Something Magic....(4)

Rae laughs and shakes her head. "You really don't get it. Do you? This is what you wanted. All of you! You wanted Sixth better. Falador wanted a power to oppose Lochinar. Now you have both."

"See there?" Rae asks. "She DOESN'T want me to fix anything. The evil within her would have killed her in a short time anyway. I've actually prolonged her life."

"No, no it isn't. The old Rae was weak and subservient. If you want me to mend this, I will do so for the sake of friendship. But you need to understand..." Rae trails off, looking around in confusion. "Drenn. What the-" She shakes her head and continues. "you need to understand that things have changed, but I am NOT your enemy. I offer you two tokens of this. One, I will do what I can to prolong Sixth's life, if that is your desire. Two, a piece of intelligence: the woman sitting by herself in the lodge is not Artic." Rae smiles and sits next to Sixth, taking her hand. "Shall I heal her? Mouse? Spyral?"

6th was dying...Rae was responsible...no not Rae but something inside her. What was the magic Rae had used back in the clearing? What was it she had unleashed?

His traits in this world were of the physical. Only this problem wasn't physical, it was magical...spiritual at worst. What did he have to counter that? Here, nothing. Yet there had to be a way. Falidor had said they all possessed a unique living magic....living magic....

"Yeouch!" says 'Ghost. "I really hate doing this, but it's really for your own good Rae. Oh my goodness, you've got bits of Sixth all over. And what's with all this black stuff. Let me get rid of that for you."

"Ghost?" Spyral called out uncertainly as the spirit removed herself from Raes body, which slumped to the ground motionless, like a ragdoll.

"yeesssssssssss?" came a hideously hissing voice as LurkingGhost turned to face the angel. Her fine beautiful features now seemed twisted and cruel somehow. Her smile showing entirely too many menacing teeth.

Moving her hands over her body in a sultry fashion, from her hips to her face, Ghost shivered with evil glee. Her shape seemed to be growing firmer. Less the shadow and more the body that casts it. She stared at her hands in rapt fascination as she held them out at arms length before her, turning them first palms forward then back.

Rae moans from the ground. "Sixth, what are you doing in my head? Crikey!" Rae looks up at Ghost and curses again. Ghost doesn't notice her, and Rae begins crawling towards the door. Time to give Sixth back what was hers later; right now they needed help.

Keeping her eyes closed against the dizziness she felt, Rae crawled across the clearing. Ragnar, intent on finding Falador, didn't even see her. Rae went skidding across the clearing as his boot caught her in the ribs, and Ragnar toppled to the ground.

"Raganr. We need help in there." Rae pointed weakly toward the cleric's house. "Ghost..." She tried to get up, but colapsed to the ground again, gasping. "Don't stare! Get help!" Rae closed her eyes and pulled her feet against her chest. "Go!"

"Help me walk, I'm too weak right now to get anywhere on my own." Rae smiled a little, then looked at Ragnar, "I said get off your butt and get in there!!"

Scrambling to his feet, Ragnar rushes through the door of the hut that he felt sure that Rae came out of. He stops on a dime as he sees 'ghost standing in the middle of the room. Her skin is still the same grass green but she is becoming more and more solid every minute.

"First, I've got to get a little of my strength back and you're going to have to help me." Rae tells Jila as Jila helps Rae into a chair at the table. "Find me some hot water and be quick. I have some herbs here that heated should clear my head and help me move around on my own. It will take too long to explain to you where to take me and how to help me before I do it."

"I'm glad I could help you this much Rae." Jila says as she brings the hot water. Rae sprinkles in the herbs, lets them sit for a moment, and then breathes in the steam.

"Yes." she says after a few minutes, "I think that will do just fine. Now lets go and see if we're too late to help poor 'ghost."

As Ragnar came bursting thru the door into the little hut, LurkingGhost turned towards the noise and spied the barbarian heading directly for her. With a simple flick of her wrist, the barbarian flew to the left as if shoved by a giants hand and impacted on the wall of the room, his shoulder creating a large hole in it. The big viking sagged to the floor, seemingly unconcious.

