Clouds cover the sky and rain pours upon the city, but as the storm rages to the Silverspire streets does another one come down the hallway of the guardhouse where the newly formed elite group dwells. Nestled to his chair Cloud listens as Elanee and Rain bicker on there return from a joint ventured assignment.

“This was your fault” says Elanee shaking her head of the pouring rain as she enters through the doorway, “It was not” Rain lashes lifting off his dripping hood

“Yes it was” Elanee bolted sternly firing around her wet hair glaring at him

“Elanee he wasn’t going to talk anyway,” Rain said getting to her face draining his cloak of the rainwater

“That’s why I have my power,” Elanee argued back

“Of what Incompetence!!!” snapped Rain

“My mind powers you dolt,” Elanee barked back holding a stare at him

“He would have fabricated something to throw you off the trail of the weapons cash” Rain combated, “Well now he’s dead thanks to you, and we’re now no further ahead in finding anything are we? And that’s not how my powers work; they read real thoughts not fake ones”

“Then why don’t you read mine right now” Rain hissed getting to her face and by passed her to get to his room, “I’d rather not” Elanee said in trial of him. Approaching Rain’s room, Rain opens his door watching Elanee walk passed, about to shut it closed Rain pokes his head out again, “Oh and before I forget, scout Mazy was saying earlier that he was having some trouble sleeping, why don’t you use your…other talents, and relax him”

Firing her head around she snaps back at him with a heated glare “You are the most irritating, insulting, self-deluded Drow I have ever met!” and again walks away with almost visual sizzling from her anger, “You forgot intelligent” Rain muffles through the door as it shut, shrugging it off and ignoring his rude comment Elanee went into the room where Cloud was sharpening his sword blade.

A cozy fireplace made of cold grey stone complimented the room which was his quarters now. Elanee came in and sat to an opposing chair across from his own staring at him.

“Something wrong Elanee?” Cloud asked

“You sure he’s your brother Cloud, he’s nothing like you your kind and caring, selfless and he’s so…”

“I know Elanee I heard you in the hall” responded Cloud with Elanee half embarrassed running down Cloud’s own blood.

“I’m sorry Cloud but really he won’t even give me a chance to repair our bad first impression, he has such an evil resentment for me I don’t know why”

Laughing a little Cloud stopped sharpening; setting his sword to the side of his chair Cloud looks to her “Elanee when our parents died sixteen years ago, it hurt us all pretty bad, but when Rain lost our mother it didn’t just kill him it killed his very spirit for loving life, for weeks after there death he spoke to absolutely no one not even us or uncle Straud, he had to be forced to eat food by Straud and to even get up and basically live.”

“What was he like before that?’ Elanee asked

“He was a boy who loved life more than the average Drow of our status, Rain spent every waking moment with our mother following completely in her footsteps of becoming a sorcerer, he was naturally good at it, hell he was great at it. Our mother was so impressed at the spells he could master at such a young age but it was his love for his life that gave him that power. When she left, he quit the spells and magic in protest for taking her away from him, for 3 years after that he never touch a book nor said a simple spell”

“What changed him to go back?” Elanee said completely engrossed with his story

“Shortly after the three years had passed Dawn was kidnapped by some orcs and was taken into a cave, we searched for day’s until we found it, Rain was already in there and when we went in side to get her out, all the orcs were dead; mutilated and slaughtered and to the middle of the pile of blood and bones stood my brother with a glowing hand. You see he had never used his magic to kill before and when that happened Rain ran out. When we got Dawn back home Rain was in tears at the house. He said that mom died and left only the evil demon that she was inside him and for months we had to reeducate him but in the end nothing worked, that is until he got the dream”

“The dream” Elanee inquired

“He got a vision of our mother in a dream and Rain said that she came to him to say that she was watching us, father and her; they said that they were so proud of what we had become, but she also came in that dream to reshow Rain what he had been missing in his life, his love for it and after that he came back to the brighter side of it, maybe not totally but closer than we got to see in a long, long time. So don’t feel that he hates you Elanee he hates everything this world stands for since he lost her, and everyday Dawn and I fight to show him that it can be different, that it can be what he loved about it again”

“Then I will do my best to show it to him too Cloud, and perhaps a little more humanity in the group is what he will need” She said hugging him

“I hate to break up to touching moment but the king wants to see us Cloud, the group (Rain air quotes) is getting there first mission” Rain says and then leaves the doorway

“How long have you been there Rain?” Cloud asked

“Just got here, don’t worry if you two want to be alone have no fear I just ate anyway and it would be a shame for it come back up so soon” Rain said leaving the door way

Cloud looking back at Elanee just smiled “Give him time he’ll come around” and they went to go see the king.

