A Coven Of Witches & Werewolves | Act 1- The End-

Anara · Oct 22, 2022

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XXXXX A Forward

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XXXXXX The Lore
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Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to take a moment to send a heartfelt shoutout to all of you. Our journey as writers together has been nothing short of amazing, and I can't express how grateful I am for each and every one of you.

We've been through it all – story changes, character exits, plot twists – and through all the chaos and creativity, you've stuck by my side. Your flexibility and willingness to roll with the punches have made this journey all the more fun and rewarding.

Your words of encouragement, your understanding, and your friendship got me through. I can't thank you enough for that.

I'm excited about all the stories we've yet to tell, the characters waiting to be born, and the adventures we'll have together. You've made this journey unforgettable, and I can't wait to see where it takes us next.

So here's to us – a bunch of random internet writers and even more amazing friends. Thanks for being a part of my life and this incredible writing journey.

♡

Kassia
-Havenly & The Twin Rivers- -The House- -The Witches- -The Werewolves-
- Havenly sits in the middle of an undisclosed mountainous location Called Crescent Mountain. It's a tourist trap for those who wander too far from the main highways. But what is found here is charm and near-perfect seasonal changes. There is a river, which had been split by a fallen boulder from the mountain region. This caused water flow to separate and travel parallel to each other, coining the name The Twin River.
  
  Heavenly has a rustic charm; the buildings are multi-color and retain its wild west style faced with new modern text. There are current grocery stores and outdoor shopping malls. The streets are cement brick, having replaced the cobblestone over the years.
  
  The wood is rarely explored. Too many myths have sparked fear of traveling deeper into the woods. When hiking, hunting, or camping, very few will try to move to the top of the mountain peaks, which form a crescent shape over the town.
  
  There is 1 highway in and out and branches off into smaller residential streets.
  
  The witches' house sits further up the mountain in the center of the crescent formation shrouded by trees.
- The Twin River house is a massive treehouse structured with several box-like rooms connected by covered stairwells that wrap the trunks in glass. Each box is a small apartment for the witch or werewolf. This spans deep into the forest, where no one goes. Large windows allow substantial light to filter through. A large deck is on the 3rd floor of this housing structure for relaxing and conversation. There are small kitchenettes in each apartment-like design, but the central kitchen is on the same floor as the large deck. A massive library and common sitting area are also in the same room as the kitchen. This house overlooks The Twin River, and the structure can be seen from the tops of the trees.
  
  The Twin River House
  
  Staircase to other rooms
  
  *Not pictured-Glass covered staircase that wraps around large tree trunks*
  
  Common Area 1 & 2
  
  Kitchen
  
  Library
  
  View from 1-2 apartments
- - Witches in this world are standard. They are not hocus-pocus-inspired creatures or creatures who shoot lightning from their fingertips.
  - Witches use covens to call the corners and create more potent spells.
  - Witches utilize herbs and spices in their food and home for various reasons.
  - Witches utilize spellbooks/ recipe books to ensure their tinctures are accurate.
  - Witches stray from the public to live peacefully in their homes/ coven.
  - Dark clothing is preferred to conceal themselves from the public
  - Witches use familiars to help alert them to issues they may not sense/ this is seen as an omen to those living in towns.
  - Not all witches are evil or use black magic. Some witches are neutral/ light witches.
  - Witches were hunted without proper evidence. These could have been simply cracking an egg in a glass or any form of hysteria.
  - A cauldron was used to create spells over an open flame inside and outside due to necessity and the time period.
  Differences:
  - These witches do not wear pointy hats or fly on brooms.
  - Witches in this story utilize their spellbooks to craft spells over gas stoves with cast iron pots.
  - Modern transportation is used to get around in the town.
  - These witches do not have green skin or stringy hag-like hair.
  - Witches can transform those who are loyal to them into werewolves.
  - Rituals take place outside in the forest at the top of the crescent mountains; this is a 1-2 day walk.
  - Crystals are used with spells to amplify magic.
  (more info to come)
- Werewolves in History
  - Turn on the full moon
  - They are half-human hybrids that later morphed into full wolf-looking creatures.
  - They lose all human instructs while hunting.
  - If a werewolf scratches a human, they can also become a werewolf.
  - Some cultures believed that children who misbehaved would be turned into werewolves by witches.
  - Legends say that werewolves can be killed by silver bullets, garlic, or decapitation.
  - There are 2 types of wolves, cursed and then hereditary.
  - Werewolves are powerful and fast.
  - Werewolves hunt in packs.
  - Wolves have approximately 200 million scent cells. This gives them the ability to smell other animals from a mile away.
  - 5. Werewolves are virtually immortal because of the constant regeneration of their physical tissue, making their true age somewhat difficult to determine.
  - Silver alone can kill a werewolf.
  Werewolves in this story
  - The wolves in this story are Created by The 4 housemothers if they are loyal to their kind.
  - A werewolf can be killed by any wound that completely destroys the heart or the brain, but decapitation is the most effective way.
  - Wolves that transform are human/ wolf-like hybrids often towering well over 6-7 feet.
  - They can be killed by silver( in any form), garlic, and decapitation.
  - Wolves that transform are human/ wolf-like hybrids, often towering well over 6-7 feet. New wolves created in the 21st century will take on an actual wolf form. Wolves turned before the 21st century will be human-wolf hybrids.
  - Werewolves retain their loyalty and memories both in human and wolf form.
  - Werewolves can transform at any time.
  - The transformation for a human to a wolf is excruciating but gets easier over time.
  - Werewolves can live as long or longer as a witch.
  - Werewolf teeth are highly valuable on the black market as they create potent ingredients for spellwork when ground.
  - Humans bitten/ scratched, do turn into wolves.
  - While wolves do not need the moon to transform here, they prefer to hunt at night due to their vision which can be poor during bright conditions.
  - The curse can never be broken, no matter what some people or beliefs may state.
  - All werewolves can communicate through telepathy, which enables them to hunt and perform more complicated tasks.

A C T | 1

✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ:*

Over the years, Havenly had become a tourist trap, lending itself to various...individuals. Those looking for a home, others looking for answers to questions no one seemed to know. Overlooking Havenly were the Cresent mountains. This massive mountain encompassed the small town and shielded it from intense winters and heat. Although standing for hundreds of years, the Cresent mountains still remained unexplored.

Legend spoke that deep within the mountains, a small home belonged to witches and other mythical creatures. Where most myths were incorrect and based on obscure whispers... this had been confirmed.

Where the Twin River cut through sat a house in the trees, its rooms ever-growing, and its tenants quiet. For centuries the witches lived unbothered; they had gone through the worst versions of the town during the most devastating portions of history, where their kind was hunted and killed. The forest had been a great source of supplies for the witch's learning and growth; the house had been a haven for those searching for more. Answers about themselves, magic, myths, and the truth.

Desperate for protection, the witches-- currently the founding House mothers-- mustered up a plan they would grant those who were witch sympathizers the powers of a wolf. However, over time the abilities morphed the humans who protected the witches into wolf-like creatures; they hunted in the night to avoid being seen, using the forest as coverage. The witches continued to live through the complex years, hidden from view and offering their knowledge to those who wanted answers. They saw the river split by the rock slide on Cresent mountain, built the home with their own hands, and retained their peaceful lives with the wolves.

Now the Twin River homes, absent only 1 house mother, continue to offer themselves to those in need. The residents are skilled and seek the ultimate knowledge through its plethora of resources.

But something lurks in the twilight seeking out the source of the power by the Twin Rivers...

Anara · Oct 23, 2022

Character: Everlee "Eve"// Mentions of Sam
Player/Group: Wolves// witches// All characters
Location: Forest, Deck- Common area of Twin River house.

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The morning sun graced the forest floor and created small warm patches of light. Everlee's favorite thing was to step into those small sunny patches and bask in them, even if only for a moment. The weather was supposed to be shy of 80 degrees/26 degrees Celsius. The morning patrol had started strong. Samuel, or Sam as known by most, had rallied up the wolves for a morning perimeter check, and she eagerly accepted. She hadn't taken her wolf form and wouldn't as she patrolled closer to the town; once she crossed the river, there was too much at stake, and Sam made sure the wolves knew this.

Jumping from warm spot to warm spot, Eve hummed to herself and then, once she had nearly thrown herself onto a large boulder, looked around at the scurrying mice and birds on the forest floor.

"Everything looks okay here." Pulling a small notebook out from her leather pouch, Eve noted the location and time of her patrol. When expected to transform, It was advised to wear clothing that one didn't mind ripping. She always wore the same style of dress, a large black shawl that was belted around the waist. That way, when she transformed, the shawl became a scarf around her wolf form and did not rip or leave her completely nude when turning back into her human form.

Suddenly everything came as a blur.

As Eve looked up towards the dark underside of the trees overhead, she heard the cry of distress deep in the forest.

Sometimes, hunters fell in the woods, or teens wandered away from camp and scared themselves with thoughts of legends and myths. Other times it was something else. In all year hears of being a wolf, it was always something small. She decided it was better not to transform as she worried it might scare whoever screamed-- then it would become a big issue trying to wipe their memory later on. Everlee wondered how many "angel of death" visions she had been in the eyes of when it came to the people she had saved in the forest. The thought was silly, but it did make her smile slightly.

Making her way down the bolder, she ran into the woods. Her human form was much slower when running, but still faster than most-- all the track and field in high school paid off in the end. She was quick on her feet, leaping and jumping, and then...

Eve's dark eyes filled with the sight of beautiful glitter. She watched as the mist swirled and inspected her. A black orb swirled in place; in a strip of golden light, it glittered like black sand, and she paused, breathing heavily from the run, her hair windblown and her muscles trembling from the sudden stop. Stretching out a stringy tendril, it beckoned her forth, but she felt strange. In the pit of her stomach, Eve felt pain and despair. Her hearing suddenly disappeared and was replaced by music, chanting, a catalog of ancient whispers and calls that grew louder and louder the longer she hesitated.

"NO!" She screamed, slapping her hands over her ears and slowly sinking to her bare knees. In frustration, the tendril shot out behind Eve, setting a Maple tree aflame. Jumping up and whipping around, Eve watched the trunk crackle in red embers. The heat of the flames licked her skin, and she glimpsed back at the mist once more, holding out its wiry, disjoined line of shimmer. Instantly Eve bolted to the side, back into the forest and away from the entity. The crackling of the flames grew louder in her ears, but the chanting stopped.

Everlee ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Each step brought up the werewolf change until she ran on all fours like the beastly hound that she was.

When she felt she was far away, Eve paused and looked back. She had to remember her location; something like this simply couldn't be cast aside. Clawing into a tree to mark her location, she continued her run until she tumbled onto the deck of the Twin River home, transforming back into her human form mid-fall, the shawl falling back over her body haphazardly.

Gasping, she reached back as fast as she could to feel the skin of her shoulder. The skin was hot and scorched, and then she strumbled to her feet.

Sam was still out there! Who could she even tell? Who would listen?

Arya Lafiya · Oct 23, 2022

Character: Matteo // Maeve
Player/Group: Werewolves & Witches // @Kassia ((Matt going to find Sam // Maeve helping Eve))
Location: Forest // Common area of Twin River house

It was early in the morning as Matteo leaped through the forest in his wolf-like form. Despite being over 7 feet tall, his body was rather elegant as he leaped through the woods of Twin Rivers. Honestly, he could have done it with his eyes closed as he basically knew every corner of the forest. Nowhere else did he feel this type of freedom. Letting his wolf out was always a refreshing feeling. The smell of wood, grass and a few different animals, tickled his nose. Matteo was deep in the forest and didn't have to worry about being seen by humans. Sam had always warned them to be careful near the border of the forest. He always had some 'spare' clothes hidden near the border and near their home. Due to the transforming, he was mostly naked when transforming back into his human form. Not like he had much of a problem with it since he was a werewolf and couldn't help it. But he did prefer appearing fully clothed at the house, rather than naked.

