Welcome to Gaia! ::

Che sat basking in the moonlight as Will's voice played through his head like a nagging message left by an overprotective uncle or something. In wasn't as if the ragged, bearded man minded. In fact, he welcomed it. Usually. Not when the voice of his tutoring was ringing because of that little word. God. "Ah!! Man! Jes---Satan!! Don't do that while I have a headache please!" A hand was quickly lifted to his forehead. The throbbing was strong and as Che pressed his hand against his forehead harder, he could even hear it. "I stopped being the God Owl a long time ago...I'm already stronger than that stupid position anyway." Oddly, when Cerbs lowered his giant, electrical paw onto Che's straightened hair, his headache all but vanished. His cauliflower hairstyle was revived from the grave as well. If the dog was going to go for Che's beard next, then the Italian would be in for a long night of brushing.

Purple eyes followed the butler intently as he sat down the drink in front of him. There was a coffee table left in this destroyed room. That was rather fortunate. The cold wind that blew through though chilled the coffee-flavored concoction. Che could still savor it. It was coffee-flavored after all. It was too strong to be considered coffee by the Mastering Owl, but all the same, it was half gone in just seconds. Just like last time, it was savory and sweet. So sweet that it drew the corners of Che's lips so far back, it felt as though they were cramping. "A retarded hobo huh?" replied Che through tightly clenched teeth. "Well, you look dead. It's hard to think of the basics when drinking Tai's liquid death...it's hard to breath for that matter......" Loud and clear the student listened. It was more than just the maestro he was hearing though. Now, he could hear his own heartbeat echo through his body....

"You must see Serena. You just have to, huh?" Che's jaws had unlocked finally, but he could still hear that internal rhythm like drums through a headphone. He taunted at Will now knowing there wasn't much he could do besides keep noise. Maybe taunting him wasn't a good idea if that were actually the case. "You can't do her anymore man. I guess you'd do the same for me in this situationnnnnnn....." Tai's special drink was stating to take hold within him. "I suppose I can take you to see her sometimmmmmmme...Seb will be needed..........because.........I ain't walking........Oh my God Tai, what do you make this stuff with........"



Tiredly, Roulin rolled his eyes while Amara recounted both her past and most of his. He hadn't expected her to recall the info with such clarity, but now that he was sitting, there wasn't much he could do besides listen in. In the midst of the explanation, the Italian heard a question drift his way. Tilting his eyes ever so slightly in the direction of the other Owl, he grinned as his reply came to him almost naturally. "I'm not concerned with what I've done. Only the options laid out before me keep me up at night. For a minute or two at most." The smirk upon the man's face parted forming an assuring smile. Before he could explain to the young woman why her ailment shouldn't have been of any concern, she continued.

A nod here. A nod there. Each name that fluttered from Amara's lips was regarded with a nod from her fellow Owl. "Family? School faculty? The list just keeps going and going. Hmmm...you don't sound like an idiot. You sound just how you feel. Confused. If you're looking for some kind of reprimand, I can give it to you." Roulin decided against simply reading Amara's mind to figure out just where she was going with her speech. From how she went on though, the Italian could gather that she was searching for a sign that her past actions could be met with retribution someway somehow. The confusion that emanated from her may have been a result of indecision. Did she want to continue? Or was she truly no longer content with how she lived life? These were perhaps questions that Roulin wanted to ask himself.

Roulin didn't know how to respond to what Amara was now going on about. He cared for the girl in ways only a few could understand, but hearing her say it directly to him was...different. Even if Che hadn't 'introduced' these two to each other, Roulin was certain that their destinies were intertwined somehow. If they didn't cross paths then, they'd have just done so later on. It wasn't long before the Italian found his purple eyes drifting towards Amara. "...hey." He brought himself to mutter. "Amara...I....." Roulin was now standing from his seat unbeknownst to his psionic friend.

