Adara Waraqa's Story

[[Yayyy we're posting :3 I shall do my best ^.^ ]]

Standing in the corner, touched just slightly with the edge of shadows, Adara curiously watched the others dance. She was in awe at how many people had showed up - and from each kingdom, no less. But they seemed to be enjoying themselves, and she looked on enviously. She was always on edge, just ready for someone to attack her, though she knew that there were plenty of guards at the ball. It was just her nature - to wait for the time when her defenses would slip and someone would come and hurt her. Whether it would be mentally or physically, she did not know. But Adara understood that keeping herself, and the others, safe was her main responsibility. She didn't have much time to enjoy herself or have fun. Though she sure would have liked to. . .

After a moment of thought, the young woman stepped tentatively out of the shadows' grasp and walked toward the edge of the large room. She moved with the grace of a hunter, and her thick, auburn hair trailed down her back like a lion's mane. The long, white dress she wore was strewn with black lace and flares of scarlet, and a matching mask twisted delicately across her face. The sharp angles of its design framed her amber eyes to create a wild, yet beautiful, image. She looked as she always did: a bit terrifying. A few men had approached her, but as her eyes had met theirs, they found a reason to leave. Perhaps if she had appeared a bit more inviting. . . but no, dancing did not matter - she was here simply because she was asked to, not because she wanted to. Adara decided that she would stick it out and remain a guest at the party. Shifting her weight to one foot, she wrapped her long fingers around a glass of wine and brought it to her lips, watching once again as the others danced. . .

[[I assumed Fahad was talking to me, Skyeblue. I hope I didn't make a mistake haha. But Adara is the only red-head in this RP haha]]

"Excuse me. Miss. May I ask you why you are standing alone this evening and interest you in a dance?"

The polite inquiry came from a man of average height and dark hair. He stood casually in front of Adara and had a rather bored look in his eye. It seemed as if he didn't like the idea of asking her, though he felt obligated. She raised her amber eyes to meet his and arched one eyebrow. "You do not seem as if the idea of dancing with me is something you would particularly enjoy." She took a slight sip of wine, then set it lightly on the tray of a passing waiter, murmuring a quiet "Thank you" as he moved away. "I have no qualms with dancing with you, but if you had rather not. . . Well then, I would not find it acceptable to pull you away from any other activity you find more enjoyable." As she said this, her voice was light, in a way as not to make her seem rude, but with the inflection to convey she understood if he decided to leave.

[[I'll be typing in a little bit for Reyne, the second twin, but right now I have to go to swimming. Talk to you soon, guys!]]

Sidhe laughed at the momentary discomfort the man felt being surrounded by girls, but he took care of it quickly with a flash of aura to scare them away. Behind her a stranger asked to dance but backed off at the sight of her red unblinking eyes. Turning back to watching the man, she felt a glimmer of magic, but couldn't tell its source or form but she could guess by a slight flash of an aura somewhere else that it was telepathy. So someone else is involved, she thought. Her sister started to dance with the man. Hmm how will that play out, she wondered. she returned to the window she had been standing by before with her twin.



"You do not seem as if the idea of dancing with me is something you would particularly enjoy." The redhead said to Fahad. Seeing what no else seemed to be able to interested him. Indeed he did not desire to dance or talk to anyone but he would make an allowance, both for his sister and this interesting girl. "I have no qualms with dancing with you, but if you had rather not. . . Well then, I would not find it acceptable to pull you away from any other activity you find more enjoyable." This girl was definately straight forward in saying her mind, that was for sure.

"To be truthful, I would rather be in the gardens." He replied, "But I am not allowed to walk away without first dancing with you." It occured to him that he may have jsut been rude, but his sister had told him to talk and dance with her, not be politically polite. His thoughts returned to the labrynth where it was much more peaceful. He reached out a hand, "Would you dance with me, Mlady?" He said using the phrase his advisiors told him to use.

