As light of the new day approaches Dawn’s bedroom window she awakes, stretches and following a yawn, covers with a robe to head downstairs to join her brother’s and uncle. Sleeping in a chair by the supper table Straud awakes to the creek made on the stairs by Dawn, and joining the eye opening is Cloud lifting his half flattened face that was pressing against the wood on the table with a drink cup still grasped to his hand. Lifting while looking at it Cloud tosses it over his shoulder and hits Rain in the head, the sleeping spell jammer lifts his head from the impact and then at the cup that rolled upon the ground.

“Did you just hit me with that?” Rain snarled looking to his brother

“Sorry” Cloud said yawning “wasn’t looking”

Laying back down Rain grips his head, “I’m sure that wasn’t what caused this pain in my head though”

“Nope, that was caused from whatever we were drinking last night, it’s called the day after getting drunk” Cloud replied gripping his own head leaning back in the chair he was setting in.

“Blood wine, aged sixteen years, made it when you arrived in my life for this very occasion for when you kids were leaving my guardianship” Straud addressed getting up.

Touching the base of the stairs Dawn scoped the common room “looks like a dwarven bar aftermath in here” she says watching where she stepped on the ground.

The day sparks into late morning and clan members all around are hugging each other, saying their good byes for the months that they will be apart. The children gather their good byes to everyone they knew well; saving their uncle for last and standing around him beside their horses filled with gear they all hug Straud one final time. Rain being the last one to the hugs looks to his uncle’s face after the embrace and says “Uncle, about yesterday, about my parents, I meant no offence to you uncle, you have done a great job of being their for us, whenever we needed you, you were there and I just want say that, you’re the closest thing to a father any of us could have hope for and I’m glade you were ours” Rain ended smiling

A tear runs down Straud’s face and he hugs Rain again “Thanks, Thank you, now you’d best get moving if you are to reach Silverspire before your rations run out, (helping Dawn up on her horse) I’ll enjoy seeing your faces again in the mountains” ends Straud and kissing Dawn’s cheek side Straud pushes Dawn’s horse to ride on, the others follow waving to him as he shrinks in the distance and they disappear into the deep wood of the forest.

Two weeks pass without provocation but as they round the last couple days in the woods they travel through until the fourth day of the second week, Cloud awakes looking around franticly. “Something is wrong” he said waking up Rain, grabbing his bearings on the welcome of the new day Rain sits up, yawning he spills out “What is wrong what are you doing?” Rain gasps out with his arms stretched to the sky.

“Our tracks from last night, the ones our horses made they’re gone” Cloud said and jumping to his feet he snaps “What!” and startled by the sound Dawn awakes.

“Everything ok” Dawn questions still half asleep watching her brothers move around,

“Apparently someone has covered our tracks “said Rain checking the ground with Cloud

“Why, why would someone do this?” Dawn said getting concerned “I thought uncle said no one would know we would go this way or know who we are”

“I don’t think that is the case Dawn,” Cloud said

“Well why would anyone do this that doesn’t want to kill us” she snapped

“Because we are still alive” Rain interrupted

“Exactly, they would have just killed us when we slept” finished Cloud

“Well that’s cryptic” Dawn blurts out “THANK YOU WHO EVER YOU ARE!”

Running up and closing her mouth with his hand Cloud says “SHHHHHH, damn it girl what the hell is the matter with you”

“Well you said-”

“I said that I don’t think it’s after us but I wasn’t certain” Cloud gritted out uncovering her mouth roughly.

Coming up behind them Rain bolts “I foun-” and with a quick yelp from both siblings they stagger to a quick turn

“Sorry guys (looking down at his boots) elven feet, I found something you should see”

Following him to some bushes Rain reaches in to pull out a sign rotting and weathering away. Rain attempts to read it and comes up with Pearle that he figures must be a town name. Figuring that it’s a town near by they pack up and head in the direction of the sign to find out what it is.

Another day’s ride takes them to a clearing in the forest with a fork in the path they found half way through the day, keeping to the shade of the trees they covertly move closer to see the town.

