Hello, people! I'm getting WiFi from sneaking behind an old person church, so, ya know, don't judge.
To anonymous Guest: yes, Kendra and Fiona are going to have a girl talk, but not in the way you imagined it. It's getting a little scary how you guys are figuring out my plot lines. For those that were wondering: River Song is the name of a very bad $$ character in a British TV show called Doctor Who. I highly advise it.
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The White House wants to pass a bill called "SOPA". It is an internet protection bill, but it will ruin in internet. Here's all the things it will take away:
No more songs in videos
No more covers of songs
No more fanart/fanfiction of ANY KIND
If you don't like this, please sign this petition at /petition/stop-sopa-2013/LMzMVrQF
EVERY VOTE COUNTS!
Chapter Twenty Four
Kendra can't help jumping at the sight of Brach sliding with ease between wolves, his human shape tall and nimble and graceful and winged. He'd discovered he could change back and forth from a human avatar the first thirty minutes of having his soul back, but it still gives her the jitters.
Noticing her eyes following him, Brach waves, his face almost ridiculously pale and handsome, his light pink and orange eyes sparkling merrily. Kendra's already noticed a couple of she-wolves checking him out, whether while he's a wolf or not.
Before Kendra can say anything, he's gone, vanishing in the crowds of wolves like a white shadow. She sighs and leans against Fiona, the she wolf's strong muscles easily supporting her.
"Mum's going to wait until Snow-Angel finishes her repertoire before interrupting and stealing the singing stage," Fiona yawns out of boredom, "so get comfortable. We won't be going anywhere soon."
They sit together in friendly silence, watching as River-Song courses through the air in comets of sparkling blue, easily out-maneuvering a pinkish orange streak. They laughs together as Boro gets attacked by a pack of screaming she wolves, and collapse on the ground as Bracken hides timidly after witnessing the display. They comment of Snow-Angel's deep Adele-type voice, and the way that the wolves move in perfect coordination with the music. Finally, Fiona speaks.
"Sorry about being so rough with you guys," she sighs tiredly, looking at Kendra apologetically. "You know, when you first got here. It's just" – she looks into the distance wistfully – "Cadeliah is the best mother on the face of the planet. She's given me more love and attention than I ever deserve. Heck, she went sledding down Mount Olympus with me. But – if you haven't already noticed – she doesn't do tough all that well. She's the sweet one, and I'm the battle-hardened one, even though she's been through more than I ever will face. Every time, she makes the same mistake: trusting the wrong people. So, I was a little cautious. Very cautious. And now I see you're legit. So yay."
Kendra laughs. "It's okay," she soothes. "Nobody blamed you then, and nobody does now."
Fiona looks up at the moon. "All my life," she whispers, "I've never been anything more than a possibility, in everyone but my mum's eyes. Even Boro thinks of me as a maybe. I live long enough to inherit the Soul Stone after my mum deceases, which I hope doesn't happen for a very long time, or I die myself. They simply see someone who plays by the rules, someone replaceable, and someone just as flaky as their royal little hides." She growls in defiance, whereas Kendra flinches a bit at the thought of a wolf's hide. "They don't know who I am. They can't judge me. I doubt one of their perfect little ears has ever heard the scream of a gunshot or the wails of pups seeing their mother drop dead or the last roar of a fierce wolf protecting his family dropping to the ground or the sound of a chopper loaded with guns as it hums overhead or the sobs of the poor souls that did make it out alive and wish they hadn't. They think I'm blind and savage. But, tell me, Kendra, who is more savage: the one who fights and hates her friends' and families' murderers, or the one who sits idly by and lets it happen?"
Kendra doesn't answer her ferocious rant directly. "Huh. I wonder if I'll be feeling the same way meeting the Fairy Kingdom nobles."
Fiona throws up her head and roars deafening with laughter. "Oh, oh!" she wheezes. "Unicorn royalty are ten times worse than wolves, and I'm not just saying that! My god, Kendra, you're gonna go through hell!"
Kendra grimaces. "I was afraid you were going to say something like that. But you said something earlier… even Boro? I thought you two were, like, a couple or something…"
Fiona's face blackens, and Kendra feels herself treading on treacherous ground. "I might think the same," she mutters darkly, "if he didn't have a girl waiting at home for him. A very pretty wolf, she is. And, trust me, last time we were together, Boro cheated on me. I'm not helping him do the same to this poor she wolf."
