bealright | [log] [march event/ the unfreezing] [locked to elise]

[log] [march event/ the unfreezing] [locked to elise]

[ Sakura had declared The Hidden Falls as her favorite spot in all the forests friendly to the Seelie. Though it didn't seem fair to grant one a superlative title, not when each verdant territory-- Breagha, The Great Greenwood-- possessed a special character. Walking through The Greenwood felt like wrapping oneself in a woolen blanket, the magic woven through its leaves and boughs thick with warm affection and security. Entering Engalais was like walking into a living temple, majestic, ancient and scared, but not in the least bit intimidating.

But the Hidden Falls, on the days that she could locate it, was her favorite.

It's favoritism in the purest form-- a love for the unicorns and mermaids and fairies that come to drink the water and play in the roaring falls. All the lovely, magical creatures that populate the daydreams of young girls like Kinomoto Sakura.

Never had Sakura dared approach one of these beloved creatures, as though interacting with them might break the spell, as much as she wanted to pet a unicorn. And never did Sakura expect that the day she dared touch one, they'd be--- they'd be like this, entrapped in ice like a glass miniature in a crystal cabinet display. Even its wild, wind-swept mane is defined by the ice, as if the poor creature had been in mid-motion as the ice overtook it. There are three others beside it. The unicorn's poor family...

It's terrible, awful, horrible... there aren't enough words for it! And worst of all, Sakura knew how to fix it. One time, Syaoran and her had nearly been frozen by magic, but back then she had figured it out. All she needed was The Firey to melt the ice, but here and now...

She didn't have that magic anymore.

To know that she could've once done something to help the unicorn.... Sakura feels even more helpless and heartbroken about it. And so she does an equally helpless thing, sinking to her knees, head in her hands, as she gives into her tears and starts to sobs. ]

I'm sorry Mr. Unicorn- I'm so sorry! I wish I could help you!

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[Having circled around south, Élise is aware that she must be reaching the border of Glaschu, if she hasn't already crossed over. It's been a long venture, but a satisfying one; this is not her world, and she does not know it nearly as well as she knows her homeland, but it's a step towards familiarity.

She's about to call it finished and turn back in the direction of Caer Glaem—she's tired and the falls are dangerous territory with all the ice—when she turns a corner on her horse and sees a familiar face. It's that little girl she spoke with before, and she's crying over...a unicorn?]

Sakura—that's your name, isn't it? Are you all right?

[ The crunch of hooves on dry leaves alerts her of Elise's presence. She hastily wipes away her tears, suddenly self conscious of how she's bheaving like such a child. Shaking her head, she explains sadly. ]

I'm fine, but the unicorn-- he's trapped! [ Sakura gestures at the frozen creature. Looking back at the unicorn again, it jump starts another crying fit, sending her sobbing into her hands. Another crying fit. ]

I came here to see the waterfall. I heard the water was frozen, and- and I thought it'd be pretty! But when I got here... [ And it is! The waterfall is frozen like an ice sculpture, but whatever beauty it holds, is overshadowed by the poor trapped creature. ] If the unicorn stays this way for too long, he'll...

[ Die. She swallows the word. ]

What can we do?

[The thing looks dead from here. Rather, it looks like it should be dead—how could anything that encased in ice possibly have survived?

But then again, the Roc cast magic over the land, and other living beings caught in the aftermath have survived. The unicorn is nothing more than a horse to Élise, but she's not so heartless to see a girl weep and feel nothing.]

It may not be dead. If we cna free it from the ice, it has a chance.

[ Sakura's more than familiar with magic's seemingly impossible ability to reverse its effects entirely. She's seen asphalt broken apart by magic become smooth and unblemished, and a giant, twisted-limbed tree un-grow itself entirely. he's hopeful that the ice will prove to be equally fixable, even if this world has proved to be rather unforgiving, at least compared to her own. ]

Why would someone do such a terrible thing with magic? [ Her sobs are gradually retreating to soft sniffles. ] Why? It's frozen everywhere!

[ But simply whining about it won't do anything. They need to fix it, and now that Élise is here... there's something about her demeanor that reassures Sakura, her confidence inspiring her own. She reminds Sakura of Sir Cullen, that brave knight from a world of dragons and fades. ]

We could start a fire! [ She declares excitedly, as the idea pops into her head. ] Do you think it will melt the ice?

[Élise takes the time to dismount and settle her horse while Sakura cries. Sympathy is all well and good, but she's not certain how to react to the girl's tears. It's not as though she can think back to her own childhood; she'd always taken great pains to be stoic, with a few very private exceptions.]

A fire is a good idea, yes. I have some tinder in my pack that we can use.

