Private The Sickness

[Siondhe]

It seemed that Kyra would be spending more time within the jungles of the Tangleweaves than she had originally anticipated. Her original purpose for coming to the dense jungle had long been fulfilled, if it could be called that. However, she'd been stopped from leaving the area through a mixture of curiosity and worry, when she'd found a collection of various unnatural developments that stood out even for something as foreign as the Tangleweaves themselves.

I swear...this is different from this one...but they look somewhat the same...

She had been staring in between two mushrooms for longer than she'd care to admit, her eyes moving back and forth and refusing to touch either one of them. The two pieces were identical, to a degree - shaped like a mushroom, with a broad top; a long stem allowing them to stand well above the other flora that littered the floor. Where one of the mushrooms had a vibrant colouring of yellows and greens, the other contained little more than a black-fungi looking explosion along it's stem and top; any colour gone from the piece itself.

Second one today, at least...seems localised this time.

She shivered at the thought of the small area she'd stumbled into earlier. Once it had contained lively brush and vines, but whatever had taken over it had turned the area into a foray of black mould-like abominations. Kyra had made the mistake of touching one by accident, and watched as it exploded outwards to cover the entire area. She'd been lucky enough not to get any on her skin, but the small patches of burned away leggings had left her wary of the stuff.

It seems to be growing...or at least spreading itself more and more than it should be...

She looked back the way that she had come. The earlier area was several dozen metres away - far further than this one collection should've travelled if it'd been caused by her earlier actions. Yet there was no denying that it existed here, no denying that it had the exact same appearance as the other fungi that she'd run into earlier.

And no denying that it's obviously toxic...

Even before her eyes, she could see the mushroom being melted away. Slowly, for sure, but pieces of it were falling to the ground like ash from a fire. Her eyes glanced about at the surrounding jungle area, wondering what could possibly be causing such corruption, but came up empty in the immediate vicinity.

---

@Vina Skysong​

 

[Vina Skysong]

Amidst the wooden giants that dominated the Tangleweaves a vulpine druidess with long white hair and an equally pale tail was seated, her eyes closed as if she was trying to tune out her surroundings. The opposite was true, but for her what could be seen was less important than what could be heard.

Vina was familiar with the Tangleweaves, spending most of her time in Terrasphere exploring them if there wasn't something else to do. It was the kind of ancient jungle you'd be hard-pressed to find back on Earth, a domain of nature untamed and unbound. Perfect for someone like her, but to enjoy the blessings of nature also meant to look after it when necessary.

While the title of druid was something she'd given to herself without any official recognition she took it seriously, in her own way. Sitting here allowed her to listen to the green that surrounded her on all sides, as well as the winds that travelled far and wide. A soft humming, barely perceptible to others, helped her align her mind with the world around her. Her ears twitched occasionally as a light breeze swirled around her, stirring the fur on her tail and her long hair.

The winds spoke of many things, most of them familiar. However, from one direction there came stories of something that made her brow furrow, the druidess turning her ears in that direction to listen better. There was discord there, an illness which was eating away at the green. This wasn't uncommon in itself: the Tangleweaves was a place abundant with life and magic, which inevitably caused harmful phenomena to spring up. This one was still small, a wound that had only just now begun to fester, but as she listened to the winds Vina knew that if it was not tended to the infection would only spread.

The Tangleweaves were too vast for any single disease to bring it down, but it was still not something that could be left alone.

Finally opening her eyes Vina grabbed her staff and stood up, stretching and looking at the patches of bright sky that were visible amidst the thick canopy before shaking her head.

Luckily there don't seem to be any demons involved this time... Where did that last one come from?

That unpleasant memory was quickly dismissed as she made her way towards the infection, the winds acting both as her guide and her wings. As there was some urgency in curing the sickness before it spread too much she practically floated from one spot to the next.

Once she got close she slowed down, spotting something white in the distance. The winds had whispered something about another person, but Vina hadn't been able to learn much: the art of listening to the winds was a tricky one. From this close she could smell the disease that the winds had told her about as well, and various of the plants that surrounded the white figure in the distance were blackened and misshapen.

Hey there~!

While the winds couldn't tell her much about this person that just meant Vina's positive and optimistic nature took over. Her melodious voice flew out ahead of her as the sky druid approached with her usual cheerful attitude. A friendly smile adorned her face as she entered the clearing, only interrupted by a brief frown as she looked at the afflicted plants before turning her attention towards the other vixen studying the outbreak.

I don't often see others out here. Are you also curious about what's going on?

@Kyra Varyth

 

[Siondhe]

She'd noticed, at the last few seconds, as something else had approached. A gust of wind, a small scent that stood out from the otherwise musky and murky smells of the jungle itself. Something that both did, and somehow didn't belong to the natural order of the surrounding area. It's presence had been revealed in the words of welcoming that it - she - had given. Kind words, with a sense of positivity and joy behind them. Something that Kyra hadn't heard a lot of since her arrival into TerraSphere.

