The Kingdom of Winterfall

Hikari Neshomaru

Hikari peered down at the girl who clutched her neck. Her legs suspended in the air, she said, "I have already submitted to you, fair Akronea." A pleasant smile grew on her face, almost mockingly, but not quite. "Now, I was simply saying that we should leave this place, before my fellow guardians come, and put an end to you."

Hikari would not give this demon the satisfaction she desired. She wanted to see Hikari scream. She wanted to see Hikari beg for her life. She wanted to diminish Hikari until she was nothing but a ghost of her former self. Well, Hikari would not have it. In fact, she would rather die.

She knew the danger, the prospect of her imminent death. Although, it all did not seem to register to her, even with the pointed tip of Akronea's tail glistening with beads of blood that belonged to her.

((ignore))

Lithos found it hard to calm down. Hikari was someone who assisted him in getting inside, which was very important. He knew he had to do something in return. He saw that some of his fellow guardians began to act, and saw the urgency to assist them.He turned to the others who didn't even speak and spoke.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" he told them. He turned to Setz, "Come with me."

He then ran to Kyran. He had to admit, seeing the corpses again was still as horrific as the first time.

"She left a few moments ago..." Lithos coughed, he placed down his sword for a moment and went to his cart, "...I should have followed her. *cough*cough* I could have stopped that...fiend who has caused this bloodshed on such a peaceful land. Any guesses where she could have gone?"

Kyran heard the other guardian run up behind him and turned his light blue eyes to Lithos.

"She left a few moments ago..." Lithos coughed, he placed down his sword for a moment and went to his cart, "...I should have followed her. *cough*cough* I could have stopped that...fiend who has caused this bloodshed on such a peaceful land. Any guesses where she could have gone?"

He shouldn't blame himself. This was out of his control. Kyran turned to him with a small reassuring smile.

"No. You did the right thing. If Hikari was taken so easily, I'm sure it is a very strong opponent." Kyran pondered the question for a moment. "It can't have been too long. I'm sure they are still in Snowflake Citty somewhere. The two couldn't have gone far." He surveyed the scene again and felt a wave of revulsion. What a heartless person.... "If we split up, maybe in pairs, I'm sure we'll be able to find her." It was just a suggestion. Kyran had never really been asked for his opinion. He was a listener that was able to follow directions almost perfectly. A teacher's star pupil they called him.... every parent's dream child. However.. maybe it was time KYran grew out of that shell.

Lithos nodded to Kyran, "First, we need more companions. Judging by the looks of it, their killer is fast and clean, like an assassin. But, it seems whoever did this had quite the body heat."

He brought out his gauntlets and a stone shield. His smooth hands slipped into the tough, bulky gauntlets that were his father's. The feeling of stronger hands made him more comfortable in a way that he became confident he could fight.

"A while ago, before Hikari left, I felt movement in the earth. Not only that, I also felt something heavy and fast. It could be anything, but I have a feeling the being we are looking for." Lithos said, "Anyway, if we're dealing with anything powerful and could lift rocks, it's no problem. I'm the Guardian of Earth, I know rocks."

Setz allowed a small smile after Lithos spoke. "That's awfully convenient," he noted, gazing around the crime scene, making his own observations. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of fingerless gloves. They weren't necessary, he just liked them, admittedly. He put them on as he strode about, almost pacing. "Heavy and fast... Everything leaves a trail, wouldn't you agree? They can't have gotten too far, anyhow..." he trailed off as he paused his pacing, observing the scene with narrow eyes. Most amusing. A disappearance case. This would most certainly keep him occupied.

