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**Ser Soup** · 03-30-2014, 10:54 PM

Gerrard got the tinder alight, and slowly blew on it, as it grew into a powerful flame. He heard Elwoods comment, yeah, I had a lonely childhood. It wasn't too bad although, I did get to fend for myself, and that really helped me. Gerrard also nodded his head at his comment about Sephira, as he agreed on all terms.
Gerrard got the fire up to a roar, slowly adding wood to it slowly until the heat was powerful enough to be felt several metres away. Gerrard stood up, sweating from the heat, happy, this should last the night if they could keep the wood supplied.

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 03-30-2014, 11:13 PM

Sephira hid a scowl at the stranger's words, setting her face into its usual emotionless mask as they arrived back with the others, just as the sun finally dipped below the horizon. She was a little surprised to see the fire was already burning powerfully, having expected to need to give it some assistance. Not they needed it quite so strong.
Star crept to her side and rubbed her knee, a quiet question she replied to with a quick ear rub. Midnight glanced up briefly from Elwood, who had fallen asleep on his back, to growl softly at the newcomer, but otherwise ignored the two, deciding the Kokiri was more important. Sephira smiled sadly at the pair and moved over to them. She knelt down and rubbed the wolf's head while saying, "So this man says he can get us transportation across the water." Only then did she realize she didn't know his name, what the transportation was, or what he'd been asking for in return. Regardless, someone would ask those questions, while she focused on making sure Elwood was alright, beyond being overly tired.

**jborgon** · 03-31-2014, 12:16 AM

Shane eyed each of the members of the group carefully. They looked tired, broken from the journey. If he wanted to he would've probably been able to snatch up some wishes from at least some of them. However, he knew if he wanted Sephira to accept his offer, he had to refrain from doing so. At least for now. "Well, it better be some amazing transportation if he thinks it can take all of us," James spoke up just as he got back to the camp. He was even more cranky than before, having had to get the water from a waterfall, much to the distaste of a family of beavers that had tried riling him up. Now he carried a bucket over his shoulder, hoping it would be enough. He dropped it down on the sand in front of the group and moved over to Elwood. He had known the guy would have probably fallen by this point in the day, but he just wanted to check that he was okay. He didn't look at Sephira, as he could feel she was still upset over something. He just wished he could know what it was.
Shane looked James up and down with distaste, but made no comment against him. Whatever Sephira had done to hurt him, she would still probably defend him in any argument. "It's a ship, actually. Large size, could easily fit all of you, made of Lignum Vitae, strongest most durable wood there is" he smiled, "Trust me, you're not gonna find anything better." James looked up skeptically.
"What's the catch?"
"No catch," Shane shrugged, "just trying to help out a friend." He gave Sephira a half-smile, prompting James to hold in a growl.

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 03-31-2014, 12:41 AM

Sephira glanced up as James approached. She gave him an apologetic smile. Not just for bringing this stranger to the camp, but for so much else. When he knelt by Midnight to check on Elwood, she saw his hand was burned, the other held carefully to his chest. She winced, guessing the first was because of her, the second was because of an injury he'd received in the camp. Only destroys. She reached over and took his hand, carefully, so as not to hurt him, and checked the wrappings on the wrist. Yes, definitely had been broken, but it looked like it had been set right and an herbal poultice applied. Midnight or Star must have brought him the correct ones from her pack; she'd been wondering why there were some missing. She let go and took his other hand, applying some of her ever-ready burn salve. "I'm sorry," she whispered, especially when she heard the muted growl. Heard was inaccurate, but she could tell rom his body language that he was holding it in.
"It's too early to call us friends," she said, louder. "You never even mentioned your name, and since we've met, we have only argued about the purposes of fire." She looked pointedly at the blaze they were gathered around, pressing with her ability to make it flare abruptly before quickly subsiding to a less heated inferno. They didn't need it quite as hot as Jacky had made it.

