.::Aero & Apollo::. The Pyro Tyrant

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((BAHAHAHAH I just thought of an awesome twist >D ))

In reply to Ross's questions, Magnolia grimaced. "What's Alder like? Stiff, irrationally strict, a pain in the as-.... He gets on my nerves, to say the least. Not to mention he acts far too... Dominant... For my tastes." She rolled her eyes. "Sure, he's handsome and muscular and all the girls just adore him," she went on in a scathing tone,"But who wants to be married to someone that has the emotional capacity of a bark beetle?" She pouted, kicking at the ground like an upset little girl. She knew she was sounding like a brat, but hey, he had asked! "It's my parents' fault. My dad being the elite leader of the council and all.... He didn't want me marrying just anyone, you know. It had to be someone noble and great and promising to create and raise successful children...." She let herself rant a bit more, since Ross seemed to be a willing listener. She told him of his need to act superior and near obsession with his occupation in the Toroque government....

When she had finally cooled down, she took a breath, contemplating his other question. "Yes, I believe I am around the same age as your female friend. I just came of age a few months ago, and eighteen is the legal age to marry in our culture, though it rarely happens to those other than children of council members. Even so, most choose to wait to an older age, when there is a greater chance to produce healthier offspring." She shook her head, placing a hand on her small waist in an oddly gentle gesture. "It is forbidden to have children before marriage," she said very quietly, quickly removing her hand and placing it on Ross's arm to guide him through the streets. "Any who commit the act of... of sexual intercourse before becoming bonded run the risk of being put to sentence for adultry. Especially a child of the council." She spoke haltingly, as though the subject bothered her. She didn't really seem to notice if the topic bothered Ross or not; she seemed to distracted to notice much of anything. Soon the house came into view, and she paused, turning Ross so she could look him in the eye. "Let me do the talking, alright?" she murmured. "I don't want you to get on Alder's bad side." For a moment her breath caught at the intense color of Ross's eyes, and she forced herself to turn away. She approached the house, not noticing Ravyn a few feet away in her confused state.

Ravyn didn't catch Magnolia before she darted inside, but as Ross passed she grabbed his arm. "Where have you been?!" she asked him, eyes wide. "This man came while you were gone claiming to be Magnolia's betrothed, and we had to cover for you by acting like you running off with other guys' chicks is normal." She wasn't mad at her best friend, but she was a little exasperated that he had disappeared without a word. "What were you guys doing? You've been gone for hours!" For once, she felt like Sparroe, being the one scolding the others and trying to get them to make the right decisions. She didn't like the feeling, and she deflated, letting go of the Avian's arm. "Just.... Next time, let us know, okay? At least then we'd have a proper excuse when fiances come knocking at the door." She cast a curious glance at Magnolia's retreating figure, and she raised an eyebrow at Ross. "You weren't out there getting lucky with a tree chick, were you? You know that's illegal." Of course, breaking the law had never stopped them before, she thought with a smirk.

A sentinel, eh? He sure looked the part. Sparroe nodded understandingly, his stomach churning at the thought of facing the council to talk about the Birch Lady's visions. He still found it hard to believe that he was going to be part of something so..... Big. At the mention of Ravyn, he cast a glance outside, shrugging. "I see no reason why she would be offended by your words. She gets uncomfortable in small spaces, though; I'm sure she just felt that she needed some air. You are rather intimidating, to be honest. She might just be overwhelmed, what with the apocalyptic visions and all...." He trailed off, frowning. Maybe he shouldn't have said that. "I'm sure she'll be fi-" He was interrupted as Magnolia entered the room. "Well, looks like we won't have to send out a search party after all," he said in relief.

Subject: Re: .::Aero & Apollo::. The Pyro Tyrant Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:11 am

It was easy to listen to Magnolia complain about her future husband, the man apparently having many pitfalls to his personality that the girls simply didn't like. It was amusing a bit too, to watch her get so worked up over the issue, her frustration striking him in a rather endearing way. At points her waxing complaints of Alder's personality could almost be mistaken for jealousy, but somehow he knew better, seeing her complaints as just that; complaints. It was a little sad though, to hear that those of the higher echelons in their society married off their children young to "suitable" partners. There wasn't much of a hierarchy back home, the avians being a bit too loose of a community to stand for a stationary government. The fact that she really was very close to Ravyn's age was another slightly disturbing factor. His best friend was hardly the type to settle down and could assume that Magnolia wasn't either. Imagining Ravyn getting married was… well, impossible. She was a bit too spastic for the other boys at home to consider for a wife at this early stage in the game and it would probably remain that way until either someone got up the courage to run with her or else Ravyn calmed down. Neither seemed like an option that would be occurring in the near future.

Though he remained silent throughout her tirade, Ross did take care to watch and listen as Magnolia spoke, drinking in her gestures and facial expressions as she recited the laws about pre-marital children, feeling a pang of guilt for anyone who accidentally got themselves pregnant out of wedlock. Being tried for adultery was… well, a death sentence, usually, or exile, depending on the situation. He thought it was odd that she made the gesture toward her own stomach as she did and made a point to ask her about it later- if there even was a later when such a question would be appropriate to be asking about. Though quickly he found himself looking upon the home that they had been allotted for their stay and bleakly realized that he was still unwashed from not only the journey from their mountain home, but also from the game of tag and tour through the Toroque village. He was more than eager to let Magnolia try and calm things down and simply nodded to her request to stay outside and stay quiet. He wasn't allowed much free space for thinking however, as someone came up and blind-sighted him, grabbing his arm.

