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"Thank you so much, Kilynn. I owe you one," Madame Lowe thanked Kilynn graciously. As she reached over the fax machine to look at the estimated numbers for her time, Kilynn smiled. This job would exceed her normal wages for the time she would be in the mountains for the week. Kilynn knew Madame Lowe was overcharging the men and giving Kilynn part of the share of the younger, less experienced girls. Younger girls, Kilynn's smile faded. They were always either too full of themselves or too shy to be decent company.

Packing her herbs, crushed flowers with pots and oil burners together, Kilynn packed her clothes, perfumes, and candles in a separate bag. She would mix all her oils in the cabin given to her. The girls would arrive at the string of cabins a couple days before the men, to give them time to prepare their cabins and selves. With a look around her apartment space, Kilynn saw Beau chasing Pexi, as usual; Loki was looking at the food laid out with the simple symbols that he understood as which to feed the other pets after she left.

Kilynn drove her own car to the mountains, in case she needed to leave early or stay later, which was usually the case for her. She stopped at the bottom of the mountain to be given her cabin number and keys and set to work. She stepped into the small but roomy cabin. There was an old stove around some cupboards that had some glass dishes and normal silverware. Smiling, she knew the men would be spending their times in a large hotel when they weren't with the girls, but the girls would be on their own most of the day. No refridgerator in the area, the girls were expected to buy fresh produce on their own. Immediately setting up her supplies in the bedroom, Kilynn rearranged the living room.

A large rug she set in front of the fireplace, huge silk pillows placed all around the rug, Kilynn was satisfied after hours of preparation and began to mix her aromas, in the bedroom, that would fill the mountainside with relaxation and patience for the men. Kilynn knew the moment the girls arrived as they were giggling and awing at the sites their simple cabins faced. She continued stirring and carefully measuring her aromas when she heard a knock at the door.

"Just a minute, please. I am busy," she sweetly called out.

When the knocking didn't cease, she deemed this mixture ruined when she jumped at the more abrupt, loud knocks that followed her call for patience.

Crawling to her feet, she opened the door, not even hiding her face of anger, "What?"
"My name is Cece," a young girl of 18 held out her slender hand to Kilynn with a bright smile.
"You ruined my potion. What was so important that it couldn't have waited five minutes?" Kilynn demanded.
"So it is true!" Cece's face lit up a little more. Making her look 12 rather than 18.
"What is true?" her face no more friendly than when she opened the door.
"You're a hedge witch. Rumor is that you were raised by Madame Lowe and became her most valued girl. You never got hurt because of the potions you kept in your room to keep men more subdued. Could you teach me?" the girl was jumping in place now.
"No, I can't. You would have no skill, i can see that now. What did you need to talk to me about. I would like to go back to my work?"
"There is no refridgerators in our cabins. Do you have one?"
"No. They aren't attractive, so you shouldn't be surprised that there are none. I suggest you and the girls go to town for dinner and grab some fruits for breakfast. If you like, grab some muffins and jam for the morning," Kilynn began to close the door when a slender hand slid in the way. Kilynn bared her teeth. This tall, young girl was really starting to annoy her.
"Can you come with us? We haven't really done anything like this before," Cece began to look seriously worried.

Kilynn took a good look at the girl and realized she was more innocent than Kilynn had been led to believe. "Oh no," she saw a tear begin to roll down the pale face. She knew this girl would be torn apart by one of the men if she wasn't careful. "Lowe sent me here with green girls, didn't she?"
"We aren't green," Cece looked around, probably for one of the girls. She probably lost a bet to be the one to approach Kilynn.
"Have any of you been with a man?" Kilynn stood up straight to be close to the girl's height, but only reached the girl's chin with her forehead.
"Well, I, uh. We were in the front room. This is our first time paid," Cece looked at something interesting by her feet.
Kilynn took a sigh, "Let's go. I'll drive the van and take you girls to town to get necessities."

She didn't wait for the girl to agree, but walked straight to the van. She'd have to use credit to pay for all she would need. There was no way Lowe was going send enough credit for the girls to start new. There was too much equipment they would each need. Looking around, she counted 11 girls, making her the 12th. Madame Lowe owed her more than was originally agreed upon, that was for sure.

