Howl ran for his life in the nefarious terrain. Multiple chasms and the very ground giving way showed just how much the land was against him. Shriek never stopped and every swoop was a lethal chance that she would get the target. Only destruction was left in her wake. Howl did not have much more time, he could still use his awakened powers but would not defeat Shriek. He remembered the trail of traps Iyo had built, an array of weapons, and that final hole that was filled with ravenous leapers. Howl changed trajectory with the hope that anything there would slow her down.
Arriving there, Howl made Shriek run across the trapped field, where knives and spears were shot at her, but nothing pierced her carapace. Having only one chance left would be to toss Shriek down the crater. That should buy time.
Howl went into position to lure the corrupted owl and faced her. The change has Shriek acting more defensively. She lands in front of Howl, with the crater right behind her. Shriek doesn't attack immediately, and just bends her head to the side, creating the perfect opportunity to Howl.
Mustering everything Howl had left, he snarled and barked with the utmost force he could, scaring Shriek with the sudden and formidable sound. The wind wave hits her harshly and Shriek is forced to take steps back, enough for her to mistake it, and slip into the hole. She shrieked loud and in desperation, but that was the chance to run.
"My lord!" Kii arrived with Ku. "Are you alright?" The masked monkey could only deduce how grave the situation was seeing Howl harnessing the shadows at such a level.
"Kii! Ku! What are you doing here!?"
Ku went forward carefree. "You look so awesome, Howl! Can I do it too?"
"There is no time! We must leave, now!"
The precious time Howl had received was spent, Shriek was climbing out of the hole after having all the leapers crushed under her massive weight. Howl, Kii, and Ku do give the monster due attention. Shriek was furious, and her scream pierced their ears.
"We cannot run from this, my lord. I will support you as I am able." Kii faced Shriek without fear.
"Seems like it." Howl gathered courage, facing the menacing owl once more.
"You are not tired, are you? The wolf I raised had an insatiable hunger for vengeance."
"Shut up. I can still fight. But I cannot strike her shadow." Weariness was the cause, and little less was the certainty that such a forbidden attack would affect something large as Shriek.
Ku could only watch with paralyzing fear. She could never have imagined a being so scary. That was the thing that stomped the land previously, seeing its true form was not pleasing. Before the fight began, Kii covered Ku in darkness using another of his runes for precaution. "Take distance, little one!" Kii ordered, and that ignited her to move. Ku ran to hide without thinking twice.
"You are crazy to bring her to this, Kii. Has old age made you mad?"
"Hoho, If old age has taught me anything, it is that under extreme circumstances, we learn to grow and survive." Shriek rose in front of them. "Our time is short to scribble every strategy. I trust she will find the answers needed."
Howl wanted to believe Kii had a plan that he hadn't detailed yet. By the look of things, it would take adaptability to play along. Though he felt bad to drag Ku into such a traumatic first experience. Nothing could be done about it now. Shriek prepared to attack, gathering shadow energy in her beak to release a devastating breath.
Howl promptly steps forward to face the shadow breath head-on. Protectively drawing the attention of the foe away from Kii or Ku.
"My lord, we shall use that attack as we practiced!" Kii warned behind. Howl had no space to reply but was prepared.
Then Shriek finally releases everything in a savage roar, and Howl nimbly steps out of the way. The shadowy fire breath scorches the stone floor as Shriek works to keep the wolf in her sight, her breath moving like a flamethrower. Howl attracts her aim away from the others and prepares to counterattack. Howl used the dead woods to take momentum and used a hardened tree to climb and leap above Shriek.
Kii follows up, using another runic spell. "Shadow word: Phantasm." A ghostly figure flies quickly to Howl and takes a new shape that Howl grasped in his mouth. A shadowy sword, a large claymore without any physical attributes. Midair, Howl braced himself with the claymore and met Shriek in decisive descent. The ethereal claymore cuts through her shadow breath and goes through her body like a phantom, forcing Shriek to freeze like she was split in two.
Howl steps away and observes if Shriek has been impacted, and the results are positive. The great owl was frozen solid in shock. Her face was marked by fear like she was wounded. There was no actual cut, but the ghost blade should have made her soul shiver enough to make her heart stop.
Exhaling slowly, Howl dismisses the claymore, having confidence that it should have decided things. The phantasm cut should have brought her end. Yet she does not fall. Howl and Kii don't put too much thought into it. Shriek was just that tough. Soon or later her body should collapse.
"You think this was enough?" Howl asked.
"I believe so. The ghost cut should have stopped her heart. Or at least… fainted her." Kii stares at the monstrous owl static at the moment she was struck. He pays respectful silence to the menacing owl, giving a sign of rest in peace should her heart beat no more.
"I made this spell for her specifically. A strike capable of ignoring all her sturdy carapace and induce a heart attack. Hopefully, she will be able to finally rest. May her soul find the light in this dark world."
"It is still too difficult to manage this claymore, Kii," Howl pulled his attention, now able to breathe a bit more calmly.
