//I believe I already stated previously that I think too much. While it is probably true that stopping less to consider a situation might do my mind some benefit, I can't help giving pause to certain situations. Let's take for example a principle painstakingly taught to me about certain creatures roaming the earth. I had no reason to refute the information given to me. However truth is an unusual and oddly unreasonable adversary. Then again, in these recent days I haven't much use for reason.//

EPISODE 6: FOUNDATION

There had been a theory in Lindean philosophy that questioned the existence of anything that could not be readily perceived. Mages of Lindea, in point of fact, were reknowned as being intensely introspective in their researches of magics. While deeply religious to be certain, they nevertheless embraced the concept of finding some reasonable explanation for otherwise completely faith-based theory. Many have stated that this quality is what makes them the greatest mages in all of Saidra.

Perception was not the issue currently at hand to Gustave. The question was more to the effect of whether or not he wanted to further perceive the creature growling behind him. The persistence of the low and hissing growl seemed to demand acknowledgement. The Student actually couldn't claim to be terribly surprised at this happenstance. After all, his day had fallen quite short of pleasing quite a long while ago. Actually, he couldn't even be certain as to how many hours or even days had actually passed since his nightmare began. Despite bone chilling terror and several internal warnings not to turn around, the boy did so. Frankly he was just tired of it all. If he was going to die he presently didn't care.

His new found hubris gifted him with an unusual and legendary sight. Before him, crouched on all fours in theme to pounce upon him, was a creature he had only glimpsed in textbooks. There was no mistaking the identity of it. A large catlike creature with reptilian eyes stared him down, opening its mouth as long and deadly fangs folded down to state its malice. The long tail of the creature, tipped by a rattle, went completely rigid and strait, the rattle sounding a quiet alarm. The creature moves its front paws forward along the ground in unison, long and deadly claws ripping at the earth as it closes its eyes. Following all of this, the creature settled from its yawn and curled uncaringly into a ball on its side before the youth, letting forth a pur that sent a mild tremor through the ground.

Gustave's eyebrow twitched. This moment was perhaps the single most and least terrifying moment he had ever experienced in his entire life. The obsidian black fur of the creature - a vynx if he was not mistaken - settled sleekly around it as it relaxed.

Aiden laughs, "Feeling snubbed? You should be thankful, she usually hates anybody new."

Gustave glares at the Zephyr, "You could have warned me such a creature was in your company."

Aiden blinks, "What? And miss that look on your face? Hey, interesting stuff like this doesn't just come along every day you know. You've got to learn to cherish these moments when they happen, you know?"

Gustave makes a fist, "Why you! I've just been hanging from a thorntree, woke up in a place I don't know, and you've been waiting for the entertainment???"

Aiden shrugs, closing his eye, "Eeesh, when you put it THAT way..." He chuckles, "What, I wasn't gonna let you get killed, if that's what you mean. Besides, we gotta get that blood of yours moving after all that sleeping you've been doing."

Gustave blinks, "Wait a moment, how long was I out?"

Aiden looks at Gustave, "Oh man...you're serious aren't you?" He laughs again, "Come on! She didn't even tell you that? You've been out of it for four nights!"

Gustave had no vocal response to that comment. However, it is not to say that he had no reaction to the information whatsoever. He stood stoic as a tree, mouth and eyes wide open.

Aiden runs a hand back through his hair, "You're still kinda out of it, aren't you? That's not gonna make your case any easier when she gets back..."

Gustave snaps out of his shock, "huh? What are you talking about? What case?"

Aiden shakes his head, "Awww damn. How come I have to be the one to explain this stuff? uh...well look. Don't get too used to hangin' around us all the time, alright? When Red gets back you're either in or your out. It don't even matter what I think about you. She calls the shots. Now that you're up and movin' around, it might be good enough to just cut you loose right here and now."

Gustave groans, sitting down at the foot of the tree beneath Aiden, "You've...got to be joking."

Aiden chuckles, "Not this time. Good luck, kid. Me, I ain't gonna get to used to you hangin' around, because I don't think you got what it takes to stay."

