Birds of a Feather

As soon as she laid eyes on him, Tamsin wanted to run. Of course, she didn't. She had never been one to run from danger, finding a spine of steel at the most unlikely of times. "You..." Why had they come here? She was still clueless, the inkling that she had being forced down by her own subconscious trying to protect her from what Ignatius had said. But, instead of cowering, Tamsin once again became her headstrong self, "What is your problem? Why this hate? It makes no sense." Her voice was calm, unwavering, though inwardly she was terrified.
 
Verniok looked at them and smirked a little bit, "Why not?" He asked, chuckling slightly and walking toward them, "however ... Ignatius ... you have done good."
 
"You can't mean tha-" Her eyes glazed over as the bird took the reins, though this time she did retain some sort of consciousness, You think I want your approval? Arrogance, it is not an attracti- Tamsin was a fighter, and did not allow him full control, soon regaining her senses and faculties, "There is always a reason for evil." She swayed a little as she fought an inner battle with the phoenix.
 
Verniok shook his head, stepping closer to them, "Because I choose to kill ... as for you Ignatius ... you are the one who wished to see me ... if you wish for me to free you now I would hold my tounge." He narrowed his eyes.

Xent smiled a little, "You can seperate them?"
 
I wish for you to stop being a coward. Ignatius was goading him, and Tamsin knew why. "Xent, if he gets his way...you have to leave." She spoke with urgency, aware that if he was successful, the resulting explosion would most likely fill the entire cave.
 
Xent shook his head, "Ignatius, you said you wouldn't kill Tamsin." He narrowed his eyes, "Damn't Ignatius."

Verniok chuckled, "Wait a moment Ignatius, let me kill the wretch first." He pulled a blade out.
 
Tamsin was gone for a moment, purely because Ignatius needed to laugh again, I'm not going to. What do you take me for? He allowed his host to the surface once again, in time for her to step in front of Xent, wanting to protect him. "Just stop! You don't have to kill annyone." And as the phoenix had wanted, the cavern began to warm, heat seeming to emanate from Tamsin as her pores exuded a pheromone that would shortly cause vast flames to spring up, should she remain in such a state of fear and dismay.
 
Xent looked at Verniok and put his blade up, "Very well ..." he said looking at Verniok.

Verniok smirked and charged quickly, bringing his sword through Xent's stomach. Xent coughed out some blood.
 
This couldn't be happening. Tamsin didn't intervene though, she had learnt that lesson earlier. Rather than get in the way, Tamsin was busy focusing on quelling the fire that she could feel in her soul, an overzealous phoenix was forcing his way out.
 
Verniok chuckled as Xent fell to the floor, watching them evilly and then looking at Tamsin, "Hmm ..." he began to walk toward them, his blade pulled out.
 
"Why do this?!" Tamsin demanded, apparently infuriated by the sight of Xent on the floor. She knew there was little she could do for him, but that didn't stop her dropping to her knees beside him, still feeling that heat building within her. The girl had no idea what was happening to her, only knew that she needed to protect him before it happened.

Moments later, she was aware of only pain. She didn't know if Verniok had stabbed her or not, and supposed it didn't really matter anyway. A pillar of white hot flame burst forth, melting away part of the cavern roof, only singing other places. This went on for some time as instinct and emotion combined to force Tamsin into this primal reaction.

After a minute or so of volcanic heat and molten rock, the girl was laying across Xent, unmarked but also unmoving, while a deep black, hawklike bird beat his wings for the first time in centuries. "Well. That was easy." He muttered, looking down at the scene with what he didn't want to realise was a bit of regret. Gold barred feathers ruffled as he continued to stare down, shedding the fabled tears that would breathe life into whatever they touched.
 
Verniok looked at Ignatius as he shedded some of his feather's, "Phoenix what do you think your doing?" He snarled, his lips trembling, "Let them die, let them all die, and I will make you a god among us." he said quickly, "They aren't worth saving."
 
He had done enough, and now that it was done he turned his attention to Verniok. "Among whom, exactly? You call yourself a God, but that means nothing. It is only the lastan that grant you this status through their own stupdity." He spoke with little emotion, only speaking his mind, now that he was free to do so. "Now, I suggest you learn a little manners, or get ready to realise why we phoenix were hunted so ruthlessly." They were a species that defied most paramaters of mortal beings, and now were all but extinct, their greatness something that could not be tolerated in the rapidly shrinking world.
 
He smirked a bit, "Are you trying to tell me the Lastan and their god's will die?" He laughed maniacally, "Maybe the Lastan, but not the god's, you cannot kill a god ..."

Xent grunted, his stomach healing slightly as he tried to sit up, "Your wrong there's a weapon that can kill anything at a-"

"Shut up you imbecille." Verniok tsked, "I'm sorry Ignatius, thought we could come to an understanding." He snapped his finger's and several decomposing Lastan appeared, "Kill them."
 
"Anyone can be a god. It's just a name, like a lord or a knight. But, that doesn't matter." Ignatius supposed anyone with such a massive ego would never understand, and honestly didn't care. He only turned to Xent as he righted himself, noting that Tamsin was also stirring. It took her some time to sit up, but it was clear she was pushing herself hard.

Of course, his attention as quickly grabbed by the corpses, though he honestly saw this as childs play. The hole in the roof of the cavern was testament to his power, which he released without a thought. He banked to the left, curving his body as he released a sheaf of flame that was pushed towards these lastan with horrifying speed.
 
Verniok growled, "Very well then." He looked at Ignatius as the undead Lastan fell, "I suppose I will have to reveal the true me then." Verniok shedded the skin of the Lastan that he was using as his host, having enough power to now exist in the mortal world, when he stepped out, his skin was pale, however he grew in size to an easy 10' tall, muscular and well built, his wingspan longer than his own body, he growled at Ignatius, "Are you ready fool?" He asked, swiping his blade toward the phoenix.
 
As such an arrogant soul, Ignatius barely even paused as the lastan form was shed, instead the true being within appearing before him. Apparently today was a day for new births. He swooped to meet the blade, knowing that in this small space he could not so easily use his flight to avoid the strokes. Instead, he chose to come toward the arc of the weapon, pulling up at the last second as fire once again sprang around him, his aim to use this fire as a distraction as he went to peck th eyes of this man.

Meanwhile, Tamsin was sitting up, disoriented and confused, as well as understandably frightened. But, aside from this she felt healthier than she had done in all her life, and would soon be ready to stand and face the day.
 
Xent watched as the 2 being's fought, a god vs. a phoenix. He smiled a bit now that Tamsin was sitting up, he looked at her as Ignatius and Verniok fought, "We should go." He whispered.
 
Although there was no love lost between them, Tamsin still didn't feel quite right about leaving Ignatius to his fate. But, she also knew it was the most sensible course of action, and so she stood, wobbling for a moment before she finally nodded to Xent. The two made their exit as quickly as possible, while Ignatius refused to back down.
 
Xent hurried Tamsin out of the cave, holding her closely as he escorted them back toward the city that he lived with, smiling a little bit. Leaving Ignatius and Verniok's fate unknown for now.
 
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