Tales from the Faelands

[Hyacinthus]

"You're quite the gentleman, aren't you?"

Sophie half-teased, a slight bit red in the face as she prided herself on keeping it together for all of at least one interaction with Miersck without losing her train of thought. The river did wonders to help her keep her cool— and yet, as she had been turned away from him the entire time, some tiny part of her couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

She... kind of expected him to...

Ahem. No, of course not. They were adults— he was more than capable of behaving himself, as she should've been in turn. That said, she stepped off to the side of the river, and stood along its bank— her heels still feeling the wonderful flow of the water streaming below as she ran her hands through her hair, squeezing much of it free of the excess moisture.

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His wings were uncomfortably soggy, which made him realize he'd have to walk anywhere, which wasn't exactly what he had in mind. Irritated by this, he was about to just walk off to get their clothing when he found himself just watching her, completely distracted by her soggy state. Where as he likely looked like a drowned rat...
There was something that stirred within him to see her this way.

[Hyacinthus]

The warmth of the breeze felt like tender love on Sophie's bare skin. She flushed a bit as the wind kissed at her neck, and let out a gentle sigh as the sunlight melted away any doubts or worries she could've possibly had. She could feel the dull, tugging dread of what she presumed to be the curse's effects on the edge of her mind, but it was drowned out almost entirely by the serenity she felt in that moment. Bemused, she began to wonder-- if only jokingly-- if such simplistic happiness was the actual cure for the curse that ailed the two of them... but ultimately she put the thought out of her mind, alongside the subject that caused it.

How long had it been since she'd just taken time to bask in nature? She could've never done this during her time in Connlaoth; She was always too busy with work from her masters, too stressed by how little regard the world had for her, too bothered by how different she was from everyone else. Yet now, in this fleeting moment, it almost felt as if those memories were a distant dream-- a bad one, admittedly, but a dream all the same. If only it were so easy.

Out of simple curiosity, she turned her gaze from the river ahead of her to her back, curious about Miersck. Some part of her didn't exactly know how she felt about him collecting her clothes, but it couldn't be helped. Outside of his... 'fire habits', he didn't seem the type to be overly intrigued in anyone else. At least she thought as much, until she unwittingly made eye contact with the moth fae again, shattering her preconception that he was... er, wasn't...

An amused, yet knowing smile worked it's way onto her face as she quickly turned away again, attempting her best to pretend as if nothing had happened-- yet undeniably pleased with herself-- and Miersck, strangely-- all the same. "...Not as much of a gentleman as I thought," She teased, suppressing giggles all the while. It was nice to know that she wasn't the only one who couldn't keep her eyes off of her... 'partner', as it were.

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Miersck's face went red hot to his ears as he turned away, and began to beat his wings in attempts to kick some of the water off of then.

"It.. it must be mating season or something," he muttered in his defense. How was he supposs to work against nature? Yeah, that must've been it.

He snuck in another glance, barely hiding its obviousness. 

[Hyacinthus]

Sophie couldn't hold back the giggle rising in her chest at Miersck's best attempt at a defense for his actions. "I see... mating season. Yes, that definitely explains your... erm... 'excitement'." In truth, she didn't mind— in fact, she couldn't help but feel validated by it, on some level. Warmth swirled in her chest, like a trapped current with no outlet— a pleasant, if not somewhat perverse sense of self-worth drawn from so small an interaction.

The truth was simple— Sophie had never before felt as though she was being viewed as a woman, before. Most humans were put off by her ears and tail— even her adventurer allies from the guild often just saw her as a useful temporary companion, nothing more. She pulled her hair to one side now, revealing the nape of her neck as she squeezed the water from her silver tresses— and debated keeping a drying towel with her from now on.

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Miersxk chewed on a growl. Why did he think taking her to a more secluded place, if even to cool off, was wise? Aside from the fact he couldn't , atleast for the moment, easily fly back to get their things.. now he only had the naked woman he just mated with for the last few hours just sitting there and...

Rusted dirt and mossy rotten trees...
Did he honestly feel the need to mate... again?

His face- No... his whole body burned now as he forced himself to look away. Even the annoying sogginess of his wings wasn't enough to dampen the primal urge to just...

It was almost like there was still a flame nearby!

"I.. I'll need to.. to walk and get our things," he mumbled, turning to walk towards the direction they had come.  It probably would do him some good. Maybe get the mating itch out of his system because... rotten acorns, if he kept this up with her...

He swallowed the knot in his throat.  He didn't want to consider the consequences- considering the last thing on his mind was seeding children into another but well...

His cheeks became very, very pink. After.. After what he did.. and well.. he hadnt held back in the slightest... she could already be...

He willed his legs to keep moving. Right.. clothing. Right.. his wings needed to dry.