Back in the Lazarus tower Colossus waits impatiently for Sephinroth to return. She remerges through a wake of flame just to fall to her knees, Colossus looks upon her burnt scorched body that is still smoldering from her hair which looks roosted, frayed and sticking out every which way. Coughing as she climbs to her feet she dangles the second shard to his sight and sits to a chair at the table.

“What the hell happened to you?” Colossus asked

“Cloud giants…I was told that there would be Cloud giants!” she said sternly dropping the bag holding his item to her feet, she slowly dusted her hand of soot and flaking skin from her own hands to hold an evil glare to his face.

“Was I wrong?” he questioned to which she held a quick little chuckle, then leaning against the long table she plucked burnt hair strands from her head “What happened” he droned out in annoyance.

“Everything was going fine until the child saw me entering the garden way, naturally I killed it knowing it would alert the parents and then I prepped for combat, seconds after I engaged them, I noticed they didn’t hold skills used by Cloud giants, but power word spells and banishment attempts…skills like those are held by the giant folk titled Titan’s…Titan’s Colossus!” she heated out with striking sharpness.

“Is that what took you so long” Colossus question and holding no reply she only glares to him, as he came over to grab the bag she conjured up a bowl of water and dosing her blood coated hands and started to scrub them off.

“Ever fight off a family of god like guardians… (rolling her eyes) yes it took me all this time”

“Why is your hand so bloodied I thought you heal fast” He inquired

“I do but dried blood that is not mine takes some scrubbing to get off”

“Well why do you have titan’s blood on your hands and that far up your arms”

“It what was needed to be done to get you your toy…it was in the mother and when I say in I mean in!” Sephinroth emphasized

“Nasty!’ he replied

“Had to interrogate a singing harp to get that info, her singing still haunts my head” she continued “But on a plus side my horde is bigger”

“So how is living at that tower” he said

“Not bad except for a colony of man scorpions living near it which after killing a couple dozen soldiers are now keeping there distance” she smiled

“You know this took you longer than I expected it to, perhaps you’re losing your touch of locating items” Colossus questioned half igniting instigation.

“Well I’m sorry that I don’t visit the elemental plain of air very often and after getting these bolt burns all over my body from their lightning abilities I’m thinking of keeping it off my vacation list for awhile; and speaking of items taking a while getting to me where is my eggs” Sephinroth asked getting up and giving Colossus a scowl with her arms folded. Just then a Zealot opened the double doors and informed Colossus that his visitor had arrived. “Right on time” said Colossus as he ordered the Zealot to bring him in.

“Who’s your visitor?” Sephinroth asked and looking to the open door Sephinroth sees a man in a full suit of armor draped housing a black cape with a wolf head engraved in a blood red color upon it. He had smoked blue wavy hair parted down one side of his head and a spiral of patters painted on his face with the same blue color as his hair. He was very muscular from what Sephinroth could tell and had twin swords sheathed on his back as well as two more sheathed on his sides. Walking up to Colossus and past Sephinroth he quickly looked toward her and back saying “I thought you said she was beautiful, looks like a harpy to me”

“I’m just having a rough day, but even so another one of those comments at me…being tired do I still have enough testosterone left in me to take you out…Logan Silias” snapped Sephinroth in no mood for jokes at the time.

“I thought women had estrogen in them, or is their something your not telling us” the man laughed

“I am a woman but the man in me is probably more than you’ll ever have” Sephinroth barked

“You know sarcasm is the recourse of a weak mind Sephinroth” he smirked

“At least I didn’t die at the hands of someone who simply promised you a good time Logan” she smiled

“I was left to die by that insolent Drow Straud after promising to help him clear out the nest of vampires which by the way is the reason that I’m doing this, him moving around has made it very difficult to track down so that I may reap my revenge” Logan stated raising his voice.

