The world of Norindul

[Wolfsin]

For many all at once hope was lost...

Part 1~

Echo and Sonet glanced between each other and to the stranger shroud in dark cloaks, from beyond the thickened woods behind the girl white fur, streaks of lightning and flesh tore through the brush and came upon them like a plague that only a cruel and playful god of creation could have called upon them. They cursed themselves for their fate, Chris looked between them and then to the blood stained snow. He knew that they would not escape. Not all of them.

Vesper was a dancing angel, blood whirled around her in streaks as she spun between the monstrous beasts, and her aura whipped around her like deathly red razors tearing anything that came around her into ribbons within seconds, but even she was strained in the numbering lycan bodies that surrounded her.

Sonet looked to Chris, her eyes were pleading most because she knew that Chris was about to do something her heat begged he'd not. "Chris.. no. Lets just leave while we can." Chris stood there silent however... The conflict within him called to him with a divine god like voice that coaxed him towards the battle, and Chris could not ignore it.

"Im sorry."

Sonet screamed after him as Chris shot forward and barreled into the first of the lycan sending them flying into the nearest building and crashing through it. His fists came down and he pummeled the wolf before others latched onto his back, and Sonet was left to watch in horror. Echo was forced to be the strong one and slowly turned her distraught sister from the scene, covering her eyes.

The Two of them wandered against the cold winter wind and left behind the city of white death they had been thrown into. Sonet couldn't speak, and Echo continued to hold her sister and rbu at her back, so to let her know she was not alone as if her presence would do anything.. Echo knew better but there was nothing else that she could do either.

Only when the trees broke and the two were confronted with the melody of low growls did Echo look up from her sister.

Beyond the clearing was a scene only from story books. A boy, blood, and more of them. The large monstrous humanoid wolves, much larger than the last ones stood around the young boy lay in the snow covered in red, his snow white hair nearly blanketed the winters wealth beneath him and only the slightest sign of breath still left the boys lips.

Sonet's mentality changed instantly, to that of a mother... Echo noticed that the two next to him were his parents and stood with her sister as they faced down the lycan murderers.

"mmm... a snack then. How fortunate for us."

The largest of them spoke, and stood up above the rest, shroud in dark grey armor. his fur was white as snow, eyes gold as the moon, and he was covered in blood. "You two arrived just in time for the end that our leader hoped for... the Silvermoon bloodline ends here." The others laughed in unison with their leader and began stalking around the two of them.

Echo and Sonet turned and held each others hand as they prepared for what they could only hope to be a swift end. However not one they would just allow to happen. Simultaneously the two of them closed their eyes and held their hands out towards the prowling lycan' as they began to encircle the other with their steps, graceful as the eternal dance of the moon and sun the world around them swirled into a new existence.

The lycan' growled low as they watched the spectacle, but they had no intention of allowing the spell to finish. Three of them lunged in all at once hungry to get the first taste of blood and flesh from the foolish little elves.

They were too late.

Sonet's eyes turned to that of unaltered sunlight, and Echoes a shimmering silver blue and gold as aura began to swirl around them and the moon above radiated a power that the lycan could not ignore. A sweep of powerful energy flung the nearest of their prowlers into the nearest tree and tore him in half, white another was slammed into the ground. Fire began to fall from nowhere at all, heat like the sun radiating between them melted the third of them into what seemed like nothing despite how quickly its flesh tried to rebuild itself within the solar inferno. Ice, cold blackened water engulf another of them and impaled him with thick tendrils of tar like water crushing heart, and mind and killing the creature all at once.

The twins continued to dance... each step guiding another elemental force that would crush any foe that approach them. Then all at once it ended. Echo and Sonet fell to the ground as the remainder of the lycan circled them and drew mighty spears that pierced only the tip into parts of the girls fragile bodies. The leader of them stood before them and they looked up to him with blank eyes and lost smiles, before his claw ripped Echo in two, and he devoured the already broken Sonet. Blood stained the snow once more, blood of the innocent and the leader of the lycan' turned his bloodthirsty eyes to the white haired boy in the snow.

