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After Elder Quest:

Normality is my Halloween Mask: Part 2

He shook his head then looked at her worriedly, to many times and places for her to gain that memory. When she was originally alive, when she was with Hexxis..even now with Carmelia. To many ... just to many. "Made us all like that?" he frowned, was she talking of the doctor? Made them just like him? minus researching maybe and just enjoying the kill like-.... like ripping out his or Tri's heart.

His wings drooped as he sighed softly, wanting to suddenly leave but that would defeat the whole reason they had come here. To have some fun.. see new things..forget what had happened if for a bit.

Moving closer to her he leaned slightly against her even if he was taller, just enough that he didn't topple her. "Yes, lets do that" he said quietly and fished out the map again from his pocket as he opened it with one hand and purposely focused on the rides and even any shows. There was a hypnotist but that sounded as bad as the haunted house.

"I can still get something to eat if you want or we can do that later" he said struggling to keep himself whole instead of just falling into the clear but barely feeling part of himself. It frightened him, he left that island worse than when he arrived and he knew it. He wouldn't have been frighten of that house before, he would have been more decisive , he wouldn't be fighting with voices in his head.

"...unless you want to leave?" he asked looking up at her near glowing red eye, offering the option encase she did, they could still come tomorrow or keep on playing and it might pass.

"..i think so.. the memory is really foggy..." she tried to recall but the images seemed jumbled and disorienting. She let out a relieved exhale as he leaned against her with the map, a small smile gracing her lips. "Hmm... maybe food. Just calm down for a bit and get our minds off a the craziness... then go back to finding fun stuff to do." her voice less enthusiastic than earlier but she appeared to be calming down and actually trying to sort her thoughts. She looked like she was slowly starting to feel better as she leaned her head against his shoulder for a few moments to look at the map.

"That works" he said quietly, trying to sound more happy but it sounded dull even to his ears. Ruffling his feathers he pulled away from her a bit and focused on the map. "There" he muttered tapping one of the restaurants he saw earlier and mentally marked. "The fried things" she said with a nod, knowing that wasn't even close to what they were called but they were round and friend and had ice cream on them as well as other toppings and looked like it might taste good. Leading the way back and purposely not looking at the haunted house he stopped and stared at one of the wandering zombies that was busy chasing a few girls some steps before continuing on it's way. Waiting until it headed away from them he tried to lead Ashral toward the restaurant, a little safer it seemed at least with a short line outside and even a tv and cartoon playing for those waiting in line. "...." he tilted his head slightly and make a line looking for Ashral, "Funnel Cakes"

She narrowed her eyes on the map thoughtfully and nodded. "...fried things..." she repeated. Ashral walked with him, still refusing to let go of his hand, and even appeared to walk a little closer especially when zombies got closer but otherwise wasn't showing fear, just apprehension. As they approached the line to get the food, she looked up and seemed enraptured by the cartoons playing. A group of costumed characters were attempting to find the best houses to receive candy in the show and she stared, completely invested in the story. As Ree spoke, her head turned before her eyes would finally follow to look at him. "Hmm?" she asked then looked at the sign. "...funnel cake?" she read as she shrugged, not understand but didn't mind as long as it was edible. "I really liked the first ride we were on... At the top you could see for a long ways but then it went really fast.." she chuckled nervously, still a little embarrassed that she had closed her eyes for most of the ride. She made a noise of contemplation as she continued to look over the map as they waited.

"The speed was fun " he replied with just a hint of a smile at the memory. He liked going fast either flying, running, or moving in a machine. Still he understood what she meant and looked over the map. "But there are a few that are more for the view than the speed. These two ..." he motioned to two on the map where they showed a small picture and description. "Seem like they could be it" he muttered motioning to the picture of some flying chairs and another one which seem to just lift up 20 seats in one both. Turning away he stared as the line reached the inside of the store and he looked around, grimacing at the prices. If they were going to keep riding one split in half might work, or he could give it to Ashral since he wasn't that hungry....

Calculating the money he put aside for this he nodded quietly to himself and motioned her as thy reach the person. He asked for cake itself and looked at Ashral motioning to the whip cream, ice cream strawberries and other toppings. "Pick what you want to put on it " he said quietly as he turned he head to watch her with a curious look.


"I don't mind doing more things like the first one, I don't mind the speed, just really did like the view." she responded, still looking at the map as a smile was starting to make it way across her lips again. She blinked, lowering the map as he asked her to pick what she wanted on it. Frowning slightly, she looked around at what other people had put on it. Not having an easy time deciding, she picked quite a few things. Strawberries, banana, whipped cream, chocolate, and ice cream. At least she could figure if she liked any of that, all the things she had never tried before.

They handed off the cake to her as she gave the map to Ree before grabbing the plate. She gave Ree a slight smile before moving to find a place to sit. "...if you get forks, I will find a place to sit." she offered, a nagging feeling in the back of her mind over splitting up even if he would be within her sights the whole time. Shaking the thought, she found a small two seat table and waited for Ree to accompany her.

Ree blinked and took the map, watching her curiously as she stared over the options and pretty much choose everything that was available. He knew it!
The realization made him smile faintly as he took the map and nodded to her as he paid for the funnel cake. To see her experience something new was worth the price as he took back the change and moved to grab some forks, keeping her in sight as he did so. Glancing around now and then as if expecting to see someone else, he blinked seeing only the flicker of actual spirits here and there. The power was still growing the only one that was sharp in his vision was Ashral while all others were still a minor outline.

Shaking his head he took some napkins as well and splurged one two waters before heading back to her. "Here" he said with a hint of amusement in his voice, looking a bit better now that they were far from the haunted house and she was smiling again even if faintly.

Ashral smiled a little more as she took the fork and water from him and waited for him to sit with her before digging in. She took a scoop, managing to get a strawberry with the cake and a bit of ice cream. Only the smallest bit of apprehension before eating it. Pausing as she shivered slightly at the cold but she began to smile a bit wider. Taking another bite, this time making sure to get banana, chocolate, and a bit of whip cream this time. Sticking the fork in her mouth, she smiled even more. Looking to Ree, she honestly looked genuinely happy, "This was a really good idea... It's very good!" she commented before eating another bite of banana and cake. She was humming a bit, nothing in particular, with a smile on her face.

Ree watched her intently, smiling wider at her approval of pretty much everything she had chosen. "Good, this is uh.." he paused as he tried to figure out what he might have already known and what she didn't. "Strawberry, banana, chocolate in liquid form, whip cream, powdered sugar, fried dough and ice cream. Ice cream comes in many different flavors" he said automatically as he pointed to each thing before reaching out with his fork to get a forkful of ice cream then pause. This time he was not shying away or peaking at the food as he had been doing recently. Cutting less than equal parts he then started eating the smaller part, focusing more on the ice cream and whip cream more than anything else. Looking up he focused on one of the cartoons that was running, the sound was to low and the people to loud to hear what they were saying but it didn't really matter. "Maybe we could go to a movie another day " he said quietly.

Ashral looked at each item as he identified them. "I like the bananas a lot... And the ice cream." she spoke with an enthusiastic tone. She began eating at her portion, liking it all, but seemed to really focus more on the banana and chocolate. Her eyes wandered to him as she watched him looking at the television with a cartoon. Her eyes following his to the tv, before his voice made her look back. "A movie?" she asked curiously. She took another bite and looked at him and stifled a laugh, leaning forward, she wiped the side of his face with a napkin. "You eat like a child." she teased with a small laugh.

Ree blinked as she leaned in and he focused on her napkin, closing his eyes making a soft grr like sound as he scrunch up his face but let her. Once she was done he opened one eye then the other and stuck out his tongue. "Hey in human terms I am still one..in elven terms....ah hahaha. " he said with a soft chuckle as the glow in his eyes strengthen slightly. "So bananas...banananananas" he shook his head but transferred the bananas on his part of the plate over to her. "You like them more" was his explanation as he went right back to the ice cream, being more careful now. "A movie..is like one of those cartoons only longer from one to three hours telling a story. I can get some on my computer but ..at the theater is where the brand new movies appear and they show them on a big screen in the dark. " he paused and looked thoughtful. "You listened to stories right? What where your favorites? " he asked trying to get a feel for what she might like, horror was already off the table. If not for her than for him, his own reaction at the haunted house worried him.

Ashral giggled a bit as he stuck out his tongue, finding humor in his comment about still being young. She was staring at his face for a while before shaking her head and focusing on the bananas on her plate before even realizing he had been putting them on there and there was a slight flush of color on her cheeks. "...yeah... I do." she admitted, albeit a little embarrassed about it for some reason she couldn't even understand why. She listened to his explanation of a movie and she thought on his question about stories.

Leaning back a bit, leaving the fork in her mouth while she thought on it. "I listened to a few stories. Shogu used to tell me stories about darkness and the moon since that's all I ever saw growing up." she explained to him almost a little matter of fact.

"My favorite was a story about how the moon shone down on a mysterious lake which scared away monsters and allowed travelers to pass over it. But when the moon dudnt shine at night, the monsters would come and eat the travelers that passed by. The moon heard of this and came to the lake in a hooded cloak, with the hood down, her bright white hair shone brightly and she helped a man cross safely but she herself fell and the hood covered her hair and she became trapped within the lake. The moon stopped shining after that and people questioned where the moon went to until the man she helped stepped forward and told them where he saw her. They went to the lake and freed her, where she returned to the sky and as thanks she always shone as bright as she could on that lake forever."

Ree tilted his head slightly listening to the story as he pictured the moon heading down to help a traveler get across then falling in herself. A shiver ran through him at the realization of how similar that was to him or Tri, except they couldn't just stay there waiting for someone to come along and help. The traveler...why didn't he speak up earlier? not being alone...learning who to trust ...but being open enough to trust.

He lowered his head as he looked down at what was rest of his funnel cake, poking at the strawberries then the fried dough itself until he ate it, his mind distracted by analyzing the story itself and ironically reflecting it to them. Being thankful instead of accusing the person she helped.... //dark side, bright side ... reflecting. // helpful.

He sighed softly and pushed the fragment of thoughts off to the side, this wasn't why they were here. His original question...right something fantasy and nice. He can look what fantasy or children movies were playing recently and hope there was something that would work.

Realizing he had been silent for a while he looked fairly sheepish and motioned to the sky. "Sorry... was thinking about the story. " he tried to laugh but it cam out more of a soft chuckle. "Uh, hm for me...it was about a young unicorn who wanted to help her young dragon friend. I don't remember why...but they went to talk tot he older dragons and they told him to wait..then they meet this witch in the woods and she turned the unicorn into a frog. The frog had a star on it's forehead and the young dragon had to find a way to turn her back. He eventually did...." he frowned trying to remember the story, it was so long ago and he only read it a couple of times as a toddler/child.

Ashral stared at him as he explained the story he favored, nodding as she ate more bananas. She appeared very invested in his story, "...but how?" she asked, leaning forward expectantly, like she'd been left with a cliff hanger and needed to know the ending.

Ree frowned thinking hard, trying to remember what had exactly happened. While he did so the glow in his eyes normalized for the moment to how it was prior to Ashral's second death. "...hm.. oh yes! " he looked up with a smile. "the baby dragon didn't have wings and was always being teased by the other dragons. It wanted to do something brave to get his wings and the unicorn to get her horn. An elf steals the tooth of one of the older dragons and turns the unicorn into a frog. The dragon tricks the elf into letting her go and they take back the tooth " he smiled remembering now even so there were parts still missing.

Ashral smiled more as he explained further and answered how the young dragon helped the unicorn. "It sounds like an adventure." she commented with a small laugh. "I like stories like that." she hummed again, nothing in particular as she finished her piece of cake and sat back slightly, bobbins her head side to side. "A movie sounds good." she decided then smiled a little more. "We can figure that out later, right now we should keep looking for things to do here." she spoke enthusiastically.

"Fine fine" he chuckled and picked up the garbage. "So to tha- .....hey look at that" he muttered throwing the plate and forks away before heading toward a large viewing window, it was mostly dark but there was something passing by the glass every now and then. Silverish grey skin with something like a beak before disappearing into the green hue of the water beyond. Above them someone was talking about eating habits with a smattering of humans either going up or down the steps. "A dolphin!" he said turning to grin at her.

Ashral got up to follow him and paused as he did, not sure what caused him to deviate his sentence. He named it off and grinned which only served to peak her interest. Moving to the window she looked through to see the creature swimming about. Ashral's face was fairly close to the glass, eyes fixated in see at it as she didn't say a word.

Ree turned back to the viewing window but the darkness made it hard to see other than when it was really close. Looking up the stairs he nudged her with a wing. "Want to look up there?" he muttered pretty sure it was okay seeing a few normal people heading down. Pulling away from Ashral he moved to the base of the steps and waited for her as he looked up, watching one of the employed answering a guest's question.

Ashral had little problems seeing into the dark tank as she watched it carefully, his it moved and danced in the water. The nudge of Ree's wing bringing her back to reality as she looked curiously at him before moving after him toward the stairs.

Ree headed up the stairs and moved past the people other to a space where one of the dolphins was nudging a ball around the pool at the top while another one was further down below. He was distracted by seeing the dolphin until he realize what was niggling in his mind. A tank full of water with a viewer.. Ashral in something similar but with no air. How she had been alive so long he had no idea... nor did he broach the subject been if he wanted to. Turning abruptly he headed right back to the stairs trying to get there before she made it up. "Interesting... you wanted to head to one of the rides now?"


She was moving slowly up the stairs, a slight bit of panic settling in when he was out of view for only a few seconds. As soon as she reached the top of the steps, he was already coming back, offering more rides instead. A flicker of worry as she then glanced behind him to see the large surface of a tank filled with water. Her eyes darted quickly away and up to him. "Uhh.. Yeah,.. What other rides are there?" she asked, turning to head back down the stairs.

"Uh....that one" he said pointing finally at another ride, one that was called flying chairs but spun in a circle and went up pretty high. For a flyer it didn't look that exciting but it might give Ashral a better view than the other ride they had been looking at earlier. Following her down the stairs he took one last glance at the viewing screen, not seeing the dolphin but the green cast water instead with a flicker of dread before looking away. "If we head down tha-"

"ARAWR!!!!!!!!" one of the zombies had moved up behind them and yelled then waited to see if they ran or stayed, staring at them with haunting look.

Ree turned and hissed flaring out intimidation as he slammed up a telekinetic shield while hie other hand reach up to grab Rika's necklace.

She was staring at the chairs and seeing they sat one per person and frowned. It would mean one of them wouldn't be able to see the other and she didn't appear to like the idea. She was about to decline it when the yelling of a zombie startled her and her immediate response was to step forward to guard Ree, moving her left hand as if to summon her sword but winced slightly. As the telekinetic shield snapped up, she whipped her head back to him, "..Ree." she spoke softly, moving to place a hand in his chest comfortingly, a worried look on her face.

Ree stared after the zombie that was backing up and sharply turn to stare at Ashral instead as she called his name. He said nothing, instead he pulled in his aura and lowered the shield turning and abruptly walking away from the zombie and the people near them, many who had turned to stare and back up. He picked a path and just walked avoiding any other zombies as he put his hands in his pocket and stared ahead.

She paused and watched him pull in his aura and lower the shield, beginning to walk away. She took a step, grimacing slightly before stopping completely, reaching a hand out for only a brief second and opening her mouth to call out to him. But she didn't speak, lowering her hand and standing there before turning to walk off somewhere, limping slightly.

He walked nearly to the end of the the long path when he hit the beginnings of a haunted house set up directly on the path. He stopped abruptly and sighed, running his hand through his hair in distress before turning to look for Ashral. Well he was ruining this outing even when he was really trying not to, bad place to realize fighting was your reaction to being scared now.

Blinking he frowned as he didn't see her anywhere. Moving away from the edges of the path he focused on the faces of those around him, doubting she continued on into the haunted path. After a bit he realized she wasn't with him and a flicker of cold fear ran through him as he turned back the way he came, looking for her frantically. Even seeing spirits didn't help that much with so many people. //where did she go?//

Ashral spent some time walking around looking for something, avoiding zombies and other actors for the time being. It was a while before she stopped, looking up at a ride with fixated eyes laced with a deep curiosity before she turned and started heading back toward where she last saw Ree, although she had no idea where he had actually gone.

She stopped again and looked up at the night sky with a deep frown, her leg hurting so much by now and she looked back at the ride she had been staring at and not having gotten too far from it before she looked over to a bench and sat down with a somber look. She closed her eyes and sighed with a slight distress. She felt lost, paired with a slight feeling of dread. After a moment, something nudged her arm lightly and she looked down to a shadowed black cat with glowing blue eyes that meowed at her. "....Orrin?" she sighed with a slight relief, picking up the cat into her arms to hug him and the cat rubbed against her face affectionately. Pulling the cat slightly she smiled faintly, "..can you help me find Ree?" she asked and the cat meowed. Ashral nodded and set down the cat and he immediately darted off toward where they had split, looking for Ree.

Ree reached the place where he lost Ashral and frowned looking around, having expected to find her there or heading after him. Maybe she headed elsewhere assuming he was angry? or she could have gone to the bathroom... or decided to look around since he just left. Or she was taken... there was no reason for her to be but it was possible.. like there was no reason for a spirit to be taken but here they were.

Stopping he stared at the ground trying to calm down as his own thoughts start to make him panic. Simple just look for her, not everything was out to kill them....

After a moment he shook his head and activated soul light, feeling only a soft pulling feeling as the cat separated from him. After leaving the island he didn't need to use an artifact to summon the cat and there was no soul rending pain...at least not for 10 minutes. Even the double vision was gone and he could easily see between himself and the cat or at the same time... for 10 minutes..then the voices was back..the pain..the double vision. It shouldn't take him 10 minutes to look around. "Go .." he muttered at the cat as it ran off heading in one direction avoiding hands of those that spotted it while Ree headed in the other direction. Absently he started to limp slightly, his leg was giving him a dull ache and he didn't know why.

The cat continued darting through the crowd quickly, slowing down as it was about the same area that Ashral last saw Ree. It looked tired, but pressed on, meowing as it searched for Ree. The cat spotted the other cat and meowed loudly for it, darting forward and slowing down to try to nudge the other cat gently.

