Secret Places {Private Hyper and Accalia}

[Accalia]

Aleila ran through her glade, carefully dodging the roots of old oak trees. Her mane followed the rhythm of her running, falling up and down as her paws left and gained contact with the floor. Streaks of sunlight burst through the canopy of trees; this was her haven, and although it was rare it was there and Aleila was safe there. She continued to run through her safe glade, gliding effortlessly over roots and stones. She slowed as she neared a small pool of beautiful clear water and bent her head to drink, but after she had put her nose just above the water she could sense something else's feelings and she lifted her head, tilting it slightly. She made sure her white eye was covered and called out curiously "Hello? Is  there another being there?" Aleila hadn't seen many other lions after she left, but she knew that didn't mean they wouldn't find her, *It might just be another antelope* she thought, owing her head to drink once more, her purple mane almost dipping into the cool water.

[Hypercube]

(OOC: I will be using Xoren)

Xoren pawed along the mossy ground, racing through the maze of trees that extended far towards the baking sun. He moved with swift silence, his paws seemingly floating over the glade floor. This sylvan environment was his solace, free of company and complex enough to flee from any that might arrive. As he reached the oasis that sat within the middle of glade, he noticed movement in the ferns across the sparkling water. Quickly, Xoren ducked back into the treeline, waiting for this stranger to come into view.

As the purple maned feline stepped from behind the foliage and into the speckled sunlight, Xoren could not help but somewhat recognize her. She had been in these woods before, but he had never made her acquaintance for fear that either she would be of hostile intentions or that he would be only be caused pain by making friends again. One thing Xoren did notice though, was the fact that one of her eyes was covered by a large stripe of her mane, presumably as to hide something from the view of those that may judge her. As he continued to analyze this some-what familiar creature, she called out to the almost empty forest, asking if any others were there.

From his secluded spot in the trees, Xoren's thoughts raced with possibilities of finally introducing himself to her, but these thoughts were interrupted by shuffling in the ferns near him. Through the trees, he spotted a rogue lion, obviously hardened through a life of crime, walking steadily towards the helpless feline. His body language indicated that he had listened to her call, and was planning to reciprocate with force.

[Accalia]

Aleila closed her eyes, she could feel the presence of 2 beings emotions, her eyes became hard, but she continued to drink. In one stream of feelings she felt some need to help her, and her forearms tensed up *I am not quote that defenceless....* she thought. it annoyed her how she was seen as a pretty little flower in need of protecting, if anything she was nettle, common yet strong able of protecting its self, but not enough to deal permanent damage. 

Aleila las suddenly became very aware of everything around her as the blades of grass surrounding her whispered of the menace hiding in the trees. "Why don't you show yourself coward." Her voice was as strong as if would go; she now wished she didn't have such a high, dainty voice. Aleilas tail stayed perfectly still and her legs became rigid with fear, she had never seen another lion in so long.... But she still wasn't sure if it was a lion and what it wanted with her.

She heard the snap of a branch, it's noise amplified by the silence "I know you are there" she growled, trying not to let the fear quiver her voice *I must stay strong* she thought. She turned slowly to see the glimmer of the lion on the edge of the tree line,,but couldn't see the other. She was suddenly very aware of her pale eye and mismatch markings, she stood her ground though, against the blades of grass' opinion and burning screaming, telling her to run. Aleila knew though if it came to the worst she could outrun the lumbering beast, that was if it was one.

[Hypercube]

(OOC: From what you wrote I would be assuming we are using our fantasy abilities?)

The rogue's legs flexed, preparing for a pounce on the now-suspecting target. Through the silence pierced a quivering voice telling the beast in vane that she was aware of his presence. Xoren's body, rigid with the internal struggle of whether or not to give aid to this familiar feline, was only feet from the danger, his muscles only a quick electrical pulse from jumping.

