Nick sighed in relief when Solace decided to sit. He followed suit, gazing at the tiny flame. They'd left it unattended---a stupid thing to do. He gathered up some dry dirt in one hand and poured it over the flame, smothering it mostly. "I'm not sure what they'd ask." He admitted. "They'd probably want to know where you come from. How long you've been here, what it was like when your society was thriving... They'd understand why I was acting so strange, though---"

Looking up, he studied the direction his friends had gone. He could hear them, talking amongst themselves. The rustle of bushes started, snapping of twigs meeting his ears. "Don't be afraid of them." Nick said, looking to Solace and sitting close to him. "You'll be fine. They're close to me, my friends. They might ask a lot of questions, but I'll do what I can to keep them in check." He put a reassuring hand on Solace's shoulder, mustering a small smile.

Solace rested his head on nick's chest, listening to the steady thump that was his heart beat. He could sense the life flowing through his creator's new body, powering him and keeping him alive. He lifted his hand and lightly touched where the heart was beating, feeling its warmth through the fabric Nick wore. As he stroked the man's chest, he heard the heartbeat quicken. "Am I making you nervous, Lord?" he asked quietly, feeling his own heartbeat match Nick's beat.

He lifted his head at the sound of the others calling out for Nick, one of the men crashed out from the trees and stopped still at the sight of someone sitting next to Nick. "Who's this?" he asked, walking closer and peering curiously at the newcomer.

He tried to bite his tongue as Solace put his hand on his chest, but Nick couldn't control his heart. It almost seemed to freeze for a moment before starting to race, and he caught himself before he could respond. He'd never once felt much regarding a desire for someone, not outside a close friendship, a warm family bond. Now, however, he felt more like a teenager. It was almost a relief when the clumsy crunch and crash met his ears, revealing Michael.

Nick opened his mouth, trying to find a way to reply, then let out a shaky breath. "This is... erhm..." He squirmed a bit. "Well... maybe he can tell you... better than I can." Nick looked to Solace. "Would you... er... like to tell them who you are?" He offered, nodding to Michael.

Solace stared at the other man for an uncomfortable few seconds, finding his deathly pale skin becoming pinkish in hue as he blushed. "My name is Solace," he said quietly, wishing he could just disappear. He decided to stay, for Nick's sake. He turned back around and secretly held onto Nick's hand, blocking this from the other's view. He squeezed tightly, feeling himself tremble as Michael approached with a questioning gaze at them both.

"Solace? Where are you from?" he asked, sounding like he was suspicious. Solace flinched as he approached and found himself itching to run away and hide.

"I... I... I live... Um..." Words failed him as he stared back at Michael.

Nick squeezed Solace's hand, assuring him he was there. But Michael did seem to be suspicious. "He lives here, Mike." Nick said as Solace faltered. "He's existed here for a very long time." As Michael's eyes grew wide, Nick decided to go on for the sake of getting it all out: "He's what I came across yesterday evening, at the spring. He emerged from the water, and he's what shocked me so much. Ever since, he's... been here. I'm gradually discovering new things, but Mike... he's the last created being of the Ancients."

Finally, Nick shook his head, angered at how stupid he knew he sounded. "I know you don't believe me---you might think we conspired to make up this story to play with your belief or ideas, but it's true. I don't expect you to take it at face value..." He looked to Solace. "It's okay." He muttered. "Like I said, you're safe here. No need to be afraid." Nick's heart was racing, and he felt it in the hand Solace had a death grip on.

Solace nodded slowly, watching the other with caution. His face was unreadable. He looked shocked, but also interested at the same time. He opened and closed his mouth several times, giving the impression of a fish out of water. As they fell into another awkward silence, the other two emerged with a handful of artefacts they had found, slowing down when their eyes laid on Solace. The younger man dropped the items he was holding and stared at Solace with his mouth agape, while the girl titled her head with curiosity.

"Who...?" she began, but Michael interrupted her. "Apparently this is Solace, a being created by the Ancients," he replied, chuckling slightly in disbelief.

