“ i feel the same thing as you...someone or something has been following us sense we met last night...i hope it not to be evil in some way...but i sense no evil when it is around...so i think it means us no harm”
with that said she starts off on there journey.. They walk for some time..they make at least 3 miles before they are forced to stop and make a camp.... “This looks like a good place as any... Should we set up a watch? I would gladly take first if you are tired..also the other question is about a fire...i don't need one i can see just fine without light, but it is chilly out side i would be fine, how about you?” She waits for his reply... The sun has almost set completely...the moon and stars can be seen twinkling in the night sky...

The little girl follows Artemis and Illiana easily, hovering high above them in the sky. If both of them knew about her, how many others did as well? It is making the girl nervous. If she were to be caught... there was no telling what sort of things people would do if they tried to take advantage of her abilities.

Regardless of what the two choose to do below, the girl doesn't feel like sleeping; her mind is too awake to sleep. It is a good thing she didn't need to sleep then.

Artemis smiles at Illiana's generous offer to take the watch.

"Many thanks, but I find that a fire provides warmth to the company, and to the soul." "And," he adds with a grin, "without a fire you cannot sample my wonderful cooking skills. They have not killed me yet, at least. As we get close to our objective, it may indeed be prudent not to announce our presence with a fire. But I believe that we are still close enough to Eurishka for it to be safe. Take your rest, and I shall return shortly with supper."

He takes a moment to string his bow and check the arrows in his quiver, then sets off into the surrounding forest.

It doesn't take Artemis long to spot a lone rabbit of good size. With his trained hunter's eye and aim, and with the bright moonlight aiding him, he makes short work of it, and soon finds another. Placing both plump hares in his game bag, he proceeds to gather an armload of dried wood and returns to camp.

He greets Illiana warmly, prepares a small firepit, lays some of the wood in it, and uses flint and tinder from his pouch to set a small but comforting campfire going. He then takes a skinning knife from his boot, and in a few moments has both rabbits prepared and roasting atop the fire.

It doesn't take long for the meat to get done. Taking two simple wooden plates from his pack, he places one rabbit on each of them and presents one to Illiana. "Dinner is served, milady," he says with a smile. "Our finest gourmet chefs have slaved over huge ovens for hours to bring you this sumptuous feast. Enjoy!" They have a brief laugh together and Artemis sets to eating.

When they finish, Artemis cleans the plates and returns them to his pack, and takes a long drink from his waterskin. He then turns and faces Illiana across the fire.

"I wonder if we might talk a while, Illiana. I would like to know a bit about this magic. Can you tell me where it comes from? How it found its way to me? I am but a simple hunter. I have never actively studied magic or anything about it, other than lessons in passing during my school studies growing up. How can such as this happen to one such as me? And more importantly, how do I go about using it?"

He gazes into her mesmerizing crimson eyes for a moment before continuing, captivated by their beauty, hypnotized by her radiance, wondering if...No, he chides himself. Focus on what is at hand. This is not the time to be indulging schoolboy feelings.
He clears his throat, a little self-consciously, and continues.

"What did you mean when you said I would have to come to the verge of death to unlock this power? What exactly do I have to do?"

He leans back and waits for her reply, pondering that if what she says is true...

...this could be the last journey I ever take.

She sits by the fire as she waits for Artemis to return. When he does he carries two rabbits, ready to cook for dinner. When finished she eats hungrily. They are very good.. she finishes her meal and nods a thanks as she smiles. She takes the hair from her hood and braids it without ever letting the man before her see her face. She sits looking at the stars for a long while, then Artemis speaks.

my we talk a while, Illiana. I would like to know a bit about this magic. Can you tell me where it comes from? How it found its way to me? I am but a simple hunter. I have never actively studied magic or anything about it, other than lessons in passing during my school studies growing up. How can such as this happen to one such as me? And more importantly, how do I go about using it?"

He gazes into her mesmerizing crimson eyes for a moment before continuing, captivated by their beauty, hypnotized by her radiance, wondering if...No, he chides himself. Focus on what is at hand. This is not the time to be indulging schoolboy feelings.

