cashewlater | for @suffusion

for @suffusion

[ the forest is quiet.

cyno knows these woods like the back of his hand. he knows all of sumeru, has trekked nearly every inch of it - nearly - for he fears no beast, nor the darkness of the unknown. his work takes him all over the land, through the deserts and forests alike, and though he works for no one, he does not hurt for mora, for cyno is the most gifted hunter and tracker in sumeru. no quarry has ever escaped him, and he has never failed to deliver on any job. this job will be no different.

it isn't an easy hunt. not only is this area of the forest unfamiliar to him, but his prey is sharp and smart, with an incredible sense of hearing. cyno's footsteps are all but silent, but the sensitive ears of the witch can detect him even at his most stealthy. it's fine. he's brought in difficult prey before. if stealth could only get him so far, he has other methods, though he must take care - should the rumors prove true, this witch is powerful, tricky, wise, and cyno could easily find himself on the wrong end of his quarry's wrath. but he was ready for a fight, if it came to it, and it would.

for five days he simply watches. listens. the witch hears him, he knows, but cyno is well hidden, and cannot be found. he scales the trees and watches from the branches, stock still, his clothing camouflaged, his pale white hair tied up and rubbed with charcoal to keep it from standing out. for hours he sits, vigilant, watchful, learning the witch's patterns and strengths, behaviors, taking their measure, and even that is not easy, but cyno learns over time that his adversary favors the bow and dendro magicks, that they know the forest well, and make use of all of its parts. in the end, cyno can only hope to overpower them by force and speed alone, striking fast, getting in close before the bow can be drawn on him. it'll have to be enough, with the element of surprise unavailable to him. but he'll use the tools he has.

his eyesight, for example, sharp in the night. his keen sense of smell. his own good hearing, and his powers of observation. his patience.

cyno strikes in the night, when the witch is far from their hut, gathering samples of bioluminescent moss. he's fast as a bolt of lightning, moving comfortably in darkness, taking them from behind and knocking them to the loamy earth, with his spearhead at their throat. ]

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[ in a forest like this, there's an almost echoing groan from the large oversized trees that dot around these lands. as if the very woods themselves are alive. and to someone like tighnari, who lives and breathes in this forest, it is. he can feel the life and energy from the trees from them from a simple touch, the life that surges from the roots below the dirt that provide life to the nature and plants that thrive. it's this life he's grown up to being around, to familiarizing and understanding it all. it is also why he can no sooner tell when something new has made its way into the deep forest. no one dares step through the boundary, the unknown is always too frightening for most people. it's how he's been able to handle such a peaceful life. anything that dares to impend itself into the territory.. they never find anything good. if they aren't chased away by simple means of the witch's own craftings, then they are probably those that are more unfortunate as the forest itself deals with them. it's why he tries to protect the forest. becoming not only its caretaker, but its guardian. face any threats himself before it's too late.

however, this recent threat is different than most. always hiding in the shadows, silent and stalking during his daily patrols. it leaves him uneasy, glancing to and fro now and then from under the guise of his hood that hides his features from view. even as his ears twitch to the sounds of the quietest snap that most would not hear. not unless they had as good of hearing as tighnari does. however, no matter how good his hearing is, it does not give him the information he needs to know who it is that treks this deep forest foolishly. and yet, the foolish one ends up being tighnari himself. his patrol takes him a bit too far from his hut, too late into the day that night blankets over deep forest in almost complete darkness. he supposes he may have thought the darkness would be enough to cover him, his sight sharp and familiarity of the forest guiding his way that he could do even with his eyes closed.

so when he's caught off guard, the snap of extended branches is the only warning he gets when a weight slams into him and sends them into a tumble onto the earthly grounds. his vision is dazed as his head hits the ground, trying to twist and turn to try and grab anything but no sooner finds the spear to his throat. the tumble ends with his hood falling back and now finally exposes his own appearance out in the open. tighnari faces the man above him with a sharp look in bright eyes, because despite the situation he won't face his likely death with fear and submission. that's not the kind of person he is. ]

Finally decided to show yourself, have you? [ his words are spoken with a chilling coldness to them, keeping his expression tight and calm now. which is probably strange considering the situation, after all it will take only the smallest notion for that spear to end his life. leaving the thought that just maybe the witch knows something, and in a sense.. he does. unfortunately, his bow has fallen and slid away in that tackle that reaching for it would do nothing for him given the distance. so for now tighnari makes no other movements]