Removing the bushes by the border Cloud reveals the small town of Pearle, some dwellers were elves and dwarves but mostly human’s populate the town. A small sign identifies the village ahead as Pearle, home of the feathered serpent statue. Like other villages deep in the forests, this one has a rustic but quaint appearance. Most of the buildings are made of timber, with roofs of thatch that have weathered to a mottled gray color. A low mound of earth topped with a wooden stockade surrounds the settlement. On the left side of the street about a quarter of a mile in from the entrance of the town sits a tavern with a sign hanging above the door that presented THE TAP. Pointing toward the sign Cloud says “We should head there first, the town seems like it’ll host us ok” nodding his head Rain agrees then turning around to get on his horse he looks around “DAWN” he says, “Where did she go?”

Cloud now turning his head repeats her name with no answer “Damn it she took off” he said pointing at foot marks in the ground leading back the way they came, they follow them leading them right to her sitting in the bush looking up the other path in the fork they came too.

Turning around and seeing them coming up behind her she whispers “There you are come here and look at this” waving them up to her position and already being mad at her the brothers go up to see, the three witness a chest of gold being taken up The path to the ruined temple winds through wooded hills choked with thorny undergrowth. The terrain seems firm underfoot, and some bits of stone pavement have survived here and there, but evidence mostly in the form of freshly cut branches overhanging the trail suggests that the way has been cleared only recently.

“Yeah so what is wrong with this?” Cloud says with a blank look.

“Everything is wrong with it” Spouts off Dawn quietly “Look, the chest is gold bearing; you don’t take the wealth of a town and donate it to a church or temple situated outside the town”

“Why not” Rain ask

“Because the symbol of serenity and peace is always situated where the whole town can see, not hiding in some bushes”

“Maybe they do things different here “Cloud suggest

“No something’s wrong” Dawn replied shaking her head

“Well Rain and I think we’ll check out the tavern called The Tap, maybe we can get some answers there, and a meal for the night” Cloud insisted patting her shoulder and complying she followed the boys to the Tap. On their approach Rain witnesses starring upon himself from several townsfolk, as he past them they kept their glares fixed on him even as he past, “What’s your problem?” Rain spouted off at them.

“Rain don’t” Cloud scolded

“What they’re glaring at me” Rain defended and turning to the folk Cloud only smiles to them saying nothing.

Going in to the tavern making sure their hoods were up and cloaks were totally covering them they go and have a seat at a table, looking around it was no different than that of a normal tavern they past through on their travels or for at least the boys anyway. For Dawn this was her first time and she was looking around more intently. A serving girl came by to see what they wanted, and waiting on them gets very short mouthed and blunt, not making any sort of small talk at all. She takes their drink and meal orders fast pacing back to the bar counter, looking back every once in a while to the children followed by everyone in the bar.

“Ok what was up with that and what is with all the starring from these people” Dawn says scooting up closer to Cloud

“We’re Drow,” said Rain “The reputation we hold isn’t the best up here”

“Yeah I know but is it this bad though, I mean yikes, I’m scared to cough or sneeze with out being stabbed or something” Dawn said worried. Looking around once more Rain perks up “She is right Cloud this is a little worse than normal don’t you think”

“Yea I agree the looks they’re giving us are a little worried but mostly they looked scared but not of us, their emotions look more rooted like this is normal to them” Cloud hypothesized

Minutes later the serving girl comes back with their order and the bill which was about twice as much as any other tavern has charged them.

“Three silver are you kidding” Rain said about to stand up when Cloud’s arm reaches over clinging him steady.

“Here you go” Cloud stated quietly tossing the maiden four coins of silver telling her to keep the change. She takes it quickly heads back to the bar and looking at Rain Cloud gives him a glare.

“Keep a low profile and for that we might have to pay a higher price” Cloud says sternly, tapped on the shoulder quickly by Dawn, Cloud turns “What”

“Look, everyone around even when Rain said how much our meal was, no one blinked an eye, or even had a shocked look, its like it’s a normal price around here” Dawn whispered.