"It may be, but the results are undeniable, my lord."
"It is helpful, but I just mean that I can hardly hold a large sword in my mouth like that."
Kii laughed, "In time we will hone this ability to better serve you. And I must say that I do like the aspect of how you look while holding the claymore."
Howl sighed but was okay with it. Wolves aren't meant to wield weapons like that, but he could get used to it. Meanwhile, Ku slowly left hiding and approached Shriek with fear and curiosity.
This… is a dark owl? Like me?
Ku walked carefully around Shriek, studying her form now that she believed it was safe to do so. Something was odd. Ku felt something coming from Shriek that was not evil in nature. But something so, so restrained… Ku was even perplexed about her intuition, she didn't know why but something in Shriek was not right.
Ku carefully reached out her wing to touch Shriek, and the contact made her realize how cold her carapace was. It must be so heavy too…
Shriek felt the touch. It was so small against her stonified wing, yet it carried a tiny warmth. One that Shriek feels odd. And feeling odd brings up the fear of the unknown. The fear of the wolf, fear of the masked monkey.
They must die!
And so, Shriek reawakens, recovering movement, and her scream fills the air, forcing Ku to run off to hide.
Howl and Kii are greatly startled and had no moment to think as Shriek was already charging at Howl. Swiftly maneuvering, Howl dodges her body slam in the sudden scare. Following the attack, Shriek took flight to soon swoop down on the prey.
Howl had little reaction as he failed to comprehend how the phantasm cut did not work. Does she have a heart of stone!? He felt nervous, how could they escape this?
"Watch out!" Ku shouts from hiding, giving Howl the ignition to act.
Shriek swoops rapidly with talons ready, forcing Howl to run away to possible cover in the woods. Shriek notices the cowardly move from the wolf and then takes another course.
Kii was left with no guard. Shriek takes the opportunity, focusing on Kii to dispose of the problematic one. Kii poofs in a misty form evading her landing stomp and appears a few meters away. Shriek would continue her assault, but Howl returned slamming his head against her side this time. Shriek is pushed back but quickly she recovers screeching.
She charged in on Howl, who leaped out of the way and nimbly jumped on the vulnerable owl's back, wasting no time and mauling her nape fiercely, trying to shatter the carapace and deliver a fatal blow. Shriek tries to shrug off the wolf on her back, and collapses backward, slamming Howl under her weight. Howl this time is damaged and disoriented. Worry arose for Kii
"Andronius!"
Shriek saw the wolf unable to climb back up and decided to strike the exposed belly. She raised her deformed wing to slam down and crush several organs and end her foe.
"Shadow word: Shackles!" Another spell is cast. Shadowy chains coil around Shriek hindering her movements. She struggles against the bindings, getting them to break one by one. Her sheer strength proves to Kii how inefficient it is against her, but good enough to distract her for a moment.
Ku watched the battle rage on. Her attention was on Shriek the entire time. She was scared of the deformed owl but studied the very subtle expressions and every screech. Shriek demonstrated fear too. Ku thought of this possibility as she observed and heard her screams. Something was not right.
Kii bought enough time for Howl to recover, whose bindings were duly broken by that moment. Howl and Shriek returned to stare at one another. One waiting for the other to make a move.
Howl staggered, vision blurred. The fight had to end there and now, so he prepared for a final attack. The chances to defeat Shriek are extremely low, but it could open a window to escape.
Howl growled and used the powerful bark, Shriek already seeing the move, placed her wing to protect herself from the wind wave but another struck from behind, breaking her guard. Shadow clones from the wolf surrounded her, and all barked at once. The potent force of the wind striking from all sides brought Shriek down.
Shriek felt pain again. For the second time after a long, long time. Shriek hated pain. Hated this. Hated this wolf! Hated this masked monkey! They are too dangerous!
Howl couldn't keep up much longer. His clones were dismissed shortly after the attack and returned to breathe hastily under the throes of fatigue.
"Let's move! She won't stay down for much longer!"
Howl had no time, gusts of wind blew around as Shriek was already climbing up and flapping her wings as shadow energy gathered all around her. Howl and Kii had no idea what she was about to do but it looked deadly. They had to get out of there! Yet uncertain of how much time they had, Howl made a choice. He quickly grabbed Kii and ran to Ku to use himself as a shield for the two. Just in time before Shriek was ready. A forceful wind current was being drawn to her. Then suddenly she stomped the ground, releasing a shadow nova of energy reaching wide ranges of the terrain around her. The ground gave way. An earthquake began. Howl was struck by the blast. His body was almost completely paralyzed.
Things only got worse as the earthquake opened new deadly chasms everywhere. The trio had little time. "My lord, we must move!" Kii urged, but Howl could not move an inch.
"Kii… take Ku and run!" The words barely escaped the wolf. Howl reached his limit.
"I won't leave without you! Not now. Not ever!" Kii responded with fervor, desperately pulling the wolf's paws.
