[TRANQUIL] Prompt 3

The fires had faded from Garmr and Herja and they were talking with Alowyn and Pyrri, but the pair of hellbound vayrons tried to keep the surge of magic they were feeling to themselves. Alowyn watched as she saw Garmr’s pelt slip to show the fire underneath, only to reform and hide it. She was about to ask him if everything was alright when she noticed both vayrons squeeze their eyes shut. 

“What’s going on?” Alowyn asked as her companions grunted in pain. 

“Nothing,” Garmr growled through clenched teeth. However, as he tried to speak, lava fell from his jaws. 

Pyrri backed away from the vayrons, feeling threatened. At the same time, Alowyn looked around anxiously for the cause. Around them, the crystals of this area were glowing wildly. Some flickered while others had ribbons of magic ripple away from them. The scene was chaotic, with every flickering crystal there was light that did the same only adding to the uneasy feeling of the haedians. 

“Is there something we can do to help?” Alowyn asked, but when she looked for Pyrri she wasn’t anywhere near. 

Herja howled as a new wave of pain surged through her. She could tell it was her magic going haywire, but she didn’t know why. She pinched her eyes closed and gritted her teeth in an attempt to hold everything together. She didn’t know what would happen if she let go. 

Garmr reacted to his partner’s howl with his own. He felt the same waves of power and pain causing his coat to split against his control. He kept his eyes on Herja after noticing that whatever was affecting them wasn’t affecting her. The frustration he felt coupled with the pain made it all the more difficult to manage. However, unlike Herja, Garmr was more willing to let go and let whatever happened, happen. 

“Give me a minute,” Alowyn shouted, “I have an idea.”

The only thing she could think of doing was protecting her companions. She grasped for her vines and pulled them to make a dome around her and her party. The rippling magic from the crystals allowed Alowyn to work faster than she ever had before. Unlike the pain, it caused the vayrons, the surge of magic felt refreshing to Alowyn. With a sigh, Alowyn infused her magic into the root dome making them immune to fire. 

“Okay,” Alowyn called, “Let go, let the magic flow.”

“N… No,” Herja grunted, refusing to let go of her control. 

Garmr didn’t need to be told twice. He released his tense muscles with a relieved sigh. The magic burst from him exploding fire and lava from his body. He took on his hellhound shape and shook out his fire pelt, sending bits of fire flying everywhere. Alowyn had seen Garmr’s form many times and had grown used to it, but through the cracks in the vines, she could see fear in the haedians’ faces. 

“Herja,” Garmr tried to talk to her, “It’s easier once you let go.”

“D… Dangerous,” Herja attempted to express her fear through tight lips. 

“Not anymore,” Alowyn said, “I have us surrounded. We’re safe and they’re safe.”

There was a few seconds of nothing before everything happened. The usual coil of fire that surrounded Herja was massive it took up a good amount of the dome. The fire still moved like a snake, but only much larger. Herja sighed. 

“You’re right,” Herja breathed, “This feels much better.”

Garmr nodded. 

Alowyn looked around and knew they would need to get control so they could leave. Herja had the same thought once she settled down. 

“Can you guys control it better now?” Alowyn asked after a few minutes. 

Herja shrugged, “Only one way to find out.”

Herja stood up, shook out her coat, and then tried to reign in her magic. She tried the same method she had known her whole life. However, there was too much magic, it felt like stuffing too many items into a small bag. She released her magic with a burst of fire. 

“It’s not working,” Herja sighed. 

“We’ll have to keep trying,” Alowyn urged. 

The new strength of their magic reacted to their emotions. Garmr’s anger at Alowyn showed through when the fire down his spine flared with his growl. 

“Why should we bother controlling it?” Garmr hissed. 

“How else are we going to leave?” Alowyn shot back feeling frustrated in the growing heat of the dome. 

“She’s right,” Herja added, “Hopefully away from these crystals will help us settle.”

“But, I don’t want to lose this power,” Garmr growled back. 

“This isn’t sustainable,” Herja retorted, “We’ll burn out.”

Alowyn wasn’t sure what exactly she meant, but it seemed Garmr did. He went quiet and the pair attempted to reign their magic in. Alowyn could tell they were in pain, but quickly dropped the dome to search for Pyrri and a way out. 

[816]