Fahad was taken aback when the girl rejected his offer, no one else had done that that night. But she continued, "But I would be delighted to be shown a tour of the gardens, my good sir." She was offering to return to the peaceful outside? Well he wouldn't argue with that. He nodded and held out his arm for her to take and led the other girl outside, sparing a glance for his sister who had been watching his exchange. She gave a nod in approvement and turned to a man behind her who asked her to dance. Outside, Fahad walked in silence wandering with the girl, who he realized hadn't given her name, to one of the places he had previously discovered. It was a small secluded clearing surrounded by trees with pale flowers in the moonlight. Without a word he dropped her arm and walked over to a tree and smelled the pleasant fragrance, his expression lifting to one of content and peace. "These don't grow in Duskin." He said simply.



Sidhe noticed her twin returning from dancing. She seemed to be in a good mood, but then again Reyne had always been a social one. "How are you doing, Sidhe? Having fun?" She asked. Sidhe looked at her with an intense stare. Her sister knew very well how she was doing, they could always read each others emotions. At Reyne's next question she sighed. "Must I? King's are always so boring and pompous." She knew the answer, her older sister would say the same thing. The thing was that anyone she really talked to other than family either learned about something unsavory about their future or ended up with bad luck, especially if they were happy.

After extending her invitation for the strange man to show her the garden, Adara watched as he hesitated, then extended his arm to escort her outside. As they exited the crowded room, the air became cooler, and Adara gently released her hair from the thin ribbon that held it, letting it cascade down her back. While they walked slowly through the green garden, she glanced curiously at the man that held her from the corner of her eye. He was quiet, and this surprised her: for most, silence was uncomfortable. But between her and this man - whoever he may be - it was relaxing. Peaceful, even. After a moment, he paused and freed himself from her grasp, moving toward a tree growing white flowers that looked luminescent in the pale light of the moon. Delicately smelling one's flawless perfume, he sighed. "These don't grow in Duskin," he said simply.

Taking a step forward, she stood beside him, a careful distance away as not to disturb his distant train of thought. "Yes, I know," she answered softly. "I've lived there since I was young." She looked up to the moon, remembering. "It's lovely there - but a change of scenery is always nice. . ." Trailing her fingers lightly on a closed flower, it began to open until it smiled up at the dark sky. In the dim light, it shined beautifully, and she smiled slightly. "I've never had much chance to travel," she said sadly, looking up to meet his eyes.

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"Must I? King's are always so boring and pompous," Sidhe answered her.

Reyne laughed in response. "I know, twin, but our father expects us to marry." Suddenly, she sensed him in the large room, and as usual, he didn't seem to be in a good mood. She sighed, exasperated. "How wonderful, father has decided to grace us with his presence." Her voice was dark and sarcastic, and her eyes narrowed slightly. Turning back toward her sister, she spoke. "Well? What are you waiting for? Go dance! Have fun! You must find a husband - and I'd rather he go into this marriage willingly than me having to force him." She laughed quietly, moving away from Sidhe and toward the dance floor. "You can do it, twin. Just look inviting. Try to wipe that horrid look off your face - you almost scared me away. Giggling once again, she disappeared into the crowd of dancing couples and grabbed a man that stood on the edge of the group. "And who may you be?" she asked coyly, leading him onto the floor. . .

"Yes, I know," The girl said. "I've lived there since I was young." From the corner of his eye, he could see her looking up at the moon. "It's lovely there - but a change of scenery is always nice. . ." A flash of light caused his head to turn and he saw a flower blooning at the touch of her hand. So she has a little magic, he thought, It would be nice to enjoy the beauty of nature in his fullest at a touch, but he decided that nature at its full course had a truer beauty in itself. The girl continued. "I've never had much chance to travel," She said and looked at him, meeting his eyes. He found himself replying, even though he normal avoided talking as much as was polite. "Sadly, I have traveled more than I would have wished. Although I do make a point to visit gardens in the area when I can." He had always enjoyed that part of the diplomatic missions he went on. Each of the gardens he went to had a different theme and it was interesting to explore. He had always prefered them to the lengthy meetings and discussions he was forced to attend.



