a survivor's beacon of fire (Open Thread)

[ulrica]

<sup>Aiu cocked her head slightly when the male dropped, apologizing for his startling appearance. The prideful she-wolf snorted indignantly, sitting back on her haunches holding her head erect. "I wasn't startled or scared." She replied sharply, hoping the male wouldn't call her bluff. However, he thanked her for the rabbit and began to chow down. As Shade ate, Aiu took the opportunity to force her muscles to relax and smooth her bristling fur. He isn't going to attack me, hell, I just laid by him for a day and a half and he didn't try to hurt me at all. In fact... I might have hurt him with how rough I was... A twinge or regret flashed through the femme, but that was quickly gone when she realized Shade had finished eating.

"You think we should find better shelter? Anyways i am new here and i wouldn't mind a tour." The male said wearing a kind smile upon his maw. Shoving her fear away, Aiu nodded her head and plastered a smile on her own muzzle. "Sure, we can take a walk and then find a place for the night... um.." A concerned look showed in her emerald eyes as she took a few wary steps closer to the male. "Do you need help...?" The angelic she-wolf offered, closing the distance to reach his side. Gently licking at the, now closed, wound behind his head and nudging under his ear with her nose softly before drawing away to watch him for a reply.</sup>

[wolfshade]

Shade shook his head at her question if he needed help, "No, not really, it is just nice to have a tour guide especially in an area i have nev..." He stopped short as the she-wolf licked the back of his head making him blush immensely. "never been to." His body language flickered his thought about her. He liked her, even though he only met her a sun and a moon ago, he really liked her. He started to get awkward...

"yah... I... I... would like a walk... yes" He was getting more embarrassed by the second. Here he is, around a a gentle hearted she-wolf after being almost three years without a companion but his distempered alter ego, making a fool of himself, 'good job slim, embarrass me AND yourself', "shh" he said and then flattened his ears realizing he just slipped. But before Shade could say anything, Something caught his eye Behind the she-wolf...

"Aiu" his eyes went wide with horror "DUCK!" he yelled as he engulfed himself in the fires like when he first arrived, and shot over the She-wolf in a blink of an eye. Through a clearing in the trees towards the sky, He flew full throttle headfirst into one of the creatures that ambushed him that night. A blinding flash and a loud crackling noise filled the air as shade hit, he called off his fire and watched the smoldering carcass fall. He landed nearby panting and nudged the creature with a paw, "Great Goddesses," he looked at the scars upon leg and neck, "he came back to finish it" Upon further investigation Shade remarked, "It is an Iron Claw, a well maneuvering ambush predator." he moved a wing to expose the shining claws, "They are nocturnal the only time you see them coming is when the moon light hits there claws But... but... if it's nocturnal, why is it in brood daylight right now?" He looked at the she-wolf, "Aiu, we should go... fast, these beasts never wing alone, they always fly in twos"

[ulrica]

<sup>Aiu whimpered and stepped back a few feet when the male paused, knowing that she had overstepped her bounds when he immediately continued as the distance between them increased. "I-I'm sorry I-" The she-wolf began before Shade's "shh" instantly silenced her. Her ears flattening against her back in anxiety and embarrassment, she turned slightly away from him and ducked her head. Fool. Friendships aren't meant for you. A voice laughed wickedly. For once, the adolescent wolf lacked the energy - or want for that matter - to make any sort of reply.

"Aiu, Duck!" Shade suddenly yelled. However, the winged wolfess didn't duck. She couldn't duck, such a maneuver was not her way instinct took over. Instead, the femme danced to the side just as an electric ball of flame sped past her. Unfortunately, one wing - the left - flared just enough for his jet stream to catch under it and send her rolling. A yelp escaped her jaws and she was sent scraping across the ground just as a bright flash of electric flame and a sickening crunch filled the air. Her right wing prevented her from rolling all the way over; as a result the muscles in the underside of her right wing were strained and pulled into agonizingly painful ways. So, when she stood and tried to move said wing back against her body, another yelp escaped her clenched muzzle; the aching from the wounded muscled forcing the wing to drag across the ground.

