Kitty: Esssssssssssss! *purrs*

Klasina: *giggles*

Roel: *grins and half-hugs Klasi*

Kai: *secretly jealous*

Me:

Klasina: Yah! Ouskar, you help, and then Kitty will learn twice as fast!

*to the authors* I can not believe I am allowing this.

Ouskar: Can you say yes? Curl your tongue loosely in a partial smile,a s well as your mouth.

Kitty: *purrs* Yes.

Klasina: *laughs* She answered you!!

Ouskar: Excellent!

Me:

Jay: "Well?"

Me:

Lars: "Behind."

Me: "If I missed anything let, me know... Skimming."

Jay: * jaw tenses as he notices Arilledrae's anxiety *

Shawn: * looks at Merashath * "Oh... dear..." * looks at Chayn, slightly alarmed * "Tynxie, don't."

Me: "Oh. I forgot that experience. This will be interesting."

Oi... I'm behind! Anyone care to summarize? And, Shawn, you owe Prince Rialtor an answer in that other thread...

Tynx: Don't what?

Chayn: [Puts a protective wing over Shawn, watching Merashath closely]

Tynx: [Looks at Kitty] OK, let's try your name. Click your tongue off the roof of your mouth, then keep your tongue of the roof of your mouth and sort of inhale/exhale to make the I sound. Then Tap your tongue of the roof of your mouth with tip of your tongue, then for the E sound, do what you would do for the E sound when you say meow.

Me:

Tae; Why is Tynx talking to Merashath, if Merashath is a bad guy?

Mordir: Because Tynx is weird.

Me: [Glares]

Mordir: Everyone's thinking it, I'm just saying it.

Chayn: I wasn't thinking it.

Aelyn: Nor was I.

Mordir: Never mind.

Arilledrae: *smiles weakly at Jay, trying to reassure him *

Jay: * is worried further by the smile * "You aren't alone."

Shawn: * definitely notices *

Me: (@ Captain) "I know..." "Um, Elanhil brought in his villain."

Shawn: * is reassured and stays alert and relaxed *

Me: "Lars, if you try to scare here..."

Lars: "I know." "Reflex."

Jaimie: (@ Tynx) "He looks dangerous, and if you've encountered him before..."

Me: *pokes head in nervously* Hi, everyone. It's been forever since I've done any role-playing, but my characters are in need of some development... so here they are! You can read their descriptions here.

*a groups of six characters walks in, looking around*

Alyse: This place looks familiar... didn't you drag me here a long time ago?

Me: Yup! But your stay was rather short-lived. But, anyway... introduce yourselves!

Kane: Don't mean to be rude... but you posted some descriptions of us in that other room...

Me: Just do it.

Luke: *throws Kane a look* I'll go first. My name is Luke, and I, like everyone else here, am a shapeshifter. I was raised in Monark, but that is not my home. I've been given the task of defending Arenia.

Cecily: *sneers* A rather difficult task, considering--

Me: Quiet, Cecily!

Luke: But she's right... I'm sort of... stuck right now.

Rani: Since we've been captured, you mean.

Luke: *begins studying his feet intently*

Alyse: And I'm Alyse, Luke's--

Me: Shhh!!! You're the only one who knows that!

Alyse: Hmph. Anyway, I'm a shifter too, but I managed to escape our captors, and I'm training with my sister Jayci right now.

Me: *nods* Thank you. *looks at rest of charries* No giving away plot details, okay?

Everyone:

Kane: The name's Kane... though you probably already knew that. Anyway, I escaped too, with a girl named Sierra, who isn't here, for some reason. *looks at me pointedly* Anyway, this is my little sister Rani.

Rani: *smiles* That's me. And this is Emma *looks at another girl*. She... doesn't talk much.

Cecily: More like not at all.

Luke: Shut it, Cecily!

Cecily: *ignores Luke* I'm Cecily, heir to the throne of Monark and right hand to the commander of the Vandel army.

Kane: *through clenched teeth* Traitor...

Me: Um... we should probably go; this could get ugly. Bye!

Arilledrae: *quietly* It is similar to a creature my people fear. But yet it speaks.

