Green Strike Force: Camping out
As they moved slowly into the poor excuse for a clearing that was going to be their campsite for what was left of the night Ben put his pack down and fought with whether or not to start a small fire. It wasn’t cold and they were all exhausted but there was an element of comfort in a fire so he set about gathering wood …
Now that they were finally somewhere where they could rest the events of the last half a day came rushing back. It had been eventful to say the least and he felt responsible for a great part of it. His team mates had followed his decision to head to the swamp and all of their following plans had been influenced by that.
They had stopped on the swamp edge around five or six hours ago, although right now it seemed more like days ago, and had come to the conclusion that some rest would not be a bad idea. He had not been one to complain, the run had tired him more than he’d ever like to admit and after using his power in such specific ways he hadn’t felt quite right. He had slumped against a tree and closed his eyes, trying to block out the hundred and one screaming thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him. Unlike a psychic mutant it was not the thoughts of other that bothered him but his own. Even with his body screaming for rest his mind was still alert and trying to find the most logical and sensible way forward. In the end it had actually taken a great effort on his part to ignore the fact that they had to move on and just sit there. Once he had achieved some kind of calm he had realised that somehow the world had felt a bit off… like things were a bit blurry. He had sighed, must be something to do with his powers. He had made great progress in the three months he had been at Xavier’s but today was startling proof that he needed more practise.
When he had finally decided that he could face opening his eyes again he had also released his mind as well and with that all the questions had come flooding back. Where to go next? How will we cover another 14 miles in two days? Will we manage to stay clear of Silver? How best to do that?
There had been no easy answers at that point just hypothesis that could only be proved or in the worse of cases disproved by trying them out. But one thing he had been sure about at that point in time was that they needed some provisions and the fairies had been the best suited for the job. Without food it would have been a very miserable day and a half and besides gathering berries or edible roots was relatively easy work for the already tired group. He had let Michael out of gathering as the young man had already seemed heavily occupied by trying to recover his strength.
It had not taken them long to gather a few things and while they had been at it his mind had wondered, a bit like it was doing now he thought as he bent down for another stick, and he had found a few of the answers to those oh so annoying questions. He had gathered the team and explained his point of view. Firstly he felt that Silver had probably used the swamp as a natural barrier to the area they would cover so if they stayed to the edge of it they should avoid most traps. Secondly if they were to move at night they might be able to sneak past while other teams slept. He had felt that the plan they had shaped from these assumptions had been shaky at best but it had worked…
He brought his bundle of sticks back to the centre of the small clearing and laid it down. He went to his pack to see if they had anything to light a fire with and was happy to find that he had a pack of matches… that only contained about ten matches. He sighed, better hope he got it right or there would be no fire after all. He piled the wood in a small pyramid and picked up what dry kindling he could find. Carefully he took one of the matches out of the pack and struck it. To his disgust it fluttered straight out, so with great concentration he bent lower and struck another which was more cooperative than the first and after a bit of cajoling finally sent a small flame licking up the sides of the wooden pyramid. He sat down next to the small fire and for the first time since Tess had been caught, relaxed a little. They had done there best covering almost six miles in darkness and hopefully putting them out of Silver’s immediate reach. Now all they would have to do was get some sleep and try and stay out of trouble during there final trek to the flag tomorrow. It would probably only take them four or five hours of paced walking to reach it, if nothing went wrong of course.
His gaze followed the leaping flames and he threw a few more sticks on the fire. It had been a long day but a relatively good one, apart of course for the loss of their leader. When he got back he would have to write her up a report so that she could give them her opinion on their way of dealing with the situations they had faced. He looked around and saw the tired expressions on his team mates faces, except of course for May. Nothing ever seemed to tire her, but it was now past midnight and all he could say was that at least they were still all there and in the end that was all that mattered.
Scott:
((Wasn't sure if someone else was posting first...sooo figured I'd give Scott and Tessa some interaction, I was a little vauge with the others only cause I wasn't sure what exactly was Michael's condition or what the others would be doing or anything.. figured they'd at least be a moment they'd all settle down!))
Not the most Princely of actions to be seen preforming, but once the resting area was declared – still blessed with his a grace of course – Scott permitted his weary form to fall gently knee first to the earthy floor. Rest felt wonderful, a pampered Prince hardly understood the true strain a body could be put under, but now, finally after so many centuries, Scott was seeing the pressure people could endure, the strengths a true fellowship offered and the gift of humour that could uplift most dampened spirits.
The flames of the newly lit fire entranced the male fairy, who had a few unsettling moments while gathering food when his eight legged nightmares scurried wilding in the bushes where the berries grew. It became clear that Scott had a vague sense of threatening spiders, knowing which bush was infested with webbing and which were not. They also managed to find the better pick both due to that sense as well as Scott’s learned gathering abilities when he was younger. The Devark siblings often snuck out into the nearby woodlands of the Enchanted Kingdom, the lands of Finarith where rich in life of all kinds and Tenaki rocks – despite what the name suggested – was lush with fruit trees. The young Princes derived great pleasure in their foraging and the added safety of the secluded area near the very distant walls of the palace always promised them with juicy rewards due to the ancient spells keeping the section of the grounds alive and well even in the harshest of seasons. These pickings of course were nothing compared to what they obtained in the castle but then fruits of the enchanted lands where far more precious in taste then they could usually conjure here in this mortal realm.
At last they all finally rested, their journey taking a pause as they relent to the demands of their tired bodies. At least Scott had his wings, offering a chance for his aching legs to rest when he hovered along with the group. Most of them found it easier to travel then May and Ben who went by foot, yet the murky swamp seemed to offer little to dissuade the symbionts host from her trek. Granted May was a little worn by their trip and encounter with the other team earlier, but her energy was only very slowly depleted and her body rejuvenated her stores.
"Humans certainly are the wanderers." The Prince stated with a voice which betrayed the fact he was worn-out by the travels. "It is no wonder your people are simply… everywhere." Mused the fairy with a tired smile, speaking in his tender tones while still watching the dancing flames. Scott’s eyes turned towards Michael, the exquisite azure gaze lingering only a moment before trailing off towards Tessa. The glance was quickly diverted however as he heard a slight rustling in the branches above them where May was settling down, her own webbing helped comfort her personally made roost for the night, her eyes however peering down at the group, once again shutting herself on the outside and only looking in.
The youngest of the royal siblings closed his vibrant eyes and allowed himself a moment of peaceful rest. A swaying of branches and rustling of leaves seemed out of place due to the touch of wind not even reaching their branches. The soft movements pulled Scott’s attention, his eyes opening and watching the gentle rustle of the leaves before they stilled once again. With a proud hoot of an owl, Scott’s interest shifted once more, staring at a feathery night hunter who’s colours helped it blend into the bark of the tree it recently perched itself on. Her large eyes peered down at Scott with equal interest. A moment later Tessa gained the male fairy’s thoughts, his eyes almost gleaming in the firelight as he looked at her.
"It is customary for us to preform at night when gathered in groups by the firelight." The Prince clued Tessa into the reason why a few nocturnal creatures might be drawn to the resting group. "Of course, we make many reasons to celebrate as often as possible, especially us Devarks." Add the fairy with a cheerful grin. An expression of consideration flourished as Scott looked between Tessa and the fire. They had worked so hard, and everyone was so tired, Michael seemed worse off then all of them by far however, and Scott figured it could be a nice distraction to try and teach Tessa a little something of her people’s habits.
"I am the youngest of five siblings, one can imagine to the amount of time needed by our caretakers to entertain us all, more often then not, we would muse ourselves." Turning his gaze downwards, the Prince smiled a little more as he plucked a few blades of grass, placing the few green tips into his other palm and then dug his fingers a little into the dirt and sprinkled that also over his palm. The Prince offered a showing of what he held to Tessa before delicately tossing it into the flames, a vague though rather unusual glittery effect sizzled for a second before tiny bubbles of fire sparked close to the top of the flame. Tender hands scooped one of them up before they faded, the glow of what Scott held growing fainter in his grasped hands though still managing to linger. Turning to Tess, the elder fairy offered her an assuring, smile as he held his hands towards her.