[ cyno's heart is pounding. he is not afraid, but there is certainly a rush of excitement at the sheer danger of this job, for he is quite sure he's never taken on a task like this. this witch is powerful, cunning, resourceful, and -

- and beautiful.

for a moment, cyno says nothing, does nothing; all he can do is stare into those remarkable eyes, for the love of the gods unable to look away, or shake the strange yet fleeting notion that this is somehow familiar. an eerie feeling, to be sure, and one he has never felt before. this witch is no twisted, evil monster as the stories have said, as the townspeople swear by, no, cyno sees only someone not so different from himself, a young man with life in his eyes and fire in his spirit. he's hesitating. cyno knows full well that he should run the witch through without another thought. he is a huntsman, this is what he does, the orders he has been given, but there is something thick in the air between them that gives him pause.

his polearm does not move. with its sharp edge pressed to his prey's throat, cyno circles around toward the bow strewn on the ground and, miraculously, he kicks it toward the witch's hand. ]

Fight for your life. Show me you deserve to live.

[ that wary, observant gaze in scarlet red likely would freeze anyone in their place with his threatening presence. even though tighnari stays strong in the face of it. this is not a man he knows, or even remotely familiar with. tighnari has never seen him before, so... why is there a feeling of familiarity? something that buzzes ever so faintly as if to be something he's known all his life. ...it's a play on the mind. it's all he can chalk up that feeling to be. which makes it stranger still, it isn't as though he feels any magicks from his senses. nothing beside what feels like the stalking sensation of electricity. one hand stays where it's resting on the earth beneath him, fingers curling a little into the dirt but everything else about him is completely still. as soon as he sees that hesitation, it's clearer to him. someone did likely send him here because of tighnari's presence, which makes a thought echo in his head- who? someone that likely found him a threat.

he holds back a tsk, trying not to get too distracted by the huntsman standing over him. he can't really allow him to when his life is on the line. and yet, while the other man has him where he wants, tighnari finds his bow sliding his way as its kicked closer to him. the increduous look shows on his face when he glances to it and then to the man before he just... smiles. as though finding the situation amusing. ] It seems despite all your hunting, you have failed to grasp one thing...

[ there's a creak of wood that can surely be heard now from behind cyno, his hands that rest on the ground giving the slightest of glows of green light. ] My bow is just another way to defend myself.

[ that's precisely when vines strike at the huntsman's legs, wrapping around like the sudden coil of snakes, before the vines make the notion of yanking the man completely back and attempt to dangle up in the air. tighnari doesn't wait to see if the man's reactions are quick enough to swiftly rid the vines, he's already moving to take his bow in the hand. even without his opponent so kindly allowing his weapon back he already had plans to get it back himself with the use of dendro. for now, what he needs is distance and cover-- so he aims for the trees, upclose in melee range with highly favor the huntsman so there's no way he's giving that to him so easily. so much for a peaceful relaxing night! ]

Who gives you the right to judge who gets to live and die?!

[ unfortunately for tighnari's surprise attack, cyno is already well aware of his abilities, has stalked and watched him long enough to know that the witch is capable of manipulating the dendro element. thankfully cyno, too, has tricks of his own, including command of electricity, among other, more powerful things. things he won't resort to unless he must.

.. and, it would seem, he must. in some ways.

this fox is more powerful than anticipated, though cyno is always sure to never underestimate his marks, especially when they are being hunted. he's encountered people of incredible ability before, and will encounter them again, in the future; resourceful and powerful, cyno will make it through this. cutting himself away from the vines is a simple matter, a single crack of lightning is enough to burn them all through, but of course, he sacrifices some of his secrecy in so doing - the witch will now know that he can channel electricity. but it's worth it, to not spend so long disentangling himself that he loses the fox amidst the trees. as for his question.. cyno gives no answer.

yet the chase is exhilarating. the witch puts up quite a fight, enough to get cyno's blood roaring in his ears, enough to keep him on his toes, yet he battles like an absolute demon, relentless and ruthless. his movement and strikes are lightning quick, and he gives no quarter in his attacks, though he has yet to reveal his true power, the spirit of hermanubis that lurks in his bones. few have ever driven him to that point. still, the traps, snares, and diversions laid by the fox are cunning and problematic, and by the time cyno finally has him cornered in a cave he is panting hard. ]

Do you yield?

