RP:Breaking And Entering... And Escaping

From HollowWiki

Summary: Kelovath comes to the sanctuary to pick up his dire weasel, Cobalt, and the founder ends up asking him on a 'date' to the zoo in Xalious. However, Lanara isn't asking the paladin out for a night of romance, she's merely luring him into becoming her accomplice! The pair heads to the zoo and upon arrival, Kelo immediately figures out that Lana hasn't been entirely truthful as the zoo is closed, yet he agrees with her decision to bring him here under false pretences and he causes a distraction so that the witch can remove the enchantment that locks the gate. They discover that a sinister mage is branding certain animals, and those that don't pass the inspection are deemed ineligable and are killed, instantly. This doesn't sit well with Lanara, who launches herself into the mix and rescues a tiger cub, while putting Kelovath and herself in imminent danger. They escape with their lives, though they have opened a can of worms, and will face lots of backlash in the months to come. At the end of their adventure, Lana invites Kelovath to join the Adventurer's Guild.


Lanara had spent most of the morning tending to animals in the infirmary, changing the bedding of the newborns in the nursery, and taking inventory in the storage room. The facility was in full swing today and open to the general public, and though the grand opening wasn’t for another week, the place was swamped with people eager to adopt a new family member. The witch had skipped taking a lunch so that she could do a few intake evaluations, and during this time Venin, the caretaker, laid her gaze upon a mysterious wooden crate that had been placed on the front steps. Immediately, the bossy woman had barked orders and the box was carried to Lana and set upon a metal table, where she would further inspect what was inside. Praying it wasn’t a snake; the witch had lifted the lid and locked eyes with a tiny tiger cub, that couldn’t have been more than two or three weeks old. He was covered in fleas, emaciated, and his eyes still bore the blue tint of a newborn. There also was a metal object stuck in his midsection and a pool of blood in the crate, with a few smears where he had taken a drink of his own fluids, as he was severely dehydrated. The little feline was lifted into her arms, and it was then that she noticed the strange rune marking on its inner left ear, and she had the shelter closed to the public, within a half hour. It is now nearing dusk, and Lana is pacing back and forth outside the doors of the infirmary, heading inside every so often to check on the cub. She had performed the surgery alongside of the very best veterinarian in the realm, though it was still touch and go for the cub. Would he make it? Worry is evident in her chocolate gaze as she stalks up and down the halls, her footfalls nearly silent, though her expression softens for a few moments as she stops at Cobalt’s enclosure. “Hey there…” Talking to the dire weasel, she slips her hand through the small gap and he gives her fingertips a comforting lick, as though he could sense her unease. “Your daddy will probably be by later, or tomorrow, to bring you home. I bet you feel all better with that cast off your paw and those stitches out, huh?” She would miss the weasel, for sure, and she may even miss Kelovath! She had waved to the paladin and crossed his path a few times during the week, each time exchanging pleasantries and giving him an update on Cobalt. He was a welcome presence at the sanctuary, and the pair would have had the potential to become great friends, though once Cobalt was picked up, she doubted they’d ever see each other again. Lana peers up at the window and sees that the sun has officially set, and she retracts her hand from the cage, and heads to her private quarters. It was time to change into a darker ensemble, one designed for breaking and entering a place where she wasn’t welcome at this hour.


Kelovath enjoyed his time spent at the sanctuary. Cobalt's healing was coming along nicely and everyone that worked there continued to be accommodating and understanding with the situation. Well, except Venin, but he didn't take it personally. Probably for the best anyway. No need to increase his ego, although there wasn't much of one to begin with for the paladin. The short and sometimes a bit longer conversations with Lanara were a welcomed change to his usual 'being alone' ways as of late. Marcel continued to travel with Kelovath, but he had been busy in Cenril. Some worry came across his mind once in a while about his friend, but at some point the younger man needed to be on his own. Cenril was a rough place, but Hudson and the mayor seem to be holding it all together. Kelovath didn't have a chance to check-in on Cobalt today, so he was now making his way there, which was later than his usual time. It appeared to be darker than normal within the sanctuary, but because of his frequent visits the guards out front still allowed him in. It was quiet, kind of, but the man had no issues finding Cobalt's holding area. There were several animals there that he had spent some time with while Cobalt was being attended too and each one seemed to recognize that he was here. Kelovath arrived at Cobalt's enclosure and instantly the dire weasel approached his friend in such a happy manner. Large back and forth swipes of the tail and his tongue rolling out of mouth like he was smiling. "Hey, buddy." Kelovath spoke with a smile and offered his hand for the weasel to lick and nuzzle on."It's quiet today, huh? You're looking very well rested."


Lanara exits her office and locks the door behind her, as she wasn’t sure when and if she’d be returning. She had kept her suspicions to herself for quite some time about the zoo in Xalious, and seeing that this was the –fourth- animal to mysteriously be dropped upon her doorstep in the zoo’s custom crates, and baring the exact same rune marking, among the obvious mistreatment, well, she had no choice but to investigate. The witch had been rather reckless in her younger days, and although the loss of her sister and warrior still stung, she had to live for what she had left… The Adventurer’s Guild and her sanctuary. So what if this entire plan of hers was beyond reckless?! No one would exactly miss her if something was to go awry, but in the back of her mind she finds her soon-to-be actions rather noble. She was putting others first, doing what was right, and following her intuition. How could one fault her for such a thing? She is pulling her hair into a pony-tail atop her head, wearing a black turtleneck, black leggings, and black leather boots, and walking down the hallway, in search of Carter. The male was always up for going on an adventure and she was hoping to find a new recruit for the guild, however, he had skipped off for the night. Forget Venin! That woman wouldn’t stick her neck out for anyone, and Lana hated spending any time with the caretaker as she was always so negative. It’s then that her tapered ears pick up on the voice of another and she backtracks until her gaze locks on Kelovath visiting with Cobalt. “Hey! You came to pick him up? He’s all better… Good to see you, Kelo.” She gives him her most breathtaking smile, clearly up to no good, and she had dropped the formalities, as they were now on a first name basis. Lana could have taken this journey on her very own, but she would prefer to have a lookout, or at best, a distraction should there be any guards. A witness, even, in case something happened to her or another animal while they broke into the zoo. Kelovath looked like a capable individual, and she was pretty sure he’d go along with whatever she had up her sleeve, as she had reunited him with the weasel. “So… Um…” A pause, as it was a Friday night, and he’d likely think she was asking him on a date. So be it. This was important, she was beyond beautiful, and if he was under the impression it was a date, he may be easier to persuade once they got there. “I’m going to the zoo in Xalious. Right, uh, now. And I want you to accompany me… I mean, if you aren’t busy, or whatever…” She glances away, the elf unsure how this sort of thing is done, as usually the shoe was on the other foot. Thankfully, he’d think the hesitance in her wording was nervousness, and the faint blush on her cheeks added to the effect.


Kelovath glanced over when he heard someone talking. Cobalt did the same, although the weasel was unable to actually see anything from his angle. Upon seeing Lanara, the paladin straightened his posture and greeted her. "Hi there, Lanara. Yeah, I think it's probably time for Cobalt to come home. He seems to have recovered fully and..." He stopped and noticed how the woman was dressed. Unusual compared to how he had seen her the many times before. "Ah...Sorry I came so late. Got a bit held up and lost track of time." Another awkward pause, but this time it was followed up with a question. "Why are you dressed so...Dark?" He felt weird asking that, but he was too curious to stop himself. The question wasn't exactly important, nor did he think the answer would be completely truthful. Not that he didn't trust the woman, but people dress usually based on how they feel, so it'd make sense to him if she was still heavily mourning. But, with -her- now asking him to go to the zoo with her made him think differently. The paladin was unaware of any chemisty between himself and Lanara, as most of his attention had been on Cobalt's recovery and that Lana lost someone recently. It seemed as if she was holding back as well, but why turn down the offer? The zoo could be fun. "Can Cobalt come along? I'm kinda curious to see how he's gonna react to all that, ya know?" The time of day, even though he just talked about it, didn't register to the paladin. The thought that the zoo may be closed wasn't even a thing right now.


