Sa: well here I am…again. Hehe, I like this fic. Scary eh? I actually LIKE something that I wrote. Fun. I am happy. I officially own the 12 Stones CD (which means I can return Julianne's copy to her lol).

Helga: You didn't get that cool lighter you wanted though

Sa: -pouts- I know

Shawna: you wanted a LIGHTER?

Sa: -nods mournfully- and I didn't get it

Shawna: well, maybe it's for the best

Sa: -mutters- "for the best" would generally mean I succeeded in setting fire to your entire wardrobe like I wanted to.

Shawna: what were you going to do to all my beautiful pink clothing?

Sa: burn it

Shawna: why would you want to do that?

Helga: because pink is for preps. Ugh…how did we get stuck with HER

Sa: I dunno. Sux though eh?

Helga: too bad we can't retrain her like a little doggie

Sa: ooh! Fun! That gives me an idea! A reform school for little preppy sluts! We can force them to attend against their will and turn them into pyro-riffic punks! Hahaha!

Shawna: no! You can't do that!

Sa: who says?

Shawna: uh…uhm…-whimpers and locks self in a closet- DISCLAIMER: Sa doesn't own anything that was created by Rick Young and Michael E Bolyog

Sa: -picks lock on closet, grins- Ain't I just a little sneak? Heh…anyway…HAYDEN IS MINE!

Shawna: Sa…how many times have I…-glances nervously at the lightsaber Sa holds at her throat- Sa…where'd you get that? You know stealing isn't very nice.

Sa: I didn't STEAL it you dumbass! Hayden GAVE it to me. He has another one just like it! So every time I slay someone with it, I think of him.

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          Klaigge watched Maali intently. They had found a small, safe town and Sendraak had gone off in search of answers. He had told the Party to stay at the inn, they would be easier to find that way. He also warned them not to be caught alone if possible. Such was the way of the Party; the warning did not alarm them. Often it was just a reminder that they were, after all, being hunted. The inn seemed safe enough, though.

          Deep in thought, Klaigge did not notice Gnawgh sit beside him. "Why the anti-social act, friend?" Klaigge jumped.

          "Oh, hello. I didn't notice you there."

          "Not very alert today, are you?"

          "Alert enough," Klaigge remarked, returning his thoughtful gaze to Maali.

          "What's gotten into you, Klaigge?" Gnawgh questioned teasingly. "Has a pretty lady given you the cold shoulder?"

          "No, not at all," Klaigge said. His tone was carefully nonchalant.

          "Come on, who is it?" Gnawgh was obviously going to press the issue. "Someone I know?" he asked, trying to follow his friend's stare. Klaigge blushed ever so slightly, diverted his eyes, and cleared his throat. Gnawgh grinned. Klaigge was saved from having to answer by the door, which crashed open. Sendraak stumbled in, struggling to close the door against the wind.

          "Bit of a nasty storm," he remarked offhandedly, shaking the rain from his hair. He laughed when he saw the strange looks he was getting. "Go back to your business, all is well." Sendraak headed towards Klaigge and Gnawgh.

          "Any luck?" Klaigge asked.

          "More than we could have hoped for," Sendraak replied.

          "Do you know what those things chasing us were?" Gnawgh inquired.

          "Not by name. They are a crossbreed of wolf and wildcat. I believe a sorcerer is sending them. Not as much of a threat as InkleTomb…when they are alone."

          "And you mean to say that this one isn't?" Klaigge looked concerned.

          "I have reason to believe that it is more than one sorcerer, backed by more than just those Things that attacked us. They may have been connected with InkleTomb in some way, though. There are so many possibilities." Sendraak sighed. "I'd best alert the rest. Be on your guard." Klaigge and Gnawgh nodded and watched Sendraak head over to Ted the Yellow and Monroe Tarbuck, conversing in a corner. Ted seemed to like the energetic, yet sometimes annoying, Tender. Klaigge allowed his eyes to wander back to Maali. She noticed him watching her and smiled, then returned her attention to Mayetwist, who took no notice of her behavior.

          "Come on, Klaigge," Gnawgh pried. "Who's the pretty lady?"

          "There is no pretty lady," Klaigge replied, a little to quickly.

          "Anything you say, friend." Gnawgh clapped Klaigge on the back and headed for Ted and Tarbuck. Klaigge considered doing the same, but decided against it. Instead, he headed for Sendraak, hoping for more information.

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          Several hours after Sendraak's not-so-quiet return to the inn, Maali noticed Klaigge sitting alone again. [a/n: -starts singing- "alone again, again alone. Patiently waiting by the phone" …hehe 12 Stones] She began walking towards him, her legs moving unbidden to the corner where he sat. He looks lonely, she thought, mentally excusing her eagerness to speak with Klaigge. "Besides," she muttered softly, "He doesn't like me in that way." Still, Maali couldn't help noticing the way his eyes lit up when he saw her. She slid gracefully into the seat beside him. "Any reason you've chosen solitude?" she asked, smiling up at him.

          "No, not in particular," Klaigge returned her smile with one of his own. The now-familiar glint flashed in his eyes, and Maali laughed nervously. The fluttering in her stomach returned despite her attempts to suppress it. Maali blushed. Klaigge noticed almost immediately, but decided that saying something would make her more uncomfortable. That was definitely not what he wanted. Racking his brain, Klaigge said the first thing he thought of, just to end the silence. "Sendraak told you what he learned?" Maali nodded.

          "It's odd…" she began, "that no matter how many times we think that we'll never have to take out our old weapons for another quest…we end up needing them again."

          "A hero's work is never done," Klaigge teased. Maali giggled.

          "Heroes? I doubt we're heroes. More like adventurers. Trouble just seems to like us."

          "Yes, I do believe you're right, milady." Maali began fidgeting. That spark in his eyes again, the special glint he seemed to reserve just for her.

          "Since when was I your lady?" Maali asked with a sudden streak of courage. Klaigge, not expecting Maali to return his pathetic flirtations, stuttered a moment.

          "I…you…well…" He shifted nervously and swallowed.

Across the room, Gnawgh grinned. Maali really had his friend off balance. So that's the pretty lady who's been on his mind, Gnawgh laughed at himself. How could he have missed what was right before his eyes? Oh well, he thought. Klaigge is a big boy. He can take care of himself.

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heh…Klaigge got himself in a bit of a tight spot there. –in TV announcer-dude voice- How does he handle it? Will Gnawgh confront Klaigge about his recent discoveries? Tune in next week for another episode of…KLAIGGE'S STORY! –chokes and returns to normal- REVIEW PEOPLES! I AM DYING FROM A LACK OF REVIEWS!