They enjoyed half of their meal while the whole time getting stares from different tables, and at the small talk from the surrounding tables they over hear topic’s mostly about them. A man wanders up to their table that halts Cloud in mid speech, he was terribly dressed with leather clothing smelling like stale ale and a face unshaven for going on a week or two that grew over top of his scared up cheek. Leaning up against the table with his long stringy black sweated hair dangling in Cloud’s face he spouted in his foul breath “Why don’t you pointy pale faced people go back from where you came from”

“We’ll be gone in the morning sir, I assure you now why don’t you have a drink on me” Cloud said as he flipped a coin toward the bartender. Slamming his hand down on the table shaking their goblets and spilling Dawns on her lap the man glared, Dawn backs up to wipe off her cloak while the man engrossed his sight to her tight firm cleavage pushed up from her vest opening that brought a grin to his face; the man looks to her and smiles.

“Maybe we can come to an arrangement if you’re willing to pawn off your lady friend to me for the night,” The drunk slurred

“Not a chance” Cloud stared

“She is a very sweet thing, I bet she’s soft” the drunk continued as he reached over for a quick touch, flipping him from his front to his back allowing his eyes to now stare at the roof with a dagger blade gently against his cheek let Cloud lean to his face.

“I don’t think you heard me I said not a chance” and throws him from the table to the floor. The drunk gets to his feet and slowly walks to his table motioning to one of his comrades to toss him a dagger. He is passed one and suddenly turns to lunge at Cloud, hearing the ting of the dagger pass Cloud turns around facing his lunge and extending his arm, clotheslines the drunk to the floor disarming the dagger from his hand. With a second motion Cloud draws his sword and places it at the drunks’ throat already pinned down by his foot. The entrance to the tavern is blown open by three guards followed by one other who looks like a Capitan “Alright what is going on here” the Captain coarsely yells

“These elves were causing a ruckus and nearly killed this man,” the bartender said

“We weren’t causing a ruckus; this man was going to inappropriately touch me and my brother intervened, and when he got embarrassed because he couldn’t have what he wanted he tried to kill my brother who was only defending himself” Dawn bolted

“Is this true bartender” the Captain questioned?

“I just want them out of here Captain Larris” said the bartender with his head looking down.

“WHAT?” Dawn bolted louder

Interrupting her Cloud grabbed Dawns hand and looked at the Captain

“If you want us to go we’ll go Captain”

“I think for your sakes that would be a wise move” commented the Captain as he motioned for his men to part the entrance way; nodding his head Cloud led the three out of The Tap and back to where they were planning to make camp for the night. As they left back on the town streets a group of people again placed stares to them; but this time Rain didn’t stay silent,

“My god what’s with you people, I’m a Drow” Rain said gripping his hair and pulling it out and tight “See the white hair, am I that shocking to you or something”

“Brother enough!” Cloud barks at him, Rain halts his actions and letting go of his hair walked fast to keep again in pace with Cloud and his sister.

“Rain I don’t want to draw attention to us” Cloud sighed

“It’s too late for that Cloud” Rain said back “Without saying anything would we have gotten just as much” and halting his words did a woman pass them wearing a busty corset and leggings in black “Nasty!” Rain blurted having the woman toss a look back at him knowing the comment was for her “At least you can tell it’s a human town, look at that whore” Rain rudely blurted out gesturing a tongue gag.

“Rain not all women dress like whores, and some are quite pleasant, of coarse you’ll never know, you won’t give a single female a chance” Dawn argues as they leave the town borders tossing a half wave to the guard patrol.

“They are bloody distracting to groups like us trying to survive in this world Dawn, plus they are just plain ugly”

“Ugly!” Dawn bolts

“Human’s Dawn I meant human girls”

“I find some human males quite dashing” She smirks having seen a few,

“The male’s have half a chance they at least can stand for something”

“But the women can’t is that right Rain”

“Only are needed for one thing which is why there’s so many of them around” Rain said with Dawn giving him a look.

“You’re telling me that love making is something you’d never want to experience?” Dawn asks him

“It’s something I can live without sister, there are more important things in life to devote time too” and holding a look of uncertainty to her brother’s bleak future did she then smirk.

“All the same it’s probably better this way for you with your books and scrolls; if a woman came to you you’d probably not know what to do anyway” she giggled with Cloud joining in, Rain gave them both a look,

“I could do the task just fine Dawn, it’s not like I have had all the extensive experience you possess” Rain said with Cloud glaring at him and Dawn baffled at the insult.