Lanara grins, delighted that the paladin was so gullible, and that his only concern about any of the strangeness of this situation was if he could bring Cobalt along. She’d explain in detail, in good time, though for now she’s all too eager to slip out of the sanctuary and get to the zoo. She dodges the question about her choice of attire by busying herself with the lock on the enclosure and humming loudly, as though she hadn’t heard Kelovath post the inquiry. The less he knew right now, the better, and he’d likely think she was still in mourning after the loss of Largakh. She –was- still grieving, though she was much better as masking her feelings as it had been nearly two weeks now, so she didn’t dissolve into tears at every given turn. She also knew that Larz would want her to find love again, so even if this started out as an ‘assumed’ date, she felt good that it was with an animal lover. Would he be angry when she announced her true intentions at the zoo? Lana tries to remain calm and fidgets with the lock, before it finally buzzes and she opens the door to let Cobalt free. The weasel immediately pounces on the paladin, greeting him with excited tail wags and licks, while the elf steps to the side and keeps an eye on his paw. It had healed, nicely. “Yup! He’s all better and so ready to leave this place in the dust. Am I right, Cobalt?!” She extends her hand and gently pats him on the head, before shifting her gaze to Kelo, “Of course Cobalt can come along! The more the merrier. The zoo is so much fun and I’m sure he’d love to see some of the other animals. He can stick his tongue at them as he’s roaming free and they are behind bars.” She winks, to show her remark was made in jest, and ignoring the fact that it’s dark outside and the zoo is definitely closed, she gives the paladin a gentle push in the direction of the exit. They had a long walk ahead of them.


Kelovath smiled and happily waited for Cobalt to be released from his enclosure. Of course the paladin was pounced right away by the weasel and they hugged and nuzzled. Lanara got some of the same from Cobalt, but it was somewhat more calm. The last time Kelo had been anywhere near a zoo was back in Larket and it was when the Fermin were attacking the city. Not the best memory, but he did make a few friends after it was all said and done. Hopefully this time around was going to be better than dead human-sized rats everywhere. He accepted the gentle push and they were now on their way. Cobalt followed along and basically trotted excitedly like a horse as they all walked. It started to feel like the merryment of their trip was dying down some, which could be thanks to the darkness around them and the far walk. Softly, the paladin asked a question. "How are you doing, Lanara?" It wasn't asked like he was expecting a simple reply.


Lanara locks up the sanctuary and matches Kelovath’s pace as they head west to Xalious, the elf unable to hide a grin as she sees Cobalt’s prancing at their side, eager to be free of his enclosure and have full usage of his four paws. The dire weasel walks without distress and there doesn’t even seem to be a noticeable limp! Clearly, his time spent at the shelter had been for the best, as he was now fully healed of a broken paw. The walk is only a few miles but in the pitch black darkness of the forest that surrounds the dirt path, it’s rather slow going, as they have to make sure of the proper footing. At one point Lana missteps on a rock and her hand instantly rushes up her side to clutch at her slowly healing ribs, the elf wincing, though she does her best to mask the pain. “Cobalt healed impressively fast. I’m so happy that he’s back where he belongs and that he’s feeling all better. It always breaks my heart when a stray comes in and we can’t locate the owner. I’m thinking about hosting a charity ball next month… Proceeds will go to the care of the animals, and it will be right before the grand opening. So maybe I can offer half price adoptions or something to encourage people to adopt, rather than purchase a companion at a pet shop or illegally trap.” Pushing aside a low hanging branch, she ducks and lifts her head to peer at Kelovath as the paladin issues an inquiry of his own, causing Lana to hesitate, before she replies. He wanted a true answer, and he was likely asking about how she was coping after the loss of Largakh, so she clears her throat, and shifts her gaze. It was still hard to talk about, but she answers sincerely, “I have good days and bad days… Larz was unlike anyone I’ve ever met and we truly were in love. But… I know that he would be upset with me if he knew that I was carrying on all depressed and giving up on love, so I try to limit my crying and moping around… He would want me to love again. So… I made a promise to myself. If love comes my way or someone asks for a date, I will accept. It may take me a while to feel those butterflies, but life is so short and what is a life if it’s not filled with love? So… That’s what I think he’d want me to do. And I’m going to hurl myself into every adventure that I can, to keep busy and to honor his memory. He loved going taking trips and we always had such fun exploring… I can’t give up on loving or living or the things I enjoy just because he died. I know he’d be angry if I just remained a shell of who I once was, so it may seem a bit cold, but I’m moving on.” A pause, “What about you, Kelo? Are you married? Any little ones?” She realizes that she doesn’t know all that much about the paladin, and here she was pouring out her own heart!


Kelovath had grown accustom to traveling during the night. Proper footing was important and he was able to obtain it rather easily. Lanara seemed to struggle more than he did and she was seemingly still hurting from the panther attack as well. It may be dark, but when someone was in pain, the paladin could see the signs rather clearly. She didn't want to talk about it and he understood. The man was beyond patient. "A ball, hm? That could be fun! I haven't been to one since...Hildegarde's crowning in Frostmaw, I think. It was a fun night. Lots of people." Easier times, at the start of the night at least. That was about when everything took a strange turn in his life. Kelovath appreciated the honesty from the elf. He understood how hard it could be to talk, but he also had a strange ability of getting people to talk to him. And he truly enjoyed listening, whether it was good thoughts or bad. As much as he wanted to comment on how Lanara was handling things, it sounded like she already had the experience of moving on. She was handling the loss as well as anyone could given the situation. "No, no. I'm not married. Close to being engaged once, I think, but that's as far as I've gotten when it comes to relationships. I've, ah, never had my partner die, but I have had some disappear. And one eventually come back, but as someone I no longer knew. Hollow is...Wonderful, exciting, and terrible all at the same time. And I don't think I'd trade it for anything." The man laughed softly and basically shrugged off the thought of ever leaving this place. "I truly have witnessed and experienced a lot here. I've made friends, lost friends, and fought in several battles. Two wars, at least. Soon to be three, whenever that finally comes along." At this point, Cobalt had moved in closer to the paladin and gave him a friendly nudge. "Oh yes, yes. Come here." The paladin started petting the dire weasel, who enjoyed every second of it.


Lanara continues on, heaving a sigh of relief, now that the conversation was in Kelovath’s lap, and she listens intently to the male. She appreciates his candor, as most wouldn’t offer up that much honesty in a conversation with an elf they had hardly known, but then again, she also had poured her heart out to the paladin. It was strange to her, showing her vulnerability, but the man evoked an almost soothing nature and he was a good listener. It was now her turn to show that she also was a good listener and the compassion on her face could be felt, as she meets his gaze and gives a sympathetic nod. Kelo had loved and lost, many times over, it seemed, and she can’t help but feel that they both had similar pasts in Hollow. This was the land of heartache, but it was also the land of hope, a fact that most failed to remember. She doesn’t comment on the few ‘missing’ women that had come and gone in his life, as it wasn’t her business, but she can relate, as she had one that went missing, as well. Thankfully, he hadn’t known the death and despair of a deceased lover, though he had lost comrades in war. This wasn’t a competition, she’s merely linking their similarities in her mind, as she often did, the woman a fan of piecing the puzzles together and seeing how she’d fit in with her friends and foes. A firm believer in karma, she clears her throat after gathering her thoughts, and as she offers up words of comfort Cobalt cuddles up to his master and nuzzles him. “I’m sorry that you haven’t had the best luck in love, either… But… My kind? We believe that everything happens for a reason, and that when something terrible happens, it means that something amazing is on the horizon. You are handsome, a good conversationalist, and you are good with animals… You will meet your ‘forever’ person someday, I’m sure of it.” A pause, before she continues with the next statement, “War, I fear, is inevitable… I’ve helped from the sidelines of one. Making potions and poisons, and healing the wounded, that sort of thing. I’ve never been directly in the battlefield, though. I admire your strength, Kelo… It’s what I need, what –we- need… I hope you’ll consider joining the Adventurer’s Guild… You don’t have to answer me right now, but just think on it, okay? There are times of distress and danger, sure, but there are days filled with traveling and nights filled with laughter, too.” Lanara would then fall silent as they cross into Xalious, and she knows that the zoo is just up around the bend, so she stops short and leans against a tree, deliberating over how much to tell him about her plans. It shocked her that she extended an offer into the guild, but she felt that the man bled integrity and that he had the mental and physical fortitude for such a thing. The witch shyly meets Kelo’s gaze, her expression one of guilt as the moonlight falls upon her face through the trees. Would he join her team? Be angry at her little plan for breaking into the zoo? Would he leave? Or would he not notice anything and just go along with it?


