Notes: Everything that is in brackets, [ ], are author’s notes. Each character has a different color and they write in that color. There might be one word not appropriate for little children. The symbol(s) in the middle of a line is a subject change, or time has gone by. The little numbers on the right are how the pages are in the book. Some of the people’s shade of color might change, but if it is: Blue-Thorn, Green-Arrowstorm, Red-Rosia, and Purple-Mary Ann

->->->->->RPG book #1<-<-<-<-<-

Characters

Thorn->

Thorn is a big glob of purple goo. She is the fighter for the group. She has no magic. She is also a shape shifter, that could turn into any mobile living thing. She doesn’t sleep and doesn’t age. She when she needs to recuperate she turns into goo. In the human form of thorn you will never see her face.

Arrowstorm->

Arrowstorm is an elven archer and tracker. She is also possessed of some forest-magic and can fight with a short sword if it gets to be close quarters. Arrowstorm started the quest and is enjoying it to the utmost. Arrowstorm is 1563 years old.

Rosia->

Rosia is a gryfalcon. She has barely fledged. Her wish was to have some fighting skills, so she can defend herself. Her feathers are rusty-brown and she paints with her tail. She would be able to do magic, but since she was abandoned after she hatched she does not know how to control it. Rosia joined the group because she was lost and it sounded like fun.

Mary Ann->

Mary Ann is fifteen with very little fighting skills. She uses her magic, instead, to defend herself. She is the daughter of the Black wizard. She was tortured by her father until the wizard David taught her right from wrong. Her father imprisoned her and vowed to destroy the wizard David.

Summary

Arrowstorm, Thorn, and Sangel met in Og’s Tavern when they all got stuck around one table. Thorn and Sangel became interested in a map that Arrowstorm had found. They all decided to follow the map to wherever it may go.

In following the map they came across a cave. Inside the cave they saved a prince and a princess. The princess they sent on her way. Sangel fell in love with the prince, who turned into a frog when kissed, and they brought him along.

The map finally led to the castle of the Wizard David. Each traveler had to pass a challenge to enter (except the frog prince). The wizard sent them off to capture the “Sword of Ultimate Sorcery” from a cave to the north in exchange for a wish.

On the way there they met an old woman selling chocolate covered things. To make her leave them alone they gave her the frog prince to cover in chocolate and Sangel followed after.

Arrowstorm and Thorn traveled to the cave and battled a chimera to gain entrance. While inside the cave they met a gryfalcon named Rosia who was lost in the cave. When Rosia heard about their quest she decided to come with them. With her help they obtained the sword and returned to the wizard David’s castle.

The wizard granted Rosia’s wish to have some fighting skills and then disappeared. The travelers angrily searched the castle until a ransom appeared from the Black Wizard. Thorn knew the way to his castle and they started off.

When they arrived they found that there was a magical shield around the castle. They circumvented it by shoving Thorn though the keyhole to get the key and unlock the shield.

Rosia, Arrowstorm and Thorn began their search for the Wizard David in the Dungeons. There they met Mary Ann, the Black Wizard’s daughter, whom he had imprisoned in the dungeons. She was able to guide them toward the Wizard David…

Scribed by

Arrowstorm

----------

The foursome followed Mary Ann. They found the Wizard David sleeping in a dungeon cell. They then proceeded to open the door, to find it was locked. So Mary Ann & Thorn went in search for a key while Arrowstorm and Rosia stayed with the wizard. It was a good thing Mary Ann knew the way through the corridors of the dungeon. They fell upon a staircase leading upward, and a key ring with several keys on it. They grabbed the ring and returned to the other half to the team. Thorn & Mary Ann came back to discover Rosia and Arrowstorm in the cell with the wizard.

“Why are you in the cell? And how’d you get there?” asked Mary Ann.

“We touched the bars. So… don’t touch the bars,” responded Arrowstorm.

The wizard had woken up and was sedated. He was probably drugged or put under a Groggy spell. Thorn fumbled with the keys and opened the door. And the three prisoners cautiously came out of the cell, careful not to touch the bars. Mary Ann guided the group to the mysterious stairway. They sent thorn up the stars as a fly so incase of danger,

it would not have died. Meanwhile the wizard David was babbling about a black beast. He was scaring the heroes.

“Shut UP!! Stop Talking!” shouted Mary Ann.

“Shhhh…,” ordered Arrowstorm, “We don’t want to be heard.”

“Bzzzz.. Bzzzz.. It’s all clear up there,” buzzed Thorn, “It’s safe.”

So the semi-frightened group headed up the staircase. It seemed to last forever, and it had the illusion of shrinking. And it seemed Rosia wasn’t going to fit. But, it was an illusion. When they reached the end, they came upon a gigantic White room with prisms everywhere. They heard an earth-shattering roar. And the prisms shook on their strings.

“It’s here,” whispered the wizard, “it’s going to get us,” frantically the wizard tried to flee. But Thorn in its human form grabbed the terrified wizard.

“Get a hold on yourself, Man.” Said Thorn. And it appeared. A great big black beast. It had wings and neon green eyes. It flapped its wings and the breeze almost

blew back the crowd. Mary Ann ran to a close by wall, as did the wizard. Arrowstorm retreated to an attack position, while Thorn turned into goo, and morphed back into its human form.

“I don’t have enough energy. I’m wasted.” She said to Rosia.

“Geez! Now what are we going to do.” She responded.

“We are all going to fight!!!,” shouted Thorn. It reached for its staff and it accidentally hit a prism. And the black beast winced in pain.

“Quick destroy the prisms. Let’s kill the tyrant!” shouted Thorn.

Mary Ann used her magic to explode the prisms. While Rosia was just smashing them with her tail. And Arrowstorm was using her arrows to hit crash the things. Thorn was swinging her staff in the air to strike the prisms. The wizard was still against the wall scared half to death. The black beast shrank into a skinny little human, breathing hard, and cut and bloody. The fivesome gathered around the almost life-less Black wizard.

Mary Ann walked foreword before anyone else could. She knelt before him and he saw her. “Mary Ann!” he squealed. “Well father… the tables are turned aren’t they.” She held out her hand and he reached out to touch it “You always were forgiving” he grinned weakly, taking he hand, “Not all father, I’ve cursed you.” He yelled out at her. But she simply walked out of the room, the others followed her. Rosia had to carry the wizard, he was still babbling. Mary Ann stopped briefly at her room to grab some cloths and take a few items she needed for magic. “Let’s go.” She said darkly and hurried out of the house. “What’s going to happen to the wizard?” Mary Ann looked at Arrowstorm, “Father? He has his magic, but he is bound to the grounds of the castle. David I’ll work on an antidote for.” Mary Ann showed them the door and followed them out. Arrowstorm, Rosia, and Thorn gathered in a circle to speak as Mary Ann went to the well. “Should we take her?” asked Arrowstorm, “Magic would be useful.” David said, Rosia held him by his collar in her beak. “She seems nice and why not?” said

Thorn. “Magic would be…” David began babbling again. “She won’t be able to travel in that dress,” but as Rosia spoke Mary Ann swirled about then examined herself and her new outfit, breeches and a brown blouse. “Fine with me if she comes.” Rosia grinned as best she could, with a beak and carrying a human.

Mary Ann approached, “Well I’ll be off-”

“Where to?” she shrugged. “Adventure I suppose.”

“Well come with us, plenty of adventure there.” Mary Ann grinned, “Thanks.”

There was a meow from Mary Ann’s pack. She laughed and took out a cat. “Firefly will have to come too.”

“Firefly?” Thorn inquisitively looked at the cat.

“I met her in the dungeon one night, I thought her eyes were fireflies.” Mary Ann explained as they left.

⌂

One week later around a fire they were discussing what they could explore, Mary Ann was fiddling with a potion over a fire. Every once in a while she’d touch the pot and it would glow she’d scowl and she’d add some stuff to it. Every once in awhile she’d add something to the

conversation. “The cliffs in Florence are infested with dragons, father and them would often work out deals.” Then the conversation would speak of going there and someone else would mention Latica’s witches, and so the conversations went. At last Mary Ann touched the pot and it exploded. “I got it!” she yelled! The pot was glowing a florescent blue she took it [gosh writing in band id difficult!] and rushed to David and threw the mixture on him. He jumped up, “Damn you! That’s hot” Mary Ann grinned.

“That sounds a bit more like the David we know!” Thorn smiled as well, “He’s not babbling anymore.”

“Thank the goddess!” Arrowstorm grumbled. “Can we decide where were going now?” Rosia growled, [wait… do gryphon growl?] “Where’s the map?”

“Wait, I have it,” Arrowstorm began digging in her pack, “Here it is.” She handed it to Rosia who began to study it.