Spending all day in town buying some entertainment for the girls for during the days the men were gone, she bought them all some basic foods in case the men took them out to dinners, and some necessities each girl would need to be prepared for the long nights. She also picked up some herbs to prevent any pregnancies. When all the girls were ready for the night Kilynn prepared an energy tea and began on her aromas and drinks for the girls. Around noon the next day, Kilynn was just finishing up with her drinks for the girls when a few limos pulled up and honked its horn. She heard the girls' doors close and knew they were being good little girls doing what they were told. Limo doors closing told her she was free, but she was disturbed by a knock on the door.
"Yes?" she said as she opened the door to a big hunk of man meat. Pulling her silk robe around her, she eyed him suspisciously. He wasn't in a suit which told her that he was just a peon. Probably brought to the mountains to clean their rooms while the businessmen were with the girls.
"Mr. Green sent me to make sure you weren't," he paused as he eyed her greedily. "A girl."
"Well, as you can see, I am not fresh out of my mother's cradle. I am sorry, but I have more work to do before I am ready for... Mr. Green." She began to close the door when a meaty hand stopped the door.
"Now wait a minute. He said that I would get some fun while I was here," his red cheeks darkened.
Kilynn opened the door all the way. "I am not some child you can order around. I am sure that by 'fun' he meant one of the young GIRLS that are in that limo. It is not my fault you didn't do your job to get me before the girls left so that one could stay back for you. If I am to be spending time with Mr. Green, then he has paid for my services in full to be exclusive. Besides, you have a hand that needs healing." Kilynn smiled as she slipped a small charm onto the door.
"What?" he gave her a confused look that barely registered what was about to happen when Kilynn slammed the door on his hand. A few crunching sounds and Kilynn knew it was broken. She opened the door to look at the bawling man on her porch and shut the door.

Lighting the completed aromas, she heard the limos return. She had been right about dinner for the girls. A few snorts and laughs told her they had found the man from earlier. Kilynn went to the door for another knock. A tall skinny man stood at her door now, but he was in a suit so Kilynn put on a small smile.
"Kilynn?" he asked.
"Yes, that would be me," she pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She scolded herself for wearing a braid on the day the men were being expected.
"Mr. Green won't be able to join you tonight. He has managed to develop a stomach ache today. He will come tomorrow night, so you should be ready," he peeked around the corner and looked at the pillows in front of the fireplace. "You really have made the place up, and what is that wonderful smell?"
The aromas weren't strong enough to even fill her cabin, so she looked a little worried. She hadn't been caught since she started in this business, and she wasn't about to be caught for what she was. "I was baking some fruit breads for the girls in the morning in case any of them think skipping breakfast make them more nimble at night."
"Mr. Green will be very pleased," he looked at the pillows longingly before he turned and walked to Cece's cabin.

Closing the door, Kilynn looked at the fireplace with glee. She walked to her bedroom and lit another whick in the aroma oils. Sinking into bed, she enjoyed sleep.

She woke up just before sunset the next evening with a groan.
"I have got to stop taking that tea," she told herself as she walked to the bathing stall she saw behind Cece's cabin. No towel or clothes on, the girls looked out their cabin doors to stare at the smaller girl. Cece gathered courage to approach the small veteran of their job.

"How was your night?" Kilynn spoke first.
"Great. John was so understanding," the younger girl smiled. "Are they going to change the men on us?"
"I don't know. That's up to the man in charge," she ringed the water from her hair.
"But weren't you with the guy in charge?"
"No. he's not showing up until tonight. You girls should get ready for tonight. They may come any time now and you don't want to be caught off guard," she took in a deep breath and smelled her relaxing aromas. Kilynn walked back to her cabin, ate a small dinner of dried meat and fruit, and prepped herself for the night.

It had been days since his father died and Cillian had been wandering the mountain to feed himself. He just noticed the smell, that homely smell, yesterday. He had always known he would find his home and mate before he died, and that he would be able to smell it long before it happened. Home, he thought. He found himself surrounded by some cabins. The smell was stronger here, but when he followed the strength of it he was buy a window. Just standing near the window almost made him relax to the point of collapsing. He continued to circle the cabin and found the door. As he opened it, he heard a woman call to him.