Kendra's eyes open with shock. "What?" she yelps in surprise.
Fiona flicks her ears back, turning to Kendra sadly. "Princes are all the same. They woo you, sprouting the sappiest things in the world, whispering exactly what you want to hear into your ears, giving you fabulous gifts, and making you love them with all your heart. But, Kendra," spits Fiona bitterly, "it's just a game. You're just as replaceable as I. Unicorns may be different from wolves, Kendra, but keep an eye on Bracken. Don't be as blind as a bat. Stay two steps ahead, stay on guard, expect anything from anyone. You and I, Kendra, we aren't so different."
Kendra watches, open-mouthed, as Fiona rises crossly and stomps off, the she wolf lost in her own angry thoughts. She jumps at a very familiar voice breathing right next to her shoulder.
"I guess now you think poorly of me," sighs Boro, making Kendra whirl around, hand already on Bracken's dagger. The golden wolf stares after Fiona wistfully. His voice lowers. "You see, I had to let her go, Kendra Sorenson; I had to. A Soul Bearer and a Wolf King cannot… it just cannot happen. The bloodlines cannot be mixed. I love Fiona with every bone in my body, ever hair on my pelt, but if I stayed any longer with her, I would not be able to leave and do my duties." Boro sighs, an ancient sound that arouses Kendra's pity. "But once lost, Fiona's affection is never regained. Cadeliah taught me that lesson with three scars across my face."
Kendra gawks at him, her love of romance contradicting everything the Wolf Prince had just said. She's about to protest but someone beats her to it.
"Zia is just going to eat this up!" breathily exclaims a tall, slender girl with golden ringlets and pure white feathered wings. Kendra frowns, recognizing Cassandra's voice. The girl, possibly Cassandra, wails with excitement. "Ooooo, I can just see this story exploding everywhere on Howlz!"
Boro rolls his eyes in amusement as she flaps off, joining the two dark astrids swooping through the sky. "The half-astrid twins are renowned among wolves as being relationship troublemakers. One has a love of romance, the other of gossip. It's a very deadly combo."
Kendra laughs, but is still confused by something. "What's Howlz?"
Boro shrugs. "Twitter for wolves. I don't have an account. Anyway, I hope Fiona's feisty disclaimers didn't hurt your opinion of Bracken. That guy is super in love with you. I'm not entirely sure if he was kidding when he told me to keep my paws off." Boro frowns, as if this troubles him, but then straightens. "Woop, gotta go! Cadeliah's announcement is about to start! This is going to go well!"
Kendra eyes him suspiciously. "Was that sarcasm?"
Seth watches as Cadeliah scales the tall tendril of rocks. It's about thirty feet high, with no obvious climbing pegs, just tiny little ledges and cracks. But she races up it at a dizzying speed, barely resting on a ledge longer than a second or two, circling it strategically instead of scaling it head-on like he'd seen other wolves do. Finally, she reaches the very top, and strikes a regal pose, clearing her throat for silence. Her voice is magically loud, like all of the wolves that'd climbed the post.
"Wolves of Caelum Amplexu, I, Cadeliah the Soul Bearer, have a few announcements to make!" she bellows, musical voice ringing over the valley. "First off, we – oh, what in heaven's name are you doing, Thunder-Bolt, Sand-Heart, and Flash-Foot?"
Seth swivels to see that all three of the new family. They hoist up giant blown-up photos of themselves making faces with their mouths, Thunder-Bolt help Flash-Foot with his. Seth laughs in surprised delight at the sense of humor behind that.
"Being creative," answers Thunder-Bolt, his muffled voice also loud.
"Let's all agree, to never be creative again!" sings Seth to himself. He jumps, realizing that his voice is also very loud and boom-y.
"Don't hug me," yelps Kendra's booming voice, "I'm scared!"
After a moment of silence, Bracken's voice is next, and by the sound of it, the poor dude is really confused. "What?"
"Okay," laughs Cadeliah, regaining control of the situation. "First off, I'd like to thank Chaos, King of Shadows, for his assistance making balloon animals for the pups and Kendra. Secondly, I'd like to welcome – and excuse me for a moment." Her voice doesn't sound like she's speaking into a microphone, but the natural volume of her roar makes Seth wince. She leaps forward, teeth flashing as she shouts at no one in particular.
