Just a normal day...

[Shanza]

She had been grazing for only a short time when she realized something was off. In her true form all of her magicks were more potent and more powerful, including her ability of detecting magick. She took a couple steps forward, appearing to nibble at the grass, but in reality she was slowly sucking air in. Northarian restrained a smile as the distinct taste of plant magick wafted across. It was subtle, but it was there. Someone was communicating with the forest. It didn't really come as a surprise that she didn't sense it earlier, since she was so involved with practicing.

So someone was watching her then? She shook her head to hide a smile, not that anyone would be able to see it in this light. Alright, then. The players were in motion, the rules set. Kill or be killed; catch or be caught. Let the games begin.

She walked around, head down, looking for a good place to roll. As she did, her eyes scanned the surrounding area for movement, for any sign of life. The problem with a night as black as tonight was that literally nothing could be seen of the surrounding areas. She ground her teeth and sunk to the ground, constantly scanning for her watcher. Who had plant magick and would be watching her? Well, the healer, but she doubted the older mare would be sliding around in the dark, trying to keep from tripping over roots. Besides, this magick had that combined feel of rawness, tinge of acid fear and righteous fury that she had only sensed one other time. Kathridge's friend, who got so angry and lost control that day at the river, it almost had to be. She looked harder, trying for any trace of familiarity. That mare was one she never had targeted or had held interest for her, but she was here now. Why, though? Why was she here? There was no stake for her, unless she was here with her friend... and they would only be here if Kathridge had told her everything. That would also mean that Kathridge had gotten over at least some of her fear. Touché, then. Northarian didn't think that she had it in her.

She surged to her feet, and for a second saw a glimmer of something in the shadows. Resisting the impulse for a better look, she wandered to the far edge of the clearing and started to graze. Northarian only hesitated for a moment, then silently vanished into the trees. She picked up a slow, swinging trot that was as silent as possible as she wove through the forest. She stopped not far from the clearing, hoping that they weren't too close yet. Calling on her air and transformation magicks, she quickly wove patterns of runes, layered on top of one another. First she settled air, casting it before she began to transform. She laid the last rune for transfiguration down, stepping back slightly as she did so. As the transformation began to take hold, she shifted onto her haunches, feeling her bones start to shift and change. Her horn went quickly, and she was shrinking in size. It happened quickly, and the one thing that didn't change was her color. Glossy black and larger than most, the raven spread its wings, fanning them slightly. With a wicked glint in her beetle-like eyes, she took to the air. A short glide and she was back in the clearing, this time seeing the slight movement in the trees. She landed, as quietly as she could in one of the trees. She wasn't close, but she wasn't super far away either. She watched them, as they had come closer to the edge but didn't dare yet cross the clearing. They were arguing, and she heard pieces and bits of their conversation.

"What?" she heard the hiss through the darkness; it had definitely been that mare, Kathridge. "What.... mean..."

"...don't... can't..." Both had an edge of panic to their voices, but Kathridge's had clearly present anger. "...forest lost... strange ...." Something else was whispered back at her, then she replied with heat and anger as well. Northarian could have laughed at the fact that the mare forgot to whisper. "Don't you think I'm trying? The forest says she's gone! Just gone!" Her voice dropped low as Kathridge shushed her. "...quite... still somewhere... not..."

Then a third voice joined the other two, and Northarian nearly fell from her perch. "Be quiet!" it rumbled, instantly stilling the other two. His voice was so low and so quiet she didn't hear anything else, just the suggestions of a conversation. She didn't need to hear anything else, however. She had all she needed. This was why they were suddenly less afraid. This was why they followed her out here in the middle of the night. Malglo had joined them. The raven fluttered slightly on the branch, shifting position to a better take off spot. Alright, if he was part of this, he would be all the way.

She fell forward onto outstretched wings, making as little noise as possible. She had been sure to leave when she heard the whispers of conversation, hoping that any stray noise would be covered by the talking or taken as natural sounds of the forest. Unfortunately, she also knew that owls and bats were creatures of the night. Ravens weren't.

Rising into the sky, she quickly remembered why she didn't like flying all that much at night. No thermals to ride on. It sucked. Thankfully, the academy was further down the mountain so she altered between quick dives and long, pumping flights. Sighting the river, she ducked to the far side and onto a hollow log. Northarian fluttered down to the ground and hopped around to the end. With beak and talons, wings beating to help clear out debris and to keep her stable, she uncovered a flat rock about a hoof's diameter. Normally it would not have presented a problem, but as it was she spent the next while, digging, scraping, and shoving it away. Finally the small, rock-lined hole it had covered was revealed. She picked through the bits of mane and hair stashed in it, tasting the magick and presence that clung to each. Over the months she had spent here she had gathered quite a collection, picking up hairs from sleeping areas and feeding grounds, wrapped in trees, and pulled out during one or another gym class. While she had Malglo's almost from day one, she had yet to gather Kathridge's or her friends. Apparently, she hadn't considered it important enough to worry about. She was regretting that decision now. With hair safely tucked into a nook of the log, she quickly pushed the flat rock back into place and reburied it. It wasn't the best job, but it would have to do for now. If everything worked out and she didn't have to flee, she would come back later.

Careful as not to lose the hair now clenched in her beak, she took flight, winging directly to where she knew Kathri normally slept. She hoped none would see her or notice a raven at night, but she didn't take any precautions to prevent it. What she needed now was speed, for she had spent far too much time gathering Malglo's hair from her cache. Quickly landing, she glanced warily around at the sleeping equines. Hopping up to a tree, she managed to tuck the strand into the bark without too much difficulty. She scanned the ground and the nearby brush for hairs, hoping that she would get lucky. She pulled the air in over her beak, strongly tasting the magick present but looking for the lurking hints of other magick. Finally, she tasted the fire of Kathridge's magick. Northarian quickly scouted around, picking up this hair and that, looking for the right ones. She would hold it in her beak, tasting it, wondering if she had found it. No. This latest one was plant. Wait! Her mind screamed at her, just before she dropped it in disgust. She had been so busy looking for Kathridge's hairs that she had completely forgot about her friend. A quick, slightly deeper tasting to determine if this was indeed the same unicorn who had welded the plant magick with such fire and anger and fear. She held back a shriek of triumph as she realized it was indeed.

A quick flight and she tucked the hair right next to Malglo's. Northarian was starting to worry. She should have been past this stage a long time ago. There was no telling if they had told anyone what they knew yet. She glanced at the sky, quickly guessing that just under an hour had passed since she had left the clearing. To much time. Far, far, too much time. Gliding back over to where she left off her search, she landed in a branch, scanning the ground. If that darn mare slept there and here friend slept over there, then where would the most likely location of hairs be found? She fluttered down to a likely spot, inching over the ground. There- she stooped and picked up a lone hair, almost invisibly hidden in the grass. Even before she had it in her mouth she knew that it was the right one. Fire. The taste tingled through her mouth, and as she flew back to the other two hairs she did a quick check to make sure it was Kathridge's and not some other random fire user. She gathered up the hairs then flew through the trees, headed to a clearing closer to the lake than to the academy. The clearing was farther away, but as far as she could tell it was almost a perfect circle. That fact would strengthen and bind both the magick and the bonds tighter. The delay would be worth it, but she the fact that she had to get both there, back to the Academy, and back to the clearing before Malglo and company told anyone had her doubting she could accomplish it in time.

Minutes later, the black unicorn ran back up the slope from the clearing where she safely stored the hairs. She poured all the effort she could give into getting back as quick as possible, always wondering if this was the moment that she would find that all her efforts were in vain. Once she was close to the sleeping grounds she slowed to a quiet trot, letting her breath begin to even out. She paused at the edge, looking at the nearest group of equines. No, not here. She wandered through the trees, letting her magick call to the one she wanted. A slight movement, and she turned to face the chestnut stallion standing in the shadows. She smiled as he looked her up and down.

"Arix?" he asked her uncertainly.

Her tone was full of fear, and quiet, as if to not be overheard when she replied. "Syben! I'm so glad you're here!" She glanced around frantically. "They did this to me Syben, they did this!"

"They turned you into a unicorn?" Fury and anger ripped through his voice, and he quaked with rage. "Just tell me who and I'll rip them apart."

She sighed with relief, coming up to him. "I know you will, but I think I know how to reverse it. Can you help me?" Her eyes filled with desperation, and she doubted she even needed her magick at this point.

"What do I need to do?"

"Follow me," she spun and quickly trotted out of the sleeping grounds. Once she was far enough away that she was sure none would hear, she broke into a gallop. The two of them flew in a headlong dash down the mountain side toward the clearing. It had been too easy, really. She had tasted Syben's Earth magick early on, and knew what she wanted. She had started with the lowest amount of attraction she could muster, directing it towards him and slowly adding the same thin layers, day after day. In this way, even when it was strong, it would likely go unnoticed, even by the experienced magick users of the Academy. Soon the chestnut stallion was glancing her way, and she would smile back at him. She didn't want a lover, so she had never strengthened or even touched those feelings. She had strengthened the protection, the natural guarding feeling every big brother feels for a younger sister. Northarian had helped the process along by letting him coach her in matters she "didn't" understand and letting him act, in general, like a big brother.