"You stupid, stupid girl. Don't you know that you only make those around you weaker when you're sad?" said Roulin as warmly he embraced Amara from behind. Though the Owl could read emotions, he never knew the best way to reply to them. This girl was some he knew he'd go to great length for and in the past, he's done so. It appeared now though that all she needed was someone there for her. Over the years, Roulin had changed, but he wasn't above comforting someone he knew was in need. "The sadder you get, the sadder I get. You know that. The choices you and I have made until this point don't matter. What does is building a place where we don't have to be haunted by our mistakes. Understand?" Tighter he held Amara in his arms as a few tears fell down his cheeks. "I don't care what happened in your past. I don't care what happened with Lucien. As long as you can accept what you've done as a part of yourself, then I can. We all can."

Kojiro remained still in his bed, his eyes unwavering and the only movement from his body was the natural rise and fall of his chest...he was alive in the most technical term in medicine....His eyes were blank and lifeless. Nothing could be read in such a soulless gaze...the silence in the room and his body provided for his mind to slowly collect itself...very slowly.

He had been in this state before...It began to come back to him.

“Come on Koj! Snap out of it! No one is going to hurt you here! Please say something! Anything!”

What was that? Kojiro's mind playing tricks?...but a faint sound was echoing. His body was too exhausted to move even so much as considering it felt like a chore. Once again, he could hear it, it was faint...but he could make it out better. A voice echoed in his thoughts...but it was so real and clear , he felt like it was right next to him...

“Do you remember that time at the beach, when I scared you in the water? It sure seems like that was a dream now, huh? Well, someday we can do that again. Hey! we can even go and visit Benkei and pay our respects to Owen” “But, for all that to happen…we need to be strong…I will be strong Koj…but I will be stronger with you by my side”

Kojiro focused on the sounds of this voice...as it was more audible and clear...he still could not make out where it was coming from. Kojiro thought silently as the voice sounded familiar..but he could not remember where he had heard it.

“See? This is only the beginning. New York was a place Owls feared to venture, and now they come with new hopes of a safe home. We are breaching the very edge of our dreams Koji”

Was his mind playing tricks on him? Kojiro finally recognized the voice, it was right next to the bed.

It was Nathaniel's.

Kojiro was unconscious while these words were said, now...he was hearing them for the first time. "...Nat...?....Nat?...Is that you?"

“We still have a long way to go, huh Koji…”

Kojiro's body did not move, nothing seemed to show physically nothing worth a response of even a sign of life, but he could swear he could hear it, right next to him. It was as clear as day! Kojiro could hear his voice one more time...It was so close to him.

"...We do have a long way to go...But I won't be giving up any time soon, we will just keep fighting on...right?"

He could remember now , it was when they first occupied New York...

“But of course we will. We shall walk ahead on the paths we have chosen and keep fighting for our dreams! Things will work out for us. Raven wont let us down!”

Tears began to roll down his eyes, there they were...but what has been accomplished? They fought valiantly through all their Kojiro's eyes were still dull, but the tears did not stop. He could not bear to think about it. The voice he heard...it was right next to him, like any other day. What if...What if...Kojiro stirred, his body slowly began to reach over, and began prop himself up," Nathaniel?...Is that y-"

He was cut off by a sharp pain, an electrode placed on his back was activated as he got up. Kojiro's body stiffened and his breaths were cut from short gasps to being unable to breathe, he could not even scream in pain. As the electric pulses paralyzed Kojiro, all that could be heard were faint sounds that escaped his lips, they resembled pained whispers..not so much screams but gasps. The shock finally subsided, leaving Kojiro to fall back onto the bed, his mouth slightly agape, and his blank eyes wide from being caught off guard, his breathing was staggered from the surprise. His head was towards the side now, and he could clearly see, His friend was not there. Nathaniel was killed on a rooftop...just like the gunner explained, he was dead, and nothing was going to change that. Kojiro figured he may have been better off...instead of seeing their family now, and putting him through everything that has come to pass. Kojiro's tears did not stop, he had failed everyone. He simply wanted to die already, he could not stand it anymore. Though his face showed no expression, his chest tightened, and tears soaked the bed he was laying in, Nathaniel was not there by his side anymore, nor was the family that he loved in the past.