"You could at least give him some hope."

Aiden balks, looking to the tent.

Sinclain stands there, arms folded and head pointed towards the Zephyr. She speaks again, "After all, we keep YOU around, don't we?"

Aiden throws a hand in front of himself in defense, "Hey! Don't go ripping on me now when I'm the one explainin' this crap to the pup when YOU were in the tent with him when he woke up!"

Sinclain taps her foot, "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't aware that you find it inconvenient to open that endless chasm of a mouth."

Aiden slaps himself in the forehead, closing his eye, "Uuuuuuuuugh... I'm sorry, alright?"

Sinclain looks to Gustave, "Don't mind him. To some, chivalry is dead."

Aiden clenches his teeth, "I said I'm SORRY!"

Sinclain sighs, then pauses, looking to the woods, "She has returned."

Aiden opens his eye, "Damn, that was fast. Hope her ears ain't burnin'."

Gustave blinks, looking towards the woods. Whomever was about to emerge was the decider of his fate in the present company. While he was uncertain as to whether or not he wished to stay with them, the simple fact that he did not have a say in the matter gave him apprehension. However all of it promptly left his mind as his concerned gaze turned into a stare.

What came into his vision was in and of itself by his perception quite a vision indeed. Red was what Aiden called her, and eventually Gustave would remember that. He would not soon find any words to speak at all. Certain things in the world are deserving of some pause. Many men may state that Red was one of these. She captured his eyes and gave his soul no quarter, her waist length crimson waves of hair billowing in the soft breeze. She was tall, and blessed with many features of which men are lustful and women envious. Her skin as pale and untouched as freshly fallen snow, and the one eye that could be seen unhindered by her hair - the left - was as green and alive as only the finest grass, crushing the life out of the green of the trees behind her by comparison. She was dressed in loose and baggy black trousers and a loose fitted longsleeved top. Her right arm was home to an oversized arm length violet glove. This glove, uncomfortable as it looked, was additionally bound to her arm by a golden string fitted at regular intervals with red gems, and a similar such strand hung loosely from her right hip over her right leg. The amount of ornamentation on her right side was curious, but this only served to add to her allure as she aproached, holding a heavy looking brown bag over her left shoulder. She approaches unrestricted, looking down at the now conscious lad. Her voice is as strong and beautiful as only imagination could draw from her appearance, "This guy is finally awake, huh?"

Sinclain nods, "He awoke only a short time ago."

Red looks at the boy, "Hey."

Gustave only stares at the woman, a slight redness in his cheeks.

Red blinks and looks to Sinclain, "You SURE he's conscious?"

Aiden snickers, "Conscious and dreamin', looks like."

Red shrugs, turning towards the camp, "Brought dinner. I'll just put it by the-" She grunts, tripping slightly over the vynx, "Hey! What do you think you're doing? You could have been more of a help hunting this thing, Ruru!"

The creature barely opens its eyes in acknowledgment of Red's chiding.

Red shakes her head, dropping the bag in the center of the camp, "Anyway, we eat, then we move. Finally, no more dead weight." She looks back to Sinclain, "What's his story anyway?"

Sinclain begins walking towards the bag, "He's a student of the Mages of Lindea."

Red blinks, looking at Gustave, "Just a student huh? That's a shame. Hey you! What are you doing all the way out here?"

Gustave musters up his courage, "I...I don't know."

Red quirks a brow, "Weird guy." She shrugs, "Ah well, you can hang out for now as long as you can walk and we'll give you a test run." She turns back to Sinclain, "Are the falls still good, Sinclain?"

Sinclain nods, "Just the perfect temperature right now."

Red smiles, "Alright. Things are looking up, then. I'm taking a bath. I'll be back for food."

Sinclain kneels in front of the bag, "I'll make sure it's ready."

Red nods and waves, departing as quickly as she came.

Gustave watches her go. Just like that he was free to stay, and just like that, his nightmare didn't seem quite so bad.