"Heh, yeah most people aren't even allowed near the Palace, your lucky. You can follow me via the sound of my voice right so we don't have to hold hands all the way there?" Nate snickered to himself as he walked towards the Palace which stood above the walls of the city. He started to walk towards the tower while giving Dante a little tour showing him all the sights, err places in the kingdom, he really didn't care if Dante payed attention it was more for the fact that Dante could follow him by voice. Within minutes they arrived at the Palace Gates. He saw some blood, they tried to wash most of it away and they almost succeeded. Nate mumbled a few curse words under his breath as he signaled the guards to open the gate. The guards on the bottom signaled the guard in the watch tower who then began to open the gate with haste. "Hes with me, hes the Guardian of err...Sound, I think." Nate said referring to Dante. Nate walked into the gates as Dante followed. "Ron!" Nate called out to one of the guards. "Yes!" Ron quickly replied. "Show this man to where the rest of the Guardians are meeting, I have some questions to ask." Nate mumbled, it was still loud enough for people to hear though. "Oh and your going to actually have to direct him." Nate winked giving Ron the hint as he recalled the blood outside the gates, he couldn't go back outside them or the guards themselves would get suspicious, however he knew Hikari would know something.


((I sort of controlled Dante just for movement, nothing major.))

Fawn Wildrose ~ Castle Grounds

Fawn looked around her. It seemed Amora had landed on the grass beside the castle. She saw a cluster of people at the gates, looking somewhat destressed. Fawn let out a soft whistle, and Amora tucked her great white wings at her sides and trotted over to the people. Then she saw what they were looking at.
It seemed as though people where trying to wash blood off the stone. Her stomach twisted into a knot. She got there in time to hear one of the men there say they would need more compainions. Being the trusting girl she was, Fawn brushed her silvery blonde hair away from her sky blue eyes, and smiled at them. "Gaurdian of Plants, and my stubborn pegases at your service. Im Fawn Wildrose."
She introduced herself, her face gentle. "Dont worry, I can do more then grow really big vegetables." Fawn told them as Amora spread her powerful wings and held her head high, as though to show she was useful, too.
"So what exactly happened here?"

Hikari Neshomaru

Hikari's vision was turned into a blur as Akronea scooped her up into her arms, and it was no comfortable embrace. Relief washed over her as she felt her feet touch the ground once more, but the pungent odor of blood clogged her nostrils, making her equally horrified. Lost in rumination, Hikari had forgotten the events that were unfolding before her eyes. That was until a pegasus landed in front of them, bearing a small girl on her back.

At that moment, Hikari had a revelation. There was yet a way that she could escape the child's malicious intentions. However, it was very risky. Hikari began to squirm in an attempt to break free of the contact between herself and Akronea.

It took Lithos some time before he got an idea. It was simple, yes, but he had a feeling it would work. It would involve his companions' elemental powers and which ones he should use together.

"I have an idea," he told the others, hopefully catching their attention, "but it will involve our elemental powers and our groupings..."

Those were all he could say before nearly collapsing again. This time, he hit the ground hard. "Guess we should...get going now..." he said.

Fawn Wildrose ~ Castle Gates

Fawn smiled gentley as Lithos introduced himself. "Pleasure to meet you, Lithos." she spoke softly, glancing up at the sky worriedly. "I came with my sister- She should have been here by now." she glanced at the others, biting her lip. When Lithos spoke again, she looked over at him. He needed them to use their elemental powers for something, but he didn't explain. She nodded.

Suddenly, he collapsed and fell hard against the earth. She quickly hopped off of Amora and helped him off. "We are going to need you, and it won't be much help if you are seeming like you might collapse." she told him, helping him onto Amora without asking him if he wanted to go on the pegases with her. "Amora, it would be best if you didn't kill any of the guardians, so no nosedives or taking off without my command." Fawn told her, and the horse's wings drooped a little, as though she was disappointed. Fawn climbed onto the horse, sitting in front Lithos.

She then whistled softly and touched her heels on Amora's side, aiming her towards the gate. She trotted towards the newcomer who had a blindfold over his eyes. "You are the guardian of sound, right?" she asked before going on. "I am Fawn Wildrose, guardian of plants."

At this point, Lithos dwells in a spiritual presence. He felt more than a man, than a mage, somewhat, calmer. He knew right away that he has somewhat tapped into his inner power. He began seeing events of his past. His childhood, his first project, his family, the war...

