Tales of Avolon

In the time that had passed, Nyven had pulled out of her panic attack quite a bit. She still retained a hollow feeling, however, as the day's occurrences played themselves over in her mind repeatedly and continued not to speak. She eventually started wondering if it had all been just a dream, but seeing the burn on her hand left her to believe otherwise. Seeing Tiri remaining next to her the whole time left her with a feeling of comfort, which calmed her thoughts to some small extent.

While gently petting Tiri, she noticed the woman that had annihilated the creature from before had lied down next to her and spoke. Nyven was still unable to find words at the time and simply remained unresponsive, closing her eyes. Tiri leaned in closer with a slightly pleased growl as Nyven slowly recovered.

Xan sighed. "Not much of a talker are you? Fine whatever." Dee petted Tiri, "Don't be upset Xan Xan I'm sure she's just in a state of shock."

"Who said I was upset? I just think she's overreacting...." Xan looked over at the hot spring that had formed after the pressure from the gushing water had subsided. "Wonder if thats any good, might be willing to try it if I had some swimming clothes, course if there wasn't so many people around I might....." Xan smiled. "Ow.... It's hurts to smile."

Picking up a pebble she bounced it off Nyven's leg. "Hey girl you gonna be ok?"

Nyven reacted with a startled twitch as the pebble hit her leg. With a slightly irritated sigh, she pulled herself up and made her way to her feet, feeling slightly off balance. The injuries she received from earlier wasn't quite as bad as she had expected, being only a few scratches and bruises with the pain being pushed back with the help of Dee's treatment. Looking towards the newly formed hot spring, she finally got the will to to try to move about.

Gesturing Tiri to fly up to her shoulder, Nyven walked over to the spring and sat at its edge. She cupped her hands while reaching into the heated water and started to clean the grass and dirt off of her hair and face, feeling some discomfort due to her burned palm. Tiri had become his usual playful self and hopped into the water, quickly forcing himself out as it was much to hot for a creature born in a land of ice. Watching the tiny wyvern's antics, she began to feel as though she should let her mind drift away from the earlier events.

"Look... I ruined my gloves." She sighed, showing a faint smile as she pulled at the burnt hole in the glove on her right hand.

Xan got up from the spot she was sitting at groaning a little in pain, reaching down she put her hand on her left side feeling the bandages wrapping around her midsection under the loose shirt the villagers had given her. One, two, three, broken ribs. Well I guess it could of been worse. She thought as she moved slowly to the hot spring besides Nyven, kneeling down painfully she dipped her hand in the water. "It's amazing how cool this has gotten, just a few hours ago would of been burned my hand horribly to do this." Looking over at Nyven, Xan smiled. "Interesting pet you have there, don't think I've seen a wyvern that small before... Or many wyverns at all for that matter."

Dee walked over and put her hands on her hips. "Xan Xan and Miss's Lady you have both been hurt, as your doctor I order you both to lay down and get some rest." She said in a stern tone still having traces of her hyperactive voice in it.

The Innkeepers wife Bess walked over as well. "I would have to agree with the young lady, both you girls where hurt pretty serious in that earthquake that created this wonder hot spring, so I insist that you both come to the inn and get some rest." She said sweetly.

Nyven watched the little wyvern lightly swiping his wing through the water, fascinated by how warm it was. Pushing her mind farther past the hectic events from before, she replied while trying to mask the feeling of intimidation that this abnormally strong person gave her, "Ah.. I know, they're usually much larger than this where I'm from, even the newly hatched ones... Tiri just happens to be abnormally smaller than the rest."

Her train of thought was cut short as Dee began speaking, telling them to rest. Watching Bess walk over and offering a place to stay until they recover left Nyven with a small bit of surprise. It was odd that this person who was being so rude this morning was suddenly being nice.

Xan raised her hands in protest. "That's quite the offer but I must refuse..." Bess took both Xan and Nyven by the arms despite their injuries. "Nonsense I insist you two come in." Bess dragged the two girls into the inn with Dee skipping after them, bringing them to the table she sat them down. "I'll be right back with some dinner." Bess rushed into the inn's kitchen.

Xan leaned over to Nyven. "Puzzled about her change of behavior? Creatures like abominations have this a natural energy that create well, have you ever had something startle you? Or perhaps a danger appears out of nowhere?" Errr, well ok this is something I've never felt but anyways this energy field these creatures create activate this effect in their victim's brains, normally it's not strong enough to effect humans but when gets that big well, you saw the effects massive emotional failure in till total... whats the word I'm looking hmmm, shock I guess.

Dee interrupted. "Xan Xan is more or less saying this is how the silly old lady acted before today Miss's Lady." ^.^

"Umm, yes... I have felt something like that... It jumped out of the ground this morning, even..." Nyven replied feeling a little sarcastic, somewhat uncomfortable talking about the event. However; knowing that Bess was under an influence of some other power left her relieved as Tiri hopped up onto the table. She then had a sudden realization to what Xan had said.

