Beginning Again (Cont.) }{ {Meeting a Night Elf}

[Reixou]

Reixou could not help but smile as she experimented with the moonlight, first turning it into a liquid-like substance, then, with a bit more difficulty, an orb. She then asked if it was harder to make more complex shapes.

"Making more complex shapes is...different. You can make it difficult, or easy, depending on how you decide to do it. If you want to make something very blocky, you could make a few orbs out of moonlight and join them together, but then would have to focus on keeping them all together. Or, if you have any artistic interest...you can sort of..." He thought for a moment, fashioning his own orb in his hand. "Chisel out a figure, I suppose." He then allowed parts of the orb to dissipate, leaving the shape of a small dancing girl. "Sorry...just showing off again." He said with a nervous chuckle, allowing the rest of the figurine to disappear.

"Personally, I like chiseling. It's become somewhat of a form of entertainment for me, as I spent a lot of time alone, so I have had much practice with it. You should probably start out simple...try allowing the rounded edges to disappear, leaving a small cube, as if you had cut the top, bottom, and sides off of the orb." He watched, and helped steady the moonlight, without doing it so obviously that she would notice.

[Summerchika]

The figure of the dancing girl made Ainutsa long to be able to shape it like he did. Obviously, it took time to be able to do it, but she was more than willing to take that time to practice and learn.

His nervous chuckle made Ainutsa smile. She was about to say that she did not mind when he showed off because it always seemed to end up with beautiful or fantastical things, but he continued to his explanation, and she listened intently.

Taking his advice, she studied the orb, deciding where to "cut" to leave a good sized cube. With a small smile, she did as he described and willed the rounded edges to dissipate. It took a bit of time, longer than she would have liked, but by the end, she had a cube, or rather a rectangular prism. Shocked and elated that it had worked without much effort, despite the not-so perfect shape, she grinned and tread the water with new vigor.

"Well, at least it is not round." she said, holding up the would-be cube. "Can I do this only because the dragon's power remains here still?" she wondered. If so, she would have a lot of practice to do, which was alright with her. Similar to Reixou, she spent many solitary hours in the forest.

[Reixou]

Reixou looked at the rough, but still there, rectangle. She had a long way to go, but she was doing very well in the first place.

"Well, yes, partially. But moonlight is very unpredictable. It has a will of its' own. If it does not wish to settle in one place, it will not. Even I cannot make it stay in the middle of a battle. But now, when there is peace, and the presence of calming warm waters, it is more content to remain."

"Though, I have a feeling you'll pick it up pretty well. Not many can form a rectangle in their first try." He winked, and gave a soft chuckle. "Perhaps you'll learn one day to combine your gifts, so that you can graft light into the plants in the forest. It's rather enchanting when you see other things imbued with light the way you will them to be." Chuckling at the thought of their first meeting, Reixou thought back to when he interacted with minnows and light.

"If you recall, minnows take a liking to me. Once, I gave each minnow in a small school three spots of light, and they all swam around in a great curiosity to one another's appearances."

As his wings helped keep him afloat, he couldn't help but notice that the air outside was very cold, especially now that they were wet. He would have to dry his cloak by flying fast and high up, so that Ainutsa could use it until they made it somewhere warm and dry.

"If you get out now, you'll be cold as ice before we get back to the trees...stay here a moment, and I'll be back with something dry to wrap you up in." He made his way to the edge of the pool, pulling himself up a few rocks, and onto dry ground once again. Fanning his wings out, then pushing them back with a gust, it sent a myriad of water droplets flinging towards the wood. His wings dry, he took off his outer cloak and held it up, looking at it for a moment before taking to the sky.

He flew high, and found a warmer air current. After a couple minutes, he returned to the faintly glowing pool below. Ainutsa was still playing with the moonlight. He smiled.

"Whenever you're ready..." He sat, running his fingers through his hair to separate it to dry faster. He himself was mostly dry, but still damp.

[Summerchika]

At his wink and compliment, Ainutsa grinned, hoping that he was right about her being able to pick it up well. This learning was quite exciting for her. Her magic was not something she could easily improve, so the fact that she was learning this made her hopeful.

Imagining the excitement of the lighted minnows, Ainutsa giggled. She wondered if squirrels would react similarly; that image was one that would always cheer her up, she decided. If Reixou could make light and water look so beautiful, could she make the forest look like it as well? She pictured the leaves and flowers alight with moonlight and she became misty eyed. She definitely wanted to try that when she was able.