The Silent Woods were collapsing, and tremors only intensified. There was no time. Ku had no power to say or do anything. All this imagery and conflict was far too much for her to digest. Howl gazed at her, feeling the fear in her eyes. The impotence. The drowning frustration that will soon follow. Just like how Howl felt when the hunters first struck the former whispering woods.
"Ku, listen to me." The little owl broke off her static state. But not managing to speak. "Every owl has a chance to fly… you have watched and learned. Now, feel the wind on your wings, let shadow repair the flaws. Embrace your nature."
Ku listened attentively and the ground gave way. They began to fall into an abyss. Ku was desperate. But a memory of her momentary flight with Ori struck, replacing her focus on the current situation. Of how she felt the winds on her feathers. She took a deep breath and dived, building momentum. She took another breath, Focused. Imagined her flawed wing full of brilliant and shadowy feathers. Soaring to the skies again.
Focus!
Ku opened her wings, taking a powerful wing-beat to propel her upwards at high velocity. She used all her momentum correctly and flapped her wings again and again. Ku quickly began to ascend. She continued to beat her wings in a rhythm, in unison. That's all she thought about, no distractions! Ku went higher and higher, now returning to the surface, and flew forward and away to safe ground. Where no fissure split the ground. She landed a bit clumsily, but Ku had done it. She gasped overjoyed, her wing indeed had many pretty shadowy feathers! She did it!
"Howl! Kii! I did it! I don't know how, but…"
Her joy soon was taken away. They are nowhere to be seen. "Kii? Howl?" She looked around. Only death and petrified monoliths met her gaze. The realization soon hit her, and despair quickly followed. They fell that chasm.
They… fell.
Her eyes watered. No! It can't be happening. Ku began to cry, chirping to call them to her. But only one being answered. A slam hit the ground behind the owlet, Shriek gazed down at her. The cold stare pierced her soul.
Shriek. The killer of her friends! Rage and sorrow filled the owlet. "How could you? How could you!" Ku sobbed. "They did nothing wrong! They were my friends!" Ku cried and cried. Shriek understood nothing that the heartbroken owlet said but strangely wasn't tempted to attack. It was noisy. Noisy means danger, but she sensed her sorrow. It was sad. Shriek cooed, uncertain of what to do. This owlet looked somewhat similar to something she had seen before. Her amber eyes were pretty. Then her shape; Ku spread her wings and went to peck Shriek's hardened limbs in retaliation, allowing Shriek to feel that tiny and odd warmth from before and better see her form. Shriek realized that this noisy thing was an avian. In a similar shape to the stonified owls across the silent woods, however very tiny. She cooed again.
Shriek lowered her head to look better. This crying owlet. She was so noisy but so intriguing. For the first time, Shriek did not want to kill a noisy creature disturbing the silence. But rather understand. Shriek then lowered herself more to match their heights, laying completely on her front, and resting her head on the ground.
Ku stopped crying due to the sudden change. What Shriek did was confusing to her. The enormous horned owl was captivated. To some, it would be astounding. Shriek was trying to communicate.
"What do you want? Go away!" Ku mourned.
Shriek just cooed again. That was the only thing she knew how to do. Never before had Shriek felt like that. This little owlet isn't scary. But so frail… and noisy. Shriek discovered something new.
"Howl! Kii! Ori!" Ku continued calling. Shriek tilted her head, her eyes never leaving the little owl. She studied every little movement. A shame that this little one was so sad. Why so sad?
Shriek then began to make a distorted sound with her beak, trying to whistle for the sake of change. To test if that would make Ku a little happier. Unfortunately, it doesn't work quite well. Ku's emotional state was not that receptive to play, Shriek's attempt made Ku feel scared and angry, thus making her leave Shriek behind.
Ku continued calling, facing her fears and searching as long minutes passed. Hopes to find them were dying fast and it hurt so much for Ku. She had to change tactics.
The horrid sound that Shriek tried to make reached Ku, giving some kind of terrible idea to go back to Shriek. It was strange by itself. Shriek did not follow Ku despite clearly disturbing the eerie silence. Maybe it was worth trying.
Ku returned to check on Shriek while hiding, and surprisingly, Shriek remained there trying to make some kind of sound and looked sad that it wasn't working. Ku pondered, what is she doing? She is the menace of this entire place and she is making silly sounds, for what reason? Ku took a risk and went closer not feeling that scared anymore. To her surprise, Shriek perked and became happy to find Ku's company again. She coos and whistles badly as a sign of joy.
It started to dawn on Ku. Besides her recent loss, besides standing in front of the culprit, she began to understand a little more about the malformed owl. It was clear that Shriek did not intend to mock her, but to befriend?
