group
"I just didn't expect you to have those kinds of abilities." She walked backwards to talk to him "The specific observations that normal people wouldn't have accurately guessed. And then the making an ugly ogre tree food."
group
(yes. Her pride has been hurt, so she's just a little salty)
He shrugged helplessly. "My mom's a dark Fae princess. She taught me from a young age how to use people's magics against them, how to change spells into other things, and how to recognize what different magics feel like.'
group
She nodded. "I got the fact that the sorceress was your mother, considering the whole reunion thing. And I'll say it again: It wasn't creepy, it was just unexpected."
He decided to cut right to the chase: "Then why are we acting like we hate each other?"
group
"Because I don't like people," she said flatly. "Even if you didn't have powers, I still wouldn't like you."
"And why is that? Why stop a friendship before it can happen?" he asked, frowning heavily. "Like my mom said, we need to trust each other. You seem to be trying you hardest to do the exact opposite."
group
She turned around again before she spoke. "People don't generally want to be friends with a psycho serial killer."
He didn't even blink an eye. "I grew up with demons, evil spirits, and all different kinds of fucked up shit. You aren't the first killer I've met. Probably not the last, either."
group
She shrugged. "I don't trust people, either. So there's that as well. I've had more 'friends' stab my back than have it."
"This is bigger than both of our feelings," he said. "We're liable for however far Agdrin gets in his campaign."
group
"I can work with you, but don't expect us to be buddy-buddy right off the bat. That's not how these things work." She knew she was being a bitch, but she didn't really care at this point. She had just gotten a vacation from all of this shit, and now she has to save Earth yet again because it's so vulnerable.
He shook his head, deciding there was no point in arguing. They reached the end of the stream, which stopped in a wide clearing of what looked like farm land. "They'll be here any second," he said shortly.
group
"Fun," she chirped, stopping in her tracks. She curiously looked around, intrigued by the lushness of the rainforest. It was a stark contrast to her usual city landscape, but a welcomed contrast. It reminded her of Hawaii, kind of.
He sat down in the driest patch he could, waiting silently as he thought. There's no way in all of hell that this girl is gonna trust me. She's making a point not to.
group
Tessa found a sturdy looking branch high up off the ground and shrugged. She climbed up that tree and onto the branch, situating herself. Soon enough, she was dangling off of it upside down from her dragon tail with her wings wrapped around her like a cocoon. Behind the wings, she crossed her legs as if she was sitting crosslegged and closed her eyes. Might as well get a short nap in.
Many hours passed with them just sitting in the clearing, waiting in the stifling humidity for the tribals. It was dusk before Runner got up from his spot and snapped his head around 9 times, each to different positions in a counterclockwise direction,
"Tess," he said. "They're here."
group
Her wings rustled, indicating that she was awake and acknowledged him, but didn't get down from her bat-like position.
He continued to snap his head around, following the tribe's movement through the magical field. "They're….circling us. Like they're afraid."
group
Tessa folded her wings back slightly to give her a narrow window to see through. "Why's that?"
He said, scratching his arm nervously. "They can taste the dark magic on me and are afraid of it."
group
"Didn't you say you were here before?" she asked skeptically. Her wings rustled again as she closed them somewhat.
"Never said it was good," he mumbled as a single figure appeared from the darkness. Oh, shit, this was a bad idea.
group
Tessa opened her wings fully this time, folding them behind her back as she remained hanging upside down. Her hair brushed the ground in golden waves like that of a waterfall. She waited and watched. Like a predator sizing up either potential prey or another predator.
"Who are you?" the figure asked, seeming to be cloaked with an artificial darkness. It was there once chance to say the truth. Lie, and they would die. Tell the truth….well, we'll see about it.
"I am Runner, son of Rhianon," he said nervously, wringing his hands together.
group
"Theresa Hunt, daughter of Zirion," Tessa said calmly.
"What is a son of a Dark Fae doing in our sacred forest?" the figure asked, making Runner squeam.
"It's a long story, trust me," he mumbled, already knowing the other members were emerging from the forest line around them.
group
Tessa rustled her wings again, baring her elongated fangs in a silent warning snarl as she looked around the place. She was tense, like a snake coiled and ready to strike if poked.
The figure stepped into the low light, revealing it's looks to them.
"We don't trust you," he said ominously, just as a dart shot through the air and embedded itself into Runner's neck.
He fell to the ground with a gasp, falling limp just before he could grab the dart from his neck.
group
"Hey!" Tessa shouted, the word laced with a slight hiss. She flared her wings, now fully exposing her fangs as she growled at the figure. "He's not the enemy!"
