Welcome to Gaia! ::

His wings swept wide grabbing the air and then pushing it away as he turned the corner. An instant later, he had collided with metal bars. Barely able to blink as he hit the ground, Yeti landed with a solid thud.

Teeth gnashed as he stared at the monstrosity of metal stairs that went upwards. Humans had such strange things. He didn't remember things like this before. Perhaps the gods had all died as she had said she was and these creatures were out of control. Pathetic humans living in hovels when caves were so much nicer. Cooler. And damp.

The dog nearby glanced upwards as it sniffed through the garbage. It stared at the grapelike creature in front of it, then growled turning tail and running.

Yeti snorted in amusement, but then grinned. He'd have eaten it if it had been a bit smaller. He was trying NOT to draw attention to himself. Nearly sighing he lifted himself into the air again, sweeping down the alleyway only to suddenly stop as someone whispered to him ever so faintly. Hovering for a moment, he turned to stare at the building.

Something was there. Something... familiar.

He shivered slightly as he moved closer to the side of the building. His body pressed up against the spot where he could see movement just beyond. The cold surface of the glass made his lips twitch as he leaned to see what was there.

To understand why Yeti is here, one needs to understand what has happened and where he came from. This is an interruption of the present by the past, so this is...

::A Prehistory?::

She watched the leaf turn as it drifted down towards the marble surface of the floor in front of her. Slowly it wafted from side to side, dancing on the unseen air before settling to the ground. Her head tilted slightly as she gazed at it where it lay.

"An omen of things to come." she smirked, her lips flicking upwards with a spark of fear and expectancy.

Noone replied. It didn't matter. She was alone for the moment.

"Like the leaf, it's all dying around us."

She listened as she always did. The echo of sound that meant so much to her was missing. The faint tinkle of amusement that she knew and loved did not appear. She sighed.

"It's all falling apart. Nothing we do is stopping it. Cold. Barren. Is our time truly over?"

Her skin felt icy. Not just from the breeze that had picked up blowing through the way a chill wind did to indicate winter, but also from the knowledge of what was happening to them all. She'd never felt so powerless before.

She did now.

Her arms wrapped tightly about her as she pulled the gossamer shawl a bit closer. Again she listened.

Sound came, but not that she was so fond of. Loud. Raucous. A taunting sound. As if it knew.

It did.

She shivered again as the chill settled deeper into her. It was not what she wanted. What she craved, but it was there. Bright in her sight, but not glowing as what she loved.

The party inside.

There was always a party here. Someone to entertain and amuse. Some whose only purpose was to make her laugh at their antics.

Gentle amusement. True mirth. Humor at oneself. Even the slapstick comedian found their way closer to her heart.

The source of her power. Her gift. Laughter in all its aspects. Wild. Free. Joyful. Sad. True.

She listened for it, seeking it whenever the brightest caught her attention. Her very being longed for it and loved to see others enjoy it.

But what she found now was brittle. Hollow. Gaunt. Cruel. Not the belly-wrenching, side splitting mirth found in silliness. This was taunting. Ugly. Unhappy. Cold.

Not what she truly wanted and sought, but it had its proper time and place.

Now.

Now that everything was dying.

She sighed. There were always two sides to everything. Even laughter was one such. The trick was to keep your balance so neither pulled you one way or the other. It was a tricky, precarious path at its best. Not nearly as wide as one would think. But it allowed options.

"Options..." she mused. She truly only had one option at the moment. To follow the path of life or death. Laughter even cruel fed her, but it was not her best form.

What should she do?

Laughter trickled forth again. A sad haunting sound.

It came from her own lips.

She knew. All she could do was take what was offered and never let them see her cry. She'd disappear even as she lived, but there would be those that remembered she had lived.

((OOC note*** Edited to clear up how this portion happened for my own clarity.))

At least Yeti would. She had lied to him when she put him to sleep with the charm. She had asked for one from her priestess, telling her that she didn't care where she got it. Just to make certain that it was strong enough to hold for a long time. She didn't want Yeti to waken. Dat would vanish as she herself would. But Yeti... He'd not understand and she had told him he'd only sleep until she returned. She didn't expect to return. The time of gods was over, but he'd remember when he awoke.

For awhile.

A small part of her would live then. It was all there was.

