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 Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 11:44 pm
Jade shook her head at Reed, “I think…I know what such an aura is. If they’re blocked off then they’re blocked off for a reason Reed.” Her heart ached itself. She didn’t want to just give in and sit back either, but what choice did they have? “We just have to wait and see.”
Avaniswari smiled softly at the female, “What is your name child?” She asked before sinking down into the water next to them. It was rare for her to see acts of such love. Especially from a family like the male’s…all they ever did was destroy what they loved. That poor soul, no wonder he was so afraid to stay with them. Yet now that he was pure again he clung so tightly to them despite his weakening breaths.
“He should be dead.” She was honest as she looked back up towards Ashierra, “His heart is still beating, but it should have stilled the moment that dagger entered his ribs. The blade is created to destroy every drop of magic inside of him. It’s the only way to destroy the contamination and to let his spirit leave.” She tilted her head and opening her hands revealed the image of two flames, “Yet I see this before me when I look at you. For some reason there is a part of his life magic inside of you.” If that was still there then…there was hope. “Without life magic one could heal a cattaur in this situation, but he would be empty. I would just be saving his physical body. But his life magic still exists inside of you.” Her hands moved down and traced the outline of the cattaurs wound and like smoke the dagger disappeared as his flesh knitted neatly together and the blood stopped flowing.
“I can heal him, but you hold his life inside of you.” Avaniswari frowned, “It’s risky though. I don’t know how much of the darkness clings to that spirit inside of you or how your spirit will handle it when it could have already bonded with his magic long ago to the point that it won’t want to leave you.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 12:26 am
Reed's tail twitched with agitation, but he quieted down. He took a hint from Ross, and pressed up against Jade's other side.
Instinct made her lips press tight, but they quickly relaxed. She surely didn't have to be so guarded around a unitaur with such an aura. "I'm... Ashierra," she replied softly, her voice unable to get much louder now from weariness.
She listened quietly to the unitaur's explanation, though her heart was beginning to pick up pace again. How long was this going to take? What if Alek...? No. He wouldn't. Not when there was suddenly hope in the air. Or.. in her? Ashierra stared blankly. She didn't understand. How would Alek's fire be within-? ....Could it be from...?
"Many years ago, a naga tried to steal my fire from me. He got most of it, actually." Her hand lifted to gently pet Alek's hair. 'Stay with me, love...' "Alek saved me by putting some of his fire into me... Later, I got my magic back from the naga. ..I had wondered what happened to the magic Alek gave..." Her brow knit slightly. "I don't feel any darkness within me.." she said slowly, closing her eyes. She tried to tell which magic in her wasn't hers... but she was so used to it by now... "Will you.. help me?" She looked over to the unitaur, her gaze desperate. Could they really save him?
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Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 7:22 pm
Avaniswari tilted her head as Ashierra’s story intrigued her. Then that would explain how his spark was still inside of her even now. The idea of using his own magic like that had been a risky venture since it was the key in keeping the balance inside of his soul. He probably had only been thinking of his mate even then. Could it be that was what started the fall? Her gaze softened thoughtfully before she shoved the thought aside. What was done was done. “Then that is good if you feel no darkness. Chances are that stayed within him and what is with you is actually his own flame.” Water rippled around her as she nodded towards the cattaur, “After witnessing something like this, I cannot refuse such a request.”
“It’s odd.” Avani started softly, “I remember this curse well and the origins of it. There was something that they never realized though. As centuries pass the blood continues to weaken as true flame starts growing in them again. Holding true to his own flame that coexisted with the curse kept him so strong against it for so long.” The unitaur smiled, “I’m glad to see that not all of their fates are hopeless after all.”
“To do this you must realize a part of yourself will be bound to him.” Swirls of magic danced around her as she leaned in closely, “You will have an unusual feeling of emptiness where that magic rested and the part of yours that bonded with it will be in him. Your magic will be there, but changed. You’ll feel a hole inside of yourself when he’s not near. It will be a string between you two, calling you together always from now on. For your magics have bonded beyond what has been seen in centuries.” Her gaze darkened slightly as her voice grew stern with warning, “Or it could even be worse than that. You may lose your magic to him completely if he becomes too greedy when his soul awakens again. If he doesn’t recognize you then he may just struggle to find the light in your magic by draining it all. Are you willing to take that risk and trust him to realize who he is?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 7:59 pm
She kept stroking Alek's hair, remembering nights long ago of laying in bed, just holding each other. Each of them once thought they would never find... Her eyes welled up again. Telling herself for all those years that she didn't actually love the man now dying in her arms.. by her hand...
