laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Haunting music quietly filled the large chamber which at one time held a family of vacid dragons which died one fateful day, not many years ago. Kailee sat on the large boulder and watched as the bard played, wondering how far the music would drift and if anyone passing by the cave's entrance would hear it. Breagan and his men were posted near the opening which lay nearly a league from them but, music had a way of echoing, especially in these confines. Kristal and the girls enjoyed it as they awoke and stretched.

"It's probably too dangerous to take them back to Stolberg now," Adgertesse' commented, sitting nearby on another large, dark grey rock.

"I know," she sighed as she leaned forward. "We can remain here for a while but, once word gets out we'll have to find another hide for them."

"You don't have to lay these burdens on yourself," Kristal interrupted as she neared, stepping over large bones, bleached by the acidic blood that once filled the chamber's floor. "We've been survivors for centuries, we'll be okay."

Kailee grinned. "You're my responsibility now," she shrugged. "My home is compromised now, so I'm going to help out when I can."

"That's our goal now, not just yours," the blonde smiled. "We'll be back shortly," blue eyes turned to notice her companions readying for departure as they morphed into bat form and flew into the darkness towards the exit.

"Be careful."

"We will," Kristal smiled, then her lean body shortened as arms widened into dark brown, leathery wings and they watched the large bat beat a tune into the blackness, beyond the firelight's reach.

"Why haven't you ever done that," Tess inquired.

"What?"

"Bat form. Or can you?"

"I guess so, never tried." Reminiscing, she tried to list all the forms that her magic had allowed and couldn't recall a bat. "You have the Shifting list, don't you?"

"No," the dark elf thought, then shook her head.

"I'll teach it to you, it comes in handy sometimes."

* * *

Soon all the bats returned as Ainmere finished composing another piece, then set his lyre down and moved to the cookfire where their female servants finished a meal for the rest of the group. Counting, she realized that one of them was missing and searched the faces to figure out which one until it dawned on her.

"Where's Brittany," she asked as she neared Kristal who looked back to their companions.

"I don't know. Has anyone seen her?"

"She stopped at a nearby tavern, no doubt to entice one of the travelers," Margarite informed, grinning.

Kristal sighed as she shook her head. "That girl's going to get herself in trouble."

"Let Adgertesse' and I go," Kailee suggested. "It's nearing morning and you don't need to get caught outside."

"She'll be okay, Kailee. That one's always gone out on her own, she'll be back soon. Don't worry."

Silvery green eyes watched as they sat and rested from their hunt and wondered how they could be so lackadaisical. Or was she just that paranoid? "We'll be back soon."

Eyes looked up as Tess joined the demon and they headed towards the main tunnel. "Kailee, rest here. She'll be fine," Kristal assured.

"We'll be back soon. I just want to make sure she's alright," her voice trailed off as they moved towards the exit, echoing in the dark chamber filled with stalagmites and stalactites. Out into the cleaner air, Kailee concentrated and followed the scent that the resident bats had left behind, drifting on the light breeze coming from the Valga not to far west of them. Quickly moving through the thick forest, they found the area of the kills, grass and bushes rank with the sweat of the deer as well as the powerful musty odor of death that only vampires could leave behind. Rising, her eyes soon caught sight of distant flickering of firelight which led them to the small outpost.
As they neared the cluster of homes and businesses, she noted the sounds of passion emanating from the loft over the livery. Moving, they crept between two close buildings made of wood and thatch covered, and crouched at the corner, gazing out into the street lit dimly by torches which hung from their sconces, one to each building. No one stirred in the street which prompted the duo to quickly move to the larger two-story building. Suddenly, nervous horses neighed and stopped them in their tracks.

Kailee turned quickly to her nightblade friend. "See if she's up in the loft for me, I'm drawing too much attention."

"Okay." As she watched, the dark form disappeared into the stables and up the ladder as Kailee noticed a candle light in the upper bedroom. Ducking under the eaves, she moved to the far corner and back through a darkened alleyway to reach the forest beyond. A scream erupted, cutting through the night like a blade as Kailee spun and crouched in the thick underbrush.

'You alright,' she mentally inquired as she felt Adgertesse's heart race as the dark elf escaped.

'Wasn't her.'

'Sorry. I thought it was. That means she's somewhere else here. We have to find her.'

'Where are you now?'

'In the woods to the east,' she informed then reached out to find their missing vampire. She had to be here somewhere. Scanning through dreaming occupants, pets and the surrounding forest full of birds of all types as well as other creatures, she finally found who she was looking for. In the distant north, she felt the frustrated girl's mind racing.

'Brittany, are you okay?'

'No. Don't come here, run away. Get the others...'