Lightning

Endellion sped up beneath him, carrying him onwards. For Noah, it seemed like eternity. His thoughts flowed back and forth, to the storm that continued on above them, then to the future of Aenied. Fortunately though, the storm gradually calmed, and ceased. But Noah felt something different in the air. They moved through patches of land, and he saw some rather bizarre sights. There were vermillion trees, and maroon clouds in the sky. Is this some sort of omen for bloodshed? Noah listened to the rhythmic trot of Endellion as she carried him off, and eventually they were far from Nede, the cultural town of Aenied.

Noah kept his anatomy slightly bent forward, and his hands lingered upon Endellion's back. He felt the power and tension beneath her body, on her taut, yet strong muscles. Alas, they were nearing the Meeting House that existed in the northest hemisphere of Aenied, and Noah creased his brows. What would he see there? The sun was rising steadily above their heads, but blue sparks shot across the sky sponetaneously.

"What do you perceive of this?" Noah knew he spoke in vain, for Endellion wouldn't be able to reply to him in such a state. But it felt better to word his thoughts aloud. It made him calmer, and not quite so desolate to know that someone's with him.

-She had not been able to hold the speed that she had gained in order to try and flee Nede but had taken on a slower trot, it was faster than a walk that was for sure and she was conscious of the one who sat astride her back. She did not like the trees one bit, she had to wonder if the trees smelled differently, and also if it had stormed here like it had in Nede and simply ended, well that was an idea, she did not feel any different so perhaps it only affected non-magical things. She realized it was far too soon to assume such things, what if things were delayed? She tried to clear these thoughts from her head, it just was not healthy to have your mind on other things while running.

But then he was speaking, asking a question to which her reply was a low groan, lowering her head and shaking it as she continued to trot. Of course he would only be able to guess her answer to his question, as she could not reply threw speech, although she thought all of this was pure madness in physical form. Aside from those thoughts she began to wonder how much farther it was for it seemed as though they would never reach their destination.

Noah glanced downwards to Endellion. His conjecture was that she doesn't know anymore than he does. All along the journey, Noah felt an indescrible pulsing inside him. He felt different. Could it be that this is affecting the people, too? Noah shook his head slightly; he was overgeneralizing. Perhaps it's only affecting him, or he's just exaggerating his uneasiness. He would have to ask Endellion if she feels as he does now. Something is terribly wrong.

They reached a wide path, the edges lined with white pebbles. This path sloped upwards to a hill, of which leads to their destination. Noah can also resupply from the Meeting House. Then an obstruction caused him to contemplate. The council members of the realm are often those who appear simple. Noah doesn't know who all of them are, but he has a good idea. Sometimes, it would be difficult to contact any of them. What if none of them replies to his call for assistance?

"Not too far now."

Endellion flicked her ears back towards him as she moved warily past another strangely colored tree, at least the trees did not move or attack, or so she had assumed as none had done so yet. Although it did bring interesting color to the world. It was all too soon that she stopped a path lined with white pebbles haveing a strange feeling about this path that was so diffent from all others they had come across. A black ear flicked back as she heard him speak, well apparently this was something good it seemed to be the right path to follow.

Ears pricking forwards as she took a moment to decide to walk up this hill and not run, although not steep she figured it would make things easier on Noah and herself as any uphill ride at a trot could become a bouncy experience without a saddle, even though she had chosen a breed smoother than most, and she did not feel a wanting to have him grab her long mane and pull it to keep himself steady, that would be very uncomfortable. Even at a walk she moved quickly that they might reach their destination quickly.

Noah remembers that the last time he came here, was months ago. Since the doors were at times left open to the M.I.A. Council Meeting House for the purpose of tours, he's not sure about it's condition at his return. His job was to guard over it. They would be moving up the path, and Noah felt nostagic for his home. Upon reaching it, he smiled. It appears the same since he last left it. All is well.

