Dancing Flames

[Mira Nightingale]

There was really no reason for her to be here, Mira realized as several strange looks were thrown her way. It had been too cold outside and the warm, red glow of the Forge had beckoned to her, calling her inside to warm up and get out of the chill breeze. The day had started out good enough, but then the wind had picked up and the temperature had dropped a few tantalizing degrees, which was enough to make Mira, in a summer dress, freeze.

Ignoring everyone as best as she could she walked toward an unattended fire and just stood by it, wrapping her arms around herself as she let the heat penetrate her and her eyes become mesmerized by the dancing flames. Red, orange and blue, all flickering and dancing and crackling… the fire was truly beautiful, she realized, and wondered why she had never taken the time to look into the depths of her fireplace before. The answer came to her quickly, though. Her fires were tame. This fire was tame, but wild and unruly and blazing…

A crashing sound came from behind her, and she jumped slightly, whipping her head around to see what the cause of the noise was. Unbeknownst to her, just as she startled, the fire jumped and roared, gaining heat and power. As she calmed down and turned back to the fire, since the sound was only from a few swords clattering to the floor, the fire calmed as well.

Sighing softly and still not wanting to leave the warmth of the forge, she continued to stand with her back to the door. Her face was lit up with the glow from the fire, and if someone entered into the building and looked at her, then all they would see was a fiery-haired woman glowing just like the fire that could so easily mesmerize her…

[Elsan Wolf]

Elsan opened the forge door,her cloak on and her hood over her head,her dark jet black hair out of braids and flowing with the winds abit.She slowly walked to the corner and hid herself in the darkness of the room.

[Shadow]

Shadow walked into the forge, silently. As if he had been a ghost. especially since the workers ignored him and continued on with their business, instead of looking at him curiously, as they did with Mira. The younger men kept shooting curious glances at Mira, many with glazed looks in their eyes. Shadow laughed to himself as he swept up behind Mira. "The fire; does it mesmerize you as you mesmerize the young men working the forge?" his voice was low, almost low enough to be non-existent and his hood was drawn below the bridge of his nose.

"What brings you here? I was passing by, on the way to my hideout, when I heard a noise, saw the flame, and saw you. seeing as there is a bitter wind that is winding through the streets, I decided to duck in here." His near-invisible eyes glinted and he pulled back his hood. "You seem to have a powerful affliction with flames..."

[Mira Nightingale]

The door to the forge opened, blowing a whoosh of cold air into the toasty room, and Mira turned to see who was causing the room to instantly drop a few degrees in temperature. It was a very tall girl with black braids. The girl glanced around the room a bit, and then rushed toward a corner to hide. Not really caring about her minor distraction, Mira turned back to the fire and soaked up the light and warmth once again. Just as she gently removed her cloak and went to set it down on a nearby table that was free of tools, the door opened yet again.

Turning around, although she didn’t hear any newcomer this time, she was startled as she almost collided with a hooded figure. She would, however, know that person anywhere. Between seeing him spit fireballs, fly, steal Lord Alexander’s purse, and hold a knife to her throat, she doubted that she would ever be able to forget him. Or forgive him for her scare. But that was another matter entirely.

“Mesmerize?” Mira repeated, her voice just as low as Shadow’s. The thought of being so captivated with the flames had never crossed her mind. “No, well, I don’t think so. I just never paid much attention to a fire before.” She paused for a moment, glancing around at some of the men who worked there, and noticing a few of the younger men look away from her gaze. Just realizing what Shadow meant by his words, her cheeks colored ever-so-slightly. “I never noticed that half of the memorization.”

As Shadow pulled back his hood and revealed his familiar face, Mira couldn’t help but subconsciously notice that he looked a little… off. Like he’d been through a lot lately. Brushing aside the matter for a moment, Mira turned back to the fire, which was normal. What did Shadow mean by a powerful affiliation? She had only been watching the fire, and standing close enough to have her chilled bones warmed. Deciding to voice her question, she turned away from the flames once again, and back towards Shadow. “What do you mean?”

