Done, But Still Untitled

[Jjairr]

(So, I\'m posting all the chapters at once.. Just throw something at me if that isn\'t allowed. But not something to painful, or nasty. Like a spider... *Twitchshiver* And, Darkmoon, buddy old chum... Don\'t hate me if I totally botched your character. I only had two or three conversations to go by. O.o)


Chapter One-

 
Jjairr Wolfhound sat close to the fire in the Kada El?s Tavern, silently nursing her half full beer mug, lost in her thoughts. Her close friend, Ralas, had been discussing with her the mysteries of the Laanx Temple, the Dungeon, and the fabled Death Realm, when he had been called away suddenly by one of his other friends, leaving Jjairr to grapple the mysteries on her own. The young enkidukai?s brow was furrowed in concentration, the heat of the fire causing beads of sweat to appear beneath her auburn braid and darken her tawny fur.
 
Staring thoughtfully at the hem of her crimson tunic, Jjairr found her mind beginning to wander. She was in the process of setting her mug down on a sturdy wooden table when a voice sounded in her ear.
   
?It?s a prison,? the voice murmured quietly, causing Jjairr to jump and slop beer over her baggy chocolate brown pants. Jjairr cast her frightened hazel eyes all around the dark room, but could see no one.
   
?Wh? Wha? What?? stammered the enkidukai, the hair on the back of her neck prickling uncomfortably.
 
?It?s a prison,? repeated the voice, with a hint of humor. To Jjairr it sounded distinctly male. ?The head in the Death Realm, of which you and your friend were speaking. It is a prison, containing the tortured souls of those considered unworthy to return to the world of the living.?
   
Jjairr continued to look about the room, peering into the shadowed corners, searching for the owner of the mysterious voice. ?I don?t see you,? she said, glancing toward the ceiling?s thick wooden rafters. ?Where are you??
 
There was a small chuckle. ?I am here? and yet, not here,? said the voice softly. Dark and mysterious, it continued, ?Few people notice the snakes decorating the Laanx temple, like you were telling your friend about.? There was a thoughtful pause, and then it added, ?You would make a decent Explorer.?
 
Jjairr gulped. Something about this voice made her nervous. The fact that it appeared to have originated from no visible body didn?t help it much. She looked to her left, where the voice appeared to have come from.
 
?I am Jjairr Wolfhound, of the Feline?s Lair. Who are you??
 
Silence. Jjairr waited patiently for an answer, her booted foot tapping a quiet beat against the floor. Finally, she heard the quiet whisper.
   
?Darkmoon.?
 
Jjairr heard a creak of footsteps. The voice?s owner was heading slowly toward the door. Jjairr stood, still trying to catch a glimpse of this mysterious man.
 
?Wait!? the young enkidukai called. ?There is more I would ask of you!?
 
The footsteps paused. ?Take this dagger,? said the voice. ?It is late. We will talk another time.?
 
Jjairr gaped at the dagger that had appeared out of no where on the table a few feet in front of her. She shook her head as if to clear it and asked quietly, ?How will I find y-?
 
The voice interrupted her kindly. ?I will find you,? it assured her.
   
Jjairr continued to question. ?But why do I need this dagger??
 
?Trust me.?
 
Jjairr was quiet for a moment, but then nodded. She reached forward to pick up the dagger and tucked it safely into her belt. The absolute silence confirmed her thoughts ? she was alone in the bar again.

 
It was an uncharacteristically quiet Jjairr that climbed the wooden steps of the tavern, heading to the third floor for room 04. Tossing her weapons onto the desk, the young enkidukai sank down wearily onto the soft, downy mattress of her bed. Closing her eyes, Jjairr sighed, and gratefully immersed herself in the peaceful land of slumber.

[Jjairr]

(Ta da, the chapter where Jjairr imitates a mime! ((Meaning, of course, I don\'t say anything.)))

Chapter Two-

 
Jjairr was awakened suddenly by a loud crash of breaking pottery, followed by a curse from the tavern chef. Groggily, Jjairr raised herself up on one elbow. She shouted something rude to the chef, before letting herself drop back to the bed and rolling over to face the wall.
 
After a while the tawny enkidukai arose from her bed, knowing it was useless to even attempt to go back to sleep. The fierce rays of dawn light would see to it her eyes stayed open.
   
Casting a disgruntled glare at the beautiful morning sky, Jjairr belted on her dagger, but left her falchions still lying on the table. She hopped down the stairs, jumping the last five and landing expertly on the floor.
   
