Wolf frowned as a strange memory came up. A man and a woman hastily began to herd a small child with bright red hair towards the basement. Her mother and father? She wondered. Then, her parents began to bribe her to stay in the basement. Wolf watched with a faint digusted feeling in her gut. The memory began to fade and WOlf glanced curiously at the very back of Tara's mind. There, she saw a black wall. She went up to it and stared at it for a few seconds before placing her hands on it. She winced as something almost like electricity went through her, but she stubbornly continued to push at the wall until it gave way. Memories flooded around her and the wall reappeared behind her. Their was a strange vibe among these memories, warning her away. She took a few moments and focused on one memory that was brightly colored, yet dull. "Ahhhh!" She gasped, stumblin g backwardsm, her eyes clearing. She panted hard, her fist wide open as she stared at Tara with wide eyes. Small burns appeared up the length of Wolf's hand and onto her wrist, but then stopped. She stared at them. Sweat poured off her forehead. "What the hell?" She muttered, rubbing her temples. She turned to Tara. She didn't care if the girl got angry. What she had seen not only scared, but confused the hell out of her. "You have one messed up past Tara." Wolf whispered, shaking her head and rubbing the small burns tenderly with her fingers.

(( THere. ))

((Pff. Her hair is mainly black, a few red streaks. And that'll do. ;D))

Tara, nodding at Julian, didn't make much notice of Wolf until her name was mentioned. At this Tara seemed to catch up with what had been said. She turned to Wolf, a look of shock and a bit of 'you didn't...' was plain, despite her normally guarded self.
"Wait...You're telling me you've seen my past? I don't care how, just merely why...I have come across a telepath or two, but...rarely to they touch my mind, let alone delve into it. It's a great breach of privacy."
She wasn't angry, and she didn't show it, but her tone was hurt and disappointed.

~~

Nylat flicked her tail, backing away from the group a few steps before sitting, her ears still laid back.
"As I'm sure you're aware, I'm worried about Maya...."
She glanced back, making sure she kept her voice low enough for just her and Raphael to hear.
"I mean, she here, and I'm sure she won't leave. But...It's not her. I feel as if it's someone else. I'm worried about her. More than I am about--"
Cutting herself off, she shook her head, her ears flopping about as she did so.
"Anyways...Every time I think she's getting a bit out of that rut, someone has to come along and ruin it. Last night, she even opened up a bit. And I found out something no one else knows."
She grinned, a slight hint of smugness in it. She was ready to tell though, if it was pried.

((Egh. Time to log off. I'll finish when I get home.))

Raphael's eyes never strayed from the hybrids face, his face set and unmoving as he listened. The sun was completely unobscured, and it cast a pleasant heat over the sprawling Circus. Dropping one hand and leaving his head to rest on the other, the Ring Master raised an eyebrow.

"Of course your worried, your not the only one," He said pointedly, glancing off towards Maya's van, his eyes distant. After only a moment, his gaze returned to Nylat when she continued talking, his ex
pression becoming instantly curious at the way the hybird cut off. He didn't speak however, until he was sure she'd finished what she wanted to say.

"Alright. First off. Maya's probably more than just a little unstable at the moment, and it's only natural, all things considered," He frowned slightly, glancing skyward, his vision following a gliding flock of geese, making their way over the Circus. He then looked back at Nylat, his own face concerned. "There's not really much we can do with her... Besides not leaving her on her own, but that may prove more difficult than we think. But I really do need you keep her from leaving the grounds. I don't want her running off again, not while Breaks still out there,"

