Rumors, Rumors, Following the Trail of Words

[Aru]

Rumors were all they had about anything. All they had to chase Kenru's whereabouts were snippets from word of mouth. But Aru, unlike others who could have done this, was good at persuading people. And she was good at following rumors. This would make it all the easier to find her raveness acquaintance who was currently vying for the highest position in the Thieves' Guild.

The concept was simple enough, that was easy for someone like Aru to tell. After all, that was her life's work. Getting into a higher position, making it big in the world. The current King, Dre, had, as everyone knew, chased after some hawkgirl, rumored to be a Kurash, into the heart of Tefenus itself both with a ragtag crew, most of whom had just gotten their sealegs. This left the soft fox Javier taking care of things back on the home front for his friend while the escapades to the frightening south went on. All Kenru had to do was kill Javier, then work on establishing her power, showing she was dominant. It was then she would be queen. After all, there was no doubt that the group sailing into the black waters was not going to return. No one before them ever had. Why should they now?

That was where Aru came in. Ken was going to need allies, wasn't she? And if someone else, especially someone with the aid of magic, tried to take the position she was after, the raveness was, too put it simply, screwed. And so, she was going to call in a little favor. The problem at hand was finding Ken and convincing her of the help she needed.

And so, here she was, talking to this dodgy fellow. Someone by the name of.... whatever. Aru forgot the name, it wasn't important. What was important was that he said he knew where the person they were looking for was keeping her home. Usually she stayed in a place for a few weeks before leaving. Apparently this time luck had it that she'd just move in.

"I'll tell you were the raveness keeps her nest at the time, for a price." He looked Aru up and down, as if she looked like a good payment.

She disgustedly gave that "don't even think about it, you're likely to end up with this sword in your back" combination growl and glare. Why oh why couldn't Kenru be important to more respectable people, at least? To make life harder, that's why. [/color]

[Damien]

Damien had had enough of this trip. He had been simultaneously scratched, beaten, and chafed, by a cat, bandit, and the rocking of a cart respectively. He had been hit over the head on the streets and when he came to Aru was snickering that he should watch out. He was in a bad mood. And he was mean when he was angry. "Payment? You payment shall be life. Give us the information or I swear in the name of The Black Breath himself I will impale you to the wall with my sword! Where is the raveness! Tell me NOW!" He violently grabbed the rat, and slammed him into a wall. Nobody in the city gave a second glance. This sort of thing happened all the time. A few gaurds laughed. The city was getting to Damien, in a bad way.

[Aru]

Aru raised an eyebrow at this display. She had to admit... she admired the change in Damien's attitude. Stunning, very. The corner of her crimson lips curled up into a smile.

The man seemed to cough and splutter the words. "I'll tell you, I'll tell you! She lies in a cave just a bit north of here. You can't miss it. Fire every night, there is. And the feathers! Now let me be!" He'd comepletely given up on Aru. His life was much more precious.

Aru's smirk completed itself. She almost wanted to give approval. But no. That wasn't her style. "The problem is, can we trust his word?" she asked, glancing at the man.

"Yes, yes, anything! Just let me go!"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Zorealans value their lives above anything. I doubt he'd have any reason to make us want him dead, unless Ken's already gotten to him."

"No, no! She wants the fame... Let me go!"

Aru sighed and shook her head. "Yes, yes. That sounds like Kenru alright. She always did want to be known for her work." His word was genuine. [/color]

[Damien]

"These people disgust me. All of them are lowlifes and simpletons. They can't even do evil correctly for pity's sake! Just a ragtag bunch of lowlife thugs!" Damien scowled disgustedly at the craven man on the street. "They have no creativity, no drive, no panache! They sicken me!" He grabbed the hand of a pickpocket before it even reached his purse and pushed one of the fingers back hard enough to nearly snap it. "They can't even pickpocket properly! Hmph, If this raveness is anything like this rabble I think you may have the wrong bird for the job."

[Aru]

Aru comtinued to smirk. Oh, this day was just getting better and better. "Why do you think she hides in a cave?"

Shooting a glare at someone else staring at her -she didn't have time for that at the moment- and fingering her sword threateningly until he turned away in fright, she added, "No, Ken's quite the heartless killer. Theif and assasin. Of course, if you know anything about the family of birds ravens are a part of, you'll know crows have a slight obsession with shiny things. The reason she does what she does."

Perhaps I should drag Damien into Zoreale more often... she laughed to herself. On the inside, that is. After all, can't have an icy glare shooting female who all the sudden bursts into a fit of laughter.[/color]

[Damien]

Damien had never planned on going to Zoreale. He wrinkled his face at disgust when a filthy grimy begger grabbed his boot. If it had happened anywhere else he would have given the man some coin. But as it was with his mood he violently kicked the man away. "I hate this city! I swear! You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villiany in A'dense! There must be a more reputable place for this beastwoman to live! If she's such a great thief and assassin, Why doesn't she go to Dymaculas where the real money is?"

[Aru]

"She has a profound hatred for law. And besides that, who wants to live among people she may want to take something from? It's any easy death that way, and here she fits in. Everyone kills everyone else. The streets run red with blood. I'd say it's Ken's sort of place." She shrugged. After all, hadn't she been the one to help the raveness escape her first home? It was for a price, of course.