Ku wanted to deny such a possibility. However, Shriek doesn't go away, doesn't finish the job, and is not angry like before. Though, Shriek seemed to act and think like a wild animal, perhaps fully driven by instincts. Or she's an infant in such a huge size. Ku had no idea how to approach this situation, but she had to try. Beginning with her attempt to whistle. "Are you… trying to whistle? Like this?" Ku whistled perfectly. Shriek cooed in awe and tried to mimic, but failed due to her condition.
Seeing Shriek play around was not something Ku expected from the larger owl, but it was a start. "You can't whistle very well. I can't fly very well either." Ku was calmer now, and so was Shriek. But caution prevents Ku from approaching more. Ku showed her flawed wing and Shriek tilted her head in confusion. Something felt wrong, that much Shriek captured. But what was missing?
"My wing doesn't have feathers, but I can make some with some kind of.. uh… magic? Like shadowy feathers? I had created some very pretty ones just now when…" Ku stopped herself when remembered how Howl and Kii fell to the unknown. She felt disappointed in herself, she had to search for them. And so Ku gathered this courage.
"Do you know where my friends are?" Shriek did not understand the question but was intrigued by listening.
"I must find them!" She hurried to the forest as Shriek followed with eyes before going together this time. There were large fissures on the ground, chasms awaiting below. Ku started flapping her wings to try and cross it, focusing just like before. Yet she wasn't successful this time. Something was lacking to command shadows. Ku started to think. Shriek was behind her looking and analyzing as usual. Maybe Shriek could help?
"Can you help me cross this hole?" But Shriek only tilted her head in confusion and cooed in response. Ku had to improvise. She tried to point in the desired direction, then beat her wings to fly over the fissure. "Take me. There."
Shriek perked, seeming to understand. She took flight and flew over the fissure and landed on the other side. But by herself.
"You should have taken me with you!" Ku said complaining on the opposite side. Yet Shriek was confused again about what to do now. Ku gave up trying to have Shriek's help, so she gathered the courage to do it herself. Ku remade her steps to fly just like earlier, she took the leap of faith without wavering but no shadows answered her, quickly resulting in her fall. In the panic rush, Shriek swooped in, saving Ku from falling, and brought her back to safety. On the right side even. Ku was both embarrassed and impressed.
"You… saved me," Ku said, almost not believing. Shriek cooed and whistled poorly as they both knew. Ku understood. And funnily enough, Shriek also understood that Ku couldn't fly very well, as she couldn't whistle very well herself. It was quite impressive. Ku whistled as a sign of thanks, bringing Shriek to whistle too in return.
Ku continued by ground to where was the fissure where Howl and Kii had fallen. Ori on the other side of the collapse of the land was in disbelief at how much destruction happened in this place. Was this all Shriek's doing? She was chasing after Howl. Is he okay? That question demanded an answer, and Ori had to search for it. That wolf promised to watch over Ku. He cannot imagine the impact it will have on his poor little sister if he's gone. He should have enough time. Ku is resting in that cave, secure from this madness.
Well, there was only one way to discover his location. And perhaps bravely or foolishly, Ori had considered Howl had fallen into these chasms. Everything was so quiet now. Things must have been settled in a short while. "Sein, please watch over me."
And Ori jumped in. Into the darkness unknown.
Nearly after ten seconds falling Ori approached the ground and held back the falling speed thanks to Kuro's feather. He landed safely and only pitch-black darkness could be seen. He remembered being in a similar case in the Black Root Burrows and reached out his sword to illuminate around. The space was wide it seemed. Much like a wide tunnel.
A tunnel. Then something dug them. It will be problematic to face another of those hornbugs in their element. Worse, there are far too many creatures that have advantages underground. Ori remained alert and walked forward with his natural glow showing the path.
"Howl!" Ori called, his voice echoing through the tunnels. Ori gulped dryly, that was maybe not a good idea. Chances to alert whatever lives down here were so high that he now had to face possible consequences. No turning back now. Mustering courage, he called again, but only silence replied.
The tunnels continued for minutes. It would be a labyrinth. Finding Howl would be far too difficult like this. Ori had no way to confirm. Had no way to ensure the wolf's safety. Maybe he has escaped. Maybe he's back at his cave. Ori wanted to believe. But why couldn't Ori shake the feeling Howl fell here? He was severely hurt, his leg had been wounded by a spike. Had diverse blade cuts and bruises. No matter how powerful Howl may be, Ori had to check.
"There has to be a way to confirm faster…" Ori considered dashing ahead to save time, but in unknown territory, that would be a death sentence.
Ori would soon be proven he wasn't alone. The spirit had already been spotted and silently followed. A lengthy creature, responsible for making tunnels under the earth. An invertebrate animal. Twisted and corrupted.
Ori continued walking with the guard up until he noticed a decline in the tunnel. He comes to a stop. Without knowing how deep the descent was, Ori slowly slid down. A stench reached him. A smell so putrid that Ori covered his nose. By the Light what is this smell? Ori had to be getting somewhere now. Hopefully not a chamber filled with eggs or worms or any ravenous creatures.
