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___7/28/05 In Which Loki Gains a New Home

"I've never seen a mansion like this," Loki sneered, his ears pressed flat against his skull as he examined his new surroundings, trying to find some way to goad Kanth into yelling or something of the sort. As he spoke, he took great care to notice many things that Ruri had never had; a huge living room with comfortable looking chairs that were taller than both his new caretaker and him combined, endless doors to other rooms, and a large spiral staircase leading up into whatever resided up there.

She was probably a rich person, who didn't like to get her hands dirty. And was snobbish, and most likely wore frilly dresses. All that good rubbish and crap. Loki shuddered as he thought about it, and reached up with his fingers to brush a few stray blonde locks from his face.

"I'm not calling this home!" He yelled as loud as he could, so that it echoed off of the walls and ricocheted back for him to hear his own voice.

"No one said you had to." Murmured a kind of sweet voice, and he grimaced, bracing himself to see her majesty, demanding to be respected and bowed to or some such crap.

Of course, he had heard nothing about Kanth, but that didn't mean he couldn't make his own judgement.

What met his eyes was completely different from what he imagined; pure black hair with red eyes - just like his - and whitish skin. Around her neck she wore a black scarf that made her almost look like a ninja, and a black frilly shirt, with black jeans that matched well with the shirt, though the jeans were far from frilly.

Well... he was right about the frilly part.

"No, I'm not a prissy rich person, and I don't like dresses. And, you can make yourself comfortable in my home." He balked at her, shutting his mouth. First it was Ruri that read his mind, now it was THIS woman?! What was it with females?!

"I didn't ask to be here." He shot wildly at her, glancing over to his luggage by the door. It was true he was frustrated; he didn't know if Ruri was in trouble or not, having to go into chase mode by the intergalactic police or whatnot, and now he had to go live with a complete stranger to be 'safe', though he knew Ruri's version of safe was most likely farther than his. Spirits and Demons were his worry, the law and burgulars were hers.

The black haired woman frowned. "If that so pleases you. However, you may call me Kanth." Her eyes had a look of sorrow in them, and he chose to ignore that, hissing and turning his head away from her. She turned her head away as well, not knowing what else to say. Instead, she glanced up the stairs and started to climb back up them.

"Your room is this way."

Silently, he took his items, picking up his lantern and cradling it gently in one arm, while managing the suitcase in the other while he climbed up the stairs.

It wasn't long before he found his room, but as Kanth showed him his room, his jaw nearly dropped as he stared at the blank, white walls, and almost bare floors, save for the dresser by the window. "Wh... why is it bare?" Loki's curiosity got the better of him, and he almost regretted asking before Kanth answered, and bit his tongue to keep from answering her with another sharp comment.

"It was my brother's room." She murmured softly, casting her eyes aside. "He passed away some time ago, along with my other siblings. I'm still... well, wearing black." A sigh escaped her lips, and her eyes closed. "Anyway, it's an honor for you to be here, if you want my brother's room. It's yours to decorate. If you want to move..."

"No." Loki interrupted her sharply, making her glance at him. "This... will be fine. Did..." He bit his lip, wondering if it was alright to ask questions. Shaking his head, he put it off, setting his suitcase down beside the bed and setting his lantern down on the floor beside it.

"Well then, I'll let you sleep." Kanth gave a brief smile, before bowing slightly and turning to leave.

"Oh... Kanth, was it?"

"Yes?"

"... thanks." He glanced over to the window, noticing that it was still raining. He couldn't help but think they were tears. He glanced up to look at Kanth again, but she was completely gone from sight. Loki walked over to the door and shut it quietly, then made his way to the window, forgetting his suitcase and lantern entirely. Pressing a hand to the window, he sat on the dresser and pressed the side of his face against it as well, not even having the energy to cry.

He missed her. She was his mother. His only mother.

Nothing would disturb him now, at this hour.

Due to recent events that no one truly hopes for, Linneas finds himself at the Legends HQ. He is nervous and a little fidgety for coming to a place he has been to but once and that was as an infant. He doesn't remember the layout of the location, nor does he remember who it was he met. Frankly he doesn't even remember being at the Legends HQ. His thoughts and attention had been more focused on the Stationery store his adopted mother runs with his adopted Uncle.

So why was he here?

A gurgle from the bundle in his arms reveals the answer.

"We're here, we're here." He murmurs fondly to his little sister.

Ever since Paestri received that sealed locket in her dream, she had felt more awake and energized. Not only that, but she wished she could see Gyre again and show her the locket, the way the older Legend had shown her the mask. While a little nervous about meeting new faces, Paestri was more than willing to encounter other Legends.

Glaring up at the ceiling where his new keeper was 'standing', Loki only removed his gaze from the ninja girl as he heard someone enter, and sneered at seeing they had a baby.

"Who’s the brat?" Asked Loki, acting innocent though clearly showed that he wasn’t.

"Loki." Kanth murmured in a soft but warning voice, and he went back to staring at her. "Hello... I’m Kanth, and this is Loki. Please excuse his behavior, as we’re both going through a rough time."

Snorting, Loki crossed his arms and looked away. He didn’t want to meet anyone new; he wanted to sit in his room and thinking about where Ruri was, what she was doing, and how he was going to see her again... it almost took place of Lola.

Almost.

A protective aura seemed to envelop Linneas upon hearing how Loki referred to Paestri. He had heard "brat" being mentioned before, but the tone used had been affectionate, it was different from the one the Legend used.

"I'm Linneas, and this is my little sister Paestri." He introduced, trying his best to remain smiling. Ever since that night, he had been having difficulty in keeping his temper in check. He had never felt like this when he was younger.

"And I'm sorry to hear about your situation." he added with sincerity.

Paestri coo'ed at the mention of her name as her icing pink eyes moved from Kanth to Loki. She cocked her head to the side, curious about the not-as-big-as-mama person that was looking away.