He clears his throat, a little self-consciously, and continues.

"What did you mean when you said I would have to come to the verge of death to unlock this power? What exactly do I have to do?"
She sits back and thinks a moment before speaking.

“The power comes from deep within your very soul, once unleashed it is as much a part of you as your own body. As to how it choose you, It was always a part of you...you would have been born with it... your parents would probably not have known, sense you didn't develop signs at an earlier age.. As to how this has happened it could have been anything. See each person has a soul wandering about a separate plane “So they say” When one's soul comes into contact with magic such as this even the human can feel it, and even tame it someday. Even i have not fully mastered my powers, or know there true potentials.... She abandons this useless dripple... “Alright i will just say it, your soul has intertwined with the soul of a ancient devil of some sort. When you obtain your magic you will then be able to interact with your demon. He can appear to you at anytime... mine i choose to keep hidden, he is a bit large and kinda scary...lol...even for me. But he has always been nice company and we have learned to get along quite well.

As far as what you have to do to unleash yours You must fight a battle you can't win, before you die, your demon will awaken and save you... At least that is the hope.. “
She sits back and waits for his questions...she knows there will be many more to come......

The little girl watches the two from above, intrigued by the conversation. Magic, it would seem, is far different for the residents of this world than several of the other worlds she's been to. However, her own innate ties with magic are thankfully undisrupted. In a couple of the worlds she's been to, people there have used demons in order to use magic, albiet of a different variety. Hmm, that would mean that it could be more dangerous for her here because, if she were to be used in a similar manner, the magic obtained would probably be at about the level as that of the use of a greater demon. She cannot risk letting others know of her presence...

Apprehensive, the little girl remains above, invisible, watching Artemis and Illiana as well as watching over them.

She waits for his questions, she feels a small presense again... she looks up and around, not seeing anything she looks back to Artemis...

Artemis can only sit speechless for long moments as he looks at Illiana across the fire.

A demon? he thinks. I suppose I knew that the source of this magic would be strange indeed, but to find out that it comes from some ancient devil...
He had never been an overly religious man, so he had never seen demons or devils as particularly evil; in fact, he wasn't sure that he even believed in their existence. But if what Illiana is telling him is true, then there could be little doubt of their reality.

Despite Illiana's words that the demon would not show itself until that fated moment of near-demise, Artemis tries to quiet his thinking for a moment and look within himself for this devil's presence. As he slowly descends through the layers of his consciousness...deeper...he gradually becomes aware of a presence there. It is not any more identifiable than that; just the knowledge that something is there. If he had to name the strange feeling, it would be of finding something fast asleep, something you are afraid to awaken for fear of what might happen.

He focuses again on his surroundings, and looks again at Illiana. "It would seem so," he says. "I can feel its presence within me, but it sleeps now." He chuckles a bit. "I can only hope it is not too sound of a sleeper when the time for its help comes."

He tosses another few pieces of wood on the fire, and as the flame grows larger, he addresses Illiana again.

"So, milady, I do not think I can handle any more such world-shaking revelations this night; I believe I have more than enough to meditate on for now...would you tell me a bit more of yourself? You are a most intriguing woman to me, and I would know more of you, if you would tell it."

He pulls a pouch from his pack and takes a pipe and tobacco from it, packing the pipe and lighting it with a twig from the fire. He inhales a lungful of the fragrant smoke and tries to get more comfortable as he waits for Illiana's response.

“Sure....I'm not quite sure where to start... I...well... HMPHH! She crosses her arms and sits silent for a long moment “I have never been asked that before and i am not sure really what to say... Let see you know my name...lol..of coarse you do.. Lets see about me.... I was born Deep with in the Arctic Mountains...in the South. I never really knew my parents, but my brother and I took good care of one another. Eventually we parted ways... we didn't quite agree with one another when it came to our powers. He wanted to ignore them and do nothing...i on the other hand wanted to harness them to use... He thought me to be evil, he might not have been all wrong in the assumption, But we couldn't agree so we went separate ways. Well actually i left and he stayed in the boring old town with people who where just as old and boring. I wanted more out of my life. I wanted to be known, be something special, even if only to one person.