Mary Ann began packing up her supplies of magic. Thorn become a dragon and started a fire to dry David’s clothes then wrapped around the contingent to add the extra heat. Arrowstorm began fletching arrows.

“Um… Guys?” Rosia began waving the map around. “Hello?” she looked frustrated, then let out a gryphonic scream that pierced all the sounds of the camp. Everyone turned to look at her. Thorn turned back into a human.

Arrowstorm held her ears, “Now that you got our attention can you keep it down to an acceptable level? I have sensitive ears.”

“Sorry, but I found out found out where we should go.” Rosia bobbed her head in apology, “There’s a

place that I have heard of for year. I always assumed it was a legend but it’s on this map. There is a story of the Kethren. She was an all powerful immortal being who lives in a place called Haven.”

“That tale is in elven lore as well,” Arrowstorm nodded, “But I didn’t connect the ‘Haven’ in the map with the ‘Haven’ of legend.”

“So shall we go there?” Thorn spoke up. Everyone except David nodded. “If you don’t mind I’ve had quite enough adventures,” David said, “I would like to return to my castle and have my life become a bit less interesting.”

And so it was decided. Mary Ann set up a spell to send David home. David granted Arrowstorm and Thorn’s wishes, both of which had changed. David was whisked away to his castle and the now four travelers set off toward the West.

A few days into their journey Thorn had formed a centaur so that Mary Ann could ride and Thorn could still talk. Rosia flew or walked. Arrowstorm would either walk with Rosia or ride behind Mary Ann on Thorn’s back.

Rosia and Arrowstorm stopped behind Thorn as Mary Ann dismounted. Rosia lay down and Arrowstorm collapsed nearby.

Rosia watched Mary Ann struggle with the well and snorted. “How have humans survived this long? I mean, they’re so small!,”

Arrowstorm lifted an eyebrow. “Well, okay, not small but they’re so fragile! How do they defend themselves?”

“Well, besides the fact that elves are smaller than humans,” Arrowstorm grinned “I haven’t been able to figure it out either. They’re not as fast as we are and they’re not as flexible or as agile. The only thing they have on their side is iron.”

Rosia contemplated one foreclaw, “Iron doesn’t help them against anything but elves and the elves and the gryphons have magic as well.”

Mary Ann let out a blistering oath as the bucket slipped through her fingers for the third time and Arrowstorm smiled. “Of course with that oath she could strip the leaves from trees!” Mary Ann glowered as Thorn

assisted in pulling up the bucket.

Rosia laughed, “She must have learned that one from Thorn.”

Mary Ann remounted Thorn and called to the others. They struggled to catch up to Thorn.

Arrowstorm touch the cap to the quiver on her back and whistled to get they’re attention, “Hey, guys, I know a Mage-smith in the direction we’re going and I need some new arrows. Do you mind stopping at the next town?”

Mary Ann rubbed rope-burns on her hands, “That sounds like a very good idea to me.” Rosia and thorn agreed.

Before long they were entering the small town of Avodell. Arrowstorm led the way to a little smithy near the middle of town. There was a sign above the shop saying ‘Gart×smith’. The little elf smiled as soon as she saw it.

Arrowstorm ran up the last couple of steps and threw open the door. The other three drew back and groped for weapons as a huge troll filled the doorway.

“Arrowstorm!” the troll roared.

“Gart!” Arrowstorm yelled as the troll swept her up into an embrace that nearly engulfed the little elf.

When the others saw the reaction of Arrowstorm they relaxed and drew closer to the door.

“Next time tell us we’re about to be attacked by a troll alright?” Mary Ann complained.

“Sorry guys. This is Gart. Gart this is Thorn, Rosia and Mary Ann.” All three made signs of greeting and entered the shop.

The shop was a lot bigger inside than it looked from the outside. A harpy winged up and shrieked a greeting and the travelers ducked again. Arrowstorm laughed and introduced them to Hilary who worked the bellows at the smithy.

“Aren’t there any other humans?” cried Mary Ann, Gart considered the small thing. “Um, Rachel the keeper of the magic shop is human!” she grinned and asked where to find the place. Happily she left.

Arrowstorm grinned, “So what do you need small one?”

“I need some arrowheads.”

“Good place to choose small one!” Arrowstorm sighed, Gart was twice as large as she and she seemed to be teased of her small size, even for elves she was small!

“You need anything?” Gart directed. The other two shook their heads.

“I think we’ll go see Mary Ann.” Thorn said, “You two have a lot to catch up an and it’s hot in here!” Gart’s laugh filled the room Rosia wondered how the joyful noise didn’t break down the room!

Gart and Arrowstorm went off to talk arrowhead talk and Rosia and Thorn headed outside. The street was quiet in the dusk, a few people were still about. They wandered bout had a few drinks at the bar and came back out Arrowstorm met them out in the street as they walked.

“Where in heavens name is Mary Ann?” At that moment an explosion came from the magic shop, then several oaths that would make a sailor’s hair fall out. “Thorn!” Rosia and

Arrowstorm cried in unison.

“I didn’t-uh never mind she needs some color-language.”

“That’s not color it’s….. Fluorescent.” More oath perused, as the smoke cleared two girls came rushing to meet them.

“What happened?”

“A reaction.” Mary Ann started grimly.

“A reaction it was more than that! The dolt who was caring for the store while I had dinner switched the opals with the black crystals!” Rachel cried.

“So…” Rosia asked.

“So they had a reaction when we tried a testing magic formula amplifier.” Mary Ann cried exasperated.

“And the explosion?”

“We were testing a magic flame,” Rachel said “Our magic will be useless for five days!”

“At least the shop’s okay.” Rachel sighed.

“Okay?” Arrowstorm asked.

“Yes, the magic-flame absorbs the magic it takes to fix something so the store was saved.” Rachel explained.

“Ah.” Thorn had shifted to a human

shape. For some reason we turned when her face came. Mary Ann was annoyed, no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t focus on Thorn’s face! “Well I should lock up shop,” Rachel sighed “Mary Ann will you be here tomorrow?” Mary Ann looked at the others, who nodded “Yes,”

“Great I’ll need you’re help at that store, farewell!” She gave a goodbye sign. “Well, exciting day this was.” Thorn said. Mary Ann simply asked if anyone was hungry.

The night was spent at Gart’s home. It was quite big and it was not under a bridge. Mary Ann had been frustrated with her lack of magic, she couldn’t light a flame!

“How am I to see with no candle?” she’d asked Gart, being very knowledgeable in things like this showed her how to use flint and steel. The next morning she’d left to go to the store.

The other three spoke to Gart about Haven.

“Haven, I have a book on it.”

He got the book and handed it to them. It was very hard to read and was more of a journal than a book. “The elf traveled there. He had to undergo many tests applied to him to see if he was worthy to enter Haven. There were five tests, he was very athletic and a very good tracker,” he looked at Arrowstorm who nodded, “His tests had to do with his skills. He was bound by a spell never to tell the tests to anyone so I know naught of them.” He took the journal and flipped through it. “The Kethren, the ruler of Haven applies the tests. It is often said in legend that she is immortal, she is not. She will however live to be older than anyone of us can know. She was born at the beginning of time and if only 17 in her years, that is over 17 million years for humans.” Thorn nodded, she knew a time would come for her to pass. While her age was human immortality she would die, only Gods were truly immortal. “What would pass through to get there?” Thorn

asked. “Each of your skills would be used.” Gart looked at each creature in turn. “You have tracking,” he looked Arrowstorm in the eye, “You’ll have to find your way through a thick enchanted forest. Thorn you have use of your various figures and skills to attack different beings, never under any circumstances are you to be seem in your original state.” Thorn seemed about to protest but she held her tongue, she simply melted into goo. “Rosia, even your skills will be used.”

“Painting?”

“Yes, and this trip can also bring out hidden talents. The elf learned to yodel on the trip as well as forge calligraphy.” Rosia nodded. [I am not going to learn to yodel!][That would be funny to hear, Hee Hee.]

“I could do calligraphy I think.”

Gart then spoke about the danger. “Do not look for your talent, it will come to you.” He paused, “I suppose Mary Ann is coming.”

“Yes,”

“She will be using her magic often, of course you can get by

with no magic if need be,” he paused, “Magic will be very useful to have.” Gart stopped and got up he went to the kitchen he poured himself a cup of coffee. [Did they have coffee then?] Presently he came back to the table “Any drinks?” The group shook their head no.

“Back to business.” He said, “Is there anything we can do to prepare?” Gart told them no.

“[no you can’t write Arrowstorm! Mary Ann! SH!] Gart gave them information about the map. The map was deceiving he said, “Arrowstorm your tracking skills will lead the group through the forest… MY look at the time I have to go to the shop. Later my friends.”

