† Blood-Stained Reflection

[Lirael]

Lirael walked in the dappled shadows of the overhanging boughs. It was a clear day but the Sun was setting giving the sky a red and golden tint. She was walking next to Opal Springs, the crystal clear water running gently past her, glittering in the sunlight. Small silver fishes darting in its shallow depths, their scales reflecting light with every graceful arch of their bodies.
The Sun was streaking through the gaps in between the leaves allowing little beams of light to strike the green grass below. Two birds were chirping softly to each other in one of the old trees nearby, their songs gave a calming feeling to Lirael's mind. It echoed inside her head and she almost wanted to be part of the music. With that thought she ;et herself melt into the air around her, she appeared to be invisible but their was a strange glow in the air to any onlooker. She appeared back into view shortly afterwards, further away from the bird's music. She was at a rather larger body of the Springs. The water still only around a metre deep but deep enough you could not see the little silver fish that dwelled right at the bottom. Bullrushes of a luscious green lined most of the edge, anchoring themselves in the water. Lirael went up and nibbled upon one of the leaves. The taste was rather bitter but still good as it had a uncertain warming essence about it.
Without keeping her head back from the water anymore she seered over and memories came flooding back to her almost immeadiatly. The sames memories from when she looked into a clearwater puddle after she had just murdered the whole of her pack. The memories of their blood dripping from her maw into the puddle and staining it blood red. Just then she saw her reflectin and the water around it turn a blood red, her own horrific memories, her own Blood-Stained Reflection..

[Sheikra]

There was a snap of twigs and Sheikra stepped out from the undergrowth. A tear was sliding down her snout as her head was lowered she didn't see Lirael. She had been recalling her past. Her brother Shadow Breaker and her mate. How they had betrayed her... killed her pack and pups. Sheikra's maw wavered and then she started bawling. She started crying the shudders shaking her to her very soul.

[Kelri]

Kelri watched in the distance, his look upon wolves would be nothing more than an aura of light that encircled him. He watched in the distance, as he usually did, watching Lirael as she stared deep into the springs. This usually caused memories to appear, so he tried not to look into them, but even he was tempted by there bubbling warmness. He stepped forward silently, his hackles rising to the bond with water. He hadn't noticed the real wolf upon them until a sound of snapping twigs went off behind him. He turned slowly and saw a femme walking out of the shadows, tears slipping elegantly down her tear-matted face. He walked over to her, whispering into the wind, it would be heard if she listened. "You will be ok Sheikra, you will be ok." He stepped behind her and smiled calmly, then he left her and stood by Lirael, these words would only be heard by here. "Lirael, dont look into the water if you don't want to see your memories, they make it seem more real and as if it's happening again." His face took a serious expression as he looked into the opal springs, there true mistories were never revealed, even for a God. In flashbacks he saw the whole legendary fight, it seemed so long ago, he watched as he fought Feron, then when his body, and his wise words spoke to him. When Serina left he let out a loud whimpering. Then he watched the pups grow old, himself grow old, he died, the pack moved on, he watched them frequently. But that was years ago, many many years ago when he died. He growled loudly, none knew of his past, but he knew of all's, his past was just a legend, that pups were told at a young age to keep there curiosity high. Kelri tore his eyes away from the springs and looked at Lirael, her history was a little more violent, or was it? He watched from her point of view, the blood dripping into the puddle of water, it was a terrifying thing he had watched when it had happened. But it was not her fault, anger that had built over years that had never been expressed was bound to lead to death. But Kelri could not begin to feel the pain she had, and he knew it, though his own pain and torture was unbearable. He dipped his head and stepped backwards slightly glancing into the springs only to see small silver fish twist there graceful bodies around the weeds, until an image of his parents dead bodies appeared in the water. He splashed the water with his paw and growled loudly, his lip curling. A splash of water would be visible, for all he knew he might be visible by now, but he felt he could trust this wolf, she had watched her for a while, but he trusted her. So he let his guard slip slightly, a faint outline of a wolf and his colouring would appear.

[Sheikra]

Instantly Sheikra bristled. She heard a whisper on the wind telling her she would be OK. Sheikra shook off the tears. She hated it when anyone saw her cry. But as she thought off what had happened and what the wind had said another lump rose in her throat but she swallowed it. She looked up and saw Lirael and and a faint outline of a wolf that she could barely see sitting together. She thought back to the voice and it dawned on her. S he had heard of the god Kelri as a pup but she had never really beleived in him. But now that she herself was a goddess she too beleived it. Kelri! So that's who spoke to me! Sheikra ran forward leaped into the air and for a moment she disappeared only to reappear landing in the water. Water splashed everywhere of course she was being obnoxious and so on but she didn't care. She just didn't want them to think that she was sad and weak. But then she looked into the depths of the water. At first there was nothing then the silohouette of a wolf. Sheikra sat there paralyzed with fear. Was it her treacherous mate?