Perching upon the hill rests a humble building, with a wooden board above the door that read: Aenied Council House. Lightning sparked above the building, and one could see that the structure was finely built, but not gaudy. The Meeting House was designed by Noah himself, and though it doesn't possess any expensive furnishings, it has a professional look to it. It's the place for the government of Aenied to council in. Noah wanted it to appear humble, just as the government should be.

She came to a stop by the door and let out a large sigh as she saw the sign above the door. It was wonderful that they had reached it without being struck by lightning even though it flashed over the building threateningly. After a moment Endellion dropped down to her knees and gave him barely enough time to get off before she allowed herself to be overcome by one of the best urges a horse could allow its self to be succumb to.. Rolling. And so hooves soon lifted into the air as she lay on her back, getting a good scratching from the ground below, it felt so much nicer than Noah and as she rose and shook herself off with the lightest of grunts she realized she should change back.

She did so within a few moments of realizing this and then looked to the sky, although not jumping due to the lightning she still felt wary. Even more so being on a hill. "Its calmer here at least.." She spoke softly trying to be positive, but it was something she didn't feel. As she considered the structure before her mismatched eyes narrowed, wondering what would be decided about this storm of change.

Noah slid off of Endellion as they reached the door, and he glanced about warily. Something tells him there's something the matter. .. Well, it's rather obvious, considering the storms in the air. He glanced upwards, and a streak of lighting appeared, and thunder pealed across the bludgeoned skies. It came so close that a part of Noah was anxious it'd strike them, but fortunately it did not. It hit a nearby tree, causing the structure of the large tree to crumble, and crash loudly.

Noah was turning to Endellion upon her transformation back into her human form, until a ruckus tore through the air. It was too late to react! A beast, its fur black with ominous red orbs, leapt out of the tree where the lightning previously attacked, straight at Endellion. By that time, Noah dropped his hand to grasp his metal pole, but by then, the beast would've already landed.

What is Endellion to do?

-Endellion reached to pluck a leaf from her hair but her eyes were drawn upwards to the sky, to the light, and she missed the leaf and lightly grabbed at the air before it. Little did she realize the lightning was going to strike a tree so closely. As it crashed to the tree with a great roar of thunder the shape shifter jumped away from it worriedly and looked at Noah with the slightest of smiles. "That was too close for comfort.." Indeed it was the closest yet that she could think of but not nearly as close seeming as the noise made by what she saw when she turned around. Some form of creature with black fur and strange red orbs that resembled blood way too much, and it was moving to land upon her! She realized it was attacking, like a deer caught in headlights she at first was frozen.

Before it landed Endellion turned to flee, trying to change in the process but it took longer than the creature did to land upon her light form. She was knocked to the ground harshly and she screamed in fright. She felt pain in the arm she raised to try to push the beast away with although she had not seen what caused this pain but it seemed to wake her and she struck at the beast's head, after a moment changing her shape to that of a dog, so that she might further defend herself.-

He felt his heart beating rapidly, frozen for a few moments just as Endellion did. Noah's thumb finger crushed down against the sensitive button on his weapon, extending its length to that of a spear's. A titanium spear. But it was too late. The beast landed upon Endellion's form, and then she transformed into a dog. The beast was sent back by Endellion's hit on the head, but it charged at her again with its ferociously large frame. Sparks flew. A flame appeared out of thin air, and blue electricity flowed wildly out the tips of Noah's slender fingers. The fire struck the beast across the back, causing the fur to go up in flames.

The beast landed on its back, rolling to rid itself of the flame. Noah was occupied with staring at the energy shooting directly from his fingers, causing a ring of fire to appear around all three of them. Momentarily, Noah thought, this is pretty awesome. Until he realized they have three obstacles. A beast on fire, energy shooting out of his fingers uncontrollably, and a wall of fire spreading and encircling their images.

Is this the end?

Whiskered lips pulled over white canines and teeth snapped aggressively towards the beast in order to keep its own fangs out of her skin. She had begun to growl but it did not last as the creatures fur was set on fire, along with a spot of her own tail although it went out as she leaped to her feet and away from the rolling beast. it had definitely gotten a nice bite in on her arm but with four legs three easily did fine. Turning to the beast as it was rolling her eyes rose to Noah, what was going on with him and his hand. Soon she realized what it was as they were surrounded by fire and despite the fact that it was coming from Noah's very fingertips she hid behind him, ears flattened back and singed tail low.

