Ice To See You, Stone Cold Killer: Rated MA

[Mari]

Closed to Fennwenn and Cards_Of_Fate
--------------------------------------------


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.

[FennWenn]

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...))

[Mari]

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.

[FennWenn]

((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.

[Cards of Fate]

“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."

[Mari]

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!”

[FennWenn]

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!))

[Cards of Fate]

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.”

[Mari]

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."

[FennWenn]

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.>

[Cards of Fate]

The words of the small child calmed Vince for a moment. It appeared he had perhaps walked in on a misunderstanding. Perhaps. Growling, Vince released his grip on the woman’s windpipe and watched as she sank to the ground. He snarled as his icy blue eyes stared down at her. He clutched his now free hand tightly, as if it was still around her throat, crushing her windpipe. He turned to the “young” boy beside him and shot him a nervous smile.

<My bad lil buddy> he muttered mentally as he lowered himself into a crouch. He kept his ears perked, waiting for the woman behind him to try to make a move. <Are you alright?> he asked patting the apparent child down looking for any injuries. <You’re covered in your own blood, what happened?>

His gaze went from the Fenn to the dead boy a matter of feet from them. <Did you know him? Or was he just an accident?> The wind howled, and for a moment the scholar shivered. It was too fucking cold. He rose to his feet and with a snap of his fingers he had his titanium blade, forged with John via arcane shenanigans. The ultimate blade of the Emperor crackled with ambient energy as he turned to Amari.

“That's all you have? What fresh hell could that poor child have wreaked on your master to warrant his death?" He spat. He stomped up to the woman, snarling as he spoke, each word spat with more venom than the last. "He was a fucking child!" The Emperor roared, "The poor thing wasn't even strong enough to fight back! To hurt anyone! And yet here he lays, slaughtered like lamb to a cruel indifferent god." He towered over the woman, malice filling every fiber of his being. "You better tell me who the fuck you work for."

[Mari]

She felt a tiny hand push on her abdomen. Fenn was trying to pull them apart. A part of Amari was thankful for the Fae kid...man...young adult? For his intervening finally caused the angry man to let go of her throat. Amari gasped, sliding down the tree trunk. Swallowing gulps of air.

Her eyes tri-coloured eyes bore into the man with a furious hatred. Her teeth grit as she seethed. Her throat began to show the discolouration of bruising, and it ached. Amari wanted to rub the soreness away, but she dare not let him get the satisfaction of seeing that. She wanted to rip his own throat clean off his poorly clothed form. She wanted to stain the snow with his stupid pompous blood.

He turned his back on her, it would have been the perfect time to attack him - she would have. If it weren’t for Fenn. Her boiling eyes glanced toward him, then back to the stranger. Fenn knew him, Fenn was close with him - that alone meant that he was off limits. “Fuckin’ wanker.” She muttered.

The man rose to his feet, and with a snap of his fingers he held a blade in his hand. The ability to summon weapons, it reminded her of her Master, and it did not surprise her to see another capable of doing so. He spat more threats toward her.

The snow began to melt underneath her, making way for wilting grass. The tree buckled and a branch fell, rotted and bone dry. Amari took no notice of this. She took no notice of the thick feeling of decay and death that began to cling to her form. The hairline cracks on her skin ruptured, creating more cracks that travelled up her neck and face.

“You think I wanted to do that?” She seethed.

“You think I take some sort of sick joy from taking the life of a fuckin’ innocent child?” She spat, pushing herself up off the floor. “You think I’m going to fuckin’ walk away from this narry a care in the fuckin’ world!?” She stepped closer. She wasn’t afraid of him, or his sword. “Why the fuck are you getting yourself involved in other peoples fuckin’ business? I work for Master Ulroke, as his right goddamn hand - and be damned if I’m going to let some stranger with a strangling fetish and a big ass sword deter me from my work!” She shoved him unceremoniously aside.

“Now if you don’t mind - I got a fuckin’ kid to bury.”

Amari couldn’t care a less if he straight up stabbed her at that point, it’d just prove that he was nothing more than some overly zealous self righteous idiot shoving his strong ass hands where they didn’t belong. Amari rubbed her neck subconsciously. The hell did he get that kind of strength

She stopped in her tracks when she saw the bird from earlier. “Altiss?” She felt a sudden pang of hurt. Surely he wasn’t dead. Surely...he was following her...he was safe in the trees. How could he -

She gave him a small nudge with her boot. The bird lifelessly shifted. “ALTISS?” She collapsed to her knees in the snow and gently stroked the top of his head. “C’mon buddy. Wake up..” She leaned over him, “Please, wake up…”

In those desperate moments, she had forgotten everything around her. Fenn, the dead child she was prepared to bury, the crazy blonde man and his sword. The decay and rot. It was all irrelevant. Amari’s birds were the closest thing she had to a best friend. She whispered them secrets, she cared for them. They brought her comfort...and now one of them lay at her feet. Dead. “I’ll heal you…” She whispered, pressing her hands to it’s tiny feathered chest. “I’ll heal you and it will all be ok...just you see. You’ll be eating wild rabbit again in no time.”

