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"Red, yellow, blue, orange..."
"There is no orange!"
"Then hit both red and yellow brat!" Were the cries that sprung up from the camp a few weeks later.
With developing muscle, a work out routine and good food, Amber Blackthorn was no longer a skinny little brat.
Well, not entirely at least.
After passing Finnel's tests to see if she had gotten the basics down, (involving rabid cats, a pit full of poison ivy and a packet of two minute noodles...) they had finally started to work more on her water magic. Currently, she was working on conjuring it out of the air, and trying to overpower Aria's coloured flames.
"Enough!" Cried Finnel. "Riely has finished dinner, so get over here and eat!"
That made both of them hurry. Riely, Amber had learned, was an amazing cook despite his laid back approach.
Sitting around the campfire, amber couldn't help but consider them a family. Her family. They ate with each other, teasing and laughing together. From the gossip Maki had leaked to her, the only one of them born into the guild had been Finnel, while the rest had only really joined in the past few years.
Looking up at the stars, Amber couldn't help but wonder if the guild was going to accept her. 'Will they end up hating me too?' She sighed, hugging her knees.
As she looked up, searching for constellations, she saw a cloud drifting over the moon to block it out.
"Finnel?" Asked the girl.
"Yeah sweetheart?" Asked the caravan master, looking up from the maps she was pouring over.
"Why is the guild called Night Cloud? Why not something to do with gypsies, or even seals?" Asked Amber.
Finnel smirked at the newbie. "Amber, one day you'll have to get that we keep the seals secret. If a dark guild learned of the exact function of our guild, we wold be gone. Wiped off the map. A smart guild would just track the caravans to the seals, but they would more likely attack the guild's village for info. They could hold out for a while, but the alliances would wipe us out after a while. We can't afford that Amber. So instead of being obvious like sealed soul or something, Alice named it something more subtle. You can't see a cloud at night. The only reason you know it's there at all, is because of what you can't see."
Finnel looked up at the now blocked out moon. "Because we are here, we are not completely over run by monsters. People would notice if we suddenly disappeared, but they don't notice us when were here."
Amber tried to understand this, but it just made the 12 year olds head hurt. Her exhaustion Didn't help, the earlier practice taking its toll. Seeing the girls eyes fluttering, Aria picked her up and started to carry her into the caravan. "Come on brat, time for some shut eye." She whispered to the drifting seer.
Feeling that Amber was asleep, Maki spoke up. "So, what is the next seal?" The woman asked.
Finnel looked up from the map. "It's the seal of the lesser fire demons. We should get there tomorrow around lunch."
Riely winced from where he was doing the dishes. "That's a nasty one to start with. Is she ready for it?"
Finnel sighed, "she doesn't have to be. This seal just requires one Mage for the strengthening. Aria has already called it, saying that she has some pent up aggression to work out."
"You bet I do!" Cried Aria, stepping out of the caravan. "This is the only single combat seal left on the root, and Ken took the first one!"
The others looked over to the whistling Ken, who was trying to look innocent.
Finnel rubbed her forehead. "It was the seal of "imps who steal bacon". Seriously, what's with you and bacon?"
Riely laughed, then became serious. "So the ten Mage seal will be last, right?"
Finnel nodded. "Moon's path will meet us at the seal of elder lore. Cepheus said he should be there on time, so if we hurry we could make the cake festival in Fernbrook before heading back to the village!"
"Yes," grinned Aria, "but first you have a fangirl to ward off."
Finnel froze, causing Ken to laugh, "you forgot Artemis was in moons path, didn't you!?"
Tears poured out of Finnel's eyes in streams, causing the others laughter to echo off into the night.
A.N
I'm really sorry about the late update, but I had exams, then holidays so...
Any way, I'm posting the the current character sheet and caravan listing so people can see what I've been sorting out. I'm thinking about letting some other authors write some of the other caravans while I beta for them. This story is really just establishing the world, so there will be more after this, but I am admittedly lazy, so if your interested please p.m me. Also if I have missed your character of the list please tell me.