Kelovath was an overly humble man. His religious beliefs were the major reason for that, but his past, before becoming a paladin, also weighed in on that quality. So, as Lanara gave the compliments, the paladin could only smile and nod his head. He wasn't one that had an ego of any sorts, but he was a confident person. The man had every reason to be, honestly, but he managed it well. Kelovath could see that they were getting closer into Xalious, so surely the zoo was close by as well. It sure looked dark ahead, but maybe the zoo was around the corner or something. When asked about joining the guild, he replied with, "I'll think about it, yeah. I, uh, recently joined with the Paladin's Guild that Khitti is bringing back. I'm not sure about all the requirements and restrictions that her guild will have in place, but for the upcoming war, I'd have to side with the Paladin's. I don't think we'll be front line exactly, but if it comes down to it, I know I would rather assist from the front." When they stopped, Cobalt unlatched himself from Kelovath and laid down beside the tree Lanara was resting on. Kelovath remained standing and kept his senses sharp. They were safe here, as Xalious had become a much safer area with the Mage's Tower being so active. "So, is the zoo close by? Are they having a night event or something?" The paladin truly was clueless and continued to follow the elf's lead.


Lanara gives a nod as he says he will consider joining her guild, but that he needs time. “Of course, take all the time you need. The offer is always open. I understand how things can get pretty hectic, at times, myself. I lead an adventure guild, and I’m also a member of the Bard’s Guild…” A pause, as she clearly didn’t look the part of your average bard, and it was hard to see her toned legs and dancer’s physique through her current attire. “I’m a dancer. I give dance lessons, and things like that. I actually was the dance professor at the academy in Schezerade before, uh, Kahran’s attack.” Clearing her throat, she motions ahead to the zoo, as though that explained everything, “But the animals… They keep me on my toes. And running the sanctuary takes up most of my time. So, I only offer private dance lessons during my travels, now. Speaking of Khitti! I actually gave ballet lessons to her and Meri a few months ago. They are such lovely women.” Lana gives Kelo a genuine smile, showing her approval for the company he’s keeping, his joining of the Paladin’s Guild, and his wish to be involved in the upcoming war. She’d likely be needed in some way, as well, with her powers and ability to craft items that may give them an edge. As Kelo peers to the west and asks her about a possible ‘night’ event at the zoo, she sighs, and lowers her gaze. Why couldn’t things be simple in her life? Ever?! “Well… Not exactly. You see the zoo is closed to the public… It’s been closed about an hour or two already… But, uh, well, there’s a bit of a situation that I have to investigate.” The witch knew there was a trio of security guards that manned the central building, and that the front fence was enchanted to electrocute anyone that trespassed, though beyond that, there could be more security on patrol. It wouldn’t be easy, and Kelo had to know that they had to keep silent and rely on stealth. She leans in so close to the male that they nearly bump chests, her voice a hurried whisper as she explains, “So… Basically, there have been a few animals that have been dumped at my sanctuary, all with unexplainable injuries. All have resulted in fatalities. I currently have a patient, a few weeks old, tiger cub… He –will- die if I don’t figure out what’s happening in here. And tiger’s rarely have only one cub… All of the animals are branded with this strange rune marking on their left ear. I don’t know what it means, but they seem pretty immune to magical healing. And I know they’re from here because they arrive in a wooden crate with the zoo’s name on it.” Extending her hand, she looks deeply into Kelo’s eyes, a look that would stop most men in their tracks, “I-I…I need your help. You can maybe distract some guards. Be a witness should something horrible happen to me. I don’t expect you to stick your neck out for me or the animals, but I really could use some small help. And I rarely ask for help, but I trust you.” Cobalt seems to approve of Lanara’s plan as he rises to his paws and nuzzles against her leg, looking up at Kelo, expectantly.


Kelovath would probably never consider himself a protector of animals. In fact, there were only a few animals he could even stand to be around and Cobalt has lasted the longest by far. The sanctuary had increased his interest in helping those that are unable to help themselves. That was very close to what he was already doing as a paladin. He'd never truly considered animals to be within that category of things needed to be saved and helped. The paladin listened to the elf as she explained the zoo was closed. The man was rather confused as to why they were even here now, but when the elf moved closer and began whispering to him about her actual intentions with the nearby establishment, he did his best to stay stone-faced. Although the paladin hated being lied too, he was used to it. Sad thing to get used to, but he found it to be part of being a paladin. People wanted to trust him, but feared being judged. They'd often lie and then express what the real reasoning behind everything was later on. It didn't bother him that Lanara would do the same. At least her purpose behind it all was for something good and selfless. She may be an elf, and much older than himself, but her passion and drive reminded him of a teenager. Kelovath was good at picking people apart and Lanara seemed to be an expert at getting her way. He wasn't sure if she used her beauty intentionally or maybe the elf was oblivious to that. It was always a possibility and until the paladin saw otherwise, he'd believe that her intentions would be good. He remained still, barely giving Cobalt a glance as the dire weasel made sure everyone knew his position on the matter. He looked the elf over, once again trying to figure out the elf. Besides Cobalt's tail swishing back and forth, it was silent. Finally, Kelovath would respond with, "So, are we sneaking in or fighting? Because I left my sword at the inn..." The paladin casually motioned behind himself, indicating where the sword might be.


Lanara’s look of seriousness fades and is replaced by a genuine smile, as though his words had personally spoken to her heart. She had lured the paladin here under the premise of a ‘date’ and after telling him her true intentions, he still asked if they were to be sneaking or fighting their way inside. She feels guilt pang at her conscience, and she drops her hand from his arm, oblivious to any charm she may possess. It was her pure heart when it came to protecting an animal that she thanked for convincing Kelovath to remain, not her good looks. She was considered exotic amongst most elves, with those heartbreak eyes, and her dark hair, but being raised in a village where mirrors were forbidden, she never understood what others saw in her, and she wasn’t even sure if she’d be the ‘type’ that the paladin found attractive. Lana was all about living her life based on her ‘feelings’ which were sometimes a little bipolar, though all in all, she had a big heart and always sought to help others. Swallowing, she keeps her voice low, and peers over her shoulder, in the direction of the zoo, “Let’s hope you won’t need your sword, Kelo. I just need you to create a distraction, so I can remove the enchantment on the fence. Once I’m over it… I’ll just, uh, wing it, from there?” Turning her head she locks eyes with the paladin, “I don’t want you to be a hero, or get you or Cobalt harmed, in any way. So… If I get captured, or injured, or whatever… You look out for yourself, okay? If you aren’t comfortable going all the way inside with me… I understand.” She did, she had lied, even if it was for the greater good. Should she offer him an actual date, after breaking into the zoo? Or, was he just going along as a friend? She was doing that thing again, where she over thinks small details, and it aggravates her to no end. Lana nips her lower lip, before finally blurting out, “I’m sorry that I led you here… Falsely. I didn’t mean to lie to you… Not truly. I just don’t want to see any more animals get hurt, and I didn’t want to come here by myself. And I know we hardly know each other, yet, but I really like getting to know you and appreciate your company. So, if –anyone- was to come here, aside from my guild… I wanted it to be you.” Now that she felt awkward as heck, she turns in the direction of the zoo and slowly approaches, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. Cobalt watches Lana’s back as she walks ahead of them, and then looks up at Kelovath, curious to see if they were to follow the witch or head to the safety of the Inn.