He heard Andy gasp, but Nick was focused on Michael. He didn’t seem to believe him, and that certainly annoyed Nick. “You didn’t see what I saw.” He snapped. “You didn’t see him rise up from the water, like... some ghost... I didn’t think it was real... at first.” He shook his head. “Mike, you... know me. I don’t make things up just to see how you’ll react.” He glanced around, back to Solace. “Maybe you ought to ask Solace some questions only he’d know. I... don’t know how much of an answer you’d get... He’s afraid of you. I guess for... good reason.” He turned his eyes down.

He’d expected disbelief, but Nick hadn’t expected such a reaction. He’d always been logic-minded, able to discern reality from fantasy despite living in a world of his own half the time. But when someone as close as Michael decided not to believe him, or put more doubt into his words than they deserved, it hurt. He gritted his teeth and ignored what the other two said between one another, but looked down as his eyes started to sting. And to think---it’d been years since he truly cried...

Solace saw the way his love was hurt and put an arm around him, willing him to not cry. He glared up at the one called Michael, but said nothing. He couldn't understand why they wouldn't believe Nick. As his good friends, they should believe him without doubt. In Solace's mind, there was nothing wrong or unbelievable with what Nick had said. Perhaps the creators had been forgotten for so long, they had passed into myth.

"What he says is true. I was too nervous to speak to you... I have never really met a human before. All I know is that it is because of you my civilisation was destroyed. I guess I was scared of you for a very long time," Solace said, his voice quiet. He left Nick's side and stood, towering over the other three. "My name is Solace. I was created many years ago in the Spring of Creation. A temple once stood there, built by the Forest Gods and their creations. After I was created, as a spirit of the Spring, a water sprite... Humans were created." He went quiet now, realising how much he had told them. "If you need proof, bring me some water..."

Andy stood still, his mouth still agape as he looked from Solace back to Nick. Kira ran over to her tent and pulled out a water bottle. She nervously passed the bottle to Solace, careful not to get too close to the stranger. Solace tipped the water out onto his palm and created shapes from it, little sculptures made from water.

When he felt Solace put an arm around him, Nick almost felt at ease. At least Solace didn't seem to feel the need to run or hide anymore. And when he stood, Nick found the strength to follow suit, but remained where he was. Studying what the spirit accomplished made him smile. "Nothing like real proof, is there?" He asked, watching the water swirl into various shapes in Solace's hand. The others crowded around, even Andy, who had at first seemed to be rooted to where he was. Michael's eyes were wide, and his mouth slowly dropped. Kira was smiling brightly, as if she were at the circus and amazed at the amazing feats before her.

Andy shook his head. “But wait... Nick, why... I mean, Solace, why...? Why are you so interested in us? Or, Nick, apparently.” He cast a look to Nick, who immediately looked down.

“I, ahm...” He let his hair fall over his face, hiding its reddening tone. “Solace told me... I was, at one time, a god of the forest. I created him. And, I...” He sighed, shakily. He couldn’t go on---not when he understood that his other self, Visal, was so heartless at one time... But he still didn’t have much to go on in that regard.

"Nick is the reincarnation of the great forest God, Visal. He is the one that created me and several other elemental sprites... He also helped creating the humans," Solace filled them in, sensing his love's hesitation to speak the truth. "I am to serve Lord Visal, in this life and any others he comes as." He decided to leave out the other truth, that he was in love with his creator. He didn't want Nick to become embarrassed any more than he was.

Nick shook his head, but finally managed to look up. Immediately he regretted doing so, as three sets of eyes were staring at him. KIra immediately bounced forward, putting her arms around him. “Ohh!” She squeaked, smiling wide. “I can’t believe it! My big brother a reincarnated forest God? That’s... that’s incredible! I mean, no one can say that! And you created something so incredible, a... a... a person! A perfect person, legends say the first beings created sprites from earth and water, depending on their origination, to best compliment them, and created them in their own image, a perfect, immortal being.” Kira’s eyes sparkled as she nearly vibrated in her shoes. Backing away, she studied her brother as though seeing him for the first time.

Andy shook his head, approaching Solace. “But... How do you really know Nick’s your creator? This Visal person, anyway? He can’t look like the guy, can he?” Andy surveyed his old friend. “It’d explain your height...” He muttered offhandedly.