"But, wait... How do you know how she was acting before? Were you here?"

Bess brought some food to the table. roast beef, mash potato's and various vegetables. Xan pondered for a moment. "Well you umm see, I was passing through the area yesterday and decided to spend the night."

Xan quickly made a plateful of food and started scarfing it down, she raised her fork to indicate she couldn't talk then shrugged.

Dee smiled then spoke up. "Xan Xan is on the run from her family cause she's refusing follow through with her arranged marriage, so we're traveling off the beaten path, tehe."
Xan coughed at the Dee just said and started choking.

"Tehe."

"I see.." Nyven replied somewhat quietly, feeling lightly confused by their sudden behavior. Taking a moment to cut a piece of the roast beef to pass to Tiri, she made a light sigh. It was slightly unsettling seeing someone who was so fearsome that morning acting so different. In moments, she had realized she had questions to ask of a more serious matter.

"Oh, umm... About this morning..." She took a quick breath during her pause, slowly circling her fork around her still empty plate, "Umm... What exactly... Was that thing?"

Xan kept choking, till Dee slapped her in the back. Xan grabbed Dee by the ears and tugged them. "What do you think your doing? Don't go telling strangers my personal business!"

Dee struggled for a bit. "Ow! Ow! Ow! Don't be so mean Xan Xan!."

Both Xan and Dee froze, catching the gaze of Nyven on them. Xan released Dee and sat back in her chair with a air of, that did not just happen.

"You say something?" Said Xan.
"I think she asked what was that thing." Chimed in Dee.
"Well no one asked you.. Err, the thing was a abomination, a sort of life form created through dark artes that has been over saturated with dark pulses..." Xan sighed. " Well ok so a long time ago there used to be tons of necromancers." Xan flung her arms out to the sides to demonstrate how many there where, then quickly grabbing side gritting her teeth in pain. "Well wars where fought mostly with undead monsters and well the undead monsters got killed or the spell was broken that reanimated them. So these bones and stuff... Err well you see for some reason the core of our world puts off this erg of darkness in pulses which seems to create unusual effects in things, and well it tends to bring these undead monsters back to life, only now they ummm." Xan took a breath and rattled the rest off quickly. "They consume spirits and the souls of the living to gain in strength. Why they do it, we don't know, whats the strongest a abomination has gotten... Well we don't know that either. But! Ummm yeah I guess that's it.

Who is this girl, and wow how rude is it that she hasn't even introduced herself to me yet... Well ok I haven't told her my name but still.

"So anyways hi my names Xangela and this is my partner Deanthie, ummm who are you?"

"Ah, I haven't even introduced myself yet!" Nyven said in a rushed tone as she got up from her seat. Crossing her right arm over to place her hand on her left shoulder, she bowed her head slightly and began her introduction in a much more formal tone than when she met the innkeeper and wife in the morning, "My name is Nyven Freyla, mage apprentice traveling from the region of Helvas far north of here." Taking a breath, she raised her head back up to see the two in front of her, "I wish to thank you for your help this morning."

Taking back to her seat, Nyven gently rubbed the back of her hand along the side of her traveling companion. "And this is Tiri. He's my companion and best little friend," she said with a smile.

Dee frowned.

"Nice to meet you Nyven, you too Tiri. And think nothing of it, I saw a monster and decided to eliminate it." Said Xan

Bess came back to the table with two slices of blue berry pie. "Here I baked this earlier thought you two would like some."

Xan yawned. You got anything else to say Nyven? I think I'm gonna go to bed if not.

Nyven took a slice of pie, feeling rather hungry all of a sudden. "Ah, thank you, ma'am."

She then turned her attention to Xan's last question and paused for a moment. "Erm, no... I don't really think I have much to say..." She thought back on the conversation for a moment to try and think of how to keep the conversation going. However, Xangela's rushed explanation was somewhat difficult to understand, leaving her with little to take in and little to go off of. She decided to let the conversation end and placed her fork into the end of her pie. "No, nothing else to say..."

Xan crossed her arms. "Okie, I guess." Why is this bothering me? Maybe she's met a member of my tribe before, or maybe she doesn't just care. Gah snap out of it Xan! Xan yawned. I must be tired, especially with my training in the morning and that other thing I have to take of.

Xan dipped her finger in her slice of the pie and tasted. "Hmmm interesting." She got up from the table and moved towards the inn's rooms, stopping before she left the dining hall she stopped. "Goodnight Nyven, Bess said that we could sleep in any of the guest rooms that we wanted. Oh and a suggestion, save the pie for breakfast." Xan left the room with Dee skipping after her.

"Mmm, okay. Good night." She replied with a slight wave. "It's been a hectic day, hasn't it Tiri?" She placed her hand onto the back of her tiny companion, smiling. "I'm glad you didn't get hurt. Wouldn't know what to do without my best little friend with me."

