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Post by Kodaka on May 20, 2022 20:02:53 GMT -6
The Nephilim’s eyes stirred with faint recognition when Nightfire named the woman standing before them. Startled, Kodaka turned and set his quizzical gaze from dragon to demoness as the woman closed the distance. If Nightfire recognized her how come he hadn’t? He chalked it up to hard liquor. As Mya walked past, both him and Daniel stepped back to allow her room. The two men exchanged a glance before they turned to watch Mya and Nightfire.
Eyes sparkling, Nightfire arched his neck like a swan as he peered down at Mya. The dragon watched her intently even while she studied him. A short rumble reverberated from the base of his throat and turned into a hum as it came out of his closed maw. The dragon audibly blinked and tilted his head, unsure if Mya meant for him to hear her hushed string of words or if she was thinking out loud. Whether intentional or not, Nightfire was not one to scorn compliments however. His eyes softened as he hummed down at her again.
If Mya allowed the contact, Nightfire’s consciousness would brush up against her mind like a cat rubbing up against someone’s legs. His thoughts returned to the day he was with Kodaka in the castle garden and wordlessly through their private mental connection, Nightfire shared snapshots from his own perspective. There was a dragon’s eye view of an unconscious Mya wrapped in a cocoon of leaf and vine. It stayed in place for number of seconds before the mental image faded and another of Helena took its place. The young woman looked frantic while she without avail tried to get her mother to awaken. A red-headed demonness and another man appeared at her side in the next scene, and the final thing Nightfire shared with Mya was him looking down at a wounded Nephilim warrior. It was undoubtably the same man she was just recently introduced to, as the memory version of Kodaka slowly turned and caught their eye. The silent slideshow would end there and Nightfire, who practically laid upon the ground now, opened his eyes and would appear to have stirred from a daze.
‘We did not meet directly that day, but when we left you had not yet stirred from your comatose,’ came Nightfire’s somber explanation, before a strikingly ursine roar sounded off nearby that caused the dragon to start in surprise. Were his senses not busy putting together a mental slideshow, Nightfire was certain he would’ve sensed another presence closing in on them fast. He stood up quickly, his muscles rippled as they tensed up, causing the tips of the scales on the back of his neck to stand up. Just as his wits returned to him, another man he did not recognize quickly put himself between him and Mya. A little taken aback, the dragon took a single step backward and he looked from his two comrades back to Mya and her would-be protector.
* * *
The silence between the group during the private conversation Nightfire was seemingly having with Mya left Daniel apprehensively tugging at the collar of his shirt. He looked to Kodaka, who was watching with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What are they doing?” The masked man looked over his shoulder and leaned toward the Nephilim his tone hushed. Kodaka shrugged and tapped his boot a few times, his expression a mix of thoughtfulness and impatience.
“I dunno Danny,” he said gruffly and looked away from Nightfire toward the road leading to the castle. “But if we weren’t this close to the castle I’d be a little more worried about standing in the open like this.” Then right on cue a roar reached them from close by and a humanoid figure sprinted down the path toward the roadside gathering. Kodaka cursed and stepped forward with a hand on the hilt of the ebony longsword at his hip, though before he unsheathed the blade, he heard the man speak. The Nephilim squinted when he recognized the castle’s guardian (or at least the only one he had met thus far) now stood between them and Mya, immediately after Dante realized it as well.
“Well no shit, it’s the bear-demon himself,” Kodaka answered back with a shit-eating grin of his own. The Nephilim gestured with both his hands at this stomach to emphasize what he was about to say next. “How’s that hole in your stomach? Bet that left a nice scar, eh?” The Nephilim took pride in his battle scars, each one he collected over the years told a story of something or someone he fought and bested. Only a few rivals had marked him and lived to tell the tale and that list grew ever shorter.
Daniel meanwhile stood beside Kodaka in understandably shocked silence. One second he was fingering a lighter in his breast pocket and the next he was staring agape between Kodaka and the ‘Bear-Demon’. “Who’s going to show up, Kodaka?” He asked, having found his voice again. The Nephilim briefly turned away from Dante to smile at Daniel with a wordlesss shrug of his broad shoulders. The masked man watched the proceedings unfold, quickly learning Dante and Mya were siblings. When Dante apologized and bowed, any bit of mockery was lost on Daniel and the gentleman gave an elegant bow in return. “Nice to make your acquaintance as well, Master Ionis,” He turned to peer up at Kodaka with that expressionless gas mask of his. “Kodaka, was there an ulterior motive for us being here or something? What’s this talk of she-devils?” The glass goggles shimmered in the moonlight and Daniel’s strikingly green eyes could be seen regarding the Nephilim.
“Nah,” Kodaka returned, “Dante’s just paranoid over forces beyond our control.”
“Right, well I’m sure he has plenty of reason to be paranoid,” Daniel grumbled and shook his head. He looked behind them back at Nightfire who had since relaxed and watched the scene in silence. The dragon caught his eye and winked at the masked man before he lowered his head to everyone’s eye level.
