Welcome to Gaia! ::

From within the room there was a crashing sound and then soft cursing as a dust drifted out into the hall in a thick cloud. Choking on the dust the dark haired boy made his way to a nearby window pushing it open and cough some as he leaned outside letting the cool air hit his face for a moment.

"Ugh, by the stars this is horrible," Rhys rested on the window sill his eyes half closed as he peered out at the yard. It wasn't fair on so many levels if he wanted his own room he had to clean it out; and he suspected that not even the gods knew where half the junk in this place had come from.

A thud from the room behind drew his attention, he glanced over his shoulder not bothering to actually turn he assumed, and right, that it was just Peeps. "What are you doing over there?"

"It's not horrible, I found this book!" The priman's voice was overly loud to Rhys' ears; but despite the noise he couldn't help but smile watching the four armed cat creature peering over his latest find.

"So what exactly is your wonderful find?"

"It's hand written, maybe it's a journal or something. A long lost journal wi -" Peeps cut off as Rhys snatched the book out of his hand.

"You didn't even bother to read what you found..." letting out a slight sigh Rhys turned the page of the book looking it over. "I hate to tell you this but you didn't find some long lost journal...you found an old cookbook."

"A cookbook?" Instead of pulling the book away Peeps instead attempted to crawl up Rhys to get a look at the book in his hands. The priman stood up a bit above waist height for an adult, his climbing caused Rhys to flop back. Struggling and flapping his wings he fought to stay on his feet but ended up on his back.

With a huff Rhys' eyes fell on Peeps, who now had taken to sitting on his chest looking over the book, "Get Off." The command was spoken in a low angry voice. Peeps looked instantly sheepish and hurriedly scurried off of Rhys. "Cooking though! I could cook."

"No you can't cook, remember last time you tried to cook? You started the water on fire - water on fire...your not cooking." Rhys stayed laying a moment before struggling up to his feet. "Cinder won't let you cook and would kill me if I allowed you to cook. And your making a this place a bigger mess then it needs to be." Grumbling to himself he pulled another box down and opened it looking inside, inside appeared to be holiday decorations. "Peeps, you were here with Cinder before - right? Do you recognize these?" He held up a gold and silver star looking somewhat confused as his eyes settled on the priman.

"Oh! That's for Yule, you will like it. There are gifts and shiny things..." Peeps voice drifted off dreamily..."lots and lots of shiny things."

"Um, so this goes into the junk being reallocated to the basement?" As he asked Rhys leaned down taking time to search through the box. "I don't think it is all 'Yule' stuff..." Rhys pulled a black lacquer jewelry box. Peeps by that point was no longer listening as he had found Christmas lights in the box and was wrapping himself in them speaking quickly about how he was putting them in his cubby.

For now Rhys ignored the priman and focused on what he had found. Moving his hands over the jewelry box he frowned as the lid would not open. Turning it over he started looking for a latch of some sort, Peeps during this time ran out of the room wrapped in the Christmas lights. The frown deepened as he realized there was no obvious latch on the box either. As his thumb slide over one of the side panels part of it moved, "puzzle box," Rhys murmured under his breath they use to give these to him at the hospital to see how long it would take him to figure it out. His eyes locked on the box and his hands started moving quickly. Although he was figuring the box out only part of his mind was on that task; as the other half was remembering the overly bright room and sitting on a hard table in a white jumpsuit with a similar box in his hands working on it's solution much as he was working on this one. It took him a little over three minutes to figure out the patterning to this particular puzzle; frowning a little he set it down, "too slow." It took him a few moments but when nothing bad happened for his slowness as it would have happened in the hospital he finally picked the jewelry box back up.

Curiosity soon filled his mind again banishing thoughts of the past. With a swift movement he opened the top of the box up. Inside he found several small pieces of jewelry. A silver locket in the shape of a heart on a silver chain, a charm bracelet with three charms on it, a tarnished silver ring, some earrings not all with mates, and to the very bottom he spotted a loose stone. Wrinkling his brow Rhys reached for it, it appeared much bigger then anything you would normally put in jewelry. Picking it up he saw it was a very dark green stone it wasn't cut but it did appeared as if it had been shined, he ran his thumb over the irregular sides of it thoughtfully. "I wonder what it wa-" Rhys cut his sentence feeling the stone move in his hand. Pausing a moment he held very still uncertain if he had really felt anything or not. Letting his breath out slowly once it seemed that nothing was actually moving, Rhys relaxed and at that moment the stone didn't just move but started to float in front of him.

He stared at the floating gem a long moment before reaching to pinch himself on the arm only to find that he did seem to be awake and that pinching himself hurt more then he originally would have suspect it would. Continuing to stare at the hovering gem Rhys opened his mouth to yell for Cinder...Clotho...someone - at the last moment he stopped the yell equating to a strangled sound in his throat as he cut it off. Crawling forward he watched it a moment it bobbed slightly in the air at eye level. His eyes settled on the shadows flitting around the edges of it and he frowned. "Your like...Dio the," he then pauses for a long moment unsure if it would be offended, "thing that Merci has...or er watches." Frowning ever so slightly Rhys reached out attempting to poke at the wisp. The wisp bounced to the side a bit of shadow brushed against Rhys finger and he felt a tug at his mind that felt distinctively like laughter. Blinking a moment he glared at the wisp now almost positive that it was laughing at him.

Glancing over to the door, "I should go find Cinder...talk to her about you or something." The wisp just bobbed in the air a few more moments, but then moved quickly to blend in Rhys shadow hiding away as Peeps barged back into the room.

"My cubby is amazing now!" Peeps announced loudly to the room.

