Aetos' POV:
I shifted in my sleep, pulling my legs up to my chest. I was very warm and comfortable. Peeking my eyes open, I winced and closed them again before leaning forward and rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. "Aaahh.." Blinking hard, I look around our site. It was early in the morning, because the sky was gray but had a light blue hue. Huh. I am EXTREMELY surprised I am up this early in the day. Whatever. I looked over to Ulfur who was sleeping happily beside me. His face was relax and had a very peaceful expression on his face. There was a grumble in my stomach. Ugh... Not wanting to wake up, I got up slowly and silently and made my way over to my bag. I pulled out a granola bar and shoved one down with a bottle of water, brushing my hair out when I had eaten. I began to hum quietly to myself as I looked through my bag for a change of clothes.
Ulfur's POV:
I heard humming. I peeked my eyes open to see Aetos fishing through her bag. Pulling out some clothing, I knew she was going to change. I shut my eyes again, giving her privacy. Once I thought she was done, I opened them and stretched. I was extremely stiff. "Well, sleeping in human form... not as comfortable as my Nebulous form." I muttered, getting to my feet and brushing off the debris from the ground that clung to my leather jacket. "Seems we were supposed to leave during the night, but we slept too long. We need to make up some time." I sighed, looking into the sky, which was now beginning to turn yellow with the sunrise. "So, feel good, yes?" I asked Aetos, giving a gentle nod.
Aetos' POV:
"Mhm," I replied, throwing up my arms and stretching and letting out a groan with a sigh at the end. "I suppose we're going to be running all day, aren't we? Fun times." Slipping on my shoes, I looked back at him while throwing my hair up in a ponytail. "You hungry-.. Oh yeah, you don't need to eat. Lucky," I said while letting a small smile form across my lips.
Ulfur's POV:
"Right. I'm good though. Thanks. Now, can you bring up the map on that device of yours, if it's still functional, that is. I need to see a map of the country here, if you can mange it." I yawned deeply, twisting my upper body back and forth to stretch.
Aetos' POV:
I watched him for a moment and blushed a bit, before scrambling through my bag and pulling out my phone. I was happy when it turned on only to be greeted by a familiar face. "Ah, good morning, Tom," I cooed happily. Opening my GPS app, I turned on Sally and walked over to Ulfur, pointing at the screen. "We're here, and we need to go there. If that a good idea for you?"
Ulfur's POV:
I scanned the screen, taking note all the different dots and colors. There were dots scattered all over the country, they were all either red or black. Aetos' and my own at black. Our target in Montana is red with a gold lion silhouette in the center. "Now, why are they either red or black with a colored animal silhouette?" I asked aloud, looking at Aetos. She had a very confused expression. "What is red or black?" she asked, curiously. "You can't see them, huh? Hmm... I wonder... Never mind." Returning my gaze to the map. "Now, we need to travel quite a ways, and during the day would just be a waste of our energy and time, since we'll need to slow down and be humans at every slightly populated area. As weird as it is to say, I think we should wait until tonight to move on. I have something to fill the time of the day though. Sound okay to you?" I asked, looking up from her device.
Aetos' POV:
"Um.. Alright," I said, turning off my phone to save the battery while shoving it in my pocket. I was curious on what he had in mind.
Ulfur's POV:
"Great." I spoke, turning around to look around the area. "Now, are you feeling well rested and energized? You'll need your focus for what I have planned for you." I turned around again, looking at Aetos with a emotionless stare. "If you are, I want you to follow me." Turning to my wolf form, I started jogging away into a large field across the river at a pace that even Aetos could follow in human form, it was practically a speed walk for myself.
Aetos' POV:
I frowned. He's... acting different. I felt slightly hurt by it, but I'd let it slide. Giving out a sigh, I ran after him. Though, he was acting slightly different.. Just forget it, Aetos. It's all in your head.