“But I thought Hilary was.. oh brother! How am I suppose to track something when I have no track to follow?” Arrowstorm frowned. [Hey Arrowstorm we have À⁂MAGIC⁂À I know I’m new but I have a few tricks up my sleeve. But you lost it all! *Sob*

For five days *chuckle* stop laughing, I can too use flint and steel ACK QUIT laughing!][*Ahem* after I was so rudely interrupted!*glare*][whatever Arrowstorm elfs!][Humans!][humph]<-[We were bored in German. Can you tell?]->[no! Really]

Arrowstorm stalked off after Gart before anyone could say a word.

Rosia and Thorn exchanged glances. “What’s got her feathers in a ruffle?” Rosia raised her eartuffs in surprise.

Thorn reformed into a human. “[calm down Arrowstorm. Geeze you’re hyper about this *winks*] “Who knows, I think she wants Gart to come with us. They spoke until late last night.” [okay this is a nice purple pen.][not that your pen isn’t nice] At that moment shouting came from the street. The pair rushed outside to see what was going on. A dragon was swooping down from the sky Arrowstorm and Gart arrived. The dragon set fire to a cart of fruit. Rachel appeared and then Mary Ann. “Look out he’s here to do my fathers bidding,” she shouted. “And that would be…..” shouted Arrowstorm.

“Destroy the town” she called over the screams of the town people. “What?!”

“I’ll explain later-” A blast of fire separated them. Arrows began to fly. Another Dragon appeared, Thorn raced up to fight.

“Get the fire out!” people yelled. Arrowstorm was dragged into Gart’s shop, there he had a bucket of water in case a fire started inside. Hilary, Arrowstorm, and Gart managed to get it outside. Meanwhile Rosia had raced to the lake with a bucket. She raced back to where the others were battling the fire and shook herself off, spraying water everywhere. Villagers were of some use, they dragged buckets from wells to douse the fire. Others just had their eyes to the sky as the foreign dragon and Thorn battled. Rachel and Mary Ann were helping the villagers. The fire began to spread when suddenly it began to rain. The evil dragon launched to the sky and Thorn flew to the earth. The fire began to dwindle and was soon out. An hour later the rains stopped and the sun came out. City officials came to those whose stalls in the street had been burned. No one was really hurt , a small girl

had a small burn, but nothing very serious. Most of the stalls had been burned to nothing, but no stores had gone to the fire, only the sliver smith’s had been damaged.

“We were lucky it wasn’t his normal dragon.” Mary Ann said as they all dragged the big tub back in the shop. With Rosia and Thorn the job wasn’t too hard.

“Normal dragon?” Gart inquired.

“My father sent the dragon. If I am wounded to where my magic can’t keep up all my spells they are broken” she explained.

“So he sent a dragon to burn you.” Mary Ann nodded.

“I should have been prepared. The boy who switched the opal and crystal yesterday works for my father. Without my magic he can see where I am”

Rosia was slightly confused. “But wasn’t his spell broken?”

“No, my magic wasn’t hurt just made unusable by me so my father used his magic to find me..” [Okay this is getting Mightly confusing.]

===

A cry of anguish came from the kitchen. [band again] A great thud then more shouts of anger. Arrowstorm, Rosia, and Thorn had been playing cards. [can gryphons play cards?][what do they do with their talons?]

“When will she get her magic back?’

“Two days,” Rosia responded.

“Who’s going to show her?”

Loud sounds of something being thrown on the floor came from the kitchen.

“I went last time,” Rosia said.

“I showed her how to brush her hair.” Arrowstorm replied. They looked at Thorn.

“No,” she said. More sounds reached the den.

“Please?” Rosia asked.

“OK!”, Thorn said as more yelling reached them.

Thorn ran into the kitchen. Mary Ann sat with her hair in a mess and her clothing…. a mess! A tin sat in the center of the room, badly smashed.

“It won’t open. I’ve tried it all, smashing, pulling, pushing,…everything and it won’t open”. Thorn picked up the can and opened it.

“Shut up.”

“I didn’t say anything!” Thorn claim.

“Well, who made these anyway?” She fumed as she ate the contents.

Arrowstorm poked her head in the door. “Is it safe to come in now?” Mary Ann threw the empty tin at her head and she ducked.

Thorn laughed, “She doesn’t have anything else to throw now! You can come in.”

Arrowstorm entered cautiously and began rummaging around in the cupboards.

Mary Ann sighed, “I’m sorry you guys. I have to relearn how to do anything I used to do with magic.”

“I understand,” Arrowstorm smiled absently. “I’m just happy to be staying here just a little bit longer.”

Mary Ann and Thorn exchanged a glance over Arrowstorm’s oblivious head as she exited the room. What exactly was going on here?

* D *

Arrowstorm heard Gart long before she reached the smithy. The sound of his hammer echoed through the hall and heat blasted her as she opened the door.

The elf shooed Hilary off the bellows and took them over. She switched to mage-sight and watched magic flow from the brawny troll into the metal he was forming.

Arrowstorm left the bellows and went behind Gart. She added her magic in with his to give life to the metal. It formed into a rose of copper. Gart held the rose in surprisingly gentle hands and pulled the heat out of the rose until it was cool enough for Arrowstorm to touch. He turned and handed the rose to the elf. “Arrowstorm….” Gart began.

“Gart I’m not stupid or oblivious.” Arrowstorm interrupted. “There’s some reason you stopped last night. What was in that book that you didn’t want us to know?”

Gart turned and damped the fire. Silence reigned for a moment.

“Stormling you know I worry about you.”

Arrowstorm remained silent, “There have been so many who have sought

Haven and died on the way.” Gart turned and folded Arrowstorm into an enveloping embrace. "You’re going to leave and I may never see you again. This is the greatest danger you have ever faced and if you don’t succeed I won’t even know what happened to you.

“So come with us,” Arrowstorm suggested, “We could use a good cook!”

It elicited a weak chuckle from Gart, who released Arrowstorm from his embrace.

The elf hesitated, “Do you suppose that Mary Ann could cast a spell to allow us to communicate on the journey?”

Gart blinked, “She might be able to.” He smiled and offered Arrowstorm his arm. “Shall we go and ask?”

The elf accepted Gart’s hand and they exited the smith arm in arm.

Mary Ann gave last minute instructions to Fart on how to use his scrying-crystal while the others packed their thing onto Thorn.

“All right, all right,” the troll chuckled, “you’ve told me three times already!”

“Well, I’m just making sure!” Mary Ann huffed.

Mary Ann moved off as Arrowstorm ran up.

[It’s my turn, Wahahahahahahahahaaaaa!]

“Did you learn how to use the scrying-crystal yet?” Arrowstorm asked, but before Gart could say anything added, “Just kidding. I know how Mary Ann has been drilling you.”

“Hmph!” was all Mary Ann put in as the others just laughed.

Pulling Gart to the side Arrowstorm added, “Remember, we have to try to talk every night.”

“Alright, Little Archer. [Hee Hee, Just to let you know I got that from Antara.] I’ll make sure to.” He embraced her for the last time, for a while.

Rosia and Thorn said their good-byes as the set off.

Rosia’s ear-tuffs rose suddenly.

“What is it? Please say it won’t try to hurt us. What is it? I still don’t have my magic back! What is it?” Mary Ann panicked.

“Shhh! You make a lot of noise for

something so fragile!” Rosia glared. Everyone jumped at the harshness in Rosia’s voice.

“Then what is it?” Thorn asked in a low voice.

“It’s, it’s…” she trailed off. Suddenly she jumped with excitement almost whacking Thorn with her tail, knocking over Mary Ann, and startling Arrowstorm. “GEESE!”

“What?! Is that all?” Mary Ann exclaimed.

“Well, I’m hungry! If you don’t care I could always eat you.” Rosia was a thumbs length from Mary Ann’s face

“I’m hungry too. I’ll come.” Thorn added turning into an Eagle.

“Eww! Arrowstorm, Thorn, how can you stand her eating!” Mary Ann cringed as Rosia tore another chink off of her second goose. [At this point I’m green or purple??][HaHaHa! Gryphons really are messy eaters aren’t they?!]

“She always eats like that. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it.” Thorn replied with a shrug of part of her goo-form.

Traveling through the woods was surprisingly easy. It also helped that Mary Ann had her magic back. In her centaur form Thorn looked uneasy.

“What’s wrong?” Arrowstrom asked looking confused.

“It feels too calm. Something should be happening. This is just too easy.” She complained.

“I though the trip was going good. I like the fact we don’t have to fight.” Mary Ann looked at her three friends to see if anyone agreed.

“It’s ok, but Thorn is right. It is too quiet.” Rosia looked nervously around.

Arrowstorm pulled out her bow. “We should keep out guard up. You can never tell what could come at us through the woods.”

