Echo helps Wings find a new spirit

Characters in this scene: Evelyn, Echo

WingsWhiteThatGleam — 03/23/2021

Evelyn has been fidgeting through most of the car ride, the temperature fluctuating a bit randomly - never to dangerous levels, but sometimes uncomfortably cold before she catches herself and the temperature returns to typical levels. Which is still pretty cold, given the area and the season. "I hope they like me," she mumurs, as they find a place to stop. "I haven't really invited a spirit like a beaver before. It shouldn't be that different, but they're a bit less winter than I'm used to trying to call."

August Эхꙮ of the Blazing Green — 03/23/2021

The car pulls up by the side of the road, river a way off to the left. "Let's get to it. This river used to have a good population of beavers, got a smaller reintroduced group further up now." Elfrida checks his equipment before getting out of the car.

WingsWhiteThatGleam — 03/23/2021

Evelyn is out of the car quickly. "Owl, your senses, please, my friend," she murmurs, and she blinks. Her eyes are bright, bird-like amber, and there's strange fluff around her ears. She tilts her head, and laughs. "I think I can hear them. Unless those are mice? Though mice wouldn't be in the middle of that much water." She starts walking, hesitating momentarily to glance back at Elfrida.

August Эхꙮ of the Blazing Green — 03/23/2021

Elfrida gestures at her to go on. He locks the car and follows keeping an eye on the surroundings with one hand in his coat.

WingsWhiteThatGleam — 03/23/2021

Evelyn skips ahead, weaving comfortably through the trees; a strange country it might be, but nature and winter are entirely familiar to her. A few of the local spirits cluster, faded and weak ones related to the winds and the cold; one of them comes into perch on her shoulder, some bird-like wind spirit. Evelyn scritches its feathers, seemingly unconcerned by any chill.

The river is close, and it soon comes into view. Evelyn follows it up, a few minutes' walk ducking through the trees and scrambling over rocks. They find the beaver lodge in the middle of the river and Evelyn pauses, frowning. "Not near the rivers' edge, then," she says, and glances back at Elfrida. "I could try and manifest the spirit here, but it'd probably be better at the lodge itself. I'm... I don't think they'd like it if I stood on the lodge, though?"

August Эхꙮ of the Blazing Green — 03/23/2021

Elfrida smiles slightly. "I'm not sure if it'd hold you. They're not really designed for walking on. Would by the side of the dam be good enough? It should be a little way further if I remember correctly."

WingsWhiteThatGleam — 03/23/2021

"Maybe if I asked Owl," Evelyn said, but she sounded doubtful. "I... yeah, the side should work, I think. Maybe better, since I'm asking from the edge and not intruding!" She gets back into motion immediately, at a quick trot; a few more winter-related spirits seem to have taken notice of her presence, and they don't seem quite as fond as their smaller cousins, one or two of them clearly emanating disapproval. Evelyn ignores them, climbing over rocks and ducking through some more trees. She's more than cheerful enough to make up for a few grumpy-seeming spirits. When they reach the side of the dam nearer the river's edge Evelyn actually claps her hand and runs, sliding to a stop by it. "Oh my," she murmurs, wide-eyed at the construction. "I saw some pictures, but - and they make these!" She grins at Elfrida. "They seem so cool!"

August Эхꙮ of the Blazing Green — 03/23/2021

"Sometimes known as natures engineers, they are. If memory serves, they live somewhere in the middle with the only way in being underwater to keep them safe. If you need me to do anything just ask but I'm not that used to calling spirits and so forth." Elfrida keeps watching the water, the trees and the far bank of the river warily.

WingsWhiteThatGleam — 03/23/2021

Evelyn certainly seems to be drawing attention. Nothing *really* powerful, but the spirits are getting to be a bit of a crowd, flitting around, and they're giving off very mixed feelings. Still, they don't approach too closely. "It's not really complicated. You just need to know how to ask." Evelyn crouches by the dam, and her tone turns rhythmic, slow, patient. She's drawn no diagram, or pulled out any items. All traces of Owl are hidden away, now, and its just her. "*Beaver weaves and crafts, building home and hearth,* *I see wood and water, cold surrounds, part of winter which builds apart* *Drawn to flood, to river, to trickle,* *Thick-furred, swimming, strong and clever,* *Such sharp teeth, for which to pull down trees and refine the lodge,* *Here is your home, and I have an invitation,* *Might we speak, Beofor?*"

WingsWhiteThatGleam — 03/23/2021

Evelyn doesn't need to wait long before something slides through the water without disturbance, padding up onto the ground before her and taking a seat. The beaver looks Evelyn over, and Evelyn waits patiently. Eventually the beaver cocks its head, gesturing with its paw. "I would like to offer you a chance to be a part of me," Evelyn tells the beaver, steady, her words smooth. "I am Evelyn, once-touched by an aspect of Winter. I can offer you safety, and strength, a chance to grow and become more; I would be willing to change something of myself to make you more comfortable, to make *us* better. I am planning to learn crafting, and steadiness, and to become a better current for the flow of cold. In return, when I ask I would want to be gifted some of your aspect, some of your skill, your physicality, your nature. I would not abuse this. What do you think, Beofor? Would you like to join us?"

WingsWhiteThatGleam — 03/23/2021

The beaver thinks for a few moments, clasping its paws together. After a little while it nods firmly, and reaches out its paw; Evelyn reached back, clasping, and she smiled. "Welcome in," she said, picking up the beaver, hefting it in one arm. With her other she reached back, lifting her shirt and tugging at her flesh; a hole opens up there, red flesh too cold to bleed. While Evelyn is busily juggling the beaver, one little spirit that looks like a white-spotted cat attempts to lunge for the Hallow.

August Эхꙮ of the Blazing Green — 03/23/2021

Elfrida steps forwards, drawing the revolver that he'd been holding in his coat and firing it into the cat. The sound of the revolver is little more than a cough but the round breaks the cohesion of the spirit, knocking it away and into smaller parts. With his other hand he draws a knife and walks carefully towards Evelyn while keeping an eye on the surroundings.

WingsWhiteThatGleam — 03/23/2021

The other spirits promptly scatter at the confirmation that *nope,* they weren't going to be getting access to this lovely cool hallow. Evelyn doesn't seem to notice, carefully holding the beaver around in front of the hole; the beaver wriggles in promptly, curling up, and Evelyn settles her skin and shirt back in place. She turns and blinks at the spirit bits, then looks at Elfrida. "Did something happen?"

August Эхꙮ of the Blazing Green — 03/23/2021

"Some spirit tried to get at you while you weren't looking. Is that it done then?"

WingsWhiteThatGleam — 03/23/2021

Evelyn looks at the spirit-bits again, seeming confuzzled by the idea, then she bounces and looks at Elfrida. "Yep! That's that!" She stumbles for a moment, and shakes her head. "Oh, that feels weird. Not used to that much pressure there. *Weeeeird.* But, yeah, beaver's in and settling down. They feel nice! Not nearly as volatile as any of the others have been."

August Эхꙮ of the Blazing Green — 03/23/2021

Elfrida smiles again. "Good to hear. We should really be heading back to the house if you've not got anything else that needs finishing here."

WingsWhiteThatGleam — 03/23/2021

"Yep! I think Beaver'll be happier if we're in an actual home. Better for settling in." Evelyn heads over to Elfrida, sticking to their side this time on the way back instead of skipping ahead. "Thank you," she says seriously, looking up at them. "I think this'll be good for us. It's helped a lot."