[An8el]

"You love this prophesy, not me. You don't even know who I am."

Gilean looked down and sighed, catching her hands, which she tore out of his grasp. He calmed himself and quietly whispered, "Better that you go now and not get caught. Come back after you've calmed down another time and we'll talk more about it." She looked so attractive when she was fired up.

Magenta slipped out his door. Thankful nobody was in the hallway. She was resolved, fiercefully glad to be going. Not just leave for now, but to leave for good. She was not going to stick around to stay with the program these wierd people had been brainwashing her to accept. Gilean obviously believed in their strange ways, nothing could be done about that. She compulsively counted the paces back to her doorstep.

Slipping inside the door that Amyria had left unlocked for her, she found Amyria asleep in the chair, with the remants of dinner on the table. Wrapping it up in a cloth, Magenta tied the food around her waist. A few more personal items stuffed into the cloth that she came with, and she was ready to make her escape. Grabbing a bucket, she put a candle, the tinderbox and some of Amyria's cleaning rags on top of everything so she would have a story to tell anyone she encountered in the hallways. She put the bucket down again and tied one of the rags on her head, to hide her shock of hair. Peeking into the passageway before she stepped out, she then strode away to impersonate a night servant on her way to the stables.

[Evil Agent]

Magenta's eyes were still on the bucket she was filling, so she didn't notice the body in front of her until she had slammed into it. The bucket dropped, it's contents exposed on the stone floor.
"I- I was-" Magenta began, but her mind was a blank. The items she had hidden were rolling around her feet, plainly visible. She looked up into the startlingly blue eyes of a seemingly young man, robed in dark blue.
"Interesting," he said, a hint of a sardonic smile on his lips. "Going somewhere, are you?"
"No! I mean - yes - I - "
"Fear not little mouse," the man said, and he put his hand on her shoulder. Waves of calm and peacefulness spread through her chest, to the tips of her fingers, and down to her toes.
"What are you doing to me?" she asked, her steady voice conveying the deep calm she was feeling. While her body was calm, but her brain was afraid.
"Fear not," he repeated, his smile now shining forth, broad and genuine. "I am Stolos, member of the Council, and the Master of Beasts."
"You - you had the ferrets?"
"Yes." Stolos' expression grew somber. "Fabulous beasts they were, and most loyal. They were killed in the...skirmish."
Magenta felt a pang of guilt, but as if he could read her thoughts, Stolos said "Do not feel any guilt. I blame no one but Zarina... well, maybe Madry too."
Magenta came back to the moment. "What do you want? Will you betray me to the Council?"
Stolos let out a deep, rich laugh the seemed to bounce and echo off the stone walls. "You misunderstand me, young one. I fear I am the only Council member that sees things differently. Madry will not beat me into submission, and I will not ignore the mistakes she has made. I am here to help you on your way, and to guide you if you will let me. I have the friendship of many beasts, and I'm sure you will find me most...helpful." He winked at her, spun on his heels with a flourish of his dark blue robe, and headed off towards the stables. Magenta quickly gathered the spilled contents of her bucket, and followed.

[Amyria]

as they approached the stables, its doors burst open and two fine horsed pranced out; their graceful necks sprouting flames of hair that floated effortlessly with the wind, and long, muscular legs floating them over the ground as if on wings. Magenta paused to watch the two magnificent creatures as they came closer and closer. Finally they came to a gradual halt and danced around Stolos in a friendly manner.
"They know you," magenta observed.
Stolos nodded. He grabbed hold of a handful of the horse's mane and swung himself onto its back then signaled(?) Magenta to do the same. She carefully climbed up and firmly held on for dear life.
"Where are we going?" she asked, feeling almost excited. It wasn't often that she ran away now days.
Stolos clicked his tongue and both horses began down the mountainside, "Away from this place. I dont believe in prophecies and im not going to let your life be ruined on one."
Magenta smiled. Finally someone understood her.

[Iskaral Pust]

"I think it wrong what they do to you. When Madry informed the council that she had found the mouse of prophesy, my heart was filled with foreboding. It's despicable, she chose Gileon purposely, I tell you. It's unprecedented for the Archmage to personnally tutor an appentice." He was shaking his head in disgust, but Magenta was not looking at him, her thoughts were awhirl.
"She knew where is was? They didn't just stumble upon me?"
He looked at her in surprise, "Of course not. Do you really think the Archmage just goes for little wonders around the countryside for no reason?"

[Evil Agent]

Their horses rode them to the great stone gate that lead out of the mountains.
"Where are the guards?" asked Magenta. "Where is that funny old man?"
"They sleep. There are two other Council member who see things as I do. They have seen fit to distract the others, through various spells and echantments."
"Oh..." muttered Magenta. "Amyria told me about the Masters who.. who died. Who's left?"
"Well besides myself and Madry, the remaining Council members are the masters of Fire, Light, Shadow, and Memory. Khalion of Fire and Lysie of Light have long since sided with Madry. The two of them are all Madry has left. Kendo of Shadow and Nemon of Memory work for me, as Madry will soon find out. Once she sees past their illusions." Stolos laughed quitely.
Magenta began to believe that Stolos had to have his own reasons for helping her. He could not be acting out of simple kindness, sacrificing his position with this Council. She wanted to demand answers of him, but she was too weary to do anything more than hang on to her horse's beautiful silver mane.
The two of them rode their horses, black and silver, to the stone gate.
"Effigo" Stolos whispered, and the great doors swung silently open.
The two riders moved out into the night. A light snowfall had begun, and Magenta couldn't help thinking "Here I am again, a snowflake, floating away on the wind."