‘I am pleased to meet everyone’s acquaintance,’ he said, projecting his words now into Dante’s mind as well. ‘Perhaps , Sir Bear-Demon, you would allow my friends to reconvene in the castle? Not before someone removes this saddle of course, its starting to itch.’ His eyes turned toward Daniel and Kodaka, silently indicating for at least Kodaka since the leather and metal contraption buckled to the dragon's back was no small weight.
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Post by Fina on May 21, 2022 5:49:38 GMT -6
Though the raven had acted quickly in her decent to ground, her timing would be poorly calculated.. The gust generated by wings far greater then hers whipped through the trees and knocked into the raven a mere feet from terra firma. At this height, she managed to avoid a collision with a tree but not the shrubbery growing beside. Sputtering, the raven shook the leaves and debris from her feathers when she righted herself. She was most thankful she was without her usual companion to witness to her clumsiness or she might be overcome by embarrassment. She hadn't landed that gracelessly since she was a hatchling!
When the ursine bellow rang out over rise it set the raven's ears ringing. The disorientation of this, her haphazard landing, and travel fatigue compounded until.. Aesira slumped against the trunk of a tree in mortal form, sighing heavily while she held her head. She blinked hard a couple of times before she rested her head back against the rough bark of the tree, urging her head to clear. She knew shouldn't have pushed herself this hard, but she was directed to make haste.. She scuffed softly, smirking at her own folly. She really needed to better negotiate her terms of service and not take these tasks like it was so imperative.
Though her lids were heavy, Aesira lifted her lashes to take a peek at her immediate surroundings. She considered her luck as she lifted her head up from the tree at her back. She was far enough from the road and under deep cover among the greenery here, so maybe she would rest a moment.. Dusk was on approach too, so she thought it unlikely she'd be noticed there before she recovered some. Her quicksilver gaze sought the looming castle peeking beyond the tree canopy. Perhaps later she could use the cover of twilight to find her way onward to the castle then.
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Post by Fina on Jul 2, 2022 1:59:06 GMT -6
After rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Aesira surveyed forest. Peeking around the tree canopy, she could see the sky beyond was a kaleidoscope of oranges and brilliant reds. The chorus of songbirds was now punctuated by a cricket or nearby frog as evening approached. She pursed her lips thoughtfully, she had slept longer then anticipated. As far as she could tell, it was nearly twilight. If she was going to make her move, she would need to act with haste. Otherwise, she may be forced to endure another night of camp.
Aesira mustered her motivation and rallied before rigidly rising to her feet. She roughly combed her fingers though her long, disheveled tresses. "I think I can, I think I can.." She thought with some amusement, trying to hype herself up. Her goal was simple: enter the castle. From there, the rest would come with ease.
The change took her with a grace that only came with practice. The foliage of her makeshift hideout rustled loudly before the midnight black raven hopped clear. She shook out her feathers on the open forest floor as she gather her bearings. Once oriented, the raven took to wing and was off once more into the trees. Breaking through the tree canopy, the raven made her croaking call as she beat her wings to gain elevation. She wouldn't go far before falling in with the murder of her distant kin, flocking towards their roost. Among their numbers, she found safety and would blend in for the most part.
Drawing near the castle's rookery, her quicksilver gaze keenly spotted the winged being clinging to the railing. She balked, spooked by the unexpected demon. She was one of a few which did, so she hoped not to draw suspicion.. There was little time to reconsider, so she swiftly filed in with the flock returning to roost and perched high above. With luck, he'd be about his business and pay her no mind.
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Post by Mya on Jul 2, 2022 3:50:56 GMT -6
While the men conversed, Mya's attention was focused solely on Nightfire. She was enthralled by his majesty. She had heard many stories about dragons over the years but nothing could truly prepare her for meeting one in person. It was obvious by the way he presented himself, that Nightfire was a noble creature. A few moments passed by before she felt his consciousness brush against hers. She gasped slightly, not expecting it. She welcomed his words into her mind. The way he spoke to her was not unlike some connections she had made in the past.
As Nightfire showed her images from his memory, she brought a hand to her cheek. How embarrassing that they had to witness her in that state... Mya winced at the reminder of all her poor decisions, but alas she had made them and had to live with them. At the very least, it didn't seem like Nightfire was the type to judge her. She offered him a small smile, "I am much stronger now than I was at that time."
When the dragon made the comment about his saddle, Mya perked right up. "Oh! Please allow me to assist..." The wind picked up for a brief moment and she felt a chill. Mya remembered that her clothes were still soaked with blood. "Ah, on second thought perhaps it would be better if someone else did. I wouldn't want to soil your beautiful scales." She clasped her hands behind her and took a step back.
~~~
While Mya did her dragon whispering, Dante relaxed the tension he had built inside himself. "I know you ain't so lucky pal, but my scars don't take long to fade. Being a demon has its perks sometimes," He chuckled. Dante understood that most warriors wore their scars proudly. They were reminders of things they had survived; a figurative middle finger to whatever tried to kill you. Despite the awesome bragging rights, he appreciated his devilishly good looks and was content for it to stay that way.
"Forces beyond our control, sure, and I'm sure she's great in the sack, but man, you can't deny that bitch is crazy," Dante paused at the dragon's suggestion to go inside. "Yeeeeahhh, I guess we are still standing out here in the dark. Lets make our way inside. Uh, big guy, I'm not sure where would be most comfortable for you to roost. You can probably try to fit wherever you would find most comfortable. Just try not to wreck any of the old gargoyles. I'll never hear the end of it." He chuckled again.
