Melina yawned as she slipped into bed. The door was locked. She was still wondering why there were three locks though. She moved in the bed. It was covered with a duvet and a sheet. She stretched as she tried to close her eyes. She sighed a little as she pushed herself up the bed and rested on the pillows.

Her mind went back to sometime in her past, and she smiled softly. She'd been talking with one of the daughters of winter. As she did so she noticed a much older fox coming up the pathway. The mountains contained a large fountain - its water was unlike any other. It was a slightly gold colour as it contained properties to heal and prolong life. The sisters numbered about twenty;they had numbered around five hundred but most had been killed in the Elemental war. Only the sisters, and their father and mother, survived.

Melina watched the fox manage to get up the long walk and talk to the Sisters Father; he was called the Father of Winter. Melina watched and suspected something had gone on with the fox and she shrugged a little as she looked to her friend. She shook her head and licked her lips as the fox walked back down the path he had come up. She made her way to the sister's father.

"What was all that about?" she questioned.

"Hmmm& oh, he wanted to sample the water;however there are rules."

"Hmmm, I see. I heard that we can ask to drink the water, but more than that I am unsure."

The sister's father smiled, Melina looked to her friend.

"But... well over the hall of the twelve it says learn all that is learnable... can't I ask what I need to do?"

"Just answer the two questions. But fail either and you must go back to where you came from empty pawed."

"I understand. What are the questions?" asked Melina.

"Very well. What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?"

Melina laughed loudly and rubbed her hand over her muzzle quickly.

"It's so simple, I know the answer. Man, who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs as an adult, and walks with a cane in old age."

"Correct, the second question then; which is better - immortality or a full long and eventful life?"

Melina considered she pursed her lips and wondered a little, she knew about both possibilities but she was a little unsure, she looked to her friend.

"A full long and eventful life," she replied.

Melina had been rewarded with a small sample of the water. She remembered leaving it at home, and its discovery could have caused problems.

Melina rolled over onto her right side; she sighed softly as she grabbed the small cup of water and drank from it. She had known that the Elementals ancestors had not been without blame of their own.

Sometime ago long before the strangers had come across the sea, the ancestors of the Elementals had created an area they had called the zone. The zone was surrounded on all sides by impenetrable magical fields. This aeon had been called the dark times. Magic funnels were used to pull beings from the other continents and sometimes other worlds and place them in the zone, where they would play "the Game" and try to destroy each other. Humans and Cybos were never allowed to play "the Game" because they played too well. Within the centre of the fifty mile zone was a large tower that looked like it was made of pearl; it had only two entrances, one above the upper stage of the tower and the second a main entrance, and within the tower were several booby traps - all very lethal if you didn't watch what you were doing. The Tomb was a little further down, about halfway from the top of the tower. Within the tomb area it was dressed with flags and such of the first President of the Elementals; he had been first and last. Ranar Wildthyme's tomb lay undisturbed for years; he had left a promise that if anyone could get to the tomb he would share the secret of immortality. Melina remembered an old message: To lose is to win, and he who wins shall lose.

Melina had smiled as she had leant well what the cryptic message was. It was all part of Ranar's trap to find out who wanted immortality and put them out of the way. He knew very well that immortality was a curse. Not a blessing.

A fox named Salan had finally put an end to the games and had permanently de-activated the zones power systems. The black scrolls were destroyed not long after.

The next morning Melina woke slowly. She turned over onto her back and yawned as she uncovered herself; shifting, she moved and stood up. As she did so she moved over to the bathroom. Slipping under the warm water she sighed softly as it caressed her form. After a few minutes she stepped out and slowly walked into the large convection dryer nearby and waited for the fans to start. As they winded up she slipped inside of the dryer and the warm air ruffled her fur. She stayed for a little while and then slipped out and back to the bedroom and selected a pair of jean and a blue t-shirt.

Paula and Niamh were busy at the bridges café. The two were baking a large amount of items, mostly baking and that took up a lot of time. They both knew it would be worth it.

