By The Willow Lakes

For me (rose/Pip)
And Kaylee/Icarus

SHENANIGANS

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Thumpthump-thump-thumpthump. The repetitive tune echoed through the quiet forest, the footfalls the only sound. No birds sung in the gloomy forest, and no deer bolted away from the running Shinlai. It was unusually empty, but she paid in no heed, distracted by running and making sure she didn’t break a leg on a hidden root as she darted through the tall trees. A tiny orb of light hovered a meter in front, skimming along the ground, showing where the worse of the pits or roots were, but it was hard trying to watch her feet and the direction that she was running. On more than one occasion she almost crashed into a tree, and while a large Shinlai might have toppled it, she would have given herself concussion and probably would have blacked out. The woes of being small.

But despite the hazard running posed, she didn’t slow down, the creeping feeling that she was being watched, or even followed hadn’t left her since the sun went down. She knew it was a bad idea being by herself in that part of Elaisha. She was small, and vulnerable, an easy target for bears and wolves. Or even humans. She shuddered at the thought of it, she was in circle territory, completely by accident, and it couldn’t get much worse. But it did. She, a light Shinlai, in Darkblood lands. She rolled her eyes at herself, berating herself for getting so damn lost, and stumbled on a root. She tripped, went flying and skidded to a stop at the foot of a large tree. Trying not to panic or yell she scrambled to her feet and took off running again, wanting to get out in the open, or find a safe place to stop for the night, but the trees continued on endlessly.

She forced herself to slow to a trot and paid more attention to where she was walking. And stopped abruptly. There were pawprints in front of her, the exact same size and shape as her own paws. “You have got to be kidding me.” She muttered, rolling her eyes, and turning on the spot, walking off in a random direction, having given up on heading north. She didn’t even know which way north was right now, she was completely disorientated. With an irritated snort she continued padding through the woods, listening closely for any sound other than her fur and footsteps. She continued like this for a good mile or so, eventually the trees thinned out, the glimmer of water was barely visible in the starless-moonless sky.

Pausing briefly at the edge of the trees, glancing around, almost as though at a road crossing, she scampered over to the water and guzzled down as much as she could, not caring how much noise she made or how much water ended up on her face. Once satisfied, she took in more details as to what was around her. She was in a valley, with high mountains on her right, and more lakes to her left and in front of her, much to her surprise, she realised that she had managed to end up walking north, and was currently by Willow Lakes, with Willow Peaks towering above her. She stared up at the mountains for a moment, recalling what the maps said, before abruptly twisting around and peering to the west. Veocifero couldn’t be far away, maybe a dozen miles at the most, she fancied she could see Sunset Peak, but whether that was her imagination playing tricks on her or not, she couldn’t tell.

She shifted uncomfortably, curling her claws into the lake side mud, debating about finding a cave to sleep in, or continuing north. On one hand she could risk being found asleep by the Circle or Darkbloods, or she could risk running into them half asleep and too worn out to walk. It wasn’t much of a choice.

Icarus was patrolling the lakes in Darkblood lands. It was terribly dull work, and all he had for company was his own thoughts- and it was rather poor company indeed. Constantly listening to the whispers of his paranoia was not at all what he had expected when Lycu told him to "keep guard" and "fight off the enemies".

Icarus came across the mirror-still lake, bowing down to drink from it. Lycu had gone to advise the Elites. Apparently, he felt it was better for Icarus to stay behind. Icarus would be lying if he said it didn't hurt to be left behind. It confused him. Why would Lycu take Icarus under his wing and then deny him the chance to meet the great Darkblood Elites?

Icarus lifted his head, suddenly aware of another presence. He felt it. Light. His Dark element was extremely sensitive to it's presence. He'd know it anywhere; and if he hadn't been sulking in his own thoughts he'd have recognized from miles away. Across the lake stood a Shinlai (really quite small, he noticed). She was almost hard to spot in the evening light of the setting sun, what with fur of various shades of purple and blues.

Icarus quickly cloaked himself in darkness, only to reappear several feet away from the female. "Halt!" He barked, blue eyes narrowing, "This is Darkblood territory!" He expected some kind of explanation as a response. He doubted this female was a Darkblood, Light Shinlai were rare recruits.

