Sanguine Debauchery

[Hecate Rothchild]

Hecate watched with mild interest at the long eared elf, He had weapons similar to those of Warren Zimmer, more interestingly however was the elf’s ability to change form. “Flight….” she muttered quietly, “Shapeshifting” she added with equal curiosity. A sharp pain reminded her she had yet to remove the arrow from her back. How long had it been in there?

She couldn't answer the questions herself and she had little desire to speak much at the moment.

“One moment.” She told the one called Mar, as she used her right hand to reach back to the red fletched arrow, the crimson feathers on the end would have been beautiful to her were they not attached to an instrument of death.

A tinge of pain filler her wrist as she realized once again her hand was missing, the dried stump had only recently closed enough to stop bleeding. “Can you help me with this?” She asked jak quietly as she turned her back towards him, His eyes grimaced at the destroyed flesh, fresh scabs, crisscrossed her back where the whip had bit her flesh.

Maggots crawled across the wounds eating ever so slowly at her exposed muscle. “What's wrong?” She asked as she watched Jak’s face distort with disgust.

When Jak said nothing hecate knew something was up, her hand gripping her orb of omnilium. A few moments later a bottle of whiskey formed in her hand. “Use this.” She said with a slight bit of authority in her voice.

Jak wordlessly took the bottle in his hands and removed the cork stopper using a small amount of it on his hands and pouring the rest on to her back. The oaky scent of the aged liquor filled the air as it dribbled down her exposed flesh down her legs and into her disgusting boots.

Surprising even to herself the stinging sensation of the alcohol felt good, almost refreshing. The fact she was enjoying this troubled Hecate despite her not voicing an opinion on it.

Jak’s hand brushed the insects from her flesh removing them with the same scrutiny one would expect of such a task.

His hand rested firmly upon her back as he gripped the wooden shaft and pulled.

Pain distorted Hecate's face as the arrow failed to withdraw from her back. A tired face turned towards Jak who looked up at her. “The arrow won't budge.” He said, about to finish his sentence Hecate cut him off. “ Push it through.” She said with almost indifference. Jak nodded and without warning pushed the back of the arrow driving the iron tip through her upper rib cage.
Hecate took a deep breath and gritted against the pain, her worry faded as she was able to hold it. Somehow the arrow had not punctured her lung, that alone was cause for celebrating. She glanced down at the blood covered arrowhead protruding from the top of her breast and used her hand to snap the head off, tossing the bodkin style tip into the grass.

“Now withdraw it.” She said quietly, trying to keep herself steady, the effort to stand up was proving to be a task in itself.

Jak withdrew the headless shaft from the woman's body discarding it with the same regard she had done with the head. Who are you? He asked as he watched the blood pour from the nearly inch and a half inch wound on her back.

“Hecate Rothchild…. Do you know where we are?” She responded in kind. Her orb of omnilium still in her hand.

[Jak Mar]

Jak nodded "Name's Jak, Mar's my real name but I rarely use it."

"So Hecate, we are farther off in the tangled greens. The elves should be off our trails for a long time."

"I can heal you if you need it, however.. summon more light eco and we are even."

"As far as I know, the short eared elves wouldn't trust me anyway due to me having long ears. I'm not their type anyway."

Jak blinked for a while and took out his ball of OM focusing on what he needed. Light eco.

It took longer but as soon as he was done, it was in a box.

He kicked it and it opened, the Light eco flowing into Jak's body and making him feel a lot more refreshed.

"Ready?"

[Hecate Rothchild]

Hecate nodded her head without a word as Jak began to work on her wounds, the elf with long ears seemed to have a troubled past, much the same as most others in the omniverse. The fact he was able to use and manipulate Omnillium told her without a doubt that the boy was a prime, As he worked on her wounds, mending the gashes in her flesh with the warm glow of the glowing orb.

To the witch of ice the warm feeling was uncomforting. Slowly flesh mended itself back together. Where bare muscle once was fresh flesh now resided. The insects and pain gone. Hecate looked down at the stump of her hand, surprised to see the appendage back right where it should be. Taking a few seconds to test it she flexed her muscles and curled the fingers into a tight fist. The hand was back to the way it should be.

"Thank you." Hecate said, despite the wounds on her body being closed up she still felt tired, the healing seemed to not include replacing any blood that had been spilt.

