A Clash of Bone and Boldness, a Dance of the Beast and the Savage, and when the Oak Bested the Corrupted Earth: A Collaboration between Stein and Roman
Aava was almost...enjoying herself. She leaped again, pulling in energy from all the memories and living beings that ebbed from the city below and allowing the Nox to flow from the air into her carvings and through her hands, molding it into cushions of air that held her aloft. She glided gracefully onto the next roof, and the Lighthouse looked closer than ever, the sun behind it shooting golden rays skyward, and Aava could feel the gold reaching out to her. She pushed her body forwards, redoubling her efforts and steeling her nerves against the screams from her calves. She ran, she jumped, threw herself into the air, pulled Nox in, pushed Nox out, began her glide-
Something sharp and icy slid between her ribs in mid-air and pushed a hole into her sides and all her Nox poured out, pulled on a string out of her veins and her runes. The air chusions faltered and popped and Aava tumbled, the next rooftop too far - the ground was coming up fast and she panicked, beginning to fall at least four stories, the world seeming to flash past her while simultaneously slowing down by half. She scrambled for Nox, pulling energy from the very bricks that flew up past her, and managed to re-seize the cushion's she'd lost up above; she threw them down, crude magic cast quickly, and she felt the gust as she reached the ground, slowing her descent. She landed hard, tumbling and turning over - something in her wrist snapped, and she could feel blood on her face - but she didn't land fatal.
The magic had worked as much as it had needed to. Aava breathed heavy, laying on her stomach, before pushing herself up onto her knees by her un-injured arm, cradling the broken wrist close to her chest. She panted from the exertion, pain coursing through her system, and then doubled over to vomit. "
What the fuck." she muttered to herself, still reeling from the Nox rushing out of her body - she had almost lost it all, reduced back to what she had been over a decade ago, before she even knew about her bloodline. Powerless. Fragile. Worthless. She felt it coming back now, gingerly, cautiously, refilling her marks and rejuvenating her body. She took a breath and grasped her broken wrist, holding it in her free hand as she concentrated. Nox ebbed out from her palm and the pain in her wrist subsided - Aava flexed her fingers, and the pain stabbed back, dull and warm. Temporary. It would need proper medical attention - or more Nox than she could pull right now.
Why couldn't she pull right now?
Then she heard the screams. Oh, god, that
scream.
No. She thought, pushing herself to her feet, putting one leg in front of the other and stumbling to the corner of the building, giving herself a full view of the street - of the woman fleeing a run-down old warehouse, before being struck from behind and collapsing, dead before she hit the ground; of the stranger, watching the same events but with an air of responsibility, of authority, of obligation; and then she saw the thing that had killed the woman.
'
Oh, god no.'
***
Feral's body slid into action, seemingly of its own accord, his mind simply following the action. It vaulted over the ledge of the building, feet resting against the wall of the building and Makarios willed within him the harmony between his mind, Nox and the vigor of the Horse. It hit him, wild yet focused, echoing the tranquility and serenity of a wide plain. He narrowed in on his target. The bestial demon before him, just looking up to take in its firsth breath of the night air.
Not while Feral stood near. He resolved to make sure that creatures breaths were numbered. He sensed nothing but chaotic Nox inside of it, broiling and gurgling to lap at an unstable surface.
Feral flexed his fingers, feeling his specially reinforced claws slide out from their compartments in his gloves. He kicked off the building, his legs taut with with Equine power. A few bricks shuddered as he launched himself off, claws extended. It was only an instant before those claws found their home nestled in the chest of the demon. Makarios brought the demon down, his costumed form bringing the thing down.They tumbled a few rolls before the creature swatted at Makarios. He caught the blow, refusing to let go and brought his hand up to stab down, claws poised to eviscerate. The thing let out a roar, sending a wave of Nox out from it that thrust Makarios back.
Landing hard on his back, Makarios struggled to find his sense of direction in pinpointing which was was up. Everything spun and spun violently. He shook his head, to no avail, a ringing still settling in his ears. It was with a labored look that he focused on his target.
"You've got more to you than that demonic bloodlust? That's oddly surprising..." his voice trailed off as a scent hit him full force. His head could barely follow his nose and eyes as they turned to meet the source of the smell he'd been tracking just moments ago.
