The sound of the water gushing out from the falls was refreshing. It was early in the morning when Blaire decided to go nearer the falls. He went there last night but he didn't have time to wander around. Arriving, what he had seen was something he could not describe. The place was so green and the waters were as clear as crystal. The feeling of relief and amazement filled him. His familiar, Silver, flew towards the surface of the water and snagged a fish.

"Good work, Silver." he called, "Go on..."

While silver played around with the water, Blaire went near a big rock and sat down. The view of the falls made him calm...He almost felt like sleeping. Although he was alone there, he felt someone else but he didn't mind it. Of course, he wouldn't be the only one who would visit the falls.

"Well, I hope you would introduce yourself." he said, lying down on the grass, "Don't worry, I'm no harm..."

Muriel stepped out from behind the falls, soaked to the bone and her clothes clinging to her wetly though her layed dress remained fairly modest. Combing the brown ringlets of hair above her eyes that had come loose from her thick braid around her eyes to hook behind her ears, she studied him curiously with her pale blue-green eyes. She seemed as perfectly content in the water as out of it, and her mouth seemed to be formed in a perpetual amused grin.

"Oh, I didn't think you would, but not everyone wishes to be disturbed, and they tend to get rather cranky when they think you're intruding."

She spoke lightly, eyes gleaming with a hint of some inner mirth of some sort. Remaining by the falling water, she put her hand under it, letting the water slide through her fingers.

"And it is generally considered polite to introduce yourself first if you are the one to initiate the conversation. However, since I'm hardly a stickler for the rules, my name is Muriel, and you are...?"

Blaire grinned, standing up from the grass and wiping off the excess dirt on his shirt. He looked at the the girl who was still in the water. Apparently, she had been there for quite awhile and it is only now that he had noticed it.

"Well, it's kinda hard to relax if you know someone is lurking around somewhere." he said, "Or some 'people' out there."

Silver flew in circles above the water and as Blaire whistled, he came to perch on his shoulders.

"Oh, forgive me." he added, "My name is Blaire and this is my familiar, Silver."

Muriel held her hands out innocently, though there was still a hint of amusement in the depths of her eyes. Taking a seat on the edge of the pool, she crossed her legs under her dress and began to remove her soaked hair from its bonds, combing the unruly, wet tangles out carefully.

"Well met, then, Blaire and Silver. Though, I question if an elemental spending time where they feel most at home should be labeled as 'lurking'."

Her tone had a slight teasing feel to it, though it was hardly mean and unless someone had the intutivity of a rock they would likely notice the way her grin grew and her eyes danced much like the sun on a chortling brook. Her lithe form settled comfortably in her impromptu seat, and she watched him curiously as she continued to work the knots out of her hair.

"I do apologize though if this is somewhere you come often, for I am only passing through. Are you from around here?"

Zelris had been wondering around the surronding forest of Alulanta Falls trying to reach the top of the waterfall so he could get a good look of the scenery. Zelris hated traveling through forests to many branchs and bushes. His wings always got caught in the bushes making it hard for him to manuver through forest, but eventually Zelris managed to reach the top of the falls. Zelris walked until he was at the edge of the cliff very close to the edge of the falls. Th scenery was very beautiful you could see the whole surrunding area. All the healthy trees and the rivers that ran through the forests, and the small rainbow at the top of the warterfall. Zelris could always stop and admire the beauty of nature. He put his long jet black hair behind his ear and said," This place is so peaceful, I feel like I canstay her forever."

Zelris walked foward a little, but he walked to far by mistakeand slipped off and feel over the cliff. He tried to stop himself from falling by using his wings but the rushing water of the falls contiued to push himdown at a very fast rate. when Zelris finally managed to slow down he was to late he already crashed into some bushes by the bottom of the fall. He landed hard making a lot of noise.

She had no sooner finished speaking when a wet and tangled something was deposited nearby from the falls above, the sending leaves flying everywhere as the bushes thrashed about with feathers and limbs everywhere. She did hope whoever it was wasn't injured, but the picture itself was so comical that she could hardly help but laugh quietly to herself with one hand clamped over her mouth. They seemed alright, and there were no screams of pain that called one to help, so she remained in her seat though she did glance at her companion with a mirthful look.

"Graceful landing, no?

