Why Did it Have to be Humanity?
 

'Tis a private role play between Teddy Bear Cupcake and Kriddles!
No postie but plenty of lookie

Ember Truewing's Profile
 

Born Name: Ember Truewing
Nickname: Ember
Family: Mother killed by humans, now lives with her father who is still very shaken and withdrawn from her death.
Age: 17ish
Personality: Fierce and competitive. She fights for what she wants and what she thinks is right.
Appearance:
http://img-cache.cdn.gaiaonline.com/...RedFairy-1.jpg
Special Skills: True to her name, Ember is fast, and constantly warm to the touch.

Born Name: Orchid Dewdrop
Nickname: Dew
Family: Dew only has her father to depend on after her mother was killed by a falling tree. She is fond of her father who is a water fairy, but finds him to be very controlling and protective over her after her mother (who was also named Orchid) passed.
Age: 24 years old.
Personality: Dew is very soft spoken with a calm demeanor. No one really knows what she is like when she is angry, so few have seen her other side. She enjoys her responsibilities... even when it is decaying a deceased bird.
Appearance: Glamor Shot
Special Skills: Dew is known for life magic. A form of magic that creates and decays life. Her left hand decays things, while her right hand can grow and create them (though she does not create fairies).

Ember flapped her wings, toes skimming over the soft grass. "No touching the ground!" Roger called from just behind her. Ember ignored him and continued at the pace she was headed and, being the competitor she was, the fairy simply began moving faster. The finish line was just up ahead, a few more seconds and she would make it! On the opposite side of the field where Ember and her friends were racing, other fairies were playing an optical coarse relay. It was a good night, a great night to wipe the dust with her competitors. Within moments, the red haired faye had zoomed over the line indicating the finish line.

"And the winner is...Ember!" Bracken yelled, raising her friends arm up.

Roger came panting across the line looking sour. "She only won because she flew so low down." he griped.

"No, she won because she's faster than you idiot." Berry defended her. "She's faster than almost everyone here."

Ember teased her friend lightly "If you want we can go again. And I can once again show you how much better I am."
Roger glared at her for a moment, then his face broke into a grin. It was too nice a night to be fighting amongst themselves. "Nah, I prefer a challenge I can win the first time. But someday Ember...some day"

Ember just laughed. They choose the next runners; Roger and Bracken. Ember and Berry alighted on the ground to watch them. It was one of those nights that Ember never wanted to end, even though she knew it must.

Nights like these are what make summer so wonderful. I never want to touch anything.

Dew watched the festivities from a small tree sapling. Her green eyes were focused on the racing fairies and their illuminated trails below. Ember was always a little fireball, fast and fierce while Roger... well Roger was always second to her. Both of them made a compatible couple, which made her wonder if they were an item or not. She wasn't fast, in fact most would call her the slowest fairy in the grove but she never seemed to mind. Her job never required her to be fast. Her eyes slid over to look at the scenery that glowed against the racers' auras. A warm breeze brushed across her shoulder, pushing her hair off her shoulders as Ember shot across the ground. The heat from her could be felt even to where she was.

Her left hand rested in her lap as she braced against the branch with her right. Extra weight settled on the little branch. "Hello, father."
"Why are you up here?"
She gave him a soft smile, "I don't like being cooped up like a caged bird. Besides, I doubt anything is going to happen on a beautiful night like this."
"You never know... Life is unpredictable."
"On the contrary... it is very predictable." She said looking over to him. "Did you finish your jobs already?"
"Yes... There is even less water flowing into the streams then there was last week. If we don't receive a rainfall soon, we could be in trouble and you could be very busy."
She looked down at her left hand. Blackened veins pulsed down towards her fingertips. "Are there any more signs of the black goo?"
"We lost a few more birds to it...."
"Have the scouts come back yet?"
"No..."
She turned her gaze back to the others. News like this was frequent lately. It worried her that humans could be approaching their home.

Ember watched the race between Roger and Bracken, alighted on a blade of grass with her hair falling past her shoulders. Around the end of the first stretch, Roger got in a tussle with Bracken, when they collided. Ember laughed as they both went spinning their own ways. Roger seemed infuriated, after having his ego slandered once again by Ember, he wanted a race he could actually win. Bracken was laughing, insisting it was the wind that had blown her into him.