"We call them fire dancers, they aren’t alive, but they give the illusion that they are if you know how to shape them. Would you like to try?" The others seemed really tired, and he and Tessa were no exceptions, however Tess had been a little down earlier due to her capture and Michael wasn’t seeming to be in the best of condition… They all needed their rest but that didn’t mean Scott couldn’t at least try and raise his companions spirits, he wasn’t sure how humans acted when they grew tired, he never really interacted with them for as long as he has this day. Scott may not possess great wisdom in spells, but he knew a great many simple charms, perhaps not the most useful of things considering they where basically utterly useless in battles, but Scott gained great pleasure in preforming them with his brothers and at gatherings, so he never thought little of them.
Tess:
Tess had to admit she had been relieved when they had stopped by the edge of the swamp for much needed rest. She was in good physical health but Tessa wasn't an athletic sort and had despised the subject, professing her love instead for the more academic and creative subjects of art, music and english. She had never truly seen the point of phys-ed, deciding that it was good to be fit but you should be able to do it on your own time and not in groups running around a track in a stupid uniform. While the blonde fairy was usually optimistic enough and willing to try most things this was one sore point with her. Unfortunently it was now seeming as those the subject she loathed had a use afterall and Tessa regretting not spending more time running or training.
When she was at last able to rest under a tree she wished briefly for the comfort of her smaller form which would have permitted her the added comfort of a leaf for bedding but Tess was too exhausted at the moment to worry too much about comfort. She was just glad to be off her feet. The faerie girl shut her eyes, letting amythyst eyes rest behind long lashes and closed lids. The moment of peace lasted only for a few minutes though before she felt an added warmth although the weather was not truly cold yet. Tess openned her eyes to the dancing flames of a newly lit fire and smiled slightly as she watched the spirals of flame perform their intricate dance.
When she and Scott had been asked to gather food the tired faery had done what was asked even though the activity had meant more exercise and more wear on her already weary feet. She couldn't rightly refuse though and it did make sense for her and Scott to do the gathering so Tess grinned and bore it, using her currently invisible wings to give her the occational boost so she could keep the weight off her soles. The task at least had not been difficult and with Scott's sense guiding them they had managed to gather without any additional trouble.
"Humans certainly are the wanderers." The comment from no where surprised Tess a little but she smiled, realising that is was true even if the observation had not been one she had really thought about before. Weren't they wanderers having inhabited all continents of the earth and done it all without wings? Tess caught herself with a start. Her time with Scott must have been doing something to her since before she had always considered herself a human with a few special abilities. She didn't know anything of her faerie side so perhaps it had been easier just to relate to humans but now she was saying they as if she were of another species. She was only half faerie and before it had always been Tess' human side that was dominant but now, with Scott by her side, she was beginning to feel more as she imagined a faery did and she was coming to terms with herself.
Despite her deep thoughts Tess did manage to catch the weariness in Scott's voice and knew that this had to be harder on him than it was on her. "It is no wonder your people are simply… everywhere." His bright eyes remained on the leaping flames which had captivated her a few moments earlier. Those unusual eyes briefly rested on her before he turned to the rustling above them of May getting settled. The collage of sounds was a strange change from her place back at Xavier's or even with her adoptive parents and yet Tess had spent enough time with animals in daylight hours that she wasn't overly startled by their noises.
"It is customary for us to preform at night when gathered in groups by the firelight." So there was a reason why the animals seemed almost as though they had been drawn here and were not resting at random. Tess glanced up at the owl who had hooted moments earlier with a new sort of expression on her face, one expressing understanding. "Of course, we make many reasons to celebrate as often as possible, especially us Devarks." Scott's grin was infectious and Tess smiled also, her lips curving into a genuine expression that was a combination of amusement and thanks, thanks for telling her all this that she had never known before.
The violet-eyed Faerie's expression glanced around the group and fixed worriedly on Michael for a moment, sure that he wasn't doing well for he had had a hard time today. Her fetching smile dimmed slightly and anxious worry took it's place for a moment as she hoped he was okay and for that matter their former leader who they were now dealing without for a change. Scott's voice provided a welcome distraction and Tess listened eagerly as he began to tell her about himself and about their kind.
"I am the youngest of five siblings, one can imagine to the amount of time needed by our caretakers to entertain us all, more often then not, we would muse ourselves." Five! Tess, being an only child as far as she knew, had always felt a strange slight envy for those with more brothers and sisters, this perhaps due to the fact that aside from her parents she hadn't had anyone to share her nature with before the Institute. She was sure her eyes must have lit up as Scott tossed blades of grass into the fire and they glittered in splendor. Tess worried that Scott might burn himself as he saved one of the glittering blades from the tops of the fire but the worry left her as the glow lingered in his palm.
"We call them fire dancers, they aren’t alive, but they give the illusion that they are if you know how to shape them. Would you like to try?" An expression of pleased light and joy filled Tess' face as a child might light up on Christmas morning.
"They're beautiful," Tessa said, her eyes glimmering a warm violet in the light of the fire. Her voice was slightly hushed in a sort of awe and she smiled a dazzling smile at Scott, her gaze for him and him alone. "I'd love to try but I'm not positive I can do it right," she said, wondering at this amusing charm of Scott's and fearing she would wreck the illusion somehow. It was funny how she had always thought naturally of flames as dancers and that her people had this tradition of making fire dancers. With a rush of excitement Tess wondered if it was somesort of instinct in her that had always made her describe fire in such a way. Maybe she hadn't needed to learn everything about faery culture neccessarily from a faerie and some of it was in her instincts, genes or mind even without direct experience. It was a thrilling thought and enough to make Tess feel bold enough to try her companion's charm.
Her brow furrowing as she concentrated on what Scott had shown her he was doing before, the blonde plucked a few blades of grass herself and followed carefully what she remembered of his instructions. Tessa hesitated only a moment before she tossed her own grass and dirt into the flames. The effect was not so beautiful or glittery as when Scott had done it, making her wonder if she had included too little grass or dirt, yet it still glittered and Tess was charmed.
"I don't think I'm quite the master yet," she said with a slight smile and the beginnings of a musical laugh. As she became more serious Tess said more quietly and with a hint of shyness, "It's beautiful, thank you." Silently she hoped he would continue to show her things or tell her things of Faerie kind for the charm and few tidbits she had gotten alone had made Tessa feel closer to her ancestors and she was becoming more curious the more he told her and the more time they spent together.
Michael:
Going back into his body the first time, when they had reached the edge of the swamp, had been bad but he had been prepared for it, waiting patiently for the pain to ease somewhat, as it eventually had, and gratefully grabbing a few hours sleep before setting out on the trek again. Though truth be told he hadn’t exactly trekked. The time spent resting in his physical form, unpleasant as it had been had at least bought him some more time as Hood.
It was a delicate balance to maintain, each minute spent as the astral fighter weakened his actually body, so simply spending the majority of his time in his beloved Hood shape was out of the question. Hence this compromise, resting as Michael when he could, accompanying the team as Hood when they moved once more over the treacherous terrain of the swamp. Not that that was the only motivation behind his decision to vacate his body when they started walking again, leaving it to be carried by May like so much luggage. The pain had been bad enough when he had only been lying stretched out on the damp ground, he wasn’t stupid enough to believe he could have endured being jostled along on May’s back no matter how carefully she had tried to handle him.
Of course a shot of the morphine Dr McCoy had provided him with would have got round the problem, but that to had to be used wisely. There was only so much he could reasonably take in the day even if his aching leg made reason hard to hold on to sometimes. Still when the decision had been taken to continue their journey during the hours of darkness he had been forced to set the tempting syringes aside, telling himself he could hold out long enough for Hood to take over again and bring him a release more complete than anything the drug could afford him.