As the unitaur's warning came, Ashierra looked up to meet the other's eyes. An empty feeling... Well, she already had that. The warning about the possible connection to come between them if this succeeded... Slowly, she gave the unitaur the most gentle smile she'd worn in years. "How do you think we came to be here in this place after so many years of being apart.." They'd always been bonded. They'd broken through each other's barriers, making a bond she'd never known before.
Her smile lessened the tiniest bit, and she looked over to where her sons were hidden. If she died in the process... It was their father's turn. Sighing softly, she kissed Alek's forehead. "He's risked his life for me more times than I care to admit. ..I have to do this. He will find himself. He has to..."
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Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:56 pm
She smiled warmly at the response she received. That was what she had been hoping to hear. Oh how she hoped that this would work out for the two cattaurs before her. It was rare for her to leave her protected valley, let alone show herself to others like this, but this time it was worth it. Thankful for the alert given to her from her friend the unitaur reached over and rested her hand on Ashierra’s shoulder, “Since you are so certain I will go ahead.”
It had been years since she had reached this far into herself to call up the magic from so long ago. Life magic swirled within her and Avaniswari had to let her head fall back as wings of light emerged from her and surrounded the two cattaurs. “Close your eyes and allow yourself to flow into him, remind him that he’s still here and that life can be found.” The soft voice echoed with the touch of magic as Avaniswari allowed the two souls to meet again.
His mind was foggy. Not like before when the darkness wanted to take over, but more of a sleepy feeling. He felt lost and uncertain of himself. Before there had been some light that he held onto, something that he felt was dearer to him than his own life. Then darkness had come over him and another light had washed over him. This light though had shaken him awake and led him back to the fire which he recognized. Flames danced towards him, his own mixed with something else? Reaching out Alek grabbed for the fire as his real body began to stir. Warmth spread through his limbs as his eyes began to open again, brilliant with flame.
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Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 9:16 pm
Her eyes lingered on the beautiful unitaur a moment longer before closing them. Hugging Alek tight, Ashierra tried to let her magic flow, urging it to open up for Alek to find his own. She could feel something within trying to leave; trying to separate from herself. Alek's magic was trying to return to him.
Her heart leapt as she felt him move in her arms, and she whispered into his ear, "Alek. Don't let go..."
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Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 9:47 pm
The urge to just drown in the warmth that was being offered to him was overwhelming. The cattaur found himself tightening his hold on the fire before him and his spark surged to new life as it reached the depths of his own self. That fog was still there though. All he knew was that he needed that spark to keep living. The swirling magic before him was offering him that chance. His hold on the chain of magic between them tightened as he felt more and more life returning to him. He just wanted to keep the warmth flowing through him, it was too comforting to stop.
As his body returned to life and his spirit woke up in him Alek found himself feeling an odd emptiness inside of him. It had to be filled with something…his gaze locked onto the female before him as a moment of recognition flickered before him. Who? His head pounded in rhythm with his own heartbeat. Pulling her closer the cattaur nearly found himself wanting to devour the whole of her essence before a different subconscious reaction occurred instead. His hands reached up and trailed through Ashierra’s hair before he pulled her to him and kissed her desperately. As he woke up fully the trail of magic between them starting balancing out again as he stopped draining what little of her magic had been left and instead with his kiss returned back what he had nearly stolen from her.
A hint remained with him though. It was there to fill the emptiness that the darkness had left behind. Without it there his magic finally flourished as it should have long ago. But because it was so new to him the magic held onto that spark from Ashierra. What she gave him though he gave back fully in return as they were now connected truly by both heart and magic. Breaking from the kiss he weakly leaned his forehead against hers with a soft laugh. “Won’t even let me die will you?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 10:16 pm
She could remember a similar feeling to when her magic had been pulled from her before. The main difference was the feeling behind the pull. The naga had been a malignant, evil force. This force.. wanted to survive. She could feel herself becoming weaker as more of her magic flowed out of herself. Her chest tightened, breathing becoming harder.
Despite her discomfort, tears of happiness filled her eyes as they met Alek's. He was awake... Moving... She easily moved under his guidance, weak from the magic transfer and from utter relief. Slowly, she felt her strength return again as Alek took control of the flowing fires, the excess magic being returned to her. She could feel it fill her body, lighting every shadow within herself. A little was missing... but she could handle that. She pressed kisses back just as deeply; just as eagerly. She'd nearly lost him a second time...
She was panting softly when the kiss broke, exhausted from the emotional roller coaster she'd just gone through. Brushing at her eyes, she laughed sharply and weakly punched Alek's arm. "As if I would let you off that easy. Got alot to answer for." Groaning, she turned to let her head rest against Alek's shoulder, barely able to keep upright now. Her body was so tired... "Our boys... They need to see you."