He then leaned back against his van, crossing his arms loosely over his chest, his eyes probing the hybrids. "Just what is it your worried about, then, if it's not her?... And what do you know that we don't?" He asked, an eyebrow raised.

~~~

For what seemed to be the 4th or 5th time that day, Julian paused to look over his shoulder, his ex
pression almost, but not quite, stern. He watched the unravelling between the girls behind him, before he turned to face them, his 6'1" frame imposing.

Judging only by what he'd seen, he as.sumed Wolf's talent wasn't really a physical thing, such as fire manipulation or control of the shadows. He raised his eyebrows only slightly, his voice level as he spoke to her. "What exactly is it you do?" He asked bluntly. "I'm as.suming you know about the nature of the people in this Circus, so you, like us, must be peculiar in some way. I'd like to know,"

His eyes then landed on Tara. "While we're at it. I'd like to know about your little abnormality, also, before we go any further,"

[[Selvai... considering Spider and Yama's creator started with roughly 200 spider eggs and only got two functioning beings out of the lot. uh... yeah. very lucky. man their dad killed a LOT of things/people trying to make his weird spider kids. and we wonder why Yama's so messed up.]]

Something to do, something to do. "It's quite possible to do something productive and walk." Spider said, without so much as a stutter. "But it would be nice not to feel like excess baggage, so if you could come up with something for me to do, that would be nice." He nodded to himself, hoping that convinced the hippie man to not let him be a freeloading mooching bum. He mumbled something low under his breath as he watched Raphael walk away. Spider'd seen the hybrid creature many times, and she always looked upset.

He wondered what was wrong, but like the last few days a strange feeling... a need to not find out, made him instead look back up at Yama. "Yes, we're... well, I guess we're all getting breakfast."  He strained to get himself to stand up straight, but he still felt like slumping, so continued to do so. "I think my cousin makes his. But still. Odd to wear."

Spider continued to think about this as he looked at Selvai. A friend of Kioko's? Oh, he had seen him the other day... had he said hello? Spider couldn't remember.  "Hello. I've been here for days and I'm still lost." he muttered the last bit to himself, scratching his elbow absently. His eyes widened slightly at the talking raven-creature, and thought immediately of Poe's poems-- which for some reason he had happened to read.

It was really a wonder he could read, actually, you don't quite realize how hard it is to teach a spider-brained person you found in your attic to read until... well, until you do and try. "Hullo." He said, in a small voice to Disera. Did ravens eat spiders?  Maybe she'd like something else. As he thought about this, he shared Dravius's longing for the food van, but didn't want to be the first to start walking.

- - -

Sh'Yama pursed her lips. "I don't think it matters where you stand." She said, a bit blandly. "I trust you are feeling better today?" She asked, conversationally, as she picked absently at the collar of her cloak. It was clumped in a few places, and she wrinkled her nose in dismay at some of the dark red spots staining the fur. Perhaps she was the one that smelled. But then, this had been under her nose all morning. "And I can't say for sure it is you that smells so detestable. It's a weigh on the senses, being around so many people." 

As Selvai made his appearance, Sh'Yama shifted her weight to the other foot and stared at him. She had a feeling she knew what was going through his mind, and it started to make her irrationally angry, and had to check herself. It wasn't very good to be hungry and angry at the same time, if you were Sh'Yama. It was a good thing too when Disera made her appearance, that her thoughts got derailed. Because they most likely included limbs flying everywhere and filling her belly. 

It was always interesting, seeing other magical creatures. Inwardly, she despised them. Not the creatures, but the magician behind the creature. It was bad enough knowing that she was something that could be summoned and bound. Seeing them all... friendly. Bah! Like there could ever truly be such a relationship. Why was she created? To display power! Not to have some sort of companion, not to be a daughter... 

Her thoughts were interrupted by her rumbling stomach, and abruptly, she turned and headed for where she could smell food. "Hungry hungry. Let's get going, then." She said.

 - - -

Zinc watched Spider trot after his sister, wondering if he'd ever get over that... nervousness. It was truly a stab to his heart watching him act that way. Zinc was standing a bit away, actually going out of his way to hide from everyone. Now that Sh'Yama was around he didn't need to be little else than a shadow. Though, the urge to tell Sh'Yama that the glowing-eyed one made her brother cry was very hard. He supposed, she'd find out herself one way or another. 

Nylat, listening intently, her tail flicking back and forth, and her ears turning to catch the many sounds, froze when Raphael asked the first question, and she almost didn't hear the second. She stood, taking a step back. If she were human, she'd have turned beet red, and this showed in her eyes.
"Uhm...well..."
She shifted uncomfortably, before speaking again.
"Uhm, I'll answer that second question first. I would be willing to share said information with you. I would like to make it clear that Maya sings. Really well."
