"That's a fascinating story. It really is." The man speaking paused, "Oh, I guess I never properly introduced myself. My name is Iane. Iane Trite." He stopped and glanced around. Iane was a man of average height and build, and had blue eyes and long dark blond hair. He was wearing dark green and grey coloured plate armour and a dark grey cloak. He had a sheath for a sword on his side, but there was no weapon in it. On his other side there was a large bag attached to his belt. "There's also someone I'd like you to meet." Iane looked around the large crowded pub he was sitting in until he spotted the person he was looking for, who was actually already walking toward him. "Riddy! Come over here a minute."

The woman named Riddy made her way through the crowd until she met up with Iane. She was almost as tall as Iane, with long bright red hair and gold eyes, and was considered to be quite attractive - even outside her species - as she was not a human. Riddy was humanoid, though, but of the feline nature. She had all the features of a cat including a long tail, pointed ears, sharp claws, and orange fur covering her body. Riddy had little modesty, and currently was wearing a small, tight tank top and a very short and equally tight skirt. In addition, she wore a collar around her neck and attached to her side was her weapon, a cat-o'nine-tails whip. "Iane, there's something..." Riddy started.

"This is my friend, well, companion, Riddy Kulus," Iane interrupted, standing up from his seat.

"Iane, I want to show..."

Iane looked back at the man he had been speaking to. "Together we search for treasures around the world."

"I have something important..."

"It's really quite fun," Iane continued.

Riddy was getting angry. "Iane! I need to talk..."

"Travelling the land, going from one adventure to the next. That's one of the reasons why I find your story so interesting."

Riddy growled and made a quick, unseen motion toward Iane, causing him to suddenly gasp and double over, holding himself just below his mid-section. "You can talk to your little friend later, Iane." Riddy said, grabbing his arm and pulling him away. She looked back at the man at the table who was staring at her in disbelief. Riddy gave him a goofy grin. "Excuse us."

Iane recovered enough to catch his breath and managed to straighten himself up. "What did you do that for?"

"For being you," Riddy responded. "Look, I have something important to show you."

"What?"

Riddy held up two pieces of paper with a scribbled drawing of some sort on them. "This."

"You've been colouring again," Iane mocked. "I must say, this isn't your best work."

Riddy glared and debated hitting Iane again, but refrained from doing so this time. "No, look." She held the two pieces of paper side by side. "It's a map. To a treasure."

"It is?"

"Look closely, you idiot! Can't you see it?"

"Yes, I can see it. It's a map. Just where did you get this?"

"From two feuding brothers I met when we first entered the pub after you had gone off to get a drink. Each brother had one half of the map, but they hate each other so much that they refused to work together to find the treasure it leads to. The one I talked to said their father gave it to them when he died told them if they could work together and get along, it would lead to a great treasure."

Iane nodded, not really listening to the explanation. "Uh, just how did you get them to give up their map pieces?"

"Well, for the one brother I traded one of the sapphire rings we obtained from the last treasure we found. He was more than willing to give up the map for the ring."

"You traded your sapphire ring for a half piece of paper?!"

"No, I traded your ring."

Iane gave Riddy a dirty look and muttered something under his breath. "And how did you obtain the map piece from the other brother?"

"I, well..." Riddy stuttered. "I borrowed it from him."

Iane narrowed his eyes. "You stole it, didn't you?"

"Well, he wasn't exactly awake at the time I borrowed it."

"You stole it, didn't you?"

"He didn't seem to need it. And maybe I don't really intend on returning it, but..."

"You stole it."

"Alright, I stole it! What difference does it make? I always steal things," Riddy shouted, causing everyone in the room to stare at her.

Iane rolled his eyes and clamped his hand over Riddy's mouth. "I noticed. You have no morals." Iane turned to the rest of the people in the pub and laughed insincerely. "She's just a little drunk, folks. Don't mind her."

Riddy pulled her skirt up even further than it already was, earning another stare from those in the room. "Morals just get in the way. I don't need any."

"Or modesty, either, it seems," Iane said rather casually. "Not that I mind your choice of outfits."

Riddy shrugged. "Come on, lets go!"

"Now?" Iane questioned.

"Yes, now! The sooner we get started, the sooner we can get that treasure!"