[If nothing else, perhaps it can soften the ice enough for them to break through the rest.]

[Sakura comes from a softer time and place; a modern, middle-class context where children are given the space to cry and be coddled. Nevertheless, she knows how to stuff away her feelings when times comes to get down to work. What will crying do to save the Unicorn? Nothing. Drawing her hand into a fist, she nods and looks up Élise, determined in spite of her tears.

Sakura clears out of the way to allow the elder to take the lead, because...]

I actually don't know how to make a fire! [ She laughs sheepishly. ] Not without a match or a lighter-- but I'll help you any way I can!

[ Without her magic, Sakura feels a bit helpless in this land. Many things she's learned at home have no application here, not without the shortcuts and automation of modern technology. It's a good thing Élise is here! If she can ride a horse and use a sword, then surely, she knows how to light a fire. ]

Do you need wood? A lot of the trees are frozen, but we can cut through them!

Wood will help. I have some spare rags we can use to start, but they won't fuel a fire for very long. See if you can find some wood that isn't wet.

[That's not likely, given the state of their surroundings, but it's worth mentioning. Élise returns to the pack strapped to her horse's saddle, glancing over her shoulder at Sakura as she goes.]

What are you doing all the way out here on your own? Have you no guardian in the Drabwurld?

I will!

[ Like a dutiful soldier taking an order, Sakura nods briskly, spinning around on her feet, as she wastes no time to get started. If gathering wood's what she can do to help, then she'll do the best job she can!

But Élise's question, about adult supervision, or lack thereof, catches her off guard. Having taken only a few steps away, Sakura turns around, drawing her arms to her side and giving Élise a look that's somewhere between guilty and embarrassed. ]

It's only me. [ She looks down at her feet. ] But I'm okay! Really! Exploring is one my favorite things, and even at home, I sneak out at night a lot...

[ Though being able to fly, and thus keeping away from the danger on the ground, helps. ]

I'm fine! You don't have to worry about me!

[ Declared with utter confidence. With that said, Sakura takes her leave, and sets off on her expedition for firewood.

Twenty minutes pass before Sakura returns, chopped up firewood stacked in her arms. Where she got the instrument to cut the frozen wood, only magic can say. But with the firewood stacked high enough to block her vision, it's been a precarious trek back to Élise--- and just as she reaches her, Sakura stumbles forward, the firewood tumbling out of her hands and onto the wet snow, and her with it. ]

Oh no, I got them all wet! [ Sakura scrambles to hastily pick the pieces up. ]

All right, if you say so. I won't worry.

[For now, because she's safe and Élise is with her. Later on...well, they'll see. She's not a mother, a big sister or a nanny and has no intention to play any of those roles, but...well. They will see.]

It's all right. Let's try this instead.

[Chipping away at the ice while she waited has done nothing, so instead Élise takes a few of the longer, thinner pieces of wood and wraps a rag around the end. Some quick work with the tinder, and she's got a small torch on her hands.]

This might work.

Uwaaah! [She watches the fire-making action with wide eyes, though making sure not to lean in too close. And wow... Élise lit it without a match or lighter...!! This modern girl is impressed with her basic skills!

But melting the ice with a fire that small is struggle indeed, as effective as the earlier attempt to chisel away at the ice. For the ice is melting at a glacial pace, as if it were glass-- ] It's not... it's melting is it?

[ Sakura worries her lip, as she ponders.]

It's not just ice--- it's ice made by magic, so it's different [ She looks up to Élise, panicking. What if they can't melt it? ] Do you know anyone with fire magic?

[Élise is silent a few moments longer before answering, giving it just a little more time to work, to have any effect at all, but ultimately...]

No. It's not.

[She can't grieve the unicorn; it may be magical in its way, as so many things in the Drabwurld are, but it is still a beast, and not even one she's bonded with as she has her mount. But she can grieve the look in Sakura's eyes; a child's heartbreak is never pleasant to bear.]

I've met people with magic, but they're a long way off from here. Even then I'm not sure if they could do anything.

[She rests a hand on Sakura's shoulder.]

I'm sorry, child.

[ At this point, Sakura's lost all her composure, as she falls apart into a fit of noisy tears. She wraps her arms around the frozen unicorn, cheek to flank, even if she's liable to get her face stuck to the ice. ]

Why can't I help him? [ She hugs it tighter. ] I haven't been able to do anything--

[ ... anything since she's arrived here, Sakura means. She's used to taking action, to solving problems and prevailing in the end. But since Sakura's fallen into the rabbit hole to Drabwurld, she's felt increasingly useless.

