Welcome to Gaia! ::

Gil suddenly stopped, a look of dread coming over him....He could feel it clearly, as though it emanated from himself; a feeling deep in his gut as though a light had just gone out....and to make matters worse he knew from whence it came.....Ishira....

Gil turned his eyes upon Kioke, his expression blank,....and his assumptions were only confirmed by the look on her face....Something had gone terribly wrong....He could not determine what it was, but from the feeling within him, it was as though a life had been extinguished...and it filled him with an overwhelming sadness....

Elias did not need to ask to know what Gil's problem was,...he felt it just as clearly,...

"Lady Kioke,....what has happened?...I can feel as clear as day, that Ishira is not well...."

((Sorry about this big absence, but it's been one crazy holiday. Too much, too personal stuff to post, just wanted to say, sorry. I hate it when this happens... and it's a hard transitin to get back in the habit of posting... Anyways, I'll just jump back in.))

Q, when he'd first seen the fox, had been ecstatic. He wasn't on nearly as familiar terms with his animal as Gil, but they understood each other enough for a play fight.

Q droped down into a very low stance, his knees almost touching eh ground, and he growled at the small fox, whom he still only referred to asa "CrrRRr" in their form of communication. the fox, seeing exactly what Q wanted, did similar, putting it's rump in the air, shaking it just sligtly from side to side, before doing something highly odd for this set up; he started to move evasively toward Q. Q moved with him, making the movements seem almost predetermined, and for all Q new, they were.

The fox took a quick snap at one of Q's ankles, which he pulled back quickly, grinning and baring his teeth, issuing a tinny, low growl, taunting the fox further, and reached out a hand as if to smack the fox's muzzle.

The fox, easily quick enough to move it's face out of the way, did so, and tried to move in a circular way, and bite Q's hand. It was pulled back in the natural sweep of Q's attack, but the fox just continued his attack, having fun with his old master again, like the first timethey'd rolled around in that room full of scrolls...

Q took a quick sweep at the small animal, which easily evaded it yet again. Q was beginning to think that his cats he played with at home had made him slow, when Ishira and Gil's conversation cut through any such playful ideas.

He stood still, down in his play pose, then took a normal, straighter posture. The fox understood this as instinctively as Q's challenge, and did similarly, looking to Kioke. Q, who had naturally blocked out the rest of the room in his spar with the fox, now dedected Ishira's distress, her anger, and...something else Q didn't dare touch, since it was not for anyone not invited to share. He slowly bent, and reached out for the fox.

The fox, with all it's natural care free nature and friendliness, did not take well to this. He had developed a measure of personal space, and bit lightly at Q's hand as he reached forward. Q didn't react, since it was only a warning bite, saying to take it slow, which Q did. He gently reached under his small friend's rubcage and lifted him up to his chest, and began to pet him.

The tiny fox curled it's tail up into the crook of Q's folded elbow, and laid there, enjoying the shared body heat, but with one eye cracked open, not wanting to be out of the loop.

Q didn't say a word, but his face made his feelings clear. He was mourning for Ishira's loss, and even then his eyes strained with his empathy for her. The fox in his arms emited a small peal of asdness, muffled in it's own tail, and snugled further into it's warm owner's arms, trying to find comfort for both of them in that moment of sadness.

Q rested his face down to the animal, who took no visible note, but lifted itself a fraction of an inch, to be closer to Q's face. He rubbed the fox's sleek, bright fur with his cheek, and stood silent for a moment.

"...We all feel her pain already... It almost makes me question whether this path was right. It allows such a great range of awareness of others it's almost...saddening.... But, it only almost shakes me. We'll all be here when we're needed, I believe. Now, though, I'll continue with my assignment." The fox chirped lightly, lookingup at Q's faintly darkened face, not understanding the sounds but receiving the message just the same.

Q lowered the furry creature to the floor, where it was confused for a moment, then rubbed Q's leg once, then walked a short distance away, enough that it hardly had to look up to see Q's face.

"Now, you're going to have to understand the way I talk, little one. I don't feel good asking this of you, I doubt I'd feel very good of anything right now, but just try and understand." The fox did it's best, but Q could feel from deep within the animal that it was not human, and couldn't understand the way his mind worked it's words. However, enough body language came through cross-species that the fox might even have pick up more than the normal human, such as the silent apology that came with Q's words.

The fox looked dead straight into Q's eyes, the way foxes will, and seemed to faintly nod, at least in Q's eyes. Then Q held out his hand, and formed the bsic sphere of light. The tiny fox, having been in the dojo for a length of time, and more naturally in tune with energy than Q in the first place, easily replicated the ball, which rested on it's head, slightly in front of it's ears, then doused the light as Q did.

"Good, lesson one complete." Q said, a sad smile spreading over his lips. The fox barked in reply, a high pitch pealing sound which captured Q's inner feelings eerily.