Even though plagued by fatigue Hecate stood up, her eyes flared the ruby shade of red, as she looked out over the expanse of trees surrounding the small clearing. Her heart and soul longing for revenge, even now amidst the clouds of fatigue only one thing seemed to bleed through, a beacon lighting the way. Revenge.

Still such succulent thoughts could wait, turning her attention back to the green blond haired elf with long ears she looked the man over scrutinizing every weapon and tool on his person.

"What are those for?" She asked, pointing with her newly reformed hand at what seemed like a pair of handcuffs.

[Jak Mar]

Jak eyed the greyish handcuffs on his arm, strangely still there.

"Oh, those. It's a way a friend made sure I didn't get out of control and kill everyone in sight."

He closed his eyes for a second "My dark form is dangerous, that's why I only use him in other situations when I really need him."

He remembered the last time Dark Jak was let off things. Ashelin was almost dead, His friends were scared as hell of him, and Ash had to fight his Dark form to calm him down.

[Hecate Rothchild]

A burst of laughter erupted from deep within her lungs

Tears trailed down her face accompanying the deep and hearty laughs.

"Why suppress those feelings? Why not harness that bloodlust and channel it?" She licked her lips voraciously as she asked, her voice full of amazement at the concept of someone so similar to how she was to this man elf.

Running her fingers through the uneven silver white strands a small sigh escaped her lips.

The silver haired, red eyed maiden looked truly surprised, even now with her body restored, her hair cut short, in unceremonious fashion.

"it would seem my hair does not count as healed." She said jokingly at the long eared man who seemed to look oddly confused at the sudden shift in her actions.

"I'm not so different than you." She explained. "Truth be told I fully intend to go back to that mob, and kill each and every single one of them, They will rot in the darkest part of my dungeon until the time I bleed every.....last.....drop.... of ...... blood. from them." Her face distorted silently into one of sadistic lust at the thought.

Oddly enough the normal more gentle side of Hecate seemed perfectly fine with this prospect.

Her orb of omnillium still in her hand, her crimson eyes focused on it as the omniscient light filled the area. a brand new uniform of the witch corpse sat neatly folded in her hand beside the glowing orb.

"Pardon me." She said politely as she discarded the tattered remnants of her uniform and underclothing. replacing them with little regard for weather or not Jak was watching.

Adjusting the clothes to fit her figure Hecate finally turned around to face the elf. If he had been watching Hecate didn't know.

"So what can this dark side do?" She asked with interest.

[Jak Mar]

Jak found himself summoning a extra key to slip into the Handcuff holes as they slipped off. They made him feel his hands again for that which he sighed.

He stretched his hands out and frowned “Perhaps we are more alike than you think.”

“We just have our own paths we took.”

Jak was shocked by the fact that Hecate wanted to see his dark forms and what they were capable above.

He nodded “Maybe I should take the dark as much as the light.”

Jak shifted a bit, uncomfortable as how much or if his second dark form would harm Hecate instead.

She just seemed curious.. Why not pituque that curiosity?

Jak turned and walked to a group of trees, as he held his head in hurt. His claws became long, his face turned purple, and his eyes were pure dark filled in. His demon horns jutted out of his head as his clear feral look turned onto Hecate.

“... This is my first dark form.”

Shocks of dark eco lighting flashed around the dark eco warrior’s body.

The beast seemed let off his leash for now.

A very creepy smile passed the dark warrior’s face.

[Hecate Rothchild]

Hecate shivered with excitement, a seeming increase of tension filled the air almost as if charged with electricity, her hair seemed to stand on end as she watched the dark form of Jak take hold.

The sinister smile was akin to her own it truly was a sight to behold, at least for one with her own inclinations.

It was enough to make her feel alive again.

"So you look like you could rip something apart with your bare hands? Tell me how does that feel? to feel your preys warm insides squirming around between your fingertips. Tell me boy have you felt that rush as the warmth of the body fades into the depths of sweet cold death?"
Her smile got wicked as she took several steps towards Jak with her arms weld out as if trying to help get him to see the picture she was painting for him.

"The pure ecstasy of warm sanguine fluids washing upon your flesh! TELL ME BOY HAVE YOU FELT IT???? she seemed almost fanatical as she spoke.

[Jak Mar]

The darker form of Jak peaked up, his hunger for blood suddenly growing

"It's forever since I've tasted real blood. Jak only lets me out on random occasions but oh yes, the blood of those Krimzon guards back home were tasty."