[Hyacinthus]

Sophie could hear Miersck's retreating form in the distance, and once she was fairly sure he was not near enough to hear her, she let out a deep, long sigh and relaxed her body as her feet rested barely in the waters below. She honestly had no idea that playing coy could be so intentional and tiring; The women she'd seen do it before all made it seem so easy, after all...

Whipping her hair back and forth one last time to wick what little water she could out of it, Sophie began to think in earnest over their next steps. Serendipity was a given, but where? From her previous travels and knowledge, it made the most sense to head toward Ravensway and Fallial, first and foremost. Both were said to have much more frequent sightings of fae in their borders, so if they were to gather any real understanding of what this curse was, it would be best to start there.

And if they were able to figure it out...

...Then what? Sophie frowned at the thought. She'd been swept up in the torrent of events that had led her to this point, and only now was she beginning to consider the fallout of any of it. If they cured this curse, would Miersck just return to his forests, or find another clan of fae willing to take him in? Would she just go back to being an historian? Would they... even cross paths after that? It was a scary thing to consider, after what they'd just been through-- after what they'd shared. And yet, she had to mentally prepare herself for the possibility... after all, the Fae and humans never mixed well. Their worlds were so unalike...

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It took sometime for him to return, and by then his wings looked less soggy for it. They weren't entirely dry, but atleast mostly so. As he gently batted them against his back and sheepishly offered Sophie her clothes. 

He had already gotten dressed. No sense walking back, naked. 

He also had sometime to think. He realized he couldn't keep secrets from her as the pair both now suffered this curse. And they had a time limit, lest the dark curse consume them both.

After he offered her the clothing, he politely turned away to give her some privacy (although it did seem a little foolish, all things considered..) But well..  he was technically an adult now, wasn't he? He needed to stop being so.. so.. childish and brash.


As he continued to look away, he studied the mark on his arm, hesitating to cover it up as he usually did. But.. did he really have to, anymore? Shouldn't he keep an eye on it. He frowned at it, and found himself lost in thought, his wings subtly beating as they needed just a little more time to finish drying. 

[Hyacinthus]

Her thoughts were put on hold as Miersck returned with their gear (or hers, at least— he'd been sensible enough to put his own clothes back on beforehand), and quickly began to dry off her feet and dress. To her amusement, there was no further peeping from the moth boy— she supposed the walk to get their things had done him some good in cooling off, as she could tell that in spite of the prior hours they'd just spent together, he was still quite revved up earlier. She'd only known one other guy who was so hot-blooded before... though in his case, it was for battle more than anything else.

With his gaze averted, Miersck couldn't quite tell when Sophie finished dressing— and she used that to her advantage, to an extent. She'd always been pretty quick to get in and out of clothes— a benefit of being so scrawny, and so while his attention was elsewhere, she slowly crept up behind him and delivered a deep, yet gentle hug— careful to wrap her arms around him nearer to his waste in order to avoid squeezing his wings by accident.

"Thank you," She whispered, before letting him go and backing off with a warm smile and a flushed face. It wasn't just a 'thank you for retrieving her things— it was gratitude for just being there for her. She wasn't exactly used to showing such outright affection to others, though, so she couldn't maintain for too long, lest she make things more awkward than she intended them to be.

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He hadn't expected the hug. Miersck stiffened, relaxing only when she stepped away. He hesitated before glancing towards her then fully turning around.  

"Ye.. You didn't have to thank me," he muttered, rubbing at the back of his neck awkwardly. "I.. it.. wasn't that far of a walk."

[Hyacinthus]

Sophie brightly beamed, innocently hiding her hands behind her back as she pivoted back and forth on her heels, content with herself. "More of a gentleman than I thought, then!" She corrected herself, before stepping ahead of Miersck. She could tell he wasn't exactly 'fond' of skinship-- well, open displays of it outside of his... 'moments'. But that was fine-- she neither expected nor wanted him to suddenly change overnight. It wouldn't be the guy she was quickly falling for, if he did.

...Falling for?

Ahem.

"Shall we, then? I'm not too familiar with this stretch of the forest, and your wings haven't fully dried yet-- I wanna find a nice-sized tree to climb, and get a better look around. We might be close to a main road-- we could follow one of those north, into Serendipity-- that's another kingdom, though from what I've been told, there might actually be fae settlements there." She explained, not really sure just how familiar Miersck truly was with the 'world'-- at least, from the human perspective. From what she'd read, the fae typically kept to themselves... so it would've been a wonder if he even knew other fae settlements existed beyond the one that he was from.

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If she were to ask Miersck directly about his knowledge of the world, it would be that he knows absolutely nothing-
Well, outside of the home he had once known, the small, reclusive vale, protectively tucked away from human kind.