[Shadow]

((Heh... sorry, I wont be getting on much for a bit... this is all the time that i have... Reno also will have one post... if he's lucky...))

Shadow laughed. "yes. A powerful afliction... along with that emmense aura that surrounds you..." He looked down at her neck and frowned. "so... it is still there..." he brushed the black scar on her neck. "that knife is amazing, no? and susan thought I was fooling..." He sighed. Placing two fingers on the wound, his fingers glowed softly and the wound was gone, like there had never been one. He laughed. "in a way, she was right." sighing, he pulled a barrel over and sat down on it. "Im not sure I should tell you what I meant by the words 'powerful afliction' It might get us both in trouble." He looked around. "but i must say, you know how to make the flames dance... but you have no idea..." He smiled. Pulling out one of his packs, he rummaged around in it until he found a package. handing it to mira, he smiled. "Open that. It is what i used in the shop, the heatless flame. I am curious if you would be able to controll it..." He shook his head. "but do not attract attention to you or me... could be fatal."

[Mira Nightingale]

Having forgotten about her scar her hands reached up and traced the line just as Shadow placed two fingers there and healed it. As he removed his hands she once again brought her hand up and traced the line that she could no longer feel. “Thank you.” she replied after a long moment, a small smile crossing her lips. “I must admit, even though I’d forgotten about it, it’s nice to have it gone.” A small pause, during which she weighed her next words before saying, “Why did you actually cut me to begin with?”

“Aura?” she repeated, a little hesitant, looking around. “I don’t see…” she stopped as a strand of her hair fell in front of her face. It was too red… much more so than usual. Uncannily red, like the bright flames that crackled merrily just behind her. Accepting the package that Shadow handed her she eyed it warily, still confused and bewildered about the strangeness to her hair. “What exactly is it?” she asked him as she moved a carefully manicured nail under the seal, ready to open it once she got a little more of an explanation.

((That's okay. My time is limited too.))

[Shadow]

((well... i can sneak on.... what my parents don't know cant hurt them XP
And shadow can't tell you that you are 'afflicted' with magic unless you want him to...))


Shadow frowned. "I am sorry I cut you. just know that it was never intended for pain. that Watch woman wasn't cooperating... it was either kill myself getting away, kill you, or get caught." he smiled. "the last two weren't going to ever going to happen." He shook his head. "the man i stole that purse from met a very angry Chao. how did he react once the cloud of smoke was gone?" he shook his head. "I digress. I just want to see something... so open the package. if the contents jump to my hand, then I am wrong. if they stay around and in your hand, then I am right, and I will divulge the information that you seek." He closed his eyes. "I will say this." your aura is pulsing, waiting to be drawn upon. but I cannot help you there... you'd need..." he sighed before smiling. "just open the package. I want to see if my senses are still strong, to see if i am right or not."


((in the package is a magical flame, one that shadow often uses to aid in his thievery. if mira's ever going to have magic, then the flames should stay in here hand, as they are atracted to magic when not under control.*_* unless you have something else in mind.))

[Mira Nightingale]

What Shadow spoke of didn’t make any sense at all, but Mira just nodded slowly, pretending that she understand what he was talking about. Auras, affiliations, pulses, and drawing upon something? It all went too far over her head. Deciding that since he said killing her wasn’t an option, which she was rather relieved to hear, he wouldn’t hurt her with this package either.

“Honestly, I can’t really remember exactly how he reacted.” she replied, using conversation to buy her some time before opening the package. “Someone else came and stole his purse when he was leaving the shop, and he ran around and shouted for a bit. It was actually, I hate to admit, rather hilarious.”

Taking a deep breath she slid her nail under the seal, opening the package. With a loud yelp she jumped backward, almost knocking a few tools off of a table behind her. A fire had jumped out of the package and was now sitting in the palm of her hand, crackling merrily. Behind her, as if sensing her distress, the flames in the hearth jumped and roared once again. Shaking her hand madly she tried to dislodge the fire, which to her great distress and annoyance, just wouldn’t leave her alone.

