin cookies out of my bag, the dessert left over from dinner. “Cookies!” she purred as she let me go to sit and eat her catch. I laughed and sat down next to her. “Nice to see you too Kammy. Who is your handsome friend?”

The Elvaan blushed and smiled at me as he said, “My name is TastyWaffles.” With that he sat down with us. “What a name.” I thought.

“He’s my sheepy!” She said, “but I’m the only one allowed to call him that.” Scooting into his lap and wiping her crumb covered mouth on his arm. “He was helping me level through the dunes. Icky place.”

“Oh I see. That’s very nice of him. I don’t think I’ve ever talked to a Beastmaster as accomplished as you. I admit I’m very curious about you. How long did it take you to get so strong without a regular experience party?” I asked.

He laughed softly at my inquisitiveness. “A long time. You can call me Waffles if you like. Where are you headed today Alison?”

“I’m on a bit of a vacation.” I said as I pulled out more cookies to give to Kammy.

“You should go home Alison.” Kammy said with a mouth full of cookie. “ThumbGalka is taking over. Puppets everywhere. I’ve been trying to stay away but I need my armor soon and I’ll have to go through the lobby to get to my storage.”

“You think it’s dangerous to go home?” I asked feeling a bit taken back by the idea.

Kammy nodded and leaned over to lick my cheek with her sticky tongue. “We need you. You hold us together. Why have you been gone so long?”

I looked at her briefly sad eyes and felt a bit guilty for my indulgence. I had made a commitment to ThumbMonkeys and two weeks may have been too long to leave without a word. “You’re right. It’s been too long. I will go home soon.”

Through the Archaic Mirror

2006-12-25T00:16:00.000-05:00

This is Guest written by Guankim. Considering when I received it, I'm counting it as Christmas gift from him to us. It is meant to follow the chapter "The Great Escape." I think it's absolutely adorable. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. (Updated 12/31)

Sometimes a ride through the plateau was nice…but it wasn’t Lufaise Meadows, mind you, but it was a nice breezy area nonetheless and I could ride through and half-doze while letting the choco run where it wanted. Now, mind you, I don’t get all mushy and go trying to be a chocobo-raiser of my own. Far too annoying to keep up with the little brats…Such is the same with children – no need for them right now.

But anyway, my chocobo apparently decided to head towards Halvung, as I could hear the grunting of Trolls as we passed, and resisted the urge to hop off the bird and throw a thunderbolt their way. I told you, I was half-dozing. That implies not trying to walk on my power, of course, so much less anything that would require multiple spells!

My brief but enjoyable doze was abruptly ended when the rental bird decided to run towards one of the huge mirrors, which instead of shattering, acted as a portal. This brilliant clucker ran (Deliberately, the bastard) right into another bird upon emerging, causing a stop abrupt enough to send me de facto flying, and then dashed back through as the swirling portal closed. Jump is especially useful up in the mountainous areas around Giddeus where leaping down off cliffs is just commonly called “a shortcut.”
Luckily, learning to land was required in my training as a Dragoon, and I carried it over as a handy trait.

For those of you watching at home, we keep all our traits, and that is why I have trained every single job up to a minimum of 10th level. Yes, even the damnable puppetmasters.

So, upon landing, I had to look up to see this other bird whose rider was all hyper and into the day (much more than I was at the time) looking at me. I suppose keeping a grip on the bird might’ve helped in the art of not going flying, but that wasn’t a point I would bring up. And of course, the stupid bird went running off when it realized it was riderless, despite the presence of another chocobo. Obviously it wasn’t suffering with lovesickness at the time. How convenient. And why I’ll avoid raising my own.

Well, such is the glory of being able to teleport and warp, right? Right. My wandering mind then decided it would be appropriate to acknowledge the rather annoyed…or was that amused…woman into whom my rental chocobo had chosen to plow without grace. I noticed she didn’t have on her communicator shell, so I figured I would do a slight courtesy and actually pay attention, (since my chocobo actually HAD crashed into her, ya know) and I removed my HeavenEarthWarriors communicator as well.

“Sorry about the collision there. I suppose napping and riding don’t mix too well. But at least the bird appears to know a good target,” I opened ironically, considering who she was. “I’m Guan Kim, Mystic Sword. Are you alright?” I realized she was, most likely, as she hadn’t been thrown from her chocobo. I asked anyway, not really knowing what kind of thing to expect from an Elvaan…especially one from whom power radiated, yet wore casual gear and had her hair down, windblown. It wasn’t something I was accustomed to running into, but then again, I usually actually ride as opposed to sleeping, so that wasn’t really worth much, was it?

Apparently, she wasn’t exactly overjoyed about the crash either, “Where the heck did you come from? You could have hurt Momo. She could very well be champion material you know!” The woman glared at me for not saying anything, so of course, wit must thus ensue.

