Welcome to Gaia! ::

Gefton nodded to her and rose slowly his aged bones groaning as he rose.
“Then council has concluded and I thank you for your aid. I will tell him what you say. May the emperor’s blessing fall upon you.” He paused, chuckled and then said again “Good luck, child of the forest.” He watched as she turned and went and then under his breath he muttered. “For however long this forest stands.” Gefton was old but no fool. He knew what would come from all this.

Algren chuckled at Jacob’s impatience, as he swallowed another piece of meat.
“Relax, a bit Jacob, your chance for murder and destruction will come soon enough. But I’m waiting for one messenger in particular to arrive back.” After a long silence the curtain to the main tent flew open and the form of Gefton entered, the rising sun silhouetting him like a legendary hero from ages past. Algren beamed his white teeth and slammed the dagger into the table.
“At last you have returned, Gefton. You were beginning to make me worried. Tell me, what news?” Gefton looked around for a moment and was very slow in his repeating of what had transpired.
“I held council Lord Algren, and talked with most likely their leader. We talked for a long time but I have secured the aid of the foresters. They promise to launch the assault on the upper camp by midnight tonight.” Algren slammed his fist onto the table and gave a shout of triumph.
“Ha-ha! I knew you were the one who would make them do it Gefton. Ha-ha you old crow, you are a wonder! Oh, I will cherish the look on Blood’s face as I betray her.” Gefton quietly interrupted Algren.
“Milord. I told the foresters we would retreat after Blood fell. They believe we will leave because they will lie low, pretending to be destroyed so the emperor will name you heir. Milord, you will have your title without needing to spill the blood of the forester. The foresters will live in peace with their Messiah.” Algren’s green eyes locked onto Gefton and Algren’s thin lips tightened for a moment and then, with a rising laugh, turned to Jacob.
“Hear that, old friend, the fools believe their savior is come! Ha-ha! So the fools actually believe I would allow them to exist in my Empire? Never! How many promising Dragon Slayer hopefuls did they slay? I tell you, this is a joke! They will die for the injustice they have done!” Algren clenched his glove tight before going on.
“Here are your orders. Gefton, prepare your troops for war, just do it subtly as not to arouse Blood’s suspicion. She enjoys her prey docile. If we become a threat, we will find her moving in on us. Asmudius, tell Lord Bane to read is troops in the same manner and also tell Lord Bane to begin whatever it takes for him to conjure up a thunderhead. I want the entire sky covered with lighting and rain filled clouds by noon. As for you Jacob, make ready for your chance to hunt this Messiah. You will need to wait a little more, but never fear, you will have your chance at this Messiah soon enough.” Algren grabbed the knife and began to twirl it nimbly in his hand.
“My friends, we stand upon the brink of a new chapter of the history of the empire. Let us make sure the beginning is a tale to be remembered!” He drove the knife down violently into the meat, juice splattering the black glove. “You have your orders. Dismissed for one hour. Then return. We have a war council to hold.” Gefton and Asmudius bowed and turned to leave. But Algren motioned for Asmudius to come close and Algren very quietly whispered into his ear. After a long moment Asmudius nodded his shaggy white head and left, the tent flap slamming closed behind him.

Cadie began to pace again, muttering to herself. She wasn't any good and waiting, at least not waiting on the sidelines while other people took care of buisiness. "What's happening...........can they...........what if.........what will........" A few words of her mutterings could be distinguished, though what was heard wouldn't make much sense and only sharp ears would be able to hear it. She kept on like that for a while until she'd asked herself every question she could think of and went over every possibility and her brain hurt. She ceased her muttering and just paced silently, she needed to be outside, looking up at Skhantieniaia and her sisters, "I need some fresh air, I'll be back soon." she said with a small smile and went to check on Blaise before she went outside. Blaise was still asleep, "Good, at least some one's resting peacefully." she said to herself and then went out to the front porch. Sitting against the wall she sighed and looked out at the forest, "How did I get here?" she asked herself. She wished there was some one to talk to, but it seemed that at the moment Skhantieniaia was busy watching her sisters. She'd also seen another boy, she couldn't remember his name though. She hadn't seen him in a while, so he was probably busy as well.

((Here we go. Happy happy joy joy.))

Red rays of light broke over the hillside, lighting up the sky with deep hues. Not a single leaf fluttered within the forest, nor did a pine needle fall even though there were many Foresters resting soundlessly within the forest boundaries. Not a single person could be seen and not a thing was out of place. Even the slyest of foxes would not be able to sense the troop's presence.

