#somethingold

The sky was coated with an ashen hue. Soft pillows of clouds started to form. Blocking parts of the golden sun. The puzzle-pieced clouds left the earth with a big shadow. Once the clouds covered the sun it seemed like the shadow had swallowed the earth. A storm was heading this way.

It was dark outside, and the wind whispered something to the trees. Whatever they said had made the trees dance. Each leaf swings from side to side. Some leaves stayed on the branch held by a bond. Wanting to stay secured by a bigger object.  Some of the bonds were broken, and the leaves fell trying to be free. Not wondering where they were going to land, but where they were going to go.

Moisture filled the air. The temperature fluctuates from warm to chilly. The earth not yet making up its mind. The earthy smell arose from the ground. Pitter-patter, Pitter-patter, the beat of the raindrops is growing. The storm is like a song, and the beginning is just the melody. Then the rain is the lyrics that make and complete the song.  

Each drop of rain caresses my window. The image that is created looks distorted and broken. A falsely accused reality. A flash of white, blue, and purple came across my window. It seemed like somebody had just taken a photo.  A slow rumble followed the flash. Like a bowling ball rolling through the slick floor.

     Now that the pair were alone on their asteroid prison, Tara’lena pulled Karrista to a boulder and pushed her down.  “I do not think we have much time.”  The Darkfallen spoke in her melodic Thalassian, her fangs giving her voice a sultry rasp.

     Karrista glanced around as she settled with a surprised sound, into a seating position.  “Blood magic, no Fel.  Lets get to work.”  She looked up to Tara’lena, the hints of fear and guilt on her face replaced with determined focus.

     Tara'lena brought her wrist to her mouth and bit into it.  Tearing the flesh, she let her blood well up, displaying it to the seated Karrista before her.  "You know the basics, but you have twisted and corrupted them with your fel powers.  You need to learn how to use blood alone to do what you need."  Tara'lena stepped forward and held her wrist before Karrista's face.  "Drink."

    Karrista's eyes dropped from Tara'lena's face, to the wrist.  The bite had already healed, but the pooled blood remained.  She leaned forward and lapped up the offered blood quickly.  She looked back to Tara'lena, waiting for the next step.

    "Blood, like Chaos, is neither good, nor evil. It simply is.  It provides nourishment, oxygen, life itself to an organism, and that is where its power lies."  Tara'lena captured Karrista's gaze with her own. "Blood gives life, and takes it away, and to control it is to control life and death without malice or beneficence."

    Tara'lena continued.  "Without a target to practice on, I want you to envision and imagine.  Prepare yourself to wield your magic without drawing upon your fel taint.  Inflict an agonizing curse by withholding blood to one's muscles, without oxygen, they starve and burn.  Imagine the pain of a hard workout, only amplified."

    Karrista nodded to her mate and looked down to her hands.  She flexed her fingers in casting gestures, experimenting with her magic, and focusing on the sources she drew upon.  She didn't respond, but still listened, following Tara'lena's directions.

    "Blood can also corrupt without tainting it, if it is unable to carry the necessities of life, it will only bring death, without the toxic influence of Fel.  You can boil and burn it within their body, making it unstable.  As for restoring yourself, their blood can do that.  Do not siphon off their life, drain their blood, you will not need to twist it with fel energy, and you can simply let the blood provide life.  Do you understand?"  Tara'lena's eyes narrowed and she looked up to the starry nether above them.  "I will be at your side to help you, do not be afraid of failing, it is how we learn."

    Karrista took in a deep breath and closed her fists as if she could grab onto the knowledge and hold onto it.  "Yes, I think I understand."  She looked up as well, sensing the same thing.  She stood up from her spot on the boulder and turned to back against Tara'lena.  "He's on his way."  Her words were more a statement than a question.

    Tara'lena's eyes locked on the humanoid figure in the distance, rapidly growing in shape.  "And he has company with him."