Reapers Cove

A land full of magic and mysticism, the cove is nothing like the name entails. It consists of a small village along the coast, visitors are a rarity and are often treated with suspicion.

---

Katel made her way to what appeared to be civilization, "Oh great..." Katel stopped and took a deep breath and stared at the settlement that was a few yards away. "Civilization means that there is religion, and that means there are members of the clergy." Katel stared at the sheathed claymore, "Here, I was in a peaceful mood."

Katel continued moving forward into the last light before dusk. She stopped and turned around. "I could have sworn I heard something," Katel shrugged. "Maybe I'm just paranoid?" she mused. She took another step and spun around with Dive in her hand and against a strange man's neck.

"What?" the blonde man innocently asked. He held his hands up in an obvious surrender.

"Why are you following me?" Katel demanded.

He laughed, "I'm headed to the cove. That's all you need to know."

"What's your name?" Katel pushed Dive into his throat.

"Vicente," he replied before slapping Dive to the ground. Vicente then continued toward the cove without another word or looking back.

Katel leered at the strange human, "He wasn't even intimidated by me...."

---

Raven sat with her feet lazily trailing in the water a good mile or so out of town. The sun had just begun settling over the hills and painted the sky a wonderous hue of reds and violets. She sighed, almost blissful, as the water ran over her hot legs. She leaned back, tucking her arms behind her head as she enjoyed the cool early evening air.

---

Vicente swung around the small pouch that held a few coins as he whistled. "I can't believe that half-breed was so gullible. Who stands there while a kinfe is at your throat?" he asked himself.

Vicente glanced over at a large temple, "What's the gleaming light?"

A young elfin girl turned toward him, "That's where the holy weapons are kept for the clerics and paladins."

"Like rare weapons and jewels?" Vicente asked.

"Very rare...some of them were custom made, in fact," she said simply. "My name's Zamber. I'm an assistant priestess here."

"My name's Vicente. I'm on a pilgrimage to see as many temples as I can in my life," Vicente replied with a smirk.

"Oh, well...welcome!" Zamber said happily. "Do go find a room for the night and tomorrow I'll show you the temple so you may worship and pray."

"You are too kind, Vicente said dryly as he walked away from her. "That was easier than I thought," Vicente muttered.

---

Katel placed the flint on the counter of the shop, "Just this."

"How do you plan on paying?" the shop keep asked.

Katel reached for her coin purse and glared down at the cut string, "That damn blonde!" Katel stamped her foot, "Will you take a trade? I found some arrows in the forest and I'm not an archer."

"However you can pay," the shopkeep said quickly.

Katel quirked her eyebrow and handed over the pack of five arrows in exchange for the flint. She took the flint and headed out toward the temple. "I'll wait until midnight to destroy the temple and while the town's chaotic I'll find the blonde and kill him." Katel headed back toward the edge of the town where she first caught site of the temple. "Now I just have to wait..." she said quietly.

---

Vicente sat on the side of the temple steps. He was waiting for the last ember of the candles to go out so he could make his move into the temple and steal some valuable weapons. He yawned and leaned against the stone stairs in a grog. "I can probably nap for an hour or so before I finish the job."

---

"Vicente..." Zamber was shaking his sleeping body. "You must wake up if you want to live!"

"Aren't you that girl from earlier...?" Vicente yawned.

"Wake up! The temple is on fire!" Zamber shouted as she shook Vicente again.

Vicente sprung awake, "Why didn't you say so?!" He jumped up and stared in horror as his latest payment burned before him, "What happened?"

"We just woke up to fire," Zamber replied with a shrug.

Vicente started up the steps but was stopped when a burning board fell right before his eyes and blocked the entrence, "Damn..." Vicente looked up at Katel who was standing on the roof of the burning building.

"Oh, do you think she's trapped up there?" Zamber asked.

"I doubt that highly," Vicente replied flatly. "Is there a way to the roof?"

"If you're dumb enough to jump off the tree from behind the temple, then yes there..." Zamber turned to see Vicente running toward the back of the temple, "I have got to stop giveing that man ideas..."

From her place by the water, Raven spied the fire. She shivered- she couldn't remember falling to sleep, but now that temple... not even 100 yards from where she lay... She stood, her fingers swaying in the air. To any other eye it would seem odd that the waves were building higher and higher with each sweep of her fingers. Sweat beaded on her forehead, before anybody got hurt or died... She had to put that fire out! She approached the building calmly, water pooling at her feet, it tread new paths in the earth, paths that she created for the water to follow easily. When she was done there'd be a new pond or something of the sort in the area... but it would be better than watching such a holy place perish in flames.

---

Katel stood there and watched the crowd of people gather. She huffed, "And no human can reach me..."

"Why do all the stupid ones make those kinds of remarks?" Vicente asked. He landed in a crouch as he predicted he would and stood up immediately.

"How did you get up here?" Katel asked.

Vicente pointed to the tree, "And now I'm going to kill you!"

Katel drew Dive and twirled it around in her hands while snickering. "Is that a challenge or ust a threat?"

