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[Astraica]

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Astraica had just settled down for a good evening of reading when a hurried wind rushed around her. Quickly, she gathered her things and headed out to see if it was right... She prayed to the Gods that it wasn't.
It was late and starting to get dark, a feeling of anxiety filled the air as she hurried along through the Malas desert. Dodging the various scorpion here and there, she frantically followed the wind’s direction. Which lead her straight to Amoria, her sister. She was frantic, paying no heed as she was rushing to their house, trampling anything in her path.
"Calm down! What's wrong?" Astraica tried to grab her sister's arms while avoiding the violent sword swings and curses that flew from her sister's mouth. A look of concern filled her face. She had to find out what was wrong... If it was what she had thought...
Quickly, she calmed Amoria, and the clatter of a sword falling to the ground rung through the air. She had dropped it purely out of loss of will, she was a wreck.
"I... It's Tatianna..." Amoria looked up to her big sister. "They took her... AGAIN! DAMIT!" A look of rage and frustration filled her face and her usually hidden fangs protruded as she growled. "Right from in front of me! If I had of just been able to get in a few blows... Grrrr!"
Astraica turned pale from pure horror as the knowledge of what had happened to her friend sunk in. The wind had been right... Oh GODs! That poor girl... She thought. “Amoria, do you know where she’s being held?”
Nodding once Amoria replied, “At the Ebon Skull HQ. It’s just north of the Umbra, Malas Gate. Turn west and follow the path to the bridge. Then turn North, and follow the edge, you’ll know it when you see it.”
Nodding surely, Astraica started for thier house. "Amoria. You stay here. You are in no condition to be fighting... Rest up, and try not to worry so much ok? I'll try to handle it." She gave her sister one last look of concern, and cast the spell to get to the nearest Moongate. Oh gods! I pray that I'm not too late! She thought as she hurried to Umbra, Malas. Hoping that her sister's directions were right.

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"Well, well. What have we here?" Aragothias said with a smile on his face as Astraica stood in a cold stone room, pillared at the door, and open to forest. The place ranked of death, and bones littered the floor. No gentle breeze could be found in a place like this. She was alone…
"You!" She said with remorse in her voice, and demanded. "What have you done with Tatianna?"
A horde of slaves quickly surrounded her as she spoke. Smiling, glaring and glancing over this new arrival, they wore looks of pure evil upon them. Bringing a more look of death than she could’ve possibly imagined.
They and Aragothias laughed and chuckled. "She is fine. I sent her to Poet's. Her body at least." He cackled with pleasure.
"You! You KILLED her?!" Astraica shouted with horror, as the group now seemed to close in on her, starting to smile and laugh, seeming to enjoy the “show”.
"Yep, slit her throat, and burned her. She moaned like a wench. And you want to know something? Ultima may have been the first to kiss her, but I was the last man she ever had or will!" He laughed with pure satisfaction in his voice.
"How, how DARE you! Hurt one of such innocence!" Astraica cried out, appalled and sickened from what he had done.
"Come now, you speak as though you have none. Every last being has some in them." Aragothias chortled at her, glancing her up and down.
One of the slaves had raised his hand to hit her, waiting for Aragothias' approval he held it there. Astraica had already seen the motion however and swung her arm up to block the potential blow. "Do NOT try! If you hurt me..." She called back just as Aragothias had dismissed it, and told him not to harm her.
The slave grinned. "Thinking of playing with this girl as well?"
"Ohh! She's threatening us now!" Another mocked her.
"I do not "play"." Aragothias smirked, as Astraica quickly grew uncomfortable.
It was time to leave, and she knew it. There was nothing to be gained by staying, she felt sad for ones of such hate and evil. But there was nothing she could do. She heard one of the slaves speak something of "no-one would miss her", and she quickly readied her spell to recall out of there.
With a look of sadness she said, "No-one shall miss me, for I shall be there. Farewell!" And cast the spell just as she heard, "This is your last chance. To leave here safely."