Still laying there in the bushes Zelris thought...Well I had better landings. As Zelris tried to move around and get up he heard a voice say,"Graceful landing, no?"
Zelris replied back to the voice," HA HA. Very funny," Zelris tried to get up and contiued," Ow, ow, ow, that hurts." He finally managed to completely stand up and walked out of the bushes. Leaves and some small twigs were stuck in Zelris's long jest black hair and some were stuck on his drenched robe. He was holding his arms out and looked at himself and thought... My god, I'm drenched in water. Zelris then walked over to the source of the voice to introduce himself. The person was a female with brown hair, pale blue-green eyes, and was wearing a dress. Zelris walked up to her and introduced himself," Hello my name is Zelris and what may I ask is your name?"

"Well it was rather funny to watch."

Chuckling to herself, she watched him in amusement as he disentangled himself from the bush. There was a great deal of thrashing about, and some muttering of some kind, which she listened to with her head tilted to the side. He walked up and introduced himself, and as she looked him over she was hard-pressed not to burst out into a full-blow laugh. He had bits of leaves and twigs sticking out of his hair, clothes, and wings at the oddest angles all over the place, and he was nearly as wet as she was. Except he didn't look nearly as comfortable as she did.

"You may ask," she replied at long last, her lips curling into a rather mischevious smile as she waited to see what he would do next. Her eyes gleamed with a touch of wicked humor inside, because she knew she wasn't being fair in leaving him hanging like that, but his entrance had been less than conventional and if he looked like a fool it was an image he wasn't doing much to negate. She didn't dislike him, and she hoped he would prove to be another amusing aquaintance, but even those who are amused by almost everything like to have a change of pace occasionally.

Blaire giggled as the new guy stumbled out of the bushes. That landing was sure to hurt and he only thought that he was lucky not to be the one to have fallen.

"Hey, there." he said, going nearer to them, "you might wanna check yourself pal...you look...funny."

There were leaves and even a few twigs that got stuck on his hair and clothing.
Among the three of them, Blaire was the only one who wasn't wet and he wanted to keep it that way...hopefully.

B)

A falcon drifted through the sky, it streached its wings out and rode the thermals upwards. It gave a pleasing screech as it closed its eyes for a moment and enjoyed the quiet and peacefulness that the sky had to offer. I like the form of a falcon. If I ever need to get away from it all now I know which form to choose. it thought. This falcon was no ordinary falcon. It was a shapeshifter who went by the name of Tanov. She was travling a long distance. She had wanted to explore this new land called Arda, and going as a falcon seemed to be the best idea. She looked down at the waterfalls and noticed a group of three people. She tipped her wings and flew downwards and landed in a group of trees.

The falcon grew into a human with blue hair and magenta eyes. She walked up to the small group. "Greetings." she said giving a low bow. "How is this day been to you?" she asked them standing upright. Her scimitar swung by her waist always at ready but she knew if needed she could fly away or jump into the water and become a fish.

Standing on top of the largest of the falls was a man dressed fully in black, a dark hood covering his face as he looked down upon the other. The man stood at seven foot two tall. Not a word passed his lips, he just stoof there and looked down at the others that had gathered at the edge of the water. His long black cloak softly blowing in the wind behind and a new thought then passed through his mind that thought was Hmmm... even all of them... all of them would be great, to take their souls to Raku, as another one of my many gifts to my lord.... After thinking this, a small dark smirk appeared upon the lips of the man as his right hand rested on the handle of his large blade by his side, tapping the one of the two spikes that was on the end of the handle. Still looking down at the others, none had seen him yet....

The man who was known as Sin Deadheart then suddently vanished, and in his place was a large, muscular black wolf with glowing red eyes. The wolf then made its way through the forests and down to the strangers at the edge of the water. Now able to see them from the trees the dark wolf slowly made its way to wards the others. Acting as though it was injured so the time being. His eyes no longer glowing, but instead just a deep red. Looking at them all, a small smirk came arcoss the wolfs maw, his claws out ready to attack them if any where to get to close to him.

Sin then awaited to see what the other would do as he lay on the grass near them, still glaring at each one of them. When the time was right... he would turn back to his "Normal" form and then take things from there... Sin had never been defeated in battle... and had no scars at all. The only one that had ever been able to match his skills in battle was his younger sister Sophia... oh how he loved the battled with her... sadly... Sophia was not in this place, so Sin would need to go for the next best thing... a group of travelers. Still the wolf lay there as if tame, looking upon the others with it red eyes.