"It's fine, Lanara. You've a good heart. It may have been a false reasoning, but it was for something good." He offered a quick, full smile and followed her as she started to move toward the zoo. She had already kinda explained her plan for getting in, so Kelovath decided to act first on the distraction. The paladin turned toward Cobalt and whispered softly. The dire weasel enjoyed the closeness, because, ya know, why wouldn't he? Any attention is amazing as far as Cobalt was concerned. But whatever it was that Kelovath divulged, the weasels demeanor changed and he clearly became more serious. "Wait until they're gone." The paladin said to the elf this time as he was now walking up to the front gate. Two of the guards were spotted and Kelovath started to run up to them. If Lanara happened to look for Cobalt now, she'd notice that the weasel was now not around her at all. "Hey! Hey, you two! A weasel escaped from the zoo! Help me look for it!" The pair of guards idly looked at the robed paladin and could tell instantly that he didn't work for the zoo at all. They approached, with the third guard now making an appearance as well. "You need to leave, sir. The zoo is closed." One guard sternly suggested. "I know it's closed! But a weasel got-" A very fast hand gesture was made by Kelovath and like a raging beast from hell, Cobalt came dashing out from the woods and scooped Kelovath up using his massive jaws. Clearly, Cobalt was bigger than an ordinary weasel and that freaked the guards out, but they did have a job to do. Smartly, the dire weasel ran toward the opposite side of the woods, away from where Lanara last was, with Kelovath firmly within his jaws. Instinctively, the guards all made chase, leaving the gate open to the elf. Cobalt would eventually just lose the guards within the forest and make his way back toward the gate. The paladin, although slightly covered in weasel spit, was now on top of the dire, riding along like nothing happened.


Lanara eyes the electrified fencing, wondering how in the hell she was going to pull this off, as she half expected Kelo to abandon her ill-planned mission. His words are to her back as he states that she has a good heart, and she peers at him over her shoulder, returning his smile. Cobalt is close to the paladin and they are formulating a plan of their own, as the elf slips on a pair of gloves, just in case she wasn’t able to remove the spell. Fried fingers weren’t the rage these days, and she was being cautious as she obediently steps behind a tree and watches Kelo approach the gate. The two guards seem skeptical of his approach, and the third looks ready to do battle with the poor paladin, and it’s then that Lana realizes Cobalt is no longer near Kelovath, nor is he by her side. Where was he?! Her heart catches in her throat as she realizes that the weasel and the man are likely in trouble and that it’s all –her- fault, when a blur of fur darts from the woods and assaults Kelo. She smirks, delighted that the weasel and his owner had managed to work together, and the guards give to the chase, leaving the gate unmanned. The witch counts a few seconds, making certain she’d remain out of their line of sight, before she sprints over to the gate, and extends her palms, feeling the energy radiate from the bars. She closes her eyes, focusing on the pulse of the electricity, and when she feels the third pause, she opens her eyes, swirls her hands, and mutters an incantation in sylvan. After a few beats the hum dissipates, before it’s nothing more than a metal fence separating the public from the privacy of the zoo, and were the guards to return they’d assume nothing was amiss, as the gates still remained locked, though the tops of the fence were no longer a hindrance to the elf. The sound of Cobalt’s paws hitting the forest floor and the jeering of the guards seems to be coming closer, and Lana swiftly returns to her position behind the tree, just out of their line of sight. One of the guards, a burly fellow, short of breath, points to the other two, “Get back in position! I don’t even know what that just was, but something don’t seem right. I don’t remember the zoo even having a weasel! Bleh! I don’t get paid enough for this… I’mma get myself a drink…” He stomps away, annoyed at the fact that he had to jog a few laps around the perimeter when it was nearing the end of his shift. Lana waits for the right moment to slip from the shadows and begin her ascent up the twenty foot fence, which happens around about the time that Kelovath circles around atop the back of the dire weasel, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Unsure if he would follow her into the zoo, Lana doesn’t waste any time in climbing the fence and slipping over the top, shimmying along until she drops down onto a narrow path, between two enclosures. A hippo snorts at her and she raises her pointer finger to her lips, hoping the animal would keep silent, and not alert the guards. The enclosure to her right houses a massive snake, likely an anaconda, which hisses and focuses his beady eyes on the elf, which leaves Lana speechless. If there was one animal she feared, it was a serpent. Frozen in place, her jaw slightly drops as fear encompasses her mind and the slithering beast hungrily slinks through its cage. The bars and mesh could hold it if it were to strike, right? Unsure, and crippled with fear, Lana backs up against the hippo’s enclosure and doesn’t shift her gaze from the snake, her entire plan forgotten for the moment.


The paladin didn't appear to be in too big of a hurry as Cobalt carried him toward the fence. He saw Lanara already climbing and thought about just staying with the weasel and waiting for her to be done with...Well, whatever she needed to do in there. He wasn't sure. Instead, he could hear some of the guards within the forest, but it was starting to sound like they were getting closer. "Be safe, Cobalt, okay? Stay close, but out of sight." Kelovath hopped off of Cobalt and started to climb the fence as well. Lanara was already over and by the time he got to the top, Cobalt was already gone. The man smiled and started his climb down. Lanara was still there, but instead of checking on her, the paladin was making sure they were safe and unseen. Coast seemed to be clear, so he looked to Lanara. "Come on. We gotta keep..." Oh, well, she was frozen in fear. "Erm." He looked at the enclosure and noticed the massive snake. People are afraid of these things? Kelovath shook his head a few times and carefully nudged the elf. "Lanara. We don't have time for this." Honestly, he wasn't sure they had any more or less time. He wasn't even sure what they were gonna do after getting over the fence. He stepped between Lanara and the snake enclosure, blocking any view she may have of the large reptile. Probably a bit too close to the elf than what was needed, but no point in the details. He had to act fast and other than picking her up and carrying her, this was about the only option. He'd look down at the elf and speak slowly, "We have to keep going, Lanara. You understand? The snake isn't going anywhere. That's his home. But we need to move, okay? There are other animals that need us, remember? Let's go."


The elf stands there, her full lips parted, frozen in fear as the snakes tongue darts in and out, tasting the air and gathering her location. Serpents didn’t have the best vision, though they had heat sensors and could detect the faintest of vibrations in the earth. Was it marking her as its next target? Lana is praying that the massive snake wouldn’t find her edible, and it’s then that she curses the fact that she had dabbed some perfume on her inner wrists this morning. It likely was attracted to the pheromones of cherry blossoms! She was here for a purpose; she had even brought company, a paladin and a dire weasel. But right now, she’s so intently focused on her one true fear, staring her in the eye. The elf had dove off of cliffs, resurrected the dead, battled mental demons of her abusive past, been swallowed by a dragon, suffered heartbreak, and hell, she had even died, twice, in fact. Though none of that comes close to her fear of snakes, a fear that she couldn’t begin to explain. It was an innate fear, like some had of heights or spiders. Swallowing, her eyes thinly lining with tears, she’s confused as Kelovath steps into her line of vision, before recognition sets in. The paladin. Her companion in this little charade. Her knight in holy armor that was blocking her view of the snake. If it was appropriate, she’d wrap her arms around him in a grateful hug, but he’d likely freak out at her odd behavior and she’d be face to face with the anaconda again. Kelo speaks to her softly at first, and it takes her a moment to piece the words together, and as he nudges her, his voice filling with a hint of urgency, she nods. They had to move on, for the real reason they were here. Right? “Ye-yeah… I’m sorry.” She feels ashamed that she had been so easily unraveled by the sight of a snake and though Kelo has seen her in a vulnerable state before, this seems to be on a different level. Inching away from the snake enclosure, she peers down the walkway and darts to the right, intent on getting to the main building. Sidling up against the wall, she exchanges a look with Kelo and points to the open window, which she waits outside of, listening. There were two voices coming from the interior room, and it looked like two tiger cubs on a metal table, both of which were unconscious. The voices are both male, one of which is angry, “I told you that I needed that cub we branded last night! How could you just DISPOSE of him?! Silas! How could you be so bloody foolish! He was one of the few that took to the bosses powers, and now he just up and ‘vanished’ and we have to pray that one of its siblings can harness the same power?!” The other voice is soft, soothing, and apologetic, “I’m sorry… I… I’m not sure where he ran off to… But you have to admit, this isn’t right… Those poor animals!” An audible crack is heard as the angry man’s hand collides with the others cheek, and Silas would then be instructed to leave for the evening, as he was now off ‘duty’ and unable to be trusted. The door slams, as Lana leans in to whisper to Kelo, “Silas! That’s his name!? He must be the one that has been dropping the animals at my doorstep…” Lifting her head, her dark eyes narrow as a menacing male, presumably human, enters their line of view and he brands the two cubs on their ears, as a blue light emanates from his palm and a searing heat makes the mark. He was a mage of some sort that much was obvious. One of the cubs wakes up, instantly, and looks around the room, disoriented. However, the other cub remains unmoving, and it’s then that the man is filled with anger as he picks up the cub and twists its head, breaking its neck, before he hurls it at the wall. Lana doesn’t wait around for fear that the other cub would suffer the same punishment, as she slips through the open window and drops into the room, glaring at the man as he holds his palm above the remaining cub. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you…” The mage eyes the elf with a hint of humor in his gaze, before he lifts his eyes to above her right shoulder, “Ah. Security. Finally. Please, dispose of this’ wild’ woman. The euthanasia serum should suffice for her misconduct.” Lanara isn’t going down without a fight though, as the two burly guards each grab a hold of her arms, causing her to thrash and kick from side to side. At one point her knee makes contact with one of their groins and as the man doubles over, she rounds on the other, though he’s much larger and trained in combat, as he backhands her across the face and sends her sprawled onto the floor. Tasting blood, Lana crawls over towards the window, as the guards and the mage watch her pathetic attempt to rise to her feet. If Kelo’s still out there they’d lock eyes, and she’d mouth for him to ‘save the tiger’ before the guard takes a fistful of her hair and roughly drags her through the room, intent on bringing her next door for a lethal injection.