However that could only last for so long. The team had progressed sufficiently to be out of danger and even to envisage reaching their destination the following day and now they were settling down for what was left of the night. It should have been a relief but it wasn’t. Oh it was true he needed the rest, probably more than anyone there, thought judging by the tired expressions on his team mates faces they were all nearing exhaustion apart from the seemingly indestructible May. It was the price he would have to pay to get that rest which kept him hovering reluctantly in his astral form as the camp was set up, his body set down gently, lying like a broken toy near the centre of the clearing. He didn’t want to go back into it, knowing what was waiting for him when he did. He didn’t want the others to see him like that, or for Scott to feel his distress.
So it was an immense weight off his mind when the others left about their business, gathering food and firewood, knowing instinctively that he was not fit to help them even with these simple tasks. They were hardly gone when he released the hold he had on his spirit, moving close to his prone form, letting his consciousness slip back into it and its attending hell. No amount of preparation could help this time, the pain was everywhere, overwhelming him, leaving him gasping and helpless in its grasp.
This wasn’t something that could be ‘worked through’, ‘risen above’, ‘pushed away’ or any other of the platitudes that people came up with to talk about dealing with suffering. It simply couldn’t be dealt with. It was too much, bringing home the true meaning of crippling pain, a pain so great that even the thought of movement became unimaginable. This was why the doctor’s signed the prescriptions for morphine, why McCoy had made sure he carried a supply with him. In the face of this there was nothing else to be done. It was a fact, bitter and hard to accept but a fact all the same and Michael acknowledged it with every burning fibre of his being.
*I’ve left it too late* he thought desperately as he fumbled the small box out from inside his shirt, hated tears starting to spill from behind his closed lids as the pain bit deep. *I’ll never manage to do this on my own. Oh please* he prayed *don’t make me have to ask Ben to do it for me. Not this.*
Working blindly he managed to extricate a syringe, feeling around inside the box until he located the flat rubber tourniquet the doctor had also provided, rolling up his sleeve and wrapping it round the thin arm with the expertise of the addict. Now that the drug was in his hand the motions became automatic, need and desire steadying the faltering fingers, fighting down the agony just long enough to slip the needle into the readied vein.
The effect was almost instantaneous, the drug flowing into his system, carrying its blessed numbness to his tortured legs. There were times when he told himself that he hated morphine but it wasn’t true. He loved it. It kept him sane, it held back the pain even if only for a little while, in the end it gave him back his life and for that he was eternally grateful. Right now it would let him face his team mates with something resembling dignity, more than he had dared hope for scant minutes before.
As quickly as he could given his condition, he cleared away the medical implements, sweeping them back into the box, and wiped his eyes in a vain attempt to make himself look better before the others returned. Then he simply lay back and let the morphine do its work, listening as food was brought back and the fire prepared.
He was glad they had decided to have one. The night air was decidedly chill and although his secondary power meant that he at least didn’t run the risk of catching a cold still the damp crept into his bones and his clothes were hardly designed to keep him warm through a night in the open air. Ben seemed to be having some trouble kindling it at first but after a couple of attempts the twigs finally blossomed into flame, the light comforting, keeping the ominous darkness at bay.
The food too was welcome. Now that the drug was kicking in, muting the pain , Michael’s hunger made its self known again. It was hardly a feast but Scott and Tess had done a good job and the juicy berries and roots tasted good after the days exertions. He had managed to draw himself closer to the group huddling companionably around the fire, May having already established herself in he trees with her usual efficiency. He was so tired that the morphine had gone slightly to his head, bringing not only ease but also a faint sensation of intoxication.
Michael shook his head slightly, trying to clear it as he heard Scott tell Tess of his childhood and the ways of the fairies. *So he’s from a large family as well* the Scottish mutant thought to himself groggily. *I wonder if he gets on as well with his brothers as I do with mine. Lets hope not for his sake* But now wasn’t the time for thoughts of what had gone before Not when the present was so remarkable.
It all seemed like a hallucination or a waking dream, watching the forest creatures draw near as the prince worked his glamour on the flames. *See Ben* he wanted to say *This is what I was talking about in the danger room. The up side to everything. Here I am lying in the dirt feeling like a car just rolled over me. Again! Then suddenly I’ve got flame dancers and inquisitive owls and that look on Tess’ face as she realises she can be part of Scott’s world.*
*Morphine for the soul* he though with a slight smile * Guaranteed to take the pain away and with a hell of a lot less side effects* “That’s really lovely” he said softly his voice betraying his weariness if not the whole degree of his suffering. “I never thought I’d see anything like that, real fairy magic I mean. Though the setting leaves something to be desired.”
“ We should be in Titania’s bower for this sort of thing ‘a bank wheron the wild thyme blows, Where ox-lips and the nodding violet grows, Quite over-canopied with lush woodbine With sweet musk roses and with eglantine, There sleeps Titania sometimes of the night, Lulled in these flowers with dances and delights, And there the snake throws her enameil’d skin, Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in”
“Shakespeare” he concluded with a faint chuckle “a quote for all occasions. Even the most unexpected ones”
Scott & May:
((Hope you don't mind Karen, but since I'm leaving for a little while I tohught I'd sneak in a post! That and it IS almost three in the morning and I've locked myself out of the house...pity meeee...))
The pleasure such a simple trick was offering Tess made the whole thing worth while, even if the Prince was a little shy at the humans presence while performing them. Scott had played around with Arlen, Heath and Riley, and while Arlen and Riley were used to the mythical side of the world Scott could sense the torn awe and caution that Heath had. These low level spells were supposed to be fun and it wasn’t fun if Scott knew he was intimidating someone, what if other humans reacted like that, Riley had warned Scott not to try and talk with others outside of the school… Even though most outside the school couldn’t even seem to see Scott, let alone talk with him. Arlen was used to the enchanted displays and while usually Arlen would be extremely playful, lately the Merman was withdrawn, quiet and utterly dulled to all forms of amusement.
"They're beautiful," Scott enjoyed his games, perhaps that’s why the Prince often played even if by himself, or finding an animal or two who would play with him. The fear of Tessa as a ‘wild fairy’ one of the human tamed fae-folk who became brutal or callous, as old stories told, was enough to keep Scott from scouring the school in search of her. It had been Garnet who had revealed Tessa’s presence at the school, and to be honest, the real reason Scott had ventured there. Riley didn’t know Tessa outside of a the seldom classes they had shared here and there, and Connor knew her enough to offer introducing Scott to her, but at first Scott had declined with the excuse that he’d prefer introducing himself… It just never seemed like the right time. Often moving between time locked away in his room and helping Arlen, over to spending time with his family back in the enchanted kingdom, when he did find the courage to look for her, she never seemed to be anywhere he sought her.
Not it was strange to think that the young male had ever pondered the possibilities of this even younger fairy being as dangerous as old tales would have others believe. A spectacular shine hit her already glamorous eyes, a beauty common to those of the fae bloodline such as fairies and elves, but highly uncommon for humans, so it was something Scott was starting to actually miss without realizing it. Humans had a true passion in their eyes, emotions that burned inside of them could truly be seen, but there was something so… so enchanting dwelling inside the eyes of those with the blood of the fae-folk. With a smile such as the one Tessa adorned, Scott was sure even his own father would offer a warm smile in return, and Scott was just proud to know that it had been a spell of his own that had brought that smile to her lips.
"I'd love to try but I'm not positive I can do it right," There was a bubbling of excitement within Tessa, positive emotions brimmed strongly and the youngest Devark could pick it up easily. Scott’s hands remained clasped about his own little captured flame, watching the other pick her own collection of earthy ingredients before mimicking the Prince and tossing them into the fire. A bright smile flashed across the charming features of the male fairy as the duller version of the spell flashed in the fire. "I don't think I'm quite the master yet," Came her voice as Tessa spoke, a slight laughter filling the air in the unusual terrain. Scott may be a fairy but other then his time at the school he hardly ever slept out and even at school he usually nested with another creature. More commonly a mother bird who was proud to let the Prince snuggle in a corner of her nest. So it was a pleasant distraction for the Prince to be sure, especially since it seemed that Tessa did enjoy his show and companionship.