And now? Now it was tained.. scarred.. blackened...
Corrupted by what? He didn't even understand. He felt the barest of pulses from the darkness on his arm and closed that hand into a fist, hoping to ignore it.

"We could wait to climb... just walk a awhile." His wings would make the 'climbing' part easier. It wasn't that he couldn't climb...
Just well...
If his wings still weren't at full capacity for flight and either fell...

He'd rather be safe than an acorn pancake.

He moved closer to her side, gesturing.
"I don't know wherever this rotten acorns part of the world is either. So maybe we should.. be careful.."

But then he thought he heard something as his wings snapped to attention, his red eyes peering over his shoulder.

[Hyacinthus]

Sophie raised an eyebrow, quite surprised at Miersck's response. "...Caution? From you?" She asked, almost incredulous, though an obviously impressed smile lit up her face all the same. She had thus far pegged Miersck as a reckless fae if a reckless fae was such a thing; not particularly concerned with consequences where they weren't glaring him in the face, and only slightly concerned when they were. This was... honestly, a pleasant surprise.

It reminded Sophie that there was still so much she had yet to learn about the moth fae— that there was still so much more of him she wanted to know.

"And here I thought you might give me a thumbs up and a boost," She teased, though there was wisdom in his words. Sophie was a scout at body and a historian at heart; She was fairly used to climbing tall objects and spelunking ruins, but only because she had to be. Very few people sought her company for adventure in the guild, either due to her strange appearance or simply not wanting to deal with a comrade who could barely hold her own in combat.

"Fair enough— I'll have to remember to start packing a towel... Miersck?" Her train of thought was interrupted by the fact that the face's own attention was drawn elsewhere? Was something wrong? Her eyes lacked the clarity of his own— especially without her goggles which she'd left in Serendipity— so she could not see what he did... hopefully that was less a problem than Miersck was making it seem.

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Miersck remained tense, eyes still searching over his shoulder as he began to realize what he grew tense over was no sound.. atleast nothing the mouse girl might be able to hear. And that made him all the more petrified as he began to realize what it could be.

"I.. I think we're being hunted," miersxk said, his tone low and hushed; fearful. He continued to glance around, trying to figure out the source and how to explain his sudden paranoia to Sophie.

"In.. in my home forests, there were strange creatures that hunted and ate only the fae..." he slowly made his way closer to Sophie 's side.
"They can cloak their movement, make the fae not realize they're present until its too late. But my kind.. the moth fae.. We've adapted.. over the years and.." 

He tensed.. 'hearing' it again.

"It's here... and it's hunting after us. "

[Hyacinthus]

There was a noticeable folding of Sophie's mousey ears-- as if she were suddenly trying her hardest to make herself smaller. Instinct, perhaps, at the acknowledgement of Miersck's words. "Hunted?" She parroted, a bewildered tone in her shaken voice as the man continued explaining the fiend that lurked just beyond the shadows of the forest before them.

Sophie's brow furrowed, but she stuck as close to Miersck as she could in an attempt to close any gaps in their defenses while the threat of the unseen evil loomed on. All she had on her was her hunting knife-- she wasn't often combat-prepared, and typically shored up a party's reconnaissance and support if anything. That wouldn't do in this situation... especially if this thing was after Miersck.

The thought caused her to shift her footing a bit, putting herself just slightly in between Meirsck and his line of sight, like a tiny barrier. She didn't consider herself fae-- perhaps this creature wouldn't, either. But even if it did, she would not let it have Miersck.

"What do we do?" She asked, her eyes scanning the trees before them and finding nothing. Relying on Miersck's senses was likely the only way they would survive this.

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He grit his teeth, cursing inwardly for his useless wings. How could it of all creatures, survive outside the vale? The Ruh-kahlish were ruthless, three tongued and four mouthed creatures that gobbled up the fae. Their magic drew them- thar innate power. 

But why was it here? A cold sensation crept up his spine. If the Ruh-kahlish had left the safety of the vale.... it did not bode well for the fae that lived there.

He grabbed her arm suddenly and gestured for her to remain quiet.. still... and his hand moved awkwardly in the air, as he began to cast an illusion. He had to focus..hide their scents first, then their sounds.. everything down to their heart beats would need to be muted...

The Ruh-kahlish could not see, atleast not well- and he could only hope, wherever it was lurking- that Miersck was able to cloak them from its radar.

[Hyacinthus]

"Mier—"

She began to speak, but was cut off by the moth fae as he grasped her arm, keeping her close. A strange tingle ran across her ears and then down her spine to her tail as she watched him wave his hands about. She didn't notice it before, but it was a similar sensation to earlier, with the bread merchant— illusory magic of a kind.