"SETH SORENSON, IF I CATCH YOU TIME-TRAVELING AGAIN, I WILL GROUND YOU FOR SO LONG THAT YOU'LL FORGET YOUR OWN NAME!"
There's an awkward moment of silence as Cadeliah shakes out her fur and organizes herself. Seth blinks in surprise. Brach's voice is the one that's loud this time, drawling out the vowels. "Buuussttteedddd."
"Alright, now, secondly, I'd like to welcome River-Song into our hospitality, and invite her to stay as long as she likes. I expect the greatest manners from all of you when addressing our guest." Cadeliah glares down at the wolves, like, you'd better give her your best behavior. "And, lastly, the Fairy Queen and a group of her subjects are on their way here, to join us in our celebrations!"
To Seth's surprise, there's some grumbling about this announcement. The wolves glance at each other in irritation, growling things under their breath that Seth can't quite hear. He glances around in surprise. None of the wolves look very happy about this, but only one speaks up.
"That minx isn't welcome here!" roars out an unpleasant looking she-wolf with fangs too big for her mouth and tiny ears. Seth winces at her shrill voice. It's practically right in his ear, since the wolf is just a few feet away.
Cadeliah turns to look at the wolf, and the mood changes abruptly. Seth swears he can see the Soul Bearer narrow her eyes from this distance. Then, with a great flying leap that spans the distance and makes Seth gasp, Cadeliah lands right in front of the she-wolf, Soul Stone blaring with violet light. Seth's right; her eyes are narrowed and glowing with those curling lines across her face. She takes three ominous steps towards the outspoken she-wolf.
"What are those lines?" murmurs Seth to Thunder-Soul.
The wolf stares at him. "What lines?"
"Long-Fang," booms Cadeliah powerfully, but her voice is gentle and forgiving, "you hold a grudge, child. These will be our undoing if we let them rule us. Yes, it was a shame that she had to break your mother in front of you as a pup. It was shameful for both your mother and the Fairy Queen. That's why I don't want to break you in front of your children."
Seth's eyebrows raise as he realizes the perfectly delivered threat in Cadeliah's message. Beside him, Thunder-Soul whistles softly in awe. He shakes his head. "Haven't heard an insult like that for quite a while. Pretty impressive, I've got to say." Seth nods in agreement.
The wolf, apparently Long-Fang, cowers back, fading into the crowd without another word. There's complete silence over the field, broken by Brach randomly shouting, "Holy cheesecakes, I spy a rib with my little eye!" at the top of his lungs. Seth swears he sees Cadeliah's impassive face twitch with amusement.
The she wolf stalks back to her spire, taking another huge leap and landing gracefully atop the surface. Seth can't help gawking at how well Cadeliah had solved the situation. No violence and hardly any threatening, noting the wrongs of the Fairy Queen and showing her people that it can't be repeated. She gazes out over her subjects regally.
"Well?" Cadeliah harrumphs after a second of silence. "We're having one of the most famous figures in history over to party! Get ready! Set up the decorations! I want this celebration to be a memorable one, not just one of those bashes that the Fairy Queen always has in that ridiculously large ball room of hers! Break out the gold dust! Pluck the flowers! Braid the wreathes! Make yourselves and our home look admirable! I trust you with this job! Do not let me down!"
And with that, Cadeliah leaps off of her pedestal, cleaving through the crowd of freshly excited wolves.
Kendra jumps as Bracken nudges her gently, jumping three feet in the air. Well, probably not, but it feels like three feet. He smiles reassuringly at her, laying a soft hand on her shoulder.
Kendra smiles back up at him. Fiona's dismissal of princes leaves her a bit iffy about Boro, but she doesn't have a doubt about Bracken. The sweet unicorn is more lovesick than Kendra had ever imagined anyone being. Plus, he's sweet and protective, things Kendra can't help loving about him. In a way, she supposes she's just as love-struck as the sappy unicorn. Except she's better at hiding it.
"Hey, there, Unicorn," Kendra greets, elbowing Bracken's ribs. "Any reason in particular you're sneaking up on innocent maidens?"
Bracken chuckles. "Yes, actually. I'm the Fairy Prince, and you're my mother's handmaiden. We need to be with the group as it enters this party the wolves are creating, since we are officially her representatives among the Great Wolves."
