Winter Rains equal Owlcicles

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It was a warmer winter day, just a bit above freezing. Aria was on her way to her home, a backpack filled with thread and sewing needles, along with enough material to start a nice quilt. As soon as Rivers gave her a place to stay she had been slowly brining supplies in to make the place better. She flew in her less conspicuous owl form during the day to carry at least small items that weren’t heavier than eight pounds. It still was a good hour or two going to and another coming back in this form; so the gathering was going slowly. Rivers was able to help much quicker with his tunnels, but he had already done so much for her….and she liked putting in the effort. The real work would begin when the snow melted, but until then she could do some small stuff. She already had large plans for the place.



Aria was drifting on the thermals; the flight would have been quicker in her dragon form however this form she stayed much warmer in. And luckily the sky was over casted so the light did not hurt her sensitive eyes too much. But…it would seem the sky was getting darker…that wasn’t a good sign. Winter storms could blow in hard and fast in no time so close to the coast. She beat her wings a little faster hoping to get to her little run down cabin before the rains hit.



Luck was not on her side for not ten minutes later the rains began; and getting caught in the worse of a winter storm was not in Arias plans. Aria scanned the area below her; she had been fallowing the river up through the forest; she usually branched off at the part where her brook fed into the major river and then fallowed that path up to her home….If her luck hadn’t been with weather it was with her when it came to a nice place to land. A nice sturdy little cottage seemed to have been built right at the banks of the river. Aria took a sharp dive down and landed right on a window sill to tuck in under the eve of the roof. She would be protected from the worst of the rains there when it started coming down harder. Her pack still clutched in one talon.

[Claire]

Claire could hear the rain.

There was a strange sense of finality about this cottage. She had put off the decision for as long as she had been here, but she couldn’t continue to stay in the inns any longer. She had been traveling for so long, she needed some semblance of a home. But it also meant that she was stuck here, in this city. In this country. Perhaps for the rest of her life. At the moment, that didn’t sit too well with her. There was no real touches of familiarity here- she couldn’t pack any sizable trinkets from home. She would have to completely rebuild from here. She turned her head to the door from her bed, staring at the fire alight in the other room before she pushed herself up.

Claire ambled into the main room, clad in a simple white tunic, and picked up a log to add to the fire. She sunk down into the chair beside it, looking hazily at the fire. Maybe she could do something about a drink, but they didn’t have the right tools or spices here. If she could even recall the taste of her favorite drinks from home. She toyed with the crystal around her neck, her vision glazing over as she stared ahead. Then a thunk knocked her back into reality.

Claire lifted her head and looked to the window where herbs were drying. There was an owl there, resting in the windowsill. Probably needing shelter from the weather. She sighed and pushed herself to her feet, walking over to the window.

“<Lost, little thing?>” she tilted her head at the owl, touching her fingers to the thick glass. She tapped her fingers there. “<Bad time for a- oh?>” a package? “<What do you have there?>”

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A head swirled around in a 180 turn, large blue green eyes looking up at the face threw the glass. The little red owl trilled a greeting. Her feathers fluffing up as she realized her luck in finding homes to perch on. She wondered if she should try to get inside in change….or change outside and freeze her buns off…..but judging for Claire’s last reaction…probably best to change outside. With that Aria took off into the rain…it was worth getting drenched a little. She flew off a little ways into the forest and changed forms behind a tree. She lost some feathers in the process and shivered….winter rain was always worse than out right snow. Aria closed her eyes and used the tunnel Rivers had given her to summon a set of clothes. A simple pair of form fitting black pants, a form fitting black under shirt, a wool white over shirt and a short brown tunic clasped with copper buttons to go over it. She even had a pair of leather shoes and belt tucked into the pockets. She donned them and slung her back pack over her shoulder, gathering up the extra feathers and trotting down the path to Claires home. She got to the door a knocked. A large ass goofy grin on her face, as her hair was quickly getting matted down by the rain.

