Solace stood as well and nodded, staring at where the bird had run to. He remembered the time when Lord Visal would walk around this forest with birds resting in his branches. Solace had always loved the black bird he had created, which was slightly bigger and always perched on his shoulder. He wondered why this descendent didn't remember its Master, but then remembered all magic died with the creators. He suddenly felt alone when he realised he was the only magical thing left alive.

"I will be OK... It would help if you had a river or lake near where you live... I would evaporate without a supply of water around me. I know that for sure."

Nick smiled at that. "I live in a forest, Solace. A place like this, only... smaller. There's a pond right outside my home. It's far from people, but... it's clean. You ought to be okay there." Falling silent for a moment, he listened to the water trickle by below them. A thought came to him then, and he turned to face Solace. "I don't know personally how the first humans really were, but they've changed a lot over the centuries." He looked down, taking to moving his finger along the moss and picking at it a bit, but not harming it. "They've... grown in number, and they treat the earth as if it's... their own playground. They rip it up to put down buildings and stone roads to ride in their ugly metal cars on, and scare away the natural animals... They ruin the lakes and oceans and air every day."

His words rang cold in his head. Like a steel bell, echoing. Solace might not be able to handle it... Even Nick had a hard time of it, understanding how completely brutal people as a whole could be. When he blinked, another white-light flash overtook his vision, and another memory came to him---but this time it was different. He didn't see through his own eyes, but seemed to follow along as though in a different time.

Dark green hair, long and toned from light green to earthy brown, beneath the blooming branch-like antlers that carried multi-colored birds, red berries beneath wide, dark green leaves that periodically fell and trailed behind. Bright, yellow-gold eyes intense on their destination. The tanned figure walked barefoot, but wore an earthy-toned set of robes that resembled that of ancient Rome, similar to what Solace wore as he walked alongside Visal, who had an arm protectively around his shoulders. They were approaching a clifftop, green with ankle-high grass that hid small insects that flitted up at each step. They came to a stop above a massive body of water, an ocean, clear and blue---far more blue than an edited postcard could try to portray. From wherever Nick was, he could hear his past self speak: "... above this, you can see for hundreds of miles. This is only a small place, Solace. One small place. You have no idea how large this world is---maybe someday I'll be able to show you all of it..."

The breath escaped his lungs as Nick was taken away from the vision, and found himself staring at Solace among trees and a humid, shaded world. It took a moment to realize he had said those words aloud.

Solace smiled and hugged Nick tightly, enjoying his warmth. Even when Solace had been alive, he was always cold and loved to hug Visal for warmth. He imagined leaving his small part in the world and seeing the rest with him and couldn't be happier. "You promised me that a long time ago. You used to bring me seashells and stones you found on your journeies away from this place. I decorated the bottom of the spring with them, so I could remember all your trips. I pretended I had gone with you..." he smiled and rested his head on Nick's shoulder. "Now I don't have to dream. You will show me the world."

He was sad to hear what the humans had become to be and hoped that Visal's reincarnation meant the nature Gods were back to save the Earth.

Nick allowed the hug more freely this time, returning it fully. He hadn't shown others affection in quite a long time---at least, not more than a pat or quick one-armed hug in greeting or farewell. Nick gladly accepted the hug, squeezing Solace, but not so hard as to cause discomfort, taking in the fresh scent of water emanating from his smooth hair. When he closed his eyes, a flash of a memory returned. He was holding a shell---blue and black, swirled as clouds did in late evening, as the sun began to go down and cast a pale blue background against dark blue and black clouds flowing through the horizon. He turned to an eager Solace and handed the shell to him, receiving a hug in return, taking away some of the coolness to the young creation’s skin.

Again returning to reality, he felt his human body giving his warmth away in exchange for the cold that draped over Solace. “I’ll... take you anywhere you want.” Nick said. “After we figure everything out. After I get my memory back. After I’m back to the person you used to know.” He promised, backing away and putting his hands on the sprite’s shoulders. “Maybe if...” He shook his head. “...when I’m back... Maybe I’ll be able to make the world better. I’ll be able to make the other creators... I’ll save what little magic is left in the world. You just have to help me... keep me on track...” Nick smiled, feeling a bit forlorn. Recalling his old memories was like having moved on from a huge, important point in some life or another, and now he missed it.

