Nature's Cruelty [M.E./OPEN]

[Azura]

She would look back up to him once she heard him begin to speak again, noting the anger upon his face and her eyes softening as a result of such. Softly she would try to shake her head, to tell him that it was alright, but before she could, she would feel his arms wrap about her and pull her against him.

At first, she froze, uncertain of what to do. Nobody had ever shown her kindness in such a way, at least nobody other than Raven. Legion did so out of being forced to through the bond that they shared, but she was no fool...he would not have loved her had it been by his own choice. Eventually though, she would relax, a soft sigh given as she closed her eyes and tried desperately to stop the tears that came from her eyes. "I could not allow you to be harmed for my sake. I will not."

What was she saying? She was sent here to break them, to destroy all of them. She was supposed to be judging them objectively, not allowing her own petty emotions to get in the way. Yet, as she turned her head just enough so that she could bury her nose against his chest, breathing in his scent she became determined that she would not allow harm to fall upon him. Perhaps only him, but him just the same.

Her small body still trembling, she would offer a soft, gentle nuzzle to his chest. Her little arms wrapping about him if just barely, in order to return what little form of affection she seemed to be receiving in this moment. She did not know how long it would last, nor if it was real, but she was thankful for it just the same. Her first real glimpse that such a thing was possible from the students at this school. "Thank you." Speaking softly, her tone soft and shaky as was her breath, but she meant the words with all of her heart.

[Cael Seran]

A small grin drawn to each side of his face before looking down at her face patched between his chest and encompassing arms. "Ain't no thing." A cool little whisp of his words dismissing the comment entirely. She'd let no harm befall him? That was a laughable remark, Cael drew two conclusions from that. One the most evident and clearly how he'd take it would be that she was simply a concerned girl who thought that she could somehow serve an impactful defense against anything threatening that may befall him. And two of course was the drawn reason that she was somehow wrapped up in all this mess and had a rather large pull. He somehow doubted that she had any in those matters. However the smaller woman he'd met in the hall somehow managed to superheat it with her abilities. Who was to say that a small meek figure like her wasn't capable of such unique abilities.

"K'mon... shelters the most important thing now."

Dropping his hands Cael would let her loose only to let one hand idly stroke down the length of her forearm and grasp in an embrace of hands. With a calming nod he'd shift hues across her face and onward into the forest. It was getting dark with the sun dripping now over the treeline, so they'd want to stick close and hopefully find something to make into a shelter.

[Azura]

Azura meant every word she had said, and though she knew that she did not look like much, she was more than capable of holding her own. Still, it wasn't like she was going to say that, not when being hidden was so damn important right now. It was just too risky to tell anyone who she was, especially when there was a chance that if she did, they would be subjected to the same things that Legion had been put through. That thought alone enough to scare her into secrecy, not to mention the potential of escaping.

Still, she would look up at him when she spoke, forcing a smile onto her lips as she nodded. She would let him believe what he wanted, not about to speak up and correct him. "Well thank you." Nodding and lifting her head so that she could press her lips against his cheek, allowing them to linger there for a moment before pulling back and allowing her hazel eyes to look into his own.

Then, as he mentioned once more finding shelter, she would nod. Yes, that was the most important thing right now, and though she wasn't entirely sure what she was doing, she agreed that they should probably get started. A soft shiver coursing down her spine as she felt his hand tracing down her arm...teeth lightly capturing her lower lip as she looked down for a moment. "Yeah...we should probably get going on that." Another light nod before feeling his much larger hand embrace her own slightly before looking back up at him.

Noting his attention shifting toward the forest, she would slowly push herself up to stand, one hand moving to lightly dust off her rear end while she shifted her gaze toward the tree line. In her mind, she wasn't so much worried about the setting sun or the impending darkness...she just wanted to do something, anything to distract herself. "So...any ideas?" Once more casting a glance in his direction, that soft, light smile again curled upon her lips.

[Cael Seran]

Cael's head would stay inclined skyward, towards the treeline most specifically. As much as he wanted to keep eye contact with her and get lost in a tizzy of her hues he was much better off it he just proceeded forward with an objective. Maybe be a little less overcome with a creepy guy sort of edge so many seemed to give off when they were after something they wanted.

"I got afew."

A sly drawn smirk looking across the foray and taking off, his hand releasing hers momentarily before taking to a nearby tree jumping and leaping out with his hands upwards. With a tweak he'd yank down on it resulting in Cael landing on his backside with a large stump pressing down on his chest.

