Arrival at the Ruins

[Kjara/Jyotic]

"It is a little further. The ground is rough here, so tread carefully. O.K, there is a small step downwards. There you go. You're bird is bigger than a chick, but not yet an adult. She still has a few of her chick feathers, but she seems to be growing quickly. Can she fly yet?" Tamara guided Chlea over a few more rough stones. "There is a flight of steps going up now. It's not long."

[kai]

"She?" Chlea questioned. "I wondered what gender she was... and yes, I believe she can fly... or at least, there are times when she leaves my shoulder, and I am not so sure where she is." Chlea carefully found each step with one foot before stepping upwards, making the progress quite slow. "I am sorry about this."

[Kjara/Jyotic]

"It's ok. Don't panic, and take all the time you need, although the faster the better. There are still people following us. None of the steps are broken, at least they weren't last time, there may be a few damaged now. If I shout stop, don't move, because it'll mean I've found a broken step, and we'll have to somehow get over the gap. Yes, your bird is a she." Tamara smiled again, and pulled her staff out of it's holder on her own pack. She used it to test the steps ahead to make sure they weren't broken or damaged. "The pursuit is getting closer," she said quietly.

[Kayla]

Suddenly a boy about 16 leaped out of the forest. He was panting heavily. His clothes made him look like some kind of theif, though he was obviously running for something. He would've breezed right past Tamara if he hadn't tripped on a root and landed on his knees. "Owch!" he yelped, jumping back up to his feet with a wince. He rubbed a hand over the tear in his pants, hiding the scrape. He hadn't noticed Tamara, nor Chlea yet.

[kai]

Chlea jumped in surprise at the sound, almost losing her footing.
"What was that? Is someone there?"

((Sorry it's short...))

[Kayla]

(no problemo)
Zyg heard the voice and hastily jumped to his feet, in fight position. His hand fell to the hilt of his sword but he soon relaxed, sensing it was not the guards. He looked around and his pink eyes glinted even in the darkness of the forest. It was then that he saw Tamara.

[Kjara/Jyotic]

Tamara froze, and then whispered to Chlea. "There is someone else here. A boy. He looks younger than me... maybe 15/16. He's an albino..." Tamara cast her mind out. The animals in the forest were scared of the pursuit, not of this boy... She connected with the mind of the Faari, that was scampering by the boy's feet. She asked it what he was, and whether he was dangerous, she also asked why he was being chased. The animal replied that he was not evil, all though he was dangerous, and that it didn't know why he was being chased.

Tamara stood up. "Come with us," she said.

[Kayla]

Zyg blinked. "You would ask a complete stranger to come with you?" his voice sounded hoarse, like he'd been screaming or yelling. He let go of the cut on his knee and blinked, looking right into Tamara's eyes unafraid.

His partner, the Faari, sat down obediently by his feet as soon as he began to speak, waiting for the conversation to be over.

[Kjara/Jyotic]

"Or stay here and get killed, I don't care. Come on Chlea." But the truth was she did care. Not about the boy, but about the Faari who would surely get slaughtered as well. She reached forward and put her foot on the next step, and as she shifted her weight the step crumbled beneath her. She let go of Chlea, so she wouldn't pull her over, and then grabbed hold of the next step up, her legs swinging through the hole below.

[Kayla]

"Oh no! I'm not staying here! They'll catch me!" Zyg said in alarm, following them. The Faari stood up and bounded over.
He noticed her slipping and spoke words he never thought he would. He offered to help. "Hey... you seem to be having some trouble keeping your footing. Would you like me to help you carry your friend? The ground's a little weak here so you might fall."

[Kjara/Jyotic]

"No carrying needed. I can do that." Tamara pushed up on her arms, and flapped her wings, pulling herself up from the missing step. "Sorry Chlea, the step broke through. Hang on a sec." Tamara stepped over the gap, and put the packs down. She looked up the steps and noticed 10 or so steps had broken through further up. She sighed. "Chlea, I'm going to lift you over the gap, but it will be easier if your as light as possible. Can I ask Soyru to fly over and sit on the packs while we cross this first gap?"

[Kayla]

Zyg examined the gap and smiled. It was nothing to him. He'd been jumping from rooftop to rooftop before in small villages.

He nodded to Tamara as a 'well at least I offered', before he picked up the Faari. "Come on Aerani!" he laughed, stroking the leaf-like ears of the creature.

[kai]

Chlea nodded, still trying to work out quite what was going on.
"Ah, yes. Soyru, I am sure you understand...?"

Soyru nodded her agreement, pushing herself into the air and flapping over the small gap, still not quite sure of her wings. She landed somewhat clumsily on the packs on the other side, shuffling in order to find good footing.

[Kjara/Jyotic]

"Why are you looking so smug. I just crossed the gap. It's nothing to me either." Tamara retorted when she saw the look on the boy's face. She lifted up Chlea, who was suprisingly light for her size, and slipped over the gap one more time. She carefully put Chlea down on the next step and watched as Soyru hopped back up onto her shoulder. Kjara pointed upwards, to the large gap of over 10 steps. "Can you get across there?" she asked the boy, while bending down to shoulder the two packs. She put Chlea's arm around her shoulder again, and they started up the steps.

[kai]

Chlea felt like she was missing out on a lot, again, what with not being able to see. "Tamara?" She asked softly. "Would you clearly describe our surrondings for me as we walk? it will help me to feel safer, i think, and give us something to take our minds away from those chasing behind us."