acontritemess | We Made a Forest

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We Made a Forest

[The months passed pretty quickly after that first day. Both he and Airy had to return to their training, and Cairn in particular was being even more grueling than he had in Arkansas. Every morning, he was forced to eat early, and spend the majority of his time in focus training. At first it didn't include the manipulation of any sort of energy. He had to count backward from five hundred by sevens while running an obstacle course. Cairn said it was to train his mind to focus on several things at once externally while focusing on a chosen outcome.

At first he hated it. It was arduous, annoying, and he failed more than he succeeded. But, as the months went on, things were added to his focus. He had to run the obstacle course while setting arranged targets on fire, and that was when he started to understand. Cairn was training him for the battlefield, where things were nuts, unpredictable, and losing focus wasn't an option.

They moved on from there to other outcomes. Cairn would cover the obstacle course with a fine powder and force him to run it while attempting to conjure rain to clean the course. That one wasn't coming to him so easily. Water had never been a gift to him. It would perpetually be his Achilles heel, and it was one of the most versatile elements. Water was cleansing, meaning it could purge a body of poisons. It was healing, meaning it could heal wounds. Even now, over a year later, he couldn't muster it with consistency. He felt like a failure as a Druid. Everyone was counting on him, and all he could do was destroy.

Earth he could call to his command, wind with some success. Fire was his, but water...water eluded him.

Today, Cairn gave him a day off after a day of great success yesterday, so he decided to go see Airy, whom he hadn't had a chance to see much of for the last week. It was a Wednesday, so he knew where to find her.

He was polite enough to knock at the door of her training room.]

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[The last few months have somehow gotten harder for Airy. She knows why Luther has been in a bad mood but it doesn’t make their practice sessions any easier. Now it feels like she’s getting her ass kicked more than ever and she doesn’t like how often she ends up underneath him with his stupid bow staff at her throat. It’s cheating. Rachel finds it funny to try to distract her during their training by bringing up awkward topics Airy would rather not talk about; most of which have to do with Nathan who’s apparently been talking to Belle which means that every thoughtless or embarrassing thing that’s left her lips has most likely been regurgitated back to him.

Gus is still the same and she’s happy at breakfast though she misses Nathan who eats early and runs off with Cairn. The only time she gets to see him regularly is movie night though sometimes Cairn doesn’t let him come to that either. She doesn’t understand it completely but it feels as if Cairn is just itching for the pair to leave again. Airy doesn’t want to have to say goodbye.

It’s only when she’s here that she’s able to organize and set her thoughts in order; sometimes by imagining each train to appear in front of her like a puzzle to be pieced together. This room is the only sanity she’s allowed in this place and it’s hers.

She sits with her legs crossed and her wrists relaxing on her knees. Music plays softly; today she’s gone with something more relaxing; a piano medley that doesn’t have any words to it. As she sits water swirls in a circle around her but just outside her reach, soft echoes of the current add to the music making Airy smile as she focuses. Large bubbles appear next each one forming as if breathed to life with a breath of warm air. They float in place and are soon joined by glimmering stars. Some of these stars turn into butterflies or dragonflies which trail light around the room while others simply float happily in the air.

This room is hers and everything inside flows easily from her thoughts and into form. Sometimes she’ll take notes on what to improve but today she’s just relaxing, focusing on each one of her senses while a new object forms. She’s filled the room before however it’s usually a slow process and at times disastrous.

At the sound of the knock her eyes snap open and she wills the water to vanish. The door is leak proof after a few unfortunate accidents, not to mention fire proof and earthquake proof; after a while Natalia stopped guessing what Airy might do and just began to prepare for everything making her imagination room the safest and most expensive room in the hideout.