[ it's proving this situation to be more troublesome than it's worth. to see vines and branches both obliterated under the harsh conduct of electricity that bends and strikes under the huntsman's control. normally the clash of the two elements meeting in an aggravated state would be interesting to see. though this not the time and place for that- not to mention what's more unfortunate is that tighnari can't do much out here in the open. not as prepared as he could have been. and yet really, who would be foolish enough to dwell this deep in the forest? even so, he doesn't aim to kill his attacker. his dendro magicks for the most part focusing on restraining the man, trying to constrict him in place long enough to try and guarantee his own escape. and yet it's someone he can tell has nothing but experience. he is not dealing with some man just trying to make off with a quick prize.

his breath comes out just as harshly when the path ends here, steps faltering a little as his decreasing state of stamina makes itself known. strangely enough, tighnari doesn't look too worried to be cornered in this cave, certainly it means he has no easy escape and there's little room to move about... his hand slips into the pouch bag wrapped around his own waist. he hasn't revealed all of his own secrets entirely as well. finding his hand gripping onto the vijnana stormheart kept in his bag, a little handy creation of his own. ]

I haven't given up just yet.

[ as tighnari has proven up until now-- he's cunning, intelligent, he makes use of every piece of nature the forest offers to him. a hand raises and no sooner tosses a small round object quickly in the air almost directly at the huntsman before he can allow even another step in his own direction. swiftly, he drops to a knee just as he pulls back his bow and sends an arrow in quick succession. however, tighnari does not aim his weapon at the other, rather the arrow pieces the object and embeds itself into the cavern ceiling above when it cuts right on through. the object shatters as it's pierced and a green mist explodes into the air and fills the cavern with ease and spread. with the witch's own knowledge, being exposed to it will have hallucinations kicking in in a matter of seconds and it's all tighnari can rely on last for his defenses. fortunately, it won't have any actual long-lasting effects... but that is something only he can be aware of given it is his own creation. it's precisely why a crafty witch like himself can play that in his favor. ]

Do you yield? Strike me down here and you will no sooner meet your own end not long after.

[ it's a lie, the exposure of the vijnana-khanda field won't kill the huntsman, but his own expression remains hard and unmoving. it's all he really has left to try and secure his own life as every part of him continues to fight back to live. ]

[ cyno's body is on fire, his blood singing in his veins; it's been some time since someone made him break a sweat, and the thrill of their chase has him exhilarated. but it's coming to a close, soon enough. there is nowhere else for the witch to go.

but cyno's eyes dart downward as his prey reaches for his satchel - there is no time to react. a cloud of glittering green dust explodes into the air in great puffs, immediately filling his nose and eyes and ears - cyno buries his face against the inside crook of his elbow to spare himself the worst of it, but it's already too late. visions dance before his eyes, the image of the fox splitting, dividing again, and cyno cannot tell which is which, which is the true witch -

hallucinations. clever. very clever. and quite horrific. cyno sees not only his prey, but the faces of a hundred different criminals, bloodied and broken, reaching out in vengeance, in fury - he clutches at his hair, hissing. he cannot lose this now. the scent of ozone fills the air, and in a great white flash he's shifting, violet ribbons dancing down his body, their gold runes flashing in the night as his claws manifest, great, enormous paws with hooked daggers that crackle with electricity.

cyno surges forward. he cannot know which of the copies he sees is the real witch, so he uses broad strokes to swipe at them all, until he feels his large palms strike a solid form. he seizes the man with the captivating eyes in both enormous hands, pinning him hard back against the stone wall of the cave. the witch has threatened him.. but cyno has no choice but to call his bluff, to hope that he lies. his prey has had ample opportunity to harm him, yet he hasn't. why now? animals will resort to all manner of wild things when they are cornered..

his grasp tightens, sharp teeth bared. he could end this now. sink his claws and teeth in deep until the blood flows, but.. he hesitates, yet again, as he had in the grove before. misgiving settles into his heart. ]

.. have you hurt these people?

[ to see the hallucinations take effect by observing the huntsman's posture, there's first a blip of hope that this is working just as he had planned. good, maybe now he has a better chance of actually getting out of it. while the man is dazed and looking around, tighnari takes careful steps to try and circle back to the cave's entrance. except, he didn't expect the hunter to react the way that he does next. a chill runs down his spine right when it happens, the feel of his fur standing near on end as it always has whenever the beginning loom of thunder begins to make itself known in the air. he starts a bit at the sudden flash before colors dance around the other man's form and suddenly a dark dread fills him.

eyes widen as though those dagger-sharp claws reach out with slicing strikes in random directions at first, he knows now is when he really needs to move. he tries to slide off quickly but suddenly those large claws swipe right in front of him before turning and colliding right into his body. tighnari yelps as both hands take hold in a vice grip around him that entraps his figure against the cavern in a blink of an eye.