Turning, forcing a grimace from her face in the process, Aiu realized that Shade had killed whatever he had leaped for. "It is an Iron Claw, a well maneuvering ambush predator." The male explained, pulling aside a wing to reveal the metallic looking claws. "They are nocturnal the only time you see them coming is when the moon light hits there claws But... but... if it's nocturnal, why is it in brood daylight right now?" When Shade looked up at Aiu, she thought she saw dread, and perhaps fear there. But he just killed that one.... She wondered silently, confused a bit. Just cause you die doesn't mean the wolf beside you will fall easily... A rational voice said in the snowy she-wolf's mind. Of course it was right. But the raven-like wolf was saying something then and the femme had missed most of it. Luckily she caught the gist of it and gave a sharp nod. "Right. Um..." Emerald eyes turned onto her wing and she took an experimental step away, wincing at the resulting twinge of pain. Gritting her teeth together she forced her wing to her side, folding it in the usual position. Within seconds, a thin cocoon of ice had encased the upper half of her right wing, a strip going directly in front of and behind her left wing then wrapping around her underbelly to connect on the underside of freezing cast. "Okay..." She said, dipping her snowy head in an apologetic manner. "Follow me." With that, she seemed to simply melt into the trees that were mere feet to her left.</sup>

[wolfshade]

Shade watched as the She-wolf splinted her wing, "Aiu..." He felt as though his voice fell on deaf ears, for Aiu, had already vanished into the woods, "Damn it! Why did I flame up so bloody close to her like that!?" His fires of blue, went crimson red along with his markings, the tips of his flames flickered in black. Bane was back... and pissed.

Bane was really pissed, he was ambushed, he was injured, he injured an innocent. It was not a good week for him at all, He came to this land for peace and a happy death when it came around to it. But now, he didn't care. "I promised my father to avenge the family's name upon his death. Now it is time to begin" He watched as the fallen Iron Claws' living comrade crash through the canopy claws out stretch towards him, approaching faster, "wait for it, wait for it..." As the Iron claw approached Shade (Bane) Summoned all his balance and flow to a single focal point, the grass leaned in towards that center point, the weak point in the summoning of the Ishkodahian Blast spell, the beast approached seven feet in front of him, with a sneer Bane replied "See you in the afterworld"...

The explosion was hear for miles, but the damage was centralized within 12 feet from the epicenter. Just enough to cover the clearing where the new crater sat. It was a waste of power and energy but it did the job. There were stray clumps of scorched grass here and there inside the shallow crater, and two skeletons of two Iron Claws, still smoking. But nothing else. but 40 feet away under a small rocky over hang there would be a single wolf with a black body and black wings wrapped tightly cocooning his frame and a bit of smoke drifting off his spine. Exhausted and dazed but highly alert, he sat there, tears rolling from his eyes through his feathers and fur. His flames dwindle just barely enough to be visible, thinking of his family and how much he missed them and fear of the power within his curse, the one hatred by the name of Bane...

The spell took alot of strength from him and limited his ability to resummon his spells temporarily, for now he must lay low or fight claw to claw. And silently to no ones knowledge how he wished he would die instead of bare this fabled curse...

[ulrica]

<sup>Aiu was already a fair distance away when the blast sounded in her ears, making the drums within them pop almost painfully. She spun around, ready to face a powerful opponent, and saw....nothing? Not even Shade was trailing along at her heels. With a franticness to her jerky movements, the snowy wolfess cast her emerald gaze around while lithe paws danced in fear. What if he got caught in the blast... What if that's the power of those birds..? A voice whispered in her mind, mock worry thickening its words. "Oh gods..." She breathed, lunging forward and sprinting toward the clearing. No... it was no longer a small clearing. It was a crater, and laying within it was the skeletons of two gigantic birds. Each with tendrils of smoke trailing up from their bones. A chocking noise came from Aiu's throat and she felt like a steel grip was strangling her. Shade was gone. Shade was gone and she wasn't even around to help when he needed her the most. "Shade..." the adolescent wolf whimpered quietly, her voice breaking and rendering her unable to say more.