The party caught her attention once more, drawing her and she smirked. It was time to go in and pretend. Pretend that nothing mattered except the fun they were having. At someone else's expense from what she could tell. Even laughter such as that was a source.

She needed it. It would be hers until the very end.

Slowly she got to her feet, gazing at her reflection in the pool nearby. The clothing she loved had changed slightly even as she had. It was faded. Dull. Nearly transparent.

She lifted her hand. For an instant she could see through it. Tilting her head back, she laughed. Hard. Cold. Distant.

Soon. It would be soon.

But in the meantime, she'd join the party. It was all she could do.

It was all there was to fill her.

Too soon it would be empty. Too soon.

It was late, but the party continued. She walked slowly into the next room where she had left him. Studying the shape, she smiled slightly followed by patting it gently.

Sitting down in the chair nearby, she sighed. A glimpse of the first time she'd seen him and what he had been doing slipped down on her. She laughed outloud suddenly, her voice soft and gentle in the air.

Then she blinked in surprise. At herself. He'd won her heart the moment she'd seen him. The great round purple grapelike thing that he was. He had amused her then. And since. That was why she protected him now. He'd try to help her and get himself into more trouble. There was nothing he could do. Nothing any of them could do. One day, he'd understand. At least as much as his small mind could.

Her own magic had not pushed him to sleeping, but a sleep charm had been created for her by another. Similarly the charm of stone had also. It wasn't that she couldn't have done those things, but that she preferred he be protected by the ones who knew and were more familiar with what was necessary. Lisana was certain her skills were lacking in that area and she wanted him safe.

A laugh slipped free as she thought of those who could not understand why she had been entranced by the hideous creature. But she knew. He made her laugh and that was who she was. And he was not the only such critter she had living with her. He was just the first.

Bright laughter had drawn her attention that day as she walked through the meadow. It was a tinkle here and there, sharp in its amusement. Someone was playing but someone was also growling in annoyance. The two combined is what caught her focus.

The rustling of the bushes in front of her caught her eyes as she understood that whatever the amusement was, it was on the other side of the barrier now in front of her. Slowly, she pushed the leaves aside with her fingers. Just enough she could peek through to see what the problem was.

When the huge purple body swept past her, Lisana blinked in surprise, suddenly biting on her lower lip as she stared. It looked like a swollen grape many times larger than it should have been. A horn thrust straight upwards on the very top, but the most curious thing was that it had wings. The creature whirled in pursuit of something that flashed violet as it dodged the branches of the other plants in the immediate area.

The small violet light darted through the space she had created, zooming past her head and away. Startled, Lisana backed up as the purple blob suddenly slammed into the branches she had been holding aside. The next instant he was thrashing about, firmly stuck where he was.

She giggled as he wiggled, stuck in the small opening she had created to see through.

"Stupid Tasties!" he growled, mumbling and trying to get the leaves out of his mouth so he could get himself loose. His horn was still wedged between two branches.

"Tasties?" she asked, watching him in amusement. "What are tasties?"

"Tasties are stupid." he growled, but then tried to tilt himself sideways to see who he was talking to . "Stupid Tasties got Yeti stuck. Help."

Lisana burst into laughter. He didn't seem very intelligent, but she decided she liked him.

"Ask nicely," she said, folding her arms. "Or I'll leave you wedged tightly where you are."

His great raspberry colored eye moved around to focus on her. For a moment his teeth gnashed in frustration.

"Out! Yeti wants out!" he snapped.

She stared at him and laughed again. "If Yeti wants out, then Yeti can ask nicely." When he just stared at her, Lisana laughed, shaking her head. "Goodbye, Yeti. My name is Lisana. It was nice knowing you."

Then she was walking away.

"Stupid Tasties!" he snarled, his eye turning even more reddish. "Let Yeti out!"

As she walked away, thoughts of what could happen to the creature slipped through her mind. Even as beligerent and rude as he'd seemed, should he be left there like that? After about a half hour of walking along the path, she turned back with a sigh. She couldn't leave him there.

"Stupid Tasties! Stupid human! Let Yeti out!"

He was still yelling and she shook her head in amusement. As if the way he was treating others would set him free. He seemed to be a stupid creature, but he made her smile for some odd reason.

Stopping to watch him, Lisana raised an eyebrow. He was still upside down, stuck tightly in the branches where she had left him. If anything he had wedged himself in even more firmly than previously.

She broke into laughter.

