Author: Nelanna Fox, Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2019 11:20 AM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Nelanna leaned in slightly, eyes large and attentive as Mirannda began speaking. Even Kohaku was intrigued by this new information. Whether it was because he was more curious to learn about the odd occurrence with her magic, or to know the truth about her past, Nelanna couldn’t decipher. She didn’t mind not knowing the full truth, though. Especially if it was for protection. Everyone had their reasons for hiding things about themselves. Personally, Nelanna is rather open with her feelings and her past, but she still had things she would prefer not to talk about. One quick glance at Kohaku as she wondered if he, too, was the same, for his past is the one thing he had never spoke of. But that was for another time.

She was slightly taken aback when Mirannda revealed that this was her true face, eyes glancing up and down at her ‘new’ appearance. Kohaku simply raised a brow, nothing more. There was the sound of another voice speaking briefly, however, it did not catch her attention fast enough to know what it said. Mirannda disregarded it, smiling at the window before going on. Nelanna perked up at the mention of her Phoenixes, eyes blinking at the new information. “Yes, I do. Two actually.” She smiled almost proudly while lifting two fingers. Sol and Mordred weren’t ever around too often, but they normally stopped by for attention or food. Clearly they had returned this time without her knowing that Mirannda could feel them.

She continued once more. Nelanna’s smile faltered into a slight frown at the story of her birth. A question raised, but Mirannda shot it down before it could be asked. Slight movement almost drew her eyes to Kohaku, but they remained rooted on her fellow Champion with a creased brow. She couldn’t make sense of the source of Mirannda’s waning magic, but she supposed she knew all she could for the time being. “I see,” she muttered half to herself as she leaned back on the sofa. Kohaku was watching Mirannda intensely, his hand cupping his chin. Nelanna could tell something was on his mind, but whatever it was, he wasn’t spilling.

She looked back at Mirannda. “Well, you are welcome to stay here for as long as you need. I know that weakened magic can put one in a very tight spot, so you will be safe here if you wish to stay in our care until you can get back on your feet again.” She paused to point at Kohaku and Cecil. “You two can sleep on the top floor just as last night, if you don’t mind. Mirannda can stay with me in my room.”

Author: Nix, Posted: Fri May 3, 2019 6:17 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Mirannda folded her hands in her lap and stared at the scars that she had forgotten had run down them. "First, please understand, I won't tell you some information. Not to deceive you, but to protect us all from a dangerous possibility." It was bad enough she was revealing her origins to them. If he found out her weakness, no doubt he would find a way to exploit it to his advantage. "Know that this is my true face. When I first found myself in Revaliir, there was a major misunderstanding. Accused of murder I did not commit, I altered my appearance as I was trained to do. It was the man who trained me that makes me keep the redhead you know."

Collecting her thoughts, the phoenix took another drink of her water. "So, you're not going to tell them that Mirannda Sinopa is not your given name?" "No, now shush you. No more commentary from the avian gallery." Calcifer snickered in his fire. Of course, Mirannda smiled as she glanced out the window before returning her attention back to her audience in a much more somber mood. "The Mother Flame is the rebirthing powers that connects every phoenix. You have one here, don't you, Nelanna?"

She could sense them through her connection, her kinsmen. It was as a spark of the flame burning bright nearby. "As for what happened… I am still trying to piece that together. What I do know is I nearly died several days after hatching. My mother sealed my form and left me to be raised by others. Don't ask, Nelanna. I don't know why. But ever since, I grow weak and nearly die. At first, it was only during eclipses. Now…" She fell silent, staring at the fire. "I guess… my illusion fell as my magic waned." Thoughts of fear consumed her. Sin could return at any time. The real question would be how strong he would be when he did. Mirannda had no doubt that if he caught wind of her existence here, Sin would not stop until he had her in his possession once more. Already, the information she had learned would be invaluable to him. The phoenix shuddered suddenly, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.

Author: Nelanna Fox, Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 5:41 AM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Calcifer. So that was his full name, Kohaku thought. And it appeared as though the flaming creature was Cal just as the fox suspected. His brow raised when the Champion suddenly displayed tears at his words, her small voice repeating them as though in disbelief. He was more confused than anything, leaving Nelanna to be the one to show concern. Gently she placed her hand on the shoulder of her fellow Champion, her brow furrowed with worry. “Mirannda…” she spoke softly, hoping to bring the woman some comfort. But she did not know what to say.

Suddenly a being of flame emerged from the woman. Nelanna’s eyes widened at the sight, yet she refrained from speaking. His actions towards Mirannda were gentle and loving, bringing a small smile to her face as her heart warmed at his words. A kiss placed on the lady’s forehead, and then he became a ball of flame in her fireplace. Nelanna put two and two together. Obviously Cal was a very loyal familiar, and though she didn’t quite understand it, he appeared to have done something grand to draw tears from his Master. The elf maiden glanced at Kohaku, knowing full well that he would do the same for her. His eyes were watching Mirannda intently yet intensely. Suddenly his ears raised, standing on end and swerving as his eyes glanced elsewhere. He noticed something.

