[Poggio]

Robin let go of his new friend. He gestured for the animal to follow, not sure if a few pets was enough to warrant trust. He slipped back into the garden and around to the back where many of the castles servants used. He led the wolf unknowingly to the prince's room. Robin didn't know what was of value and what wasn't but when he found a small stash of gold and the other slipper he was content but how to get his clothing and the shoe were another problem. He stalked the halls near his room finding a guard had carelessly fallen asleep. He took the keys and told his friend to watch the door. Robin gathered his things sliding his feet once again into the magical slippers. Both the wolf and the boy made a quick escape into the forest. Robin lit the way with a lantern he had 'borrowed'.

( XD I shall let you choose were we go since I have screwed up the story so much. )

[littl3chocobo]

(to be read with this; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5XqYliZQ5w&NR=1 )

it lead the way on silent paws soon it saw the boy creature was struggling so it went back and put it's face to the other and whipped it's head in a gesture to allow the boy on. obligingly the child climbed on it's back and they shot off again. jerial did not know which way the boy sought to go so they ran aimlessly through the forest zagging through trees and leaping roots and small bushes. the forest whooshed past quickly the silvery moon dancing through the leaves and casting eerie shadows and sparkles.

[Poggio]

He felt like he was riding a motorcycle. The woods past by him with sickening speed. He closed his eyes burying his head into the wolfs fur not sure where the wild ride was going to lead him. When the wolf slowed down to a saunter, Robin rolled off, riding himself of his nonexistent dinner. When the lad regained himself he and his wolf walked until the smell of cooked chicken lured the boy off the beaten pathway. They stumbled through the thick forest until they came across a small cottage. Robin could see a pie cooling in the window a silhouette moving around hidden behind amber colored panes of glass.

[littl3chocobo]

the wolf jerial slowed to a stop. baba yaga. it slid from it's skin in a single liquid movement becoming the prince once more the man took three long steps up to the house and called "hut, O hut, turn your back to the wood and your front to me!" the hut then began to lift itself from the earth on two great cock's legs. with a grace no real bird had it turned itself once revealing a door. it then settled back down in the hole it had been laying in resuming it's illusion of being a normal house once more. without turning he spoke to robin, "follow or leave for baba eats little boys and i take no responsibility for your death" the prince then stalked naked across the yard, reaching the door he spoke in a low tone "baba it is i with blue roses at my neck, let me in" the door opened and the prince slipped inside the door stayed open a moment longer as if waiting for robin to make up his mind

[Poggio]

The night was just full of surprises, the first his new pet was a nude man, the second that man was Jerial. That along with the strange house, kept Robin from settling one thought. His brain just jumped from one thing to another. “I am not a child.” He said following behind the prince. He wondered where he had found blue roses as the door from the hut peeked open and a wild eye ball swiveled about. His admittance that he was not a child could not keep Robin from being scared. He stepped out of sight behind the prince, lightly holding on to his shoulders to use him as a body shield.

[littl3chocobo]

the child behind him was strange, he looked like any other boy but his lips produced the voice of his beauty, he wondered if he was going mad, he had seen her in the faces of so many in the days since she first showed up but never had he heard her voice from a foreign mouth. shaking the thought from his head he called to the eye "tell baba yaga jerial has come" the prince looked abot the front room of the hut, it was warm and cozy, the fire was lit and the making of meat pies were on the broad table. he could feel the other shaking so he placed a hand over one of the boy's to steady him, obviously the child had heard of the witch yaga and was rightfully worried though if he had then he would have brought her a gift as well. from the back he could hear her shuffling and shifting, she emerged from the doorway all skirts and angles. he stared levelly before bowing "witch" he said politly she did not return the bow but offered him a surly reply, "princling" he undid the thong from about his neck and handed it to her. she pulled from it a single rose-head it was white but with a decidedly blue tint to it. "you have a question" she was not asking. he snapped his fingers and the sound of footsteps could be heard, a single red cloak came undone from the wall and floated towards him as if brought by invisible hands. he put it on then took several steps to the witch yaga. "i have lost someone dear to me and she cannot be found, tell me how to find her" the witch looked at robin who was still waiting at the door. "you found your answer before you came here you just have not thought to ask the right question" she then stepped over to the boy. "you have one too, i can see it" the prince grew uneasy and went back over to the boy. he stuck a hand on robin's shoulder.