"If she's hurt by that pansy bird that I rode up on, she's far from champion material, luv." I tilted my head to the side, amused. "And as to where I came from...I rather napped through the rest of the ride for the particulars, but Bastokan I am."

“Not surprised. No wonder you’re so reckless and rude.” She sighed, “Are you ok?”

I looked around as if just realizing where I’d ended up, "Outside of not having a ride anymore, sure. So what brings you to the plateau?"

Her reply was abbreviated, “Secret mission...”

“Yeah, too brief, something’s suspicious with that,” I thought to myself. Now this meant I had to form a plan to eventually convince her to weasel out what it was, just because it was supposedly “secret.” So I replied, “Soloable, I take it?”

Her reply got a bit more evasive for such a simple question, “I guess you could say that.” She paused and attempted to shift the conversation subject, a typical thief skill, I noted. “I’m not exactly in a rush. I suppose I could give you a lift if you need one. My "not so champion chocobo" is actually rather strong.”

I thought, "Well, outside of something about a corny 'pick up' line, I think I’ll let the joke slide...the air doesn't feel the same here." Instead of making that comment, I countered with a topic shift of my own. I didn’t go through all that SATA training for nothing, you know! "Dare I ask a question first...Which galaxy is this, as the elementals feel quite different here?"

She laughed hard at that, “Galaxy? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I think you may have hit your head harder than it looked.”

"Hmmmm. I suppose you may be right, but something is amiss, but that I suppose adds incentive to take the random kind offer, despite its apparent dubious nature." I let a joking grin slide onto my face for a brief moment.

“Well, if you think you can actually stay on a chocobo without a saddle then you’re welcome. I'll consider it my good deed for the day.” She extended a hand down to me.

My head tilted back slightly as I laughed, allowing green and golden eyes to finally show from beneath the brim of the feathered hat. "Good deeds, eh? Except replace good with Devious, and you might have a deal." I took her hand and deftly swung up behind her on the bird, wrapping an arm around her waist. "So…where are we headed for this mission?"

This elicited a chuckle from her, “I didn’t plan on taking you on my ‘mission.’ Where were you going?”

"Well, I was headed through to the Mis..." I paused, and it must have looked like it just dawned on me, but I didn’t particularly care how it looked at this point. "This isn't Lufaise Meadows, and I didn't sleep *THAT* long..." I looked up again, "I think that if you don't mind the company, I might give you free services for your mission, at least until I resolve how I ended up in La Thiene Plateau when I was near Halvung..."

“Are you sure you don’t want me to take you to Jeuno to see a doctor?”

"Bah. I already talked to Monberaux before I got involved in the whole escapade that sent me to Lufaise Meadows in the first place. I'm fine really, though your concern is touching." I thought to myself, "She obviously doesn't remember that Red Mages are invincible...just not immune to misleading effects of stupid birds’ misdirection, it appears."

A smirk crossed her lips, “Hmmm…I just don’t want to feel responsible for you if you pass out and fall off Momo.” That was rich, it almost sounded like something I would’ve said.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, "I guess I'll just have to make sure I don't let go, eh?"

“So you’re telling me you have no idea what you’re doing and you don’t have anywhere to go? Figures.”

I paused briefly at the question, "Like you're really going to complain about having me around, you could use the help, especially since I don't mind you keeping all the treasure." As I felt the elements while we rode, I smirked, "And I don't think I'm in the Garudan galaxy...the elements of this world are astoundingly different."

“Garudan? This is Ragnarok, honey. You are seriously lost.”

"Ragnarok..." I leaned my chin down to rest on her shoulder as I thought. "So… How did I manage to end up here would be my next question...?"

“OK stranger I admit my mission has failed already.” She sighed heavily, “I’m on a mission to do nothing. You ruined it.” I pondered if I was supposed to feel guilty about that before she continued, “Well, now that you're here I guess I might as well feed you. Hungry?”

I just laughed quietly, "Then your mission can be a success still, luv. It’s very salvageable; random daily enjoyment is a past time of mine...unless you're opposed to my company?" I pondered the food question. "Are you a chef also? Surprises may never end."

The woman laughed loudly, so I sufficed it to know that she didn’t enjoy the kitchen. “No, I don’t cook but I know a place.” She turned the chocobo downward into Valkurm headed towards Selbina. “And no, I guess I don’t mind a new face…it’s the old ones that have given me trouble lately.”

I smiled in memory of Fiery, and the bits of cooking I’d learned from her, though it probably passed over well as a kind reply, "How about you just find a place on the beach here, and let me handle the picnic planning. I have enough synthesis that I should be able to make a few things...and you can tell me what's going on while we ride, yah?"

She paused to think, and Momo must’ve been in sync with her, as the bird slowed down as well to give her time to decide. She nodded after her Zen moment, “I guess that would be nice.”