Reyne laughed and Sidhe rolled her eyes, it was true anyway and it didn't change the fact that she didn't want marry any king in the first place. "I know, twin, but our father expects us to marry." Reyne said and, like he was summoned with their world, there he was, his pressence flashing through the room, though he remained unseen.
"Speak of him and he shall appear," Sidhe said. Next to her, Reyne sighed, feeling as annoyed as she felt. "How wonderful, father has decided to grace us with his presence."

"Well? What are you waiting for? Go dance! Have fun! You must find a husband - and I'd rather he go into this marriage willingly than me having to force him." She laughed quietly, moving away from Sidhe and toward the dance floor. "You can do it, twin. Just look inviting. Try to wipe that horrid look off your face - you almost scared me away." Again, Sidhe rolled her eyes, nothing could scare her twin away. Plus she knew her countanence wasn't that frightening; just blank and unexpressive. Reyne did have a point however, with the arrival of their great father, she did have to make some attempt at following his orders. She placed a smile on her face, and subtly changed her face to a more pleasant countanence and made a show of having fun, though her aura was still one of displeasure and of wanting to be someplace else. She wandered the room over to the buffet table, food in the hand was one way to blend, better than staring out the window like the loner she was.

She reached the buffet table and while picking out a small fruit, she caught a whisp of a conversation nearby. Listneing closer she heard the sound of plotting in casual tones that blended in well with the hubub of the crowd. "My Lord has warned me that our enemies are already here., I have asked a protective prayer of Adoni. And if worse comes to worse, Adoni blessed me, and hid my sword and daggers from security's eyes. You may use my combat dagger, Lejla, if you were not able to keep any of your own." Hmm so more people were here to interfere in tonights great plans, she thought. She kept an ear on the group but turned away and made as if she were listening to the music instead; swaying to the beat while nibbling the small yellow fruit in her hand. She wanted to listen some more before telling her sister.

"Sadly, I have traveled more than I would have wished. Although I do make a point to visit gardens in the area when I can." The man beside her answered in a low voice.

As she looked up at the shining moon, Adara could feel the slight warmth of his skin near and heard the quiet hum of the Earth beneath her. Her voice was soothing when she spoke next, as not to disturb the comforting silence around them. "It confounds me how many people can be so oblivious to the beauty that constantly surrounds them. . " She stared off into the large garden that was spread in multi-colored hues before her, hinting at her slight obsession with the outdoors. "I spend most of my time in the forests near my cottage." Laughing quietly at herself, she finished, "No matter how often or how far I go, I can never seem to map out every part of that forest." She sighed happily. "It's truly awe-inspiring how nature can continuously change, yet still retain its magnificence."

As if suddenly sensing the heels that she wore, Adara bent down slightly and unhooked them from her feet, letting them hang gently down at her side as she held them by their straps. It felt as if she was ruining the flawless splendor of the green around her with the small needles of her sandals' heels. Though she realized this might seem to be an anomolous act by the man that stood beside her, she cared not. Most seemed to think that she was odd, anyhow, and one more person did not sway her decision. However, something about the man was interesting, and she could feel the Earth warm to the ground beneath his feet, as if Mother Nature herself smiled down upon him. Showing a small, rather genuine, smile, she wondered to herself how peculiar it was that she felt the need to share this intimate part of herself with him - this stranger that she had met only minutes before now.

But as she thought, something about the man was interesting. And curiously enough, she felt as though she could trust him with that - if only that.

