Gates of Darkness

She walked along the road, her wings drooped behind her and her black dress tattered and torn along the bottom where twigs and days on the road had taken their toll. Her Black hair was in knots and windblown beyond the ability of any brush or comb and her boots had lost what little shine might have ever been there. The laces on the front of her corset had long given up the fight to hold the two leather halves together and in her hand was a compass that just seemed to spin back and forth lazily as if north no longer had any meaning. If the girl had looked up for anyone to see her eyes, they no longer held the blue azure they once did, instead seeming an almost lifeless grey.
She had come to the North gate of the Inn, and nearly ran headlong, literally, into the wall of the stable, so intent on her feet as she was. She stopped just shy of knocking herself on the top of the head and a small gasp slipped out as she looked up at the wall.
She turned ever so slightly and walked through the open gate, and towards the Inn doors, once again staring at the ground.

Craimar's head went up ever sso slightly, even if he never stopped stroking Kaelaren, and his eyes went to the door, then back to Kaylina. He did not wish to speak as yet. He did not know who came yet,only that someone approached the in, and was perhaps easily startled-or something more. Even if he knew, at this distance, he could mindspeak her, he chose to remain silent.

Kae roused some, but Craimar stroked is head, only then emitting a soft 'shh'.

Alaran felt the presence as did the winged one, not sure of what was approaching the inn Alaran stood from where he sat ready to defend his comrades if need be.

Kaylina watched with concern as Kaelaren slowly flew into the inn and settled down into Craimar's arms. "Craimar, is he..." She shook her head slightly, correcting herself. "Kaelaren, what happened, do you need help?" She spoke quietly, not making any sudden movements that may startle Kae and possibly injure him worse. "Is there anything I can do Craimar?"

After a few moments, she became aware of someone else approaching the inn, someone who seemed to not really be paying attention to her surroundings. Moving slowly so that she didn't startle Kae, she stood up and moved the few feet to the door, opening it to look outside.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness outside, but she quickly picked out the bedraggled figure shuffling toward the inn. Kaylina extended her senses outward carefully, not wanting to startle the strange girl walking up to the inn. Using the same quiet voice she'd used toward Craimar and Kae, she spoke out to the young woman. "Good evening...do you need a place to stay for the night? We've hot food and a warm bed..."

Kaylina watched with concern as Kaelaren slowly flew into the inn and settled down into Craimar's arms. "Craimar, is he..." She shook her head slightly, correcting herself. "Kaelaren, what happened, do you need help?" She spoke quietly, not making any sudden movements that may startle Kae and possibly injure him worse. "Is there anything I can do Craimar?"

Kae roused at the sound of the familiar voice, and tried to focus, ~Mages...bad mages...Quela...tended me. Nee...food. Bits of...meat...waterr...some-something...~

Craimar drew in a breath, "Ah know-Get him a sorta stew like thin-it jus need a bit o'broth to go over the meat so he swallwoin' it whole like. He...he can't be shiftin' until he get more energy like. Think he got ribs tha' be cracked-broken, somethin'. How he flew hisself here's @*^%^ beyond me." He cuddled Kae, ~Shh...ye're safe now. Ye'l...ye'll have to be tellin' me more 'bout this quela person-sounds fascinatin' she do.~

Craimar's eyes went to the door then, as Kaylina opened it, and he sat up straighter, more alert now than he was before, even if only slightly. He would pay for it later-but just now, he didn't much care; His brother needed him, and e would defend this new inn if it came to that. It really did remind him a bit of the one he just left...

Kaylina watched the silent figure a moment more, torn between curiosity over who the young woman was and Kae's need for help. Casting another glance back at Craimar cradling Kae, she made up her mind. "I know just what to get for him. Cook keeps a pot of stew going all night for any late-night travelers, I can get some of that." She looked out into the courtyard one last time, then turned from the door to head for the kitchen. She left the door open, knowing that she could trust Craimar and Alaren to defend the inn should there be a need to.