"Stupid human! Why come back?" he muttered shifting his eye to glare at her. "Yeti still stuck."

At first she said nothing, rethinking for a fraction of a second releasing him. Then her lips twitched upwards and she snorted slightly in amusement.

"Do you really think being mean is going to get you free, Yeti?" she asked folding her arms. Her gaze made him look away for a moment.

Then slightly confused, he muttered, "What you mean, stupid human?"

"Just that, Yeti. I'm not a stupid human. My name is Lisana, and I can get you out of the mess you are in, but why should I when you are being mean to me? Others would leave you there to die." she said, a smile still on her face. "I came back to help you because I wanted to, but if you are going to call me names, I will not."

Yeti stared at her, frowning as his very small brain tried to understand what she meant. "If you not stupid human, what? Troll? Baboon? Not Purple Tastie. Not look like baboon..."

She blinked in sudden surprise. An image of a baboon with her hair slipped down in front of her. It was all she could do to contain herself and then she lost control. The laughter welled up out of her forcefully. In a few moments her side ached slightly from laughing so hard and she could barely stand. Finally shaking her head as she wiped the tears from her eyes, Lisana stared at him.

"No, I'm not a baboon," she smirked. "My name is Lisana and I'm the Goddess of Laughter."

"Hmpft...." he snorted. "Goddess.... goddess..." Yeti repeated it several times tasting the sound on his lips. "GODdess...... GOOOOOOODDEsssss....god DESSSSS... goddess..." Then, "What goddess? Goddess, let Yeti out! Now!"

Her lips twitched upwards again, and she snickered. "Alright, Yeti. I can see that this is going to take some time to figure out and I'm not particularly in the mood to stand here all day. You come home with me and I'll teach you."

"Yes! Let Yeti out, goddess! Now!" the purple creature bounced little so firmly stuck, but his excitement was plainly evident.

Tugging the branches back, Lisana loosened it enough that he could wriggle more. He did and hit the ground with a thud.

"Owww!" he grumbled. Rocking himself back and forth, he finally uprighted himself, flying up and over the bush he'd been stuck in. "Yeti free! Free! Free!" he yelled swooping around her head.

Lisana began to giggle as she watched him. There was something definitely amusing about him.

"Alright, Yeti, let's go home."

He suddenly stopped to hover in front of her, his great raspberry eye watching her in confusion. "Yeti no home."

"Yeti does now." she stated, patting his rubbery body. "With me."

She laughed. Linus, she had named him originally, but she seldom used it. His antics had made him Monkieboy instead. And with good reason. He was the oddest creature- a babboon/monkey/chimp-like thing that she'd ever seen.

He had, in fact, merely sauntered into her garden from the woods nearby. And Lisana had been at a loss as to why he was there. In the beginning. It was obvious that something had drawn him there- once she watched him torment the others. He fit all too well and she easily thought of him as a jester of some sort.

Lisana watched him closely, amusment twitching her lips. For several long moments the apelike creature merely watched the others which included Yeti, Indigo, Dat, and the three hedgehogs who had found their way to her glade. The trio- Riff, Raff, and Razz- as she called them seldom joined in. They seemed to prefer to watch what everyone else was doing. So did Indigo, the very small very purple dragon that could usually be found with them.
Suddenly getting to his feet, a smirk on his face, he strutted over to where Dat was teasing Yeti. A quick glance at Lisana first to see if she was watching. Of course, she was. That only encouraged him.

"Dat is too cute, stupid Yeti." the aoide smirked as she darted around and around him faster and faster each time she circled. She knew he'd get dizzy. He always did.

*Go away! Yeti want purple tasties! Not stupid Dat!* he growled, swatting at her with one wing. Suddenly he toppled over, landing upside down. *Stupid Dat!*

She landed nearby, giggling maniacally as she watched him. The more he wiggled the more she laughed until she was nearly rolling on the ground.

Linus continued strutting over to them. His tail whipped from side to side proudly like a peacock. Lisana snickered suddenly, shaking her head. He was definitely up to no good concerning the other two. It had been Dat's idea to have a picnic and she'd placed a feast out for them and some of the other creatures around.

Dat had, of course, demanded cake and pies with a whipped confection as icing on both. It was far too sweet but the aoide seemed to enjoy it. Yeti on the other hand had asked for purple tasties, so there was a pie supposedly made of them. He'd never know the difference.