The darkened form of the eco warrior moved his fingers among the ground and squeezed the ground, hissing.

"I've felt <i>every</i> drip of it. The taste, everything."


That's when Jak's eyes turn a milky purplish yellow as his claws turn bigger and sharper and his horns show his inbalance between forms again where dark begins to overtake the light.

[Hecate Rothchild]

Hecate nearly shuddered with joy. Here was someone else who got it! The hunger, the touch the taste the feel the pure pleasure in the life of another. Her hedonistic urges pushed her close to the milky eyed elf. who watched with an equal hunger.

A craw scratched at the air in front of Hecate, the distincft whoosing sound of sharpened nails cutting the very air itself.

instict was all that had kept Hecate's insides from being rent upon the mossy dirt they now stood upon.

"Whoa, valm down, Im sure we will have plenty of time for that later." Hecate teased as she regained control of herself partially.

The feeling was strange, noramlloy her darkside taking over, was an unpleasant experiance, now she almost looked forward to feeling that sensation again.

Her blue eyes stared down at the seemingly feral Jak.

"so what happens next." Her body tense should she feel the need to defend herself.

[Jak Mar]

The milky eyed eco-warrior was going to reply but his phone/dataverse device went off in his pocket. He picked it up lightly and sniffed it, hearing the ottsel's voice out loud.

A unholy voice came back "Dax. Why now."

Daxter's reply came in the form of "Damn, whoa dark , tall and fearsome. What happened to your voice?"

The eco fuelled warrior hissed "I'm dark, Dax. Jak isn't here right now."

Daxter sighed "Come on Jak, eheh.. .drop the act now."

Dark frowned "I feel free again."

Once again a battle of control raged in Jak's head as sooner than later, the demon lost its power over Jak and he blinked.

Daxter facepalmed "Eat Omninickers when you aren't yourself. Jak?"

Jak muttered "I'm fine, Dax. I'm going to find the DA sign up area now."

[Hecate Rothchild]

Hecate, had been wandering, for how long though she could not recall. Her bare feet torn and shredded byan unknown distance. with nothing but a memory of her would be savior,the one who had pulled her off that execution platform.

Now the dull ache of hunger gnawed at her, every single step.

She had not seen nor heard anything for the past day and not a single person since Jak had left her to fend for herself. Still it was invigoratring to see one who enjoyed the finer things in life. and boy could Hecate use a sweet glass of liquid life right now.

Hecate felt a strange"oneness" with herself, the strange feeling of not longer being separated. Had the painful experiences of the dungeon melded her mind? or were they one and the same all along?

[Kopaka]

Kopaka obligingly stepped out of the somewhat comically isolated transportation booth into the sweltering steam of the Greens. Granted, the steam rapidly began to condense into tiny, dancing flurries as Kopaka tossed his heavy cloak to the side. The garb had been intended to keep his identity discreet while in the Syntech pavilion, but out here in the density of the jungle, he was once again able to let his elemental potency run rampant.

The Toa was, however, here for more than mere relaxation, however. After the somewhat pathetic trial of partnership with that mercenary urchin-girl, Dawn, the biomech had been considering other potential sources of assistance towards promoting his clout within the Omniverse. In terms of numbers and experience, Dawn had be the ideal partner. Professional. Clean. Obedient. After spending a few months in reflection, however, Kopaka had come to the conclusion that their inherent disconnect had been a matter of conviction. It wasn't enough to have a capable ally in the Omniverse; a good partnership necessitated mutual belief in a larger ideal. The question then arose...who could possibly match the Toa's zeal for blood, ice, and the duality of the mortal coil?

Some brief browsing of the Dataverse had given him the answer he required. Hecate Rothchild, known also as 'Dark Hecate', had been mentioned in great detail a few weeks ago on various forums and media. For all external appearances, she appeared to be every bit the obsessive psychopath that Kopaka had come to accept as his true nature. She seemed as reasonable a choice as any, and since the Prime known as Warren Zimmer had been so kind as to mention that she lived in the Tangled Green, the Toa made it his prerogative to pay her a visit.

