Hmm… so this is the one… I imagined her differently. It is of no matter though, she is still the same person. A pair of glowing red eyes stared out from the underbrush, watching the girl and her wolf. She seemed to be sobbing, from what Friaz did not know. He assumed she had been startled by her dream, although he didn't bother to probe into her mind for the reason, for it was probably trivial and of no consequence to him. He watched her tears fall onto the wolf, waiting for her to calm down a little. As he waited, he forced his eyes to change color from the piercing red that they normally were to a dark shade of blue. No sense in scaring the girl. I have made many events become chaotic and not the way they were intended merely by scaring people with my eyes. It is amazing how easily a human can be frightened, and somewhat amusing as well. Once his eyes had changed and the girl had stopped sobbing, Friaz slowly, so as not to accidentally hit anything, floated onto the path somewhat away from the small camp the human had created. Silently, he floated towards the two, stopping a few yards away, waiting to be noticed. After a few minutes, and some words passed silently between the wolf and the girl, Friaz decided to float a little closer. The wolf must have sensed someone around, because it quickly spoke a few lines of unheard dialogue to the girl, who then stood up slowly, drawing her sword in the process.
A low, almost booming voice sounded behind her, causing her to spin quickly to face the unknown creature. "Do not fear me, I am a friend." She nearly jumped back as Friaz spoke, but she remained where she was and raised her sword. She fell back, drawning her sword as she fell into a fighting stance. Her arms brought the sword up in an attack position, but her mind was on other matters. Her eyes went out of focus, as if she was in deep thought about something, then lowered her sword.
"I know what you want...you're one of Lord Galician's hunters." She threw the sword down at her feet, causing the wolf to jump up, running to her side, yelling things unheard at her. She ignored the creature and stood up straight.
"I'm through being afraid. You already have Jake's Jem, and I know you'll hunt the rest of us down until you have the rest. So, just take it now, so I can finally be at peace."
The cloak regarded her with curiosity for a moment, then started to laugh. He noticed the hatred and slight confusion in her eyes as she regarded him. "My dearest Artemis, yes, I do know your name, I am not one of Galician's servants, not at all. You see, I have actually come to aid you, not hinder." He could tell she did not buy a single word of his, yet continued to speak. "I have been watching you, and I know what you struggle against. Galician would eventually become my enemy in time, yet if I did not intervene now I would have little chance against him. I am here to aid, nothing more." With his last statement, he bowed low, making himself vulnerable to attack.
Artemis raised an eyebrow, and leaned back slightly, resting her hands on her hips. "Look you little...cloaked...thing.... Just how stupid do you think I am? Now just take the damn Jem and get it over with, or do you insist on playing your stupid, sadistic games?" She tried to keep a stable composure, but let a single tear fall off her cheek. "Why can't you see I'm hurting enough...just kill me and get it over with...so that Jake won't be alone for much longer." Through all her words Friaz continued to bow, and righted himself when she finished.
"I have no desire for your Jem. If anything, it would benefit me more for you to keep it within you, and your wolfish friend there too." He noticed the startled look on her face, and smiled slightly. "Yes, I know about his Jem too. As I said before, I wish no harm upon you, and I am here to protect you, at least while you are on this planet. Now, if you do not believe me, I will allow you to cut me down where I stand, for it would be better to die by your hand than ripped apart by him." With that word, Friaz bowed again, fully exposing the neck of his cloak to her. As he did this, the sword started lifted off the ground and hovered in front of her. "Go ahead."
She took the floating sword held it for a moment, then threw it down to the ground again. "Stop bowing to me. What do you want?"
Friaz straightened up and replied, "As I said before, I am here to help you, nothing more."
"Well, you're sure not doing much standing there flapping in the breeze, are you? Part of thinks you are out to trick me, yet I can see no reason to, if you really are from Galician. You could just strike me down and take my Jem, yet you do not, so I think I have a slight chance of trusting you, even if all my instincts are against it."
"Instincts can be wrong, from time to time." Friaz responded without the slightest hint of emotion in his voice.
The girl thought a moment, then said, "Well, if you really are here to help, I guess you can come along with Fang and I...though...I don't know what a cape can do..."
Friaz's eyes started to glow slightly brighter and slightly redder, then sunk back to their deep blue color. With almost an edge in his voice, Friaz corrected her. "I am NOT a cape. I have more power than you could dream, but I do not wish to appear as such. It tends to… scare humans." The girl started to laugh at that, but Friaz ignored it and instead asked, "By the way, what is your name, girl? Mine is Friaz, if you care."
"My name is Artemis, and this one," She jerked a finger over her shoulder at the wolf, "Is fang, if it matters to you. I'd shake your hand, but it seems you don't have any. Do you even have a body under that cape of yours?" Artemis walked around and tried to peek under the cape, but Friaz floated back as she tried to grab hold of him. His eyes flared to their natural red for a second as he gazed harshly upon her. Artemis, getting the clue backed off. "Fine, fine, I won't look!" At her words Friaz's eyes faded back to blue.
"Now, If you're done trying to examine me, I suggest you get back to sleep. You'll have to get a good rest if you ever wish to catch the spherical one."
Artemis stopped her joking and shook her head. "I can't get back to sleep...I...had a bad...dream..."
"Yes, I noticed that. Tell me, what is it that's troubling you and your wolfish friend?"
Artemis stumbled slightly over her words and her eyes misted a little. "It… it was nothing." She turned away quickly, straightening her back as she forced off the tears.
"Alright. Shall we be going then? There is no sense in staying here, if you two do not want to sleep."
"Actually, there's great sense in staying here. It's a good idea to have an actual plan before you rush into anything you know."
"Yes, and I do have one. There is no need to stay put, I know what is coming, and I have prepared for it. Lets go."
Artemis stayed still. "Then tell us O bodiless one, praytell what this plan is? I still don't trust you as far as I can throw you, and I don't like to be bossed around."
"You shall see when we get there. Telling you of it would throw off the future and alter the events, something I do not like to have happen."
Artemis sighed and shook her head, throwing her arms up into the air. "Then lead on, cape boy."
"I am NOT a cape. Now if you'll be so kind as to follow me," Friaz walked off, Artemis and Fang trailing closely…