"A promise," Vicente charged at her and was stopped by a blast of water that threw him backwards.

"I can control water, by the way..." Katel said flatly.

"She can use water as a weapon? Why wouldn't she just put out the fire?" Zamber asked.

"Perhaps because she does not want it to go out?" Raven stood beside Zamber now, her voice hollow, her fingers still swaying at her sides as the earth opened up behind her and allowed the water to flow through, "Please back away."

Zamber took a few steps away from the temple and looked toward the roof. "Hey Vicente!" she waved innocently.

Katel stared down at the girl and came to when she felt the pain of being slammed into the roof from a tackle. Vicente took the oppurtunity to kick away her claymore. He reached for his belt for Karma when another blast of water came from below them, throwing him into the air and back toward the tree. "Damn..." Vicente cursed as he attempted to get to his feet again.

"Thank you young girl!" Katel cackled as she sent another wave of water toward Vicente.

Vicente rolled out of the way and stumbled forward. He kicked the claymore from the roof and unsheathed Karma. One slash or stab would do it, "Let's go!" Vicente demanded.

"I think the water is hurting Vicente..." Zamber muttered.

"The crazy man on the roof?" Raven asked.

Zamber nodded, "Yeah, that girl is using more and more water to attack him."

Raven glared at the roof, "Then, we'll just have to make this quick and return toe water to wence it came." She murmured, throwing her hands into the air, a huge wave built up behind her and moved around herself and Zamber before collapsing over the burning building and the battling duo upon the roof. The air hissed and sizzled, smoked and steamed, until, at last, the air cleared and the ground was as dry as though the water had never touched it. The building was a charred mess, though still, miraculously, stood. She swayed on her feet, "Ha!" She laughed, breathing hard, she laughed again, longer this time, a sound like bells.

"Damn it!" Vicente growled. "You women just won't let me have peace..."

"It had to be done..." Zamber shouted up to him. Vicente grumbled and clutched Karma tightly. He dove toward Katel and managed to break a layer of skin before she kicked him off the roof. "Vicente!" Zamber cried.

"Gotcha." Raven muttered, her arms shook, but not two feet off the ground Vincente was nestled in a bed of vines that had caught him none too soon, "Now... If you don't mind, think I'ma sit down."

"I'm fine..." Vicente muttered. He sat up and shook off the vertigo. "But we just met...why are you so concerned?"

Zamber shrugged, "I like you is all."

Vicente gave her a blank stare, "Oh boy..."

"Ya know what? I think I'm gonna be on my way." Raven yawned, "Don't thank me or anything for keeping you from splatting on the ground or anything." She waved her hand over her shoulder as she turned to leave.

Vicente dove at Raven, managing to spear her to the ground, "Wait!"

Raven glared back at him, "What?!"

"Don't leave me alone with her!" Vicente begged. "I'll say 'thank you'..."

"You're not so familiar with gratitude, are you?" Raven asked simply.

"Gratitude, what's that?" Vincente blinked.

"Gah, nevermind." Raven muttered, rolling over so that he was off of her, she quickly climbed to her feet and brushed herself off, "Oooh... hello." She muttered, clutching her head as a wave of agony and dizziness overcame her. "Too much... I knew it was too much." She groped about with her free hand for something to hold herself up.

Vicente stood up as well, "You're a nifty little thing that takes a hard hit, huh?" Vicente dusted himself off before he grabbed hold of Raven's shoulder. "Easy, there. If you need help, you can just ask..."

"We should get you somewhere safe," Zamber muttered.

"How did you get over here so fast?" Vicente asked.

"Walked," Zamber shrugged.

"I can take care of myself..." Raven grumbled, "I just did too much in such a short period of time is all." She groped through her belongings and pulled forth a silver flask, she tugged the cap out with her teeth and took a long draught of some dark liquid, "Ahh... that's better." She sighed, though she still felt a little light headed.

"But, you're a little elemental..." Vicente muttered. "I want you with me..."

"We could definitely use you on the team," Zamber agreed.

"Who said you were part of my team?!" Vicente growled.

"If you don't let me go with you I'll hug and kiss you..." Zamber said firmly.

"Fine..." Vicente grumbled as he took a step away from Zamber.

"..." Raven shook her head, "Who said I'd even go with anybody?"

Vicente shrugged, "Like kidnapping is going to be the things to make me infamous."

"Weird..." Zamber muttered.

"What's weird?" Raven asked.

"I love Vicente and he is evil...but his aura isn't weird or over-powering..." Zamber replied.

"I can hide being evil," he shrugged. "So, are you coming willingly or am I kidnapping you?"

"Ha!" Raven laughed, "You can try."

"Zamber, I will give you a hug if you can catch Raven and make her come with us," Vicente offered.

Zamber grinned and grabbed a handful of salt from her pocket, "You're my friend...but he's going to hug me!"

"Don't try it or I'll have to get serious." Raven's eyes narrowed, she took another long gulp of the substance in her flast.