It didn't take long to locate the woman's base of operations. Both through use of the Kanohi Akaku, and his own sensitivity to disruptions in the natural environment, finding an oversized gothic cathedral in the middle of a humid rainforest was trivial. Normally, being that the beast of his darkness was currently unbothered, Kopaka would have waited patiently for someone to answer his knocks at the gate. After waiting for the better part of half an hour, however, the Toa called upon the Miru and vaulted the towering walls in a single blast of blue vernier.

Cursory inspection indicated that the base had been abandoned for at least a few days. In rooms where the windows had been left open, a small layer of half-orange leaves littered the floors. Food had been left out to fester, and the basement...well...

...it appeared Hecate was Kopaka's sort of Prime, after all. Emboldened by the discovery of the murderess' charnel dungeon, the Toa made his way onto the gray-slate roof of the fortress, scanning the surrounding forest for signs of activity. At first, nothing but the sound of buzzing and birdsong greeted him, but at length, the Toa did spot a small column of scavenging raptors circling a distant point in the forest. While it was entirely possible that they were scenting the corpse of some half-eaten brush meat, it was at least some place to start.

Once again, Kopaka was not disappointed. It was a campsite, strewn with the flesh and offal of battle. While actual corpses had been removed, remaining bloodstains indicated a fierce battle of blade and spear. Judging by the state of the tents and their amenities, however, it was also apparent that this incident had taken place quite some time ago. Kopaka pieced the events he was aware of together.

A betrayal towards Zimmer.

An abandoned fortress.

A battlefield in the forest, long past.

Based on the information he had, bloodlust defined the Hecate woman...but that did not mean that she was infallible. Certainly, a small encampment of natives would appear to be an ideal target for a death-hungry Prime, but the Omniverse was a place where demigods constantly threaded the dangerous needle of agency and hubris. Captured, perhaps? Dead?

...No. Some of this blood belonged to a Prime. Kopaka could detect that much. If she were dead, Hecate's blood would have evaporated into its component Omnilium long before he'd arrived. The girl was still alive, but injured, and gone from her sanctum of gore. Captivity proved to be the most logical conclusion. The faculties of his senses could not actively track the biometrics of a Prime based only on biological residue, but, a keen eyed tracker like the Toa was very capable of following a blood trail through the forest. Using the incredible perceptory aids of the Akaku, the warrior of ice picked his way slowly through the underbrush.

Whoever had kidnapped the Prime girl had made no effort to disguise their passing. Twigs were trampled underfoot, smears of blood on drooping leaves, and even muddy bootprints all served as a map for Kopaka. In time, over the course of several, humid hours, the bionicle was lead to a small, nameless village near an equally small river. As he trudged out through the bush and into a clearing, several of the inhabitants pointed to him in awe and alarm. Their demographics appeared to be both elven and human, but all were equally pathetic in the eyes of Kopaka.

Villagers scattered into their thatched hovels as the Toa began to walk up the central street to a large keep in the center of town. Curses and whispers of vindictive hatred followed him, but he paid no mind. Insult was expected from those in a position of weakness. When the guards eventually surrounded him, halberds leveled at his chest, Kopaka was completely unsurprised. For being of partly elven influence, these shabby forest squatters had all the grace and poise of feculant apes.

"Your name, Prime! And your business in the village of–" on of the guardsmen said. He was dressed in a stitched leather hauberk, reeking with an entire day's sweat. A yellow sash stretched from shoulder to waist, and light ivory trousers hung about his legs. Kopaka spoke over him.

"Where is the Prime woman?" he said in a loud, stolid tone. The men sneered.

"We needn't tell you naught, now–" the vocal guardsman quipped again. Kopaka let out a long sigh of coiling mist.

"I desire no harm of thee, but harangue me further and I shall return thy village to the forest." the Toa commanded. Another round of harsh scoffs.

"Wots that? You think you c'n do us like that white-haired bint? You ain't the first Prime we'll 'ave put holes in–"

There was a sudden blast of air as Kopaka called upon the Kanohi Miru and jumped to the roof of a nearby hovel. The seven bare-footed picketers whipped around to face the Toa as he leered down at them from atop the sagging roof. Elemental fury was gathered into the tip of the Ice Sword, before being cast into the sky. A beam of white-blue potency shot up into the low-hanging clouds. A minute passed, and snow began to fall like a blanket. It whirled around the indignant Toa, coating and whipping around him like a cloak.