"Wai?" she asked to no one in particular.

"She’s very cute," Murmured Kanth, her eyes lightening for a moment as she glanced at Paestri. "They seem to grow fast, don’t they?"

Loki glared, clicking his tongue against his teeth. He saw Linneas falter, and a small smirk graced its way onto his lips. "Nothing to be sorry about... not as much as that thing you’re holding." His eyes shifted. If he was suffering, others would suffer as well.

"..." Kanth looked away. She had been so out of it lately, and hadn’t been reprimanding Loki like she should have. What would Ruri think..?

"I don't really know, Pae's only been here for a short while." Linneas replied to Kanth.

The teen definately did not like the way Loki was talking about Paestri. He shot the young boy a brief but severe glare and wondered if he really was doing his little sister a favor by bringing her here.

"Someone sounds like they need a nap." he casually murmured.

Paestri was not comfortable with the tone her older brother was using. Especially since she has never heard him speak in such a manner.

"Lo'ee?" She asked, trying to figure out if Loki or Kanth were making Linneas cranky.

Snorting in disgust, Loki crossed his arms and returned the glare for a moment, before looking away. He wasn't really in the mood for a fight.

Dropping to the floor, Kanth walked up to Linneas and gave a small, but sad smile. "May I hold her? She looks adorable."

Loki stared at her, baffled. She had never given him a chance like that, nor bothered to speak to him for the last few days. They had both been off in their own worlds, and all he wanted to do was watch the rain and think about Ruri.

It pissed him off, her acting like this.

The teen quirked a brow at Loki's reaction to Kanth's request. It didn't use to be in his nature to make others uncomfortable, but then again, Lynn wasn't running around his mind more. Linneas looked a little tentative, almost possessive of his little sister but decided that Kanth didn't look like the sort who meant his sister any harm.

"I suppose so," He nodded, carefully handing the pink haired Legend to Kanth.

Her brother hadn't answered her question, this she attributed to the fact that he rarely understood her words. Hardly anyone at home did, but it didn't bother the infant. She cooed and giggled, and outstretched her chubby hands towards Kanth upon realizing what her brother intended to do.

"Lo'ee!" she gurgled, hoping that she would eventually get to see the other Legend up close and find out if he tasted like Prana.

Cradling the infant gently in her arms, Kanth gave a small smile and reached under Paestri's chin, tickling there very lightly. "Pink is a cute color on you," She cooed.

Loki glared, and turned to leave, but was stopped by Kanth's outstretched hand on his shoulder. He muttered something without turning around, which was ignored by Kanth nonetheless.

"At least try," Kanth said softly, holding Paestri out for Loki to look. Loki finally turned around and grit his teeth together, giving a defeated 'fine' and sticking his hand out over the girls' body, as if to grab her.

He was more gentle, however, as he put his hand softly on her chest, peering at her with only a slight bit of interest in those hyena eyes of his.

Linneas almost winced when Paestri gurgled Loki's name. He felt the boy didn't mean any physical harm, but still he wasn't quite comfortable about the idea of Paestri being so close to him.

Paestri giggled at Kanth's touch, she was a very ticklish infant and enjoyed tickle sessions with her mama. When she saw Loki turn to face her, she clapped in delight. Would this other Legend taste like Prana?

The moment he reached out, Paestri curled her tiny fingers around one of Loki's. And she was greatly surprised to find that he did not taste like Prana. He tasted... different.

Very different.

Again Paestri could not identify what this taste was, but the flavor made her sad. Was Loki also sad? And if so was it because he tasted like that?

"Wai?" she asked, icing pink eyes wide in concern and curiosity.

Everything around Loki was forgotten as he stared at the baby within Kanth's arms, his eyes narrowing in confusion. She made that face at him; did he do something wrong? What was her problem? All he did was touch her.

Loki, however, didn't pull away; he stayed there with Paestri's fingers curled around his own, a strange emotion crossing his face as he remained standing there, his tail flicking once as if he was being very patient.

It had been a long time since anyone had touched him like that.

Paestri tilted her head slightly and cooed. Given Loki's silence, the legend assumed that he didn't know why he tasted that way either. Or maybe he was like Prana and was unable to understand what she was saying? Both were possible situations, and she thought to ask again.

"Wai?" this time with her free hand she pointed to her tongue, allowing the pink organ to peek out ever so slightly from her mouth.

"No, Pae, you can't taste Loki," Linneas stated, misunderstanding his sister completely.

Raising an eyebrow, Loki blinked once. Twice. And thrice. He didn't understand what she was saying at all! It both amused him, yet aggrivated him to the point where he very nearly couldn't stand it.

However, he withdrew his hand, crossing his arms and looking away. He wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, and that left Kanth to speak on both of their behalf. He didn't, however, expect her to suggest something completely different aside from them leaving at that point.


"...Would you like some tea?" The hyena boy turned, his golden ears perked up in surprise.

He still didn't have her figured out.

"Tea would be nice, I'll look around for some," Linneas smiled and exited to look for the HQ's kitchen. Though part of him wondered if he should have stayed with his sister, just to be safe. Huni would murder him if anything happened to Paestri, then again, she would die of guilt if she did anything to hurt Linneas. Such confusing protective natures his family had.

Paestri felt Loki's finger slip from her grasp, not to mention she didn't even get an answer from him. At this point, Paestri finally figured out that bigger-than-Paestri-people didn't understand the way she asked, maybe if she tried to talk like them it would be better?

"Wai Lo'ee tayst li'e dat?" she gurgled.

Blinking owlishly at her, Loki ran her sentence over and over in his mind until he finally got it, and looked back at Kanth, who sat down with Paestri still in her arms. He kept staring at her to get her attention, but she still seemed to be off in la-la land, which made him snort in disgust.