Shaking his head, Berry flew over to them, to try and break up the fight and calm Roger down. Ember thought about going to help, but after a moment decided not to. It was such a beautiful night getting into an argument just seemed silly. Ember slowly raised up and looked around the field. All the young fairies, Ember's age and younger were flying about, playing, some with balls, others with twigs, some, like Ember and her friends, where racing, though none of the other races were nearly as competitive as Ember's and her friends.

There was only one more year before Ember would be too busy, or too tired to have her fun on lovely nights such as these. Being one of the few fire fairies left, and one who was so fast, when Ember's duties to the Earth started sh would be one of the fairies to try and help control the wild-fires that sprung up in so many places these days. Her two year apprenticeship started on her next birthday. It was hard to be excited about working with fairies such as River Bark, who spent most of her time complaining about humans. Ember understood that human's were a dangerous race of beings, that they tended to be stupid and bumbling, and not caring for anything but themselves, abusing all kinds of nature, even the destructive fire that Ember had such a connection with. River Bark always claimed to have two reasons to be so worried, that the rivers were getting polluted and that trees were burning down. Ember guessed she was the kind of fairy who flaunted her double elements when she was younger.

Dew stretched her wings before pushing off the branch. Her white aura illuminating her surroundings.
"Where are you going Dew?"
"I have a job I must do." She said softly as she fluttered her wings, before she flew off.
"Be careful..." He said watching her until she vanished from sight.

She flew low, her bare feet grazing the course grass as her surroundings gradually changed from the grove. She slowed before softly landing on dirt. Dead blades of grass and course weeds shifted in the summer breeze. Humans had touched it without ever entering the meadow. Trash littered the place, brought by wind and animals. A few more steps and she stood over a fallen friend. His name had been Blue... despite the fact that he was a robin. He had fancied blue string more than anything and when she had first met him he had tangled himself up in a spool of the stuff. She set down beside him, her wings drooping. She reached out with her right hand, stroking his feathers. "I am sorry, my dear friend..." She muttered before pulling her right hand away and placing her left hand on the bird's chest. The black veins pulsed down to her fingertips before black tendrils wrapped around the bird's body, decaying the remains so that the soil could be rich in nutrients. When she finally pulled her hand away nothing remained but the soft skeleton of her friend. She did this three more times before finally settling in the middle of the meadow.

Ember watched as the soft glow of another fairy floated out from a tree. Curiously, she started to follow before hearing her name called behind her. Bracken was insisting on a chance to race against her. Ember's face split into a grin; how could she possibly refuse? The rest of the night passed quickly, as race after race was won, or lost, by Ember and her friends. As the moon began to fade in the western sky. All the fairies began to depart the field, satisfied and exhausted, ready to hide throughout the daylight hours.

Ember entered her tree top home, just as the last star flicked out and above the vast canopy of trees, the weak morning sun was awakening the humans. Drifting over the floor she pasted her father. "I'm going to bed Father." she said, and waited awkwardly for any indication he noticed she was there. After a moment he raised his head, no higher than her lips, and blinked, just once, before hunching back over whatever he was working on.

Ember woke again, several hours later. Her wings itched something horrible, and she felt hot, hotter than usual. Something was happening. Slipping out of the tiny bed Ember padded out to the outer tree, putting a hand up to shade her eyes from the evening sun. Horror swamped her as she realized that the faint glow in the distance wasn't the sun; a fire was raging on the outskirts of the forest. River Bark was fluttering past, yelling orders of some kind or another.

"Ember!" she shouted, spotting the red fairy. "What are you doing? Just standing there? We've got the fire under control but we can't put it out! Come! Make yourself useful!" River grabbed Ember by her upper arm, and almost dragged her through the air to the ravaging fire.