"It's beautiful, thank you." A playful look flourished on Scott’s features as he realized that Tessa thought that his trick was over, did she assume he’d hold the flame till it died? A barely stifled chuckle lit up the Prince’s features more before he took a moment to regain his composure. The Prince had hoped that if Tessa could make one herself she’d have more fun, taking her step by step was always the easiest approach, but as always, it took practice to get the charm right.
“That’s really lovely” Michael had looked as if he was struggling to remain awake and right now there was little more Scott wanted to do then let the human obtain the much needed rest he deserved. The fact however that Michael resisted sleep to be entertained by the lighthearted spells which Scott showed Tess was uplifting in a way. But the exhaustion rippling through the astral mutants body was revealing how desperately the believer was needing his rest. They all needed some time to recover, but none as essential as Michael.
“I never thought I’d see anything like that, real fairy magic I mean. Though the setting leaves something to be desired.” In truth Scott agreed with that, these unknown woods were part of his families ancient lands, before the humans drove them deep into hiding, but they appeared alien to Scott.
“ We should be in Titania’s bower for this sort of thing ‘a bank wheron the wild thyme blows, Where ox-lips and the nodding violet grows, Quite over-canopied with lush woodbine With sweet musk roses and with eglantine, There sleeps Titania sometimes of the night, Lulled in these flowers with dances and delights, And there the snake throws her enameil’d skin, Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in” The Princes eyes watched vigilantly as his tired friend wove delicately chosen words together to form a picturesque story, tainted only by the fatigue of Michael’s voice.
“Shakespeare” Scott’s English was not as splendid as his eldest brother, and words such as eglantine were not ones that the Prince was familiar with. Shakespeare however was also another word he struggled with, wondering of its meaning for a moment, the added comment did little to divulge information. “a quote for all occasions. Even the most unexpected ones” Was it a story? A famous tale from days long gone? They certainly had a different form of English compared to what humans spoke, having more of an enchanted touch to their words instead of the simplistic phrases they favored.
"…Sh-ach-spear." Whatever the word, it was fun to pronounce. It was exciting to hear the mentioning of his people, and Scott wondered if they had stories of his kind. He didn’t think they had since most outwardly admit to not believing in fairies, much to Scott’s dislike when they do so in his presence. They all have a right to their own opinion but Scott was humiliated by the fact such seemingly harmless words can feel as if they rip the very strength from his body, leaving him weak, disorientated and in the worst case thinkable… it could be fatal for him to hear such negativity regarding his own existence.
The hands which clasped together lifted to Scott’s lips, the Prince carefully blowing into the hidden flame so the glow burned brighter in his hands. Slowly parting his hands, allowing the fire to be seen for the first time since he captured it, Scott let the reshaped flame rest on his open palms to allow a moment of examination. The fiery creature was that of a butterfly, the flames soft and strangely still with a faint yet dazzling glow, lacking any real details but still well defined, the surreal creature disappearing within the male fairy’s hold as he closed his hands.
"Real magic?" A light hearted grin lifted Scott’s tired features and brightened his eyes, putting away the new words for later questioning with Riley during his next English class. For a moment Scott peered ahead at Ben while wondering what the human though, having previously been blind to Scott, the Prince found himself wondering what he thought of all this. Tessa was obviously delighted, and for that alone it pleased the royal Devark. "If anything, these tricks I know are but shadows of the splendor a true enchanter weaves. Nevertheless, real magic is not spoken with incantations nor found in strange brewed potions. The power of belief, the faith we all have within us, that’s where the true magic lies. It’s supremacy matched solely by both inanity and love. Mutually inexhaustible, both somewhat blinding, and both as dangerous as they spectacular." Having never been in love, Scott feared its potential power over him as much as he longed one day to possess it. But he respected it, and he had love inside him to share, like any creature, confined in responsibilities and regulations now was the only time he has really been able to form any true bonds with people outside the palace who weren’t family or assigned to his care. These bonds were starting to show the Prince how truly precious personal connections like these really were.
"To believe in faith is something many can do, to have the faith to believe is a much harder achievement." The Prince spoke a random saying that filled his mind while speaking, offering a playful smile while his hands fiddling with the hidden flame in his hold. "You’re heart is of greater magic then any dazzling display preformed often by trickery and illusions," The Prince blew once more into his palm, the flame burning brighter again but flowing from his finger tips like gleaming golden sand. The burning grains swirled towards the fire and spiraled around its tip before gently fading away in the flickering blaze. "The longer you use a spell, the weaker it becomes, yet as it fades to whence it came, you’re heart burns ever more." Shimmering azure pearls gleamed in the firelight, their attention shifting over towards the aching figure of the once tortured mutant, the suffering caused by hands of those who treated him inhumanly as visible to the eye as the celestial glow of the moon. Yet it did not crush Michael, not as it may have done to so many others… and though Scott knew only what Connor had partially revealed when speaking of his own ordeal, Scott knew enough to know Michael was worthy of a great deal of respect. "…Like the stubbornness of dwarves." The Prince added with a teasing look.
May herself listened with interest and yet a boredom still kindled within her, it was moments of restlessness like these that the host really missed the sky scrapers of New York. There was no greater glory she could conceive other then that of web-slinging across town. The ultimate high, and the greatest release. At this moment, May couldn’t help but think negatively to what Scott was saying, if the heart was so powerful a tool, then why could she have saved her family when they needed her the most? Why had she been forced to live a life of a freak, hunted by Sentinels who thought only of ‘seek and destroy’. Upgraded to recognize humans from those with mutant genes, eradication of the evolutionary threat that could wreck havoc in an already chaotic world. If ones heart was truly as gifted as that, then why had any of it even taken place? Why had children been killed, why had families been torn apart, peoples hopes were crushed and there seemed too many problems to possible solve, not matter the dedication one gave for the seemingly impossible quest. And May had given everything, she really had, so much then by the time she left that world she was nothing more then a marionette who’s strings had been solely controlled by the former Venom. If there really was a power inside the heart as Scott implied, then how could she have become so broken, so bitter and lost. Maybe she had just made one too many sacrifices, had she reached the point that her heart had nothing more to offer?
It seemed so much easier when she first put on the costume, when the all fighting she had to do was the for the right of carrying on the legacy of the spider. Would May ever see that girl again? The wise-cracking, smart aleck who zoomed the city streets for little reason other then the joy of the speed in which she did it. Part of May had convinced herself that was something she didn’t miss, that she had grown more mature since then, stronger, wiser, better in all regards. Then she was fragile, now… now there was little more one could do to her that would shatter her spirit any more then it already was. Of course, what May didn’t expect was that this unlikely troop she had become a part of were going to slowly start to help pick up the pieces of her shatter self… She had already come far from the timid frantic girl the X-men recovered along with Connor and a few others from A.Corp, her mental stability taking months to regain itself but now seeming to done so with little traces of what once was a serious issue.
Ben:
"Humans certainly are the wanderers. It is no wonder your people are simply… everywhere."
Scott’s words caused Ben to look up from the fire his mind a bit groggy as the weariness that had built up during the day finally caught up with him. The statement was the first made in a long time, the journey seemed to have taken the cheeriness out of them and maybe it was the constant threat of being caught by Silver that had so dampened their spirits. But now it seemed that seeing as they had finally found a place to rest the team once again found enjoyment in each others company. He smiled to himself, now that exhaustion was finally catching up with him he felt like he was watching the magical scene that took place around the small fire from a great distance. It was like his mind had taken a step back from everything and he was now a spectator rather than a participant. And in a sense that was very true he had never seen his power as a form of magic and therefore Scott’s fire dancers were a whole new realm of skill in Ben’s eyes.