"No," Ghost said as she turned towards them with an evil glint in her eye. "You mean GODDESS!" she proclaimed bringing her hands over her head, palms facing towards each other. Magical swirls of energy danced between them and as she moved her hands further apart, expanded into a colorful rainbow of intense magical energy. The rainbow descended over her now fully formed body and whirled around her, the glare from the power becoming so intense that the angel and Mouse had to shield their eyes.

When the power faded, Ghost was now clothed from top to bottom in silken flowing robes of gold and silver, with a large headress of glittering feathers and a golden circlet with a large red stone in the center that glowed as fire. Her eyes danced with an azure blue flame and she regarded the two as one would regard lowly insects. When she spoke, her voice was a combination of melody and insanity.

"Now you will kneel before me, as will all others who dwell on this world. I shall take my rightful place as ruler of this realm, which shall be the first of many to fall at my feet," she said.

"Never!" Spyral said, deftly pulling his bow from his back. Moving with unbelieveable speed, the angel quickly nocked and fired half a dozen arrows at the gleaming goddess.

.....and stopped only inches from impacting their target, simply hanging in midair in front of her. Quick as a flash, two of the arrows reversed direction and flew back at their launcher. Spyral was lifted from the ground and slammed back against the rear wall of the hut, as the arrows impacted into and thru his upper shoulders and pinned him to the wall. The angels head sagged as he was knocked senseless.

been Ghost. The goddess was beautiful, but amazingly powerful. Mouse cast around for something to throw and her eyes fell on 6th. Something occured to Mouse like lightening. Focus.

She turned to the goddess, her hands outstretched. "Ghost", she said calmly, "I know you can hear me. You've got to fight this. We're your friends. We care about you. We don't want you to come to any harm. You have got to fight the evil inside you, take control of it." Mouse could see Ghost was listening. The goddess had stopped, her head cocked to one side. Ghost's voice called out, "Mouse?"

"Yes, a tree." Ghost/Goddess turned and half walked half floated out the door, past a startled Rae and Jila. She headed into the forest.

Rae and Jila hurried into the room, gasping at the destruction within. Ragnar groaned from his slumped position by the wall. Spyral was still tacked in place by his own arrows, and the Elvin medicine woman peeked out from under an overturned basket. Mouse stood in front of the table where 6th lay, her hands clenching the edges of the tabletop. She was shaking.

"Quick, Jila, go get Kara. Get help." Rae said, running over to Spyral. She looked around for something to free him with. A hand handed her a dagger. Rae looked down at the elvin holy woman, who smiled at her.

"Cut him down. Either through the wall or through the arrows. Don't pull them out." she said, "I will see about reviving your big friend. We will need help to move the archer." she moved over to the Viking, and Rae started to cut through the first of the arrows, gingerly moving Spyral out of the way to reach behind him. Mouse joined her, lifting Spyral as best as she could to keep his weight from doing any more damage.

Meanwhile, in the forest, Ghost/Goddess had found what she was looking for. A huge knarled, old oak tree. No elvin markings indicating that it was the final resting place for any Elvin Lord, and the tree didn't look in the best health. Murmuring an apology for what she was about to do, Ghost merged with the tree. The trunk twisted, the limbs shook and Ghost was flung back out, minus the evil. She shuddered, feeling weak, and floating, backed away from the now obviously evil tree. Since it couldn't go anywhere, or do anything, the evil was stuck in the old tree.

"Hold him!" Rae cried, cutting the forth arrow. Mouse gasped, her arms wrapped around Spyral's waist, lifting up with all her strength. *It's no good!* she thought, *He's slipping!*

"Let me give you a hand." Ragnar's welcome voice came from behind her, and Mouse backed away as the viking lifted Spyral up easily.

"I'll tend to his wounds. Nothing serious by the look of it. You rest." she waved the gang away, as Jila came in the door with Kara in tow.

Once they were done, they checked on Spyral. The arrows had been removed and he was bandaged and resting. He was awake enough to smile at them.The medicine woman assured them he was fine, and the gang all heaved a sigh of relief. They all froze when they heard Spyral ask weakly, "How's 6th?"

"She's...not...breathing..."Mouse said quietly, a tear sliding down her cheek. "Can you...do you think giving herself back will help?"

