Beast Hunt: Capture:

Kaia-Mai walked through the village of Makkura and headed straight towards the tower. She had never been inside of the big building before and hoped that she would be able to find Avery rather quickly. Though, she suddenly found herself pausing and thinking about how silly she was being. She didn't even have to actually go looking for her, all she had to do so long as Avery had a wireless communicator as well was ask for the female to come meet her somewhere. She had heard that Avery was nice and very helpful, so she didn't think it would be all that big of an issue.

She paused outside of the tower, leaning on a nearby pole that carried the lines for electricity and such for the village or so she assumed that that was what the various wires did. Through the wireless communicator she spoke, "Avery, this is Kaia-Mai. If you're around could you meet me outside of the tower, please? I have a favor I want to ask, and it would be easier to explain in person." She then fell silent and waited where she was standing, hoping that she would either get a response from Avery through the wireless communicator or the female would come from where ever she was.

Arms folded across her chest and she kicked at the dirt with the tip of her black shinobi sandal of her right foot. The more she kicked at the same spot the deeper the little indent became. Would Avery come help her? Or would she have to find some other way to get this beast sealed inside of her? She knew it wasn't exactly an easy task she was about to ask for, but she hoped she would be able to help regardless.

Wordcount: 297 / 500

Avery looked up from the book she had been reading. She was seated in the library of the tower, but like always had her wireless communicator on her. She heard her name, and then a female explaining she was Kaia-Mai - the new girl who Kinzoku had taken from Yokuchi and who had decided to stay - and that she had a favor to ask of Avery if would meet her outside of the tower. Curiosity drove Avery to bookmark her page, close the book, and set it off to the side. She got up and headed out of the library and through the tower.

Once downstairs and in the main front room she crossed the checkered floor and then exited the tower. She crossed the drawbridge that went across the bottomless pit, and finally stopped nearby the black and white haired female who was kicking at the dirt. "Kaia-Mai, right? I'm Avery. What can I help you with?", she asked curiously.

The female looked like she had gotten stronger since she had first arrived in Makkura, and Avery wondered if this had anything to do with the quest for power that the girl seemed to have gained since her family and her had decided to make Makkura their home. Avery of course had no problem helping with whatever it was she needed, so she waited for the female to respond.

Kaia-Mai looked up as she heard the front doors to the tower open. She took in the sight of the blond haired female who she knew from the descriptions she had heard had to be Avery, the retired Kuraikage of Makkura. She watched as the female walked over to her and then stopped. She nodded her head, glad to see that the female had come to begin with. She could only hope that once she heard what Kaia-Mai wanted to do that she would still be willing to help her.

She nodded her head in the direction she had previously come from, the direction of the nest that held the chakra beast, the phoenix, that she was after. "I've been doing some research since I got here about the various chakra beasts that might or might not be lurking around. I found some information on a phoenix, sort of like the one that Junior has sealed inside of him. Only, this phoenix isn't just fire, it's explosive: explosion release. I thought at first it was just a myth, or some sort of bedtime story told to kids. But, I investigated it none the less because that was the release I wished to learn next myself, and after a few trips out to the cliffs of the nearby mountain I not only found the phoenix's nest but saw it with my own eyes. I heard that you're able to seal things, like sealing beasts into people. I was hoping, if it wasn't too much trouble, if you wouldn't mind coming with me and, if I can convince the phoenix to go along with it, to seal it inside of me so that I have access to its abilities."

She didn't know exactly how her mother or father would feel about her deciding to do this without consulting them, but she figured they would be happy with the end results. If she could get this phoenix to agree to being sealed inside of her then she would become far stronger than she was now. Strong enough to be able to help should something bad happen in the village. Strong enough to protect her family and make sure that they stayed safe.

Wordcount: 369 + 297 = 666 / 500

Avery listened carefully as Kaia-Mai went on to explain how she had been doing a large amount of research since she had arrived and met Junior about the various chakra beasts that called the outskirts of Makkura home. She listened as the female explained how she had come across information on a phoenix that was based on Explosion Release and how, even though she had thought they were just stories and rumors, she had gone and investigated around Makkura herself and how she had found not only the nest the phoenix called home but the phoenix itself. She listened to Kaia-Mai's request of her to come with and seal the beast inside of her if the beast was willing.

