"So this is the town?" Pictor said slightly confused.

"What's left of it," Alexei said as he examined the remains of a house, all the while Ana bouncing on his head.

Hosanna sunk to the ground, her eyes filled with tears, "How could this had happened?"

Doushi interjected before Hos could go on, "Didn't one of you say there was a minor war going on here? I would expect major damages if that were true."

There was a long silence that followed, thankfully, the awkward silence was broken by Hos. "A war? It wasn't supposed to get that far."

"Let's just go into town and see what really happened," said Alexei as took Ana into his arms. She looked up at him with a disappointed look, but she didn't choose to whine. He looked to everyone else, each with a grim expression on their faces. This could be a real war going on, and they would be walking straight into a living nightmare. What would happen?

***

The center of the town wasn't much different from that edge.  The town was completely demolished, people were working amidst the rubble, finding their belongings or helping the injured. Hos screamed and ran over to a woman dressed in white. This woman was healing her very own leg, which had covered bleed enough to cover her robes in deep crimson blood.  

The woman looked to Hosanna and gasped, "What are you doing back here?" 

Hos, who had kneeled down beside her shrugged, "The temple did raise me, and I was worried hearing those rumors and all."

A small chuckle came from the woman, "Well, I suppose you want the whole story about what happened. I'm afraid I'm not the one to tell you that, have fun asking people around here with that character," she pointed to Alexei, "You'll get stoned by the end of the day." With that said the woman glared at continued to heal her leg.

'The nerve of that flat--' Alexei was cut off in mid thought by Ana.

*What does the  lady mean? Why would anyone want to hurt someone like you?*

Alexei sighed before he gave Ana an answer. 'Some people jump to conclusions. They think things are bad before they see the truth for themselves. That's the only way I can really explain it.' 

*That doesn't... make any sense.*

'I know.'

Pictor yelped form a short distance away, apparently he had decided to wander off of his own accord during Hosanna's little talk. He was near a large pile of rubble, and that rubble was moving towards him.

Doushi dashed up to his caretaker and squeaked as something emerged out from the rubble, no wonder Pictor yelped. The thing that emerged could have slashed him into tiny little ribbons. It was a sphinx.

She grinned at both of them, "Thank you Sir for getting me out from out of there. I think I'll be off, pity how I can't talk more."

Pictor blinked, "You aren't going to eat us or ask a riddle?"

The sphinx raised her eyebrow, "Now why in would I do that?"

"Well you ARE a sphinx."

"I wouldn't eat you, after all I have no idea where you've been!" She smiled and flipped blonde hair out of her face. She spread her wings and turned her back to him, "If you don't mind I'll be off."

"Well, wait a second. What happened here?" Pictor said far more confident then before. 

The sphinx flexed her massive wings with frustration and apprehension. Growling, she looked directly into Pictor's eyes, "I must be going Sir. Why don't you find someone who doesn't happen to be in a rush?" Once again she turned her back to him with a frustrated sigh. This was not a sociable creature on a normal basis, but this particular sphinx was normally and exception.

*Hey! Miss Cat lady! Do you want to be our friend?* Ana had managed to come up behind the sphinx. Alexei was standing near her blushing (as well as a vampire can blush.)

The sphinx couldn't help but laugh, "Well now! What's your name Missy?"

*Anastasia! The guy next to me is Alexei, he's my bondmate. What's your name?* Ana cocked her head to one side questioningly. 

"My name is Ziven Zi Xanti, but everyone just calls me Zi."

*Kay! Why is Zi in a hurry?*

"I... my friend is in great danger, I need to find him a cure for a sickness." The sphinx shifted her weight. "So I came here in the midst of a war to find the cure."

*Alexei! Let's help her!* Ana looked up with watery eyes.

"But Ana..." Alexei looked down, his left eye twitches. Gah. She won. "Fine."

*Yay! We get to help Zi!*

Zi looked from Alexei to Ana in disbelief. They were so willing to help her and--

"NO! WE will not help that THING!" Hos screamed at the top of her lungs. They had totally forgotten about her. For good reason as you can see.

Pictor shook his head, "Who said you were an official member of our group? Honestly woman, you're nuts to think that."

"Bite me, Pictor."

"No thank you."

"You have to think of our safety!" Hosanna hissed, "That thing could eat us at any moment. And... and look where we are." 

Alexei closed his eyes and began to rub his temples. It would be stupid to try and kill a former priestess, and he couldn't do it in front of Ana anyway. He rubbed his hands over his face, "Okay, let's just get out of town."

"But we just got here," said Doushi sounding almost disappointed.

"There's no place to stay in this town, and judging from the crowd that's starting to form we should leave quite soon." Alexei said softly. A crowd was gathering, they were brandishing stones, pitch forks and the whole she-bang. 

Needless to say our band broke into a ran, this avoided them from being stoned. They reached the edge of town safely and everyone ( except Ana) was panting for breath. They all suck to the ground into the soft snow. They would make camp here tonight, that is what they were thinking. In reality they would under no circumstances make camp here.

Alexei was the first to hear a crackling sound, followed by a hissing. He stood up straight looking around for the source. As suddenly as the sound had appeared it disappeared, only to be replaced with the sound of flames.

Utica Point had been claimed by the fire. It was now the beginning of the end.

(Reminder: Don't steal!)