And there were people scattered around them, each group having their own picnic. Mimes were.. miming, and jesters were telling jokes while others danced or told funny silly stories. Even some clowns and tumblers pranced around the edge of the glade. It was as if a carnival were taking a picnic.

For a moment Linus hesitated. Then before anyone could stop him, he picked up the pie, aiming directly at Dat. It landed directly on her and for a moment nothing was seen except the mound of cream.

For several long moments nothing moved. Then as a small arm poked her way through as Monkieboy started hooting and strutting his triumph.

"Mmmft!" she struggled to pull herself from the pile. The whipped icing covered her entirely and she slipped several times trying to get out of the stickiness. Twice she landed face first back into the slippery concoction causing those nearest to snicker.

Monkieboy snorted, hooting his magnificence to the air. Laughter filled the air as she finally stood, covered in goo.

"Of all ... the mmfft.. " she wiped the bit of fluff from her eyes to stare at him, angrily. "stupid... miserable... monkieboy..." She stared at him, trying to get it off her. Furiously, she swatted at a big gob of it intending for it to hit him.

The ape dodged to the side, just as it passed him. Yeti blinked his one great eye as he managed to finally get turned rightside up. Suddenly he couldn't see at all as something soft hit him directly in the center. He blinked quickly several times.

Dat's eyes opened wide, but then she began to laugh again. Her feet slipped out from under her and she landed with a plop. Monkieboy hooted once more as Yeti growled. Swiping with his wing, he hit one of the other cakes. The ape dodged to the side as he had previously. It hit the clown nearby directly in the chest.

Dat giggled so hard she was once more holding her side. The clown stared for a moment calmly picking up a pie and aiming at Monkieboy as Yeti took to the air. The ape smirked, taunting the man. With a wide grin the fellow let it fly. It missed Linus but hit Lisana who was sitting directly behind Monkieboy though a short distance away.

Everyone held their breath for what seemed like hours. Lisana blinked as she wiped whipped cream from her face. Then she began to giggle, wiping it off with her fingers and tasting it. The next instant two pies were in her hands and she had simply walked over to Monkieboy and thrust one directly into his face. The other she threw at the clown who ducked allowing it to hit the mime behind him.

The next instant all was pandemonium as pies, cakes, and other sorts of food flew through the air. Over the next half hour, every bowl or plate was emptied of food. The glade was covered with bits of food as were all the guests.

Monkieboy snorted his amusement, sauntering over to the side to sit beside the others. Afterall, it was his idea and a good way to end the day.

Eftemie : She stared at the door, hesitating but there were several things she needed. Especially the toaster. But the appliance she was staring at was in pieces where she'd taken it apart trying to fix it. She giggled slightly knowing what her Uncle would say about her taking up repair.

He'd say, "Don't take it as a full-time job." and then he'd smile and just hug her before fixing it. But this time the appliance was finished.

She snickered again, knowing that he was right. Now it didn't work at all.

With a sigh she opened the front door. No choice to be had other than to just go find one. The world was getting stranger with each day, but people still moved about. So would she.

As she turned the corner several moments later, Effie stared at the shop. Several larger items were piled up on the outside, including a table, several different chairs, and a large dresser with a large mirror that was entirely covered by a cloth. A large overstuffed couch was just inside the door with several large wooden chests beside it. The door itself was propped open with a smaller metal box. She wondered briefly why the man had not used one of the bricks stacked just to the left.

Trivii: Evadne wasn't use to the restriction of a mortal form, but it was more than she had, had at her fingertips in an aeon. The potential power that Triveni possessed was just beyond reach but enough to know it was there... taunting the Goddess from her captivity within the sharp crystal now lodged in her hosts lower back. Able to move freely she rejoiced quietly, and would have danced except for the energy it took to control the feline figure. The people of the world were once again growing to know the power and devastation of the gods, and the taste of their anxiety clung to the perfumed air of spring, calling her out of doors, and to the spring market. Things had changed, but humanity as always captivated her with they're innocense, naivete however you termed it, fear would fade to awe, and they would come to knee once more, as it should be.

Tilting her head to the breeze she roamed the streets with Triveni’s memories of which shop held what, he eyes lighted on a girl, not familiar in appearance but familiar in essence, black hair, tanned skin, green eyes... Oddly tonal aura.Possessed of Triveni’s catlike curiosity she approached the girl, not intending to start a conversation, just wanting to see more....