Blaire watched as a new girl approached them. She didn't look harmful...she looked friendly. As she greeted them, he felt another presence somewhere near them. It was the presence of darkness.

"Hello." he said, turning to the new girl, "My name is Blaire. Nice meeting ya."

After he said that, he whispered something to Silver and the hawk simply hovered above him, screeching. He took out one of his shurikens and threw it inches away from the foot of what seemed to be a wolf.

"Hold on there." he said, grinning, "Finally, the one who is really lurking around showed up. Wouldn't you even like to say hello?"

As the shuriken landed next to Sin, an evil smirk appeared across the wolfs maw. Once again his eyes began to glow a deep red as he looked at the group. The wolf then got to its feet and began to walk to wards them, as it had gotten about six feet from this small group the wolf was suddenly gone. In its place was the man again, towering over the others there, Sin who was seven foot two inches looked upon them. His black cloak still hugging to his dark face, his eyes somewhat glowing a deep blood red, not moving them from the group. His left arm was hanging at his side with his black glove wrapping around the fingers as he clenched his hand into a fist. While his right hand rested on his blade at his side, the blade know as Celest had always been the weapon that Sin had used. In time he had become a master with this blade. Celest was a two handed sword... but Sin was able to use it perfectly with one hand alone.

Sin dark right hand of Sin slid along the handle of Celest like silk, then he began to slowly tap his index finger on one of two spikes that came from the handles tip. He still had a dark twisted grin upon his face, then Sin said "Why would i waste time saying that.... i am only here for one thing... to see if your souls.... are strong enough to please my great lord Raku God Of Darkness." As these words passed Sins cold lips, he then shifted his site from one to the other as he began to say "Blaire, Tanov, Muriel and of course Zelris.... yes i have heard of you all... those who stand against Raku shall all be die."

The right hand of Sin then gripped the handle of Celest and he began to draw it from its holster. Celest was indeed a beautiful blade, the blade itself was strong, the handle a gold color with a demonic head on the tip sprouting horns from it head. Just passed the handle, and leading up the blade was three large spikes on each side, these spikes always worked well when the blade went fully into one of Sins opponents as they would keep the blade within them, the person unable to remove the large blade without hurting themselves even more. Sin then moved his left foot forward a little as he raised Celest with his right hand, the reason he had moved his left foot forward was for Sin to strengthen his stance. Still looking upon the group as his eyes narrowed. All that was going through the mind of this dark being was "Hmm.... the four of them.... against me..... unfair odds, for them of course..." After these words were said within his mind, the grin on Sins face began to grow. He was ready for the thing he was best at... he was ready for a battle. After all Sin had never been beaten in battle, and the only one ever to end in a draw with him was his younger sister Sophia.

Tanov looked at the new commer with glaring eyes. She had just arrived in Arda but still had heard of the Gods of this land, especialy this Raku. She narrowed her eyes. She knew she could easily disapear but also knew that if he was a shapeshifter then he would be able to follow. Besides she could not leave these people here alone with a shapeshifter. Who knew better than a shapeshifter what damage they could do if they took the correct form. 'No I will not leave them at the mercy of a Shape shifter. I will stand and fight as long as I can.' she thought drawing her Scimitar.

"If it is a fight you want it is a fight you shall receve. I challenge you stranger to a battle" she said placing her scimitar in front of her. But that was not the only thing she was ready for. She was waiting for him, watching for the signs that all shapeshifters have when they are about to transform. Most of them people could control but there were a few involentary actions that people would do without realizing it. "No matter what form you take I will best you at it. For I too am a shapeshifter, stranger. I will not leave these people at your hands. If you want them you will have to go through me." she said ready for the attack to come.

Sins eyes then fell upon those of Tanov as he heard her say "If it is a fight you want it is a fight you shall receve. I challenge you stranger to a battle" And as Tanov placed her large scimitar infront of her, Sin once again began to smirk and said "You.... you want to face me? Alone? Such a mistake my dear... like i said.... i wish to test your souls... either way, you will all have to grow some more before Raku can take full advantage of your power... but so be it... i shall face you then girl..." Sin then began to spin his blade in his right hand as he looked at this Tanov. The blade then suddently stopping when he heard the girl say "No matter what form you take I will best you at it. For I too am a shapeshifter, stranger. I will not leave these people at your hands. If you want them you will have to go through me."