~~~
Aiden's sudden appearance startled the group. Mya had sneezed again from the dust. Her eyes lit up, elated to be in the presence of her son. His jab at her lack of companionship stung but she didn't comment on it. Mya wasn't exactly sure how he felt towards her since her transformation and didn't want to stir the pot. Heavens knew he had every right to still be angry with her. "A-Aiden. Don't say that. You know that's not true. Besides, I can't say they are here to visit with me. Please meet Kodaka, Daniel and Nightfire."
She raised a brow at Aiden's eagerness to introduce himself to Kodaka. She opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it. She glanced over at her brother who had a big, shit-eating grin on his face. Dante picked up on what was going on and would gladly watch the drama unfold.
Dante clapped Aiden's shoulder, "Hey, how nice of you to join us! Why don't you take our new friends inside and show them around? I know the big guy probably could use a drink. I'll take your mom to go get cleaned up and meet you in there." Dante walked over to Mya's prey and effortlessly hoisted it onto his shoulder. He motioned his head in the direction of her treehouse.
~~
As Mya followed Dante to her home, she let her thoughts filter through her mind. So much had happened over the last year or so that changed all of their lives. It was painful to be estranged from her children. Aiden often jested that he was the least favorite, but that couldn't be any farther from the truth. Sure, she had a special connection with Helena due to their entwined nature... but how she felt towards Aiden was different. He was born from love. Mya never truly felt like a mother until the first time she held him in her arms. He was pure perfection. Even now, as a grown man, she was so proud of him. She hoped that one day he would understand the things that led her to her fate.
It wasn't long before the pair had made it to Mya's treehouse. "Go get washed up. I'll get your dinner cleaned up for later."
"Dante, I can't--"
"Come on Mya. I know the kid's comment was supposed to be a jab at you, but he makes a point. You can't stay out here forever. It's not healthy." Mya opened her mouth a few times to protest but Dante grabbed her chin and squeezed her cheeks together. "No buts. I'm not going to let you carry on like this. I'll drag you in there kicking and screaming if I have to... so don't think you are getting out of this, capisce?" He made her nod. Mya sighed and disappeared to go wash up. While his sister showered and changed, he skinned the deer and hung it on a hook to let the blood finish draining. Dante looked down at his suit and wrinkled his nose at the blood that now covered him. Thankfully since he spent plenty of time in the treehouse helping care for his sister and her demon spawn, he had clean clothes he could change into.
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Post by Fina on Jul 2, 2022 18:18:34 GMT -6
Settling on a perch, the raven appraised the rookery's interior as her kin crowded in next to her. She was pleasantly surprised to see that the amenities were not lacking. The tower only seemed small from the outside. If she had to guess, this might have once been a battlement which had been later converted. There was a bank of open windows for the murder to go to or from, nesting boxes lined the walls, and beams served as perches. Below, she even spied a set of platforms used to disperse feed to the flock.
The raven willed herself to be small and inconspicuous in the growing shadows of dusk. She observed the demon below her as best she could while feigning at preening her glossy midnight feathers. Her gaze regarded him openly a moment when he sighed audibly. She tilted her head as she studied him, curious. This fella was a little more then tightly wound, wasn't he? Noting his stance relax though she concluded that the threat must have passed. When the demon then assume a patrol pattern with clear familiarity inspiration found her. This could be favorable to her.. Who better to show her around then a castle guard! The raven waited until Vasili disappeared through the last door and his steps retreated down the hall. Hopping from her perch, the raven swooped down to the floor below.
Gracefully, Aesira landed in a crouch. She paid no heed to the flock calling above her as she made haste. She eased through the door and into the hall beyond as quietly as she could manage. His steps had receded more then anticipated, but she could still make out the measured cadence from the corner down on her right. Turning on the heel of her boot, she smirked softly before trailing down the hall after the uptight guard.
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Post by Kodaka on Jul 2, 2022 21:29:50 GMT -6
Daniel and Kodaka caught Nightfire’s glance and soon Mr. Hawthorne also turned to look at the Nephilim expectantly. Kodaka looked from one to the other a few times before he groaned and threw his arms up in mock defeat. He gave Mya a small friendly smile. “Aw I wouldn’t worry ‘bout a little blood,” he explained, “he could probably use a nice bath anyhow.” He chuckled to himself and left the gathering to trudge back down the path to where the midnight dragon sat. Nightfire smelled himself but did not confirm or deny that was actually in need of bathing. Instead he hummed in appreciation as the mercenary crouched low to start the ceremonious process of unbuckling straps and undoing buttons that made up the saddle.
Every now and then the dragon would lift up one of his front legs to grant Kodaka an easier time loosening the hard leather straps. Kodaka rolled his eyes at Dante’s words, keeping his attention on the process at hand. “Listen to the pretty boy over here,” he said with a fake gagging noise. When he mentioned the she-devil, Kodaka grinned to himself and spoke lowly enough so that hopefully only Nightfire would hear. “Honestly, I’ve come to think of her as one of a kind these days. All those other things are true, though.”