[Claire]

Claire watched the owl fly off and sighed, rubbing the back of her head. Well, she was awake now. And animals were strange. She crossed the room to the hanging herbs, putting them into a pot that hung over the pit of fire. The boiling water took on a faint pinkish color from the selection of dried flowers and herbs, and after a while Claire scooped some of the liquid into a goblet. She poured the mixture back and forth between it and another goblet until it began to froth. She leaned back in her chair, taking a deep breath of the bitter liquid before drinking a sip. It was relaxing, despite it’s biting taste.

Then there was a knock at her door.

Claire’s eyes turned to the door and she sighed, pushing herself up. She walked to the door and pulled back the latch, peering down at who it was. Her eyes narrowed at the sight. Aria. With that grin on her face like nothing was amiss with her wandering about in the rain. She sighed, taking another sip of her drink to calm herself and opened the door. The sudden burst of cold air chilled her bare legs, so she didn’t open it far. “...come in.”

The room was sparsely furnished but it was warm at least. Once Aria came inside Claire shut the door behind her, going back to her chair by the fire with her goblet. “Do you need to stay the night?”

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Well the ‘come in’ didn’t sound so cheerful, either way Aria slid on in. She really didn’t want to get Claires home to wet so she applied one of her fire spells to dry herself off quicker. Steam began to roll off of her clothes quickly drying them off, luckily she had not been outside very long so there wasn’t that much to dry off, nor was she soaked through to the bone.

”Lovely Day! …and wow you got a nice house quick…..I never asked what do you do for work? OH I bring gifts!”

Even Aria knew it was rude to visit someone’s home without bringing some sort of small gift. Aria didn’t have much to give but her forms did shed some valuable items that she sold here and there for some extra coin. Aria held up four large blood red feathers; perfect for hair ornaments or even better writing quills. Aria took two of the feathers and gripped her hand over the tips. Her hand glowed slightly in her magic, after the glow subsided she pulled her hand away from the tips…the tips now held a faint orange gold glow at the tips.

”Don’t even need ink; the tips with scorch the paper just enough to leave a mark and no more. I find them useful in a pinch. It will stop burning after a certain temperature is reached so it won’t catch anything on fire”

Back in her time she could sell these things for 15 gold a pop. Plus didn’t hurt that the feathers themselves were such a pretty royal red. To her they didn’t seem much but really she didn’t have much material possessions, this was what she could give. When Claire when to go sit back down Aria stayed where she was at the entrance. She slipped off her leather shoes and placed them by the doorway out of the way. A habit Bel got her into when visiting his home. Once that was set she walked in and took a seat by the fire on the floor. It was nice to be warm by the fire…much better than the window sill. She placed her backpack next to her.

”I can sleep outside if it’s too much trouble, but I got bogged down by the rain on the way home. It’s a good hour or two flight from here and it’s dangerous to fly in storms. I try not to unless I have to.”

By home Aria actually meant she was no longer camping out in the woods like some hobo. Really she was very grateful for Rivers gift to her.

[Claire]

Claire sighed quietly as Aria immediately began to talk, resting her chin on her hand and watching the girl rush about, drying herself and removing her shoes. She lifted her head a little when Aria presented the feathers to her and she took one, turning over the thing in her hands. Huh, it could actually be useful. She nodded.

“Thank you.” she looked down at Aria as she sat by the fire, putting the feather down on the table within reach. She picked up her goblet again and drank, relaxing again. “By home, do you mean a small hole in a tree or a house with four walls and a roof? But I have a spare bed, you may stay the night.” She wasn’t so cold-hearted that she would force a girl to sleep outside in the rain. Which was beginning to come down harder. She looked to the window again, taking another drink and thunder clapped outside of the small house. The girl had come at a good time, it looked like the storm would get worse before it got better. The girl had been a constant presence in her life since she arrived here, whether she wanted it or not. Despite the fact that she was sent here to find Aria, the girl’s constant presence and behavior brought a thought to mind that she couldn’t shake.

