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 Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:47 pm
Reed pressed his lips, but said nothing. He knew better... He wouldn't abandon his brother, and his brother wouldn't abandon him. "Well... I'm pretty sure we came around this way..."
He paused, looked around, and sighed. They hadn't been able to see a thing while they'd been walking last night. Ears perking, he took a breath and closed his eyes. Now, he couldn't see. Estimating where he was, he started walking, thinking about the various blind turns they'd taken before. "We should be close now, he said after a while. When he opened his eyes again, he was looking right at a tree with the darkest scorch mark he'd ever seen. The rest of the tree... looked like it was ill... "Ross..."
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 5:21 pm
“If you say so. Though I could say that about every stinkin’ tree here.” Ross looked around completely lost. He had no idea of where they could have been last night. For him every tree looked nearly the same. It was kinda ironic really. This was the first time they actually had a set destination rather than just aimlessly wandering around and here he was feeling lost. Lost and afraid. Afraid of what they would find and what they would have to do once they found it. If this creature really was their father…why was he like that? Father alright. A word, but nothing to him. Blood or no that cattaur had no real tie with him.
“Hey about the whole navigating thing-“ Ross commented as he noted his brother’s actions, “I’m pretty certain you need to see to walk…” Trailing off he looked at the tree, “Well….that’s luck.” His gaze darkened as he gingerly trailed his fingers over the bark. It still felt warm. Warm and throbbing beneath his fingers as if the tree was screaming in pain. “Glad I’m not a nature user.” He shuddered at the thought of the feelings that tree must be going through right now.
“Alright we found mister scorch mark, but that doesn’t tell us much. I’m surprised that half of these woods aren’t like this actually.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 7:15 pm
Mismatched eyes flicking around, he saw other trees damaged the same way. Reed sighed softly. Was this all that black fire... "It's a starting point," he said optimistically, though he didn't dare touch the black scorches himself. He kept as far from the marks as possible, as though the blackness might spread to himself if he dared make contact.
"There has to be something around here. A trail. A token. Anything left behind by it." Walking along, he saw another set of scorch marks on the trees, his eyes widening. These marks were different... "That look like mom's signature to you?" he asked, walking over and touching the scorched brown bark. It wasn't deep damage. Just mom trying to clear the air... 'Ashierra.' He gulped deeply, that voice resonating through his mind. "It was around here. Come on."
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 7:32 pm
“Oh yes. Because forests have that with all the clone trees.” Replied Ross before shoving down the irritation rising in his chest. Pulling his hand away from the tree the cattaur looked around and noted the other damaged trees. Okay so it had reached out to more than just the one. A part of him did feel bad. Normally he would find this forest to be quite a pretty spot. “Something left behind?”
Watching his brother carefully Ross noted the difference, “Yeah. Unless some other cattaur wielding magic against vast darkness came through last night…” He trailed off and bit his lip thoughtfully. Still where would a clue be around here? “Wait, Reed.” The teen stopped and looked closely at the ground and his nose wrinkled. “Blood.” Fallen leaves were damp with it. Could it have been that thing’s blood? For a second a flashing image of pain shot through his mind and Ross found himself taking a step back. Ouch. He winced. That one was definitely something. Had that creature been in pain? …was that why it had – no, no. That wouldn’t help this situation at all. He pushed the idea aside. It was just wanting to kill that was all. Nothing else to it.
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:29 pm
"Yes! Something. Anything. A piece of clothing. A bit of food. Fur! Something!" He twitched an ear. Right... Snorting, Reed only looked up at the sky, and around the woods. Which way...? If town was back that way.. "I think it came from that direction," he said out loud, more talking to himself than Ross.
He perked his ears as Ross called out, and walked over to where his brother was. "Blood?" He reached a hand toward Ross' shoulder, looking down at the blood again. "Did... did you see something?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:45 pm
“Oh yes.” Ross actually chuckled, “I’m sure he was having a picnic out here. Damn, I would be pissed too if someone interrupted my dinner time.” He watched as his brother looked around the area. Was he finding it hard to get a good pinpoint on their location too? That would be great. ‘Sorry mom we couldn’t come back cause we got lost in the woods with no bread crumbs to lead the way home.’
