Damage Control

[Trillian]

Continued from The First Night

Wren held on as tightly as he could but was thrown around in the back of the police vehicle as it slammed into and travelled over dead bodies. With each impact he felt saddened that he was unable to make their bodies sleep, but justified it was only their decayed vessels, not their souls, that were being abused in this way. There were too many to create a gentle culling.

He'd chosen not to ride in front, instead letting the electrically-powerful witch go there instead. He helped the others climb into the back, sitting beside the blonde - Tess. He bounced into her accidentally and gaver her an apologetic look. She had an angelic face that seemed to hide the power of her fireballs. Did she use all the elements in her magic or just specialise in the one? He opened his mouth first to apologise for bumping into her and then maybe asking about her specialty, when the police van screeched to a halt, causing everyone in the back to slide closer to the front - and into Wren. He helped the blonde woman get to her feet before the back doors were opened and they hopped out.

When his feet touched cool, smooth tarmac, he realised he'd forgotten his sandals. They were somewhere in the Detour's parking lot. Never mind. Fingering the beaded protective necklace upon his chest, he took a firmer grip on his staff and moved around the vehicle, seeing the broken chain hanging from one side of the gate. Instead of multiple walking dead, there were only puddles of ash and bone, and then spying a giant woman walking towards them.

Like the other dark-skinned witch, he also saw power in her, but instead of crackling energy, hers was like swirling black lava. Beyond that, he had no idea of who she was or what her intentions could be. It was reasonable to assume she the one that had raised these creatures! Wren lifted his staff and spoke words that would root the giant woman to the ground - but mother earth did not obey and his words fell flat.

Alarmed, he turned to look at the others for help and noticed the lovely blonde woman closest to him was also staring at Sabrina.

[Idrial]

Maria rode up front after Wren's suggestion, giving him a small nod of thanks. Not before giving her Pangool the command to stay behind and find any stragglers. Maria had reserves to summon more at the cemetery if needed. Holding on for dear life as Lacy drove like a mad man to the cemetery, secretly glad she got to sit up front. However, she worried if the blonde would pull something, Fearing with her little outburst, necromancer indeed. If Maria said anything against the witch suspicion would fall on Maria. No, she had to play the blondes game, displeasing Takhar immensely. Maria would not be made out to be a martyr, her deities would have their justice when the time was right.

Screeching to a halt and hearing a faint thump in the back, it made her shudder as she stepped out. Seeing Wren already helping the group out she felt an immense power, her attention caught by the beautiful giant. The deities rumbled within her head, her eyes flashing amber as the message was relayed. This woman was not an enemy, perhaps she could help undo the doubt Tess had planted in their minds about Maria. As Wren gave a group a look of alarm and Maria gave him a calm wave of her hand, stepping forward a few paces to show her good faith in the lady. All she wanted to do was send the dead back to their rightful resting place.

Sabrina would feel on old and rare power in Maria, someone who was a true vessel for the mother and father. That undeniable feeling of Maria's true faith and Sabrina would recognize her High Priestess status. Someone who did good and protected her own. Maria's tribe may no longer exist but she had Sam, Sam was her tribe. Maria chose not to speak and allowed the white-blonde to address the group, Sabrina was powerful and respect was needed here, especially if she was to expose Tess.

[Seragil]

Shiobhan didn’t say much in the crazy bumpy car drive to the cemetery, enough to introduce herself and learn everyone else’s name. Instead she concentrated on trying to ease her screaming headache, usually head blind to people’s auras and gifts something about tonight had torn more of her own bindings off of her third eye and her head was filled with the presence of all her companions. Lacy felt untrained power wise but her presence was strong and clear non the less and Maria confused her, her energy felt similar to Flicks but completely different at the same time, she didn't think she was a necromancer like Tess had suggested as she could feel her connection to the Gods and her power impressed and awed her, as did the druid Wrens, he felt strong and steady and his connection to the earth was unmistakable, it sang so loudly to her, called to hear. She wanted to speak with him but he made her feel nervous, the fact that he was also the first half naked guy she had ever seen didn’t help either, Flick as beautiful as he had appeared in his human form didn’t count and so she spent most of the trip looking out the car window as she didn’t want to get caught peeking glances at him, plus riding in a police car to stop a zombie apocalypse really wasn’t the best place to start up a conversation and. As for Tess, she was another whose power felt comfortable on her albeit it was a little chaotic but then the Goddess was light and dark, life and death, everything and nothing all at once, so who was she to judge? The Goddess and God accepted all who came to them and many a witch weaved light and dark to suit their ends. It wasn’t power or the gift that made someone evil or good but what and how they chose to do with it. As for the cat nobody said anything about it and so she assumed it was Wrens familiar, or animal companion, or totem or whatever but it too felt of power, though muted somehow.

All their mixed energies pressed against her, making her head pound and making it abundantly clear that all of them spent their time, accepting, practicing and honing their different powers and gifts, whereas as she spent most of the time ignoring and running from hers, but she had promised herself that would change, hence why she was still here.

As the car came to a screeching halt she ended up almost falling into Wrens lap and was doubly glad Tess was in the middle of them and stopped her fall, it didn’t help her from blushing though as Wren helped her from the back of the car.

As she followed them into the cemetery proper, she closed her eyes as the feel of the earth free from asphalt and cement rushed into her, rejuvenating her and easing the pain in head somewhat. As she connected further, she could feel what had been done, how the earths power had been twisted and turned towards an evil goal and how the life of a great tree had been used as a sacrifice. The residual feel of the dark energy used felt wrong, tainted by something other, a different and darker presence and it called to her Blood, her eyes flew open in shock as she quickly squished that part of herself, that deeper power, the true power she ran from. As her eyes flew open she looked in the direction of the tree and saw the tall woman approach. The presence of the others had felt like a constant beating of a drum in her head, but this? This woman’s power crashed into her like a tidal wave, causing her to swoon and stumble where she stood.

[Black Philip]

Lacy hit the gas and a sinister smile took over her face. "Yeah, zombie fuckers, die. Leave my city. Go back to hell where you belong!"

There was a fair amount more vulgarity, but for the sake of decency it shant be mentioned here.  Truthfully, Lacy was just happy to be useful. She knew how much shit happened off the grid in this city, and this episode of American Horror Story was just one example. She hit another one, hearing the "thud, thud crack," of the skeleton beneath the paddy wagon. "Sorry it's bumpy," she yelled to the back. Her front seat companion looked almost in prayer. What were they all so scared of? She drove like a fucking beast.