"So, she is here? Bound she may be, but this one is not. I demand my answer of thee, lest I pry it from thy softened head." Kopaka shouted above the gathering gale. The trembling secondaries had never known snow before. They barely even knew what cold was. Now this hulking metal man stood above them all, commanding the elements like a symphony, with evil light in his eyes. The contest was over.

"She...she's gone! We put her to the block this mornin', but some elven Prime wif a talkin' cat sprung her! We dunno were she be, we–"

And just like that, Kopaka was gone, vanishing from sight with a flash of sparks from his mask. The snow, however, remained, and the forest went silent for miles around.

After inspecting the aforementioned theatre of blood and death, Kopaka pursued Hecate's stained path back into the trees. There was a new trail to follow, and a new prize to be won...

[Hecate Rothchild]

Survival, Hecate mused on the true meaning of the word. “Something so base, so simple, yet…” The silver-haired maiden looked down at her prey, it’s chest rising and dropping with each labored breath. “Difficult” Her hand withdrawing from deep within the body, crimson liquid coating her hand like a well fitted glove. The ebb and flow of life slowly closed on her helpless victim.

And just like that, it was over, the young doe took its last breath, pained eyes blankly looking at the woman who paused, a silent laugh at the irony of the situation

“For one to live, another must die.” The statement rang true for the witch more so than anything else she had learned. The deer, it's precious sustenance was what she needed to keep herself moving

The pale witch wondered how long she had been wandering, had it been a month yet? She stopped caring, her focus just on the one thing she did now.

Surviving

A small campfire provided light to the murderous woman, the animal slain to provide food was already cookin on a makeshift spit.

Her clothes hung loose on her body evidence of the trials she had faced in the woods of the Tangled green.

In the distance she could hear the rustling of feet breaking sticks, moving branches. Telltale signs of pursuit. Who or whatever had been stalking her was staying out of sight, content to watch from the shadows. Hecate called out into the unknown. “This is my meal you may not take it!” curious, why was her first reaction to simply protect her makeshift campsite and meal.

There was no reply, a simple rustling of leaves and it was once again silent. It had been this way for several nights. Of course this was of no concern, She would just spear them once they attacked her in her sleep, Bandits and brigands seemed to always prefer such tactics. “No matter, when they do come to slit mine throat, I shall make sure to return the favor.” Her cardinal eyes shined at the prospect. But for now she would still play the role of a damsel in distress.

[Kopaka]

Something new would register on the blood maiden's senses: cold. A small spark of frigidity alighted on her cheek, and as she absentmindedly brushed at it, she felt another on her shoulder. Dancing flakes of snow tumbled from the black sky, beginning to dust the clearing in a light coating of frost.

Was she hallucinating?

Yellow eyes peered at her from a distant glen, unblinking, and too many for another furry course of bushmeat. Hecate staggered to her feet, swallowing a hunk of gore as she did so.

"You from the fortress? I'm not your prisoner anymore, and I'll teach you the hard way!" she growled through bared teeth. A blade of shimmering ice crackled out of her hand as the figure advanced.

There was a rhythmic, whirring clunk as Kopaka approached Hecate, coming into the wavering, orange glow of the campfire. His legs were covered in mud, and bits of greenery were frozen to his chassis. The mage woman wasn't exactly sure what she was looking at, but it was evocative of Warren's conjured, metal shell. The figure was also armed.

"Peace, Hecate Rothchild. I come to thee with tidings of solidarity." came a soft, yet firm voice. Hecate shifted her stance, but did not attack.

"Who are you." she said in a sour, hissing tone.

"Kopaka is my name. Hunter. Killer. Seeker. Kindred spirit." Kopaka murmured, crouching down to dip his fingers into the chest cavity of the slain deer. A bloodied, metal hand dragged a length of innards from the beast, before squishing them in a flush of bloody spray.

"It is beautiful, is it not? Gorgeous, within and without..." the Toa mused, allowing the blood to drip into long icicles. The power of ice and cold emanated from him, almost as if he himself were a source of mana. The glowing lights behind his corroded mask flicked back towards Hecate.

"...do you not agree?"

[Hecate Rothchild]

"Do I agree?" Hecate mused at the peculiar creature standing before her.

A mage?....no, something else entirely Hecate observed the spectacle unfolding before her. "Another wielder of ice?" She queried as the long blade in her hand remained steady, long slender albeit bony fingers gripped the blade in a visible death-grip.