Looking suspiciously to his shadow where he had seen the wisp disappear to he then looked back at Peeps, if it didn't want to be seen then it wouldn't....which means everyone would think he's crazy. Sighing gently he looks back to the door, "Peeps...why don't you go feed Saki."

"By myself?!"

"Yes, by yourself." Rhys had just finished his response before Peeps was darting down the stairs worried he'd change his mind if he stayed around too long.

Once the Priman was gone, he leaned down to where he assumed the wisp was, "Are you there?" After a short moment the wisp appeared from his shadow and once again bobbed in the air near him. Once he could see it again Rhys stood up quickly and moved back attempting to put some distance between him and the wisp. The wisp moved along speeding up as he did keeping less then a foot between them.

Not watching his footing Rhys finds himself falling backward as his legs encounter a stray box. "Ow," wincing some the boy lays on his back his wings sprawled uncomfortably. The wisp bobs through the air and hovers over him moving down toward his left eye over his identification markings from the hospital as if inspecting them. Groaning to himself Rhys lays his head back, "your not going to just go away are you?"

Setting his eyes on the horizon Rhys set out toward the market, he'd gotten an early start so it hadn't even touched on noon yet. As he moved from the shade of the shops he winced, as he had told tektite earlier it really was going to be a sunny day. Being use to the indoors didn't help his eyes in the sun luckily Cinder had kept that in mind and one of the first things they got him when he reached planetside were a nice pair of sunglasses. Fishing the glasses out of his jacket Rhys was glad he remembered to bring them, the sun also helped him keep Tektite in mind rising his wings up he found a comfortable position to keep them up while he walked. Last time he'd been at the market had been with his mother and Clotho and they had driven him...at the time he didn't even know about the gypsies.

Starting through the market Rhys could see why Hawk had told him about the gypsies as well, most the items were obviously cheaply made. Bypassing various baubles and novelties he picked up the scent of a nearby food stand, with his stomach grumbling he decided he might as well dare some of the market food. Pausing at one of the food stalls Rhys bought what they claimed was chicken on a stick, taking a tentative bite he searched over the nearby area picking up sight of the gypsies over a small river. The river seemed to work as a boundary from the more normal market and the gypsies. Starting over it Rhys frowned very slightly pausing to look back the way he'd come and then ahead, it was different passing over the river it even felt different to him - though he couldn't place what it was exactly.

Shaking the faint sense of unease he wandered the rest of the way over the bridge, the market setting was still strong here but the items for sale had drastically changed. Now more handmade items were laid out, the vendors actively called out to those passing by taking interest and haggling to make sales. Pausing a moment he glanced around at the stalls before starting through the new market area, his attention was quickly drawn to a small tent to the side, an elderly woman was settled into a rocking chair sitting back from a series of card tables that held her wares. Among the wares Rhys picked up sight of what he was pretty sure was a tarot deck. Now he still wasn't overly familiar with them but from the description he was given earlier it seemed to be right, leaning over he took in the deck's appearance. The deck was decorated with a variety of dragons, interesting enough, but the packaging suggested it had come from some large printing company, meaning at least to Rhys that this deck was not the sort that Hawk would want especially since it was obviously not very unique.

While Rhys looked over the deck the elderly woman that seemed to be in charge of the little booth pulled herself up from her rocker and hobbled over to him. "Salutations young one, what is it you are seeking?" Lifting an eyebrow she looked up to Rhys, the woman's expression was pleasant but her eyes betrayed a deep thoughtfulness.

Shifting uncomfortably a moment under the old woman's gaze Rhys cleared his throat before speaking, "uhm a tarot deck."

"Really?" There was a touch of curiosity in her voice, "have you seen anything that speaks to you?" Glancing down at her wares she answered her own question before Rhys could speak, "no...but this deck - it isn't for you is it?"

Blinking Rhys paused taking more notice of the old woman, his next thought was that at least it was daylight still. "Uhm...no for a -" well he wouldn't really call Hawk a friend, after all he just met him. "acquaintance. I don't really know much about tarot decks."

"Acquaintance...well this acquaintance must see something special in you. Tarot decks speak to their owners, when you find the right deck for yourself you will know it. But to have someone else chose your deck..." she tapped her lip slightly in thought a slight frown on her face, turning to the side she started digging through a box, "I think I have something here that might interest you - not a deck but a book. It will tell you...basic things about tarot cards. Perhaps give you more of an idea of what your looking at," without waiting for a response the woman moved over to a small chest set back from the tables near her chair. Turning so that she obstructed Rhys view of the chest the old woman opened it and started digging around within. "Ah here it is...not very mystical in appearance but, it has what you'll need." Hobbling over toward the table she laid a worn book with the picture of a deck of cards on the front.

Looking a bit skeptical Rhys reached forward and opened the book, it appeared to be a beginners book to tarot cards and reading. "I wasn't planning to really using the cards just picking them up..."

With a quick shake of her head the old woman reached out "a skeptical, let me see your hand, boy." It was more of a command rather then question.

His wing flickered in unease but Rhys offered his hand over to the gypsy woman, the old woman took his hand and started looking over the palm thoughtfully. Her fingers traced lightly over the lines, "hm, a dangerous journey but one meant for you. You should take a walking stick as well." Not bothering for a word from Rhys once again the old woman went over to her wares and started shifting through them, taking what appeared to be a well made walking stick from a basket to the side. The stick looked to be just the right height for Rhys, with various symbols and decorations carved into it, a makeshift handle of dark leather was wrapped near the top.