She exhales a soft breath, not really minding the interruption since it is usually Gus telling her she’s about to miss a meal. She rises slowly and stretches out her arms and legs; it only feels like an hour or so has passed. She lightly taps one of her bubbles to see if it would break. When it doesn’t, she smiles and releases everything else in the room so it can fade. As Airy walks towards the door her confusion deepens, it’s definitely not lunch or dinner… so who’s there? Her first thought is Luther who she’s already forced to see almost every night. He’s been a pain lately and she doesn’t really know what to do about it. She wishes he’d turn back into the nice boy that she used to know though as time passes she’s beginning to think she made that person up in some depressed delusional haze. It isn’t a happy train of thought so when she opens the door she looks annoyed; only it’s Nathan standing there.

Airy blinks, confusion settling over her features while the last of her stars winks out behind her.] Oh… Nathan… [She shakes her head trying to clear her thoughts. Her fingers push the wavy mess of brown behind her ear and she wonders absently if she even brushed her hair this morning. After another pause she smiles feeling only a little caught off guard.]

Sorry, I wasn’t expecting you but it’s good to see you.

[It’s always good to see him.]

What are you doing here? Do you want to step inside?

[Having him standing at the door is weird considering she’s usually in this room with the door closed.]

[She's a sight for sore eyes, but then again, she always is. Having been away from her so often these last months has been hard, especially after having been apart for so long before that. He smiles and nods.]

Sure, I wouldn't mind. Cairn gave me the day off. I was able to conjure water yesterday, so I guess I get a cookie.

[He takes a sip of the coffee he'd brought with him as he looks around the empty room.] How have you been? I thought I heard water.

[Airy's smile brightens and her eyebrows raise slightly.]

I almost can't believe that Cairn gave you the day off. [She is pretty sure that the old wizard is trying to keep her away from Nathan but as he steps into her room the thought slips through her fingers. This is the first time she's actually invited someone inside her imagination room and she hadn't realized that until he asked about the water.]

Good... ish. [Yeah, she's a bad liar.] It could be worse.

[Airy closes the door and then moves towards the center of the room.]

I've told you about my imagination room right? No one else is allowed in here. [She holds out her hand and as she moves water runs in a stream behind her. She circles back into the whirlpool she's had before moving to stand next to Nathan so it circles them.]

What do you think?

Hey, it was a major breakthrough, alright?

[He nods.] What's bad about today? And yeah, you told me about it. [And he blinks.] Should I go, then? You know, since no one else is allowed.

[He watches her so easily create the water and laughs.]

That I really envy your ability to make water.

[Airy laughs softly, her eyes glancing at Nathan with a fond expression hidden beneath them.]

I know, I'm really proud of you Nathan. [In case he doesn't know that she thinks very highly of him. When he mentions the room she shakes her head.] I invited you inside didn't I?

[The water is moving very easily around them now, it's currents causing soft echoes that drift throughout the room mingling and dancing with the piano's tune. Airy stands next to Nathan, her shoulder lightly brushing against his as she looks down at the liquid.]

I can make it but it isn't real.

[She bends over and kneels in front of the circling pool. Her fingers lightly dip into the water before it vanishes from sight.] See.

[Nathan's had a lot of experience with the energy of water, lately. Touching it, manipulating it. He bends down, reaching out his hand to touch the surface of the flowing water.]

Weird. It...feels like water...

[Airy kneels down next to him and reaches out towards the water. Her fingers create ripples in the following liquid before she pushes the imagine away. Slowly the water fades.]

Yeah but it isn't.

[She sounds a little bit sad about it.]

Okay. [Airy looks at him with a smile.]

What do you want to see?

[Nathan shakes his head.] That's not what I meant. I mean it feels like water. [That probably didn't help to clarify what he was talking about.]

[He shrugs.]

What were you doing earlier?

[Airy looks over at Nathan with a confused expression. She doesn't get it but drops the subject to answer his question.]

I was just slowly adding things to the room. Sorta like seeing how much I can keep going at once.

[She usually makes random stuff but knowing that Nathan's here and watching her she wants to make something cool that he can look at. She might also want to impress him, just a little bit.

Airy moves to sit and waves Nathan to come sit next to her.]

Sit and stay put.

[Airy inhales a deep breath waiting for Nathan to settle into place before starting.]

