Daulton sighed as walked out the gates of Arri. He knew he shouldn’t have left the way he did, but he had such a pull to kiss Astrid. He didn’t want to like her as much as he did. She was sweet, caring and quiet. He didn’t know why he would like someone like her. He always had a thing for girls who were strong and open minded; like Lotus and Nymph. He didn’t care much for Nymph anymore, she was going to be his cousin soon. Also, what little interaction he saw of Alden and Nymph, he knew that they were into each other. He didn’t want to break that apart. He laughed a bit as he tied his bag onto his horses saddle. “Couldn’t even if I tried.” He said softly to himself as he jumped onto the black horse's back. With one last glance to the city of Arri, he turned around and ran off into the forest.

He didn’t stop unless he needed to water the horse. With a day ahead of his family that was following, unknown to Daulton. The young demon soon made it into the highlands. He heard of the villages that were throughout the lands and needed to replenish his food and have a bath. He hated smelling of day old sweat.

Riding deeper into the highlands, he found a little village near the beach shore. It was just a small fishing village with hides of fur up around the the small huts.

“Hey mister!” A small boy called to him, no older than thirteen years old.

“Need help with your horse? I can take it to be brushed and watered.” He asked looking up to the man on the horse.

“Sure.” Daulton said jumping off the horse. He handed the boy the reigns and a few coins.

“Know where I can get cleaned up?” Daulton needed to bathe.

“Yeah Madam Jewel and her granddaughter Laura likes taking in the visitor's, her huts pretty big." The boy soon left and Daulton went towards the direction the hut. Astrid still on his mind.

Alden sighed as he walked out of his home with his Uncle close behind. His brother had been causing way too much trouble with the family and needed a talking to. Alden was the first to say he was going to talk to him. Soon after his Uncle Clyde said he was coming too. Alden wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or bad. The young demon looked at his uncle as he stood beside him ready to go. “Sure you don’t want to stay home? Lily is close to being due.” The young man stated. Clyde nodded at his nephew. “Yes I am. We won't be long. He is only a few hours ahead of us. We will catch up with him him.” Clyde was sure the baby wasn't coming just yet and he really wanted to get back as soon as he could. Clyde want to be there when the baby was born, his baby. "Alright lets go." Alden said as they walked away from the house. They soon found their horses and ran off into the forest following the recent tracks of his brother.

They soon notice after a few hours that they were no where near Daulton. That and they were taking their sweet time. Clyde hadn't been out of the city in months. He had finally set roots in Arri and wasn't traveling anymore. "Your not one to push horses are you?" Alden asked as they came up to a watering whole. "No. It is inhuman to push a animal beyond their limit." Clyde said as he descended his horse and patted her on the neck. "Good girl.." He said softly while the horse started to drink out of the small lake. they grew silent for a moment, it was Clyde the first to talk. "Alden." He said looking over the horse to his nephew who was leaning against a tree. "Yes?" Alden's eyes turned up to look at Clyde."I see you and Nympaea are becoming serious." Clyde didn't finish his thought before Alden held up his hand. "Mom already had the sex talk with me and it wasn't comfortable then.." Alden didn't want to hear it from his uncle too. Clyde couldn't help but laugh wholeheartedly at this. "Oh God!….No!" He said between laughs. Alden couldn't help but laugh as well at this. He always thought it would be his Dad or Uncle, instead it was his moth

Most of they're way across the desert was filled with laughter and jokes, or Clyde telling him how he should treat Nymphaea. "Women always love gifts. Especailly when it comes from the heart." He had said, just as his father told him. " Never just choose a gift just to pick one. Always pick from want pulls you too it and you know will make her light up with a smile." Maybe other wise romantic words left Clyde. Alden now knew why Lily fell in love with him, he was such a romantic. He wanted to be that way with Nymphaea as well. He hopped he would.


They soon followed Daulton to the highlands. Now was the task of finding him within the vast mountains. So many small villages and orcs roamed these lands. Now was the hard part of the search.

