[Dazadi]

Dazadi wasn't unaffected by Kade's glare, though not necessarily for the same reasons that anyone else targeted by it would cringe. He had to be completely furious to even think about using that stare on her but Daz had had enough.

Her own eyes narrowing with her fury, she felt the shadows pool around her, making her disappear so just her eyes were visible. Listening to Kade tell Olly he was calling it off, he sounded too much like a spoiled child. He'd bonded with her knowing exactly who she was and the first time he didn't like her doing something, he got all high and mighty.

The instant he turned back to face her, Daz let fly with a ferocious punch, her glare full force. I'm not an idiot, I'm not stupid! I'm not a weakling, I'm not a baby! Dammit, Kade, I'm perfectly capable of deciding what my body can and can't handle. Don't bother coming home until you get that into your thick skull! Spinning on her heels, she spread her wings to take off but at the last second, decided she'd rather walk. Pounding her feet into the ground felt really good right now.

(GM with permission? *flutters lashes*)

[Arkadios]

The punch Dazadi served was well timed and perfectly executed. Her fist landing hard in his jaw, Kade stumbled back a bit, not doubt in his mind Aide power wasn't put to use behind it. Bringing his hand to his jaw, Kade looked at Dazadi as she ranted at him. She had every right to, if she weren't pregnant. But deep inside... she had to know he was right here.

When she was done, Kade just looked at her. Although she was cloaked, he still sensed her, and knew where she was. Just another perk of being bonded. Moving forward when she walked away, Kade grabbed her wrist, and held on tightly. Spinning her around to face him, shaking her slightly to drop her cloak, Kade looked into her eyes. Dazadi, I know you are none of those things. And I love you, and hate restricting you to such tameness. Don't you think i know thats not the woman I bonded with? I love you and all the dange that you bring into our life. But when you say you know what your body can handle, you are wrong. And you know it. Each time you lost your power, or control of it, you didn't know that was going to happen. Dazadi... for one brief moment, if you were to take a leap like that while the baby decided to take away your immortality... i'd loose you both. Letting out a soft sigh, Kade looked at her with pain in his eyes.

You have to understand Daz... I only want whats best for you and our child. As much as i worry for you without the added stress of the baby, you know i'd never forcibly hold you back. I'd have no right to take this challenge if I did. But right now... please Dazadi... please. I'm begging you, please... think about the baby. He said, pleading with her, voice and eyes. Bringing her close to him, he wrapped his arms around her body, hugging her close to him. His love for her was immense. She had to know that. She had to feel it.

[Dazadi]

Anyone else grabbing her like that when she was at the height of anger would have been zapped to smithereens and Kade knew it. Listening to him plead with her, Daz pouted and refused to look at him, staring at some imaginery speck on the sand a few feet to one side. She didn't want to hear what he had to say.

I'm not tame, she refuted in a small voice, her pout exaggerated as she tried to shake him off. She couldn't be weak, she refused to be weak, baby or no baby. And if she started to live her life in fear of what could happen, she may as well let Kade stick her in a cottonwool-lined cage and be done with it.

Kade had to know that, the same way he told her she had to know everything he said. She wasn't built to hang around and let someone else do all the hard work and while lazing around the last few days had been nice for a change, it was just because it was a change from the norm. She couldn't exist like that forever. She'd already decided it had to stop or she'd go crazy...er. That's partly why she came down here, to get out of their apartment before she started throwing things.

I... can't... She wasn't actually responding to what he was saying. Not directly. He was right in most respects, she should be more careful because there were a billion things that could go wrong, not even counting the brat's power-stealing. She hated to see Kade so upset, too, but she felt like if she stopped being who she was even for the duration of the pregnancy, she'd lose herself.

Letting him hug her, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his shoulder, letting her cloak fall away and hoping Kade would understand what she couldn't put into words.

[Arkadios]

Kade held her in his embrace, knowing what she was feeling, thinking... feeling it himself. As much as he wanted to turn a blind eye, he couldn't. He was Dazadi's lifemate... and the baby's father. He couldn't just allow something bad to happen because of her recklessness. And thats what it was. He loved her for who she was... but she could be stubborn and reckless.

Pulling away, Kade looked her in the eyes. Dazadi... you have to. I know you dont want to... but you have to. Seriously... i don't want to be forced into doing something rash, but i will if i have to. So unless you want a nurse, or someone of the sort following you wherever you go, then promise me right now, that you will do nothing more than lift the food you consume. He told her, his threat very much a promise if she rejected it.

Already his mind was weeding through the potentials. His first thought was Siphae... but she was too big. She'd keep Daz from venturing too far outside tho. which was where most of the danger was. But a nymph... they would come in perfect use. But which Nymph?