[Nathan's pretty good at following instructions from her. Cairn is really the only one he gives any sort of push back to, and that's mostly because he likes contradicting the guy. Call him a jerk. He doesn't care.

He nods, though, taking the seat she indicated.]

Okay. Wow me.

[Airy puffs up her cheeks for a moment.]

So much pressure.

[Though she relaxes within seconds. This is her room and nothing can change that. She moves her hands so that one of her hands is resting on his and the other is lightly brushing against his knee. She closes her eyes and keeps track of where he is using the light touch. A small smile pulls at her lips as she inhales a deep breath. At first there is nothing but a strange wind coming from no where but slowly things begin to grow around them.

A tree twists and forms to Airy's right far enough away for the roots to lift from the ground and tangle together. They raise up slightly as the ground beneath them shifts and morphs. Small pieces of grass begin to grow and while it isn't a quick process it's quicker than nature. Her eyes remain shut and bit by bit she adds a little bit more to the landscape that she's slowly painting in her mind.]

[Nathan sits in awe of the changing surroundings. She wasn't capable of anything like that when he last saw everything she could do, but what caught his attention more than the forest that was growing around them was the fact that, not only could he hear it, smell it, taste the pine sap and soil in the air. He could feel it. There was carnal energy feeding this scene.

But...how? Did it come from Airy? Were her creations actually real? It was the only thing he could explain. Not only was it real, was it fueled by the same energy he touched on a daily basis, but it fresh, new, which shouldn't be possible.

Creators were aptly named apparently. He wanted to say something, but he didn't want to break her concentration.]

[Airy's breaths were slow as she continued forming thoughts in her mind. Slowly a creek appeared to their left and the soft sound of running water began to trickle at their side, rocks formed to contain the stream and a few fish swam in the crystal clear water.

More trees formed, with ferns and flowers scattered at their feet. No one in HQ knows what a creator is or does. They found a few tombs on it but they were all in Latin which meant that Airy has to wait for them to be translated before she can read them. No one knows how to train Airy or what her creations are really like.

It's only in this room she's given the freedom to form what she wants. As more things flicker to life she loses track of time focusing on each new addition as if it's carefully crafted. After an hour or so she opens her eyes looking over at Nathan. Her fingers still rest against him, twitching softly as if unsure if he's okay with the contact.]

So?

[She releases a soft breath keeping her creation in mind as she faces Nathan. It's easier to maintain than it is to create.]

[A slow smile has spread across Nathan's face as she worked and when she finally speaks, he looks over to her with a hushed excitement.]

It's incredible, Airy. I...I can feel it.

[He stands, but only momentarily, moving to the stream running beside them and pushing his hands into the water, closing his eyes.]

It's real...

[And he reaches out with his senses, calling the energy of the stream to his fingertips and inside of him, smiling at the cooling energy. Water was so volatile but soothing, so much different than fire.]

...it's all real...

[Airy is surprised at Nathan's reaction because she knows it isn't real. It's never been real and with a thought she can make it disappear.

She stands, her steps slow as she moves across the dirt and grass to Nathan's side. She doesn't completely understand his excitement.]

It isn't real Nathan.

[This is an awkward conversation.]

It'll...

[She's about to say more then a shiver travels down the length of her spine. It feels cool, like tendrils licking out and across her back. Goosebumps cover her arms as her gaze levels at Nathan.]

What are you doing?

[Focused on his task, now, he doesn't look up at her when she comes over, but he's still smiling.]

Gathering energy. It's easier when it already knows what it is. Watch.

[With a bit of will and visualization, the water begins to swirl, carried by the carefree energy of the water as Nathan willed it into twin whirlpools around his hands. Water enjoyed flowing, especially when it already was, and was quick to react to his commands.]

[Airy feels it and the shiver increases before she tries to force the feeling away. It's not completely comfortable but not uncomfortable. She isn't used to it and she hadn't realized she was so connected to her creations.]

That feels weird...

[She admits softly but she's looking at Nathan's smile and she doesn't want it to go away.]

Can you manipulate everything I made like that?

