In the Nest

[Azen]

"Well you see young one, being a spirit gets really very boring. THat's why normally we respond so quickly so a calling. I recognized Azen's magic and and his dancing, and I can't think of ANYTHING more fun to do with my nonexistence then to annoy him, so I kind of opened a hole myself. All it takes is a little magic, Jaydn." I ignored many of Kiesha's jests, but my mouth may have twisted a bit.

"But apart from callings and interacting with each other every now and then, there's just not a lot for us spirits to do. Just ask Anjay, if he doesn't get bound to Danica's pair bond!"
I flushed again. I could just imagine my 'mother' glareing daggers at me. "Hey now that wasn't entirely my fault!" Once I'd tried to call Anjay and Vasili, Danica Shardae's old alastair, and I accidentally ended up kind of joining their spirits. It was no big deal...Hali got them apart again. But Kiesha liked to bug me with it anyway.

I watched as magic-cloud Kiesha spiraled around Jaydn's wounded arm. "Oh you poor dear...."

[Cujo - Jaydn - Kurt]

[Jaydn:]

When Kiesha mentioned Anjay and Vasili getting bound together, I couldn't help but snicker. Azen seemed pretty upset about how Kiesha was teasing him. I thought it was pretty funny. Though, I do have to admit, I wouldn't like it if somebody was teasing me. So, I tried to wipe the smile off my face, though I wasn't very successful.

When Kiesha started cirling my arm, I stepped back again. I had forgotten how close to the edge of the dais I was; I fell off. I spun in midair so I didn't land on my back. I hit the ground as I fell, hoping that would help me falling. "Ouch," I said under my breath, kneeling on the floor. I felt my face flush as I stood up. I turned around and faced Azen and Kiesha again, half expecting them both to laugh at me.

[Azen]

[Azen]

I tried even harder not to laugh this time, but I couldn't help and began to chuckle, but a quick snap of magic from Kiesha shut me up. THe Kiesha cloud floated down to where Jaydn had fallen. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. But...tell me, who was the viper?"

My eyes widened at Kiesha's question and I half expected him to tell Kiesha off. I don't think he had wanted me to know either (even though I already did), so he must have been doubly furious.

[Cujo - Jaydn - Kurt]

[Jaydn:]

My face flushed even more red [if that was possible] when Azen began laughing. I looked away from him, clenching my jaw so I didn't say something stupid. Upon hearing Kiesha's question of who had given me the scar, my head snapped back towards her [and Azen]. "How'd you...?" I dropped the end of my question, trying to figure the answer out myself. Obviously Kiesha knew I had been attacked by a viper; and, from the look on Azen's face, he knew, too.

I stared at the cloud, not sure what to say. Saying, 'I have no idea who attacked me. I was ten and stupid; I went into the woods alone and nearly got myself killed' would make me sound like an idiot.

[Azen]

[Azen]

"Ah. Well, woods are infested with foul creatures amok these days. Someone had better tell Obsidian that they have a rouge on their hands."

"Kiesha!" I voiceferated, taking a step foreward. I got a wave of curiousity back, which was pretty much her equivalent to saying 'What?'. 'He's freaked out enough by all this magic. He doesn't need to know you can read his mind too.' I just got more confusion back. She didn't understand anything wrong with it, because she'd always been around magic. I sighed. "Sorry Jaydn."

[Cujo - Jaydn - Kurt]

[Jaydn:]

My eyes widened as Kiesha spoke. She didn't just read my mind, did she? I took an unconcious step back, putting more distance between myself and the other two. This was definitely the weirdest day of my life.

I looked over my shoulder at the door, wondering why nobody else had shown up yet. Surely it was too late to be out in the marketplace? All the shops had to have been closed by now...

[Azen]

[Azen]

Kiesha sighed dramatically. "Okay, I think I've intruded on you boys long enough." This sounded very much like a goodbye, and I hadn't figured out what the heck had happened to me yet. "Wait, Kiesha! Tell me, is it really even possible to call living beings with a calling?"

Kiesha seemed to think for a moment. "I'm not sure Azen, but I think it's something you had better find out. We can't have you randomly disappearing on us. You might want to ask that Hali friend of yours. Anyways, goodbye until later. Nice meeting you Jaydn." The cloud spiraled within itself and vanished.

[Cujo - Jaydn - Kurt]

[Jaydn:]

"That was weird," I said before realizing I had even opened my mouth. There I go again, not using my head. I'm going to end up getting myself killed one day because of that. I wanted to ask Azen about Outcast Island, but he might not want me to know. I hoisted myself back up onto the dais, not sure what to do or say.

