It Feeds On The Blood, It Feeds On The Heat

[itstillhurt]

Who: Azula and various CR
Which: Noctaere Plot Log (Closed)
Where: Various locations in Reverein, the Wastelands and Interactive Dreamscapes
What: On the night of the 21st, the heat becomes unbearable. A thunderstorm rolls over Reverein, but there's no rain- posing its own problems when lightning strikes the dry earth. The shape of a bird made of blue flame can be seen fleeing from the village, but the weather disturbances remain, as does the damage it's causing. Fires are a serious concern. The unnatural storms will last until the end of the 22nd. After that, the unnatural dry and intense thunderstorm will subside into a normal heavy rainfall.

Warnings: A lot of violence, possibly including arson and burns. Also some examination of a backstory including abuse, neglect, war crimes, and themes of genocide.

Comments

[itstillhurt]

The fire wreathing her body is brighter and hotter, and her eyes are glowing with painful intensity. Massive flickers of blue fire seem to be coalescing around her, spreading further and further, and if she's still in pain, she's no longer giving any sign of it.

This time, Azula says nothing. She simply responds by silently throwing a blast of flame- bright, intense, a burst of kinetic force as much as heat, meant to throw Najaran back again.

[najaran]

And back Najaran went flying again. And again, she forced herself up, and ran to hug Azula again.

[itstillhurt]

Azula doesn't respond with fire. Her face becomes oddly more flat and emotionless as she jumps back from Najaran and raises both arms. Even her movements are less erratic- not her usual tightly controlled pace, but an odd, unnatural stiffness, as if she was moving in her sleep.

It's not bending- not exactly. But she's seen the movement enough times, in enough variations of a certain nightmare, that she does it without even thinking. There's no calculation, no strategy, just a reflexive use of Dreamotion.

And steely spikes of ice suddenly sprout from the ground, trying to ensnare Najaran's arms and legs and keep her at bay.

[najaran]

"WHOA!" She cried as the ice surrounded her, pinning her in place.

But her friend needed her! This was no time to be helpless. Unless Zenith was going to show up to attack her....

She waited just a moment in odd stillness. He always showed up when she was helpless to try and kill her.

Nope, no Zenith this time.

So she was free to focus on Azula, but first she had to get out. Good thing she ate a lot of snow and ice as a kid! She started chowing down on the ice.

[itstillhurt]

At first, she suspects that the fight is over. Then, Najaran begins breaking her way free, refusing to stay down.

So be it. She's got a few moments before Najaran breaks free of the ice. She centers her stance and raises her arms, two fingers extended as she pulls her hands in slow circles around herself.

The blue flames spreading over her body grow brighter, and thunder begins to roll from the heavy stormclouds overhead despite the lack of rain as she releases a powerful burst of electricity toward Najaran.

[najaran]

"WHOA!" She reached for her Shield Card as a reflex, on instinct. But it wasn't here. Another Card jumped to her hand and she summoned it, throwing the Card into the air. It resolved into Thundrbeak, standing before them, just at the last moment.

Enraged that someone had attacked his Cepter, Thunderbeak opened his mouth, a lightning ball building there.

"NO!" Najaran cried, grabbing him around the neck. "She didn't mean to! She's my friend!"

Thunderbeak turned his head, shooting his lightning into the sky instead.

[itstillhurt]

Finally. There's no frustration at the attack being blocked- she's at least gotten Najaran to fight. It makes things simpler. Easier. Less confusing. Less painful.

Or at least, for a moment it does. Until the creature finally prepares to attack her, and Najaran doesn't let it.

There's a moment of stillness, as if Azula can't quite comprehend what she just saw. Then an explosion of fire erupts from all around her, engulfing her surroundings and igniting buildings and foliage.

[najaran]

"Thunderbeak! We have to help Azula! We have to get her off the ground so she doesn't accidentally start a fire!"

Najaran jumped onto Thunderbeak's back as he launched himself at the young woman, intending to pick her up and fly off with her.

[itstillhurt]

Unfortunately for Thunderbeak, when the explosion clears 'the young woman' is no longer the problem.

Instead, the Noctaere erupts into the sky, blue flames surrounding its body in the shape of a massive phoenix. Despite being apparently formed entirely of fire, its wings are apparently solid enough to stir the air around it, blistering winds kicking up debris and ash and fanning the embers that were already smoldering in the grass around it as it rises into the air.

As Thunderbeak and Najaran approach it, it breathes a stream of flames at them to drive them away.

Oh good, there is a Phoenix Card, so Naja can know what she became! Wheeee

[najaran]

"Whoa! A Phoenix!" she said as Thunderbeak neatly dodged. "Hello!" she called to the Phoenix. "We're looking for my friend Azula, have you seen her?"

[itstillhurt]

The Noctaere gives no response. It continues in eerie silence. As the two get closer, however, it becomes possible to see the shape inside the bird's body- Azula, suspended unmoving in the midst of the fiery body.

It's only possible to get the most fleeting glimpse before the phoenix suddenly dives into a roll, sending arcs of slicing flame in all directions to try and strike Thunderbeak and Najaran out of the air.

[najaran]

"YOU ATE AZULA?!" She yelled in shock as they dodged again. Thunderbeak was much better at dodging than Najaran was. "NO MATTER HOW TASTY SOMEONE MIGHT LOOK, FRIENDS ARE NOT YUMMY!" she called over, holding on with ease as they banked sharply again. "Spit Azula out and we can talk, okay?!"

[itstillhurt]

The Noctaere makes several more attempts to target Thunderbeak- a cutting arc from its wing, dodged. A torrent of fire from its mouth, avoided. Finally, it decides to take more aggressive measures.

It wheels around and rapidly charges Thunderbeak, throwing a broad burst of flame to force it onto the defensive, then raking at it with massive claws to try and knock it out of the sky.

[najaran]

Thunderbeak was good at dodging around and was doing his best while Najaran kept trying to talk to the thing, until she leaned too far, one arm extended like she was holding something to counterbalance. But she wasn't. Because Goligan wasn't here, and this was the first time flying defensively without him. So she was off balance as Thunderbeak wheeled higher and higher... and.... off she went tumbling with a scream, Thunderbeak diving after her as she plummeted.

And /wrap

[itstillhurt]

The Noctaere seems to be satisfied that the threat is eliminated. Still low above the buildings, it turns and slowly glides away from the town, leaving Najaran and Thunderbeak behind as it flies toward the wildlands.

TY for the thread

[najaran]