Noticing Wolfie's fascination with the fight about to start Camille leaned forward and whispered to him. "Why don't you stay here and watch, we could always pick up with you again later and then find you all a sleeping place if you'd like?"
Briefly glancing up from where the fight was taking place Wolfie said "Oh, OK." And then he was gone again. His attention once more claimed by the noise and spectacle of the fight. Lost in the flicker of the fire flashing on the blades moving to music only he could hear.
Looking at Tommy she said "Are you remaining too?"
"No." Tommy said. Although he dearly would have loved to stay and watch the fight to it's conclusion his place was with Katie and so he smiled slightly, tightened his shoulders and prepared to move away with the rest of the group.
"Katie will be safe with me." Camille said in a low, confidential tone.
Looking her deep in the eyes Tommy saw compassion and concern there, but did not allow them to penetrate enough to need acknowledgement. "I don't know what you're talking about." He said.
Camille's face never changed but her eyes smiled with understanding. "As you wish." Was all she said, before dismissing him to address the entire group once more. "If you would like to follow me, I will show you the kitchen and dining tents and the wash facilities."
She moved away from the main feast with it's huge crowds and battle noise, and led them to an area set with smaller cooking fires and strewn with low tables and brightly coloured cushions. The area was almost completely encircled by cooking tents and the smell from the area made their mouths water.
"Something sure smells good." Katie said.. Taking a deep breath she inhaled the aroma of meat stew and fresh made bread, and her stomach growled in response.
Tommy felt his do a complete flip and then return to normal. "I'm going for Wolfie. Even for a fight he's not going to want to miss this. Save me a seat OK?" And he loped off into the melee in search of his frend.

As he moved through the crowds Tommy became aware of a strange sense of being watched.
He could feel the eyes, keeping pace with his easy strides. He could hear the sound of a voice in his mind, calling him. Not by name or any other kind of noise he could identify. But just as he knew the voice was that of a woman, he knew it was him she called.
He slowed his pace a little and scanned the minds of the people around him, and in response came a quiet serene feeling of complete contentment, gently probing his mind and settling softly into his sub-concious.
She was beautiful, she had to be. With a voice like a siren and a pure essence that linked into his with the ease of an old friend. He had to find her.
He turned in the direction of the siren's song and, all thoughts of Wolfie and his empty stomach fled.
He moved purposefully through the gathering. On the hunt.
His awareness heightened and his senses alive like he'd never known.
He tasted her scent on the gentle breeze, and joy singing in his blood, he knew he would not rest until he had tracked down this mystery woman. He vowed she would be his captive, or he would be hers, before the night was over.

Katie was following Darkness through the stew line when she felt a tingle at the back of her mind. She frowned and looked out into the darkness beyond the camp. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Camille face the same way as her.
"You feel that?" Katie whispered.
Camille nodded. "Yes, and it is not the first time."
"It's familiar to me as well. What is it?"
"A certain type of succubus called a siren. And she's hunting."
"But who is she hunting?" Katie's eyes widened as she looked around. "Tommy and Wolfie should have been here by now. Fights don't keep them from eating unless they're the ones fighting." She lifted her head and scented the air as she tried to search out her friends energies. She felt the one flickering further and further from the camp. She whispered "No" before she fled after Tommy.

So, bonded one, dragon friend ,Why are you here now in this close presence to the Dragon Council of old ones, looking for this one, your illusive silver changling quarry.
All around, Dragons materialised as if out of no where. Experience told him they had been there all along, just hidden from his view.
Hawke enjoyed hearing the dragons drawn out precise speech again, he had missed it in his time away.The collective thought form of the Dragons was near overwhelming as they connected with Hawke who,instinctively, relaxed as they listened to his deep spirit, examining first his integrity and then his intentions. Despite having their trust they always did that, Hawke had often wondered what would happen if he actually was upto no good.
The Dragons let go,
and the presence of the Shapeshifter "Sarlexian" became apparent.
" by how long searching this important"
Hawkes translation was lacking it's usual definition and he adjusted his hearing to compensate.
Suddenly the richness of the shapeshiters language filled his mind and senses, with countless images of slight encounters and of the many times he had been tantalisingly close to finding his quarry.
The shapeshifter had engineered the chase keeping him just close enough to make it worth looking while just out of reach so as not to give Hawke too much information and have him finish the search.Until now.
To his surprise Hawke felt another presence behind Sarlexians. A Were, He probed a little more, yes a WereCat.
The girl from the Air field who intrigued Ky So........Darkness.
The dragons departing obviusly finished with their business, leaving Hawke and Sarlexian to talk.
Hawke communicated his desire to have Sarlexian accompany him to meet Ky.
"Why"
There are problems there that I feel need the attention of your special talents.
"I will afford you my trust as the dragons have warranted you worthy of it but do not take any advantage over it as it is held lightly in place."
"I appreciate your candour" Hawke stopped.
Sarlexian was shifting and reaching toward Hawke.
Without thinking he took the offered hand.
The world lurched and fell from under him, a mass silver liquid enveloping him all things stopped.