Kitty: Yesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyes!

Klasina: *hugs Kitty*

Roel:

Kitty: *imitates Tynx* Kiiiiittyyy!

Kai: *bored*

Roel: Your own fault. You wouldn't be bored if you came down here.

Kai:

Roel: Nevermind, then... O.o

Kai: *watches newcomers carefully*

Ouskar: Good! Excellent!

The Dragon: So, what is it like where you all live?

Luke: We're from Arenia.

Kane: *elbows Luke* That isn't exactly helpful...

Luke: But I don't know much myself. *looks at me*

Me: Um... yeah. I'm working on that. But Alyse knows more than you two.

Alyse: *smiles* I guess so. Well, Arenia is made up of all the land between Allandar Valley and the Syrian Mountains. Humans live there, mostly... and shapeshifters like me. But when the Vandels attacked 13 years ago, almost all the shifters were killed. Anyway... now the Vandels rule.

Kane: *mutters* Barbarians.

Rani: *notices Kitty* Oh! *runs over and strokes Kitty's fur*

Tynx: [Lookss at Luke and his friends] You guys are shapeshifters?

Mordir: It's a long lost family.

Tynx: [Glares]

Me: Never known Tynx to glare. That's scary.

Chayn: [Looks at Lars] What reflex?

TTynx: [To Jaimie] Oh, that. I've dueled him twice. I can handle it.

Me: Overconfident much?

Mordir: Well, at least he's got a positive attitude about it.

Tynx: [Smiles at Kitty] Very good! Now let's try the word fish. Put your upper teeth over your lower lip, but don't bite down, then blow out, then make the I sound again, then put your tongue far back in your mouth, slightly touching the roof, then exhale to make the SH sound.

Kitty: *purrs*

Klasina: Isn't she cute, Rani? And she can talk!

Kitty: Yes!

Klasina: *giggles*

Kitty: Fisssssh!

Roel:

Klasina: Kai! Can you get me a fish for Kitty?

Kai: *sighs*

Klasina: *begs*

Kai: Oh fine. Just one. *goes back to market in story*

Me: Well, that's gotten rid of him for a bit...

Luke: Some of the few that are left.

Alyse: *stares at Tynx* Are you a shapeshifter, too?



Rani: She's so pretty! *rubs Kitty's ears* And I've never seen a talking cat before...

Kane: Seems like anything can happen in here.

Lars: * scratches head and looks at Chayn * "She knows some self-defense stuff... And when she's in that mode and she's not aware if you, she might hurt you before either of you knew what happened. You're not in danger, though."

Me:

Jay: * tries to reassure with a small smile *

Jaimie: (@ Tynx) "Be careful."

Me: "PotK!" * shoves Lars over * "Go be social."

Shawn:

Me: "And normal."

Lars: "Impossible to the last part. I'll try the first mission..." (To Kane and Luke) "Greeting and salutations!"

Me: * headdesk *

Tynx: [Nudges Kitty] Good job! Let's try Klasi's name. Make the K sound again, then arch your tongue backward and touch the roof for the L sound. then open your mouth really wide an go ahh. Then make the S sound, and then the E sound you make for meow.

Me: If she starts talking nostop, I'm blaming you.

Mordir: I'm impressed.

Tynx: And you didn't believe me! Ha!

Me:

Tynx: [To Alyse] I am! I wasn't one from the very start, but Aris let me be one while I was dueling... somebody. Long time ago.

Mordir: And thank goodness he hasn't abused it.

Me: Ah, that's what he should've done when he was caffeinated!

Mordir: Have you lost your mind?

Me: I created you.

Tynx: Ouch.

Chayn: [Laughs] I see.

Mordir: Sounds like Aris with a gun.

Me: It does not! That was a video game! Totally different scenario! Tomb Raider can be a very suspenseful game, especially if your character is alone!

Mordir: With a gun.

Me: [Chucks dictionary]

Arilledrae: (@Jay) *smiles weakly back, her eyes worried* There isn't a breath of wind in here. Is there a door or window someone could open?

Me: Shawn!