"Play your cards right and I might even bring out my bardic skills for entertainment," I joked. I pondered meal ideas, "Do you prefer vegetable meals as most Elvaan from my world, or do you have different tastes?"

“Well, I do love carrots...” We arrived at the beach as I was in thought still, and she pulled my hand off her waist suddenly, causing me to tumble off the back of the chocobo, which I recovered into a convenient tuck and roll, rising to my feet smoothly. ”How does this spot suit you?”

"Works for me. Some flavorful steamed carrots then. It will give you enough time to tend to Momo there." I pulled out a fire crystal and smiled, "And not a bad toss. Have you studied the monk class?" I setup the ingredients and focused my will into them, allowing the magic of the crystal to forge them into dinner.

She dismounted and released Momo, sitting in the sand to watch silently as I continued work.

I lay down my extra white cape from our battle with Diabolos, and set the meal down across it, spreading the variety of steamed carrots, a grilled hare, and some San d'Orian grapes leftover from crafting a red wine. "Did I do something to earn this silent treatment, or is it just a benefit of being me?" I winked as I asked, as she continued to ponder whatever it was she had her mind so wrapped around.

“Just taking some time to try to figure you out. Clearly you’re crazy.” She carefully tasted the carrots, “But dang these are really good.”

"Sometimes crazy is a benefit in this realm of adventuring. And hopefully the Orcs think so now after the last raid we did into Davoi." I paused, sampling a bit of wine, "I have a logical question for you, then. You call me rude, but you have yet to give me your name. Doesn't sound exactly proper where I come from."

“Well, I can’t just go around revealing personal information to questionable men… even if they are good looking.” She broke a grin, “My name is Alison,” she said, bowing slightly, her hair dancing in wisps about her brow.

A smile crossed my features briefly at the compliments, and then I laughed, "Excellent, I'll be sure to stalk you later since you seem to enjoy my cooking so much.” A pause before adding, "But you're not half-bad yourself." I chuckled and took a bite of the hare, following it with a sip of wine.

Alison moaned as she tried the hare, which didn’t do the best job of helping keep repressed the naughty part of every Red Mage’s mind, admittedly. “Oh warm food does taste good. I usually eat cold take out.”

"That's where it would behoove you to learn a low-level Fire spell, chere. Ah, one moment." I took out another crystal, and focused again. A moment later, a wrapped chocolate bubble appeared in my hand, and I offered it to her, "Nice to meet you, then, Alison."

Alison’s eyes grew wide as she took the chocolate and quickly gobbled it. She lay back in the sand looking very satisfied. “Well, thank you stranger.”

"Wow. I take it you're a fan of that type, eh? And please, call me Guan."

“I do have soft spot for chocolate of any kind,” she said, sitting up again. “Well then, thank you, Guan.” Her smile was a tender one, such that I was getting somewhere, at least, “So tell me. Why are you here?”

"My pleasure entirely. Has the mission already been completed, or do we have bonus time to farm for other thoughts?" I grinned, a sparkle in my eye at her question, "I think that you might have as much the answer to that as I do currently, Alison. The gods of Vana'diel have seen fit for me to run into you...as it were."

She giggled softly, “Literally.”

I couldn’t help but to chuckle to myself, "You didn't tell me what was distressing you about... the old faces yet, either, you know."

I think she thought she’d managed to escape the line of questioning for it, as she lay back again, “Hmm...”
"So I'm claiming a free service from my lack of entertainment on my travel, as well as the story that was omitted. I'll keep the ticket until I decide to use it." I grinned, swiping a napkin which mystically changed into the spoken-about ticket. Allowing a shifty-eyed glance intentionally with a wink, I queried, "So yes, story time; mind if I join you?"

Alison’s brow furrowed, “I’m so confused now. You are going to tell me a story?” She paused, her face brightening then, “I do love stories.” She propped herself up on an elbow, as if waiting on me to begin a long epic.

I cleared the cape and joined her in lying back, leaving her an arm to use for a pillow since she propped up. "Nay, time for you to tell me the story of the old faces. Then perhaps I'll return that, but not before," I laughed. "Nice attempted derailment, though."

”OK, you got me.”

“I know.”

“Once upon a time there was a lonely maid. She felt trapped in the same daily routine and longed to be free from her world.”

My hand ran it lightly through her hair just because it gave me something to do as I listened, and I nodded for her to continue, pondering why people put stories about themselves in distant third person, as if to remove the emotion from them or something.

“So one clear day she put down her pail and ran and ran and ran until day turned into night. She didn’t know where to go anymore and sat down and cried in frustration.”

"Poor thing." My hand took to massaging her neck as she told the story, hopefully easing a bit of her tensions, as she didn't seem to react. "What happened then?"

She paused for a long moment before continuing, “Then a prince found her and called her by name taking her chin in his hand and drying her tears.”

Guan scowled slightly, "Hopefully not like Trion..." I commented before a playful wink.