His gaze darkened Ross shook his head, “I don’t know. I don’t think so.” He looked away from his brother, “It was just a moment of dizziness I guess. Either way I think this blood belonged to our wonderful attacker.” Still it left the question. How had he been hurt? Ross hadn’t been able to even land one blow in and Reed was just as frozen as he had been that time as well…
What was going on here?
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 9:17 pm
Brow knitting, he leaned a little closer to the puddle of blood. The scent made his eyes sting... like leaning too close to a fire.
"Dizziness," he repeated doubtfully. His eyes slowly scanned the surrounding ground, looking for some sort of trail. If they could follow it...? "If he's supposed to be so stinkin' powerful, what was it that made him bleed?" He looked up at Ross nervously, and back down to the blood. "If this really is his..." Reed's stomach clenched. He had no ties to the guy! So, why was he concerned..? It was for Ross and mother. Nothing more. "Do you see a trail going anywhere?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:10 pm
“Yes dizziness.” Ross repeated sternly. Don’t question it Reed. Please. Still as the comment left his brother’s mouth he frowned. It was true. What had made that thing bleed? A shiver went down his spine. “It would have to be something that could have made…” A big impact? Was that really what the darkness had come from instead of that thing they say that night?
“Yes. It’s going this way.” Ross nodded his head to the left of them, “Come on.” Without hesitating the teen started walking briskly through the damaged trees. The further they walked though the more it become apparent that some big fight had happened in the area. He swallowed feeling a pit growing in his stomach with each step. What had ripped this place apart? As the sound of running water and steam reached his ears the cattaur finally hesitated. Still he wanted to know…
As a light hand landed on his shoulder Ross nearly screamed with surprise. Twisting around with lightning reflexes his gaze widened. Jade!
Holding a finger to her lips Jade looked at the teen and shook her head slowly.
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:32 pm
Frowning, Reed followed after his brother steadfastly. A tail of blood... What had happened out here? Apparently, the darkness had masked more than just the cattaur they'd seen.
With his skin prickling, he inhaled sharply as Jade suddenly appeared in front of him, by Ross. Where had she-?! When had she-?! He looked between Jade and Ross, his brow knitting. What was she trying to say? Carefully, he closed the gap with his eyes locked on the female. What was going on?!
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:49 pm
Jade looked at the boys with a frown. “I thought I told your mother that you guys should move out of town and far from this direction.” Her gaze went up towards the sky and she sighed. It was like a cruel fate having these two running this way already. Wasn’t there any other way? Because wherever Reed and Ross were then Ashierra surely was close behind.
Shaking out of his surprise Ross shook his head at Jade, “Now wait! Why should we have left?” His gaze hardened as he glared at the other cattaur, “What do you know that we don’t and how do you even know it?” His fists clenched at his side, “Who are you really?”
Jade actually smiled faintly.Though there was a dark flicker in her gaze. A flicker of hesitation and doubt. A decision rolling through her mind. A heavy one which only she knew the full consequences of. How could she do it? How could she do it to those who she loved the most? Even if Ross and Reed hadn’t seen her…she had been there for so much of their life. Watching them grow, always being reminded of him…this was really cruel. Closing her eyes the cattaur sighed, “Hold on now. Where is your mother first?” Then she took one look over her shoulder. Actually these two were dangerously close again, “Actually let’s talk elsewhere.” Moving past Reed and Ross she grabbed both boy’s arms and dragged them back down the path away from the sound of running water.
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 11:26 pm
Ears perking, his gaze lowered slightly. So, Jade had tried to warn mother... What did Jade have to do with all this? At that, what did mother have to do with all this?!
