Ice To See You, Stone Cold Killer: Rated MA

Closed to Fennwenn and Cards_Of_Fate
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A figure sat atop a throne of ivory and human bone. His legs crossed. A gloved hand resting against his temple in frustration. Long strands of silver hair hid his downturned face. The figure, clad in black leather waved off Amari. Who stood before him.

“Find the brat, and kill him. He’s a liability.”

Those were the only words that were needed from her Master. Lichensith Ulroke. The only command Amari needed. She gave him a mild look of discomfort, followed by a nod. “If you insist, Master.”

She turned on her heel and left the hall. Leaving her master to wallow in the darkness he sought shelter in.

It was a rare, clear day in Salvar. So it was easy to follow the small footsteps which lead directly to the forest that surrounded the Inner Sanctum. The beasts in the forest would surely make short work of the kid, Amari had half a mind to just let nature do it’s thing. She glanced over her shoulder back at the Sanctum.

No.

She couldn’t do that to her Master.

Amari sighed, pulling her black leather jacket tighter around her form. The kid wouldn’t get far, so Amari felt no need to run after him. She followed the footsteps into the forest. Unafraid of the beasts that lurked within. Lately, she had been experimenting with her abilities - learning more and more about herself. Well, as much as one can learn when figuratively tethered to a childish silver haired madman. The beasts in the forest. The wolves especially. Avoided her. What was it that Aurelianus said? Something about the sway of her soul?

Amari smirked. Pausing as she headed deeper into the thicket. The foosteps veered left. “Idiotic brat.” She muttered. Instead of following the footsteps she continued straight. This path was clearer than the one her target took - and the two would converge further up ahead.

After 20 minutes of treking in ankle deep snow Amari reached a small fork. The kid hadn’t come through yet.

Perfect

Amari approached a conveniently placed tree and climbed up to the higher branches, giving her a perfect view of the paths and where they merged. Amari pulled out a small dagger and started twirling it in her hands, waiting for signs of movement.

She wasn’t very proficient with weapons. It seemed no matter how hard she tried or how much she practised, she couldn’t get the damn hang of things. Her skilsl were better used elsewhere.

Tri-coloured eyes surveyed the expanse below her. For the time being. It was silent. The tree she sat on seemed to thrum with energy. Or Mana. Or whatever it was people called it. Amari struggled to grasp the concepts. SHe just knew that she always had an affinity to nature. So being up in a tree, was comforting to her. It set here at ease, even with the macabre task at hand.

Killing an innocent child.

Of course, in the eyes of the Crimson Hand...the child was anything but innocent. He stole glances at valuable information. Scrolls that even she weren’t privvy to. Since there was no way to erase the child’s memory - he had to die.

“Stupid Brat…” She muttered bitterly. She didn’t like the idea of killing mroe children.

“You coulda lived….”

Rustling ahead caused her outer monologue to quieten as she tensed her body. Ready to strike.

Daugi’s pawsteps made deep impressions in the snow and mud. Cheerfully ignoring the bitter cold, she trod through the forest, glancing back every so often at the Fae mounted between her shoulders. Fenn sat upon her with a content grin, gazing out at the pine trees, which were touched silver with snow and icicles in this eternal winter.

His heart had longed for the snow and the ice for quite a while now. But, he knew the dangers of this realm, and until he had gained the extra bit of protection that was Daugi, it was just too risky to dare venture into Salvar. Risk was great, but the wily Fae’s last visits here had been rather unpleasant. Once, a vengeful bear had nearly made a meal out of him. This visit was little better, as he might have, perhaps, maybe caused a person to die. He was rather uncomfortable with the thought. Worst of all, his first venture into this land had-

It… slavery… bandits and blood…

A heavy shudder wracked the Fae, causing Daugi to stop and sniff him with concern. Never mind, he told himself, giving his fluffy friend a reassuring scratch behind the ear. He was stronger now. Marginally. No reason to dwell on such sad things. There was nothing to worry about anymore, not when a direwolf had his back. Just a visit, a foray back into this icy bliss would satisfy him. Or, so he he had thought; thanks to his last trip into the Knife, he had a very promising map burning a hole in his pocket. A dragon's hoard is a promising adventure. With some luck, he'd find where it led in a matter of days.