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The Garden, full of life and adventure… It usually held a feeling of calm about it, but not this night as Astraica appeared in the yard with a sparkle.
Sighing sadly she walked through the stables deep in thought, to the porter that leads upstairs. It was there, a few moments later, which she had run into yet another Ebon Skull. It seemed as though they swarmed around Poet's like flies. Last night she had encountered a bunch of them, including Darrien. She had spied on him, to find out if he was truly the one who had done the first crime to Tatianna. And had promptly told the Frontier when she had found out.
He and his slaves however, attacked an enraged Frontier’s man and killed him. That night was not one she had wanted to remember… One Ebon had cut out the fallen man’s liver and offered her a piece mockingly. Talking trash about Tati the rest of the time, while the others argued. Astraica had retorted against his words, and defended Tati’s reputation.
When it seemed a losing battle for the other two Frontier’s men who had joined into the fray, she stepped and had stopped the meaningless fight. But another man had, had to convince her to leave. For she was too involved with defending Tati with her words, and trying to help the others see how pointless and horrible it truly was to hurt anyone.
“Childish” She had said. “I see nothing but boys, standing here before me. Who are hungry for power and greed.” But it was not enough, and she was forced to sit at a table nearby with the man.
After a bit of talking, Arlin had come by. And Astraica had ended up staying with the Frontier for a long chat of finding out what had taken place that eve.
Earlier that night, Tatianna and Hummer had arrived. She talked with, and tried to comfort them. It was horrible to see the poor dear so meek and hurt. She just hid under her hooded robe, and Hummer did all the talking. But the time flew by, and after giving her oath to help Tati and Hummer, she had left to play her instruments in her normal perch in a nearby tree outside.

But this night, Darrien had shown his face again. Just after having that conversation with her. She was rather appalled. She had seen him walk in just as she was talking to a man by the crystal who had struck her as an Ebon.
“I was too late!” Astra said in frustration and sadness, bowing her head. “Those awful! I can’t believe it! I tried to get there. But she had already been…” She looked up to the man at the opposite end of the table and her eyes filled with tears.
“How Could you! How can your kind be so cruel? Hurting an innocent like that.” She shook her head, and Ultima, a former slave she had come to befriend, appeared on the porter. Glancing over only when she stated sadly, “I was there, I tried to save her… But I was too late…” Listening carefully, he wandered a little, trying not to look conspicuous. But he had immediately caught Astra’s eyes as she had looked up to scorn the other man.
Overjoyed to see him out of his worn and tattered robe, and instead in a jet-black outfit and a blue cloak with a design on the back, she got up to greet him.
Darrien walked in then, and Astra’s attention immediately turned towards him. “You!” She shouted. But on her way to scold him, Darrien had acknowledged Ultima. A former member of the Skull… He was surprised to see this. And after a bit of chat unwanted by Ultima, Darrien had left.
Board, Ultima also turned to leave, and Astra rushed to catch up to him. She wanted to talk to him. Just as she arrived at the stables, she saw he was talking with another man, but the conversation didn’t last long, and Astra waited politely until they had finished.
“Hey! Wait!” She shouted. “You’re no longer of the Ebon?” Her eyes lighted as she smiled.
