《Darastrict》


 1. A Great Chase

    ¡°The tale of peace and violence may be as old as time itself, yet when the two are pitted against one another, weighed upon the scales of justice, and dreams¡­ only one is bound to prevail. The violent become docile, weak in the face of the mighty, while the peaceful? Are turned to monsters, preying upon those who changed their very existence.¡±


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    One foot after the other, moving faster and faster with each step, each leap threw the young Magkin further and further into the dense forest. The vast treetops of Noor pass by Hexlith in a blur, as he zipped through the jungle. Wings exposed, flicking back and forth between being spread, and enclosed, the magpie-anthropomorph used all of his physical attributes to fly across the forest floor.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry- I¡¯m sorry- fuck, fuck, fuck!!!¡±


    Leaves were ripped from their branches as he passed, only to be obliterated in the wake of what pursued him: A mangled looking cockatrice, unable to catch up to Hexlith; bones visible through the flesh. The thing was beyond malnourished, and likely days from death. This didn¡¯t make it any less of a threat, however. In Hexlith¡¯s eyes? It made it even more dangerous, given its clear desperation for a meal. The thing''s jaw slacked to the side, clattering anxiously as it pressed forth towards the smaller bird it pursued. Thankfully for the Magkin, his size allowed him to cut corners far easier than the cockatrice could, which fell over and slammed into trees at every turn. A good thing too, as at each crossroad, Hexlith found himself hesitant, his legs moments away from buckling beneath him. A high pitch screech cascaded down from the canopy above, followed by a number of branches falling in its wake! Vaulting over the fallen tree trunk before him, Hexlith peered towards the origin. There were no shadows in sight, nor any movement to pick out. However, once his gaze dropped to the forest floor, he¡¯d swiftly be reminded of the threat at hand! The cockatrice dove for his head, mouth agape! Barely managing to duck beneath, Hexlith braced for impact behind the trunk; the body of the creature smashed up against it, toppling over him in a flail. Its wings smashed into the ground, snapping in odd angles beneath the weight of its ribs. The Magkin was stunned there for a moment, his wide eyes lingered on the cockatrice¡¯s destroyed frame.


    ¡°Awh- man¡­¡± Hexlith murmured, before slowly getting to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him as he took a weak step closer.


    The cockatrice thrashed about in pain, as it tried to stand, only to let out a strangled shriek, before it crumpled back to the ground. Its fractured wings had pierced the thin skin of its neck. The Magkin watched with concern. Cautiously taking yet another shaken step forth- once more, his fear would subside from the noise of a high pitched whistle, yet this time around? It was much harsher, and pointed directly dow- BOOM! With a thunderous slam, and a resonant crunch- Hexlith¡¯s face was covered in a splay of red, as blood scattered across the forest floor! His right hand, raised - in order to protect his eyes, lowered, to find the tip of a sword placed directly over his eyes, hovering centimeters from his beak. The blade itself was wider than his head, and in acknowledging such¡­ a shiver ran down his spine. Mere seconds ago he was tailed by death, and now? It seemed as if it held a hammer just above his head, ready to strike down at a moment''s notice¡­ with his beak as the nail. Much to his surprise however, he watched as the blade was pulled back, and thrust through the air at the warrior¡¯s side! The sheer mass of the weapon caused the leaves to push out beneath them. The person before Hexlith looked like a Nephelim, and they easily eclipsed him in size! She snapped her wings outward to rid her feathers of the cockitrice¡¯s ichor. However, even after clearing her wings? Red remained at the very tips, a notable feature not only in her feathers, but her hair. This subsided his initial thoughts on who- or what she could be¡­ odd, yet Hexlith was enamored all the more! She was strong, stronger than he could fathom, that much was clear from how she moved. The very land around her shifted with each and every gesture she made. Before Hexlith got too awestruck- she spoke in a language he didn¡¯t quite recognize immediately:


    ¡°Unm tle ol tahwia.¡±


    A small smile crept its way onto her face as she turned a 180, her sword raised ever so slightly as to not hit Hexlith in her twirl, before disappearing in a blur of red and white. Which left the Magkin awestruck, staring off into space, his gaze leaning towards the pool of blood that lay before him. The headless corpse of the cockatrice leaked viscously beside him. An ever present scent of death loomed in the area, as his mind flicked to image after image- in response to what had just occurred! A hole from the canopy above, shining a ray of light down upon the two bloodridden birds¡­ as silence fell with the coming snow.


    Snapping back from the trance he was in, Hexlith¡¯s gaze hardened. His eyes moved down to the carcass that lay before him. The blood had puddled at his knees, already cold to the touch, just as his hazel eyes were. He trudged around the side of the deceased avian, observing it. The toxic aura that these creatures normally exuded was all but absent, even when it was alive mere moments ago. Yet that wasn¡¯t to say Hexlith didn¡¯t approach the beast with due diligence, his eyelids batting a few times as he crouched down beside the thing¡¯s head. With a careful look into its blackened pupils, Hexlith saw himself frowning back, before getting to work. First came the eyes, as they were still intact. The eyes always came first when Hexlith was forced to harvest the fauna of Esgraile, since the bugs tended to get to them if he wasn''t fast enough. Popping the first out, and into a cracked vial, Hexlith winced. He rummaged through his bag for a more intact one to- well¡­ no avail. It appeared most of his stuff was destroyed in the chase, a problem he¡¯d have to fix later, but accept for now. After both eyes were taken, and the vial they resided in was sealed, Hexlith moved onto the body. But once he got up to it? He swiftly deduced that anything inside- was likely useless by this point. The ribs had punctured a vast majority of its organs. After placing the sealed vial in his satchel bag, Hexlith let out a bit of a sigh, eyes wandering from the corpse.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky I love you Uthwix.¡± He shook his head dismissively, continuing his trek up the hill.


    His gaze moved from one tree to the other- in hopes to find one of his many markings, which would gauge how far he was chased from the thing¡¯s nest. Soon as he found one, he¡¯d let out a brief cackle in acknowledgement, before moving onwards, his gaze traced only a bit further, to the very treetops he walked under. Unable to keep himself from peering towards each and every shadow that loomed in his long journey home! On his way back, he checked a few of his traps- see if maybe he caught himself some dinner for the night, before moving on. He was drained, and truth be told, couldn¡¯t get home any faster. The young Magkin yearned for the comfort of his own bed by this point, and hopefully a bath before, as he still reeked of cockatrice innards.


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    In times like these, when you¡¯re beaten and battered, tired beyond comprehension, and have utterly failed at what you sought to accomplish? Having a good means of recovery is key, and in Hexlith¡¯s case- he was almost always prepared for the worst. Not only were the surrounding woodlands marked in such a way that they¡¯d lead home, but they were also used to identify certain points of interest, such as caves, trees with extra large ecosystems, streams, and even- nests such as the now deceased cockatrice¡¯s. Thus, by the time he made his way through the thicket, and onto the stone path to Noor, Hexlith had refilled most of his supplies, and had a few jackalopes tied up ¡®round the antlers, ready to skin. His head raised with a sigh, as he peered towards the night sky, the green moon that illuminated it resided off to the west. It was late, far later than he expected this day to run on for, and far- far later than he had wished for it to. Nonetheless, he followed the lanterns lining the stone walkway, reaching the gates in relative time. However, as he approached, he¡¯d swiftly come to realize he wasn¡¯t the only one home late, as his eyes landed upon two armored Nephilim, doning Thasclea symbols. Markings that the four on-duty guards seemed to notice as well, each of them respectively shaking their heads, before beginning a search of the two. A sight Hexlith couldn¡¯t help but snicker at, as he made his way up to the group.


    ¡°Seems I¡¯m not the only one past curfew~ aye?¡±


    He¡¯d jest, sending a quick smirk towards one of the Nephilim, which- almost faltered completely as their gazes met! The left side of their face was charred black as coal, with glowing bandages wrapped tightly around a majority of their head, leaving a sole, teal eye to press down upon Hexlith. Spooky to say the least, yet Hexlith - by this point - was a little too tired to react vocally, merely raising both eyebrows in surprise as he peered past him, further to the right, towards the other. They were fine, spare for a nicely placed shiner, and a tone of aggression which was teetering back and forth between him and the guard searching him.


    ¡°Why¡¯s yer buddy look all mangled as he does, hm?¡± A guard who wasn¡¯t engaging in the search would call out from the back. ¡°Ain¡¯t you Thasclea s¡¯posed to be invincible?¡±


    ¡®Clearly not-¡¯ Hexlith retorted to himself, peering from one face to another- as the tension rose with a few words. He somewhat understood stopping them, given the time, but searching two members of a well known family was a bold move on the guards'' end for sure. For his sake? Hexlith remained silent while they continued to bicker, simply¡­ hoping for the best.