Once in the kitchen, Kaylina ladled some of the stew into a bowl, noting that the meat had already fallen apart into thin pieces. She grabbed another bowl and filled it with cool, clean water and took both of them out to the table. Moving slowly, she gracefully sat down next to Craimar, setting both bowls down on the table before gently holding her hands out. "May I hold you Kae? I can give you some energy, the way I did Craimar, enough to give you more strength to be able to eat. I don't want to attempt healing until you're able to shift, unless you want me to."

Alaran wasn't sure what was happening but knew enough to keep his guard up. He activated a few of his rings and mumbled some silent spells, a bright colored aura now surrounded alaran. He knew one of the shape shifters was weak and needed help. Alaran took post near the door and awaited to see what happened next.

Kaelaren shrank back a moment...not completely comprehending her words. Then he realize she was givinghim a choice, and relaxed again. Quela...she hadn't, or notcompletely anyway. But then again, he had been too out of it to really say much then, and now was grateful she hadn't. Doubtful he'd be as...well of had she not.

~No..I...would need to...to shift first, I...I think.~ His mental voice was fading; he was going into sleep. 'no..not yet', he knew. He would have to eat first... ~C-Craimar...?~ Even his senses were fading...

"Shh, right here." The otherworldliness in his voice would let Kaylina, at least, know that he was concerned enough for his magic to start showing, but he wasn't sure Alaran would know or remember. He helped Kae stand, and noticed that his brother was trembling some.

~Kaylina...~ Kaelaren turned his head in her dirrection sensing, or perhaps 'senting' the food, and trying to make his way to her, ~Hold...yes, hold me...I don't think...stay up otherwise.~ He was still so tired...he probably didn't realize that his 'voice' was slurring with the effort, but Craimar did.

Craimar held Kae until he knew he was sae with Kaylina, then sat...just sat. He wasn't sure he wanted to play yet-frightened of startling the girl outside, but he needed the music-the sound of the pipes. The wild abandon that came over him when he played...he had not had this in too long, and he ached for it-nearly as much as others would ache for food or...hell, even air. He closed is eyes momentarily, drawing a long, shaky breath. That was too bloody close. He had to remind himself that Kae was safe now-hear and alive. But still...too close for his liking...

Kaylina allowed herself a brief smile and a small nod of her head as she saw Alaran post himself by the door, ready to defend them should the unknown visitor outside prove hostile, then she turned her attention back to Kae. She cradled him carefully and warmly against her chest with one arm, holding the shallow bowl of stew with her other hand so that Kae did not have to reach far or strain to get to the food. Kaylina dropped one layer of her shields, enough to feel the shifting emotions of those within the inn.

She felt Meryla's emotions, layered with sleepy undertones, and understood that her daughter would most likely miss dinner and go to bed instead.

She felt Alaran's concern, noting how vigilant he was in guarding.

She felt Craimar's mixed emotions, sensing that he was being tugged in different directions, and almost 'heard' the current of music in his emotions.

"Play Craimar." Kaylina said softly, sparing him a glance. "It will do you and Kae both good to play."

Lastly, she felt Kae's exhaustion and pain, wondering herself how he'd managed to push himself to get this far. She crooned quietly, not trying to heal yet, but at least wrapping him in comfort and safety. She did not know which mages had done this to him, nor who this Quela person was, but all questions could wait until Kae had regained enough strength to be able to shift and allow her to heal his injuries.

Craider needed no further prompting. Rising to his feet, with one more glance for his beloved brogher, he pulled out his fire-made pipes (THe wood was actually magically cured in a fire) and began to play. Something Kaylina would be able to fit her voice around.

He wasn't sure where he'd picked thesong up from, but the first song that spraing to his fingers was 'Scarburrow Faire'. Not really complaining, he went with it, and felt Kae relax somewhat. He'd have to change the tune later, but for now, this woulddo.

Craimar drew further into playing, and as he did so, Kaylina might see a pose she recognized; wings down back, the wild look in the eyes, the hair puld back now to hang down the back; the pose that ment Craimar was tranced completely; nothing existed now for him, except the music-and the goal of it.

