Ag- Hi everybody!
Bright- Hello! Here's the next chap of Pheonix written by yours truly. Ack! *gets glomped by Ag*
Ag- I knew getting a co-author would be a good idea! I love my new co- author! And I love my new muse! Minako9! *Minako walks in and is glomped by Ag*
Minako- But I didn't do anything yet.
Ag- You will! My turn to write next and you have to keep me from getting distracted with Crossing.
Trowa had prepared a warm stew for dinner. Everyone sat down to eat around the campfire, everyone minus Quatre. While he had been practicing flying a small house sparrow with an attitude and probably a nest to protect had taken exception to him.
"Ahhhh!" Quatre flailed rather ungracefully through the sky trying to get away from the tiny sparrow.
Duo on the ground was laughing like a madman. "Go left! It's going to get you! Ha Ha!"
"Tell him to quit fooling around and come get dinner," Heero said to Wufei.
Wufei snorted in disgust. This was the mighty phoenix? "Duo go tell him to quit fooling around and come get dinner," snapped Wufie.
Giggling Duo got to his feet and spread his bat like wings only to dive out of the way when moments later Quatre came careening past and smashed into a tree behind him. The sparrow did a few last warning dive bombs chirping furiously then took off to guard its nest.
"You okay Kat?" asked Duo helping Quatre to his feet.
A few crimson and gold feathers fluttered to the ground. Quatre staggered to his feet and shook his head to clear away the stars. "I'm fine," he answered mildly accepting a bowl of stew from Trowa with a smile.
"You're not the least bit embarrassed to have been fleeing in panic from a bird smaller than your hand?" Wufei demanded with disgust.
Quatre looked at Wufei as if he had no clue what the boy dragon was talking about.
"He wasn't worried about the sparrow hurting him. He was worried about hurting the bird," spoke Trowa.
Quatre nodded remembering belatedly that his companions couldn't have felt the tiny fragile sparrow's terror for its' nest, it's determined bravery to protect it's young. Wufei looked mollified though still in a general bad mood. Heero still seemed unsatisfied.
"You have an important purpose. You can't afford to take risks on behalf of something as insignificant as a sparrow," spoke Heero coldly.
Quatre's clothes were still wet from repeated dunking in the lake but his wings were dry. He pulled them about himself defensively. He had never been able to turn away from healing hurt animals he found in the woods. It wasn't just that he felt their pain. Quatre was naturally compassionate. He couldn't bear the thought of just letting the little sparrow get hurt.
"I mean it," insisted Heero. "Whether it's a sparrow, a stray dog or one of us, you have to start putting your own safety first."
Quatre looked so woeful at this comment that Duo spoke up with a grin trying to change the subject. "So, where do we go from here?" Duo asked.
"Have you been living in a hole?" Wufei snapped back at Duo.
"No, the attic of a church. Every good church needs an imp in the belfry."
"Bats," corrected Wufei with a smirk.
"Huh?"
"Bats in the belfry, baka not imps," snorted Wufei.
"There weren't any bats. Just me, " protested Duo his tail whisking behind his back playfully. Quatre giggled.
"MORON! It's a famous saying implying that someone has a cluttered or unfocused mind! Mad as a hatter. Bats in the belfry." Wufei exploded.
"Oh Yeah! That's me!" exclaimed Duo proudly with a cocky bow. "I'm not wearing a hat though. Wouldn't want to mess my hair."
Wufei was turning red in the face. Heero impatient with the game interrupted. "We go to the tower."
"I know that," replied Duo. "But where exactly is this tower?" In the centuries since that last beast war the tower had been lost to legend. Heero glared silently at Duo without an answer. Wufei stood there silent. Trowa spoke not a word.
"There's a big library in Sank that might have clues," suggested Quatre. It was decided. They were headed for Sank.
"Kat why don't you change out of those wet things. They can't be comfortable," Duo chatted.
"I have dry pants but my spare shirt,... well. I wasn't expecting to grow wings. Irena sewed up this shirt for me."
"Do you have a button up shirt?" Buttons were the latest new style.