They all waited patiently for instruction to break the natural silence. What was planned, not a single person knew and doubts in their leader was flying through all minds. What was taking the Lieutenant so long to draw up a plan? They were all right there, everything was so close, but why did they still have nothing to do? Was the Lieutenant loosing his touch? Several younger foresters thought it almost sinful to think such things, but the elder and wiser were beginning to silently question his authority.

A nearly silent bird call rang out through the trees; a posted Forester alerting the Lieutenant of oncoming unknowns. The Lieutenant called back the response to investigate but stay hidden. A teen dropped soundlessly from a tree and made his way to where the unknowns were coming from. The Lieutenant recognized the boy’s stature and relaxed, knowing that they would not be given away by foolish mistakes – Kaden was the one who was going to spot out those who were not welcome in the territory.

Kaden crept between the trees, sheltered by the dense foliage. Scaling a tree he waited for the unknowns to come past. There were two of them, a boy whose age was hard to tell and a girl with long blonde hair. His eyes widened, knowing the pair well. Easing out farther on a tree limb he crouched low and squinted through the tree leaves.

“Blaise?” He whispered.

Hearing her name, Blaise froze and pulled her sword so quickly that if you had blinked you would have missed it.

“Show yourself!” she commanded, facing the tree the whisper had come from. Kaden dropped out of the leaves and looked to her embarrassedly.

“Sorry,” he said, “The Lieutenant ordered someone to come and find out who you were, we didn’t know.”

Blaise sheathed her sword and avoided Kaden’s gaze, remembering the kiss ha gave her earlier.

“Very well.” She said coldly, “Where is the Lieutenant, I must speak with him.”

Kaden turned sadly and motioned for the two to follow. Blaise walked behind him silently, keeping affairs strictly business. She couldn’t have another occurrence like the one before. Kaden was getting too close to her and Blaise didn’t like that. She was a free spirit and getting into a relationship would only hamper her . . . or at least that’s what she told herself.

Blaise avoided the truth on this one. She didn’t think that she could possibly feel for him but was terrified of loosing him. She would never propose that she had found an emotional weakness and couldn’t avoid it. She was one of the best, there couldn’t possibly be anything that could get to her – affect her in any way. She made it seem that way.

((I'm going to trust the first post that joining now will make someone PM me with the story and that I can catch up. Here comes I....))

Username: Oracle of Delphi
Name: Destiny Crane
Age: 17
Rank: FF Superior
Appearance: At 5", Destiny is a tiny girl and appears far younger than she is, a point she often exploits in her work. She has long, silken black hair that hangs like a curtain in front of her dark brown eyes. She has a deep chestnut tan from her forest living, wearing a forest-green tunic, brown pants the color of moist earth and light leather boots.
Preferred Weapon: A small silver dagger of unimaginable edge, though she is highly proficient in throwing knives, shuriken, and poison darts. Also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant
Attitude/Common actions or habits: Destiny tends to lurk in the shadows, blending into her surroundings and staying quiet until there is a need for her. A sweet, innocent girl on the inside, most never know it because of her tendency to stay hidden.
History: Destiny was caught by the guards at the extremely young age of six, having unwittingly smiled at a soldier while he was in the wrong mood. A Forest Fugitive rescued her and she was taken in as one of the flock. There Destiny became a master of the silent kill, almost what one would call a ninja in our world, using her small size and her strange ability to be absolutely silent to gather intelligence or assassinate targets. She is now a Superior, enjoying the ability to begin to turn the tables on the monarchy, but she will never become a Mage Superior, having no urge to learn to control the elements.

As silently as Kaden had come, another shadow came flitting through the trees, flying into the very trunk the two stood next to and alighting upon a branch. It was indistinguishable from the fluttering sunspots that abounded in the forest, mimicking the very breathing of the wind and shifting of the leaves in a quiet sound. In a brown-black flash, a small tan head was hanging behind Kaden's, a young girl suspended expertly by her knees from the great tree. A small scroll was in her hand, tied with a bit of spare twine, and if not for the glinting silver dagger at her waist, one would easily have mistaken her for a villager's young sister at play.

"Mage Superior Blaise," she said in a small, quiet voice, raising a tiny salute, "I am Destiny Crane, sent from the other end of the forest to aid in your battles from now on."

A light touch brought the scroll to Kaden's hand and a c**k of the head was the only indication of the girl's expectation of an answer.

"I am at your command."

Chrono sighed irritably. They did have time for this, nor did they need their leaders senselessly beating the crap out of each other. Though... he did know he had little chance of interupting this now that they were giving each other a glare that would send lesser Gods running for their lives.

"Kaden, if you'd be so kind, I still don't know my way around here entirely." Chrono said, motioning to a direction away from the fight. "I'd like to go see Rosette. I trust she's been more agreeable?"