She hooked over to Pine, and took down a whole squad of them. A few hung on to the driver's side, but a few quick head shots out the window got them out of the way. She was driving with one hand, at way past the speed limit, shooting a gun and mowing down zombies. This was the best day of her life! All she needed was a cigarette and a good screw and she'd be fully content. It almost never happened to the workaholic.

When they reached the cemetery, she skidded to an equally brutal stop, giving a fair amount of whip lash to the people in the back. She heard a muffled, "fucking bitch" that sounded like the blonde. A white woman inconvenienced? Oh the humanity. She laughed, and jumped out of the car, gun drawn. She stood next to Wren, as he seemed the most steady, and pointed her gun at the approaching giantess. 

"CPD! Get on the fucking ground. Drop all wands, potions, herbs, or candles you may be carrying."
The ride was... unpleasant. Tess was not a car person. If need be a broom and her telekinesis would do just fine. The filthy cop drove like a goddamn lunatic, and sweet visions of her slit throat got Thesdea Thane through the worst of the ride, that and her main accuser was in the front and out of range. The others were a mixed bag. The cat was just a filthy shifter, but the Druid had great power. She sensed it was still limited. He needed to learn more, and Tess easily saw a way to gain an ally. Her feminine charms often did well on men, and she had to admit, Daddy had quite the bod. Lick.

Then there was sweet little Shiobhan. She seemed ill, and out of sorts, this amount of magic probably overwhelming her.  What did Black Philip want with this wretch? True she smelled powerful, but that could not be enough. What value did her soul have? If not today, she'd need an outing with Ms. Herbs. Then they stopped suddenly, and Tess didn't have time to stop her momentum with magic. She smacked into the wall of the van, and screamed in pain. That damn cop was trying to kill her. "Fucking bitch," she whispered.

When they got inside the cemetery, Tess stayed close to Wren too. Then she saw her real target. "Saint" Sabrina was coming right to her. She wondered if the tall one smelt her dark magic like these other fools couldn't. Still, she pumped up her glamour of goodness, hoping it might buy her an audience.  She began to chant under her breath, "Phantasmata decepturus est, speculorum spatio et in tempore, cum sit mihi carmen istud deleas miserationes. Anima mea, vidistis in me sed haec lux mea se relinquere SCENA." Could she finish it in time?

((English:"Illusions, mirrors, time and space, with this spell let me erase. Project my soul, let me be seen, but let my self leave this scene." ))

[Harlequin]

Concern painted itself across Sabrina's face as the cop car screeched to a halt and The City's best and brightest magic users piled out onto the pavement like a bunch of untrained puppies —

—and immediately began slinging spells at words at her. It had been a long time since she’d been treated like a monster; she was surprised by how it stung.

The Druid’s attempted summoning tugged at her boots, but the Earth wasn’t listening, and certainly wouldnt be used against one of Her own. Could he not hear Her keening for the bodies freshly torn from Her flesh?

With a twist of Sabrina’s wrist, the police officer’s gun disassembled itself and clattered to the ground in its component parts.  A bullet would hurt, and none of them needed to be breathing in what was inside Sabrina. All the time, she advanced.

The momentary distraction provided by the gun gave Tess the time she needed to complete her spell, earning her a pointed glare from the giant as she came to rest a few paces from the group. Sabrina would’ve known her by her smell even if the tree hadn’t shown her the other witch’s face. She crossed her arms over her chest and spoke.

“I see nearly everyone here graduated from the school of shooting first.” She put a fraction of her power behind the words, and those who were sensitive could feel the rebuke as if it came from their own parent. She wasn’t angry, she was disappointed. The high priestess who stepped forward to meet her in good faith was spared this, and instead received a gentle nod. This woman’s was an old and only vaguely familiar magic, a rare breed tihis far north.

She let her gaze wander over each magic user in turn. “My name is Sabrina. Are you here to throw stones or help me put this right?”

Before the other blonde witch could speak, Sabrina jabbed a finger in Tess’s direction, “No more striking, Viper. You tell them, or I will.” The blackness in her voice was threat enough.

[Black Philip]

"OOOOOOOOOO," she hissed dismissively, letting her glamour fall now that Sabrina had exposed her. The others would feel the pure blackness of death overwhelm them. Only the high priestess and Sabrina would be immune and even they might not have known how strong the devil's grip was. And yet, a tiny spec of silver lived at the bottom of the blackness. It was Tess's soul. It was still there, although damaged, ugly and scarred. It was odd Lucifer let his his servant hold onto her soul, and those who watched the blonde witch had to wonder why she still had possession of it.

Tess had to think fast or face the might of five witches and a cat. Individually she knew she could take all of them except Sabrina but together and with the lead witch helping she'd be stopped. Tess wasn't humble, but she didn't like dying and that made her admit when she was outmatched. Her bag of tricks lay at her feet and a series of knives shot out. Tess grabbed the first one and held it to the throat of Shiobhan. The other knives created a perimeter, stabbing and hacking at the others to make them move back. Deciding to stay put meant a lot of cuts and if a knife was knocked away it simply flew back. Once she had some space, she addressed Sabrina.

"Viper? Strong words considering what you are demon. You smell closer to me than you'd want these others to know. Even whisper a syllable that sounds like a spell and I spill her blood!" With that she laughed, and held the knife closer to her hostage. "Oh and I raised the zombie hordes and killed the tree. Sorry bout it!"

She was clearly not "sorry bout it."

[Idrial]

Maria was completely offended by the actions of the group, their rash actions could have gotten them killed. Pulling out guns and casting spells unnecessarily, a sure way to get someone hurt or killed. Maria could see how being treated as a monster cut deeply; it saddened Maria in a profound way. Maria bowed her head deeply at Sabrina in thanks to her gentle nod, this one swelled with the power of old. Earning great respect from Maria and even got a small grin out of her for Sabrina's sarcastic comment. This one had some bite and it reminded her of Sam, spunky little vampire she had become.

Maria's eyes grew wide with glee as Sabrina seen the blonde girl for her true nature. Tess tried to overrun Maria with the feeling of sludge in her veins. However, it was not a true death that the necromancer controlled. All it did was enrage Kopé Tiatie Cac, his voice swirling in her head. Feeling much more comfortable with the powerful witch, she opened up herself to the mother and father. Tapping into her true power, eyes glowing amber within the darkness as she gazed at Tess. Some deities humming pleasantly while others gnashed their teeth in her head.