She didn’t see Fenn approach her from behind.

Her hands shook as a golden glow burst forth from her hands, it engulfed the Raven. Amari could heal burns, cuts, broken bones. She could even heal tears in a broken soul - but she could not revive the dead. “Altiss…” Her shaken voice dropped into a whisper. Salty tears stung the corner of her eyes.

Fenn placed a small hand on her shoulder and it snapped her back to Reality. “You…” she hissed, standing and pivoting on her heel. “YOU Did this!” Amari spat, venomous and angry toward the man. “I’ll kill you!”

Amari took a step forward, ready to rush him, ready to rip him apart - but a small tug on her pants stopped her. “WHAT?” She snapped at Fenn, who had a determined look on his features. He slowly shook his head, pointing to the bird then to Amari.

“Are you saying I did this? The fuck is wrong wi-”

Fenn interrupted, not by sound - but by his actions. He glared at her, tugging harder on her pants as he pointed to the tree she was leaning against. Rotted and falling apart, the ground she sat on, wilted grass. He shifted his finger toward his pet, the wolf pup who whimpered. Keeping its distance from Amari. Finally he pointed back to the Raven, then to her.


“I….did this…” She said, realisation struck her like a tonne of bricks. “I…” Her face contorted into one of confused heartache. How could she possibly do something like this? This wasn’t right, no...she had the opposite effect on things. Things grew around her, things flourished….they didn’t die.

Fenn slipped a hand into hers and tightly squeezed it. Giant green orbs glancing up at her as if he was saying. ‘It will be ok.’

[FennWenn]

Showing Mari that this destruction around her was her own doing wasn't easy. What turmoil was going through her mind right now was probably akin to what Fenn himself had suffered through a week ago. There was a certain terror to finding out that you were capable of awful - and uncontrollable - things. He stared down at the dead raven she was grieving over, his expression a bit cold and sharp, like an icicle.

This didn't exactly excuse her stabbing him, or that other kid for that matter, but it made Fenn feel a bit sorry for her. He stood by her as she went through a stunned stupor. His hand found hers, and he sat patiently amid the brittled and dying grass as she mentally processed what she had done. Her expression was as shattered as the shards of red piercing her irises. An apologetic half smile was shared over his shoulder with Vincent, the Fae’s pale eyebrows knotted together in worry. At least they weren't trying to kill each other anymore.

For now.

With Amari subdued for the moment and the angry screaming at a (probably brief) halt, he could take a moment to shake off his jitters and explain a little more to Vincent. The telepathy was an interesting phenomena, to be sure. Never before had Fenn been able to simply speak and be heard. There was a newness, a satisfaction to being able to communicate so effortlessly, and it teased itself in the light lilt of his mental voice. Fenn tried not to sound pleased as he discussed the macabre situation at hand, and he resisted the urge to simply keep talking and never shut up again.

Resisted, but only so much. There was just too many things for him to say. His mental voice had a similar choppy cadence to his chickenscratch scrawlings, coming in bubbly bursts of faintly-relevant things and see-sawing between distraught and cheerful in alarming ways.

<I got stabbed by mistake,> he clarified to Vincent, dully fingering the bloodstained tear in the shoulder of his cloak. That would have to be mended later.

<Amari healed me afterward. She was aiming for the other kid, apparently! I feel shitty about that. You know, that he'd dead now. Kind of a shame. But, I don't know who he was. I don't know who this Ulroke she's going on about is either. But from that sour look on your face, I would bet that you do. You look like you’ve been force fed a lemon! Several lemons, maybe. Or a patch of peppers.>

Appraising the man's face, Fenn mentally tsked a few times. He closed his eyes, held out his hands in a "what can you do" pose, and shook his head. <Not a pretty look for you. Oh, and what are you doing in Salvar, anyway?>

Fenn knew his own business in frozen wastes, and it was sitting right in the bottom of his bag, a map far more dangerous than the flash of a knife. But he wasn't sure now was the time to share his goodies. Not when they had all... this to deal with.

[Cards of Fate]

Vince knelt down, noticing how preoccupied the woman seemed to have become over a bird. The whole spectacle was bizarre, how tenderly she cradled the unwitting victim of her rage, almost as if…almost as if it were a child. The irony wasn’t lost on Vincent as he examined the small ice child, his sword still clutched tightly in his hand. He didn’t respond to the child for a moment, his entire face was blank with concentration as he made sure that his frosty friend was completely unharmed.

<I’m here because of you.> he responded looking the small “child” in the eyes. <I had a vision of you being stabbed, and of a small child lying dead in the snow.> He didn’t bother looking back at the dead child, too much time had passed for him to do anything now. <Apparently the two weren’t necessarily linked in the way I thought they were.> The scholar shook his head and sighed. He ruffled the young boys hair and gave him a one handed hug.