Curious...that's definitely one way of putting it. I was actually just passing by, when I noticed the...sickness? I guess you could call it a sickness. It's...

Kyra waved a hand towards the plant life around her, the small whisps of ashen colouring standing out against the otherwise greens and browns that made up the vibrant background around her. Stark, obvious and somehow unsettling just to look at to Kyra's eyes, in a way that almost made her feel sick.

...disturbing, to say the least. Toxic, as well, as far as I've been able to tell. It seems to jump from point of life to point of life, consuming and devouring whatever it touches - ah, I would avoid touching it, I think. At least, my assumption is that it's actually quite dangerous on contact...not that I've tried yet. It's a hypothesis in the making, I guess you could say.

Her eyes flitted across the area once more, seeing another spot that had begun to shift into a greyish tone as the infection spread with the breeze of the other's arrival. Absentmindedly, she moved towards it, kneeling down just out of reach of the spores as she watched it consume the flowers it had landed on. Gone, within seconds, were the dark hues of purple and gold, consumed by whatever the infection that touched it was.

Definitely disturbing...have you seen anything like this anywhere else? This is actually my first time passing through the jungle...so I guess I should be asking if this is common, at least?

She paused as she glanced over at the other, taking in their image and form. Her nose twitched slightly as she refocused on the scent, confirming that it was the individual's approach she had noticed early.

Oh...my name's Kyra, by the way. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

---

@Vina Skysong​

 

[Vina Skysong]

That this person had come out here for something else only to stumble upon the disease was curious in itself, as it left Vina with the question of what else her fellow vixen might have been out here in the Tangleweaves. Abundant with life and magic as the jungle was, most people considered it too messy and too dangerous to go on casual strolls between the giant trees.

Her azure eyes followed the gesture, taking in the sight of the diseased plants once more. Blackened and rotten, it was clear that along with their vibrance these plants were very quickly losing whatever life they once held, turning into little more than husks which then fell apart to spread their murderer's weapon to others. She nodded in response to the warning: obviously touching the victims of such a volatile affliction wouldn't be a smart move.

Don't worry, I won't~

Even as they spoke the infection spread, Vina following after her companion to study the new victim over the other vixen's shoulder. Watching it latch onto the flowers so quickly was definitely disturbing as described by the white-maned traveller, Vina frowning as she watched closely. Leaning forward she placed her hands against her knees to help her stay upright, her nose wrinkling as the smell of death irritated her nostrils.

There's always lots of things going on in the Tangleweaves, so it's not uncommon for a new disease to show up. It's the first time I've seen this type, however, and it's a lot more aggressive than usual.

Despite the severity of the situation she still smiled as Kyra introduced herself, her long fluffy tail wagging behind her.

I'm Vina Skysong. Nice to meet you Kyra~ I'm a druid, so I do try to pay deal with these kinds of situations before they grow out of control.

With introductions out of the way, she crouched as well, so she could study the new patch of infection from close up.

It doesn't seem to be overtly magical... it spreads the usual way, but it kills its host a lot faster than usual. (She glanced around.) From the looks of it smaller plants are more vulnerable to it, or maybe it can't latch onto wood as easily~ Have you seen any animals affected by it yet?

As much as Vina would have liked to spend more time chatting with her new friend, with how quickly this disease could spread itself she couldn't afford to waste much time on pleasantries.

@Kyra Varyth

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra smiled at Vina's introduction - something about the other individual was welcoming, calming and...well, friendly. There was no other way to explain it other than they felt nice. Her attention was pulled back to the diseased plants rather quickly, however, as the other began their own investigation into it. Kyra remained at their side, moving out of the way so they could inspect it more closely as they shifted inwards.

I hadn't considered whether it could latch...

She paused in her comment as a question was directed towards her. Kyra hadn't, at least in her last few hours of travel through the Tangelweaves, noticed any animals at all - much less those effected by such a disease. Her eyes cast quickly around the area, trying to spot any signs that there may be any animal carcasses - or remanets of said carcasses, but found nothing in the vicinity.

Er...no, just the plants so far...there's animals here? I mean, of course there are, but I haven't seen any...should that be concerning? It feels like it should be a bit concerning, but...

She stood up and glanced around once more. She'd been able to summon beasts once using her arts, perhaps it would work again if she tried. She figured it was better than doing nothing, especially seeing as she was at a loss in what other help she could provide towards the current review of the plant life.

Beast and faun of kind, come, come to my side...

She spoke softly as she made a waving motion with her hands, as if drawing in something towards her. A few seconds passed as Kyra waited, her ears twitching towards any sounds that were made, before she gave a shake of her head.

Either the weaving failed...or there's no animals in the area. And honestly, with how...err....new, I am with spellweaving, it could be the former more so than the latter...

She gave a glance over the diseased area once more, noticing how it was continuing to spread with each small gust of wind and air that travelled between the plants. Kyra figured that in an hours time, at most, the entire area they stood in would be lost to whatever the affliction was.

So...any ideas?