She began heading to the door, weaving her way between the tavern?s tables, and nodded as she passed to a pair of burly looking male enkidukai out for an early morning drink. Jjairr paused at the door and sighed. She never had been a morning person.
   
As Jjairr began the short walk to the Plaza, the beautiful morning worked its magic on her, and by the time she reached the Plaza, her previous cranky mood had vanished entirely. She fairly skipped her way to Jayose?s library, nodding pleasantly to everyone she passed.
   
Finally, she arrived at her destination. Jjairr gave the well-known side of Jayose?s library a loving pat; this was one of her favorite refuges.
   
Jayose sat, lounged casually in a comfortable armchair, intently poring over a large leather-bound book. He looked up as Jjairr entered and nodded in greeting before turning back to his book. Jjairr chuckled and turned to head up the sturdy staircase to the second level of the library.
 
With each step she took, Jjairr?s boot thudded soundly against the stairs. 23 thuds later, Jjairr had reached the landing, and weaved way through the forest of book cases until she came to the very back row.
 
Jjairr scanned the shelves thoroughly, pulling down every book she could find that had ?Laanx? on the cover. As Darkmoon had discovered yesterday, Jjairr and her friends were trying their hardest to solve the mysteries surrounding the Laanx Temple and Dungeon. And it required a lot of reading.
 
For the next few hours, Jjairr sat in her corner in the library. Whenever she would find something interesting, she would write it down, but other than that and turning the pages, she was still.
 
When she had finally completed the last book, Jjairr sighed and stood up. Yawning and stretching her tired muscles, Jjairr mentally reviewed everything she had read. Most of the book pile had just been old wives? tales and legends, and those books she hadn?t bothered reading. She had, however, found a few interesting points of information, and reminded herself again and again to share them next time she saw Ralas.
   
Thudding her way back down the stairs, Jjairr nodded goodbye to Jayose and walked slowly back to the Plaza. Noticing the failing light, Jjairr sped up a bit and arrived at the tavern in a matter of minutes, her stomach growling hungrily. Jjairr winced as she remembered that she hadn?t eaten breakfast, or even lunch.
   
Stepping into the tavern was like stepping into a puddle of icy water ? quite a shock. No less than fifteen dwarves were lying sprawled around the room, each of them holding a very large mug of beer and roaring a rowdy drinking song at the top of their lungs.
Jjairr clapped her hands to her ears and sprinted up the stairs, nearly running into the cook, who was just coming out of the kitchen, a full plate of steaming, delicious food balanced precariously on his hand.
   
In the blink of an eye, Jjairr had snatched the plate and pressed some tria into the chef?s hand. In a desperate attempt to escape the noise, Jjairr leaped for the outside stairs that led up to the roof, the chef?s angry yells at her drowned out by the dwarves? singing.
 
The noise difference was amazing as Jjairr sat down on the roof and began hungrily devouring her food. Cramming the chef?s famous garlic bread into her mouth, Jjairr began to wish she had gotten something to drink, but her rumbling stomach overruled her dry throat.
   
In what seemed like no time at all, Jjairr had finished eating. She pushed the plate, now licked clean, away from herself and gave a contented sigh. Staring out over the peaceful city, Jjairr felt her eyelids beginning to droop, and had just stood up to go downstairs and face the chef?s wrath, when the fur on the back of her neck began to prickle uncomfortably.

[Jjairr]

(No commentary for this chapter... wonder of wonders!)

Chapter Three-

   
Jjairr knew that feeling. She was being watched. Looking around, Jjairr attempted to spot the perpetrator, but could see no one. As that thought crossed her mind, Jjairr thought back to last night, and asked tentatively, ?Darkmoon??
   
The humor in his voice was evident as the reply came back, ?Yes??
   
Jjairr?s ears twitched as they strained to hear any form of movement to reveal where the mysterious voice came from.
   
?I don?t see you still,? she said, agitated. ?Where are you??
   
?Right beside you,? said the voice, sounding very close by.
 
Jjairr turned and nearly screamed in fright. A middle-aged Ylian had just appeared beside her, out of thin air. He grinned but stayed silent and waited for a few moments until Jjairr calmed down.
 
?How did you do that?? Jjairr questioned, wary of this strange Ylian.
   
Darkmoon shrugged. ?A spell, called the Shroud of Darkness.?
   
?So that?s what happened yesterday. I couldn?t see you because you were under this ?Shroud? of yours.?
 
Darkmoon grinned. ?Useful, isn?t it?? Jjairr nodded slowly. ?Indeed.
   