Depending on how distracted they got along the way, that was.

For no discernible reason, Daugi had abruptly stopped walking, her eyes wide and slightly glazed over. Perplexed, Fenn shifted forward to get a better look at her face. She quivered and pricked her ears up as if something only she could hear was calling her. He tentatively tugged on her scruff, trying to see if she would snap out of it, but Daugi was totally oblivious to him and his worry.

Without a warning, the direwolf lunged forward. As unbalanced as he already was, Fenn found himself flung into the air and thrown into the snow where Daugi had stood but a moment before. He looked up in time to watch her gallop off without him.

That had never happened to him before. Normally, the wolf was more akin to a big ol’ puppy dog than a spooked horse. Something was up. Fearful concern twisted Fenn's mouth into a scowl, and the Fae hoisted himself to his feet in hot pursuit of his runaway mount, waving his arms in protest. He dashed after her as fast as he could, tripping over tree roots and smacking into branches as he went. Whatever this was, it wasn't going to take away his best friend.

I've had enough people stolen from me before their time. You're not taking her too!


((If this needs to be edited to help with that for any reason, tell meeeee...))

Amari’s eyes narrowed as a small direwolf pup came running out from the foliage. That wasn’t her target. It bounded toward the tree she sat in and sat at the base of the large trunk. The creatures tail wagged expectantly side to side as it looked up at Amari with large, slightly glazed eyes.

Dammit. Not again

The forest animals had a habit of doing this. Especially the younger ones - something about her seeme to attract and sedate them. “Piss off!” Amari hissed, waving off the pup. It paid her anger no heed and instead excitedly barked at her, wagging its tail with more vigor.

Then, another rustle...Amari’s tri coloured eyes shot up to the bush, not far behind the pup stumbled a young boy. Blonde hair. About 7 years old. Wearing ragged clothes. He fit the description that her Master had given her. Anari’s lips twisted up into a smirk. What gratuitous luck and happenstance.

Perfect.

Amari watched as he stumbled forward and approached the pup. Foolish child. He wandered straight into the proverbial spider’s web. “Sorry kid.” She muttered as she pushed herself off the tree branch. With dagger extended she fell atop the boy. Driving the iron blade deep into his shoulder. Blood spilled forth, oozing slowly, and as black as a thick oil. “What the fuck?”

The kid she was chasing was meant to be a human. Last she checked, people didn’t bleed fucking black. She glanced over her hands. The liquid was cold, and felt like she had shoved her hands in a pile of snow.

A Shrill scream erupted the quiet sanctuary of the forest; but it did not belong to the writhing form beneath her. Amari glanced up to see another blonde kid. The one who was her actual target. “Shit…”

Without a second thought to the poor soul beneath her she shoved off and lunged at the other kid. Her hand wrapped around his ankle and he gave a shrill cry, apologising over and over.

“Please! Please! I’m sorry! I won’t tell anyone I promise!”

Amari dragged him closer as he tried to kick her away. The pain was nothing. His tiny form barely leaving bruises against her arm. “Sorry kid.” She muttered as she pressed her weight against him. “Wrong place. Wrong time.” He looked up at her with pitiful big blue eyes as his struggles died down. Instead, tiny hands wrapped around her wrist. His lower lip trembled as he sniffled another “Please...please miss…”

Amari frowned as her grip loosened. Her heart ached. She didn’t like doing this. She didn’t enjoy it, and unlike her Master - she wasn’t emotionally stunted. Amari softly cupped one of his cheeks in her hand, wiping away his tears. “Unfortunately, I cannot erase what you know from your mind - so I must erase you - I’m sorry.” Her voice held a sincerity and warmth that was absent moments ago. “Please….please...pl-” His begging was cut short. His eyes widened as his body jostled. The child coughed up blood, and it splattered across Amari’s face. His eyes dulled and his hands fell free of her wrist. “Sorry.” Amari let go of the second dagger, which was planted firmly in his chest. This time, she hadn’t missed. Amari closed his dead, glazed eyes and stood up. Turning now to see the writhing kid she had injured before.

