Chapter One: The Shadows Appear (Destiny Islands)

[Rook]

It's just before dawn, the main island is dark and quiet. All the lights in people's house are turned of while they sleep, all of them saving their energy their annual festival, three days of special food stands, games and competitions for prizes. The first day is the land competitions, the main one being the scavenger hunt. The second day would be water competions , the main event for this day is the surfing competition. On the third day is the tournament, fights between islanders to decide the best, afterwards the fireworks are launched.

However, on the beach of the other island two cloaked figures appear. A dark doorway appears and the first one, in a gold cloak, walks out, looks at his surroundings and says, "You're certain it's here?" The second one, in a white cloak, walks out and merely nods their head. After seeing the first says, "Then let us begin our plan." The golden one then moves their hand and it appears as if shadows dance across the sand before dissappearing. They then walk back to the dark door turn towards the white cloak and nods to them before entering and the door dissappears. The one in white then looks at the main island before walking into the small shack nearby.

Scuro wakes up in his bed staring out his window to see that it is still really dark outside. He then turns to face the clock to see it read that it is only 5:05 a.m. He then mutters to himself, "Never fails. Always up before dawn." Knowing he'll never get back to sleep he gets out of bed, walks downstairs, out the front door and then stares back at his house. This place was really beat up when he found it six years ago but now, it looked a lot better with all the holes in the wall and roof covered and a new coat of paint. After thinking back about all the work he did for a few minutes he continues walking down the road.

After reaching the beach he sits down and listens to the sound of the waves while thinking back to the night he was found washed ashore. He had no idea where he came from or who is family was. The one thing Scuro was certain about his past was, he wasn't born on the islands like everyone else. It wasn't because he remembered, it was a feeling that nagged at him ever since he was found. He could tell that he was different from the other people.Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his charm, a piece of silver shaped like a scorpion. Other than the clothes on his back this was the only thing that he had on him six years ago.

Placing his charm back in his pocket he shifted his focus from past to future and directed his gaze at the other island. He didn't know how well he would do in the other competitions but he'd spent a lot of time training and he felt confident about his chances in the tournament. Then, Scuro's "scent" detected a prescence familiar to him. He said to the person approaching, "I never imagined someone else would wake up at this hour." He wondered if this person would still be surprised that he knew they were there after pulling this trick so many times in the past few years.

[2xcross]

Zane stopped walking when he heard what the mystery boy of island said. "How the hell do you keep doing that?" he said in a slightly annoyed voice. No matter how many times someone had snuck up on him he somehow always knew they were there. Ignoring the question that he just said he just stared out to the sea. Answering the other boys question he said, "My blood's pumping just thinking about all the comp's I'm gonna win during the festival. You might as well just throw in the towel now." He was sure no way he could lose to this guy.

[Rook]

Scuro let out a little smirk when heard the agitation in the other boy's voice. The two of them weren't really close, he didn't even know this boy's name and was sure that his name was unknown as well. People had tried sneaking up on him before and, even if he didn't know who they were, he still took a bit of joy in the reactions people had when they couldn't do it.

After hearing his declaration that the other boy would win at the competitions Scuro just felt more inclined to win than before. Scuro said in response, "Don't be so assured in your victory. Pride cometh before the fall." Scuro knew that this boy's arrogance would probably cause him to make some costly mistakes. Then Scuro swore his "scent" was going off again but it dissapeared in an instant it felt funky so he just treated it as his imagination.

[2xcross]

Zane clicked his tongue at such a thought. As if he could lose to some nobody like this washed up loser. "Not even in YOUR dreams could you have a chance of beating me." He then started running down the shoreline wanting to get a nice practice run in before the comp's. "Have to give the other competitor's some chance or it won't be intresting." he said to himself as he chuckled running without a destination.

[Rook]

After watching the other boy run away, Scuro rose his hand and reached out to the other island before clenching a fist. Before he was just fine competing but he now felt a desire to show that other boy up. During the competitions he was going to go all out and try to win. A few more hours til then though. I better rest up before the competitions or else I might not have the energy I need, he thought as he stood up preparing to go back home.

Then his "scent" went off again, telling him that someone was out in the sea. He stared around until he saw someone drifting along on a piece of wood, unconcious. He ran into the sea and started to swim out towards the person. After a minute or two he reached them and then started to drag them towards the beach. His arms and legs were burning, he didn't have the greatest stamina.

After finally dragging this person to dry land Scuro was down on his hands and knees breathing heavily from working so hard to save someone from the sea. Then as he was recovering he looked over to the person and saw it was a girl a little older than him, in a tattered red dress. He crawled over to her and checked for breathing and a pulse. She was breathing a little shallowly and her heart was beating a bit slow but she was in no immediate danger. However, her skin was cold, telling him she was in the sea a long time. Scuro grabbed her arms and gently shook her saying, "Hey! Wake up! Come on, speak to me." She was probably suffering hypothermia and he knew if he could wake her up she might not have peremanent damage.