“Calm down both of you” Colossus shouted “Logan do you have what I asked for”

“Yes although I lost five men getting this because of her defenses on the mouth of her cave” Logan added

“Then bite some more mortals to replenish your supply, quite complaining and give it to Sephinroth, it’s for her” Colossus commanded and reluctantly Logan nodded to his two men to place the liquid metal looking eggs over by Sephinroth, grabbing one from the henchmen’s hand and having the other placed beside her she stroked the egg’s smooth surface saying “Finally!”.

“Now I need you two to work together for the next shard piece” Colossus stated

“I was doing fine and don’t need no help” She snapped

“The next realm is the water elemental plain, your weakness for cold might take you longer than usual so I want Logan to accompany you” Colossus explained

“Fine” Sephinroth bolted

“I do this but I better get my shot at revenge Colossus or I’m warning you-”

“Calm down you’ll get it I give you my word as a bonding pledge, and it would be foolish to break it before your done helping me agreed” Colossus said

“Now go while I meet with Drakon apparently there is some disturbance in the city of Silverspire that requires my attention” Colossus continued

“Silverspire; I have a guild there that would of told me of anything going on and I haven’t heard anything” Logan stated

“Then I shall keep you apprized to the situation” Colossus concluded and shimmered away

“Apparently ‘I’m not the only one who might have lost their grip on the world” Sephinroth said smiling while leaving to her tower in a wake of flames.

Calling over his guards Logan ordered them to find out what is going on in the city and let him know as he and them exit the room of the chamber.

The King’s court filled with the members of the newly formed group as they were giving an assignment to check up on the town of Phalanx, a small peaceful population of all humans which has not reported in for some time and neither has the scout that the King sent away to check on it. Gathering their things they set off on horses to the town about a day away. After a while Elanee starts to grumble about losing the assassin to Rain’s killer spell and how they should precede.

“Why don’t we send you in under cover Elanee, I’m sure after a day with you they’ll come screaming to the king of all there wrong doing’s” Rain snickered

“Well it would be better than you going in there, in mere minutes they would be slitting their own throats with your words of how life sucks” she barks back, “At least mine gets us the weapons cache” she prompts

“Would you get off it…?” Rain starts and growing louder and louder during the trip Elanee and Rain snap word’s at each other.

“Enough!” shouts Dawn quieting them both down “God you two really, your like a couple of young knights trying to impress a maiden and arguing over who’s man hood is bigger or something” Dawn says shutting the two up having them for a time only holding glares at each other with words coming to their minds that would send a priest to suicide. They carry on a little longer until Elanee breaks an awkward silence.

“Who is Colossus?” She asked

“An evil being among other things” added Dawn

“He is a creature of great and terrible power” Said Cloud not looking directly at her

“Can he be killed or stopped?” she asked

“Not that we know of yet” Cloud continued

“Well how did he come to be; what is he exactly?” Elanee pride on

“Why do you even care, he doesn’t concern you!” Rain bolted

“Rain its ok; from what we know through what our uncle tells us he is a very powerful mage in the body of a Minatare” Cloud said

“What does he look like” She inquired

“He’s about eight feet tall, black horns with demon eyes, a physical build that could match a titan and has the intellect of a phoenix” Cloud stated

“Pretty descriptive” Elanee said

“I’ll never forget what he looked like” replied Cloud as he closed his eyes, opening them again when suddenly his blade started to glow deep green.

“Cloud your blade,” said Rain looking down at it; Cloud stopped his horse suddenly and dismounted. He started to walk around a bit like he was lost.

“Cloud what are you doing?” Rain asked him

“Remember that prayer I said last night, well it was to detect something” said Cloud to which Rain nodded silently

“Like what” said Dawn

Quickly reaching in some bushes by the trail Cloud brings out his hand holding on to a cloaked figure, raising it into the air in the middle of the trail with his sword blade at its throat.

“Like woodland beings that have been following us for a while and since that druids are part of that group, they would make my sword shine the brightest,” Cloud said still holding her.

“Cloud what the hell are you doing they are good put her down” Dawn bolted getting off her horse

“Stay up there Dawn, these mages wouldn’t harm a woodland creature even to get at you and since horses fall under that category your safe on the back of it. Watching it struggle to get a breath of air squirming to be free of Clouds tight grip she speaks.

“I...I been helping you since you left your camp (Gasping for another breath) before you reached the town and city” the druid gasped again

“Well no longer (throwing it to the ground but still holding the blade at it) you listen to me we don’t need you’re….” And stopping to look at her frightened half covered face he sees an item he has not seen in years, a small gold bracelet dangles from her delicate wrist and Cloud has a flash back of the girl he saw the day his parents died.

