Rutte breathes a slight sigh of relief as he notices the park. It was in the midst of a city, but since everybody was so concerned with making money, it was generally unoccupied. Rutte was just relieved they hadn't torn it down; with the relatively large stream running through it, and a beautiful path surrounded by trees, it was one place where he could get away from it all while in this city.

Strolling down the path, Rutte takes in a lungful of the fresher air and decides to go on a small adventure. He can hear the stream rushing past and goes off to find it. About a hundred feet off the trail, he finds the stream. He sits on a rock next to it and takes out his Book.

A school of colored fish swam together in its deeper parts until they suddenly scattered and a brightly colored orange-red carp emerged from beneath the blackness.

Rutte doesn't take notice of the fish until a flash of color out of the corner of his eye catches his notice. He looks over, expecting to see a random tropical bird that some unfortunate person of the city had released but instead notices the spot of color in the creek. Not realizing it was a fish, he leaned forward, again thinking of something else - a piece of trash, maybe.

The fish leaped out of the water, coming very close to hitting his face before falling gracefully back into the water. After a few seconds of swimming around the carp opened its mouth above the air at him.

Rutte jumped back and nearly fell off the stone, giving the water a shocked look before regaining his composure. He saw the fish. "Eh, why not?" he said. He dug through his small pack and brought out a slice of his only bread, tearing off a piece small enough for the fish and dropping it in the water. Rutte wondered if it would even go for it; it wasn't very nice bread.

The fish sucked it in greedily then spit it out in disgust. In a flurry of fins the fish changed forms into a beautiful woman, scales covering her like a dress as her black eyes latched onto his, "Now why would you feed a fish as brilliant as I something that horrid?"

Rutte couldn't talk for a moment, staring blankly at the woman in front of him. His mouth decided to answer without consulting his brain. "Sorry," he answered. "'twas all I had."

She scoffed, "Well you shouldn't have given it to me then," She flipped her some how dry hair and smiled at him, "What brings a handsome stranger like yourself around these parts?"

Rutte was taken aback at the sudden mood swing from indignant to smiling, not to mention the effect it had when she smiled. That, and she called him handsome. And he was still slightly in shock by the fact that she had just transformed from a fish, although that was slowly wearing off. Thus, his mouth takes over again. "Quiet places help me think. I could ask the same question of you... Although I suspect you have more reason to be here than I."

"Well yes..." She said seductively, "I am Koi, I live in the water and in a sense... I am the water. Who might you be?"

Rutte almost snapped to attention. That tone of voice; now there was something familiar. He had this tone of voice used on him more than once. Yeah, sure, it had been coming from women not nearly as grand as the one in front of him. And he was pretty sure none of them had been fish. But at least it gave him something to focus on, so his brain could actually join in a little. "My name is Rutte," he answered, pleasantly neutral. "I am a traveling priest. Not nearly so extraordinary as belonging to an element of nature, but good enough in its own way."

"A priest..." She repeated, playfully toying with a dry leaf beside him and flashed him another smile. This wasn't as easy as a normal man... Koi smirked to herself, but this one would prove interesting enough, "We are credible creatures, but humans themselves are quite complex as well."

"I apologize for having to ask, but who is 'we'?" Rutte inquired. He relaxed just a little while still being internally wary of the smiles. The really nice smiles. "You seem to know all about humans but I know nothing of you and your kind. It puts me at a... little disadvantage."

"Well I, my dear Rutte, am a dragon." She moved ever so slightly closer to him, her 'dress' rippling softly over the boulder they sat upon. "Unfortunately I am no use to my species because of the particular breed I am a part of..." Koi's eyes sparkled, "I am simply a creature of my own vanity with no sense of violence in my soul."

In his own mind, Rutte was far too aware of exactly how many inches closer the dragon came. "A dragon, huh?" he answered, his voice still level. He gripped his Book just a bit tighter in his hand, which calmed him down greatly. That, and the fact that she wasn't human-although she could have fooled him, currently. "It is an honor to meet you, milady. And a pleasure, as well, to be graced by the presence of such a beautiful creature. How might I be of service to you?"

"Oh... you know... Just someone to have some fun with," Koi left it open to his imagination, it would serve her well and she braided in some of her small spells into her words. She noticed his grip on his book, such things never interested her that greatly. Koi lifted her hand to her hair to fiddle with it before sighing, "Unfortunately there just isn't anyone exciting around here!"

"Ah, well... if you were to get out of this park, you would meet a great many interesting people," Rutte noted. He felt the sudden, strange urge to please rising in him, although he didn't know where it was coming from. "Would you like to accompany me? I know a few things in the city you might like to see, if you're interested..."

Koi stood gracefully, her 'dress' opening at her knee to become a slit as the very end of the dress tapered off to a slender point. Her feet were bare, however, no one would be looking down. "Lets go!" She said, excited.

Pleasantly surprised at her enthusiasm, Rutte offers her the crook of his arm as an automatic reflex. It was no wonder why some of the ladies he associated with called him the 'gentleman priest.'

Smiling evilly as she placed a slender hand in his arm, Koi couldn't help but grin. Females would feel extremely intimidated by her... if only they knew what she really was they probably would run in fear and hide, but no matter, Koi was busy with her new toy, scaring people wasn't her idea of fun at the moment.

After he grabbed his pack, Rutte walked with her back to the path, turning towards the city. It was a relatively short walk back to civilization, which always managed to astound Rutte; within fifteen minutes the two were surrounded by the smells and noise of the midday marketplace. Rutte smiled at those who passed by, sometimes receiving familiar smiles back, and led her to walk by a few stalls so she could see the goods. The selection was certainly... colorful. "Is there anything you would like to do?" he asked.

"Well..." Koi said, looking at some fresh water pearls, "I heard there was a popular wishing well here I thought would be interesting to see..."

Rutte nods in agreement. "It is quite popular," he says. "It might take a while to get there; the main roads are quite busy." They do have to walk at a slow pace to get anywhere. "But you were complaining of never seeing any interesting people," Rutte adds wryly as a performance actor shouts out a monologue to be heard over the crowd to a few appreciative audience members.

She blushed at herself. Koi had forgotten what she had said to Rutte, "Yes yes of course I just... a well is full of water and I like water..." She quieted herself in embarrassment.

Rutte just laughed gently at her embarrassment, although not intending to harass her further. "No need to apologize, miss," he said. "The well is always surrounded by interesting people, as well. I'm just glad you are able to enjoy the walk to the well as much as the sight itself." In truth, he was surprised she could blush. He had thought beautiful women didn't have regular embarrassment moments like actual people.

"Oye! Rutte!" a crude voice is heard from the crowd. "Who's the broad? Thought ye took a vow, and all that, eh?"

Rutte simply smiled at the dirty teen that cockily smirked up at him. "Hello, Rel," he said pleasantly. "Have you taken a bath since the last time we've spoken?"

Koi smiled somewhat hesitantly. This... boy was of no interest to her but she remained cheerful at the rude teenager for he obviously knew her current toy, "Baths are good for you, they require water." With that she took her hand and made the action of throwing something over the boy... a sheet of cold water.

Rel shouted in surprise, then stood there, shocked and chilled. Rutte's eyes widened in shock, and then he raised a hand to his face as if to cover up something. Laughter. Genuine laughter. It had been a while.

"Wha'th'fock?!" Rel cried once Rutte started laughing, which broke him out of his slight trance. His words started to run together when he was flushed. "Wh'th'fock IS ye?! Some sorta spirit-thing, eh?"

"You didn't see the bucket of water in my hand?" asked Koi sweetly.

Rel sputtered opened his mouth as if to say something more, but his gaze traveled from Rutte, who was still trying his hardest to conceal his laughter, and the beautiful woman at his side. He slowly backed up, then turned and ran away, disappearing into the crowd.

At that point, Rutte started to really laugh, not just the silenced chuckles. "The look on his face was priceless," he said when he could finally talk. "It really shook him up. I hate to pass judgment on any person myself, but he probably deserved it."

"Yes you're right, he totally deserved a bath." Koi answered, grateful for the slight breeze that took the urchin's rank smell away from them.

"Come," Rutte said, the laughter gone, just a pleasant smile remaining. "We have to hurry or else we're going to hit all the traffic that happens around the well at sunset."

"Why at sunset?" Koi asked him, unsure of why the well was more popular as the sun set.

"Wishes made at sunset are another chance at happiness," Rutte explained, already making his way through the crowd. He paused to let Koi catch up. "At least, according to local superstition. They're almost sure to come true, especially when concerned with love." He looks off, trying to skirt his way around a small old lady who was just standing there, counting her change. "I don't put any stock in it, but a lot of people do, so we'd better hurry."

"I see..." Stupid humans, at least her escort knew better, thought Koi happily as she caught up with him, "What next?"

"Well, how much time do you have?" Rutte asked. "I have to stop by my parish at some point today, but I'd be willing to show you around the city until then."

Koi laughed, her voice like crystal bells, "Baby I have all the time in the world! But you didn't mean that I'm sure..." She smiled at him playfully.

Rutte smiled back, but not playfully. "I just did not know if you needed to return to the water at any particular point," he replied.

"I can summon water if I need it, do not worry for me Rutte, I am stronger then you might think," She answered, snagging his arm in hers as they finally made it to a less dense of an area, "Would it be alright if we find something to eat?"

"Alright," Rutte said, parts of his brain shutting down when Koi came that close. "Do you see anything you want? There are a few indoor taverns, but the outside food stalls have the most unique things."

Inside Koi was laughing, she loved seducing men, "I don't care... I have some money somewheres..." Koi went about looking in her dress, glancing down her cleavage with a "Ahah!" and pulled out some coins, "These will do!" She slid them into Rutte's hand and continued walking.

Rutte stared at the money in his palm. It was still warm. He blinked hard, and then smiled just as before, void of flirtation. "No, no, my treat," he insisted, pressing the coins back into her own hand, while also looking for a street vendor.

"Hmph... Okay I guess," She slipped them back where they came from, smiling evilly.

Rutte sighed. "Do you eat meat?" he asked, suddenly, spying a familiar face.

"Yes!" Koi was practically bouncing up and down, dragons loved meat, "Do they have medium rare?!"

"He has it in every stage of cooking you can imagine," Rutte said, reaching up an arm and waving to a fat face under a covering. The face noticed the arm among the crowd, then the person attached to it. The guy's grin became wide.

"RUTTE!" the voice bellowed out, loud enough to reach them over the crowd's noise.

Rutte smiled, obviously pleased. "Come on," he said. "I have someone for you to meet."

Koi nodded and followed him, her exotic looks parting the crowd ever so slightly, receiving more looks from men then women.

"Hey Rutte! Can't get enough of my food, can you?" the man said, scowling even though he was happy.

"You know it." Rutte slid onto one of the chairs provided for those eating at the booth. "Fen, this is Koi. Koi, Fen. I'm showing her around today, and of course this is a mandatory stop."

Koi took a big whiff of the smells coming from the food and was very close to drooling, "Tis nice to meet you Fen." She held out a delicate hand.

Fen wiped his own mitt down on his apron and took her hand, engulfing it in his own. "A pleasure, miss," he said, gruffly. "Now what can I do for you two?"

"Steak on a stake please!" Rutte exclaimed. "Medium!" Fen just chuckled, already beginning to prepare it before Rutte could finish the sentence.

Now Koi was drooling, "Can you... cook mine a little less... please?" She managed to control her lust for the meat and sat contently smelling it, for now.

"Can do," Fen grumbled, focused on preparing. In a few minutes, they both had hearty portions. Koi's was just a little warmer than bleeding. "Let me know if I can throw it back on the grill for you, little lady," Fen added. "Rutte's easy to please; I just like more than one return customer."

Koi dove into the meat heartily, memorizing the taste and the location of this place, vowing to return, even if Fen's children ran it she would come back. She moaned softly in ecstasy, "This is.... soooo goood..."

Rutte looked like a little puppy who had just been told that it had 'done good.' Fen's scowl deepened; it was by now obvious that the happier he got, the more angry he appeared.

"Where are you off to now?" Fen said to Rutte, letting Koi enjoy her meal. Which she is clearly doing.

