Aria

On the eve of the Thundercrack Carnival, Suvwl and GTok were waiting for Ahmis to rejoin them. When a voice for behind them said, “Excuse me, I see from your badges that you are from a Nature flight. I need your help.”
They turned to see a female pearlcatcher shimmering teal and cream with Nature eyes. She was nervously rolling her pearl in her arms as she looked about the street.
“You’ve a Plague badge. Get help from them.” Suvwl said and turned away. She frowned and began to leave.
“Wait.” GTok said. “What do you need?”
“Sanctuary. I’m trying to escape.”
“Escape what, whom?”
“This.” She pounded the Plague badge. “ I was captured years ago and have spend the most of my life being forced to fight for this flight.”
“Forced ? How?” Suvwl asked.
“I was told that if I didn’t do as told. My birth clan would pay the consequences.”
“Why not ask for their help?”
“A note was left stating that I had left to join a Plague clan. I tried soon after to contact one of my closest friends at a gathering. I was shunned and told that I was a traitor to the Glademother.”
Suvwl nodded. “That is what I assumed when I saw your badge. I apologize.”
“No need, I understand. But thank you anyway. Can we move somewhere away from the street?
I’m not sure when I’ll be missed. I don't know how long it will be before they will start looking for
me .”
They moved to the entrance of an alley and she continued. “After I was caught trying to contact my former clan. I was kept under constant watch and warned against anymore attempts, as if I could. This is the first festival I’ve been allowed to attend in some time. I decided to take my chance and run. Will you help me?”
GTok looked at his companion. “We really should help.”
“Agreed.”
GTok bowed. “I am GTok, courier of Clan Inverness, This is Suvwl. He is the Praefectus Urbi .” He nodded his greeting.
“I’m Nnally, thank you.”
“We can’t take any major actions without support of the Clan leadership. But we will do what we can until we can hopefully get more support. Suvwl, Do you see Ahmis yet?”
“No” He had turned to watch the crowd along the street. “Wait!” He glanced back at the two.
“The Glademother has smiled on us. There is Dor with Cayuga and Schwa. I’ll be right back.”
He quickly left the two alone.
“Who are they?” Nnally asked.”
GTok grinned. “Dor is mate to one of the clan leaders. If Suvwl can convince him. It will be all but a done deal.” He saw her relax slightly. “You said you were forced to fight. May I ask your training?”
She didn’t look away from the conversation across the street when she answered him. “I’m a master level mage.”
“Excellent.” He then saw movement in the back of the alley. He took a defensive stance and waited. But, instead of an attacker, a Flower Nymph shyly fluttered out of the shadows.
Nnally grinned. “It’s okay, Petal, GTok is a friend. GTok this is Petal. She was a Plague Sprite that was assigned as my watcher. But, she grew to become my friend. She switched elements a few days ago. It cost her her sprite powers and she became a nymph. Would it be okay for her to come also?”
“I’d be surprised if she were a problem.We all have our little friends. Hello little Petal.”
The nymph froze for a moment then sped to Nnally’s side.

Finally the four from across the street casually moved to Gtok and Nnally.
GTok whispered and chuckled. “I bet you can remove that badge now.”
After a quick interview with Dor, it was decided that he would go find Cimmeron. She was shopping with Calysta and between the two of them, he was sure that they would agree with his decision to accept Nnally.
The next few hours were a rush of clothes purchasing and gene adjusting. Agamemnon was sent out to listen for any reports of a missing pearlcatcher. He suggested for Nnally to change her name. He noted that she had a set of pipes in her bag and suggested, Aria.


___