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 Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 9:00 pm
Reed inhaled sharply, pressing hard against the tree and his brother. He held his breath until the wind passed, and waited another few moments before patting Ross' shoulder. "Come on. Let's keep going."
Ashierra waited for a few seconds before stepping further into the water. Slowly, she advanced until the water was up to her belly. He was right there... All the steam though. Her voice was soft as she spoke, her body finally letting go and releasing. Now that she was right there.. the anxiety of that first step was relieved from her back. "Alek. Come out where I can see you. No more hiding..."
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Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 12:44 pm
“Just be careful.” Ross swallowed sharply. That had really been a close call. He wondered what would have happened if they had been caught, but it was best to not find out. Still his mother and Jade had to be nearby then for a wind like that to pass through.
Hiding? He was hiding from what? The cattaur’s head pounded. Alek? That was a name…with a familiar ring to it. Alek…wasn’t that him? He vaguely remembered someone with that same voice calling him that before. Beneath the void it stirred something. Something he thought he had lost. Bracing himself against the cold waters the cattaur emerged from the waterfall in order to stare at the female who had called his name. So she had been there last night? It wasn’t a dream? Without the water cascading over him his mind was slowly emerging from the lethargy that it had cast over him.
How much he could remember was his fear. He had been fighting last night..then boys had gotten in the way. Gah! Alek pressed his hands to his head as another waft of painful memories clashed with the fires inside. “Why…” He took a breath, “Are you here?” Another shock of pain. Why was he here? What was he doing? Who had he killed? How many had he killed?How many had they killed?
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Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 9:35 pm
Reed nodded, and slowly pushed forward. He moved even slower as the steam thickened around them, and the ground became soft and tried to suction to their paws. It was close enough to distinguish voices though. Mother's, and... the man's. Their... father.
He found the most stable ground he could, near the base of a large tree, and pulled Ross along with him to stand and listen. If only they could see... but the steam did mean that they couldn't be seen either.
Ashierra felt her body tighten as he came into view. Alek... After all that time... She wanted to hit him. Punch him. Break his nose and draw blood. ...She wanted to throw her arms around his neck and make sure he never got away again. Sighing, she shook her head. How was she supposed to...?
"Why am I here...?" After all the years of trying, and then finally giving up, trying to let go... All of a sudden, here he was. Her breath caught as she saw the pain sweep through Alek again. How was she supposed to help him? Her paws were rooted to the earth below. "Jade said you would know what to do... once you explain yourself to me. Once you tell me why you nearly killed my- ..why you nearly killed our sons. Our Ross... Our Reed..."
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Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 12:33 pm
Ross moved forward with Reed. What were they talking about? He hated the steam, but at the same time it felt like if he moved too far the wind would snap around him. Was Jade watching them even now? He frowned. He didn’t want a babysitter. He wanted to do something!
Alek actually smirked at the demand for an explanation. It would be like Ashierra to come and boss him around even after all this time. His gaze darkened though as clarity washed over him. It was painful the pieces that fought inside of him and how he fought them back. By hiding himself, he had managed to save enough clarity for this moment. Though he had hoped it would never come to this. “Ashy…trust me you don’t want the story.” His crimson gaze studied her quietly as he pushed back his damp hair from his face. Didn’t he owe her something at least?
“My family…centuries ago during the Great War made a stupid and terrible decision.” He stated softly, his gaze looking up towards the gray sky. “And it has followed down through the lines as a cursed reminder of what that ancestor gave up in order to betray the unitaurs.” He laughed bitterly as he looked back down to look towards Ashierra, a moment of darkness crossing over his features. Being so close to her warmed something in the depths of that darkness, but he didn’t hold onto it to last. He knew his time was short…he was fortunate enough as it was that he hadn’t been completely lost. It was his own damn fault for going against everything his own father and cousins had tried to instill in him. “My family is full of blood thirsty assassins and dark aristocrats who wished for power so strongly that they sacrificed anything to get there.” A flicker of flame ran down his back before disappearing again. “They even sold their future generations to insanity and flames that are not of the light so that they could have more power for themselves.” He looked up at her, “That is what I am.”
His gaze wavered, “I’m sorry Ashierra. I thought I could fight it…but you have to do something for me. Before I completely lose myself...” His hand reached out and his fingers trailed through her hair lightly before he pulled back, “I already hurt the boys and I don’t know what else I will do. I’ve been fighting others who have already lost themselves and I’ve seen how gone they are.” He shook his head. No he destroyed lots as well because they used to be someone once. “After all that magic can’t hurt me. I’m already a part of it. So I took out what I could before I was gone too…and now it’s my turn.” He took a few steps forward and gently reached for Ashierra’s hand. Just like he had long ago, touching her without hesitation ,without permission, just reaching for her. He placed her hand on his chest though right where his heart was beating erratically, “If she gave you that blade. The only way to save me is by stopping me.” He whispered quietly.