"She tried to pin this on me, my dear Sabrina. Called me a necromancer." No sooner finishing her sentence Tess grabbed hold of Shiobhan.

Maria had enough of this girl, dancing blades and balls of fire were nothing but cheap tricks. Maria could see Tess had sold herself to something evil, whatever little of her soul remained could not be reached by normal means. Even her ill words about Sabrina being a demon did not throw Maria off, no she was an ally. They had the same goal and that was too put the dead back to their rightful place.

"You're a very foolish girl." Her tone was one of disappointment, she should have run when she had the chance. Summoning another Pangool ready to strike or protect the others on command. Maria had to save her blessing for the cemetery, a grim scowl on her face.

[Trillian]

Things happened very quickly after his failed incantation.

Lacy yelled a command nearby, and he heard the thud of the pieces of her weapon hitting the ground. He barely looked at it. Wren felt appropriately abashed when Sabrina revealed that she was not who'd summoned the walking dead but had gone to the cemetery - much like they had - in order to see the disturbance and offer help. He should've known when the earth refused to work against her, recognising allies better than Wren could. At least he'd been spared that shame.

And then the accusation came. He turned to look at the blonde - Tess, he recalled - who he found attractive and enigmatic because of her power, and instead of looking confused or denying what had been said, she dropped her facade (which Wren couldn't see unless he said words to see her aura). He didn't realise her lie until a blade whisked past his face, keeping him at bay, and she had Siobhan in her clutches.

Anger and humiliation rose in him, pressing in his throat like a wad of hot glue. How stupid he'd been, to be fooled by a pretty face, to see her power and not even suspect that she might've followed the creatures to enjoy her destruction. He was useless without his words; all of his magic relied on the elements but needed him to speak in order to summon them. Wind, earth, air, fire, spirit. He couldn't do a single thing because of that blade pressed to Siobhan's neck. He would not risk another's life.

Foolish girl, Maria said, but it wasn't her that had been the most foolish. It had been him.

He lowered his staff to remove the threat, and hopefully the movement would attract Tess' gaze. "If she is hurt, you will be next," he reasoned.

He was aware they were losing time. The walking dead were still walking, and the longer they fought among themselves, the farther away the dead would get.

[Seragil]

Naoise hated the car ride, he hated cars in general; they were nothing but a pollution bomb and they were a killing machine (as the zombies were finding out if all the sudden and explicable bumps were any indication). He had died more times in the last century under the wheels of a car then any other creature or weapon in his twelve hundred years of life and so he sat hunched on the floor the entire wretched trip with his mind on Arutha. He had wanted to check up on him but there had been no time for that or for explanations. He had however managed to tell him where they were heading and that he thought it was too dangerous for him and that he should stay in the motel room and keep the doors locked.

The milling dead getting squished beneath the car tires reminded him of the black plague. The living dead walked the streets then too albeit they were still living and not undead, but they had been run down, cut up and burned to ash as no doubt these modern-day death bringers would be. Still they caused the destruction of entire cities and towns and the merest touch was more often then not a death sentence. At least these walking corpses couldn’t spread their undead condition. He hoped anyway.

He tried touching minds with his companions again but either the druid couldn’t hear him, or he was blocking him out with his concern and worry of the unfolding events around them. Shiobhan was so blinded mentally he was surprised she could still manage to see at all. As for Tess, as soon as she got close enough, he could smell she was naught but lies and deceit and so wanted nothing to do with her. As for the two in front, Lacy felt like she could have the talent but he didn’t know her and this wasn’t the time to start messing with peoples brains and Maria, she had most definitely heard him earlier and demonstrated that she could talk back to him but she confused him, although he could sense she had a strong positive otherworldly connection he could also smell her vampiric blood, as weak as it was and vampires had been nothing but trouble for him and so he was unsure of how to proceed. To trust or not to trust.

The question was made mute when the car came to a screeching halt and they all became a jumbled mess with Tess’s foot kicking him in his ribs, he so wanted to dig his claws in and rip her leg open in retaliation but he didn't want his claws tainted by touching her. When the door was opened, he flew out of there like a bat out of hell.

The air in the cemetery stank of warped, black magic and death, the scorched taint of it scorched his nose and he wanted to yowl from the burn of it. He was busy rubbing his nose against his leg when Sabrina came into sight and so didn’t notice her till she was practically on top of him.

At her words of rebuke, he slunk low to the ground as he was overcome with feelings of shame; even if he hadn’t done it to her, he did often attack first and ask questions later. Such an attitude wasn’t great for making friends, but it did keep him from being snacked on more oft then not.

                                                                                                           ~~~

Shiobhan straightened under the onslaught of pure power that Sabrina’s mere presence smashed into her. She felt a little faint as more layers of denial and self-delusion were ripped from her. Her self-induced belief that she and her family were freaks in a world of mundane normalcy was quickly and irrevocably turning to ash and dust around her and she could no longer deny the reality of the kind of world she lived in. However, her blind denial of the truth of the world didn’t mean she wasn’t knowledgeable or without power and as Tess spoke her incantation, she turned to the witch standing beside her in confusion, a frown furrowing her brow. Why was she casting a glamourie? It made no practical sense, unless she was trying to hide from the zombies somehow.

Her confusion was doubled at Sabrina’s words and for a moment she thought Sabrina was talking about her and the family’s secrets that she harbored and so looked towards her in shock and fear. As Tess grabbed her, her satchel slipped from her shoulder and fell to the ground at her feet. Her heart jumped into her throat and fluttered like a small trapped bird as she felt the cold press of metal against her skin, the point of Tess's dagger hard and unforgiving as it dug into her tender soft flesh. Now, she finally understood, maybe more then Tess realized or intended.

She could feel the darkness and death energy around Tess as well as her lost, confused and tormented spirit as she pressed herself into her back, but more, she sensed that other presence, it called to her, it wasn’t its darkness that pulled at her but more the feel of its energy. It called to her Blood and her Blood called back. The last time she felt something like this was with her parents. Her Aunts, being her father’s sisters didn’t have the strength of Blood to call her thus. Feeling her danger, the power of her legacy swelled and rose within her and as fear of it wracked her anew, she reached her hand up to Tess’s and wrapped her fingers tightly around the hand holding the knife to her throat.

“Stop!” She exclaimed angrily, to both Tess and her rising power. Fear now permeated her and the others, if they sensed it, might think it was because of Tess and her hostage situation but it wasn’t, her control was slipping…slipping…slipping...
                                                                           
                                                                                                 ~~~~

Naoise flattened his ears against his head, arched his back and hissed as Tess dropped her illusion, he'd known she was a liar, but he hadn’t suspected this. Bloody witches!

