Neoma lightly nudged Aella with her foot. “Hey. Wake up.” 708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GvCVgI4w1
Aella twitched and yawned. “Mm?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1vNyouabO
"Come on. Or I will flip you into a pool of water." She nudged her again.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlhcKt6Y1I
Aella’s eyes flashed open. “I’m up!”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHfPRTWziE
"Except we have no water around," Luna pointed out.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVIs8cg6J6
"…" Aella looked around. As Luna said, not so much as a puddle in their immediate area. "Oh."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVjomNKnYj
Luna giggled. “You’ll learn when and when not to fall for her tricks.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNbnVfrQnu
Neoma shrugged, getting up on her horse. “Don’t eat too much, we need that food.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhz0Z1yUu5G
Aella laughed along with Luna, and slowly got up. Wow, she was sore…708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPPtLIPTbX
Luna paused in her laughter. “But….but I wanna go hunting,” she whined.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc7g39WnAC
"Luna, what can you catch out here?"708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCj8oVV6DDI
Aella looked at them curiously. She wasn’t quite sure what they were talking about… did Luna know how to hunt? Aella’s dad did, but her mom said it wasn’t ladylike. Luna was a lady though…708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0Qw2vmP5e
"Um…."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fdEsvHof2
"Exactly." 708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4JCy4bV8f
Aella pulled herself up onto her horse. “Didn’t know you hunted.~”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60fOpgjC34
Luna grinned and nodded, flashing her pointed teeth. That made sense, didn’t it… She had only JUST held Luna as a fluffy cat, and cats hunted. Encouraged by this, Aella continued. “Is it fun?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJozaNQZIk
"Yes!" She giggled, going into her cat form. Aella hummed happily, though she wished she could pet her friend again. Her fur was so SOFT!708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhgu5SuCJU
Neoma stared ahead, tilting her head to the side for a second. Aella didn’t bother questioning the gesture, and went ahead with her questioning.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotEAbgJahK
"How far do you think we’ll get today?~"708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UQml0GvuL
The elemental shrugged, looking down at the shadowy horse.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2Uo0QrF0t
She let it drop and started humming absently, gazing up at the sky.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKlvDDfG7b
"….What do you want to know?" Neoma finally asked, after about 20 minutes of silence.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjDPWoEuWV
"I wanna know a lot of stuff!" she said enthusiastically. Neoma was actually OFFERING to answer her questions? This was wonderful!708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9D0UcpIM5
"Well, ask away."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw90Pt3ggL7
"Okay. Do you have any other powers besides the shadow horse thing? Does Luna, besides turning into the most adorable cat ever? What’s your favorite thing to do? Do you like traveling like this?"708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczngjfFCDG
"Of course. Shadow is an elemental power. One of the strongest. Most people who have shadow powers are rather…creative, and work well with illusions." She blinked, then said a bit slower, "No, Luna is a familiar, do you know what that is? I like a lot of things, and no, I prefer shadows, but that’s a one person thing. My second favorite would be wolfback."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCknuYBi3z
"Can I see some of your other powers sometime? And no, don’t know what a familiar is. Can you name one of the things you like?"708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xm7yVm0WI
"I guess. She assists with my fighting, magic, and so on. And no."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MvqdKkS3r
Aella made a face at the last one. “Aw.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyWpM4raW8
"What else?" Neoma finally looked over at her, and her face brightened further at this.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn40ljK0Lc
She thought for a moment. “Have you ever just helped someone like this before? And how much do you know about shapeshifters like Cináed, anyway?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5WCN55Lel
She glanced over at Luna. “Yes. Not a lot.” 708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwso5Glr7D3
Aella tipped her head. “What DO you know?” she wondered. 708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7DCdY7kgg
"The name implies a lot. And I guess silver hurts them?"708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBei3xjB3E8
"And some other stuff," Aella said a bit absently. "I’m not sure which, exactly… I only know snatches of it from Cináed. I try not to, though, he scares me." She didn’t like when she caught pieces of his thoughts. They were always mean… were ALL shapeshifters like that? She hoped not.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZK5QYTztZ
Neoma nodded. “Anything else?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc9vT7hUUV