This creature for lack of a better term was visibly made of some form of metal, what kind? Hecate could not tell. Still the thing's glowing luminescent eyes held a quality, one Hecate was still trying to figure out herself.
"A kindred spirit you say?" A crooked grin filled her features as her blade finally dissolved back into the nothingness from whence it came. "Aye I am Hecate Rothchild, the pleasure is all mine... Kopaka.

Despite seeming calm she kept a wary eye out, the likelihood of two others like her meeting one after another while possible, was unlikely. Such things made the silver haired maiden cautious.

[Kopaka]

Kopaka let out a long hum as the snow started to pick up. Big, fat flakes tumbled from the occluded skies, beginning to coat the clearing in a small dusting of foreign rime. The Toa began to pace the female Prime, sizing her up and down as she stood there in her desecrated rags. This girl was not the legendary predator that the Dataverse had painted her to be, no, but she had excellent potential. The Kanohi shimmered on his face for a moment before shifting to the Kakama. The mask of speed hummed slightly for a moment, and Hecate was barely able to conjure a fresh blade of ice before the frigid marauder crashed his blade into hers. Flakes of ice and protosteel glimmered in the light of the fire as a mirthful glare issued forth from Kopaka's diseased countenance. She was fast. Flurries displaced in small gusts of wind as the crimson-eyed huntress flanked the Toa in a blur of movement. With a savage cry of unsure betrayal, she brought the edge of her sword down the length of Kopaka's back, causing a nearly-harmless scuff in the dense plating of his chassis.

The Toa lurched forwards in pain before uttering a small laugh. Oh, this was good fun. A quick whirl on light, metal feet allowed Kopaka to drive the flat of his shield into her exposed right flank, sending her sprawling onto the ground with a surprisingly petite gasp of surprise. By the time the biomech turned to observe her, she was gone. An angular path of footsteps, with Hecate at their leading edge, blistered into the white powder before she slammed back into the melee. A feral snarl split her lips as Kopaka parried and warded against a literal hail of sword blows. Still, despite his skilled defense, long, bloody stripes of lavender ichor opened up along the length of his arms and torso. A splurt of the icy juice splashed onto Hecate's face, and an instinctive tongue wiped her lips clean.

She immediately spat it out.

"The fuck are you..." she growled, taking a few swift steps backwards. Kopaka's shield spun pensively for a moment.

"I am..." he mused, summoning a bolus of elemental power to his hand, "...the Makuta." he finished, with an uncharacteristic wavering of glee coloring his inflection. The sheer perversion of the words that had just left his mouth had left him shocked. Never in his entire operational history would he have dared say such direct blasphemy. Yet, here, this savage, squishy little moppet was bringing out the filth within his soul. Should he, then, not bare it? Yes, the Darkness wanted to hurt her again. The Beast had been yapping in his ear for hours now, as he had been sniffing the girl down. It would only be polite to feed it just a morsel. The whirling sphere of icy power was held aloft, and swirled into an expanding torrent of snow and powder. 

"I am cold. I am the winter. I am ice, and all the stillness and death that follows. I am that which makes a canvas of the world, clean and white, that it may be painted with all the pigments of life's humors."

He was making this up as he went along, but it felt right. It felt good. The Toa watched from within the shrouding storm as Hecate starting summoning her own wellspring of elemental death.

"You're a sucker punching coward." Hecate snapped, condensing the explosive sphere even further. Kopaka blinked slowly, and allowed the howling storm to dissipate in abrupt fashion. The entire clearing was now utterly cloaked in fluffy, clean snow.

"Oh? Art though not amused? 'Tis but a jest, my good maiden." the Toa said, staring at her dumbly while sheathing his sword. Hecate kept the quivvering ball of frigid power floating above her skyward stretched hand. She sniffed slightly.

"No, I'm NOT amused, I'm..." she mumbled, growing more quiet, "...hungry."

Kopaka's eyes flitted towards the center of the camp, where her erstwhile cookfire smoldered in damp ash. A look of dawning comprehension began to stretch across his gaze.

"Ah, yes. Do excuse my eagerness to test thee. Come, thou may sup in peace under my vigil. Regain thy strength, and mend thy tatters." Kopaka offered in a politely apologetic tone. With a wave of his hand, he banished the fluffy snow to the perimeter of the clearing, making it dry for another attempt at a hot meal. Hecate looked at him in dumbfounded awe. Was this foul-tasting 'Makuta' serious?