They arrived at the clearing slightly out of breath but in fairly good condition. At least there was one benefit to constantly running those grueling miles for the gym teacher. "Ok," she said calmly, then quickly remembered to take up a slightly panicked and unsure tone. "So, I think - I'm pretty sure about the process, I spent all night studying it in the library - you stand right here," she said, positioning him in the center of the clearing, facing east. She walked away from him, heart pounding with excitement. Turning to face him, she continued in that slightly unsure voice, "I need to cast some runes over you, so you won't be affected by the magick."

"Alright. I trust you, do what you need to do," he nodded, watching her with calm certainty.

She dropped most of her act as she cast the runes, for it wouldn't do to have her acting unsure while she was casting magick over him. Not that it would have an effect on the outcome; she could have cast these runes in the middle of an erupting volcano with ash burning her back and not have the outcome change, she had practiced them so many times. As she thought about it, she quickly decided that she wouldn't be going near any volcanoes anytime soon; it would be just her luck to jinx herself.

She settled the last rune into place with satisfaction. His magick and his life was now irrevocably tied to hers. She backed up several feet, looking over the clearing. "I need you to stay still for this to work, please." She walked in a circle several times, getting it as near to perfect as she could. Northarian was pleased to find that the clearing was indeed as close as possible to perfectly circular, at all times the edge two lengths away from her circle. She completed her third walk-around, then left the path, walking into the circle at directly the eastern point. "Do you trust me?" She asked him, and he nodded in response. "Then I'm going to need you to do exactly as I say. I'm going to activate the elements, and when I get to the southern point of the circle, I'm going to say some stuff and I need you to swirl around some of that Earth magick of yours. This won't work without you. Do you think you can do it?"

"Of course. What do I do?"

She smiled, answering quickly. "Just brush up the dirt. It doesn't have to be big, actually, the smaller the better. As long as you bring earth magick into play we will be fine."

"Ok, lets do this."

She nodded, doubting he would still agree if he knew how the night was going to turn out. She turned away from him, facing east and the dawn. She closed her eyes, dipped her head to the east, and silently accepted the will of the elements. She raised her head, opened her eyes, and started to speak in a calm, ritualistic tone. As she did, she overlaid it with runes that accented what she meant.

"I do call on thee, fire of life,
Bringer of dawn and all creation.
Guide me, and bind me,
And show me the way.
Light my life and fuel my flame.
Drawn in the air across the sky,
Revive the earth and comfort the shy.
Pull and bend, twist and turn;
Give us the light that always burns."

She ducked her head once again, sending small flames roaring from nowhere to burn on the eastern side of the circle. She heard Syben's quick intake of breath and hoped he had the sense to remain quiet. She walked up next to him and faced south. She dipped her head and closed her eyes, paying silent tribute.

"I call on thee, earth of strength,
Shower of wills and guider of life.
Guide me, and bind me,
And show me the way.
Strengthen my life and support my way.
Under our feet and under the water,
Supporting the weak and fueling the stronger.
Hard and fast, tall and strong;
Give us a life of song."

As before, she dipped her head and right on cue Syben stirred his magick. Rock rose out of the ground for just shorter than the southern fourth of the circle, following right along the line. She couldn't have done it better herself. She rose her head and walked to the west, stopping shortly before the line. She knew far too much about the power of the circle and the elements to scorn it or them, so she bowed and paid tribute to the west, and to water.

"I call on thee, water of closing,
Bringer of death and all ends.
Guide me, and bind me,
And show me the way.
Fill my life and guide my strength.
All around and in the air,
Molder of earth and life so fair.
Bend and twirl, shape and turn;
Give us the strength needed to learn."

She dipped her head and let the water come. It roared up in a thin wall that rose chest high, splashing and foaming but not falling or spilling. She walked to the north, dipping her head and paying silent respect. She stepped back and started to speak, very careful in what she said. In her opinion and experience, air was the least predicable and easiest to anger or insult of the elements. That was saying something, considering fire's reputation and tendencies.

"I call on thee, air of passion,
Giver of anger and love.
Guide me, and bind me,
And show me the way.
Deliver my spirit and find my strength.
In our lungs and in our minds,
Channeling thought, crossing the line.
Passion of romance, strength of conviction;
Give us the fire of predilection."

She dipped her head and air swirled and rushed, edged the circle on the north. It twisted and twirled but limited itself to the border. She sparred a glance for the circle, fire, earth, air, and water all in consort and all supported on its own. She knew the power present wasn't hers; she might be able to harness it, but it was its own being, supported and sustained by the world. She was not the one holding the water in a wall or the fire and air in line. She knew from the startled and awed expression on Syben's face that he wasn't the one holding his fragile-looking wall up either. She walked around to the east again, this time facing Syben. She looked towards the heavens, holding her horn to the air. When she spoke this time, she held her eyes closed and her horn in that direction. "Face the heavens, Syben. Pay the elements their tribute." He quickly mimicked her, and she knew from his stillness that he meant every bit of his homage. She spoke softly, voice full to the brim, meaning every word she said.

"I call on thee, Spirit of the Circle,
Provider of life and giver of hope.
Guide me, and bind me,
And show me the way.
Give me life and protect my way.
Connecting, bridging, guiding the worlds,
Showing and flowing through every furl.
Value of self, courage of fear;
Give us that which truly belongs here.

She lowered her head to the ground, motioning Syben to do the same. They touched horns, and she felt the ripple of shock run through her. The elements responded, flaring up in unison. The earth cracked and bent, the fire roared and snapped, the water surged and the air sprung upward. Then everything settled, calmed, and sunk to about knee-high. She could feel, and by the way he was staring around, Syben could as well, the power of the elements present. All four parts of the circle were hushed, as if waiting for some command. Northarian raised her head in triumph. This was one of the most powerful circles she had ever created; the only way for it to become more powerful would take weeks of preparation. In a low voice, she ordered Syben to stay still. The circle crackled and she smiled. Syben looked terrified; he was beginning to realize that you couldn't call upon this kind of strength by reading from a book from a library. For now, his fear was keeping him in place, and by the time he realized he should move it would be too late.

She walked the circle again, inclining her head to each and every element. She walked up to Syben, lifting a piece of bark off the clearing floor with her mouth. It had the three hairs of her targets in it, and she walked over to where the fire patiently lurked. She knew she would have to do this quickly, for once Malglo felt the pull of magick he would try to undo it. She wasn't worried about the other mares, as they were too inexperienced to stop her. "By this offering, to thee I bind." The traditional way of binding someone was having them here, but she had found that burning a hair in the fire portion worked just as well. The added benefit from this method was that they were not here, able to interfere and mess up the ritual. She dropped the bark into the flames, backing off as all the elements roared up in response. Northarian smiled as she knew they would do as she commanded. Too often had they been forced and not asked for something, and they were ready to be unleashed on these unsuspecting victims. She waited until they simmered down into an eager impatience before she began to speak. Her voice was rich and low, but it carried across the clearing. She strode the circle, indicating each element as she passed, and every time she came by their response grew greater. She could see the fear in Syben's eyes, and her smile reveled in it.

"For and through the binding of the basic elements
I call on Earth, Air, Fire, and Water
Joined together by the spirit of another.
Rise to my call and heed my word;
Gather from below, above, and all around

"Fury of Fire, Power of the Earth,
Presence of Air, Ready for anything,
Terror of Water in all its glory;
Rise to me now and heed my word.

"I offer you thus, those to belong
One of magick, mischief; always far gone.
One of fire and spirit, strength and courage;
Inner fire wrought, true of the word.
One of passion and romance, strength of friends,
Subtlety and intrigue, jungle bends.

"Strengthen the bonds, form new connections
Find the silence, form the triangle,
Bend them to my will.
Tie them, bind them, hold them tight,
These I offer through hair and image,
Take them, and make them,
Change them not.

"Through these bonds
Through these ties
Bound by the power of life;

"Let them suffer in their silence."

As the verses wore on, she could feel the magick go out, calling to the three. By the time she was in the second to final verse she could start to feel them, although she didn't know if they had felt the magick yet or not. It would not only command them to keep their silence, they would be forced to do their best acting as if nothing was wrong. Covering conversation, making up stories; their will was hers, to an extent. She couldn't command them to go jump off a cliff for instance - well, she might with Malglo because he could just poof out of danger - but she could command them to not kill themselves. She had tried both of the scenarios with another she had under her control. As she was going through the last verse she finished her circle and walked up to Syben. His eyes were full of fear and betrayal, clearing wondering what would happen next. He had likely found that he couldn't move, at least not without a concentrated effort, due to her casting the runes over him in the beginning. As she spoke the second to last line she moved forward and with a deft movement of one practiced at it, she slit his throat. He gasped for air, sliding to the ground. His eyes, always asking that question of 'why,' lingered on her before they finally closed. She waited until he shuttered, final breath leaving his body, before she spoke the closing line. "Let them suffer in their silence." The elements roared up, even greater than before, and she calmed them with her mind. She could feel the three of them; Malglo, Kathridge, and Enjori (so that's what her name was), fighting with this sudden, invisible, and unshakable barrier over their souls and minds.

She turned back to the dead stallion, briefly touching her horn to his and invoking the final rune to transfer his magick and the rest of his life force. The circle had barely used any of it, and it would have been such a shame to let it go to waste. As she felt the Earth magick flow into her, her eyes glimmered and the power rippled through her body. She felt all four of the elements join and intertwine within her, together becoming something more than any of them could be alone.