<As for Ulroke…> The scholar’s mental voice trailed off as he let a soft growl escape his lips. <Ulroke is nothing but trouble, and if this woman has gotten herself involved with him well…we’re going to have a problem.> Vincent rose to his feet and stretched for a moment before turning his vision to the distressed woman. It was hard to believe she had been able to kill a child so easily, yet a bird seemed to leave her distraught. He snapped and sent his blade back into the ether where it had been stored, and stomped up to the strange assailant as she was busy grieving. In one smooth motion he hefted her from the ground and threw her over his shoulders with practiced ease. The woman yelped and let out a myriad of hisses and growls as she flailed about. Ignoring her protests, Vincent snapped his fingers and suddenly a portal of blue opened up. <Lets go, Fenn.> Vincent urged. <We have some work to do.>

With that the trio crossed the portal and suddenly the world grew warmer. The faint crash of waves filled the air as Vincent stepped onto the sandy beach just on the bay of Beinost. Before them towered a massive mansion made of marble. In the distance several dock workers scrambled to load and unload various crates filled with miscellaneous goods. Growling the scholar trudged through the sand, his boots slipping slightly with each step as the sand settled beneath them.

He didn’t bother to see if the ice child was following behind or not, he was a man on a mission. After a short walk filled with swears and threats from the strange assassin, Vince found himself entering through the back door, a large elegant entryway made of birch wood and clear glass. The scholar stood in what seemed to be a rather elegant kitchen for a moment before a servant scrambled in. HE took one look at the sight and turned slightly pale as Vincent glared at him. “Please bring me some rope, and then fetch my guards please.” Vincent ordered as he plopped Mari on the ground and planted a boot on her back, pinning her to the floor. His back was lined with several cracks and burns from where her poison had tried to break him down. Blue sparks crackled along as he attempted to heal himself.
“That’s one awful magic you seem to have.” The Emperor growled. “It’ll be hell to deal with should you perfect it.” He stretched for a moment, his blistered skin cracking and peeling as he shed his winter gear, baring his torso. “But we’ll deal with that later…first we’re going to have you properly imprisoned and questioned…”

He cracked his neck and chuckled. “But first let’s get some formalities out of the way. By the power vested in me by the country of Raiaera, I, Vincent Cain, am placing you under arrest for the death of a small child and the attack of my friend.”

[Mari]

"The fuck..." Amari muttered as she tried to struggle against the man's grip. He was built like a spindly twig, yet he had the brute brawn of a fucking' raging hormonal bull. He held her effortlessly against the metallic chair as he locked her wrists together in iron cuffs. Amari yanked and pulled, hissing profanity after profanity at him as he wrapped a thick, coarse rope around her waist to the chair, followed by her legs, which were also shackled in iron cuffs for extra precaution. Amari scoffed, she wouldn't be able to get out of these binds, but the fact he was going to such lengths..he was overestimating her.

Amari took a deep breath. "Vincent Cain...." Her words dripped with venom as she elongated each syllable. "Since when the fuck did Raiaera have any say in what goes on in Salvar?" She paused, watching him as he turned his back on her, he started pulling out various pans from the cupboard. "Fuckin' really? Don't ignore me!" She spat. Jerking at the rope again.

Vincent glanced over at her, his sapphire eyes burning with an intense bitterness. "Cooking calms me Miss..." He paused, awaiting her response. Amari offered him a smirk. "Red. The name's Red."

Vincent nodded. "Miss Red. How long have you been a member of the Crimson Hand?"

Amari bitterly laughed, this seemed to catch him off guard. "Member? Gods no." Amari shook her head. He had no clue, he clearly had a distaste for her Masters group, but who didn't? She stopped struggling, it was useless to waste her energy. He seemed preoccupied for now. He lit the stove. Amari briefly wondered if he was going to heat the pans to use as bludgeoning weapons. "Heated blunt weapons?" She inquired, "Oh sweetheart...." She muttered condescendingly. "You're gonna have to up your game if you think that'd get anything from me, you'd have to top flaying me alive." She turned her head away, the last sentence hung on the air with tones of an underlining hatred.

"I'll keep that in mind." He said with a mild tone of humour "If you aren't a member, how long have you been working with Ulroke?" Amari shifted her gaze back to Vincent. Who was now massaging what looked like some sort of ground meat into balls, he'd then flatten each ball into a circular disk. She couldn't help but stare curiously at his actions. what the fuck is he making? "Miss Red?"

Amari blinked, snapping herself back to the situation at hand. That's right, she was tied up. She was now in a completely different fucking region, if she were to assume right - and this choking fetishist lunatic was happily cooking whilst interrogating her. It was bizarre. "Work for? He fuckin' captured me, tortured me, opened my eyes - so to speak. I am his right hand, and I have no qualms in telling you I have been serving him for several months, Vincent of Raiaera." Amari tugged at her binds again, for good measure. She didn't like feeling useless.

There was a small gasp from Fenn, as he sat at the kitchen table. Small legs dangling. He gave Amari a remorseful, pained look. "What?" Amari shot at the Fae, unwittingly using him to vent her frustrations. "You really think I'd escape from those bandits after freeing you? They beat me ruthlessly, on the verge of death for what I did. Because I was naive enough to save you Fenn." Fenn looked distraught, and Amari sighed. "Don't get me wrong, I don't regret it, but life is a bitch Fenn. If it weren't for some playboy, Shinsou, I'd probably be dead. Course - he wanted to kill me too I guess."