With a frown Rhys pulled his hand back, his wings flickering again. At the threat that his shade might move away Tektite found a spot closer to Rhys to stay. "Dangerous..." his mind went over what he was suppose to be doing again - go to the market and get a tarot deck - it should have been easy enough but the talk of danger along with the palm reading was making him decidedly nervous. "...right well I'm looking for something special, know of anything?" Attempting to put the old woman's warning aside and ignore it he moved the conversation on, after all he had to get those cards. Sighing gently his eyes flickered over to the walking stick, gods know that Cinder always saw he had more then enough credits - so if the old woman wanted to get him to buy things to give him the information he decided he might as well oblige her. Digging around in his pocket he took out his wallet, looking over the items she brought up he pulled out a bill that should cover it all.

"You will find what you seek...but not as you expect," as she speaks the old gypsy takes a small vial from one of the tables, pouring a few drops of liquid from the vial onto her hand she flickers it on Rhys speaking quickly in a language unrecognizable to him.

Starting in surprise Rhys frowned stepping back, "what are you doing?"

"It's more what have I done, just a bit of luck. Your going to need it..." turning slightly she gestures further into the various gypsy tents, "your path lies that way." Turning back toward her chair she calmly hobbles over obviously giving Rhys a signal that they were done.

Standing uncertainly a moment finally he finds his voice, "...thanks." He did wonder if he should be thanking the woman for shoving items off on him to buy and randomly flickering what he hoped was water all over him. Wrinkling his brow and looking more then a little confused he picked up the book and walking stick, only after he had looked over a few more stalls did he realize he never got the change for the items. Sighing to himself he could feel a headache starting in the very center of his forehead, wishing he had another coffee Rhys paused realizing that he had somehow found himself at a dead end. The dead end wasn't completely empty, a dark stall had been moved against the side of the concrete wall using the corner, to make it sturdier.

He almost just turned around to find the more heavily populated areas with stalls but something caught his eye in the stall. As with the first tent he stopped at it was a dragon that drew his attention. An amulet hung as one of the center pieced items on the edge of the display, moving toward it Rhys gave it careful scrutiny up close he realized that the amulet was much less well made in appearance then it had appeared to be from further away and the stone in it was most likely a fake, considering he'd just come from Twilight Designs it likely would have taken something much more then a bit of costume jewelry to really entice him. He was still looking the amulet over when a bit of a mental tugging from Tektite caught his attention. The owner or at least he presumed it was the owner since the man was in the stall had turned his attention to the boy.

"Greetings young one. Finding something you like?" Stepping out from the back of the stall was a tall man, wearing dark reds and blacks he had blended into the interior until he moved forward.

Starting slightly once he realized someone was closer then he realized Rhys forced what he hoped was a passably polite smile, "just looking..." glancing down at the necklace and remembering the old woman before he hurriedly added, "window shopping I really just need to pick something up for someone."

The man raised his brow setting his rather hawkish face in a comical expression, "what sort of something? I have a bit of everything for any occasion."

Rhys gaze shifted down to the dragon amulet, the amulet wasn't anything more the costume jewelry he doubted that the man would have anything he could take back to Hawk, "um, a deck of tarot cards." He hoped that his voice didn't betray too badly his skepticism toward the man.

"Hm, well if you were looking for some I ching coins or possibly a scrying mirror - I just got in some lovely ones with silver backing," stepping back the man looked over his wares.

Afraid that he'd attempt to place the items that he should be buying out and expect him to take them like the old woman Rhys took a quick step back in alarm.

Glancing over the man looked to Rhys, "don't worry, Lawrence won't be steering you wrong. I wish I could help you...but the only tarot deck I have is exceptionally rare." There was a slight change in the tone of the man's voice as he spoke of the deck.

Frowning faintly Rhys paused, a bit of unease hit him but talk of the deck drew his attention back. He'd been through several of the stalls and tents out today and hadn't come across anything that looked acceptable for the contract he had with Hawk, "rare is what I'm looking for though." Speaking hurriedly he stepped up almost afraid the man would send him away if he wasn't fast enough.

Chuckling slightly a sly smile came over Lawrence's face, "it usually is...but you see there is a problem with the deck."

"Problem? What sort of problem?" A few fluttering feelings came to Rhys from Tektite the wisp was in unease over the whole thing and wanted to go, but Rhys wasn't budging especially if he had a good lead on what he'd need.

"Well this deck has more then a bit of magic poured into it. Originally created by a magus that also had more then a passable hand at art, he made the cards so they'd shift and change for readings. Tarot cards usually have several meanings, but these cards are able to give the reader a better idea of the direction they are going in, hm a living tarot deck if you will."

Rhys' eyes widened slightly, he didn't really know anything about the cards and hadn't taken time to look over the book the old woman sold to him but these sounded like something that Hawk would want. "So...what's the problem? Are you not selling them or something?" Giving the man a suspicious look he really hoped it wasn't the case, mentioning such a thing knowing he was looking to buy just wouldn't have set well.

"Oh - I could sell them for the right price and to the right person. But..." stepping back Lawrence's reached over and picked up a black cloth wrapped around something bulky, "you see...the cards have all fled."

Rhys gave him a blank stare for a moment wondering if the man was teasing him or joking, when Lawrence appeared to be serious he continued to stare a moment before speaking, "... how do cards flee exactly?" This whole thing was making him feel more and more lost, as if he was in the middle of a field and the grass was all grown so high that it was over his head and he couldn't see what lay in each direction.

"Well these cards as I said before have quite a bit of magic tucked away in them," as he spoke Lawrence started to unwrap the cloth from what appeared to be a large chunk of black rock. "I left them too close to a bit of work I was doing on this...and the crystal turned black, the images from the cards disappeared and as far as I can tell they are within."