Echo watched with the fade of the light and the encompassing darkness that surrounded and blurred her vision. And last she saw before peace arrived was a wolf the size of a house tackle the lycan leader, her final sleep came with the song of the wild, the unified howling of wolves, and despite what she'd seen of these bloodthirsty creatures... she somehow knew that the boy would live.

The end of Echo, Sonet, and Chris~

 

[Wolfsin]

Part 2~

"Jaya wake up."

Jo's voice was achy, mostly due to being dry and broken, but she still managed to hold some of the sweet sincerity of a lover when she spoke to Jaya. "I see a city.. if you wanna call it that." Jaya rubbed at her eyes and looked out to see the incoming stone made structures, and the armed guards that looked like they'd been stolen straight out of the stories of Aladdin. If the story had any truth to it, then they were in trouble and this would be the last chance they had to escape... it was time.

The cart all at once came to a stop and low growls echoed around carts, before large cat like faces peaked into the cages and the girls nearly flew against the opposite side of the cages. The Dusk elf couldn't help but laugh. "That is why they call it Rat's nest.. because the fucking pussies run the place... makes sense now..." She was brave, far braver than either of them, which helped them to try for more.

"Mm yes.. these will do nicely we will put them up for auction.. the Djinn girl will fetch fine coin.. as is however i can do little with the human..." Jo's flesh went cold and jaya looked at her as the color obviously faded from all of her features at once.

" And what are you going to pay for the Dusk elf." Asked one of the slavers.
"I will sell her as a virgin dusk elf are very very rare, especially woman she will sell higher than the rest... bur you will need to get a leash on her... I expect it done before auction.. as for the human... get her."

The door to the cage Jaya and Jo were in rattled and Jo grew frantic trying to crawl and curl into the corner of the cage. Jaya cried out to them, begging them not to do it, but the slavers were stronger and quickly overpowered them dragging Jo out of the cage and slamming the door on Jaya's fingers. Jo cried the whole way, and only when she was around the corner of one of the buildings did Jaya stop hearing her.

The slaver returned swiftly and knocked on the cage. "Gonna bring ya a wash cloth and a basin clean up pretty before auction and ya might get yourself a good master djinn."

Jaya ignored the request and remained of her filth, ignoring the world around her. She knew what had to happen now, and only when the slavers grew cocky and vanished beyond the doors of a local pub did Jaya turn her attention to the dusk elf in the other cage.

"I know you don't want to be some spawn for a rich pervert..."

She was met with silence.

"Help me get out of here.. once I escape I wont ask you to help me get Jo back... just help me get out and we can go our separate ways no questions asked."

Again silence...

'Please!" Jaya pleaded.

"We will only have one chance, at the moment of the auction, as they will probably dress us up. So if you want to do this, then clean up. I have to do it too.... oh... and if you get me a dagger we will escape here no problem... guaranteed."

The girl passed a smirk and begrudgingly started washing herself, Jaya did the same.

The slavers returned some hours later and tore both of them from their cages, happy with the fresh smell of their merchandise. Just as the dusk elf had said they were dressed, though Jaya had the hardest time with this as she bit back tears that she knew she could not cry. Crying was weakness in a world that would not allow it.

"Alright Djinn, you're up first.' With a push, light hit Jaya's face and then a crowd of people, All sorts of them. Cat like men and women, dark skinned males, elf types it looked like... those that looked like lizards... It was a sick dream. The numbers game started, and Jaya only slightly glanced back towards where she'd come to see if anything was about to happen... As time passed and the number got higher her mind started to work in ways it hadn't since she'd come to this crazy world. Numerical formula and ideas passed from her lips in low whispers as it became the only thing she could focus on.

"Sold!"

Jaya's attention only broke for a second as she looked up to what was to be her new master. He was green and brown, thick, muscular... he had tusk's "An Orc?" Her face sank as she tried to ignore her realization and focus again on her patterns and the things she was comfortable with. What she didn't notice was that with each thought the markings upon her flesh began to glow in all different colors.... the crowd noticed.

'Aye what is she doing!"

Jaya didn't even know what she was doing but the podium shook and wind swirled around her, her eyes starting to glow as fire engulfed that wind, then water. "magic?" Jaya tried to focus her power... destructive as it was, she focused the exact coordinate of the rope that held her and tore the restraints from her, just in time for the dusk elf to spring into action.