She laid down in the course grass, the blades snagging bits of her hair as she exhaled ridding her mind of what she had seen tonight. A nightingale sang his song proudly while she laid there throughout the night, now watching the stars.
"So this is where you come... It's not much to look at." His voice was cool, and like her he was a fairy who controlled Life Magic. Several of the fairies like him, hell even her father thought he was a good catch. Yes, he was attractive and a smooth talker, but something was missing for him to be everything she wanted.
"It's peaceful here."
"And grim." He said running his fingers on his left hand across a large blade of grass that towered over him. The blade wilted to his touch.
"We deal with grim everyday." She said calmly. "I am used to it..."
"I enjoy it." He sat down beside her. "You want to know something?"
She looked over at him.
"I think we could destroy this entire place together. Make the humans wish they had us... Make the fairies need us."
"... Why would you say something like that?"
"Don't tell me you haven't thought about it."
"...." She slowly stood up. "I like where I am now..." she said before taking off, leaving a trail of white light behind her.

She didn't get much sleep as the morning passed through, her dreams fading in and out with only brief encounters of conciousness. She finally awoke only to see the fingers of flames in the distance. "Oh seasons." The fact that the black goo lingered in the streams and rivers hadn't helped seduce it. She managed to find her father who was hard at work deeper into the wood. The smoke nearly gagging her.
"Dew, just stay back and keep with the others. There is nothing you can do right now..."
"How did this happen?"
"Does it matter? Stay back! We don't need anymore casualties."

Ember was still shaking off the last effects of evening grogginess as River sped her off toward the fire. "Is it a residential area?" she asked wriggling out of her grip.

River nodded and Ember immediately started flying faster, quickly overtaking River and speeding off toward the flames. She stopped short of the beginning of the burned, scorched area. Farther on the flames still shone, fairies were being evacuated gathering farther back while the few who could still help attempted a battle with the flames.

Dimly, Ember began a soft glow as she approached the flames. The chemistry reaction between her and the fire was almost disgusting, that she had such a connection with something so destructive. But now she seemed like a savior to those who were ash caked and battle worn.

The soft glow began to get stronger as Ember took her place, center of the wall of fire. She held out her arms, her hands burning a red color as she worked her magic. It seemed like hours she was floating there, the fire slowly diminishing under her will. There had been made a significant gap through her efforts, and the fire was manageable for lesser fire fairies, and other nature and water fairies to be able to take care of the rest. Which was a good thing, as Ember suddenly dropped, exhaustion weighting on her wings.

Roger, who had be a part of these fairy homes, shot out, ducking under her and taking her weight on his shoulders. "Uh...I think we need a healer!" he called out to the fairies who had congregated in the rush to get out. Ember's body was like a dead weight, having worked her self too hard the first time she had ever really needed to use her gifts.

"But...but the fire..." she said weakly clinging to Roger.

She floated there, watching as if it were near impossible. Fear settling in the back of her throat. He was there beside her. His black hair pulled back in a braid that reached the mid of his back. There was a faint smile on his otherwise emotionless face as his gray eyes watched the fire. "Well... it looks like we won't have to raise a finger, Orchid."
"How can you say that? Our kind is in danger."
"I don't see you racing to save them." He said, never facing her. "It's simply natural selection. Those strong enough will survive." He said before flying off.

She turned back to look at the overwhelming fire, holding her elbows. His words lingering in the back of her head. That's when she saw her, the little spitfire from last night. Her bright glow illuminating everything around her. Dew watched as the small fire fairy became one with the unstoppable force. Single handed, with time on her side, she calmed the flames to the point where the other fairies were able to take hold of the matter. She watched as the exhausted fairy started to fall before being caught by the young Roger. She raced over to where they were as he called out for help. "I... I have Life magic...Please, take her somewhere she can rest while I help her. I will follow." She said quietly. Natural selection? Not if she could help it.

Roger looked around almost wildly before remembering, "Bracken's house is close." he said, more to Ember than to the fairy next to him. Ember mumbled something, but it was impossible to tell what, or even if it had anything to do with their situation.

She wasn't unconscious. But that didn't mean she had any idea what was going on as two fairies seemed to carry her through the forest. Fire...my father...he'll be worried. she tried to make something out, so one of them could tell him she was alright, but the words didn't seem to want to form in her exhausted mouth. The world felt like it was spinning, and for the first time in her life, Ember wanted her feet on solid ground, as though that could stop the smallest motions from tossing her deeper into some dark place that was pulling at her.