"And I thought I was the overzealous one," Iane said silently. "Riddy, it's the middle of the night. We should at least wait until morning."

"Details, details. So what if it's the middle of the night?"

"Riddy, have you even looked at the map to see where it goes?"

Riddy looked away. "Well, um..."

"I take it that's a no."

"Hey! Stop pointing out minor details!"

Iane sighed. "We'll wait until morning."

"Alright, alright," she relented. Iane started back toward the man he had been talking to earlier when Riddy grabbed his arm and dragged him to the exit. "Oh no you don't. If we're going to wait until morning, then we're going to the inn now. The sooner we go to sleep, the sooner it will be morning."

"But, but..." Iane stammered as he was literally yanked out the door.

"Stop whining, Iane! Tomorrow we start another quest for treasure!"

"Riddy, it's almost lunch time. Aren't you the one who said the sooner we go to sleep, the sooner it will be morning? Are you going to get up?" Iane said, looking at the sleeping Riddy who was curled up on the floor.

"In a minute," Riddy mumbled.

Iane kneeled down and leaned over Riddy. "Treeeeeeasuuuuuure," he said, mockingly.

Riddy reached back and punched Iane in the nose without even opening her eyes. "Shut up."

Iane rubbed his nose and stood up. "You are not a morning person."

Riddy finally opened her eyes and got up. "Alright, I'm awake." She then noticed Iane's face had gone red and he was grinning widely at her. "What's with..." Riddy stopped in midsentence and remembered that she wasn't wearing a top as she had taken it off before she had gone to bed. Riddy smirked and posed for Iane. "You like what you see?"

"Every time I see it."

"That was a rhetorical question, Iane," Riddy responded flatly, picking up her top and putting it on.

Iane smiled, then the pair walked out of the room and headed down the stairs to the main floor of the inn. After a small breakfast, they left the inn and started off on their journey. On their way out of the town they passed a merchant selling fruit at a little wooden stand. Riddy stopped. "I want to get something else to eat."

"You going to take it or pay for it?"

Riddy glared at Iane. "I can't take it with the merchant standing there."

"Good." Iane handed Riddy some money. "Here."

Riddy walked up to the fruit stand and tossed a coin at the merchant, who thanked her. She then proceeded to stick out her claws and jab them into a large green apple, then shoved the apple into her mouth and took a large bite. Iane stared at Riddy in disbelief. "What?" she mumbled through a mouthful of apple.

"I can't take you anywhere."

Iane and Riddy left the stand and continued out of town. "I always eat like that," Riddy responded, still munching on the apple.

"I know. I know." Iane sighed. Anyway, according to the map, which I have actually looked at, we go this way," he said, pointing to a small path through the forest that surrounded the town they had just left.

"Then let's get going!" Riddy exclaimed, running into the forest.

Iane ran after her, waving the map and yelling. "Riddy! Slow down! You didn't let me finish explaining!"

Riddy turned around and stopped, waiting for Iane to catch up. "What's to explain? You said we go this way."

"It's just that this path is known as Bandit Trail. A lot of thieves and other criminals roam this area, waiting to ambush the first passerby that comes along." Iane thought for a moment, "come to think of it, Riddy, you should fit in quite well."

Riddy glared. "Very funny," she said flatly. "And I think we can deal with any bandits that may come along. "

"Just thought I'd warn you."

"Okay, I've been warned. Now let's go!" Riddy yelled as she took off running again.

Iane shook his head and ran after her. "Riddy, wait up! Don't run so fast!"

Riddy stopped again. "What is it this time?"

"Nothing. Just don't run so fast. I can't keep up."

"Wimp."

"I am not. This armour is just heavy. It's difficult to..." Iane's voice trailed off as a rough looking man suddenly jumped out of the trees in front of them. "Bandit!" yelled Iane.

"Give me all your money right now if you want to live!" The man demanded.

Iane eyed the man carefully. "Uh, well, you see... We don't have any money to give you at the moment. We need our money for ourselves. Sorry, but we really can't spare anything for your cause."

The bandit sighed. "Oh, I'm sorry. My apologies. Sorry to bother you two. Maybe the next person who comes along will have some money."

"I'm really sorry," Iane continued. "I know being a thief must be tough, but adventurers like us have to make a living too."

"Oh, I understand completely. Well, I'll let you two get on your way." With that, the bandit ran back into the forest.

