YAY!!!! THE TENSION!!! THE STORY!!!! THE AWESOME PLANTS THAT CAN HEAL HYPOTHERMIA!! Actually I have no idea if a plant helps with hypothermia. Hmm. Look that up I should, heh heh. And yes, I made sure to sound like Yoda there. :) Yay!  This is getting awesomer than before! Like, it was still awesome before but now it's even more awesome, not saying that before it was bad, just not as awesome as now..... waaait.... okay I just confused myself there. Eh, never mind! :)

My dreams are filled with home and the warmth of the dying embers of my familie's fire in the evening. We'd gather around it and eat fish and tell tales of ancient heroes, dragons, villains, monsters, and the thrill of running through the early morning snow after a polar bear. But my favorite of all is the tales of other lands. My father would tell us the well-worn stories brought in from the traders, the stories of the Sundrops in their vast deserts and brutal tests, and the Stellars in their pineforests with their uncanny fighting skills. I often dreamed of crossing the borders and exploring other lands...... until the famine struck. I had to use every waking moment looking for food, and my dreams began to die along with those who had no food. I dream these things, and all the while I feel my body being very gently moved onto some sort of sled. For some reason, I feel warmth spreading through me. It's wrapping me in a comforting warmth, and  I'm about to succumb to it, when someone starts to pile blankets over me. The blankets seem to be the only thing preventing me from dying of hypothermia. I feel the sled move forwards, and I feel Kallik nudging me. I manage to open my eyes and smile at her. Then I turn my head and see Aspen. He actually looks quite handsome, with the sun making his hair look like it's on fire. He smiles at me, and a warmth that's not hypothermia spreads through my chest. But the moment is rather short lived, becuase a huge cloud heavy with snow covers the sun and extinguishes both the sun and Aspens hair. He looks up worridly. "We need to get to some sort of civilazation soon. You need help." If I could speak right now, I would only say one thing. I have a bad feeling about this.

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I wake up a while later, and find myslef face to face with the weirdest animal I have  EVER seen. It was striped black and white, and it looked sort of like my father's hunting horse. And a penguin. I also notice the lack of coldness, and the fact that I hear voices. I groan slightly The penguin horse snorts. I see Aspen, and someone else I don't know. This is getting weird. What sort of place has penguin horses? And no snow? Then I realize something. I must be with the Sundrops. I finally got my wish to travel, just not in the way I expected.

Aspen~

I'm seriously starting to like these zebras. I think Chubby is jealous, because he keeps "bumping into" the zebra that I'm riding. Being "bumped into" by a walrus feels more like a body slam, and it isn't fun. Trust me, I've had that happen before. 

"Hey, Leo? What are your people going to do when we get there? I mean, we are obviously chills. Maybe we should, I don't know, get disguises or something?" He nods. I don't know where we are supposed to get clothes from, because Leo has only a leather coat and the clothes on his back. I trust him, though, at least for now.

Well, Sundrop territory is definitely the place to go if you have hypothermia. I feel like our warmest summer back home wouldn't even be close to the temperature of their coldest winter. My thick parka comes off, then the layer under it. Soon I have only a short sleeved shirt on, and even then, I'm sweating. Sweating. It's new to me, just like everything else in this abnormal place. 

"You know, you kind of look like a sundrop, Aspen." Leo says. Yeah, I guess I do. Is it a crime to have dark hair? It's not like I can help it. Sometimes, when I was younger, I was singled out because of my complexion and hair. I had always laughed people off, but I am honestly starting to get tired of people pointing me out. I guess this trait will help me out now. "What about Pola?"

"Well, you were accepted in your clan, and you don't have pale skin and light hair. Pola will have to be the opposite." Okay, I guess. All I want is food. Before this, I was already basically strarving. Now I haven't had food in about two days. "We're almost there." Leo says, reassuringly. I guess I will have to settle for now. All I want to do is survive another day.

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I guess we were riding zebras? Sorry, my ideas are pretty weird.   

It's actually a cool idea to be riding Zebras!

