There was a resounding crash 30 feet from the main Grasshopper H.Q as Myst hit the earth. "Oh, I am going to KILL YOU!" she shouted to noone in particular. "Axel...? AXEL!!" she swore as she slowly stood up. "That jerk dropped me off and went somewhere else didnt he!" she looked around at where she was and groaned. "The ruins. I should have known... The only place i am not technically allowed to place him under arrest, and the only place where he can mess up the magic of the tag. Great" She kicked a rock and looked around.

Tychicus was hard at work as usual, taking his role as Dad of all the Grasshoppers very seriously.

He had discovered while reinforcing the Grasshopper Headquarters Storehouse that the kids only got water by travelling a half mile to a rather dirty stream. They boiled the water of course, but Tychicus had been so appalled by the brown water he'd been given that he had resolved to dig a clean well the very next day.

So he and his little helper Meggs were standing next to a pit he had dug with flying shovels. He was bending iron in the ground to redirect groundwater, set up filters, and hold up the sides of the pit. He was now working on the finishing touches of building a short wall around the well. Meggs, hand me that cube over there, please. Meggs ran over to a stack of iron cubes that Tychicus had saved, grabbed one, and ran back to him. Thank you dear. The cube molded into several perfect bricks that were building themselves into a wall around the well.

Tychicus took a few steps back. Ah, that is starting to look nice. Thank you for helping me, Meggs. He patted her on the shoulder.

Meggs shoved a pair of giant, ill-fitting glasses further up her nose and protested But I didn't even do much. I just carried you extra cubes and helped dig part of the pit.

Yeah, well it probably would've taken me twice as long without your help. Meggs looked pleased with this and looked contentedly on as the iron brick wall built itself to a height of three and a half feet above the ground.

Suddenly, they both jumped as a fiery crash thundered into the ground only a dozen feet away from them. Tychicus stepped in front of Meggs and drew his short sword. He watched in amazement as a woman materialised from nowhere and started shouting. Well, I should've expected as much in this weird place.

He sheathed his sword. She didn't seem to be a threat, and even if she was, he wasn't going to beat her or hope to get on her good side by waving a sword in her face. Meggs, stay here.

Tychicus took a few steps toward their new arrival. Hello, who are you?

Myst turned to see an armed man and rolled her eyes. "I am going to gouge that mans eyes...." she took a step towards Tychicus and spotted Meggs. "Uh... I am Myst. You're not by anychance a slaver, are you?" she asked, reaching for her dagger. "Because, you know, I will have to kill you if you are abusing life. And you look like a nice guy and all..." she said, her small dagger pointing towards him.

Tychicus smiled and shook his head. No, I'm not a slave driver! My name is Tychicus, and I guess you could say I'm the handyman for the Grasshopper Clan... and this is Meggs. She's a Grasshopper. He gestured at her, and Meggs shoved her glasses further up her nose.

Myst sighed in relief. She was already wiped, she did not want to go around kicking someones butt. "Hi then. I'm Myst. How do you do?" she asked, sheithing her dagger. "I am on official business, but my target has evaded me. So, uh.... I really have nothing to do until he leaves this place."

Noticing Meggs condition, she felt sorry for the child. "If you want, I could, you know, help out until that idiot runs again. I need a place to stay, and..." she shrugged. "I dont want to fight a bunch of perves all night long, so somewhere safe would be nice. And I could teach some of these children the lost art of hygene."

Tychicus laughed. You are most welcome, Myst! I'm the only adult in these parts who isn't a slave driver, shaman, or thief, or at least as far as I know. Ah, one moment. Tychicus turned to Meggs and said Hey Meggs, will you go find Beka, please, and tell her we have company? Meggs pushed her glasses up higher on her nose again, nodded, and ran off.

Tychicus rested one hand on his belt and tapped his chin with the other. Hmm. The well's missing something. AHA! He snapped his fingers and muttered a spell, and the remaining iron cubes scrambled to make a small roof over the well, as well as a pulley. I'll let the little ones rig up the rope and bucket; Cami and Tom spent the entire morning finding a sufficient rope and patching up a bucket.

He gestured at the storehouse and was starting to say Come in, I'll show-

TYCH! Beka came tearing out of the storehouse and stalked up to Tychicus. Meggs and a few other little kids were peeping out of the storehouse door with huge eyes. WHO is SHE? Beka pointed accusingly at Myst.

Tychicus looked appalled. Beka, be polite. This is Myst. She's a visitor.

