[Xanth]

Consider it part of your punishment, Xanth rumbled as she materialised before the grouchy Skotadi. I am not at your beck and call, Suka, and I have rather more pressing matters than answering your summons. Speak. Quickly.

[Suka]

Suka squinted her eyes at her as she spoke to him. Letting the matter at hand get to the point, he spoke bluntly. He wasn't here to make small talk, and if she could read him mind, he wouldn't have to explain his resoning either.

I need control over an animal to test my Skotadi. I need to know where to place them, and this will let me do it. He ended up explaining more than he intended. Visions of him petting loose the animal in a maze, along with several other obsticles crossed his mind. Letting his followers enter the maze, and watch as they make thier way through would determine where to place them. It all depended on what they did to survive.

Of course, he could just let a wild animal loose, and then attempt to kill it if the fledglings couldnt. But then he might end up loosing recruits. And that wouldnt do him any good. If he had control over the animal... then he could test his Skotadi, and know they wont be injured. Not deadly anyway.

[Xanth]

Studying her nails, Xanth hopped up onto the base of her statue, kicking her legs like a child. Do you honestly think I will give you control over another being, control that you have not earned and more, so rude in the asking.

She rolled her eyes at his audacity, about to hop back off the statue and move closer to him when she noticed a blob of bird muck on the statue's knee. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. Momentarily distracted, she scowled at the statue. One would think the people who ensure the cleanliness of this park would also ensure the protection of my statue.

Her eyes lit with indignant fire, she clicked her fingers and a group of men and women appeared on the lawn, all of them in the process of doing something completely mundane and totally stunned to find themselves in the market square. One man even spat his tea over the woman standing next to him, so surprised was he.

You will clean this statue from head to toe before you return to your homes, Xanth ordered, watching them as they righted themselves and picked up the buckets full of soapy water that had landed beside them.

Turning back to Suka, Xanth arched a brow. I think there is a... What do humans call it? Oh yes, a magic word that you forgot.

[Suka]

Suka felt himself boil inside. He had a feeling she wouldn't want him with this power... but he he also thought she'd realize it would be good for his faction. Too bad Kaethe hadn't thought of this herself. He ment to argure his point more, but got lost in watching her actions. He ended up just standing there trance like as she walked around her statue inspecting it.

When she called forth a group of people however, he moved to the side as if not wanted to touch them, ot have them anywhere near him. When Xanth ordered them to clean the statue, he resisted the urge to smirk at their misfourtune. He would have thought she would make him do something like that, just to add insult to injury. He comes up to, in fact, gain a small amount of power, instead, she refuses, and makes him clean the statue as if he should never be so bold in asking such a thing. Keeping his mouth shut and expression blank, he didn't want to give her any ideas... although by thinking about it, he supposed he already did.

When she turn back toward him, after being what he asumed was pleased pleased with her actions, her words hit him like a ton of brick. Gritting his teeth, he stared at her. Give it to Xanth to think of the tiny subtle ways to make him regret even coming up here. She was baiting him to be humble, and knowing her, she probably would still say no. And yet, through a clenched jaw, he found himself uttering the word he never said. ...Please?... As soon as it rolled of his tounge and into the world, it was like all this moral values where whiped away. And probably for nothing.

[Xanth]

Such enthusiasm, Xanth sighed as she swept her hand above her in an arc, creating a rainbow that sparkled across the square. She did so love rainbows, and since she had moved the marketplace underground there had not been enough sunlight here.

She totally ignored the fact that to have a rainbow, you must first have rain as well as sunlight.

Fine, you can have your little beastie, she told him finally, clicking her fingers again. There before Suka poofed a warthog, one of the nastier varieties, with large horns either side of his snout, and staring directly at Suka's knees. Fortunately for Suka this was already lacking in willpower.

Understand this, Suka. I will not allow this beast to be harmed. Your warriors will find it impossible to kill or injure. It will, however, squeal when it should have been harmed, and it will disappear for a full day if those injuries should have killed it. Kneeling before the creature, she petted it gently.

