Flight of Embers

[Delmodan 855]

Flight of Embers

 

The Dream

 

“Khaine….” A flash erupted upon the sight of the Ember Druid, blinding his view while the colors of emerald, ivory, and a blaze of crimson moved across his vision. For a time, his body would feel weightless as it seemingly started to fall into a black abyss. “Khaine…” A voice would be heard once more, sounding feminine in tone and vaguely familiar as if he hadn’t heard in decades now. The resonating sound echo’d within the darkness, casting off whatever unknown that was about to lay before him now while he continued to fall until finally colliding with the soft earth. It was then his senses would come alive, smelling the pine scent of a forest with the sensation of the flora all around him coming to life. With a fluttering of wings that would no doubt catch his attention, his vision would finally reveal to him a dark, surreal like thicket. “Ember..” The voice would be heard once again with it now coming from just above to show the pure white feathers of a snowy owl. Its golden irises peer down directly at him with a soft hoot that seemingly flowed within the melodies of the forest. Yet before he could even interact with it, the owl’s wings extended wide which allowed the creature to swoop down towards the path that now appeared before him.

 

 The male mali’ame would take to his feet with something felt deep within his soul beckoning forth to follow down the path. The beaten trail felt a lingering thickness within the air that seemed to increase the further he ventured. Silent whispers would catch his ears while the branches of the thick trees would sway ominously to a presence that was now quite clearly not his own. “Do you remember….?” the familiar, feminine voice would be hear once more. Above him now resting the snowy white owl with its eyes piercing down towards his figure. Its head would tilt to the side as it seems to curiously observe him yet before he could speak a word, the creature would spread its wings once more and take flight towards the end of the trail. It was then a weight was felt within his palm, revealing to him when looking down upon it a turquoise colored stone with the image of an owl spreading its wings carved into it. The object itself quite ordinary yet something that was given to him so long ago. 

 

With the revelation of the stone, a gust of wind picked up amongst the canopies of the trees. Its flow catching a flurry of leaves that suddenly push him forward towards the end of the path to a small clearing next to the bottom of a rocky cliffside. “You…” Emitted a deep voice that struck deep down to the very bone. Up above on a long, jagged piece of stone would stand the massive white wolf mani, Morea. “Forgotten who you are again, Elf?” The Great Mani Prince snarled with teeth bare, flashing a golden glow within its canine gaze. “Fumbling around like a pup. Stand and fight… or die like prey!” Morea would bellow out near the end before its form erupted in a flash of blinding light then vanish completely. It was then the fluttering of wings could be heard once more except this time as he turned to look, he would find himself face to face with the calm serenity features of the Owl Druid. She stood there in silence for a time, observing his stature until her lips would part to speak. “Awaken…”

 

 

The Awakening

A crack of lightning struck across the sky that followed quickly by a bellowing thunder that shook the very ground where the Ember Druid was resting for the night. The sound itself finally waking him from his dream to the living world in which was met with the darkness and the beads of sweat dripping down his face. Memories of the dream would creep into his mind as if questioning on what he saw was truly just that or perhaps something more. With another loud crack of both thunder and lightning striking across the sky, it was then he realized it was unusually quiet in the part of the forest where he resided. Whether it was his warrior senses or his communion as a druid, a deep feeling of panic and fear is felt deep within his very core. Yet this wasn’t however coming from himself. No...something nearby was calling out within the violent storm.

 

 The shriek was almost deafening yet was filled with a completely harmonic melody. It felt suffering as well as fear and rage that even the forest around him reacted to its call. With the Elf now moving to stand, a flash of flamed, emerald wings flew across the sky off to his left, moving towards a nearby mountain range. The sound of several human hunters heard in the distance soon afterwards, carrying torches and bows to follow behind in a chase to catch this mysterious creature. “Over here! It flew this way!” One of the humans shouted, moving quickly through the woods just pass the Ember Druid. His features, or what could be seen, would be black hair with a medium build, full leather attire, and a hunting bow ready to be drawn if need be. The strange creature clearly distracting the party from Khaine getting noticed, at least for now as a both a blond and brown haired male with similar builds ran by holding torches and similar hunting gear. 

 

Above, the storm only seemed to worsen with the rain slamming down towards the earth below in a heavy downpour. The sparks of lightning within the sky revealing smoke and the shimmering trail of the emerald flamed creature that flew by moments ago. Something was different about this winged beast. Having only caught a glimpse of it, yet it held a pure harmonic and natural aura that was impossible to simply ignore. It was then an image of the ivory owl from the dream would flash before his eyes. The sight for only a mere second in time, giving a hint or perhaps a calling within him now had his form started running towards the mysterious creature’s trail...

