Enjoying the show, young lady? I do not believe you are part of this circus as of yet," a guy with weird hair and an eyepatch said to Chi. Chi was feeling herself grow angry. Why was he so mad at her already? Everyone seemed to want her to go away... Like those people at that one store in the city. They had made her leave the place because she wasn't doing anything. "Loitering" was the word they had used, but Chi hadn't a clue what that meant. She had gotten angry and caused some trouble after that. But now this person as well was acting annoyed. What had she done?  I hate people like that she thought to herself, the darker personality beginning to take over. Her eyes began to lose their mistiness and grow hard; luckily, though, this was interrupted by somebody (or something) else.

"Dravius, leave the poor dear some courage," a voice said, purring. Chi's eyes grew wide and childlike again. She stared at the thing... A large cat... Tiger was the right word. It blended in completely with the shadows all around. Shadows... Was it like her? Could it play with puppets? Maybe. Chi smiled at it; it was an innocent, happy smile.

"Welcome," said another person who happened to walk up to Chi. "I'll have to ask your patience... I need to speak with my friend here for a moment-" He broke off. 

And then the shadow-tiger suddenly changed back into a human. Chi's eyes were now as wide as saucers. So he wasn't a puppeteer. But he was "different" just like her. And then, quite abruptly, the strange boy's eyes grew dull and empty. Chi didn't really understand what he was talking about, but she felt a deep sympathy for him; at least, she felt sad because he looked sad. At the same time she was confused; so many people were beginning to crowd around her and it was a bit... frightening for her, really. Her misty eyes began to grow more and more fearful. Who were these people? They were strange and... And "different" too. But why were they crowding around her all of a sudden? 

"A-are you going to put on a show?" she asked timidly. Her voice was that not of a fifteen-year-old; it was that of one significantly younger than that. 

Ariskye walked through town, her hands jammed in her pant's pockets and her eyes basically glued to the conrete at her feet. Her hair was down, but most of it was covering a jagged scar on the left side of her face and her pointed ears. While it looked like no emotions were crossing the twenty-year-old's face, her mind was boiling over with two emotions; rage and sadness. But, she didn't know where the rage had came from. It was just there. Though the sadness was a different story. One she didn't really want to elaborate on.

Without really thinking about where she was going, Ariskye soon found herself at a place with a whole lot of vans. And they were different colours. Her head raised as disgust over the colours wringled her nose and curled her lip up to show her longer than-normal canines. Realization soon dawned on her that this was a circus. Basically slapping herself on the forhead, she shook her head before looking around.

This place seemed cool enough. Maybe she'd stick around for a little and see a show. Suddenly hearing faint voices, she cocked her head and glanced in the direction they were coming from. What were they talking about? Slight curiousity pas-sed through her mind, driving away the rage and sadness as she slowly headed towards them.

((Sorry for the delay, real life kept interrupting >_<))

Kioko awoke curled up next to the trunk of one of the many random trees in the forest outside the small city.  Its' roots dug into her ribs, and she rolled over onto her other side, trying to not wake up yet.  The teen managed to doze for a few more minutes before getting another unpleasant wake up call, this one from her stomach.  The hunger pangs finally managed to rouse her into action, as she rolled into a sitting position and hooked a finger into the straps of a cloth bag nearby.

She dragged it onto her lap and began what she already knew was a fruitless search for some kind of food amongst her meager belongings.  After looking through it twice, Kioko finally gave up and resigned herself to the fact that she had no more food.  The small coin purse on top of her pack caught her eye, and she picked it up and poured the contents into her hand.  

A quick tally of the coins inside told her all she needed to know.  Just enough money for something to eat from one of the vendors from the towns' shopping mall.  Of course, that would require traveling back into the town.

That thought had Kioko frowning.  She had spent the past week sleeping on benches in the park, and buying her meals from the malls' food court with money begged from whoever would spare her a few coins.  She had planned to stay longer in the town, but between the local police who disliked her panhandling, and the kindhearted (and nosy) Samaritans who had taken an interest in the homeless girl, she had become quite uncomfortable, and decided to leave for the next town.  Which had led to her sleeping under a tree in the forest.

The white haired teen dumped her meager savings into the coin purse, then placed said purse into the bag with her change of clothes and comb, the only other things the bag contained.  She stood up and slung it over one shoulder, then moved away from the tree and picked the red cloak she had been sleeping on.  Dusting off any gras.s or bugs that had clung to it, Kioko Fastened it around her shoulders, making sure to tuck her inhuman white hair into the hood so no one would be able to see it.  