Frowning Rhys watched the man skeptically after all he'd seen black rocks before and the story was sounding just a tad more unbelievable as the man went on. "So the rock was a different color before the cards ... disappeared?"

"Oh yes, this is a chunk of kunzite - it was actually a light purple before." Setting the darkened rock down on the counter in front of Rhys the man leaned over and took a box hidden below the counter top. "The cards..." opening the wooden box he picked up a few cards one had the image of a young man with a puppet as a hand walking down a road, a small black dog nipped at his heels; the other cards in his hand were blank except for roman numerals at the bottom. As Rhys watched the image on the card an image of the young man appeared in the background he appeared to be reaching out toward a fire as if he was about to burn himself.

"...so how do you get the cards out of the crystal?" Wrinkling his brow Rhys looked up at the man attempting to suspend his disbelief some as he asked.

"Ah, well that would not be any easy task. You'd have to go in and get them, the Fool." Pausing he gestured to the card of the man with a puppet for a hand, "would be your guide...but there is no telling what is within."

Rhys eyed the stone and then the cards and then back to the man, "so...er how do you get into a crystal?"

A slight grin came to Lawrence's face, "well something's when apart more readily will flow to that which they are suppose to be with. The cards are the same. Think your up for such a task? If you could gather them, the deck most assuredly would be yours."

Shifting uneasily Rhys looked to the Fool card, having a fool as a guide and how that trip may go wasn't lost to Rhys but he really needed the deck he decided; plus part of him just really wanted to know if the gypsy could actually transport him to some other place within a crystal. "...I'll give it a go."

Without waiting for more to be said Lawrence reached forward and put Rhys hand down on the box and then his other hand down to the crystal, Rhys started to pull his hands back but was hit with a feeling of vertigo. The world seemed to blur and change, strange words in a language he didn't understand came to his mind - twice in one day, he thought, wonderful.

As the world blurred it started to spin and then there was blackness, gasping Rhys found himself laying on his back. For a long moment he stayed on his back feeling as if he dared to move that he'd be sick, reaching over he felt the walking stick and could also feel that his bag had made it as well. A bit of panic hit him as he opened his eyes, overhead the sun beat down brightly - a strange sun that appeared to have a face within the flames. He didn't dwell on the sun's face for the moment but rather worry over Tektite, a bit of flittering at the edge of his mind brought a sigh from him. Tektite was hiding within the inner fold of his right wing, holding his head Rhys started to pull himself up to get a look at where he had fallen.

Using the stick to pull himself up Rhys blinked against the brightness of the sun his eyes widening slightly as he looked over a valley that opened up at his feet. Hills rolled through it, there appeared to be buildings in the distance and there was even a labyrinth made from dark stones settled in the very middle.

"...by the stars."

Making their way down the slope Rhys kept his eyes trained on the light below them, nearing the bottom of the hill the sound of water came to his ears. "Not much further now, it's getting brighter." The group stumbled the last few feet, finding themselves on the bank of a river. "Over this way!" The Fool without second thought or look hurriedly stepped over series of stones in the water crossing to the other bank. Once across the Fool was hit fully by the light that seemed to be coming from below him, down a small slope not far.

"Careful here," glancing over to Tektite he waited for the little wisp to move out of the way more hiding down deeper into the shadows of his wing. Deciding that Tektite was indeed hidden well enough, that the light from the next bank wouldn't hit him Rhys made his way more carefully then his predecessor over to the other side of the river. With a fair amount of wobbling he found his footing on solid ground glancing down he saw that the river split off making a small pool down the hill. Sitting on the edge of the pool was the cause of the bright light. A young attractive and Rhys realized very naked young woman sat soaking her feet, flushing some he attempted to concentrate on the other details, ones that didn't have to do primarily with her breasts...

After clearing his throat subconsciously Rhys smiled some, the woman was rather lovely and appeared to even have actual stars in her hair. "Hullo there..." blinking slightly he felt as if the greeting might be a bit too simple for such a creature. She looked curiously to the new arrivals, "Greetings, have you come seeking the wise men?" Standing for a moment in some confusion Rhys glanced over to the Fool only to be met with a shrug, "wise men?"

"Yes the three, they are together...they meet."

She was obviously one of the cards he was after, and these three are likely cards as well, quite the turn of events Rhys decided. "Nearby? In what direction?"

Leaning back the maiden stretched causing Rhys to forget a moment what he had just asked, taking a look down to hide his blush he peered up after a moment to look toward where she gestured. Now that she had pointed it out he could see a hill in the distances and forms as well. Clearing his throat he looked to her again she was one of the cards so that mean he needed to put her back, snapping his attention back he pulled the box out from his pack, "um, thanks...and I think I can help - your a little lost." Taking a card from the top of the box he held it up attempting to frame the woman ... nothing happened. Frowning Rhys shook the card a little and turned it over looking befuddled. Shifting his gaze over to the Fool he frowned even more, "it's not working."

But instead of the Fool speaking the maiden did, "I'm not lost, perhaps scattered. If your attempting to send something somewhere you must first be sure that's where it belongs." For a moment Rhys stared at the blank card, his eyes finally settling on the number on the bottom. "Ah...the right card." Whoever she was she seemed to be docile enough so Rhys pulled his legs under him and opened the book flipping through the pages. Luckily there was a two page layout of the major arcana, after only a few moments of searching his eyes settled on a naked female figure, the one displayed was not nearly as lovely as the one in front of him but the intent of the card seemed to illustrate her.

