Story I: The Rift

Pyrrah quickly puts away her weapons and hides her daggers. She rolls back her shoulders and quickly takes a few breaths to clear out any visible evidence of strain. Diplomatic, she thinks to herself. She needs to be diplomatic. She could do that. After all, she was a spy. She could slap on personalities as easily as she could change clothes. She just needed to pick a more tolerable one than her normal attitude.

She quickly eases herself back into a relaxed, but excited posture, softening her facial muscles into a look of curiosity, excitement, and maybe a slight hint of fear. She slowly creeps up with her hands hanging free, weaponless until she is within sight of the small creature and stares at it with wide eyes. Curious indeed: she didn't even need to act that part. However, what excitement she really felt was tempered by wariness and suspicion that she kept under lock and key.

Devanis is in a strange mood again. He stands, bouncing on the balls of his feet, and smiles down at the Ameera and the creature. "I suppose we should ask her if she needs any help. We like to help people. Yep!"

Baric walks slowly behind the Ranger and firmly squeezes his shoulder You doing alright, old man? I haven't seen you this eager about anything besides leaving since I met you.

"Everything's great, Baric! I've never felt better! Isn't it amazing, meeting a fellow traveler? I knew we had nothing to worry about down here!" Devanis' naivete is, to put it mildly, uncharacteristic.

Pyrrah slowly walks forward, allowing a flicker of concern to pierce through the curiosity. She keeps her hands away from her sides, away from weapons. "Umm, Devanis? Maybe you should give Seraph to Erran for awhile? I think he may be messing with your head a bit. A little time apart couldn't hurt, could it? And besides, it would give you some time to meet our new friend here. " She smiles shyly at the pixie creature.

Devanis looks at Pyrrah quizzically. "Hmmm...I gueeeeeeess it wouldn't hurt. I won't mind if Seraph doesn't mind. It's not like I own him!"

"Oh. I don't mind if Devanis doesn't mind!" Seraph says happily, fully understanding (and finding humor in) the roundabout questioning.

"Neph." The creature says aloud, freely, though as more and more people appear she adopts a wary and cautious look. Her wings begin fluttering - buzzing, almost - and she lifts off of the ground rather gracefully, hovering a few feet in the air.She returns Pyrrah's smile, raising a hand and making a wave-like motion with her long fingers in some form of greeting.

Ameera vocalizes and uses her mind, to allow her companions to hear her side of the conversation "I'm pleased to meet you Neph, my friend here wanted to know if you needed help, but you seem to be doing well. We didn't know that there were any shadowkin up ahead, they sound dangerous. How many are there?"

Neph cocks her head to the side. She holds her hands out wide to symbolize "large" or "big."

"I thought Neph was talking about more of the living dead, but she just told me they have a city ahead and guardposts before that so maybe not." Ameera focuses on Neph again "We appreciate the offer to follow you, Where are you going?"

Neph points behind you, back the way you came.

A slight shifting sound makes Pyrrah freeze and her muscles lock, her facade dropping. "Down! " She hisses, dropping herself low and positioning most of her body behind the cave wall next to her. "Something's ahead!" Out of sight of the creature, she draws her bow and readies an arrow.

Ameera moves from her knees and runs toward the attacker hand outstretched, she mentally calls to her familiar Zubie, follow him! and then says "Agradoth"while pointing to the fleeing figure. A crackle of energy leaps from her finger tip across the distance.

"Alianasa'phorilana, i'iliarasora!" Neph shouts at Ameera, looking panicked. She waves her hands desperately.