“I have never been with a male as your saying I have Rain, so you think I’m a whore too is that it?” she blasts at him harshly

“Dawn your not an ill looking girl you have turned quite the number of heads in our clan” Cloud said with a grin, she looked at both and stopped her tracks.

“Girl here brother’s I’m a girl of sixteen years! Not some women horny in my prime, just because Shasha screwed that young tower watcher and got pregnant doesn’t mean all of us go by the rule…how dare you say that about me” Dawn huffed

“Dawn I meant nothing to that end about you, you know that” Cloud said to her and looking to Rain he just shrugged.

“Hey you know me, I’m blunt and speak my mind, tell me off and think what you want, that’s what everyone else does”. Dawn said nothing to him and finally reaching the site of their camp out, they got the gear ready for the night.

“I can’t believe they kicked us out, we didn’t do anything no human would have done” complained Dawn as she undid her bedroll. Looking to her Cloud spoke up

“You know Dawn maybe just till were clear of this town you should change clothes”

“I don’t have any other clothes Cloud, what you thought I brought a bag of them or something, I’m not a lady of a royal court” she huffed out

“Hey easy don’t get mad at me, then just do up your vest to the top collar, to maybe avoid…starring” Cloud ended embarrassed a bit.

“It is done up to the top button, It’s not my fault there big” Dawn said annoyed slightly

“This treatment we’re getting is stupid Cloud we shouldn’t have to be ashamed of what we are” Dawn said to him getting into bed.

“We are drow so you’d better get use to this treatment; at least for like a hundred years or so until we can prove we are not of the same blood as the rest of our race” said Cloud

“Then we should show them we are different” Dawn said

“How” Rain inquired

“We’ll help them with this problem they have” she explained

“Fixing humans that’s a huge undertaking even elves can’t handle” Cloud laughed

“Not that, the money going to the temple; I bet anything the Captain is in on it; the way that everyone was looking at him how could he not.” speculated Dawn

“That’s their problem why should we worry about it” Rain added

“Because that is not what a church should represent” Dawn sternly said

“It doesn’t matter, we’re here to hide out and save our own asses, who gives a shit about their problem especially when it doesn’t pertain to us anyway” Rain argued

“Spoken like a true DROW” Dawn frowned

“You know we could have left your ass in the hands of that drunk you little-“

“Hey! (Starring at Rain), never would we have done that” interrupted Cloud

Moving over by Cloud Dawn grabs his hand “Cloud, I know we have to hide and be careful who we trust but the only way we can earn trust is to first give a little; and look they don’t look like they’re followers of Colossus, but they do look scared and I want a chance to change that for them; I don’t want to help every village we come to but if we are in a clan that is trying to prove that we are different to the Drow, we have to start somewhere so let it be here….for me. Please” Dawn ended

“Alright” Cloud winced “But the moment and I mean moment we are going nowhere here with this we pull out agreed”

“Agreed” Dawn said excitedly, Cloud and she then looked over to Rain

“Agreed Rain, common we all need to agree if we’re to do this” pledged Cloud

“This is so pointless” Rain said quietly to himself

“What was that” Cloud Asked?

“I said fine!” Rain loudly preached

“Ok then, first light after breakfast we’ll look for the source of this despair and remember; they already don’t care for us being here so be cautious and covert” Cloud stated and giving him a smile did she kiss his cheek, Dawn went by Rain and looked at him.

“Thank you brother” she said leaning to him and pecking his forehead with her lips, Rain watched her as she retired to her beadroll and then gave a cold look to his brother.

“She’s right you know Rain” Cloud said reading through his look

“Do we need to do this act so early in our trek” Rain whined and getting up from his seat he only said good night to his brother signaling the end of what Cloud knew could be an all night dispute.

