Our heroes arrive in the quaint town of Howlingrift, by early morning. The townspeople are busy, starting their day, opening shops and Inns. The girls look around in wonder, "ooh"-ing and "ahh"-ing at different storefronts. "What's with the girls?" frowns Galen. "I suspect they're interested in... shopping." says Oar.

Galen: "Shopping?" (o_o)
Edeline: "Oh, wow! It's an armor store!" (^o^)
Faeda: "Do you see that pretty dress! It looks like my size!" (*_*)
Adie: "No, I didn't see it. But I did spy a wonderful Mages' cloak. Looks like silk!" (^_-)
Vi: "They even have a store with Bard supplies!" (*_*)
Galen: "Wait a minute! Didn't we come here for something important?!" (;u_u)
Adie: "Shopping is important!" (o_o)
Oar: "I agree with Galen... you shouldn't be so easily distracted, Faeda. You have a job to do." (-_-)
Faeda: "I know... you're right, Oar... But that dress is so pretty!" (*^_^*)
Oar: (-_-)

"I'm sure Faeda will be fine." nods Edeline, "Taking a few minutes to shop, isn't going to hurt the mission." "Yeah!" cheers Adie. "Actually..." blushes Faeda, "The guys are right. Time is pressing, so I really should be focusing on finding the shard." The girls sigh, disappointed. "But," continues Faeda, "There's no reason why we can't shop, after finding it!" "Yay!" they all giggle. Galen growls and Oar frowns.
Suddenly, a woman screams... "Thief! Someone has stolen my gold!" Galen, Faeda, and Edeline notices a familiar black cloak, ducking into an alley. "Let's go!" says Galen, running into the alley to catch the guy. "Huh?" frowns Adie, "What's going on? Where are we going?" "To catch a thief!" says Edeline, running off behind Galen. "Why should we care?" frowns Oar, "It has nothing to do with us. We still have our gold." "Come on," frowns Vi, "We can't let them rush off alone." Our heroes trap the thief in the alley. It is Andir, the wanted bandit of Serenity, of course...

Andir: "Hmm. Looks like I took a wrong turn." (>_>)
Galen: "I thought it was you!" (;u_u)
Andir: "Hmm? ..You again? And I see your group have grown. Two more pretty girls, too!" (^_-)
Vi: (*^_^*)
Adie: *giggle* (*^_^*)
Edeline: "Um, don't fall for it, girls." (u_u)
Faeda: (;-_-)
Adie: "What? This guy can't possibly be the thief." (*^_^*)
Andir: "The elven-girl is a goddess in beauty!" (*_*)
Vi: "Oh, my!" (*^_^*)
Andir: "The Mage... well... with a little work, she could be better." (o_O)
Adie: "WHAT???" (o_o)
Galen: "HEY!!!" W('O')W
Faeda: "That was mean!!!" (>_<)

"Well," shrugs Andir, "All in all, you do have the honest luck of finding beautiful women, Monk." "I'm gonna beat you into the ground!" shouts Galen. "What a horrible guy." whines Adie, "I guess he is a bandit, after all!" "How pitiful." frowns Oar, "You've only changed your mind, because he said you were ugly." Adie looks sadly towards the ground, crushed. "Oar!" yells Faeda. "I didn't say that I'd agree with the bandit's opinion!" frowns Oar, folding his arms.
"I didn't say 'ugly'," frowns Andir, "Just 'improvable'." "Same diff." whines Adie. "Oh," waves Andir, "Don't be upset. If you girls join me, I'll buy you the best of everything! Even beauty makeovers! ...Not that you need one, my goddess." Vi blushed again, but backed away a bit. "Buy it with what?", counters Edeline, "Stolen money?" "Eh," shrugs Andir, " 'Stolen' is such an ugly word. Let's not linger on it. Ladies, just help me tie and gag these chumps, and you'll be good enough to hang onto my arm!"