The faintly glowing grey cat lifted its head at a sudden meow and turned to face a shadow like cat heading toward it. Laying its ears back it growled a warning but flicked it's ears up as it meowed again as memory of a similar cat in Ashral's arms. Letting it move closer it let it nudge it and then meowed back to the shadow, moving to face it and touch noses in greetings. Making a soft mrrr sound it ruffled it's wings and moved to follow.

Ree stopped where he was and took a breath suddenly turning around and heading the other way, limping slightly.

Orrin closed his eyes, laying his ears back and purring as he touched noses and rubbed against the glowing gray cat before nudging once more and walking quickly back toward where Ashral was.

The cat quickly then took off into a run and jumped at Ashral with a plaintive meow as it turned more white then grey as it looked for a way to jump on her lap before glancing over at Orrin and making a soft mrr sound before focusing on Ashral.

Ree let out a soft breath of exasperation but his steps where surer now even if he continued to limp. A bit of healing did nothing since there was nothing wrong in that area. Shaking his head he ignored it for now, heading to where they all were, spotting Ashral with a hint of relief in his eyes as he moved to all three of them.

Ashral blinked and let the now white cat jump into her lap as she wrapped her arms around it and hugged the cat. Orrin jumped up to sit on the bench next to her and made more purring noises as it rubbed against Ashral. She looked up and around, looking for Ree before he finally emerged and she began to smile with relief. Coming to a stand, she winced slightly and shifted her weight off her right leg, but kept smiling while still holding onto the white cat in her arms.

Spirit purrs loudly cuddling in her arms and turned to look at himself heading toward them with a smug look.

Ree stopped by them glancing toward the black shadow cat with glowing blue eyes then back to Ashral and spirit. "Stop looking so smug " he said quietly making it obvious he was talking to the cat as he stared down at it. Looking back at Ashral there was a hint of coldness in his eyes as nodded faintly to her. "Are you okay?" he motioned slightly to her leg as the cat stuck it tounge out at him and hit it's head against her stomach purring even louder.

"Apology for before. " there was a pause "as well as my thanks. I am still trigger happy. We...I did not mean to leave abruptly without telling you other than it was the best course of action at that moment. "


She watched him talk to cat and saw the coldness in his eyes, her smile slowly fading before she looked away. "...I'm fine. My leg is just bothering me a little, but I'll be alright." she answered then looked down to the cat, she wanted to smile but it wasn't surfacing and she just looked nervous. Nodding at his apology, "It's alright... I just went to look around... Are you alright?"

After: Normality is my Halloween Mask

Pieces in the Wind: Part 1

Ree moved back to Ashral, holding the tickets to the movie he thought she might like. Of all the ones he had seen this one seem to be the more fantasy based one that looked like it would have a good ending. It was about a magi named Dr Strange who was resistant to come into his power and was taken in by some Shadow monks or something like that to fight a devil. It sounded like it would be fun.

On the plus side it didn't seem like he was recognized even so he felt like it was obvious. Black feathers glued to the back of his ornament with a hint of shadows to hide the ethereal feathers and always glancing down when talking to people while relying on the dye in his hair and wings to do the rest.
"Got it" he smirked faintly and handed her, her ticket before leading the way inside. Feeling a twinge of uncertainty as he realized maybe he should have told her what was out and let her decide.

Ashral stood there, looking at the kinda of people who came in and out of the theatre, curious with only a faint bit off nervousness. She was wearing a black t-shirt with a green unbuttoned overshirt accompanied by ripped blue skinny jeans and brown boots. Her short hair was pulled into a half ponytail but other than that, she looked her normal self. A few people looked a little curious about her eyes, which caused her to shy away her vision, close her eyes, and sigh. It only took a few seconds before she opened them again to make sure she kept Ree in her sights. She was still fairly excited about going to this movie that Ree spoke of, far more than to let her almost reclusive nature get in the way of hanging out with him.

She smiled as he returned with the tickets and followed him inside. "I'm still not used to you looking like that... I think I like the real you better." she whispered then giggled quietly.

Ree snorted softly "I like the real me too. I am a wanna-be emo. Or an archangel fallen cross with bad taste. Or both ...I like black...I just think this might be a little over board." He muttered looking at his all black clothing too before stepping in line and handed the tickets to the person inside as he glanced downwards. Taking the stubs and handing one to Ashral as he glanced at her clothing and he lead them out of the way. "You look good in those though " he muttered staring at the hem of the overshirt and shaking his head. "Right..so" he waited until there was no one nearby and looked up squinting "it is custom to buy overpriced food to eat while you watch the movie. Usually popcorn but if there is something else you want? " he motion to the lane with a faint smile.

Ashral laughed at his commentary about all the black. "You end up looking too much like your father this way... which is kinda weird." she jabbed with a small chuckle. "I like your white hair much better."

She watched him hand the tickets over to the attendant and then grabbing the ticket she was handed. Looking up at him, she blinked at his compliment, blushing a little and smiling. "You really think so? I'm not used to this type of clothing, but I kind of like it." she responded, looking over herself for a moment.

As he redirected the conversation to custom of buying overpriced food, she frowned. She didn't understand it, and it seemed extremely odd to her to do all these things. "If it is expensive, then don't worry about it. I'm not hungry or anything. So it's okay." she offered sincerely. "I feel bad that I am causing you to spend so much money on me... I wish I could help you make more money so it doesn't feel so... one-sided." she commented quietly. She just seemed concerned rather than sad about it, looking up to him calmly.

There was a faint flicker of concern as she mention Tri and he nodded, looking down at what he was wearing in a different light. A lot of it was from thrift store and he could have combined better but he..he was trying not to remind himself of Tri.//I should call...they went after us// he thought to himself as the last part was added by a colder mental voice. Turning his back at Ashral he nodded with a faint smile " I do" he paused an smile a little wider."careful or I might borrow it. " he said playfully before her next words made him go serious as he frowned."I am thinking on it. At the same time we have a little leeway and we needed something that wasn't hiding...also something new"a flicker of worry as he turned away. He didn't mean to guilt her and he was testing disguises. If he was lucky he might be able to find a job that didn't deal with the public. His fake ID the depth of it was also military given while the second one he had was the best Tri could do. Maybe some under the table job. Ashral didn't have the limitations but she had no papers at all.under the table jobs seem the best. He looked torn for a moment because it was the price of one dinner....

He relaxed suddenly and nodded " if you want to help we can look at options when we go back. Truthfully feedback or new view would be helpful right now" now he smiled. He will have to look on where they could go that was free, any hiking areas or parks..free admission to museums. He wanted her to experience life but also live. "We can grab dinner before heading home and throw ideas?"

Ashral blinked, looking straight at his face with a flicker of surprise and concern as she heard his words but his mouth didn't move. Narrowing her eyes in thought before his confirmation of his opinion on her clothes snapped her attention from it. And even further as he threaten to borrow her clothes. "N-no!! They're mine!!" she exclaimed with a flustered look on her face.

The tone of the conversation had changed to a more serious note when he mentioned options. Nodding, she seemed to agree with him. She began to smile and nodded once more, "Okay! That sounds pretty good to me."

Ree couldn't help but grin as she became flustered //hah! so cute// but it faded quickly as she agreed. Smiling faintly he relaxed a bit "Okay, then lets go ". He gently touched her with his top wing before heading to the room. "Are you -suuurre- I can't borrow it?" he looked back suddenly with an innocent look, unable to help teasing her again when he first reaction was adorable.

Ashral blinked, her eyes widening before becoming flustered again. "N-no!! You can't borrow my clothes!!!" she exclaimed a little too loudly, as she huffed in embarrassment. "And I'm not cute!!" she added, stomping slightly as she was getting worked up from his teasing.

Ree laughed very softly but let it drop as he lead the way into the room and looking quickly for any two open seats. "over there" he said sounding amused as he motioned to some free seats, moving ahead to grab them before someone else got them first.

Ashral huffed and sighed, letting it go as well. //he would probably look better in them than me... // she thought with only a glimmer of thoughtful frown before a quick grin then shook the thought completely. Moving after him, she maneuvered to the seats he chose and sat down next to him.

Ree blinked and looked at her as if she had said that out loud. "I was playing, your jacket is safe from me." he said with a soft laugh, poking her lightly with his wings. ."Outside of I can't likely fit in them, I also -really- doubt I would look better in them than you. " he said still laughing softly. "But if you want I can try " he said tilting his head innocently but also grinning still to show he was playing.


Ashral appeared to be getting flustered again, shying away at the moment as she tried to not react to it. "Well, it's still my clothe-....." she paused, blinking in surprise as he responded to her thoughts as though she said them out loud. She was about to speak again but his next comment caused her to turn a deep red "n-no need." she answered quickly before turning away. She was trying hard to keep her thoughts off of what he would look like in different outfits. /...jacket... buttoned shirt?... maybe a kimono....hakama.../ she was looking off grinning before she blinked and shook her head and sighed. Taking a slow sliding glance to Ree, she attempted to wrangle in her thoughts again.

Ree shook his head "really, just playing " he said trying to calm her as he turned to look at her looking curious.//::feeling of surprise and a hint of embarrassment as well as self-doubt:: I should have gone for a more mature look// "Sure, you can choose and I'll try it" he smiled not showing what he was feeling as he looked to the screen and commercial as he pulled his wings in and resisted the urge to check on the fake feathers on his head.

Ashral quieted down, looking away, not sure what to say anymore on the matter. The embarrassment deepening as he responded to her thoughts once more. Looking to him, she analyzed his face to see if he was messing with her, but found that he seemed innocent of it all. She didn't want to further press it as she took a breath and looked to the screen as it showed the commercials.

>>FF>>

Ree avoid some of the annoyed looked by him as he gots up after the movie and moved to the side. So... he was turning into a night light.... nice to know. How this was happening would be nice to know and why but moving to top seats helped. Other wise the movie was good, amusing and di actually have a phased battle between two spirits. Something he would be trying later...seeing if phase form affected electronics...because.....fun.

"Liked it?" he asked looking at Ashral curiously as the last preview after the credits rolled and the lights came back on. There was one person watching them for a moment before looking away.

Ashral was silent the entire movie, fixated on the screen and the story it told. A terrible circumstance of a car accident that sought out a journey of find a way to heal but stumbling into a world of magic and having to choose between his old life and the one that was presented. She felt twinges of familiarity to situations in the movie.

After the movie, she looked to Ree and smiled. "Yeah! Did you?" she asked in return as she looked fairly happy about coming. She looked around at who was left in the theatre and only saw the last few people leaving, seeing maybe someone looking at them and she frowned, thinking that maybe they just looked peculiar but didn't think much more on it than that. "We should get going."

Ree chuckled "Yep, better than expected. A lot funnier than the others..and it fit perfectly for the character too" he said with a slight nod as he got up, glancing back at the person but then looking away quickly. "Also linking it in with the others of the same universe by just mentioning the infinity crystal... " he paused since Ashral wouldn't have known about those, he could find the others online most likely. Have her start with the first few movies if the liked this one that much. "The sentient cape was cool " he smiled as he moved out of the row and down, leading the way through the theater and back out.
The person followed them from a distance, phone to their ear muttering quietly as a car outside turned on as they headed toward the front.

Ashral giggled, finding his enthusiasm endearing. Nodding along, she followed him out of the theatre. "I liked the thoughtful choices he made. And how he refused to leave.. He never gave up.. That's fairly admirable." she chuckled and moved outside, "So I suppose now is food. Oh, and exchanging ideas!"

Ree walked with her out of the theater and relaxed, keeping his gaze downward as he walked, just high enough not to crash into things. "Ideas, right. First where do you want to eat? and secondly what I have so far is basically hunting for a job that might pay under the table.. meaning those that aren't paying employees through legal channels. "
"restaurant, construction, janitorial, maids... " he said quietly as he threw out examples.


She seemed focus on thought as they walked, "Food... I don't know, I've never really eaten different types of food. So anything is fine, I suppose." she offered up with a slight smile before thinking again, "as for jobs.. Hmm.. I don't really think I have any skills that would make money. I just know how to use a sword and how to make them. But even then I don't have a forge or materials." She half-muttered as she didn't know what to do.

"Nearest fast food then, thought be one in the shopping center" he said quietly moving to lead the way as he thought.

"Sword use... that falls with police, security, military, mercenary, ....hired "help", theater " he sighed slightly. "Making them swords... that might require looking for a company , patreon or blacksmith that is in need of help and willing not to ask to many question. Rare, usually.... " he said quietly. "As for me, I can heal-"//I can kill.....// he thought painfully. "I am trained with guns, my powers, supposedly sword and staff. " he went on and made a face. //mercenary ...healer/fighter and main fighter... just where Hexxis went.. sh**// he thought with a flicker of frustration.

They both had telekinesis...that could count for something but nothing was coming to mind.

She nodded quietly as he suggested the nearest fast food place. She was exactly picky and most foods were new and exciting anyway.

"I've never known anything other than swords... Police and security would require me to know the laws of modern times which have changed a lot since I was a child." she paused with a slight frown, "...not the military... I did that once..." she mumbled, shying away at the topic like it was really difficult and painful to talk about. She nodded again at his other suggestions, listening to him speak until he thought about killing. She stopped where she stood and turned to hug him, "...we..don't have to kill people..." she spoke quietly. "I don't want us to kill anymore..." she added then hugged him a little tighter. "Hexxis may have wanted that life for herself because that's what she was made for... she didn't listen at all to you, and all she did was play into their hand. I don't want to do that." she looked up to him with pained eyes. "That's why I keep fighting my urges. I won't let them control me like they did her." she hesitated, "...just as you shouldn't have to kill to feel safe."

"We will think of something. Maybe delivering things... or finding things. Even just apprehension is better than.... better than that."

Ree looked ready to continue as another thought came to mind, even if it felt just as weak at the others. He felt off, if he ever wanted a confirmation how unbalanced he felt in life just thinking of his options right now was a hard wake up call. A realization how he was now basically condemned for the rest of his life,or at least a good chunk of human lifespans, to be unable to do anything without a risk of being captured and killed.

Ashral didn't have to suffer that and going from the research papers, she would be just fine now. As long as she wasn't with him. She could even be a policewomen ... or ...well military seems like it was out...he didn't have to think to much on why she reacted that way. It was amazing now that he knew her a little more that she even agreed to try and join SIU when he wasn't there.

Ashral's sudden hug pulled him away from his thoughts as he focused on her in confusion. Fear suddenly ran through him as she spoke and he reached up to grasp her shoulders." Ashral..." he said quietly, his hands tightening on her shoulder as a he stared down at her. "Ashral..." his voice sounded pain as she kept speaking. "I never said that...out loud. " he said quietly, fear apparent in his eyes.

In the car someone took a picture of them, then another of Ashral when she was in a better position.

Ashral tensed as he grabbed her shoulders, looking away as she narrowed her eyes in a glint of pain when he said her name, then finally looking at him when he called at her again, hearing the pain in his voice. "...I know...." she muttered softly. "I'm... able to hear you... when you think sometimes." she paused, resisting the urge to look away, feeling guilty she didn't mention it earlier. /And if my assumptions are right... You've been able to hear me too.../ she thought as she kept her eyes on him. "When I'm thinking hard... but I wasn't sure at first. I...... I'm sorry I didn't say anything when I first noticed it...."

. /I ...I can hear you../ he replied mentally as the pain in his eyes turned to grief before he let her go and turned away. He was trying not to break down here and now. How long has she been able to hear his thoughts? Why? Could she hear this too? There was a soft pause as if he waited for an answer while extended his wings slightly in distress. Slowly he lowered them back down realizing that he was jumping to conclusions, didn't Zira and Syth do something similar? It was just bad timing that his mind reached out to that -other- memory first instead of the more logical one.

Grabbing on to that thought he turned back looking a bit better, wondering now which of them was gaining the power of telepathy.His own powers were a mess, even his body with new mutation grow that he didn't know how to explain or who to even ask other than assume he had been experimented on while he had been unconscious any number of times. Then there was Ashral who now had telekinesis replace her shadow control and it would not to far fetched that it could have grown to encompass telepathy.

Moving back he stopped right by her again facing the way they had been originally walking. Placing put his hands in his pocket he also attempted to pushed down his feelings as much as he could, something he had rarely been doing around her.

"It's okay.... just...okay" he reassured quietly, looking completely somber now. "One of us seem to be developing telepathy " he muttered looking at a person and attempting to think at them with no visual look of success. "Z- two telepaths I knew could glean thoughts from my mind. Perhaps you're developing the power to?" He asked quietly, unsure what to do or where to go to now. He hated the feeling wishing he was as confident as he was before without worrying he was leading her wrong. Taking a breath he focused on the other issue, they could experiment with her telepathy later and so far it just seems to be emerging. Better find a way to control it before she starts hearing more voices.

"Killing " he paused as the feeling of dread grew. "is...not an option. At least not one I was truly considering. " he ruffled his feathers as he just started walking, wanting to keep on moving as he talked. Willing to stop if Ashral didn't move but wanting to address the most important issue first instead of questioning her more about her power.

"You're right though. Hexxis considered herself a weapon and becoming a merc was the first thing she did, continuing the lifestyle she was trained to do. Trained not made" he continued keeping his voice as even as he could. "It is also the best place for you to gain a job after studying and testing, one that deals with the sword. It isn't the only place though, you have more options. " he said quietly as he ran his hand through his hair. " What I was thinking when I thought that was... what I did that with my healing... perverting a skill used for life to death. I couldn't before but now... " he shook his head. // kill to feel safe....that pretty much sums up everything I did on that island. Before that...I never killed anyone. There was Hexxis but you brought her back ...//he just stopped as he pulled his wings in and went silent as he blinked back tear and slowly let out a breath.

"We're not going to go kill. Mercenary might have been one option but delivery or finding things are also am option. Not apprehension... to risky" he muttered even so, apprehension was what he was doing in training with Tri. Finding things? That would require looking for a clientele, an office licensing. Unless... he blinked staring with a heart not of dread at the faint spirit that was staring at the movie goers as they left. It could work, perhaps. //Spirits...help some of them complete their goals? In exchange for information? Do you think that could work//he asked her since he knew the best. Speaking to her in thoughts a little to natural, in the same way it had been 'natural' when he had talked to Zira even if he had consciously 'forgotten' the reason why.