“You…you’re the girl…the girl from my town?” Cloud asked with a half confused look on her face and getting to her feet standing four inches taller then Cloud she pulls down the hood of her earth colored cloak to reveal a girl roughly the same age as Cloud. With long Brown hair tied in a pony tail excepted for two strands of hair running parallel down each side of her face in a half moon shape curve, she had dark brown eyes with shimmering bronze flakes as well as a dainty nose and lips. Carrying elvish styled ears she had a natural sparkle upon her face and body skin that resembled moonlight hitting the calm surface of water at night. She had a scent of fresh roses coursing her toned trimmed bodily curves and wore a full leather armored garment that covered her heavily overdeveloped breasts.

Nodding her head, she said “Yes Cloud it’s me, the girl you saved back in the village where you grew up”

“No, that’s not possible she was Drow” Cloud protested

“Your right, I was at that point in time, but it was a spell covering my natural looks so I could blend in with the rest, my name is Alisianna…Alisianna Goldmoon,” she announced with introduction.

“I don’t understand” Cloud said lowering his blade finally

“My father was Drow but my mother (Turning her back to him) was a nymph,” she said

“Oh what a load of horseshit, that kind of relationship can’t exist,” snapped Rain shaking his head

“You along with me know that type of relationship is possible Rain or do you forget the races of mom and dad!” Cloud barked at him, and whipping the smirk from his face Rain became very silent. “Go on Alisianna” Cloud motioned to her.

“Well my father knew that the Matriarch would never condone such a union so they lived and loved one another in secret until one day he was followed and found out, they….. (starting to cry) they hung her body from the temple making my father and I watch, they allowed him to continue living but he had others that knew about the union and were still loyal to him, one was Duncan. Duncan was told by my father that if he were to die to take me to the home of my mother and be raised out there”

“What happened to your brother Aries?”

“Half brother and full Drow, Aries is a Captain in the loyal army now, and got the position for killing Duncan after Duncan brought me to the Mere to learn the druid ways, my brother is pure evil now, all the good in him from my fathers teachings is gone” she sobbed

“I’m so sorry Alisianna” sympathized Dawn

“So what brings you to stalking us” questioned Rain

“I was told by the elders of the mere to watch over you and protect you through the forests until you reach the mountains” She explained

“Wait how do you know of what were doing?” asked Cloud

“Lord Straud sends his regards to you” she said smiling “His group went through our Mere a few months ago and wanted us to keep an eye on you three until your reunion” and smiling with gratitude they all got a warm feeling just knowing that he was still alive.

“So what are you guys doing out here?” Alisianna asked

“We’re going to check on the town of Phalanx, they haven’t been giving the city a progress report for some time” Cloud stated

With a grim look on Alisianna’s face Rain asked

“What’s wrong druid?” inquired Rain with annoyance

“It’s the town” she replied, “it’s been deserted for a couple days now and no one knows why”

“Then maybe we can help figure it out” said Cloud and with agreement they followed the druid to the edge of the town to see a misty haze covering the ground and the smell of ash and rotting flesh filling the breathable air. “What the hell happened here?” Elanee spoke out.

“The druid scouting this land found it like this only two days ago and it was normal before that” Alise explained and dismounting off his horse with Rain following the action Cloud searched the ground and entered the town holding his horse by the reigns. They move a bit passed a couple building which looked like homesteads.

“Looks like everyone just got up and left” said Cloud

“Uh not everyone” replied Rain pointing to some grey-fleshed humanoids that were hairless with an elongated skull along with a nose less face and white empty eyes. Letting go of there horses Rain and Cloud take a defensive stance which was joined by Alisianna holding a bow that was familiar to Cloud as well. They engaged the creatures in battle and slicing one across the torso and turning to stab another in the head Rain backs up from the two and lobs a fireball between them, burning them to bubbling grey ooze.

“Well they can be killed” Rain said. Having Cloud strike on contact, his sword glows a white color followed by a ghostly blast that run through the creature’s body killing it. Cloud turns to Dawn on her horse “They’re undead “Cloud added and hearing the comment Dawn lifts her hand saying a word that causes yet another of the creatures to implode on itself, smiling she looks at Elanee who gave Dawn a confused look

“I can turn the undead being a priest but if I concentrate hard enough I can kill them one at a time” Dawn explains, having Dawn and Elanee stay on their horses Rain, Cloud and Alisianna fight another six creatures off to notice twelve more coming out of buildings and around corners of the town to their location.

