Scouting the Woods (Flameh, Petal)

[Shadow]

The hot summer air was almost oppressive, making the young mutant a bit irritable. She wasn't accustomed to such weather, even living in the rugged deserts of Arizona. Shadow certainly preferred the cool caverns of the Order's hideout. With a sigh, the Scout hoped that she would be home soon. She had received a mission to scout out the sparse woodlands of Texas with a small squad. Apparently there had been some disturbances, and the Order was thinking a mutant might be about. Shadow really didn't mind her job, but sometimes she wished she could just stay within the hideout and not go trekking all over the country. Pausing, Shadow glanced sharply from side to side, her grey-blue eyes wary. She could tell she wasn't alone. Shadows melted from the trees around her, taking the form of wispy smoke-like creatures. There was a large big cat of some sort with huge incisor teeth, a wolf, and a horse with billowing mane and tail. Shadow crouched lower, knowing that she would be ready if anyone were to appear.

[flameh]

A tall teenage boy stood behind a large tree. He had jet black hair, with a few white streaks and was clothed all in black. Shade noticed the familar form of Shadow in front of him. He smirked to himself before slowly moving towards her. He released his wings and wrapped them around his best and only friend. "You really should be more careful" he teased.

[petalpool]

Moriko yawned, sunning in the bright sun that she oh so hated. Her cat half made her sun nonetheless and she kept her ears perked, waiting for any sound and ready to dart at any moment.

[Shadow]

Shadow started when Shade appeared, then frowned, unamused by his theatrics. She shoved his wings away and put her hands on her hips as her shadowy followers faded back into the trees.

"Oh, yeah? Well, thanks for the advice," she said a bit sarcastically. A smile threatened to tweak at the side of her mouth, so she turned her back on him, marching forward with an air of indifference, her nose stuck in the air a little. Secretly she enjoyed arguing with Shade, though. It was a sign that she was more comfortable with her friend than was usual for her.

[flameh]

Shade chuckled as Shadow made a big deal of pushing his wings out of the way. "Well I'm just trying to make sure you stay safe" he said. He could see the smile threatening to grace her lips, and smiled smugly.

He watched as she turned around and marched off. He shook his head before following her.

[petalpool]

Moriko yawned getting up, she was having a bad feeling, like something was going to happen. Normally it was from hunger, but this one seemed a tad bit more familiar, as if someone were coming. No one is coming, she thought to herself, but she couldn't be so sure, unless she was going paranoid.

[Shadow]

Shadow sighed.

"Yeah, sure, whatever. What would you have done if your little display had distracted me and an enemy attacked? I hope you plan to take responsible for killing me one of these days." She said, glancing over her shoulder at him. Her words were quite obviously meant in jest, for a playful smile had crept onto Shadow's face, and her eyes sparkled with mirth as they rarely did. Shadow was not altogether a sociable person, so it was nice to relax with a friend sometimes. It made her feel more human, though she wasn't sure just how.

[flameh]

Shade listened as she ranted on, and mimicked her actions. He abrubtly stopped when he saw her look over her shoulder. "Cry?" he replied in a questioning tone, a smirk on his face. "And it's your inattentiveness if anything that will get you killed" he said.

[petalpool]

Moriko looked around, she heard something in a bush and instantly darted silently away, not making a single sound. Looking back, she noticed that she was shorter. The cat had spooked her and now she herself was a cat, "Great that stupid cat!" Out of furry she darted at the cat hissing, the terrified, half-starved kitten darted away, leaving Moriko alone yet again.

[Shadow]

Shadow was about to retort when she heard something. Holding up a hand, she turned her head away from Shade, listening intently. Although it was not really a power per say, she did have heightened senses that probably came from her deep connection to the earth and wind. Shadow could tell that there was something out there. Turning to the shadow, she made a gesture and the black sabertooth cat obediently crept towards her. It was an interesting thing. In no way did it look like a real shadow, and yet it didn't quite look like an animal either. It seemed to emit a glow, especially around its white soulless eyes that had no pupils. It was impossible to guess what the shadow was looking at, or if it could see at all.

"Go." Shadow bade the sabertooth gently. The big cat gave a low growl and then leaped off into the brush. Shadow closed one eye and lifted a hand to it. Her hand was consumed in black, as if it had faded away and had been replaced by some strange inky substance. She touched her closed eyelid with a fingertip and could see the forest passing before her, as if she were a part of the sabertooth. The cat prowled through the forest, following the sounds that had alerted Shadow. The cat paused when it heard the squeal of a kitten and watched as it flew through the brush. Slowly the dark shadow began slipping closer to the ground, as if wanting to hide itself among shadows. But it kept its head above, so that Shadow could see what was ahead. Peering from beside a tree, the sabertooth could see another cat, standing with her back arched slightly and a low hiss passing through her teeth.

[petalpool]

Moriko sat down yawning, she looked around, did anyone see me change into a cat? Looking around, she noticed an odd shadow figure, blinking at it, it vanished. Moriko sighed laying down, "Now I'm just going crazy seeing things watching me..."