Rutte swallowed a big gulp, juice from his meat staining his lower chin. "We'll head off to the well," Rutte said. "Then afterwards, I have to stop by my parish to throw a few things together."

"Yeah, heard you were leaving soon," Fen replies. "Sorry to see you go."

"I don't really stay in one place too long," Rutte comments, smiling gently at his friend.

"Why?" Asked Koi curiously, her eyes flashing, her iris's for a moment looking like a cat's eyes before they returned to normal.

"Huh?" Rutte asked of her question. "Oh, I suppose I'm more of a wanderer than anything. Can't really stay in one place without feel restless... I find I get more done on the move anyway."

"Do you mind if I join you?" She offered, wanting to study Rutte more thoroughly, "I'm been meaning to get out of the city's park for a while now..."

"Ah," Rutte said, faltering. "It can be hard work... And, well, I'm going to be preaching to a lot of people. I don't know if you'd..." He trailed off.

"If I'd what?" She idled closer to him, her smile gentle as she weaved in a few of her own magics.

"Enjoy hearing me talk so much about the Word," he finished, swallowing another piece of meat. Fen grumbled to himself at the two.

Koi frowned and glanced at the huge man. This... Word issue would prove difficult if she were to ever truly seduce Rutte. She pouted her lip, "I don't think I'd mind one bit."

Rutte squirmed a little, more than a bit uncomfortable with the idea of Koi traveling with him... in close proximity... living together constantly... It was rather unnerving. "If you wish," he finally said, caving in. "I suppose you could leave at any time your heart desires."

"Yes..." Koi replied, her voice low, "Yes I could."

"If you kids want to see the well before you beat the crowd, I'd suggest you head on over there right now," Fen gruffly said.

Koi stuffed the rest of the meat into her mouth gracefully before standing, "Shall we go then Rutte?"

"Sure; it's right around the corner," Rutte said, finishing his meal just seconds after Koi. He pulls some coins from his small bag, and Fen palms them. "Live well," Rutte says to his friend.

"You too," Fen replies with a low chuckle. Rutte turns red and for the first time, he frowned. Then the look was gone and he was leading Koi away from the vendor's.

"It's right... ah, here it is!" Rutte said. They turned around the corner of the marketplace, which suddenly and surprisingly opened up into a huge town square. And right in the middle, there was a fountain.

It had great, metallic blue arches that soared over the roof of the well, which had been shingled in red stone, a rarity. A few people were already around the opening, leaning against the stone to throw a coin into the well and wait the few seconds until they heard the 'splash.'

"The wishing well has been here a while," Rutte said. "Before it was famous and before the city was here. Most of it has just... er... been remodeled."

"Interesting..." Koi replied, transfixed with the feeling of the water. A different water dragon had dribbled some of it's power into the water, though, the humans could not feel it, nor manipulate it... but she guessed it was just popular because it was the only well in the city. The aqueduct system was the way the city received its fresh water.

Rutte saw the way she was staring at the well. "Let's go closer," he suggested, and went to the edge, looking in.

In a trance she followed him, looking down into the darkness, knowing the water was down there. Koi put a delicate hand on the wall surrounding it and silently summoned a few drops of water into her palm, examining it.

Rutte noticed, and smiled. "You really like water, huh?" he said.

She scoffed, "I am a water dragon, am I not? Of course I like water." In annoyance she made the water attack his face before sighing. Slowly her scaled dress turned into a white button up blouse and tight leather pants with black metal tipped boots. A small pack materialized against her slight back and Koi sighed again.

Rutte rubbed off the water off of his face just in time to see her finish the transformation. He looked around hastily to see if anyone had seen what he had, but was unable to gauge any reactions in the crowd.

Crowd. Suddenly, they were surrounded on all sides by people pushing to the well. Sunset had come rather suddenly, and with the throng, the two were in actual danger of being separated.

Koi however was safe because of her looks, nobody wanted to be that close to such tempting beauty. The crowd had separated them thoroughly so Koi stood on her tip toes and asked the people nearest if they would politely move.

A few shuffled away, but a lot more were blocked by those behind them who did not see Koi or hear her request. Rutte was a few people into the crowd, and was trying to get to Koi. However, every couple of seconds, he was stopped by a person in the crowd who recognized him and either said hi or was asking his advice. It was slow going.

Growling underneath her breath, Koi finally lost her patience. With her eyes blazing power she roared, the sound so loud the nearest to her were deaf for seconds after and quickly ran away from her. The crowd had no idea what had happened, however they did disperse fairly quickly after that. "Stupid people..." Koi muttered under her breath.

Covering his ears, Rutte at least had the good sense to not run away, although that had been his first instinct. "By the Word, Koi! Was that truly necessary?" he asked.

She tossed her hair and looked away, "Yes. Some humans are too stupid for words..."

Rutte frowned, visibly upset by her statement. "That's not true," he said. "If you just learn a little patience..." He trailed off, still giving Koi a disapproving frown.

"Would you have rather I turned into a dragon and carried you away?" She asked him, flustered and still looking away from him.

"No," Rutte said, then sighed. Koi wasn't getting his point. "We need to work on your people skills," Rutte muttered, then looked around the main. People had scattered, but they weren't completely gone. Rutte scratched his head at them, thinking. "It's not going to take them a terribly long time to piece together that something odd happened here, and when they do, they'll be coming back," Rutte mentioned. "Better get away from here before that happens." Shaking his head, he picks up his book of the Word from the ground, where it had been dropped, and dusted it off in preparation to leave. He didn't seem terribly surprised it wasn't gone.

"Well if I was human I'm sure my skills would be better." Koi retorted softly before waiting for him to pick a direction to leave.

Rutte sighs again. "It's not your fault," he says. "Living in the water doesn't exactly give you opportunity to practice dealing with people." Rutte looked around, then spied the side-street he was familiar with. "There," he said. "It'll be a shortcut."

"Alright..." Koi headed in that direction, her long black hair shimmering slightly in the light of the sunset.

The pair entered the alley. It was getting a little dark but nothing worrisome. "It's about three turns in that direction," Rutte said as they neared a corner. "There are a lot of little side streets in this place. Plenty of ways to get around, if you know them."

Figures moved around the corner, blocking their turn. Rutte glanced over his shoulder to see that three more people had moved to their back. He looked back to those in front of them, four total, and saw Rel in the lead.

"I tell'ye, the girl's a demon of some sorts," Rel said, pointing at Koi.

With her lip out pouting and her elegant hips out to one side, Koi sighed and in her sweetest voice, "Now why would you say something like that about lil'ole me?" Entwining her small magics in her words, the water dragon soothed superstitious thoughts and worked on the one emotion that seemed to be the downfall of men... lust. Even her through her traveling clothes anyone could tell that in human eyes, her body was perfect.

Rel and a few of the younger ones with him swallowed, hard. However, an older man was with them, and stepped to the front. "The devil be working her magic on you," he said, obviously having more control over his body than the others. And despite his age, he seemed strong-unnaturally so, for the old man he was.

"Hello, Jur'r," Rutte said, trying to keep his voice pleasant. "Have we not discussed this already? The only demons that exist are those within the heart of us all."

"The old man's right," Rel growled, referring to Jur'r. He had been knocked out of Koi's subtle magic, like the rest of the group, and could definitely tell the different. "We all felt her try t'spell us."

She looked hurt for a second then smiled, "My dear urchin, I have no idea what you are talking about." Koi took a few steps back to keep Rutte slightly in front of her, his hand brushing her's as she whispered softly enough for only him to hear, "I don't want to have to be violent..." She admitted to him.

"I don't want you to be violent, either," Rutte replied under his breath. He looked to his right--there was an alleyway, but a few crates were in the way. However, Rutte thought it would be easy enough for Koi to climb them, and he knew that alleyway just led back to the main square, where she'd be safe among people. "Go to that alleyway and go over those boxes. I'll hold them off for you."

"How will I find you again?" She frantically whispered back, eyeing the other alleyway quickly before they noticed what she was doing.

"Just have faith," Rutte said. "Everything works out." He took a step towards Jur'r and the others.

"We don't have business with you, preacher," Jur'r growled. "Just the girl."

"Pbsh..." The dragon snorted, "Could a girl have this body? Nooooo." While they were slightly off guard from her comment, Koi dashed for the crates, climbing over them with lithe movements.

One of the men made moves to try and grab her while she was heading up over the crates. Rutte immediately stepped in the way, receiving for his efforts a blow across the face.

"Ignore the preacher, get the spirit!" Jur'r hissed. Some guys tried to climb the crates after her, obviously going infinitely slower than Koi. Rutte still grabbed one of their ankles, yanking them back from the crate. A few guys grabbed Rutte from behind, yanking his arms back and holding him still.

It took a bit to get Rutte subdued, and a few more men, but it didn't matter. Koi was gone anyway.

She almost tumbled down the crates on the other side, barely catching her balance in time before stumbling into a well populated street. People only merely glanced at her before going back to their lives.

Rutte felt someone grab the front of his shirt, and then he was slammed into a wall, having to stand on his tiptoes with the force of whoever was lifting him. Rutte looked at his attacker: Jur'r. The frail-looking old man was grinding an elbow into his midsection with ease. Rutte tried to cross himself, but was lifted up a few more inches by the strange man, now rippling with power. The people around Jur'r stepped back, surprised-this was a new development.

"Where is the girl?" Jur'r hissed. Rutte shook his head. He honestly didn't know. If Koi had any sense, she'd return to the pond where he had found her. That wasn't good enough for Jur'r. The man released Rutte suddenly, causing the preacher to stumble, and then Jur'r delivered a blow across the back of his head that felled him.

"Search the marketplace," Jur'r ordered. "The side streets, everything. I want that girl brought to me, preferably alive, now." The others ran off to follow orders, now scared.

Soon, Jur'r and Rutte were alone in the alley. Rutte stirred, holding a hand to the back of his head. Jur'r looked on, almost coldly, and with a swift motion, kicked Rutte in the stomach before dragging the preacher up by his collar again, setting the groaning man down onto a crate.

"They should find your friend soon enough," Jur'r said through a smile filled with gritted teeth. "Then, her hide will be mine. A capstone on my collection. And if they don't... You'll just be bait."

Rutte laughed, then coughed to cover up his moan of pain. "Like she'd come back for me," Rutte said. "I've known her for a total of a couple of hours, and she already knows not to risk herself for this." He suddenly pushes against the old man, catching him off guard, and stumbles past him into a running gait into the alley, heading for the main street. However, Jur'r easily caught up to him and once again kicked him, sending him into a wall.

A soft dripping was heard and rain started to fall. Within just a few seconds the rain was coming down hard, pelting anyone still out and everyone in the streets ran for cover. A flash of lightening lit up the dark sky and instantly thunder followed it, not quite covering up the angry roar of a dragon.

Jur'r looked towards the sound of the roar, lightening dancing in his eyes. The air thrummed around him as his old face broke into a grin. Rutte had hit the wall and was trying to stand, grimacing as the thunder mixed with the sound of the roar. He hissed, almost taking his Lord's name in vain.

A black and orange dragon came into view just as she landed on the buildings around them, large fins propelling her through the air as if it were water and her black eyes were full of glaring hate. However unlike most dragon's, Koi only had her claws and teeth for weapons which put her at a great disadvantage. She didn't have a poison, fire, or a blade on her tail and she wasn't as muscular as her other brethren. But Koi was big, slim, but huge in comparison to the rest of her race. Koi roared again as thunder echoed her bellow.

A power filled the air around Jur'r, and his grin grew wider. He pulled out a sword, which seemed to come from nowhere and glowed with an unearthly light. "Love the coat, sweety," he growled, almost mirroring Koi herself. He didn't look intimidated in the least. "It'd look better on me."

With that, he leapt towards the dragon, gripping the sword in tight hands and preparing for a strike.

Her scales were not sword proof, Koi knew this and leapt out of the way, her huge size not seeming to slow her down as she moved like the lightning she commanded. Dodging his attack, Koi hissed and lashed out with a claw.