Walking out of the forest and stepping onto the side of the road, Kioko decided not to return to the town.  It would only take another day or so for her to reach the next town, and she'd gone longer without any real food.  Her mind made up, she began walking down the road to the next town, hoping no one would drive by and ask her if she needed a ride or help.  

She had been walking for only a few minutes when she noticed a large group of colorful tents erected in the woods.  Curiosity got the better of her, and she wandered down the dirt road leading to them.

It looked like some sort of circus or carnival had set up among the trees.  Although she had never been to one herself, she had heard the deions from other children growing up, about brightly colored tents and people who performed strange tricks to entertain the audience.  And booths that sold food, she remembered with a smile.  

Hopeful, she approached the circus, making sure her hair was still hidden by her cloak.

Dravius jumped slightly when Rapheal laid a hand on hjis shoulder, as his friend had done it from his blind side, but whene he twisted his head around far enough to see who it was, the corners of his mouthtwitched up, which these days, was his version of a toothy grin. "Hey, Rapheal. What do you-" He pulled away from his old friend in order to see and make eye contact with Alto. "I'm sorry about Sara, Alto. And as far as I'm concerned, you're aways welcome here." Dravius turned to Chi and said "I'm sorry I was harsh before. You've missed our last show, as I believe we are leaving tonight." Leaning down, Dravius lined his one good eye up with Chi's two, and said, "If I may ask, what are you doing here?" Although the question was blunt, Dravius didn't say it harshly, but rather adopted a soft, gentle tone.

Without waiting for an answer, Dravius seemed to draw back inside himself, standing up straight and his one eye going flat. This happened often, where Dravius seemed to lose all trace of humanity, and his showing eye turned vacant and lifeless. Turning without a word, Dravius climbed the nail-studded steps of his cabin, slipping swiftly inside to sit in the exact same spot he was in less than ten mintues ago, staring blankly at the covered window, his hands clasped between his knees.

Dravius hadn't actually slept in days, preffering to hide inside his mind, sitting for hours on end staring into nothing, making not a sound, barely breathing. Almost nothing brought him out of his trance, and it was pure luck that he had emerged from his van this afternoon. With a start, he shook his head and seemed to return to the real world, walking to perch on the only soft, non-nailed surface, a large, rather overstuffed black chair in the corner, although he couldn't tell much difference between the nails and the chair, but Rapheal was always telling him to keep off the nails, to avoid damaging himself, so he sometimes took his advie, as he had with the chair. It was Rapheal's idea to put it in, anyways.

Someone was walking towards him-- oh no, what should he do? She was different... and she looked like a nice lady. But Spider was sure he was going to frighten her in some way and was very worried about it. He seemed to shrink inside his heavy jacket, and bowed his head, so that his hat obsucred his face. he clutched his suitcase to his chest and took a breath, which came out in a sort of nervous squeak. "Uh, uhm, hello...? I-...I don't know. I'm not sure." That wasn't a good answer, and he'd been scolded before about bad answers. Why couldn't they have introduced him or something?

Why make him do it himself? Nobody likes spiders! These strange people will squash him for sure! "It's... my cousins." How could he word it in a way that made it sound like his cousins leaving him here wasn't an abandonment? He didn't think he could. "They... wanted me away for awhile. Sera said there would be nice people here. People a bit... "different" than he considers... normal." Of course, "different" was not the word his cousin used, but he did not want to offend the nice lady.  "A safe place?" He asked, uncertainly, mostly to himself.

Mayanna felt a small stab of pity at the way the white-haired boy spoke, understanding without him needing to explain. It happened all the time, afterall, with people like them; Though they weren't usually left at the Circus itself... This guy, all things considered, was somewhat lucky to have been brought here directly. He could, afterall, have been left anywhere.

A small smile made it's way onto Maya's features as she spoke in a soft, level tone. "You don't need to be afraid. You'll be more than welcome here," She raised an eyebrow at the boy's last question. "Of course. Come on, you'll need to speak the Ring-Master or Co-master-" She paused, thinking about Dravius in his current state hurt, and her ex
pression became almost despairing. She shook her head and sighed. "You'll have more chance with Raphael though..."

