RP:Return of the Lyastri
Summary: Magik regains an ability he believes to have been lost to his curse when he seeks retribution on a troublesome Frost Giant. Tsuola bears witness to his wolf-form, but does not yet know what it means.
Lake Frysta
After venturing for some time down the path, you finally reach a large clearing as the secretive mountain path opens up to reveal a hidden lake among the frosty hills. Mostly frozen over, the sizable lake surface is spotted by a sparse number of ice fishing huts. It becomes rather apparent that the ice must be of considerable thickness to support these giant-scale fishing shanties; the largest among them lined along the northern wall by various designs of fishing poles which appear to be for sale. To the west, a semi-solid water fall spills over low cliffs, capped with a thin layer of glistening ice.
What began as a long walk through Frostmaw on two legs randomly turns into a walk on four. Magik retraces his steps once more on his way to Lake Frysta to get even with a certain frost giant who made a sly comment about his newly recruited Shadow while on her first mission. All alone, the elf trudges through the challenging terrain of Frostmaw with a look of determination. Finally on the path that heads to the lake, Magik starts sprinting, barely tearing up the snow and terrain under his feet. In the thick of the wooded path, a black smokey sphere surrounds the man. Within an instant, both he and the sphere is gone. A large black wolf replaces his being. The speed of the wolf picks up as his bright blue eyes scan the sides of the path. Dirt and snow kick up behind the wolf as he finally spots the end of the path, the break in the woods to reveal the frozen lake. Normally, the elf would stop just at the end of the path to scope the area out. The wolf ,however, darts by anyone and everyone who may be at the lake at this time. The Lyastri quickly spots his target, the frost giant who thought he was being funny sitting in front of a fishing hut. The rapidly approaching wolf starts running even faster and harder. His large paws and nails leave indents and cracks in the ice. It wasn't hard to spot such an animal bolting across a frozen lake, especially with such a dark coat of fur in a frozen area, making almost war drum-like sounds as he rhythmically sprints towards his target. The frost giant catches sight of the Lyastri and stands, grabbing the resting club to his side. Those intense blue eyes lock with the giant's plain brown. At about thirty feet away, the wolf leaps into the air, eyes glaring, mouth wide open to tear the giant apart. The frost giant readies himself, and swings when the wolf is within striking distance. However, the wolf is gone. All that remains is a cloud of black smoke that surrounds the giant. Confused and angry, the giant looks around and keeps swinging. He puts a few dents and holes into the hut and ice around him with his large club. As the giant is in his fit of rage, the black smoke makes it's way inside of the giant's airway. As the giant starts suffocating from the inside, he drops his club and falls to his knees, violently coughing out the black smoke. Finally realizing what's going on, the giant grabs at his neck. It does nothing beneficial. Things are about to get a lot worse. The giant's coughing fit starts spitting out black flames from his nose and mouth. In a full panic, the frost giant tries to break through the ice beneath him to get a nice refreshing beverage. He's too far gone by now though. As the giant struggles on his knees, the heat is quickly turned up causing the frost giant to burn from the inside out. The flames quickly break through the giant's skin and surround the immediate area. The black flames lick at the sky for a few moments then suddenly stop. The frost giant is now just a large pile of ash and the black wolf returns. Satisfied with the work done, he begins walking back towards the path he entered from.
Tsuola can be found where she has oftentimes been seen as of late, by the edge of the frozen lake. This time she is on her back in the snow with her grey cloak being used as a blanket of sorts, head craned skyward in search of nothing in particular. Her eyes have begun shut after a time, only to snap back open the moment she hears footsteps, no, paws? Claws. She is not quick enough to pull herself up to see what in the world the shadowy blur is that zips past her, but at the sound of Lake Frysta's ice -cracking-, her hand instinctively reaches for the bow she keeps hidden on her back within the confines of her cloak when it is worn. This may be something dangerous to her. Perhaps too many visitors has brought unwelcome company? She felt a flash of most unwelcome heat. Black fingers curl around the bow. Bone Chiller. Unstrung, as the dryad removed the original, frosty bowstring to refashion it as a bracelet on her wrist. As she stands, bow in hand, the palm of her free hand begins to collect ice drifting from the wind and the strange creature's arrival. The ice and frost coalesce in her palm, then spread as she lifts it to the bow. Two thin lines of frost leave her fingertips, stringing the bow while she begins to draw it, while the remaining ice gathered by her hand forms an arrow made of ice. Her eyes, now narrowed, jump from the remains of the giant, as she had missed most of what had happened in her flurry to right herself, and the beast that approaches while she adjusts her stance. It is clear that the dryad is frightened, but trying to mask it with an air of strength. A deer caught frozen by light, one could say. Tsuola herself says nothing, but fires a warning shot. The frosty arrow whizzes past the wolf, hopefully close enough for him to feel it just barely touch his fur, and embed itself into the frost giant's remains. The arrow shatters to pieces afterward, and she begins to draw another just in case.