“There is too many of them” said Cloud pulling up his green blooded sword out of a creature; backing up to the horses Cloud looks up at the sky.

“Too bad we don’t have some sunlight it normally hurts creatures of the undead pretty well” he ends and swinging her head around to him Alisianna smirks, “Well why didn’t you say so” as her eyes start glowing a hazel color with vines coming from the ground anchoring themselves to the feet of the creatures, following does she part the cloud in the sky having an intense beam of sunlight strike upon the creatures burning them all to an oozing goop on the ground.

“Now that’s sunburn” said Rain looking over at the druid “Impressive” Cloud replies

“Thanks” Alisianna responded shifting her eyes again to normal.

“We should continue looking for why this has happened” replied Cloud

“Lets try the town scholar he would have the info we seek but they are generally located in the middle of town” responded Rain with a bad look on his face

“Of coarse it would be” Cloud said sarcastically and sheathing his sword they walk their horses to the middle of town.

Reaching the building without incident the group looks in the town’s library for any key as to why this has happened. While in the middle of that, a crash heard from the next room and running in there, first Cloud fends off the creature’s unwelcome presence finally staring at the creature face to face Cloud lends his sword in to him killing it. Relieved everyone lowers their weapons except Cloud.

“You all right Cloud?” Rain asked and watching him turn around with a lifeless look on his face his falls dead weighted to the floor, Rain looks to Cloud’s eyes that were turning bleach white. Running up beside him, Dawn and Alisianna check Cloud’s body for wounds, finding none.

“He’s dead!” Dawn said shaking while coming to a stand backing away.

“I don’t think so Dawn just calm down if he has no markings of wounds then it must be some unnatural catatonic state” Rain said baring some worry and uncertainty

“For what purpose” Dawn bolted

“Until he changes into one of them” Added Alisianna

“Makes sense on how they would reproduce themselves so quickly, it looks like no one did leave the town, they’re just those thingies” Rain concluded and nodding with agreeance they pull Cloud away from the window and into the next room. They spend the good portion of two hours combing through the journals and reports of what has transpired over the last two days, Rain was in a corner by himself when Elanee came over to check out the progress he was making.

“Any luck yet?” She asked him

“I’m pretty sure that he was a necromancer but didn’t tell anyone” Rain explained and having Elanee sit down by him she quickly giggled.

“Stuck with a comatose brother and three women as your only help it’s miracle you haven’t tried to kill your self yet”

“Believe me it’s taking so much mental power just to stay in this room” Rain spoke with a straight face, “You know it wouldn’t kill you to show a little emotion for you brother in the state he’s in; look at Dawn she is devastated over what has just happened” Elanee said staring at him; closing the book violently Rain looked at Elanee intensely.

“That is why I don’t show emotion; Dawn has enough to deal with right now and it falls to me to be strong for her to get through this, so if you’re done analyzing me I suggest you go find a book and help find a solution for the problem!” He said sternly

“I’m going to see the elders quickly and see if there is a way they can help” said Alisianna and she took off into the woods out back through the door with Rain cautioning her to be careful.

Waiting for hours to go by she finally returns baring news.

“Ok they’re called Bodaks, your right Rain they’re undead and are created by evil presence of death”

“Which means he must still be here, somewhere, (thinking for a minute Rain snaps his fingers) the town hall, it’s the most defensive building here probably”

“Well the elders said that reversing the spell by saying it backwards will bring the curse to a close but the people already Bodaks will die there are no saving them. Cloud was infected because they have a gaze attack which the one used on Cloud being so close while killing it” Alisianna explained, Rain gets to his feet “But we can save my brother though right?”

“YES; but there is one catch, to say the spell it has to come from someone with a fortified faith whatever that means”

“It means that Dawn will have to say it” Rain says walking to the door

“Where are you going?” Elanee asked

“I’m going to get his spell book, we need it” Rain said

“You can’t go alone Rain” Alisianna said

“I’ll go with you” piped up Elanee

“And what are you going to do?” Rain expressed with a sarcastic look

“I can fight Rain, just not very well but you or Alisianna should stay here with Dawn to give Cloud solid protection”.