But before Nelanna could think to ask him anything, Mirannda spoke again. She offered a brief explanation as to what the Mother Flame was. Nelanna blinked. She recalled hearing that the Champion could not completely die, except by the hands of her own patron deity. Now that she knew how her power worked, Nelanna’s smile saddened. She wasn’t sure why, but she had a feeling that it was a sacrificial act that Calcifer had performed. Perhaps it was his Master’s tears that made her feel that way.

“Can you tell us what’s happened to you?” Kohaku asked rather firmly, reminding Nelanna of the mystery among them. “What does this Mother Flame have to do with your…transformation?”

Author: Nix, Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2019 1:24 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

”Calicer.” This was her response to Nelanna’s question, no further explanation given. Yet she sounded as if she was miles away. The Warden of the Wilds laid to bare the noble actions of Cecil. As her gaze lifted to the snowy elf, she was shocked to see he had approached and was holding a hand out in greeting. Mirannda blinked and lightly grasped it. ”Cecil Elinid, a thousand pleasures to make your acquaintance. Nelanna has told me all about meeting you. I am glad to have been of service. You had us worried there.”

His sapphire eyes seemed to dance, and Mirannda hastily withdrew her hand. This must have been the one she stumbled upon the night before. Cecil would have kissed the back of Mirannda's hand had she let him, but the phoenix was a bit too quick. With Kohaku’s help, she was guided to the couch. Wile his assistance was greatly appreciated, she wondered how weak she appeared to them now. As Mirannda settled on the sofa, a blanket over her lap, cool water in hand, and Cecil providing a bowl of vegetable soup they had been making, her eyes widened at Kohaku.

She was floored. Calcifer had made the decision to take a major task without any goading? The sprite was young but has displayed such bravery. ”He said that? Keep the connection to Mother Flame?” Tears welled up in her eyes. Just as he had merged with her the night before, Calcifer extracted himself, standing before her in the same fiery form. Mirannda gaped at him as he reached out and wiped the tears away. ”Don’t act so surprised, you fool. You needed it and I’d do anything for you… Master.” ”Cal…” Calcifer placed a kiss on Mirannda’s forehead, straightened up and turned to Kohaku.

All the sprite did was give a nod, before heading to the fireplace. From there, he turned into his small fireball self and settled into the flames already blazing. Even with three sets of eyes on her, Mirannda couldn’t stop the flowing of her tears to fully feel the loyalty and adoration he felt for her through their connection. At the window, Elata was gazing in. ”I found ya, Miss Soggy Mess.” However, Mirannda was not in the mood to even shoot her cousin an annoyed look. When she finally calmed down, and after a long drag on the water glass, Mirannda gazed at her hands in her lap. ”The Mother Flame is… what allows phoenixes the ability of rebirth. Without it, I won’t… come back.”

Author: Nelanna Fox, Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 12:46 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Something about the Champion had changed, Kohaku observed, and not just her appearance. Where had her confidence gone? Where did the seductive woman he’d witnessed at Lokir’s fort go? She seemed so shy, nervous, and fragile. Perhaps whatever magic changed her looks also had some impact on her personality. His hands did not leave her shoulders as he felt she still was not steady enough to walk on her own. His eyes briefly glanced up as Nelanna approached them, watching in silence as she blinked with confusion at the woman’s question. “Who is Cal?” She asked, tilting her head. Kohaku narrowed his eyes slightly. He recalled the flame creature from their fireplace the night before that had entered Mirannda’s body. That thing was the closest to another person he could think of.

Mirannda suddenly thanked them, and Nelanna smiled. “Of course. Though it is Cecil you should really be thanking. He brought you here and kept you warm until I got home,” her eyes met Kohaku’s for a moment, and he had to resist the urge to groan at the disapproval coming from their connection. But no such feelings showed on her features, a kind smile still visible as she looked back at her fellow Champion. “All Kohaku and I did was check on you every once in a while.” The frail woman then asked for a glass of water. “Oh, yes. Of course.” Said Nelanna. In a heartbeat she went off to the kitchen and took a glass from the cabinets. While she prepared the drink, Kohaku gently guided Mirannda to their living room, still keeping himself against her for her to lean on. “Come, take a seat,” he offered, helping her get comfortable on their sofa should she require it.

Nelanna returned with a glass of cold water and handed it to Mirannda just as Kohaku began laying a soft blanket over her. “Cal is your familiar I presume,” Kohaku said. “I saw him last night. He said he would “keep your connection to the Mother Flame alive”.” His eyes then met hers, searching for any hints as to what that meant. Nelanna took a seat next to her fellow Champion, trying to keep close in case the blanket didn’t offer enough warmth.

Author: Nix, Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:12 AM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

From thin air, or so it felt, came gentle support from behind. It startled her, causing a light jump as she turned to see the same fox-like gentleman that had accompanied Nelanna to Lokir’s fort. What was his name again? Her natural foggy steel blue eyes followed his hand as it lifted to her forehead, as a parent checking a child's temperature. A blush heated her cheeks, realizing it was the first time anyone has done anything remotely similar in a long time. River might, given the opportunity, but he was far from her thoughts right now. This man's voice was like silk, soft and smooth, and sent shivers down her spine, which was thankfully suppressed.

