Welcome to Gaia! ::

((It requires much nudging and guidance from you, the creator, to keep this going. The same for all RPs. Give it a direction and it'll flow.

I don't think so many of us would have joined with such strong characters if the plot was as bad as you seem to think it might be.))

(( Well, I'm new to text RPing, and I wasn't really sure if my plot was suitable. Thanks, though. I appreciate the confidence booster. And it's nice to hear from you guys again. ))

Irianna shakes her head and gives a chuckle of amusement. "Alright then, so the two of you are Commander Angelis and Kumori. Now that that mess is sorted out..."

The Sky Maiden puts her hands on her hips and says, "For tonight, we will rest. I expect the two Mer Kin will be sleeping in the ocean shallows. The rest of us will be sleeping in the shelter of the trees. I'll take watch tonight, but after that we may want to take two or three shifts for night watch. The order of nightly shifts can be made on our way through Arthon tomorrow. And we leave at first light."

That said, Irianna turns and makes for the trees. Half way there, the young Sky Maiden opens her wings and flaps her way into a towering evergreen. From that point, the winged woman is clearly visible, but so are any approaching creatures or people.

Looking down from the towering pine, Irianna peers into the dark of the surrounding trees. The Sky Maiden's eyes are sharp. Even on a moonless and starless night, she can spy a fox or wolf slinking through a forest. Those kinds of threats are absent on this night. Also absent are any bears, coyotes, or one of the few demons that occasionally prowl the forests of Arthon.

For a brief time, Irianna believes the small group to be alone on the borders of Arthon. Iridescent violet eyes search the darkness out of habit, not out of the expectation of finding a hidden enemy. About half an hour after the last of the sun's light had died away, though, a small movement catches the Sky Maiden's eye. Several trees away, nearly invisible in the dark of the forest, is what the Source Keeper guesses is a man or woman standing near the cover of a thick pine.

At first, she is torn between alerting her four companions or simply keeping an eye on the stranger. Irianna knows without even using a stray wind to search out any other presences that the figure is alone. More people would make too much noise to be missed by anyone. Maybe the lone figure is another recipient of the Source Keeper's summoning wind? Or maybe they are a thief or murderer?

In the end, Irianna simply observes the lone figure. If they are a potential ally, then they will show up when they feel their presence is necessary. If they are a foe, then they will have formiddable forces with which to contend.

((I am soooooooooooooo sorry. My internet crashed and I was just able to get on last night. I swear, if this happens again I'll just ignore the rules of the computer lab and get on there. I'll try my best to catch up.))

Little puffs of cotton candy floated along the orange-cream sky, bits of lavender and red flaring briefly on the edges of the clouds as the sun rose on the White Coast. The sun was coming up in a short blaze of glory before tracing its path across the robin's-egg sky.

Jaden had retired to the shallows as Merdick had, choosing however to sleep in the deeper shoals, the cresting waves rocking him gently. The glittering surface of teal soon broke, however, as the child came rocketing once more through foam as he had the day before.

"Mornin', lady," he grinned, a flopping, gleaming fish held firmly between his teeth. The address was not that of Mia's quandary, but the same as all children's greetings. Lady, mister, teacher, a generalization of partial familiarity. He already knew that he liked Irianna; both were free spirits and her outgoing go-get-em-ness was appealing to a prodigy of his short life. The boy also felt a kinship toward Merdick, more than just of countryman to countryman. He vividly felt the paternal aura all children can sense and was drawn to the well-weathered soldier. Xia, as well, held some interest for the hyperactive boy, like a soothing, rippling stream that could either excite or calm on a whim. Mia, however, was a character to Jaden and he vowed to cure her of her stuffy demeanor by whatever childish means necessary.

"Want some?" Jaden held out the fish, now the half-eaten remains of his breakfast.

Xia was awake by now as well, fiddling with the slightly withered rose petals from her previous arrival. Her whip whistled softly into the trees by which she had slept, pulling down a bunch of plump, juicy fruit. She solemnly bit into one before striding through the white sands to Irianna's side and handing her one as well.

"I saw the stranger as well. I do not believe she was hostile, Irianna."

Deep brown eyes stared through her white bangs at the shoaling waves, her free hand idly brushing grains of white and tan from her skirt.

(( heart Yeay, I am loved! heart ))

Xia nodded as well, watching as Jaden shrugged his shoulders and continued to eat upon the fish.

"Another ally would be useful, yes, especially one who seems so familiar with the surroundings as to escape even your penetrating gaze."

Her own greyish wings fluttered in the breeze, Jaden idly tossing rocks at the sea, easily skipping them across the surface despite the bounding waves.

"One for the fish, and one for the sea, and one for sweet Aquanos that ne'er shall leave me..."

He was singing gently under his breath, an Aquanese nursury song his brothers would chant as they struck blow after blow in their training.

"Two for the waves, and two for the shore, and two for the home I'll love forever more..."

Mia had consider protesting letting the source keeper take the entire watch, but the source keeper seemed to be slightly annoyed with her already with her formalities. There should be no real harm in letting her do as she wished, and Kumori could use a good night’s rest. She found a small flat piece of ground near the tree the source keeper perched in, and laid out a large red blanket. While they looked like winged horses Pegasi had slight variations besides their wings and intelligence, one of them became apparent when Kumori laid down on one end of the blanket. They technically could sleep standing like a normal horse, or even in mid-flight should the need arise, but they were decreasingly less restful, the last one was barley better then no sleep at all. Mia used the rest of the blanket and used Kumori as her pillow.

Apparently Kumori was not the only one who needed rest, Mia was embarrassed that she, a trained solider was among the last to awaken. She was however, able to get ready incredibly quickly once her eyes were open. She saw another member approach the source keeper and observed her carefully. She never did meet the gaze of the Heaven Knight, but then some people just were not comfortable around military types. Mia was going to be sure to keep an eye on the entire group, lest she get involved with something less then moral.

Irianna looks up at Merdick and smiles. "We should be leaving pretty soon. Just waiting on Mia to get up and then--"

Something in the distance snaps. Irianna tilts her head to one side in confusion and turns away from the Mer Kin. She sees Mia and Kumori awakening. She also sees someone, a stranger, walking out of the trees and making a bee line for the Source Keeper. In moments, the woman is standing before Irianna, who stands to greet her. Jaden is immediately upon the woman, firing off question after question, after her request to join the group. This gives Irianna time to look her over. The strange woman's voice had been meek, and she seemed to avoid looking at Mia and Kumori. Irianna can only imagine that she is a fugitive of Arthon.

Well, help does come from questionable places. And one often does what they must to survive. I can only hope that she is a rogue by necessity and not choice.

Once Xia settles Jaden down, Irianna gives the woman her brightest smile. "The more the merrier, I always say. I suppose you know me, but are you familiar with my friends here? And my I ask for your name?"