She gestured with a hand for the nervous teen to follow her, then made her way across the field towards where the Ring Master stood; Her eyes downcast and thoughtful as she contemplated the Co-Master's issue... She missed the old Dravius, as did everyone else in the Circus, though she seemed to be the only one who actually moped over it as constantly as she did. Raphael, being who he was, had not yet given up hope when it came to his old friend, and the thought brought a little, much needed comfort as Maya continued on her way past the vans that resided in the clearing.

~~~

Raphael nodded warily at Alto, his eyes somewhat guarded but not unfriendly. He turned sharply to watch Dravius as the Co-Master spoke first, seemingly reverting to how he had once been. The Ring Master knew better to as.sume it would last, however, and when Dravius retreated, he sighed. He was really going to need to face this head on... Even if it meant walking on nails.

"Julian," He called, wincing at his previous thought. "Think you can take care of this?... I need to talk to Dravius..."

As the Sword Master made his way over to talk to Chi and Alto, Raphael smiled at the two of them, his eyes sad. "I apologise for this." The blonde then walked pas.sed Julian, heading for Dravius' van, coming a stop just outside the door; Knocking a couple of times on a nail free section of wood.

"Dravius," He called in a solid voice. "Do me a favour and put down those nails... Naturally, it won't matter if you don't..." Raphael had pretty much resigned himself to injury here... He'd let this go on too long, feeling that perhaps Dravius would find his own way out. Clearly, he needed to take a more direct approach, even if that meant getting impaled.

"I'm coming in either way, old friend," He added, eyeing the nails with distate and apprehension.

~~~

Julian watched the Ring Master leave, then faced Alto with a grim ex
pression, placing his hands in the pockets of the black combats he wore. "I'm afraid you won't have much chance of sharing a van with Dravius this time around." He said, sighing inwardly. "I'll explain a little later,"

The dark haired male then looked at Chi, smiling, about to ask her name when Maya approached. He glanced once at the butterfly winged member, then what looked like yet another new kid not far behind her. He blinked, then ran a hand through his hair. Looks like he had his work cut out...

Dravius turned his head slowly towards the door at the mad pounding being done by the Ring Master of the Circus. He could imagine Rapheal's ex
pression as he knocked on the small, nail-free section on his wagon. Placing two fingers on a switch much like a light dimmer, he slid the nails down watcching the floor shift and change until the switch stopped abruptly at the bottom, with a rather loud click. Dravius tugged on his white hair, the color that used to blend into the shadows of his wagon, and now shone out like a miniature beacon.

"What is it, Rapheal?" Dravius asked softly, his smooth voice carrying through the wagon and drifting slowly through the door, as he folded his long limbs, bringing his knees to his pale chin. His long, many-pocketed pants were frayinh at the bottom, and he pulled them down, over his heels, staring at the long, horitzontal black stripes on the deep burgundy background. He never remembered to put on shoes. His feet were caked with what looked a bit like mud, but when Dravius looked closer, turnined out to be dried blood. Why hadn't he noticed this? He sighed and started picking the blood off with his long fingernails, giving up after he broke one. He slid his feet to the floor, then resumed his previous spot,his feet resting on the smooth wood. He leaned his head back, thudding aginst the thin wall of the van, his hair splaying out behind the young man.

[[meep]]

He wasn't so sure about not being afraid. People were quick to smash things they didn't like. But he was going to take her word for it, as she seemed very nice so far. Slowly, he started walking after her. Spider payed very careful attention to his steps. It was easier to walk with Em dragging him. He always felt like he was missing two more pairs of legs, and walking with just two legs was a bit awkward. And the suitcase was a bulky thing that put his balance off, and made this an even more difficult task.

As he walked, he pushed his hat back slightly to stare at the group they were approaching, and his eyes drifted to Maya's back. He had thought those large things on her back were a part of her outfit, a pretty accessory for her dress (his family enjoyed going overboard with their costumes, and this would not surprise him). But, upon closer inspection he realized they were wings. 'Very very different.' he thought, wonderingly.

Spider wondered what it would be like to be pretty and have wings. You probably got lots of admirers. His thoughts trailed off as they walked up to Julius and the girl, Chi. Minding his manners, which he realized had not been used when the butterfly lady had spoken to him, Spider inclined his head slightly. "...hullo."

With a sigh of obvious relief at being spared the act of walking on pointed metal, Raphael stepped up to Dravius's door, opening it, entering, and closing it, all in one swift movement. He made his way quickly to one of the chairs, then sat on it, making sure his legs were over one arm... Just in case Dravius' decided to get bored of the smoother surroundings.