It was when An arrow suddenly appeared in the recovering beasts ear that she lowered slightly to the ground ears pricking up, had someone come to help? Her own eyes drawing towards this stranger who looked none too friendly although he was wearing the funniest clothing she had ever seen. In fact he looked funny all over, but who was she to judge?

But of course this man, this creature, whatever he was had killed the beast. And as she watched him throw the liquid from nearly under Noah a few droplets landed on her snout and she felt as though numbed, this brought a whine and a shake as she saw the strange being cutting open the beast and pulling something out, she didn't watch for much longer for she was bringing her paws up to scratch at her snout, resting on her front and elbows as she did so and shaking her head, as her very life was tied with the very energy the little bit of the liquid that splashed down to her drained, it was something that felt almost like being stung by a bee. Not painful but incredibly uncomfortable.

She wondered what this man-type-cat was and if Noah knew it...

Noah felt the vibration of power at his fingertips, and he could almost hear the zapping noise... But something tells him the uncontrolled energies at his fingertips, has nothing to do with the fire around them. Then his ears twitched, and an arrow whisked by. Noah glanced around, and rain started to descend from heavens above. For once, Noah feels fortunate. The rain put away the fire, causing steam to rise about the scene, adding a sense of enigma to the stranger that approached them. No, he's not coming for us.

Noah could make out that the personage isn't exactly human. What is it? The steam started to clear, and then Noah felt something wet against his hands. The energies shooting out of his hand gave a roar from its demise, and diminished, like fire being put out by water. Noah glanced over his shoulder once, seeing Endellion near him. She seems just as anxious as he is. Noah stretched out his long fingers, then curled, and repeated this process to test the workings of his appendages. It seems to him his fingers are working quite fine.

Noah stepped up, closer to the stranger to discern the being put something around its neck. He gave a curt bow; Noah has a stiff civility about him, and he called out, "Thank you." There was a pause so that his words could be acknowledged, before Noah continued on, "What may I address you as?" Noah made sure to say 'I', for he doesn't know if Endellion wants to reveal herself yet as a shape-shifter. Hands clasped behind his back, Noah strolled forward, closing in the distance between the being and himself easily.

"My name is Noah."

Endellion's mismatched eyes peered up at the creature from behind Noah as she too wondered what this creatures name was, more what this creature was. But she soon realized that it would have been incredibly rude to ask someone that helped you something like that without asking at least their name first. She scratched again at her nose but the feeling of being stung was fading swiftly, ears twitching as she heard Noah moving and soon stopped scratching at her nose to move forwards near him, but at the sight that this creature had its hand around what appeared to her a dagger her muzzle wrinkled. Was this thing a friend or not?

It was quickly decided by Endellion that this thing was rude, what ever it was, for now it spoke that it did not save them simply wanted some little piece of jewelry back? And that comment... Beast... How many times had she been called such a thing? For what, people that wish to humiliate her to make them selfs all the better feeling? She stepped away from Noah about three feet as her form shimmered and instead of wet fur she sported wet clothing and a none too happy look as she replied with a shockingly sharp and defensive voice. "Beast!? It doesn't look like your one to talk!" Her cheeks turned pink as she wondered if this cat-creature would have been all too happy for death to come to the two or if it would have still assisted, as she took in the sight of its glare towards her new friend, she made her own decision on what it would have done and stepped back "Thanks." She spoke in a still sharp although no longer defensive voice. Even if this was the case, that it would have been just as happy with them dead or not, it did put a halt to Noah's out of control fingers.

Noah's broad eyebrows tugged upwards at the creature's hostily. He was quiet for a moment, partly because Noah's a reserved person, and finds it difficult to converse with strangers. The other reason, is that Noah's trying to compose himself against this being's hostile words. He would be calm. Noah's known for his discipline of emotions. Emotions are such petty things. Curiousity grasped upon his very being, and so Noah broke the awkward silence after Endellion's sharp-tongued narrative, "What kind of jobs, and what kind of payment do you want?"