His black blood had spilled out onto the snow around him, and it almost seemed that a flurry of snowflakes surrounded him. She tilted her head to the side, curious. She vaguely remembered someone who did that. The direwolf pup was now by his side, whinning.

“I’m on it…” Amari muttered to the dog.

She approached the boy, her voice dejected. “Tis’ werid how you didn’t make a sound. I stabbed you square in the…...should...er…” She trailed off as she fell to her knees in the snow. Inspecting his wound. It didn’t just bleed black - the skin surrounding the wound was sizzling, an allergic reaction. Another odd coincidence. Amari glanced over the boy. Come to think of it….he looked….oddly familiar.

“Shit…”

Realisation struck her.

“Shit….Shit..”

She ripped out the dagger and pressed her hands firmly against his wound. He writhed and tried to claw at her.

“Hold still, Fenn.”

The Fae stilled. His breath stuck in his chest as he questioned Amari. She briefly wondered if he recognised her. Their last parting hadn’t been on the best of terms. One would call it bittersweet.

A soft glow surrounded his wounds, and seeped deep within his flesh - quickly repairing the damage she had done. Amari hissed, as her own shoulder began to ache. The wound closed, and soon the skin began to crack - as her soul magic began to heal his allergic reaction to the iron.

“Eye for an eye, eh?” She joked as her arm ached, her left shoulder twitching with the same pain he would have been feeling only moments ago. Once healed, Amari puled away. Rising a hand to grasp her own shoulder, gingerly rubbing it.

Amari stood. “Wrong target. Don’t take it personally.”

There was a slight jingle as Fenn slowly sat up. Amari's eyes....once green flecked with a briliant gold - now marred with red shards stared at the locket he wore around his neck. "heh..." She shook her head, reaching out toward him. Fenn flinched and took a few steps back.

Amari ignored his protests, wrapping her arms around his tiny form and pulling him into herself. Her arms linked behind his back in a warm embrace. Her warmth leaked into his tiny frame, just as his cold touch leaked into hers.

A bittersweet reunion indeed.

((Sorry so late!))


Keeping up with the great wolf as she hurtled through the forest was a bit of a chore. No matter how nimble the little Fae was, he was no match for the muscled beast that was Daugi. He burst forth from the undergrowth and bent over, hastily catching his breath before staggering toward his wayward mount.

The next thing Fenn knew, someone was upon him.

An attacker clothed in black dropped in from above, pinning him to the ground, squeezing out what little breath remained in his lungs. Steel flashed in the sunlight, and so did his assailant’s coppery red hair.

Fenn heaved out a voiceless scream as the knife bit into the flesh of his shoulder, cold steel burning hot on his skin. The woman stopped suddenly upon seeing the black ooze that spurted from his shoulder and dripping from her hands and weapon. “The fuck?” A real, concrete yell echoed the one Fenn couldn't make - the Fae twisted to see a blonde boy with a striking similarity to himself standing several yards away.

It was then that he understood that he had not been the intended target of this assault. The woman let go of Fenn with a second thought and charged at the other kid. His hands shook as he made to staunch the sticky flow of blood from his shoulder. It was the only liquid his touch didn't freeze.

The shrill begging and pleading of the other child echoed around in Fenn's head. He didn't know this kid, or what he had done, but he knew that there would be no mercy for the other boy. Even with the Fae’s slender ears pressing themselves flat to his head, the screeching would not be muffled. “Please! Please! I’m sorry! I won’t tell anyone I promise!”

His cries fell on deaf ears. Though the woman’s worded reply was warm, her actions were cold and unforgiving.

Fenn's breath quickened and puffed in the winter air. There was nothing more he could do but close his eyes and turn away. He didn't watch the boy die, this other child that looked so much like him. That could have been him. Scared snowflakes flurried into existence around him, their quiet fall mirroring his abject shock.

