[h3][color=firebrick]Bullet[/color] and [color=silver]Zhulie Pesta[/color][/h3] [right][color=silver]The Tribunal[/color] | Silverbranch Glade[/right][hr] The forest held a suffocating stillness so palpable that one could almost slice through it with a blade. The glade was not known to be a place of silence; often filled with the chirping of birds, the buzzing of insects and rustling of leaves as woodland critters strode past. Yet today, there was quiet. So much so you could hear a pin drop. That was before the next loud crash, emanating deep in the heart of the Silverbranch Glade, cut through the emptiness. The trees swayed from the shockwave of the blast; their leaves falling still just in time to be disturbed by another in the series of loud disruptions. No doubt it was this noise that had caused such an uproar among the creatures of the woods. Frightened and disturbed, they fled from their homes in search of sanctuary elsewhere in the glade. At the center of the commotion was the Tribunal - the sacred punishing grounds once used by the Daughter of Hecate to pass judgement among those who broke coven law. Now repurposed as a training and battle grounds for the members of Wolven Pyre. Bullet stood amidst falling dust and smoldering embers, inhaling sharp breaths as though they would be his last. The carnage of his latest training session surrounded him. Burn marks scathed the stone walls of the arena; wooden training dummies lay broken and scattered across the grounds. Bullet’s Hellforged Gauntlets were still smoldering with smoke and ash, hanging meekly by his side as he barely had the strength to raise his arms. [i][color=firebrick]One more time,[/color][/i] he grit his teeth, forcing himself to step forward and raise his fists back up in front of his face. Yet as the young brawler made an attempt to dash forward, he was stopped by a sudden jolt of pain up the side of his torso. Crumpling to the ground with an exasperated grunt, he was barely able to catch himself by holding out one of his fists to the ground. Once the pain subsided somewhat, he raised his arm to inspect the bandages around his ribcage. They were stained red. “[color=silver]Your wounds would be healed by now if you would just do as you’re told and rest.[/color]” The young girl's voice startled Bullet to alertness, pushing himself up with a sharp turn on his heel to face the source. It was Zhulie, a young up and comer of the coven with an obnoxiously infectious sunny disposition. She also had made a habit of sticking her nose into Bullet’s business ever since he had been taken in by the witches after his embarrassing defeat at the hands of a chimera. “[color=firebrick]Buzz off, kid.[/color]” Bullet snapped, tenderly nursing his sore spot. “[color=firebrick]Just ‘cause Priscilla’s not around to nag me doesn’t mean you get to take her place.[/color]” He didn’t mean to sound so ungrateful for all the help he’d received from the Guild Master over the last month. Truly. Yet sitting around all day doing nothing was starting to get on his nerves. He had grown slow, weak and frail. It was time to start regaining his strength. Zhulie balanced along the edge of the Tribunal’s walls, her arms outstretched to keep her upright. “[color=silver]I’m just saying, if you’re so eager to get back into training you may want to follow Priscilla’s advice.[/color]” Zhulie folded herself forward into a handstand, shuffling along the edge with a pleased grin. [i][color=firebrick]Show off,[/color][/i] Bullet huffed, rolling his eyes at the acrobatics display. “[color=silver]I mean, no offense, but Priscilla is the wisest woman in our coven. And you’re... [/color]“ Zhulie eyed Bullet up and down before suppressing a snicker. “[color=firebrick]Oi[/color]” Bullet smirked, sticking his tongue out at the child - who returned the gesture in kind. He’d be lying if he said Zhulie’s company over the last month had been a total nuisance. It was that persistent optimism - it had a way of drawing you in. He was about to offer some form of snide retort that no doubt would have sent the pair into a bickering match, yet the pain in his side began to throb once more. Wincing through grit teeth, Zhulie hopped down from the wall and made her way over to Bullet. “[color=firebrick]I’m fine.[/color]” he assured her, holding his hand out as if that would stop her from worrying for him. “[color=firebrick]Fine, you win. Let’s head back to the guild hall.[/color]” Zhulie looked relieved that he’d finally listened to reason, skipping ahead to the stairway that led up and out of the Tribunal. “[color=silver]Of course, Meredith is going to kill you when she finds out you’re not in bed.