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Dobbs knocked on her door no less than a minute later. "Come on! What in the hell is taking ye so damn long. I got customers need servin'."

Niah resisted the urge to open the door and slam her fist in the man's beefy face. Who did he think he was to steal her stuff? She glanced at herself in the mirror and saw the dark circles under her eyes. She sighed. Oh well maybe it would make her less appealing though she doubted it. She opened the door and moved past Dobbs. Heading downstairs she shook her head at the bustling room and sighed. Another day in this hell hole and I'm done.

Dobbs watched her carefully but she showed no sign of knowing she had been robbed. The stupid wench didn't even realize all her stuff was gone. He would have laughed but it would have drawn attention to himself. So he sat down and began to count his money. Good crowd this morning he mused. His wife and daughter were in the kitchen cooking breakfast and his son was god knew where. Probably out with one of the daughter's. He hadn't come home last night and Dobbs didnt' much care.

Niah picked up a tray and walked to a table. She took the order and her day had begun. She spent a few hours taking orders and carting drinks and food back and forth. Looked like it was going to be another long day. She winced everytime someone dropped food on her clean floor and almost jumped with excitement when two plates and a glass were broken. She had a feeling she was going to be doing dishes. The inn emptied of most of it's people and sure enough Niah was stuck doing dishes. Dobbs' daughter was there to help and Niah found herself starved for some kind of human interaction. Anything besides men.

"Fire helps her concentrate." A moment of silence, and stolen glances at Aurahkah as he expertly divided his attention. "Care to tell what your soul cries out?" He sighed. "Souls have been crying so much lately. They were quiet, now want to scream." He licked his muzzle and fluffed his wings. "I barely hear them laugh nowadays."

Vik laid facedown on the arm of a living chair in the library. A thin hardcover book with the words "My First Cookbook" hung limply off the side of the back of the chair. His body was asleep, but his mind and conciusness was halfway across the globe. He was having another vision.

Once again, he was back at the Citadel, except he was in what looked like a study instead of the usual meeting room. A dark figure sat in the corner, hundreds of volumes were piled neck high on the desk in front of him. Vik identified him at once. He was the envoy of the curse, Advisor Sharu. Complex equations were printed out on a scroll in front of him. To his left, a huge map of the western hemisphere hung on the wall next to him. Everynow and then, Sharu would look up from his books and maybe scribble some notes on the scroll or draw a line on the map. Vik approached cautiously, even though he knew he was only there in his mind. "What the hell is he doing?" he thought. Suddenly, Sharu sprang up. Vik jumped back, thinking that Sharu had somehow seen him. The envoy ran over to the map and drew two intersecting lines. "It's in Italy..." he said, "Ha. Those Laputans thought we couldn't crack their silly code. They will pay dearly for their carelessness. Zues will rise again!"

"Ow!" Vik snapped back into conciusness when the cookbook slipped off and hit him on the head. "What the hell was that about?" he thought, refering to the dream. He rubbed the small bump on his head as he rose up and headed down the hallway, still deep in thought.

He gave a soft laugh. "Ecara has that effect on people I guess. All her mother's innocent looks and all my soothing abilities. Wonderful child she is indeed." Eclipse's eyes softened towards the elf. "True you miss your friend, but if she's in your heart, she's not that far away. And you are real. If you weren't real...I would be crazy. We all would in fact. And you do a fine job of helping others...I don't know why you can't see that." His eyes shifted again. "Cymarron...you soul is sad as well."

Aura's breathing hitched for a moment from its steady rhythm, her arms coming up to wrap around the child in her lap. Her head inclined slightly and she held her breath before it let itself out and her breathing returned to it normal rhythm.

Eclipse looked back again. "Go slow. Don't push yourself to open the door if you're not ready." Then his attention returned to Nelphean and an off to the side Cymarron.

Ecara twitched her ears, listening to them all. It was odd, people who were usually smiling weren't....everyone seemed off. Her expression changed slightly to one of worry and frustration. Poor girl was frustrated so easily.

Cymarron nodded.

"The ancestors gave us a gift we used. and we are concerned for the Den mother, Ecara is."

Nelphean smiled at the child, and continued to be affectionate. "My heart does bleed much slower today, soon it will heal..."

The elf started to sing a very solumn tune, an elvish song of waiting.

"Alas these days should be mine, siting here waiting, looking over hills and finding rays of light once thought gone, but not returned... How doth the sun do shine ever so much bright in lands of comfort and joy..."

"Cymarron is disheartened by Nailah's departure...but we are joyed that we saw Kisshy again. and we will help the Den mother however we might. maybe take the Den mother next time we see kisshy."

He nodded, grinning lightly, but keeping his eyes trained on Aura while his mind's 'eyes' watched the tavern Nailah was at.

Ecara closed her eyes, rather listening than watching the little group around her now, enjoying her attention. Then she caught onto Nelphean's tune, humming along with him.

"Kisshy?" He let an ear twitch. "As much as your offer of help is wonderful...she has to fight this battle on her own. Shine light on her own darkness that has been locked away.