Kelovath gave a quick and simple nod of his head as Lanara apologized to him. Should she want to discuss her fear later on, he'd listen. But for now, they had a job to do. Again, the paladin had no idea what that job was, he knew at this point, there wasn't exactly an easy way of turning back. Not that he would have, really. Although dangerous, this was also fun for him. Hiding for as long as he had been, it was nice to get out and do something reckless. This was for a good cause as well, which helped. He followed Lanara and kept quiet as a conversation now seemed to be taking place. They were doing something to the animals. It didn't sound good, but one of the men sounded weaker than the other. A pawn in this scheme within the zoo. Seeing the boss so carelessly snap the neck of the cub drew anger from the paladin, but he knew better than to act upon it. But, it seemed the elf had a little less self-control and she was now confronting the man. The paladin came very close to rushing after her, but he waited. The guards grabbed Lanara and before he knew it, she was on the ground and gave him a look. He wanted to save her, not the cub. But the earlier conversation they had forced his hand. He dropped into the room and before the guards could drag the struggling elf too far, the paladin aimed a slight hint of magic into the injection room. It was a small light, but it moved quickly and as the doors slammed shut, trapping the elf and guards together in the same room, the small light burst open in a flash. It wasn't meant to be painful, but it was going to be temporarily blinding. As for the 'bossman', it seemed even as a mage, the man wasn't extremely confident in his abilities, as he was now holding the cub between his hands, above his head, and staring at the paladin with such a furious look. "What now, boy?!" The boss was older, so that was about the only insult he could come up with. "Put it down." Kelovath said calmly, but his lips continued to move in a silent prayer. Whatever this crazed mage was planning, the paladin hoped to be prepared for it.


Lanara doesn’t fidget as she’s yanked into the guard’s embrace, his arm firmly coiling around her slender waist while his hand maintains a hold on her long hair which had come undone from its ponytail. Though the strands are tugged forcefully and it hurts like hell, she doesn’t retaliate or make any effort to defend herself, as she knew that she had to get into the next room with the guard and the mage. Which in turn would leave this room free of any guards and allow Kelovath to sneak in, snatch the tiger cub, and make his escape. She’d figure out how to survive in the next room, or maybe she wouldn’t… Either way, she couldn’t turn back. And maybe this was her destiny? She had lost so much, died twice; maybe the third time was the charm. The one she had kneed in the groin minutes before exits the room ahead of them, all too eager to ready the lethal injection for the woman that had embarrassed him in front of his co-workers. The mage sneers at Lana, pointing to the door, “Get that damn vegetarian out of here! How did she get past the gates?!” The male holding Lana doesn’t have an answer as he’s busy dragging the brunette towards the door, though a blinding light erupts before them and the door slams shut in their faces. Using this to her advantage, Lana stomps as hard as she can on the guard’s foot and frees herself of his hold, though she is seeing spots every time she blinks. The mage seems to have anticipated that the witch wasn’t working alone, and he dangles the cub like it’s a prize to be won at a state fair, a sinister smile on his face as he locks eyes with the paladin. The guard is cursing up a storm, rubbing his eyes and hopping on one foot, aiming to grab onto Lana, and after a few minutes of her dodging his attacks, he unsheathes a dagger from his belt. “That’s it! You are going to die by the dagger. Forget the poison. You won’t die pretty, I promise you that.” Their vision slowly returns, and the elf and the guard begin a dance of dodging each other, as he strikes with a serrated dagger and she counterattacks with some well placed kicks, though the scuffle from earlier is taking its toll and she’s slowing down. Meanwhile, Kelovath is in the room and facing off against the mage, and Lana can’t believe that the paladin had dropped into the room and not only saved her life, but was fighting for the cub, as well. His support was unexpected, as she didn’t want him to risk his life, but she was beyond grateful that he had her back. She owed him, big time. The little cub nips at the mage’s fingers, likely teething, or perhaps hungry, but whatever the reason it’s irritating the mage as those razor sharp teeth are puncturing his flesh. Adding to his anger is the supposed ‘vegetarian’ and her holy friend, and the fact that they had breached his enchantment on the fence, he squeezes the cub. “You may wield light, boy… But I wield darkness.” Now that they were privy to some of what was happening at the zoo and that they had identified their faces, Kelo and Lana wouldn’t be allowed to leave here, at least not alive. His blue hues turn to black as he mutters an incantation, and an inky substance begins to pour from the corners of the room, taking the forms of sickly twisted spider-like beasts. The four demonic looking beasts spit corrosive bile from their maws, and charge towards Kelo with a hellish fury. Lana sees this happening and she turns to aide Kelo, thus leaving herself wide open for an attack, and its then that the guard slips the dagger into her side and lifts her into his arms, “I said to stop squirming!” She stops squirming, much easier than she or the burly guard expects as blood begins to pool through the fabric of her shirt, and she helplessly watches Kelo and the hell spawn combat each other.


Kelovath kept his agreement with Lanara and remained focused on saving the cub. As the mage began his spell, the paladin started one of his own. When the time was right, he could truly be impressive with his magical abilities. A shame it happened so rarely, but now was a good opportunity for a showcase. The demonic spiders were about to start their attack when one of many spells came to completion. The first was a simple attack spell that instantly destroyed one of the spiders. The other, which happened at the exactly moment the first spider disappeared, was a summoned shield that was already latched to the paladin's robed arm. It blocked one of the corrosive ranged attack, but another soon followed and splattered all over his legs. The fabric of the clothing sizzled and disintegrated rapidly. Not much he could do about it right now, so he continued with moving forward and throwing the shield at one of the spiders that hadn't quite attacked yet. It was also smashed into nothingness as was the shield, but two spiders and the mage remained. Almost instantly his hands were now glowing with holy power, granted by Arkhen, meaning his prayer was heard. "Stand down, mage. Arkhen, God of Light has heard my call. This'll only end poorly for you." Now, Kelovath has fought plenty of bad guys in his time and on a normal day, this conversation always ended with some cackle from the baddie and they don't give up. It's exactly what the paladin expected and he knew what to do with the power currently flowing throughout his body. Regardless of what the mage might do, Kelovath would use Arkhen's Light to buff his own speed and race directly at the mage with his fist extended out, aiming to just deck the magic-wielder directly in the jaw and then grab the cub. The spiders would have a difficult time hitting any acid-like spit shots, although there could be a chance of those shots being aimed dangerously close to where Kelovath and the mage would be at.