Finally after no more than five minutes of maneuvering and undoing, Kodaka grunted in affirmation as he backed up a few steps off to the side of the dragon. Nightfire dipped a shoulder toward the ground and tilted his body until the saddle slipped off into Kodaka’s waiting arms. The impressive mass of leather and iron plate was almost as big as Kodaka was tall and he hoisted it almost effortlessly over his shoulder. The movement parted his cloak and revealed his bicep, muscles bulging as his arm held the saddle in place. Nope, that thing wasn’t going anywhere.
“How’s that feel, Nighty?” Kodaka asked as he stepped away from the dragon to give him room to stretch. The adolescent dragon rolled his shoulders, lowered himself till his chest touched the ground and reached out at nothing with his front legs. His hindquarters lifted upward to stretch his back legs as well. Kodaka could hear the joints pop back into place as the dragon let out a soft growl of relief. It took everything Kodaka had to keep his mouth shut and not to say “big stretch, lil buddy!” Like he used to when the dragon was just a hatchling. Sometimes the mercenary couldn’t tell if he was looking at a dragon or a giant cat. The dragon’s eyes snapped open and cast him with a knowing look and a snort.
‘You have my thanks. A weight has been lifted from my shoulders,’ said the dragon in a happily singsong voice. He stepped off the path and rubbed the side of his back against the largest roadside tree he could find, his scales chipping off the bark like a cheese crater shredding mozzarella. Though you’d think the Nephilim was far enough away, Kodaka still had to shield his face from chunks of bark that occasionally rained down on him and bounced off his horns.
“You’re gonna—gah!— take that whole damn tree down, Nightfire,” He growled before he finally moved out of range of shrapnel. Satisfied that his itch had been sufficiently scratched, Nightfire stepped aside to admire his handy work on the side of the tree where he had left a nice man-sized gouge. As it turns out, scales rubbing up against exposed wood can create quite an interesting texture. His scales carved into the wood in neat little rows, like a plow tilling the fields. The dragon scrutinized his woodwork and turned his head toward Dante and the others.
‘I am comfortable anywhere really. I would prefer not to enter the castle to avoid making a ruckus of things, however. The grounds near the gates might be suitable or maybe…’ He hesitated, looking troubled for the first time in awhile. ‘…the gardens, if it would find my presence agreeable.’ He saw Daniel look in his direction, not doubt quizzically, and the dragon briefly met his gaze with an affirmative blink. If Kodaka was being brave with his words today, then so shall the mighty Nightfire! ‘Yes, the garden sounds lovely.’ He pushed the thought of sleeping in the sentient garden aside as he then he looked up to a strange presence above them, with feathers slowly flitting from the cloud that gave off a dazzling light.
Kodaka felt it too and followed the dragon’s gaze, then without much warning the figure of a young man fell from the darkening heavens before a pair of wings caught him mid-fall. By this point, Kodaka and Nightfire were carefully approaching the group again, Kodaka put up his free hand to shoo away the dust that was stirred by the new arrival. Nightfire seemed intrigued as he watched the winged-man float toward the earth and land gracefully beside Mya. His serpent’s tongue snaked out from between his closed jaws to taste at the air experimentally, his ruby eyes twinkling with curiosity.
“Blimey!” Daniel said, a little more loudly than he intended. Being the most human among them despite his attire, he did not expect nor even realize what his companions were staring up at until the newcomer jetted down toward the earth. He let out a breath of relief when the newcomer, Aiden, appeared to be yet another family member of Mya’s, most specifically her son. He saw Kodaka glance over in his direction and cast him with a knowing grin as if to say ‘how’s it feel to have someone suddenly drop from the sky in front of you?’ Behind the mask, Daniel rolled his eyes at the Nephilim. That wasn’t even his idea after all. He watched Mya react Aiden’s words about being the least favorite and he visibly winced at the biting tone he thought he could make out. Clearly there was some bad blood here.
“Ah, I see you are as radiant as your mother,” Daniel said with a short bow. “A pleasure to meet you, Aiden.” He also thought he noticed the young man scrutinizing Kodaka for half an instant as introductions were exchanged and he stifled a chuckle. Kodaka was indeed a sight to behold to those not used to his presence. Daniel could honestly say he never even knew what a Nephilim was until meeting Kodaka some years ago now. Kodaka seemed to use the fact that Nephilim were so rare and unheard of outside their realm and flaunt it to great effect.
Kodaka grinned and beamed down at Aiden Moonlight with his free hand at his hip, wondering if he was really as young as he looked. Kodaka may be brazen, but he wasn’t as big as a fool as people made him out to be. He could tell when he was being sized up, Aiden didn’t seem to hide it. He was charmed, but more in the amused sort of fashion. He grasped the winged man's offered hand and gripped it just tightly enough to show is strength, but not hurt the smaller man. “Good to meet ya, nice wings.” When Dante mentioned alcohol he chuckled and bade Dante and Mya farewell for now, as did Daniel and Nightfire. Nightfire tilted his head and watched them leave, then he turned his gaze to the castle, almost feeling at least one pair of eyes on their gathering since their party had grown and now diminished by two. What sorts of things awaited them at this ancient, man-built structure?