For a split second Hawke heard and felt nothing but had just enough time to wonder if none existence felt like this.

Then a word exploded across his mind.

SIREN!!!! and the world returned
His feet landed hard and he staggered. And was on his own.
Sarlexian moved like quicksilver.
Hawke heard several sets of feet coming towards and past him but was still too groggy from the shift to be any good to himself let alone anyone else.

"Hmmm here's that Werecat again"

with every one important gone the stranger shifted his way round the camp site in search of the one who had asked such a personal question.

He spied him on his feet, searching for another in the trees following a strong scent that led him deeper into the trees than ever.
perfect place to meet. he thought wisely.
"oh no you dont" a voice said loudly behind him, he turned to see a fist flying towards him, he ducked just in time. but a well placed shove sent him sprawling on the grass

" I can tell what you want to do "
natural wolf recognised that voice. it was haunter!
" and its a bad idea, trust me, he's faster than you, he's stronger than you, and he'll tell your coming a mile away."


Meanwhile, Wolfie had been following tommy's scent, he had noticed that further back Katie, Lady C and Darkness had followed on behind.

Then he caught it, the scent that had driven Tommy to look for the owner.
the sweet, strong but flattering smell, he felt he needed to follow it. But he knew better, Lady C, Darkness and Katie had followed carefully. because they were female, they were not "under the trance"
he carefully picked his way through the undergrowth following the scents.
but something interrupted them. a very arrogent putrid smell.
Tommy's alright, Wolfie thought. he has The others.
He turned and ran towards the camp, and the smell.

Running through the trees following the others, Darkness felt a 'something' sneak into the edges of her conciousness.
It felt familiar, and yet...
Slowing her pace would mean she lost Camille and Katie, but she could not ignore the call she felt.
"Guys...You know I wouldn't do this if it wasn't important, but I have to split. I know you don't need me for this, and there's someone out there who does. So I'll catch up with you soon." With those few words of parting she was gone!
Camille nodded. " What is that about?"
Katie smiled.
"With Darkness, who can tell?" Katie's laugh was sincere and her fondness for her friend absolutely genuine, but the girl remained as big a mystery to her now as she had been when they had first met all those years ago. She sighed......Then pulled herself back to their task. "Come on, he's this way." And she moved off silently with Camille right behind her.

Darkness turned away from the direction the other two were travelling in and swung low through some trees, there was a strange metallic tinge in the air and a faint smell of burning. Keeping an even loping pace she soon came to a clearing in the trees which felt dark and forbidding. There was a real sense of the ancient about the place and a sacredness that made Darkness feel like she was trespassing.
A shape was huddled on the ground and as she walked over to it it groaned...
As it turned over she saw a face she recognised, white and shaken, and looking extremely tired and hungry, but definitely familiar.
"You!"
"Hello Darkness, my old friend..." Hawke quoted the song as the lyrics floated in his head.
"Hardly old friends...but still a distress call should be answered." Darkness smiled to herself that even in his present state he too had recognised her.
"What on earth happened to you? You look like you were run over by a truck! No a fleet of trucks, monster ones!"

"Ill bet he feels that way too" Camille smirked
"ha ha" Hawke muttered "Honestly though... I'm not sure. I'll tell you as soon as i figure it out."

From behind Camille, Darkness said "You know trying to sneak up on people can be bad for your health. Especially if you fail!"

Camille spun softly and said "If you had tried anything I guess we would both know who could sneak up on whom wouldn't we little cat?"

"Why are you here?" Darkness was clearly tired of playing who's the best, and allowed her tone to let Camille know that. "I thought you were with Katie."

"I am", Camille was already disappearing into the trees, "but nothing happens here that I don't know about. I guess I'm just too nosey for my own good!" With a purring throaty laugh she vanished.
Katie, who was moving very slowly and carefully so she didn't miss any signs of the man she was tracking, hadn't even noticed Camillle was gone. And before either of the people in the glade moved again, Camille was once more in place behind her.

"What was that about?" asked Hawke holding his head and frowning, then wincing as the frown made his head hurt even more.

Darkness yawned, "Trust me..You don't really want to know. Now let me have a closer look at you. You really don't look good at all."
"Thanks" Hawke settled back to let the cat discover for herself that apart from his headache and jelly legs the worst wound he had suffered had been to his pride. What an idiot he'd been. But that kind of mistake he only made once. He'd be ready next time, he promised himself.
Then, this decided, he allowed his mind to wander to the soft and incredibly gentle examination of his injuries he was being subjected to.
If he wasn't a gentleman he'd be enjoying this immensely..........