Ulfur's POV:
"Come on, Eagle girl. You should be swift on your feet, shouldn't you?" I looked over my shoulder back at her making decent chase, giving a grin at the teasing. This needed to be done. She needs to unlock her potential.
Aetos' POV:
Ah, there we go. I picked up the pace, giving a slight grin at the challenge. Whatever you say, Puppy, I replied back teasingly. I leaned forward a bit and bolted, everything almost passing as a blur beside me. My lips were now curled up in a smile, and soon it felt like my feet were hardly touching the ground anymore.
Ulfur's POV:
Oh, come on! You got more than that! RUN! I shouted in my mind. She was quite faster than I expected, but she has way more in her than that. I just need to push her over the edge...
Aetos' POV:
Frowing, I gave another small burst of speed. My breathing was coming out a bit harder now, but I didn't mind. I was going to catch him, or run past him. I hate it when people beat me at races. The wind was starting to pick up and give a small howl in my ears, but I ignored it as I can another burst of speed a final time.
Ulfur's POV:
Man, earthlings ARE slow. Well, what do you know? I never believed them when they told me that. Seems they were right after all. I picked up speed and took off just inside her line of sight. I dashed into a forest, weaving between the trees. I was heading for one particular place I noticed on our way out here. My eyes darting around, occasionally shouting jokes and teases. If this doesn't work... I don't know how things will turn out. I continued to run, locating the spot I was searching for straight ahead. Curling my paws upward as I gripped the ground, sending dirt into the air to obstruct her view, I dashed through the treeline, leaping high into the air, across a 50 foot gap. Aetos followed fast behind me, not noticing the ledge, and could do nothing to keep from the fall.
Aetos' POV:
He is being such a jerk! I swear, I'm gonna kill'em! - What the? He suddenly jumped out of the way, and I didn't see where he went. Why did he..? Suddenly, I knew why. The was a wide ledge with my name on it. I tried to skid to a stop, but I had to much speed and momentum hurling me forward. And then I was falling. I was gonna die. So many images ran through my mind. Okay. So this is what people mean by their life flashing before their eyes. Did Ulfur try to kill me on purpose? I don't know.. I screamed as I fell. But.. I didn't want to die! Not now! I was way to young, and I wanted to live longer and actually have a LIFE! No, I would NOT die today! My emotions were mixing inside of me, and suddenly, then wind wasn't my enemy. It was my friend. I focused on it... the different currents of air, and the air that was around me as I fell. And slowly.. my fall slowed dramatically until I was basically floating in mid-air. I was breathing hard and terrified, but.. I was freaking FLYING! I'm like a superhero! ... And I was falling again. Gaining my composure, I focused once more and began floating again. Okay.. So I just needed to focus. Um.. Up! I looked up and thought about which way to go. The travel back up was very slow and shaky, but when I reach the top, I let myself collapse onto the ground limp; panting and feeling extremely weak. "Land!" I cried.
Ulfur's POV:
I watched from the clifftop as she began to fall. For safety, I leapt back and forth along the walls to keep up with her, never being farther than I could handle to manage a last second save. She did well. She got the wind to work for her; controlling it. I dashed back up the cliffs as she ascended, landing on the ground not far from her, stomping my large paw down near her head as she panted. NOW, think about an Eagle. Picture it in your mind. Sit up and picture it! I shouted. She needs to get the form unlocked NOW, when the wind is in her favor and her track of mind aligns with it.
Aetos' POV:
"I... I can't... Tired..." I panted. All energy felt drained from my limbs, and I felt very weak. I wasn't able to move.. But the picture did come in my mind. An eagle. Beautiful creatures... With large, powerful wings to fly high up in the skies: king of air. And sharp talons to hunt it's prey down, the bronzed and brown colors of its feathers. Slowly, I found myself growing warmer, but I still felt a bit weak. The winds picked up and the the trees swayed slightly, but I still felt weak..
