RP:Home Coming

This is on the unknown island northeast of the Cenril coast.

Mangrove Beach

Whether reached in the safety of a boat, or swum to by the survivors of a shipwreck, it becomes apparent that this is not an average sandy beach. Thick with the tangled roots of brine-loving mangrove trees, the brackish and murky shallows have the appearance of a swamp. Saltwater crocodiles and sharp-toothed predatory fish lurk here, as do some even less savoury sea-creatures. Yet, the place has a certain wild beauty, and the reef beyond is a sanctuary for many exotic and colourful fish. Beyond the mangroves, the ground bleeds dry to a strip of coarse-sand beach surrounded by lush greenery, which might prove a good place to rest before exploring the remainder of the island. A rough path has been chopped through the foliage to the east of this spot— might the island be occupied? The possibility is certainly worth exploring.

Rhocielle stoked the fires of the small pit he had made upon the beach. The small sailboat he had taken back to the island home was anchored some distance away. His gray eyes lifted up to the pristine starry sky, watching an errant meteor or two streak across the sky. Canine ears flicked to the rhythmic crashing of waves against the nearby reefs. It was a pleasant night.

Tifra grunts as she rows in tord shore wishing the ship captain had spaired a sailor to drop her off on shore.

Rhocielle lifted his runic muzzle towards the obscure shape on the dark horizon. Resting his paw like hand upon his knee, he braced himself to stand. He was without armor or traditional clothing. Instead, the black Lycan sported more tribal garb of leathers and woven cord. Most of his body was exposed, black fur glimmering beneath the twin moons. The paws that served as his feet sank gently into the sand as he approached the wet banks of the beach.

Tifra grows in frustration when one of the ores bangs on the reef and a pail almost white green fire springs up around her like she is a candle wick.

Rhocielle stepped into the water, digitigrade legs sloshing the water around as he made his way towards the emerald fires. They seemed familiar. An equally familiar scent wafted along with the salty sea breeze. It was not long before his husky drawl called out in the relative darkness, "Tifra?"

Tifra ships ores and twists around with a delighted purr "Rhoc?" stands turning her twist into a light-footed spin barely rocking her small row boat. "Rhocielle!" beams seeing him in traditional get up.

Rhocielle laid his paw like hands upon her row boat, stabilizing it while helping to pull it into the softer shallow waters, "What are you doing here, kit?" It was indeed a surprise to the wolfen male to find his childhood friend on the island as well.

Tifra pins her ears back "The double full moons are coming. Who of pack or clan would not be here to celebrate those past and yet to come? Am I so far from who I was that I can not at least watch?"

Rhocielle snorted softly, "You are more worthy to watch than I am... I chose this time to visit because Arien was in need of rest. She is there already, recovering. I chose to take a midnight stroll along the beach..." As the small row boat bit into the sandy bed beneath the waves, he straightened up further, "How have you been, kit?"

Tifra leaps the the sand her fire around her winking out but not before the bite mark on her throat is revealed "I thrive as always. Rhoc how have you bean who is Arien? You have been to the village? You unworthy to watch you will more likely be invited to start of the dancing."

Rhocielle canted his head slightly at the obvious bite mark on her neck, for the moment not drawing attention to it however. "Arien is the leader of the Fold, my clan... Also..., hrm, she is the one I have taken as a lover." He nodded slowly. "Given our stress from liberating Rynvale and defending Cenril from the Prekleks, she has been long overdue for a vacation..., as have I." Looking over his shoulder, he added, "Aye, I have already been there...., and just came for a peaceful walk, that turned into peaceful standing..." His clawed digit pointed to his small fire.

Tifra purrs helping him pull her boat farther up the beach before she ties it up. "I had heard Cenril had some trouble. You are alright other than needing a vacation?" glances at him side ways wondering if this Arien makes him happy and hoping so he deserves to be happy.

Rhocielle smiled fondly to her, nodding, "Aye... we are both well. She was hurt during the Keley attack, but she is well..." When at last the row boat was anchored nicely and beached, he asked tentatively, "And yourself?" A clawed digit tapped his own neck in subtle clue towards his question.

Tifra purrs sounding almost emmbairest "I have a blood bond with a vampire.." is very hesitant after all he knows she never lets them bite her. "He is kind and funny, he listens and flirts. It feels right."

Rhocielle snorted softly, but nodded, "Alright..., as long as you trust him." Vampires were, for the most part, not to be trusted, as far as his experiences went. He began to walk back towards the fire, beckoning the pantheress to walk with him as well.