"Well, there's only one way to find out." Rae said aloud, laying her hands on 6th. Her grip tightened and she gently kissed 6th's forehead, willing 6th back into her body. She felt 6th leave, and stepped back, drained. Ragnar put an arm around her, supporting the weakened sorceress, and they all stared at 6th's body.

"Good-by, my children. I see your deeds are noble and I wish you well on your journey. I am sorry, little spirit, that I cannot give you what you most desire, but you must endure until your real body is found."

*Will we live long enough to ever see home again?* seems to be the question running across the faces of the adverturers. The ones left standing go to each other for a group hug. It has been a long day. As they stand in a circle, arms entwined around each other 'ghost floats in looking a bit worse for wear. The group open their arms and hug her as best as they can.

"These two will sleep her this evening." The old Holy woman announces. She points to Ragnar as she lifts the corner of a huge tapestry hanging on the wall. "You will put her in this room where she will be more comfortable." Ragnar picks 6th up gently and carries her to the bed behind the tapestry. *She looks so pale and small.* He thinks as he puts her down on the bed and pulls a blanket over her.

The group walks out of the old woman's hut where the villagers wait. "Each of you will come with one of us. We have made rooms for you at our houses." Each of the group is picked by one of the villagers, except 'Ghost. She floats there, alone for a few minutes, until a young child comes to her and says "You can come with me. You don't look so scary to me!" The twinkle in the childs eyes is such that 'Ghost can't help but laugh.

Jila goes with an older couple who says she will be taking the room of their daughter who just this summer got married and moved into her own home. Before entering the house she excuses herself, runs across the clearing to say goodnight to Geradan and the lynx. "Keep an ear on 6th, would you?" She says quietly to the Lynx, "And let me know if she gets restless. Okay?" She gives the cat a scratch, the dragon a thump on his flank and returns to the couple at the house. They show her to the room, give her a soft, homespun nightgown,and show her where she can wash off all of the trail dirt from her travels.

After washing and putting on the clean nightgown, Jila climbs into the bed and pulls up the quilt. *hmmmmm, almost smells like lilacs.* is the first and last thought she has before she falls asleep.

Rae follows a young couple to their home and quietly thanks them for the room they have provided. She sits up until she hears them snoring. She casts a quick spell and then climbs out the window, intent on keeping an eye on Sixth and Spyral.

Rae shruggs. "Tired, weak, embarrased, ashamed..." Rae sighs. "This is not what I intended, you know." She shakes her head. "I'll find a way to attone."

Rae shruggs. "Doesn't matter." She rises. "The best I can do now is promise the others a good night's rest. I've cast a spell that will keep all evil out of the village until the sun rises."

The smell of sweet longgrass filled the angels nostrils and he breathed deeply, then opened his eyes to a bright blue cloudless sky. Raising himself up onto his elbows, Spyral looked at his surroundings. A treeline was nearby, and three suns gleamed brightly in the sky.

A shimmer from his right,caused him to look toward the nearby treeline. A figure dressed in a long black robe, shot thru with diagonals of gold, glided out from the trees, appearing to glide a few inches above the ground. He was bald, with an ancient yet handsome face, and eyes that seemed like they had been chipped from a lump of coal. The figure came to a stop a few feet from the angel.

"Actually you are not here, but quite safe in bed back in the village," At the angels quizzical look the dark wizard added. "Yes, I am quite aware of where your pitiful little band is and as for this," he motioned around him, "This is what I believe your kind calls a dream."

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!" the wizard bellowed madly. Spyrals eyes squinted with disdain at him. "You're quite funny, perhaps that little runt Falador should have made you a Court Jester."

"I had hoped that your kind would show a bit more intelligence than the mindless peasants that wander this realm, but it appears that I was mistaken," he spit.

"Enjoying this are you?" Lochinar asked. "Then enjoy the knowledge that your kind will never leave the forest. And I will even be so kind enough as to let you take your new elven friends with you," the wizard said.

With a flick of his wrist, Spyral suddenly felt a sharp pain on the left side of his neck, as if a hot knife had been stuck to the flesh. Tha angel jerked visibly then placed his hand to his neck and felt a small hot line on the side of his neck.