a breath cuts short, struggling to try and squeeze an arm out that quickly proves pointless. the tight hold having his bow slipping from his grasp as it clatters noisily to the floor below. with being this deep in the cave, he won't be able to make much use of his dendro magicks here either. his heart hammers loudly in his chest but he stares forward, trying to shake off that fear that churns deep inside of him. for once, he's actually afraid. death is staring at him in the face and he feels suddenly helpless to stop it. though, the words send a look of brief confusion, before he snaps back like the cornered prey he's become. ]

What people? I haven't hurt anyone-! [ tighnari starts to twist his body a little, but a spike of pain jolts through him when he tries to pull his arm free. the motions stop short as tighnari's eyes give an almost bright green glow, to which suddenly it's as if he's looking through the other man - looking somewhere else. ears fold back against dark hair, his voice breathless but he continues. ] People enter this forest to do as they please without knowing.. the danger of it, without so much as even a bit of care to the nature that thrives here. Any harm done to anyone is their own doing after not heeding my warnings.

[ cyno listens carefully and quietly, his heart slamming in his chest, his body still save for the squeeze of his large, curved claws around the witch's delicate ribcage.

never once has cyno failed to find his mark before, but he chooses his jobs very carefully, weighing the hearts of those he pursues against the feather of his own soul. with hermanubis guiding him, cyno is assured of the guilt of those he's hunted. but this.. there's a whisper in the back of his mind that urges him to let this one go. cyno bears a great capacity for finding the truths in the words of others, and this witch - this witch's heart weighs light on the scales.

his grasp loosens very slightly.

in his mind, cyno replays the voices of the people. the fear in their tones had not been false, but.. people tend to draw away from things they do not understand, fearing the strange and the unknown. cyno's fierce scarlet eyes bore into the witch's face, provocative and sharp, before at last his grasp loosens further.

the claws and luminescent ribbons evaporate in an instant, and cyno is a man again. the pain of using hermanubis's power wracks him, kicking the breath from his lungs, and cyno falls to one knee, his ears laid back against his hair. ]

I sense the truth in your words. You.. you may go.

[ there's no hiding the wince as those claws squeeze around, feeling his breath stagger and his nerves continue to burn hotly as if on fire. he knows he should say more - speak of the actual consequences of those that roam here bring with them, the way it affects the land... but he doesn't. tighnari cannot bring himself to trust him, to trust the huntsman would even come to understand or try to.

which could be his doom, but he's fought back enough, gaze never losing that sharp brightness to not look away from his adversary. however, he notices the way the grasp loosens even just a fraction. it could just be a false feeling of hope but...

then it's gone and his legs stay strong enough to keep himself standing even if it comes with a brief stagger. there's a confused light in his eyes, brows knitting together with disbelief because he's... letting him go? he gathers his bow again, careful in his motions, refusing to take his eyes off the other man's form. ]

...You do not even know the whole story. I could be playing a trick on you and simply kill you here.

[ and yet.. there's a hint of curiosity that the witch does not hide. the power the huntsman showed - who exactly was he? more importantly, why was tighnari still here? he could have taken his escape the moment that grasp was gone, hurry back without sparing another glance. but deep down, a part of him doesn't want to leave. it must chalk up to how incredulous he feels that this man would hunt him down as if his own life depended on it only to just let him go in the end. yes, that must be it. to try and wrap his mind over the logic of it. ]

You aren't.

[ cyno cannot say for sure how he knows it to be true, but he simply.. knows. he always has. hermanubis's influence grants him this ability, the knowledge of what is right and what is wrong, what is lie and what is truth. it has always been this way, for as long as he can remember, and it is why he is so careful about the jobs that he takes.

but cyno is not too proud to admit when he is wrong, when he has misstepped. the fear of the people had been true, and that is what had guided him, but now that he has laid eyes on this witch he senses no evil in his heart, nor malice in his words. if he is playing a trick and plans to kill him here, well - he's had plenty of chances to harm cyno throughout this pursuit, yet he had not taken them. why would he change his tune now, when the huntsman has let him go? catching his breath, cyno clutches one hand over his chest, his eyes lifting to the witch's face. ]

Have I hurt you?

...

