((Just so ya'll know, Whiskey is talking to the group on the beach. (aka Desmond, Dex, Harmoni, Desperado, and Darileen.))

Morgana struggled to her feet and dusted herself off. She made an annoyed face at the sand that caked her clothes thanks to Dex's tackle attack.

"Dex, do you really want me hugging you? I once killed someone with poison caked on my shirt buttons. But if you want to risk it, come here and share the love," Morgana said and turned back to the new arrival. "My name is Morgana. So what did you get sent here for?"

Harmoni rolled her eyes and Dex's antics.

"Desmond, any time you want to drown him is good for me."

Past

"You're telling me..." Udi replied, rolling his eyes. Sighing, he looked around, wondering if there was someone about who'd be slightly more calming than a grizzly bounty hunter or a satyr. Catching a glimpse of Satin standing on the shadowed steps of the chapel, he motioned for her to come over.

As much as Satin was not a fan of Udi, she did understand their conundrum. Crossing her arms over her chest, she walked down the stairs quickly and stopped about a yard from the girl. Crouching down slowly, she looked a little past the girl, wondering if the whole eye contact thing makes you more skittish was for humans or horses.

"We aren't going to hurt you," she offered slowly in a calm, kind voice, "You can leave if you want. But if you're looking for a place to stay...or some food, we can help you...if you want."

"Funny, she seemed a lot less civil when welcoming me," Udi muttered under his breath.

---

Kanti started up the car before looking over at Thomas, "Well then what's the destination your highness?"

Present

Terrance looked up from his traditional spot on the porch of the small chapel in the woods. It was a clear, crisp Fall morning- one of the first that had come to Ditto Town. Beauty aside, the one thing Terrance appreciated about the weather was that the timing for moving the Unnatural group to the reservation was perfect for avoiding spending winter exposed to snow.

The swish of Mr. T's tail was the only sound for a few more moments and then his angled ears perked back at a faint sniffling noise and then the punctuated steps of a familiar person...or former person.

"Pepper," he said, not looking back as the footsteps stopped behind him. "Whatever is the matter?"

The zombie looked down at the serene form of the kitten. Pepper was unsure of what to say but wiped her cheeks and nose clear of the liquid that seemed to have been waterfalling down her face since she woke. It had been another dream. A sleeping memory that Pepper could not explain anymore than she could explain her growing arsenal of emotion.

Terrance finally looked back at the zombie and she looked back, taking a seat with swift, inhuman motion. "What happened?"

"A dream."

"In your dream," Terrance added patiently, looking back at the camp.

"A man, a child, stars," Pepper replied, regaining her unemotional tone.

"Stars?" Terrance asked and would have raised an eyebrow if he was not in kitten form.

"I was looking at stars...The man and I were looking and then he turned the telescope down, towards the earth. I could see we were in a high tower and down below there were people walking around. A woman was carrying a girl...a baby girl. Trinity..."

"Sorry, what was that last part?"

Pepper shook her head, "Trinity- it was the baby's name. Why do I know that?"

"Many unexplainable things in this world. Crack too many open too quickly and you might regret it. Wait for the rest of the answers." Terrance stood up and trotted down the steps, "In the meantime, we have a camp to move."

---

Zaref rolled over onto his back. The steady thrum and roar of the waterfall filled his ears and his body as the sound reverberated through the rock he had been laying on. He didn't see Selena, but was not especially worried, although he had retained the habit of sleep from his human days, his new wife did not have the same need.

The camp will be moving today... he thought to himself, standing up to look over the edge of the waterfall. It had been something they hadn't discussed yet. Did Selena want to stay in Ditto Town at all?

---

Lark was at breakfast again since her vampire had inadvertently created chaos in her timeline. She looked around the room, wondering if Savage would show his face soon. She'd been collecting information for Brick to pass on to Indigo, but it was a slow process. Meanwhile, her emotions were a mess as she tried daily to avoid thinking about the child growing steadily within her. The scientists had been a little too loud and had informed her that she might only be pregnant for five or six months based on previous research. It had not been a good day.

Upstairs, Savage tossed and turned in his sleep, muttering something that sounded like "Celia..."

---

Margaret stepped inside Kes's room, ignoring the fact that her identity had been mistaken. "I'm afraid you weren't looking for me...but I have some news," she offered quietly, shutting the door behind her.

"I've found Eslatar."

---

The Sage Pack coven was already full of activity, even this early in the morning. Naomi had been out hunting and was making stew since the visiting elves weren't used to eating wolf style. They had only been back for one afternoon and a night but Abijah had persuaded them to stay to rest and eat before heading back to the Savage property.