"Ooff, not the *Cough* Brightest idea on my agenda."

A slight wheeze exiting his lungs before pushing the stump over and wavering on it. A deep breath leaning over it and grunting with a light smile. "Option number two wasn't nearly as fun though." Another cough before patting his chest down for injuries.

Cael's hues would linger around the area feeling a strange chill run up his spine. A reminder of the fact that they were away from the group, spread out away from the fire and an eerie silence seemed to capture them. "Ever hear the tale of Slenderman?" A sick sort of delight crossed his face before being gripped by mock fear.

[Azura]

With her hand released, she would watch him as he moved toward the tree line, feeling a bit self conscious all of a sudden at the deliberate way in which he kept his eyes trained away from her. She didn't know if she had done something wrong, or perhaps if girl's....normal girls were not supposed to show such weakness, or what it was...but she was really starting to worry she had done something. Which, then led to the question of why she would worry. She had a ....well...she wasn't sure what Legion was. She wasn't so easily persuaded into terming it "soul-mate" or anything, but she supposed it was close....Hell, she didn't know. That whole train of thought frustrating her and causing her a dull ache at the back of her skull. Though as he spoke, he would snap her out of her little self reflection, drawing her gaze toward him once more.

Slowly, she would approach his direction, following along and watching curiously as he went about trying to put together his "plan" or whatever he wanted to call it, a brow arching slightly as he hopped up, grabbing a rather large branch and jerking down upon it. The instant he did, she felt a gnawing feeling at the pit of her stomach. It didn't take a rocket scientist to see, from this angle, that this was not going to end well, and sure enough, within seconds he was on his ass with a large ass tree limb against his chest.

Her first reaction? To want to help him, but luckily, this time, she caught herself and after a few steps forward would stop herself and simply watch on. Her hands clasping at her side, she would wince softly, desperately wanting to help, but knowing that she shouldn't. "Are you okay?" Genuine concern showing in her bright, innocent eyes. Her lower lip bitten in worry as she slowly inched her way forward as to avoid doing something that would give her away.

Though, once he had managed to get it off of him, she couldn't help but drop down next to where he was, her small hand reaching out to softly pat over the area the limb had landed, checking to make sure he was okay, because well...the woman in her just wouldn't take his "I am fine" as an answer. She had to make sure herself, because she..............cared? The thought giving her a moment of pause before she would tentatively pull her hand away, opening her mouth to apologize before noting the look that crossed his face. "What?" Speaking softly, compelled to look around a bit herself, just to see if she was missing something that he was not.

Then, he spoke, and her head would turn back toward him...her brow arching slightly. "The what?" Azura had never, in all her life, heard a scary story. Sure, she had seen the books, and the websites, but they had always been so dark and ominous looking, more than enough reason for her to steer clear. So yeah, one could say she was a bit gullible on that aspect, though she also had a very unique perspective on things, so it was a toss up as to her reaction.....even though she had absolutely NO clue that was what she was about to be getting herself into. None whatsoever.

[Cael Seran]

Cael would casually look up with that wide eyed expression of grandeur, cheeks alight with life despite the darkness managing to creep in. Neigh it was because the darkness was creeping in that Cael would manage to pull off such a grand tale such as this.

"What if I told you these woods aren't simply home to small little critters but rather a different sort of wildlife... something that looks human but isn't."

Cael's hands would hoist the branch over his shoulder looking to drag it along back in the direction that they had originally come from. His head inclining backwards to her suggesting that she follow his lead maybe grab whatever else he'd manage to spool on the floor.

"They say that if you see him you begin to lose your mind, get paranoid and see him everywhere, and then when you are at the breaking point and begging for sleep or release...." Cael would stop casually making to step on a branch and frantically look around with a sign of distress on his features. Waiting but a beat he'd leap.

"HE GETS YOU!"

A rawr and dropping the stump before clasping palms beneath her arms tickling her ribcage Cael would be that sort of monster.

[Azura]

She had never heard scary stories, as stated before, she didn't even really know what they were all about. Azura, was very innocent in many ways, and not simply in matters that involved boys. So yes, as he began to speak, dragging that branch along, she was listening, very closely and very intently. A little bit applied to her lower lip as she absentmindedly gathered up whatever branches had fallen along with his own, dragging them along and scanning the treeline cautiously with each word that spilled forth from his lips.