He felt Tess use telekinesis to move and hold the daggers and he had to admit she was good, but so was he. As Wren started to lower his staff, he tried again to speak mind to mind with him. *I’ll distract her, be ready*

He bounded towards Shiobhan but instead of trying to physically knock a knife down he fought Tess for the mental control of them, and tried to push all of them deep into the earth whilst yanking Shiobhan’s satchel towards them and having it land between Wren and Sabrina’s feet, spilling charged crystals, a couple of crystal wands thrumming with latent power, blessed and charged herbs and her athame across the ground.

He didn’t try for the dagger Tess was holding to Shiobhan’s throat, but he hoped the assault on her mind for the control of all the other daggers would be enough distraction to stop her cutting the poor young witch open.

[MementoMori]

Muzzily Arutha heard Naoise's warning as he woke up, the echoes of guns shots and the feeling of wrongness filling his awareness. What the fuck was going on? He blinked open his eyes just as the door shut behind Naoise. He glanced around the room as he sat up, worry and fear crossing his features even he saw that his sister Kevla wasn't there. He was alone and from the sound of things the apocalypse was just outside their doorstep.

Instantly he rolled out of bed and started tugging on his shoes and jacket. He couldn't stand around waiting for the answers and do nothing. He had to figure out what was going on, find his sister as well as Naoise. He couldn't let anything happen to either one. They were his family.

So he went low and grabbed his sister's baseball bat as well as his bike's keys and helmet. So he cracked open the door and his eyes went wide at the carnage before him as well as the sheer fact there were honest to God zombies everywhere.

"Holy shit." he swore as he quickly made his way to his motorcycle, eyes on the look out for Naoise as well as Kevla. Just where were they? He reached out through the connection they shared. *Kit where are you?"* he called as he started up his bike.

He then saw an image in his mind as a response to show him where Naoise was going as well as a motley crew of others as well as the warning to stay inside. Screw that noise, he wasn't about to let Naoise face this alone and besides there was his sister to worry about. So he decided to follow instead. Both of them could tell at him later, provided that there was one.

[Black Philip]

As Lacy's gun collapsed into pieces, she jumped back and screamed a bit. This was all so new to her, and she'd had about enough of magic, cats, zombies and well... the whole god damn situation. The emotional tidal wave of the giant woman hit her, and she felt immediately guilty for pointing her gun. Then the blonde chick pulled out those knives and Lacy had to do a somersault to avoid getting gashed. The bat was in the van and so she ran to grab it, swearing a ton about "monsters," "witches," "blondes."
 
The CAT had magic! Tess was furious she hadn't read it's aura and seen it was more than just a filthy shifter. Almost all of her knives fell to the ground save for one, and of course the cold steel she held to Shiobhan's throat. Then the girl reached her hand to try and interfere. "Stop fighting me you stupid little cu-." Then something unexpected happened. Tess stopped talking, her face going blank as stone and her eyes black as the deepest depths of hell. Her mouth opened and blackness came forth offering those who looked a glimpse into the horrors of the netherworld. A single phrase was uttered and all but the high priestess and the great Saint would feel immense fear.

Give me the treacle!

Tess's mouth then closed and she fell back, dropping Shiobhan and the knife. Sabrina looked ready to knock her out, but Naoise came in first and it would be to his doom. He leaped at her, attempting to force her to the ground. His approach was good but he went for her chest and not her arm, and it would be the mistake that caused his death. Tess's hand turned black and grabbed onto the cat. It entered his body, and the druid beast cried out in pain, as the dealer of death drained his life force. Bones were crunched, muscle twisted and even the water within him was sucked into Tess like a Capri Sun.

"Let him go!" It was the cop running towards her with a bat. Fool. She was an easy fix. A knife was flung at her chest. Let the druid or high priestess save her if they wished. She kept draining and within a few more seconds, the cat was dead. She dropped his lifeless body to the ground, levitating six feet off the ground, rushing with the cat's power.

Sabrina cast again, but Tess's magic high helped her deflect the assault. Suddenly, another flash of fire overtook her eyes. Tess was looking down at her own dead body next to the cat. She needed to escape. She spied Shiobhan and called up a fresh fire ball. Once thrown she'd attempt to flee, unless someone stopped her.

[Seragil]

He screamed as her hand slipped into him and sucked out all that he was. He had died many times in his long life, but this was the most excruciating, the most draining of his self. He felt his bones shatter and crumble within him, the bone fragments piercing and shredding flesh and organs alike as he used the last bit of oxygen in his lungs to fill the night air with the sound of his torturous death cry. Maybe, just maybe, this Blond Bitch Witch had managed to do the impossible and kill him for real this time.

With that possibility blooming in his dying mind, his last thoughts were of Arutha and of regret for the life they might not get to live. Arutha had brought hope and love back into a life that had for centuries become nothing but a burden, and in return all Naoise could do was leave him with the potential pain of his loss. At least he had spared him from having to watch him die yet again, he though as his shriveled, lifeless body fell to the ground where it split apart like the dried up desiccated, mummy corpse, Tess’s touch had turned him into; spilling what little insides he had left in a small circle beneath her floating feet. Unaware that his soul mate, Arutha, had just newly arrived to the cemetery on his motor bike in time to see the whole nightmarish scene.



As the cats pain filled death yowl filled the night and Lacy fell with a dagger in her chest not far from where she herself sat sprawled upon the ground and Tess’s fireball came flying towards her face, Shiobhans control snapped and the power she had been constantly summoning yet denying since her parents death exploded into the star filled night like a nuclear super nova.

“I said Stop!” her words were softly spoken but they were filled with such pure power and absolute command that for a mere moment it seemed that the world itself stopped and took heed. The air stilled as the cemetery went eerily silent, even the scrambling undead ceased their shuffling and silenced their moaning as the stars above stopped shining and went dark for a micro second in answer to that command. It had been an age since anyone had spoken with such authority but the young witch was neither trained or ready to bear such a mantle of power and so the moment came and went.

Shiobhan had all the time in the world to stretch her hand up and catch the fireball hurtling towards her, and no time at all. The fire ball smacked into her hand and she absorbed into her. The gasp of Lacy struggling for breath drew her attention and she crawled over to the fallen police officer. The knife was buried deep in her chest and blood pooled from the wound and ran down her sides and by the way she was breathing Shiobhan suspected the dagger had nicked her lungs. She had never healed such damage before and wasn’t sure she was even capable of it but she pushed her doubt aside and placed her hands on either side of the blade. She used her mind to pull the dagger out and threw it aside as she poured light and life into Lacy. Her hands glowed bright and golden and she tilted her head back in ecstasy as power thrilled through her and slammed into the woman under her hands making her body buck with the force of it.