His ears pinned back as he was dragged from his thoughts by the grasp on his arm, Resisting only a little before letting himself be guided along. If going with her got them answers... "I don't really care why you're here," he suddenly scowled once they'd gone as far as his patience lasted, "but I want to know what mother has to do with- ..with that thing from last night? Why did it know her name? Why is she being so... not mother?" He bit his lip. "She went to tell the town elder that there was something dangerous in the woods... She doesn't know we're here. Though, I'm sure she'll figure it out soon enough."
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 2:21 pm
Stopping once the sounds of water were beyond her own hearing the female spun on the two teens, “Well it’s lovely to see you two as well.” She replied, her tail flicking in response to Reed’s comment. “Unfortunately I do care to see you two out here where it’s so dangerous!” Hadn’t they learned that last night? She chewed on the inside of her mouth thoughtfully. If it hadn’t been for their mother then things could have gone horribly wrong. That was why things had to end soon right? For them…for him.
“Can’t you guess? What that…that thing was?” Jade finally asked, her voice a soft whisper. Her gaze searched both of the boys’ faces for their answer. Surely, they had already figured out that much. Else why would they be out here again? Away from their mother as well. She frowned at the knowledge that Ashierra wasn’t near. So she would have to be extra vigilant then.
“We-“ Ross trailed off and looked towards the ground. Needless to say the wind cattaur’s reaction hadn’t really helped his spirit. He had been hoping that despite everything that Reed and him were wrong, that this was just some freak incident that would move on and never bother them again. He looked up and peeked at his brother through his bangs before sighing heavily. He knew alright what that thing had been, he just didn’t want to say it.
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:37 pm
Reed's jaw started to twitch from holding it so tightly. Jade's soft voice grated at his ears. That thing... This woman knew that... "No!" he snapped, spinning and marching away a few steps. "How are we supposed to know what it is?" He bit down hard on his lip to stifle the sob that had nearly risen. When he'd thought about it before, he felt like he'd accepted the fact of who the dark creature was. Now, with it nearly being put into words by someone else... He couldn't tell himself it was his imagination. He'd wanted clues to point another direction... He had prayed that it wasn't what he'd thought. ...What he'd known...
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:18 pm
“Reed.” Jade reached out towards the teen before pulling her hand back against her chest. It was breaking the wind cattaur’s heart to see both of the boys so distressed about this. “I’m so sorry.” She looked away from them and for once the usually light-hearted cattaur had trouble holding back the stinging feeling of tears from her gaze. This wasn’t right. When they had left all those years ago Alek had promised that this wouldn’t happen. Yet here she was watching two sons…fighting with the same feelings he had back then.
“Reed.” Ross clenched his fists before speaking finally, “She’s right. We do know.” He spat out the words angrily, “We know because we have a damn blood tie to that thing so we can feel it. But why is it like this? What happened to him?” As much as he hated to even think of admitting it the teen knew that if he didn’t they wouldn’t find anything out. This was the only way. “What can we do?”
“Nothing.” Jade replied, her voice frail as her spirit felt. “Only Ashierra can save him, but…” She trailed off and looked at the ground, “I have to tell her and her only how.” She swallowed, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you see how torn she is already about this?” Ross replied sharply his temper rising again, “Why can’t we just take care of it for her!?” His gaze was brilliant with flames as sparks of magic erupted along his spine.
“Because she’s the only one he recognizes right now!” Jade replied, a strong wind whistling through the tree branches above them. “You two know that…you were so young…it’s been so long. He might actually kill you before he realizes... But he knows her.” And she had the fire to do it. Jade's wind could only fan the flames…she didn’t have the heart or ability to destroy the one who had taken her from there.
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:40 pm
Reed blinked quickly to keep his eyes clear. Why? Why was this happening? Why their father...?
This was silly. Jade was right. It had been so long... He shouldn't be feeling anything for that man. Swiping a hand over his face, he turned to be part of the conversation again. Mother had to do it? "Is... is there something we can do to help her do it? I've never seen her like this... What if something happens..?"
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