Seeming to not even realize I was still there she continued, “Off to the castle he took her and taught her what happiness felt like, and she was truly happy. Years passed and she grew old. One day, as she returned from her daily ride, she was not permitted to enter.”

"Old, in Elvaan terms, of course, meaning she still didn't look a day past 23, and just as beautiful as ever, I assume?"

“Do you want to hear the story or not?”

Hmmm, that could’ve been a bit of an icy breeze, I’ll humor it for now…silence is good. I just smiled, motioning an invisible zipper across my lips.

“OK then…She saw her prince and called to him. He said, ‘Just because you feel like a princess doesn’t make it true.’ He turned his back on her and joined his queen. He lived happily ever after.
That’s the story for you.”

"So what did she do then?" I shifted slightly, meeting her eyes again, "For it was her story, not the prince's to usurp."

Turning away from me, she wiped a silent tear and watched the waves break on the shore.

I wrapped an arm around her in a gentle hug and said softly, "Sometimes destiny is left better to a warrioress than a princess. I'm sure the fair maiden will find something much more enjoyable than wasting her time away in a castle with someone who would only disillusion her." My head lay lightly on her shoulder, but I didn't speak; I only offered her my support quietly to let her cross the bridge on her own.

“She returned to the woods to search for her true purpose.”

"And what did she find," I asked softly.

Alison laughed, “I don’t know. I think I may have lost that book.”

Turning her lightly to face me, I wiped the tears from her eyes slowly, "I disagree. I think it's still being written." My voice came out as a velvet cloth in the darkening sky, "and she has to choose how it ends."

She shook her head and sat up, “OK Mr. Wise Pants. What's your story?” She eyed me suspiciously before deciding to lay her head down on my arm. She quickly reached in my pocket and stole a chocolate, popping into her mouth.

I smiled and chuckled at the eyeing and theft, draping the cape lightly over the two of us, caressing her arm tenderly, "First, thanks for sharing that with me…And now, our story begins on the distant deserts of Altepa, where a young child started out training with the legendary monks of the Galkan temple before the Antican invasion..."

"However, it wasn't a Galka; it was a young Hume of perhaps eight years, who the Galka found stranded and surrounded by hungry spiders and rescued. His parents had been killed, and he shared a lot of spirituality with the immortal race."
I frowned slightly at the memory, "Soon after he had reached adulthood, the Antica finally succeeded in overrunning the ancestral village, and the people fled through the Korroloka Tunnel to Bastok for refuge." Her hands tickled as they searched my chest pockets, probably looking for more chocolates and finding none. "The Humes there accused the Galkans of kidnapping him, and only after...." I paused at her patting around on my chest, and focused a crystal in my free hand, and held up a heart chocolate, placing it to her lips. "There you are, chere."

She propped herself up on her elbow to watch my face as I told the story, eating the chocolate silently, her lips soft as they brushed my fingertips.

"After a lot of trials, he helped the Galka earn their trust, as the people of Bastok seemed to think of him as one of their own. They claimed they knew his parents, and whisked him away from the friends and family he'd grown to love." I sighed softly, “The boy became a warrior, which was very easy with his martial training from the Galkan monks to back him up...and he met a young man who became like a brother to him, and inspired him along the paths of the warrior mystic, logically deciding that of course magic plus physical skills equaled more dead enemies."

I blinked and met her eyes directly for a bit, revealing my green and gold spheres rimmed by a thin ring of the deepest lapis lazuli. "He grew and fought many battles, leading many men to conquer new areas, but grew weary of the constant grind, deciding that peace was the way, and he would be forever alone: a friend to those in need, a heart full of love, and yet a soul destined to wander eternally in search of those who needed help.” I looked up again into the crystalline sky, “But above all else, he would always be a defender of the world itself...And then he vanished from the world he loved."

She lay back down, resting a hand to my chest as her temple pressed to my arm again, “So is that why you’re here? Did I will you to come?” She blushed adorably, her voice trailing off into the night, “Or is that silly…?”

"I think you're the only one who could answer that, Alison. But it's very possible." I smiled at her blush and tilted her face to my own, "But it's definitely not silly."

“If nothing else I'm glad for the company.”

I reached up and took off my hat, the very symbol of a Red Mage, and set it on her head with a smile, "As long as I can get a smile on your lovely face, I'm content for the time being." Alison’s smile seemed to grow brighter at that; she took the hat in her hands and ran her fingers along the feather. "You look much better when a smile is on your face, chere."

“I can’t remember when I started.”

The back of my hand slowly traced a path along her jaw line. "And maybe I'll turn you into a red mage eventually," I quipped with a wink. Propping myself onto an elbow, I turned on my side to match her position, "You don't need to remember, the important thing is to always keep that happiness within you."

She blushed a deeper red at the touch and looked away, “So how are we going to get you home anyways?”