Lanara is still being held hostage in the arms of the burly guard, and if she weren’t just stabbed in the ribcage, she’d swear that she was feeling faint from his body odor. All that sweating and lack of proper hygiene were suffocating the little witch, and she’s craning her neck to pull away from the stench, as well as keep a close eye on her friend who was now fending off hellish spider-creatures. Thankfully, Kelovath’s spell has reached fruition and as he battles one of the demonic beasts, the other nears, but it’s then that his shield is summoned and he bashes some, while quickly dodging the corrosive bombs that escape the mouths of the others. The paladin advances on the menacing mage, who narrows his eyes in a glare, and then cackles that villainous laugh that only the truly evil seem to possess, and he drops the cub, as he found prey that’s more to his liking. The tiger cub looks up at the mage, then at the paladin, and finally at the nearing spiders, and he yowls and darts into the far corner of the room, just behind a small desk. He timidly peeks out now and then, shaking like a leaf, though for the moment he is safe. Lanara’s eyes widen as she scans the room, looking for a sure way that they could all escape, as she feels pretty useless right now. The room seems to be spinning, her shirt is sticking to her form as the blood continues to pool, and she feels nauseas with worry for Kelo and Cobalt. She never should have invited them along and put them in danger! The rest of the guards must have been alerted as well, as they all bang on the other side of the door, though as it’s still filled with the spell of the paladin, they are unable to pry it open. Knowing she has to do something, she uses her last reserve of strength and focuses her gaze on the two remaining spiders. She had the gift of animal empathy and though they are likely spawned from the depths of hell, there was still an inkling of ‘animal’ within their genetic makeup. It’s at the precise time that Kelo’s fist makes contact with the jaw of the mage and a flash of light nearly blinds all of those in the room. The mage stops cackling. He stops looking for innocent cubs to slaughter. He doesn’t even advance on the paladin, as the burst of light sends him flying back against the wall, which he slides down and lands in a heap upon the floor. The guard holding Lana removes the dagger from between her ribs, causing a pained gasp from the woman as she clutches her side and blood begins to drip onto the floor. She fully expected this, and she waits for the guard to charge towards Kelovath, the dagger raised above his head, as he runs to defend the honor of his employer. Now! Lana utters the last few words of her spell and the two spiders obey her call, thank the Goddess, and they turn on their spindly legs and dart over towards the guard. Corrosive spitballs make contact with the legs and feet of the guard, easily disintegrating his attire, as Lana limps over to the desk and coaxes the cub into her arms. After a seconds hesitation the cub leaps into the witches embrace and nuzzles against her chest, his safe haven, as the shrill screams of the guard penetrate the room. His legs are being painfully burned as Lana looks at Kelo and points to the window, mouthing that they need to escape, as the banging at the door continues. For now, the mage and the guard were subdued and the spiders were relentless in their attacks, keeping order, while the pair with the addition of the tiger cub would make their great escape.


Kelovath, in that moment, wanted to finish off the mage and be done with him for good. That was the 'over-emotional human' side of the man taking over briefly. His paladin-ness snapped him back into the good alignment and shifted his attention to those in need. Lanara and the cub were the only ones within the area that would fit that description. The mage was now in a slump on the floor and there were now more guards on the way. They needed to act fast. The paladin could feel some strange tingle of pain along his legs, where the corrosive spit from the spiders had landed earlier, but it was ignored. Much like how Lanara was ignoring the stab wound. At the moment, it seemed like the tiger cub was the only one getting out of the zoo without any current harm done to it. Everything but Lanara and that cub were ignored and Kelovath hurried over to them, wrapping his arm around the elf and rushed to the window. It would be somewhat of a struggle to climb out of the window, but there was still plenty of strength left within the paladin to help Lanara, should she need it. Their only option for getting completely out of the zoo would be the same way they got in. The electric fence seemed to still be without power and just on the other side of it was Cobalt, anxiously waiting for Kelovath and Lanara to climb over. "Almost there. Just a bit more." Cobalt could hear the paladin speak and became even more excited, his tail wagging back and forth happily, tongue now hanging from his mouth.


Lanara is grateful for Kelovath’s assistance as he helps her and the cub climb out of the window, and she winces in pain as her stab wound is forced into an awkward position. Once her feet hit the ground, she waits for Kelo to exit the window, and at about the same time they both glance at the high, electrical fence, knowing they’d have to climb over that next. This was –not- how she imagined the night going, and Lana is constantly mumbling ‘sorry’ beneath her breath to the paladin. She felt awful that she had put him and the weasel in danger, that he was spit upon by some eight-legged hell spawn, and that she hadn’t thoroughly thought out a strategy for invading the zoo. Plus, they both were nearly killed, and the man was forced to rescue her in the process! Smooth. The elf turns away for a moment of privacy and she lifts her shirt to tuck the cub into her cleavage area, though his little head could somewhat peek out from the turtleneck top. There was no way she could climb a fence, this injured, single handedly, with a kitten in her grasp! As she lowers her shirt, her fingers graze the stab wound and she nearly faints as the pain surges throughout her mid-section. She needed healing, and fast, as the blood should have been clotting by now, and it wasn’t. The guard had sliced her pretty deep, it seemed, though there was no time to dwell, as she follows Kelo’s lead and they both climb the fence and drop down on the other side. Cobalt is there to greet them, his tail wagging, his ears erect, and a grin on his face, and if she wasn’t in pain, Lana would have grinned at the excitement in his expression. Apparently, he liked adventuring! The shouting of the guards is nearing, and the enchantment on the fence seemed to have been fixed, as the distinct humming sound is heard, and the elf knows they are running out of time. “Okay… We can’t lead them back to the sanctuary. The Inn’s will be too obvious, and forget a healing center…” She pauses, and slips her blood-soaked fingers into the pocket on her leggings, and removes a glowing compass. “Okay… This will take us to my guild headquarters. It’s hidden, and only members can find the way, by using this compass. It’s not too far from here.” And so, they’d begin the half-mile trek from the zoo, through the woods, and over the smaller section of the mountain pass, before a mysterious glowing door shimmers in the distance. “Take my hand, and with your other, grab a hold of Cobalt…” Once Kelo latched onto Lana and Cobalt, she would step through the door, and they would enter on the other side, in a small, yet inviting, headquarters. A large oak table is in the center, with twelve chairs surrounding it, and dozens of maps have been pinned to the walls. In the far corner is an ice box with fruit and ale, and there’s a small washroom with medical supplies, fresh towels, and a basin of clean water. Lana would immediately remove the kitten from underneath her shirt and rest him on the floor so that he could prowl around the confines of the locked room, while the elf drops into a chair and catches her breath. After a moment, she looks at Kelo, “Are you alright?”


Kelovath non-verbally agreed with avoiding the sanctuary by nodding his head. His next thought was the Inn, but Lanara made a good point of why to not go there. So, they'd make their way to the guild HQ. It felt like a slow walk and his legs, because of the nasty spit from the spiders, ached and throbbed. It was ignored for the most part, but once in a while his robes would catch the wind and skim his exposed skin. He'd, as silently as he could, wince but continue to push forward. His focus was mainly on the elf and her still bleeding wound. The paladin could almost feel the pain radiating from her. Kelovath wanted to stop and take the time to heal their battle scars, but it was equally important for the group to reach safety. He would carefully take hold of Lanara's hand and place his other onto Cobalt. The inside was quite something and when he got the chance, he'd take the time to really admire the craftsmanship. When the elf finally takes a seat, Kelovath went right into healer mode and approached her. "I'm fine. You need healing." His hands began to glow with a holy healing light and he knelt down beside her, which was the same side she was dripping blood from. "May I?" He always got permission before using his healing hands. Permission is important. Cobalt sniffed around the room, at least until the tiger cub found him and instantly began playing with the dire weasel's large fluffy tail. The sudden attention brought out a playful side of Cobalt and the pair were now poking and pawing at each other. It would have been rather cute, if Lanara wasn't bleeding out so close by.