Pip had dipped her head again to drink, when she felt something, she wasn’t sure what, it was more of a feeling than an actual nudge or bump, she hadn’t spent enough time around dark Shinlai to register what it meant. But it made her stop and look up, just in time for a larger Shinlai to materialise only a few feet away.

"Halt! This is Darkblood territory!" He practically yelled at her, blue eyes blazing and long sweeping horns curving around, his dark pelt making him blend with the night sky.

“AHHHGGGAAAAHHANO WHA AHH.” Pipistella shrieked, scrabbling about trying to get a grip on the muddy banks. Clearly this guy had startled her, she was jumpy enough as it was, having a larger dark Shinlai appear from nowhere and yell at her in that way just pushed her over the edge.

Unable to get a grip on the mud she slipped landed on her stomach and rolled onto her back, front paws over her face and back legs tucked up to her stomach. “I’M SORRY, I didn’t, I didn’-I’m sorry I wasn’t doing anything!” She babbled, trying and failing to stop her voice from squeaking. She clamped her mouth shut and stared up at the guy, eyes wide and wild.

((PIP NO LIKE SHOUT SHOUT MAN))

“AHHHGGGAAAAHHANO WHA AHH.”

Icarus jumped back himself, clearly alarmed. "Oh O-h I'm, I'm s-s-sorry!" Icarus closed his eyes with frustration, his cursed halting speech impediment was starting up again. "I, I'm sorry I didn't, didn't mean to startle you o-oh my I'm sorry." He was terribly confused. The female just went and fell backwards where she was spluttering apologies too. Anyone who came upon the scene would have started laughing hysterically. Two full grown, strikingly different Shinlai tripping over themselves apologizing.

"A-are you alright? Oh I m-mean I didn't t-try- I was only wonder-ing." Icarus sat down with a huff, eyes wide now and apologetic. "I'm Icarus, a-and I'm supp-osed to g-guard the border of V-V-Velocifero." He paused, ears pricked forward with concern. Icarus was no more dangerous right now than a large, stumbling toddler. "I was just, I-I mean, I'm s-supposed to ask, if you, are a Darkblood too."

"I'm Icarus, a-and I'm supp-osed to g-guard the border of V-V-Velocifero. I was just, I-I mean, I'm s-supposed to ask, if you, are a Darkblood too." He stammered about, apologising like her, until he sat down with a huff.

She scrabbled about, rolling onto her stomach until she was crouched staring up at him, fur a mess and eyes wide. “I-I uh, n-no I’m not. I didn’t realise I was so close to V-Velocifero.” She said, stammering unintentionally, she wasn’t trying to mimic him, it just seemed to happen.

“I’m not a Dailian!” She added hastily. “No no, Pipistella, neutral. Yes neutral.” She blurted, managing to get her name in there as well. She stared at him, before shaking her fur, trying to dislodge mud, before realising Icarus had ears. And a mask. She stared blankly for a moment, before realising that she was being rude. “Pipistella, I’m Pipistella. You’re, Icarus?” She repeated, a little more calmly.

“I-I uh, n-no I’m not. I didn’t realise I was so close to V-Velocifero.”

Icarus blinked, rather confused as to how someone couldn't know they were close to the Darkblood capital. "Well you are." He spoke bluntly, like it was incredibly common knowledge and she was an idiot for not realizing she was so close.

“I’m not a Dailian!” She added hastily. “No no, Pipistella, neutral. Yes neutral.”

Icarus brightened considerably, his posture straightening, and eyes brightening. "Oh that's good, Dailian a-aren't welcome here." He cocked his head, mane bristling slightly. "I-I'm not s-sure about neutral though." He thought about it for a moment, eyes looking Pipistella up and down. Finally, he shrugged, "So long as you're n-ot Dailian. I s'pose...."

Icarus noticed her staring, staring right at his ears. They folded back quickly, and his fur along his shoulders and back began bristling again. He opened his mouth to snarl something rude, he hated it when Shinlai stared at his ears that way, or the way his mask didn't fit quite so properly because of them. Every time he had the opportunity to clip them he'd hesitated and backed out. He only got out a growl before the female cut him off.

“Pipistella, I’m Pipistella. You’re, Icarus?”