 

The Ending 

Far up ahead towards the steep mountainside, another loud shriek erupted across the area. The sound resonating deep within the forest where even the other animals took flight or fled in panic from the harmonic tune. “There it is!” Shouted one of the hunters, moving to climb up a small rock formation to get a better angle before pulling out an arrow to aim up towards the creature. A flurry of emerald embers illuminated the sky, forming now the silhouette of bird with its leaves, twigs, and branches covering its wings and torso. The tail made of viridian vines that trail emerald flames behind it, revealing its appearance now as a Ligno or ‘Forest’ Phoenix. “Take it down!” Shouted the blond haired human, moving with his comrade around towards the bottom of the mountain side. The hunter aiming his bow now releases the arrow, having it shot through the sky towards the flying creature. As it was about to make contact however, the Phoenix’s form swiftly moved out of the way. It’s body though seeming to have some trouble as if it was straining just to be within the sky. 

 

“The wound is weakening it!” Shouted the archer, moving to grasp another arrow to aim. The statement quite well and true as the Phoenix flutters its wings rapidly within the air with its body moving from side to side. It was then its beak parted to emit another harmonic shriek, having now its wings starting to erupt in emerald flames while it moves closer towards the mountain side. “We got it now!” One of the hunters would be heard through the crackling roar of thunder from above. The rain continuing to pour with violent gusts of wind throwing the Phoenix’s body out of balance until finally it crashes upon a rocky ledge just above where the hunting party was. The three quickly moved towards the jagged wall, starting to each climb as cautiously as they could given the wet terrain and the wild creature just above them. Yet just as they were halfway up, it was then one of them realized the trap that was created by the intelligent beast. A flash of lightning coursed across the area to illuminate the outline of the Phoenix’s form. Smoldering eyes peering down towards the trio right from above with its massive wings now lifting high. With several large thrusts of its wings and body, its causes the rocks near the edge to crumble and begin to fall towards the hunters below. One of the men struck by falling debris before falling towards the forest floor. Another managing to just barely dodge a boulder yet was met with the talons of the flying creature, causing his grip to loosen as his leather armor on his back was torn. 

 

Two down, the last to go. The blond haired hunter’s eyes wide in both terror and awe, having the full Phoenix’s form right before him now ablaze in an emerald fire with various leaves falling from its wings. The wound near it’s heart by one of the arrows earlier was dripping a strange, what appears to be molded, fiery blood that was making the creature weaker by the second. With another shriek emitting from its form, the human attempts to quickly pull out a dagger to throw at the winged beast. The dagger however never was able to be drawn as sound of an arrow was then heard. The Phoenix rapidly flapped its wings as the human’s eyes widen before dilating fully, now starting to fall towards the earth before with an arrow sticking from his neck...
 

 

The Rebirth 

 

Khaine stood upon a ledge nearby with his bow firmly gripped within his callous hands. The Phoenix now turning towards the newcomer with its piercing gaze meeting his own. Within that moment in time, silence was all that was heard. The Ember Druid’s vision starting to fade in and out as if mesmerized by the creature now slowly descending towards him. It’s features now fully engulfed in an emerald flame, having particles of ash trailing behind it as it finally collides upon the solid rock in front of the Ember Druid. The Forest Phoenix’s head slightly lifts up to peer towards the Elf with a soft yet pained chirp that filled his ears with a harmonic song. One of its wings then lifted to reveal a white leather satchel it was carrying the whole time. 

 

With Khaine reaching to grasp ahold of the bag, the purpose of the Phoenix and why it was here felt like it was complete. As it’s head lifted high, it let out a melodic song while its entire form burst into a bright, emerald fire. The eruption causing a surge of natural energies to ripple across the area he stood with a light that would cause him to shield his eyes for but a moment. What remains when his sight returned was a shimmering yet smoldering golden egg resting in a pile of ashes. As if nature had followed what had transpired, the storm had finally calmed soon afterwards to a gentle rainfall with the forest now returned to its serene like area. 

The satchel he held would be opened by him, revealing a variety of items, but most importantly a small tome with an image of an owl holding the sage herb in it’s talons. Upon the first page would be a message elegantly handwritten for him. 

 

‘Brother Ember,
May you find companionship with my old friend as I did for many centuries…

Sincerely,

Sister Owl’

 

Below the small message was an ivory owl feather attached. Further within the tome was in fact a diary she had of caring for her phoenix and how to take care of it. It was then a soft hoot was heard nearby. A snowy owl was resting on a branch peering down towards him as if having observed the entire time. Yet obviously it was a bit unclear whether that was truly the case or not. IT was then a small turquoise stone fell out of the bag and onto his lap as he turned his attention towards the owl. The image carved on it the same from what he was given decades ago and with that, the creature would expand its wings and take flight. Its form disappearing into the night….

 

OOC Information

My character, the Owl Druid, has had one of the twelve phoenixes that exist in the world since Athera. Given by Brother Mind or Aeras(Paleo), who created the Phoenix lore and gave them out several times over the years. After it was given it to the Hawk Druid Artimec in Axios, it was later return by him to the Owl Druid. This story is of her phoenix being passed to Imattyz’s char Khaine, the Ember Druid. I hope you enjoyed the read.

 

 

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

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