Solstice War - Gathering

[willysilver]

The Solstice was upon them. When the sun went down the magic began to swell, the veil between this world and the Other Side thin as vapor. Mortals could sense it, even, though they may not have a name for it. They gathered together, not realizing the animal instinct of safety in numbers.

But all around the city, from the dark parts, fae began to come together as well. Unseelie filled the city- boggarts and Red Caps and things unseen for many a year with bright eyes and sharp teeth. But they were tricksy, dangerous and malicious but no worse than they ever were. The real threat, the ever present danger this year, were the Milesian that crawled out of the sewers and tube tunnels to prowl they city. They were hunting tonight. They had eyes black and soulless, eyes too wide for their white, gaunt faces. Larger than their eyes were their mouth. The smile of needle fangs glinted in the street lights. Long arms ending with spidery, spindly fingers reached and clawed at passers by from the shadows.

There was a war in the city tonight and the nature of the foe, the Milesian, meant no bound mortal needed to be near any battle. Death would come to one or the other if a killing blow came down.

But there was hope. Seelie fae prowled the city as well, fighting for Light and Air. Even the Queen had seen fit to step through with her sword and shield. Such was the threat to the Fae way of life that the Milesian presented.

The longest day of the year dawned but the sunlight did nothing to frighten off the dark forces. The longest day of the year simply meant the things that went bump in the night were attacking in the light.




(Tag in, tag around! Open all week so check back. Have fun with your adventures. If you don't want any Milesian, there are plenty of Unseelie, too. Day or night, whichever works for you.)

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[phouka]

The Phouka was patrolling the park, a blade in hand. He'd tried earlier to wear the form of dog but the Milesian were far too strong for that. Cold iron was needed.

He heard Winter and bolted for him, arriving to see the pixie in the grasp of the monster. He growled ferociously and pounced on the pale foe, stabbing it with abandon.

[winter_wisp]

Winter watched in shock, only snapping out of it as another crept from the shadows and leapt into the fight.

"No!" the pixie shouted, springing towards the creature with his tiny blade of iron. "Don't touch him! Don't hurt my Phouka!"

[phouka]

The Phouka's own blade sunk in, again and again, and the creature shrieked. With the combined efforts of both their weapons the Milesian soon began to smoke and soon evaporated into aether.

The Phouka was breathing hard when he took Winter in his hands.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

[winter_wisp]

"No! I'm not fine, Phouka," the pixie insisted. "I don't want to be at war, and they won't listen! If they;d just listen, I'd explain I'm a pacifist now."

[phouka]

"But they are at war, my love. Your words have no meaning to them. I will remain by your side and fight in your stead," the creature said, rubbing Winter's back. "When you are home you may hide away...but we must get you there first."

[winter_wisp]

"I won't hide and leave you to fight for me! I'm not a coward, Phouka," the pixie insisted. "...Besides, My blade is stained now."

[phouka]

"Then we will fight together and our enemies will flee before us," The Phouka said, smiling at Winter. "Tonight you are not a pacifist. You are a warrior."

[winter_wisp]

Winter considered that, then nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I will be a warrior, Phouka. I will fight at your side," the pixie agreed.

[phouka]

"Very good, my friend. Very good. Let us eradicate this filth from our park," he said, clapping Winter on the back before leading him toward home. The park where their tree was was infested and he'd spent all night trying to keep it secure.

[winter_wisp]

Winter stumbled a little when Phouka clapped him on the back, but he giggled a little and nodded.

[phouka]

"I have been on the hunt all night," he said. "I have killed many. I thought that now that I am free I would not go to war again, but here I am," he said, sounding more than a bit excited about it.

[winter_wisp]

"You like it!" Winter accused, looking a little shocked. "You like the stabbing!"

[phouka]

"It makes my blood sing," the creature admitted. "I do. I do like it."

[winter_wisp]

"Phouka, so violent," Winter said, tutting a little.

[phouka]

"I would protect these mortals as I would protect the queen," he replied. "This is what I was made to do."

[winter_wisp]

"But you are more than that, Phouka," Winter said, leaning into him as they walked. "You know that, don't you?"

[phouka]

"Yes. I know. But I like how it feels to let myself fight. It is very exciting," he beamed, wrapping his free arm around Winter.

[winter_wisp]

"You could get hurt. You could die, Phouka," Winter said softly, resting his chin on the other man's shoulder.

[phouka]

The Phouka laughed at that.

"I cannot die, my love," he said with warm amusement. "I can only be unmade. And no villain can do that to me. Fear not."

[winter_wisp]

"You don't know," Winter whined. "None of us know anything. The world is chaos, Phouka."

[phouka]

The Phouka stopped and looked at Winter with bright, curious eyes.

"Do not fear, Winter. All will be well. The dawn will come and we will be victorious. You will see."

[winter_wisp]

"You sound sure, but you have no reason to be, Phouka. That's not how the world works, my Phouka. Things are not always good or right, or the way we want them to be," the pixie whispered.

[phouka]

That made the creature's brow furrow and his mouth turn down.

"Winter...what is wrong with you tonight?" he asked with deep concern.

[winter_wisp]

"I just... Do not like war, Phouka. I don't like it. ...It is how my parents died. Aspid may have burned my home, but war took my parents," Winter said quietly.

[phouka]

"War will not take anything more from you," he replied gently, rubbing Winter's arm. "It will not take me, nor our home, nor anyone we love. I will not let that happen," he promised.