Lucian clenched his fist as he watched. She hadn't shown such speed when they were playing. Now… just the shock waves of their passing created gusts of wind that knocked several off their feet. The very clouds dispersed as their game continued. If he wasn't following the snake god's movements, he wouldn't even be able to keep track of the female.
Devlin shook his head, "I'm not sure if it's possible for even him to catch them. Not unless he removes Ash- Lord Reece, from running interference."
Jakub shook his head, "I'm not sure that would matter."
Jaxon raised a brow, "Why not? She's fast, but… if the snake god has her in his mouth… without a rift she's helpless."
Novak frowned, "I don't think so. If she was so easily defeated… Alaina, Grelck… even that Pegasus, wouldn't be so wary of her. She was alone for hundreds of years… why not kill her when Nix was helpless?"
Jaxon accepted the information; it did make sense. Suddenly the chase was back on.
Ashton was impressed how easily Haven shifted his size to give chase, sometimes shirking to the size his leg, other times popping up Kaveri sized. More than once he'd brushed feathers against them. He was a fast learner. Now, when would he put his information to the test?
Beloved gave a squawk of alarm when a sudden updraft caught her by surprise.
Haven immediately expanded, Nix may have been flung to the side in the confusion, but Tou was ready! The small black bird darted forward like an arrow on a current, plastering itself to Nix's surprised face.
Lucian was watching with rapt attention as Ashton burst into black flames, the chain of black fire settling over his heart. His dragon eyes making out every detail as if it were happening in slow motion.
Beloved fought to level herself out, she managed to shift to miss Haven's open mouth, then clung to his passing wing as she lifted her head looking for Nix! She pushed off, diving for him!
Ashton kept Tou clutched to his chest, as a small chick he couldn't fly just yet. Turning his body so he was face up, he gave himself maximum air resistance to slow his fall. Not to mention, seeing the giant snake turning to give chase was an impressive sight. Four seconds remaining.
Beloved stretched out her talon for Nix to take hold! Only for Tou to jump at her! Eh?! She suddenly burst into black fire.
Haven's heart lurched when the black flame didn't settle along her feathers… she, his Beloved… disappeared!
Three seconds remaining on Nix's mana dispersal.
Tou stared uncomprehendingly… his black flames were circling a tiny, miniscule white flame! Tou grabbed it in his talons as they started to fall! Even with his tiny talons, the white flame was almost too small to grasp.
Haven didn't stop as he wrapped his body around all three birds. Nix had caught Tou to his chest again as the second ticked to two. The second on the black chain around the flame not even large enough to fit on a candle was at four.
Ashton patted Haven reassuringly, then leapt out of his enclosed wings, adjusting his aim he went through a rift. No need to worry Beloved's big snake unnecessarily.
Haven searched below, looking for where they emerged as Tou clung to his feathers.
"Up!" Tou cried as he saw Nix and Beloved emerge several hundred feet above them!
Haven looked up as the black flame lock faded from Nix, he watched… two seconds later, Beloved emerged from the white flame. Haven shuddered… they were beings of mana. He knew that. Nix was in a human shell, even without his mana… why hadn't he considered what that meant for a being of almost pure mana?
Mana dispersal wasn't meant to help catch them. It was a think trap. Haven circled beneath them as his heart settled. He needed a new plan.
Jakub stared… "What… what happened?"
Caius sighed, he'd been minding his own business! Plotting to catch his Little Snack when a giant snake tail smacked him! Aiya! Rude! Unfair! Biased! Now… he could only watch. Truth be told, he hadn't expected the female to be reduced to a single flame. That was… not information that should be known to all.
"What did you think would happen when mana dispersal was cast on a creature of mana?" Caius asked as he glared at the human. If the human hadn't upset the female, they would still be playing. Maybe, anyway, he was going to blame the human.
Novak jolted, a creature of mana? He stared as the trio started their battle in the sky. It was clear the birds were taunting the giant snake. The female had even landed on the snake god's face, only to immediately escape. Just watching the winged serpent chase after the miniscule birds was a marvel.
Beloved laughed as she dropped Nix into a rift. A heartbeat later Haven was almost on top of her. She went into a dive before the giant maw could trap her.
Haven didn't bother with Tou's cast again, he would have to catch her, hold onto her body. He was sure, even with Nix's physical strength, neither could overpower him. Suddenly she caught an updraft. Haven didn't even have time to blink as she changed to her human form and was plastered to his face.
"Am I catching you or are you catching me? Why would you trap when we should fly free?" Beloved asked before kissing her startled snake. Then she jumped up, running along his spine as he continued his descent.
Ashton landed on the snake's tail as his Beloved started running down Haven's spine. "This snake is so fast, this snake is so cunning, a moment of lapse, our minds he'll be outrunning!"
Beloved crashed into Nix's arms as they tumbled off her big snake. She changed back as Haven twisted his body to resume the chase!
Despite Haven's unrelenting chase, his mind was going a thousand miles a minute. Spell traps could not capture her, the black flame made her minuscule, all that remained was brute strength. Something, something was missing.
Ashton dropped into another rift, with a running start he was running on the ground as Beloved spiraled just out of reach. Just as he opened his arms to catch his Beloved, Haven pulled up. Slowly starting to circle above them like a bird of prey. Snake of prey?
Haven watched the birds, he may have a better chance as they came up rather than go down. Still, he was missing some crucial piece of information. No, not missing, overlooking. Fly free… it had to mean something.
Beloved sat on Nix's head as she watched her big snake. He was… beautiful, his feathers shimmering in the late afternoon sun. With a trill of awe, she flew up. They may not be birds of a feather, but they should fly together. Flying alone… in vast sky, was so lonely.
Haven watched as Beloved carried Nix up, he continued to watch as they overtook him. He even watched as they landed on his head once again. Beloved dropped Nix so they could fix some of his ruffled feathers. Their soothing song echoing over the land like the slowly fading sun.
Sebastian glanced at the sun, there was less than an hour left until sunset. Honestly, he thought catching one of them would have been easier. Now, it seemed an impossible task. Lady Beloved passed through traps, mana dispersal turned her into a tiny flame. Lord Nix was too strong to be caught.
Was this game… truly rigged?
Haven leisurely flew in a pattern, every so often catching glimpses of the birds. They were just as unhurried. If they were not meant to be captured, how to catch? They fled when he chased, returned when he didn't.
Haven waited until they laid out, each on a wing as their song echoed over Nix's domain. They kept in contact with his feathers for several minutes, enjoying the leisurely ride. Yet Haven had not won. So… how to win.