Silence enveloped what used to be the clearing. Not even the birds in the trees dared to chirp. But rather than calming the youthful Aiu, it angered her. She was sent into a rage at the sheer calmness of the world. Shade had just disappeared and yet nothing had changed! How could that be fair?! With a strangled snarl, she charged at the skeletons. Two bounds, a leap, and a slash of her paw then they deteriorated into dust. The angelic wolfess stood panting in the midst of their ash, her wide spread legs trembling and her lowered muzzle hanging open. Suddenly, those trembling legs refused to support the she-wolf's weight any longer and she collapsed into the Iron Claws' remains. Her sides rose quickly with her sharp panting. There was a twinge of pain in her wing from the jar of her fall. But none of this mattered because she had failed... She had failed and that's all there was to it. Emerald eyes closed and for a brief moment peace seemed to settle over the shuddering wolfess, but it was short lived.

Seconds passed, perhaps a minute, when a strange scent hit Aiu's nose. At first, she brushed it off as just more smoke, but soon the realization came that this wasn't the smoke of burning wood, or earth, or even Iron Claw flesh. This was more like burning fur, and feathers. How strange.... It's almost like what I would smell like if I caught on fire.... She mused, her mind having fallen into a state of deliriousness after her outburst. Wait.... The adolescent she-wolf leaped to her feet and was on the move again as she figured out what that smell meant. Shade was nearby! Soon, she came across a rocky overhanging under which the scent originated. Shade's raven feathers glinted in the sunlight. No... Not feathers... Tears... Aiu whimpered and crouched down, approaching the weakened wolf by crawling. "Shade...?" She breathed, pulling to a halt a couple feet away. "Are you alright...?" Her words were gentle and said with obvious care. Taking a deep breath, the femme crawled the last few feet to reach the male's side. She snuggled against his side, folding her ears back to nuzzle her head against the underside of his jaw. "Don't worry ok.... I'll take care of you..." She whispered softly, ignoring the irrationality of her own words. You can hardly take care of yourself. How are you supposed to take care of someone else who is also your elder? A voice laughed meanly in her mind. However, for once, the young femme didn't care. Shade was hurting and though she didn't know why, she knew she didn't like his pain.</sup>

[wolfshade]

Shade was still oblivious of what happened, "Hi, Aiu, sorry I kinda ditched you there." Tears mixed with the soot from the blast continued to roll down his cheeks, off-spring from his memories and the slight tingle in his spine.

"Oh, I am fine" Shade replied after she asked if he was alright, "Just a bit dizzy and exhausted but nothing that a stroll can fix" He fluffed his feathers and fur, a puff of soot and dirt went air borne beneath it all his fur and feathers were uncharred. A gentle autumn rain started to fall washing away the last of the grime...

Shade looked up, and looked back at her. He nipped one of her ears gently but playfully, "I still owe you for helping me" he got up stretching a wing over here to keep her dry, "Come on Aiu, Lets head off" he walked off stopping a few feet from her and looked back as the rain rolled off the feathers of his muzzle and back, "hurry, before you get a cold" he laughed lightly at the thought, especially because of what he was...

[ulrica]

<sup>Rejection. Aiu's heart thudded painfully in her chest and she stood to walk numbly to his side. Who cared about the rain? Who cared about the cold? Who cared about anything...? Certainly not her, not in those moments of bewilderment and loss. His wing was held up for her but she ignored it, padding silently past him and away. Rain fell heavily on the she-wolf's slender back, but she ignored it. Let it weigh down her wings. Let it soak her fur. Let it force her ears to droop and bow with their wetness. Let it sting her eyes and blur her vision. What did that matter? Surely nothing. "This way..." She murmured, not caring whether Shade heard or not.