Staring at the spirit he sighed a little disgusted in himself. Just like healing his sight should be used to help. At least he would assume so, who else did they have? Except he wasn't naive enough to think that the spirits didn't have their own goals even after life or that there weren't more angry spirits than those who just wish peace. Which brought up another interesting idea..Gaia ..he could maybe ask sanctuary with one of her religious sects and effectively trap himself there forever. A choice at least....if it even worked that way.

Ashral watched him turn away frowning, feeling guilty that she'd upset him now. She could at least tell it was stressing him out and that it wasn't something he was taking well. "I'm sorry. I only just realized it just before the movie... As far as I know, I haven't heard anything before then.." she assured with a remorseful look.

She watched him turn back to her, looking a bit better but it didn't dispel her worry over it all. She didn't mean to freak him out about it, and she planned on telling him once she had confirmed it was really happening, but she had been startled by his thoughts enough o react rather than inform. He then began to move again, walking in the direction they were headed. She hesitated for only a moment, before starting to walk as well, following him now instead of walking beside him for the time being, reaching up her hand to grip her left arm and stare at the ground as they walked as she thought it over.

He was assuring her it was okay, but she didn't feel like it was, but still believed him regardless. He suggested telepathy and she looked up briefly. "...I haven't been able to hear anyone else... just you." she commented softly before looking down once more, "Usually I don't like people in my head, but for some reason, your voice is comforting and I don't so much mind it." she confessed softly as she walked.

"Killing is not an option." she repeated with him. Ashral began to frown, "I watched Hexxis do mercenary work, it was all just apprehending or killing... everything they wanted her to do. But that's not an option for me, I don't want it to be."

She was quiet for a time, listening to him talk as he suggested other things, "Hmm.. I'll consider it maybe.. " She continued walking before she looked up to Ree at the mention of spirits and nodded. //I can also help with that. I.... I noticed that I can still see the spirits just like I had when I was one, but only when I'm phasing. I can see and talk to them too.// she answered with an attentive gaze as she thought about his suggestion and slowly began to smile again.

Ree reached up to grab the blue crystal under his clothes as Ashral said his was the only voice she heard and that she didn't mind. // Not the same...it's not the same// he thought to himself, trying to convince himself as he forgot for a moment she could hear it at that level.

Turning his head to look at her at some point he frowned as she saw her behind him. Stopping he waited for her to join him or slowed down enough to join her. There was a flicker of surprise as she repeated the words along with him. "We're not Hexxis... nor should we be like her. So... we shouldn't kill unless absolutely necessary." he replied quietly, unable to say never, not with the mask of the guards he killed haunting his dreams at night. Looking up to stare at the spirit who was now staring back at them.

"Think about it? Becoming a mercenary to apprehending others? " he asked quietly, blinking as she responded to his other question in his mind. Closing his eyes for a moment he ran his hand through his hair again. //We could do both if that is what you want to do. I would need to do research for you.. as for spirits..you can see and talk to them too? // he sounded surprised and worried as the spirit looked away from them. //Do you know if they can hurt you that way too?//. He blinked suddenly as he felt a strong p***k in the middle of his back. Lowering his wings he looked back, eye widening as he saw only the tail edge of the tranq . //Run!....// he shouted mentally as he turned back the way they came, only for his vision to swim as he collapsed.

Three people left the car and hurried over to them as a fourth lifted a rifle and pointed at Ashral this time as he aimed and shot.

"I hope you're right or we're in trouble" muttered one of the mercs to another who said nothing for a moment as they rushed. "I know what I see, White hair black and blue wings under. Truth"

Ashral still appeared concerned as she listened to his thoughts, //And everything was going so well...// she thought to herself without realizing it before shaking her head and moved to walk beside Ree now. Nodding in agreement about Hexxis, she felt the same way. "Unless it's necessary." she repeated.

She shook her head a little, "I don't know. I'd rather not become a mercenary if I can help it." she responded simply before looking up to him, //I can see them... And I can hear them. I don't don't know if they can hear me... I haven't tried.// she then frowned. //I don't know... I've never had one attack me while phased.//

She blinked as Ree looked back, a flicker of fear that reflected into her face as he told her to run. She took a step to run but watched him collapse. "Ree!" she exclaimed before covering her mouth in panic and turning to see the rifle pointed at her and fire.

An immediate wave of dread hit the air as she phased to dodge the bullet. //nononononono... I... I can't let them hurt him... I won't let them hurt him...//

Coming out of phase, her eyes narrowed in anger as she growled and moved forward to pick up the person who had shot at her with a surprising ease. "STAY AWAY FROM HIM!!" she yelled with fury as she threw them as hard as she could at the other two.

M1:"Sh** she's a shadow as well! " one of them exclaimed. "Are you -sure- that's him?" as they unsheathed their sword and moved

Pieces in the Wind: Part 3

It was mostly healed by the time Ashral came back out, only a very faint bruising as still visible as he idly scratched at the back of his hand. "Lets go" he said quietly, moving up to her and touching her back lightly with his middle wings in a show of comfort.

She looked over Ree, his button up catching her eye as she looked away briefly. "You look good.." she commented softly then saw him touching his faintly bruised neck, frowning as she felt terrible she had hurt him. Ashral looked extremely tired by this point, almost swaying when she stood still. The moment he said they were going, she nodded and began to move. Ashral took a breath as she felt safer the closer she was to Ree, still trying to keep moving in worry that she would collapse if she halted for even a moment.

Ree looked faintly surprised and nodded as he handed her her bag and picked up his own. //Thanks// he said quietly, earlier it would have have made him smile now he was just trying to figure out how much time they had.

He had no idea where they were going, or technically he had no idea where they were staying but he had an inkling. Either ways they couldn't stay here much longer.

As they stepped outside he glanced down at her then toward the sky. //We need to head back to Belrad. Want to take a nap while I fly?// he thought to here quietly. The sound of sirens could be hear din the distance but for now they were still not very close.

Ashral looked at him, nodding about leaving to belrad, memories flickering of her time there at SIU. She blinked at the request of she wanted to nap and she began to blush slightly then shook her head. "I don't feel sleepy... Just dizzy and little weak. " she answered quietly before moving closer to him anyways.

Ree looked concerned but nodded, thinking for a moment on blood loss"You lost a bit of blood... do you think you need to feed?" he asked quietly putting his back on his back and holding his hands out to her. Carrying her would be faster and since it was turning dark he could use Enshroud to hide them or telekinesis to get a burst of speed.

His question caused her to hesitate, not sure how to even answer as she turned to him, looking fairly exhausted and possibly a little distressed. "I.. I don't know.." she frowned a bit. "...how..would I know.." she asked, not even sure how her new body even worked. She knew she could bite him, drink his blood, but she didn't know if she really had to, or how to tell if she needed it. She put on her backpack and looked to his hands, moving into his arms with only the smallest bit of embarrassment. "...you wouldn't mind it?.. I don't want to hurt you."

//No, I wouldn't mind but there are other ways if you need to drink...with the amount of blood you lost// he muttered softly as his words were combined with the feeling of concern. Seeing her embarrassment he stopped, unsure if he should pick her up or if they should call for a taxi. Common sense kicked in a moment later as he picked her up and took wing. He won't be able to hold her the whole flight but between his own strength, telekinesis and breaks they will make their way there....wait...did he tell Ashral?. //I know a store that sells blood you can drink, then we can make our way to Belrad. Let's things calm down here and come back. Is that fine with you? // he asked quietly as he flew down low using Shroud to hide the, to worried to fly higher and make Ashral colder as he tried to remember what street the market was on. It was one of the first things he did coming to the city, figure out who sold animal blood for when ever Ashral started to hunger for it. The book warned about it and he wasn't going to make it another incident...especially not tonight. If that doesn't work and she gets worse he would have to think about find a hospital....just like what happened with Tri but this time there was no Anadii to keep an eye on things. He tightened his grip slightly on her as he spotted what he was looking for and made his way towards it.

She appeared unsure, really clinging to the reluctance to hurt Ree by biting him. "If there are other ways... I'd like to try that first.. I want feeding from you to be a last resort..." she spoke, even if she looked weak enough to probably need it as soon as possible.

When he picked her up, she didn't shy away, not embarrassed about being picked up, but more of the topic of blood and biting Ree. She listened to Ree's suggestion as she wrapped an arm around Ree for stability and nodded. //That sounds okay to me.// Her skin was already feeling fairly cold as she appeared to be drifting off asleep as he flew, her eyes closed as she rested for now.

//Not to sound cruel, but me too. I think it would strain you..feeding from me while trying not to kill me // he thought to her solemnly as he landed on a roof nearby, frowning as he sent a bit of healing energy to her and cursed softly at what he sensed. //Ashral...Ash. Try not to sleep...why don't you sing me a song? // he said putting her down as he nearly tore off his pack and took out his last clean shirt and a windbreaker that he placed over her as he moved to the edge of the roof and jump/glided down. //Any song at all// he said with a hint of urgency as he went into the store, not caring who saw him as he made a beeline toward the meat area.

She nodded slowly, eyes still closed. She heard him calling her name, asking her not to sleep as she sighed a bit, trying to force her eyes back open, //I'm just really tired..// she thought slowly before she tried to think of a song. There was only one, but even that was getting harder to remember with how cloudy her mind was becoming. "...there was once.. a raven... that...that shook... hmm..." she mumbled, barley a melody as she was having difficulty remembering how to sing it. "...there.. was a cat..." she kept muttering, her eyes not open, just breathing and mumbling incoherently now.

//Cat...that spoke to me/ he said trying to help as he split the cat from him. The winged cat hit the ground and sight teleported back to the front of the store then sight teleported again back to the roof and moved to Ashral meowing as it jumped at her.

Ree looked through the glass at meat before turning to the freezers in a panic. There he spotted four containers of beef blood that he grabbed and sight teleported with to the cashiers. If it wasn't that there was no line he would have sight teleported out as well. Instead he put them down and paid for it, grabbing them and rushing out without taking change.

//..about.. the chaos.. and disarray..// she thought, trying to focus her thoughts the best she could. The feeling of cat paws against her, she strained and opened her eyes... "..ree..." she grimaced and tried to get up "...i..i'm sorry... I..." she want to say she was fine, but she knew that would be dishonest to tell him that, trying to come to a stand, swaying and falling back into a sitting position. She tried once more, coming to a complete stand shakily before she fell back down against the roof with a slight noise of pain.

Ree sight teleported up to the roof (6 left) and moved to Ashral grabbing hold of the first container and flaring out soul light to warm it up. //A bit more... darn it... you need to stay awake to pull it into you // he said quickly doubting just drinking it would do anything other than ingest it. Flashes of Rika came to mind as moved closer to her.

Ashral wasn't moving until he reached her again, tiredly looking up to ree as she tried to get up again. "...r-ree.." she muttered quietly. //..pull it?.... pull what...// she asked, disoriented, while she closed her eyes again, her movements sluggish and messy, even if she was struggling to keep moving as if refusing to admit she wasn't okay.

The cat mrowed moving to her and looking up as his body came. It pulled away and disappeared as Ree finished at least raising the blood to room temperature before pulling off the cap and moving to her. // Okay try it... using your fangs? ... // he thought hard since that is how Rika did it... bit him and drank. Fear was starting to break through as he tried not to panic and just start rushing her out to a hospital.

When he pulled off the cap, she could immediately smell the blood, her breath quickening as she opened her eyes slightly. He instructed her to use fangs, but she was already moving, grabbing the container to drink from it like a greedy child. Consuming blood quickly, chugging it, she drank it in a matter of seconds as her eyes gleamed, almost glowing even. Not a drop was spilled in her gluttous comsuption of the crimson liquid, quickly tossing down the container and staring at Ree intently, not saying anything, not moving, just staring before she licked her lips of blood, looking much less tired now.

Ree watched her, encouraged when she started guzzling down as he reached out for the next container, trying to strengthen his soul light more but it still had a sickly greenish cast to it. It wasn't until he looked up that he noticed she was done and was staring at him intently, her on eye red glowing faintly which he had never seen her do before. Shifting to a stand automatically he extended his wings ever so slightly as he held her gaze. //I'm thawing the second one. There are two left after this// he said casually, trying not to look worried but watching her intently.

Her eyes kept focused on him as he moved, not flinching as he extended his wings. Listening to his words, it was questionable whether she was even taking in what he said until she nodded slowly, still not speaking. She stood up, her breathing steady and her focus calm, not looking away from Ree for even a second.

Calmly he continued to heat the container until it was warm in his hand, all the while keeping eye contact with Ashral. //Done// he said calmly as he moved to her and held the container out after opening it.

Ashral took the container the second he said it was done, moving forward swiftly and drinking it just as fast as the first. Only slowing toward the very end, she finished and threw down the empty container and stared at ree, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She took a deep, steady breath then her eyes finally shifted away. //..thank you...// she thought quietly, maybe feeling a little guilty about it all.

Ree watched her for less than a second before moving back for the third one and started to heat it as he continued to watched her, knowing if he messed up she could still try to go after him. //Welcome.// there was a pause as he extended his healing sense toward her. //It is helping?//

She nodded slowly, //....it is...// she answered quietly, appearing to now wait patiently. She was looking much better now, able to stand on her own, her eyes still glowing however as she focused downward. //...it...doesn't taste great... but I can't even stop myself from drinking it...//

//I am not sure if I mentioned it before. But when I was looking for information on Marion I found Carmella's Journal. // he said quietly, keeping his voice even as he warmed up the third jar. //It mentioned many things but in regards to vampires it says they had to feed on blood... it didn't say how long or how many times. // he continued not sure if he told her this before or not. There were gaps in his memories on some details and he wasn't sure he wanted to remember. //I doesn't taste great ... I think it might be because it just doesn't taste great in general.. or that this is not the blood your new body would have hunted// he muttered moving to hand her the third container.

She took in the information, nodding in understanding for what he was saying, //I don't know how to explain it... The smell of is... better than anything I've ever smelled before. I want to drink it... I feel I need it. Even if it doesn't taste as good as it smells, I still can't stop wanting to drink it.// She sighed. //Maybe...// she reached for the third container, drink from it much slower this time, even taking breaks to breathe, and think.

Ree moved to take the fourth container but didn't start heating it as he watched her. //Do you think you need the fourth?// taking what she said and turning it over in his mind.

She glanced to the fourth container in his hands then to the container in her own hands, drinking at it as though it were a normal drink. Contemplating, before she shook her head. //No, I think I will be fine.// she answered then sighed, finishing the container and setting that one down before moving to hug him. "...thank you... and I'm sorry..."

Nodding he put it down watching her approach him and straightening when she hugged him. He tense for a moment as If expecting a follow up to it. When nothing happened he returned her hug with one arm staring down at her quietly. Not staring at her head but at her soul . // No....I am sorry// he said quietly and returned the hug full normally before letting go. "It is better to know now then later... even so that was close..." he said quietly, a flicker of pain crossing his face. "This is ...cows blood.. used for some blood sausage recipes. I don't think that is what other vampires use but .... for now it seems to work.. even if it tasted horrid" he said trying to smile but it only came out as a pain grimace. "Something else to add for the list. We're on the mainland we can look up normal things on vampires... I don't think it would be that hard. " really not knowing at all but trying to calm her somewhat. He was ... relieved, mainly relieved and guilty.

She closed her eyes, exhaling slowly in relief as he hugged her back. "I'm sorry that I didn't realize just how much blood I had lost.." she muttered softly. She took on the information about the blood, understanding how it was only animal blood, which was a slight relief. Ashral nodded at his idea to do some research once they could, really hoping for more information on what she had become.

"You had no way to know " he replied quietly feeling a little detached even if he was trying not to. Was it Dark? was it just Rika's memory or the fact he had nearly lost Ashral again?

He took a breath and pulled back to look at her, staring at her glowing red eyes with a flicker of concern for her as the glow in his own eyes stayed dim.

"Lets work to get out of this predicament okay? We can still attempt working with the spirtis.. see how that can help us out and visa verse. Investigating more on what vampires actually are and their powers. while I try to find information on haven and what they did to you. " he said ticking off the list, reluctant to mention his own changes as well..but they were happening and he was starting to be very concerned.

She stared up at him as he pulled back, her eyes beginning to dim after a few moments. She nodded at his words, agreeing with what he wanted. Information. They needed more information. "I.. I'm okay now.. We can go." she offered quietly and waited his response.

Ree stared at her silently then sighed and nodded as he picked up the shirt and jacket from the ground. Eyeing the jacket her offered it to her silently //encase you get cold. // he muttered with a sense of worry. //before we go...anything you need to tell me? Or want to get or see quickly ....anything? // he asked quietly, not sure where he was going with that question other than her reaction and response concerned him that she might be to shy to say something about...anything.

Ashral looked to the jacket and took it, zipping it up half way. She looked to him his worry reflected into her own expression, listening to his question before contemplating on it. "I think I just have a lot I'm thinking on. I dont want to live in fear of what could come... But that's hard to do when I'm afraid of so many things. And without knowing what's going on in these changing situations... I just... I'm mostly afraid of losing you, or losing control." she paused, "...I think I'm just afraid of losing in general.." she added with a slight chuckle. "Or than that, I'm fine." she gave a half-smile, slowly becoming more like her usual self and her eyes finally dimmed until they stopped glowing completely. She looked away and there may have been a slight tint of color to her cheeks. "Thanks for asking... Is there... anything that you need or want?" she asked in return, being considerate that maybe he might need something, still not sure why he was so worried, but had an idea of it.

Ree nodded quietly at her answer the worry lessening slightly but he was still concerned. " Safety... " he said quietly pushing away the memory of Tri painfully. "Easier said than done but... a lot of it is knowledge too. So lets work our way up...let's figure out a way to gain some income and rent an apartment. I will try to find a better disguise and while we have some free time you start using either my laptop or tablet and start looking up information you are curious about. Hexxis didn't want to read books online but that is an option outside of the library" he said quietly looking down at the containers then up to her. //as for Belrad...I want to go and talk to Kae and start looking if I can get in touch with Cordelia again. Outside of Tri and An- well she is the only other hacker I know// his mind moving to Anadii but he would be required to tell Tri and he wasn't ready for that...or to have Tri know that Ashral wasn't exactly dead. //Ask what she might want to hack into Haven...just to see what information they have on you.//

Reaching out quietly he tried to touch her cheek with the tip of his fingers. //Just one thing, don't be afraid to tell me what you want or think even if that goes contrary to what I might want. You are your own person...goodness..don't be afraid to make me angry or annoyed. // there was a faint flicker of a smile. //I make mistakes..a lot of them ...serious ones but I am trying to learn. // he paused and the smile lengthened slightly. //I don't mind your advice oh ancient elder one... or even if you have none to give. I just want to make sure you're not afraid of me //

Ashral nodded as he spoke, they needed resources to feel safe. He suggested using his laptop to learn all she could, and she nodded again in agreement. "Hexxis wanted an excuse to be outside... A library was an obvious choice. But that's where the merc found her the next day... Because shed do the same thing every day." she paused, "For a bred soldier, she made horrible mistakes." she mumbled then sighed.

