[center][OOC: Just FYI, italics means thoughts or someone else's dialogue. Unless its an emphasizes on certain words.] ***[/center] Flashes of light interrupted her sleep, feeling more vivid and real than any dream ever could. She saw a cave filled with nature and light, with [i]energy[/i], like the place was alive. She wanted to be there. And it felt like she knew exactly where it was, she could find it. There were voices she couldn't make out, whispers of a different nature. A small creature floated in sight, a jelly-type thing. But her mind drifted back to sleep, and the vision blurred out of focus. [i]"Irys sees you."[/i] [b]"What the fuck?!" [/b]Cora snapped open her eyes in the dark. She looked blearily around for the the voice she swore she heard. Jesse rustled in bed beside her, wrapping an around around her tummy. [i]"Irys is excited to meet you, Cora."[/i]  Cora narrowed her eyes, feeling mighty confused. Jesse didn't respond to the voice in the least, and it didn't [i]feel[/i] as though she was really hearing anything. [b]"...Are you in my head?" [/b]She whispered. The voice chimed like crystals. [i]"Heehee, no."[/i] In a blur of sparks, the creature from her vision shimmered into existence, casting a pale glow on their bedroom. It was beautiful, like a thing you'd read about in fantasy novels. Its body was iridescent crystals, some as thin as a hair. The creature had a similar form to a jellyfish, it hovered in the air like water or something.  [b]"What are you?" [/b] [i]"A spirit sent to befriend one of Kyra's chosen. You, Cora. The gift you've ignored your whole life has finally begged to be noticed. Hold out your hand, and embrace the ice within you. Make it snow."[/i] Clips unexplained from her past resurfaced in Cora's mind. The constant chill of her body, the random freezes in summer, the frost that covered her footsteps. All her life, she had been blissfully oblivious to it being anymore than coincidence. And here was a real theory that actually stuck.  [i]Huh. Magic. Who woulda thought magic could explain anything. Or maybe I'm finally fucked. [/i] She raised her hand, felt the chill inside her, and invoked it. Snowflakes birthed from the tips of her fingers hovered in her palm, reminiscent of a snow globe. Cora felt an excitement building up within her. The possibilities of great things that could happen made her feel something she'd abandoned long ago: [i]Hope. [/i] [b]"Ngnn... Cora? What are you--HOLY SHIT!!" [/b]Jesse leapt out of bed, grabbing a bat to swing at the strange jelly that hovered over Cora.  [b]"Stop, stop, stop! I'm fine!" [/b]Cora said, pulling Irys into a protective hug. [b]"Shit..." [/b] [b]"Babe... what the hell is going on here?" [/b]Jesse said, hands tight around the bat's grip.  [b]"I have an affinity to ice, apparently." [/b]She said, peeking down at Irys. Jesse shook his head.[b] "...What does that even mean?"[/b] [b]"I don't know. Well, kay. I kind of know. But it's really hard to explain. Just bear with me, babe. I'm so thirsty. We're out of water, aren't we?" [/b]Cora stepped out of bed, flicking on the lights in the kitchen next door. Grabbing a pot, she turned up the heat on the stove. With a bit of struggle, Cora managed to create a lopsided hunk of ice in the pot, which started to steam. Irys tickled her brain inquisitively.  [b]"I'll explain in a second..." [/b]Cora trailed off, watching the ice melt. She scooped up some pooling water, blowing steam off the spoon. The moment she tried the water, her eyes lit up.  [b]"Jesse, Jesse! Come here! Heavens be praised, we never have to go without water ever again."[/b] He entered the room cautiously, eyes darting from Cora to the pot. His brows furrowed, a look of extreme concern flashed on his face. Cora's smile cracked. [b]"It's... It's the purest drinking water I've ever tasted, better than the 'filtered' crap they make us pay for. And this would be limitless. Hell, we could even sell some. We'd have money for [i]real[/i] food." [/b] [b]"No." [/b]Jesse said.[b] "Babe, no one can know. Don't you see? This... This is magic. It's fucking crazy, for one. Secondly, and more importantly, you--"[/b] [b]"What, could be killed? Is that it?"[/b] [b]"I was going to say arrested." [/b] [b]"Same shit!" [/b]She yelled, balling her fists in anger. Jesse recoiled, smashing into the cabinets behind him. His look of alarm wasn't directed at her, though. She followed his gaze to the pot where urchin-shaped ice shards had broken through the metal.  [i]"The ice reacted to my anger?"[/i] She stared in disbelief.  Cora turned off the stove, looking at the busted pot. The ice didn't seem as innocent now.[b] "Fuck, I'm just trying to look out for us, Jesse. That's all it's been these past years. You and me. I'm just as confused as you, trust me. But we can make this work."