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Post by Mya on Jul 3, 2022 2:04:03 GMT -6
Helena had been busy dealing with some stubborn bushes for most of the afternoon since her uncle left with his friend. Most of the plant life eagerly bent to her will, but for some reason this particular shrub was giving her grief. She commanded it to take the form she chose but it resisted at every step of the way. Helena huffed out of frustration. Perhaps it would be best for the plant to let it do as it pleased. Perhaps some things were not her right to dictate how they should bloom. It seemed to be a common conclusion in her life as of late.
She got to her feet and stretched. Her body may be young, but being hunched over for several hours would make anyone stiff. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of someone in the window. Had someone been watching her? Curiosity got the best of her as she contemplated investigating who was peeking on her. Helena dusted off her hands and made her way inside.
She rounded the corner into the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks. Brandon was pounding back water and appeared to be having a panic attack of sorts. It hurt to see him in this shape. He had been avoiding her since he regained his sense of self. Much had transpired over the last year or so. Helena worried that he didn't want to be around her, especially since she was practically the spitting image of Mya's former appearance.
"Dad...?" She spoke softly, not wanting to spook him. Helena took a few steps closer, reaching out to touch him. At the last moment she hesitated and instead drew her hand back to awkwardly grab her other arm.
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Post by Fina on Jul 3, 2022 16:33:02 GMT -6
Beyond the maintained grounds of the castle, the forest fiercely claimed the lands. The essence of life beat wild and untamed as the sparse, young trees grew dense and tall. The air smelled of fresh rain and earthy loam as the underbrush grew thick, some heavy with berries and flowers. Rocky streams cut cold, winding paths through the lands. Here, the forest felt old.. It's presence was the reason she made her home here.
Humming a jovial tune, the witch of the woods navigated the familiar path through the dark forest. She had the hood of her cloak up against the evening chill which obscured her distinguishable features. On her arm, she carried a basket heavy with bundles of blooms and herbs. Her gait was quick with purpose and confident. She was on her way home with her goods it seemed..
Her stride bobbled until she slowed and her tune ebbed. She felt it.. A grief so heartfelt it made her chest ache. Grunting softly, she rubbed her chest with a wince. She knew this call.. Her hand raised to her hood and threw it back to reveal her crimson hair as her evergreen gaze searched the shadows. Her brow furrowed, whomever it was stood nearly at her doorstep and yet she saw nothing. It was then she heard a sound somewhere beyond on her left. There were many reasons she should be cautious of searching out these noises in the dark, but she trusted her instinct as she jostled into action.
Her search was short.. Serephina glimpsed the poor soul crumpled at the roots of alder tree. A relieved sigh parted her lips as she observed a moment. The poor dear was beside himself.. "Good sir," She called by way of greeting. She clasped her hands together with her basket handle between as she approached, her stride was casual and deliberate. "You know.. There are more effective ways to water an alder tree." She added, offering a kind smile before she nodded up to the tree above. She tilted her head slightly as she regarded him. "You're a long way out.." She noted, her tone was soft. "What brings you to my doorstep at this hour?"
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Post by Mya on Jul 3, 2022 20:34:07 GMT -6
Helena eagerly waited for Brandon to spit out what he was going to say. She offered him a small smile. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Brandon was worked up and she knew she would have to approach this slow and gently. "Dad, please just breathe. It's okay," She kept her tone low. When he closed his eyes and winced in pain, she took a few steps close. "Please... let me help you." Now she was only a couple feet from him. She reached out to him once more, but didn't chicken out this time. With the gentlest of touches, Helena brushed her fingers against his elbow. She mentally prepared herself to reach for the wellspring of magic deep within her and use that to reach out to Brandon.
A voice rounded the corner into the kitchen. Before she could react, Aiden had grabbed her arm and pulled her away. "H-Hey, wait...!" but before she could really react, Aiden had already got Brandon to scurry away. Helena whirled around to face her brother and frowned. "Good going! I've been trying to talk to him for weeks!" She punched him in the arm weakly before leaning her forehead against Aiden's shoulder. She took a deep breath and tried to sneak that she was wiping a tear out of the corner of her eye.
The sound of Daniel and Kodaka in the bar area made her push away from her brother and stand at the counter, facing the kitchen wall. She sniffled then wiped her eye once more. She took a moment to collect herself before heading over to the bar side. Helena paused and looked both men up and down. One she had met, one she had not.
"Who do we have here? Master Kodaka? It is nice to see you again. I suppose that means Aunt Kea will be making her grand entrance soon. Who is your companion?"
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Post by Kodaka on Jul 4, 2022 0:29:05 GMT -6
Daniel cocked his head at the mention of a pun according to Sir Aiden. Behind his mask, he blinked and looked totally confused, unsure how to react. After an awkward silence of several seconds, the man finally put two and two together and chuckled. "Ah, a pun? No I was merely observing how you carry yourselves I think." Kodaka meanwhile felt a sly grin pull at his lips when Aiden matched the strength of his handshake and could tell he was still holding back. "Damn, Daniel. And you thought I was daft sometimes." For some reason, the Nephilim didn’t feel as surprised as he usually would’ve. The folks around the castle were powerhouses on their own levels, each and every one of them. Even Keaira surprised him on occasion during their many rendezvous over the years. He blinked and turned his head to glance at the saddle still hoisted over his shoulder when Aiden mentioned it. The weight was so minimal to him he had almost forgotten he was carrying it. He raised a brow, a little confused by the man’s question about his lack of wings.