At first Ross was afraid that some guard had caught wind of the little escapade in the woods with Magnolia and had come to haul him away to whatever jail they had for people that ran off with other men's future wives. It was an understatement then to say that he was intensely relieved to see that it was only Ravyn and he sighed heavily. "I know Ravyn, I know. He looked around for unfamiliar faces and when he saw none that looked like they were out to get him, he pulled Ravyn closer into a huddle like the good old days when the two put their heads together and conspired to do something stupid. "Believe it or not, she was the one that dragged me off this time." He said in a low voice, his eyes wandering around nervously. Man, he was in trouble and he didn't even know that he had been breaking a rule! "Honestly, she was jus' showin' me around, and yeah, I know it's illegal, but didja know that it can mean death too?" Ross didn't wait for an answer, gesturing widely to convey his own confusion over the situation. "Yeah! Death! If you get caught doin' things outta wedlock, they try you for adultery! Adultry! I really stuck my foot in this time, 'an it wasn't even my fault."

~*¡!¡!¡!¡*~

Understanding dawned on Alder's face when Sparroe explained Ravyn's situation, feeling better now that there was no breach of culture that he had unwittingly stepped into. However, he was confused once more by the admission that he was seen as intimidating. The avian didn't get a further chance to explain, for right then the person that he was about to go looking for burst in the door as was her habit. He turned and looked over the girl for a moment, noting that she was slightly out of breath and wondered where she had run from in order to be in such a state. "Magnolia, where have you been? And where is the third avian? The council is waiting for them to make an appearance."

Guest

((I hope a timeskip and just a tad bit of PP is okay?))

Raven blinked in surprise at Ross's tirade, having meant no harm when she had teased him. "You know I was joking, Rossy," she said quietly, glancing in the window of their temporary abode as though afraid of being overheard. "I really don't mind y'all runnin' off like that, but when this man arrived... Well, you'll know what I mean when you meet him. He's a serious one, he is, an' seems like the no-nonsense type. An' Mags is engaged to him!" The last repeated statement came as a fervent whisper; even though she was sure it was common knowledge in the Toroque city, it seemed like gossip to her, and Ravyn was a sucker when it came to gossip. "I hope she's good at making excuses. We don't want to get on the Council's bad side this early." She was nervous now, but she tried to lighten the mood by punching the Avian lightly on the shoulder. "Hey, there was no harm done, really. It's not like you guys were doing anything. I mighta tagged along to see the city myself, if I hadn't been getting clean." She suddenly wrinkled her nose, looking disdainfully over Ross's appearance. "Speaking of, you should probably wash before we go. We can't appear before them looking like a bunch of ruffians." She gave him one last grin, then quietly entered the house, making a point to skirt around the two Toroque as they spoke. She headed upstairs, not wanting to make the situation worse.

Sparroe nodded to the two Avians as they entered, taking that as his cue to leave as well. "We'll be back down ready to leave in a few," he told Alder, keeping his gaze averted as he nervously scrambled up the stairs after Ravyn.

"Calm down, Alder," Magnolia said, her stare icy with barely contained repulsion. Ever since that fateful night two months ago, she had begun to despise the man. She could still feel his hard, forceful body against hers as he convinced her to go against the law, an act of rebellion she had only agreed upon to rebel against the will of her parents. Of course, if she was careful, they would never know, but the clock was ticking quickly, and she knew that soon she would have to make a decision if she wanted to keep from being exiled, or worse. Again, her hand trailed to her stomach, an involuntary gesture that she had begun making the day she had realized that her monthly bleeding had stopped. She knew it could only mean one thing, and she had kept the secret to herself, too disgusted with herself, and with Alder, to tell him what had been produced from that one moment of rebellion. She dropped her hand, raising her head high in an attempt to meet his tall gaze.

"I was simply doing my duty and providing our visitors with what they wanted," she explained, unblinking. "Ravyn and Sparroe chose to relieve themselves of the grime of their journey, and I could tell Albatross was impatient, so I simply gave him a tour of the city. Is that wrong?" She didn't mention their little game in the woods, or the way she had instantly felt a kind of connection to the Avian. That, he didn't need to know. "I apologize for losing track of the time. I didn't realize how late it was, and I will explain to my father why we are late." She grimaced internally; Hauthorne was not a man that you should keep waiting.

~*~*~*~*~

About ten minutes later, a tall, lanky man appeared at the door, his skin the color of deep mahogany and his short hair cropped short. "The Council awaits," the runner said to Magnolia and Alder, as well as the three Avians, who had just come down once they realized the two Toroque had stopped talking. An awkward silence had been in the air before the man arrived, and both Ravyn and Sparroe were glad for the distraction. "Thank you, tell them we'll be right there," Magnolia replied, waving him off. He nodded and ran off. Magnolia sighed. "Well, here goes nothing. A word of warning: Do not speak unless you are spoken to, or ask questions unless they say you may. The Council is not as threatening as they may appear, but they have little tolerance for rudeness. I will do my best to assist you, but you are the ones being called, and you will be the ones answering their inqueries." With one last nervous flash of movement, she stood, motioning to the door. "After you, Alder." The Avians followed after.