"It's nice to meet someone polite for a change," Iane said, glancing at Riddy. I was afraid I'd have to hurt him with my swo..." Iane looked at the empty sheath on his waist. "Err... Let you hurt him with your claws."

Riddy looked at Iane's sword sheath as the two resumed walking along the path through the forest. "Iane..." Riddy said sarcastically. "What happened to your sword?"

Iane turned red. "Uh, nothing. Nothing happened to it."

"You lost it again, didn't you?"

Iane sighed and nodded slowly. "Yes."

"I don't believe you! Do you know how much those things cost?! You're as good as useless without it, you know that?"

"Well excuse me!"

"What happened to it this time?"

"Iane put his finger to his chin thoughtfully. "Well, you remember the fight we had a couple days ago on the bridge over that gorge?"

"How could I forget?"

"Well you see..." Iane began, when another bandit jumped out of the forest.

"Not now! Can't you see we're busy?" Riddy yelled before the man could even say a word. She jumped forward and struck him across the face, sending the thief flying back into the forest. Riddy stretched and looked at her paw. "Damn. I think I broke a nail."

Iane's jaw dropped in utter shock. "Whoa."

"Anyway, you were saying about your sword?"

"Right," Iane recovered. "It fell down the gorge during that fight on the bridge."

"One of those soldiers knock it out of your hand?"

"Not exactly. Actually, it was after we had defeated the soldiers. When I leaned over the edge to look at the scenery, it well, fell out of the sheath."

Riddy slapped her forehead. "Iane, you have got to be the most incompetent person I have ever met."

"At least I have a sense of decency and morality," Iane retorted, lifting up the edge of Riddy's overly short skirt.

Riddy lightly slapped Iane's hand. "Hmph. That and a gold coin will get you a mug of ale. Face it Iane. You're hopeless."

Iane stuck his tongue out at her in response. "We'll see about that." Iane paused, then suddenly took off running. "See you at the treasure!"

Riddy stared for a moment, then charged after in pursuit. "Iane! I'm going to kill you!"

It was now late in the afternoon and Riddy and Iane were still walking along Bandit's trail. They were now approaching a steep hill that - according to the map - led out of the forest, but they couldn't see beyond the hill, so neither knew if this was indeed true. The pair had encountered several more bandits along the way, dealing with each in appropriate, and sometimes, inappropriate, fashion.

Riddy and Iane reached the hill and proceeded up the slope. "According to the map, the forest ends abruptly at the top of this hill. Then it's a short walk on some plain to a bunch of triangles where the treasure is."

Riddy rolled her eyes. "Mountains, Iane. Mountains. Not triangles."

"Oh, right."

At that moment, another bandit jumped out of the trees and stood before them, holding a knife. "Give me your valuables now!" He yelled.

"Look, Iane. It's another bandit."

"Why, yes, you're right. That's, what, the twelfth bandit today?"

"No, I think this is number thirteen."

"Oh, that's right. This is the thirteenth," Iane confirmed. "Should we do as he says? He looks awfully determined."

"He does, doesn't he? I"m almost afraid," Riddy responded, as she and Iane casually walked by the bandit who was simply staring at them in disbelief. As Riddy passed the man, she reached out and lightly shoved him, sending the man rolling down the hill, yelling as he fell. "What a pushover."

"Indeed," Iane said, smiling." I almost pity the man. For him, it's just all downhill from here."

The pair continued bantering about the man until they had reached the top of the hill. At this point, they could see that the forest did indeed end here. However, before they could get any further, two men suddenly appeared and stood in front of them. One was carrying a large sword and the other had a crossbow. "Here we go again," Riddy sighed.

"Give us you money now if you want to live!" The first man yelled angrily.

"And while you're at it, we'll take that female of yours too!" said the second.

Riddy looked at Iane. "I think these two are serious. "I think we're going to actually have to fight these guys."

"Don't be stupid, Riddy. You can't fight against a long range weapon like a crossbow."

"I wouldn't have to if you hadn't lost your sword!"

"Stop stalling! Hand over the money and the girl!" The first bandit repeated. At this point, Iane took a few steps forward and walked over to the bandits.

"Iane, what the hell are you doing?!"

"Trust me Riddy," Iane smiled, as the bandits raised their weapons.

