Welcome to Gaia! ::

Silk fluttered against satin in the crisp morning air. Aishin sat perched in her tree, waiting. Soon, very soon. She had revieved a message the previous night informing her that the dark man would be in the woods of the park the next morning. Though she didn't know just where, the park was expansive and the only quiet haven in the veritable empire that was Sealend, but she was reasonably sure than he'd be in the middle of it, far away from prying ears, where no one would be able to hear his cries, the thought made her smile. She did hate when people got in her way though, they usually ended up going down too.

The sun through the trees caught her eyes and narrowed them to thin slivers in her feline eyes. Aishin closed her eyes and just felt the breeze float through her fur. Sounds came at her from all directions and her ears twitched this way and that. Birds sang gleefully all around her, crickets on the ground and locusts in the trees, water trickled over time smoothed stones in a small brook, the wind unsettled the tender leaves of the trees and footfalls whispered over a thin path of barren earth. Aishin ran her fingers between the sheaths and hitls of her swords, making sure they would loose themselves at just the right time.

She trained her ears on the lazily unwary steps and sprang higher into the tree, opening her eyes as she sailed through the air. He was starting to come into view through the wall of green the hid her. Aishin crouched on the limb and waited. He was close, so close, she could smell him; soap and fabric softener and cologne mixed with the sweet earthyness of decaying flora and late fall flowers. She drifted like her silks onto the limb below her and she had him. Aishin placed her feet carefully, clawed toes digging into the bark to give her purchase for that final, deadly spring. Just a little closer, Just a little.

Kobaar took his final step. Aishin flew from the the tree with deadly accuracy, four hands of razor like claws poised for the strike. The dark elf looked up at the last minute to see the seven-foot, four armed white Shiva. He froze as he reached for his sword and she could almost hear his heart stop and muscles tense for the impact. A second later they rolled and Aishins claws sank into the dirt and roots, pinning Kobaar to the ground.

"Kobaar!" she shrieked happily. Then, without pausing, "I haven't seen you in ages! How have you been? Where have you been? Hows Sierra and Char? Where's Char? Can I play whith Char? Why'd you leave a note? Notes are so impersonal ya know. You could have left a message or called. I wouldn't have minded a call. Why didn't you call? Sierra would have called. So what'd you need me for anyway? I can a long way from Xen Ru. Xen Ru's a long way away ya know. This better be important. is this important? So what ya need? Hmm?" She smilled broadly at her long time friend.

Aishin stood and helped her friend to his feet. She took the note from Kobaar and read it aloud, "Ko! Meet me in the park tomorrow morning early. It's important, I really need to talk to you. ~A~". The fur bristled on her neck and down her back. "Well, the hand writing should have tipped you off, it's too neat," she grinned, "But what are we going to do now? We're obviously being set up somehow. It's too early for a maiming and this place is too pretty to kill anyone in."

"Mrrrrfft!" Aishin squeeled then, seemingly without a pause to breath, "That'd be GREAT! I'm STARVING! I talked to the sweetest lil' tabby on my way here and he said there's a GREAT seafood place down by the docks! He said the fish's so good they have to keep throwing it out cause they can't get to everyone!... at least I think that's what he said. His accent was REALLY thick. Have you ever tried to talk to a cat with an accent? if it's not to thick it's not so bad but THIS cat, yeesh. Mrrow maow
maow rrrrr rrft-" she paused when she saw the look of utter bewilderment on Kobaars face. "What?"

Aishins ears twitched, followed by her whiskers, a few flicks of her tail and a blank stare, then "Halt? Who says 'halt' anymore? Aren't you supposed to say 'stop! Police!' or something? I mean 'halt' is soooo old fashione-"

"Stop! Shut up!" one of the men said with stern sarchasm. "We're only here to escort you to the Hall."

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be cleared," The other man said, "Every white siva and dark elf male with bad hair is being rounded up."

"I wouldn't hold my breath, the Ice Queen isn't quite so hospitable to prisoners." The shorter of the two men said. "And beside, she's furious she got stuck with this case."