At some point, he had noticed Everlee running near the border in her human form and even some of the other werewolves. Though, he kept going his own path, marking each place he had been with his sharp claws. It was a way to show that he had been here. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and lifted his head up, muzzle pointing at the sky. He took a deep breath. Something felt off but he couldn't pinpoint whatever it was. Something was wrong... his instincts were on alert, his body tensed and yet there was nothing. A low growl escaped his throat as he decided to go and find Sam. His instincts had never failed him and he wasn't going to ignore it this time either...

***
Maeve hummed cheerfully as she took one of the bigger crystal-books from the library before looking over it. She was searching for a specific crystal needed to make a spell. Maeve always liked to improvise and experiment with her spells. Most of the times it worked but not always. She once managed to make a part of the common area catch fire and since it was a fire-spell, it took ages to stop it from spreading. Luckily, she hadn't burned down the whole house.
But today she wasn't going to be one of those 'dangerous' spells but rather a harmless one. Maeve kept humming as she went over to the common area, located near the library. She loved the library but preferred reading in the common area since it was cozier. She was wearing a long white skirt with blue flowers on it, a white blouse and white sneakers. Her long red hair was styled into a messy bun, since she had been lazy.

Shan, a Fennec-fox and her familiar, was already rolled into a ball on the couch. Maeve shook her head slightly with a smile before looking around to see if anyone was here. Since she didn't spot anyone, she set down next to Shan before starting to search for the 'perfect crystal' to use for her spell.

Not long after, she heard a loud crashing sound which made her flinch slightly. Shan woke up and jumped down before running towards the deck. Maeve bit her bottom lip slightly before going after her familiar. Her eyes widened when she saw Everlee lying on the ground, her body covered with the shawel. Her face pale as she seemed to gasp for air. "Eve? Are you okay?" She asked as she ran over to her before carefully holding onto her to make sure she wasn't going to fall. She pulled down the shawel some more to make sure it stayed in place. Her gaze shifted to Everlee's shoulder before her eyes widened once more. "What happened?"

Evergreen00 · Oct 23, 2022

Character: Emily
Player/Group: Werewolves & Witches
Location: Havenly

Emily was walking through the streets of Heavenly, the little town she grew up in. Sunlight, low and golden, warm against her skin, as the rising sun painted the sky in hues of autumn. The main road meandered up and down like a lazy winding river, with most of the businesses on the main roadway and neighborhoods branching out into the woods like the leaves on a flower. Clumps of autumn leaves occasionally gave way to her shoes; vibrant oranges, fiery reds, and warm golden tones made their world a riot of color. The pallet of hues reminded Emily of all the colorful buildings she walked past as she followed the main road through town.

She had both happy and sad memories of this place. Growing up in such a close-knit community was certainly a challenge. However, she had made some dear friends and meaningful connections among the mortal town's people.

As a matter of fact, she was meeting one of them right now. Emily crossed the street and entered a cozy cafe, finding her friend Becky. She was a bohemian-looking girl with long brown hair and a curvy figure, relatively quiet when around strangers, but once she got to know you, she wouldn't stop talking. That's what Emily found so adorable about her.

Emily had graduated from the local high school last year. Most of the friends she made had left this small town for college. While Emily missed them dearly, she knew her destiny was bound to her witch coven. And all though she often dreamed of being a mortal herself, going about her daily business, she understood her calling was a priority. She came to terms with the sacrifices she had to make and was glad that at least Becky decided to stay in Heavenly. The mortal joined her family's business. Hanging out with Becky gave Emily a sense of normality. It made the witch forget about her gruesome dreams, the visages in the fog, or other premonitions she frequently experienced. Lately, her dreams were filled with sinister tendrils of black smoke crawling through the woods. Neither meditation nor the dream journals helped her decipher the meaning of this chilling, recurring dream.

"..and what did you do last week?" Becky's voice interrupted Emily's daydreaming. They were at Chavy's, just a little independent café/dinner. Not Starbucks, Café Nero or Costa but a little 'genuine' place that had its allure in Heavenly. It had a nice view of the street and low pedestrian traffic. The chairs, table, décor, and counter of the place gave the place a rustic appearance. It was not at all newly fitted out, and Emily took to it immediately from the first day Becky brought her here.

"Honestly, not much. I've taken the online classes offered by the course I told you about." Emily smiled. Lying always came easy; however, it hurt her that she couldn't tell Becky the truth. Officially Emily was staying in Heavenly due to her grandmother's failing health, and she couldn't leave her alone.

Emily eventually excused herself and went to the toilet, she passed a mirror on the wall, and her glittery blue eyes caught her reflection. She was an attractive long legged brunette with a smooth, silky face that often turned heads. The hair clip on her head, which resembled a butterfly, silver with gems embedded into the framework, flapped its wings momentarily. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Emily was flooded with shock. She felt cold and clammy and had an "overwhelming sense that something had happened back at the tree house." She desperately tried to stop herself from groaning. Such premonitions often caused discomfort.

As Emily returned to the table to say goodbye to her friend, Becky acknowledged her friend's distress. "You look like you have just been told something terrible." Emily hurried back toward her coven's location as fast as she could.

Sunshine and Whiskey · Oct 23, 2022

CHARACTER: HANNA HAWTHRONE

PLAYER | GROUP: WITCHES & WEREWOLVES

INTERACTIONS: (Mentions Draven, Emily @Evergreen00, Sam) | EVE @Kassia | MAEVE @Arya Lafiya

LOCATION: HER APARTMENT | KITCHEN | TWIN RIVER COMMON AREA

The sun shone its rays upon her cheek this morning and that made her stir awake from her slumber. Her body sat up as she raised her hands and arms over her head and let out yawn. She was more than ready to tackle the day, whatever challenges may present themselves but of course, she had to get ready. Once she was ready, Hanna walked down to the kitchen as she passed by Draven and offered him a little wave with a small smile. "Morning, Doctor Dray," She muttered with a giggle after hearing him groan since he couldn't stand that nickname.

As she continued on her trek to the kitchen, she made sure to greet anyone that was present. In the kitchen, a strange feeling overwhelmed her as her brown hues scanned the area around her. Hanna shrugged her shoulders since there seemed to be no apparent danger nearby. In a house full of witches and werewolves, she had hoped that someone would've made her aware if there was. But this feeling, she couldn't really shake and didn't bother to question anyone about it because it would be senseless in her eyes.

Her hands opened up every cabinet, even the refrigerator as she was preparing breakfast but thought about it. Why was she preparing breakfast when Draven was the cook? Of course, Hanna being Hanna, didn't mind helping out wherever she was needed as she could do more than just read books all day. Which reminded her that she and Maeve need to take a trip to the library since it has been a while.

Once she had all of her ingredients ready, her ears twitched at all the commotion that was happening around her.

"Hey! What's going on?" She called out but her words had fallen on deaf ears. Hanna instead followed everyone else to the common area, where there seemed to be a gathering. "Oh, my god." She spoke through pants of breath as her eyes caught sight of an injured Eve. Maeve asked the question that was on everyone's mind as Hanna was solely focused on the burn that was on Eve's shoulder. Hanna had an ointment for that and ran as fast as she could to go grab it along with a potion for Eve to drink, which would ease the pain slightly. As the house's healer, she was prepared for this and had everything at their disposal for werewolves and witches alike.

As she returned to the common area, she noticed a few people were missing. "Where's Sam? Where's Emily?" She had to remain calm if she was going to administer the ointment. Hanna cleared her mind as she went in front of Eve with the potion bottle, opening it for her. "Here. Drink this." She practically commanded while she went to stare at her shoulder once more.

A soft hum started within her as she applied the ointment to the burn. The hum was to keep Eve calm and still as the ointment was going to burn, which was another reason for the potion. Whenever she was done, she went back to stand with everyone else and stare at Eve.

"What happened?" A question that still plagued her mind because she was immensely curious.

BennyQ · Oct 23, 2022

CHARACTER: TIBERIUS METTE.

PLAYER | GROUP: Everlee Johnson (@Kassia), Maeve Osborne (@Arya Lafiya), Hanna Hawthrone (@Charming Primrose), Emily Danvers (@Evergreen00). Mention of Samuel Owens, Matteo Russo and Draven Wright.

LOCATION: Twin River House/Bedroom -> Common Area.

The bedroom was a mess.

There was some order to the chaos. The only sight of the floorboards was the twisting pathway through all the mess and clutter strewn about. To Tiberius however, he certainly did not see it that way. It was a system, of organization and efficiency, that only he and his mind alone seemed to comprehend. Loose sheets of papers marked with all sorts of patterns both geometrical and asymmetrical littered about. There was pots and pans stained in a variety of hues. There were shelves of plastic containers filled with all sorts of powders, loose metal, garments, and ingredients. The desk had beakers, pestles, and instruments for mixing, pouring, and dividing. The bed was never made. It either smelled like a temple with the incense he might burn for one experiment, or like a horrid factory floor, nasty fragrances of sulphur and burnt plastic.

But it was his. All his. His own plane of chaos and discovery. There he strode, spell-book open, writing down some notes and observation over the joining of two ingredients of ash and aconitum in various quantities, imbued with some incantations of his own. Nothing too harmful. The room was scorched though in many places from certain other experiments. Blackened marks on the floor, the wall, even the ceiling in some places. Don’t ask. The only art that graced this chaos was the boxy aquarium set by the window, the water pristine with some lovely underwater castle décor in it’s depths. It's occupant however was not at home, meandering about somewhere among the rubble of the room.

Metric system, imperial system, man what the fuck… Tiberius understood that witchcraft was not necessarily bound by the constructs of mathematical equation, but it certainly did have an effect, as worthy in a ritual as any ingredient, though it alone did not make or break a spell. Twirling his mechanical pencil about, Tiberius hastily erased the previous markings he had made within his spell-book. The writing was visible, as he had not yet committed it in the moon-rune script he did to conceal his work. Not that he was unwilling to share but even he liked to have secrets sometimes. They had tremendous value in the barter system sometimes employed within the Coven.

And then…thunderclap. No, not a real one. It was sunny and unusually warm outside. No, this was a rumbling that came into his mind. A warning. An alert. The Sigil of Vigilance he had engraved on the outer foundation of the house was warning him to some development. Then came the sound of commotion below, causing Tiberius to step to the window and pull back the heavy blinds to let some god forsaken sunlight into his den. No, he just missed Everlee’s return. Now they were in the house. And the voices were raised and sounding urgent.

Well, shit. Tiberius shut his spell-book with a snap and tucked it under an arm, reaching up with his free hand to adjust his toque down over his ears a little. He was dressed modestly, dark jeans and an equal dark long-sleeve. As he bound out of his room, he further reached up to his brow to tuck away some loose dark strands that escaped the concealment of his hat, making his way down the stairs.

He came into the common area to find Maeve and Hanna hunched and fussing over…Everlee, one of the Coven’s guardian werewolves. She seemed to be out of it, with Hanna feeding the unconscious girl some sort of potion, before attending to a shoulder burn. Tiberius hovered a moment in the back, watching with a measure of interest. Hanna voiced the question burning on his mind anyways. What happened?

The seriousness of the situation hadn’t dawned on him yet. What happened? ”Sniff a garlic root she shouldn’t have been around?” He suggested in a tone of levity. He came closer and peered at the shoulder. Now that was curious. A shoulder burn? The werewolves were highly competent hunters and trackers, almost impossible to sneak up on them. How could this have happened? Everlee started playing with fire? Or had…something done this to her? Something else. Something perhaps…greater, and more deadly.

There were already many fussing over Everlee, so Tiberius didn’t move in to crowd about her. He stayed a pace or two to the side, able to watch and listen. Under the care of better medics than he, Tiberius was assured of Everlee’s condition. But the same burning question lingered on his mind, same as everyone’s else. What happened? What had done this? The werewolves were their first line of protection.

”And y’all just found her like this? Alone? That’s weird as hell.” He noted with more seriousness. He walked to the window and used a finger to shift the curtains, giving a quick inspection of the grounds surrounding the home. Danger didn’t seem to be closing in. For now. ”I thought she was out hunting with Sam and Matt…” He repeated the same question that Hanna asked earlier. Taking out his cell phone, he did shoot a quick text to Emily Danvers. Just a simple wya acronym. Where you at?