[Kelri]

He smiled slightly as he heard Sheikra's bounding footsteps towards them, she landed in the water in a splash, but his appearance faded as he remembered the water. Snarling loudly he stood, his hackles rising suddenly, he turned to Shiekra, his appearance was crazy looking, though he was doing it to protect her. He jumped into the water and held his head up, barking into her ear. "GET OUT! NOW! Listen! If you want to see your worst fears stay where you are..But get out of the water Sheikra. You cannot see him, it is an illusion to cause pain. Get out the water Sheikra, get out." He snarled again and nudged her towards the bank of the springs, he would not let her see the illusions, they would be truly terrifying for her. Kelri began to step backwards, if you stay in the water for too long...what fears you the most...would engulf your thoughts with fear, you would be encaged by your worst nightmares. He struggled to keep his memories approving until they began to overtake him, he let out a loud whimpering yelp. "STOP! NOW!" He splashed at the water madly, trying to rid the images, but it just caused ripples that quickly faded...appearing with horrifying images...he stared into the water, the thought to move inching further into the back of his mind...shrouded by fear and darkness...

[Sheikra]

Sheikra heard Kelri and snappred out of it the vision of her mate wavered then disappeared. She turned to Kelri and lunged for him. If she was seeing her mate in the water then he must be seeing something even worse. She grabbed Kelri by the scruff. She started paddling madly for the bank trying to keep her mind focused. Her eyes slid to the side. Shadow Breaker was stepping towards her. Sheikra snapped her eyes back. "I will NOT be defeated by a mirage of my horrible brother!" She gave a more powerful surge and reached the bank. She then turned around pushing Kelri before her onto the shore. She layed her paws onto the shore but then she heard a wailing. Don't look don't you dare look! Sheikra got herself onto the bank then she turned and looked. There were her pups all swimming on the surface on the water. A shadow came up and started pulling them under, drowning them. Sheikra strained towards her pups but she couldn't move. She WOULDN'T move. But all the same she started taking tiny steps forward. She couldn't look away. She was mesmerized.

[Kelri]

His heart was pounding in his throte, his parents reflection holding strong on the icy water in his gaze. He couldn't stop staring, there was no way he could stop, darkness was coming from every corner, every shadow that lurked. But then he reminded himself, he was a God, a spring would not overcome him, thought it was trying and nearly succeeding. He shook himself as Sheikra tried to help him, he was a lot heavier than her, so he quickly pulled away and began to..(will finish later, gotta go sawwy)

[Sheikra]

Sheikra trembled as she watched. Kelri had pulled away from her. But her pups! Sheikra was torn between helping her friend or saving her pups or the mirage of them. Then Sheikra's eyes hardened her pups were dead and she couldn't bring them back, she had decided what she would do she just hoped she wouldn't hurt Kelri.

Sheikra dived into the deepest part of the lake. As Sheikra reached the bottom she kneeled on the ground making sure not float back to the surface. Then she let her rage pour into her. Her eyes opened and they turned red. Her mouth was open and gritted in a silent snarl.

An orange aura formed around her and her fur was straight on end puffing her up to twice her size. Flecks of foam floated around her bared maw. Her fur started moving on its own accord. Then with an underwater howl she unleashed her pent up energy. It burst forth in an upwards ray.

The water turned red and the ray burst forth from the water. The water then started frothing, bubbling, roiling and boiling. In a few seconds it was over and all the water had evaporated. Sheikra was standing in a parched area where the spring used to be. She stood trembling and her legs shaking.

Where had THAT come from? She thought to herself then she fainted and collapsed. Even a godess gets tired especially after an ordeal such as THAT.

