A golden beam of sunlight finally broke free over the horizon, gently touching all that it could reach, announcing the coming of dawn. The stream, or river, or whatever it was (she didn't rightly know, or care) gurgled gently as it traveled around the slight turns and bends that naturally form in such a path of water. Around each of those bends, and over each of the small and smooth falls, came a hollow log, and, lounging on top, a bluish xweetok- Thilewet. Resting inside the log, amongst various riffraff and provisional junk, was a glowing, winged, blue ball of light- Laiy

Hiding in the thick of trees, the figure wandered, tired. Staying up this late just wasn't her. With the sunlight approaching and overwhelming, she scowled for no apparent reason. Coming out of the forest and into the stream's path, she sat down and looked at her pitiful, subtle reflection, quivering in the flow. She had known for quite some time, with her ninja-like senses, that there was someone here, but she avoided the thought and continued to watch, unable to completely drift into sleep.

The xweetok on the log stirred, as the current's pace had increased slightly. It was not wise to fall asleep while exploring an unfamiliar river, for one could easily go right over a waterfall without even knowing it until they were falling. (As she had done on several occasions) She stretched sluggishly, then (with a great deal of balance, I might add, for tree logs are, well... round) crawled down to one of the jaggedly bordered edges. Reaching down into the log, she grabbed the first thing that touched her paw- this happened to be a slightly wet (from being in the water that puddled an inch or two of the bottom) apple. As her paw splashed back out of the water, Laiy awoke, and flew out, tiny droplets of water dripping off of her wings. Sitting down comfortably of the log, Thilewet took a bite out of the apple, eating her breakfast while watching the sun rise to warm the earth.

Her nose picked up a tart scent, gradually becoming stronger. Though she had absolutely no idea what it was, she could almost guess that it was moving because of the scent changes. /Whatever it is, it just as well may be here soon./ She thought to herself. She grunted, rolling here eyes, irritated. Just what she needed- another audience. She'd had enough of those.

Thili carelessly scanned the surrounding forest for anything interesting- more outstanding than the trees, which were interesting enough, but all almost uniform in size and color (from a distance). But then... what was that?! A figure up ahead, on the shore?! Thili quickly stood up and stepped to the edge of her log, peering out as close as she could. Yes, there was definitely someone there, but who or what she could tell. The gentle current steadily brought her closer.

/Joy. It's coming closer. / She muttered in her mind, draping her cloak over most of her body, exposing her long, purple, braid-like locks. She glanced silently, deep purple eyes invisible in her hung-down head. Her tail flicked impatiently.

Thili was almost there now; close enough to tell that the figure was in fact a living creature, and a neopet at that... most likely a xweetok, but it was somewhat hard to tell, for the deep navy cloak hid most of its body. Thili quickly scampered down to the other end of her log, and pulled out a firm stick, for she was in the center of the stream; too far to reach an over-hanging branch or bough. Then, much like a canoer who was trying to stop themselves with their paddle, she placed the stick upright into the water, pushing it into the mud below, easily slowing her log into a gentle stop. She was now but a few yards from Tealite.

Still in the center of the river, she called out "Who are you?" Laiy fluttered around the log noiselessly.

/Spare me.../ She cringed. A happy-go-lucky joy fairy, eh? She could tell (more of she suspected) by her body language and tone of voice. "No one a child like you would want to know." She stated coolly, continuing to watch the other Teal in the water.

Thilewet twitched her tail- but not in frustration, as it would seem; instead, in rapture. /I'm somewhere I don't know, and here is someone new!!! I don't know anything about this!! There is sooo much to explore! So much to discover!.../ Childish thoughts rushed through her mind, ones that she normally wouldn't think; but she really couldn't help it- she was exploring. Suddenly, all of her ecstatic thoughts exploded into a single giggle....then she immediately regained her composure, keeping her wild and joyous mood to herself.