His eyes shot back to the lion on the water. While it was obvious that she was strong and willing to fight, he could see - no, feel the fear that she was engulfed with. Xoren's mind was made up. From his concealment, he pounced upon the rogue, tumbling both out into the open. With his keen senses and reflexes, Xoren was able to dodge or deflect most of the oncoming attacks, but the rogue proved to be just to strong for him to handle physically.

Now pinned to the roots of the trees growing around the river, Xoren became the target of the rogue's attack. "Wrong choice cub." the scarred lion growled into his ear, his teeth bared inches from Xoren's neck.

[Accalia]

((OOC: Oh yes.. Sorry about not clarifying... Is that ok?))

Aleila momentarily froze as she saw the lion leap from the tree line, but as she saw his set course was heading towards the brute of a lion she relaxed as much as her body would allow her too. Her legs were frozen in place still though, her muscles rigid and unmoving. She watched as they swiped and growled, hot anger boiling inside her. *Why do people always fight....* It had always confused her why they all competed for power and land, and now there was a fast moving battle before her eyes.

When Aleila heard the snide remark of the scarred lion and she broke, her legs propelled her foreword without a second thought. She landed upon the larger lion her claws long and sharp, they bit into the lions back and neck, but then came the true pain *NO you made the wrong choice! You are going to pay for what you did to this lion* She burnt holes in his thoughts so he could only think about that one message. Her claws bit deeper and deeper, hopping the lion would give up, but she knew such a lion would be protective over his ego. She roared, but it was not like others roars, it was delicate in some way, somehow gentler, Aleila wished it wasn't right at this moment but held it for a good amount of time before slowly bowing her head towards the lions neck. Her glistening teeth were sharp and precise, at first she could only taste wiry mane but then as she closed her eyes and bit harder the rusty, unmistakable, taste of thick blood rolled around in her mouth. *You should have NEVER come here, you do not know what I am capable of* She opened her eyes but stayed attached to his neck, not for the taste of blood but for the hope of it going and never returning.

[Hypercube]

(OOC: That's fine with me =D)

Xoren called upon his strength, using the opportunity provided to him to push the attacker from on top of him. The two lions stumbled backwards, the familiar one still clamping tightly around the rogue's neck. Xoren was completely surprised that such a feminine-looking feline contained such a fire in her heart. Without thinking, Xoren engaged rogue, clawing all around his body, forcing blood to pour from the newly formed scars.

Eventually, the rogue screamed cries of agony, violently shaking until both Xoren and the other attacker were thrown from their place. Still bleeding and bellowing in pain, the rogue ran into the forest, leaving a trail of blood behind as he fled. Quickly, Xoren cleared his mind, hoping to receive a read on his aura signature. As his focus tightened, he caught a quick glimpse of a blood-red aura, swirling in unorganized patterns and non-choreographed fashions.

As he relaxed his body, allowing himself to calm down from the fight, Xoren turned to the familiar face that stood in front of him. "Thank you" he whispered, the silence now returned to the oasis. "It seems that I was actually the one in need of asistance." Xoren chuckled, attempting to make it seem he was embarrassed by his lack of strength. Aware that asking if the feline was injured would only be received as patronization, Xoren inquired "What brings you to these secluded parts?"

[Accalia]

Aleila tumbled backwards, remaining upon the lions neck, her jaw firmly locked. Her eyes were hard and alight with a devilish flame, as the lion shook her from his back and ran away, leaving silence and trails of blood behind him. He turned to the lion, her eyes slowly calming and the fire replaced with her shimmer of innocence. Seeing the other lion cons interacting hard confused her *What is he doing?!* She thought, her face showing her confusion by her eyes scrunching slightly and her head tilting to one side. She felt his boiling anger, as if it were a flame engulfing him in heat. 

At his thanks she smiled widely her teeth sparking in the sunlight, all traces of blood gone from her frame apart from a narrow scratch along her shoulder. "You are welcome! And yes you were!" She smiled wider happy that he didn't automatically ask if she was hurt, as if she were a rare stone or prize. The way she said it was flat though, she was trying her best to be social, but it doesn't normally go so well when you are alone with no one but you and your thoughts, but Aleila didn't know any different and so she lived on unknowing of how to hold a conversation.

