Chapter 2

Will phased through the portal to the other side to find herself in what looked like an alleyway and a very crooked alleyway at that. There were huge tents all around her that left very little space, but just enough for a jagged pathway through the crowd of cumbersome tents. From the very little light in the sky, Will concluded that it was early morning, a time when night left the world and the day began; the edge between two worlds. Will slowly started her way through the crowded space, when she came across a washing tent, where the workers took their clothes to get cleaned before the next work day. There were many lines of clothes hanging everywhere and with the already limited space it only made things harder for her. Will then came across a line that had a bunch of cloaks hanging upon it. Realizing she still needed to cover up the obvious fact that she had wings, Will took one of the cloaks that looked some-what her size and slipped it on. Surprisingly for a cloak it had short sleeves; it also had cross-stitched ties that help keep the upper part of the cloak closed, but left the rest of it hang freely on Will's figure. She pulled up the hood but quickly realized it was way too big, covering her entire face, making it impossible to see, so she folded the part of the hood covering her face over so that she could at least see, but so others couldn't see her face. Now with her wings covered, Will continued through the tents, when suddenly she hears a strange noise in the distance. It resembled that of a wolf's or coyote's howl, but it eerily had a human-like quality to it like a scream. The scream-like howl sent chills up Will's spine, and then she realized, that must be a Rai-Lent. Finally, Will managed to make her way out of the jungle of tents and shacks, only to find herself upon a beautiful sight.

The crowd of tents Will had just evaded through was on top of a grassy hill, and down below there a wall stood tall and stretches all around the borders of the desert. Soon Will also spots what must be the Eastern Gates, but what awed Will in its magnificent beauty was the sun rising upon the horizon of sand dunes in the distance. The sun lit up the sky and the clouds became shaded in hues of pink, orange, and gold. The sand dunes like the sky lit up and they became shimmering waves of gold as the sun began to rise into the sky. The world and heavens seem to be one. Will was unable to tell where one ended and the other began. For the time being, she enjoyed the desert sunrise and watched as a new day is born from the ashes of the earth.

.~~*~~.

"Well, well, well, look who finally decided to join the living," Zarcus joked as Isis came downstairs to have a little breakfast.

"You should be talking, we're not even supposed to wake up at such an hour, you know the law," Isis countered as she joined Zarcus and then swiftly grabs a piece of bread out of one of the baskets upon the dining table to eat.

"Oh, those silly rules, besides the sun is up now, no Rai-Lent would dare to come out with the sun high in the sky," replied Zarcus as he came from behind Isis and grabbed her shoulders and then playfully tries to massage them in a flirtatious manner, but Isis shoes him away with her arm. Zarcus then attempts to grab Isis around her waist, but Isis evades him by ducking away gracefully.

"Well, since the sun is out, I'm going out for a while, and get some time away from you," Isis said as she then took her leave out the door, but first she grabbed her pack and sword that she strapped to her belt. Isis set out on her way, walking along a treaded path upon one of the many grassy hills that covered the area. It was still early so not many were out and about, mostly simple workers getting ready for a long and tedious day. Isis then past one of the guard's post tents; where the guards lounged when it's not their shift, and not too far from their stood the gallows, a symbol that piracy wasn't welcome in these parts. Isis took a moment to give her respects to the dead; what little respect they got left and received, when she hears a commotion in the distance. Isis started to walk towards the source of what she heard and as she got closer she realized that this commotion was a heated argument. Isis reached the top of the hill and saw that argument was between three people over by the Eastern Gates. Intrigued, she headed down the hill to the Eastern Gates and as she got closer, the argument became clearer.

"I'm sorry, young miss, but I can't let you in through the Eastern entrance, it's too dangerous," said one of the guards of the Eastern Gate.

"I have to get to Irecon, please, if you'll just open the gate to let me pass," replied the one in the cloak, obviously irritated.

"We have orders to keep everyone-"

"Well, I'm not everyone and I'm getting through that gate wither you'll open it for me or not! " screamed the cloaked one as she advanced towards the gate, but the two guards grabbed her trying to keep her back, but she continued getting closer to the gate obviously stronger than the guards could manage.

