True Love|New Anarlina

[Kender Bard]

Andromeda lurked around the borders of Anarlina, wary to go further than she already had. She clutched alternately between Arcan and Tevran's hands, quite obviously frightened and nervous.

"It's okay, mother," Arcan replied soothingly once she drifted back to his side and held tight to his hand. "Tev and I won't let anyone hurt you."

"I keep expecting some Anarlinan to pop out and go 'Ha! I have you now, you dirty Morilantans!' and ruin this all," Andromeda whimpered. "Tevran, can you go ahead of us? You'll blend in better than we would." And it was true - Andromeda had gotten new clothes in Sensatia as a gift from Mikasi, so she was no longer clad in barely anything. Regardless, she still seemed primal somehow. Arcan did not bother to hide his true nature, and had done nothing to file down his carefully maintained nail-claws and had refused to get new clothes. He was still clad in his ragged robes.

[Deleted]

A woman stepped through the brush and stopped in surprise. In front with their backs to her, stood three people, and by their rigidity, she would have to say they were anxious about something.

Looking at them from behind, she couldn't really see them very well, especially since all three sported black wings. Taking a careful step to one side, she hoped, in a way very uncommon for her, that they wouldn't see her yet.

[tuo]

Tevran looked at Andromeda. "Are you sure I'll blend in..? I mean...considering where I've been all this time.." Suddenly he stops and stands at alert. "I think I heard something.." He looks around carefully for who may be there.

[Kender Bard]

Andromeda was about to counter-argue when she stopped and looked around. Arcan hunched down, as though prepared for an arrow to whistle by or a sword to swing at him, and growled dangerously. He turned and caught sight of the woman and glared at her darkly. "Who are you? What do you want?" he demanded.

[Deleted]

She blinked and grunted in disgust. Not at them for hearing her, but at herself for letting them hear her. Making a futile atempt - and soon giving up - at straightening her dress she gave a curt introduction. "My name is Dahlia. I have just been swept from Ronduin to here. Problem is, I don't know where 'here' is."

[Kender Bard]

Arcan and Andromeda drew together, close and frightened of the stranger.

"She's not an Anarlinan," Andromeda murmured, loud enough to be overheard.

"So she says," Arcan growled. "Well fine then. You're in Anarlina now, lady."

[Deleted]

She found herself smiling and put a finger to her lips. "In Anarlina, huh?" she took a closer look at the trio, taking in their appearances, their wings and...their extreme caution in this land promoting 'love'.

"Anarlina has a...rival land, right?" she asked but didn't bother waiting for an answer. "Are you perhaps from this other land, this..." she quickly rifled through her memory. "Morilanta."

[Kender Bard]

Arcan and Andromeda gave her ugly looks and took up threatening stances. Arcan himself looked ready to pounce and rend the woman from limb to limb if need be.

"What's it to you?" Andromeda asked suspiciously.

[tuo]

Tevran flinches but puts his hands on Arcan and Andromeda's arms. "We shouldn't do anything like that...I don't think dad would like it if we attacked somebody without being provoked.."

[Deleted]

She held up her hands in what she hoped was a placating gesture. "Now now, I've already suffered one wound in the last few days too many..." she moved her cloak aside to show the still healing knife wound in her chest.

She let the cloak fall back into place. "I don't wish attacked, nor will I attack."

[Kender Bard]

"Then go away," Arcan snarled nastily. Andromeda tried to calm him.

"Tevran's right, dear, let's not draw attention to ourselves," she murmured and cupped a wing around her youngest son. "Miss, we're just trying to find someone who might be here. That's all."

[Deleted]

"I happened to overhear that..." she looked again at their general appearance, "You are uncomfortable about who to send in there. Maybe I can be of some help. See," she her smile faded to be replaced by a grimace. "I am looking for a place to hide in there, so it would perhaps benefit us both."

[Kender Bard]

"I'd rather trust my own," Andromeda responded cooly. "My eldest can take care of it - especially since he knows who to look for. Right son?" She glanced pointedly at Tevran. "I'd send Arcan but he'd be dangerous to the Anarlinans."

Arcan chuckled wickedly.

[tuo]

Tevran nodded. "Right, I can ask around for him."

[Kender Bard]

"Good," Andromeda murmured and drew Tevran close to whisper to him. "Go now, and find Thakur. Please, son... I'll stay here to guard Arcan. If you encounter trouble, come right back here."