Each Elder of the Grove takes a section, working outwards from the center of the Grove. The fires are pushed back, the steam from them covering the forest with mist of warm steam. Smoke and steam combine to fuel the clouds used for the weather summonings.
"You! Boy! It isn't safe here! I suggest you go home!"
"You needn't worry about me, I'm staying away from the fires and I'm trying to help while I look for someone."
Aidan continues his search, helping animals when they don't attack him, running when they do. Finally, he stands about 100ft, from the strangest thing he has every seen. An elvenbear hybrid encircled by animals. He watches in secret(he hopes), using a tree for cover.
The man looks around nervously, then sighs. "Should I send someone to escort you? It looks like the fire is under control, but not all these animals are friendly."
"I know. I won't be needing an escort, I have friends nearby."
The druid speaks softly in Sylvan and his face takes on the appearance of a unicorn for a brief moment before returning. A circle of white mist forms around him and spreads outward. The animals around him stop coughing and seem to be breathing deeply of the mist. Walking over to the One Tree the druid places a paw upon it. The mist spreads outward at a quick pace. Its air is pure, refreshing, and healing. It pushes the soot and steam from its path.
The hybrid changes into a bear form and curls up against Yggdrasil to sleep. He is oblivious to several other animals doing the same, but using him as their bed.
Waking, the bear gently moves aside the animals that are still sleeping. It changes into an elf, and summons several wood spirits to clear the area around the Grove of debris from the fires.
Aidan watches in amazement, thinking perhaps he is dreaming. Moments later, the thought of dreams has caused his body to catch up with his mind. All the energy he used finally catches up to him, and he lays against the tree.
"Thank you tree... for not dropping branches on me. I'm.. so sorry."
He fall into the deep sleep that only occurs when one is truly exhausted.
Aidan watches in amazement, thinking perhaps he is dreaming. Moments later, the thought of dreams has caused his body to catch up with his mind. All the energy he used finally catches up to him, and he lays against the tree.
"Thank you tree... for not dropping branches on me. I'm.. so sorry."
He fall into the deep sleep that only occurs when one is truly exhausted.
Drawn to the sleeping boy by the scent of ash that cannot be cleared by the mist E7 finds him sleeping by a tree. He struggles to put aside his anger, remembering the seduction of the flame, and decides to help this one. Much like he had done recently to the one that would be the Destroyer, corrupted by GDK's manipulations.
He summons water from the Grove's pool and cleans the boy, taking care not to wake him.
He whispers, "By the Waters of Life is the Flame Touched healed. By the Waters of Life is it cleansed. By the Waters of Life is it reborn."
He wanders off to add his efforts to the rebirth of the Grove and its inhabitants, sprinkling the waters on the spots most darkened by the Flame.
Later, as night falls and moonlight shines on Aidan, shimmers that turn into ghostly silver fire cover his body. Then the flames blacken as Aidan begins to toss and turn in his sleep, trying to escape his nightmare. He awakens and sits straight up, the flames vanishing as he opens his eyes.
"It wasn't real.. just a dream. Just a dream..."
He leans against the tree again, thanking it once more, and falls a sleep.
Waking up, Aidan feels a bit of happiness. The dream wasn't as bad it had been before, and no one was here, so he didn't worry about attacking someone when he woke up. But the dream was still there, and he remembered it perfectly. He gets up and stares at the tree that sheltered him during the night. Then he walks away in search of E7...
The sites where the evil flame had first touched down are tainted the strongest. While the Grove itself is sheltered from exactly this kind of attack, the normal flames that followed spread. Not concerning himself with the ash from the normal fires, E7 calls upon the earth to swallow up the remains of the blemishes and carry them deep within itself. Purify fire with fire.
He moves from spot to spot, taking care to remove the stains so that the rebirth may begin.
Arriving at the Grove, CH gasps aloud.
"Oh no..."
While the Grove itself is basically healthy signs of the damage in the outer areas have intruded.
LJ swallows hard as she sees the damage.
"Well, you did say you'd rather be busy. And it looks like we can be of use here."
Traveling through the Grove, Aidan tries everything he can think of to put out the black fire. He tries stomping, water, and sand, but nothing works. The only thing he can do is try to keep it from spreading, and he digs little fire breaks and drenches the surronding plantlife in his attempts. He has to stop however, when an angry wolf forces him up a tree.
"I don't get it! The animals attack me if they are strong enough, but why do the trees do nothing? I'm not complaining of course, just curious."
He pauses for a moment.
"Great. Now I'm talking to myself..."
Arriving at the Grove, CH gasps aloud.
"Oh no..."
