As soon as Lugoj stepped out of Makoda's room and shut the door. A blinding flash of white light encased the door, and the walls to either side as far as the dimensions of her room. Her Magick would allow nothing in, except Trickster. It always let Trickster come and go as he pleased, which left Makoda hoping he never caught the Foaming Sickness. The girl's breathing shallowed out, until it very nearly came to a stop as she rested. One would be hard pressed to know if she was still living or had passed on in her sleep. Even her heart beat would be hard to locate, unless one had the patience to wait for it.<br/><br/>Makoda found herself standing in a softly dappled glade within an ancient woods. She gave a sigh and started looking around. It didn't take her long to realize she was in the Spirit Realm and not the Dream Scape. Another sigh escaped her, rather exasperated in sound. A man (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/SoaringDragon/media/RPG%20Characters/e15c1adc4c401fe_zps95b53853.jpg.html?sort=3&o=20) stepped from the trees shaking his head. "Makoda, you do not even take the time to enjoy the scenery." His voice held exasperation at her impatience.<br/><br/>"Uncle." She studied the Native American as he walked up. "Unless you've brought me here--"<br/><br/>He held his hand up and cut her off. "You know very well I can tell you nothing concerning your Father. This is your Quest. Your Test."<br/><br/>Makoda actually rolled her eyes. "Then why?"<br/><br/>"Can I not see my favorite niece?"<br/><br/>A snort. "I am your only niece."<br/><br/>"And that is<em>why</em>you are my favorite." He gave her a cheeky grin and then enveloped her in a hug. An annoyed growl came from her, but she hugged him back. In truth she loved her Uncle dearly. He was as opposite her Father as a person could get. Always laughing, making a joke, being a smart ass. She had many fond memories of him growing up. And<em>lots</em>of laughter. Even her Father would laugh more when his brother was around. They parted and she saw one of those rare moments when he was actually serious on his face. She gave a groan, knowing she was in for a lecture of some sort. "Don't you groan at me, Missy. You know very well, what you are doing is dangerous. Your<em>Friend</em>isn't as wonderful as you think. Or have you already forgotten the images you got from that Fox Girl at what he'd done to her?"<br/><br/>Makoda turned away before she made a retort she would regret. A pale blue colour caught her eye and she looked down to see the rose the Shadow Walker had given her wrapped around her left arm. The bloom rested at her wrist and the stem wrapped her arm, following the scar that showed here.<em>How... interesting...</em>Her mind was split, part of it was trying to figure out why the rose would be here and part was working up a reply to her Uncle. Before he could get impatient and start again, she finally spoke. "No, Uncle. I have not forgotten what the Werefox showed me when I healed her. Or the awful amounts of damage done to her. But then, I've never been one to automatically condemn another for how they are. Or who they are."<br/><br/>A sigh escaped her Uncle. "I know. I blame your Father for your easy acceptance of things most people would have the good sense to get as far away from as humanly possible."<br/><br/>"Pfft. You always blame Father, for everything. Sometimes justified, most times not." She watched as the rose started to slowly sink into her skin. Before long it looked like a beautifully made tattoo. She raised a brow at this new development and watched as the green and black of her Soul Fire tried to absorb the pale blue, but was unable too. It couldn't even get any of its tendrils to latch on anywhere.<br/><br/>A snort above her ear brought her back to the conversation and she craned her neck to find her Uncle standing right behind her staring down at her arm. "True enough. But Child, you play with dangerous stuff." His eyes looked troubled.<br/><br/>"I am capable."<br/><br/>"I know. That's what worries me the most. You don't have the good sense to fear as you should. Great Spirit, Child! You even went back to have a talk with Azazel after you got a handle on that Soul Fire." He shook his head and moved to stand in front of her. He raised a hand and grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Just be careful, Niece. And<em>never</em>forget who you are." His gaze pierced her as did his words as she watched him drift apart like leaves on the wind. She felt a soul deep chill sweep through her as she heard a lone wolf howl not too far away. She had a very strange feeling she was at some sort of crossroads and no clue which way was the way she was supposed to go.<br/><br/>"Bother. As if things are not difficult enough." Her words, softly spoken seemed to echo around her.