The way he looked at her, so tenderly, brought her thought process to a grinding halt, much faster than the realization of whose house she had stumbled upon. ”Fine, thank you.” Her voice was very soft, she was surprised she even heard it. Then Nelanna broke whatever mesmerizing spell that rooted Mirannda’s eyes to the alluring man. She blinked, appearing somewhat dazed as she gazed at the fiery red hair that matched her own alias. The elf seemed quite hyper, or at the very least, ecstatic over Mirannda’s recovery. Nodding with a thankful half smile was her only response, suddenly feeling like a turtle wanting to disappear in its shell.

Her eyes wandered the small little cottage, finding only one other body in the room. If she was in any other state of mind, Mirannda would have taken time to admire the snowy hair, the striking gemlike sapphire eyes gazing worriedly upon her, that lean yet toned body. But, she wasn’t looking for anyone or anything except her familiar. ”Where’s Cal?” Mirannda whispered, mostly to herself, not really intending to be rude to her guardians. Upon seeing Nelanna and the fox once more, which caused her blush to renew, the champion gave a sheepish smile.

”Thank you, for watching over me.” Yet her eyes downcast to the floor with shame. She was the champion of death, and she was weak as a lamb. Was she failing her goddess at her lowest? ”May I have some more water, please?” The question was used as a distraction for them, to keep her thoughts to herself. Mirannda was not quite ready to share with people the greatest weakness to Dalanesca’s Champion. She knew she would at some point in her duration at this champion’s house, but she wanted to take a moment to compose herself first.

Author: Nelanna Fox, Posted: Tue Apr 9, 2019 5:04 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Nelanna had a lot to think about that night. She was exhausted from her venture in the mines, her body begging for sleep. But her mind was wide awake, thinking over everything that’s happened thus far since her return. Kohaku had summarized the explanation, but questions still rose. Why was the Champion of death and desire in such a poor state? The cause for her sudden drastic change had even baffled Kohaku, making him ask what had happened as well. To Nelanna, it seemed that it was the doing of magic. No other explanation made any sense, and even magic didn’t explain everything. Not yet, anyhow.

She was also still quite upset about Kohaku making Cecil lie down with the Champion. Nelanna understood that Cecil was only trying to help the woman; his intentions were pure and selfless. However, Kohaku was fully capable of doing it instead. No matter how much she trusted Cecil and knew that he would never cheat on her, she couldn’t help but feel something when seeing him next to Mirannda. And, let’s admit it, no one would feel joy at that sight. Or perhaps that wasn’t the real reason. Jealousy could certainly explain the way she feels. For so long she’s wanted to be the one lying next to him, snuggling, cuddling, with his arms holding her tight. But some other woman got it first. Before she knew it she was pursing her lips, pouting like a child that didn’t get what they wanted. How foolish it was for her to be so upset.

She sighed heavily and went to bed, making sure to offer her body warmth to her fellow Champion as Cecil had been. She was so cold. But even so, her eyes drifted closed, and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

By the time Nelanna had prepared herself for the day Mirannda still had not awoken. Briefly she checked the woman’s temperature, making sure she hadn’t froze during the night. Instead, she was pleased to feel warmth from the tough. Nelanna smiled softly and left the room as quietly as she could. Kohaku had already been downstairs whipping up breakfast, making sure to cook extras in case Mirannda woke suddenly. Nothing was said between the two, and Kohaku could feel that Nelanna was still upset with him. The day continued like this, a brooding silence standing between them like and invisible wall. They did their chores as usual. Kohaku tended to the gardens while Nelanna focused on cleaning inside the cottage. Every now and again they would take turns checking up on Mirannda, setting out fresh glasses of water whenever one grew too warm. Her own clothes had been removed and replaced with Nelanna’s, washed then set out for the Champion. But she still never woke. She didn’t even stir in her sleep.

Finally, the day was reaching its end as the sun started to set. Nelanna was preparing dinner, accepting any help from Cecil should he offer aid. Kohaku had been upstairs doing who knows what when their guest/patient woke. It was when he was on his way back down the stairs that he noticed her. Without hesitation he gently placed his hands on her shoulders for support, seeing how she had been struggling down the steps. “Don’t strain yourself,” she suggested, using a soft tone while he moved himself so that he could look at her face. Briefly he placed his palm on her forehead. “Your body is finally heated up some I see. How do you feel?” His eyes gazed upon her face so tenderly as if his very eyes could break her.

Soft his voice may have been, it didn’t fail to reach Nelanna’s ears. She turned to look towards the stairs and immediately stopped what she was doing and rushed over to Mirannda. “You’re awake,” she said with wide eyes and a large smile of relief.

Author: Nix, Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2019 3:43 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

At some point in the night, Calcifer was pleased to see that Mirannda was becoming stronger. He wasn't working quite as hard, and she was staying warmer without his assistance. By the time everyone else woke up, the phoenix was able to maintain her own warmth, and she was no longer quite so pale. Periodically, someone would check in on her, but she slumbered on without any awareness to their comings and goings. The sun was beginning to set, the day nearly over when Mirannda became conscious of anything.

First came the senses, the sounds of voices drifting up to her, creatures outside making their noises either before bed or just waking up. She felt quite warm, snuggled deep beneath blankets in a soft bed. Scents were unfamiliar, including that of the bed of which she occupied. Opening her eyes, and blinking to straighten her vision could not help her identify her location. For a long, quiet moment, the phoenix contemplated staying in bed and just going back to sleep. Surely, if she was snuggled warmly in a bed, and no harm had befallen her since falling in that person's arms, she was safe.