His growl quieted. "Yes. Yes I'm, I'm Icarus." He looked at her again, a long steady look at her. He questioned rather she was really neutral as she claimed, he always had his suspicions about Light Shinlai. "Why have you wandered so far? Most don't en-nd up near here by ac-cident."

"Yes. Yes I'm, I'm Icarus. Why have you wandered so far? Most don't en-nd up near here by ac-cident." Icarus said, eyeing her.

She faltered, still a little wide eyed, eyes flicking from him, up towards the mountains and back to him. She wasn’t entirely sure how much she should tell him, evidently he was a Darkblood, and she had been taught that the most of them were dangerous. Although her mother and father had befriended half a dozen over the years, surly she could do the same?

“I’m heading to Maia, and the Dusty Canyon.” She said. “Buuuuut I’m on the wrong side of the mountains right now... And I was walking in circles about half an hour ago, navigation in the dark isn’t really my strong point.” She said, with a weak laugh that trailed off, into a quiet ‘ohh dear’. Truefully she was scared of running into The Circle, or a Darkblood... Well, she had run into one, but he wasn’t being aggressive, so far...

“I was going to try and find a safe cave to sleep in, but The Circle’s around here, right?” She said, shifting from foot to foot nervously. She didn’t even like talking about them, not after hearing the horror stories about them and what they’d do to Shinlai caught unawares. She suppressed a shudder, fur shaking slightly as she hunched up, head dropping lower and shoulder blades practically protruding through her thick fur.

“I’m heading to Maia, and the Dusty Canyon.” She said. “Buuuuut I’m on the wrong side of the mountains right now... And I was walking in circles about half an hour ago, navigation in the dark isn’t really my strong point.”

"I'll say!" Icarus laughed. "You're a 3 days walk at least!" Icarus' stutter and hesitation faded away altogether when he spoke the first thing that came to mind- as he was now, evidently. It might have been hard to tell if Icarus was genuinely surprised or perhaps just making fun of Pipistella. Truthfully, it had been... well, far too long since he'd laughed like that.

“I was going to try and find a safe cave to sleep in, but The Circle’s around here, right?”

Icarus' good-natured demeanor seemed to stop abruptly, and he snarled with a sudden bout of anger. His fur (particularly his fluffy "lion's mane) bristled to stand on end. His tail swished behind him and he tossed his horns. The Circle brought back terrible, terrible memories for the Shinlai. He wasn't sure whether to be insulted that Pip would suggest that they lived here- or wary about the possibility.

"You'll find no Circle here," he practically spat the name out, like rancid meat. "I doubt you'll find any humans at all." If a human came by, Icarus made sure he or she didn't last long around here. Lycu had left him no orders regarding humans, so Icarus did as he pleased.

"I'll say! You're a 3 days walk at least!" He laughed.

She raised an eyebrow, unsure how to react to that, was he poking fun at her? She wasn’t sure if she should laugh along with him or tell him off. She settled for a smirk, she was no stranger to traipsing around, three days wasn’t so bad, so long as she didn’t get lost.

She drew her head back as his attitude changed, hissing and spitting, his fur on end. "You'll find no Circle here, I doubt you'll find any humans at all." He snarled, his words making her frown, although it was probably a good job she didn’t mention why she was heading to Maia...

“That’s Willow Peak right?” She said, jerking her head towards the mountains looming above the pair. “I was told that was their ‘territory’, which is a problem considering I need to get over them.” She said, keeping her voice even, not wanting to provoke him too much. “Although from the sounds of it, it’s probably a good job they’re not down here.” She added, blank face splitting into a broad toothy smile, that looked more like a snarl than a grin, hoping she could give off the impression of not liking humans either.

“That’s Willow Peak right?”

Icarus turned, looking at the rising mountain behind him. Icarus' ears folded backwards slightly, he didn't actually know if it was Willow Peak or not; he was never very good at maps.

“I was told that was their ‘territory’, which is a problem considering I need to get over them.”

Icarus frowned, looking back over the ridge towards Sunset Peak. "I can't say I r-really know to be ho-nest. I'd assumed..." He trailed off, frustrated that Darius would allow such a vile group of humans to stay so close. Surely a pack of Shinlai could tear their camp to shreds and end the Circle in a matter of hours. Icarus cocked his head, confused again.