This wasn't good. No, this was definitely not good. Her eyes widening a bit as she swallowed past a lump forming in her throat, getting more and more lost in the story as it went on. "T...That's not...t..true? Right?" Yep, she had no idea if it was or not. She had seen so much shit in her life that most would deem impossible, that she had a very odd perception of what was within the scope of possibility.

Though before her question could be answered, he would come to a stop, herself doing the same almost immediately as she dropped whatever branches she was carrying, those eyes fixated upon him as she began to fidget her little fingers together in front of her. Then, it happened. That loud voice booming out, causing her to jump almost instantly, though it wasn't until he grabbed her that all sense of "I need to hide myself" went right out the window.

She did what she had to to protect herself, since yeah, she was scared. Her hands shoving him back about as hard as she could, and in the next instant her wings springing forth and wrapping around her in a protective "dont let it get me" sort of way. A slight squeak of utter fear and surprise given. Yet, it was only after she was hiding well within those black, feathered wings that it would slowly sink in on her that he had been trying to scare her, causing her to wince slightly before ever so timidly peeking up over the edge of one of her wings. "Oops..." She was fucked. A little whimper given, her reaction to potentially being found out...."I...I am sorry..." For everything.....Though she did not go that far...she just took a few steps back, in this moment more scared of him than he likely was of her.

[Cael Seran]

*Bam!* Cael would get clocked by a strong shove, the force of wings extending certainly helped with the thrust sending the boy backwards into the nearest tree and impacting it with a sudden crack. Cluttering down the tree would suffer more damage than Cael did splitting at the place of impact and then falling over beside him.

A dazed and confused Cael would look up slowly to catch a glimpse at Azura now concealed behind angelic wings, or more aptly put black angel wings. If Cael's mythology was correct that was symbollic of a fallen angel. However now was not the time to take those matters into consideration. However it was the time to understand just whom he was dealing with.

The experiment who had fucked him over. Emerald hues narrowed suspiciously on her sizing her up and knowing all too well he wasn't even in her league as far as abilities went. Given their last exchange of blows he was dramatically her underling, and she'd been restraining herself this entire time. How much was real and how much was faked? Stern lips pursed together looking at her dead in the eyes.

"YOU!"

[Azura]

Azura watched as he flew back, the tree taking the brunt of the damage and causing her to wince with each creak and crack of its trunk before it finally toppled over. "Umm.." She peeked out over her wings, knowing full and well what she had done, and instantly kicking herself for it. She had given herself away, she had slipped up. She had .....failed.

That thought only confirmed as he looked her square in the eyes and cried out. A soft wince given as tears built within her hazel eyes, very, very slowly lowering her wings and allowing them to relax behind her in the more casual, proper position....slowly fanning back and forth behind her before settling in against her back. "I..." She sighed, her head lowering, as her hands clasped together in front of her. Even though she was found out, she made no signs what so ever of attacking him, no hostility, nothing but what seemed to be utter sadness and regret. "Yes....me." A little nod given as she closed her eyes and softly worried upon her lower lip.

What else was there to say? Nothing made anything she did right. Nothing fixed what damage she had done, was still meant to do. Nothing could make him not see her as a freak, a monster, an abomination...just like every other person in her life had seen her. The thoughts causing her to take a step back away from him, almost as though she were fearful of him, despite the fact that she outmatched him in almost every physical aspect imaginable. "I am sorry."

[Cael Seran]

I am sorry. The look of sheer utter disgust in herself rendered over Cael's features as he'd sized her up. Neigh had she realized the copulation of all his angst and disturbances, those of which relied solely on the ideal that she'd beaten him and more or less left him humiliated looking like a fool before his peers. Rather it seemed the concept of her fears revolved around a display that she'd somehow disgraced someone. The egocentric mind of Cael immediately looped around to the idea that he was getting pretty close, rather under her skin if he had to place the word. But the idea took a backseat to what was probably the issue. Superiors or other experiments.

While he'd never lingered on the idea for very long he did remember there being the two others. Big guy, and heater girl. Then the one other that'd made himself apparent in the hall. The two previously mentioned were obviously minions, lingering little games of fantsy seeing her display a strength better than both of them and oh so effortlessly as well as taking a backseat to their little competitions.

As for the latter he didn't exactly know. The man had acted quite full of himself, probably because he carried with him a significant strengh behind it which meant a new opponent. Though his first and foremost lay before him Cael sought the future, and with it would come this daunting threat.

