Snippet #1916973

In the forest, Adara heard the cries of shock and wonder at the kings' transformation, and she felt the thud of their new limbs on Earth's damp surface. Forgetting her dress at the base of the tree, she quickly swung Red into her arms and began walking in the direction of the kings. In a few moments, she arrived - but stayed hidden - and saw four animals in place of each young man: a bear, an eagle, a leopard, and a wolf. The leopard's eyes were a clear evergreen, and she noticed the hint of amusement they held. The bear also looked rather pleased with the sudden occurrence and rolled playfully onto its back.

She had been curious of the events that had taken place - but still had respect for the privacy that the group clearly wanted - and so Adara started to walk back into the woods, setting the little fox onto the forest floor and sitting beside the great tree. Though it was an odd happening, she would simply have to wait until they were ready to tell everyone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Reyne listened to her father's satisfaction at the spell his daughter's had created, his low voice complimenting their work. She scoffed in contempt at his seflishness and continued to read her book - but she soon got distracted by the smell of food that continued to caress her sensitive nose. Sighing quietly, she set her book on the nightstand beside the bed and rose from the soft mattress. The girl had slid off her heels and now padded barefoot down the long hall, her nose constantly in the air. She silently slipped into the kitchen and began to pull a few things out of the large refrigerator that stood in a corner of the open space, putting them onto the counter next to her sisters.

"Mind if I help?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jason watched quietly at the kings' shift into animal form, and a haiku he thought of suddenly whispered on his lips.



With a sigh at the simplicity of his poetic thoughts, he brought his mind back to the present and gauged the kings' reactions - two seemed positively confused at the change, and yet two others were eagerly discovering their new bodies. He chuckled softly under his breath and turned toward Harumi as she began to speak.

"There is a way to remove the curse," she said, her gaze on the ground beneath her feet. "Would you like to explain it - Lejla, Lavilev, Jason? - or shall I?"

Jason looked at the others, then spoke for himself in a low, and soothing, voice. "I believe that you are fully capable of that yourself, Harumi. I have no objection of you speaking."

Now that he had voiced his opinion, he was silent again, and faded into the simple background of their calm setting, listening to the others speak amongst themselves.