Ulfur's POV:
Wrong answer. I snapped my jaws at her, just barely missing her, making her reflexes make her dodge sideways. I continued to walk closer slowly, swatting at her with my paws. Whether she wanted to or not, she was going to unlock this form. I kept snapping my jaws an slashing my paws through the air at her. Each time, she dodged handily, but I didn't let up. I increased the interval between slashes of snaps quickly. Her panting was heavy. Come on! You're dodging me, but are you going to fight back? You'll soon slip and become like shredded paper. The wolf will have nice fried chicken for a mid-morning snack. My... Lucky... DAY!. I snapped and slashed quicker with each of the final words. I kept the rain of attacks coming, not letting up. I could tel she was so close. I could sense the energy surging in her. Remain focused, Aetos. You're nearly there.
Aetos' POV:
His jaws were getting closer to me each time he snapped. I was so weak... Now I KNOW he was trying to kill me. It was getting harder to focus. My body was screaming at me to rest, but he was trying to rip me to shreds, and not to mention that it felt like my shin was starting to burn. It was like when you got a high fever, only worse. And images were running through my head so fast I could hardly make out what they were. Eventually, my body was aching and I almost felt as if I were being slowly burned alive. "Stop," I begged. "Please just stop!" But he completely ignored me. His jaws got close to my neck and came together with a loud snap. Tears were threatening to flow from my eyes. Again, he snapped, and I had almost had enough. "I said STOP!" I screamed. Forcing myself up to move faster, I danced away from him before jumping up in the air and giving a kick. When I did, a large wall of air hit him head-on and knocked him back. Anger was now boiling in my blood, and I didn't let up. With each punch, kick, and whirl I gave he was hit backwards until I almost dared to send him over the edge. I stopped when he was near it, and just stood there; glaring at him and panting hard. I opened my mouth to glare at him, but as soon as I did I felt as if someone had shot me in the back of the head with a gun. Collapsing hard onto the ground, I felt like I was being ripped apart. I couldn't breath, and my body was so tense I couldn't move. And when I looked at my hand, I was glowing green.
Ulfur's POV:
Oh no, you don't! FOCUS! FOCUS ON FLEEING ME! FOCUS ON LIVING! YOU ARE THE EAGLE, NOW SHOW IT TO ME! I shouted, dashing towards her, threatening to blow right by her and trample her. Then turning on my heels, I snapped at her, narrowly missing. Slashing with each front paw in rapid succession, I continued to dash, snap and slash in random patterns. She WILL get this form unlocked, even if I need to injure her to do it! I kept the rain coming. She was tired and weary. One slash caught her on the shoulder, another on her lower leg. I didn't slow down, instead I dashed away, giving her a second or two to respond. The gashes weren't deep, but enough to be slightly painful. Come on! I snapped. FLEE! I slashed. You're going to die at this rate. Die and hang in my jaws unless you RUN! FLY! FLY YOU PATHETIC BIRD! That might have been over the line, but emotions are the key to her power, as anyone is. I am using that weapon against her.
Aetos' POV:
I couldn't hold back anymore. The tears were spilling, and the pain was just to much. He does want me to die. And the blood I was losing was NOT helping my situation. I didn't have the strength to fight him off with the wind again. I might as well just let him bite me in half and end my suffering but no. I never get off that easy. I just dragged my feet off the ground and began to sprint. My body was screaming at me to stop, but I couldn't. I just ran and ran, until I was eventually airborne. I wanted to fly; flying far, far away from him and everyone else. My head was aching badly, and it was hard to see everything around me due to my blurry vision. I could hear Ulfur behind me, too. His powerful jaws catching me on the ankle a time or two. I soon went faster, and images of an eagle flying filed my mind. I kept going and going... But... After awhile, I realized my vision was now clear. MUCH more clear... I don't think I've ever seen the world like this before. And my arms.. were moving, and I heard steady wing beats. I glanced down at my feet, which were now talons instead. I'm... an Eagle... I thought dimly. But I was so much bigger than a normal one... HUGE! But I just couldn't take it anymore. The loss of blood, energy, and being in pain had finally just taken it's toll on me.. My wings just went limp and I hit the ground; hard. It hurt, and I let out a cry - but it was an eagle cry, not a human one. I just laid limp on the ground; wanting to sleep and just move anymore. Just let'em kill me. At least now I'm completely a bird, so I'll probably taste like chicken.