"It's been a long while since we've spoken like this, hm?" He asked, placing his elbows on the other arm of the chair and looking at the cieling, his face unusually grim. He sat up a little, then looked at Dravius with one eye, the other obscured by his blonde hair.

"You know why I'm here. There's no way even you would miss such a change of character in people, especially in yourself." His gray eye narrowed, a silent struggle evident in the way he looked at the Co-master.

"I've left you alone all this time, hoping against all good sense you might snap out of this, clearly I was mistaken." He frowned, then sighed and looked back at the cieling, his eyes now completely covered by his mess of hair. "Please, Dravius, I'm asking you as your friend. Open up, talk to me... I can't help you if I don't know what your thinking. We've been through too much together, you have handled too much too well for us to fall apart now. The entire Circus is worried about you, not least myself and Maya." He gritted his teeth in frustration at his own decision. "I shouldn't have left you like this so long..."

~~~

Stopping next to Julian, Maya's eyes flitted between the dark haired male and the new girl. She crossed her arms, then looked over her shoulder at the male who had followed. "Looks like we've got a few new ones, huh?" She then glanced at Dravius's van, an unspoken question directed at Julian when she looked back. The Sword master nodded.

Julian chuckled then. "Seems so." The black haired male looked between the girl and the new guy carrying the suitcase. "It's nice to meet you both, You'd usually be talking to either Raphael or Dravius about now, our Ring-Master and Co-master. It seems their preoccupied for the moment however. My name is Julian, a performer here at the Circus, and this is Maya-" He indicated the butterfly winged teen, who was looking sullenly over at the co-masters van.

"We'd be happy to answer any questions you have, but first things first. What are your names?" He asked, a practical smile on his face.

Spider stared at the van that had Maya's attention. She didn't look happy. The Ring Master and the Co-Ring Master... he wondered if something was wrong. What if someone was sick? He hoped not. Spider didn't like being sick. He didn't like it when other people weren't feeling good either. His eyes shifted back to Julian. Circus performers. Would he have to perform? Spider wasn't sure he'd be good at any of those cool... whatever it was circus performers did. Cool performances. Spider figured there was a certain amount of grace needed for such things.

He wanted to go home and sit in his basement again. That didn't require any effort and nobody expected anything of him. That was easy. Maybe sending him out here was a test to help him live life better and take better care of himself. Maybe they were just pretending they didn't want him around, for his own good. Gosh he hoped so. "Very pleased to meet you, Miss Maya and Mister Julian. Ah. I'm Spider. But, umm, my formal name is Boris Blodwen. But I don't like that name. Most call me Spider anyway."

As well as "Agghh", "Hey you", "Creeper" and "Wendy", but he wasn't going to mention any of those (especially the last one). He had another question though, that was pretty broad and he wasn't sure if he should ask it. But, it wouldn't hurt to try. Unless they had a rolled up newspaper handy. In which case it could hurt a little bit. "My cousin said you take in odd ones. Why?" 

 Jade walked along the hard sidewalk. Her eyes were half closed as she focused on the sound of her footsteps. She had both of her hands in her pockets as the words of her sister echoed through her mind. She pulled a hand out of her pocket and watched it turn into water. She sighed as it turned normal again.

 She stopped as she saw a few people. Where am I? She thought. I don't think I've walked very far... Jade looked around again suddenly feeling very misplaced and a little scared. She lowered her neck a little letting her bangs fall in her face as if to hide herself. She looked at Julian carefully. The Circus! I remember him from the circus a few nights ago! She continued to walk not wanting to go home yet. 

((Sorry, bestthing I could think of.))

Dravius turned his head to gaze at Raphael, but instead of looking at his friend, he seemed to look through him, as if he wasn't there. "It has been long, indeed, Rapheal."  Pulling his white gauze from his bad eye, it revealed a misty blue eyes, run through with two twisted and ropy scars, one at each corner of his eye. It also split the eyebrow into three parts, the hair in between growing back a grey."I don't know. It feels like I'm trapped inside my own head, with a rope about my neck. Whenever I get out, the rope goes tight and pulls me back in." He shook his head slightly and got to his feet. "I can't explain it any other way." Dravius added, leaning back against the wall.

"I think the best thing would be to not let me in this van for a bit." Dravius said thoughtfully, rubbing his good eye and yawning. "I really need to sleep." He murmered, sliding down the wall. "I have noticed that bright light helps loosen the hypothectical rope, though." Making his way over the the rather large window on the side of the van closest to Rapheal, and pulled the shorud off of it, filling the gloomy van with bright light. "Ahh, too bright." He said, sorely tempted to put the cloth back, squinting in the unusually bright van. "I do remember something about gras.s feeling ridiculously good between my toes..." He said thoughtfully, crossing the floor to rest his hand on the door knob. His lips twitched up a bit as he said, "You're right, Rapheal, we've gone through to much to fall to peices when peace is finally been relatively restored, correct?" He bushed his bright hair back from his good eye, inadvertantly covering his bad.

Ariskye continued to walk towards the talking voices and they grew steadily louder. Her curiousity also grew with each step she took and the emotion caused her to shape-shift into a small black house-cat. But the shift had two tails and the cat was covered in deep crimson stripes that made it look more like a tabby than a pure black cat. Flicking one tail tip and lashing the other, she kept them swishing along the ground as she padded forward in a sort-of trot. With her ears pricked forward, she continued to listen to the conversation. But she was only catching snippits and her whiskers drooped slightly.

Nylat, having been debating upon what to do, decided to go see what the commotion was about. Anyways, she noticed Maya had joined the growing group and she wanted to talk to her old friend. The large wolf trotted over, flicking her tail curiously at the sight of two new members. She stopped beside Maya, smiling at the older member.
"Maya...May I talk to you? It'll only take a minute..."
She glanced at the two people standing there, taking in their appearances with a quick look, her sharp blue eyes not missing a thing. She sniffed at Chi.
"You're different, aren't you? You don't carry the full scent of a human."
It was then that she caught the slightly faded scent of Alto. She growled a bit down in her throat, a shudder running along her spine.
Him...