They sat for a few moments, Jjairr leaning against the roof rails on one side and Darkmoon leaning the rails on the other. At length, Jjairr observed, ?You have an interesting name. Darkmoon. Does it mean anything in particular??
   
?It is more of a nickname,? said Darkmoon, shiftily. ?No one living knows my true name.?
   
Jjairr chuckled dryly. ?So many mysteries!? Absentmindedly, she played with the hilt of her falchion. In front of her, Darkmoon shifted one of his legs, causing her to look at him.
   
?If someone knows your true name,? the Ylian explained to her, ?They have power over you. That is why it is important to keep your true name secret from people. They might use it against you.?
   
Jjairr glanced over her shoulder nervously. ??S bad for me, then,? she muttered. ?There are a lot of people who know my name.?
 
Darkmoon gave a small smile. ?Jjairr Wolfhound is not your true name,? he assured her. ?There is only one group of people who would actually know it right off, and I am doubting your parents are included in that group.?
 
Flicking her tail excitedly, the curious enkidukai eagerly raised her eyes to lock with those of Darkmoon?s.
   
?Well? Who knows? Where can I find them?? she questioned.
   
?A master of the Crystal Way would know,? answered the stolid Ylian. ?But they wouldn?t hand the information out willy-nilly. They would require something from you ? a task, perhaps. Something dangerous, no doubt. Or maybe a personal sacrifice of some kind.?
 
Totally deflated, Jjairr echoed nervously, ?A? err? personal sacrifice??
   
Darkmoon nodded. Curious, Jjairr asked, ?And are you a master of the Crystal Way??
 
Sighing, he answered, ?Ah, no. I dabble here and there, but nothing more.?
 
Jjairr was not to be put off. ?Do you know where I could find one?? asked the eager enkidukai.
 
?Someplace highly magical, mysterious, or difficult to get to, no doubt. Masters of the Crystal Way never were known for their originality.?
   
Looking up, Jjairr noticed with a shock how late it was. Darkmoon seemed to be thinking along those same lines, for he murmured suddenly, ?It is late. I should be going.?
 
He stood up straight and looked toward Jjairr. ?I will see you again sometime,? he assured her.
 
Jjairr stood as well, and Ylian and Enkidukai shook hands.
 
?Thank you for talking with me again,? Jjairr said. ?I am sorry if I kept you from anything.?
   
Darkmoon shook his head. ?Not at all, not at all.? Stepping toward the center of the roof, he released Jjairr?s hand and muttered, ?Good bye, Jjairr.? He murmured a few words under his breath, and in a moment?s time, disappeared.
   
?Good bye, Darkmoon,?  Jjairr yawned, before turning and retiring to her room for another peaceful night\'s sleep.

[Jjairr]

(More character botching! Ayshe, don\'t hate me. ^^)

Chapter Four ?

   
The following morning found Jjairr sitting on the edge of her downy mattress bed, staring attentively at the carved wooden desk beside her, as if it held the answers to all the mysteries of the universe. Her mind wandered, lightly touching various thoughts for several moments before turning to a different subject.
 
A frown twisted the enkidukai?s face as she mentally listed every magical, mysterious, and hard-to-get-to place she knew. Of course, Jjairr could rule out several options, as she had been to many of them once or twice before. Narrowing down the list was thus, very easy. Eventually, Jjairr was left with two options ? the Ruins and the Laanx Temple Tower.
 
The first item was the one she ended up starting with. Belting on her falchions and daggers, Jjairr made her way downstairs, pausing only to snag an apple from the kitchen.
   
It was a short jog to the Guild House, and Jjairr rather enjoyed the pure crisp freshness of the bright morning air. She opened the sturdy house doors and could vaguely hear murmured snatches of conversation drifting like smoke to dissipate in the air. Smiling, Jjairr stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind her.
   
Swiftly, the young enkidukai climbed a short flight of stairs and before to long found herself outside the Guild Founder?s office. Jjairr knocked on the door, grinning. Who better to ask about the Ruins than Ayshe, who had informed Jjairr multiple times of her fascination with the place?

?Enter,? a voice murmured. It was clear and knowledgeable, a voice that commanded respect. Jjairr did as bidden, opening the door slowly and entering with a respectful bow to figure seated before her.

Ayshe Alchamet sat in a simple wooden desk, piled with various papers and forms. Smiling, Ayshe beckoned for Jjairr to seat herself, and after pulling up a small wooden chair, the young enkidukai did so.