Galen: "Can I kill him now?!!" W('O')W
Edeline: "Yeah, sure... do whatever you like, Galen." (>_>)
Adie: "Give him pain!" (u_u)
Faeda: "Clobber him good!" (^_^)
Oar: "I like violence too, so make it a good show, Galen!" (-_-)
Andir: "My-my... aren't we vicious, children?" (o_O)
Galen: "Shut up and fight!" W('O')W
Andir: "Do you think that's wise? Or have you forgotten our last meeting?!" (^_^)
Galen: "What are you talking about?! I won our last fight... easily too... " (u_u)
Andir: "Yes, but I've countered with the poster! I heard about your troubles in Ivy Castle!" (^_^)
Galen: "So you were behind that! I knew it!!!" W('O')W
Oar: "Galen, calm down. You're too angry... you're playing into his game!" (-_-)
Andir: "Yes, Galen... Calm down. Ha-ha-ha!" (^o^)

Galen moved in one fast, and fluid, swoop! He kicked the bandit in the chest so hard, that Andir hit the brick wall with a loud crunch! "Woah!" winced Edeline. "That sounded painful." squeaks Adie. Vi and Faeda cover their eyes. "Well," says Oar, impressed, "Nevermind. Seems as though your skills are maxed, when you're angry." But Galen was too busy, not hearing Oar's remarks, staring down at the fallen bandit. "You'll pay for that!" screams Andir. "Bring it on!" Galen growls. Andir stands on his feet and faces Galen. They lock into a glaring stance, each one ready for the other to make a move.
Suddenly, Andir bolts from around Galen, elbows Oar, pushes Faeda to the ground, and Edeline into a wall. "Too slow!" he laughs, as he makes his escape. Before they could follow, he has disappeared in the morning's crowd. "Come back here!" shouts Galen, "Coward!" Adie helps Faeda to her feet, while Galen grumbles, Edeline wipes dust from her arm. "Well," sighs Oar, "That was pointless."

Galen: "Edeline, are you okay?" (o_O)
Edeline: "Hmm? Y-Yeah... I'm okay, Galen." (*^_^*)
Galen: "How about you, Faeda?" (O_o)
Faeda: "I'm okay. Thanks for asking." (;^_^)
Adie: (;_;)
Vi: "What's wrong, Adie?" (o_O)
Adie: "He called me ugly!" (;_;)
Faeda: "He's a mean and stupid bandit! You shouldn't listen to him." (u_u)
Adie: "Maybe I am ugly!" (;_;)
Edeline: "That isn't true! Galen, tell her..." (>_>)
Galen: "WHAT?! How'd I get into this?!" (o_o)
Adie: "Just admit it, Galen, you think I'm ugly too!" (;_;)
Galen: "N-no! You're... okay." (o_o)
Adie: "Just 'okay'?" (;_;)
Galen: "Er... yeah. You have a great personality." (;^_^)
Adie: "WAH! That's code for 'ugly'!" (;_;)
Faeda: "Oh, my..." (;-_-)

"Some help you are." grumbles Edeline. "What did I do?!" growls Galen. Faeda hugs Adie, but she doesn't stop crying. "I don't get it!" growls Galen, "She was fine before, but then a bandit says something..." "Not just an bandit." explains Oar, "A really 'cute guy'. It's a big deal for females to be seen in a good light, around good-looking males. If the opposite occurs, tears or depression is the result." "Depression?" frowns Galen, "Over a thief's comment?! That's crazy!"
Oar walked over to Adie and places a hand on her shoulder. "At any rate," he says, "You shouldn't feel bad, Adie. I think you're beautiful and I wouldn't change a thing. Besides, that guy may have been 'cute', but he's also a coward, liar, and cheater. His opinion is useless." Adie stopped crying, staring at Oar in amazement. And Edeline, Faeda, and Vi were staring too.

Edeline: "For a guy who doesn't say much-" (o_o)
Faeda: "You said a mouthful!" (o_o)
Vi: "That was... actually... nice?" (o_o)
Oar: (-_-)
Adie: "Um... thank you, Oar. I feel better." (*^_^*)
Galen: "What just happened?" (o_O)
Edeline: "Oar said all the right things." (;^_^)
Adie: "What are we standing around here for? Let's find that shard, so we can shop!" (^o^)
Faeda, Edeline, Vi: "Yeah!" (^o^)
Galen: (o_o)
Oar: "Don't bother trying to figure it out, Galen... your brain might explode." (-_-)
Galen: "Girls are weird..." (>_>)