The angel bolted upright in the small bed and quickly looked around. The hut. He was back. Quickly he moved his hand to his neck and felt the small line, still hot on the side of his neck.

She stops and listens. Everything sounds fine. She was asked to keep an ear on the dark one as she sleeps so that is where she will go, to the hut where the dark one sleeps. She sees to of the humans sitting beside the hut talking quietly. She walks over and lays between them. The hunt was good, she is full, and now she must be clean. The Lynx hikes up one hind leg and cleans herself thoroughly. The conversation stops suddenly and the two humans look directly at the cats face. She stops licking her fur and looks at the big one as if to say *What?*

The hut door opens and Spyral quickly walks a few yards away from the hut. He stops and looks around at the village. *Where do I look for them? I don't even know where they went."

As he starts to move again Ragnar whispers harshly, trying to be quiet but still get Spyral's attention "Spyral! Where are you going?"

Turning and crouching at the same time "Ragnar, Rae! Am I glad you're here." He stands up and walks over to them as they too stand up. "I just had the wildest dream. But it wasn't a dream. Everybody needs to hear about this. Where are the others?"

"I'm not sure." answers Rae "We were all given rooms with the villagers and I didn't see where the others went. Jila's cat is here so she will be easy enough to find and the rest I'll have to spell-find." Rae bends down in front of the Lynx "Cat, if you can understand me I need to find Jila. Go wake her up and have her come down to this hut. Tell her it's very important."

The Lynx listened and then went to the house where Jila slept. As quiet as only a cat can be, she ran through the house to Jila's room and jumped up on the bed. That alone was enough to wake Jila from her sleep but the cat decided it was not enough. With her front paw she tapped Jila on the forehead.

Jumping out of bed Jila put on her traveling clothes and quietly ran out of the house. When she got to the hut she found Ragnar and Spyral standing guard beside Rae who was sitting with a look of relaxed concentration on her face.

makes her way to the rest of the gang in front og the hut *Geez..how long do I have to hang with these people?* Sitting down by Jila as everyone looks at her "I don't understand why we all have to be here." Jila's Lynx growl's at ArticCat "Get some control over that thing will you?"

"AaCcHhhOoo!" can be heard many times from all around Artic...*Hmmm...wonder if they are all allergic to me?* Artic chuckles to herself.

as the group discusses Spyral's dream. There was something about her that Rae was supposed to remember, but she wasn't sure what it was, only that it was big and important.

"But what about the elves?" Jila asked, dragging his attention back to the group discussion. "We kinda brought them into this, doesn't that make us somwhow responsible for what happens to them? What if whatever it is shows up after we leave?"

"Good question," Spyral replied. A flash of silver glinting in the moolight caught his eye just as he saw Artickat disappear in the direction that Rae and Ragnar had just headed. *Well, this is interesting...* The angel waited until Artic was into the woods a few feet then slowly rose and headed off at a course a bit to the right of the kats.

"Oh!" Mouse replied. "Well, you have plenty to choose from," she said turning back to the conversation with Jila, Kara and LurkingGhost.

As he faded into the wood, the angel slowly crept at a pace matching that of Artics, in a path parrallel to her own. She suddenly stopped and stooped behind a small crop of small trees that looked similar to Christmas pines. As she moved her hand down to her side, Spyral once again caught the silver glint of a very nasty looking and sharp dagger that was surely not a normal part of Artics' repetoire. The angel slowly crept closer to her, listening for Rae and Ragnar who were surely close by...

She was just about to pounce onto Rae, when - WHOOOSH - she was thrown to the forest floor by a deceptively heavy and strong (not to mention angry) angel.

Rae and Ragnar turned to see Spyral's puzzled look as what was left of Artickat dissolved in his hands. Soon, there was only the daggar left, along with a few strands of white fur.

"Well, to get back to the subject." KaraS said. "I think we should head for Lochinar. We'll warn the elves of course, but I think they can take care of themselves. Let's not procrastinate any longer. There's an evil wizard that needs to be slain. Christmas is coming gang. Let's GO!"

and sat up, listening to the growing commotion outside the holy woman's hut. She could hear her friends' voices talking loudly, with softer elven voices in reply. Words like "Danger" & "Lochinar" & "Must go" & "...Can take care of...". "Where's that dratted Dwarf?" was particularly clear, and had obviously been said by Ragnar. 6th would recognize that booming voice anywhere. She stood and moved shakily to the window. The light from torches danced across her face as she peered out into the semi darkness.