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Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 10:41 pm
How could he have even dared to forget her? As he rested his forehead against her the cattaur laced his fingers in her hair and just gazed at the fiery gaze that met his. After everything that had happened to them…this was just like a dream. His mind was sharp, awakened by their kisses, but still he was finding this hard to believe. Just what had happened to allow this? She wasn’t dead; no he could feel too much energy and life coming from her. It was him who had come back to rejoin her here.
His questioning gaze lifted to meet the emerald one of the tired unitaur. Did you really? How was it that one of them had willingly done this? Confusion flickered across his features. Rather than save him she should have been there to kill the creature he would have become. He knew how it was supposed to be as the memories of his father’s own tales still haunted him. They always had especially the last few years. Why?
You found love. Avani replied quietly, a small smile lighting up her expression We made a promise to remember your kind to someone who loved him just as much back then. That when such a sacrifice was made that we would be there to help the soul find the light again. It had only been possible with true love. Something none in his family ever had save for his mother towards his father. But his father had been too selfish, too easily consumed by his own desires to see the truth of the one before him. Nothing else moved as for that second the unitaur walked up to Alek and touched his forehead with her finger, ”I’m glad that I can be here to welcome you back to the light, Alek Solaris. May your fire keep you and those you love safe. As it shall go with your sons as well~ A feeling of something brightening inside of him burned Alek, but it didn’t hurt. Rather it seemed to find a place where the dark flamed had burn coldly and filled it with warmth.
Thank you.
Just remember what that means now. We’re relying on our protectors to be there when we need them~ Both nodded towards each other and in that second the world seemed to move again as Ashierra punched his shoulder and the mist started to thin with no trace of the unitaur save for a wind, that was perfumed with flowers, gently brushing past both of the teens and around Jade with a lovely hum before disappearing into the skies.
“Of course you would say that.” Alek replied with a light wince towards his mate, “As if dying wasn’t enough for you.” He teased softly before nuzzling the female who rested on his shoulder, “I really am sorry…thank you for being so strong for so long for me.” His arms wrapped around her a gentle warmth moving from the flames gently licking around them before he sighed. The boys…his sons. He knew them from the snippets that Jade had always shown him before he had nearly lost himself to the darkness. He even kept that memory of them as children running into him that day in the woods dear. “Do you think they would want to?” Alek’s voice was soft as he remembered what he had nearly done to his own children. Even without that…he had been gone for so long.
Didn’t look like he had much of a choice though. Taking a deep breath the cattuar looked towards the thinning mist to where his friend and his children stood.
Ross blinked as the wind brushed around him and as Jade let go and stood back from him and his brother. What was that? His hand trailed around his throat and finally rested over his heart. Something felt different, lighter. The confusion was pushed aside though as the mist started to thin out. “Mom!” Was she okay? How was their father? Their father…the idea made him pause. What would he do? The male that he had considered dead in his heart for so long had been there before them…and now he really was dead? But no – Ross stumbled in the waters as he noticed something. His father was moving? And there was no blood now? What was going on here?
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 4:19 pm
His apology... Ashierra bit her lip. "Don't be so selfish. I did it for the boys." There was a small pause, and she sighed and pressed against his neck again. "....Maybe a little for you."
Huffing softly, she shook her head. "I'm sure they want to... but it doesn't matter. They need to see you. They need to." Her eyes flooded again, thinking about what the boys were about to face. Her head felt like it weighed a hundred pounds as she lifted it to look over as the others were finally revealed, and Ross called out. Slowly, she pulled back from Alek and gave him a nudge. "Go on... They need you."
Reed slowly looked up as he felt the barrier die down. Mom...? D- ..Dad. He walked over to join Ross' side, reaching over to grip his brother's shoulder. Was this.. real? What happened? "Mom?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 9:51 pm
Alek laughed softly, “Well alright then.” His gaze was gentle though as he kissed the top of his mate’s head. This was still so surreal. He wasn’t complaining though. Alek’s smile though faltered as he thought of his sons again. Could they really accept him after all this time? He had left…then they had met him so abruptly again when he had turned his back on them…and then last time he had nearly killed Ross. A hand rose to touch his chest. The heart beating there was truly his own, it wasn’t heavy anymore and he felt warmth pulsing beneath the surface. It was so unusual, but nice. He was suddenly seeing how it could be possible for his family to have once been able to save with their fire rather than destroy.