"It confounds me how many people can be so oblivious to the beauty that constantly surrounds them." Fahad stiffened as she spoke the words he had thought many times before as he sat in stuffy rooms watching oh the window or when seeing people rush about to do their business when it was better to just sit still in peace. The girl spoke some more as Fahad watched her with curious eyes. Who was this girl who was a part of nature like him? "I spend most of my time in the forests near my cottage." She laughed nervously. "No matter how often or how far I go, I can never seem to map out every part of that forest. It's truly awe-inspiring how nature can continuously change, yet still retain its magnificence." Fahad nodded; he had felt that way to about some of his favorite places. Most didn't understand what it was he found so interesting about gardens that "didn't change" "or grew old and boring." This girl however felt like she understood completely.

Next to him he saw her bend down to take of her shoes to stand barefoot in the cool grass of the garden. She smiled and suddenly he felt like laughing, it was a simple action yet he too felt like relieving his feet of their shoes. He kicked them off and relished the texture of grass between his toes. It was a good feeling and he felt himself smiling; something his sister rarely was able to get him to do.

Once she had removed her shoes, the man beside her laughed quietly at the simple gesture she had used to express herself, then kicked off his shoes as well. He seemed to relax considerably and a slight smile warmed his face. Adara was shocked at the sudden change in his mood. A few moments before, he had been rather distant, but it seemed as if she had broken through the cold, outer-shell of his personality and released the part of him that was more genuine. Oddly enough, this pleased her immensely and her small small grew wider, her pale white teeth sparkling slightly in the dark. Her aunt had always told her that she looked beautiful when she smiled, but Adara never had much reason to, and so she was surprised when she began to grin so easily. Perhaps this party wasn't so bad after all. . .

Glancing down to look at her bare feet, she stared at the little drops of water that clung to her skin. The grass was damp - heavy with crystallized tears - and Adara began to trace a star pattern in the green blades that lay in front of her, dragging her toes across the wet ground. In seconds, the star was neatly engraved on the Earth - an earth-bound mockery of the shining ones that hung brightly against the dark backdrop of the night sky. Tilting her head to the side, she looked curiously at her creation and added three curved lines behind it - a shooting star. Not yet satisfied, Adara added a large, crescent moon that curved delicately around the star and stepped back to stare at it.

A few seconds later and she realized what a peculiar thing she was doing. With a slightly abashed expression on her face, she looked up at the man beside her and spoke softly. "I've always been fascinated with the stars. And I can only sleep after I've watched the moon for a moment before bed." She sighed quietly and looked up at the sky once again. "It seems to calm me down - and I have such a temper sometimes, I find that a good thing." She chuckled at her own expense.

Fahad watched still as the girl began making designs in the wet grass; a star, no, a shooting star and a moon. It seemed as if she suddenly realized what she was doing and looked up at him embarassed. "I've always been fascinated with the stars. And I can only sleep after I've watched the moon for a moment before bed."She said "It seems to calm me down - and I have such a temper sometimes, I find that a good thing." Fahad didn't believe that this quiet girl, so in tune with nature could have a temper. He looked up at the stars as well, "You seem too calm to have a temper," He said simply, observing what he knew about her so far. For some reason, he felt at ease around her, Some thing he never felt around the people who talked too much or moved too much, a girl like that seemed to have a calm disposition as he was.

"You seem much too calm to have a temper," he said simply."

Glancing up from her feet, Adara met the man's eyes and curiousity alighted gently in hers. Pursing her lips and looking upward in thought, she said, "Yes, I suppose you would think that." Staring back at the tree that stood tall in front of them, she caressed the flower that had opened at her touch earlier and the petals folded inward, until it was wrapped into itself once again. "Perhaps it is your quiet nature that is so near to mine, but I do not usually speak this freely to others. It's most likely your tranquility that is enveloping me, and in turn keeping me as peaceful as you seem." The corner of her lips tipped upward almost unnoticably into a wry smile. "I tend to hide my feelings from others, as some of the things that I think would anger them. . . I suppose I deserve the scorn that I receive, however: if you ask for honesty, then it shall be given - " She paused and bit her lip lightly, running a hand through her tousled, auburn hair. " - Rather, as much of the truth as is polite. . ."

