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Post by kumainpink on Jul 29, 2012 3:40:51 GMT -5
((Doing a little bit of a timeskip here))
Along the way, Lucinda didn't offer songs this time - she couldn't bring herself to sing about happiness and light, when her own soul was so full of torment. Instead, she focused on the tasks that she needed to do today, and exactly what needed to happen. For now, she'd give up her cave to Rhea and Eolande and find somewhere else to sleep - hopefully a place that could easily provide shelter from rain, seeing as water and phoenixes don't mix.
Because she was walking, Lucinda found their pace incredibly hard to deal with and highly irritating. But they stayed the course, and after what felt like ages, they finally arrived at the spot. Lucinda looked to Rhea and asked, "Can you put her down to my level? The two of us need to have a talk while you show us where her mother is."
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 29, 2012 3:49:16 GMT -5
The walk was both peaceful and tense. Rhea felt horrible knowing that they would be showing the innocent girl she held her mother's dead body. But she knew it had to be done, Eolande had to see it for herself, know it for sure. A sliver of hope would keep her going for years, and it would hurt even more when she had to let go.
As Rhea slowly put Eolande on the ground, she felt sympathy for Lucinda. She didn't want to be the one to tell Eolande what had happened. Pushing the thought from her mind, Rhea focused on making sure she got them to the proper place... it wasn't far now.
---
Eolande felt... nice as she clung to Lucinda Birdy's Mamma Friend. She was going to find Mamma! Eolande was excited, Mamma was going to make her feel safe again. Eolande already felt safer, just thinking about it. When she was put down, she smiled. Eolande liked the feeling of the dirt, the dirt was home. But she could turn to a tree yet, she had to see Mamma. She had to get away from the Fire.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 29, 2012 3:58:57 GMT -5
Lucinda took a shuddering breath, knowing that this was the moment in which she'd be forever breaking the heart of a small child. But it had to be done. "Eolande, there is something you should know before we see your mother." she tried to keep her voice soft, comforting and gentle. "There comes a point in everyone's life when they must move on from this world, and on to greater things. We all go to this place at some point or another. Do you understand so far?"
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 29, 2012 4:05:19 GMT -5
Rhea tried to ignore Lucinda and Eolande's talk, she really did, but she found herself clinging to every word as she guided them.
---
Eolande nodded, she could see where this was going. Mamma was still sad- her friend was dead. Eolande needed to be strong for Mamma, but she would still be Mamma's friend. Mamma didn't need to worry.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 29, 2012 4:17:58 GMT -5
"This place is called heaven, and it's beautiful beyond compare." Lucinda continued. This part was indeed true - phoenixes got to see the Afterlife, since they lived right beside it. "But in order to go there, they have to leave everything behind, including the people who love them. And we cannot chose when this happens - nobody can, for the most part. It happens of its own accord."
Lucinda paused. They were almost there. "And yet, there are times when the choice becomes ours." she shut her eyes. "I never met your momma, but I know that she loved you very much. It must have been a real, deep love, because I can see how much you care." Oh sweet Athena, this was hard! "She loved you enough to send you away, to save you from pain. And her reward is to be in this place now..." she looked into Eolande's bewildered face. She gulped.
"In other words, your mother is dead, Eolande."
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 29, 2012 4:31:12 GMT -5
Rhea gulped. Fitting that they would be wrapping up this conversation right when they were about to turn the corner that would lead them to the body.
---
Eolande had never had death in her life. Mamma had explained what it was once- it was when someone had to leave, and they couldn't come back. Eolande had understood, at the time. Now, it didn't make sense. Mamma? How could Mamma be dead? Mamma wouldn't leave Eolande alone. Mamma would stay and keep Eolande safe.... She said that if Eolande said please and thank you, they could play together! Mamma couldn't break her promise!
No, Mamma couldn't be dead. Why was Lucinda Birdy lying? It was Mamma's friend who died....