Timothy skipped out, lowering his head over the pot she was stirring to take a deep sniff. "Smells good sissy," He offered, dodging her attempted slap to the back of his head, "Better feed everyone well, Abijah's in a foul mood now that the Unnatural reservation is opening up. He says it'll just be one more reason for the humans to develop the forest."

Aspros

Darileen heard the ensuing chaos, unsettled by the fact that she couldn't really see what was going on. According to her sense of hearing she could tell that a new person had tried to greet her, been tackled for trying to touch her and then an argument broke out. Some cackling person had been singing (or rhyming?) and the only thing Darileen could conclude from the whole ordeal was that her powers were no secret to many of these 'prisoners'.

"I- I'm not sure," Darileen replied to Morgana, "I suppose I've done many things that could be reason to imprison me...but I was never tried in a court of any kind. It seems even the laws about procedure are being ignored these days." Quietly, she put her glove back on her hand and held it up, "My touch is not a danger unless this hand is uncovered," she offered to whoever had believed Dex's warning.

Odi was watching and waiting. He had cringed at Whiskey's sudden appearance but was interested by her words, however crazy they seemed to the rest of the group. He turned his attention back to Darileen when she spoke and was relieved to see she must have concluded they weren't threatening.

"Any time at all," he said, repeating Harmoni's statement about Dex.

Past

Neal took a few steps back from the girl as Satin crouched down to try and comfort the newcomer. Hopefully she'll actually listen to Satin. The Darkling thought as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Neal smiled faintly at Udi's last muttered comment.

--------------------

Present

Another night, another morning. After "meeting" Neal and the other Unnaturals, Karl had returned to town, killed a business man in an alley and was now wearing the deceased mans clothes. "I really don't understand why humans always buy their clothes. Taking from the dead is much more.... entertaining." The Hybrid mused aloud as he stretched his arms before walking the length of the roof on an old office building he had camped out on for the night. After his recent handiwork and with bodies starting to pile up all over and around Ditto Town, Karl had quietly left the hotel he was staying in and was now sleeping wherever he could.

Looking over the edge of the roof, the Hybrid could see all of Ditto Town and the humans that lived there busy about their mindless business. "I wonder if our antics at the pub made the front page...." Karl pondered as he walked to the back of the building and jumped off the roof.... landing in a crouched position on ground unscathed. The Agent of Chaos dusted off his coat before walking around to the front of the building and falling-in with the bustle of humans.

---------

The long awaited day was here.... time to move to the reservation. Neal had been both looking forward to and dreading this day. On the one hand, it would be great to have an actual place to stay and call home. On the other hand, all the Unnaturals would be in one place that was funded by a politician.

The Darkling shook off these thoughts as he continued packing his travel bag. Another thing that was at the forefront of Neal's thoughts: having to leave. After the events of the previous night, Neal had decided to leave the company of his fellow Unnaturals for a short time. I've put this off far too long, I need to know how to kill Karl. I just hope Bernie hasn't been thrown in prison for his books.... the Darkling thought as he finished packing. While the others would be going to the reservation, Neal would be going in the opposite direction..... to Monstropolis.

--------------

Aspros

"I'm glad to know I have your permission." Desmond replied to Hermoni with a slight bow. "Don't worry Dex, I won't be drowning you today. It would be very..... rude to kill you in-front of a new guest." The Darkling reassured the boy cryptically. Desmond's words were only made that more creepy by the friendly tone in which they were said.

((Aren't the newspaper peeps staying in the past? Or did I miss something? ))

Past

"The Bradford Hotel," Thomas told Kanti. He waited for Alice to join them in the car, and was confused when she didn't climb in. He was just about to wonder aloud if she was coming or not, when she suddenly appeared in the backseat, shutting the door firmly. He twisted in his seat to look back at her and thought he saw that her cheeks were wet. Frowning in concern, he reached out and touched her knee lightly.

"You okay?"

"Of course I'm okay," Alice snapped peevishly. "Why wouldn't I be?" She wiped her sleeve across her face and gave Kanti's seat a light kick. "Let's get going already."

Thomas didn't speak again the rest of the short way back to the hotel. In his mind he was somewhat fuming over how Alice was treating him. He'd never in his entirely life been spoken to in such a manner. But still, it was somewhat refreshing to be treated as no one special. He even had to smile at the thought of Elisabeth getting a dosage of Alice's scathing words.

When they reached the hotel, Thomas led the two up to the royal's suite, carefully bypassing any security or employees on the way. He ushered them into the room and locked the door behind them, just in case. Then he pointed to the balcony.