When they reach the town's square, Faeda listens to the wind, hearing the song. She nods, as if replying to someone... or something. Oar watches intensely, fascinated by the silent communication between the Guardians Of Light and the Seer. "Okay," smiles Faeda, "This one will be easy. They are selling the shard at an antique shop here." "Really?" frowns Adie, "Someone would sell a Guardian's shard?!" "Well," smiles Faeda, "The shopkeeper doesn't realize she has it." "Come again?" frowns Galen, confused.
"It's hidden within an antique lamp." explains Faeda, "So... we'll just buy the lamp and get the shard too." "Sounds like a plan." nods Edeline. "But," frowns Adie, "Do you have enough gold for something antique?" "Of course." smiles Faeda, "I have plenty, don't-" Faeda checks her gown. "My gold!" she shrieks, "It's gone!" "What?!" gasps Edeline and Vi. Galen remembers the alley, where Andir pushes Faeda to the ground...

Galen: "I'll kill him!!!" W('O')W
Edeline: "Kill who?" (o_O)
Galen: "Who do you think?!" W('O')W
Faeda: "You mean, Andir stole it?!" (o_o)
Oar: "Why are you surprised? He is an thief, after all." (-_-)
Edeline: "We'll have to find him!" (>_<)
Adie: "But where did he go?" (>_>)
Oar: (;-_-)
Faeda: "He's probably miles from here, now!" (;_;)
Oar: "Or at least... he would be... if he wasn't so greedy." (;-_-)

Oar points out Andir, hovering around a fair young girl, just ten feet away. The girl seems rich and was now giggling. "What an moron!" frowns Edeline. "Pathetic." agrees Oar. "Well," says Galen, cracking his knuckles, "I will finish this." Everyone moves quickly, but quietly, towards Andir and his unsuspecting victim. As he was now close enough, Galen punches Andir in the head! Faeda's gold pouch, along with a few others', falls to the ground. Andir yelps and swings around to face his attacker, as the young girl runs away.
"What the-?" he gasps, "YOU!!!" "What did you think?" frowns Galen, "That you'd stick around, continue to steal, and we wouldn't run into each other? It's a small town, genius!" Andir shrugs, "I must be off my game today. I hadn't thought of that." "Stupid bandit!" shouts Adie. "You've lost me a lot of gold," frowns Andir, "That girl was rich beyond rich." "Too slow." shrugs Galen, with a grin. "Very funny." frowns Andir, "I-" Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck, nearly hitting both Galen and Andir!

Galen: "Yipes!" (o_o)
Adie: "That's for calling me 'ugly', bandit!" (-_-)
Andir: "Improvable! I said 'improvable'! There's a difference!" (o_o)
Galen: "Adie! You nearly hit me!" W('O')W
Adie: "Sorry... honest mistake." (;^_^)
Galen: "...Yeah... I bet..." (>_>)
Andir: "No fair! You can't use a Mage in this fight..." (u_u)
Galen: "Relax, I'm not asking my friends for help. There would be no point to it." (<_<)
Andir: "You're so right! Because you all would loose in a fight with me!" (^o^)
Edeline: "Tch... Is this guy serious?" (o_O)
Faeda: "Who does he think he's fooling?" (u_u)
Adie: "Delusional!" (>_>)
Vi: "What a weak little man..." (u_u)
Oar: "This guy couldn't last one round with a fruit-fly!" (;-_-)
Galen: "I basically win with just one punch." (<_<)

"STOP IT!" shrieks Andir, "Stop making fun of me!" "Woah," frowns Adie, "That's a bit dramatic." "I will show you all!" he shouts, "I will defeat you all and take all of your gold! Ah-ha-ha-ha -ha-ha!" "Really dramatic." frowns Edeline. "Thief!" shouts a voice. The rich girl had alerted the town's authorities and now they were ready to arrest the wanted bandit! "Some other time!" Andir says to our heroes and run away, heading for the town's entrance. "Get him!" shouts the guards, running close behind.
"Is it all there?" asks Edeline, as Faeda looks over her coins. "Yep." she smiles. "Good," sighs Galen, "Let's get going, before something else happens." "Uh-huh." nods Faeda. Our group now head for the antique shop...