Beka shot a malevolent look at Myst. She yanked on Tychicus' shirt to make him bend over so she could speak to him without Myst hearing. Tych, we've got a little system we use here. Grownups are bad news. The only people we show to the storehouse are the people we rescue from slave drivers. That way we have a little debt system; they don't run away or tattle because we saved them. We don't know who this lady is and we don't have blackmail. You gotta get rid of her!

Tychicus impatiently brushed her away. Beka, really. Be polite.

"yay beka, she seems nice." lyle walked over to the new girl. "HI my names lyle." e held out his hand with a big bright smile on his face.

Myst glared at the little girl. "You want blackmail, or some strings? Find me that jerk Axel. Then I will do whatever you want. As long as I get to arrest him, bring him back, claim my award, and sleep in peace." she sighed, doubting any of them knew who Axel was. "If you don't want me to stay, I guess I could Blackmail the Theif lord or something. Promise him a peice of Axel's hide, or work some magic or sorts to force him to." She crakced her knuckles. "Nothing a woman can't handle."

Tychicus and Beka were engaged in a glaring contest for a few moments. Beka huffed faintly and turned away. Fine. Whatever. If she annoys anyone I'll... Tychicus slapped a hand over her mouth and grimaced. My apologies. Come in, Myst.

Tychicus pulled open the storehouse doors and stepped inside, brushing past a swarm of little kids. The new system of Tychicus being in charge, even over Beka, was a new concept for them.

He pointed at the landmarks inside the storehouse as he spoke. There's the Stables, the Cabinets, the Hooks, and the Bunks. I'll see if we have anything adult-size you can borrow. Tychicus walked over to the Cabinets and started digging around.

Beka stood and seethed silently next to the doors, keeping a sharp eye on Myst.

Myst stuck her tounge out at Beka behind Tychicus' back, and continued following him. "mhmm? Mhmmm! Reaally?" she crooned after everything he said. "Ok. I got it. Now...uh... would you mind doing me a favour. I have to hunt down this man, who has killed over 30 people in the past month alone, and was wondering if your grasshopper friends could help. Its not as if he would hurt a child, seems how he is a nice guy and all, but he is fond of using fire spells on people who could be reasoned with, like adults. And, since I am in the midst of capturing him again, I am sure he would fry me in no time...."

Myst bit her tounge, knowing she asked to soon.

Tychicus looked at her strangely. Listen, Myst, I've never heard of this guy you're hunting. You're welcome to stay here and rest while you're in this area, but I'm not going to put the Grasshoppers in any-

HOLD IT. Beka marched forward. You've got a job for us, Myst? Who are we looking for?

Tychicus fretfully pulled out a stack of blankets. Wait a minute, if you're professionally hunting someone, they're much too dangerous for -

Tych, we're always doing dangerous stuff. What are you here for, Myst? Beka brushed some of her messy red hair behind one ear and rested her hands on her staff.

"A man named Axel. We were being attacked by a guy named Alexander after Axel killed Myrda. A guy named Edrick tried to save her, but died as well. And, unfortunetly, he is my older brother. A Shaman and a healers kid. Can only kill. Looks like..." Myst drew a very inacurate picture in the dirt, that almost looked like a human, minus the oddly place eyes and mouth. "This. Sorta. Kinda."

Beka just looked at her. Huh? Wait, so you want us to look for your brother Axel?

Tychicus was looking ill all of a sudden. Myrda? Myrda, does she have long brown hair, and wind magic? She's dead?! How, what happened? And Alexander, we must not be talking about the same guy, he's got dark hair and eyes and ice magic...?

"I am sorry, but thats the same people. Last I saw Alexander though, he had lost control to the hand, and is in the midst of a large rampage, and he promised me that he would take down the world or something. But Rose is after him now. She will kick his butt." She grinned.

One of the many talisman around her neck pulsed with energy, startling her. "Axel is close, with Zasafiel drawn. And he is running. Almost directly this way!" she ran to the door, peering out in the street. So far she saw nothing.

Tychicus sank to the floor and stared vacantly at the wall, dazed. Myrda's dead? Alexander's crazy? It can't be. I... I have no one left.

Beka put her hands under Tychicus' shoulders and dragged him partially to his feet. No is no time for moping, Tychy. We got trouble!

Tychicus stood up shakily and pulled out his short sword. Well I have the Grasshoppers. And I'd better look after them.

Tychicus clapped Beka on the shoulder and walked behind her. Beka, staff in hand, ran over to Myst and asked So what do we do?