Loki turned his attention back to the pink haired... girl thing. "Taste like what?" His eyes narrowed, and his hyena tail flicked once as he remained in thought. There was no reason for it, and he didn't know why, but he just felt... drawn to her, as if she was calling to him, to stay.

The hyena boy most certainly didn't like this feeling; it reminded him of Lola, far too much.

Finally some progress! Maybe she should start talking like the other bigger-than-Paestri-peoples. But right now, Paestri had more pressing matters to attend to! Like how was she going to explain to Loki how he tasted like when she wasn't able to idenfity it either.

Her brows knitted together in a mimicry of Loki's own expression, and her lower lip jutted out as if in a pout that he didn't know what she was talking about. However, her eyes softened, and the sour pout turned into a sad, almost bitter frown. Her face stayed that way for all of five seconds before she brightened and reached out to him.

"Li'e dat!" she declared. Apparently the face she made was her explanation of the so-called "taste."

Handing the cute girl to Loki to hold, Kanth smiled very briefly and darted into the kitchen to check on Linneas, to make sure he knew where everything was.

Nearly dropping the baby, Loki regained his self control and set her on the ground gently, sitting down in front of her as he crossed his legs. "... sad?" He murmured, tilting his head and scratching behind an ear. He looked away for a moment, not really sure if he should share his story with her.

Idly, he brushed back his white blouse collar, eyeing the scars there. They brought so much pain the moment he exorcised anything, but when he wasn't dealing with demons, he wasn't in any torment whatsoever.


Linneas had thankfully not gotten his sense of direction from Huni and eventually found the kitchen. He was searching through the cabinets for the ingredients and mugs when Kanth arrived.

"Oh, was I taking too long?" he asked.

Paestri quirked her head to the side, was it really sadness she tasted? No, it wasn't, it was partly sadness, but it was something else. Thoughtfully she peered up at Loki and gently tugged at him.

Kanth smiled at Linneas, waving her hand. "Don't mind me, I just need to talk to people. I just came to help out with making tea, as Loki's doing fine with Paestri."

Yanking his arm away without thinking, Loki's ears flattened as he looked at her. "What," He said, harshly, then bit his tongue and spoke again in a softer voice. Kanth would have maimed him if she found out he was being rude to a baby.

"What?" He spoke for the second time, and put his arm back down for her to touch if she so wanted.

"Loki won't hurt Paestri, right?" Linneas asked, eyeing Kanth a little worriedly. He resumed his search and came across a tin of tea leaves and brought it out of the cabinet.

Paestri whimpered in surprise at Loki's tone, her icing pink eyes watered as they threatend to start crying. Even though his voice softened and he lowered his arm, he still frightened the infant. She had never heard anyone speak like that, especially not to her. And she began to sniffle as wailing was never something she was fond of doing.

She smiled reassuringly. "They'll be fine. Trust me."

Oh, they were far from fine. Loki was panicking, because of those damn reflexes of his, and now the baby was threatening to cry. Thinking fast, he glanced around his body to finally find one of his belts loosened on his arm. Grabbing it with one hand, he wrenched it free and took it off of his arm, sighing as he studied it. It hadn't been in very good shape lately, thanks to his exorcising demons and other such things, but a gift was a gift nonetheless.

"Here," He murmured, wrapping it around Paestri's arm and fastening it, leaving it loose enough so it wouldn't bother her, but tight enough for it not to fall off.

Linneas sighed and nodded, maybe he was just overreacting, after all Captain Tybalt wasn't the most approachable of Tales. Maybe Loki was like Tybalt, yes, perhaps that was it.

"Would you know where the kettle is, Miss Kanth?"

Paestri instantly stopped sniffling when Loki wrapped the belt around her arm. She studied the new accessory, poking it, tugging at it and (like every new thing she encountered) tasting it. It tasted like leather and had a hint of Loki in it. Paestri figured out that it wasn't for eating since it had been around Loki's arm instead of his mouth.

She looked back up at Loki as she rubbed away her tears with the back of her hand. When he didn't make a move to take the belt back, she cooed and crawled to him. Slowly, making sure he was looking, she reached out to embrace him in thanks and to say that she forgave him for scaring her.

"I'm afraid not-" She stopped, frowning as she took out a broken piece of the teacup, sighing. "Wonder who did this..." Kanth rolled her eyes, and shook her head. "No matter, I have one of my own." Reaching into her side packsack, she took out a large teapot which seemed to have not been able to fit into it (but did anyway, because she had just done it), and brushed off collected dust from the sides. It was a beautiful teapot, really, and it was obvious why Kanth admired it so; the teapot was in the shape of a teal dragon, with beautiful wings caressing the sides of the teapot, and the tail resembling the handle where one was to hold the teapot. The mouth was open for tea to pour out of, and one would guess it was to resemble the magnificent dragon spitting fire.

Sitting down in the chair, the female shifter took two cups from the cupboard and poured hot water into them, not at all bothering to explain how there was hot water in her dragon teapot when she had just brought it out of her packsack. She sat down, and took a cup for herself, dipping into it an unmarked teabag while providing a small smile for Linneas.

"So... tell me about yourself."

Stiffening slightly, as he was used to only Ruri doing this, Loki eventually became comfortable with an infant hugging him, and let out a small sigh. His hair blew upwards and then cascaded to the side of his forehead, falling haphazardly while his azul eyes stared at the pink-haired infant.

"I hope you like the belt," He muttered, turning his eyes to the ceiling so he wouldn't have to look at Paestri being so damn cute.

Linneas first found himself another teabag before he sat down across Kanth. The Tale rubbed his chin, letting his fingers scratch at the tuft of hair as he pondered on his response.

"Well, I'm not technically a gaian because I came from a book," he shrugged, stranger things have happened and he had come to accept this. Lynn on the other hand was trying to get control of the teen's body, with little success.

Paestri beamed in delight at Loki, she was even happier that he didn't pull away this time. However, she felt that she needed to show him something too.