[Dazadi]

When Kade pulled away, Daz was afraid he didn't understand, that he'd misunderstood what she was trying - and failing - to tell him. Seeing the look in his eyes soften, she relaxed a bit, but she scowled petulantly again as he started talking.

Refusing to promise, she stamped her foot and growled. Don't you threaten me, Mister, she warned with an evil glare. If he even thought about siccing some kind of nursemaid on her, she'd up and leave and have the brat in the wild. That'd show him. Or send the nursemaid on a wild goose chase while she lived it up in the kitchens, eating as many peaches as her belly could hold.

Did Kade honestly think she'd just lie down the whole time their baby was growing? Even if she could stand that, her body couldn't. She'd start to cramp after the first couple of days and then it would be sheer torture to retrain herself. As a warrior he shouldn't expect her, a fellow warrior, to quit her daily routine even temporarily.

But she could see the determination in his eyes. He didn't care right now how angry this made her, he just wanted to know she was safe. Locked up in a gilded cage. Well fine, he'd get his way. She'd just make sure she got hers first.

Smiling her sweetest smile, she reached up to frame his face and bring it down for a kiss, patting his cheek as she pulled away. Her eyes brimming with unshed tears, she smiled faintly, then teleported away.

[Arkadios]

Kade watched her uncertainly as she kissed him then pulled away. There was something in her actions and general atmosphere that he didn't like. It was like her could sense her rejection, her pure will to remain free. Although her face said one thing, her kiss, the same, her eyes even looking sad and pathetic, he could feel within her that this wasn't the last of it.

Furrowing his brow as she stood there looking at her, he tried to understand. Daz... But he was to late. Within that moment, she ported away, leaving nothing but a tiny cloud of smoke and a -mad as a hatter- red dragon lunging for the spot where she stood. Flagging away the smoke that clouded his vision, he didn't even wait for a moment. Not only using their bond to yell out, he put his call on an all frequency channel. One which every telepath capable would hear.

God damnit Dazadi! Get back here NOW! His voice rough and slightly shaky.

[Nymphadora]

Nymphadora heard her first call when she was in the temple, taking refuge in the garden. Although, remembering the name, she assumed she'd actually intercepted a call from someone else. The strength of it though, it tingled her senses, making her feel the need to answer. Dazadi... another Aide, one she'd not had the pleasure of meeting, was obviously not answering, because another call entered her mind only mere minutes later.

Pondering for a moment, she let out a soft breath, the tugged her feet from the cool stream. After putting her boots back on, Nymphadora focused on the call, reciving another as she did so, then ported to where she'd sensed it. The sensation of porting felt like nothing now. After she'd lost her body compleatly in from of Chenoans house, the sensation of porting just wasn't as big a deal as it was before.

Sadness still within her, Nymphadora pushed it aside from now. Her first call as an Aide... she needed to respect it, and help in whatever was she could. Looking before her, she found herself in what seemed to be a pit, and anyeli to the side fo her, and... what looked to be a red dragon before her. He didn't seemed pleased, and she felt immediatly that the call had come from him.

She winced slightly in seeing the blood and sweat on his face and body. The Anyeli as well didn't look all that great in shape. Wondering what was going on, and not knowing of her telepathic abilities, Nymphadora moved forward toward the red dragon. I'm sorry, I know you were calling Dazadi, but is there anything I can do to help? She asked softly. Her eyes looking from his to the Anyelis, preparing herself for flight if a fight should break out with her in the middle.

[Arkadios]

Kade continued to call for Dazadi, but it was obvious she was ignoring him. Yelling out in frustration, Kade grabbed his sword and began attacking the wall of the pit. He knew he was acting out of control, but he couldn't help it. He needed to vent, and this was the only way to do so without injuring himself or Styx.

Maybe I should just go head long into the ritual right now. I have the strength. I can do it. Then Dazadi can worry about me as im worrying about her. Maybe then she'd understand what the -yargh- im feeling. He ranted in his mind. Slowly his anger and frustration began to fade as he realized how childish he was acting. Attacking the wall wasn't going to solve anything. Nor was getting himself killed. And entering the ritual just to prove a point when he wasn't ready was suicide.

Breathing heavily, Kade dropped the sword. Not a moment later, a woman appeared suddenly before him. Porting the same way other Aides did. Looking at her, still trying to breath properly, his eyes widened slightly when she mentioned his demanding for Dazadi. She heard that? Shaking it off, Kade realized this must have been one of Dazadi's co workers. It wouldn't make sense otherwise.

Cocking his head slightly, Kade looked at the woman before her. Her beauty was stunning. Something, he'd normally never notice. But he couldn't avoid it this time. it was disgusting to even think of a woman other than Daz in another way, but he found himself admiring her looks more than he should.