She looked around the circle, feeling the ebb and flow of the power of the elements around her. Again, she quieted them so they sunk to about knee-height, but this time it was a happy, relaxed quiet. Smiling, she reached out for the connection to Malglo and felt it. She arched her head and called him with a happy sigh. He had once said that it didn't matter what she could do, what she did. She wanted to hear what he thought now, and why he was spying on her.



Word Count: 4500
Charracters: Enjori, Kathri, & Malglo; Northarian
Place: On the Island of the Academy

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Three o clock in the morning saw me tossing and turning, unable to find the sanctuary of sleep. I had done all that I could, the mares were warned, and Enjori slept with her magic in a state of awareness, letting her know of any strange happenings in the forest. It was a waiting game now. Arix was smart, but if all went according to plan, she would not have any idea that we were tracking her. Hopefully this would not change until we knew exactly who she was, and what she was capable of. Even then, getting her out of the Academy without anyone getting hurt was going to be difficult. Like Draldoth, I was far more worried about the students than I was about me.

Earlier that night, I had visited his office, knowing with absolute certainty that there was something I needed to say to him, and that it had to be today. When I entered his office, the headmaster did not seem surprised to see me. By now, I wouldn't have been surprised if he knew that I would come even before I decided it. He knew me to the core, and was the closest thing that I had to a father figure. Even if he never said it aloud, I knew that I was practically his son.

"Enter."

I walked into his office, a half-smirk written cleanly on my face as I nodded to him. It was our customary greeting.
"Ah, Malglo, I thought I might be seeing you."
I grinned, "Don't get excited, I don't have any news for you."
He smiled, "No news in this particular situation is probably good news, Malglo.Now, what did you wish to say to me?"
I took a deep breath, "I just wanted to let you know that you can count on me. I wanted you to know that I have listened to everything you have said, and that I understand. I have not been directly protective of the Academy or of it's students, but I wanted you to know that from this night forward, I will be. I will not let Arix take an innocent life. I will protect the students from her, even at the cost of my life if it comes to that. I am yours in service, headmaster."

Draldoth stared at me for several moments, but remained silent so long that I began to wonder if he would ever reply.
"Please say something," I prompted.
"Forgive me, I was just startled...I am very proud of you, Malglo."

The thought of his last words calmed my mind, and I could feel my body relaxing. He had never said that to me before, and it was comforting to know that he meant it. Perhaps our plan would not fall apart tonight, perhaps I could afford an hours sleep...

< Malglo, we need you, now!>
I jumped violently, awake as soon as the thoughts entered my mind. <Kathri, where are you?> Silence. <Damn it, Kathri, where are you?>
The panic in her voice was clear in her next reply. <We-we f-f-f-found A-Arix. You were right Malglo- ab-ab- about the horn!>
I swore under my breath and asked one more time. <Where the hell are you?>

The next moment, I turned on heel, vanishing on the spot. The reeds of my bed fluttered as I disappeared, the only clue that someone had been laying there a few moments before. When I stepped out of the black, I was standing on a path that ran a few feet away from a large circular clearing. I could only vaguely make out the shapes of Enjori and Kathri, but from my stance several feet away, I could hear their frantic exchange.
"She's not here."
"What! What do you mean!?"
"I don't know! I can't find her, the forest lost her trail, it's so strange..."
"Then find it again!" Kathri hissed.
"Think you can do better, genius?" Enjori retorted loudly.
"No, but you need to look harder, she's got to be here somewhere!"
"Don't you think I'm trying? The forest says she's gone! Just gone!"
Sweet silence, and then, "She's here, but not quite...she has to still be somewhere, but she's not showing up."
Finally reaching them, my eyes narrowed and I snapped, "Be quiet!" Immediately the mares' stopped, both looking flustered, but relieved that I had showed up. "Now, Enjori, tell me quickly, exactly what happened."
The mare nodded, "I woke up about an hour ago, the forest was broadcasting Arix's signal. We went out and followed her here, she did some incredible...impossible magic, and then...well, she turned into a black unicorn. That's when we called you, but now we can't find her, she's gone."
"You were right, Malglo," Kathri unhelpfully supplied. I didn't need to be told that I was right. I had spent the past three weeks praying that I would be wrong.
"Okay, here is what's going to happen, you two run back, as fast as you can, and wake the headmaster, tell him everything that you've told me. She knows you were watching. I'm going to find Arix."
"But how?" Enjori asked, "If the forest couldn't find her..."
"I have my ways, now go, be fleet, time is short."
"But how do you know that she knew we were watching?"Kathri demanded.
"Because if she didn't, she would still be here," I replied, eyes narrowing into a glare, "Now go!"

I watched them turn and disappear into the forest, their hooves flying over branch and bramble until the wood was dropped into complete silence once more. I closed my eyes and thought of Arix, not of her body as I had done when sending her through the black, but of her eyes, and how they would change from black to startling gold. I had the hunch that her orbs would not change, no matter how good the transfiguration was.
To be truthful, I had no idea what I was doing, but magic had a way of working out in a crisis. Hopefully this would be one of those times. I let the image of her eyes consume me, and a second later, I was flying. I could see a hair lying tangled in a bush, and a beak tugged and tore at it, willing it to come free. The connection lasted less than a second, but it was enough to make me feel as though I was insane. If I was not gravely mistaken...Arix had transformed into a bird. If I was right, then it would explain why the forest couldn't find her. The forest would be looking for a unicorn or a pegasus, something grounded. It would pay little attention to the birds that perched on it's branches. The unfortunate thing was, that Arix could be anywhere in the forest by now, and any bush could be the one that held the hairs...why would they be so important? She knew that she was being spied on, why would she immediately fly to gather hairs?
It was several minutes before Enjori's words came back to me. She did some incredible...impossible magic. That was when I understood. If Arix was not certain of who had been spying on her, a simple spell cast on their hairs could reveal their identity. By now I had walked several hundred feet away from the round clearing. The whole time, I had been walking away from her!

As I turned, I faded again into the black. Despite the relatively short distance, it seemed to take forever for the black to spit me back out. When I finally stepped out, I knew that something was wrong. I could taste magic in the air, and felt as though I may choke in it's thick concentration. It was almost like invisible smoke, weighing down my lungs. As I adjusted to the feel of it, I started to appreciate the sort of power that would be needed to conjure it. This was definitely not your average first year magic. This was closer to something that I produced in my final year as a student as far as strength. My magic had never been used in an elements circle. I had not earth, fire, water, air, nor spirit, so I was by no means, a master of their variety of magic, but I sure as hell knew what they looked like.

"I call on thee, Spirit of the Circle,
Provider of life and giver of hope."

I walked towards the clearing, holding my breath. What sort of magic was Arix doing that required a circle? There were far easier ways of killing her enemies...but of course, I had forgotten. Arix was the kind that had to play with her food before she ate it. She had some kind of torture planned for Arix and Kathri, of that much I could be sure. I just had to stop it before it was too late. With a start, I remembered that the last element was spirit. I had to hurry before the circle became truly impenetrable.

I peeked through the twigs of a large bush that separated me from their line of sight, and saw a large black unicorn, inky horn a-glow with the power that she controlled. It took a minute for me to realize that this mare must be Arix. Directly across from her stood a chestnut stallion. I couldn't recall his name, but recognized him from the number of first year students.

"Give me life and protect my way.
Connecting, bridging, guiding the worlds,"

nuts. I had to do something, and quick. Her verse couldn't last much longer. I memorized the chestnut stallion's features and closed my eyes, preparing to drag him into the black and cast him out of the circle. I had to save the student. I promised Draldoth that I would protect them! Finally I felt my magic connect with the nameless first-year, and tried to heave him out. He was stuck inside the circle. Knowing that it was useless, I struggled against the powerful magic that held him there. I had to save him. I had to save him!Sweat broke out in a sheet over my body as I was forced to let go.

"Value of self, courage of fear;
Give us that which truly belongs here."

I knew already that I had failed. There was no saving him now, but I had to try! Did he know? Did he guess what was about to happen to him? Frantically I glanced around, looking for an answer. There had to be a way...
Arix and the nameless youth crossed horns, and I watched as the elements flared and calmed. His time was running out.
Arix walked the circle and then headed towards the now-terrified first year. On her way, she picked up something in her mouth. Dropping it into the fire, she said, "By this offering, to thee I bind."

nuts. I felt the pull of her magic as the piece of bark smoldered in the flames. The hairs were no longer a mystery. She intended to use them to bind us to her. But how had she known that I would come? How did she know I had come to aid Kathri and Enjori? All important questions that would have to be asked later. I had work to do. I had to free us before the bind was complete. After that, there was no undoing it. I had to disturb the circle.
I took a deep breath, gathering all of the energy that I could. Enough of it could ruin everything for Arix. Only one element needed to be hindered for the whole powerful, but oh so fragile circle to fall apart. I opened my eyes and let the energy bloom out in a bubble from my horn. The next moment, I felt the cold bone of a horn across my throat. "Release it, and you're a dead-beast, mate."
"Who the bloody hell are you?" I hissed under my breath. "I am trying to save one of my students."
"Oh little chestnut? What's his name, mate?"
My teeth clenched,"Let me go. Now."
The voice chuckled, "You and I both know that you 'aint no teacher, Gov'nur."
Then the lights went out.