Leo~

The sun beats on the uncovered back of my neck and I'm starting to think someone might've noticed me and Finn sneak away. Like, me and Finn went to the border and looked for the camp, but the only thing left of it was a few zebra skins. And now I'm riding a Zebra to my town with a unconcious Chill on another Zebra with a Polar Bear, (Aspen told me what it was. First I thought it was a white, heavily built, Rinho.) plus yet another Chill riding on ANOTHER Zebra behind me. This is gonna be one of those days where it just starts heading towards Weird and ends with Disturbing. I sigh as our village comes into view on the horizon. "You do know this'll take a lot of explaining to the chief. And you'll probably be expelled from the Tests, and maybe even thrown out of the village! You've broken like every rule in the village, crossed the border without permission, taken people from a different WORLD and brought them home with you!" Chattered Finn in my ear. I whisper to him while thinking up a plan to find herbs in the savannah. "I know. That's why we're not going to the village. I'm gonna leave the Chill girl a little ways from the village, set up camp, and go into the village with Aspen, explain stuff, lie a little, and then in the night I'll go back to the Chills, get some herbs for the girl and then accompany them to the border." Finn looks at me in comeplete astonishment. "That's the worst plan ever! How're you gonna find herbs? How're you gonna make a tent? How're you not gonna get caught?!" "Look, I've got it covered, okay?" Finn angrily stares at me, then scampers to Aspen's Zebra and sulks.

I lead my Zebra to a grove of trees and get off. Aspen looks at me, confused, "Aren't we going to your village?" I look at him and say; "Yeah, once I'ved made a shelter for your, uh, friend, and then you and me are gonna go into town, I'm gonna explain and lie to my parents while you buy some food and herbs, then in the night we'll head back to your friend and heal her. Got it?" Aspen looks at me strangely but nods. After a little while I manage to cobble together a shelter of twigs, then me and Aspen carefully put the girl and her Polar Bear in it. Then me and Aspen start towards my village. Right at the outskirts I stop and look at Aspen. I take off my leather coat and give it to him. "Wear this. It might be hot, but you can take off your shirt and then put this on. No one will look at your pants, and," I take off my sandals and offer them to him, "you can wear my sandals instead of your boots. I can go bear-footed." Aspen takes one look at my sandals and shakes his head. "I can go bear-footed, you keep your sandals." I shrug and tie them back on. Then Finn scampers to Aspen's Walrus and they go away together. A few seconds later Finn comes back with what looks like a Lion. Finn proudly hops up to my neck and says; "I disguised Aspen's Walrus. Used a bit of Lion fur lying around." Aspen loks quizzicly at his Walrus-Lion and asks; "Are you sure this will work?" I nod and we both walk into the village. 

RRRRRRG! NOTICE ME! I've been trying to get Aspen, or somebody's, attention, but for some reason I can't move. I've been trying all morning to lift an arm, or a leg, all morning, but my attempts have all been in vain. All I've been able to do is be manhandled, albiet gently. I feel so useless. There was that breif moment when I was able to open my eyes, the moment when I glanced the penguin horse, sorry, zebra, but that was about it. I have no idea what's wrong with me, and panic is begining to set in. I have to do something, so I gather every last ounce of  willpower that is left in my paralyzed body. MOVE! MOVE!!!! I breifly gain control of my voice, and croak "Help. Can't. Move." I'm pretty sure the blonde one heard me, becuase he and Aspen start to talk earnestly. They both look pretty worried. And then I hear Aspen say something that sends fear coursing through me. "It's the Frozebeast." Oh no. Not that. I should've known. The Frozebeast is a name that we give to a disease that comes from being out in freezing temperatures. It's a paralasyis that is named after the wild Frozebeasts that live in the mountians. The victim turns  slightly blue as the deadly ice starts to seep through your veins. It can only be stopped with fireweed, which grows on Sundrop land, so if you have it you're as good as dead, becuase we aren't exactly on friendly terms with the desert dwellers. But maybe there's hope! I am on Sundrop land, after all. Sundrops aren't evil, so I'm sure they'd give me some. But I'm not really sure. And I find it rather harrowing that my entire existance is resting on one little plant.

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Luna says imwp. I am not a wimp, Luna! That's just mean!

