Nylat was hissing by time Break had left, and her eyes glinted with a disgust and anger unknown before in those eyes. She glanced at Mayanna, her demeanor plainly becoming sad. With quick paws, she followed, swiftly catching up to her friend. She padded beside her, saying nothing, only offering an ear to listen if the need arose. She had caught what Break had said--she had been standing right beside Maya and her ears were quite keen.

She glanced over to where Raphael was talking to him, hatred plain in the hybrid's hard eyes. The scene was overall quite familiar, but she had to think upon it. For now, her main priority was Maya, and keeping her as she normally was--cheerful and bright. She flicked her tail to lightly touch her friend.
"He could be lying, for all you know. Don't let a stranger get you worked up..."
Her ears were flat in worry and her tail hung limply. Her fur was flat, and she looked half her normal size. The hybrid whined softly, her 'voice' mixed with a bit of a purr.

Nylat glanced over at Dravius, having barely noticed him in her worry. She glanced up at Maya, trying to convey her words with her eyes. However, it wasn't easy to say 'hug her' in eye language.

((Hurr. Nylat's earlier plot is now doomed, but she has another! XD))

~~

Kanec followed obediently, shifting into his human self. As Break approached, he folded his wongs, though loosely, against his back. He worried. He'd never seen anyone affect Raphael this much. He kept on the egde of his mind the multitude of creatures he could shift into that were good for fighting. At the bottom of this list, though still a possibility, was the gryphon. It was to be a last resort only.

Ariskye cocked her head when she noticed Raphael moved his arm in front of her. Probably to prevent her from attacking this Xerxes character which she really want to do at the moment. She also saw him shake his head slightly. Narrowing her eyes, she took a few steps back to watch the conversation unfurl. And as she watched, she began to calm down... But only slightly. Her pupils started to fade out of her eyes, the crimson slowly started to become the size of a regular iris, and she let her canines become hidden again. But the scales on her arms continued to spread across her skin.

Watching, she saw the Ring Master's arm drop back to his side. Her head cocked to the other side. What were they talking about?

Shivering, Silverbane awoke. She blinked once. Twice. Three times, before realising that she was in a van. It was after that thought that the stiffness in her shoulder made her wince. Her eyes flickered towards it, but it was hidden underneath the blanket. Pain jolted through her when she moved, so she kept still. All the while, she gazed at her surrounding through the blindfold. Everything was black, but there were hints of aura here and there, old trails of the van owners aura. There were several other traces as well, a bit more fresher than the owners. The black aura of her friend, Alto, was strong and thick in one corner. She stared at it. "Alto." She rasped. She heard a jerk as he jolted up, shocked by her voice. Although he rushed to her side and began speaking, her mind was elsewhere. Thoughts drifted through her mind and she closed her eyes, taking them in. Different powers coursed through her head. 

Regeneration, shape shifter, Unable to feel pain, spider, illusionist, Adjustment or compatability, Evolved Butterfly, Hybrid, Bat Summoner, Demon, Pyrokinesis, Dreamer, Defy Gravity, Shadow possessor, Unnatural skill Hybrid... STOP.

The shut her mind down. Completely. It was too much. Too much to take in at one time. So many abilities.... So many souls to read...... Where was her scythe? It was the only thing that allowed her to control her power. Without it, she struggled beneath the information.  She was glad there was no other aura's around her besides Alto's. His aura was strange, being black with a purple tint. It was a dull color against the endless black. She sighed and his talking stopped as he listened to her, worried ad anxious.

(( Thats every person in the Majikus Circus. Some didn't have specific names so i narrowed them down to main abilities. It was very difficult. )) 

((Holy crud, I'm far behind.)) 

Kioko followed Raphael, Kanec and Ariskye from the tent, watching as Spider ambled off by himself.  She was caught off guard by Ariskyes' hissed statement about "something wicked", and looked around anxiously.  The only thing different she could see was a tall, blonde man dressed in a performers outfit by a tree.  

"Come with me," Raphael told them, and she followed the other two, wondering who the new man was.  

"Hello, Raphael. How are you, pray tell."  The newcomer mockingly greeted the Ringmaster.  Staying behind the taller girl, Kioko shivered at the mans voice, cold and polite, but still full of hatred.  Her skin began to prickle in warning.  It seemed she wasn't the only one on edge because of him.  Hidden behind Ariskyes' back, Kioko couldn't see her ex
pression, but could feel her suddenly bristle at him as the black scales on her arms began to cover the rest of her skin.

