OTA

[winter_wisp]

It had been a strange week. It was his season, and so it should have been full of joy- But this year it was different. The winds that sang his name were too cold, too sharp. The trees seemed dead rather than naked, and the chill that usually lit up his magic was heavy and without spark. Everything was slightly wrong, and the longer it lingered, the more uneasy the pixie became.

 

An awakening was approaching, something powerful and dark. Winter could feel it in his bones, tainting the world around him- Something was approaching this realm, though the pixie couldn't sense who or what. He was sensitive to the change though, maybe more sensitive than most, and it was slowly altering him, as things so often could.

 

Walking down the high street he kept one eye on his reflection in the shop windows, noting the way his wings showed occasionally, even though they were hidden- And freezing in place when he saw a familiar figure behind him.

 

Aspid's eyes were dark, and though Winter knew he wasn't in this world with him, he still tensed as the reflection of the dead wizard rested his hand on his shoulder, and leaned in to speak in his ear. The words he whispered were like a low hum, but Winter heard each one, his shoulders shaking as he closed his eyes.

 

"You're lying," the pixie said quietly. "You're a liar!" he shouted, turning his head and opening his eyes- Only to find the shadow of Aspid gone, and a small group of people staring at him as though he'd lost his mind.

 

Looking back in the shop window, Winter saw himself alone again- But changed. Taller still than his new height, with a sunken gaze and painfully thin body. He looked warped and dark, and though he wanted to believe it was an illusion, he couldn't help but fear it was a vision of the future Aspid's warning had painted for him.

Comments

[callmevod]

Go figure, the weird kid was making a scene. Shouting at something that wasn't there, or at least as far as he could tell, and looking at his reflection like something was up with his face, or something. He'd figure it out. But, first thing was first.

Vod pushed his way into the group of people and through them. "C'mon, folks, nothin' to see here," he grouched, before putting his hand on Winter's back and pushing him along with him.

"C'mon, kid," he said, more harshly, hoping to get him to someplace where he could figure out what was what before the wrong kind of attention came their way. And there was always a wrong kind of attention.

[winter_wisp]

Winter flinched at the touch, digging his heels in slightly as he was guided along.

"I'm not a kid. I'm not a child," the pixie huffed, moving away from the touch, but still walking with the cat man.

[callmevod]

He let his hand drop as he walked. Whatever. "I look older than you, so..." He shrugged. "Look, whatever, it doesn't matter. You wanna tell me what that was all about?" he asked. "Because I've done my fair share of hallucinogens, and I know how to handle a bad trip."

[winter_wisp]

"I am not on pills from the clubs," Winter huffed, looking annoyed- Then upset. It was obvious the frail pixie was distraught.

"I was visited by a shadow from the past. He brought bad news."

[callmevod]

"I'm assuming that's a literal thing, and not some sort of figure of speech," Vod said, blinking a few times. "How bad?" he asked, figuring estimations were easier than specifics for the guy.

[winter_wisp]

"I'm not certain yet," Winter said honestly. "Danger is coming for me and my kin though. The winds are rich with bitter magic."

[callmevod]

"Great," Vod huffed. "And I barely got any bullets left," he grumbled. "Look, I'm... not an expert on this stuff. But, hey, you made a decent enough impression." Not a great impression, but certainly a memorable one. "I don't like the idea of danger coming. For anyone that doesn't deserve it."

Granted, he had no idea of the guy's life. Winter didn't seem like he had a malicious bone in his body, if only because maliciousness, to Vod, required a decent attention span, which this kid seemed to lack, from first impressions.

[winter_wisp]

"You can't shoot magic," Winter replied simply, tilting his head, then frowning to himself. "And I may not deserve this danger, but I am the cause, I think. ...The warning came from a shadow of my past. The man who once kept me as his."

Winter rocked slightly from side to side, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"I need cake," he decided. "I think better on a full stomach."

[callmevod]

Vod sighed. "Alright, cake it is, then." Whatever. He had a few bucks to throw around. "Lead the way." Kid probably had a 'cake sense' or something.

[akatawitch]

Sunny had seen Winter do enough interesting things in the time she'd known him that there really wasn't much he could do to faze her. At least, nothing that wouldn't get him immediately caught.