“They need you just as much,” Replied Alek quietly at her push before reaching for her hand. Approaching slowly he bit the inside of his cheek as he gazed at the two teens. They didn’t stay young long, did they? Then again he had lost most of his sense of time the past few years. Swallowing the male stepped towards the edge of the water where the boys were standing. Looking them up and down the cattaur let go of Ashierra’s hand to wave, “Hey.” He didn’t know what else to do, but to leave it up to the boys.
Ross just stared as their father came towards them. His arms crossed as he tried his best to look calm about the fact that his father, the male they hadn’t seen since being children, was coming towards them. Instinctively his hand reached up to touch his neck, but to his surprise the bruising was gone. Hand lowering slightly he waved awkwardly back. “Hey….dad.” His impassive expression would have worked save for when Alek actually reached out to ruffle his hair. That was when his gaze stung with tears. “Dammit dad.” He muttered reaching out to punch his father lightly on the arm, “That was for last time.”
Alek just laughed, “Understandable.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 1:57 pm
Reed didn't know how to react. Their father was standing right there, and now was walking over to them. Their father who'd left them when they were still small. Their father who'd put their mother through so much pain. Their father who'd nearly killed Ross. Their father...
His ears pinned back at the casual, uncertain greeting. This man felt different than the bits and pieces he remembered from before. His features were the same, but he felt so much different now. Especially different from their most recent encounter. He wanted to be so angry with the man, but... this wasn't the same man anymore. Biting the inside of his cheek, he looked to his mother.
Ashierra gripping Alek's hand tightly as they walked over to the boys. Her legs felt wobbly, and her head swam a little. When her hand was freed, she stepped back to lean against Alek's side for support.
Still, she watched her boys closely. They'd only had their father a short time before he'd gone. How would they be taking this? A tiny smile lifted at Ross' reaction, but her eyes quickly rested to Reed's uncertain gaze. Giving him a warm, tired smile, she walked over to him and pulled him into a hug. "It's okay. The darkness his gone now." She turned and nudged Reed forward toward Alek, and then sat down with a sigh. So tired... So much had happened..
Reed walked stiffly over to Alek, and stared for another few seconds. "Are you... gonna stay this time?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 6:44 pm
Ross tilted his head as he studied his father. There’d be more questioning later, but with the way both his parents looked it could wait …especially with his mother since she seemed so exhausted. He didn’t blame her though. His gaze glanced over Alek and his brother. For someone who had been bleeding his life out in the water just a bit ago, his father did seem stronger. What had healed him in such a way? Even though he wanted to ask the same question to Alek that his brother had Ross instead made his way over to his mother where he sat next to her, “If you need something to lean against I’m here for ya too.”
Alek looked at his other son before nodding, “That’s the plan.” He smiled softly, “If you’ll have me that is.” His tail twitched a little behind him with nervousness. Even with Ross’s punch the cattaur still felt like he was going to have a lot of work to do to bridge the gap with his sons. He looked over at Ross who stared back at him boldly before looking back towards Reed his hand out, “If you do I promise I’ll fight everything that ever tries to come up again in order to stay with you guys. You’re my family after all.”
Speaking of family.... his gaze went back towards the trees where a faint shadow lingered beneath a tree before he looked back towards Reed waiting.
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:30 pm
Reed stared suspiciously at the hand extended to him. He was supposed to trust this stranger with his family? But, mother had fought so hard to save the very man who'd hurt her... He must be worth something. And without that evil aura within... Puffing up his chest a little, he reached out to shake on his father's promise.
He turned to look back at his brother. "Come on, Ross. It is way passed our parents' bedtimes.." A tiny smile crooked up a corner of his lips, bashfully looking over the worn-down adults. It was time to rest, and absorb, and look toward the future. Things were going to be different. He didn't know how, but it was definitely going to be different.
Ashierra looked over at Ross and smiled, reaching over to hang her arm around his shoulders and press a kiss to his cheek. "I know, darling. Thank you."
Looking over to Alek, she was surprised with herself. Despite the years and the pain, she felt closer to Alek than ever before. She'd thought there would still be anger, but none remained. The understanding of the dark fire, the destruction of that fire, and the rebirth of Alek's true fire from herself had indeed created a bond. They were together again... Her family was whole once more. The unitaur... She only now glanced around, but the mystical creature was long gone. And Jade...
Her thoughts were interrupted by Reed's light words, a small chuckle rising from her. "Yes. I think a warm bed is just the thing..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 9:49 pm
There was relief in the fact that both of his sons actually seemed willing to give him a chance. Alek couldn’t believe it himself. This was definitely a blessing, a chance to give those boys what he himself had never had a chance at. Having a father who cared about them…who was there for them. Even without the dark magic thriving inside of him the cattaur still had the lingering memories of his earlier years and of the family origins he had. Maybe one day he could actually sit down and talk to Ashierra about them…but for now they were stored within the back of his mind. It was best to realize that the Alek from back then and the family he had foresworn was the past and here before him was his present and future. His future…he had a future now. The thought still baffled him.