Vincent interrupted her tirade, "Sounds like you're a tool to him."

Amari fell silent. She knew his words were true, but they caused that undeniable ache in her chest. The heartache, the pain, the drowning loneliness. "I know." Her reply was unusually quiet. "I know that..." Her response to Vincents words were whispers. "He taught me there is no such thing as choice. Just cause, and effect. I may be nothing more than his tool, his plaything - but at least I know where I stand. No lies. No sugarcoating shit. No false pleasantries. Just cause, and effect."

Vince raised an eyebrow. "He's wrong there." His hands moved far too quickly for either of his "guests" to see. "The world has plans for us, but it is up to us to choose which routes we take in our lives."

Amari shook her head. She didn't believe him. She couldn't. "So the worlds plans is to have my own brother try to turn me into a lifeless sex slave?" She muttered, "To live life in servitude to brutish bandits?" She rose her head to stare at his back, anguished cries laced with a fury fuelled by an unjust past. "To fall in love with some...some..." She shook her head, the thoughts of Shinsou still tore her apart. "Some fuckin' playboy of the Brotherhood? Only to have his own men send me to my death? To have him want my head!? Oh! Maybe ITS the WORLDS PLAN to have a fucking DEMON rearrange my INSIDES! Great fuckin' world plan there!" Her body shook, her bindings rattled and her eyes alight in a furious crimson glow. Her teeth clenched, and she started struggling against her binds again. Rubbing her wrists a raw red.

"That's fucked Vincent."

"Destiny is a bitch Ma'am." The scholar replied as he set several patties of meat to begin cooking. "I've died just about thirty times in the last two years." He reached for his glass of wine and took a sip. "I've had a friend flay my fucking face off with the epitome of anti-magic, I've been impaled several times by several things, and I've seen things that normally stay inside my body on the outside waaay to many times." He took another sip, savoring it. "But it makes you stronger."

Amari considered his words, still absently tugging on the iron chains. "Yeh, strong enough to fuckin' fuck you up when I get out of here..." She mumbled under her breath. The atrocities that he had been though, they didn't bother Amari in the slightest. If anything, he was singing the same tune she was. She'd been impaled, she'd died several times that month. If she tried to date it back any further she'd loose count.

"Sounds like a pissin' contest." Amari said, the snark returning to her voice. "Rather than fuck around why not tell me exactly what you're going to do with me now?"

"I think Im trying to save you." The scholar muttered as he flipped the meat patties. "Last thing we need is another psychopath running around salvar."

Save her? Amari wasn't sure how she felt about that, she shifted uncomfortably in her bindings. Her stomach began to growl as the scent of the cooking meats filled the room. Amari knew she wouldn't be fed. She assumed that his 'cooking' was just a way to lull her into some false sense of security. To tease her with the food, maybe he'd have himself and Fenn eat whatever it was in front of her.

"Save me? You have a funny way of showin' it, trying to break my neck, and trapping me here?" She gestured to the stove with her chin. "Non nonchalantly cooking? The hell?" She scoffed. "I ain't no fuckin' psychopath. I may work for Master Ulroke, but I don't plan on being an emotionless man-child."

[FennWenn]

There were many things distracting Fenn right now, the fact that they were now farther away from his intended destination than ever being the least of them. That Vince had actually had a vision about him of all people was somewhat more… distressing.

Upon his sudden transport to a place that was a little warmer than was comfortable to him, and smelled deeply of salt. Daugi, who had passed through the portal right behind Fenn, wuffed in approval. Beaches, Fenn considered quietly to himself, squishing the sudden sand between his toes with surprise, admiring the odd gritty quality of the stuff. Snow was a very different kind of squishable. A better kind, Fenn decided as the sand started freezing to his skin. There were a lot of tiny shells on this beach, he noticed; if he had the time, he could - and would - spend hours combing through them all to find the most lovely one. Of course, he was not here under fortuitous circumstances. He sighed and looked up from his feet. Upon realization that they had plopped down in front of a great marble mansion, his slackened, awestruck by the opulence.

Vincent was already struggling his way through the back entrance of the mansion. Unsurprisingly, Amari had to be forced along. Whoops! Jolting back reality, the little Fae and his direwolf friend followed after them, coming through the door just in time to watch Vince strip himself of his ridiculous winter trappings. He caught the last sentence of their conversation as he dodged a bewildered servant.

“But first let’s get some formalities out of the way. By the power vested in me by the country of Raiaera, I, Vincent Cain, am placing you under arrest for the death of a small child and the attack of my friend.”