Daugi paced around Fenn, making soft sounds that could easily be mistaken for a human sob. Her hot nose nuzzled his cheeks as if her touch would make him stop tearing up and clutching his hands to his ears in horror. Whatever spell that woman had put the wolf under still seemed to affect her. Another hoarse whine escape from Daugi as she saw the woman approach. Her cries were laced with concern for Fenn, and yet had no malice for the person who had attacked her buddy.
On the other hand, Fenn's glassy green gaze held a shimmering heat, a muted malice. He did not take kindly to being stabbed by surprise.

“I’m on it…” the woman muttered, addressing the hefty direwolf pup rather than the boy she had hurt. She crouched down beside him and the snow crunched under her weight. “Tis’ weird how you didn’t make a sound. I stabbed you square in the… should… er…”

Her voice faded out as she pulled his hands, cloak and shirt away from the wound and considered the burns. At the same time, Fenn was getting a very good look at her eyes, which were wide with surprise. Wide and green, shattered with flecks of red and gold.

“Shit…” she breathed, looking at him with familiarity.

Realization struck Fenn. Even with the violent smatterings of red, he knew those eyes.

“Shit… Shit…”

YOU WERE DEAD, Fenn yelled in his head, throwing his hands up in surprise. The shock in his expression - gaping mouth, unsteady gaze - more than made up for his tied tongue. Was he supposed to be happy to see Amari again? He liked finding old friends, but… well… survival instincts. This Amari wasn't like his from years ago. This one could kill.

And could rip a dagger out of his shoulder like it was nothing. Own.

Pain! Fenn flailed and squirmed as Amari steadied him and pressed her hands to his shoulder. He could feel the brightness of magic under her skin, but it didn't comfort him. Unthinkingly, the boy lashed out with clawed hands, his chewed-up fingernails barely missing Amari’s cheek.

“Hold still, Fenn,” she said, continuing to pin him down with far more ease than he would have liked.

Realizing what she was doing, Fenn stopped jerking around and stared at the glowing hand around his shoulder. A hiss of pain escaped Amari’s lips as she worked her spell. His wound knitted shut and his burns cracked over to be replaced by fresh pale skin. Once it was over, Fenn gave her a silently suspicious stare and backed up into Daugi’s side. The wolf wuffed and nuzzled his cheek, evidently satisfied with his care.

Despite the situation and the boy’s evident distrust, Amari found it within herself to joke. “Eye for an eye, eh?” she teased him as she carefully rubbed her shoulder to dispel the echos of Fenn's pain. She took to her feet. “Wrong target. Don’t take it personally.”

It seemed to him that “don't take it personally” was a bit lighthearted for a stabbing, even if she did heal him. Fenn snorted skeptically and sat up. The locket she gave him all those years ago jangled as he did so, a faint green light emitting from inside. It caused Amari to smile and shake her head. When she reached for him, he jerked to his feet and stumbled back a bit, hugging his arms around his chest as he bumped into Daugi again.
Before he knew it, Amari had grabbed his wrist and pulled him back to smother him in a warm embrace. He sighed and resigned himself to allowing this touch. This was all rather disorienting, and he felt uncomfortable in returning the gesture. Daugi joined in, nuzzling Fenn and leaning against his back.

They held it a moment before Fenn took a deep breath and broke her grasp. There was a pensive frown on his face.

She seemed disappointed by this, which made the red in her eyes glitter. “Aren't you happy to see me?”

Uncertain of his answer, the bewildered Fae gave a noncommittal shrug and smoothed out the tatters of his cloak, his gaze drawn to the dead body but a few yards away. Blood leeched out of the corpse, turning the ground around him to a red slush. Many questions swirled in Fenn’s mind like the snowflakes around him.
Fenn smoothed out the snow in front of him with a sweep of his foot and began scrawling with one toe.

YOU ARE VERY DIFFERENT. I AM NOT.
WHY IS THAT BOY DEAD, HOW ARE YOU NOT, AND WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO YOU.

ALSO, WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY DOG. THATS IMPORTANT TOO.