Ultima nodded, and continued out.
He always seems to be leaving. She thought as she rushed out to catch him again. “Did you hear about… Tati?”
He stopped then and turned around. “You might as well come.” And he raised his hands to cast a portal.
Astra blinked in surprise. First he’s leaving… Now he’s inviting me to his house?? She thought puzzled, but walked through anyway. On the other side, a great stone house, mimicking that of a very small castle loomed before her, and Ultima had invited her inside. It wasn’t long before she had realized why he invited her here.
“You said you were there.” He stated calmly as he turned towards her.
They were in a stone room, with a stone table and throne in the center. The table had been littered with books, scrolls and parchments, she noted as she glanced around. There was a library of books that ran along the back wall, and two porters perpendicular from each other in the corner.
“Yes.” She nodded. “I was. I had heard of what had happened, and quickly rushed to the scene… But I had arrived too late.” A tear dropped to the floor as she looked down sadly. “They had already killed and vanquished her! I should have BEEN there! I promised I would be.”
“You care?” Ultima asked with calm in his voice.
“Yes! Of Course I do! She’s my friend. And I hold all in my heart. I would do anything to help someone.” Astra cried, hurt by his question. He seemed so calm… Not flinching as she told him her story. It dawned on her then, he would have already seen it. Wouldn’t have he? He was there for the first attack… But when had he left the Ebon? Shaking her head she let more tears fall from her eyes.
“Good.” He stated flatly.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and have a drink, hmm?” Ultima offered without moving.
“Thank you.” Astraica laughed. “But I hardly think that drowning myself would solve anything.” Smiling she wiped away her tears. But Ultima had persisted and she soon found herself upstairs grabbing a bottle of red wine. There was a balcony that had occupied half of the roof, apart from the closed in bar room, and a barkeeper had positioned herself behind the counter.
Ultima had soon joined her on the balcony, it appeared he had an errand to do, and left her there as he recalled away. The time went slow, and by the time that Ultima had come back, she had downed the whole bottle. He had found her drunken, sitting in the throne downstairs. Weaving she got up to greet him, when a stranger rode up to the door. Turning their attention towards this newcomer, they walked outside to greet him, and found his name was Artius Windom or Art for short.
But he needed to leave soon, and she followed him as he offered to take her somewhere safe. It was a Maginica tavern. It was beautiful and in a truly peaceful city. And he had offered her some milk to help her become sober. It didn’t take long, and more of his friends had come to join them. Gohan, Drake and Isk.
She had told them all of the eve’s happenings, and watched as they quickly formed a plan to override the Ebon. Eventually Isk asked for Ultima. He had worked for the Ebon, perhaps he could provide them with some information…
Not long after, Ultima had provided them with enough information to fill a book, which Astraica had written faithfully.
The Ebon had been the source of the Plague. Starting with having Ultima and another look after a pillar of skulls. They had fed it the raw energy from the first plague and brought it to power. The Ebon were also the cause for the purple flower plague that had been risen here not more than a month ago…
They sought power, the destruction of all things, and more. Pure madness… A battle was to be coming up as well. Sometime soon, but no-one knew when. And everyone had quickly disbanded after the interrogation/meeting.