A blade sprung from the dark and took the life of a fool unaware, before a deathly dance of steel began around her. Jaya grabbed the dying and demanded. "Where did you take Jo. where is the human you took earlier!" it wasn't too hard to get the answers she desired, and Jaya kept up her end of the bargain, leaving the dusk elf to fight the swarms.... Jaya knew she would not make it... but all she could think of now was Jo... Jo..

Jaya continued to chant her name, as she passed through the doors to a brothel, and noticed the girls cowered in a corner. no one came to stop her, and Jaya rushed up the stairs touch and go with every room until she found Jo's room. Jaya tore into the room and found Jo.

There she was like an angel. The light from the balcony window was her wings. She was not flying though... no.

A man made rope of blankets and sheets hung from the cieling. the end was a noose that strained Jo's neck. Jo hung from this ceiling still covered in the defiled left overs of what had been done to her. And Jaya's spirit broke.

The slavers, and the cat guard came. Jaya had no more fight in her. When they found her she was sat there with Jo's head in her lap, a knife to her throat. And before they could take her, she joined Jo. Where ever she was.

The end of Jaya, Jo, and the mysterious dusk elf~

 

[Wolfsin]

Part 3~

"Oh... so many dead already... our plans do not seem to be faring well at all."

"Mmm... Many still remain we will not lose hope yet.. That Goblin is on a very interesting path."

"Yes Yes, not the one I might have expected either."

"Regardless. with the death of those six certain events will not be changed.... i fear for the remaining. Can they stand against what will be lost in our gambit?"

"Hehe. Do not underestimate those that remain. It is testament to the strong that they are still here.... after all. They will do what they must... I am sure."

 

[Azzy]

~Collab between Jack, and Azzy~

Dark and deep set eyes stared down at Victoria. Followed only be the tilt of the mans head as he gazed curiously into her eyes. "Well that was quite rude now wasn't it?" His voice was soft, much like the rest of his boyish features. Blonde braided hair, and a thin boney look to his face. "Are you alright?"

Victoria gazed up at the...creature with wide eyes, her heart racing a million miles a second as he spoke. Hostility didnt play in his voice, and yet she couldnt help but to be frightened. The girl sat there for a moment, only just realizing the fact that she was still stark naked, her hands moving to cover her body as the half horse half man creature questioned her well being. "I-I'm fine. Sorry for bumping into you.." she muttered, her tails lashing behind her as she turned her gaze back to the man. Shiro chuckled in her mind, his voice laced with pure amusement,"Stupid girl..." he mused, and then fell silent.

"Oh not at all, if it was an accident then perhaps the proper word might be gracious rather than rude." The Centaur smiled down at her, noticing how she seemed to cover herself, he made a round about her. Eyes scanning her and then locking on her tails. "You should not hide you know. You are a beautifuly scultped body, the tails accent that well, though I only have the slightest idea as to what you are. You are natural and so you should not hide from this world."

The more he spoke the kinder the air around him fealt. 'Besides I am always naked, you can only guess how hard it is for my kind to have clothes that actually matter.' A soft laugh piqued from the Centaur's lips. "Ahh but enough of all that, you are a curious creature not to sound offensive in the least coming from me. What is your name? I am Brazius."

Her nerves were entirely on edge as he made a circle around her, feeling his eyes scanning her body. Shiro chuckled as he felt his vessel's body tense at the sudden assault of a stranger's eyes, but was unable to comment as Tori's more...unruly self seemed to take hold the opportunity. A coy smile worked it's way onto her lips as she watched the centaur, taking note of his compliments, and then of his name. After a moment, she rose to her feet, clearly more open than before. Obviously not the timid girl she was just moments ago. "Oh, do not stop the compliments now. I was just beginning to enjoy them~" she purred out, her hands combing through one of her tails, icy blue eyes on Brazius. "My name is Azmeryth Na'el." she stated, her eyes scanning over him in their own, curious way.