**jborgon** · 03-31-2014, 12:54 AM

"Oh, I don't know, Sephira. You see it as an argument, I was just enjoying polite conversation," Shane smiled, walking around the fire with his hand hovering over it. He was tempted to make it rise again from what Sephira had taken it down from, but he wouldn't. Not only would it be a sign of alert to the group, but he wasn't strong enough at the moment to be performing needless tricks. He could wait till later.
James smiled back softly at Sephira, but flinched when she took hold of his broken limb. It wasn't that it still hurt, but he realized he'd never explained the battle at the camp to her, and wondered if she'd chastise him over it. "Don't worry about it," he whispered back in response to her as she did her healing on his other hand. It felt better almost immediately, but he could sense it again. The doubt arising in her mind. He was aching to tell her it hadn't been her fault at all, that she shouldn't think he was hurt because of her. But he doubted she would listen. "Really, it doesn't even hurt. Thanks," he added, as she finished. He wanted to ask her about the newcomer who was already getting on his nerves, but chose to wait until they were out of earshot.

**Peeps** · 03-31-2014, 03:04 PM

For the most part, the travel to Great Bay was enjoyable for Inga. The sky was almost totally clear, and the air was just the right temperature. This is what she had wanted to do since her arrival--travel around and see the landscapes of Termina that had been unknown to her just days before. And it was nice to be traveling with a group, though Inga partially felt like she didn't belong. It had only been a couple of days before that she had met Sephira as they transversed the desert with no goals besides rescuing Donovan. And now he was gone, off somewhere with that lady he liked so much. Inga thought she remembered something about them having plans to visit this same region of Termina, but she wasn't sure. Perhaps they would happen to run into the couple.

The arrival in Great Bay was easily the highlight of Inga's day. It was pure beauty, the way the sun cast a shade of orange across the empty sky just as they had arrived. And the ocean. She had heard about it, but was never able to fully comprehend it's true vastness. She had never even expected to witness it in her lifetime, but here she was with the smooth, white sand beneath her feet and the endless, shimmering world of blue waters ahead. The moment should have been perfect, but something was clearly wrong, even though it could not be seen or heard. In fact, there had not been much of a sound between the travelers during their journey across the field, and now the only thing Inga was hearing came from the seagulls gliding over the water. There was an obvious tension in the group, and Sephira was the center of it. Anyone could tell she had been through something during her absence from camp, but Inga had no clue what it was. She also didn't know how clueless she was compared to the others. Did they all know something she didn't? Or maybe Sephira was like this often, and Inga just hadn't known her long enough to see this side of her. She had been much more talkative when she explained her race to Inga back in the desert.

The silence was finally broken when the group had gotten near the shore. Sephira gave grating orders to each traveler, sending Inga with Gerrard to find food for the night. Inga grabbed an empty sack and followed Gerrard towards the calm ocean waters, not sure what his plan was. Obviously fish would be found beneath the waves, but Inga didn't have much more ideas than that for catching food in such an environment. Finding a meal in Hyrule would have been an easy task, but not so much in this foreign land. She slipped out of her boots and rolled up her leggings to step into the pleasant water behind Gerrard. She still wasn't sure where he was going with this until to her surprise, he brought a clam out from below the surface. Inga had never eaten a clam before, but had knowledge from them just from seeing some in the market one time. It did not appear that this would be enough food for everyone to have dinner, but Inga began searching anyways.