"Didn't you hear us?!" The two thieve's screamed in unison. "Give us your money and the female now!"

"About that..." Iane started. He moved closer to the bandits and began whispering to them.

After a couple minutes the two men looked up and over at Riddy with wide eyes, then turned back to Iane. "Really?" they asked, to which Iane nodded.

Suddenly, the thieves dropped their weapons and ran off screaming in fear. "I'll never steal again!" One of them could be heard in the distance.

Iane crossed his arms confidently. "It worked."

"Iane," Riddy said slowly and eying him carefully. "What did you tell them?"

"Nothing, Riddy."

"Iane." She repeated. "Tell me what you said."

"Never mind, ok?" Iane bent over and picked up the two weapons the men had dropped, put the sword in his empty sheath, and the crossbow in the large bag on his waist. "Look, I even got a new sword from it. And we can sell the crossbow for money."

Riddy growled and drew her whip. "Iane! If you want to continue being able to eat solid food, I suggest you tell me what you said!"

Iane raised his hands in defence and stepped away from Riddy. "Alright, alright," he relented. "I told them you were a man."

"What?!" Riddy screamed, lunging forward and punching Iane on the jaw, knocking him to the ground. "You jerk!"

"It worked, didn't it?" Iane said, standing up slowly.

"Shut up! Lets just get going, ok?"

Iane followed Riddy out of the forest, snickering quietly to himself. "Alright. We're almost there, anyway," he said, pointing to the small mountain range up ahead. "The treasure is supposed to be atop the closest mountain."

The pair walked across the short expanse of dirt plains that connected the forest with the mountains. Neither spoke to the other during this time, and it didn't take long before they had reached the base of the mountain. A well worn path wound its way up the rocky mountain which Riddy and Iane began to climb. "Almost there," Iane stated, breaking the silence.

They had barely started up the path when a lightning bolt suddenly shot out in front of them. Riddy and Iane looked up after the light had disappeared where a person now stood before them - or cat, rather, as the character appeared to be the same race as Riddy. "I am Meowlin, the Nekomancer!" he bellowed.

"Meowlin?" Riddy repeated, looking curiously at the cat-human. Meowlin was rather short, and was wearing long robes, and carried a staff, typical of a sorcerer.

Meowlin looked at himself a moment. "I have got to find a better way to travel. The static electricity is just ruining my fur." He turned to Iane and Riddy. "I cannot allow you to proceed any further!"

"Why not?" Riddy queried.

"Because you are trespassing. Please leave immediately."

"Trespassing? This is a mountain! You don't own it!"

Meowlin narrowed his eyes and pointed behind him with his thumb. "Deed's in the cave at the top."

Riddy laughed and turned to Iane. "Come on, Iane. Stop standing there like an idiot and let's get going. We have a treasure to get."

"I am protector of the treasure and servant of he who lives at the top! If you don't leave now, I will be forced to make you leave!" The nekomancer continued.

"And do what?" Riddy mocked, crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently.

Meowlin growled and held his staff up high. "I call upon the powers of nature and my feline ancestors! KIBBLE HAIL!" The moment he had finished chanting the words, a small black cloud formed above Riddy's head and began spewing out cat kibble. The cloud completely buried her in a pile of kibble, then dissapated as quickly as it had formed. "I warned you!" Meowlin sneered. "Now leave this place and never return!"

Riddy poked her head out from the kibble. "How... amusing."

Iane smiled. "Look, Riddy! Lunch!"

Riddy shot a dark look at Iane. "Iane."

"Yes?"

"Shut up. You're not helping."

"Yes, dear." He responded sarcastically.

"Go back to whatever you were doing and let me deal with this."

"Alright, you can handle it," he responded, and then began staring fixedly at Riddy.

Riddy eyed Iane carefully. "What are you doing?"

"You told me to go back to what I was doing before, so I am."

"Which is?"

"Well, I was staring at your breasts. You know they bounce when you're angry?"

Riddy slapped her forehead in frustration. "That's it." She jumped out of the pile of kibble, walked over to Iane and kicked him between the legs, dropping him like a stone. "Moron! This isn't the time for that!"

"Uh..." Meowlin stuttered, not believing the scene he had just witnessed.

"Now for you," she snarled, turning toward the Meowlin.