He didn't understand...He never understood!

She sits staring into the fire her crimson eyes dancing in the flames. Her hair flowing around the outskirts of her hood. The wind starts too slowly pick up, a loud flash of light from in the distance, then the sounds of thunder. But the sky was clear. Her eyes flame in the rage of not being understood and now her brother was dead, and his corpse being used for true evil.. Another flash...then a flicker of an image standing behind her. It reached out to her, touched her on the shoulder she didn't stir.

To any looking it would appear to be a large semi transparent flame apparition standing behind her. It was three times larger than herself and had horns, the only thing that stood out was the crimson eyes of the beast, the looked much like his masters... Illiana felt the presence of her demon, and the wind stirring around her, she didn't want to frighten anyone so she took a deep breath and relaxed, her demon slowly dissipated from behind her.

“I do apologize I just wish someone, could love me for who i was... not even my brother, or my own parents could love me because, of this curse. It's not like i chose to be this way. I was given this power for a reason and i intend to use it.................... N........No one .understands...”
A single tear drops from the shadows of her hood she looks up at Artemis, Her crimson eyes and a silver streak from her tear, is all that can bee seen. She says nothing...she fears her rage and confusion will drive away her newly found companion.... She stands and nods as to go take watch and leave him to his thoughts.... and cause no more trouble.....

~A single silver tears dangles from a tall blade of grass, glimmering in the fire like pure molting silver. The wind stirs and the single tear drops to the top soil and is absorbed within moments of where the tear hit a single black rose had grown. She said nothing didn't even look at it, just started to walk away..~

Artemis stares after Illiana as she turns away. His heart aches in sympathy for her. He is all too familiar with the pain of being misunderstood by those you love and care about. The pain of his exile from Coldwater is still that of a fresh wound, and he still aches with regret that the igonorance and close-mindedness of his people has forced him to sever ties with the very source of family and love that always warmed his soul. He had thought that any such warmth could only come from fading memories of home and family from now on. But perhaps he is wrong.

Perhaps it is because he is watching her so intently that he sees the brief image of the huge creature appear behind her. He is startled for a moment, but the feeling departs as quickly as it came when he sees the demon place its hand on Illiana's shoulder. That simple gesture of comfort and support puts the creature in a whole new light for Artemis. This demon within him is not some beast to be feared, but a companion, a guardian, a friend, and a protector. Looking at Illiana's demon, he sees the compassion and care in its crimson eyes, and he knows that it will defend this beautiful woman with all the power it posesses, through itself and through the power with which it has infused her.

As he considers this, he feels a slight stirring of the presence within him. Thinking that maybe the presence of another of its kind has given it some brief wakefulness, Artemis is filled with wonder as a very clear sentiment comes from the presence within. I shall indeed be here when the need arises, it seems to say. And when I awaken, we shall see what there is to see; we shall have great adventures together and I shall show you the wonders of ages. Hearken well the words of your companion, for her protector and I have known one another since before the birth of the world, and she is as worthy of him as he is of her. Farewell, warrior - farewell, until we meet, until we are as one...
And with that, the presence seems to fade, to return to slumber. Artemis gives the creature towering above Illiana a brief nod of respect and understanding, for he feels sure that her demon heard and understood the words that came from within.

“I do apologize I just wish someone, could love me for who i was... not even my brother, or my own parents could love me because, of this curse. It's not like i chose to be this way. I was given this power for a reason and i intend to use it.................... N........No one .understands...”
Illiana's anguished words tear at Artemis' heart as she looks back at him. He can see, all too well, the same pain in her beautiful crimson eyes that fills his own heart when he thinks of home and exile from it. He can almost feel the hurt, the rage, and the confusion emanating from her, and his vow to accompany and protect her takes on a new poignance within him. He knows that if the price of protecting her is his life, he will pay it gladly. He sees the strange silver tear fall from her eye and hit the ground, and is again struck with wonder at the mysterious and wonderful powers of this beautiful woman as the black rose suddenly begins to spring up there.