    ¡°Ah- heh, well¡­¡± The relatively unharmed Nephilim laughed, dropping his tone a notch¡­ his gaze lowered alongside it, as he pinpointed the guard in the back. ¡°You know how the forests of Noor are, Officer.¡±


    The guard who was searching him chuckled the instant his tone dropped, yet once he had? He¡¯d almost instantly be shoved off of the Nephilim, who calmly placed his hand on the hilt at his side, his elven ears flattening in anticipation for the others to rush him. Yet they never would, as the instant the metal of their armor began to slide against themselves, Hexlith flew into the midst of the chaos, with both of his hands outstretched to either side! A look of surprise made its way onto the faces of all present, especially the Magkin, who found himself in the midst of a conflict he really had no place in. Both literally, and physically, as the gentlemen that surrounded him far surpassed him in size, armor, and likely longevity by this point! Hexlith¡¯s lower half rattled beneath him, moments away from collapsing. Thus, with wobbly legs, a bag, and a pair of jackalopes tied around his torso, he¡¯d brave the problem at hand.


    ¡°Come on guys, it¡¯s late- tensions are high ¡®cause we all need rest, can we just move on with the¡­ ¡®search¡¯ and go on with the night?¡± The Magkin somewhat winced as he broached what they were doing, as truth be told- it could hardly be considered a search by this point, they were simply berating the two angelspawn.


    Looking from one side to the other, Hexlith didn¡¯t really have anything astonishing to say. He wanted to get to his bed, and assumed the same for the two Thasclean being hassled by the nightly guard. For that reason exactly however, he doubted they¡¯d simply drop their beef and continue on with the night. When it came to two heavily armed sides facing off in a disagreement? The likes of right, wrong, or indifferent don¡¯t tend to exist, merely the resonance of clashing metal. But today was not such a day, as the heavily wounded Nephilim let out a low, soft laugh, and tapped the shoulder of his buddy, who promptly relieved their grip from the sword. The three standing guards moaning, and groaning individually as they disengage entirely, moving back to their posts to open the gate. Meanwhile, the once readied Nephilim reached down to help the guard up off the ground, a smug gaze beaming down on him as he did. One which was met with a sour look of defeat...


    ¡°Tahwi eyes, Magkin~¡±


    The bandaged Nephilim murmured on their way past Hexlith, through the gate, leaving him with a somewhat taken aback gaze. He narrowed his eyes on the two, and their wings. They weren¡¯t tipped red like the woman¡¯s he saw earlier, nor did their feathers hold the same kind of weight to them when shifted. Thus, with a somewhat confused tone to his voice, he¡¯d offer a supple ¡°Thanks,¡± before turning to look at the guards. The two who met his gaze- gestured dismissively towards the gates. Hexlith sighed, and continued on home, his vision rising up to the pointed rooftops of the ever infamous city¡­ of Alchemy. A revenant¡­ of the lost age of magic.


    Returning from his hike safe and sound, Hexlith for once¡­ felt glad to be home. He glanced up at his family''s crest, as he approached the door. It was that of a one winged dragon, who held a broken spear between their teeth. He¡¯d ponder the size of the spear- relative to the dragon for a moment, before walking through the door, and with his first two whole steps in, Hexlith promptly collapsed onto the hardwoods. Creating a cascade of reactions across the household, none of which- particularly helpful. Pral, Hexlith¡¯s mother, laughed, shaking her head slowly as if she had expected him to come stumbling in. This was followed by a single grunt originating from the other side of the dining room, Aussir; the ¡®Man of the House¡¯¡­- The quotes should do enough justice as to how he acts within that role. Then approached Uthwix, Hexlith¡¯s dove-like twin sister, who would crouch down beside him, gently patting his head as he conked out.

 2. The Gleam & The Gloom

    Uthwix, unsurprisingly, was who Hexlith woke to, her white feathers twitched every which way as she stitched her brother up. Thankfully he wasn¡¯t wounded too badly, spare for a few mid-flight lacerations that needed tending to. Nothing his sister couldn¡¯t patch up, especially with her profound knowledge of alchemy, which made her as close to a mage/witch in this day and age as one got. Her pastel purple eyes lifted gently to look into her brother''s hazel gaze, which stared off into space, idle.


    ¡°Your mind seems more wounded than your body, what happened?¡± She asked, seamlessly threading one part of his wing to another. ¡°You fell as soon as you walked in¡­¡±


    ¡°I almost died-¡±


    ¡°-You ¡®almost die¡¯ a lot.¡±


    Then came a short pause, before he found an appropriate answer ¡°I¡­ was saved.¡±


    Uthwix stopped, much longer than Hexlith had, as she looked up from her stitch job, to his wounded expression; As if trying to point out what she herself was doing at this very moment. Yet alas, the serious visage couldn¡¯t hold in the wake of her brother''s, which she focused on for a second, intensifying her gaze upon him momentarily - before he spoke again. He looked from the window, to her, squinting as he did.


    ¡°Have you ever seen a Nephilim with red feathers? Like¡­ Ever?¡±


    Uthwix lifted her head, staring back at the wound she had tended to. At first - she was a little taken aback by the words ¡®I was saved¡¯ considering she had been the one to save him on oh so many occasions in the past. Instinctive envy aside, she sat back in her chair, as she thought a bit deeper about what Hexlith had said.


    ¡°No, usually they¡¯re calmly hued¡­¡± She remarked, as she tilted her head to the left, allowing her gaze to drift up toward the ceiling fan. ¡°Hm¡­¡±


    That¡¯s what he thought, but hearing clarification had brought something to light, his eyes narrowed as his head hung low, orbs plastered to the blanket on his lap. He had gotten a weird feeling when he met her, one that superseded his fear of the moment. A feeling that resurfaced alongside her words - which he still¡­ couldn¡¯t pinpoint the origin of. The words stayed vivid in his head, yet their meaning eluded him. Lest, before he got too into his train of thought, he heard a soft giggle from his sister, who - as he looked to - looked away.


    ¡°Wha-¡±


    ¡°Go look in the mirror- you¡¯re all patched up Hexxy.¡± She cackled, her hands braced over her ivory beak as she tried to hold herself back from laughing too hard.


    Hexlith, still confused, and dazed, gave her a curious look, before laughing alongside her as awkwardly as possible. He set the bedsheets aside, and moved to his feet. Slowly but surely, he stood and limped his way over to the mirror, where he saw it¡­ the oh so necessary weasel eyes! Vibrant hazel in color, they were used primarily to save one''s hide from the deathly glare of a cockatrice, and secondly? As a weird fashion sense. The latter of which, was probably what the Nephilim was referring to on his way through the gates. A thought which engulfed him in a brief fit of laughter, before taking out the lenses, and seating himself on the edge of the bed.


    ¡°Well that explains it¡­¡± He quipped, with a shaken head.


    His usual, dark blue gaze rose from his lap, up to Uthwix with a short grin. One he gave her when he had something on his mind, one he was more willing to let ruminate, than spill. Uthwix knew her brother well enough to know though, that he¡¯d only sit on it for at most - a day, until something was done. What that thing would be was yet to be seen. She had faith in ¡®Hexxy¡¯ regardless, especially with the encroaching look of confidence that appeared in his eyes, as he stood and moved to his desk. His left hand drifted toward a pen, while the other pulled out a piece of paper for him to write on; What he wrote?


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    ¡°Unm tle ol tahwia.¡± The Magkin murmured in poor pronunciation, which brought about a shaky smirk, as he pulled his chair underneath his arse.


    ¡°Tahwia? Hmm¡­? Who¡¯s calling you that, my dear brother?¡±


    Uthwix inquired, as she approached his desk; a spherical bottle in her hand, which contained a glittery, celestial liquid within. A constant disarray between red, and blue, as they attempt to swirl into the coagulation of purple. A marvel that Uthwix focused a majority of her attention on, looking over to her brother, and what he was doing every so often, as she did. Hexlith on the other hand, sat back in his chair, arms crossed in contemplation. His head tilted to the side to look at Uthwix¡¯s potion.


    ¡°The red¡­ feathered Nephilim¡­?¡± He said with a certain amount of anticipation in his voice, as he began to think his sister knew what he was talking about.


    The pause that existed within his question, and her answer- was filled only with laughter, as she placed the bottle down atop a ring stand, and leaned down to hug him as rough as possible. ¡°The Thasclea- they call my work ¡®Tahwi,¡¯ it means ¡®nice¡¯ in Celestial, but if you add the ¡®a?¡¯ It becomes a bit more¡­ intimate. If you get what I¡¯m suggesting~¡±


    With that revelation, Hexlith¡¯s entire demeanor altered. He reeled, flustered by the realization that in some regard- the woman he met in the woods called him ¡®Tahwia.¡¯ However, as that reality began to set in? He became less tense, joining Uthwix in her laughter. Something she brought to a halt almost the instant he joined, resulting in a sudden, yet brief silence between the two.