When I awoke, the world was a large blueish black blur. My head ached, and felt detached from the rest of my body. Slowly I gathered that I was propped up on my legs, that wavered like jelly beneath me. Most of my weight leaned against something muscular and fleshy. Another equine. Slowly the world started to right itself, and I could make out two unicorns before us, one black as night, and the other a dark chestnut. "You're just in time for the show, Gov'nur." With the whisper of the stranger's voice, it all started coming back to me. The black unicorn was Arix...I had to stop her from doing something...what was it?

"Tie them, bind them, hold them tight,"

She was going to kill him. I straightened slightly, but lost my balance and fell back against the stranger's side.

"Take them, and make them,
Change them not."

Then it all came back to me. She had all of our hairs, and surely by now it was too late to stop her from binding us. It sounded as though she was finishing up the deed. I may have been able to stop her, if not for the poorly spoken stranger. He was officially on my list of creatures to kill.
Back in the Circle, Arix moved forward, her horn slicing the youth's throat in one deft action as she spoke, "Let them suffer in their silence."

For a moment, my heart stopped beating, and the world tipped upside down. The stranger muttered a few choice words that I didn't hear, and when I looked up again, the first year had stopped moving. Arix stood a little away from him, surveying her circle as a queen would her kingdom. "Pure poetry, that," The stranger whispered. Anger burned inside of me. Did he have any idea of just what he had done?

I felt the bond then, and Arix called to me, an action that my captor seemed to notice. He steadied me as I wobbled, and a moment later, shoved me out into the open, in full view of the dark queen. Her coat glimmered in the moonlight, shining with the gain of her latest kill's power. I stumbled over a rock or root (I couldn't be sure which), and fell hard to my knees before her.
With a great effort I stood, legs still vibrating slightly as I looked down at the slaughtered youth. My breath came out heavily, and it was a few moments before I met her gaze. I had always felt certain that Kathri would be her first victim. I had thought that I was protecting all of the right students, now I had failed to keep my promise on the very night that I gave it.

I walked closer and spat into her beloved circle, eyes blazing with fury. "Go to hell," I told her, wobbling again as the stranger made his appearance behind me.

The light of the moon revealed his large, powerful frame, and the iron gray shade of his coat."Miss me, poppet?"

2600 words!!!

[Shanza]

This was not the way she had pictured it. Malglo was suppose to spin into form, not walk out of the trees like some drunken stalker. She pursed her lips, wondering why he appeared both drunk and only twenty feet from her circle the entire time. He tripped over a small outcropping of rock, falling hard onto his knees. He struggled with his uncooperative body, finally regaining his feet and stared at Syben's lifeless form. His eyes were open and misted over, his spirit forever released from this body. She smiled slightly when she glanced down at him; that wasn't quite true, but he wouldn't be quite the same if she did bring him back.

Still breathing hard, Malglo brought his eyes up to meet hers. "Well this is not how I quite imagined our meeting," her mouth twisted sideways, not pleased with the change.

The anger, hatred, and just plain fury that she saw in his eyes didn't surprise her, she rather expected it. He staggered forward and spat into the circle with a quick 'go to hell.' She grinned, but it quickly evaporated with the appearance of the stocky gray stallion behind him.

"Miss me, poppet?"

She eyed him up and down. "So," she said, arching her neck. "It's been a while, I guess."

"Sure has, love. Must be near, what? Five years?"

"A half and four, more like." The evident disgust in her voice emphasized the cultured tone she picked up with no hesitation. "Thy always guessed over the mark. Thou were never one for accuracy."

He laughed, the hearty sound racking his entire frame. "Sure were one fer fancy words, Ari."

Unable to help it, a small grin broke out on her face. She hadn't been called that pet name since she was a foal. "So how have thy been?" For some reason just being around him easily reverted her back to the tongue of her parents.

"Good, poppet, good. Well, fairly, consit'ring your little game chase yav'e had us on for the past years." He grinned, and she laughed.

"Well, I'm not going back, if that is what you're asking." Her voice changed slightly, dropping the cultured tone and she shifted position, but just barely. It was instinctual, habitual; where she was relaxed and slightly strung-out before, she now was gathered and ready to fight if need be. The elements, still ringing the circle, gathered to her unworded change of face, bubbling upward. She sparred a glance for them, soothing them with her mind so they sunk back down.

"No, no, 'course not, poppet!" His tone was obviously soothing, trying to relax her. "Just here to help, 'tis all! Stopped him from ruinin' it, didn' I?"

Her eyes hardened and the elements flared, an outward sign of her anger. "You killed me," she hissed. "You destroyed my life, took my family, made me flee. You couldn't leave it at that, could you? Could you!" She bellowed, the elements started to rage and lightning cracked across the clearing. "You had to hunt me down, chase me, torture me and bind me until I couldn't move! Then you took my life. You claim to help me now?"

The iron gray took a step backward, barring his horn. "Now, now, poppet-"

She cut him off with a bellow of fury. "I'm not your poppet! She might be but I'm not! Yours, a traterious murderer!"

His eyes widened with fear and he took several steps back. "Rythal! My god!" He shook his head, lifting onto his haunches and baring his horn at her. "It's not possible! It can't be!"

She let out a cruel burst of laughter. "Can't it? How the hell do you think a filly, a mere filly of two years, could kill and injure warriors with far more experience than she? You betrayed her, you took her life, and you expected to control her." She spat on the ground, black coat trembling with barely controlled rage. "She might provide the power, but I can use it. Listen to me thus; if you, or anyone else, so dares to lay a finger of mortal or magick upon her I will use that connection to destroy you." Her black horn sliced through the air, and it ripped with power. The sun peaked over the horizon, and it highlighted her blacker-than-night eyes. Unlike her pegasi form where they gave away emotion and magick, now they showed straight to her soul. Enveloping, consuming, using all the light which touched them, they were pools of blackness without even highlights from the sun. In essence, they looked more alive at night. Her horn glistened with the sun's rays, and her coat shown true. Slight and sickly versions of green, blue, and purple waved through it, with the occasional glimmer of deep, blood red. She chuckled, a deep, cold sound in response to Darwin's reaction to her coat. "Changed a lot, haven't I, Darwin?" She smiled, most of the anger lost now, but there still exsited the fury and the excitment. "Like my new look? It scares you, doesn't it. It would scare me, if I were looking at it." Her voice purred, but with an undertone of violence and power ready to be unleashed. "You should be one of the ones taking credit; after all, you made me who I am." She shook her head, streching it out. The elements subsided, and she released them with a nod to each. They gave way, the fire and air simply blending and vanishing, water and earth sinking into the dirt. The line of the circle existed clearly, marking where the elements had been.

She closed her eyes, whispered, "I thank thee for thine gifts," nodded to the four directions again before she opened her eyes. "I guess I do owe you my thanks, however undeserved. He likely would have interfered given the chance." She was looking off into the east, speaking with a bored tone.

"That he would, love," he said hesitantly, no doubt cautious about her earlier explosion.

"Leave me, I do not wish for your presence." He hesitated, and she turned ruthless and cold eyes on him. "I warn thy, leave, before I must make you."

He backed out of the clearing with a cautious air that suggested he was glad to leave. She smiled. They hadn't know what they were dealing with before, that much was apparent from his reaction. Now they would know, and they would bury any others who came for her and her magick.

She turned back to Malglo, looking at him for the first time since he had spat in the circle. "Have you regained your legs yet?" She smiled as he answered; she would have been vastly surprised if he hadn't. He should have bee recovering as she talked to Darwin, likely fully recovered now or very soon. "I wish to know several things, and you shall give me answers, but for now there is a friend I wish to visit. Please take me there, and don't lose me in transit." She smiled as she asked him, knowing her question was indeed a command. Her Teacher, if he was in his right mind, would love to hear about the new developments and see her new pet. "Oh, but first, please dispose of the body were none will find it." She looked down at Syben, contemplating. "He was quite useful, I'll be sorry to see him go."


Word Count: 1274
Characters: Malglo, Northarian, & Darwin
Place: On the Island of the Academy

[ϞSymreeϞ]

I watched the altercation between Arix and the pale stranger with a sense of detachment. I had lost. I had lost, but I was still alive! How did this happen? I had been ready to run, to tell Draldoth all that we had learned, but now there was nowhere to run where she could not call me back. I had failed Draldoth, and I had failed Kathri and Enjori. I felt sure that they were just as bound as I was. Had they made it to Draldoth in time? Had they told him anything? Did he know-or guess- that something was wrong? Something larger than before?

As I regained control over by body, my anger grew into a simmering, frothing creature that I struggled to tame. Eventually it grew into something larger, a powerful beast that had stitched itself to my soul. I was still alive. I had played Arix's game and I lived to tell the tale! If there was a way that this binding could be broken, then nothing in heaven or hell was going to stand in my way. Arix would laugh if I said it aloud, but this wasn't over yet.

As she spoke with the pale stranger, this renewed determination faded slightly, but I could still feel it there. It gave me strength, and hope. No one had beaten me before. I would not admit defeat over this! As the saying goes, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. It was only then that it occurred to me that the game was still in play. To Arix, the game wasn't over until a player forfeited...or was dead. She knew me too well by now to think that I would give up. She knew it before I did.

"I'm not your poppet! She might be but I'm not! Yours, a traterious murderer!"