Ravyn had the bad feeling that she would be doing most of the talking. Hopefully Ross would take part as well, but Sparroe was already looking pale, and she hoped he didn't have a nervous fit. He hated speaking in front of people. "It'll be okay," she consoled, rubbing his shoulder comfortingly, even though she could feel her heart beat faster as they approached the monstrous tree. Soon they were inside, and it was just as stunning inside as it was out. The width of the trunk allowed an incredible hollow room to be carved in its center, a single cathedral-like room that was dominated by a long, tall table on the opposide end from which they had entered. Seated there were nine older Toroque, with four on the left, four on the right, and a tall, regal-looking man seated in the center. Ravyn assumed this was Hauthorne. He held an air of dignity that Ravyn had rarely met before, and his steely grey-green eyes seemed to seach their very minds as he gazed down upon them. When they were within speaking distance, Magnolia nodded politely, and Ravyn and Sparroe copied the gesture. "May I present the Lady Ravyn, Master Sparroe, and Master Albatross," Magnolia greeted, motioning to each as they were named.

Hauthorne nodded at the introduction, standing as he replied,"Children of the Sky, I welcome you to our city. Under other circumstances I would have been pleased to have you here, but it appears that the situation is a rather.... Strange one." His voice was deep and melodious, seeming to be filled with ancient wisdom and age. "Let me introduce you to the Council, and then I will ask you to give us your tale." One by one he named off the other Elders, each nodding solemnly as they were called. When he was through, he added,"The Lady Birch will be joining us soon, but first, I want to hear your account of what has transpired over the last few days. Please, tell us what you have gone through to be here before us." He seated himself, his posture rigidly straight, and listened as Ravyn told him all she could remember of their adventure so far. She left out the rhino-tipping part, but otherwise told the entire tale, from meeting the Lady, to her visions, and finally their journey to Clearhaven. "We are still confused and unsure of what to do next," Ravyn ended with, frowning. "We don't know what direction to go from here, and what we are meant to do by these.... These visions. Any thoughts from you would be greatly appreciated." Sparroe simply nodded in agreement, not having said a word through the entire tale.

((Please feel free to play as any of the Council members, even Hauthorne if you would like, and also the Lady Birch :3 Sorry that it's not really a lot to work with. I would have written more, but I'm a bit braindead atm x.x ))

Subject: Re: .::Aero & Apollo::. The Pyro Tyrant Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:40 am

Though it had been only a little under a day since the Lady Birch had parted ways with the wayfaring avian children, she looked upon them with an almost air of curiosity. It was different seeing them here in the light of the forest, she decided with the tinniest of nods to herself. They weren't scared and exhausted anymore, though the trio did perhaps look a bit nervous, especially when confronted by so many solemn faced people of her race. She knew that under the strict masks they wore, all in attendance were as deeply curious about these children as she herself had been. Who are they, what brought them, and why was it they who evoked the prophecy of the White Lady? All questions to be answered in time. Once everyone settled down and respects had been paid, the Lady walked forward into the center of the room, standing directly between Hauthorne and his avian guests. Were it any other person to do such they would have been severely punished to walk forward without being beckoned. But as a lady of the white birch, she had certain rights that transcended mere social stigma.

Metal and ember, smoke assails the sky
Like the ages past, history is thrown awry
Deep within the ember’s flame
Lies the domain of the one at blame

The site of destruction great
The past laid raw before that gate
Tremble, cower, hate and fear
All these and more lay here

The future uncertain, the gore crows cry
White turned red, rivers run dry
Those that deny time’s steady turn
A new order shall they burn

Ones loved and lost flee the realm
While those who are strong stay the helm
Face the ember that turns this tale
Then all will see whose moral will fail

"The prophecy made so long ago has been born anew. When these here Children of the Sky arrived in my forest, they evoked these words from my memory. Good people of the Toroque, Children of the Trees and of the Earth, there are whispers afoot that our world is changing. There has not been war nor strife among our races for longer than memory can tell. However, our tranquility is about to come to naught." The Lady had been flicking her gaze between the faces of those present at the council, but now she turned her back to them, looking at the three avian children and bidding them to rise from their bowed position so that she might speak to them face to face. "Fire is a destructive element when it is thrust in the hands of those who know not how to control its immense power. It is an element that needs to constantly consume other elements in order to survive... Air and wood. When either one of its sources of power wane, fire then must move on and find fresher fields to graze upon, leaving little more than dry husks in the wake of its wanton destruction.

"Such a thing is coming to life even now. A tyrant born in the land of fire and ash seeks to reach his hand from the crater in which all those born with the gift for flame originate. He would use the power that lies at his beck and call to destroy all that we hold dear and sweep like a firestorm through fields of grain if we should choose to sit idle when this threat is upon us. But this tale that I weave is yet a whisper, and inkling of thought in the tapestry of all that is life." She turned then, spreading her arms wide and addressing the council as a whole, though she kept her gaze on their leader, Hauthorne, her message concerning him most. "If we are to weave a different rug, then we should seize the threads given to us and construct a tale where our civilization as we know it does not simply burn to the ground. We Toroque have always been peaceful and quiet, willing away our long lives amongst the trees for which we have the greatest affinity for. However, the one that comes for us knows nothing of peace, will not stand for it until his rule is absolute. We gather our forces, learn the art of war and march with our brethren to face this foe. But we can not do it alone. Those of the Seas and Streams, and the Children of the Sky... They too are at risk, and so have cause to join us in this fight. For without them, we will fall."