Kendra blinks, nervousness mounting. "But – Cadeliah said this party will be formal attire. I don't have anything formal, nothing even remotely presentable to the most important unicorns in the Fairy Kingdom…"
Bracken lays a hand on her shoulder, but someone else calms Kendra.
"We can help," squeaks a familiar voice from behind Kendra. She whirls around to see little Yetta, cocking her head and looking up at her with big, hopeful sea green eyes. "Us pups, we're always wanting to give a human a makeover. I mean, you can only do so much with a wolf: file and polish the nails, prick the fur, smooth the ears, groom the tail, and add a fancy flower or wreath. But with humans…" Yetta squirms with barely contained excitement. "Hair, makeup, dresses, galore! Oh please, oh please, oh please say yes!"
Kendra laughs at the pup's enthusiasm. "Sure thing."
Yetta throws her tiny little head back and howls, "REINFOCRMENTS! WE'VE GOT A TAKER!" Kendra blinks as lines of little she-pups begin herding her away from Bracken and through the crowd with little nudges and nips at her ankles, steering her through the mob.
"Oh." Kendra stares at the girl who had spoken, a tall woman with a perfect hourglass figure accented with a snug ankle-length blue dress. The girl stares back with cobalt eyes and strange grey hair, not the type because of age, but cool grey. With a start, Kendra realizes that, with the odd greyish cast to her flawless skin and the two fairy wings ribboned with silver and blue, that it's River-Song standing in front of her. River-Song shakes her head in pity.
"Oh." She sighs slowly, looking down at the crowd of pups. "Oh, Kendra, you poor, poor thing."
Kendra stares at the beautiful stranger in the mirror. She twirls experimentally, and her dress fans out like a supermodel's. The pups anxiously await her decision around her, whispering into each other's ears nervously.
Despite River-Song's reaction to Kendra being taken away by the pups, the entire situation had been rather enjoyable. They had guided her to a rocky valley pitted with hot springs and volcano-warmed ponds, already filling with she-wolves.
Kendra had felt embarrassed in front of everyone as she'd climbed into the hot spring with nothing on, even though they're wolves and practically walk around naked. No one had cast her a second glance, thankfully. The pups had been surprisingly gentle as they'd massaged the specially made shampoo and conditioner into her hair, turning it soft and manageable, like all of those name-brand products are supposed to do. They'd gone so far as to even throw a bath bomb made by Berry-Fur to scent her skin like mint and eucalyptus leaves, and rubbing her skin down with rough skin scrub.
Once she'd gotten out, they'd resorted to beautifying. Wearing only a bath towel, the pups had laboriously scrubbed and cleaned and polished every inch of Kendra's body, clipping her nails and smoothing oils into her silky brown hair, rubbing at the callouses on her feet and chafing her with weird lotions.
Then the mega dress-up game had begun.
There'd been so many dresses, Kendra isn't really sure she can remember all of them. All colors of the rainbow had at some point in time been tried on by Kendra, every hue imaginable, every variation of shades and tints had been reviewed in the giant glass mirror. Finally deciding on a white dress, the pups had settled down with makeup and hair and accessories.
Honestly? Kendra kind of likes the dress. It fits her figure well, making her blahness look much better than without. The white dress looks normal, but it has a layer of sheer bronze sparkles embedded into the silky material that catch the sunlight and send barely discernible glitters flying. A chic copper belt with two brown leather sheathes (borrowed from Cadeliah) is strapped around her waist. Even without the rest of the makeover, Kendra had looked better than she could usually pull off even if she tried.
And then the makeup had begun.
The pups are more expert than they look with fashion. Kendra's dark brown eye shadow isn't overdone in the slightest, but emphasizing on the natural shape of her eyes. They'd given her a slight splash of blush, adding to the figure of her cheekbones. With over-exaggerated care, Yetta had traced the slight curve of faint eyeliner around Kendra's lashes, and had quickly swiped her lashes with a dash of mascara.
The face Kendra sees in the mirror is beautiful, but realistically so; like British actors. Kendra remembers the haughtily sexy appearances of American actors, and how they seem so pumped up with Botox and god knows what else that they look weird and artificial. British actors, as well as any European actor… they're pretty, alright, but they're also real looking, with moles and crooked noses and hair that just won't cooperate and faces that you know haven't been treated by aliens. Kendra wonders if that's what Bracken meant that she's beautiful in a human sort of way.