"I've come to the shocking decision that I'd like to join your...show."  His ex
pression twisted into a fake smile, causing her stomach to do the same in dread.  The warm prickling on her skin became more intense,   "Isn't it your policy to take in all who don't have a home, and are a bit...unusual?"

Raphael held a hand in front of Ariskye as he addressed the stranger.  "Xerxes?"  Even his name sounded evil.

"I should have stayed at the tent," Kioko realized belatedly as the warm prickling became a burning sensation, sweeping through her.  She dropped her bag behind Ariskyes feet, hands too hot to hold it anymore. 

"E-excuse me," she mumbled shakily into the taller girls back, then turned and sprinted into the forest, putting as much distance between herself and everyone else as possible before she lost control.

When the world began to turn red at the edges, she stopped, tearing her cloak from around her neck and flinging it away as hard as she could.  Her other clothes followed, along with her shoes and socks.  Hugging her knees to her chest, Kioko drew in a deep breath as her control finally snapped and she was surrounded by a halo of flames.

It only lasted for a few seconds, but when the flash fire finally receded, Kioko slumped over on her side, completely drained of strength.  She closed her eyes as she lay there, not wanting to look at the scorched gras.s and trees she knew she had caused.  The silver haired girl only hoped she would regain enough strength to redress herself and return before anyone came looking for her.

"Aww. I fail to see why I'm greeted so poorly." Break purred, steepling his fingers. "And no, people without a set of skills are people I find all too breakable, hmm?" Break walked around Raphael in a circle, running his eyes up and down the Ringmaster. "And I have already told you what I want. I find myself all too often in a lack of company, and I thought, that if I came here, I might be welcomed, and that I would get to spend time with Wolfe. You have re-trained him, I see. Shame, really. Although his manners are better, I sense a lack of ruthlessness, and all too much rational thought. You've broken him, Raphael." Break pouted, crossing his long arms in front of his chest, every movement sending out a cascade of jingles from the coins attached to his clothes.

"And please, do call me Break. Xerxes is a rather harsh word, isn't it?" The tall man said, resuming staring deeply at Ariskye. Spotting a white-haired head behind her, he flashed his pointed teeth in a maniac smile. After she had run off, he said, "Oh, dear. Something's burning."

Dravius looked taken aback at the raw anguish that showed through Mayanna's golden hair, then looked towards Nylat as she mentioned something about lying. "May, I'm not stupid. I know enough to know that it is not nothing, and it is important, and I want to know what Break said to you. He's not the most sensitive of guys. In fact, he's probably the least sensitive." He trotted faster to keep up with the hybrid and the butterfly girl.  "Really May. It kills me to see you sad." His thing brows were down turned, an instensely worried ex
pression residing in his one good eye.

He looked at Nylat, positively, extrordinairily confused. Dravius's eye was pleading, asking Nylat what was up with Mayanna, and what Break had said, because he knew that with her hearing, she was sure to know what Xerxes had wickedly whispered.

[[Poor Pippit. DD:

also poor naked Kioko. D; i must embarra.ss her.]]

Spider's eyes blinked open and he sat up. There was a strange strain to the air. It wasn't any of his business, but he was curious anyway. Now there was a small crowd around some woman, and she didn't seem to realize the good rules about personal space. Another reason Spider thought sleeping in a tree was a good idea. Sera was very critical about those weird people and their personal bubble breaking. He went on about it at some length whenever his strange friends came over (they were of the personal space invading variety) most of the ranting was directed at Spider, as nobody else cared to listen to him.

'Never let someone invade your bubble if you don't want them to. Even if you have to beat them with a firepoker.' Spider didn't know where he'd find a firepoker around here, but perhaps if he displayed a threatening gesture and dyed himself blue they'd stay away. Spider really thought he needed to look more poisonous. It would certainly make life easier. Wasn't he a venomous spider anyway? Why couldn't he have gotten that trait? But no, big red mark on his back, but no venom to speak of.

He rubbed his eyes and stretched, though he had only been asleep for probably five minutes he felt much better now. It was better to rest your head for a few minutes than pa.ss out for twelve hours, Spider supposed. He was putting his hat on when he noticed the state of his stuffed spider. Barbie Q's one empty eye socket had been replaced by a glossy pink button, sewn in with silver thread, with more neatness and care than Spider thought he could ever accomplish. He stared at it in disbelief. 