Jur'r expertly dodged the attack like it was rehearsed; he had definitely done this many times before. He slid in past her weaponry and aimed a sword right at her flank, aiming for a sweet spot.

Sacrificing one of her fluttering fins, Koi caught the sword on the appendage, hissing as the blade slid through her scales even though was stopped by the small bone in the root of the fin. Slapping a claw on the hilt, she raised herself on her back legs, using her other claw to grab Jur'r around the middle as she lifted him up using his own grip on his sword.

Jur'r reached into the front of his shirt and withdrew a wicked black blade that he used to aim a stab around whatever was attached to the claw on his hilt. He didn't seem too worried about possibly losing half of his body.

Grabbing onto the dagger and his arm with her beak, Koi growled very low and threatening in her throat and brought her eye close to his face. Her wings buffeted the alley way as she stayed upright and her tail was splayed out also all the way behind her. The rain pelted them hard as her voice was heard, the same voice as if she had been human though she did not need her beak to move to speak, "You are not one that I would like to seduce." His other arm was pinned to his side by her claws that held him firmly and she sighed, "I do not like to be violent, I will let you go if you promise to leave us alone..."

Jur'r looked at her from his immobile position, and laughed. "Ha! I really hadn't imagined it would be this soon into the game that the dragon would be attempting to bargain with me!" Jur'r said, still chortling. "I admit, it had been a while since I last fought a dragon," he continued. "Your race has been rather... scarce lately. Now now, I don't take all the credit for that... But I do take some." His eyes glittered. "And I've been in worse situations."

Then-right there-he just... dissolved. Slipped right from her claws and beak. The sword disappeared as well.

Koi blinked, clenching then unclenching her claws for a moment before she lowered her large head and poked Rutte with the tip of her beak, "He didn't kill you did he?"

"Um, ow," Rutte said, breathing hard between gritted teeth. He couldn't feel anything broken, but he did take a rather bad beating. Hurt a bit to breath and all that. "No death, just violent pain. What sort of friends do you make, anyway?"

The dragon shook herself, flinging water every which way before she answered, "He was not MY friend... but I don't know how he knew I was a dragon..." She clacked her beak in annoyance before cleaning her small wound with her tongue for a moment before she turned and started to lick him.

"Ewwww, dragon spit," Rutte said in response, laughing, and then catching his breath in his throat as it hurt to laugh. "He had an evil feel to me," Rutte added a bit more seriously. "I need to get to the monastery. There's someone there who needs to hear of this." He tried to stand, faltering a bit, and manages to pull himself up against the wall.

The heavy rain seemed to dissipate and soon the sun shown down on them, Koi's dragon hide glistening in the light before she melted into the familiar human face she had before, still in traveling clothes, "Shall we go then?"

"Yeah," Rutte said, wiping his face. He walked into the alleyway, feeling a little better at the sunlight but knowing he'll feel the whole effects in the morning. It wasn't his first time getting a beating. "You're bleeding," he mentions to Koi as he looks around the ground for his book.

She slapped a hand to her arm where the wound was and showed no emotion on her face, "I'm fine."

"Mmm-hmmm," Rutte said, picking up his book. It had slid under an overhang and was still relatively dry. "There's a healer at the monastery. I'll have her take a look at it." He straightened up and looked over his shoulder at her, all professional. "Well, let's finally finish our trip there." He began to head down the alleyway again, this time more vigilant of his surroundings, on guard.

Koi followed him stoically, sticking close to him and more then prepared to go draconic at anytime. As they exited the alleyway, the crowd let them back in easily and they blended in, heading to the sacred place.

It wasn't long before they cleared the crowds and got to the front of the monastery. A few people were trickling into and out of it. They started at Rutte's appearance, but after he greeted them with a smile, they relaxed a bit and smiled back, although reluctantly. Rutte entered the doors, holding them open for Koi.

An elderly man strode up to the two as they entered the main room. "Oh, Rutte, glad to see-Oh my. What happened to you?" He glances at Koi and sees her injury, as well. "And you. You both had better come with me."

"Father, there's something you need to know," Rutte said.

"Whatever it is, it can wait," the man replied, taking off with purposeful strides.

"No. It cannot." Koi responded, anger in her voice... though she followed him anyway, her hand holding her wound so tight her knuckles were white.

Rutte glanced at Koi, following directly behind her as they passed underneath an alcove to the right of the large room. The Father opened the door waiting there into a well-lit room occupied by a few young women and men.

"Sim, Cy, please help these two," the man said, ushering the two into the room and towards what looked to be brother and sister. "Once you are done, send them to my office. But not before."

Rutte lightly touched Koi's arm to draw her attention once Father was out of the room, and gave her a look that attempted to tell her to not worry.

Though Koi was slightly upset from the encounter with the dragon killer she withheld her emotion and let the humans look over the wound on her elbow. The ribbon of flesh Jur'r had attempted to cut off was a fairly minor wound, though it bled a lot and hurt like hell Koi sniffed and ignored it as best as she could.

The girl, Cy, cleaned Koi's wound gently, tsking it all the while. "Looks like a knife wound," Cy mutters, dabbing a bit of disinfectant on it. "You kids getting into trouble?"

Rutte hisses as Sim dabs the same disinfectant on a cut near his temple. "Only a little, Cy. You know me, getting into bar fights."

Cy grinned and began to wrap Koi's arm. "Well, as a result, your little friend here can't do any heavy lifting for a bit," Cy said. "The cut almost hit a nerve, and I don't want any swelling that could cause pain. Also, keep it clean for me, sweetheart, okay?"

"Fine..." Koi mumbled, slightly annoyed at being called a kid, but pleased nevertheless concerning the wrapping, "Thank you Cy."

"Fantastic, hun," Cy replies, smiling at Koi and then going over to Sim to look over Rutte. "You get run over by a herd of horses?" she asks Rutte incredulously, stripping off his shirt to get a better look at the bruises underneath, revealing a firm body that was now spotted with a few bruises. She sucks in her breath-there is a livid-looking one on his abdomen.

"It's better than it looks," Rutte says, looking down. Sim shakes his head at the same time as Cy, who begins putting some disinfectant on a cut on his shoulder. Sim finishes with the cut on his forehead.

"Not much else we can do," Sim says, handing him his shirt as Cy finishes cleaning the small cut. "Most of it is bruises... which are going to hurt in the morning. Just try not to fall down any more stairs, okay?"

"Mm-hmmm," Rutte replies, smiling. "So are we set to see Father Exum?" Cy pats down the bandages now covering his cut, causing Rutte to wince, and motions that they can leave.

Koi's attention was drawn to Rutte's body, not just because it was very appealing to her, but more to the fact that he had taken that beating because of her. She hung her head in shame, her red lips slightly parted and her eyes trained to the floor, "Rutte I'm so sorry..."

Rutte raised an eyebrow at her, then after a moment realized what she was thinking. "Koi, it's not your fault," he said in a quiet voice as he put on his shirt. Cy and Sim took that moment to check exactly what was going on in the other corner of the room. Rutte continued in a low voice so the other two couldn't hear. "It's nobody's fault that Jur'r attacked us, and nobody's fault that I decided to protect you. I knew what I was doing, and it was my choice." He leaned forward, trying to be even more confidential. "Besides, if my hunch is correct, this would be my fight, too. I need to confirm it with Father Exum, though."

She stopped pouting and looked at him through her bangs, "How so? I don't see how humans would be dealing with dragon slayers..." For once she was not thinking about seducing Rutte but she whimpered slightly and pressed her face into his shoulder, "I did not want to fight him, yet he left me no choice..."

Rutte lets her stay there, putting an arm around her shoulder to comfort her, like he had done with children before her. "Shhh," he whispers. He definitely felt the need to help her. At the same time, he felt a small, growing ball of fire in his stomach. He was growing angry. He needed to see Father Exum about Jur'r, and soon, but for now, he was content to at least comfort Koi.

Koi sniffled before pulling away, "I need to warn my people, at least the few that are around here..." She stood, her elegant body unfolding as she held her head high and regained her composure, "Let us talk to this priest..."

Rutte nods. "If I'm right, he'll be able to help," he reassures her. He heads out with a wave to Cy and Sim, who wave back, and continues down a hallway, tucking in his black shirt as he went, his book in the crook of his arm, adjusting his hair, which had become mussed.

He knocked a few times on the door at the end of the hallway, then swings it open into a well-used room. Books lined the walls in shelves. Father Exum looks up from an open book lying on his desk, its pages cracked with age.

"Come in, have a seat," the Father says, motioning to seats in front of his desk. "And who might you be?" he pleasantly asks Koi.

She curtsied low and smiled, "I'm Koi, it is nice to meet you, officially." Koi sat elegantly before folding her arms and crossing a leg over a knee.

"A pleasure, Koi," Father Exum says with a smile, waiting for her to be seated before sitting himself. Rutte follows suit. "So, Rutte, what was the issue you were so worried about that couldn't wait until we had extended our hospitality to your friend?"

"Well, sir," Rutte started. "I have reason to believe that Jur'r is a demon."

Father Exum does not show surprise, but folds his fingers in front of him as his sole reaction. "And what is this evidence?" he says, gravely.

"He has superhuman strength, and was able to lift me several feet into the air using only one hand," Rutte said. "He also disappeared into thin air in front of my eyes." Rutte paused. "He seemed to want to finish his collection. I... didn't get the details." Rutte averted his eyes, bad at lying, but still covering up Koi's involvement. He didn't think it was the best idea to let the church in on Koi's secret.

"...I heard something about dragon skin... I think he's a dragon slayer sir." Koi mentioned smoothly, "The authorities should also check Jur'r out because he attacked Rutte and I with malintent. I... don't think he would have thought twice about killing us." She dropped her eyes to her lap and swallowed. Jur'r had killed other dragons, yet she had survived even when she was mocked among her own kind for being... weak. Her eyes flashed and it was a good thing they were staring at her lap, for the catslit iris' had come and gone.

"The authorities are rarely the best course in action against demons," Father Exum gently said. "They do not usually have the best instruments, and their involvement either leads to unnecessary deaths or, in some cases, the further disappearance of the demon in question." He turned to his book again. "Let's see if we can find him in here."

"That's a book of demons," Rutte says. "It has the demon's names, information, and sometimes weaknesses. But not a lot of the time."

"But what if he didn't use his real name? Maybe you should look for a demon that can... dissolve..." Koi mentioned thoughtfully.

"No, demons can only use their true names," the Father mumbled as he flipped through yellowed pages. "The problem is, most demons have over a dozen different true names."

"There are a thousand pages to that book," Rutte explained to Koi. "Sometimes, two demons to a page, and several names to a demon. It's not that uncommon for a demon to live among a city like this and be undetected, even when we have information on them right here."

"Besides, I'm only looking on major characteristics," Father Exum added. "His name is something I can use to check if it's correct." He stopped at a page with a small illustration, crude but bearing a resemblance to Jur'r. "Ah. Here we go. 'The Collector.'"

Koi swallowed, hard. His name sent chills down her back and spine. "And... what does he collect?" She asked, her voice almost faltering but she stayed strong.

Father Exum looks up from his book. "Everything," he says, his voice low.

Rutte gets up to look over the Father's shoulder. "Yeah; Jur'r's on the list of its names," he says. "Supposedly means 'Lord of Collection,' or something. He's an old demon who takes the form of an old man. He's somewhat powerful, and apparently... he likes games. Playing with people while he's on the search. Sadistic." He scans the page. "He can disappear and dissolve, but it takes energy. He has to recuperate for a bit." He glances up at Koi. "Doesn't say how long."

"Like most demons, he's probably susceptible to the usual tools," Father said. "Shall you be taking them with you?"

"Yes," Rutte replies. "And we'll leave the city."

"Are you sure he'll be targeting you?" Father Exum asked. "Miss Koi said he was hunting dragon skins."

Rutte didn't even look at Koi. "Yes, I'm pretty sure," he replied, his ears turning red. The Father raised an eyebrow.

"...if you're sure," Father mutters. "You're the best priest trained in exorcism, at least locally. It would be a shame to lose you only to have to face this on our own."

"I will help him, I may not look much... but I am stronger then you think." Koi stood, her posture defiant as she looked out of the window, "I will protect you," She growled.