Brazius was only slightly confused by the sudden change in the girl, but decided it best to ignore the questions at hand. "Ahh Azmeryth then. Your name is as fetching of perfection as to your body, equally as interesting and tantalizing." Brazius smiled to her then looked beyond her as the brush began its motion. The smallest of creatures slipped through the brush and joined them in what appeared to be a small grove. "It would appear that even the animals of the forest know what they wish and as it is said they flock to beauty, perhaps I might be a poet though to offer truths even close to the graces of your beauty."

Brazius offered a wink then stood strong before her. It wasn't that he looked to coerce her, rather the recognized things for what they were, and Azmeryth as he now knew her was beautiful in the same way the night sky was when it was clear of clouds. "Tell me Azmeryth, from where do you hail?"

Azzy basked in the wave of compliments as they rushed towards her in what seemed a neverending flow. Her coy smile grew ever so slightly, more mischivious. The girl continued to comb through her tail, ears twitching, and rotating slightly as the leaves of the brush behind her rustled. Too small a sound to be ogres. the small chipmunk like creature scurried over to Azzy's side, scaled her body, and came to rest upon her head just between the two silver, pointed ears. "I've always had a way with animals." she muttered as if the occurance was normal, frequent.

She turned her attention away from her tails for a moment, eyeing Brazius as he repositioned himself, took a different stance before her. Her lips curved into a grin as she realized what was happening, her body moving forward to mirror his actions before. She stepped around him, eyes scanning his body. She came to a stop when she reached his front, and looked up to him,"The Jungles of Kausteirn" she stated, answering his question, her tails swaying behind her, and her eyes gained a most alluring look.

"So far away?" Brazius questioned, doing his best to follow her predatory eyes, and feeling the pressure they brought upon him and beads of sweat. The more she looked at him the weaker he felt, mostly of will. If not for his wisdom he might have already fallen to her gaze, but he was unaware of this afliction and so continued to follow her with his eyes. Regardless of his curiosity he found he could not ask any more questions and instead remained still as she looked at him and he back at her.

Azzy let a laugh slip from her lips, a single finger beginning to twirl a strand of her hair as she looked up at the man before her. Shiro sighed his gruff voice growing annoyed,"This is not playtime, Azmeryth." he stated, but as usual she merely ignored him. "Brazius~" she purred,"Would you happen to know where I could find clothing, and the nearest town?" she inquired, her chipmunk friend chattering upon her head with a new found curiosity at the Centaur. She chuckled,"I need to be off, but cannot surely go to town nude."

Brazius did all he could just to speak when she asked her question, his mouth had long since gone dry in unknown anticipation. "We do not keep clothes that would fit you I am afraid, as for civilization... most of them are engulfed in war... your better option is to head into Seiristelle; it is much safer there... i could... escort you.." He'd said it before he'd even realized, a level of excitement in his voice as he thought of the prospect of her not dissapearing.

A frown erased her smile as he answered her. "Hmm, a pity. I supposed clothes will have to wait." she stated, a shrug lifting her shoulders as she turned her gaze to her own body. "Not that I mind, yet I assume business in town would be a bit easier without all the staring." she murmured with a sigh, her hands moving to scoop her hair over her shoulder allowing long, silver tendrils to cover her breasts. Her ears perked as Brazius continued, her frown returning to a smile as her gaze found his own. "An escort would be wonderful. Surely you wouldnt let me...walk all that way though. I fear ill grow tired." She batted her lashes a few times, alluring gaze locked with his own.

"No I would never." Brazius responded before he could thing and found he was lowering himself so that her small frame could reach him. His mind was far from his own now, and he half wondered if his body still belonged to him either, half cared. "I will take you to the town so that you do not have to walk. Eclysia is a wonderful place they are not all too judgemental so it will be fine... " Brazius lowered his body to the ground then, and his face as well as he waited for her to mount him....

"Brazius!" A low and gruff voice, not like the one belonging to him echoed through the woods as a dark haired centaur, appearing as much older than the former appeared, with him a woman centaur with blonde hair, and three others with assorted colors, the eldest rode up to where Azmeryth and Brazius were and a sharp spear was pointed at Azmeryth's neck. "What witchery is this that you would have my son allow you his back?" His eyes were daring, darker than Brazius' own and all around them the other centaur knocked arrows into large war bows as they waited for an answer.