"It looked like someone took a head-dive off the balcony, but there was no blood on the ground, and no body. I assumed that meant the person had wings."

"Or could teleport," Alice said. "And you know, not everyone who can fly has wings." She made her way to the kitchenette and helped herself to some fruit from a complimentary fruit basket sitting on the counter.

Mouth full, she pointed at Kanti. "You're the detective," she mumbled. "Detect."

-----

Present

((I'm assuming they stayed in some sort of cave above the waterfall, Marshy? Since it's morning and all?))

Selena entered the cave from the outside, hopping lithely from rock to rock to avoid the rushing currents of water that would sweep her off her feet and down the edge of the falls if she was not careful where she stepped. She landed lightly next to Zaref and kissed his lips briefly.

"How did you sleep, beloved?" she asked, knowing how nightmares sometimes plagued him at night. She still had not worked up the courage to ask what exactly had gone on in Tallulah's coven, but she knew whatever had, had left him scarred.

----

Caerwyn hesitated outside Curse's door. His fingers itched to open it and step inside like he usually did, but for some reason he could not bring himself to do so. Inwardly he chided himself on acting so childish. Verity was his best friend. He could not live without her. And he knew he could not push her away, not since Indigo had left. She needed someone constant. Someone who knew her. And he had already abandoned her once. He was not going to do it again.

The door opened slowly and he stepped into the room, shutting the door telekinetically behind him. He approached the bed and stared down at the sleeping girl. It was early yet, the sun just rising. Wordlessly, he climbed up on the bed and sat by her feet, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. For a moment he was content to just watch her. But then that uneasy fluttering feeling entered his stomach, freezing him in place. Then he reached out with his mind and caressed hers, gently, tenderly, not wanting to startle her.

Verity. Wake up.

He did his best to not let his agitation reveal itself, though it was harder to control emotions in the mind where they liked to roam freely.

----

Indigo paced back and forth, ready to move on to Savage's place as soon as possible. He had wanted to go in the night, but knew it would not do to refuse the Sage Pack's hospitality when relations between Brick and he and the Pack were fragile at best. Still, he could not contain his impatience for long and had been pacing for quite a while now, actually wearing a path in the forest floor.

----

Prospero stood where Alice had left him, in the forest, near the Unnatural camp. He was still processing the fact that she had known where the camp was this entire time and had neglected to tell him. But whatever resentment he might have felt toward her from this fact was wiped clean and replaced by the new emotion of fear, shock, and dejection at being left behind. He was not entirely sure why he felt so miserable with Alice gone, but he supposed it was because he had grown accustomed to her presence and now that she had left him, it felt as though someone had cut off his right arm.

From her plate at Prospero's side, Lucetta huffed in annoyance. "I don't see what you're so gloomy about," she said. "That girl was condescending at best and downright rude at worst. You should be glad to be rid of her."

"She was the only friend I had," Prospero said, realizing, with a start, that they had indeed been friends.

"Hmph. Well, it's not like she's leaving forever. She'll be back." When the boy did not answer, Lucetta narrowed her eyes. "She said she'd be back, didn't she?" she asked sharply.

Prospero shrugged listlessly. "She said she had a new master now. She said I'd be safe at the camp. It didn't sound like she planned on coming back." He was surprised at how miserable his words sounded in his own ears.

Lucetta rolled her eyes. "Oh for heaven's sake!" she cried. "Stop that moping and get to the camp. I need a good polish. Something that'll make me shine. I may not have diamonds or jewels anymore, but I can at least look my best wearing this silver platter. Just don't put me too close to the fire or I'll melt. And for heaven's sake, don't let anyone eat off me!"

Prospero could not help but smile faintly as Lucetta's familiar complaints reached his ears. He adjusted the plate under his arm and walked into the clearing where the chapel stood. He paused in front of Mr. T and Pepper, recognizing them only vaguely. He wondered if they would recognize him as he fingered the scars on his face and neck.

"Um, excuse me," he said cautiously. "But I heard Unnaturals would be safe here?"

"Oh just show me to them, Prospero!" Lucetta cried. "No one could forget a beautiful face like mine. Go on, show them!"

Prospero flushed in slight embarrassment, but kept Lucetta firmly between his arm and his side.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

Present

Mark walked into Neal's room and leaned on the door frame "Your not coming right to the reservation..." he said staring at him "Your going to Monsteropis to figure out a way to kill Karl, I'm in"
---
Josh sat by the fire, smiling at the two werewolves antics "He's right, the meal smells awesome"
---

Staught walked down a forrest road heading toward Ditto Town, he neared the tree line when he saw the town "Why the heck would Mark come here?" he asked himself "What a crappy town" he added as he contiued walking.