The light in her hands died as she finished the healing and Shiobhan gently caressed Lacy’s face, although she was now healed, the healing had not been gentle and Lacy would be weak and a little out of it from the amount of power that had been shoved into her to safe her life. As Shiobhan lifted her face her eyes locked onto the levitating, power drunk Tess and rage overcome her. She could still hear the sound of the cat screaming in pain from the viscous and cruel death Tess had delivered him and her hands were sticky with Lucy's blood. Rage filled, and out of control with the sudden and temporary power surge she took a step towards her tainted and lost sister witch.

With a flick and twist of her fingers she summoned wind and used it to shove Tess into the ground, but unable to still her rage she flicked her fingers again and lifted Tess’s fallen body back into the air and threw her back to the ground again with enough force to break bones, she then summoned thick roots and vines to encase the blond witch and keep her imprisoned.

“I am going to bury you alive and tear you apart, you fucking bitch” she hissed angrily, her hair lifting and moving around her as if she were in a strong wind. She was drowning in rage and a power she was not ready to receive.

[Idrial]

Maria could hear the cries of Kopé howling within her mind, Tess draining the heroic cat now lay lifeless. Enraging Maria that such a strong soul should be gone, the cat gave them time. Now was the time to act she had Takhar at her disposal, biting deep into her hand and letting her blood flow. The Pangool now had a physical blade in its hands, deadly but at a cost to Maria. She could not sit back let more blood be split due to this vile creature, hovering six feet above the ground.

Maria took the time to start changing now, her hands outstretched. Shiobhan was successful so Maria would use Takhar to curse Tess. A final parting gives for her transgressions tonight, her voice soft and low. The words old would only be understood by extraordinary magic users. Perhaps the Druid and Sabrina but that was unlikely, her magic was rare in these parts. Not interfering at all with the Druid and his casting.

Mother, Father hear my call
I call your wrath upon this blonde
By this blasphemy, I curse the blonde
In the name of the Takhar, I curse thee three-fold
In the name of all which is unholy
I damn thee for betraying us
I damn thee for disgracing us
I damn thee for all the pain you caused
Takhar your will shall be done

Eyes glowing amber as the Pangool now turned to face Tess. Floating to her level and ready to rush the blonde if Shiobahn could keep the girl held a little longer, this was one Pangool Tess could not control. Once Takhar passed through Tess his curse would be complete, she hoped Takhar made the bitch suffer a terrible curse.

[Trillian]

[ooc] Deleted Wren's post and edited Idrial's post to say Shiobhan instead, because Wren & Siobhan both cast the same spell [/ooc]


This was no place for a druid. The other one, the shifter, had been swept up in magics greater than what he possessed and been sacrificed in less time than it took to form a thought. Wren's words and his staff would do nothing here tonight, only his protection beads had any real power, but they were for him alone. He moved to the policewoman after the other sorceress healed her and picked her up. Everyone was fighting, making big moves against one another and nobody was doing anything about the walking dead. To his eye, the giant witch was casting a barrier of some kind, but he was unfamiliar with its purpose and her intentions.

He carried Lacy back to the van and placed her in the passenger seat. Before he moved around the vehicle, he grabbed his staff, aware that there was a motorcyclist nearby but uncaring as to who it was, friend or foe. He had to get the innocent woman out of here and do something about the threat to the city.

He hopped in the drivers seat, thankful that Lacy had left the keys in the vehicle. Tossing his staff into the back, he started the van up and drove away from the battle near the gates. The graves were all open, all of the dead who could walk were making their way already. He looked from side to side until he spied the tree, and drove the vehicle to that, parking messily on a path that was meant for pedestrians.

"Come on, Lacy," he said, hopping out of the driver's side and running around to where she sat. He flung open the door and gave her an encouraging smile into her quizzical face. "Time to chant some words with me."

He would've preferred the stronger witches but they were too busy casting magics to bother with the problem at hand. If Tess got away or didn't get away, he didn't care. Right now there were zombies in the city and he needed to make them lie down or come back. He helped the policewoman out of the car, noticing that her uniform had a huge patch of blood on it. She'd lost a lot but he'd seen the healer put a great deal of effort into saving her. She should be alright.

"Lacy, I need you, please." He knelt down beside the ruined tree and dug into the earth at its roots until he found soil that wasn't scorched. Touched by black magic, but not affected. Perfect. "Come on," he urged gently, showing Lacy the hole he'd dug. "Hands in here, now repeat after me. "Sos sa tsíocháin, áit sosa. Sos sa tsíocháin, áit sosa." He said it slowly, so she could echo the words. "Come on. Sos sa tsíocháin, áit sosa. Sos sa tsíocháin, áit sosa."

He waited for the earth to thrum in response, willing the vibrations to call back the dead. So far, nothing.

[Seragil]

It was the sound of the van driving by that brought Shiobhan back to her senses and as the vehicle drove past her and towards the tree, she was overwhelmed with shame and guilt. Petty vengeance was not her way nor part of her beliefs, her powers were for nurturing, healing and protection if or when needed, not destruction or for hurting and controlling others. As the tail lights of the van vanished into the gloom of the cemetery she looked down at the vine and root covered Tess. Her lost sister wasn’t going anywhere and from the screams of rage and stream of swear words that emanated from within the living prison she figured she could breathe just fine. She could also feel the pain she was in from Shiobhan's attack upon her but as she couldn’t feel Tess’s life force flickering or growing weaker she assumed her injuries weren’t life threatening, and so went to follow in the wake of the others when she heard Maria start to chant in a language she didn’t understand. She didn’t know what Maria intended but she could feel the energy rising in her.

“Maria! Maria stop!” Tess was contained for now, but the zombies were out of control. “forget about Tess, we need to help Wren and Lacy deal with the zombies!” she shouted at the woman as she started to run in the direction the van was going.