Teal simply shrugged off the kit's actions and minded her own business, pretending that Thilewet wasn't there. She sighed in annoyance as a giggle erupted from her direction. After all, if the little chatterbox continued in the same manner, she had plenty of ideas to get rid of her.

Thilewet now had a decision to make. She could stow the 'paddle' away inside the log, letting the current take her somewhere; most surely ending her adventure, home. Or, she could travel to shore, explore around a bit and possibly even try to have fun annoying Teal. The answer, at least for Thili, seemed /obvious/. Teal couldn't be TOO too dangerous; and anyway, if she was, all Thili had to do was become unlost. The choice she was going to make would be much more exciting, and the only path that would lead to not becoming unlost accidentally. She looked around, judging the current and watching the water's path. /So, if I release the log here at an obtusely acute angle to the shore, shift my weight to the middle of the back of the front of the log,/ she did a few 'quick calculations' in her head. Finished thinking, Thili then waved her paw gently over the water. In a matter of seconds, gentle ribbons of blue light appeared in a spiralish formation in the directions of her paws movement. They looked almost like the water itself, but then when one looked closely they could easily tell: the ribbons were not part of the water, but affecting it. They slowly traveled into the water itself, making no ripples, but gently and inconspicuously moving the water none the less. They slowly faded into the water itself, glowing no longer and invisible, but one could easily tell that they were there, for the current followed them. It took the water right up to its shores, then sharply bent, joining up again with the original current and going on back its normal way. It was when all this was completed, that Thilewet finally released the paddle. The water gently carried her through its new current, up to the shore, were she sunk the paddle deeply back into the sand. Once she was there, she waved her paw above the water once more, and the new current disappeared, shifting suddenly but smoothly into its old path.

Teal observed her reflection becoming distorted and scrunched, which was just enough to catch her attention. By now she wasn't quite in her right mind, but she didn't show it at all. This new absent-mindedness... It fueled her, took away her aches and desire for rest. She continued to act normal as she commented harshly, "So. You can manipulate the currents. I'm assuming you're attempting to show off, for someone as young as yourself. Make a good impression on a stranger. It's the nice thing to do, isn't it? After all, you could have just jumped off. The log would eventually get snagged by something... So maybe you have some brains after all." She exposed her crimson eyes. "Nothing too serious. I can see through it; you're in it for my negative gain." She added quietly.

Thilewet was about to burst out, saying "You're wrong about just jumping off!", but held back. She, for a mere second, had even considered telling Teal why, just to prove to her that she wasn't just showing off. Perhaps it was time to become unlost...but no. Thili appeared puzzled for a moment; she was considering what to say, for she didn't want to give anything away...
No...I couldn't really have jumped off of that log." She said vaguely, trying to ignore Teals derogatory comments.

Teal shrugged. "Fine. You know what's best for you, and I suppose my opinion doesn't matter here." She stated smoothly. This was fun; playing with another's mind was a great way to pass the time. How much more would it take...?

Thili wanted to leave. There was no doubt about that. Why should she be facing such mental torment? At least it was better than returning; if she went back to the river, its current would surely find home; if she explored the forest, she would end up walking back home, leaving Laiy (who was still sleeping inside) and her boat behind. There was no way she could find her way back to them, unless she found this place now, abolishing her last defense. She sighed. Who knew when she would be able to explore again, after this? It was hard enough finding a water route out of the solitary lake.
But for now, she was not defenseless. So (in her opinion) she could afford to say "Nope; nobody's does, if they don't know what they are talking about.

NOT the best thing to say to Teal. Her eyes lit up in irritation, and her belly's color (which couldn't be seen, mind you) was spreading, still a light violet. Her ears went flat against her head, and her tail started swishing violently. "Why don't you go somewhere to play with kids your own age?" She asked. She wasn't at the point of rage yet. After all, why loose your cool in front of someone ages younger than you?

