Rain Check in the Woods

[cody]

His tiny fists trembled as he waited for the strangers to either go or not, he really didn’t want to hurt them. The white haired man spoke again, and Codys heart skipped a beat. Did he want company? He had never thought he could have friends; people he didn’t have to attack. But would mother tree approve? Cody took a step back towards the tree; his eyes opening wide in surprise as the thorn wall began to move.

Brambles began to shift and groan, roots became upended as they seem to fold in on themselves. Cody jumped back more; his eyes widening. The white haired man knew the password? He watched cautiously as the grove made an opening just wide enough to admit one person at a time.

On the other side of the wall the area opened up into a lush grove, in the middle a large white tree towered. In the middle of the great trees trunk a wide opening could be seen. The opening large enough for a person to step through. A pedestal sat centered within the hallow, two delicate hands ` 1 from the pedestal holding a gilded cage. In the cage a mango like fruit sat, deep navy in color speckled with the stars of the night sky.

Cody looked back towards the new opening his head poking slightly out from the entrance, eyeing Rivers and Roxy with a wary expression plastered on his young features.

[Deleted]

"Perhaps not, but if he were to kill us he would likely have done so with minimal fanfare. Have a little faith?" Adrain says in response to Roxy's concern. It was well aware to him that this entity could be a shifter, but when Adrain looked at the child and thought of the dream, he didn't see a malicious shapeshifting beast who was out to kill them, but a reluctant guardian.

"Force, no. But there is importance here, I know it. I am not one to employ violence to attain my end for anything selfish. If there is no lead then I will not try to force things further, but I will certainly attempt to learn and understand just what is going on here. Worst case scenario I will at least come talk to the boy every so often." Adrain says calmly to Rivers before then looking back at the young sentinel.

As the wall itself seems to open, almost in a welcoming manner, Adrain raises a brow. The entrance was such that only one could enter at a time.

"As it seems I am welcome here I will enter first, I mean you no harm young one." Adrain says calmly as he then steps forward and through the gap in the thorn wall, cautiously entering the inner grove. He keeps a calm watch of Cody and prepared to halt his advance at the first sign of aggression or a call out. As he looks around, his eye is drawn naturally to the source of the energy Adrain could sense and the pedestal. As he glances upon the gem, images flash through his mind for a moment. A hungering void within Adrain could be sensed for a second as his eyes shift to glow a faint shade of the same color as the gem, before he shakes his head and snaps out of it.

'What was that...that thing...it almost feels like it's...a part of me? That doesn't make sense...'

As the item was likely what Cody was guarding, and many unknowns were still afoot, Adrain turns to the red haired one. A faint smile comes across his face as he gets a better look. Even if he was a timeless guardian, he seemed young mentally. Perhaps it reincarnated every so often, or is the latest of a generation.

"So, what is your name if you don't mind my asking? Also, I believe it is appropriate a guest provide a gift for the host.." Adrain says, reaching into his pack and pulling out a small cloth pouch. Within were some sugary, glazed cookies that he had a penchant for baking. Everyone has their indulgences.

"It's nothing fancy, but they are quite good, if you'd like to try them." Adrain says, offering the bag to Cody with the bag hanging partially open so Cody could see it wasn't a trap. As he waits to see if the young one would accept the offering, his eye glances back to the gem in the gilded cage.

"I assume that thing is what you are here to protect, yes? What is it, if I may ask."

[Roxanne]

Roxanne didn't generally put much thought into 'faith' but she nodded when Adrain addressed her. She wasn't there to argue after all and so far, the young boy hadn't posed them any danger. She let her outward posture relax visibly but the tightness remained hidden in her eyes, alert and ready.

She watched cautiously as the thorn wall began to part. Adrain entered first, zoning out briefly before refocusing and continuing to interact with the young guardian. Roxanne followed a few steps behind him, looking around at the inner grove and the pedestal. She could honestly say she'd never seen anything like it and the awe momentarily won over her facial expression. When Adrain offers the boy cookies as a gift, she smiled a little and re-sheathed her sword to show her good intentions. She could draw it quickly if needed, but her show of submission was the only thing she could offer.

As she waited to see what would happen, Roxanne thought it was a good time to update to Aria on what was currently going on. "Aria? We reached the tree without incident and have met the tree's guardian. Did you know about this boy? He looks like he's 7 or 8 years old maybe, red hair, timid, and he doesn't smell human. He's very shy but we've somehow managed to trigger an opening of the bramble that protected the inner grove. Adrain is currently trying to win the child over," she reported, wondering what the other red head would think of this situation.

[Rivers]

Rivers gives Adrain a skeptical look. “You must have forgotten a lot more about yourself than I thought to be able to make boldface lies like that.” He replies suspiciously before walking over to the kid and crouching down.