Oh. Fenn stopped short and leaned on doorway, a little weak-kneed and abruptly short of breath. This is probably the first time I’ve witnessed an arrest that wasn’t mine.


~~~

The boy sat quietly on the edge of the kitchen table, his eyes half-closed as watched Vincent work his way through the hamburger-making process, questioning Amari all the while. His mouth would have been watering were it that he had his usual appetite; it was an unusual state of being for him, but he didn’t feel particularly ravenous at the moment. I guess corpses and stabbings can do that to you. Frost prickled around his hands as he drummed them on the wood. In spite of the strange scene in front of him, the mansion’s kitchen was a pleasant place to be. Well-lit, at least. Large window captured the afternoon light and cast it upon the odd trio and the black direwolf who snoozed blissfully beneath the central table.

On one hand, Amari was being arrested. That was probably to be expected when you were caught amid the murdering of a child. On the other hand, maybe Vince would be able to fix her! Fenn quivered with the quiet hope that perhaps his friend would be able to undo whatever had gone so horribly wrong with her.

He sure as hell didn’t know if anyone else could.

Most of Amari and Vince’s conversation went a little over his head. What names were dropped and what organizations were mentioned registered as unfamiliar to him, which didn’t really help with the queasy feeling in his stomach. Ulroke, Crimson Hand, Shinsou… The reminder that Fenn's little world was as small as he was was unnerving, to say the least; he wasn't in the loop about any of these great big things happening around him. That, and their talk about torture and death wigged him out a bit.

The caustic mention of his and Amari’s time with the bandits took the cake. That bit of chatter stuck to him like a raw egg hurled at his face.

Fenn flashed her a pained look as she brought it up, wishing to tell her that he might have come back and tried to help her if he knew she hadn’t died the night he’d left. His fingers hovered over the smooth wood of the table as he considered spelling it out for her. But the tide of their talk had already carried far on, and his hands fell limp at his sides.

"I think I’m trying to save you,” Vincent muttered in Amari’s direction, still attending to the burgers. Their smell was starting to waft around the kitchen. "Last thing we need is another psychopath running around Salvar."

A flat expression rippled over Fenn’s face like a glassy pool and pricked his ears up. Since that warm feeling in his forehead was still there, Fenn knew he could still speak with Vince. His voice came in quick snippets and snatches. <Never had my insides rearranged or torn out,> he said in a quick lull in the talking, his mental voice ringing a bit hollow. <If you’re good enough at running and hiding, you know. It doesn’t happen.>

"Save me? You have a funny way of showin' it, trying to break my neck, and trapping me here? Non nonchalantly cooking? The hell? I ain't no fuckin' psychopath. I may work for Master Ulroke, but I don't plan on being an emotionless man-child."

There was an unmistakable anger smoldering in her eyes. Fenn diverted his own gaze from it.

Little hands, itchy unoccupied hands, danced across the tabletop. They let splotches of frost behind, and Fenn absorbed his twitchy fingers with random doodles of shapeless things. <Don’t be mad at her; she’s hurt. Me and Mari first met about… some years ago,> he mentioned. <I got captured by some bandits who were also holding her. I escaped, she didn’t. Thought she died. Scared that what’s happened to her was worse than death. Not sure how you fix… that.> His hand waved at her, tied to her chair, stewing and smoldering in her own anger.

<It’s possible, right? And you won’t hurt her?>

[Cards of Fate]

Vincent chuckled at the small ice child’s words that seemed to find the perfect time to interrupt his thoughts. <It’s called rehabilitation.> He flipped a patty and watched it sizzle for a moment before cutting into the center to see if it was done. <But I can only help her if she wants me to.> Tiny bubbles of blood sizzled forth from the slice, popping and being replaced instantly. Vince motioned over to Fenn to come over next to him.

<Check this out lil’ dude.> Vince spoke telepathically. <You see how the bubbles coming from this cut are a little red?> He asked turning to the small fae. Fenn hopped up onto a nearby stool and peered at the patties of meat. He squinted for a bit and nodded as he noticed that the bubbles from the center were in fact tinged with traces of red. <That means that the center isn’t cooked yet.> He sliced into another patty and slightly pried the opening open to show the small child that the meat was still slightly pink. <If we were back where I was raised I’d say we could probably eat these, but I don’t trust a lot of the meet in this world, so we’re gonna let this cook a little more.> He handed the spatula to Fenn and smiled. <Keep an eye on those bubbles for me, and when you see the bubbles start getting clearer tell me.>

The scholar pulled away from the stove and went about other prep work. First he retrieved several vegetables from a large metallic box, lined with several enchantments to keep the contents cold and fresh. Quickly, he sliced them up with all the grace and skill of a master chef and set them aside. He then retrieved a tray of buns that had been left to cool on a shelf and neatly sliced them in half horizontally. <Do you remember what this dish is called?> Vince asked looking over his shoulder at the ice child who seemed to be staring intently at the meat, fidgeting slightly as he was growing impatiently.

<You made this when I was at John’s house right?> The youth turned to Vince. <I think you called them Burgs?> Vincent laughed slightly as he finished slicing the buns and turned back to Fenn.