Ori almost laughed. Of course, he'd find something like this. Just this time the air was stale and disgusting, difficult for anyone to breathe. Ori didn't know for how long he had to hold his breath but had to prepare better before venturing further. At least fill his lungs with a bit of fresh air first. He turned around to return to the path he came to climb back through the tunnel. But unfortunately, Ori's glow shone on more than tunnels, finally spotting company. His eyes widened to the scare of a fat worm with a maw filled with teeth unleashing a hissing roar right at his face. Ori jumps back down, further into the tunnel. Preparing quickly to fight the creature. Ori barely manages to ready his weapon before the worm slams itself against him and pushes him in with great force. Taking the disoriented spirit ever deeper into the earth.
Finally, the battering push stops when Ori is forcefully thrown into a chamber where the same stale air dominates. Ori falls on his back and is sent rolling until being able to recover. He was dizzy but gazing around, there were plenty of sources of light coming from above. The mortar worm hisses on the only exit of the place. Ori covers his nose and mouth and climbs to his knees. One of the fissures had been opened exactly above this chamber, giving it room for air to circulate. That worm must be upset because of that.
But the important thing was just to his left. Glued to the chamber's wall was Kii. The masked monkey Ori met earlier. This made the situation much more grave. "Kii!" Ori called, and he heard. Kii was awake. "Young spirit, please help Howl!" The masked monkey barely had the means to talk.
Ori scanned around and finally found the great wolf almost completely covered in a cocoon. The worm was interrupted mid-work and was pissed. Ori was probably the cause. It hissed and spat a ball of goo, hitting Ori on the chest and pushing him back. The ball of sticky spit would not come off by any means when Ori tried to peel it off. His hand glued to it too. In the rush, Ori used Sein's flames to melt it but new shots hit his remaining free limbs. The worm crawled forward and launched itself against Ori which took the impact and was splattered against the chamber's wall. Ori could see stars and noticed that he didn't fall to the ground, rather, was firmly glued to the wall.
Ori desperately tried to pull free but the adhesive substance proved to be tougher than he expected. Ori analyzed around. Kii was already bound. Howl had blacked out. That could only be the worst outcome possible. But Ku was nowhere around here. A small relief, but nothing lasting as the worm rose in front of Ori, its hissing disturbing to the ears. Ori gave it his fiercest gaze and struggled constantly, a shame that it mattered nothing to the mortar worm. It shot more wads of goo to ensure Ori was out of options for escaping. It then stopped for a moment to analyze the captured spirit. The shiny body presented a rich life force. Abundant energies of light and life radiated within. It makes a low guttural noise like it was pleased and would save this rich source for later.
The wolf, however… The worm changed focus, returning to the fainted wolf and exposing all its teeth to sink in its next victim.
"Don't you dare touch this wolf!" Ori shouted and the worm changed focus again, returning to the spirit. "You won't eat anybody today. You won't hurt anyone!" Ori said in quiet fervor and wrath, his bindings heating up. The worm sensed great and hot energies coming from within the spirit but it didn't matter. The slithery creature was agitated and it would attack at any time with hunger.
Time was short. The following seconds would decide the fates of those present. Ori kept unleashing the flames and fueling them with rage to burn brighter. It reminded Ori of how he first learned a way to use this power…
…
One year ago.
"Do you not feel any anger or something?" Ario had asked Ori in the ample and healing fields of Nibel.
Ori just shook his head. "I don't have reasons to get angry, do I?"
"No, no. We are trying to see how your emotional state best harnesses the flames Sein gave you. You really don't have anything in mind?"
The training to control the flames of purification. An elemental power that only Sein had previously had been passed to Ori as her token of gratitude and for her motherly love to protect her child. However, Ori had not much idea of how to summon the flames without the sword. Had no control over how they operated.
It has been some days already. Ario had to discover something. Would it be an intense emotion? Or discipline? Something has to work for the flames to answer at will. "Okay, I guess that you are too carefree at this moment. You captured the image of the flames only coating your spirit edge in the beginning. Try to picture it without flames now."
Ori complied and breathed deeply, bringing forth the sword. Which is not covered in flames at first, but soon they appear. This wasn't working. There must be more uses for the flame than just enchanting a blade. How many more different attempts must be made for a splinter of progress to appear? Ori can have complete freedom to manipulate these flames as Sein does, but how? Ario put a hand under his chin to consider again. Maybe asking Sein herself? Maybe… a more aggressive approach?
Ario took a few seconds, mustering the courage to try something.
Oh Yali, forgive me for what I am about to do.
"Ori, dismiss the sword," Ario said and Ori dismissed the sword.
"What are we trying?"
Without warning, Ario punches Ori's stomach with great force. Ori recoils from the impact and flops forward with hands covering the hurt area.
"Why did you do that?" Ori asked in pain, feeling betrayed and climbing to his hooved feet with difficulty. "What was that for?"
Ario said nothing, staring harshly at Ori.