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Hauthorne listened to the woman's tale with narrowed eyes, his gaze growing sharper and sharper with each word she spoke. He had heard of this prophecy, yes, many years ago, when his father was the leader of the council, and he an eager young man looking to please. He had shrugged off the legend as merely an old wives' tale, but now, with the Lady Birth giving her view of the entire ordeal and these young, frightened Aiwenor before him, he began to realize that the words may be more truthful than he had thought so long ago. The words had been forgotten to him over time, but said anew, they drew up a deep stirring of unease and nervousness within him. He was not a harsh man, only a strict, and he gazed down at the three young avians with pity, knowing that they felt a heavy burden on themselves that they didn't know what to do with, or how to change. He composed himself so as not to show his feelings, and replied to the Lady, saying to all,"It has been many decades since those words have been uttered in my presence, and I must admit that I had forgotten about it, in the midst of our era of peace and tranquility. However, if what you say is the way it is meant to be, then we must do what we can to prevent this tragedy from occurring." He turned now to look at the three young people with his stony gaze. "I understand your position, and I know how scared and hopeless you must feel. But please, do not think that you are alone in this war, if it is going to come to that. My people are not ones to fight and harm others for no reason, but if called upon, the rage and power of the earth is mighty. Even the wrath of the furnace can be snuffed by earth's rich soil." He frowned, and tapped his chin with his folded hands, pondering his position. "We do not yet know the full threat that we are facing, and therefore, it is hard to know what we must plan for. If you would take my suggestion, I would say the best course of action would be to travel south to the city of Nortown, the home of the Sothram. The journey there will take you many days, but I think it will be well worth your effort. As the Lady Birch has said, fire is best quenched by water, and the Children of the Sea are powerful. Seek council with their people, and then travel east to the bowels of the earth, where the flames are the fiercest. Only then will I know what action to take, once it is discovered who this tyrant is, what he wants, and how he plans to obtain it." He spoke briefly with the other members of the council, and they all agreed upon his decision. "If you are fit to travel, I think the best course of action is for you to spend one night here in our city, and begin your journey tomorrow. I will see to it that you have a few Toroque to guide you to our southern city, Fayoak. My daughter will be one of them." He nodded to Magnolia, and she swallowed, nodding back. "Once there, they can lead you to the edge of the forest, but then you must continue on alone. We have not ventured from our forest for many eons, and it will only be in the face of war that we do it again. So please, make yourselves comfortable for the night, and sleep well. I will see you tomorrow morn." With that, he dismissed the group, making an effort to nod at Alder. He would be staying behind with the Council; there was no need for their best sentinel to make the short journey to Fayoak. No, Magnolia would do fine, along with a new recruit he had gained only a few weeks ago, Beech. He would gain something from such an event. With a content smile on his face, but raging emotions and fears inside, he stepped away from the council bench to retire to his abode. The rest of the council followed.

Ravyn's head swirled with what they had just been told. They were now officially a part of this.... Journey, adventure, suicide mission, whatever it was, and they had had hardly any say in it. She knew that with prophecies, that tended to be the case, but how was she supposed to know what to do!? She was hardly an adult! At least they would have a while to think over their course of action; the journey to Nortown would take a while, and give them a chance to fully plan out what they had to do. It was apparent that they had the help of the Toroque; she just wasn't sure how they would be able to help, if they stayed here while they journeyed on. Well, she couldn't make the decisions. She just had to assume that Hauthorne knew what he was doing.

"That was.... Intense," she told the boys, her brows furrowed in concentration and confusion. "I guess we're in this, no matter the consequences." She glanced up at them, and felt a sudden upwelling of pride and love. Even in their predicament, she knew she wouldn't want to be here with anyone but them. She let out a weary sigh as they came into view of the place they were staying in, glancing back to Magnolia, who had fallen behind slightly, looking a little sick and clutching her stomach. When she noticed Ravyn's eyes upon her, she stood straighter, forcing a smile. "Just a bit of a stomachache," she assured her. Ravyn nodded slowly, then turned back and entered the building.

Sparroe followed after, grimacing; Magnolia wasn't the only one with an upset stomach. The Elder's words had made him queasy. He was no fighter. He wasn't trained for war. None of them were! He had the awful feeling that they were on a doomed mission, but knew they had no choice. They couldn't run - if the prophecy was true, it would follow them, no matter where they fled, until they bent to its commands. He groaned quietly; he was looking forward to what he hoped would be a good night's sleep.

Magnolia trudged after the trio, trying to hide the pangs of pain and, she thought, guilt, that were going through her as she walked. For some reason, the meeting had upset her stomach, and along with it, brought agonizing cramps. Was this normal? She didn't know. She sat down at the table as soon as she got inside, waving at the three to go on upstairs. "Go ahead and go to bed," she managed to mumble. "I think I'll stay up for a while longer." Raven and Sparroe both murmured their condolences that she feel better soon, and went upstairs and promptly fell asleep in the cozy bedrooms.