"Are you going to stay here for the night?" I asked, wondering if he was going to try and leave. The temperature dropped pretty quick at night, and, although I wasn't sure if he was trustworthy, I didn't want him to end up getting lost in the middle of the night and die.

[Azen]

[Azen]

"Yes, 'weird' is definately a subsequent description for her... I shook my head at Kiesha's sudden departure.

"That's....kind of you." I managed when he offered to let me stay. I all but dropped as magic quickly left me. THat really had been a calling; there was no other explaination for my magic being so depleted. It was the first time I had ever done one without Hali.

I didn't know if he was offering out of kindness or obligation, but either way I was grateful. But I also wasn't quite sure if I wanted to reveal a rather bad habit of mine.... When I went to sleep, nobody, and I strictly mean NOBODY besides Hali ever now and then could wake me up. Hali had said it was because Anhamirak's magic took a lot more out of someone than Ahnmik's did, but when I fell asleep (and I did quite often, even on the beach in broad daylight) I slept like a frozen rock.

[Cujo - Jaydn - Kurt]

[Jaydn:]

"Follow me," I said, easily jumping down from the dais. I led Azen over to an unused bed and gestured to it as I spoke. "This may not be what you're used to, but it's all we've got."

After a moment's thought, I added, "I'll be over there," I gestured to the other side of the nest, "if you need anything." I hesitated for a moment to see if he would say anything.

[Azen]

[Azen]

"Heh...that's all right, back on the island I usually sleep on the floor." I gave him a tired smile, which immedeately (sp) turned to a frown as I thought of my home. I desperately wanted more than anything to find how I got here and how to get back, but I was way too tired to try and call Hali now, and definately too tired to travel anywhere. But still...I was pretty sure I knew what my dreams were going to be about tonight.

I realized I must have been thinking for quite some time, for Jaydn was looking at me expectantly. I smiled again at him, this time with more zeal. "THank you for your hospitality." I said formally.

[Cujo - Jaydn - Kurt]

[Jaydn:]

"You're welcome," I responded, nodding. I turned and walked over to my bed [well, I guess it wasn't really mine; we all just sort of moved around, but it's where I slept most of the time] and dropped onto the blankets, sighing.

This had been such a weird day. I replayed the events through my mind until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I let my eyes drift shut, and darkness enveloped me.

[Azen]

[Azen]

I fell asleep almost instantly.

My aforementioned analysis was right: I did dream about the island. I dreamed I was among the waves again with nothing but a board, its sail, the scales on my back, and the wind in my face. My hair would've been bright white then due to the glareing sun.

I had several more dreams of that nature, and then spirits came to vist me. I saw Anjay again (he had quite forgiven me for the Vasili thing, I don't know why Kiesha insisted on bringing it up...) and he was his usual, energetic self that he had been before. I didn't bother to ask him about the calling, because he hardly knew about magic.

Then I saw Hali drifting among the spirits. I called out to her and asked with my magic if she knew anything about what had happened. Was it possible to call a living being? (I did all of this with magic, and I can't really explain it.)

THe Hali-vision sighed. "I'm not sure, I'll look in on it. In the meantime don't do anything rash. I would rather have you lost than dead." I sked her how the island was going. It's fine, but little Elsie will be sad to see you gone."

I sighed inwardly. THat little robin...she was going to get into some real trouble someday. Hali bid goobye shortly after telling me it would be best to stay where I was. I started to protest, but she left too quickly and I knew she was right. But...there was nothing wrong with just missing home was there? My only home...

[Cujo - Jaydn - Kurt]

[Jaydn:]

When I woke in the morning, Azen was still sleeping. I decided to let him rest for a while and headed out to the market and picked up a few things we could both eat for breakfast. When I got back to the Dancer's Nest, he was still asleep. I walked over to where he was, my hands full. "Azen," I said, hoping that would wake him up. When he didn't stir I nudged him with my foot, then a little rougher as that didn't wake him, either.

Sighing, I dropped onto the blanket so I was seated next to him and sat there, trying to think of how I could wake him up. Surely it couldn't be to difficult?

[Azen]

[Azen]

I caught the faint aroma of food, but I wasn't sure if I was dreaming that or not. THat magic had really taken a toll on me.

I talked to Gregory Cobriana and his mother, Charis, and they shared with me some interesting stories of when they had been alive. When Charis told me about her son Zane and the new Naga Danica Shardae, I couldn't help but smile. So maybe Anjay's death wasn't in vain, and people were really make steps for peace like Hali and I had. I wonder if Vasili knew about the two yet.

I also met Andreios, a crow who had been in the avian lands at the time of war. He seemed wary of me, and we didn't have much in common, so that conversation was rather short. I caught a magic whiff of a few falcons, but I stayed away from actually contacting them. No need for complications.