I almost cringed at the ferocity in her voice. It was not a tone that I had heard from her before, but at the same time it was familiar, as though an undercurrent of it ran through her tone when she was displeased, or when she laughed. I thought of her dark eyes flashing to yellow. My confusion deepened as she continued talking. This stallion had killed her? How? She stood, living and breathing! I had touched her; held her close to me...Arix was far from dead. There was another piece of the puzzle that I still had to find. Then I understood. This wasn't Arix at all. She had been bound, probably in a circle just like the one that she had built tonight. I remembered Draldoth telling me about the power of the circles; how they could transfer the energies and life force of one unicorn into another. With this transfer of life, came the transfer of magic. This Rythal, the one that Arix had been bound to, he must have been killed in the circle, and the younger Arix must have taken in his life force...and his magic. from the sounds of things, this Darwin fellow had made it all possible. He had created the monster that Arix had become...

She seemed to come back then, and told the pale stallion to leave, her voice cold and lifeless, but much more akin to the voice that I knew as hers. I felt a surge of anger towards the brute as he left that had nothing to do with stopping me from damaging her circle. As much as I hated her right now, she was still Arix...and somehow in a twist of fate, I was both responsible for her, and forced to do her bidding. The most ridiculous thing about all of this was that a part of me still was madly in love with her. I guess there really is a fine line between love and hate.

Arix turned to me then, asking if I had regained my legs yet. I raised an eye at her quizzically, a habit that had always given Draldoth a laugh. She smiled, but I could not feel the warmth reach her eyes. Abruptly she looked away, continuing on to say that she had many questions for me, but that they would be answered later; that she wanted to go see a friend of hers. My lips set firmly, knowing that her seemingly polite words were not merely a suggestion. She would-and could make me do her bidding. We both were all to aware of the fact. For a moment I sized her up, my gaze harsh and calculating. Who did she want to see? And why was it so important that she see him now? Now; after her circle had been cast and I stood as a slave before her. How much could she make me do? How much control did she have over my body: my mind? Could she hear my thoughts? Could she hear Kathri's and Enjori's? My eyes did not leave hers as she instructed me to first dispose of the corpse. His glassy eyes stared in terror at the heavens, the last tremor of fear seeming never to have left his body. I snorted as she said that she would miss him, and said quietly, "Liar. You won't miss him. You got what you wanted. You would have had no further use for him after tonight anyway. He was just a pawn in your game. Just like me. Tell me Arix, when will I outlive my usefulness?" My stare was hard and cold, showing not even a breath of fear as I turned away from her and strode over to the first year, not bothering to tell Arix that I would return shortly. She knew that I would.

With a deep breath, I closed my eyes, not bothering to touch the young stallion. I knew his face well enough by now. I could have transported him in my sleep. Blackness engulfed my senses, and for a moment, we were drifting in the unknown. One living, and one dead, hidden in a darkness where they could never be found. A darker mind may have hidden him here, but I would not have been able to live with myself. No one deserved to be lost forever in nothingness. Not even Arix.

Finally we landed, me gracefully, and the young stallion with a heavy thud. I knew better than to try and hide him somewhere that Draldoth went often. She would know, and I would loose whatever precious time I had to give him a respectable send off. The place where we landed could have been a scene from a fairy-tale. A river gurgled lazily off to our right, sheltered by trees that were covered in orange blossoms. The moon shone brightly in the water, and I caught a glimpse of my own reflection. I looked cold and disinterested, but could see the thinly veiled fury and determination that powered my every sleepless step. Arix could see it as well, then, I thought. She knew that I hadn't given up, and I knew that nothing would make her happier.

I sighed heavily and bowed my head towards the young stallion, gently closing his eyes with a practiced gesture of my muzzle. I wasn't one for elegant words and complicated analysis, nor was I one to use two words where one would suffice. "I don't really know who you were, friend, and I don't know why you were stupid enough to trust Arix, but I promise you this; you will not have died in vain. I will be more vigilant. I will protect the Academy from her, so that what happened to you is never repeated...Rest in peace, friend."

I lifted my muzzle and cast some runes that punctured the earth beneath him, and proceeded to cover him with the loose earth. I marked the grave with a small, unpolished stone, and carved a simple rune that would identify him as the academy's, should anyone come across him. Not that it would help much...there were only a handful of equines on Val'thoron that knew the rune, and I knew that none of them would find him there. Without a backward glance, I turned on heel and vanished, still smelling the honey and vanilla scent of the trees as I came back to Arix and her circle.

"Your deed is done," I told her firmly. "Where is it that you wish me to take you?"

[Shanza]

She waited for his return, rather surprised at his reaction, but a part of her asked, well what did you expect? She shrugged, thinking that not many reacted calmly, but for some reason she had thought he would have been one of the few. Apparently she was wrong. She walked to the edge of the clearing, studying Darwin's tracks to see if they had changed. They hadn't for the most part, but one of his fore hooves had a indent, likely due to some healed injury.

She looked up, a piece of black ebony in the morning sun, as he swirled back into being. He brought with him smells of honey and vanilla; sun-tipped luxury and pleasant memories. He interrupted by rudely and bluntly stating, "Your deed is done. Where is it that you wish me to take you?"

She flicked her horn in the air, softly saying, "In due time." As she breathed the soft, warm, smells in, her features relaxed and softened. It reminded her of happier times and simpler problems; times when the worst of her problems was the sun bleaching her coat when she bathed in its rays for too long. For a moment she resembled the tender, rather delicate filly of just two years she once was, with a bright future and plenty of suitors vying for her. Then she opened her eyes and the moment passed.

She felt Kathridge and Enjori, lurked in the shadows of their minds. She knew she could hide from them but it would be much more tricky, likely almost or impossible, to do the same with Malglo. They were panicked, as they should be. She grinned, quickly slipping the thought, unobtrusively as possible, into Kathri's head that every situation looks better with some sleep. She was fairly certain that they would take her advice, and not know it as advice; just a random thought. She turned back to Malglo, blinking once as she survayed him. "He was very useful; however, he was bordering on a threat. And he wasn't near as interesting as you," she grinned, wickedly happy to have someone of his caliber to play against. "This will be fun, won't it?" Something tugged at her mind, and she scowled slightly. "Now I did think that that mare would be much more fun. Not this panicked-calm." She snorted, streching out her neck. "What? You want to ask about them? Why they are entagled as well? Ask me shortly, and I may answer you -" she hesitated, squinting, "Three questions! Think carefully!" She grinned at him, teasingly laughing. "Surely! Surely you can feel the connection? Can't you?" She laughed, high and full of humor, but present was a dark lilt that spoke of things better left untouched. "Reach for it, but don't disturb them Malglo. I want them to rest tonight. I will have use of the forest on the marrow."

"As for your other concern, Malglo," she smiled again, but this time it was true and slight. Not wild and happy, infused with reckless abandon, but simple contentment. "You shall never be a pawn. You are much the other player in this match." Her grin grew wild once again. "Shall we begin?" She reached toward him, telling him to open his mind, to receive the directions. She showed him the mountains, taking him there from her raven's view, soaring down into the clearing that had nearly been destroyed in her last visit. "Take me there, Malglo, take me there." Her voice was full of sadness, wondering what her Teacher would be like when they got there.

Malglo stepped forward, and then they were traveling through the roaring rush of power. She felt it pull to her; she nearly answered it's call. They finally landed, the giddy rush of the trip rippling over her coat with waves of magick. Her grin was wild; exalted, completely beyond borders. She knew that through her link with Malglo he must feel some of the overpowering desire, rage, power; the tumult of emotions and magick enough to make anyone's head spin. With an effort, she closed down most of the link, preventing any more of the chaos inside her of reaching out to try to strangle him. Slowly, very slowly, she regained control, shutting down the surges of magick as they rippled through her being, turning off her emotions one by one. It was dangerous, what she was doing; she was using a variety of her magic to sort of 'enspell' herself. She would release the hold in moments, but the thing she created in the meantime was something that didn't really think, feel, or react to the power surges; she simply existed. It was a short bliss that she escaped to from time to time, using it only when absolutely necessary. She came to a moment later, looking around the clearing and back at Malglo, just standing and watching her. She could feel inside his mind, but she didn't wish to at the moment. Her Teacher was nearby.

She headed south along the ridge, vanishing into the trees, rather wondering if Malglo would follow. She didn't really care at this point; he only could not contact anyone else or communicate. Northarian didn't have to spell it out for him; her thought was his command. She wove the tree trucks, ducking though tight spots and around bushes. She slowed to a trot, then a walk, as she approached his usual haunts. The black mare paused at the edge of a stream she was crossing, then followed it downstream. The earth rolled beneath her feet, and she spun, calling out, "Hail, Teacher, thou has no need to fear thy pupil!" Her voice was slightly tight as she wondered how he would react, the next few moments would tell her if he was in possession of his wits. Her mind clung to Malglo's not caring where he was, and held him in a deep lock. She wanted him next to her in an instant if she decided the situation was going the wrong way.

"Northarian?"

"Hi, Ting'vesh. I've missed you," she said softly as the aged stallion walked out of the trees. His eyes were coated white with cataracts, and she sorrowed for his decline from the height of his glory. Now his mind was failing with his body, and every time she came she expected to find him dead.

"Me too. Will you tell me about your travels?" He paused, lifting his sightless eyes to survey the world. "But who is with you?"