Father Exum fell silent for a bit, and then stood up. "I suppose that concludes our discussion," he stated. "Rutte, may I please speak with you? In private, of course; I apologize, Miss Koi."

She nodded, "I understand." With that said she walked elegantly from the room and shut the door quietly behind her. Koi growled, I bet he's reviewing with Rutte about his... duties... It would prove harder to seduce Rutte after this, she knew it would be a challenge. Smiling evilly with her canines more prominant Koi started to purr gently to herself, willing to wait and meet the challenge head on.

The conversation inside the room, however, was taking a quite different direction. "Rutte, it seems quite odd to me the sort of company you choose," Father states. "Just a little odd that a woman would... Put forth to protect you? Against a demon, no less, with you being trained in exorcism."

"She helped me a great deal today, when I didn't know that Jur'r was a demon," Rutte said, nervous.

"Also, he's collecting... dragons? Easy enough to find where they are located. Why is he forcibly enlisting the help of that young lady?" Although Father Exum looked subdued, he was actually quite sharp.

"I think she just got mixed up in bad things," Rutte mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck and looking at the floor. "Y'know, got caught in the wrong crowds."

"Uh-huh," the Father replied. "I know you go about your duties in an... unorthodox manner, to say the least. And you can't stop yourself from helping every person with a sob story that crosses your path. I'm sure that's how you know so many people, although you definitely won't tell me. But," Father Exum added, "You are heading into trouble." The Father closed the book. "Just be careful. And speaking of trouble," he continued. "As a reminder, if you ever want to settle down with a nice woman, my church gets first dibs on the ceremony."

"Father, I'm a priest!" Rutte cried, objecting.

"You're also young, and paths can change," Father reminded him, grinning a paternal grin. "Now out with you!"

Koi leapt to her feet when the door opened, the smile still on her lips and she approached the door hesitantly, peering at Rutte with an innocent look on her beautiful face, "Everything okay...?"

"Fine, fine," Rutte said, still rubbing the back of his neck. "I've got to run by my room to pick up a few tools; would you be okay in the main hall?"

"Yeah! That's fine." She waved at him before walking off, her hips swinging as she hummed a tune to herself. Koi hoped his eyes were still on her, she didn't walk like this all the time... though she was headed somewhere. Looking around for the murals she thought she saw earlier, she finally had to ask an acolite for direction. "Ah!" Koi let out, pleasantly surprised as she spotted them.

Rutte had stared after her as she left, but wasn't exactly checking out her assets; he had a thoughtful look on his face, as though considering something. He shook his head after a few seconds and went to his room.

Those who had been there before had mentioned his room was more like a cell than anything. Bare walls, a cot, and a nightstand were all that adorned it; however, Rutte was honored to have a room at all. Considering that he was only there maybe once every few months, the room showed, once again, that he had a couch to sleep on in every city. He reached into his nightstand to draw out a small bag. Rutte opened it, reaching inside to transfer many small objects to his own bag, wrapping them in cloth first. He then jogged off to find Koi.

Father Exum wandered into the main hall, a small bag in his hands. He saw Koi and smiled at her, walking up to her. "So I take it you are traveling with Rutte now?" he asked pleasantly.

She sent a happy smile his way, "Oh yes! I have been... meaning to get out of the city for a while, but no one to accompany me! So... Rutte will be my escort." Koi turned to the wall with a large painting on it while tsking, "You know Father... this mural is amazingly beautiful... but the dragon in the sky, doesn't something look... wrong?"

"Mmm," the Father murmurs, non-committingly. "What looks wrong to you?" he asks.

"Why, the dragon's anatomy! It's completely wrong..." She continued tsking over it before turning to him and smiling, "But no matter, do you know where Rutte is?"

"I do not know how... familiar the artist was with dragons," the Father replied. "And here's Rutte now."

Rutte looked up as he walked into the hallway to see Koi and the Father standing under the dragon mural, looking at him. Rutte had a briefly worried expression on his face before he smiled and waved, slinging his pack over his shoulder and heading towards them.

"Rutte, before you leave, I would like you to borrow this," the Father said, handing it to Rutte. "Now, don't open it yet; do it when you think you need a bit of extra help. Other than that, all I can do is wish you luck."

The two embraced like old friends, and Rutte pulled away, motioning to Koi that the two should be on their way.

She followed him happily, her boots clicking with each step she took, "Really, the artist does not know how to paint a dragon at all! Pbsh..."

"Not like a dragon would have sat still for him to paint," Rutte said, joking. As they exited the church, Rutte slipped the package Father Exum had given him into his bag and put his bag back on his back. "We need to stop for a few more supplies, but also, where are your dragon friends?" he asked. "You said you needed to warn them, we should probably do that before we leave."

"I... can't do that here, we would have to get out of the city... And they aren't my friends, they are simply my people..." Koi continued to follow him, though silently.

Rutte nodded. He guided her to a store, where they picked up some travel food, at which point his pack was getting a bit large. "Well, I'm ready," Rutte said, stopping at the edge of the city. "Lead the way."

She nodded before looking around for a moment before spotting the nearby mountains, "Do you know a trail that goes up there? I need to get as high as I can, and I can't change into my real form, people might see me fly up there..."

"What about traveling through the water?" Rutte asked. "I mean, well, I can't do that, but I can follow you up. I might not beat you up there but I can at least go partway. Unless you just want to walk with me, but... I don't know how long that would take."

"I'd rather... walk with you." She replied softly, heading in the direction where she thought a trail would be.

Rutte nodded. He was the leisurely-travel sort, and didn't mind taking the long way around. He briefly wondered if Koi was the same way.

"Time is nothing to a creature as I..." Koi muttered under her breath, though she was sure he would hear her. Leaves and branches crunched under her feet as she kept her eyes on the peak of the highest mountain. They wouldn't have to travel that high to get where she needed to be.

"How far is this?" Rutte asked, wondering. "If we take too long, Jur'r might have already recovered and come after us. I'd rather not lead him to your... people." He had almost said friends again.

"I'm not!" She said forcibly, "I just need to get high enough so that I can contact them."

"Alright," Rutte said, relieved. "Just wondering. So," he added, trying to make conversation as they trekked onward, and slowly started to go upward. "What led you to this city? Just exploring?"

"For the most part. I was bored with life and I couldn't live in the aquaducts of the city, so the pond I stayed." Koi answered, her voice soft.

"It was a nice place to choose," Rutte admitted. "Why didn't you stay? Must have been a might more pleasant than this." He motioned to the bandage on her arm.

Koi blinked for a moment, "You had the worst of it Rutte," She pointed out before walking a bit more in silence, then, "Besides, maybe my people will come to accept me for this warning."

Rutte paused, then frowned. "They don't accept you now?" he asked, incredulous.

"I am useless as far as they are concerned." Koi responded quietly, her face blank.

Rutte's face creases into a frown as he becomes visibly distressed. "That's stupid," he says. Coming from him, 'stupid' sounds like a curse word.

"I am not a warrioress, I have no powers besides water, and seduction..." She flinched at that and glanced back at him sadly.

"You're still a nice person," Rutte said, pouting, not noticing the look she gave him. "I think it's stupid to think anybody is worthless, especially by those who are supposed to accept them." He sounded a bit like he was taking it personally.

"But why does it matter to you, you are human, not dragon kind..." Koi sighed softly and shook her head.

"Human kind, dragon kind, it's not good to reject those within your own circle based on false judgments," Rutte declared, still frowning, although not as harshly. "I've had to work in too many orphanages, where the children there aren't... Well, they feel worthless, too."

Koi looked back at him, a sour look on her face, "But they are children, I am a fully fledged adult dragon. There is a difference you know..."

Rutte didn't say anything, just nodded. He knew he wouldn't like being in the same position as Koi, but he wasn't going to push the issue.

The two trudged on, silent. Rutte let himself relax into the scenery, getting himself in his usual walking meditative state, and before he knew it, a few hours had passed.

We're just about high enough... Koi thought to herself, eyeing the land below them before she stopped walking. "This... this will do." The precipitation was thick and the clouds were just close enough for communication. Normally, as a dragon, she would fly high above the clouds but below would also work. Her aura shimmered and she quickly grew into the huge dragon she was, water quickly budding together on her black and orange scales like diamonds. Koi reached out her newely aquired claws to the clouds, soft light flowing from them into the miasma and with her eyes closed she located each and every last dragon within range and sent the message, clear as the river during spring.

"Ye have been warned," She hissed under her breath.

A clear laugh sounded from behind them, like a hammer on crystal. "Little sister, the thing with your warning is that it's useless," a voice rang out. "Just like you."

Rutte whipped his head around to the large rock behind him. As he watched, another dragon emerged, as if carved from the rock itself. The dragon was smaller than Koi by quite a bit, its shoulders a few heads above Rutte. Its scales were brown and mottled with bits of pure white, like a cliff face spotted with quartz. In the next instant, the aura of the new dragon shimmered and left behind a tall, brown-skinned woman, smirking at both Rutte and Koi. With her short black hair and dark brown eyes, she wasn't a beauty, but her stance screamed of strength and confidence. On her back rested a wicked-looking sword as long as her leg.

"Jur'r is not new to dragons," the newcomer scoffed. "But for now, his attention is not on other dragons." She eyed Koi, grinning and revealing sharpened teeth. "It's just on you."

Koi hissed, refusing to change back, Nissa... You may be older then me sister, but you forget who the larger dragoness is. Her face, though dragonic had obviously wilted when she had called her useless and her snarl was little more then an act. Finally, "Why would he be after me?" Koi had changed back in a blink of an eye.

"Well, my dear," Nissa, slinking over to Koi, running a finger along Koi's jawline and getting a little more than comfortable in Koi's personal space. "You're quite... pretty. An easy addition to his collection, really." The way Nissa said 'pretty' suggested it more of a reminder and an insult than a compliment. "And once this particular collector gets his sights on something, he doesn't give up until he has it."

"And why tell her this?" Rutte demanded.

Nissa looked over to the Rutte, raising an eyebrow. "A priest?" she asked Koi, pursing her lips at the other dragon. "My, your taste is... unique."

Koi nearly folded in on herself and growled very low and threatening, her black eyes gaining a slight red glow to them. "You leave him alone," Her lips raised in a snarl, "My business with him is mine alone, not yours and it will never be so." She was getting so angry she did not notice that her aura was like lightning, striking off of her and stunning all creatures randomly. Koi truly was not powerless, a storm that could become anything, but in the face of another dragon she was like a child attacking an adult. However, the red light in her eyes was a downfall to all dragon kind for it was what made them fight... to the death.

"Don't flatter yourself, love. Like I would play with your toys," the dragon said, not even glancing at Koi. When she deliberately took her eyes off of Rutte, she stepped even closer to the angry dragon, her sultry expression only an inch from Koi's face. "You know how that would end, little sister," she muttered, tracing a nail down Koi's neck and across her collarbone. "I did not come here to kill you, but my plans are, as usual, pretty flexible."

The other female slapped her hand away, "Don't touch me." She said coldly, "A fight between us per se would favor you... but we all know that my element can take yours down. However you did not show yourself just to meddle, why did you tell me that Jur'r was only after me?" Koi's beautiful face was fairly emotionless though her eyes flickered in Rutte's direction with worry.

Rutte frowned. He had narrowly avoided getting hit by one of Koi's lightening bolts and was really considering leaving the immediate area if this should turn into an actual fight.

However, instead of responding to Koi's red glow with some of her own, Nissa just threw back her head and laughed. At Koi's question, at her threat... It was uncertain, but whatever she was laughing at, she was certainly amused by it. "Loose lips sink ships, my dear," Nissa exclaimed. "But know this... I have my reasons." She followed Koi's gaze to Rutte, giving him another cold, appraising glance. "Which is why I'll be joining your group."

"Who says we'll let you-" Koi started, somewhat curiously, her voice had softened and her aura was fading. Secretly she wanted Nissa's help, "Coming to us and strutting your weight around isn't exactly the way to join a group."