She then turns away from Artemis, but before she turns he sees in her eyes a stoicism that touches him, a determination to not drive him away with the anger and confusion within her. He sees the pain of someone who thinks that she is doomed to be barred from the humanity of companionship, the care of other mortals. In that moment she seems alone...so alone...

Wondering what in the name of the gods he is thinking, and then no longer caring, Artemis stands up and steps around the fire as Illiana begins to walk away. He catches up to her and puts his hand on her shoulder, gently turning her to face him. He is lost in the endless depths of her crimson eyes as he gazes into them and says "I understand, Illiana. I know now that it was no mere accident that we were brought together. The feelings within you are the same that I feel. I know that it seems difficult, and I know how much it hurts to be shunned by those that you care for. Our situations are very similar. But know this: you are not alone now, nor shall you be as long as there is breath within me. I promised you that I am with you, until the very end. And so I am."

And with that, Artemis throws caution to the wind. He moves his hands up to gently caress Illiana's tear-streaked face and he tenderly draws her close, lowering his face to hers. He kisses her soft lips, and a universe of sensation seems to explode within him at the contact. He closes his eyes and lets the rush of feeling and energy flow through him like a raging river. He doesn't know if the kiss lasts seconds or centuries, but when their lips part and the kiss ends, he knows that he has just experienced the most intense happening of his life.

He still caresses her face with his hands as he gazes into those beautiful crimson eyes once again and breathlessly whispers:

"Until the very end...and beyond."

The little girl averts her eyes, blushing, even though no one there can see her. She rarely saw passionate behaviour, and personally wished she weren't so curious so that she could give couples the privacy they deserve. Oh well, one can't change one's innate nature, at least not easily.

The girl turns and watches a butterfly passing by. Like the butterfly, she could easily have a very simple life, but she wouldn't, because she would always find things that she ended up being involved in.

She thinks about her own pursuits, and wonders about a myth. Would it exist here, in this world, or would she have to look elsewhere?

As she walks away she feels Artemis stand and follow her. She jumps slightly at his touch. He looks deep into her eyes. He speaks.. "I understand, Illiana. I know now that it was no mere accident that we were brought together. The feelings within you are the same that I feel. I know that it seems difficult, and I know how much it hurts to be shunned by those that you care for. Our situations are very similar. But know this: you are not alone now, nor shall you be as long as there is breath within me. I promised you that I am with you, until the very end. And so I am."
Something very unexpected happened Artemis pulled her close, instinctively she was going to pull away but something deep inside stopped her. His lips gently brushed against hers and she blushed, at the unusual human contact. For the first time in her life she felt true human contact.

“Until the very end.....and beyond”
The words echoed in her mind as she stood there feeling more vulnerable than ever. She didn't speak...for a while...nothing could be said. No words would come to her lips. She felt cold and lifeless, but no longer truly alone. She decided it best to say nothing for now. She nods at Artemis as if to say take your rest. The sun would be coming up soon enough. She walks back towards the fire, and takes a seat on a rock near by and takes her watch. She has much to think about. As she walks by she plucks the black rose from the soil and takes it with her.

As she sits she picks the petals of the rose then places them into a red velvet bag she takes from one of her many hidden pockets in her robes. She waits and soon enough the sun starts to peak over the horizon. She gets up and walks over to where Artemis lays, she isn't sure if he is sleeping or not but she leans down and nudges him softly...

“We should get going we have much work that needs to be done”
as she speaks she hears a strange noise. She stops and looks around. Soft footsteps, paws perhaps?!??!
Rustling in the woods nearby, five pairs of large Red eyes starring out from the woods...She stands up and smiles...”And i thought this would be a challenge...
As she says that five very large Wolves sneak out from the undergrowth. They are at least four times larger than normal wolves... She sighs.... perhaps she spoke a bit to soon... They don't circle like normals wolves though.. the obvious pack leader nods to one wolf on the end and he breaks off from the pack and comes to stand in front of Illiana...to take her one on one.... She looks To Artemis to make sure he is ok before she makes any moves..............

She reaches deep into her robes...to her belt...where a katana hangs.. She withdraws it from her robes and gets ready for a fight...