“Well I can’t say that I can argue with that…….ok fine but stay close to me ok” and nodding her head they race off.

Sitting with Cloud for a while longer both start to notice that Cloud’s skin is turning more grayish with a transparent tinge.

“I hope they hurry up” Dawn tiredly says

“They will, I can see it in your brothers eyes he won’t fail you Dawn he’ll bring back your brother” Alisianna said smiling placing a damp cloth to Cloud’s forehead.

Two Bodaks fall dead victim to an arrow made of acid one in each of their heads, Rain picks himself up out of a pile of wooden rubble he was launched into by the sheer zombie strength of the Bodaks “That should be the last of the guards” said Rain dusting himself off

“Are you ok that was one hell of a hit you took” Elanee said worried

“I’m fine let’s just get that book” and entering the building they creped up to the second level to find the necromancer mixing a potion.

“Ok” Rain whispers “Lets be smart about this” and nodding her head she grabs Rain sword and walks out in to the open stating that he will pay for what he has done. Looking up startled the Necromancer lobs an energy bolt at her; Rain runs to grab Elanee dodging the bolt at her head and out of the way. Squeezing her up between the wall of the building and himself he bolts quickly “NOT THE PLAN I HAD IN MIND!”

“Trust me if I wanted to be this close to you I would’ve taken my clothes off” Elanee snapped

“That would only accomplish me running off the realms land mass” said Rain combating by tossing spells back at the mage, smashing the vials he had on the table.

“Well nothing else would have worked, he would have seen us anyway” she snapped again.

“Here keep my sword, I have an idea” Rain stated creating stone again upon his skin, Rain bolts towards the mage. Looking up shooting another bolt the necromancer strikes Rain’s center chest sending him toward a wall, the mage then walked over and grabbed Rain tossing him into and through the table he was working on. Rain staggering to his feet looked up only to see a force bolt spell drilling him again and Elanee covers her eyes at the sight of Rain being air born into the wall.

“Did you really think you would stop me” the mage snapped laughing watching Rain slam to the ground again from bouncing off the wall side. The Necromancer moved to grip Rain’s stone figure and with a strength power casted upon himself he raises Rain into the air, jolting Rain’s hanging body with lightning.

“You pathetic little Drow, once I lower your stone skin your life is over, this was pointless, your shitty attempt to end me was ill conceived” the Necromancer mono-logged to him. Rain looked with a hidden smile seeing Elanee behind the Necromancer tightening her small hands to Rain’s blade.

“First it wasn’t my shitty idea, and second I wasn’t the one that was going to end you…she is” Rain comments holding his focus while nodding to Elanee, the Necromancer spins around half seeing the nod of Rain’s head just as Elanee made her sword stab. She thrusts it into his stomach piercing through hitting Rain’s rocky gut; the mage fell dead against Rain’s body and asking her to pull out the blade did the mage slide dead to the floor.

“Oh my god I’m sorry” she said unstitching the blade from his rock like chest

“That’s ok I knew you wouldn’t hesitate to stab me a least once today” He said running over and grabbing the book.

“You know Rain it’s not like a hate you or anything but you piss me off sometimes with your arrogance” she barked

“I know that’s why I knew that this plan would work” he said leaving in front of her to the exit, and following him she rolled her eyes with frustration.

Getting back to the building Rain shows the others that he has the book he throws it toward them and getting it off the ground Dawn turns and is startled by Cloud getting up of the floor, about to hit her Cloud raises his grayish claw-like arm and is about to swing when Rain smashes into him from the side knocking them both on to the floor and turning around Rain bolts “Find the spell he’s starting to change!”

“He has some memory Rain try talking him back” Alisianna shouted

And being thrown in to a wall but still protected by the stone skin spell Rain gets up.

“Cloud listen to me this isn’t you, you have to fight this” dodging an attack he continues “Cloud I’m your brother were trying to help you….ahh!” Rain end while being pounded into the wall having debris flutter to the air, getting away from him and turning around behind him Rain looks at the girls “Have you found it yet?”