"Excuse me, but what seems to be the problem here," Isis asked, catching the attention of the two guards and the cloaked one who abruptly turned to look at Isis. Isis caught sight of a flash of bright red hair and brown eyes under the hood of the cloak, as the cloaked girl turned to look upon the other speaker, Isis.

"This here, young lass, wants us to let her through the gates against our orders, Isis," informed the guard.

"What orders are these," Isis asked quickly.

"Well, you see, Madame Isis, there has been an incident just outside these very gates, a shipwreck, blocking the path and the cause of it is unknown, so until it is figured out what caused the wreck, pirate, Rai-Lent, or otherwise, we were ordered to keep the gates closed to any civilians," answered the other guard.

"But, I have to get to Irecon right away it's important," blurted the cloaked girl looking up at Isis with those same brown eyes.

"Well, then I guess there is only one solution, I'll escort you to the Northern Gate," Isis responded as if it was no big deal, in truth, Isis was glad, she really wanted a reason to get far away and investigate without Zarcus noticing, and now she had one. At first the one in the cloak, looked dumb-founded, surprised by Isis' response to her plea.

"Wait, I think you didn't hear me right, I need to get to Irecon-"

"The fastest way to get there is the Northern Gate, the Southern Gate has long since been deserted and left to ruin, and many Rai-Lent reside there, and there is no way to cross the desert safely these days unless you travel with the Nomads, but since I don't know any Nomads, so I guess you'll just have to settle with me, if you'll have me," Isis explained, giving an expecting hand waiting to see if the one under the cloak would accept her offer. Will was surprised it seemed this, Isis knows her stuff, but she wasn't sure she could trust her, though considering her other choices…

"Fine, Northern Gates it is," Will said accepting the hand with a small hesitation at first still a bit cautious of Isis. Experience has taught Will well not to put all your trust into someone, before knowing their full story.

"Oh, first I don't think I caught your name, mine's Isis if you haven't already heard," Isis asked, Will struggled for an answer.

"Ah, my name's W… Weira, yeah," Will answered hoping Isis' questions wouldn't continue.

"Hmm, nice name, anyways lets come back to my place first to get what need, it will be a long journey," Isis said as she motioned Will to follow her, up the hills towards where Isis resides, Zarcus' castle.

.~~*~~.

"I don't know if I can ride that thing," Will said with a questionable look on her face as Isis presented to Will, her soon to be faithful steed.

"Well, you didn't want to ride with me on Chela so this is your only other option, a Rapierator," Isis responded, holding the reins of a giant bird-like creature with a saddle upon it's back. The Rapierator was busy pruning the feathers upon its short arms, with its large blunt beak, not paying much attention to it's soon to be rider. Will and Isis were in the stables behind the castle, getting supplies together and now, Will wasn't so sure if the creature in front of her would be more likely to eat her or let her ride on its back. Will took an attempt at approaching the creature when it suddenly took notice of her presence and in great shock to Will took right to displaying, failing its feathers on its arms, head, tail, and neck while giving a loud squawk. So surprised, by the Rapierator's display Will fell backwards landing upon on the ground on her back. Isis couldn't help at giggle, "It's ok Terka, I'm sure Weira doesn't bite, much," Isis said to Terka, calming her, though also making fun of Will's reaction as well.

"Ha, ha, very funny," Will said as she got back up, still giving Terka a cautious look.

"Terka just has a weird way of saying hello, I'm sure she'll warm up to you," Isis responded as she presented to Will Terka's reins. At first, Will was very hesitant, but soon she had a tight grip around the leather reins, and as soon as Will took the reins, Terka calmed down to the point that Will took a chance of giving her a little scritch above her beak which made Terka click her beak happily. While Terka and Will bonded, Isis went towards the back of the stables, where her old friend, Chela resided. Isis took her out of her stall and placed a saddle and reins upon Chela. When Will caught sight of Chela she was astonished at the sight of the beautiful brown and white pinto horse.