Anara · Oct 24, 2022

Character:
Everlee "Eve"// "Sam"

Player/Group:
@Arya Lafiya (Maeve//Matteo )
@Charming Primrose (Hanna)
@BennyQ (Tiberius)

Location:
Forest, Deck- Common area of Twin River house.

Everlee did not expect the number of people to surround her so quickly; she felt like a puppy staring up at them with big wide, pained eyes. Her hand remained on her burned shoulder, and she could only think about one thing—the mist and scream in the forest.

Everyone's voices were distorted, and when she looked over, she saw Maeve through her teary eyes. Just as she was ready to explain what had happened to her in the forest, she saw Hanna make her way into view on the deck as well. She lifted a bottle to Eve's lips, and immediately Eve pulled away. It wasn't that she didn't trust the witches. It was that she didn't trust potions. She had been the guinea pig for some of their concoctions, and they had made her stomach turn from time to time, and she didn't want this happening now while she was in her already hurt state. But this one smelt like tea, which was familiar. Hesitantly she sipped on the bottle and then let Hanna and Maeve inspect the burn on her shoulder. It was red and angry, the skin cracking as she leaned forward and arched her back to stretch the skin.

" Sniff a garlic root she shouldn't have been around?" She heard Tiberius quip.

"Fuck you, berry." Everlee laughed softly. "That was ONE time, and I have learned my lesson." She glared at him while retaining the half smile and then looked down to run her fingers through her two-tone black and white hair and flopped it to one side to let it shield her face. She was slightly embarrassed to be fussed over in such a way and nearly exposed here on the open deck; Eve was the only female wolf and still felt awkward around them.

"I was in the forest patrolling and heard.... this scream." She stared blankly at the deck for a moment. "It was awful. I thought maybe it was a hunter... you know hunters are always snooping around. But then, when I got to the spot... there was this ball of mist." Her hand slid back to the burn. "It stretched forward-- but didn't move, and when I refused to approach, it got angry and hit the tree behind me-- which is the reason for the burn. Also, there was this chanting, ancient-sounding... You guys didn't hear it?" She looked up then, glancing around at each of them curiously, hoping they knew what she was talking about as she didn't feel she was explaining it well enough.

"... It was like... chanting..." She became frustrated with herself, if she could sing, she would have tried to replicate it, but she honestly couldn't put it into words. "I hightailed it out of there. But as I ran, the chanting stopped." Eve stood, her eyes slightly wobbly from the potion and its relaxing qualities, and then looked out at the forest. "I need to find Sam and Matt."

It seemed that simply thinking the words alone alerted Sam because a howl erupted from the distance to call in Matt and instruct him back to the house.

Eve took this as a sign they were coming home and then padded her way back into the main common area. "I'm going to put some clothes on. I'll be out in a bit."

Sam had heard Everlee's plea to return to the Twin Rivers House, and he made sure to wrap up his search as quickly as possible. The mountain looked lush and free of danger, so he took comfort in that, but Everlee sounded... pained and rushed in her request. Sometimes he worried that this life was too hard for the pup, but he knew that she would find comfort in life over time, like himself.

Through the wolf's mental link, he reached out to Matteo: "Matt, Something's happening at the house. Headed back, wrap up your search, and meet me there."

Running through the trees and feeling the unseasonably warm Autumn air gave him hope that the upcoming Winter wasn't as harsh. He hated Winter. At times Sam wondered if moving away to another coven where the snow didn't fall was an option for him. But he loved his pack, and that would be a difficult choice. He'd be nowhere without the House Mother who gave him a second chance. This filled his mind while he ran, and before he knew it, he was back at the house, leaping from branch to branch and onto the deck with a surprisingly quiet entrance.

There seemed to be an odd number of people on the deck, concerned faces focused on each other, and then Samuel took a deep breath.

"What happened?"

It didn't take Everlee long to dress. She had thrown on an oversized black hoodie and ripped jeans; she had dressed so quickly that she hadn't even pulled her hair out from under the hoodie.

"There's something out there, Sam. This strange... mist, chanting, and burning trees. I heard a scream. " Sam motioned for Eve to move forward and set his hand on her head. His hand was heavy and worn, completely eclipsing the crown of her skull. Patiently she stood there with her hands in her hoodie pocket and looked to a gold-colored leaf on the deck just so she had something to focus on; there was reassurance in knowing their kind could share thoughts and events in this way.

Samuel could see it all, albeit in black and white like an old film, but he saw the mist, the tendrils, and then the force that shot behind her and lit the tree aflame. He could also feel her fear and the heat on her shoulder in this position. Then he pulled his hand away from her head and tilted her chin to see her cheek had also been burned. Everlee had been so confused on her back she didn't even think about the out spray the mist had on the other portions of her shoulder and face.

"Put some ointment on that. Matt and I will check the forest. Does anyone else want to join? Eve, you stay back."

Everlee moved back to the opening of the doorway that led out to the deck; she glimpsed down at her bare feet and then out into the forest. Was Sam keeping her here now? It wasn't like she could have fought a ball of damn mist. Her lips pulled into a thin line, and she disappeared back into the house with a scoff. By this time, Sam was well aware Eve hated critique of any kind, even if it wasn't verbally said.

Sunshine and Whiskey · Oct 24, 2022

CHARACTER: DRAVEN WRIGHT

PLAYER | GROUP: WITCHES & WEREWOLVES

INTERACTIONS: (Mentions Eve, Maeve, + Hanna) Sam (@Kassia) | Matt (@Arya Lafiya)

LOCATION: HIS APARTMENT | KITCHEN | TWIN RIVER COMMON AREA

Something felt off.

Draven woke up earlier than usual from his slumber because of this feeling that he just could not shake free from his body. His eyes wandered around his room to see if it was anything in there but nothing. With a sigh, he maneuvered himself out of his bed and immediately went into the kitchen after descending the stairs. His first instinct was to check on everyone else but there wasn’t anything going on at the moment for him to worry about, so instead, he put on a pot of coffee.

As it brewed, he went back to his apartment to place a shirt over his shirtless frame and basketball shorts over his boxer briefs. Good thing Hanna didn’t him like that or else she would’ve had a fit. She was basically the mother of the house and boy, did she live up to that moniker.

A soft chuckle came from him as he managed to slip out of his apartment again, ears twitched as Draven heard people starting to stir about the home. Who would have ever thought that witches and werewolves could live together in harmony yet, here they were. Draven couldn’t believe it whenever he caught the first glimpse, it was usually the witches trying to cast a spell on the werewolves or the werewolves mauling a witch, whichever came first. He loved it there though and felt like he finally found his home, even though he’s basically the little brother of the wolves. Another fact that he doesn’t mind since he tends to them often.

Eventually, Draven made his way back into the kitchen to pour him a cup of coffee, taking a small sip from the cup and letting the warm, dark liquid soothe his throat. Turning a corner, he immediately saw Hanna being her cheery self and raised his cup towards her with a smile that immediately turned into a frown followed by a groan because of a certain that he despises.

Of course, she was going to be shocked when she went into the kitchen and find out that he hasn’t even started on breakfast. If there wasn’t a shift in the air, he normally would’ve but something still didn’t feel right. Was there an impending danger? There wasn’t anything wrong with the weather today, so maybe sooner or later he’d find out.

Before he could even make it up the stairs good enough, his soul basically left his body at a distant sound that came from outside. His hues looked down the stairs before his body went down them, as well. In the common area was where everyone had gathered around Eve, who was badly burned but he couldn’t leap into action as Hanna beat him to it, so he just continued drinking his coffee in the background and needed another cup but didn’t want to seem uncaring.

Draven waltzed closer when everyone kept asking what had happened. He wanted to know, as well. Not like he needed to know but if there was something that he could help with, he didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity.

Although, Draven stayed quiet as his head hung low because of the fear of something terrible being out there. He was listening intently to everyone else around him though. His ears perked up whenever Sam asked if anyone wanted to join him and Matt on the search of the forest but wondered if they’d truly consider him. After all, he was an excellent tracker and even a medic, so really they needed him. Something that he’d never say out loud, right now anyway.

“I’ll go,” Draven stated as he stepped forward confidently, chest buffed, eyes focused on the duo of Sam and Matt while waiting for their acceptance or rejection. Out of nerves, his top teeth bit down onto his bottom lip almost tearing the meat and his hands gripped around his coffee mug tightly while he waited for their response.

Evergreen00 · Oct 24, 2022

Character: Emily Danvers
Player/Group: Anyone present on the deck - Common area
Location: Deck- Common area of Twin River house.

"On my way," Emily replied to the text message she received from Tiberius, apparently already conscious about the commotion back at the coven. She took the fastest path through the woods to return to the house.

"I dreamed about soil turning to ash and black smoke eating away at the roots of old trees. " Emily announced her presence, her voice soft and cool as a prison yard. "The chanting Everlee speaks of still resonates in my mind. It is as tough as it's meant to remind humans why they should fear the shadows of this world."

The sparkling silver frame of the butterfly ornament in her hair, bejeweled in tiny onyxes, quivered and shifted as if alive. Blackness began filling the ornament like ink seeping into a grainy paper, filling the gaps, flooding over the gems, and shaping the butterfly from mere ornament into a living being. Athalia's wings fluttered and beat, bringing the Monarch out of her hair and into the air, circling ever so slowly around her.

"Neither meditation nor studies of Grandma's dusty dream-grimoires bore any fruit. This nightmare gnawed at me for a while now." She sighed and looked at Sam. "I'm tagging along." She added, determined to find answers. She had arrived just in time for recruitment it would seem.

Whether it was her studied posture, always posed to best display her sumptuous features; her exquisite profile of contradictory features—both delicate and yet somehow bold; her skin of alabaster, smooth and creamy and glowing; or her striking, deep blue eyes so soothing and hypnotic people were known to forget their words, Emily was the epitome of femininity and bewitching beauty.

Arya Lafiya · Oct 25, 2022

Character: Maeve Osborne
Player/Group: Werewolves & Witches
@Kassia ((Samuel // Everlee))
@Charming Primrose ((Draven // Hanna))
@BennyQ ((Tiberius))
@Evergreen00 ((Emily))
Location: Deck of Twin River House

It took Maeve a moment to realize that more people had gathered around. She was glad she wasn't alone with Everlee anymore, since her healing abilities were as good as 'cooking'. So basically, a catastrophe could happen if she tried to heal anyone. She sighed in relief when Hanna walked over before giving Eve the healing potion and applying the ointment. She was glad to see that the werewolf drank the potion, since Everlee had seemed skeptical at first.
Her question lingeried in the air, as everyone seemed to tense up as they waited for Everlee to speak, until she heard Tiberius words about Everlee having sniffed some garlic. She rolled her eyes and looked over to him. She sighed softly with a hint of a smile, since Everlee had at least laughed.

The 'joking' made the atmosphere a little more bearable but the question of what had happened, was still lingering heavily in the air. Werewolves were the protectors of the witches and warlocks. Even if a werewolf could be careless and get into trouble, it didn't mean they would easily get hurt. The wound didn't feel like a normal burn either. Hopefully, Maeve was just being a bit paranoid and it wasn't anything major.

