Invisible Flames (//open)

[madired]

Lacey's footsteps fell almost silent on the forest floor. As She looked down to make sure Matty was still trotting alongside her, her puppy met her glance with big brown eyes. Lacey slowed her steps when she was deep in the shadows of the trees. As the sun set over the woods, she felt excitement running through her. Lacey hadn't played with fire in weeks, it was becoming more and more risky each time, so she had thrown on her dark leather jacket and stole into the forest, Matty in tow.

Lacey sat with her back against the moist bark of a large oak tree with Matty curled up in her lap. The stars were blotted out by the canopy of leaves above, and Lacey and Matty seemed to be swallowed up by shadows. They were virtually invisible.

Feeling relatively safe, Lacey pulled a lighter out of her jacket pocket. She ran her finger over the top of the lighter and watched the flame spark up like a summoned ghost. She ran her finger tips over the flame and carried it away from the top of the plastic lighter. She watched with wide eyes, captivated, as the flame danced across her fingertips, it's hue of oranges,reds, yellows, and blues breathing, as if alive, before her eyes. Lacey concentrated hard, willing the flames to form into the shape of a heart, but instead the fire extinguished. Her attempt had failed. She sighed, her powers were far from mastered.

Suddenly Lacey thought she heard footfalls echoing in the distance. All of her muscles tensed, and she pressed her back hard against the tree, praying that the shadows were enough to concele her. She gently placed her hand on Matty's back comfortingly, hoping that she would stay still and silent. The footsteps came closer, and her heart thudded wildly against her ribs. she watched the shadows ahead with wide, anxious eyes.

[POLIAHU KEKOOLANI]

The wind blew softly against the trees, caressing the leaves, whispering to the forest. The air was chilly, as it should naturally be and it was the perfect time to go out for a run.

Poliahu glanced around, her sneakers pounding against the earth as she ran, enjoying the moment and the peacefulness of the forest, not caring where she was running. Her hair was tied in a ponytail and she wore only a sports bra and shorts, despite the chilly weather. It was the advantage of being an ice elemental, being un-bothered by weather such as this. She let a small grin cover her face, running was one of her activities that let her be in the moment. It allowed her to think positive thoughts and happy times and it felt good to let her body inhale and exhale the oxygen that surrounded her.

In the distance, she saw fire, it was a small tiny amount and she was unable to see if the flicker had merely been a fire someone had left or something else entirely. She ran forward, deciding to ignore it but her curiosity got the better of her and she turned around, allowing herself to slow to a jog as she headed in the direction that the flame had appeared.

[madired]

Lacey eld her breath as a figure passed by her in the dark, down the moonlit path. In the silvery light, she could see that it was a young girl, and as she disappeared into the shadows beyond Lacey allowed her self a deep breth of relief. She stroked Matty's dark fur, and kindled a small flame on her fingertip so that she could see.

Suddenly, the distant footfalls stopped, and before Lacey could assume it was due to the distance, they began to start up again and grow closer. Who ever the girl was, she must have seen the flame after all. What if she was a vire? Lacey's heart began to pound again, and she tried once more to fade away into the darkness.

Perhaps, if things would have went well, the stranger wouldn't have spotted Lacey at all, but as the jogger neared, Lacey felt Matty tense up next to her, a growl rising in the puppy's throat. Lacey wrapped her fingers around Matty's collar, restraining her, and stroked her comfortingly. But Matty was already worked up and, as always, protective. She began to bark at the strange girl, "Shh shh shh," Lacey whispered, "No, Matty", and the dog stopped hesitently, her eyes as frightened as Lacey's own.

[POLIAHU KEKOOLANI]

Her feet came to a complete stop at the sound of a growl, her ears perked up as she rapidly looked at the forest around her. Was there a person here? As it was unusual for there to be a growl when she had seen fire, for fire usually came from humans, and an animal that could growl would not be able to make a small flame appear than quickly disappear as if it had not been there. Then the dog barked, if there was a human, perhaps the animal had come with it and now that she, Poliahu, was in the dog's master's space, perhaps it had grown protective, as if to yell "Get away! This is ours!". The growl and the bark had now easily given away where the animal was and since it had stopped barking, perhaps there really was a person there and this news perked her up, for her curiosity would be filled.

"'Ey. Anybody out there? She called out, her voice louder than it usually was. If this person was hiding, did it mean they had a secret or was scared of her? Was this a person a vire waiting to pounce on her like she was unsuspecting prey, for her tattoo easily gave her off... but she was registered, why would a vire go after her? She glanced around, moving towards where she had heard the sound. If it was a vire, she had "nothing to lose" and they would already know "who she was".

Finally she made it towards the area where she had heard the noise and looked around, hoping to find a discovery of some sort and hoping that the person hadn't moved somewhere else to hide from her.