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<font color=skblue>"Stinky"</font> Was all Galein said in soft reply as he rose also and answered Jena's question. Turning to address Drusalia and Verrion, he spoke identically to Aeriah would, his movements and manner also identical - almost as though Aeriah was somehow directing his moments, or so, it appeared at least to Jena and Fai. <font color=skblue>"As nice as it is to see the two of you again... we should be off. I believe the only way forward is through the caves. Jena and Fai will accompany me - but will the two of you?"</font> Asked the elf gently, though his tone was in no way commanding...</font>

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Fairioni 26/26

Fairioni sighs as she watches him, instead talking to Kyr <font color="#cc11aa">"Did you see anything about what would be on our way?"</font>

Jena tapped her foot and placed her hands on her hips as she glared at Galein. <font color= "orange"> "Stinky? Stinky! Is that what you call me?" </font> She was playing, of course, and anyone paying attention could tell by the amusement in her eyes.

Jena nodded at Galein's words. <font color= "orange"> "I'm extremly anxious to leave this place. It's making me....a little queazy (sp?)" </font> She was beginning to become nauscous and disoriented: two very unpleasant things to feel when inside a cave for too long.

Jena missed the fresh air, the trees and flowers, and everything else nature related. It seemed, oddly enough, as if a part of her had been left on the land, outside the cave. She sighed deeply, and stood near Galein, ready and anxious to depart whenever he was.

<font color=silver>
<font color=skblue>"Maybe..."</font> Galein grinned, and composed himself for a moment. With a shrug, he commented it was no use waiting around here, and took Jena's hand, petted Thhiro on the head, gathered up their gear and started off into the gloom...

~~~

After several days, the party (or all those who followed), cleared the caves and emerged back outside within the mountain. Having gone under and passed the pass, they exited in a vale, a valley of lush green grass, trees, wild flowers and life; birds and other such beings lived here, and the river ran through the centre of the valley rising up from the opposite cliff. The vale was surrounded and at first glance, there appeared only to be a couple of ways out -- either up one of the cliff paths to their left, or by following the river. Secluded, it appeared untouched by any sentient life... it was wild and held a rugged beauty, and yet, it seemed so totally unspoiled that the party had to wonder if this place had a guardian of sorts that kept away beings such as goblins or orcs.

As they left the dim, damp darkness of the caves, the party walked into the early morning sunlight, to which, they were all blinded, at least for a few seconds. It was an almost perfect day, with only a few fluffy white clouds in the sky, though the fog surrounding the utmost peak of the mountain remained, it was still beautiful. It felt appropriate, somehow. Whilst they were in the caves, the storm had passed, though, there were still signs of it present, like the all too damp dew on the grass, and the sodden ground. The vale itself was fairly large, and would take, maybe three hours at a fast pace to walk to the end of -- four if one was walking casually. It was fairly wide, and it would take maybe two hours to walk across - at a fast pace.


Galein sighed and smiled in contentment at the place, still holding onto Jena's hand. Thhiro purred happily too.
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OOC: I'll let you people post and use your imagination [img]tongue.gif[/img] .

Jena 33/36

Once out of the caves and into the sunlight, Jena breathed a deep sigh of relief and smiled as the light touched her eyes. The extreme brightness caused her to blink several times. She smiled at the beauty of her surroundings: the brief period in the cave had seemed like eternity. Now, out in the open, she swung her free arm (the one Galein was not holding) happily. Her long dark tousles rippled in the wind, and she gently squeezed Galein's hand. <font color= "orange"> "This place...is so beautiful. After being cooped up in the cave for so long...it's hard to imagine a place like this could exist. All I could do was dream of it....." </font> Jena smiled brightly at Galein. <font color= "orange"> "We should have no trouble finding food here. I imagine there are fruit trees, and edible berries...along with fish, wild game, and the like." </font>

[ 02-19-2005, 04:48 PM: Message edited by: TheMuse ]

<Font color=skblue>"Hmm... somehow, it seems wrong to hunt here,"</font><font color=silver> Galein replied, <Font color=skblue>"Perhaps, we should just forage instead?"</font>

<font color= "orange"> "You are right. It's just that none of us have eaten in a while and I guess I was getting anxious." </font> Smiling, she gazed at Galein for a moment. He did have a good point, and he somehow, at least in Jena's eyes, always seemed to have an intuition that she admired. <font color= "orange"> "This land...it does seem sacred somehow." </font>

<font color=silver> Galein smiled, took both her hands, and asked softly, <font color=skblue>"Shall we?"</font>

As if somehow sensing this place was free from danger, Galein laughed, his laughter genuinely mirthful and holding a note of peace and joy that Jena had not heard before, and nodding to the others solemly, he pulled Jena into both his arms and carried her, as he walked past the group and towards one of the grassy fields, Thhiro bounding happily along side of him.

As he reached the empty place, Galein spun Jena around, set her down gently, and bowed a courtier's bow to her, kissed her hand and murmured, <font color=skblue>"My lady."</font> His eyes held hers for a moment, yet, it felt lilke an eternity, and once again, Jena felt that strange sensation of oneness with him, only this time, she could feel his emotions were pure, joyful and genuinely at peace. It was a wonderful feeling.</font>

Jena closed her eyes, smiled, and rested the side of her face on Galein's shoulder. Words seemed unnecessary, and the gentle breeze of the warm wind, and the pleasant silence around her made her doze in his arms for a mere moment. She remained calm and still in his arms, and nothing...not even the thought of her deceased parents, seemed to change her joyful, pleasant mood. She was at peace, and she felt that at this very instant nothing could change that.

Fairioni smiles as she keeps walking <font color="#cc11aa">"I'll have to wait until we clear the vale. I don't want to offend whoever manages this place. "</font>

Fairioi has a bright smile on her face though as she looks around