[/color]” She giggled, disappearing over the crest of the stairwell and into the forest. Bullet rubbed his temple. It seemed he had failed to consider what that dusty old crone would do to him. She had threatened to chain him to his bed numerous times if he refused to follow Priscilla’s instruction. [i][color=firebrick]What a pain,[/color][/i] he groaned, following after Zhulie at a slower, relaxed pace. [h3][color=darkseagreen]Henri Baptiste[/color][/h3] [right][color=silver]Wolven Pyre Men’s Bathhouse[/color] | Silverbranch Glade[/right][hr] Henri opened his eyes to the rhythmic dripping of water. Like the accurate ticking of a metronome, each drip was perfectly spaced from one another in a comforting pattern. The perfectly timed ripples spread through the darkness, his body suspended in the deep abyss. All around him was pitch darkness, the dripping piercing the silence along with the gurgle of bubbles that escaped his lips with each breath. As far as he was aware, he was still in the bathhouse, but at the same time he wasn’t. Submerged beneath the surface of the water, Henri had projected his consciousness into the deep. The intense pressure paralyzed him in place; only able to observe the endless darkness. The words of Priscilla ran through his mind; [i][color=lemonchiffon]Intention, Henri.[/color][/i] He closed his eyes again and tensed his entire body, releasing his magic in an attempt to manifest a sign of any kind. Yet despite his best efforts, he felt nothing. Relaxing his body, he released one final breath whilst repeating the incantation that would return himself to his body. [i][color=darkseagreen]Spiritus Reditus,[/color][/i] he thought it three times whilst picturing his physical body where he had left it. The third time he opened his eyes, letting the natural light from the open air bathhouse flood his vision. The water was suddenly warm again and the deep pressure had lifted from his flesh. Sitting up from the tub, Henri drew a deep, satisfying breath of fresh air. Leaning on the side of the tub, he rested his head against his arm as a wave of nausea washed over him. Divination was still a struggle for him, and he found his attempts at astral projecting into the deep were bearing little fruit. No matter how hard he tried to manifest it, all he ever saw was pitch darkness. He soaked for a little while longer before deciding to dry off and get dressed for the day. [h3][color=darkseagreen]Henri Baptiste[/color] and [color=silver]Meredith Clagnan[/color][/h3] [right][color=silver]Wolven Pyre Guild Hall[/color] | Silverbranch Glade [color=silver][i]Interacting with[/i][/color]: [color=9e0b0f]Argus Leandros[/color] [@Raijinslayer][/right][hr] Meredith had been wiping down the counter when Argus entered the guild hall with her latest shipment. She watched the young lad struggle under the weight, but ultimately manage to get everything set down. “[color=9e0b0f]Here are the tonics from town that you wanted Ms. Meredith.[/color]” Meredith approached the shipment gleefully, excited to finally restock her shelves. “[color=9e0b0f]You could've told me it'd be so heavy tho, felt like I might've pulled something hefting it all the way here[/color]” She rolled his eyes at his complaining. She swore she mentioned that it’d be best to bring a partner to help bring the goods back, but perhaps it slipped her mind at the time. She noticed the young man had a mark on his cheek that he quickly tried to obscure from her view. “[color=silver]Oh thank you Argus! I was just about running on empty.[/color]” Prying open a box, Meredith didn’t hesitate to begin to sort through the contents. A few potion reagents, tonics and drinks for the bar. Walking back behind the bar, she began to shelve a few vials and bottles away before turning back to Argus. “[color=silver]Care to explain that lovely little mark on your face then?[/color]” She began to garnish a crystal tumbler with some thin slices of cucumber, pouring a shot of gin over the ice and topping the cocktail off with an elderflower infused tonic water. She slid the glass over to Argus before, raising her own shot in cheers before throwing it back down her throat in one mighty swig. She set the glass down on the counter with a sharp, satisfied exhale. “[color=darkseagreen]A little early to be hitting the sauce, no?[/color]” Henri descended the stairs, tussling his hair dry with a towel. He was feeling quite fresh after a nice hot soak and a clean pair of clothes. He’d arrived just in time to see Argus returning with the shipment. “[color=silver]A little late to be turning out of bed, no?[/color]” Meredith retorted, mixing up a dark and stormy for him. His favourite - rum, bitters and ginger ale. Sliding it across the counter, Henri planted himself on a stool before raising the glass in appreciation. “[color=darkseagreen]Touché. Cheers.[/color]” He took a deep swig, glancing sideward at Argus. “[color=darkseagreen]Been getting into scraps have you, mate?[/color]” He swirled the contents of his glass, making mention to the comment he’d overheard Meredith make about the mark on his face. “[color=darkseagreen]Hope you paid ‘em back for it.[/color]” “[color=silver]Somehow I feel it was more one sided.[/color]” Meredith chuckled, about to pour herself another shot when Henri snatched the glass away from her. She shot him a look of pure poison, to which he simply clicked his tongue with a smug smirk plastered across his face.