Quest 1

[Kiki]

"We will have to go to the castle, but do not touch anything when we arrive," Kasai said sternly. Her voice and expression were back to normal as she was supressing her fear.

[Zappy]

Cade shook his head and nodded. Anailleth growled, "We are not idiots." His voice was no longer rich and chocolaty, but stern and a little annoyed. Cade shrugged, stroking the panther.

[Kiki]

"I do not trust him," she said, pointing at Cade, then started walking. Samina walked slowly, forcing Kasai to keep pace with her.

[Zappy]

"I wonder why." Cade muttered, then shrugged, following Kasai and Samina. Anailleth followed Cade, shaking his head.

[Kiki]

Samina soon slowed her walking, panting heavily. Keeping the spirits at bay was taking its toll on her heavily as she forced herself to keep walking. If she stopped, the spirits would close in on them.

[Zappy]

Anailleth looked at Samina, clearly concerned. Cade kept his gaze fixated ahead of himself, not looking around.

[Kiki]

Kasai picked Samina up, stroking her head. Though Kasai was normally cold, it was clear she had a very caring side, at least when it came to animals.

[Zappy]

Anailleth smiled, turning his gaze to Cade, then in front of them. Cade yawned a bit, a little tired.

[Kiki]

"We at least must get to the castle. We will be safer there, but it will be several hours until we reach it," Kasai said. Samina yawned, her eyes beginning to droop. The glowing from her fur began to dim and the movement from the fog began to close in closer around them

[Zappy]

Cade blinked, Anailleth's fur puffed up, and he began to growl low, seeing the fog come closer.

[Kiki]

Samina shook her head and her fur glowed brighter, moving the fog back. "Sorry. It's just hard to keep this up for an extended period..."

[Zappy]

Anailleth nodded. "Do not overwork yourself." His voice was back to it's normal rich tone. Cade nodded.

[Kiki]

"If she does not keep this up, we all die," Kasai said. "I cannot keep the spirits at bay." She blinked and looked up when she heard the sound of a barn owl. It fluttered above their head and Samina passed out. The owl kept te spirits at bay.

[Zappy]

Anailleth continued to walk, his eyes now looking around again. Cade's eyes began droop and he yawned.

[Kiki]

The barn owl fluttered onto Cade's shoulder, his talons poking Cade. The owl controlled his grip so that it wouldn't hurt Cade; it would just be enough to keep him awake.

[Zappy]

Cade eyes snapped open and he looked up, now more awake and alert. He looked at the owl, and smiled a bit.

[Kiki]

The owl nodded. "Fall asleep here and you'll regret it," he said.
"Jashu, what brings you here?" Kasai asked. "Did I not tell you to stay with Jamina?"
"You expected me to let you come to Piren alone?"

[Zappy]

Cade listened, but didn't say anything, not wanting to interfere with their conversation.

[Kiki]

Jashu shook his feathers and Kasai lowered her head, ending the conversation. Clearly, the owl had power over her nobody else did.

[Zappy]

Cade raised an eyebrow, then shook his head. Anailleth smiled like only a cat can, stretching a bit.

[Kiki]

"I'm not her familiar, but her Master's. He died some time ago, but I still stay with her to watch over her. There's no way I could have let her come here alone." He ruffled his feathers again, trying to get more comfortable. "Sorry if I just smacked you in the face," he said to Cade.

[Zappy]

Cade blinked after being hit in the face, "It's all right. I don't mind." He stretched a bit.

[Kiki]

He ndoded, then puffed his feathers out when a black shape came into the field of light. He accidentally smacked Cade in the face again, but then relaxed when he saw it was just another fox. "Ochei, how did you...?" Jashu asked.
"You know my magic far excceds yours," Ochei said.

[Zappy]

"Who...?" Cade asked, blinking. Anailleth shrugged, at a loss. The big cat yawned, it's energy instantly sapping away. Cade blinked again, then dismissed Anailleth.

[Kiki]

"Ochei, I expected you wouldn't be here so soon," Jashu said. The fox shrugged and started plodding along with them. He clearly felt at home with Kasai.

[Zappy]

Cade slipped into the back to of the group, clearly uneasy being around people whom he barely knew, without Anailleth, his only true ally and friend.

[Kiki]

Jashu gently nipped Cade's ear. It wasn't to hurt him; it was just to keep him closer to Kasai. "I understand you're uneasy, but you can't be too far from them. Plus, the only real person is Kasai."
Ochei cocked his head to the side, clearly angry at the remark. "Are you forgetting I was once a powerful wizard, Jashu?"
"No, but you are condemned to that fox body for eternity."

[Zappy]

Cade walked a bit closer to the group, but still kept his distance. He listened to the conversation between Ochei and Jashu.

[Kiki]

The pair lapsed into another language, clearly having an extremely heated debate. Jashu ruffled his feathers indignantly, being careful not to hit Cade. "Be quiet!" Kasai hissed. "You know better than to draw attention to ourselves in this wood."

[Zappy]

Cade nodded, then yawned a bit. He cursed under his breath, forcing himself to stay awake.