Do you hear me, Suka? I am not in the business of rendering a creature harmless so it can be hunted, whether that hunt be for sport or training.

[Suka]

Suka's mouth nearly droped when she agreed. Trying to hold back his suprise, he shoved his hands in his pockets. Before he could even ask, or suggest what he wanted the creature to be, Xanth clicked he fingers, and a nasty looking beast appeared right at his legs.

Compleatly shocked, and stunned to no end, Suka moved to jump back. Having his hands in his pockets, he wasnt able to retain balance, and fell backward landing hard on his back. If it wernt for his wings, the air would have easily been knocked out of him. Removing his hands from his pockets, he pulled himself off the ground and looked toward Xanth. As if nothing happened, he cleared his thorat, and listened to her go on about the vicioud looking creature.

Suka nodded, understanding full well what this creature was ment for, and what its capabilities were. He had one question though. I get it, no harm to the... pig...thing. I have a question though... I have complete control over it right? I say its gone... its gone? I want it to appear, it appears? If i'd like to guide it to the fledgling... it will go? And... where does it end up when it dissapears? There was much to know about this before he truly comanded it. He didn't want some freak accident to happen, and to face Xanths wrath. Obviously she cared for the hairy little -zap-. As ugly as it was...

[Xanth]

Xanth smiled as Suka showed concern. It did not matter that he was only interested in his own welfare, that he wanted to know what was going to happen so he did not get himself in trouble. He would not let harm come to the warthog or his fledglings for that very reason, and Xanth was happy to let him have this creature knowing it would be used well.

Where he goes is of no concern to you. I think the poor beast will deserve a little peace and quiet, do you not? She smirked, remembering the look on Suka's face as he fell, pleased at his reaction. It was a shockingly ill-known fact that warthogs were exceptionally dangerous. And no, you cannot simply transport it out of sight when you have no use for him. You will look after him, Suka. I know you know how to care for dangerous beasts. Just to be sure he understood this condition, she repeated, You will care for him. No one else. If I find that he has been neglected, well... I am quite sure you can imagine the effect it will have on you, yes?

She did not bother to explain that this was not a power she was giving Suka, but that the warthog had agreed to help the Skotadi this way. She had promised him a great reward for his sacrifice and he would do as Suka commanded but only because he chose to. If Suka mistreated him in any way outside of that agreement, the warthog would have no issue with exacting revenge before fleeing back to his home.

[Suka]

Sukas jaw droped. He had to watch after this thing. Awww man... it is sooo not a lady plaeaser. Wrinkling his face at the creature, he looked up at Xanth and whispered as if the beast could understand what he was saying. Are you saying... i have to haul this... him... around with me? He corrected his speech incase it could understand him. He didn't want a toe biten off... or worse.

Looking down at it again, he wrinkled his nose, then let out a sigh. There was nothing he could do about it now. Well... does he have a name or something. What is he exactly anyway? Suka let out a half smirk to himself as he thought about it. Call him... spike... or killer or something. It was stupid really, be he found amusment in it for the moment.

[Xanth]

Xanth was surpised that Suka bothered to ask the warthog's name and bent her head to whisper to the creature, asking his permission to give away something as important. His name is Anchora, Xanth replied with a nod, standing to face the Skotadi. And yes, you will take him around with you. Growing impatient with his attitude, she snapped, Oh come now, Suka, you wish to use him for your own ends, what do you expect? For him to simply roll over and die for you?

[Suka]

Suka crossed his arms and glared at the goddess. I wasn't going to let him die, im not a total idiot. Thats why I asked for control over... him. Besides, you said he can't die. Pausing to look down at him, he realized he'd have to treat this creature as if he was an 'other'. Ok, you can do this... just think of him like you thought of the bird. 'Yes, but the bird brought me nice female attention... this thing... erm... Anchora... won't.' True... but think of it this way... no one in their right mind would attack you with him following you around. As Suka debated in his head, he came to the conclusion that for whatever reason, he was stuck with it anyway. Might as well make the best of it. At least his plans for the Skotadi wouldn't suffer. Which he guessed was his ultimate goal.