"Malglo, of the Academy. He is a transporter. Would you like to meet him?"

"Let us just talk, Northarian, let us just talk."

"Alright."



Word Count:
Characters: Malglo, Northarian, & Ting'vesh
Place: On the Island of the Academy

P.S. I've made it possible for Malglo to be with her or not, but it might be more interesting if he followed her. (That way he can learn her true name, learn about her teacher, and you can still have him jump off to some other place if you want)

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Arix was in no hurry to leave. She surveyed me as though she stood beside a throne, and I was her conquered enemy. She did not ask me to bow, probably because having sent me to do her bidding was more satisfying than any other show of my new found loyalty to her. She turned to face me fully after I spoke, and blinked once in a calculating sort of way. She told me that this stallion was bordering on a threat to her, and that I was much more interesting than he. She went on to talk about Kathri, and how she had hoped for more of a show, probably referring to one of Kathri's panic attacks. She must have mistaken my look of disgust for one of surprise.

"What? You want to ask about them? Why they are entangled as well? Ask me shortly, and I may answer you -" she hesitated, squinting, "Three questions! Think carefully!"

I was pretty sure that I already knew why Kathri and Enjori were involved in this, but I was starting to doubt myself. After the death of this nameless first year, could I be sure of anything that was connected with Arix? At first I was tempted to ask if there would be another death, if Kathri or Enjori was next, and what exactly she needed me for, but I hesitated, realizing that it would be rash to waste my questions on things that I could guess. Given three questions, I settled on the one that my gut told me was correct. "Is there a way to save you, Arix? " A silence hung between us, and I wondered if she would answer.

She continued on as though I had never spoken, telling me to reach for the connection but not to disturb it. I had been able to feel it for a several moments now. I could feel their minds drifting further away as they welcomed the darkness that was sleep. I looked back up at her, unsmiling. It had been a long night. where was my sleep?

"As for your other concern, Malglo," she smiled again, but softly, "You shall never be a pawn. You are much the other player in this match."

I remained silent, but inclined my head to her slightly, feeling as though a part of me had known all along that I would never be used as her pawn. It was odd, but I also got the impression that she never intended to kill me. More likely than not, I was more useful to her alive than dead.

She asked if we should begin, and the strangest array of images filled my mind. First I saw blackness, then a flash of mountains, a glimpse of rows and rows of pine trees, their boughs heavy with needle and cone. Then there was a flash of the clearing that was her destination. I only knew it as the destination for the lack of further instructions. With the end of it, I felt her sadness and her pain. It filled my heart like an open wound, as though I shared her memories, her trials, her fears. curiosity filled my mind, and without hesitation, or a single glance in her direction, we were traveling at an impossible speed through the darkness. Although I did not touch her, I could feel the connection between us, thin as a thread, her only line to the outside world. When the thought crossed my mind to drop the connection, I grasped it tighter without being told. Even she did not deserve to be lost forever in this darkness. She was lost already in a darkness of her own.

When we arrived, I could feel the sudden chill in the air, but stronger than the cold was Arix's desire, her rage, and the overwhelming power that coursed like rivers of electricity from her entire body. The feel of it thrilled through my body for a few moments before she seemed to realize that I could feel it too. She took a moment to close herself away, and then looked at me for a moment, almost dismissively, but by now I was too caught up in the mystery. I had to know where we were, why it was important, and who she was in such a hurry to find after her latest kill. I was relieved that she did not order me to stay behind. If I was to have even the chance of beating her, I had first to understand her.

She walked south along the ridge, and into the trees. I followed her as a blood red shadow, my black legs disappearing into the night around us. We wove through the tightest parts of this forest, never once straying onto a well beaten path, and yet Arix seemed to know exactly where she was going. I felt rather foolish for expecting anything else. This was, after all, Arix- or at least, that was the name that I knew her by.

We came to a river that she followed downstream. After a few steps, the earth seemed to roll beneath her, and I stooped down, muscles tensed to vanish in a heartbeat, Arix alongside if necessary.

"Hail, Teacher, thou has no need to fear thy pupil!"

Pupil? Of course. Arix had to have learned her crazy from someone. Her consciousness held on to mine tightly, and I knew that she wanted an escape route if things went south. My head started to throb with the pressure of her hold. Why had she come to this old master if she feared him so? There was so much that I had yet to understand, about Arix, and about the deadly game that I had been sucked into.

"Northarian?" The master inquired.

Arix relaxed, and I sent her a side long glance, feeling that this new name, Northarian, suited her black form much better. She was no longer the Arix that I had once known, just as much of a sham as any illusion. And I had fallen for it.

"Hi, Ting'vesh. I've missed you,"
"Me too. Will you tell me about your travels?" He paused, lifting his sightless eyes to survey the world. "But who is with you?"

I froze, muscles tensing slightly, Already I had guessed that this stallion, even blind, was not one to underestimate. I was too weary to yearn for a fight anyway. I watched Northarian carefully, my gaze warming slightly at the look in her eyes. She cared for this stallion.I wondered if there was hope for her yet. She would probably deny it, but at that moment, i was certain that whatever had been done to her could be reversed, that she could be saved, but the obvious question nagged at the back of my mind. what if she didn't want to be saved?

[Shanza]

Panic.

The thrum of hooves across the ground. Plants reacting to our passage. Pounding blood in my ears. Can't hear anything over the whip of my mane in the wind.

Panic.

My every thought, every fiber of my being screaming the word.

Panic.

The forest screams it's warning. 'Run,' It says, 'Run.' I run. But run from what? I don't know what I'm running from, let alone running to. No words, no clear feelings, no images; that's not how the forest works. Muddled signals, confused messages, indistinct warnings. A vast amount of input from a multitude of constantly changing sources. The only constant is one thing.

Panic.

Suddenly, silence. Nothing. The forest has gone dark. I'm alone in the moonless night, my only company the heavily panting breath being constantly expelled from my body. Nothing moves. It seems as if nothing breaths. As my breath slows, I regain my composure. Where am I? In the dark, I don't recognize the surrounding woods. I tell myself I'll reach out to the plants to get my bearings, but after my pounding heart settles. Even as I whisper it to myself, I quake inside at the task. How can I reach back into that utter confusion, the terrifying maelstrom of warnings and terror?

I look around, just realizing that I have no idea where Kathri is. What happened? Closing my eyes, I reach into myself, trying to calm down. Deep relaxing breaths combined with several simple stretching exercises that Malglo taught us helped. We were tracking Arix, and then that clearing... I shutter, remembering the awful display of power. She vanished, and the Malglo arrived. Thank god! But everything wasn't alright. He sent us to find Draldoth, and oh, did we run. The forest was strange at that point, sending all kinds of confusing signals and messages. I was able to tune it out, able to just focus on breathing and running. The rhythmic pounding of dirt beneath our hooves, the constant in-out of air, and the fact that Kathri surged beside me was calming beyond measure.

We had been just beyond the river of the Academy, well out of hearing range and still a fair run to the grounds, when it hit. Violent, terrible, all-consuming; the terror and will of the forest was like nothing I had ever felt before. It enveloped me, it was a miracle I didn't fall mid-flight. Smashing into several trees, I skidded to a stop, flinging myself into a rear, trying to shake loose of the binds. I know, I knew, it was useless, but I tried anyway. My head stung as I remembered how I had whipped it around, accidentally smashing it into a tree. Even that didn't stop the panic, the confusing, the all-out desire to run. I flung myself upwards again, my horn flashing as the plants writhed around me.

I vaguely remember Kathri calling for me, yelling- more like screaming- my name. I couldn't respond. To do so would have been completely counter to everything that the forest was commanding me to do. Indeed, it was a command. To run, to let loose the magic so it could hide. So it could hide? As the thought broke into my mind, I realized how right it had been for that moment. At the same time, I wondered how in the world any kind of plant could hide. Really, hide. Whoever heard of a plant hiding?

So I had run, run as I never had before, and never again would. My flight was blind, panicked, and stretching full-out through deep jungle was unwise even in the best of circumstances. Only once I stopped did I realize that the plants were bending away from my flight, clearing the path. I had even ran over a bridge made of roots so as to cross a ditch which was too wide to jump. I remembered, but didn't remember. I don't think I wanted to remember. Somehow I knew the forest had a secret to keep, and wanted it safe. I was very content not knowing the secret which it wanted hidden, and glad it had released its hold of me.

Shaking my head, I looked up to the skies, thankfully littered with stars. Soon I was able to determine which way was north, so I headed east. Either I would run into the Academy, or more likely, the beach. From there I could get my bearings and get back to the grounds. Hopefully Kathri had continued onto the Headmaster to warn him; I didn't have much luck getting there.

I sighed, pausing once again to shake, trying to rid myself of that awful feeling of panic and unending frustration. The journey through the forest was for the most part uneventful. I had closed myself off totally to it's influence, something I could only do on rare occasions, such as this one. My fear was the greatest barrier, for if I let it down I did fear for the outcome. Would the forest be still wrapped in panic, or calm as a white spring cloud? I didn't want to find out.

If I had opened my mind, even the slightest bit, I might have known what was coming, might have had some warning so as to prepare or try to stop it. I doubt I could have stopped it, but I would have felt when she first raised the circle, felt the power of the elements run through the forest, felt the fear of that stallion in my age-class. I felt all those things afterward... in that terrible, terrible afterward.