    ¡°...How much more Celestial do you know?¡± The darker Magkin inquired, as he sat up in his chair, and looked at Uthwix in full! A ray of light from the windowsill, shone upon the only white on his body: A single slash of silver between his eyes and beak, which contrasted the rest of his iridescent feathers.


    Seeing the blue eyes of Hexlith look back at her, instead of the weasel-hazel ones was a nice change; But, she started to regret telling him. These eyes, colored like a dim, moonless night sky, held a much more intimidating aura to them that emanated a sense of gloom. Nevertheless, Uthwix sighed, and averted her gaze onto the piece of paper that Hexlith had used to write the passage. Another of the words stuck out, as once more- the Thasclean¡¯s used it when she worked with them. She leaned over the desk a bit, and placed her taloned finger down onto the word ¡®tle.¡¯


    ¡°This means arm, but is most often used to refer to wings, ¡®specially if this is a Nephilim- or better yet a Thasclean we¡¯re talking ¡®bout, Hexxy.¡± She lifted her hand from the paper, over to the potion, which continued to swirl into its now purple hue, before moving towards the door. Her head peered back as she approached, and pushed it open with her free hand. ¡°I¡¯m headed over to their estate if you wish to join, perhaps we could press them on this girlie you ran into?¡±


    ¡°No- It¡¯s okay¡­¡± Hexxy retorted, not only because he didn¡¯t want to come face to face with the two from last night, but because he needed to check on the cockatrice¡¯s nest as soon as possible. There were eggs left, last he checked; When he accidentally spooked the decrepit mama, and was forced to run! He wanted to check on them on his way home, but feared he¡¯d be caught up in something he couldn¡¯t quite handle in that state. Now that he was rested, and patched up though, it was high time he head off. ¡°Go enjoy yourself, feel free to take the cockatrice eyes I brought ya- and¡­ BE careful.¡±


    Uthwix gave him a knowing look, before responding with a maniacal little giggle, as she ruffled through his satchel bag, and slipped through the door like a goblin! Vials in hand, and a pep to her step. Hexlith watched with soft eyes, as the door swung back and fro in his sister''s egress. Which left him to sit and sulk in his failures, and plot¡­ for what¡¯s to come.

 3. Fateful Egress

    A mere hour after Uthwix left for the Thasclea estate, Hexlith headed out toward the gate he had come through the night before. His sister was right, he could only ruminate on the matter for so long, before he took action. As he stepped through the door, outside stood Pral, who - with a raised beak, stared her son down like a vulture. Her gaze was met by Hexlith¡¯s own agitated one, as he spun to look at the woman who dubbed him ¡®Doomed¡¯ the moment he was born. Before she got a word out, the younger Magkin would instead.


    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna hear it.¡±


    Pral was what many called a ¡®teller,¡¯ a ¡®seer,¡¯ and at times even a fully fledged ¡®Oracle,¡¯ thus in spite of the world¡¯s loss of magic¡­ her fortunes, and fates always seemed to hold true. A fact that her son perpetually faced when he left home, when she made it a point to spell out his fate to him. Perhaps it was due to his very name that she did this, but hell, that made it even worse! With a spin, and a low sigh, the younger Magkin departed¡­ yet not before Pral got a word in.


    ¡°Aussir will be waiting by the gate!¡± A remark that only got a wave from Hexlith in his egress.


    The cityscape of ye ole wizard and witch towers¡­ was always quite a walk, no matter the length! As, more often than not? Something was a-brew; Pun intended, the alchemical arts, one of the final pillars against the fall of magic- had become common practice in Noor. On the less literal side of things, however, were the parasites who infested the shaded alleys, the corrupt guard, and even the royals such as the Thasclea! People who Hexlith only ever tolerated out of respect for his sister, who had built a healthy bond with the lot of them through the conduit of alchemy. They stood for virtually everything he stood against yet he didn¡¯t treat them any less, as if push ever came to shove¡­ he¡¯d surely be the one to fall. More important than himself, Uthwix would be put in harm''s way, and her trust in him would perish, among other things. Being a zoologist, and protector of nature, a family that specifically hunted the rarest of species for¡­ ingredients? Well¡­ All he could do in the wake of their hunt was hide away all the animals he could. One of which happened to be the Cockatrice, but alas - even what remained inevitably fell into their hands. A thought that brought Hexliths vision to the ground he walked, and watched as one step at a time, he strode through an encroaching snowfall.


    Only when a snowflake landed on the white in front of his eyes, did Hexlith look up, and when he had? He made it to the gate! His father was also in sight of course, one of the many hoods he consistently donned- flicked in the cold breeze. His hand was held out in front of him to catch the snowflakes as they fell, a soft gaze rested on his palm until Hexlith inevitably approached. His gaze now- moved to Aussir¡¯s hand, which had slowly shifted left to right, in order to catch the flakes as they fell. Something about it was mesmerizing, how he placed his hand under a snowflake just before it could pass. However, he swiftly snapped out of it, quite literally, as Aussir lowered his other hand from Hexlith¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Glad to have your attention for once. Kind of a shame though¡­¡± He paused, his gaze peered past Hexlith towards one of the guards, only averting it back to him, as his son looked that way. ¡°Your sister wanted you more prepared this time around, she asked me to return this; The gal¡¯s hard to disagree with, as you know.¡±


    As soon as he said this, Hexlith knew what he was referring to, and his eyes lit up with excitement. An heirloom given to him at birth, but due to the name in which he¡¯s burdened by - was taken away. A falx, passed through the ages only ever as an ornamental piece, despite its functional edge. The hooked blade hummed as it was drawn from Aussirs cloak, and placed into Hexlith¡¯s hand. Its true significance was long lost, a truth that had been acknowledged many times, but still stood as a symbol for the next to ¡®lead¡¯ the Jaseve family. For Hexlith though, who they deemed as doomed? To give him such a prized possession marked a very possible end as they knew it, especially with how accurate Pral¡¯s foretelling had proven to be. Now, however? The passing of the falx symbolized something more, something unspoken between Aussir, and Hexlith, but understood all the same. It was a promise to Uthwix¡­ to live, as if he were to fall? The whole family¡­ would fall beside him.


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    No words need be shared between the two after the blade was handed over. As much as Aussir understood Uthwix for demanding her brother have it back, he still couldn¡¯t help but feel as if he had set something in motion¡­ that he shouldn¡¯t have. Something he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop. A thought that resided all the same in Hexliths mind, as he waltzed down the stone ridden path, his gaze moved from left, to right, and even to the tree-tops at times. He was just handed a promise on a silver platter, one which he had no idea how to honor, other than¡­ to live? It seemed easy enough, yet in prospect of such, it became daunting to even take another step, so long as the falx rested at his side. Its draconic design shimmered in the marbled light that penetrated the canopy above, and hummed with every step. Regardless of nerves, Hexlith had a mission at hand- or rather¡­ a failed mission that needed an immediate remedy!


    The Cockatrice was a creature that he monitored for a bit, and actually tried to aid in its hunts. Hexlith is essentially the antithesis to the hunter, as he finds creatures in need, and helps them find safety, without making them completely reliant. Particularly fond of the hidden creatures of Esgraile, Hexlith focused his attention on the unnoticed, and those deemed to have gone extinct. Then there came special cases like the Cockatrice, who had wandered its way into the lush, mystical jungles of Noor, from its life in the vast open plains of Tulok! He haphazardly tracked the creature, and tried to reroute it back to its natural habitat, for as far out of its element as it was here, where the land itself could swallow you up in its allure. The Cockatrice? Really was just another fly caught in the spider''s web, death stare or not, and Hexlith sought to avert such a fate. Of course, what happened next occurred, and passed with the day! He got too close, and was picked as the monster''s next meal, only for it to die because of him¡­ to a far more dangerous predator.


    ¡°Crimson feathers¡­¡± He mumbled, as he made way to the Cockatrices'' nest.


    Before he dipped into the woods, he looked to his right, at a sign; It was one of the many bounty boards strewn across Noor, planted right before the thicket. Hexlith was sure they existed in Tulok as well, but had only ever heard of the larger scale hunts, which he had no real interest in. Not like many ¡®rescue¡¯ missions were in Noor anyway, as more often than not, he simply used the bounties as leads on relocating animals. This turned Hexlith into quite the tracker over time, as he¡¯d been forced to compete against those who wished to hunt the animals he sought to protect. Sure, he could simply defend them physically. He was more than equipped to do so, but the prospect of fighting, and defending a creature that may want you as its next meal at your back? Simply didn¡¯t fit Hexliths narrative.