Far away, from inside the large house behind them, a loud gong sounded in the air and a voice could just be made out. "The midnight hour is almost here ladies and gents! Please make way back into the ballroom for the unveiling!"

Turning toward the ballroom, Adara quietly slid on her black heels and began to walk in its direction. Pausing her long stride, she looked back over her shoulder at the man that stood behind her. In the moon light, her amber eyes gave off a sharp glint and the dress she wore shined a pearly white, her long hair gleaming darkly as if a shadow, creating a hauntingly beautiful image. "Would you accompany me, sir? I have yet to know your name or face."

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After a few moments of dancing, Reyne noticed her sisters stir. Her father came from his shadow in the corner and began to move toward the distractions. Excusing herself from the man she was with, she moved to the edge of the room. Reyne loosened her mask slightly, readying to remove it, and quietly felt the auras of the others around her: excitement, love, surprise. Tuning out the insignificant feelings of the humans, she felt her sisters' - they all had a dark, maroon sphere encirling them. They were ready - and now. . .

It was time.

As they reached the ballroom, the deep moan of the clock striking twelve drifted hauntingly through the night air. Walking through the large crowd that had gathered in the room, a young woman approached the two and grabbed the arm that hung on the man's side. "My pardons, Miss, but I need my brother for a little bit. Do you mind?" With that, she pulled him away from Adara, and they were gone in a matter of seconds. But before he had left, the man managed to throw her a slightly apologetic smile before being dragged into the crowd.

Adara watched him being drawn away from her, looking on curiously. Through the ground - though it was barely made of Earth - she felt the two nearing the front of the crowd. After a few moments she saw him move toward the stage, and in seconds come to stand atop it, right beside the other kings.

She realized why he had felt the need to ask her to dance before - and why he traveled so often. How odd. . . she thought inquiringly. He's a king.

He hadn't seemed like one. Most were overly charming, and reveled in the attention offered from being a king. But this man that she had been with. . . he was rather quiet, and he had told her before that he enjoyed spending time in the gardens of the places he went - much more than being with people he was supposed to be with.

As Adara understood that she - a rather wild, anti-social girl - had just spent the last of a long evening with a king - well, it made her want to laugh. How ignorant she could be sometimes! She looked up in time to see him remove his mask and laughed quietly under her breath, a slight smile playing around her lips.

A king. . . Who would have thought. . .

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Reyne stood with her mask hanging loosely from her ears.

It was time.

Bringing her arms up at her sides, she held her hands, palms up, and began chanting the dark spell that wast o cast the barrier around the kings. There was only one missing now. She stood near the front of the crowd, just covered by enough people to hide the low words she spoke. Soon. . . soon it would time - time to release the magick that she held inside her - just waiting to erupt. The magnitude of their magick together would be incredible.

And Reyne couldn't wait to watch the chaos that ensued.

[[I apologize for my horrid writing, guys! Not much going on in this head of mine. . .]]

Reyne watched curiously as Amaris explained the predicament that the kings were in. The one with light brown hair stepped forward and politely rejected the 'offer', stating that the Kingdoms did not pass down IOU's from generation to generation - unless, of course, it involved money. He had a way about him that sparked curiousity in her - how he was able to turn down their offers gently, yet with a regal-air in his words. The other kings quietly agreed with him and her sister asked again, confirming that they truly wished to reject the sorceresses.

Reyne could feel the intentions behind Amaris' final offer - her sister had a love for causing chaos, but Reyne knew that the rejection was a small pain in her side.

She listened softly as they continued to talk, tuning in on her twin's thoughts. Sidhe knew that something bigger than all of them was coming, something that they had not been planned. The world in front of her flashed red as she felt her twin release dark magic on the ones that the king's had already chosen.

Who knew. . . she mused. Perhaps twin can become jealous. . .

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Adara watched as four young women moved toward the kings, and she suddenly felt the ground beneath them vanish from her range of sensation. It seemed as if a large sphere engulfed the eight and Adara no longer had contact with them. They began to speak to themselves, the eldest of the four sorceresses - for that is what she assumed them to be - acted as spokesperson for her younger siblings.