[White Knight]

The water's coldness surely numbed her body to the point where she had no idea if she was even in the water, her body was unconsciously clutching at the wood so hard her hands had minor cuts and scrapes on them. There was an evident fear in that behavior, hair and clothing soaked, her black bangs were sticking to her face hiding closed eyes. Once out on the warmed sand as the sun was slowly rising, she felt herself being pulled back to consciousness as the slightly muffled words were becoming more clearly.

She stirred a bit after being getting shaken up by the one who pulled her from the water, coughing up a bit of water before groaning somewhat. Her hand coming up to push the wet, cold hair from her face, blinking her eyes a couple times as she looked around though did not see anything. Her eyes were a dull blue color like a blue sweater that had been through the washing machine one too many times. She blinked a bit more before reaching her hands out to push herself up into a sitting position. She could feel body warmth next to her but was confused, her hand came out and touched Scuro's chest but upon contact she eeked and withdrew her hand immediately.

Her cheeks a slight rose red as she stumbled over her words for a moment before speaking softly though a little bit awkwardly in tone, "where...am i?" It was quite obvious that she was going blind. Her fingers touching along the sand that she was sitting on. A confused look on her face, nope she wasn't home that was for sure, her town didn't have sandy beach like areas around it. Shivering from the air that made her colder then she was in her wet clothing. Pulling at her dress as she turned over onto her knees and managed to get to her feet stumbling a little but regaining her balance a bit.

Trying to squeeze the water out of her dress, she seemed a bit odd in a way, she wasn't very lively that was for sure but at least she wasn't dead or anything. Just a freezing shipwrecked girl whose lips were a slight blueish coloring from being cold for so long. She squirmed a little wrapping her arms around herself rubbing her hands on her arms, "Its freezing..here..".

[Rook]

Scuro was relieved when the girl woke up. She seemed a bit banged up and the color from her skin seemed to pale from the cold water. Scuro looked at her eyes and saw that they were a faded blue, searching for where she was. When he felt her hand touch his chest and then saw her shy away he knew she couldnn't see. When he heard her question he replied, "You're on an island. Other that I can't tell you much."

When he saw her stand he felt a bit better knowing that she had no serious injuries. Then we he saw that she was shivering and had commented about the cold he remembered that they had to deal with the hypothermia quickly. Looking around he saw a log on the beach. He wondered, Why is there a random log on the beach? ,while he ran up and got it. He then placed it in front of her, grabbed a few stones, struck them together and started a small fire. He took off his jacket placed it over her shoulders and said, "Just stay in front of fire and warm yourself up. You were in the sea too long."

[White Knight]

Wisteria blinked somewhat before running a hand through her hair squeezing the brown-red strands that fell to the middle of her back. "An..island?" she wondered how she managed to get that far out at sea, She couldn't really remember what happened on the boat. She sneezed slightly and sighed a bit rubbing her nose with a finger, well she supposed she better get the hang of these surroundings as well if she was going to get back home. She jumped a bit startled when he cracked the stones together and feeling sudden heat. Her body tensing up when he put his jacket over it, a confused facial expression returned to the delicate face.

Tilting her head to the side a little as her hands reached up taking hold of his jacket so that she could pull it closer against her as she knelt on the sand sitting down in front of the fire. She glanced over towards where she thought she heard him speaking from, "Whats your name?" she asked curiously. Even though she was rather shy and hardly spoke to anyone she was going to need to get to know the names of people at least if she was going to get anywhere on this island...wait...an island was land surrounded by water... She felt a slight knot build up in her throat as if she was going to end up having a mild panic attack. It would be okay, she thought to convince herself, she just had to stay away from the edges of the island and maybe she wouldn't drown or some other horrible act involving water.

[Rook]

Scuro could feel this girl tense up as he put the jacket on her. The fact that she washed up on the shore and couldn't see anything, made it very understandable. After making sure that she was okay he picked his on spot in front of the fire, he wasn't freezing like her but he didn't really enjoy the feeling of wet clothes clinging to his skin. When he woke this morning he never expected to have to bring someone back fom being stranded in the sea. The sun had finally peeked out in the horizon and in fifteen minutes or so the rays could probably be felt.

Scuro heard her ask for his name in a slightly timid manner. He got the feeling that she didn't like talking to strangers very much. "My name is Scuro, Scuro DiLuna. And yourself?" ,he said in a softened voice. He gave her some time to reply before he was going to ask her questions. Since he himself had washed up on shore, and since he didn't remember anything about his past he was hoping maybe this girl might jog his memories. "Tell me, do you remember where you're from? Do you remember what happened before you lost conciousness?" He didn't want her to withdraw into herself so he made sure to ask her with a concerned tone in his voice.