?Jjairr!? Ayshe exclaimed. ?To what do I owe this visit??
   
?I wanted to ask you some things about the Ruins,? answered the young enkidukai.

At the mention of the Ruins, Ayshe?s ears perked up visibly, and her smile briefly broadened. ?Ask away,? Ayshe said, clasping her paws together and resting them on the desk.

?Well,? Jjairr began uncertainly, ?I was? errm? wondering if you knew of a Crystal Master who possibly lives in the Ruins? Or even nearby??

Frowning slightly, Ayshe peered at Jjairr and answered quietly, ?No. I know those Ruins like the back of my paw and the only things that live there are ulbernauts.? Curious, the Guild Leader asked, ?Why do you wish to know??

Jjairr blinked and mumbled under her breath, ?Just want to learn some new spells is all.? Rising hurriedly, she bowed once more to Ayshe and thanked her for her time. Turning, she nearly tripped over her chair, but made it to the door in one piece and in a matter of moments was once more out into the open air of Hydlaa.

After Jjairr had gone, Ayshe stood, her brow creased in a thoughtful frown. ?Strange,? she mused aloud, riffling through some of the papers on her desk. ?I thought Jjairr studied the Red Way.? Sighing, she dismissed the matter from her mind. There were more pressing matters to attend to.

[Jjairr]

(*Sincerely hopes this isn\'t considered spamming* Ehehehe... what chapter are we on? Five? Oh, yes. In which Jjairr climbs the tower! Bum bum buuum.)

Chapter Five-
   
   
As soon as her feet had hit Hydlaa?s cobbled streets, Jjairr ran. When she deemed she had put enough distance between herself and the Guild House, she slowed and peered over her shoulder.
 
?Good,? she thought to herself. ?Ayshe didn?t send anyone after me.?
   
Panting slightly, Jjairr turned to gaze at the Laanx temple, its huge tower rearing in the background. She trusted Ayshe?s word that no Crystal Master inhabited the ruins, and so Jjairr turned to the only other probable location ? the temple tower.
   
Scoffing, Jjairr wondered how she expected to reach the tower. As far as she knew, no one was allowed into the tower, and Jjairr doubted they?d make an exception just for her. And then in Jjairr?s mind blossomed a crazy thought.
   
She could climb the tower. No mess, no fuss, and if she was lucky, no one would ever know. After a brief moment?s consideration, the young enkidukai had her mind made up. Turning, she pointed her feet toward the Laanx temple, a determined glint sparkling in her eyes.
 
In a matter of moments, Jjairr had crossed the Plaza and was heading in a direct line toward the massive tower base. When she reached it, the young enkidukai chanced a swift glance around. Satisfied that no one was watching, she turned her attention back to the task at hand.
 
Slowly, Jjairr gazed at the tower, calculating and sizing it up. Finally, she deemed herself ready to begin. Inserting her nimble fingers into a gap between two of the many thousands of metal sheets covering the temple?s frame, she heaved herself upward, balanced, and then the process of figuring her next move began anew.
 
Jjairr didn?t know how long the climb lasted. All she remembered doing for countless periods of time was the same repetitive process of ?pull yourself up, balance, rest, find a new hand and foot hold, repeat?. Her muscles screaming in exhausted pain, Jjairr?s will was nearly spent.
 
?Nearly there now,? she said to herself for the nth time. ?Nearly there.? Calling upon her last reserves of strength, Jjairr gritted her teeth in defiance of her paining body and heaved herself upward once more.
 
She had reached the top.
   
Throwing herself forward, exhausted, Jjairr reveled in the feeling of solid ground beneath her. Trying to ignore the pain in her arms, she rolled over and lay flat, gazing down at all of Hydlaa splayed before her like a miniature map. Glad of the rest, Jjairr sighed, letting the Azure Sun?s rays wash over her.
 
After a quick swig of water, Jjairr deemed herself ready to continue. Stashing the water skin in her satchel, she heaved herself upward and examined the tower upon which she was standing.
 
It was decorated with a mosaic tile pattern; though what it was depicting either Jjairr could not tell or did not care. What she was really focused on was the thick carved wooden trapdoor that nestled in the center of the tower floor and was held in place by a pair of rusty clasps.
 
The design on the trapdoor was familiar to Jjairr; a face wreathed by a double-headed serpent. The tawny enkidukai wasn?t surprised. That symbol was found all across Hydlaa, especially in the Temple. She and Ralas had noticed this during one of their many explorations.
   