Not too far away Katie and Camille were closer to their target. Tommy's scent was heavy and the sirens call echoed loudly in their minds. Katie's energy swirled about her, rising and falling to the barely contained panic in her heart.
"Calm yourself." Camille whispered. "Your energy will give us away." Katie opened her mouth to say something when the voice in her head clicked off and Tommy's scent disappeared. She staggered in the sudden silence.
"What happened?" She cried as she pushed down her fears.
"She's put up a barrier. She has him."
"What do we do? What will happen to him?"
Camille looked down at her with pity. "Unless we can find them, he will most likely die." Katie knew it, knew that's what would happen, but hearing someone say it out loud made something inside her click. Her fear flickered until it burned inside her. She stood straighter and turned to Camille.
"I won't let him die. Not him." Her anger fueled her and she followed it through the woods missing the small smile Camille wore.

It had been a long time since Camille had just had fun, and these young people were certainly providing her with plenty of amusement.
It was not a mean amusement, simply the enjoyment of being around people who never doubted their ability to bring every situation to a conclusion that was most satisfactory to them. It never occured to them that things would not work out the way they wanted.
Katie had decided that Tommy would not die, and because that was the way she wanted it, she never doubted that she could make it turn out that way, and come out right in the end.
Their energy, their drive, their belief in themselves and their abilities was a delicious change for her, and Camille mentally placed a reminder to herself to spend less time working and worrying about the day to day, or rather night to night problems of existing and live a little more!
Reaching out with her mind she carefully felt her way around the barrier, checking for a weak spot.
Yes there is was, the slight chink where the beginning met the end and did not quite blend in completely. Now a slight amount of pressure in exactly the right spot........and........
The feelings that rushed out towards them as the barrier shattered into sharp splinters and then disappeared were strong and fierce. Anger and hatred battled with passion and an intense hunger.
They were going to have to hurry....

Sarlexian felt the change of energy impressed at the ease with which Camille shattered the Sirens protection.
He also knew he had to work quickly, the Siren was still trying to hide, working feverishly to finish her task and Kill the boy before the two ladies arrived.
He stepped into the Sirens energy field placing himself between the Voracious essence and the boy who was now way out of his depth.

Sarlexian connected with the boy,bolstering his energy and reinforcing his grip on life, Tommy had been fading fast under the onslaught of the Sirens will, he was a physical sort with little knowledge of the spirit realms but Sarlexian could see the hot light in his Spirit burning even after this assault on his life.
Pushing his essence through Tommy's, filtering through his spirit Sarlexian was now able to connect directly with the Siren grabbing hold of her and tearing her spirit away from the task inhand.
The Siren, as expected, fought back shifting her focus to find her assailant, Sarlexian was waiting for this and surged forward into her spirit destroying any hope of a grip she had on Tommy and releasing him from her spell.
She still physically held tommy but was now so disconnected from her body that it would take some time to get back and feed from him.
The Siren tried to get a grip on Sarlexian but was because of his smokey form completely unsuccessful

Strong emotions came raging through the forest followed closely by the girl, explosive and forceful like a waterfall in spate.
Katie came hurtling through the trees.
With the first strike Sar withdrew his hold. the fight would be hard but that was not his path to take.

Now concentrating on the need to get Hawke and Darkness to Wolfie he slid away into the night.

Camille watched him leave wondering where he had come from ......and where he was now going.

Wow its been awhile

Tommy realizing that he siren had her hands on him kick him away and said laughing "sorry i dont think you my type" and he ran off into the woods to find the others

Darkness Wolfie and the others were still looking for tommy wolfie had his scent but it should changed course and he was confused but followed anyways as they took the new direction.....

They continued to run not realizing Wolfie had got mixed up by the messed up scents. "Tommy should be close" wolfie said determined to reach him. Wolfie stopped as they came to a clearing. "Whats the matter?" a new voice came. "Cat got ya'lls tounges?" "Come out and show us who you are!" Darkness demand, not happy about the destraction. "Fine! You don't have to be so mean!" everyone watched as a silver cat, no bigger than a house cat, stepped out of the shadows. "my name is none of ya'lls buisness but I know who ya'll are trying to get. Follow me!"

As they ran after the silver cat it seemed to blend it's way round trees and rocks. Seemingly moving through them with lightning speed as it made it's way over the mossy forest floor.
Darkness came alongside Wolfie for a moment and said, "Do you trust her?"
Wolfie grinned and replied. "It would seem that we both do, and even if we don't, I've nothing better to do right now. Let's see where this little side trip goes shall we?"
Putting on a burst of speed the cat disappeared into the trees and Darkness and Wolfie were forced to travel single file again to catch up, making further conversation impossible.
Darkness was left to hope that whatever this Kitty had in mind would help them locate Tommy soon. It was becoming dark, and they still had no idea where they were going.

They ran until the sun had completely gone down. Soon, the Silver kitty came into veiw. Wolfie slowed and Darkness ran beside wolfie. Before Darkness and Wolfie could say anything th silver kit jumped onto something while screaming something that was drowned out by the hissing that came out every breath.