Though, as soon as Everlee started explaining, Meave face became slightly pale. A ball of mist? She had seen enough of things in her life, but a ball of mist in the middle of their forest? A forest which was protected by magic and werewolves.
Maeve didn't say anything and just stood there as she listened. The mentioning of ancient chanting was never anything good. She started biting on her bottom lip as she was getting more and more curious about it. Her witch-nature started to take over as she wanted to go and observe. Or even listen to the chanting while taking notes. Maybe something new could be discovered? Maybe the mist was part of an ancient ritual of great value? A forgotten ritual or spell! Despite the fact that her friend had gotten hurt, there was a hint of spark in her eyes which indicated that she needed to see it… but at the same time she was aware that it was reckless…

Her gaze went over to Samuel as he leaped onto the deck. Maeve stepped to the side as Everlee came back and looked over to Hanna before going to her and grabbing her hand tightly. "Will you go?" She whispered as Samuel announced that he and Matteo would check the forest and if anyone was going to join.
Maeve bit her bottom lip once more as she saw how Everlee walked back into the house. Reluctantly, she let go of Hanna's hand and looked over to Samuel and Matteo, who had joined them in the meantime. "I'll stay here with Eve…" Despite her curiosity, she decided to stay behind and be with Everlee. Maeve followed Everlee into the house while hoping that everything was going to be okay…

Arya Lafiya · Oct 25, 2022

Character: Matteo Russo
Player/Group: Werewolves & Witches
@Kassia ((Samuel // Everlee))
@Charming Primrose ((Draven // Hanna))
@BennyQ ((Tiberius))
@Evergreen00 ((Emily))
Location: Forest // Deck of Twin River House

Matteo lifted his muzzle into the sky as he took a sniff of the scents around him. He had a bad feeling about this calmness in the forest. Something was off and soon enough, he got proof. A voice echoed in his mind, like an old radio. "Matt, Something's happening at the house. Headed back, wrap up your search, and meet me there." It was Samuel's voice. Had something happened to Everlee?
After taking a deep breath, he marked the nearest tree with his sharp claws before running back as fast as he could. As he leaped through the forest, it felt quieter than normal. No animals ran away after feeling his presence… he couldn't hear any wings flapping… no rustling of trees or bushes. It felt like a part of the forest was 'frozen' which meant nothing good…

Matteo stopped near the boarder of the forest before taking the bag of clothes which he had hidden in an abandoned fox den. There were various places where he had hidden some clothes. It was safer that way. After putting some simple black jogging pants on, he went ahead and leaped onto the desk, while barely making any sound. Even in his human form, he was over 6 feet tall but luckily, he wasn't as hairy. Matteo hadn't bothered covering his muscular upper body, since soon enough, they were going to go back into the forest.

His gaze shifted through the crowd of people before landing on Everlee. He didn't bother greeting anyone, since the situation seemed to be quite serious. "There's something out there, Sam. This strange... mist, chanting, and burning trees. I heard a scream." Matteo lifted an eyebrow before looking over to Samuel. He didn't ask what had happened, since he had already figured out that there was something going on with a 'mist' and surely nothing like some simple fog. When Samuel mentioned that they were going to go check, Matteo nodded in agreement.

"I'll go,"
Matteo had almost overlooked Draven, since he had been awful quiet until now. A sigh escaped his lips as he went with a hand through his brown hair. He had a feeling that Draven was going to come along, whatever they agreed or not. "Alright… You'll go with me… No wandering off." He warned before ruffling Draven's hair. What we they didn't need now, was a pup running around and getting hurt. So it was better to keep an eye on Draven.

"I dreamed about soil turning to ash and black smoke eating away at the roots of old trees."
Matteo's gaze shifted to Emily, who had entered the common area. His gaze focused on the butterfly for a moment before looking at her again. Even Emily had dreamed about it? He really needed a smoke now. This wasn't going to be a simple matter. "Before we go… You better put on some adequate shoes for wandering..." He said as he glanced at some of their shoes. The last sentence was clearly meant for the witches since werewolves were faster barefoot.

BennyQ · Oct 25, 2022

CHARACTER: TIBERIUS METTE.

PLAYER | GROUP: Everlee Johnson, Samuel Owens (@Kassia), Emily Danvers (@Evergreen00), Hanna Hawthorne, Draven Wright (@Charming Primrose), Matteo Russo, Maeve Osborne (@Arya Lafiya).

LOCATION: Twin River House/Common Area -> Outdoor Deck/Forest.

There was no offense taken to Everlee’s insult. If anything, Tiberius could take it as a sign that the werewolf didn’t hurt herself too badly. Humor was a great sign. It eventually drew out a little more detail as to what happened. Everlee had come upon a…scream. Always curious enough to investigate, as none of them wanted any sort of mischief near the borders of their home that wasn’t of their own making. What Everlee had found though was a mist. Like a fog? Or some shadowy entity? Tiberius crossed his arms but didn’t move to interrupt. It seemed to have some sort of will of it’s own and had tried to seize Everlee, resulting in her injury when she refused.

And then some chanting. Ancient-sounding. Curious. That was definitely his domain, ancient languages and tongues from a bygone era of human civilization when witchcraft was more central to society. Emily, who soon joined their growing congregation, gave a soft warning of what it could imply but Tiberius didn’t see it that way. Fear? No, we probably just don’t understand them. He needed to hear this chanting for himself. He might recognize bits and pieces of it. When Everlee looked his way to see if he had heard anything in the past hour or so, Tiberius just pursed his lips and shook his head.

The others might still be out there but they returned soon enough, after Everlee roused herself, while the others deliberated. One by one they all volunteered to go, Sam, Matteo, Draven, Emily, with Maeve and Hanna wondering if they might as well come as well, though the former offered to stay with Everlee to help her recover. Tiberius sighed and rolled his eyes. ”Alright, fuck it let’s all go. Might as well be a walking party then. And there’s safety in numbers. Let me get my wand. And my shoes.” He gave a pointed look at Matteo but just shrugged. ”I’ll see y’all out front.”

It was a quick detour back to his room. Spell-book under an arm, and his arm-length rod of obsidian, a small emerald gem locked within branching arms of the volcanic metal in it’s center. He balanced it between his teeth as he quickly put on some proper sneakers for comfortable and agile movement and then looked around for his familiar. ”Keep an eye on the place, don’t let anyone in, and come swiftly if I need you.” Tiberius just said, knowing the turtle wherever he was would hear and heed his words. He came bounding down the stairs to join the search party.

Matteo and Samuel were the toughies of the group, veteran, older werewolves who could handle security. Tiberius stepped to both of them as the group congregated for their trek. ”I’m curious about this chanting, maybe there’s just a communication barrier that caused some sort of misunderstanding. This could be a boon for us, some sort of well or font of power. Or not. But no harm in trying right? At the very least,” he nudged his spell-book under his arm, ”it being a mist and all, I know some contamination wards that could at least help keep it place.” Hopefully, at least. This entity might be more powerful than any ward or quarantine style spell they might know.

These were all just suggestions though, as Tiberius didn’t know what they were up against until they actually saw it, but it was good to bounce back possible ideas and contingencies with the older werewolves, who were more used to threat-response situations than he was. Tiberius was curious about what Everlee had said. A mist? Maybe they could take some in a jar for study or shift it’s state from gas to solid or liquid or…something. He was probably getting way too ahead of himself.

He snapped his fingers though and gave both Matteo and Samuel a point. ”I’ll follow your lead on this, though. We all ready to go?” Tiberius looked around to the others who volunteered to come, Draven, Emily, and potentially Hanna.

Anara · Nov 9, 2022

Character:
Everlee "Eve"// "Sam" (mentions of Seneca)

Player/Group:
@Arya Lafiya (Maeve//Matteo )
@Evergreen00 (Emily)
@Charming Primrose (Hanna/Draven)
@BennyQ (Tiberius)

Location:
Forest

" I'll follow your lead on this, though. Are we all ready to go?"

Samuel, to his dismay, sighed as the whole house had collectively decided to come on this adventure. He didn't say another word; he tilted his head to the side and nodded quietly to Matteo to get going. Climbing onto the railing, Sam lept back into the forest and transformed mid-air. His whole form hit the ground with a substantial thud, and he started stalking into the woods.

What he had seen in Everlee's mind was strange. In black and white, it concealed the peculiar colors, but what he could catch was an orb of sorts swirling around the center, reflective. This seemed to be the source of power. The tendrils were almost ember-like, but he felt--- having viewed it from her eyes, it felt like sea mist. There were many conflicting issues here, but he could only describe them once he saw what it was. Sam branched off from the group and climbed a massive boulder along the beaten paths to watch everyone walk; from here, he could see if the forest floor was safe. It was the end of the season, but that didn't mean rattlesnakes weren't still waiting for their last bit of food before the Winter.

He continued jumping from bolder to a massive tree limb to boulder, growling slightly at any chatter that may have erupted. He disliked traveling with witches; they always found something to add to their books or bags that would "help them." Sam liked to get things done; he didn't need more time to sit around and sketch a leaf for 40 minutes and then talk about it for another 50. After all this was over, he knew he would need a strong drink.

Back at the house, Everlee paced from one end of the Common room that held the constellations and a calendar and kept track of the planets on the wall to the other side full of books, jars, drying herbs, and crystals. Bitting on her thumbnail, she growled.

"Who does he think he is?" After a few paces back and forth, she finally said," cast me out like im not skilled enough. I'm the one who saw the stupid mist... fog... thing." She let her arms fall to her side while her hands hit her thighs in disbelief, then she turned to face the sliding glass door with her hands on her hips. "I have to go out there. The whole damn house is there... well, except for Seneca, she's off doing... whatever." Eve rolled her eyes then and crossed her arms, her fingertips kneaded into the sides of the hoodie she sported, all while she bit down on her bottom lip and wore it raw.

"This is ridiculous." Turning away from the window, she jogged to the glass-covered staircase and headed to her apartment; Eve couldn't stand idly by while the others saw this remarkable... thing. Stripping down from her hoodie and jeans, she folded them and placed them on her haphazardly made bed. These were some of her favorite clothing articles; she wanted to keep them from transforming and then ripping right through them. Pulling the shawl out from her closet, she wrapped it from her back first, then twisted it to the front of her like a halter top and tied it around her neck. The belted pouch would keep it tight around her waist.

As she got ready to head out, she realized that with the gunk the witches had placed on her shoulder, her hair stuck to it. She kept her eyes on the forest from her tiny triangle window and then paused while she tied up her hair; disobeying an elder was going to get her into trouble. With a groan, Eve pulled her hair up into a high ponytail and reached for a scrunchie.

"Maeve!" She called from the top of the stairs, then went down." Coming or what?"

Everlee didn't wait for a response; before she could think it, her feet were moving as quickly as they could to the sliding glass door of the common room. She assumed Maeve would follow, and they would be perfectly safe if she stayed close. Eve was quick on her feet in her human form. She felt that if she changed and the mist saw her, there may be an issue. However, there was a nagging grating sound in the back of her head which she couldn't shake. Pausing in the middle of the dense forest and the lightless pathways, she clapped her hand to her ears with a groan. Suddenly morphed into her wolf form involuntarily, but something was different. When she morphed, she felt pain. Excruciating pain, no less. She hadn't felt this in years

Strange, she thought as she continued her walk through the forest, trying to shake off the pain that throbbed in her body.

Everlee couldn't see the others ahead, so they must have already made it to the location of the mist. Peering around trunks of century-old trees, she saw the group and then looked around for a bolder to perch herself on so she could also try and understand the strange entity. Deciding she needed to push forward quickly, keeping her mind quiet so that Samuel didn't hear her approach. She knew he would be furious, and she didn't want to deal with this issue.

The others circled it, inspecting the mist. Could they not hear the same nagging screech in their ears. Sam looked annoyed. He stood back and crossed his arms, watching the witches inspect and try to diagnose the mist with their own individual knowledge. As they moved around the haze, it shifted and reached out to several saplings to anchor itself.

What is it? Eve thought, then realized that all the wolves in the area could hear her inquiry. Oh no!

You're fucking right 'oh no,' I told you to stay back. And you brought another one of the witch girls with you. You're irresponsible, Everlee.

She could not stand for this; how dare he try and embarrass her in front of the others! Standing may have been an issue because the mist abruptly twisted, turned, and saw her overhead. She looked down into a strange reflective orb, her own form reflecting back to her. She took a breath, but at the same time, the mist shot out another tendril and wrapped itself around her neck. Immediately she tried to run away, and the more she struggled against the entity, the more the Earth below her shook, and the trees it had attached itself to began to tremble and burst into flames. Sam launched into his wolf form and ripped through the misty arm-- distorting the particles momentarily. This seemed to work, and Eve fell to the ground, immediately scampering away.

"What is this thing?" Samual said as he returned to his human form and glanced at Berry. He assumed he would know more as his skill set had been advanced-- even if Samuel didn't always agree with the methods in which he obtained that knowledge.

