Drown the Sky

LOCATION | The forest
DATE | 26th of March 2022
TIME | Noon
ATTIRE | Outfit
TOPIC FOR | @Iris
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They had been supposed to meet near the steam just to sit and rewind after the long tiring week. Still not understanding that their friend was now gone, things had been taken easy, but it was so clear that everyone at the academy as well still was feeling the loss heavy. Sometimes you just forgot and Nathaniel had caught himself in various of times seeking Nick out without him being there. Then there was still people who hadn't returned to the academy because of the loss, not that he judged them, he had perhaps returned too quickly, thinking he wasn't as affected like the rest. Sometimes it was just easy to tab into what you had been taught growing up and not let the feelings of it all face you so strongly.

Nathaniel had been waiting for Iris, when he noticed something. The good thing about the warlock was sometimes his abilities, it was hard to hide from a telepath, so he had managed to know just before the trigger was pulled, and had rolled to the side to avoid the bullet, then got up on his feet with one shift movement. Then looking at the shooter and looked his older brother in the eyes, here came the worst part of being a telepath, all those thoughts that went on in his brother's mind was things that Nathaniel would rather be without. But Nathaniel was also not going to fight his own brother, but he tried to talk him out of it, but his mind was set. Nathaniel shook his head a little bit, before casting a spell to immobilize Zach for a moment, then the warlock started running. He took is phone out and quickly texted Iris not to come because of hunters in the woods, now he knew his girlfriend wasn't going to stay away, but one had to try right? He also knew she could trace him down from his phone if needed. Another shot was fired and hit Nathaniel just behind the knee forcing him to collide with the ground and turn around as his brother gained closer to him.

Outfit

Everything was just a giant pile of stinking mess. Or at least that was what Iris felt like. Ever since coming to Gaia Aston, it was like it was one disaster after another. At least she had met Nathaniel, the one light in all of this darkness at this point. Not that she didn’t love the friends she had gotten, it wasn’t that. But everything just seemed so much easier knowing that she had him by her side. So, when he had talked about meeting up in the forest, she hadn’t even thought about what she had to do for homework, and just accepted right away.
Now, Iris had always been a confident woman. Been since she had been a child, or at least that was what she wanted people to think. But she was far from confident in everything she did, and when it came to being with Nathaniel, she always found herself giddier than normal. Like her stomach was trying to do multiple cartwheels. Which was why she had used at least an hour finding an outfit. Either being trying to much or way to casual. And even then, she had ended up with something that looked like she hadn’t even been trying. Her little detour had made her late, which was why she was running through the forest to get to where they were supposed to meet up. It was like a six sense that made her stop rather abruptly. Looking around she could smell multiple people.
Then her phone buzzed in her pocket, her eyes glazed over as she checked it without pulling it out. Hunters. Then a gun was fired. Smell of blood. No! The voice screamed in her head as she picked up speed, transforming into the giant white fox as it ran down the woods jumping in front of Nathaniel just as the hunter was walking closer snarling for him to get back. Sparks of electricity formed around her almost like a shield, trying to fend off what the person was about to do.
Two other hunters came from the trees, Theo walking towards Zach lowering the gun as he looked at the Kitsune almost in awe of its beauty.

He starred a bit at Theo and Zach, clenching his jaw tight, well at some point he should have seen it coming that his older brother would find his way here. And Theo, of course Zach had always admired the Blancard brothers - been so jealous that Nathaniel had had a step closer to them than Zach. Then Nathaniel turned his head a little bit as he saw Iris in her kitsune shape of the giant white fox come jumping in to the scene, placing herself in front of him. Fear was the only emotion roaming his body in this moment. Fear that Theo and Zach would take an aim at her, and here he couldn't really do much with his injury other than trying to get up while avoiding using the hurt leg. He watched how Theo lowered Zach's gun and they both just starred at Iris. Well of course, it was a sight for sore eyes for a hunter to see the grace of some of these creatures.

Nathaniel finally got somewhat up on his feet, his left leg still in great agony, but he felt just a little bit more confident with Iris being there as well. It would be stupid of both Zach and Theo to just attack without knowing the cards they now had been dealt. But also, Nathaniel was aware of Theo's powers. But the perks of being a telepath in that was you couldn't really shut down the third eye in this like he could shut down anything else. "How about we just walk our separate ways on this one?" Nathaniel suggested looking at Theo, knowing he was the one calling the shots.

