by SunnyJustice » Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:30 pm
Sanctuary Path
"HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT YOUR ELDER!" Cadence roared. The manticore was not listening to her, and that was unacceptable. It was in a sitting position now since its hindquarters seemed incapacitated, and it was definitely weakened, but the disgracing thing just kept attacking. It roared and grabbed Erin and Orlando in its gaping jaws. Cadence took out its remaining eye with telekinesis, but somehow that didn't even stop the creature. The monster leaned its head back and swallowed the flailing kids whole.
"LEAVE OUR PRESENCE IMMEDIATELY-" Cadence started, but she had to stop yelling. She had lost her voice and she could barely breathe. The mayor knelt down on the ground, still holding Gwen. She looked sideways to see Rowan.
"What are you doing?" She rasped, shaking her head. "Back off, insolent teenager... you'll hurt someone."
Rowan didn't seem to hear her.
"How dare you ignore me," Cadence snapped at him.
Then she realized she could barely hear her own voice, too.
---
The Sanctuary
"Rise and shine, my sunbeam."
She awoke and met Luno's eyes. He did not flinch away from the light, rather his entire figure glowed faintly in her presence. He wore the smile she had longed to see for five years.
"But that's not exactly right, sunflower," Luno whispered, slowly running a finger down her cheek. His bright eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I still smiled for you every day. It was the first thing you saw when the sun rose, and the last thing you saw before the sun set. Just like it has always been."
Wordlessly, she stood and embraced him. It was a long time before she finally spoke.
"... And it always will be."
---
Sanctuary Path
Timpani sighed as her message was disregarded. It was infuriating. She had the temper of a volcano, and right now she was trying her hardest to keep her rage under control. People were going to get hurt if they didn't listen.
When Xia started asking frantically for Silas, Timpani simply gestured to him. He was right beside them this whole time. The nonfighters had all been shielded behind Cadence.
If only people would listen.
"Last warning- you need to get out of the way!" She called out.
---
The Sanctuary
"You know how you blessed Windwoods Village?" Luno asked, lounging on the riverbank with his feet hanging in the water. Solara was sitting behind him, not wanting to get wet. She nodded simply, and he continued.
"I did the same to the Sanctuary. That's why the sky is clear overhead."
He pointed up, and Solara looked up to see the stars. The sky was Juniper's canvas. Every constellation represented something great that someone had done for Hesenia. They all told a story, and Solara had lived through most of them. There were a few she had been absent for- most notably the creation of Hesenia itself. That was represented by a constellation shaped like the "Go" arrow in Monopoly, where the playing pieces started. Evan had designed it for a good laugh.
"I call it the Grace of the Night. As long as I live, Agatha's evil can't touch this place." With a wink, he leaned back until he was lying against her chest. "And trust me, I would never let her kill me."
"... Good."
"I've protected this corner of your garden for you," Luno reassured her, tilting his head so his ear was pressed against her chest. She knew he loved listening to her heartbeat.
"Of course I do," Luno said brightly. "I don't have to put my ear against your chest to hear it though. I can always hear your heartbeat. It's so strong and steady- it makes me feel safe just listening to it."
With a thoughtful expression, Solara nodded silently. Her protective instincts were telling her something was wrong. Luno took one look at her and knew, as he always did.
"The journeyers have arrived," Luno explained. "They're in the forest just west of here. You were talking to Rowan before you arrived. It's him you're feeling right now. You have to hurry."
"... Rowan," Solara murmured. She rose to her feet and took off at a steady but terribly slow run. But she would get there in time. She had to.
It was her purpose to protect them.
---
The Woods
Cilan nodded with a huge ridiculous grin. He couldn't wait to do something outrageously stupid. Of course he wasn't actually mad at Timpani. He liked to be pretty easygoing, unless someone was actually being a jerk, or actually trying to take over somebody else's job. Like when Cyprian tried to be leader. Now that was dumb.
"Don't worry. There's nothing to throw up. I haven't eaten in my entire life." He laughed, meaning it literally. His words were slurred together, but he tried to make sure they could be understood.
He tried not to cry out when Flynn carried him, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he was on the ground again. He would thank Flynn later, once he could speak properly without screaming in pain or something. Of course Cilan tried to ignore the manticore, which had just eaten two teenagers... disgusting.
Flynn cried out as he fell, and for a moment Cilan looked at him with concern. But he knew his friend would be fine. He was fast enough to get away, even if Rowan fired from point blank range. Cilan was pretty sure at least.
"Last warning- you need to get out of the way!" Timpani's shout came again. And then her eyes locked directly on Cilan. They were furious, blazing with all the intensity of an erupting volcano. Cilan couldn't tell what burned harsher. Timpani's enraged gaze, or the brilliant light in Rowan's hands, so bright that a rainbow of colors surrounded it like a halo.
Cilan grinned at Timpani.
"Looks like I'm in your way," He laughed. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Cilan-"
He didn't get to hear the rest.
---
Sanctuary Path
She arrived just in time- positioning herself in front of Anna and Flynn, shielding both of them with her body. Rowan's light deflected harmlessly around her, never able to outshine the sun, but the intense heat of it incinerated the trees it touched. Solara bent down and pulled both fallen teenagers into her arms, cradling them until the danger had passed.
The light wouldn't disobey her. Like an obedient child, it stopped as soon as it realized who had just arrived. No more of this forest would be destroyed.
She set them down and rose to her feet, disregarding the looks she got as she surveyed the desolate landscape. The manticore and Cilan were completely gone. Literally no trace of them remained, not even ashes. The ruined trees were nothing more than charcoal and blackened firewood. Thankfully the destruction didn't extend far, since she had commanded it to stop. Solara needed to protect her garden.
Even though her eyes were closed and her back was turned, she could read the Mayor Cadence's lips. "What in the name of Solara just happened?"
"That is Solara, mayor," Timpani told her.
Gavotte was just staring at her in sheer bewilderment.
"Oh heavens," Rowan whispered in horror. Despite being blind, he could see just as well as Solara could with his eyes closed. And he had certainly seen the destruction. He fell to his knees, tears pooling in his eyes. "What have I done?"
The same thing I did, when I was a child. Solara thought. She remained standing there stoically, with no expression. She did not even turn around. And like myself, you will not repeat this mistake.
I will ensure it.