Noah was able to quickly draw a mental picture of the current circumstance. This creature did not intend to save them; it was merely for the sake of convenience, therefore, Noah need not show an air of gratefulness any longer. If it does not give them his name, Noah would have to call it by 'he', or 'it', which isn't exactly courteous. But whose fault is that? He would speak to the personage as an equal, and perhaps gaining an ally in their search for an answer to the storms. Noah's hands clasped behind his back, and he stepped forward, until he's about a foot and a half from the creature. This make him closer to the being than Endellion, for it seems to Noah that she's not quite composed at this moment in time. Noah, civil but domineering, fixated his hues intensely upon this being.

Mismatched eyes blinked as silence fell upon them, she after a moment simply looked upwards at the dangerous sky as water trickled over her cheeks to fall off of her chin, black tendrils of hair sticking to her. Her gaze was drawn from the sky and instead to Noah, ever calm and civil, more than one could say of her when she was stroked the wrong way. As she watched she noted that Noah was moving forwards once more, putting himself even more so between herself and the cat-creature, of course this was likely a smart move on his part. But this was not rewarded in any friendliness.

Her eyes narrowed as she heard the next raspy words and although she doubted Noah would show any agrivation at such rudeness she gave a harsh look towards this nameless being. Simply watching in silence for a moment then, ever threateningly the lightning cracked brightly to land upon something unseen, she flinched slightly as she withheld the wanting to move away from this hill and its dangers. She backed away then, from Noah and this cat-creature, nervously scanning the sky for danger her own soft steps pressing the thick grass down and leaving footprints in the previously very dry dirt.

She had been certain the being was going to leave but it seemed not the case, apparently it was in need of a job, but that was not surprising. As she listened to the last of its words she was starting get the unpleasant feeling something was wrong, of course she had since before she had left Nede, but now it was almost an uncomfortable feeling.

Noah's mind was at work whilst the creature replied to him. He watched it's eyes, easily discerning the obvious amusement there. He either has a sense of humor, or is mocking Endellion. Noah stood his friend, standing in place as the being turned away from him, with words that seems to mean he'd depart. Noah figured that to be treated as an equal, he has to act like an equal. If you act inferior, then you will be treated as an inferior. But Noah will not abandone civility. The thunderous boom rang against his ears, and tendrils of fine hair blew against the breeze. Then the being hissed, and started to make some motion of grinding claws against the dirt. Is it a sign of hesitancy? Indecision? Surrender? Noah knew then that as the creature threw back its hood to reveal the face and twitching ears, that it believes this a chance of employment. And why ever not? Jobs are so scarce. Noah peered unwaveringly at the cat-man, offering a faint smile for the sake of friendliness. It seems this being is hostile by nature but perhaps not indecent in character.

"I want your assistance in figuring out what this storm is about, how to fix it, and try to fix it if we can." Noah watched Endellion through the corners of his eyes, sensing her alarm. The storm seems to be having an affect on her. Noah sensed Endellion might disagree with his offer, but perhaps he could convince her.

"For payment, I have a necklace. A necklace created to give the user the ability of flight." There was a pause, "And after being in your acquaintance for so long, may we have your name?" Noah lifted a hand, waving Endellion over as he stepped towards the cat-creature with his other hand extended as the traditional gesture of agreement.

-Endellion shook her head some as though to shake what she felt from herself, not paying attention to the cat-man for several moments, barely listening to Noah's attempt at getting the Cat-Man's assistance. The feeling did not so much as dim as one eye caught the movement, she was being motioned to, one she recognized. Slowly moving forwards she wondered of the reaction this previously rude creature would give, but stepping close to Noah once more she heard the ever rude comments of the Cat-man, but instead of the simple rudeness from before it was outright insults now. Although her friend was civil she narrowed her eyes, watching as the hood rose once more she sprung forwards the short distance, palm open as her arm extended to cuff the Cat-Man's cheek. "Has no one taught you better than to insult those who are friendly towards you?"