While the Grove itself is basically healthy signs of the damage in the outer areas have intruded.
LJ swallows hard as she sees the damage.
"Well, you did say you'd rather be busy. And it looks like we can be of use here."
A mist flows toward them, growing denser and becoming Rion just a few feet away.
"It was a lot worse. But the Grove seems to be fighting back, and E7, my dad, and myself are working as hard as we can to help it win this fight. Success is is inevitable now that you to are here."
He looks around.
"On a unrelated note, do you know where Aidan is? He asked us if we'd handle the fires from the air while he helped the animals, and we haven't seen him since."
A mist flows toward them, growing denser and becoming Rion just a few feet away.
"It was a lot worse. But the Grove seems to be fighting back, and E7, my dad, and myself are working as hard as we can to help it win this fight. Success is is inevitable now that you to are here."
He looks around.
"On a unrelated note, do you know where Aidan is? He asked us if we'd handle the fires from the air while he helped the animals, and we haven't seen him since."
"No, we haven't. But we just got here."
"I can keep an eye out for him. I'll let you know if I see him. It's not like I can help with healing the damage. I'll stay close by, I promise."
"I looked for mosted of last night, but I couldn't find him anywhere. Whirl and Aurora are still searching from the air, but the smoke isn't good for them, and they can't do much. I hope he hasn't meet with too many of the animals, I don't beleive they will be friendly toward him right now."
CH reaches down and picks up a rosewood box from the base of Yggdrasil. He opens it to find the item and the note have never been claimed. He stows it in his pack.
"Three lives, three times. I forgot there for a while. Past, present, and future are not meant to be lived at the same time. Remembered, dreamed, but not lived."
He places his hand upon the One Tree and is comforted.
"I looked for most of last night, but I couldn't find him anywhere. Whirl and Aurora are still searching from the air, but the smoke isn't good for them, and they can't do much. I hope he hasn't met with too many of the animals, I don't beleive they will be friendly toward him right now."
E7 walks into the circle as Rio speaks.
"The scent of the Flame will be thick upon him. The animals will be threatened by it."
A squirrel jumps off E7's shoulder and runs up to CH, chittering loudly. The scolding has begun.
"Then we need to find him. Yes, you can help look Arielle. But stay within sight of Yggdrasil. And don't hesitate to scream for help."
She smiled as she saw the squirrel scolding JH. She laid a hand on Yggdrasil's bark and lost herself in the Song for a moment, closing her eyes as she listened. Her eyes snapped open as she realized something.
"I can still hear it. I can still hear Yggdrasil's Song."
Having gotten permission, Arielle starts to wander around looking at the Grove. She ends up walking back to the tree emperor.
"I know you're busy right now, but do you think you can help me later? I - I'm not very good at controlling my emotions and weather tends to get out of hand when I'm angry or scared. People have gotten hurt. My mom and dad try to help, but," she shrugged, "sometimes it's hard for us to understand each other. We all have such different powers. I saw you calling rain before so you have to understand weather at least some. I..I really just don't want to hurt anyone else if I don't have to."
"Then we need to find him. Yes, you can help look Arielle. But stay within sight of Yggdrasil. And don't hesitate to scream for help."
She smiled as she saw the squirrel scolding JH. She laid a hand on Yggdrasil's bark and lost herself in the Song for a moment, closing her eyes as she listened. Her eyes snapped open as she realized something.
"I can still hear it. I can still hear Yggdrasil's Song."
CH turns and stares at her like she just said the silliest thing. The squirrel stops chattering and does likewise.
"Of course. Once you learned how to listen it's a thing not easily forgotten. You are part of her, and she part of you."
"That same song flies thru the winds with every seed pod, pours from the sky with every drop of rain, and skitters thru the earth with every bug that walks across it. It breathes life into all things."
"I can still hear it. I can still hear Yggdrasil's Song."
CH turns and stares at her like she just said the silliest thing. The squirrel stops chattering and does likewise.
"Of course. Once you learned how to listen it's a thing not easily forgotten. You are part of her, and she part of you."
"That same song flies thru the winds with every seed pod, pours from the sky with every drop of rain, and skitters thru the earth with every bug that walks across it. It breathes life into all things."
"I didn't know. When I gave up the goddess's power, I didn't know what was actually mine, what I would get to keep. I was pretty sure that I would keep the healing. That was so obviously from Linna. But I had no idea about the rest. Well, if I can still hear it, maybe I can still use it too."
She walked over to one of the damaged areas and started humming the Song of Life she had learned from Yggdrasil.
Having gotten permission, Arielle starts to wander around looking at the Grove. She ends up walking back to the tree emperor.