Who was it that had found her? All she remembered was the feel of the shirt, and the definite masculine scent. "Jaliza! Where are you?" Mirannda groaned as she begrudgingly sat up, extracting herself from the blankets. At the foot of the bed, a set of clean clothing was laid out for her, clothing she was wearing the night before. Had someone washed and dried them already? "Jaliza!"" "Ya, ya, stop shouting. I'm here," the phoenix mumbled to herself as she carefully pulled on her pants, and then her shirt.

There was a glass of water on the table, of which she gratefully drained. "Oh, thank good the heavens. I'm coming." Mirannda stood, and shivered slightly, causing her to grab a blanket and wrap it around her shoulders. Her footsteps were light as she began making her way to the door, catching her reflection as she did so. She groaned as she saw herself as… herself. That stupid crop where she cut her own hair to escape the grasp of that stupid wolf, dark and uneven. Her longer than normal elves ears, those pale eyes like looking into a clear stream. However, there was no sense in fixing her appearance, to make herself look more human, the to become who she was for Revaliir.

To top it all, her hair was a mess! Bedhead was the proper description for her. Ah, fenehdis, they've already seen her at her worst, what's to hurt a bit more time as such? Mirannda made it out of the room, and carefully began to walk down the stairs, taking it one step at a time while leaning heavily on the wall. She did not trust herself yet, not to walk without assistance, or magic. Upon taking the last step, the phoenix looked up and froze. That red hair was difficult to miss, and her face was immediately recognized. Somehow, someway, Mirannda had found herself in the home of the Warden of the Wilds.

Author: Anon, Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2019 3:13 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

One thing he could comprehend in this state was the lack of response from his beloved. Instead, she sighed. Cecil opened his eyes to see her frowning. Before he could say anything, though he wasn't sure what, Kohaku came down the stairs. In fact, she now looked quite… agitated? It was concerning to see her that way. But he would have to deal with that in the morning. The fox gave the story in his own words, and his eyes snapped back open at her words in retaliation.

Cecil withdrew a hand from beneath the warm blankets and reached for Nelanna. Once more, before he could say anything, his fingers brushing against hers, Kohaku lied. "Nelanna…" Then there were words spilling from the fox he would not have expected so soon. Kohaku was trying to reassure her of Cecil's love and intent. Finally he had her attention as Nelanna turned toward him, that tender sweetness back in full force. Cecil smiled at her, pressing a tired cheek into her hand. "You would o' done it." He caught her hand and pressed his lips into her knuckles.

She smelled like the wind, and tasted sweet.

"As you wish." The words were whispered into her hand as Kohaku and Nelanna came to help Cecil. The unknown woman was lifted almost effortlessly by the fox, wrapped as she was in the blanket, instantly chilling Cecil with her removal. Nelanna assisted Cecil, helping him stand. With one arm around her shoulder, he lifted a hand and cupped her cheek, pressing his lips into her forehead to reassure himself that this was still not a dream, that she was truly alive, and truly home. Up the stairs the four went, Kohaku branching into Nelanna's room while the lovers went one floor up. Once Cecil was tucked into bed, she and Kohaku traded places. The fox returned to his usual spot, but Cecil was already unconscious to protest sleeping arrangements.

Author: Nelanna Fox, Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2019 1:45 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Nelanna looked over Cecil and Mirannda, mouth agape. Cecil raised his head and blinked his eyes open, but he didn’t look completely awake. In fact, he looked absolutely exhausted. He was struggling to hold his head up, his eyes open. He couldn’t even speak properly when he tried giving her an explanation. She didn’t know if he was just too tired to realize just what position he was in, or if he wasn’t worried that she would think something else was going on. Perhaps it was both. She released a heavy sigh and shook her head, brow furrowing with slight worry. If he wasn’t worried then he must have no reason to. In other words, it really wasn’t what it looked like.

“Ah, you’re home,” Kohaku’s voice came as he made his way down the stairs in his robe. He stopped at the bottom step, blinking at the scene before him as if he too was surprised by Cecil laying with the other champion. Nelanna said nothing, only raised a brow at him while crossing her arms. Clearly, she wanted and explanation. Kohaku caved and released a light sigh of his own, continuing on his way over to the sofa. “Cecil found her out in the forest in pain before she passed out. I tried examining her and couldn’t find anything, so I decided to wait for her to wake. I assume she may have been put under a curse, but I can’t know for sure until I hear from her.” He paused to glance down at Cecil and Mirannda, “In the meantime, her body was freezing cold, so we needed a way to bring her temperature up. Blankets weren’t working, so I suggested…well, this.”

Nelanna took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, closing her eyes as she did so as if she was trying to keep her temper under control. “So you suggested that Cecil, my boyfriend, lie with her? Naked?!” Kohaku’s gaze lingered on the white haired elf, considering telling the truth that Cecil was the one that decided he do it instead of Kohaku. But, for some reason the thought made him feel guilty. That may be taking the joke too far. So, he decided to go with something else. “I did,” he replied, tilted his head with a light shrug. “If it makes you feel any better, they aren’t completely naked. Cecil loves you. He wouldn’t do that to you.”