There
she stood, he could smell it was her with not doubt. He managed a small smile in her direction. "Well, I hate to ask but, you wouldn't happen to have any means of helping, would you?"
***
Aava watched as the stranger pounced onto what she recognised as an
avatar, a word that twisted her insides. Clawed gloves found flesh and drew blood, but the thing didn't care about blood, barely cared about the flesh. The flesh was a host, a weak and malevolent one at that. Whoever it
was must have been a real bastard. Aava wondered what that meant for her. She shook it off and then the thing released Nox, and it soaked into her skin fast and thick, and she doubled over, dry-retching, the rush of Nox filling her up. The aura lingered, sloughing off the monstrous figure as it stood back up - but a smaller stream was leaking from the stranger. Another Nox user? Three in one night...coincidence? She doubted it.
The stranger addressed her, smirking slightly as he did so. She returned a hard, cold stare.
"Shut up. Pay attention to that thing or we'll both die, and we won't be the last." She carefully moved closer, edging around the aura of the beast as it began to advance on them. "Listen carefully. You cannot beat it into submission. It will take your Nox and kill you. Look at the lines." She said, holding out her own arm and pulling up her sleeve to show her scars, near-identical to the avatar's. "I need to get close, but its power saps mine. If we pull this off, you put your hand right here-" she tapped the back of her head, where an intricate circular runic design lay etched into her scalp- "and do whatever it is you do with Nox, as hard as you can. It'll hurt." The beast was almost upon them, waves of copper-like nausea washing over Aava as it moved closer. She looked the stranger in the eyes, fury and fear burning equally in her gaze. "Can you do that?"
***
Makarios gave her a questioning gaze. The female was about what he expected from a full-fledged Magni in the area of personability. But then again, not everyone was as used to adrenaline-infused danger as he was. It took a certain mixture of insanity to live the life he did, and he had to admit, it was a little difficult settling back into the groove of properly gauging situations.
But as the creature neared, he heeded the intent behind her words:
'Stay sharp, or get killed.' His earlier impact hadn't even seemed to affect the creature, only surprise and enrage it. Admittedly, that probably hadn't been the best response. But, he'd also gotten a taste of the bestial nature wihin it. It was much more feral and malcious than anything housed within him and he knew from observing it that it lay outside the realm of simple animals. However, there was still a slight familiarity he could senese within the thing. No longer human, nor anything of this world for that matter, Makarios still saw something he could work with.
"Duly noted," Makarios told her, in reference to her observation of his rather upfront and brutish first tussle with the creatre. HIs nose was assaulted with waves of decaying flesh and a putrid aroma that seemed to rise from the core of the thing. "I'm used to pain. Pain is nothing. Just make sure you can handle it."
As he spoke, counting the precious seconds until they would have to act, he struck the tone of his being and felt the wave wash over him, sending a slight shudder down his spine. It took a breath, but he was able to pick up on the tone of another of his animals. Scenes of lush expanses and green grasses tickled his mind, an air of peace so contrary to his current situation threatened to overtake him, but he resisted synchronizing to that extent. Power, grace, agility and speed flooded him as he settled into the spirit and functions of the Deer. The wispy outline of the elegant creature appeared around him and vanished, leaving his eyes with a slight violet hue.
"Let's go." Flexing his claves, he bounded and leaped forward, seeming to take the beast head on. However, he tucked his head down, morphing into a tumble, having predicted the demon's first strike. Rolling under the claw strike, Makarios sunk his own claws into the gravel, using the leverage to pull himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the next strike the beast swung with his whole body. Feral came to his feet with enough time to dash behind the still reeling demon, delivering a quick swipe of his claws to the things legs to remind it where it should keep its focus.
He needed to keep its attention drawn, fully committing to being the bait and punching bag. As the thing turned on Makarios, it let out a mixture between a wail and a roar and Makarios felt a wave of Nox resonate with a vicious fervor, stopping him in his tracks. His measured tone of Nox spiked and sharpened, almost severing his connection with the Deer mid-synchronization. Makarios stopped mid-dodge and the creatrue swatted at him. Feral only had just enough time to dig his feet into the ground and catch a brunt of thei mpact. As the thing struck him, Maki grabbed on to its arm, pulling it down with him. He proceeded to subdue the thing, wrapping his legs around its lower torso and grappling it.