Rex. · Nov 11, 2022

Character // Klaus und Zanfo

Player/Group //
@Kassia (Seneca)

Location // Forest near the Twin Rivers House

When asked, most people would describe a miracle as some momentous, transcendental event that involved the impossible manifesting despite all reason and rationale. It was an outcome wrought of both utility and unexplained origin; and though the concept of the miracle had been the property of the Christian church for two millennia, there was little that was 'holy' about it. Inexplicable occurrences gave cause to both fear and hope, the duality of those with the power to harness nature and fulfill the promise what was the cycle of life. The conjuring of solutions to everyday problems? That wasn't ecclesiastical -- that was witchcraft.

Or, Wiccan. Or, Druidism. Or, Dianism. Or, Hexerei.

Klaus was most familiar with the last moniker, his ears having heard the cries of blasphemy from the lips of his Austrian brothers who had taken clerical vows. Serving as docile servants to an impersonal God was no way to live one's life, especially when a reality of vastly greater importance and richness awaited those who had the courage to shun the ordinary and embrace the call of the old goddess. Following the ancient ways came at a price -- Klaus had lost his family and relatives, was driven from his homeland as his great-grandfather lay murdered by scoundrels who would just assume murder as convert.

But the price paid earned him a new life, one he could scarcely have imagined possible while stalking the craggy, forested mountain-sides of his native Zerber Valley in Österreich. Klaus had found a new family to replace the former, gained a purpose and sense of belonging with witch-kin, as well as finding the love of his life -- the mesmerizing and soulful Talia. He still could not believe his own luck, but the fates smiled upon those who have to courage to walk their own path -- to follow the river's edge that leads away from the world of banal obscurity ... from miracles with a capital 'M'.

"Meouuuw?" a high-pitched question mewled from Klaus's ankles.

The Zauberer smiles and slowly reached down to pet the enormous, charcoal-colored cat. "Ja, Zanfro," he said quietly, "you, too my good friend. You are also a blessing in this life."

Klaus sat down upon the ground amidst a patch of sensitive ferns, his back against a fallen log that was once a mighty red oak. He inhaled the pure air of the forest, taking in the moment and opening himself to the real miracle -- the subtle collection of boons that encompassed his existence. But, the warlock's eyebrows could not help but furrow an inch. As he reveled within at the glory of his circumstance, a faint foreboding pulled at his spirit like a lingering regret or murder yet to be committed. A dread pooled in his core, and the magnitude of the evil that lurked in the witch's woods revealed itself to him just as he looked up -- wide eyed -- at the ill omen in all its terrifying revelation.

Multiple flocks of black birds raced across his open vision in an arc of ominous portent. It was a symbol, a fell sign, that danger was upon them and a doom would soon befall their treasured way of life. I've ... got to get up, Klaus told himself. Grabbing his oaken staff topped with a white crystal, he squinted as his sore legs stood upright once more to the soundtrack of Zanfro's nagging cried that sounded like cognizant chatter.

"Yes .. I DO think Jesus takes himself too seriously," he insisted, collecting his belongings. "... but NOW isn't the time to discuss such things. We need to--"

Both man and cat stared in a unified gaze forward, and in the distance the sight of a blonde woman in a white shirt and black halter and pants. Klaus strode forward, taking a last peek skyward but the last bird had vanished from sight. The message and urgency had already been conveyed, as Seneca's appearance only served as proof that a problem had arisen and action was required.

"I am here!" Klaus called out, then approached with haste. "Something is wrong ... what has happened?" Klaus asked.

BennyQ · Nov 12, 2022

CHARACTER: TIBERIUS METTE.

PLAYER | GROUP: Everlee Johnson, Samuel Owens (@Kassia).

LOCATION: Forest/The Mist.

Maybe he shouldn’t have followed their lead, as the wolves all promptly transformed into their canine shapes and leapt off into the woods at full gallop. Really? This early in the day for full calisthenics? Tiberius sighed and set off after them at a more determined pace and gait, hauling his spell book under one arm and his wand in the other. All necessary tools to investigate any magical anomaly. ”Slow down, ya mutt.” Tiberius even muttered under his breath during the trek, to which he faltered when Samuel turned to growl at the chatter, any chatter, that might brook delay. Tiberius just quirked his eyebrows and grinned. Sorry, not sorry.

But soon enough…there it was.

The entire grove was silent. The wind didn’t sway branch or leaf, nor rustle amongst the grass, or carry any song of bird or beast with it. The Mist hung like a black, indiscernible fog within the array of trees. ”I see.” Tiberius remarked, brow furrowed as he peered at the Mist. But not too close. This…entity had hurt Everlee, He remembered what she had said. It stretched forward—but didn’t move, and when I refused to approach, it got angry and hit the tree behind me—which is the reason for the burn. Tiberius for a moment just peered at the Mist, standing by a tree, but aware all too well that same trunk could easily become splinters of shrapnel based on the report. So far, the Mist didn’t seem to reach out or speak to Tiberius, not in any way he could discern.

”So, a fog or gaseous substance should expand until it fills it’s entire space. Given that we are outside, it should have dispersed by the natural airs and not be so heavily voluminous in just this little area. Something is knitting and anchoring it’s shape and form to this spot.” He observed at first, speaking to no one in particular. Used to being couped up in his room doing all sorts of experiments, Tiberius was one of those guys that talked to himself, letting his train of thought and conscious talk itself through. That something could be the fog itself or some other power, yet unmet or unseen.

He glanced around but saw nothing out of the ordinary, that shouldn’t belong in a forest already. No rune markings or remnants from spell-casting. So how did this Mist hold itself like this? But the thought would have to wait, as it suddenly brimmed to life with activity. Tiberius was no fool, never partake in a willing dance with any magical phenomena until one knew what it was. He stepped back as the Mist launched an arm of black fog in the shape of a tendril towards…Everlee, who had approached undetected, at least to Tiberius. Again, it grabbed her, and he could see her futile attempts to scramble away. Now there was movement. Now there was sound. The ground shook and trees lurched as if seized by a terrible gale. Flames sprouted and the stench of burning pine filled the clearing. It was going to take Everlee!

Until Samuel leapt threw and snapped at the tendril, evidently harming it enough to withdraw in self-preservation, or not, and Everlee fell clear. Tiberius just watched and observed. A most curious interaction. It seemed to have an affinity for Everlee. It made no move to seize at the others. Yet.

He nodded at Samuel’s query, circling around to come closer to him and Everlee beyond. ”What is a good question. Who is another. Eevee said it had…reached out to her before. And now again. Just her, no one else. And when she shys away, it lashed out at her. That implies some sort of…thought process or will. Hmm.” He turned back to Everlee. ”You sure you didn’t turn down this fellow for a drink and he’s just taking it poorly?” He asked her, jerking his thumb back at the fog. Okay, dumb joke. Why don’t they just ask the Mist then? Taking a step forward towards the fog now, Tiberius gave the Mist an upward nod like he was greeting an old friend in the halls of a school or by the bar at a restaurant. ”Yo.” He said aloud to it, trying to broach a conversation or mutual interaction. …Nothing. ”Okay, well that’s that. Never hurts to be polite and just address these things straight forward.” He shrugged to himself.

Tiberius then took out his phone and snapped a picture of the Mist and- ”Holy fuck.” He noted next, showing his phone to Samuel. There was nothing. The Mist didn’t even show up in the picture, which just showed the forest beyond, tree and grass and moss, which they couldn’t even see with their eyes as what was behind was obscured by the Mist. Yet the phone camera saw right through. Like trying to catch the reflection of a vampire in a mirror. This was no natural phenomena then. It was not of this world. Tiberius didn’t know what it was but he could safely start working through what it wasn’t.

”Fuck do I know what this is.” Tiberius said, answering Samuel’s question again, putting his phone away. ”Eevee should hang back for now, we know it has a certain…way, with her. You guys got any thoughts about it? We could try a séance maybe…” Tiberius pondered, crossing one arm over his chest, his hand propping the elbow of his other as he stroked his jaw and stubble of a beard.

Anara · Nov 14, 2022

Character:
Everlee "Eve"// "Sam"// Seneca

Player/Group:
@Charming Primrose (Hanna/Draven)
@BennyQ (Tiberius)
@Rex. ( Klaus)

Location:
Forest

Earlier that day

Seneca woke earlier than everyone else in the household and decided on a small breakfast and tea. After a bit of time, she wandered into Briar's room, holding 2 cups of tea, and took a seat on one of the chairs by the bay window. Briar, who puttered around in her room unhooking dried herbs from the window and laying them flat on a towel, smiled and welcomed Seneca in.

"I'm headed up to the top of the crescent. I heard that mushrooms are in full force. I hope to find more witches butter." She sipped on the tea and savored the flavor of lavender and honey before watching Briar meticulously pull leaves and buds from the dried stems.

"Sounds like a fine idea; I presume you're taking a car?" She glanced at Seneca, who had taken another sip, and nodded.

"Yes, Sam fixed up the thunderbird for me. It should be a smooth drive."

"Wonderful. Would you mind picking up saffron milk caps?" Briar asked curiously.

Seneca nodded, ran her fingertip against the teacup rim, and then thought for a moment that she had finished her tea, but the remaining leaves seemed strangely scattered and clumped in some spaces.

"Hm," she sounded and then set the cup down. Briar mimicked her 'hm' and peeked over at the cup.

"Interesting formation. Disaster on the horizon." Briar lifted her eyes, looked out into the forest, removed the remaining herbs from the sting in front of the window, and then took a deep breath. "Probably something with the humans."

"Probably. Let me know if you need anything else." Seneca kept her eyes on the cup in thought and then turned to get up from the chair. Gracefully, Seneca moved to the doorway.

Briar smiled in her direction and nodded while waving a half-picked branch.

As the morning wore on, Seneca packed herself a small lunch and filled a miniature witch's box of vials and plastic baggies. She wore comfortable clothing: a white collared blouse, a black vest, and similar black structured pants. Picking up her items and headed to the car parked neatly in the driveway. While Samuel did not hear her, she thanked him and got inside. Setting out for the top of the crescent mountain.

It did not take her long to retrieve the mushrooms she had set out to get, and while she drove back down to the house, she felt the world... shift. Something in the air was different, dread filled her, and she drove faster. Leaving her items in the car, Seneca parked haphazardly in the driveway and bolted to her mentor's room.

Briar was gone, her room holding the same dread she felt in her chest. And while the room appeared clean and orderly, she felt that a struggle had occurred. Something dark had happened here. The herbs had been picked clean, and the stems tossed in the trash.

"Where are the others," she breathed under and rushed through the home, knocking on bedroom doors and scaling the stairs till she reached the bottom. Hastily she headed to the deck; she could sense that not long ago, everyone had stood here for a brief moment--that seemed odd.

"Briar!" Seneca screamed out into the forest. Loud enough that birds lifted into the sky and scattered like black confetti.

She couldn't waste any more time; she had to find someone. Running to the stairs of the deck, she bolted into the forest.

Something is wrong ... what has happened?

Seneca had found Klaus in her struggle to locate the others. He was quiet and mostly kept to himself, but she was thankful she saw him. Trying to catch her breath, she put her hands on her hips and blew stray strands of blonde hair from her face.

"The--" She breathed out and coughed. "The house!" She tried to wrap her mind around what had happened. "The house... darkness... Briar!" Seneca waved her arm toward the house and tried breathing through her nose. " The house is dark. Something is wrong. Briar is gone! I can't find the others!"

Everlee cursed as she sat behind a tree and whimpered softly from the pain that throbbed in her neck and shoulder. What was this thing?

After a while, she looked at Samuel and Tiberius, trying to make sense of this ordeal. Watching closely, Berry stepped forward and, in his usual nonchalant fashion, tried to communicate with the creature that swirled like a storm in the center of the forest--now surrounded by flaming saplings. When the communication didn't work, she slowly moved out from behind the tree and used both Samuel and Tiberius as sheilds. Gently Everlee pushed her nose into Berry's palm to let him know she was behind him so that he didn't trip over her if he stepped back. She listened to the options that had been presented, though, in her wolf form, she could not see the photo taken. She did see Sam lean over to view it with a quiet "hm."