~~

Hitonomi sat quietly on the rooftop, his sights moved only when he wanted them to. He scanned New Exire carefully, He found peace in the lifeless snow. When he first heard reports of the attack in what was once New york. They attacked with such ferocity that he almost could not believe they were only an organized militia...An yet...they waged wars and toppled several significant government, as the attacks continued, reports would flood in. Some of just biased fear induced articles, but some. Some informants steadfast, and described the Fallen Phoenix's abilities, measured the destruction, and provided identification. Some lived to send the collected data themselves...and several useful accounts and analysis were submitted posthumously. It was almost fascinating. He watched part of Raven's speech on the television that day before their attack in Europe....could that really be the final voice heard before the genocide of humans? The thought really didn't cross his mind at the time, he had already turned it off, there was nothing worth watching anyway. This whole time, even if it wa ultimately a failure...Raven has single handedly left such a scar on the human race...that it would never heal...how it would be remembered would still be up to fate.Perhaps it was needed...Humans needed a wake up call anyway. They had grown far to self aware of themselves...perhaps their complacency will not be a concern anymore...after all...according to the righteous claims of this reckless leader...she did say it was due to some oppression of Owls. He did see it though, it was still in the world, but it seems everything has to be an object of war. He read reports on not only the Fallen Phoenix...but other groups as well. Such extraordinary abilities, undeniably it would set them apart from normal humans. But by their own hand, every group of Owls is now responsible with affiliating these gifts with weapons of war. Surpassing the capabilities of weapons that can be easily manufactured...they have carved up the world with their differences....They really are no different from humans.

He quietly placed the binoculars on the ground and lit a cigarette, the the cool winter air blowing by made this no easy task. Taking in the deep breath of tobacco, he exhaled a large puff of smoke, he had been reminded time and time again that it would end his life sooner with smoking. He was sure something else would be responsible for that much sooner. As he peered into his scope, his sights crossed over several Owls,he had never been one to be too friendly with their kind....except on certain occasions. However he was not against their existence, he simply could not tolerate their powers being the reason for such a mess. Nor would he tolerate the Human's ignorance towards something their were unsure of.

Ignorance...

He knew better than to let Serena walk into this city alone, but he also knew he did not want to cross paths with her if he didn't have to. She would have been stubborn enough to go ahead anyway. She had to see things for herself to learn them, his concern for her kept him within range of her quite often though. It bothered him even more that she was alone from the start. She had a child and she was foolish enough to step into dangrous ground. The young priestess had informed him of Kojiro's instability...and even so,he let her go. As he watched her still press onward to face Kojiro. for the first time in a long time, his hand was shaking...not so much the scope of the sniper, but his trigger finger. He trusted her, but he did not want to risk loosing her. Even after everything that had happened, his concern for her was always there. When in combat...soldiers would sleep peacefully, knowing that they had snipers scouting the surrounding area...they were known as "Guardian Angels". He had the same mentality, ever since a report had come in that she was accompanying the Fallen Phoenix, he had kept an eye on her whenever he could. Wiping the sweat from his brow he had quietly made his way down to the two after the conflict had ended. As they took both Kojiro and Serena to one of the rooms in the buildings, he took a breath of relief. Though he would have preferred a much more heartwarming reunion, it would have to take a backseat. As he tended to both of their wounds and injuries. He carefully looked over Serena's injuries, including the gash on her back. As he continued to take care of the injuries, he how she had done this several times for him in the past After he finished the first aid, he simply sat quietly, by her side...He wanted to be there when She woke up, something was a amiss if she was in such danger, He wanted to sit by her and ask if everything was alright, but he told himself that he would never face her again, they would only cross paths as rivals, and he would continue to do so. It was strange, she had never been this sloppy before. Entering a zone unarmed, and simply, everything she did...It simply added to the concern that was already significantly heavy on his mind. Even leaving her alone with Kojiro in such a state was worrying him. Even though he had told him that he was worthless in battle, there have been such odd and conflicting reports on Kojiro's analysis, he was actually hard to measure, simply because every Owl had simply been growing steadily, and unleashing escalating forces. Raven, Thomas, Roulin, Lucien...those names have always come up in the Carnage reports....following other names...Cecilia, Anderson, Demios...The Presidiomni...all of them have been reported, always causing more damage and showing more force...but Kojiro was just reported as being present sometimes, even sometimes mistaken for a human. Sometimes he would have been seen providing fire, all of these were mixed well to even conclude a possibility of different people, one considerable report was submitted in the past, it was the wreckage of the USS Keresarage. Beached on a mass of frozen water, it was torn in half. No single report was similar, or even consecutive. It was astounding what Owls were capable of...and yet here he was, knee deep in another situation with them.

