Firestorm Event

Cue watched over Midori and The Little Volcano leave as they walked away. She watched their form was swallowed by the tall prairie grasses. She hoped that the little ones would be alright. She knew that Midori had issues with his self worth, and sometimes that clouded his own judgement. If only he could see just how strong and bright he was. He always tried his best and made it his task to make sure everyone was happy, even if he wasn't happy himself. And the Little Volcano was still too new, and too young, too confused about the big world that they now lived in. She hoped they wouldn't get lost.

Cue sighed. She had more important things to be worrying about. Midori and the Little Volcano could handle themselves. She needn't worry, they were both very capable Esks. Putting out the fire at hand was a more threatening issue. She hurried over to the group of Esk that where awaiting to be bestowed Vetru's enchantment. She easily spotted Lope, and headed in their direction. She paused when she saw Vetru bow his head, the little Esk that she had seen before still stowed away in their mane. She'd have to inquire about that later.

She watched as Vetru brought their beautiful auric horn to the excited Esk before them. Cue's eyes widened as the other began to glow as soft hue of orange, Vetru's own auric horn pulsing along. The Wanderer closed their eyes and grunted, before pulling away.

There was a blinding flash, and many Esk shrank away. Cue had to close her eyes to shield them against the bright glare. And when she opened them again, the Esk before Vetru had spourted a brightly glowing unihorn. It stood tall and proud on the Esk's forehead, a burning orange color that seemed to sear itself into her eyes. "My goodness..." She whispered. She could tell that the other Esks around her were star-struck. Vetru looked proud, and they motioned for the next Esk in line to step forward. They stepped forward hurriedly, eager to receive their own personal horn, or rather, lightning rod. And so it went.

Cue found her way over to Lope eventually, and got a couple of grumbles when she skipped ahead in the line. She offered an apologetic look to the other Esks, before turning to face her little rag-tag group. Violet immediately pounced on her, giggling and yelling about how cool it would feel to receive a horn of her own. She continued to babble about the horns color and height, and how regal it would make her look. Cue chuckled at the Esks antics. Boy was she glad Violet was still the same. Eventually, Elwynn dragged Violet off, and made her sit atop Lope's shoulder in a time-out until they Vetru. Rosette, Song, and Toki were set to keep watch to make sure excited Esk didn't get or make anymore trouble for anybody.

But Violet didn't stay on Lope's shoulder perch for long. They had finally made it to Vetru. The arctic morph was the first to receive her enchantment, eyes wide and glittering as Vetru pressed their horn to her small forehead. When the blinding light faded, on her head was a pale lilac horn, and Violet let out a laugh of delight, she scooted over to the side to stand with he other Esks who had received their auric horns already. Lope went next, getting a dark blue horn. Rosette got a redd-ish purple colored horn, Elwynn got a pale yellow, Song got a silvery-grey blue horn, and Toki got a paler blue version of Vetru's own horn.

Finally Cue stepped forward to receive her enchantment.

She bowed her head, so the Wanderer could access her forehead. Vetru's eyes crinkled in concentration. Their horn burned when it made contact with her skin, but it only lasted for a second before it faded to a pleasant warmth. And then Cue had to close her eyes, because she was glowing this time. She crossed her eyes to see her own horn, and it was the same pale green shade as her eyes. Cue couldn't help but feel a little giddy. Her own auric horn! To catch lightning! She felt like a little child when she walked over to join her friends. They all shared an excited look as they waited for Vetru to finish bestowing his Enchantment on the others.

When he was done, Vetru gave a tired shake of their head, their mane ruffling  ever so gently. Cue watched the tiny little Esk grasp onto the grey Wanderer's mane just a little more tightly.

Vetru steeled their gaze and then turned to his mini army of Esks. "Now," they said, voice loud and thundering, "Use the powers I have given you to draw the any lightning away from the grass and spreading more havoc. I believe in you!" And with that, the Wanderer took a deep breath and bolted towards the flames.

Every Esk followed suit, and the ground and sky seemed to rumble as the first bolt of lightning lit of the sky and descended the earth.

It struck Vetru straight on, but the Wanderer didn't seem to feel as thing as the lightning crackled along their horn before dissipating. It made their mane stand up on end, and Cue vaguely wondered if the small little Esk hidden inside Vetru's mane was okay. It seemed that it was, because it didn't make any mover to get away.

All around her, Cue could  see the other Esks spreading out, getting hit by zaps of lightning. They couldn't handle their new powers as well, from what she could tell. Many of them were toppled over from the sheer force of the electricity. But they didn't seem hurt, if Viloet's excited laughing from somewhere to her right was any indicator. They just dusted themselves off and braced for another incoming bolt. Cue steeled herself too, because she could feel energy being drawn to her. And in the next second, her horn had attracted a bolt of lightning. Cue shook as the energy collided with her, her fur standing on end and floating from all the static. Then the lightning traveled down through her legs and disappeared into the Earth. Cue blinked.

Well that was something.

And then Cue had to stiffen up her body again as another bolt of lightning hit her. When it too disappeared, Cue felt like she could take on the world. Her eyes lit up in a kind of crazy light, and she wanted to feel the lightning coursing through her body again. She felt so strong and powerful. Was this how Vetru felt? She almost started chuckling, but then, she'd really be crazy.

"There they are!' She heard a shout from her left, and turned her head towards all the commotion. The Elementals were back! They had determined loks on their faces, and various blobs of water or mist and even ice floating above around them. Some of their eyes were glowing, and some of them were even crying. But Cue felt it as soon as they came to the scene. The smell of rain, and the air suddenly felt a few degrees damper. She scanned the ground as the closest Esks started to lob globs of water on the fire, the hissing sound of it reaching her ears as each Esk hit their mark. There! She saw Midori and the Little Volcano, side by side. Their was a vortex of water surrounding the grey furred abnormal, and their tail seemed to be made out of water. They controlled the water around them like it was nothing, hurling water left and right. Midori looked like he was soaked. His fur clung to his body, and seemed to be constantly dripping water. There was mist surrounding their limbs, and...Was he crying? But as he cried, she could see a storm cloud forming above him, It got bigger and bigger, and eventually, with a flick of his head, Midori directed it at the flames. And where the cloud went, it rained.

Cue lifted her head as Raindrops began to fall, slowly dripping down her fur in rivlets. The other Elemental had summoned rain. The drops were cold and refreshing, and Cue closed her eyes as a downpour began. She could hear the cheer of the other Esks as the fire was slowly put out. When she opened her eyes, the the prairie was no longer on fire, only thing wisps of smoke curled up from the place where the flames had once danced. And then the rain washed that away too. Cue stood still as she felt her enchantment fade. The rain too started to stop, having accomplished the job that they were summoned to do.

Cue stares at the once lush field. It's blackened and broken. But it would soon revive. She hoped it would. She felt her companions join her side, and none of them said a world at they stared at the prairie.

A gentle breeze ruffles their fur, as their eyes scan their surroundings.

Cue pauses, eyes lingering on the blackened and broken form of the single tree in the field. Its still smoking. A black delicate strand of smoke that curls and twists up in the air. Cue sucks in a breath. She feels a dark energy coming from the tree that she hadn't before. Is that what had drawn her to it? She didn't want to find out.  But she'd have too.

Vetru walks forward. "Stay back everybody," They walk with purpose as their gaze darkens. "I'm going in."