"It is when you're this awesome," Nissa sighed. "In any case, it just so happens that joining up with you is beneficial to my own plans. However, I assure you, you'll be getting the better deal." Nissa gave Koi a look, cool and grounded and showing just briefly her stability as an earth dragon.

The water dragon growled, "And how is that? Last time I checked the water tribe had nothing to do with the earthen dragons..." Kicking a rock underfoot, "Are you just going to sit there all wide-eyed Rutte? Nissa Rutte, Rutte Nissa," Koi sighed heavily when she realized. This dragon could meddle with her plans concerning this priest.

"A pleasure," Rutte said, bowing over her outstretched hand and laying a light kiss on it, just as she expected.

"The pleasure is mine," Nissa said with all the elegance of a court lady. She almost looked bored. "Now where are you two headed?"

"I had planned to go to the next city over," Rutte said. "Along the mountains, there's Minan, another large city. I figured if we could get there in one piece, we'd be in known territory among other exorcists also trained to handle situations like this. Power in numbers."

"That city is almost ten miles away," Nissa murmured. "With your supplies, it would take nearly three days. I doubt Jur'r would wait until then to make his move."

"Yes, but I might be able to keep him from getting a clean strike until then," Rutte said, holding his book closer.

"I could always fly us there," Koi mentioned quietly, her voice surprisingly soft and humble.

"Then you'd have to be on your own during this trip," Nissa said, her voice musing. "Those of the earth clan prefer not to fly, and although I could meet you at the city I could not accompany you there. And I really doubt the demon would not take the opportunity to shoot you from the air."

"However, that might be a risk worth taking," Rutte mused. "We'd have to land about half a mile away to avoid drawing attention to ourselves by the sentries, but it would save us time and energy... As long as you wouldn't mind a passenger," Rutte added, looking at Koi.

"No... not at all..." She smiled at Rutte, just out of excitement, "I'm a rather a talented flier, a passenger is no matter to my size or skill." Koi flaunted her hips for a second before she remembered where she was and stopped herself, "I wouldn't mind flying at all."

"You really don't mind flying?" Nissa asks. There's something in her words that make Rutte pause, some sort of power. Nothing to dissuade Koi--even her tone doesn't suggest anything of the sort--but there's something there anyway.

Koi's eyebrows furrowed but she shook her head, "No. I don't mind. In fact, I insist." She changed into her other form without the whole dramatics of the transformation.

"Thrice said and it will be done," Nissa said, clapping her hands once and backing off. "It's not my problem if you guys get hurt during the ride now. At least, not my immediate problem. Meet you at the gates!" Nissa shimmers into her earth dragon form, which dives into the ground like a person would dive into water. In under a second, she is gone.

Rutte looks up at Koi after Nissa goes, biting his lip. "Er, how do I do this...?" he asks, uncomfortable. This isn't like riding a horse, and her numerous fins make it a bit hard to try and find a perch.

The water dragon settled back on her haunches and held out her claws, stubbly things in dragon standards but sharp enough for human standards. Well?

"I..." Rutte shrugged. "I don't understand?"

I'll carry you... Koi said, shuffling her wings, I'm going to fly much higher then the clouds, you will only be safe, and warm in my hands.

"Oh... okay," Rutte said, walking up to her awkwardly.

She opened her claws further, the dark red pads soft and protective, especially against the cold of the sky, Com' on, you're taking too long.

Rutte shrugged and decided to settle himself in her hands, somehow.

Finally losing her patience, Koi just grabbed him and and leapt into the skies, flying above the clouds in one sweep of her giant wings.

Rutte made a noise low in his throat, somewhere between a shout and a gasp that never quite got vocalized, as the ground swiftly disappeared from under his feet. His ears popped at the rapid acceleration and he began to feel dizzy at the altitude change. He would have fallen off if Koi hadn't been holding him, and as it was, it was a miracle he didn't drop his book.

Adjusting him in her claws, she moved him so he would have better protection against the wind and Koi brought her arms against her breast plates. The wind buffeted her for a moment but she moved with it, making herself fly even higher. It was only a few minutes before she angled herself lower, toward a hole in the clouds.

Rutte peered between her claws and abruptly decided that this was a bad idea. He had, of course, never been this high in his entire life. "How long?" he shouted to Koi, but practically heard his voice being torn away in the wind and was certain she couldn't hear him.

She ignored him, her fins fluttering around in the wind pleasantly and with her tail she steered herself forward with ease. The clouds could potentially be dangerous, Koi knew this and made fore the hole. They had passed the mountains and were headed to the city when something latched onto her back leg. Jerking her beak around, Koi screamed at the small thing in anger. It looked like a miniature dragon, scaled and green with numerous poison barbs but missing a set of legs; Wyvern. Hold on! With that said the water dragon kicked the thing off of her, roaring as she barrel rolled to the side, dodging several more and as they flew past her she slashed them out of the sky.

Rutte closed his eyes and gripped her claws, shielding his head within them from the buffeting winds and trying not to move too much.

Finally in anger, Koi's eyes flashed and a bit of cloud above them turned black as a streak of lightning hit the last one, causing it to fall through the clouds with a shriek. Casually, she headed for the hole in the clouds below them.

Rutte's breath is taken away at the sudden drop.

Koi craned her neck around to look at him for a second before she headed down at a much slower pace, circling down like a buzzard.

Forcing his heart to go down from his throat, Rutte opens his eyes only to wish he hadn't. For a split second, he sees the ground eons away and thinks, This is the most awesome view EVER. Then his brain kicks in again to inform him that he is way too unnaturally high up in the air, and his eyes close of their own volition.

Gliding to almost a complete stop in midair, Koi settled down in a tree and climbed the rest of the way down, putting Rutte gently on the ground and transforming into her human form in the blink of an eye, "Take a moment and catch your breath," She told him softly.

Rutte rubbed his forehead, controlling his breathing and trying to tell his body that it was no longer panicked. "Do you do this often?" he said, leaning back against a tree.

"Do what?" She glanced at him, her black eyes unreadable as she kneeled and felt at her leg with an experienced touch. "If you mean fly around with humans? Not often, fighting wyvern? Not often either... It is a shame they resemble us so, but they are not even as smart as your average cat."

"Are they common?" Rutte asked. He's heard of them before, but hasn't seen one until today. "Why were they attacking us?"

"Probably because we were in their territory... they are pretty common yes..." Her mind was elsewhere for when she lifted her hand it came up red, with blood, "That stupid creature bit through my scales... good thing it's poison isn't that powerful at all."

"Poison?" Rutte said, suddenly alarmed. "Blood. That's not good. Have a seat, let me look at it."

Koi lifted her pant leg to show him the wound. Only a few small scratches marred her flesh with burn marks around the edges, "It's not that bad..." She said softly.

"Infections kill," Rutte said, chiding. He knelt down. "I can't do much in the way of bandaging for this." He opened his pack and began rummaging, then looked up at Koi. "And how much poison exactly? Like, bee-sting annoying or should I look at that, too?"

She made a face as she thought about it, "Its more like a wasp sting but not something I would waste any worry on..." Koi grimaced, hoping the wound wouldn't scar her skin, "Lets hurry though, I don't like being out in the open... even if we are in a forest."

Rutte nodded, taking out a small vial of liquid. "This speeds the healing process and helps fight infection. This might sting a little," he said, not giving any warning before he dabbed a bit on her wound.

Koi bit her lip, the skin of her knuckles going white as she gripped the trees roots. Growling, "If I knew you were going to add to the pain I wouldn't have shown you I was hurt." Then under her breath, "Stupid human." Though Koi did not want to offend him so it ended up sounding like "Ssstph hume..."

Rutte just grinned. "You'll thank me when we don't have to amputate the leg," he said. "In any case..." His expression sobered. "Up there, in the air... This is the only way I can help."

Her gaze softened, "Just... look at it as I was paying you back... you've been helping me all day." Koi surprisingly wasn't trying any of her magics on him but smiled, touching his face gently with a soft hand, "Thank you."

Rutte smiled back, relief in his face. "Thank you, too," he said. He gave one last glance at the wound and busied himself with packing up. "I think we're ready to go."

She removed her hand from his face with a soft sigh before standing and rolling her pant-leg back down. This time she bent on purpose in front of him, to give him a nice view of her cleavage.

Rutte coughs and turns away, looking intently at a tree as his ears turn a nice shade of pink. He doesn't say anything, just shoulders his pack and makes sure he has a good grip on his book, standing there and waiting for Koi to turn back into a dragon so they can leave.

Her graceful eyebrow lifted when she realized what he was waiting for, "I thought it would be better to continue of foot from here on?" Koi caught sight of his blush and grinned triumphantly.

"Oh, did we get that close already?" Rutte replied, surprised. "Never mind, then." That was close, he thought. "Shouldn't be long now." He looked up at the sky. It was dark, seeing as how they had left after the sunset at the well, and he was starting to feel tired... But he'd sleep once they reached the city. "That way," he added, pointing.

"It should be about a mile walk, the forest was laden in some pretty heavy fog, so I doubt anyone saw us." I hope. Koi added, but only to herself. The trees here were huge and had long and thick vines hanging from them like banner and streamers. Frogs called to each other, creating a very exotic background noise and while they walked Koi slid a hand to his elbow so he was escorting her.

Rutte glanced down at her. "Try not to lose your footing, now," he said, his voice distant. Truth be told, his mind was elsewhere; he was thinking ahead to the city, and the one thing he was dreading. He enjoyed his friends within the community, but the women were often quite annoying. Constantly giggling, they had a problem with staring at outsiders. The lot of them also had rather bad balance, and Rutte had been forced to catch more than one of them.

However, the priest managed to drag himself from his dread and pay more attention to his surroundings. He was hoping to make the mile to the city; once within the church they'd be safe and able to rest.

Koi had almost tripped had he not mentioned anything but kept her balance without making it known to Rutte that she had in fact, almost fallen. She smiled lightly at him, her grip on his arm tightening and her stomach growled pitifully. "So..." She started, trying to make conversation, "Where were you born?"

"I'm not sure, actually," Rutte confessed. His bruises had begun to pound with pain, so he was definitely glad for the distraction. "I was raised in Lilia, a port town, but my mother wasn't from around there. They said her name was Ari. She showed up at the town one day with me, when I was about one. She stayed at the church there for a few months, then left, leaving me behind."

"Ah..." Koi replied, listening politely for in truth, she was interested. "My mother was just a simple carp, a beautiful one; my father, being very at home in the water, fell in love with her grace." She laughed softly, "I personally don't think she even remembered him after I was born... I don't even know where he is..." Her face grew sad as she thought of her mother, a fish living in some rich person's pond.

"Who was your father?" Rutte asked.

"The only other dragon bigger then me... my father is the great monsoon dragon Cliu'rar Sarra... He's currently missing. I don't even know where he is." Koi grew quiet at the the talk about her father. He had been the only dragon to treat her as such, and she missed him dearly.

"You'll find him again someday," Rutte said softly, full of simple confidence. "I'd like to meet him. The way you talk about him... he seems like a great person. Er, dragon." He looked around at the forest. It was quiet.

"Yes... he is a mighty dragon, full of kindness..." Koi's ears pricked up when she heard soft stealthy sounds approaching them, "Rutte, I think... there is someone out there..."

"Mmm," Rutte murmured. He had figured that the forest was much too quiet, even for nightfall. He gets Koi behind him, quickly, not giving her a chance to protest at that moment, and in the same instant grabs a vial from a pocket. It is about as long as his palm and contains a clear liquid. Wordlessly, he hands the vial to Koi. "If this is Jur'r," he says under his breath, "I need you to run."

"What... is this?" Koi asked, her tone concerned but she nodded, "Alright," She replied softly, "I will run to the city if it is him, but what about you? What is this liquid?"

"If something demonic attacks you, just throw this liquid on it," Rutte said. "It might not stop it, but at the very least it will slow down. Get inside the city. There's a tall building with a bell tower, ancient-looking, about a block into the city itself from the main gate. Go there and ask for sanctuary. I'll meet you there."

She nodded, before looking around hesitantly, "Should I run for it now?" Koi jumped as a small sound startled her and she almost dropped the vile. Deciding where to put it, Koi slid it into her cleavage and looked to Rutte on what to do next.