Eftemie: Her eyes scanned the things in front of her quickly, noting that there were no toasters. Twice she had caught the flash of something metallic, but each time been disappointed. When she noted the feline girl beside her, she smiled, her eyes sparkling in amusement at herself.

"You haven't seen any toasters here, have you?" she smiled, then began to giggle more, her lips barely holding back from outright laughter. "I took mine apart and now it won't work at all. Somehow that figures. I suppose I could do without toast, but it just won't seem like breakfast without the smell of the bread cooking."

Trivii: Widening her already round opal eyes Evadne flicked her gaze over the shop, not knowing exactly what a toaster was she was relaxed and honest when she replied, her voice curiously absent of Triveni's purring accents. "I'm afraid I haven't" She looked regretful as she met the green eyes of the human before her.

"Don't tell me you put off eating because you had no bread..." She sounds disbeleiving. "Maybe you should ask the shop-keeper?"

Eftemie: She blinked, surprised for a moment, then her lips twitched upwards. "Put off eating?! Oh goodness no! I didn't meant to make you think that." Effie replied as she giggled, her amusement rising more at the thought of forgetting to eat. She certainly had notes for everything else. "I did think to have breakfast before I tore it apart."

"But..." her laughter burst free as if a wild bird suddenly finding itself set loose from its gilded cage. "I suppose I shouldn't have taken it apart at all."

Trivii: "Not unless you know how to put it back together, yes?" Evadne studied the girl with affectionate eyes, that terribly familliar aura was tantalizing.

"I can help you look, what does a Tow-stir looks like." Stroking the framed mirror through the dust cloth she tilted her head. "I have never used one."

Eftemie: "That's what my uncle tells me. And then he says not to get a full-time job as a repairman." She giggled. "I'm Eftemie, but everyone one calls me Efte or Effie. A toaster... It's about this wide," she said, holding her hands apart. "And this tall.. kind of... Never used one...?"

She frowned slightly at the thought of never using a toaster before, but then an idea of how to show her appeared. Picking up a pencil from the nearby desk, she pulled the paper with her address from her pocket, quickly sketching on the back a toaster shape with a cord attached. After adding the two toast slots, she held it out with a smile.

"This is a toaster. Sometimes there are four slots, but two will work fine for me." she laughed again. "I don't need more than two pieces of toast in the mornings. Or for a sandwich."

Trivii: Accepting the paper she studdied it, recognizing the shape from the Edelsteine Shop... the kitchen there had everything. She nodded sagely. "I think I would like your uncle.. lets split up alright? I'll take the shelves in the back, you can take the front.. Sound good?"

Palming the paper she moved deaper into the shop, to look for a shiny metal box that had holes in the top.. As the goddess moves into the shop she looks back over her shoulder at Eftemie.. "I am Evadne."

Eftemie: "Evadne. Pretty name. And that works," she laughed, musing slightly. "Most likely. He's a funny person sometimes, but I like him."

She went in the opposite direction glancing over the shelves and under things. At one point she stopped to stare at a lampshade sitting to the side. It had crystals hanging from it and she smiled when she saw the sparkling. Running her fingers through it, she giggled when they tinkled as well as sparkled casting purplish rainbows on the walls around her.

"I think I like that too." she laughed. "It would be pretty in the window during the day." Turning away, she hesitated. What was she there for? She blinked in distraction, then giggled. "Oh yes... a toaster. And a lampshade." Then she laughed again.

Trivii: Tunneling deeper and deeper into the back shelves she came up triumphant with a laugh, a smudge of greese on her cheek, and dust on her nose. Holding it over her head, her already cropped shirt road high revealing the crystal in the small of her back. "Eftemie! I think I found-"

Her announcement was interrupted by the high-pitch twang of a bullet ricosheting near by, confused she lowered her arms and glanced arround to see a ragged blond shaking in his boots, an odd iron contraption clasped in his hands.

Eftemie: She turned with a laugh. "Really? Coming!" she said, her voice singsonging slightly as she turned back around the aisle where she'd heard Evadne's voice.

But just as Eftemie stepped into view, a shot sang out echoing as it struck nearby a second time. She flinched, staring at the fellow with a gun. And he was pointing it at Evadne. Why?