Solace smiled as the group seemed to believe him. Even the other, now silent, man stared at Nick as if he was meeting him for the first time. When the younger man approached Solace, he stepped back a bit out of habit. He only allowed one person to get close to him and that was his creator. He glanced over at Nick now and his smile became more confident. "Lord Visal was slightly taller, his eyes golden like the sun and his hair a deep green. He had branches, like stag horns, growing from his head, which grew berries in the Fall..." he blinked and the image faded away and was replaced by Nick. "I can sense it in him. I can see the light in his eyes... I was asleep for a long time and I woke up... Just as Nick came across my spring..."

Andy gaped again, bending over and picking up a small bit of clay he had found. It had been a part of a vase, by the looks of things, and painted on it was an image of a tall man with branches in his hair. He offered it to Solace to look at. Solace took it from Andy's shaking hands and peered at the small image. "Yes. Like this..." he confirmed, showing Nick. "Since he was like a King of the others, he had many items made in his image. The first humans worshipped him as the God who gave life..."

When Solace handed the bit of dry clay to him, Nick had a hard time believing the painting was of him. And an even harder time trying to understand that he was revered as a king to so many others, a race of seemingly perfect beings that existed before humans, then worshipped by the first humans. His knees had grown weak at the thought of, at one time, being seen as a king, a giver of life, a creator in general, and his hands began shaking so badly he dropped the bit of the broken pot and stepped back, almost tripping over his own feet.

“Uhm, I...” He shook his head, trying to keep a logical mind. But the eyes on him were like hot coals, burrowing into him. “I... h-have to... go for a walk... clear my head...” Turning, Nick snapped his mouth closed before his voice broke entirely, staggering into the trees. The damp, earthy scent of evaporating dew still hung in the shaded air, and helped him calm down a bit. He was a God? A... king? An Ancient being...? He sighed shakily and stopped when he came across a flat stone jutting out of the ground, solid and mossy, and decided to give his weak legs a rest. Sitting atop it, he stared at a tiny brook that flowed at the base of it and wrapped his arms around his knees, shaking at everything that had been revealed. It was... almost too much...

Solace appeared before him, like a figure raising from a mist. He remained silent and knelt on the ground in front of Nick, watching him with his pure blue eyes. He understood how it would be too much for a human, that is why he had stopped there with his explanations. Nick wouldn't be able to handle the whole truth, not at once. Solace stood and sat next to the man, sliding his head to rest on Nick's lap. He still was quiet, not wanting Nick to tell him to leave.

Nick glanced up when Solace appeared silently. The air around him had grown slightly cooler, and he immediately realized he wasn’t alone before Solace even materialized out of mist. He stretched out slightly, but didn’t move much else, allowing his legs to be used as a pillow. He worked up a smile, but knew it was too sad to be sincere. Instead, Nick settled on running his fingers through Solace’s hair. It was as it appeared---soft and very smooth, like individual threads of fine silk. “I wish I could take everything in.” He muttered. “Humans... they don’t seem to be allowed to encounter anything out of what they’re always told is myth. They’re told these stories in fantasy works as bedtime tales, through dark nights when we can’t sleep, but it’s never meant to mean anything more than that...”

He paused, biting back emotion. “I guess... the prospect of being royalty... a god in general... it’s such an impossible notion, because... Because I’m just a human... I was raised among humans, to understand that fantasy could only be written in stories and told through generations, and this myth... became completely obsolete a long time ago. Not many people know of it anymore... because they don’t read about it, don’t ask about it... And me... Me, being a... king... A god... A god!” Nick shook his head, and stared into the water running below them, taking his glasses off. Often they seemed to weigh ten pounds, especially when his emotions became difficult to control.

Solace almost purred as he felt Nick petting his hair and thought of the nights he rested on Visal's lap. He had always been there to listen to the creator's problems and thoughts. He was the shoulder the creator leaned on. He was glad that he could be a comfort once more, when Visal was a human with a different name.

"I know it is hard to take in... You are simply a human... You may be Lord Visal... But you are Nick first. Never forget who you are... What you are..." Solace spoke clearly and slowly, hating what he was saying.