'I know!' she thought, releasing her hold on Loki as she pulled at her collar to reveal the locket she mysteriously acquired.

"Lo'ee!" she called, tugging at him to force his attention back on her.

Nodding, Kanth leaned on her hand as she pondered this, her eyes half closed.

Loki turned to look at Paestri, blinking in slight surprise. "Whaaat?" He stared at the locket; it was gorgeous, but if she gave it to him, he didn't know if he'd be able to accept it. It looked so pretty on her, nonetheless...

"And I help mom run the shop, and keep her from blowing up the kitchen," he adds with a shrug as if indicating that it was no big deal. "What about you?"

"Loo'!" Paestri declared, telling him to inspect it more. Huni and Linneas had tried to open the locket before but the piece of jewelry was seemingly fused shut. The legend wondered if Loki would have any luck with it.

"I went through a really rough time, losing my family, and basically... I run the mansion by myself. I drink a lot of tea, and I think that's what basically keeps me calm." Kanth murmured softly, taking another sip of her tea and leaning back in her chair. "Would you like some more?"

Loki looked at it, not being able to help but give a small smile. "It looks pretty on you. What's inside...?" He reached for it, attempting to open it but with no luck. "Ach... want me to break it for you? I'm sure it will open that way." He grinned, meaning it more of a joke as anything.

"My condolences on your loss," Linneas murmurs, "I don't drink much tea really, but I definately prefer it over coffee. But yes, I would like some more, thank you."

At the suggestion, Paestri's eyes widened in horror and she put the locket back under her dress. She pouted at him, Huni had mentioned trying to break it open and Paestri didn't like the idea that time either.

"Wai yu wana blea'?" she asks.

"Thank you, it means a lot." Nodding, Kanth poured him some more tea out of the dragon teapot, nearly dropping it as something rang in her bag. Setting it gently on the table, she reached into her bag and took out some sort of device, turning it off so it would be silent.

"Ahhh, I'm sorry. It looks like I have to depart, for now." She rose to leave, stopping for a moment. "I'll leave my teapot here so you may enjoy tea as long as you like. Don't worry about returning it, as it will return when you're done."

Loki tilted his head, squinting his eyes. "What? I don't understand..." He stopped, however, as Kanth walked out of the room. He rose up, running his fingers through his blonde hair and stretching a small bit, giving a smile to Paestri.

"I suppose we're leaving?" He asked, receiving a nod from Kanth. The hyena boy gave a wave to the other, as a sign of new friendship.

Linneas nods his understanding and walks with Kanth until they were with the two Legends. He waved goodbye as he picked up Paestri into his arms.

Paestri pouted at Loki and gave a soft squeak upon feeling her older brother lift her off the ground.

"Bai Lo'ee!!" she gurgled, both arms making grabby motions at the older Legend.

"C'mon Pae, let's go home."

___09/01/05 In Which the Bells Toll; 1 of 4

It proved to be a longer wait than he had expected; there was nothing but dead silence, and when it started, there were bells that tolled.

Dong. Dong. Dooong. Doooooong. Dooooooooomdg. Each sound of a bell sounded longer, and closer as he listened, even with his hyena ears pinned flat against his skull. He couldn't ignore it; the need to exorcise boiled in his blood, no matter the pain it cost him while doing so.

A sound was heard downstairs, and Loki gathered up his staff, gazing at the lantern hanging from the end for a brief moment before tearing away, bounding down the stairs.

Standing at the door was Kanth, whom was staring up at a large, shadowy figure, with a cross emblazoned on his forehead. Hanging from his shoulders was some kind of shawl, with five large bells on them, each a size larger than the next, going left to right. Kanth's expression was unreadable until she turned, and he expected to see horror on her face, but instead found a kind of dull look, her eyes almost glazed over.

"Is this your guest?" She asked, before completely passing out, dead silent on the floor. Rushing over to her, he stared down at her for a moment before opening his mouth to speak at the demon, but as he looked up, there was no one in sight.

Damn, damn! Of all the things, he could have rid himself of the demon before it left. Loki knew it would come back, but when was the answer he needed. Gripping his staff tight, he edged closer to Kanth, peering at her with his face expressionless.

"Kanth," He murmured, crouching down and poking her with the end of his staff. No answer; he repeated the prodding, and nearly reeled back when she moved, a cross emblazoned on her forehead just like on the demon's forehead.

He stiffened, hoping against the dread that was filling up inside of him that the same thing that had happened to his sister wasn't happening again, to Kanth.

All of a sudden, it flared and then disappeared, and he skittered away when the woman moved, his staff pointed with the lantern swinging wildly, ready to fight if need be.

"Loki." She murmured, moving to stand up but only succeeding in curling up, "Don't..." Whatever she was going to say next was cut off, as her body jerked and flew upwards, then sideways to slam the door open, sailing clear through the doorway once the door wasn't an obstacle anymore.

"Just what we need. A possessed shapeshifter. How grand." Loki turned to see the ghost woman floating with her legs crossed, hand supporting her head as she stared out the doorway.

"Shapeshifter?!" The hyena boy cried, eyes widening in disbelief.

"Yes, didn't I tell you that before? Aahh... sorry, sorry, must have slipped my mind. Well, that alone won't do you any good..." She pointed at the staff, and he shook his head, ignoring her remark.

"Which spirit was that?"

The ghost woman looked away. "That?"

"Yes. That."

She paused, then looked back at him, looking paler than she had ever looked before, even as a ghost. "That... that..." She paused, and let out a sigh. "Only known as the Fallen Priest. He swallows spirits... as well as souls."

The silence in the room became even quieter.

___11/19/05 In Which the Bells Toll; 3 of 4

(( Roleplay; Loki and Chandra. ))

Chandra walked into the HQ without her usual wary sense of alertness. She hung her cloak on the coatstand listlessly and sat on the couch in the main room, folding her hands in her lap. She stared at the wall in front of her, at a loss. She had returned to the HQ for a sense of normalcy, but she still felt out of place.