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Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 4:35 pm
Reed squinted his eyes, trying to see through the mist. It was hard. Thankfully, their parents were both vibrantly colored. Even if the details were hidden, he could tell where they were standing. "I can't hear a thing," he grumped, looking in the direction of the waterfall. "Can you get anything of what they're saying?"
Ashierra listened as quietly as she could. Her forced silence swiftly became unintended silence. Her ears pinned back as the story unfolded, and though her expression remained stoic, her mind was spinning. Back during the Great War? Promised away future generations... Her jaw began to clench as the story sunk in. No wonder he never talked about his family. Bunch of lunatics...
The black fire... A curse granted for betraying the goodness of the unitaur... She didn't react as he stepped closer, or even as he took her hand. She dreaded what she suspected was coming. Why she'd been given the blade. "Alek.." she murmured, shaking her head. She yanked her hand back, and clutched it to her own chest. "You know, if you'd asked me to do this a few years ago, I probably wouldn't have hesitated." Her lips tried to twitch a smile, but failed. This hurt so much worse than not knowing what had happened to him. Not knowing why he'd left. At least before, she could tell herself that he was just weak and selfish. That he'd tricked her. That he wasn't worth missing. Now that she knew, though... Now that she could at least somewhat understand...
She pulled the wicked knife out, and looked at it flatly. "This can't be the only way..." She looked at the hand he had held, and could still feel his touch there. It'd been so long.
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 1:54 pm
The teen shook his head, “No I can’t.” He was suddenly feeling worried and his heart was pounding in his chest at the fearful idea that had taken hold. Originally Ross thought he could accept what he believed Jade wanted from his mother…but now he hesitated. That creature was still their father after all. And he hadn’t killed him. Though as his fingers gently brushed against his neck the pain was still there it wasn’t as bad anymore. “Dammit.” Muttering the curse he tugged at Reed’s arm, “We’re getting closer.”
Alek actually managed a quiet laugh at her comment, “I believe you.” He would have deserved it, he still did. The cattaur regretted leaving her and hated himself for being so selfish. He should have just left before they had gotten this far, before the boys could have been born. Before his curse would have the chance to be passed on. His crimson eyes lowered towards the water. Would they have this happen to them as well one day? Surely not.
That was why he purposefully had left. He left so that he could keep them away since having children would only push his own fate to happen sooner. He would have been a danger to them as well then. So far he managed to hold on, but the pulsing in his skull was overwhelming. His gaze rose to meet Ashierra’s, “Don’t worry.” He whispered softly as he reached out to run his hand lightly over her hair. “Alek will be lost soon Ashierra…I was dead the moment I was born.” The cattaur refused to lose his voice at this moment, he refused to let the pain in his chest give into the ease of the darkness that coursed through his veins. He just had to hold onto that spark from the one he loved…the female standing before him. His other hand reached out and his fingers laced themselves over the hand which held the blade.
“I love you.” The hand which had been lightly resting on her hair pulled her forward so that he could reach out and kiss her tenderly while the one which rested over her hand holding the knife pulled her hand forward towards his chest.
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 3:03 pm
Reed nodded and crawled a little closer. He carefully pushed through the bushes until one paw touched damp earth. They were really close to the water now. He could see better through the thinning mist though. His mother. His... father. The blade. "MOM!" ...crap.
Her pulse was pounding in her ears. Ashierra looked down at the knife; glared at it as thought her thoughts alone could make it crumble to dust. Why was this happening? Why? Hadn't she lost enough family?
His words made her flinch, and she held the blade closer to herself. No. He wasn't dead. He was right here in front of her. Looking so alive. Exhausted and worn, but alive. How could he be dead? How could he die on her like that? Her chest felt like someone was pulling a belt tight around it, squeezing her lungs and her heart. She felt herself get pulled closer. Felt the hand holding the blade turn...
Then, she heard Reed. Gasping, just before their lips touched, she yanked herself and the blade back. Screaming out, she threw her fist straight at Alek's jaw. "You idiot! What the hell are you asking me to do?!" She shook her head roughly, and gripped the knife tight, her own fire flaring along her back with emotion. "I can't do this!"
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 3:28 pm
“Dad no!” Ross fell at the edge of the waters as he watched what his father had just tried doing. It was the first time that he admitted he knew who Alek was to him, but the teen winced. Well, so much for that idea of him and Reed following along and just observing their parents. As he reached forward through the water a burst of wind blurred the scene that was before him. “Jade no!” But his voice was lost in the winds which were whistling sadly themselves.