Nick shook his head. “I... know what I am. I can’t be... just Nick. I wouldn’t have seen what I did if I were just... this...” He couldn’t finish the sentence. Just human. Like he used to be. Or at least, like he thought he used to be. When he looked back to Solace without the help of his glasses, Nick could see him clearly. That alone would have been impossible just twenty four hours earlier. Impossible to understand. His sight was so bad Nick had to get stronger prescriptions every year.

Then he saw something else. That faded, blurry room again. It was impossible to see what it was, specifically, but Solace was in front of the blurry background. Nick felt himself in that moment then, in a different body. Something was weighing down his head, but he couldn’t see it. He didn’t care---Solace was there. He was there for Nick---Visal---in that moment, when no one else could understand. Nick felt himself smile, reach out. His fingers, much more tan, longer than they were now, swept Solace’s water-like hair back, caressed his face, silently thanking him for just being there... listening to whatever hardship Visal, at that moment, had admitted to.

It lasted an agonizingly short moment, however, and Nick blinked back to reality in an instant. He closed his eyes. “I... I’m sorry I hurt you...” He muttered, almost inaudibly. “I’m sorry it went bad...”

Solace's ears pricked up when he heard Nick mutter. The words stung, causing his heart to feel painful again like it once did. He shook his head and leant up to kiss the man's chin. "No apologising. It is I that should be sorry. I killed myself just because I couldn't have you. I caused you pain for a long time. And blame. I saw you visit everyday and was too ashamed to leave the depths of the spring..." he felt his eyes hurt, but no tears came. He could not cry. Feeling emotional, he stood to his feet and played with the stream that ran before them, making it raise and fall like an untameable beast. He created scenes from his past out of the water, the castle, the temple... It was all there. Moving and falling throughout the years. Eventually the water fell flat again and Solace fell to his knees. Everything he once knew and loved... Was gone. Extinct. This new world was alien to him. He felt scared again.

Nick gasped, watching the movement of free-willed water suddenly bend to Solace’s hand, obeying him as it created solid but fragile sculptures. A castle---was that where Visal lived?---and a temple with high, beautiful steeples. Then they went flat, followed by Solace. Nick gasped, scuttling up and slipping a bit on the moss underfoot as he went to kneel in front of Solace. “No...” He shook his head, cupping Solace’s face in his hands. “It’s not... your fault. I made those rules, I... guess I was afraid. Afraid of there being too much shared power between creator and the one created.” He put his forehead against Solace’s, able to meet his eyes clearly. “I just didn’t realize that power couldn’t be shared that way. Couldn’t be exchanged. I didn’t find that out until after you... went to the spring.”

Nick knew the fear Solace obviously felt. Perhaps on a different level---but it was there, the fear. “I don’t want you to be afraid.” Nick said at last. “As long as you’re with me, you have something to hold on to. Even if I’m not exactly your Visal... yet. I keep remembering things. It might be because you’re helping me gain my memory back. And it’s strange---when I look at anything else it’s blurry and faded. But I can see you just fine. It’s like you’re in front of an old, damaged painting. I think I’ll... keep remembering as long as you’re here.” He closed his eyes, but saw only darkness. That was almost a relief---if he kept recalling, it would overwhelm him.

Solace smiled again, his fear sliding away like water flowing off a rock. He wrapped his arms around Nick's shoulders and kissed his warm lips again, closing his eyes as well as he explored the human's mouth with his tongue. It felt as if he was drawing the warmth from the man's body, feeling heat radiating from this kiss, reaching all of his body. Crashing of bushes and sticks breaking announced someone approaching. Solace fell back, away from Nick just in time as Andy came into the small clearing they were in. He raised an eyebrow at their positions, but said nothing about it. "You alright?" he questioned Nick, staring at Solace with caution. "The others and I have decided to stay here for one more night before leaving for the cabin. We have enough supplies for two more nights before we will run out... So is... Is Solace coming with us?"

