The End- Book 1, Old World

[revolution]

We were the Saviors of Myrari.

Undeserving, as it was.

Still...

In failure, and in defeat-

Death finds a way.

[revolution]

The sheer force of the explosion bucked through the streets like a loosed horse, shattering the stained-glass windows that had only moments before stared down upon the alleyway like a chorus of brilliantly colored eyes. The mess of sheer energy shimmered dead-center, dark and light, life and death, intertwining and fighting for the spotlight.

To tell you the truth, it probably would have never worked had it not been for the sheer nerve of the Fergains.

Namely, one Fergain in particular.

"Some people, I'm telling you. Idiots, the lot of them. Who in their right mind would put Ether and Aura that close together in the same barrel? It's like a bomb ready to be set off. It was like a bomb ready to be set off. Gods above, I never expected it would be so loud." The beast's screeching faded into the background, but even still, Dmitri knew that even an Ether/Aura mixture wouldn't slow that beast down for long. At best, the release of energy would simply excite it. Boromary staggered along beside the pair, glass crunching underfoot. He'd closed his eyes a second after Dmitri had commanded him so, and as a result would probably have the image of the street imploding burned into his retinas for the next few minutes. "Where are we going?" He panted, looking from the Fergain warrior 'chick' (That one had been Karma's) to Suga and Dmitri and back again; (They were obviously planning something- brilliant. Just brilliant) and snorted a rather deadly-looking cloud of glass from his nose. Ignored, he slowed his gait and was almost knocked into the razor-lined earth by Aro, who was focused entirely upon his wineskin, which he could not seem to open. "Watch it, fuzzy." Snarled Aro, the contents of the beast's stomach still coursing off of him in thick grisly rivets. He gave the lid of his wineskin yet another tug, and growled to himself, looking in confusion at the unrelenting lid. "That's strange. It's not opening, dammit." Boromary paused, not at all eager to end up on the teen's bad side. "Here, can I see it?" He questioned, as Aro continued to struggle. He took it from him, and gave the lid a twist, easily unscrewing it with a curious flick of a wrist. "Strange..." Muttered Aro, accepting the wineskin back and taking a long pull from it's mouth. "It's... Ridged, or something. Very strange; it was a snap this morning..."

Karma bobbed easily up to Boromary's shoulder, his face twisted in a genuine grin. "Do you feel it, Mary? It's everywhere- it's in the very air we breathe. Amazing. Feels- Unfiltered." He turned a flip in the air, swiveling his ears and grinning madly at Boromary, who paced along, Rea staring in amazement at the Cat-sprite's unnatural joy. "You wouldn't BELIEVE all the channels I'm getting out here- I've got reception from 'Cube-fucking-93.9', bud!" He laughed again, and began to bob back and forth to music only he could hear. "Crank that, Soulja Boy."

Boromary bit his lip, furrowing his brow at the Cat-sprite's antics. "He's acting awfully odd, don't you think?"
"Who, Karma?" Snorted Rea, grinning. "No, Boromary. He was always like this, I think."

[patchycat]

“You can hear channels?” Kestrel inquired nosily. Feron (having returned to hawk form) cocked her head in confusion.
‘Like a radio?’ She asked in thought, opening the range of her telepathy so all could hear.

[FewRevelations]

Aven heard what sounded an awful lot like an explosion. Racing to a nearby window that was filled with costly, unbubbled glass, she gazed out at the capital. There. She saw a large cloud of dust blowing away from one of the inns, which seemed to have lost its expensive glass windows! The innkeeper would not be happy about that. And she knew who the people responsible were; very near that inn was the group they had met at the docks, Boromary and all. The queen sighed. They very likely would ask her to keep them from the gallows for not being able to pay off the damage, if they did not hurry away. And it did not seem like that was their plan.
Kyo frowned as Aven sighed and walked over, trying to find what it was she stared at so forlornly. "What is it, milady?" he asked her.
"Kyo, you needn't be so formal with me! Have I not told you this prior?" Aven insisted.
"But milady! I merely follow protocall!"
Aven just sighed again. Kyo had been acting very strangely lately, and she couldn't figure out why! "I suppose we should get down there and help the others," she told him after a moment, pointing to the source of the explosion.
Kyo nodded, and they started off. The maids and other workers of the palace scurried to be out of sight when the half-demon turned his icy, unforgiving gaze upon them. One almost dropped the vase she was carrying for the pure shock of it all!
After turning countless corners and walking through endless corridors, they finally came upon the stables. Aven made a beeline for Baldwin, who seemed to have come back to the palace after all the other horses of her party had been cut loose. A stablehand saddled the mare quickly with the queen's customary black-leather saddle, slipping the matching reigns around the beast's nose. With the flair of one practiced in mounting, Aven flung herself upon the saddle. Since she was not wearing divided skirts, she would have to make due with riding sidesaddle.
Kyo looked around for a moment, finally seeing a pitch-black stallion. Another stable-hand swiftly saddled the horse up, using simple, oiled, uncolored leather, and reigns that were gleaming from being oiled as well.
After Kyo had mounted, the two of them rode out into the city.