He tapped into his Nox, hoping to release a wave of it, a sort of magical padding against the wave of chaotic Nox that threatened to rattle his mind. It worked --somewhat-- but as the thing let out another wave of Nox, this one like a burst of energy, Maki almost lost control of his Nox altogether. He could feel intense pain from nameless woes and countless souls. They each cried out in the body of the chaotic Nox-waves. Each piece of pain served as an individual blade cutting through Makarios and his connection to his powers. He cried out as well before letting go and scrambling to kick the demon from him.
So far, his methods for distracting were working. He shook his head, hoping to calm the fury in his mind of shifting waves of animal cries, impulses and levels of bloodlust. The demon shooks its head, regaining its focus, preparing for a round two.
***
Pain is nothing. She scoffed, recoiling at the boast. Pain is
everything. There would be plenty of it by the time they were done here. More if they were unsuccessful.
"Alright then, Registered Badass #806." She muttered as he focused, a spectral deer flashing about his person as he seemed to tune himself with Nox. He became clear, pure, the Nox about his person seeming sharper, crisper somehow, like his magic was tempered by something else, something she'd never known. It was intoxicating, and she felt like she could breathe his aura until the day she died - and then he sprung into action, and she snapped herself out of it. She needed to move too.
Mr. Badass moved with fluency, ducking under the beast's blows and enraging the damned thing. It roared a few more times, unleashing Nox as it did so -
strong but stupid, Aava thought,
too thick to use itself as a shield, rather than a weapon. She could feel its aura get smaller everytime a new wave washed over her, even if it was only marginal. The nausea was still there, but it was manageable - or maybe she was just used to it.
At least I never have to worry about shellfish again. She was close now. Her temporary ally had near-stunned it, and she had managed to circle around behind it. She brought her Nox around herself, thick and cloying - a two-part spell of attraction and defense. The first part worked. She kept her fingers crossed for the second.
The avatar caught her scent and lumbered around, following the heady scent of her magic. It faced her and she caught its gaze and those eyes, god, those eyes, white pits of endless knowing and raw power...something inside her shivered. Something else clicked.
"
Fuck you." She hissed, and pushed herself forward, arms outstretched. Her hands hit the avatar's chest and for a split-second, both of their carvings seemed to flash...and then Aava
surged. She felt
power, she had
knowledge. The world was outlines and voids, colour from auras. Her eyes glowed lilac-white, and a dark purple seemed to fill her core. She felt the beast pushing against her from his side of the bridge and part of her wanted to push back - but that wasn't what she was here for. Aava
pulled. Nox flowed into her like a waterfall, filling up her carvings before spilling over into her mind, energising her body. She turned her head to look at her ally, and suddenly his name was written in her skin.
"
Makarios. Now."
***
His newfound ally moved quickly, before he had a chance to register her actions in his dizzied state. But as his vision singled out, what unfolded before him left him agape.
The demon before him stopped mid-wail of aggression and his head snapped around, frenzied eyes now focusing on her. The outpouring of Nox caught Makarios --and apparently the creature-- by surprise. It's density and richness something that was new to him. He gritted his feet and felt the unstable side of him lap up the bits of energy it could. He didn't understand the gravity of her task until their bodies met and the surge of power almost knocked him back.
This is the power of a pure Magni!? he thought as trickling and lapping of leaked Nox surrounded him, tingling his senses and stimulating his skin.
Vivid images flooded his mind, along with chaotic impulses and spikes of bloodlust. There were tastes of insanity and sounds of frenzied delight. He saw flashes of
her staring in a mirror, a scowl of rebellion on her face. He felt the first mark, the first carving in her skin. In her eyes, Makarios could
feel her Nox. This Nox was
old: solid and powerful, filled with memories--like a dark, rich oak, as compared to his light and sturdy, tinged with an exotic earthy nature --bamboo like Nox.