The pups had given her so much hair junk that is seemed ridiculous to just bind it up in a hairdo, but apparently, that had been the plan all along. Braiding her hair in a long plait with a metallic ribbon running through, the wolves had somehow made her hair look longer and glossier. They'd also parted her hair differently, which better fits her face and features, honestly.
Taken altogether, Kendra looks stunning, like a queen herself. Worries knot in her chest, writhing like a nest of snakes, at the face in the mirror. Sure, she doesn't look artificial in the slightest, but she's also different than what Bracken's used to. What if… what if she doesn't look like herself? What if she isn't his term of beauty anymore?
"What do you think?" questions Jhama anxiously, peering at the image in the mirror skeptically. Kendra opens her mouth to compliment, but the wolf is already on her feet and literally barking orders at her inferiors.
"Yetta and Heart-Hook! Go fetch a golden peony!" she commands, tail held high and ears perky. "Make sure it's small, but not ridiculously so, and full of health! Be back as soon as possible!"
The two pups bolt off. Kendra laughs nervously. "You really don't –"
They arrive about two seconds later, Heart-Hook gingerly clutching a gilded flower in her teeth. Clambering up on Kendra's shoulders, Jhama gently weaves the gold blossom at the foot of her braid, adding the correct sparkle to the outfit, she's got to admit.
"Perfect," growls Jhama in satisfaction, stepping back to admire her work. All of the wolves' eyes gleam in awe as they study Kendra. To please them, she twirls again, braid flying along with the edges of her silky dress. A lot of "ooos" and "ahhhs" accompany the gesture, plus Yetta's cute victory jig.
"Hey, have any of you seen—" Fiona sticks her royal head through the cave entrance, wolf eyebrows shooting up at the sight of Kendra. "Whoa-ho! Somebody's got a date tonight!"
Kendra blushes, and rushes to correct the Soul Wolf. "Not a date! I'm just going with Bracken to—"
"Hun, that's a date," complains Fiona, shaking her head and making the amethyst beads clatter.
Kendra turns even redder. "We're going to meet the Fairy Queen, and it's all black tie."
Fiona looks a tad bit disappointed. "Really? Huh. I'd been hoping for some Brackendra action to draw the media's attention. There's been way too much Fioro crap running around recently."
"Huh?" questions Fire-Eyes, cocking her grey head in confusion.
"Fioro," explains Fiona. "Fiona and Boro. And I'll have you all know that it's not going to happen. Not in a million years."
Kendra shakes her head. "Suuuuurrre."
Fiona rolls her eyes and mutters something like, "Just wait until pony boy breaks your heart in half…" before wandering off with her head high.
There's silence for a moment. Then Yetta pipes up, "Can we be there when Bracken sees you for the first time?" A chorus of, "Oh please!" and "Please Kendra, please!" and one "Who is Bracken? Isn't that, like, mud?" follows this, and Kendra holds her hands up for quiet.
Once they're all silent and gazing up at Kendra with adorable hope-filled eyes, she sighs and relents. "Alright. You can come."
"I didn't know saying you could come would mean that you'd force me into this!" hisses Kendra crossly as the pups nip at her with a little more energy than they had last time. An icky sensation of dread fills her stomach as they grow closer and closer to the place the "scouting party" had last spotted Bracken at. Their eyes sparkle with excitement. Kendra has a feeling she's about to become Fiona's distraction as an all-too-familiar pair of white and black owls alight along a snow-topped crest. Kendra glares at them pointedly. They don't even bother to look at her.
Finally the pups roughly shove her into a rocky circular valley. She immediately pinpoints Bracken but refuses to make eye contact, looking firmly at the ground at all times. The pups giggle and whisper, but they back away. Bracken hasn't noticed her yet. He's in the middle of a deep conversation with a wolf Kendra doesn't recognize, one with red brindle fur and silver eyes a bit like his.
Kendra tries to not to get herself noticed, making herself small and angling her face away. It's embarrassing! "Stop slouching," whispers Yetta soothingly. "Your figure is great in that dress when you're not slouching!"
Kendra straightens, but still doesn't look at him, studying the rocks under her feet. She can't help hearing Bracken's strangled gasp as he notices her for the first time. But is that a good noise? Or a noise of disgust?
Kendra slowly trails up and meets Bracken's eyes. He's on a beeline to her, moving swiftly and ignoring other wolves. Kendra can't really distinguish the emotion shining in his gorgeous eyes, but there's definitely a lot of shining going on.
