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 Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:46 pm
 With a yawn, the starry-eye filled Twilif leaned back against the tree branch that he say in. His lantern dangling over the side with a soft, golden glow. It was lonely this eveing as twilight spread across the sky. He could see it well, as he had liked this particular time of day. Evening and night were his favorites, as he could then look up from this Earth and see his old home somewhere in the skies above.
"I wonder why Etoile would come to this place? She didn't have to go, yet she chose to. There's nothing to do here, though oddly enough there are tons of other Twilif and celestial beings here as well."
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Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:24 pm
-----Corwin covered his yawning mouth with his left hand, blinking through his urge to sleep. He had only woken a little while ago, and here he was, already tired. Or still, he guessed. Wake tired, sleep tired, always tired. He'd already begun his walk, tracing paths down into the trees, looking for travellers or wanderers. Corwin wished there was significantly less searching and more finding in life, but that was rarely the case.-----Which is why, when he saw Filianté's lantern dangling from the tree, he drew nearer in surprise. He mumbled his inherited wandering song under his breath and gathered his lanterns nearer to him, heating his palm against his breast to warm himself up. To stave off the chill of night, and the pinprick chills inside him. -----At first, he thought that it was just the night playing tricks on him, or maybe even a forest child sitting alone. Forest children, he fathomed, did not really need to be led away from a tree. All the same, Corwin approached and looked up into the tree. He thought he could see a Twilif there, perched on the branch. He frowned to himself, remembering Basil's descent from a tree onto Kliment, and the inevitable crash, which all happened quite recently.-----Clearing his throat, he called up to the Twilif, "Excuse me? I don't know if you're a figment, or you're really there, but you don't plan to crash from there any time soon, do you?" Corwin clasped his hands and played with his breath, exhaling a balmy breeze.
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Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:53 pm
Though Filante was just about to curl his long, flowing tail around himself and take a nap to wait for dark, it seemed a warm wind past him. That was indeed odd, considering that most times the night's here were frigid cold! Then he heard someone call up to him. Or, well, was it him this voice was speaking to? Leaning over a bit and shining his lantern down, he could see something, a Twilif; 4 little lanterns, and a glow that looked like embers.
"Fall on you? Why would I do that? It would hurt us both! Unless you enjoy that sort of thing; falling from great heights Or someone falling upon you?" Filante laughed. funny, he made a pun for himself, considering he was a descendant of a Shooting star. His younger sibling Etoile was the falling star.
"Do you wish for me to fall on you, little one?" Filante stood and looked as if he were about to jump!
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Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:22 pm
-----Corwin muttered under his breath a little; Kliment was the only one who hadn't called him little, lately. He'd be glad when all his growing was done and he could fully exercise his gifts. Until then, it seemed like all he could do was keep on going. At least he didn't have to smile about it. He stared up at Filante, who looked like he was about to jump, and grimaced. "Well, yesterday a Constellation made another one dizzy, and neither of them would let me ease their pain. Stubborn. So if you're going to fall, at least be reasonable about it, you know? It's not that I really want you to jump, or fall, or anything." Corwin's breath exhaled a balmy breeze up to Filiante, again. A light one, a calming one. Corwin allowed his hand to shed a little glow in the growing darkness. Who was it that Corwin was reminded of, looking up through the light? He could hear a voice, somewhere in him, a firm voice telling him about his curse. Corwin shuddered from his own cold.
-----"You're not Lior, are you?" Corwin asked, without any kind of intonation. He had promised he would ask, so what else could he do? In the mean time, he stared up at Filante, exhaling his calming breath and trying to remember whose voice it was that spoke in his head.
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:39 pm
After seeing the glowing Twilif grimace and explain, Filante then nodded. He seemed to understand. "Ah, I see. Well, no worries then. I will not fall or jump on you. I am not that clumsy." then with a leap, the starry, golden Twilif floated down over the other and landed gracefully onto the ground on one foot, then turned to face the blue fire.