As it was, I arrived at a strong lope into the grounds of the Academy with the dawn breaking over the eastern forests. Where was Kathri? Had she yet warned Draldoth? I turned to run in the direction of his office, (or where I knew the staff offices to be, as I wasn't sure of the exact location of his), but found that it was hard to move in that direction. I shook my head, feeling as if I was moving through frozen molasses. My thoughts seemed to slow, my body seemed to stop moving. I was in a continuous tug-of-war, pushing with all my might but unable to gain an inch through the air. My muscles simply wouldn't respond. Strangely, I didn't seem to panic, but maybe that was due to the fact that I couldn't think either.

One of our professors smiled as she walked up. "What are you doing out this morning? Students aren't normally up this early." The laughter in her tone was pleasant and warm, something Enjori dearly wished she was feeling right now.

Surprising herself, she answered calmly, even had a faint grin tugging at her lips. "Just out for a dawn walk. I wanted to see the sun rise from the beach; it's such a beautiful sight."

"That it is my dear, that it is." The professor nodded and continued walking, leaving Enjori with her heart pumping frantically.

How had she said that? Why? Why had she said that? One second her mind was blank, the next her mouth was speaking of its own accord. With a shiver, she began to walk, this time not thinking of finding the Headmaster, but simply just meeting up with Kathri. I began to trot, and then another set of directions shoved their way into my mind. My will to move was completely overruled, and I turned, heading back into the forest. I slid through the trees, this time having to be doubly careful of where I stepped. The magick would pull me in one direction or another, and I had some leniency in negotiating cliffs and unsafe terrain, but the pull was constant and strong.

It was soon I heard another beat of hooves, traveling in the same direction. I snorted when I saw flashes of Kathri's distinct coat, weaving sideways to get closer to her. "How'd it go?" I almost whispered, fearful of the answer. If we were both being dragged this way, what kind of magick was behind it? I listened to Kathri's story with concern, unsuccessfully hiding my anxiety. Another thought popped into my head, and I wondered with concern, where was Malglo? "Have you seen or heard from Malglo? Or Arix?" I shuttered again, wondering what the outcome of his tracking. Did he find her? Did he not? If he did, did they battle? Did she win?

Stifling the thoughts with trouble, we emerged in a circular clearing with a charred circle in the grass. "Uh, this is the destination, right?" The magick had stopped pulling at us, and I exchanged a worried glance with Kathri. It was the oddest thing, seeing the two of them swirl into being right in front of us.

My stomach dropped as I saw the black mare standing next to Malglo. She was much, much more disturbing by daylight. She shook, her eyes were closed, and for the briefest of moments I wondered why she was so relaxed. Then it hit me. She was the one who called us here, she was the one who was pulling the strings now. If Malglo was just standing next to her like that... just standing there... not doing anything... he must be under her control as well. Slowly, I looked at him, meeting his gaze.

Panic.

There was a whole new definition to the word now. My heart pounded in my chest, but I felt strangely, foreignly, calm. Like I was standing her, watching, but not here. I was distancing myself.

Panic.

Slowly, I reeled myself back to the here and now, or as close as I could come without erupting. I felt something stir, a distant connection; somehow I felt Kathri, knew she was standing beside me even without looking. Knew Malglo was there, even if I closed my eyes and all senses to the world. I knew I would still be able to feel them even if I was blind and deaf and unable to feel anything. How I knew this I had no idea. I just knew.

My mind was a vague whirlwind; I wondered that if by this bond they would feel what I was feeling or if I could wall off my mind to them. It's odd, what nonsense runs through your mind at first, when you realize there is no escape, no place to run, no where to go. When she finally opened her eyes, she surveyed us with a smile on her lips and the devil in her night-black eyes. I gritted my teeth and withheld a shutter, determined to not show her my terror. Or, at least, the true extent of it.

Arix, in this new shape, walked up to Kathridge and started talking to her. I tuned the conversation out, for I was sure that she would be taunting and teasing my friend to no end. At this point, I was still blocking out all the plant life I could. Some feelings still trickled to me, I could feel the remnants of the power she had unleashed here. The forest was still reeling from it.

Then she turned to me. Why did she want me? What use was I? For the longest time, she just looked at me. I stared back at her, wondering what she wanted. When she acted, it was swift and sudden with no warning what so ever. I exploded. Or, I should say, the forest exploded. As soon as she touched my mind, it reacted. I have no idea why it acted like that, it just did. For some reason unknown to me, it did not want that mare in control of the forest on the island. I felt myself thrash into a rear, springing up and sideways. Neither the forest nor Northarian made me do this; instead, the two wills opposed to each other were both so demanding, so overwhelming, that I lost control. It felt as if my head would burst, my body would crawl out of my skin. The forest didn't move an inch. In the back of my mind, I noticed that. The dead stillness was as obtrusive as everything exploring into motion. For the moment, everything was silenced. Every bush, tree, grass; every living plant was still - much, much too still, especially on an island completely covered with magick.

Panic! Screamed one half, panic! It demanded. Control! The other called for, determined beyond measure. The panic was stronger, so much stronger. It knew me, knew how to push me, knew what it wanted. The one which called for stillness was more constant, more stable, and therefore, could last longer.

I don't remember it happening, but I know when it happened. Too much pressure was pushing, tugging, trying to force me in opposite directions. Something had to give. That something just happened to be me.

Panic.

Once again, the time while her mentor was too short, too brief. A moment in time, capturing once again the memories of the past. They had to leave quickly, when once again the old stallion's mind failed him and he threatened to reign death and destruction on all nearby. She had Malglo bring them over a short hop to a nearby mountain; she didn't want to return just yet. She felt the vibrations under her feet, saw the trees quaking on the opposing ridge. Briefly, she closed her eyes in sorrow, missing the old days and the memories she had of them.

Reaching across space, she felt the two; they were headed where she wanted them, either they couldn't or weren't resisting the magick's call. She had called them earlier, directing them to the clearing. <Alright,> she told him, <Take us back.> In her world, appearances were everything. Half of what made up judgments on appearances was timing. Therefore, timing was nearly everything; but this time, they were right on time.

Her eyes were closed as she just listened and felt for the others. Trying to gauge moods and feelings without sight was a tricky skill, but one she was trying to develop. Opening her eyes, she raised her head. They were actually more composed than she thought they would be; just watching her, feeling for the new connections between them. Did any wonder why they weren't connected to her? Did any see why she wouldn't bind her life and limb to them? Her grin widened slightly as she noted the slightly increased breath rate, could almost hear their hearts pounding harder than necessary.

"So, Kathridge," she stepped towards the mare, an almost wild grin upon her lips. "What do you think? I know you saw me last night, in the meadow. Saw my power. What do you think of it?" She shook her head and nickered softly, amused. "Did you even think it possible, fire-mare? There is so much more to magick than you know is possible." She shook her head and spun away, dark mane floating in the breeze. "Come to learn, come to teach about magic." She said it with contempt, ears laid back lightly. "Half these teachers can't come close to the knowledge I seek. The other half shut it from their minds." She smirked, glancing at Malglo. "Except for the occasional few. If you knew!" She cackled, her laughter high and proud. "If only you knew what your teachers have done in the dark of the night! Oh, oh, dark secrets hidden in plain sight! I do wonder," she said with a pause, dropping her gleeful demeanor. "I do wonder who knows?" She looked straight at Malglo, curious, but not elaborating on the subject. She walked up to him, whispering in his ear, "I dare you to find out. You might find with the knowledge that I am not your worst enemy, but that we do indeed share one."

Let him think about that for a while. "For the final result of the morning," Northarian murmured, turning to face the other mare, Kathridge's friend. There was definitely more benefit to include her in the binding than first appeared to be so. Plant magick... she let the taste of the words linger on her tongue. Let all magicks, fickle and quick to anger. Controlling a magick through another, however; she had done it before, but rarely. It was a delicate subject, made trickier by the magicker's relation with their magick. A battle always resulted in the quest for dominance, either between her and the user or her and the magick. The second occurred if the magick was at a much more uncontrolled state, still liable to take over when occasion warranted and the user got in over his/her head. As she surveyed the mare, she suspected that this battle would be with the plants. Enjori simply didn't have enough control over her magick to make it step back and her be the force of confrontation. It was too bad, really. Battling with the user instead of the magick itself was a much smoother, quicker, and easier process for all parties involved. Unfortunately, it appeared that it wouldn't be the case.

She deepened her breath, and attacked. Instantly the mare reared, thrashing about. She came down only momentarily, whipping her head side to side. Kathridge spun out of the way, Malglo following shortly as Northarian told them to get. Her eyes narrowed as she added the slight - Don't go back to the Academy - and then all her attention was focused on the mare in front of her and the magick all around. The silver bay mare plunged and fought again an invisible opponent, all of her limbs going in different directions yet somehow managing to stay upright. That's not to say she stayed upon her hooves, for she often felt to knees, hocks, and belly, but surged up again momentarily.

Northarian spun around the clearing, bending her mind to making the magick obey. It was not of accord, as she wasn't its usual dictator, and it could sense the presence of a foreign touch. What Enjori was feeling was the result of the clash, violent forces opposed to each others' wills and confined within her body and mind. Northarian felt the surge and power of the forest, fighting for its freedom and for the power the young mare contained. With several tricks she had learned almost a year ago, she led it on, pushing and pulling, tugging its weaknesses and leading its strengths into multiple catches and traps.