She did as he said and stayed where she was, once again struck by how grateful she was to Reixou. He was always kind and thoughtful. She would make sure to give back somehow, if such an opportunity arose.

Waiting, she practiced again with moonlight. It was not as easy to keep the moonlight in her hands as it had been when Reixou was with her, but she managed to keep some of it. She played with it, making odd shapes that even she could not identify. But she was determined.

A few minutes later, Reixou was back and Ainutsa grinned. She propelled herself over, holding out a hand of moonlight. It was incredibly rough, but she had managed to make an Oak leaf. It was a fairly simple shape, and it did not require too much moonlight.

"I managed something." she said, only slightly embarrassed that it did not look like his gorgeous lilies. But hey, she was still learning. She laid it on the ground before him as she got out of the heavenly pool.

Reixou did not exaggerate; the air outside the steaming pool was almost frigid compared to lake. She imagined flying back in this air, and was glad that Reixou had thought ahead. She pulled herself up and sat near him, careful not to get him wet; he seemed almost dry. The water on her skin steamed making it seem as if she was apart of the pool.

She took her hair in her hands and wrung water out of it over the pool. Her hair would dry soon, she hoped. A head of wet hair was never a fun thing to have. But the pool had definitely been worth it.

"Are you cold?" she asked Reixou, honestly worried. Yes, she was a little cold and getting colder, but he had been the one flying in this air.

[Reixou]

As she showed and placed the leaf near his feet, he picked it up and looked at it. She had actually managed a shape! "Wow..." he said softly, as she got out. When she sat, he put the dry cloak around her.

"I'm fine. I feel cold and heat, and it can make me uncomfortable when it's extreme, but it doesn't affect me in the same way. Strangely, my wings are always the warmest. I suppose they would be the first thing to get cold when I fly, so they must make up for it." He stretched one out, placing it behind Ainutsa to provide a bit of extra warmth.

"It baffles even I that a wraith would have such wings...but I suppose it was all part of the facade to lure people into trusting me before...well, before wraiths were really known much about." The black feathers were perfectly arranged, soft, and very unlike those of a being designed for destruction. Apparently some of the greatest evils were designed to appeal to others, making them that much more dangerous.

"I used to be part of history books. Then I became part of legends. And finally, now, I'm only part of myths and conspiracies. Much like Vampires and Werewolves, Wraiths are now feared. Though I suppose Vampires and Werewolves have the ability to blend in, somewhat." He chuckled. He was used to living alone, but was beginning to feel that there was some hope for him, even in making small numbers of friends.

[Summerchika]

With the dry cloak around her, Ainutsa relaxed and pulled it tighter around her. The night air on wet clothes and hair was getting to her. She smiled at him, grateful beyond words.

When his wing stretched out behind her, she felt tangibly the truth of his words. He spoke of his wings and she angled into him to study them while still being able to feel the warmth behind her. How odd that such perfect and fragile-looking wings could be so warm and strong. Her curiosity hit her like a wave again.

Reaching a hand out to touch one, perfect feather, she hoped he would not mind. Up close, these wings entranced her. With her finger tips she skimmed the soft surface. It was so soft she wanted to rub her cheek against it, but thought better of it. Instead, she lightly pressed her palm to the feathery heat, amazed. Even Ciar's feathers were not this soft and perfect.

"I have met a and now a Wraith and it seems to me that myths and conspiracies have quite the wrong idea. I have no reason to fear you. What you are does not define who you are." she said this very curiously. How could the world have it so wrong? But, she admitted to herself, she had not experienced what the world had experienced, so she had a very different perspective of things. New eyes, per say.

Her smile came back as she saw the hope in his eyes. "Was it not you who told me to be glad for my differences for they give me something with which to amaze people?" She asked, lifting an eyebrow. "Your differences have certainly amazed me. I cannot believe I would be the only one to be amazed."

[Reixou]

Feeling another being's touch on his wing was new, and in response he pressed it closer to her. He had been fascinated with them at first as well.

He smiled at her reference to what he mentioned before.

"Ah, hit me with my own weapon and drag me down with kindness. You're right, I did. And yes, you have been the only one to allow me to prove myself. Sorry if it's been a bit overwhelming...guess I'm just now metaphorically stretching my wings. It's probably a lot to take in, all of this new stuff." He turned his head to face her, crossing his arms across his knees, then leaning his chin on them.

