Long Journey

[Paladine]

Mirage walked through Solace, he had taken the form of a human before he had neared this city and had decided to check it out. He had taken the form of a young human male that looked about the age of 23 dressed in clothes that stated he was a regular person, not too rich, not too poor. He sighed, this was going to be a long day if he didn't find anything to do. He rubbed his human hand through his hair, this form was most frustrating, he was unused to the small size but he wouldn't want to cause a rucus with the city's people at the sudden appearance of a silver dargon in the middle of the city. He continued his walk through the city, looking for anything that he might find interesting.

[tess]

Tess, being rather bored on this night, was wandering the streets with no purpose whatsoever. All her time was spent either running from one thing or another, or sleeping, and it was rare for her to have an occasion to do nothing, and she relished every moment of it. She was a little drowsy, and would be headed off to sleep in a bit, but for now, wandering aimlessly tugged at her fancy.

It was very quiet outside, and quite dark to match. A perfect night in her book. The sudden sound of approaching footsteps almost caught her off guard. Darting behind a rather large tree, as was her natural reaction to pretty much anything and everything, she peered out at this stranger.

He was adequately tall, in his early twenties. He had on the most average clothes she had ever seen. Everyone she had ever seen had a particular flair of their style showing in their clothes, rich or poor, but this man had none. It was odd and this intrigued Tess. Her curiosity got the better of her and she decided against more aimless wandering of the streets, but instead to follow this stranger to learn more about him.

Knowing it was near impossible for her to be spotted, she pursued him from a distance back, waiting for him to do something of interest.

[Paladine]

Mirage stopped for a moment, and then continued walking, it wasn't hard for him to notice the young elf following him. He smirked and continued walking. After a few minutes he came to an old abandoned cabin near the edge of Solace and as soon as he passed it, it set ablaze with magical blue fire, almost exactly after he passed it. Was it coincidence or had he done it, surely it could have been a nearby mage who had erected the building for target practice, but who knew? Mirage smiled, he knew it wasn't usually like him to burn a building, uninhiabited or not, but he wanted to see if this elf would continue pursuit.

[tess]

As she was following the mysterious stranger, Tess forgot why she was pursuing him in the first place. It wasn't like her to forget things so easily, but it wasn't like she had a good reason to begin with. A few moments later, she was about ready to turn back. This stranger was boring her more then walking without purpose.

Just at that moment, an old, worn-down looking cabin on her side of the road burst up into flames, causing her to jump back into the open of the street. As soon as she did, she leaped back into her hiding spot so as not to be seen. After letting a few more moments pass, she peered at her stranger who had not stopped walking, and didn't seem nearly as shocked as she at the sudden explosion of fire.

Sighing with relief, Tess took a moment to decide that no one but her stranger could have done this, or she would have heard them running off. His nonchalant manner toward the burning building helped in her decision.

Giggling to herself, Tess came up with a plan to get a closer look at the magic-user, for she had not seen one in some time, and didn't quite know the rules of magic, so maybe she could learn anything at all from this person... If he was friendly of course. She ran out of sight in front of her stranger for some ways, until she would have been just a blur in his vision, too far away for any detail, and walked slowly right out into the center of the street. There, she sat on the floor, cross-legged, and waited to see her stranger. It may have been a stupid plan, yes, but Tess' curiosity always got the better her.

[Paladine]

Mirage kept walking, he smiled, he figured the girl had run off. The cabin burned down and it never spread, so only the cabin had burned down. Mirage stuck his hands in his pockets of his trousers and went on his way when he saw the blur in his vision, probably just a squirrel, or a rabbit. He walked a ways then finally came upon the young elven girl and raised an eyebrow. She was just sitting there, out in the road.
He never knew that elves could be as curious as kender, at least in the fact to just sit and wait for someone that could probably kill them, which kender sometimes did from his experience of seeing them. He walked up to the young lady and frowned down at her.

Pardon me, young lady, but should you be sitting in the middle of the road? You might get run over by a carriage, I've heard some drivers can be rather reckless.

[tess]

Tess flashed a wide smile. So this stranger had no unkind intentions... Though he wasn't exactly nice either. What was the word...? Grumpy! Yes, this was a grumpy stranger, but Tess liked him already. He had started conversation himself instead of passing by as some would.

"Well," she began. "What I am doing is not destructive. I'm sorry I can't say the same for you."

Tess stood up and walked the short distance between them until her toes were just inches from his. He was taller then her yes, but she felt she might have the upper hand if she looked intimidating. Close proximity never bothered Tess, but it often made other people uncomfortable. She didn't really have a reason... again... to do this, but she was having fun with him and sought to make the best of her time with him.

He smelled of something, but of what Tess could not place. She stared into his eyes and wondered what he was seeing in her own.

Grinning again, she changed the subject with her extremely blunt and forward behavior. "Whats your name? I like you."

[Paladine]

Mirage frowned, this lady was highly close to him. It did bother him, much, but he didn't like being too close to other people. He smiled pleasantly.

"I have no idea what your talking, about. I was just making my way to the Inn of the Last Home, and then I find out someone is following me like an owl hunts a rat. And I find that person in the middle of the road, putting their self in danger, just to meet the person they were following."