After about twenty minutes, Inga rethought her impression of the clams. She now had a sack full of them, and if Gerrard had also collected this much they would be set. During her scavenging, Inga had strayed a good distance from the others without taking much notice of it. She now began making her way back with the dense bag of clams. She didn't make any effort to hurry, walking along the shore at a strolling pace. It was nice to relish in the leisurely side of life, and she took in the nighttime scenery now that the stars began to shine through the dark blue sky. The beach wasn't bad, not at all. Her relaxing trek down the coast felt like while, but she was a tiny bit disappointed when she reached the others. Sure, she enjoyed being with them and they were mostly people she liked, but with group travel there was a little feeling of restraint. Inga thought maybe she would separate at some point soon. She wasn't sure how she felt about Sephira's earlier comment about a ship. There was still so much to discover in Termina, and once she got on the ship with them she would be stuck with them. Inga believed that she'd been tied up in their affairs long enough, and the time to say farewell was near. It probably wouldn't be a hard farewell, either. James and Elwood were sweet, her favorite two from the group. And of course there was Sephira. She was still a bit of a mysterious character to Inga, but even though she never revealed much about her encounter with Donovan, Inga believed it was Sephira who had rescued him. Yet, now she was changed, showing a bit more of an unpleasant, bitter mood. Inga hadn't grown close at all to the others, so she wouldn't care too much about the rest. The main reason she figured it was time to leave them was because they had shown signs that they were all trying to get away from Hyrule because of something Inga knew nothing about and wasn't going to get wrapped up in.

For now Inga placed her sack by where Gerrard had left his, and she would enjoy the company for however much longer it would last.

**Ser Soup** · 04-01-2014, 09:54 PM

Gerrard stood up from staring into the fire from his cramped legs, and saw a man in a dark colored cloak, saying something to James that he couldn't decipher. Gerrard slowly walked up, shivering as a cold breeze from the ocean took away most of the warmth he had retained from the fire and left him cold. Upon nearing a few feet he got a closer look at the man. He could see very little of him, a cloak covered his body and his eyes were shaded by his hair, he looked suspicious. Gerrard decided he might as well introduce himself, as he saw the man eying him.
Hey, I haven't seen you around, and if you don't mind I am curious about who exactly you are he stiffly said.

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 04-03-2014, 10:38 PM

Sephira rolled her eyes. Pleasant conversation her foot. He'd spat at her earlier, when saying that life couldn't exist without fire. He did have an annoying habit of chuckling, though. Throughout much of their conversation, he'd chuckled as if she'd told a joke, not spoken with seriousness. She couldn't help the rise in temperature her annoyance caused, but attempted to force it down. She still held James' hand, and she didn't want to burn it yet again because she couldn't control her emotions. She felt guilty enough, especially when he assured her it didn't hurt. Of course it did. Oh, he might be expecting it now, be used to the pain her heat brought. But it would still hurt. Being burned repeatedly didn't give you an immunity to it, nor did it make you impervious to its effects. While it was nice of him to pretend, she'd prefer if he didn't. She'd prefer if he drew away from her touch, if he scorned her companionship and aid. After all, that's all she deserved. Not just for burning him, but everything else. The living hell she'd put him through, and the secrets she kept from him that would only hurt him in the long run. Not just Maxwell, but Vincent, and the full story of Strattus. Of her dark side.

**jborgon** · 04-04-2014, 09:58 PM

Shane turned when he heard someone speak up to him. It was a member of the group he didn't know much of yet, but who had apparently been talking with the pretty blonde earlier. He frowned at him, his eyes trying hard to mask his apathy towards the group in general. "Not surprising you haven't seen me around seeing as I just got here. Not to mention your eyesight must not be that great if you only now noticed I'm here," he replied in an equally stiff tone. "And I don't mind you being curious." With that Shane turned to look off into the distance, wondering if the group would want to go to the ship now or in the morning. He didn't say any more to Gerrard, as he hadn't detected any question in his comment.
James closed his eyes, trying to ignore the conversation between Gerrard and the cloaked guy. He didn't know who he was or what he wanted, but he felt like he didn't want to find out. Opening his eyes to look at Sephira, concern evidently shown in them. He was thinking heavily, trying to find a way to force himself through her shell. He knew she wasn't going to open up easily, but there had to be some way to push further. He looked down at her hand, holding his, and instead of pulling it away turned it so he was holding her hand. It didn't hurt as much as he had expected it to, especially after Sephira treated it. He looked at her fingers, her skin roughened with time. He held it softly in his, feeling the warmth and wondering if he felt cold to her. "I wonder," he started quietly, almost speaking only to himself, "why moths keep going back to the flame, even when it burns. It must be instinct, I guess. Or is it something else, maybe..."