    With a brief glance over the names, Hexlith moved on, as he slipped back into the trail he had used the night prior. The difference now was day and night¡­ literally, as when you moved from the path to the forest, or visa versa? It felt as if you had entered an entirely different dimension! The shade the canopy brought was astonishing, ceiling-esque in the cover it granted, there still lingered an odd luminescence between the trunks of each tree. Shadows moved with a glance, rather than the shifting of the leaves above, which provided a feeling of eerie isolation when traversing the forest. That being said, the marks he had made, and maintained over the years kept him in line, so long as he trusted the carvings. It¡¯d take quite the deal of effort for his route to be thrown off, let alone by the forces of nature that could care less about mere markings. Markings, which led Hexlith all the way back to the Cockatrice¡¯s nest! As he made his way to the little dip in the terrain that the Cockatrice had claimed as its own, he walked to a dead stop. His gaze widespread in awe, as he stared at- not the eggs that he sought to protect, but instead? an all too familiar set of wings.

 4. Predator x Prey

    The snowy white feathers - to the distinct red tips, and the oh so violent presence that exuded off of the Nephilim¡­ was all too recognizable. Unlike last time around, Hexlith was now the one disturbing the scene, and in not nearly as chaotic of fashion as the warrior before him. He didn¡¯t dare move now that he was so close to the Angelic being, instead? He spoke in his family''s tongue. A long since broken form of Draconic, passed down through stories, and whimsical tales of his family, who were said to have tamed, raised, and fought with the very beasts long, long ago¡­ in the age of magic.


    ¡°Dout altiuiri re lerovupe-¡±


    In response? Hexlith once more¡­ found himself face to face with a blade which far surpassed the size of his beak. He gulped as he calmly raised his hands, he wasn¡¯t quite frightened as before, nor as exhausted. So despite his docile surrender, his eyes didn¡¯t show the same kind of fear they had prior. The wings of the Magkin unfurled from his back to reveal themselves, in an attempt to show her that he had translated her words - if she could not his. Hexlith, had remarked the same back to her: ¡°Your wings are beautiful.¡± He¡¯d met Nephilim in his grueling 19 years of existence, and in fact¡­ there weren¡¯t many species he hadn''t met in that time, especially with his occupation! Yet none were quite as much of an outlier¡­ as the one who stood before him now. She was strong, deceptively so, since her physique didn¡¯t appear overly muscular, or bulky. So it was at least clear to him that she was of a higher lineage, likely spawned by a ranked angel fromst the golden gates - separate from any Esgrailian one. It was just a guess. This in turn, had forced him to choose his words carefully, and he may¡­ have just failed at doing so; Given the blade that rested in front of his right eye. Or so he thought, as the blade lowered much like the before, this time? followed by two firm steps towards Hexlith.


    ¡°Draconic huh? And you understand Celestial? Odd~¡±


    Much like many other Nephilim, her voice altered when she spoke common-graile, it held a sort of wispy accent to it, one which possessed a similar vibration to her angelic tone. It took a few seconds for Hexlith to adjust his awestruck visage, before pondering what she had said in neigh complete, and utter disbelief¡­ as if she wasn¡¯t the closest living form of mortal- to a god! Let alone one that held such aggressive features, with a glaring level of strength that far surpassed what she should logically possess. Her existence was¡­ magical to say the least. Before he got too deep in thought, she took a step closer, mere centimeters from his beak. Which caused him to blurt those very thoughts aloud.


    ¡°I¡¯m the odd one huh?¡± He cackled ¡°Says the red feathered Nephilim!¡±


    In realization that he had spoken, and not thought the words, Hexlith braced with an instinctual wince, trying to play it cool enough to not look like a total fucking coward - in the face of someone so much stronger. Yet¡­ She merely smiled, her scarlet eyes stared deep into his blue orbs, as her right brow raised slightly. Taking his eyes off her for a moment, to inspect the area a bit from where he stood, Hexlith couldn¡¯t help but frown at the lack of eggs. His gaze narrowed as he glanced back over to her; a subtle path of realization taking root in the mind of the Magkin.


    ¡°What¡¯s really odd¡­ is that you knew I was trying to save it; You¡¯re even standing here before me in its nest, where the chase had started, not ended. What¡¯s your angle here?¡±


    Tilting his head to the side in inquiry, Hexlith started to get a grip on what kind of situation he may have found himself in. The pieces of the puzzle shifted into place one after the other, and he smiled with a sudden lack of fear. Which left the Nephilim staring into a similarly cocky visage, that she herself offered the Magkin; This didn¡¯t dilute her own smile however, in fact it only made it perk up, as Hexlith began to pick up on her pattern. Before speaking though, she lifted her blade up and onto her armor straps with a keen look, which locked onto the Magkin¡¯s. Her right foot moved back a decent degree to give him some space, before responding.


    ¡°The Cockatrice wanted you dead, yet not once did you fight back... Your determination to help remained steadfast despite the danger¡± She paused, taking her gaze off of him to look around at the nest, her fiery eyes softening ever so slightly. ¡°I¡¯m fond of the mindset; As foolishly heroic as it is.¡±


    Hexlith remained silent for¡­ quite a deal of time. He didn''t quite know how to react, let alone respond, which left him mum, as the coming breeze overtook their ears. A smooth whistle resonated throughout the jungle while the branches shifted in flowing unison, until finally, the breeze picked up, and passed over him a bit harsher- which caused his feathers to flicker and fold¡­


    ¡°You wanted me to find you..? But¡­ uh- wh-¡±


    ¡°-I¡¯m being hunted.¡±


    As soon as he heard the word, his eyes went wide, pupils expanding, as they traced the surrounding area. ¡°Hunted? This woman, who carries a blade bigger than me, slayed a Cockatrice in one swing, and even saved me from an early grave¡­ came to me for help?¡± He thought in disbelief, unknowing of how exactly to tell her he wasn¡¯t the guy for the job. Sure Hexlith danced with death on a constant basis, as not only a hobby, but a self appointed career¡­ Yet he was no combatant! No warrior. Let alone someone that could even hope to protect a Nephilim as strong as she, from what dangers may possibly be hunting her.


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    ¡°So what exactly do you expe-¡±


    ¡°-I do not wish for you to fight for me.¡± She once more cut him off, clearly making a habit of it.


    Sighing, as she inspected his person, she looked over the satchel bag, vials attached, and last but not least? The falx, which swayed heavily at his side. After she came to a quick assessment, she set her gaze on the Magkin¡¯s. ¡°My existence itself is a cardinal sin, an abomination better off dead, than left to rot in such a family¡¯s ranks. Doomed to die by my own blood.¡±


    Hexlith met her gaze with a knowing one, his beak lifted while he thought over exactly what he¡¯d be getting himself into, if he agreed. It was one thing to protect an endangered animal from the elements, and predators he¡¯d already studied; But to protect someone so strong from their own family? Not only did that sound impossible as far as his capabilities went, but also seemed very much like a familial matter. Who was he to interfere? Then- yet again¡­ when didn¡¯t he? He always went out of his own way to insert himself into the lives of the beasts he looked, and still looks over to this day, what was the difference here? Because she¡¯s a person?


    ¡°Okay¡­ wh- who¡¯s your family? And why the hell would they want you dead?¡±


    ¡°The Thas-.¡±


    ¡°-Oh fuck.¡± That¡¯s really all she had to say for Hexlith to understand, as he somewhat jolted in place, cutting the Nephilim off this time.


    Eyes wide as he took a step closer, he began to look her over like a damn wonder of the world. Awestruck by the Red entity born from one of the most prestigious angelic families out there, the Magkin found himself getting a little too comfortable next to the woman. Her arm lifted the blade up off of her shoulder strap as warning. Which sort of straightened Hexlith out, his gloomy blue eyes inspected the massive slab of iron she wielded, before returning to her crimson gaze.


    ¡°Do you know what created the scarlet pigment in your hair, and feathers?¡±


    ¡°My body is marked red as well, they look like tattoos.¡± She remarked.


    ¡°So¡­ Do you know why?¡±


    ¡°Why they look like tattoos?¡±


    ¡°... What about the red aura?¡± He tried again.


    ¡°I have an aura? Does that mean magic has returned to the lands of Es-¡±


    ¡°-Stop avoiding the damn question! Otherwise I cannot help you.¡±


    By this point, Hexlith had started to get impatient; Namely because he thought protecting a more conscious being may prove easier, considering the possibility for genuine teamwork. But this? This pushed him a bit over the edge; And he¡¯d fallen off a fair few of those in this conversation already, especially when it came to the clan of notoriously strong Nephilim. A family which he knew all too well the practices of, via the conduit of his sister, and merely existing in the same space they ravage. Regardless, he didn¡¯t move, simply crossing his arms in anticipation for a real answer. Which she inevitably gave;


    ¡°...... An affair. I am not true-blooded.¡±


    She stated, placing her blade back down onto her shoulder, as she moved it to hide her expression. Her head turned left, to avert her gaze from Hexlith, toward the edge of the destroyed nest they stood upon. Leaving the Magkin¡­ once more awestruck, as he looked into the finely polished slab of iron, staring at his blue eyes reflected back at him as they began to glow in the coming darkness. To think he met two entirely different sides of the same family in one evening, and considering the injuries the two he met later in the night had sported¡­ he was starting to wonder if she was the cause. Hell, having insight on that didn¡¯t make anything better, this was the Thasclea family they were talking about. A clan in which had been recognized as ¡°The Closest to Heaven¡± in large part due to their leader, who¡¯s one of the oldest living entities in all the lands. So with a low sigh, a small smirk, and a nod to himself, he took a step towards, and past the Nephilim.