The gang were standing around a fire, discussing something with the Elders of the elvin tribe. Ragnar and Rae were at the forefront of the group, animatedly trying to convince the elves of the danger that possibly faced them. One of the elf leaders drew a sharp sword.

"We can't stay here and help should you need helping." Rae said. "We must go on and defeat Lochinar, and soon, or the new Farscape shows will be over by the time we get back, and we'll be stuck with watching reruns again."

6th almost didn't catch what Spyral said as he nudged Mouse. "...sounds like Rag..." Spy said with a wink that 6th just barely saw in the firelight.

She decided she'd better get out there before they all trotted off and left her. She was still completely dressed, so she headed out of the hut, grabbing her sword off the table as she passed by.

6th must have walked quieter than she thought, for her cry of "Hey gang!" was met with whirling swords and nocked arrows, all pointed in her direction. "Hey,hey,hey!" 6th yelled at them, "I'm a good guy, remember?"

"6TH!!!" Mouse ran to her, as the others lowered their weapons, and grabbed her in a hug. She held 6th out at arms length and peered into her face. "You are you, aren't you?"

"Who else would I be?" 6th grinned. She was still feeling a bit weak, but she didn't want the gang worrying about her any more than they already had. She sheathed her sword, and pulled out her leather gloves that had been tucked into her belt. It was getting kind of chilly...

"I'll be fine." Rae finds the elven medicine-woman and has a few private words with her and the elven leadder before setting out.

Comes a voice from above. "It's Captain...AaCcHhhhOoooo! You dimwit! Now open the gate! The Master is expecting us!" As the gate is slowly lowered, the Captain, his guards and a complaining artickat proceed accross it. They are greeted on the other side by a half burned 9 foot tall giant of a man.

"Geez! Are there more at home like you? How's the weather up there?" Artic chuckles to herself. The giant frowns at artic and turns to the Captain.

"The Master is waiting for you." Artic sees a chance to make a break for it as the Captain and guards aren't really paying her any mind. Breaking free of her guard she runs back towards the gate as it is being raised. *If I can just make it over before it closes!* With a running jump Artic launches herself into the air....just as she is about to land on the gate she is jerked backwards against the giant. "Let go you big bully! Pick on someone your own size! Just you wait until the Ga..." The giant covers Artic's mouth with one hand and wraps the other around her waist...carrying her tucked like a football under one arm back to the Captain.

The Captain begins to chuckle at the expression on Artic's face. "You might want to keep your hand over her mouth...she yaks a lot!"

Artic hits the ground running, looking behind her she sees the guards begin to give chase. *Here we go again!* Running into the Castle Artic looses her footing and goes slidding into one of the rooms on her butt right up to the feet of Lochinar.

The Giant, the Captain and the guards enter the room soon after Artic's entrance. The Giant steps forward with tears in his eyes "She bit me!" Holding his hand up for Lochinar to see "Now I've got a Booboo!"

Looking up at Lochinar Artic frowns as a shiver passes through her *YUKKY! EWWWWW!* "You know you should really do something about that chin of yours 'Scorpie' and while your at it...the TEETH! DENTIST! Is there a Dentist in the house?!" Artic waits for the 'Scorpie' look alike to fly into a rage at her words...nothing. As he stares at her, Artic feels that hair on the back of her neck stand on end and her skin begins to crawl *This can't be good* <GULP>

Jila thought as the wind blows through her hair. Jila and the dragon flew up and rode the wind currents back down many times directing her friends as she needed to to keep them in the right direction and away from any other villages. *Back to the bedroll and trail food if it means keeping innocent people out of the way of that lunatic."

She chuckles as she hears 6th's endless cursing of the thorns, thistles and hanging vines that cover the so-called 'trail'. *It's a good thing that 6th's magic hasn't nothing to do with the spoken word or she'd probably have blasted every plant in the area by now.*

And thinking of 6th made Jila worry for the health of her friend. Was it taking more energy than 6th should be using to hike through that mess?