The rain grew steadily harder and more than once she had stumbled, the awkwardness of having only one wing inflicting an offset to her usually perfect balance. Still, she wouldn't accept help from the male. He didn't want her close any how so she would show him a shelter then find one for herself and he would never have to suffer from her company again.</sup>


((OOC: Sorry it's taken me so long to reply >.< I've been swamped with studying for final exams and then with thanksgiving dinners, but I'm back now ))

[wolfshade]

((ooc: welcome back you gave me alot of time for me to think of different posts to make the friendship or whatever between aiu and shade stick [PP here reading your aura, but i do not talk about your full past for i cannot see it i only mention what makes your personality what it is, feel free to do with it what you please though lol]))

Shade whined softly as Aiu brushed off his motion of respect and kindness, his ears dropped back as furled his wing tight to his body and paced up beside her, the now increasing rainfall beaded upon feathers and evaporated, "Aiu, you okay?," a spazm of guilt and sadness flooded in his mismatched eyes, he swung around to walk in front of her facing her, "was it something I said?" he looked into her emerald eyes something flickered within them...

He stopped, still looking at them, within them, "your alone..." the symbol on his forehead flickered white and faded, "your life was as like my own... and yet you still hold on to the pain and the raging torment of guilt within you, you blame yourself for everything bad that happened and everything bad that may happen dont you?"

Shade snapped back into the real world again shaking his head and grimacing from the headache of the lock the symbol upon his head returned with it's normal blue hue, "is that why you withdraw on many subjects I speak of? Like family, friends, and mates?" his head throbbed 'damn it, it why does it hurt so much when i am around her' he thought silently to himself, he sat down just in case the pain made him dizzy...

[ulrica]

<sup>Shade's first question fell on deaf ears, and had he not startled Aiu into a halt then she wouldn't have heard the second.Back end mere inches from the ground in a crouch, the slender she-wolf's front end was balanced on her right paw while her left was raised up in front of her chest. The femme's head was held erect and her ears were pricked forward as all attention was suddenly on the male. "Was it something I said?" He asked seeming utterly confused and distressed. "What do you mean?" She wanted to ask, but for some reason her mouth wouldn't form the words. Aiu's ears slowly swiveled back and laid down against her neck as she drew her head away, arching her neck so her chin almost brushed the thick downy fur of her throat. "You're alone...." The male said, his voice sounding as the marking on his forehead flickered into a pale white. He continued to speak, but Aiu couldn't focus. She heard his words, they registered, but for a moment there was no other acknowledgment of him speaking than a widening of her eyes.

You're alone! You're alone! A voice sang gleefully in the femme's mind. The adolescent she-wolf shook her head as if trying to rid herself of some dreadful memory. Al! Al help! She pleaded silently, begging for the familiar form of her protector and friend to come rescue her from a living nightmare. But he wasn't there. Her visions of the past bombarded her and once again she felt reality slipping away as her mother's blood sprayed the air, her brother stumbling beside her as fangs tore into his hamstrings, her father's agonized howl as he reached them too late and his own blood stained the earth.....blood blurring her vision as fangs closed over her small body and tossed her as if she were little more than a rag doll. And just as quickly as they had come the terror filled visions were gone, leaving the young she-wolf gasping for air and choking back tears. The world tilted and she flared her good wing in an attempt to keep from falling on her side. Somehow, Aiu managed to keep from falling. Sitting back on her haunches, jaws clenched and emerald eyes squeezed shut, the snowy femme took a few seconds to gather herself before replying.

"I watched my family get slaughtered... My mother, my brother, my father.... But for some reason I lived... I lived and they died and I don't deserve it!!" Her voice was a snarl when she finished, jade eyes opened wide now to stare into space as if it held the answers. "They're gone, they left me! They left me all alone and I don't. know. why!!" A state of delirium came over her as her gaze fell upon Shade. "I... I...." Her body trembled violently and she seemed to fall in upon herself - her shoulders, head, and ears all drooping - as silence strangled the words in the wolfess's throat.</sup>

[wolfshade]

"Aiu," Shade placed a paw lightly upon hers and nestled his feathery muzzle against her cheek, "Be still, and breathe deep" he tried his best to comfort her, "I have come from the same neck of the woods as you... you should never question the fates of time and our essences." he looked at her gently, his paw still lightly resting on hers, "I now see why the fates have decided to kill me so many times." He nuzzled her cheek again, "i have always believed when the fires of my home decided to take my family many years ago, it was a punishment for deeds i have not done. But I now know that I am here now to help others. I believe we have crossed paths to help each other, and there is undeniable proof to that reason."