"Peace and the ever changing path of life brings me to these secluded parts! How about you? I don't see many lions around here..." Her sweet voice was soft with no hint of questioning, only curiosity. She pawed her mane, making sure her eye was covered and then sighed turning back to the pool of water. Her body was tense from the fight and so she slumped down to her belly, her paw just touching the water. 

[Hypercube]

"If only my reasons for being in these parts were as luxourious as yours." Xoren replied with a smirk. "I am here from bitter neccesity. I have lost all that is dear to me, minus one piece of hope that I still cling dearly to." While his heart grew heavy at this mention of his daugter, this was not the time, nor the lion to explain it to. He did though, feel somewhat safe in her presence, as if she could feel what he felt and knew the sorrow he experienced.

Xoren walked to a spot near the feline, lying near her, allowing his paw to also touch the surface of the water, sending dancing ripples across the surface. "It seems we have failed to inoduce each other. I am Xoren, who are you?"

[Accalia]

Aleila was saddened by his sorrow and dearly wanted to know more about his loss, but she did not want to cause him pain and so reluctantly passed the thought by. As he walked over she said softly "Hope is the only thing that is stronger then fear, and is capable of defying evil. That is why we must all believe in it."  

She listened to his introduction, but his pain was still cutting her apart. "That is an unusual name! Mine is Aleila, and I am the free spirit that roams these forests!" She says her peal like teeth sparkling as her paw dangles just above the water, her unusual markings and face reflected back at her in the cool water. She turns from her reflection and Xoren, not wanting him to know of her eye or the beast that lingers inside.

[Hypercube]

Xoren, noticing the fact that Aleila was hiding something from him, stood from his position, calmly speaking to her, "Excuse me for one moment." He forced his mind clear, focusing only on learning as much as possible with his strange ability. Through his mind's eye, he saw an extremely complex image lying before him. The strongest aura he could find was of a solid yellow, strong yet fluttering all throughout the lioness's body. Inside of this swirling brightness though, hid a small speckle of red, as if it was trying to hide away beneath the multiple layers of yellow.

Most perplexing however was what flowed around the outside of these colors. Along the outskirts, a blue aura surrounded her, remaining completely stagnant, yet dynamic at the same time. While this in itself was strange, even stranger was the fact that the blue was very faint, as if it was not a piece of her own signature. As Xoren studied this, it began to morph from blue, turning to green but remaining the same in properties as it had when it was blue.

Xoren opened his eyes, flinching from the bright sun that shone directly through the trees. Looking directly at the lioness, Xoren attempted to formulate a question so that she would not inquire as to his strange behavior. Though he desperately wanted to know the secrets behind this strange feline, he felt that it would be better to avoid the question as she may take offense to it. Instead, he decided to ask a more important question, "Did you know that lion that attacked us earlier?"

[Accalia]

Aleila watched as Xoren focused and felt a strange feeling as if she were being read and scrunched her face, starting to sob, for a reason unknown to her. As he lay there beside her she tried to get her emotions under control, and eventually she calmed herself to a variation of normal and sharp breathes. As he opened his eyes she looked to the ever changing water, her noisy breathing disrupting the silence.

At his question she looked into his eyes, hers slightly glazed with a thin layer of salty water, her gaze gentle and soft "I am sorry...about my state... It's just...sometimes it becomes too much for me..." Aleila was in no way incontrol over her powers and it was more as if it had control over her, it is always there, in the corner of her mind, pictures, sounds, feelings, sorrow. Sometimes it just became too much for her, especially in the presence of others. But for some reason she enjoyed owning and feeling her own sorrow, she normally only felt others. She finally replied "No... I am surprised he found me... He is the biggest lion I have seen since my cubhood...." She remembered his face as if it were right infront of her and she shivered. *I am so weak... So very weak* She thought feeling pathetic, she didn't like the feeling, but she couldn't shake it from her mind. 