Azmeryth was pleased with his answer, her small frame stepping back as he began to lower himself to the ground so that she may mount his back. As she began to moved towards him, another voice called out his name, deep, gruff. Her ears perked, tails twitching in annoyance as he, and a multitude of other Centaurs filled the clearing. Azzy stared up to the one with the spear pointed at her neck, a look of amusement flickering on her face before the mischievious look in her eyes faded, and was replaced with utter fear. Her demeanor had completely changed as Tori wrapped her tail around her to cover her front, her arms moving to cross over, and conceal her chest.

The girl's body began to shake as she looked up into the Centaurs eyes, her own welling with tears as her fear seemed to make her freeze,"I...we were talking...I-I dont know what happened. I...." she couldnt put into words the events, her mind racing in multiple directions, body fighting to even keep her on her feet.

'Silence!" The centaur called out and drew back his spear as his attention then turned to his son. "Brazius get up, unless you intend to marry this woman!" Brazius stalled for a second trying to shake off the veil that enraptured his mind. He then stammered to his feet. He stood at attention to before the group of them, he only looked to Azmeryth once. "I made a promise father."

The elder centaur glared. "What sort of promise? Was it of your own will?" Brazius nodded. "it was. I will take Azmeryth to Eclysia and then return home. I already gave my word that I would do so... " The others began whispering until the eldest of them held his hand up. "Brazius.. you fool boy... " he shook his head then and started back into the forest. "She is under his guard, do not harm her unless she tries to break our peace pact. We will return to the grove and they will depart in the morning. Until then she is my son's guest."

The others nodded and withdrew their weapons following behind their leader leaving Brazius and Azmeryth alone in the grove. Brazius looked down at the cowering woman. "you become more and more curious as time goes on. If i am to complete my promise I must know who it is I am truly escorting.... keep that in mind." His voice was harsh compared to how it had been, but the veil had been lifted and Brazius would not be fooled again.

Victoria fell silent as she was told, her ears drooping slightly as she hugged her torso tighter, only half listening to the conversation between father, and son. Only when the sound of retreating hooves reached her ears did she snap back to reality only to be addressed by a rather different Brazius. She was confused, none could mistake, but listened to his words carefully,"I....dont even know who I am anymore." she muttered, dropping her gaze to the ground, her teeth clenching as she fought back the sobs threatening to escape.

As much as he wanted to be angry with her for decieving him, he couldn't. Brazius sighed and offered her a hand to pull her up from the ground. "I wondered if that were the case, you are Kyubi... I knew it when I saw you, and so i should have known to beware... but I did not. there is a struggle in your mind I can only assume... which means you are not as you should be just yet... you should be thankful for such.." Brazius knew very little of Kyubi, only that their chaotic nature made fey pale in comparison. "We will stay a ways behind the rest so that we may talk.. Do not decieve me anymore and I will do as I have promised and get you to the city of the Moon."

Tori accepted the offered hand, and let herself be aided to her feet, her ears perking as a question she had had for awhile now had been answered. "Kyubi?" she questioned mostly to herself. She sighed, continuing to listen to the Centaur, her head nodding every once in awhile even if she didnt much understand his words. "Honestly, I make no promises. It's like...I am forced into my mind, and this other person takes over completely. Its terrifying, and...I dont know how to stop it." she said in a near whisper, the fear of her words evident. "I...can try." she stated. Shiro chuckled within her mind, as if he knew something she didnt, but he didnt speak. Wouldnt gift her his knowledge.

"I see." Brazius said calmly, as more and more of what happened began to make sense. "I spoke with the other side then I can only assume, though it started as you." Brazius glanced back at her and smiled. "No worrying I understand now. I also think I can help you but you will need to steel yourself for it so we can not do it this night." He didn't leave her to question for long. "You need to meet her. The other side, you need to find out what she wants, and where you two stand, and to do that you will need to go within yourself. I see no way around this. Of course you will need to have a much stronger will before you do this. I will have plenty of time to explain the exchanged on our way to the Moon elf city."