[/b] Jesse's face darkened. [b]"Cora, stop. Just... Stop."[/b] She paled.[b] "...Jesse?"[/b] He pointed to the door. [b]"Leave. Now."[/b] [b]"Baby, no..." [/b]Hot tears fell like a waterfall down her cheek. [b]"I love you, don't do this."[/b] He turned his face away, looking dejected at the floor. [b]"If you don't go... I'll call the cops. Please, just leave. You've done enough damage already." [/b]His words cut through her like a knife. Humiliation coloured her cheeks. She wept, holding a hand to her face. It felt like chains shackled her feet, every step to that door dragged the heavy remnants of her heart behind, staining the floor with sorrow. The door closed and bolted behind her.  And she had never felt so utterly alone. [center]***[/center] Cora wandered like a zombie out of the apartment complex. Irys glided alongside her, finally speaking up. [i]"Are you okay?"[/i] [b]"Okay..?"[/b] Hot, carnal anger welled up inside her. It consumed her, overwhelmed her with just how much pain she held. An agony felt by the those of a broken heart and soul. Anger that made the mind snap under such anguish.[b] "OKAY?! I HAVE LOST EVERYTHING THAT WAS EVER IMPORTANT TO ME!"[/b] She turned her hateful gaze on the spirit.[b] "And you! This is all your fault! If you had never come along, this never would have happened!"[/b] With a snarl she grabbed the jelly creature by the top, lugging it at the nearest wall. Irys dematerialized before impact, leaving Cora alone. Truly alone.  Guilt rid so far up her ass she thought it must have reached her brain. Her head was in her hands, her heart in pieces, and her stomach was somewhere on the floor.   The vision flashed through her head again; there was only one place she could turn to now. [center]***[/center] The cave in all it's gleam and glory wasn't nearly as pretty as Cora's vision made it seem. Or maybe she just felt like shit. Yeah, probably that. There were other people in the cave, most sitting silent by the fire. There was an old geezer who seemed to make it his home in the cave, which was mega-creepy. Cora had never met a hermit before. But with how shitty the world was, Cora was surprised she hadn't become one yet.  She came in just as the old man started his little speech. She felt too shitty to sit, but the fire looked inviting. So she stood behind a couple kid's heads and listened. Unconsciously, her hands scanned the pockets of her hoodie, remember she simply left the apartment earlier. Luckily in one pocket she still had her collapsible baton. But other then the mask scarf around her neck, those were the only items she had to her name.  [i]Pitiful.[/i] [i]"...You will rest for one more day here, then leave. The Vygorns are ammassing in Atlanta...The Vygorns depend on their leader, Vrail... The black hole to end the Solar System. You must find him and kill him at all costs, else, we die. All of us.... I advise you not to go to Atlanta directly as you will probably get killed, attack smaller encampments or villages to draw them out in small groups from the city." [/i]The old man seemed coherent, like he knew his stuff.  The darkness deepened within her. Atlanta was home to Jesse and Cora. Now that it would be unsafe to return... She might not ever have the chance to apologize. She might never see him again, especially if Vygor-whatevers targeted her.  [i]"No." [/i] She brushed the frustrated tears off her cheeks. [i]"I will see him again. I'll hone this gift to be untouchable, and when I'm powerful enough, I will sneak back into Atlanta. Fugitive or not, I have to see him again. No army could ever stop my reckless love."[/i] Cora raised her aching head, opening her palms to the ceiling. [b]"Irys, I'm sorry I got so upset at you. Can you forgive me?" [/b] [i]"Yes."[/i] Cora relished the surprised looks on the kids around her as Irys morphed into existence. Already she could feel an attachment between her and the spirit. Probably just from Cora's life getting utterly crushed hours before, and she was probably just desperate for comfort, but Irys definitely helped ease the pain. [b]"Awesome. Let's go talk to the old man and leave these squabblers to squabble."[/b] Cora said, noting the tension in the room as everyone tried to make sense of the information. For Cora, the path was clear. Get strong, get some baddies, get back to Atlanta, win back Jesse, beat the bad-baddies before the end of the world. Maybe ride into the sunset, too. [b]"Hey, geezer dude. I had a question about the Vygorn... thingies.."[/b] Cora approached just as the old man took his leave, literally just disappearing.  [b]"Shit. Who scared off the old man?" [/b]Cora's laugh held no warmth; her eyes were still red from tears before. Who would answer her question now? Certainly not anyone here, no one knew any more on the Vygorns than the next person.