((Don't tell her outright about being magical. Hint around it a little bit, cautiously because of the witch hunts. She can't know for a few more days.))

[Shadow]

Shadow roared with laughter. "i said dont draw attention to yourself." He said between bouts of doubling up with laughter. once he regained composure, he smiled. "Im sorry, but that was funny." his gaze traveled to the flame in her hand. "Do you feel any heat from it?" He sighed. "it wont harm you or me... but it might bring harm to the others in this place. why dont you tell it to go into the forge fire? Im still curious." he smiled, knowing that she didnt understand a word that he had said about her aura. "you-" he sighed."how should I word this..." he pursed his lips. "hmm.... well, you should be careful... dont let our dearest queenie see you..." nodding, he smiled again. "honestly, try standing near the roaring fire over there, the one that roared when you jumped, and tell the flame in your palm to jump into the fire." Shadow twitched a finger, and the flame in her hand turned white. there still wasnt any heat from it though, seeing as it stayed in her hand. "I am glad that I was right, espicially because that means that my senses havent dulled over the past years like i thought they had. this is a good thing." suddenly, a look of concern crossed his face and he grabbed the edges of his cloak spreading them out and hiding everything that was imeadiately behind him. the area behind the cloak glowed with a soft light. luckily, the forge workers paid it no mind, seemingly oblivious to all that had gone on right in front of them. Shadow moved over to the fire and released his cloak, so it was back to normal. Pointing at the fire, his expression was stern. I told you not to leave the house Chao a pair of red eyes glowed in the fire, and a dragon dog's crested head faintly appeared. Shadow glared at it, and it dissapeared back into the flames.

[Mira Nightingale]

“I didn’t mean too!” Mira yelped, still trying to shake the thing off of her hand. If didn’t hurt, just like Shadow said, but it was still rather unnerving having a miniscule flame adhered to your hand, especially when you had no idea why it was doing that in the first place. “N-no heat.” she managed to stammer out, swallowing nervously. She didn’t like this one bit. So when Shadow told her a way to get the fire off of her, she gladly complied.

Just as she turned toward the hearth, however, Shadow jumped up, splaying out his cloak to hide the fire from other’s view. “What-“ she started to say, but stopped as glowing red eyes appeared in the fireplace. Jumping back once again she bumped into Shadow, almost falling over in the process. The situation seemed a lot like when they first met, except for a few things, one of them being a fire that just would not leave her alone!

“That was Chao?” she asked shakily, momentarily forgetting about the fire, now white, that was calmly resting in her hand. “And… what do you mean about your sense and not being seen?”

[Shadow]

((sorry, my last post was a bit rushed. I fixed it up. but I'm sure you got the gist of it.))

Shadow sighed. "Yes, that was Chao, Even though you only saw his head." turning to the fire, he nodded. allright... you can come out... Shadow stepped back as a large creature jumped out of the fire. once it stopped moving, the flames around it died down enough so that it's features could be seen. "this is Chao." Shadow smiled. "he's a dragon dog." Chao didn't resemble either a dragon or a dog, but was a mix of the two. Chao's body was built like a dogs, but was covered in golden, armor like scales much like a dragon's. the tail was longer than the body, and at the end there were long spikes that glowed with intense heat. Shadow scratched Chao's un-armored ears. "cool, isn't he? But, as I was saying before, about my senses. I was worried that my ability of being able to sense un-tapped reserves of power. Being able to sense others like myself." He laughed. "I'm saying, don't go up to a fire in public and tell the flames to jump into your hand." Twitching his hand again, he made the flame in her hand turn blue. A warm, comforting heat began slowly emanating from it. "you still haven't tried to get rid of that flame in your hand. Did you forget about it? Tell it to do something, but start off simple."