So what was the dream then? He was obviously here... at the Circus. But when he was awake minutes ago, the eye had been missing... and in the dream the girl said it would take a few hours to fix. Was he still sleeping? Spider pinched himself, but he failed to wake up. Must be awake, he conceded, and stood. Something smelled like burning. Spider looked toward the slowly curling smoke from the nearby trees and had a decision to make. Investigate, or listen again to more of Sera's advice-- in this case it was never wander into a forest alone, ever.

But Sera wasn't here and Spider was pretty sure he could be threatening if the situation required it. He scooped up his coat and his briefcase and innocently traversed to the slightly smoky trees. Finding a naked girl in a pile of soot wasn't exactly what he expected it, but he didn't seem very shocked by the events either. He stared at one lone shoe on the ground, that had been tossed quite a ways from the other, and wondered if this had been an attack of some sort. He hoped not.

Was that the fair haired Kioko? A bit hard to tell when all you could see was her naked back, and out of politeness he turned promptly around. "Are you okay?" He simply asked. He figured at this point it had something to do with her fire. Because stripping naked to nap in the dirt was something he didn't think Kioko would do. He wondered if her clothes were within reach, and without really thinking about it, tossed his heavy coat up over his head. Hopefully it landed within her reach.

((Yes, poor nekkid Kioko.  Always having to strip down so her clothes don't burn off when she has an "episode" Dx))

Kioko had been fighting to stay awake when she heard someone walking toward the spot she had charred to ash.  Panicked, she tried to stand up and run to her clothes, only to fall back over on her side.  She settled for curling up in a ball and squeezing her eyes shut, her face becoming as red as her cloak.  "Please, please, please, let it be one of the girls," Kioko prayed silently.  Her hopes were dashed, however, when she heard the persons' voice.   

"Are you okay?"  

Kiokos' eyes popped open.  "Spider?"  She pushed herself up on an elbow to look at him, only to have the world blotted out when his heavy coat landed over her head.   Wriggling her head free, she check to see where the human arachnid was looking.  Satisfied when she saw he had turned his back to her, Kioko carefully (and slowly) pushed herself into a sitting position, then wrapped his coat tightly around her body.  "Could have been worse," she told herself.  "At least that weird man in the skirt wasn't the one to find you."  The weird thought cheered her up slightly, despite the embaras.sing situation she was still in.

Shaking her hair out of her face, Kioko looked for her clothing.  Seeing that most of it had landed on or near her cloak, several feet away from the scorched area, she let out a sigh of relief.  She really hadn't wanted to walk into a clothes store smelling of smoke, with singed clothes, again.  People tended to look at you strangely.

Tugging the coat closely around her, Kioko looked over her shoulder at Spider, who was still turned away from her.  "Um, Spider?"  she called out to him, face still red.  "Could you hand me my clothing?  I can't move very far right now."

[[So... many... girls. Too balance this all out I am going to have to join as more dudes. Maybe two. But I must... choose carefully. I'm already sneaking one in. Maybe my pink magical dream man can out fruitify Xerxes. (i doubt it).

(also i am sorry i keep poking fun at Xerxes).]]

Spider listened to the rustling and was relieved that the coat was of some use. Yes. It would have been very impolite not to give her the coat.  He bent and picked up the shoe at his feet, glancing once at Kioko's flushed face. He instantly regretted it, remembering something Em had said about peeping and how it could result in him being severely beaten. He turned to the clothes. "Yes." He squeaked, in a sort of frightened chirp. Leaving his things, he went to pick up her clothing. 

He always found it odd when people got embarra.ssed about these things. Probably a human thing. He didn't find it embarra.ssing to prance around unclothed, though he would admit it was usually pretty cold. He wished he had a nice exoskeleton and not this stupid skeleton on the inside business. Em had tried talking to him about the reason for clothes, once, among other things, but gave up because Spider kept bringing up the fact that females bite your head off in those kinds of situations, and what did she think he was suicidal or something?

Spider set the clothes and the cloak down besides Kioko, not wanting to have to make her reach for them or anything cruel like that. He turned around again and rocked back on his heels. Spider felt as if he should mention that he had some spare clothes if she needed any, but decided that might be an odd thing to say. As he waited, he wondered where her other shoe was, as he couldn't see it anywhere.

[[hey who needs sleep. i can post a lot too guysss.]]

((Oh my goodness. So many new characters. xD!! Be aware that Raphael can pretty much do what Ria does, Momo... Except with the emotion. xD))

With a thinning patience, Raphael closed his eyes, listening to the footsteps of Break as the taller male carried out his as.sessment.The Ring Master's face was unreadable, though his mind was far from quiet. He didn't particlarly want to accept Break, but the fact was, Break would follow the Circus anyway... If that was what he wished... What Raphael couldn't understand was why he wanted to be here... They did, literally, hate eachothers to the point of no return... And if Break wanted to be closer to Dravius, then why not just take the Co-Master with him?...