Tifra pads at his side her slightly damp fur looking spiky in the moonlight. "Nearly scared me to death when we made the bond turns out I am now poisons to death magic creachers like vampires. Having some one double over in pain at such a moment is just not good." smiles but there is worry at the edges of it.

Rhocielle smirked faintly, his paw reaching behind to scratch behind her ears before settling down before the fire. "Aye..., that would probably be a very peculiar moment." Looking up again at the sky, he asked, "Anything else?"

Tifra settles across the fire from him "I have new boots that acutely fit my paws." looks down into the fire not wanting to meet his eyes. "My healing gift has changed radically maybe beond any hope of my controlling it fully."

Rhocielle took one of the errant pieces of drift wood on the sandy beach to push the burning kindling before it too became a part of the fire. "I have never taken to wearing boots or anything else so tight upon my paws..." His voice was idle, a canine ear twitching before responded solemnly to the panthress. "How radically?"

Tifra turns her right hand palm up and croons not bothering with a chant or any thing more than a scents of asking. Almost instantly green fire springs up in her palm. Not the cool controlled balm of life light her gift use to be but clear dancing flame of unadulterated life magic enough to more then heal one hovering near death more than most healers generate in a life time. "I can't call life light any more... This is pure life magic not the dim glow I use to carry. It eats away at and death magic like acid is a very good counter for any dark magic I have encountered. It is power and can feed on power so when a shield it eats attacks." watches absently as it twines up her arm like an affectionate vine.

Rhocielle frowned slightly, "You can no longer heal with it?" In response to her own demonstration, his own paw like hand flared abruptly in sapphire light. Like her own, it was no longer a glow, but rather a flame that washed along his clawed digits. "My own remains the Light of the Healer...," he remarked, though there was more to it than that. His own was a raw display of will power.

Tifra smiles ruefully "Oh I can heal alright. I can also kill." her eyes are sad as she admits that she visibly flinches and her hand drops her arm going numb as a spot on the vine of fire goes white just above her elbow.

Rhocielle nodded slowly, shaking his paw to extinguish the aether flames around his paw. His head canted in curiosity as a portion of emerald tresses suddenly became white. "Are you alright?" he asked cautiously, "Perhaps the priestess should see you when we return to the village."

Tifra snorts "Every power comes with a prices this one likes to nibble on me if I call it with out really needing it. It likes to be used not just called." Dose not bother to point out that unlike him she left against all custom she is dead as far as the village cares.

Rhocielle uttered a low rumbling sound from his throat in acceptance to her answer. "Still..., you said that it is growing radically. You should seek them out..., or others that are experienced with this."

Tifra nods "I plan to speak with Healer Gwenilyn. " Reaches with her left hand to lightly stroke the vine as it starts to dissipate. "Where it comes from and what it truly is more a worry."

Rhocielle scrunched his muzzle slightly, "I never see this Gwenilyn you speak of. I have been meaning to speak to any of the Healer's Guild about my own Healing Light..." He shrugged slightly. "Next you speak with her, would you tell her that I would like to speak with her some time as well?"

Tifra crinkles her nose "I will but I am sure you will meet her sooner than I she was helping fight the Preklek last I saw her."

Rhocielle narrowed his gaze slightly, "Oh? Hrm, perhaps I will..." As the wolfen male was involved in the defense of Cenril, it was more or less an educated guess that the member of the Healer's Guild would be involved in the defense of Sage. Offering a polite smile to the feline, he asked, "Will you be here on the island long, or simply visiting?"

Tifra looks away "There is nothing for me here Rhoc you know that better than any one but the full moons.... The island calls so how could I not come?" there is a wistfulness and yet a strength that refuses to give in to regrets she has walked her own path and hard as it has been she would not chouse another is she had it to do over again. "We all have things we would not change don't we Rhoc?"

Rhocielle grunted softly, "Aye..., still. Now that we have our own marks upon the mainland, you could build yourself a home here in the outskirts of the island... The mountains?" He nodded solemnly, "I could also speak on your behalf, kit... This was our home before I... we... decided to leave to see the world with our own eyes..."

Tifra shakes her head slowly her eyes sad but some how the sadness was for him and not what she has lost "You could talk tell your blue Rhoc and it would not change what is. I could make a home here true and I am strong enough they could not stop me but why torment my self in such a way I have been building a good like for my self on the mainland this plase my be able to call me back but it is not home maybe it never truly was."