Hitonomi could combat almost any type of owl at this point, and has done so on numerous occasions. Always underestimating him, and then paying the ultimate price....Business as always. He could always see them, benefactors that wanted Owls dead. Grimy politicians that wanted safety from Owls due to his or her wrong doing. It was all the same. He would take one or two if their sob story were pathetic enough, but usually he would simply stare at them with disgust, and leave them to deal with their sins.

His radio crackled to life as a young girl's voice could be heard.


He brushed off all of the reminiscing. That wasn't important. He already had a mission.

"H...to....ca...can you hear me?"

"What is it Aoi?"

"I think I found the building Miss Raven is staying...but..."

"But?"

"...I'm..I'm scared...what if she tried to kill me?"

Hitonomi was silent for a moment,Aoi was wearing and pulling off an incredible disguise....But it was also a death warrant...should Raven see through the facade, she would not even think twice to destroy her, considering she is wearing his garments...which could be misinterpreted. Or she could be dealt with like a spy, with just as gruesome results. He could not push her into the belly of the beast like this. He would be in the same level as several of these leaders were in. The gunner took a light breath and looked through his sights. Looking around Aoi's surroundings, he placed his lips near his microphone. His voice was soft and calm.

"Aoi...listen carefully...You are in great danger, you are in situation that could get you killed...you are trying to get Kojiro back to his village in the most peaceful manner without causing any distress in the ranks or causing alarm. From here I can do everything in my power to keep you safe and execute an escape plan for you...but in short....Yes, she may kill you...and If you don't want to do this I understand."

A silence passed for a moment as Aoi was not sure how to even go about confronting raven If she walked up to her. She looked at the hidden pocket that had been getting her slight attention every so often and had intended to address that as well. She was not sure what to do.

Hitonomi looked at his side, a small light lit up on a remote, one red...and then one green. Kojiro activated the electrode he placed on the boy's back. He placed his binoculars down and sat patiently for a moment to collect his thoughts taking another long drag of his cigarette, he was hoping this would end quietly. The motion sensors near Serena's bed were tripped as well, the place was heavily monitored, and he made sure he left nothing to chance, so far nothing seemed out of control. Kojiro still hadn't left the building, so there was still a chance to complete the mission. The radio once again came to life. He hoped she had an answer.

"Cerbs? No, but it's interesting imagining you get overran by them. That's probably why they're all over you right now." Che took a few more sips of Tai's magical drink. The taste was magic and how it made Che feel afterward was magic, but the drink itself was more or less a heart attack in a cup. Anyone looking into the light purple eyes of the high-strung Owl would see something kaleidoscopic...mesmerizing even. "I don't think it would do either of us any good if I said this isn't making me feel good..." Lost in thought, Che's head tilted onto his hand. After a sigh, he scratched his head and the thick mane of hair atop his head ruffled like a bird caught in a bush.

Che stood up from his seat and almost had to sit again to catch himself. To him, it felt as though he stood up rather slowly...like molasses rising in a vacuum. His body, on the other hand, shot up with such speed it made the Owl dizzy. "This is going to be so fun..." said Che with leveled, lava-lamp-like eyes. "In the meantime, here. Have a crudely drawn image of Serena." And just like that, a crayon, marker, cutout image of Serena was presented to Will. It strutted over to the man sitting on the throne of miniature Cerbs and winked a disturbing wink. "Now. I think I can leave for a little bit...and nothing will be destroyed. Where's Serena, Sebastian? So I can get this devil to pipe down?"