<They’re called Hamburgers,> he communicated leaning over the youth. With one hand he grabbed a nearby plate and with the other he took the spatula back. He expertly transported the three patties he had been cooking onto the plate with minimal drippage. <Thank you for the help buddy.> He set the plate down on the table and fetched the matching jars of condiments from the fridge, setting down a red substance and a yellow substance. <Help yourself, and make a plate for Ms. Moody over there.> Vince commanded as he made a burger for himself. <If you want more I can make some more.>

Satisfied with his work, the scholar took a large bit of the sizzling meat and grunted slightly as warm grease flooded over his tongue, flooding his mouth with flavor. The scholar grinned slightly as he chewed his food before turning back to the woman in chains.

“This is going to be a long process, so allow me to explain how this is going to go down.” He glanced down at his plate, eyeing more of his burger. “You are in an assload of trouble miss. Murder of children does not sit well here, and neither does attacking kids, even if they are your friends.” He drummed his hands on the table. “So if you were going to court for this, you’d be pretty fucked. I, however, am not a man without mercy. Unlike Mister Ulroke, I am not a bloodthirsty asshole who loved to revel in death and torture people. Instead, I offer you an out. An out to A LOT of shit you’re going through.” Vince took another bit of his burger and chewed slowly, giving both of them time to process his words before he spoke again. “You see, I’m about to start a really big project, like massive. Bigger than anything in recent history really, and I’m in need of help.” He paused and took another bite, letting the sweet tangy taste of ketchup mix with the flavor of the meat in his mouth. “So, I’m going to cut you a deal. You can either do community service for your crimes, or I can lock you in a cell and throw away the keys.”

[Mari]

"Oh Vincent, I don't think throwing away the keys is very just." Amari mused. "I don't exactly do community service. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a tad busy. Being at someones beck and call and all that."

Vincent seemed disappointed. "To be entirely honest with you, Miss Red. I'd rather you aid us. Your...talents could be of use. We are to reclaim Raieria from the plague."

Amari blinked. She swore she heard about this, rather - she knew she had heard about this. She was already involved in it. Madison had asked her to join with some research division. Now Vincent was asking her to join his? Amari was beginning to be far more involved in this, more than she would have liked. Still...it may have it's perks. She was already under instruction to keep an eye on Madison.

Amari laughed inwardly. "It's funny..I'm already consigned to the Research division, but I suppose that wouldn't count toward my 'community service' now would it?" IT was a rhetorical question, she gave the man no time to answer. "Fine. I'll play along with your group too, if it helps Madison then I suppose I don't mind."

Vince raised an eyebrow and let out a chuckle. "If you're already working for the research department that's fine. I run the whole damn thing anyways. You can join me on Recovery too."

Amari frowned, "Tch." She didn't realize he was running the entire show, and a part of her wanted to bail out - just to wipe that stupid grin off his face. Offer me an out to all sorts of 'shit' the hell does he think I do? "Fine..." Amari grumbled, clearly not entirely happy with the prospect.

"Excellent." Vince shifted, and undid the binds on her hands. Amari bought them forward, rubbing her wrists and avoiding the temptation to burn his face off. Not that she could right now. He had remarkable regenerative abilities. It was almost inhuman. Course, Amari wasn't entirely human herself. "Yeh...great..." Amari added sarcastically.

As the verbal contract was sealed Fenn slid a plate in front of her. It had an odd circular bun on it. She watched as he placed the meat disk on the bun then drew a happy face with two bright yellow eyes and a big, wide, bright red smile. "That shit looks disgusting..." Amari muttered.

Fenn gave her a disheartened look. "I mean, the colours, not the face Fenn."

She reached out, sliding the plate closer toward her. She was hungry, but she wasn't sure she was hungry enough to eat something so....odd.

[FennWenn]

Squish, sizzle, bubble.

There were lots of ways Fenn got his food; stealing, foraging, buying with stolen and foraged money… Cooking was not one of those things. His frosty fingers had somehow managed to burn soup and oatmeal in his previous attempts at making his own meal. But, thankfully, the boy had done a lot better this time under Vince’s guidance. The creation process was actually quite pleasing to him when it went right. He looked proudly down at the shiny platter of burgers set upon the table in front of him, chest chest puffed out with silly pride. As he had worked away at the mouth-watering creations - his appetite was rapidly returning to him - he couldn’t help but overhear about the vast undertaking that was the Raiaerian Restoration.

It seemed familiar to him. Perhaps he had overheard it at some point, or caught wind of a rumor without thinking much of it. Furthermore, it seemed like a sure promise of adventure.

<Can I help with your project?> Fenn piped up amid the conversation as he began building Amari’s burger. A dollop of mustard here, a ska-ploosh of ketchup across there… Perfect! The boy gave his creation a critical eye and grinned down at it before sliding it over to Amari. <I can be helpful.>

Vince rubbed his chin thoughtfully. His sharp blue eyes went to the little Fae a moment, a glint of skepticism in them. <I might be able to find a job for you.>

