Thread: Light in Shadows (Fates and Flame)

Theyre venomous actually, Kaia corrected Aezon, Not poisonous. And theyre perfectly safe to eat if cooked properly. Kaia remained focused on her work even as she spoke. Every movement was precise as she peeled back the skin of the animal to reveal the meat inside. And as for your other question, she continued, Was it you specifically who opened the Rift and nearly destroyed the world all those years ago? If so you look very good for your age. She smiled at him, hoping he wouldnt take offense to her sarcastic nature. Personally I dont believe in holding an entire culture of people responsible for something that happened centuries ago. Kaia made short work of the snake and set both the skin and meat on a large, flat rock for safe keeping when finished. She moved on to building a fire next, which could be especially difficult out in the damp conditions of the Mist. She gathered some dead twigs and peeled the wet layers of bark off to expose the drier below. She then split each piece of wood, as smaller pieces would light faster. Luckily, she knew enough to never leave home without a flint stone and small wad of dry tinder in her pocket. Forming a mound instead of a pit, Kaia shaped her firewood with the tinder at the center. When she was satisfied with her build, she attempted to light the fire low from the windward side. It took a few tries, but when flames finally sparked, the air flow helped the fire to spread quickly. She found a couple of longer sticks to hang above the flames which she then laid the snake meat across. It sizzled in the heat, while Kaia watched for an even, tender cook. Kaia was conscious of both Aezon and Leiku watching her the entire time. She would occasionally look up to meet their gazes, but when it came to talking she felt like her tongue was fat and swollen. There were so many things she could think to ask him, but the words just wouldnt form. After a long enough time though, the silence between them was growing just as awkward as anything she could think to say. Of all her curiosity, she wondered most about the spirit. Her eyes fell on the huge wolf, still amazed by what it truly was. Ive never seen a spirit before, she managed to say at last, Nor met anyone who could command one. You called it Leiku, didnt you? Her father never told her stories about a spirit by that name, though very few if any of his tales involved Shadow Spirits. She knew little and less of the beings that called the Fade lands their home. Most of that knowledge was lost destroyed by those who feared what the Shadow Tribe was capable of. I thought only High Ascendants were capable of binding a spirit to their will. You must be really powerful to accomplish that. Kaia looked at him expectantly, hoping he would start to tell her all the amazing details about his ascendancy. Yet, she could tell how guarded he was. It was be foolish to think he would start spilling his lifes story to a stranger. Let alone a stranger that snuck up on them in a dangerous wilderness after being rudely treated by her kin. But Kaia was never one to turn down meeting new people in interesting ways. Her bad habit of talking when she was nervous however, kept her prattling on before he even had a chance to reply. They say the Shadow Tribe live a nomadic existence now. Ill bet youve been to all sorts of places, havent you? Oh the things you must have seen! Have you ever been to the Boil? I imagine youve been everywhere if youre strong enough to bind a spirit. Ive heard Fire Ascendants of the Boil only have to touch you, and they can burn straight through your body! They call it the Molten Kiss Sounds made up to me, but Im sure someone as well-traveled as you would know better. Not that hed even told her he was well-traveled. But Kaia couldnt imagine otherwise. The food shouldnt take much longer, she promised. She flipped the meat, making sure to get a nice even cook on both sides. So are all Shadow spirits wolves? I never pictured them as animals before. Id always sort of thought of them as shapeless beings or something. Hmm you really dont say much, do you? Kaia blurted at the end, completely oblivious to the fact her mouth hadnt stopped running since it opened.