The wolf howls loudly... it looks deep into her crimson eyes... It makes the first move and lunges at her...she steps sideways and avoids the first attack... she gets a nice hit on its back leg as it passes. It growls and lunges again... only this time it tumbles ontop of her.

She is under the beast face to face... her katana no longer a practical weapon...she simply drops it and grabs the wolf by both hands....

She mutters some word, then a large flash of white..then the wolf stumbles back off of her..he seems confused...the he starts howling in pain as his fur starts to melt away, like he had been touched by acid, then he catches on fire... not knowing what to do he runs around in circles only making himself worse...

Illiana stands and looks to the other wolfs waiting for there next move........

The little girl watches from above, uncertain exactly what to do. Well, doing anything besides just running would give her away, and she couldn't afford that just yet.

Strange. The wolves are acting strangely, the girl realizes. They're acting... almost human, trying a one on one fight rather than attacking as a group, just to test their prowess. Reaching into her bag, the girl pulls out a slim, silver blade. It is a scimitar, but even as she pulls it out, nothing comes into view.

Just then, the one wolf bursts into flames. The girl averts her eyes; she didn't really want to see. Instinctively, the girl guesses that now the rest of the wolves will attack together. That just might be too much for Illiana to handle. The little girl questions... did she really have to act yet? Too late.

With a burst of speed, she flies into a dive, slashing the blade across the skull of the leader, before flying back up to the other side. The attack jars her hand, however, and she drops the scimitar, which sticks into the ground, visible to all.

Illiana Starts to stand as she does the leader of the group Yelps in pain and tumbles sideways... blood runs down his face.. Then there in the ground is a sword...as if from heaven... She looks around and sees nothing..but feels the same presence she had been feeling. Whatever was following them, was obviously on there side. This made her feel a bit more relaxed... While she couldn't see the presence she could feel it, and she at least now knew that it was not there to harm them... but to protect and help them. She looks around.. “Thank you for your help!”
She then turns her attention back to the wolves. Artemis still didn't make a move...she was starting to wounder if he was ok or not but she didn't have time to check before the wolves broke off and started to circle them now... They had figured out this wasn't going to be and easy kill, and not just one could do the job, it would be a group effort to bring her down...

She didn't move she said nothing... as they circled like hawks she didn't even look at them...she knew they could smell fear. So she showed none..She waited for them to make the first move....

I knew it. The little girl thinks when the wolves begin to circle around the two.

She flies up above the center of the wolve's circle. Now she really has to be careful; she must be sure not to hit either Artemis or Illiana. Even without her sword, the little girl is not without other abilities. She focuses.

The air seems to grow thicker, heavier, and sparks begin to appear around the area. The little girl raises her hands, focusing the pulse to above her. Sparks fly as an orb appears, crackling with the transferral of electric energy throughout its form. The girl concentrates more, keeping the orb the same size, but further increasing its electric potential.

She can't hold it any longer. The girl quickly lets go of the orb, then puts a hand just underneath it, to direct it. From the orb volleys of lightning bolts shoot out from the sides. Being blocked from going straight down and onto Artemis and Illiana, they go to the next closest and highest point of impact, which are the wolves.

Electricity sears through their bodies, and their fur singes from the impacts. The lightning bolts are held for what seems like hours to the girl, but is really just a minute, maintaining the orb as much as she can. Finally, the electricity dissipates, and the air returns to how it was before. The girl pants a bit heavily; it has been too long since she last used magic of that magnitude.

Her vision swims around her, and around the edges of her sight it grows darker and darker. Oh no... I pushed myself too hard. She realizes.

She sways in the air, and she can feel herself slowly becoming visible. She falls unconscious, and falls through the air, almost like a leaf in its relatively slow descent. Her strangely light form collides onto the ground without much of an impact.

Physically, she looks no taller than a human child, but her proportions are more for that of an adult. She wears a violet silken dress with an open back for an easily apparent reason. Upon her back is a set of irridescent coloured dragonfly wings. She has silver hair, and also wears a few pieces of jewellery, namely two rings, and a necklace, all exquisite pieces of art with clearly coloured and well cut, pretty gemstones. Upon her hip is a simple pouch, carried by a belt.