Fire Storm Caravan
Caravan leader: Finnel Asha Falsia, 19, wind magic, horse stunts
Medic: Tanaka "Maki" Takashi, 18, Neverwind, fortune teller
Close combat: Ken Hitoshi, 18, Military magic, knife juggler and strong man routine with Riely
Long range: Aria Swan, 26, fire/transformation, singer
Cook: Riely Vaughan, 20, Earth magic, works with Ken
Probationary member: Amber Blackthorn
Horses: Max, Silver, Yew, Votive
Wirlpool Caravan
Caravan leader: Collete Smith, 21, Ice dragon slayer (not her natural magic so weaker) and extremely high level water magic, musical instruments, knife throwing and acrobatics
Medic:
Close combat:
Long range:
Cook:
Probationary member:
Horses: Umi, Nami, Uzu, Naruto
Natures Gift Caravan
Caravan leader: Chi "Nikephoros" Samara, 25, Stuck in a take-over, Singer and Horse stunts
Medic:
Close combat: Melodia Tigawolf, 15, musical/celestial tiger slaying magic, plays guitar while pet tiger Ari dances
Long range:
Cook:
Probationary member:
Horses: Ash, Oak, Willow, Birch
Lighting Bolt Caravan
Caravan leader: Kaito Otanashi, 27, copy magic, acrobat/Clown
Medic:
Close combat:
Long range:
Cook:
Probationary member:
Horses: Shadow, Kaze, Lilly, Mia
Gold Bell Caravan
Caravan leader:
Medic: Iris Zuki, 18, rope magic, rope charming/ escapist
Close combat: Venus Zuki, 18, take over, juggling
Long range:
Cook: Eden Zuki, 18, illusion magic, illusions
Probationary member:
Horses: Goldie, Sunshine, Sweetcorn, Bev
Misty Morning Caravan
Caravan leader:
Medic:
Close combat:
Long range:
Cook:
Probationary member:
Horses: Zac, Mickey, Jaz, Dawn
Chess Board Caravan
Caravan leader: Samson Falsia, 50, Cutting magic, magic show
Medic: Leon de Granaldi, 16, healing and transformation, strong man
Close combat: Patrick O'Donald, 17, exquip, magicians assistant
Long range:
Cook: Aislinn Dollahand, 16, eye based magic, magician/illusionist
Probationary member:
Horses: Knight, Rook, Bishop, Pawn
Times Treasure Caravan
Caravan leader:
Medic:
Close combat: Selena Crossroad, 19, re-quip magic, sword tricks
Long range: Sherry Park, 17, Sealed beast summoning, contortion
Cook: Reese Shirogane, 19, reinforce magic, juggling
Probationary member:
Horses: Mathew, Mark, Luke, John
Paper Back Caravan
Caravan leader: Suasan Benet, 32, book summon, fortune teller
Medic: Maria Benet, 12, book summon, tumbler
Close combat:
Long range:
Cook:
Probationary member:
Horses:
Icy Tears Caravan
Caravan leader: Roland Sparks, 55, Wind, Strong man
Medic:
Close combat: Evelyn Tolbert, 18, ice magic, fortune teller
Long range: Athlea Cedric Lune, 15, snow magic, Singing and dancing
Cook:
Probationary member:
Horses:
Moons Path Caravan
Caravan leader: Cepheus Romulus Dinari, 24, dark ecriture, story teller
Medic: Hyori Tear, 17, healing/copying, singing
Close combat: Aether feirte, 18, invisibility, musician
Long range: Cameron Basilisk, 21, archery/explosive magic, sharp shooter
Cook: Artemis Arsellec lune, 16, celestial spirit magic, plays flute
Probationary member:
Horses:
Starry Skies Caravan
Caravan leader:
Medic: Lydia Casterwill, 25, card/gun/healing/ice/time arc magic, animal tamer
Close combat: Sahara Suu, 18, sand dragon slayer, knife thrower
Long range: Allegra Black, 17, iron sand+secret, knife throwers assistant
Cook:
Probationary member:
Horses:
Night Cloud Village
Guild master: Nia Seablade, 67, wood make, tarot cards
Heir: Maria, 45, wood make, cure seller
Black smith: Rieti Vulcan, 24, volcanic magic, knife thrower
Lacriama specialist: Sera Rion, 21, none, magical fire works
Sera's Gaurd: Kainen Wright, 25, disrupter magic, none