Fresh Air (OOC: during the V-Day dance)

[Demeter]

: "You'll leave him alone if you know what's good for you," Flora said, embracing the feeling of power she got from her loss of control. She laughed darkly, as she watched the Wendigo avoid the roots of the trees. Several trees near where the professor and his "not lover" stood ripped themselves free from the ground and started to move towards where the Wendigo and fairy fought.

[Palladium]

Heeding Cora's signal, Palladium stood silent for a moment, immediately sensing the same presence she had. Knowing the area better than Cora, after only a few more moments, he could pinpoint where the disturbance was coming from.

Taking Cora's hand, he pulled her forward. "Follow me - but be careful. Whatever is emanating these vibes is on the attack; I don't want you to get hurt."

Moving forward carefully, Palladium started down the path that lead to the edge of the lake. As he approached the shore, he signaled for Cora to stop. Crouching down, he peered through the reeds, trying to distinguish what was attacking before making his presence known. That way, he would be able to determine what magic would and would not work on the creature without putting himself directly in harm's way.

And then he heard a rumble and the earth began to shake. Narrowing his eyes, Palladium vaguely made out the slender figure of a fairy - a very familiar fairy. Flora. And someone else. A young man, most likely. Noticing the man lying on the ground, motionless, Palladium grimaced. He was obviously injured.

As he opened his mouth to begin chanting a protection spell for the young man, he paused - hearing Cora's voice. Turning his head to look at her, he saw her standing, her eyes closed, and her lips moving, forming the words of an ancient shield spell.

Knowing that the young man would be protected, Palladium began to turn his attention toward Flora, who seemed at a distance to have lost control of her Winx. And then he heard the sound of roots ripping from the earth. Looking at the trees that surrounded himself and Cora, Palladium cursed under his breath and closed his eyes, focusing all his energy on keeping them from moving. Flora was out of control; she needed to be stopped before she harmed herself more than the Wendigo.

[darker]

"You silly little fool, how dare you get in my way." the wendigo screeched as she launched herself towards Flora.

[Demeter]

: Flora barely reacted on the outside, her eyes closed. A dark smile crossed her tanned features as a large tree grew in front of her - blocking the wendigo. "Not bad," she purred darkly. "Care to try again?"

The tree's largest branch swung out - aimed straight at the Wendigo.

[darker]

Using the branch that was heading towards her as extra speed to come out at the Flora the other way around the tree. "I am not that easy to catch."

[Demeter]

: "Nor am I. I'm the fairy of nature so you'll be surprised what I can do," she snarled. She raised her arms up and blocked a blow, not caring that the claws raked her arms.

As the drops of blood hit the ground, they transformed into roses of the same dark shade and raced out to tanlge around the Wendigo's legs.

[Palladium]

Moving closer to Flora and the Wendigo, Palladium whispered a chant. As the words formed on his lips, he felt a surge of energy course through his body, flowing toward his hands. Within moments, a large glowing orange ball of energy had taken shape between his palms. Eying the Wendigo, Palladium raised his hands over his head and then launched the ball at it, a tight smile crossing his face as the energy hit the beast.

Not wasting a moment, Palladium called to Cora, "Help me restrain, Flora. It's not going to be easy - it will take both of our powers combined to do it, but we must before she hurts herself any more than she has. She won't be able to fight both of us off - combined, we're too strong for her." Noticing Flora's bleeding arms, Palladium winced as he saw Flora's bleeding arms, and then called to Cora, "Ready? Now!"

[Cora]

Her body tense, Cora closed her eyes, trying to block out all the sounds - of trees ripping from the earth, from the screams of the Wendigo, everything. Knowing that she had to hurry, Cora quickly began chanting a binding spell, hoping that it would be enough to restrain Flora when combined with another binding spell Palladium was chanting.

As she put all of her energy into the spell, holding nothing back, she felt her body weaken and her strength drain away. Falling to her knees, Cora squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to continue chanting amidst the thundering rumble of moving earth. Her head began to scream in pain as she pushed forward, continuing the spell even though her body protested. Palladium had said that it would take both of their powers combined to stop Flora and if that was what was necessary, that was what she would do.

As Cora continued whispering the words, she kept her eyes shut, knowing that if she opened them her focus would be gone and the chant would be worthless. She knew not if the chant was even phasing Flora, but she could not think about that now. She would just have to keep going until her body gave out and hope that she had given enough for Palladium to be successful . . .

[Demeter]

: Flora's eyes glanced about, trying to see why her arms felt stiff. She struggled to break free of whatever was holding her. She was not very happy to be restrained. "You know, you really are beginning to annoy me," she said, her voice sounding off, almost darker then what either person remembered.

[Palladium]

Seeing that Flora was successfully restrained, Palladium decided that now was the time for him to begin another spell - one that would temporarily put her into a deep sleep. It would be dangerous, though. In order to chant the sleep spell and for it to take effect, he would have to stop chanting his part of the binding spell, meaning that Cora would be the only one restraining Flora. Knowing that Cora's energy was draining away with each passing moment, he knew that he would have to act fast.

Quickly, Palladium began reciting the sleep spell, watching Flora carefully for any signs that she might be able to break free of the glowing white magic ropes that bound her.

[Demeter]

: Flora struggled against the ropes. "You have really annoyed me," she hissed, her green eyes flashing between her normal green and a frightening golden color. 'I really should have turned him into a tree,' she mentally thought. "When I get free, there will be hell to pay."

[Palladium]

'Not if I have a say in it,' Palladium thought to himself as he began speaking the sleep spell more forcefully, knowing that even in this state, Flora's powers could not match his and Cora's. They would win somehow.

And then he heard the sound of a body falling to the earth. Immediately, his gaze flew to Cora and his eyes widened in horror as he saw her lying limply on the ground, her eyes open, but blank and lifeless.

[Demeter]

: Flora was tempted to taunt the professor and his little elfling female but she didn't want to spoil her fun right now. "I didn't know you were into bondage, Professor," she purred, glancing at him through half closed golden eyes. "What other dark fantasies do you take part in?"

[Palladium]

Knowing that it wouldn't be wise to turn his back to Flora, but knowing that he had to help Cora, Palladium was torn. If he turned his back, it was anyone's guess what Flora would do to him - but if he didn't go to Cora she would die. He already could feel her presence fading away, her spirit leaving her body - she had used every drop of her energy fighting, leaving nothing left to survive on.

Making his decision, Palladium ran to Cora's side to transfer some of his energy to her, hoping beyond hope that he was not to late to save her. Placing his hands over Cora's chest, he whispered a healing chant, tears forming behind his eyes as she laid there motionless. Refusing to let her go, Palladium spoke with more fervor, blocking out all other thoughts so that his focus was only on her. After what felt like an eternity, Palladium sensed a small stir of life return to her body. Breathing a sigh of relief, Palladium lifted his head, looking into Flora's eyes as he held Cora's hand.

"You can stop this, Flora. You don't have to attack any more - I am not your enemy, Cora is not your enemy." Having given half of his energy to Cora, Palladium himself was drastically weakened. "I cannot fight you any longer - now, it is up to you to fight your own demons."

[Demeter]

: Flora rolled her shoulders, and moved her arms, shattering the ropes binding her. "Suppose I don't want to fight my own demons? Suppose I'm tired of being treated like Little Miss Flower Power Tree Hugging Hippie that's all Sunshine and Light?" she drawled, holding his gaze, her now golden eyes sparkling with dark amusement. Her fairy outfit darkened, changing, altering to look more "witch" then "fairy". "What then, Professor?" she purred.