Ulfur's POV:
That's it, Aetos! That's it! Excellent! I approached her as she lay on the ground. She slowly morphed back to human and just laid there, passed out from the pain and exhaustion. She did well, and she broke the seal. I felt a bit of hope appear for our worlds now. Morphing back to human, I slid my arms behind her knees and along her back, lifting her into my arms. I carried her back to camp, managed to slide some water into her mouth and down her throat. It wasn't even noon yet and she had broken the seal. She'll not feel her energy replenishes quicker. Problem is, we were probably a magnet for those sludge beasts again. I got her back to camp and looked at those wounds, gave her water and laid her against a tree to rest. As she slept and recovered, some sludge beasts did attempt to attack. Using Djöfulsin's Mánaskin, I easily sliced them apart. Less than I expected appeared, only about 5 or so. After things seemed to settle down, I sat down across from Aetos and watched over the camp, tending to a fire, and boiling some water. Nearby was a small growing of herbs. They were similar to the one found commonly in the Reverse Dimension. Aquila was a herbalist by nature, and showed me a few herbal extracts to help replenish energy. I whipped up a large batch and let it boil down until she awoke, 4 hours later.
Aetos' POV:
Ow... My head... It felt like a hammer was pounding against my skull, and my body was sore and ached badly. How the hell am I not dead? I don't know, and I don't care. I moaned, stretching my legs just a little before wincing and clutching the grass. Damn... I forced my eyes open until my eyes focused on Ulfur. I just gave him a heartless stare, anger beginning to boil in my blood once more. I swear... if he gets close enough, I'm going to slug him across the jaw. Hard. The nerve of him doing that..
Ulfur's POV:
"You want an explanation, right?" I looked at her, with a small grin. "I'm proud of you, Aetos. you did it." I poured some of the liquid into a water bottle Aetos had in her bag, taking a sip myself to ease her that it won't hurt her. "Drink while I explain, alright. It's an herbal remedy that will help replenish your energy for tonight. I made plenty for us to drink all night, especially you, since your Nebulous form isn't nearly as efficient as my own, but I am getting ahead of myself. Now, anything you want to immediately know about that whole thing?" I asked, sitting back down against the tree.
Aetos' POV:
I just glared at him. He could have at least TOLD me what he was trying to do! First he claims he loves me, then he almost kills me by trying to unlock my Nebulous form. What. The. Hell. Ever. "I'm just dandy," I spat bitterly. I took a sip of what he offered me, and I drank some of it down greedily. It tasted good, and I could already feel my headache going away. "Just... tell me what I need to know. I don't care."
Ulfur's POV:
"Now, listen carefully. Nothing changed since last night. I still love you just as much as last night. To get the Nebulous form unlocked, you need to be pushed to the edge of your limits. Your mental and physical stamina needs to be brought to the edge, and you need to fear for your life. In knowing i was going to push you, you wouldn't fear for your life. That was key. Only then does the instinct of the animal inside you unleash. Once it does, you can then learn to control that valve at will. You can now do that. I needed to push you to the edge of your limits, and attack you. It needed to be done. Now that you can fly, at least most of the time, our speed in traveling will quicken. I'm sorry for scaring you and hurting you, but... I needed to. Everyone we find and join us will need this done to them too. If you progress fast enough, you can help unlock the next one we find. I needed to go through something... similar to yours when I broke the seal myself." I sighed. She might like hearing the tale. I got up and sat next to her, not touching her, since I didn't know if she quite understood my explanation and forgave me for pushing her like that.