Avery thought for a second about both the dangers of doing such a task as well as the benefits. It seemed to her as if Kaia-Mai hadn't gone into this half cocked and knew what she could possibly be getting herself into. So, Avery nodded with a grin. "Sounds like fun. You can lead the way and I'll follow. Don't worry about me not being able to keep up... I'm pretty damn fast when needed. We'll see if we can convince this beast to be sealed in you willingly... if not, well I could always do it against it's will, but I'd like to refrain from doing so if possible. Maybe we'll run into someone else who wants to come with us for the added protection... not much can stop Explosion Release, and if we piss the phoenix off... we'll, we might need the added back up."

Now all there was to do was wait for Kaia-Mai to lead the way...

Hanako overheard Kaia's message on the communicator and smiled. Finally, some people to talk to, or at least hang out with. She walked out of it to see Avery and the newest girl in Makkura, Kaia. She approached them with a smile, waving as he got close. "Hey! Sorry to interrupt, but I overheard you needed some help. Is there any way I can assist you? I'm Hanako, by the way. Nice too see you Avery." She said first talking to Kaia and then to Avery. It would be nice to get to know the two of them, as she had been by herself for a while now. She also wanted an excuse to try out her new abilities. She would wait for a response and lean against a nearby tree.

Kaia-Mai was thrilled to hear that Avery was willing to help her even though the situation would possibly be dangerous. She had no interest in forcing the phoenix to be sealed inside of her if she couldn't convince the creature otherwise. If anything it would mean she would have to listen to the constant complaining that the phoenix would likely do, and its depression, and she didn't want to deal with any of that. So, either the phoenix was willing, or it wasn't happening.

Before she turned to start leading the way she saw another female appear and smiled. "I'm Kaia-Mai.", she responded, figuring she would properly introduce herself though she figured everyone in the village knew who she was by now simply because she was the girl Kinzoku had recently kidnapped from Makkura. She then nodded her head in response to needing some help. "Sure, you can come. The more the merrier. I'm hoping to be able to convince the phoenix to be sealed inside of me willingly, though."

She waited a second to give Avery time to respond to Hanako before she turned and began to lead the way through and then out of the village. She had taken this path twice before so she knew it pretty well. "Watch your step... there's some holes in the ground where animals have burrowed in.", she warned before they reached the thicker area of the wilderness beyond Makkura. She was heading almost towards the mountain in the distance, but more off to the side to the cliff she now knew the phoenix's nest to be. She kept her pace steady but slow enough for the others to easily keep up with her. By now she knew where to put her feet and where to step, so it made it easier.

Within a short period of time the cliff with the orange and red glowing next came into view, the glow sticking out from amongst the darkness of Makkura. "There it is... last I saw her, just a little while ago, she was asleep in that nest.", she explained quietly. She kept her eyes peeled as she looked around for the slightest trace of the orange and red glow that the phoenix gave off which she was sure would stick out against the night sky.

Wordcount: 384 + 666 = 1,050 / 500

Avery looked over to Hanako when the woman arrived and gave a nod with a smile. "Nice to see you, too." She then looked over to Kaia-Mai as she explained that Hanako was more than welcome to come along on this little adventure. Avery was glad to hear that they had found someone else to come with them: she wasn't entirely worried, but back up would be nice. All phoenix's seemed able to utilize fire to some degree, and while Avery was no longer as weak to the stuff as she had been when they had first came to Makkura, she still had no intentions of getting herself burnt to a crisp.

She followed after Kaia-Mai as she led the way through and out of the village. She had seen the area they were entering, though never from the ground. Normally, she had glimpsed it while gliding around on her giant iron fan. She was careful to watch where she stepped so that she didn't twist or break an ankle.

They made progress and eventually came upon the cliff that Kaia-Mai must have been talking about since she was able to see the strangely glowing nest, but no phoenix in it. She looked around too, wondering where the bird could have gone, and hoping that this went smoothly. "I wonder where it's gotten to.", she muttered softly.

Just like that, She received an invite to go on a Chakra Beast mission. She nodded thankfully, accepting the invite without hesitation. They both were polite so far, so she was more than willing to help them out. She would follow Kaia and Avery, making sure to avoid the holes that she described. As they walked the glowing cliff she described slowly came into vision. Hanako was pretty excited if she was going to be honest. This was her first time seeing a chakra beast unsealed. She couldn't help but wonder what type of personality it had and if it would be sealed peacefully. These answers would come in time.

After a bit longer, they got close enough to notice that the Pheonix was not in it's nest. A wave of caution immediately hit Hanako's person, looking around to see if it was attacking. "If we need to get a view from the sky, I'm more than happy to do it." She suggested, as she continued to search. Her dojutsu wasn't useful until she got a visual on it, so she would have to do it the old fashioned way.