"Grrr..." Through clentched lips he'd puff raising a threatening fist before lowering it downwards and showing his backing off gesture. Lips unfurled and what would have been previously a snarl was now a defeated expression. "I don't care what you are.... you'll need a shelter nonetheless..." His eyes would vagrantly search the sky as clouds hastened overhead and dropping a dreary feel over the land. Moisture patted the air and trickles of water began to fall briefly.

"I can gather my pride tomorrow."

Cael would walk forward approaching her before bumping her shoulder briefly his torso carrying him onwards towards what'd looked like a cave near the water's side he'd spotted earlier not seeking fit to mention it until now.

"You coming?" A glance cast back over his shoulder before carrying on inside and out of the incoming rain.

[Azura]

She knew that she had done wrong, she knew that she had upset him and that she had hurt him that day, more his pride than his body. But what could she say other than she was sorry? There were no magic words that would make it all hunky dory or anything. If anything, she was more likely to make it worse than better. At least, that had been her experience in the past.

Another step back, she would continue to watch him with an extreme amount of caution. She knew he could harm her, if he so desired, because when Azura promised something, she did not break her word....So, she had in a sense, safe guarded him from herself when she had said she would not allow him to be harmed because of her. Though she did not think to speak that out loud, if only because she was sure he would deem her a liar.

As he stood, growling at her with that look of anger upon his features, she would lower her head, eyes timidly holding his own, if only because she felt that he at least deserved that much from her. Not sure what he was about to do or say, but not really expecting what she heard...seeing that defeated look fall across his features. His words bringing about a mixture of extreme sadness, and a tinge of happiness. He said he did not care....but he also referred to her as a "what" which only proved to feed upon her fears of being non human anymore...of being nothing but a freak...a monster.

Even still, the fact that he would still suggest her seeking shelter was surprising, allowing him to move past her, his shoulder bumping into her own and causing her to step to the side, stumbling a bit as she tripped over her own foot. No, she was not faking....she was more focused on him in the moment and less on her own grace and poise...Therefore, she was back to being a little clumsy.

Turning to look after him as he began to walk away, she would cast a glance to the sky as the rain began to slowly fall down upon her. She loved the rain, if only because it seemed to represent, in her mind, the one thing she wanted more than anything else.....freedom. However, she was not allowed to linger upon that as once more his words rang forth from ahead. Another stab of guilt at the mention of his pride, before she would offer a soft nod and slowly begin to follow along. She didn't think she much deserved his kindness, or to be allowed to seek the same shelter as him, but she would not be rude and decline his generosity. No, she would follow, remaining silent until she was well within the confines of the cave, before casting him another soft, genuine look of innocence, and speak up very timidly. "Th..Thank you for allowing me to stay in here with you...A...And for not....well....trying to kill me." A soft bite applied to her lower lip a she took up a spot against the wall, her wings once more disappearing into her back as she slid down along the rock wall and landed firmly upon her butt, making sure to stay her distance from him, if only to give him the space she assumed he wanted from a creature such as herself.....Knees hugged to her chest, and a soft shiver running down her spine as the cool, damp atmosphere of the cave began to set in around her.

[Cael Seran]

Cael would shake of the lingering persperation, the cold and wetness of the rain didn't bother him at all. In fact he'd be so fond as to linger in it just the same but knew all too well of the fact that doing such could very well result in hypothermia and his demise. That was a no-no. Cael did however venture once more into the cold in a hurried manner before returning to the hut making sure to use his body to shield what he'd held in his grasp. Their two bags and a humble huddle of wood.

With a clatter the wood would meet the ground, the bags however were dangled by their strings and set aside the wall nearest her feeling unafraid of their current position. Unchanged from before. Granted there was something a bit more heated under Cael's skin when nearer hers, the fire of competition, the thing he loved all too much and when mixed with an attraction well things could hardly be put into words.

"Ain't no thang." He'd mention again mimiking his earlier behaviour to show that nothing in fact had changed.

Cael would however retrieve something from his bag. The smallest of effort derived not to linger any unwanted attention. A jacket, fairly thin, nothing too fancy. But all the same he'd drape it over her like a blanket before turning about to kindle the wood near the mouth of the cave. A few soft clicks and blowing and they'd have small embers in place, his hands working to push the flow of smoke out the entryway before sitting back and finding his hues locked on the fire..

[Azura]

She would arch her brow slightly as he darted outside once more, her head tilting just a bit to try and catch a glimpse of what it was he carried in. Of course she assumed it was his bag, but when he set her own down along with his, she would blink a bit in surprise. Her lips parting as she thought to speak, but again being cut off by his own words, a mimic of what he had said earlier.