“Mmmm…” Rosia cooed, closing her eyes.

“What is it? What do you smell?” Arrowstrom and Thorn asked in unison.

“Bird. Big bird.” She bobbed her head to emphasize the fact it was big.

“A Big bird? What do you…”

They all turned as they heard some clucking. What they saw standing higher than the trees was a giant white chicken. As soon as it saw the group it made a peck at Thorn, who had to dodge since they were all surprised and did not have time to stricke first. Mary Ann tried to strike at it with her magic, but the bird was shielded. Arrowstrom loosed arrow after arrow at the white feathers but they only made the chicken even madder. Rosia kept trying to dive at it’s head but kept getting pecked at.

“Thorn, it’s up to you! We’ll keep distracting it.” Arrowstrom yelled as she shot another arrow.

Thorn turned into a giant wombat. Being bigger than the chicken she could scratch it. It looked like they were wearing the chicken down when it started glowing bright orange.

“Mary Ann, what is it doing?” everyone yelled at once.

“Well, it is getting ready to do something, and I don’t think it’s good.” Mary Ann raised her arm to block her face. [Wanna know something weird? I am writing about a giant chicken and there are so many chicken things on TV.]

[Giant chickens and wombats?! I can’t add to that, even if you are stealing my material *wink*][Wait a minute… hearts?! What is with the hearts?!]

Everyone was so scared on what the chicken was going to do. The chicken became brighter and brighter. It became hard to look at. Suddenly a loud noise sounded the forest and the wind blew very fast. And a stench so strong sent everyone to coughs and tears. The odor was so strong that even the chicken was amazed. Arrowstorm realized it had passed gas.

“I think it, ummmmmm… it uh….,” stumbled Arrowstorm.

“It farted, just say it.” Smiled Mary Ann. [I’m so polite! Thorn!J]

“No, it really cut the cheese,” said Arrowstorm.

“Really rotten cheese you mean,” added Rosia. The chicken seemed pleased and it wasn’t paying attention. Thorn took her opportunity and slashed at its body. The chicken squawked and started to become a blackish chicken.

“I hope it doesn’t pass gas again.” Said Rosia.

“Kill it before it can do something!” ordered Arrowstorm. Thorn slashed at it multiple times and it became bloody and white again. The two(chicken and Thorn) fought and continued to fight. Meanwhile…

Rosia flew up to dive at it since the chicken was fighting Thorn. Arrowstorm & Mary Ann couldn’t do anything so they shouted encouragement to Thorn & Rosia. The chicken knew it was being defeated so it squawked and chickened away. The foursome yelled in triumph. Thorn shifted back into a human and looked very tired.

“I think I want to recuperate so can we camp here, or soon?” asked Thorn.

“Do you think you could turn into something small and I’ll carry you until it gets dark?” asked Rosia.

“Sure,” said Thorn and shifted into a cat. It was getting dark very soon so the group hoped nothing would come out and attack them.

They came upon a creek. Since everyone was thirsty they all took a drink. Mary Ann tested it with her magic to make sure nothing was wrong with it.

Singing was soon heard off not to far away. They continued on their way. But the singing became louder. The forest was ahead of them. 3 mermaids were on rocks in the river singing.

“Ooooo how beautiful.” Said Mary Ann.

“Yep,” added Arrowstorm. “Excuse us. Can we ask you something?” shouted the elf. One mermaid was shiny gold and it stopped singing, it hopped of the rock it was sitting on and swam over to the elf, while the other two looked on.

“Yes, what do you need of usssss?” asked the mermaid.

“Can you and your friends carry the cat, Mary Ann and myself over the river. You see we need to get to the other side.”

“It will cost you a pricccce.” She hissed.

“We don’t have things to give you.” The mermaid swam back to her friends and chatted a bit. Rosia and Mary Ann looked at each other. Arrowstorm held her ground. All she wanted was to get over the river. The three mermaids swam over to the shore and said in unison.

“We know that one of you is a magician. So our priccce is thissss. Give us legss for 24 hours or elsse, no ♫Over the river and through the woods to the Kethren’s

house we go.♫” The mermaids smiled. Rosia pulled the group over and whispered.

“how do they know so much about us?”

“I can do their wishes but it seems awkward. How do they know so much about us?” replied Mary Ann.

“I think our best bet is to go over somewhere else.” Said Arrowstorm. Thorn turned into goo and became human. The mermaids gasped.

“What are you doing!?” asked Arrowstorm.

“I’ve seen merpeople before. They don’t like my kind. They seem to not like us, my people I mean, I’ll get rid of them.”

“You Go Girl!” said Mary Ann. Thorn walked over and squatted in front of the mermaids. It lifted up its hood so they saw her face. The mermaids looked scared and all the color in their bodies faded and they swam away. Thorn walked back over to the group.

“Dispute settled. All we have to do is get Mary Ann’s magic to get us over there. It will take too long for Rosia to fly back and forth. Then she will be exhausted, I can’t turn into anything so Mary Ann whip up something good.” Ordered Thorn.

“Wait! What do you look like?” Rosia quickly asked.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Thorn sounded confused by the sudden question.

“What do you look like? You never showed us. I at least want to know what you look like under that hood.” Rosia tried to look under Thorn’s hood but she turned out of view.

“Why does it matter what I look like? You didn’t really seem to mind before.” Thorn shrugged.

“Ya! You never have shown us. Why don’t you?” Arrowstorm also tried to look under Thorn’s hood with no luck.

“I don’t know you very well, but I’m starting to get curious.” Mary Ann spoke up.

“But… Well… Squeak.” Thorn turned into a mouse and dashed over to a nearby bush.

“We’re sorry we just want to know what you look like. You’re always hiding your face! Come back

out. Please?” silence was all Mary Ann got as an answer. The threesome set out to look over the whole forest for their friend.

“You have to come out sometime!” Arrowstorm yelled.

“I know, I’ve just been following you.” Thorn had turned human again and stepped out from around a tree just behind where they were looking. They all laughed about the fact they had been looking for something that had been right behind them. And it had been following them.

“Will you show us your face now? Aww, come on! Please? Even a quick look?” Rosia wined, which was awkward sounding coming out of something so big and fierce looking.

Arrowstorm walked around trying to see Thorn’s face. “A small peak Thorn?” begged Mary Ann. She lifted her hands in front of her face, as if they were a book. “I have the ability to read minds if I wish,” she threatened. [You’re sooo NICE Mary Ann!]

[Ha! Ha! Ha! I have the book!]

[This was Jenny T. in Algebra][HI there people. I’m weird, can you tell][Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga, Toga][sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!][nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap, nap][May your gutters be plentiful][]

“You what?!” Thorn, Rosia, and Arrowstorm chorused in alarm.

Mary Ann suddenly found herself the focus of three pairs of horrified eyes. Those included the raptor eyes of an all-too-hungry Rosia.

Mary Ann seemed to shrink in on herself “I.. I.. Well I… Oh, okay not really, I was just bluffing.”

Rosia and Thorn glanced at Arrowstorm who nodded. It was the truth.

“All right, now that that crisis was averted, let’s give upon tormenting poor Thorn and be on our way, shall we?” the others agreed with Arrowstorm and they resumed their journey in the forest.

[Arrowstorm! Do ∙

[Ha Ha Ha! I cut her off!(But left her room to continue)]

* * *

Arrowstorm bent over the neck of her mane and buried her fingers in Firefly’s ruff and hummed happily. The group had covered quite a lot of ground in the last few days and let the last challenge they

had to grapple with was the mermaids they had confronted in the river.

The only thing that assuaged boredom was her long-distance talks with Gart. Thorn didn’t need to be entertained but Rosia and Mary Ann were getting restive. Rosia had started pouncing on squirrels to keep occupied and Mary Ann had started fidgeting in her seat discomforting Thorn.

Mary Ann sighed, “I think she is trying to kill us with boredom.”

Rosia let go of the squirrel she had caught and rejoined Thorn and Arrowstorm’s mare, “If that’s true she succeeding!”

A rising thunder covered Mary Ann’s next words. Thorn moaned, “You had to say something!”

“A storm?” Mary Ann squeaked as she watched dangerous looking clouds bubble. She shut her eyes for a moment, her eyes sprung open. “Hide!” she said. With a wave of her hand all the possessions that had been scattered were gone. Firefly ran to Mary Ann she snapped her fingers.[I snapped my fingers][not Firefly] “All the hiding places are orange,

hide.” [Guess what, the sky is blue. There’s these things that make it white tho][Huh?][Intelligent comment, I know]

“Why do we have to hide from a storm?” Arrowstorm asked, “It’s just rain and wind.”

Mary Ann was already running toward the nearest place highlighted my orange magic, “This is no ordinary storm! It has magic behind it.”