Roger, with the help of the Life Fairy, managed to get Ember to Bracken's house. Like Ember's it was in a tree. Bracken's parents were Earth and Air fairies, making a loving compromise to live on Earth, up in the Air. Bracken was already outside when they approached. She quickly floated to them, and ushered them into the small house, showing them to a bed where there were plenty of windows if she needed fresh air.

Ember liked being put down. It made her head settle. But it didn't stop the pull. Finally, too tired to fight it anymore, she allowed herself to slip into whatever dark, calming place was calling her. Life and death didn't seem to have a concept there, and so, the fairy hung on the balance, waiting for something to tip her one way or another.

Bracken whispered to Roger as the Life Fairy looked at Ember. "What about her father?"

"Probably doesn't even know she's gone yet." Roger muttered back.

Bracken looked appalled at him. "Roger, I know you're worried, but you can't possibly think that..."

"Then where is he!?" They spoke quietly as to not disturb the Life Fairy at her work, but Roger couldn't help to raise his voice. All of Ember's friends remembered the days her mother was still alive, how happy and close their little family was. They had also seen the way afterwards, how Ember's father seemed to fade away, soon not noticing the world around him in his grief.

Bracken shushed Roger, "I don't know." The entire thing had been a strain for Ember. If she knew he cared now, Bracken was sure it would help. "But I'm going to find him." And with that, she started out of the house, Roger looking helplessly after her.

She stared down at the fire fairy, Myre would've told her to end it. Let natural selection take it's course like it should be. She exhaled. She wasn't like that though. She wasn't twisted enough to take a life so callously.

She looked over to Roger and Bracken, and watched as the female shot off. "You are a good friend of the fire fairy's?" She asked looking at him. "Take her hand. It'll help."

She moved Ember's blouse just slightly to expose her collarbone and just a hint below. Dew pushed all her fingers together on her right hand, creating a small point before pushing it to Ember's chest. She closed her eyes, before slowly spreading her fingers across Ember's chest a web of white magic laced in between her fingers which in turn created a circle.

Ember's body was worn, to the point of where if she lost the will she wouldn't wake again. Dew was slightly hesitant before she gave some of her strength to the resting girl, taking the pain and healing the wounds in the process. Her left hand pulsed as she took on that burden. The black veins creeping further up her arm as she did so. That was the consequence of her gift. Everything must be kept in balance. To take you must give, to give you must take.

She slowly pulled away her right hand, feeling slightly more worn than before. The circle continued to glow for a while on Ember's chest before finally fading away. "She'll need you here when she wakes up." Dew said before taking a step back away from Ember. "I have to go and do my job... There was a lot of casualties..." She said quietly before turning to leave the house.

Roger nervously took Ember's hand. The two had known each other for a long time, but hadn't been very affectionately physical very often. In fact, Roger hadn't given her any kind of comforting action since her mother died years ago. He watched as the healer work her magic. Roger had never seen a Life Fairy heal before. He wasn't sure how he felt about it.

Ember, deep in her own mind, saw some kind of light. Slowly it took form, the form of her mother. She was just how Ember remembered, but at the same time entirely different. She was colorless, white and glowing, a beautiful creature of pure light, towering over Ember as though she were no more than a small child. There were no words spoken, but Ember felt as thought they were still communicating. There were words, but not quite words, that were whispered in her ears. Take care of your friends...forgive your father...follow your heart to whatever extent. Slowly, the light stooped over her, and placed her lips on Ember's forehead.

Bracken was speeding back to her house, Ember's father following close behind. On their way they past the Life Fairy as she left the house. Ember's father didn't even seem to notice her as he sped quickly into the house. Roger quickly moved aside so he didn't get pushed, making way for the older fairy to take his place. He looked more alive than he had for the past three years, a light brought back to his eyes as he held the hand of his daughter.

Ember could feel things again. A cool breeze on her face, a warm hand holding her own. She managed to roll her head, slowly clearing it and coming back to consciousness. She her eyelids felt heavy, but she opened them all the same. Her vision was blurred, from exhaustion and, to her surprise, tears. Through the blurs, she saw her father's face. With no words spoken, he scooped her into a hug, and they sat, in a long awaited embrace.

Back by the doorway Bracken and Roger stood, almost awkwardly before Bracken took Roger's arm took him outside.

She started off towards where the fire had been. Her white trail dragging behind her. She slowly floated down, the ground soft with ash and still warm to the touch. She raised her head to look at the trees above. Skeletons to their former glory.