Do you guys think Alma could see Leo cross the border and chase after Leo, Aspen, and Pola? 

Vikki, awesome idea!

Leo~

Uh-oh. Fireweed. This is gonna be reeeaally hard. "So you CAN find it, right?" asks Aspen. I nod. "But, the problem is.... it burns anyone who touches it, and.... it's sort of sacrid to our village. I COULD steal it, but it'd be hard, and if I got caught I would be banished from my tribe." Aspen looks worried. I'm guessing he thinks I won't help his friend because of the risks. I'm not actually sure that I will. My tribe is my family, and without it.... I would be lost. But helping other people pays off, and if I DO get caught.... I could always live with THEM. I hesitate, but finally I nod. "I'lll get it for you, but you'll have to help."

THIS MUST STAY ALIVE!!!!!! I would post, but my charrie is quite literally paralyzed, and honestly, who wants to hear about some girl's half-concious daydreams/nostalgic memories? But I REALLY don't want this to die. It's getting so good!

Luna says bnyf. Bunny fluff? You have a bunny? 

*In my stomach. It was delicious.*

LUNA HOW COULD YOU DO SUCH A THING?????

*What, I was hungry.* 

Maybe it was Blue Bunny ice cream?

Admin

(I'm watching TV while I'm writing this so it's probably terrible writing. I'm sorry.)

Theron~ 

I wake to the sun streaming in through the entrance in my cave. It faces toward the east, so I'm always woken up at the crack of dawn. Dagger in hand and Xena in tow, I slip out to find something for breakfast. As I walk through the normally deserted forest, I notice there are several groups of stellars huddled together, whispering. Most stellars keep to themselves, not talking to others much. Why would they all suddenly get together? Lost in thought, I wander through the trees, only snapping back to reality when I run into a girl. My first thought is that she's pretty. Really pretty. Her long white blonde hair has a dark blue streak in it, similar to the color of her eyes. Her fair skin, free from blemishes, stands out in the half-light of the forest. 

"I-I'm terribly sorry, Miss," I say. She gives me a small nod, then tries to keep walking. "What's your name? I'm Theron," I ask. She crosses her arms and scowls. 

"Nebula," she mutters before pushing past me and storming all the way back to her house. I try to shake off the encounter and find a more deserted part of the woods where there's more game, but I can't. I won't be able to explain what, but there was something... different about Nebula. She seemed.. not 'off', but somehow set apart from the other stellars. 

While I'm walking, I hear whispers from the others.

"Did you hear about the attack?"

"Gather your armor."

"Why is the Dark Clan attacking us?" These rumors have me concered. Is someone trying to attack the stellars? Why? What did we do?

Finally, I reach an isolated part of the forest and am able to catch a squirrel to eat. I take it back to my cave, skin it, cook it, and split it with Xena. All the time, I'm thinking about my encounter with Nebula. I have to see her again.  

I've been really inactive but I'm just going to jump in and say Eo will help Leo and Aspen. By the way, his lion's name is Raione (Ray-OH-nay).

Eo~

I walk over to Leo, who just walked into the village. There is an unfamiliar boy with him, one who looks like a Sundrop. I dismiss the idea; I have never seen him before. I greet Leo with a nod and he waves me over. "Hello, Leo. And, hello,...?"

"Aspen," the boy introduces himself.

"Eo," I respond, shaking his hand. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise," Aspen answers. I notice they both seem to have worried expressions. Aspen's cordial tone seems strained, like he's masking something. "Leo, is anything..... Upsetting you?" I ask. He begins to shake his head, but sighs and begins talking. He tells me all about a girl named Pola, and how she has an illness that will kill her if she can't get one of the most unobtainable herbs in the known world. "We need fireweed," Leo finishes weakly. I nod. "I might have some gloves and smithy equipment that could help. May I come?"

"Yes," Leo and Aspen give their consent.

"Then it's settled," I decide. Raione stands at my side, black mane rippling. I stroke his back. "When do we leave?" 

@Scylla, don't worry, your writing was fine. Thanks for posting!

And let's keep this rp alive! 