    ¡°Hope you know how to run¡­¡±


    His right wing flicked back, to tap the much larger angelic ones, indicating it was time for them to depart. Which went ignored for only a moment, before she followed; Her head hung low as she did, ruminating once more, much like the many, many times prior¡­ about her worth. A worth that Hexlith saw far before even getting the chance to speak with her, which- gave her butterflies. Not from a necessarily romantic stance, but from being treated as a person, rather than a monster. Meanwhile, Hexlith had already stopped thinking about the trivial Q&A¡¯s, instead- plotting a strategy to ¡®Set her free.¡¯ Everywhere he turned though, led to conflict¡­ something he wanted more than anything to avoid, especially against an entire clan of Nephilim such as the Thasclea- of all familia. He had to make a decision, and fast, as knowing them? They were already on the hunt, and Hexlith? hadn¡¯t hidden any of his tracks to get here.


    Time¡­ to be prey.

 5. Platinum Partisan

    Hour¡¯s passed as they laced their tracks across the forest in haphazard directions, utilizing their wings to lift off, and reunite at the crossroads they created. It gave them time to plan - if they were being actively tracked, albeit not much¡­ given that the Thasclea were quite the adept hunters. Lord only knew the tricks they hid up their sleeves in order to find the woman he now protected! That said, if they were going to use their own tactics to find her? He planned on using those very methods against them as a means of escape.


    First things first, was accessing a different level of the woods, a thicker area, where the Nephilim, this woman included - had far less room to spread their wings. While he? Was still more than capable of using his, albeit with due diligence, as even he¡¯d be having to shimmy through where they were headed. In the meantime, while they entered denser, and darker terrain, Hexlith kept vigilant within the encroaching shade, looking for a specific mark of his that he put around this area.


    ¡°Hey, Nephilim-¡± He peered over ¡°Best we know one another''s names. If we hope to live, that is¡­ Mine¡¯s Hexlith.¡±


    At the revelation of the Magkins name, the Nephilim stopped in her tracks. Her feet sinking deeper into the snow they traveled upon in idle thought. Her gaze drifted from the ground, to him, all the way to the tree¡¯s above. Focused on what lay beyond the tightly-knit trunks for a moment, she¡¯d let out a sigh. ¡°Draconic for Doom¡­ or worse yet- Doomed.¡±


    Shifting in place as she spoke, she gave Hexlith a pained look. Not one of fear for herself, and the trials to come, but for the one before her. She had thought her own name to be bad, considering it merely meant ¡®red¡¯ in Celestial. Now though? She only hoped his name turned out to be less literal than her own.


    ¡°Pounnem Al-¡± She couldn¡¯t even finish the entirety of her name, before she felt a shiver strike down her spine, a biting chill of fear encapsulating her as the canopy above quaked violently! Leaves descended atop the two in what felt like slow motion, as three shadows passed overhead! Her eyelids widened in shock, while she braced herself for what was to come; Hexlith held a similar reaction, as he stared up into the sky - to spot three silver armored Nephilim.


    ¡°You even hunt your own¡­¡± he muttered softly, sidestepping as he began to walk in another direction, waving for Pounnem to follow. He reached down to adjust his falx, making sure that it was accessible in the case he¡¯d have to use it. Hexlith¡¯s pace only increased, once they dipped into more covered woods.


    With tension rising, silence soon fell, filling their ears with only the sounds of wings batting above, and the crunching of leaves below! That is¡­ until it was finally broken, as the air whistled behind them, indicating to not only Pounnem, the seasoned warrior, but also Hexlith the inexperienced - that they were under attack. With her blade at the ready, she stomped down, and pivoted off of her right, in order to get herself into a batter-esque position as she swung on the incoming Nephilim!


    What she slashed into? Did not crunch like the suits of armor she bisected so many times before, housing meaty flesh within - no, but instead? It was the thick grain of a tree¡¯s trunk trailed by a javelin, gliding mere inches over the descending log, which forced her to make a choice, and fast! Stay put and try to evade the spear minimally, or discard the sword entirely. Hexlith on the other hand? Was quick to notice the trap set for Pounnem, and didn¡¯t hesitate for a second to peel one of the vials from his bag and toss it at her right leg, the one she was clearly posting from. The collision caused the vial to shatter, and in turn - her entire body to flip over, with the spear flying narrowly past her face, through her long white and red locks of hair.


    The platinum javelin embedded itself about a foot into the earth next to where Hexlith stood; Yet not for long, as he unraveled his wings, and burst towards Pounnem in a blitz. She¡¯d only be downed for a moment, yet he moved to cover her regardless. For good reason too as he spotted their first foe, a fully armored hunter with sharpened wings. Tell tale signs that it was more than likely a Thasclean elite, and that the battle to come? Would probably be a losing one. In spite of this, Hexlith hesitated not in locking blades with the silver warrior! His left arm pulled the falx down upon a rising longsword slash, the bigger person, and sword alike clearly had the strength advantage in the matter. However, as the longsword shoved the falx upward, and the curved blade found a palm slammed into the topmost curve of its spine, Hexlith slid the hook-blade into place. Applying his body weight best he could on their guard, before he found the tiniest of windows within the clash.


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    When he pushed, and the Nephilim reeled, enough for him to release his blade from their entanglement, he promptly stood upright, and jabbed his falx to the throat of the Thasclean. Considering the extreme curve in his sword, it wasn¡¯t enough to mortally wound the guy, more stun him - as the man grabbed his neck in shock, allowing Hexlith a brief moment to kick off of the hunter and return to Pounnem; Who was just getting to her feet!


    ¡°Get good at running!¡± Hexlith shouted in a shaky tone, not because he was tired, but because he went toe to toe with a Nephilim, a Thasclean - and survived.


    What he did could only really be considered luck, something he rarely if ever got a taste of! However, that¡¯s not what Pounnem witnessed, what she saw was the weakness he had seen¡­ in her - weaponized to take down a much more powerful foe than himself. Not to mention saving her in the process, reading her weaknesses as not only a means of fighting her family, but also saving her from them. To Hexlith, it was only second nature; So regardless of that small dose of victory, neither were particularly confident in their chances to come! Shadows loomed high over their heads, as flying between the trees became completely impossible in these woods. A good sign, it meant the terrain forced them to retreat and regroup, they couldn¡¯t strike as a whole without risking collision.


    The duo drew close to a cave he aimed to utilize, and possibly even to stage a counterattack in. Thing is, Hexlith sought to fix her problem for good, and he didn¡¯t really see how fighting her family head-on could achieve such an outcome. That said, they didn¡¯t seem the type to ¡®listen, and let live¡¯ if it came down to it, so one way or another? They¡¯d have to cut off their tail¡­ indefinitely. How exactly they¡¯d do that though, he wasn¡¯t completely sure; Now wasn¡¯t necessarily the optimal time to think on it either.


    As they made their way down the hill, the Magkin slipped into what at first looked like an enlarged wolf''s den, his hand reaching out to help Pounnem in soon after. What they saw once they entered? Was not a simple den, no, but a large underground system. There were a lot of open spaces right at the entry, but the deeper one went, the narrower it got, and that? Was what Hexlith planned to use as their first of many weapons; Which he instantly voiced, as they moved through the caves.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a plan¡­ but it¡¯ll only work if you truly want to escape this family of yours.¡±


    With a narrowed gaze, Pounnem traced her eyes through the darkness over to the Magkin, glowing like embers in the night as they pinned him down. ¡°If it¡¯s killing them- spare me, I care not for being a kinslayer, they¡¯ve made me one tenfold already.¡±


    ¡°Right. Then you¡¯ll die, and all this¡¯ll be over.¡± He quipped, before speeding off into the cave, moving from a brisk walk, to that of a jog, as he cut a corner to the left, and disappeared from sight.


    ¡°Hey! What?! What¡¯re you? talking¡­ about¡­¡­¡± Pounnem¡¯s step stuttered ever so slightly as she followed, her instinctive need to defend herself melting away as she realized what he meant. Curling her wings into her back tightly as possible, she¡¯d let out a measured sigh, before catching up.


    Now or never.

 6. The Haunting Hunt

    One after the other, pushing through faster and faster with each step, two of the three hunters made their way further and further into the wolf¡¯s den. The light behind them gave a decent view of the cave ahead. The gigantic stalactites which hung from the ceiling dribbled a slow, yet steady stream of water onto the floor below. Wings enclosed from the low visibility, and the terrain they braved, each step taken shot a metallic echo throughout the cave.


