The faint sound of rain was heard in the far distance. The heavy darkness was lightening and the sound grew louder, the smell was also heavy in the air. The girls arm cut She felt the darkness of unconsiousness lift as she opened her eyes. Her vision grew blurry as she looked at the dank wood floor. Her clothes were soaked and she shivered from head to toe. A small fire was on the side of her, a tall figure stood in front of it. Her eyes were blurry as she fell back into the darkness.

Her mind drifted back in time to about six hours ago. She had been traveling near the rainforests most lightly rained areas trying to find a special plant for a good friend of hers, it had been sprinkling and she had hoped to get it and get out before it began to pour even harder. She had been flying on her staff when sudden something sliced against her arm, trying to heal it she missed catching a fireball. Suddenly she was impacted with the flaming ball. Luckaly by the grace of the Guardian of Water the rain began to pour hard so she was not burned too terribly. Hitting the ground she groaned spitting out some mud she got up to her feet. Looking around she found her staff and tried to grab it but someone stepped on it and pulled it out of her reach. She looked up as a swift blow came to her head and the last thing she remembers is the ground going dark.

She stirred again as she looked up at the figure standing by the fire, his back was turned to her almost as if he was waiting for something or someone. Her sight slowly came back and the shapes and shadows took full detail. "Ungh...Huh?" she moaned as she tried to move but she found she was bound to the chair she was in. "What? WHO ARE YOU? What do you want with me?" she shouted at the man as she struggled to free herself with little to say for it.

On top a high branch on the outskirts of the Taurerosa Rainforest Nicko stood waiting. He had gotten information what he believed to be reliable information from a agent who helped the Covenant every now and then. He had stated that a small girl would be passing where he was now waiting, and that this girl would have information that he wanted. Which is what brought him here to this damp and humid place. He had set up camp further within the forest for after he captured the girl so he would have a place to get the information out of her. Now all that was left to do was to wait for her to come by like the man had said.

He continued to wait a few hours when he finally spotted something up ahead. Since he was out of sight she wouldn't be able to see him but he could se her. She was coming in closer riding a staff like a broom. He waited a few more moments for her to come closer, once in range he reached for a weapon and tossed a shuriken at her. It was able to slice open her arm but she continued on her way while trying to heal herself quickly. Nicko wasn't about to let this girl get the better of him, so he began his pursuit. Jumping from tree branch to tree branch he kept himself to the girls side. While in midair between branches he began to focus upon his energy. Nicko then began performing a series of complex hand signs. Serpent, Tiger, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger, once finished he brought his hand up to his face and blew the fireball from his mouth. The girl to busy in trying to heal herself was not ready to defend the fireball. She was struck, it would have been worse if there wasn't a sudden downpour that put the flames out. After the hit she fell and slammed hard into the ground below. It was a simple matter of knocking her out after that. No longer in the air he delivered a chop to the back of her neck, she blacked out. All that was left to do was take her to his campsite.

Now at his camp site he quickly tied up the girl so she wouldn't get away. He then went about starting a fire. By the time she came around the fire had been lit and he had been keeping an eye out for any who might have followed him. He knew right away that she had awoken because she at once began shouting at him, "What? WHO ARE YOU? What do you want with me?"

Nicko stood there for a few moments without answering. Knew knew that if he prolonged his reply it would scare the girl more then if he were to answer right away. While he waited all she had to look at was his blood red eyes and his cold, dead stare. After a few minutes he finally replied, "Who I am is none of your concern, what matters is that you have information that I want and your not leaving till I get it?"

Flying in the dark was a dangerous feat, even under moonlight, unless you carried light-giving items, or possessed relevant magical abilities. By the red glow in Clair's eyes, she obviously held the latter.

The pounding of her winds echoed through the air, a mile above the ground's surface, and her great white wings seemed to glow in the moonlight. A white cape followed her as she flew over the the landscape, twisting and turning as air hit it, tossing about like her soft, pale blonde hair. A wickedly curved blade was strapped to her back. There were many advantages to flight, besides the wonderful feeling of wind through your hair; but, of course, there were also disadvantages, and soon Clair began to slow her flapping, and descended to the ground below. She landed gracefully, one foot and then the other, before stretching her wings and folding them to her back. The knight would have rather continued flying, but knew her white form was easy to spot in the dark. That, and she'd have trouble landing in the rain forest ahead.

Trees became more abundant; more alive, and entrenched in the ground. What was field turned to heavy overgrowth—bushes, small trees, rocks and high grasses—before exploding into a veritable barricade of ancient, vine-strangled trees and mossy ground. It was at this threshold, beside a granite boulder, streaked with blood-red moss that the angel stopped.

This wasn't a regular BADI contract. There was no banner in the guild hall advertising this mission. In fact, only a hand full of agents knew about it—for now, at least. Clair was visiting her training master at the academy in The Sanctuary of Angels when a runner contacted her, giving quick details about a kidnapping that was about to occur in the Taurerosa rain forest. The angel didn't question how BADI had been alerted to this, or if it was true; the guild had many spies and contacts, many of whom warned of malicious actions before they even occurred. Initiative was a must, and Clair had set out immediately. Another agent was supposed to meet her here and act as her support, but she wouldn't know who until he got here. Or she.