A hand touched her left arm, before she quickly jerked away. "How is the little fire fairy?"
"She will live."
His jaw clenched before a smile crossed his face. "She would've been better off in the soil."
"How could you say that? She saved several."
"That was her foolish choice." he said with a small shrug. "Everything has a consequence, Orchid. If you aren't ready to pay it, then that is your mistake." He looked at her arm, "I suggest you decay something soon, otherwise that could turn nasty." He said with a smirk. "I'd hate to see your pretty face turn into a forsaken."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." She said with a bit of venom in her voice.

He whistled a haunting tune as he walked away. Slowly dragging his left hand across a field of living flowers. They wilted at his touch, the black veins pulsing as he siphoned the life from them.

She looked down at the flowers before turning back to the wounded land. She inhaled before she touched the bark of a tree. Giving life to it and it's leaves, the black veins creeping up past her elbow. She did it several more times, before stopping when the veins pulsed at her shoulder. Several trees now thriving with bright covered leaves. She looked at her blackened hand before she touched several flowers, decaying them until the veins were just below her elbow. Balance....

It was several days after the fire. Roger, his house completely gone from it's place on the woodland floor was having trouble adjusting to Bracken's tree home. He was hanging half way out the window, shaking as he himself dizzier and dizzier staring at the ground so far away.

"Stop before you fall out." Bracken said, coming into the living room where Berry and a fully recovered Ember were lounging. She handed the two dew cups, made from small leaves for them to drink, placing the tray with the two others on a small table before pulling Roger from the window.

Ember smiled as she took a drink. The only ill effects from the fire was a small bit of ash that had burned it's way into her cheek, leaving a dusty black spot she couldn't get out. Berry had made her feel better about it by saying it was her badge of honor. For the most part things were looking up. The fairies whose homes had been lost had found temporary lodging, Roger's family living with Bracken, and others scattered about the woodland. The family next door to Ember's house had taken in a family with five children. Any time she could spend away was like a gift.

Her relationship with her father had mended more over the four days than it had over the four yeas. They didn't talk much, but for the moment Ember was perfectly content sitting with him, whether in their small house, or floating out through the woods. There was no heavy curtain of grief to try and push her way through any more.

"I can't believe the Fae Elders wouldn't do anything about the fire." Berry mentioned when they were all sitting comfortably. "We've never had something like that happen before." There had once been a fire in the fairies home forest long ago, but none of the fairies themselves were alive to have seen it, save for The Old Mother, Mother Máthair who had been alive for so long, she could recite all the ancient stories as though she had been there. Young fairies went to her for stories all the time as she never seemed to age anymore, always full of energy to speak.

"I'm sure they had a reason." Bracken said. "They work so hard protecting the forest from invading Humans, maybe they couldn't spare the time or fae to help us...."

Roger shrugged. "Well, no one died right? I mean, no fairies did." There had been a few birds and other woodland animals that had gotten caught in the blaze, but the only casualties the fairies had suffered were those of their homes. "They may have just wanted us to try and take care of ourselves."

"Maybe it was a test." Bracken joked. "See if Ember was ready to take a position of real power."

Ember smiled and shook her head. "I'm sure I would have failed." She couldn't remember anything that had happened in her unconscious state. The fire had been blazing, then next thing she knew she was cradled in her father's arms. When she had been ready to speak to her friends again, Bracken and Roger had gushed about a Life Fairy who had saved her life. "You never told me who that Life Fairy was...the one that helped." Ember said. "I'd really like to thank her."

"I don't know where she lives." Bracken replied, "Or even what her name is...but there aren't that many Life Fairies, I'm sure I'll recognize her."

Several days had passed without so much as a sign from Myre. In a way she was grateful, but she felt that his absence could only lead to trouble in the future. She just hoped it wasn't the near future.

Her and Myre's relationship had been like this ever since he moved into their grove. He was obsessed with the darker side of their gift, but she hadn't heard of his... (could you call them dreams?) until recently. The fact that he was asking her for help though... It worried her. Was he seriously considering to get rid of everything? Surely not....