It was true that he took refuge in the fact that most things had a logical explanation but this was mostly because he knew he would never achieve what he really wanted, which was to be one of these fantasy book hero’s he had so often read about. He had often wanted to learn sword fighting but being a sick child it had never happened and well until recently he had also thought magic out of his reach so he had fallen back on the only thing that all of those hero’s could that was within his reach… strategy. He had taken in every battle ambush or siege ever depicted in book, song or film and had committed the best strategic acts to memory. Regrettably he had no army to lead and doubted there would ever be a siege for him to take command of so it was all worthless knowledge… up until he joined the X-men. Today had offered him an unexpected challenge and he had loved it and looking up at the sat opposite him even magic had been provided.
As Ben listened to Michael quote Shakespeare, something he personally had never been able to do, he could not help but muse at what an odd group they were. And yet when he thought about it they kind of formed a chain each person representing a link, some closer to others like Scott and Tess but in the end different as they may be they formed a pretty solid whole. And if they could find it in them to entertain each other around a camp fire after the day they had had he did not doubt that the bonds could only from here. His only wish would be that Lexi could have been here to see it, she would have been so proud. He wondered what their team leader was doing at that precise point in time; well it was past midnight so she was probably in bed. And after the week he had had bed did not sound like such a bad idea.
But he wanted to make a bit of an effort and pay some attention to the conversation going on. Regrettably as soon as he turned his attention back to what was being said he wished he hadn’t. it was not that he did not believe in what Scott was saying it was just that it was late and he did not feel that he could cope with talk of love and belief. He knew this was partly due to the fact that he still felt guilty about not being able to see the small fairy earlier that day. And it was that guilt the made sure that he listened to all that Scott had to say about belief he did not want to offend the little fairy especially after his obvious lack of belief. So he sat in silence until Scott turned his attention to Michael at which time Ben lay on his back with his legs still bent facing the fire and looked up. He ended up with brief glimpses of the stars through the trees but he mostly found himself looking up at May who had installed herself above them in a complex “nest” like structure made out of webbing.
She had not said much all day and as he looked up at her with the flickering of the flames casting strange shadows over her he decided that he knew no more about her than upon their first meeting this morning… apart from maybe her name. He did not recall seeing her around the institute nor did he remember Sean mentioning her at any point. This was strange as he prided himself in knowing as many people as possible. Not because he wanted to be popular, although he had inherited some kind of popularity by being associated with Dawn in a roundabout way, he just liked to know people and find out about them. He had an incredible memory for personal details he could remember things like the fact that you liked strawberries better with cream than sugar. He found that this ability to remember details often disturbed people; they seemed to think that he was spying on them or something.
He grinned; he would hate to see what May would do to him if she ever thought he was spying on her. He made a mental note not to spring any weird details he had remembered on her. But he was determined that he would have to get to know her better; of all the students he had encountered so far she was the only one not to had looked totally confused when he had described his powers and he would dearly like to know if she did actually like science. As far as he could see quantum physics was not a subject that many people like to tackle
“That’s really lovely”. Tess' violet eyes, alight with wonder, turned to Michael as he commented on the firedancers Scott was showing her. She tore her gaze away from the playful enthusiasm of Scott and while Michael was someone whose company she enjoyed so far although she hadn't talked much to him the loss of Scott's vibrant eyes gazing into hers was still felt. “I never thought I’d see anything like that, real fairy magic I mean." The half-faerie's head nodded imperceptibly as agreement filled her mind. She actually was half-faerie and yet if you had asked her a mere twenty-four hours earlier she wouldn't have thought she would ever see real fairy magic either. There were her powers of course but those came partially from Tess' magical heritage and partially from her mutant side so she couldn't truly be sure just how magic she was. To see flame dancers though and other displays of magic, even if it was natural magic or a mere simply charm delighted the blonde though and openned her eyes to something she had never thought she would see.
Michael finished his thought by saying the setting left something to be desired and that Tess agreed with also to a certain extent but then would it really have been half so magical if done around a campfire at the institute? Perhaps part of the magic in the flamedancers was that they were a part of the natural wilds around here. Tessa wondered if it was thanks to her heritage, Scott or both that she didn't feel so scared now in this strange unmarked place as she thought she might have. Perhaps he was why there was a certain comfort in this particular setting where she could hear the occational animal and while the rustlings of plants she couldn't understand they too were comforting in an unexplicable way.
“ We should be in Titania’s bower for this sort of thing ‘a bank wheron the wild thyme blows, Where ox-lips and the nodding violet grows, Quite over-canopied with lush woodbine With sweet musk roses and with eglantine, There sleeps Titania sometimes of the night, Lulled in these flowers with dances and delights, And there the snake throws her enameil’d skin, Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in”. The easy smile across Tess' face widdened slightly as she recognised the passage from Shakespeare. She couldn't say she was the bard's biggest fan but when younger she had been interested by the mystical and the faerie in literature and found a few passages of Shakespeare beautiful.
“Shakespeare,” Michael concluded, “a quote for all occasions. Even the most unexpected ones”. That was true enough as well Tess thought although she hadn't read enough of his works to have a quote at the ready like Michael obviously had.
"…Sh-ach-spear." Scott seemed to be testing the word out on his tongue and Tessa realised that he didn't know the famous bard who all high school students learned the name of early on when they were assigned his works to read. It was a strange realisation for the faerie girl who wondered just how much Scott didn't know about the world that had always been her home. On the otherhand, she thought to herself, look how little you know of Scott's world. At least he is here while you've never gone there, to your home. Using the word home in reference to the faeries way somehow uncomfortable for Tess and her violet eyes clouded slightly as she thought that whatever her heritage and however much she longed to see Scott's world the place she thought of as home would always be with her adopted parents on this earth.
The thoughts of locations and homes that had briefly clouded her mood vanished when Scott lifted his hands to his lips and blew into the flame. The clasped hands openned to reveal a brightly burning flame in the shape of a butterfly and Tess almost gasped aloud at the strange beauty of it, this living flame. Even without an audible gasp there was a sharp intaking of breath in awe of the fiery creature Scott has created. The light reappeared in her eyes and a radiant look of awareness and awe crossed her features in the warm glow of the fire.
"Real magic?" There was a grin from Scott that spoke of humour and light-heartedness but beneath it Tess could, for the first time it seemed, see a tired exhaustion that she knew she had felt earlier. Now it seemed the draining emotional burden had been lifted from her and in Scott's stories and magic she seemed to have come alive with renewed energy.
"If anything, these tricks I know are but shadows of the splendor a true enchanter weaves. Nevertheless, real magic is not spoken with incantations nor found in strange brewed potions. The power of belief, the faith we all have within us, that’s where the true magic lies. It’s supremacy matched solely by both inanity and love. Mutually inexhaustible, both somewhat blinding, and both as dangerous as they spectacular." By the end of Scott's words Tessa was ready to revoke poetry and literature entirely they sounded so beautiful and genuine to her. She was an emotional girl at times but had never felt the overwhelming sensation of blind rage, despairing grief or love before. Once she had thought she was in love but that was a different sort of time and now she realized that she might have mistaken a deep bond of friendship for something more. The power of belief he spoke of interested Tess and although she had her own deep beliefs she didn't think many of them ran to the depths Scott spoke of.
"To believe in faith is something many can do, to have the faith to believe is a much harder achievement. Your heart is of greater magic then any dazzling display preformed often by trickery and illusions." The blonde watched Scott blow again into his palms and the magic begin to fade. "The longer you use a spell, the weaker it becomes, yet as it fades to whence it came, you’re heart burns ever more…Like the stubbornness of dwarves." Obviously Tess knew nothing of dwarves that didn't come from Snow White or Lord of the Rings but she still smiled slightly at the reference, Scott's mood wearing off on her.
"That's beautiful," she replied honestly with a bright smile. What else was there to say except that Scott's heartfelt words had been lovely and they had reached her. Tessa flicked a stray blonde ringlet over her shoulder, her hair curling without the use of the straightener she would use back at the institute, and flashed a deep smile and honest amythyst look in Scott's direction before her gaze focused on the brightly burning fire. Somehow a fire had always made her feel comfortable, perhaps because it reminded her of her adopted father who had a love of fire himself. Every winter afternoon it burned brightly and in the summer the three of them roasted marshmellows in the firepot he had bought. He would barbeque even in the winter it seemed and just about everything revolved around fire in one way or another. Its prescence now was comforting, reminding her of the summer nights telling off mosquitos while laughing at another of her dad's dumb jokes.