Eolande then turned the bend. There was a tree- it wasn't very tall, and it was charred and black in some places. No flowers were on it, only burnt leaves that lay on the ground. Eolande recognized it anyway. This was Mamma's tree. And at the foot of it, was Mamma. She was on the ground, facing the base of the tree. Mamma must have fallen asleep, fighting the Fire must have been tiring. Eolande broke into a run, and she went to kneel next to Mamma.
Eolande gave her mother a small shake... Mamma was burnt in many places, her leafy clothing had holes in it. Mamma! Wake up! I'm here, Tell them your not dead! That's silly, Eolande knew her Mamma would never lie... And Mamma promise to play with Eolande.
"Mamma, You need to wake up!" Her thoughts weren't working, so she spoke the words. She glanced back at the Lucinda Birdy and Lucinda's Birdy Mamma Friend, eyes filled with confusion and fear. "Mamma, Why won't you wake up? You have to wake up and prove you aren't dead! You promised to play with me if I was good." As Eolande gently shook her Mamma, Mamma fell to the side and Eolande found herself staring into Mamma's face. Mamma's eyes were open.
"Mamma?" Mamma didn't answer, and Eolande didn't understand. Why wasn't Mamma making Eolande feel safe again? The little girl turned to look at Lucinda Birdy and Lucinda Birdys' Mamma Friend again. Her eyes were almost angry as she asked, "Why isn't she waking up? Mamma promised and she doesn't break promises. She's supposed to play with me, and make me feel safe." Why were they all lying and pretending?
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 29, 2012 4:35:03 GMT -5
Lucinda's vision blurred with tears. "She cannot wake up, Eolande. She's gone now, and she cannot return."
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 29, 2012 4:42:40 GMT -5
It didn't make sense. Eolande was reduced to stamping her foot childishly, angry tears sliding down her cheeks. Mamma wouldn't leave her! Mamma said so! Mamma was Eolande friend, they were supposed to stay friends!
"Mamma wouldn't leave me! She has to wake up and keep her promise!" Eolande had already lost though, despite her outburst. The angry tears were changing to despair. Mamma left her.... Did Mamma not want her anymore? Why did she leave her? Mamma, Why did you go? Eolande closed her eyes and placed her hands on her ears, she didn't want to hear. She wanted to be in her Mamma's Hole, in the Black where is was safe and nice....
---
Rhea was struggling to find words to say once more, she couldn't leave Lucinda to telling the child. But she simply couldn't say anything. When Kei had said she's lost Xie, Rhea's heart had felt jabbed. How could a mother lose a child? But now it was the opposite... Every child eventually lost their mother, but how could a child so young, innocent and dependent loose their mother? To Rhea, it didn't make sense. All she could come up with was that the world was a cruel, horrible place.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 29, 2012 4:47:07 GMT -5
"Of course she wouldn't." Lucinda agreed miserably. "But sometimes, we don't have that choice. In her case, there was no way out of it. All she could do was tell you to leave when she couldn't. The last thing she would ever want to do is leave you so soon." She let out a few, mournful notes. "I know it isn't easy to accept, but she's gone now. But do not hold it against her, she was forced to leave." Lucinda looked down. Blame me. she thought sadly.
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 29, 2012 5:02:20 GMT -5
Eolande didn't know what to say. All she knew was living with her Mamma! She hadn't met many people other then her Mamma for seventy-three years, How could Mamma leave her? Eolande slid to the floor, one hand fingering her Mamma's hair- the same color as her own... She leaned down to press her forehead to Mamma's, crying all the while. Mamma? Mamma? Are you there? Where are you?
Inside her mind, Eolande was in a bright white room, she felt exposed and scared, everywhere she looked she was blinded. Where was Mamma? Where was the safe Black? Eolande closed her eyes to try and escape the light- but it was everywhere! There was no Safe! Eolande was lost in her white room, screaming out for her Mamma, for Help.
Why was Mamma gone? The white room vanished- replaced by Fire. The Fire was everywhere, burning... There no more room! Eolande screamed at the flames, There's no more room for Burns! The flames licked at Eolande, ready to swallow her whole too- like is had Mamma. Fire! Fire! It took Mamma away! Like the Birdy that tried to take Eolande away! The Fire tried to steal Mamma, and Eolande couldn't reach out, she couldn't save Mamma!