Upon hearing these words Sin let out a small laugh then said coldly "I need not take another form.... i have won many battles without even spilling one drop of blood, and i did them all in this form you see before you girl.... and please... do not call me Stranger. I go by the name.... Sin Deadheart.... i am one of the final two deadhearts still alive.... and i plan on keeping it that for now...." His eyes still now fixed on Tanov, but still seeing what the others were doing. Sin then tightened his grip on Celest and slowly walked further towards the girl, placing the blade of Celest next to that of Tanovs' Scimitar. With the two blades slightly touching, Sins face then began very dark and cold, his eyes greatly glowing and narrowing as he gazed at Tanov.

He then turn and began to walk away from the group, but no longer had he turned from them than he had jumped backwards with a large backflip. Landing behind Tanov, Sin then held Celest in such a way that the blade ran up his right arm. He then slashed to wards Tanvo with a powerful series of blade strikes.... it was clear that Sin was only playing around with them for the time being. After his fury of blade strikes, he then quickly stepped to the side and brought his right leg up to Tanov in a spin like kick. Not seeing or caring if any of his strikes or kick hit. Sin then once again looked upon Tanov awaiting her move, and seeing if he had done any damage yet.... even though he was not trying at all.

Tanov's eyes narrowed as she watched him. She began to harden, as she always did with fights, and prepeared for whatever would happen. She would not let this man take her easily. "You.... you want to face me? Alone? Such a mistake my dear... like i said.... i wish to test your souls... either way, you will all have to grow some more before Raku can take full advantage of your power... but so be it... i shall face you then girl..." She nodded her head. She did not like to fight but her sence of duty to nature overcame her sence of peace. She nodded her head and her magenta eyes watched him as he spun his blade.

He walked up to her placing his sword amost touching her scimitar. He said that he would not be transforming but she did not believe that fact. If he did he did, if he did not he did not. She did not care she would fight to protect those around her. He walked up and stood there, she looked into his eyes and had a feeling he was looking in hers. His eyes narrowed and she gritted her teeth, suddenly he turned away but she did not lower her blade suddenly he flipped over her and spun throwing at her a series of attacks with his blade. She whirled as she watched him flip over her and blocked his attacks but suddenly he did a spinning kick. Unable to block it she fell to the ground, still clutching her scimitar.

She looked up at him. Her hair was waving in the water where she fell. She looked up at him and narrowed her eyes, she would not be defeated so easily. She watched him tower over her and she looked at the others and than at him. She pushed back and flipped landing on her feet throwing a strike at him from the side.

As Sin released a fury of blade stikes to Tanov, Blaire sent his shurikens to block the other strikes but unfortunately, Sin managed to find a way to hit Tanov. she landed near the waters but luckily, she was still okay. Blaire whistled, calling to Silver who was hovering above him. The hawk flew in circles, prepared to attack.

"Hey, miss." he said, "Are you alright? Stand up before he tries another assault."

Blaire casted his eyes on Sin. He was a follower of Raku...Then, this is going to be fun. He took his daggers and shurikens and positioned himself. He was going to fight together with the others. He actually wanted to sparre with anyone and this guy who wanted to fight came just right in time.

"you know..." he said, "I really hate people who ruins a good vacation so prepare to regret about it."

Zelris looked down at his robe and put his hand in his hair. Leaves everywhere just like he thought. Zelris thought... How embarrassing. I never would imagine me looking like this. Zelris ran back into the forest to change out of his clothes. A few moments later Zelris came out in a dry black shirt and pants. his long jet black hair now tied up and now had a pony-yail going down his back, all the leaves picked off of him. Zelris walked back to the Muriel and Blarie and said," Much better, but my wings are still wet. Ah well they'll dry of eventually."

After Zelris reached them another guest had arrived. Lucky for them they hadn't come the same way Zelris came. She was a shapshifter, and had turned from a falcon and into a girl. She approched the group and said," Greetings,How is this day been to you?" As Zelris was about to introduce himself to the girl he had sensed another presence enter the area. Zelris put his hand on his samuari sword getting ready for anything, but Blarie had already threw some shurikens into the forest and hit something.