[ silence fills the air at that reply, a single ear giving a twitch and he continues observing the other man. his history is unknown to tighnari so he cannot tell what drives that certainty. fingers grip at his bow a bit tighter until he huffs lightly and reaches to set it back in place at his own back. any fight in him has bled almost entirely out by now. and as if the man can get any stranger, he inquires about any injuries. that incredulous look shows once more - as if the man is a puzzle he cannot seem to be capable of solving. ]

You were relentless in your attempt to kill me. [ his words are incredibly blunt, a straight-forwardness to its edge. but a hand raises to rub at his own brow, sighing softly and finally shakes his head. ] I'll live.

[ any injuries he's sustained he can manage properly soon enough. however, his appearance on the other hand... he approaches close to other while he digs a bit into his satchel, and once he finds what he's looking for he removes a small vial filled with a colorful teal liquid gleaming inside. ] Here, drink this. It'll remove any leftover effects you're likely still suffering from. ..It of course is going to wear off naturally anyway [ so yes, he was definitely bluffing earlier about that miasma ] but this will help with that and give you some of your strength back as well.

[ his own bones feel weary and ache from his overexertion of his own magicks but the huntsman looks to be in a worse state. not even a moment later does his other hand extend out to offer him some support as well. ] Are you able to move?

[ cyno fully realizes just how absurd it might seem that he's worried he'd harmed the witch, considering he spent the last five days stalking him, and the last thirty minutes ruthlessly hunting him down.

but he hadn't known, then. hadn't looked into those strange eyes that haunt his spirit, hadn't heard the truth in his words. cyno trusts his intuition completely and absolutely, and he allows it to lead him, always. it's rare that he ever leaves a job incomplete, but he is not too proud to walk away if he deems his quarry innocent. tighnari is not the first that he has released, but it is a rare occurrence.

still, he doesn't quite expect it when the witch approaches him, and offers a vial of medicine. cyno's scarlet eyes lift, his brow furrowing, studying his erstwhile quarry's face for a moment, mildly baffled. so, they're both of them quite strange, aren't they?

he takes the vial, uncorks it with his thumb, and tips it back. ]

Thank you. [ he says, and hands the glass back. ] .. my name is Cyno.

[ at the very least, he deserves the name of the one who's haunted his steps. ]

[ the fox may find it a bit amusing when he thinks back on this moment later, really. instead he just observes him further and actually takes that moment to do so in full now that he's able to without that threat hanging over his head. those scarlet red eyes are as striking as they have ever been, but there isn't that earlier haunting intent that glowed in the depths of them. he takes in the white hair that stands out considerably compared to all the green and darker colors around this forest and more so against his more tanned skin. it would be a lie to say he's even more curious when he sees those curved and furred ears atop that head as well.

the sweep of his own gaze meets red once more and his own ears flicker until he's drawn quickly to his actions before finding the man- cyno takes the offer. the witch may as well have allowed the effects to do as it pleases after the risk of his life but unfortunately he himself isn't completely ruthless. not when a curiosity burns so deeply inside him. ]

...Tighnari. [ it is even stranger yet to introduce himself. how long has it been since he shared his own name to another? for a long time since... he shakes off that distant memory, biting his tongue a little as if to scold himself for having done so freely but what's done is done. ]

Let me take you back to my hut. [ with the empty vial set away, he helps the huntsman up and even offers his shoulder as well while the medicine works itself. ] Obviously I don't really have the extensive experience of treating others so, I want to ensure you don't have any negative reactions.

[ tighnari prides in his own ability, the capabilities of his skill and talent but. he's not a fool to believe it to be perfect. quietly, his gaze flickers out the cave to take in the light of the day and knows there's been enough time wasted and prepares to already move. obviously tighnari is not taking no as an answer here. ] Come on.

[ tighnari.. it's a nice name, he thinks. it seems to suit the face it goes with. cyno will remember it. ]

But, I -

[ he doesn't need the help, he wants to say, most especially from the man he just assailed, but his reckless use of hermanubis's power has left him drained and in pain. he can, and has, endured far worse in his life, but that doesn't mean he should not accept help when he needs it. left alone here, should anything dangerous come across him, he may not be able to easily defend himself. that could be a hassle.

besides, it certainly seems as if tighnari will not take no for an answer, and cyno is too exhausted to argue.

together they travel away from the cave and beneath the boughs of the ancient trees, the forest alive around them, thick with the noise of birds and insects, and beneath his bare feet the ground is loamy and soft, yielding with every step. there's something different about this area of the forest, something very old, and secretive, but not dangerous.. like curious eyes that follow his every move. leaning heavily against tighnari, he focuses on staying on his feet. ]

.. more will come, to attempt to finish the job.

