Welcome to Gaia! ::

Heath sighed deeply as he tried to breathe in the steam and heat. Istence was exactly like the travelers had described it---small, but crowded. The dome above them didn't do much to circulate the air around, but Heath could manage for now.

The sun didn't harm him for today, as he wasn't in exalt. As an Elen, the sun did nothing to his skin, to which he was thankful---it already felt like his skin was going to be stripped down just with the heat of the place.

He had been assigned by the Auldelen Resistance Base back in Pavonis to find anyone that appeared like a halfling. He wasn't sure if they realized he himself was a halfling at all, so he was afraid of completing his job somewhat, but he still needed some money. Elens were slippery people, and he didn't like to deal with them, but it was either here or Neo-gaea. And he'd rather stay here.

He wiped some sweat off his brow and hid under a building's shadow momentarily, realizing it didn't help much.

--

Auldhelna sat down in the great hall of Olympus Mons, looking down at her foot in boredom and irritation as others droned reports that she didn't care to listen to. She was not happy with how quickly her troops were falling to underlings, and she could hear it from every little voice that chanted it. Auldie swung her foot to the side once, then examined it from another angle. Finally, she stomped it angrily against the floor of the icy abyss, hearing an echo mimic the noise weakly.

She'd have to go down there herself and see what they were up against. Her generals were flimsy. Under her command, she'd never once lost a battle. And she'd make sure she'd keep it that way.

Just then, Itren walked into the hall, bowing slightly. She called him over.

"Did you find him yet?" she asked.

"I give credit to your brother for being quite elusive," Itren replied for a moment. "No one has seen a man of his description in twenty damn years since he's gone down there."

"You'd better find one of his description," snarled Auldie, before her face softened a bit. "How much time do you need, about?"

"As much time as you're willing to give me," he replied, a small smile on his face. "Don't be discouraged, milady. He'll show up eventually."

"I am not discouraged," she retorted. "And...it seems the Mellons have already grown interested in the attack. I do not want them picking and choosing what they want from our territory. Archaea-gaea is ours. They've already conquered the skies of our home country and they want to expand. Don't you dare let them. There's an emissary from there that's been here with our troops. He seems rather amiable, but I know that his people are not. Do something about him. I can't seem to be able to and I'm not sure why."

Itren was silent for a moment, before nodding. "Do you propose I stay here to see this Webwing before I depart again? Where might he be?"

At this Auldhelna shrugged. "Nearby. Go find him."

Heath growled irritably at the weather. He looked around a little more, and spotted nothing but an old man sweeping up his front porch, a peddler selling oranges (those looked wonderful), and a girl looking at...something.

When did she get so close? Oh, he was losing his mind. And he didn't feel like working.

Oh, screw life.

Ugh. It was so hot. Angela adjusted her dark glasses slightly and glanced up at the dome over head, making a face. She lifted her hair off her neck for a moment, letting the stale air waft over the skin. It didn't help much but it was something.

She looked around. The ship had already unloaded its illegal cargo (thank the heavens for sneaky business deals) and now the crew had dispersed to see the city. She was just wandering, trying to find a good bar or tavern
around somewhere. And she was getting the usual the stares thanks to her damn hair. She really should just cut the lot of it off and wear a bloody wig.

Except that she liked her hair. Meh. She made a face at the nearest person and kept walking. "Albino," she said as she passed. "Didn't your mum ever tell you it's rude to stare?"

She turned a corner and saw an orange stand. Eh...she had money. She went over and quickly purchased one. Hopefully they were good and would get her mind off the heat.

Angela picked out the juiciest looking orange and started to peel it there. "If it's good, I'll buy a few more," she told the woman with a grin. She glanced up at the blonde man next to her but didn't look again. Just another customer. Okay..she sneaked a second look to check him out a bit but it was a sneaky look so it didn't count.

"Better be prepared to hand out some more cash," the woman replied, smiling. "My oranges are the best in the city."

"That remains to be seen," Angela teased, finally pulling out a section and popping it into her mouth. Ahhh....delicious, citrusy goodness. She nodded. "You win. I'll take three more."

The woman grinned and selected three more large oranges as Angela dug around for more money.

"Faerie land," Angela said, handing over her money without looking at him. "All albino midgets come from there."

Angela dropped the oranges in her bag and turned to Heath with a slight smirk. "I'm curious though. Does that line of yours actually ever work?"

Angela glared at him, outraged. "You nancy b*****d!" she snapped, punching him as hard as she could. "Did you just call me a midget?"

"Go drink by yourself!"

She started to storm away from him. He'd actually called her a midget!!

Of course, she'd called herself that moments before but that was different! He was definitely not allowed to agree with her, stupid arse.

Marcus sat in his father's chair, looking at the empty fireplace as Elizabeth explained.
"I was following that man." she said. "I was observing him. you know. I like to learn. I was wandering around, saw him, thought he was interesting, and studied him."
"What did you find so interesting about him? He's just a man." Marcus said.
"He's not. He's a... I don't know. I just got another one of my hunches. I thought something was different, so...."
"So you stalked a man across half the city? Elizabeth, you can't follow people around for 2 hours just because they interest you."
"I know, big brother..." Elizabeth whispered. "I'm going to the study. I want to read some of mother's journals..." She walked off, leaving Marcus sitting silently in front of the fireplace, thinking. A portrait of mother and father hung on the wall above the mantle. Mothers smile was so sweet, so serene. Father's eyes were strong, deep, all knowing, and yet caring and comforting at the same time. Marcus smiled as he remembered his mothers voice, the smell of his father's favorite tobacco. He closed his eyes and slipped into a waking dream again, thinking back to before they had gone.

Heath pawed at Angela a bit. It always struck him a bit odd how people could react so differently just by looks. She had socked him in the face when he looked normal, but as a cat, she had picked him up instantly.

Both ways, he wasn't complaining. He'd figure out where she was from eventually. Hopefully she'd even take him home. So he meowed a bit and tilted his head up to lick her hand, because that's what all cats did.

Inwardly, though, he worried about his clothes and such.