Quatre took out his spare shirt. It had tiny ivory buttons all down the front.
"Put it on backward and button up around the wings," suggested Duo helping out.
"It's a little tight around the neck backward but this is quite clever," commented Quatre.
Duo chatted with Quatre well past the time the sun went down. Trowa watched silently. The young blond was exhausted and couldn't keep his eyes open but was too polite to interrupt Duo. The imp was so excited to have someone listening to his endless chatter that he hadn't noticed.
"Duo would you shut up already some people are trying to sleep," grumbled Wufei.
Duo turned away from Quatre for a few moments to pester Wufei. "Would you like some warm milk and a blankie? Oh poor Wu-kins all tuckered out."
"Duo, it's past the decent hour for all of us to be asleep. All I'm asking for is a few hours of quiet before dawn!"
"Kat and I were just talking. You see, Kat knows the value of stimulating conversation!" Duo whirled around at a strange noise.
It was Trowa trying to muffle an almost silent chuckle. Trowa pointed over to Quatre. The young blonde had toppled over where he sat and was fast asleep.
"Err... I'm going to bed," declared Duo cheerfully.
"Humph," exclaimed Wufei pulling his bedroll over his head.
With the ghost of a smile still on his face, Trowa got Quatre's bedroll ready and gently shifted Quatre into it.
Heero sat with his back to the fire staring into the woods, vigilant. "Something has been following us all day," Heero whispered to Trowa.
Trowa nodded once, serious.
"Since we set out?" asked Heero.
Trowa nodded.
"It stayed down wind?"
Trowa tilted his head to the direction he'd heard it last. Heero frowned slightly. The two sat watching the darkness for about an hour before there was a faint rustling in the woods. In a flash, Heero had a crossbow out aimed into the darkness; his other hand clutched at the hilt of his sword.
Down low in the bushes nearest the sleeping blond two eyes reflected a slight glint from the glowing embers of the campfire. Heero waited in silence until Trowa had an arrow notched and ready then let loose the crossbow bolt. Wufei and Duo's eyes snapped open at the twang of the crossbow. They all heard the distinctive thunk as the bolt hit wood. Trowa kept his arrow poised waiting for a clear shot at something but there was a scrambling noise, whatever it was, fled off into the woods.
Once Heero had his crossbow reloaded, Trowa slipped off into the woods to look for tracks.
Duo woke Quatre and had him move his bedroll closer to the fire between Wufei and himself.
"What's going on?" asked Quatre sleepy and disoriented.
"There's something in the woods," answered Heero.
Quatre closed his eyes and reached out with his empathy. Wufei watched him with interest. Duo and Heero were scanning the woods their weapons at the ready.
Quatre sitting in a lotus position seeming to be stretching his consciousness out into the woods around them but in reality was fast asleep.
Wufei frowned and nudged Quatre. "I know you're not recovered from the exhaustion of this transformation but we need you awake."
"Sorry Wufei. Other than us the forest is peaceful," Quatre blushed embarrassed at having fallen asleep.
"It may have been an animal. Is there anything your empathy would not detect?" asked Wufie.
"...Magical constructs, some wizards can shield their aura," muttered Quatre.
Trowa eventually returned having found nothing other than the occasional animal track.
"False alarm," declared Duo flopping back down to sleep.
Soon everyone slept but Trowa who sat watching and two sea green eyes that watched Trowa for a long while. "Aren't you getting tired? Do you want me to watch Trowa?" Quatre finally whispered.
Trowa shook his head slightly.
"I'm awake anyway. I don't mind," insisted Quatre.
After the small blond stared at him worriedly for half an hour Trowa spoke softly. "Elves do not sleep."
"I would think your soul would grow weary without some form of rest," whispered Quatre.
Trowa tilted his head slightly in agreement. There was a long pause before Trowa deigned to speak a proper explanation. "For a short time each night elves rest in their memories. It is called the Revel."
"Which memories do you visit when you want to rest?" asked Quatre.
Feigning disinterest Trowa shrugged.