Q then held out his hand to his side, and began to call several wavelengths of light into it, and watched the fox's eyes. At each change it's pupil's redilated, seeing, for some, a faint shape hovering over Q's palm, and other a blinding brilliance that made the animal's eyes narrow to slits. Q, satisfied with the range of sight available to his friend, released his hand to fall to his side, and sat down on the floor, cross-legged. The animal came to him, and curled along the smooth arc of Q's legs easily. The fox was slightly bony, but was soft and long-furred enough that it felt quite pleasant to Q.

They sat there, syncing, no mental or audible comunication between them. However, Q reached out and touched the fox's light with his own soul light, which the fox mirrored, it's curiosity opening new control of it's own natural functions.

All this took only a few seconds, with Q using his body language to convey new instructions from task to task in an instant, losing little time to the information sharing process. However, he could detect that all the excitement, and rangeing emotions, were already beginning to take a toll on the fox, and he would want some rest soon, orr at least play.

However, Q kept in contact with him, telling him to remain, to relax, and to share. Slowly, theyr energies merged, and Q could feel a refreshing inner equivalent of nature, fall and spring, natural, less inhibited life integrate to his own energies. They sat like this, immune to time and worry, for as long as Q dared, and he would dare quite a bit to prolong this sensation of natural ease he found inside himself, through this tiny friend.

((Guess that was a long return, hmm? I made myself sad...))

The news came as a shock to him,...especially considering he had not even know Ishira was with child....Somehow, in the midst of his training he had missed it,....but now as he thought on the loss, he truly felt for Ishira,....He did not have children of his own, so could not truly understand how it felt,....but he knew her heart had been broken,....He could feel it, deep within himself as though it were his heart that was anguished....

As Gil looked into Kioke's eyes, he saw sadness there,....But her words brought him back to his senses,....He closed his eyes for a brief moment, inhaling deeply,.....then he turned away from her, his head bowed.....When he opened his eyes, there was a fierceness in them like never before.....his head came up slowly....and he looked at Elias, not speaking a word, but his silence speaking volumes to his friend....

Ishira walked into the dojo as quietly as possible so she wouldnt disturb the students. She smiled lightly as she watched them and leaned up against the wall, hiding herself in the shadows. Of course both Takki and Kioke had noticed her and both went to her side. Kioke taking her orb form and resting on Ishiras shoulder while Takki rubbed against her leg.

Are you alright M'lady? Kioke asked with concern in her voice. Ishira knew that Kioke had been sensing her emotions and probably already knew of the loss of the child and Ishiras emotional roller coaster. She only nodded and continued to watch the students.

((I'm still in this Ishi,....my comp is effed right now tho, so it's hard to get on here for long periods of time....))

Gilthana, sitting cross-legged in a far corner his mind in deep meditation was suddely pulled back to reality, his awareness peaked.....He could feel the familiar presence in the room.....his head came up slowly, and he peered across the room to see Ishira in the shadows....He allowed himself a small sigh of relief, and even a weak smile.....She seemed in much better shape than she had been,.....and with that knowledge, Gil relaxed....it seemed a burden was being lifted off of him......

His mind finally at ease, he bowed his head and resumed his meditation, Elias at his side.....

"Thats enough." Ishira spoke lightly and walked from the shadows, a smile across her face. She had long been caught by the senses of her students and though she had planned to stay hidden for some time she could no longer hold back her excitement of seeing them again. Her hair was up slightly but it was still obvious that she had cut it far to short. No longer did the long raven hair go to her ankles, but now barely went to her shoulders while her bangs went to her chest. Even with her hair up it would be simple to see. She wore a tunic instead of the traditional clothing she would normally wear in the dojo and two bells hung at her side, making the slightest of noises each step she took. The way she walked and talked, showed no difference, but her expressions had become a bit more empty. Over all she was mostly the same, just maturing with events that had come to past.

Kioke and Takki didnt hesitate, they followed her with every step, stopping the second she did, as if they shared the thoughts and then walking on when she did as well. Each step mirrored Ishiras perfectly, up until Ishira stopped only feet away from the students. Kioke and Takki then took their places on either side of her, Standing up straight with pride. It made Ishira smile brightly but she looked to both Q and Gil and bowed....

"Im sorry that i havent been here, as a teacher i should always be here to guide you and as a friend i should be close... I have done neither of these iand im sorry for that... I will try my hardest, so please, if i could have a small amount of your time, i would be grateful." She didnt wish to show her worry or give them anything to worry about. So she kept the e m otions to herself.

Ishira smiled slightly once again, she had found comfort in Gils voice and took in a deep breath. With everything that had happened, she had mostly expected many questions from everyone. She was glad to see they werent that eager to know or they already knew. But still she hadnt expect him to bow in return, probably due to her visit at the main dojo. It had been a different world compared to their Hikari Dojo.

"Thank you.... I was wondering if you guys had any questions on the past assignments I had you do when i wasnt here? " She asked, looking at both Gil and the quiet Q.