“Although from the sounds of it, it’s probably a good job they’re not down here.”

"Haha... yeah..." Icarus laughed half-heartedly, trailing off again. He didn't really fancy the idea of this young female heading off over the mountains alone.

"I could, I-I mean I guess, I could escort you over the mountain. If you'd like."

(omg Icarus are you ever not confused.
Also if maybe you want to take them over the mountain we could ask if some Circle rpers want to come in c: )

"I can't say I r-really know to be ho-nest. I'd assumed..." Icarus said slowly, frowning at the peak, looking confused, ears back and head cocked to one side. Pipistella took the brief chance to study him, while he was distracted, but made sure to look away when he turned back, she didn’t want to seem like a creep after all.

"I could, I-I mean I guess, I could escort you over the mountain. If you'd like." He suggested.

She blinked, taken aback. “Uh, aren’t you patrolling or something?” She asked, eyes going wide again. “I mean if you’re on duty or something I wouldn’t want to distract you from it. Although I’ve probably done that enough as it is.” She said with a weak laugh. “And say, there’s probably caves I could go through, they’d probably be a little safer than risking the humans.” She added.

“Uh, aren’t you patrolling or something?”

"W-well, yeah."

“I mean if you’re on duty or something I wouldn’t want to distract you from it. Although I’ve probably done that enough as it is.” She said with a weak laugh. “And say, there’s probably caves I could go through, they’d probably be a little safer than risking the humans.”

"In that case I'll help you with t-hat," Icarus smiled. "I know a good a-amount of caves around here." Icarus jerked his head, "Their near the mountains- but not too far a-way at all." He began walking, flicking his tail behind him. He looked down at Pip, eyes bright with curiosity. He hardly ever met Light Shinlai- and hardly ever wanted too- but when he actually came across them they weren't so bad. "So you're neutral, huh? Why?" He asked, blunt as ever.

(ah I'm sorry I'm gradually getting shorter I'LL GET BETTER I PROMISE)

"In that case I'll help you with t-hat, I know a good a-amount of caves around here. Their near the mountains- but not too far a-way at all." Icarus said, standing up and jerking his head towards the mountains.

He began heading towards the mountain, and she hopped to her feet and trotted after him, her head bobbing about his shoulder level. Noting the size distance she tried not to show her irritation at being short, she kept her eyes locked dead ahead chewing her tongue.

"So you're neutral, huh? Why?" Icarus asked abruptly.

She glanced up at him briefly, his bright eyes peering down at her curiously, tail flicking. “Oh. I don’t know really.” She said slowly. “I mean I know a lot about Daila, but I’ve never felt the urge to ‘worship’ her like some do. And say, it’s not in my interests right now.” She said. Truthfully she wanted to be an Elite, and she didn’t care which side she’d be on to reach that position. True if she followed in her mother and father’s footsteps she’d be more likely to end up in a position of power, but she didn’t want to be the same as them, she wanted to do her own thing. Maybe if she tried hard enough, she’d create her own ‘fraction’ to be an Elite of.


((Eh mine are short too, don't worry about it!))

“Oh. I don’t know really.” She said slowly. “I mean I know a lot about Daila, but I’ve never felt the urge to ‘worship’ her like some do. And say, it’s not in my interests right now.”

Icarus nodded thoughtfully, but he only briefly thought about what she actually said. "Daila was a liar and a fraud," he blurted out. He blinked, surprising even himself with the statement. Sometimes he forgot that he'd rejected Daila so long ago. Worshipping her used to be second nature. Icarus paused, lost in thought. Xavier used to worship Daila. He remembered Nill telling the twins about her.

"I- I see things that are just- so so terrible. I don't believe any goddess would allow such pain and hate. So there musn't be one." Icarus shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know why she'd let things keep going the way they are."

icarus' ears pricked and turned in every which direction. He stopped suddenly, gently touching Pip to signal her to quiet as well. After a moment of listening and scanning the woods, he stopped. "Sorry. C-could have sworn I, I heard something." He shook himself. "Anyways, I wonder too, what other secrets she kept from us. She hid Balance and Darkness- and look where that's gotten us! A revolution for those of us that want the truth and, most of all, want to stop the- the ridiculous persecution of the Dark element!" Icarus' voice was rising, but he caught himself before he began shouting, and took deep breaths. When he got excited or upset the Voices started whispering. Lycu always told him to stop before he heard the Voices.