Quatre felt a wave of sorrow coming from the elf. Perhaps he had few happy memories to revel in. Quatre was always one to show his feelings plainly. The depths of sadness Trowa felt but chose to hide revealed themselves in Quatre's eyes.
Trowa eventually unable to bear the sorrow he saw reflecting back at him spoke. "Little One, did you know that of all things, elves value life as most precious. From the bright flame of life in one's loved ones to the tiny spark in a blade of grass, we treasure life." Quatre looked up at Trowa wide eyed.
"I think tonight I will revel in the memory of how the life of a tiny sparrow was cherished." Trowa's words were spoken so solemnly, so seriously.
Quatre didn't remember falling asleep but when he awoke the sun had been up for many hours and camp had been packed up around him.
Most nights were not as eventful as that first night. Trowa and Heero were convinced something was following them still.
"Guys! A friend of mine lives in a cottage near here we should stop and visit," insisted Duo one day as they trekked their way towards Sank.
"Any friend of yours frightens me Duo," commented Wufei.
Duo not missing out on the opportunity to tease pounced down in front of Wufei with a cheeky grin. "That's cuz you're a wuss Woo-man."
Trowa and Heero in the lead plastered themselves to trees on either side of the trail as Duo came barreling past laughing madly; an enraged Wufei chased him with sword drawn.
Heero grunted annoyed. Quatre suppressed a smile wondering why Heero felt it necessary to be focused every moment of the day.
Duo's friend turned out to be a smuggler by the name of Howard. "Howard's part werewolf but he's a good guy," exclaimed Duo cheerfully.
Bright - When buttons were invented in the 1300's they were a fashion revolution. Everyone wanted buttons. Everyone had to have buttons. Luckily I myself am not so obsessed by buttons. I like them just fine but between you and me, there's nothing like Velcro. ... Err... just kidding.
Ag- Someone paid attention in History class. Anyway, I'll work on Phoenix now. I will try to get it done in a month or less. Bear with me. This is my first time writing a GW fic. Minako9- R'n'R! |
Bright- Hello! Here's the next chap of Pheonix written by yours truly. Ack! *gets glomped by Ag*
Ag- I knew getting a co-author would be a good idea! I love my new co- author! And I love my new muse! Minako9! *Minako walks in and is glomped by Ag*
Minako- But I didn't do anything yet.
Ag- You will! My turn to write next and you have to keep me from getting distracted with Crossing.
Trowa had prepared a warm stew for dinner. Everyone sat down to eat around the campfire, everyone minus Quatre. While he had been practicing flying a small house sparrow with an attitude and probably a nest to protect had taken exception to him.
"Ahhhh!" Quatre flailed rather ungracefully through the sky trying to get away from the tiny sparrow.
Duo on the ground was laughing like a madman. "Go left! It's going to get you! Ha Ha!"
"Tell him to quit fooling around and come get dinner," Heero said to Wufei.
Wufei snorted in disgust. This was the mighty phoenix? "Duo go tell him to quit fooling around and come get dinner," snapped Wufie.
Giggling Duo got to his feet and spread his bat like wings only to dive out of the way when moments later Quatre came careening past and smashed into a tree behind him. The sparrow did a few last warning dive bombs chirping furiously then took off to guard its nest.
"You okay Kat?" asked Duo helping Quatre to his feet.
A few crimson and gold feathers fluttered to the ground. Quatre staggered to his feet and shook his head to clear away the stars. "I'm fine," he answered mildly accepting a bowl of stew from Trowa with a smile.
"You're not the least bit embarrassed to have been fleeing in panic from a bird smaller than your hand?" Wufei demanded with disgust.
Quatre looked at Wufei as if he had no clue what the boy dragon was talking about.
"He wasn't worried about the sparrow hurting him. He was worried about hurting the bird," spoke Trowa.
Quatre nodded remembering belatedly that his companions couldn't have felt the tiny fragile sparrow's terror for its' nest, it's determined bravery to protect it's young. Wufei looked mollified though still in a general bad mood. Heero still seemed unsatisfied.