William DeScythe smirked as Che replied and apparently enjoyed feeling his mentor get overrun by miniCerbs. "Oh?" The former Satan Owl patted the puppies. "Mhmm...of course you're always terrible with taking Tai's tea, but you'll find it quite energizing." The blonde shrugged as he suddenly found himself on a throne of miniCerbs. The miniCerbs had apparently decided to make a throne for him and leave poor little kid Che out. The kid was still playing with the confetti.

"This is going to be so fun...In the meantime, here. Have a crudely drawn image of Serena."

The blonde mentor made a face as the cryaon marker cutout image of Serena strutted over to him and then gave Will a disturbing wink. "Damn, Cheani. Your art skills still stink. I thought you would have at least mastered drawing chibis by now instead of just stick figures. This looks nothing like my bunny." The devil former proceeded to critique Che's failings and then pushed the cutout image of Serena away. "Yeah...pipe down, hmm?" And then Will found an old smoking pipe inserted in his mouth. "Oh...you remembered this pipe after all." He smirked fondly.

Sebastian, the faithful butler, was of course readily prepared and led Will's student through a portal to the room in New Exire where Will's bunny was sprawled on the floor looking lost and alone. The Maestro sighed "Bunny..." as he felt and saw the expression on Serena's face through Che, and then the blonde had to smirk as Serena started beating on Cheani and ranting. "That a girl, bunny."

Ah, good old Sebastian had averted Che from potentially being stabbed. The sound of a dagger had fallen on the floor. Will hadn't seen the dagger, but he could tell just from the sound of it landing that it was Serena's black widow dagger. Perhaps, once enough drama had passed....

....once Che was beaten up more..... without the dagger....

...how the devil wanted to hold his bunny once again....

"Cheani, let me out."

Little did any of the four notice that Cerbs had followed through. Of course he had. Cerbs always followed whenever there was a bunny involved. He liked his steak, and this bunny always had good steak. The hell hound also was rather fond of the white haired assassin and didn't like seeing her sad. He was "da perfect pillow" for her....aside from Will.

Hitonomi looked down, and a chill ran down his spine as he realized the worst has come to past...his tired eyes soon widened slightly...then softened...his plan had encountered its first hitch....and it was a fatal flaw.

His grey eyes simply stared at the blue LED on his receiver. His body was numb and his gaze was steady. Almost mesmerized by the light and put into a slight trance like state. The Blue light meant that there were other bodies actively tripping the motion sensors...no traps were triggered, so they were bypassed. This person must have seen through all of his mechanics and hidden tricks. They were clearly well trained, If they spotted Serena she would be in grave danger.

"H-Hitonomi....I....I"

Hitonomi pressed the radio to his ear in a futile attempt to understand the Japanese girl's voice over the rather advanced equipment. His hoped she had good news...or at least a plan of her next move, He looked over with a pair of binoculars towards her position, she had made it towards Raven's building and was hidden near the entrance:

"Hitonomi...I'm scared...but Kojiro, he has this...I want to give it to her...it has her name on it, and He would want to say goodbye to her...I can't bear to run away now, but-"

"Hey! what are you doing here? "

"Wha?! Ah!"

Careful! You are going to trip!"

"Kyaaaa!"

"Look ou-"

The radio echoed the sound of glass resonated in the microphone, and then cut to static, Hitonomi looked up and over towards the Ice filing the small area, he clenched his teeth, catching the cigarette tightly in his mouth...the embers slowly are away at what was left of the only thing that was keeping his mind level at the moment. Did she drop the cores? Did she attack someone? It began to cause a small but unnoticeable attention at the moment, but that could change at any moment. He spoke into the Microphone,"....Aoi! Aoi? can you hear me? say something!" he ordered into the microphone. This was not good, at that moment, the clock on this mission began to spiral out of control. If Aoi was still alive, she needed to be extracted immediately. Aoi was a direct representative of her home If she died in this warzone, the entire Fallen Phoneix would all be targeted. This would only mean that common blood would be needlessly spilled, more than likely...causing humans to die and create another catastrophe. On the other hand, Serena was now in danger, he swore he would protect her. He was going to be that guardian angel. He had no intention of repenting for the sins he had committed. He would always loyal to the weathered bond that he still believed in.