"None of this makes sense...though I suppose it wouldnt. I've only just arrived in this place today...." she muttered, not exactly sure if she just sounded crazy, or actually was. As Brazius explained things to her, she found herself with even more questions, and confusion. A sigh left her lips as she lifted a hand, and wiped away her tears, arms then returning to cross over, and conceal her chest. "I suppose asnwers will come with time, and at this point I feel I have nothing but time." she looked over to Brazius, and smiled a bit,"Shall we be on our way then?"

Brazius nodded, smiling back at her and lead the way.

Taking the given path it did not take them long before the trees broke, and a large field, a grove of crisp golden brown, and lush green spread over the field, a fire at the center and a large encampment of tents made from hide and stretched animal fur. There were centaur everywhere some singing, while others raced, or practiced archery. Brazius turned to Azmeryth.

"Welcome to our grove."​

 

[Sinopa]

Characters: Rix Alvar > Chef
Location: Dining Tent
Rix is in the Kitchen!~

A peculiar smell found its way into Rix's nose, causing her stomach to growl in response. As her hands rested on her tummy, she walked followed the smell to a large, octagon tent without walls. It had tables when surprisingly only few sat, and in the back, just outside the tent, were 5 large pot brewing over a fire and a man tending to all of them. She slowly walked up to him, examining the pots' contents as she passed.

"Food ain't done yet." He said as he stirred what appeared to be stew.
"Clearly…" She replied as she inspected the ingredients of one of them. Meat, carrot, potato, parsnip, turnip, and of course water. She could quickly tell that it was going to be bland considering the only herb he used was garlic. While garlic was an amazing herb with bursting flavor, it was not going to be enough. She retreated to the small cart where the cook kept his ingredients and perused. The names on the containers were unfamiliar, but when she opened them and took in the odor she could quickly tell which of the kitchen herbs were which. She smiled as she took up some of the bottles and walked over to one of the pots.

"Whoa whoa whoa! What do you think you're doing?!" The chef thundered as he rushed over to the woman.
"I'm adding flavor to your tasteless stew." Rix responded as she shuffled threw the containers to find the first one to add.
"My stew tastes wonderful! I've cooked this for many years and have never received a compliant!"
"Do you have any taste buds? And they probably never complained because they have no choice, either this rock tasting slosh, or nothing at all. My cooking has actually received compliments. Trust me on this, a mother's cooking is always best." The red head grinned as she turned her attention back to the stew. The man glared daggers, but it was missed by the woman as she added the spices and stirred. It wasn't long before a wooden spoon left her mouth followed by a chuckle of glee. She filled the spoon again and walked over to the cook who tended to one of the other pots.

"Taaaaste." She sang as she handed him the spoon. He reluctantly took it and slowly emptied it. He paused for a moment, taking in the flavor bit by bit. A look of pleased surprise filled his features as he nodded his head.
"Whoa, that's actually pretty good! Where'd you learn to cook like this?" Rix gave him a boastful victorious look.
"Told you~ I've been cooking from around 16 years, more or less." She really had no choice, her grandfather's cooking was exactly like the previous state of the stew, but surprisingly with even less flavoring. She had to quickly learn how to cook if she wanted to actually enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

"Surprising considering." He said as he took another sip.
"Considering what?" She asked bemused at the word. Weren't women mainly cooks back in these times? Or was this world different in that way as well?
"Well considering you're a warrior, right? One of those barbarian people or whatever." She remembered her appearance, and how Tori called her that. She had forgotten she wasn't in her old body.
"Oh, erm, I um one of the two that came into camp yesterday."
"Ah, the new weirdos, with that one who made that big stunt with the beast?"
"Err, I guess." She hesitantly answered. "Um, anyways, would you like me to show you what I did?" She changed the subject, trying to ignore the string of insult, those were probably just normal things to say.
"Yes!"
She explained what she did thoroughly, and let him do carry everything out as she spoke. Within minutes. All three were seasoned properly and continued to steep.
"Now do you have bread for this meal?" She inquired, with the tone of a woman on a mission, receiving only a look of discomfiture. "Come on." She responded as they got to work.