Mirage frowned at her question.

"Why should I present my name if you haven't even given me yours? And you can hardly like someone after five minutes of talking and ten minutes of following them, I could be a killer for all you know, an assassin, sent to kill you, or I could be a criminal in itself, killing little girls who stop men like myself in the middle of the road."

His voice was calm, he had not raised it in the smallest, it was always calm, saying every word.

[tess]

Tress tried to hole back laughter, but a small giggle found its way through her clenched teeth.

"Firstly, forget about me being in danger because you're standing in the street just as much as i am now. The past exists only in our memories and the future only in our plans, now is our only reality. Secondly, thats a terrible comparison, for you should have no fear of me, and by the way you talk, you don't. Thirdly, you should give me your name because that is how people meet, one gives the other their name, and the other gives them their name in return. And lastly, I'm sure I could take you... If I really wanted to. But for now i like the tranquility of sitting here and asking your name you won't give to me."

Tess smirked. She had always loved a good argument, and felt pretty good about this one. Besides, by making all these points, she was sure this stranger would have to stay and attempt to prove his point, which of course, he could not, but he would just as well try, therefore elongating her time with him.

Tess smiled once again. She wasn't lying when she said she liked him.

[Paladine]

"Although there are several people trying to prove that time does not exist. They think that since the future is happening right now, that there can be no future, and since there is no future, there is no past, and since there is no future, and no past, there is no present. I myself do not believe this nonsence, for ever as we speak, Astinus is copying down the happenings of Krynn ever since the begining of time, which as the Gods state, does exist."

Mirage smirked, he knew this would probably confuse the young one, and he hoped it would, in fact, so he could have a few moments alone with his thoughts.

[tess]

Tess beamed at her stranger's smile. So he was trying to look smart was he?

"Well if you do not believe in it, then why bring it up as a point at all other than to avoid my original question: What is your name?"

Tess smirked. It was very like her to get caught up in an argument about that, luckily she was listening when he had said he didn't not believe in his own point.

[Paladine]

Mirage bowed to the girl. Hopefully she would stop bothering him with questions if he just told her his name.

"I am Mirage. Whom might I have the pleasure of talking to?"

[tess]

Tess grinned benevolently. Her stranger had finally told her his name. NOW they were getting somewhere.

"My name is Tessie. Do you mind if i accompany you to the Inn of the Last Home? This place is rather boring me, and as I previously stated, I like you."

She giggled out the last part. She doubted the stranger would let her anywhere near him other than this exact spot in the world, but it was worth a shot.

[Paladine]

"Even if I said you would probably just follow me there and make up an excuse to be there, am I right? You can if you wish, but I was just saying I was going to the Inn to try and get away. My true destination is on the Dragon Isles. I have a home there. You are welcome to join me, but it's not an easy journey unless by dragon-back."

Mirage's face remained serious, he was actually heading there anyway. He had planned on shedding his human form once he was clear of Solace but obviously he wouldn't be able to do that since this girl was keeping him longer than expected.

[tess]

Tess' eyes grew quite sparkly at that moment, turning from the dull hazel of her boredom, to a deep purple, as her eyes changed with mood. The Dragon Isles? One of the many places she had never been, though she never stayed in one place too long. This sounded precariously fun.

"Well you'll be there to save me, now won't you?"

[Paladine]

"If you were to get in trouble, yes, I would help you, but not because I was there, but because I'm supposed to. Have you ever met a dragon?"

Mirage waited for her answer with a plain face, he knew her answer would probably be no.

[tess]

"Well, I haven't exactly met one, but I've SEEN one before. They're quite pretty actually, more so then most any other race, in my eyes at least. But talking with him, no, I have not. How are you 'supposed to' save me?"

That explained a lot. He had overdone the normality of his human form, and seemed grumpy yet intrigued with her. But a dragon? She wouldn't have guessed.

[Paladine]

"Only if you get in trouble that is. And yes, you have met a dragon."

Mirage smiled, he knew this would probably confuse her a little too, for dragons, especially Silver dragons, were very hard to find, and rarely just told people what they were.

[tess]

Tess had to think about this for a moment. So he was a dragon. Yes, she believed him. If he weren't he would have no reason to tell her that, and no way to prove it, so it would be totally pointless. But why he told her, she had no idea. Dragons never told random strangers of their lineage. Maybe Tess was more charismatic then she thought... She giggled again for the millionth time around Mirage at the thought of her herself being at all charismatic.

"I... still don't understand. To you I'm just some random person on the street, why is it your responsibility to save me? Apparently I don't know as much as I wish i would... But curiosity hasn't killed me yet."

[Paladine]

Mirage sigh.

"Well, seeing as you might be traveling with me, if you should get into a problem that you yourself cannot get out of, it is upon myself to help you. It is as simple as that. Anything else?"

[tess]

Tess frowned. She still had no idea why Mirage would help her IF she were to get into any trouble, but she tried her best to put it behind her, she didn't want to bother him TOO much.

"No, not really."

Tess turned her back on the stranger and started walking in a random direction, knowing she would probably be going the wrong way, but she wanted Mirage to call her back instead of walking away so she could put her smile back on her face.