"I am not Lior, my name is Filante. A Twilif and older brother to my sister, Etoile, who I'm sure you have not met. But oh well." Filante shrugged slightly. How did he fall without actually "falling?" Was he magical to float that way? Either way, it was odd. He had this aura of the atras about him, and they seemed to drift about him as if he were a planet they belonged to.
"So what is your name?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:13 pm
-----Ah. Not Lior, then. Still, Corwin had watched Filante's graceful descent with a kind of pang. It seemed so natural. And here he was himself, earthbound, conjuring the smallest tricks in heat and cold. One day, he would know how to use his fire to warm Spiritkind and beastkind. For now, little things would have to be enough. Little things, and a duty to drive him.
-----Corwin realized he had been standing rather awkwardly, not answering, for quite a long second. "Oh, um, Corwin. My name is Corwin," he finally said. Instead of trying to grasp Filante's hand in greeting, Corwin held up his left hand and brought it just close enough to Filante to shed a little light and heat on the Twilif, calling up a pleasant summer night. If there was any joy inside a Twilif, Corwin could draw it out with his warmth. Heat, seeking heat.
-----He thought about those he had met recently. No, no one by the name of Etoile. "I'm sorry, I did not meet your sister. Until recently, I wandered mostly alone. It seems like I keep finding myself tangled up with others, though. She is dear to you, Etoile?" Corwin marvelled at the play of Filante's aura, twisting at his necklace with his cool right hand, chilling his throat. Corwin had wandered alone, slept alone, been alone with his own thoughts for so long. Not lonely, though. He had this voice in his head, the journal he kept close... a spirit who, Corwin could vaguely recall, had cared for him. But nothing like a sister.
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:29 pm
Corwin, what a simple name. But it had a pretty ring to it as Filante sounded it out in his head. but lior, who was this person? Filante thought of it for a bit, but could not bring to his mind a fathom of what or who Lior was to Corwin. Shaking his head, he brushed the thought aside for now. Focusing on the other, corwin had given filante a small spark of warmth through the cold air. the sun was just about set, a tiny sliver left of it over the quickly fading horizon.
"Ah, warmth. you have a gift of creating heat. that's a good gift, keep it and practice it well~ I'm sure you will come to be important to little ones who have just descended from the moon." Filante sounded more adult than he looked, maybe he really was older; in spirit. "Though yes, I am 'little' myself, I'm sorry for calling you little when you're really only the same size as me." He chuckled nervously.
"Alone, are you. You're still new to this Earth as I am. Though I know much, I'm not sure of this place. Perhaps my sister would know more. Shall we go to see her?" Suddenly turning and walking away, his lantern in front of him, the pathway into the deeper parts of the froest were shown. Would Corwin follow him?
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:46 pm
-----"To the... little ones? I would like that, I think." Corwin struggled to keep his heat at a balmy level, even though he was feeling more and more comfortable around Filante. He felt comfort despite the Twilif's obviously more mature and older behaviour. He seemed so self-assured. Corwin would rise to that. The stronger Filante was, the brighter Corwin could burn, the more he could draw brightness to Filante.
-----When Filante apologized for calling him little, Corwin's markings flashed in the fading light, and he smiled; the shyest little movement of his lips, gone before it was really there. "Little is a lot of things. I might be short, I might even be younger at heart than you... but I'm proud of the fire in me. So don't worry. But thank you, for understanding." Corwin smiled again, this time less fleeting. He brushed his ice cold hand across his cheek, feeling dizzy from standing still so long. He had to keep moving.
-----"I don't know. I feel alone," Corwin amended. "But there was a time when I was not, I know... I wouldn't mind meeting your sister. I'd like to, I mean. That's what I meant." Corwin took a deep breath and started over. "Yes," he said, "I would like to see her." Filante had already turned suddenly and walked away, so Corwin had to hurry to catch up. Corwin didn't hesitate. Wandering into the dark was a comfortable feeling, even though they had their lanterns to light the way.
