"I would think that that would come with time as the flower becomes more and more a part of her. That's also assuming she doesn't already have that ability without knowing it," Deniigi whispered back, "Only Shadowbinder herself knows what magic will become available to Midnight."

After several minutes, Shadowbinder stood from her pplace at Midnight's side. "Well, it is time for me to return to my brothers and sisters. I hope the knowledge I have taught you today serves you well in the coming days. When all seems lost, remember that a shadow is never lost or destroyed," she said as her form began to sink into the shadows she had arrived in, "Should you ever need answers about yourself again, please feel free to call on me again .I will never leave my child without the ansewers they deserve." As her last words rang through the home, the Shadowbinder slipped back beneath the shadows. Once she was gone, the light from the fire returned t its original brightness, and Midnight's flower returned to the half closed state it had been before.

"I never would have thought so much magic was available to me. I don't feel the call of the magic energy Ahnah always told me persisted in those with magic potential," Midnight said once she shook herself, "I've learned way more about myself than I could have asked for though."

Goldenscale gave a nod in reply to Deniigi.  "That would make sense.  I didn't get my own shapeshifting powers until I...no, maybe I had them before...  I can't remember when I found I could shapeshift.  I'm sure that most elementals know what is available to their champions." she said.  She then watched as Shadowbinder then moved from her spot and began to sink into the ground to leave.  She then laughed after Midnight spoke.  "Well, you never know if it would come in handy.  You did ask about information, and I guess the Sjadowbinder told you eveeything that was relevant." she said.  It wasn't often that she asked Moonlight questions, since the both of them would be so busy, so she didn't know anything more about herself than she already knew.

"The fact that you're her champion, and her child by what she said, is probably the reason she divulged as much as she did. As the Spirit of Shadow, she's also the keeper of all hidden knowledge, picking and choosing when and where to  release the forgotten," Deniigi said, giving a nod to what Goldenscale said.

"I guess that why she said my magic would be more focus on the manipulation of shadows than physical interaction. She said that the knowledge of the magic would become accessible to me as the flower becomes more fused with my being," Midnight said, seeming more full of energy than she had been earlier, "Right now, the only ability that's possible is being able to change my form into that of whoever's shadow I can make contact with."

"Well, that could be extremely useful while on the road. Travel through checkpoints would be made easier if anything. People are more likely to trust a familiar face than a stranger, even if they can't quite place where they've seen you before," Kaden said, shaking the ice growing in his fur free, "II can only guess how your abilities will develope."

(...Who is Kaden again?  The name sounds familiar, but I can't remember who he is exactly.)

Goldenscale in turn gave a nod to what Deniigi said, then turned her head in Midnight's direction to listen to what she was saying.  It was good to see that she was more energized than before.  "Well, one ability is better than none.  Unless you already know how to use that power, you'll have to learn how to use it. It ahouldn't be hard though." she said.  Hearing someone else's voice made her turn her head.  "Oh, hi.  That's very true as well." she said with a smile.

((Kaden was the Lykos Champion of Ice that was brought back with them when the left the Fortress of Ends))

"I figure I have plenty of time to figure out how to use it since we're going to be here for a few days while we finish recovering. It doesn't sound like it would be too difficult, but magic can be confusing," Midnight said, shielding herself from the  frost Kaden was shedding with a wing, "I just hope it isn't too difficult. We wouldn't have much time to sit around to try and figure it all out."

"Undersstanding one's abilities is a major part of survival. When more abilities become available, you should take the time to learn how to use them, even if that means we stay put for a day or two," Kaden said, sitting down beside the fire, "Knowing your magic will be a major help when we go to retrieve the shadow rune for sure though."

(Oh, yeah.  It's been too long since I've read the roleplay.)

Goldenscale shook the ice from her body as she listened to Midnight, giving a nod when she finished.  "Yeah, we should be here a while longer, so you can explore with your powers.  Just don't overdo it, otherwise healing might become hard.  If you want, we could experiment in any free time we have during our travels too." she suggested.  She then looked over to Kaden as he spoke, agreeing with him.  Everything they could use would be an advantage.  Especially if Midnight had powers available to her by the Shadowbinder.  They never knew if they would need them, so it was good to have an idea on how to use her powers.

((I make a point to go back and read through rps I'm in, especially when then start getting as long as this one. It helps to keep me from forgeting what has been done and said.))

"I think I'll wait till this illness is out of me first before practicing though. I'd rather avoid complications with illness," Midnight said, taking a seat once more, "I've seen the afterlife. I'd rather not see it again until my time comes.While I'm sure it will be different than when you saved me since I now have a link with nature, it's not a comfortable thing to experience."

"Death is rarely a comfortable thing. Only those who go without pain or in an instant can say otherwise. In those cases, their souls are separeted from their bodies before they can realize it," Kaden said, "While I was inm y hibernative state, I was on the edge of death. All I can say is that it's something you can't get used to."

(It's good to do that.  I might have to if I have the time.)

