1 Ashan 724
Clearing his mind always felt forced but that was probably a condition of trying to exist as so many different people. More often than not, he only centered himself so that he could create another voice to echo in the world. The Yludih had begun to consider other uses for such mastery over himself. If he ever wanted to stretch the limits of what his biology would allow, he would need a clear head. He didn't have an animal in mind yet but he was beginning to see the advantages of trying. Perhaps a dog? Something that could blend in on the streets. Something people wouldn't look twice at. Humans were easier but... he hadn't become a criminal because he wanted easy.
The Yludih turned onto its back and took a breath. Mastery over itself would have other benefits if it was ever caught. Yet mastery over self was more than just a clear mind. It was-
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The Yludih sat up with a sudden jolt and looked at the mirror across from it. Revan. It was wearing Revan's face. Revan threw his blanket off and rolled out of his bed onto his feet. He picked up his cane with the hidden sword and limped across his bedroom to the doorway leading into his living room.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Eris and Achlys emerged from their room, the small dragonet fluttering quickly around the larger dragonling. Revan shooed them back towards their room and after a few trills of starting at him, they stomped their feet and backed into their rooms. Revan began to move towards the door where the loud knocking was coming from when a wild thought struck him. Could he turn into one of the dragonlings?
"Open up!" Willow's voice shouted from outside the front door. Namira appeared in the small shadow over the top of the door. Her spirit form stretched into letters to spell out what Revan had already deduced; 'Willow Is Here.'
Revan had hardly unlocked the door when Willow forced it open and shoved Revan backwards slightly into his house. He backpedaled as efficiently as he could but stumbled while trying to maintain his fake limp. Eris took to the air and flew between Willow and Revan until the Yludih recovered his footing and Achlys poked his head out from the room it was in. Willow took a step back and held up her hands so they'd know she wasn't there to hurt Revan. Fortunately, she'd been around them enough now that they were comfortable with her. Both beasts returned to their spots once the tension had faded.
"What was that about?" Revan asked Willow as he lowered himself into one of the chair next to his living room table.
"What did you do?" Willow pulled a rolled up piece of paper from her bag and slapped it on the table. She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. Revan gave her an odd look and them unrolled the piece of paper. It was a poster with a man's face that Revan didn't recognize. Fortunately he didn't have to recognize the man. "That's Tom Barber. Apparently 'he' started a fight act The Stuck Slime the other night."
"Well... damn. I guess that means our plan won't work." Revan said as he looked over the parchment. It read a lot like a wanted poster but it was clear who had put it up. Ozaria must have been pissed. Revan glance up at Willow and saw that she was not as amused as he was. "What? You think I dressed up like Barber and instigated a fight?"
"I think starting fights is easy and we agreed to wait." Ah, Revan expected she would be unhappy about that part. Now he had to choose between pressing a lie or telling the truth. The problem was that Revan's face was never seen in that bar on that night.
Revan sighed, "We did," he agreed, "but I found a friend who-"
"You seem to find a lot of people willing to do our dirty work." Willow wasn't having it. Oh... he really pissed her off this time. "Why is it we haven't all sat down together yet?"
"I'm compartmentalizing the operation."
"You don't know what that means!" Willow didn't.
"Look, I'm sorry! Okay? I got excited- but it worked, didn't it? If people are saying Barber did it, he must have been nearby when the fight started." An apology was the best he thought he could do. His apology lingered in the air for a few trills while Willow stared through him with piercing eyes. Eyes as sharp as any blade. They softened slowly and she took a breath.
"So... what did you do?" She asked again calmly.
"Nicked an annoying drunks coin purse and put it in a fighters pocket." Revan said with a somewhat self-satisfied grin. "Cleared out before the brawl began."
"Smart... smart." Willow seemed conflicted but only because she was amused by someone she was still a little mad at. "What's the next move?"
"Ah, the next move... well, I think Ozaria's given us the opening we need to cause a little more havoc. "