[Mira Nightingale]

The dog, the dragon, the dragon-dog… whatever the creature Chao really was, Mira had never seen anything like it before. He looked like a dog, but was covered with golden scales that resembled a dragon’s. The tip of Chao’s spiked tail was glowing with what appeared to be some sort of heat, and the tail itself was at least twice as long as the body. Mira unconsciously took a small step away from the creature and glanced around the Forge. No one inside was even sparing them a second glance, so she glanced back at Shadow and Chao, still wary.

“Um, yeah, yes he is.” Mira replied just as hesitantly as she felt as Shadow asked her if she thought he was cool. “Tell the flames to jump in my hand?” she asked incredulously, just remembering that Shadow had asked her to do the opposite. As the flame turned blue she flinched again, not liking this strange sense, or whatever Shadow called it. Others like himself? Untapped reserves of power? Shaking her head as if to make the thoughts leave, she sighed softly and decided to give Shadow whatever sort of answer he was looking for.

Glancing down at the flames in her hand she muttered ridiculously, “Jump into the fireplace.” Nothing happened, as expected, especially considering that fact that she didn’t put any concentration or heart into it at all. “See?” she said again, looking at Shadow. “They don’t do what I say.”

[Shadow]

Shadow laughed again. "you didn't even try. You just said it, without actually wanting it to happen.' he twitched his finger again and the flame became a little hotter, almost to an uncomfortable heat. Chao looked up at Shadow and shook his head. What do you plan to accomplish? Just tell her outright Shadow shook his head. No, she must find out on her own. Looking back at Mira, Shadow shook his head. "say the command, mean it, and don't mumble it, thinking it's something ridiculous. Try again, with sincerity." Chao rumbled, puffs of smoke trailing from his nostrils. Shadow shook his head. "Don't laugh Chao, She doesn't even know herself." Chao's tail flared up as he looked back at Mira. Shadow, can I speak to this young female? I wish to converse with her. Shadow laughed. I don't know Chao, She might not be able to hear you. wait until after the flames jump out of her hand. I felt the surge of magic, but it was cut off by her conscience and the lack of resolve in her words. just be patient. Chao grumbled, but the his tail calmed down and he resumed flicking it about like a cat. Shadow and Chao looked at Mira. "Try again. But remember, resolve. Command it."

[Mira Nightingale]

Something was going on between Chao and Shadow, but Mira wasn’t sure. Deciding to ignore it for the moment she sighed softly and stared at the flames in the palm of her hand. They had gotten bigger recently, and warmer too, but the heat didn’t seem to bother her at all. It was comforting, in a strange sort of way. Staring at the fire in her hand, she then moved her eyes slowly to the larger hearth that was burning brightly, almost beckoning her closer.

Years seemed to pass in the span of a few seconds as she stared at one, at the other, and then at both at the same time. What Shadow was asking seemed so easy now that she had blocked out the whole world. A small, slightly eerie smile crossed her face as she raised her hand just a bit and took a step closer to the larger hearth. Then, with the slightest of movements, she nudged the small flame off of her hand, and it flew, glided on the air, into the bigger fire which roared happily for a moment before settling down once again.

And then, the spell was broken. Mira staggered and grabbed onto the table, which, in turn, rocked on its small legs uneasily. Taking a shaky breath she straightened up and looked at Shadow and Chao. A weak laugh passed through her lips, but then she smiled. “I-I did it.”

[Shadow]

Shadow looked up. He had felt her drawing upon her energy. "Amazing... You actually did it...." He slowly quietly appluaded. "simply amazing. How did it feel? How does this knowledge feel?" Chao stood up and stepped forward. looking intently at Mira, his eyes began to glow with a bright orange light. Can you hear me, young human female?" Shadow laughed. "This is Mira Chao, you know tha-" Of course i know that, you only told me a great many times. Im being polite." Chao shook his head. Shadow looked at Mira. "you can hear him, right? or do you want me to relay wha-" Chao growled again. "She can hear me just fine you idiot. Now as I was saying. You'll want to talk to a mage about that, preferably an elementalist. infa-" Shadow shook his head. "You are throwing things at her Way to fast Chao. Stop it. She dosent need to know about the Mage City... wait... crap..."