    Eventually? They came to an abrupt halt, as behind them, the entrance they had come through - collapsed with a violent whistle and crunch! Separating them from the third Thasclean outside, who was now left alone in the nightscape of Noor. Despite the circumstances, they didn¡¯t react much, hurdles were a given, with no more than a sigh coming from the taller of the two.


    ¡°Hwim oo oun so hwolceat, co cel pounnem.¡± He casted down toward the shorter Nephilim, as his right hand lifted to the back of his neck.


    ¡°Pol iack flop si sea ut so floom! so''s sa ethscea hweack.¡± A feminine voice protested from behind their helm.


    ¡°Fine, but let me take the lead.¡± With that brief conversation over, one faltered back, letting the other take the lead.


    The taller Nephilim let out a sigh of relief, as they took their helmet off, revealing the face of a true-blooded Thasclean, one with gleaming blue orbs, and a nice little shiner placed over the leftmost eye. Taking a long breath in, and out, the man grinned, their chance to slay the stain on their family drew ever closer. Their hand peeled back from its position, taking hold of the longsword in anticipation!


    Truthfully, he wanted nothing more than her head for himself, and the notoriety that came with it; Slaying the monster of the Thasclea and all~ Thus, he searched with a readied hand. His elven ears twitched every so often, as he kept keen to the sounds of the cave. Studying the path of the echos was key in finding this blemish on the Thasclean name, whom he was sent to cleanse. Fortunately for him, he was on track to finding her, and that damned Magkin. The latter of which - he swore he recognized, yet with all that went on? Trying to familiarize himself with someone he sought to cut down¡­ was not an option.


    If he planned on being effective at the task at hand, he¡¯d have to turn those before him into faceless monsters. Desensitization came easy for the Thasclean. They strolled from the dry entrance, to the damp interior, all the way here, where the puddles got weirdly goopy. At further inspection, what he walked upon¡­? Was a pool of ichorous matter! Shimmering gold flecks scattered within the glorious red¡­ Angel¡¯s blood.


    The sight brought a wicked smile upon the hunter''s visage, who picked up the pace as they followed the trail, leading deeper and deeper into the cave. Their time to shine drew ever near, with nerves nowhere in sight, instead - he wore a badge of self-appointed bravery! This mission, no, his mission was much like that of an ¡®Arthurian Tale~¡¯ the ones which spelt the end to dragons by the blade of a prince.


    At least that¡¯s what he thought.


    The corridors of the cave split off more and more, and eventually they were forced to move in single file, rather than side by side. That is¡­ until they came into a small, arrow-like opening. One Magkin stood at the far point of the room, his back turned to the two, with his gaze plastered downward¡­ Falx in hand. Even within the darkness, his body seemed to glisten, and gleam. The entirety of Hexlith, from head to toe was doused in a shimmering ichor, with red-tipped wings splayed beneath his very feet, feathers scattered haphazardly throughout the room. This brought the Nephilim to a dead stop, as he witnessed a sight he hadn¡¯t even imagined possible. There was a clear struggle here, and the Magkins heavy breathing showed it.


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    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°... You killed her?! You slaughtered my¡­ MY SISTER!¡± The man bellowed! not for the fake reason he mused, with his false sense of vengeance and faux-heroism, but instead¡­ the fact that this Magkin had killed his prey. His prey. Prey that had avoided getting caught by the Thasclea family for all these years, found dead at the feet of a fucking bird.


    ¡°Find a way out- now!¡± He commanded. ¡°-And alert the other¡¯s!¡±


    In a blind rage, the Nephilim zipped forth, his feathers shedding, and ripping as they scraped the narrowing cave! The longsword in hand was ready to thrust forth at a moment''s notice, as he closed the distance in what looked like an instant. Leaving the female Nephilim behind him to step back, not in fear, but complete dismay over the situation at hand. This was where the weakness of their family came to bite them in the ass! Confidence, as there was no way a Magkin could kill a Nephilim, let alone a Thasclean head on. Even for the dirty-blooded; He must have killed her while her back was turned, so her brother should be more than capable of handling himself.


    Right?


    The woman turned tail out of the cave! They needed to inform the other search parties that their target was slain! The Red Nephilim was seen bled of life, and ultimately dead at the hand of a Magkin of all things. Which brought us back to the male Thasclean, who was currently rushing Hexlith


    The Magkin remained eerily still as the Nephilim closed the distance, and stabbed forth with precision! The tip of the blade was centimeters away, before the Magkin made his move. He spun in a blur, his left wing curling around the front of his body as the sword flew past! Which left his right wing to arc around with that momentum, brushing past the face of the incoming Nephilim as he repositioned. Something the man gave no mind to, as Magkin wings weren¡¯t all that strong, and weren''t capable of much. This however, was where the Thascleaspawns bit down- hook and sinker, as Hexlith skimmed his falx through the air, and his own feathers in order to carve into the exposed nape of the Nephilim.


    The cold steel of the blade caused the glowing blue eyes of the Thasclean to widen, and search for what exactly was happening, until they could do no more than roll backwards¡­ as their head fell to the ground with a grotesque splat. The body followed shortly after, further drenching Hexlith in blood as it landed in the pool of ichor. Leaving the Magkin stood there¡­ his deep blue eyes beaming down upon the fading ones at his feet.


    ¡°You¡¯re free now¡­¡±

 7. Life for a Life

    A cold silence fell over the cave as he stared into the warm puddle of blood below, the purple reflection of his eyes grimaced back at him as they pierced the darkness of the cave. An ominous air came about, as blood dripped from his feathers, not just Nephilim¡¯s, but his own. His right wing had quite the missing chunk, that he inspected with a ¡®tsk¡¯ before furling it into his back with the other. Wincing as he did.


    ¡°Well that was quick...¡± A voice called out from the opening¡¯s entrance, it was Pounnem, who stood proud - arms crossed, and a gaze filled with surprise¡­ labeled oh so evidently onto her visage.


    ¡°...I don¡¯t like to fight.¡± Hexlith was quick to reply, before turning to the two corpses which lay at his feet.


    Blinking a few times to snap himself out of the bloody trance he entered, he turned back to Pounnem with a soft smile, closed eyes and all, before he made his way over to, and past her. Leaving Pounnem alone for a few moments to look at the cut up bodies of her brethren. The helmless er- now headless one, who held an obvious bloodlust, and the other¡­ whom they used as their fake.


    ¡°Was afraid for a second that I¡¯d be seen, but you were right¡­ The opening closed as soon as I landed.¡± She spouted before he could walk out, as she crouched down to take hold of one of their necklaces. The family sigil, an eagle holding a spear in its talons, which far surpassed it in size! She looked at it with a certain level of disgust, before turning her attention to Hexlith, who was quick to respond.


    ¡°Confidence, and impatience: The two glaring weaknesses of the Thasclea. No way in hereek they¡¯d waste time to reroute, so long as it meant cornering you.¡±


    With a solemn glance, he moved his eyes from where he stood, down to the corridor near the larger opening, which had a fair share of other split-offs. The Nephilim that went to tell the others of Pounnem¡¯s death would likely seal off their exit, a gamble Hexlith was willing to take, considering what they¡¯d gone through. As such, once Pounnem arose from her position, necklace in hand¡­ He rose as well.


    Setting her gaze upon him, a look of sorrow grew, not for those who lay dead at her feet, nor even herself¡­ but instead? The Magkin who just took his first life. She had already told him that he needn¡¯t go so far, yet here she stood¡­ free at the hands of a plan that revolved entirely around him crossing that line. Or at least that¡¯s what she thought. Hexlith saw it in a different light though; What set her free wasn¡¯t killing the Thasclean, nor even her ambushing their decoy- no. It was the Nephilim who¡¯d live to tell the tale of this day, the one who¡¯d fly back home to tell¡­ ¡­ ¡­


    ¡°All of Noor¡­¡± Hexlith choked mid-step, causing him to fumble forth a bit as his eyes went wide with a sudden, and grave realization¡­ ¡°Uthwix.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t even thought of the consequences he faced in protecting this woman. Not for a second had he thought to cover his face or features, nor even¡­ wear a hood¡­ Which only made Hexlith think of his dad. A flush of memories cascaded down his throat, as he faced the realization that he may never return home again - so long as he wished for his family¡¯s safe- Before another second passed, a stream of vomit left the Magkin, which brought him to his knees just outside of the corridor!


    His finger-talons scraped the damp rock beneath, as he attempted to hold himself together. His very name taunted him, and the blade he had at his hip only supported the claim. Sitting back on his knees, he wiped his beak, and looked at the stalactites that hung high above him¡­ ¡°I can¡¯t go home¡­¡± overrode any and all thoughts the Magkin held.