"Just a minute, I'll be out in a second," Kilynn softly called. She was amazed as to how quiet Mr. Green was, she didn't hear his limo or his steps.
A tall figure stood int he doorway. He was dressed in a long coat but she could see dark leather-stiched pants. The coat looked old and used. She couldn't understand why Mr. Green would show up in anything less than a suit worth a small country, but if that's what he wanted, that's what he would get. She took his coat and hung it up. She jumped a little at the red spots on his face. He must be in to roleplaying, that was the only thing she could understand. She led him to the pillows and had him sit down.
"Tea?" she asked.
The tall man didn't respond. He stared into the fire as he sat, almost as if he were disturbed by something. She decided to make him some tea anyway with some relaxation herbs, but added a little energy. He looked as if he was going to pass out soon. As she handed him the tea, he didn't say anything but drank the tea greedily. Taking a deep sigh, Kilynn decided she wasn't going to get much out of him.

As she reached over and started to massage his shoulders and work her way down, he didn't move much. He did close his eyes, so Kilynn continued her way down his back and eventually into his lap. She worked on his shoulder in the front when she noticed more of the red spots. As she massaged his arms she felt that they weren't paint but fish scales. She leaned over and kissed his neck a little. He took in a stifled breath and pushed her away. The look she gave him was one of total confusion.

At that moment, a knock came at her door. Kilynn looked at her door and at this tall, fish-scaled man. Her turn to stifle a breath she rushed him into her bedroom and shut the door.
"Stay in here and don't make a sound. We'll talk in the morning!" she ordered. She entertained Mr. Green the rest of the night.

Kilynn opened the door to her bedroom early the next morning. "Okay, who, or what, are you?"
"Cillian," he mumbled fast, slowly waking up.
"What are you, how did you get here?" she asked. She had an idea of what he migth be, but he wasn't helping.
"Smell," he replied.
"Smell? What kind of an answer is that?" she hissed. Just then she saw what looked like wings stretch behind him as he sat up. She thougth of where she was. "Red... Smell.. Fish... Have you heard of a red salmon?"
"Fa'er brought some home of'en" he looked at her with his head bent, he was talking really fast.
"Where do you live? Slower this time" she asked.
"Here, anywhere. Nowehere," he spoke slow and made sure he was speaking carefully.
"Where is your father?"
"Dead," Cillian looked at Kilynn with tears brimming. This wasn't home. Home just was and didn't ask more questions than were necessary. He didn't know if that hurt more than realizing his father was dead, burned with the cabin.
"You'll stay with me then," she smiled. "Forget what happened last night, it won't happen again. Many nights I will be busy, but during the day there is things to do. Until then, stay in this room during the night. You can walk around or whatever during the days."
Cillian nodded, not knowing what else to do and did what he was told. Things got interesting when she drove him the long drive back to her apartment.

Kilynn opened the door to her apartment to Beau with Pexi in his mouth. Kilynn smiled, glad to be home and pried the dog's mouth open and Pexi jumped out and shook himself off.
"Cillian, meet my boys. White is Beau... Red is Pexi and.." she looked around the apartment and as Cillian followed a blue streak crawled up Cillian's close and landed on his shoulder. Loki sniffed his, wrapped his tail in Cillian's hair and landed on top of the tall man's head. "And Loki."
Loki looked at Kilynn again and pat his front paws on Cillian's head. He would take care of the tall man.

Hero-Villians Event

Link: Event Thread
(Cillian appears smile Poseidon
Heralds: Locke, Nikolai, Kain Nigel, Yuki, Mackerel, Aethelind (RP'd with Yuki and Mackerel)
Non-Heralds: Lots

Overview: For one day, all Heralds would have a power, or powers ((up to two)) that they acquire from "somewhere else". They don't have any say, and some may lose control. A Herald might have strange eye-beams or see through walls. They might have more magic than before. Who knows, one might even see ghosts! It would be quite interesting, to say the least. Weaknesses can be powers too, and the Herald may find that they cannot go in direct sunlight or may be weakened by a specific material.

Status: Finished