I'm sorry Mamma, I can't save you like you saved me. I'm not being Good Mamma. You can't come and make me feel safe again, I let you go. The Fire stole you away!
Eolande abruptly left her inner turmoil to clear her vision that was covered in flames. She looked at the tree- The tree that wasn't dead. This was Mamma's tree- Eolande wouldn't let it die too. Eoldane moved around her Mamma's human form, and pressed herself against the Tree. This was Mamma's tree. It was alive. It wasn't Mamma, but it was Mamma's tree. Mamma's Tree.... Mamma's tree survived the fire! The fire that took Mamma away...
Eoldane suddenly made a connection. The Fire on the ground! The bird on Fire! It killed Mamma! It was going to hurt Eoldane too! It lied, it Lied! Eoldane didn't like the Fire- she wanted it to go away! Eoldane slid to the ground to sit next to the tree, and she once again look at the Fire and the Girl. They weren't Lucinda anymore- they were Fire and the Girl. Eoldane's eyes were filled with as much anger as a seven year old eyes could be as she look at the Fire, tears still prominent.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 29, 2012 5:10:05 GMT -5
"I'm so sorry this had to happen, Eolande." Lucinda whispered, daring to take a half-step closer. "I - I can't imagine how hard this has been for you." she offered a few, soothing notes, though her throat seized up too much to allow for more. As before, she gave a submissive position and bowed her head.
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 29, 2012 5:19:11 GMT -5
Eolande was only seven, and she didn't have much hate in her. Or anger for that matter. Especially not now, she just wanted to cry. Not waste any energy on glaring at the Fire who killed Mamma. Eolande pulled her legs up to her, wrapped her little arms around herself and simply cried. There was no bright, white room... No fire and no questions. Just tears. Mamma was gone, and Eolande didn't feel safe, she didn't feel happy. Eolande was alone. Her small body shook as she cried, hiccups thrown in every few moments.
---
Rhea threw away her discomfort. The little girl crying her eyes out next her mother's body was too much, and Rhea couldn't stand by anymore. The werewolf slowly approached the girl, stepping carefully around Allayna's body, to then slide to sit next to Eolande. She didn't hug the child, or say a word. Just sat next to her. Eoldane continued to cry strongly, tears seeming to never stop, but Rhea felt that the girl would be all right in the end. Rhea just need to be there for her. Eoldane needed someone, and Rhea intended to be the someone if she could.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 29, 2012 5:32:02 GMT -5
Lucinda stood up again, and turned away from Eolande. That look of anger - though it hadn't lasted, confirmed her suspicions. Looking up at the cloudless, blue sky, she forcibly dried her eyes and turned to face them. It wasn't her right to mourn with them. She would watch them, holding back her emotion and wait for them to stop. She couldn't even offer them phoenix song - now was not the time.
"As a token of apology, I shall leave the two of you to my cave." she spoke, her voice going oddly cold, as her childhood training came back. She bowed to them in turn. "Take care."
And with that, she flew off to the tallest tree - which hadn't been torn down. She perched as high as she could and stared over the horizon. It was time to stop being a child. If they were going to win this war, Lucinda knew that she had to be strong.
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 29, 2012 5:37:55 GMT -5
Rhea wanted to go after Lucinda, and help her. But she knew that she needed to stay here and help Eolanda like she promised. Rhea watched at the Phoenix flew away, and then she looked back at Eolande, who was ignoring her surroundings completely and crying her eyes out.
This was going to be a long war.
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 30, 2012 2:03:42 GMT -5
Fawkes flashed back into the forest, having finished his conversation with the headmaster. Now he had to find Lucinda, and let her know about the situation at the school. Unsure of where to find her, he let out a single trill, calling for Lucinda.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 30, 2012 2:05:52 GMT -5
"Over here, Fawkes~!" Lucinda trilled back, forcing herself to cheer up a bit.
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 30, 2012 2:11:44 GMT -5
Fawkes followed the responding sound, and soon found himself within viewing distance of Lucinda. He went to land on the top of a tree near her, and asked, "Anything happen while I was away?"