"As long as it isn't too much, Lord..." Solace said quietly, snuggling into the warmth and smelling in Nick's scent. He smelt of a strange perfume, as well as earth and sweat. Solace remembered how he used to smell and realised that it was similar. Earthly and like flowers... And berries... He snapped out of his daydream as the golden and black bird came back out of hiding.

"I'd hate for you to think you were losing your destiny."

Nick shook his head, sitting back. “My... destiny isn’t any different from any of the other humans in the world. We live, struggle, die. People don’t remember you, and if they do, it’s because you outshined billions of others and no one could compete. But now, originality is so hard to come by. It’s almost impossible to stand out, or change anything.” He leaned down a bit as the bird hopped along the base of the stone, putting a hand down. The creature paused, observing his hand, approaching slightly and stretching its neck to meet his fingertips. A warm feeling of familiarity flowed through Nick as the bird’s soft feathers met him for a moment, before it spread its wings and took off into the trees with a call.

Sitting back again, Nick looked to Solace again. “I believe things happen for a reason, Solace. If this happened, I’m supposed to follow it. I’ll follow you.” He nodded, and gave an assured smile.

Solace shook his head as he watched the bird fly away. "No, my Lord. I follow you," he replied, bowing low again. He reached out for Nick's hand and kissed it lightly before straightening out again and staring down at the human. "I wish to leave this place and follow you. If you say that I will be safe, I will believe you." All fear drained away as he spoke these words. They seemed to give him the courage he needed to not be afraid of the modern world.

Nick smiled a bit as his heart jumped. He still wasn’t used to allowing someone so close. “Perhaps you followed me once. But until I’m that person again, I’ll have to follow you. You know more than I do, Solace. For now, I’m too blind to lead anyone.” For a moment a fleeting vision passed his gaze. A stag, tall and thin, with huge antlers that seemed to have twisted among foliage. It was there, then gone, and he blinked. “We’ll be here until tomorrow, Solace, then start back toward our home.”

After a moment’s debate, Nick slipped off the flat rock and into the small stream. “I’m thinking about staying here for a while though, Solace... If you’d like to go back, I won’t mind.” The cold water came up to his ankles, flooding his shoes and making him gasp as it chilled him.

"It's up to you, of course," Solace replied easily, sliding into the stream next to him. The water seemed to become slightly warmer and clearer when he stood in it. "If you wish to stay here a bit longer without your friends, I will be here to accompany you."

He smiled lightly and reached out for Nick's hand, holding it tightly. The warmth of the skin was like a drug to Solace, he was becoming addicted to the feeling of it. He longed to touch the man more, feel the warm and smooth skin against his. "I do have two things I wish to tell your friends, however," he said quietly, his voice hardly audible. "Firstly, they shall not tell anyone else about this place, in fear of humans destroying our birthplace. Secondly, they are not allowed to take anything back with them that has your image on it. Those items are sacred to this place."

Nick glanced to Solace, grasping his hand. “I’d never allow anyone to speak of this place. It’d be wrong to let anyone know this place still has underlying magic. So far as I can, no one else will ever know about this place.” He smiled, rearranging his feet on the loose rocks, the rush of cool over his skin keeping him awake. “And I’ll be more than sure to have everyone put everything back where they found it. I’ll go through their bags if I have to.” He brought up the hand that grasped Solace’s, bringing the cool fingers to his lips. “No one will know this place existed.” He assured the sprite, clasping the creature’s hands between both of his.

He didn’t think anyone would dare take ancient relics from their intended homes. No matter their affiliation with a living being, or reborn god, Nick doubted himself, or any of his friends, would think of it. But it would be best to keep Solace’s mind at ease, and be doubly sure.

Solace smiled and lightly kissed the finger that had been brought up to his lips. He was glad to hear that nick knew how important this place was to both of them, even in his human form he seemed to sense the magic in the area. The importance of the land and this forest was just too much to let it be tainted by humans. "One day, we will return here. I know that for sure."

As he spoke, more crashing announced the arrival of Kira. She stopped at the stream bank and stared at her brother and Solace standing in the water holding hands. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it quickly, stiffling a giggle. "Nick, Michael wants to know if you want something to eat for lunch. Andy and him are thinking of going fishing... I mean... If Solace gives us permission, of course..." her words trailed off as she looked back at the tall man. He nodded once, adding in reply,

"Just do not take the silver fish. They are important."