Nelanna glared at him in silence for a moment, then she let out one last sigh. She turned to Cecil with a soft smile and tenderly caressed his cheek. “I am grateful to you for helping her,” she said soothingly. “You’re absolutely exhausted. You can go rest rest now. I’ll watch over her in your stead.”

Author: Anon, Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2019 9:53 AM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

As he lay there, Kohaku's warning boiled his blood. Cecil gazed down on the helpless woman. There was no fun in taking advantage of such helplessness. He paired it necrophilia, another sick and perverted practice. Absolutely no feedback came from the used body, making even the thought less enjoyable. Only the untrusting mind would acuse any of being capable of such baseless acts of barbarism. It was abuse that even Cecil could not condone.

Nelanna's entrance went unnoticed by the sleeping fae. Even if the second was ill, there was something about holding another that encouraged deeper sleep. It was his name being spoken with such incredulity that dragged at his conscious.Blearily, he opened his sapphire eyes and tried to make her not so blurry, to steady her vision from its dancing. "Nelanna, you're home…" Cecil's tongue felt dry as if his mouth was full of cotton, his words half mumbled and slurred. It truly sounded as if he was drunk again. He furrowed his brow at the elf, his mind refusing to work properly.

"Keepin' her warm. Why you ask?" The thought of possible misconceptions running through her mind did not grace itself to him. This whole prank of Kohaku's was still completely lost on Cecil at present. "Found 'er in the woods. Brought 'er 'ere. Can't find injury. Only know she is cold. Can't keep 'erself warm. Don't even know… 'er name." His eyes drifted closed as he snuggled deeper into the warmth of the blanket, unaware of how she would take it. Poor Cecil was only thinking about warmth, comfort and sleep. The thoughts were about as clear as muddy water, his mind gave up struggling against fatigue.

Author: Nelanna Fox, Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 11:25 AM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

He obligingly helped Cecil with undressing the woman, being as gentle with her as he possibly could while keeping his eyes averted so he wouldn’t see anything he wasn’t supposed to. She may have been left with her underclothes to cover the most important parts, but he didn’t take pleasure in seeing too much skin. He grunted with a hint of what seemed like disgust on his face when she was undressed and Cecil laid down. Kohaku covered the two with the warmest of the blankets Cecil had brought, then stood next to the sofa to offer the Fae his usual serious expression.

“Try laying there for as long as you possibly can,” he said, then turned to start heading up the stairs, pausing briefly at the first step to glare back at Cecil, adding, “Oh, and try not to touch anything you aren’t supposed to while you sleep.” Just as he started back up the stairs, back facing Cecil, he finally allowed himself to grin. He could feel Nelanna’s presence growing ever closer. Soon she will be home, and the thought of her finding Cecil in his position was quite amusing. Kohaku wasn’t trying to break them apart; on the contrary, he wants to help Cecil with his relationship with Nelanna. But, he saw a chance to mess with the Fae, and being the naturally sly and mischievous fox that he is, there was no way he’d pass up the chance he was given.

And so, with the Fae now sleeping downstairs, Kohaku was up on the higher floors, soaking in a relaxing, hot bath as he awaited his Master’s return.

Then, she finally came. Relief washed over Nelanna the moment her eyes laid on her cottage up ahead, and she smiled softly, wearily, to herself. She had been gone for quite some time, smelled of burning rotten flesh from the undead she had fought, as well as ashes after using her fire magic so much. She wanted nothing more than to take a nice bath, then relax with Cecil for a little while before going to bed. Who knows, maybe Kohaku will finally give them some time alone, allowing them to cuddle just as she always wanted to.

She could feel her cheeks flushing a little at the thought of being so close to Cecil, and she shook her head just before opening the door and walking in. “I’m home,” she announced, glancing around to see if anyone was around. It was so late, the boys may have gone to bed already. If they had then she’d just have to wait for the cuddles.

So far it seemed that no one was around as she made her way closer to the living room. There was no response either, so perhaps they were already asleep.

At least, that’s what she assumed. Until she got a better look at the couch.

At first she didn’t think anything of it when she saw someone curled up on it, apparently sleeping. Her first thought was that Cecil and Kohaku might have had another fight, driving one to decide on sleeping on the sofa for the night. Until she noticed that there were two people, not one. A woman who looked oddly different, but with a quite familiar face. And a man who’s snowy hair and face was all too familiar.

Her eyes widened as she placed her hand over her heart as if to keep herself from having a heart attack from shock. “Cecil?” She gasped, blinking with disbelief. “What are you doing?”

Author: Anon, Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 5:31 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

As Kohaku stood, Cecil immediately began to frantically try to figure out what he did wrong. Why was Kohaku staring down at him like that? Did he say something wrong about the illusion spell? But why would the fox care about that? Then Kohaku spoke about his past, how they kept warm, and his eyes narrowed at the fae. Was he glaring at Cecil because of his budding relationship with Nelanna? Cecil’s eyes slid over to the sleeping woman and regarded her for a moment. When he found her, the moment he picked her up, Cecil knew he was making the commitment to help her however he could.