"You have an important purpose. You can't afford to take risks on behalf of something as insignificant as a sparrow," spoke Heero coldly.
Quatre's clothes were still wet from repeated dunking in the lake but his wings were dry. He pulled them about himself defensively. He had never been able to turn away from healing hurt animals he found in the woods. It wasn't just that he felt their pain. Quatre was naturally compassionate. He couldn't bear the thought of just letting the little sparrow get hurt.
"I mean it," insisted Heero. "Whether it's a sparrow, a stray dog or one of us, you have to start putting your own safety first."
Quatre looked so woeful at this comment that Duo spoke up with a grin trying to change the subject. "So, where do we go from here?" Duo asked.
"Have you been living in a hole?" Wufei snapped back at Duo.
"No, the attic of a church. Every good church needs an imp in the belfry."
"Bats," corrected Wufei with a smirk.
"Huh?"
"Bats in the belfry, baka not imps," snorted Wufei.
"There weren't any bats. Just me, " protested Duo his tail whisking behind his back playfully. Quatre giggled.
"MORON! It's a famous saying implying that someone has a cluttered or unfocused mind! Mad as a hatter. Bats in the belfry." Wufei exploded.
"Oh Yeah! That's me!" exclaimed Duo proudly with a cocky bow. "I'm not wearing a hat though. Wouldn't want to mess my hair."
Wufei was turning red in the face. Heero impatient with the game interrupted. "We go to the tower."
"I know that," replied Duo. "But where exactly is this tower?" In the centuries since that last beast war the tower had been lost to legend. Heero glared silently at Duo without an answer. Wufei stood there silent. Trowa spoke not a word.
"There's a big library in Sank that might have clues," suggested Quatre. It was decided. They were headed for Sank.
"Kat why don't you change out of those wet things. They can't be comfortable," Duo chatted.
"I have dry pants but my spare shirt,... well. I wasn't expecting to grow wings. Irena sewed up this shirt for me."
"Do you have a button up shirt?" Buttons were the latest new style.
Quatre took out his spare shirt. It had tiny ivory buttons all down the front.
"Put it on backward and button up around the wings," suggested Duo helping out.
"It's a little tight around the neck backward but this is quite clever," commented Quatre.
Duo chatted with Quatre well past the time the sun went down. Trowa watched silently. The young blond was exhausted and couldn't keep his eyes open but was too polite to interrupt Duo. The imp was so excited to have someone listening to his endless chatter that he hadn't noticed.
"Duo would you shut up already some people are trying to sleep," grumbled Wufei.
Duo turned away from Quatre for a few moments to pester Wufei. "Would you like some warm milk and a blankie? Oh poor Wu-kins all tuckered out."
"Duo, it's past the decent hour for all of us to be asleep. All I'm asking for is a few hours of quiet before dawn!"
"Kat and I were just talking. You see, Kat knows the value of stimulating conversation!" Duo whirled around at a strange noise.
It was Trowa trying to muffle an almost silent chuckle. Trowa pointed over to Quatre. The young blonde had toppled over where he sat and was fast asleep.
"Err... I'm going to bed," declared Duo cheerfully.
"Humph," exclaimed Wufei pulling his bedroll over his head.
With the ghost of a smile still on his face, Trowa got Quatre's bedroll ready and gently shifted Quatre into it.
Heero sat with his back to the fire staring into the woods, vigilant. "Something has been following us all day," Heero whispered to Trowa.
Trowa nodded once, serious.
"Since we set out?" asked Heero.
Trowa nodded.
"It stayed down wind?"
Trowa tilted his head to the direction he'd heard it last. Heero frowned slightly. The two sat watching the darkness for about an hour before there was a faint rustling in the woods. In a flash, Heero had a crossbow out aimed into the darkness; his other hand clutched at the hilt of his sword.