Noah's quite astute, and caught each expression in that precise, analyzing mannerism of his. At first, his words had offended Noah, but he pacified himself with the thought of maintaining his discipline over his emotions and impulses. His current emotion is closest to anger, and the strongest impulse is to snap at the creature. But Noah would restrain as best he possibly could. The cat-creature had thrown back its hood when it became friendlier, then drew it back over his head when his words became outspokenly uncivil. A body language habit, perhaps. Noah clasped his hands behind his back, knuckles white from how tightly-closed his fists were.

Noah didn't get to reply, before Endellion moved up adjacent to him. She leapt forward, closing the slight distance, then her palm moved across for the creature's cheek. Noah did and said nothing. Lack of civility is not a good trait, no matter how honest a person is. If one cannot be civil, then at least let them be vague. Noah mused that thought with amusement. And if they cannot be vague, let them get slapped.

Slender fingers twitched as her hand was caught by another. Endellion was not pleased by this as the being before her smirked, it seemed faint but it most certainly was there and reddish colors tinted her cheeks. Listening to this Cat-Man her fingers twitched again, it was in nothing more than the purest agrivation that she so clearly felt. This Cat-Man was speaking of his culture and her agrivation did not cease.

"Culture? Well Excuse me for not knowing what the hell you are!! As far as I know the human race is dominate in these lands so perhaps one should take that into consideration!? Or perhaps that some people have never seen a being such as yourself!!!" She narrowed her eyes as the Cat-Man spoke of her accompanying herself with humans, she was a human herself was she not? Then again, at this thought she was likely a part-blood. She tugged at her hand as she leaned back slightly, lifting one foot as she did then stopped, it was speaking again. The firm grip on her hand loosened and then she was free " Hope you like being wet!" She half hissed as she spun away, her form shifting partially then stopping and returning to the previous human form. Shaking her head in clear confusion, black strands sending water off of them.

"That's not good..."-

Noah had his arms folded neatly over his chest, observing, almost amused, as the cat-creature reacted to Endellion. Yes, it had manage to catch her hand. Noah tilted his head aside at the words spoken, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. The creature spoke of consideration, and yet Noah and Endellion's ignorant of its culture. The being should know of their humanistic cultures, so it would not be considered ignorant. As far as Noah knows, the human custom is the one adapted most often. And now, who is being inconsiderate?

Noah glanced towards Endellion. Her words, spoken impulsively, has some logic to it. Although in eloquence, it would be lacking and rash, it makes sense if one looks deeper into it. He was entirely silent as the cat-creature turned and departed, walking away from them. Noah had at least the courteousy to follow the human customs of bowing, before the creature shifted away.

Noah turned his attentions to Endellion, "Are you alright?" She seems rather affronted by the cat-man's hostile behaviors. But perhaps she would settle down soon enough. Looking into it, Noah thought it almost natural the other would be hostile. The cat-man was alone, in the presence of two beings practically human. People are known to be defensive in the presence of those unlike them. Natural behaviors. It can't be helped. But Noah dare not judge too hastily now.

Mismatched eyes blinked as she stood there with an almost perfect stillness, such a thing had never happened, as long as she could remember she could shift between forms with no problems yet just now she had a problem. She got halfway there and it wouldn't let her do it. That just was not right, a chance happening for sure.

Endellion turned those mismatched eyes on Noah as she heard him speak "Ahh... Of course I am." She narrowed her eyes slightly, she wouldn't say anything on it unless it proved itself to be some troublesome thing caused by these storms, of course Noah also had been affected.. "Might want to make sure you don't start shooting fire from your fingers again.. I don't have any clue if its a perminate thing or just happens for a few minutes then ends up stopping.." She knew the reason was for the liquid that the Cat-man had put on his hands as it had splashed on her nose but the effects were not lasting. That much was for sure.

So would what happened to Noah come back or stay away? Would her own issues with changing form continue? And with such things, if the worst were to happen, how would it be dealt with?