Rising Actions

Scarlett's journey through the desert was full of amazing discoveries and wondrous sights. On the first day, while catching some shade beneath a small copse of prickly agave plants in her cheetah form, her feline eyes locked onto a herd of migrating gazelle. She marveled at how efficient the great cat's eyesight was as she had seen the movement from nearly 200 yards, felt the pupils contract and focus on it. Internally her heart began to slow as her muscles began to tense and prepare. She imagined the salty, coppery taste of the blood of her prey, her powerful jaws opened and closed reflexively as she began to stalk towards it.

The gazelle played its part in the great cycle well enough, sensing danger altogether too late and it spun to flee. Scarlett leaped from a crouched position, body coiled and unleashed like a tightly wound steel cable, paws barely touching the hot sand as she rocketed towards her escaping target. Adrenaline coursed through her as she drew nearer, alongside the gazelle now, peaking as she launched herself at the flank of the terrified gazelle, her jaws seeking and locking on to an artery in its throat.

The gazelle fell forwards into the sand head first, its velocity finishing Scarlett's work with an audible snap as the neck broke cleanly. Crimson blood fountained up from the neck wound, and Scarlett lapped greedily at it as she descended upon her kill, pausing only to ward away any other predators with a mighty yowl of victory. Suddenly more hungry than she had ever been, Scarlett began to gorge herself upon her prize.

Hours later, her clothes pristine and belly full, Scarlett once more in her devilkin form had set herself up a small camp to rest overnight. Her mind drifted back to thoughts of the past, memories of her time with Mae intermingling with conversations she'd recently had with Deb. Darker memories of past choices she'd made, past horrors suffered on the streets of Westgate, faces of those she'd conned and betrayed all made for a fitful sleep. As she tossed and turned she was unaware that the wind had picked up and begun to howl around her.

One eye snapped open in panic as Scarlett's nightmare woke her in terror. She sat up confused, realized the wind had become a small sandstorm, and cautiously sniffed at the dry air. Rotting vegetation, decaying flesh… Scarlett felt her heart begin to pound against her ribs in fear as she recognized the stench. Around her shoulders, Mae's cloak had again begun to glow a pale green color, as the threads of the embroidery pulsed for unknown reasons with magical energy.

(This was okay. You are supposed to be here, Scarlett.)

She didn't exactly hear the words, but she felt suddenly calm as the dust raged around her, images of her last encounter with whatever this was assailed her. Ahri's desecrated body, reaching for her, black emptiness in his eyes. The smell of rot became overwhelming and Scarlett felt her gorge rise in her throat. And yet still she remained still and calm, feeling the cloak around her become warm and protective.

A horrible voice emerged from the screeching winds, sounding almost like the dying gasp of someone who had been mortally wounded. "Where are you my love? I feel you…"

The cloak about her crimson and shaking frame glowed brighter. Scarlett began to whisper to it, "Nonono! Too bright! Shhh, please stop!" The only reply it gave was to grow a little warmer with each pulse, almost painfully so. Scarlett winced and gasped, still overwhelmed by the smell and voice in the storm.

The voice called again to her. "We have been separated too long, my love. We must become one again. I will always find you…" The agave plants began to blacken and droop, supple flesh becoming withered and soft as they collapsed in on themselves. The stench of rot and decay was almost physical now and as she watched the plants putrefied and turned into a blackish goo all around her.

(We must go now. This will be painful, I am sorry. There is no other way.)

Scarlett managed a quick, "What?" before the cloak enveloped her crimson frame completely, almost like a cocoon. The golden and silver threading on the embroidery shone even brighter as she closed her eyes. All around her the wind swirled and she heard the awful voice cry in frustration. Her skin burned and her vision was nothing but light spots as she felt the now familiar rush of elemental magic, but this was somehow different. Raw. Unfettered, like a river that had burst its banks.

A great red feathered falcon streaked upwards into the night sky, a swath of new grass and reborn cacti spreading across the place where Scarlett had hidden herself. Traces of vibrant green energy followed the bird, looking like vines of a jungle creeper, dissipating in the angry gusts of wind that swirled impotently beneath the fleeing form.

*****

Sagacious and Isobel lay together in a large bed, naked bodies tangled in the sheets, sleeping blissfully. His royal blue and platinum eyes flew open and he sat bolt upright clutching at his head. Isobel stirred lazily, kissing his hip as she lay beside him, murmuring, "Shhh. Just a bad dream. It's okay, I'm here." Her voice trailed off back towards sleep.

Wild eyed, he looked about himself to get his bearings. The villa in Memnon. Isobel. He drew a shuddering breath and attempted to calm his surging adrenaline, reaching down to grab Isobel's hand, squeezing gently. "It wasn't a dream this time, Izzy. It was the artifact." Isobel's eyes flicked open for a second as she shook herself from slumber's grasp.

"Are you sure?" She began to sit up and gather her undergarments and pull them on. Sagacious sat still, wincing in obvious distress. A thin trickle of blood began to trickle from his nose. Isobel gasped at this, murmuring, "I guess you're sure." She grabbed a hand towel from the end table and began to tend to his face.

"Agh. This fucking hurts." he winced again, "All the time I spent scrying on her and on it. Made a connection. Ow. Something went wrong, we need to be ready. She's coming here, I feel that clearly. But she's… flying? We need to get ready. If I felt that, I'm sure Ciara and her thug will be just as aware as I am."

Isobel wiped the last of the blood from his angelic face, he shuddered one last time and took a calming breath. The pain seemed to have subsided. She kissed his cheek softly and tousled his short dreadlocks gently. "My lover; The magic detector, ladies and gentlemen." He chuckled ruefully as he reached inwardly with his magics, a silver glimmer washing across him, a smell of freshly baked bread filled the room. When he used his healing magics from Zaurielle, it always did. She smiled a little.

"There, I feel a bit better. We need to gear up and get out there, Izzy. I may have a better fix on her, but I can't rely on that." He kissed her upturned lips and sighed happily. "Let's get going!" She let go of her face and began to gather his own clothing and armor. She watched his lithe body for a while, appreciated the precision of his tattoos and the grace with which he moved all the time. He noticed her watching him and smiled archly. "What?"

"Just love you is all," she replied placidly, and he grinned boyishly at her. She continued to get dressed and grabbed her equipment as she went. A thin and nasty looking dagger in its sheath was the last piece of equipment she donned, hiding it in a thigh sheath. "So that the garden may grow." She whispered quietly as she stood, Sagacious still smiling at her and hearing nothing.