Aella hesitated. “Why are we going to France?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokPqRouZlq
"So Luna and I can go home."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2irGP4Eh4
"Is your home that way?"708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUWCfvrcdb
"Hm…you can say that." Neoma frowned. "…Well. Have you heard of these things… they’re called dimension ties."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxK9BjAZMTr
"… huh?" Her expression went completely blank, and her mind matched.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR9yFsrVpL
"That’s what we call them, I don’t know your word for it." She patted her horse for a second.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjPmaYS1tH
”What exactly are they?” she asked, utterly confused.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmmhF0b6zU
”You don’t think this is the only plane of existence, do you?” The elemental raised an eyebrow, looking off to the side. A part of Aella did wonder why she didn’t like making eye contact… maybe she was shy, or worried, or sad. Oh well, she would be more cheerful eventually!~ Aella liked making people happy, a room full of happy people was always the best kind.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjF44yPMyx
Oh, she was zoning out. Not that what Neoma was saying made much sense, but it was rude to stop listening!708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkeDWogrla
”…Earth. Do you think it’s the only place with life forms?!”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1iwAcLSje
”There’s more places besides Earth?” Now she was excited by the thought of places like that, ones she’d never heard of. “Is that why you wouldn’t tell me where you were from?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw0qJGM53J
She nodded. “Yeah, part of it.” Luna looked up, tilting her head for a moment, then gave a purr, making Aella inwardly squeal.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KCJrdLsF5
"Will I ever get the chance to see it?"708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnZgY0J6JS
"You might," She looked up, "if we ever GET THERE."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj3byrChtk
”Yay!~”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbKTNhxhaq
Neoma paused again, sitting sideways on her horse. “So besides shapeshifter and all that funstuff,” (she rolled her eyes at the word fun), “what was your life like?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhABQ1MYPE
”Mm?” Aella looked over at her. “Pretty normal, I guess. Middle-class family, lived in a pretty coastal town in England…”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QjyhYwZec
“…. Middle class….” She tilted her head a little, like she had no idea what she was talking about. “You were poor, then?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzBoUY9oYM
Aella giggled. “No, we weren’t poor. We just didn’t have as much money as all the really rich people, like the royalty.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpB5MDmONJ
“Oh.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhrjrifktm
”Mhm.” Aella smiled absently and returned to stroking her horse.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn6OlgVkvy
She let out a soft breath, still keeping her eyes on Luna. After awhile, she bit her lip and finally tore her eyes from the cat, only to let them fall to her lap. “Sorry.” It sounded a bit forced, not like something that normally came out of her mouth. 708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHqYgySIWu
”… huh?” Aella looked back over at her. What could she possibly be apologizing for? They were both being so nice to her…708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleZqSOV2jQ
"I’m not good with people." She shrugged. "So, sorry."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuVrrBE7vE
“You don’t need to be sorry,” Aella said with a slight smile. Not good with people… well, that would have to be fixed, wouldn’t it?708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZF97nOz6l
She nodded, looking to the side again. “… Thanks.” Aella just grinned at her new friend.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRtKjvWxql
After a while, Luna seemed to get a bit bored, and she started to dash off….only to have Neoma call her back. Aella giggled a little, and Luna tilted her head. Then she gave a slight cat-like growl when she was forced onto Neoma’s horse.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDUfT5uyUe
”I’m boooored,” Aella drawled after a minute or so.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3Rqt4ptt3
Neoma looked up. “What do you want to do then?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VKawL1Eo2
She gave the question some serious thought. “Dunno. What’s there to do?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDOIzbVbOa
”We are riding on horses. What IS THERE to do?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFySUm06Zt
“…. Dunno?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzAoTeTydO
She grumbled a bit, then sighed. “I dont know, either.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMdNL3yizq
”Aww.” Aella sighed. “So we’re gonna be bored until we get somewhere?” That sounded… boring.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvJWlI7Tev
”I think so. Yeah.” Neoma glared at Luna, who was trying to hop off the horse.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqr1cjoVhE