Aleila suddenly leant her head towards Xoren and began to put her feelings into words, them spilling over her mouth. She wasn't aware if it was awkward, she simply talked to him. And once her overspill halted she removed her head from his chest and looked into his eyes, hers a deep colour, not having one certain colour, but if her mother were there sheould have looked upon her and cooed as if she were a cub and she looked away back to the water a light spark in her eyes suddenly at the memory of her mother.

[Hypercube]

Xoren stood, frozen, a bit perplexed by the sudden shift in attitude of the lioness. It was not that such compassion was strange to him, but the readiness to put it forth was a concept he had lost over time. He felt as if while this familiar face was a bright and happy soul, that deep inside she was fighting an inner struggle, something none other than her could truly understand. He took a step towards her, whispering in her ear, talking in just the way she had. This was very unlike Xoren, but his desire to aid in the distress of another lion was just to great to stand by and do nothing.

He told her of his history, trying to create some sort of sympathy so her mind could stray from her own sorrows. He told her of his daughter, the relative he didn't explain prior. He told her of his current situation, the desperate search to find the only last thing that truly mattered to Xoren in this world. After he had finished, he moved away, realizing that he had begun to tear up, allowing drops of salty sadness to fall to the mossy ground.

"I'm... I'm sorry about that. I don't usually loose my complexion like that," Xoren stated embarrassed, "I just never let my feelings overcome me like that before."

[Accalia]

As the lion accepted her sorrow she smiled weakly, trying to wipe away the tears. She listened, quietly sobbing, to his past and sorrows feeling the pain stab her in the stomach, taking her a back slightly. She knew it was sorrow, but as his story continued and he spoke of his daughter and how she was taken away from him a hot anger boiled from inside her, she thought of how and why one could so badly hurt one of the same race and in her mind felt as if she would strive to stop it. As the, hot, passionate anger continued to grow she started to shake her head, trying to resist the urge to explode in fury.

As the tears fell from the lions face and his apologises she managed to whisper "Feelings are not to be imbarresed of.." But suddenly she snapped, backing away from Xoren as fast as she could, turning slightly from him, her blue eye turning the same white as her other. Inside a part of her was trying to die this devil, but it was too small to keep the beast within at bay. She clawed at trees screaming, her teeth sparkling in the sunlight. *You.. Are better then this Aleila* She thought as strongly as she could, trying to get herself undercontrol, but she couldn't. Tears started rolling down her pained face once more, but she didn't stop scratching, though the passion was gone and it was slower as if she was trying to scare away an attacker. 

[Hypercube]

Xoren quickly stepped towards the obviously distressed lioness, noticing that her eye had turned a pale white, her pupil missing. He was confused, but turned to his ability to help him understand. When he looked to her aura though, he was only further confused and concerned. Her body seemed to be a swirling tempest of all different colors, mixing and fighting with each other for dominance. Deep within though, the original playful yellow aura he initially witnessed remained still, attempting to fight the invasion of these disjointed forces.

"Aleila!" Xoren shouted, hoping to remove her from her frantic emotions, but to seemingly no avail. It was obvious that whatever this strange beast was, it was not the free-loving soul he had minutes prior. He stepped back, watching helplessly as she clawed at the tree, tears pouring from her pained eyes. Soon after, her movements began to slow as she supposedly began to regain control over her body. "Aleila... are you alright?" Xoren asked innocently.

[Accalia]

Aleila gained a soft conscience of her surroundings once more and the innocent questioning of the lion she briefly forgot the tale of, but as she felt his emotions as she got her own under control recognised him immediately. "Don't look at me, just leave.,.. All I ever do is cry or nothing at all.... I am no help, just leave....... No one should ever have to look upon such an ugly face as mine.,." She said her face still pained as she turned away from Xoren trying her best to shade her eyes from his gaze. She felt like drowning herself beneath the peaceful ripples of the pool or giving herself up to the endless perils of life, or the demon within her, so the pain would end.

