Welcome to Gaia! ::

Violet dashed towards one of the windows and jumped out climbing down the castle walls. She hoped everyone had gotten out okay. She hadn't see anyone else inside. She then hit the ground landing on her feet and running towards the crowd of people that seemed to be gathered outside. She was almost there when she stopped dead in her tracks. 'The King!' How could we have forgotten about him!' She turned around to look at the castle in horror and it was crumbling to the ground.

The spiral fire escape collapsed and crashed to the ground as the last few servants stepped away from it. Seth stood up fatigued and slightly dazed but more mobile without the fire escape to concentrate upon. "Well... It was worth a shot. I can't get anybody else out of the castle now. I'll have to jump." With both hands, seth grabbed the railing then slingshot-ed her self over the edge of the castle. She took a pratfall, landing in an old crater.

((Damn it, I have to work for two days and things get really good!!!!! Now I gotta make my character look like a sissy lol))

Tala had stood there, her expression fixed in horror. She had been unable to respond to Taun's simple question; she had been unable to move. This devastating scene reminded her so much of the day her father had died.... their small palace hadn't been on fire, but to see the Castle of the Capital City crumbling to the ground was too much for her to bear.

Feeling as though she were falling, she stumbled over into someone. A muscular build. Tala looked up to see that it was Cairo, that mercenary she and Valkyrie had met in the Tavern.

"Cairo? Cairo, thank goodness you're here! Something is attacking the castle! You and I might be able to channel the flames and Valkyrie..."

Tala trailed off with a sudden realization of absolute and utter horror. Valkyrie; she hadn't seen her come out with Dusk.

"Oh my God, Valkyrie! Valkyrie and Dusk, I think they're still inside!!"

And suddenly, just like that, the roof of the castle collapsed before her very eyes.

Someone was screaming. It sounded anguished; a horrible, heart wrenching scream. Tala suddenly realized that it was her.

((She doesn't know that they made it out okay.))

Cairo watched as the Castle burned down in glory. The Castle stood for more than centuries, and now... it was burning down. Started by a Fire King, ended by one as well. Ironic it was.

He then saw Tala, "Oh... hi..." He was still amazed by the Castle's flames. How did a castle of stone burn so easily? He then heard the scream, and Tala's remark. "It's ok... I bet they made it out. Nobody would be that dumb, crazy, or slow to get out of a stone castle that is on fire." He then looked away from the castle as it started to crumble. "We need to get out of the area quick. Any Fire nation standing near the Capitol will be suspected for treason against the Alliance... lets go back to the Tavern..."
((Two days of no computer and I miss 4 pages of the best part of this thread xD))

Valkyrie heard someone screaming and took off running, wondering if someone was hurt. She rounded the corner of what was left of the castle, and saw that it was Tala. She hurried to her friend's side, and put a hand on her shoulder, as if to steady her.

"Tala? Tala, what's wrong?"

Cairo watched the approaching woman. "Stop. Before you get any closer, what's your name and what do you want?" He wanted to be careful now that the war has inevitably started.

"Valkyrie! Oh, Valkyrie I thought you were still inside!! I thought I had lost you!"

Tala threw herself at Valkyrie and embraced her thankfully. A few tears rolled down her face and she smiled at her. "I'm so glad you're alright. Are you hurt?"

She turned around to smile gratefully at Cairo. Tala noticed the approaching girl and was on her guard instantly.

Makani, who had sat at her master's feet comfortingly through the whole ordeal, perked her ears and stared at the girl.

As Tala looked at the girl more closely. Something was familiar about her... but she couldn't quite place it. Dismissing the familiarity, she replied to her.

"I think that everyone made it out, yes."

The niggling feeling prodded at Tala. Without looking at Valkyrie, she spoke telepathically to her through their link. Doesn't she look awfully familiar? I think we've seen her before. I don't think she is who she says she is...