It was almost baffling to her....no...it WAS baffling to her, that he did not seem to be allowing his new found knowledge to change things between them. Oh, she was certain something had changed, but for the most part, he seemed to be intent upon keeping things....the same. She was confused beyond anything she had ever felt before, having been so sure that if anyone outside the lab knew what she was, they would instantly hate her.

Then, as if she was not confused enough, he would pull free that jacket from his bag and drape it around her, managing to completely throw her off her game and leave her watching him with utter shock and confusion. "Thank you." Spoken softly as she tugged the jacket around her a bit more, nestling into it and allowing it to warm her slightly.

Then, as the fire began, the slightest sound of her boots shuffling against the rocky floor would be heard, trying once more to push herself away from the flames as they danced within the darkened cave. Her eyes fixated upon it, as if she was fearful it would leap out and get her at any moment. Though truth be told, she was also using that fear as a distraction from the fact that the darkness was closing in around her, making her feel as though she were being suffocated. She was a creature of the light, that much was for sure, and so this right now, was possibly one of the most uncomfortable moments of her life, well...save for any of her many deaths.

Yet, after a few long moments of silence, her eyes would shift toward him, noting how he watched the fire in silence, the compulsion to say something too strong to ignore. "I am sorry for what I did to you in the gymnasium that day. I did not wish to harm you, or anyone for that matter. Y..You just kept attacking though and...I had no choice." She spoke timidly, though she did manage to keep her eyes trained upon him. Not sure if her words would make any difference, but feeling them necessary just the same.

[Cael Seran]

Now was Cael's turn to be taken aback, maybe even a little bit offended at the matter when she said she wasn't really trying to harm him. A slight urge to scoff found itself choked down and otherwise passed off as nothing more than idle fancy. His eyes remained locked on the fire for a good few moments before slowly turning upwards to her exhamining her frightened reproach.

"I'd rather you'd have not apologized, if anything it gave me purpose to be stronger..."

That's right, Cael was rather bored of the turn of events recurring around this school. He had boatloads of sex, fights with the teacher's over his performance or rather appearance in their classes, and the occassional battle. But there were so little who matched him as competition, he was bored.

"..Don't think you're forgiven, or that it's forgotten. I need you there to give me your best effort, until I beat you. Then you can be sorry for me, and I expect the same from you... the same drive and effort to beat me back the next time I whoop your ass."

He'd snicker nonchalantly at the whole challenge finding a grin placated across his lips and would slowly move next to her before wrapping an arm around her and leaning against a wall. "But for now, sleep... we both need rest for tomorrow." Cael would move a lingering branch to dig a narrow creavace between the flames and them to assure her even a little bit that there were measures in place to keep it from them. Cael's eyes would dampen and slowly fade bit by bit coming to a close.

[Azura]

Azura would continue to watch him, not sure why she always had a bad habit of saying the wrong thing, but not the least bit surprised that this was the case here yet again. Still, she could not help but grin ever so slightly at the words he spoke, the challenge which he so blatantly issued. "Very well, I will try not to feel guilt over my actions toward you until you have sufficiently kicked my butt." Choosing to not use his choice of words, if only because she tried her best not to curse unless the role she was playing called for it.

Though yet again, she found herself surprised by the fact that he scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her...tensing up slightly out of shock before slowly slinking down within his loose embrace and curling her small form into his side. "Very well." Hazel eyes looking on as he moved to create that small amount of assurance that the flames were being kept from them, from her. A soft, gentle smile curling upon her lips at the gesture before she would lift her eyes to look up at him, watching as his eyes began to close. The silence of the cave interrupted only by the crackling of the fire and the soft patter of rain as it fell outside.

After a few moments, once she was sure he was, at the very least beginning to drift off, if not already so....she would shift into him just a bit more, leaning in and dragging the tip of her nose along his cheek for a brief second before cooing a soft whisper against his flesh. "Thank you Cael...For everything." Her breath washing over his flesh an instant before her lips would ever so lightly graze his own. Just a whisper of a kiss, but enough to send her stomach into knots, and a fire into her cheeks...quick to lower her head, as not to disturb him any further, and snuggling against his side, her head resting upon his chest, listening to the steady sound of his heart within.

It was unlikely she would get much sleep, since she so seldom did so anymore, but regardless her eyes would close, and she would begin to slowly drift off into her own mind, allowing her daydreams to once more consume her mind and place her in a state that gave off the appearance of being sound asleep.