Giselle

We had been so distracted by the fire blowers that we forgot to get the peppers, so Lord Stout sent us out into the crowded market again.

When we got to the pepper stand, we noticed that Cordovan had beaten us to it. He was standing there with his arms folded, and didn't look very happy at all. "Because of you, I'm going to be late for my lesson. You took so long I had to do your job."

"We're sorry, sir, we won't let it happen again." Gabrielle said humbly.

"That's for sure, why send a human to do the job of a Nimfurry? You're so slow because you don't have a tail. It's a wonder you don't walk in circles." he smirked.

"Oh! Just because your father owns us doesn't mean you can treat us so ill!" My sister growled.

"What are you going to do about it, Sheila. It's not like you can blow fire or anything." Then suddenly he gasped and pointed over to where the fire blowers were, "Oh my gosh, they just torched a human!"

We gasped and looked in the direction he was pointing, but didn't see the fire blowers anywhere. When we turned back we saw him running away shouting and laughing,"I fooled you humans, you believe everything!"

Before I knew what was going on, Gabrielle ran off in a frenzy. I panicked and tried to follow them, but they were too fast.

I ran blindly through the crowd trying not to panic, but the horrors of being lost or left behind caused me to carelessly run into a rather large and angry man (Nimfurry) carrying a basket of eggs.

He stopped abruptly as my face met his backside with a thud. The boxes went in every direction. The man turned around and growled at me. "You're going to pay for that!" His claws were violently thrust towards me.

Lord Stout took notice of the commotion and chastised Gabrielle for such carelessness, and then ordered Cordovan to rescue me. He was very disappointed and embarrassed. Gabrielle would be on chamber pot duty for a very long time to make up for the incident. One could only imagine what Cordovan's punishment would be.

Cordovan angrily made his way through the crowd, "she's just a human, and causes more trouble than she's worth."

Sarid

My name, or rather, the name I had been granted by Kindra was Sarid. She said in one of the planet's ancient languages it meant survivor. She had taught me few things and had been more of a guide than truly a teacher. Now I was on my own, living on my own and doing whatever I felt like. I had even discovered my father's identity, but he had perished during the war.

It seemed so long ago that I was just a child, a child that had been so impressed with the abilities of Kindra that I had searched for her tower and learned from her. Now, ten years older, yet still an adolescent for my species, I entered a city on the outskirts of my father's country being sent off by Kindra to change the world. She always had had a way about being overly dramatic like that. I was just looking for a job.

I wore a hooded cloak, with the hood pulled down to cover my face. I wasn't sure how welcome I'd be, even here. My features were enough different from the giant race called Retiray, a race that easily grew to twenty feet tall, that anyone who had seen them could tell I was mixed with something else. That something else was human, I had spent my entire life on the run because of a war that had caused my village to fall into the hands of a race that was racially intolerant of any species mixing and who revered themselves, incorrectly as the most perfect and blessed of all the races in the world.

They were ruthless to their enemies, yet they could be brutally loyal. Not all of them were so hateful, but I'd only heard about them through rumors, having never met one in person.

Currently I was twelve feet tall, having grown a few feet in the last year, which hurt a lot. I was the equivalent human age of approximately seventeen, though my birth age was thirty five. I would be an adult for nearly four times that of a human, meaning I'd easily live into my two hundreds and that was without magic.

At least that's what Kindra had told me, she had looked a little bit jealous, but she'd never confess to it. She had told me all about the history, there was one thing I knew she was keeping from me but I could not figure out what it was and so I let it go.

I was just entering the town and decided I'd start my look for work here, in this trading town, people were always passing through and you never know when one would be needing work. I sniffed the air, a good pleasing smell was breezing through the air and I smiled. It would be a good day.

(For Deanna, and Luke if he can't tell or doesn't remember, this is not the same town Cordovan and Giselle are in. If you want to have a little bit of time pass for your characters that's fine, you two would need to discuss it but my character is kind of disassociated from them so that's why I did it this way. Basically his previous post was ten years in the past. Luke your post.)

2nd post, of the common life

After delegating to the Sheilas to gather the things on the list, father Stout grabed the wayward attention span of Giselle looking over near the flame blowers. “now do you think you can do that for me.” at the confused look on Giselle's face, Lord Stout continued, “I must say finding the peppers is quite a big job for such a little Sheila such as yourself. Here are three coins get some good peppers and if there is any left over buy yourself a treat.” Lord Stout ruffled the mane of the little girl gave her older sister a smile.

After Lord Stout checked his satchle, grabbed an apple Lord stout glimpsed around then sighed. “where did that boy get off to?”