"The Star," glancing up he looked to her and as he said her name she seemed to glow ever so slightly brighter, seventeen was on the bottom of the card in the book. Frowning Rhys searched through the blank cards finally finding the one with the roman numeral for seventeen on the bottom. "Uhm, nice meeting you miss..." holding up the card this time something happened, there wasn't a bright flash but considering the light of the Star things got darker as she was pulled into the card in a swirl of bright colors. Turning the card over Rhys looked down to see the lovely form now trapped in the card, staring in shock for a few moments he placed the card away in the box and sucked a breath in. "One down...lets go find those three wise men."

Heading off in the direction of the hill and figures glancing up Rhys noted the sun setting and a moon rising, the Moon had a face veiled and looking down on the small group as they moved onward. The hill was further then Rhys at first believed but as he closed in the three figures of the 'wise men' came more into view. The three were men more or less, one sat as if weakened upon the side of the hill, his overall appearance was more ambiguous when it came to his gender but picking up on the voice the man did sound male.

"We arrived because communication has been cut off," a tall well dressed man addressed another man wearing shabby robes and sporting a gnarled walking stick. "I prefer to be left alone, not disturbed but first there were the interlopers, now you, and now more interlopers!" Looking less then pleased the shabbily clothed man gestures toward Rhys and those he traveled with.

"Not interlopers...well maybe. But I'm here to help," holding his hands up Rhys approached the three attempting to appear none threatening.

The voice of the man in traditional clothing was strong and commanding, "And how is it you bring this aid?"

"I can return you to...er well where you were before here."

"Before here...and what is before here are you with the betrayer, what stakes do you have in this game," the tall man stalked toward Rhys causing the boy to back up as he got closer, the man's footsteps were quick and when the man closed in moonlight danced over Heriophant's face and his features shifted to that of someone Rhys once knew and he dropped the box of cards in startlement. The man in stately traditional dress for that moment had the face of the head of Fellware industries the company responsible for Rhys' creation. The face at first looked normal the strict frightening visage he remembered from his youth but then the skin shriveled some and appeared as if it had been decaying. Letting out a startled and now panicked cry Rhys glanced from one side to the next attempting to throw off the seemingly crazed man. A card pressed in his hand drew Rhys attention, the Fool was hastily retreating but the card remained, on nothing more then hope that the Fool had given him the right card Rhys held the card up as the Heriophant latched onto his arm. There was once again the swirling of color and the man disappeared, gasping a breath in Rhys' gaze quickly went to the other two wise men left fearful of another attack. The remaining two appeared docile enough or at least too shocked to do anything aggressive for the moment. Hurriedly moving over Rhys flipped open the book after a few moments he was pretty sure the more ambiguous of the two was the Magician and the other was the Hermit.

Shuffling through the cards Rhys found the numbers for each, first he sent back the Magician nodding in satisfaction when it worked again. Pausing he met the gaze of the Hermit, "is this how it is to be? Gathered up like some bauble for trade."

Shifting some Rhys considered and hoped he could at least sound reassuring, "I'm sending you back to where you should be...there you'll not have to worry about interlopers."

The Hermit watched Rhys for a moment before snorting, "your lost - don't attempt to pacify me with your faux wisdom." Planting his staff in the ground he then stared directly at Rhys his eyes focused into some sort of unspoken challenge. Sighing Rhys took the Hermit's card and pulled him in to be put away with the rest. "Lets find those others he spoke up...since we don't see them here I'm guessing they are in that clump of trees ahead to the right."

Without another word he started off, for sometime they walked in a strained silence before the Fool spoke up, "what did you see...on the Heriophant's face?"

Rhys had been carefully keeping his expression neutral but at the question it ceased into a frown, "corruption..." they had just reached the outcropping of trees and he brought his finger to his lips to silence the Fool, a voice could be heard nearby he didn't want to alert whatever it may be; and truthfully he didn't want to answer more questions. Finding a few large rocks piled up Rhys scrambled up them as quietly as he could, settling in on top he caught the sight of Tektite bobbing curiously just along his sight of view, below in an opening sat two young people, both nude. A young man speaking what sounded like it might be poetry off to a young woman. "The Lovers," Rhys murmured to himself the two below were easy enough to pick out from the other cards. Taking a moment to take reference from the book he searched through the deck until he came across the blank card with the roman numeral for six on it. Looking a bit weary and serious Rhys hopped down and moved into the clearing, he didn't even wait for the surprised lovers to speak he just held the card up and pulled them in a grim look coming over his features.

"Another down..." sighing he glanced over the area and then to the Fool. The Fool watched him sadly a moment before looking away, grumbling a bit to himself Rhys turned away from the Fool as well, "keep a watch. I need to make a list so I don't have to look through this book every time I need to find a card." Moving over to the log that the Lovers had been occupying only a moment before Rhys took a notepad from his bag and a pen, opening the book he started to make a list from zero to twenty one. Beside each number he listed the card it was associated with. It didn't really take him long to finish the list as he looked up the moon was setting and on the horizon was the sunrise. Glancing down at the page and then back up Rhys opened the box and searched through it. The Fool moved over curiously watching as Rhys pulled a card out and pointed it to the newly risen sun - a bright flash blinded the two and sent Tektite moving for cover deep within the wedge between Rhys back and wing.

Groaning Rhys could feel a headache setting in as he blinked out the spots of light in his eyes. Glancing to the sky he found the Sun gone and the Moon in it's place. "Ow..." shifting his gaze down to the card in his hand he tucked it away after a moment, "I'll leave the Moon there we will need some light."