As she ran, she could feel the power she had raised start to drain from her at an alarming speed, everything had a price and as she had summoned it untrained and unprepared the price was going to be all her energy. She wasn’t going to make it to them in time. Feeling unconsciousness rushing for her she threw herself under a bush in the hopes it would offer some kind of cover and hiding spot from the roaming zombies and sent the last of her burrowed energy and everything else she had left in her along with her sorrow and regret of her earlier actions into the earth and in the direction of the tree, which was where she hoped Wren and Lacy had gone and that they might be able to put the extra energy to good use. As blackness swallowed her mind, her last thought was if Tess was smart, now was the time to escape as her living prison would disappear once she was unconscious and she hoped when the sun rose, she would still be alive and the city she had almost abandoned in the name of petty vengeance would be zombie free and safe.

[MementoMori]

Arutha's heart fell to the pit of his stomach as he arrived on the scene, just in time to bear witness to this devastating scene. "No!....No!....No!" he cried out in anguished despair as he saw Naoise's body fall and seem to split apart. Unlike the previous times where the other has come back, it didn't seem like this was going to be ones. This thought tore what had begun to heal inside anew as he leapt from his bike and he ran to what was left of Naoise.

All thoughts of protecting and fighting the zombie threat had vanished from his mind. He didn't care for what was going on around him even though he ached to make Tess pay for what she had done. All that seemed to matter was that he couldn't just leave him there. Whatever happened next would or wouldn't. He couldn't care less as he found himself kneeling with tears running down his face, trying to pick up what was left of him.

"No! Damn...you! Come back please, Kit!" he begged, calling out to anything or anyone to make that happen.

[Harlequin]

"No?" Sabrina said, in a voice that was only hers, in response to the demand. She watched the other blonde rise off the ground then crumple back to it.

And then everything flew apart like a watch wound too tight in an opened fist.

Once some of the dust had settled, Sabrina moved to the bush where Siobhan had secreted herself away. Her hands twitched in a the casting of a powerful but temporary protection. No power on earth would harm this girl so long as she slept, and she'd sleep until Sabrina or one of the others came back for her.  Straightening, her eyes lingered on Maria, locked in battle with whatever was left of Tess. The giant left her to it. The pair on the ground she could do nothing for, now, though the dying scream of the cat-who-was-not-a-cat and his partner’s sobs cut her deeply.

A third, larger pair of hands joined Lacy's and Wren's in the soil, and Sabrina's voice joined theirs. The Earth began to heed their joined call, power spreading like ripples in a pool. The dead slowed and stopped in their tracks, then turned, and started to shuffle back home.

Wren would feel a blackness in Sabrina's magic, as well, but nothing of the sulfur Tess had used to kill the tree and blight the ground. And unlike the other blonde, whatever Sabrina commanded was firmly in control. She served no Master.

[Black Philip]

Now she understood why Black Philip wanted that little PJ wearing witch's soul. She had power. It reminded Tess of her own clan's and the healing spell she used to save that idiot with the bat reminded Tess of who she used to be. She hated that witch now, and made a vow to gut her and take her power as soon as humanly possible. The time freezing magic she'd never seen before, and she instantly wanted it. Tess's ribs were broken, but she used her black touch on the roots that bound her to mend them to severely bruised. Her bag of tricks was too far to reach, but she had a way to claim it.

"Book! Come to me!" The bag flew towards her, unzipping and her book of shadows popping open to the needed spell. Thank god it was brief, and her high from the cat would grant her the power she needed.

"Re structurae spatium, dele me de campo!"

A strike of lighting lit the sky striking Tess directly. However, when it was gone so was Lucifer's servant, bag of tricks and Book included. She left a parting gift through, something to remember her by. She opened the crypts that had stayed locked during her first pass, a convenient group of reinforcements to tear them apart as they futility tried to save the very dead tree. Where she went wouldn't be clear, the spell not a typical form of teleportation. She'd avoided touching Maria's spirit, and wondered if that meant she'd be spared it's curse. She doubted it though. She'd weather the storm, and she was sure her patron could pull a few strings with the people who run this particular magic.

Tess had wanted to test the witches of this city and their incompetence had cost them the life of one of their own. "Saint" Sabrina had failed them, and Tess knew now the pain and suffering she'd endured was time well spent. She'd kill them one by one, except for little old Wren. He would be hers, mind, body and fucking soul. The darkness within him stank like fine cheese, and Tess very much wanted a taste. The others would all die of course, especially that little miracle worker. She'd suffer the most.

[[English: Matter, structure, time and space, from this plain let me erase..]]
Lacy had been shot in her life, and she was no stranger to the harsh cut of a knife's edge. This was different though, and the pain she experienced was unlike anything she'd ever felt in her life. She collapsed to her knees first, looking at Tess in utter shock. This was how she'd die. How stupid was she that she'd come so far with these people. She was just a normal person in a city of amazing powers. She was just a cop. Time freezing was unreal to her, and as Shiobhan pulled the dagger from her lung, she realized she couldn't breathe. Gasping for breath is a horrid way to die, and Lacy choked for a few moments as Shiobhan started her spell. Once healed she was able to draw air again, although in the moments after she could do nothing else.

Then Wren lifted her, cradling her to the van. He was a good man. Lacy could feel it, and she placed a hand on him as he walked, her eyes thankful but her mouth shut. Riding as a passenger in her own van was a strange experience and she didn't understand at first what they were doing with the tree. She felt odd trying to chant the words. She had no power. But she had to try. Aunt Daphne would tell her growing up that the power of the virgin mother lived in all, if only they believed in it. Detective-Sergeant Lacy Velez, ball busting, fact finding investigator took a leap of faith.

"Sos... sa... tsíocháin, áit sosa." She sounded horrible. Her hands now in the earth she took a deep breath and thought of Jesus healing the sick and prayed the lord would work through witches and that at least for one night she was a witch too. 

"Sos sa tsíocháin, áit sosa." And then she felt it, the beginning of something.

[Trillian]

With Lacy's chanting, Wren closed his eyes to better focus the call. Return, he thought, even as he mouthed the words of his people. Touching the earth near the dead tree was his attempt at not calling any other dead. He didn't want the dead from other cemeteries coming here. His eyes opened when he felt Sabrina digging into the earth with him, and Wren felt her power like it was a physical thing. Something inside of him awakened, a stronger power that he'd tapped into once, something that responded to Sabrina and thrummed through him and into his hands, into the earth, joining the energy of the three of them together. Strongest, neutral, weakest. Every little bit helped enough to ripple the soil.

The charge radiated outward from their central point, speeding along the ground and felling the dead where they stood. The ones who'd turned and started back also dropped to the ground, again lifeless. They'd already done a lot of damage for two blocks, but once again they were at peace.

