[Icey]

The fires roared with passion as the sun set and the gypsies gathered together, breaking out the rum and playing thier music happily. Men, women, and children dancing merrily withing the warm clearing. The chorus of vioces, all lovely in thier own way started to sing the song of the gypsies. Life was good.

"We are the gypsies, strong and proud.
Stick together throw the shroud.
Humanity is falling fast.
But we the gypsies shall forever last!"

The children laughed and played with the pets of the gypsies. Rubella stepped out of her own home, sighing happily. Her rings and jewelry glimmered in the light of the fire as she grabbed herself a big glass of rum, downing the thing in a few minutes, giggling at the antics of her uncle, who was occupied in dancing with the newcomer. It was a common thing, gypsy parties. But they had reasons. Rubella laughed and stumbled lightly as she danced. "I am Gypsy girl, born and raised, I own the world and shiney things! If you don't like it, I'll curse you good, and if I fell my family would!" She sung, her voice lovely as the instruments joined into her voice, her family cheering on about the last part.

[SpringsSong]

Here he was, back in Tengel.  The last time he had come here, he had met a grandchild of Kyuukai... oh, what was her name?  Verva; that was her name, yes... Verva... Galen shook his head as he walked along in his human form, his hands tucked into his pockets.  He thought he knew where he was going, but as he looked up again, he sighed.

"Great.  Lost."

He sighed as his Ballama, Return, perched on his shoulder.  Lost again, are we? the Ballama asked as he looked around.  However, Galen held up a hand as he said, "Quiet, Return--I think I hear music."

Sounds like a gypsy party to me. Return said.  Before you argue, that's because it was in the song.  'We are the gypsies, strong and proud.
Stick together throw the shroud.
Humanity is falling fast.
But we the gypsies shall forever last!'  I advise being careful.

"No, duh."

[12.1]

[Icey]

Rubella laughed and grabbed another glass of rum, continueing her magical dance. She stumbled into thewoods, giggling happily. Tonight was a great night. Something caught her eye and she looked around th woods, trying to find what she was 'seeing'. It was dificult with as much rum in her system as she had, but she was a Gypsy, rum was something common. "Who is there?" She asked, narrowing her eyes. Everymovement she took her jewelry clanked.

Another Gyspy looked at her. "You alright, Bells?" He called, getting a shrug for Rubella and "Yeah, I'm fine." The female Gyspy continued to tare intently at the one spot where she was sure she could almost see something..

[SpringsSong]

Galen blinked as Rubella stumbled upon where he was.  Return, however, seemed to have his wits a little more about him as he said, Merely a lost traveler and his companion, miss. To Galen, he said quietly, Wow, has she got enough jewelry?

Return, please... Galen whispered as he looked over at Rubella.  "As my companion here has stated, we are lost.  I am not sure how I managed to get lost, I've been out here many a time before." He said.

You're half-blind and it's nighttime, Galen.  That's why you got lost. Return said quietly.

[12.2]

[Icey]

"Oh.." Was Rubella's response, passified momentarily. "Where are ye heading?" She asked, taking a few more steps towards him, going to get a better look. She wobbled a bit, her earring clanking against each other as she did. She was deffinately a gypsy. Her fave was kind though, having been put in a great modd by the ongoing party, which would continue until everyone passed out. She came face to face with the man, smiling happily. "So thats what ye look like." She said, brushing hair out of her face.

[SpringsSong]

Galen nodded, keeping his silver hair over his right eye.  Return would have shrugged, if Ballamas could shrug; Galen then said, "I just... come out here a lot.  I find it a lot more... peaceful than other places.  I have no set destination in mind." He looked around as he asked, "What are... you doing out here, if you do not mind me asking?"

Return chuckled as he whispered to Galen, I'm almost willing to bet she has a gypsy camp somewhere around here.  I mean, look at her jewelry.

[12.3]

[Icey]

Rubella let out another laugh. "Yer pet is right! We are hosting a party in favor of a recent addition to our family! How bout you join us, I'll take ye wherever ya want to go in the mornin'" She said, taking another swig of his drink. "Ye can ne'er go wrong at a Gypsy party!" She said, giving another drunken giggle. The strap of her shirt slid down with her merriment, but it was hardly noticable.

A few guys from camp called her name. "Bells! Hey Bells! You comin back?" The vioces said, giving a jaunty laugh. "Yeah Yeah, I'll be there, ye scurvy gits!" She shouted back, only getting a bought of laughter in return.

[SpringsSong]

Galen thought for a moment.  Return, however, slid over to Galen's ear and said to him, quietly so that Rubella would not hear, Could be dangerous... are you sure this is a good idea, Galen?

To Return, Galen said, Better than fending for ourselves the entire night.  Then, straightening and looking back at Rubella, he said, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to join you for a little while, at least."

[12.4]

[Icey]

Rubella gave another laugh. "Fabulous!" She said, shoving her drink in his hand as she wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Right 'is way!" She said, halfway pulling him along with her into the festivities. The entire camp stopped, looking at the newcomer. "You stupid wenches! He's with me!" She said, riasing an empty fists and getting a cheer from the chest of the gypsies. Children ran about merrily, chasing each other with wooden swords.

[SpringsSong]

Galen laughed slightly as he looked around at the gypsies.  They certainly are a different bunch, aren't they, Return? he asked his Ballama, who scoffed as he said, I'm not so sure I like this idea so much... haven't you heard how some people get roped into these gypsy camps and never leave them?  Do they get kidnapped or bewtiched?

Oh, for the love of Zu'hai, Return, ease up!  It's not like I have to go back home... most of my half-siblings are gone...

To the other gypsies, he said, "...um... hello there."

[13.0]

[Icey]

Rubella smiled and raised up the glass of 'grog', getting a cheer from her gypsy brethren. "So, what bring a... a... " She giggled and tripped a bit, cutting off her own sentance. "Like you here?" She finished, recovering herself. She clinked with almost every movement, her gold jewelry glistening in the firelight. "Whoa... Whas tha'?" She asked, blinking in her drunken stupor. She laughed when two little gypsy ran past her legs.

"Ah, the chil'en, arn't they cute?" She asked, shaking her head to clear her fogged mind. "'Ave a drink, flirt with a wench, t'is the eve a' the 'allow!" She said, raising her glass once more to take a drink. "Ya know what that be, right?" She questioned, grinning widely.

[SpringsSong]

Galen raised his eyebrow slightly as Return tugged at his silver-grey hair.  Galen, I suggest we leave now. The Ballama said, and Galen gave a slight nod as he said, I think I agree with you there, Return. Slowly, he got up, slowly backing into the shadows and walking away from the gathering of the gypsies.  He didn't know where he was going, but he knew that he was going to get away from this forest.

[Galen has left]