Suho closed his pack, buckling it w

Suho closed his pack, buckling it with sharp, easy movements. It was a little too full, bulging in spots, but it would have to do. The distance they were travelling was far, their destination significantly warmer than his current location, so he needed to bring a variety of clothing. He slung the pack over his shoulder, leaving the Shifter’s quarters to bring it to the boat which would carry all the luggage, his fur lined boots making soft noises on the lustreless black stone beneath his feet. Around him, other Shifters were running back and forth collecting the last of their belongings, and it was obvious that not all of them had taken the “only bring what is necessary” rule to heart. He couldn’t blame them; most of them had never been on a long journey like this, and the urge to bring this and that because they might need it was always strong.

Outside of the sleeping quarters, the dining hall was relatively empty. As Suho strode through the rows of tables and benches, the sounds of his boots clicking off the floor was almost obnoxiously loud. A small figure was hunched over one of the tables near the far doorway, his pack acting as a pillow for his head. As Suho neared, the figure glanced up at him and upon recognizing him, immediately sat up at attention.

“Shouldn’t you be taking that to the ship?” Suho asked, nodding at Xiumin’s pack.

“Yes, sir, I was on my way,” Xiumin said, pulling it half off the table as though he was about to swing it onto his shoulders. “I was just...”

He trailed off, looking at the floor in front of Suho’s boots. While every other soldier Suho had passed had been excited at the prospect of a long journey and a chance to prove their mettle in a potential battle, Xiumin looked pale and withdrawn, worrying his bottom lip with his teeth. “What is it?” Suho asked. “Is something wrong?”

“I,” Xiumin started haltingly. He took a deep breath then let his words tumble out, “I am unsure bringing me along on this voyage is a smart tactical move. Sir.” He tacked on the ‘sir’ like he had momentarily forgotten who he was speaking with, and he shuffled his feet nervously.

Suho blinked. He had hand picked the Shifters to bring along himself, and while the generals attacked some of his choices, his fellow Shifters hadn't. Most of his warriors were begging for the chance to fight, not trying to get out of it. “Xiumin,” Suho said slowly, “I chose you all myself, and I don’t see a problem.”

“But,” said Xiumin, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice, “I’m not a strong Shifter. I can barely move minimal amounts of water.”

“You have abilities the others don’t have, and they will definitely come in handy.” Suho hoped the sureness of his tone would ease Xiumin’s anxiety, but it only seemed to worsen it.

“It’s not helpful right now,” Xiumin muttered, fidgeting with the silver snowflake shaped insignia pinned to his chest; it was the same one all the level one Shifters wore.

“Well,” Suho said, smiling slightly, “freezing things isn’t going to be exactly useful when you live on a glacier is it?” He lay a hand on Xiumin’s shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. “Trust me, it’ll be fine. With any luck we won't even have to fight. Now,” he pushed Xiumin towards the door gently, “take your pack to the ship.”

Xiumin picked up his pack and slung it over his shoulders. Then he held out a hand. “I’ll take yours too, sir.”

Suho shook his head, “I need to head that way anyway to talk to the captain.”

Their walk to the docks was silent; Xiumin was fiddling with his pack, letting the straps out or tightening them so that it kept falling down on his back and then coming up high on his shoulders. He seemed to be doing it unconsciously. They’d just stepped out of the castle, the sudden transition from dark stone walls to brilliant white snow momentarily blinding them, when a general called out Suho’s name.

Suho turned to the man, dressed in heavy grey furs over navy fabric, the unicorn badge of the healers pinned to his chest. “I need you to discuss something with you,” said the man, a little breathless from his run across the open court of the castle where they now stood. “We’ve got a slight issue with the roster you requested.” Suho gave a small nod, and the man clapped his hands together. “Good. Yes. You, soldier, take the Lord Suho’s bag to the ship like a good lad.”

Suho gave the man a sharp look — no matter his position with the healers, he had no place ordering Suho’s men around — but Xiumin was already tugging Suho’s pack out of his hands and swinging it onto his own back. Xiumin gave a stiff bow in turn to each man, awkward because of the packs, and then walked swiftly down the path towards the docks.