Aella groaned and thunked her head dramatically on the horse’s neck (said horse just snorted). This could take FOREVER!708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWLRQDZoo6
“Oh, calm down, its not that bad.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqcNZx3kEv
“… Fine.” She pouted.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySyKvYDT3A
Neoma looked off to the side, following along the road, while Aella started humming quietly to herself. Neoma watched the other, then looked away.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZPvK0Ca3N
It wasn’t long before Aella was shifting restlessly again.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2PwmbYHhz
"You’re bored again, aren’t you?" Neoman had shifted postions by then, laying with her arms around the horse’s neck.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3I70MhEgk
"Maaaybe."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YDGo9KViP
”It’s in your body language. You’re acting fidgety, so either you’re nervous or bored.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN4ymlhKVM
“… Okay, bored.” Wow, Neoma was smart!708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYQq2IB2VN
She rolled her eyes. “Well, you can continue to ask questions, I guess. It’s almost sunset, give it an hour or two.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKCl7854fO
“Okay~”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJsrgtyTqG
After a long drawn out silence, Neoma stated, “At least France and England aren’t at war?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchpIoNgmUo
”That wouldn’t be fun,” she agreed.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMybqsPkDc
"War isnt an easy thing, no matter your social status."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinXOEwsKeg
Aella shook her head with a slight frown. “Mom says it’s really awful.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNjM6BeR4E
She looked ahead. “England and France go to war a lot, dont they?” She asked this quickly, glancing aside.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfXM0uBJeZ
She nodded. “Yeah… why?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfzjObcxAa
”Just making sure I was right.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBQMVYUqqJ
“Oh.~ Well, you are!”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Yl1BBoxZj
Neoma looked at the girl. “We need to blend in with the locals, though.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4RByVC46W
She frowned. “Um… Okay. How exactly do we do that?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxSdIxLTuF
”Fashion.” Neoma had a hint of a smirk on her face, and tilted her head a bit. “Which is ALWAYS fun…”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTmraccdWU
“I know!~”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwxwqW0y8P
”That was sarcasm, nuts for brains.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9bN5sG1Ib
“… It was? But fashion IS fun,” Aella said matter-of-factly. How could Neoma think otherwise? That just didn’t make sense.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXw3nqa4Gu
”Not Earth fashion.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD0GTNhFrd
“Uh-huh,” she said stubbornly. 708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCb1g3Y3tk
”I much prefer my world’s fashion. Less skirt-y.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRV9u6HCYM
“Skirts are nice.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74pmo6Rub2
”Ugh, nope.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9COdKK0C94
“Yep!~”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJqQlbaqmU
”No, pants and shorts are much more convenient and comfortable.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lTDV9MNGa
“But skirts and dresses are prettier.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2sRYWYkE4
”And?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2dXG34dbS
“And what?” Aella blinked. 708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXJH1CyrW1
”What use is looking pretty if you can’t do anything while you do?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8GlMexitZ
“Who says you have to do anything that might ruin your clothes while you look pretty?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJYYZAT6u3
”Because nothing fun comes out of it!”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S3C0rLQ5s
“It’s fun to be pretty!”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGOEcFKyy0
”I’d rather not.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseUai2I9WP
“That’s too bad, then. I like looking pretty.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzgn93WAqZ
"And I really don’t care."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtGc7OP8S5
Aella pouted, and Neoma gave a sly grin.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI86p1ZFaxn
“… Won’t you have to wear a dress to blend in, though?” The girl suddenly questioned.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqs0WIAiVU
”Shit.” She groaned, hitting her head on the horse’s neck.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthHP1tWAVK
Aella laughed. “Shut up.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbOT6ONptz
“Sorry…”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIYJYb3lzN
She gave some sort of odd hand signal, not raising her head.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuah8Jxk8a
Aella was still grinning a bit. “I do think you’ll look pretty in a dress, though.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQoVWpO3Wm