But for a moment, she pulls away to glance back up at Élise. ]

Thank you for being here with me.

[Oh, no. This is even worse, and also tremendously awkward. Élise's heart goes out to the girl, but she has no idea what else she can do.]

Of course. It's no bother.

[There's nothing else they can do here, though. It's not a bad thing to allow Sakura her tears, but lingering will only make her feel worse.]

But we should go—you don't need to see thi...

[Except...wait. What? Is the frozen unicorn...sparkling?]

[ Easier to deal with a vengeful French Assassin than a crying little girl, isn't it? At least you can punch one of them in the face! ]

But I don't want him to be alone—

[ And that's when she notices it too: the luminous sparkling of a... what the hell is even happening. Sakura's taken by surprised, falling backwards, as the light grows brighter, eclipsing the frozen statue. ]

H- hoeee? What's going on? [ Sakura places her hands against the side of her head, a look of utter confusion.

And before either of them can see what's actually happening, they hear the soft snort of a freshly unfrozen and distinctly alive unicorn. The creature's long white head emerges from the aura of light, as it all begins to fade. ]

Mr. Unicorn! You're all right? [ She glances back to the other. ] Ms. Élise, he's alive! He's really alive!

[What the hell.]

So he is.

[And that makes very little senses. A few moments ago, the beast had been frozen solid, with no hope of the ice ever melting. So what had reversed the magic? More magic?]

But how, though? Did you do anything other than weep on it?

[Some intrinsic ability Sakura never knew she had? Maybe. Who can say?]

Nothing! [ She gives an energized shake of her head. ] I man, don't think I did anything. Or maybe it was the power of love?

[ Oh yes, she's going there, Elise. Don't choke on all the saccharine cuteness. ]

Mr. Unicorn, I'm so happy you're okay. [ As she pets the unicorn's drying flank, Sakura watches appreciatively as the creature nuzzles its head against her stomach. ] But it wasn't just me. [ Sakura gestures to Élise. ] Ms. Élise helped a lot!

[ The unicorn snorts happily, a sound that makes the easily amused Sakura giggle. ]

You can pet him too! I'm sure he wouldn't mind.

Maybe.

[The reply comes automatically and without sincerity; she's still thoroughly befuddled at this rapid turnaround. But perhaps Sakura is exactly right. Élise doesn't have a clear understanding of how anyone's magic works in the Drabwurld. Maybe strong emotion is the key.]

He does seem to be completely recovered, doesn't he?

[She reaches out to stroke the unicorn's mane, only to sharply draw her hand back when it lets out an alarmed squeal and takes several rapid steps back.]

Mou, that wasn't very nice! [ Sakura's visibly surprised by the seemingly mild-mannered unicorn's startled reaction. There's nothing frightening at all about the way Elise approached him, and if anyone knows how to treat a horse, it's someone who knows how to ride one. ] Come on, Mr. Unicorn. Don't be scared, she won't hurt you!

[ First, she reprimands the mystical creature with the softest tap on the nose, and then applies several comforting strokes on its flank, before encouraging the creature toward Élise. But the unicorn digs its hooves into the ground, refusing to budge. There's a miffed sounding snort. Well, as miffed as a unicorn can sound. ] Why won't he let you touch him?

[Élise brings her hand a little closer one more time, then draws it back and puts several steps between them when it just prompts more distress. The unicorn clearly will not tolerate her presence, which is a little insulting.

Something drifts into her mind then, a hazy memory of unicorns and the legends thereof; the qualities they embody, and the ones they require those who touch them to have.]

That's all right, Sakura. Don't try to force it.

[If she's right, there's nothing the girl could do to make Élise acceptable. That ship sailed years ago.]

I believe it's because I'm...an adult, and you're still growing. In my world, they tell stories about how unicorns only let [ahem] young people close to them.

But you're not old at all! [ Sakura looks perplexed because Élise, truly, she isn't old by appearance or even age in the context of her modern world. The underlying implications flies right above Sakura's head and soars into the sky.

She gives a soft sigh and pouts a bit.] I hope he didn't make you sad. I mean, he must know how much you helped us!

[ She turns around to face the elder, giving a slight bow of thanks. ]

I know I couldn't have done it without you.

It's all right. I'm just glad to see he's recovered.

[Well, it wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world if it hadn't. But this way there's been no unnecessary loss of life, and Sakura isn't crying, and Élise has nothing more to cope with than a touch of awkward embarrassment.

She may or may not tell Arno of this when they meet again. And blame him.]

I think you did far more than I. But perhaps we should leave it be? It is wild, after all.

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[log] [march event/ the unfreezing] [locked to elise]

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