Nick froze when Kira approached, his instincts reversed as they usually were, freezing him when he meant to act or silencing him when he meant to call out. He looked down as his face and ears grew warm---Kira had never known him to be a person too touchy with anyone, even family. She knew him well as an awkward soul, but there for her nonetheless. When Solace spoke, Nick let his hands slide down and hang at his sides as Kira nodded understandingly and retraced her steps away.

"What's so important about the silver fish?" He asked, rather curiously. He'd not seen any fish at all, but then, the creek they stood in was rushing too quickly, obscuring whatever might slip through the loose stones.

"They were the guardians of the rivers, with the powers to give life by making the water flow. When one died, you took the bones and made me in the Spring of Creation. So they are also a part of me, like every body of water in this place," Solace explained to Nick, watching the girl leave. "Though the descendants of these fish may not have the same effect or powers, they are still very sacred to this area."

He stepped out of the water and looked to Nick, remembering the time he had seen the fish for the first time. One of them had found its way into his spring. It was large and brilliant silver, looking like it had been created by moonlight on the water's surface. Its fins flowed in the water like silk and it's large blue eyes watched Solace with interest. He wondered what had become of them after the Creators had died.

Nick tilted his head, fascinated. There was so much he obviously didn’t know. Silver fish without a name, he’d made Solace with the bones of one. He saw it, when he blinked. Visal, as he was once before, leaning over the spring that was surrounded by an open temple. The water bubbling under his hands as he manipulated it, raising it from the spring in small strings, forming a human-like creature, a sprite.

Shaking his head, Nick stepped out of the water, following Solace. His shoes were bogged down with water. “I...” He looked away, trying to untangle the mess of emotions that had nested in his mind and wouldn’t even out. “I... think I’ll go... go make sure they aren’t trying to squirrel anything away.” Bringing a hand up, he kept his fingers twisted in his hair as he stepped up the slight embankment and started back to the camp.

Solace followed him quietly, sensing that the man was struggling with emotions. He didn't approach him or touch him at that moment, remembering the times Lord Visal would want to be alone to deal with his troubled thoughts. As they approached the campsite, Solace hesitated, still not sure about the people Nick were with. As he backed away slightly, he bumped into someone smaller than him and he glanced down in shock. It was one of Nick's friends, the one called Andy. He was holding a basket full of berries that humans liked to eat.

"Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to run into you like that," the man apologised, grinning up at the tall creature. He could smell the scent of fresh water and something about Solace made him become sad, as if there was a sense of misery hanging around the creature. "I got some blackberries!" he exclaimed quickly, lifting the basket to show Solace. "Do you like berries?"

Solace smiled kindly at the human, thinking that he was acting like a puppy would to its master. "They are quite tasty, but the strawberries were always my favourite. They grow near my spring and Lord... I mean Nick and I used to eat them all the time during the seasons, back when he was my creator, that is."

Andy gasped and nodded, running off in the direction of Solace's spring, rustling about for strawberries. Solace smiled and stepped towards the empty campsite. Andy was still searching for berries, Michael and Kira were at a large river, fishing.

Nick had knelt at Kira’s backpack. There were several small compartments on the outside, and each were empty save for a toothbrush and a pack of kleenex. Michael’s was lying against Kira’s, and was generally empty of everything aside from clothes. He half-listened to the conversation between Andy and Solace, and his ear involuntarily twitched when Solace spoke his name. Shaking his head, he looked up in time to see Andy run off toward the spring for the promised strawberries. He gave up on his half-hearted search after that and sat back on the ground. He knew Andy wouldn’t dare take anything from a sacred place, and the others were smart enough to know the same thing.

Looking around, he caught sight of Solace. “I---” He cut himself off, pausing. “I’m sorry if I seem so distant. I hope you realize I’m not always like this.” He chuckled, and shook his head. “I guess I’m just trying to figure out what I’m actually feeling. It’s hard to say, really.” He picked up a stick nearby and drew a small series of circles in the dirt. It was almost embarrassing to be so awkward around someone. Especially someone he at one point knew well.