"Séance?" Sam asked with a raise of his brow. "That isn't my realm of expertise, but if you think it would work." He crossed his arms while watching the swirling mist. "We should head back to the house and formulate a plan. I'll have one of the others patrol-- minus Eve-- to ensure that this thing doesn't move from this spot. Don't you guys have books, too? Maybe one of those could shed some light on this thing." Samuel looked to berry, then wondered if this was a workable plan, he certainly thought it was for right now as they didn't have all the tools they needed to diagnose what this was.

Letrixia · Nov 16, 2022

Character: Mikoto Mishida
Player/Group: Alone
Location: Arriving at the house

"Hey Miss… we arrived at your destination, wake up Miss" Mikoto woke up because of the voice of the older taxy driver. She looked at the tab and gave a nod taking the cash from the bag and handing it to the driver, "Here you go Sir, thanks for the drive" giving the man a small bow she got out of the taxy and stretched her back. A small notebook on her hands made it obvious her mother once again came in to give directions. Opening the notebook, she walked around the town until she found a small store where they sold a map. Sitting in the street's corner she looked around the map giving herself the directions that she needed to get to the house. "Yep! I think this is the way… well…. Off I go" placing the map on her bag she began walking towards the forest. This would be the perfect place for a house full of witches, I still cannot believe this is real… witches… and I am one? She shook her head as she began walking into the forest.

The forest was thick, a heavy mist engulfed the forest it felt strange almost as if someone was watching her. However, as thick was it was she began walking with confidence much like knowing where she was going, I guess your guiding me huh? Protect me meanwhile. Humming to herself she stopped for a minute to put her headset on placing some soft tunes as she walked inside the thick forest once again. The view of the forest was amazing, the trees were calm, and the sounds of birds and other animals surrounded her almost as if the forest itself was alive. Stopping her sight moved to the ground as she spotted some berries from a bush. Taking some she tasted to see if they were safe, after feeling confident enough she grabbed a handful and continued walking while humming the song playing on her ears.

The forest opened up to a wonderful and big house, just like that the feeling of protection she had disappeared, she was once again alone. "Rest in peace mom…" she looked up to the sky and sighed closing her eyes and letting the wind caress her face. Her mother told her that once she got to the mansion she had to go, that was the only reason she was still here and now she moved on. Bracing herself, she began walking to the house finding the door closed, the place was huge and still had a calm feeling to it, she knew the forest was thick with ghosts as well, she could feel them even though she wasn't asleep. Taking a long deep breath, she knocked on the door three times, "Hello!? Anybody home?". There was no answer, either the house was empty or the people didn't hear her knocking. Shaking her head, she tried to open the door finding it unlocked. Hoping she would not get into trouble she walked inside and removed her shoes at the entrance before looking around, "Umm hello!? New witch here wanting to find other witches…".

Anara · Nov 16, 2022

Character: Lucas (NPC)// Sam
Player/Group: @Letrixia
Location: Havenly General Hospital-> The Twin river house

Lucas had a rough day.

As soon as the season changed, and the enrollment for health insurance took the forefront in the Havenly resident's minds, everyone shuffled into the hospital for last-minute checkups and re-ups on their medication. However, the day was over as soon as it had started, and he tucked away his lab coat, stripped down his scrubs, and set them in his locker.

"Headed home?" Asked another in the locker room Lucas had shuffled into.

"Yeah. Starting my weekend." He stated, rubbing his eyes and then pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Fun! Big plans?"

Lucas leaned over to lace up his boots and thought to himself. He rarely had plans now since he had entered the Coven just six months ago. His memories seemed to flicker before his eyes, the day he was given his "gift," then he closed his eyes and shook his head.

"No, just hanging out with some friends." He finally said, but the thought still invaded his mind. He left it at that, pulled his backpack from his locker, and waved to his coworker, who donned their own scrubs.

Lucas pulled the car keys out of his jean pocket and unlocked the door. His car had baked in the sun, so the moment he opened the door, he could feel the heat radiate outwards. With a sigh, he got inside and closed the door. He immediately turned the air conditioner on to combat the heat and sat in the parking place for a moment, planning what he would make for dinner for the rest of those in the house. It seemed like an ordeal, but he enjoyed it-- this was the time he could space out and let the cooking take over. He settled on Chicken parmesan and eggplant parmesan for those with dietary restrictions. With a turn of the key, Lucas was off, down the street and taking a backroad to the Twin River house.

The drive wasn't long, which Lucas was always thankful for, and he parked in the driveway next to Seneca's haphazardly parked thunderbird.

"Could she have parked any worse?" He asked as he struggled to get out of his own car and closed the door behind him, then huffed as he tried to pull the backpack out from the back seat.

Walking into the house, he threw his bag onto a modern-looking chair in the common room. Humming to himself to fill the silence and headed to the massive kitchen to prep for dinner. After about an hour's worth of prep for both meals, he heard a strange, unfamiliar voice.

"Umm, hello!? New witch here wanting to find other witches…".

Lucas looked up from his pan and then over at the door. He noticed a young woman standing in the doorway, a single bag in her hand and an expression of confusion.

"hi!" He exclaimed, moving to wash his hands and then taking a tea towel from the counter. "I apologize. I was deep in cooking--how can I help you?" He stood far enough away so that if he needed to change into his wolf form, he could, but he could sense that this woman wasn't evil. She looked... lost. He had understood that feeling when he showed up at the house's doorstep, hurt and drenched from the summer rain. He tapped into his mind and called out to sam.

someone's here. It looks like a new girl.

"Please, have a seat!" He said as he moved his backpack to the floor and reached over to take her bag. In bewilderment, he watched for a moment and then set her items down next to the backpack. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

Letrixia · Nov 17, 2022

Character: Mikoto Mishida
Player/Group: @Kassia
Location: Arriving at the house

Mikoto gasped out of surprise as another voice suddenly started talking, it was a male voice. I thought witches were women, what is this dude doing here? shrugging she gave a small bow. "Pleasure to meet you, my name is Mikoto" she watched him take her very light bag away placing it in a corner on the floor it's not like I have anything important there except for the money, I've been homeless… I am homeless so losing money is nothing to me. Moving her hair and binding it in a ponytail she nodded and sat down on another couch a bit further away just in case she needed to run away, Not like I have any abilities while awake besides sensing them. He was a man, he could easily overtake her if he wanted to, so far he was being very kind but she learned not to trust people.

She could sense the old history of this house; she knew they weren't alone, but she wondered if he knew it. "Umm I am sorry, I really am new to this witch thing. I kind of recently was explained what made me so different… and perhaps so dangerous" she scratched the back of her head. "My mom told me to come here… from Japan. I been on my journey here for like three days straight" the clothing was clearly old, and it had a bit of a smell, signaling that she was living on her own for a long time and she didn't have a lot to her name. The dark spot under her eyes made it clear that she wasn't sleeping, it was a miracle that nothing happened in the taxi coming here since she fell asleep.

Being homeless made her learn how to survive when everybody was against her. The nights of walking on the alleyways fending off people that wanted to take advantage of her size. She had learned to always be on the lookout and to trust more in her ability to sense ghosts than ever before. Most ghosts were kind, only seeking help in solving their issues… however there were some ghosts that were pure evil and only wanted to hurt, those were the ones she was afraid of possessing her body while she slept.

BennyQ · Nov 22, 2022

CHARACTER: TIBERIUS METTE.

PLAYER | GROUP: Everlee Johnson, Samuel Owens (@Kassia).

LOCATION: Forest/The Mist.

Tiberius was so caught up in the identification and labelling of the strange entity that Everlee’s soft prowling into his hand at his side nearly gave him a fright. Right out of his shoes. Oh, it’s you. His hand shifted instinctively over the werewolf’s head to give her some scratches and rubs, assuring her that she was safe, behind himself and Samuel. Why the mist seemed to have an affinity for her, he did not know yet. That was another question that needed answer. So many questions and not a single answer. This was going to be fun. And highly dangerous.

Sam was doubtful about utilizing a séance but the technique and ritual had proven useful in the past when it came to communicating with entities not of their realm and dimension. Samuel suggested they retreat for the moment, gather more folk, and some research. ”Smart. That’s smart. Very smart.” Tiberius said three times in a row, which with his demeanor was indicative that he was not fully onboard. ”More witches would be useful but I don’t think we should leave this…” he gestured vaguely at the Mist, not wanting to personalize it incorrectly so he just skipped over the pronoun, ”…unattended, you know? It could leave, depart, or move, or try to harm. Someone should stay in contact and observation of it.” He said with a glance to Samuel.

A werewolf could do all of that, at a distance. But the wolves didn’t understand the nuances of witchcraft like the others did. Tiberius could stay himself, maybe some twenty or thirty paces back, where he could have ample time to beat a retreat or throw up a defensive ward if the Mist tried to attack him. Or not. He knew next to nothing of it’s abilities beyond a simple attempt to grab at Everlee. It could have just been an inkling of it’s innate capabilities. No one would be around to save him if it came for him, full force. They’d be safer together, as a group.

”Yeah you right.” He agreed with Samuel after another moment of thought. ”Come on, let’s head back. We’ll bring the others, everyone. Whoever you pick to stay behind, just make sure they know this thing has an appetite.” The rest of them would be back though. Put up a proper ward, containment and isolation. Try to communicate through the various channels and means they had. Study it safely. And pray no human civilian from the nearby town wanders by… Best not say it aloud in case the Mist did have some sentience to it. Something about Everlee did provoke it to action and movement.

Turning, they could head on back to the house now, where the others should be. The House Mothers would be keen to hear about this, Karma, Talia, Tana, and… ”You think Briar is back from wherever she went?” He asked Samuel as they walked back to the House. He strode next to Everlee, his hand loosely on her form, letting her smooth fur graze over his palm and fingers as she prowled on.

Rex. · Nov 24, 2022

Character // Klaus und Zanfo

Player/Group //
@Kassia (Seneca)

Location // Forest near the Twin Rivers House

Seneca personality had always reminded Klaus of his homeland, as she displayed the traits of a displaced woman of Germanic descent. From the moment he entered the coven -- fresh off the freight train he had stowed himself aboard before making the two hundred mile trek to Twin Rivers -- Klaus sensed that Seneca stood apart from the otherwise jovial and social casualness of the coven members. She watched, learned, remained quiet when most others opened their mouths to spout something whether warranted or helpful. Klaus respected restraint and quietude; Seneca cared, though she expressed it in patently private ways. Perhaps that was one reason he felt comfortable around her: an idealized emblem of his home he never found in real life.

It was thus with concern and confirmed trepidation that he had spied the stolid witch running in search of him -- of anyone to assist. The black birds did not lie, and a pang of utter terror filled Klaus when he heard Seneca's dire explanation, poignant and ominous in brevity.

The house ... darkness ... Briar.

The accompanying detail might have served another, but Klaus heard all that needed to be heard. Too many fell incidents converged at once to take the matter lightly. Of particular omen was the news that Briar, a housemother, had gone missing. A pit of soul-wrenching worry clenched at Klaus's core; he clenched his teeth and closed his eyes, extending him spirit in search of his soulmate in witchcraft and life. His pulse and demeanor relaxed when his astral projection connected with Talia -- she was worried and consumed with a task, but otherwise safe.

Klaus brought his attention to his fellow coven-member, who seemed bothered and frightened. He centered himself, placed a hand briefly upon Seneca's shoulder to bring her back to the physical realm. Emotions were a witch's means to power, but they also could sever the presence of the moment -- being with Talia taught Klaus the importance of self-control amidst the torrent of feelings that might sweep those who practiced dweomer-craft into less productive dimensions of the spirit.

"There now, Seneca," he said, accent thick. Zanfro sat in idle, placid calm and watched the entire affair like an passive yet eager spectator. "A darkness has awoken or entered into our midst. Kommen! Let's head back to the haus. If Briar is missing, that means our home is unprotected. Tell me what you know as we walk?" he asked, beginning to move with haste through the woodland -- which seemed to open up and remove impediments to their forward progress back to their home.