Iris took a step back as she could hear how Nathaniel was trying to get up on his feet. Hoping that her body would be able to support him in one way or another. Snarling a little her eyes correct themselves to the person that seemingly looked like he was the one in charge. There was a vibe around him, she didn’t like it. Her eyes glowing in a bright electric blue turned to look behind them as a couple of other hunters came closer. This was bad, and even though it was a reasonable offer to just walk their separate ways, she wasn’t sure it would go down that easy.
The smile on Theo’s lips as he finally ripped away from the fox in front of him towards Nathaniel asked his question, told Iris the story just how weary they needed to be around this one.
“We could do that” he hummed as he took in Nathaniel “given that we don’t really have the equipment to take care of this one” he nodded towards Iris that growled a low and warning sound. “Yes, well” he cleared his throat and then looked back at Nathaniel. “Now -“ but before he could speak the whole ground exploded from electric current rushing up their legs making most of them scream in agony. Iris turned around grabbed Nathaniel with her teeth and threw him over her back before she started running as fast as she possible could. All the while she made sure that he was holding on to her and didn’t fall off.

Of course Nathaniel was on the edge of this just by looking at Theo, because he had once observed and watched just like his brother's how the Blanchard's worked. He however hadn't expected to see Theo, and not really liking the darkness he tasted just by attempting to move around in that head of his, so he stayed out. Also because within the next second the whole ground exploded from electricity rushing up at the other's legs, whilst he was grabbed by Iris and more or less thrown on her back. Nathaniel didn't really in this second think, he just held onto his girlfriend while she ran off with them. Knowing he had to make a short call around, or at least to one other person. First things first would get somewhere safe, knowing they could run to Sarah' and perhaps she had something that could get the bullet and the wound it had caused to quickly heal. Magic was sometimes wonderful like that. Then there was of course the fact that his own brother had shot him, making his ow nightmare becoming very real, very soon.

It was like the animal took over completely. The fox ran as fast as it could, not looking back nor minding the angry yelling that fell father and father back. Then there was nothing but the sound of her paws that thundered against the hard ground as dust was kicked up behind her. The electricity crackled around the kitsune as it turned and sat the course towards Sarah’s house. It wasn’t because Nathaniel telepathically had told her, but it was like she could almost feel it from him, that there was what he wanted to go. Knowing that Sarah also knew her father, made her more inclined to trust the very old witch. Then there was the fact that she had cared and taken care of Nathaniel when he had been turned.
It didn’t take long before the very small house nestled in the giant wood came into view and Iris finally slowed down to a small trot. Breathing heavily, she finally came to the door, where Sarah flung open the door and with almost wild eyes and her curly hair sticking all over the place looked at the giant kitsune. And even though she had met Iris a couple of times now, it didn’t take the whole experience away, to actually witness it with her own eyes.
But Sarah’s attention was quickly pulled away from the snow-white fox to Nathaniel as she saw that he was hurt. “Come” she ushered him, not really asking what had happened, that could wait till she had made sure that he was alright physically.

Between the running here even if he wasn't one doing the leg work, he felt the shots of pain shooting up through his leg like a wildfire. He first by now realized why the burn was so sharp and affective. Holy water. Of course. Most likely the bullet was as well curved in some holy symbols to make sure if the target should manage to get away it wouldn't get that far before the pain really would hit. Nathaniel got down from Iris' back and landed on his feet, another sharp bolt of pain rushed throughout his leg from toe to hip, even if it was the knee where where bullet were stuck in. A smaller pained scream left him, even if he tried to really not make a big deal out of it. He took a sharper breath in, seeing Clarke came running towards them as well to see what the fuss was all about. Nathaniel finally managed to get inside, and sat down - or more like fell down onto the couch. "Hunters," was the only thing he mumbled to Sarah, not yet letting her know who, but right now it was also most important to know it was a bullet infected by holy means, for her own sake as well. "It's okay," he looked towards Iris with a soft yet pained smile, as the drops of sweat started to apear like pearls over his forehead. "I'll be good as new before you know it," he assured her even though his voice were slightly weak, but he believed it. Which was as well a very important fact.

Sarah nodded and quickly started grabbing her most important things, the rest she could conjure if she needed too. Then she looked towards the kitsune that changed back to the beautiful blond woman that let out a small breath, clearly not liking the things that was unfolding for her eyes.  “Go, take a bath and take some of my clothes” it wasn’t the first time Sarah had seen a naked body before, and it wouldn’t be the last. When getting as old as she, you became almost blind to the fact that there should be anything sexual in it, unless the moment evolved around it already.
“Of course you will, I’m one of the best, remember?” Sarah said with a smile, noticing that Iris hadn’t moved yet, then she looked over her shoulder again. “You’re still here, Iris please, he’ll be ready to look after by you when you’re done, but right now your starring is just interrupting me” maybe it was harsh words, but it didn’t look like Iris took any of it to heart as she nodded and finally walked away. For a moment it looked like she wanted to say something, but her lips folded together as if she second guessed it and then walked towards the bathroom.