She fidgeted a bit, obviously unwilling to answer the other question. She looked up, not wanting to meet Raphael's eyes.
"Well, I'm really worried about...."
She dropped her voice, and shuffled her paws, looking at the ground. When she finally spoke, it was barely audible, even to herself.
"...Kanec..."

~~

Tara turned quickly to Julian, making no pause before she started explaining.
"Unlike most my age, I can remember more than just yesterday. I have eleven years worth of memory. In actuality, I should be able to remember everything, as that is my ability, to never forget, but for some reason, the first five years of my life draw up blank."
She shrugged, no guess as to why she couldn't.

Raphael noticed immeidately Nylat's chage of composition. It was easy, considering he'd learnt to read her over the 7 years he'd known her. He kept his back to the van, his face breaking into only the smallest of smiles.

This ex
pression didn't hold though, and he became instantly curious and wide-eyed at Nylat's first revalation. "Oh?" He said, blinking. "How intruiging," He murmered, more in speculation. "A somewhat new discovery for you?... How long have you known?" He asked with a smile, looking off towards the butterflies van. My my... Hidden talent, hm?...

At that moment, he turned back to Nylat, and despite the fact he didn't catch what she said, he clearly saw her word. He sighed quietly, then slipped from the van to crouch in front of the hybrid, arms resting on his knees. "Alright. I was planning on talking to you about this eventually, anyway. Just what is wrong with forgiving him?... And why are you worrying over it?" He said, resting one bandaged hand gently on the hybrids muzzle.

Dravius yawned, saying Raphael, "He loses intrest after a bit," Stretching again, hew waved as Raphael walked off, a slight smile tugging his lips. "Hello, Disera," He murmered to ther summoned creature, smiling. "Are you truely a raven?" He asked with an eyebrow raised, coughing into the crook of his elbow. "Mmm, I hope I'm not becoming ill..." Dravius sighed, sounding worried. He'd always hated getting sick, even with a cold. Shaking his head, the co-master, narrowed his eyes slightly at the mark spider-webbing over Selvai's face, tilting his face to the side. "If it isn't too rude, what have you done to recieve that mark?" Dravius knew quite a bit about magic, and there had been more than a few members of the circus bearing smaller marks, but he had never seen one in such a conspicous place or of that size.

His question was punctuated with another cough, and Dravius seemed rather annoyed with himself for becoming mildly ill. His brows descended, giving him a stormy look, sniffling slightly. "No, not really." He said in reply to Sh'Yama, smiling weakly. "It probably is me who stinks. It's alright." He followed a bit behind the others, folding his rma over each other with a slight sigh.

<~>~<~>

Gem yawned slightly, his green eyes running over everyone, his hand wrapping around the handle of his bag, itching to write down all he saw, but hew supposed it would be considered wierd to take data on people withoiut asking first. Sighing, he walked in front of Dravius, playing with his glas.ses almost obssesively, making each lens was scratch-free and spotless.

It was weird to not take data on people, and it actually felt slightly irritating to not be able to recored eveything he knew. Gem didn't have the best memory, because his mind was already full of random facts about people and historical figures, he could barely remember what he had for dinner yesterday...

[[Sh'Yama wants to be able to take 1000 swords to her body and live, too! also telepathy. combined with the abilities she already has. maybe be a really good spin-dancer too. that's not god-moding, right?]]

"You should put an effort into feeling better. The grief that permeates the air of this circus makes it almost unbearable to stand."  Sh'Yama doesn't mean to be mean, she just is. And despite the fact that Dravius was walking far behind her, due to her longer strides, she continued to speak to him. "Unless you are merely commenting on your health, in which case I recommend soup and a blanket." She brushed her cloak loose from her arms and stopped to grab Spider's hand in a near death grip. Spider didn't seem to mind.

"On the subject of your stench, Dravius, you're not the only one here that smells like that either. For a place meant to bring joy, it is quite sad. And not to be what you would call a "Negative Nancy", but I almost don't think it's a good environment for my brother." It was probably hard to imagine that Spider was the elder of the two. "It's been sad enough for both of us, I think." She said, stopping in front of the food van and throwing the door open.

- - -

Spider made a noise at Yama's little speech, but was ignored. How could she be so impolite? She was so very different from himself... it was actually very comforting. Maybe it could be alright to be afraid? As long as you have a brave and courageous friend around. But he was almost certain if he said so he'd get scolded for thinking so. As Sh'Yama said this might not be the best place for him, Spider didn't know.

He didn't very much like it here, but some of the people at least pretended to be nice... and some of them he thought actually were nice and weren't pretending at all! That was better than what he was used to. He wondered if Sh'Yama had a real home... he'd love to have a real home. A nice little house with a garden and kittens and a room to himself and... and... 

And it was something that could never happen.

