Hello my reviewers! Thank you again for all the awesome reviews ;) you guys keep me writing. I don't know if you guys play Fire Emblem but if you do I suggest you get the new ones; they are both really good. Conquest is a tad bit harder (its more tact) and Birthright is easier (it focuses on leveling) The story is great, won't spoil but will say its great :) Any way here is the chapter enjoy.
(Warren)
Bright flowers danced in fields of green, these dots of color adding to calm scenery around them. Rivers flowing with bright rainbow water ran like veins all around the Sanctuary of Hope. Every so often the colored water would be disturbed by tiny eggs running and jumping into them, the little things emerging happily covered in sparkling color.
It was near one of these rivers that Bunny now stood beside, the Guardian rubbing his temples as he attempted to get information from the small group of eggs in front of him.
"Ok…let me ask again." The Pooka inhaled slightly, he had been at this for nearly thirty minutes. The little things wanting nothing more than to tell him all about their day of running and playing all morning. "Did you see an imp fly by here."
The little eggs nodded vigorously
Bunny let out a huff, finally "Ok which way did it go?"
A moment of silence passed, then the eggs all moved till they formed an arrow
Emerald eyes followed the point, "The Southern exit? Now why in the world would that little dingo go out that far?" the Guardian waved his thanks and then raced off to gather up the wayward creature.
Bunny snorted as he ran, if it were up to him he'd leave the imp be. If it came back it did if not…however he had promised Faine that he'd bring the imp back safe and by the Moon he was not going to disappoint the poor Dryad.
After only a moment the Guardian came to a large stone door, carvings of children and baskets chiseled into its surface. Bunny rolled his eyes when he caught sight of a tunnel through the rock, "I really need to clear the Warren of those bloody rock tunnelers…before they let something really nasty in here."
A loud rumbling shook the doorway when Bunny pressed his hand to it, the Guardian stepped back as the barrier rose up revealing a large forest that seemed to stretch on forever.
Bunny stepped out of the Warren and into the forest of trees, the Guardian not at all concerned by the loud thunderous sound indicating the doorway had set. In fact, the Guardian was concentrating on finding the imp and getting back to Faine…for though he had left the Dryad lying beside one of the many rivers in the care of several rock Golem the Guardian didn't like being away from the boy for too long…call him overprotective but it was his nature.
"Tievel! Where are ya at ya dingo!"
Sleeping birds sprang into the air, surprised by the pooka's shout
Bunny frowned when nothing but the sound of the birds beating a retreat answered him, he knew the imp couldn't talk but he had hoped the creature would have at least come when he had called…a twinge of fear filled his mind. What if something indeed had happened to the thing…what if…
A sudden weight on his shoulder elicited a very un-warrior like scream from the pooka. Bunny whipped himself around, sending whatever had landed on him flying sideways.
Bunny paused however when he caught sight of the small whimpering imp now crumpled against a tree, "Tievel!" he rushed over to the creature, "Are you all right?"
The creature chittered angrily as it struggled to get to it feet, gleaming yellow eye glowering at the spirit now hovering over him.
"Sorry bout that." The pooka rubbed the back of his neck, "Ya scared me though."
A huff left the imp, though it couldn't blame the spirit…he was just used to being with demons that were used to imps landing on their shoulders in fact it had become second nature for demon kind.
"Whatcha got there?" Bunny raised an eyebrow when he caught sight of the large clump of grasses in the creature good hand. He shook his head when the imp began chittering excitably "I can't understand a lick of what ya saying."
Tievel huffed, he used a claw to draw a stick figure into the trunk of the tree then waved the grasses
Understanding dawned on Bunny, "Oh you gathered those for Faine?" he grinned when the creature nodded vigorously, "Well that was kind of ya but the kids been worried sick. Was certain something bad had happened…" Bunny sighed when the imp's face fell, "Ahh don't worry bout it dingo, let's just get ya back to Faine and ya can apologize all right?"
Tievel nodded, chittering slightly as he drifted up to the spirit's shoulder. The imp had to balance himself as the Guardian took off back to the tunnels entrance.
So intent on getting back neither of them noticed the coal black imp watching them from its hiding place amongst the branches, it's cold red eyes gleaming with excitement.
(The Bennett home)
"Now…how does this work?" crimson eyes stared in confusion at the contraption before him.
It was a large basin, big enough for a person to fit in. Several knobs and a large faucet had been imbedded into the wall above the basin.
Sam glanced at the closed door, the teen didn't want to bother Rashana any more…she had already done so much for him.
"Welp here goes nothing." Sam pursed his lips and turned one of the knobs, the teen jumped back when water gushed out from the faucet.