Subject: Re: .::Aero & Apollo::. The Pyro Tyrant Wed Feb 23, 2011 5:33 am

Once the decision had been made, Lady Birch retreated back into the council room with the others, making polite conversation with the other members of the council as was expected of her. She watched the winged ones leave out of the corner of her eye, then turned to catch Hauthorne's eye, following him with silent willowy steps. "Lord Hauthorne." She called gently, standing next to the man and gesturing for him to halt. They had not spoken much face to face, she realized a bit belatedly. Very rarely were those of the White Birch ever seen in the larger cities once they became adults and guarded their own stretch of forest, and she was no different from her predecessors. The White Lady had only come to the grand Toroque city when it was necessary for her to do such… Important weddings or ceremonies that were political in nature… "As I said before, we stand at a crossroads of destiny. I would like to oversee an expedition to the northern cities of our people while a war party is assembled. The Chosen are few in number, and are needed elsewhere to raise awareness of what is shortly to befall us." She gestured with a motion of her hand at the door in which the three avians had left through, knowing that their destination was southward in nature. "There are many players to be gathered yet if we are to have a hope of success in this. Any allies that can be gathered should not be wasted for the sake of convenience."

*~*

The meeting was something of a blur for Ross. He wasn't entirely sure what he had expected of this meeting, but the short lecture that they got was certainly not it. He had of course felt extremely antsy when it had begun, especially when the Lady had recited her destiny prophecy thing, a painful reminder that their destiny was no longer their own. Like Sparroe, he realized with some amount of trepidation that they weren't exactly heros of legend. He had read about such things of course, being the son of a librarian had naturally led him to read about the art of swordplay… But Ross could never have expected that one day he would battle something with steel in a life-or-death match. Once they were excused he bowed and went with Ravyn and Sparroe out the massive council doors, glad to be out in the open, even if it was only by being escorted with guards all around them. Thankfully, they hung back, leaving the three avians and their guide to wander back home on their own. A wry grin crossed his face when Ravyn summed up what they had head in the meeting, looking back over his shoulder when she asked how Magnolia was doing and frowned at the simple explanation. She had seemed fine earlier that day when they were running around in the woods… but he supposed that meeting with that Hauthorne guy was enough to turn anyone's stomach. He certainly wasn't looking forward to ever being in that kind of situation ever again.

He hung back when they got close to their assigned home for the duration of their stay, looking into the darkness of the currently empty building. He halted by the doorframe, leaning his shoulder against it and turning to face Magnolia, concern plainly written across his face. "Are you alright?" Ross wasn't expecting much of an answer, but it never hurt to ask. If she was feeling bad because she was about to get in trouble for making them all late, then he would obviously have felt guilty for it. He wasn't exactly a guilt-free party in theist situation, after all.

Guest

As his name was called, Hauthorne halted, turning and keeping his face respectfully open to the White Lady. Though he was the ruler of the city, the woman held more power than he, with her future-sight and way with the forests. Thus, he dipped his head to her before she spoke, then listened to her words carefully before nodding, a slight smile on his features. "We are far outnumbered if the entirety of the Rakam are against us, and we must reach out to those who can help us, though convincing them is another matter." He thought for a moment, then nodded once more. "I see no one suited more for this task than you. You alone have seen the vision of destruction and war that lies before us. No one would be able to rouse the Toroque from their peace easily, as it is as deep-rooted as the trees of this forest. Yes, journey north, Great Lady, and bring to us any help you can find." A few Aiwenor clans, he knew, also lay to the north of their forest, but they rarely, if ever, traveled out of their deep crevasses in the mountains, and he wasn't sure if they could be persuaded to join the fight that was, he thought, certain to come. They had become accustomed to their ways, like the Toroque, and he wasn't sure what it would take to bring them out of the valleys in the mountains. At least with the Toroque, they knew the word of the Lady Birch was true, and would find it hard to say no to her authority... He stifled a sigh, then motioned to the woman, signaling that she was dismissed. "I will wait to hear word from you," he ended as a farewell, then retreated to his chamber along with the remainder of the Elders. A strange, horrible day indeed.

Magnolia had already retreated into her own thoughts before she realized that Ross hadn't gone up to bed like the others. The room was dark, a single ray of moonlight making it's way through the window and casting its pale light along the table. She held back a painful groan, instead glancing up at the Avian with a grimace. She was about to tell him that everything was fine, that it was just a little sickness and it would go away soon. Of course, that definitely wasn't the case, she thought as another painful cramp shot through her midriff. But looking up at him, concern clear on his boyish, kind face, she felt the lie die on her lips. She flicked her gaze up to where the other two had vanished, seeing the doors closed behind them. They were alone. She wavered for a moment, unsure why she felt the need to tell the Avian the truth, but before she could decide, the tears came, as if they had a mind of their own. She propped her elbows on the table and sobbed, pressing her face against her hands so that he wouldn't see her, full of guilt and grief. "Albatross... Ross..." she finally managed, choking back a sob,"I.... You mustn't tell anyone what am I about to tell you... It could mean my... my death, if it is found out." She took a deep breath, the thought of finally telling her secret to someone oddly relieving. She wouldn't bare it alone anymore. And, really, what would it matter? She wouldn't be able to hide it forever; she had already had her clothes sized up, hiding her pain behind a grimace and explaining to all that asked that the upcoming marriage was causing her to eat from stress. It was a terrible lie, but she couldn't think of anything better to say. "Remember... What I told you earlier... About the intimacy between two Toroque? The laws that govern us and keep us from committing adultery?" Once he nodded, she sniffled, then continued. "Two months ago, Alder took me to his home, his room, told me that he wanted to show me something... He was demanding, so convincing, so sure of himself, I didn't know how to refuse... and we performed the ultimate sin." Tears continued to pour down her cheeks, but she kept speaking, afraid that if she stopped, the words would stay bottled up inside her, until she went mad from the guilt. "I'm pregnant, Ross," she whispered, and the statement seemed to hang in the air like a disease. She closed her eyes and focused on the grains of the table, too ashamed to look the Avian in the eye.