Lanara lifts her gaze to the glowing hands of the paladin, amazed by the magic flowing through his form, and if she weren’t in such pain and bleeding so heavily, she would have asked him for a few details. The elf was always fascinated by magic, all varieties, likely stemming from her witch heritage. The tiger cub is batting at Cobalt’s wagging tail and every time he swishes it from side to side, the little cub would pounce into the air and release what he likely assumed was a ‘fierce’ growl. It was anything but, as it sounded like a soft mewl, though it was beyond adorable, and the dire weasel is enjoying the playtime with the newborn, and he knows enough to be gentle with the much smaller animal. Lana shifts her gaze from Kelovath to the sounds of meowing and paws hitting the hardwood floor, and she can’t help but crack a smile at the rambunctious duo. At least the cub would be distracted while she was healed, and for that she’s grateful. Returning her attention to Kelo, she clears her throat and shyly lifts her shirt halfway up, revealing a toned stomach, a sparkling belly-button ring, and a deep gash in her side. There also is a faint white line from a previous surgery that she had not too long ago, and upon feeling his gaze inspecting her wound she offers an explanation, “After the fight with my sister I, um, suffered some internal bleeding. There wasn’t any time to delay in my healing, so Theo… That is Largakh’s grandfather… He had to perform an emergency surgery. He removed some stuff and I’ll never be able to have children.” A brief pause, as it sinks in, and she wonders why she told the paladin one of her coveted secrets, “I’m sorry. Much more than you wanted to know about me! But… Maybe now you can fully understand why I have such a maternal feeling for animals.” Normally, if one were to ask, she’d allude to the fact that she couldn’t have children, though she doesn’t speak of it in depth, and only with those she trusts. Kelovath had proved himself to be a friend, and she reclines in the chair the most she can, to bare as much of the wound to him so that he could rest his healing hands over her figure. As he readies himself, she spies the exposed skin of his legs through his tattered robe, and she sighs, taking the full blame. “I’m so sorry… You are wounded, too. I can heal you when you are done, if you like?”


Seeing the wound, the paladin was quite surprised Lanara was even able to make it here without passing out. She was a strong elf, for sure. The man gave a casual nod in response to her explanation of the scar. It wasn't his business to ask any more about it. Thankfully though, his magic had healed much worse than a stab/cut. The holy magic would feel warm and soothing, with the main downside being that it was rather bright. Kelovath narrowed his gaze, making sure to heal up any of the visible injury. It was quick work, hardly work, and it seemed rather effortless for him. His own injury he had forgotten about entirely and once his healing hands dimmed down, the man shrugged. "I used to be a high-ranking member of the Healer's Guild. I don't know much about tools and such that go along with traditional healing, but with magic it's...I don't know, easy. And more useful than most of my other magic." A quick huff-like laugh and he glanced down, taking notice of his exposed legs from between the robe. "Oh. That should probably hurt more based on how it looks." The man shook his head and assumed that an earlier injury, ya know, falling off a cliff and breaking lots of bones, probably numbed the feeling in his legs. Along with some burned-by-acid marks on his legs, there appeared to be several tiny scars all along both legs and they seemingly continue going up and down. For the most part, Kelovath no longer sees the scars, but right now, he noticed them rather clearly. The paladin desperately stands up and takes a step back, covering his legs with what little is left of the robe that would reach. "Sorry. I, ah, got a little light headed or something. Tonight has been rather action packed, huh?" A smirk, followed by an obvious fake laugh. In a rush, he looked to Cobalt and the cub, "At least they seem to still be enjoying the night, eh?" A feeble attempt at changing the subject.


Lanara remains still and silent as she’s healed her cheeks a faint hue of pink as the male begins his work on her torso and side. Sure, she pranced around in bikinis frequently, but that was because they were comfortable, and she was an ex-model for Kreekitaka. But this?! It somehow seemed as though she were baring more than flesh, and in a way she was, as Lanara had only let healing centers or her sibling perform magic on her, directly. Trust never came easily to the elf and as the blinding light sutures her skin, she’s all too happy to close her eyes and shield her soul from revealing anything more. Talyara had told her that she could read –everything- by looking into her brown eyes, and she wasn’t taking any chances. As the healing ends and the tingling in her side dissipates, Lana opens her eyes and slowly sits up, testing the muscles, and eyeing the paladin’s work. “Wow… You wouldn’t think I was stabbed that bad from the way you healed me… Thank you… Truly.” Instead of lowering her shirt back down, she rises from the chair and heads over to the row of lockers and she removes an oversized tee shirt and a pair of sweatpants. She’d step into the small washroom for privacy, rinse the blood from her middle, and switch shirts, however this one she is practically swimming in, and it reaches her knees. Upon exiting, she offers the pants to Kelovath, with a smirk, “I’m sorry. I know they are going to be huge on you, though they won’t look as awful as this shirt looks on me. They belong to a friend of mine, who is like a brother to me… Scandal. He’s a dragon. He’s often shifting, uh, forms, and when he does his clothing becomes badly torn. He always keeps a few spare sets lying around. He’s the researcher for the guild, and he won’t mind that we are borrowing his clothes. I promise…” It’s then that Kelo takes an awkward step back, claims he’s light headed, and tries to hide his legs from her line of vision. “Wha-What’s wrong?” Lana had seen the scars, and she hadn’t commented, as she was far too proper to do such a thing. Plus, her sister told her that women thought scars were sexy on men, so she doesn’t understand why the paladin is suddenly self-conscious. Shouldn’t he be parading through the room brandishing his scars for her to see?! Swallowing, she rests the pants on the table and takes a step towards Kelovath, as though she feared he was going to run away, and she rests her hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay… I’ve healed a lot of people before, and I would –never- use dark magic… We are very much the same in that respect. And… Taly says that scars are sexy, and well, I never really thought about it that much, as I believe they tell a story, and the heart is much sexier than the flesh… Anyways, I’m babbling. I’m sorry. I tend to do that… A lot.” A shameless grin is offered, as she motions to his legs and then the chair, “Please… Let me heal you… It’s my fault you are injured in the first place. You’ve already healed me. Cobalt and the cub are keeping busy… It’s just you and me, Kelo… I’m nothing special, so please don’t be shy around me. I won’t force you but… If you’re light headed it could be that the spiders had some sort of venom. I just… I want to make things right. I feel terrible…” Those big brown eyes never leave his own brown hues, as hers sting with tears. He probably hated her and couldn’t wait to flee. She had lied about going to the zoo, and they both nearly died.


"N-no. It's just...My scars are..." He was rather lost for words. There are barely a handful of people who know about his scars and even fewer who have seen them. The ones on his legs weren't nearly as bad as the ones on his back or chest, but it was enough to make him feel ashamed. "I'm sorry..." The man took in a deep breath and it was clear that after the breath was released he had visibly relaxed and calmed his nerves. Without speaking, the paladin walked over to the chair that Lanara motioned to a bit earlier and sat down. On his way over, the offered pants were accepted and draped over his upper thighs. His legs were exposed. Scars, burnt skin, and a few patches of hair could clearly be seen. He confidently looked to the elf and nodded his head a single time. "Okay." An unsure smile flashed by, but he stayed still and waited. "My scars are a harsh reminder of my past. By now, you'd think I'd be over it. That they wouldn't catch me off-guard. I guess they still do and most of the time, I am unsure how others will react to them." His gaze did not stray from Lanara. "And, to be honest with you, battle scars are kinda sexy. These just don't fall into that category." The smile returned, but it stayed longer this time around. "I would appreciate it if you did heal me."