Looking back toward Xanth, he grunted. It could be interperated as whatever she wanted, but he ment it in a kind of thank you, even though this wasn't exactly what im looking for, type of way. Looking down at Anchora, he gestured for it to follow. If the animal had a mind of its own enough to tell Xanth his name... or that he even had a name, whistleing at it to come like a dog was probably out of the question. Turning his back on Xanth, he began to decend the long flight of stairs leave.

There are no stairs.

[Xanth]

Xanth snorted. Whether Suka was an idiot or not was not the issue here, otherwise she may have had plenty more to say to him. She let him get away with so much, it was becoming tedious. He had used the trauma of Dazadi's mental attack to death, there was only so much he do with that as an excuse.

It was time he learned that.

Oh and Suka?

[Suka]

Suka let out an annoyed sigh. Tunring his body only slightly enough to see her and be comfortable, he responded in an exasperated tone. What? It was a little hard, but he really didn't care. He knew all he needed to know, and just wanted to go back to his shop to begin planing it all out in detail.

As for Anchora, he needed to think of how to handle him in his day to day life, without having him around him all the time. He had an idea on that, seeing as he had other pets in his shop he could amuse himself with.

[Xanth]

Xanth's face hardened, her patience with this man eaten by annoyance. Moving closer to him, her chin tipped up to meet his gaze (she was tall at five foot ten, but Suka was still much taller), unintimidated, she let her anger singe him briefly. The market police may not be able to prove you harmed that girl deliberately, but rest assured, I know. I have not interfered, the reason for which is not for you to know. Speak to me like that again and my reasons may change.

Flicking his ear painfully, she stepped back, still scowling. You may go.

[Suka]

A whole barrage of thoughts flooded into his mind. It was instinct to think about things like he was, but he held his tounge. Gritting his teeth, he reached his hand up to touch his ear where'd she'd flicked him. Narrowing his eyes, he turned away from her without a spoken word, and procceded to the portal, expecting Anchora to follow.

With one word ringing in his mind, he half smirked. PMS much?

[Xanth]

Xanth had no idea what PMS was, the Tanakheimein reproductive system was entirely different from that of the humans and their descendents. She did, however, note the tone of Suka's mental voice and did not like it. She had warned him not to speak to her like that again, and although he was not actually speaking to her he must know she could hear his thoughts.

Her eyes narrowed, she stared at his back so intently the air between them began to heat up. A second later, purple lightning arced between them to strike him dead centre on his back, slamming him to the ground as smoke sizzled from him. It was not the most painful of punishments, and not even the most dramatic of zaps, simply a warning and he would recover fully in seconds. It should not have hurt him that much either, but perhaps he would think twice about using such a disrespectful tone on her again.

Time would tell.

Bored, and not wanting to see his reaction in case he angered her all the more, Xanth twisted to check the cleaning crew were doing their jobs properly, then poofed away.

[Suka]

Feeling a hard impact directly in the middle of his back between his wings, he was forced to the ground as the sizzle of smoke petruded off his body. Slowly pushing himself off the ground after a few moments of being dazed, he stood up and turned around. He didn't quite know what had happened, but he didn't like it. Sneering at her now turned back, he watched as she poofed away.

Reaching his arm behind his back, he scratched where het been hit. As she did so, he glanced down at Anchora. He seemed to have a look on his face as if to say 'you deserved it'. Rolling his eyes at the beast, Suka walked away from the statue, while Anchora followed behind.

[Kaeldra]

Kaeldra slowly walked up to the statue of Xanth, how beautiful it was, although it was nothing compared to how the godess herself looked, she was admiring the lifelike eyes that could strike fear into the heart of one and fill them with joy and a feeling of protection at the same time.