Suho sighed. “What’s the issue?” he asked, turning to the man, who hadn’t even given Xiumin a second glance.

“The healer you requested is unfit for travel currently,” said the man. Suho knew that was healer talk for “pregnant”, and so he just nodded. There was no way he was bringing a pregnant woman along on a battle mission. “I’ve brought a list of other healers who might fit your requirements.” He pulled a small roll of paper out of his mass of furs and handed it to Suho.

Suho gave it a cursory glance, brow creasing. The list was short, but then the number of competent healers they had was small. None of the names jumped out at him. “Who would you recommend?” he asked softly, attention focused mainly on the list as he read through it a second time.

“Our best student is Yixing,” the man said, leaning over and pointing out a name for Suho. “He’s ranked top of his class and has even surpassed his teachers in some of his lessons.”

Suho looked up, frowning. “He’s still a student?”

“He’s very good,” said the man reassuringly.

“But not battle trained?”

“Well, to be honest, sir, none of the people on that list are battle trained. You already have the ones that are.”

"I am reluctant to bring someone who has no practical experience into a potential warzone," Suho said with a sigh. "But on your recommendation, I will, as well as the other woman, Hyorin. I recall she is quite skilled at healing burns."

The man looked like the idea of letting two healers go at once didn’t sit well at him, but he inclined his head all the same. “I will tell them to begin packing.”

Suho watched the man walk away briskly, and pinched the top of his nose. He could feel a headache forming already, and they hadn’t even set sail yet. He made his way quickly to the docks where the fleet of ships were harboured, feeling the heat of his body after the brisk walk battling with the cold, crisp air around him. His breath came in short white puffs, his boots crunching in the snow on the ground as he shifted, watching the men as they boarded the ship that would take them to the land of the air nation, and into the heart of the war.

——

After closing the door to the practise room, Tao had immediately shucked his elaborate robes, which now lay on the chair next to Kris, so that he was clad only in the thin white undershirt and dark cotton pants which were worn under the robes. It wasn’t hot outside by any means, but he was glad to be out of the piles of fabric. The layers made him feel stifled, no matter how gauzy the fabric may be. Kris looked disapproving, but then Kris never had to wear the ridiculous things. He always looked slightly disapproving anyway, but Tao paid him no mind. It was impossible to practise Shifting in family dress robes, and Tao knew this well, so Kris could shove it.

This practise room was Tao’s favourite place to be. Large, round, and roofless, it gave the illusion of privacy while not making him feel cloistered. The winter had finally given way to spring sunshine, and it was the first time in a long while that Tao had been able to get in here.

He’d already stretched, and he began running his drills, body falling easily into place. He wasn’t Shifting, not yet, just getting reacquainted with his limbs, letting the sun warm his bare arms. After one 360 twist in the air, he said, “God, I have missed this.”

“You know, you could always practise outside,” Kris pointed out, and Tao wrinkled his nose.

“But then people might see,” he said. “And then they would know what I can do.”

Kris just shook his head, dropping his head to go back to reading his book. Tao knew that Kris didn’t understand why he was so secretive about his Shifting ability — everyone knew that Tao was the strongest of the air Shifters, so why make it such a big mystery — but Tao liked to have a couple of tricks up his sleeve. After all, everyone had known what the Phoenix could do, and look at what had happened to him.

A small butterfly had fluttered into the room, shadow dancing on the floor. Tao could feel it stirring the air, and he gently took hold of the air around it, creating soft swirls that held it in place in mid-air, barely quivering.

Kris turned a page of his book without looking up. “Stop showing off.”

Tao huffed, letting the butterfly go. “I was making a point. I can’t do that outside of this room, and you know it. They’d have me trying to do it to people.”

“You can do it to people.”

“Just because I can, doesn’t mean that I should,” Tao said, and he created a gentle swirl of air that plucked Kris’s book from his hands and shut it with a snap in mid-air so that it lost the page that Kris had read up to. Kris shot him a glare and accompanied it with a flat burst of air that made Tao take a step backwards, hair blowing out of place. The use of his powers made Tao grin.