He mentioned Kae and Ashr had to shove away a shiver down her spine that she couldn't explain. Something about her made her best uncomfortable, but besides fighting her once, she didn't understand why the elf would be so offputting. The mention of Cordelia made her frown. So he was seeking her out again. Even in his explanation, she couldn't help but think maybe there was something more. //...what if he likes her..// the moment the thought surfaced, she flicked her gaze to him in surprise, realizing he likely heard it then frowned and looked away. "..sorry.." she apologized. She felt the touch against her cheek, her heart beginning to race slightly as she slowly looked to him. "...I....I'm not afraid to make you angry or annoyed... Even if I value your opinion very highly... I won't lie to you." His smile eased her mind as she returned a faint half-smile, widening after his man about being an ancient elder. His last sentence made her heart sink a little. "I'm not-... I'm not afraid of you, Ree.... I'm just afraid of hurting you or doing something that would make you hate me... I want to make you happy no matter what it is. Even if it's not me that actually makes you happy." she responded, her last sentence softening into a somber tone. "I would tell you if something is wrong... You are the only person that I trust."

Ree listened, his gaze turning sad as he heard her thought but waited until she was done. " I want you to be happy as well and that starts with not being afraid..I just wanted to confirm that " there was a faint pause and he sighed. "Well, a happy as we can be under these circumstances " he said with a slight shake of his head as he lightly grabbed the cord on his left wrist, thinking on what had almost happened.

"I promised I will stay by you. Even in the remote chance I found someone I said I said I would leave them if they didn't want you around". He reaffirmed as he gazed at her searchingly and smiled very faintly "it is a remote chance, I am not going to run around looking for someone like that willy nilly either. They would have to be a friend before anything else and truthfully I have very few friends. " he confessed, looking to the side a bit in embarrassment.

"Cordelia is one of those few friends, not quite sure how that happened but it did. I have no romantic interest in her though, she is just a friend... "he glance back to her tiredly as he let go of the red cord. " Not everyone I talk to is going to be a romance option for me " he smiled very faintly before going serious again. "I spent all my life trying to make friends but it is awkward when they are all still children now who likely hate me now. " he said looking haunted for a moment.

"Even so, those adults I have made friends with are the only people who might help us now without calling the police. " he muttered, back to being serious as he looked at Ashral.

" I ask that you not try to fight or hate them just because they talk to me or even try to flirt. " he said seriously, wings shifting slightly behind him as he crossed his arms, remember the anger she had with Katarina and Cinder. "Anything else, suspicions etc talk to me. Especially now that you have that power, it make things easier ". Smiling faintly he reached out with his middle wing and lightly nudged her. "For all you know they might try to be your friend as well"

"I'm afraid of a lot of things... but I'm not afraid of you. I know that you are the only person that sees me for me and I will never cast that aside." she reassured calmly.

She averted her eyes only slightly with a small blush before she inhaled and pushed it down, even though she still smiled over it. It made her happy to know that he would stay by her, she didn't care in what context. Nodding, she understood. "I... Like I said, I would be okay as long as you were happy. I don't think I'm afraid of them garnering your attention over me... I'm more afraid of them hurting you. But I'm understanding better when to trust the situation... to know that you'll be okay."

She listened to him explain Cordelia, a little relieved it wasn't romantic but none the less feeling better about it all. "I'll always be your friend..." she commented quietly, a small smile on her face.

"I promise I won't fight or hate them... unless they hurt you..." she paused, blushing again and looking away with a frown. "...even if they flirt with you."

"But I'll talk to you. I won't do anything without you knowing, unless it's an emergency."

Ree looked silently at her and took a step forward to lead down and lightly touch noses with her in a very cat like gesture. "Mrrrrrrr " he smiled faintly as he actually made the sound deep in his throat before leaning back, looking a little better after knowing how she felt and what she thought of what has happened. "Thank you"

She blinked in surprise at his gesture, not expecting it at all. Her expression relaxed after a moment as she nodded in response and moved toward him, ready to move again when he was, a smile now on her face.

"Lets go" he smiled faintly and put the last container in one of the packs before holding his hands out.

She nodded with a smile and moved into his grasp, letting him pick her up to head out, again wrapping an arm around him for stability.

Reforming Glass Shards: Part 2

She was quiet as he yelled, only a slight flicker of confusion.. uncertainty.. sadness. She wanted to say something to help clarify better what it is she felt but every time she spoke, it only made it worse. /...this is why I stay silent.../ the voice whispered softly, barely audible. Orrin lashed his tail back and forth, hair standing on end before squirming from his grasp, landing on the ground and moved into the bedroom to curl up in the shadows underneath the bed. Somber blue eyes, only a dim glow now watched from its position.

Ashral looked to Ree, a deep pain in her eyes. "...i'm sorry... I..." she stammered once again, trying to find the words to say but her body reacted faster than her mouth would as she bolted up from the chair and hugged him suddenly, tightly. "I-it's not like that!.." she forced out frantically. Frowning, trying not to cry, she just kept holding onto him. "...you're the only person I trust... the only person that's ever tried to understand me... stayed with me even when I took my last breath... Of course I trust you." she mumbled, her hands shaking in fear of losing him to this misunderstanding.

Spirit furled his wings in abruptly and returned the hug, still angry though. "You trust us. She doesn't and since she is part of you and you are part of her there is some reason you don't trust us. " he said trying to keep calm as he looked toward the bedroom. //Why don't you trust us? What do we have to do to prove it to you// Spirit growled as Dark flicked its tail outside, heading back from where Spirit had run toward. //calm down Spirit. Ashral don't worry he is just ..we ar- ::silence:: // // Shut up Dark. you would have gone along.. Yes silence is finally talking but ... if she can't trust us when the first thing they should do if figure out why. //

She frowned, still holding onto him and quite frankly refusing to let go. "...I.. don't understand why..." she muttered. /It isn't you. I was never meant to have allies. Only kill. So what you are asking, is to provide you something I have not developed yet./ Silence finally answered softly. Ashral turned her head to glare at Silence. /...don't be angry.../

//I'll be what I want. I really can't. Why not. I am trying. I'm not. I wouldn't know. I know enough to tell I'm resisting. Am I? Yes. No. Then what am I doing. Stop. No. Yes. It's only hurting me. It's only hurting us...// Ashral was closed her eyes tightly, wincing in response.

//I won't stop. I don't think I have a choice. I do. I don't. I do! No. Yes. Then what am I doing.// //....breaking....//

Ashral was struggling, the voices in her mind arguing back and forth and giving her worse of a headache. //...I was aware this would happen. I warned you. I am not trying to be a burden.//

//Lies. You had a life before Eden even if it was one of the worst ones possible if only for a bit you had someone you cared for and visa versa. Unless you considered Shogu nothing at all. You remember but Ashral also remembers and she remembers when she was not a -weapon-, she is your will. She may want to remember and purposely avoids it but it is her half and not you that I see pushing herway forward. You are both the same...Dark and I are not that far gone to not be able to realize that in ourselves either // Spirit kept glaring toward the room as he held on to Ashral even as Dark phased through the wall, tail lashing as it looked between them but there was a hint of confusion as he tried to figure out how to calm down both sides one of them being him. //I don't need calming!... you know. Take over again i'm heading out// The cat shifted white and phased through the wall again as Ree blinked and tighten his hold on Ashral before turning to look after Spirit then over to Orion and finally down to Ashral. "......"

//Eden changed the life I had. Eventually shut down, shut out. What they did to me.. made me this way.// she answered.

//It doesn't matter, I... you've been here the whole time... Why don't I... you trust him as much as I do? It is not in my nature. But it is in mine! Irrelevant, I am not the same. But I am supposed to be. I was only helping. I'm making it worse.. you're making it worse. Stop. Be silent. He doesn't understand. I'm not helping. What do I do.//

//You are limiting yourself by labeling what you can and can't do. You are not growing... not adapting if you continue to cling to what you learn. Change is fearful but even Hexxis broke her own programing...and you have a century over her without anyone one ordering you to do anything// Ree said quietly, his voice cold again but there was a hint of sympathy. //She may not wish to face her memories but you need to work through the fears// he continued. They were both broken but they didn't break the same way.

It was silent, no answer from the other voice. Ashral growled, "...say something..." she muttered with anger. Opening her eyes to glare at the cat, "Say something!!!"

//...I am not opposed to change...//

"That's not to point, Silence!! Why dont you trust him?!"

It was quiet again.

"Answer m-..."

//...because I lost the only person I had ever trusted...//

There was a long pause, Ashral's face shifting into a confused and worried look. "...what?"

//...no allies...// her voice became softer, pained, almost sounding like she would cry. //...because they die...// The cat meowed painfully, scooting forward to stick it's head out of the shadows with ears laid back and a slightly sad look I'm it's limited expression, //...i am trying to remedy that with him... attempting to trust him... although proving difficult... because we fear losing him...//

"....i.. i am afraid of losing him..." she agreed quietly and frowned.

Ree looked down silently, staring quietly at Ashral as he continued to hold her but not with the near desperate grip Spirit had earlier when he hugged her back. He stayed silent a bit longer before looking up, his assumption had been wrong but not completely.

"Then you will never trust me. "He stated quietly as he looked up to the cat. "It is not a promise I can give even if I wanted to, since there is a very high probability I will die if I am captured and even if I didn't have a bounty on me...anything could happen. " he explained, knowing she knew but hoping she might offer another alternative where she might be willing to trust. He didn't know who she trusted that died or how they died but if that is the reason she didn't want to trust him then there was very little he could do.

"You have died twice in front of me where moments would have saved you, I have lost friends even those I could call near family during Parley... and I still trust even if it is just you " he said very quietly. "We both fear losing you..you have already done so... but if you ever say you want to leave or want to stop running then we will let you...even help you. There is nothing more I can even add to that " he said quietly as Spirit mumbled within their mind that maybe they were always supposed to be alone.

Spirit paused a block away and now moved forward, away from Ree and Ashral.

//...you are correct...// the cat moved out from the bed, shifting, growing as it formed into what looked like Ashral, was blank blue eyes stared at Ree as she stepped forward. //...I must change to trust you... and I am trying...// her voice was still dull, and the figure never moved it's mouth. //...I don't mean to shut you out... I mean to say I am trying to find a way to let you in.... we are...// she paused, shifting her eyes away thoughtfully before looking at again. //...we are afraid...//

Ashral said nothing as she watched with careful eyes from the safety of Ree's grasp. A frown before burying her face into his chest, "....I don't want to leave... I want to stay with you."

Ree watched the cat shift into a humanoid form that look very strongly like Ashral currently. Where they imitating what Spirit had done? That could be useful...he had not even known it was possible until Spirit just changed with its own desire to ..."communicate" with Carmella.

Faintly glowing cat eyes stared back at her before he nodded, understanding now what she was trying to do. However it was still a fear that was not feasible to work with in the way it was presented just now. "Do you think that if you teach me sword work and I teach you how to refine your telekinesis that it might work for what you are trying to accomplish?" He asked before looking down at Ashral and nodded. "It was my own view should you ever want to. It would likely be easier on you both if we didn't have to keep moving or hiding. I am very aware of that "

Silence paused, thinking yet again. //I had planned on speaking with you informally and gradually work up to talking about my past. But it is possible that what you suggest may also work. Swordsmanship can create bonds as well as the implied roles to teacher to pupil.// she answered simply.

Ashral hugged a little tighter, "...that might work.."

Silence nodded in agreement.

Ashral then looked up to Ree. "I won't leave you. I refuse to. I don't care if we keep moving or hiding." her eyes showed the pain of her words, her conviction to stay true to those words. She honestly did not want to be away from Ree, even if there was a chance it would hurt her.

//::grumbles:: You'll be working with me then. Then one of you will be working with Dark on telekinesis // Spirit sounded unhappy but not as angry as when he storm off still he wasn't heading back, just wandering the dark streets, avoiding dogs and other animals that might find it interesting.

Ree nodded to them. "I am willing but we can also speak informally as well. " he added as he looked down at Ashral and moved one wing forward. "Thank you. That is actually one less worry " he said truthfully.

//It is better that you teach her telekinesis... While I am better suited to teach you swords play.// the voice whispered.

Ashral hesitated and nodded. "...sorry.." she muttered quietly.

//I have to find something informal to talk about...//

//..maybe questions. what kind. informal. details about each other. maybe. it's possible. what of. memories? too soon. far too soon. things you like. that is favorable.// they deliberated in her mind back and forth, Ashral moved a hand to her head, starting to get a headache from the dual conversation in her mind.

She pushed very lightly to back up from Ree, taking a slow breath to look up to Ree with an expressionless gaze. The shadowed figure shifting back down into the shape of a blue-eyed cat and sat there, meowing with curiosity and a faint beg to be picked up.

"..what is..." she paused, straining for a question. "what is.. your favorite activity..." she managed to force out, hoping that was an adequate question that didn't delve into the past while casually learning about each other.

/Fine// Spirit muttered back.

Ree watched her but let her go the moment she started to pull away. Silently he listened to the conversation, starting to differentiate them by their wording when it was more than a few lines long.

As the shadow shifted down to the form of a cat again she stared at it silently and picked it up, moving to cradle it again as he has been doing before. This time he lightly petted it while looking at Silence. "Flying" he said without hesitation as he scratched behind the shadow cat's ears. "Your favorite color?"

The cat purred happily, nudging against his hand, moving into the petting as it was held.

There was a flicker of curiosity before it left, her thoughts remembering how she liked the view of the sunrise from so high up in the sky when she was flown over drop sights. "...mine is... sky gazing..." Her attention was drawn back to Ree as he asked her a question. "...blue.." she answered. She thought for a moment, looking for a question again. "...strangest.. dream.." she asked, her voice soft and quiet.

Ree continued to pet her but nodded as she said skygazing. He could fly her around more often if that is the case and if she gets better control of her telekinesis she could even float herself up as well.

"We like the similar color" there was just the faintest flicker of a smile, less cold but still distant.

He shook his head at her next question. "To soon" he said simply without any outer indication of what he was felling but Spirit was shivering as he tried not to remember the last dream they had.

There was a faint look of something akin to a positive expression that only lingered for a second then faded when he indicated they had the same favorite color.

She nodded in response, not questioning his answer, moving to a different question instead. "....favored weather..."

"Windy, cloudy " he said quickly again then motioned to her. "What is yours?" knowing she would have time to see a few of them by now.
" she answered immediately even if voice never became louder than a whisper. She held gaze with him, awaiting his next question.

"Rain." she answered immediately even if voice never became louder than a whisper. She held gaze with him, awaiting his next question.

He nodded and thought for a moment, picking and discarding based on what he already knew of her. "Favorite food " he said looking back at her.

She paused, actually thinking about the answer. "...sweets..." she finally decided to answer. She looked away, the smallest hint of color in her face for barely a moment. "...pets?..."

"Was not allowed to have any" he said with only a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "What type of sweets?"

"..." she was trying to decide, actually finding it a little difficult. "cake... cheesecake.. pie..." she answered with a somber but thoughtful look. Returning to look at Ree. "..i had a pet.. a bird.. coco."

Ree nodded as she named her favorite sweet keeping it in mind. "Coco? " he tilted his head slightly. "what did it look like?"

"..very small.. brown.. red markings..." she responded simply.
He waited for a follow up but nodded when none came. "Favorite hobby?"
//... without me there you are almost like Hexxis too// Spirit muttered as Dark said nothing.

Silence hesitated, before frowning. "...not allowed.." she spoke, before looking away with a faintly guilty look. "....dancing..." She paused as Spirit made his observation clear and she visibly frowned, almost ready to give up at this point. "....maybe stop..." she suggested with a defeated tone, withdrawing slightly.

Ree nodded then after a moment shook his head. "Apologies, the comment was directed to me, in hopes I would take your words and expand them into a conversation. " he explained calmly. "It would be what it would do tempered by me...I think" there was a hint of doubt as he motioned to her with a hand. "It is up to ...you if you wish to continue." For a moment there was concern instead of a flicker at the first part of that sentence only to fade completely at the last, his hand lowering. Spirit said nothing more, tail twitching as it took wing instead.

Silence thought for a moment, still looking away at the ground with a blank face. "...odd talent..." she spoke, barely audible.

"Being innovative in regards to power or problems. " grabbing one of the few things Mara or even Tri had found odd, other wise he didn't know. "Favorite music or music type"

"...unwrap candy with my mouth..." she commented quietly. She paused, looking at Ree as she shifted a little uneasily. "...orchestra...", After a moment, she thought of another question, "holiday?"

"(Christmas)" this time there was a little more than a flicker of a smile but it faded. "Flower?"

There was a very faint smile on her face that managed to stay. "...mine too..." she answered then had a flicker of struggle as she tried to think of the answer, "Euphorbia pulcherrima." she answered then paused, frowning as she closed her eyes to think. "Mm.. poinsettia..." she corrected, the faint smile returning. "Time of day?"

"Violet or jasmine...mostly the smell" he tilted his head slightly."Night, no specific time" he answered."why did you memorize the scientific name?"

"I read it in a book... The picture was pretty. I've never been around a real one.." she answered with a curious but sad look. "...I like dawn...just when the sun comes up..."

Ree nods "you can see a real one this year" he said quietly."odd habit"

She blinked, a flicker of confusion but paired with a glint of hope. "....." she meant to say something but simply didn't. She shook the thought and continued. "...I.. have a fear of eating.. in front of others..." she confessed, the only thing she could honestly think of that would fit that criteria of odd habit. "...favorite animal.." she looked to the cat in his arms then back up to him. "...besides cat..."