Arrowstorm smiled at the challenge, “In other words it’s from the Kethren!” She followed Rosia into a tree and convinced it to interlace its branched around them. Thorn turned into a mouse and crawled into a crevice made by the roots of a tree. Mary Ann hid in a hollow in a hollow tree trunk.

Arrowstorm had nestled herself next to Rosia’s flank when the elf’s crystal made a bell-like sound. She fumbled the crystal out of her pocket and activated it with a thought.

The crystal warmed and Gart’s face appeared in the facet closest to Arrowstorm. “Arrowstorm? I’m sorry I’m not calling at the normal time, but I found something that you guys need to hear.”

“We’re not going anywhere!” Rosia said from behind her shoulder.

“What is it we need to hear?”

asked Arrowstorm.

“New information has reached here. A rumor is going around that says the Kethren is gathering a storm that will-”

“The storm’s here.” Arrowstorm said glumly.

“We’re hiding,” Rosia added for a moment the crystal grew dark, “Gart?”

“The rumors are true then!” Gart’s face winked. Again the crystal dimmed. “Gart?” his voice came through cracked and distorted. “Gart?” Arrowstorm yelled as the crystal darkened and shattered. [augh! Gart! May crystal!]

~||~

Thorn had burrowed into the ground, still the wind whipped down the hole. She couldn’t tell what was going on above ground, “whatever it is it’s bad” she thought.

~||~

Mary Ann sat with Firefly by her side. As she sat huddled

against the cold she whispered a word. Bright lavender colored surrounded her and her hiding place. “That should keep us safe,” she told Firefly.

~||~

The storm picked up speed. At its highest point the foursome screamed out, then all was quiet.

~||~

Thorn emerged from her burrow and looked about. Complete destruction was only what she saw. What had once been a great forest lay in ruins. Only three trees remained standing. [Augh! All those trees!] She changed to a cat and looked around. The sight was no different than a mouse’s. “Strange,” she thought, “Must be the storm.” She hurried to the place that Arrowstorm, Rosia, and Mary Ann had gathered.

“Thorn?” Mary Ann asked. Thorn nodded. “I guess you’ve figured it out?” she asked inquisitively. Thorn cocked her head

“The loss of our talent, magic, or power”

Thorn thought then took account of herself. With resentment she realized she was a mouse. “We think the loss will last up to five days, but it cold last only a couple of hours. We’ll have to find out,” Arrowstorm sighed.

“Our stuff is gone for now, I can’t call it back from Suspension.” Mary Ann explained. “if you like can ride in my waist pouch.” Thorn scrambled up into Mary Ann’s waist pouch. Stuck without a map they were forced to camp where they were.

With all of their talents gone the only person who could do anything was Mary Ann. Arrowstorm grumbled as she tried to explain in words how to draw a bow to Mary Ann, after a few hours Arrowstorm gave up. “I never realized how many talents I had.” Rosia said. “I can’t even fly now.”

“That’s not a talent.” Mary Ann said absentmindedly. “Of course it is.” A fine mist was covering the woods. “Nit wit.” She added clapping her hand over her mouth. “It takes

magic to fly for you.” She said after a moment. “I suppose you would know, tiny.” Mary Ann looked up sharply. “Hey! Careful who you call tiny!” Arrowstorm snapped. “You may be bigger but you’re just a baby with no magic.”

“Like you have any magic,” Mary Ann said

“What do you mean I don’t?” [Well, aren’t we all grumpy!]

“No, but it’s nothing compared to mine,” she bragged Arrowstorm grew red.

“You useless youngling.”

“Shorty.”

“Gangly.”

“Bizarre,” Mary Ann let fly to a mouthful of oaths. Arrowstorm came right back at her with elf oaths. “You impolite wench!” Arrowstorm shouted at last. Mary Ann lifted her hand to strike Arrowstorm, Rosia let loose an ear piercing scream yelling at both of them in her own language, Arrowstorm started in on them in elven, and Mary Ann shouted in a combination of English and Quilic. [Quilic is an awful language, thieves and other scum use it. It

can be translated into a string of insults. I learned it from my dad.] All this continued until Mary Ann screeched and ran behind a tree, one of the three left standing. Arrowstorm and Rosia took no notice except to call her a coward. Thorn crawled out of the pouch. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “It’s the worst spell, it’s put down by mist and puts all against each other.” Mary Ann began to sob suddenly similar sobs were heard outside. The sun was coming out. “She’s *sob* playing tricks *sob* on our emo- *sob* emotions *sob*.” Cried Mary Ann. Out of her waist pack Mary Ann drew out the diary of the one who had come before them.

“Day 24

All emotions have reigned this day. I have full exuberant joy and fiery anger. Luckily joy was unable to come and Worrier also. Should a group come to this place I will fear for them, such a day like this will surely bring an end to their friendship. Truth was the

last emotion. So much has happened in these 24 gays. I feel as if I’ve spent five years in the Blach Wizard’s castle. Oh dear it is night and I can feel my fear rising, pray for me.

” [who?]

“I feel fear too,” Mary Ann said. She shivered and fell asleep. All night the cries of out travelers could be heard in the crisp air of the night.

~||~

“No further please!” Mary Ann threw her hand over her face [after doing cursive I feel like continuing to write in it] and unleashed a huge fire bolt that leapt into the sky and crashed into a big bird-a chicken specifically.

~||~

“Bird….. Big Bird,” Rosia smiled as she looked at the giant chicken

that lay before them. “How did it end up here…. cooked?” wondered Mary Ann. “Who cares it’s food.” Thorn grinned at Arrowstorm’s comment. [eww gross! COOKED BIRD? Yuck!] As they approached it there was a rumble from the earth. “That can’t be good.” Thorn said.

“Firefly?” Mary Ann looked hurriedly for the cat, who leapt in her arms gratefully. The rumbling grew louder. [Gee I wonder what it is hm…… should we ponder this for awhile. I know what happens next!] The rumbling grew louder and [gee if someone was doing this to me I’d just about kill them right now][sounds like a good idea] and then a [should I do-okay! Sorry….. geez] giant tree popped from the ground. More trees began popping up and reached for the sky. “Not good!” called Thorn as more trees popped up. Arrowstorm yelped as a tree sprang from the earth below her. Within minutes Mary Ann, Thorn, Rosia, and Arrowstorm were hanging from the trees watching as a green blanket sprouted from the

destroyed land.

[This is confusing! Was Mary Ann dreaming? Are they all dreaming now? It seems too good to be true!][By the way, I like this pen.]

[to bad you can’t have itJ, I was in a sleepy state when I wrote this……… hm….. zzzzzzzzz]

Mary Ann woke from her dream to a mouse nibbling her finger, “Hay!” she cried indignantly. Looking around she saw the destroyed forest…. Only the three trees standing… had she bee dreaming? She attempted to bring their stuff beck form Suspension. “@!≈#~!”

“What is it?” Arrowstorm seemed wary of Mary Ann. Rosia came from the sky. “Hello!” she said cheerfully, “How were your dreams? Mine were wonderful.”

“Troubling.” Mary Ann said carefully.

“Very troubling.” Arrowstorm added wondering if Mary Ann had had the same dream of the giants.

“Did you see the chicken?” asked Mary Ann.

“Chicken?! No. I dreamed of giants who tore down the entire forest. Then the whole thing grew back again, very quickly but they

were not normal trees…”

“I dreamed about the chicken!” Rosia interrupted impatiently. “It was delicious. I woke up and had to immediately go hunting, I was so hungry!”

[just pretend I’m writing in blue. I can’t find a freaking Blue Pen!! Arrrrggg!!]

“I didn’t dream.” Said thorn.

“Well duh!” said the group.

“Anyways while you were sleeping, [sleeping?! We were out cold!] I was out traveling around. When I was burrowing in the ground I fell upon a friend. What she said is very important.” Announced Thorn.

“What’d she say?” asked Arrowstorm.

“Maybe this is a challenge from the Kethren, but I have to go underground to help my friend do something. [oh I forgot to say she was in her human form now, sorry ‘bout that.]”

“Help her with wha--.” Suddenly Thorn’s staff was at Mary Ann’s [I can’t spell today] throat.

“What I have to do is no importance of yours.” Said Thorn being very mad. “I’m gonna have to be gone for a couple of days. I won’t be here to help you all. But keep going on with the map. I’ll find you.”

“When are you leaving?” asked Rosia, scared that Thorn would try to scare the living daylights out of her.

“Now.” With that being said. Thorn turned to Mary Ann and hugged her. She next turned to Arrowstorm shifted into an elf and hugged her. Then she turned into a gyrfalcon and squawked good-bye to Rosia. [She would have preened her crest][but then Rosia was an orphan so she might not have learned that]

“Take care of yourself now, I may not comeback.” Said Thorn and she flew away. The threesome looked at each other confused. [I found a blue pen!!]