-----Happy, Corwin's markings flashed gold in the night, his eyes glittering as he followed Filante to see Etoile.
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:58 pm
Filante could hear Corwin answer behind and and heard the Twilif's footsteps hurry behind him to catch up. with Corwin here now, it would be easier to get to the Lost Village since it was warm. the warmer, the better. Cold night air did not agree with filante's body well, it made him feel cold, old, and stiff. Harder to move about if you're as stiff as a board frozen in winter air. though it wasn't that season, still. Just that air was chilly. Since Corwin had a gift of warmth, it made Filante happier to know that they could travel easy and quickly. Just because they were in the forest, didn't mean they were always safe...
"It is nice to have you here with me. your warmth is quite upbringing to the spirit. Perhaps you could help my poo sister as well..." the starry Twilif's voice faded as he said that. Corwin would soon see why.- - - - - - - -  The Lost Village was quiet tonight, and though she usually didn't come out into the village, Etoile sat near the edging of trees, just in case she had to flee. She was still socially awkward towards many others and was not exactly in the best mood for everyone...
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:21 pm
Watching Filante walk, Corwin could feel the spaces for his own heat. He felt the cold around them and his warmth called out. If I burn bright enough, maybe my own chill will finally die.... Corwin could not help but dream. He drew closer to Filante, heating the space around them best he could, though at his stage his power was limited to making Filante himself warm. It was much easier and less trying on Corwin to physically touch what he sought to warm, but this pale version would have to do, he suspected.
Corwin started a little, when Filante spoke. His markings flashed, again, which alarmed Corwin. That seldom happened on his own. "I think that... being around you, there is somewhere for my warmth. Lately I've been shut out and the cold is worse when I can't find the flame in others... so... being near you. I think that is making it easier. Corwin paused, briefly, then spoke again, his voice hesitant but sincere. "I can't guarantee anything in my current state, but I can certainly try to find the warmth in Etoile, no matter how dormant, and draw it out. I am not one to give up once I have started something." As they walked, Corwin wondered what Etoile would be like. He had very few examples to go on, so far. Basil's obnoxious confidence; Kliment's quiet, but comforting chill; Empyrius' shyness; and finally Filante's mature and assured manner.
Corwin squinted into the semi-dark ahead of them. Was Etoile near? He had never been to the Lost Village, as far as he could recall, so he had no idea which way they were going, or where to.
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:35 pm
"Whether you are able to heat yourself, or only warm others, you're getting there." Filante turned his head back and smiled to Corwin. "Though I doubt you will find any warmth in Etoile as compared to me. My sister is not happy, as of late. For months, even. She has 'lost' her mate, someone she loved and cared for deeply. I don't know much of him, but he must have been quite something to have put my sister into this twisted matter of thinking and depression." The wind whipped at them, though it was very little cause of the trees blocking it. Ahead was a soft glow of light from candles and hanging lanterns. "We are almost there. Mind not my sister if she is rude, though usually she isn't to children."
- - - - -
Looking around at the forest's edge, the ram horned Etoile's lavender eyes sought anything interesting to look at besides the trees trunks and darkness. thyen there, her eyes swiveled to that of a light, lantern light. Lantern's were only carried by children of her kind.
"Twilifs." Etoile stood, facing the direction of the oncoming glows.
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:06 pm
Corwin shone already, his lanterns competing for light. He could feel ahead of them the sorrow, the cold that drew his other half in. He paled a little, exhaling his bonfire breeze into the air to combat the chilling wind. "Good thing I have to carry both the night's chill and the sun's heat then, isn't it?" he said, responding to Filante's warning that his sister might be rude. He wasn't really sure what to expect, but again the voice in him told him to be calm, to shine with the unselfish light of moonstone, to strive for understanding as through quartz. The journal, he remembered, told about the stones. What was better for someone who had to carry both heat and cold? A stone could be either, would not burn under his touch, nor be harmed by his cold.