Magik continues to pad towards the path until the arrow zips by his fur. The wolf turns his head to watch where it lands. A growl starts escaping from his throat as he turns to search for the conjurer of the icy arrow. Tsu was hard to mistake. As quick as the wolf's fur stood up, it's laid back against his spine. He hesitates, waiting for another movement, but starts to procede with caution. As he inches closer to Tsu, his black tail starts wagging excitedly, his jaw opens to reveal a long loose tongue flopping about as he pants from the quick outburst of energy to end the frost giant. As the wolf gets within about 10 feet of Tsuola, he stops in his tracks to wait for a sign of hostility or a welcome hand to sniff at. His tail continues to wag in anticipation.
Tsuola has a new arrow ready to loose and considers it when she hears a growl, but the change in the wolf's demeanor makes her pause. Friendly now, aren't you? The dryad thinks, hesitantly lowering Bone Chiller. Or is this a trick? She cycles back a bit, reassessing how the wolf went straight for the frost giant and paid her no mind at all. Perhaps it has already found who it wanted to...burn? He didn't consume the giant, did he? Gaze shifts over to the giant's remains, then back to the wolf expectantly waiting nearby. This is no normal wolf, that is certain. Perhaps Bone Chiller or her own ice would not be enough to defeat it anyway. She sets the bow on her cloak, and the ice stringing it breaks into pieces similar to the arrow she fired before. Falling into a slight crouch so she is eye level with the wolf, says, “You are not from here, are you? We have had so many visitors here as of late.”
Magik would be conscious enough to not make any sudden movements while Tsu unreadies her bow, watching intently. Perhaps another trip north would be in mind to compare bows. With his tail still wagging side to side, the Lyastri takes it slow, step by step until he is within arms length of the dryad. His bright blue eyes study Tsuola as he sits directly in front of her.
Tsuola expected not to hear an actual response from the wolf, and reached her hand to scritch behind his ears, should it be allowed. She is baffled by whatever the wolf did to the giant, once again finding herself looking at its remains before looking back at the wolf. “Are you from a fiery place, perhaps? I forget the name...The land where the dead go? What brings you to the living world? Did you lose your way?” The corners of her lips quirk upward into a little grin. “Are you carrying people back to where they are supposed to go?”
Magik's snout sniffs at Tsuola's arm as he welcomes the ear scritches. A rear leg twitches involuntarily as he leans into the scratch a little more. He could react to her questions but he wasn't even sure what brought on his Lyastri capabilities out of the blue. Magik hasn't been able to summon his bonded wolf in years due to the Curse preventing him from doing so. The result here would have been the same though. That frost giant had to die. After a solid moment of lovely scritches, the wolf stands and nudges Tsu's arm gently and looks to the path. He would love to soak up all the attention but he had to figure out a way to return to his normal form. If his wolf had found a way to be summoned on it's own then Tsuola may be in danger. If Magik lost full control of his ability to manipulate fire it would be disastrous to Tsuola and this area of Frostmaw.
Tsuola raised a brow when the wolf nudged her. Too many scritches? Still unaware that this is in fact the shadowy man from before, she is utterly unaware of what potential danger she may be in. Her eyes follow his to the path, and she stands. “Is there something over there?” She is unable to detect anything, but a canine's nose is far sharper than hers. She slips her cloak back on and picks up Bone Chiller, then peers down at the black wolf. “Did you want to go somewhere?” The dryad begins to walk toward the treeline, head turning just a bit to see if the wolf will follow.
Magik quickly but gently nips at Tsu's cloak to give her a tug backwards to stop her from heading towards the trail. The wolf then quickly steps in front of her. He whines then barks at her but not in a threatening manner, more of an apologetic warning. Turning back towards the trail, he immediately runs off into the woods. He manages to take on that smokey form again as he flies throughout the wooded trails.
Tsuola ;; “The shadow man,” she murmurs with some surprise, observing the smoke. So he is a shape shifter like Kitty from before? Should Tsuola follow? Uncertain, she takes a few steps forward, then stops. Does the shadow speak in this form, she wonders. “Do I follow you, or do I stay?” the dryad calls out.
Magik has put quite the distance between them but a voice could be heard next to her ear quietly, "Stay."
Tsuola nods. Her voice doesn't travel very far on the wind unless she deliberately forces it, but even then, the range is limited. "Then I will stay," she replies, mostly to herself. Whether or not he is able to hear it is not a concern.