Lanara is relieved to hear that he doesn’t hate her, despite the rough evening they had, and she nods, her gaze full of understanding. He was self-conscious of his scars. She could understand that, and she clears her throat, surprising herself with her reply, “Hey… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Kelo. And it is strange that our conversations always turn so personal, so soon, and so unexpectedly… You may have scarring on your body, but I have it on my mind and I can’t exactly hide them, at least not all the time. I was once an empath, so I relied on the feelings of others. I sacrificed that power to save my sister, and I still have it with animals, but now I’m on my own to sort through my feelings, whereas in the past, I sort of went with the flow of others. They call me ‘crazy’ because I sometimes can go from laughing to sobbing at the flip of a coin… It’s overwhelming sometimes, not knowing how to feel, or feeling far too much at once.” There’s a pause, as she readies a basin of clean water and gathers a few necessary items for healing. She kneels at his feet as he sits in the chair and gives his lower limbs a lingering once over, before lifting her gaze to his face, “There’s no need to be ashamed of the marks you carry… They don’t take away from your appearance at all, in my opinion. You have a handsome face and a strong build. You’re a catch, Kelo, not to mention you are great in the dark with those glowing hands.” Yes, she totally checked him out. Hence, the growing redness in her cheeks. She offers a grin, trying to lessen both of their nerves as she works on washing the blood and spider bile from his legs, rinsing the rag every few swabs. When complete, she would spritz a saline salve over his legs and wait for it to dry, talking as she works, “Scars are sexy, regardless of where they hail from! Though, I’m sure you have a few battle scars, as you’ve been in two wars?” Her touch is gentle as she works on wrapping a sleeve of seaweed around his legs, from his ankles to his knees, and she hums softly as her powers are softly pressed into the healing fabric. The paladin would feel a faint tingling sensation, followed by a thread pulse, before the witch removes her hands form his legs, and works on wrapping gauze over the seaweed wrap. Once complete, she ties off the bandages and attempts to make them ‘pretty’ by folding and snipping here and there, until she is pleased with her work. She doesn’t ask where the scars had come from, as she didn’t want to pry, though if Kelo wished to reveal anything, she was all tapered ears. She does, however, comment on something he mentioned earlier, “So, you said that you used to be a member of the Healer’s Guild? Why did you leave, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m in the Bard’s Guild, a dancer, as you know, and I run this place, with planning adventures and what not… I’ve considered the healing group, but I’ve already got a bunch on my plate at the moment…” Her voice trails off as she rises from the floor and cleans up the medical supplies, giving Kelo privacy to chance his pants.


Kelovath sat still as Lanara went about her healing. He wasn't knowledgeable about other healing methods, so he basically just allowed her to do whatever. As far as he knew, she could be poisoning him right now. The paladin also blushed as she so easily complimented him. She could be quite forward, but it wasn't...Uncomfortable. Almost like she was unaware of what she was saying or the context it was in. Not that he minded. It was refreshing to talk to someone without a filter. Most people held back too much and that was more uncomfortable. As a joke he quietly mumbled something along the lines of, "Well, glowing hands are a nice plus during those personal situations..." Not a good joke, but anything that may release some tension is welcomed. "But yeah, I do have some battle scars as well. Hildegarde's war proved to be the more physically punishing of the two. I was knocked off a cliff, landed on some rocks on my way down. Lost feeling in my legs for several weeks. No major damage was done specifically to my legs, but my back...A rock pierced my armor and my spine. I accepted the great possibility of never being able to walk again. Instead, my body healed and I pushed through. The first war...It was a mental thing. Much more difficult than maybe never walking." He didn't explain any further on that. Nor had he ever. "I, uh, left the Healer's Guild for...I was, ya know, seeing the leader of it at the time. I was called away, family issues, and when I came back, she had married. So I distanced myself and haven't gone back." The healing was starting to take hold and the tingling sensation was very present. "I don't normally let things like that detour me from what I believe in, but I was hurt and it was about that time the first war started up. I was needed in Larket. A simple support group. I loved that city the instant I walked across the bridge. And Queen Jacklin was more than welcoming of my ability." The paladin smiled and looked about the room as his story came to a pause. Things were much different now within the Hard City. Jacklin would have handled things better. Parsithius would have made sure of it. A small shake of his head as he snapped out of his own thoughts. It looked as if the healing was done and as Lanara stepped away, Kelovath removed the barely-there pants he was previously wearing and quite easily slipped into the much larger pair. "Thank you, Lanara, for the healing. Heh. And the interesting turn of events tonight. Never broken into a zoo before."


Cobalt had paused in his playtime with the tiger cub as he overheard his human companion mentioning ‘personal times’ with the elf, and both the weasel and the cub give an accusatory look in Kelo’s direction. Meanwhile, Lanara bursts into a fit of giggles, the humor lessening her nerves, as she washes her hands and fires back a comment of her own, “I’ll take your word for it, Kelo… Seems you get around with the ladies, huh? You and your flashlight fingers had to flee the Healer’s Guild!” She laughs again, shaking her head, and enjoying the playful banter. For a moment, Kelo would see the ‘true’ Lanara, the elf that didn’t take all the much seriously, and who loved to mercilessly tease those she cared about. She didn’t smile enough lately, and her grin brightens up her face, making her look far less like a ‘haunted’ beauty, and more like an elven princess. The paladin is putting on his new pants as she heads to the enchanted ice box and removes a bowl of fruit, a pitcher of water, and though she eyes the champagne, she doesn’t remove it. Breaking into a realm-renowned zoo, and nearly dying in the process wasn’t exactly cause for a celebration. Over her shoulder she replies, “I’m sorry that your heartache caused you to leave the guild… But I completely understand. I moved out of Venturil after breaking off my engagement to Eirik a while back. Though my feelings for him are long gone, and I no longer feel pain in my heart over our breakup, the entire city is just soured for me. I can’t explain it… But… If I may… It’s entirely –her- loss. No woman should just give her heart to another, when she knows that someone she promised her heart to will return. It’s not like you were presumed dead and many years had passed! I just… Don’t get people. When I fall in love, it’s with one person, and I always give my all to that relationship. Some in the lands have multiple lovers at the same time! I could never do such a thing. I’m far too jealous.” She’d wink if she wasn’t so busy slicing cheese and arranging it onto a plate with some crackers. The bowl, plate, and pitcher are set upon the table as she grabs some cloth napkins and sits on a chair, making sure to toss a strawberry at Cobalt and the cub. The little feline bats it from side to side and rolls onto his back, toying with the berry, and Lana groans, knowing she’d be cleaning juice from his whiskers for hours on the morrow. But, he was so darn cute! She watches the cub for a full minute, before she looks over at Kelo and she bites the inside of her cheek to stifle another giggle as she sees him in those oversized pants. He looked like a gangster! Not trusting herself to be serious, she pops a grape into her mouth, and motions to the food and drink. “It’s not much… I normally keep some celebratory snacks here for after a successful adventure. Please, eat something; you must be famished from all the walking and healing.” There’s a brief pause, as Lana fixes her gaze on Kelo, and finally she blurts out, “I know that you are probably hesitant to join another guild, and I know that you recently joined the Paladin’s Guild… But I really hope you will consider the Adventurer’s Guild. In a few weeks we are heading to Twister Island, far off the coast of Rynvale… Supposedly there’s a wind storm there, and there are sharks flying all over and wreaking havoc! I’m building a team to save the island, and explore. If you think breaking into a zoo was an experience, I’m sure you’d be right at home on some of our other expeditions.” She could give a pretty good sales pitch, and her dark hues light up as she speaks of her beloved guild, gesticulating all the while to the maps upon the walls, as she tries to convince the male. And then, being the outspoken, no filter, woman that she is, she semi-teasingly adds, “And if you happen to date a member of the guild and you don’t work out, I will make sure there are no hard feelings and you remain friends. If she leaves you for another, I’ll kick her ass, I promise!” She laughs, and though she hinted at him joining again, she wouldn’t force the matter and the offer would always stand. After a few moments pause, or possibly of Kelovath replying to her comment, she would points to the shelves, “I have some bedrolls over there. Sadly, we have to sleep on the floor, but by morning we should be able to go back to our normal duties, and they’ll likely have stopped looking for us. I even have a bedroll large enough for Cobalt to snuggle up on, so you won’t have to share.” Lana already knew she’d be sharing hers with the cub, and she was totally fine with that, as she often slept with an animal nearby. As the night dwindles down and they both had their share of food and drink, while briefly discussing the downfall of the lands and the increasing crime rate, both the paladin and the witch had grown weary. Lanara would curl up on the left side of the room, with the tiger cub cuddled in the crook of her arm. It was a long day, but it was well worth it, she thinks, as she falls asleep to his content purring.