    Two days in a row, Hexlith found himself donned in blood, and on the second? Banished from all which he strayed from. He was unable to see his family, which he had ¡®so reluctantly¡¯ stuck with, yet now? He wanted nothing more than to see the smug look on his mothers face, the deep one of his fathers¡­ and the bright gleam in his sister''s eyes whenever he returned home. All of that¡­ was gone now, done and dusted to fleet off into the violent winds of Esgraile! In freeing Pounnem, Hexlith inadvertently unshackled himself. Yet, after yearning for so long? And obtaining it so abruptly? Hexlith couldn¡¯t help but quake at the consequences of freedom.


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    His shaking only subsided once a hand was placed on his shoulder, Pounnem, crouched beside him with a worried look in her eyes. He somewhat jolted to the initial touch, but in recognizing who it was, he found himself quickly coming back to. No matter what consequences he faced, the Scarlet Nephilim at his side was his top priority. Getting her to safety was his one and only goal right now, any extras that came after? He could deal with on his own. For now though? They had to get out of this cave.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay-¡± he murmured, before sliding her hand off of his shoulder as he stood¡­ ¡°We need to leave.¡±


    ¡°-Hey!¡± Pounnem called out, as he started to walk off, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Turning to look at the Nephilim as she called out to him, Hexlith¡¯s face was initially filled with utter contempt, before - all of that? Melted away in the wake of her thanks. It made him smile, albeit briefly as his gaze moved down¡­ and before he entered yet another train of thought? Pounnem placed her hand on his chest, walking beside, and then past him. ¡°Let¡¯s go...¡±


    Making their egress after what felt like only a short period of walking, the two, after closing off the exit? Wasted little time in flying up to the trees, where the canopy served as an optimal trail out of Noor. Silence befell the two in their journey, not only as a safety precaution, but also from what they had gone through.


    Thoughts of their actions weighed heavily, some more than others, yet that didn¡¯t slow them on their way westward, towards the land of Tulok! A vast, rolling land of dunes, far off plains, and deep valleys alike, which starkly contrasted the land of Noor, a mountainous region filled corner to corner with the high reaching trees of Esgraile! Trees that seemed to shift in and out of Hexliths mind as the two slipped through their canopy!


    Great trees that once stood strong in these lands- were said to have died off with the age of magic, yet to him? The ones he walked on now seemed more like the saplings of what¡¯s to come. Something which brought both an air of eeriness to his surroundings, and a sort of beauty to it, which could only really exist in the mystic forests of Noor. Forests he¡¯d soon have to leave behind, as thoughts of his future encroach further and further. Only stopping once Pounnem had!


    Hexlith turned around to see what the issue was, and in looking her over? it set in fairly quick, even for himself, that they had been traveling for hours! Moving through the canopy was likely much more work for the larger Nephilim, than for him- who was able to weave through the branches fairly effortlessly. Adrenaline was also a factor, not to mention the fact Pounnem had been on the run for a while now, unable to properly rest for days, if not weeks.


    Once she stopped, Hexlith promptly spread his wings to cease his momentum, wincing as he parachuted himself and turned back to his companion. ¡°We should stop here and rest for the night. I have a tincture from my sister that should keep us warm.¡±


    As Hexlith gracefully hopped from branch to branch over to where Pounnem was crouched, he felt a shiver run down his spine, the majority of his feathers began to stick up in fear as he slowed. Not because he heard something in the distance, forgot a part of their plan- no¡­ nothing like that. It was because of the red gaze that rose to meet him. Pounnem¡¯s eyes flared with anger, as she slowly stood, her chin raising to look even further down upon Hexlith


    ¡°Your wing¡­ what happened.¡±


    Unfurling from his back, both of the iridescent appendages were revealed, showing how many feathers he had sliced off. The entire top of it was fine, and smooth as could be, but it got rougher as it went down, until finally? There was a clean line carved through the midst of the larger feathers, little red stubbles all too apparent at the bottom. He had cut a bit into his actual wing closer to the end, but all in all, the feathers would regrow in time.


    That didn¡¯t quite quench the fury of Pounnem though, as she took a firm step towards the Magkin. The entirety of the tree shook as she moved, until they were face to face, and Hexlith looked up at her gleaming red eyes. She asked him a question, yet now? He felt petrified by the piercing gaze that peered through him like a window.


    ¡°I¡­ uh-¡± He couldn¡¯t help but stumble to find the words, fumbling over his own thoughts as he tried to understand what was going on and- before he thought for a second longer? A set of arms wrapped around him, their fingertips tracing to the shoulders of his wings, as Pounnem gently embraced Hexlith.


    ¡°-I told you Hexlith; Your wings are beautiful¡­¡±

 8. Endangered

    Hexlith rubbed the top of his head as he looked through the branches down at the ground below. His blue gaze pierced the thicket, spotting a pack of dire wolves on the hunt. Trailing behind them flew an assortment of crows- five in total- soaring in a sort of unison, even as two veered off to the left and right. Their cold, scanning eyes searched the forest for any sign of prey, and when they finally found it-


    ¡°Squaa- ¡± Splat.


    What first sounded like a blaring alarm turned into a bloodcurdling screech- one that made Hexlith wince as he brushed the welt Pounnem had left on his noggin. His eyes moved from the chaos below to check up on his new friend. Her gaze met his almost the second he turned, bringing about an awkward smile on both ends.


    ¡°What now?¡±


    It was a question that hung heavy in both of their minds, yet only Pounnem had the gall to ask it. Even so, Hexlith¡¯s expression faltered. He didn¡¯t quite have an answer. What was he supposed to say? That they¡¯d just keep running? That was all she had been doing before she met him. He was supposed to change things for her, and despite the confidence he had in his plan, he couldn¡¯t help but feel overwhelmed by the paths ahead.


    ¡°How long have you lived like this? Alone, that is.¡± He rubbed his eyes.


    While he had spent much of his time in the wilderness, he had always known he had a home to return to- at least, up until now. He could only imagine what it was like for her, though soon, he would experience the same fate. The blade at his side weighed as heavy as his burdens, sinking into his newly formed wounds- physical or not.


    When he looked up from his hands to Pounnem, she had a suspicious look in her eye. The moment their gazes met, she quickly looked back down at the tincture he had given her. Swirling it around knowingly, she let out a brief sigh before sipping the amber liquid. Its glittery, almost star-like contents left a glossy sheen on her lips.


    ¡°A few weeks, give or take,¡± she shrugged.


    Taken aback, Hexlith looked at her with a raised brow. ¡°Wait, I don¡¯t under-¡±


    ¡°I was one of them.¡± Pounnem cut in. ¡°The red didn¡¯t appear until I turned ten, but by then, I knew better than to show it off.¡±


    The Magkin lowered his brow, his gaze narrowing as he scanned Pounnem from head to toe. He was about to speak when a concerning waft of smoke blew over the two. The stench was foul- beyond what trees or shrubbery could smell like. It smelled of¡­ decay.


    Both of their heads snapped in the direction it was coming from, yet hesitation bared its teeth just as fast. Their bodies jolted forward before freezing. Given their circumstances, they had no place to intervene out in the open- not if they wished to cement their escape. It would be foolish to go back now.


    Then again¡­


    People with heroic souls tend to be foolish.


    Both of them broke into a sprint within the treetops. The smoke swiftly clouded their vision and filled their lungs as they moved, shifting down toward the ground with haste. They didn¡¯t even get a meter down before they heard a cacophony of wings below. Both of them froze in place, bent down, and peered through the thinning smoke.


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    The silhouette within the flames was huge, its limbs like tree trunks. Their conviction to intervene faltered in that moment- until, once more, the fluttering of wings beat their way into view. The flames fanned outward, and the wings began to sound like drums, wind pushing through the heat all the way to the treetops. Sap melted and combusted as it dripped to the floor below, igniting the leaves and causing even more smoke. Yet they stood firm, arms covering their mouths, eyes tracing to one another.


    They couldn¡¯t speak in a moment like this, yet an understanding passed between them. This was not something they could intervene in- not unless they wished to die. And yet¡­ they remained, as if waiting for a moment to step in. To help the lumbering creature below.


    It wailed in agony as the Thascleans cut into it, its single eye visible through the smog. Lifeless. As if it could see them. As if it wondered why. Just why.


    Hours passed.


    They smelled of soot and death. The look in their eyes reflected their appearances, and neither spoke during their getaway. They didn¡¯t look back at the smoke filling the forest. Their minds were set. They were leaving- running away from the place that had claimed them for so long.


    Hexlith¡¯s hand fell to his blade every so often, memories of a time before he had to use it shaping in his mind. The look in his father¡¯s obscured gaze. The witty smile his mother wore when he returned home. Most of all, though? He missed Uthwix. He missed the vibrancy of her presence.


    He missed his sister.


    Darkness swelled before them, the mist of the wilderness eclipsing their vision as they traveled into the night. The terrain grew more treacherous, untamed, unlivable. Moving through the canopy became more difficult until they were forced to the ground. They were nearing the border, and as Hexlith realized how far they had come from the city, his pace waned to a halt. With a quick scan of the area, a sigh escaped him, his muscles finally relaxing under the cover of night.