Down low in the bushes nearest the sleeping blond two eyes reflected a slight glint from the glowing embers of the campfire. Heero waited in silence until Trowa had an arrow notched and ready then let loose the crossbow bolt. Wufei and Duo's eyes snapped open at the twang of the crossbow. They all heard the distinctive thunk as the bolt hit wood. Trowa kept his arrow poised waiting for a clear shot at something but there was a scrambling noise, whatever it was, fled off into the woods.
Once Heero had his crossbow reloaded, Trowa slipped off into the woods to look for tracks.
Duo woke Quatre and had him move his bedroll closer to the fire between Wufei and himself.
"What's going on?" asked Quatre sleepy and disoriented.
"There's something in the woods," answered Heero.
Quatre closed his eyes and reached out with his empathy. Wufei watched him with interest. Duo and Heero were scanning the woods their weapons at the ready.
Quatre sitting in a lotus position seeming to be stretching his consciousness out into the woods around them but in reality was fast asleep.
Wufei frowned and nudged Quatre. "I know you're not recovered from the exhaustion of this transformation but we need you awake."
"Sorry Wufei. Other than us the forest is peaceful," Quatre blushed embarrassed at having fallen asleep.
"It may have been an animal. Is there anything your empathy would not detect?" asked Wufie.
"...Magical constructs, some wizards can shield their aura," muttered Quatre.
Trowa eventually returned having found nothing other than the occasional animal track.
"False alarm," declared Duo flopping back down to sleep.
Soon everyone slept but Trowa who sat watching and two sea green eyes that watched Trowa for a long while. "Aren't you getting tired? Do you want me to watch Trowa?" Quatre finally whispered.
Trowa shook his head slightly.
"I'm awake anyway. I don't mind," insisted Quatre.
After the small blond stared at him worriedly for half an hour Trowa spoke softly. "Elves do not sleep."
"I would think your soul would grow weary without some form of rest," whispered Quatre.
Trowa tilted his head slightly in agreement. There was a long pause before Trowa deigned to speak a proper explanation. "For a short time each night elves rest in their memories. It is called the Revel."
"Which memories do you visit when you want to rest?" asked Quatre.
Feigning disinterest Trowa shrugged.
Quatre felt a wave of sorrow coming from the elf. Perhaps he had few happy memories to revel in. Quatre was always one to show his feelings plainly. The depths of sadness Trowa felt but chose to hide revealed themselves in Quatre's eyes.
Trowa eventually unable to bear the sorrow he saw reflecting back at him spoke. "Little One, did you know that of all things, elves value life as most precious. From the bright flame of life in one's loved ones to the tiny spark in a blade of grass, we treasure life." Quatre looked up at Trowa wide eyed.
"I think tonight I will revel in the memory of how the life of a tiny sparrow was cherished." Trowa's words were spoken so solemnly, so seriously.
Quatre didn't remember falling asleep but when he awoke the sun had been up for many hours and camp had been packed up around him.
Most nights were not as eventful as that first night. Trowa and Heero were convinced something was following them still.
"Guys! A friend of mine lives in a cottage near here we should stop and visit," insisted Duo one day as they trekked their way towards Sank.
"Any friend of yours frightens me Duo," commented Wufei.
Duo not missing out on the opportunity to tease pounced down in front of Wufei with a cheeky grin. "That's cuz you're a wuss Woo-man."
Trowa and Heero in the lead plastered themselves to trees on either side of the trail as Duo came barreling past laughing madly; an enraged Wufei chased him with sword drawn.
Heero grunted annoyed. Quatre suppressed a smile wondering why Heero felt it necessary to be focused every moment of the day.
Duo's friend turned out to be a smuggler by the name of Howard. "Howard's part werewolf but he's a good guy," exclaimed Duo cheerfully.
Bright - When buttons were invented in the 1300's they were a fashion revolution. Everyone wanted buttons. Everyone had to have buttons. Luckily I myself am not so obsessed by buttons. I like them just fine but between you and me, there's nothing like Velcro. ... Err... just kidding.
Ag- Someone paid attention in History class. Anyway, I'll work on Phoenix now. I will try to get it done in a month or less. Bear with me. This is my first time writing a GW fic. Minako9- R'n'R! |