The next morning they head up to the temple with Cloud in the lead and their sister in the middle, Rain followed the rear. Single file, they walk up the old short flight of steps leading up to a pair of moss covered wooden doors. The right-hand door stands open. Many cracks and pockmarks scar the stone steps, but they otherwise seem solid. Stone balustrades about three feet high, just as weathered as the steps themselves flank the staircase. Two armed and armored humans and a deck with flowers stand rigidly before the doorway. The three bow before the guards to be allowed passage in to the temple, the home of the great Couatl the savoir of the village. The scent of flowers perfumes the air in this lofty but somewhat dank chamber. The scent seems to come from dozens or perhaps hundreds of flowery bouquets heaped on a massive central altar, which resembles a low ziggurat with three tiers, each perhaps ten feet high. The altar and the double rows of moss-covered wooden pews flanking it fill the chamber’s center. A steep flight of stairs runs up one side of the ziggurat.

The many gaps in the high, vaulted ceiling leave the chamber open to the elements. Random shafts of sunlight create a dappled effect on the walls and floor, a magnificent feathered serpent lies coiled among the flowers atop the altar, gazing out over the chamber with a glare of utter self-assurance. Its feathers look particularly dazzling where the light strikes them.

Looking around the temple for signs of something wrong the state of the place is already a concern for Dawn; she continues to look around by the serpent altar and just glancing up to view the creature again the light hits it in a way that discolors the scale on the Couatl to a dark blue, gasping and looking down again she quickly moves to find her brothers wishing to leave.

Descending the stairs at a quick pace she tells Cloud and Rain what she saw; Rain still tailing the rear stops sharp and looks to the trees, “Rain what it is?” Cloud asks and starring just in to deep bush Rain shakes his head “Nothing, I just thought I saw something”

“Well we’re should we look first” Cloud said looking at Dawn and giving him a look of uncertainty of what to do Rain suddenly spoke up “Lets head there” he said point to the guard house down the street and keeping their cloaks up they walk through the town to the guard house. This fortified log house is three stories high and has a roof of sawed planks. It is off limits to the public, but anyone is free to come here and ask for help. They move up to it and ask to speak with the Captain, Larris shows his face and they engage in conversation about all the gold going to the temple and the prices being so high; after about half an hour of bickering the conversation has gone nowhere. The Captain reveals nothing to help their cause and they are forced to back away and leave by sword point. Cloud about to draw his, stopped by his brother.

“Don’t, Cloud I’m sure there are other places to look” (gesturing his head to go around the building) and following Rain’s lead they leave to go around the corner. “Ok Rain what’s up?” Cloud asks

“Those soldiers as well as the Captain look almost like they’re defending the thing, but before we can do or prove anything we need to find out what this thing is and how long it’s been here”

Smiling a little grin Dawn perked up “What’s with the change of vision brother?”

“Lets just call it intuitional exercise and I like to keep my mind fit,” replied Rain

“So where to” Dawn asks

“The town records” says Rain and looking for a while they are guided from common folk to a building beside an old ruined church.

Searching for a couple of hours through references and records Rain finally finds something that peaks his interest.

“It says here that the Couatl has been a savoir for this town for over two hundred years and has guided and assisted the church in town with curing fatal drinking water and doing blessings at services for the priest, Reverend Talus; and according to these records Talus died six months ago in a fire that destroyed the church”

“So what’s so great about that” asked Cloud

“Think about it, you’ve got this creature that loves religion and good deeds that sticks around for two-hundred years to assist the people of this town and when the church goes up in flames he is completely alright with what has happened, it doesn’t even leave, in fact moves to a temple located outside the town and using the guards as his muscle has all the wealth of the city brought to him” Rain explained, Dawn comes up beside them with some other papers in her hands and throws them in front of her brothers.

“Their was a Captain before this guy Larris that was in charge of the town but he and a inspector were killed by get this, a bear mauling out side of town; they were investigating the church burning and were killed by these animals two weeks into the investigation” Dawn included

Finding papers to a report from another book Rain grabs it to read the location of where this happened.

“That’s all very good speculation and interesting arguments but we need hard hand proof if we are going to crack this for the inspector,” said Cloud

“I know, I know” added Rain and leaning up against the edge of a book shelf starring out the window he noticed a graveyard behind the guard house located down a hill a little ways. Rain sees there are four rows and five graves in each row; closing his eyes Rain leans his head toward the roof and opens them again taking a second look to the papers to reveal the numbers of the location of the reports to the investigation row four, section four. Getting a brain storm Rain bolts closer to the window to make out the name of the grave in that spot. Rain then smiles.

