A/N:

Lyfe.exe: Thanks for the compliment. You'd be surprised what a really bored me can produce, with 'nothing better to do'.

Hotshot45: Got it...

Sandstone: (Sighs) Well, at least stupid1058 is temorarily dead.

FoS: He'll just revive when we don't want him around again...

Sandstone: Unless Stabby happens to be around... (Smirks)

FoS: (Sweatdrop) Not that clown!

Dodging glances

Well, that was interesting…

I sighed. "Understatement. I hope they have some war or something going on."

That's possibly the most cruel… oh. I… hope so too.

I looked down, and felt my stomach rumble. I'd been traveling easily, using updrafts and thermals to travel distance, but I still was getting hungry, and burning energy.

Well, should we hope that we can find something? A kind soul, perhaps?

I snorted. "Doubtful. Either I start stealing to feed the two of us, or I find… whatever they use for currency. Damn 'magic pill' didn't cover that."

She sighed in my mind. At least you have a clue. I had none, until I bonded with you. Ah well, better than home, I suppose…

I felt (understandably) nervous now. "What's wrong? The war?"

She said gently, The war's getting worse. I saw more and more losses, and injured. My home was about to become the next battlefield, so I said, 'enough! I'll just jump at the next capture net, and bond with someone!'. Your 'net' was the easiest to find.

I chuckled. She was one strange bi'waga. Usually, they were so shy... ah well. I could use a companion to keep me sane. I think she was trying to distract me from thinking negative thoughts… and she succeeded. I spotted a small place gathering of buildings… a 'town', and made for it. They'd probably have food there, maybe I could scavenge some.

&&&&&

I set down in what looked like a empty ribbon… erm, street, and rubbed the back of my head. "Uh…"

No need to say it. A… 'rabbit' would be less out of place than a pair of wings. This'll hurt, though…

I winced, as I felt a freezing sensation start at the back of my neck, and slowly inch downward. She hadn't been kidding, it felt like I was being stabbed by tiny spears of frozen water.

When the pain finally stopped, Toiréasa was sitting on the ground, looking up at me, a half-glare on her features. "Well? Let me up! I hate this low point of view!" I chuckled at her half-glare (it made her look like a homicidal bi'waga), and put her back on my shoulder, and then headed out towards where I saw more humans. More… people.

&&&&&

I eyed the 'menu' (it listed what food was served), and tried to puzzle out what was what. People jostled past me, intent on their own business. Scurry, scurry… I shook my head – it didn't make sense either, but those numerals meant a price. No currency, no food. No food, I go hungry, and I'm stuck with an irate Toiréasa.

I sighed, and turned away. Toiréasa said wryly, "Well, you'd better come up with a way to steal something, we need to eat as much as they do."

I shrugged, and leaned against the wall of the food store. This would be breaking several oaths of the summoner… but again, live first. If command found out, they'd have to agree with that. Besides, I was only going to take from wherever I sensed the most monetary supplies.

I held my staff low to the ground (pointing it at the ground actually), and started making small, tiny circles. I mentally focused on what I needed, and how much.

In my mind's eye, I saw these sheets of paper in a stack – it was lightless. There was whirring nearby – this must be a machina that dispenses it. I concentrated on two sheets in the middle of the stack.

They disappeared from the view, and I felt a crinkle in my pocket. I stopped the vision by ceasing to circle my staff in a small circle, and pulled out the sheets. A numeral… 20 was printed on each. From the numbers at the food store, that was enough. But I'd have to find somewhere where they provided an actual image of what the food was. I didn't want to eat something I'd regret later.

&&&&&

Toiréasa huffed at me as I came out carrying a bag. "There had better be something for me in there. Stupid humans… I'm probably more intelligent than they are. 'Bunny…' I'm no stupid ground-hopper!"

I grinned at her, and dug into the bag. The man had given me something orange, and said it was for her. I held it out, and she sniffed it. "Hmm… doesn't smell toxic…" she nibbled it, then sighed. "It's no cuisine, but I'll eat the thing. What did you get?"

I grinned at her, and pulled out my meal. They said it was Orange Chicken and Fried Rice… but I had no clue as to what that was. Serves us right for considering this place a safehouse, but not checking up on the changes every twenty years. Or hundred years, for the matter. It sounded like it had a high can.. calorie count, and that's all that matters.