Rubbing his jaw Alek sighed. He had been so close as well. As the mist rose back around them he frowned. What a good friend she was letting his sons slip through to do that. It wasn’t cheating really if Ashierra was still holding the blade right? At her flare of emotion the cattaur turned back to gaze at her, the whites of his eyes turning to a smoky darkness. “Would it make it easier for you if I just give in now? You can kill the monster before it escapes and starts destroying everything near it.” The pulsing pain in his head grew around him and Alek had to raise a hand behind him and dig his fingers into the back of his neck where the pain brought him back from nearly losing it again.
“I know you don’t want to do this-“ He began, his voice rough and low, “But if you don’t I’m going to end up hurting you and the boys…and everything I cared about.” His hand went over one eye and pulling back you could see how the dark was swirling back into it so that he appeared to be split in half as two different beings. He held his arms out to her pleadingly, “If you don’t end it then I’m afraid of what will happen. Just let me enjoy holding you one last time, please.” His gaze flashed back to its normal appearance in that brief moment, “End it while I’m letting you before I fight back unwillingly.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 3:44 pm
Reed felt his own skin burning. Why? Why?! "Jade!" He growled and swatted at the wind. "Stop them! Please!"
Grinding her teeth, Ashierra had to stare at the shifting colors in Alek's eyes. The dark fire... Yes. That would make it easier. It would be so much easier to put the blade through his chest if he wasn't the Alek she had known. If he wasn't the Alek who loved her. If he wasn't the Alek she loved... It would be so much easier to stab the monster than the man. But... she knew better. She couldn't risk her boys like that. They were right there... She could see their shapes through the windy mist.
"I'll never forgive you for this.." she murmured, rushing forward to return to Alek's embrace again. "I love you.. but I'll never forgive you for this. ..I love you so much." Gasping through the fierce pain, she swung the blade around, aiming it at Alek's ribs.
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 4:17 pm
“I didn’t figure you would.” He replied quietly giving a phantom of the smirk that he once loved to reply to her with. Even if it was hatred at least she wouldn’t ever forget him. His arms wrapped around her warmly as the blade sank into his ribs and the cattaur whispered in her ear, “Hold me tight, don’t let go.” Eyes closing his head rested against her shoulder for a second as the obsidian blade soaked in blood and began to glow crimson.
Dark magic all the tendrils of it burned along the blade as the flame from within Alek was being swallowed up. A splitting noise went through the air as an image of smoke rose above the mist of a growling cattaur exploded into dark flames which disappeared as wind scattered them. Holding onto Ashierra, Alek closed his eyes to use her as an anchor while his one hand helped to push the knife in deeper. If he didn’t hold onto her he could still lose himself even now. “I-“ He chuckled weakly into her hair, “really will miss the way you can get to me.” I love you Ashierra.
It was sad really when all that he had been fearing was never seeing her again, but death itself was something he embraced as the darkness (true empty darkness) took over his vision and he fell against her.
The mist died down and Ross could only stare as he watched his father’s blood pooling around the two in the water. Was this really how things were supposed to be? Bitter tears stung his eyes as he wrapped his own arms around him to control the shaking of his body. Behind the boys a form landed on the ground, shining tears in her own eyes as she stayed hidden beside of a tree.
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 4:41 pm
Reed stared in awe at the black cloud above. What...? That was what had been inside their father? When the mist cleared, his eyes landed on his parents, and he froze. What was he supposed to do? By all the fires in him, how was he supposed to comfort mother after this? He took a couple steps forward, and looked down at the once clear water he was walking into. He hadn't even known the man... but it hurt.
"Speak for yourself, you jerk," she snorted as she held tighter to Alek. "Don't let go... Please..." She only half watched the black fire dissipate. Please... don't let that be within the boys... Were the boys able to see...? See how brave their father was in the end?
Ashierra held tighter as she felt Alek get weaker, whimpering softly as he spoke. "You always were sentimental," she managed to choke out. This was really happening.... Barely able to support her own weight, she crumbled down as Alek took her full support. Body shaking with the held back cries that wanted voice, she buried her face against Alek's neck. Alek...
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 9:56 pm
“Don’t worry…the last thing I ever wanted to do…” His voice shook with weakness as blood pooled around them, “…was to let you go.” Even if he died here…if he had any choice then his spirit would forever want to hold onto Ashierra. It was sad that he was dying and finally realizing just how far his love went for the female embracing him. She was his other half, the light that had kept his darkness at bay for so long and even now had allowed him to die in this way. Any other way and he would have been dead; even if his body had continued to live his spirit would have been crushed.
It was a pleasant darkness that he lost himself in.
Death at least was his comfort now.
Ross felt his own heart being crushed by the sight in the water. After all this time…all the hatred and confusion he had held for his father it was gone. In one moment he had realized that his father had always been there for them. By leaving he had protected them. Tears streamed down his face before he realized that someone else was behind him, “Jade.” He reached out and tugged at her arm, “Please there’s got to be some way to save him…some way to keep him from leaving us.” Especially after they had just found him.