"I know you're busy right now, but do you think you can help me later? I - I'm not very good at controlling my emotions and weather tends to get out of hand when I'm angry or scared. People have gotten hurt. My mom and dad try to help, but," she shrugged, "sometimes it's hard for us to understand each other. We all have such different powers. I saw you calling rain before so you have to understand weather at least some. I..I really just don't want to hurt anyone else if I don't have to."
"Certainly, Little Cloud. To be part of something so vast, so powerful, is frightening at first. I will try to help you find your place amongst the Weave."
"I am having those same lessons with another young one, but she has not reached the point you are at now. Caring for others."
"While I tend to other things you may want to sit by Yggdrasil. Listen to the sound of the wind as it glides across her bark. Later, you will tell me what you hear."
"Certainly, Little Cloud. To be part of something so vast, so powerful, is frightening at first. I will try to help you find your place amongst the Weave."
"I am having those same lessons with another young one, but she has not reached the point you are at now. Caring for others."
"While I tend to other things you may want to sit by Yggdrasil. Listen to the sound of the wind as it glides across her bark. Later, you will tell me what you hear."
"Thank you. I'll do that," she said, with a cheerful smile.
She found a comfortable spot at the base of the Tree and sat down, concentrating hard on listening.
CH heads to the pool for a drink of water. The squirrel hangs back. As he approaches, the water swirls and the small head of an aquatic dragon-type creature arises. It hisses in challenge.
"Well, what do we have here?"
"May I drink from the pool, Guardian?"
The creature hisses again, and CH backs off.
CH heads to the pool for a drink of water. The squirrel hangs back. As he approaches, the water swirls and the small head of an aquatic dragon-type creature arises. It hisses in challenge.
"Well, what do we have here?"
"May I drink from the pool, Guardian?"
The creature hisses again, and CH backs off.
"Now, Tempest. This is a friend. I've told you that all creatures are welcome to drink from this pool."
The creature looks defiant, but backs off pretending to ignore the intrusion.
CH heads to the pool for a drink of water. The squirrel hangs back. As he approaches, the water swirls and the small head of an aquatic dragon-type creature arises. It hisses in challenge.
"Well, what do we have here?"
"May I drink from the pool, Guardian?"
The creature hisses again, and CH backs off.
"Now, Tempest. This is a friend. I've told you that all creatures are welcome to drink from this pool."
The creature looks defiant, but backs off pretending to ignore the intrusion.
CH approaches and opts to fill a waterskin. He does so quickly.
"Interesting creature."
CH heads to the pool for a drink of water. The squirrel hangs back. As he approaches, the water swirls and the small head of an aquatic dragon-type creature arises. It hisses in challenge.
"Well, what do we have here?"
"May I drink from the pool, Guardian?"
The creature hisses again, and CH backs off.
"Now, Tempest. This is a friend. I've told you that all creatures are welcome to drink from this pool."
The creature looks defiant, but backs off pretending to ignore the intrusion.
CH approaches and opts to fill a waterskin. He does so quickly.
"Interesting creature."
"She is unique."
CH heads to the pool for a drink of water. The squirrel hangs back. As he approaches, the water swirls and the small head of an aquatic dragon-type creature arises. It hisses in challenge.
"Well, what do we have here?"
"May I drink from the pool, Guardian?"
The creature hisses again, and CH backs off.
Arielle is distracted from her listening.
"What is that?" she asks curiously.
She walks close enough to get a good view, but not close enough to get bit.
"Hello. I'm Arielle. May I play with you?"
CH heads to the pool for a drink of water. The squirrel hangs back. As he approaches, the water swirls and the small head of an aquatic dragon-type creature arises. It hisses in challenge.
"Well, what do we have here?"
"May I drink from the pool, Guardian?"
The creature hisses again, and CH backs off.
Arielle is distracted from her listening.
"What is that?" she asks curiously.
She walks close enough to get a good view, but not close enough to get bit.
"Hello. I'm Arielle. May I play with you?"
"Careful, Little Cloud. She is a creature of the Sea, and just as unpredictable. Her name is Tempest."
"Careful, Little Cloud. She is a creature of the Sea, and just as unpredictable. Her name is Tempest."CH heads to the pool for a drink of water. The squirrel hangs back. As he approaches, the water swirls and the small head of an aquatic dragon-type creature arises. It hisses in challenge.
"Well, what do we have here?"
"May I drink from the pool, Guardian?"
The creature hisses again, and CH backs off.
Arielle is distracted from her listening.
"What is that?" she asks curiously.
She walks close enough to get a good view, but not close enough to get bit.
"Hello. I'm Arielle. May I play with you?"