Taking his time, Daulton took in the small village by the beach. It was an amazing site to just look at the waves that crashed on the shore. The sound of the waves seemed to calm him and erase his thoughts. With a deep breath, he inhaled the salty air before turning around and heading to the hut. The door was open when he came to the large hut. Bringing his hand up, he knocked a few times on the door frame. "Come on in!" He hold the voice of an older lady inside. "Don't be shy." The old woman with a long gray braid appeared before him. She wiped  her hands on the apron around her waist. "Hello." He said with a smile and took a step in. "A boy told me this was a place I could stay?" Daulton asked, he wasn't sure if the boy was telling the truth.

The old lady nodded to him. "Yes, you sure can. My grand daughter and I take in travelers. We don't have an Inn like those larger villages, so I make my house open to anyone who needs to lay their head down for a night or two." She paused moving aside to let Daulton walk past. The hut hand three other rooms connected, another another door lead to the wash room and there was a medium size kitchen area with a seating area. "Your place is lovely." Daulton said as he followed her into the kitchen. "Sit. Ill make you something to drink."

After an afternoon filled with talking and laughter.  She smiled at someone who walked into her hut. "Sarah! Come meet our new guest?" The old lady stood from her seat at the table and walked over to her granddaughter. Turning around in his chair, Daulton smiled at the newcomer. "Hello." He said simply while standing and walking over to offer his hand. Her face lit up with a smile and blushed as she offered her hand. He didn't wait a second before bringing his hand to his lips and kissing it. "Ella, meet Daulton."

This wouldn't help his case the next afternoon. The evening they met, they kept looking at each other ans smiling while the grandmother wasn't looking. The next morning, Daulton walked to to get some fish and food for the house, they flirted and joked the whole time. That was until they got back to the house. At midday, the old lady named, Tessa, told her grand daughter to fill the basin in the wash room with water. Taking that as a moment to make his move, he sneak into the washroom while Tessa wasn't looking.  His hand came up to touch her hip, making her jump at his touch. The bucket almost fell out her hands , but Daulton was quick to catch it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He smiled at her as he spoke, handing her the bucket back. "Oh… No you didn't, you just startled me. That's all.." Her voice was soft, trying not to let her grandmother hear. "You shouldn't be in here." She said as he grew closer. Their lips were inches apart when he replied, "Why? you want me here." His lips connected to hers at that moment. There arms circled each other and his started to roam all over her body. Moan's escaped her lips as she felt his touch.

Lifting her from her place, he set her on the counter near by. His hands ripped through her underclothes. Her hands undid his pants and then started to run through his hair. With no more obstacles between them, Daulton was about to enter her warmth. That was the moment Tessa walked in calling for her grand daughter. "GRANDMA! Please, don't!" Ella yelled at her grandma while she jumped off the counter. "You whore…Slut!!" Tessa said in anger at her daughter. "Hey don't—" Before he could say another word or even get his pants around his waist, there was a flash of green light. 

After the light, Daulton looked up at the large old woman above him coming at him with a large knife. A squeak left him as he ran under the cupboards, nearly being hit. It wouldn't be long before Daulton would realize he was a mouse; no longer human.

Stop from village to village, the two asked around for Daulton. There was no sign of Alden’s brother anywhere. A sigh left his lips as they mounted the horses once more. “I know of a little village on the base of the mountains, right by the ocean. We should check there.” Clyde said as he mounted his horse as well. “We’re not going to find him, Uncle.” Alden wasn’t too optimistic about the search and didn’t keep it from Clyde. Shaking his head at his nephew, Clyde tighten the reins in his hands. “We will. Now let’s ride.” His voice was stern and his eyes turn hard to Alden before clicking his tongue. The horse didn’t hesitate to start running.