Ever since the Key had been destroyed, the Flute lost, and the Book closed to her - she didn't know what to do. She had an apartment, a normal job, and she could venture out in daylight without any trouble - but she felt unfulfilled, like she was missing part of herself.

And so she sat in the HQ, looking at the wall as if searching for a way back in time.

Loki slammed open the doors of the HQ, positively dripping in blood. He was breathing hard, and one of his ears was torn, no thanks to the demon he had fought beforehand in coming here.

He needed help, but he absolutely hated asking for it... unfortunately for him, there was no other choice.

Looking around frantically, Loki spotted Chandra and inwardly flinched; he had never met her before, and here he was, looking like a complete fool when he was supposed to beg for help.

He had seen her before, and didn't make much of her... but now, she seemed powerful - maybe powerful enough to help him.

"You," He muttered, walking forward and letting the door slam shut, "Would you..." He cursed, drawing in a breath. "Would you help me." It was more of a statement than anything, and his muscles tensed as he asked, as if he was expecting her to deny his offer.

Chandra looked up at Loki with wide amber eyes and choked out a sad excuse for a laugh. It was harsh, a mockery of a true laugh.

"Help you?" She asked, "What is the exact nature of the help you require?"

Her hands fluttered briefly and then settled into her lap again. Her face flushed slightly as she settled them.

He was not happy.

"Do I really need a reason?" Loki stated coldly, obviously put off by her response to him. He knew that if he'd ask for help from anyone, they'd laugh at him. He wasn't the most popular Legend, after all, even though he tried to fit in most times.

Calming himself, Loki bit his tongue and tried again, reaching up to rub a bit of seeping blood from his skull, looking at it with a bit of disgust on his face.

"I have an enemy that needs... vanquished, so to speak. He's dead, but not." The hyena boy was being vague, but he was also testing Chandra to see if she would take the bait, and if she really was as powerful as she felt.

Chandra turned a little white at the sight of blood, but looked away to hide the automatic response. She wasn't yet used to such things and she wondered how humans lived this way, their every thought exposed to the world.

"The Dead I understand." She said, collecting herself and looking to him. "Your blood tells me that you are one of the Living."

She reached to the side far from Loki and pulled up the Book, stroking it's stitched skin cover as she laid it in her lap. Opening it to a random page, she held it out to him. The pages were aged and slightly stained, but empty of content.

"Blank," Chandra said, as if that explained everything. "But take a seat," she said, closing the Book of the Dead. "Tell me about this Dead, but not Dead creature that has injured you."

Feeling a bit better about the situation, Loki walked over, but didn't sit, standing up for the moment. His white shirt was ruined, absolutely soaked in droplets of blood, and he noticed her looking away for a moment.

An eyebrow raised, but he said nothing, merely curling his lip.

"Soul Stealer is what he goes by. He... said he was an exorcist. Like me." The last part was a bit harsh, though not enough to condemn him; his eyes traveled over to the book Chandra held, a bit of interest held in those golden orbs of his.

His grip tightened on the staff he held. Would she think him crazy? About half the Legends probably would, had he gone to anyone else. The light in his lantern flickered dangerously, then faded quickly into a soft, crimson glow.

"I remember you," Chandra said, studying the lantern. "But you were too young for me to realize why the flame from your lantern repelled me."

She almost laughed again, but swallowed the urge.

"He is, undoubtably, one of the Greater Dead. It is possible, if I had the right tools, that I could unravel his physical form - but binding the Dead is not my job. Nor, honestly, do I care to make it my job."

She looked down at her arm and then slowly cut herself with one long nail, producing a small trickle of blood.

"This," she said, "is what happens when you interfere in things that are not your problem. Someone does you a favor and makes you one of the Living, when you want nothing more than to be Dead once and for all."

"How is it not your problem, when he calls himself one of the dead, and invades my world of spirits?" Loki glowered, glancing at his lantern as his eyes drifted away from her, to which he masked his expression, providing a blank stare. "What exactly is your job, since I know practically nothing about you? Not that I care to, mind you," Loki said the last part hurredly, and distastefully - he didn't want to give the impression that he cared, after all.

"I have an affinity with the Dead," Chandra said by way of explanation. "Well, I usually do."

She knew her next words were probably best kept to herself, but it wasn't really Chandra's way to care about other's feelings.

"People who do not care do not ask. And," she added, slightly piously, "they do not get upset. The Living are so very loud and busy. It is so upsetting to find myself among you."

She stood, the Book falling to her side and rattling on its chain.

"And it is not my problem because I do not send the Dead back to the Land of the Dead. The one time I did so, I died. Punishment for doing something that is not in my nature. I can raise the Dead, find them bodies, and I know how to feed on the Living and their souls - but I do not know how to force them back to the Land of the Dead without divine interference."

Silently fuming, Loki nearly broke the staff that Kanth had given him, and physically forced himself to loosen his grip.

"Upsetting? Then why are you even here?" Hissed the hyena boy, glancing down to her book again.

"Because I am one of you, hopefully temporarily. Didn't you require something?" She asked, annoyed.

"Yes, but I'm starting to have doubts," Loki growled, his ears pinned against his bloodied face. He thought for a moment, drawing up his lantern and staring into it, gathering his thoughts.

"What if... I made you a proposition?" He continued before she had a chance to consider, glancing at her with a bit of pride.

"Such as... I can offer you the spirits of my lantern, as well as the Soul Stealer... in exchange for your help." The hyena boy glowered at her, looking very unhappy.

"I do not require souls anymore," Chandra snapped. "I will assist you, however, in an advisory capacity. Please catch me up on what has already occurred."

What if I don't want your help?" Loki growled back, finally glad at the chance of the possibility of ticking her off. "Perhaps you offended me by refusing to help earlier, and that makes you no different than the other Legends." He shot off like a cannon, ignoring the fact that he didn't know even half of the other Legends, but right now, he was aiming for something that would hit hard.