[He looks up to her, still smiling.]

Yeah...I should be able to. They're all...here. [He shakes his head, releasing the water to just be water again, the swirling ceasing and the strange pull on the energy stopping, also.]

I mean...it all has a presence.

[It's nice to see him smile even if this situation is a little strange. Airy exhales soft as he pulls away, feeling her creation settle back into place though it feels a little different now. She can't place it and she can't explain it.

She kneels down next to Nathan until they are at eye level. She looks down at the water and then at the flowers that have sprung up around the creek: daffodils and small white bell flowers scattered around them. After a moment Airy began to think of the rain, and slowly a soft misty drizzle began to fall making the small scene look like a rainforest.]

Ah... sorry.

[She doesn't know if he's bothered by the rain but it's at least slow enough that it isn't much of a bother.]

When you say presence. [She shifts to look at him.] Does that mean you feel what I feel when I create something?

[He shakes his head, his brow knitting slightly in confusion.]

I haven't, no. But it was never anything this big, and I've never been in your practice room before. Maybe I can't feel it if it's small.

[He shrugs, smiling at the rain gently falling.] Can you make the rain stop? I want to try something.

...it might feel weird, again.

[Airy zones out for a moment before shaking her head and regaining focus.]

Ah, yeah.

[She waves her hand though the gesture is pointless. The rain stops leaving a thin mist hovering in the air for a few minutes longer.]

Should I sit down?

[He nods.] If it feels weird, you might want to. [He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes.] And this is going to take a while.

[He waits until he hears her settle, then starts about gathering the energy of the mist her rain left behind. It's cool and languid, happy to have settled into a place of rest to be absorbed into the earth over which it hung. He called to mind the rain he'd so recently felt, the cool pinpoints on his skin, the chill of it in his hair. He showed the energy as he pulled it into himself, how it had been, what it could be again. All it would need to do was form into clouds hanging over their heads, then follow its need for earth.

Thirty minutes passed this way, with him pulling in energy, shaping it, and releasing it again, until clouds gathered close overhead and a gentle, cool rain began to fall. He opened his eyes slowing, his eyelids heavy from the effort of it all, and he leaned back against the rock behind him, smiling.]

[Airy nods and then takes a seat. She's patient however she has no idea how this is going to feel. She watches Nathan letting her eyes wander over his features and comment on them within her thoughts. He's cute, she's thought that since the morning they met but he's grown ruggedly handsome over the last year and she wonders if any girl would be safe from him.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the first pull from Nathan. She feels it and more than that she feels herself flowing inside of him and then shifting as if she IS the energy that he so easily manipulates. She feels her cheeks flush and tries to stop her breath from becoming heavy and disjointed. This is awkward and Airy isn't sure how to feel about it. It's intimate, far more so than anything she's ever felt before.

She feels the same effort he's putting forth and after the half hour he works she really wants to lay down. She turns towards the trees, her eyes then casting upward. The mist feels good against her skin, which feels feverish and warm to the touch.]

What did you do?

[Nathan, himself, wasn't sure what he'd felt when he was molding. It had been different, somehow, but he couldn't place it. Mechanically, everything felt the same, like earth, wind, water, but there was something more...intimate about the energy here. His through were lethargic after the rain began to fall, and he felt like he could nap, even with the cool water falling on him.

He looked over to Airy, brow knitting slightly, at her question.]

The rain you made stuck around as mist. I showed it how to be rain again. [He reached out to her and beckoned. He wasn't really thinking about what he was doing or saying, thoughts weren't coming very easily to him, which happened after he molded something big, but he wanted her to be closer.] Come here.

[His words make perfect sense and yet she's having trouble understanding them. Her mind agrees that the logic is sound but that feeling... she doesn't think it can be explained in words.

At his call she moves, trying to fight the strange sensation that bubbled in her chest. She wishes she could explain to Nathan but she also thinks she might be to embarrassed to do so.]

Are you okay?

[It's all she can think to ask as she moves next to his side. Her head feels a little fuzzy.]

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We Made a Forest

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