"I, um, have to get going, now," he muttered before quickly disappearing into a lightning bolt.

Riddy shrugged. "Well, that was easy. Let's go get the treasure, now, Iane."

Iane gasped for breath and stood up slowly. "I'll... I'll be there in a moment."

"Hmph. Serves you right for making stupid comments."

"But I always do that!"

"True. And in your case, I'll allow stupidity as an excuse. Now come on, let's go."

"I'm coming, I'm coming," a wincing Iane replied. The two of them resumed their climb up the long narrow dirt path that stretched to the top of the mountain. The rest of the trip to the top took place without incident, and by the time they had reached the cave at the top the sun had just begun to disappear beneath the horizon.

Riddy and Iane had just stepped onto the small ledge that marked the entrance to the cave when the now all too familiar lightning bolt exploded in front of them, leaving Meowlin in it's wake. "Not you again," Riddy said, sounding rather annoyed. "I thought you left."

"Stupid static," Meowlin muttered to himself, brushing his fur back into place. "I just needed to regroup," he stated in response to Riddy's comment. "Now, as I told you before, get off this mountain!"

"Stuff it, furball. Just get out of our way, ok?"

"You know not the power you are dealing with!"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Meowlin the Nekomancer. Big Deal."

Meowlin looked as if he was about to explode. "How dare you! CATAPULT!" He screamed, waving his staff in front of him. An unseen force suddenly struck Riddy, thrusting her into the mountainside.

Iane looked at Riddy. "Are you ok?"

She looked up at Iane with a dazed look on her face. "I'm fine, Mommy."

Meowlin turned to Iane. "You're next, unless you leave immediately."

"Hold on a moment," Iane replied, reaching into the bag on his waist and pulling out a small ball of green yarn.

"What?" Meowlin looked at Iane curiously.

Riddy regained her senses and stood up. "What are you doing with my yarn?" She asked in an almost fearful tone.

"You'll see," Iane replied, turning and tossing the yarn toward Meowlin, which bounced once and rolled of the ledge.

Overcome by his cat urges, Meowlin instinctively jumped after the ball, going over the ledge himself. "Oh, damn," he said in a darkly the moment he realized what he had done as he fell down the mountainside.

Riddy also bounded after the ball, but Iane grabbed her before she got to the edge. "My... My yarn! You threw it away! I can't believe you did that, you jerk!"

Iane rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Iane. Thank you for saving our lives. Thank you for allowing to get the treasure."

Riddy looked out at the setting sun with a solemn expression on her face. "My yarn..."

"Come on, Riddy. With this treasure we can buy more yarn than you'll know what to do with. You should be congratulating me for my great idea, you know. Not pining over your ball of yarn."

"I wouldn't want it to go to your head, Iane." She retorted, turning around and walking into the cave with Iane following close behind.

"It's pitch black in here," Iane said as all the light disappeared, save for the dim glow of outside that penetrated the cave's entrance.

"It's a cave, stupid. What do you expect?"

"Who goes there?!" a deep voice boomed from within the cave.

"Who are you?" Riddy asked.

"I asked you first." The voice replied. "Nevertheless my name is Reezon. I live here."

"Live here? How could you possibly live in a barren, pitch black cave?" Iane questioned.

"Because I do not have a physical form. I am just the voice of Reezon."

"Wow. Interesting. Give us the treasure."

"How did you get past Meowlin?" Reezon continued in his loud, overbearing voice, ignoring Riddy.

Iane smirked. "He had to step out for a little while."

"Treasure. Now." Riddy repeated.

"I don't have anything of value to give you."

"That's for us to judge." Riddy pressed.

Riddy and Iane heard a noise behind them and turned around to identify it. Despite the darkness, the two were able to make out the figure that was staggering into the cave. "I believe this is yours," a very annoyed Meowlin said, tossing a green ball of yarn at Riddy's head.

"My yarn!" Riddy exclaimed, grabbing the ball and hugging it like a comforter.

"You're alive," Iane added.

"Of course I am! Cats always land on their feet." Meowlin turned to the inside of the cave. "I am sorry, Master Reezon. I was unable to keep them away."

"So I see," Reezon replied.

"I shall rectify the problem immediately. A member of the Lion-a clan such as myself, will not have his pride damaged by two people such as these."

"I don't think that will be necessary. Meowlin. I will handle these two myself."

