A/N

I know it's been a while, and I'm sorry. I've been very busy with band camp, but the good news is that the bigger half only has about a half week more, so I should have more time to write soon! I hope you like the chapter (took me over two days to finish) and please have patience with me! I do try!


The Innkeeper listened to the (true) yarn Jean spun about our adventures thus far. Thankfully, she was a good storyteller, which surprised more people than me, and we managed to get very good rooms. But before we left, the Woman insisted on telling us some stories.

"The night is very young! Have a seat." She wouldn't take no for an answer and pretty soon we were all sitting in a circle while she began her story.

"This village wasn't always here, you know. No village ever is. A while back, farther back than I've had years, some poor sap of a wizard was recruited by a local fiefdom to locate a good spot for a good place to build a summer retreat for the local ruling family. He wandered far and wide, until he came to a darkened valley. He went down into the valley to gather water, as he had just run out, and somewhere found some sort of power, which he felt compelled to protect. Now, the wizard wasn't a very good wizard, but anyone who has magic powers or is extremely sensitive, like the Growlers, they don't have any magic in any of them, but they can still sniff out enchantments, can find sources of power if they try to look hard enough. But I get off the subject." She took a deep breath.

"The wizard was not a good wizard, but somehow he managed to use some sort of powerful enchantment, one to contain and protect the power source. Then, to further protect, he went out and hand picked several families and various other peoples, and settled them within the borders of his enchantment. Now, they say that the power source warped the people somehow, and several went insane. Others were affected in different ways. Other strange stories came from the time before myself. But in all of my life, I have never seen any strange happenings, or any insane people, except the old man that plants the dead flowers at the Town Hall. But he's old, and it's expected. Anyway, that's the story of the founding of the town, short, sweet, and to the point."

"It was very interesting." Jean said enthusiastically. I couldn't tell if she was faking or not.

"Don't know if it's exactly true, but it's a pretty tale, is it not? If you have time, I can tell you about some stories about demons that have been found trying to get into town."

"Perhaps another time, my friends and I are very tired." Jean declined, and the Inkeeper gracefully took it in stride, and showed us to our rooms. All of us got a room apiece, and we were given directions to make as much noise as possible if something went wrong in our rooms.

I set the bag down by the side of my bed and looked around the room. The Inn barely has enough rooms for each of us to have a room, which makes me wonder exactly how many people she expects, and where they will be placed.

I looked out the window. I had been put up on the second floor, and I could see a good bit of the town from here.

Interesting how she referred to it as a village. Maybe it was familiarity.

People were beginning to filter out into the streets. I guess whatever thing they had been at was over. Some of them looked over at the Inn, and I spotted some people talking happily with the lady Inn keeper. Judging by the way they acted, I would say they thought of us as oddities, but not really important. Gossip.

I tapped my fingers on the windowsill and opened the window halfway, letting in the breeze. The air had a strange smell to it. I bet if I had Mr. Logan's nose, I could smell it better, and maybe figure out what it was, but I didn't, so I pushed it aside. Things were bound to be strange in a world that boasted so many different species.

I turned away from the window with a sigh. The others were probably sleeping, but I just couldn't. Too much energy when I should be exhausted from walking, in bare feet no less.

I started to pace the floor, unconsciously walking in my own footsteps on the return trip across the room.

I feel uneasy. Anxious.

It's because the voices, the background, is muffled. It's not natural to be so hushed. Not even in that Silent Flower field were they so quiet. I can still hear them, but it's so inaudible. Not even insects chirped. It was creepy.

Like an abandoned temple with fresh bloodstains, where animals refuse to tread.

I frowned at the thought. I had almost forgotten about the temple. According to stories I've heard of, sacrifices are supposed to be used to bring evil spirits into the world, which meant that someone from my world must have been doing something, which doesn't make sense. What would they gain from this? As far as I understand, bad things happening here would cause something of the like bad home, so…Why?

I turned on my heel when I reached the wide open window again, and walked down the length of the room, before freezing at the other end.

I looked over my shoulder at the window. Yes, it was open all the way. Strange, when I only opened it halfway. I turned my head back and frowned at the wall. I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth.

I have an inkling of who my little visitor is. Someone silent, fast. Fast enough to be out of sight by the time I turn my head. Someone quiet enough to raise a window up and sneak in, not making any noise as they move across the floor. Someone that tends to follow me around.

I turned back around and set my back firmly against the wall and looked around the room carefully for anything out of place.

Not that I would have noticed. I've only been in the room for what, twenty minutes, more? I wouldn't notice it unless it was my own things or if it was something like the bed falling over on its side.

I tapped my foot on the floor and stepped away from the wall. A glance at the floor absolved it of any creature, under the bed or in plain sight.

I reached the window again and closed it calmly. Freaking out will not help me in the long run. And in my …I would say experience, but I have never had experience in this sort of matter. Common sense maybe?

Anyway, if I acted totally calm and aware, it would unsettle the other.

I locked the little window and turned around. Again, no change I could see. I started to pace again.