Kaia-Mai looked around a bit more with a slight frown, it was odd not to see the phoenix's bright coloration anywhere at all. Just as she was about to respond to Hanako she heard a strange crying sound off to the right. It sounded like a bird, a very huge bird, only the cry was one of pain or frustration. "What's that?", she asked the others.

However, she didn't wait for a response as she turned and moved off in the direction of the noise. Something in her gut told her that despite the dangers she had to help this creature. She couldn't just turn and walk away. It was if the creature were calling to her very soul, and ignoring such a call would rip her soul in half and render her a monster. The cry called out once more and Kaia-Mai hurried her footsteps.

"I'm coming!", she called out, unable to help herself. She felt drawn to the creature, determined to find out what was wrong and fix it no matter what it took. She pushed herself further and further just as the area around began to give off a faint glow. She knew then that what she was hurrying to help was the phoenix they had been looking for but unable to find. It was on the ground, and from the cries, and what she saw as she finally pushed the bushes aside to reveal the fallen bird, it had got itself trapped in a very sadistic looking trap that looked as if it had been there for thirty or more years.

Kaia-Mai dropped to her knees, no longer worrying if the magnificent phoenix would hurt her or not, and began to make quick work with unlatching the trap so that she could free the phoenix's leg. "Hold still, I'll have you out of there in a jiffy."

"Bless you child.", the phoenix responded, her crys going silent. The phoenix watched her with red-orange eyes as one by one the latches of the trap were loosened and freed. Finally the last sprang free, and the phoenix moved her foot out of the trap. "Thank you... but, why are you here? In such a strange and dangerous part of the world?" 

Wordcount: 373 + 1,050 = 1,423 / 500

Avery heard a cry and then watched as Kaia-Mai took off and started heading away from the group. Not wanting the female to venture off alone, especially if such a noise happened to be a trap, she started to follow after her. "Come on... this could be a trap.", she said softly to Hanako. She kept up with Kaia-Mai despite the rather plant heavy terrain around them: it made her long for her gliding fan and the ability to move freely. But, she wasn't going to give into her fear of closed in spaces.

Instead, she watched as Kaia-Mai parted the bush to reveal the phoenix they had been searching for. The phoenix was caught in some very old looking trap that looked like it was incredibly painful. Kaia-Mai rushed in and began to free the thing as if she were no longer worried about the phoenix harming her. Avery had heard of bonding between a beast and a host, could this be something like that?

"...... We were looking for you. Or rather, Kaia-Mai was.", she said with a nod of her head towards Kaia-Mai as she finished freeing the phoenix.

Only moments after she spoke, a painful cry resounded through the area. It sent a slight shiver down Hanako's spine as Kaia took off in it's direction. Avery followed asking Hanako to do the same. "Your right. Let's go." She moved without hesitation, hoping not to loose sight of the new Makkura ninja. After a bit of weaving through thick vegetation, they came upon the bird who was stuck in a trap. The metal was rusted and old, making Hanako think it had been there for many years. Kaia immediately started undoing the trap, releasing the bird after a few moments. She couldn't help but feel bad for the incredible creature. Traps tended to be painful, so she could understand it's cries. 

The phoenix seemed quite intelligent, asking Kaia why she was in a place like this. Their bond was obvious, even if they had just met each other. Avery commented that Kaia was looking for her, to which Hanako nodded. She didn't speak though, as she didn't want to say anything to upset it. She was pretty bad at social interaction, so she would simply sit back and watch what happened.

The phoenix looked at Kaia-Mai after hearing Avery's words and seeing Hanako nod. This young girl had been looking for her and she could only guess as to why. The phoenix chuckled and then nodded. "Ah, I see. I suppose one of you knows the art of Fuuinjutsu as well?" the phoenix asked, not angry, simply very amused sounding. Kaia-Mai here, as one of the female's had called her, had likely come searching for Kasai in hopes of having her sealed within her and granting her access to her powers. Many had tried in the past and failed; they had been blown up into tiny little pieces and never seen again. But, Kasai wasn't going to do that to Kaia-Mai. "Many have come in the past looking to have me, Kasai, sealed inside of them, but their hearts were nowhere near as pure as yours, Kaia-Mai. Instead of using the fact that I was trapped as I was to your advantage you instead rescued me, even if meant allowing me to escape and losing your chance. For that... and the bond I cannot deny feeling... I will allow myself to be sealed within you." 