Aspros

Desperodo stood up and reached down, grabbing the new girls hand "Welcome to the happy, cursed, prision island! I hope you enjoy your stay!" he said with a smile. Before his grin faded and said "Bob's lying to you... Every moment on this stupid island is horrible and you won't enjoy it"

Past

Fanny froze when the shadowy spirit presented a sort of offering and laid it at her feet. She was apprehensive as to understand the ritual reasoning behind it as it seemed rather backwards to her. Wasn't she supposed to be making a peace offering to them? She could not remember a tale when a spirit ever gave a gift to a mortal without a sinister cause.

Distracted by the unexplainable deed, she did not notice a figure approach until a soft, feminine voice spoke naught but a few feet away from her, and as tense as she already was, Fanny did not react as violently as before but visibly twitched, her face jerking in the direction of the new voice. A great mistake, for in the movement her curls shifted, partly revealing her face and removing any barrier she had of warding spells. However, when Fanny's eyes settled on the newcomer standing in the light like a savior, she was far from sorry it happened.

"You are a woman!" she exclaimed upon seeing and recognizing a fellow mortal. Relief and ecstasy flooded her emotions as strongly as tears fell down her cheeks. "Oh! Blessed mortal. I was beginning to think I was all alone in this spirit world."

Moving to the side as well as pushing her hair to cloak her vulnerable side against the two spirits, she moved a tiny step closer to Satin that she dared the spirits would allow. There was so much she had wanted to say when she at last found somebody to talk to, and finally now that moment came and she was rendered speechless with all that had happened. For a moment she had to content herself with looking up at the woman with imploring eyes before she could open her mouth. When she did her voice alone begged for sympathy.