I managed to get halfway across the floor when the section in front of me blinked, BLINKED out of existence.

I swore and stumbled, stubbing my foot on the floor. I swore again as tears stung my eyes, and I hopped backwards, taking my eyes off the floor. When I found my balance and managed to put my smarting foot down on the floor again, I looked again at the section and was very surprised to find it was back in its original state, looking perfectly innocent.

"That was not natural." I said as I slid down on my knees and began feeling around the floor. It seemed solid enough.

"He said you were sensitive to your surroundings. He didn't say how sensitive." A voice commented above me.

I froze, staring at my outstretched hand. The voice was male, and judging by the way he spoke and the direction he spoke from, he was sitting on or standing next to the bed, and he's been sent after me.

"I'm impressed. Not many people, even powerful magic users, would have noticed the break. You've noticed two, by my count."

I got up slowly, straightening up and flexing the stiffness out of my wrist. I turned very slowly to look at the being in my room.

He was sitting on my bed, looking the picture on innocence, which almost threw me off. I quickly got reoriented and studied him a little more closely.

He was actually…short. The only short guys I know Are Jamie and Julian. Even Mr. Logan is taller than me. But this guy only looked maybe three or four inches bigger than me, thought that could change if he stood up, I'm not the best judge. He had blonde hair, which seemed to be different than human hair, almost a sort of natural spikeyness; I don't know how to explain it any other way. His eyes were blue, but a very dark sort of blue. And while they looked wide and innocent, I could tell that he was calculating things behind them. He wasn't big across, not like someone who lifted weights everyday since they were ten, but someone who had tight muscle, someone who didn't put on muscle in bulk. Dangling from one ear, his left, was an earring in the shape of a triangle, looking like it was made of crystal. His clothes were oddly human, more like something I would see guys wear back home, not like here. He was wearing a black T-shirt and dark colored pants.

Shadow.

"You've been following me around."

"I have. You are so smart! But then again, I did let you see me." He flashed a half smile, not actually showing any teeth.

"Why?"

"Well, I got bored of playing invisible man, and I figured I was going to have to talk to you sometime, so why not let you know I was here?"

"No, why were you following me?" I said patiently.

"Following you?" He repeated in wonder.

I bit down on my back teeth and tried not get annoyed. "Yes."

"I don't know what you mean."

"You followed me in the Faerie Forest. You've been following me up the Highlands, where I threw a rock at you. You admitted to it a few seconds ago. Remember now?"

"Not in the least. Are you sure you don't hear things? I heard selective hearing is very common in people your age."

"You don't look overly older than me."

"Why thank you! That's one of the nicest compliments anyone has ever given me." He winked at me. "And getting it from such a cute girl like you makes it even better."

I stepped back in surprise. No one ever handed me a compliment like that before. I blinked at him, not sure how to react.

"Of course, I have been admiring you from afar for awhile now, ever since the Blue Flower Forest…"

"So you have been following me!" I snapped, peeved at myself for letting myself get sidetracked.

"Did I say that? Absolutely not. I said I admire you from afar."

"What are you, some sort of pathetic stalker?" I bristled.

"You are too quick to anger, my dearest. Has any one told you that you look adorable when you're angry?"

"Stop that!" I said, beginning to blush.

"Stop what?" He asked innocently.

"Stop…complimenting me!"

"How interesting. I never met anyone that didn't like to be complimented before. It should be fun traveling with you."

"I never said you could." I said, getting my voice under control.

"I never asked. So we're even. Oh, by the by, my name is Dexianaroth. Dexroth for short, Dex for shorter. All of my friends and exasperated people call me Dex. You'll probably be one of the two at all times, so don't hesitate."

"I don't like you." I gritted out.

He grinned. "You will. I promise, I won't let you not like me. Oh, and some friendly advice, from my voice to your hearing—I wouldn't stay here any longer than you have to. The people here aren't all they appear to be, as you've already gotten an inkling with your little adventure with your floor."

"What do you mean?" I said, glancing out the window at the wandering people.

When I got no answer, I turned back and saw that Dex had disappeared. And my door was open. I ran out of the room and looked around. He wasn't there.

I shook my head and frowned. I looked down the hall where Jean was. I wonder what she would say now that I had my elusive visitor?

Probably would be less than pleased with the entire affair. But it might be better to tell her anyway.

I walked over to her door and knocked.


I know quite a few of you recognize him. I was looking through old reviews and came across so many that said I should write him in, and I finally got around to it.

Asteria: Hope that gave you an inkling. Hope you enjoyed it!

PrincessOfWildfire: Glad you like the village, it took me a little bit of thought. I like the way it came out. I hope you like this chapter, and I hope you like the new addition to the cast.

AnonGirl88: Glad you liked it. Stay tough against those dudes!

Chrissy: I have never seen that movie. I might have too. Was it any good? I hope you liked the chapter!

asp: I love that song! The guitar totally rocks. I hope you like the chapter!

Raliena: Herman says hi. I hope you like the chapter!

Herman will take the reviews! He apologizes with me for the update delay!