 

[RaccoonKing]

⌘ Aria D'adreci ⌘

⌘⌘⌘

Aria spent a few hours helping out the doctor with bright smiles occasionally lighting up her strangely shifting features. One moment she found her thoughts to be on the gravity of the situation, while the next she could not find herself entranced by the new prospects of a whole new world. Who else could say that they were the only ones here? Victoria was with them at the beginning, mentally she whispered a small prayer that the other was okay, so there must have been more? Unless there was something about them three along than dragged them here from a party. A good party she felt the need to add to her thoughts.

Nimble digits wound the white strip against the upper arm of one soldier, a small delicate hum to her lips as her eyes studied her own movements intensely for any accident that would not compress the wound properly. Her hums died out once she had begun to tie a knot to keep it tightly bound, her red gaze flicking up to the soldier who she gave a small grin too. "All done~" She cooed, hopping up from the, very uncomfortable, stool as her arms interlocked behind her. "You can go now unless you need to see Landon for anything!~" She directed before hurrying over to the doctor, practically throwing herself energetically into the seat nearest to his work space.

"Laaandddooon~"

There was a small twitch to the brow of the other before a sigh tumbled from his lips, trembling with restraint. Aria had seemed to become even more mischievous and playful since the shift to this world. Even with the gravity of the situation. A steely gaze met her own and she paused, rectifying her posture as she just smiled sheepishly. "Right. Sorry." She quickly added in as her arms fell into her lap, though still grinning brightly. "I've done all of the bandaging and I made sure to check all my work." Landon just nodded much to her joy before his gaze turned back to a book resting upon his desk.

He sighed.

This catching her attention, Aria cocked her head as she gathered herself up to lean forwards in an attempt to get a glimpse at the book he was so focused on, finding it impossible to stop the curiosity that swelled up inside her. "What is that weird leaf...plant...thing..." Aria felt compelled to ask as Landon propped his elbow up on the desk, resting his head in his palm as he plucked the thin journal like book from the desk and passed it over to her. "A special plant I use to make some salves and cures. Unfortunately it has run out in my stock and I cant ask anyone to go retrieve some from the fore-"

"I'll go~" She interrupted, holding the open book in one palm while her other hand was settled upon the curve of her waist as she studied, for minutes, the diagram of the specific plant. "I can take Xerxes and that removes and risk of being attack, powers or not." Though she paused at that before shaking her head. "We should be fine. I think..." Snapping the thin paged journal in her grasp she put it back on his desk before turning to leave the tent. "If I don't come back by evening I'm probably lost~" She added comically, though it was a real risk with her and this new world.

It took her a few moments to gather Xerxes from his rest and to find some type of worn out sack to collect the actual plant in. From what she briefly glanced over in the notes, she needed mainly the leaves of the plant and so began to describe the characteristics of the plant to her partner as she headed, with him, to the edges of the camp where trees loomed over, concealing what resided in their depths. A soft roll of shadows seemed to spill from all the gaps between the towering trees with the occasional shuffle of foliage and sounds of steps was all that one could make out from their distance. It failed to strike fear into the girl and griffin though.

Soon enough, Aria began to sing out the lyrics to the song she hummed earlier, all the while her eyes studying the plants and foliage around her. Aria was not worried about missing the plant as it was distinctive. Really.

"You fascinated me
Cloaked in shadows and secrecy
The beauty of a broken angel"

Aria paused as she hurried over to a large grouping of red flowered plants, ones that looked far to odd in her opinion, to resemble anything from her world. Fingers brushed delicately against the leaves, noting the texture and colour before she stood up and continued on. Xerxes alert and cautious, he himself noting the shifting of bushes and foliage around them. Aria remained oblivious for now...

"I ventured carefully
Afraid of what you thought I'd be
But pretty soon I was entangled"

Wings bristled at Xerxes' sides as abyss black depths continued to flicker to their left as the beast noticed the sound of padded footfalls, the breaking of fallen leaves and twigs with a weight upon them.

"You take me by the hand
I question who I am...~"

Aria trailed off into a whisper as her eyes settled upon a familiar plant after quite a while of tracking through the forest, the sight causing her to jump hurriedly over the overgrown root before examining the plant with a careful gaze before she began to pluck the herb plant's leaves. Aria looked ecstatic in that moment. She hadn't yet noticed her partner's caution... Though that changed in sections.