*If that is what you want.* The dragon seemed to look at her with indifference. It didn't really matter to him. Jila's weight to him was like a mosquito to her and the one called 6th was even smaller.

The end of the forest was finally here and Jila waited with the dragon for them in the clearing. The clearing seemed to blend into the sky at the far side. Walking out to the end of the clearing the group saw that they were standing at the top on a hill which would take them down to the Serpentine River.

towards the river, Mouse is amazed by all the interesting new flora and fauna. She examines quite a few new plants cautiously. At Rae's question about the dwarf, the gang thinks back to the last time they saw him.

"Well, I'm not convinced he just left us," Spyral says thoughtfully. "He tracked us down from our own world to help him, do you think he'd just give up?"

At that moment, Jila and her dragon landed behind the group a bit on the plateau. Jila came down off the dragon and asked Sixth how she was doing.

Jila offered Sixth a ride on the dragon. "Cool!" was Sixth's answer. They both walked back to the dragon and got on. Soon they were airborne and the group could hear Sixth whooping it up with excitement.

The dwarf's disappearance was left for another conversation, and the group neared the bottom of the hill. Stretching out before them was the Serpentine River. Downstream a bit, they saw what looked to be a very old, very rickety bridge that did not span the river, but instead zig-zagged it's way down the river until the end could not be seen.

Rae commented, "Wonder why someone would build a bridge that didn't actually go OVER the river? And does it actually get to the other side eventually?"

Mouse used her best Jack T. Colton voice and said, "That's not a bridge, it's godd%$m pre-Colombian art!" Spyral smiled at her, catching the reference.

The dragon headed off following the path of the bridge. The gang made themselves as comfortable as possible on the side of the river, anxiously awaiting the return of the dragon, as twilight was nearing.

...Lochinar looked down at a map of Kaldorre. Reaching into his robe, Lochinar pulled out a Jagged dagger. He stuck his finger to the knife and cut himself.

"Let's see how your friends handle this" he said to Artickat, who was bound and gagged in the courner. He stuck his bloody finger to the map by the river. After a moment, Artickat watched as the map burst into flame where lochinar had touched it.

Back by the river the gang was interupted by a loud rumble. the ground parted splitting the scooby gang in half. Out of the middle of the crater came large tides of lava.

"Down there! Where do you think?"! Mouse shouted with a smile as she pointed down to the ground. "AAAAAHHHHH!" she squealed as she lost her footing.

The angel quickly reached out and steadied her before she tumbled to the ground. "That's what you get for being cute!" the angel grinned back at her.

The grumbling sound of wrenching Earth was deafening. As they watched, deep red lava bagan to slowly spill over the edges of the chasm.

Just as they had almost reached the edge of the bridge, a loud screeching wail, almost as if metal was being rended and torn sounded from behind them. The 'Scapers paused long enough to look back in the direction of the slow moving lava that had now become the least of their worries.

Rising slowly up from within the chasm, a gigantic red beast clawed its way onto the scorched ground. As it rose to its feet, the groupd could see that it must have stood at least two stories high and looked as if it was made from the lava itself. It glowed so white hot that it was difficult to even look at and the group could feel the heat emanating from it washing over them in waves that made the sweat instantly stand out on their limbs and faces.

"Can you run and chant at the same time?" the angel asked shoving her onto the wooden walkway. "Let's find out!" She quickly spun and began retreating with the others.

The group sped onto the bridge as the fiery beast let out a loud roar that sent hot breath washing over them again. Spyral could feel the feathers of his wing heating up.

'Ghost stares at the monster, and squinches her eyes shut in concentration. The monster seems to slow down and cool, finally coming to a dead stop.

Wavering, 'Ghost says "I don't know how long that'll hold it. I just slowed the mol...molucules down, but since it's magically an...animated, they might not stay that way. Do you think you could put an ice cage around it, Drum? I ..."

Rae snaps, picking ghost up and laying her over her shoulders. "Everybody run, I have an idea how to deal with this guy, but I need you all OFF the bridge. Hi, by the way, Drum!" Rae grins at him and gestures for everybody to start running.