There was no more time for thinking...He had wasted enough time. In any case, he was going headfirst into the heart of the city, he would stop at nothing to get to his destination and butcher anything that got in his way. He let the cigarette drop and sizzle as it was put out by the displaced snow. He did not even waste time retrieving his sniper...he did not plan for any cloak and dagger tactics. He got to his feet and began dropping all of his weapons to the ground, lightening his load as much as possible. Several magazines and clip tumbled to the ground, undisturbed grenades rolled to a halt on that roof. He gripped two familiar pistols, they were no specialized in anyway, but his sleight of hand harmonized with the mechanisms that were so finely tuned with these two weapons, he was most dangerous when wielding them compared to any other. He looked silently at the pistol grip of one, watching a damaged old charm dangle off of it. He closed his eyes as he thought for a moment. He picked up certain Items and strapped them. Without even giving the armory he had discarded a second glance, he sprinted to the door where the stairs were at. His eyes took note of everything, calculating the distances, every tactic, every maneuver. As his mindset became that of an active combatant, his grip tightened on his weapons, like they were now part of him. His eyes then changed, from that of a tired levelheaded man, to that of a calculative hunter, a cold gaze that only took in the beauty of the elegant execution of his enemy. Still he did not know who to approach first.

"Hitonomi...I'm scared."

The words seared into his chest as he replayed the frail words of the young girl, they were dripping in the fear of facing death...and he foolishly pushed her into the maw with a target on her back. He then looked at his old weapon, and words alone could not explain the biting fear that crushed his heart with unbearable pressure...There was little he fought for in this world in his name....and even in the face of a barrel pointed at his head....