“I fucking hate Salvar.”

The words left Vincent’s mouth in a fog, filling the air as he trudged through the snow, his boots crunching with every step. He paused to wipe a trail of snot from his nose and to let out a small cough before looking around for a moment. Trees and snow filled his vision as far as he could see, with the occasional icicle hanging precariously from a branch, ready to fall and spear him if he was unawares. He sniffed, sucking up some snot back into his nose before continuing on.

The scholar was clad in a black fluffy coat made of the warmest grizzly pelt he could find, and the biggest, dumbest fluffy hat money could buy. A warm, fuzzy wool scarf was gingerly draped around his neck. He hated the cold and would do anything to avoid it, however he had an issue. He’d had a dream that the little ice child he’d met with John was in some grave sort of danger, and thus needed rescuing because Vincent rarely had dreams that weren’t prophetic in some way. He’d long since mastered the art of telling which ones were fake; they usually involved multiple women and a scarcity of clothing. Grumbling the scholar continued on until he heard a scream.

“PleasePlease! Please! I’m sorry! I won’t tell anyone I promise!”! Please! I’m sorry! I won’t tell anyone I promise!”

Swearing, Vincent rushed forward only to find he was too late. By the time he’d arrived a small child lied dead at his feet, and the small boy he was here to save was in the clutches of some strange woman who was covered in both red and black blood. Without thinking he charged forward, roaring as each long stride closed the gap in a matter of seconds. With one powerful motion, the scholar seized the woman by the throat with his right hand and scooped her off her feet with all the ease a gorilla might heft a small child about, and slammed her into a nearby tree with brutally unnecessary force. He took a moment to regain his composure, his hand wrapped around her throat like a steel vice, but just loose enough for her to wheeze in a breath to respond to him.

“You better have one hell of an explanation for this scene right here…” he growled between gritted teeth. “Or you’re going to have one hell of a bad fucking time.”

He turned back to Fenn and shot the young man an uneasy smile. "Stay strong 'lil dude, I'll be right there to help you."

The warm embrace was cut far shorter than Amari would have liked. In those brief moments she had been overwhelmed with a sense of relief. Seeing Fenn alive and well. It was not often she saw someone from her past and had amicable feelings toward them. She was not only relieved but proud of the Fae. He really had come into his own. Amari’s grip tightened around him, and she buried her face into the crook of his small neck. Relishing in the cold frost that tickled her skin. It meant he was alive and well.


Fenn pulled away, and Amari felt a pang of ache and regret. “Aren't you happy to see me?” She asked, disappointment evident in her voice. She watched as Fenn smoothed himself down and gave a shrug. His pet wolf trotted up to her and licked her face. Amari gave a small smirk and gave the pristine direwolf pup a soft pat on the head. The action caused Fenn’s eyes to narrow. Amari, ever the ‘observant’, didn’t catch the Fae’s ire.

Amari watched as Fenn leaned down and started to write in the sleet of snow. She was thankful that Shinsou had taught her to read a little better. Even if he did want her head now. Amari was even more thankful at the simplicity of Fenn’s written word. Amari shuffled close to Fenn, and much to his dislike she forced her arms around his shoulders. Leaning over him to read what he had written.

“I am different.” She mused. “The Amari you knew died long ago. Literally.” She offered him a wry smile, tapping his temple with a single index finger. “I’d show you, but I’d rather spare you the pain of what I went through.” Amari tried to answer his questions in as concise manner as possible. “That boy is dead because he broke into my Master’s homestead- and stole glances are very important information.”

His last words confused her. “Eh?” She glanced over at the pup, who had wrenched itself in the small gap between Fenn and herself, panting happily. “That, I’m not sure of - animals sort of do that around me. I suppose I owe you a long explana-”

Before she could finish she felt strong hands clasp over her throat. “What the fu-” they were cut short as the grip tightened. Amari felt the whoosh of the cold Salvar wind bite against her cheeks before she was slammed hard against the tree. Amari’s body doubled over in his vice like grip. He had knocked the air out of her.