The battle took a hard tool on Enjori's mind, and she suffered from it. Northarian raised her head in triumph, feeling the ebb and flow of the forest from within the silver bay mare. She reached out and explored the magick, listening and learning, in general, observing. Only then did she look at the mare lying on the ground, panting with exhaustion. Her eyes were glazed over, and she was completely ignoring outside influences. Or inside ones, for that matter. With curiosity, Northarian reached out, trying to touch the mare's mind. Instead of thoughts and feelings, curiosity and ideas, she encountered a hard wall, likely corrected by the mind to protect itself. The body and the magick were outside this wall, but all that remained Enjori was encased inside it.

With a mild interest, Northarian wondered if she would ever recover. The mare would not be much use if she didn't.



Word Count: 3315
Characters: Malglo, Northarian, Kathridge, & Enjori
Place: On the Island of the Academy & briefly in the western mountains

[ϞSymreeϞ]

K A T H R I D G E

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I had never been more afraid. Malglo was in trouble. He was worried. What did that mean for the rest of us? I ran blindly beside Enjori, mostly counting on her to lead the way. It worked well for a while, and then something inside of her broke, and I lost her in the wood. I remembered how she thrashed, her head crashing into trees, how her eyes glazed with a wild craze that she could not control. I don't remember how many times I screamed her name as she started to break, and as she disappeared into the wood. All that I knew for sure was that I had to get to the Academy. I had to warn Draldoth. I couldn't let Malglo down. If he failed...there was no hope for the rest of us.

I forced myself off of Enjori's cold trail, surging in the direction that I thought the Academy was in. The wind whipped in my eyes, and tears ran cold down my cheeks as I ran, Enjori's tormented expression ingrained in the back of my mind. I barely believed it when I came to the edge of the forest and the grounds of the Academy unfolded before me. I did not stop running, did not slow down until I reached Draldoth's cove, slamming my body against his door, shouting his name- or was it Enjori's? It didn't matter, he would hear me, he would open the door. He had to! He had to be there!

The door swung open, revealing a tired and blinking headmaster. He looked at me with evident concern, but I didn't even give him the time to ask what was wrong. My own time was running out. "Malglo needs your help!" I shouted through my tears.

"Kathridge! What about Malglo? Where is he?"

I opened my mouth to tell him, but no sound came out. I didn't know where he was. The next moment, I tried to tell him everything, about Enjori and Arix, but I only cried harder. I couldn't speak!

<Don't even think about it, little fire-caster.Make something up- lie, and make it good.>

I felt the connection then, I felt Malglo and Enjori, and, more slightly, but undeniably present was Arix.

Draldoth had a far-away look on his face for a moment. "Kathri, I've just spoken with Malglo, he says that everything's fine...Did you just wake up?"

I nodded, hating that I couldn't tell him the truth. I failed. I failed Malglo, Enjori, and the entire Academy. Sniffling, I said, "Oh god, Headmaster, I'm sorry! It was all just a dream, I'm so stupid! It all was just so real!"

He nodded kindly, "No, shh, Kathri, that's okay, why don't you go get something for a dreamless sleep from our wonderful healer, hmm? I'll come check on you in the morning."

I nodded and walked out, giving him a half smile that I knew he would see as a thank you, but that was meant as a distress signal. S.O. S.!!! I wanted to shout, HELP US!! Unfortunately, when bound to Arix, my acting skills skyrocketed like magic. Draldoth would never see my distress signals.

I walked out of his office, wanting to go to the healers, but my legs took me on another path- back out to the forest. Then I caught sight of Enjori ahead. She made it out of the trees! But was she okay?

"How'd it go?" She asked as I caught up to her.

I shook my head, feeling like a complete looser, "I failed. I wasn't quick enough."

"Have you seen or heard from Malglo? Or Arix?"

"Arix kept me from telling Draldoth. She made me lie to him. I think that Malglo is with her."


The magic stopped us in a large, circular clearing. I was just concentrating on breathing. What would Arix do to us when she arrived? What had she done to Malglo? I wasn't sure that I wanted to know.

"Uh, this is the destination, right?"

As though answering her question, Arix and Malglo appeared right there in front of us, calm as could be. My heart jumped into my throat when I saw him. I was hoping for the impossible. I wanted him to suddenly launch on Arix, pull off some miraculous feat as he always did and make everything okay again. But no. He just stood there, calm, but I could tell that he was angry, and more than a little scared. He was just as helpless and confused as Enjori and I, but maybe he wasn't. Maybe he knew what was going on, but simply couldn't do a damn thing about it!

"So, Kathridge," Arix said with a wild grin as she stepped toward me. "What do you think? I know you saw me last night, in the meadow. Saw my power. What do you think of it?" The black mare laughed then, sending a chill down my spine. "Did you even think it possible, fire-mare? There is so much more to magick than you know is possible." I shifted uncomfortably, but Arix merely looked wistful before she spun away in frustration. "Come to learn, come to teach about magic."She spat. "Half these teachers can't come close to the knowledge I seek. The other half shut it from their minds." She glanced at Malglo, "Except for the occasional few. If you knew!"

I tuned out the rest of her words, not having the stomach to listen to her low, velvet voice as she spoke so lovingly of magic that in most societies was illegal. I wished that I was braver, that I could tell her what I really thought about her and her magic.

Arix moved on to Enjori, and I stiffened, knowing that my friend was highly unstable at the moment. I saw the black mare tense, and guessed a moment before she acted, exactly what would happen. "NO!" I shouted, but a moment too late.

I watched the tortured light come back into her eyes, and looked away. Someone shoved me into the foliage away from my friend, and through closed eyes, I realized that that someone was Malglo. He stood in front of me, quietly watching what I did not have the strength to see. I found his mane and buried my head in it, trying to ignore the sound of Enjori thrashing around on the forest floor.

Eventually, the clearing went silent again, but I did not look. I knew that I did not want to see what had happened to Enjori. I felt Malglo tense, the muscles in his neck clenching. It was then that he snorted angrily, "What use is she to you now, Northarian?" He asked. "Look what you've done!"

"LOOK!" he roared as she ignored him. Her eyes flicked momentarily in his direction, and then settled curiously on Enjori. I flinched at his shouted command, slowly pulling my head out of his mane to look at what was left of my one and only friend.

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[Shanza]

It was quiet, oh, so quiet. Foggy and still and quiet. My mind opened, was calm. Steady, calm, quiet. The flow of energy and life, the quietness and security of the forest. My eyes blinked open, and I eyed the grassy meadow before me. It swayed in rhythm, it spoke quietly. Without my looking, I knew that Arix stood behind, likely talking to the other two under her sway. The sun shone in my face; from its position I guessed it was sometime after mid-morning.

There was no fear, no hesitation, only certainty. The forest and the plants all around me spoke and swayed of one accord, speaking softly to my mind. It spoke of power and life, the sun and death. It spoke of secrets safely hidden and things entrusted for eternity. It spoke to me, and I listened. It danced in the light breeze, stretched towards the sky. No longer did it seem foreign, unattainable, a threat; it was me, I was it, we were one. With ease that seemed briefly unnatural I stood, hearing Kathri's gasp behind me. I looked around the clearing, knowing where the plants were hurt and killed, knowing the cycle of life and death went on. Hesitant hoofbeats were soon followed by Kathri coming into my sight, edging around to look into my face. Arix and Malglo were still behind me.

"Enjori?" She asked quietly. "Are you ok?"

I looked at her without replying, her hesitation, fear, and almost terror so deep that it seemed to wound her soul. I looked away into the forest, knowing that I should respond, but distasteful of the words that would form. Language was so short, so cut, so crude. The forest spoke much better than any equine could, with pictures and thoughts and feelings shared as one. It was harmony; Kathri was pure chaos.

I sensed the link between our minds, instantly pleased with the find. It would be a much easier way to communicate. Words were so finite, feelings so infinite. My mind opened to hers as I turned to look her in the eyes, feeling Malglo in the distance. Peace and tranquility washed over to her, but underneath it all I knew she felt some of what I was feeling, the openness and vastness of the forest. I wondered what it would seem like to her, would it feel like the raging chaos I had felt before? The utter confusion and power of the forest, unable to be grasped by mortal mind? I smiled to myself as I looked away, pondering the thought. I didn't speak of true immortality, of course, but the everlasting enduring of the forest. Here, every generation of plants seemed to have passed down knowledge, wisdom, and the thoughts of the parent generation in a link so vast and powerful that it encompassed the entire isle.

I wondered were forests everywhere like this, or was it just this one? Did some phenomenon in the past bring this forest to an increased stage of awakening that others did not share? Was it a byproduct of the academy, so steeped in everything magical? Or was it something else, a product of a darker and more dangerous time, used to protect that which should never again see the light of day. I stretched, working sore muscles. It didn't matter really, if this forest was unique or the same as all the rest. I belonged here; this I knew. I belonged here, to the forest. We were one and the same.

"Enjori?" She asked, voice trickling with fear.

I looked at her, face passive. "Yes?" I drawled the word, vaguely wondering what she was worried about.

"You're... not alright."

I looked back at her, staring in complete stillness. My eyes shimmered green, and I smiled.



Word Count:
Charracters: Enjori, Kathri, & Malglo; Northarian
Place: On the Island of the Academy