He sighed, just as Julian finally reappeared, stopping beside Raphael and looking at Break. He didn't bother asking any questions, he'd find out eventually anyway.
The Ring Master finally opened his eyes, the ex
pression in them not wavering in the slightest. "My my," He said, an un-identifiable tone in his voice. "And here I thought you despised our very existance," He shook his head and smiled slightly at the males mention of Dravius. Break wasn't likely to understand, so he settled with simply shrugging. "You sent him to me. Whether or not you expected him to remain with me, or even change, for that matter I do not know,"

Julian glanced questioningly at Ariskye and Kioko, just as the latter ran off into the trees, Raphael sighing. "Ariskye." He said. "Would you please check on Kioko for me?" The appearance of Break was going to cause a lot of bother.... That was certain.

The Ring Master looked back at the tall blonde. "You know full well I wouldn't accept you willingly. You also probably know that I know my decision will mean very little if your set on this choice of yours,". He placed a hand on his neck, his eyes glaring by this point. "I suggest, however, that you refrain from any uneeded contact with other members of the Circus." His voice was laced with something close to venom.

~~~

 Maya had returned to simply watching the floor, when she heard Nylat's voice. Sighing, she glanced down at the hybrid, before shaking her head. "I..." She paused, then sighed. It didn't matter.. Besides, she wouldn't have been able to explain. Break could have been either right or wrong... The fact Dravius seemed to know him placed the tall male at a time before the Circus. One of those old, unbreakable friendships maybe... Perhaps Break knew Dravius better than she did.

She looked once more at Nylat as the hybrid brushed a gentle tail against her leg, listening to Dravius as she continued to walk. With every word he seemed to say, that ache seemed to grow more vivid. "It'll pas.s," She said with a small, strained smile, "It has done so far...", stopping in her tracks, keeping her eyes resoloutely away from Dravius' face, trying her best to hold down that mix of emotional hurt and fear.

((Nylat has a bone to pick with Break. D<))

Nylat gave an exasperated sigh. She listened with growing worry as Maya talked, the hybrid seemingly becoming smaller and smaller. She glanced at Dravius, noticing the pleading look in his eye and shook her head in an 'I won't tell' fashion. She glanced up as Maya stopped, whining.
"Maya...."
Her voice cracked in worry and she said no more. She stepped in front of her friend, glancing at Dravius. She sighed, looking back up at Mayanna, her eyes shining with unsaid comfort. She could say nothing without tipping Dravius off, and she would not do so without Maya's permission.

Silverbane slowly sat up. Pain went through her shoulder, but was a numb pain. It was dull compared to the pain before. "Silver! You shouldn't move!" Alto yelped. Silverbane smiled weakly at him. "I have to. Somethings wrong and it's driving me insane." She teased weakly. Instantly, Alto stiffened. He placed a gentle hand on her chest and pushed her back down. "Stay." he ordered, then he was gone in the shadows. Silverbane sighed and slipped into an uneasy sleep, the powers rolling through her head.

Alto appeared near the newcomer who was called Break. He jolted in shock and took a step back. He had come a bit too close. A low growl lifted from his chest. "What's going on? Who is this moron?" He snarled. Every part of his body screamed to attack this man called Break. Another part said it would do no good. But that part was the quietest and easily silenced. 

Break pouted, sticking out his lower lip with his arms crossed. "I sent him with you to make sure he didn't get killed. I didn't expect you to break him." Break uncrossed his arms and frowned. "What do you mean 'unneeded contact'? Are you going to try to confine me?" Break's pale purple eyes narrowed into slits of malice, focused towards the Ringmaster. "But be as.sured. I won't come into more contact with you than is minimally nessecary." Break shot a glance back at Dravius, pleading with Mayanna. "That girl is a fool." He spat viciously, his head whipping back to the front when Alto emerged, snarling softly.

"Moron? I do not believe I am the moron here, Whelp." Break spat out the last word, exuding an aura of pure evil, a twisting, turning, wave of hatred. Break returned Alto's growl with a deep one of his own, before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, seemingly composing himself. "Excuse me." Break twisted another fake smile onto his face, eyes narrowed into slits. "Who are you, young man? I don't recall doing anything to you to recieve this insult."

----

"What?" Dravius asked, on the edge of yelling. "I'm not a mind reader. You have to tell me what is wrong, or I can't help, for gods' sake!" Dravius threw his hands into the air and moved on, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Muttering to himself, he went to stand beside the seething Break, looking at Alto with one eyebrow raised. "This moron is Break, my friend." Dravius stressed the word 'Friend', as he gestured to Break.

"Really Alto. That isn't very nice, is it?" Break smirked, bending down to rest his sharp chin on Dravius's shoulder. "Stop it, Break." Dravius pushed Xerxes's head off of him, frowning deeply. He moved into his van, sitting down next to the wall, sighing deeply. He looked over tot he girl he had stitched up earlier, watching the rise and fall of her chest. She seemed to be in an uneasy sleep, not one very restful.

[[ Gr... I go to sleep during a slow period and I come back to this... ]]

Ariskye bristled under Xerxes's stare and her gaze darkened into a glare. She didn't exactly see Kioko run off or Julian's questioning stare as her vision became clouded with crimson. Though, she did hear the Ring Master's voice. Snapping out of her glare, she turned her gaze on him before inclining her head. "Sure, Captian," she replied as turned her head to catch Kioko's scent. Once she had it, she bolted in that direction and shifted into a King Cheetah as she did so. Her twin tails lashed out and the crimson markings gleamed in the sun before she sped off.

It took a while for her to get to the younger girl because she had to curve around trees and jump over a fallen log. Seeing her and Spider, she slid to a stop and slowly shifted back to her human form as she kept her eyes on Kioko's face. "You okay, kid?" she asked before glancing at Spider. The arachnid-like male had his back to the younger girl before her. Ariskye also noted the pile of clothes near Kioko before turning her attention back to the white-haired girl.

Raphael snorted, placing both hands in his pockets as he kept his eyes on Break, the ex
pression never changing. Again, he didn't bother to retort to the first of the tall males statements, he didn't particularly need to. He wouldn't understand anyway, most likely.

He smiled wryly though when the taller being spoke about confinement. "Of course not," He said, though his voice kept it's somewhat venemous tenor. He threw a stern glance in Alto's direction, raising an eyebrow when Break mentioned "that girl", his eyes flickering to Maya in the distance as Dravius approached.

"I'd much prefer it if you kept your thoughts on our members to yourself, thankyou." He replied, his voice cold. This guy was going to cause ripples, that was a definate...

He remained silent as Dravius exchanged words before heading towards his van. Julian also watching with a confused ex
pression. "I wonder whats wrong with him," The dark haired male murmured as Raphael looked over his shoulder.

"Julian. Stay here for a second, I'll be back," The Ring Master sighed, then pas.sed Break without a backwards glance.