“Right” Sarah hummed in a peaceful tune and found a bark that Nathaniel could bite down on “it will help the pain” and also keep him from biting the tongue off, if her numbing spell wouldn’t work entirely. You never really knew with hunters.
“Alright, I’m going to try and take it out, tap my shoulder with your hand if it gets too painful” she looked into Nathaniel’s eyes before she started working on getting the bullet out of the leg.

Anger was becoming him, he was angry. Angry at his brother for going out set to hunt him. Angry at Theo for joining him, angry at the world for a moment and how it was colored. How blind he once had been. So for a moment even as Sarah found a bark that he could bit down on, for a moment he just looked at it, perhaps just searching for the sound of his own pained scream to remind him what wrongs he had done in the past. So, even through it was painful, even crossed the line where he found it too painful he didn't tab on her shoulder. He took it like a small slap across the cheek. Tried his best not to scream or make too much noise, because he didn't want Iris to bear witness to him in too much agony.

It felt like a long year before he could finally say it was done and exhale. Taking the bark out of his mouth, and take another inhale. Fucking hell. He was disgusted by his brother. "It was my brother, fucking bastard," well it was after all easier to carry anger and frustration around than the fact that he was hurt his brother was out to kill him. Then anger was the easiest thing on earth. "Here I thought they would stay back in Nepal, but no - they absolutely had to come here and try ruin things, fucking hell," he mumbled clearly upset, rambling a bit to himself.

It was clear for anyone to see just how skilled Sarah was at this. She had been a medic under the wars. Done her part to save humanity, and now she had retired and isolated herself. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t the good neighbourhood witch that was there to help those she felt like helping. Like she had tried to remove Hope’s unborn child, but of course it had been a bigger procedure than anyone of them had counted on, and it had ended up with her having to drive her to the hospital. Luckily, they didn’t have to do it this time around.
There was a small metallic sound as the bullet dropped down in the small bowl. Then she started showing him up, unluckily they didn’t have the same healing process as many of the other supernatural creatures. But it wouldn’t be something that would bother him for too long, not with her remedies at least.
Her eyes looked up as he started explaining what had happened. His brother. Sarah’s brows pressed towards each other and then a small sigh left her as she nodded along with his words, not that she agreed, but more to show him that she was listening.
“We have to make sure to put something on you so they can’t track you” she whispered, especially since he had started at the academy. The last thing she wanted was that he would have to put his dreams on hold, just because his family didn’t agree with the fact of who he was now, or the company that he was keeping.

Now it wasn't like his own safety was the thing he feared the most, of course he feared for his own life, but ever since he had gotten Iris close to him - her overall safety meant so much more to him. And Theo had seen her in her kitsune shape, which caused for trouble he worried. "Can you do the same on her?" He wondered and licked his lips a little bit. Now, Iris was his mate after all as well, it caught for a different problem if they actually went and tried to kill Iris - not that Iris didn't have enough magic users in her family to keep her hidden or protected by magical means, but it meant something for him to know that it was there and that Sarah did it, "thank you." Nathaniel then picked up his phone and texted Mariella that he had seen Theo and some other hunters around, knowing she would brief her brothers about it, and it also took some of the pressure of his own shoulders. Then he let his head drop back for a second and just closed his eyes exhausted for a second, before he then took a sharper breath in and got up from the couch, wanting to go see Iris, not caring much about how the leg ached, he was trained to withstand pain like this.

Sarah folded her lips and nodded when Nathaniel asked if she could do the same for Iris. She was, after all, Killian Jones’s daughter; she couldn’t just forget the time they had shared and not help when his children were in need. Had she been surprised the first time that Nathaniel had brought her over? Most certainly, not that it had shown. She also knew that their shared children were in the region, doing God knows what.
“Any time, honey”, she said with a smile and got up from where she had been sitting in front of him. “Go take a bath, and then I’ll make some tea for all of us”, she said with a soft expression letting her hand ruffle his hair gently. Then she gestured him towards the bathroom, where you could still hear that the kitsune was washing herself. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind”, she teased with a wink before she disappeared into the kitchen to wash her hands and put the kettle on.

Iris was standing under the shower, feeling the hot water wash away the stress and worries. Not that it left her completely, but it soothed her for a while. Then she needed to figure out what she would do; her father wouldn’t be pleased with her when he figured out that she had shown her shape to hunters. But what had she been supposed to do? At least this way, they had no idea who she was when they saw her in a human shape, and her aura would remind an ignorant person about a witch instead of what she indeed was.
A small groan left her as she placed her forehead against the cool surface. What a bloody mess.