ThatGeckoGirl · Nov 25, 2022

Character: Jasmine Elendale / Elias Graham / Mention of Lucinda Whitlock
Player/Group: Sam/Everlee (@Kassia ), Tiberius (@BennyQ ),
Location: House -> Forest -> House / Jones Auto -> Forest -> House

The scent of sandalwood permeated the air of a room filled with gems, woven tapestries, and bright green plants. The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated the room in a soft golden hue. It was as though the light was drawn to the room itself as though an inherent beacon of peace and tranquility. Even the shadows in the room were without foreboding or a sense of dark mystique. Perhaps it was the sunlight catching the smoothed surfaces of the gems, or perhaps it was the radiance that emanated from the young woman who sat in the middle of the room. A book rested open on her lap while she sat with her legs crossed beneath her. Wavy brown hair flowed across her left shoulder like a stream of chocolate. The aura that pulsed out from her was tranquil and calm, much like the gentle sweeping wind that carries the salty ocean breeze. Five gems adorned her, as they did every day. On her left wrist was a woven bracelet with two gems - pink calcite for peace, comfort, and emotional balance and green jade for luck and inner calm. On her right wrist was the same bracelet, though it instead had howlite for acknowledging your emotions and kunzite for making sense of your emotions. The gem hanging from her neck, the one that first brought her peace in life, was lepidolite - to stabilize the emotions.

Jasmine Elendale placed a bookmark in her book and closed it with a soft exhale. She reached out to the side and picked up a mug before bringing it to her lips. The smooth taste of chamomile mixed with honey washed over her tongue. As far as she knew, today would be like any other day. She didn't work at the library, and it seemed the weather was as excellent in Havenly as ever based upon her window view. There weren't any kinds of emotional disturbances - at least not any within the range of her empathic abilities. With autumn among those of the Twin Rivers Coven, Jazz wore black skinny jeans with a pale pink sweater that fell just off her shoulders. The sleeves came down long enough to partly cover her palms. White bra straps could be seen on her delicate shoulders rising up from beneath the collar of her sweater.

Abruptly, a twinge of emotions pushed into her consciousness. She blinked slowly as she closed her eyes to decern these outside influences. The gems felt warm against her skin as she internally peered within herself and separated her own emotions from the new ones. These were...pain, shock, confusion...concern. Jazz stood up and, with her mug in both hands, walked to the window and looked out. She took a slow deep drink of her chamomile as she looked out, seeing that Everlee had drawn other witches around her. She was the one feeling the pain, while the others were concerned. What had happened? She gazed at the brilliantly flickering wisps that surrounded each person - each one their own unique kaleidoscope of emotions and personality. They were drawing and hard to look away from. Regardless of their beauty, Jazz pulled back from the window. She finished off the chamomile and set it aside before heading towards her door. For a moment, she hesitated as she reached her hand out to the doorknob. Should she insert herself into whatever was happening? Would she even be of help, or just an annoyance?

After that small moment of hesitation, Jasmine left the room anyways. She walked down the stairs slowly as she tempered her own internal emotions, solidifying them as her own to be able to better separate them from the outside ones she feels. Getting down, it became clear that she had waited long enough that others had already gone out into the forest to see what had gone on. There was another influx of emotions. These were strong - frustration, anger, confusion, curiosity, a self of having to prove oneself. Jasmine's eyes flicked over in time to see Everlee shift into a wolf and bound off into the woods. Given the emotions ebbing off of her...perhaps she had been told to stay back? Jasmine knew that critique was something dearest Everlee didn't particularly react well to. Or at least, things she perceived as critique along with direct instances. Since Everlee seemed to be heading in the direction of what was going on currently, she followed in tow. The closer she got, the more she felt the emotions of everyone else that was present in the forest. There was so many, but that bombardment was something she learned to deal with long ago. Instead of the tendrils of these emotions making their way into her own mind, Jazz was able to create a kind of internal barrier. Inside the barrier was her own mind, emotions and personality. Outside the barrier was like the nature of all other swirling emotions. It was a good balance. It was until a dark, dark feeling seeped in.

"Oh...my..." Jasmine whispered as her eyes settled upon the dark swirling mist that others had gathered around to peer at earlier. They were starting to head back to the house now though. Fear...fear...was it her own or was it someone else's? She took in a shaky breath and released it, setting her hand upon her pink calcite and her green jade. Their energies seemed to seep into her skin and soothe her a bit internally. "There is something very...disturbing about that. It...it has an aura," She said, slowly tilting her head at the mist with intrigue and discomfort, "It is dark. Dark and violent. Sam, do ensure to be careful along with the others if you plan to continue to get close to it."

Already, Jazz's skin seemed to have fallen a shade paler, and she was happy to walk away form the mist with the others as they returned to the house. She tugged at her sleeves' hems to bring them lower as though the fabric could bring more protection. She was happy to get away from this thing. The colors of the mist's aura was as dark and violent as its emotions trying to break past her barrier and overwhelm her own. "Berry, could your prodigy perhaps have insight into something of this nature?" She asked as she turned her gaze to him. Lucinda Whitlock was the coven's very own black magic witch. She delved into all things occult and dark. Jasmine tended to keep a distance from Luce, though it wasn't a personal thing even if the other girl may perceive it so. There was something about the younger girl that was dark much like the things she researched and practiced. She had a stormy mind - a swirl of anger that hid deep internalized sadness. Being close to just her was exhausting, let alongebeing by her and everyone else too. Yet, at the same time, Jasmine wanted to reach out to Lucinda and help her temper her internal storm. The thing was...having observed Luce, she was a little intimidated by the 21 year old.

~***~

"Alright, Mr. Jones, I'm heading out! You sure you don't want any more help with that Ford?"

"Ha! I'm good, Elias! You have a good rest of your day now! And I told you to just call me Greg!"

"Yeah, yeah! Have a good rest of the day, Mr. Jones!" Elias grinned, walking out with a chuckle at Greg Jones repeating himself about calling him by his first name.

Working as a mechanic here in Havenly was what many had told him a waste of his talents and degree in mechanical engineering. Before he came to the small town, he had a very successful, well-paying career as a mechanical engineer in a bigger town. Yet, it was here that he had found a sense of purpose because of the Twin Rivers Coven. If anyone had told him before them that magic existed in this world, he would have laughed. His life had dedicated himself to the principles of physics. The things the witches and warlocks were capable of went beyond that comprehension and drew in the metaphysical world at the forefront. Hell, if someone told him he'd one day be a werewolf, he would have thought them crazy. Yet here he was - a werewolf for a coven of magic users. Life had a way of throwing curveballs.

There wasn't much of a need for a car in Havenly, at least not since he lived in a treehouse mansion deep in the forest as a werewolf who could cover that forested area quickly. Elias enjoyed the small stroll from Jones Auto to the border of the forest. He hiked through the woods until he got deep enough to a point where tourists tended not to stray. It was here that Elias tugged off his clothes and got completely naked. He couldn't afford to tear apart his clothes multiple times a day. He stuffed the clothes in a small bag he brought with him before beginning his transformation process of turning into a wolf. A small, low groan escaped from his lips as he felt his bones shifting, breaking, and reforming. To turn into a werewolf was an excruciating experience. The agony of it was something he had slowly gotten use to over the years, but no matter how much he has shifted, it always remained unpleasant. With the transformation finished, Elias took the bag into his mouth and lifted it up before bounding towards the house.

At first, he figured the day was normal. That is, until he heard Everlee in his mind over their pack link, asking what something was. A small growl slipped passed his lips. There was something unknown in the forest this close to the house? That was weird. Very weird. It didn't take long to get to where Sam was. He was essentially the alpha of the pack. It was Sam who had helped him find this new purpose in the coven after his sister's overdose. He felt that he owed Sam and the coven so much - they had not only physically saved his life that day but also saved his life in a more indirect way as well. Elias padded out from the thick woods, a low growl rumbling in his throat as his eyes locked onto a mysterious black mist. His hackles raised and he pricked his ears up. He zoned in on the mist, but he wasn't picking anything much up from it in the auditory sense. He could hear people walking away from this misty thing. It gave him an unsettled feeling, as though it could attack at any moment. He moved past it warily before catching up with the others.

What is that thing? Is there something you need me to do here? He asked over the mental link, eyeing some of the witches around as he fell into step beside Sam. He wasn't about to turn back into a human completely naked in front of them all. Everlee, are you okay? His head turned towards her with evident concern.

Anara · Nov 27, 2022

Character: Everlee// Samuel// Seneca
Player/Group: Mokoto ( @Letrixia ), Tiberius ( @BennyQ ), Jasmine/ Elias ( @ThatGeckoGirl ), Klaus ( @Rex. )
Location: Forest-> House

"My mom told me to come here… from Japan. I been on my journey here for like three days straight."

Lucas worked his hand in the other as he listed to Mikoto.

"Japan? You're quite far from home!" He made sure to give her a warm smile, pulling all of his PA training into this; she was clearly scared and didn't know where she truly was. "I'm sure the weather is different here. We are in Autumn right now, though it does feel unseasonably warm." He leaned back into the chair he had taken a seat in and then glanced over at the kitchen; dinner still had a ways to go from the timer he had set on the stove. "The others should be home soon. I'm not quite sure where they ran off to. I can help you get settled--"

Then, thick boot steps rattled on the metal staircase leading up to the housemother's rooms. Karma stood three-quarters of the way down, adjusting the band of her watch, and then looked over at the common room. Through her dark sunglasses, she could see Lucas attempting to put the new member of the coven at ease.

"Well, I knew I felt something in the air. Mikoto, right?" She asked as she went down and over to the duo. "Japan. Someone told me, possibly a kind woman-- in a dream." She skimmed the surroundings and then placed her hands on her hips, this pulled away her leather studded jacket, and she tilted to the side. "Is that all you brought?" The housemother asked, noting the single bag."Well, I'm sure one of the girls will have more than enough clothing to spare. Come, let's head to the deck and get a look at you."

Karma didn't wait for a response, and she didn't expect to explain herself at this time. She had, in a dream, heard the call of a kind woman, one seeking out the coven to care for the girl. And Karma-- begrudgingly agreed that she handled most new information from spirits.

"Shit." She hissed as she stepped out onto the deck and took a few steps forward. "Hot as fuck out here today." Removing the leather jacket, she set it on one of the chairs that sat in the shade, then she followed, sitting in the chair next, throwing two long silver braids behind the back, and crossing her legs. She had worn the worst colors for a hot day, a black sleeveless top with black jeans and old worn black combat boots. Her skin was pale, so she leaned more into the shade so she didn't burn under the fading sun. "Tell me about you; what plagues your world?"

Karma had a firm belief that everyone had their own world. Some worlds were calm and peaceful, while others were chaotic and full of hurricanes and destruction. She personally enjoyed those worlds. She wanted to know what made them tick-- what calmed the storm? She looked to Mikoto, one of Karma's perfectly shaped brows arching up over the sunglasses as she waited for an answer.

" Come on, let's head back. We'll bring the others, everyone. Whoever you pick to stay behind, make sure they know this thing has an appetite."

Sam nodded as he peered around at the wolves hidden behind trees. After what happened to Everlee, they were concerned that the wolf form might also draw more attention to them. And Sam didn't blame them for being concerned.

Then Jasmin spoke, and Samuel looked over at her. She was far too close to the misty orb than he was comfortable with. All these witches were far too curious, and he felt protective over their curiosity.

"It is dark. Dark and violent. Sam, ensure to be careful with the others if you plan to continue getting close to it."

Samuel nodded in agreement-- he, too, could feel the darkness in this being.

"Oliva, Antonio. You guys stay behind. Lucas and I will patrol in the morning. Make sure no one comes close to this thing. If you see a hunter or camper, scare them off." He raised his arm and motioned for everyone to make their way home while Olivia and Antonio decided on the best way to patrol.

What is that thing? Is there something you need me to do here? Everlee, are you okay?