Chandra colored, but her voice remained level.

"If you require assistance it is stupid to refuse it because of pride. You will simply regret it later. I am willing to overlook your rudeness based on your status as one of the Living - so if you do want my assistance I suggest you catch me up on the situation. I do not wish to go into something blind."

Smiling for a moment, Loki seemed to consider, then let out a 'sigh', turning just slightly. "Why don't I show you... instead of telling?" The hyena boy grinned maliciously, reaching up to feel the blood crinkling on his face. "You might get a clearer example that way." His narrowed eyes glanced from whence he came, and he let his idle hand drop to his side, his other fingers still curled tightly around his staff.

"Very well," Chandra said, her eyes narrowing as she clipped her words. She moved in Loki's direction, sparing his staff a sideling glance as she clutched the Book to her side. The chain jingled slightly as she pulled up the hood on her cloak.

"I should warn you that while I am not helpless, I am weaponless. Lead on."

Going out the doors, Loki left the doors open behind him long enough for Chandra to get through, his lips pressing together in a fine line. "I am weaponless as well, in a sense. No other reason would I ask for help in such a way." His eyes remained narrowed as he walked, and as he spoke, it seemed that he refused to look at her. It was true that she was older, but he had just enough sense to keep it so that he didn't seem as young as he actually was, through the fact that he liked to piss everyone and everything off, to a point.

Chandra trailed behind Loki like a pale shadow, listening to him silently. She didn't feel the need to speak when she had nothing of substance to say. She simply clutched at her remaining piece of security and tried to remember everything she had once been able to see in it. Loki's directionless rage seemed pointless to her and it irked her, interfering with her ability to think about the upcoming task.

Dropping the subject entirely, Loki walked a ways in silence before coming to a halt, holding out a hand for Chandra to stop as well. He brought his staff up to an upright position, and turned his head just in time to see a giant wolflike creature hurtling at them both.

He wasn't pleased in the slightest.

Slamming into Chandra's side, he attempted to get her out of the way, while the creature slammed into him head on, it's attempt obviously directed at the necromancer.

With a mere grunt for the only sound, both Loki and the Soul Stealer disappeared into surrounding bushes, and all went quiet.

But if one listened close enough, quiet voices could be heard singing a sweet lull of a song.

"Hinei Ma Tov... umanaim... shevet achim gam yachad...."

Loki's shove caught Chandra slightly off guard and completely knocked the wind out of her. She had felt for some split second, the feel of the Dead, and it was a glorious feeling of pain and resignation - a feeling she missed desperately.

"I suppose," she said, picking herself up from the ground as her pupils dilated wide so she could peer through the dark, "that was our quarry."

She pulled up the Book and laid it on her palms. It began to bleed, slowly and sluggishly, and Chandra began to hum a half-forgotten tune as she ventured towards the bushes. If she could feel the Dead, she ought to be able to find them as well.

The hyena boy hung in the trees, just starting to lift himself out of the branches, splayed there haphazardly. The Soul Stealer remained under him, grinning madly with its mouth wide open, tongue lolled out as if it had finally found its quarry from a long chase.

In a way, he had.

"Curse on you," Loki spat, now crouching within the branches, seeing Chandra out of the corners of his eyes. He knew better than to look at her; he could be the distraction for a while. He only hoped she had something up her sleeve.

"As long as you're up there... you can't go." The Soul Stealer laughed, showing his large fangs. Loki narrowed his eyes; just what was he getting at?

Chandra was rapidly homing in on the Soul Stealer and the Book was not pleased. It was not only beading with blood, but it had begun a high-pitched screaming - only barely audible to the human ear.

"Come out, come out..." She whispered, looking about. "I want to talk to you."

One of the greater Dead wandering about had her wandering what she could do as one of the Living. The worst that could happen was that she would get what she really wanted.

Loki's ears pinned flat against his head, but he grinned, just slight enough to mock the beast.

"What IS that awful sound? It's not nearly as bad as that damn song I keep hearing near the Church..." The Soul Stealer remarked, hissing as he turned, ears going flat against his skull.

"Hinei Ma Tov..." Loki murmured softly, making the Soul Stealer scream softly at him, red eyes glaring. The hyena boy chuckled, disturbed by him, but was still out of reach, and thus could mock to his advantage.

"Book of the Dead," Chandra said, matter of factly. She stepped up behind the Soul Stealer and let said volume drop. The chain hardly rattled, but the high pitched screaming continued. "I'm afraid it does not react well to the presence of those who should have gone beyond."

She looked up at Loki and then stepped quickly to put the tree trunk between herself and their quarry as she addressed her fellow Legend.

"He's one of the Dead," she said. "But there is something more to him or I would be insensitive to his state. You will need to destroy whatever vessel holds his soul and then confine that soul to a new and more controlled space - possibly the Land of the Dead, although having escaped once, he could likely do the same again."

Chandra eyed the Soul Stealer warily, afraid suddenly that she would meet a fate other than the simple death she had earlier anticipated.

"Destroy the vessel? I don't know what you're talking about!" Loki growled as the Soul Stealer slammed his fist into the tree, holding on tightly so that he wouldn't be shaken out. The only spirits he had ever dealt with had NOT taken over bodies in such a state as this - at this point, he couldn't even tell that Kanth within him.

"My business isn't with you..." The beast mocked, sinking down to eye level with Chandra. "I was never sent to the dead in the first place, and you have no control... I will become the only exorcist here!" Looming forward, his jaws opened wide to snap at Chandra, attempting to spill blood.

Chandra quickly shuffled sideways to avoid the attack, keeping the tree between herself and the angry one. She continued speaking to Loki.

"A vessel is a physical anchor which holds the spirit in Life. Usually it is a body, but it could be an object which was capable of holding a great deal of energy. If you destroy the anchor, you gain access to the spirit."