Once again Clair was reminded of the darkness around her. Not that it was terribly 'dark', per se; with the moon overhead, and her infravision working, her surroundings appeared as they would during the day time—though, of course, everything was in black and white. She had toyed with the idea of training in the use of 'heat vision', but was so used to her black and white, natural infravision, that it was just as effective as the former, if not more so. The angel slid her curved blade from its sheathe anyways. There was no harm in being prepared and, given the circumstances, the night would undoubtedly end in a battle.

She glanced around her, tapping her foot on the mossy ground. Being alone like this was somewhat unnerving. I do hope my support shows up soon... She thought with an inward shiver.

Darkness: both a scary and comforting aspect of the day. It is especially scary to those who do not see well in the dark, or who have angered the wrong person and are expecting an assassination sometime soon. To Thalinis, though, the darkness was good. Darkness meant that other people couldn't see you without a light or some sort of magical ability. Add that to his ability to move silently, and the night quickly rose on Thal's "favorite times of day" list. Not that he actually kept a list of this. That would just be strange.

So, as Thal walked through the dense forest, his infravision active, he felt completely safe. He could see everything around him with perfect clarity, as if it were daytime out, or somebody was holding an enormous lamp over his head. He preferred to think of the former, since the idea of a large lamp over his head frightened him somewhat. What if the lamp holder dropped the lamp? No more Thal.

After a few seconds of traversing through the thick foliage, he came upon another figure standing next to a rock. It was the exact place where he was to meet the other BADI member assigned to this secretive mission. He noticed that the one there was female, and looked to be some sort of winged human, possibly an angel.

Cautiously, Thal emerged from the thick forest and moved silently towards the figure. After deciding that it was safe, he stood up to his full height (which still wasn't very tall) and addressed the girl standing in front of him.

"Kidnapping?" he asked simply. If she was assigned to this, she would know what he was talking about. If not, well he would just have to pull out his katana. He really didn't want to have to do that. He was sick of fighting, but something told him that there would be fighting before this mission was through.

Tanya struggled even more against the bonds that held her but it was no use. The rope was strong and the knots stronger. The man turned to look at her as she had gotten up; he merely stared at her for a moment. Her eyes grew wide at the mans cold stare, his eyes were blood red with strange spirals in them. He stared at her for what seemed like an eternity. Her heart beat was loud in her chest as the man finally spoke to her. "Who I am is none of your concern, what matters is that you have information that I want and you’re not leaving till I get it." He said to her. Her heart pounded as she struggled against the ropes but winced as they cut into her skin.

She forced herself to stare back into the man’s eyes. Fear filled her as she watched him. He towered over her and she could feel the evil that pulsed from him. “Hey, I do not have any information on anything except the fact that I know someone who would kill you if they knew I was here and you kidnapped me.” She said angrily. But she knew it was bravado right now. By the time her parents found out and alerted Umbra that she was missing, well, lets just say Umbra would not be getting a relieved hug that she was saved. She fought back the fear and tears that she was trapped and would not be getting out soon. She glanced over to her belongings as her heart skipped a beat in hope. Her items were poured out on the floor, she was tied with her own rope...But Kree her falcon was not in here. And her canteen that she kept on her was not there as well. Hopefully someone would find it, but then her heart sank again. If it was not here it was in the mud puddle she fell into, and who knows how covered it was in mud, and with it being late at night it might never get found. She hoped Kree would find it and take it somewhere so someone somewhere would help her.

As Nicko stood waiting for a response in the damp rainforest he continued to keep an eye out for others. Looking at the girl however he was beginning to doubt the information he had gotten. How could this small child know anything about well anything? It was a few moments later however when he was lost in thought for a few moments that she finally spoke up once more.

“Hey, I do not have any information on anything except the fact that I know someone who would kill you if they knew I was here and you kidnapped me.”

If what she said was true then this person could already be hot on his trail. He was sure that he was able to keep a low profile but if this girl hadn't then they would know where she was spoused to be. It wouldn't take long from them to catch up. He would have to make sure he kept his eyes open for the slightest movements. Though not wanting to seem afraid of whoever might be coming he spoke once more.

If you think that I'm afraid of your friends your incorrect, whoever they are I'm sure I'll deal with them in time, as for the information you might not have it after all but none the less I'll question you any ways..." He paused. He wasn't sure how to go about his questioning. He had learned long ago that torture never got reliable information from people so he would have to try something else. "Answer my questions and perhaps I'll let you go...perhaps. Now what do you know of the gods of this land, and give me information on these friends of yours you spoke of while your at it.

As he waited for a response he turned his back to her once more. Now looking to the fire he realized that it could prove to be a problem. The fire might attract her friends or other creatures he didn't want to deal with at this time. Knowing little of this land or the rainforest he wasn't sure what lived within.