Ori was naturally upset by how strong the punch was. Ori breathed deeply as he was taught to always do. A mind that loses its temper loses the ability to ratiocinate, he learned that already. But this was pushing a bit too far. "Don't do that again. I will forgive you this time."
Ario reacted stressed, in a way that Ori never had seen before. "Ori, you don't get it, do you? We have been trying for days and you aren't putting effort into this."
Ori feared having screwed up too many times, irking Ario. "I- I'm sorry. I will do better this time, I just–"
"Listen, I want to give up. You are undeserving of such a noble power. Sein would have never chosen you if I had arrived earlier." Ario pressured Ori harder.
Ori became more tense with the shift. Being called unworthy was taunting. "What? Sein gave me this power because she wanted to! I never asked for this."
"Wrong. She gave it to you so you wouldn't be more of a dead weight than you already were. Remember how hurt she was after I saved her from Kuro? What did you do, besides crying? Remember why I trained you? Hm?"
That hurt to hear. And fueled the young spirit to a wrathful temper. "I had no idea I had it by that time! I had–"
"Excuses!" Ario interjected, bringing Ori a step closer to losing it. "Face it. She pitied you."
"She did not!"
"Is that so?" Ario never looked so deadly serious to Ori, he appeared to be someone entirely different. That scared Ori to a point, but the current rage inflicted by pain and words spoke louder. Ario used body language to challenge Ori to a fist-to-fist duel assuming a stance. "Unless you master their use, here and now, I will make Sein revoke her choice and strip you from this gift."
Ori dearly understood and would use Ario as a punching bag to vent this stress now. Ori breathed deeply again. "Sein was not mistaken!"
"Prove me, then."
The fight lasted for hours and even Sein was notified of blue flames being spotted near the Swallow's Nest. Two spirits were brawling without halt, she was alerted. That was worrying and when Sein arrived, she spotted Ario and Ori brought to the brink of exhaustion yet one thing intrigued her.
Ario reached his goal. Ori became a little stronger that day by adorning flames across almost his entire body. The punches hit much harder. His movement was faster. Reflexes sharper. Suffice to say it was a state of incredible focus. Of great overall enhancement.
It was true that Ori was enraged to a point that not even he knew. But after such extensive training, he noticed the flames around him. The rage melted to glee as he contemplated himself. It didn't burn and had a cool visual to it!
He had done it. Ario stretched, taking a breather and placing a hand on Ori's shoulder.
"A wisp is never mistaken when passing its power. Because those who wield it have their absolute trust to use it wisely." Ario shared a bit of enlightenment. "Wrath mixed with a critical condition is one of the greatest catalysts to invoke powers deep within us. However, it is the most dangerous too. My apologies for the punch, but now I can say clearly: this power is yours, my guy."
Ario offered a fist bump and Ori smiled, accepting it. "Alright. But only rage will help me harness the flames more freely?" Ori said hesitant about the required anger for it to work.
"Not necessarily, but it's a start," Ario replied. "With more practice, I am certain the flames will answer you at will. Maybe we can discover even more utility for it."
"That's cool! I feel like I imitated Layla's enhancement, though. Will it be dangerous like hers?" Ori asked something interesting while analyzing himself
"You see, Layla's ignition powers do not originate from a wisp, unlike yours. That means you can do things like she does, but without that penalty. Perhaps even more."
A sweet smile adorned Sein's face. Everything was okay.
…
Today Ori would put such knowledge to good use. The worm was hungry and went to attend to the necessity. It slithered to Howl in a frenzy and Ori had cranked up the heat enough to melt the creature's sticky spit. He shouted, breaking free from the adhesive bindings. That draws the attention of the creature back, and its hissing fills the lair.
Ori enhanced himself entirely, hyperfocusing on the situation. The very chamber trembled as the power of a wisp was evoked. The creature had no regard for how dangerous the spirit was, just that he had to be secured again. It crawled rapidly to attack.
Ori readied his blade and awaited the worm to get close enough, bravely standing still and unwavering until the moment was at hand. The worm planned to knock the spirit out with its weight and launched itself at him. In a flash, the sound of a sword slash echoed. Blue flames parted the worm in two and Ori was in a different location, out of danger. An attack so quick that Kii failed to witness it. Yet the image was clear, a single strike took the beast down. Ori breathed deeply, relaxing muscles and blinking normally. The flames diminished until vanishing completely.
"Amazing!" Kii sang. "I have never seen anything like this!"
Ori refocused and went to Kii. "It's a difficult move to perform. I'm glad I managed it well." He said, aiding in melting the sticky goo and freeing the masked monkey with a small portion of Sein's flames.
"These flames are a fascinating weapon, child. You have our utmost thanks!"
"No problem. But we need to get out of here." Ori said as he burned out Howl's cocoon. The great wolf was unconscious still. "How did you two end up here? Is everything alright with Ku?"
"I heard the battle and went to my lord's aid. We fought against Shriek and fell here. As for Ku… I don't know where she is."
