[Voice Post]

[priorpyro]

[Axel clears his throat; his voice sounds amused, but a little exhausted. He has the hood of his cloak pulled up to hide his face and is sitting at the base of a very, very blackened tree. There's an unconscious Zuko face-down in his lap.]

Ahem. Is anyone missing a pissy, fire-slinging drama queen with a scar?

[To punctuate his question, he drags

Comments

[songofthedeep]

Oh, bloody hell. That one's mine, Axel, I've been out looking for him.

Where are you? I'll come get him from you.

[priorpyro]

Oh, hey Cy. Good to see you again. Shouldn't be hard to find us; damn kid was burning half the forest down. Follow the charred trees.

I must be going soft. Even put the fires out. Glad I didn't fry him, though.

[songofthedeep]

So am I. I don't know what the fuck's going on, but something's really wrong. I'm on my way... if you need to knock him out again, bloody well do so, you didn't sign on for this shite.

[priorpyro]

Will do. I've already had to put him down again, once. This healing factor's a real pain in the ass.

We'll be waiting.

[songofthedeep]

[Cy has actually been trying to follow the burned trees, but the pattern of destruction is so random that it seems to be leading in a few different directions before he realizes they aren't the right directions. Still, he eventually picks the right one and makes his way through the trees until he stumbles over Axel and Zuko.

Incidentally, he looks PISSED.

He stops, arms folding, a muscle in his jaw standing out, and takes in Zuko's condition and the remains of their environment, decimated from the fire fight.]

Coc coen. All right, Axel? [mild concerned look through the obvious irritation]

[priorpyro]

[Axel is holding Zuko in his lap in a way that looks almost sweet, if not for the casual way his arm is draped over the unconscious boy's neck, ready to tighten should he show any signs of stirring. It's nearly impossible to make out his expression with his hood drawn up, but he doesn't seem particularly perturbed. (Then again, he never does.)]

Oh yeah. Wasn't a real tough fight. He burns - I don't. [Dryly.] I had a feeling something was wrong before you answered me. He was making a terrible fuss. Like a wounded cat. I take it this little outburst is out of character, then?

[songofthedeep]

.............While I wouldn't say 'out of character' I would say... fuck, I don't know what I'd say. He's been happy recently, so no outbursts, but he's got a hell of a temper. Don't we all.

[He kneels, and sighs]

Look, I'll take him. Thanks for not... you know, roasting him alive. I don't know what's going on, but I plan to wake him up and find out. Better take him down to the lake so he doesn't take the whole village down with him.

[takes Zuko's wrists, drags him out of Axel's lap, and scoops him up like a small child]

[priorpyro]

[Axel stands up once he's been relieved of his burden, regarding both Cy and Zuko contemplatively from behind his collar.]

No problem. I've been curious to see if you can kill a person here, but... [He shakes his head.] ...no. Not like that.

Be careful. He bites.

[songofthedeep]

[Cy bares his teeth, and Axel gets to watch as they grow slightly longer, thickening into shark-like triangles as his eyes turn jet black]

He doesn't bite ME. Not if he knows what's good for him.

Anyway, there's somebody here what already knows. Some chick named Nebilim. They were forming a hunting party last I heard, but she killed someone so, if you're that curious, I say go and ask.

[heads down toward the lake with Zuko]

I'll talk to you later, yeah?

[priorpyro]

[Axel cocks his head, about to point out that no, he doesn't think Zuko knows what's good for him - but he's Cy's problem now. If the kid wants to bite a maneater, let him; maybe being bitten back would help the little snot, because the fire sure didn't. And there's something else, too, something unfamiliar and bittersweet. Envy.]

Yeah. I'll be around. Let me know if you need any help with him. At the moment I've got nothing better to do.

[songofthedeep]

[Cy pauses]

... you all right? We haven't talked in a while, I wasn't sure what you were up to.

[priorpyro]

[Axel chuckles, surprised that Cy would stop to ask about something like that in the middle of what seems to be a crisis.]

I've been gone for awhile. Went Reaper-chasing during the full moon; woke up about a week ago, face down in the snow and cold as hell. I guess he liked me. [Axel shrugs this off, though, like most things, waving a hand dismissively.]

I can tell you all the fun details some day when you're bored, if you want, but for now you better hurry before Sleeping Beauty wakes up and has another tantrum, yeah?

[songofthedeep]

[he frowns]

.... right then. You know where to find me, yeah? Don't be a stranger.

[heads off]