[revolution]

"Yeah," Stated Karma, turning from his perch upon the rim of Boromary's hat to face Feron and Kestral. "It's just on one of the Shift-waves I get- you know, the whole universe-break thing. I'm rambling again, aren't I?" Rea stared at the Cat-sprite, face set in an expression of amused awe. "He's lost it."
Boromary shrugged. "Can't lose what you've never had."

Sonaria nodded toward a gate set in the far end of the street, about a hundred-yard's distance. The area around them was surprisingly packed with merchant's booths, tight as sardines in comparison to the bare walkways of the main drag. "My men are waiting outside of the walls- we can cover you as far as Uhde- from there on, you're on your own. We've got a semi-manual cart, so travel will probably be faster." She rolled her eyes at Dmitri, who had traded his rather scorched burlap jacket for a leather horsemen's coat at a nearby unoccupied stand and was straightening it before a rather grimy mirror bolted to the wooden backwall of the booth. Acknowledging Suga's rather questioning glance, she snorted, folding her arms. "Vain as anything, I'm telling you. He's always been like this- jump off a cliff as long as he'd look good while doing so."

"Man-whore." Quipped Karma.

Shaiera turned to Acerbus, teeth bared in a furious glare.
"The Shadow-weaver's failed. They got away." Yew shuffled back and forth on her shoulder, silver beak clattering dangerously.

Acerbus slid another clip of arrow-studs into the mouth of his crossbow, grinning.
"Not for long."

[Viviene]

Golden light danced along fragile skin, skin that has been well taken care of. Slowly two gentle orbs like fireflies fluttering in the night opened to the light around her. Her eyes were the colors of the forest and the forest the colors of her. Everything about the girl said ‘earth’ indeed she was earth, the element of earth.

Sitting upright the girls hair was messy and un-kept as if rats had found there home there overnight. A small plant had found it’s way around the girl’s ankle and refused to let go. It was winter still and it should not have grown. But things tended to happen without warning around the girl. She touched the plant carefully, it seemed to sparkle with green light and then pulled away as it blossomed into a stunning rose. It’s thorns were sharp as the teeth of a wolf, and just a beautiful and deadly.

A smile, a true smile pulled at the girl’s lips as she seemed to speak silently to the plant. The rose glowed with raw power, power it was drawing from the elemental. The raw power was strong as it throbbed through her hand and was sucked into the plant. But she had a focus a focus given as a gift; a beautiful bracelet laid silent on her wrist with leaves and other earthly things apond its golden surface. It was a gift a gift from a queen a close friend and a powerful lady.

“ Viviene, We should get moving. I’m afraid life is not fairing on our side this day.” A Meerkat gazed at the girl who smiled. “ I knew you were coming Kitten, I knew it from a pulling in my mind.” She whispered, she was different in a way. Kitten shifted his wait uneasily. He could smell the raw power form her hand it was strong then before, much stronger. ‘ It must be because spring is coming.’ He thought nuzzling her hand as he could then feel the raw power allowing him to speak out loud.

“ Viviene, my bounded, my Viviene, please don’t use your strength so needlessly.” The Meerkat chirped with a nerves gulp. Viviene looked at the Meerkat the raw power vanishing as it sparked into the bracelet. Then as if a sudden lifeless moment was played apond, the rose died and withered to the ground. Viviene looked shocked and cupped the dead plant in her hands. “ Wha…what.” She stuttered horrified. Kitten sighed. “ You feed it to much ‘raw power’. Viviene raw power can kill any plant if it is used in such a way as you see now.” Viviene bowed her head. “ I see.” She muttered as she slammed her hand against a tree.

[FewRevelations]

Aven's head whipped up. Moments before, she had been focusing intently on the ebony mane of her otherwise snowy white mare.
[What? What is it?] asked Omen, swooping in low towards the queen and Kyo, who rode behind her.
"Can you feel it?" she asked nobody in particular.
"Can we feel what?" the purple-haired demon asked in response.
"The... the power! So much! It's raw and untrained, but it's being used in such excess! That way!" she pointed in the direction of the south gate to the city. And just like that, the power was gone. "Only one person I know could use that kind of power," she murmured. "Come on!"
The fairy heeled Baldwin in the sides, the mare taking off at a gallop through the cobblestone streets. Kyo did the same, his stallion almost keeping pace. Within minutes they were at the gates and pushing their horses through the snow. And then... Aven stopped.
"There! Through the trees!" She dismounted rapidly, fluttering her wings and flying off in the direction she pointed.
When she finally stopped, Kyo caught up slowly, gasping for air. But even had he not been winded, he still would have gasped at what -- or who -- he saw sitting in the snow. "Viv?" he whispered hoarsly. Aven smiled.