Ori became tense, almost wanting to pin Kii back against the sticky wall. "What do you mean you don't know where she is?! She is not in the cave? I trusted you to guard her!"
"I am sorry! I could not leave her alone in the cave, so she was nearby when our conflict with Shriek happened."
Ori could not believe such words. It was a mistake to trust such strangers to watch over her!
"Howl! Kii! Ori!" A familiar voice called from above. Ku called from the surface. Ori and Kii looked up, hardly being able to see her by how deep down they were. It was a relief to hear her well. But she shouldn't be wandering the Silent Woods by herself!
"Ku, we are down here!" Ori answered her call, bringing joy to the owlet
"Ori? Ori! Are you okay!?"
"We are fine now! But we need to find a way up!" Ori said, his voice echoing. "Howl and Kii are here too!"
"Oh thank goodness! Okay! I am sending help!" Ku answered. Ori and Kii became puzzled by what she just said. Sending help? Then their eyes widen as a not-much-pleasing sight descends on them. Shriek appears and with her, Ku on her shoulder. Both watch the jaw-dropping sight. It took them one, two, three, or five whole seconds to comprehend what was happening. Shriek had descended, to rescue them? Ku befriended the infamous Shriek!?
"I-impossible…" Kii contemplates, hardly digesting what his eyes capture.
"Ku! Ku… Are you… okay?" Ori drops to his knees, nearly fainting. His heart wanted to burst out of his chest. Shriek landed and did not like the vision of the wolf and masked monkey, didn't like seeing the spirit either and screeched. Ori and Kii take a few steps back preparing for the worst.
Then Ku whistles, pulling complete attention from the horned owl. She points towards each and whistles to explain to Shriek. "They are friends. Friends. They upset you and now they will apologize, right guys?"
Ori and Kii looked at each other and then back to Ku. "We are sorry!" They say without ceremony. Ku whistled as a positive thing to show Shriek. Shriek looked at the trio that faced her earlier and whistled a distorted sound as a sign of acceptance.
"Good! We are all friends!" Ku announced.
Astounding. Just… mind-blowing. Shriek had listened. They saw that right. Ori and Kii shared gazes again, to test if they were not hallucinating. By the glorious light of the spirit tree, it was a miracle!
"So… who wants a lift?" Ku asked in her upbeat tone like she wasn't beside a well-feared being. Children are truly incredible.
Moments later, Shriek helped Howl, Kii, and Ori to get out of the fissure's depths. Kii used a spell to cover Howl in a bed of chains with a handle for Shriek to grab and pull. It didn't look comfortable, but Howl wouldn't whine thankfully. They slowly returned to the safety of Howl's lair with Shriek's help. Ori and Kii worked hard to push Howl's huge body into the cave but with lots of effort, it was done. The cavern had not the illusion of multiple boulders blocking the way, so Shriek spotted the place more easily.
The trio took a moment to rest, but Shriek had difficulty entering the cave. Her horns and her wings made it too difficult. The cave was uncomfortably cramped for her. But it didn't stop her from interacting with Ku nor stop trying to enter the cave, even if she broke a few stones to make a larger space.
Ori and Kii just wanted to survive Shriek's desire to get in like everyone else. She enlarged the entrance by quite a bit until finally being able to chill.
The situation was funny. Kii and Ori had no words to describe what it is to lounge with a creature that they should be afraid of. Now acting all warmly close to Ku. They were in a state of shock and amusement and disbelief and acceptance. All at the same time. Ku was showing the random objects around the cave as Shriek paid close attention
"A bit weird, isn't it?" Ori said, pouring tea for them. Trying to appear normal despite the evident state of weirdness that is having Shriek around.
"Just a bit," Kii said, taking a sip of his tea but he just splashed it on his mask. Ori tried to hold his laughter. Like, what was that?
Howl growled, disoriented and in a lot of pain. "Kii… Where…" Howl notices being in the safety of his house. How strange.
"Welcome back, my lord. I'm glad you're okay. Just whatever you do, don't look right. Don't look right!"
But Howl does precisely that. He gasped and his eyes widened in utter shock. Shriek is… SHRIEK IS HERE? The sight of the same owl that wrecked him comfortably inside his lair, making funny sounds around with Ku wasn't the most welcoming. Howl was so shocked that such a vision drained the very air out of his lungs. Resulting in Howl fainting again.
"Oh, dear." Kii shrugged, Howl should grow accustomed to it soon enough. Good thing that he stays still for a while longer to rest. Kii returned to Ori and took another sip of tea, only to splash it on his mask again.
This time, Ori couldn't hold the laughter. "What was that?"
"I am so shocked that I am living this day, that I can't even drink tea properly."
"Ah, fair enough. That's not something you see every day."
They took another sip, observing Shriek and Ku. It was far too unreal to see the elephant in the room and try to act normally. Ori wondered about the monster of the Silent Woods. "Kii, who is she really?"