"You?!" Riddy shouted. "How are you going to do anything to us? You're just a formless voice. Even Meowlin would have a better chance of doing something to us. Of course, even he's pretty useless from what..."

"Mewt." Meowlin said casually, waving his staff in front of him and causing Riddy to lose her voice. Riddy grabbed her throat for a moment, then glared at Meowlin.

"Thank you, Meowlin, " Reezon complimented.

Iane grinned. "I agree. I like her this way. In fact, this is the first time in a while it has been this quiet with her around."

Riddy started waving her hands in the air and mouthing profanities at Meowlin and Iane, then shook her fist in the air and pointed to the pair.

"I think that's enough, Meowlin," Reezon said, to which the nekomancer responded with another wave of his staff, returning Riddy's voice.

"If you ever do that again, I'm going to kill you!" Riddy shouted at Meowlin.

Iane held out the map. "This map was supposed to lead us to a treasure, but you say there's nothing here?" He said, changing the subject.

"Meowlin snatched one of the pieces of the map. "So this is what happened to it! I lost this ages ago!"

Iane looked confused. "Lost?"

"Yes. I made this map many years ago so I could find my way back to the cave, whenever I left. I lost it though, shortly thereafter. By now, I have the location memorized, so I don't need it anymore, but I never did find the map."

"You see, Meowlin doesn't have the greatest sense of direction, " Reezon continued. "Meowlin works for me. He searches the world for magical artifacts and brings them back to me in hopes that one of them will restore my body. He also makes sure that no one comes near this place - at least until now. In return, I grant Meowlin new magical spells, being that I used to be a powerful wizard."

"What happened to your body?"

"Never mind," Reezon replied nervously.

Meowlin whispered to Iane. "He slept with the wife of an even more powerful wizard, and he didn't take it very well when he found out."

"Meowlin!" Iane and Riddy looked at each other and shrugged. Reezon sighed. "It's true. I have been like this for 300 years, unable to die, and for all intents and purposes, unable to live. I collect the magical artifacts that Meowlin brings me and test them to see if one of them can free me from this eternal prison. I would do it myself, but without a physical form, I am limited as to what I can do."

"Well, here's your map," Iane said, handing the other piece of the map to Meowlin. "Let's go Riddy. There's nothing for us here. Magical artifacts won't sell unless we find a wizard somewhere. Maybe we can get to the next town before daybreak."

Riddy stamped her foot on the ground. "I want treasure, dammit!"

"Well, since you came all this way, "Reezon began.

"Actually, it wasn't that far at all," Iane replied.

Riddy kicked Iane. "Shut up! He's going to give us something!"

Iane grabbed his shin in pain while Reezon continued. "Um, yes. Anyway, I may actually have something for you. It's not much, but it's the best I can do." There was a small flash of light, and a ring and a small ball flew out of the darkness and landed by Iane and Riddy's feet. "The ball glows in the dark when if you expose it to light first. The ring came in the bottom of a box of snacks."

Riddy picked up the items. "Better than nothing, I suppose." She handed the ring and her ball of yarn to Iane, who put them in the bag on his waist, keeping the glowing ball in her hand.

"I guess we should get going then," Iane stated, turning to leave. "Sorry to have bothered you."

"And wasted our time," Riddy muttered, following Iane out of the cave. The two started back down the mountain. "That was a wasted trip."

"Maybe. I think that glowing ball is fascinating."

Riddy shook her head and tossed the ball in the air, then caught it again. "Simple minds like simple things."

Back in the cave, Meowlin stood there, thinking. Reezon sighed. "Those two were strange, don't you think, Meowlin?"

"Wait a minute," Meowlin started, an angry look washing across his face. Suddenly he charged outside and after Riddy and Iane. "Get back here! Don't think I forgot what you two did to me! I demand revenge!"

"Meowlin?" Reezon queried. "Meowlin? Are you here?" Reezon thought to himself, "Did he follow those two? Damn that unreliable cat!"

Meowlin was still running after Riddy and Iane. "I told you to stop! You can't get away with this!"

Riddy and Iane continued to make their way down the mountain while Meowlin chased after in an effort to catch them, all ignoring the loud booming voice that suddenly pierced the air "Meeeeeeeowliiiiiiiiiiiiiin!"