Kaia-Mai couldn't believe what she was hearing, a grin spread across her face and caused her orange-red eyes to light up with a spark of happiness; as if there were a flame burning within her that had suddenly grown large enough to see, and her eyes were windows to that flame. "Thank-you... it would be my honor for you to allow that to happen.", she responded reverently. Knowing that she would have to maintain contact with the phoenix she held her hand out and waited for the phoenix to finish making the contact. 

Kasai reached over a wing and finished making contact. "Go on and do what is needed.", the phoenix spoke with yet another chuckle. She was amused by the whole process.

Wordcount: 317 + 1,423 = 1,740 / 500

Avery grinned too, glad to hear that they weren't all about to be blown to kingdom come for wanting Kasai, as the phoenix called herself, sealed inside of Kaia-Mai. She watched the pair establish contact and pulled out a kunai. She got to work with carving out the needed seal; her work was quick and yet the designs were just as delicate as ever. She moved outward to inward, creating the entire seal around the connected pair.

Her tongue slipped between her lips as she worked, a sign of her concentration. She wanted to get this right so that neither of them were harmed in the whole process of the sealing. The seal moved closer and closer until she had only one last symbol to carve out at the edge of the circle she had carved around the pair. "Here goes... it won't hurt.", she said softly.

She carved out the last of the seal which caused the thing to glow softly and seem to come to life. The seal rose up around the pair like a sphere, closing at the top. From there the seal would begin to shrink around them, coming closer and closer with every passing second. When it could shrink no more it simply laid against them, covering both from head to toe. The phoenix would then become transparent and begun to be pulled inside of Kaia-Mai's body, again a painless process. The process would continue until the phoenix had faded completely from view; entered completely inside of Kaia-Mai.

The seal would glow for a few seconds more as it covered Kaia-Mai from head to toe and then slowly it would dim; leaving behind the mark of the phoenix; the seal in the shape of the phoenix sealed inside of her which would be present on her back and look like a multi-colored tattoo in the colors of Kasai. When she was finished Avery grinned and nodded. "Good to go? We should probably start back before something hungry finds us and tries to turn is into hamburger..."

Hanako watched with intrigue as the two interacted with each other. Their bond was amazing to watch, and it made her long for one of her own. Once they got back to the village, she would do some research in the library to find her own comrade. The phoenix accepted being sealed rather easily, making Hanako smile at the pair of them. Such an occurrence had to be rare, so this girl was lucky. At that time, Avery started making the seal while explaining it was painless. That was a great thing to know. After a few quick moments, the seal was done and activating. Hanako was impressed by Avery's skill in Fuuinjutsu. The seal wrapped all over their bodies and started to make the phoenix transparent. In just another few moments, the seal was complete. It was a marvelous site.

Avery then spoke of them needing to head back before trouble found them. "You're right. I'll take the lead." she smiled and nodded as she turned and started back towards Makkura. Even if she didn't contribute that much to the mission, she was glad she came. It gave her inspiration and direction for the next step in her quest to become powerful for Makkura. Now all she needed to do was some reading and she would be one step closer. 

After a short amount of time they arrived back in the village. Hanako turned to them and smiled. "It was nice seeing both of you. I'm glad the seal went well Kaia. Congrats!" She spoke genuinely as she looked from Avery to Kaia. "I'm gonna head head to the library, but I have my communicator if you ever need me!" She said with a wave. She turned and took off towards the library with a quick pace. At least being social was getting easier for her. That was just another thing she had to thank The Dark for.

[Exit]

Kaia-Mai could hear and feel everything that the phoenix, Kasai, could. She was sure it worked both ways as well. It was as if the two separate beings were now whole. Kaia-Mai looked down at herself, having expected to see something different, and after catching a glance of herself in the nearby puddle of water she couldn't see anything at all. She twisted and turned for a second until she spotted what she was looking for: the phoenix shaped seal she could see on her back when she lifted up the back of her hoodie and shirt.

She dropped her shirt back down and grinned widely. She then nodded to Avery's words and then followed Hanako as she lead the way back to Makkura. Kaia-Mai was silent outward, but inward was conversing and trading secrets with the phoenix. There would be nothing that the other did not know about each other by the time they reached Makkura.

"Thank-you for coming with me you two, I appreciate it greatly. I'll see you around... I should probably go let my parents know what happened." With that said she gave a wave to the pair and then walked off and down the street towards the residential district and into her house to begin explaining about the glorious phoenix and the fact that she would forever be one with the creature.

Wordcount: 227 + 1,740 = 1,967 / 500

[Exit]