She sat in the alleyway in front of a dark winged girl. They could almost have been sisters, save their seperate races. Perhaps they were from the same moulds. "So, I shall distract them while you make a run for it, aye? But when will you pay me back?" she asked the girl a bit older than herself, and spun a ball of light on her finger. A minor trick, but it seemed to scare the beast-girl out of her wits.

"Sorceress, I'll do whatever. Just get me out of here." The mob was drawing closer to them now. They wanted blood. Blood for blood. Kenru had slaughtered her own parents, her mother pregnant with a boy child, and her older and younger sisters. All for not wanting her to become a thief. And she had enjoyed it.

"I'll find something. One day. Look out for me. The name is Aru. I have a feeling we're going to go places together." Even at a young age she dreamed of something more than what she had. She was even then a manipulator. She was even then intelligent.

Yes, now Ken was going to pay back the debts she owed. It was time.[/color]

[Kira]

Kira hummed as she walked through the town, she was the picture of carefree happiness. Day Moon walked behind her trying to ignore the stares he got, which were almost as many as his peppy friend. These people had grown used to odd sites and monsters, not happy young girls. Also Kira was walking with her eyes closed which brought more stares. As she moved blindly through the streets, nearly dieing twice from potholes or carts speeding by, she hummed a happy song and occasionally just burst out laughing so hard she was brought to her knees. Which was what she did right then. "BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Daisy, Daisy- HEHEHEHE!!!-you remember when-HAHAHAHAHAAA!!!" She was like this for a few minutes, apperantly trying to say what she found funny but couldn't through the laughs.
~Kira, whatever it is can't it wait? This is the town for you to be crazy in.~ Day Moon said having more of a head than his lady. He noticed people staring at her and growled. Sending out a public mind wave, most he sent could only be heard by Kira or whoever he happened to be talking to, he stood near Kira protectivly. ~What are you lot staring at?~

[Damien]

"Law is the only thing that makes it possible for anybody to make a decently living. Otherwise look what happens!" He gestured angrily at the city around him. At the filth, decay, and corruption. "This disgusting sludge breakes out! Bah! And tell me, If this raven fears magic users, how is she going to run a guild that's about 20 percent shadowdancer sorcerers? You tell me that!" Damien fumed irritably at everything around him, besides Aru of course. Though he was mad at her he still was totally loyal to her.

[Aru]

"That's where we come in. More importantly, me. Convincing her that I'm doing her a favor when she has me on her side will be more simple than it sounds." She was really quite proud of her plan. It was the first one that sounded like it would actually work. Kenru would easily believe Aru could save her from any magical threats. [/color]

[Damien]

Somehow, through her smirk and smug expression, Damien read her perfectly. "No, that's ridicuouls, you can't possibly.... You have her believing you can protect her from these people? She thinks WE can defend her from these people? Aru! You may be a talented sorceress but neither of us are anywhere close to the level of some of those thieves! This is craziness!" Damien looked exhasperated and was in a state of desperation. Was she worth this aggrivation and pain? He looked at her carefully and immediately made the decision. She was.

[Aru]

"But that's the thing. It's not too hard to make them think I can. There's a spell I've learned. Makes it look like I have a lot more magical expertise than I truly do. It's my best, and it can fool just about everyone but the most powerful. Besides. All we have to do is earn their trust." And any half-rate manipulator could do that, she added to herself. "Really, she's not as smart as she sometimes seems. In fact... quite the opposite. She simply has a the air of a frightening person, and that's what's going to get her up there in the food chain down in the islands. Staying along for the ride, that's all there is to it. Besides, she has the support of the Assassins' guild, and not only are they close to the thieves, they'll lend a hand to quiet anyone foolish enough to open their mouths. She'll have them paid well if she really needs it. Really, it's all set. This is the last link in the chain, so to speak."[/color]

[Kira]

Kira stopped laughing and turned to Aru and Damien. "Did I hear you mention thieves?" She said with a cheerful smile. "Do you know where their guild are cause I'm here trying to find the Theives Guild." She glanced over the pair and thought about what else she had heard through her moment of hilarity. Hmmm, I wonder who this Kenru is? She thought. Sounds like a nice person if she has something to do with the theives guild trying to take her down.

[Damien]

"There is no thieves guild here. You need to take a boat to the islands. Now, go away." Damien frowned at the clearly insane young lady and turned back to Aru. "I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have a bad feeling about this whole business." Damien sighed. This was not going to end well. It wasn't so much the fact that he didn't like thieves assassins and other sorts of nasty people. It was the fact that Aru could be harmed by said people. Damien didn't want her to die. He loved her. "Aru, you and I can make a fine living on our own without the help of these people, are you sure you want to do this?"

[Aru]

"Of course I'm sure. If I wasn't sure I wouldn't be trying it." She didn't want to make a living. That was much too easy. She wanted to have wealth and power. That, in her mind, was what she deserved. And nothing was going to get in her way.

"And anyone who doesn't even know where the Thieves Guild is probably isn't even intelligent enough to join up in the first place," Aru hissed. Thought the comment was directed at Damien, it was meant for the ears of the girl who had so rudely interrupted their conversation. And giggly girls who interrupted conversations were not high on her list of people to be nice to.[/color]