"Chewing stuff animals or hiding under pillows" he said simply then raised a brow at animal as he processed eating. He didn't remember her other half having a similar problem but he had also been barely eating more like buy food and go."...dragon" after thinking for a moment. "Thing you dislike the most"

Her faint smile grew slightly in amusement. "...birds..." She answered then tilted her head at the next question and frowned, looking down, reaching up to grab her arm and took a deep breath but said nothing.

//...losing..being alone..always alone..not being in control..doubt..trusting the wrong people..people making fun of me..they don't know me..they don't know us..being in crowds..staring eyes..too many things..far too many things..too many things to dislike..being hated..being hated by Ree..dislike that the most..// her mind split, talking to herself again as she closed her eyes.

The cat bristled it's fur slightly, tail fluffed in distress but didn't try to move out of Ree's arms.

Ree paused for a moment then nodded "Birds" as if agreeing to, as if he didn't have any set favorite animal but grabbed the first one that came to mind. As Silence and Ashral started to speak of what they disliked he observed them quietly, taking note as Spirit did as well. When she was done Ree reached up to pet Orrin silently.

"I dislike being completely alone, failing those who depend on me, being hated, being embarrassed in public, being owned, being ignored, ...losing you or any of my family... " he paused for a moment as his wings shifted slightly, the only indication of his discomfort. "being restrained, collars, kids, rats, rabbits " the last one was added with a faint wrinkle of his nose before looking at her silently for the next question.

//...being dressed like a doll... being treated like doll... being talked down to... we hate that.. they don't know us... they don't have the right.. // the last line was a little louder and much more aggressive even if Silence kept a grip on her arm and continues to every her eyes. //...they can't understand us... when they did it... maybe... too difficult.. not so.. we want to get better.. but what if we can't.. what will they think...// she tightened her grip, closing her eyes. //...we don't like being punished...//

The cat shifted uneasily but appeared to be calming down slightly to the petting.

//..it hurts...//

//....Those that hurt you aren't alive any more. If you protect me I will protect you from those that wish to punish or harm you. Truthfully.. you can do so yourself, you have the power and the will but not the unity" // he said with quiet conviction. //To many see you as a thing to own and use...and I don't understand why... but ..it angers us too//

She looked up to Ree with a sudden look of pain, exhaling slowly before gradually fading back to blank. She took a few steps closer, looking over him before looking him straight in the eyes.

"....there was once someone... that told me when the war was over... that I could finally be happy.. That I could be normal again.. I wouldn't have to kill anymore... I wouldn't have to follow orders.. or be controlled." She reached a soft hand up to cup his cheek gently and gave a soft smile paired with the pain still in her eyes, "....he said that I could just be.... me." Silence closed her eyes, tears suddenly beginning to slide down her cheeks. "He tried to save me.. and died by my ignorance.." Opening her eyes to look at him again she clenched her teeth for a moment, fighting back more tears. "I am afraid of that happening to you."

The cat meowed softly, a pained cry that was more of a whimper as Orrin buried his face into the crook of Ree's arm.

//I didn't listen.. They told me no allies... because I grew too attached... and I was devastated..// her hand was shaking as she withdrew it. //...I.. I cannot handle losing someone I actually love...// She shifted her gaze away, her voice giving away how she was on the edge of breaking down. "But despite my fears, I will always protect you. We will protect you. We would fight the entire world to make sure you lived and to find you the happiness that was taken from you. We refuse to make the same mistakes again. Even if we have to find the light ourselves and pull you into it. We will find a way." she confessed softly before closing her eyes again. "...maybe this is enough for one day..." she suggested just above an audible somber whisper, stepping back again and grabbing onto her arm before falling silent.


Ree meet her gaze, silent but expectant knowing he hurt her with his word and trying to understand how. As she spoke he listened, staring intently as if he was trying to memorize each word and gesture she made for reasons of his own.

It was only at her sudden touch that his features showed a flicker of surprised that quickly turned to a look a deep pain. Silently, he reached up lightly touching the back of her hand with just the tips of his fingers as he closed his eyes, tilting his head into the touch. A few moments later he took a deep breathe and opened them, meeting her gaze with a painful one. Slowly the look gradually faded as he tried to cope with a surge of emotion that should have faded long long ago.

The link narrowed as Ree blocked his surface thoughts from Ashral

//That would never have happened...she was Shadow they were likely Human. She was a weapon......they are weapons, other than Mara. No she's one to, only a few pieces higher. She can't survive losing someone she loves, she survived Shugo, she returned for him, she loved another, she didn't return for them, she was a weapon, were not a weapon, we are, we control ourselves, we failed we always fail. He died, she died, they died...betrayed, ignored. Alone, lost......, he was bright, bright, like Zaku like Grisella...brighter than Grisella, think quick, pain, think quickly, pain, don't tell anyone, never tell anyone. Death. Wouldn't happen, think quick, break through the puzzle, he would smile sadly, to slow, pain, endure, defiance, we're not a weapon,stubborn, soft muttering, a story, remember, I don't want to remember, don't tell, pain, gone, don't remember, d...'t....t....ll, bri.....li...t. // he was shivering as he looked down at the ground at some point, his eyes open but unseeing. Silently he looked up, a flicker of confusion as if didn't expect to see her or even be in that room. He sighed softly "Find the light and we'll follow" he said quietly as he nodded to her suggestion, agreeing as he moved back to his papers as if to continue, one hand resting on the side of his head while in the sky Spirit shivered, purring softly for its own comfort. "I can lead you though the training again tomorrow and we can go find a place to spar...on these days? Or move it around Kae's schedule" he muttered, looking back to her as if he was trying to move on as she suggested.

She was quiet until she heard his words, his thoughts that raced much like when her two sides argued, when they both panicked deep down. When they lost control. Opening her eyes to watch him carefully with a concerned expression, she listened carefully, knowing a lot of similar feelings to what played out in his mind. Always failing, betrayed, ignored, alone, lost... death. Remember. Don't remember. Pain. Being so afraid of the pain. The refusal to speak. It was all too familiar as she gripped her arm tighter despite the pain it was beginning to cause because it was grounding her for now, reminding herself of something, something to stay in control.

He began to speak out loud, moving now, as Orrin jumped down and moved to Silence and meowed softly. She picked up Orrin and stared at the cat for a moment before nodding and the cat disappeared. She moved to Ree, hugging him from behind softly when he spoke about training and Kae. None of that mattered right now. "I know that there are things you don't want to talk about, but denying your emotions about everything you've been through is hurting you. I can feel it." she spoke softly, hugging as firmly as he would allow. "You've experienced a lot of pain... and as someone who's been by your side for some portion of that pain... I know that there is pain that hurts you.. and pain that changes you. For so long I thought I could only be hurt and nothing more, but you helped me realize that I can utilize that pain to change who I am for the better. It isn't a cure all, and it doesn't work overnight... but it's working. Slowly. And I want to help you in any way I can... so if you ever want to talk about it.. we are here to listen." she offered, resting her head against his back. "..no matter what it is... we will keep fighting to stay stable... so that we can always listen." her voice wavered as she blinked back tears, taking deep slow breaths through the pain in her heart. "We.... I.. care too much about you to watch you rip yourself to pieces.. just to try to keep us whole..."

Silent, Ree reached up and rested his hand over hers as he listened, eyes staring down blankly. His head and his heart were hurting at her words, Spirit had even landed on son roof to curl up under a wing. Yet, at the same time they also felt a hint of pride. Of hearing her offer, of her attempts to change with what has happened instead of just hurting. He couldn't do what she asked...doing that or leaning on her to hard would break what she has done. She wasn't ready, he could hear it in her voice and in their psyche. Ashral and Silence were trying to get through the same things a hundred years later and even Kae was as well. Maybe no one really did get past it...they just put on a better face or skipped it altogether.

He hadn't even been thinking of himself,doing everything not to think of it, only to continue to moving forward, ..to keep on moving despite what is happening. To do so he had to be better, hide it better not worry her. Maybe one day he could lean on her but as Ashral and Silence said, it was a long slow process .

He and Spirit just had to always aim for something to stay together..as close to it as possible. They can fake it...they were going to fake it but they forgot..they told her they weren't going to lie....

"I'm ....thank you " he said softly, brushing the back of her hand with his thumb as he turned his attention to it instead off the floor. " You are growing, with everything that has happened and what you told me. You are much different than the spirit I saw glaring out from behind Hexxis's eyes. Stronger in many ways"he continued to stare and finally stopped brushing the back of her hand closing his eyes instead even if she couldn't see. "You are helping me by being here, that is more important than you know." He said quietly, not emotion in his voice it wasn't even cold but just ..tired. "The one who told you that after the war you would be free...to be what you want...is that what you wanted? Or you didn't know?"

Reforming Glass Shards: Part 4

"Gaia? Get angry? Not really, no. She is a benevolent being. Shares her gift with all type of thing. She's the real reason you exist. Without her help, my sister and I would never had had the missing component to create Metas in the first place. Thinking of it that way, I'm sure she's far less concerned if you manipulate her energy."

Ashral nodded quietly, and she was trying to pay attention to the movie but she couldn't stop listening to what Dark was saying. She eventually shoved her face down into the bedding and sighed heavily. //...ignore him... I really can't. Shhh. Quiet. He'll hear it too. Can't be helped sometimes... Shhh. I'm trying. We are trying..//


//...warning?// the cat shook it head in a very humanlike reaction then paused. //She is benevolent ...but doesn't she have a dark side? I once heard someone say that she wasn't really benevolent and it was all a font..//it said quietly, knowing it was moving away from the subject at hand but was also very curious about this.

Dark paused as he heard Ashral/Silences voice //Sorry// it muttered...likely Kae could hear both set of voices as Ree held the pillow a little tighter, unsure what to say other than to lean forward and lightly nudge her with his head in a more cat like reaction than human.

Kae shrugged, "Possibly." she answered then looked thoughtful then shook her head, "I wouldn't know... no one's seen her, just that she does exist. Gaia gave us the DNA we needed, trying to save the true races from extinction. So I have a hard time believing someone who is trying to keep the balance and prevent the eradication of all non-human races to be dark or malicious in any way. But that's just my opinion."

"Hmm? Don't be.. it's reasonable questions..." Kae quirked an eyebrow curiously.

Ashral withdrew a little more before she lifted her head and headbutt Ree in the arm softly and made a grumbled noise and sighed again.

Dark looked at her silently and with the same he nodded back at her in understanding. //The person I heard it from was bitter...wondering why a being would allow pain. Somethong neither here or there // he said stoically. //For the sigils... from how you speak of them they seem powerful and already prone for damage. What are the rules and laws? who governs misue of them if any?// it then shook its head. //Ah... I meant sorry to Ashral...she can hear me speaking as well//

Ree made a soft growling sound in his throat before smiling. "Dark is always worrying ...and now he's looking at shicken scratch ...don't worry"

Kae looked thoughtful, "Hmm... that is an interesting point to make. But there are many things in this world that cannot be explained. To be bitter about a being that hasn't been spoken to in Gaia knows how long, seems petty and immature. There are far more things to worry about or enjoy that an entity that we cannot see and whether she can be benevolent and indiscriminate." she spoke bluntly, then looked from the sigil to the cat. "It depends on use. It takes time to build up power to be used correctly. Some people take years to master small sigils that do minute things. Or centuries trying to do something that is far more powerful. The reprocussions is a fluctuation of power that can backlash on the user easily. Like trying to control the flow of water and a dam breaks. It can overwhelming and devastating effects. Rules general follow the whole, have a teacher or mentor... else you might die trying to learn it on your own. Laws? Don't take on more than you can handle. If you feel like it might get to be too much or overwhelm you, stop right then. Don't keep pressing it. Honing sigils comes from knowledge and meditation rather than pushing the magic like a muscle. It simply doesn't work that way." She then paused to tilt her head to the side. So Ashral could hear him too, how peculiar.

Ashral looked up to him with a sympathetic frown. "What other holidays are there?" she asked, trying to get off the subject of her death that Dark had kept bringing up.

//Those were my thoughts as well// he agreed, in terms of Gaia she was there and sometimes made herself known but ultimately was not interfering in any specific way usually. As Kai spoke of the rules and the law it flicked its tail nodding slightly before pushing a little more. //So there is no governing body that oversees the misuse of sigils? // knowing there had to be something, especially with humans who were paranoid with magic in general and as far as he was aware it wasn't outlawed, then again he wasn't even aware it existed in the first place.

Ree sighed and looked toward the movie. "After this movie ...there is another one where the main characters of each holiday team up to fight a Shadow of nightmares. Well and a few non-holiday characters like the tooth fairy" he said with a tilt of his head. "Or mainly none-holiday characters. Holiday um... there is valentine? you send cards with candies to your friend and adults gives roses "

(3 rounds)

"Oh..OH... Well, no. There really isn't. But I can't guarantee you won't be burned alive if they catch you using sigils. You already don't have rights... I'm sure they would have an absolute s**t fit to know there is someone teaching sigils to other. Generally, you keep that stuff to yourself." she answered then sighed. "Not that I'm not already wanted by any researcher with the gall to think they can get anything out of me."

Ashral tilted her head again. "...more holidays... as people. Wait, what's a tooth fairy?" she asked with confusion. She then paused at the mention of Valentine's and she shuddered.

//...not preferable...//

Dark looked at her and tilted its head // I will keep the secret of who taught me// he said with a solemn nod of its head. // Still there is no limit or repercussion? I could easily see how a sigil for burning could be placed in a delivery or a set of clothing then activated from a distance// he said quietly. // It is just something I would have expected more of...more dangerous people at least// he said quietly. //Again I won't tell anyone if I can help it. I don't want to send more people after you because of me...you already have enough of those after you..and they aren't asking for beauty tips unfortunately //

Ree tilted his head " Holidays as people? hm most holidays have some visual representation... this is just a fun movie" he said with a faint smile. "The tooth fairy! ..." he laughed. "I would say they name is Mara. She stalked me when ever one of my teeth was loose and give me some kind of candy or sweets afterwards. " he said as the smile faded slightly. "but the tooth fairy ...I don't think is a real fairy? I don't know. Put supposedly when you loose a tooth you put it under your pillow and the tooth fairy will take it and replace it with money...and what's wrong with valentine? " he asked looking at her curiously.

(2 rounds)

"It's extremely rare to pass down the knowledge of sigils to others. Being that it is so dangerous. Those who learn them are usually selected after years of consideration. It's just commonly known among us that we keep it secret. Most of the known users are in Midena since that is the safest place for them. In fact.... that's where most of us came from in the first place. It used to be passed down through family, but lately that's less and less the case."

"Mara was the tooth fairy?" she just seemed confused. "...teeth... sweets?..." she shook her head, this was outrageous, but then again she just read about a holiday about bunnies.

//...bad... shhhh don't say it. Don't say it!!...// Silence grew louder than she had ever spoken before.

Ashral frowned, looking away. "...I don't know... It's just... unsettling, I think."

//...Never!...// Silence hissed in anger.

Dark stared at Kai silently //Thank you...for the honor// he said respectfully, knowing it was much easier for Kae to just let him wander off and likely as she said get suckered into someone plans or amusement. //So ...try not to be obvious about it// he confirmed then circled the sigil and looked back up to her. //please continue//

Ree watched her with a pained look and reached out to touch her shoulder trying to get her to look at him. "Silence...." he called out to her.

(1 round)

Kae nodded, "yeah yeah... just don't go around announcing it, and we will be good." She agreed. Tapping the chalk against her chin a bit, she moved to erase the first sigil she made and began to write another one, much bigger this time. "Eventually, with practice, you will be able to skip the first two steps." she spoke as she drew the symbols, using the same nine symbols in the outer circle. "Also, the more power that's needed, the bigger the sigil will be." she further explained before picking up the cat, and putting him into the ring and stepped back when it began to glow. She laughed a bit. "And this is what a sealing sigil looks like. Same concept, different intent." she boasted jokingly.

Ashral closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before opening her eyes and immediately moving a finger to his lips. "Dont!" she demanded with an intense stare straight into his eyes, an almost soft primal growl at the back of her throat.

Spirit blinked then reached out and lightly kissed the tip of her finger. " You're a pain but I was just going to say ...candy." he looked but seriously " You don't want me to ask I won't, we don't need to know. It is between you to unless you want to tell me"

Dark watched curiously, already trying to memorize how she wrote one of the symbol to notice she was about to pick it up. When she did it looked up at her with a questioning look then down at the sigil where it was placed. It held still, having a better view to analyze what she did until she mentioned sealing. //Sealing? // there was just a flicker of alarm in his mental voice as it tried to jump out and slammed into the side of the circle instead. Crouching it turned to Kae with a look of betrayal as it tried to dissipate and slingshot itself back into its body only to slam against the barrier again. Solidifying into a cat it turned to stare at her, fur and feathers raised //LET ME GO!// it ordered staring right at her but its wings were shaking. Don't attack her don't attack her... maybe she has a good reason don't attack her. For a moment he saw Ashral growling at him then Kae then back.

Spirit jerked his head up and moved away from Ashral suddenly falling to the floor as he grabbed his head. //OUT!!! GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEED TO GET OUT. KILL THEM ALL// he was already trying to get out from under the covers.

//THINK, ACT, THEY'RE DEAD, ALL DEAD, always blood, she ate it, kill them to be safe, not there, doesn't matter it works, not there can't do...that not...why. OUT!!!!!!!!!// Ree and Dark cried out in pain as their soul ripped a bit more but dark stayed standing eyes locked on Kae as Spirit phased out from under the covers and taking wing as he held his hand against his own heart.

Silence blinked in absolute surprise, a tiny bit of red shifting into her face if only for a brief moment. "...oh..." was all she could mutter. "...we would rather not talk about it..." she mumbled with a hint of shyness before closing her eyes and sighing.

The coy amusement of a light hearted prank quickly turned sour as Ree began to freak out, screaming. Worry on her face as she quickly dispelled the sigil, the glow fading away almost instantly. "Ree! Are you okay?! What's happening?!" she exclaimed, a genuine look of panic and concern in her voice and expression.

Ashral opened her eyes suddenly as Ree jerked away and fell to the floor. "R-ree!!" she shouted in fear of the situation. The screams to be let go and to get out sent her into a defensive panic. She threw the covers off him as he appeared to be struggling with them, but he had already phased by then. "W-wait! Ree!!" she called out as he flew out suddenly. Taking a deep breath, she took off running out of the door to chase after Ree, her limp already slowing her down.