[Poggio]

Robin watch the exchange. It amazed him, though why the woman looked at him he was not sure. As she drew closer expecting an answer to her question, Robin circled around the prince, happy that he had clothing on since he still needed him to act as a human shield. He stopped at the prince's side. Of course he had many questions buzzing about his brain but he feared anything he asked the prince, the elderly woman would assume he meant to ask her. So he shook his head, reaching out and grabbing the fabric of the prince's cloak. “No, I don't... well I do but” He was about to foolishly waste a question so he stuck to his guns. “No I don't, not for you madam.” He tried to pull Jerial through the door way, “Um your majesty. I have plenty of questions for you.”

[littl3chocobo]

the prince froze as the child damned them both. one could not enter the witch's home without an exchange. he bowed to baba yaga even as the other tugged fruitlessly at his cloak "witch, i bid thee a good night" stiffly he half turned keeping his eyes on her always he leaned towards the other 'let go, and go outside' he lightly pushed the boy with one hand. mercifully robin listened and slipped from the hut. he straightened again and smiled "i do not believe i will need your services again" he then turned and fled as fast as his legs could carry him, as he passed through the yard he grabbed the hand of the boy and ran helter-skelter through the midnight woods

[Poggio]

Robin just did as he was told being pulled along behind the red cloaked prince. He wanted to look back but he feared the wrath of the elderly lady.

[littl3chocobo]

as they ran the prince reached into the deep pockets of his cloak, from it he pulled a comb wrapped in a white ribbon, he pulled the two apart and stuck the ribbon in his mouth. behind them a great howling wind took up, the witch baba yaga had climbed into her mortar and with her pestle she pushed off to catch them gnashing her teeth. the prince sped up his hair whipping in the new wind and his cloak catching the air like a bird's. they ran but she was soon close enough they could hear the click of her teeth and so the prince threw down the comb and from it prang a great row of trees so tightly pressed none could pass. the witch screamed then began to chew through the wood. they continued to run but the boy was slowing and they did not make it as far as before when the sound of the pestle hitting the ground once more could be heard. the prince tried vainly to make the other go faster but the child could not be swayed and soon she was again nearly apon them so he cast down the ribbon and from it sprung a great swift river. the witch halted and hurled curses for she could not cross enchanted water.

[Poggio]

The water was unexpected. Robin did not cross the flowing stream in enough time to make it to safety. He fell deep into the waters grip waking up in the real world to a fury of sneezes. His head was throbbing and his body felt like noodles, but he pushed aside the mountain of blankets that kept him warm. He couldn't afford to miss another class or another day of work. A shiver snaked its way down his spine as he remembered the dream with the nightmarish hag. The dream wasn't too bad, there was a nude guy. That slap happy thought, made him giggle like a drunkard and kept him amused while he was trying to focus through out the day.

[littl3chocobo]

he was bleary eyed to say the least in class that day. robin had fallen asleep face-first in his book again with the window open and despite jerial's attempts to turn up the heat and load the other down with blankets by morning the other teen had what looked to be a rather nasty head-cold, jerial felt personally responsible for it though he knew there was no reason for that, he hoped his lack of sleep on the other's behalf was penance enough.

[Poggio]

When Robin came home he greeted his roommate with a germ filled greeting, oblivious to the boys efforts for both a happy ending and to prevent his cold. He sniffled a little making his way to the kitchen for a cup of tea and soup. Once again he offered him some of his food. He even joined him on the couch for a bit, attempting badly to stay awake reading, while the other did his work. Lulled by a full belly and the white noise of the tv, Robin soon fell asleep using Jerial's thigh as a pillow. He cradled his book close to his chest open on the page he was last reading. He slowly woke up to golden rays of light silhouetting the forest. Robin was became aware that he was cradled in the arms of some one protected by a red cloak. He nudged the chest with his head that had been used as his pillow, sheepishly looking up to see the face of his savior. He kissed the prince's neck before closing his eyes again lingering in his half awake state. He listened with one ear to the sounds of the prince's beating heart.