Solace approached him and sat quietly next to him, watching him draw circles into the dirt below. "It's ok, Nick. I understand. It's not everyday you meet a supposed extinct creature and told that you were once a God," he spoke quietly, resting his head on Nick's shoulder. "I'd be surprised if you could comprehend that instantly."

As Solace watched him draw the circles, around and around, flashes of his memory entwined and unravelled like coiling snakes. He remembered the days it rained, dancing for Visal and watching him grow with the water. The days of hot and drought, where Visal kept a steady supply of water for Solace incase he evaporated. He felt the painful feeling in his chest again and blinked, unable to cry.

He didn't move for a moment when Solace set his head down. Nick glanced at him, distracted slightly from his simplistic artwork, and brought up his empty hand to carefully run it through the sprite's hair. It was such an interesting texture. So different. "I'm... glad I can comprehend it at all." He said after a moment. "I mean, if... if this had been anyone else, I don't think they'd believe it. They'd.." He shook his head. "Never mind. I guess I'm just more willing to believe anything... with proper proof. And if I can touch that proof, it's more convincing than ever."

Nick leaned up a bit, catching a strange look on Solace's face that indicated sadness, but with no tears. It hit him like a physical blow. "I... promise, I'll work to become the person you used to know. It might take a while, but..." He looked down again and retraced the lines he made. "It'll work." Nick assured definitely.

"It feels... strange to know that you are here next to me... After all these years..." Solace blinked a few times, but no tears spilled forward. He was unable to cry or feel sad. "I suppose it feels bitter sweet. I'd love to cry with happiness and regret for all those years..." He shook his head and moved, his hair falling away from Nick's fingertips. "You made me 'perfect', I am unable to comprehend negative emotions such as sadness... It was just too much when you turned me down... I... It hurt so much and I didn't know what to do..."

He heard the others nearby, laughing and splashing in the river. It sounded like they had managed to catch something big, as the girl squealed in delight and the man yelled in happiness. The other was still rustling through the undergrowth, finding berries and other edible items to add to their meal. Solace's mouth began to water. It had been a very long time since he had eaten something. Usually he lived off the spring's water and the moss found on the rocks below. It would be nice to have something else of a different flavour.

Nick lowered his hand and stared down. He'd done bad back then. He'd harmed, rather than helped, by not gifting him the ability to handle negativity. He listened for a moment to the others splashing, yelling and screaming, bustling through the undergrowth nearby. "I'm sorry." he said at last. "At the time I never realized how terrible it is to... be so cut off from negativity. I'd had the power to feel negativity, and understood how terrible it could make one feel, how it could weigh on the mind and begin to eat away your understanding of the world, or even cut you off from your positive emotions entirely... But... when I had to send you away..." He coughed, and bit his lip. It was as though he were looking back and reliving all those moments, the worst feelings he could ever imagine. He breathed in, getting it all out before the others returned. "... But when I had to send you away, I began dwelling so... so much. So much on my decision to not give you the full emotional spectrum I had... I thought, perhaps, if I had, you'd be able to handle it better... but it was too late. Or, I thought it was too late... I... I decided to... just visit... I'd come to your spring and wish you back. I could have made another like you. I could have, but not even a god can recreate someone perfectly. Not your personality, or your appearance, or your grace. It took a long time to perfect that, and I just let it... slip away."

He brought up his legs and glared at the fire pit. "Maybe I can... Ahem... maybe I can make it better." Nick finally said. "I'll be able to give you all the emotions I tried to spare you from. But I don't think I could ever make amends for everything I put you through back then." He shook his head and looked at Solace again, but turned down his gaze.

Solace rested his head on Nick's shoulder and stroked his hair lovingly. "There's no need to dwell too much on the past," he said with a small smile. "I could have come back but I was too ashamed, too... distraught to even leave the bottom of the spring. I paid for my mistake dearly. But now, it seems fate is letting us have another chance... We should be thankful."

As Solace closed his eyes to truly feel the human he was resting on, he heard the others approach, but did not move. Andy arrived with a basket full of different edible berries just as the other two stumbled with a bucket with two fish in it. One was a large trout-like fish, big enough to eat, the other was a strange silver-coloured fish. Its fins moved like silk and its blue eyes gazed up at the humans that had caught it. Solace stood erect, feeling the water in him begin to boil. He glared at the girl, mad that she had not listened to him. Without saying a word, he took the bucket from them and stormed away with it.