The cattaur just shook her head sadly, “I don’t know what to do…this was the only way we knew.” Her gaze was sad and brimming with tears itself. But she was trying her best to keep composed despite the fact that the cattaur she had been the shadow of for so many years was dying in the waters before them. But then her gaze lifted up towards the skies as a wind rustled by that was not her own. A feeling which was light and warm was shining around them. What was going on? Just as suddenly it was like the mist was back and the cattaur found herself gently tugging the two boys backwards with her. Something was happening and she had no idea what it was.
On the opposite shore another cattaur figure leaned back against the trees her gaze locked on something that was past the mist, “Do you see?” She whispered softly to her companion who nodded as well.
“Yes. I’m glad you got her attention about this area. I was worried because I thought we were going to have to fight him. But they already found that answer...still I'm hoping for a happy ending.” The other cattaur replied softly as she tugged her companion’s hand, “We’ve done our part…so we should go now then?”
“As long as you promise me that you’re certain.”
“Oh don’t worry. I don’t see him floating away yet.” A small laugh that was mixed with a light sigh, “Not yet. But his spirit is fighting to stay right next to her, so it’s possible. It’s just up to them and their strength. If she helps them then it really is possible, Naomi.”
“Alright. That’s good enough for me. Thank you, Tori.”
“Anytime.”
As they walked away the cattaur created mist turned into something else as another form entered the mist and started to walk through the water towards the two cattaurs, her horn glowing.
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 10:26 pm
Reed felt like there was a rock in his throat. His chest was tight, and he could barely swallow any air. His eyes watered, but nothing fell yet. He listened vaguely as Ross and Jade talked. There was really nothing they could do..?
He tensed up as his arm was grabbed, and tugged back weakly. "No. I wanna..." Resisting was impossible though. His world had crashed and burned right there... He only belatedly realized that something else was going on, his expression confused but curious. What was that...?
Ashierra shook her head. She had to be strong for her sons. She had to- Her ears pinned back at Alek's words, and a sob burst out before she could muffle it again. She held him as tight as she could, though her own embrace was going weak. After the years of anger... "I will see you again," she whispered, kissing his neck. Spirits existed in the world... Death was not the end.
She heard the approaching steps, but didn't bother to raise her head. Right at that moment... she didn't care. Alek's heart was still beating, if only weakly. She wasn't letting him go.
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 10:44 pm
Holding onto Jade for support Ross just hid his face in her shoulder. He didn’t want anyone to see the pain etched in his face and it just felt nice to have someone warm holding onto him. Jade held onto both of the boys before putting out enough magic to form a barrier around them. There was so much magic going on in this part of the forest that she was becoming bewildered. It wasn’t evil magic though…it was too light and warm for that.
“You really loved each other then.” The voice was as soft and warm as the light aura that the female emitted. The unitaur approached from the mist with her emerald gaze softened by the scene before her. Leaning down she reached out and touched the fire cat that was holding onto her mate so tightly. Around her the water cleared as her magic cleaned the blood away. Her gaze narrowed as she looked at the male lying there with such a faint heartbeat. He was still alive though…the cattaurs hadn’t told her wrongly.
She was still surprised from what Naomi had told her. The curse was still going so strongly after all those centuries ago. Her expression was sorrowful as she looked at the scene before her. He had let his own love cut out the dark magic which would have let him live, at the cost of his own soul. She had never seen this happen before…usually the darkness won and the creature created had to be killed. Then there was truly no way of saving that soul which had resided before. This way the dagger given to his family by one of her kind could end the torment and save the soul before it was destroyed…at least in death they had a chance of another life. So this should have freed him from the curse even at the cost of life. But why was there still a hint of magic before her? “His spirit should leave now as expected of him…but he won’t let go of you.” She commented softly looking over at the other feline, “He loved you that much…so you are like a light to his spirit. Even if he dies I’m afraid he will cling to you rather than going on. Why is it that he can do this though?” She peered closely at the female before her gaze glowed with magic. A spark that belonged to him which had been residing there for years now…was inside of this female?
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Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 11:12 pm
Reed shook his head. "Wait, Jade. No!" His heart began to beat as though he'd been running, panic setting in when he lost sight of his parents. "Jade! I want to see them!" Who was that out there approaching his parents?! He could see how confused Jade looked.. but all the more reason to see what was happening!
The warm aura and soft voice finally raised Ashierra's gaze, and her eyes widened in shock. A... A unitaur! The warmth enveloping her slowed her tears, and let her think a little clearer. Alek's spirit was still there, holding on to... her? He'd really loved her that much? Sniffling, she pulled back just enough to shift and rest her forehead against Alek's. He wasn't letting her go. ...oh, Alek.
"Why?" Tucking Alek's head against her shoulder, she wiped at her eyes and looked over at the unitaur. "What do you mean? Is.. is something wrong?"
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