“Listen kid, I've got no interest in the cursed fruit that you're protecting, but I do think that the wild is no place for a boy such as yourself to be living. Would you like to come back to my home with me? I can set up a pathway so you can return here quickly if need be.” Rivers offers, ignoring the events around him. Things were clearly going to progress whether he tried to intervene or not so he instead decided to focus on talking with the boy.

Rivers gives him an encouraging smile. “What do you say? I won't be insulted if you are not interested, but there are people and food and drink at my home and I think you would be able to fit in well, all of my companions have hair of firery red as well.” He laughs good naturedly.

[cody]

Cody's eyes widen when the thorn wall gave way to the entrance. His tiny hands rubbing his eyes as the adults talked to themselves. Once he was done rubbing his eyes, Cody darted a glance at each person as they went through into the grove. Slowly and being the last to enter the grove behind the group. The little boy walking on his tip-toes as he weaved his way past the group and very gracefully made his way up a large root to plop down and stare at the group. Tilting his head at the white hair man's request for his name and the mentioning of some gifts?

The boy's eyes widen like saucers the moment Adrain pulled out something that smelt absolutely delectable. Cody's mouth began to salivate and he fought himself to keep seated on the root. However, the smell it was just too inviting and yummy to pass up! Cody jumped from the root to the ground, almost bouncing his way over as he gazed upon the hidden treasures inside the bag. What were these yummy smelling things?!

Cody gaped his hands moving without thought, grabbing the bag and jerking it from Adrain's hands. Taking the bag from him and hopping a few feet back out of reach. His whole arm seem to disappear within the bag, taking a handful and stuffing it into his mouth. Quickly like a starved animal the boy chomped at the cookies and nearly his hand a few times. Crumbs specked his lips, chin and cheeks as he licked his fingers clean.

" C-Cody mister!" He garbled, inhaling another handful of cookies as Adrain stepped further into the grove towards the tree. His eyes locked on him as he looks up at the tree with almost blank expression. He was about to answer him when the other man approached him and crouched down in front of him.

The boy froze the moment Rivers started speaking to him. Some what taken back at the knowledge this man had and the sudden offer that was made. To come home with him? Cody's eyes widen as his mouth gaped, cookie crumbs still stuck to the edges of his lips and cheeks as he stared eye to eye at the man.

" I..I..I don't know if I'm allowed to leave here. I've never left the forest, I never left this place… it has always been my home sense I was created. If I go home with you, won't I get in trouble? " The boy asked, scrunching his hands together around the bag with hopeful eyes. Could? Could he leave this place? Cody thought, his hands trembling as he looked back and forth between the three adults. The shaking slowly crawling up his arms and to his torso.

[Rivers]

Rivers reaches out his hand to the boy and tries to smile to him again reassuringly. "Listen, kiddo the world is big, and you should take a chance to experience it. I don't know exactly why you are here, but I can provide you with a roof and with meals. Staying couped up in this forest..." He trails off and crouches down beside the boy.

"Well, I can't tell you what to do,and I cannot tell you what's right, but as someone who was also born to a small world that I never thought I would leave...there is a lot out there to see. And once you've gotten the courage to take a look you can always come back here if you decide you do not like it. I can even get you back here really fast if something happens." He offers with a reassuring smile.

Then he sits by the boy silently for a few moments to allow the boy to think. "I am gathering quite a batch of people from various places. I am sure you would be welcomed."

[Deleted]

"Oh I'm sure we can figure something out, as I said nobody deserves to be alone. At the Arch I'm sure we can.." Adrain starts, as the gem in the cage emits a flash of light.

Something seems to take over Adrain. His charming more open personality closes, and his eyes begin to glow purple. His movements turn erratic and he begins to slowly be drawn to the gem in the cage, in an obvious trance. Visions flash through his mind occasionally, an image of a purple haired woman in a half dragon form killing countless people around her, a blonde woman dying slowly from a fatal wound, and a world beginning to fall apart around his eyes. Feelings of sorrow, rage, and frustration wash over the entranced mind as the gap between the mage and the gem closes.

Once upon it, Adrain begins to float slightly as a purple, magical haze surrounds him. Complex arcane circles begin to manifest around his hands as he begins to speak, his voice turning to an almost echo tone.

"Adrastalis Iril Saludrivu Manifestias..." he begins the incantation. "The Covenant once filled shall be renewed once more..." the echo radiates out as it seems Adrain may not be entirely like he was initially upon arriving, that his personality may have been different as of right now.

"Alkarin, Saludrivu, Veritanas Sor Va Kira No Fal Sor..." he continues as the Gem begins to glow more brightly. The spell words may seem familiar to Cody, as that of Time Magic, that few could possibly know of. "Shival Sa Kiranitu Vor Shiua Nas Ka Vir!"

With that, the Gem thrusts into raw energy, rapidly closing the gap and entering the being of Adrain. An inhuman howl is released as his body briefly shifts with energy wrapping around it into a draconic, humanoid form with talons and wings before the energy disperses into a purple light, the figure collapsing onto the ground and unmoving at first.