"Please, save me from this madness, dear lady. I can't get out. I was chased in the woods . . . by a madman, I have been tormented by spirits and voices, and I haven't been able to find my way out for. . ." In the moment of pondering, trying to remember how long it had been, her voice cracked between a sob. "I don't know!" she cried as she ran a hand through her hair, overcome with exhaustion and emotion. "Please, I need rest and a safe haven."

~~~~~~

Aspros

There were few moments in his life when Dex actually took a threat seriously, and at the moment when threats seemed to be coming at him left and right like pesky gnats, he just stood there and didn't even bothered to swat. Threats he was used, thrived on really because his hobby of creating mischief had that kind of side effect that he was starting to get addicted to. So as Desmond backed off, Dex stood with a foolish grin on his face, enjoying the attention he was getting, when Morgana presented a notion that caused him to pause. Her threat sounded very plausible right about then, and without thinking, he did a double take on himself to see if he had not been poisoned like she had suggested. Abilities he was able to sensor, but potions were a different matter all together.

He hadn't dropped dead yet, nor did he feel any wooziness. Dex scowled in the witch's direction, backing away with some caution in case she tried to dust him with poisonous sand or something sneaky, and being on edge as he already was, he gave a start when Harmoni joined in.

"Oy, who's side are you on?" he yelped, forgetting about the new prisoner, and gave her an incredulous look. The likelihood of the threat being executed unnerved him. Harmoni had threatened Dex many times; he lost count after the first hour he met her, but never did she start a mutiny with someone else. For the first time he was starting to see the disadvantages of having a sidekick.

Even after Desmond reassured him that no harm would come to him (yet) Dex was still not comforted. "Gee, you sure know how to make a guest feel comfortable," he commented sulkily, crossing his arms over his chest.

Past

"A madman, how do you like that," Udi muttered with a scowl. Wrinkling his nose, the satyr turned on his heel and walked decidedly towards the chapel, hoping to steal a bed from some poor soul within.

Satin listened to the girl's tale with a growing frown, wondering what could have distressed her so. She raised a hand, touching the newcomer's shoulder briefly.

"There now. I have a place where you can rest. The...spirits here won't harm you, but there is a hut just under the trees over there where you can sleep away from them if you want," she offered, thinking of the hut where the missing Ms. Crazy had once slept with her faithful dog. Chancing a glance at the tearful young woman, Satin felt sudden sympathy for her plight, "Don't worry, you're safe here."

---

Kanti turned away from Alice and Thomas and stared hard at the wall of the suite, trying very hard not to be angry with the girl's orders. The moment offered something though. Most evidence had been cleared away by the police but there on the wall she was staring at were faint marks. Dark eyes narrowing, the detective turned slowly, noting how close the balcony was to this particular clue.

"This one did have wings," she said to the others, tracing the indentation in the wall with her fingertip. "The investigating team probably told Lieutenant that this was from a fingernail- but it's too deep. I've seen this kind of mark before." Turning fully to face Thomas she motioned her hand for him to look, "Vampires who have developed the power of flight have wings with talons. The size varies, but this gouge would be exactly what one of those talons might create."

Kanti crossed back to where the bloodstained carpet lay morosely. "It was probably two vampires then...which begs the question, why would a vampire draw blood from another? They don't feed on their own kind, at least not that I've seen. There have been theories of course," she crouched and traced the outline of the bloodstain, noting that it roughly outlined the shape of a head and neck. "Some think that a sire and their offspring share a connection through the blood...psychic maybe. Even if that's the case I don't know why a sire and their sired would fight like this."

Stopping, Kanti lapsed into thought, unaware of how she had been babbling. She glanced up as the handle to the room began moving noisily. Casting a panicked glance at Thomas, she hurried over to the balcony and hid behind the wall there.

Having given up on finding her brother with the absentee Latch's help, Elisabeth had returned up to the royal suite to see if Thomas had returned there. She wouldn't admit to herself how worried she was but her hand was shaking as she tried the locked handle to the rooms.

---

((My bad- yes the newspaper peeps))

Cyrano watched Melanie in the driver's mirror, wishing Ian would come back soon. He wasn't sure why she put him on edge at every moment, though questions like the one she'd just asked were probably one reason. Another might be the way he couldn't stop watching her comb her fingers through her hair.

Swallowing, he looked away, forcing his eyes toward the blinking neon sign of the establishment they were parked outside.

"I thought I was..." Cyrano answered quietly, sure she would know the truth if he tried to hide it. "Somehow, now, it seems I wasn't strong enough to love someone else. Risky business really. Everyone talks about the nice feelings, but they don't say anything about the pain or the choices."

Present

Basil was frozen. He couldn't move or speak, but could only stare at the body laying on the cold examining table.

"Sir...I said, can you please identify this woman?" the examiner asked, trying to sound as sympathetic as one who had seen over two thousand dead bodies could.

Shaking off his stupor, Basil looked up at the man, "Yes," he said and cleared his throat, "Yes, this is my sister Coriander."

The small, balding man nodded. "The police will want an autopsy though the cause of death is obvious without it...would you...like my opinion?"

Basil nodded, unable to take his eyes away from the man who paced the tiled floor back and forth, sucking thoughtfully on the end of his pen.