It took a moment, but realization dawned on him. She was a Nymph. Although her anyeli wings suggested otherwise. Ignoring that, Kade stepped forward. You're an Aide? And a Nymph? He asked, cutting to the chase. If Dazadi wanted to play like that, then she'd get what was coming to her. Dazadi... my life mate... um... my wife. She's pregnant, and refusing to take it easy. I'm afraid she'd going to hurt herself or the baby. Speaking like this... so directly and up front was so unlike Kade... but he found himself doing a lot of things he'd normally not do when it came to that child.

Please, if you can find any way to look after her... there's nothing I can do when she ports away. he said truthfully. Other than bombard his with rants, which eventually she could shut off, he was useless.

[Nymphadora]

Nymphadora looked at the dragon slightly wide eyed as he went off. She barly got a chance to nod to his first questions before he started spouting off again. She felt her own emotions flitter away for the moment, caught up in his. Nodding at his words, she understood what he was saying. How she could watch over another Aide though... she had no clue.

Pondering for a moment, Nymphadora tried to locate Dazadi. A new power she'd recently discovered when her thoughts of Chenoan kept making her see him sitting on the beach of Ao. Finding her... in Piper's shop no less, Nymphadora gave the dragon a soft smile. Reaching out to comfort him with a touch of her hand on his shoulder, she nodded. She wasn't sure what she was going to do.. .but getting her mind off Chenoan and her relationships, and on to someone elses might help.

I'll try my best. Oh, my name's Nymphadora by the way. Or Dora. Just... call if you need anything. She said, her smile sincere. Closing her eyes and focusing, Nymphadora ported away, her destination Piper's shop.

[Faer]

(FROM: The Courtyard)

Faer looked around at the exciting practice grounds. 'There must be something to do here,' he thought.

There was a discarded sword close by. It was badly chipped and rather too unbalanced for any practical use, even Faer, with no experience with swords, realized that discarding the sword in a completely carefree manner must have been the only reasonable way to treat the sword. Nevertheless, he picked it up. In fact, he had already picked it up; how else would he have noticed that it was unbalanced? The sword was unweildy to hold as the blade was altogether too heavy and theret was no longer any pommel to do anything about it.

Faer decided that sword-fighting wasn't for him but decided, without thinking about it too much, that he wanted to chuck the sword at a dummy on a stand 50 paces away. He heaved the sword overhand and it twirled through the air (much like the knives of a certain man who insisted on weiring a mask hard enough to withstand balls of metal traveling at very high speeds) complete with slow motion and motion trail.

The sword fell dissapointingly short, but at least it stood with its point in the ground.

Faer laughed a short ironic laugh and went to pick the sword up. He repeated the process of deciding without thinking and then did the same overhand throw. This time he tried a bit more, and grunted in the process of heaving.

This time the sword flew at the dummy, sliced it in 2, cracked the pole holding the dummy, fell to the ground, and was burried under the sand pouring out of the half dummy still hanging.

With a bit more thinking that earlier, he decided not to get the sword from the sand and turned back to look at the rest of the practice grounds again.

[Janx]

Janx whiped a few drops of sweat from his forehead as he lowered the sword. Although he always enjoyed the company of his friends, practising his fighting and flying skills was something he liked to do alone. Besides he was the only Anyeli in the group so practising flying or Anyeli-fighting with any of them was kind of difficult anyway. He actually hoped to become a Peacekeeper and not a warrior but still he felt he needed to know the basics of handling a weapon even if using it was to be a last resort for him.

He looked at the sword and inspected it before putting it down on the ground. It was not his own but a borrowed sword of one of the higher levelled teachers and he didn't want to damage it too much. Luckily it seemed that not a single scratch had been added today. He'd been practising his swordsmanship on bags filled with hay, perfecting the speed of his thrust and swing with the wrist.

Next to the sword lay a crossbow and five arrows, also borrowed from the same teacher. Janx bent down again and picked the weapon up. As he drew it back he took one of the arrows and carefully placed it on the bow. This lightweigth-variant was quite easy to load and handle. Shifting his body slightly, Janx strained his eyes as he aimed for the center of the target. With a light movement the arrow was released from the bow and it swooshed through the air, penetrating the target just an inch from the center. Continuing to do the same with all 5 arrows of which 2 hit the center perfectly, Janx then put the bow on his back and picked up the sword aswell.

Making his way over to the target he got out all 5 arrows and whiped them with a cloth. They could be re-used for another practise-session. Then he turned around and made his way back to the tower. He would bring the teacher his weaponry back and then he would go back to the Underground.

Credits

Layout by me.
Brushes from Celestial Star & Aethereality
Coding help from Piper Kin.