Rhocielle smirked faintly, "Try me. You and I are not the naive cubs we were near a year ago, Tifra..." He nodded a bit more briskly. "Give me a day or so." At the very least, he could attempt to give the pantheress a home back that she had left in order to follow after him.

Tifra reluctantly nods something telling her he needed this even if she did not. Kitten love might have been the spur to move her sooner but she never would have stayed in the narrows little life that had been planed for her. Better that she had left when she did than later when it would have been more painful for every reason. "If you truly wish to. I do not think you can make them accept but it would be pleasant to talk to my great aunt and my sister. They have some will to them."

Rhocielle smirked faintly, "I am sure Arien would not object to my taking you for one of the dances during the feasts..." Glancing back towards the path of the village, he added, "The last time I was here, I did not have the chance to look in on them... It seemed that this island's ancient temple was where Arien had been taken hostage... Its east of the village, in the thick jungle."

Tifra raises her hands and starts licking her claws thoughtfully "By who or what? And is it some thing I would want to help fix?" her ears half lay back for all her talk of this not being home the temple matters.

Rhocielle shook his head, "It no longer matters... It was a long time ago. She wanted to make sure it was the same island." The wolfen male settle back upon his elbows to look up to the starry sky, "When we both went to investigate it..., the temple was empty, forgotten."

Tifra looks saddened by that "Temples should never be forgotten"

Rhocielle gave his own rueful smile, "True..., but you know as well as I do that there is an evil air about it... Whomever built it, it was far before the village was even a mere hut..." The ancient temple did not belong to the Lycans, or any culture that either would recognize.

Tifra nods slowly but has grown to wonder about the things she once know before she left this island she would have sed no healer could kill not with the gift at least. "True but maybe evil should be remembered longer so it can be guarded against."

Rhocielle clicked his broad tongue lightly, "Aye... this is true." Silver eyes stared into the whispering flames of the fire before them, "We could explore the temple for ourselves sometime. It should be much safe than when we last tried it as cubs..."

Tifra pins her ears back and shies away from the very thought "I would fight to make sure it stays empty I don't want to go near it other wise not with uncontrolled magic of any kind." Shudders with instinctive fear and loathing.

Rhocielle canted his head slightly with an obvious curious glint to his eyes. Given the feline's newly found uncontrolled abilities, she had made a valid point. Grunting, he said, "Hrm, aye... You are right." He and Arien had seen for themselves that the temple had been empty. It was best that it be left at that.

Tifra pricker her ears relaxing "Maybe some day when if I have a better understanding of what is happening with my gift."

Rhocielle said idly, "Aye... In the meantime, what shall you do on the island?"

Tifra looks up from the fire and meets his eyes "I have no idea now that I am here."

Rhocielle smirked wryly, "Where will you stay while I speak to the elders and Father?"

Tifra tilts her head "Do you remember the caves?"

Rhocielle said, "Aye, I remember them. Do you remember that there are holes in those dark tunnels?" At least she would have easy access to the fresh spring at the base of the mountain.

Tifra smiles "Is any where truly dark any more?" looks away wanting to snarl and her folly she must not become dependent on the fire it was not hers "I will be careful Rhocielle I have not forgotten that this island has its dangers."

Rhocielle rolled his eyes faintly, "True enough... Still, be careful. How long will you be on the island, though?" He asked for a day, but there was the likely possibility of it taking longer for the runaway panthress to be accepted once more in open arms.

Tifra turns her muzzle up to the sky and sniffs the air "No one is leaving tell after the coming storm. I home it dose not obscure the full moons they are just a day or two away, three at most."

Rhocielle followed her gaze up to the filling moons above. "Aye..., the storm," he remarked. The storm would hinder travel, and if the feline had come on a row boat, then she was stranded on the island until the weather would clear up. "Before you know it..., you will be enduring the storm in the hut of your blood kin, kit."

Tifra gives him a sharp looks and shakes her head "You my talk the pack around and the may talk my kin into seeing me but I will never be welcome there are you know it old wolf. It was my chouse and I do not regret it. I grow more and more into who I can be not just who they wanted me to be. There is no going back and neither they nor I will pretend other wise."

Rhocielle frowned faintly, his rune inscribed muzzle scrunching slightly, "Hrmph, we'll see..." Again the black feline was speaking in a practical sense. Things might always be as they once were. As the flames before them settled into the ashy pieces of timber, the black wolf tentatively asked, "What else your life led towards, Tifra? I had not seen you since your meeting with Kumorohyou..."

