Skedaddle

[Soran Nightblade]

Adonis ate his food quickly. Being tense around the crew all day had made him avoid lunch, and he was hungrier than he'd thought. He finally set the empty bowl aside and pulled off his boots. The ship had grown quiet except the sound of the waves, and it was too dark out to see much, so it made sense to get some sleep until the sunlight returned. He looked across the room at where Laya was curled on the bottom mattress. Telanis was looking at him questioningly, sitting up next to her. It was clear he wanted to stay with her again. And he wanted approval to do it. Damn it. Why did he feel like he was being out-tricked?

"I'm taking the top," he muttered, climbing the ladder next to Laya's head and settling in above them.

[Emora Deen]

Laya tried not to snicker, so she covered her mouth and looked to Telanis. When Adonis had climbed up to the top bunk Laya stretched out across the length of the bed closest to the wall, furthest from the door. That is where she felt safe.

She laid on her back, looking up at Telanis with gentle eyes. She shifted up momentarely to pull the covers up to her chest and then she nestled back into the pillow. Her brown hair spilled around her thin face, her gray eyes looking tired and alive all at once. "Good night, Adonis," she called above her.

[Soran Nightblade]

Adonis lay on his side with his back to the wall, where he could see the door and the rest of the room. That was where he felt most comfortable. The only thing he couldn't keep track of was Laya and Telanis, and maybe that was for the best. "Go to sleep," he said in response to her. He removed his shirt and set it next to him, then pulled the sheet up to his shoulder, blocking his arms from view.

Telanis moved the tray to the floor so he could stretch out next to Laya. She felt warm compared to him. He lay on his side, chest to chest with her, and put one arm under his head and the other around her. "Goodnight," he whispered to her.

[Emora Deen]

Laya nestled against him, sighing in contentment. "Good night," she whispered faintly, her eyes fluttering closed. Laya fell into a dreamless state, as she found she often did when sleeping close to Telanis. With him she did not have the nightmares that plagued her since she met Kron. She was safe in her dreams, safe in life.

[Soran Nightblade]

The next evening, things were busy on and below deck as the crew rushed about preparing to dock. Adonis had been put to work helping to lower the largest of the sails as they coasted closer and closer to shore. The other men cast occasional glances at the blackened hands pulling alongside theirs, but after 24 hours, sailors got used to just about anything.

Telanis was straightening their things in the room. He finally collected their packed bags and took them up to the deck. He didn't realize until he'd reached his destination how odd it was that he'd made it down the shifting corridor with the extra weight without falling over. He was at least slightly growing used to the sea, but his heart raced with anticipation as he looked over the bow of the boat at the docks coming into view. It was past sunset already, but the harbor of Lowight was lit all along the shore with torches and lights, and the docks here never really slept.

"Prepare to dock," the captain shouted, giving the men the sign to drop the final sail. They would coast in with the last of their speed. Men lined up along the side of the boat, and like a well trained team of acrobats, leapt off onto the dock with harness lines in hand. They hauled as one against the inertia of the ship, dragging it to a stop against the platform, and quickly tied it down to the cleats. "Docked, sir!" they shouted to the captain, pleased with their work. More men began quickly lowering a huge gangplank toward the dock.

[Emora Deen]

Laya's eyes found the palace in all its lovely glory as it hovered behind the docks like a guardian to the city. She remembered visiting it during her training as an archer. That, well, it seemed like more than one lifetime ago. She wasn't that person anymore.

Laya almost jumped up and down in excitement to be back home. She rushed up along side Telanis, taking his hand in both of hers and holding it down at her side. She grinned at him, looking back to the city as they docked. "Will we go straight to the forest?"

She wondered if he would turn the moment they reached the forest edge, she wondered if he needed to. He had been out of his natural form for what felt like so long.

Then, it hit her. Where would they live, or rather... where would she live? Telanis had the whole forest at his disposal, but she was human and needed human needs.

She pulled her coat around her tighter. The tempature had changed drasticly when they grew closer to land, and she realized winter had set in Ighten. She would definitely need to consider shelter, her body would not be able to hold up to the elements every night outdoors.

They would just figure that out as they went, she supposed.

[Soran Nightblade]

Telanis leaned over the guardrail on the ship eagerly. "Yes, to the forest!" he smiled. He hadn't thought through the difference in his and Laya's habitats yet, but Adonis had. The black unicorn walked to the edge of the gangplank. "The forest, then. And then to an inn."

Telanis blinked as he picked up the tone in Adonis's voice. He glanced to his brother and let his gaze drift on to Laya, then back to his brother. It seemed like he was missing something. "Why not sleep in the arms of the forest?"

"You have a human companion now, don't you?" Adonis asked flatly.

Telanis glanced at Laya. "Why shouldn't she stay there with me?"

"She isn't designed for that, Telanis."

He tilted his head, growing confused. "Erik stayed with us..."