She eyed the Soul Stealer seriously, her knuckles white and her amber eyes wide.

"Honestly," the necromancer said. "I do not understand what your business here is. You say you are not one of the Dead, but you feel wrong. I do not believe that you are one of the Living."

"You're saying that I have to destroy my new guardian's soul." The statement was blunt, and harsh. The Soul Stealer looked up at the hyena boy and grinned.

"She was delicious, just as this nimble necromancer will be." The beast eyed Chandra, and then took a step back. "I never stated that I was living, now..."

Loki's ears twitched, and he winced as something tugged on his bitten ear, reaching up to brush it off. He stopped when something landed on his hand, and he lowered it to see something white and fluffy lingering there.

"Hinei ma tov..." Loki glared, and the thing hovered sporiadically for a moment, then sat on the back of his hand again, turning into a darker shade of grey.

"Behold how good..."

"What the hell is this?" Loki growled, shaking the thing off and glancing back down to the beast, who remained in his spot.

"He is guarding. Guarding, against!" The thing proclaimed again, to which Loki glared at, once more.

"Chandra... do you know what this... thing... is trying to say?" He blinked, then added, "I can't understand such a tiny thing speak." Bits of fur fell off, and the puffball turned a crimson color, from which Loki guessed was either anger, or embarrassment.

The beast, having heard enough, leaped up and snapped at the branch Loki was on, breaking it as well as puncturing through one of Loki's legs. The hyena boy yelled aloud, slamming to the ground and recoiling, slamming the palm of his hand into the Soul Stealer's nose. Yelping, the beast recoiled, but didn't have time enough to follow Loki as he darted off.

The Soul Stealer stood, ready to give chase, but saw Chandra standing within his path. "Move out of my way, toy."

Chandra sighed, realizing that since he had just run off - Loki only had half of the information she had intended to give him. She regarded the Soul Stealer calmly, unnerved but too well trained to show it obviously.

"I am not in your way," she told the beast. "I have no quarrel with you. The boy asked for assistance and I attempted to give it. Now that it is obvious he doesn't want it - I feel no need to continue."

The beast seemed to like this response. "If you'd kindly move aside...?"

Loki ran after the damn fluffball that kept 'plaguing' his face, then stopped when it did, finding himself in front of the Church. The singing he had heard earlier now ceased in its speech, and a faint aura of light came from within the holy building. Turning to remark something to the fluffball, he found himself alone, something within his heart stirring.

The hyena boy felt sick at this feeling; he didn't want to be a complete and utter sap! He could take care of himself, just like he had been...

Stumbling forward, Loki fell into the entrance of the Church, standing up almost immediately after entering, and looking around with wary eyes. Nothing was here, nothing ominous, but there seemed to be a small humming all around the room, as if they were lingering within the walls, or remaining in the midst of the corners.

Brushing himself off, the hyena boy walked up the aisle, eyes lingering on a pedestal, where a book's pages were turning. His crimson-gold eyes looked from right to left, but from his view, he couldn't see anyone there. His instincts weren't telling him squat; if anything, he was intrigued by the aura of the room, and found himself taking closer steps, unable to stop himself from taking a closer peek at what was there.

Now in front of the pedestal, he circled it before going behind, now viewing the whole Church and the pews at where everyone sat - in front of him was the book, pages ceasing to turn, and a dim glow emitting from the gold-edged pages. Reaching out a hand, he put it on top of the book, and nearly gasped aloud at the reaction it gave him.

He himself was glowing, and his feet no longer remained on the ground. A sharp pang erupted in his back, and his head craned around to see his feathers growing, elongating into surreal wings, enough to glide, but not to fly. Mouth opening in surprise, Loki stretched out his fingers and reached up to feel his ears shrink, then grow into longer, more adept ears for hearing sounds from longer distances. Running his fingers along the edge, he still felt where the beast had slit his ears, and felt a pang of revenge in his heart, but it flew away just as quickly as it had come.

It was then that Loki realized he wasn't holding his staff anymore.

Turning in midair, he felt his fingers brush against it, and turned to look at it. Nothing seemed to have changed, only the fact that the wood seemed smoother, and more inept to break.

Turning his head, he landed on the ground with flourish, and gripped his staff within his hands, looking down. The book was now gone, but a heavy object was felt alongside of him; when he looked, he saw the white covered book hanging from leather belts that circled around his newfound black pants; along his arm, the two straps remained, holding between them a small zippable pouch that seemed sewn to his white blouse.

"How quaint, indeed." Raising an eyebrow, Loki reached up to adjust his goggles, but found that they were completely gone. His hair was longer, as well. It was loose, and in feeling it, he realized that he needed a hair tie for it, but dismissed the though for now - he had a job to achieve.

Book on side, the longer-winged and 'upgraded' hyena boy walked down the aisle of the Church, eyes and attitude set on taking care of the Soul Stealer once and for all.

Behind him, his goggles reappeared on the pedestal in which the book was on, and the fluffball seemed to be hovering over them, finally settling on one of the lenses.

"A small sacrifice for a wonderful gift. Behold how good and how pleasant it is... for brethren to dwell together..."

"I have other places to be," Chandra lied, and moved out of the path of Loki's retreat. "Besides, dealing with the Living is tedious. I would prefer not to be involved in such a futile struggle against the inevitable."

"Many thanks, toy," He murmured before moving on, like the wind, towards his prey. Now that the toy was out of the picture... he could destroy Loki once and for all, and become the new living exorcist. All he had to do... was steal the boy's soul.

___11/24/05 In Which the Bells Toll; 4 of 4

The beast was scared.

As Loki stood there, his staff held high, the beast cringed upon seeing the book hanging beside Loki's waist.

Lowering his staff, Loki brought up the book on chains, and held it up with one hand, embedding the sharp point of his staff into the ground so it would be on hand in case he needed it right away.