"Oh, and let me know when you're ready to go, we probably need to get you somewhere warm. Air drying and body heat from myself probably isn't what you have in mind." He chuckled.

[Summerchika]

A new, startled laugh surfaced. Almost incredulously but with good humor, she eyed him as he chuckled. "I cannot believe you just said sorry." she exclaimed, ignoring for the moment his not so subtle hint at 'we should go now'.

Chuckling herself and shaking her head, she said, "You teach me of my heritage, give me a treasured necklace from the place of my parent's probable upbringing, teach me how to manipulate moonlight, show me the best view anyone could ever see, let me glimpse the -- do you call it birthing? -- of a dragon, dunk me into an exquisite steaming lake, prepare your dry cloak to wrap me in so I do not freeze, and you say sorry!" And she had listed only the major things of the evening.

Was that incredulity in her tone? Why, yes, it was. But she was smiling in disbelieving amazement. She stood and tightened the cloak around her again, still incredibly grateful for it's security and dryness.

Shivering, the heat of Reixou's wing now gone, she agreed with him. Further warmth was probably needed. Her trees would help her and her supplies held the blankets she had made the same way she made her clothes: from the forest's natural resources and magic.

"I am honored that you trusted me with your pain." she said softly, aimlessly searching the stars with her eyes. "I am thankful beyond words to have met you and for your infinite kindness. I hope that I will not be the only one to experience this gratefulness. Night was correct," she looked away from the stars to meet Reixou's light blue eyes, "the world needs what you can give."

[Reixou]

Reixou was a bit taken aback by her string of words listing what he had shown her, but laughed along. When she stood, so did he.

She looked into the sky, as if searching for something. Reixou was always amazed at how calm and graceful she was; no matter the situation. Apparently anger and doubt were not something she used often, and he was glad for it.

As her eyes met his once again, along with her kind words, he took notice that she was shivering, and went to her.

"Thank you, and now I believe you are shivering because of the water I so nobly 'dunked' you in." He smiled, "I hope you don't mind a hug, carrying you like I did would just make you colder on the way back; but I'll make it a fast trip." With that, he held her shivering form close, took to the sky once again, and in a few seconds they were back to the entrance of the small shelter.

[Summerchika]

She had only ever hugged her grandmother, perhaps her adoptive parents though she didn't remember, and her animal friends. She did not mind hugging. However, hugging a man with wings was quite different, she decided. And he was blessedly warm. She had not realized how cold she really was until then. So she hugged back, but for only a few seconds because literally seconds later they were back before the entrance to her shelter.

"You are ever the non-exaggerator." she said in surprise as they landed. With another tremor, she decided she needed to not be wet anymore. She stepped out of his embrace, however reluctant she was to leave his warmth.

"Thank you." she said, looking up at him. She could not tell if he the cold made him uncomfortable, but she had gotten him a bit wet again with her own clothing, so she concluded that it was a possibility. She rushed to remedy that as well.

"Come," she said, hurrying into the shelter of trees. After all the warmth, the outside air was cold. The contrast was surprising. And her wet clothes helped not at all. When she bathed or swam, it was always in cold water, so the air outside had never seemed so cold as it had now, oddly. And there had always been a sun out.

Quickly, she reached the tree that held her fabrics. Placing a hand on its trunk, she thanked the tree and it opened its hollow for her. In the hollow were blankets and an extra set of clothing, as well as a cloak that she rarely ever used. The cloak was made to protect her from the elements, but she reveled in the elements and so had little use for it. Perhaps she could used it now.

Turning to find where Reixou was, she asked as she turned, "So you are not uncomfortable," she used his word for heat and cold, "would a cloak or blanket be better?"

[Reixou]

He nodded at her statement of him not exaggerating. This was true; he did not like to distort the truth unless completely necessary.

Reixou followed as she beckoned him to come inside. Before entering, he glanced down at the front of his clothes, noticing the wet spot, and giving a small laugh. "You're still soaked!" His skin felt the wet, and the cold, but was indifferent as always to the temperature.

Entering the shelter again, he watched as she once again used affection to persuade the forest to do as she bid.

Reixou hesitated for a bit when she asked whether he wanted a blanket or cloak, but not wanting to argue, he replied with a smile, "Blanket, if you really must."

[Summerchika]

She heard his "You're still soaked!" and chuckled. She considered her clothes rather ingenious, but they were by no means perfect. Like the earth and nature they came from, they soaked in water and held it as if it still needed it for life. She had not found a way to change it; she had not cared so much about it until now.