“I wonder what happened that was so… so… I can’t find a word for what that was like,” said Mary Ann.

“I have no idea,” said Rosia, “Hope she doesn’t get hurt guys.”

“Me too,” said Arrowstorm, “let’s follow the map.” The group very confused and worried picked up their belongings and headed for the Kethren.

[That is soooo coooool!]

“I’m hungry,” cried Mary Ann [you’re not really crying just whining] “When’s lunch?”

“It comes when lunch comes.” Replied Arrowstorm. [I’m so philosophical!] Rosia remained quiet while thinking about the delicious chicken.

[I’m an a strange mood, can you tell? I wrote comments all over Thorn’s part!][I like the little triangle exclamation point! It is nifty!]

“what do you mean ‘It comes when lunch comes’?! I’m hungry now!” Arrowstorm gave her a reproachful glare, “If you are not quite we’ll never get lunch because nothing will come near.”

Mary Ann shrank down on herself and became very quiet. [sorry I just can’t spell that word][spell check helps when typing.]

Arrowstorm managed to flush a few quail and they finally got something to eat.

[This is from my house so we’re all contributing!]

Suddenly a man appeared from behind a tree. [We’re back in forest now!] He was 10-ft. tall about 500-lbs. with protrusions out of his head [oh, wait that’s his hair!][okay so it’s not!]. he had a light & shimmer to him and had a 10-ft. long lead-appearing pipe.

Mary Ann dropped the last of her quail. “Oh Shoot! I was really hungry too!” She pulled back one hand and threw a ball of light at the creature. The light exploded

around the creature and it toppled back.

Rosia finally recovered from her shock and flew up and chewed through the spine, at which the monster disintegrated. Arrowstorm licked off the last of her quail and clapped, “Very good! We didn’t even need Thorn. Of course that was absurdly easy. Shall we be on our way now?”

* * *

Thorn rejoined the group and they still didn’t know what her mission was.

[I just thought of a good person to be Rosia’s friend. Hurry up and finish writing Arrowstorm!][and she is going to call you a funny name!][I don’t care Arrowstorm, I’m going to put it in, then you can end it and keep going.]

Suddenly a little girl walked out from behind a tree. As soon as she saw the foursome she screamed as loud as she could. After she was done with that she ran and flung herself into Rosia, who tried her best to catch the little girl. The girl had

a human look to her, but she was half the size of Arrowstorm and had fairy wings.

“Who’s this?” Arrowstorm asked after Rosia put the small fairy-girl down.

“This is Sunshine. To explain her looks, her mother was a fairy, and her father was a fragile human.” Rosia gryphon-grimed in Mary Ann’s direction. “But I have to warn you guys she has powerful magic she can use. She doesn’t know how to do much with it, but it is powerful. I don’t want to sound mean or anything, but she is a little simple-minded.”

“You mean more powerful than ME?” Mary Ann looked closely at the girl’s face.

“Evil?” Sunshine asked.

“No, this is Mary Ann, she is good. That over there is Thorn, and the elf is Arrowstorm, they are all good.” Rosia lowered her head so she was eye-level with Sunshine.

“Her Arrowstrom?” Sunshine asked shyly.

“No, her name is Arrowstorm.” Mary Ann corrected.

“Her Arrowstrom?” Sunshine repeated.

“NO, HER NAME IS ARROWSTORM!!!!” Mary Ann yelled.

“*sniffle, sniffle* Waah!” was what Mary Ann got for wasting her breath.

“It’s okay. You can call me ‘Arrowstrom’. It will be the special name you call me okay?” Arrowstorm was surprised she had to lean over to talk, she was used to always looking up.

“*sniffle* O-okay.” She nodded looking happier.

“I don’t get you Arrowstorm.” Mary Ann sighed.

While this was going on Thorn had turned into a bubble and was floating around Sunshine while she was trying to jump up and catch her.

“I think we should get going if we are going to get anywhere.” Rosia said.

Sunshine climbed on Rosia’s back. But before they could get anywhere a wolverine leapt out in front of them. It scared Sunshine so much she fell off Rosia.

“Evil?” Sunshine squeaked.

“Yes, evil. Everyone get back behind me!” Rosia called backing up a little.

“What?! I can take this thing.” Thorn said as she backed up.

“You’ll see.” Was all the group got in response.

“EVIL, Go… ‘Way!” Sunshine extended her palms out to the wolverine and a bright light came form them. The group had to shield their eyes from the light. Thorn was the first to recover.

“What? Where is the wolverine?” Thorn looked around anxiously.

Rosia nodded toward Sunshine and the group looked at her and noticed a pile of ashes where the wolverine had been. “That is what she does to evil.”

“Evil gone?” Sunshine cautiously opened one eye.

“Yes.” Arrowstorm replied.

“Yea!” Sunshine started jumping around, Mary Ann wondered how she had the strength to move after using

all that magic.

“How did you do that?” Mary Ann looked the fairy-girl up and down.

“I just think evil go ‘way, and warm feeling fill me. Then I open eyes and no more evil.” Sunshine said like she was wondering why everyone didn’t know.

“Um… okay.” Mary Ann said slowly backing away.

“You guys, could you come over here?” Rosia waved a talon to indicate the direction.

“Yes?” Thorn asked.

“I know she can take care of herself, but… I would rather see her safe in a village. That way she can be happy all the time and not have to worry about ‘evil’.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Having all of that power and not really knowing when to use it can be dangerous for everyone.” Mary Ann snuck a peek at the fairy-girl, who was trying to catch a passing bug.

“What do you guys think,

because if you guys think it would be a bad idea we could always take her with us.” Rosia looked at Thorn and Arrowstorm.

[ I don’t have a green pen (Mann took it away waaah). So pretend I’s writing in green]

How about we decide once we reach a village,” Thorn plowed over Mary Ann’s objections that Sunshine was not coming with them and Arrowstorm’s objections that they couldn’t just leave Sunshine in a village, she wasn’t human. This seemed to quiet both of them down and they all decided to take Sunshine with them. [I can’t spell unanamasly so I gave up again]

* * *

Rosia back winged to a landing in front of the group,”There’s a village a few miles ahead. If we hurry we can reach it before nightfall. I went ahead and reserved a room in their inn. Hope you all don’t mind.”

Arrowstorm looked up from where Sunshine was playing with her jerken strings. “A real bed? Good food? Why would we mind?”

“Watch it!” Mary Ann mock-growled,

“My food’s not that bad!”

“Well it’s certainly not gourmet cuisine!” Arrowstorm cheerfully returned.

“It’s better than what you make!”

“You just don’t appreciate elfin cooking!”

Sunshine got tired of trying to understand why they were arguing and smiling at the same time and went back to tying knots in Arrowstorm’s jerkin laces.

A few hours later they reached Mirunaville. [I asked Miruna for a town, that’s what I got! grin] When they reached the town they found it deserted.

Arrowstorm frowned, “Were there people her before?”

Rosia nodded as she headed straight for the inn. She motioned for all of them to stay outside and entered the door that was just wide enough to admit her.

She came out in a much lighter mood. “Sokay. It turns are all at an event called a football game. There’s no one in the inn except one cool boy who was left to tell us where everyone had gone and he just scuttled off to the game. [I like that word scuttled, don’t I?]

[okay this is Mary Ann and this black is really green]

“Well, we might as well go to the game if there’s no one at the inn!” Mary Ann said hopefully.

Arrowstorm sighed and directed he mare after Thorn in the direction of the football stadium.

* * *

“Aw, come on!” Mary Ann stood up and screamed at the ogres on the field.

“Evil?” Sunshine asked for the 3^rd time.

“No!” Arrowstorm and Rosia chimed.

“Then why tall-lady and goo-lady yell?”

Rosia looked at a loss on how to answer that so Arrowstorm stepped in, “They’re encouraging the players.”

Thorn looked grateful that the elf had saved Sunshine from another tantrum, and Arrowstorm took advantage of that. “Now, since you owe me, you can explain this game to me.”

“Well I’m not a human, but I’ll do my best. I think it’s so that the males of this species can take out their aggressions without actually bashing each other around.” [Hey it’s fun, I like it]

“Oh now it makes more sense!”

Arrowstorm nodded, ”Elfin males do that too. We just don’t make up a stupid game to do it. They just bash each other around.”

“I think elves heal a little faster than humans. Which is what makes watching this fun.”

They were all sitting on the grass because Rosia couldn’t fit in the stands. That meant that Thorn could enjoy the violence of the football game with nothing in the way.