Now it was Thili's turn to become angry. Why did Teal keep referring to her as 'kid'?! Sure, she was a bit younger, but she certainly was smart enough to make up for it. And she wasn't much of a kid anymore. Her ears laid back, and her eyes narrowed angrily. "/Play/?! /If/ I were childish enough to /play/, then were would I?! There is nothing but desolate forest for miles around this river, and you expect me to go skipping around happily, with a bright smile on my face, somewhere far from here to play around with a bunch of immature children, and leave you to sit here, peacefully doing nothing; plotting, scheming, or whatever I 'interrupted' you from. Do not underestimate me!!!

Teal's face was extremely calm for Thili's ranting. To get her back, she taunted, "Yup. Pretty much." She relaxed, putting her feet in the cool water of the river, and leaned back, lax.

Now was her chance. Thili quickly considered a path for the current...there. Just right! She had barely placed her paw above the water, and the current quickly shifted so it hit Teal's foot at such an angle that a big spray of water splashed her in the face. As soon as this had happened, the current went back to normal. This time its changes had been much more awkward then before, accidentally forcing a fish onto the opposite shore; it quickly flipped back into the water.

Extremely irritated at this point, /glared/ at Thili, face full of malice and excitement. It was what she had expected the moment she saw her. "Pffft. It's gonna rain soon anyway." She said, pointing at the splotchy deep gray clouds starting to form, with the occasional raindrop that rushed to fast to escape with its colony. Bringing her attention back to the /kit/, she grinned, mouth slightly open, exposing large canines. "However... If you wanna play /that/ way..." She stuck out her arm, which had a light scar going straight down its center from a previous encounter... She bent her elbow, then flicked it out, straightening her arm. Immediately a flash appeared and deep purple fire erupted from her paw, emitting black magic's horrid aura. "Wanna play?" She sneered.

Rain...? Thilewet looked up, a confused -disallowed_word-now they were black) and out in a /huge/ phoenix, Incendia. It flapped its shadowy wings violently, attempting to seize Thilewet with its giant talons, and bring the kit back to her.

Thilewet had almost reached the shore now, though she could not quite stand in the water. It was all useless, of course, when Incendia (who she hadn't noticed yet) achieved its goal and grabbed her (easily, because she was in a position at the time that made her quite helpless) with its talons. She cried out in pain as the fiery claws touched her, and instinctively caused a blob of water to separate from the river and cover her body to try and sooth her burns, and protect from even more from the constant black flames.

Teal grinned malevolently as her prey was taken down. She commanded Incendia to bring Thili to her, and the great bird obeyed. Weakened slightly by the water's strike (most of it evaporated before it hit), Incendia rattled in a rage and took to the sky immediately so as not to loose its grip; if it did, the kit would fall. Simple as that. Teal began to climb the nearest tree. They would meet up there, apparently.

Thilewet cried out in dismay and agony as the water evaporated, but refrained from pulling up more water as to not weaken her further. She let out another squeal when Incendia flew up to the tree. In its weakened and burned state, her body hung limp as she whimpered in pain.

High in her perch, Teal snickered. "/Whimpering?/ Just another sign of weakness." she sneered. Crinkling her nose, the older xweetok inquired, voice echoing darkly, "So... /This/ wasn't how you planned it all out to be, was it? Let's start over. My name is Teal. What's yours?" She said this gracefully, mimicking a normal conversation... What it should have been, if the little brat hadn't poked her nose into trouble.

She poked Thili's nose lightly, like a friend would. It wasn't real.

Thili, though in the weakened state she was, glared at Teal. She really shouldn't have been using this power so much, for she certainly wasn't yet strong enough to maintain it for long. Even amongst the pain of the burns, she summoned up enough energy for one more try. Crying out in agony as she did so, Thilewet caused some water from the river to come up, and she (testing out a new theory) willed the molecules to slow down...it worked. The blob was now a half-melted version of ice, which Thili split into shards and sent flying at Teal.