[White Knight]

Wisty bit her lip a little as she felt the sun's rays on her body warm and light, she sighed softly sitting on the sand. Swallowing somewhat as she shifted a little hugging her knees against her chest under the skirt of her dress with her feet tucked up under it. Looking downwards though she wasn't really seeing anything so it was an awkward gesture for her. She really hated not being able to see the sun or the snow of winter. Sighing as her fingers slid along the sand with one hand down at he side.

"my name....is Wisteria Blane." she said shyly pausing a couple times in between the words, turning her head and laying it on her knees in the direction she thought he was sitting. Her eyes were closed as she listened to what he was saying, brows furrowing as she nodded, "I know where my home is but... after the boat i was on caught got in a wave...i dont really remember what happened after that. Obviously must have crashed if I ended up in water.." her voice seemed a bit strained as if she was trying to recover any missing information about what she had been doing during that time.

She clutched her dress skirt with one hand, was she the only survivor from the crash? all those people on board.. the captain and his crew they were so nice to her. she really hoped that they were alright.

[Rook]

Wisteria Blane, that was the name that girl he had just saved called herself. While he was listening to her answer the questions he had asked, Scuro noticed that she was having problems from time she had crashed. Then her gesturing made him think she was focusing on what happened before the crash and had a bit of concern for someone or something. He decided not to push any harder, it's not easy to find yourself in an unfamiliar place, and unlike him she remembered her past. She probably had friends and family that she was worried about ever meeting again.

After an awkward silence for about five minutes Scuro noticed that she had dried off. Then he thought for a moment of where to take her, she couldn't stay on the beach forever. He stood up, walked over to Wisteria, and reached out his hand. He knew that if she couldn't see she would need his help to get around the island unfamiliar to her. "Come on, let's go the see the mayor. He should be able to help you out." ,he said hoping that the mayor was awake at this early hour. He could offer her a place to stay and find a way to contact someone that she knew.

[White Knight]

her eyes gazed upwards towards what she imagined would be the sky, she tugged at her clothing getting it to fit right once it had been dry. Standing up as she dusted the sand from her body attempting to get it all off but probably flailing. She was going to need to bath and get new clothing, sighing softly as she looked around putting her hands out in front of her searching for his hand with an embarrassed look on her face. A relieved expression came to play on her face once she found it and held on to it with both hands for a moment before letting one hand slid into his hand to fit perfectly.

Her hands were small and slender like a piano players, dainty like a girl's hands should be, She nodded softly. "I hope he can" she said quietly, she was trying to think of a way to thank this Scuro man for saving her but she was too embarrassed to really say anything. She breathed out a soft breath as she wondered if her grandparents were alright, she knew they would be worried, but what if something happened to them while she was away? She bit her lip softly as she would let him lead her across the sand to find this mayor person he spoke of.

[Rook]

Scuro watched her hands grab hold of his own, they felt small and fragile. He made sure not to grip too tightly so he wouldn't hurt this girl who had arrived in a manner so similar to his own. He then started walking towards the mayor's house, making sure to tell Wisteria a bit about the scenery as he passed various houses and shops. Scuro thought this might help her find her way around. He thought since she was still having a hard time just trusting him she wouldn't find it easy to ask someone else to help her around.

After five minutes he reached a large and well kept house. It was a two story house painted white on of all sides, the roof was covered with red shingles and there were blue curtains visible from the outside of the windows. Scuro knocked three times praying that someone inside was awake. After a bit of shuffling inside the door opened and a man in his sixties came to the door. He took a quick look at Scuro and then took a longer look at the girl who was holding his hand. "Come in." ,he said in a concerned voice. It was if he knew what had happened already and knew what they came here for.

After coming into a large living room Scuro walked Wisteria to a couch and waited for her to sit down before letting go of her hand and stepping into the other room to have a private chat with the mayor. While the men were speaking in the other room an elderly woman walked in with a pot of tea. Smiling, she said "Here, have a cup." She was the mayor's wife, she was showing kindness to the island's latest vistor.

At the end of his conversation with the mayor Scuro said, "Alright" ,then ran out the door in a hurry. While he was gone the mayor walked into the living room and took a seat opposite of Wisteria and began talking to her. "You're name is Wisteria, correct? Scuro tells me that you were shipwrecked and all by yourself when he found you. I suppose that makes you the same as him. I still remember when we found him on the beach six years ago. However, unlike him, he says you remember the details of your home." He spoke under the assumption that Scuro had already told her about all of this. I have a radio that should be able to contact someone who you know. Could you tell me the name of your home so I know where to start asking? The mayor then stood up waiting for her to tell him the information he needed to help her out.

