To Walk Through a Dream Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven With Wavering Footsteps Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Stone Song Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three A Tale of Winter Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Destiny Inescapable Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Epilogue The Cycle's Continuing Beginnings Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Two Spirits Akin

A Tale of Winter (In balance, Imbalance) Chapter Four Clopin sighed as he drew himself up from the cold stones where he had been sitting. He had even resorted to stealing in an attempt to support his people, but it was not enough. They could not go on like this, there was still at least another month and a half of winter yet to come. He trailed one black-gloved finger along the slime encrusted wall as he walked back to his court, lost in thought. But as he approached the court, his thoughts were shaken as he heard the sounds of celebration, something that there had not been in the court for some time now. Curious, he followed the noise to where the entire tribe was gathered together, circled around the stage. Tall though he was, whoever was up there was on the edge, and the crowd was too thick for him to see. He made his way through the mass, working towards the center. It seemed someone was handing out food, enough to feed everyone! Whoever has done this shall have the eternal gratitude of their king... Esmerelda's face appeared in the crowd before him. Phoebus had kept his plans a secret from her, wanting to surprise her. The only gypsies who'd known about this were the children, and they'd felt honored to have a secret to keep from the adults. "Where did you get all this from?!?" She asked him, eyes wide with awe. "We collected it!" one of the children proclaimed, beaming proudly as he helped to hand out the food. "And there's enough money to help your tribe through the rest of the winter, too!" Phoebus said, handing her three very large pouches of coins. He was just reveling in the look of surprise on her face when there was an unearthly screech and something leapt up out of the crowd and onto the stage behind him, doing a backflip in mid-air. All he caught was the flash of a grotesque face. Then he found himself grabbed by the front of his tunic and spun around to face a vaguely familiar mask. The entire court was quiet save for the sound of heavy breathing that came from behind the pink mask. This near-silence lasted for over a minute before it was broken by a voice Phoebus had last heard at what was very nearly his own hanging. It was distorted with fury, but still recognizable. "You.....GORGIO! How DARE YOU! This is outrage!!! You do not even deserve a hanging!!!" Phoebus found himself flung backwards off the stage, and the gypsies moved out of the way so that he skidded on his back through the dirt and mud for a few feet. The mask wasripped off by black glove that seemed to have become a claw and Phoebus didn't even think to dodge as the King of Thunes made an incredible leap from the stage and onto his chest. This particular reaction was not along the lines he'd imagined it would be. At Esmerelda's request, several of the larger and burlier gypsies pulled their king off of the muddy and bleeding captain of the guard, and held him as he struggled in insensate rage to attack again. Phoebus had underestimated the man's strength, as well as being somewhat in shock. He now had quite a few places that he was certain were going to turn very purple, several cuts and scratches, and he couldn't quite tell if he had any ribs broken or not, and the gypsy king had been on him for less than a minute. Esmerelda helped him up from the ground while Djali bleated at him confusedly. The other gypsies let go of their king, apparently figuring he wouldn't attack Phoebus while Esmerelda was in the way. He glared at him from a combative stance which should have looked silly with his wiry-thin frame, but something in his eyes was so insane that if Phoebus hadn't been afraid of him before, he was now. "Get..out." he grated out in low tones, never blinking his eyes. Phoebus retrieved his dignity from wherever it had scrambled off to a moment before and strode away sharply. Esmerelda was unsure if he'd meant her as well, but his gaze was following Phoebus' retreating figure, not her. Hesitantly she picked up Djali and followed after him. Chapter Five