As they run, she begins chanting (guess I CAN do it) a spell to give her strength. As they reach the other end of the bridge, Rae drops Ghost on the ground and grabs Ragnar's axe. "Oof, this thing is HEAVY!" She swings the axe and hits one of the ropes holding the bridge. "Little help, Ragnar! You have two of these things for a reason."

set foot on the bridge, the wooden timbers began to char under it's feet. It roared with a low, gurgling roar that was all the more frightening for being unexpected.

Rae and Ragnar hacked at the ropes of the bridge. But the bridge was well made and the ropes were tough. They were not coming apart as Rae had expected.

A small thunderstorm appeared. Kara gestured and it floated across the bridge until it was right above the monster's head. With a small zig zag of lightning and a mini crash of thunder, the cloud opened up, dumping a starteling amount of water on the monster's head.

With a howl of surprise, the monster stopped in the middle of the bridge and tried to swat the cloud and shoo it away like you would an insect. But the cloud refused to be shooed. It hovered just out of the monster's reach and continued to spill rain down on it. When the monster jumped up to swat it it moved up a little, then came back down to it's former altitude when the monster landed on the bridge again.

As the monster danced around, trying to get at the cloud that was tormenting it, the bridge underneath it began to smoulder. Suddenly, despite being wet from the rain, the bridge ignited due to the monster's incredible heat. Before the monster realized what was hapening, the wooden planks underneath it's feet had charred into ash and the monster was falling into the river. It howled as it splashed in the steaming water. But the howls became fainter and it's struggles became weaker as the river water cooled it and it hardened into stone. Soon, only a strangely shaped boulder was left of the monster.

Back in Lochinar's castle, the evil wizard's howls of frustration and artickat's chortles of glee could be heard all throughout the castle...

Lockinar's voice boomed, echoing off the walls of the chamber. Spining towards the chortling artickat "THAT...will be enough out of YOU!" The air seemed to frost across the distance between the two. Artic gulped.

His face glowed a frustrated red and his eyes beemed menace in artics direction. Artic responded by lowering her eyes and murmering a pouty "...what'd I do..."

Lockinar regained his composure and turned back to the great open window in the stone wall. "Your friends won't escape me for long."

artic had other thoughts on her mind. Lockinar turned with a dren eating grin that bested all the scaper gals combined. "Why yes little one...didn't you know...you're to be my wife."

Lockinar turned to the Captain. "See that she is cleaned up and put in a dress. Oh and send the Scarlett woman to me. Tell her I have a job for her...."

Turning back to his window he was already contemplating his next assult on the interlopers. Artics giggle no longer echoed through the keep but was replace by "Yuck...ewww..." and the sound of hair balls coughed up.... Lockinar smiled.

"Neat." Rae said softly. "You'll have to teach me that some day." Rae handed Ragnar his axe and whispered, "I think you need to have it sharpened."

"Holy Dren, what was that thing? I wanted to come down and help but Geradan wouldn't get anywhere near that thing. Is everybody o..... DRUM!!!" Jila yells as she spots the new face in the group. "When did you get here?" she tilts her head sideways and checks him out from head to toe. "Now that's a new look for you. Hmmmmm, Wizard? Sorcerer? Come on over and meet my friends." Jila points back to the dragon and then points at her legs at a Lynx that is rubbing her leg in greeting. "Seems I can talk to animals."

Ragnar easially sidestepped Rae's expected punch. Inwardly he could feel the barbarian part of him struggling for ascendency, vieing to reach out and pluck the irritation from before him. The calm gentleman in him called out for control, striving not to harm his friend. The barbarian urges were unrelenting. Mages should know they are no match for skilled warriors, not in this realm anyway! Petulent little spell casters all!

Letting the motion of Raes swing spin her around, Ragnar stepped in, knelt, and with a sweep of his opposing arm knocked Rae foreward to drape across his knee. One arm held her down and the other hand raised.

Ragnar raises his fist and aims it at Rae's head. Rae jerks her head to the side and squirms out of his grasp, giving him a surprisingly powerful kick to the stomach in the process. "IS TOO!" she shrieks as he hits the ground.