Shades ears flicked hoping she understood what he meant, "You could of left me to die when i was attacked. And I could of walked the opposite direction when i got well. But we didn't we stuck together and we still are..." He tilted his head lightly to the right, "But i ask you this, do you wish to talk about your past life to a wanderer that you still haven't gotten to know. you may feel better to get it of your chest. I know I did..." He waited silently, for her reply to his words of honesty...

[ulrica]

<sup>Aiu blinked at Shade's gentleness. The softness of his paw on hers and the warmth of his breath on her cheek as he breathed in and out. She leaned into him, nuzzling her head under his jaw while a few pitiful whimpers escaped her clenched maw. He pulled away just enough to look at her, keeping his paw on hers, and there was a kindness in his gaze that held the adolescent she-wolf there. But it was his words which echoed in her mind, "You should never question the fates of time and our essences." Aiu blinked at such a prospect that she didn't control her own life. That some greater power had laid out the road she must travel and had planned out her entire existence from start to finish. Shade nuzzled her cheek again, but the snowy wolfess was numb to the touch. Only her ears flicking every few seconds as she listened to his softly spoken words. "...We have crossed paths to help each other, and there is undeniable proof to that reason... We stuck together and we still are..." He cocked his head to the side slightly. "Do you wish to talk about your past life... You may feel better to get it of your chest. I know I did..." Here Shade paused, waiting for Aiu's reply.

The winged she-wolf took a moment before saying anything. She refused to believe that she did not hold control over her own life, but she had to admit the reason why she had stayed with this male was a mystery. It was a simple matter that she just wasn't the helpful type. There came a heavy sigh from her snowy muzzle and she stood, pulling away from Shade. "What reason did these fates you speak of have for killing my family...?" She whispered quietly, not really looking for a reply as her iron resolve settled back into effect. Emotion was lost to her now, she wasn't sad or angry, she simply was. Neutrality became her as she walked away, calling to him over her shoulder. "Come on, we should get out of the rain." Her voice was gentle and soft spoken, but the musical notes it usually carried were gone. It was simply a voice speaking normal words.

He would not wish this on you.... A voice whispered rationally, yet surprisingly soothingly. Well Al isn't here is he... Was Aiu's silent reply.</sup>

[Xenoxice]

(( You guys mind if I hop in? I think it would make things more interesting if Aiu's good ol' friend Al showed up and surprised her =P. Not to mention meet Shade of course! ))

[wolfshade]

((OOC: nah i dont mind at all, i think we need the plot twist, welcome aboard, we'll post Shade, Al, then Aiu [so lady Aiu can respond to her friend without waiting] and run it in that fashion))

"I cannot answer that question Aiu, for your sake I wish I could," The rain continued beading upon his feathers and steam floated from his tucked wings. He took a few steps forward and stopped, the wind shifted, he started to growl his hackles rose as he sniffed the air, "we got company..."

Shade outstretched his wings in a defensive manner, the flames lit and and crackled across the leading edge and then to the tips. He crouched ready to attack only if necessary, his back was to Aiu, his snout faced the source of the scent, lips peeled back in a snarl as the symbols upon his bod flickered and glowed in there own flames, "Show yourself! State if your friend or foe, or so help you goddesses, I will roast you to a crisp!"

Shade waited as his readied himself for another beast to attack them, hoping that the approacher is wise to come into view and speak up...

