[center][img]http://txt-dynamic.cdn.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjcyLjRhODI0NS5RWE5vLjAA/parseltongue.regular.png[/img][/center]
[h3]~Forest outside the Cavern~[/h3]
[hider=Inventory]
[i]Throat Pouch:[/i]
- x1 Mana Crystal
- x4 Nothing
[i]Rawhide Backpack[/i]
- x5 Nothing
[/hider]
[hr]

The branch broke swiftly in just a single stroke from Mana Slice. Quickly collecting it in her talons, Ash headed back to the forest floor. Finding a spot to rest nearby the shelter entrance, she attempted to coil her tail around the branch of wood. Some animals back on earth had tails that they could manipulate almost as well as arms and legs. Mostly forest animals that used such things for balance, or gripping branches. It wasn't far fetched to think she could do the same, now that she had an actual one of some length. It would be incredibly useful if she could, as she could manipulate it to carry and hold things then.

As she practiced, she quickly realized she was honestly tired of the people around her, but she couldn't deny the usefulness of at least staying in a group for now even if it was quickly becoming evident she was once again nothing like those around her. She quietly observed them from her practice area. Digbie. Torrent. Oberon. Where had Mourn gone off too? Scared by her own mistakes? Bah, laughably weak. Couldn't even own up to her own mistakes.

Gods? Demons? She had never understood why people relied on such things. If you were going to have faith in anything, have faith in yourself. Simple as that. She didn't need any sort of religious crutch. She supposed it was better than having faith in people, but gods were seldom better than corrupt governments or leaders. But for now, she'd just continue as she was. That was currently the best option despite her annoyance.

Some time would pass before Ash finished with her tail work, hopefully having succeeded in making progress in using her tail much more dexterously, but after some time she would take a break and head back into the cave. Less chances of being disturbed there, the Pygmy drake would head to the back of the cave, ignoring everyone else for the most part before sitting up straight and starting to meditate as Oberon had showed her.

Since she had learned of magic, she had been extremely interested in it - but she had so far been fumbling around in the dark like a child with a chemistry set. She didn't know its basic rules. Formulas. All she could do at the moment was simple trial and error with educated guesses. She needed someway she could visibility interact and manipulate Mana as an energy source much better. To see it.

As Ash meditated, she would try and once again feel that familiar energy flow through her body like the time she had been taught by that pixie. Feel it in her claws, across her body and over her scales. Ash would then do something mildly reckless. Mana could be used to heal, so it could reasonably be used to improve, correct? Instead of just returning something to what it was, she'd need to make what existed better.

Ash attempted to channel Mana towards her eyes with the intent of simply 'enhancing' her vision. Attempting to change the way her eyes saw things. Like a UV light detector, but instead designed to see this ambient force known as 'Magic'.