[hr][hr]

[centre][h1][color=lightblue]Sasha[/color][/h1][/centre]

[hr][hr]

The island seemed to both want them there and not want them there. Sasha let her gaze wander over the shore, seeking anything that could be a danger to them. Yet the island itself could be a danger, if it believed them to be dangerous to it. There were many things that she knew that could be hiding and yet… things didn’t seem to be particularly volatile to them. She decided to take that as a bonus, although she wasn’t about to let her guard down. 

As Ferrin approached, Sasha didn’t respond as she climbed out the boat. The island seemed to be tensing, as if seeking a way out or perhaps seeking a way to contain something. She brought her gaze around, over the rest of their group before moving it to Ferrin, wondering just what he was feeling. 

Suddenly, the very ground beneath their feet shook and Sasha found herself crouching, using her hands to help balance her as it seemed to take forever for the shaking to subside.It seemed to happen slowly and just when she thought it was over, a roar suddenly engulfed the air around them. The shocking sound was deafening, and seemed to go on forever, until one might think it was the only sound left in the world. 

Without thinking, Sasha rose and almost instinctively, she let her ice queen armour form over her. With it came the increase in power, and instead of the sword that formed with it, it was a spear like lance instead, that seemed almost brittle but as her hand curled around it, she knew it was incredibly strong. Only as the sound started to fade away did Sasha once more turn to Ferrin. [color=lightblue]”I do not think anyone can plan for this… I don’t know what we are to expect. But i think it’s safe to say, we ought not daly. I think we should stay together, but… if you have any ideas, I’d be open to them”[/color] 

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[centre][h1][color=coral]Penny[/color][/h1][/centre]

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The tingling sensation was almost pleasant and Penny had to fight hard not to simply let flames spread across her body. It was getting harder and harder to control that, particularly when she did feel something strongly. The last two months had seen a difference in how she had to manage her powers, and there mere fact that she was still learning the different way of control them was perhaps a strong reason why she hadn’t wanted to go to the island. 

Gently holding the pendant in her hands, Penny frowned over it. It was obvious that Jasmine had kept this from her, but she didn’t mind- it wasn’t like Penny had told Jasmine everything, yet. As the dragon began to speak with her, Penny listened to his words. As he mentioned Jasmine’s fair in her, Penny couldn’t help but feel that it was misplaced. What had she done to deserve jasmine’s faith? She had promised to help jasmine, and then disappeared for some time. She could understand Ariel’s response to her, but Jasmine? It didn’t seem like Penny could do anything to break the girls trust in her. What had she done, to inspire the girl so? While she was thankful, she couldn’t help but think of the inevitable time when Jasmine would realise that Penny was going to disappoint her. 

She just couldn’t seem to help it. She’d hurt Ariel… she should have been there for her. Ariel had been there for her, and that was what had got her into the mess she was in right now with the Phoenix magic. She had essentially abandoned the other girl, even if she hadn’t meant to. But being near Ariel… it had been painful. That wasn’t Ariel’s fault, though. Penny didn’t know how to fix things there. She suspected that as long as Nolan was around Ariel, then Penny was going to have a hard time even trying to fix it. She had disappointed Damien… that hurt more than Ariel. She never wanted to disappoint him… but why couldn’t he understand? 

Of course, he hadn’t been there. She hadn’t wanted him anywhere near her father’s death, even though she had sought him out. Had it just been a coincidence or fate that she had found Ariel instead that day? Well, it mattered not. She was heading to the island whether she willed it or not. It did not seem she had a choice. Which pissed her off to no end, but it was what it was. If she could help… well, she would just have to be careful. As if that was a choice. She shook her head, to try and clear it off those thoughts and turned her attention back to the dragon’s words- for who else would it be? Somehow, Jasmine had access to her dragon. Which went a long way to explaining why Jasmine had been talking to herself quite a bit on the journey back to Magnolia. Did the girl not know that she could probably talk to the dragon in her mind? Penny would have to mention that to her. 

[color=coral]”Yes… I am Penny. We can converse with our thoughts, if that is okay.”[/color] 

[i][color=coral] I am glad you approve… I’d rather not have a dragon’s disapproval. Jasmine is important to me.[/color][/i] she responded, choosing to reply in her mind, at least for the moment. She wouldn’t put it past the little Rajah to take what she said to the dragon against herself, the angry exceed didn’t seem to need much to retaliate. [i][color=coral]She is stronger than she knows, and I will try to be worthy of her faith.[/color][/i] Here was someone that knew her father, that might give her some insight into him, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask. It hurt too much, and she knew that it always would. The thought that this might be the only time she would get that insight wasn’t even enough to ask. 

And then he asked how Solias was.

Penny flinched at the dragons words, closing her eyes a moment and letting out a shaky breath. [i]He’s dead.[/i] unbidden, and not what Penny ever wanted to dwell on, came a flicker of the scene from Solias’s death. From her murder of him. She clasped the pendant tightly in her hand, for fear that she would otherwise drop it. [i]I killed him.[/i] There was no point denying it. For who could kill a Phoenix, except a Phoenix Slayer? The images, the song, filled her mind and she knew that she would never escape them. She’d always remember the beautiful, daunting and horrible song of death. [i]He… asked me too.[/i] but that didn’t matter. She had still killed him.

The feel of wetness on her cheeks let her know that tears had escaped. She reached up with her friend hand to dash them away, not wanting Jasmine or the exceeds to see. She wasn’t weak… was that a lie, was she fooling herself?  [i][color=coral]I’m sorry… [/i][/color] 

Not sure how else she could explain, what else she could do, Penny fell silent and instead let the memories flow. Solias long ago asking her if she would come, when he needed her. He had been sick, for more than a few months. After thousands of years of living, the Phoenix had finally been near the end of his existence. She had promised, before she had gone off in search of Sasha. The note coming to her at the games, going to the cave with Ariel…. The song and what had happened in the cave that had been Solias’s home. Living the memories again were almost too painful, but Penny sought to keep control of herself. 

[i][color=coral]I’m sorry… [/color][/i]

Ignatius sighed heavily, although he was relieved.If Rajah was demanding food, then Rajah was okay. Of course he suspected that she would always demand food even if she was two seconds away from death. He didn’t know where she put all the food she ate- sometimes he thought it was almost twice her own weight, which wasn’t saying much. 

He moved away for a moment or two before returning with some food, [color=red]”Try actually chewing the food for once, Rajah.”[/color] 

[hider=mentions]Zarkun
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