Dark disappeared the moment the glow died down and Ree backed wing dropping to the ground and stumbled forward grabbing on to a railing as tears streamed down his face as he struggled not to cry and failed. //get out... leave...can't say anything ...can't say anything at all. He died ,she died stupid, idiot, helpless..we were..helpless and they were so angry. blood, hurt..., he hurts, she hurts, masks always watching, get out get out Get out....laughing ..... blood.... if it wa-... -osi... igl ..n // his thoughts went in deep as he raised his hands to his hair, and grabbing it a he slide to his knees and lowered his hands into a fist only to pull them tight against his chest.

Kae reached out but he was gone, a frown on her face as she realized she did something wrong. She immediately tested him, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out. I didn't think you would react like that."

Ashral kept moving, blade already in hand as she pursed Ree where ever he went. She spotted Ree up ahead as she ran with everything she had despite the pain. As soon As she reached him, she immediately dropped her sword and hugged him lightly from behind. "Ree! Its okay! You're okay!" she assured, moving to run his back gently. "Is Kae doing something to you?! Where is she?! " she spoke defensively, reluctant to let him go unless he protested.

Silently he stared at the ground clinging to the necklace under his clothes in distress as he muttered softly to himself under his breath. At Ashral's yell a new wave of fear surged through him as he started wiping away the tears, the muttering becoming less and less as both had one goal in mind, try not to show the wreak he was on the inside.

Still no matter what he wanted he was shaking when she hugged him and flinched when she tried to rub his back. Extending his wings slightly, he tried to pull his way out of her grasp and get up.

He didn't look at her, trying to push everything down even as the muttering started up again and stopped a second later as the grasp on the necklace tightened. "N...no" he struggled, licking his lips slightly as he tried to look at he and couldn't. "She ...held Dark. I ...I think she was playing.... she let it go soon after .." his voice trembled as he finally lifted his head up to star at her, doing more so out of will than any desire to do so. Fear and pain were evident on his face as he stared past her, struggling to show a calm exterior but it was Dark who was afraid and memories they have forgotten kept resurfacing along with what had happened to them recently. "Lets go back" he muttered looking away from her again, unable to hear Kae at all unless she thought it to him.

Ashral let him move from her grasp as she frowned, not sure what to do from here.

//what do i do? He doesn't need me. He does, look at him. He's fine on his own. No he's not! I only make it worse. Shutup!, he needs us! He doesn't. Yes he does!! Setting us up to fail. No I'm not, if you don't want to help, then... Get out!// her mind was at odds as Orrin manifested, hissed and ran off.

Ashral moved to kneel down next to Ree. "Its over, it's okay... You're okay. We are okay..." she assured. She smiled softly to him, offering a hand out to him "...Lets go back... I still want to know what the tooth fairy looks like..." she offered with a gentle expression.

"We're all okay..." he muttered feeling lost since Kae was not an enemy and everyone else had been...same like Tri. Reaching out silently he grasped her hand and got up taking a deep breath and trying to give her a faint smile. It worked slightly even if the only thing he wanted to do now was fly, far and fast to no specific location. Turning his head he stared out after Orrion, Dark for once was not present settling deeper within their mind. At the same time he wanted to go after him but neither was going to split into the cat not after what happened. //Silence....we told you both that you keep us sane. I can't say anything higher then that// reluctant to even talk mind to mind but he wasn't going to shout that. Looking back to Ashral he nodded slowly still avoiding her gaze, wanting to head back and hide under the covers. "hummingbird...she looks like a hummingbird" he muttered taking a step to her but letting her lead.

Ashral smiled a little more as he took her hand.

//..alone..// a whisper of a voice that was barely heard.

"You mean, she doesn't look like Mara?" she joked a little, trying to lighten the mood, still concerned for him but things seemed to be calming down. She began to lead him back toward the house.


Ree started to smile then frowned "....Vina... looked a lot like Mara didn't she.." he muttered completely random as he went silent, not even responding to Silence, assuming he wanted to be alone. Wings where nearly dragging behind him but he followed toward the room again, listening to Dark's thoughts as it tried to analyze Kae.

Ashral gave a small snort. "She does... I wonder if they are relat-..." she paused, frowned, then shook her head. "So does the skeleton take over Christmas?" she asked instead trying to distract his mind, giving him something else to focus on than what was happening with Kae.

Kae sighed, //...ree, I'm sorry.. I was trying to demonstrate it, I didn't mean to scare you...// she spoke sympathetically.

"Not any obvious connection to the name Gold. I asked but who knows down a mother's line. Sorry I ..just I don't know. " he shook his head pausing outside the door as he looked for a key he left inside. "Uh... he does, gives Halloween related gifts to children that either terrorizes them or tries to eat them. Santa is taken by the three terror kids and instead of being left in Halloween town is given to oggy boogie which is talking and walking bag full of maggots who tries to play a game with his life " he frowned, not finding the pass and just phases though waiting for her to follow as he glanced to the TV that was just slightly ahead of the part he just described. "It's still going" he muttered quietly and moved toward his bed as Kae's voice rang out in his head sending a surge of panic through him.

Dark surge forward but said nothing even as he clenched his hand tightly over the blue stone under his clothing, grasping the amber like one as well. Silently he moved to the bed, lifting the covers and sliding in only to cover himself entirely under them. //.... // he was still silent staring at the underside of the covers where the light of his eyes made the small area glow. //We....have currently spent a month collared for the amusement of one magi family who believed it was their right to trick and enslave any non-human, spirit or meta that touched their island or even outside of it. Prior to that ....syanothingcan'tsaycan'tsay... never mind. They are dead, very dead woulddoitagainsmugfemaledog. When I come back I find my warrant is now a bounty ....and I go to you at SIU only for that to happen. You did not know, I am not... we are not fine. Please, ....do not do that again//

She listened to him explain the rest of the movie as she nodded, squeezing his hand gently as they had walked. She moved to phase after him as she watched him move into the covers. She crawled into the covers with him, looking at him with a slightly concerned look before nudging his forehead with her own and touched her nose to his before smiling at him. "I'm here for you..."

Kae listened carefully. //I wont do it again, I swear it. I... I didn't know..//

// I know...I can see it more clearly now. Thank you, I ...will see you on the date we agreed upon? I think we still need to ....// there was a pause as he took a breath watching Ashral joined him and rests her forehead against his. //meet in person. Ask Mara for a detail to guard you, I can meet you anywhere...a private booth somewhere or even a different hotel room// he said quietly as he looked up at Ashral, his eyes blank but not-dead like just hinting at the fear and pain underneath. Hiding it much better than Spirit could. He kept staring at her as she touched his nose in greeting and after a bit pulled back only to duck his head and tried to rest it under her chin even if he had to scoot all the way down.

Kae nodded even if he couldn't see it. //Thats fine, we can meet in person on the date selected. I'll text you beforehand just to make sure I'm not a resident of A La Haven by then.// She commented then sighed.

Ashral smiled a bit, wrapping her arms softly around him as he tested himself under her chin, just giving him a place of comfort until he felt better. She hummed a song softly, nothing in particular, just a random song she had heard once somewhere.

//..... if we keep this...you could try to reach me and I'll try to find you. I don't know the range though// he muttered quietly feeling Ashral's arms moving around him and between top and middle wings. He said nothing just leaned in forward as he ducked his head down slightly as he started crying silently.

//Okay, I'll keep this.. Who knows, if Mara fails... You may be the only way I get out of that place...// Kae admitted quietly, obvious that she was very stressed out about it.

Ashral moved one of her hands up just enough to comfortable stroke his hair. She frowned, even if he wouldn't be able to see her, more concerned for him but just held onto his gently, knowing he really needed this.

Ree just sent a feeling of acknowledgement to Kae, not trusting himself to say words before he closed both links as he best as he could. Moving a just a little closer to Ashral he quietly cried himself to sleep, her attempt to comfort him being the last thing needed after what happened just now to break a little through that he was trying to push down.

​After Searching for a Light. Before Halloween Ball (Belosh Event)

Shadows of the Lost

Next Night:
Ree woke up early, watching the sun just setting in the sky as he struggled to sleep a little longer. Letting out a soft sigh he stretched out the length of the bed and peeked over the edge of the covers at Ashral with a look of worry. Closing the link he sighed, lifting and dropping his wings over himself in comfort as he thought.

He could get up and work more on what he was researching, while continue trying to find some logical way in which they all connected. Except, he had started hitting dead ends, where he needed to relying on someone else with a skill he did not have. A skill that he couldn't easily hire out for since it wasn't entirely legal. Then there were a few other things was where low on his list but at this point he should try.

Tiredly he moved to his feet then grimaced as he promptly sat down on the rug. Shifting his top wing forward as he ran his fingers through his feathers, carefully preening those that needed as he searched for a loose or damages feather. It wasn't what he had been about to do but the bother of a malalign feather brought him back to the reality that it had been a very long time since he had done so. Long enough that....Tri had helped him.

Letting out a deeper sigh he continued for all three sets until his fingers ached for the process. Once he was done he had ascertained that the dye was still holding and that a few of the primaries that had been snipped at the island, before growing out a bit further, were getting ready to molt. It had been luck that he had molted enough feathers before the clipping to grow new ones that allowed him barely enough to regain flight with all three wings.
Now he lightly traced the edges of those clipped feathers, anger rising at the at what happened all over again. How close it could have been to either death or being stuck in the estate unable to fly physically or spiritually.

His breath hitched as he tried to hold in tears of anger and panic. What was a difference now? He couldn't move freely either nor did he want to leave Ashral alone but he was trapped, just like on that island. Panic was winning as he grabbed the mound of black dyed feathers that had fallen loose and placed it on the nightstand as he moved toward the door. He should pull out those feathers, get rid of the reminder but then again he needed the stability they afforded until the blood feathers had grown in. Until then they were a constant reminder now that he was aware, making him panic as he headed toward the door to prove to himself that he wasn't trapped. Phasing through the door he took a deep breath of the afternoon air, his breath coming in and out rapidly as he tried to calm down.

One hand was clenching the stones necklaces around his neck as he took deep breaths trying to calm down as he tried to use the meditation technique that had been ingrained into him with zero effect. He couldn't concentrate, just hold on to the desire of flying away while also wanting to stay close to Ashral for fear of losing her to someone else who wanted her soul.

Someone did, the one who killed Katarina...their signature mark was appearing over many cities starting nearly since they left the island. He was afraid, keeping an eye on the news as he marked each place and town a new victim appeared just to see if there was a search pattern. Hints that this was a pattern that happened 10 and 30 years ago made him search for any pattern then to compare to now..but it was still compared to the others something low on his list. Just as long as they weren't in the same city or close was what he kept an eye out for.

//I'll go out// he muttered to himself only to respond //Go// as a black winged cat separated, landing lightly on the ground before taking wing. Ree reached out quickly running his finger tips lightly over fur as it moved out of reach and into the darkening sky.

Taking a deep breath he stayed there slump back heavily against the door behind him, eyes flickering over to a group of guests moving into their room with hostile eyes. Sizing each one of them up as a potential threat before forcing himself to shut his eyes, only to snap them wide open again with a surge of panic.Stay awake, move to safe, he phased back into the room and analyzed the area for danger. Nothing, even the electric sense belong to their correct devices. Staring toward the bed he quietly laid back down wrapping himself in his wings in a way that he couldn't see the edges of his primaries and finally shut his eyes, hands still grasped tightly over the two stones and lucky cat.

The black cat soared, flying quickly and blindly to one specific spot landing before he landed on the roof and looked down at the sparse foot traffic below. It ...wasn't that time of day.

Dropping wings and tail laid down for a moment staring at the street in a flicker of hope that the elf was going to appear for a sandwich before leaving. It was what they had been doing off an on for a couple of days now, coming over to greet an elf with a pretty bright spirit. It was calming, harmless and right now it made his heart hurt that he wasn't there against all reasoning.
He should have woken up Ashral but he didn't want to worry them, didn't want to make them feel like he couldn't be strong, something he was doubting in himself already. She was getting stronger and he didn't want to hinder that, even if she had reacted well to the time he broke down there was always that fear. He could see the work Silence and Ashral have been doing from the strength of their spirit and the slight confidence in their walk. Yet there was still the dissonance when they argued just ...like....they did... both trying to get past or through the point in their life they couldn't face. It hasn't been the first time he wished to call Tri even after what he and Hexxis did... He didn't want them to end up like Kae but felt that was maybe the only way to preserve the horror and not be distant to it. He couldn't even help Ashral with her memories there, couldn't give her a goal before.

//you're wallowing in self-pity now// his own voice said with a hint of disapproval. //If you're not going to fly then at least let me take over// Ree muttered as the cat ruffled its feathers. Sometimes Spirit and Dark were clear cut while other times, like now, there was a seepage of one into the other, something that confused them. //Fly ..just fly. I activated the artifacts on the skill we isolated last time. We won't hurt// he muttered with conviction as he shut his eyes, looking only out of those of the cat.

//...good, let's just hope we don't need them later// his own voice responded dully as the cat cast one look back at the side walk, one last chance for the elf to appear. Not spotting that familiar light it took off, flying without the joy of flight from the last few times. Flying just to prove to himself that it was free in one way or another.

//Ashral likes flying // Ree muttered quietly as he took a deep calming breath while keeping his eyes closed. //They both do// reiterating something they both knew pretty well. //we could take them out tonight if they want. Even so Ashral is getting pretty good at holding herself up with telekinesis. Maybe she could do a dive?// he thought to the cat as the cat dove toward the ground, tail lashing all over the place to add a hint of balance that a bird with its own feather tail would have had. //Yes// was the quiet reply as it pulled out of the dive, extending one paw to lash at an invisible strand of grass to high for any natural grass to ever reach.

"Find me!"
The sudden shout made the cat turned as if it were still on solid land instead of flying quite a bit above it, sending it into a tumble as its sickly green glow strengthened in alarm. It quickly tried to right itself before it crashed to the ground below and landed in a roof, feathers and fur out on ends as it moved to lick it down and stopped.

//Hah// Ree's mental voice rang out in amusement but soon quieted as the cat lowered its paw and looked around as the voice shouted again.
The voice had an odd timber to it, one he was starting to associate with spirits. It didn't do much when you were still the only one reacting and no one else could hear them. Still he had been running into more and more spirits. Stronger spirits than those on the island, stronger than the cat...then himself. Very few were nice or bright those caught his attention all the time, others have been like that first spirit they meet or worse. He still wasn't sure why he wasn't missing a tail from a few encounters before, from a lone spirit in an alleyway that felt particularly dangerous.

It made him feel just like a child again in all the bad ways and with none of the help. He didn't consider himself particularly naive on the interactions of humans but much of that didn't matter when dealing with souls intent on staying for one particular reason or another.

That was another of them now, it could see her screaming in anger at a living passerby, soul dark as it tried to claw at their face in rage. "FIND ME!!!!!" it yelled following them only to return a few minutes later staring around for the next person. There didn't seem to much left in them to be sane holding on to their reason for being unlike the rude spirit Ashral and he had meet the first time who had not been that far gone, just angry and bored.

The cat laid its ears back, watching the soul move back and forth then disappear into the side walk only to float back out again. It reminded him of Ashral, of the times she lost control. Tail twitching it looked away and noticed another spirit a block away, two of them in fact. A child from the look of it but their features were barely visible, being more light than not as it seem to draw on the sidewalk with a finger, ignoring the screaming except to glance up when ever it stopped.

Looking away it noticed another three ghosts on the same two blocks, a few hiding behind the house the screaming was in front of. None of them seem particularly strong outside of the crazy one, they just seemed to be fading slowly.
//sidewalk?// the cat muttered.

//Crush crush boom// the same mental voice replied with only a hint of amusement in it. //why though? They have nothing to do with us, bet she would try to eat us if you asked and that is quite a bit of damage your going to do if your wrong// yet the voice didn't sound disapproving, just curious.
//... because it'sthe right thing to do? Because we can// the cat replied.
//because you want to see someone happy and hope it transfers to us and if we were ever in that situation you would want someone to do the same so Tri and Mara would know // Ree responded quietly.

The cat lashed its tail but didn't reply, lying to itself would be pointless, as it focused on the slab of cement the dark soul had floated into and out of two or three times, hunting for the next person heading home.
A large crack like the sound of a gunshot echoed down the street followed by crumbling as the cement slab was transformed into large chunks that were then lifted and thrown to the side along with dirt and bones.

The dark soul screamed lifting her hands in the air in celebration shouting Find Me more frantically now as it searched for one of the living any of them.
//We were right// Ree muttered quietly as the cat focused on the other ghosts as cement slabs under each ghost broke and where thrown out in the same manner as the first. Because nes were unde each one and the ghosts unlike the first stared uncomprehending before a loot of relief pass along the faces of some and a few others disappeared completely. Jumping off the roof the cat flew to the backyard of the house, landing on a chain link fence as it watched the three humanoid spirits stare toward the ones at the side walk. One was a wolf, likely a were?

Silently he tried to rip the dirt from the ground as one large chunk and ended up only ripping the top layer of dirt off the ground. The spirits turned back muttering as they stared then looked around looking for the force as they ignored the cat on the fence.

//Darn real life not working as the movies// was a flicker of amusement from Ree having calmed down enough to loosen the death grip he had on the necklace.

//Not now// the cat replied with irritation as it trying to change the angle of the force to scoop out dirt instead of trying to pull everything out in one go. The noise of sirens could be heard in the distance as they kept coming closer.

He started to speed up as Ree chuckled softly //relax...they aren't going to arrest a cat. Slow, just scoop unless you want to give yourself a boost//
//No! We need that encase we need to run // he growled as Ree sobered. //Right// was the subdued reply.

Wings extended and rested on the edges of the fence to give it more stability as he tried to move with his pulls something he hasn't done since he was a child but was comforting at the moment.

By the time it found the first bones the police was there radioing the scene and a need for back up as they stared at the rubble and bones. Flashlights were pointed at one if the closest graves and there was a shout as the cat sent a mound of dirt flying toward the front of the house, over the roof.
Turning it slipped into the neighbor's yard and headed out the other street, dragging the tip of its wings through the dirt in exhaustion. //...I did it because I would want someone to do the same// it said quietly. //When we die ...I want them to know so they aren't wondering... Ashral too // feeling Ree's disapproval it said nothing more.