Wren felt exhausted and dirty again, like he needed another shower. He finally felt as naked as he looked and he pulled out his earth-soaked hands, looking at them and aware something in him had responded to Sabrina's power. It hadn't been entirely negative, though. Just a tapping into that he didn't understand, for it had come with no ritual, no words.

The large woman beside him was a protector, much like the people of his circle, but he was no longer with them. If not for her joining them, the task of calling the dead back would've been much harder, much slower. At least now it was a matter of picking up bodies.

"I am Wren Maddoc, of..." he stopped his introduction before he named his circle. A habit. "Of nowhere in particular. I just moved to this city this morning. Quite the welcome," he smiled though it didn't reach his eyes. "And this is... uh..." his gaze dropped to Lacy's name tag. "Detective-Sargent Lacy Velez," he read. He turned back to face Sabrina, admiring her eyes. "Uh. Her aunt has the gift."

He didn't think it was something to be kept secret.

[Seragil]

Shiobhán slept, protected and secure within Sabrina’s protection spell, her mind and body was severely drained of magical energy and being currently unconscious she was totally unaware of the world or events unfolding around her. With the release of the built-up power she had been suppressing and denying since her parents’ death she was now finally ready to see and accept the reality of the world she lived in, and to learn and properly use the gifts she had been born with. However, the powers she had temporally tapped into this night as well as the range of other powers she could potentially discover due to the legacy of her bloodline were now beyond her capacity to access, and would need years of dedicated study and practice before she could again unlock them.

Cool, shadow shifting mist materialized and coalesced around the remains of Naoise, carrying with it the faint almost undetectable scent of night jasmine and the feel of the magical, elusive element of aether. When it finally dissipated Naoise lay whole, unharmed and still firmly collared.

His eyes flew open as he returned to life and gasped loudly as his lungs billowed and sucked in air. Gods he felt like shit, his body felt like he had just been run over by a semi and he ached to the marrow of his bones, not to mention he was as weak as a new born kitten and barely able to move. Once he got his bearing he also realized that once again, he had awoken with the sounds of Arutha sobbing brokenly over him. Fuck!

*Mo grá, mo grá.* He sent weakly, soothingly to his grieving love *I am here, I am with you. I am not going anywhere*

He remembered the pain of his recent death and the events leading up to it and he wondered if everyone else was okay and if so where were they, especially that little blond bitch, as he had a score to settle with her. However, as he felt Arutha’s tears fall on him, he forgot about Tess and everyone else. He had far more important things in his life to worry about and all of it surrounded him, cradling him within his loving arms.

[Idrial]

Maria smiled as the curse was complete, her Pangool rushed Tess, that bitch would pay dearly. Contained or not Takhar sought justice for Tess and that could not be stopped. Maria still had enough energy to bless this unholy ground, she needed to look for the tree. The dead tree that the necromancer mentioned, left to find it on foot as Wren drove off with an extremely weak Lacy, thank God for healing magic. It had been a long time Maria had to use so much energy, not since her time back in her homeland. Perhaps there was a place for Maria in this world, finding the tree easily enough. Sabrina's barrier was beyond appreciated and earned Maria's respect as a magic user.

Maria could see Wren attempt with Lacy's help to bring back the dead to the graveyard. It seemed nothing was happening so far, stepping in to help the Druid. Kneeling down and placing her hands in the hole, repeating his words. He needed to summon the dead back before she could bless the grounds, he needed more power and she offered a little to him. Too much and she could not bless the cemetery but she hoped it would be enough between the three of them to boost his spell.

[MementoMori]

As he tried to pick what was left of the cursed man who now he realized he loved, Arutha's skin prickled at the strange mist that seemed to come from nowhere to settle over Naoise's remains. Now what was going on? It was magic beyond the pulse of the earth. This much was obvious, but he wasn't sure he could take much more. His heart felt like it was bleeding from the inside out at the memory of the terrible sight he had just witnessed. And damn it felt like he was too late both in his arrival and well as in the realization that he loved Naoise.

With that despairing thought into mind, tears flowed freely down his cheeks as he knelt at his side. His vision blurred for a second and he could have sworn that he heard Naoise weakly calling to him. Sniffling, he rubbed his eyes and they widened with shocked joy, seeing the feline whole on the ground before him.

"Oh my god! You're here...and alive." he said reaching out to try to touch him, "How? I thought I lost you."

[Harlequin]

Sabrina straightened from her crouch as Wren did. "A pleasure to meet both of you." The witch meant it, smiling benignly down at both of them as she brushed dirt from her palms, then moved on tho picking it from under her long, sharp fingernails, painted matte black.  "Welcome to The City, Wren-of-nowhere. I'm the leader of the Southern District. My home is open if you need a place to stay." She let her gaze rake over him, calculating. The blackness she'd felt in him was fractional, but it might be difficult for him to stay at the Parlour. Her Magic had warped the place, and darkness called to darkness. She didn't think about it in such black and white terms, certainly, but knew that most magic users did.

"Thank you for not shooting me," she said mildly to Lacy, the corner of her mouth a-twist in a wry smile. Not that the Detective had had much chance, or choice in the matter, "How are you feeling?" She could offer further healing if necessary, but the amount of power the young, untrained witch had been enough to stop a Mack truck -- a knife wound was nothing to that.   

[Trillian]

Wren supported Lacy in a firm hold, his arm around her waist. She greeted Sabrina, still sounding dazed, and added 'you're welcome' which was very obviously a habit borne from a polite upbringing. Wren looked from her back to the powerful witch and gave a soft laugh even though he was concerned for the policewoman.

The dark-skinned witch... Maria, if he remembered correctly... plunged her hands into the hole they'd made and cast a spell he didn't recognise. The undead had already fallen so perhaps she was ridding the cemetary of further evil, or protecting it specifically from Tess, or blessing its ground, or even reversing the death of the tree. The last thing would require godlike powers, to bring something back to life, but after what he'd seen from the small group below, he no longer had doubt that the woman had it in her. Their powers were beyond his own. He needed a circle to create magic so huge.

Or a sacrifice.

He thought of what Tess had done to the cat and pressed his lips together. The invitation to stay with this witch was an attractive one. He didn't think he would be safe at the motel if the city was as volatile as this, and there was nothing there for him (except to collect his suitcase worth of belongings).

"I accept, thank you. I will need the rest of my clothes if you don't mind swinging past the Detour Motel first?" he asked Sabrina, wondering if she had a different vehicle available for him (and Lacy, as he didn't want to abandon her just yet). Driving around in the police van might attract some unwanted attention.