My voice was soft as I held Alison lightly to me, wrapped in my crimson cape as the sunset faded into the distance of the Valkurm Dunes beach. "Do you want me to leave already?"

“I didn’t say that. I just figured it’s late and you must miss home.” Her eyes revealed her nerves were on edge in the silence that followed.

"I am guided only by the wings of destiny, Alison. I go where I am needed most at the time. I cannot miss home...for as long as there is someone in need, that is precisely where I am home." I met her eyes again, turning her face back to face my own yet again as if forcing her to see her own truth reflected, "The question would be: Are you alright, and do you wish for me to go?"

“I'm tougher than I let on,” her voice took on a much softer and vulnerable tone, “…but I wouldn’t mind if you stayed.” Her eyes and lips agreed finally, both smiling warmly.

My thumb slid up, gently pulling down her lower lip, "I think that sounds odd coming from one who aided in bringing me into this realm."

“Well you do have a way of going from stranger to old friend don’t you?”

I grinned slightly at that, "Perhaps I have a way of changing through many things." With that, I leaned in very slowly to meet her slightly parted lips with my own for a gentle and brief kiss.

She started to return the kiss, but then looked away, “Please…” She paused as if unsure of what she was about to say, “…Don’t kiss me. I can’t handle that right now. It feels wrong.”

"Does it?" I tilted his head to the side, "It's a physical expression to let you know that you're beautiful and you are a dear person." Brushing a hand through her hair slowly and dotingly I continued, "Maybe that's exactly what you need to free your spirit once again. Should I say the universe told me to give you the message, perhaps?" I winked slightly, only half-joking.

“Can I admit something?”

"Please do."

“I don’t think the Princess is ready to give up on the Prince even if he doesn’t deserve it.”

“Ahhhh, Now we will find out her true feelings and the end of the ‘story’ perhaps,” I thought, nodding my head before vocalizing again, "If the prince already has a queen and is living happily ever after, then the maiden would either be making a grave error in judgment, or showing that she selfishly cares more for what she wants than for his happiness, and thus wouldn't truly love him...wouldn't you agree?"

“Maybe you’re right,” she confided, leaning forward against my chest and pressing her self lightly against me.

I pondered briefly, "Maybe indeed why I was summoned." Another crystal found its way to my hands, and I focused on it before slipping something into her pants pocket. I embraced her tightly and rubbed her back, "I can't promise you anything but to be who I am, Alison. I'm needed by many: some as a warrior, some as a healer, some as a heart that won't betray them..." My voice trailed off as I remembered many of those very people about whom I spoke.

She let out a sigh of relief.

"I can only offer you truths, in all of their unabashed...well, truthiness, but if you need me, I *will* be here for you, Alison."

“You say that like you’re leaving.”

"Being here for you means leaving? Odd way of taking my statement, I admit."

Alison suddenly looked panicked, reaching down to her pocket where I’d placed the item. “What is this?”

I clasped my hand over hers as I saw her reach in the pocket. "Not yet. That is for you to find when you wake up and I'm asleep." I winked cockily and grinned, slowly guiding her to put the item back in her pocket and release it, "You'll appreciate it more if you forget about it for the time being."

I rubbed my bald head slightly, tracing some of the tattooed markings before adding, "I think I'll give you the choice, but make it difficult for you at the same time, such is the way the universe works." She looked up at me with wide questioning eyes, and I continued, "If you want me to stay, open your mind, your heart, and your spirit, and kiss me. Convince me that you want me here. If not, I will go for now, and tomorrow, look at the item in your pocket. That is the decree of the universe."

She shivered, looking down at the sand, “You ask too much, Guan.” A tear formed in her eye, and began to run slowly down her cheek.

I gently kissed the tear away, "I warned you it would be difficult, chere. But I can only send the messages as they are given." My hand ran through her hair again. "You should keep your hair loose and free more often, your spirit may follow..."

Alison struggled to think but came up with absolutely nothing, falling silent against me again.

I nodded silently, "I guess this means I should go then, eh? It was a pleasure to meet a spirit such as yours, then, Alison. I will burden you with my presence no longer..." Slowly, I released her, my hands sliding down her back and sides as I watched her expectantly.

“I'm so confused.” Her voice sounded lost, like she couldn’t grasp fully what was going on, “You come out of nowhere, gain my trust…just to leave me?” Her features twisted angrily as she shouted, “How dare you?!?”

I sighed softly, having seen such reactions before…but that didn’t mean I liked them. "No...The universe asks you to choose. I .. My feelings cannot come into play at all." I looked down to the sands, "Hit me if it will make you feel better, Alison. You know and I know that I didn't do this to hurt you."

That seemed to diffuse her anger as she replied with a deep breath, “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want to be at peace.” She turned her back to me, sitting in the sand to watch the waves.