Sophie was no mage; she had little talent in the way of making illusions or anything of the sort. Yet even her novice eyes knew there was something different about the fae's style of magic, compared to the more conventional works that mages of Adela or Serendipity.

"...?" Quietly, she looked from the space around her and Miersck to the moth fae himself, seeking guidance on their next steps as even now, she could not see the threat so clearly as he could. Her free hand slowly moved toward her knife— though she couldn't see a threat, that wouldn't stop her from defending Miersck at a moment's notice.

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Although not seen, there was a low noise- nearly inpercivable. It sounded, and also felt like the growl of a massive cat. Miersck visibly tensed at this, red eyes widening as he noted the suddenly crumbling of large sections of grass. It was closer than he had hoped- and it was right there- before the pair. It was only as it came so close that both might be able to see how the terrible beasts" form refracted the light, causing an odd yet subtle warping of the lands where its body passed.

But one did not need to see it now to understand its nasty size, for the massive footprints of crushed grass told that story far too well.  

Miersck held his breath, a hand tensing on Sophie's arm. Because well.. the beast was now stepping straight towards them.

The beast lumbered slowly, Miersck being able to detect, though barely, the swinging of its head as it searched for its prey. These beasts were no fools, though wicked as they were- one did not simply eat and hunt the tricky fae without a terrible intelligence of their own.

It knew the pair were close, and must have followed the scent if his magics. Inwardly he cursed as each large foot step drew it closer, close enough he began to smell the very danger it exuded into the air. 

It was only a few feet away. But it still hadn't seen them. Should they attempt to run? But no . No, no- that time had passed. Their only chance now was luck- and if a rotten pile of acorns.. Miersck believed he was anything but lucky. 

He tensed as another stride brought it mere inches away, the slow steps now felt as Miersck's heart hammered inside his ears-

And then the beast suddenly launched itself towards a massive pheasant that took flight- it must have been hiding in the underbrush when the creature got too close. Now.. now the poor thing was being mangled in midair as unseen jaws snapped and was tearing it to pieces.  

Blood sprayed at their feet- pheasant feathers falling around them like snow- but in seconds there was nothing left of the bird- and the very attack itself sent the rest of the birds and animals in the area in a panick- and the Ruh-kahlish stormed away- snapping after the stampede of fleeing creatures.

[Hyacinthus]

*Thump. Thump. Thump.*

Sophie felt her heart sink into the pits of her stomach, and her hand instinctively clench around her knife harder and harder with each passing moment, as the unnatural beast began a menacing approach toward the duo. Her eyes narrowed, the fur on her ears bristling as every fiber of her being told her to act-- to fight, or to fly-- yet she remained rooted to the spot, battling her instincts in favor of trusting Miersck's fae magic.

But her instincts were winning. She wanted so badly to trust that they'd be okay-- that Miersck had a plan, and hadn't just frozen up with fear... But as the faintest glint of a mirage-like silhouette made itself clearer and clearer in the grassy opening, and Miersck remained equally still, she couldn't help but curse her circumstances and begin to pull the knife from it's holster.

What was she doing? She swore she'd find a way to help Miersck, not sit quietly and watch as he was eaten first. As the near-impossible outline of a monstrous mouth began to crack open with salivation, electricity pooled through Sophie like a biblical flood, shutting her mind off and spurning her into action. If it meant her death, then so be--

...It. That was was her resolve, but in the same moment that she willed her muscle into action, a wild bird met it's end at the beast's hands-- or jaws, at least. It ripped the pour pheasant to shreds-- leaving Sophie frozen with her knife half-drawn, and her heart pounding in her ears. Before long, it seemed to lose their scent completely, and with a heavy patter of footsteps, Miersck and Sophie were left alone once more. Still, she tensed; As if enemies remained about even now. Was it truly gone? Were there others? She had never seen--or experienced, at least-- such a terrifying creature before. Was it truly okay to just let it go, knowing it sought Miersck?

In the back of her mind, wheels began to turn. Plans began to form-- plans she didn't intend on voicing, lest she worry her companion. But... she had to know he would be safe from that thing.

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After a long moment, Miersck wilted, almost falling ontop of Sophie. His entire body shook from the stress as he fell to his knees and just stared out in horror. 

If the Ruh-kahlish were now in the mortals world....

He cursed through a sob, not realizing his eyes teared from fear.

What should he do? What could he do? He was just one fae.

And somewhere... in the not too far off distance- an animal screeched as it was torn to ribbons . Instincts had Miersck blocking his ears, recalling when one of these things ate half a fae village. He had been so afraid then...

And not much, it seemed, had changed now.

"We.. we really need to get as much distance from that thing," he said, voice shriller than he'd like. But he was still too stunned to move.