Into the Forest {Open}

[rain]

Dire prepared himself. He wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but he was going to be ready for it. Or at least he hoped he would be. Dire jumped from the limb he was on and slid down the trunk of a nearby tree. He was ready for anything.

[Amundara]

At first the ancient elf expected the youngster to pounce into the storm like most others usually did. They called it 'taking anitiative' but all it really was was young-hot-headedness. Very few actually thought about what they did first and seemed that he was one of them. That in itself was quite impressive but just thinking wouldn't do anything. He needed to combine thought with action. Within the storm she expected him to do absolutely anything and when he only slid down to ground on a nearby tree she predicted that if she made the first move he would do a dodge-slash or just dodge and flee. One harder than the other but both effective against an unseen enemy. But how he was going to do so was the question. She was just going to have to find out.

Elswyer placed two fingers to her lips and let out a high-pitched whistle call before the other hand made a swirling motion and the leaves began to race faster, turning into a thin tornado of sorts. She would strike from the front and in the meantime, a feline shadow whose very presense was cloaked by the same magic would sneak up from behind and strike. Niether of them were serious so if he were to take beatings from both side or just one then he would just get a few scratches, maybe a bite-mark, or perhaps both. If he was smart and quick he wouldn't meet either fate.

[rain]

Dire watched as the older elf appeared to get ready to strike. He didn't have long to think then. He pushed thought asside and just flicked his hand. The ground underneath his feet started to ripple slightly. Too much pressure on it would make anyone trip. Very basic defense, but it would help him and slow down his opponent a little.

[Amundara]

Elswyer's amusement dulled with the younger elf's reaction. Did he forget that she was within a tree or perhaps he thought that shake would make her lose her balance againt the basic force. Well she didn't trip up do to her long years of training and age-old instincts. But she wouldn't damper his spirit. With two attacks coming from both sides and this was his defense, he was still truly too young; so pretending that she had faltered, El lessened her spell over the storm of leaves, making them flutter a bit before doing an odd dance in the air to make them back in to a think fog of physical green.

Kahja wasn't nearly so encouraging as her mistress. No, the ocelot went right for the attack, her paws and tail kept her balance like as if the spell had never even been cast. If he didn't sense her or dodge, this young Dire was going to get a painful bite in the shoulder.

[rain]

The truly useful part of this defense was that he could sense whatever was on the ground. Dire could feel the ocelot coming for him, but what could he do about it. There were too many options. He opted for the simple thing to do. He flicked both of his wrists and puffs of fog same up around the feet of the cat and the other elf.

Dire started up the tree hoping that would hold them long enough for him to do what he really wanted to. Of course, it probably wouldn't, but one could hope.

[Amundara]

So he was able to feel the vibrations with his earth magic. A more complicated skill but a simple one as long as the user actually practiced a few times. Her eyes narrowed. Not only was he able to use earth magic but as water-based concealing magic. Adding the two together at the same time usually meant a potential was there. Now what kind, that would have to later be found out. It was just too bad that he was forgetting something. Fog may blind but it can't rid the pursurer of their sense of smell.

Kahja had met the ground where the young elf had been by the time he jumped up to the trees. The ocelot was temporarily stunned by the sudden fog but it was a quick ot end as it had come. Now the big cat was on the hunt again and this El helped. Dispelling her own leaf storm; Elswyer touched a hand to the trunk of her tree whispering,
There's a bug around thee,
find his hide and hold it tight;
lest it come and bite.
A rather poetic but a more old version of spellcasting. To heed her desire, the tree began to shift. Its branches glowed a very dim blue aura and touched its fellow wood-folk, passing on the blue aura. Soon enough the aura passed to a wide range of the wood and each plant-life's branches and leaves sought to swat at the one who was an intruder to her. With this in mind Kahja abandoned the chase to stay on the ground. After all, even she would not risk getting slapped by the branch.

[rain]

Dire felt the tree start to shiver underneath him. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he was fairly sure it wouldn't be good for him. He couldn't jump down from the tree without the two on the ground getting him.

The worry and slight frustration started to leak out of him. A dark aura started expanding out from his body and little wisps curled around the branch underneath him.