The woman wheezed, trembling hands reaching up to grip the man who had stampeded in, ruining her reunion with Fenn. (Although, let’s be honest - she had already ruined it by straight up murdering a kid)

“Fenn…” She breathed, trying to regain her breath. “Run.” She wasn’t about to let the fae be subjected to whatever the hell this man was after.

Her tri-coloured eyes, in their emerald and golden glory spotted by shards of crimson stared down the man who dared assault her. Who dared touch her without her permission.

He stood at least six feet tall. Wisps of sandy coloured hair protruded from a ridiculous looking hat. His sapphire eyes glinting with disgust and hatred. Amari scoffed. “Think yer pet is on your head.” She mused. He gripped tighter. Spitting threats toward her.

“Fuck you.” She spat. Unafraid. Her grip on his hands tightened and red light began to bubble up from her hands, small burns erupted upon his skin as his flesh began to sizzle beneath her grip. Her hands glowed an angry red; signs of her corrupted soul magic. “How about I drag you down to hell with me?” She hissed as his skin began to peel away. Blisters formed and burst. Puss leaked over her hands and the irate smell of burning flesh tickled her nostrils. Still she did not stop. She’d burn his hands right off if he didn’t let go soon.

The man barely flinched at her assault and Amari had to admit a mild sensation of respect for the lad.

He turned his head over his shoulder to glance at Fenn. That was a mistake. Amari swung her legs up. Using the trunk of the tree as a brace she pushed with all her might against his chest with her feet and used them to try to pry his hands away from her neck.

He wasn’t budging.

“The fuck.” She breathed through clenched teeth. “Yer hidin’ a fuckin’ tank under those clothes?”

His attention was still on Fenn and that only infuriated Amari more; she had already hurt the Fae once today, she wasn’t going to let some stranger sink his fingers into him.

“If you so much as lay a fuckin’ FINGER on that Fae I will rip your fuckin’ EYES out with my teeth!”

This was simultaneously the most terrible and most hilarious misunderstanding that Fenn had ever seen.

Initially, he was blown back by the sudden explosion of movement from the bracken. One moment, he was listening warily to Amari as she explained herself to him. The next, someone had lunged forward and grabbed her, nearly knocking Fenn down as they forced the she-assassin up against a nearby tree. WHAT NOW?!

Daugi staunchly shifted her muscled mass between Fenn and the skirmish. He peered fearfully over her, his hands clasped tightly together and ready to fling some fucking ice.

His hands dropped to his side as soon as he understood who it was that had so suddenly assailed Amari. The tall guy was pretty easy to identify, just by his startling blue eyes. Vincent! A grin quivered on his face before falling flat. What was Vince doing here? If it weren't for the precarious struggle between him and Amari, Fenn would've been rather pleased to see his friend (and he would have laughed that the ridiculous choice of attire). As it was, he was actually stricken with fright for both of them, fearing they might harm each other. Well, more than they already had.

One friend, begging him to run, pinned up against a tree by her neck. The other friend held her down, telling him to “hang on”. Oh, and there was still that dead body nearby. There was going to be a lot to explain to Vincent.

This day was just getting more messed-up by the minute, wasn't it.

A sharp snap of Daugi’s jaws brought Fenn back into the present. Unlike Amari, Vince had no magic spell around him to convince the direwolf that he meant her little buddy no harm. Worse, she had taken a certain shine to the woman - and she wasn't pleased to see Amari get attacked. Fenn's cheeks puffed out in annoyance. He knew it wasn't exactly Daugi’s fault, but where was that protective fervor when he was getting stabbed? The wolf gave Vincent a warning bark and arched her back, yellowing teeth bared at him, her skeletal face contorted in anger. It was only a tug on her scruff and gentle shoulder pat from Fenn that caused her to close her mouth and stand down. It didn't stop her from shooting Vince a fierce look though.

“If you so much as lay a fuckin’ FINGER on that Fae I will rip your fuckin’ EYES out with my teeth!” Amari snarled out at Vincent, struggling mightily against his iron grip. There were burns on his hands now. Ouch.