“Bedtime?” Alek laughed, “Alright I guess we are old cats now after all.” He winked at Ashierra before noticing movement in the trees again. All these years…always in the shadows watching over him. Even when he had tried to run and leave her behind so that she could be free…he still ended up taking her down with him. His gaze softened as he shook his head at the bed comment, “As wonderful as that idea sounds there’s one last thing to take care of. Something that I don’t think I’ve ever done because I never had the chance to with you.” Alek raised a finger and motioned towards the forest, “Come on out. I know you’re hiding again. It’s time to stop that.” A soft questioning wind brushed past the cattaur and he shook his head, “No, I want to do this. You don’t have to worry.”
In a blur the teal form of a petite cattaur came running out of the woods and barreled straight into Alek’s arms. Quiet tears streamed down her face as Alek held onto Jade. No words were spoken between the two for a good moment as he let her hold onto him. “Alek! You- I – you…you’re alive.“ Her voice was soft, trembling from finally revealing the tears she had been hiding for so long, for so many long years.
“It’s okay.” Alek paused his gaze looking down at the cattaur in his arms, “It’s over now…all those years…it’s finally over.”
Jade nodded quietly before looking back up at him and then flushing as she looked at the rest of his family. The last thing she had wanted to do was show herself like this. Alek realized that as well, but he had wanted to drag her out. The male looked towards Ashierra and their sons thoughtfully before finally speaking, “I want you guys to finally meet Jade, not as a forewarning of danger or of a quiet wind always following me, but as my cousin.” Rubbing her arms one last time Alek allowed Jade to take a step away. Suddenly the bright cattaur who normally always had a sharp word or two was taken back. He had actually introduced her?
But there was so much…so much to explain. She just shook her head and looked up at the others, “My mother was his mother’s cousin. My family name is Tzephira though since my blood is of the wind.” She bit her bottom lip, “We were raised to always help the fire family even with the dark flames for that is what the wind does.”
“It’s like being partners in battle. She knows when I or…” He paused and looked towards his sons, “You are in danger since it’s a contract that’s lasted for generations. I never meant to try to hide her from you guys, but I had her watch over you while I was away and until I finally couldn’t find myself.” He looked towards Ashierra, “I meant to tell you about why I knew Jade, but I wanted to forget that part of my past. Jade was there to watch over me while I was too busy trying to run away from her and everything else that I had desperately wanted to leave behind.” Alek looked towards the boys and sighed, “So I guess I’ve not only hid myself from you as well, but someone who basically is like my sister to me.”
Jade wrinkled her nose as her usual gusto came back and she wanted to keep the air light, “Though I don’t want to be called aunt anytime soon. I’m still younger than your father after all.” She smiled teasingly before walking towards Ashierra. Looking at the other female she gave a shy smile, “I never meant to hide myself from you, but I figured you didn’t want to see me since I reminded you of Alek. The storm that night…it made me slip up and I apologize for it. I never meant to hurt you either Ashierra.”
Alek nodded, “If anything all of this mess is my fault..”
“But it’s over now right?” Ross cut in after finally finding his voice despite his surprise. But still he looked over at Reed and sighed, “She’s so awesome too.” It was his light humor that he was trying to bring into the shock of having a cousin…actual family on his father’s side before him. Even if distantly related it was still something. This whole day…this whole place. Ross shook his head. It would figure that after all these years something finally had happened. He just wasn’t expecting such a result. Never in his life would he have imagined staring his father down as an actual cattaur standing before him. Or that he would ever really know his family outside of his mother and brother…this was so surreal. But he was glad. After watching his mother for so many years in the time he had seen his father and the times he had seen Jade, he realized they all had gone through a form of hell.
So he would try to accept them the best he could, so that they could all have a future and leave behind that damned past before anyone else was hurt. Though he laughed as he looked over at Reed, “Well there goes my easy sleeping tonight.”
Jade and Alek both laughed, “Don’t worry. Storytime will come after we all pass out tonight.” His father, how weird that word still was, grinned before moving to take Ashierra’s hand. “So about that warm bed?” Alek asked softly with a light tease in their mother’s ear reserved just for her. The scene just warmed Ross though. Next time he would tease and tell his dad no displays of affection like that before them, but this time…this time he would let it slide. Just like all these secrets having to wait. He could wait and let them get their rest and their alone time.
They had plenty of time to catch up now after all.
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