The Sands of Fire (Shadow)

[flameh]

Ash smiled brightly at his response. "Only if you're comfortable with it though" she said. The last thing she wanted to do was make Isago uncomfortable.

[Shadow]

Isago looked down at his hands and shrugged sheepishly.

"I've never really shown anyone my powers before... Well, you know what I mean. It's sort of... weird for me I guess. But I don't mind." He added hastily, looking back up at her with wide, almost child-like eyes.

[flameh]

"If you're sure" she said. Ash slid from her bed, standing up on shaky legs. She smiled at Isago, brushing her hair behind her ear. She held a hand out to him, ready to lead him to the training rooms.

[Shadow]

Isago accepted Ash's hand, smiling at the feeling of her smooth skin brushing his. He hadn't imagined someone could have such flawless skin as Ash did. His own was usually pretty dry, but not strangely so. Looking into her face, he smiled.

"Let's go then." He said cheerfully.

[flameh]

Ash smiled as Isago took her hand. She began to lead him out of the hospital wing and into the main part of the hideout. She exchanged greetings with a few mutants in passing, as she navigated through the tunnels of the hideout. Finally she came upon the usually abandoned training room that she favoured. She peeked in and noticed it's emptyness and smiled. "We're here" she said, opening the door.

[Shadow]

Isago nodded to a few of Ash's friends, not really sure what else to do. Some of them casted him curious glances, others just nodded back. The red-headed boy couldn't help but feel strange around so many other mutants. He hadn't really met many at all before Ash.

"Okay. Stand back." He said shakily. Looking around at the stone training area, Isago quickly discovered that he wouldn't have much to work with. Touching the smooth floor, he searched for any way to turn some into sand to work with. He was gratified that there were a few cracks with some loose rubble caught in them. Curling his hand into a fist, he smiled when a string of sand began to slowly filter from the crack, twirling around him in beautiful ribbon-like spirals.

[flameh]

Ash let go of Isago's hand and moved back. She chose to lean against the wall near the door, her amber gaze watching intently. She watched as he turned some rubble into sand. She looked on in amazement as the sand surrounded him in a beautiful swirling dance.

[Shadow]

Isago moved his fingers rhythmically, causing the sand to swirl together into nine little spheres. They twirled around his hand, moving up and down, side to side, almost as if they were connected to some invisible wire and were spinning around it. Isago glanced over at a nearby target and tipped his head slightly to one side. He flicked his hand out with the reflexes that only a mutant could possess. Three of the spheres whipped towards the target, shearing through them as no arrow or bullet could. They planted themselves in the wall on the other sides of the target and then immediately began to dissolve and float back to Isago, who smiled when they reformed and joined his floating spheres again.

[flameh]

Ash watched him, completely captivated by his movements. He possessed such graceful control over his powers, it amazed her. She watched as he flung the sand balls, destroying one of the targets before they immediately returned to him.

[Shadow]

Isago stretched his hand out flat. The sand began to swirl around it, some of it solidifying around his arm. It formed a sort of sand shield that stretched itself into a sort of cross-shape. A little red coloring seemed to appear on the sand, making the shield look more ornate. Twirling his opposite wrist, he took more sand from a nearby crack and formed a large scythe-looking spear, marked with similar red stripes.

[flameh]

Ash watched in amazement as the sand formed to his arm, creating a large shield. Next she saw the large scythe being shaped and smiled. She knew she was right about his power, it was completely unique and absolutely stunning.

[Shadow]

Isago twirled the spear expertly in his hand, looking up at a green light flickering above his head. He wondered what that was for. Glancing at another target, he planted his feet firmly and then chucked his spear at it. It landed dead on, which wasn't a surprise. Isago had spent hours training himself to master every aspect of his abilities. His shield dissolved and began to form a sort of tidal wave of sand, crushing the target. It suddenly constricted, putting more pressure than any substance - bodies included - couldn't even hope to withstand. The air was filled with the sound of splitting wood as the target was crushed.

[flameh]

Ash watched as he tossed his spear at a target it the distance, hitting it perfectly. She then watched as waves of sand surrounded it, increasing pressure until a large cracking noise broke the silence in the room. "Amazing" she said.

[Shadow]

Isago looked around at Ash when he heard her say something. Had he heard wrong? Amazing? His powers had never been described as anything but... frightening before. A smile spread across the boy's face. Some of his sand floated into his fist. He crushed the sand with his fingers, as if he were molding it. Walking over to his girlfriend, he held out his hand and uncurled his fingers, revealing a tiny sand charm. It was smooth on the surface, though. Shaped like a heart, it had beautiful red patterns glistening over its surface like little diamonds.

"For you," he said with a smile.

[flameh]

Ash watched curiously as he crushed some sand in his fist. She smiled as he walked towards her, curious as to what he was holding. She looked at his hand as he uncurled his fingers, noticing the beautiful charm resting on it palm. She picked it up carefully, studying it for moment. "It's beautiful, thank you" she said, leaning up to place a kiss on his cheek.