Amie stepped around the other members of the search party just in time to witness a disturbing scene; a second young woman was lying on the ground, directly beside what looked like a mass of writhing black tendrils. They were taking shape, but with no way of knowing what sort of being is composed of something so wicked-looking, she decided to take action. She grasped the hilt of her sword, curled her wrist, and withdrew it in less than a second, holding it at a vertical angle. Her knees flexed and shoulders tensed in preparation for a strike, should the need arise. To her surprise, the tendrils took on the shape of a human, and were soon complemented by arms, legs, a chest, and a head. It was a man, or at least a being replicating the form of a man. The thought didn't sit well with her. Fortunately, he didn't give any indication that he wanted to fight; rather, he engaged in conversation.

[i]"Sorry about the scare, ladies, was just thinking you were some thugs in need of some spooking."[/i]

Thugs, indeed! If she were in any less danger, she would have been insulted at the offhanded remark, and she had half a mind to teach him some manners with the business end of her longsword. Something about the man was unsettling, and already she didn't trust him, as was no doubt indicated by her raised weapon.

He continued.

[i]"So, are you peeps from that Lodge thing? Cause if so, I hope you got room for one more for a while. Oh, and my name is Jaiden. Jaiden Fairfield, and it's a pleasure to meet ya."[/i]

Peeps, indeed! Her royal blood boiled, and she felt herself relapse into the noblewoman she was supposed to represent. Narrowing her eyes, she decided to respond in as cordial a manner as she could when she was interrupted by the young lady lying in the dirt:

[i]"Yeah...crashed. Sorry. I'm fine, though. Gimme a minute to fix it up and I'll be out of your way."[/i]

She paused, then addressed the man who called himself Jaiden.

[color=aba000]"Good day. I am Lady Amethyst Jane, baroness of the Jane household of Regalia. It is a...discomfort to make your acquaintance," [/color]she said flatly, still holding the sword at the ready. [color=aba000]"If you have malicious intentions, I sincerely hope you make them known immediately."[/color]

She flashed a smile, unable to hold back her excitement. The noblewoman evaporated again, taking her eloquent vocabulary with her. [color=aba000]"In other words, you're one wrong move away from the shortest fight you've ever been in. If you want to go, you better get on with it."[/color]