Luke: (@Lars) Greetings.

Kane: *smiles sympathetically* Don't feel like you have to be... um... social.

Luke: What part do you play in your author's story?

Alyse: (@Tynx) Aha. So, can you still shapeshift?

Kane: *picks up dictionary* I think you dropped this, Lady Aris.

Me: *headdesk*

Alyse: (@Mordir) Oh, you should have seen Abby playing Call of Duty. Now that was scary. She was a danger to anyone within 20 feet of her, and it didn't matter who they were.

Me: Hey! I'd never played before!

Me: Call of Duty isn't that hard. I even managed to beat my cousin who owned the game. Maybe guys are just better at video games...

The Dragon: I'm with Varon on this, once you get a hang of it, it's pretty simple.

Ouskar: Call of Duty?

Alyse: *whispers* Abby's not very good at video games...

Me: Hey!

Me: Practice makes perfect.

Tynx: You betcha! It's fun! I've done a few forms, though. But the dragon was my favorite!

Mordir: No, really?

Me: [Takes dictionary from Kane]

Mordir: I'm kidding!

Me: [Hugs Princess] I could probably find the right people to shoot, it just depends on how quickly I can shoot.

Mordir: Yeah, reaction time isn't her strong point....

Me: Well, it is for Tomb Raider.

Mordir: [Laughs]

Tynx: O.O He laughed at our author's joke....

Seymour: There's a first for everything.

The Dragon: Just pull the trigger and aim in the general direction.

Me: Dragon, I need to start developing you more for NaNo. Anyone have ideas?

Lars: "Yes... Well..."

Me:

Jay: * jumps up and pries open a window * "Better?"

Shawn: * smiles * "It's all reflex..."

Lars: * moves farther away *

Jaimie: ... * looks at me *

Me: "Uh..."

Klasina: @Rani *grins* Neither had I till they taught Kitty how to talk!

Kitty: *follows Tynx's instructions but is getting to be really good at this* Klasi!

Klasina: *giggles and hugs Kitty*

Kitty: Klasi fish?

Klasina: Kai was going to get you fish.

Me: *checks in story* I... think he's gotten distracted.

Kai: *yells from story* Have not!

Me: Then put down your katana and bring Klasi and Kitty the fish.

Kai: Give me a few minutes.

Kitty: *purrs*

Roel: What's this about shooting people? *pulls out bow*

The Dragon: It's a game in our world called Call of Duty.

Arilledrae: (@Jay) *smiles* Thank you, Jay. That is much better. *a light wind begins to blow around her again* *looks visibly more relieved.*

Ouksar: It was rather stifling in here.

Jay: * smiles at Arilledrae * (mutters to Ouskar) "I didn't open it for you..."

Me: * whacks Jay * "Where did that comment come from?!"

Jay: "You."

Me: ...

Lars: "Ooh, ouch." * ducks *

Me:

Chayn: [Smiles]

Me: Usually anyone I play against are a lot faster than I am.

Mordir: And you wonder why we don't let you have a weapon.

Me: [Glares]

Mordir: What? Characters need to control their authors, too. It's not only the other way around.

Tynx: It is for some people. ^^

Mordir: Why you little-!

Seymour: Point proven.

Tae: Mordir needs to be more villainous.

Mordir: Quoth random Tae.

Me: [Thwacks villain] But she has a point...

Tynx: Good job, Kitty! Let's try the word buzz.

Me: Why buzz?

Tynx: Because I feel like it. Now, Kitty, kind of pop for lipsout, so fold them over and under your teeth, then blow them out. Then make an uh sound, and then buzz, or maybe vibrate, your tongue on the roof of your mouth.

Merashath: *narrows eyes* Shifters...I know your type. *glares*

Elanhil: Don't...make eye contact. Trust me.

Cuoash: *giggles at Kitty*

Me: Everyone I played was really fast... and I think they figured out how slow I am, 'cause they kept chasing me down.

Kane: I think they just waited for you to reappear.

Me: Wait a second... how do you guys know so much about Call of Duty?

Alyse: *shrugs*

Kane: You're the one in charge!