[Kelri]

(Might as well, just carry on with this one) Kelri trudged out of the springs, his fur dripping wet and his mind tired, a long with the rest of him. He shivered violently and then remembered Sheikra, he was meant to be a God, he was meant to be strong. Oh, but he was, very strong, he watched in amazement as Shiekra gripped the bottom of the spring. She shouldn't do that he thought, No, she definitely shouldn't. Kelri leapt to the bank and peered in, still standing when the ray of light burst out of the spring, the ray was going straight through him. A pulsive energy was running through him, but he watched Sheikra, something a little less glorious was happening to her. But he smiled, she had realised that it was an illusion, it was all an illusion, he knew it, he knew how to fight it, but sometimes it was hard to fight. He shook his head and laughed, the water had evapourated, it was an easy thing to understand, she had withdrew its energy, the small silver fish were flipping over trying to find water. He closed his eyes and felt the enrgy pulsing through his blood, he imagined the spings bubbling, and as he did he smiled and opened his eyes. The familiar sound of running water in his ears, but he couldn't forget about Skeikra, she was probably tired, and to think about it...she might drown if he didn't help her. His visibility dissappeared as he walked into the water, he ducked his head under and nudged her to the surface, then grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and pulled her up. Kelri surfaced and tried to put her on the bank. He jumped onto the bank and shook himself, suddenly reappearing. He frowned and walked to the bank, looking into the water, he could no longer see his memories. Tilting his head he looked deeper into the water, and only saw the bottom of the Opal Springs. Until he let out a loud yelp, he watched transfixed by the power of the memory, it wasn't so much of a memory, it was more like the future. Kelri watched as another battle between the wolves was coming, but it wasn't between rogues or loners, it was between evil itself. His eyes grew wide in anger, he stood and moved closer to the water, his snout almost touching the surface. A large black brute was coming towards him, who was it? He thought, then he remembered all those years back, it was, evil itself. As he represented good, something, or someone, was always going to represent evil. It was a balance, carefully placed together so there was no battles or wars. But once the balance tips...it is a deadly battle to the end, and the end meanign death of all. A loud growl emitted from his maw, he stood backwards and snapped out of the vision. Kelri grew angry, his aura wavering a mad yellow, and his eyes glinting furiously, he wanted to kill, something. What was wrong with him? He didn't need to kill, or hunt, he never did, he was a God. It took him a couple of minutes to realise what was happening, he snarled, another thought entering his mind, not his own. Kelri, kill, go on, you know you want to...Thats right, you know who i am...Evil itself, and it has taken form in the greatest, and first God, if thats what you call yourself... Yes, i am evil, and so will you be too... Kelri shook his head madly in disagreement, he growled loudly at himself, he was having a battle with himself, then it dawned on him. This was 'evil`s' plan, of course it was, he would have killed himself in anger...Kelri snarled loudly, his mind being pounded with horrible thoughts, no one would understand what was happening to him. But he was already changing, already. He looked into the water, his eyes were glinting madly, a reddish tinge to them, then his look, he looked crazy, not the once calm and caring Kelri he used to be, or look. Then his teeth, his ever-so-sharp teeth, they were dripping with blood, who's blood he thought? WHO'S? Kelri lifted a paw and licked it, blood appeared on his paw. He looked amazed, what had he done? Was it his imagination..or was he really changing...?

[Sheikra]

(Uhhh I'm gonna let Lirael post when she gets on lol. I mean we basically overposted. Lol all this basically happened in front of Lirael and she just sat there staring. By the way could you PM me with the password to the god's Dens?)

[Lirael]

[[That was alot to read...]]

Lirael didn't really notice the other wolves there, she just kept staring into the reddening body of water in front of her. It had turn her relfection into a deep tint of crimson, although Lirael's eyes shone black through the red. All her other senses had been blocked for that time, then she suddenly snapped back to reality, at least what she thought was reality. Another two souls were here, she sensed within herself.

She turned to see where the other beings were but quickly turned back to her reflection. She looked back and the spring had gone before her dark eyes. She could see the waterbed dry as a bone as if it had been for years and the bullrushes were all dehydrated and withered. She looked up to where the source for this was and saw another wolf ahead of her. Just then the water reappeared to a different wolf's command.

So they might be powerful ones too..?

Lirael walked slowly up to the male one a confused look upon her face at the dissapearence ad reappearance of the water. She spoke to him, her voice soft and questioning.

What just happened to the water? Changing all that so quickly isn't good for nature...

Her voice tailed off and had an echoey tone to it. Lirael then turned round with a swish of her white fluffy tail and walked over to the shadow of a tree. Here she curled up into a tight ball upon the soft warming grass and closed her eyes, not to sleep but to relax one's mind.

[Sheikra]

Sheikra sputtered coughing up water. She pulled her self up on the bank and was content to just lie there. She snorted in derision as she heard Lirael. "Is that all you can say? We were caught in that water's spell and you didn't help? I mean I know we can't drown but still Kelri and I were in need and you didn't help? Now that we have come out of that ordeal all you can say is changing all that quickly isn't good for nature? Wait what's wrong with Kelri? Oh no it's not that water again is it? Kelri!!" Sheikra yipped hoping to break Kelri from his freaky trance. Sheikra's tail wagged anxiously as she waited for Kelri to respond.

