Rory held the bag in her hands, glancing around her room with uncertainty. Reaching her hand up, she scratched the crook in her neck. The twins told her to pack her things for the trip, but she didn't know what she could need. She had no clue where her belongings were in this room- the layout was entirely different from her old room, and it was much grander. Hearing a bark behind her, Aliya began to fly around the room, weaving in and out of the stars. Rory frowned slightly in wonder as she watched Aliya dive into a crate. There were some noises from within the box before the vixen soared back out with a few shirts in her mouth.
"You're a lifesaver," Rory smiled, taking the shirts from her teeth and gently placing them in the bag. She had forgotten that Aliya had spent most of her time here exploring the house- it was likely she remembered where many items are. A part of her felt guilty for wearing Aurora's things, but the others reassured her that Aurora would not mind. "All right, what else?"
Aliya soared towards her table and landed on it elegantly- her wings fluttering quickly to slow her down. Her paws hit her hairbrush, pushing it towards Rory. Making her way towards her amicorda, she placed the brush in her bag. She brought her hand up and gently stroked her vibrant fur in appreciation. The vixen took off once more, guiding her in her packing. She packed a few more items in the bag that was quickly filling up.
Her amicorda flew to the other side of the room, and Rory began to follow before freezing. Keeping her eyes locked on the stars in the front of her, she gingerly danced her fingers on the stars. She grinned as she felt energy soar through her body. Aliya barked once, and Rory felt a breeze as her vulpide returned to her. She levitated on the opposite side of the star, staring at the star with Rory. Letting out another bark, Rory assumed she wanted her to bring some of the stars.
"Can I really just take them?" Rory whispered in awe, not sure if she was directing her question at Aliya or to no one in particular. She was still not entirely sure if Aliya could understand her when she spoke, but she did not doubt that her vulpide knew what she was thinking at any given time. She assumed this was due to the bond that her amicorda made between them.
Aliya lifted her paw and hit the star, pushing it towards her. Grinning slightly, Rory pursed her lips gently before making up her mind. She wrapped her hand around the star, and reluctantly placed it in her bag. When she held one of the stars, it could be hard to let go. The power they gave her was addicting. She had noticed she could absorb some of the power and essentially store it for later. Shuffling around the room, Rory continued to place some stars in her bag.
"So, you're not only stealing Aurora's life but her things?" a harsh voice accused her from the hallway. Her happiness quickly slipped away, knowing exactly who it was.
"Oh, joy, Malakai!" Rory shouted sarcastically, turning around to see him leaning against her door. "Aren't you just a bottle full of sunshine? To what do I owe the displeasure?"
"We're leaving soon, are you ready yet? Or are you not done stealing yet?" he snarled venomously, charging forward and ripping the bag from her hands. Glancing inside, he saw all the items she was planning on bringing. "You're taking her stars? Her clothes? These aren't yours."
"Aidan and Maximus told me I could borrow some stuff. Her stars give me power which we could need if this coven is as strong as you all say they are," Rory said as she tore the bag from his hands, placing it up in the air. His eyebrows furrowed for a moment before Aliya snagged the bag from her hands, flying up towards the ceiling where he couldn't reach.
"Clever, princess. You know, you won't always have your little vixen to protect you from the things that go bump in the night," Malakai pointed out as he pointed at her harshly, getting very close to her face. Rory tilted her head with a glare, wanting him to back up. She felt a tingle in her body, and she was reminded of the energy she stored from the stars.
"You're right... I guess it's a good thing that I don't need anyone to fight my battles for me," Rory grunted out before she quickly pressed her hand against his stomach, sending her energy to him. There was enough energy from the stars to blast him backward, slamming him against the wall.
"I'm getting really sick of that little trick." Malakai pushed himself off the wall and moved his hands slightly; two green, luminescent shields appeared on his hands, and he threw one towards her. Eyes widening, she angled her hand to block the shield. Throwing her last bit of energy from the star outwards, it sent the shield directly to the ceiling. It slammed against the ceiling before disintegrating, leaving a hole in its place.
"Are you mad?" she spat out, eyes wide with horror at his actions.
"Absolutely."
"That could've killed me, you prat!"
"You blasted me with some sort of star energy!" he retorted, spreading his arms out in defense.
"It wouldn't have bloody killed you! Although, on second thought... maybe I should-" Rory said as she reached up and absorbed energy from a star. Power soared through her veins, and she clenched her jaw tightly. Sticking her hand out, she nearly blasted him with the energy when she was interrupted. Rory froze, her hand falling slack by her side. Sucking in a deep breath, her vision got foggy.
Rory saw herself in a dark room. Her knees were bunched to her chest, her arms wrapped around her shins. She saw herself shivering from the cold bite in the room. Her hair was very untamed, the greasy hair sticking out in every direction. Wild eyes suddenly darted around the room as if she felt someone else there. Her eyes landed on where Rory stood, and she hesitantly lifted her hands.
Pulling her lips in skeptically, Rory wondered if it was safe to touch someone in her visions. Nonetheless, she raised her hand and cautiously took a step forward. A knot twisted in her stomach, a sick feeling filled her body. Pushing through it, she advanced towards herself. Their fingers gingerly touched, and a spark ignited in her body. A flicker of pain stabbed her body. Stumbling backward with a sharp inhale, Rory got one thought pushed in her mind before she came back to reality.
'Rory, help me.'
"Rory? What did you see?" she heard a voice call out to her. Her eyes fluttered open to see Malakai standing in front of her. His hands were on her shoulders, cupping them gently. Frowning at him, she disorientedly moved away from him. She placed her hands on her table to steady herself. Gulping air into her lungs. "Rory?"
"I saw her- I saw Aurora. She's alive," Rory told him, pushing her hair back with a shaky hand. Her heart hurt for Aurora, and she could feel the pain she was in both physically and emotionally. "She's in a dark room, and she doesn't look well, we need to find her."
"Slow down, would you?" he suggested slowly, his hands still in the air as if to calm her. Licking his lips, he seemed to hesitate for a moment. "Are you all right?"
His question threw her off guard, causing her to knit her eyebrows in his direction. He appeared to be genuinely concerned for her. Rory couldn't help but wonder what she looked like while having a vision if it threw him off this much. "I'm fine... we need to tell the others what I saw."
"...and then I touched her hand and felt some sort of... spark."
The others stood in silence as Rory finished telling the other her vision. Aidan glanced at the ground, swallowing thickly. Rory could not even imagine what any of them were going through- their sister was taken and was now in pain and scared.
"Did you see a sign or- or any indication as to where she could be?" Aidan pleaded, eyes filled with despair. Rory sighed, raking her mind for what he had asked for. Blinking quickly, she tried to focus.
"Well, it's a bit fuzzy."
"There is one person who could help," Channing reluctantly said from beside Maximus.
"Eliphas," Eira guessed, sighing out slightly in disdain. "Certainly not my first choice."
"Not anyone's first choice," Maximus grunted out in annoyance as he shifted uncomfortably. "But you're right; he can get in her head."
Rory let out a bark of laughter, disbelief covered her features. "Well, that sounds lovely! Why don't we just invite him to move in?"
"Do you have any other ideas?" Malakai spoke up as he interrupted her. Glancing back at him, she gritted her teeth. Her last encounter with the warlock was anything but pleasant, but she knew they had to do it to save Aurora.
"No," Rory caved, refusing to meet his eyes, "where's the damn feather?"