That said, him raising his voice? That was a little worrisome. He didn't do that.

But Sunny couldn't see anyone there who might be upsetting or threatening him. So she just approached slowly, cautiously, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Winter? Are you all right?"

[winter_wisp]

Winter flinched, drawing away, then going still.

"No," he said quietly. "No, I am not."

He wrapped his arms around himself, glancing around as though expecting to see someone else. To see a shadow of the past lurking.

[akatawitch]

Sunny fixed a glare on the people staring, the same sort of glare she'd directed at people staring at her dozens of times before. The truth that she would beat someone down if she had to must have shown in her eyes, because they started to wander away rather than try to figure out what the hell had just happened.

Sunny then proceeded to ignore them, focusing all her attention on Winter. "What happened?"

[winter_wisp]

"Aspid was here," Winter whispered, as if the dead wizard might hear him. "He was speaking to me, telling lies."

He shivered then, looking at Sunny. "He was not in our realm, he was a shadow."

[akatawitch]

Sunny felt her blood run cold. That was twice in only a couple of months that Aspid had haunted people she loved, and if she didn't know that Willy had killed him, she might wonder if he was dead at all.

She cupped his face in her hand. "What did he say?" she murmured.

[winter_wisp]

Winter looked uneasy, but eventually moved closer, leaning in to speak in her ear.

He whispered Aspid's warning of coming war and unrest between realms, the unravelling of magic between them- As though afraid to say it all too loudly. As if saying it too loudly might make it true.

[akatawitch]

Sunny listened silently, letting that sink in. She didn't say anything for the time being, turning her head to kiss his temple. I'm not going to let him hurt you.

[winter_wisp]

Winter wrapped his arms around Sunny, holding her tight and letting himself be comforted by her presence

"The winds are all wrong," he said softly. "They carry something wicked. They're not my winds."

[harrowgate]

"Honestly," a light, breathless voice scoffed from behind the small cluster of on-lookers. "Haven't the lot of you got anything better to do? You're blocking the path."

In the reflection of the shop window, a crop of red hair loomed over the collected gawkers, and Felix shouldered his way through them, scattering people with little more than a glance of mis-matched eyes and his bold willingness to insert himself in the middle of things. He barely had to say anything else before the dull mortals were shuffling away from him uncomfortably.

He waited until Winter was ready, glancing up at the sky as though to judge the weather -- but his fingers were moving to create a silent spell, searching for the taste of magic in the air that might have caused the pixie some bother.

[winter_wisp]

Winter had been staring at himself, this twisted vision of a possible future- However, eventually he noticed Felix.

"Be careful," the pixie whispered. "There are dark shadows lurking. Shadows of the past."

[harrowgate]

"I feel them," Felix answered him from where he stood. Others passing by might not even realize they were speaking to one another. Felix drew a step back away from the sidewalk and toward Winter. He wasn't quite conscious of how protective he felt of the pixie. "You're all right. I'm weaving a ward that will alert us when they come too close."

[winter_wisp]

Felix made him feel so safe. ...Or maybe he was just very tall. Either way, Winter moved closer, looking up as though searching for Felix's magic.

"They spoke to me. ...He spoke to me."

[harrowgate]

Felix opened his palm, and the ward was set. A hum of magic surrounded him, turning slowly in helix-like patterns, alert for the insidious whisper of dark mind magic. He turned to Winter, then, and asked in a low voice, "Aspid?"

[winter_wisp]

"Yes," Winter whispered. "He spoke to me, told me terrible things are coming."

[harrowgate]

It wasn't safe here in the open, and it was cold, and while that might not bother Winter it was quite uncomfortable for Felix even in his scarf and wool coat. With a frown, Felix found his smartphone in a coat pocket and began to inquire of it the location of a certain book shop. Luckily, it wasn't far.

"Why don't you come with me. I know a place we can talk safely. Mr. Fell will let us stay there as long as we like, as long as we don't try to leave with any of his books." For Felix could think of no place safer than to be surrounded by books.

[winter_wisp]

Winter considered that offer, then nodded.

"I will not pilfer any books," the pixie promised sincerely.