---

@Vina Skysong​

 

[Vina Skysong]

Normally when a disease spreads it needs to come into contact with vulnerable tissue. With animals the skin serves as a barrier, which is why wounds have to be kept clean. It's the same for plants. (She indicated the afflicted plantlife around them.) These trees are a lot better protected than the flowers and fungi, and so far the disease hasn't found a way around it.

That was good news, at least. It meant that the disease couldn't bypass all protections and that it still had to follow the usual rules. When magic was involved the more dangerous afflictions could ignore such things entirely and spread through anything.

The silver-white vixen tilted her head as Kyra tried to call some animals, her ears twitching and swivelling to listen to their surroundings. Possessing Beast Arts as well she could tell that no animals were responding to her companion's call.

I'd say it's a good thing. They must've noticed that something is wrong here and are staying away from afflicted places. (She stood up.) They're a lot smarter than people think~

She hadn't failed to notice how even as they talked the disease just kept spreading. With how quickly the afflicted plants and fungi decayed there was an abundance of diseased particles to be picked up by the winds and spread to other plants, and even if the disease couldn't penetrate the thick trunks of the trees the green plants all around them weren't so lucky.

I'm pretty good at curing ailments, but with how quickly this spreads I'll need to have a better idea of what it is. For now I'd say the first step is to slow down the spread~

The winds, gentle as they were, helped spread the disease. Walking towards the middle of the affected area Vina hummed softly, looking at Kyra over her shoulder.

By the way, your spellweaving sounded fine to me~!

Her humming continued, the soft sound quickly filling the air. The melody was random at first, but as the druidess kept going Kyra might notice that the melody began to match the pace at which more plants got infected. Or, to be more precise, the pace at which the winds moved, carrying the particles which served as new infection vectors. Vina closed her eyes as she stretched her focus until her melody had aligned itself with all the winds in the area.

Once her melody matched the winds she began to change it herself, and this time the winds changed to match the melody. Complexity was replaced by simplicity, and then the melody slowed down until finally it disappeared entirely, Vina slowly opening her eyes as around them the air had stopped moving. Normally such motionless air could only be found in the depths of the earth, where even the fiercest storms could not reach.

There we go~ This won't last forever, but at least it'll buy us some time. As for what else we could do... We might find answers if we figure out where this came from.

@Kyra Varyth

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra listened intently to the description of how the disease could, and could not, effect the wildlife and flora around them. She took mental notes, storing the knowledge away for a later time - she wasn't sure when, but at some point she figured she'd use the knowledge, somehow.

Her eyes followed as Vina pointed out pieces of the puzzle which Kyra had noticed, but not necessarily understood or fully comprehended. She was able to follow along with the general instructions and guidance she was receiving, however, and felt proud that she at least wasn't standing there without a clue as to the topic at hand.

When it came to Vina's comment about her spellweaving, however, Kyra felt herself flush heavily. Mumbled words of redirection and avoidance had escaped her before she could stop them, and she was happy when the conversation naturally flowed onwards to the next possibilities in their actions.

She watched in awe, as much as taking note of how the other managed their own weaving, as Vina began a melody that could only be considered as a song to connect her with the very world around her. It was far different than anything Kyra had attempted before, and she couldn't help but wonder if it would do her any good to try it sometime. Perhaps...the way that everyone uses spells is different, based upon the individual.

Well...I would say I only saw it beginning around...a hundred meters back the way I had come from. Not too far, actually.

She nodded back towards the western side of the jungle that she had made a pathway through - although one could barely see the trail she had blazed against the fauna that surrounded it. It took Kyra's enhanced vision just to notice where her boots had stepped, the overgrowth consuming what little evidence there was of any passing.

There's maybe one more clearing that way that has a similar affliction...perhaps slightly worse than this one. I can't say for sure if it's spread in any other direction, but perhaps that's a starting point at least?

Vina was clearly more experienced in their current situation, and Kyra naturally found herself taking a secondary role - there to support and provide assistance rather than trying to lead the procedure at hand. She waited to see what the other would suggest, whether they would retrace Kyra's steps, or perhaps scout through a few other areas to see how widespread the impact was on the jungle.

---

@Vina Skysong​

 

[Vina Skysong]

Vina's smile widened a little as her sharp hearing allowed her to catch Kyra's almost reflexive attempts at deflecting the compliment. She didn't think her fellow vixen was really suffering from insecurity, and she did find such a flustered response endearing. Under different circumstances she might have spent some time teasing her new friend a little longer, but they did have some work on their hands which she couldn't delay.

That the first sighting was close by did actually make her sigh with relief. The winds had told her that the wound had only begun to fester, so it wasn't unexpected, but it was still better than hearing that it had already spread across a large area. Well, the area it crossed was already a lot bigger than she'd have liked.

That's a relief then~ If it's close by we might be able to figure out what made this disease and how to cure it before my spell wears off.

While her senses were sharp enough that she could potentially follow Kyra's trail back to the first spot, it would be faster to simply let the other vixen lead the way. Stepping aside Vina invited the other to take the lead.