Adara was too far away from the group to hear what they said, and so she began to move closer when a searing pain caused her to fall suddenly to her knees. Gasping in shock, she clasped a hand above her heart, on the place of her strange birthmark. The burning continued on, but she attempted to stand, fighting against the awful sting. The pain finally won, and she fell to the floor, her pale dress surrounding her in a sea of white.

Around her, others looked on as she collapsed, until the sound of another girl dropping drew away their attention.

Chaos had finally arisen.

[[Sorry for posting so late - I was busy! But you guys are doing awesome ^.^ Nice story going along.]]

Reyne listened as they requested Amaris' final offer, and her sister began to chant a spell of dark magick. Joining her, Reyne felt the power surge inside them and as they let go, it was forced onto the kings and the spell was upon them. The veil protecting them from the people around them disappeared, and so did she. She and her sisters were invisible, and Amaris began to walk away from the small group. Slipping unnoticed through the crowd, Reyne headed toward the stables outside, where her large stallion waited calmly for her. As she moved to mount him, her fingers traced the grey and black spots that lingered on his blazing white coat. Jumping nimbly on his back, she tangled her fingers in his mane and squeezed gently with her legs. The horse reared back on its hind legs, letting out a loud whinny, and bolted from the stable.

Reyne galloped of into the stark night, invisible to all eyes.

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"Hello."

The quiet voice interrupted her reverie, and Adara looked up to see the man whom she had been with just moments ago - though it had seemed like hours. Now that he was closer to her, she saw his face clearly. The man - king - looked to be only a few years older than she, and had soft features that were hardened by the strength in his eyes. She looked curiously at him, then answered him.

"Hello." She stepped away from the wall she had been leaning on and chuckled lightly at the realization of what had just occurred. "You have been curse, my king." Her tone was serious now, soft and light at the mention of the sorceresses' dark spell. "I pray that you are not hurt from their spell?" The inflection in her voice formed a small question as she looked him over for any injuries.

Adara remembered suddenly that she had no knowledge of his name, and so told him hers. "My name is Adara - Adara Waraqa. It means Fire Leaf in Arabic." Looking at him almost coyly from the corner of her eye, she asked," May I know yours?"

"You have been curse, my king." the girl said after Fahad had come up to her. She seemed to find the notion amusing. He chuckled too. "So I have," he said, smiling as well. Then she became serious, "I pray that you are not hurt from their spell?" She asked, looking him over for injuries. He shook his head. "I feel fine, there is something on me chest however, it may be a witches mark." He shrugged. He realized he was talking easily with this girl, when he usually was more silent. It could be because she was so like him.

"My name is Adara - Adara Waraqa. It means Fire Leaf in Arabic." She said. Fire leaf. It was a pretty name, but why didn't she know his name? He was king, he though that everyone would have been able to recognize him. "Fahad Shahbaz" He said in return. "It means Leopard Royal Falcon. Shahbaz is the royal family name."

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Jasmyne watched with satisfaction as her brother hit it off with the red headed girl. Matchmaking strikes again. Scanning the room she spotted King Alexander with a girl crying. She walked over to see if she could help any. "I am sorry, normally I am not this emotional. I just wish none of this had happened. What will we do now? And how will we break the curse? We don't even know what it does yet." she said through tears as Jasmyne approached. Alex responded ''We shall have to know what the curse will do."

"I vote we just wait until something happens as there isn't anything we could do about it now and there isn't anything visibly wrong with you at the moment." Jasmyne said entering the conversation. She remembered meeting this King with her brother this morning when all four kings gathered together for the first time. "Hello, I'm Jasmyne Shahbaz. Princess of Duskin." She said introducing herself to the girl.

Seeing the slightly stunned look on his face when she asked for his name, Adara laughed quietly at his miffed expression.

"Fahad Shahbaz," he said in return. "It means Leopard Royal Falcon. Shahbaz is the royal family name."