[ It's easy to lose himself to the feel of the forest around them as they trek through. though they made a lot of distance in that frenzied chase, he knows exactly how to quickly get back to the hut he has come to call home. it will be a bit longer but as he looks around - there is that almost childish sensation of curiosity that he can feel, nothing hostile or malice as they move. tighnari's expression softens a little as he gets distracted by it until cyno pipes up beside him. ]

Hmm.. Well, you haven't been the first - [ most certainly the only one that got this close to finishing it, his supportive hold subconsciously tightening at his own words. ] So I assumed as much, that you would not be the last. I'll manage.

[ more like he has to manage. he cannot abandon the forest, he is all it has... and unfortunately if someone else were to get as close to doing it as Cyno has, he knows the chances of them letting him go as well is extremely unlikely. fate may have smiled down at him today but that does not account for any time to come in the future.

it's a problem. his ears pin back, lips frowning deeply. the path they continue on seems to grow narrower, almost hidden completely until they push through a cover of leaves. up ahead it seems to clear again, an even more distant shape of an almost camouflaged building of wood and leaves. what really stands out is the impossible hard to miss is a ball of whispy light. a blended color of bright pink and lime green that dances curiously towards them. ]

Edited (smacks my mobile) 2023-09-15 21:29 (UTC)

[ cyno, at least, knows of no other hunters as good as he is. that is not to pat himself on the back, but it's simple fact; he knows what he's good at, and what he isn't. hunting and fighting are his life. what this means is that tighnari is in less danger than he had been when it was cyno who was stalking him, and he thinks that this witch will be prepared enough to handle anyone else who comes along, but..

well. he supposes he shouldn't think on it too much. tighnari's life isn't any of his business, though it would be a shame, he thinks, for him to be killed for foolish reasons, for being misunderstood. cyno knows what it's like, to be feared for what you are. for now, though, he says nothing.

together they move through the trees, and into a warm, cozy little clearing. an old wooden building is nestled between tall trees, blanketed in moss and leaves, and he can see the evidence of tighnari's life here in little bits and pieces. a small, dead campfire, herbs and flowers that appear to have been cultivated, a pile of firewood. this must be his home, hidden back in this comfortable nook.

cyno opens his mouth to speak again, when suddenly they are approached by that ball of.. energy? he tenses immediately, but senses no malice from this strange little thing; he can only look sidelong toward tighnari, curious. ]

[ it's just a lil guy...

tighnari brightens as if seeing an old friend, ears perking forward to his earlier alertness yet softer now in comparison. though he can feel that tenseness from cyno and glances to the side before his free hand extends out to the whisp. a pitched noise emits from it in response, before it practically zooms over to bump against tighnari's hand in greeting. but it starts to drift ever closer to cyno with obvious curiosity not even a moment after. ]

It's harmless, don't worry. [ however, tighnari moves his hand again slightly to intercept it, gingerly guiding it away before it can breach cyno's personal space. anyone not familiar with them would be wary enough. and while he doesn't think cyno may lash out at it- he also can't be sure what the huntsman would do. ]

They're a Seelie, quite a few of them can be found around these woods. This one in particular helps take care of the forest with me. [ it gives a gentle sway side to side until it circles around. tighnari doesn't allow them to linger too much in place, already moving towards the building as the seelie follows after them. ] I'd certainly have a much harder time finding any sources of decay without it.

[ a seelie.. ah, he recognizes it now, though this one is of a peculiar color. he's seen them slipping through the trees while he stalked tighnari down, though most of them had been a soft, pale blue, and he had observed them only from a distance. ]

The townspeople think they're lost spirits, guiding the living to their death.

[ he says, offhandedly, the tension in his body yielding as tighnari guides the little sprite away. cyno is unbothered, the creature is no threat, though he can't help but feel curious about their true nature. perhaps tighnari knows. they're moving toward the building now, however, and cyno knows he should feel uneasy, stepping into the unfamiliar home of someone who had just been his enemy, but.. something deep in his gut urges him to trust tighnari. cyno's intuition is never wrong. ]

Decay? I assume you mean those dead zones?

Do they? ...I suppose with their appearance the way that it is. But it isn't nearly as anything dark as that.