Crimson eyes gleamed with excitement, when Rashana had told him to take a bath the boy had been worried that he would have to bring the water in from a lake like he used to. But it would seem like the sink in the kitchen, the 'tub' (as it was called) provided its own.
"Ok… what next?" the teen glanced around, noticing a bottle on the counter, "Perfect!" Sam grinned as he grabbed the bottle and dumped the entire contents into the water.
The teen crinkled his nose when a scent of flowers filled the room
"Sam dear do you need any help?"
Sam forgot the smell when Rashana's voice drifted through the door, "Ummmm, no…no mam I got it."
"Well if you need me call. Be sure and unwrap your ankle before you get in."
"Yes mam." Sam sat on the side of the basin and did as Rashana had instructed, a whimper leaving at the pain simply undoing the wrap from his ankle caused.
Crimson eyes glanced at the water, now covered in white bubbles "I hope this helps like she thinks…"
Sam had just finished the food that Rashana had made for him when the woman had suggested that he take a bath to relax. Of course Sam had taken baths before…however it had always been in a river or simply when Bones had thrown a tub of water over him to when the man tired of seeing the blood stains that covered his skin. So when it had been suggested Sam initially had panicked at the thought of having to leave the house…or for someone to throw ice cold water over him.
Thankfully Rashana had immediately quelled his fears by informing him that the bathing area was upstairs. Where he was currently, figuring out how everything worked since the teen hadn't wanted to tell her he had no idea how a 'tub' functioned.
Sam inhaled as he pulled his shirt off, crimson eyes gleamed as the boy turned himself around his gaze now on the large mirror reflecting back to him the hundreds if not thousands of scars that covered his stomach, chest, and back.
A slight whimper left him, Sam remembering each and every event that placed the lines. Many of them had occurred during his time with the Vault…however the majority of them were directly from Bones and the man's many fits of anger.
Sam quickly shook his head, trying to shake free of the horrid memories now racing around his mind. The teen finished getting undressed and then lowered himself into the water.
"Oh its hot!" the teen yelped slightly, he had fully expected to bath in cold…this new age never ceased to amaze him.
After a moment Sam let out a sigh as the warmth of the water permeated his body, "Rashana was right…this is helping." The teen shook his head; this was much better than the ice cold rivers that Bones had allowed him to use…or the boiling water the monster had thrown on him when he had timidly protested the cold.
"Sam when you finish I have left you clean clothes just outside the door. They are some of Chand's so they may be a bit big on you…but don't worry we'll pick up some your size when we go shopping."
Sam filled with awe, this woman was so kind…the teen wasn't used to such kindness from anyone…. aside from Jack and more recently Pitch and the other Guardians. The teen sat up slightly, the water sloshing with the motion "Wait…what does she mean by shopping?"
Poor Sam…if only he had known.
(Singing Cliffs)
A graceful arc of sand, glittered underneath a blazing sun, stretching for endless miles. Just beyond the shore of sand lay the crisp blue ocean. Normally the vast water was calm, the waves rolling in and out gently caressing the golden sands. However today the waves were anything but gentle, in fact the salt infused waters were roiling like thunder, churning as if a storm were raging beneath them…
Jack however wasn't at all concerned with the ominous state of the sea the teen instead excited about meeting the one coming to the surface, "Do you think he has fish scales?" blue eyes glanced at Darkness who had come to stand beside him.
Silver eyes rolled "How should I know Frost I've never met the guy." He glanced at the sea that now seemed to be boiling, "And I really have no inkling to do so now."
"You're a buzz kill you know that Darkness?"
Darkness snorted, "Well excuse me for not wanting to meet a guy that could potentially drown me for all eternity."
An aspirated huff left the winter spirit, "Really Darkness? Why do you automatically assume that people are going to try and kill you?"
"Because Frost nine out of ten people do."
Jack snorted "Darkness will you just relax."
A snort left the spirit, "Oh yes Frost I'll just 'relax'! It's not the like we are about to meet the god of the sea, who is notorious for having a short temper."
Blue eyes rolled, "Darkness not everyone has a chip on their shoulder like you do."
Darkness glowered, "Oh I'm sure Poseidon is a gentle soul…which is why the guy carries around a fucking trident!"
"He has a point Jack…Poseidon caused an earthquake just the other day for kicks."
"You're not helping." Jack glared at Jaeger, who unfortunately was still very much stuck in the jaws of Cetus. The giant sea beast having not allowed the spirit freedom, despite the hunter's futile attempts.
"Besides dear, daddy only did that because Zara ran out in front of him and he dropped his trident." Serena turned from watching the sea to reprimand her husband, "Daddy has put the whole 'merciless' god thing behind him millennia ago."