Hm?" Her eyes drifted to Thili's actions As the shards shot towards Teal, she sighed. "What'm I gonna do with you. You didn't even introduce yourself. What great manners you have!" She teased. "I'm sure you think you're getting somewhere," Teal stated as Incendia flipped around, causing a shield of sorts around Teal, and pushed its talons forward, leaving Thili in the line of fire. "Hmmm... Call it off, my little block.

Of course, Thili had /stopped/ controlling them as soon as she threw the ice shards, so she was in quite a predicament. She winced as she quickly summoned up a last bit of energy, she stopped them in midair right before they hit her, but immediately released them to fall to the ground. It was obvious that she wasn't strong enough for her current amount of power.

Sighing of slight boredom, Teal commanded Incendia to relax and turn to her. Now facing Thili, she asked, a little rudely, "Now. Let's try this /again/. What's your name, kid? Unless you wanna be called 'kid'." Her cloak flapped in the high winds, drenched by the previous rain. It mirrored her agitation. -Kids these days. Think they can do anything. I mean, life was tough for me. Normal folk'll never understand.- She thought to herself.

....Thilewet." she said quietly.

She rolled her eyes. "Humm. SO we finally got somewhere. A congratulations is in order, I presume, Thilewet?" She said with a toothy grin. This was fun. Almost too much fun... It couldn't be good for her. "Just in case you don't remember what I said, I'm Teal." She stuck out her tongue in distaste. "Why would someone your age be wandering around here by yourself? I mean, I was /so/ close to blowing you into bits... And I'm nice to people younger than me." She snorted suppressing a giggle.

.....I was exploring." Thili replied simply. There wasn't really much she could do, even though she really shouldn't have disclosed that information.
Laiy FINALLY woke up (it was a wonder she hadn't already), and fluttered lightly up to Thili, ignoring Teal (had she been a friend then the little sprite would have fluttered a few times around her head) and defiantly rested in her usually spot, on Thilewet's head.

Teal looked sideways, and then back at Thili. "That isn't an excuse to wander about on your own. You better believe that there're more powerful things than me out there, and they're not as /generous and nice/ as I. Like how I'm about to relieve you of permanent burn marks by taking away the heat..." She flicked a paw at Incendia. "Now the marks should only last for a few months and you'll have black magic slowly take over your body instead of constant burning while we're here!!!" She said, cocking her head to the side and giving a chibi smile. Returning to her normal personality, she saw Laiy and raised an irritated eyebrow. "And just who might you be? Kids and their inability to introduce!" She grunted.

Wonderful, that's LOADS better!" Thili said sarcastically. She glared at Teal. "That's...Laiy.

Teal chuckled. "Glaring at me's not gonna get ya anywhere, honey. Trust me, I'm used to it." She paused, listening. "Laiy, huh. So... What are you exactly? Not a humanoid fairy, of course. But something close." Skipping her question, she added. "Oh. It wouldn't be smart to wise talk me, as you may have realized..." She smiled again. "So I suggest you don't do it." Her facial marking spread and stretched itself, branching lightning marks onto her cheeks. Her eyes narrowed. "/Got it?/" She asked, face returning to normal.

...Yep..." Thili replied nervously. Laiy randomly glowed slightly brighter, as if to try and over-shadow (which really isn't the correct term) Teals dark aura.

As Teal's rapid mood swings would suggest, she suddenly got bored. What a waste of time, and valuable energy. Ah, well. Maybe it taught her foe a lesson. "Right. This is all rather boring now." She sighed.

Well, I sort of can't do anything else." Thilewet remarked, obviously referring to Incendia.

She took offense for no particular reason. Her temper had run short. "WELL, I think I'm through here. As long as you remember there are /plenty/ of creatures around here stronger than me. Which ties me into training... And I can't do it just SITTING HERE!!!" She sighed irritably, and flicked her paw again at the great Phoenix, who in return flipped and hurled Thilewet into the river, squeezing her tight with painful black magic before releasing. From up above, Teal called, "Pray you never meet me again... Or if you do, be ready next time." And she jumped (more like glided) from her perch and into the bordering forest.