[ tighnari tilts his head with thought, until they stop before the door as the seelie slips in through a crack of the nearest window. his hand reaches to push it open and the sight is.. well, at first? complete darkness. it's difficult to make anything out inside. though his hand moves to slide onto the wall right inside the doorway and with a flick of green does light blossom indoors and bathes inside with a clear view.

it's a bit of a cozy setting - various floral and plants lining the walls and edges of the hut. any shelves lining the walls hold even more plants, some familiar in the sense they can have been spotted through the forest. and of course there are some more unknown in nature. the seelie has made its way a bit more deeper inside, hovering over a chimney where a large pot is simmering quietly under some low heat and a couch close by it. looking at it entirely, the room looks like a combination of both a living room and a greenhouse. there are two separate closed doors in the far end of the room but tighnari directs them to the corner here. ]

That's right. [ now and then does a zone crop up somewhere throughout the forest, and since cyno had been following him.. he has surely spotted one or two. they are as haunting up close as they surely look from far away- withering plants, ana rea where decay festers and strikes at anything that gets too close. ] Earlier you asked if I had hurt people, and I told you that whatever happened was their own doing. I was referring to that. Without protection, anyone who gets too close is perfect prey to the decay. Many idiots have come to search for treasure, for something to make profit of, to take from the forest.. only to stumble blindly into these zones and get sick from it.

[ which is exactly why tighnari does his best to first ward fools like them away before it gets too serious. especially since he's aware no one has good intentions. all this work and care he does to take of these woods with his magicks... only for it to be overturned by a couple of fools skipping right in. which.. makes him assume that because of that, they possibly assume tighnari was connected to their misfortune. his tail lashes behind him but focuses on leading cyno to a nearby chair. the table beside it is cluttered with various papers all lined and decorated with drawings of floral with deep botany knowledge to go with them. after a gesture to sit down, he turns to rummage through the drawers a bit as various vials of different colors can be seen like a collection of sorts. tighnari mumbles under his breath as he searches, "perhaps this?" and "or this one..." being heard. ]

[ they move into the building, and it's dimly lit enough that cyno has a difficult time seeing until his vision adjusts, and the seelie slips in through the window beside them, lighting up the area.

it's a very comfortable little space, certainly not looking like any wicked witch's lair, but that hardly means anything. cyno has hunted down vicious criminals who seemed like gentle folk in the past. though of course he knows tighnari is innocent, so it hardly matters, but this is an interesting, comfortable space, crowded with plants and jars of herbs and medicines, books and scrolls - there are hundreds of little things to look at, interesting bottles and shapes.. nevertheless, tighnari is soon explaining the decay, and cyno listens closely. ]

I see..

[ that sounds reasonable enough, and is certainly in line with his knowledge of the people. they're frightened of what they do not understand, and those dead zones had felt dangerous, even from a distance. that people would wander blindly into them is not surprising, nor that they would be quick to blame it all on the strange hermit living deep beneath the boughs.

tighnari leads him to a chair, and cyno sits with a heavy sigh; getting the weight off of his feet helps. hermanubis's power still needles its way painfully into his bones, but it's slowly beginning to ebb; he's quite used to this particular brand of pain, anyway. ]

.. you have no obligation to help me.

[ does he truly see? tighnari is severely tempted to ask. if the man truly knows what kind of effect wandering greedy idiots have on these woods. for a special forest that lives and breathes as much as they both do. however, he bites back the remark, knowing better than to take it out on the middleman sent to simply get the job done. not that it doesn't show from his own body language - the frustrated lashing of his tail, ears pinned back into his dark hair. but he focuses on his tasks and only falters at the words. ]

I don't. Especially since you tried to kill me. [ a bit of a jab but, at least it isn't nearly as hostile as their first scramble. he glances over, taking in his appearance and while cyno does an incredibly good job of looking mostly unaffected... he's sure it's not entirely the case. he does the same himself after all. ] But I've made the decision to, and so I will.

[ ah, there. fingers curl around a vial with a glittering green, though his hand shakes for a split second. he hides it cleanly from view and actually drinks the liquid himself. a sigh leaves him and he stands a bit straighter, as if having a second wind of strength. the seelie drifts closer when he does until it turns to drift to where cyno is seated with as it circles above. ]

Alright, let me examine you. [ tighnari spares him a quick look in his eyes, as if to say don't fight me on this. only then does he come to carefully rest his palm against the center of cyno's chest and a close of his eyes, focusing... listening. ] It doesn't seem to be effects from my own...

[ his head tilts as he considers when-- ] That power from earlier-- what was that? [ ..hm. ] You don't need to go into detail if you want to keep your secrets, I'm more interested to know if it's done something to you. To help me better understand so I know how I can help you.