Glancing around she looked for something to distract him from her. What did she do? Should she throw something at him? She glanced down at the lampshade in her hand. It would have been pretty, but it was all she had at the moment.

Trivii: Finally realising that the bit of iron was actually a projectile weapon Evadne dove through an opening between shelves sliding when she hit the floor, slinters off the old hard wood floor pricking painfully, as she came up on her knees, still holding the shiny box, she turned overly wide eyes on Eftemie.

Not at all certain as to what was going on. "Do we know this gentleman?" Ire was begining to quake her voice. Triveni's instincts began to take over as all of her senses starting scouring for the clearest path back to the exit damned junk shop....

Kert: The blond had broken out into a cold sweat at this point, his hand trembling harder, the feline goddess had been to fast, he couldn't let her touch him... But the one with the Shade... He couldn't let the Edelsteine reproduce with the undeserving. He shifted his sight back and forth.

He was dead for sure if he let them get to the stone first. Another shot cracked through the shop shattering a china-cabnit. Cursed hand wouldn't stop shaking...

Eftemie: Eftemie shook her head at the other girl, flinching when the second shot went off. "No. I don't know him. At least I don't think I do. My memory isn't the greatest sometimes." Her lips turned upwards in slight amusement. "But then.. If I didn't remember him, how would I know? Even the gun doesn't remind me of anything." Her lips twitched further. She really shouldn't find this amusing, but she was.

She suddenly burst into laughter again. At first it was a small snort, but it continued to increase. He'd think she was crazy before too long. Maybe she was to find amusement where other people seldom did. At least she'd be laughing.

Without hesitation, she swung the lampshade at him as hard as she could. Maybe the crystals would injure him in some way. What else could she do?

"Run?" she grinned to Evadne, darting around the corner.

Trivii: Coming up off the Floor Evadne not thinking to pay for the toaster, caught Eftemie by the wrist and ran like she had all the souls in hell hot on her heals, hauling them both several blocks from the shop and into a dark ally, she leaned against the wall and watched Eftemie laugh, a bemused expression on her face.

"What was that bit of metal in his hand? I've never seen anything like it before... I apologize if I seem naive, I have been...... Sheltered, for lack of a better word." Rubbing her ribs she forced air in and out of her lungs keen ears listening for a pursuer.

"By the Frost, whats so amusing?"

Kert: The boy came up chewing on a tassel, imprints from beads and gems on the side of his face...

Cursing swiftly he stomped his foot and kicked the standing mirror, about ready to shoot the poor bit of framed glass when the shop-keeper clamped a hand on his shoulder. Turning he glared "What do you want old man?"

Nameless Shopkeep: Jerking a thumb at his shop, "You gotta pay for the stuff you broke, and that lamp shade was a one of a kind, I'll need Cash for that.."

Kert: Blinking the boy felt the bottom fall out of his stomache.. "Cash?" He hedged... backing away and darting out of the shop, not knowing which way the women went he simply ran, it was pure coincidence that he stopped within ear-shot of Eftemie's laugh.

Eftemie: She sighed, sitting down with a plop on the ground. "It's a weapon called a gun. Metal bullets are blasted from it with gunpowder...... um.. it's a sort of explosion I think. The one he had was just a normal handgun I think. There are others that are more dangerous. I'm sorry. I tend to find most things amusing in some way. I barely remember things from day to day. I get distracted easily and unless I have notes on things, I tend to forget even the simplest things sometimes. But if a person can laugh, they can survive anything. It just struck me as funny that you asked me if I knew him when I can barely remember my own address sometimes."

Then she snickered watching Evadne, suddenly noticing the metallic of the appliance. "You found a toaster." she smirked. "but he owes me a lampshade. I wanted that for the window and next time I see him, I plan to tell him so."

She suddenly laughed again. "If I remember him."

Trivii: Ducking her head she eyes the box before handing it to Eftemie. Taking in the word 'gun'...

"He was trying to kill us? And you think about a lamp shade?" Humans as ever were a puzzle to her. "Why do you think he was trying to kill us?"

Before Eftemie could answer a voice in the back of her head intruded. Could it be the fist sized amethyst in our back?

Triveni would be awake soon, and she would loose her control of the body they shared, sighing she sniffed at the air, and caught the familiar smell of human body oder... Tilting her head she turned towards the mouth of the ally.

