Caging the Bird

[piwakawaka]

When she left the Bar, Tiwa didn't go bird just yet, she could feel a strange sort of Glamour about and being girl was easier. The trail was quiet, no bikers dashing headlong or lost hikers who couldn't find the nice big trail to the top when she found the ball of something.

Carefully she knelt down, it was almost too bright more like a neon light than the warm glow she was used to then someone laughed and the air was suddenly too dense,

"Hello, birdy. No more flying today."

She knows his face and laugh and tries to run and again the air feels solid, hemming her in,

"Oh no, can't have you leaving, much to do with you."

"I'll scream, can't hold me."

Somewhere in her pockets is her poi and she starts spinning and spinning it and starting to chant then she can't breathe, "No tricks though this will make it simpler."

Then the world fades to black as the air in her lungs is stolen.

* * *

The cage is set; beautiful iron full of magic as the floor has been traced with patterns and secrets. He's still laughing slightly when he enters, Tiwa still held in the bubble of air a step or two behind.

Comments

[piwakawaka]

"Yes, but that wasn't a sharp edge simply pressure and look at the damage it did."

She can't make herself any smaller and where the iron touched her feathers, her glow has noticeably dimmed.

[piwakawaka]

"I can see it."

He can see it.

[piwakawaka]

Now the Mage is good but he cannot create a sharp iron knife in a moment so considers,

"I will make us a blade. Though I do think the pain woke her slightly, perhaps you can inquire about the lion."

Her eyes are starting to flutter as she tries to pull strength from somewhere so around her swelling lip tries to chant.

[piwakawaka]

She can chant all she wants, the floors and walls are warded with strange and dark magic that even her best efforts won't be able to break down.

He crouches on the ground near the cage's edge and watches her.

"Will your lion come for you, little bird?"

[piwakawaka]

Perhaps it will make her light last a little longer and she doesn't want to open her eyes, the iron weighs down on her as she tries to shift,

"Lions don't have wings."

[piwakawaka]

"But they will not leave you alone."

[piwakawaka]

Its not exactly sitting more slightly more vertical curling as she tries to be as far away from the iron as possible,

"Will you?"

[piwakawaka]

"Once we have what we want."

[piwakawaka]

"Won't get it. Told you I was small, too small to be worth so much. Cause a fuss and I'll be gone but you won't get it."

She won't cry, won't give that up so keeps her eyes on the her peeling gold and red nail polish.

[piwakawaka]

He's not going to push her right now, he doesn't need to stress her more than necessary and it's obvious that she's already upset. He doesn't want to break her.

Yet.

"We'll see."

[piwakawaka]

That sparks a touch of anger and she looks up at him, her eyes almost as old as his if not older,

"Death before dishonor."

[piwakawaka]

He throws his head back and laughs.

"Thankfully, my dear, I don't have to worry about that!"

[piwakawaka]

"Forgotten all about life, not even mortal just a shell, worth nothing."

The anger helps as she focuses on magic being worked by the Mage, she can feel it in the air, a tinge, something she can grasp.

[piwakawaka]

"I am not stuck in a cage of iron."

[piwakawaka]

"Oh bugger off."

She starts to lean back and stops herself before hitting the iron.

[piwakawaka]

He just chuckles underneath his breath and then stands, and moves away.

[piwakawaka]

There truly is no truly comfortable way to be in the cage so she ends up sitting and curled as she watches them through her hair. The iron is a constant, dull pain with stronger twinges where the cage hit her.

Unluckily for her making an iron knife is much simpler than making one of steel and the Mage is working quickly and with a pleased smile.

[piwakawaka]

The blood - her blood - is still running through his veins.

He can't keep still.

He doesn't want to keep still.

So he paces, instead, watching the Mage as he moves through the shadows, footsteps light and quiet and occasionally he laughs at nothing at all.

[piwakawaka]

"I think this will do."

The knife is a simple thing but with a true edge and he watches the pacing with interest,

"What do you see of the Umbra that slips through?"

[piwakawaka]

His hands are fisted in his hair and he's still pacing.

"Is this what you always see?"

[piwakawaka]

"At times but then the few times I let myself be Enchanted, it was still slightly different. It makes it easier to see power and how to harness."

He weighs the knife in his hands, a thing of darkness, magic and light move around it .

[piwakawaka]

"It's like solving the puzzle without having to look at the pieces, but you still have to put them together."

He's not making much sense but it's just so much at once.

Yet he still wants more. He eyes the knife with interest.

[piwakawaka]

"Yes, another way to see. Shall we?"

He moves towards the cage, the knife easy in his hands.

They've been too far away for Tiwa to hear them speak but she can feel and see their approach and tries to move as far back in the cage as possible. She's discovered that her pockets are still there and her poi is held tight and behind her back.

[piwakawaka]

"Yes."

He will let the Mage have his fun this time, as he's already has his turn. His arms arm folded behind his back neatly as they move closer.

[piwakawaka]

Only when they are quite close to the cage does he open a circle just large enough allow him to reach through,

"Come here, bird."

Tiwa's response is simple, she uses the poi to strike at his hand. The Mage curses and draws the cage tight around her so that there's no space to move and her arm is pulled out with the use of the poi,

"Did you really think such a toy would make a difference?"

Its hard to talk with the iron so close and tight but she manages,

"Will leave a mark."

"As will my knife and it will last longer."