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Sighing, Astraica entered the Garden once again. She was exhausted. Glancing around she saw Ultima and Hummer at the far stone table and walked over to greet them.
“Hey, you alright? Is Tati…?” She asked with concern evident in her voice.
“Yep, I’m alright, and Tati’s doing fine.” The green clad man turned to her.
“Oh! She wasn’t killed then!” Astraica breathed a sigh of relief and half-smiled. “I tried to get there to stop them. But I was too late. They had already hurt her… I WISH I had of been there! Even if I couldn’t have done anything... Then at least she wouldn’t have been alone.” Looking down sadly, her tears drop to the floor once again.
“Thank you, for your concern.” Hummer smiled. “But I must be off now. To check on Tati.”
Astra nodded and called after him, “I wish you the very best of luck, please give Tati my best wishes too when you see here! Farewell!” *She watched as he quickly left the building, then turned to the blue haired man at the head of the table.
“May I sit?” She looked hopeful.
Ultima nodded with a look of relief. “Please do.” He waved to the seat to the side of him. “I’m just going over these parchments.” He seemed so beat and tired, occasionally rubbing the back of his neck as if it was sore. It was probably three in the morning by this time Astra guessed.
“You look like you could use a break.” She smiled.
“Maybe. But I shouldn’t leave these parchments for long.” Ultima looked down defeated at the paper in front of him.
Astraica nods then glances to the tarot deck in front of her. Hmm… I’ve not done this in a while… Perhaps this’ll help. Absently she picks up the deck and shuffles it as Ultima’s eyes slowly drift towards what she is doing, full of boyish wonder and curiosity. Yes. He needs a good fortune right now... I hope that’s what his future holds… Slowly, she draws three cards and she lays them down before her. Glancing to the first she states, “Past.” And turns it over. Immediately she frowns as she looks to the card. “Oh dear… You, had a hard and sad past. Didn’t you?” Looking up at him concernedly he only grumbles and retorts with, “… That is none of your concern.”
Nodding she flips the next card. “Present… The Fool.” She looks to the card and smiles.
“Oh joy…” Ultima turns away and scowls.
“No, no! Look. It’s not upside down. It means good fortune!” Astra smiles as she goes to turn the third and final card. Looking down at it, she concentrates. “Hmm… You’re going to have a good future. You will know happiness and fortune... But it will take a long time getting there…” Looking to the card in concentration, she draws another and lays it on top of the third to read more into it. “You will have bad times getting there, and you’ll have to fight. But you will also have times of happiness as well…”
Gathering the cards back into their pile she looks up to Ultima for his reaction. Unblinking, he sits there, a single “Hrumph” coming from his thin lips. Then, he looks to her, his face full of seriousness.
“Look, I won’t dance around it. What do you want? No-one helps anyone unless they want something. So if you’re going to say it. Spit it out.”
Blinking Astraica looks up startled. What on earth?… Then the meaning of what he had said dawns on her and she laughs. “Oh! No, no silly! I don’t want anything from you. Just for you to be happy. Is it so hard to believe that there is at lease one out there who would do anything for someone without seeking personal gain?”
Ultima’s eyes narrow and he looks away. “Yes. For there is no such kind out there.”
Smiling, her eyes filled with warmth, Astraica gently places her hand on his jaw and turns his head towards hers. “That. My dear friend, is where you are wrong. For I am one.” It always seemed she was telling someone that. No-one ever believed there to be such a creature who would only care… Releasing him she sinks back into her seat and smiles. “So…” She states giddily, but Ultima looks back to his papers and rustles them about.
“I really mustn’t leave these for too long… And I really don’t have time for this.” He half growls.
Thinking a moment Astraica came up with the one thing she usually asked someone who is down. “Hmm... What do you do for fun?” That caught him by surprise, he barely flinched, you could see his eyes widen behind his long blue hair. He said nothing.
“Oh…” Astra looked down disappointed. “I guess a guy like you doesn’t have much fun huh?”
“Hurmph.” For a moment they sat in silence, and the ramblings of the few people left in the building at this late hour could be heard almost like a soft song. It was then that Ultima broke the silence.
“Ok, I’m going to be blunt. How would you like to join MTC?” Looking over Ultima saw her raise her head and eyes fill with interest.
“MTC? What’s that? Tell me a bit about it.” She asked resting her chin on her left hand.
“Moonglow Town Council… You go around helping, protecting and running the Moonglow regions.” He grinned as Astra’s eyes sparkled and a smile spread across her lips.
“Really?! It sounds so… Perfect.” She smiled wondrously.
Looking over hopefully Ultima smiled. “Good. Then you’ll join.”
Astraica shook her head. She had decided that before she would get into anything, she would have to consult the one in charge first. “No. I’ll have to think about it first. Meet with your Leader. Or Mayor, as it were.”
A childish grin spreads over Ultima’s lips. “You already have.”
“Huh?” A bit puzzled she turns to him.
“You weren’t late for the meeting.” He chuckles to himself unable to keep it in any longer.
Dawning on her what he had meant Astra’s eyes widen and she giggles. “Oh! You’re the Mayor! Vary well then. I’ll join.” She smiles.
Ultima gathers up his things and smiles. “Good. Now, I must be off. Good night.”
Smiling back Astraica also gets up. “Good night, and sweet dreams.”
Ultima smiled slightly as he walked away, and they both recalled to their own destinations.

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The dawn had just broke as Astraica carefully opened the door to her home. Her Brothers and Sister should be sleeping by now, and she wished not to disturb them. Tiptoeing through the house until she came to flop down on her bed she sighed and looked to the ceiling above her. Letting an exasperated sigh slip from her lips she said quietly. “What, a, night…” and rolled over to snuggle under her covers to fall into a sleep filled with dreams.
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"One life is so small in the Universe. But it's that one life, that changes everything."

[Astraica]

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Ok, I know I had gotten lazy halfway through. But I'll try to re-wright it, laterz... *Flops down exhasted* It took me Forever to remember everything.

Please feel free to leave comments, This is my first real post Anywhere. And I love to get new opinions. Thanks so much!
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"One life is so small in the Universe. But it's that one life, that changes everything."