As he hesitated, she looked at him closer. She heard the odd note in his voice that had been accented by his hesitation, despite the smile he had on his face.

"If I really must? Do you not feel comfort either?" she asked. She did not mean it as an insult. She was curious, as usual. But she felt sad that she could not help him at all.

Bringing out a blanket that smelled of the myriad of flowers it had been made from, she handed it to him anyway. "If you do not want it, say so." she encouraged him with a smile. "But if you do not use it, I am sure some animal would be glad for its comfort, so we'll keep it out anyway, shall we?" she asked almost mischievously.

Turning back she awaited his reaction as she rummaged through the tree's hollow for her extra clothes. Shivering yet again, she silently cursed her earthy clothes. Perhaps before she traveled too far away she would fix the oddity of her water-carrying clothes.

[Reixou]

He was taken aback a bit by her comment, accepting the blanket.

"No, I do indeed feel comfort. I feel comfort simply in your presence...and in the smell of this...blanket. This is made of plants!" He marveled at the intricate weave, still living and vibrant, and the scent of the flowers' sweet intoxicating perfume.

"Positively fascinating..." He buried his face in it, feeling the petals and raw natural material, and taking in a concentrated breath of the blooms. He sighed and rolled his eyes, then shut them; sitting down, and keeping the blanket draped across his lap, pressed to his left cheek. "My...No animal is taking this from me." He smiled, absolutely enthralled by the new sensation. His wings seemed to curl around him as he relaxed.

Opening one eye lazily, he spoke. "These woods are quite the host...perhaps it is your turn to amaze me. Though, you already have." He closed it again, savoring the senses around him.

[Summerchika]

He was explaining that he could feel comfort when his discovery of the blanket stopped him. His reaction surprised even her and she turned around to watch him.

Pressing a fist against her lips, trying to stifle her laughter, she watched him. It took every ounce of her will power not to join him on the ground to die of laughter. Trying to keep her laughter from making noise hurt, and she put an arm around her wet clothed ribs.

He opened one eye and she turned around quickly to keep him from spying her plight. He had not laughed at her when she had experienced such amazing things for the first time; she would not laugh at him now. But for goodness sake, it was just so comical. And she was glad to be able to please him somehow.

Trying not to shake too visibly, hoping that maybe she could pass it off as shivering, she grabbed the dry clothes that she could now see and held them away from her so they would not get wet, too.

"Consider it a gift, then." she managed after taking a deep breath, hoping her voice would not give her away after all of that. She turned, despite the wide grin that simply refused to leave her face and excused herself. "I'll be just a moment. These clothes do not let go of water well." she explained, and she slipped out of the clearing.

Moving behind foliage that was well cloaked from the trees of the clearing, she changed hastily. Once the dratted clothes were off, she manipulated the wind to dry herself before donning the wonderfully dry clothes.

Picking up the hopelessly wet clothes and Reixou's now damp cloak, she returned to the clearing within a minute.

Asking a branch to lower itself, she laid her previous clothing over the branch. She put the wind to work at her clothes, knowing it would take a long time for them to dry fully. Her clothes clung to water as stubbornly as the earth did. She held out his cloak and, considering it, she asked the wind to work on it too while she laid it on another branch. Hopefully, it would dry soon.

Retrieving another blanket, she wrapped herself in it. Cold did not leave her willingly once it had taken hold; she very much needed the blanket. Turning around to smile widely at Reixou, her laughter coming back to her, she moved to sit next to him.

"Whatever you need or want, this forest may grant. All you must do is ask. It is our turn to accommodate you." she said, breathing in the pine and mint scent of her own blanket.

[Reixou]

Reixou smiled when she offered to give it to him.

"I cannot take part of your home with me, but be sure that I will be back to see this blanket many a time." He chuckled. "Besides, how would I carry it? Wear it as a cape? Mmm..." He shook his head comically. "That just wouldn't be right." He said, turning to her. He knew that she wanted to laugh, and was sure the whole sight was fairly humorous.

"Didn't know I had an affection for flowery, soft things, hm?" He forced his face to straighten into a serious expression. "Why can't a guy like me enjoy a few blossoms once in a while?" With that, he lifted one of the flowers to his nose, inhaling deeply, and letting it out with a sigh. He knew this would probably send her over the edge in laughter.

Reixou had always loved making people laugh when he lived among the Elves; even if it meant making fun of himself.