[Amundara]

El placed a hand to her chin; perhaps she had overdone it? He seemed completly stumped. A little sad she had to admit but what else could he have done with so little experience? Placing her fingers to her lips, she was going to whistle but instantly stopped. Her fingers were a mere centimeter away when she felt an ominous power leak against the natural air of the forest. Now what was this? Quickly she gathered wind magic into her palms and clapped them together. A dispelling magic that just as quickly dispersed the fog around her to reveal the boy. Her eyes widened. His body was surrounded by a dark aura. That in itself made a chill run up the old elf's spine then adding the wisps. Yeah not a good sign.

The old elf stayed where she was, one hand on the tree while the other placed on the ground so that she was in a crouching position. She would watch and see what this was. Kahja mimicked her elven partner and merely stared at the young elf.

[rain]

Dire didn't notice the aura, and it continued to expand. As it grew, the magic on the tree weakened a little. It started seeping into the tree itself, though. Dire could feel the pain of the tree, and that snapped him out of his thoughts.

"No!" he yelled. He tried to stop the dark magic, but it wasn't working. He couldn't get it under control. No matter what he tried, it continued to expand. Tears began to appear in his eyes. One dripped down on to the tree's branch. A green glow spread out from where the tear touched. One part went towards the tree's trunk and the other wrapped around the dark aura, diminishing it.

Dire couldn't understand what was going on. He was only dark elf. Life-giving magic was not something his kind could normally do.

[Amundara]

El watched the event unfold before her. Magical aura began to surge around her palms, just waiting to be released into a restriction magic. She could hear a sorrowful cry from the tree and instinctively Elswyer released her magic into the ground; the aura took hold of the surrounding trees' roots before climbing up the main system. It was unneeded however.

Dire's yell drew El's attention to see his single tear fall onto the branch of where he stood. A healing magic. Her eyes narrowed as she dispersed her magic. His dark magic and healing magic conflicted, obviously the healing won. With a sigh of relief, Elswyer jumped up to where the young elf was.

Are you alright? Can you tell me what that just was? Two broad questions but ones that needed to be answered. Worry was evident on the elder's features, even Kahja flicked her tail with anxiety.

[rain]

"I-I don't know. It just... happened," Dire said. He didn't really understand what happened. The frustration had probably lead to the release of his dark magic, but he didn't even know he coul heal.

Dire sat down on the branch to try to think. It didn't help, but it was nice since he had been standing or doing physical activity most of the day. "Maybe we could think about it while we sit?" Dire said.

[Amundara]

El wasn't so sure that that had really just 'happened', there was always a cause for something. For this she had to expect that she may have caused some sort of trigger during that little evaluation of hers. Which made her think that maybe the younger bunches were getting too soft and too easily overcome by their emotions. Emotions were good, just not good when they conflict with proper thinking or when they overcome the sense to use magic properly. Despite that it looked like he was more suprised that he could heal than his release of the dark magic.Then again he was born to dark elves if she remembered correctly.

With a wash of relief, El slumped down onto one knee. It was good to know that not all dark elves solely relied on their dark magicks. She nodded to his idea, sitting and thinking would help better than standing and mumbling. That would be a good idea. She smiled before swinging her legs over the branch. Kahja took that as a signal to leap up to the same branch, meeting her partner with an affectionate butt-head against the chin.

This may or may not be sensitive, but would mind telling me what brought on that dark magic or at least perhaps, what kind it was? She asked simply, rubbing her ocelots head.

[rain]

Dire sighed. "Well I think it was because I was worried I wasn't gonna be able to win. I didn't think I could win against the trees. I'm not really sure what kind of magic it was. I never used dark magic much when I was associated with the dark elves. MY parents always told me that my dark magic would come to me when I needed it," he said. He really hoped the older elf wouldn't be mad at him for his answer.

[Amundara]

Elswyer looked to the young elf. She contemplated for a moment before giving him a reassuring smile. That would explain some of it, although I can't say what might've been the reason your healing magic activated. Perhaps you had been born with it? Who can really say. She turned to look back out toward the wood before continuing, I can assure you of one thing, you don't always have to win. Use tatics and even flee if you must. After all, what the use of winning if you over-stretch yourself hmm?

[rain]

Dire thought for a moment. "I guess it's possible that I was born with the healing magic. I've never heard of a good dark elf before," he said. The older elf seemed very wise. Maybe she was even older than he would think she was. "My parents always taught me to win at all costs. If you can't win, die trying. Don't be prisoner, kill yourself. It's still kind of part of me."