Aleila felt Xorens pain and her own, twisting together in her mind forming a stronger more concentrated pain, spread across the two of them and her eyes snapped open her left eye slowly transforming back into its calm blue. She looked to the ground as the gras bent over her paws as if to hug her and she sighed. All Aleila really wanted was some company, but Aleila and others did not mix well but neither did her and solitary and so she fell down the long ravine between them never knowing quite what to do.

[Hypercube]

Xoren moved to Aleila, attempting to look to her eyes that gazed down to the ground. "Why would I do that?" Xoren asked as compassionately as he could,"Is it because of your mismatched eyes?" Xoren had seen the pure white eye beneath the long strand of fur that covered it during her momentary loss of control, "because I think it makes you unique, not at all 'ugly'." Looking to the water that rippled from its edges dancing as the wind slid across it, Xoren awaited a response from the feline, hoping that she would cheer up and accept the company they both desperately needed.

[Accalia]

Aleila nervously looked up at Xoren once more, her face soft and matted with tears. Her eyes were large and her ears were plastered back against her head, "It is because of my tendency to break down... I don't want to hurt you..." Aleilas voice was soft but filled with hurt, she didn't want to have a break down and instead of scrapping the trees hitting Xoren instead, but she longed for the company of another being and Xoren was so caring she felt as if losing him to the world would be like encasing herself in never ending sorrow.

Aleila saw his gaze rest on the water and she smiled faintly and said "The water is ever moving and changing, you never see the same river twice, it is always shifting and changing. It is capable of murder, it is capable of saving lives, but never shall it be controlled, as the water is a being just as you or me..." She watched as ripples pasted through one another and felt the calm return to her.

She sighed looking back at Xoren her eye now fully restored to blue. "I am afraid Xoren..." She said shakily, knowing he had his own problems but she couldn't resist the urge to converse with him about her worries. She would listen with an open mind and heart when he decided to talk with her.

[Hypercube]

Xoren could feel the pain that surrounded all of her words, the immense distressed that followed each phrase. He looked to the water, speaking to Aleila adamantly, "But that is what makes water such a valuable asset. It's inability to be controlled ensures that all have the ability to receive it's life-giving properties, and it's ever-changing movement allows it to conform to the experiences it faces, just as you or me." He looked back to the lioness, peering into the crystal lake that looked to him.

"And fear is nothing to be ashamed of," he told her, stepping to her calmly, "it is what gives us caution, and the ability to not blindly jump into scenarios that we cannot handle." Hoping to calm the shaken feline, Xoren moved even closer to her, resting his head upon hers. He closed his eyes, watching as the dancing yellow aura reclaimed her body, once again hiding the concentrated red that hid inside.

[Accalia]

Aleila smiled at him at his answering passage of calm talk about the movement of water, but really they meant what each of them could do if they tried. She saw his gaze rest on hers and her eyebrows raised and her eyes widened at his calmness, starring back at him a sparkle dancing around her eye.

She saw him approach her and she sighed "But it also prevents us from being courageous, resulting in the loss of something special if we let it bloom..." She said her breathing deep and for some reason she began to let her fear change to Xoren. She was afraid of affection and he was trying to comfort her and she knew she longed for it. *Aleila he won't hurt you* Aleila concentrated on remaining still and keeping her breathing steady. As she felt his head upon her she momentarily tensed up but as she felt his warmth she relaxed completely realising just how tense she was and slowly leant her own head deep into Xorens mane her breathing becoming natural once more. "Xoren... Why are you comforting me?..." She asked confused

[Hypercube]

"Because I can," he spoke into her mane, softly yet strongly. He removed his head and looked directly into her eyes, forcing her to make a connection with him. "You are right," he continued, "fear can result in the loss of something special if we let it rule us, but it doesn't stop us from being courageous. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather how little we let that fear affect us." He knew that she was resistant to such comforts, and that she would not be willing to accept his friendship this quickly, just as he would normally not allow the same to happen to him. While still staring into her eyes, Xoren draped his paw over hers, attempting to convey a feeling of care and willingness to accept Aleila for whatever she felt no one could accept her for.