Tiri fluttered in place for a moment with a pleased growl, taking back to his meal shortly after. Nyven had begun to eat the dinner that Bess had left for her, feeling quite hungry after hardly eating a thing the entire day, and ignored the comment about saving the pie for later. Setting her dish aside after finishing her meal, she looked back to her hand. Then burn on it was still hurting a bit, though it seemed it'd heal after a couple of months. "It doesn't look that bad, now does it, Tiri?" She lifted the wyvern off of the table as she spoke, giving off a warm feeling as she headed back to her room from the morning. "Let's get us some sleep, okay?"

Sitting down onto the bed, she placed her travel bag by the night stand and changed into her sleepwear. Placing one of the pillows onto the nightstand for use as a bed for Tiri, she lied down onto the bed, closing her eyes. "Good night, Tiri."

Nyven heard a voice, a voice that echoed in her mind like it was part of a dream.

"Wake up child, wake up and meet me in the forest." A ghostly figure appeared before Nyven beckoning with it's hand as it floated out the window and through the forest.

The ghosts voice spoke in her mind again. "Wake up, please child I need your help."

The dream suddenly ended waking Nyven up.

Nyven slowly sat upright in the bed, slightly confused about the dream. Pulling herself out of bed, she stood up with a quiet yawn. After letting her eyes adjust to the dark, she saw that Tiri was still fast asleep on the nightstand. she carefully and quietly made her way over to the window and opened it. Feeling oddly unable to go back to sleep, she simply leaned against the window sill and stared outside. She took a slow breath as she took in the surroundings.

After a moment, she suddenly remembered that odd dream. Within her mind, she began to question what it was about and set her eyes to the forest.

The bright full moon broke through the clouds, casting a eerie light on the forest. the clearing between the inn and the forest edge glowed silver as the moons light reflected off the dew on the ground making everything look magical.

A light glowed in the forest for a moment, then faded almost as if it hadn't been real.

Nyven heard the voice from her dreams again, this time seeming more real yet it still floated in her thoughts like a dream.

"Come to the forest child. Please I need your help."
The clouds moved over the moon again covering the forest and inn in darkness once again.

Nyven closed the window and stepped away, feeling that she might still be half asleep. Seeing as she couldn't go back to sleep, she figured that she may as well take a walk around the town. After slipping her shoes on, she quietly stepped out of the room while being careful not to disturb Tiri. After walking quietly down the stares of the inn, she stepped through the front door.

Taking a moment to stretch during a short yawn outside the inn, she realized her arms were still slightly sore. It wasn't too painful now, so she felt it wouldn't bother her stroll through the town. Letting her eyes adjust for a bit, she took a moment to decide which way she would go.

The moon broke through the clouds again illuminating the entire village, to Nyven's right along the beaten path in front of the inn stood three houses belonging to the villages residents, their windows stood dark against the moon's light. To the left along the road stood another house and the ruins of the house that got destroyed in the battle earlier that day. The newly formed hot spring bubbled in the night, and a man in black robes knelled where the monster's body once laid examining the ground.

Feeling much more awake, Nyven took in her surroundings as best she could. The man standing over to earlier grounds of battle seemed rather peculiar and caught her attention. As she looked on, she felt rather curious about what he was doing. Yawning lightly, she walked over into his direction.

She stopped for a moment and looked at the house that had been damaged from earlier. It made her feel uneasy as she thought about the building. Suddenly losing one's house in such a way must be devastating. Letting the unsteady thoughts pass, she walked onward to the robed man and stopped a short distance away to observe.

The man seemed to sense Nyven's presence, because he stood up dusting his hands off. "About time you woke up." He said in a familiar tone, turning towards Nyven the moons light revealed him to be the innkeeper from earlier, extending his hand towards her he spoke softly.

"Come with me child, there isn't much time I need your help in the forest."

Nyven hesitated for a moment. There seemed to be something odd about this robed figure standing before her. She began to believe that the earlier beckoning towards the forest was anything but a dream. As she wrapped her mind around it, she was unsure what to think of this. She wasn't even sure if it was something to be afraid of.

Taking a cautious step back and a quick breath, she questioned the man, "Are you... The voice from before?"

"Voice from earlier? What are you talking about." The Innkeeper looked puzzled taking a step towards Nyven. "Is something wrong? What are you doing up so late?" He took another step towards Nyven the wind picking up at the moment slightly rustling his robe back and the moon light shined on his face giving him a almost sinister look.

"Since your up, would you please come with me? There is something I need help with."

Nyven stepped back gently, feeling a bit nervous by the Innkeeper's behavior. "Umm... What exactly do you need help with?" She questioned, the mysterious moonlight leaving her with a slightly paranoid feeling. Her attention shifteds to wondering just why he might be standing over the place where the creature had died and back to the mysteriousness of the situation several times.