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 Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:51 pm
Another early summer morning yet it was like a hell for the male. The air shimmered around him as he moved through the woods. Even this early in the morning it was already so warm. How did others survive here? Already he was missing the high mountains to the north which were always covered by snow and ice. They were his home away from home during the summer. Yet he was already back here due to some unfortunate circumstances. Missing the cold Triston felt himself melting under the rays of sunlight. As much as possible he kept to the shadows of the trees. But eventually that would even end as the clearing would come up ahead. Great just great. With a sigh the cattaur pulled up the dark edges of his hood and covered his face. Only one icy eye was visible as the rest of his face was either hidden by shadow or his stray bangs.
His affinity for winter magic was so strong that the cattaur had no real control over his own touch. His skin was like ice no matter what the weather was. Because of that the ground beneath his paws crackled and the green of the grass died away as ice took hold. Unknowingly in order to keep his body temperature from getting too warm the cattaur was freezing the air around him, including the plant life which had the misfortune of brushing against his fur. Behind him lay a trail of dead plants each one frosted over by the touch of living winter.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:34 pm
 Relishing the warmth of the sun, her only wish was that there would be a little more rain for the plants. This heat was drying out those that were less hardy. Even she felt warm comparitively, since her skin was always warm. The night had done little to cool the land, so Constance walked along the paths to help the plants that needed her aid. Her pygmy friend was off on her own errands, and the brown female smiled fondly at the thought of the small spirit.
Her smile abruptly fell, her brow wrinkling ever so slightly when she came across an unnatural path. What had caused such a line of death in these plants?! Kneeling down, she held her hand to one frosted plant. Wait- frost? At this time of year? Touching the plant, she could melt the frost, but the magic of the ice had killed the little life completely. Lips pressing into a tight line, she stood and walked within the path, using her magic to put new life over that which had passed. She intended to find out who was causing such destruction, her copper eyes flashing with emotion. She didn't allow herself to indulge in anger though. Angry thoughts could result in angry plants, and she just wanted to renew what had been damaged.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:47 pm
Triston dipped a paw into the creek and let out a soft sigh of relief. It was such a refreshing feeling to have crisp, cold water washing over his fur. Too bad it wasn’t really deep else he would be tempted to take a dip here. As it was the cattaur walked over the water, skating on it as it became temporary ice under his paws. The summer heat wouldn’t leave it like that for long, however, and soon it was just little chunks of ice floating in the water. Dipping a hand into the water he took a sip and patted some on the back of his neck. Finished there he looked around. Should he continue on or stop and rest?
Maybe if he found some nice shade the heat would pass over and he could move more easily through the woods? That sounded like a plan. Though he really was just being hopeful. After all it didn’t seem like this heat was going to go anywhere for a while yet. Triston looked up to the bright sky with a frown. Couldn’t a storm just come through now? If only he knew the magic to work the weather like that. A cool rain would be nice.
But for now he just settled for leaning back against a huge oak tree. Closing his eyes the cattaur pulled his hood even further down his face and yawned. Surely a nap wouldn’t hurt. Already frost gathered on the grass beneath him and crept up the tree, not harming it as much as the smaller plants but still making a few leaves fall as if it were already Autumn.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:11 pm
Her trip along the trail slowed the further she went. The frost she had discovered was becoming colder and thicker, and she needed a moment to adjust her magic accordingly. She must be nearing the source if the ice was becoming fresher. What kind of being would just freeze the life around it so carelessly?
Thankful for her natural warmth that protected her paws from the cold, she finally reached the cool creek. Ice in the creek too? It was already cracking and coming apart though. And, perhaps, since it was a shallow water source, it would only benefit those who drank from it. It shouldn't cause harm to anything. Then the breeze picked up, carrying with it a chill and a strange scent. Eyes narrowing, her head turned toward the source. Another cattaur?
It was too early for the tree to think it was the fall! And it looked like the taur wasn't even trying. Was he actually asleep? Though she should have waited for the support of the pygmy spirit, she couldn't help but walk boldly up in front of the sleeping male and loudly cleared her throat in an attempt to get his attention. Her own greenhouse affect magic increased slightly to keep her safe from the chill that poured off the male.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:25 pm
Triston may have some talents, but one of his best was sleeping quickly and sleeping nearly anywhere imaginable. Already the cattaur was breathing lightly as he leaned back against the solid oak. Each shallow breath let was cool and the air around his face, his whole body shimmered with cold. But he never shivered once. Instead the cattaur was curled beneath the cloak which was enchanted to be cooler than the summer air surrounding him. The cold comforted him.