After you Kyra~ The place where it began should be our first priority, but it would also be good to see if it's spreading evenly in every direction. If it's relying on winds I should have an easier time taking care of it~

@Kyra Varyth

 

[Siondhe]

She moved across the open area towards the pathway that had led her to this location, her feet tracing around the few marks of ashen coloured flora that had become infected along the way. She was careful to disturb as little as she could, knowing that her own movements could possibly spread the disease just as well as the winds that Vina had brought to a - temporary - halt.

Pushing through a few small trees, and what resembled some collection of vine-meets-bush, Kyra led the other vulpine back to her original encounter with the infliction. It had spread far beyond what Kyra had first witnessed, the ashen colour touching just about every centimetre of the first clearing. Where once there had been tall plants of some similarity to a sunflower - darker in colour, sure, but the same general appearance in height and stem - there now stood barren, blackened stems; appearing for all purposes to have been burnt by flame and fire.

It looks...a lot worse now. This wasn't how it was before...and I came through here maybe twenty minutes ago...

Her eyes roamed over the area, taking in the destruction while she bit into her lip. It was almost saddening, seeing how much had already been affected by the infliction. So much destruction in such a short amount of time. She glanced across to where she had first entered the area - an archway between two trees, which led back towards the village she had come from. Even without her enhanced eyes, she could see that the disease hadn't yet spread down that pathway.

It all was sort of spreading out from that area over there, by the trunk of the large blackwood tree...it was kind of like an arc, flowing outwards towards the remainder of the clearing. It reminded me kind of like how water ripples away from a point where the wind begins...if that makes sense?

She pointed towards a large blackened tree to her left, across from where the village lay in the distance. It appeared the same as when she'd first passed through; as if untouched by the disease itself. The area beneath it, however, had turned entirely grey with death and sickness, any signs of colour gone from the very earth beneath it.

---

@Vina Skysong​

 

[Vina Skysong]

Light on her feet, Vina followed Kyra swiftly, taking just as much care to not disturb their surroundings or accidentally spread more of the diseased particles that would allow yet more plants to be afflicted with whatever disease had taken root in this part of the Tangleweaves. The sight of all these deadened plants did get to Vina, her ears drooping a little as her azure eyes swept across the devastation. As before it seemed like the disease had a hard time affecting trees, but most of the smaller flora in the area had either died or was well on its way.

It really is a lot more aggressive than usual...

She mumbled this more to herself than her companion, although Kyra probably would pick up on it anyway. After making their way through a patch of dense foliage which had yet to be consumed by the affliction Kyra presented a clearing which had become almost completely devoid of life. If the previous sight had disturbed Vina this was enough to sadden her deeply, her ears now drooping completely even as she carefully stepped further forward.

We'll have to find an answer quickly then.

It did look like the disease didn't spread in every direction evenly, which supported the theory that the primary source of infection was airborne particles. With the winds having been stilled for the moment they did have some time to work on this, but she could still feel the urgency.

That tree...

Kyra brought her attention to a tree with a black trunk, which was close to the centre of the clearing. The vixen nodded as she slowly approached, her ears now up in alarm while her tail nervously bristled behind her. Despite being in the middle of the disease this one tree seemed to still be alive and healthy, even as around it the world died. Stopping short from where the ground itself had turned lifeless as well Vina raised one hand, closing her eyes and humming softly in an attempt to communicate with the tree. However, after several seconds she opened her eyes again and quickly lowered her hand.

There's something wrong with them... It's like there's a curse on them. (She looked back at Kyra.) If we want to stop the blight from spreading we'll have to cure this one first. I could try cleansing them but I think they're feeding on their victims.

@Kyra Varyth

 

[Siondhe]

Her ears twitched as she watched Vina take in the entire area. It was disturbing to Kyra, coming across the death and destruction that had been wrought by whatever disease afflicted the area, and she could only image what sort of impact it was having on someone who was clearly far more connected to the land and jungle than Kyra herself was.

She remained silent as Vina explored the area, eventually coming to the tree that Kyra had pointed out. The darkened husk and exterior seemed to draw in everything around it, and Kyra watched as Vina tried doing something to it, before she turned to Kyra and explained the curse that laid over the entire area.

It made sense, in a way, that it was some sort of curse. That didn't make any of it more logical to Kyra in the grand picture, but it at least gave her a starting point to grasp what was happening. It also means that we may be able to do something about it, if we can find the cause of the curse. Like Vina said, maybe we can lift it...break the damage that has been done. Maybe it'll even revert the area back to normal? Aloud, she spoke with a soft voice, as if she were afraid to disturb the area any more than needed to be - or had been done already.

What...what do we need to do, to make this place lively again? I'm...I'm up for doing whatever I can, but this is definitely beyond anything...well, anything that I've done before. But...if you've got some ideas, or experience, or...anyway that I can help, consider me here to assist.