I moved over, lightly massaging her shoulders, "I want very much the same as you, chere...Destiny is a fickle thing...as evidenced by that it has given you that choice."

She rose, facing me and taking my hand in hers, “I'm sorry, I am grateful. Thank you for this day.”

As she spoke, the universe summoned me again, as she didn’t need me there anymore by her own choosing, though I did leave her a way to contact me more simply…and without chocobo crashing, hopefully! My hands slipped from hers into nothingness as she watched me disappear like magic, the universe wrapping me in a mysterious light and fading away into memory.

Only my smile remained in the air..."You will remember in a few days. Thank you for the time we shared, Alison. I will remember you too." Alison sank on the ground in thought, and picked up the hat that remained behind, a memory of her encounter, and possessed with a spirit of the red mage.

Valkurm Emperor

2006-12-23T12:47:00.000-05:00

I took a momentary break in concentration to dump the sand out of my boots. I had just finished making the rounds and killing all the flies in the area without spotting the Valkurm Emperor that was known to carry the hairpin I wanted.

I often came here when I wanted to be alone and unbothered by those who’s good intentions made me want to hide under a rock. This hairpin is the treasure of treasures. Almost anyone can find value in it. Not only is it extremely useful but it’s also very beautiful and I do love beautiful. It’s an iridescent pin in the shape of a damsel fly wing with silver veins and trim. It glistens as if it knows it’s a treasure of treasures not to go unnoticed.

Knowing it took about five minutes for new flies to show up I took a good look at my competition. Two others were there after my hairpin at the moment. Both of them were Hume males. Eyes darting back and forth they watched me nervously as they tried to sum up the competitors themselves.

I loved this. Just being a Thief seemed to make them nervous. I had a good idea where I thought the fly would show up and about the timing. In the rest period between spawns I would occasionally dart off in one direction with a determined look on my face just to see if they would try to beat me to the prize they were sure I was after. New treasure hunters came and went on a regular basis so new victims were always available. It never got old.

Then the moment came. I didn’t need my wide scan to spot the fly not far off. Using flee I darted off. I did not have a good long distance claim method so I relied on my speed to get me close enough to the fly to use my steal ability to win it’s hate first. If I wasn’t fast he’d be gone and it would be a long time before I would get another chance.

Luck was with me. The eyes of the Valkrum Emperor glowed red at me and it swooped down to try to tear a piece out of my shoulder. Ducking the attack and coming up under its soft armored belly I stabbed the angry beast with my dagger. My heart leapt and my blood rushed. The thrill of claiming a long awaited notorious monster was an electrifying rush to me. Swing after swing we battled it out in a dance of death. Both of us knew I would win. I was far too strong for him and he must have known it but for whatever reason he would not run. I respected that.

As he fell I couldn’t help but hold my breath as I searched for the treasure I hoped for. I checked and double checked but this fly did not have the hairpin I wanted. My heart sank but it was not too surprising. I had already killed four others and found nothing. It was a long shot but one worth trying for a dozen times if needed to get that gorgeous pin.

I shook my head no at the crowd that had gathered around to see if the hairpin would be won. Some of them gave me sympathetic looks and wished me better luck next time while others looked angry like somehow if they had killed it the pin would have magically appeared for them and I had ruined it. I had to laugh at the angry ones. I knew the disappointment of missing a claim I hoped to kill but anger was a wasted emotion in this kind of situation.

I was feeling very at peace was I walked down to the beach to rest my feet in the lapping water around the trees. Some alone time was doing wonders for my spirit. I had time to reflect on what a good life I enjoyed and how blessed I was to have so many good friends who cared about me. Even if Brodie was in love with another woman I loved him enough to be happy that he was happy and leave it at that. I knew I would find my perfect match in good time.

For now I was happy sitting on the smooth water worn roots of the trees and watching the brightly colored fish dart around my bare legs as the sun that trickled through the trees kissed my warm skin. “Everything is ok.” I said aloud to myself and I closed my eyes and leaned back to listen to the hypnotic sound of the crashing waves. Now was a time to live for me.

In the beginning there was light

2006-12-13T22:56:00.000-05:00

A brief break from the tales of Alison the Amazing Thief to bring you the origin of my dear friend Garness as he tells it. You can find more Garness the Galka tales on the Thumbmonkeys website. I adore these. I hope you get a kick out of them too.

