<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/SociallyToxicBeauty/media/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg.html"></a><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="color: #408000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Alida</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>Alida wasn't surprised to find Izu hesitant. He often was distrustful in new situations. At first Alida was unsure if Izu would follow her, though she didn't have to ponder for long about it as he finally began to climb. The Ent, whether out of impatience or pity, decided to speed up the man's progress by simply picking him up in a set of vines and placing him near Alida. The vines unraveled themselves from Izu as he walked towards Alida, as if the Ent was somewhat trying to help the young man retain his balance. Alida gave a small smile at this action, pleased that the Ent found Izu's presence peaceful enough to trust him. She kneeled down and quietly prepped a spot on the Ent's shoulder, burying a small seed in the mulch like substance. It only took seconds for the seed to sprout and begin to grow, Alida couldn't help but give a happy smile, turning to Izu,<span style="color: #408000">"It seems my gift has pleased this young Ent. He is the one making the seed sprout..."</span><br/><br/>And then, the Ent began to break from the ground, lifting it's massive wooden legs and raising the two up just under the forest canopy. From there, the Ent seemed to wander deeper into the forest. From the shoulder of the Ent, the two spotted many large creatures. Izu seemed far more fascinated at the size of all the creatures, but when she had mentioned there were creatures much larger she felt a shift of doubt.<span style="color: #408000"> "In this forest alone there are creatures that hide much better than this Ent and they are much larger, too. Who really knows what is beyond Euthalia?"</span>she said, though a flash of the monstrous creatures that came to Euthalia suddenly jumped in her mind. She shoved the image back, though, not wishing to think about such things. It was best to leave those monsters in the past and let them stay there.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">"I think, Izu," </span>Alida began as she looked straight at the man in question,<span style="color: #408000">"you will find yourself pleased with this world."</span>The woman had no doubt that the finely carved man in front of her would adjust well. He would likely be more relaxed, that was for certain. She wondered what he would look like without stress in his face. Would he look as handsome (probably, but she sort of liked that tired look for some reason)? Would he allow himself to relax?<span style="color: #408000">"Those things you call bills? A thing of the past!"</span>she said suddenly, trying to direct her mind. It was a difficult task since being in Izu's world. His world had brought her knowledge of emotions she had never experienced before, and with that came constant wondering. It was a strange change to try to explain, but she doubted it was necessary to explain it to Izu. After all, he would never know what Alida was like before his world. He would only know the Alida she was now.<br/><br/>Her eyes drank up his form hungrily, only to land on his wings in thought. She would have to get to know Izu all over again. It was likely Izu was going to have to get to know Izu again. The connection's full strength flipping on was unlikely to be the only thing Izu had gained in his transformation---though what else he could have gotten, Alida was not sure. She was gifted with the ability to bring life back into the natural world around her. It wasn't unheard of, but it wasn't common either. Some were able to heal, others were able to tame wild animals. There were many other types of gifts, but Alida had not personally experienced them. After all, no one knew why people had the gifts they did, just that they were to use them with care.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">"Damn it all,"</span>she muttered to herself in irritation. There she went again, letting her thoughts go off into the sunset. She looked off into the distance around them, giving a sigh of contentedness. It was nice to be back home, no matter what the future held.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">______<br/><br/><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #0000FF">Yehuda</span></span></div><br/><br/>Angry pacing could be heard in the room of Yehuda, the recently rejected butterfly. He was furious, more so than he ever imagined he could be. She had been in his grasp before those bastard beasts came rummaging through Euthalia. Alida had been so close to being his that it made the pain of losing her to a disgusting human all the more horrid. The way her autumn eyes showed so much concern for the human made his blood boil. That concern should have been for him. She should have been embracing him back when he caught her in his arms. She should have been filled with absolute joy at being reunited with him.<br/><br/>But she wasn't.<br/><br/>She had only wanted to fawn over the Zu guy, to defy their contract, to embarrass him in front of everyone.<br/><br/>The whore would pay--she would pay dearly, and so would her human toy.