Wrath clouded his eyes. "Erik has nothing to do with this."

"Holding up traffic, fellas," mumbled one of the sailors as he wove past them down the gangplank.

[Emora Deen]

Laya had walkd a head off the ship and onto the dock. She turned and watched as the unloaded the man who had tried to kill them all. He was chained and bound and heading to the arms of the Ighten police.

Laya pulled the hood of her coat up over head as a cold breeze blew through, sending a shiver through her.

She turned back to see where Telanis and Adonis were and found them just on the edge of the gangeplank conversing. Telanis glanced at her several times, but she thought nothing of it and waved. "Come on!" she exclaimed, smiling at them both as she waved them forward.

[Soran Nightblade]

Telanis cheered at Laya's enthusiasm and tried not to focus on what Adonis said as he walked carefully down the gangplank to where she was standing on the dock. The scent of land was amazing. Adonis followed a few steps behind as they rejoined Laya. "I will race you to the trees," Telanis smiled, looking across the busy port to the forest that ran to the shore beside it.

[Emora Deen]

Laya nodded. "I shall," she said, poking him playfully in the side. "On your mark, get set...." With a laugh Laya started running through towards the forest, dancing her way through the crowd as she went. She spun around people pushing carts, and leaped over short crates. The hood slipped from her head, and her brown hair flowed behind her.

[Soran Nightblade]

Telanis burst into a sprint after her. He stumbled faintly on the edge of the dock, but caught his balance and kept running across the solid ground of the port, thrilled at the feel of earth under his feet. He danced sideways to avoid a pail that was left in the street and continued racing toward Laya and the woods that were his home. He flinched as a large man walked straight across his back. Before he could find the coordination to slow himself, he bowled straight into the stranger and tumbled with him to the ground.

"You gotta problem, pretty boy?" the man snarled, lumbering to his feet. Up close, a huge tattoo of a black lotus spread across the side of his face.

"I'm sorry! Are you hurt?" Telanis asked uncertainly, noting no sign of pain from the man. Just something dark and malicious oozing off his soul.

"He's fine. Finish your race," Adonis said as he came up behind them.

"But-"

"Finish. Your race." The black unicorn's gaze pinned him harshly.

Telanis didn't need his brother to clarify his point. It was better to run from this. He scrambled to his feet and took off after Laya.

Adonis studied the man and his tattoo a moment longer. Another man with a similar tattoo was emerging from the alley behind him. He opted to run also, deliberately lagging behind his clumsy brother. The men didn't give chase, but there was something unsettling about the way they stared after them as they ran into the forest.


Five minutes later, they were surrounded by trees. Real, Ighten trees. Telanis finally caught up to Laya and flopped unceremoniously on his back on the mossy ground. His chest heaved as he stared up at the backlit canopy above them. A smile lit his face. "We're here!"

[Emora Deen]

Laya laughed, putting her hands on her knees as she doubled over to catch her breath. She was flustered from the run, her cheeks and nose red. She pulled the hood back over her head, her ears so cold they ached. Her heaving breath fogged in front of her face. She went to the spot next to Telanis and fell down on the ground with him, snuggling close to his warm body.

"Do you want to turn into your natural form?" she asked him as she laid under the canopy of leaves and limbs. "You've been out of it for so long, maybe it would be good for you?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Telanis twisted his upper body sideways to put his arm around her cold form. He hadn't even noticed the cold. To him, the weather felt wonderful. He felt uncertain for a moment about changing back. Was there possibly truth to what Adonis had told him? "You're cold," he said, not wanting to let her go when she was shivering.

"There are warm clothes in here," Adonis said as he came up behind them, carrying their almost forgotten luggage. He dropped one of the bags next to Laya.

[Emora Deen]

Laya dug through the bag until she found her cloak, and pulled it over her coat and hood, and snuggled herself in it. "I'll warm up, and if I don't I will when we find an inn." She sat on her knees looking at Telanis. "Go on. I'm sure you really want too. Besides, you can change again when we leave, can't you?" She looked to Adonis and smiled. "What about you?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Adonis's jaw slackened a little at Laya's encouragement, but he regained composure quickly. He couldn't wear that form with his body like this. His brother would notice in an instant.

Telanis, on the other hand, had all the encouragement he needed. He kissed her forehead and stood up to take a step away from them. Lifting his chin to the sunlight, he let his magic wash through him. It lit his form too brightly to see, expanded, and burst. When the light faded, he stood on his four legs once again, his clothes lying on the ground next to his hooves. He took a deep breath of the sweet forest air and reared up in jubilation before prancing around them both. It felt so good to be right again, to feel his muscles move as they should and do as he asked without faltering or fumbling.

*Adonis, let's go racing!* he said excitedly.

Adonis just scowled. "Race yourself. Or do it with her," he said.

Telanis turned to Laya, a challenge twinkling in his eye. *Now, let's race!* He tossed his mane smugly.