_______

Harken and do mark my words
For the tale of Garness does begin at the beginning
And such are these words that
They should be put to song

Twas early on lights day
And a young Mithra who was called Muelix
Did wander out into the wilds
Of West Sarutabaruta to play

And did happen upon her
Three of the foul goblin race
And the young mithra did fear for her life
For the goblins were in ill temper

Muelix did make to run for the gate
But was bound as a cruel jest
And blades were unsheathed
To taunt and reveal her shame

Muelix did cry in terror
And her tears did fall down upon the earth
And her wails reached into the trees
but did not fall upon only the wind and sky

From where he did come from is still unknown
But a young galkan did fall from the sky
And in his first act he did drive his feet into the head of a goblin
Crushing it into pulp

The remaining two goblins did stare stupified at there comrade
And the anger rose within them
And the larger of the two gave a great warcry
And shook his hands into the sky

Then did the Goblin fall to his knees
With a squeal of pain as the young Galkan did strike a critical blow
In the Gobbie's bag of family jewels
And they were shattered

The final Goblin did strike the young Galkan
And he was knocked back by the blow
And fell from his feet onto the ground
Near a carrion crow finishing his early morning meal

In a last act of definance, the Galkan did grab the crow
Putting it to the face of the oncoming Goblin
Such was the rage of the crow
That it did scratch out the eyes of the Goblin

But the crippled Goblin was not done,
And did strike a cowardly blow from behind
Cutting a deep gash down the galkan's back and tail
Such was the rage of the galkan child
That he did renew his attack,
Breaking the necks of both goblins
Leaving them to die on the rodside
So other may see their fate

The young Mithra, at this point had regained her wits
And was unsure of the galkan, never having seen a Galkan before
And she did try to cover herself up
With her tattered clothes

The Galkan did pull a cloak from the Goblins bag
Giving it to her, so she would not be embarrassed
And the child Mithra did say
as only a young child could say

Gosh your a mess, which came out as
GAWWRR NESS
AND LO there was chime in the air as our hero was named
GARNESS

Garness did escort the young Mithra back into Windurst
And was met with some specualtion
But the Mithra did love him for saving one of their own
For such valor was not a common thing in these dark days
And as such the Mithra did accept him among them

Such is the tale of Garness
Who did save Vanadiel
But that is another story...

The Great Escape

2006-12-10T10:10:00.000-05:00

So what do you do when you feel like you want to drive your dagger into your brain to make the screaming stop? Between Ubaro then Brodie my life was starting to feel a bit too much like some bad opera without the lovely music and I really felt like I needed to stop it now before I did something drastic like burry my linkpearls and take up Beastmaster to hide away from the people who were very successfully stealing my sanity.

I really consider myself a people person. Not that I love being around lots of people but I love to love people. Does that make sense? I don’t know. I didn’t want them all to go away completely I just needed a rest for an unforeseeable amount of time.

I woke up one morning about at my wits end and realized if I didn’t take a break I was going to do something I’m sure I would eventually deeply regret. I took off all linkshells for the first time since I had started ThumbMonkeys and walked to the chocobo stables with a long determined stride. I had a chocobo I hand raised that I stabled there named Miss Momo. She was a gentle natured animal. Not exceptional in any way but mine all the same.

A good ride really does wonderful things for my spirit. I feel a deep connection with chocobo that is hard to explain to someone who doesn’t feel the same way. Being nuzzled by a cooing chocobo heals me like no magic can. If there is such a thing as reincarnation I believe I was once a chocobo. Maybe that is why I feel so compelled to be with them.

I found Momo out in her stall already done with her daily duties. I felt better just seeing her. Walking up to her I whispered the sweet nothings I always do as she searched me for the carrot she knew I always brought. I had to laugh at her predictability. I gave her the treat and she gobbled it in one great mouthful and let out a loud chirp. It was time to go.

My armor felt like a suffocating corset. Not that thief armor is ever very restrictive or uncomfortable in the tactile sense but stripping it away felt like I was leaving all the aggravation behind. I had not worn my street clothes out in public for a long time and it felt good to feel like a common unnoticed again.

I tied a blue ribbon around Momo’s bridle and buckled it around her neck. She shook her head in anticipation knowing it was time to race off to some adventure together. Glancing over at the saddle slung over the rail next to us I decided against it. Kicking off my boots into the straw I vaulted onto Momo’s downy back and clucked at her to go.

She lunged forward through the barn as I ducked down low against her back to avoid the low rafters of the barn until we were in the tunnel and out into West Ronfaure.

It felt like I was racing from the things that haunted my dreams as of late and I urged Momo to hurry. An irrational fear in the back of mind nagged that if I didn’t press onward as fast as we could they would somehow catch us and spoil our ecstasy of freedom. I started to get the rhythm of her tremendously powerful two beat stride and was able to loosen the hold I had on her feathers and feel like I was unified with her sharing her gift.

In one last release I untied my hair and let the twine blow away behind us. I was free to run. The wind tossed my short red hair and brushed softly on my face. It was a perfect sunny day and all felt right with the world again.

Mending Wounds

2006-12-06T12:29:00.000-05:00

All I found behind the Marble Bridge Eatery was a blood stain to let me know he was there. I was panic stricken. I tried to follow the trail of blood but it was cleaned off the street starting at the front of the building. I guess they wanted to keep up appearances but not so badly as too clean the entire mess.