    ¡°We should stop here and set up camp. We¡¯ll make it to the border by midday tomorrow.¡± Despite their distance from Thasclean stomping grounds, he still couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of unease.


    Yet when Pounnem came back into view and her gaze met his, his worry seemed to wash away. She was smiling, and that was assurance enough.


    ¡°So, what are your plans once we make it to Tulok? You said it yourself- you can¡¯t go back. Then¡­ what¡¯s ahead for you?¡±


    The world seemed to freeze around the birdman in that moment. His eyes blurred past the foliage before them, focusing instead on the girl beside him. Her words echoed in his ears, and overlapping them? Uthwix¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Nothing¡­ nothing at all.¡± he paused, ¡°It¡¯d be pretty cool to see Lun-¡±


    Pounnem raised her hand to silence him before he could finish, her gaze stern for but a moment before softening.


    ¡°You could always keep traveling with me.¡±


    Silence fell between them.


    Then, the Nephilim broke it with a snicker. ¡°Then again, if you didn¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t blame you.¡±


    The Magkin had no immediate answer- only a raised set of eyebrows.


    ¡°Don¡¯t see why not. I¡¯ve got nothing to lose¡­ anymore.¡± Hexlith sighed before crouching where they stood. ¡°Besides, Tulok¡¯s a land ruled by might. You¡¯ll fit in just fine, but me? I¡¯ll be chewed up and spit out just as quickly as I enter.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. You¡¯re far stronger than I am.¡± Pounnem¡¯s voice was calm, yet eerily confident.


    It as a confidence Hexlith winced at.


    ¡°Flattering, Pounnem, but no. What you¡¯ve seen is solely based on my knowledge of these lands¡­¡±


    The Nephilim¡¯s left brow rose, before giving the Magkin elevator eyes. ¡°Yeah, yeah, you know your shit I get that. I¡¯m talking about your reaction to critical moments, you move as if you¡¯ve had hours to analyze before acting.¡±


    They shared a glance of recognition in that moment, before moving on with the night...


    ...

 9. ____ of the forest

    After about a week of traveling between the canopy and the forest floor to the west, the two had set up a bit of a routine in their escape, treating every waking moment as if they were still in a high-speed chase as well- you could never be too careful, especially when it came to Thasclean hunters. Their roles were already set: the navigator and trapper was Hexlith, and the combatant and hunter was Pounnem.


    The goal, to be frank, was heavily reliant on Hexlith, and the times when he couldn¡¯t pull through were when Pounnem would have to step up-something that was becoming more and more apparent, as they were far outside his marked range by now. This threw them into somewhat unknown land, albeit it was still Noor through and through! From the pines that shot high into the sky like arrowheads to the sprawling willow branches that intermingled throughout the entire canopy, there was quite the contrast in ecosystems between the top and bottom of the jungle. At the foot was where the larger beasts dwelled. Albeit, the large beasts of Noor-in comparison to the neighboring region of Tulok, at least- were extremely sleek in appearance; even if they were tall or long, they would forever be thin enough to slip through the trees at high speeds.


    A wonder to behold, especially when it came to the ¡°Stilveride,¡± a glistening reptile with chromatic scales so reflective they looked like tiny little mirrors! There were tales of them zipping past hikers and the traveling Pio tribes so fast that they induced mirages of the travelers in their wake. This often tended to be the only reason these fellas ever got into any conflict, as on a plethora of occasions, they had zoomed past the wrong band of warriors, who got a liiiittle too hot-headed in the moment. Of course, facing off with one of these things was no easy task, and something Hexlith had the honor of saying he¡¯d never had to deal with, as well¡­ he had been brought to the brink by a fair share of Noor¡¯s creatures before.


    One of the more notable of these was said to be descended from the fabled ¡®Eyes of the Jungle,¡¯ a creature-no¡­ monster-that resembled something straight out of the Old Testament. An owl chimera of immense power, it was said to be the holder of one of the last known fragments of magic. Whether or not it possessed the fragment or was the fragment was a theory often contested in these lands! Yet what was known was that its offspring carried a certain amount of magic with them-something Hexlith had faced firsthand when he was first getting into his craft and, in fact, may have been his calling all along.


    ¡°Eizavelle¡­¡± Hexlith murmured as the two glided from tree to tree, his right wing consistently lagging downward as they moved, forcing the Magkin to put extra effort into maintaining balance. Something Pounnem would have commented on if, perhaps, Hexlith hadn¡¯t spouted one of the ONLY NAMES you weren¡¯t supposed to in these lands. Her gaze shot over to him with more shock than anger, which he met instinctively, feeling that oh-so-heated gaze pinning down upon him. He was getting more used to it as the days passed, but it didn¡¯t really make it any less unnerving when she was truly pissed at him. So, with a simple raising of his brow, he gestured his head in a downward nod to Pounnem, as if beckoning her to voice what she wanted to say.


    ¡°Why the confidence?¡± For once, Pounnem found herself a little awestruck by Hexlith¡¯s actions. It wasn¡¯t as if she saw him as a coward-he certainly had to be brave in order to help her-but now? She was starting to be concerned that he might flat-out be crazy. ¡°You know what saying its name entails, yes?¡±


    ¡°That it¡¯ll track us, mhm.¡± Hexlith replied calmly as they seamlessly traveled, the pace of the two having long since synchronized in their expedition. ¡°It only really hunts when it¡¯s looking for something that¡¯s harmed its domain.¡±


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    There was a short pause after he spoke, and before she could get a word out, the Magkin felt a question encroaching that he couldn¡¯t help but blurt out instinctively. ¡°Why? Have you harmed Eizavelle¡¯s domain recentl-¡±


    ¡°-AGAIN with the name!?¡± Pounnem seemed clearly shaken by the mere mention of the thing, something that clearly couldn¡¯t be said for the likes of Hexlith, who spoke it with the utmost confidence. Of course, for anyone who knew anything about Hexlith, they¡¯d know well and sure why he was so confidently spewing the ¡®Eyes of the Jungle¡¯s name! It lay within what Hexlith is. Not in blood or bone, no, but in soul and spirit! A protector of the fauna that faced extinction day in and day out. To Eizavelle, Hexlith is seen as one of its kin.


    ¡°Fair enough, I guess. You are Thasclean, after all-¡± Hexlith remarked in a somewhat snide tone, which was followed VERY quickly by a heartfelt laugh in an attempt to show her he was only messing with her. ¡°Your old family made quite the enemy out of Eizavelle, as I¡¯m sure you know, which is exactly why I didn¡¯t feel comfortable taking the gamble on calling it out of hiding till now.¡±


    The Nephilim remained silent for about a minute until she finally spoke up. ¡°You act like¡­ Ei-They are some kind of pet that you can call at any waking moment. Even if you know it won¡¯t harm us, how can you be so confident in that fact? Something could have changed. Its opinion of you could have sw-¡±


    ¡°-Eizavelle doesn¡¯t do opinions, it¡¯s a force of nature.¡± Hexlith cut in, the Magkin clearly passionate about his knowledge of the creature- something he continued to explain. ¡°Almost immediately after my first hunt, I was cornered by one of the Eyes¡¯ offspring; Eizens, as I like to call ¡®em. Anyhow, just as I thought it was the end for me, Eizavelle came from what felt like my very own shadow and turned the Eizen to ribbons.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­ so-¡± Before Pounnem could question him, Hexlith continued, his right hand shifting back to move the falx¡¯s holster to his lower back all the while. ¡°-Turns out¡­ the Eizen was infected by the outer mist, and in recognizing that, its creator moved to protect me rather than punish me for my actio-.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ it acted on the greater threat, huh? All the while demonstrating exactly what it could do to ya¡¯ if you got on its bad side¡­¡± Pounnem was visibly shaken by the imagery of such a scene, yet the fact that Hexlith was still here, breathing, and as confident as he was about the situation brought her a large sum of solace.


    ¡°If that¡¯s how you wish to interpret it, sure. How I saw it at the time, though? And even now¡­ was something that acted off laws and rules rather than instinct or any level of intellect for that matter- it was like a machine.¡± Hexlith strayed away from flat-out voicing the thing¡¯s name aloud at this point, not only out of respect for Pounnem¡¯s wishes and overall comfort but also because of what he was alluding to, something he felt the monster might dislike hearing.


    ¡°Is that fear of Eizavelle I hear?¡± Pounnem proclaimed cockily as they sped up in pace, something Hexlith merely looked back at and snickered-much to the confusion of the Nephilim. ¡°Huh? What?!¡±


    The snicker from Hexlith grew into a full cackle as she began questioning him, his head shaking lightly as he looked ahead and then snapped his head back toward her with a certain amount of smugness. ¡°You said its name-¡±


    ¡°-Dammit, Hexlith!¡±