A few moments later a a wolf came out standing six feet from the group. Then suddenly the wolf was replaced by a man. Zelris thought... Another shapeshifter. The man began to spaek saying all that stand against Raku must die. Tanov had stood up to our new guest and challenged him, inorder to defend us.The newcomer fixed his site on Tanov and suddenly attacked her with a series of sword attacks. He then flipped over her and did a spinnig kick knoking her into the water. Zelris couldn't stand this anylonger and got ready to attack, tightly gripping the hilt of his sword and carelessly charged for the man. He unseathed his sword as he charged for the newcomer.With the speed of his unsheathing and the power of the attack, Zelris attacked the newcomer.

Sin seen Zelris running towards and blocked his attack, he then pulled back and looked at the large group. Sin then had a smirk on his face as he said "Watch out people.... " He then placed his left arm infront of him as red lightning began to charge up his arm, upon reaching his fingertips Sin then yelled out "CRIMSON LIGHTNING" sending blots of red lightning from his fingertips, hitting the groud around the group and setting off a large fire, but this fire would take ALOT of water to put it out.

Sin then smirked seeing the flames and said "Lets make things a little more interesting shall we my pets..." After saying this Sin jumped into the air looking into the middle of the ring of flames. His left hand once again point out and Sin yelled out "MAGIC MISSILES" and a series of dark blood red magic arrows began to fly from Sins hand towards the ground at a high speed. As these magic blasts came down onto the earth below, Sin had landed and perched himself onto a trees branch looking down onto the fun below him.

Tanov looked at Sin as he turned to the man who had leaves all over him. She ducked as Sin shot out bolts of red lightning. "What sort of attack is this?" she said as a ring of fire surrounded them. She turned to Sin who was still in the air. Her eyes widdened as red missles shot out of his hands at them.

As Sin landed in a tree Tanov watched from above. For as he had launched the missle attack she had transformed into a blue bird. She hovered high over head and as he was landing she found the time to attack, she dove straight towards him and at the last second transformed back into the human form she had earlier. "Take this." she cried as she fell towards him, ready to tackle him to the ground. Her eyes were a deep magenta, a sign that she had hardened into a fighter. Normaly she would back off but for some reason he had gotten on her nerves and she had not realized it.

Sin looked down at the ground towards the others as the Magic Missiles headed for them. Then out of the corner of one of Sin blood red eyes he seen a small blue bird... keeping his grip onto his blade he continued to keep an eye upon the small bird. Sin seen the bird fly to wards him and become Tanov once again, i smirk now growing on Sins dark face. He leaped into the air again and onto a higher branch as Sin looked down at the girl learning her fighting style with each and every move.

Another twisted smirk spreading over his lips Sin kicked off the branch he was on and began to fall gracefully to the group in a back flip, while in mid air, and able to see the girl once more, Sin placed his left hand out again saying "Magic Missile" Sending a single magical arrow towards her branch. Then his feet softly landed on the fround sending up a little dust into the air, this dust was soon sliced through as within seconds of Sins feet touching the ground he began to run foward. His large blade weapon known to the world as the blade Celest was cutting through the air at a tremendous force. He then jumped into the air looking at Tanov, slowly bringing his blade into the air as he began another fury of blade strikes to wards her body.

First he aimed for her blade just playing about a bit, soon the strikes began to get faster as he began to strikes at her sides, and to wards her neck. Still falling back to the ground the strikes began to continue, more the each side on to wards the neck. Also he began to strike for her legs and straight for her head. For such a tall man his speed was most impresive. Once the blade strikes had ended and Sin landed onto the ground once more he began to run towards Tanov, seeing the others still kept their by the flames.

As Sin once again headed for Tanov, his blade slid along the ground sending more dust and sharps of grass high into the air. Drawing closer and closer to Tanov, Sins long white hair flowing freely behind him now as he unclipped his hood. His blood eyes still fixed upon the young woman. Sin black outfit turning a dim shade of red from the flames infront of him. Sin then however suddently stopped and did another backflip, this time not in order to go back, but instead he did a close backflip and managed to form it into a large powerful kick into the air. He then landed back into the earth below softly once again sending up more dust, his sword ready to block an attack and strike as he looked at Tanov....