Just then one of the players, an ogre, was tackled and bounced nearly 5 yards across the field. When he didn’t move for a few moments Rosia jumped the fence and ran up to the ref. yelling “Can I eat him? Is he dead?

[Still Green [man I have a long entry don’t I?]] Can I eat him?” Of course the ref told her no and the two got into an argument about whether the ogre was dead or not, and, after the player sat up and told Rosia that he certainly wasn’t dead. Whether she could eat him even if he wasn’t dead.

Sunshine interjected every once in a while asking whether the ref, the ogre and Mary Ann, who was trying to pull Rosia

away from the ref so that the game could continue, were evil.

The ref, Mary Ann and the fallen ogre finally convinced Rosia that she couldn’t eat any of the players, no matter how injured they were.

Once the entire town showed up at the tavern after the game. [I borrowed my dad’s he game was allowed to continue the Mirunaville team won. Practically green pen so I’m writing in green again! ¯Celebration¯time,¯alright!¯]

Rosia (because she was bigger than most of the people there) managed to procure the group a table. They all finally got dinner (good dinner, Mary Ann! [I know, it was good *munch*] *grin*) and by the time they finished most of the celebration had been taken outside. [The sight of a Gryphon eating tends to do that! *grin*] [again] [I know *wink*]

“Oh, look she’s [alseep? What does that mean?] asleep!” Arrowstorm pointed at Sunshine.

Mary Ann smiled, “I think she has the right idea, I’m exhausted!”

Thorn gently picked up the sleeping fairy and started toward the stairs to their rooms, “Why don’t all of you go to bed?”

Rosia and Mary Ann agreed. Arrowstorm, however, demurred. “I think I’ll stay down here for a while, thanks.”

The others shrugged and moved up the stairs to their room.

Arrowstorm sat among the few humans, ogres and sprinkling of elves finishing her ale. It was so quiet in this town. So much like home, in Tyreet. Arrowstorm hadn’t visited home in nearly a hundred years; not so long for an elf, but still. She missed it. And yet if she were home she would have to put up with…

“Tyreenia Kenshaw!” (pronounced the way it’s spelled) Arrowstorm started in her seat to hear her real name, them sunk down as she realized who it was who was calling it; Karit. [pronounced Kareet] The one person she didn’t miss from home.

He sat down next to her. So much for pretending she hadn’t heard him. Arrowstorm settled for cold politeness, “Hello Karit.”

The elf insisted on acting as if she had greeted him as warmly as he had greeted her. “What brings you here all along Tyreenia? Did you lose your path on your way home?”

“No, I don’t go home because every time I do mother keeps throwing me at you and telling me to get married,” Arrowstorm thought. But she didn’t say it, “No I and my companions are staying here overnight.” She hoped he would get the hint and go.

He didn’t, “Companions?” he asked, “From what clan?”

Arrowstorm sighed, “No clan, they’re not elves. Please, Please leave me in peace!”

“Not elves!? What are they?” Karit’s eyebrows raised.

Arrowstorm decided to be blunt. “Mary Ann is a human, Rosia is a Gryphon, Thorn is. . . well, I don’t know what Thorn is but she looks like a blob of purple gas, and Sunshine is a Human-Fairy crossbreed.”

Karit was speechless any one of the four was not considered exactly polite company and Thorn was probably unheard of in the elfin clans. “Where did you gain such... interesting companions, pray tell?”

Arrowstorm privately laughed at Karit’s expression but outwardly she just shrugged and stared at the space next to his right ear, “A round.”

While Karit tried to think of something to say Arrowstorm spotted Thorn coming across

the room weaving her way among barstools and the last few celebrators.

“Is this lad bothering you, Arrowstorm?” she asked as she reached the table.

“No.” Karit answered before she could say anything. “I was just leaving. Thank you.” He scuttled off toward the door as Arrowstorm let out her long-controlled laughter. [I really do like that word “Scuttled” don’t I]

“What a ninny!” she exclaimed as Thorn sat down in the chair Karit had just vacated, “Can you believe that’s the cub my mother keeps trying to get me to marry? And Gart wonders why I haven’t visited home in around a hundred years! Heavens!”

Thorn laughed as well, and signaled a waitress for a drink.

[Okay this part is quite long enough. I did it in only one day but I think I had better turn it over to some one else now! *grin*]

[Is it Karit, like it was first or Karil as you seemed to have changed it to *grin* ok those stars did not work *laugh*] [Someone like me who will write 10 pages and think nothing *chuckle*

Meanwhile Rosia was tucking Sunshine in for the night. Very carefully she pulled up the covers around Sunshine. Mary Ann

watched from the corner of the room. “How can you do that?” She asked.

“What?” Asked Rosia.

“Tuck her in?”

“Her?”

“How can you tuck Sunshine in with those claws, I mean?”

“It’s difficult I admit, but I manage.” Mary Ann had a moment of inspiration. She looked at her hand and pulled a piece of hair from her brush. She threw the piece of hair and Rosia, after a moment Rosia was noticing a change. Her head was beginning to deform into a human’s head. Slowly she turned into a human. When she had fully changed she glared at Mary Ann. “What did you do?”

“I changed you to a human, I know I should have asked, but I figured you wouldn’t mind. I can change you back if you like.” Rosia scowled but went to tuck the rest of the sheet in. Her new fingers were clumsy and she couldn’t grasp the sheets.

“You’re going about it all wrong.” Mary Ann came over and showed

her how to hold the sheets. Sunshine stirred. Rosia sighed, “I am interested to see how a fragile human survives, but let us continue away from Sunshine.” She looked at the fairy-human. “She needs her sleep.” [Just so you all know Rosia nearly killed me when she figured out she was becoming human, I talked her out though *nervous laugh*. If I were dead how would she return to Gryfalcon form?] Rosia walked shakily downstairs. “See, you are fragile, these stupid feet are too small to support the rest.” Mary Ann was beginning to wonder how Rosia would react to the other gryfalcon downstairs when she saw it from this height.

“Be happy you aren’t wearing a dress.” Was all Mary Ann said. They approached the table that Thoru and Arrowstorm occupied.

“Found a human friend?” Arrowstorm laughed. Rosia was about to lunge but she thought better of it.

“Shut up Arrowstorm, you’re much smaller

than me.” growled Rosia.

“Sharp tongue for a fragile thing like you.” Arrowstorm laughed. Thorn was staring at Rosia.

“Nice for a beginner.” She said to Mary Ann. “Some of the features are fuzzed though.” Thorn looked at Rosia carefully. “See the hair only looks separate, it’s actually together, not individual like yours.” Mary Ann came closer as Thorn spoke to her. Thorn looked at her. “its actually pretty good; [Hee Hee Hee Hee Hee!]not much else is fuzzed.” Arrowstorm was looking at Rosia. “You are a fragile human!” She laughed.

“Ho, that is funny!”

“Funny Arrowstorm wait till I’m a Gryphon again.” Arrowstorm shit up.

“It’s my third time doing it.” Admitted Mary Ann. As they spoke loud voices began in the corner. Thorn noticed first. “Someone’s in trouble.” She observed as fists began to meet faces. The innkeeper was in the corner, he simply rolled his eyes and waited. Mary Ann was looking on as more people

began to enter the fight. “I wish they’d stop.” She said. In the midst of the arguing she heard a voice “Evil?” The foursome looked at each other “Sunshine”. All the creatures who had been fighting were silent, their lips till moved, next they lifted into the air (causing silent screams) and one by one where dropped outside the door to the inn and the door slammed shut. Sunshine was in the center. “Evil? Arrowstorm?” [Arrowstorm, I honestly don’t get how you can live with your name being said wrong! It would annoy me to no end. Mry Ann or Ann Marie or *wink*] “Evil, Arrowstorm?” [Hey I live with people mispronouncing my real name wrong all the time.]

“No evil,” Arrowstorm replied, “I think I’ll retire,” she said. The rest agreed.

“Mary Ann, gryphon.” Rosis said.

“But you’ll like sleeping as a . . .” Rosia’s face convinced her. She focused on the way Rosia really looked and Rosia was Rosai!

“Thorn! Are you going to sleep?”

“I don’t sleep.” She replied. [she, it, he?] [H m m I don’t like that entry. I

feel somewhat tapped of my storytelling ability.]

* * *

[K’ that was strange!][*worried look at Mary Ann*]

[What was strange, I was tapped out! (Amazingly)

Both Arrowstorm and Rosia were in a better mood in the morning.

The elf hummed as she packed her mare and Thorn.

Mary Ann came out of the inn with a gigantic smile on her face, “Guess what I have, Arrowstorm!” She dangled something in from of Arrowstorm’s face.

“The crystal!” Arrowstorm yelped in delight. She snatched it out of Mary Ann’s hands and moved so that the human could finish the packing. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Arrowstorms eyes lit up as she activated the crystal and the customary fog clouded the prism. Gart’s face appeared as he picked up the crystal on his end.