"Vampire attack...though the mauling suggests something more than the run-of-the-mill leeches that have been plaguing the town. There's a detective on the force here, Kavita I believe, who is clever at classifying but I don't know why you'd need to know much more. Unfortunately your sister was killed in a senseless act of violence that took the lives of many others at the pub."

"Pub?"

"Yes...yes, that little place on the edge of town. Quite popular, though of course it won't be now. The name, uh," he looked down at his clipboard, "The Drop Inn."

A sign flashed in Basil's memory and he choked, keeled over and found his balance against the same cold slat where his sister lay pale and silent. Last night...the pub, the vampire. Without another word Basil stood up and headed towards the door.

"But sir! The paper- your signature!" the man called after him and was met only by the sound of the slamming door. "Well then..." turning away from the door the man glanced down at the body and found nothing, "LISA!! COME QUICK!"

But Lisa- the curly-haired, red-lipped new assistant was nowhere to be found. If the examiner hadn't been in such a panic, he might have been a little relieved. She had always frightened him, and besides what kind of professional wore a lip ring?

---

"You found your way back," Terrance said, quite surprised to see Prospero standing there, "Unfortunate that the mirror did too...but I suppose she'll be welcome as well." The kitten, for once, sounded quite happy and sincere.

Pepper tilted her head in greeting to the boy before leaving. She had much to do and was not eager to show her tear-stained face to anyone else at the moment. After making herself presentable, the zombie went about the painful business of waking everyone up who had not already gotten out of bed.

Udi dropped to the floor with a thud and glared up at the zombie, rubbing his horn with a grumpy expression.

Satisfied with the satyr's reaction Pepper moved on, rapping on the different doors in the chapel basement. Finally she came to the room at the end of the hall that had become Satin's since they had rebuilt the camp. She knocked and then pushed the door open to find the place completely abandoned. Remembering their distraught visitor from the night before, the zombie thought not much of it and left.

About half a mile from the camp, Satin trudged through the forest with nothing but the pack on her back and the troubled frown on her face. Her dark, long braid swung in time with her heavy steps. It felt so wrong to be leaving like this without a word to anyone. Last night, she'd hardly slept, mulling over the problem.

She was a danger to them all, this much was clear to her. She could not continue landing them in trouble and be constantly in need of rescue. Besides that, she was a legal liability since her renegade status would force them into lying to Latch. Overriding all of this was the larger reality that she was simply human. The reservation was a safe place yes, but only for those who needed that protection. It was something Satin had longed for...but now it also meant a sore separation.

Leaving, she believed, was her only option. She tried very hard not to imagine the faces of Indigo and Brick and Lark, Zaref and Selena, Neal and Pepper and Terrance and Emmaline and Curse and Eslatar and Kes and all of those who had become more of a family to her than any others had been. For them- she could do this, for them- she would.

---

((Yeah a cave is fine Ryan ))

"Great," Zaref replied with a wide smile at Selena. He ran a hand through her hair and returned her kiss with one of his own, finding familiarity and comfort in the intimate motion.

Breaking away after a moment, he searched his wife's face, wondering if it was the right time. "Today the camp will be leaving...should we go with them?"

---

"Thank you," Naomi answered with a smile at Josh. She began scooping out the bowls, purposely passing one beneath Timothy's nose before handing it over to the elf. "And here's yours," she said, giving another to Timothy.

She could see Indigo near the trees, pacing back and forth. "Indigo! Care to eat?" she called.

---

Curse woke suddenly, feeling irritable for a reason she couldn't explain. The faint whisps of dreamland still clung to her, stopping her senses for a moment. Tiredly, she pushed wavy, brown hair out of her face and looked, blinking, at Caerwyn.

"Did you call me? I thought it was a dream..." she said, yawning. "Is something wrong?"

Elsewhere in the house, Emmaline woke and stretched her arms above her head before turning over in the bed. Blonde hair obscured her vision for a moment before she sleepily brushed it aside. Hook's profile was outlined against his pillow, peaceful for once at least in sleep.

Aspros

Darileen frowned at the enthusiastic handshake she was receiving from Desperado. "Yes...uh...thank you."

"I hate to be a nuisance...especially when you are all doing such a good job of ignoring the poor little satyr...but uh, has anyone noticed that the sun is about to go down?" Odi offered quietly with a nervous laugh. He looked out over the now red ocean and stared at the drooping sun with frightened eyes.

Past

Thomas jumped in surprise when the doorknob started to shake. He watched as Kanti hid and Alice turned invisible. It was unnerving to think that the genie girl was still there even though he couldn't see her. Taking a deep breath, he headed toward the door, shoulders tense, unsure of what to suspect. He'd just found out that vampires had been in his suite, and that thought did nothing to help the paranoia that was seeping in.

But one glance through the eyehole in the door told Thomas he needn't worry about vampires but something else probably a lot worse. With a sigh he opened the door and gave his sister a weak smile.

"Uh, hey sis," he said in a wholly uncharacteristic way. He had never in his entire life used the words "hey" or "sis." Especially when talking to Elisabeth ("uh" he unfortunately said quite often, however).

----

Melanie tossed her hair behind her shoulder once she was finished with the knot. She frowned slightly as Cyrano finished and pursed her lips.