As Sin released his magic missiles, Blaire stood completely still to where he was standing and luckily, he was still okay. He grinned as he watched Tanov and Sin fight. It was obvious both of them were concentrating too hard to the battle and he realized that the enemy was getting distracted. He whislted for Silver to keep an eye out for him as he started to create hand formations.

"Enjoy..." he thought, releasing his spell.

Bolts of lightning slammed through the whole area, hitting everything like a hammer. He watched if sin had been hit. He took out his blades and began to ran forward for an assault.

"Take this!" he exclaimed, throwing his blades directly at sin.

Sin leaped back from Tanov once again and looked up seeing the hawk, Sin then knew something was going on. He quickly looked at Blaire and seen him doing a summon spell. Soon the bolts of lightning began to smash into the groud, Sin was jumping from side to side avoiding each one as they hit the ground. Then as one came right down onto his Sin smirked and said "Nice try.... Redirect Spell"

As Sin said this he raised his hand up to the lightning and send it back into the air, his Redirect Spell had the power to send back magic that had to travel towards its target... a very good skill for this dark night to have.

Muriel, during all of this, had disappeared from her rock and was now immersed wtihin the falls that seemed to embrace her as a part of it. The fires continued to burn, and those around her fought against the dark creature, but this was not her batte. She would watch, and pehaps even find amusement in it because there was as much to laugh at in death as there was life. She would wait, and watch, and unless an attack was made at her directly, do nothing at all.

"This looks most amusing indeed...."

Tanov moved quickly blocking the attacks and dodging some as well, but her specialty was not in endurance and quickly tired. She blocked blows to her face and neck but was cut on the leg and fell. "You...Have a power...I have never seen before." she said gasping for air. She blocked more blows but one came down on her shoulder and cut her. She dropped her sword and held her arm falling to her knees and bracing herself up with her left arm. 'I was foolish to think I could take him.' she thought as her mind began to catch up with her. 'My greatest falt...my uncontrolable temper...my dark half. The one thing I cannot control. I indeed was a fool.' She looked at Sin unable to attack or defend. She was truely at his mercy.

Blaire jumped back as he avoided every bolt of lightning sent to him. Although he was fast enough, he got hit by one bolt. He fell on the ground and his body was now shocked from the attack.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed, standing up, "got me offgaurd there....but that won't happen again."

Silver flew towards his master and landed on his arm. He screeched telling him something that only he could understand.

"I know." he whispered, "This guy is hard to beat and thats whats interesting."

He shifted his attention to Tanov who was on the ground.

"Hey!" he called, "Don't tell me you plan to give in...This guy will kill you and take your soul to Raku."

OOC: If I appear to god mod Sin dont worry lol, he is my character as well ^_^ just thought i would add more fun to this.

IC NOW

As Sin walked over to Tanov with his dark smirk, someone else was watching the battle as well. Sin then raised his blade and then made a strike down to kill Tanov, but his strike was blocked somehow. As his blade had began to lower, a woman darted from the trees. She has medium lenght red hair and green eye, she was wearing red and black tight leather and her weapons looked impresive. Blades on each arm, clipped to her wrists, each blade was the just over the lenght of her arms and seemed to have a strange twist to them.

The blades seemed to have a handle on them somewhat up the blade. As the woman darted from the tree she spun the blades round and grabbed the handles tight in her hands. She blocked Sins attack on Tanov and then said "So your Sin then... this should be an intersting battle indeed...." She then looked over at the others and said "You might want to leave this to me... or help if you want... i dont care... " After saying this she looked back at Sin and pushed him back. Then holding her blades handles tight she stood awaiting the next move.

Tanov clenched her eyes shut as Sin was about to attack. She waited for the blow but it did not happen, she heard metal hit metal and looked up to find a red haired woman blocking the attack. She looked up at her, Tanov's magenta eyes were wide with surprise and so was Sin's eyes as well. She watched the woman push him away. "You might want to leave this to me... or help if you want... i dont care... " Tanov winced as she tried to stand up. She eventually got there, her scimitar held in her left hand her right hand still held her shoulder which was bleeding. "Thank you." she said looking at the woman, waiting for someone to make a move. 'If things get out of hand I could jump in the water and transform into a fish if needed.' she thought. She obviously showed that she could not controll her dark half. Although her dark half was her powerful side it was also a side that rarely thought before it acted.