Subject: Re: .::Aero & Apollo::. The Pyro Tyrant Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:51 pm

Ross had expected a casual denial, or for her to wave of his concern, perhaps even a short explanation. What he hadn't expected was for Magnolia to break down completely. He felt extremely guilty for making her cry, but was concerned for her even more. He left his leaning place against the door frame and walked up behind the Toroque girl and placed his hands on her shoulders in what he hoped would be a comforting way. He nodded silently for her request to keep whatever it was that she was about to tell him secret, figuring that if it were really something this traumatic then it would probably be best that no one knew. When Magnolia finally spilled her secret, Ross was left a little shocked, staring at the back of her head with wide eyes.

Slowly, he removed his hands from her slim shoulders and walked to the side of the table, pulled up a chair and sat in it, leaning his elbows against the table and lacing his fingers together, resting his chin on the bridge. Ross' gaze was on the window, looking out at the trees and the moon from his place at the table, his mind working while the silence stretched between the two for a while. Finally, he drew a deep breath and let his eyes wander to Magnolia's face, still downturned with her eyes firmly anywhere but on him. "What will you do?" He asked softly, knowing that she probably wouldn't be able to stay. He supposed that she and Alder could get married quickly, pass off an early birth as just that and live a relatively normal life… But She seemed terrified. And from what he could gather of Magnolia, she didn't seem to much like Alder, though the revelation that it had been him to start this was a bit surprising to Ross. He seemed so up-tight and orderly… That he would break such a steadfast rule…

But that wasn't the issue at hand.

"What if you came with us?" It was an idea, though might be a bit tricky to pull off. "Tomorrow when you escort us out of the forest, if you can slip away from the others, then you can come with us. I don't know how long you'd be able to travel in your… physical state… but it has to be better than staying here, right?"

Guest

Magnolia was too caught up in her own thoughts to notice Ross's touch until he let go, and she reached up to rub the place where his hands had been only a moment before. She wondered why he would show such kindness and obvious concern for someone he barely knew. She also wondered why she knew without a doubt that she could trust him not to tell anyone of her predicament. Perhaps she knew he simply had no one to tell. But no, she could sense, deep within him, an unyielding loyalty that stretched to even the most insignificant of acquaintances. She blinked thankfully at him for his silence, and also for the fact that he showed no signs of disgust or anger at her confession. The silence stretched on for a while as silent tears continued to drip down her face until she was finally able to somewhat pull herself together and blink the last of them away. Her stomach, though, would not give up the pain so easily, and it kept aching, causing her to grimace every once in a while.

At his question, she sighed and shook her head, not knowing the answer herself. Because she now knew the true nature of Alder - the way he hid his vanity and need for control behind false words and actions, not to mention other negative personality traits that he let no one but her see -, and would rather become an exile than be forced to marry him. Of course, no one would believe her word against his. Not only was his position more powerful, but he was a man, and she was a woman, and by the sexist nature of their world he would never be suspected of anything that she blamed him for. It was sick, but true. Ross was an exception; he seemed to believe what she had told him. "I can't marry that... That bastard," she muttered angrily, surprised at herself for cursing, a most unlikely thing to come from her mouth. "I suppose I'll have to just mysteriously leave our forest, perhaps go live with another Toroque clan or Aiwenor community, where I can live the rest of my days in exile..." She bit her lip. That would be her last resort, but at this point, nothing else was coming to mind that would work.

That was, until Ross gave a suggestion of his own. She blinked up at him, at first not really hearing his words. But as the idea settled into her mind, she gasped quietly and stared, wondering if it could work. It was no more difficult or tragic than her own plans, and at least this way she'd be among friends (as she already considered the Avians her friends, and especially Ross, considering their time spent together). As she thought about it more, she decided that this was her best chance to not only escape her city unharmed, but also perhaps take part in the great prophecy that was at hand. She swallowed back the lump that had appeared in her throat. "Would you... Have me?" she haltingly asked, half-expecting him to be joking. It would be risky, yes, but the more she thought his words over his her mind, the more perfect it seemed. "I can easily slip into the forest without anyone noticing, and catch up with your group later..." She nodded, already forming a vague idea of a plan. "I, too, am unaware of how long I'll be able to keep up with you before, well...." she couldn't put it into words,"But I will stay by your side as long as I can. I may not be a trained fighter, but I am skilled when it comes to surviving off of the land, and I will do all that I can to help you and your friends." She smiled up at him, and the pangs in her stomach ceased. What a kind, wonderful, giving man, to allow her to come with them... She couldn't believe that anyone could really be so generous to someone who was, in a sense, a criminal.

