((Disclaimer- I dont own anything you recognize, nor Eliza. Because if I owned her...that would be kinky and weird.) And Tamora Pierce and all the People, particularly Cloud, is responsible for the naming of this chapter.)

I apologize for not updating in forever. But I haven't felt truly hyper in quite some time, not enough to write anyway. And...I dont know...I just felt like not writing this story and focusing on Time.

I also apologize for the atrocious writing skills, or lack there of, in this chapter. I am not in the mood for writing seriously in any way shape or form at the moment. And there are a bunch of noisy parent's friends in my house that are already bugging me even though they have only been here for like, an hour. And I havent eaten in forever. hmm... well. I think that is it.....

Between Friends Chapter 10

Noting that the halls were, once again, abandoned she got out from behind the old suit of armor and began searching the halls for where her victim (who she still didn't know who it would be) was sleeping restfully.

Flashes of moonlight flew past her eyes as Eliza darted by the windows lining the halls. Alas, she still had no idea where she was going, but time was running out so she decided to just let her feet guide her, literally. They would just turn and point in one direction, and off she would go.

She took a sudden sharp right and came to a dead end. Eliza sighed, her hopes that her victim would be in this direction, dashed. Looking around though, she spotted an inconspicuous door to her right with a name plate on the side.

Numair and Daine Salmalin The nameplate read. Eliza's lips curled into a sly smile as she recognized the names of the most powerful mage in the country and his wife, the famed Wildmage. Her smile widened, remembering hearing that the Wildmage was currently heading to Dunlath to meet back up with some old friends. This meant that the Blackrobed mage was alone: her perfect prey.

Adrenaline rushed through her veins as she realized what she was about to attempt. Who in their right minds would ever dare to prank someone who could blow them to smithereens in an instant? Well, Eliza would of course.

It took her but a second to unlock the door, despite the wards placed upon it. (What could she say? Her special lock picks worked no matter what.)

The door did not even creek when she opened it just wide enough to let her through. Eliza peered around the dark room and noticed the tall, lanky man asleep with his head resting on a piece of ancient parchment.

Her eyes could see him clearly in spite of the darkness, and for a reason unbeknownst to her, he vaguely resembled a stork…

She immediately perked up as she realized what she could do. Pulling out of her pocket she had some chicken feathers that she had stuffed in them. She had been plucking chickens earlier and, well, the feathers were just so soft!

She then pulled out a small orb from the other pocket and whispered a few words before squeezing it, causing a small poof of smoke and a large orange beak to appear in its place.

She quietly slipped over to where Salmalin lay, or rather, sat. Suddenly she saw movement of shiny blue scales from beneath the mages chair and her entire back stiffened.

Eliza had heard of the dragon, Starsong, or Kitten as some knew her to be, but she had completely forgotten about the mythical beast in her excitement.

The small dragon eyed the girl carefully as she stood stock still. Kitten glanced at the feathers and 'beak' Eliza held in her hands, and seemed to smile (if a dragon could smile, that is) as she laid back down on the ground.

The girl, taking that as an acceptance of what she was doing, walked forward and carefully placed the beak on Salmalin's nose; being exceedingly careful as to not wake him and whispered a bit to make the beak stick on.

She then gently dropped the feathers all over him, and whispered the same two words.

With a grin, Eliza slipped back out of the room and through the hallways, and finally through the servants halls that would take her to a back entrance. The teenager skipped across the dewy lawn towards where her friends had all agreed to meet.

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well. I cannot seem to think of anything creative or funny to say here at the end... Any ideas for what you want to see later on in the plot? Three more characters will be added next chapter!! I think...if they want me to add them. Um....I think that is it for now!