Nick’s blood ran cold---though it could have been the result of Solace’s water-cool tongue finding its way into his mouth, shocking his eyes back open. It was as though Solace were taking some warmth from his body, but Nick didn’t pull away until the rustling of nearby foliage announced someone’s appearance, at which point Solace himself fell backward. An only-somewhat disconcerting tingle was left to move through his body, difficult to shake as he squinted at Andy. “Uhm... I-I guess so...” He put his glasses back on, not quite making eye contact with his longtime friend. “Th-there’s a lot to be... explained. Especially in just a couple days...”

Andy tilted his head. “You... sure you’re okay?” He couldn’t help but feel something was off, and the implication was certainly there. But he’d also learned a long time ago that pushing a certain question or observation would result in Nick’s emotional shutdown.

“I’m fine. I promise.” Nick nodded, but didn’t quite look up. His face was burning, and he had no doubt it was bright red. His heart was racing so quickly he was surprised Andy didn’t comment on the noise it made.

Solace watched them quietly, nodding slightly at the question. "Though I do so with extreme caution... I might turn to water if I leave this place. That's what I was told," he said quietly, staring down at the constricting shoes. He liked bare feet and hated wearing these shoes. He felt cut off from the earth and all that grew from it.

Andy stared at him, curiosity and shock on his face. He had many things he wanted to ask Solace. To think all his life he read about the Ancients and here was a creation made by one of them! Part of him longed to tell everyone he knew about it. He knew that it wouldn't be a clever idea, however, so had vowed to keep Solace a secret in his mind. Andy had thought it strange how Solace touched Nick, and how Nick didn't flinch at the creature's touch. Nick wasn't the most social person around and had issues with personal space. It made Andy wonder what the two felt for each other.

Breathing in slowly, Nick raised his head to study Andy. "You'll keep quiet about this, right? About what Solace is, when we leave here?"

"Of course!" Andy nodded quickly. "The others will too, you can trust them." He addressed Solace then, and indicated Nick again. "Besides, I... don't think anyone would really take us seriously if we went on a rampage, right? Just some crazy kids that lost their minds or something..." He chuckled at the thought. "Uhm, but where's Solace staying? I mean, it's not as if... y'know..."

"I think it'd be best to stay with me." Nick said, sitting back on the mossy stone. He was probably stained with the green tone of the soft growth, but it wasn't strange for him. "Since I live farthest away from town, that is---it'd be a good idea. And maybe I'd be able to... remember what I was... a little quicker..."

Andy nodded, understanding. Nick lived in a relatively small cabin he'd designed with the help of a contractor, and lived, at most, several hours away from the small town Andy, Michael, and Kira called home. He even had a small pond on his property. "You coming back to the site?" He asked after a moment's silence.

Nick observed his hands for a moment. Andy had to know something was going on---the signs were there. "I... I'll stay here for a while." He muttered at last.

Andy nodded and slowly left, waving bye to Solace before disappearing back through the trees. Solace smiled and hummed slightly as he listened to the man crash through the undergrowth. "Humans sure are noisy," he commented, moving silently towards Nick and sitting next to him on the rock.

As Andy had disappeared, the birds started to sing again, as if they had been hiding. A small black bird with a strange golden pattern fluttered down from the treetops and started to rummage in the dead leaves for bugs. Solace grinned at the sight, happy to see something familiar to him. "Lord... Your bird!" he pointed. "One of the few you had created."

Nick shook his head as Andy left---he'd never quite thought about how loud people were when they didn't know their surroundings well, and especially when foliage and trees grouped around especially close together. He nodded a bit.

Nick's eyes widened a bit when Solace indicated the bird. "That...? I made it?" Sitting forward a bit, he studied the bird---its black feathers caught the light and shone it in several tones of blue and green. Its yellow headdress and tailfeathers shone gold as it flicked leaves over, pecking at the ground. "I saw that bird earlier... Yesterday, I mean." He had failed to catch it in photo, but knowing that, once, he had dictated what the creature would look like, it didn't matter anymore. When he moved a bit, the bird paused to look between him and Solace, calling slightly in a high chirp before burrowing under a bush nearby.

Nick looked to Solace as it vanished. "I think you'll be okay, Solace, when you leave the forest." He said surely. "I don't think anything bad will happen." He couldn't be sure, but Nick had to assume things would be fine.