She wasn't sure what would be required to lift such a curse, but Kyra didn't want to ignore the damage that had been done here. The area may not be her home by any means, but it was someone's home, and leaving it in this state felt like as much of a crime against nature, as whatever had caused all of this. Readying herself, she waited for some sort of direction from Vina, guidance on what they could do to try and break the effects happening, and most importantly, how she could help.

---

@Vina Skysong​

 

[Vina Skysong]

Vina smiled as Kyra eagerly offered her assistance. The other vixen didn't seem to be very confident about her ability to help, but the druidess wasn't about to discourage someone who wanted to do the right thing. Turning away from the black tree for now she walked back towards her new friend.

I'm glad to hear it Kyra~ I'm not sure I could fix this by myself either, so I'm happy that we can work together on this. (She tilted her head.) I already know that you can communicate with animals, but what other talents do you have~?

Despite Kyra's humble attitude, Vina thought that the way the other carried herself was different from what she'd expect from someone completely new to the game. That, and she was here in the middle of the Tangleweaves, where people rarely went unless they had a good reason. What abilities Kyra had could make a huge difference in how they approached this.

When it comes to curses there's various ways of dealing with them. With smaller curses I could dispel them outright, but this one looks like the type that becomes stronger as it grows, so we'd first have to find some way to undo most of the damage. If that doesn't work you either have to find the one responsible for the curse or figure out the nature of the curse. (She glanced back at the tree before tapping her chin.) If we had more time I could communicate with the forest and learn what happened here, but the faster we can tackle the problem the better. (She sighed.) We might have to try and do this the hard way if we don't have any clues...

@Kyra Varyth

 

[Siondhe]

Vina seemed more than happy to have Kyra along to help, and while she doubted that she'd be much use, she was inspired by the quick acceptance the other had. Before they'd gone any further, however, Vina branched into asking about Kyra's own talents and capabilities. The vixen was quick to respond, her tail wagging slightly behind her in an excited manner even as she listed off her capabilities, and what she'd managed to make of them so far.

It's a bit of a variety of a build...I've focused on weapons designed to pierce things when it comes to major combative skills, but that's likely not going to help here in any way. Unless we need to...poke holes in something, I guess.

She shifted on her feet, taking on a pose that would look almost thoughtful in nature as she continued on down the list.

After that is of course the beast arts for communicating and handling animals...followed by the weapon arts? I've never really delved into that one, I just know it boosts my weaponry a bit...then I've got illusion spellweaving - that won't really help here, but it's great for creating imagery and life-like appearances. Lastly, of course, is the nature based weaving. I've already tried a few minor weaves, just to try and burst some life back into the flora in the area, but it seemed to be cancelled out by...something. Or at least it wasn't effective at all in the moments I tried it...

She ended her list on a smile, a confidence displayed that wasn't matched by what she was feeling inside. Her abilities felt inferior towards what they needed for breaking a curse, but Kyra was invested all the same. Perhaps there's a way to use the weaves I have that Vina knows better than I...could be a major learning experience here.

I fear the hard way may be our approach...but I'm also not entirely sure what that would include. Assuming that we can't find anything that obviously leads towards a direct path at breaking the curse, would it be something like spot-healing each area? Like we used to do with animals in the real world, where you focused on healing the outer wounds, so that the interior of the body handled the rest where we couldn't. Antibiotics often helped with that, but it wasn't an end-all solution...

She frowned slightly at the thought, wondering if there was some sort of antibiotic in this world that could somehow effect the affliction hitting the jungle itself.

---

@Vina Skysong​

 

[Vina Skysong]

Vina listened attentively as Kyra began to list her abilities, nodding along as her fellow vixen went into detail. Not every skill would be equally useful in their current situation, but the druidess still wanted to make sure they were keeping track of anything that might help cure the blight that was slowly spreading throughout this part of the forest.

Hmmm...~ I don't know much about Weapon Arts either, but if we do face any danger I think you'll do much better than I~ I'm not much of a fighter you see~

While her skills were arguably more suitable for their current situation Vina could tell that Kyra's abilities made her much better at dealing with hostiles. It wasn't that she was incapable of fighting, but it was far from her speciality.

Her ears perked up as Kyra pointed out her own attempts at fixing the issue with nature magic, smiling back at her new friend.

Even if it wasn't effective when you tried it on your own, with the two of us together we should be able to make it work~ Do you have any experience with weaving your magic together with another?

Her tail wagged behind her as she raised one hand and wiggled the fingers, a breeze swiftly dancing around the moving digits before dispersing again.

Treating each outbreak might be possible if we work together, but first we'll have to contain the source here. If we're lucky we might also find clues while we're working on that. Hmmm...~

Humming to herself she looked around again, taking several steps away from the black tree which seemed to be the source of the decay that was ravaging the jungle. Despite the seriousness of the situation she was still feeling optimistic and cheerful, her spirit bolstered by the knowledge that another nature lover was here together with her.

By the way, what brought you out here Kyra?