The corners of her mouth tipped up into a small smile as she began to explain her lack of knowledge to him. "You see, I live in a small cottage on the outskirts of the Kingdom - of Duskin, that is. I prefer to be alone and so I rarely see others, other than the occasions when I must venture into the less dense parts of the Kingdom to purchase any supplies I need." She laughed again, a bit wryly, and said, "It's really very odd that you have met me at all - I am not particularly good at socializing and I find it rather interesting when others do." With these words, her smiled widened slightly. "People are incredibly amuzing to watch - so absorbed with themselves that they barely notice anything else!" She sighed, her expression hardening just noticeably. "But I suppose I must not judge," she chastized herself lightly, looking up to meet his eyes. "It's easy to forget the world around you sometimes."

She chuckled softly under her breath. "But I digress. . . The ball is almost over, is it not?" she asked curiously, looking up at the big clock that hung on the wall behind her, then at the confusion that was laid out in front of the two. "I suppose everyone is in a bit of hysterics. . . Perhaps it is better if we all go home to calm ourselves - especially the kings." As she said this, she glanced wearily at Fahad who stood beside her. Though he looked fine, she wanted to be sure he wouldn't suddenly pass out. The reminder of the curse played around in her mind as she remembered the sorceresses.

What if the curse is worse than we think? Perhaps we're underestimating it. . .

[[Sorry about the long post guys. Adara's part is not really that relevant, so feel free not to read it haha]]

"My apologies, but I have been called away to a kings' council at the Bonsai tree." Fahad bowed slightly in front of her, then added, "Perhaps we shall meet again."

"Perhaps." Adara watched as the man moved away from her, toward his sister, it seemed she was. She was exhausted from all that had happened this night, and her only wish at this point was to go home. Her wamy, tiny little house in the middle of the towering trees in the wood where she and her fox, Red, stayed. She missed Red, when in fact, she had brought him with her.

Quickly stepping outside, Adara felt through Earth until she found the feel of his small paws on the ground nearby. The little kit was wandering the maze, exactly what she had told him not to do. With a sigh, she slid off her heels and held them at her side as she began the long trek toward the young fox, determinedly marching through the large hedges.

After a few long minutes of walking, Adara came across the kit where he ran clumsily after a leaf, pouncing and jumping just centimeters away from it as it floated lazily in the air. She laughed at the sight of the silly animal and creapt up behind him, playfully sweeping him up into her arms and cradling him lovingly to her body. The baby fox looked up at her with large brown eyes, and growled happily.

"Didn't I tell you not to wander the maze?" she chastized him lightly.

His big eyes looked guiltily away from her.

"I only want you to stay safe! Now, we'll be starting for home tomorrow, so be sure to stay from people until then."

Adara gently set him down on the grass and began to walk toward the large forest that connected with the outer walls of the maze. As was known, she had a rather harsh disliking for humans, and so she had stayed in the trees - after all, she had only planned on being in Mornia for a few days, at most. In a large oak, a canvas bag filled with supplies sat nestled in the high branches of the tree. Throwing her shoes down, Adara slid her dress over her head - where, in fact, she had been wearing a thin tanktop and a pair of cloth shorts underneath - and dropped it onto the ground, a rather unlady-like thing to do. She began to climb the huge tree and was on the same branch as the canvas bag in a matter of seconds.

Adara sat casually on the rough bark and opened the bag, rifling quickly through the things. Absentmindedly, she pulled the the clip that had pulled back her slight layers out of her hair, and it fell in a wave of auburn around her face. The girl then found what she had been looking for and uncovered it from inside the folds of the bag. A thick, canvas water bottle was held in her hand and she wrapped the long strap over her shoulder and around her waist. After a bit more time, she pulled a small apple from out of it, and then a thin piece of cheese. She put these in the pouch of the water bottle and began her climb down.