Goldenscale gave a nod to Midnight, respecting her decision.  It was a good choice to make, and she wouldn't say otherwise.  She did turn her head to the side and frown.  "I don't think I ever experienced death before.  I have been in a few near-death experiences, but that's about it." she said with a shrug.  She then listened to Kaden as he spoke, continuing to frown.  "That sounds terrible, having to feel death at your doorstep every day.  At least the two of you don't have to experience that anymore." she said with a smile.  She then lay down on her stomach, fluffing up her feathers before laying her wings across her back like a blanket.

"It's something I know I will have to do again. When my kind grow old, we revert to that hibernative state to rest and rejuvinate ourselves. That's the main reason why Lykos are so scarce in this day and age. Most who are still alive are hibernating at the edge of death. We may not be immortal, but nature has granted us a way to avoid death by age. While it is still possible for us to die due to age, more often than not, we will hibernate before that can happen," Kaden said, starting to watch the smoke from the fire, "I should have woken long ago, but the cold of the Fortress of Ends kept draining me of the energy needed to break the shell."

"That must have been terrifying. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be stuck there against your will. I'm glad we were able tp get you out of there then," Midnight said, lightly placing a wing over Kaden, "Here's to hoping you wont have to hibernate any time soon."

Goldenscale listened, intrigued by the Lykos' ability to avert death.  It amazed her how different species could protect themselves from different things.  Though death was something very few beings could become exempt from, prolonging life seemed like a wonderful ability to have.  She then frowned and thought about the last statement he spoke.  The fortress kept draining him of energy?  Maybe the fortress was on the defensive as well...  "Could the reason why the Fortress of Ends was draining your energy be because the Icewarden is not present.  Magic requires energy, and without a source to constantly replenish it, it must have taken it from you to keep itself going." she theorized.  "I am sorry you were hibernating for so long though..." she added.

"No need to be sorry, I'd rather be hibernating than dead. That was main reason it was draining me rather than the yeties that reside there though. Having the boon of the Icewarden, I hold a massive elemental energy, just as you and Midnight do. I do not know all of the secrets the FOrtress of Ends contains, but I will likely be taught more about it when Kyne is restored. We all will likely learn something," Kaden said, the spikes in his mane receding into the thick fur now that they were thawed, "I know enough about the Icewarden to know that he'll offer us something for the service we've given, but I know not what he has to offer. He is very much a no nonsense type person though."

"That is an understatment to say the least. Having created out breed, the tundras, he quickly grew tired of our waywards ways compared to his strict sense of order," Deniigi said, nodding to a set of pictographs on the wall, "He takes much more pride from this land he presides over. That doesn't mean he doesn't notice us though. Until he dissapeared, he would occasionally visit a clan to see how we as a breed have developed."

Goldenscale's cheeks flushed with embarrasement when Kaden sstated what she obviously had slipped her mind.  He had hibernated to keep death at bay much as she hibernates to keep her body heat in homeostasis and to make the winter go by faster.  She did look back up though after her scales went back to normal and listened, eventually nodding in agreement.  "We most likely will learn something, but we do that on a daily basis.  It shoud be common knowledge by now, unless it is special and specific information." she said with a smile.  Shen then frowned as she listened to Deniigi speak.  "At least the Icewarden visits his creations.  It would be very unfortunate to leave everything he created behind to wonder and question." she said, pulling from her own experiences.

"Yes, but we have managed without him as best we can. We have yet to find a problem that required calling on him. Since he's always been somewhat of a observing entity to us, most clans have wondered from the Tundra and spread out across the world," Deniigi said, starting to add more wood to the fire, " I suupose that should be expected of one's creations if one treats them like he has."

Goldenscale gave a nod of understanding.  "Well, it's good to travel.  It helps you to understand more of the world." she stated simply, not sure how else to respond.  "Hopefully once Kyne has been restored to power everything will be as it should.  Maybe the Icewarden may even visit his creations more." she said, a hopeful tone added in.

"It's disshearteing to see so many clans take that path though. Icewarden was very distant with us before his dissapearance so I doubt he'll change that once he returns. The Tundra used to be filled with tundra clans, but now you're luck to come across one without being led there. Family and friends  were split with each  move, but this is not a land to allow such things to affect one's living," Deniigi said, "It wouldn't be such an issue to us if it wasn't for the fact that all other Spirit born breeds were in constant interaction with their creators up until these lasst few thousand years. Those that traveled here in the past would brag of their connection with the spirit who made their kind. All we can say as a breed is that we're little more than something to look at for our creator."

"You shouldn't allow the state of someone else's ralation to their spirit affact you. With our without the Icewarden, your kind has grown strong, both in body and culture. Unlike other spirit born breeds, your kind has the freedom to travel where it wishes without conflicting with another spirit's ways. You have much more cultural freedom than they will ever have," Kaden stated, guesturing to the drawing that lined the walls and ceiling, " There's nothing that can change that either. Should the Icewarden take on a more parental view when he returns, he would rather preserve the culture that has grown that destroy it and start over."