@Kyra Varyth

 

[Siondhe]

She shuffled on the spot as Vina questioned her abilities once more - less in a demeaning way, and more in a way that Kyra knew she was simply trying to figure out how useful she would be. Still, it was embarrassing to Kyra as she was forced to admit her shortcomings, especially when she wanted to help so much.

Err...I mean, I've never weaved a spell with anyone else before...I'm not even really that great at doing them on my own...apparently I need practice. A lot of practice.

She refrained from mentioning that most of her attempts at weaving spells had been, up to this point, a relative failure - successful only through a few moments of sheer luck, or lack of pressure. Not that any harm had come from it, but she had certainly been less than capable when the time's required it.

I...think if you walk me through what to do, I might be able to do it? So long as...we have a bit of time to practice, and trial and error...and, well, some patience...?

She could feel her cheeks flushing in response. It was silly, she knew, to be worried about how the other would react, how they would view her, but still Kyra found herself withdrawing into herself slightly. As if trying to hide from view, out in the middle of the clearing with nothing between them.

She almost missed the final question, so deep in thought about her shortcomings, and she felt herself physically recoil suddenly as she snapped back to attention. She was slow to response, and knew that it looked suspicious, forcing her to provide more detail than she initially would have.

Oh...I was actually...visiting a nearby village...well, I don't know if you can call it a village? More of a hamlet, or small...community? Sort of. I was informed that there was an item there that would make spellweaving easier, but...well, by the time I had gotten there, the locals told me that someone else had arrived. I guess they beat me to it, because I was left empty handed, mostly...

There was still a small bitterness to the entire event. She'd been informed, by her sources as few as they were, that the item in question was worth more than Kyra could ever imagine, and that no one else had shown any interest in it. Instead, she'd arrived to find that the item was gone, and those left behind had been relatively injured in the process - something she'd worked hard to try and fix. Somehow, she'd felt it was her fault, even though she'd not been there.

I...well, I guess I'll just have to figure out how to get better at weaving without the item, right?

She'd been unable to do much for the wounds - applying local medicines had been the extent of her ability, once her weaving had failed her. She wondered if that was why she was feeling such a reaction to Vina's questions...

You...you mentioned containing the outbreak here. Did you have some sort of thought on how to do so...?

---

@Vina Skysong​

 

[Vina Skysong]

Vina felt a little bit bad as Kyra admitted that she wasn't very good with magic yet, even though the songstress hadn't tried to put her friend on the spot. Under different circumstances she would have handled the matter differently, but they were in a bit of a hurry so she had to press on even if it made Kyra feel a bit embarrassed. Her tone was reassuring as she smiled confidently.

That's okay Kyra, we'll make it work~ I can use my music to guide you, so if you follow my lead we should be able to combine our magic anyway.

One of the main benefits of Harmonic Magic was that it synergised well with practically anything. She nodded as Kyra asked whether they'd be able to get some practice in, the druidess looking at their surroundings. While the ground close to the black tree was completely dead, all plant life that had grown there withered away, the range wasn't too large yet, and with Vina having stilled the winds they did have some time to spare.

A bit of practice should be fine. The Tangleweaves aren't so weak that they'll succumb to this disease that quickly, after all~

The reaction Kyra had to Vina's innocent question made the vixen blink, although it quickly became clear that it wasn't because Kyra actually had anything to hide, but because she'd still been feeling nervous about the idea of using her magic to help solve the current crisis. The explanation was certainly harmless enough, Vina's gaze going towards the path lead away from the clearing from a different direction they'd arrived from while a thoughtful hum escaped her throat.

I didn't know there lived people nearby~ And an item that makes spells easier... (She tilted her head.) There aren't many items that can do that. (She shrugged.) Oh well~ It could've been useful here, but if someone else also wanted it there's no helping it. I think we'll be fine without it as well~

Her sharp ears caught something in Kyra's voice which told her that the story wasn't quite as straightforward as that, but she saw no need to push any further. If Kyra didn't want to say more that was her choice to make, and while the songstress was quite the nosy person she didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable.

The disease has spread too far for it to be fully contained here, but I think we can cut the heart off from the rest~ (She pointed at the black tree.) I'm guessing that the source grows stronger when it spreads the disease, and then uses that strength to strengthen the disease. (Her finger went to a nearby tree.) But it hasn't grown strong enough yet to affect the big ones as well. If we combine our magic we can use the power of the forest to create a barrier that puts this clearing in quarantine, after which we should be able to cleanse the other outbreaks. If that works out we can turn our attention to this place and try to get rid of the curse entirely~ Any questions~?

@Kyra Varyth

 

[Siondhe]

Simple enough. That's what Kyra had wanted to say. It sounded exactly like a lot of the procedure that she had taken in the real world, when dealing with the infections that spread through flock and herd; except in this case it was with magic and spells, and was far from simple. She was out of her depth, there was no doubt about that, but somehow she felt like Vina's guidance would make things a lot smoother, a lot easier, than she may have originally considered.

Most likely a lot of questions...but no time for them. I should be able to follow your lead, so long as you can provide guidance to a small degree.