Dustings of power and fragments of omnipotence filled his being randomly and in flashes. Makarios focused to remain
him purely and surely. Before him, the woman and beast seemed connected, an internal war of detrimental proportinos raging in their enclosed spaces. She glowed with an ethreal beauty, terrifying and alluring to the eyes simultaneously. The
thing shifted in an out of focus, seeming to slip from this reality to another. Surrounding them, the defined amalgamation of their energies radiated out in forceful waves.
Feral began to feel her drive and determination. He--no
she-- moved not only from magical energy, but from the sheer energy of determination and defiance. He felt the isolation, but felt the power from the solidity of her being. Makarios began seeing as she did through her life, losing his own vision.
Makarios almost forgot his purpose for being in the vicinity. Until he heard his name.
He balked from the sound of it, pulled instantly to his senses. For a flash of an instant, he heard his mother and felt her. But he quickly saw his ally before him.
However, his mother creeped into his vision and flowed from him into her! Makarios felt the image of his mother, the warmth that came with her name and every thought, transfer to her. For a moment he balked and his defense soared, coming to his aid. He attempted to cut the magical cord, selfishly grabbing at the image of the only thing he'd loved so fervently and purely.
Until he realized she
needed it. With an exhalation of resolve, Makarios gritted his teeth and pushed through the viscocious muck of flowing Nox.
Now, more than ever Makarios felt the will to help her, aid her in whatever way possible. Their connection only assured him of that. With a roar, he beat through the last wave of magical energy and stuck his hand out, pushing through the barrier of Nox surrounding her head, and placed it on the rune engraved into her scalp.
To do this, she would need every source of strength he had and his greatest strength was his new family, his home: the Mavericks. Makarios delved into himself and her, bestowing her with the cunning and mental fortitude he had garnered from Caleb. He flooded her spirit with the pure undeniable strength he saw in Angel everytime he set his mind to a task, a spirit that inspired Makarios. He even mixed in the chaotic and raw energy he had felt from Adam, any time he saw the synthoid in action. Finally--with some hesitation at first--he lended her the love he held for Xander, the thing that had brought him as far as it had.
With all of this, he felt his own unyielding and stout magical energy well to meet hers. It colored his vision, the purple and deep colors tinged with his browns of fortitude and orange burgandy's of feral power. A lightness washed over him as he sunk his serenity into her, knowing she could do this. She
would overcome this mountain.
Makarios couldn't tell if Aava--he had finally garnered her name and it held a new weight in his heart-- and the creature had been battling on this magical level for a matter of moments or a matter of eons. It all felt the same to him, but in the midst of it, the energy began to ebb and suddenly, was sapped from the air. A silence
wooshed in to meet them as the air settled and a collective exhale left Makarios and Aava.
Before him, Makarios saw the creature adopt a rigid stance, it's eyes agape and a silent cry leaving its mouth. The ink began to drip from its form, crstalizing into an obsidian and star-like dust that filled the air. In the cloud of darkness a cry--this one human--began to well up. But it was weak, the last vestiges of the dead man the dark avatar had found such fertile and viable soil in. On his skin, the marks began to dim, but not completely fade, and he slumped to the ground. A corpse once again.
Makarios found himself quickly as he felt the full weight of Aava began to teter toward the ground. He caught her and laid her down gingerly, studying her. Being honest with himself, he had no idea what had just happened. His Nox had almost acted on his own, but he could only hope that their endeavor had been successful. Her pulse fluttered and her breath was light. Makarios feared the worst.
Until a rush of air filled Aava's lungs and she opened her eyes. The light from before flew from them and was gone and her body slumped again. On her body, the markings seemed to writhe, a deep red lighting them. Appearing like living veins only in the realm of the carvings on her skin. Makarios placed his hand on one of the carving and it grew hot. How had she done this? He could tell just from pure observation that this would have killed him, but somehow...she was in one pice. Though she might not be for long if he didn't get her some medical attention.
He shoulded her weight with ease and softly tested his own powers, reaching his Nox out to the still settling animals within him. The Gazelle met him once more and Makarios felt himself traipsing back into a familiar realm.
He looked down at Aava. "Welcome to the Mavericks, my friend. I can assure you...this probably won't be the last time we have to rush you back to the base. It comes with the job. But...I get the feeling you need us almost as much as we need a soul like yours. Let's get you to safety." With a bound, Feral took off, intent on getting as far away from the site of destruction as possible.
