The smell of magic jostled him out of a dreamless sleep.  Zain separated the tendrils and peered outside.  The evidence of magic was subtle, but he could sense it.  As a being formed of the elements, his sensitivity to its usage was enough to identify not only its nature but where it originated- and he knew it was close.  It wasn't a harmful spell, however, quite the opposite.  It was magic affecting the night- he felt a serenity come over himself as a result.<br/><br/>As he left the safety of the willow, he smelled roses.  Following its trail, he found himself on the cabin's porch.  It was awfully quiet, even when compared to the stillness of his surroundings.  Zain wondered what sort of being could create such an atmosphere.  Whereas his own power could darken the night, or create fear and illusion, whomever or whatever caused this silenced even the insects.  Curiosity was another inherited trait.  He peered into the small window, knowing full well he would come off as a creep if he was caught.  He didn't need to look long.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Fire.</span>He doubled back, stumbling onto the steps and drawing away into the grass.  The calm of the night immediately dampened, replaced with his own uneasiness.  Whatever spell had come out of that house was easily forgotten by the night, as Zain's own panic had the fallen leaves sailing across the earth, the wolves howling, even the grass under him wilted.  Perhaps he'd overreacted, but there was something about fire that ignited an unavoidable terror in his mind.  The phoenix remained there a moment, attempting to calm his senses.  The wind died down, the dark creatures quieted, but it was not as it was before- there was still a tense ambiance surrounding him.<br/><br/>Suddenly, he heard someone approaching.  He wasn't certain if it would be the owner of this property, but knew it would be suspicious to find him creeping around the outside of this cabin.  Without time to remove himself, he cloaked himself into the shade of the cabin.  Zain had effectively become a shadow, and so long as he remained blended with the rest of them, he would be impossible to see.  For anything as sensitive to energy as he was, however, his presence would reek of black magic.  He remained still as the girl knocked on the door.  She certainly was forward in her approach.  Zain would have been, if he weren't so disturbed by the otherworldly magics surrounding this place.<br/><br/>On the other hand, he wouldn't be nearly as curious if it were ordinary, either.  It wasn't easy being human.