"Can you breathe water?", without waiting for an answer the small creature blows a stream of water at Arielle's face.
"Can you breathe water?", without waiting for an answer the small creature blows a stream of water at Arielle's face."Careful, Little Cloud. She is a creature of the Sea, and just as unpredictable. Her name is Tempest."CH heads to the pool for a drink of water. The squirrel hangs back. As he approaches, the water swirls and the small head of an aquatic dragon-type creature arises. It hisses in challenge.
"Well, what do we have here?"
"May I drink from the pool, Guardian?"
The creature hisses again, and CH backs off.
Arielle is distracted from her listening.
"What is that?" she asks curiously.
She walks close enough to get a good view, but not close enough to get bit.
"Hello. I'm Arielle. May I play with you?"
"And oftentimes rude."
"Tempest, you are here to learn to be around others. Play nice."
The small creature transforms, becoming half girl/half sea serpent. She sniffs.
"You smell of a storm at sea."
Arielle giggled.
"I can't breathe water, but I like to play with it."
She concentrated really hard to make sure she didn't let things get out of hand and made a tiny little cloud out of the water Tempest had spit at her and had it start raining on Tempest.
"See?"
The small creature transforms, becoming half girl/half sea serpent. She sniffs.
"You smell of a storm at sea."
"I'm good at storms. But not always so good at controlling them."
"I'm good at storms. But not always so good at controlling them."The small creature transforms, becoming half girl/half sea serpent. She sniffs.
"You smell of a storm at sea."
"Why control them? Revel in their power."
"Why control them? Revel in their power.""I'm good at storms. But not always so good at controlling them."The small creature transforms, becoming half girl/half sea serpent. She sniffs.
"You smell of a storm at sea."
"I tried that. People got hurt. I don't want to hurt people."
"I tried that. People got hurt. I don't want to hurt people.""Why control them? Revel in their power.""I'm good at storms. But not always so good at controlling them."The small creature transforms, becoming half girl/half sea serpent. She sniffs.
"You smell of a storm at sea."
"More will be hatched, born, to take their place. Why bother?"
E7 watches the exchange, interested to see if Arielle could succeed in reaching the stubborn little Fury.
"More will be hatched, born, to take their place. Why bother?""I tried that. People got hurt. I don't want to hurt people.""Why control them? Revel in their power.""I'm good at storms. But not always so good at controlling them."The small creature transforms, becoming half girl/half sea serpent. She sniffs.
"You smell of a storm at sea."
"Because it will cause pain to the people who are here now. Because that makes the world a worse place. Because you can't ever really replace people. And because I don't want to be the sort of person who just destroys everything and doesn't care. Other people matter."
"Look, would you rather spend time with someone who only cares about themselves and doesn't care at all about you? Or would you rather spend time around someone who is nice to you?"
"More will be hatched, born, to take their place. Why bother?""I tried that. People got hurt. I don't want to hurt people.""Why control them? Revel in their power.""I'm good at storms. But not always so good at controlling them."The small creature transforms, becoming half girl/half sea serpent. She sniffs.
"You smell of a storm at sea."
"Because it will cause pain to the people who are here now. Because that makes the world a worse place. Because you can't ever really replace people. And because I don't want to be the sort of person who just destroys everything and doesn't care. Other people matter."
"Look, would you rather spend time with someone who only cares about themselves and doesn't care at all about you? Or would you rather spend time around someone who is nice to you?"
"I am alone in this world."
"Everything fears my power."
"I am alone in this world."
"Everything fears my power."
"See? That's what I'm talking about. People who destroy end up all alone. Nobody wants to be around them because they don't care about other people. I don't want to be like that. I'd rather be loved, not feared."
"See? That's what I'm talking about. People who destroy end up all alone. Nobody wants to be around them because they don't care about other people. I don't want to be like that. I'd rather be loved, not feared.""I am alone in this world."
"Everything fears my power."
"I don't understand."
"I don't care if beings fear me. They just do."
"I am like a storm."
"I don't understand."
"I don't care if beings fear me. They just do."
"I am like a storm."
"I don't fear you. I'm like a storm, too. But storms don't have to destroy. And I bet if you gave people a chance you'd find out why it can be so nice to have them around."
"I don't fear you. I'm like a storm, too. But storms don't have to destroy. And I bet if you gave people a chance you'd find out why it can be so nice to have them around.""I don't understand."
"I don't care if beings fear me. They just do."
"I am like a storm."
"If people were around me it'd be dangerous. One of them would be bound to make me angry."
"I don't understand. Something about balance."
"They are to bring me things and make me happy. That is their reason for being. Mine is to sweep the oceans clean of them if they don't follow the balance."