With amazing calmness, Jjairr unlatched both of the rusty clasps before grasping the ornately carved wooden handle of the trapdoor. Heaving upward, Jjairr listened as the old hinges squeaked in protest. Letting the door drop backwards, she gazed, slightly disturbed, at the hole of unfathomable darkness that stretched deep into the core of the tower.
 
A series of ladder-like iron rungs welded to the side of the tunnel-like hole proved a route into the crushing black oblivion. No sound welled up from the darkness, but instead of dispelling the enkidukai?s fears, it only served to reinforce them. Her heart pounding madly against her rib cage, every fiber of her being screaming at her to go back, Jjairr faced a terrible second of indecision before a crazy determination took hold of her. Gritting her teeth, Jjairr grasped the first rung, feeling the cold shock of it against her paw. Carefully, she lowered herself completely into the hole, and began the slow descent toward the unknown.

[Jjairr]

(Chapytar, yes, chapytar six. Including this one, only four more to go! Mm this isn\'t one of my better chapters... But read it anyway. Pleease?)

Chapter 6 ?

 
The climb seemed to go on for hours. Jjairr felt like she was trapped in a nightmare, where she was stuck, climbing continuously downwards, with the unknown beneath her feet and losing hope with each rung she descended.
 
Just when Jjairr began wondering if she had become victim to some horrific trap, her paws touched solid ground. Hopping away from the ladder, Jjairr?s sharp eyes detected a soft light, faintly illuminating the wall of a passage off to her right. Seeing no other options in the oppressive darkness, the tawny enkidukai carefully padded her way down the tunnel, keeping her paw close to the hilt of one of her falchions as a precaution.
 
As quiet as a shadow, Jjairr crept along the passage, hardly daring to breathe. The passage ended abruptly, opening out into a wide, circular room. The only three points of entry from what Jjairr could see consisted of the passage she had just come through and two thick carved oak doors set deep into the walls.
   
The floor of the room was cold, grey, uninviting stone, splashed with various violent looking stains. The walls were pale, but you could hardly tell, shadowed as they were by the purple flames of enchanted sconces and daubed with crimson paint designs. Scrolls and various gruesome animal bits were piled randomly around the room; a system of organization was non-existent.
   
In the center of the room stood a huge black cauldron, where a nasty green concoction was brewing. Violet smoke belched forth from the cauldron, shrouding the room in a thick, smoky veil. Jjairr began to creep towards it, her mind clouded by the fumes. A dark magic was being worked upon her, and she could not resist the enticing scents welling up from the cauldron?s belly.
 
Suddenly, a hand descended upon her shoulder, breaking Jjairr?s mind free of the spell. She was whirled around as if she was no more than a rag doll and found herself staring up at the most intimidating person she had ever seen.
   
His piercing crimson eyes held her gaze and radiated a frightening and overwhelming sense of hate and disdain that nearly knocked Jjairr backwards, as if she had been struck a powerful blow. The creature was terribly tall, his demonic face barely two feet below the room?s high ceiling. His pale blue skin was heavily lined and wrinkled, and his hand was cold and slimy, like something dead that had been frozen and then allowed to thaw. He was shrouded in a long, shapeless black robe that was embroidered with hundreds of intricate patterns.
 
And Jjairr knew that it was he she had come searching for.

[Jjairr]

(Hm, we\'re beginning to hit the longer chapters... Three to go, people, bear with me.)

Chapter 7 ?

   
Bowing low to the creature, Jjairr gulped nervously. His crimson colored eyes seemed to pierce her through as she stared at the ground between her feet. The silence stretched on until Jjairr finally dug up every ounce of courage she possessed and tentatively asked, ?Are you a master of the Crystal Way??
   
The creature answered her in a voice terrible enough to make the hardiest of creatures flinch. ?Who are you?? he rasped, his plate-like hand clenched before him.
   
Jjairr nervously licked her dry lips. ?Jjairr Brintachti Wolfhound of the Feline?s Lair,? she said unsurely.
   
He glared at her for some time, before asking in his terrible voice, ?Why have you come here? What do you want of Dulandar?? He enunciated each word and spoke slowly, as if he hadn?t spoken to anyone for a very long time.
   
Not daring to straighten from her bow, Jjairr answered, ?I? I have come to ask you what my True Name is.?
   
A low grumbling cough issued from Dulandar?s mouth. It took Jjairr a moment to realize that he was laughing. After a while the noise subsided and Dulandar focused once more on Jjairr.
 
?This is heavy information,? he rasped. ?I do not give it out lightly.?
 