He was so tired that his sleep was unnaturally deeper than usual. Then again that was what the heat did to him. While a colder environment energized the male and kept him alert, this weather wore at him. It was probably best that he had settled down for now instead of moving on. Else there was no telling where he might have fallen asleep at. As it was he never noticed the presence so different from his approaching. Nor did he hear the slight noise that she made. Instead the cattaur just barely shifted in his sleep. If one wasn’t watching him closely they might have thought that they had stumbled across a corpse so cold was his skin and still his body. Under his cloak was a pale face as well marked with a slight blue tint of ice magic. As his sleeping form moved instinctively away from the warmth of the female his hood slipped just a bit showing a flash of his pale, yet handsome features.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:42 pm
She could hardly believe that such a taur existed that could exude such a cold air so readily. And that the cloaked form was wandering around here! Surely this land wasn’t his natural habitat. She cocked her head as the male shifted, her eyes widening slightly at what had been revealed. He was so pale! Truly, did his skin never feel the kiss of the sun? Was he a cave dweller? Perhaps he was from the depths of the mountains!
Setting her jaw, she took another step forward and cleared her throat again. “Excuse me.” She said firmly, her hands rising to rest on her hips. So pale… So cold… A man of the winter, certainly. But again, what was he doing wandering in such an unlikely area, destroying her flora? Could such a face contain malicious intent? She straightened her back for strength, but, he did look worn down. Obviously, the heat was affecting his nature. “Sir…”
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:18 pm
Despite his attempts at being comfortable in the shade something was bothering him. Yet Triston really didn’t care. Whatever it was probably wasn’t anything big. He was just so tired of the heat. So he ignored it and kept sleeping on. Still it kept pressing against him, pushing his consciousness into action. What was this feeling? Warmth, but not the just from the heat in the summer air. It was different. But he was tired and didn’t want to bother moving. Still there was more noise now. What was it that kept bothering him?
Finally Triston gave into the buzzing. Blinking, the cattaur opened his eyes and stared at the female who was standing over him. She was so warm. Staring at her with his gaze of ice the cattaur sighed before closing his eyes again. He was right. He should have just stayed asleep and let who ever this was go away. He was still half-asleep and already slipping back away again into sleep.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:35 pm
Her brow cocked slightly as the stranger shifted and woke. “There you are. Sir, you-” Her eyes widened as the male simply went back to sleep. Part of her realized that he really was worn down from fighting against the heat of the summer, but she needed to address the issue immediately! Lips pursing slightly, she walked close enough that she could reach the tree, stroking its trunk gently and letting her magic into it to warm whatever the other cattaur was freezing. She felt a pang as she realized she couldn’t do anything for the grasses and flowers being laid on. Their time was over prematurely.
She couldn’t see his face anymore, but her mind’s eye saw the eyes colored like a frozen lake that had gazed sleepily at her. Was anything about him not like the ice he radiated? Hopefully, his temperament… Taking a deep breath, she dared to reach down and tapped the top of his head a single time, hoping that touch of warmth would get his attention, if the warming tree hadn't done so already. “Sir, you get up before you hurt this tree further.” She commanded with more force, now stuck looking down at the top of the male’s cloaked body for reaction.
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:45 pm
Just as the cold had started to settle back into his bones, he felt it again. That stubborn warmth! It was starting to annoy him. Why couldn’t he just be left alone? The cold from his back was stopped by warmth and Triston felt his magic curling about him in confusion. This was the first time that someone had actually forced heat against his natural touch. It was rather unexpected.
And then the touch.
That was really what shocked him into full awareness. It was rare for anyone to touch him. Even his 'family' of sorts rarely did such a thing. So who? Quicker than a flash of lightening the cattaur’s hand shot out to wrap cold fingers around the other’s warm wrist. He didn’t even hear her words because that touch itself was like a jolt to him. Already startled Triston’s cold gaze widened for a split second before returning to its normal, distant and ice-like, appearance. Still he didn’t let go, but rather stared at her. What did she think she was doing? Barging in on his sleep and now surprising him like this. He didn’t speak out loud, but as he slowly rose his expression was a questioning one.
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:43 pm
Flinching when the cattaur who should have been frozen stiff moved so quickly, she gave a soft gasp as the ice of his fingers dug into her wrist before her magic could compensate for the sudden cold. Regaining her breath as warmth returned to her hand, she gave the male's face a brief look to make sure he wasn't planning to attack before shifting her concerned attention to the tree. While with her wrist she had only added just enough warmth to prevent frostbite and hopefully not burn the understandably startled male, she put as much life and heat back into the tree as it took to remove the deep frost on it. A small frown rose as the frozen bark fell away, but that wouldn’t hurt the tree much.