Me:

Alyse: @Tynx: A dragon? That's what my sister Jayci shifts into! I can only become a mermaid. *smiles*

Luke: *steps between Merashath and Alyse* *fingers the sword at his side*

Rani: *looks up from Kitty* Why shouldn't we make eye contact?

Ouksar: Eh? I know, but luxury is a rare thing for me to experience.

Merashath: *deep rumble from his belly*

Cuoash: Either he's hungry or he just laughed...

Merashath: Weapons are useless against me, boy...look into my eyes.

Elanhil: What are you trying to accomplish? *Kicks Merashath's side*

Merashath: *his tail sweeps and knocks Elanhil backwards sending him sliding up towards Merashath's face, where he mounts one claw on Elanhil's chest and moves close, speaking so no-one else can hear* They are potential threats. Now stay away from me. *carelessly tosses Elanhil to the side*

Elanhil: *shakily stands up* I'm ok... kicking that brute is not a smart idea...

Luke: *glances at Elanhil* Uh... I think I'll pass.

Tynx: Leave them be, Merashath.

Me: Tynx, you should stay out of it.

Tae: [Glances at Merashath, then hurries to Aelynn and hides behind her]

Seymour: [Looks at Elanhil] Are you sure you're alright?

Tynx: [To Alyse] Cool! Mermaids are pretty. I've seen pictures in books, but nothing in real life. Aris has mermaids.

Me: Of a sort.

Tynx: They're close. But yeah, dragons are awesome. Do like being a mermaid?

Tae: [Walks over to Merashath] Don't be mean.

Seymour: Tae!

Me: She's gutsy.

Mordir: Ain't nothin' much else to say there.

Luke: Tae... I don't think that's a good idea. You better not mess with her, Merashath. *takes a step forward*

Alyse: Thank you, Tynx. I suppose I like being a mermaid, though... I haven't really gotten used to being a shifter.

Rani: Alyse does have it the worst of anyone, I think. She only knew that she was a shifter for a couple days before we were all kidnapped by... those awful men. *shivers*

Kane: *hugs Rani*

Me: No fighting.

Dragon: Look you in the eyes, Merserath? I'll do it.

Ouskar: I have a bad feeling.

Me: This could be interesting...

Roel: A game where they shoot people for fun? Sounds more like Kai's style.

Me: *knows nothing of Call of Duty*

Kitty: *laughs* Buzzzzzz!

Kai: *appears and gives Klasi fish* Now, what is this I see going on with Merashath? *draws katana and makes himself invisible*

Me: Oh dear.

Klasina: Yay! Kitty, say fish!

Kitty: Klasi, fish?

Klasina: *laughs and gives Kitty fish* Good Kitty! Does Kitty like fish?

Kitty: Yes. *thinking* When will they realize I'm more intelligent than I seem?

Me: When you can shape-shift. Which is so not happening.

Kitty: *glowers*

Arilledrae: (@Jay) *laughs at Jay's comment*

The Dragon: *looks around* Did someone just say something about intelligence? *seems slightly uneasy*

Kitty: *purrs* Yes. Why does that make you uneasy?

Me: Kitty, they can't hear your thoughts.

Kitty: He seems to have.

The Dragon: *looks at Kitty* Is that you? I've never heard thoughts before.

Kitty: It is me! How is this happening??

Me: *repeated head/desks* Why do I keep doing things I told myself I would never do? First talking animals, now mindspeaking... this place must have some sort of mindcontrol or something.

Dragon: I think it's me. I can communicate with telepaths.

Tae: [Looks at Luke] Why? Tynx likes him.

Tynx: I am so not getting pulled into this.

Me: [Has rediscovered the definition of the word Mordir's name came from] Huh, I don't remember it being that....

Mordir: Oh, that's reassuring.

Tynx: [Smiles] I'm sure you'll get used it. It's still weird for me.

Me: Is it?

Tynx: It is.

Me:

Tynx: [Pats Kitty] Good job! You eat your fish, and we'll do some more after. You're doing great!

Me: I sense a bit of pride emanating from him.

Mordir: You think? He's creating another talking animal. A young talking animal.