Slowly the weariness started to sink in, the realisation that the day's activity was catching up with her at last and Tessa gave up her forward leaning position stareing into the fire and leaned backwards. Despite May and Ben's silence they seemed to truly be a team now and one comfortable in eachother's prescence and in battle if their confrontation earlier was anything to go by. Lexi would be proud of us, the blonde thought to herself with satisfaction as she closed her eyes for a moment to blink back the sleep threatening to overtake her.
Re: Green Strike Force: Camping out
The world was softening around him under the effect of the morphine, colours blending into each other hazily and the fairy princes words already musical at the best of times becoming a gentle melody that hastened Michael down into sleep.
*Belief* the tired mutant thought *He’s right .Its beautiful and dangerous, like love as he says or…..like a sword. It protects and strengthens, heck it can even save your life if you catch it the right way. But if its misplaced then it can cut you down just as easily.*
Belief played a great part in Michael’s existence, he acknowledged that readily. *Got to be careful though* he told himself. *Its ok to believe that one day they might find a way to mend me, but I’m not ready to grasp at straws any more. Not like I did for the tale of Brady and his so called miracle cure. Guess I learned my lesson there the hard way.* He smiled slightly at his own foolishness, his expression sad rather than cynical.
*No it’s more important to believe that even if I never really heal I’ll still be able to handle it. That’s the way forward even if it’s really hard to do sometimes. And if I’ve got friends to help me than surely things will get easier. I’ve just got to take it one day at a time.*
It was hard now to keep his eyes open as the warmth from the fire eased some of the dampness from his clothes bringing a precarious comfort that was more due to the drugs than from any real improvement in his situation but which was welcome none the less. Still his perseverance was rewarded by the sight of the fiery butterfly that took wing into the night sky the allusion to his previous conversation with Scott not lost upon the sleepy youth.
“Well there are times when even a dwarf has to get some rest” he said voice weary but peaceful. "And it feels like this is one of them. ‘Goodnight sweet prince’ "he quoted with a faint chuckle. “You are so going to love Shakespeare. Remind me to tell you all about him. When I wake up that is!”
Re: Green Strike Force: Camping out
"That's beautiful," The comment caught Scott’s eyes as he peered over towards the young woman, people didn’t often call his words beautiful nor the things he did and tonight Tessa had complimented both for being as such. Surely they all had beautiful things to share, Ben seemed to have a grasp on knowledge, his gift but possibly as well as his curse Scott dared to think thoughtfully. Michael had a will of steel and May seemed to strong and commanding in her presence, Tessa was above all things definitely more beautiful then any words woven together. Not that Scott had really considered it till that thought which had escaped him, maybe it was because he was missing his home, and she did represent what he had lost, yet also what he had gained. Peculiar it was, that one soul could represent two halves of his life, the one he left behind and the one he was yet to fully explore.
Her amethyst gaze turned to the fire and soon vanished behind tired eyes, Scott looked away to stare at the flames and then back at her. Hadn’t she ever looked at the world in the eyes of a fairy? Firedancers were fun, but they were so simple, and his words felt simple, were they not? Were it not the truth of things? What were firedancers compared to fire breathing dragons? Simple spells to finely woven magic’s of wizards and warlocks, sorceresses and enchanters? They could see parades, festivals, celebrations far greater then any trick Scott could preform, he could show them if he were not so worried of what changes may occur once they see him as a Prince instead of a fellow friend.
Royalty was not to mingle with commoners, the dangers too great, for them and the ones they dwelled among. The people needed their kings and Queens, they needed their Princes and Princesses, they needed them all to be strong, to be set apart and above, to know that in times of trouble their defenders were exactly where they belonged. And right now Scott was so far away from where it was said he belonged, what would Tessa think? Levon, who was the second youngest, he thinks poorly of Scott’s new affiliation, that the youngest ought to be with them, fighting with them, suffering with them, that if they were to perish he ought to be there fighting to the end with them. Their mother Queen Lillian did not dare listen to such words and Scott knew that she ached to have him leave but hurt more to have him stay, she gave into his desires because there was something inside her that seemed convinced he had to be away. Kekoron, known mostly as King Koron, he saw little point in keeping all his sons together, for them all to die as one family. If Scott had a home away from home, then let him stay there, let him live on.
Krelan, the middle of the five children was effected worse of them all, when he young, before the last two were born, he had come to the human world with others. They had played and toyed around in the land that was once their ancestral home, long before the humans settled right up to when the giants drove the fairies out. All that was left of the great forrest that was once their impressive home was the remnants of Hikkory part, which shrunk further over time as changes progressed. Krelan watched a human child rip the wings from one of the fairies they had caught so happily, it was like nothing but a game to them, a happy cheerful game, the young boy so clueless on what he had that Krelan considers the old stories true, that they were all nothing but mindless creatures, only able to destroy whatever beauty they stumbled across. The eldest two, Stero and Gregor, they think similarly, Stero hoping that Scott would develop some skills in battle once he spends enough time with the aggressive creatures humans are known to be. Gregor hoping that Scott could learn to work with them well enough to get the a group of humans help in strengthening them, be it with more medical supplies, so many wounded eating heavily into their supplies and there was only so much magic one could preform in a day and potions were not so easily and quickly brewed in the doses needed.
Koron just wanted his family to survive, even if it was only one then maybe their people had a chance, the Devarks were so old a family, it would be a disaster for the bloodline to end, especially in such a brutal way, with so many lives, human as well as inhuman that could be lost because of it. Who would plan the winter frost? Make sure the farm animals kept their spirits? Healed them when the humans were unable to, tend for them as if they were their own. Who would keep the gnomes in line? Stop the goblins from playing nasty tricks on the humans, keep the dragons free from the fear of dragon slayers… Who would weave the night sky with magic and help the flowers to grow and teach them how to defend themselves from their enemies? Who would clean the roses thorns or drain the overflow of nectar? Who would ever work as hard as the fairies who risk their lives by coming to this world to tend to it as best they can manage?
It was strange that the wars of chaos in the other realms didn’t seem to be noticed here so much, it did effect this world as it did any other, but the people seemed less effected, less aware. Was it better they be left oblivious to what was happening? Shouldn’t they be told? Especially with the Devark’s being hunted so hatefully by the enemy who seeks to destroy the Kingdom Scott was born into. Since Scott arrived here the time difference in his home to here has grown smaller a gap, time there so fast compared to here, the war seemed to have worsened ten fold in the last year. But now the realms were coming more synchronized with each other, and Scott wondered why, was it because their hidden realm was being pulled from the folded shadows in which it hides? He wouldn’t even pretend he understand half of what he was part of, he didn’t even know why the wars were occurring, was anyone aware of the reasons?
The Prince closed his eyes, he wished he could curl into a flower and sleep, or even on the pillow in his room, though usually he didn’t like the emptiness of his room, Riley got some flowers for him, and Connor too, probably because Scott spent so much time in his room last year and it made him restless. Going outside had always uneased the fairy who had a hard time getting over the terrible stories he had grown up to regarding humans. It seemed silly now, while surrounded by these people it felt that all that time hiding had been a complete waste of his time here. They didn’t live forever, or even close to it, so he had to cherish every moment he had with them. As Scott told Jacob, he would get to see the lives of his dearest friends unfold through the centuries, he’ll see their children and their children’s children, he’ll watch them all grow and all change, each with their own personality and yet still part of the friend he had lost so long ago. It wasn’t the most desirable of situations, seeing only the shadow of those closest to him, but it did help Scott cope with the future that was coming…if he lived long enough to see it himself that was.