“I must ask you something though, before you decide to stay.” Claire looked back to the girl, her expression serious. “Do you have romantic feelings for me?”

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Aria laughed at the small hole in a tree, she had a couple of those that she had slept in before Rivers got her a cabin to sleep in.

”Four walls and a roof…sort of…Roof needs to be repaired, it may or may not last the winter. It’s about a day’s walk into the forest.”

Definitely not the safest of locations; the forest was known to have plenty of nasty things living in it…Aria may or may not have recruited already something nasty to live around her abode.

”Rivers, the man that was with me when you first met me at the springs happened to get it for me. It was a shock really but I think it will be cozy once I repair it. Though the real heavy work can’t be started until the snows melt.”

Aria smiled when Clair offered to allow her to spend the night; the woman may be a grumpy sort but she was kind when it came down to it. As she made herself comfortable by the fire she pulled out a needle and thread from her back pack. If she was going to be here might as well start on a quilt for her home. Just like the one she use to have in the Mary….before she burned it….after she was kidnapped in it….

”Thank you, I appreciate it. However as my thanks while I’m here do you want me to fire ward anything in the house?”

Aria stopped mid-way from pulling cloth out of her bag when Claire suddenly asked her if she had romantic feelings for the girl. Arias look was that of pure shock and horror….how the hell did she get that impression. A crimson blush spreading across her face.

”Wait…what? NO! I have about as much romantic notions as a plank of wood…..If I’m attracted to anything its males… “

Arias words came out in a stammer, obviously they had broached on a subject Aria wasn’t comfortable in in the slightest…she had the same look of horror that was on her face when she was stuck in the middle of the party. She scratched the back of her head…Core had poked his head up at this sort of talk….she could feel him just listening….amusement running off of him in waves. His presence made her realize why Claire might have come to this conclusion.

”…Remember that voice in my head?....I think it’s time you meet him….he’ll clear up any misconceptions.”

Aria reached one arm behind her to the nape of her neck, a sword handle suddenly sliding into her hand. She pulled it from her back; the silver blade melting out of her skin as though it was water. Eventually she had the complete sword in her hand; the blue crystal glowing in its hilt.

”Here hold this and Core will talk to you…..and you better explain that I’m not out of my head mr….and clear up any romantic notion crap….He’ll tell you what he wants.”

She flipped the blade around to hand it to Claire hilt first.

[Claire]

Claire watched the blush explode over Aria’s face and she blinked, confused. There were conflicting waves of emotion blooming over the girl’s face and while it was interesting to watch her struggle with it, confusion creeped into her mind. If she claimed to only be attracted to men, why did she act the way she did around her? The only real explanation could truly be romantic feelings. Then the reasoning began to come and Claire could feel her eyebrows furrow at her words.

“The voice that knew this name. You are saying that voice is a he?” the poor girl must be possessed. Possessed by a being infatuated with her? Before they had even met? It made no sense.

The goblet nearly fell from her hand when Aria reached behind her back and began to pull, and a sword slid out from under her shirt. She quickly took a long drink of the bitter liquid and placed it on the table, her fingers flying up to the crystal around her neck. Something about this sword dug at the back of her mind, there was something so familiar about it. She couldn’t quite place it though- maybe it was the color of the stone? It was so close to the color of the crystal around her throat, the color of the eyes of that dark haired man that had invaded her dreams. She shook her head- she was connecting dots where there was none to connect. She reached forward slightly, pulling her fingers away from the crystal.

“...Core?” What a strange name. “You know me less well than you think, if you cannot tell me my true name. But you knew the name ‘Claire’, so that is a start.” her fingers hovered over the steel, not quite able to touch it. She squinted down at her reflection in the polished steel. This was ridiculous. But the Mother had sent her to find the Fated girl with a sword on her back- was she meant to find this all this time?