I smirked as listening in on my father's conversation always provided for loads of entertainment. Cordovan loved feeling stelthy. He was currently hiding behind an ajasent cart and was trying to stifle his giggles as he had eluded his fathers notice and didn't even have to confront the abnormally giggly Sheila. Now he could really go off to the flame blowers with out any interuptions.

Bellowing into the crowd father Stout ecoed a reminder. “don't forget your magic lessons when the sun hits three.”

I sighed with dismay. One my father knew my general facility and two I hated magic lessons! (think of piano lessons when you have no love of the thing.) blarg if only witch-doctoring were every day lessons. And while in the act of wallowing in self pity noticed the love of his life, Christi a sleek jem of the nimfurry world.

Now the nimfurry were an intriguing race one of peace and tranquillity and rather peaceful to fellow nimfurry but rabid barbarians to other cultures them all being inferior and horribly unattractive. This is a goal of all nimfurry make the world a better place by making it in their image. and frankly Cordovan wouldn't mind remaking the world with her. though still being fourteen and being just a little twiterpated. he still didn't understand the ramifications of that statment.

Cordovan waved nervously then realising his fur was poofing he doged behined an old lady before she could see him. alas why does life have to be so rough.

Giselle

It was my first day in the Market. I had never been permitted to go before, but Lord Ronald thought today was a good day to start. I skipped towards the wagon and climbed up behind my older sister. Then she started being her usual bossy self, "Watch where you step, this food pays for our home. Stay close to me and don't try anything funny" then she leaned over and with a stern look whispered, "and whatever you do, don't bother Sir Cordovan." I giggled, and her glare tightened, "I mean it. One false move and this will be the last time they let you come to the market."

I gave her a stern look and said, "yes mother." trying my best not to laugh. She just groaned and turned towards the passing trees. I looked over at him, sitting so tall and proud, majestically leading our pullers in the direction of the Market. My sister thought it silly for me to be so smitten with a driver rather than a puller like most girls. But I set my sights high, I didn't want to imagine being a servant my whole life.

Though I knew my fantasy could never be fulfilled, as hybrids between species were intolerable, I still entertained the idea of being Mrs. Cordovan Stout one day.

When we got to the market my daydream was cut short when we saw a human claiming she had magic, "heretic." one of the Stout men mumbled. My sister dragged me away from the spectacle and set about the tasks we were given.

I turned and watched him arguing with the crazy servant, what a noble politician he was! I was disappointed when they were separated and forced to make peace, but that was the custom here. War was unheard of, but from what I heard it was a horrible thing to have around, so we should appreciate the peace. The Stouts were honest in their dealings and never whipped a servant for something he didn't do. Another thing that separated them from the common beast was that they didn't refer to humans as slaves, though it was odd that they called all the human females Sheila and all the males Tom.

I guess it was because a lot of humans were given animal names instead of human names, which some thought disrespectful to their race. My mother had wanted to name me Gazelle and my sister Gerbil, but Lord Stout forbade it because he felt it would cause a riot. So she decided to name us Giselle and Gabrielle. I like human names better, I was glad Lord Ronald had made that rule for his servants.

"Sheilas, girls!" I heard Lord Stout calling for us.

Sarid

What am I? I don't know. Who am I? I had a name once, but it eludes me. Where do I come from? It doesn't matter. Where am I going? Anywhere but where I am now. How am I going to get there? The same way I've survived for almost as long as I can remember.

For almost as long as I could remember I'd been on the run, hiding in forests and running through fields. I'd been caught a few times but they'd let me go. I guess they'd thought I was good sport to hunt, being untrained and malnourished made it almost impossible for me to fight back. Whenever they caught me they kept me for a few weeks and fed me well and then let me go. Last time I was caught was five years ago. I hope they've given up.

I looked somewhat human, enough to pass off as a large human at a distant or if you couldn't see my face. My ears were slightly elongated and I had retractable claws on my hands and feet. I also had some feline tendencies, such as playing with my food. These days, with the trackers either far behind me or not behind me at all, I had plenty of time to practice fighting. I knew it wouldn't help but it gave me something to do.

My ears perked up and I sensed heard armor through the trees. Soldiers didn't chase me with armor, it would slow them down too much. I decided to investigate. They were the same race of creatures that chased me, I could here them talking to someone, in the common tongue.

I crawled into the tree and moved above the leader's head. They were on foot and surrounding a wagon with a human girl riding in the front.

"Now where is your master?" The leader asked. "Give us a straight answer, I won't ask again."

She blinked at them, "I think I took a wrong turn back there somewhere. Perhaps I should just return the way I came."