“Well there are times when even a dwarf has to get some rest” Scott's vibrant eyes lifted to Michael with a smile, as stubborn and headstrong as those dwarves had been, at least the ones Scott had met, they slept deep, and certainly very loudly. A smile taking the fairy's features as he looked back at the fire "And it feels like this is one of them. ‘Goodnight sweet prince’ " Prince? Eyes snapped back to Michael instantly, a stunned expression hastily supressed though not too well as he glanced from the boy over to Tessa and then back to Michael who had laughed very lightly with the words.
“You are so going to love Shakespeare. Remind me to tell you all about him. When I wake up that is!” The astral mutant announced happily, but tired, his eyes closed and his body readying for the sleep to come any moment now. But Vohan stared on in confusion, what had Michael meant? Did that mean he knew of Scott being a Prince? Did that mean that he didn't care or that he didn't really know and it was just some joke, like all the jokes Scott rarely understood from humans. Could there be such a coincidence though?
Maybe it was Michael hinting that he did know, maybe it wasn't, there was hardly a chance to ask and even if there was would Scott want to ask in front of all of them? Maybe later... maybe he could try and ask without really asking to obviously, if Michael didn't know, then what if Scott asked him in a way that was all too clear and Michael acted like all the others regarding Scott living so far out of his family's home at his age, and while such terrors were going on as well. Maybe they'd think he was hiding from it all... maybe they'd think he was a coward..?
"Sleep well Michael." The words were a little bland compared to his usual energy, but that could easily be due to him being so tired himself, but Scott knew it wasn't. He had nothing to fear... if he showed his strengths here with them then they would know he didn't fear things, he came here before the war was so bad and he liked here, and even when he asked his mother if he should return home she had told him to stay.. He would go back if they asked him to, Scott shifted a little nervously as he settled down by the fire, crossing his legs and watching the flames in thought. All he had to do was prove he could stand up to anything, then they'd not care how young he was or how little he knew..
Scott didn't really see things from the human prospective, all he could see was what he was used to, and that was him being a child, still too young to be on his own and to inexperienced to know how to handle himself. He couldn't see more then what his family often told him, what his brothres often teased him about, what his parents always fussed over.. He also didn't realize how much growing up he has down on his own here, and even this day alone has been a large step in his life.
Re: Green Strike Force: Camping out
Ben listened to Scott as he once again compared Michael to a dwarf; he had to admit that in some ways he really did not see the resemblance. He grinned as he found himself trying to imagine what Michael would look like with a beard. It turned out to be a rather amusing image which he was sure would stay with him for a while.
« Goodnight sweet prince »
Ben had to admit that the idea of sleep was extremely appealing right now and with May keeping to herself and Michael turning in for what was left of the night he decided to leave the fairies alone and head for bed. He pulled himself back up to a sitting position and examined his fire. He had to make sure that it would stay confined to this small area and not spread. Although even if it did he doubted that anything around here would catch it was all to damp. So he built up the fire again so that it would still provide them with heat for another couple of hours.
Then he got up and turned to the glittering pair. “Night guys.”
He knew nothing of fairy sleeping habits and figured that they would have the sense to get some rest while they could. For tomorrow they were going to have to get moving again fairly early, although they could probably afford to sleep till eight. There was no point in pushing themselves to hard they did not have to much ground to cover from here and judging by the map the swamp land did not extend too much further.
He went back to his small pack and rummaged through it looking for something to nibble on. This was one of his main flaws; he loved to eat just before bed, a habit which his father had never really approved off. To his great disappointment all he had in his pack were a couple of roots they had collected earlier that day. He sighed, his late night snaking was due to pure greed rather than any actual hunger so he put the unappetising root away again and sat himself on the ground with his back against a tree.
He knew that it would not be easy to find a comfortable position to sleep nut he had no choice. So he lay down on the ground using his pack as a kind of makeshift pillow, which seeing as it contained some rather lumpy things was not the softest thing. And he could feel the cold seeping up through the ground at him. He rolled over unto his other side, this was going to be a miserable night indeed.
Re: Green Strike Force: Camping out
To be honest, May stared rather surprised at the pair of males beneath her… That was it? That was how they were to sleep? They had a hike tomorrow and the last thing they needed was stiff bones and aching backs. If she had known they were so useless in making beds for the night she would have at least set something up for them. It was easy to forget at times that not everyone was used to sleeping in situations that didn’t involve a comfy bed and a warm snuggly room.
“Night guys.” Hazel eyes peered down at Ben who had not fallen so easily into a sleep as Michael seemed to have done. The other male shifting and adjusting his backpack, May sighed with an air of disapproval. And what happens tomorrow when they need him to fight? When his feet must be nimble and his muscles loose? Instead he would ach, he would be hindered by an improper sleep, such hindrance could be fatal in the time and reality May had once called home.
Some how May doubted Ben would feel secure in a tree, at least that’s been her experience in the past. Honestly she didn’t understand it, if woven properly the branches of a tree could be a most comfortable and warm haven… even chimpanzees would do such things, as well as other creatures! Humans were so evolved they had forgotten how to live simply, so well adapted to their own surroundings that didn’t see what was right in front of them.
"Ben." May’s voice called down with a certain stern authority to it, despite her quiet tone. "You’re giving me aches just by watching you." Perhaps a taint of humor was there, but May didn’t want it to be taken as a joke and so she made sure not to let it come out as one. "Before you die of a broken neck and pneumonia, perhaps you try things my way, it’s secure – you don’t think I stick to walls in my sleep do you? Unless of course.. you’re afraid of heights?" At least if he declined she could sleep knowing she didn’t ignore the awkward slumber of her new teammate, not want to feel as if she was neglecting someone when she could have done something to prevent it. Michael’s leg made resting in a nest a little too dangerous, even if it wasn’t about the height itself, just getting up and down would be a chore as well shifting around.
Making a nest would take May no time at all, and it’d hold, even without her webbing she’d find a suitable spot that would cradle a nest, but still, added support and admittedly, comfort, could never hurt. She’d freely offer her own spot and make another one, surely they had seen how fluently she had gone about her task of making this comfortable – and most importantly dry – bedding.
Besides, if he does say no, when he wakes up in the morning, May could give him a smug smile brightly displaying an unspoken ‘Well I offered you something better!’ that needed no words to be bluntly understood. The fairies May had little idea on how they’d sleep but figured, since typically a fairy is displayed as a thing of nature, they would have little problem fitting themselves with a place of rest. Which was of course true, as Scott fully intended on curling to sleep in one of the trees, they’d gladly nestle him amongst their leaves to keep him warm for the night… he was more admittedly holding off sleep until Tessa announced she too was going to sleep, he wasn’t sure how half-fairies slept. Maybe she planned on joining him in a tree, or she preferred a flower to herself, or maybe she slept like the other humans… Scott would revert to his smaller size during sleep so it was a little too dangerous to hang around where the others were in case they rolled over on him or woke up before him and he got trampled, or something else equally nerve racking!
Re: Green Strike Force: Camping out
“Well there are times when even a dwarf has to get some rest.” Though the words were said with humour and were far from the poetry to peacefully lull one to sleep they sounded very far away to Tessa. She drifted in the state between sleep and wakefulness and while the blonde could still hear each word spoken and feel the rustle around her of her comrades and of nature the actions seemed a dream. "Goodnight sweet prince," Micheal quoted and a slight smile curved the closed lips of the fairy girl as she reflected on the appropriateness of the much resented bard's words in this case. There were probably many quotes about nights but for some reason this one struck home for Tess and she found it more fitting than any other, even the expression of royalty somehow sticking although Tess knew of no royalty within their group.