Kris picked his book up from where it had dropped onto the floor with affronted grace. “Are you going to practise?” he asked. “Or are you going to be a brat?”

“Can’t I do both?” Tao asked impishly, answering the question, and Kris sighed.

“You realise that we’re technically at war right now?” he asked, flipping through h

Kết quả (Anh) 2:

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As strode through the rows of Suho tables and benches, the sounds of his boots clicking off the floor was almost obnoxiously loud. A small figure was hunched over one of the tables near the far doorway, his acting as a pillow pack for his head. As Suho neared, the figure glanced up at him and upon Recognizing photographing, sat up at attention IMMEDIATELY. "Should not you be taking the ship out loud?" Asked Suho, nodding at Xiumin's pack. "Yes, sir, I was on my way, "Xiumin said, pulling it off the table as though half he was about to swing it Onto HIS shoulders. "I was just ..." He trailed off, looking at the floor in front of Suho's boots. While every other soldier had passed Suho excited at the prospect được had a long journey of a Chance to Prove chúng and Mettle in a potencial battle, pale and withdrawn Looked Xiumin, Worrying bottom lip with his teeth HIS. "What is it?" Asked Suho. "Is something wrong?" "I," Xiumin khởi haltingly. He took a deep breath then let his words tumble out, "I am unsure Bringing me along on this voyage is a smart tactical move. Sir. "He tacked on the 'sir' like he had momentarily forgotten who he was speaking with, and he shuffled his feet nervously. Suho blinked. He had hand picked the shifters to bring along Himself, and while the generals attacked some of his choices, his fellow shifters had not. Most of his warriors begging for the chance là to fight, not get out of it thử. "Xiumin," Slowly Suho said, "I chose you all myself, and I do not see a problem." "But," said Xiumin, a hint of desperation creeping Into his voice, "I'm not a strong Shifter. I can barely move minimal tiền of water. " "You have the others do not have Abilities, and will definitely come in handy chúng." Suho hoped the sureness of his tone would ease Xiumin's anxiety, but it only Seemed to worsen it. "It's not helpful right now," Xiumin muttered, fidgeting with the silver snowflake shaped insignia pinned to his chest; it was the same one all the level shifters wore one. "Well," Suho said, smiling slightly, "things is not going to freezing beige Exactly khi có you live on a glacier is it?" He lay a hand on Xiumin's shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. "Trust me, it'll be fine. With any luck We will not have to fight even level. Now, "he pushed the door gently Towards Xiumin," take của pack to the ship. " Xiumin picked up his pack and slung it over his shoulders. Then he giữ out a hand. "I'll take yours too, sir." shook his head Suho, "I need to head mà way to talk to the captain anyway." Their walk to the docks was silent; Xiumin was fiddling with his pack, Letting out or tightening the straps add it kept falling down over mà on his back and then coming up high on his shoulders. He Seemed to be doing it unconsciously. They'd just stepped out of the castle, the sudden transition from dark to brilliant white stone walls momentarily blinding snow added, khi general gọi out Suho's name. Suho Turned to the man, dressed in heavy furs over gray navy fabric, the unicorn badge pinned to his healers of the chest. "I need you to Discuss something with you," said the man, a little breathless from his trembling across the open court of the castle where chúng now stood. "We've got a slight issue with the roster you cầu." Suho Gave a small nod, and the man clapped his hands together. "Good. Yes. You, soldier, take the Lord Suho's bag to the ship like a good lad. " Suho Gave the man a sharp look - no matter his position with the healers, he had no place ordering Suho's men around - but Xiumin was already tugging Suho's pack out of his hands and swinging it back Onto His Own. Gave a stiff bow Xiumin in turn to each man, awkward vì of the packs, and then walked swiftly down the path Towards the docks. Suho sighed. "What's the issue?" Asked he, turning to the man, who had not given Xiumin a second glance even level. "The healer you cầu is Unfit for travel thời," said the man. Suho Knew That Was healer talk for "pregnant", and so he just nodded. There was no way he was a pregnant woman Bringing along on a mission battle. "I've Brought a list of other healers who might, ngôn fit requirements." He pulled a small roll of paper out of his mass of furs and handed it to Suho. Suho gave