She paused, thinking back on everything Vina had just said, and considering how she could tie her own capabilities in. The girl seemed confident that Kyra would be able to somehow follow the music that she created, and Kyra wasn't experienced enough to doubt that. She would simply have to accept it with a nod, and adjust on the fly. Something that she was, thankfully, good at doing - a tribute to her real world work, brought into the world of TerraSphere.

The process itself seems...well, easy enough in theory. Surround, contain, cut off. Destroy the source, allow the rest to recover and overcome. A technique used in a lot of medical procedures...destroy the cancerous source, allow the body to overcome the remainder - purge and live?

Kyra nodded even as she spoke the question. It was less of a question, and more of a confirmation anyways; for the most part she knew what they had planned on doing. What she was lost on, was how she was going to provide support to it.

I...think I have some ideas on how I can assist, perhaps. I...well, I did some reading about nature based weaving, back in the city...and...well, I've never tried it before, but if you have something in mind for creating containment, I might be able to at least help with that. Hopefully it'll amalgamate with what you're attempting to do.

She'd stopped talking for a few seconds when she realised she needed to clarify her statement a bit, lest it sound like she was being confident in something she was clearly not confident in doing.

Ah...I've never actually tried this before, but I think I understand the basics of...well, I think I can get it to work. Maybe. It...may take me a moment or two to get it started, but...you know what, let's just do this. I'll make sure not to fail you.

She rushed the end of her sentence, realising that it was only sounding worse the more she spoke. If she kept going, she was sure that Vina would eventually lose confidence in Kyra's capabilities to assist - and while she may not have had those confidences in herself, she at least wanted to present an image of confidence. Fake it...you got this. You can do it. She readied herself, standing beside Vina and giving a soft nod to show she was ready as soon as the other was, her hands held before her in a loose, comfortable manner.

---

@Vina Skysong​

 

[Vina Skysong]

Kyra was correct that they didn't have a lot of time, so it might be better to keep the questions for once the disaster had been dealt with, or at the very least contained. The vixen nodded, smiling reassuringly as her friend pointed out that she'd be fine as long as she received guidance.

That shouldn't be a problem~ I can use my music to guide both you and the magic, so as long as you trust me everything should go according to plan. Don't worry too much about what you're doing~

If used correctly Harmonic Magic could also be used to influence people more directly, not only strengthening them but also showing them how to move. It wasn't something Vina did often, as she had zero interest in bossing others around, but she figured that as long as Kyra was okay with it and they were working towards the same goal it was just like guiding a less inexperienced dance partner.

Kyra's observation that it was similar to treatments used back on Earth made Vina smile brighten a little, the vixen looking at their surroundings as her tail wagged behind her.

It's similar, yes~ The rules are a bit different, because normally diseases don't become stronger the more they spread. The two of us probably can't destroy this core as it is, but... (She hummed.) Maybe the barrier cut also cut off the connection?

That would be trickier, especially as they didn't know the exact nature of the affliction they were dealing with. Someone with Dark Magic probably would've been able to tell, as those usually specialised in curses. This disease... the way it harmed the host didn't seem magical, but the way that the source became stronger the more the disease spread was definitely unnatural.

Her attention was drawn back towards her new friend as her fellow vixen admitted that she did have some idea for how they could contain the source of the blight. Like before she didn't seem very confident about it, but Vina would raise a hand and rest it on Kyra's shoulder, giving it an affectionate squeeze.

Don't worry Kyra, I trust you'll do your best~ (She indicated their surroundings.) We're both here to help the forest, so it's not about failing one another. We're in this together, and I'm sure we'll do great~

The last thing she wanted was for Kyra to think that she was here to live up to Vina's expectations. The two vixens had both come here because they'd noticed that something was wrong, and they were united in their desire to cure the disease that had stricken this part of the Tangleweaves. With Kyra standing next to her and signalling that she was ready Vina reached into her pouch and pulled out a wooden flute, the slender instrument smooth against her fingers.

Remember, relax and just go with the flow~

With those words she put the flute to her lips, closing her eyes as her ears twitched and perked up. Even with the disease spreading slowly the trees were strong as always, and as she focused on the world around her she could hear their song just like she could hear that of the wind, from the roots deep in the earth to the branches weaving a web in the sky.

Taking a step forward the sound of her foot meeting the ground was different from how it should be, deeper and more hollow. Rather than flesh against dirt, it sounded like... a drum had just been struck. The next step was the same, although this time Vina stepped to the side and the tone was a bit different from before. After the first two steps her movements became more fluent, her feet tapping the ground as if they were hands upon a set of drums, creating a lively rhythm.

Then came the sound of her flute, its smooth tones filling the clearing as the air followed the melody. With each drumbeat of her feet the trees around the clearing seemed to respond, the earthen sound waking them up while the flute wove every moment together.