"I think the pain sometimes makes it worthwhile though, in the end. Sometimes. I mean, I know I really love my brother because I hurt when he hurts and I'm sad when he's sad. It's kind of unpleasant, but it makes me glad I can be there for him. Though I'm not quite sure I could love someone else the same way . . . I mean, obviously not the same as my brother but I don't want to be spread too thin with my emotions, you know? Not when Ian needs me so much. But . . . I might be able to reconsider . . . if the right guy comes along." She glanced sidelong at him.

Ian appeared just then. He slid the box of doughnuts onto the dashboard and handed out the coffee. "You didn't talk his ear off, did you Mel?" Ian asked teasingly, though he watched Cyrano and thought the man looked as uncomfortable as Ian thought he would be.

Melanie grinned innocently over her steaming Styrofoam cup. "Of course not. I was a perfect angel. Wasn't I, Cy?"

----

Present

"I . . . thank you," Prospero said, happily surprised to see that they were welcome.

"Unfortunate???" Lucetta exclaimed indignantly. "Well I never! You, Mr. Cat, are very rude. And irritating!"

"Sorry about her," Prospero said, looking sufficiently embarrassed.

----

Selena tilted her head slightly. "Do you want to?" she asked softly, thinking, personally, that it would be safer for Zaref to stay with the Unnatural group, rather than be by themselves where Tallulah could send her minions to take him back.

----

Indigo hesitated, but then he caught whiff of the meal and his stomach growled loudly. Grimacing slightly, he jogged over and paused behind Naomi, looking down over her at the food.

"I guess I could eat," he said after a moment of silence.

----

Caerwyn rested his chin on his knees, tilting his head to the side as he looked back at Curse.

What do you dream? he asked curiously, avoiding the subject he came to talk about for the moment.

----

Aspros

Whiskey stopped giggling and suddenly looked very, very serious. She pointed at the sinking sun and began to chant in a low, eerie voice,

"They come to drink your blood, your mind, your soul. They drink, the cold ones drink. The pale ones drink. The unholy ones drink. Drink, drink, drink. Until you're gone, gone gone."

She put her pointing finger in her mouth and bit down slightly, slowly grinning around the digit.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

Present

Neal paused for a minute at Mark's words before walking over to the large bay window in the room and checking the rounds in his revolver. "Thanks for the offer, Mark, but this is something I need to do alone." The Darkling replied as he looked over at the elf. "It will be easier for me to go alone. Not having to worry about anyone else's safety." Neal held up his right hand to stop the elf prince from arguing with him. "Besides, I need someone to stay with the others and keep me informed if anything happens." he added with a friendly smile as he put the revolver in it's holster. "I'm sure I'll need all the help you can give soon enough." the Darkling added as he looked out the window before returning to his travel sack for one final check.

After making sure everything was accounted for, Neal closed the sack and swung it over his shoulder before heading for the door, being sure to grab his fedora from it's place on the wall as he left. "One more thing... Would you keep an eye on Satin while I'm gone? I'm sure she'll be fine, but still...." the Darkling trailed off as if lost in thought before heading down the staircase and through the sanctuary to the front doors.

----------------------------

Aspros

"And darkness shall cover the face of the earth...." Desmond said as he watched the sun set. "I have no fear of the night, but as our Satyr said, it is getting dark." the Darkling offered to the rest of the company in a slightly bored tone.

"I would recommend finding some shelter for you and your friend before vamp's find you. They won't be as... friendly as we have been." Desmond said to Darileen before turning and walking back to the edge of the forest, nodding to Whiskey as he passed the crazed girl.

Present

Mark followed the darkling down the steps and to the chapel door, he grabbed Neal's arm as approached the doors "Hey Neal" he said before drawing a small pistol. He spun it cowboy style before pushing it into Neal's hand.

"That revolver of yours is a little out dated, thought you could use this" Mark added with a smile "I was wrong to have changed my mind about you last night, big mistake... And um I'll take care of her"
---
Josh took the bowl from Naomi with a grin and began digging into his food "Definitely tastes as good as it smells" before taking another bite and continuing eating.
---
Staught walked into the town, looking around, he was also smelling. As weird as it sounds; he could smell the difference between evil and good people. There were a few pockets of extreme evil in this town for sure...

Like that one. What the heck was it it... Part werewolf, part vamp. He also smelled; Mark, a pocket of extreme good, he smelt Mark on the hybrid. Find the hybrid. Find Mark.

Aspros

"Well I'm out of here" said Desperado before muttering a view words and disappeared quickly. His foot prints could be seen in the dim light, walking across the sand towards his tree house in the forrest.

Present

Neal weighed the pistol in his hand for a moment before tossing it in the air and catching it again by the handle. "Thanks." he said with a nod and a slight smile as he put the pistol inside his trench coat for the present time.

"About last night, don't apologies. I should have told everyone who I was... what I was, but there never seemed to be a chance and besides, I thought that part of my life was behind me. It appears fate had another idea, though..." Neal continued as he reached for the door handle. "Anyway, I'm not the same man I was when Karl knew me." he added with a tone of finality to the situation as he opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch.