“Cloud, Dawn if you wanted to keep something hidden and I mean from everyone, where would you hide it”

“I don’t know in a vault I guess,” replied Cloud

“A tomb or sealed chamber” added Dawn

“How about a grave” Rain suggested and brings the two over to the window, Rain points to the graveyard explaining how he linked the row and section numbers to the grave sites.

“And guess who’s name is on that grave; Reverend Talus” Rain boasted

“That’s brilliant” added Dawn.

“I know” added Rain

“Well we can’t go there now we will have to wait for dark” insisted Cloud

“Well I want to go check out that church anyway” said Dawn

“And I want to check the location that the Captain and inspector died at” Cloud added

“Rain I want you to go with Dawn and we’ll meet back at the camp before we make another move agreed”. They nod their heads and part ways wishing each other good luck and split off. Skewering around the burnt rubble of the church Dawn and Rain looked around, “What did you inspect to find here sis?” Rain asked

“I don’t know but I didn’t want to leave this place unchecked,” replied Dawn

Moving to the front both of them poke around a little more until Rain finds a door and attempting a couple times Rain releases its hold to the ground and peers inside. ”I’m going to take a look in here ok Dawn” Rain states as he moves inside; minutes go by and Dawn walking up and down the front of the church alter is startled by a voice behind her.

“What are you doing in hear?” the voice said, turning around Dawn focused on little common girl. Dawn recognizes her from the tavern The Tap, “I was just looking around” Dawn said “Hey you’re the girl that served us at the tavern yesterday, what are you doing hear”

“I was just coming here to pay my respects to the priest who lived here,” She said stuttering

“You do know that he died six months ago right” Dawn inquired

“Yes I do, I used to be a student practicing under him to learn the trade.”

“So why would a student that knew he died six months ago, be paying her respects, unless you were watching us and that was the best excuse you had come up with” Dawn questioned and franticly not having anything else to say the girl turned to leave.

“Wait!” Dawn shouted “Sorry I didn’t mean to accuse, but please wait; umm my brothers and I are here just passing through, but when we noticed something was wrong just by all of your peoples actions here, we took it upon ourselves to figure out why”

Calming her down and getting her to sit for a minute Dawn learned that the girl was the daughter of the inspector that was killed here, and was only trying to save the money to get out of here, looking around she felt uncomfortable eyes watching her and scared she ran out. Moments later Rain emerged from the other room.

“Who was that I heard?” said Rain

“That was the serving girl from the tavern last night and she is actually the daughter of the inspector,” Dawn whispered

“Well I found nothing in there” he whispered back “And why are we whispering”

“She said that she thought she heard someone watching us” explained Dawn

“Common lets meet up with Cloud back at the camp”

Going back to the camp Rain and Dawn are surprised to see Cloud already there and was carrying something in his hands as well as a worried look on his face.

“Did you find anything?” asked Cloud

“No, how about you” replied Rain

“Yeah actually but I hope that I’m wrong, when I went there I saw the huge imprint of something long and scaly that has been laying there for some time; and looking around I found these” Cloud stated as he throws three scales toward Rain. Catching and examining them quickly Rain concludes “There from the Couatl at the temple”

“No I don’t think so; I think it was murdered by whatever is in the temple now playing the part of the Couatl” Explained Cloud

“And it has all the town guards under its control getting the gold from the town and bringing it to itself” added Dawn “But what is it” she added again

“I think the answers we seek are in the grave of the priests” Rain said

“Well lets gets some rest before we go grave digging, it could be an all night escapade” Cloud ordered and they settle down for a quick nap before sunset.

Dusk approaches and they arise like vampires to head to the graveyard to confirm their final suspicions about the town. Heading down did they feel an uneasy feeling like they’re being watched and reaching the graveyard they look toward the section Rain told them. The last three graves in the row had been recently buried by the grave of the Reverend, looking like it they been bothered after buried the first time.

“Looks like your guess was right so far Rain” his brother commented

“So far” Rain said back moving to the shack built to hold supplies for digging in this area. Rain comes back with a shovel and starts digging with his brother standing guard, looking around sporadically Dawn questions.