~~~

Black wings flared as they slid into the slits on the shirt. They didn't open fully, but it was enough. A hoodie was slipped on over the shirt, and the wings were folded again. Slitted amber eyes flashed with hurt as the hood was pulled over her face, leaving just enough for sight. The girl made her way to the front door, not bothering to lock it. People broke in anyways. As she made her way outside, she made sure her short black hair was tucked behind her ears and her face was hidden. of course, her wings were obvious, and everyone knew who she was, but that was no matter. She swiftly made her way along the sidewalk, moving silently even with jeans. She hated the time of the week when she had to go shopping. She hated the stares from other people. She flared her wings momentarily, not really meaning to, and hit someone in the face. She had little control over them. She turned quickly, apologizing in her soft voice.
"I'm so sorry. I'm--"
But the guy ran off, and she saw him take a phone from his pocket. She knew the police would soon be after her. Again. Sighing, she continued on her way, a slight siver making its way through her slight frame. Ahead, she saw the bright tents of a Circus--she'd been halfway tempted to attend the night before. But, she was afraid of being locked up like a freak at a carnival. So she lowered her head again, and kept walking. But a silvery, ghost-like shape appeared before her, taking the form of a bat. The girl huffed in frustration. The spirit was the only one who came without permission, not that she ever 'summoned' anyways.
You know, Fallow, they're different. They'd accept you.
No they wouldn't. Leave me alone Gale.
No, they are different. See that brd in the sky?
The bat spirit managed to rouse her curiousity enough so she stopped and looked up. A large bird circled the Circus.
Watch...
As Fallow watched, the bird dove. As it neared ground, it pulled up, and before her eyes, it took the form of a human. Granted, he was different, he had fox ears, and wings, like her, but...
They'd still reject me. He's probably the only one.
No he isn't. Look more.
You know, you're an annoying spirit guide.
But still, she looked. She saw a girl, who seemed not much older than her, who donned beautiful butterfly wings, and a dog-like creature that was, quite literally, huge.
But...they're graceful, beauty embodied in a human--or animal--form. I'm a demon, as everyone calls me. My wings are the wings of the devil. They're ugly.
She flared her wings to prove her point. Then, she folded them clumsily and continued on her way.
Anyways, I haven't flown. Ever. I'd be useless.

~~~

Kanec circled a little longer, but soon saw something that made him wonder. He banked, then dove, pulling up and shifting. He landed right beside Nylat and earned a growl. It was ignored. He folded his wings and glanced over at the girl he'd seen from above, who was now flaring what he'd thought he'd seen--wings. But as she folded them, it was with inexperience, and was sloppily done. He turned to the slowly growing group.
"Looks like we have another. If no one minds, I will go take care of this one."
With that, he shifted into a white tiger, and ran smoothly over to the girl, intercepting her path. He met her amber eyes, and blinked his green ones in interest.
"You aren't normal, are you, dear?"