Without a word, the fae put the blankets down on the arm of the couch and began to take off his shirt. As he worked on his boots, Cecil began to speak, quietly, yet full of conviction. ”I became her guardian, her caretaker, the moment I responded to her distress. It is only fitting that I am charged with keeping her warm, as I am the one who brought her here.” Before he went the next step by removing his pants, the fae lifted the blanket enough to work at taking off first one boot and then the next from her feet. Without uncovering her completely, he worked at removing her pants, actually quite pleased to see that she had undergarments on underneath.

Cecil took off his own pants, holding his surprise as Kohaku lifted the woman to allow for ease of slipping in behind her. Once he was positioned in a relatively comfortable position, since he’d be stuck this way for a while, the woman was laid against his chest. Together, the men removed her shirt, and Cecil watched with suspicions rising as Kohaku covered them with a couple of blankets. It was easier to feel her heart’s erratic patterns being this close to her. As Cecil held her in his arms, he began to wonder if this was all some cruel joke. The fox was suddenly being super nice about her and helping Cecil more than before. Time slipped from the little home, and as the night wore on, eventually Cecil fell asleep feeling warm as his chin rested on the unknown woman’s head.

Author: Nelanna Fox, Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 3:33 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Kohaku only offered a soft hum in response to Cecil’s suggestion to use alcohol, before he went up the stairs to leave Kohaku to his thoughts. Indeed, alcohol may work, but she would have to be awake. They simply could not wait for her to regain consciousness before they do something about her low body temperature. Though Kohaku thought hard on the matter, he could find no solutions better than covering her in blankets as he told Cecil. That’s when a strange voice made itself known.

His ears stood high when he heard the quiet cackle. He glanced towards the fireplace, where he could have sworn the voice came from. But he could find nothing there. There was no person, no creature- wait… He narrowed his eyes as a way of focusing further, and soon noticed something was looking back at him from beneath the burning logs. He blinked several times momentarily as if it would wash away the odd sight, but it still remained. “Who-” his question went incompleted as the unknown creature spoke yet again, offering up a new suggestion to raising Mirannda’s body temperature. If the creature was her familiar as its words suggested, then surely it knew what it was talking about. Kohaku watched as the familiar stepped out of the burning flames, its own body flowing and crackling with watery flames of its own. Kohaku only seemed to be able to watch in silence, still attempting to figure out just what the creature is, all the while taking in its words.

And then it vanished within the Champion of death and desire. Though the fox had many questions now, they would have to wait. He sighed heavily, realizing just how much the familiar’s suggestion might work. However, he was not too fond about getting so close with the woman. Snuggling would only be more effective with fewer clothes, this Kohaku knew, and that was something he certainly wanted to avoid. But, he supposed he had to go with their best option.

Or did he?

The sound of Cecil coming back down the stairs reached Kohaku’s ears, causing them to raise once more, while a mischievous grin suddenly appeared. The Fae’s words went in one ear and out the other. Kohaku stood, staring down at Cecil with his grin replaced by his usual serious expression. “Perhaps there is a better way to offer her heat,” he began, glancing down at the woman as he said so, looking back at Cecil as he continued. “I am from an era where blankets weren’t as common, and fires could only do so much. To keep warm people would often remove as much clothing as they possibly could and transfer body heat by cuddling.” His eyes narrowed at Cecil, silently wondering how the Fae would react.

Author: Anon, Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 9:20 AM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

The fae returned to the living room, placing the glass of water on the smooth table of a coffee table. If only they had any semblance of an idea on how to help her. Perhaps there would have been a known concoction of an herbal remedy that they could give her, even if it was simply just to ease the symptoms. ”Alcohol… Any form of it. Maybe it’ll help her keep warm until the blankets can start doing their job?” Cecil suggested before heading up the stairs.

Since he came back, Cecil has returned to this room, and the stubborn fox refused to sleep anywhere but on the floor beside him. Thinking about it always made Cecil smile and give a soft chuckle, as the fox refused to let the fae have any chance of sneaking off to Nelanna’s room. Kohaku did not realize that Nelanna was the calling the shots, the one to determine their course and the speed of which they travel on it. However, it did prevent him from watching the peaceful slumber of such an angel.

Regardless, Cecil went to the chest and opened it to reveal the excess blankets stored neatly away for colder nights. As he reached in for several of the folded fabrics, his fingers hit something solid. Curiously, he lifted and placed the blankets on the floor next to him, exposing the hidden box within. Letters were engraved on the top, spelling out Faversham. When he tried to open it, the box remained securely shut. The fae carefully checked the rest of the chest in search of the key. When none turned up, Cecil carefully replaced the blankets and the small box back inside, shut the chest, and gathered the blankets he had pulled out.

While Cecil was upstairs, that flame like voice whispered to Kohaku. If the fox were to look into the fireplace, he’d find a pair of eyes peeking from beneath a burning log. ”We are the same, bound loyally to one. I know you, familiar of the Warden.” Calcifer extracted himself from the flames, standing about the same height as Kohaku. While his skin seemed normal in coloring, his hair and clothing was like liquid fire, his eyes like burning embers. ”This was no attack from an outside source. Her nature is fighting past actions done to her. There is a way to help beyond your admirable attempts. One of you lay beside my master while I keep her connection to the Mother Flame alive.” Once the two were in agreement, Calcifer placed a hand on Mirannda’s cheek and leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead as he disappeared from view to rest within her body, her heart. This was how he could help his master when he had no other means to assist.