Since that only took a moment, her gaze was able to quickly return to meet the other's inquiring expression. Even his appearance didn’t hold her attention long though since he was still partially hidden by the cloak’s hood, her eyes already shifting down to look at their hands. Her expression lightened with interest as she saw a thin fog growing from the meeting of heat and cold, like an early morning mist. She knew she should have been wary of another powerful cattaur, but she found herself more curious than anything else, a hint to her youth. “Why do you risk such exposure when this is clearly not your time?” She asked, still watching the fog grow as their opposite auras continued to intermingle. "You must be as uncomfortable with the summer heat as the tree was with your winter cold..."
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 5:54 pm
What was she doing? Triston was honestly dumbfounded at the female’s actions. Seeing a cattaur that was his opposite baffled him. Not only had she interrupted his sleep, she had touched him, and even used such a warm magic around him. It wasn’t really her own nature that baffled him, but the reasoning behind her actions. Why was she here? Not many approached him; well strangers at least. His ‘family’ and few friends were a different case. And he was pretty sure that she wasn’t an acquaintance or related to him.
Then he noticed the change in the tree.
Was she using magic on it? Not moving Triston watched as the frozen bark fell. So she was using magic on it. What was wrong – oh. So she was afraid his touch would kill it. As the realization sank in he had to suppress a sigh. Of course that was it. Was it not natural for everything to experience winter? He frowned at her statement. Surely the tree was just sleeping for a bit like it did every winter. He wasn’t going to kill it. Not that her opinion mattered to him. It was about then that he noticed the fog of magic and realized that he was still holding onto her wrist. It was weird how he had easily forgotten the tingling sensation and had just shoved it to the back of his mind. As it was Triston felt no need to answer her question and instead just dropped her wrist and turned to leave.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:44 pm
Wiggling her fingers, she didn't look up even as she was released, waiting a moment to watch how quickly the fog dissipated as their magics stopped interacting. Finally her eyes rose, blinking curiously at the retreating male. She was a little disappointed in his lack of responce. Was his voice as cold as the rest of his very being? What did a wintery voice sound like?
Cocking her head, she followed after him, politely tucking her hands behind her back to resist the urge to cause more fog to rise. Picking up her pace to join his side, keeping a respectful distance between them to make up for her forwardness before, she gave the tree one more glance to make sure it wasn't trying to sleep anymore before facing forth again. "I apologize for waking you so... suddenly." She hid her smile at the memory of his startled jump, lest she risk offending the stranger further than his silence implied he already was. Still, she was going to get her point across. "You shouldn't let a tree hibernate during the summer though. You'll age it before its time."
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:23 pm
Triston looked over his shoulder in surprise. Was she really following him now? What was up with this female? The cattaur was intrigued, yet rather abashed at the fact that she was being so bold towards him. He thought only his family was this brave…or stupid. Whichever term described her. He didn’t care. It wasn't his problem after all how she was. She was a stranger to him.
And now she was apologizing? The cattaur only shrugged his shoulders. He guess it wasn’t such a big deal that she woke him up. Though he did like his solitude, but really it had just been more of a surprise than anything else. Then she was back on the tree again. Triston stopped and looked over at the tree before looking directly back at her. It seemed fine to him now. Was there anything else she wanted to tell him? Crossing his arms the cattaur stared inquisitively at the female.
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 1:37 pm
Ah! A responce! A shrug, but still a responce. Encouraged by this tiny bit of communication, she gave the strange male a small but hopeful smile as he seemed to stare at her. Had she said something he didn't like? This was a hard man to read... If only his face wasn't so shadowed by that hood. She could still sense the cold radiating off of him though, especially when he shifted his arms. Perhaps the cloak was best to be left in place?
Eyes flicking from the tree to the stranger again, she took a half step toward him. "I'm sure you didn't mean to harm the tree at all," she started slowly, ears perked forward to be alert to his reaction, "so I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to apologize to it. You did freeze off it's bark after all. That's comparable to me taking your cloak away." The last time she'd told someone to apologize to a tree.... it hadn't gone well, to say the least.
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 2:53 pm
Was she really so concerned about the tree? It was completely baffling. In a way her natural affinity for the life around her reminded him vaguely of someone, but that was another matter. Never before had he been chastised so for his effect on the life around him. Just who was this female?
Maybe someone else would have been angry or would have laughed at her suggestion, but Triston thoughtfully looked back to the tree. Slowly, ever so slowly, the cattaur reached out and unclasped the dark cloak that hung around his shoulders. He wasn’t the type to go and apologize after all, but what this one said gave him an idea. Maybe now he could be left alone. It wasn’t like he couldn’t enchant other ones as well. So without a word Triston pulled off the cloak and handed it to the female. Done with that the male turned away once more.
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