"Daila was a liar and a fraud," He said abruptly, seeming surprised at his own words. She blinked too, slightly taken aback, but then again, if he was a Darkblood it would make sense for him to think that. She respected Daila, but just respected what she had done, or at least some of it.

"I- I see things that are just- so so terrible. I don't believe any goddess would allow such pain and hate. So there musn't be one. I don't know why she'd let things keep going the way they are." Icarus said, shrugging and his thick mane rolling about.

She was going to make a smart reply when he suddenly stopped, nudging her and making her jump, until she realised he was signalling to be quiet. She froze, wide eyed and glancing around terrified. The circle? Hostile Darkbloods? Would they be a threat to their own? She didn't know much about them, maybe they would fight amongst themselves? "Sorry. C-could have sworn I, I heard something. Anyways, I wonder too, what other secrets she kept from us. She hid Balance and Darkness- and look where that's gotten us! A revolution for those of us that want the truth and, most of all, want to stop the- the ridiculous persecution of the Dark element!" He continued rambling, his voice raising as he moved further away.

But Pipistella was rooted to the spot, staring into a dark patch of shadows about ten feet back. “A-are you sure there's nothing there?” She asked, voice more of a squeak. “I-I thought I saw s-something move.” She said slowly, fully prepared to run like hell if something was there.

((I was thinking, we could make two random humans to chase after them? Just for fun and not real characters, just give em a random name and weapons and gooo. Maybe? What do you think? Or would you rather not?))

(I'm cool with that c: )

Icarus continued chattering to himself, speaking blasphemies against Daila and praises to Darius and his cause. He hadn't seemed to notice that Pip wasn't listening to him or wasn't even keeping up. For the moment, Icarus was lost in his own mind, and it was easy to hear him carrying out both sides of his conversation.

"Yes, yes it's true Darius has excellent points but-"
"But nothing it's PROOF that Daila was hiding out own potential from us-"
"Where did the girl go?"

Icarus shook himself out of his chatter, blinking as if out of a trance. He looked back, where Pip stood stock still a few yards back. "Pipistella?" He questioned softly.

“A-are you sure there's nothing there? I-I thought I saw s-something move.”

Icarus frowned, moving closer, suddenly alert. Adrenaline immediately shot through his veins and he began to shake slightly with the rush. His ears, ruined by temple so they seemed, still worked evidently- for he twisted them every which way. His eyes flashed dangerously, the stunning blue seemed to glow against his dark face. Finally, from the corner of his eye, he saw movement.

Icarus snarled viciously, stepping in front of Pipistella. His mane bristled, and he looked all the larger for it. He shook his head, tossing his horns threateningly. He mustered his element, feeling all the shadows the setting sun created through the forest. He clicked his teeth together nervously, a loud clacking noise.

(omg I forget the time of day- if it's night let's just say I said moon x3 )

Blue wrote:

Adrenaline immediately shot through his venus and he began to shake slightly with the rush.

((WHY AM I LAUGHING SO MUCH AT THIS SENTENCE
AHHHHH Hhehehehheehe, omg I'm so sorry I'll reply at some point, I just can't stop laughing XD))

FFFFFFFUCK AUTOCORRECT

"Pipistella?" She heard him say.

She didn’t reply, fur flattered and eyes wide. Just. Staring. It wasn’t until Icarus snarled, moving in front of her that she moved. She flinched away from the loud sound, tail tucking down as she crouched slightly. “What is it? Is something there?” She asked, quiet, despite her fear.

She crept a little further forwards, peering past him into the darkness, a small orb of light appearing higher up, lighting the area with a soft blue glow. She was peering one way, as there was a whistle and a crossbow bolt shot over head.

“CIRCLE!” She yelled, twisting on the spot, headbutting Icarus’s shoulder in a bid to make him move. “Runrunrun. Caves!” She yelled, scrabbling about trying to get traction on the loose soil, intending to head up the mountain and hide somewhere in the caves. She scurried away from the shadows, hearing the whistle of more blots whizzing over head. “Icar?” She half yelled, staring around over her shoulder.