Northern Xanth

"Stop him! Run faster you idiots!" The guard yelling at his lower ranking defenders was obviously in rage at the fact they could not keep up with their target. The heavily armored guards were no where near agile enough to climb the village houses like their quarry. As the one they were chasing clambered to the top of a shingled roof, one of the guards opened his mouth to use his own talent against the man high above them.

Jaden had just gotten up the wall he had been climbing to escape the village guards when his own talent, which allowed him to know everything within a 15 foot radius around him, signaled that something was flying towards him at high speed. Jumping on all fours a couple feet to his left, the impact of the object sent shingles raining down to the street below. Looking at the object, it was a large mass of meat and flesh. 'So', Jaden thought,'his talent is shooting....meat sacks from his mouth? What kind of talent is that?' Disgusted by the strange talent, Jaden stood up and ran over the rooftop of the small village. This particular little town was the closest one to the entrance of Mundania, but even so it did not see much travel. Lucky enough for him, the guards were poorly trained so he could slip away with ease.

Or so he thought, until he climbed down into the street and had one nearly grab him around them middle. Skirting away from the guard he spread his arms out from his sides and tilted his head in a humorous declaration. "It was only a sweetroll. Cant a guy get some food every once in awhile?" Jaden had to quickly duck out of the way as a large meat sack flew over his head from behind and hit the first guard right in his face, knocking him over. Jaden laughed when he straightened up and ran past the fallen guard. "I guess you can have that steak for yourself then, I'm not so hungry anymore."

Sprinting out of the villages front gate, he made his way into the jungle-like forests that inhabited most of Xanth's countryside. After a few miles Jaden stopped and looked back towards the village. No one was following him, he was sure of that. Catching his breath, he chose a long vine and slung it around a tree to make a hammock, laying down in it and lounging there for a quick rest and light nap.

Taking a big whiff of the fresh air Yuzuki smiled. She stared at the rising sun ahead of her. One hand ahead of her, holding the end of the stick her bag of belongings were attached to. Her other hand resting delicately on her blade. Her long dark red hair flowing majestically in the wind behind her. New land, new people, new power. She was here to expirience what this place had to offer and bring gifts to her family. She had a personal goal to become stronger, and she was going to follow that goal. A smirk rose on the Woman's face as she took her first steps into the new land.

Looking around as she walked Yuzuki saw dozens of people working in the nearby fields around her. They looked so content, so happy. She stopped as she spotted one who looked antsy, scared, and shifty. She watched the scared worker stare at the ground below her feet then shriek. From below her a large dune worm erupted swallowing the woman whole and letting out a terrifying roar after wards. Yuzuki Dropped her stick and sack, and pulled her sword from her waist. She listened to the sounds of everyone screaming frantically at the beast.

She charged the beast and it saw her coming, it started to go back under ground. Much faster than Yuzuki could close the gap. So it dissapeared, and Yuzuki could see no movement around her. She panicked and when she felt rumbling. She Pushed herself hard onto her back when the beast launched itself up. It let out a screech and Yuzuki once again stood upright. She just got here she wasnt about to be beaten by some overgrown worm. She gripped her sword and pointed it at the beast.

Yuzuki once again charged the beast, the beast was fast and moved to bite at the woman. She side stepped and stuck her sword in the side of its mouth, and quickly yanked it out. She spun and stuck the sword into the part of the monsters body that was closest to being stuck in teh ground. This yeilded a yell. She yanked the sword out and looked up at the beast. It had already reeled up and was about to swallow her whole. She had a thought and held her sword above her head, blade edge pointed behind her. The monster could not stop its momentum and thus, was cut into two starting from the top of its head. It made no further movements, and Yuzuki struggled to get it off her. With a grunt she finally came out from under it. To be greeted by dozens of workers with smiles on their faces. Cheering at her. She smiled at them all and they started calling out to her. "Thank you stranger! You saved our hides! Here's a basket of bread for your journeys." They cheered and smiled at her.

Yuzuki took the basket and walked through them. She picked up her stuff and sheathed her sword. Held the basket of bread in her sword hand. She smiled at the people. She turned and bowed her head to them."It was my honor to protect you all. I wish you good luck, and a bountiful harvest. Good day. She continued down the road with the yelling of the people behind her. Good, she'd begun to make a name for herself. This should be an interesting time in this land.

"Jordan!" Hailey yelled, looking for her demon friend. "I'm right here." The demon said, appearing behind her. Hailey spun around, pulling him into a hug. "Jordan, you jerk." She whispered. Jordan hugged back. "Did you actually think I would leave you like that? I've told you, I wouldn't ever do that..." He said in her hair. "I know, but still." Hailey hugs Jordan tightly. "Come on, let's find a place to rest. You had a long day." Jordan said, walking to the jungle-like forest.

After a half hour of resting, Jaden decided it was time to move on. He did not want to run into anyone or anything that might be dangerous. As he got out of his resting place and stood up to leave, he heard a tree fall nearby. It was not in his field of knowledge so he had no idea what was about to come out of the greenery. Crouching down to get ready for an attack, his talent kicks in as a strange round cork shaped creature flies through a tree and stops directly infront of him.

The creature was about as large around as a quarter and was just floating in the air infront of him, having eaten its way through the tree behind it. "Shit!" Rolling to one side, Jaden got out of the way as the creature known as a quartipede,named such because of its size of a quarter around, flew 25 feet straight forwards just as Jaden had dived out of the way. Taking a throwing knife out from his pocket, jaden threw the knife at the creature and speared its backside, peircing it completely through and caused it to fall to the ground dead.

Retrieving his dagger from one of the most notorious creatures in Xanth, next to the Nicklepede and Dimeipede, he counted himself lucky the small worm like thing had not eaten its way through his body. the adrenaline faded as he ran into the forest, making sure to avoid any dangerous plants or animals he sensed along the way. His talent however was limited, and did not tell him the small stream he was about to step into was tainted. Luckily he spotted two small slugs and a few ants that had just crawled out of the river and stayed his foot. The slugs and ants were mating together in a few drops of the steams water.

The stream was obviously one of the natural Love Springs that occured around Xanth, along with its counterpart the Hate Spring. Jumping over the water so he did not become infatuated with the next living thing he saw, he continued on his way down the rough path infront of him which he hoped brought him closer to the next town.

Through the forest, Jordan stopped moving and put an arm in front of Hailey to stop her. "Quartpede!" He yelled, grabbing Hailey and diving to the side. "What the?!" Hailey yelled, surprised. They both hit the ground hard as it flies by. "Whoa, close one." They say in unison, sitting up and looking around. "You okay Hailey?" He asked, checking her for any scratches or bruises. Hailey dusts herself off. "Yes, I'm fine," she sighed, standing up and pushing her hair out of her face. "Come on, we need some sleep..." Hailey waits on Jordan and then walks deeper into the forest.