?What do you need in return?? questioned Jjairr, trying to keep the tremble out her voice.
 
Dulandar?s crimson eyes turned to pendant dangling from Jjairr?s neck ? the wooden cross-shaped whistle and crystal piece that Jjairr treasured above all. Sensing his gaze, Jjairr straightened up and clutched the necklace instinctively.
   
Dulandar?s face twisted in a frown as he and Jjairr?s eyes met for a brief moment. A wordless message passed between them: Dulandar?s want of the trinket, and Jjairr?s refusal to give it up.
 
His crafty mind already in motion, Dulandar put in to action a second plan. A secretive smile flitted across his face, to brief for Jjairr to notice.
   
?Have you anything else of value?? he growled, in what he obviously thought was a kind and gentle voice.
   
Jjairr thought briefly before untying a pouch. Giving it a slight shake, she was rewarded by the soft clinking of many coins shifting against each other.
   
?Just money,? she said in answer to his inquiry. Her fear had subsided slightly now that Dulandar proved able to be reasoned with.
 
Dulandar was silent for a moment. ?Five thousand tria,? he rumbled suddenly.
   
Jjairr blinked. Five thousand tria? Surely such ?heavy information? was worth more than that? Shrugging it off, Jjairr dug the money from the pouch and pressed it into Dulandar?s hand, wincing as she did so. The still cold feel of the hand caused her skin to crawl.
   
After returning the pouch to her belt, Jjairr raised her head to watch as Dulandar counted the money she had given him. Finding it satisfactory, he stowed the coins somewhere within his voluminous robes. Jjairr gave a small cough, causing him to return attention to her.
 
?Well??? she prompted. ?Our deal? What is my True Name??
   
The low grumbling cough returned, rising in pitch and volume until the air seemed to rebound with it.
   
?Your True Name?? he rasped, ?You wish to know who you are??
   
Jjairr?s heart began to sink. Her mouth turned suddenly dry. She could only nod.

?You are Foolish!? he cried, and swung his fist forward. It collided with Jjairr?s chest, driving the wind out her lungs and knocking her backward. She collided with a bookcase and slowly sank into blackness, the Crystal Master?s mocking laugh still ringing in her ears.

[Jjairr]

(Only two to go now. This one is... oooh, yeah... I ain\'t tellin\' you, read it and find out yourself, lazy.)

Chapter 8 ?

   
Jjairr awoke to find herself in a small, square stone cell. Letting off a low groan, she tried to sit up, but was driven horizontal once more by the pounding in her head. Contenting herself with observing her surroundings from the ground, the young enkidukai blinked and turned her head slowly to look at each of the walls.
 
There was a single door set in the thick stone of the wall on Jjairr?s left, and a high barred window to her right. The two remaining walls were bare stone, as was the floor upon which Jjairr was lying. Taking a deep breath, Jjairr slowly struggled into a sitting position. Ignoring her aching head, which was screaming in protest at this sudden and unwanted movement, the enkidukai slowly began a self-examination. She winced as she ran a paw over her back, which was bruised and bloody where she had hit the wall only a few hours earlier.
   
Further inspection revealed no other major injuries, save the ache in her skull. Jjairr noticed with a frown that her falchions were missing, but that made sense. What sort of a captor would let his prisoner keep their weapons?
 
Her captor! With a jolt, Jjairr remembered the horrid, sneering face of the Crystal Master. She gasped and her paw flew to her neck, only to clutch at empty air.
   
Her amulet was gone.
   
Jjairr slowly leaned backward, so her shoulders were resting on the cold stone wall. Tears pricked her eyes.
   
?The Crystal Master was right,? she said aloud. ?I am foolish.?
 
She though of Ralas and wondered if he had found out anything interesting about the Laanx temple recently. She thought of Ayshe and her friends in the Guild. She though of Darkmoon and the dagger he had given her.
   
Jjairr shifted, yelping as something sharp pricked her leg. Looking down, she frowned as she noticed that Darkmoon?s dagger ? it was that which had picked her ? was still sheathed in her belt. A flood of questions arose in Jjairr?s mind. ?Why did the Crystal Master leave the dagger? Surely he saw it??
 
Shrugging, Jjairr decided that it was not the time for such questions, and if she still had a weapon, that was one thing to be grateful for, at least. She glanced up at the window and noticed with a shock that it was raining.
   
?There were no rain clouds when I arrived at the temple,? she murmured to herself. ?How long have I been here, I wonder?? She sighed again as her head began to pound anew. The noise seemed overwhelming, as if the vicious thud came from outside of her head, as well as inside of it.
   