Nervously, Kendra notices he gets close enough for casual conversation… and then a bit closer. Love, Kendra realizes with a bolt of lightning through her. That's what's shining in his eyes. Bracken sweeps her up in his arms, spinning her around and making her dress twirl like they do in movies. The pups wail with happiness.
After a few cycles, Bracken sets Kendra down and cups her cheek to his face. "You look so beautiful," he murmurs huskily. Kendra smiles and jabs him in his ribs.
"Don't you know girls like to be loved based on their personality, not their looks?" she teases, even though she's probably going to get a: "Oh my dear lovely Kendra I am undoubtedly a sinner to name my love in such a manner!" for an answer.
Miracles do happen.
Bracken opens his mouth to protest, and Kendra can just feel the cheesiness in his embrace. But Cadeliah and Seth pad up, in the midst of a conversation that interests Kendra (a lot more) than Bracken's corny speech. She's careful to keep all of these thoughts away from his horn, of course.
"—you are a time traveler in the future, Seth," informs Cadeliah, wandering up to Kendra and Bracken, "but I feel I'm entitled to setting down what time travel really is before you go off frolicking into the distance. Too much of it can damage your brain in ways that even I can't fully comprehend. There are so many things that could go wrong; it's so unpredictable it isn't worth it, unless you're with an experienced time traveler like Aladdin or the Wanderer."
"But Aladdin's dead!" exclaims Seth in surprise.
Cadeliah cocks her head. "Is he? My brother has cheated death one too many times for me to mourn over him too badly. Besides, there's still a younger version of him out there somewhere, playing with future. I know he takes Kendra once on an adventure. Notice the use of the word once… Oh, hello, Kendra and Bracken!" The wolf smiles at them. She turns back to Seth. "I'm sorry, Seth, I was trying to stall as long as possible. Chaos wants you over to his field to train some more. He's coming this way, and he'll give both of us hell if I don't tell you."
Seth sighs in exasperation. "Why can't that dude just enjoy a party?"
Cadeliah shrugs. "He has his reasons," she explains loosely.
The Soul Bearer pads up to them, looking kindly from one to the other with judging eyes. "Oh, I'm so Brackendra…"
Kendra resists the urge to give the wolf a bop on the nose. "Enough!"
Cadeliah shakes her head. "Alright. I do have some official business to impart on you before you leave, which is the sooner the better. I'm going to send Brach with you, if you don't mind. You won't realize he's there, but he'll be if any trouble strikes up."
"We don't mind," laughs Bracken. "He'll have an opportunity to see something other than these arrogant Fire-Flies flit around." Kendra casts an odd glance at him, and Tell you later comes through the horn.
"Secondly…" Cadeliah's eyes scan the distant trees, abruptly unreadable. "Stay on the path. At all costs, stay on the path. That goes for you and the Fairy Queen's party. Something is happening in those woods, something I do not like…"
Kendra and Bracken nod in unison.
"And, lastly," Cadeliah whispers, ducking her massive head closer and dropping to such a low volume Kendra has troubles hearing, "she must not stay any longer than two days. When the sun sets two days from now, she must be off this preserve." Cadeliah's eyes flick fearfully back and forth to the two of them. "Something is coming. I cannot send you and your group away, but I can warn you. The horizon is not red; it is black, something I fear more. There is a contagion coming, one that, if it should infect the Fairy Queen, all would be lost for every creature of light. She must escape this sanctuary and return to her realm.
"As for the rest of us…" Cadeliah shakes her head. "I suppose we can pray."
Cadeliah throws up her head and howls mournfully at the sight of the unicorn and his fairy princess, but not a Fairy Princess, not yet, at least, on the perilous route to the Queen. High above them, her son that looks so very much like Brambling flies high above, beating his wings furiously to keep airborne.
"Beware," she whispers half-heartedly, "of the Titanium Plague."
Sorry this one took so long to write! I've been busy the past few days what with school starting up and such; haven't been able to spit them out at my usual ferocity. You have my apologies.
Now, what's going on? What does Cadeliah know that she's not telling everybody else? What is the Titanium Plague? And what's her plan with the hides?
POLL: Okay, now which of my characters do you like the best? Has your answer changed since the first poll?
Ciao,
~wolfluvermh