"Yet he still has no problem sending this floundering sea slug every blasted time he wants to talk to me!"
Jack watched the woman roll her eyes
"Well daddy wouldn't 'have' to send Cetus if you'd just come to the Palace for the Council meetings when you are supposed to."
"But sweetie…those things are soooooo boring!"
Jack grinned at how the spirit's voice was nothing but a whine, the winter spirit knew all about uninteresting meetings…the ones the Guardians held were always so dull the teen was sure he would die of boredom.
"Honey you can't run from your responsibilities." Serena's voice held a scolding tone
"Watch me!"
Jack raised an eyebrow when the spirit began wriggling, "Jaeger what are you…" the teen received his answer when the hunter managed to pull his arms free a large crossbow forming suddenly.
"Cetus fetch!" Jaeger grinned as he released the bow, sending an arrow spiraling down the beach
The beach rumbled as Cetus leapt forward the beast's massive paws sending sand spraying in all directions as he raced after the projectile.
"Jaeger get back here!" Serena took off trying in vain to catch the now disappearing sea beast.
"You certainly picked a great person to start your faction Frost." Darkness watched Serena try to catch the retreating monster
"I wasn't exactly trying to create one." Jack sighed, his father had tried to explain to him the mechanics of making the Soul Pact with another spirit…most of it though went over his head.
The one thing that Jack did get was that by him making the Pact with Jaeger then by law he now owned the hunter's soul. This of course meant that now he had officially created what was known in the Spirit Realm as a 'faction'. Chand had told him it was common practice for powerful spirit's to have countless souls in their faction, though the bound was not as binding as the one he had formed since Jack had used the Pact with Jaeger's soul.
"Serena!"
A rumbling yell brought the two spirit's back to what was coming their way.
Jack's eyes widened at the sight of the man now emerging from the frothing waves onto the beach.
The man was nearly six feet tall, his body ripped with muscle fit for one of deity status. The man's gleaming hair twined down the length of his back, it's color the same as the crisp foam that rimmed the tops of the crashing waves of the sea behind him. Gleaming emerald robes draped over a plain white shirt and pants stood in stark contrast to the aura of power radiating off the man.
"Frost…let's go."
"Come on Darkness this is a once in a life time experience…" Jack's voice was a whisper as the god stepped from the water and onto the sand.
Darkness hissed, "Yes Frost but it could be the last experience you have if the guy decides to use that pretty little fork!"
Blue eyes went back to the man, now going to the weapon in within his grasp.
It was indeed impressive…a three pronged spear made of pure gold with silver runes etched into its surface. A shudder went down Jack's spine when his eyes fell on a notch within the spear's handle, it appeared as if a blade had taken a chunk out of the gold…the winter spirit was confused as to why the sight of that minuscule damage stilled his breath.
Before he could dwell on it the man reached them
"Young one I am looking for my daughter Serena have you seen her?"
Jack inhaled slightly, "I…I ummm…"
Darkness took pity on the awe struck teen, he gently pulled the boy behind him and stepped forward, "Serena just left sir, but will return in a moment."
Dark blue eyes narrowed, "Where has she gone? I sent Cetus to let her know I was coming…" the man sighed, "Ah, I bet the sea slug went after Jaeger first…Zeus above I can't break him from that habit."
Jack couldn't stand it any longer, he stepped from behind Darkness and to the man, "I ummm sir I…" The winter spirit shrank slightly when the gods eyes attention turned on him, however Jack had never been one to cower before others so the teen quickly straightened his shoulders and offered his hand, "I am Jack Frost…sir."
A slight smile tugged at the man's face, "Well Jack…I am Poseidon god of the sea."
Jack winced slightly when the man shook his hand, the boy could feel a ripple of energy enter his body. "It is an honor to meet you." The teen startled when the god's eyes seemed to study him, "Ummm is something wrong?"
"It is just that…I feel as though I have met you before or at least someone that shares your blood." The man pursed his lips, "By chance who are your parents?"
Jack cocked his head, "Well my mother is Rashana and my dad is Chand…" he startled when the man clasped his shoulders with both hands.
"YOU are Chand's son!"
"Y…yes? Is that a bad thing?" Jack gulped slightly as the man's dark eyes stared at him, the teen was starting to think that it had been a mistake to reveal who his father was…that thought was confirmed by the god's next statement.
"It could be…since your father 'is' the one that sank Atlantis."
"Oh shit…I knew the he'd manage somehow to get into trouble." Darkness readied himself for the inevitable retaliation the sea god was surely about to dish out.
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