[Viviene]

Viviene turned quickly to see Kyo and Aven. Her eyes opened wide, pupil dilating. “K..Kyo..Av..Aven.” She said slowly trying to piece each thing together. Her mouth was parted as warm air seeped through her teeth and across her tongue. Kitten looked from Aven, to Kyo to Viviene. Then suddenly she seemed to be overwhelmed as she jumped to her feet and slammed her body into Kyo, wrapping her arms around him. Hugging him with all her strength in her arms.

She could feel warm tears forming in her earth green eyes as Kitten watched from where he sat. His small body reading the girls actions and he was slightly surprised to find loneliness one of them. The way she held her head and with each step she acted as if it were her last breath she was trying to grab. Clicking into Viviene power as he often did, he stole some of her energy to speak with Aven and Kyo carefully. “ Long time no see.” He whispered in there minds.

[FewRevelations]

Aven smiled at the meerkat sitting in the snow. "Same to you," she told Kitten. "So how have you fared?"
Kyo barely braced himself against Viv's hug before toppling over, shock racking through his bones. After a moment, he returned the small girl's embrace. "I... I thought you were dead!" he whispered. "I thought surely you couldn't survive alone!"

[Viviene]

Kitten’s eyes harden like stone. “It was hard. Being so young she had to stop often to rest but she was usually pushing her self to hard. At one point she focused herself to pass out. Sometimes I wonder what she will do next. But over all we are alive and that is all I ever asked of anyone.” He said nodding his head.

Viviene gripped him as if it was the most important thing in the world. “ My hopes and dreams guided me, guided me to live and to learn.” She said voice shaky as she tried to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall over. She had missed them both dearly she had dreamed of the hope she would find them again after the blizzard took her that night. She was happy, happy at last to be with her in other words to her adopted ‘dad’.

The twelve year old girl, hand her fingers wrapped around Kyo’s shirt tightly, she was so unwilling to let him go. She had lost him once and would not again, even at the cost of her own life. Him and Aven along with Kitten were her life, her world. Nothing else mattered but plants and such, but even that seemed to shrink in the feelings she had for those three people, well 2 people and animal.

“ Dad.” She said almost to silently for anyone to hear but Kitten heard it plain as day. He was not sure what to feel but he made his eyes look at the ground to avoid looking at Kyo and Viviene. Since her Dad’s death Viviene had 100% relied on her brother, when he left it turned to Kyo and Aven.

[FewRevelations]

"Well, I'm glad to see you're all safe," Aven said gravely. She walked over and placed her hand on Viv's head, toussling the girl's knotted hair a moment. "You must be freezing," she the elemental. "Come, we'll take you to the palace and get you fed and bathed and properly clothed."
Kyo refused to let go of Viv. Other than Aven, Viv was the only person on the planet he cared about any longer. He would have even killed off Faith long ago, most likely, if the most common outcome hadn't been being driven stark raving mad.

[Viviene]

Viviene looked up at Aven and gave a heartfelt smile, she still clung to Kyo like a leech as she got up, and stood upright. Her knuckles had turned white from holding onto Kyo’s shirt so hard. It was true Viviene was shaking like a leaf in a tornado, her skin was paler then normal and her hair slightly frozen.

Kitten sat up and climbed up Viviene’s leg till he rested on her shoulder, he wrapped his body around her neck and silently thanked him for the extra warmth. Spending a good amount of time outside in this weather had its effects on the freezing girl. “ I am freezing.” She admitted to Aven.

[FewRevelations]

Kyo scooped the small girl up in his arms, carrying her back to the horses. Aven followed and mounted side-saddle, reaching for Viv. The half-demon reluctantly offered her up to the queen's arms, where the girl was situated in front of Aven on the saddle. Kyo mounted up swiftly and both horses were heeled into a gallop, flinging snow up behind them as they went. They reached the city quickly, the guards of the gates recognizing them and letting the three pass without hassle. The horse's hooves clattered on the cobblestones, and within minutes they were finally at the castle. The two dismounted quickly and threw their reigns to a stablehand, Kyo pulling Viv off the horse. He carried her once again through the castle, Aven leading them to her rooms. Once there, Viv was laid upon the bed while Aven instructed a serving maid on finding suitable clothes, drawing a bath, and having food prepared.

[Viviene]

Viviene stayed close to Kyo for warmth as she was carried. Then when she saw the horses another smile pulled at her lips. She greeted the animals silently. When she was passed to Aven she placed a hand on the horses neck, as she felt it’s fine fur, she admired it. She didn’t speak till she was in the castle. By then she was half asleep and thankful for the warmth as her winter bitten figures and toes ached, now that she could properly feel them. Viviene blinked a few times to try and keep herself awake and such as the warmth was so inviting. Kitten slipped form her neck and sat on her stomach, rising up and down slowly with her calm breathing. Calling on Viviene’s magic he made sure it was an small amount. “ How have both of you been?” He asked.

[FewRevelations]

Aven finished with her instructions and returned to the bedside. "Oh, you know," she replied with a bitter smile. "Kidnapped by your enemies and driving them from the city. Attacked by countless unknown and evil entities at unknown moments. Same as before." She glanced down and kicked one of Kyo's coats under the bed, careful not to move her skirts as she did so.