"Wait... wait," Rutte muttered. He made absolutely sure he knew which direction the sound was coming from, then waved for Koi to go in the exact opposite direction. He could feel the approaching demon, was confident it was him. "Be quiet, be safe," he whispered.

"I will..." Koi answered, her voice barely audible and she turned to go. However, the dragon paused and closed her eyes before turning back and taking a risk. Koi turned back and took a hold of his head, gently pressing her lips to his to deliver an innocent kiss, "You stay safe as well," With that said, Koi darted soundlessly into the underbrush, disappearing almost instantly.

Rutte touches his lips almost absentmindedly as Koi disappears. He then turns back to the sound, tearing his gaze away as he faced the oncoming danger.

Jur'r came into the clearing. "Ah, the priest I beat in the alley," Jur'r said. "What happened the last time you got in the way of what I wanted?"

Rutte stepped forward, his voice full of confidence, ringing out. "The past is the past, demon," he said, opening his book and reaching inside his shirt to take out a small necklace with a charm on the end. The charm began to glow the closer Rutte got to Jur'r. "I'd focus on the present."

"Your pet isn't here to save you now," Jur'r hissed, his face twisting in a gruesome expression. "Run and I might only take my pound of flesh." He then leapt towards the priest, fingernails growing into claws, as Rutte began to read.

Koi scurried through the underbrush with inhuman speed, running to the city she knew was close when she blundered into a guard, "Woah hold on there-" The guards eyes widened, "My lady, are you alright?" Koi caught her breath, "Please you must help me! My friend, he's a priest, he's in trouble!"

"Alright alright," The guard led her into the city as she told him a half baked story of a demon meeting them on the path to the town, "Please! I need to get to the monastery!" The guard pointed the way and Koi quickly ran on swift feet in the direction he had pointed her in.

The building loomed ahead when something from the shadows reached out a hand and grabbed her shoulder. A form smiled then, revealing sharpened teeth.

"Nissa!" Koi gasped, "We need to hurry, Jur'r caught up with us..." Even though she couldn't see her, Koi figured it was her and shrugged her hand off of her shoulder, "Come on..." Without waiting for an answer she sped into the church.

The earth dragon rolls her eyes, and follows her leisurely into the building. Her hand reaches out for the stone in the hallway as Koi runs ahead, breathing in deeply as the power from the old building resonates through her. "Ah," she sighs. "This is good."

A priest quickly stops Koi. "What is wrong?" he asks. Red hair falls into his worried eyes as he takes in Koi's demeanor.

"My... friend Rutte, we were being chased by a demon! They are just a mile away on the outskirts of the city, please! You must help us!" Koi's lip pouted out and tears formed in her eyes as she made a perfect impression of an angel in despair. "Please...?"

"Rutte?" the priest asked, alarmed. "Demon?" He presses his hands together, making a symbol to ward off evil. "Take me to him," the priest insisted. "He might want some help."

"I hope you're a fast runner..." Koi muttered under her breath before she spotted Nissa by the entrance, "Nissa! Are you coming or are you staying here? Are you going to help?"

"I suppose I could help," Nissa said, bored, stepping aside as the red-headed priest hurried outside. "I've nothing better to do at the moment. I'll follow. You lead the way."

Koi back tracked as best as she could, even catching site of the same sentry she had almost bowled over. He watched them pass with a serious expression on his face as they flat out ran back into the darkened forest. Koi was on her last reserves of strength, the poison she had convinced Rutte was barely a threat was taking its toll on her. For in fact, the poison could kill some of the smaller dragons but because of her size it was more diluted and was only weakening her. Finally Koi spotted a soft glow in the forest, "He's there!"

The redhead ran forward to the glow, which was much dimmer than when Rutte had started. Although the new priest was tired from running, he still darted forward to the clearing where the glow was coming from.

Rutte was there, leaning up against a tree, which looked to be the only thing supporting his weight. Other trees in the clearing were uprooted or broken, some with large gashes. He looked exhausted and covered in a black substance that looked suspiciously like blood. More blood was splattered on a few torn trees. He looked up and broke into a weary smile at the priest's entrance. "Gwy," he said as the redhead grabbed him, lifting an arm over his shoulder. The light coming from his necklace dimmed even further. "Don't worry, most of this isn't mine."

"So where's the demon?" Gwy huffed.

"I got a few good shots before it slipped away," Rutte said. "I couldn't set up a proper containment area. Didn't have time. But I definitely got in a few good shots."

Koi finally caught up with the other priest, her legs shaking from strain and her gaze strayed over to Rutte, their hidden spark lighting up when she saw him, "Rutte!" She smiled and limped over to him, "I'm so glad you're ok! I brought help..." In the evening light Koi was as pale as a ghost but she kept the facade of being perfectly fine intact.

"We need to get you to a bed," Gwy said, limping along with Rutte and leading him away from the clearing. "We can take care of the demon later. Right now, you're in no shape to be doing anything."

"We girls will go on ahead," Nissa said.

Koi gave a her a strange look, "Alright..." With delicate steps she followed Nissa as they went ahead, not going much faster then the two boys behind them. Panting and sweating, Koi fought to stay awake as the poison moved from stage one, to stage two.

As the girls moved far enough ahead of the boys, Nissa stopped Koi. Suddenly the ground beneath Koi moved. A large mound of earth appeared, forming into the head of a large dog. Its broad forehead was wide enough to seat Koi.

"Sit," Nissa demanded, pushing Koi down. "You can barely walk." She began walking again, the head moving beside like the dog was slowly paddling through water, keeping pace. "Now why is that?" Nissa said, calmly. "I would suggest being honest."

Koi muttered under her breath for a moment before finally admitting, "Wyvern... poison, got through the thin scales of my leg." By now blood had soaked through her pant leg and her breathing was still labored, "I need to... see a healer..."

Nissa drew in an angry breath through her teeth. "By now, it's gotten into your bloodstream," she "Great. Why didn't you have Rutte look at it when you got the bite? I assume he was with you at the time." As she talked, she got even more angry. "Not only that, but you were walking around on it. Yay for facilitating circulation."

However her ranting's were on deaf ears, seeing that Koi had fainted. It wasn't long before they managed to get near to the city and that meant returning to look as if they were normal humans. The same sentry from earlier saw Koi's limp form and rushed forward, "Is she all right?" He checked her pulse and lifted her into his arms, "Are there more companions?"

"They are in the forest," Nissa said, her voice confident and commanding. "Please direct me to a healer and then go escort them to their quarters." Nissa took Koi from his arms, carrying her with more ease than even the guard did.

The guard's eyebrow rose but he pointed her in the right direction, "I would go to the healer's in the church... so I will send the priests to there as well..." Leaving Nissa to find her way, the sentry stepped into the forest and in a few minutes time he had found Rutte and Gwy.

Nissa arrived at the church in just a few seconds, walking normally but somehow flying over the cobblestones in the ground. The great wooden door swung open before her and she quickly found the healing room of the church. A woman rose from the cot. "This is highly irregular," the woman murmured as Nissa dumped Koi unceremoniously on the center table.

"Poison," Nissa said, simply. "The bite is on the leg. Do your job."

She left the healing room at that, moving to the hallway. Rutte and Gwy had entered by then, Rutte still leaning on Gwy heavily. "Darlings," Nissa said. "Would you be so kind as to direct me to the sleeping chambers? I would be most grateful."

Gwy looked at Rutte. "I was just about to take Rutte there to clean up and get some rest and..."

Rutte took a hand from his side, bringing it out some red. "Maybe put a bit of ointment on this scratch," Rutte added.

Nissa threw up her hands. "Nobody is whole around here," she exclaims, exasperated. "Take him to the healing room. Koi waits for him there. I shall find my own way."

"Koi is in the healing room?" Rutte starts, but Nissa is already heading away. "Why is Koi in need of healing?" Rutte asks Gwy, who just cocks his eyebrow and leads Rutte away.

When they enter Koi is sprawled on the table, her eyes open but not seeing as several healers worked on her with worried expressions on their faces, "Quickly, quickly!" Cried one healer as they cut into the flesh of her leg, making small little cuts as they removed the burnt flesh that was saturated with the Wyvern's poison. "We must draw it out of her!" At that point her chest, which had been barely moving to begin with took one last breath, then stilled. "Get him out of here!" Shouted the main healer as they begun to take off Koi's shirt to bring her back. They pushed them out of the room and another healer led them to a smaller healing place next door.

---

The sunlight filtered through the curtains of the bright room she was in and the light hurt Koi's eyes. Everything was foggy and it felt like she had been hit by one of her own lightning strikes, "Oh you're awake!" Cried out the small nurse beside her bed, making the dragon cringe from how high her voice was, "We were so worried about you! Fighting a wyvern, how exciting! We still don't know how you lasted that long with the poison in your system but it was certainly a miracle..." The nurse went on and on, breaking off at different tangents and soon Koi just shut her eyes and tried to ignore her. She was in a large bed, wearing a long white and sleeveless shift with her black and orange hair freshly washed and brushed and the wound on her leg neatly wrapped. Her voice was weak as she asked, "Where... is Rutte?"

"Father Rutte was in here with you for the night, but he left not long before you got up," the nurse said, using Rutte's formal title. "If you can walk, you can leave, but you might not want to. And if you do want to, you can find Father Rutte with Father Gwy. Those two are old friends, you know, lots of catching up to do since Rutte hasn't been here since, oh gosh, nearly a year..." The nurse continued to ramble, turning away and fussing over a bed that looked like it had been recently used.

Koi grimaced and slowly sat up, the thin blanket covering her sliding to her hips and she looked at what she wore in distaste. She was still really pale, the shift nearly blending in with her creme skin which made her hair look shockingly dark, and her eyes probably darker. Koi swung her legs around, dizziness washing over her at the simple motion however she forced her shaking legs to hold her weight, "Show me the way to him?"

The nurse finished making the bed with a pat and turned to her. "Alright, dearest, if you insist. Let's get you in some nice clothes, however..." In a few moments, Koi was leaning on the nurse in a simple skirt and shirt, walking down the hallway towards the main place of worship.

They walked through the doorway into a great hall, the one Koi was in when she had first come there. Wooden pews lined the rows, and elegant windows of stained glass graced the walls far above their head.

About in the middle of the room, Rutte and Gwy sat in a pew, talking energetically, although their voices didn't carry very far as they weren't speaking especially loud. They both looked like they were enjoying themselves a lot. As Koi stood there, Nissa entered the room, gliding over to the two and taking a seat near them, holding a few drinks in her hand and giving one to Gwy. Her laughter joined their's in a second.

Seeing this made Koi pause, her legs still shaking, "Nurse... please take me back, I... guess I wasn't ready for this after all." Koi's pale face was flushed slightly in effort but her eyes were trained on the three. It was... almost as if she didn't belong here, with them. Her black eyes looked away and tears filled her eyes and the nurse simply nodded and helped her to turn, making to leave.

However, Rutte spotted the motion out of the corner of his eye and turned to see who it was. "Koi!" he yelled, trying to get her attention. "We're over here!"

Wiping her eyes, "-Alright..." Her voice was soft but it made it to their ears as the nurse helped her to walk over to them, Koi looking very different from when Rutte and her had first met. Now she looked frail, like an angel about to break and her movements were slow, making sure she was steady before she took step after step. Koi's gaze met Rutte's and she smiled softly as a little strength found itself within her and her previously slouched back straightened.

Rutte smiled as he helped her sit down, but something in it was strained, like he was forcing the smile. "We were just talking about you," he said.

"Or, more specifically, what to do with Jur'r," Gwy said. He nodded to his friend. "He filled me in."

"All of it?" Koi asked, meeting Rutte's gaze again, "Like... everything?" Something about Koi had changed over night. She no longer was as confident as she had been before and it seemed she was drained of her magic and was no longer a temptation. She was simply grateful she was alive... and that Rutte was alive as well.

"He's good," Rutte said.

"Rutte's kept odd company before," Gwy mentions. "I've learned to trust his judgment."