“You are so going to love Shakespeare. Remind me to tell you all about him. When I wake up that is!” Tessa wondered if Scott would really like Shakespeare as much as her teammate seemed to think he would but a part of her hoped Scott would. It would be nice for Michael who obviously respected the works of Shakespeare to have someone to share that with just as she might wish to share a certain book or song with a friend. A friend, so she thought of both Scott and Michael as friends now. It wasn't as though Tessa was a particularly hard to get along with person, in fact she was anything but, and yet the realization surprised her slightly. They had afterall known eachother for only a matter of hours and often it took longer than that to bond with a person. Perhaps a situation like this challenged the rules though. Afterall not many people had to learn to trust so quickly and to place their lives in the hands of strangers. That sort of trust and loyalty could only bring about friendship surely. The thoughts seemed too deep for this state of mind however, this half-awake sensation that clouded her mind and Tess left thoughts of trust and friendship for another day.
Instead the creative mind of the half-mutant filled with images of dancing flame. Firedancers Scott had called them, a fitting name. Was this what it would be like to enter his world, this world that could possibly be hers as well? Would she be delighted at every corner by some new simple magic unseen by the eyes of most? It was almost a tragedy to think of what was being kept from the naive and unready eyes of mankind. But while many would never see the spell of the firedancers and the other magic displays that Tess anticipated would follow this one she would get that chance and the energetic excitement of that one thought was almost enough to open her eyes and forget the tiredness that had overcome her.
"Sleep well Michael." She was nearly on her way to the realm of dreams but Scott's voice was somehow comforting and energizing all at once even while his words lacked their usual energy. She blinked amythyst eyes open to the glimmering fire and to Scott as Ben bid his farewell for the night and turned in. Blonde curls bounced as she achknowledged the departure of her teammate for the realm of sleep.
She wasn't quite sure how she was going to sleep for Tessa would just as often awake to find herself curled up under warm blankets in her own bed as she would a smaller figure asleep in a more naturalistic setting within her room. Somehow the notion of falling asleep in miniature form within the unknown forest was less than appealing but equally unwelcome was the alternative of cold hard ground.
"I guess maybe we could find a tree or something?" Tessa asked, soft voice drained of most energy but focused enough to care about the answer she recieved. How did real fairies sleep anyway? She supposed in their smaller form but wasn't quite sure and didn't want to embaress herself too badly in front of Scott. Tess' thoughts were so absorbed by how a fairy slept that she missed how the comment might have been connected by some to the children's teasing rhyme about K-I-S-S-I-N-G in trees and perhaps it was a good thing she missed this connection despite the fact that the dim lighting of the fire would not have made visible the blush she most surely would have worn.
Re: Green Strike Force: Camping out
"I guess maybe we could find a tree or something?" There was a mixture of surprise and delight; of course Scott was assuming she’d shrink. Which was great, he didn’t like the idea of being alone somewhere, he’s never been alone before when sleeping, and when he was alone in his room he usually had birds or other winged creatures making their way to his window to talk.
A flutter of his wings was given, first a slight twitch as they lifted from where they were laying down across his back, then a greater flurry of movement which lifted him gently to his feet. Although Scott hadn’t had a lot of interactions with girls before, growing up with all his brothers and no sisters adding to the lack of contact, but unlike his other siblings Scott spent most of his time with his mother. Perhaps it was different considering the female company he was used to was of different age, but Scott had always been more comfortable with his mother and her gentle nature then with his rough and tough brothers and father. Actually Scott’s father, Kekoron, was physically strong, but also mentally strong as well, the ancient King held more power in his intellect and relied on that aspect far greater with all his knowledge of many things, including the spells and enchantments Scott envied to learn sooner rather then later.
And yet still, despite all that, Scott still loved spending time with his mother, he loved how kind and gentle she was, so vibrant and powerful in her own rights and her own ways, yet more the healer, the diplomat of the family. It always seemed that Lillian Keria Devark, Queen of the Enchanted realm, was venturing from one place to another, helping one creature after another, never standing still and yet amazingly always around for Scott and his brothers. The Queen’s voice was a thing of beauty as well, a melodious hymn often echoed the halls of the Palace, or followed her in her travels. Often at night it was her voice that Scott missed the most, hearing the words she’d sing to him and his brothers, even if she were busy without a chance to stay with them long, the Queen would sit at her desk in the chambers at the end of the hall and she still would sing, she always would, and it never failed to lull her children to sleep or raise their spirits.
A hand was offered to Tessa, one to help her up, an offer more obviously out of chivalry then any real need for help. It would be the first chance for the two of them to be alone, and the idea of getting closer to the only other fairy Scott knew was highly appealing. It didn’t matter that Tess didn’t seem really aware of his own culture, perhaps wild fairies and half breeds grew up too closely with humans and forgot their own wonders. Yet still she was one of his people, even if from another part of the world, or with mixed blood, a part fairy was still a fairy in Scott’s eyes, and such company would hopefully quell the emptiness he felt. Sure the people Scott was meeting with were nice, Riley, Connor, Heath, now Michael, whom Scott was becoming more and more fascinated by, they were all really kind and close to him… But they weren’t of his own people, and part of him missed the world he had grown up in, where his family dwelled and his people lived. Being the youngest of five brother’s Scott knew the chance of being King was implausible at best and that’s exactly how Scott liked it, he didn’t want to rule, help his people yes but rule them definitely not. Much like his mother Scott wanted to explore the world around him, to help out by being part of something bigger, to lend a hand and fight for what he wanted, not send others to fight for him. Scott wanted to know he had the freedom to do things and treasured the fact he also had the influence to effect many things in the process. The school was a glimpse of what he inwardly sought from life, to be part of something, to work with others, to effect the world as a whole, to push for the better of other races as well as his own. But such thoughts were not for tonight, and all Scott had on his mind right now was finding a nice place to rest till dawn.
"It would be a pleasure." The Prince replied with a spark of delight subtly gleaming in his eyes. A brief glance at the others was given before Scott inhaled, picking up the scents of the forest around them as he breathed in, soon after slowly releasing the air and dispelling the magic which had been used to increase his size. Another faint glow of his form palely lit the spot he stood, like a moon reflecting the light if the sun, a playful spin of his body in mid air was given as before he moved towards the lower branches of the tree. Unlike the human world, fairies built their communities amongst nature, beautiful and majestic, ancient trees housing entire communities, beautiful wooden bridges, both solid and of rope and planks, helping them pass from one to the other. Not all creatures who lived in the community could fly, stairs spiraled up the trunks, homes carved elegantly into the very wood of the tree itself. Magic always hung in the air and now as Scott stood on the branch he realized how immensely different his world really was from this one… and not for the first time he found himself a little homesick.
A flutter of his wings lifted Scott up a little so that he was able to pluck one of the leaves from the other branch, dragging it a few steps to a dent in the branch closer to the trunk. Obviously another branch had been broken off by something, weather or animals Scott was too tired to discover, but as the tree healed itself the wound caused a ring to form around it. Once the leaf was in the dip of the old wound Scott carefully tucked the edges so it wouldn’t fall out, securing it inside the ditch. Another flutter of his wings had him lifted up towards one of the nearby buds of sleeping flowers, his hands gently reaching for the white bud, a pale gleam briefly enchanting his fingers as the flower began to bloom, its petals spiraling out gracefully. Carefully Scott tugged at four petals, plucking them from the flower with a slight look of reluctance before hand. With the soft petals he returned to add them to his makeshift bed, at least that’s what it was finally turning into as he elegantly lined the petals over across the base, adding an extra touch of softness for comfort.
"You needn’t worry about covers, I can cast a charm I know which will double as a barrier for protection and warmth." The Prince assured as he motioned for her to make herself comfortable. Most of the time Scott used the spell to help him breath underwater, so they’d not suffocate and it was always something he used since being so small was a dangerous thing and he had been on the road a few times with his mother. It was easy to use, it had to be otherwise Scott wouldn’t have lasted long when he visited Arlen in the underwater kingdom. "I know it’s not like your beds..." Scott started looking a little shyly at the set up, the petals gave off a subtle but pleasant smell, but still it probably wasn’t the thing Tessa hoped for, and he wasn’t sure how she liked sleeping. He could curl in a flower if he found the larger veriaty, or he could even snuggle in a leaf and have it curl about him like a sleeping bag, but humans didn’t ever sleep vertically from what Scott noticed, so this seemed more ideal.
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