Once he got to the river, he tipped the fish back into the water. Lingering on the silver one. It had been wounded slightly from the hook, but Solace healed it quickly before setting it free. A crashing behind him indicated that the humans had followed. "What the hell?! You said you didn't mind us catching fish!" Michael yelled, angry to see his catch swim away. Kira stood back quietly, having just remembered about the sprite's warning. She could only think about how beautiful the fish was. She wasn't going to let them eat it, she just wanted to show her older brother it.

Nick scrambled up at the sight of the silvery fish. It was just a fish, by the look of it, but somehow it held a deep meaning, like a religious symbol, a blessed item. He could feel it simply by a glance its way, When Solace stalked off with it and the other, Nick was compelled to follow, but not quite fast enough to cut off Michael or Kira. Andy had sat down, obviously overwhelmed. He had always been rather over-emotional. He was just a few steps away, able to hear Michael’s outburst before nearly falling through the tangled ivy and vines that had taken to lying on the ground.

“Mike!” Nick’s knife-sharp tone shut him up immediately, and made Kira flinch. She looked down as her older brother approached. “Why.” It wasn’t a question.

Kira shook her head. “I... I’m sorry, I didn’t... I just wanted to show... I didn’t think it’d be that bad.” She bit her lip, holding back tears. “I was gonna let it go. Just wanted you to see. I was gonna go back and let it go...”

Nick shook his head hard. “You didn’t have to.” He muttered. “Kira, when someone asks you to respect the land they hold sacred, you do it. Don’t try to cut corners and think it’s okay.” He looked over to Solace. The sprite was angry, and Nick was sure a simple ‘sorry’ would make things better. He tried to speak, somehow make an excuse, but his voice caught in his throat. Feeling strained, overwhelmed, and fully disgusted, Nick turned and followed the stream, hoping to take time to let Solace decide whether or not to stick around. He doubted the sprite would now. Kira hadn’t abided by that single request and it had taken a real toll on them. He took off his glasses and stared at the water. It moved like silk when he couldn’t focus.

Solace stood quietly, looking at how his simple action had caused all the humans to feel bad. He frowned, the anger fizzing away. Without another word, he turned to face the river and dived into its depths, the clothes he was wearing falling off as he became one with the currents. He didn't need to too long, and before either of the humans could really understand what had happened, he sent them an apology.

A giant trout, bigger than the one Michael had managed to catch jumped from the water and landed on the bank before the humans, flopping about sadly until it gave up. Solace surfaced, keeping his chest submerged and smiled at the two now standing shocked. "Please honour its spirit by eating all its flesh and returning the bones to this river. I promised you would do that for it," he instructed before swimming down further to Nick. He stepped out of the stream, the clothes magically reappearing on him as he approached his love and squatted beside him. "Sorry... I didn't mean to make everyone upset."

Nick glanced up to Solace. "It's not your fault." He said simply. "Kira was told specifically not to harm the silver fish. She should have told Mike. Should have kept it in mind. I know she was trying to show it off, but she wasn't supposed to." He turned to face Solace. "I normally don't run away from my problems like that... Just..." Shaking his head, Nick took Solace's hand, searching for a source that was cool to calm him. "I'll be back to myself soon enough. I guess I'm not coping as well as I thought I would. But it'll be okay soon. Maybe when we get out of here."

He brought up Solace's hand, running his fingers over the sprite's palm. "You can go back without worry. They don't hold grudges, the others... I think I might stay here... For a while." Perhaps it was how angry Solace had seemed. Of course it couldn't have been true anger, because Nick, as Visal, hadn't given him the ability to feel anger. It was a negative emotion, and one he thought would be a good idea.

Solace frowned, but didn't leave, sitting on the mossy stones beside Nick. He didn't say anything, or even look at the human. He just lent him his presence and cool clarity. He was afraid to go back without Nick anyway. The others didn't know him. What if they were still mad at him for acting the way he did?

He watched the water flow, feeling every current underneath and every ripple on its surface. He wondered if he'd lose this deep connection if he abandoned his home.