[Accalia]

Xorens soft words sent shivers down her spine, not ones of fright but ones of sudden realisation. She was frozen in his gaze as she realised how similar they were and how although they didn't tell one another in simple ways they showed eachother in more complex forms. She felt his paw on hers and sighed sharply her eyes widening, not able to look away. She remained staring into Xorens pool of emotions and a tear came to her eye, but this tear was of happiness she had found a companion, for now at least, and that was more then she had ever had. "Xoren... We are more alike then you let on aren't we.... Tell me your daughter and your other pains...please" She said now slightly more content as she rests her head within his orange mane her purple strands still laying protectively upon her miss coloured eye.

[Hypercube]

(OOC: We can't find Sola in this rp, as I have in a another. It would cause some issues in character bios =P)

Xoren spoke to her, allowing his feelings to flow out of his mouth and through her ears. He explained his situation, and told her of his struggles, those to find the only thing that still mattered to him. He let his emotions lose, knowing that she was correct in that they were one of the same, both more alike than either of them would be willing to admit. As he was telling her of his past and present Xoren allowed his eye lids to conceal the real world, revealing an ominous image that caused him to become tense.

Not only did he see Aleila's aura, but he also saw the same blood-red aura, now of solid color and undulating, hiding in the bushes. That was not all he saw though; Xoren's ability also revealed what he could discern as two other signatures, both equally red in hue, spreading away from the original. Changing his tone, hoping Aleila would notice, Xoren spoke into her ear "and I am constantly chased by reoccurring nightmares in the form of other beings, out for blood."

[Accalia]

(OOC: Ok, sure i understand :3 )

Aleila endured through Xorens pain, the struggle evident on her face, but she knew it was important to let people speak their mind and let their feelings out, it isn't normal if you don't. She rubbed her head affectionately against his chest, her breaths slightly staggered as she exhaled. But she soon felt his frame tense and his aura was one of fright and she looked up at him, moving away from his shell shocked body. "Xoren ...... Was it me?" Aleila asked innocently, she was new to this whole showing your emotions and wasn't sure as to what she was suppose to do.

As she felt him lean close to her, whispering in her ear she became momentarily confused, but then she felt it herself, two hot auras and sharp minds she shivered and leapt back to Xorens side, her eyes squeezed shut, her paws scraped at the ground as she burried her head into Xorens fur 'Make them go away Xoren..." She whispered, she was afraid that if she was attacked once more the demon within her would spill their blood and leave their lifeless bodies at her feet. She groaned as she felt their thoughts dig deep into her mind and clung close to Xoren for comfort.

[Hypercube]

Xoren kept his eyes clasped shut, watching the figures skulk around the opening in the treeline, the original simply standing were he had begun, watching, waiting. Both bodies soon leaned back, preparing for a massive flanking of the two lions standing near the clear water. "Please forgive me," he spoke to Aleila, knowing that he may have to do something unorthodox to protect her. As the two bodies lunged from their cover, Xoren's instincts took over, his eyes snapping open and his perception of time slowing such that he could see each single hair of his enemies fold back against the wind.

Quickly estimating their trajectory, it was clear that they were meant to each take one the lions, but Xoren was not about to let them happen. He roughly pushed Aleila backwards with his hind leg, taking a position between were they had each just stood. As the two attackers met him, Xoren allowed their forces to rotate him along the grass, preparing to strike the two and force their attention upon him. While difficult to utilize against two foes, Xoren focused on his reflexes, reacting swiftly to each and ever movement, engaging in successful combat with both of the startled rogues.