[Xenoxice]

((Thanks for the go ahead ^_^. I'll go ahead and post now. ))

A dreamless sleep from a clear conscious. Such was the slumber Alastolan had been in. Nice and cozy in a large burrow beneath a tree. His ears twitched as the sound of raindrops began to fall on the ground outside. His eyes slowly opened with a large yawn. He stood up and stretched as he looked outside to see the rain had begun to pick up and become heavier. Wonderful.... I always liked hunting in the rain. Alastolan thought to himself sarcastically. Stepping outside his fur began to become soaked along with his wings. Through the rainy forest he trotted until he caught scent of a nearby deer. But something else got his attention. There were other scents aside from the deers. Two of them. Wolves close by. Putting his nose to the air he tried to find which direction they were and began to track them. I know one of these.... Soon enough the scents became stronger until the wind changed direction and threw him off. Without even knowing he was just a few yards away until one of them spoke.[/size] "Show yourself! State if your friend or foe, or so help you goddesses, I will roast you to a crisp!" He turned around the tree and came into view. His finely toned muscular body fully visible as he flared his jet black wings and flapped them to get the excess water off. "You know it's quite rude to say such things to someone you don't know. I'm friend. The name's Alastolan and I was just h---" His sentence cut short as his gaze drifted over to the other wolf behind this male.

"I'd recognize those wings anywhere! AIU!! I Haven't seen you in weeks!!" He shouted with happiness sprinting over to Aiu and nuzzled his head gently into the side of hers looking at the cast she had made. He sighed and looked at her while smiling. "Good grief Aiu. What have you gotten yourself into THIS time?" Taking a few steps back to walk around and look her over to see if she had any other injuries he finally stopped and spoke to both of them. "We should get out of the rain. I know of an empty burrow under a tree close by I've been using that could hold four large wolves comfortably. It's warm inside and stays dry." He put one of his wings over Aiu to shelter most of her from the rain. "Let's get going shall we?" he spoke looking towards the male then back to Aiu. His hunger had been completely forgotten.

[ulrica]

<sup>Aiu paused to wait for Shade, her head lowered so her back and neck created a level plane. "I cannot answer that question Aiu, for your sake I wish I could." He sounded truly sorry, there might have even been a note of sadness in his voice, but directly after there was a wind shift and the adolescent she-wolf's thoughts shifted just as quickly. Her head jerked up, ears pricked forward and nostrils flared. Spinning around as Shade announced they weren't alone, the snowy wolfess stepped to the male's side. She didn't need his protection, nor did she want it, fighting came naturally for her as did more sinful deeds. Perhaps it was simply the knowledge that she wouldn't be alone to face whatever- Wait a minute... "Show yourself! State if your friend or foe, or so help you goddesses, I will roast you to a crisp!" Shade's words were harsh, but she could tell he meant it. Still, why did that bother her? And why was this scent so familiar. Could it be...? The males wings were outstretched defensively, fire sparking alone their length, but Aiu ventured nearer. The electric flames meant little to her then, she had bigger things to worry about.

A large wolf stepped around a tree at that instant; a large wolf...with wings? "You know it's quite rude to say such things to someone you don't know. I'm friend. The name's Alastolan and I was just h---" The young femme's heart stuttered and she lunged forward, darting under Shade's wing to race for Al's side. He had also registered her presence as he sprinted forward to meet her halfway. She crashed into him, nuzzling him on his cheek, his neck, his muzzle; the whole time wiggling about and whimpering like a puppy. "AIU!! I Haven't seen you in weeks!!" He cried before his eyes fell upon the make-shift brace surrounding her right wing. "Good grief Aiu. What have you gotten yourself into THIS time?" Aiu snorted, shrinking back slightly. "I tripped...and slid on my wing. It's fine though, just a pulled muscle. I'll be better in no time." She smiled brightly, happy to be reunited with her friend.

Al circled her, making sure she had no other ailments, then addressed them both once he was sure of her well being. "We should get out of the rain. I know of an empty burrow under a tree close by I've been using that could hold four large wolves comfortably. It's warm inside and stays dry." He said while raising a wing to shelter Aiu from the weather. The young she-wolf smiled wryly and leaned against his side, craning her neck up to playfully tug at his closest ear. "Let's get going shall we?" Aiu nodded and looked back at shade, cocking her head to the side giving her a cute almost pup-like appearance. "Come on Shade. Let's get out of the rain."</sup>