"Brilliant terribly so," the Fool's dog Pogo regarded Rhys with a bit of disdain, "you could have warned a fella, and now you get to finish your quest with the Moon in power...brilliant." The dog's tone was bitter and biting as it trotted off to the edge of the trees, wincing a bit the Fool shrugged in Rhys direction. Tektite however seemed pleased with the change, dashing back and forth within Rhys' shadow, "well at least someone is happy." Rhys voice caught slightly as he shifted his gaze to the moon remembering how the light had changed the face of the Heirophant.

The outer gates of the city were sitting open as they approached within silhouettes could be seen of people, "there's no sound. It looks like there are people ahead but there is no sound...and I don't think they are moving." Rhys spoke softly to The Fool and Pogo his steps continuing. Pausing at the gate they saw that the figures were spread throughout the courtyard, images of people in various acts portrayed in cold marble. The image of a little girl running was frozen in place, a man crying, a woman wounded laying on the ground, and many more. Further in a few depictions of more intimate moments were seen, Rhys flushed slightly and continued on deciding not to tarry too long. They all seemed so real as if they once were real people it seemed wrong to sit and stare no matter what the statues had been captured doing, "so...do you think these were real people? The city is awful quiet..." Rhys frowned realizing he was repeating himself. As the boy's gaze shifted to the side quick movement caught his site, one of the statues had shifted it's position, "um, did you guys see that?"

"See what?" Pausing the Fool looked around as if attempting to capture sight of what Rhys was asking about. "Don't stop too long, the statues are moving," Pogo grumbled up to The Fool and Rhys as he walked along.

Instead of continuing on upon hearing the information The Fool stopped near the statue closest to him, it was of a young woman with her eyes tilted skyward, reaching out the Fool prodded lightly at her face. Rhys continued on the unsettling presence of the statues and silence helping speed his steps toward a set of stairs in the distance.

A flutter of movement from steps ahead continues to draw Rhys onward, at the same time the hand of the statue the Fool is left prodding darts out and grasps around his wrist. The two cry out at the same time.

"I think there's -"

"It's got me!"

Frowning Rhys spins to look back the way he had come, the voice of The Fool bounced off of the walls and statues heard clearly but seemingly coming from many directions at once. Eyes narrowed with worry Rhys hurried back along the path they had taken to reach view of the steps.

"You can't tell me you didn't just know something like this was going to happen," Pogo's un amused voice followed along behind Rhys as the black dog's steps quickened as if sensing the urgency.

Moving between statues of an elderly woman walking a dog and a man crying the Fool struggled with his stone captor. "Stop screaming," Rhys moved toward the Fool making sure to give the statues nearby a wide berth.

"But she moved -" the Fool's voice was panicked, flailing some he fell back and ended up dangling by his captured arm.

"I gathered that from...your arm." Frowning Rhys turned looking toward the statue, Tektite took the opportunity to move from the shadow of Rhys' wing and along the stone arm the wisp bounced and moved in the air curiously over the stone surface.

"Right well I don't know how to move the arm...but since the statues do appear to be moving from time to time. If we're lucky she'll move again soon and you can try to get free when she does." At Rhys' words the Fool started to make a soft keening sound staying curled up at the feet of the statue holding his arm, movement caught Rhys' eye as the statue's face started to turn.

"Now!" Rushing forward Rhys exclaims to the Fool leaning down to push him back out of the statue's grasp. After a moment of resistance the two fell over the sound of tearing fabric filled the air. Sighing Rhys pulled himself up, "like I said before...don't touch the statues, I'm not sure you have enough shirt left to get through too many more of those." Turning back toward the steps Rhys kept a hand on the Fool's arm guiding him none too gently further into the city.

As the group moved toward the stairs a clicking sound met their ears, letting loose of the Fool Rhys stepped forward holding a finger to his lips. Tektite hovered in the shadow of his guardian's wing as the two headed up the stairs. Coming to the top of the stairs Rhys stopped short a frown coming over his face, staring ahead his eyes fell upon a large wheel mounted so it stood vertically; from time to time the wheel would move as the wheel moved the statues behind the group would move as well. "Doesn't seem to be anything hostile up here...and I think I know what this is..."

By the time The Fool and Pogo made their way up the stairs Rhys was already digging in the box of faceless cards, "Wheel of Fortune..." murmuring Rhys glanced over before continuing his search. The Fool had already moved forward toward the wheel as Rhys pulled a card with an X marking it as ten across the bottom. Not giving The Fool time to land them in more trouble Rhys held the card up and the wheel started to fade away, glancing over his shoulder Rhys saw that the statues were fading as well in only moments the courtyard and area ahead of them was empty. Tucking the card away Rhys caught sight of movement nearby, "lets see who else is in this city..." glancing back to Pogo and then to The Fool he made sure Tek was safely tucked away before heading around the nearby corner.

A hooded figure sat upon a bench, the area around the figure was filled with grass and flowers a small tree grew next to the bench gaining height as they watched, as the branches unfurled and leaves filled in a nest appeared with an egg that hatched into a bird within the next few moments. It took only a few minutes for plants to come to full bloom, the tree to grow and the bird to hatch but just as quickly as life had become full it began to wither. The plants started to wilt and the bird began to age, soon the plants were dying and the bird fell from the branch to the ground decay cycled after life. Rhys sucked his breath in staring at the scene, Tek dropped down closer to the ground moving curiously toward the new decaying plants. By the time Rhys shook himself out of his stunned state long enough to take action small buds of beginning life had started to grow over the decay. Shifting his gaze to the new plant life again Rhys reached for his notebook, "change...cycles..." frowning his gaze went over the page.

"Death," The Fool looked over toward Rhys, "It's Death..."