Eftemie: "I don't know. People have been strange lately. I usually don't come out by myself but with Yuri or Moonshadow." she said holding the appliance to study it for a moment. Noticing her reflection in it, she held it out slightly in front of her.

"And the lampshade was pretty, didn't you think? Sometimes moments are all there is and you should seize them when you can, Evadne. It makes things more... bearable sometimes." Her lips twitched upwards, but then she hesitated as she noticed movement in the toaster's metallic surface. She stared trying to see what it was without moving too much.

Kert: He listened for a moment, knowing one had a stone, but the other was just.. clueless. She didn't even know what the feline girl was or about the rock fused to her. His face hardened slightly. It didn't matter. She shouldn't have spoken or been with a stranger. And she certainly shouldn't have protected her.

His hand shook as he slowly crept up behind the clueless and stupid one from the side. Hopefully the trash cans would hide him until he was directly behind her. He knew he couldn't miss this time. He was so close.

Trivii: Scenting gun oil and that odd cloudy stuff that had come with the bullet, Evadne dropped her eyes to Eftemie wondering what was going on, and noticed her eyes on the reflection in the toaster. That imbecile had followed Them!

"I think I got grease on your toaster... here..." Removing a tissue from her pocket she reached for the toaster, but grabbed it by the cord instead of polishing it, hauled it away from the darker woman. "Duck!" She called meer seconds before swinging the toaster like a war-hammer directly down on the unlucky, murderous youth's head, cracking much harder than she had at first intended.

Kert: The boy let out a startled sound and stared at the menacing women, and the gun toppled from his fingertips, a bare second before he toppled over the side of a trash can, and slammed unceremoniously into the pavement.

Eftemie: "Ahhh!" Efte yelped as she dropped entirely to the ground. Her hands over her head as she hunched there, she peeked out at Evadne. Suddenly she heard the crash of the can nearby, and turned her head that direction.

She snickered as she tilted her head slightly to stare at him. "That wasn't very smart of him." she smirked as she stood up. The gun still lay on the ground.

"I'm not sure what to do with this but it can't be left lying there." she said picking it up with two fingers. Glancing around her for some disposal, she noticed the large dumpster. Dropping it inside, she shut the lid turning to stare at him. And her toaster.

"Well, I guess I'm not meant to have toast anyhow." she giggled, carrying it over to the fellow still out cold. He lay on his belly and she glanced at the cord a moment. It was short but it should work. A few moments later, he was sitting hogtied. The shiny but dented toaster sat squarely on top of his limbs.

"This would be one of those moments I'd like to forget." she snickered, "He now owes me not only a lampshade, but also a toaster."

Trivii: Evadne eyed the trussed up youth, and shifted her eyes careful not to mention that it wasn't the boy who had murdered the mini-bread oven. "So what are we going to do with Mister Genius here? Leave him... or send him the way of his toy?" Jerking her head towards the dumpster she smiled slowly....

"Or... in the old days, we use to make a young man such as this, work off his debt, under the person he had afronted...." Raising an eye-brow at Efte she added slyly.. "Make him a little less forgetable... after all who would want to forget seeing a young man so.... garnished."

She sat silently beside the window, looking out at the changes. More and more occurred each and every day. None were good from what she could see. Everything was beginning to look... dead. Rundown. Ruined.

The reason was not obvious to her and she'd really not thought about. Until recently when the thoughts of things she heard slid down on her jarringly. Unexpectedly. Even her uncle was disturbed by the way the world was heading.

Nothing disturbed him. Well, little. He didn't let things intrude with what he needed to do. He had been over to repair a few things for her and added another lock to the door. Trying to talk her into moving in with him was the other reason he was there. Of course, there would be no room for her friends who came and went or the creatures she took in.

To her, that was abandonment.

She couldn't do that. They lived with her. She might not be able to remember things all the time, but they were her responsibility.

She'd miss them.

Moonshadow shoved his furry nose beneath her fingers.

*Worried, Efte?*

"Some. It's getting worse out there each day." She smiled but suddenly flinched when a siren went off a few blocks away. It was faint, but noticeable. She patted his soft nose absently as she watched the wind blow several leaves down the street. "I really don't like going out there much anymore. Only when I have to."

The aiko glanced downwards at the street. Only one or two people were even on the street. They hurried, glancing around nervously as they passed by.