Tifra looks thoughtful "I have joined KoD. I quoril with the queens steward when ever we meet. I hunt well." Likes a brushing motion with one hand "I grow stronger and time passes. I have mended and am much more settled in who and what I am."

Rhocielle asked, "KoD? I do not think I have ever heard of such a group..." His tone of voice did not lend much concern for whomever the feline had joined, deferring to her judgment of what she had gotten herself into. "I am glad to see you are well, and that you are getting stronger as time passes..."

Tifra looks at her claws "I think you have KoD Stands for Kiss of Death." Smiles slightly bemused that a group founded by vampires some happily welcomed her into there clan seeing as she was poison to any vampire that was fool enough to bite her. Winces at that thought remembering how scared she was when one bite made Daemon so sick. "You look stronger to."

Rhocielle pursed his black lips slightly inward. Kiss of Death. "What do they do?" he asked, then snorted softly to her own brief compliment, "Older, kit. Strength simply follows." He shook his head lightly, "Been involved in too many conflicts."

Tifra looks sad he has not enjoyed the relative peace her path has granted her. "KoD is a mixed lot healers, and advisers. We look out for and help new comers to the land. Healing some coin where that is really needed advise and training. We are not a power the way The Fold is our path it quieter."

Rhocielle scratched gently at the underside of his muzzle, "If you have many healers, I would suggest you speak to your leaders about stopping by Cenril. The Prekleks left much devastation and casualties..., plenty of work to be found in rebuilding..."

Tifra purrs softly and nods "Of course I am surprised we had not thought of it already."

Rhocielle shrugged faintly, "It would bring considerable notice to your clan, even if it is along a more silent path than the Fold."

Tifra tilts her head regarding him with calm green eyes "I hope such would not be harmful to the clan."

Rhocielle shook his head. "Cenril needs healers to tend to their wounded and dead... Your leaders should speak to Keturah about it."

Tifra nods firmly "I will speak to the clan. I am sure there will be valentines." looks away less sure than she wants to admit she is still new to the clan and they are good people but much inclined to slitued just as she is.

Rhocielle said, "Alright. The city will need all the help it can get. The Prekleks left at least two thousand dead, and hundreds wounded."

Tifra looks down again "I smelled it when I passed through. So much death why what can they hope to gain by such waste?"

Rhocielle shrugged, breaking off more kindling for the slowly dying fire, "...the Prekleks wish to conquer us. They failed before. They will fail again."

Tifra said, "The are magic-less lizards the are not even very good fighters for the most part. -stands and stalks along the waters edge gathering drift would and trying not to think about what her instincts had told her when she passed through Cenril-"

Rhocielle called out to her, "...they are nevertheless numerous... and have exotic weapons that most have never seen before." His brows furrowed in memory of the battle at the cliffs of Cenril, and then the thousands that were attempting to storm the capitol building.

Tifra returns and stacks the drift would around the fire to dry and should the fire from the growing wind. "I think I could heal many but all things have a price power dose not come from no-where." will not meet his eyes the fire takes as well as gives and it wants to be used. When I passed through Cenril I knew I could heal so many if a set it free on say the enemy. Not in combat as a defends but to feed." knows what she is saying and feels sick at the very idea but has to voice it or the knowing of what she could do would eat at her spirit.

Rhocielle shook his head softly, raising his paw in idle fashion, "...I am not asking you to become involved with this, Tifra. If you choose to volunteer, I know the city would appreciate any help." He smiled fondly, "Whatever you do..., be careful, kit."

Tifra looks up startled having expected a very different response had they changed so much that such a suggestion could be contemplated instead of rejected out of paw for the horror it was. "I think we both need to tred with care old wolf we are neither of us as pure as we where when wee left and this island has a long past not all of it savory." tosses one of the dryer bits of wood onto the fire the flames dancing blue and green from the salt soaked wood as they take hold

Rhocielle said, "Perhaps... though it seems the more I tread with care, the more the dust is removed from my path." His eyes took on a wistful expression, "The mainland has its own unsavory past..., it is why I do what I do... to at least make the present and future a bit more pleasant."

Tifra watches him "Yes but I think the ends may not justify the manes in this I think if one started down that path it would very quickly become a very slippery slope with no way back." looks back down at the fire "not knowing the price for so much power so easy scared me Rhoc. Knowing just what it could cost if I let it scares me more. It is one thing to let it nibble on me it never takes so much that a meal and a nap won't set me right, or in a fight was just another weapon. To kill just for power even the power to save lives.... That is very like blood magic. Do I then become are greater monster then those I would stop?" the green fire slowly builds around her wrapping her as if to comfort its shape merging and melting from one thing to another from moment to moment.