Red sat at the bottom of the tree, looking curiously up at her. When she reached the ground, Adara pulled the cheese and apple out of the pouch and held it in front of him. The little fox quickly snatched the two and began to eat. She took off the cap of the bottle and poured out a small amount of water into it, setting it onto the forest floor next to Red.

After a moment of watching him, satisfied with his appetite, she sat down near the tree, resting her back against the cool bark.

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Reyne rode for a long time, until she finally reached the safe house and slowed her horse. She jumped neatly off the stallion's back and lead him to the stables, giving him a large, orange carrot on the way. When she left him, he was happily munching on the vegetable.

Entering the house, Reyne saw her father lounging lazily on a couch and Amaris wandering around, attempting to ignore her father's presence. Her twin, Sidhe, sat nearby, reading a book - though Reyne could tell that her twin's attention was being easily pulled away from the story's words. Reyne was immediately bored by the uninteresting-ness of her family.

With an exasperated sigh, she began to walk away from the three, sweeping quietly through the dark halls of the house. She paused in front of an old door made of dark mahogany with a worn, unfinished look about it. She gripped the doorknob and roughly pushed it. The slab of wood creaked against its hinges, but didn't budge. She pushed once again and with a loud groan, the door yielded and slowly opened.

Inside, it was dark. Reyne tried vainly to flick on the switch but it was nowhere to be found. She murmure a quick spell and a small ball of lighty floated in front of her in the air. It entered the bulb of a dingy lamp nearby and the room was suddenly bathed in its warm glow. She moved toward a a small book shelf that sat in the corner of the tiny room, and rifled through the limited array of titles.

Paradise Lost

Reyne suddenly found the book and pulled it from the shelf, flipping it over in her hand and brushing it silently off. She rose and turned to sit on the bed, leaning back against the post and opening the book. She began to read, her eyes scanning the neat words.

In the forest, Adara heard the cries of shock and wonder at the kings' transformation, and she felt the thud of their new limbs on Earth's damp surface. Forgetting her dress at the base of the tree, she quickly swung Red into her arms and began walking in the direction of the kings. In a few moments, she arrived - but stayed hidden - and saw four animals in place of each young man: a bear, an eagle, a leopard, and a wolf. The leopard's eyes were a clear evergreen, and she noticed the hint of amusement they held. The bear also looked rather pleased with the sudden occurrence and rolled playfully onto its back.

She had been curious of the events that had taken place - but still had respect for the privacy that the group clearly wanted - and so Adara started to walk back into the woods, setting the little fox onto the forest floor and sitting beside the great tree. Though it was an odd happening, she would simply have to wait until they were ready to tell everyone.

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Reyne listened to her father's satisfaction at the spell his daughter's had created, his low voice complimenting their work. She scoffed in contempt at his seflishness and continued to read her book - but she soon got distracted by the smell of food that continued to caress her sensitive nose. Sighing quietly, she set her book on the nightstand beside the bed and rose from the soft mattress. The girl had slid off her heels and now padded barefoot down the long hall, her nose constantly in the air. She silently slipped into the kitchen and began to pull a few things out of the large refrigerator that stood in a corner of the open space, putting them onto the counter next to her sisters.

"Mind if I help?"

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Jason watched quietly at the kings' shift into animal form, and a haiku he thought of suddenly whispered on his lips.



With a sigh at the simplicity of his poetic thoughts, he brought his mind back to the present and gauged the kings' reactions - two seemed positively confused at the change, and yet two others were eagerly discovering their new bodies. He chuckled softly under his breath and turned toward Harumi as she began to speak.

"There is a way to remove the curse," she said, her gaze on the ground beneath her feet. "Would you like to explain it - Lejla, Lavilev, Jason? - or shall I?"

Jason looked at the others, then spoke for himself in a low, and soothing, voice. "I believe that you are fully capable of that yourself, Harumi. I have no objection of you speaking."

Now that he had voiced his opinion, he was silent again, and faded into the simple background of their calm setting, listening to the others speak amongst themselves.