[littl3chocobo]

he was surprised to say the least when robin, now carrying the book, laid against his leg and began to doze, he attempted to ignore the other until the other shivered against him so with no real thought to it he did what came natural to him as an older brother to four and pulled the boy into his arms hoping to warm him up without waking him. robin put up no fight and with jerial's afghan now over them both the shivering soon stopped but the book robin still clung to now dug into his side. he tried to ignore it but soon it was unbearable so gently he pried it loose from the other who promptly latched onto him instead. he rolled his eyes at that thinking of his littlest sister who did the same. with his free arm he put the book on top of the closed laptop then wrapped his arm back around the other. if this was the price of the cold he was sure to get from the other so be it, it was nice enough an exchange....

he woke up quickly at the movement of the other, he had not realized he dozed off but was awake now, he felt the other helf roll in his arms and nuzzle at his chest he looked down shocked though he quickly realized that though the boy's eyes were half open he was not awake 'jeez, you had me for a moment' he said softly. the other gave no indication he heard but instead looked jerial dead in the eye and stretched up to kiss his neck. the boy froze. he could literally feel the cogs in his head breaking. robin simply rested his head back against his chest and went back to sleep. jerial did not.

[Ludovico]

High in the heavens, two devils chuckled mischievously. Between them they carried a large intricately carved ornate oak mirror. The large viewing glass was easily the size of a normal human adult. On its reflective surface glimmers of a grin appeared and disappeared with the light. In their hands the mirror began to quiver. The higher they rose, the more the mirror vibrated, till finally a thin crack streaked down the center of the glass evolving into a spider web of cuts. As the devils finally reached heaven, the mirror shattered into many pieces. The pieces mingled in the atmosphere before raining down to the earth.

Robin who had his eyes closed did not see, the sky as it looked as though it was raining diamonds in the soft morning light. The prince had the unfortunate luck of having his eyes open. As his fingers dared to touch the locks of his companion, a small shard of the mirror wedged its self into his tear duct and wiggled into the princes heart. Robin opened his eyes then, when he felt the prince move to rub his eye. He tried to see if anything was in it but was batted away by the prince. He stopped long enough to give Robin an apologetic smile and let him help. When he was finish with his inspection, Robin kissed the princes eye gently fore kisses made everything better or so his mother lead him to believe.

Every thing seemed alright, so the two moved to find a village. Robin could not help but notice how quickly the climate was changing in this part of the region. They came upon a small town bustling with life. Luckily it was still with in the prince's province so his word of repayment was good to the villagers. They were able to procure some clothing, food and board. When they were alone Robin looked with dismay at the clothing the villagers provided. As night fell on the sleepy town a cold front moved in, bringing with it snow.

[littl3chocobo]

he woke to a kiss, soft and sweet, like what he imagined his beauty to have done. the boy in his arms reminded him so much of his love he could almost not bear it, he reached out a hand to stroke the downy cheek, it was soft ad fine, already throws of adulthood but not yet there, this child was nearly a man despite his looks, as old as the prince. it made jerial sad to think that soon this strange and yet oddly compelling ompanion would soon throw away the cloak of childhood and become bound by the shackles of reality. he looked to the sky as a tear welled in his eye. he felt a sharp pain and became bitter. he made to brush away the tear when a fine-boned hand reached up to check, he pushed it away roughly but did not snap as it was only the child checking. he let the boy look to his heart's content and did not pull away as the other kissed his eyes, the pain receded but flared as the other pulled away. his heart hardened.

they drew soon to a village located on the edge of his lands, beyond here was the snow-queens country. he was pulled about by the lad and offered food and clothes by the frightened townsfolk. they knew who he was and what he would do if they offended him or dishonored his title and so went out of their way to please him. he was not. they were fed and dressed in the rough way of peasants, it did not suit the lad so the prince offered his fine cloak. only the joyful face of the boy spared the people of the town that eve as the sun set the clouds moved in bringing with them the queen's snow. he hurried inside pushing the boy along. the queen's spies could be out tonight and he would not let her see the boy lest she try to steal him away.