<Okay!> the boy replied eagerly. <I could work with Amari. Or John! Since he’s your friend, he’s probably helping too, right?>

<I don’t think you’d be suited for the task John’s working on,> Vincent replied quickly. It wasn’t stated outright, but Fenn could faintly detect a distinct “it’s too dangerous for you, smol child” vibe going on here. He puffed out his cheeks in annoyance without commenting on it as he constructed his own messy amalgamation of burgers, condiments, and buns. <We’ll see about placing you with Amari. She’s under Rayleigh, so you should be safe with her.>

<So long as I get to do stuff!> Man, the thought of visiting the plaguelands was exciting. Normally, Fenn put that on his list of "things-to-stay-away-from-because-it-might-kill-me", but for the Restoration...

"That shit looks disgusting..." Amari said, making a slight face at the burger that had been bestowed so proudly before her. Fenn turned his head away in a sullen pout. "I mean, the colors, not the face, Fenn,” she reiterated, cheering him back up with a ghost of a smile as she ruffled his hair, perhaps forgetting a moment that he wasn’t as young as he appeared. Still, he grinned back and allowed the contact; after all, he kind of agreed that Earth condiments were just too brightly-colored to look safe to eat. Despite that, they were delicious, and most of Fenn’s burgers seemed to disappear under waves of the stuff. Mmmmm, mustard.

<Also, would be nice if you could bring me back to Salvar once we’re done here,> Fenn thought at Vince in between bites of juicy, condiment-soaked burger. A whine burst from under the table, and along with it came a slobbery tug at the edge of Fenn's cloak; Daugi was awake. The boy beamed and slipped her a few large hunks of burger. <I had some very important business there!>

What could be more important than a treasure map, after all?

[Cards of Fate]

Vince raised an eyebrow at the proceedings before him. The ice child was feeding his pup under the table, the prisoner was being picky about the food, Vincent was wondering exactly how a not member of the Crimson Hand had somehow pledged her services to the reclamation without him knowing. He wasn’t exactly sure what was going on anymore, but all he knew was that he now needed to be more careful than ever before.

There were dangerous people amongst his midst it would seem.

The thought perturbed him more than it had any right to. This Amari woman didn’t seem like she was too much of a threat, but her boss did. It seemed like her powers were very polarized, something that Ulroke had obviously done to her. He was in the process of trying to break her down, and Vince had to stop him. If he had spies in the reclamation, he would need to root them out. He leaned back in his seat and silently ate his burger, his mind withdrawing to his inner sanctum, growing lost in thought at the events unfolded around him.

He’d assumed people would try to take advantage of this movement, he’d foreseen it, but for the Crimson Hand to make a move? That was a surprise. He thought for a moment of Madison Freebird, whom he had invited a few months ago, and how it was possible that perhaps she had her hands in this pot as well. As if Amari was some sort of point of contention between her and Ulroke perhaps? He shook his head and scowled. He needed a second opinion, someone to talk this over with, but who?

His mind reeled for a moment as he wracked his brain. He couldn’t keep tackling these sorts of problems by himself. He chewed his lips and pondered for a moment before suddenly raising to his feet. “Fenn.” He declared audibly. “I need to go speak with someone, take your time eating. When you’re ready to go back to Salvar let one of the servants know…somehow. They’ll come get me and I’ll open a portal back for you.” He turned to the woman…red, or Amari as it would seem.

“You’re going to be assigned a bunk and be kept under watch. Any attempt to leave will result in you ending up in chains.” He glared for a moment and snapped his fingers, a rough wool shirt snapping into existence over his torso. “If you do somehow manage to get a message back to your master, you let Ulroke know that he might have dominion over the lawless wastes of Salvar, but if he thinks he can act as he pleases without consequences, my sword is more than ready to part his head from his shoulders.” He snarled and turned away. “That’s a promise, not a threat.” He called over his shoulder as he stormed out.

He double tapped the amulet on his neck and opened a line of communication with the ice child. <Fenn, I have a super special reclamation mission for you. Keep an eye on your friend, keep her from doing anything stupid.> He commanded as he stormed out of the manor. <I’ll compensate you in whatever you want, but your friend is in trouble and she needs you.> Every step led to an increase in pace as he stormed down the busy roads of Beinost. He closed the “call” with the ice child with an audible click, letting the child know he was gone. He then tapped his amulet again to open another line of contact.

<Rayleigh, it’s Vince, we need to talk. What is your location?> He furrowed his brow and turned on a dime, heading back towards the docks, towards the furthest lab on the pier.

[Mari]

Vincent’s warning had a finality to them. One that Amari refused to accept. She didn’t like the idea of being trapped here. More so, she didn’t like how her Master might react. “I can’t stay….” She mumbled.

YOU MUST came the scribbled replies from the fae. "That's the thing Fenn." Amari sighed, pulling up her shirt. Fenn seemed panicked that she was undressing. "No, look. See this?" Amari pointed to a small three pronged black star. It sat between her breasts, and looked as though it had been tattooed on.