“You don’t suppose there’s anything creepy crawly living here huh”

“Probably just the usual you know, rats, bats and spiders” said Cloud watching his sister jump on top of a gravestone to look on the ground “SPIDERS” she snaps, and stopping his digging Rain looks up “My god you can’t tell me you are afraid of spiders” and Dawn shakes her head vertically “DAWN, You’re drow you practically have the blood of a spider running through you”

“I don’t worship Loth remember, and besides who would want them as allies anyway they have eight legs, like a hundred eyes and they’re just gross looking eewww” and she starts quickly wiping herself as if they were all over her.

Starting again on the digging Rain continued until he heard a thud coming from his digging spot.

“I found something,” Rain said as he threw the shovel aside and was assisted by Cloud to bring up the coffin; lifting the lid off the coffin, they see letters and reports in the inspector’s handwriting.

“JACKPOT” Rain said excitedly and spending an hour roughly on the material Rain stumbles upon something.

“It’s a Naga, a spirit Naga, the creature in the temple” Rain explains

“How do you know that?” Cloud asks

“In this journal entry he states that he sees the creature in its full form at night counting the gold from the chests he received; and that’s not all, the new Captain that took the post wasn’t even ever a member of the town, he was a wood strider, a Ranger of the woods” Rain Exploits

“So all we need to do is take out the Naga and the charm hold it has over the guards should be broken,” says Dawn

“But what about that ranger I bet he has been behind the church burning as well as the murders of the other Captain and the inspector; and he has probably been having his eyes on us ever since we got here “Rain inquired

“We can probably be guaranteed to see him before we get to the temple so keep your guard up “Cloud cautioned

Getting ready to leave the graveyard does the ground suddenly shake with tremor like vibrations having the three fall to the ground, and as fast as they came the tremors stop “What the hell was that” cried Cloud and seeing movement under ground followed by the hand of a skeleton reaching from inside his grave Rain blurts out “The sound of undead coming to life”

Reaching to the upper ground did the skinless corpses uncover the dirt to a standing pose and seeing a total of nine holding a circle around the three Cloud drew his blade followed by Rain, the boys stayed a tight unit with Dawn between them and engaged as they advanced, the undead moved slow but with amplified strength knocking down the shifting three to the ground when they attempted a block. Seeing a crushing blow coming to his shoulder Cloud shifts his body to have the bone fist miss but getting into the path of another he braced for impact when the fist came to a halt, Cloud opened his bracing eyes to see a vine attached to the limb of the skeleton’s driving arm, and swinging to dismantle it of it’s stable structure, he looked to why it happened and in the shadows of the outlined woods stood a cloaked figure.

“A druid” Cloud said to himself “Rain we have help” Cloud said looking to him but turning back Cloud noticed the figure had gone, vanished without a trace.

The vines attached suddenly to the rest providing grief to the undead and not waiting for a reason Dawn, Rain and Cloud dispatch the skeletons quickly, Rain from his side sights a figure up on the hill adjacent to the cemetery lining up an arrow shot; seeing the target he yells out

“Dawn Duck!”

Dawn not hearing Rain turns to him to see if he’ll say it again and sees the arrow in flight toward her, she grips her spear and swings to hit it away; seeing she missed and hearing the cry of a deep voice in pain she looks back to see Rain with the arrow in front of her head but through his hand and bleeding bad. Rain yells to Cloud “Cloud its Larris, he’s heading for the temple” and Cloud like a deer pounces through the trees after him.

“We need to catch up to him he’ll need help” Says Rain watching his sister put her hands on top of his, pulls out the arrow and with a faint white glow stops the bleeding.

“Thanks Dawn” Rain said grateful

“Right back at yea” she replied smiling “Can you still fight?”

“The magic I use only needs to come from one hand so I can still due some damage” they turn to go catch up with their brother only to find the entrance to the graveyard filled with six armed guards not allowing them to pass.

“We don’t need to kill them” Rain said quietly and with that advice Dawn lowers her head and chants some words, the first three guards advance to attack them but stop and drop their swords from the heating feeling of their hilts. Rain quickly jumping on the actions of his sister, casts a sleep spell which puts the armed and unarmed guards all out of commission. They fall into a deep slumber and Dawn and Rain then go on to meet up with Cloud. Lurking in the shadows of a nearby building, watching them is a figure who witnesses the events taking place and keeps pace to follow them. They join up with Cloud a few moments later to see him and Larris facing off with swords touching each other tips.