Everlee caught Elias's question first before the others. They seemed far too dedicated to their conversations with the witches to answer any mental links swirling around.

I'm fine...Maybe, I don't know. But when I was on the boulder overlooking, I saw a silver-ish shiny orb, like one of those Christmas ornaments we put on the tree every year. I upset it...or, maybe, disrespecting it? And now it's upset with me. Everlee feltterrible for having put the group in a situation like this, and she stared straight ahead, trying to clear her mind of it.

As the group returned to the house, Samuel was on high alert while Everlee, still in her wolf form, stayed close to Tiberius. She still didn't feel that Samuel trusted her, and after his apparent attempt to keep her home and out of the way, that trust was shaky. But Tiberius provided a needed comfort as he lightly ran fingertips through her black fur.

"You think Briar is back from wherever she went?"

Sam looked to Berry. He hadn't known that Briar had left. All he had seen before his patrol was Seneca leaving the house in the Thunderbird. Typically the housemothers-- while fleeting, would let him know.

"I didn't know she left," he admitted, and Everlee craned her head to look in his direction, then trotted forward to leap onto the deck and return to her human form while her foot touched the ground. In doing so, she looked over to see Karma shielded in the shade and nodded respectfully.

When Eve arrived in the coven, Karma was the witch who provided her with her wolf gift. She respected the woman immensely, but it was also rare to see the housemothers out like this until she saw a new girl in the living room. Cautiously Everlee moved to the kitchen and grabbed a drink from the refrigerator. She eyed her at first, then looked to the deck's open sliding glass door for the others. At this time, she did not feel her usual excited self. Her shoulder hurt, the strange mist had thrown her off, and now she was in the presence of someone new. She felt ...drained.

"If Briar did leave as you've said, I wouldn't be surprised if she returned a week from today. That woman is difficult to keep track of." Sam said as he entered the house.

Seneca could see Klaus's face change. She knew that his mind had jumped to the housemother Talia and her whereabouts; truthfully, because Seneca didn't practice under her, she didn't know where she was. But he could link to her if he needed; the closer they got to the home, the stronger their connection would appear.

"A darkness has awoken or entered into our midst. Kommen! Let's head back to the house. If Briar is missing, that means our home is unprotected. Tell me what you know as we walk?"

"I...I don't know. I saw Briar this morning. She was picking the dried herbs from the line in her room, and then I went into the forest to grab some mushrooms... When I came home, her room felt... different-- It felt dark. Who could do this? Who could enter the home in such a way." Seneca held herself as they walked. her mind was troubled by the idea that an evil force had entered their very well-protected home.

"I feel my abilities being weakened with it," she noted as she examined Klaus as if searching for some answer. "I'm tired, and my mind is foggy." As Sen made her way up to the deck, she made a quick turn to move into the common room, melting into one of the overside chairs and tilting her head back to look up at the ceiling. "I can't sense her." She whispered then. "As if she just... vanished. When I was in her room this morning, we had tea, but the leaves... signaled danger. We didn't think anything of it."

"Klaus?" Talia asked as she seemed to glide down the staircase in her quiet beauty. She had donned a simple beige dress and allowed her wild, untamed white hair to float behind her. Her petite frame, while delicate, held poise. She stood by the staircase worriedly, her brows knit together, and her slender fingertips gripped the railing. " You're home sooner than expected, my love."

While the housemothers were like sisters and their powers intermingled, they did not feel the same effect that those under them did when things went wrong. Talia could feel that something was off. But she thought the house had fallen to something dark, and she could feel a migraine drilling into her mind, causing the mental link she and Klaus shared to become discombobulated.

When Havenly had established itself as the emerald capital of the country, more and more families decided to call this little town home. The forest held many secrets--ones that couldn't be cracked.

After the death of the Sumpter daughter, the forest seemed to come alive with otherworldly energy. During the day, the forest was calm, and wildlife continued their trek through the marsh and moss. Because the families who lived here were mindful of their resources, hunting in the forest hadn't been stretched thin and flourished. This caused the population of wolves to increase and wreak havoc on Havenly's livestock. The residents of Havenly grew hungry, and whispered talk of disbanding and moving from the frigid mountain circulated like flurries.

Formulating a plan, the husband of the three established families came together and decided that in order to save their town and their businesses and livelihood, they needed to venture into the snowy mountain and control the amount of food the wolves had to prey on. Donning their warmest clothing and saddling their horses, they made their way up the mountain. The wolves watched from a distance growing angry that these men were killing off their only food sources.

As the three men branched off through the forest, the Brandershaw elder stumbled upon Silver Buck. Night had grown near, and had this been during the day, the stunning creature would have melted into the snow. But dusk had stretched its spindly fingers down the mountain and past the barren trees and illuminated the silver coat of this massive man-sized creature.

The elder, overcome with emotion, removed himself from the horse and stood across the thin river away from the glorious creature. Shakily he removed his gloves and then stretched out his arm, and as the buck lifted his head and turned in the direction of the hand.

But... something strange happened in the air.

A flurry of snow lifted from the mountain floor, startling the silver creature, who then reared up and, with its powerful hooves, slammed down on the frozen ground and caused the Earth under to shake.

It was then that the man lost his footing, slipped, and slid into the frozen river. Calling out for help had been in vain as the small continued his journey down the Twin River. The other two men of the establishing families searched far and wide but couldn't locate their partner in the snowy tundra.

On the outskirts of the Cresent mountain range, a hunter had lost their way. Stumbling upon the mist that crawled through the woods, they paused and pulled out a compass to check their location. However, the needle spun continuously-- so quickly that it nearly broke against the glass cover. Tapping the compass against his palm, the camper realized that the needle would not cease. Scoffing and cursing the item, they continued forward, too far from their car to turn back. They had found the perfect buck in their search, and losing it to the forest would be a waste of the day.

The deeper into the woods the hunter got, the darker the trees became; soon, the light was all but shrouded from overhead. Taking out a box of waterproof matches from their coat picket, they struck it against the rough strip plastered on the crushed container and held it up to see their surroundings. In a slow gaze, they caught glimpses of silver shifting from tree trunk to tree trunk. The forest had become a void where no moonlight could pierce.

"Uh... hello?" The Nervous hunter asked, their voice falling flat against the dense ground cover. A soft giggle bounced off the very branches, silvery and metallic. Then the match had all but been snuffed out, eliminating all glow in the area except for the silver buck, which slowly walked, nudging its nose into the moss that covered the old tree roots.

Hello?" echoed hundreds of times from the silver creature until the hunter put their hands over their ears and crouched down, screaming against the echo as the silver creature enveloped them. Leaving nothing in its wake.

Suddenly the light returned to the area, and the silver orb flittered away.

Letrixia · Nov 28, 2022

Character: Mikoto Mishida
Player/Group: @Kassia
Location: Arriving at the house

The man seemed kind enough to let her be at ease, for now, still, in the back of her mind, she was always on alert. Before she could even speak a woman started descending some stairs, the word 'dreams' brought Mikoto's attention toward her to the maximum. Did someone tell her about her dreams? Mom? She felt goosebumps move up and down her body, something just happened nearby, but she couldn't pick up what. Looking around with a worried expression on her face she shook her head trying to shake it off. Standing up she bowed to the man "Thank you for being so kind Sir, I hope we can talk more". Looking back at the woman, Mikoto knew that woman at least would have some answers to what was happening to her.

Following her to the deck after putting back her shoes she studied the woman up and down, unsure if she could trust her. Still, if her mother trusted her at least Mikoto should trust her as well, for now. "W…What plagues my world?... let's just see… I think I killed someone without being my fault…or me at all… since then back at home, I was on the streets living off scraps and whatever I could find to feed myself. Then my mother appeared to me in my dream telling me to come here, she even told me the location of enough money to make the trip and buy some clothes for the trip which I did… three days later I am here since I really had nowhere else to go. Also, I guess if my mother trusted you…I guess I should as well, I…I…somehow, I am able to sense ghosts and spirits at all times… I cannot see them just sense them. Everything happens while I am asleep though… which I am afraid to even go to sleep… I can see the future of people who I met and share some connection with, and that future always happens… always". She picked up a pill bottle and shoved a pill down her throat before continuing to talk "That is not what makes me afraid though… while I sleep… I also can easily be possessed by spirits and they would have control over my body depending on how deep my sleep was or how powerful they are. The last day I slept over a couple of minutes at a time was three days ago… I was in a slumber party with some friends as I went to sleep… when I woke up I was on my feet with a huge knife in my hands about to kill one of my best friends……I ran away then and never looked back to coming home or coming back to my hometown, lived on the streets until my mother visited me".

BennyQ · Nov 30, 2022

CHARACTER: TIBERIUS METTE.

PLAYER | GROUP: Everlee Johnson, Samuel Owens (@Kassia), Jasmine Elendale, Elias Graham(@ThatGeckoGirl), Klaus und Zanfo (@Rex.)

LOCATION: Forest/The Mist -> Twin Rivers House

They had scarcely started to depart the area of the Mist when Jasmine appeared, coming towards the anomaly. Tiberius didn’t quite understand or comprehend her area of expertise regarding empathy but he respected what she did and heeded her words and advice, when she gave it. Who better understood human nature than someone who was more in tune with it? He hoped she might have some insight in regards to this strange entity. She already detected it had an aura. ”What, like us?” Tiberius tried to clarify. She did. Exactly like them, humans, dark and violent, as all humans inherently could be under the right circumstances.

She joined up with them in heading back to the house, her, Tiberius, Samuel, and Everlee, having seen what they needed to see, and being woefully underequipped as they were. And soon after, Elias came in wolf form as well, drifting towards his packmate, Everlee. But that was the basis of experiment, was it not? Trying to learn. He gazed at Jasmine with curiosity and some concern. Did she look worse off since she arrived? Had the Mist made some overture to her that they could not see or glimpse? He didn’t put it past the Mist to be able to operate in more subversive ways, unlike the outright attempt to snatch Everlee.

Berry, could your prodigy perhaps have insight into something of this nature? ”I was about to ask you.” He gave a faint chuckle. For all the unknowns, it did seem light hearted to him. For now. While the Mist had acted aggressively, it seemed easily containable. Like a wild animal that didn’t understand forays to assist or help it.

Samuel, after ordering the pack to various duties, answered his question in regards their absentee House Mother. I didn’t know she left. ”That’s not good, buddy. You lot are supposed to know all comings and goings to the House. But I suppose if anyone could move by unseen or unheard, it has got to be the House Mothers.” Tiberius just shrugged. He wasn’t trying to critique Samuel. If anything, a lapse like this was endangering for them all. They ought to plug this rift in their defences. Who knows what could sneak in. Or sneak out. This Mist, while stationary for the present, could easily take on the properties of actual mist and fog and be able to drift and flutter wherever. Like to the nearby human towns.

And a discovery and interaction of that sort, between the occult and the normal, would draw undue and unwanted attention for the rest of them. For centuries they had managed to fly under the radar when it came to persecution of their kind. No one wanted an era of doubt and fear like that again. Though the humans would never thank them for it, or even know, the witches and warlocks had a duty to ensure there was no seepage of their world into normal society.

If Briar did leave as you’ve said, I wouldn’t be surprised if she returned a week from today. That woman is difficult to keep track of.

”Yeah, eh.” Tiberius agreed, as they bound up the steps to the house. ”Bad timing to take a vacation though. Damn.” He turned to look back into the woods, as if expecting the entire horizon to be as dark and foggy as the Mist itself, moving to engulf them in some permanent darkness. But no, it was still sunny and bright all around. Yet without warmth or shine, it seemed. Just….like a picture, unmoving, unfeeling. Peculiar. Tiberius made sure he was last into the house, shutting the door behind him. And locking it. And peering out the window again, just to make sure it wasn’t creeping up on them.

”Hello!” Tiberius called into the house, striding into the common areas, trying to get a read on who was present. ”Yo, we back. Klaus, Talia?” He called out, thinking he heard their voice somewhere in the house within.

A Coven Of Witches & Werewolves | Act 1- The End-

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