THE BOOK - To the Castle and Beyond?

I hesitantly walked over, sitting down and sitting near her. My upper lip curled and I stared hesitantly at the rabbit. "Gimme a piece, Haig."

Haig chuckled at Ada and then glanced at me. He frowned, honest shock in his eyes. "Really?"

"Before I changed my mind, preferably."

He cut me a small piece, and I stared at it, sitting there in my hand. I thought of Thumper and all the other cute rabbits I'd ever seen.

"I what your probably thinking and thumper isn't real, ok? Adabella patted her leg digging in to the meat. "And Haig? Leave. Her. Alone. Please," She growled into her meat.

I gave her a look. Not a mean look, a, How-The-Heck-Did-You-Know-That!? look. I shook my head slowly, sighing softly. "Whatever." I closed my eyes and raised the meat to my open mouth.

"It wouldn't be as fun if I did!" He hit my hand and sent the piece of meat sailing back into my throat.

I flew forward slightly, coughing and gagging, choking on the piece.

"Hehehehe...oops."

"That's it," she threw the meat slab in the fire. "Haig if you want to fool around....fine," She got up from her spot and strode over to her duffel bag. Reaching inside she pulled out another bag and produced two gleam swords. "Fire you can fool around with me with a sword," She grinned wickedly.

I was still choking over there, but did anyone notice? Of course not. Lucky padded back out of the forest and sat near by, licking his paw calmly, staring at me as I wheezed and hiccuped. "Don't...bother...helping....me....I'll....just....slowly....die...."

Haig slammed his fist down on the center of my back and I coughed up the piece. It sputtered into the fire as I sputtered a string of insults at him. He smiled. "You're welcome." Then he stood. His dark blue eyes shown excitedly, and he grasped the sword. "You're on."

"Sorry, Ann I've been around brother too long," She said balancing the sword on her
hand. She smiled weakly.

"Your too cocky, little brother to cocky," She murmured, dazed. Finally, she closed her and took deep breath. Then, eyes flashing she staked her brother. Her sword was living blue flame radiating from her hand.

I squeaked reply of some sort and relaxed, grabbing the nearest water bottle and gulping down the water as fast as I could. Lucky purred and rubbed against me. I shoved him away with a little, "Oh, so now you come over?!"

Haig flashed her a smile. "I guess I should stay out of the chicken coop, then?" He flew back with ease, his wings sprouting beautifully and effortlessly. He seemed to grow taller before my eyes, and his chest broadened in pride over himself. Conceited much? Very much. "Bring it." He held his sort perfectly horizontal, waiting for the moment to use it.

She bared her teeth in frustration. Crouching down she leaned forward waiting for him to strike. when he didn't make a move, she sprang and made a thrust at his thigh. "Too cocky," She growled slipping into her crouch

"No, just smarter than you," Haig replied airily. With a flick of his great white wings he was soaring up. By the time her blow landed all it did was take a chunk out of the bottom of his sneaker. He snickered. "Nice try." He floated high above her, then unexpectedly shot down aiming for her forearm.

I watched, unconsciously nibbling on a piece of the rabbit.

She slipped out of the way just as he landed and the tackled him, sword point on his chest. "Smarter ha!" She snorted. then she leaned into the sword a little more and the sword turned blue. "You lose," she sneered.

Haig grunted softly. I remembered from sometime, some conversation, that Ibridains were brilliantly tough creatures....even in their human forms. I watched as he watched the blade, a playfully defeated expression dancing on his smirking lips. "Oh?" He whipped up his sword and knocked hers away. "Round two?"

"GO ADA!" I cheered like a cheerleader.

"GOOO AIRHEADS!" Haig screamed in the same tone.

"Only if you think you can handle all this," She gestured to herself backing up. She turned and winked, sinking into the crouch. "Your mine, Brother," sword flaring she growling challengingly at Haig.

"Awwh, I am? And it's not even Valentine's Day! I'm touched, Sis." He crouched too, hovering slightly above the ground, his eyes narrowed in delight.

She shook her her clearing the taunt out. It was all focus now. She side stepped once, twice waiting for a break. sweat dripped down her back, forehead, arms. gripping the sword tightly she willed the flame higher.

Haig slammed himself stupidly forward, holding out his sword, his eyes huge. He gave a scream as he did so, so loud that my ear drums rattled.

"Bad move," She tsked and tackled him again, the flame snapping in the breeze. "Stop letting your guard down, Haig," She said, staring down at him. "Come at me for real, stop playing safe in front of your girlfriend,"

Haig flew out of the way of the flame, wincing as he smelled his wings being singed. When he was tackled, however, he dropped his sword and let out a grunt of surprise. Then he glared. "She's not my girlfriend!" he cried in disgust the same time I concurred with a, "NOT my boyfriend!"

"I'm too good for her!"

"HEY YOU'RE out of MY league!" I snapped, glaring, my cheeks heating.

"Exactly." He winked at me and then threw his sister off.

"See? your too tense and trying to look like a fool for her,' A hint of a smirk touched her face. She moved sinuously away from her brother "Anlya? you like my brother as a friend, right?," She asked not taking her eyes off Haig.

"No. I'm too tense in being annoyed at you, you tard." He glared vehemently. He sat up, tucking his wings back into himself in a single squirm.

"Rarely...." I said. "Hey, I need to, uh, pee." I stood. "Bye." I turned to bolt.

"Ok," She said letting him up swinging her sword around making it whistle.

"Sure, Anlya, take your time," She called over her shoulder. 'Ok, she's gone, for real this time,"

I ran off.

Haig smiled. "Good. Now, come on, sis." He held up his sword vertically again. "Come atmeh."

She crouched growling, a grin on her face. She steeped to the side, flame-sword high her skin glowing brightly.Circling her brother slowly, she waited to attack.

"I don't like her," He said suddenly, smoothly walking backwards and away from her. "You know Father would disapprove of it, anyway." He nodded simply and then suddenly, the wings popped out of his back--making that sound, a soft little, pop!. Up he shot, high into the sky, clearly showing off as he twisted and turned.

"Huh," She said string at the sky. "He would approve she's half us," she said at the sky again. Then setting down her sword she crossed her legs and started to meditate.

Haig came back down. "No," he said simply. "He knows her father, and he knows her mother, and who her grandfather is...." Sighing softly, Haig rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't think he's even going to be happy she's coming, Adabella."

{Can I play the parents? x]}