“This? This acts as a sort of tracking beacon to my Master, if I am gone too long. He’ll get suspicious and come to find me. I’m sure you, and Vincent don’t want the Crimson Hand knowing where his home is. Hell, I don’t even want them knowing where his home is. That’s a whole headache I don’t want to deal with right now.”

Fenn frowned at her star markings and sprawled his hands out over the wooden table, creating a thin sheet of ice. He wrote in it with quick, worried strokes. BEST YOU STAY STILL. MY FRIEND HELP YOU. VINCE SAID TO KEEP YOU SAFE, NOT IN TROUBLE.

Amari rubbed her temples. He didn’t understand, no one seemed to. “I don’t NEED help!” She snapped. She was damn sick and tired of people she met trying to ‘help’ save her from some sort of unknown dire predicament. It was utter bullshit. No one knew the relationship she had with her Master. Granted, he was brutal and cruel - but Amari expected it. Hell she asked for it. “Sorry Fenn…” Amari muttered. “I’m fuckin’ sick of people trying to tell me how to live yanno? I’m comfortable where I am. I’m happy where I am.”

Her statement was met with an understandably skeptical look from Fenn. He wrote another message in the frost. NOT LOOK HAPPY. LOOK ANGRY. Amari read it and her lips rose into an amused smirk. “True that.” Amari wasn’t exactly ‘happy’ but she was content. She had been given safety, food, shelter, warmth - and she genuinely enjoyed her Masters company.

“I may not look it, but I’m content Fenn.” Amari mused, leaning back in her chair. “I don’t like the idea of being stuck here. I’m telling you, it won’t end well. I’m loyal to him…” Her eyes shifted away. “I’d kill for him. Hell, I’d die for him. So I can’t sit idly by when someone threatens him. However, I also would prefer any death, carnage or war kept to a minimum. There is already so much of it in this world, including by my own hand. So I’d rather try to take actions to avoid it - in my own way. To make up for it.”


A pensive look came over Fenn for a moment, and he slumped in his seat, seeming oddly glum. SORRY FOR BEING TRAPPED, BUT NOT MUCH CHOICE IN MATTER. ALSO PREFER UGLY THINGS AT MINIMUM. BUT VINCE SAID YOU STAY. YOU STAY. He wrote the next sentence with renewed vigor, his ears perking up hopefully. MAYBE CAN LET YOU OUT SOMETIMES, IF YOU WITH ME?

Amari grumbled. Fenn wasn’t getting it. “You don’t understand.” She mumbled, trying to control her anger. “To keep the ugly things at minimum, I need to return home. My Master is far, far, far from a decent human being.” Amari paused, unsure if she should share the next tidbit of information with Fenn. She glanced around to ensure they were still alone. “Thing is, for whatever reason - he’s not as bad when I’m around. Maybe I’m just being hopeful - but I’m hoping I can reveal some sort of decency and compassion within him. I can’t do that here.” Her voice shifted to one of genuine concern. “...I promised Madison I’d keep an eye on him...and if I’m with you Fenn - I fear what may happen….I don’t want to see you hurt.”

[FennWenn]

“I don’t want to see you hurt.”

A bit of a twang of sadness went through Fenn at that. Quietly sighing, he wiped away his old words and frosted the table anew. He wasn’t sure he could convince Amari that this was better for her right now, to give her a dose of reality again like he had before with the dead bird. I AM STRONGER THAN BEFORE, he wrote, thought he wasn’t sure if that was really true. TAROT IS STRONG. IF YOUR “MASTER” COME FOR YOU, HE WILL HURT. AND EVEN IF YOU ARE THERE WITH HIM… HAVE THE FEELING THAT HE HURTS OTHERS ANYWAY. AM RIGHT? He quirked up a pale eyebrow at her. PLEASE.

He just wanted her to be safe.

Branded forever in his mind was what her first owner was - and her apparent death at Gabe’s hands had haunted Fenn’s nightmares in the years since it had occurred, alongside Raster’s demise and now that unfortunate merchant. Red blood that stung him with its touch of iron, and the chill of death. It was sobering. Fenn had no trust for those who ruled by fear and threats, which meant he had nothing but anger for Amari’s new “Master”.

She still seemed unconvinced as she read over the childish scrawl. Yet, her reply was soft; at least she was considering his words. “Tarot huh...” A soft sigh fell from her lips. “I don’t think we’ll see eye to eye on this. I’ll stay, but if it’s any more than a few days then I will leave, even if I have to do so kicking and screaming.”

Fenn hopped off of his seat and skipped over to Amari. After an uncertain hesitation, he wrapped his chilly arms around her in a hug of relief. His left hand went back to the table to write again. THANK YOU. WILL BE BACK SOONISH, NO KICKING AND SCREAMING REQUIRED.

She smiled down at him, . “It had better be be ‘soonish’. Don’t leave me here by myself for long, okay?” He answered with a quick nod, beaming broadly back at her. Unlike their first hug today, this one was embraced by both sides and ended a bit reluctantly. Fenn exited the bright kitchen with a cheerful wave back at Amari - and, admittedly, slipping a few leftover burgers into his bag for later. Following right on his heels and slinking unhappily with every click of her nails against the tile was Daugi, who shot Amari a wistful look as they left. The boy gave her a gentle pat on the back. Sorry, girl. We have things to do! That map was nagging, nagging, nagging at him...

They would see Amari again at a later date, and hopefully an imminent one. For even as unfortunate as all this was, it had still been ice to see her once more.

[Rayleigh]

Thread: Ice To See You Stone Cold Killer (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?31579-Ice-To-See-You-Stone-Cold-Killer-Rated-MA)
Type: No Judgment

Congratulations!

Mari receives 880 EXP and 90 GP.
FennWenn receives 705 EXP and 90 GP.
CardsofFate receives 880 EXP and 85 GP.

[Rayleigh]

All rewards have been added!