*I noticed your uncle put another lock on the door.*

"Yes, I refused to go with him. He thought it best." she said suddenly laughing. "And he growled the entire time he put it there."

*Yuri and I will go with you next time.* he stated matter-of-factly.

She turned in surprise, her lips turning upwards as she raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You don't think I can take care of myself?" she accused, teasingly. "And just what do you think you would do?"

*Lick them to death?* he smirked.

Her lips twitched for a moment, then her laughter lit up the room. Soon she was giggling and hugging him tightly.

"I'd enjoy the company." she finally said after tusseling with him for a few minutes.

"Are you ready?" she called grabbing her jacket.

*We ARE waiting for you.* Yuri smirked as he sat at the door impatiently. His wings twitched with the anticipation of going outside. Even he had been sticking close by.

She snickered. "I'm always late. You SHOULD know that by now." She handed the attitude back to him with a huge smile.

*Yes, we know." Moonshadow said dryly. It was a foregone conclusion that she would be late. As she said.... she was always late. Even with notes plastered everywhere.

With a giggle, Eftemie watched both. "Okay.. bodyguards. Let's go."

*You make that sound like it's a promotion or something.* Yuri snorted. Shaking himself, he flexed his wings for a moment, then folded them back.

"It's not?! I'm hurt." she replied, pretending to be hurt.

She was laughing as she stepped onto the sidewalk. Both aiko padded softly at her side. They were far more alert than they appeared. Turning the corner quickly thinking to surprise them by stopping suddenly, she gasped when she slammed into someone coming the other direction. Then her feet tangled and she literally fell towards the man.

"Whoa! Careful there!" he said, reaching out to grab her just as she'd have fallen. Then he just grinned, staring at her. He forgot he was still holding onto her.

Moonshadow and Yuri rounded the corner, growling as they moved forward.

Tempest flinched noting the aiko glaring at him. Backing up quickly, he held his hands up, but he tripped over a crack in the sidewalk.


"Whoa! No harm done!" he said, blinking as he landed hard on the cement. Both moved forward, between he and her as his hat toppled backwards and off his head.

Eftemie stared at him. A slow giggle formed and then she burst into laughter. Her hand flew upwards as she watched him. She remembered the hat. "I think I ran into you the other day too. This same corner."

He laughed, shoving his hat back. "Yes. Cookies. And you were late." Tempest relaxed a bit, getting to his feet as they backed off at her laughter. Tempest picked up his hat dusting it off for a moment before putting it back on. He stood silently smiling as he gazed at her. The same laughter was there. True amusement. Folding his arms, he stood watching her. The aiko were forgotten.

She giggled. "I remember. I guess I should slow down when I come around this corner, but I was trying to tease them. Only..."

"Only I spoiled it by coming around the same corner?" he smirked, his lips twitching. It couldn't have happened better if he had planned it out in detail. Unexpected surprises were sometimes the best. "I think you at least owe me your name this time."

"And theirs." he said after a moment.

Her lips turned upwards. "Yours first." she snickered.

He chuckled. "Alright. Tempest. Well, that's not my real name. It's my stage name and what I go by."

"Tempest?"

*Hmpft.... real name or nothing.* Yuri growled, watching him. He knew the man had no plans to harm her. That much was obvious.

His lips turned upwards, a ghost of a smile. "A name I don't use often for a reason. Iohannes Mallow."

Yuri snorted and Moonshadow sat down shaking his head. *I can see why not.* both smirked at the same time.

A siren went off down the street as a gunshot was heard down the block. She jumped, staring past Tempest. A frown creasing her brow as she shivered slightly.

Tempest frowned. "It's really not safe to just stand here... um.. your name?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. That was the deal, wasn't it?" she snickered slightly. "Eftemie. Eftemie Jaxton. Or Efte." she said, jerking her attention back to him. "That's Moonshadow, and the winged one is Yuri. They are friends."

"So where were you headed, Efte?" he asked, indicating that they walk the direction she'd been going.

"Just to the store and then back home." she said, walking beside him. She was thankful that they were going in the opposite direction of the siren. "I needed a few supplies."

"Well the least I can do is help." he said and then smirked, "and besides it will keep you from knocking down anyone else."

She blinked staring at him and then burst into laughter. "I suppose it will. I never really thought about it like that."

Tempest watched her closely. She was easily amused and her laughter was geniune as he had suspected. He had been right about the sparkle in her eyes.