Subject: Re: .::Aero & Apollo::. The Pyro Tyrant Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:31 am

His suspicions on Magnolia's unfavorable disposition toward Alder was confirmed strongly with her next statement, and he nodded to the confession. Too free-spirited to be tied down to someone like him, though he was a little more wary now about meeting the man again, now that he knew the Toroque had a darker side to him. "From where I sit, it seems like we're going to need all of the help that we can get. The others and I… We don't really know how to live of the land or anything. Having you around showing us how to survive from here to the next town would be greatly appreciated." Ross offered Magnolia a small smile, glad to see that she had cheered up a little bit now that there was an offer of a way out of the sticky situation that she had found herself in. "The only thing that I ask is that you make sure that we don't get found out right away…" With a sigh he sat back in his chair, letting his hands rest flat on the table and watching Magnolia carefully. "If Alder is as controlling as you say he is… I don't think he'd be happy if he found out that you'd come with us. Your father too…" He winced slightly at the thought of the Toroque leader spending the next day looking for Magnolia only to find her long gone with the three avians. "Can you do that? Keep them off of our trail for a while?"

Guest

Magnolia nodded enthusiastically. "I know much about the plants and wildlife of this area and regions otherwise, I should be able to keep you alive off of the land for a good period of time, if need be. I take it you hunt wild game, though, which I would not participate in... However, if it is vegetation you seek, there is no better guide than a Toroque." She didn't think about how the journey would effect her current state, or what she would do once she became further along in the process. That seemed like a long way off, and she wasn't going to worry about it, not while the pain of it was still so fresh.

A sly smile crossed her face as the Avian continued. "I will suggest that I travel with you to the outskirts of the forest, to guide you in the right direction," she replied. "My father wouldn't be able to say no; it makes sense for me to do so. I know the entirety of the forest better than most of my people. I've traveled far, sometimes without permission, and my eyes are more familiar with the trees than the rest of the Toroque in this city. I'm sure Hauthorne will assign one or two others to accompany us as well, but it will be easy to give them the slip. I'll pretend to go back with them, but I will find something to distract them, and escape back to find you and flee the forest." She bit her lip, sliding her gaze away from his. "I hope it's not too much to ask, but once I meet back up with you, someone may have to carry me for a while, so that we can get far enough ahead without being caught. After we are a good distance away, we can stop and continue the journey walking." She didn't really look forward to flying, but it seemed to be the best option at this point. "After a while, they will give up searching and realize I left with you. But it's no matter, once we are a safe distance away. They know I am a wanderer. They don't have any cause to think that I left other than I was simply curious to see where your journey led." Alder would be furious, yes, but she didn't really care. She might never come back, actually, if she found somewhere else to live that didn't have so many stupid rules and regulations. Maybe even an Aiwenor village! From the looks of things, the feathered people were much more interesting than her own kind.

Subject: Re: .::Aero & Apollo::. The Pyro Tyrant Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:14 am

Though being a forced vegetarian sounded like a really terrible way to live. Ross really couldn't complain, for at least eating plants was better than going hungry for nights on end. Or worse, accidentally killing yourself by eating the wrong kind of plant which one might have thought was this or that instead of the other. He was most glad to see that Magnolia was cheering up considerably, laying out all of her plans to get herself out of her village with the avians without being noticed. It sounded like quite the plausible plan, and Ross found himself nodding along as she spoke, absorbing her words and processing them as she continued on. He couldn't help but to smile, glad to see the mood change. He hated it when women cried, especially around him.

"The the plan is set. I can probably carry you once you join back up with us… I'll have to tell my friends about it tonight though, so that they're not surprised by a sudden reappearance…" He was musing to himself a bit now, having not so far considered what Ravyn or Sparroe would think of the idea of having Magnolia tag along with them. Of course it could hardly be avoided that eventually they would have to be walking around if they were going to be collecting people from other races, but he doubted that either of his winged friends would be happy about having to walk so soon in the journey. But oh well, they would sort of have to deal with it. Magnolia seemed a bit more needy at the moment, her predicament falling higher on the list of tragedies than having to walk around like normal beings. "You should probably start getting ready then." He mumbled with a small little grin. "Can't be unprepared for tomorrow."

Guest

Magnolia gave a silent sigh of relief. She couldn't believe that a way out of the situation she was in had presented itself, but she was incredibly relieved. The only real issue would be Alder; he would wonder why she had disappeared in such a hurry so close to their wedding; he may even figure out the reason of her departure, although she hadn't told anyone about it... Until now. "Of course, talk to the others about it," she assured Ross, coming out of her musings. "I would not want to cause any discomfort or problems between you and your friends." She had a feeling they would be alright with it; they seemed as easygoing as Ross, if a little less adventurous, but kind all the same. She only hoped that she could think of some proper excuse for her to tag along. She didn't really want to spill her secrets out to anyone else just yet, but if she journeyed with them, the truth would have to come out eventually.