Shifting uneasily Rhys watched as plant life took root again, "Death...change, your right." Reaching to the box Rhys diverted his gaze from the scene unease growing the longer they stood. Within a few moments he pulled the thirteenth card from the box, shifting his gaze back up he realized that the hooded figure had shifted positions and was now looking at him, within the dark hood he could make out the white bone of a skull.

"Beware the False one or your cycle will be at an end." A hollow voice echoed through Rhys' mind as the skull watched him with empty sockets.


Shuddering it took a moment for the boy to recover before he brought the card up and pulled the hooded figure plants bird and all back into the card. Tek's wisp drooped in disappointment as the flower it'd been inspecting came up missing.

"And...lets keep moving, I think that was enough creepy prophecy for me."

"Where is it we are going exactly?" Pogo asked in a terse voice.

Looking over the area Rhys finally pointed North, "further in, toward the center. I'm sure there has to be more cards here."

The group continued on, the quiet of the city seemed to intensify making each step and scuffle of shoes sound overly loud. They didn't speak as they moved, the quiet seemingly almost demanding they respect it. Through a maze of smaller streets they finally found a large inner wall surrounding the structure of a palace.

"Halt!" A stern commanding voice drew their attention and sounded almost deafening compared to the quiet of the city behind them. A tall figure moved down stairs from the wall. Metal gleamed as he came into the light, he wore full armor under a tabard a heavy sword was strapped on the hip of the knight. "What brings you this way?" As he spoke the man looked to Rhys, as the man met his gaze Rhys realized that his eyes were dark and empty. And then Rhys found he couldn't look away, within the darkness of the man's eyes a flood of memories burst toward Rhys. Pain, hurt, anger, from others toward Rhys and from Rhys toward others. As the memories and feelings came to him he saw that they were a cycle as well, an ugly darkness passed from one person to the next and at the center of it all was an explosion and fire. Rhys was taken back to the institute, within the flames that consumed his former prison. Flames that he created...at that moment he felt the pain of family that lost those they knew within the fire.

NO! The cry filled Rhys mind, an unfamiliar voice that felt oddly familiar, filled with urgency. Jerking his head back from the gaze Rhys caught sight of another Knight moving down behind the first his sword drawn. Scrambling back on impulse Rhys' went for the box, Tek took it upon himself to run interference distracting the Knight closest to Rhys by flittering to and fro in front of him.

"And you it seems have paid for the pain you caused others." The knight spoke watching the wisp, before reaching up toward Tek.

"Judgement! Justice!" Rhys pointed from one knight and then to the other with the drawn sword, "help me find them," just barely Rhys kept the cards from scattering as he started a frantic search with The Fool for the correct cards. As the Knight's hand came within grasping distance of the wisp Rhys found the correct cards, flickering the cards toward the knights the two disappeared.

"That was a close call..." frowning Rhys looked to the spot the knights had stood in, questions about the fire came to his mind. The boy paused only a moment before forcing those questions away and motioning to the others. "Lets see what they were protecting," motioning the others onward Rhys followed behind, as the other side of the wall came into view the palace seen before was seen in full. It was a large structure, lovely but static. The marble statues shown beautifully in the light, the gardens were impeccably maintained...lovely but false a place of beauty untouched...uninhabited.

"It looks ab-" the sound of water met Rhys' ears before he could finish, a woman stood over a fountain over a set of balanced measures. Glancing back over her shoulder she looked to where the group stood before turning back to her measures, tilting one of the cups carefully she emptied some of the water out of it causing the measure to tilt. After changing the water in the measures the woman just paused, staying still and waiting.

"I have a feeling we may have tipped the scales," Pogo's voice took on a meaningful tone as he looked up to the bag carrying the box of cards.

"Possibly, and I recognize her...I think." Pausing Rhys opened his notebook and the tarot book from the market, "Temperance...she looks very much like her card." Looking back up, Rhys noted that she hadn't moved, "right..." frowning he searched her card out and moved forward all the while Temperance stood her gaze unwavering as he brought the card up sending her back to her card. Letting a sight out Rhys tucked the card away in the box, "uneventful...and somewhat worrisome....I think we are nearing the end though." Crossing the newly collected cards off his list his eyes went back to the palace. "I have a feeling we are going to run into," his eyes drifted down at the paper as he spoke, "the Emperor and Empress...I'll get their cards ready."

Cards in hand Rhys leads the others toward the palace, Tek lags behind the others pausing to move through plants and other nearby bits of interest. Pulling the door of the building open Rhys glances over behind him at the others, catching the movement of Tek in a nearby shrub a slight smile comes to the boy's face. "Tek...we are going in." The nudging reminder brings the wisp back to the group as Rhys steps inside the Palace. The inside of the building is as lovely as the outside, silver light from the moon plays through the windows, across walls and over tapestries. Starting forward slowly Rhys' eyes drifted over a nearby picture, under the moonlight the image upon it shifted hideously; jerking back Rhys glanced back to the others speaking flatly, "don't stare too long at the decor."

"Might blind you..." Pogo murmured looking to a nearby tapestry.

"Why wouldn't I want to lo-" The Fool paused near a tapestry as he spoke.

Snapping around Rhys yanked The Fool by his arm, "just don't." Huffing childishly The Fool once again found himself dragged along.

The length of the halls seemed to lengthen and soon they started to all look the same. Pressing on stubbornly Rhys continued to drag The Fool along, his pace not allowing Tek to dawdle either.