Spoiler: Song

For Kyra it would also sound like the music filled every part of her being, hearing it not only with her ears but also feeling the vibrations of the rhythm through her feet while the winds that rustled her hair and fur matched the melody played out with the other vixen. If she allowed herself to be swept up by the song it would also show her how she'd have to weave her magic to combine it with Vina's, shaping nature around them to form a barrier which would contain the deathly curse contained within. Rather than precise calculations or complex incantations Vina's music allowed herself and other druids to guide nature through more primal methods.

As the song continued the trees around the clearing would respond more clearly, shifting and growing new branches. Nature's energy hummed around them, matching the melody and slowly shaping itself according to the will of the two druids.

@Kyra Varyth

 

[Siondhe]

Vina did everything she could to reassure Kyra, her words coming in as a soft lullaby against the worry that Kyra had begun to feel within her chest. She knew that the other's expectations were low, the obviousness in their presence, their aura, even their scent, made it clear to Kyra that all they wanted from her was all the help that Kyra could provide. Yet still, she found herself wondering if she'd be up to the task, able and capable of keeping up with the other vixen as they tried to cure a disease that had spread this fast throughout the natural area; something Kyra was doubtful she'd be able to do at all.

I...alright. You guide, I'll do what I can...to help.

Her voice lacked confidence, lacked the assurance that she wanted to give Vina. She would help, she would give it her all, everything that she could possibly muster to face the threat that this jungle was nothing facing, but she wasn't confident. Wasn't certain she could bring anything worthwhile to the fight. She felt almost childish in a sense; staring at the large danger that only the adults could face, and wondering what she was expected to do to help.

Be there. That's all. The words echoed in her mind as she realised that was all Vina needed from her. She wasn't here to solve the problem, she wasn't here to guide them, to lead them to the solution. She was here to provide what little she could to Vina - because that's all that mattered. Every little deed could overcome the darkness of all bad things; a story that had been told aeon over aeon.

Nodding to the other, Kyra prepared herself, pulling up the sleeve on her jacket just enough to reveal the bracelet on her arm - a leather piece that contained the fox face and Celtic-like symbolism associated with real world Druidism. The bracelet seemed to glow with a soft purple colour as Kyra began to focus her mind, pulling forth the energy that sat within herself.

I'm ready...whenever-

She stopped suddenly as Vina began her song, the notes seeming to dance through the air of the jungle in a melody that was both pleasant, and calling. Kyra listened only for a few seconds before being drawn into the rhythm itself, her hands moving suddenly in a dance that somehow seemed to match the music. She drew out the natural energy she was feeling, humming along to the song even as she focused on encompassing the energy that radiated from her to the tree, and back. Her hands moved as she shaped it, looking to focus it into a circular essence that wrapped around the base of the tree first, before growing in her mind, wrapping itself around it in an almost comforting, hug-like manner.

She wasn't sure how long the two of them worked at it, to Kyra it felt like forever and no time at all, but as the song suddenly drifted to silence and her own hands fell down to her side, Kyra realised one thing - she was exhausted. Exhausted, but the deathly feeling coming from the tree had lessened; as if contained behind something that allowed it's presence to be sensed, but not escape.

We...we did it? Did we do it?

Even her excitement sounded underwhelming, the exhaustion in her tone obvious as she suddenly swayed on her feet - her body nearly giving out as the effort washed over her in earnest.

---

@Vina Skysong​

 

[Vina Skysong]

Sensing that Kyra was letting herself get guided by the song Vina smiled alongside her flute, turning around so she was facing her companion even as the two of them wove their magic together to create a barrier of druidic magic strong enough to contain the source of the blight assailing the forest around them. The strong trees that stood guard over the clearing reached out to one another, their roots formed a complex web underground. The forest itself hummed with powers more ancient than civilization, answering the call of the two druids who sought to mend this festering wound.

Once the song ended and their spell was finished a powerful ward had taken hold of the clearing, more potent than either of them could have managed on their own. Even someone without any magic sense would be able to feel that deep magics had been invoked here.

As the last note trailed away Vina lowered her flute and calmed her feet, coming to a halt to open her eyes and take in their surroundings. Everything felt... fresher than before. The plants which had already withered away due to the disease hadn't been returned to life, but the trees were like giants watching over the clearing, with the one blackened tree having the faintest green glow crawling along its bark in thin lines, weaving like vines.

The source is contained for now. We did well~

Vina was also winded, but she noticed that for Kyra it was even worse. Quickly stepping forward she put her flute back in her pouch to grab her friend instead, one hand on the shoulder and the other arm around the waist to help her stay upright.

Sorry Kyra, I didn't think it'd take that much out of you. (She smiled.) How're you feeling~? Now that the source is quarantined and the wind has been stilled we've got some time to take a breather.

If Kyra didn't object Vina would gently lead her towards the edge of the clearing, where they could sit with their backs against one of the tall trees that now served as a guardian against the curse. While the plants already taken by the disease had been beyond saving she could already see that new plants were trying to reclaim the clearing, the black tree's blight no longer holding sway over its surroundings.

@Kyra Varyth