“What, this?” He lifted the shoulder that bared the weight of the saddle and gestured to it with a tilt of his head. The biceps along his arm bulged and it couldn’t be deciphered if Kodaka did that on purpose or not. “Naw, I would need much bigger wings than yours to lift my big arse off the ground,” he explained and pointed his thumb behind him with his free hand. “That’s why I have this loyal steed behind me.” He cracked a wide grin, clearly joking, but he could still feel Nightfire’s steely gaze peel away from the castle and directly into the top of his cranium.
The dragon approached Kodaka and didn’t stop until his chest was against the Nephilim’s back. His wings opened halfway and cast the group under his shadow and arched his swanlike neck to peer down at the mercenary with a look of ire. With the tip of his snout mere feet away from the top of Kodaka’s head, Nightfire snorted a puff of black smoke and it billowed around his noggin and dissipated by the time it reached his shoulders.
‘It appears a certain someone will be walking their ‘big arse’ a lot more frequently, I think,’ said the dragon rather matter-of-factly. Kodaka craned his head so that he was looking directly up at the young dragon.
“Hey come on! I was joking, Nighty,” he said with some dismay in his voice.
‘I know.’
“Gentlemen,” Daniel cleared his throat and nodded at Aiden. “I wouldn’t mind a spot of earl gray when we are inside and settled.” He turned toward Kodaka and Daniel. “Shall we?”
And so they were off, Daniel and Kodaka keeping in stride with Aiden as Nightfire followed surprisingly quietly for such a large creature. When Aiden turned to meet his gaze and mentioned asking around for suitable places for him to take up roost, the dragon tilted his head at the man with an audible blink. ‘My thanks, Aiden Moonlight,’ he said happily. ‘I look forward to meeting the rest of the denizens here. The bipedal ones that live in this stone-fortress have always intrigued me.’
“I’ll bet,” Daniel said as he adjusted his tie absently. “Ever since setting out with you two I’ve met ever more ‘interesting’ people.”
‘Isn’t it exciting?’ Nightfire hummed.
When they arrived at one of the castle doors, Daniel and Kodaka turned to say their goodbyes to Nightfire. The dragon sat down on his hunches and allowed Daniel to rub his scaly cheek appreciatively “You’ll be alright out here by your lonesome?”
‘Of course,’ Nightfire said, ‘this seems like a nice patch of grass for a nap actually.’
Kodaka patted him on the side of his neck and took a second or two to scan the castle grounds and the surrounding forest. “Don’t be afraid to contact us if something seems amiss. Not that I’m expecting something, that is.”
Nightfire blinked lazily at the Nephilim. ‘I am sure that if anything ‘amiss’ sees me sitting here, it will turn and run from whence it came.’ He tongued the air as his irises turned into thin vertical silts, ‘and I love a good chase.’
* * *
When Daniel and Kodaka entered the castle just a few steps behind Aiden, Daniel immediately seemed entranced by the architecture, particularly the high ceilings and stonework. It wasn’t everyday the masked man stepped into such an ancient structure, let alone a castle. Kodaka paid it little notice, simply focused on where Aiden was taking them. He had since propped the dragon saddle carefully against the wall next the door they entered and had use of both his arms again. The mercenary had a vague idea of where they were going, some of the layout of the castle looking familiar to him. It didn’t take him long to realize Aiden was leading him to the bar he would frequent during his time in the castle. When the bar came into view and the young Moonlight rounded the corner no doubt to the kitchen to get behind the bar, Kodaka practically glided toward the countertop and found himself a comfortable stool.
Daniel seemed to lag behind as he looked to the corner Aiden disappeared around to the now lounging Kodaka. “You gonna sit down?” The mercenary smiled and patted the stool next to him. Daniel shrugged and marched over to the proffered bar seat and, after brushing any dust off, elegantly took a seat.
“So now what?” Daniel asked, rolling down the sleeves of his shirt to cover his greyed skin again. Kodaka swiveled around in his bar seat so that he faced the doorway they came from. He rested his elbows on the bar behind him and slowly scrutinized the room.
“Quite a few good memories in here,” Kodaka muttered with twinkling reminiscent eyes. He spoke again while continuing to look about the room. “Tonight we drink, eat, and rest up. Tomorrow we collect our bearings and start to make our final preparations.”
Daniel nodded and there was a silence between the two. It was quiet enough for the both of them to make out couple of raised voices in the kitchen nearby. The masked man perked up and looked from the kitchen to Kodaka, who was also listening but did not stir from his position. “Trouble?” Daniel asked, uncertain.