Fenn winced and dug into one of the front pockets of his satchel, pulling a little brass whistle out of it. It was time to break this up. The sound that blasted out of the whistle when he blew into it was high and shrill, startling birds from their perches and scattering small rodents into the snow. Daugi yipped and butted her head into Fenn’s as if to ask him to stop making the noise.
In short, it was loud an obnoxious.

As soon as he had the two’s attention, Fenn narrowed his eyes and pointed sternly between Vince and his hands wrapped around Amari’s neck. Drop her. Next, he gestured pointedly between Amari and Vince’s burns. Heal him. Finally, the boy gave them a somewhat exhasperated look and made a flapping, jabbering motion with his fingers, opening them and closing them as if his hand was speaking.

Talk this the fuck out.

As he gestured, his hands shook. People didn't usually hear out little kids, but both Vince and Amari knew well enough that he wasn't exactly the average child. Hopefully, they'd understand, or at least try to.


((HUNDREDTH POOOOOOST!))

The woman struggled to break free, and for a moment a hound seemed like it was about to chomp onto Vince’s ankle, but before that happened Fenn intervened. The young boy brought the dog to heel and then proceeded to do what Vince could only describe as the funky chicken.

Wait, what?

With his free hand, Vince reached to his scarf and tapped a silver medallion that was under it, activating it. With his mind he reached to the fae and bridged a connection between the two. In his mind he simply muttered one thought.

“You’re gonna need to repeat that, I didn’t understand a word you just tried to communicate.”

With that his attention was on the woman pinned by his other hand. She seemed to have some sort of acid magic, but it couldn’t eat away at him faster than he could regenerate. Sparks of blue danced along his injured skin, repairing the flesh and soothing the pain. Annoyed, Vincent lifted her from the tree and slammed her back down against the trunk, holding back so he wouldn’t break her. She’d ruined his gloves, those had been expensive

“I didn’t hear an answer there. Why the fuck did you attack my friend over there, and why is there a dead little boy just a few feet away from us.” He glared daggers at the woman as he spoke, his words seeping from his lips in a cloud of fog, as if he was some terrible dragon angered by the mere sight of someone so vile. He debated clutching his fist shut, to crush the woman’s esophagus, but that wouldn’t answer anything. He needed to calm down, but he could already see visions of that dead little boy coming to haunt him in his dreams. If only he had been faster, he could have stopped her.

Now he needed answers.

“You have until the count of ten…” he growled.

“Or I’ll break you.”

Again, it seemed that her assailant was distracted by Fenn. Rather, she was too. After a sharp, shrill blow of the Fae's whistle. Fenn flailed around wildly using animated gestures. Amari understood, having dealt with Fenn before. He wanted the man to let go of her, and he wanted her to heal the attackers hands.

Fat chance She thought to herself, her eyes glancing to his hands, it looked like she didn't need to. He could damn well heal himself.

Amari was willing to listen to the man, and even go as far as healing him - but that was a moot point. If he could heal himself, there was no need for her to do so. In fact, there was no real need for her to continue to injure him. Her grip around the man's hands loosened.

"Fenn - I- ARghh.."

The man slammed her back down against the tree, Amari groaned. She was used to pain. She was used to this pain. She couldn't count how many times she had been held gasping for air, feet dangling and lungs burning. Lichensith Ulroke had been cruel and absolute in his reign and mental domination of her. So this - this was nothing she couldn't handle. Still. it infuriated her. It frustrated the hell out of her. It showed just how physically weak she was. Amari swore under her breath and instead of burning him, she drew her hand back and slapped him hard across his face, knocking off his ridiculous hat. A part of her expected it to come to life and run off. It was that stupid.

"My, is this how you court all the ladies?" Amari joked with a sneer.

The man spat another demand from her, and she snapped back. "YOUR Friend?" Amari snapped. "I was fuckin' healing him you idiot. Why the HELL would I want to hurt him after everything I did to help him escape you fuckin' dense fucker!"