“Not yet” said Dawn

“Well take your time I’ve got all day, oh and I don’t think the talking thing is working very good”

“Just keep trying Rain” Alisianna insisted and looking back at Cloud whose eyes were now an empty white Rain is hit again and blown through a table. Dusting himself off he yells to Cloud “Cloud don’t do this you made an oath to our parents remember, (Cloud stops for a moment to listen) you made an oath to protect us ….Dawn and me from everything you could” standing still and going through a seizure state standing up right Cloud tries to fight the curse. He came out of it for a few seconds only to fall again back to it’s submission with gathering strength Cloud pummels Rain into the roof of the building with one blow flipping Rain in the air landing face first down on the floor dead weighted.

“He’s to far gone” Alisianna said

“Ah! I found it” Dawn said excitedly “Just a few more seconds Rain” Dawn asked and getting to his feet again coughing while whipping his mouth covered in blood he repeats “Take your time, I got all day” Rain lashed out with sarcasm but looking at his hand after whipping the blood reveled Rain going back to normal skin, he looks up at Cloud holding a worried look “Uh maybe not ladies” Rain said backing up slow to evade his brother. Getting knocked to the floor and pinned down by Cloud, Rain hears in the back ground Dawn chanting the spell “READ FAST SISTER!” Rains groans fighting off Cloud’s claws, Dawn finishes and is surprised to see no change in Cloud’s state.

“What happened?” Cried Rain still pinned fighting Cloud’s claws from reaching his face, “Nothing” said Dawn “He’s gone” she cried to a frozen gaze fixed to her brother’s

“No he would have died” Elanee added “Right”

“Right, something went wrong” Alisianna thought

“Well I’m so glade you have time to debate this….AHHHH! (closing his eyes) do something and do something fast his trying to gaze me”

The girls think for a second and Elanee gets an idea “Wait Fortified faith, means a priest with full trust” and looking with a confused look the two girls look at Elanee and not having time to explain Elanee grabs Dawn’s hand and starts channeling her power through her own body. Picking up the book Elanee tries the inscription herself and with a moment after the spell is cast Cloud returns to his form, but returns on top of Rain and naked. Dawn get to her feet followed by the other two girl who are engrossed by the sight of Cloud, gasping as well as closing her eyes Dawn lifts her hands to cover the eyes of Elanee and Alisianna and leads the girls out of the room. Smiling for a moment until realizing that he’s naked Rain scampers to his feet saying “Whoa man ...Damn why you naked…Ah don’t matter your back and that’s all that matters” taking of his cape and covering his brother’s body, Cloud hugs Rain saying thanks for everything he did and keeping Dawn’s hope in tacked, Cloud explains he could hear everything that was going on but couldn’t control anything that was happening. Finding his armor which they took off while treating him, Cloud redresses and goes out to see the girls holding a look as if to still imagine him with nothing on, all but his sister who seemed to be in a world of puzzlement.

“I don’t get it, why didn’t it work when I cast the spell?” Dawn questioned

“Because of what I did to John….uh guys could you give me a moment with Dawn” Rain, Elanee and Alisianna nodded and went off by themselves.

“I know what you did Cloud but that doesn’t mean I wanted you to die” Dawn said

“At one point in time you wanted it”

“Cloud that’s not fair, my mind was clearly on trying to get you back to life” she protested

“But your heart wasn’t, deep down you still blame me for what happened and that’s ok, you said it your self that it would take time” Cloud said coming close to her to hold her hand

“But I never wanted to kill you, I wanted to save you” Dawn sobbed

“I know Dawn, I just hope you will be able to forgive me” Cloud pleaded

“Today has shown me that I can’t hold a grudge for ever, but it also gave me the courage to say this, you protect us from everything Cloud including stuff you haven’t experienced yourself and you’re going to have to let us make some mistakes” Dawn said

“So I’m just supposed to let you fall and fail” Cloud sternly said

“In order for us to learn as well as you will, you have to trust us too Cloud like today” She said and taking a long pause he turned to her face again and smiled.

“OK, I’ll do better to stay back more and watch, but if I know you’re heading down a dark path I’m going to intervene”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way Cloud” Dawn said hugging him tight

“So were good” Cloud asked

“Better than that, where great” Dawn smiled back and they got up to meet the rest

“So you staying with us now that your exposed” Cloud asked Alisianna

“No I better head back to the elders to tell them what has happened, I’ll be watching you guys” She smiled walking away into the woods

“Don’t be a shadow next time, walk with us not around us” Rain said

“I will” she replied and disappeared into a tree.

“Man natural magic is creepy,” Elanee said and they got upon their horses and headed back to Silverspire.