Corwin thought he could make someone out, a Constellation with ram horns, in the candle light and the light of lanterns ahead. "Is that...is that her?" Corwin asked. He ran first his cold hand, then his warm hand, over his forehead. Calm; moss agate. Carnelian; to ward against sorrow. All he had with him, however, was one moonstone, and the gem set on his forehead.
With one balmy exhale, he willed even a fraction of his warmth to reach Etoile. A sort of greeting.
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:17 pm
Filante could sense something form Corwin, though he wasn't sure what it was. Though he felt the balmy twilif ty to wisp a bit of heat towards Etoile, it did not make it past to her. Filante felt it stop at his ears. "Do not try, Corwin. Even if she greets you, it's all a facade. My poor sister is going mad. Just remember, I'm the elder one. Though she earned her body earlier than me, my spirit knows more than her."
The 2 Twilif's entered the glow of the village. Etoile stood not too far away from them. Her eyes were cold like a stone, Corwin could see that. Clear as quartz? A bit cloudy.
- - - - -
From what she saw, it was her brother and a new Twilif who came into the village. She seemed happy at first, but then her face twisted into a somewhat scowl of a frown.
"It's just my useless brother..." Etoile thought to herself. Her eyes had hardened at the sight of filante, and she seemed less interested of them now than she did earlier, when she had not known who it was at all. But deciding to be polite to the new child, she stepped forward slowly, "Welcome to the Lost Village, Twilif. I'm Etoile, and this dunce here is my brother, as you probably know." Saying that to Filante, he tried to argue but she covered his mouth with her hand tightly. She could not feel any warmth that Filante or Corwin were...
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Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:38 pm
Corwin shrugged when Filante told him not to try. It was a little pointless, he thought. All that Corwin knew how to do was try. Corwin could see the cold in Etoile's eyes, but the part of him that felt only darkness responded to that. He embraced that quite resolve and kept his heat close at hand, placing one palm on his chest, radiating heat over his own body. He saw her scowl of a frown, saw her eyes harden. At first, Corwin's features tightened, when she insulted Filante, but he felt her lash as if it was physical. He calmed himself, eased his anger with a cooling touch.
"I don't see a dunce here, but I am pleased to meet you." Regardless of Filante's warning, Corwin could not help but exhale a balmy breeze. It wasn't an exercise of his power or gifts, it was just a natural thing. Like blinking might be.
Corwin could feel the cold. It was in her, on her, around her. He knew that chill, and felt welcome in it. He did not embrace it further, but let it lap at his awareness. He stepped forward, his lanterns gathered around him, his markings dull in the cold. He could see how Filante was the elder, despite being in a younger body. Sometimes, Corwin was learning, heat was not the answer, to soothe; his imaginary friend, the voice inside him, reminded him of the balance. It reminded him that sometimes, a cool strength, a tendril of cold, could reach someone in the darkness. It hurt them less than heat, sometimes, the voice said.
Obviously, Corwin did not know Etoile. He had not felt the same things she had, had not seen the same things she had, had not lost a mate. But he felt the cold, and that was one thing he understood. He reached one hand out, as if to touch her, then withdrew it, watching her, and then Filante, and back again.
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Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:54 am
Etoile, though scowling, could sense something in Corwin; something dark and cold that could realte to her. She thought she was going mad; how could this child know what she went through? The nights in the cold, the lost of a love, being alone and going crazy from the lack of love. Did Corwin know all this? Probably not, but she calmed. The constellation let go of Filante's mouth, looking to Corwin instead with thinning pupils.
"Pardon me, Twilif..." Etoile kneeled to his level. She was a rather tall thing, it was almost awkward. "I am pleased to meet you as well." She was the one who took his hand slightly, feling the roughness of it, on that one part.
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