"Come out, Yuki!" Zamber threw the blue salt into the air. A small blue fox landed on its four paws and mewed.

"That can't possibly count as a weapon..." Vicente muttered.

"Watch him go..." Zamber said calmly. The three of them stared at the fox and watched as it skitterd across the surface of the water. The water turned to a blue-white color, almost icy looking.

"I'm impressed, but how is it a weapon?" Vicente asked.

"Super ice blast!" Zamber ordered. Yuki sent a gust of icy wind that knocked them all to the ground.

"I'm going home..." Raven said simply.

Vicente placed a hand on her shoulder, "Last chance to come peacefully..." Vicente drew sufferthorn in his free hand and readied his blade for attack.

Raven moved swiftly, twisting his arms behind his back, she allowed vines to trail up from the ground, binding him, "Fat chance." She whispered in his ear before walking away.

"I wish I had better than this frail human body..." Vicente commented before walking away.

"You don't have to stay human..." Zamber muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"You can become a vampire with at least twice your strength and speed," Zamber shrugged.

"Huh...thats worth considering..." Vicente muttered.

"Where do you think that girl went to that started the fire?" Zamber asked.

"Katel probably went to go desecrate more sacread ground," Vicente muttered.

"Why did you fight her?"

"Fighting suits me better than hugging," Vicente said flatly.

"Why does affection scare you?"

Vicente took a large step away from her, "It's unnatural."

---

Weird group of people..." Raven grumbled, she'd gone only a few hundred feet before collapsing beneath a tree tiredly, "too much energy..." She slipped into a deep slumber.

---

"So where are we going?" Zamber asked innocently.

Vicente leered over at her, "I am going to steal some items and pawn them for money."

"Oh, sounds exciting," Zamber grinned.

Vicente rolled his eyes, "Don't you have duties at the temples?"

"I'll be excused for that pilgrimage you're going on...I'm sure of it," Zamber said confidently.

"That was a lie," Vicente clarified.

"Oh..." Zamber's tone saddened.

"You know how evil I am and you work as a clergy member...so why are you following me?" Vicente asked.

"I can be evil too...just give me a chance..." Zamber begged.

Vicente smirked, "You'll have to help me steal from people discretely."

"I can play cute and innocent while you act like you're going to kill me..."

Vicente grumbled, "I might slip..."

"It'll work, I promse..." Zamber grinned.

---

"Ahhh, so I have found you little halfling..." A voice purred in her ear.

Raven jerked awake in shock, "L-Lyre, how'd you find me?" She demanded.

"Your dreams, darling, they call out to me." He chuckled.

She glared and stood, "You won't get me!" She called, her lungs burned as she ran and, at last, leapt from the side of a cliff that leered over the cove. She drew in a deep breath as water closed in over her head, and knew no more. (Yes, well, I'm bored, so she's gonna turn up in the Silent Wood :D)

---

Tonani walked into the village and looked around. A cold burn blazed from his dark green eyes. His long green hair blew lightly in the breeze. The sun pounded on his bare chest as he took steps closer into the woods. "Hmm. How interesting. I think I'll have fun here."

---

"Are you old enough to drink, Zamber?" Vicente asked.

"Yes, why?" Zamber cocked her head to the side a little.

"We're getting a drink and a room for the night," Vicente said simply. "C'mon," Vicente grabbed her hand and took her into the pub. "What do you drink?"

"Wines usually," Zamber replied simply.

"Sir, can we get two bottles of wine?" Vicente asked. The barkeep nodded and handed them each a bottle of wine. "Thank you." Vicente left a handful of gold in the tip pitcher and opened both of the bottles.

"Wow, it's been a while since anybody's bought me something..." Zamber muttered.

"For some reason you like me enough to be my ally, so get used to it," Vicente replied.

"I'd like to be a lot more than that," Zamber muttered.

"What was that?" Vicente asked.

"Just praying before I drink," Zamber quickly quibbled.

Vicente shrugged and tapped his bottle of wine to hers, "Cheers."

"Cheers," Zamber repeated before taking a swig.

---

Vicente rolled over, his head pounding and was face to face with Zamber. Zamber was also just waking up. "Well, good morning," Zamber yawned. "You're better than I imagined."

"Better at what?" Vicente asked, but his question was answered when he saw her naked body and his naked body. "We didn't..."

"Didn't what?" Zamber asked.

"We had sex?" Vicente asked, still half unconscious.

"Only about three times last night and twice this morning," Zamber replied as she rolled over onto Vicente. Zamber pressed her lips to Vicente's and slid entirely on top of him. "I want to have sex one more time before we're actually awake."

"No, we didn't have sex....we couldn't have..." Vicente muttered.

"We did several times..." Zamber replied.

"Oh, great. I corrupted a paladin..." Vicente's head hit the pillow as he cursed beneath his breath. "I guess this means I'm stuck with you, huh?"

"Yes."

"But you'll have sex with me when I want?" Vicente asked.

Zamber nodded, "I'll do anything for you."

Vicente shrugged, "Works for me. Please continue."

---

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