Red orbs were snatched away from the plant as the bearer of said orbs registered the low growl of normal wolves from the shadows, three, all with snarling and snapping jaws and beady narrowed eyes that watched them both as if prey, even if Xerxes had a size difference. Ribs could be seen from the fur covered torsos which made Aria bring herself up to stand slowly, the bag fallen by her feet. "Xerxes..." "Yes?" His tone, she noted, was hurried. "What do we do..." "Fight, obviously.." "...You know I cant fight, right?"

Silence.

The wolves lunged towards Xerxes who had gathered their main attention by stepping to the front of them both, crouching slightly as a growling like sound seemed to echo in the very air around him, wings flared up besides him. The first and largest wolf already was close to Xerxes, teeth bared as it attempted to clamp its jaws around the griffins neck, only to fail when a larger, clawed paw struck out to its side to send it back into the shadows of the forest before Xerxes turned his attention onto the second wolf that pounced. The wolfs jaws had tore into his flesh lightly but the Griffin held his ground and flapped his large wings threateningly as his beat snapped in warning. Bringing himself into the air, only a short distance, was enough to shake free the wolf who fell to the ground before Xerxes dropped himself by its side.

Aria was left to the last one unfortunately. Panic flooded her system as she dared not more or even tear her gaze away from the offending beast. The first wolf had already gathered itself and lunged back at Xerxes in joint movements with the second. Xerxes was trying not to kill them. Aria had no weapon or any idea how exactly she was to deal with a wolf and so as it grew ever closer, she began to draw herself back, teeth biting into the flesh of her lower lip. 'Calm...Remain calm...calm.. -'

The wolf shot forwards and Aria scrambled to throw herself to the side to avoid the ravenous jaws of the beast, through its claws had nicked the flesh of her lower arm briefly. A sharp hiss tumbled clumsily from her tensed lips as she reached over to bring the bleeding arm behind her as she tried to stand her ground, muttering quietly to her self for a moment before she flung her uninjured arm out and felt the familiar rush of wind against her skin before it shot past her and the wind sent the wolf flying back. Heart thudding in her chest she turned to see Xerxes, growls rumbling from his chest, as his two opponents went running as well.

A soft sigh from her lips and a small mumble, Aria grabbed the bag after filling it up some more, before she hurried over to Xerxes. "Sit." She whispered out as he fell onto his stomach lazily, letting Aria crouch down by him to check the jaw marks upon her left front leg. It took her a few minutes of study but his wounds were already healing and so she just grinned. "Well....At least we are alive..." Xerxes just rolled his eyes, standing up as his wings spread lazily before folding by his sides. "Yes, Yes, lets just hurry back. I'm hungry and its getting late." The sky had already begun to be bathed in a warm orange hue that gave Aria a bright grin. "Right! I can give these to Landon then and go tell Rix what happened~" She cooed before twirling around and heading back in the direction of camp.

"Wrong way."

"Right!~"

Aria and Xerxes soon appeared back at the edges of the soldier camp and Xerxes decided to return back to the tent Rix and Aria had been before, slumping down outside to rest and lazily watch the mortal humans run around doing the odd jobs here and there. Aria however, skipped back to the medical tent where she dropped the worn out sack onto the table by Landon, grinning impishly. "I did it~~~" She cheered before slumping back into one of the stools as Landon shifted around to face her and then the bag, then checking the contents as Aria moved to look at her arm.

"Well, you seem to have gotten the right ones...." He paused. "And injured in the process..." He pointed out, brow raised as he took her arm. "Wolves. I moved out of the way of its lunge but...I guess I wasn't quick enough to get out of the way fully..." The medic quickly applied some salve, which he demonstrated to be one created from the very leaves she collected, before he began to wrap the cut. Aria found discomfort in the fact the swirls and colour of her markings was concealed but did not voice it. "But I did use my wind...air...power thing! It felt amazing~" The demi-goddess purred happily, clapping her hands together once her arm was bandaged and fixed up. Landon gave her a small grin, tiny but she noticed it, before turning back to his work. "Yes, yes, now you go along and eat. Dinner is soon. I'm going to show you some of the salves tomorrow if your up to it..." The auburn haired women just nodded before heading out to find Rix and eat.

"Wonder what Rix did all day..."





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