“Naw,” Kodaka replied, "nothin' that’s of our business, anyway.” He turned in his bar stool when a familiar voice called him by name and he grinned as Helena regarded him and Daniel. “Hullo, Helena! How you been?” When she mentioned Keaira, Kodaka only shrugged. “Dunno, she’s got her own schedule to keep.” He grinned at Daniel who had since risen from his seat to give Helena a polite bow. “Ah, my apologies. I am Daniel Hawthorne, colleague and companion to this big brute over here,” he greeted formally. While his attire was casual as opposed to his normal wear, the man still wore a neat pair of charcoal trousers topped off with a silk white button-down shirt that for some reason had scorch marks along the cuffs of the sleeves. He A fitted, gray, three-button vest and a red tie stood out from his monochrome outfit. The most interesting part however had to be his hard rubber gas mask that covered the entirety of his head, with tinted goggles that sometimes revealed his green eyes under direct light. He turned toward the Nephilim and cocked his head. "Um. Kodaka who is Kea? Is that the 'she-devil' as Dante calls her?"
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Post by Fina on Jul 4, 2022 5:13:42 GMT -6
It was an effort for Aesira to keep her tread light down as she navigated the castle hall. The guard she tailed moved with purpose and had a astride that ate up distance unlike hers. This meant she sacrificed some stealth to maintain the appropriate distance to avoid detection, but not lose her mark. It proved to be a challenge as she bobbed and weaved, taking cover where it was available. Vasili also did not telegraph his moves well, she noted with a spark of respect. She supposed that was a quality of a decent castle guard these days.
When Vasili rounded the corner, Aesira slowed her advance. She found herself admiring the castle architecture as she listed to the measured, deliberate cadence of his gait down the hall. Her brow furrowed thoughtfully as she heard his pace slow ahead. “Perhaps he is checking doors?” she wondered. It was with caution that she ventured a peek around the corner. This was her mistake she’d realize.. From her vantage point she saw as Vasili knelt to ground level and then the large mirror beyond which held her reflection. Given his positioning and how he leapt to his feet, she knew she had been made..!
Swearing, Aesira shoved aside the flicker of panic that seized her. She had precious little time to act before the guard was on her. A startled yelp escaped her when suddenly his large frame dwarfed her and quickly blocked her escape. Her heart raced as she had nearly bounced off his chest before she flattened herself against the stone wall behind her. She struggled for words as Vasili laid the intimidation on thick with a critical eye. Her quicksilver gaze held his as he expression sobered. She’d have to consider her options quickly before he grew impatient. His only warning was the soft smirk that pulled at the corner of her lips. One moment Aesira stood before him and the next she was gone. Feathers rustled as the raven hopped through his wide stance. Once clear of him she wasted no time! She took to the air and, quick like a shadow, she swooped off down the hall ahead.
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Post by Mya on Jul 4, 2022 20:17:21 GMT -6
“I have been well, thank you. Or at least as well as one could be, I suppose. Good to see you still in one piece,” Helena nodded at the mercenary. Their past exchanges were mostly brief, but Kodaka appeared to be friendly enough. Still, the scars on his body silently told her that he was the type to fight tooth and nail to achieve his goals. She wondered if that was partly why her infamous auntie was drawn to him.
She turned her attention to Daniel who bowed politely to her. Even though she was not wearing a dress, Helena still made the motion of a well practiced curtsy. Since she had been working out in the garden, there was evidence of dirt and dust on her well-worn jean cut offs. While her mother tended to favor dresses and more feminine clothing, Helena leaned more towards punk-rock attire. Her shirt was some old and faded obscure band shirt she had laying around. It was several sizes too big for her, so she tied the front to fit her form a bit better. Her golden hair was pulled back into a messy bun with at least one leaf sticking out. Her feet were bare as to give her full connection to the earth that she worked with.
“Master Daniel, please make yourself at home. If you are hungry, let me know and I can prepare something. I am Helena, Aiden’s older sister.” At the mention of her aunt’s name, Helena’s lips curled into a wry smile. It seemed that Master Daniel had no idea what he was getting himself into by accompanying Kodaka to the castle.
“She-devil would be an appropriate way to describe her. Eccentric would probably be another,” Helena could only imagine in what way Keaira would make her presence known.
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Post by Kodaka on Jul 5, 2022 13:18:07 GMT -6
Nightfire blew a puff of smoke into the air and looked down at Kodaka, his facial expression looking unmistakably smug. ‘Yes, he is indeed very fortunate to have my companionship.’
Before Kodaka could retort, Daniel had cleared his throat and bade them to move on to the castle. “Hmm, caffeinated is fine. It doesn’t seem to affect me very much anyway.”
After saying their farewells for the time being, the trio disappeared into the castle, leaving the door to close with a soft click. Nightfire sat on his rump and stared at the door for a moment, quietly wishing he could accompany them inside. He huffed and his nostrils flared as the dragon looked away and scanned the forest some distance beyond the grounds. He thought he saw the figure of a man sprinting away from the castle and into the wood and a newfound interest had him watch until the figure disappeared into the foliage. What was that all about? Did the man come from the same place his friends were headed or was that just a coincidence? Nightfire, letting his curiosity get the better of him, decided he’d better investigate. It was better than sitting there waiting for someone to come to him anyway.