On board the Adamant things were taking a turn... or it seemed they already had. A landing shuttle was being prepared. Lord Mace watched the shuttle being made ready. It was still something the tech's had little to do with, at least when Mace was watching. Already a large cougar in a white and black uniform came forward;his news was not going to be good, he knew.

"Lt Nadan, you have something to say?" asked Mace.

The cougar swallowed and looked to Mace - if anything was behind the skunk's mask it was not going to be seen anytime soon.

"My Lord, it seems we will not be ready; the technical readouts and information on this system is lacking to say the least, my Lord. The technicians tell me they will have something ready by tomorrow at the earliest... I can only apologise my lord"

The cougar was suddenly lifted off his feet by invisible hands. There soon came a choking sound and a loud crunch of vertebrae as they were crushed, the body hitting the floor with a thump

"Your apology is accepted Lt Nadan."

Melina had slipped into her shop. She'd been here for a few hours and had managed to clean and dust the place. The shop needed a new sign and she had already sorted that out; it would be a few hours before she would have it. Exploring the rear of the shop she had found a potters wheel and kiln. She smiled; it was something she was good at after all, plus there were several items out front of the shop in several cases. She'd also found a few crystals, and she considered what she would do with them.

She was looking out of the front window with a large pad she had found. It named several suppliers who were local. Melina nodded to herself - she was at least getting things under control. She raised her head and looked through the window. She spotted a black and white snowkitten watching her - after a while she shrugged and went back to work.

Taking a nearby crystal she spun it in her hands and thought a little, closing her eyes as she concentrated, pouring the power of lightning into the crystal. She opened her eyes and smiled as she spotted the small bolt of lightning captured within the crystal. She put it down and stood up. She passed around the small area that the register sat on and pulled the door towards her. She stepped out into the street and looked over to the black Snowkitten; she noticed that he had a brown tail and that there was some red in his hair.

"What is it you want?" Melina questioned.

The Snow kitten said nothing; Melina was suddenly blown off her feet and into the wall. There was a crunch as she hit it and then fell to the floor.

"So you want to play? Is that it?" asked Melina.

"Pay back," replied the Snow Kitten.

Melina rubbed her hand over her nose. It was bleeding a little; she made a face and shook her head. As she did so she let out with a rip of lightning that blasted the Snow kitten off his feet.

"Used to be that there was honour in people announcing who they were before they tried to harm you. I'll grant you first blood; you made me bleed but that means nothing," Melina commented, then smiled softly and laughed a little.

"I'm Melina Swiftwind and I'm your worst nightmare!"

"I'm Jarret Shaylanii Snowkitten and I don't really care!"

Melina found herself in the air again and as she fell downwards she put out her hands. As she did so, flames licked around them and two long streams of fire burned the floor near to Jarret. The two continued to fight and as they did so, various elements and magical forces leapt in all directions. The two were soon left panting for air and on their backs.

Melina managed to stand and looked rather wobbly as she did so. She moved back a bit and rested against the wall. Jarret seemed to be recovering but Melina wasn't sure. She tried to summon her powers but something was stopping her from doing so. It was probably the fact she was tired. Jarret had managed to stand and was watching her.

"Look... talk to your sister, Ailee... I'm guessing nothing is going to happen to Ailee and Eliki's child..." Melina panted.

"It had better not... or you'll be sorry!" answered Jarret.

"We just fought each other to a stand still. That should tell you something..."

Melina watched as he turned and started to walk away. With some effort she managed to walk into the shop and slip behind the counter before virtually collapsing into the seat nearby.

Early afternoon brought the cool air with it;it seemed that the promised bad weather would not turn up as promised. Melina was sitting outside in the sun looking at the sky; to her, clouds seemed to have a life of their own.

There was a soft padding of feet close to her and she turned a little and found herself looking into Eliki's eyes. She jumped a bit and smiled softly.

"Hello Eliki, how are you?" she questioned.