It was a few moments before Alden caught up to his Uncle. He didn’t realize until now how much drive he had when he wanted to find someone. “Must of been like this when looking for Angelique.” He thought to himself as he glanced over to his uncle. Clyde had a determined look on his face, he didn’t want to give up hope. It was almost sunset when they reached the small village. Looking around, they both tried to find a boy with white hair. Not seeing anyone, they jumped off their horses. “His horse.” Clyde said as he made his way over to the stables. Jumping off his horse he tied the reins to the wood post.

Alden was following close behind and also hitched his horse. Clyde patted Daulton’s horse’s neck and rubbed it. “Hey boy.” He leaned into the horse for a moment before walked behind it, his eyes looked over for village. “He is here.” Clyde stated while he glanced over to Alden, who nodded his head. They both could feel Daulton’s presence. Clyde looked around for someone who could ask. His eyes soon caught sight of a boy who walked over with a pail of water. He filled up the horses bin and was about to turn and leave. “Hey kid.” Alden called to him as he walked over. The boy turned around, “Yes?” He said. Clyde saw the worry voice on the boys face, as if he was in trouble. “Looking for a guy my height with white hair.” Alden said motioning his height then to his hair. “Oh! Yes!” His face lit up hearing the question. “He went to the large hut to stay. Just say him walking around the village this morning with Ella, Tessa’s granddaughter. They take in travelers all the time.” He said as he put down the pail and pointed across the area. “Largest one can’t miss it.” He smiled at them and picked up the pail again. “Thanks.” Clyde said while tossing a coin into his pail. The boy smile brightly and ran off.

When they reached the hut, they heard the ruckus inside. Alden was the first to barge through the door. “DARN YOU MOUSE!!!” The old woman said while she tried to slam her knife down onto the table. The mouse jumped off and ran off under the nearest cupboard. Alden felt his brother….in the mouse and the woman was trying to kill him. “Put down the knife, ma’am.” Alden said as he walked into the room, his hand on his sword on his hip. “You here to shank my granddaughter too?!” Anger lined her words as she turned toward the boy who entered. “Damnit Daulton.” Alden said under his breath. He shouldn’t have said the name of his brother. “So you know him?!” The old woman grabbed something from her pocket. Before Alden could react a bright green light shown and he was no longer human. Squeaking across the floor he ran under her feet and towards his mouse brother.

Clyde held up his hands in defense, his eyes staring at the wand in her hands. “Excuse my nephews. They will be taught a lesson. We are here to fetch Daulton and bring him back home. He hasn’t been the same since he lost his father, just recently.” He paused as he let out a breath, she hadn’t changed him into a mouse as well, but her breath slowed. “You’re boy tried to sleep with my grand baby.” She pointed to a young girl standing over by an open room. Her face was looking down at the wood floor below her feet. “I am sorry, m’lady. He has been very difficult lately, but that is going to change. I promise.” He apologized while putting his hands down at his sides. “Please, I will be every so grateful if you would change my nephew’s back. Then we will be on our way and you will never see us again.”

Clyde looked over at the two small mice huddled in the corner of the kitchen area, then back at the old woman. Her eyes were hard as she looked at Clyde. He could tell she was thinking about changing him or letting him go. “Alright, but you leave this village at once, you hear!?” Her voice rose as she looked at the man before her. Clyde nodded, “You have my word.” He promised.Without another word, she flicked her wand at the mice. The light shone once more and the brothers were human once more. They patted themselves with a sigh of relief. “Let's go boys. Now.” Clyde stepped aside to let his nephew’s run passed him. With another nod to the old lady, he hurried out the door as well.

“You idiot! Can’t you keep your d*ck in your pants!?” Alden said annoyed while he slapped his brother over the head. “Boys, quit it!” Before Daulton could retort, Clyde chimed in. “On the horses. We are going back to Arri now.”

Daulton argued for a moment before they rode off out of the highlands. It would only take a few days to get back home. The whole way, Clyde heard the boys argue. Mostly because of Daulton being the cause of the mouse transformations.