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 30, 2012 2:15:43 GMT -5
"Nothing much," Lucinda replied softly, not wanting to bother him. "Just dealing with the Acromantulas, and a young dryad who lost her mother during the attack yesterday. Rhea is comforting her now." She looked down from her perch below, and there she could see Rhea and Eolande together. "I suggest staying away from her. The dryad - her name is Eolande - is terrified of birds, and anything that has a fire-color to it." She looked back up again, finding the sight of them still too upsetting.
"So, how was your visit to the school?"
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 30, 2012 2:19:08 GMT -5
Fawkes tilted his head curiously at the mention of Acromantulas- that would definitely make for a good story later on. Though he then bowed his head to the mention of the Dryad, "Ah, Fear of birds and fire color, I'm sure that she doesn't take well to Phoenix's well...." He made a mental not to try and avoid the Dryad, no need to frighten her.
"It was interesting. The Headmaster says that they plan to break away from the Ministry- the school is willing to make an alliance with the forest."
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 30, 2012 2:31:31 GMT -5
Lucinda perked up at the bit of positive information. That was the first good thing she'd heard since all this started! "That's great, Fawkes! I think we'll be able to arrange something...once things have calmed down of course. But still! It's great to know that all humans aren't against us! Thank you!"
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 30, 2012 2:33:14 GMT -5
Fawkes nodded encouragingly, "He wanted to know more about us, and what we were all like. I told him that I would tell him once they were officially independent of the Ministry, I don't want to risk information leaking to the Ministry. The less they know, the better."
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 30, 2012 2:41:42 GMT -5
Lucinda trilled in agreement. "Thank you, Fawkes. I'm so glad you came." she nuzzled him as a sign of thanks. She sighed a little. "We should probably start the gathering soon enough. We need to mourn our dead. It can't be put off any longer."
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 30, 2012 3:24:30 GMT -5
Harrigan was feeling extremely confused. He strolled around the forest with a sense of guilt, shame, and pain. His guilt was from not saving Xie. His shame from not joining the herd last night to indulge in other activities. Just the memories of those activities made him blush profusely. He couldn't understand why he'd let himself go like that around Lexie. She was after all just a friend, right? His pain was at seeing his home and forest destroyed. He'd begun slowly moving the bodies of whatever small creatures to the center of the forest. He felt ashamed to leave them to rot. They would need a proper burial.
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Post by Miss Wings on Jul 30, 2012 7:47:27 GMT -5
Harrigan had gone to check out the situation in the forest, now I couldn't stop throwing up and it had nothing to do with his blood. Oh how I wish Mummy was here with me, she'd know what to do. I think I might be pregnant but how can I check? Unless I go to the family healer but she'll let Daddy know. Oh Mummy, give me a sign please!
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 30, 2012 8:00:57 GMT -5
As Harrigan walked around, searching for more innocent victims, he found Lexie, stumbling along. She looked lost and odd.
"Lexie!" he called out, immediately regretting it. What was he supposed to say now?
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Post by Miss Wings on Jul 30, 2012 8:28:03 GMT -5
"Harrigan?" I whispered. Where had he come from? "H, how did I get here?" I asked puzzled.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 30, 2012 8:54:28 GMT -5
"I was, er, getting bodies, how are you?" he asked carefully. He felt extremely ashamed as he stared at her. Every memory of last night seemed to want to dance around his head at this moment. Why him?
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Post by Miss Wings on Jul 30, 2012 8:56:45 GMT -5
"I'm not feeling well Harrigan. Ithink there's something wrong with me, I haven't stopped throwing up since, well just since" I mumbled all confuzzedly.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 30, 2012 8:59:43 GMT -5
"It was probably my blood. Blood when taken on a non-feeding day can be sickening to vampires, right?" asked Harrigan worriedly.
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Post by Miss Wings on Jul 30, 2012 9:01:25 GMT -5
"Not really. It all depends on the age of the vampire and besides Vampires can have blood whenever they want, I just stick to my schedule" I informed him.
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