~~~

Flinching visibly at Dravius' voice, the butterfly winged teen bit her lip. She felt completely helpless, and annoyed with herself for the inability to say what she should have a long time ago. She looked up only to watch him leave, almost but not quite reaching out a slender hand, as though to stop him, before she glanced at Nylat, an apology and something close to permission in her eyes.

With one movement, she headed off, eventually stopping and sitting by a tree quite a distance away from the clearing, away from Nylat and the camp. She was unwilling to pas.s anywhere near Break, and wanted simply to be alone. If anything had simply made this worse, it had been the sound of near agitation in the Co-Masters voice.

Raphael came to a stop by Nylat, his eyes on the back of Maya. Looking at the hybrid, the males ex
pression was as bleak as it had been while he was conversing with Break. "Care to explain?"

Kioko watched Spider pick up her stray shoe by his foot.  He glanced her way and squeaked out a frightened "Yes." before scrambling to gather up her clothes.  He set them right beside her before placing his back to her again.  She just blinked at his odd response.  Shouldn't she be the one scared in this scenario?

Before Kioko could think more on the subject, a red and black cheetah bolted into the  small clearing, shifting to human form as it approached them.  "You okay, kid?" Ariskyes' familiar voice asked as the tall shape-shifter looked from her to Spider.

"Yeah, I'm alright," Kioko reas.sured her, before pulling the pile of clothes under the coat with her.   She ducked her head inside, jerking and twisting around as she redressed herself.  After a minute or so, Kioko reemerged, hair tousled.  She folded Spiders' coat in her lap carefully.

"Thank you both, for your help, and for coming to check on me.  But do you think one of you could help me up?  I'm still sort of weak."  Pulled to her feet, Kioko clutched her one lone shoe, wandering where its' mate had gone.  "Do either of you see my other shoe?  I didn't think I threw it that far..."