She sat up from a bed of grass, her eyes looking at some young fairies playing. They were refugees from the other residence. They were happy at least. She glew a faint white before pushing off from the ground and into the air. She thought it might be awkward to see the Fire Fairy again, but she couldn't help but wonder if she was doing better. She started off towards the home she had brought her too before. Perhaps her friend knew where she resided... or at least how she was doing.

It didn't take her very long before she touched down on the tree limb, softly knocking on the bark to announce her presence.

The conversation had made it's way around to their races for the next night. "Pauline said she wanted a go." Roger mentioned.

"Someone you could actually beat." Berry joked.

Roger crossed his arms. "Puh-leeze, I can wipe the grass with your wings any day."

The argument had escalated until Roger had Berry rolling on the floor with him, the both of them laughing while Ember and Bracken tried to say out of their way.

Bracken was giggling, shaking her head at their behavior. She suddenly looked up. "Guys, stop!" she said. "We have a guest." Bracken, being part Forest Fairy, had superb hearing, able to hear the soft tapping over the playing.

The boys stopped, but refused to let each other go. Ember rolled her eyes, taking a perch on a seat, holding her cup.

Opening the door, Bracken smiled at the Life Fairy. "Hi." she said in her calming soft voice. "I'm glad to see you. Ember wanted to meet you." She stepped aside and ushered the fairy in.

Ember recognized the fairy as a Life Fairy almost immediately. There was something about them that just gave you a feeling of both fear, but calm at the same time. Even so, Ember found herself nervous as she stood. On the floor Roger and Berry watched her. "Hi." she said softly, almost shyly, not something you saw from Ember very often.

Dew gave Bracken a soft smile, before following her into their home. She looked down at the two boys before she looked up at Ember. She was lovely all around, her hair reminding her of fire. Ember was a befitting name. She tested it out on her tongue, "Ember is a powerful name." She said her wings stretching slightly before relaxing against her again. "I am Orchid Dewdrop." she said bowing her head slightly. "I came to see how you were doing. You had your friends rather worried.... and I left rather quickly before I knew if you were okay or not. I am sorry for that."

Ember smiled. Inside she was grateful she hadn't blushed. Usually when Ember blushed it was as fiery as the rest of her. Then she'd get embarrassed about it and everything would just escalate. "Thank you. Orchid...is pretty." it was fitting. "It sounds elegant." Just like the fairy in front of her. Tall and thin she was coolingly lovely.

Bracken, being the savior she usually was, put a hand on Ember's shoulder. "Why don't you two step out." she suggested.

Outside Ember sat on the branch. "I wanted to thank you. For...saving my life and all."

Dew stepped outside, sitting lightly down beside the fire fairy. She smiled at the girl's statement and the nervousness in her voice. "It is my job..." she said before falling silent again. She made sure not to get her left hand anywhere close to Ember, "You saved several lives yourself, I've never seen a fairy tame such a massive fire before. It was quite a spectacle."

This time Ember did blush. "Thank you," she mumbled, her head turned away with her hair covering her face. It didn't do much to hide the bright red that had spread across her face.

She coughed, clearing her throat. "Thank you." she repeated, this time easier to understand. "It...it was the first time I've ever done anything like that." she looked at the Life Fairy again, taking in the elegant beauty of her. "I mean...I've taken care of small practice fires before, but nothing that big." she bit her lip. "My father said it was a stupid thing to do." of course right after saying that, he had given her another hug, adding how proud he was of her. "But I don't think I could have lived with myself if I had let it continue and burn down more homes, and, and, if it had killed anything. Just knowing I could have done something but I didn't. I guess I didn't think much when I went there, what might have happened if I had exhausted everything, but I'm still glad I did it."

Ember suddenly bit her lip. The blush came back. "I'm sorry if that didn't make sense. I...talk a lot when I'm..." she trailed off before she said nervous. "Thanks." she repeated quietly.

Dew looked straight ahead, smiling as the girl talked. "It might have been slightly foolish to have acted alone against something as dangerous as that... but if you had not done it, who would've?" She asked, thinking about Myre and how he said to just let them all die. "Thanks to you, I only had to decay a few small animals." She didn't mention that some of them she had grown fond of.
"...And there is no reason to be nervous... I don't bite." She said with a small chuckle, she said turning to face the fire fairy again.