[ this witch is certainly full of.. energy, isn't he? piss and vinegar, his adoptive father used to call that sort of sharp sass. cyno doesn't seem to mind; it's not as if tighnari is wrong - he very much did attempt to kill him, and that tighnari is helping him at all speaks to his compassion as a person. so he hardly bats an eyelash at that sharp tone, instead he looks almost.. amused, though it's difficult to say, cyno's expressions are very muted, his entire demeanor stony and cool.

his tone of voice, however, is gentle. ]

All right.

[ it's rare that cyno trusts so easily. were this anyone else, he might have tried to refuse, tried to pull away, unwilling to allow himself to be touched. how different this is.. how strange. tighnari's warm palm comes to rest against his chest, and cyno feels himself beginning to relax, despite the strange tickle he feels as tighnari plumbs the depth of his energies. should tighnari have the ability to sense the spirit, surely he will feel the strangeness of cyno's own - as if there is not only one soul, but two. ]

Hermanubis. A power I inherited as a child. Its use takes its toll. [ though perhaps that is not clear enough. ] He's a spirit that dwells beside my own.

[ admittedly the gentle reply and easy submission to tighnari's help does take him aback. if tighnari wasn't too focused on the examination, he might have looked more closely in a different way. it's enough that his tail lowers and his mood cools a bit from its earlier wind-up. which also helps in his own favor. with something like this, he should clear his mind.

a warmth spread from his hand, gentle and almost ticklish, and he is no stranger to finding more than there is to be seen. his magicks have always been special in that way - especially with the forest's extended aid. tighnari continues to examine the state of those energies, for any discrepancies. some bewilderment shows on his face when he feels the strength behind it. which quite frankly isn't too surprising when he saw it on display in their encounter in the cave. however, there is more to it that catches him off guard. he blinks to him, taking in the explanation. ]

A spirit? [ there's a moment of silence, a look of concentration showing as he thinks it over.] The toll-- is it just physical?

[ ... ] It doesn't affect your life force, does it? To share host to another spirit, that...

[ he looks distracted for a moment. this huntsman is still a stranger to him but... of all the things that could have come up, how is it this that he finds some familiarity in. another spirit... though, this could spell quite dangerous if it is anything like... at that moment, the seelie coos softly to cyno and distracts his own wandering thoughts. ]

I can make something to help replenish your energies if it's only that. I should have everything I need here. But if it's more than just that...

[ the seelie's presence is soothing, however strange the little creature might be to cyno. he spends a good deal of time in sumeru's forests, but most of his life was lived in her deserts, as his sun-kissed, sand roughened body can attest to. his clothing, as well, is that of the desert folk. creatures like this seelie exist there as well, lingering in caves and underground holes, though he's still never seen one quite like this one.

at tighnari's question, cyno frowns. ]

To be perfectly honest, I don't know.

[ cyno and hermanubis have been one for as long as he can remember. he was suffused with this power at a very young age, and those who placed its burden on his shoulders are long dead and gone, unable to be asked. he does not even know why he was given this strength, for what purpose, he only knows what hermanubis has whispered to him in the darkness. ]

I only know that using it comes with pain and fatigue, but it's nothing I'm not used to.

[ after all, in his youth, it was far worse. that's in the past, now, but cyno's pain tolerance is still quite high. with one hand, he reaches toward the seelie, palm out, allowing it to draw nearer if it chooses to. ]

Hmmm.. Did no one explain to you the risks, warnings- or anything? Not even those you grew up with when you inherited said power?

[ it's strange, that thought shows on the fox's face as he regards him again. the life and dwellings of areas outside these woods are completely unknown to him. he hears talks of townsfolk, of distant tribes, but not once has he stepped outside the boundaries of this forest. never once thought to do so. however, he feels as if something was given to him, wouldn't it be expected to at least give something?

after a moment tighnari pulls back with a contemplating hum. pain and fatigue... tighnari is interested enough that he'd like to do a bit more extensive research but, it isn't as if cyno is asking something like that from him. as much as he wants to look into it further.. he pushes the thought away and moves around to inspect his desk for other materials. ]

Just because you're used to it doesn't mean you should be. [ finding his movements a bit constricted, his hand comes up to unclasp his own outer darker robes, hanging it nearby to reveal his clothes underneath are a lot more colorful in comparison to his robes. he starts gathering a mortar, plucking at various pieces of floral pieces and plants along with some spices to get his work started. ] I'll have something ready for you in a moment.

[ the seelie dances for a moment away from that outreached hand, almost as if shy, before circling around that hand once in a loop and then gingerly settling the more curved light of its body onto his palm. immediately cyno will be able to feel a soothing warmth that eats away some of that fatigue, a gentle wash of comfort flowing into him. ]

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