Aetos' POV:
Okay... I understood that part. And now I saw why he needed to do what he did. I nodded slowly. "Alright... I got it... But, just one thing." Before he would be able to evade, I reared back my right arm and punched him as hard as I could. "That is for biting me, jerkface." I said as I relaxed myself once again, sipping more on this amazing drink. I don't care if he needed to or not, he still deserved a punch. Reaching up behind my head, I pulled my hair back down and ruffled my hands through it to let it run free, before looking back at him with a raised eyebrow and frown.
Ulfur's POV:
Yeah, she was upset, but not angry... and that punch was quite a force. Heh. She has some strength I didn't expect, and I already expected a bit. The drink was indeed helping. "I'm sorry, Aetos." I sat beside her and kept my hand in front of me, looking into space, the spot she punched still throbbing a bit. It wasn't a killer punch, but it was quite a powerful one.
Aetos' POV:
"Apology accepted... But that still hurt... I hated every minute of it. And I swear, if you pull something similar the next time on me- I will kick you sorry dog behind so hard you will be bleeding rainbows for a month. You got that?" I said, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye before taking another sip. Ahh.. I gotta get me more of this stuff.
Ulfur's POV:
"There won't need to be a next time, since you unlocked the Nebulous form, I won't need to push you like that ever again. I am usually a positive re-enforcement type of trainer. I was in charge of training new Masters in the Reverse Dimension... " My tone saddened. "I knew every one of them. Each one that died, was taught by me in one form or another. Now, I am teaching them all over again. I just hope it doesn't turn out the same way..." I let my eyelids hang low. I wasn't intending to think about the fallen Masters I mentored, but it just came mind.
Aetos' POV:
"It won't.." I whispered. We sat in silence for awhile, and I could feel my energy slowly returning to me. But I felt bad for him... Ulfur had lost a lot so far in his life. Groaning, I forced myself to my feet, but quickly gripped the tree I had leaned against for support since I felt slightly dizzy. My legs felt like Jello, but besides that I was fine. Standing on my own, I walked around the site slowly for awhile, until I wasn't dizzy anymore and I had strength in my legs once more. I was going to be wobbly for the next week most likely. I pulled out my phone and my eyes widened in horror. "SHIT!" I yelled. The screen... was demolished. It had most likely been broken during my hussle and tussle with Ulfur. "Nonononono, baby, c'mon. Live for mama!" My hands scrambled to turn it on, but the lights only flickered before dying once more. "No..." Not only was our map broken, but I would not get to see my beautiful Hiddles for All-Father knows how long.
Ulfur's POV:
"Take it easy." Getting to my feet, I placed my hands on her shoulders and ushered her to lay back down. "Drink the rest of that and sleep again, alright? For a few more hours. That stuff works best when you sleep after drinking it. You'll feel brand new when you wake up." I'll keep watch until we need to get ready to leave. I'll figure out something for our map in the meantime." I talked her into agreeing, and she guzzled the last bit and reluctantly laid down to sleep, and passed out quickly. I held her phone my hand, the screen looking like a massive spiderweb, fractured in all sort of directions. There wasn't an ounce of power left in it either, although, there was an energy-less void in the device. I set it down for later looking as I hurried to whip together another batch of the herbal remedy, pouring it into the remaining bottles, filling the ones Aetos finished off as well. We had 3 in total now. I sipped on the left over bit and decided to leave the rest for Aetos to finish off when she awoke. I was glad she finally unlocked it. Now, she just needs to keep training with it. She unlocked it fairly quickly compared to some. Perhaps it is my relationship with her. The closer I was, the most shock she would feel from a supposed betrayal. Mentoring someone I knew little of... makes it a bit harder to gain that trust enough to force the seal easily. I sat against a tree, just watching over the camp, and occasionally watching Aetos' face, so peaceful. I could see her bravely defending our worlds, fearless and ferocious. I was glad she was here and I found her first. I need to fight, to make sure our worlds don't fall, so we don't lose each other.