"Doesn't work that way," The leader said. "Now that you are in our lands you are subject to our laws. We can make you a slave and I think I will, at least until I can sell you. You look handy enough knowing how to run a wagon all by yourself should be a hefty price."

They weren't soldiers, that became apparent, they were bandits of some kind. A couple of them said unkind things about the girl in their own language.

I growled and jumped on the leader and held my claws at his throat. I whispered fiercely, "Tell them to put down their weapons."

"Do it," He managed to say. They did as he commanded but they moved to surround me, except for the two holding the harnesses on the horses, keeping them from getting away.

"Tell them to back away," I insisted.

"Or what?" He asked me. "You'll kill me? A few of them are probably looking forward to that."

I heard a few chuckles to back his claim up. I didn't know how to fight that well but I held my ground and grip.

I heard a sigh from the wagon and the girl got down, "Oh bother. Well I guess I can't just leave you here seeing as you were trying to save me."

She disappeared and I felt a hand on my back and an instant later I was in a different place.

I jumped away from her and stared, "How did you do that?"

"Magic," She shrugged. She handed me a piece of paper and I laughed. She asked, "What's so funny?"

"I can't read," I answered. "You're lucky I can speak common. I've been on the run my entire life, well practically."

"Can you read a map?" She handed me the paper again. I took it and she pointed, "That's where you are." There was a small dot. She pointed at the 'X', "That's the location of my tower. You are part human right?"

I shrugged, "I guess."

"Well I guess I should tell you how to use magic and you can practice on your way," She grinned. "Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Kindra."

I remembered hearing about a woman named Kindra when as was very little, but she would have been ancient.

"You must be wondering why I look so young, well it's a long story suffice it to say I've already died once and my body stopped aging after I got back. At least visibly aging," She answered my blank look. "The secret to having magic is simply desiring it. Sounds easier than it is. I want you to break out and give it your best shot before you come to me. I guess I'll see you whenever. Oh and that map won't work for anyone else so don't even try."

What am I? I don't know. Who am I? I had a name once, but it eludes me. Where do I come from? It doesn't matter. Where am I going? I'm going to find this tower of magic. How am I going to get there? By any means necessary.

Cordovan

Cordovan being pulled away from the old codger proclaiming peace and harries. Cordovan's fists swinging wildly as the local authority's separated them and took the blasphemer away. "we coming from humans, posh!" my father gave a sympathetic sneer as indeed had no idea what I was so boiled about.

"Father are you still looking for your peppers?" mumbling a couple of words while looking intensely at his paper, he then held his hand in the air and pointed it "should be this way. O'l murrfy should have the best deal."

we began sifting through the crowded market, was rather full this afternoon and the hint of autumn ran through the air. The sun had recently came out from behind the clouds revealing the marvelous nation of the Mcfurrys. truly it was no more then a clan devoted to the Rikes one of the most influential coalition of Nimfurry.

my Father name being a Stout, Ronald Stout we were historically one of the influential groups in our expansion of our great nation a hundred years ago but now the Stout family was stripped of all megelo-pride as the common Stout now days consisted more of mild mannered business men. not dealing with the hassle of the sword but the honor of trade.

but to date we were one of the biggest land owners in the entire territory, dealing high in servants and wheat. though my Father always called us stewards of the land, his reasoning, none of us are going to enjoy it going to die first so best not to get to attached and leave it better for our children because they're the ones going to be stuck in the human forsaken bog.

still sifting through the crowd of people there was an opening, "look dad, its Sheila" a nick name for human females "just have her do it then we can go." his father continued to stand in place as he looked for the next thing on the list.

Cordovon's angst was not only from his boredom but also the annoying ability Sheila had to make Cordovon feel like a child, sure he was still 14 but he wasn't sure he could stand it out here in public "come on Dad before she sees me, bah just let the servants take care of it." frustrated at his inability to get his father to do anything, Cordivin looked around to try to preoccupy his mind and distance himself from Sheila. "Ooo fire blowers."

To catch up

If you haven't been following the previous blog it can be found at http://rebirthofmagic.blogspot.com/ if you wish to catch up. I will do a little bit of side story now involving characters from the previous story.

In the aftermath of the virus many who had been infected changed, but only slightly. The next generation of children, however, were changed forever. Many gained animalistic attributes and, in years to come, many grew into powerful nations, despising the humans they now forgot they once were. The humans in return hated them back and wars were fought and borders were drawn, currently there was peace but the borders were heavily guarded.

Rachel and Rain's children grew up and lived for a time as rulers of a small nation but were eventually conquered and made slaves and servants to the kingdom that surpassed them. Four hundred years after the virus was released many things have changed but much remains the same.