Amari conveniently left out that she had indeed stabbed him. It was a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time; but Amari corrected her error. If she could turn back time and not have hurt Fenn at all, she would have. She already felt like shit for hurting him, even more so for having to kill the snooping brat. It didn't help that she was now hanging helpless by her throat.

"The kid fucked over my Master- do you think I like doing that shit?" Amari shook her head, her eyes angry, wild. Tears spotted her eyes.

"Now how about you let me the fuck go." Her hands found their way to his arms and she gripped them tightly. "You can heal burns but I wonder if you can heal toxins just as quickly?"

Her hands began to glow the same angry red- another tell of her Ar-Tuel magic. However, unlike her regular magic this was corrupted. Angry. The polar opposite of what her soul represented. More thin black cracks erupted over her skin.

Her anger seemed to radiate around her, and manifest itself in a way that she didn't realise, or was aware that was possible. The tree she had been slammed against began to ache and crack. Rot began to appear on its trunk. It's branches creaked and leaves began to brown, shrivel and fall around them. The direwolf pup seemed to be adversely affected too - she whined and backed away from the confrontation.

Amari lowered her head, her chest hurt - and it wasn't from the lack of oxygen. "Let. Me. Go." She hissed in a low voice before cracking a forced laugh. Her eyes raising to meet his again. "Or break me." She challenged in a dark tone. "Since you're oh so capable of doing so."

This. This was not how Fenn had hoped this would go.

All the back and forth of spitting anger at each other was making the boy's head spin. For a good chunk of time, he stood by in twitchy, disheartened paralyzation. Amari at least might have understood his gestures, but it was hard to tell, because Vincent certainly hadn't. This was one of those moments where he would have traded his left arm for some decent vocal cords.

<You’re gonna need to repeat that, I didn’t understand a word you just tried to communicate.>

Oh. Fenn snapped to attention, startled by the voice in his ear. In his mind? It sounded a little off. He involuntarily reached a hand to his forehead; Vincent had spoken to him without even speaking.
Could he do so in turn?

Before he tested this thought out, something a bit more frightening jolted his gaze back to the conflict. Amari was not taking being strangled well, and Fenn damn well could not blame her. His eyes bugged out as he saw what was happening around her. Ambient unearthly magic seeped into the air, and it registered as a hot breath against Fenn's skin. She knows about her inner brightness now, he realized. His heart sank as he watched the ambient magic wreak its havoc. The tree behind her withered and weakened with oozing rot and age. A sickly bird a few branches away wheezed a final note and dropped dead to the ground.

It was as if the land itself was responding to her anger.

Daugi suddenly whined and staggered in the opposite direction from Amari, looking stricken as she almost knocked Fenn over. Her head shook back and forth as if she was trying to dislodge something unpleasant from her. Anger curled the Fae’s fingers into fists as he saw her howl and flop to the ground, her paws over her nose as she squeezed her eyes shut against… whatever it was that Amari was doing.

He kneeled to give his friend a reassuring pat. To his dismay, she only gave a quivering yip in return.

All of the nerve-grating things Fenn had suffered in the last week involuntarily ticked through his thoughts. Everything ranging from accidentally killing a guy to traveling for days on end without a decent meal or rest. The Fae was not having a good day, and all of these things had compounded to the point of near temper-tantrum. His gaze snapped back to the calamity that was Amari and Vincent.

Fenn gave Daugi a quick hug and took to his feet. An oddly determined glint was in his eyes. Without any warning, he barreled over to Amari and Vincent, smacking into the tall man by accident as he squeezed himself between them. His cheeks were grey with simmering anger and spiked patterns of frost were woven into his clothes. He placed his hands on Vince’s chest and tugged at his coat pleadingly, insistently. If Vince so chose, he could knock away the fragile Fae with a swipe of his hand; Fenn's grip was nothing impressive, even if it was pressing.

<Vince!> He didn’t know if Vincent could hear his thoughts back, but it was worth a shot. His mental voice sounded more akin to a young adult than a child. <Don’t kill her! She’s an old friend and I don’t know what’s going on with her. Something went wrong to her. Lots of things, knowing her luck.

Please, hear her out.>