Kii felt a sting of guilt but knew how to enlighten the present spirit. "Shriek is… a very unfortunate creature. More than any of us. She was born much later when the rule of Seir ended, and as of consequence, she came to the world alone. Under the defiled and rotten bodies of her parents."
Ori already felt bad for her. "She had nobody? She was already tainted?"
"Yes. And it destroyed her chances of a brighter future. Everyone, us included, did not risk fostering her by fear. No matter how all our hearts ached. Pity had faded. Decay had brought so many to their limits, to be so cautious, that she was labeled a monster and shunned back to this forsaken woods."
Kii took a moment. "That day… I regret every second that I allowed fear to dominate my judgment. Nobody could be certain she wouldn't spread the life-chewing disease that plagued the land. In those critical days, nobody had firm ground under their feet, I couldn't do it."
An abandoned child. Shriek had lived desolated in these woods for so long that she was no longer familiar with any form of warmth. The fun mood that was seeing Howl spooked had withered to the sorrow of seeing Shriek today. She is fully grown, but something did not feel right. The way she interacts with Ku is vastly different than with anyone else.
Ku now wanted to show Shriek how to draw on rocks. She pays complete attention and appears intrigued by anything Ku does or says.
"You were all wrong, weren't you?" Ori said to Kii. " She doesn't appear to be toxic to be nearby. She isn't that deeply corrupted."
Ori could tell that there are worse levels that one can undergo under the plague of Decay. Iyo, for example, had his mind twisted. Ori could guess that Shriek had not been exposed for as long as Iyo had. Ori wanted to believe that her own condition is what protects her in a way.
"Maybe we were." Ori heard as he stood up and slowly walked towards Shriek. The monstrous owl doesn't even look at him but already presents discomfort. Her mood changes as Ori does another step, showing no hostility, but Shriek dislikes it anyway. She turns to Ori poised to strike.
"Sheek?" Ku called and understood Shriek's change. The owlet goes closer to Ori to possibly smooth things. "Don't need to feel angy. It's alright." She taps her wing on Ori's arm and Shriek's expression softens under her carapace. Then Ku goes to Shriek and does the same tap on her folded wing. Shriek coos as she calms down, appearing to like to be tapped the same way Ori was.
"She is very scared. Nearly anything makes her flinch like it's a possible threat." Ku said to Ori, bringing Kii to approach a little.
"Oh, this might explain why she creates silence… She is not protecting territory."
"Every sound makes her fear for her life." Ori could realize. "She doesn't attack for dominance, but because of fear."
"It seems so. She acts by pure instinct. Like an animal."
"No," Ori added. "She might be a child, in the body of an adult."
Kii brings himself to think. "So her mind never matured, unlike the body? What makes you think so?"
"Looking at her I can tell she doesn't hear the whispers."
"Whispers?" Kii repeated, confused.
Shriek dislikes being stared at as she doesn't understand what is happening. Her shift was clear and made them know what she felt. Ori and Kii slowly step away, as Ori signs for Ku to be very careful but continue learning whatever she can about her new friend. Shriek tries to whistle as a sign that she approves of having Ku back.
"Decay assaults the mind of those who are corrupted," Ori explained to Kii. "The whispers… They are like a maddening voice that is constantly gnawing on one's conscience. The foe Howl confronted had them and…" Ori didn't want to explain that deeply, but thankfully Kii appeared to understand.
"Your light can feel things that shadows can't. And if Shriek is not corrupted as we thought, maybe…" Both of them observe the two owls. "Maybe Ku might be her salvation."
Kii prepared himself to rest. "Young one, let us rest for the night."
That sparked Ori a question. "Where do you usually sleep? There doesn't appear to be anything soft to lay on here."
"It is very simple. See Howl over there? There is nowhere softer than his pelt."
Ori felt awkward. "Uh, you sleep over him?"
"Why, yes. Howl is large enough for 8 grown mokis to sleep over him. Come on, he doesn't bite."
That was genuinely bizarre for Ori but curious at the same time. He remembered sleeping over Naru a few times, but Howl… is a completely different story. "Kii… I don't think I can do that."
Ku also appeared sleepy and went to nestle on Howl. Shriek, noticing her wish, tries her best to get comfortable by herself while Ori is reluctant, "Kii can I really do it?"
"Of course. Now get over here."
It would be much more courteous not to sleep on a wolf that one isn't that acquainted with. But Ori would give it a try. Howl was sleeping on his side, and Ku snuggled on his back while Kii was atop him. Ori felt so weird about it
But unfortunately, it was either that or the cold, hard floor. Awkwardly he took his chance with a leap atop Howl. Took him a few seconds to adjust to the accommodation and the worst Ori wanted to admit was that it didn't feel that bad to nestle on the dark fur. Hopefully, Howl won't make a fuss of it.
Now seeking to sleep, Ori couldn't help but dwell on the events he just experienced. The words he heard. The situation he lives in. Deep inside, he could sense that it wouldn't last long.
…