[Seragil]

Naoise weakly buttered his head against Arutha's reaching hand, he too needed the affirmation of touch, In the short time he had known Arutha he had fallen deeply and completely in love with the man and although he believed any relationship between them was pointless because of the nature of his curse, the thought of never being with him again had shaken him to his core.

*It told you Mo grá, Death, like the rest of the world has forgotten my name and therefore can not find me. I am truly glad for it in this case. I thought I had lost you too this time.*

He tried to pull himself to his feet but the effort proved to much and he sank back to the ground. never before had he returned from death this weakened before.

*By Danu! I feel like I have been struck by Balor's Eyes* he sent to Arutha as he tried to look around and realized they were completely alone. Panic suddenly gripped him as he was in no state to be able to protect himself or the man he loved *Where is everyone? Why are you alone? Arutha, it isn't safe here, you must go, please. Leave me, go find Kevla and get you both to safety. I will be fine*

He struggled to his feet, propped himself up against Arutha's knees and looked around at the now empty and quiet cemetery. Where was Wren and the others? Where was Tess and more importantly where were all the fucking zombies?

[MementoMori]

Ever since they had met, he had been steadily falling in love with the man, cursed collar or not. Arutha just didn't realise how much he had until faced with the very real possibility of losing Naoise. A part of him had been holding back admitting this fact given his previous loss. No more if they both made it out of this alive, he swore that he would to tell him.

"Hearing that and seeing what I saw when I got here are two completely different things, Kit. You were almost dust." he said softly, fingers gently petting the soft fur of the other's head. The touch grounded him and made him feel more stable than when he had arrived and saw that terrible sight. His nerves still felt raw at the memory but it was better due to the knowledge Naoise was okay.

At the other's panicked words, he lifted his head to more take in his surroundings. In all truth he had completely ignored what else was going on. For his world had shrunk down to that single sight as the group Naoise had been with took care of the threat after Tess left. Yes it was reckless and more than a little foolish but in the heat of the moment he hadn't cared.

"The scary blonde that hurt you left. As for the others, I'm not certain. I think that they are around. I'm sorry. I was more focused on you, but I think that they took care of the zombies." he admitted as Naoise fought to try to stand and told him to leave. His features hardened at that thought and shook his head stubbornly.

"I don't know where Kevla is, but if you think that I'm just up and going to leave you after all that. You're crazy, Kit." he said firmly, kneeling down a little further to try to pick Naoise up.

[Black Philip]

Lazy Velez had always thought that supernaturals were real, and had some confirmation of that before tonight. Now, she couldn't run from it anymore. She stopped her worried praying and finally responded, her voice deep and professional, "You're welcome." When Sabrina made the offer to let Wren stay, she frowned. She'd planned on asking him to stay with her. Aunt Daphne would've made such a feast for him. Then she touched her chest. It was solid. It was hers. Yet, the imprint of a knife hitting her dead was still in her mind.

"I don't need anymore healing, but can I come too," she asked Sabrina. "It seems I have the gift as well and I don't know what it means."

She didn't hold onto Wren. However, she stood so near to him their shoulders touched, and she hoped Sabrina would see she wasn't ready to say goodbye yet.

[Harlequin]

Sabrina watched Maria with interest, feeling the heat of her power spreading into the earth beneath them. She took a moment to memorize the other woman's face, and the spicy, hazy scent of her. They could learn from each other.

"Certainly," Sabrina's smile broadened and warmed when Lacy asked if she could come along. There was nothing the tall woman loved more than playing the gracious host.

Her nose wrinkled slightly above the smile, then, "I don't do well with...cars." She brought her hands close together, fingers creating an imaginary sphere to illustrate the idea of being squashed. "I was also going to bring the young supernova with me, if I can't rouse her." She nodded in the direction of the cemetery gates, where Siobhan lay asleep under her protection spell.

"Let's meet there?" Now that Lacy was joining them, they could take her car.

[Seragil]

As Aruthas words sunk in his anxiety lessened and he lifted his head up and looked up towards him. His near death was still heavy on his mind too and the fact that he had thought he would never see this man again.

*Mo grá, Arutha. I thought I was truly dead tonight and my last thoughts, my only thoughts were of you. I thought I was truly immortal but now I am not so sure. If that is so, then I cannot take the chance of never having told you this. I love you, with all of that I am, I love you. For all that you are and will ever be, I love you and if I were to die this night, tomorrow or in another thousand years I would die content simply for having knowing you, Arutha Brooks.* He wanted to say more but he suddenly felt selfconcious and unsure. Arutha and his sister had been through so much because of him and he was a complicated creature to live with and would most likely be a cat for the rest of eternity. Had he just made a fool of them both? He couldn't help but wonder.


Shiobhan continued to rest peacefully beneath Sabrina's protective spell, drifting between sleep and wakefulness as her mind and body paid the price for using and releasing such extreme amounts of power untrained and completely unprepared.

[MementoMori]

As their eyes met again, Arutha's mind flashed back to the terrible scene that he had arrived at and what still laid unsaid between them. So he carefully cradled him close in his arms. Nothing else would do. He needed to be near him.

Then those words, those amazing words came through their link. In many ways he hadn't thought he would ever hear them again. His heart lifted and he felt his response deep inside before speaking it. "I love you too, Kit. I wish that I could shout your true name from the rooftops and stomp that blasted collar into tiny pieces. When I thought that you might be gone, it felt like my chest was ripped open. I didn't realise how much I love you until I was faced with the very real possibility that you were gone. And it was more than I could bear. I'm yours for as long as you'll have me." he said earnestly. The feelings poured out and it felt like he could say so much more. Now all that remained was to free him of the collar and be happy. Even though it seemed like an impossible task, it felt so much closer than before.

[Seragil]

At Arutha's words Naoise closed his eyes and almost fell against Arutha in relief and joy. Since the day the collar had been snapped around his neck, forcing him into his animal form and obliterating his human identity, he had given up the idea of being in love, after a few centuries he had also given up the idea of ever being free. Arutha had changed that, changed his entire existence in such a short time thinking about it made his head spin and yet here he was, here they both were and the future lay unmarked and full of hope and possibility before then. he wouldn't look back again.

He didn't know where the others had gotten to and he felt no darkness on the air or through the earth, well, no more then was usual for this city. He titled his head up again and locked eyes shining with all that he felt with Arutha's.

*Let us be away from this place of death and betrayal Mo gra. lets go home*

Home, a place of safety and love. a place filled with life, a place filled with their life.