When Cecil got back downstairs, the change in the woman was shocking. Her hair was short and somewhat uneven as if it was hacked off by a sword not too long ago, only just beginning to regrow. The shape of her face no longer round but more elvish in appearance, with high cheekbones. Upon her neck was a set of scars, still slightly pink, where some vampiric creature had viciously attacked her at some point in the past. The thing that remained the same was her toned body appeared strong and capable. It was as if she was a completely different person. Despite her warmth seeping from her so quickly, she lay so perfectly still. He placed the stack of blankets on the arm of the couch to allow him the freedom to spread one across her. ”It’s as if an illusion spell fell off… As if it fell as she lost consciousness, but…” Cecil’s didn’t fade when he slept, so what would cause her to do that?

Author: Nelanna Fox, Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2019 1:30 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Kohaku stepped closer, ignoring Cecil's glare, and stood next to the Fae. His eyes glanced over Mirannda’s unconscious form, searching her body for any signs of injury while Cecil began explaining things. If she was in pain then naturally the first thing to assume is that she had been attacked by something. The forest is filled with countless dangerous creatures that could bring upon someone such pain. However, he could see no injuries, only the odd changes in her appearance. He blinked with slight confusion, wondering what was going on. But then another explanation came to mind, one that seemed so obvious he felt slightly silly. Magic, of course. What kind, though, he didn't know.

Cecil spoke once more, this time earning him a glare from the fox. Using Nelanna's wishes against Kohaku was certainly a smart strategy; the Fae seemed smart enough to realize Kohaku wouldn't do something Nelanna would disapprove of. But he only sighed and knelt down next to Cecil, deciding he wasn't in the mood to argue. That, and he was supposed to be helping Cecil, not fighting with him. But he had been arguing with fairy boy for as long as he had known him, and old habits die hard.

He took up examining her more closely as Cecil went to get a glass of water, attempting to search for smaller injuries that could only be seen up close. Either she had been attacked by some small magical being that causes interior damage, or she was placed under some sort of spell or curse. Of course, there are other explanations, but he wanted to rule out the ones he had first. If he couldn't figure out what's wrong, then he’d have to ask her when she wakes.

“She's freezing,” he whispered to himself as he placed his hand against her cool forehead. His brow furrowed more seriously, then he spoke up for Cecil to hear, “She needs something that will warm her up. Nelanna keeps blankets in the chest at the foot of the bed upstairs in my room. I need you to go get one.”

Author: Anon, Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 9:44 AM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Cecil's hand rested on the woman's chest, feeling her heart within that bony cage. Each time the beats raced so fast it practically vibrated consistently, something about her would subtly change. First was her ears, elongating until they resembled elvish ears, yet longer than Nelanna's if he had to guess. Then her heart fell into an almost scary, steady and slow beat. Kohaku's feet could be heard coming down the stairs. His voice sounded irritated, yet the flustered sound suggested that Kohaku knew the woman, and didn't like her. The fae turned to give him an irritated glare. "Same reason I came here, Kohaku," his voice dripped with sarcasm.

As he turned his gaze back to the unconscious woman, he remembered the ball of flame that had been following her. It was nowhere to be seen now. "When I found her, she was in pain. Asked me to guard her, but I don't know from what." "From the wild." The mysterious voice was so soft, Cecil was unsure he even heard it properly. It was almost like the crackle of a fire, which there was one burning in the fireplace. Perhaps he just imagined it. A soft moan came from the girl as her heart began racing again, returning his attention to her. Her hair lost its flaming brilliance, deepening until it became black.

He stood as he turned toward Kohaku. "I brought her here to help her. It's what Nelanna would have done." With that, Cecil walked with purpose to the kitchen. Once he got there, he didn't know what all she needed. Cool, damp cloths were used when one was burning up. But she was cold. Warm ones then? Wouldn't that make her colder when it lost its heat? Cecil settled on a glass of water. Who knows how long it had been since she last had something to drink?

Author: Nelanna Fox, Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 11:35 AM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Nelanna was finally coming back home. She carried bags full of gold and other treasures she had found in the mines, as well as a bit of self-pride that she had managed to do something without relying on Kohaku or Cecil. It was a step closer to getting stronger. But gold and pride wasn’t the only thing she had gotten from the mines. Two large red marks were beginning to scar her left forearm where it had been punctured by the dragon’s fangs. She could still feel the ghost of the agonizing pain its venom had put her through, her whole body still feeling like fire was rushing through her veins. The arm that had been bitten ached all the way into her shoulder and part of her neck, and it trembled uncontrollably, making it difficult to use her hand.

Memories of what happened were a blur before she lost consciousness, but she could scarcely recall seeing a man when she had awoken for a brief moment, then passed out again. She couldn’t hear his voice over the ringing in her ears, but she could see that he was speaking. His hair was black and skin was pale; these were the only details she could manage to see during her brief conscious state. She never got a name from the woman he was speaking to, the one Nelanna came across in the mines, so she was still left to wonder who he was.

Deep down, she felt a desire to find the man burning as intensely as the flames from that Dragon. It was as if an invisible rope was trying to tug her towards him. It felt odd, yet, familiar. Whenever she’s separated from Kohaku she feels a similar tugging. Kohaku had explained that Masters and familiars are drawn toward each other in that way, making it possible to find each other whenever a need is great. So…what did that mean about the man?