Quietly it moved and landed in another yard with a decorative fountain that was running. Jumping on be of the lawn chairs it sighed, listening to more sirens join the first on the other side of the street.

//Remember last time you tried to do a good thing?// Ree said with a hint of warning.
//I am quite sure it was not last time// the cat responded tiredly.
//well of this caliber. Save the (Criel) leader from the renegades. Make a public mess.. help those ghosts make another mess //
//...You are lecturing me when you teleport straight toward the owner of the estate and killed her for what she did to all of us?// the cat said with the same voice expressing a hint of disbelief.
//Different, that was for survival, to save us to save Ashral. If we could run without them following I would have done that ... but they wouldn't let us go,so they had to go first//Ree responded as the same voice change to say the words with a tone of disapproval.

//Do we want to kill and ignore everything that appears. Stay locked in a box with Ashral? She wants to travel and we will...we have to or the paranoia will just grow// it muttered. //Lets end this for tonight, you try to get Ashral to levitate and maybe we can play sky tag later..then more meditating//he muttered getting up as the sirens stopped but the whole other street looked painted with blue and red lights as the cat faded completely.

After "Gone"




Two weeks later

Ree stared at the last rays of the setting sun shine dully through the window from a narrow space between his wings. It was time to wake up and go searching but he stayed there staring until long past the point there was any light left.

Slowly he unfurled his wings away from himself and moved tiredly to his feet. The cold of the night was nearly painful as he stretched out fully and tried to find at least one hopeful thing to keep him moving today.

Staring around the empty warehouse he tried to remember what was next. He flew to port darnys...common sense told him not to linger to long. Down to port Aldgar and that was "fun". First time he had been singled out and harassed in the air and on the ground for being an archangel instead of a meta and in a true race town at that. It was mostly the older demons but it was hard to search and not lash out, very hard. He moved on doubting even Kage could stay there so long, crossing straight over to Belosh again, the first place many would look but the first place he doubted Kage would return to. Searching for any trace of them there had been futile even if they were there. He had no clue, no leads at all unlike last time when they capitalized on Kage's mistake. They....

Sighing he ran his hand through his hair he tried to get it in some sort of order before pulling a granola bar from the pack. It was the only thing he could stomach any more and he ate it because he needed to not because he wanted.

Slowly he turned his thoughts back to the "they", even if he could get in touch with the renegades again what had happened afterwards would have even made him hesitant to work together. Then of course the most obvious was that no one there would care about Ashral and knowing Kage was involved there could even be more reluctance. Damn it..he was forced to even entertaining the notion of joining the renegades if they helped. Assuming they even thought him worth the effort after helping frame him. No matter what Cordelia said they had to have something to do with it. Otherwise Kage could have easily teleported and escaped with Hexxis that last time or hm...just escaped himself.

This time he wouldn't be asking if they wanted to help him but asking for their help. //would it be so bad? their leader had a bright soul...they are already a place of murderers we would fit right in and everyone already think you are with them. Why not prove them right? // the soft voice suggested as he crushed the wrapper in his hand and put it back in the box as the litterbug song quickly followed on the tail end of the other thought.

"Desperation...we're that far gone now aren't we?" He whispered softly as he put the box back into his pack as his other half finished humming the tune. //If we could get in touch with them you know we would be asking them that right now. What makes us any different from the murder squad anyways?// the soft tone turned serious as he put on the pack. "We're not laughing...we didn't torture them slowly, we're regretful even when it was needed!"He shouted and went quiet as he started breathing heavily, one hand reaching up to run through his hair and touched the light warmth of the metal at his temple. He grabbed it with one hand feeling something like a brief touch of feathers then nothing at all.

Tear were spilling down his face as he let go and headed toward the wall. //We're alone, we're hated, we would be killed on sight. They would be hated company but at least it would be company...so when they betray us and leave, it would be no surprise//

"Spirit, Be quiet " he reached out to touched the wall but didn't phase just lowered his head against it while his wings trembled behind him. It was pointless when he was just talking to himself, feeling the truth in it while wanting to denying it. "We're all that ,but we don't enjoy it" he muttered. //you don't.....// "You don't either! " he shouted again before raising his hand to wipe at the tears . "...I don't know"//Rika, Ashral, Lena, ...Hexxis//

Ree frowned "Dark...you make us quite a hypocrite "he said wiping at his tears. "Maybe I just want to see their leader again and Cordelia as well" he mutter with a faint hint of a blush, but he looked tired. "Find Ashral..." his voice tighten in pain as he pulled away from the wall. "Talk to Tri.... stop being alone, stop killing. Stop talking to myself ...smile?" he laughed without any humor. "We're getting worse aren't we?" This time there was no answer as he wiped his face.

"For once in these past few weeks I am glad I don't know where the Renegades are" he said just a little more stable. Even if it harmed his chances at finding Ashral he would have tried to get their help likely to his own regret. He still might if he knew where to look...

Phasing outside he glanced around in quiet confusion as he dried the last of his tears. Norcrest...right he arrived sometime early morning and passed out in that warehouse.

Taking wing he focused on finding some hint of Ashral. Instead he saw the ghost of some children staring blankly across a busy street. One seem to be only halfway out of the ground as if hiding. Ree circles and stared at them before reaching out his telekinesis and sent a large chunk of dirt with human bones flying up and onto the side walk before quickly moving on.

7 hours later

Ree clenched his arm, trying to slow the gunshot wound as he sight teleported again and phased into a house, holding very still as he looked around for any spirits. Seeing none he crashed back into the wall and slid down leaving a trail of blood as he did so.

He was gasping in short breaths as he arched back against the wall in pain as he focused on healing. Healing on first taking out the fragments of metal from the bullet, he learned better since the island.

He wasn't even sure who shot him and didn't stay to find out, sight teleporting multiple times before randomly picking the closest home without lights on. For a moment he had thought it was Kage or even something to do with the bones he has thrown out if their hiding place earlier this night but he had yet to see or hear pursuit. //Stop thinking. Just heal// Spirit muttered.

An alarm going off snapped him out of his dream as he looked around frantically or danger only to freeze at what he saw. Police where everywhere, one even a few inches from him as he lashed out with a hand not even sure which form he was in. The sharp nails snagged for a moment then pass through the shoulder of the person who was crouched by him. She didn't react, only continued to stare at him while rubbing her shoulder idly.

Ree backed up, raising one hand to check his throat for a collar only to fall back through the wall without consciously trying to phase. Outside a couple of police cars were parked as he hit the ground and twisted moving to run on all fours and stumbling up on two as he sight teleported away from there as quickly are could.

//s*** s*** s***// he thought grasping the necklace, swaying as he moved through the wall of another building and crouch down in some kind of office which was currently closed. //what happened// he muttered, looking down at his transparent hands that were glowing with a sickly green light , while a faintly blue light shone brightly from lines trailing up from the back of his hand and under his clothing. He looked...like a spirit. //I died...// the thought echoed in his mind with a chill as he stared blankly at his hands, feeling despair and guilt rising up followed by an intense feeling of loneliness. He must have passed out mid healing, bleed out ..died. The owner of the house likely came back, called the police and his body taken away.
"S***" he muttered running his hand through his hair while trying not cry. Why was he still here? Ashral.... even so he couldn't do anything for her dead.

Making a fist he hit the ground blinking only when he felt the course feeling of the rug followed by the cold air of the air conditioning system turning on. Looking down he noticed he had stopped glowing and was solid. //....what?// he was staring at his hand in pained confusion, not really believing it but already reaching out to grab something off the desk to test that he ...was alive again?

Staring blankly at the pen he moved it closer then dropped it, leaning back against the wall as he closed his eyes with a deep sense of relief. //another power?. // a more analytical part of him thought, grasping at the sudden flux of power, range and appearance of new skills in a short time after leaving the island. He still didn't understand what was happening to him or why especially after being so far from the island now.

"Can't you just be happy we're not dead? Even so that was a trip..." he muttered opening his eyes as he stared at his hand again and not a paw as he was expecting.
//I can. I just wish we knew what was changing // "Well I am sure Mara would be oh so happy to help us locked in the basement of her new facility if she just doesn't turn us in first " a flicker of pain as he remembered over hearing Mara's view of him to a couple of people in the hallway. It could have been a ruse ...but after Parley she didn't even want to talk to him then and now?

//Those thoughts aren't any better//

"...I know. " he gruffed and raised his wings to hide under them. //... // "....." //we're not trying it again right now // "....aw" but it was weak as he just tried to center himself. And calm down. Where was Ashral? He missed them so much right now...

Tri.....

"...." //.....// silently he lifted his hand to touch his pocket and stopped, pulling his hand back inside again. Tri was with Hexxis and he would be nothing but a bother they need to collar and keep out of harms way. //self-pity...// "....Tell me what part of that isn't true" he asked dully. //.....//

"Yea..." he said off softly. "Let's think of where Kage could be..other than in Banor selling Ashral's soul for the highest bidder " he said with a wince //.... that ....isn't untrue..// "nor is it true" he said depressed. "I don't know....we don't know" //...right. Keep the pattern then, check the local news and move on for Banor...//

"She could be dead dead...that wasn't her original body. Maybe Hexxis mentioned her and Kage wanted to get revenge or something" //or something...but if it were true then we are truly alone // "Better chasing a dream then not?" //Kage isn't a dream...next time we burn him // "....not killers?" //We don't enjoy it ..not that we weren't given the ground work for it ..// "Mincing words ..." //what ever keeps us sane. He is a danger and he took Ashral // "..." sighs. "Lets go then..." feeling a wave of dizziness as he pushed himself up anyways and headed out.

Before "I walked alone"

Chance

Ree stood in the middle of the room staring intently at the phone in his hand with only a hint of anger. Silently he tossed it to the bed and paced, one hand grasping the blue crystal and lucky cat necklace that brought up painful memories as he fingered the cat just at the edge of the crystal.

Turning sharply he walked back to the phone and called his old number, silent waiting.

Hexxis has been walking for nearly two hours, cellphone in hand and nothing else before it vibrated. Looking to the phone and not recognizing the number, she quickly wiped her face of tears, as if it helped at all and answered the phone. "Hello?

"What do you want" Ree's voice was cold and sharp as he started to pace again. The fingers of his right hand were grasping the necklace, a habit he needed to break but not today.

The voice on the other end brought a relieved joy to her heart, "I'm so relieved you're-...." she paused, the tone of his voice immediately eliminating any sense of welcome there was to the last bit of family she thought she still had. "....I'm...sorry." she forced out in a much softer and defeated voice. Her hands were shaking and she already felt the tears building up despite how hard she was shoving down her emotions. "....I just..." she tried to search for words that wouldn't come then sighed. "I just wanted to say how grateful I am that you rescued me... again. And that I am sorry that I now feel like I've wasted your efforts as well on frivolous notions of freedom I never really owned. I..." she paused, taking a deep breath. "....I have no idea what I'm talking about..." she was trying hard not to break down crying as she had stopped walking by this point, just standing as she looked up and a sob hitched in her throat. "...I'm sorry I bothered you."

Ree paused, a frown on his face as he listened to her catching the nuisances in her voice as well as the obvious hitching that made him thing she was quite ready to cry. Emotions, she was showing quite a bit of emotion which was not what he expected, nor the gratitude after what she help Tri do last time. She finally had emotion and was now a pessimist.

"You helped Tri capture me and nearly everyone who went to rescue you. Why? I know they were the enemy but for once just a few hours of cease fire to rescue you...to transfer to Tri and we go on our way"the coldness had reincided a bit and there was a flicker of pain but for him this was important before he asked what she was talking about or why she sounded ready to break. Further thought sent a cold shiver through him but he said nothing.

"...he told me you might have been compromised but the Renegades. I only remember you being there. Not them. If they helped you... then I'm sorry for the grave misunderstanding..." she answered softly.

"Renegades, ex-renegade, and an SIU member helped me. Your extended family from both sides. " he explain pushing the emotions down until the coldness was back. "I asked if they wished to help me and Zaku response was to drive from from another city, dead on his feet to help save you from -Kage- " he spoke the name quietly, hatred seeping into his voice as much as he tried to hold it back. " and willingly transferred you to Tri's care. " he explained, his right hand squeezing the crystal with all his might.

//neither here or there //pisses me off//no reason to know//they shouldn't have!// remember the room//collared why//likely good reason// what happened to Tri?//why escaping//heart condition//Zaku's bounty still up//Where was Cordelia?//no bounty, no warrant//

He let out a breath and returned to pacing. "You seem to have become in touch with your emotions without the nasty side-effect. So why are you wasting it wallowing in self-pity? " he asked staring blankly at the air in front of him as he paced, assuming Tri left her with Mara once she showed signs of complication and that she likely didn't want to stay, hence the collar."There are a multitude of people with heart problems and they still have most of their freedom. Mara will likely even look up some research things they can do for you" his voice had dull until he was speaking in a monotone.

She was quiet for some time, analyzing the words he spoke. A soft sigh escaping her lips paired with a frown as she was shown the full frame of what had happened.

"Tri let Zaku Shiori go. I.." she paused yet again. "I am still attempting to accept him since it appears Tri has, however little." she commented before the name he spoke had the same effect, an angered chill down her spine. "...kage..."

"Because I have lost everything. To my own selfishness. And no matter the choices I make, no one is satisfied. I had a life and that was stolen from me. And there is no one to blame but myself. That's why I'm walking in the middle of nowhere back to Belosh......maybe."

"Mara has made it clear I am not apart of your family anymore. So the chances she is doing anything to help me is very minimal." she spoke sadly with a sigh.

"Accept him?" There was a hint of surprise when she mentioned that Tri let him go but the fact that Tri has been trying to accept Zaku stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Not possible, he intently dislikes him. For ...things. " he said with a slight wave of his hand then froze when he heard the emotion in her voice. "Don't go after Kage, if you see him call me and I'll kill him. " he said it without a hint of hesitation. "He died during your rescue ..I think. We stupidly made a deal with Yoko for her help and she somehow brought him back. No idea why but he is harder to kill than before and still has all his powers. Even beheading doesn't work" he clenched his teeth and started pacing again as he turned around each new nugget of information.

Hexxis next words made him pause as he heard a reflection of himself. "You had a life...so you're not with Tri?" He frowned confused, trying not to be jealous but he was as well as exasperated. Seems he caught her when she was running off again and he could bet she didn't bother to figure out what medication she should be taking. "Maybe? " he let out a sigh. "You're running off again without a plan aren't you. "

"Possible. They have children together. They even-...." she forced herself to stop before her increased grip on her phone threatened to break it.

"I have not seen Kage since you rescued me then. I cannot guarantee I won't act first if I see him again." she commented with a hint of regret.

"I was part of a mission to retrieve Tri after he turned himself into the government. After his rescue, Mara informed me I would joining SIU permanently. I would never see Tri again. I could not live that kind of life. I chose Tri. Why would I want to forcefully spend a life away from him. But leaving, I had time to think... Think about how he pushed me away before. He probably wouldn't take me back." she was a small whine as she shoved back another sob. "...I married Zephyr... Mara stole my ring. How could Tri ever want me back after leaving like this?" Despite her efforts, there were tears in her eyes.

"....I have no direction. I don't know what to do anymore. And I begin to think... does it even matter." her voice grew soft, there was a faint sound of crying as she finally sat down where she stood.

"I feel like... I grew up too fast. I'm still a kid trying to figure out what I should have done right and I just keep walking in circles with no direction. And I can't help but regret every decision I've made."

"...." there was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time. "They....have children" he repeated quietly in shock as a memory tried to come to the forefront. Ashral, his phone...Tri now Hexxis. "Twins, who looked like me or Tri. They were accompanied by Kae..." he just said blankly, knowing what he was going to talk to her about next time. What if Tri had always known Zaku and this had always been a farce? The fact he let him go after capturing him, and all those times he had gone out searching for Hexxis could have been to talk to Zaku...then the Renegade leader being so calm about transferring Hexxis to Tri with only a mild protest. He didn't know what to think now.

Talk of Kage,unfroze his tongue as he tighten his grip on the phone. "You want to thank me for rescuing you? Kept the hell away from Kage. It took 6 of us to get you and bring him down. Then he Kil-...never mind. Even if you think you have an opening it won't matter. What part of decapitation didn't work don't you understand? Being stab will likely just make him giggle"he took a deep breath, his voice sounding strained as he went right back to pacing, feeling confined like a tiger in a cage.

Her next words froze him "He turned himself in...why in the world would he do that " there was fear in his voice now as he moved toward the window. There was nothing he could do now, everything sounded like it was past tense but he wanted to move...do something. "Why didn't you think something was wrong? Having kids with Zaku....turning himself in. None of that fits his personality or any of his patterns that I know of. Didn't you think he could have been controlled? Andy did it, so it's possible. " he sounded a bit accusing but he didn't know and he couldn't exactly go and call.//we could....//no...// calm //later// paranoia//calm/

He said nothing for quite a while as she explained her feelings many similar to what he had been trying to deal with. He was trying to focus his mind and ignore his own grief just below the surface that kept resonated with Hexxis voice and words.

He grimaced at the mention of Zeph and tried not to think of the first and only time he meet the merc face to face. Instead he silently approved what Mara did but it was a case that Hexxis kept pushing the merc intheir face when they didn't want him there. The interesting thing is she only talked about Tri and not Zeph other than that part...did that mean the merc didn't care where she was? Or was that why she was going to .......walk across the continent. Either he stopped her now or she would go missing or wind up dead and while she assumed Tri hated her...he really doubt he did. He doubt Tri hated him either but he couldn't easily forgive him for what he had done.

"He'll take you back. He's stubborn, sometimes short sighted, and withdrawn but he cares for his family. If he pushed you away, he likely did it so you will learn something...or something stupid like that. He is as clueless sometimes as you or me but if you push hard enough he will relent....unless he has a very god reason for what he is doing. Sometimes the best thing to do if give him an hour or two then come back" he muttered with irritation.

"That said....yea. We don't have the best examples ...and while we are still learning others expect us to know everything. It is trying to live long enough to learn..without the leeway they give children"he sighed going silent for a bit, resentful for that but even if had the option of being a child again with the same limitations while having more freedom he likely wouldn't take it.

"You have no direction. I need a bodyguard, I can pay but not much " his voice was different than a moment before, cooler but not as cold as it originally was.

"Twins, correct." she answered simply.