Aspen~

Leo and Eo? That's kind of funny. I wonder if we will meet anyone named Theo, Cleo, or Romeo, too. Maybe a Mateo or Andreo. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. This is not a time to be joking around. Pola is paralyzed, possibly dying, and we need to obtain the scariest plant in the history of plants. Not to mention, Leo is very likely going to be kicked out of his tribe for helping us, and now people are talking about this dark clan that's been attacking Stellars. Also, this cat with the long hair is staring at me! Ugh, I can't even keep track of all my problems. One step at a time. I think. Right now, we need to help Pola. Then we can worry about this "dark clan". I'm not even sure I believe they are real. 

Leo and Eo seem to know where they're going. Meanwhile, I am completely lost. I guess we are leaving Pola, Kallik, and Chubby outside of the village? Poor Kallik, she's probably dying in this heat. I certainly am. "Wait," I say. "I promised Pola that I'd take care of her polar bear. They're probably much to hot. Can we at least take them to a pond or something?" Leo and Eo glance at each other, probably wondering if they should help me this much. "Please?" I add. Eo nods. "There is a waterhole not too far from here, but we have to hurry." Thank the spirit lights! "Let's go then." I say. We've got no time to waste. 

Yay! I'm so glad most of our charries are interacting!!!! YAY THIS IS AWESOME!!!!

Leo~

After Aspen helps the Polar Bear cool off, we head towards the sacrid place where Fireweed grows. It's way out in the middle of the desert, barren all around. Aspen isn't really taking the heat well. The sacrid place is surounded by a huge wall built from clay. I look up, trying to see past it into where the Fireweed grows. The legends say that inside is an oasis, and in the center of the lake inside it is an island where the Fireweed grows. It's hard to imagine such a hot plant in the middle of a lake. I turn back to Eo and Aspen. "Okay guys, Aspen, your Walrus can use his tusks to make a hole in the wall, Finn can go ahead and warn us if there's any danger, and Eo's Lion can protect us. The Fireweed should be in the middle of a lake. Everyone ready?" Eo and Aspen nod, then Aspen's Walrus breaks through the wall in a shower of dust and debris. We move forward into the oasis. When the dust clears, I see a lush forest, and a lake right in front of me. And right there, in the middle of the lake, is Fireweed. It's on a small barren island. "Wow. That was easier than I thought," Aspen whispered. This place somehow commanded silence. I slowly walk towards the lake and pull off my shirt. Eo hands me the gloves. "Time to take a dip. Um, Aspen, can the Polar Bear come with me? There might be sharks or something," I say. Aspen nods and the Polar Bear slides into the water. Such grace , for an animal so big. For one second the Polar Bear stays in the water, then with a huge roar, he leaps out, splattering everyone with water. When everyone got splattered we found out why the Polar Bear jumped out. "OW OW OW OUCH THAT IS HOOOOT!" yelled Aspen as he grasped his arm, which was soaked with the water. "UGH! IT'S BOILING!" shouted Eo, hopping on one foot while cradling the other one that got splashed by the water. "OW OW OW OW OW OW OW MY HAAAND!!" I yell as I shake my previously wet hand in pain. While we roar in pain with the Polar Bear, our other animals fall over laughing at the sight of us. After a few minutes the animal's laughing subsides and so does our pain. "Well, now we know that the water's hot. It must've gotten boiled because of the Fireweed's heat," said Aspen. "But how do we get across?" I ask. A sly grin spreads over Eo's mouth. "We don't have to."

Aspen and I stare at Eo. "What do you mean?" I ask. Eo points to a huge palm tree at the edge of the lake. "All we need is for Finn to climb that, hop down, pick the Fireweed, with gloves of course, and climb back up." For one moment we all stared at Eo. "What?! No way! Finn could get hur-" My words die as Finn scrambles up the palm tree with our gloves and picks the Fireweed. He then shimmies back down to us. "You were saying?" he asked, holding a Fireweed.

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Okay guys, what if in the oasis place there was a secret entrance into the Rainforest???? Then ALL the charries could interact!! Is that a cool idea??? 

YES YES YES! Let's do that rainforest idea, so we can all meet! YAY! This is getting really good, guys.