"Hello.  It seems we have something in common, then," Selvai smiled at the timid boy.  "There's no need to be frightened of Diresa, Spider," the magician hurriedly reas.sured him when he saw how Spider's eyes widened at her appearance.  "She looks unusual, but I give you my word, she won't hurt you."  He gave the creature on his shoulder a soft pat with one hand to prove his point.  Selvai chose to ignore the quiet hiss in his ear that followed the action.

He'd began following the others to the food van when Dravius managed to cause him to trip over his own feet with his single question.  Regaining his stride before anyone notice, Selvai briefly lifted one hand to his face.  Inwardly flinching, he took a breath before answering.

"It's not rude,-"

"Of course it's rude!"  Diresa's talons dug even deeper into his shoulder as she glared at Dravius.  "To answer you're first question, Dravius, I'm only a raven when I feel like being a raven.  When I feel like being something else, I'm something else.  And as for the second, are you always so blunt?  Perhaps Selvai doesn't want to speak of his past with people he met a day ago."

The magician took that opportunity to reach up and gently hold her beak closed with one hand.  "Diresa.  It's alright.  I knew that they would have questions before I came here."  His eyes flicking to Yama, Spider and Kioko walking in front of the two of them, Selvai continued where Diresa had interrupted him.  "I was born into a family of magic users, very talented and very strict about the guidelines it's members were expected to follow.  Among the laws of our clan was a restriction about practicing what many refer to as "dark magic".   No one who bears the Mayoso name is to involve themselves with it.  It was one of the more rigid rules, actually." He took a long, deep breath, expelling it before looking at Dravius fully for the first time since he'd began speaking.

"I broke the law.  And I was banished for it.  That is what this mark symbolizes; that I am an exile from my family."  He finished in a flat voice as the group arrived at the food van. 

((Yeah... Wolf. I think you might wanna drop the survival bit. Being able to read someones mind is pretty big on its own. o_o And I'm pretty sure ANYONE would die with a thousand swords sticking into them.))

Julian raised an eyebrow at Tara's answer. The ability to never forget?... What an amazing thing, though somehow he figured not everyone would be able to live with such an ability. Maya, at the moment, for example, would probably not want to never forget the past few days. He frowned slightly at the thought, sighing and rubbing a temple.

"Interesting," He murmered, glancing in Tara's direction, then focusing his gaze on Wolf. Both his eyebrows raised at the conclusion of the girls deion of her ability. "Really?..." He said, looking from one girl to the other. Alright... Atleast now he pretty much figured he had the situation in his understanding. When his eyes fell back on Wolf, he sighed. "Please. Keep your ability to yourself for the moment. I'm not particularly sure our members want their minds raided," He lowered his head slightly, then turned and continued walking. This time, he refused to stop for either of them.

It didn't take too long to get back to camp, and Julian pas.sed close to Maya's van as he searched visually for either Raphael or Dravius. He did, however, pause to look at the butterfly, still sat on her van roof. "Are you alright?" He asked blatantly. 

Maya, who had returned to her sitting position after Nylat had left, glanced over her shoulder, her ex
pression tired and wan. "Mm," She murmered, her eyes falling on the two new girls behind the Sword Master. She raised her eyebrows, then shifted and slipped from the van roof, using her wings to soften her landing. "Who are they?" She asked, obviously trying to keep her mind away from things she'd rather not settle on.

After only a moment, Julian replied, his voice as level as ever as he glanced at the girls. "Wolf and Tara. I just happened to run across them. Where is Raphael?"

With a vague gesture, Maya looked over towards the Ring Masters van, Julian heading straight in that direction without another backward glance. After a moments pause, Maya followed, crossing her arms. She figured she may as well talk to Raphael now, rather than later. Sitting on the van really wasn't going to help matters.

Before Raphael was able to get a coherent reply from Nylat, he glanced up to see Maya approach, and had been very close to greeting her until he saw Julian and the other two girls. He allowed his hand to drop from Nylat's muzzle, his eyes focusing on her. "I'll talk to you about this in a bit," He smiled slighlty, petting the hybrid once before straightening. "Well hi there. I thought I'd lost you for a moment," He laughed quietly in the Sword Masters direction, his eyes falling momentarily on Maya. He would have asked if she was okay, and even asked about this hidden talent of hers, but decided against it. The girl was clearly still somewhat uncomfortable around the others, though clearly she was making an attempt, otherwise she wouldn't have been here at all. With an inaudible sigh, Raphael focused his gray eyes back towards the two girls. "And what do we have here?" He asked, his face splitting into a warm smile.

"People who, apparently, wish to come with us," Julian replied bluntly, yawning. "They go by the names of Tara and Wolf, a mindreader, and a girl who is unable to forget," He added with a shrug, glancing at Maya as he leaned his back against the Ring Masters colourful van.

Raphael blinked, a chuckle in his throat. "Really now?" He grinned openly at the two of them, his ex