Ashin's ears shot forward, "Prisoners? Who said we're prisoners? You said it was just questioning! You can't imprison questioners! I mean you can, but we're not. Well NOW we are, or at least I am, but we aren't being imprisoned, we're being questioned, you said so!"

"Stuck?" Kobaar cut in front of his hyperventilationg friend, "You mean she doesen't normaly have to 'question' people?"

"She does, but her cases are much higher profile, she prefers bigger dogs." the taller dark elf man said, "But this was personally assigned to her by the Head Master, so she stuck, and pissedat you two."

"Us? Why us? Aishin asked.

"Because if it wasn't for whatever you two did," he said with his own irritation, "then she wouldn't have been assigned to this peon job."

"Ya know, maybe what we did was pretty big, ya ever think of THAT? Huh? She only takes big cases, and right now we're the thickest book on her desk!" Aishin grinned triumphantly and lookedover at Kobaar, who only stared in stunned. wide eyed, jaw dropped silence. "What?"

"I'd make it a point to keep her quiet in there." the other dark elf said to Kobaar, who still gaped at Aishin.

Aishin growled softly to herself and watched the world speed past the windows as they hurried toward Stryder Hall. This wasn't right. First they were only being questioned, which she didn't believe from the start, and now they were prisoners. Thoughts danced through her head. Stryders were crawling the streets looking for her an Kobaar, and now that they were in custody they still had their weapons. The "Ice Queen" didn't take low risk cases and her boss stuck her with a couple of law abiding citizens. "Rrrrft" she sounded irritatedly.

Damn, it's been a long walk but I've finally made it! Draven thinks to himself as he walks into town. Never one to make use of automobiles or other modes of transportation as he enjoyed the serenity of a good walk. But 32 miles was ridiculous, nonetheless he made the journey anyway. Draven had been a little bit unsettled since he recieved the note about his father, Adonis Tradewind's death. He had never even met his father. The note said that his father's only remaining possesions were at Stryder Hall in Sealand and that upon arrival he should present himself by telling the door guards that he was Draven Trueblood, son of Adonis Tradewind and present ample identification. Draven shoved his hand in his pockets and rubbed his fingers against the folded note. I've never even met him, what makes anyone think I would want his stuff, And who would know where to even find me?! He thought as he walked up to the doors of Stryder Hall.

"Halt!" The voice rang out as he walked up the stairs.
"Names Draven Trueblood, son of Adonis Tradewind... Just let me through damnit" He said in a cold snappy tone as he threw a picture ID at the guard on the right.

As he walks into Stryder Hall the only thing that stands out is a sword perched on a gargoyle statue. "Hmmm...." He mumbles aloud as he walks towards someone who knows what's going on. It is two guards walking with two other people, one a Siva and the other a Dark Elf.
"Hey rent-a-cop...come here...I need to ask you something!"
He says in a mock tone.
"What did you just call me....You better watch what you say around here boy...or you might not like the outcome. Besides, I'm busy!! Now get away or I'll have you taken into custody!!" The bewildered gaurd says in a harsh tone.
"Listen, the names Draven Trueblood, not boy." He's says mocking the guards thick accent. "And I'm here to pick up my father, Adonis Tradewind's remaining possesions. I heard he passed away and I just want to get this over with!!" Said Draven.
"Well I don't know anything about it, ask someone else pal!" The Guard says.

[ Message temporarily off-line ]

"Woah woah hey now!" Koh quickly darted between the Djinn and Aishin flailing his arms as if to fan away whatever he was about to throw at him. "She doesn't mean any harm really, so no need for the light show!" He said trying to ward off the Djinn's anger with his trademark grin. "And besides...you seem to be making out hosts a little more on edge so to speak."

Still, this all seemed very strange. Koh knew Aishin wouldn't just randomly pounce someone she didn't know, even if she was being playful. And if this situation was to escilate, they would all probably be thrown in jail...and Sierra would probably beat him over the head if she ever found out.