[Amyria]

With the lambent moon as their only guide through a black maze of forest, Stolos and Magenta rode on. The night was already coming to an end and they still weren't a comfortable distance away from the guild.
Magenta was just at the point between being awake and being asleep when she felt that prickly feeling at the base of her neck. It was the feeling that she was being watched. A pair of eyes were watching her every move, though, for some reason, there was no hostility. what could it be? Magenta searched around, but the lighting was too dim to aid her in anyway.
"STOLOS!"
Magenta's ears stiffined and her back straightened. Stolos turned in his saddle and looked around.
"Who speaks?" he asked, already harnessing power.
"Do not be alarmed, it is only i," a shadow stepped out from the cover of trees, "Gilean."
Magenta felt her face flush with anger. he was following her? she thought she had made it clear that she did not want to see him any longer.
"Magenta!" a feminine voice cried out.
"Amyria?" she asked in surprise.

[Evil Agent]

Gilean and Amyria rode double on a strong looking horse. They started towards Magenta, and Gilean spoke. "Magenta-" he began, but Stolos cut him off.
"Stay where you are!" Stolos boomed, his deep voice becoming sinister. A low growl seemed to come from his throat, until they realized it was coming from behind him.
Out of the shadows behind Stolos' blue robes and his black horse, a large dark shape drifted forward, crunching softly through the snow. Fiery green eyes burned bright against it's black fur, and the low growl grew slightly more threatening. It was a cat, black and sleek, and as large as a small pony. It's muscles rippled beneath it's skin, and steam rose from its nostrils.
"This is Kaz, my pantera." Gilean and Amyria froze atop their horse. Stolos continued, amusement creeping back into his voice, "She hasn't eaten today."

[Icemant90]

Magenta's eyes widened at Gilean and Amyria, still frozen. Gilean was trying to keep his horse still.

"No- you wouldn't- not that... that," Amyria said, trembling.

"What Amyria, this is what we're here for" said Gilean, who turned to face Magenta, despite the threat of the pantera.

" You have been a silly girl, Magenta, and silly girls have to be punished!"

"No, please!" wailed Magenta. "Why are you all doing this anyway? I never wanted any of this!"

"It is written, that you would come and help our Order to power!" Gilean declared.

Magenta felt a rage develop within her and she bellowed "So that's what you want is it! You believe in fate! I will prove you wrong... Arghhh!"

As Magenta was talking, she heard a voice inside tell her: Put it in your hand, Magenta, quickly! She clenched her fists and tightened them until they were white. Her body was shaking. She pushed the angry blood into her hands, somehow, miraculously she felt a flame erupt out of the hole between her index finger and thumb. She quickly threw the fireball her hands had created at Gilean.

The voice came again: He is weakened, do it again! To whom did the telepathic voice belong?

She looked behind Gilean, who was trying to quench the flames with another spell that obviously took more concentration than he had at that moment. There behind Gilean she saw...

"Amyria?" she whispered. She stared at Amyria, who had her hands over her eyes, not wanting to see what had happened.

Amyria uncovered her hands from her eyes and nodded again... another thought message was sent instantly upon eye contact to Magenta. I can't remember how! thought Amyria...

.................................................. .................................................. .....

MOD NOTE - I have replaced Iceman's original post, with a version very kindly modified by An8el to fit into the story. In future, any post that doesn't fit into the story, will be deleted. The other authors should not have to edit a newcomer's basic mistakes about the plotline and characters.

[An8el]

"...just send another ball of fire to stop him..." Amyria sat down,
holding her head again with her hands. Magenta could hear all of Amyria's thoughts "...I don't remember how to send this way without hurting myself. Please, Magenta, take Gilean down without hurting him this way that I have told you...he came out here because he loves you, but he's very angry you ran away..."

While Amyria was sending, the pantera had backed off. While everyone else was frozen, the cat saw her target. Before Magenta could do anything else to stop Gilean, the pantera sprang towards Gilean and his horse. Stolos' pet elegantly vaulted onto Gilean's back, then slid in front of him onto the horse's neck.

Everyone backed up while the horse reared. Horse, pantera and Gilean hit the ground in a wrestling mass. Gilean rolled free from underneath the horse while the pantera whipped around, efficiently breaking the horse's neck from the underside.

In the sudden shocked stillness, the pantera ripped into the dead horse's neck. Gilean was lucky enough to get out of way with only a sprained ankle when he had rolled free, but he was doubled up in pain.

The amusement was now full in Stolos' voice. "Welcome you two. " He ignored Gilean's declaration, which didn't mean much now that he was injured. Mages of this order, especially injured ones, can't do spells when they are distracted by pain.

Stolos chuckled to himself at the antics of the children. "Well, Purrett certainly caught a rather large meal tonight. I suggest we get out of here and leave her to feed. She will catch up later to us. Gilean, you may ride with me, if you can get in the saddle." Stolos offered his hand down to Gilean.

[Amyria]

Gilean glared at stolos, a bit embarassed. he felt a wave of relief when Magenta offered him her mount.
"So does that mean you forgive me?" he whispered into her ear which was hidden beneath the mass of curley red hair.
Magenta shrugged, "it means i am considering it." She felt him lean his head on her back and smiled. It was rather foolish going on like this, but she was having fun with it.
As the moon dissapeared behind the cover of trees, a sudden notion struck Magenta. Why hadn't she thought of it before? Holding both hands palms up she closed her eyes and focused. This time she could actually feel the magic coursing through the air. She drew a handfull to her and closed her hands over it, then opened them exposing a little orb of light.
"Alright, Magenta, thats they way i want you to think! Where we're going, we're going to need quick thinkers."
Magenta smiled at him.
"Umm," Amyria's meek voice was barely audible, "Where are we going?"