"What we need to do is get a containment circle going on," Rutte said. "Not necessarily a circle, but it'll help keep the demon from going away before being fully exorcised. Then we'll need to get him inside of it... somehow."

"I had mentioned using you as bait, of course," Nissa said. "That seemed the most logical."

Koi sighed heavily, however kept it inside as she reached a delicate hand up to pull some stray hairs behind her ear, "Yes, that is most logical. I don't mind either way, it doesn't matter to me." She kept her black eyes trained on her knees and her manner of speaking was meek and submissive.

"Except I don't want to put you through that much strain," Rutte said, running a hand through his hair, seeming frustrated. "Not right now."

"We have time to think about it," Gwy said, "although we probably shouldn't wait for very long. Right now the demon is most likely wounded, but after a while, it will have healed and even grown stronger." Nissa raised an eyebrow. "Demons who escape exorcism tend to grow stronger for the experience," Gwy explained, shrugging.

"My idea is still probably the most obvious," Nissa said. "We lead the demon to Koi, who stands inside the containment ring. Then Rutte eliminates it while it's trapped."

"Except Koi would have to escape from the ring before it was closed or she would be trapped inside of it with the demon," Rutte adds. "If she crossed the line after it was closed, the circle would be broken and useless. So she'd have to be quick on her feet and now..." His glance trailed to her leg.

"Well what about the air?" Asked Koi, getting an idea, "My wings work just fine, can't I just fly out?" She closed her eyes as she mentally checked her wings to make sure nothing was damaged, including nerves and muscles. The poison had definatly taken a toll on her body, but it seemed her wings didn't take that much harm. All she would need to do would to open her wings and let them take over.

"Fantastic," Nissa said. "She'll fly out instead of running out, you'll trap the demon, there shall be an epic battle, and the problem will be solved. Excellent. Now how exactly does one make a containment circle?"

Rutte's frown grew deeper as Gwy and Nissa discussed the engineering of the ring. Finally standing up, Rutte announced, "I'm going to take a walk and see if anything's changed here." He walked away, waving back as Gwy yelled after him to check out the garden.

Koi stood after Rutte had left and excused herself, blushing at her weakness as the nurse, who had been politely silent and at the further end so not to listen came for her and helped her out of the hall, "There there miss Koi we'll take you into your room and you can take a nap! You must regain your strength!" Allowing herself to be led, Koi turned to look at the gate to the garden where she last saw Rutte and sighed, turning back.

Nissa watched Koi leave, giving an small, evil smile when Gwy wasn't looking. "Ah, I think I have to leave too," Nissa said. "Call for me when you need help making the containment circle." She rose, further excusing herself, and glided down the hallway away from both Koi and Rutte. However, halfway down it, she closed her eyes and fell into the rock as it parted around her feet.

Out in the garden, Rutte leaned against a fence, his features clouded. Behind him, Nissa rose from the dirt like a cloud of dust, except she was totally clean. She gently placed a hand upon his shoulder, making him turn around. "Oh," Rutte said, trying to resolve his face into a smile. "Hello, Nissa."

"Oh, priest, you have been grumpy all morning," Nissa replied. "Why is this?" She didn't even have to listen to his explanation; she was the one who told Rutte that Koi's injury was more grave than he had been told, and was there for the pleasure of seeing his usually cheerful grin disappear into worry and then a form of anger.

"I'm not surprised, though," Nissa said airily. "She didn't want you to see her weak. You don't seem like the type of man that likes weak women."

"And what does that have to do with anything?" Rutte snips.

"Oh please," Nissa says. "With a body like that, what do you think her hobby is?" She covers her mouth with one thin hand, feigning shock quite well. "Oops... I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean it, really." Rutte stood there, looking blank and confused. "I'll just... excuse myself," Nissa said, her tone apologetic as she faded back into the ground, emerging once again in the place she had claimed as her room.

Back in the familiar white shift Koi's face was blank as they inspected her wound and rewrapped it, the nurse holding her hand as they skimmed off a layer of skin to make sure the poison had been completely removed. "Well it looks like you're safe, the poison is completely gone, there is still some side effects, but those should go away soon." The main healer smiled at her and patted her knee before leaving.

Gwy poked his head into the room, having been left all alone in the main hall. "Please try and sleep now," the priest said, smiling gently. "If you're to have enough energy later, you really ought to rest up." Gwy looked back down the outside hallway, as though expecting someone. "I really expect Rutte to be here in a moment to do the same. He needs almost as much rest as I do." The redhead rolled his eyes. "And I'm left alone to make the containment circle."

Koi smiled sweetly, it was genuine but at the still time fairly weak, "Thank you Gwy, I'm sure Rutte has plenty other things to do then check on me... he's healing as well. All I'm good for is bait, nothing more, nothing less. I am just a temptation." She hung her head and sniffed, the tears falling. Laying her head against her pillow the nurse ushered Gwy out, "Let her rest."

Gwy left with an inward expression and made his way to the garden, but Rutte wasn't here. Gwy rolled his eyes and made his way back to the main hall to gather the ingredients for the circle, and then to find Nissa.

Rutte had somehow avoided Gwy without realizing it, wandering about the halls and running a familiar hand over the stone. It was a bad habit of his when he needed to think. Shaking off his stupor, he headed back to the nurse's place on orders to get his bandages changed.

He stepped inside just ten minutes after Gwy had left, being quiet, but still fully aware that Koi was in there. Rutte just stepped lightly, in case she was asleep.

The soft sounds of her sobbing drifted through the healing wing and the nurses ignored her as politely as they could, giving Rutte looks of worry. "She's been crying ever since she got back... for the past twenty minutes." One nurse said, a sad expression on her face.

Rutte's face immediately twisted into worry. "Why did you not call for a priest?" he asked a nurse, who simply shook her head. He then headed over to her bed. Rutte pulled up short, unable to stop himself from remembering his previous annoyance and confusion towards her. However, with true experience, he shoved those thoughts to the very back of his mind and knelt by her side. "Hey," he said, quietly, laying a hand on her shoulder.

Koi flinched from his touch, her body trembling ever so slightly, "What do you want?" Her voice was barely audible and she turned over to look at him, her eyes red as she asked, "What am I to you Rutte? Just a problem? Just an enchantment? Am I really useless?" Koi's hand touched her temple weakly.

"I don't know. What am I to you?" Rutte asked. "To me, you're a young lady in need of help. And sometimes..." He spread his hands in an almost helpless gesture. "Sometimes we need help." He stands up. "You act like I'd hold that against you, and that's just not true. And I... I give help where it's needed. That's what I do." Rutte looks away, disappointment in his face. "That's what you are to me. Someone I want to help. What am I to you? ...what was I to you?"

She was silent for a moment and turned back on her side so he couldn't see her flush of embarrassment, "You have to understand Rutte..." Koi started in a soft voice, "My powers of a dragon are limited to controlling water and storms... and... seduction. When I first saw you I was bent on making you give into temptation, not that I didn't want to get out of that stream... its just that weak men are attracted to that power even if I didn't use it. So... I used it on you and got out. Then this demon issue happened." She paused to sniffle and wipe her face free of tears, "You shocked me, you helped me where I didn't think any human would... I hate violence but I made myself go back when I had a chance because I had to help you in return. If I had flown away... we might not have been in this whole mess." Her hand clenched then relaxed beside her chest as she fought within herself to say what she wanted to say, "...If... I had not gone back to you... I wouldn't have what I have now."

Rutte didn't really say anything for a moment, just thinking of Nissa and what she said in the garden. "And what do you have now?" he asked in a low voice, standing beside her bed.

"I...I don't want to seduce you with my powers Rutte. But, I wish I was human. There is a way for me to become mortal, however, I would still have my dragon form." Koi was avoiding answering his question, "My feelings are getting confused in this whole situation..."

Rutte let another pause hang in the air, trying to absorb everything. "I think I need to think, too," Rutte said with a heavy sigh, turning to leave. "You just get some rest for now; don't think about anything but sleep. When you feel well enough, come find us, and we can get to work on getting rid of the most immediate problem." With a small bow, he left Koi's side and headed over to the other side of the room, where he was led into a small room to change his bandages.

Koi sighed and resigned herself to sleep but it was not for a few hours that it finally claimed her. Her thoughts were too scattered and even though it seemed her mind had shattered, in each reflection held the same source: Rutte.

---

Gwy and Rutte sat on the edge of a pew in the center row, marking the floor with a light cast of powder and a few sprinklings of water. Gwy, although he didn't show it, was almost worried about Rutte. His friend, normally talkative, hadn't spoken much past a few syllables since he had visited the nurse's office.

The outline was almost complete. Nissa sat in a pew nearby, absentmindedly checking out her fingernails and not offering much help to the priests.

It still surprised Koi how just a few hours could help her body heal and this time she strode with strength behind each step, back in her regular travel clothing though, this time, her blouse was buttoned up modestly. Her long hair was held away from her face with a small metal clip and no longer did a healer follow her around. Koi was however having a hard time suppressing her power. She avoided all sight of men until she reached the two priests, a small smile lighting up her face but she quickly hid it with a calm mask, her black eyes not revealing any emotion as she approached them from behind, giving a small nod to Nissa.

Nissa returned the nod, bored. "They're almost done," she said, in the same way announcing Koi's presence.

Rutte looked up, a lot less cloudy than he had been a few hours ago. "The powder sets up a barrier, and the holy water seals it against demons," Rutte said, rushing through his words. "I can't activate it remotely, but if you get him close enough, I can hide behind a pew."

"Oh..." Koi look confused for a second, "But why make the circle here? Won't there be... useless deaths? And this beautiful building could get damaged..." She looked around for a second, making sure she would have enough room to fly out of the circle. It would be tight, considering her wings were rather large, but she would have to make due.

Rutte grinned at that, then. "You wouldn't suspect it, but this building is strong as well as beautiful," Rutte said, motioning to the large hall with its elegant windows and towers. "It's basically the home of several exorcisms, and has withstood major scale warfare for quite a long time now." He looked at Gwy, who returned the grin. "It's where we learned how to do this."

Nissa nodded, trailing a finger down the wood of the back of the pew she sat on. "It is old, and it is strong," she said. "The rock, the earth sings to me. This is the best place for this."

"Nissa will make sure nobody gets in to disturb us while we deal with Jur'r," Rutte adds.

"-And... how will we get Jur'r to make an appearance? I'm slightly large dragon, I can't just be walking, or flying around for that matter..." Koi said softly in case anyone was near.

"Also taken care of," Rutte said. "You know the nurse that attended you? The... really talkative one?"

"Biggest gossip this side of the city," Gwy informed Koi. "Not an hour after she finished treating you, almost everybody had heard of the mysterious, beautiful newcomer in the church."

"All you have to do is stand right here," Rutte said, pointing to the middle of the circle. "When he comes for you, just move so he'll follow you over the circle. Fly backwards--and don't worry about disturbing the powder."

She blushed at the description but then look alarmed at Rutte's comment, "I'm not worried about that! I'm more worried about having to fly in here... My wing span is greater then the space I have available..." Koi looked around again to be sure about the measurements before nodding, "I'm going to have to be careful, which means I'll react slower..."

"It's all about timing, anyway," Rutte said. "Just flutter back about five feet and we should be fine."

"It is a pretty tight maneuver, though," Gwy said, frowning just a bit. "She'll have to be pretty precise so Jur'r doesn't see it coming."

"Don't worry," Rutte said. "I think she can... No. I know she can do it." He smiled at her, boyishly happy at the upcoming event, as though their little talk in the nurse's office hadn't happened.

Koi smiled back halfhearted, not quite so confident in herself as he was in her, "I'll do my best. Um, what happens if I don't make it?" She asked, somewhat hesitant.

"Get out of there," Rutte said. "The circle only physically holds in demons."

"But if you cross it after it's closed, the circle will be broken," Gwy warned. "We'll have to do the exorcism the hard way. Not that this is necessarily that easy, but it's worse without the circle."

"I don't think that'll happen, though," Rutte said. "I'll be closing the circle, so you probably won't be in it."

Gwy sprinkled the last drop of water and clapped his hands. "It should be all ready," he said. "All we have to do is wait."

"Should I change forms?" Koi asked, looking to Rutte.

