It’s nearly complete! Just a few wrinkles to draw in Wisdom’s Ambassador’s clothing and make it shine like gold!
So the craziness behind this piece is Wisdom attempting to use illusion to change Nina’s hair a different color.
I roughed this one out just to get it written, but there’s much I need to go back and edit…
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The two harpies semi-spread their wings to create a barrier around the Healer. While the rest looked on, the ground gently responded. Thin ribbons of grassy stems rose to greet her fingertips. At their touch she tensed as though the burden of connecting stung her skin. Slowly, she relaxed to allow each of her fingers to rest along the green stems. Eyes partially opened, their once garnet orbs aglow with Nature’s energy flowing through her.
“Do you suppose if we broke her concentration, that her mind would be left trapped elsewhere?” Shafari whispered, receiving a sharp look from Thomas Gracie to be silent.
A coy smile played over the Healer’s lips before contorting to one of concentration. The plants soon retracted back into the earth. With eyes closed, she stood a moment more, then let out a sigh. Garnet eyes reflected the companions’ worried looks, and she made a gesture for the Wings to yield their guardianship over her. The two harpies then stepped aside for the Healer to approach the humans.
“Breaking my concentration, Mage, would not be the end of me, if that’s what you meant.” Sarra flashed Shafari an alluring grin. “As it is, you owe me your life.” Her expression then soured. “But I’m afraid your friends are as good as dead. One has already been taken by a Black Wing. The rest are heading into its territory. They will, no doubt, find his remains, and become it themselves.”
“Then they have to be stopped!” Anger rose in Thomas Gracie’s voice. “Is there no way for you to control the ground to block their path?”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.” Sarra averted her gaze. “As it is, I’ve already used up much energy to do this for you.” She motioned to the ground.
Nathan crossed his arms. “Well, ain’t this a pretty situation. Here we are, safe and sound, while the rest of us about to descend into hell! And you knew they were alone to begin with? Why didn’t you use that energy to connect with another of your kind to go to them?”
“Because I already used that ability earlier.”
“So they’re dead, then.” Roland shook his head. “We can do nothing.”
“I wouldn’t exactly say that.” A single word was expressed to the two Wings before a soft glow enveloped her form. Before anyone could move, a hawk took off in the direction of their companions.
Rusha raised his head feathers while exchanging conversation in their language. Finally, he turned to the men.
“She will try to reach them.”
“Pray that she does.” Shafari watched the bird disappear over the trees. “Or I’ll be plunging into their clearing with fire!”
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What have these two gotten themselves into…
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The sudden appearance of two humans emerging from the brush merely turned heads from the group of White Wings. Their once shrill whistles and chirps instantly silenced. Feathers raised around their heads to better tune in sound. They listened and watched as the humans came closer. They were still a ways off when one of them tossed a glowing object their way. A center harpy stood and pursed his lips for a single whistle. Wings opened from a fade, exposing a its creamy underside. The warning call was all he needed. In an instant, the clan was ready for flight.
The moment was short-lived as the fire sizzled out before it was even halfway across the field.
“You oaf!” Nathan shouted, prepping one of his crossbows. “You’re better off sending that dancing light you always toy with. Least that would’ve kept going!”
The two stopped running while Shafari tampered with another fireball. Nathan clicked a bolt into place and rolled his eyes at the struggling mage.
“Pathetic!” he snarled.
“It’s hard to see the orb in broad daylight!” Shafari shook out his hand and watched in satisfaction while smoldering flames churned into a spinning ball.
“If this was a real emergency, you’d be dead by now!” Nathan started his advance once again, this time taking charge with a battle yell.
In a blink, White Wings took to the skies, but they did not stay there. A formation of quick-changing flash of feathers turned the group back around. They circled the two humans in tight formation, like a deadly ring of vultures waiting for a kill. In alarm, Thomas Gracie and Roland shouted a warning to get back out. Yet there was nowhere for them to go.
In the confusion of flying feathers and shrill cries, Nathan’s bolt found a target. A White Wing crashed through the grass not far from them. She flopped around until her footage was found, but one wing dragged where the bolt had hit a muscle. It did not take long before she was able to pull it out with a furious howl.
“Now, you fool! Do it now!” Nathan grabbed the mage’s arm to prompt a throw, but the move only caused him to lose control. The flaming ball ricocheted off the ground and into the air. One Wing flew up after it, swapping it with a wing so that it came back at the mage.
“What the…?” They dived to the side as it struck between them in a fiery explosion.
