Post by PeroxidePirate on Aug 26, 2010 11:33:58 GMT 10
Title: Taking It Back
Rating: PG
Prompt: 23. Off the beaten path I reign/ 24. where we will, we’ll roam
Summary: Something that happened eight years ago isn't over yet.
Note: this is another two-part ficlet that relates to both prompts. It's only a nutshell of a plot, so I hope it makes some kind of sense.
“The copper comes out of the ground just fine,” the Gold Ridge smith explained. “When we first smelt it down, it behaves like copper. Sometimes we can even work it, a little. But at a certain point, it goes... wobbly.”
“Wobbly?” Kirel rubbed his chin.
“I don't know how else to describe it.” He glanced at Daja. “Can you see anything odd about it?”
Daja peered at the rough lumps of copper ore and the shining bars of metal. Opening magical eyes, at first she didn't see anything odd. Then she caught it: the faintest swirl of something else; something old and uncontrolled. Something that was aching to grow.
“I see it,” she whispered. She shaped magic into pincers, reaching for the sliver of oddness in the copper. “I think I can – there!” She closed the pincers, drawing them toward her to examine what they held.
There was nothing there.
“It got away!” She steadied her breathing, then turned to the other smiths with a bow. “My friends might be able to help,” she said. “I think we need to track it back to its source.”
I think this is going to take all of us. Daja spoke into Sandry's mind first – it was easiest, and she knew Sandry was the most likely to help. But we have to find a way to fix this... because I think it got this way because we were here before.
I was afraid of that, Sandry answered. I'll get the others. We'll meet you in an hour.
They joined forces, four bright streams of magic – wire, current, thread and vine – and delved into the copper mine. Here's where they do most of the mining. Daja pointed. Tris, can you see where the taint is coming from?
The weather-witch was still the best at seeing magic. I'm looking.
They all waited.
This way, to the left of the mine shaft.
What's over there? Sandry wondered
Ghosts, or summat, Briar guessed.
Hush. You're scaring Sandry, Daja chastised him.
She asked.
I am not scared, Sandry argued.
Guys. Tris called their attention back to their task. We have to go through the rock – that's where the trail leads.
Daja blinked. I don't know if we can do that without smashing it to bits.
I wish Evvy could link to us, Briar mused. She could get through.
So can I, Tris answered. Everyone hang on.
With a push, Tris led the way straight through the wall of rock. The others clung to her, like burrs to Little Bear's shaggy coat, and came out on the other side. They were in a cavern, larger than the mineshaft, with exposed lava flowing below. The walls glittered with copper ore.
And there it is. Tris pointed: between rivulets of lava was a pool of something else, something that shimmered unnaturally.
Daja poked. It's magic.
Our magic, Sandry agreed, with grim resignation.
Well, then. Briar grinned. Guess we better take it back.
It's all jumbled, Daja pointed out. How do we..?
Does it matter? Tris asked. We've all got a bit of each other's magic, and we're used to it now. She studied each of them in turn. And the important thing is getting it away before it taints the rest of the copper.
Sandry nudged her. You're absolutely right. Everybody ready?
They each reached into the pool of magic, pulling it into themselves until there was nothing left.
Rating: PG
Prompt: 23. Off the beaten path I reign/ 24. where we will, we’ll roam
Summary: Something that happened eight years ago isn't over yet.
Note: this is another two-part ficlet that relates to both prompts. It's only a nutshell of a plot, so I hope it makes some kind of sense.
“The copper comes out of the ground just fine,” the Gold Ridge smith explained. “When we first smelt it down, it behaves like copper. Sometimes we can even work it, a little. But at a certain point, it goes... wobbly.”
“Wobbly?” Kirel rubbed his chin.
“I don't know how else to describe it.” He glanced at Daja. “Can you see anything odd about it?”
Daja peered at the rough lumps of copper ore and the shining bars of metal. Opening magical eyes, at first she didn't see anything odd. Then she caught it: the faintest swirl of something else; something old and uncontrolled. Something that was aching to grow.
“I see it,” she whispered. She shaped magic into pincers, reaching for the sliver of oddness in the copper. “I think I can – there!” She closed the pincers, drawing them toward her to examine what they held.
There was nothing there.
“It got away!” She steadied her breathing, then turned to the other smiths with a bow. “My friends might be able to help,” she said. “I think we need to track it back to its source.”
I think this is going to take all of us. Daja spoke into Sandry's mind first – it was easiest, and she knew Sandry was the most likely to help. But we have to find a way to fix this... because I think it got this way because we were here before.
I was afraid of that, Sandry answered. I'll get the others. We'll meet you in an hour.
They joined forces, four bright streams of magic – wire, current, thread and vine – and delved into the copper mine. Here's where they do most of the mining. Daja pointed. Tris, can you see where the taint is coming from?
The weather-witch was still the best at seeing magic. I'm looking.
They all waited.
This way, to the left of the mine shaft.
What's over there? Sandry wondered
Ghosts, or summat, Briar guessed.
Hush. You're scaring Sandry, Daja chastised him.
She asked.
I am not scared, Sandry argued.
Guys. Tris called their attention back to their task. We have to go through the rock – that's where the trail leads.
Daja blinked. I don't know if we can do that without smashing it to bits.
I wish Evvy could link to us, Briar mused. She could get through.
So can I, Tris answered. Everyone hang on.
With a push, Tris led the way straight through the wall of rock. The others clung to her, like burrs to Little Bear's shaggy coat, and came out on the other side. They were in a cavern, larger than the mineshaft, with exposed lava flowing below. The walls glittered with copper ore.
And there it is. Tris pointed: between rivulets of lava was a pool of something else, something that shimmered unnaturally.
Daja poked. It's magic.
Our magic, Sandry agreed, with grim resignation.
Well, then. Briar grinned. Guess we better take it back.
It's all jumbled, Daja pointed out. How do we..?
Does it matter? Tris asked. We've all got a bit of each other's magic, and we're used to it now. She studied each of them in turn. And the important thing is getting it away before it taints the rest of the copper.
Sandry nudged her. You're absolutely right. Everybody ready?
They each reached into the pool of magic, pulling it into themselves until there was nothing left.