Gwy's eyes widen, and Rutte nods. "Yeah," he said. "Go for it." He stepped back, allowing her enough room in the aisle.

Koi smiled and backed away from them, her body glowing before it was totally encompassed and grew into the fifteen foot tall dragon she was, her black, red and orange scales losing the glow and she stood much like a cat with its hair on end, all of her limbs close together and her back arched. Her tail with it's fin completely upright was kept above all things breakable as well as her fin-like wings. The white scales of her head were a startling contrast to her familiar black eyes and she brought her head on her long sinewy neck in their direction, her beak opening, So now all that we do is wait?

"Yes," Rutte said, trying to ignore his friend, Gwy, as the priest gaped. He took out his charm. "This glows upon his approach, so if you just stay there, I'll know when we should get ready."

"He'll be trying to be sneaky," Nissa purred. "I'll make it easy for him." She sank into the stone once more, disappearing. Rutte looked up and shrugged. He then settled into a pew near the circle, flipping a book open to a specific page and marking it with a piece of ribbon. Gwy knelt down, working with a few tools a ways off. Rutte closed the book with a snap and silence fell upon the group.

Sitting on her haunches much like a human would with her elbow's on her knees, Koi waited patiently, her numerous fins swaying as if underwater and her mind dwelled on Nissa. Just how would she make it easier for him? And would she damage anything when she went to fly with her forty foot wing span?

The silence continued for about ten minutes, and Nissa's torso appeared in a wall nearby. "He comes," she says pleasantly. "Get ready." Then she vanished back into the stone.

Rutte looked up at Koi. "Look... innocent," Rutte said. "This would scream trap, but demons don't think the same as us... So just time it and you'll be fine." He then lowered himself to the floor between pews, concealed, taking out a small knife. Gwy follows suit in another nearby pew.

Alright... Koi answered, a little nervous but she did as he told her as best as he could, lowering all of her fins and also lowering her long neck so that she looked a lot smaller, her eyes wide and almost tearful. Koi let out a small croon and licked the wound of her leg slowly, keeping an eye out for Jur'r.

Rutte suddenly felt the charm that was hidden under his shirt grow warm--Nissa was right, Jur'r was close. He pricked his thumb with the knife, allowing blood to well up, then held his breath.

Suddenly, the church doors slammed open, and in walked Jur'r.

When Rutte had mentioned that he had hit Jur'r, he hadn't been saying that lightly. The demon looked very little like the old man he had been passing as. His pale skin was torn off in places, revealing pitch blackness underneath. At some places, it looks like there were wounds, and more blackness oozed from them, however slowly. His clothes were in tatters, revealing dark symbols etched into the flesh that hadn't been torn off.

Jur'r had a half-crazed look in his eye as he spots Koi in the middle of the room. "Good evening, dearest," he hisses, mouth curling up in a wicked smile, revealing sharp teeth. "Enjoy it, will you?"

With super-human speed, he begins running towards her.

Koi tossed her head, the white of her eyes showing much like a horse panicking and her windmill of a tail flared. She stomped her feet in alarm, shaking her fins in anger and reluctance she waited till he was close enough before extending her wings like a colorful fan. Koi hissed heavily, Demon! When Jur'r was almost directly in front of her Koi moved like lightning, moving her wings only once as she threw herself vertically into the air, hovering above the circle.

Jur'r crouched beneath her, readying himself to leap into the air above her. His glance strayed downwards, catching movement. Rutte held his hand out towards the circle, the drop of blood hanging heavily on his thumb. Jur'r's eyes widened, and the demon spun his body around to run away.

The drop fell though the air.

Jur'r slammed up against a wall that nobody else could see just a slit second before. He turned back to Rutte, slamming against the barrier right next to the priest, as he stood shakily and began to read from his Book.

Gwy motioned for Koi to leave that area. "He can still be dangerous," he said so Koi could hear him. "Change back and come here."

Gliding foreward Koi changed into human almost right above the ground, stumbling into a pew before geting control of her feet. "Why would he still be dangerous...?" She took a few steps behind Gwy and looked fearfully back at Jur'r.

"And in the beginning, there was darkness. But then light came, and chased away the darkness," Rutte was intoning, holding his charm in front of him, making a symbol as he waved it. "And this was true for--"

Jur'r spit out a curse, straining at the bonds to get to Rutte. Rutte gritted his teeth, as the curse hit the barrier, a small "Nnngh" escaping his lips, and then, straining, resumed reading. Jur'r screamed and continued to fight.

"The curses he hurls can still get through the barrier to some extent, even though they're weakened," Gwy said, reaching for his own book. "And... exorcisms are never really pretty. You'd better get out of here." He hurries forward to support Rutte, muttering low phrases in another language that he read from a new book that sounded like prayer.

Koi didn't know what to do... she wanted to leave, but again she wanted to help in case they needed it as well. Reluctantly she retreated farther away from the circle, though, refusing to leave the room and her eyes roved over the building's interior, looking for Nissa.

Jur'r placed hands on the barrier of the circle, which was getting thinner. Pushing, Jur'r leaned closer to Rutte. "Priest, priest, your heart is open to me," he hissed, his words carrying a weight, not dissimilar to Koi's when she wanted to seduce. "You want the power to change the world, but you also want to give in to other temptations... You think the two are separate? You can influence the world for good or bad while not having to conform to those rules..."

Rutte's voice almost wavered for a bit, and Jur'r growled in pleasure as his resistance lessened. But a moment later, Rutte's voice gained strength, and he began reciting in a foreign language, like Gwy. "Commodo O Dios, fio lux lucis ut profugus is obscurum. Quod is eram perfectus, pro obscurum eram pallens, quod lux lucis victum totus. Pro infinitio amen."

The water dragon paused on the threshold of the huge room, listening to this different language for a moment before scanning the room again for Nissa.

"Looking for me, hun?" a voice said. Nissa stood to Koi's side, appearing out of nowhere, watching the fight with great interest. "You know," she adds, not giving Koi a chance to respond, "it is very interesting Rutte and you met when you did. ...very."

A whiplash from a curse Jur'r hurled caught Rutte across the cheek, drawing blood from a sudden, thin cut. Rutte retaliated, holding out his charm as it glowed silver light, ripping away more of Jur'r's false skin, showing dark fangs as Jur'r began transforming into more of his demon self.

"W-what? What are you talking about?" Koi asked, a little fearful as she saw Jur'r draw blood. The hate she was feeling from the demon was making her tremble and she feared for both priests, though, that was obvious from the expression on her beautiful face.

"Mmm," Nissa said, talking as if she was ignoring Koi's fear. "Rutte, an experienced exorcist, just happens to show up the same day you're attacked by a powerful demon. Please don't tell me you just accepted that in stride."

"Rutte, the wall is weakening," Gwy mutters fearfully between prayers.

"We know the circle can't hold forever," Rutte says. "But... we don't need too long."

"But... we didn't get attacked till later that day..." Koi said softly, her eyes seeing only the past, "It could have been anyone to approach the pond where I was at..."

"I sense something about Rutte," Nissa murmurs in Koi's ear. "Nothing sinister... I'm not suggesting he set this up. But... I really doubt coincidences like this shake him anymore."

Rutte continues talking, switching back to something laypersons can understand, and with each passage more of Jur'r's power is stripped. Soon, the full demon stands in front of them, elongated limbs, thin snout with full fangs... something black and twisted, straight from hell. However, at the same time, Rutte can feel the shield weakening. He grits his teeth and continues.

Koi almost takes a step forward but stops herself, pondering Nissa's words, "Well he is a priest... this is what he deals with." Koi responded to the other dragon, putting her faith in Rutte, "He will pull through," She whispered to herself, keeping her gaze on the circle, and of course, Rutte.

"If he does," Nissa says, interlacing her fingers and gazing at Rutte, "then I will have to reconsider him."

Jur'r stumbled back, and for just a split second, Koi stood in the middle of the circle. She looked around, confused, then opened her mouth to scream.

Rutte jerked back as if he had been burnt.

In that second of confusion, Jur'r lunged forward, disguise forgotten, breaking through the thin barrier, jaws gaping open towards Rutte. Rutte, in one motion, fell into a crouch, thrusting forward the hand in which he held his charm.

Jur'r's fangs closed on Rutte's forearm, Rutte's hand deep in his throat. And suddenly, the light that had been coming from the charm began shining through his throat.

The water dragon held her breath through all of this, her teeth gritted as she watched it and was to say the least, thoroughly pissed off that Jur'r would go that far but, she understood. In dire situations (and in this one in particular) a demon would do anything. However, Jur'r had used her, and Rutte had responded. That's because he doesn't want anyone to get hurt, Koi thought, somehow reassuring herself as she gasped, a small intake of breath when the two locked together, "Gwy, help him!"

Gwy gritted his teeth, jumping over pews until he was close enough. He took out a vial of the same clear liquid Koi had been given by Rutte and splashed it in the shape of an 'X' onto both Rutte and Jur'r.

Jur'r pulls back from the contact as the water begins burning through his black skin. He still doesn't let go of Rutte, so the priest is pulled forward by his arm as Jur'r retreats. Rutte's other hand comes up and slaps onto Jur'r's snout, enabling him to come much closer to the demon as it became a bit disoriented. Rutte's mouth moved, saying something only the demon could hear.

Jur'r's head snapped back, jaws flying open as he pushed Rutte away. Rutte's arm came out of the demon's mouth, hand empty, the charm still inside of the demon. Light from the charm grew inside of Jur'r and as Rutte fell backwards, the demon came apart as the group watched.

Koi blinked, tears coming to her eyes from the light and inside she was happy, Jur'r is gone... then she frowned as she saw that Rutte was injured and rushed over to help as fast as her limp would let her.

The earth under Jur'r shot up, swallowing all evidence of the demon, then smoothed out into the stones once more.

Then, and only then, did Rutte relax. He leaned against a pew for support, attempting to stand, heavily weakened from all that had happened lately.

Gwy got to the priest before Koi did. "Oh, Rutte," Gwy said, helping Rutte up and simultaneously looking at the fang marks on his arm. "You know how long these demon wounds take to heal."

"That was totally cool, though," Rutte said, his robust smile contrasting the whiteness of his skin. "So awesome. Worth it."

"MMmm-hmmm," Nissa murmured, turning to go. "I'll leave you to your chest-pounding, gorilla's. Make sure to not lose too much blood."

"Ha ha," Rutte said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. Except they didn't get unrolled.

"Crap, he's unconscious," Gwy growled. "MADAM!"

A nurse hurried out, followed by several stronger-looking young men, apparently having been waiting for this. She directed the men to take Rutte from Gwy's arms, and then continued to direct them towards the healing room, something he and Koi were oddly already very familiar with.

Gwy rolled his shoulder, looking at the mess made in the middle of the church. A few timid-looking women rushed out to begin cleaning, and Gwy settled into a pew. "Koi," he called out, getting her attention.

"Ye... yes?" She answered, slightly uncertain upon approaching him but finally did, edging into the pew next to him.

Gwy only glanced at her before leaning back more, totally exhausted. "You need to get some sleep," he said. "And since I'm already going to ask Rutte this, and you travel with him, would you mind staying here to recuperate further? It would help terribly with worry issues."

Koi looked at him, her face somewhat concerned but she nodded and sighed, "Just, do you have a pond I could stay in? I need to be in the water, my scales were really dried out..."

"Ah, we do," Gwy said, standing. "Let me lead you there."

He led Koi to the garden where Rutte had been. In its center was a modest pond, being fed by a natural stream running into it. "Is this alright?" Gwy asked nervously. "If it isn't, I could escort you to the outskirts of the city. I'm sure there are larger ponds, even rivers, in the forest."

She smiled at him and winked, "No, this is perfect. I will be out of the way and hidden... and I won't cause any trouble. If you could get a nun to feed me everyday that would be most pleasant." With a small wave the woman shrunk instantly, becoming a flopping orange red and black carp and found its way to the water where she disappeared into the depths.

Gwy dipped his head to the water. "Yes, Miss Koi," he said, turning and leaving, fading into the darkness of the night.

A chance encounter part 2