The feather around her neck tickled her skin when a slight breeze blew by and remembered why she was here. She placed five dollars into one of the boxes and kneeled down in front of the statue and spoke softly
"How could his feather appeared?" she wanted to know, for so many reasons, the largest out of love, she needed to know if it was considence or fate. Then she added, blinking through tears
"And why is it so hard to let go?"

[Xanth]

Xanth was in a rather playful mood. Namiko was returned to her, she had recruited a new Aide willingly for once, and she had recently learned of of the Khimaira attack that had prompted many Elysians to band together in defense of their home. It seemed that her realm was well on its way to being the place she remembered and even found amusement in Nymphadora's recent accident in the gardens. Fixing the mess made by her out-of-control tornado was a simple click of Xanth's fingers and the very thought of the look on the girl's face when she found herself somewhere else tickled Xanth's sense of humour.

In light of this playful good mood, she did not directly respond to the fledgling's prayer, instead reaching out to control her statue telepathically.

The statue's eyes blinked and there was a grating sound of stone on stone as the head turned. My dear child, it spoke. If it were easy to let go, there would be no point in holding on.

As for the feather... The girl desperately wanted to believe it was from her beloved's wing even though he was dead. Xanth did not believe in lying, especially when it could give false hope, but in this case, perhaps she could make an exception. The feather is a last goodbye, Kaeldra, and something for you to cherish.

[Nymphadora]

Nymphadora silently walked up to Xanth's statue. Sacha had slowed down the closer they got, sensing she needed her space, and finally came to rest a few feet back under a large oak.

Holding the doll Piper had mad in her hands, Nymphadora reminded herself that she was here as a friend. Here for Xanth... not for her issues with Chenoan. Not right now. Carefully kneeling before the statue, Nymphadora gave it a respectful bow. There was no need for words. No need for prayer. If Xanth was watching... if she wanted to hear her, she'd come.

Nymphadora wanted to know more about her goddess as a friend would. Unlike the god's that humans worshiped, Xanth's never walked that path. She was there for her people, and walked amungst them. Nymphadora remembered a such time when she'd wandered into the forest when she was too weak, and an easy target. Xanth had come personally... and guided her out. Her tone was firm, but at the same time had a softness that let her know she wasn't angry. That she was loved and cared for.

Xanth had gone out of her way to make sure Naava was still there for Nymphadora... even though she knew she didn't deserve it. Xanth had made Chenoan and Aide... seen the good in him that others took for granted... and most importantly... she was there for her... when Nymphadora wasn't even there for herself. And all of this... was just the milestones in her life. Xanth had been there so many other ways. She'd been there for her when her father died... when her mother died...

Xanth was amazing. There was no doubt about that in Nymphadora's mind. It was time the goddess was given something back. Not just the doll... the doll was only a small token. Nymphadora wanted to offer something no one could put a price on. Her friendship. Companionship. Trust and love. Maybe she was ebing nieve, but she wanted to show her diety the love that Xanth gives daily. She deserved at least that much.

[Xanth]

When Xanth realised that Namiko was indeed correct and that Dora was quite alright on her own, she had bestowed a beatific smile on the Dragon before returning to her planning of the rewards for not only Maximus and his companions, but the many Elysians who had aided in fending off the Khimairan threat.

Shortly after the imps returned to tell her of their mission accomplished, she sensed a presence at one of her statues and smiled when she recognised Dora. The prospect of being summoned for no other purpose than to 'chat' was an odd one, but not all that surprising from the Nymph. One of the reasons Xanth had been impressed by the girl was her glowing capacity to simply love.

Intrigued by images of some kind of doll, Xanth poofed out of the Throne Room of her Temple, silently teleporting onto the grass directly behind the girl. Her playfulness still in full force, she carefully leaned forward, winking at Sacha, to whisper in Dora's ear. Boo!