"This isn't fair I get Big Bird as a steed, and you get to ride a horse!" Will said sarcastically, though Terka didn't take kindly to Will's remark, fluffing out her feathers and clacking her beak, she showed her displeasure. "Oh, no offence to you, Terka," Will responded noticing Terka's distress, Terka lightly calmed down though it was noticeable she still resented Will's remark.

"Well, you wanted to ride on your own steed, and other than Chela, Terka is the only other one left here in the stables," Isis responded to Will's remark as she took a moment to lightly stroke Chela's nose.

"Oh fine, now can you help me-"

"Isis I heard you where here so I came looking… I'm resenting asking, but what are you up to this time?"

Isis looked towards the entrance of the stables recognizing the voice right away as Zarcus, who to no surprise was there in the entrance looking upon the scene playing in front of him. Will turned around to the sound of the unknown voice, to find that the speaker was a man, but not just any man. This man was tall in stature, he was muscular, but not overly, his face lightly chiseled, yet strong, his hair was a chestnut brown, the clothes he wore were an older style yet suited him well; overall a good looking guy. Will lightly blushed under the hood of the cloak, while this went unnoticed by Zarcus; Isis on the other hand couldn't help, but notice.

"Zarcus if you really need to know, I'm helping this girl, she needs to get to Irecon and since the Eastern Gate guards aren't letting anyone through, I've taken responsibility to safely guide her there," Isis responded calmly looking into Zarcus eyes hoping this would be enough to satisfy his curiosity. At the sound of Zarcus' name Will's slight blush quickly turned to a more pale color, as she was shocked to realize this man was actually Zarcus. Though, this time Will's reaction to him didn't go unnoticed to Zarcus, as he began to looked over the cloaked girl. Seeing his prying eyes, Will lowered her head to try and hide her face well under the cloak, hoping that Zarcus wouldn't recognize her as one of the guardians. Zarcus took his time to look over the girl in front of him, and even though Will tried her best to hide under the hood of her cloak, her blazing red hair and her soft brown eyes stock out from the depths of the hood of her cloak. Zarcus also looked over the rest of her taking note of Will's appealing shape, and her light yet strong looking form, her taste in clothes and cloaks was questionable to Zarcus, but his train of thought was halted as Isis finished giving him an explanation.

"I see, just make sure to return safely," Zarcus replied as he then took his leave to the relief of Will as she then turned around to look at Isis. Feeling Will's stare Isis moved her attention from the exiting Zarcus back to Will, who looked at her with a hard yet questionable look.

"You didn't tell me you lived with Zarcus!"

"Well, for one you didn't ask and besides I saw the way you were looking at him," Isis replied giving Will a taunting grin who replied only with new tint of blush upon her cheeks which she tried to hide to no avail.

"Though if you want to know the truth, he saved my life, it wasn't too long ago, I had lost my way in the desert with twilight approaching fast, before I knew it, the moon had risen high and I was surrounded by Rai-Lents, they attacked, I blacked-out, and the next thing I knew I was looking upon his face lying in a bed at an Infirmary," Isis explained as she tightened some bags onto Chela's saddle.

"Wow, I didn't-"

"Mind you, he's not a very humble guy and doesn't keep to himself very well, if you know what I mean," Isis butted in, Will couldn't help, but giggle at Isis comment before asking, "Well then why do stick around with him?"

Isis thought for a moment as if trying to find the right answer, before long Will's face lighten up as she came to her own conclusion, "You like him don't you?"

"No! Well, let's just say there are things to him, ahh, about him that I'm not partial too," Isis quickly blurted out. Will noticed that Isis seemed like she was trying to hide something though what Will didn't know, but she was certainly going to try her best to find out.

"Oh yeah, like what?"

"You know what I think that's enough with the 20 questions, besides I'm not asking you any personal questions, and I would kind of like the same in return if you don't mind," Isis said with a bit of annoyance. Will clearly wasn't going to get much from her, but even so Will was now very curious about what Isis is hiding from her and from what Will already knew about Zarcus, Isis could know some useful information about him. Will was silent for now.

.~~*~~.