A sudden splintering crack rent then air in two, causing Jjairr to turn and stare fearfully at the door. She realized suddenly that the thudding noise was caused by someone, a strong someone, pounding on the thick wooden door as though determined to break it down. There was another cracking noise, followed by a loud, well chosen exclamation. A few words were muttered in a low voice, words which were totally foreign-sounding to Jjairr. The door flew open, slamming into the cell wall with a force that quickly reduced it to splinters.
   
And Darkmoon stood framed in the doorway.

[Jjairr]

(Last chapter, wootness! I _think_ this chapter is pretty good. I _think_ so... I\'ll save aaaall my commentary to the end, capice?)

Chapter 9 ?

   
Darkmoon entered the cell, chuckling softly. ?Silly fenki,? he murmured, pulling the startled Jjairr to her feet. Jjairr winced, causing Darkmoon to pause. He glanced at her back briefly.
 
?Ouch,? said Darkmoon, frowning. ?I suppose He did that to you??
   
Jjairr nodded, her mind in a turmoil with all the questions dancing on the tip of her tongue, waiting to be asked. Casting about the confines of her mind, she finally settled on the eloquently phrased question, ?What the hell is going on??
 
He didn?t chuckle this time. ?Dulandar, the Crystal Master, is knocked out. You?ve been here at the temple a grand total of three days. Right now you are above the main chamber, in an attic of sorts.?
   
Darkmoon frowned as he noticed Jjairr?s paw, still clasped at her neck, feeling the empty space where her necklace usually rested. ?Looking for this?? he asked her, a secretive smile on his face. Jjairr looked up and gasped. Dangling from his clenched fist was her necklace. Darkmoon?s smile broadened as he pressed the necklace into her outstretched paw. Quietly, Jjairr fastened it around her neck as Darkmoon brought Jjairr?s falchions out.
 
As he passed Jjairr her blades, Darkmoon murmured once more, ?You silly, silly fenki?? The young enkidukai flashed him a questioning look as she fastened on her falchions.
 
?Why did you go looking for the Crystal Master? Hasn?t anyone ever told you that patience is a virtue??
 
Jjairr shot him a bewildered look. ?How else was I supposed to find my True Name??
 
?I would?ve told you eventually,? he answered. ?I didn?t think you were crazy enough to go looking for a Crystal Master, or else I would have told you sooner??
 
?Told me what sooner?? questioned Jjairr, with a hint of exasperation.
 
?Your True Name, of course.?
   
Jjairr scowled. ?You?re contradicting yourself,

Darkmoon. You said that only Crystal Masters would know my True Name.? At this he gave another secretive smile. ?I said only Crystal Masters would know it right off. There are other ways of finding out one?s True Name.?
 
Jjairr shot him a bewildered look. He chuckled, so softly Jjairr could barely hear him. ?I gave you that dagger for a reason, you know.?
   
Brow furrowed in a mixture of frustration, thought, and bewilderment, Jjairr pulled the dagger from her belt and examined it carefully while Darkmoon explained, ?I usually keep a number of those handy, in case a curious person like you asks about True Names. They take skill to make, and can only be forged on certain nights using certain materials and objects. It would take me to long to explain right now, but it will suffice for you to know, that is a special dagger.?
   
He paused a moment before continuing, ?I would have told you sooner, but if I?d related all this information too quickly, I would?ve lost my mysterious flair.?
 
Raising her eyes to lock with his, she asked, ?So? How do I?? She gestured toward the dagger.
   
?It requires your blood to reveal your Name,? murmured Darkmoon. Jjairr grimaced and gripped the dagger?s hilt tighter. Setting the point against her palm, the enkidukai scored a thin cut in her skin. Blood welled up from the shallow wound and coated the tip of the dagger, leaving Jjairr watching, wide-eyed, as the dagger began to glow.
 
When the light began fading from the blade, small figures could be seen tracing themselves out just below the hilt. The delicate, curving letters shone as if drawn in liquid gold as they appeared and only began fading when the whole word had been formed. Jjairr bent close, her sharp eyes intent on the writing.
 
?Jiulafabier,? she said, rolling the word around on her tongue. Darkmoon laughed. ?That?s a mouthful, and no mistake!?
 
Jjairr couldn?t help it. She laughed too. All the past few days seemed to melt away, leaving her shining in a single, happy moment.
 