[Accalia]

Aleila heard his apology, but was confused as to what it was for, until his frame became tense and his movements were razor sharp. She felt their thoughts in her head and the dark things they would do if they won the fight. She squeezed her eyes closed, shaking her head, now on her feet, her claws leaving deep contours in the ground. She felt Xoren pushing her back and moved a step backwards, water splashing up her leg. "Xoren......." she said her voice strained as the white filled her eye slowly she groaned still attempting to fight the demon. She felt the pain blossom within their auras, not daring to open her eyes, she felt all the pain and her frame shook violently with effort of keeping the murderer within her burried.

It soon proved too much for her though and her white eye snapped open as she lept over Xoren and upon one of the rogues heads, her teeth bared and her claws unsheathed. She felt the warm trickle of blood around her paws as she moved to the rogues back, her claws digging deeper and deeper. She snarled, her current demon-self enjoying every moment, but within there was the true her, crying out employing herself to stop. But she would not listen and she bit down hard on the rogues neck, the rusty liquid soon filling her mouth as she bit harder and harder. She did not look at Xoren, this version of her did not know him, she was occupied, making this lion death closer and closer, being the murderer she knew she was.

[Hypercube]

Xoren looked down to the primal animal that ripped at the throat of the now spastic lion. He was both amazed and disturbed at the macabre nature that had arisen from what seems to be such a gentle creature. The other attacker seemed just as scared as he fled with his tail tucked between his hind legs. From the foliage, Xoren heard the rapid foot travel of the two remaining rogues as they left the area. By the time he returned his gaze to Aleila, her victim had stopped struggling as a pool of blood slowly crept from his corpse.

[Accalia]

Aleila felt the lion slowly buckle from beneath her and started crumpling her eyes and shaking her head as she regained control of her frame. Her eye changed as the blue slowly crept in, the demon loved deep within her. She shook violentnly and slumped down small sobbs leaving her mouth and tears running down her face. "Oh Xoren...... What have i done?.........."She lay on the ground the taste of blood still fresh in her mouth. She looked up at him her eyes filled with appologies and fear, fear of herself. She looked to the corpse surrounded by its own blood, but quickly looked away, back to the pool, hopping it was still clear.
 

[Hypercube]

"You defended yourself-" Xoren replied strictly, "you defended yourself and me from an attacker that was set on leaving us in his current state." He moved so that his body touched hers, hoping that the physical connection would calm her from her distraught state. As tears left her eyes and small cries left her mouth, Xoren could do nothing but stand, looking to the pool that she was staring towards intently. Xoren met the reflection of eyes in the still pristine pool of glistening water and told her "you've done nothing wrong Aleila, don't think for a second you have."

[Accalia]

Aleila took a shaky breath in and looked up at Xoren "Can we go..."Aleila's eyes were swimming in water peering at the body from the corner of her eye, but quickly squeezed them shut and tried to forget the vivid image of the collapsed lion, her breaths shaky and filled with sobs. She saw the reflection of their eyes in the clear water and felt Xoren beside her, she slowly closed her eyes then made a decision *I am going to count to 5 and let my fears disappear... 1..2..3..4..5*

Aleila opened her eyes once more greeted with the view of her shaken frame starring at her and Xorens beside her. Aleila took a deep breath in and released it slowly leaning her head against Xoren as she calmed herself down, now even more thankful for his presence. "Thank you Xoren.... for everything..."  Her eye was sparkling, reflecting the sunlight bouncing off the pool,  her mouth bought into a small, frightened smile, her body sagging with exhaustion and shock.

[Hypercube]

"It's no problem Aleila." Xoren said back with empathy, "Now let's get out of here before they come back with even more fighters." Leaving her side, Xoren attuned his focus and looked for the auras of any hostile creatures. Shifting his focuses, he began to see the auras of the foliage that surrounded them perfectly stagnant and deep emerald green. He was certain that no others were nearby. Opening his eyes, Xoren padded across the mossy ground, leading to the same path he entered from when he first intervened. "Well?" he said looking inquisitively at Aleila, "shall we head off?"