”I don’t… like dresses….”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ82XKpTLP9
“It’ll be alright… they’re not THAT bad.~”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdww4r9Yo14
”This is coming from Miss Happy-Cheery.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyS6SuBWPe
Aella just grinned wider.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQU7cxGD2L
”Not a compliment.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfViiSHV1ch
“Sounds like one to me.~”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNcHSvSyWI
”Well, it isn’t.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwJGUY2T5L
“Why not? Isn’t being happy and cheerful a good thing?” How confusing.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwplw2sYfm
”To you, maybe.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmHtZuOyJQ
“Why not to you?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvC8R1EKis
”I get annoyed easily.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNqKOyzdw8
“… Oh. You should work on that.” How could you be happy if you got annoyed so easily? Maybe THAT was why Neoma seemed so grumpy…708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxkgqnJzus
”…” Neoma finally raised her head, glaring at her.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3wf7PFpuD
Aella went silent for a moment. Oops. “Sorry.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrhcOQLhDg
”No, no…”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq7d20OLYM
She gave her a confused look, and Neoma made that hand gesture again. Aella blinked, then looked away to her horse.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbzELD7fdK
* * * * *708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCgdtjggvk
Neoma poked a small fire with stick, staying near its heat. “Okay, so do you like fish, by any chance?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mfSh6n2NV
Aella nodded, brightening considerably. “I like pretty much all seafood.~”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRf3Eop4qh
“The next town is a seaside town…” She poked it again, her hand moving over to the fruit.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9qWgrcl3K
”Oh, yay!~” Towns on the coast were her favorite! Like her home.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQknhXDsJA
Neoma looked at the girl again. “How old are you?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBlGdjxM1C
”Fifteen, why?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CVPYJVTC6
“Hmm.” She gazed into the fire, then looked to the side. “In your years, I’m 19.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvdwEWskme
”My years?” Aella tipped her head curiously. Were her years special or something? Maybe they were longer. Or really short. Or…708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrDCiROMbs
“Human.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdRbXMPgNx
Oh. “What kind of years do you use? And how old are you in those?”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3uhD31QRf
“For my species, years are nothing. I’m much older in that time.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs5l4TGxQz
”Wow…” Neoma didn’t look old, but it sounded like she was ancient!708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa10srH3MI
She nodded slowly.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquEeIeyDPe
”What about Luna?” Aella wondered.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHKQnDKDFO
“Luna is sixteen.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXOVPYeJbr
”Oh.~” Almost the same age as herself!708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDFy1bD0h1
She nodded again, sliding over the basket. Aella poked around inside it and pulled out a tasty-looking fruit.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwmHsD8ffx
When Aella looked back to Neoma, she was playing with shadows, making little figures out of the darkness. She watched her interestedly as the elemental’s hand rose up, dragging a shadow with it. After a pause, she changed the shape into a sphere, then pushed it into the fire. To Aella’s surprise, it began to burn.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5VB4sk1qv
”Shadows can burn?” Aella piped up curiously.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT3z9a4XUi
“When they turn into something physical, yes.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD9mBieBGJ
”… huh.” Whatever that meant.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXhpBLXo1t
“You see…” She lifted another shadow, starting to form it into something. “The ability to change an object’s property normally needs to melt, heat up, or freeze. But if you can change something that doesn’t even exist in a different property, then…” She started to make a point on it. “It becomes part of the element, MADE out of the element.” She threw the object into the other’s lap, a small black dagger the height of the her hand.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAdIH9ClxZ
“You can’t melt it, you can’t freeze it. It’s forced to stay THAT element until changed by someone who can control the element itself.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEo0F4wQEh
”… um, okay,” Aella said uncertainly. She supposed it at least made sense to Neoma, and that was important… The dagger resting in her hands was simple, dull and not decorated. After a few moments, it misted out of her hand, startling her, and dripped off it into the shadows. Then it was back into Neoma’s hand.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoLlwx7044