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 04-07-2014, 11:08 AM

"Because they are attracted to a beauty they cannot have," she answered, equally softly. She knew what he was doing, or could at least guess. He was trying to reassure her, to make her feel better for having burned him. But that was not his role. All it did was make her realize even more than she was undeserving of him. He was so sweet and kind, and continued to follow her, to chase her, no matter how many times she hurt him. She'd burned him multiple times, and even left him alone to lead the group when she'd been in the netherworld as a phoenix. Elliot had told her she was doing the right thing, that she was leading her group well. But now, she wondered if that was a lie. She'd never met a spirit who lied, they usually had no reason to anymore, but there was always a first. And a little white lie couldn't hurt anyone, now could it.
She took her hand back from James and faced the stranger. "He means, who are you and what is your name?" Her voice was louder than when she'd been talking with James, and a good deal more forceful, nearly a snarl.

**Ser Soup** · 04-07-2014, 12:09 PM

Gerrard rolled his eyes at the utter rudeness of the mysterious man, and seeing no reason to continue this conversation, Gerrard made his way back to the fire. He sat down on a small log, which he used as a bench of sorts. He allowed the experience to wash over him as he started to relax, he might as well enjoy this night, it might be the last nice one for a while for all he knew, as he took one of the raw clams out of his bag. Gerrard cracked it open, using his hunting knife and slurped the insides out. They tasted great, just like he remembered them back in the market.

**Peeps** · 04-07-2014, 05:01 PM

Inga narrowed her eyes curiously at the new guy as she arrived at the fire, confused when Sephira snapped at him. How long had she been gone? As she stepped into the fire's warmth, Inga spotted Gerrard eating a clam on a log and walked over to join him, dropping her own bag of clams in the sand and sitting down next to him. "Guess I was gone a bit longer than I'd realized," she said to him while reaching into her bag to pull out a clam. "What did I miss?" She spoke quietly, yet her words still seemed to cut into a tense silence that shrouded the group. With this much people on a beach with a fire, she knew it should have been a bit louder, livelier. The group even seemed gloomy. Now she was sure she would be saying goodbye when their boat showed up.

**Ser Soup** · 04-07-2014, 06:10 PM

Gerrard glanced over at Inga as she sat beside him, and he quickly answered her question. Nothing has really happened, Sephira is on edge, snapping out at everyone. And then this new guy shows up with her, and has this mysterious aura around him. I just don't like how it feels, this place is way too somber and quiet. I mean we're at a beach for Din's sake, we should at least be having fun. Gerrard threw the shell on the ground and grabbed another clam (oyster?) , staring into the fire now.

**Peeps** · 04-10-2014, 06:30 PM

As Gerrard spoke, Inga cracked open her own clam as she had seen him do, and ripped out the slimy bit of meat inside. It didn't look or feel too appealing, but the man beside her seemed to be enjoying them. She swallowed it without chewing too much. It wasn't great, but she was hungry enough to eat a few. "That's what I was thinking," she sighed in response to Gerrard's comment about fun. He knew what he was talking about. There was another break of silence, and all that could be heard was the perfect harmony of calmly crackling flames, gentle waves and bugs chirping from distant trees. Her focus shifted from the bright fire to the endless waters gleaming with moonlight. "How could they be so unhappy on such a beautiful night?"

**Ser Soup** · 04-11-2014, 03:22 PM

Even the most beautiful scenes of nature can be spoiled by a bad mood, Gerrard simply said. It's like a disease, if one person is in a bad mood it overtakes the whole lot of us. Spreads over us and ruins the night, but here's to hoping that the wide open sea can at least make it better, it really is beautiful. And with that Gerrard cracked open another clam, it had been a while since he had eaten, but he wasn't planning to eat much more since the others also had to eat.

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