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Finally, Amara was (relatively) free from the ice. She and Maeve collapsed against the cold walls of the ice bubble for a quick breather. I'm proud of you, Maeve. I guess you're not such a weakling after all.
Maeve just chirped tiredly, resting her head against Amara's chest.
Amara studied the walls of their prison, searching for the weakest point. We'll have to go through the ceiling, she told Maeve finally. You don't have to do anything anymore, except rest. But I am going to need your permission for something.
What?
I'm not going to be able to break through alone, so I'm going to need to borrow the rest of your firepower.
Okay. Just make sure I get it back when you're done. Maeve dove into Amara's pocket once more and instantly fell asleep.
Amara got to work. Ast chei donu hira meth...

Rage filled Hotaru and it caused Shiro to frown. This was Hotaru's strongest emotion yet, for none of Hotaru's emotions had caused his expression to change until now. Something Tee had said apparently made Hotaru rather upset. He didn't fully understand what was going on between the two firebirds, but he understood a bit from Hotaru's end of the conversation.

"You say that it's my fault for your friend's injury? Ha! It's his own fault that he stole my shell for who knows what reason. But by the sound of it, everything seems to be fallen apart--" Hotaru stopped in mid-sentence and stared at the sack with the remaining eggs. Hotaru chirped happily and scurried toward the sack. "I won't let anymore of my siblings become corrupt like you have!" she said, flapping her wings clumsily as she tried to reach the dagger that held it pinned against the truck of a charred tree.

Shiro had looked back to Aiya, so he had no clue that Hotaru had left and sighed. "She should be right behind me. Anyhow, did that spell work?" he asked, oblivious that Hotaru was doing something rather dangerous.

Tee's head whipped around towards Hotaru with hatred. Tee dashed off towards Hotaru and the rest of the eggs as well. You are a disgrace! Going around with a weak human... why do you think our kind nearly died out? We grew weak from the human presence. The demons know how to tap into their real power! Tee mentally challenged Hotaru, still dashing towards the tree. When she was in range, she jumped at Hotaru, claws brandished yet again.

Dax was slightly distracted by the enormous pillar of heat that blasted over him. He covered his face with his arm and fell backwards into the wet mush that had once ben crisp snow. Amara was clearly fine, if not a bit tired looking, so he looked around him. He still had to find the other eggs before it was too late. He looked towards Tee. He got up, ignoring the wet seat of his trousers, and ran towards his bag as quickly as he could.

Kaias didn't care all thjat much about the bag being taken back by who he assumed was the original owner. He still had the one in his left hand and he could swear that he could sense the pheonix becoming stronger, as if it was ready to break free.
Smiling at the thought he returned his attention to the confrontation that was still occurring. He sheathed his longsword but kept the field around him as he took cautious steps towards the others. With each step the snow and ground melted and died, as did any vegetation he crossed.
He was curious about the everyone else he saw with a pheonix, he assumed that there was some dire plot behind it all. So Kaias was interested in knowing what it might be and the possibility of him tagging along. He could very well increase his power in participating in what he imagined to be quite the epic conflict.

Our kind would never have been poached if the humans had not been too weak to protect them! We will form a new alliance with the demons, and conquer all! We will destroy all who would oppose us, including you, sister! Tee telepathically proclaimed. You are simply weak! It is the demons who will guide us to victory, not the humans. Open your eyes, sister! Or I will pluck them out myself!

Dax did not respond to Shiro. Not because he was not able to come up with a snappy reply, he was very good at that, but because he was off his rear end and bolting towards his now being jumped on dagger. He took a swing at Hotaru with his steel hand and snatched at the bag. One egg fell onto the snowy ground. Ignoring if his blow had colided with the small bird, he yanked his dagger out of the dead wood and scooped up Hotaru in a feat only possible by someone who had no idea what was going on, except that he was in a hurry.

Even as Tee was scooped up into Dax's posession, she still mentally argued with Hotaru. I corrupted our siblings?! They chose to come to the side with power! I say it is your foolish ideas that are tainted! she mentally shouted. Dax was otherwise doing a different kind of shouting. "Amara!" Dax shouted holding tightly to his pheonix and the bag containg the remaining egg. He rushed over to her. "Are you ok?" he asked. He scanned over her body. In a puerly looking-for-wounds kind of way, I assure you. No, really.

Hotaru fluttered behind the tree as Dax removed the dagger, narrowly avoiding being stabbed in the forehead. She scurried back to the front of the trunk and jumped up and down in a rage right after Tee commented on how the humans were too weak to stop the demons. However, just as she was about to say something, she realized that there was nothing she could say that would make sense. Yes, demons outstrengthed humans greatly, but the if the demons hadn't have poached them in the first place, there would be no need for protection. Hotaru sent some rather rude comments to Tee and made her way back to Shiro's side. As she did, she replied to Tee, "Listen to yourself! You, yourself, have been corrupted by your companion's mind. And humans aren't as weak as they seem! Especially when they have magic! Pluck my eyes out if you wish, but I will still oppose you. At least I will go down with honor because I chose not to be corrupted!"

Shiro watched as Amara dashed out of the woods and blinked when he saw Hotaru come back at his side. "Hotaru, what's going on?" he asked, having difficulty keeping up with everything. It was all falling into the hands of chaos. Twins, demons, necromancers, and even humans--they all had phoenixes. Was this to be the return of the phoenixes; war and chaos reigning throughout Etsuko?

Something clicked in Dax's mind while he was dashing to nowhere in particular. One of the eggs had not fallen out of the sack, (contrary to popular belief) because there was only one egg in the bag when he had snatched it. He must be having one of those days.

He looked towards Kaias with dismay. Was it another one of those pheonix-bearing people that sought to make his day miserable? The undead were hard to deal with sometimes. Well, most of the time.

His pheonix is strong! said Tee proudly to Dax after scanning his thoughts. He, surely, would not oppose our ideals! Dax was unsure. He stopped looked where Amara had run, and looked towards Kaias. "Hey necromancer," he shouted over to him, "follow us if you want power with that pheonix." Dax didn't wait for a reply, but ran off towards towards Amara, his long legs striding across the ivory snow.

A voice jolted through Amara's head, forcing her to stop. Amara, make your report.
Yes, my lord. It appears that Dax has lost at least half of the eggs, maybe more. Amara relished in her lord's obvious displeasure.
And the other eggs?
I... am not sure, my lord. Dax has bonded with one, as have I. Her brain worked furiously as she tried to come up with a reason as to why she had bonded with Maeve. I wanted to be sure that there would be at least one phoenix that was loyal to you, my lord.
Very noble of you, I'm sure, he remarked dryly. Why did you not just bring one of the eggs to me?
It was already hatching. There was nothing I could do.
A mental sigh echoed throughout her mind. Very well. Come to me now; you have done well.
Yes, my lord. Thank you.