"Woah…" The blonde stared as it got a shadowy look again, and Neoma used her fingernail to start carving something into it. 708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsOKwdBdyz
"It’s made of shadows, it can’t be anything but. Therefore you need to solidfy, liquefy, or make it into a gas like a shadow, or just leave it a shadow."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ8ozlUO6z
”… Uh huh..?” Aella’s head was spinning by then, absolutely confused. She really DID try to pay attention, but…708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmh11octiu
Neoma glanced up at the other with a soft sigh. “Okay, the idiot version. Now imagine that I threw this into the fire.” She held up the knife. “It will heat up, yes, but at which point would it melt? It wouldn’t.” She made the shadow become solid in her hands. “But say that I had…” She dipped her hand into a shadow, cupping them and pulling it up. “A liquid shadow. It won’t freeze and become solid. It also won’t become a gas. It’s going to stay a liquid.” She let it fall back into the shadows, picking up the knife again.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5LiaiursL
”But… why?” she asked, trying to sort all of this information out.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8u6PWa9op
“It’s only a shadow, Aella.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCl0kzYCfz
”Okay..”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQx1XGqi6dt
“But when you’re really powerful, you can practically turn them into a weapon. Now, it won’t work against some things, but against elements that are the opposite of mine…” A ton of pin-like shadows rose around Neoma, disappearing a bit in the dark and showing in the light of the fire. “… or humans, ‘cause no offense, but your kind are easy to hurt…” She let the pins drop. “It becomes a weapon.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Cx3MDNPJm
”Oh.” That, at least, seemed to make a little more sense…708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ovXfc9FqN
Neoma grabbed the knife, holding it up. “Your shifter friend, it probably won’t hurt like this. It won’t hurt me, either, seeing as I did make it.” She pressed the tip of the blade to her palm and pushed down, but instead of stabbing through, it only flattened into her hand, spreading out in a circle.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdMuK9EjiN
”Wow… that’s really neat.” Aella’s eyes were wide.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLA7oqQBdTw
She moved next to the girl, grabbing her arm and pressing the blade to it. It wasn’t enough to draw blood, but enough to prove a point. “For you, any harder would break skin, but for me, not even a chance.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MDz4CNazS
”Wow… that must be neat.” Aella felt a little stinging sensation where the sharp edge met skin, but there wasn’t a drop of blood.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrjc7r0VBB
Neoma nodded. “I can also…” She dropped the knife, holding both her hands up and raising a thin sheet of shadow in an almost misty effect. “Try punching through it.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA8UuZFxem
"Just… punch it?" Aella tipped her head.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8erMsqMmE
“Not too hard, just proving a point here.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6u6iSzXnO
”A-Alright.” Aella aimed a light punch at it (okay, a REALLY light punch). It seemed to solidify as she hit it. “Oh, wow.” She pulled back her fist, watching as it returned to a a misty look when there was no longer pressure against it. “That’s really cool.”708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeaxoHR4Yg
"Now, let’s say someone with a light ability or weapon attacked it? It would break through. On the other hand, if I attacked a light shield with my shadow, I’d break that."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkTF1j7PwL
"Huh."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPowksnQbUc
She nodded. “Fire might crack it.” She pushed down the shield, looking at the shadow ball still sitting in the fire.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7xiQRwvdA
Aella blinked. “Huh,” she repeated.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGMvABL9K2
"Now, if you got your hands on a light weapon, you could break it too. A fire one would probably burn your hand, though…"708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf8MhKa5ny
"That’s really interesting.~" Aella hummed, gazing into the fire and the black pit in its center.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSW9uKxz4s
Neoma nodded, looking at the sky. “The stars here are weird,” she stated unexpectedly.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFwwiMHLcX
"Weird how?" Aella looked at her, blinking.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozPPIkqqgz
"Not in the same places." She shook her head.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLMrw9SEEr
"So it’s different in your world, huh… I’d like to see how they look there."708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UaHDTXL4v
She nodded, closing her eyes. It didn’t seem likely that she would answer any more questions, and was clearly done with her explanation… Aella sighed and let her eyes flicker shut as she realized just how tired she was.708Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuDPfdqwFp
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