As the Darkling was standing on the porch, an annoyingly familiar voice echoed across the clearing. Lucetta?! Neal thought as he looked around to see where the mirror was, finally landing on Mr.T talking to a strangely familiar boy. "Prospero? Is that you?" Neal asked as he walked up beside Terrance. "I thought we had lost you for good. Welcome back." the Darkling offered, though the memory of the voices taking over the boy kept Neal from being too friendly.

----------------------------

Having found a newspaper stand, Karl was now sitting in the Town Square reading the paper he had just purchased (more correctly just stolen) and enjoying the various scents of the humans that were bustling about town.

Despite the fact that the Hybrid seemed fully engrossed in his reading, he was in fact keeping a wary eye on the man that was making his way towards him.

"Cold be the heart if the heart be stone, for something wicked this way comes." Karl said dryly once the man was standing in front of the Hybrid. "You're not a vamp, nor an elf nor a Darkling and not a werewolf. It is now my time to ask the question what are you and what do you want?" Karl added in the same slightly bored tone, never looking up at the stranger while he spoke.

Present

"A Shade" he said simply, "I've been made aware that you have come in contact with an elf known as Mark. I'd like to know if you could tell me where to find him... I have an old feud to settle with him" Staugh added.

---

Mark walked down the steps and behind Neal then went up to the poor dragon of whom his author has forgotten all about Hey bud he said as Brand lowered his head, allowing Mark to rub it.

We seem to be getting ready to leave now Brand replied, Mark nodded and said I'd better get your saddle on Brands response was to growl and say darn, I hate that stupid thing

Past

Elisabeth raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow at Thomas. Moving her eyes to sweep the room, she concluded that her brother was obviously up to something. His whole demeanor screamed of it, especially his uncharacteristic greeting. Her relief that he was alright died suddenly with the suspicious nature of the situation.

"What's going on?" she asked, entering the room before he could object.

---

Cyrano wasn't sure what to say to Melanie's statement (offer?) about loving the 'right' guy. Luckily, Ian came back just in time to prevent any response.

"Sure, an angel," he repeated to Ian's query and took an immediate sip of very, very hot coffee. Sputtering, he wiped his mouth on his sleeve and glanced at Melanie through the rear-view mirror.

Present

"No need to apologize. 'Rude' is the least nasty of the insults I've heard," Terrance replied merrily. He swished his tail back and forth and glanced up as Neal walked over.

"You leaving us then?" Mr. T. asked the man, ignoring his greeting to Prospero, not at all concerned about interrupting.

---

"I think it might be safer...for us," Zaref answered quietly, "Besides, all of our friends will be there too. Mr. T. thinks it will be safer than staying in the woods. Our only other option would be to leave for some other land..."

---

Naomi smiled slightly and handed a full bowl to Indigo. "Thank you Josh," she answered the elf before serving herself.

Timothy came back to the group, eying Indigo a bit warily. He hadn't been happy about the strangers staying in the camp, mostly because the Indigo fellow was so intimidating. It wasn't as if they didn't have enough brooding, alpha male types around without another- especially another whom Naomi seemed so intent on befriending. Not to mention the elf. Since when did Abijah make friends or allies with anyone outside of their kind anyway?

---

I don't know, Curse shared mentally, closing her eyes and letting the fragments of dream flit across the connection to Caerwyn. "I think it was about you. Something bad was happening," she said aloud as the images stopped and her eyes opened to examine the boy still sitting serenely on her bed.

Aspros

Odi shivered at Whiskey's chant and grabbed Darileen's now gloved hand, risking his fear of the dark for a greater reward.

"But I need to find Victor," Darileen exclaimed, feeling someone tugging at her hand.

Odi drew closer, ignoring the crowd around, "I saw the other boat drift towards the far shore. Your Victor must have been in it. I can take you there, but we have to hurry before darkness falls."

There was only a split second to decide and as no one else seemed much interested in her dilemma, Darileen could only nod. After all, there was no need to fear an enemy, even vampires and she was already very used to the dark.

Pleased, Odi pulled Darileen on, into the forest, hoping the others would assume he was simply leading her to a safe hiding place.

Present

"For a time, yes." Neal replied to Mr.T as he looked down at the cat. "I have some questions that need answers. There's a friend of mine in Monstropolis that I believe can answer my questions... if he's still around." the Darkling explained.

"Don't worry about me vanishing for good, though. I'll be back in a week or so, if you'll still have me." Neal added with a sly grin.

-------------------

Without looking up at the Shade, Karl closed and folded the newspaper that he had been reading before laying it on the bench beside him. "A Shade, eh? I don't believe I've ever met one of your kind before...." Karl mused aloud as he looked the man over. "Anyway, yes, I've had the misfortune of meeting the elf named Mark before." The Hybrid said as he leaned back against the bench.

"He's living with the Unnatural group in the forest just outside of town." he added gesturing to the far side of Ditto Town with right hand in an almost lazy manner. "It won't do you any good though. The camps leaving today to go to a specially built reserve. It seems one of the young politicians has taken a likings to the Unnatural's...." Karl trailed off with a chuckle, shaking his head as though he had just heard a joke.

----------------------

Aspros

Desmond silently watched Odi pull the new prisoner into the forest, knowing or at least guessing what the Satyr was up to. A little soon to be playing with our new arrival, don't you think Odi? The Darkling thought as he watched the two disappear into the forest.

"I can't wait to see you fall, either by her hand or mine..." Desmond said aloud to the darkness with a morbid smile before disappearing into the shadows behind him.