He had to decide soon, and time was not leaving much in options.

~~~

Kojiro remained still as he tried to make a faint light of the situation, it had been so long since he remained resting in a bed for so long, the sheets were old and ragged, but his body no longer bore any cold temperatures. His power was so aggressively restrained, that he instead had a mild fever. Kojiro's mind freely flowed through several thoughts and concepts, memories and epiphanies. The Frozen Owl did not even show the slightest reaction, wishing he could redo everything, he wished to simply get another chance.

"Why isit that you weren't there for him?!"

Kojiro's ears made out a familiar voice, shouting in another room, Serena was in fact nearby like the gunner had mentioned. Something was obviously wrong, he felt he had to do something, apologize, step in, act...something. Slowly, he began to get back up from his bed. As soon as he got up high enough, he felt his body once again tense up, his muscles contracted and felt like were being torn to peices. Kojiro clenched his fists and grit his teeth, grimacing at the pain that was being inflicted. He felt eh shock somewhat weaker, even though it was still like millions of needles mutilating him...he felt he could with stand it ....He needed to...he had to...He-

"Let me go Sebastian...I can't stand being around this war any longer than I have to....there is nothing here for me anymore...No Will...no Kojiro...I am free from everything..."

Kojiro felt too numb to feel the needles anymore, but his body was still paralyzed, once again letting him fall to the bed once again. As he caught his breath, it came to a very low whisper. Part of him wanted to say something. In truth, perhaps it was for the better, giving up would mean that Serena would no longer worry about him. If Kojiro gave up, he would simply lie in the bed as time passed by. If Kojiro had given up more often nothing would have changed. The Owl slowly leaned his head back and fell silent on the bed.

((TFP---Raven----OOC: Oh Dante. You do make me laugh at times emotion_awesome ))

“Oh I am confident enough to say that he will indeed be coming here alone. Though, I wonder if perhaps he could take this fine opportunity to wipe me from the face of the earth.” The blonde female glanced towards the Herald with a curious glint dancing in her eyes. “Tell me Timothy, what you would do if it were you in Roulin’s place. If you were the one I was waiting for on this night. I am sure that the temptation of being able to end one huge part of this war would be rather…alluring. Would you come here for yet another talk, another exchange in political views? Or would you simply do away with the woman who is causing so much pain in your life?” A smile graced the elegant woman’s lips as she circled the room like the proud hunter she had once been not so long ago.

“Of course, when the day comes that my life is ended by your hands….You would find that you feel as though you have just lost a part of your hollowed self… Either way you lose something…..Although…” Pausing in her walk, Raven summoned a small ball of highly temperamental energy. A shockwave in its most raw form “Although… As it currently stands…I am not much of a challenge for you anymore…No…You’ve taken on so many other powers, including my own…” Shaking her head Raven did away with the ball of energy and laughed for a few beats “Ah but, you are not Roulin, are you? The two of you are completely different from each other. So this is pointless. I am merely asking the questions that I have been asking myself....”

Ah how the smaller males demeanour could change! Ah, the stare that he now offered to the Quaking Owl did nothing to quell the curiosity that burned so deftly inside the woman’s being. She made no move to retract her question that had caused such a change in this room’s tension. For a moment their eyes had remained locked via the cracked mirror hanging on the wall. Raven…no…Catherine, remained completely still as the man of steel rotated on the spot until he was facing her. Somehow, in that small movement, the man’s demeanour had altered once again! This man, this Herald…A fighter, killer, man of pure elemental control…He surely had far more many faces than just the one that he so often showed. This was the first time that Catherine had ever seen him looking so solemn! But yet there was definitely something about him that screamed he felt insulted! Oh this was a surprise to the ice cold French woman. A nice surprise in fact. She couldn’t help but think that Timothy was only coming across this way because he hated admitting, like herself, that he still had a human side. Regardless, Catherine listened to the man’s words about rivers emptying and becoming renewed. A clever way of saying ‘I cried because I was sad’ and that was all there was to it. A man as old as Timothy had a very long past. As such, even he needed to cry for the days gone by. It was inevitable.

When the Herald finished with his small speech, Catherine merely smiled and breathed out a small sigh of relief. She said nothing for a while but continued to gaze at Timothy with judging eyes. “The reason I walked through the shards of glass without shoes was simply because the bites from the glass was enough to keep my mind of the growing cold. Well, that is one way I could put it…But the truth would be because the pain doesn’t bother me in the slightest. It is nothing when compared to the pain that this war brings. I am sure that perhaps you could agree to that, Timothy.” The French woman stretched her arms outwards and took in a deep breath of crisp cold air which was then exhaled in a plume of white condensation. “I was crying for a multitude of reasons as supposed to just my past. I mourned for my long dead parents and brother. I grieved for my forgotten childhood and I remembered those who died in this war after pledging their selves to me, their leader~” She turned away from the Herald and walked towards the wreckage that was once a set of glass doors that led to the balcony. Outside the snow continued to fall but their pace had slowed drastically in the last few minutes. “But what brought the tears on more was the fact that I am still living~”

Time was fleeting and it constantly teased the souls that walked the earth. Owls and humans alike had no control over the events that had happened. They only had control over the moment and the future. Anything they happened from this moment onwards would be because of their own hands and minds. The war was inevitable as was the wars that would come in the future. “I am tired, Timothy. Tired but unable to rest. Tell me, you must have felt this way before? I am unable to even comprehend how I would feel if I were to live on for as long as you have….It must drive you to do drastic things…..Like killing the Satan Owl…I hear that the pair of you had quite a history…But, none of that matters in war, correct?” Catherine turned and studied the man before her carefully. Her lips curled back as she smiled “My mind has grown weaker along with my will to continue fighting. I can no longer see the dream I once foolishly dreamt ever coming to light. But, I hope that something has been learned from me and The Fallen Phoenix’s…Even if it is just the outcome of what happens when Owls are being repressed.” She laughed here and took a seat upon an upturned cabinet

“Ah….I guess…I am looking forward to an end…Forgive me Timothy…But from this moment onwards I won’t be putting up much of a fight. I have played my part to my fullest…I simply want to sleep now.” It was with those last words that Catherine communicated that she was finished with this part of the conversation. As her ice blue eyes turned once more to the grey sky outside, she smiled again. A familiar cold sensation trickled down one cheek. Apparently her rivers were still not completely finished with emptying their selves….