At the Avian's suggestion, Magnolia glanced out the window and gave a small gasp. It was getting later than she thought! She would need to prepare quickly and lightly, then get to bed in time to get enough rest to leave tomorrow. She already found that it took a bit more effort to do things, and walking for miles on end would, she realized, become quite an effort. Maybe she would be more of a burden than they could afford to have... Well, she would go with them for as long as she could, then maybe stop at some friendly town along the way. "You're right, I must pack," she replied, standing with only a slight waver. "It's going to be a long, strange road, I fear.... We'll want to be prepared." She hesitated, then quickly hugged Ross, being careful not to bump his wings lest she damage them in some way. "Thank you," she murmured,"for letting me rant at you, and for showing me a way out." She pulled back, gave a small grin, then crept upstairs towards her own room, where she spent the next hour packing necessities before retiring in exhaustion.
~*~*~*~
She woke early to warm morning sun tickling her skin from her window. Stretching, she tried to remember what had happened the night before. When she did, she groaned and put her head in her hands. "You've gotten yourself into a great mess," she muttered, sighing. Well, she had made her decision, and there would be no turning back now. She grabbed her pack along with a few other items that she would need, then went downstairs to see Ravyn and Sparroe already at the table eating; she was sure Ross was around somewhere too. "Good morning," she chirped, sitting down beside them to eat. "Has Ross talked to you yet about me accompanying you?" She hoped that he had, and that they would be as accepting as he had been.

Subject: Re: .::Aero & Apollo::. The Pyro Tyrant Tue May 10, 2011 2:09 pm

Waking up that morning, Ross felt a little blurry in the head. He had forgotten that they weren't at home again, his sleepy mind taking a little bit of time to comprehend that he wasn't still at home. He had half expected to see his books lining the walls and smelling breakfast being made down below… But of course none of that happened. With a sigh, he pulled himself out of bed and stretched, the tips of his long wing feathers brushing the walls of his small room and headed downstairs to see what there was to eat. Ravyn and Sparroe had apparently already been up before him, not all that surprising, and he gave a halfhearted good morning to his old friends. Then almost suddenly he realized that Magnolia was sitting amongst them. Still half asleep he couldn't comprehend why she was there, her voice jogging his memory a bit.

"Oh, right…" He looked to Ravyn and Sparroe, scratching the back of his head with his multicolored hair all a mess and sticking out in every direction. "Do you guys need any clearing up about that?" He asked, seating himself down at the table, looking between the three already seated there. It had been a bit odd, waking the two up after he had gone upstairs for the night and attempting to explain the situation. At the time, it didn't seem that either of them had minded, but that could of course change when they were fully awake.

Guest

"Yes, he has, and we would love your help," Ravyn replied to Magnolia, smiling gently. "As I'm sure he told you, we're no experts when it comes to surviving in the wild outdoors, so your help would be greatly appreciated." She nodded a greeting to Ross as he entered, noting his similar groggy appearance; she had felt the same when she got up.

Not knowing the true meaning of the matter, she assumed that things with Magnolia had already been arranged with Hauthorne and the rest. They continued the small talk until they were ready to resume the journey, and then made their way back to the large tree that held the Council members. There, they spoke briefly with Hauthorne about which way they would go next, and what they would find there. "From here you will go south for two days, to the Toroque town of FayOak," he told them,"but you need not linger long. I have already sent messengers to tell of your coming, so they will prepare for you to spend one night before you continue on. You will reach the edge of the forest in a week's time on foot; I would have you simply fly that far, but I am assigning a few guards to accompany you along the way, to help you find your way. I have decided that Magnolia will be one of your escorts; you already know of her talents, and I'm sure she wouldn't want to miss this opportunity." His eyes sparkled with amusement, and Magnolia smiled grimly to herself. At least she wouldn't have to convince him to let her go. "The two men accompanying you are Cypress and Fyr," he continued, and two men appeared before them, both tall, strong, and wearing similar quiet, respectful expressions. "The three of them will take you to the edge of the forest. Once there, you can fly on your own to the southern city of Nortown. You must tell them what you have told me, and pray that they will see the truth in your tale." He spoke a bit longer about the details of their path, and then bid them a kind farewell before disappearing within the bark of the tree once more.

Ravyn let out a weary breath. "Just listening to him makes me tired," she muttered, then glanced up and gave an apologetic grin to the two Toroque men standing before them. "Um, let's just get going, yeah?" With one last nervous look around, she turned and exited the tree along with her companions. The six of them began the long walk south towards the southern tree-nymph city, and Ravyn already found herself itching to simply fly there. It was going to be a very long journey.

Subject: Re: .::Aero & Apollo::. The Pyro Tyrant Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:14 pm

Ross couldn't help the nervousness that he felt when the left their safe little abode. He wouldn't retract the offer to take Magnolia with them. She was a gentle soul, in a desperate place of need, and he knew that his plan to get her out of the city was probably the only one that would effectively save her life. Still, there was always the fear that somehow, someway, someone would find out. That fear grew when they came face to face with the king, and he was expecting at any moment for the guards to leap forward and apprehend him and his friends. When they were finally allowed to leave he couldn't help but to heave a great sigh of relief. They were in the clear, for now.

He chuckled at Ravyn's words, following her gratefully as they made their way away from the building, away from town and into the forest. He glanced to Magnolia and smiled at her over his shoulder. "It's good to be goin' again." He mumbled more or less to himself and stretched with a small groan, spreading his large wings and flapping a few times, a couple of feathers falling to the ground quietly. "You know, this whole travel of destiny thing… aside from probably having to stare down death and all that, the adventure'll take us all across the map, to places we'd only ever heard about before. Imagine, getting to see them up close…"

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