“Give it up Larris, no cavalry is coming to help you” Rain says with a grin “it’s their nap time now” Rain adds

“It’s no use Rain the Spirit Naga’s mind holds on him is too strong” bolted Cloud and starting to laugh Larris speaks up “You idiots! You think I’m under her power of mind manipulation; Well I’m not I do what I do willingly”

“Why, why kill the Couatl and the rest of them, to what end” Questions Dawn

“Simple, Money” Larris states “Do you know how much those scales sell for around here LOTS!; But I knew that the town would grow with suspicion if their savoir suddenly went missing so I found a Spirit Naga that was willing to take it’s place. Of coarse it had a plan too that got me even more rich so I went along with it but to do that one we needed to eliminate some key players from the town; and finally when I killed the Captain I assumed his post to prevent any further interruptions” Larris concluded

“You greedy disgusting son of a bitch, you killed the Couatl, the savior and symbol of peace and serenity for this town for MONEY!” yelled Dawn furious with anger.

“And I would have done better than this if you Drow would have just left liked you said and we can’t have you foiling up our plans anymore, SCARLET! We have some uninvited guests” Larris executed, and started to combat with Cloud.

“Go in to the temple and stop that thing” said Cloud dodging Larris’s attacks, bolting Rain and Dawn head in the temple.

Going inside the two saw nothing at the alter, “She’s here somewhere, oh and before anything happens she’s also a –”and before he could finish Rain was interrupted by lightning hitting a pew in front of them. Quickly grabbing his sister and hiding behind a pillar support structure he finishes “A Mage” Rain cries “Oh great” says Dawn grabbing her spear “Now what”

“We’ll flank her from two spots, you go left and I’ll go right” Rain ordered and getting up and moving they heard a voice

“You would attack your savoir!” the Naga bolted

“Your not even close you scaly little parasite” Dawn yelled and attacked, coming up from the shadows of the trees toward the temple hearing the commotion inside and out from battle the cloaked figure goes running up the stairs and enters the doors of the temple just to witness Rain getting hit in the torso from a tall swing and thrown into and through a pew. Dawn yelled out to him and ran over to assist but when she did she too was hit from the entrance of the door landing to the alter at the front of the main chamber. Looking franticly for her weapon Dawn finds it behind the creature at the entrance of the doorway, sitting up from the blow she took Dawn wipes the blood running from the corner of her mouth and slowly backs up like a injured animal. Looking over to see Rain knockout she closes her eyes to say a spell and is struck in the leg from the knife cutting edge of the Naga’s tail, screaming in pain and closing her eyes to not see the finale done to her, she hears an impact of something flying through the air and feels the dripping of blood from the Naga’s mouth coming from the point of her own spear that entered the back of the Naga’s head. Seeing it fall Dawn rolled to the left to dodge out of the way of its falling death. Looking up to see what caused the miracle, Dawn sees the tavern girl standing their and they smile at each other, their moment was quickly interrupted by a sharp cut of the back of the tavern girl’s leg from Larris’s blade who glanced over to witness the death of the Naga. Turning back to fight Cloud his gut was met by Cloud’s sword and imbedded deep into his chest, Larris falls to the ground and keeling over does Cloud whisper in his ear “And she is going to live knowing that your greed of pain ends here” Cloud pulls his blade out of Larris and goes to tend to the girls.

A day passes…The tavern girl along with key members to the community were standing at the edge of town to wish the new saviors of the town good travels. Kate the tavern girl told the townsfolk everything that had transpired.

“Thanks for all that you have done, your services will not be forgotten here today nor any other” said the town Mayor with praise

“I only wish we could replace what you have lost” Dawn said with a sigh,

“But you have by saving our young Kate who has now agreed to take the post of the late Reverend”

Smiling at her Dawn gazed with a sight of confidence “I know she will do well” Dawn added

“Thanks to you three” Kate said back

“Time to go” Rain said in the background and waving to their disappearing departure the town sees to the three until out of sight.