Racing to the front door I was greeted by the doorman. “The Marble Bridge Eatery Welcomes all Taru today.” I didn’t even pause to look at him as I pushed threw the doorway. The doorman reached out and caught me with one great arm. “I’m sure you must hear this a lot, but you are a little tall for a Taru. I’m afraid you’ll have to come back later. I’d be happy to give you a schedule.” He said looking rather annoyed.

“I need to find out if anyone has seen an injured Hume here yesterday and knows where he is now. My height with brown hair and a full beard. A Paladin.” I pleaded.

“Well you don’t need to go in there. I was told you would come. An Elvaan with an ornate gil bag paid a hansom tip to make sure you got his. I do love a good tipper.” He bowed as he handed me a dirty envelope from out of his coat pocket.

I wandered away from the doorman as I unfolded the enclosed note.

Brodie is fine. Got you going didn’t I? I wanted to remind you that you’re not ready to give him up. Some things are worth fighting for.

I could have killed him. He had a rather odd way of giving me unwanted advice. I wondered who’s blood I had seen, but I was just relieved it wasn’t Brodie’s.

I didn’t know what to do. I slid my back down the wall and sat on the cold stone walkway. He was happy. I didn’t want to mess that up. I was Elvaan after all and she was Hume. It was silly of me to think he’d stay by my side when she had so much more to offer him.

Rebornsoul was no stranger. The lilac flower pin I always wore in my hair was made for me by her. She was a friend to both Brodie and me and I knew her to be a good person. I couldn’t be angry at her for seeing a good thing and taking a shot at it. It was Brodie who couldn’t see that I thought of him as more than a best friend.

I reached in my pocket and rubbed my fingers across the engraving on my ring. It was pathetic I realize to hold on to it but I didn’t have anyone I cared to impress so I didn’t care to hide it. Maybe Beldin was right but I didn’t want to be with someone who thought I was anything less than the only person for him. Chalk it up to Elvaan pride but I wouldn’t beg or swindle for any man.

Unwanted Defense

2006-12-01T09:34:00.000-05:00

“And you give me a hard time about dragging in dirt. You’re covered. What happened to you?” Garness asked with one great brow raised in my direction.

“Don’t pick fights with me. I’ll tell everyone about your mandy doll.” I snapped.

“Hey, hey now, I’m not picking a fight. I’m just asking.” Garness said as he tossed his hands up defensively. “And if you must know I have the mandy doll so I can practice squeezing the life out of them while I sleep. Builds muscle and quickens the reflexes. Let them try to sleep me now. It won't do them any good.” Garness grinned as if he were imagining crushing the cutie little devils.

I just shook my head and went to my room. “Can you run a bath for me please?” I asked my moogle.

“Ofcourse Kupo. Everything ok Kupo? You haven’t been home for three days. I’m afraid your plants died. They are so sensitive about attention Kupo.” He buzzed as he filled the copper tub.

I was feeling a bit better about things. Time has a way of doing that I guess. As I slid down into the bubble bath my arms burned in agony. I had spent the last few days farming crawlers with Paganlorre for their silk. It was incredibly satisfying to slash the great furry worms open letting the gooey blood spill everywhere.

I was so charged with rage that I didn’t even notice how strained I was until I calmed down and really took a look at my Elvaan companion. He looked exhausted and filthy. He had stood by me so patently while I let out my frustration. I’m not sure if he didn’t say much or I was so preoccupied I didn’t hear him. It all was a bit of a blur. We did both come home with six stacks of silk threads and they were selling very well lately. Nothing makes a girl feel better like a pocketful of gil.

“I found Brodie for you.” Beldin shouted through my door.

“I’m not really interested in him right now Beldin.” I called back. “Mind if I enjoy some peace and quiet for a little while?”

“Well you’ve been gone three days. Isn’t that enough alone time?” he called. “Besides, I thought you might like to know I shot him for you.”

“What!” I shouted as I leapt from the water. “Why would you do such a stupid thing as that?!”

“Well, I think he had it coming. Don’t worry, I didn’t kill him. I know how you feel about murder. I just shot him in the gut. He was still completely alive when I left him.”

The crazy idiotic pirate. Moogle wasn’t back from cleaning my artifact armor yet so I threw on some event clothing from new years and rushed out of my room.

Grabbing Beldin’s shoulders and staring him down I growled, “Beldin, where is he?”

“The Paladin, why would you want to find him? We all know what happened.” He said looking rather proud of himself. “I took care of it.”

I punched Beldin’s jaw as hard as I could muster with my soar arms knocking him onto the sofa. “Tell me now or I’ll gut you like a crawler” I threatened.

“Try to help a woman out and this is what I get for thanks.” He said as he rubbed his bearded face. “I left him in Upper Jeuno beside the Marble Bridge Eatery yesterday.”