faintscribbling

Jasmine looked at the book she had been reading with mild disgust. The words were becoming harder and harder to grasp, even though she was advanced in Runescripts. Sighing she set the book down and uncurled from the chair that seemed to be her permanent abode. At her feet Skaene yawned and stretched rolling over to show his chubby belly even as he reached with oeversized paws to toy at her shoe laces.

"Ok Skae, I get it you're bored." Jasmine said smiling slightly as she bent to rub her familiar's head. Skaene was a Wilenfor Lion, a special breed with a dark tan coat and a rich creamy almost white underside. At the moment his back and flanks were covered by large irregular blotches of a darker brown, making him look like a strange Leopard cross. Idly Jasmine studied her young familiar, glad that Skaene had chosen her but still curious as to why the rapscallion picked her over someone more rambunctious or outgoing.

"Mreww." Skaene complained, tail twitching as he rolled to his paws and butted his head aggressively against her hip. Wienfor Lions were huge creatures when full grown, easily standing 4' at the shoulder but Skaene at only half a year was twice the size of his brethren. Jasmine brushed his head away from her hip and stretched while looking out the dormitory's one large window. Before her Kiridassa sprawled out in a ramshackle and haphazard spiral from the city's center. The 'heart' of the city was the Barou Tower in which the dorm was a part of, though young magicians never set foot beyond the boundary markers.

Marisa didn't hesitate to look back over her shoulder at the place she was leaving. Behind her the green of the lawns stretched away almost endlessly to the shadow of the manor house. She smiled knowing that Istriam would wait for her to come back but it was all she could do at the moment to leave. There was life beyond the home she wished to explore.

***

After Marisa had left, Istriam stood in the old study, looking out towards the distant forest where the wind seemed to be strong. Next to him, Chyiro stirred, lifting her head to look up at him.
"Are you really letting her go?"
Istriam glanced at Chyiro, quirking one dark eyebrow at her. He smiled a feral grin and ruffled the white hair on Chyrio's head. Before looking back out the window.
"Of course we're letting her go. Its the only way Mars will come back."
"I hate her for leaving." Chyrio said turning away from Istriam. Chyrio was small only 4' even, not quite a child but neither an adult. She was of the Varr line like Istriam but her sire had been Ku'Varr the lesser male.
"Now Chyiro. Your time will come when you leave to." He murmured, his grey eyes never leaving the windows. "Come out to the balcony with me Chyrio. There's a strong wind and it will feel marvelous."
Istriam moved languidly away, gently nudging Chyrio to go with him towards the balcony.
"Istriam..." She started frowning slightly then gave up and walked towards the balcony after the tall slender form.
"You wanted to say something?"
"No nothing." She muttered taking Istriam's hand into her own pale one.
He squeezed her fingers lightly, smiling down at her with his dazzling smile and winking.
"It will be alright Chyrio. Just enjoy the fine weather."
Almost as if on que, the wind picked up around the manor house, blowing strong and cold but carrying with it the scent of forest and the spring.

***
Marisa down the pathway leading towards the small tea garden that Tibby had set up in the vast expanse that was Farview Keep's grounds. Tibby herself rested idly in a great wicker chair with her legs folded up under her and a large book in her lap. Kemitz, her familiar, a small stripped black and white cat lay curled up on the armchair next to her right hand. Upon Marisa's approach, Tibby looked up over her small round spectacles so that her piercing blue eyes peered up at Marisa.
"What are you doing here?" her voice was cool, almost frigid.
Marisa blushed.Tibby was always like this she reminded herself.
"I came to tell you good bye." Marisa knew that Tibby wouldn't care, but her husband Maximal would. Max was after all Marisa's half brother by their father.
"Tell Max then, hes in the greenhouse." She stated to look back down a her book but Marisa stopped her with a slight gesture.
"Tibby."
"What?"
"I can't tell Max."
Suddenly Tibby's eyes narrowed and she tensed.
"What do you mean you can't tell Max?"
"I mean I can't tell him good bye."
Sudden recognition and horror dawned on Tibby's face.
"You didn't. Did you?"
Again Marisa blushed, looking away. A sudden wind, playful and filled with the scent of spring whipped around her, tugging at her black hair and snarling the loose strands into knots. She felt Tibby's gaze intensify and saw Kemitz stand with a slow graceful stretch.
"You did didn't you, you sold your soul to get away."
Marisa suddenly frowned wondering just what Tibby thought of her.
"No! Of course not. I just... I just made a bargain with Istriam that I would return after three years."
Tibby relaxed visually sighing as the book fell from nerveless fingers.
"Don't do that to me. It would kill your brother if you had."
"I know. I have three years Tibby, thats why I can't say good bye."