The charcoal-scaled dragon pranced toward the forest where he thought the man vanished and paused just outside the woods. Nightfire scrutinized the trees and the brush and miraculously thought he saw movement but it could’ve easily been a deer. To his annoyance, the woods were too thick in this area and he wasn’t about to start uprooting things. He sniffed at the ground instead, nostrils rapidly flaring as he took up a number of scents. First and foremost were the unmistakable smells of the earth under a small layer of dead leaves. Upon further analysis Nightfire confirmed a man had indeed ran through here and by the slight scent of salt and the moisture that he knew wasn’t dew, the dragon also came to the conclusion that the man was crying. Obviously he couldn’t quite discern the reason for this. Did he catch a glimpse of Nightfire’s mighty form and get frightened to tears? Nightfire lifted his spade-shaped head off the ground and blinked. He certainly hoped that wasn’t the case, but the stranger is right to be scared!
The dragon’s ruby eyes peered into the woods again and he thought he saw more movement even further away now. He was crouched so low to the ground that his underbelly almost brushed the earth. He thought he could make out conversation that carried from somewhere deep in the wood but Nightfire couldn’t be too sure. Sure his senses were sharp, it was just difficult to focus on one specific sound in a forest full of life in every tree and bush. A growl issues from his closed maw and into the forest in an attempt to help with that and he found the results quite pleasing. Entire flocks of birds scattered toward the sky, critters in the underbrush scampered away and even a handful of deer fled deeper into the wood. Good thing I’m not hungry, the dragon thought to himself a little glumly.
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Post by Mya on Jul 5, 2022 15:13:24 GMT -6
Click, click, click
The sound of high heels clacked against the gravel road. One might think that walking on dirt and rocks in heels would be a ticket to a rolled ankle or something, but not for Keaira Jormungand. She could walk on any surface in her tall stilettos and make it look easy. Her gait was purposeful, swinging her hips with each step.
Today she sported an outfit that made her look like she just came from a red-carpet event. For all anyone knew, she likely did. She sported a cropped, black fur coat that clung loosely and exposed her bare shoulders. Her indigo-colored dress had a sweetheart neckline that exposed most of her chest. It would be anyone’s guess how her breasts didn’t spill out of the top, or even how they could stay in place without use of a bra. The dress was longer than what she might usually wear, it reached just past her knees. A slit up the side to nearly her hip made up for that. A fancy golden design was embroidered along the hem and neckline of her dress. To make it stand out even more, glittering gems that easily caught the light were sewn into the embroidery. An expensive looking clutch purse with a thin silver chain hung over her shoulder. Her ensemble was complete with six-inch black Stiletto heels.
Keaira’s hair was perfectly in place. She had part of her scarlet hair was pulled up into a half-pony with glam curls cascading down her back. Her bangs were parted at the side to frame her face. Her eye shadow matched the color of her dress, and her lips painted a dark red. As she entered the castle grounds, heading towards the main entrance, Keaira heard a growl. She paused and brought a perfectly manicured nail to her lips. The demoness looked around for the source and heard rustling near the edge of the castle ground perimeter. A couple deer shot out of the treeline and whizzed past her. She raised an eyebrow and looked back to the treeline. It was beginning to get dark, but she was able to make out Nightfire’s tail and rear end.
“Is that Nightfire?” She mused and sauntered over his direction. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?”
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Post by Fina on Jul 5, 2022 22:07:27 GMT -6
Concern furrowed Serephina's brow as she regarded this man lost in her woods. The grief radiating from him was near tangible as he tried to make himself small and unassuming against the alder tree.. She didn't know his story, but it felt like he was shouldering the weight of the world. She had hoped to lighten the mood with her clever joke but he just shook his head and sniffled instead. "No apologies required," She said, "You aren't imposing." She assured him as he pushed himself to his feet.
Following his glance, Serephina thoughtfully considered this homely corner of her yard. At this hour of the evening, the forest revealed little for travelers. The heavy shadows of nightfall made all paths all seem the same and the stars were hidden, crowded out by dense tree limbs above. These natural advantages made her location easily defensible, but near impregnable when she added her own protective warding. "I'm afraid not." She told him with a light shake of her head. When she came upon him, he was already sitting vigil at the roots of the tree. "Perhaps it's just as well though. This area of the forest isn't as kind to late night travelers." She explained. "I'd be happy to show you out at first light, if you'd like." She offered. "In the meantime.. You're welcome to stay of course." She said, smiling kindly as she gestured beyond to her cottage.
Serephina maintained her composure before her new guest. With thanks to her ancestors, her gifts were vast.. However, she didn't wish to alarm Brandon by reacting suddenly to the curious exploration going on near the forest's boarder. She paid no mind until a growl that carried over the distance, spooking the roosting birds and deer. It was then that she broke her gaze from her guest to the treeline. "Hm.. Cheeky." She thought, mildly amused by these antics. Two could play that game.. "Ventus," She whispered, motioning with a sweep of her hand to complete the invocation. She turned back to Brandon as she felt her internal magic dip before balancing again. "Shall we?" She prompted, nonchalant as she turned towards the cottage.
Over the hills and through the woods, a rumble built gradually as a force sped towards the forest's boundary. When it met the treeline, a gale rushed the scaly dragon. The force of wind cycloned harmlessly about him a second before dispersing, leaving him in a shower of pink flowers.
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