Back at the cottage, Kohaku was preparing to turn in for the night. He made sure the house was clean and ready for Nelanna’s arrival, and he had even taken a bath to make himself presentable. He didn’t know when she would return, but he wanted to be prepared.

Since Cecil was out doing who knows what, Kohaku was led to believe he was finally going to have some time alone. And so, he used the last hours of the night to prepare for his upcoming journey. He made sure he had the food he’d need, as well as the fine wine that he always took along with him. But this time, the journey would be extra special. Perhaps his recent dealings with Cecil’s problems had made the fox think more about his own, but whatever the reason, he finally decided it was time to let go. Even though being a nine-tail fox practically doomed him to never move on entirely, he was willing to try.

So, he was up in his room on the top floor. The lighting was dim in preparation for the night, while the chest at the foot of the bed was left wide open. All of the blankets Nelanna had stored within were carefully placed upon the bed so that their folding didn’t come undone. Kohaku stood before the chest, holding a small wooden box that he kept hidden beneath all of the blankets this whole time. Nelanna never knew of the little secret that held much larger secretes. He planned on taking the box on his journey this time; there was something he needed to do.

But before he could unlock it, he heard Cecil’s urgent voice calling for him. He sighed and put the box back where he got it, placed the blankets over it and closed the chest, then tucked the key to the box beneath his dark kimono robe. Recently he had been wearing it on a chain necklace, hiding it beneath his clothing where it could not be seen. Then, he made his way downstairs where he found Cecil and… Oh dear.

“Cecil, what is she doing here?” Kohaku asked with a mixture of bewilderment and irritation in his voice.

Author: Anon, Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:02 PM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Today, Cecil had decided that this was his day. He wasn't going to stick around the cottage, twiddle his thumbs while waiting for Nelanna to return home. There was only so much that needed to be done each day. The fae was in the mindset that Kohaku could manage the day alone since most of the chores were caught up. Let him do whatever he did whenever he was alone, and Cecil could enjoy the silence. He was so accustomed to roaming, that he was beginning to feel restless while waiting for his beloved's return.

Cecil had wandered aimlessly, wondering what Gahara was doing. As dusk approached, he turned to retrace his steps back home. The plan was to take a bath and curl up under his warm blankets while glaring at the snowglobe on his bedside nightstand. He was almost home when he heard a scream behind him. It was feminine, and she was in pain. Without hesitation, Cecil began to run in the direction of the sound. Low branches were ducked, fallen ones jumped over, stray leaves slapping him in the face and on the arms, yet he didn't care. Someone was hurt.

Soon, he skidded to a halt as he spied a flaming ball hovering over a hunched over figure. Cecil heard the fire call the same word over and over, most likely the woman's name. Mirannda. It drew out the N each time. Was this a familiar like Kohaku and Gahara? She gasped as her grip on her chest tightened, Cecil's moment for assessing the situation over. He approached them with certainty. "Are you okay?" The woman pushed herself off the tree and all but fell into him. Two words were barely audible as he held her up, feeling the weight of her grow heavy. "Guard… me…"

Guard her? Before he could ask, her entire body went limp. The flame hovered overhead, now silent. Cecil gathered the woman up and carried her princess style. There was only one place he could think of here in the Virens. It was a dark night, heavily blanketing the forest by the time he made it back to the cottage. He opened the door with a degree of difficulty, carefully made his way in, and shut the door with his heel. As for the woman, he laid her on the couch and covered her with a blanket. With his hand on her forehead, Cecil frowned. She was cool to the touch, her face was quite pale. "Kohaku!" The fae figured that the fox would know a bit about healing, and would be able to assist the woman.

Author: Nix, Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:29 AM, Post Subject: Unexpected Coincidence [P]

Mirannda felt quite pleased with herself. She had delved into the Ancense mines, killed some undead skeletons, released their souls to be free to rejoin the lifestream, and lined her pockets with a bit of gold. It was enough to set her up for a long while without requiring to sell her services. While her personal accomplishments were a marvel, something was causing her stomach to churn, effectively bringing her mood down. All day, as she walked through the Virens, a familiar feeling was descending upon the phoenix. Once, she ignored the effects, thinking she was just tired.

That had turned out to be a mistake, as Mirannda fell deathly ill. It took her weeks to recover. In fact, she was thrust into a new world during the recuperation process, leaving her weak and magicless in an unknown place. Over time, she regained her strength, and her magic slowly returned as she learned how to control its flow here. Not all of her previous spells have returned, making her less of an elementalist. Now, she found fire and shadow spells to come quite easily to her. Last month, she felt the same effects shortly after meeting her goddess. At the time, she thought it was due to her new connection and Dalanesca's death during the war.

But to feel it again, now of all times? Mirannda pressed forward, eating dried rations while on the move. It would not do her any good for her to pass out in the middle of dangerous wild territory. Dusk was falling, and she felt worse. Calcifer hovered over her shoulder, worried yet silent as he felt her strength waning. Suddenly, Mirannda gripped the bark of a nearby tree with one hand, and her chest with the other as a painful scream burst forth. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed. "Mirannda?" But the phoenix didn't respond, instead clenched her eyes shut while focusing inward.