Kae relaxed into the comfort and safety and reached for the food, trying not to gulp it down. He only half-succeeded. THe first couple of bites nearly caused him to gag a bit, and he was greatful for the water to help them down. After that, it was easier-easier to eat, to drink at the rich, deliciously warm broth the meat rested in, and to breathe easier. Safe...really truly safe.

It did him good to hear Craimar play-especially when he switched from Scarburrow Fair' to one of the ballads he loved so much from Craimar's own world-then to an original piece of his. A medly, Kae realized, as it didn't take long for his brother to switch from song to song-of everything he loved. TO keep him her-to draw him back. It was working more than Craimr would know. Kae felt some of his familiar tenacity reasserting itself along with his energy, and he began to eat a bit faster, smoother now he knew the food wasn't going anywher, and he was being held.

It was odd, this comfort, this place-and oddly familiar, yet not at the same time-sort of reminded him of home-but wasn't either. Too..young feeling, this place. He was beginning to notice things now, the concern of the man nearby was the first and foremost, but there were other things-other slight emotions he couldn't quite pinpoint. Still didn't have the energy to try...still wanted food. Good thing there was still some left.

Kaylina continued to cradle Kae close, adding her own voice to Craimar's playing as she concentrated on projecting comfort and warmth to Kae - and to the unknown figure slowly making his/her way across the courtyard to the front door of the inn.

(Since I don't know if Knnrr is returning, I'm taking advantage of the opportunity to draw in another character, using the same entrance.)

Owle blinked her large eyes, wrapping her wings tighter around her as she staggered slowly toward the glowing warmth of the doorway ahead of her. Music poured out into the night air, heartening her some. The music sounded so wild, yet welcoming at the same time. Hopefully whomever was in the inn wouldn't want to cage her up or chase her away. She was so hungry. She's grabbed a small handful of late-season berries, but that was a day ago, and all she'd had since was a few sips of water from the river.

Owle made it to the doorway, blinked her large eyes once as she tried to take in the scene, then collapsed in a hunger-driven faint.

(Owle is only 2'6", a halfling-owl chimera...)

Craimar was too caught up in the trance of the music by now to notice much beyond what he was doing-until he felt someone faint, then he had to blink to keep his focus. Kae...he was playing for his brother-his brother who was now managing to take a bit of a breath, gather himself together and at least pick at the stew in front of him. Then he managed a bite, then two...

He thought he heard someone else say something, but he couldn't be sure.

---

"Woe there, little one." Hands, soft and gentle cradled the creature before she could hit the ground, and the eyes that turned to the dor were gray and misd little. Even though the hands were masculine, they were gentle, and the man who lifted the little creature was stronger than he first appeared.

Somehow he'd managed to land here-though how, he didn't know. He had asked someone to find him a place to rest-a place where no one would find him. The man-for that's what he had been at the time-shoved him toward a portal-and the next thing he knew he was here-here in this odd place. Suddenly wishing for someone familiar, even if it was the lycan-lady, he longed to run a hand through his hair, but he had tied it back, even if it was only to his sholders, he felt better with it that way. It was also so much easier to move.

He carefully scooped up the creature-she was light; and he wondered how she had gotten that way-and carried her the rest of the way into the building. He blinked, no, the inn-that's what this was, and there were others here. He froze a moment, then stared. Craimar? here? Dear gods above and below, did he not know he was missed? Missed and looked for? He wondered how long it would be before the owl-winged felt the call of his Lady. He'd yet to notice Kae, so hidden was he by the healer-though he did notice the healer herself.

He looked about for a place to sit-then finding one, grinned a bit. "Ah, here we are." His voice was a reedy tennor, soft and lilting. He had managed to smooth it out some since last he'd seen the lycan, but it still grated on some creatures' nerves some, and he felt that couldn't be helped. Even if it did make him somewhat sad-he hated not being liked for something that could not be helped; it made him feel lonely and alone.