"Oh not so bad, I heard you had some visitors?"

"Yes, Ailee and Jarret... we had a bit of a fight but nothing really happened," Melina answered with a smile.

"Hmmm, that's not what I heard, I hear you near tore the place apart!"

"It was nothing, Eliki. I was wondering if you, Leana and your little rabbit friend Niamh and... oh and that strange little Snowkitten in the market... pretty sure she was watching me... what was her name?"

Melina drummed her fingers on the side of the chair and tried to remember.

"Oh Andrina! That was it! Damn, I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on. I thought a picnic or something, maybe?" asked Melina.

"Umm well sure... but why?"

"My new business and such of course, and... well, I need to feel a bit happy."

Above her was a sign;Eliki took a look. It read: "Skyward Pottery"

"Nice, by why Skyward?" asked Eliki as he lent against a nearby wall.

"Kind of suited it, I think, and it's catchy and all"

Far from Melina and Eliki and about two hours later a young brown rabbit was walking in one of the local parks. This one was some distance outside of Phoenixbrook. Loganberry was away from his shop for the first time that day. His shop sold many things - he was a mystic and a fortune teller by trade but he ran a small shop called Pure Magick. It was a place full of curios and paraphernalia of a Celtic or mystical nature like Egyptian and Norse Gods, the Zodiacs, pagan instruments and books. He also offered a service of tarot readings, crystal gazing, spirit guide readings and many other forms of fortune telling within the shop as well.

Right at that moment he was sitting on a bench reading a book that Eliki had bought him. The young rabbit had been through a few run-ins with Jarret too, but for the moment had not really picked any side. Dressed in a light blue t-shirt and pants he looked to his left and picked up a few of the carrot sticks he had brought with him for lunch.

He was eating them kind of absent-mindedly as he ate them. His mind was more on the book; after all he was enjoying it. As he looked back to the book he was reading, someone sat down next to him with a flump. Looking up he smiled softly as he recognised Eliki.

"Heya Kitty, what's up?" asked Eliki.

"Oh... hello Eliki, I know everyone but for the wolfess."

"Her name is Melina Swiftwind; we thought you might like to join our picnic."

"Umm thank you, why not?"

Some distance from the friends, a ship had landed - it was a small scout but it could travel just about anywhere. A tigress was watching a lioness trying to repair a damaged area. The two were still working as they ate.

"Well I didn't know there would be a damned imperial star cruiser."

As they were speaking a trio of white wolves appeared; two of them had drawn weapons.

"Awwww shit... guess that reward for us did get around...."

The five vanished in a few seconds leaving the fully repaired ship behind.

The picnic was going well; Melina was munching on a large toffee apple as was Loganberry. Niamh had joined the group a little later and was munching her way through an apple pie. The others had already finished and were drinking clear mountain water from a large flagon Melina had brought with her.

Melina had finished and was walking around - she was picking up an odd scent; what it was she was unsure of. She had never smelled anything like it before. Making her way to the large hill nearby she walked up it and found the ship that had been left behind.

"Hey come and look at this!" Melina exclaimed.

The others came leaving the picnic and looked over the ship. The hatch was open and Melina slipped inside and was soon followed.

Inside the ship was large. There seemed to be two rooms, if they could be called that. Up front was a small command area, one large enough for four people at a time. Various controls flicked and lit up as their ships computer ran though general stuff. The group - Eliki, Melina, Loganberry and Niamh - was busy looking around.

As they did so Eliki tripped on something and put his hands out. Niamh tried to grab him and also over balanced and hit a console.

"Automatic recall activated," the computer announced.

The hatch slammed shut with a long hiss of air, and as it did so the ship vibrated as its engines came online. The ship vectored upwards and started to accelerate. As the ship rose up and out of the world's atmosphere, pinpricks of light could be seen from the small bridge. Slowly the curvature of the planet came into view.

"Standby for warp drive."

The view ahead exploded into a rainbow of starlines; where they were heading none of the friends could say.