pression warm. "Welcome to the Majikus, my name is Raphael, the Ring Master, Pleasure." He replied, bowing with the natural grace of someone who had clearly done this most of his life.

Nylat, unable to answer, was relieved when Julain, with Maya, as well as two other girls in tow, all showed up. She backed up a few steps, before joining Maya, standing at her side, her ears flicked back a bit, and her eyes on the ground. She glanced up at Raphael, as.suming he wouldn't tell anyone what she'd said--except maybe Dravius. Her eyes dropped back to the ground, and she whined a bit--barely audible to even herself--and brushed up against Maya.

~~

Tara, not saying anything the whole time they walked, shifted her laptop into the grip of her good arm, looking up only after they'd stopped for a second. She was barely affected by the sight of Maya--she had been in the performance the girl'd seen--and focused her attention on her arm as they continued walking. It had stopped paining her a short while ago, but she hadn't noticed. The transitions between pain and no pain were so sudden, she couldn't feel them half the time.

When they stopped again, Tara glanced up, realizing she'd been lost in her own thoughts. She noticed a large hybrid, Nylat, if she remembered correctly--which she did--move away, somehow working her way behind them without Tara's noticing. When Raphael introduced himself, she took the liberty to do so herself, since Julian had been very vaugue on who was who.
"I'm Tara. Pleased to see you again, Raphael. The Majikus has changed alot."
Her eyes flashed with a slight hint of amusement, wondering what his reaction would be.

(( Please no. That one part of power doesn't really register usually and is actually quite minor. I was overexaggerating abou the swords ad I apologize. But I would like for her to remain having the ability of survival. ))

Wolf said nothing, only tried focusing on where Raphael was, having closed her mental fist. When she finally found him, her gaze focused on his face, but seemed to be far off. She nodded, but said nothing. She suddenly felt the urge to be extremely wary. Like the wolves she sleeps with. Her eyes flickered to Nylat, then back to Raphael. They were both known to her. She had made a silent promise not to read their minds or open the fists, content to remain utterly blind for the few hours. She licked a spot of blood from her teeth, realizing that she must look extremely filthy from being with the wolves and on the streets. Not to mention the blood from the previous kill.

((She can be a good survivor, but really... It'd have to be like an animal instinct... If she gets hit fatally though, it has to have some effect. Its easier to understand that way. xD And Raphael will be a hard one to read, if at all. He has a powerful mind, simply because of the nature of his ability.))

Raphael smiled in Tara's direction, his ex
pression becoming curious at her final statement. Changed? hm?... He straightened himself up, blinking at her. "I take it you've seen us before at some point?" He asked, his smile no longer present; Though his ex
pression was amused. Well, there was no other way around it, really. He then turned his attention tothe other girl. "And your Wolf, hm?"

Julian, still situated against Raphael's van, had closed his eyes by this point, though he opened one of them to watch Tara with a faint curiosity. Seemed like she wasn't exactly lacking information, which was probably a good thing. Not knowing what to expect when joining this place could make it far more intimidating than it actually was, which probably contributed to Spider's initail nervousness.

Maya, who had been firmly staring down a nearby van, jumped slightly at the brush against her leg, causing her to glance towards the group and Nylat, whom didn't seem all that composed. She frowned slightly, then crouched, her slender arms resting on her knees as her violet gaze focused on the hybrid. "What's wrong, Nylat?" She asked in a somewhat subdued voice.

Raphael, who heard, glanced quickly over his shoulder, before turning back to the new girls, a strange, understanding smile on his face.

((Pff. And Nylat's gonna be tough, just 'cause she's Nylat. XD Nah, she's just very sensible, and having been around Raphael she has learned, somewhat, how to close off her mind.))

Tara nodded. She shifted her laptop back under her right arm, not wanting ehr good one to become to stressed or tired.
"Yes. I came here and saw a show of yours about 6 years ago."
She counted in her head, making sure her counting was right, then nodded again, this time to herself.

~~

Nylat shook her head, sighing.
"It's noth--"
She broke off. She couldn't lie to Maya. She just couldn't.
"I'll tell you later."
She flicked an ear toward Kanec as the shifter finally emerged from his van.
"There are unwelcome ears about."
Almost as soon as she said that, she straightened up, pulling together what little composure she had left, to try and at least act like her normal self. Her tail was still, and she regarded Kanec with a look of distaste and a bit of anger. Her ears flicked back, but her head was raised, as it normally was.

~~

Kanec, having realized that he was probably the last one up, had gotten ready in a rush, and was still in the process of pulling on his jacket when he stepped out of the van. He caught Nylat's eye and quickly looked away, angling his path more in the direction of Raphael. He flared his wings as he walked, stretching them, before coming to a stop beside the Ringmaster.
"Wow. First time I've woken up late in a long time."
He shifted smoothly into a tiger, stretching in his normal cat-like fashion, before shifting back, noticing the two new girls.
"So, who do we have here, hm?"