Rhocielle narrowed his gaze slightly as he looked on at the black feline. His own moral compass had always led him along a true, but shakey path. Still, his own abilities were well under his control, while Tifra struggled to understand hers. It was a frightening prospect he could only meagerly understand. "It is a good thing you did not join the Fold..., I would not want you endangering yourself in the matters we have dealt with." This was punctuated with a slow nod, "You will go see Gwenilyn as soon as possible?"

Tifra nods slowly whiskers and ears dropping "I know I have to but how do I face another healer with this? If I had not known you so long I am not sure I would be able to face you knowing what I could do." looks up and there is a grief in her eyes for the inscent joy in healing that is a thing of the past for her.

Rhocielle snorted with faint amusement, "...because Healers seek to help others. I have seen Healers even spend their efforts in treating wounded enemies, if only because it is the right thing to do... Even if Gwenilyn does not have the expertise to help you, I am sure she will know of someone who can, Tifra." Leaning over, his paw like hand rested between her ears to stroke both in an attempt to coax them back to a standing form.

Tifra lets him coax her ears upright "Exactly how can a healer have any thing but disgust for some one who could contemplate draining the life from one to save another?"

Rhocielle simply said, "Because... you are a good person, kit. And you are seeking their help. If they are any kind of Healer worth their weight in salt, they will wish to help you control and develop your abilities..."

Tifra her eyes snap up to meet his and the green fire wrapped about her blazes almost protectively "And if developing means doing what my instincts tell me I can? Maybe you just don't get it yet this power wants to be used and it dose not come from me every bit if my life force would not make up a tenth of it." suddenly the fire goes white green not quite an eating white but drawing hard on her energy and calming her by the simple expedient of exosting her nothing harmful or dangers but fast and starting.

Rhocielle snorted abruptly at her, "Do you wish to control it or not, Tifra? If it wants to be used, then use it, but you have to know how to reign it in or else it will consume you." His tone was level, but there were tinges of his own dominating tone before he softened, "You need help from either experienced mages or Healers, kit..."

Tifra whispers "I know but I am afraid"

Rhocielle sighed faintly, "I know... Would you prefer to seek a Mage first? They are more neutral over life and death... The mages would care more about what you do, and how you do it..."

Tifra shakes her head eyes widening "No I can't for a mage it would just be power not a responsibility."

Rhocielle canted his head, "At least you will know what your power is. Would that be any worse than being cast aside by Healers that find you repulsive?"

Tifra nods firmly "Yes. Power with out contions is to dangers. It is life magic that I already know. What more could a mage tell me?"

Rhocielle said, "They could teach you how to control it, like you would with any other magic."

Tifra shakes her head slowly her eyes thoughtful "It comes at a request, it shelters, comforts, guards. It can be coaxed or teased when there is no need for speed but that is not how other magics are controlled. They are ruled with will and mastery I think this power would turn on me if I tried that."

Rhocielle rolled his wrist slightly, "If it can turn on you..., isn't that even more reason to learn all you can about it? What if the Mages have information on past Healers that had similar abilities? Their library is vast..."

Tifra half lays back one ear for some reason she can not name far more reluctant to talk to a mage about her odd healing magic that to a healer. "I will think about it but some thing tells me it is not a good idea."

Rhocielle halfheartedly stroked the drooping ear upon the feline's head, "...we'll see. You should also seek out Kumori. He may not be a Healer, or Mage, in a traditional sense, but he is learned. He might be able to provide answers, if only to help you..." Slowly he brought himself to stand, the moons were high in the sky. The hour was late, "I should be returning to the village, kit. Arien and the others will likely wonder where I have been..." A warm smile was given to the panthress, "Ihttp://www.hollowgame.com/w/index.php?title=RP:Home_Coming&action=edit leave this fire in your care until you move on to the mountain..."

Tifra nods slowly stands and gives him a hug before stepping back and half turning to face the see and a mountain far from here. "Give them hugs from me but... don't tell them I am here. okay?"

Rhocielle gave the panthress a tight embrace, rubbing his muzzle in fond familiarity before releasing her, "Of course. Perhaps I will see you in a day or so if you are still on the island...?" This was said with a smile, the black Lycan already turning back towards the beaten path into the jungle.

Tifra a soft purr is carried on the wind "Perrhaps, purrhaps."