• The Shadow awoke with a start. The sun was high in the sky and it's soft light came in beams through the tall trees. She sat up. Her cloak was hanging on a near tree branch. Her long black hair had been pulled back and seemed softer than normal. She stood and noticed she didn't have her shoes on. She walked towards her cloak and shrugged it over her her shoulders.

    "Where are my shoes?" She scratched her arm as she wondered allowed. She felt the softness of clean cloth around her arms, side, and legs. She lifted the sleeve of her cloak and noticed the white bandages that were wrapped around her arm.

    "Who on earth?" She glanced around at the soft forest. She didn't recognize where she was. The only forests she was used to was the thick dense forests of her country of Glass. She heard a twig snap behind her and she spun around quickly. A knife already in her palm.

    "Calm, calm!" A man's voice came from somewhere in the forest. A tall, young man with dark brown hair and deep blue eyes came out of the brush. One hand was up in surrender and the other held her boots. "I was just cleaning your shoes." He had a kind smile on his face.

    "Drop them." She commanded as she pointed to the ground below him with her knife still in hand. "Alright, alright." He set down her boots and took a few steps back. She wasn't convinced. "Are you armed?" "Why of course!!" He flung his arms in a strange type manner. "I have arms! See?" The shadow glanced him over swiftly. An expression of confusion and plain concern for his mental stability spread over her face.

    "Oh, calm yourself. I'm not going to bring any harm to you." That kind smile again. She slid the knife into it's sheath and walked towards her boots. She sat down and started to slip them on and lace them up.

    "So... I saw what you did to Loxious last night." This man was so queer. "You're pretty powerful when you get angry." "With every right to be." She muttered and stood. She started to walk away.

    "Hey! Wait! I'm almost certain that you don't even know where you are!" The man called after her and followed. "I'll find my way." Her voice was cold and expressionless compared to his cheerful tone.

    "But there aren't any villages near here! At least let me escort you to the nearest village." The shadow turned sharply on her heal. So quick that he stumbled back slightly. "Where am I? Who are you? Why did you take me off my corse?" Her knife was at his neck. "Hey, hey! Calm yourself! My name is Zaiden. Zaiden Maddox. I'm a master in the art of Incendium." A fire master. Just like her. "How did you learn of Incendium?" "My grandfather taught me." "So where am I?" "You're in the country of Wind." "WIND?! That puts me completely off course!" She sheathed her knife and stormed off. "I cannot believe this! How long was I out?" She screamed knowing he was following. "A few days?" He was unsure of his answer. "What is that supposed to mean?" "Well, you woke up a few times..." "GAH! I cannot believe this madness! Do you know who is following me?! You have no idea do you?!" "Um... No one? You killed Loxious..." "No. I didn't and he wants this." She reached for the medallion but couldn't find anything in her cloak pocket. "Where is my medallion?"...

    "I still cannot believe that you sold my medallion!!!! Do you know what could happen if Loxious gets his dirty paws on that thing?! That's a priceless heirloom and you sell it for bandages! How unintelligent can you get?!" She fumed as the ran towards the village where he said he had sold her medallion. "I'm sorry! But you were going to die if you didn't get your wounds fixed up!" "Well now I am going to die! And you just might go down as well!"

    The two ran into the the small village of Someone's-Sail. "Alright. where did you sell it?" The shadow was just fine after that long run but Aubrey was out of breath and looked like he was about to collapse. "We just covered a days walk in two hours of running. Give me a moment of rest, kind lady." "Kind lady?!?" "Alright, alright. Fierce person. Just give me a moment's rest." He sat down on a nearby bench as people crossed their paths. The Shadow still stood next to him and glanced at people crossing.

    After a few seconds the Shadow grew impatient. "Alright. A moment has come and gone. Now let's go. The more time we waste here sitting, there's more of a chance Loxious has already found it." She grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him forward. "Alright, alright. This way." He led her to the center of the village. "Um..." "What do you mean, 'Um...'?" Her voice was cold and angry. He laughed nervously. "Funny story. Um... The stall that I sold it at isn't here..." "WHAT?!" All the people around them froze and stared at them. One of Zaiden's hands was covering her mouth and the other was shooing on the other people. "Carry on, carry on."

    Once he dragged her to the side she had her arms crossed over her chest and her foot was tapping impatiently. "It's. Not. HERE?!" Her eyes were burning. "Stalls come and go through this town." Aubrey explained. She screamed insanely loudly. Aubrey's hands covered her mouth quickly. "Will you stop that?!" "NO! I will not! This is a life or death matter for the entire world and you can't take that seriously enough!" "Okay, okay. Listen. Every stall takes the main road. We'll just follow the main road until we get to the main city of Wind. Okay?" The Shadow was fuming. "Fine. Let's go." She growled and headed towards the main road.

    The Shadow and Zaiden kept walking on the main road. "Very quiet today." Zaiden stated. Wanting to make light of the situation. The Shadow growled in response. "Calm, calm." He waved his hand casually. "We'll find it." "You sound so sure!" "Every stall comes and goes from the town of Someone's-Sail. I said that earlier. But they are all connected to the main city of Wind. I'm sure that we'll find it there." The sun was starting to set and The Shadow was starting to grow weary. "Tired?" Zaiden glanced down at her. "Hmm? I mean-No!" She suddenly snapped. It was clear and obvious that she was indeed tired.

    They entered the main city of Wind and walked to the center of the trading market. The stalls were closed up for the night and everyone was starting to crowd into the bars and inns of the huge town. "Zaiden..." The shadow growled. "Alright, alright. Calm. Look. there's the stall." The Shadow's eyes snapped up to the stall that stood across the courtyard. "Yes!" She yelled and sprinted towards the stall. "Hold, hold." He grabbed the back of her cloak and pulled her back towards him. "Theft is highly priced in this town. We'll gamble for it in the morning. But right now you-" The shadow glared up at the start of his statement. "Alright, alright. WE need to sleep."

    They walked into the inn nearest to the stall so they would be able to get there fastest in the morning. Zaiden gave what little money he had left to buy a room and a dinner. The Shadow ate slowly. Glancing up every once in a while at the man who sat across the room glaring at her. "Do you know him?" Zaiden whispered casually. "No." She muttered. "Because he's been glaring at you ever since you sat down." Zaiden explained.