“Arrowstorm?! Gods I was worried sick about you? What happened!?”

The elf laughed to see the troll’s familiar face and told him about all that had happened since her crystal had broken in the storm.

Sunshine finally became curious about why

“Arrowstorm was talking into her hands and wandered over. “Whatcha doing, Arrowstorm?” The elf smiled and handed the crystal to Sunshine, “Gart, meet Sunshine!”

“Evil!” screamed Sunshine.

“Lookout, she senses different magic than hers-”, Rosia shouted. The crystal turned pink, blue, orange, and green. Arrowstorm (?strom?) picked it up out of her hands. Mary Ann [shut up Mary Ann] took Sunshine away explaining that Arrowstorm would take away the ‘evil’.

“Gart?” Arrowstorm asked the crystal.

“Still here.” He laughed.

“I see Sunshine is a young fairy.” He chuckled.

“She is.” Arrowstorm said. She went off with the crystal. Thorn had taken the form of a centaur, and was munching on some grass. Rosia was searching the sky for food. Mary Ann returned with Sunshine, a small creature resided in her arms. [Okay just so you all know Firefly has disappeared and I’m introducing a new Firefly] The creature mewed.

“What’s this?” Thorn asked Sunshine. Rosia’s eyes brightened

“LUNCH!” she cried merrily.

“You stay ‘way!” Sunshine shouted. “My kitty”, she scowled and stroked the calico.

“Does the kitty have a name?” Thorn asked.

“No name yet.” Mary Ann replied, she looked at all the packs. They vanished.

“You people work to hard.” She laughed.[ah ah! After all the work I did you just popped it into subspace]

“I would like it if you brought my things back from suspension please.” Said Thorn.

“Why?” asked Mary Ann.

“What happens if you lose your power . . .AGAIN! or you get kidnapped, we don’t have any of our belongings”, announced Thorn.

“Fine!” shouted Mary Ann and returned all the items from suspension. “Happy?” sarcastically said. Thorn bowed and said thank you and went to pile her stuff back up. They headed for the Ketheren[sorry if I spell it wrong] again.

They came about a humongous lake.

“Thorn, turn into something big so we can get across the lake”, said Arrowstorm. Sunshine was dancing around trying to catch a little lizard. But all of a sudden [not Suddenly] the laughter stopped and screaming was heard.

“EVILLLLL!!” screamed the little fairy human.

“No, No, No, not evil”, shouted Thorn. “Not

Evil, not evil, Sunshine.”

A big water dragon had come up from the lake looking all mean and ferocious.

“Hades! Old friend, how are you?” asked Thorn.

“Thorn? Is that you? Haven’t seen you in about a couple hundred years”, said the deep ominous [sp?] voice.

“I know, say can you help my friends and I pass this lake to be on our way, my friend?” asked Thorn.

“Geez, this is a friend?” whispered Rosia. “Never realized dragons were this big.”

“Not just a friend, a friend/teacher/mentor,” replied Thorn. They exchanged talk and after much deliberation the whole group was across the lake.

“How in the world did we get over here. We just appeared here!” exclaimed Mary Ann.

“Yep. Wonderful isn’t it?” said Thorn and smiled and walked away. “Thank You, Hades.”

“Had to help a friend in need. Good bye, Thorney-Worney!” said the dragon.

“I’ll get you for that Hade-A-Bades!” shouted Thorn happily.

“Thorney-Worney?” asked Rosia.

“I wouldn’t recommend you call me that.” Said Thorn.

“Point taken,” said Rosia.

[In search for the Ketheron]

The forest was becoming very thick. It was getting hard to walk through. You could hear the grunts and out of breathlessness of the explorers. Then it cleared into a perfectly round circle and a canopy with dim light. The walked out a half man, his head was missing. Rosia started to shake and convulse [sp?] a greenish goo fell from her body and travel over to the man. It traveled up his body and formed his head. They all gasped [except for Thorn] it was the same 10-foot man with the lead pipe ready to kill. A A A A A A A A A A, I don’t like monsters bigger than me!]

“We killed you!” shouted Rosia who had now stopped convulsing.

“Apparently not well enough. Thorn should know who-what I am. I’ll give you 5 min. then. . . .it begins.”

“What the hell is he!?” exclaimed Mary Ann.

“Sorry . . . I can’t help you all this time,” said Thorn.

“He was easy to beat last time, we can do it again with out your help.” said Arrowstorm.

“Nope, the first time you fought it was a fake , it determines who can fight him the second time. Since Sunshine and I didn’t fight the Fake we cannot fight him until he Fakes again. Only he can decide to fake. Believe me it won’t be easy. He’s what you call a Faker. Mary Ann your

magic won’t work on him. And, all the attacks you used won’t work now on him. I assumed you used your magic Mary Ann?” said Thorn.

“Yes, I did”, said Mary Ann. She then oathed.

“Times up ladies,” announced the brute.

“FIGHT ME !”, followed by maniacal laughter.

“Good luck. Sunshine come with me.”

“But . . . Evil . . . no Evil?” asked Sunshine.

“Yes evil, you can’t help them now. Let’s go fly a kite up to its highest height,” said Thorn.

“Yea! !” and the fairy ran about. Thorn whispered “Good luck guys you’ll nee it.”

Arrowstorm launched an arrow at it but he just laughed and brushed it aside with his pipe. Mary Ann had no idea what to do. Rosia, in human [I thought Rosia was a gryhon?] form was trying to fight clumsy-like. It seemed that there was no hope.

[Alright! New green pen! I don’t have to borrow from Mary Ann anymore!]

Arrowstorm blinked a few times from the tree she had hit, then shook her head to clear it. “Mary Ann! Stop standing there like a doofus and turn Rosia back into a gryphon!”

“Oh, right!” Mary Ann said sheepishly. Rosia human disappeared in a flash of dim light and reappeared as a gryphon. [Are you happy Mary Ann? It wasn’t a “flash of bright light” *grin*]

She let out a true gryphon battle scream and slashed a great gash in the chest of the Faker.

Mary Ann threw another ball of magic at the Faker to distract it. The magic slid off it like before except for a little bit that shimmered around the wound Rosia had given it. *evil laugh* [ha ha ha]

Mary Ann saw this, “Rosia give it a few more slashes,” she screamed. Rosia hit it with more strikes. Thorn ran over to help Arrowstorm up from where she had fallen. She frowned at the way the elf’s right arm hung limply from the shoulder [owwww]but Arrowstorm waved her away from it. “it’s broken don’t bother,” She winced. “See, now there’s nothing I can . . . wait!” She closed her eyes and concentrated and stretched out her good hand. At first nothing happened: the Faker was still dodging Rosia and Mary Ann’s attacks. Then, slowly [SLOWLY]vines and branches started twining around the feet of the Faker. At first they were flexible allowing it to still move, then as more greenery sprouted he was rooted [hee hee] to the ground allowing Rosia and Mary Ann

to hit it squarely because it couldn’t dodge. [I think that was a serious run-on sentence. Good thing we’re not in English!] Once the fines had reached the Faker’s knees, Arrowstorm dropped her arm and collapsed into the roots of the tree again. [ooooooohhhh it’s Arrowstrom’s magic] The Faker was furious and he ripped his feet from the ground. Thorn came out from the trees, she was in mid-transformation. (changing from human to Healer to help Arrowstorm) “Shoot”, she said. “What now?” asked Mary Ann.

“He caught me, he was faking.” Mary Ann groaned. Rosia looked at the monster man, he had no wounds, scars, nothing to indicate that he had been nearly dead. “Keep him busy.”

“Choose your form, goo!”

“By the law of the Kethren goddess, I declare that I will take the help of another.” The man laughed. “You try to beat me blop? HA I crush you to bits! Choose your companion!”

“By THE POWER OF THE KETHREN LAW I CALL SAGE TO BE MY

COMPANION!” [Hello people! Finally go in the book but for now I write] Instantly the ground shook and a gargoyle type creature rose from the ground.

“I have a favor,..” Thorn rushed to the gargoyle who was blinking in the sunlight. Soon the gargoyle was nodding. Thorn hurried around to Mary Ann. “Throw magic at it.” She said quickly. Mary Ann was slightly confused but started to hurl the powers she hadn’t used at it. Rosia began to fly around, while her slashes left no marks she kept the beast busy. The gargoyle moved slowly into a sitting position, large figures could be seen moving in the sky, slowly advancing towards the group. As they loomed closer they appeared as rocks. They began to pelt the large beast. He cried out as the rocks left slash marks on his arms, and legs. Mary Ann recalled the magic working when he was wounded and she began to pelt him with her magic. As his