Thread: Light in Shadows (Fates and Flame)

Leiku hissed at the Kais threatening character and jumped from the counter. Mid-leap, the spirit changed forms yet again, shaping into the sleek, black wolf that Aezon was most familiar with. He took his place at Aezons side, a living shadow with smoldering eyes of red. Their ears were deaf of his guttural snarl, but it could reduce even the stoutest heart to fear. It was all just a display for now the dreadfully shy spirit would never reveal itself if it was not essential. Aezon would have liked to say he was surprised by the reaction, but animosity had become an old friend to him. That didnt change much for the bad taste it put in his mouth, or the way he balled his fists to keep from giving the man a reason to wish he hadnt drawn his blades. With civil exchange no longer an option, He was tempted enough to take what he needed by force. It would be easy, and as much as the man deserved for his prejudice. It was the memory of Saizo which held him back. Aezon knew he would have disappointed his grandfather for even contemplating such a thing. Fine, he agreed to Kais demands. He passed a glance at Kaia, as if giving her the chance to break courtesy as well. It seemed she would not be so callous as her father, but nor would she be able to persuade him otherwise. After one last regretful look at the goods hed nearly obtained, Aezon turned his back on both of them, stalking out of the shop without another word. Leiku threatened them with another deep growl before following in his wake. The spirit may have been invisible to them, but its negative energy pulsed through the shop, causing one of their jarred ingredients to fall over and shatter upon the ground. The unplanned destruction made Aezon feel a little better as they stepped back out into the damp, heavy air. Aezon was quickly growing to dislike this province. He could expect that sort of treatment from anywhere, but the humidity and low visibility of this place had him anxious. Hed grown up learning how focus his senses and keep a constant awareness of his surroundings. But this Mist felt alien to him, hiding secrets in every corner. He was especially unaccustomed to the locals ability to sneak up on him. He was started when one such individual popped right out of the mist, nearly crashing into him as he trudged a heavy work load back to the docks. The old man grumbled, eyeing him with annoyance. We need that Shadow Root, Leiku, Aezon growled, trying to bite back his own frustration. We wont be able to walk the Rift without it. The only question that remained was where to get it. He figured the mushroom had to grow somewhere nearby. The girl mentioned a low demand, so the herbalist wouldnt go out of his way just to gather some. Perhaps he could find some in the wild if they searched the territory. The Mist natives had formed paths leading out of the village and through the swamps, but it would still be dangerous. The Mist was widely an untamed frontier, where a misstep could kill you as easily as the carnivorous fauna. But Aezon was determined, remaining positive as he set off from the storefront and left the safety of the village. The trail seemed easy enough to follow at first, but as the evidence of civilization disappeared into the fog, he realized how complicated the simple task of hunting for mushrooms was going to be. The paths walked by the locals were winding, often splitting off into multiple directions. He tried to keep a good sense of their direction, but was one turn led to another in the wet jungle, confusion settled in. After finding himself at a dead end, Aezon traced his steps back, only to find another dead-end. Aezon was never one to panic. He could have a short temper every now and then, but otherwise prided himself on his ability to keep a level head. Yet something about being lost in the Mist gave him a taste of fear hed not known in a long time. This swamp felt strangely alive. The sound of wildlife shuffling through the brush was disconcerting. There was no telling what sort of creature could be stalking him from within the miasma, but the symphony of croaking frogs, chirping insects and outlandish birdcalls made it difficult to listen for. The danger of his situation was as palpable as the infamous mist for which the region was named. Even Leiku was on edge, remaining close as he padded alongside him. The spirit growled at every sound, the inky black substance that served as fur coming to stand on end. He muddy terrain of the bog wasnt a concern for an ethereal being such as him, at least. Where Aezon was lucky to avoid sloshing into a pool of knee-high, stagnant water every few minutes, the wolf spirit could sprint across the surface as though it were solid ground. Must be nice, Aezon grumbled at him after pulling free of the latest sludge hed manage to stumble into. This isnt working, he was finally forced to declare. Finding a rare mushroom was the least of his problems at this rate he wouldnt even be able to find a way out of the bog. He had to get his barrens if he was going to survive this damned place. But his frustrations were getting the best of him, clouding his mind as bad as the mist clouded his vision. As he came upon a flat, open clearing, his grandfathers lessons came back to him. Saizo taught him how fatal a turbulent mind could be in tense situations, and how meditation could help to sharpen ones focus. It was far from an ideal location, but Aezon sat himself in position atop a large, mossy boulder. Eyes closed, Aezon focused on clearing his mind while Leiku patrolled the area, ready to pounce at the slightest hint of danger.