When their chuckles finally subsided, Darkmoon placed his hand on her arm. He muttered more foreign, elegant words and Jjairr gasped as their surroundings began to fade until they were standing in utter blackness. Darkmoon flashed her a quick grin, and before too long their surroundings took shape again. Jjairr recognized where they were immediately ? standing in front of the Gazebo in the Laanx Temple courtyard.
   
Jjairr glanced up at the sky and noticed the failing light.
 
?Oi?? she yawned. ?I?ve got a lot to tell Ralas??
   
Lowering her head to glance at Darkmoon, Jjairr began to laugh again. Darkmoon had disappeared.
 
?Thank you, Darkmoon,? Jjairr whispered to the stars, before turning and heading in the direction of Kada El?s Tavern, her tail swishing lightly behind her.


.:: The End! ::.

(Whew, that was fun... Yeah, so, thanks for reading it. ^^ And... if posting all this in rapid succesion, as I just did, is indeed illegal... Don\'t hurt me. *Hides behind a crouton* Big thanks to everyone, Darkmoon especially for giving me this lovely idea, and *throws confetti* I finished a story! You people don\'t know how RARE that is! Okay, so, I\'m going to post this, I can hear you all shouting \'Get on with it, so I can comment on your fantabulous story!\' hint hint nudge nudge wink wink... Okay, okay.. *posts, bows, runs for cover*)

[Von H?rskiburg]

Well, you asked for me to comment, so:
I liked this story much, especially the mysterious atmosphere was effective. I liked the amount of detail, too: there was enough to create the right feeling, but not too much that in my opinion would make reading the story a bit boring. I think I spotted a few typos, but not anything that would make the story incomprehesible. A very nice story. I\'d like to see more of your tales in the future.

[Jjairr]

*Glomp* Thank you ^^!! *Is so glad you commented*

Yesh, typos... Can\'t escape them... Even the best of us make them. I\'ve found numerous typos in various books I\'ve read. Books, mind you, not forum stories. :S

So, that makes... 1 comment \\O/. Yay!

[Draklar]

I really like your writing style and you seem to know the rules behind writing. So I\'ll throw some criticizm ;D

It might be a matter of prererance, but some of your descriptions seem to be too short. I mean the situations when your character does something longer (monotonous). Although short descriptions can work well when you don\'t want to bore the readers, in case of such longer actions it may be a good moment to write several more sentences, showing more details behind the actions. It can help in building up the mood, since the reader will have the time to immerse into what your character is doing, instead of \"observing\" constant changes of scenes. The trick is to write it in a way that won\'t be monotonous itself :P
How such longer descriptions can be built is up to the writer, although I\'d advise trying to express the feelings of your character in the structure of the sentences. They may be fast and sharp when character receives many thoughts during the event, as well as long and flowery when it\'s rather observing the surroundings, or something alike. There\'s much more into it than just that, but I guess you get the picture :)

Also, be careful with such words as \'erm\' or \'hmm\'. Although they give realistic look to the dialogues, they can also slow things down. I don\'t remember who said that, but it was something along lines of \"Story is a life with all the boring elements taken out\". Look for different ways of showing that a character is uncertain. It can really give much better results if you\'ll deal with it in such way.

[Jjairr]

Well... At least you read it.

Thanks for your constructive criticism \\O/. I\'m glad you commented.

\"Erm\" really slows things down? O.o I never knew... *Will bear this in mind*

I like describing things ^^. Haha, okay, that sounded really strange... Anyway. Yesh. That I will also bear in mind. ^^

[Talamir]

Well I have no idea about the \"rules behind writing\" as my good chain mailed freind Draklar said, but I do enjoy a good story. The detail was great, and you seem to like gritting your teeth

?Jiulafabier,?

I\'m stickin with jjairr.

Bottom line, great story. give us a bit more description on the other guys, too (no matter how petty they may seem *glances at ralas*)

First person who\'s story I actually read, and liked, (Not puttin her before you Moon, but your stories are so  long .)
 
I want a Second one \"Teh l33t Dagger returns.\"

-Talamir

[Jjairr]

*GLOMP* OH MY GOD YOU STUPID YNNWN WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!

*Squee* Buddy! You\'re back!

And yeah, haha, I hate the name too. XD I just threw some random letters together. Oodles of fun.

I like the first part, though. The \"J\". Then it goes downhill... :F

On to more important stuff... The warm fuzzies have been attacking me constantly for the past like, three months! I expect a full apology later for skiving off on your duties...

You\'ll get as many sequels as you like as long as you\'re IG at least once a week from now on. Or as long as you answer your email. ^^