She was restraining from fighting it, but forced herself to let it go. "I don't have the best control of my anger. Though, I will try my best to not pursue. By experience, it doesn't matter if I fight or run. He is determined to get what he wants. Brainwashing Andy, stealing Andy, killing me, kidnapping me, controlling me." she sighed then fell silent.

"He was not happy that we rescued him. He... felt unwanted. Unneeded." she thought over it, considering his point. "He don't think he is controlled. Tri threw Zaku against a wall for suggesting he would take you and I into his care because he was an inadequate father. The conversation ended with my attempt at trying to kill Zaku. Tri did not stop me, DH did. Afterwards, I had heart issues which Zaku and Tri were working together to help me." she frowned. "I simply do not know."

The mention of Tri taking her back, caused a pain so deep in her heart, she moved a hand over her chest and leaned forward. "...I pressed the matter... and he refused me. But if you really think he would..." her voice trailed off, breaking from the strain of holding back more tears.

She simply nodded at his response to feeling like a child, but really didn't know much about it all to retort any further on it. It was merely out of her grasp of understanding by now.

Pausing, she blinked, looking up as he mentioned bodyguard. Listening to his offer. "...no." she said suddenly. "..you don't need to pay." she followed up. "....you want me to protect you....?" there was a soft exhale. "....I accept...... brother, where are you..?" she asked softly, looking around for her bearings as she waited for an answer.

Ree moved to the window and leaned against the wall his foot jitteriness in restlessness. "Yea....then familial connection is why he stayed. I know the twins where with Kae before your rescue. Someone at SIU sent it to me and I asked Tri, he was unaware...I was going to tell him but...you saw that happened " he muttered .

"Let's get things a little clear before we start making him some kind of unstoppable force" he said a little sharply. "Brainwashing Andy was Mara's idea and he agreed. Capturing Andy was Tri and me if you count nearly dying to her a successful distraction. Killing you was....me" he said grinding his teeth " I was not aware of something simple and asked Zira to disable to car. " he admitted before pushing on even as he tensed. "Kidnapping and controlling you was all him. Don't make him be something that he's not, or you will always view him as something unbeatable " he chided lightly.

He listened to the part of Tri and grimaced as he nodded even as the fact Tri was staying with Zaku after ...after what he accused him of , hurt deeply. DH he did not know,maybe another renegade member. Tri was with he Renegades because of the twins... leaving when it seemed that he wasn't needed any more. Likely trying to return to Mara..he hurt a little to know he had not tried to search for him at all either.

"Ever since I was little he has always been busy and usually with or doing something for Mara...likely even before I was born. I'm not to surprised he reacted like that ..I don't know either " he muttered again, his voice tone down again.

"Yea he would...but you need to tackle the problem instead of ignore it. Compromise, or at least try not promising much. I had to do the same but with a lot milder things. I can already guess that the problem here must have been over Zeph ...I don't like him either. " he said truthfully then sighed as he looked around. "Something we will had to talk about I guess when you come. Address is (place) try not to get followed okay" he muttered, not sure what he was doing, darnit. He should tell her to go back to Tri... try to figure things out.... but if Tri reached the point he gave himself in...and is woring with Zaku then he is likely .. who knows what the heck they are thinking.

"Kage isn't unstoppable. He is determined. He still took Andy out of SIU. And I would not have been killed had I not been in the car in the first place. I was locked in my room recovering from severe injuries. He went out of his way to take me and put me in danger. I never blamed you for what happened. I am aware that he is beatable... which is why my anger for him is hard to ignore. But again, I will try." she retorted in a soft voice.

"Very likely. I did not handle the news of Zaku's shared children with Tri. Tri did take care of them for some time after you rescued me, before he shoved me away to Zephyr despite my adamant protests. They are now in Zaku's care."

"I will try. I am...scared. Afraid it will end in another fight. Terrified he will only hate me. That I will only make things worse... more than I already have." her voice grew softer, before it paused. She was aware no one in her family liked Zephyr. Something that was hard to stomach but in the end she honestly didn't know how to feel about it.

She nodded as she received the address, forcing herself to a stand. "...belrad..." she muttered before turning to look back at where she had been walking from. "I... will walk back. I will arrive in approximately two hours..." She took a deep breath, starting to walk again.

Ree let the rest drop when she mentioned she was two hours out from Belrad. Letting go of the stone he reached up and squeezed the bridge of his nose without sighing. "You're two hours out. I assume you have no money? I can meet you in morrad..that would actually be more convenient " he muttered as he juggled the idea of calling Tri and...and....he had no idea what he would say or do ..or act.

She stopped walking, look up at the sun with squinted eyes before looking around again. "No, I don't have money..... I can meet you in Morrad. It doesnt particularly matter."

"I saw that your warrant was taken down. It does not mean they might not be after you" there was a long sigh. "Tell me where you are. i'll take you with me"

"....in the middle I'm nowhere." she answered bluntly but with a somber sigh.

"north west of Belrad? " he ask trying to figure out in which direction to fly. Two hours...she walked fast.

//She's not Ashral// She'll figure out we're not right// //she will mess this up//tell her to go to try//trust//betrayal she done it many times already// lost.. //

Clenching his teeth he closed his eyes and waited for her to answer. He had two days off and it took him a bit to get here then back. He won't be back in time if he had to carry Hexxis.

"I traveled north one out then twenty degrees west for the next hour." she answered then turned again to get her bearings. I will keep walking toward Morrad this way. I'm the only person out here in this middle of nowhere." she suggested. "Is this acceptable?"

"Not to many other choices" he sighed quickly. "I'll look for you around the area" he said putting the key card down on the table as the cat over at SIU disappeared. Two artifacts down, hopefully he didn't need the last.

Hanging up he quickly installed a compass app and headed out, enshrouding his looks as he did when traveling with Tri and taking wing. Following where she said... keeping a lookout for her or anyone else. It gave him time to think ...and worry.

"Understood. I will see you soon." she responded, her voice soft with still a hint of sadness, but ultimately felt more confident about what she was doing. Hanging up the phone, she took a deep breath, the tears still not ceasing as she looked down and began to walk yet again.

What was he doing? What was he doing?! He was panicking that is what he was doing. The information Hexxis told him combined with offering her a job, the one who keep running away or worse telling others. The moment he offered it to her it seemed right not he wasn't so sure //Trust..//you first ::hisses:: // .... // He missed Ashral so much.... Tri ... he had no idea.

Quickly adjusting for walking speed vs flying an hour later he was flying slow, looking for a lone traveler on the ground.

Although he new where to search for her, she was nowhere to be found

Passing over the area a few times he sigh and flewhigher, blinking as he look around for any human shaped spirits.

There was nothing in sight for miles.

Frowning he pulled out the phone and called her.

He could hear the faint sound of something vibrating in the distant field ahead.

//...Sh**// he dove relying on electric sense to lead him toward the phone.

The phone, laid haphazardly in the field, showed missed calls from multiple unnamed numbers, the last one being Ree's as it went to voicemail.

Ree flicked through the phone and frown, looking around for tire tracks as he called the first unknown number.

The number set to dial but there was no ringtone. Just a silence before automatically disconnecting with spotty reception out in the middle of nowhere. Upon further investigation of contacts through text messages, he would find one number was Tri's, the last message being a set of coordinates. And the other number was Zephyr's the last three messages being "I'm coming home.", "She..took my ring. As if ejecting me from the family was not enough.", and "...I guess my brother hates me too." There were no further messages than that.

There were no signs of struggle or tire marks of any sort.

Ree stared down at the phone and frowned pocketing it as he looked around on the ground. It was soft enough to show some footprints but they all seem to be the same shoe, not moving further away from this spot.Cat splits and lashes its tail as it sniffed the ground //We suck at this... I just smell dirt// // its something// // Something happened... I would like to assume she found an old friend and didn't want us to follow but ... I would like to assume she would have warned us.. me... //

//I'm not getting anything...and we need to go// it lashed its tail again as Ree frowned looking a little more closely for any clues. "......" //Reception is bad....// // closer to ...rad// // lost ..// dead//...ed//...deead// /shut up shut up shut up!// he feathers bristled as he tighten his grip on the necklace. // She's not here...// he said sharply and took wing, heading toward morrad while keeping an eye around.

The cat lashed its tail not following as it stared at the ground. // Wrong way// it muttered then disappeared.
-------------------------

Just outside of the city limits of Morrad, a woman was standing, long black hair and merely standing by herself, staring at the city from a distance. Being far enough from the city to honestly be easily spotted by flyers nearby, especially Ree.

//she was heading west ...higher...maybe ..why drop the phone?I don't know we don't know...// there was silence as he approached Morrad, angling to land at the edges of the city when a figure caught his eye below. Black hair not short and brown, he was about to fly past but quickly turn to head to her encase she had seen ....//Hexxis was walking, she isn't a car //

He was already landing a bit away, looking tired when he realized he really did not have anything to ask this person nor was he in the right shape to be to curious.

The woman had barely noticed anyone landing near her as she tensed very slightly as someone spoke. Slowly turn to look at him, she ran fingers through her hair to carefully run it back behind her ear and stared back at him with bright green eyes, a face of freckles as her doll-like ball joints became prominently clear now that he had a much better view of her. There was a hint of confusion, squinted eyes searching over familiar features as she tried to place where she had seen this person before. After a moment or two, her eyes widened in surprise. "...ree?..." she asked then began to smile with a huge sense of relief. ".....I found you..."

Ree tensed staring at her coldly before he tried to slam her a bit away with telekinesis as he brought his wings down in a powerful downward stroke to quickly do a vertical rise.

She backed up, guarding herself slightly. "W-wait!" she called out in a panic. "Ree, it's just me!!" she frowned. "I was trying to find you, make sure you were okay after everything that happened. Please don't go." She thought quickly, pulling her hair up into pigtails with her hands, her marking on her face and features very visible. Cordelia looked worried, ".....what happened to you..."

"Cordelia " he said with a flicker of surprise and shifted from a quick altitude gaining movement to one of hovering as he stared down at her. // Trick....// by who. No one knew...Anadii knew...Zaku knew //trick//....//

He looked sharply away from her and viewed the surrounding area, looking for the souls of any hiding in ambush. He never figured out how to turn it off only dim it down to a faint glow and now he had it back at full force. Turning back to her he narrowed his eyes and blink at a fairly bright soul. It was enough that he wondered if she was being truthful.

Hesitating he dropped back down but kept the same distance away, wings lifted still for quick flight. "To many things.... " he frowned faintly, tense. "Why were you looking for me " he was suspiciously, finding Hexxis in SIU was one thing but Cordelia looked like a plant.

"Zaku said you had gone missing and asked me to find you. I... I won't tell him that I found you. I wanted to find you for myself. You were my friend... I was worried..." she frowned, looking back to the city. "...I was going to look in Morrad but I was scared..." her frown deepened. "I lived in Morrad... but after what happened... they raided the house I grew up in.... and I've been too scared to go back. Tri attacked us. Collared us... I felt horrible that there was no way to get him to listen... to understand that you weren't with the Renegades.. After that, you disappeared.... It's been months." she was looking away, avoiding eye contact as she blinked away tears. There were no souls anywhere near them. She really was just standing alone outside the city.

His paranoia was still rampant as he looked around and stared back at her, trying to calm down and forcing himself to pull his wings in at least instead of looking like a skitterish cat. At the mention of Zaku he frowned faintly then looked surprised again as she told him her real reason for being there.

"You have a good soul" he said very quietly "heart, sorry ,heart" he shook his head with a mutter but never looked away from her. "Very few people would have done what you did, feel the way you did or even gone out of their way after everything that happened" he shifted his weight slightly on his feet. "I'm sorry about your home, I never expected Tri to do what he did. I assume he would quickly jump at a cease fire when Hexxis was involved " there was a flicker of pain as he reached up to grab at the necklace but stopped the movement halfway.

"Your home is still there, I didn't see any one watching it last time I went but it could be through none obvious means. Mara would know of it for sure ..." he sighed and ran his hand through black dyed hair that was currently showing a hint of white at the roots. "I'm sorry " he muttered, having gone there in search of her the first time he came to Morrad, hoping to find her and maybe gain her help in finding Kage. His original thought of hacking Haven for information on Ashral barely even a thought now....until he moved to other means.

It made him feel guilty that he she was looking for him as a friend and he had been searching for her as a tool. It was so hard to trust anyone now...and he feared he was slowly getting worse than Mara or Tri combined.

She blinked in surprise at his compliment, glancing away before looking away, only a slight flush of color to otherwise pale face. "...th-thanks..."

She narrowed her eyes in pain as he spoke of her home. "....I was never able to go back... I... I grew up in that house..." she muttered then sighed. "Its okay... I should have moved on a long time ago... I don't know why I kept going back.." she shook her head and switched subjects. "...what brought you to Morrad..." she asked with a slight worry in her voice. Hopefully it wasnt anything bad.

"Business " he said quietly as he shifted his wings but was slowly calming down as he watched her. " What about your parents? " remembering the pictures that were in the room but they never had enough time to actually look closely. He glanced silently toward her arm, remembering when it was snapped off but now seemed to be working.

"Mm." she nodded with a somber look before looking to him when he asked about her parents. Despite any attempts to avert5he feelings she had about it, there was a hidden pain in her eyes. "My mom died when I was very young... My dad.. he... We don't really love there anymore. So there was no point in going back. We stayed with the renegades, as EE." she answered calmly with a softness to her voice, a look in her eyes that reflected the reminiscence of painful memories.

Ree nodded silently then frowned. "Wait...your father is in EE?" He tilted his head slightly as he tried to remember the named that were thrown out there. It felt so long ago but there were two that one of them have ever been able to confirm. After a moment thought he added "and you lived most of your life here...so you understand that dynamics of the city pretty well? ,

"...Baelan,.. He's my dad." she confirmed then slowly nodded, "I was born and raised here. I only spent the last two years outside of Morrad with EE. So I am very familiar with the dynamics of the city..."

Ree nodded quietly "you're both still in EE or still helping them from the side lines?" Not accusatory just tired as he tried not to get to excited.

She shook her head. "My dad and I left the Renegades after the release of the video in Norcrest. I help Zaku from time to time as a personal friend......." she paused, before tilting her head. "...wait... didn't you know that EE disbanded?... Even Zaku left the Renegades completely. The only one who's interested in going back is Andy. She plans on causing some kind of ruckus with Murder Squad." she sighed. "....she's insane... but she's not ready to let go of the leadership of the whole Renegades to them... I understand her,... doesn't make it any less idiotic."

Ree blinked then stared at her and placed his hand in his head. "Zaku left? No...I've literally been out of touch with everyone since the day Tri collared us" he said solemnly. "I spoke to Hexxis a few hours ago.... and hah...I should be calling them. Seems the universe is saying your break is over" there was no smile at that or anything close. "Why did he leave? I mean wasn't that his dream?" He shook his head.

"Then Andy was able to find someone to fix her eyes then?" Remembering the blind gaze from before as well as the confidence she showed trying to take on anyone against her. He shook his head slightly at the thought. "She is crazy enough" he didn't know her well to say more, it was SIU who messed up part of her life and he was just a pesudofriend that lack of memories and a well timed lie made him.

"He told me he had other obligations but didn't say what. I didn't press the matter..." she spoke honestly. She had always been curious why he suddenly left when he had always been the person who would have died just to stay. Whatever his reason was, she trusted it was important and as a supportive friend not to question it.

"No, she's still completely blind. Which is why I called her an idiot. But who knows.... she was always the stongest one in EE... so maybe she will take it back over..."

Ree looked thoughtful for a moment then shook his head. "Maybe" He didn't know what the dynamic was in murder squad and he really just hope they murdered each other with in squabble. Kage was not the only one that day to destroy a part of his life, the murder squad was one large factor. No it was best he said nothing on this and just move on, Andy likely wasn't any better than whoever was currently in charge anyways.

"So you were sent to find me by Zaku even if you had your own agenda..." he tried to smile faintly but was to tense. "Why was he looking for me? Especially now.... and are you staying with him or still keeping separate?"

"Zaku told me he made a deal with Tri to stay away from you, but he was too worried to not do something. He asked me to find you, and I accepted it in a heartbeat...." she paused, closing her eyes for a moment, trying not to facepalm at the irony in her choice of words. "Anyway, I was so worried that you were still missing. I.. I'm not staying with Zaku. I was staying with Andy in El'mor. But we parted ways when I started looking you and she decided to go take on the Murder Squad."

Ree smiled very very faintly but it was genuine. "You cared....that .." he shook his head. "That..." he smiled a little more but it was a sad look before it turned to a frown. "Tri told him to stay away" he repeated and shook his head trying to push down the anger it brought up. "Hexxis told me why ... I wasn't lying I need to call her him. " he paused and looked at her. "....you found me what...did you want to do now?" There was a hint of curiosity.

There was another flush of color before she shoved slight embarassmebt aside and nodded.

"...I don't know.. I wanted to make sure you were okay. See if you needed anything... maybe actually become friends..." she said the last part quietly, not sure if she should bring it up, embarrassment nipping at her once again.

Ree sighed softly and pulled out the phone in his pocket as he shook his head. "We're not okay...but a friend nearby right now isn't bad." He held the phone lightly. "I was looking for you too...looking to ask you for some help in hacking into something, but then the person I was looking for it was ...her soul was taken. I am doing something..that as payment helps me find the person who took her but ..." shakes his head and looked hesitant. "If you want to help...or stay ..."

She frowned with deep concern as he revealed he wasn't okay. But she nodded in agreement to a friend nearby. Although, her expression changed to one of surprised when he mentioned looking for her as well. "I'll help. I'll do what you need."

"First ..let me make this call. " he paused as he juggled what to tell her or not as he unlocked the phone and scrolled through the numbers. "Then we can try to figure out what to do. Hm what about your father? " he asked quietly as he stared down at the first unknown number, clicking it as he walked away a bit.

Ree did not move far when he called, what he had not expected was to hear Tri's voice answering the phone calling for Hexxis. He responded with information to give himself some time to figure out a better response but the pain in Tri's voice as he realize who picked up made him lash out with what he had been turning over in his mind regarding Hexxis but it wasn't completely Hexxis at all.

Lowering the phone he stared at the outer case in quiet pain before grasping it tightly as he turned it over to take out the chip and stopped shaking before silently slipping it into his pock, muttering very very softly.