“...tell me how you know me, Core.” Claire murmured, closing her fingers around the hilt and pressing the fingers of her other hand to the face of the blade.

[Mysteria]

Finally...

How many years had it been sense they last felt each others touch? Thousands? Had it really been that long? It was an overwhelming thought, one that harbored deep within the soul that inhabited this hunk of sharpened steel. When the exchange was made the sword lit up with sparkling glow, as if life was brought back into the polished steel. Even the blue jewel at the center of the guard shimmered the moment Claire's fingers made contact. Her voice reaching through the blade. It was contact other than Aria. It was familiar and warm... However the question that rolled off of Claire's lips was one that drove a dagger against the soul that now began to manifest itself. A phantom form of a tall male figure, with long deep blue hair an deep oceanic blue eyes that stared intently back at Claire.

This was it. For the first time in over a thousand years he was face to face with a living Eclair. It was Her! No doubt about it! However, the chilling factor of her not knowing him in this world was what held him back from spilling his true emotions, heart, and soul. So for the first time, he held himself back and was silent for the first minute after Claire had asked how he knew her.

" You seem a little intense. Not used to talking swords and nosy neighbors I presume? " Core smiled faintly back at Claire. " Sense you know my name I guess I came skip introductions. " He paused before continuing.

" I know a lot about you Eclair... Even though you don't know me; I know one thing that will get you to believe me. " Core paused, his blue eyes locking with Claires. " Your father Castille Fynn is a good man despite his flaws an his choices.. I owe him my life after all. " Core spoke softly, giving a deep sigh. Knowing good and well that Claire would be the only one to hear this conversation.

[Claire]

The sword nearly fell from Claire’s fingers when the man faded into view. His voice filled her ears and her eyes widened, taking in the visage of the spirit. The pale tinge of his skin, the darkness of his hair, the eyes- then he smiled, and she knew. Goddess, she knew.

“<I know your face.>” she could barely speak. But she couldn’t release the sword. This phantom man- Core- looked down at her with such longing and fondness- he knew her. But he knew the wrong name. She didn’t know this name, and her expression clouded into confusion.

“...Eclair?” The name sounded strange in her mouth. What sort of name was that? It was ridiculous as Core. “That is not- what-” her breath was stolen from her again. Her father’s name. How did he- how did her know her father’s name? Her mouth opened and shut, color fading from the russet tone of her skin, leaving it dull. Her fingers shook against the hilt of the sword, the fingers of her other hand twitching against the face of the blade. She couldn’t let go. Whatever this phantom was, she had to know more.

“You- you know my father? How could you, you are-” he was a sword! A spirit living in a sword! she looked down at it, then back up to the eyes of the man before her. He seemed so real- but he was barely transparent. She wondered if he was even speaking. And what did he mean by that, his choices? Her father was a good man, a trader of silks and spices. How did this phantom man in a sword know him?

“Who- who are you? Who do you think I am to you? Tell me the truth!”

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”Yes it’s a he, and he can be a pain in the ass…but he’s a good man you’ll see and I only know as much as he cares to tell me…unless it’s for directly tainting my innocent little brain he’ll keep most details of you to himself”

Aria smiled bitterly when she saw the sword come to life; She was happy for Core to get to talk to Claire again….he had to have missed her. But when she didn’t know him, well…that meeting was going to be painful and it was a pain she didn’t think was right of her to try to protect him from. Aria sighed, seeing how this conversation was going to probably get personal. She stood up and patted Claire on the shoulder before going to the door and slipping on her shoes. She’d wait outside despite the rain and give them some privacy. If Core wanted to tell Claire how he knew her he would, Aria good at least let one of her closest friends have his privacy to do so. Despite not being able to hear him right now. Aria opened the door and walked outside before closing it.

She leaned against the frame of the house doing her best to keep out the rain while looking up at the sky. It was weird to have her head to herself….first time in over eight years. It felt empty….