Maria rubbed her forehead gently as she listened to the fox. The city was called the Fort...alright...and this was a hotel? Golden Laurels...that was good to know...maybe she could stay here. The place looked safe enough. Maria smiled as the fox introduced herself.<br/>"Roxxie..." Maria nodded. "My name's Maria...my older brother, Carlos, used to call me Ria...but that's all I can really remember..." she said. As Roxxie offered her a seat, Maria smiled and sat down. A wave of relief seemed to wash over her as she sat down. It was only then that Maria realized she'd been running on fear and adrenaline this whole time and she was finally able to sit down. The world did a small two-seventy, and Maria had to grip the counter tightly to avoid falling over.<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">Mierda</span>" Maria muttered, holding her head for a moment and closing her eyes against the dizziness. She focused on what Roxxie was saying and as she thought, Maria was reminded about the paper in her pocket. It had been the only thing she'd woken up with.<br/>Blinking her eyes open, Maria pulled the slip of paper out of her pocket. Opening it, she read it over once more before handing it to Roxxie for her to see.<br/>"Beware the Charmer..." Maria murmured softly. "The Missing one if not lost. Do you know why we have these?" Maria asked, a slight accent to her words now. "The last thing I remember, is trying to call my brother. You haven't seen him have you? He looks..." Maria trailed off the, her head telling her that if she continued, a headache would follow. She tried anyway, desperate for a flash or some image of her brother.<br/>"Like me...I guess." Maria said, frowning deeply and rubbing her forehead again.<br/><br/>Her body calmed down again as Roxxie continued to talk to her and Maria rubbed her lips thoughtfully. At the thought of dinner, Maria's stomach stood up like a dog wanting a treat and she smiled softly again, though kept her gaze down on the table. She rubbed her arms, as if cold before answering Roxxie's question.<br/>"No...I don't think I saw anyone..." Maria murmured. "I heard some announcement but that was all really."<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>--------------------------<br/><br/><br/>Carlos was still crouching low towards the floor, watching with slight horror at the scene that unfolded before him. He caught a flash of metal where he would have sworn flesh should have been before the dragon creature was heading towards him. Carlos backed up enough to give the dragon a wide enough space before shutting the door closed as best he could behind him.<br/><br/>Taking a few steps down, Carlos turned back at the deep voice that acknowledged him. His heart was still pounding and his chest heaving from the run up, but Carlos managed a small smile.<br/>"Gunshots are never a good thing." Carlos said, taking a deep breath to calm down, brushing his forearm against his head to wipe away the sweat.<br/><br/>He realized then that he was completely filthy. It hadn't occurred to him before, but not that he looked down, Carlos couldn't help but chuckle. He had on a white shirt that was big enough to cover him comfortable, but it was covered in dust and dirt, like he had been in an old western brawl. His denim jeans were in the same state, though on one leg it looked like someones blood was smeared. It wasn't his that was for sure.<br/><br/>His sneakers looked like he'd put them through hell as well. How he had gotten like this, Carlos had no idea. Rubbing his forehead, Carlos sighed as his heart-rate fell back to normal and the adrenaline kicked out of his system. Slowly he slid down to where he was sitting on a step rather than standing.<br/><br/>Looking over as the dragon introduced himself as Maccus, Carlos smiled and nodded in greeting. His smile slowly turned to a frown. He wanted to give Maccus his name but...he couldn't seem to remember anything since he'd woken at the sounds of the gunshots. Patting his pockets, Carlos wondered if something he had could help jog his memory.<br/><br/>All he found was an old worn wallet and a scrap of paper. Opening the piece of paper, Carlos frowned at the words:<br/>HIS MAP WILL GUIDE YOU<br/>DO NOT FEAR HIS FIRE.<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">What is this?</span>" Carlos muttered, not even realizing he'd spoken in Spanish. He read over the piece of paper. "<span style="font-style: italic">Que fuego?</span>" He was speaking quietly, as if trying to work out a riddle that might make sense if heard repeatedly. He glanced up at Maccus then, a small smirk on his face.<br/>"You breathe fire?" Carlos asked him, chuckling to himself before putting the slip away and shaking his head.<br/><br/>"I don't remember who I am." Carlos said, his English thick as he forced himself away from the Spanish. "Or how I came here. I only remember the gunshots and then I helped you." Carlos spoke as he turned over the wallet in his hands. There was a vibrantly colored flag on the front. A star of white in a sea of blue and red and white stripes. Carlos couldn't remember where it was from. Opening the wallet, Carlos saw that it was practically empty. No money, no I.D., no credit cards or loose change. Just as he was going to close it, a picture slipped out from one of the slits.<br/><br/>Taking the picture in hand, Carlos stared curiously at the photograph of a young man and a teen aged girl. The girl was grinning, her head caught under the arm of the young man who had an equally happy expression on his face. Was that him? Carlos noticed the white scars on the mans neck, and reached to his own. The raised skin told him the scars were there. This was him then.<br/>Who was the girl though? Carlos frowned deeply, his head pounding as he tried to force it to work.<br/>"Have you seen this girl before?" Carlos asked, holding the picture up for Maccus to see.