[White Knight]

Wisteria's hand was shaking a little when they were entering the house of a stranger, her breathing settling slowly as she squeezed his hand rather tightly as she was lead to a couch. Her leg touching it, she slowly reached her other hand out touching the fabric before sitting down, she hadn't expected him to let go of her hand. When he did she breathed out exhaling swiftly as she bit her lip a bit panicked. Squeezing her body back against the couch as her eyes looked around wildly, she did wish she had her sight back, it was rather difficult to tell if she was safe or not. Plus her personality and fears didn't help much, Her expression revealed a rather fearful look when another person had come into the room and was speaking to her. She gave a soft sound as she pulled back from the sound huddled against the arm of the couch, her body shaking a little.

She bit her lip hard as she heard Scuro leave, she felt his presence go out the door and she began to panic a bit. He was the only person she knew here and that was a terrifying thought being surrounded by strangers. "yes.." she said in a bit of a squeaky voice that was shaky, her breathing was escalating as she began to hyperventilate slightly. They knew her name, Scuro probably told the mayor so she tried to calm down some but it was hard to when you couldn't see where you was. "yes i do" she said again in that feared tone that was somewhat in a broken speech due to the hyperventilating. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt like her chest was caving in, it was getting harder to breath, "i-i-i-i-i-i" she stuttered quite a few times unable to speak the name of her home town in the world of the beast and his beauty. Tears were sliding down her face a couple at a time.

[Rook]

Scuro ran back to the part of the beach well he had found Wisteria. The mayor asked him to look around for anything that might have survived the sinking of her ship. He scanned the beach and the water but all he could see was a bunch of broken wood. But then he saw something still intact at the water's edge. He ran up to it and saw it was luggage. It was all he could find so he picked it up and ran back to the mayor's house.

When he got to the door his chest was burning and he was breathing heavily. He really didn't have all the stamina to keep doing all the physical things he had been doing in the last hour. After catching his breath he walked back inside saying "Is this yours?" ,directed at Wisteria. Then he noticed how she was having a nervous breakdown. He didn't know what could've happened in time he was gone but he sat the luggage down on the floor in front of the couch, then he lightly placed his hand on Wisteria's shoulder and asked her, "Are you ok?" He thought that she was just nervous when she was talking to him on the beach but the mayor and his wife were acting very friendly so he began to think that she wasn't good with people.

[2xcross]

Zane just finished his lap around the island. He thought if they couldn't keep up with him after this then he might have to do everything backwards to keep himself entertained while he competed. As he arrived back at his starting point he saw the boy from before making a mad dash with something in his arms. Zane followed until he arrived at the mayor's house. He walked in to where everyone was at not sure what was going on. Then he saw a face he didn't recognize. "Who's the chick?"

[White Knight]

Wisteria jumped slightly when Scuro came back into the room, her pale clouded blue eyes widened with a tearful look. She hyperventilated a bit faster breathing hard before yelping when he touched her, she calmed a bit when he was there, her breathing slowing before she reached up grabbing hold of his hand with one of hers and reaching out with the other feeling the luggage. "yes, this is my luggage, i'm surprised it didn't sink in the sea" she spoke quietly, her body tensed up all over when another entered and she of course didn't recognize the voice and the feel of his presence. Feeling that tingling feeling of her throat closing with pure nervousness as she turned and grabbed Scuro around the waist pressing her face against his abdomen hiding her face against him as well as with her long red-brown hair hiding the sides of her face like curtains.

She clenched the back of Scuro's shirt as if she was trying to hide behind him, her fear of strangers was probably going to be her downfall but in a world where you couldn't see anything who could blame her?

[Rook]

Wisteria was freaking out bad when Scuro touched her. It seemed he was right on the money in his deduction. Scuro was listening to her confirm that it was her luggage when the boy he had met on the shore before had run to see what was going on. Then he froze up when Wisteria suddenly gripped him. This was becoming an uncomfortable situation for him as well.

After a few seconds he knew he had to do something to calm her back down. Nervously he said, "Mayor, Mam,....you, please leave the room for a bit." The mayor and his wife understood and got up to walk away while at the same time trying to push the other young boy out.

[2xcross]

Before he ever got answer to his question Zane was getting pushed away. "Hey! Watch it!" The most annoying thing was he was getting moved because of that loser's say so. He clicked his tongue in annoyance but stopped resisting since he couldn't get passed these old bulldozers. Everything was fine this morning but because of "him" he had to waste his time on this annoying show.

[White Knight]

Wisteria slowly began to calm down little by little as they were leaving, her hands were slowly loosed his shirt little bit at a time. Once the three strangers were gone she let go of Scuro and pulled away slowly sitting back against the couch with an extremely red face as she was looking away from him. "I'm sorry.." she whispered almost inaudibly as she bit down on her lip pulling her legs up under her dress tucking them under her.

She placed her hands on her knees with her head tilted down towards he lap as if she was staring at her hands. She felt seriously embarrassed for her behavior of grabbing onto him in need of comfort from the strangeness.