[Kelri]

Kelri heard voices around him, though he was concenttrating fully on the 'other' inside him. They say, one who hsa a good side, also has an evil side, but how could this be him? His hackles rose as the female-Sheikra- spoke to him, and stepped closer, calling his name. He closed his eyes shut and saw the dark pelted wolf in his mind, he spoke his voice chilling.. Get rid of the fae, Sheikra, you have watched her, she was a waste of time...go on, you can do it Kelri... The wolf let out a loud snarl at him which made Kelri open his eyes. His lip curled in an angry growl, but not at Evil, at Sheikra. His eyes grew large, but stopped as there was a small ring of amber red. He stepped backwards, the fix with the water broken, but still controling him. He let out a loud yelping growl and tilted his head towards her slowly, his fur rising all over his face, though it was dripping with blood...But who's it was, was still unknown. He stepped closer to Sheikra, an evil, sly smile appearing on his maw, evil was spreading across his mind, it was covered in darkness, already it was effecting, changing him. Kelri leaned closer by her ear, whispering, or..maybe he wasn't the one talking, but he certainly wasn't feeling good, he felt empty, like a hollow shell... "Sheikra...Sheikra, Sheikra, Sheikra...How are you? Ok? Good..."He tilted his head left and right and growled loudly, his hackles rising. This wasn't normal...He wasn't normal, what was wrong with him?! Kelri's back arched as he winced madly and stepped backwards, letting out a loud yelp. Something was changing him, physically and mentally. His eyes changed back to normal, but he began to shake, looking up at Sheikra he stepped back again, something was stirring in his chest, but what?

[Sheikra]

Sheikra's eyes widened with fear and she took a few steps back from Kelri. What's happening to him? She thought. Sheikra was really young for a god and she had never come across something such as this before. She had never fought before not even when her mate had attacked and killed her.

Sheikra's fur stood on end and she growled uneasily as she stared at Kelri. Something was happening to him and it wasn't good. "Fight it Kelri!! Fight it like you had fought the water." Sheikra wasn't sure why she had said it it just looked like Kelri was fighting an internal battle.

Sheikra used her aura view and was horrified by what she saw. Kelri's aura seemed to be shifting from dark to light and light to dark. But it looked like Kelri's light aura was losing the battle. "So that's what's wrong with you!!" Sheikra whispered to herself.

But other than that she didn't know what to do. Should see enter Kelri's mind and lend him strength to fight? Or was this just Kelri's battle which he had to fight himself? Sheikra was paralyzed with indecision.

[Kelri]

Kelri winced, it felt like his body was being twisted, pulled and stretched all at the same time. His lip curled in pain and anger. He vaguelly recalled hearing Sheikra's faint words 'Fight it Kelri!! Fight it like you had fought the water.' He growled loudly, the pain was unberable, his paws were throbbing madly as if being burned, his head felt like his brain had been squashed then stretched, and hiseyes, well they seemed to blurr as he opened them. When he closed his eyes again, the wolf was standing there, an evil laughter coming from his open mouth. "Fight it Kelri, fight it...you can't do it can you? Fine don't kill her, but can you fight me Kelri? Can you? Have you discovered who the blood belongs to? No you haven't...but anyway, you either give up to me, or i will personally torture you like this...Forever" Kelri whined loudly, a pain began to hurt at the back of his throte, he choked and coughed loudly. Something was there it was scratching at his throte, he shook his head widly, coughing still. He rushed over to the water, and went to swallow, but he went straight through it. Kelri panicked, and looked around, his eyes growing wild, he kept coughing, blood coming from his mouth. As he coughed, a sharp tooth fell from his mouth, he yelped, his throte still bleeding. The pains had ceased, but he was wondering why there was a tooth stuck in his throte, it wasn't his own. Kelri looked up at Sheikra, he lowered his head in shame, his ears flattening to his head. "I-I-I i'm sorry..i don't know...whats...happening..to me...Go..now, before i hurt you." His words had become laboured while he was talking, his breath being caught in his chest. He winced and curled again, the pains beginning to pull at his muscles, then retracting. The pain was unbearable, nobody could imagine what pain he was in, no one. The blood, was his own, his own blood, and soon, if Sheikra didn't go, it would probably be hers too..he couldn't hep what was happening, not at all. He felt his aura change madly, he could see it, it's usual orange colour, flickered red, then black. He was changing, but he was fighting, and the evil was winning...