That's when his eyes shot open...and when his body fell off the horse with a loud thud. "Ow..." he said, he did fall head first into the solid ground. "If only I could make the ground much...softer. Oh well, I guess now is the time to-"

He stared at the tall being he assumed was Dante. Aside from the fact that he's blind and a tad younger, he seems to be a proud man who is skilled in...something. "So..." Lithos said, "...I assume you are this...Dante. 'Dante Valamere', eh? Hmm, nice name. I am Lithos Terra, Guardian of Earth and a humble potter."

"So..." Lithos said, "...I assume you are this...Dante. 'Dante Valamere', eh? Hmm, nice name. I am Lithos Terra, Guardian of Earth and a humble potter."

"Well for being a humble potter you sure make an entrance." Dante spoke, "Of course falling off, what I assume to be a horse, wouldn't be my first choice." Dante jocularly spoke. "Well of course it is a 'nice' name, my parents certainly knew what they where doing when they named me." Dante smirked. "After all if it's name that can be remembered then the person who possess it shall be as well." Dante spoke pridefully. "So the guardian of Earth?" The Dante pondered for a moment. "So you basically move rocks around right?" Dante commented in a frank but wryly manner. Dante then heard a lot of birds flapping across the sky all moving towards some place. Hm that's weird I didn't know winter came already. Dante joked as he heard more birds flock towards a site. Although he was distracted he still kept his body in the general direction of the two guardians. He then started to hear some dogs and cats? Odd is the traveling circus in town or what? Dante pondered as to why a lot of animals are suddenly active, Did the meat market suddenly explode and it's raining bits and pieces or what? Still Dante kept his thoughts to himself as he was really unaware of what was happening.

"Yes, that's pretty much most of what I do..." Lithos said, he was cut short by the sight of hordes of animals passing by. Cats, dogs, birds, cattle, horses, and even rats swarmed the streets. Suddenly, he felt disturbances in the earth. It felt like a stampede of land-based creatures are heading for a certain spot. If this was some sort-of mystical gathering of the animals or the result of a spell is unclear to him, but he had a guess.It seemed to make sense, two guardians lost, animals gathering, seemed like someone was calling for help. The more Lithos thought of it, the more intense he became. He owed Hikari for helping him get in, he had to return that debt.

"Fawn," he asked, "you said your sister is supposed to be here right now, right? Do you know what her power is? Because I think your sister's and Hikari's disappearances are somehow connected."

Fawn glanced down at the person in front of her. "Its very nice to meet you, Dante. And i'm on a pegasus." She told him gently, her voice soft and soothing. When Lithos fell off Amora, Fawn reached out to help him, but slowly pulled her arm back when he seemed unharmed. When hordes of animals ran by, her stomach clenched and her heart nearly stopped. Her eyes wide, she stared. Argene!

When Lithos asked her if the disapearences when connected, she nodded. "My sister is the gaurdian of animals. The animals are going to her. I have to follow them. I can take one of you with me on Amora, if you would rather not get trampled." She spoke quickly, her voice trembling. She had lost her parents- if she lost Argene, she would have nobody left! She loved her sister. She couldnt lose her. 'I need one of you to come with me. Please. I can't save her on my own."

"This sounds pretty serious." Dante spoke up as he heard Fawn's plea. "Well I am suppose to see the King but that could be boring and well frankly this sounds more interesting." Dante said as gave a smirk. "I might as well go and well I don't know hear whats happening." Dante said as he moved closer to the horse. "Now how do you get on one of these things?" Dante asked. "I have never ridden on a horse before." spoke Dante as he tried to estimate the height of the horse.

He would feel a bit embarrassed if he asked to be hoisted upon like he was a child. Yet he had no idea of how he should approach the horse. He has heard every animal has different temperaments making it hard to judge how the animal would react. Of course it could be said the same with his music. Different tones and pitches affect different walks of life making each a mystery as to who or what will be affected. Yet I guess that isn't the most apt comparison in this situation. Dante stood there and slowly made his way next to the horse. "Now nice horsey, I'm just looking for a ride." Dante said in a quiet tone.