12-13-2014, 04:13 AM
Malik could feel the convergence of others. His very being seemed to heat - his heart raced at the thought of multiple elementals in one place. As always, his instigation of conflict seemed to draw others in. It prided him to know that merely sneezing on a girl could cause such interesting reactions.
He grinned wolfishly as Katarina bid Caden to stay back. That, of course, was before he'd taunted Gaia so kindly. So the elemental kept her human on a leash, then? Malik's cold gaze narrowed and locked on Katarina as she approached, her partner trailing behind her.
For a moment, Malik's bronze eyes filled with anger ... then amusement. The wolf's snarl quieted, and he observed the two partners silently. A few seconds later his attention returned to Gaia. He took a slow step forward, his expression taunting. As he did so, his wolf form gracefully shimmered like molten silver, becoming more human with each step.
"No one asked for your input, Frost." The silver-skinned elemental finally stopped his advance, eying the weapons that Katarina and Caden bore. Malik's bronze eyes were still glowing like dim embers, and when they locked on Gaia again, he seemed to snarl. "Always trying to protect. Predictable."
While his words might have seemed odd, they certainly related to the last few elementals he'd met. That, and when he could feel Lydia's presence, he knew exactly what her stance would be on this ordeal. She, too, would side against him. She would choose peace and protection over a fight any day.
"Why defend the weak?" His voice was deep, and definitely belonged to him: Malik was tall, much taller than any human, and stood as broad as a door was wide. His scarred form was witness to many battles - and he wasn't one to hide it. The Metal elemental drew a slow breath, his expression growing more irritated than mocking. "Keeping her alive only ensures she will perish later without your protection."
Malik kept his gaze on Gaia, still as threatening as ever. "How have you even survived, youngling?" The words were ... mocking. They were meant to be hurtful, like a cruel jab to inspire more violence.
Just then, his very being seemed to tense. A slight flicker of shifting metal sent a wave over his silvered skin, and his attention seemed to be drawn elsewhere. Others. More elementals. Or ... at least one. As Hikaru's voice entered the clearing softly, Malik seemed to bristle once again.
His laugh was humorless. "So many of you in one place. Is it truly so wise?" The attention they'd draw would certainly be the death of ... well, someone. Malik's bronze eyes lingered on Gaia. Mentally, he marked it as the Earth elemental who would fall first should a battle break loose. His mind began to calculate the battlefield, taking in the surrounding area and opponents. It was how his very being worked.
Malik's gaze was growing threatening once again ... when suddenly there came a voice from the forest from whence he'd come. "No." The simple word seemed to have an odd effect on Malik. The Metal elemental shifted again, that same liquid impression moving over his skin. He looked beyond irritated as the human girl pulled herself from the sidelines, approaching slowly. Her hand was out toward him, as though that would help her regain control. "These people are not your enemies, Mal." Honestly, she had no idea. She was just going by how they looked ready to help the Earth elemental - Gaia was a precious thing, and looked far too striking to be evil. Or, so Lydia wanted to assume. Malik wasn't exactly known for walking around and making friends - just enemies. Immediately.
"You speak as though you know everything," Malik's gaze still locked on Gaia, "omniscient one."
Lydia nodded to Katarina and Caden, hoping she'd chosen the right side. Jumping between battle-ready elementals wasn't exactly intelligent. "You speak as though you won't accept the council of others. Do you know what we call those kinds of people in court, Malik? Fools. We call them stubborn fools."
Malik's form seemed to go cold. His gaze slowly shifted to his partner. "Such a spirited whelp," he hissed, looking torn between wanting her dead and knowing he couldn't kill her without endangering himself. As he stood, nearly trembling with the desire to fight, Lydia addressed the Earth elemental.
"You can stand. He won't harm you." Lydia's brown eyes were warm, and her smile was as convincing as she could make it under their current circumstances. "Thank you for protecting her. He isn't known for his social graces." Her gaze shifted to Katarina and Caden. Never in all her life had she seen so many elementals. She only wanted to question them. Hadn't she just been thinking she might never be able to speak to someone about this strange bond she held with Malik? Yet here was another pair! (She obviously hadn't noticed Mitsukai nor Hikaru, as she wasn't the most observant.)
|