it a cursory glance, brow creasing. The list was short, but then the number of Competent chúng healers had was small. None of the names jumped out at him. "Who would you recommend?" Asked he softly, attention Focused mainly on the list as he read through it a second time. "Our best student is Yixing," the man said, leaning over and pointing out a name for Suho. "He's ranked top of his class and has surpassed his thậm some of his teachers in lessons." Suho Looked up, frowning. "He's still a student?" "He's very good," said the man reassuringly. "But not battle trained?" "Well, to be honest, sir, none of the People on mà list are battle trained. You already have the Ones That Are. " "I am Reluctant to bring someone who has no practical experience potencial Into a warzone," said with a sigh Suho. "But trên recommendation, I will, as well as the other woman, Hyorin. I recall she is quite skilled at healing burns." The man Looked like the idea of two healers Letting go at once did not sit well at, photographing, but he inclined his head all the same. "I will tell added to begin packing." watched the man walk away Suho briskly, and pinched the top of his nose. He could feel a headache forming already, and set sail chúng had not yet even level. He made ​​his way to the docks where Quickly the fleet of ships harbored là, feeling the heat of his body after the brisk walk battling with the cold, crisp air around him. His breath came in short white puffs, his boots crunching in the snow on the ground as he shifted, watching the men boarded the ship as chúng added mà would take to the land of the air nation, and Into the heart of the war. - - After closing the door to the room PRACTISE, Tao had shucked his ngay elaborate robes, now lay on the chair mà next to Kris, he was clad only vì in the thin white cotton undershirt and dark pants worn under the robes mà là. It was not by any means again hot outside, but he was glad to be out of the piles of fabric. The layers made ​​him feel stifled, no matter how the fabric sewing gauzy beige. Looked Kris disapproving, but then never had to wear the Kris Ridiculous things. He always slightly disapproving Looked anyway, but I paid no mind photographing. It was impossible to PRACTISE Shifting family dress in robes, and I Knew this well, compared Kris could shove it. This room was Tao's PRACTISE favorite place to be. Large, round, and roofless, the illusion of privacy Gave it while not making him feel cloistered. The winter had finally given way to spring sunshine, and it was the first time in a long while I had được mà thể get in here. He'd already stretched, and he Began his running drills, body falling Easily Into place. He was not Shifting, not yet, just getting reacquainted with his limbs, Letting the sun warm his bare arms. After one 360 twist in the air, he said, "God, I have missed this." "You know, you could always PRACTISE outside," Kris pointed out, and I wrinkled his nose. "But then người to might see," he said. "And then would know what chúng I can do." Kris just shook his head, dropping his head to go back to reading his book. I Knew That did not hiểu Kris was so secretive about why he Shifting his ability - everyone Knew That I was The Strongest of the air shifters, considering such 'why make it a big mystery - but I liked to have a couple of tricks up his sleeve. After all, everyone had known what the Phoenix could do, and look at what had happened to him. A small butterfly had fluttered Into the room, shadows dancing on the floor. I could feel it stirring the air, and he gently took hold of the air around it, creating in soft swirls it in place mà giữ in mid-air, barely quivering. Kris Turned a page of his book without looking up. "Stop showing off." I huffed, Letting the butterfly go. "I was making a point. I can not do that outside of this room, and you know it. They'd have me thử do it to people. " "You can do it to people." "Just Because I can, does not mean That I should," I said, and he created a gentle swirl of air mà Plucked Kris's book from his hands and shut it with a snap in mid-air over the page có có it lost Kris had read up to. Kris shot photographing a glare and accompanied it with a burst of air that made ​​flat take a step backwards Tao, blowing hair out of place. The use of his powers made ​​Tao grin. Kris picked up from where his book had dropped it onto the floor with grace affronted. "Are you going to PRACTISE?" Asked he. "Or are you going to be a brat?" "Can not I do cả?" I Asked impishly, answering the question, and Kris sighed. "You Realise That we're at war Technically right now?" he Asked, flipping through h