"You've changed..." Murmured the beast, seething with a slight admiration, but his anger outweighed him.

Loki ignored his quips, flipping through the book with a wet thumb before stopping on a specific phrase, eyeing it with a slight twinge of passion, as if it had never been there before.

"Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels..." Raising his hand from the book, the hyena boy glanced up to see the beast cowered against the tree, eyes angry in fear of the book that had the blue tinged cover - the book that Holy Words were written in.

"... so this is what you're afraid of..." Stepping up, Loki grabbed his staff and slammed the lantern into the evil one known as , and the beast dissipated into mist, lantern shattering, and flames turning different hues of color before everything went completely black...

- - - - -

It was some time later that he awoke, finding himself in his bed with the covers over him in a neat fashion. Startled, Loki threw them off and glanced around, soon calming as he found his staff and Kanth sleeping in a nearby chair, in that order.

Was it a dream? He wondered to himself, and then came to the conclusion that it was not, as there were a pair of very dark eyes staring out at him from inside of his lantern.

Loki ignored them, instead grabbing his book from the table and flipping through blank pages before he found himself on one that described the foe he had recently fought.

"The Soul Stealer. A former... necromancer." His glare was sent through the unharmed lantern, and the beast averted its eyes, almost as if he couldn't bear to stare into Loki's crimson orbs.

A pang erupted near Loki's neck, and he winced, standing up to tiptoe near Kanth, glancing in the mirror. It seemed that the scar had traveled up to make a ribbonlike design on the side of his neck, but it didn't emit the neverending pain like it had before.

He glanced at the book, running his fingers over the pages before closing it, that sweet sense of admiration running through him. The snide part of him was still there, as well as the rudeness, but Loki had ignored those - for now.

Glancing at his staff again, he smiled very slightly.

Hanging on his staff were his goggles, still looking rather worn, but well loved.

___012/18/05 In Which Loki Receives an Invitation

TBW.

___01/03/06 In Which Loki Gets Lost in a Snow-Place

It had been weeks since he had last wandered up here, and his poor familiar had grown thin as well, staring up at him with sad, soulful eyes.

"Quit that, I have no food, you know that," Loki muttered sadly, leaning against the wall of the cave they were in, and letting out a sigh. He felt the thing climb into his arms and curl up, and couldn't help but hold it closer, wrapping both arms around it.

Warmth was a necessity for both of them.

"You both look rather lost," Murmured an old voice, and as Loki looked up, a well-cloaked furry creature entered into the cave, carrying a steaming pot of water. "If I hadn't heard you talking, you would have never been found. No one ever comes up here, not even the demon. It's a graveyard."

Ears going flat against his neck, he stood up with effort, and shirked away from the creature's touch, to which it just shrugged in return.

"Follow me, then, and don't lose sight." It turned, and exited out the way it had come.

The hyena boy stood there for a moment, before deciding that anything was better than just waiting, and turned to follow.

It seemed to be a while before he caught up to the thing, soon out of the snowstorm and a large log cabin within sights. Smoke poured from the chimney with ease, and he already began to melt at the thought of going somewhere warm.

His familiar sighed, peering at him trustfully.

"Yes, we're almost there," He murmured a bit fondly, reaching up to run his fingers through its fur, and ran up a bit more to catch up to the creature that had led the way.

Flinging the door open, the creature went inside, leaving a deciding Loki standing in the doorway.

"Well, don't just stand there, come inside. You're letting out the heat." Blushing a bit from embarrassment, the hyena boy entered, turning to shove his hip against the door, closing it with a bit of difficulty.

"Welcome to my home." Taking off the clothing, the creature revealed that it was indeed human, or rather... almost human. She hung the clothes on a rack next to the fire, and turned, stretching out her red colored wings.

Almost wistfully, Loki looked at his own folded wings, feeling them shiver.

"Poor things," She murmured, reaching into the pouch and holding out an herb for him to bite down on. The familiar, not trusting the woman, reeled and bit down on her hand, biting straight through the flesh.

The woman flinched, drawing up her hand and letting the thing dangle there, glaring at it. The familiar meeped, before letting go as she grabbed it by the tuft of its neck.

"Damn thing. You like Meddler blood, do you?" Sighing and shaking her head, she let it drop to the ground before she shoved the herb in Loki's hands, turning to attend to her wound.

Coloring, Loki looked at his sulking familiar on the ground. "We are in her home, after all, though... you didn't need to act so rashly."

Not that he couldn't speak for himself, either...

___01/03/06 In Which Loki Battles an Ice Demon

Ice shards flew up as Loki jumped, his lantern smashing into the demon's head dangerously, though the hyena boy knew that it wouldn't break as it had the first time.

"I need a name for you," Muttered Loki to his far away familiar, who bit the thing on its rear end, making it very uncomfortable, and sporriadic in its movements. "Good," He murmured, knowing that the demon's style, as he watched it the first time, was a set routine.

They had worn it down as a team, and they would defeat it as a team; it slashed at Loki with its powerful claws. He reeled and hit the ground hard, but reached into his pouch and drew out the herb that Amadeus had instructed, biting down into it. Within an instant the wound had healed, but it would be a while before the actual slash would fade. All that mattered was keeping his blood inside.

Shoving himself up from the ground, he grabbed his staff and opened his book simutaneously, reading a few lines from it, before shoving the end of the staff into the ground, saying the powerful words that would embed the unrestful's demon into the lantern.

The lantern closed with a satisfying swish of the lock, and his familiar lay on the ground with a grin, it's fur covered with ice shards and snow.

Loki felt something creep around his left wrist, and grimaced as a new pattern seeped into his skin, clawlike markings running a few inches along the inside of his wrist.

"You need a bath," Loki murmured, dropping his arm and taking care to check his lantern before going on his way, and sweeping his creature up in a small hug. "Time to go home."