I hesitantly ate some of the orange… stuff, and then tried the 'fried rice'. The two went well together, so I started to eat next to Toiréasa.

She sniffed at the smell of meat (bi'waga dislike meat, some idiot in our past thought they made for good cooking – they've resented it ever since), but didn't say anything.

&&&&&

"URRRRPPPHHHH… excuse me…"

"For such a small thing, that was a loud one…"

Toiréasa merely laughed. I got off the portion of the street that was raised above the rest, and sighed happily. I still had enough for several more meals like that… it wasn't half bad. I expected Earth food to suck, but I guess times have changed. Or cultural awareness about how food should be cooked.

I picked up Toiréasa, and put her on my weaker shoulder (my right side was tired of carrying her). We'd gotten quite a few gazes, but they looked away usually. Now, however, they kept on looking at me.

What did I do? Something wrong? I sighed, and tried to remember a place that was secluded enough for someone to 'mysteriously grow wings', and take off. I finally noticed a small pathway that no one seemed to use, and headed for it. Toiréasa commented softly with "bad smell…"

I responded just as quietly, "I know… I can smell it too. But we need to get moving, unless you want to live like a thief for the remainder of your life."

&&&&&

Toiréasa said loudly (we were near some metal bins where the smell was eminating from) "Whew! Stinky! Be glad you don't have my nose… and I won't have it soon." She scrabbled down my back, making me wince as her claws dug into my skin again. The old cuts hadn't fully healed, and were throbbing in sympathy.

Again, the feeling of fire that eventually faded. This time, it didn't seem to hurt as badly.

&&&&&

&&&&&

She was bored. Simple as that. BORED! Bored as a board on a board… bored. She'd been to all the shops, eaten, and her ride wouldn't pick her up for another half-hour. There had been an interesting guy sitting on the curb, talking in some weird language to his pet rabbit, but he'd walked behind the Panda Express. Weirdo, really. He was cute (and the bunny looked cuddly), but the blue hair thing made her wary of approaching him to pass the time. People like that are either Goths, or Anime freaks, and she didn't like either one of them.

But the bunny… he couldn't be Goth, and there weren't any Japanese stores here…

She checked the small watch she had strapped to her wrist, and then walked behind the store, prudently pinching her nose to block off most the smell. She could almost TASTE it…

She turned the corner, and was met with a shock. The same guy was facing the opposite wall (maybe…), and there were wings on his back. Shiny sapphire wings, and his shirt had a hole in it that made it look like he'd always had them.

She tilted her head. Somehow, this was familiar. He kind of reminded her of an angel… that's it… the blue fallen angel!

She smiled, and slowly crept closer to him.

&&&&&
&&&&&

I opened my eyes slowly. It might not have hurt as badly, but I had to squint my eyes closed in order to deal with the pain.

Stop being such a baby.

"Fine."

&&&&&
&&&&&
She crept within arm's length, and suddenly he said to the empty air, "Kraas."

She couldn't help herself. "Huh?"

He whirled around, and she met his gaze. His eyes were grey, like they said. But all he had was a metal stick… no, a staff – no sword. "Uhm… hi?"

He blinked twice, then sighed. It didn't sound heavenly, or filled with prophesies of doom. More like pent-up frustration, and weariness. After a moment, he said (with a light accent she couldn't place) "What… you going to shine lights in my face too?"

She said questioningly, "huh? Lights?"

He shook his head, then turned away. "Hey, wait!"

His wings stretched out, and started to generate a small breeze. She tried to grab his arm, but he reacted by moving aside, and suddenly… she froze. The end of his staff was at her throat, and she could tell that somehow, it was SHARP. He seemed to be surprised as well, then pulled it back slowly. "Don't… touch."

He stared at her, his eyes reflecting a cool confidence that she didn't want to know the source of. He walked through the alley, his wings rustling. She paused, then followed him behind his back.

He suddenly started into a run, his wings pulled back again. Confused, she ran as well.

But the moment they got OUT of the alley, he jumped into the air, his wings spread wide. She gasped – he could FLY with those? It didn't seem possible… he looked like he weighed too much!

&&&&&
&&&&&
"Remind me to next time, find a place where I can launch immediately."

Well, at least they didn't have those light-things.

"Yeah, whatever. We're almost there, if we push it."

FoS: Do I have to keep doing this coundown to titans thing?

Sandstone: Yup.

FoS: (Sigh) Three more left, before the Titans make an actual appearance worth anything.