"So I think we might be going in circles," The Fool dug his feet jerking Rhys to a halt. Stumbling Rhys scowled looking back, "you have a suggestion then?" Leaving Rhys and The Fool, Pogo moved on ahead as a strange staring contest of sorts started up between the two young men.

"Hey! If you two are almost done...I think I found something," Pogo waited by a corner calling back to the two, a large room opened up behind him a dais standing in the middle of it. Drawing their attention away from each other Rhys and The Fool hurried over toward Pogo, Tek hidden among Rhys' shadow as they moved.

Moving toward the dais Rhys soon saw two figures upon it sitting on thrones, glancing back toward The Fool and Pogo he gestured up the stairs. "We're getting close." Once at the bottom of the steps Tek moved ahead some drifting from shadow to shadow as he moved toward the top.

"So you have come, the one working with the deceiver," the man stood from his throne, heavy intricately made robes covering him. Heavy jewels adorned his hands and clothing, a thick gold circulate encrusted with sapphires sat upon his brow.

Remembering the words of Death Rhys paused, "Deceiver? I'm just trying to collect you..." his voice tapered off, still sitting was the Empress her belly swollen with child as she nursed another. As he spoke she looked up with large soulful eyes, "you have not recognized him, but that will not stop him." Under the glare of the Emperor and the thoughtful look of the Empress Rhys shuddered and pulled up the cards he had selected before...he didn't want to chance the Emperor going for a blade as Justice had been doing.

After the two had faded Rhys paused looking over the room and then to The Fool, "who is this deceiver?" Frowning some The Fool shrugs, holding his hand to point at his head. "Really if anyone was going to recognize the lies of another - do you think it would be me?"

With a sigh Rhys nodded, at least The Fool knew his own nature. Before they had time to think any longer on the subject the sound of metal upon stone met their ears. Wrinkling his brow Rhys looked over the room, "Is that coming from the back of the room?"

Pogo moved over near Rhys his ears flickering back and forth, "it is...can't really place with it is."

"Lets go have a look then," glancing back toward The Fool, Rhys gave him a pointed look, "no poking at whatever it is."

Hurrying along Rhys lead the others toward the sound, it was coming from a set of stairs. The stairs lead down past a heavy iron door, the dank smell of stone and water met their noses as they moved closer. "Seems the too perfect to touch doesn't extend to all of this place," Rhys glanced to The Fool and then down into the dark, "lets go see what is down there." Moving down the steps the sound of dripping water could be heard from below; as they moved down into the darkness metal doors and bars came into view.

"Lovely the dungeon..." sarcasm with a touch of fear came from Pogo as they moved into the room below. The rapping sound was coming from one of the cells.

"To the left," Rhys spoke quietly before slowly starting toward the sound, "careful no telling what it is..." he clutched the bag with the cards. As the group came to the cell with the tapping they saw a shadow form within it tapping a metal bar against the stone slowing and then stopping as they approached.

"I don't know... who it is," Rhys glanced back and then to the cell, the shadow form twisting before their eyes becoming larger and more monstrous before reaching it's hand up to a barred window above; as it's hand reaches the window soon the rest slides up the wall and out the window after it.

"Wait!" cursing softly Rhys' gaze comes to a nearby door along the same door as the window, "it's out on the street - come on!" Without waiting for comment from the others, Rhys runs out to the street. The silver moonlight gives some visibility in the alley but doesn't allow enough light to see details. Rhys catches sight of the shadow form moving down another nearby alley, "any idea which card that is?!" pausing only a moment Rhys throws glance to The Fool before sprinting off after the form again.

"I'm not sure! But I can't help but get the feeling that it isn't a very nice one!" The Fool with Pogo on his heels started off after Rhys. Down the next alley the form darted off in yet another direction, "we're going to lose it at this point!" Rhys continued on attempting to catch the form. "What cards are left..." he spoke out loud as he ran attempting to remember his list and those cards not crossed off. Muttering Rhys continued on, the chase keeping his attention off of attempting to figure out what cards he should be searching for as well as keeping him from looking at his list. For sometime they dodged through various alleys and roads moving further and further from the palace and areas they had walked before.

"Rhys! Rhys!" Pogo called from the back of the group, ahead the houses had started to thin out, and in a large patch of ground was a broken down tower. The odd change of landscape would have caused Rhys to pause even if the frantic cries of Pogo hadn't been heard.

"What is that..." the shadow form moved out of sight as it disappeared into the shadow of the tower.

"The Tower..." The Fool's voice was soft with a touch of worry.

Glancing over toward his guide Rhys frowned slightly before looking to his list and then starting his search through the cards. After only a few moments he came up with card sixteen. "Only a few more left," keeping his cobalt blue eyes on The Fool a moment Rhys stepped forward a stubborn look upon his face, The Fool and Pogo didn't budge. Muttering soft reassurances to himself Rhys moves forward, "just a building...nothing to worry about."

The Tower sat quietly as Rhys approached, flipping the card in his hand he started to bring it forward but before the card is brought around fully the ground beneath Rhys feet trembles violently throwing him to the side, as he falls the card slips from his fingers. Throwing himself down Rhys rolls reaching for the card, stones from the tower start to fall around him, one rips along his left wing causing the boy to cry out. With blood trickling on the ground around him Rhys finally gets the card back in his hands, flipping onto his back ignoring the pain in his wing for the moment he turns toward the tower the card facing it. The Tower starts to fade almost instantly but not before Rhys catches sight of a large shadow creature with huge wings and claws standing behind the tower, pushing at the stones and urging it over onto him. Loose rocks continue to fall as it fades, as one hits Rhys on the temple the world goes dark.

'Tis the Season for a Joyride
Joint - Merci`& Cinder

cont.