"Report."

A person says firmly within the darkness of a large tower room, windows spanning the side right the desk where the individual sits.

"Sir, we've managed to trace the female wolf mage heading North, but lost her trail somewhere past the South Dakota border."

A digitized and unaccented voice says through small speakers surrounding a desktop screen. The image of an individual with a dark gray banclava and deep-set hood covering most of the face shows on screen, actively fed from some device on that end.

"Damn. Anything else go back-asswards, Scout-201?"

The first person says while lifting a metallic humanoid hand up and out of the screen's glow.

"No sir. We've RV'd with S&C and are proceeding towards Sector 7-31 at current moment." The second person says, a single dark blue circle flaring underneath the hood. "They report all assignments complete."

"Very well. Carry on then."

The first person says, the hand flashing in the screen light as it's brought back down.

The screened person does a quick salute then the screen blacks out, turning to a dark gray after a moment. For what seems like minutes the person sits there silently, the only sound a distant hum from the scene beyond the windows until the creak of a chair joins in, the solitary person standing up from behind the desk and revealing a trace of its' body from the other tower lights outside the windows.

A black fitted suit of high quality traces the right arm and torso with dull, silver-red light, leading up to a mid-age but rough human jawline bearing solid cheekbones stretching almost ghostly pale skin. Deep-set eyes are held in by visually thin but firm brows, edged with softly curling blonde hair. A low gutteral growl vibrates the window before him as his partial reflection begins to change, the jaw and nose expanding out while splashes of bright red-yellow feathers start to grow from every pore. Soon every inch of formerly human face is gone, replaced by a large but supple eagle beak and long feathers as small tendrils of steam rise off the yellow tip of each.

Glancing behind him in the reflection a bulge distorts the frame of his shoulder before the jacket parts from pre-designed slots, the arch of flesh and bone expanding out as more feathers rapidly grow along its' surface. Steam also begins to billow out from the wing in a wave as the feathers reach full growth, quickly blurring the reflection with the vapor.

"..... Soon, we'll be able to move again..... We must have that one though."

He says in an almost rhythmic pattern of voice as he faces his mirror image once more. His eyes remain hidden by shadow even in the reflection as the city below carries on unknowing, or not caring for what inner dialogue he delves into out loud.

"Big brother, they're waiting for us!"

A younger, similiar sounding voice calls out from across the room where a narrow light shines from. A gentle smile grows on his lips as he turns around, quickly fading from the window's visible sight.

"Then let's not keep them waiting for too long then, you hatchling."

He replies teasingly as the light opens wider, stretching the shadows of the two varying height figures into the office room.

"Bro-oo!"

Calls out the smaller figure as the door shuts, cutting off the rest of their conversation.

-----------------------------

White pulls the truck off the highway and onto a smaller, nondescript road, the headlights streaming out into the late night darkness ahead. Every so often a small creek or river appears alongside the road through the grasslands, steadily growing wider with each appearance the further he drives. Eventually the river stays well within view as lights shimmer across its' surface, curling around a well lit two story building with the elegance of a bygone era.

He eases the truck off the road and into the small but well designed parking space before the building, veering into a space near another large vehicle but with enough space between to avoid crowding...... and hitting it with the slanted parking angle he stops at. Turning off the engine and unbuckling himself from the seat at the same time, he glances around through the windows at the surrounding area again, gauging distances and other various processes. After a few sweeps of the area he looks at Racheria, noting that she hadn't awakened from his activity or the lack thereof.

Quietly he unlocks his door and pulls the latch, swinging it open and stepping out of the cab with ghost-like motions. Gently he tugs his M14 from the clamp and pulls it clear of the vehicle, adjusting a sling hook to a rail hinge point and strapping it against his back. With a sigh he turns and hits the keylock as he shuts the door, the sound bounding out into the darkness as he walks towards the building without pause.

'..... Nothing has changed.' He notes while pushing open the double doors and silently walking in, the thin carpet underfoot muffling the remaining noise his steps could make. An open entryway leads into the wide reception area, where a round desk takes up most of the furthest wall from the entry, along with a pair of stairs leading up on each side. Four worn wood pillars lead out diagonally from the entryway towards offshooting halls, along with faint, dull yellow lights pocketmarked along the edge of the inset carpet.

"Welcome Sir. Would you like to see....."

A soft voice sounds from the desk as he approaches, a seated vixen there dressed in a well-cut business suit as she works on a small computer screen, hidden within an alcove under the counter. A quick glance from her becomes a snap lifting of her head, gazing up at White from her seat. "White? You're back?"

White chuckles softly, a low rumble that seems to reverb everywhere within the empty room as he places his left arm on the counter, the rifle barrel peeking over his shoulder shimmering slightly in the lights.

"Hello to you as well, Mara."

-----------------------------

A column of earth into her chest sends her skidding backwards, lines burned into the ground as her flame covered claws drag through the earth to a halt. With a cry of rage she lunges out towards the enemy, blowing a hole in the dirt and incinerating the debris flying in her way. Her steady pace is halted as a mound of earth rises then falls under her feet, dragging her down into the emptiness and sealing itself. As the rumble of the ground collasping fades away, a slow sizzling sound rises out as steam wafts from the shattered earth, growing louder as the ground shakes vilolently with every moment. A large bubble forms in the center of the disturbance, glowing orange-red and expanding outward as it rises above until it bursts with a wave of molten earth.

A whistling sound slices through the ambient bubbling as she seems to fall then steadily glide to a stop just above the ground, her head hanging down as she kneels on one knee and pants vehemently. A low chuckle echoes out from her enemy as it gazes at her with derision, almost as if amused at her attack like a parent watching a child run around. The frail, human body seems out of place compared to the destruction it had been spewing, chaining spells and spirit summons together into a devestating style of magic.

"Tired out yet pup? I expected more vigor from you with that last warcry."

The ancient wolf calls out from it's cavern as it rests it's head on the front paws, watching the ensuing battle passively.

Racheria slowly lifts her head up and drags her sight over the area, sweeping over her enemy then snapping back to it's figure. A red glow shimmers around her irises then expands out, brightening the fur around her eyes into a sea of shining blood. The sound of something crumbling beneath her grows, a soft gurgle growing louder until the ground seems to ripple and distort from a fine mist convalescing around her form. Water begins to gather and ease its way through her fur, flowing across her shoulders and spreading out over her arms and chest like a long sleeved shirt.

Where the fire and water meet on her wrists steam rises, every slight motion of her arms as she stands up trailing the vapor. For a moment both her and her enemy stare at each other until a slight whistle of wind breaks the quiet. Racheria slams her paws together in the direction of the figure, a blazing funnel of superheated steam distorting the air as it clears the space between them faster than the opposition can react, sending it flying back into a wall with the crackle of incinerated flesh and material.

Racheria opens her palms back up and waits as she pants with shuddering breaths, barely hearing the suddering breath of her enemy as it crumbles into dust against the ground. A soft yellow light flows out of it's body as the dust billows away, the glow streaming back into the wolf's body with a soft tingling of power filling the air. Slowly Racheria relaxes her arms and stumbles slightly, the fire swirling back into her palms as the gathered water drips off her fur and into the earth below. With a groan she places a paw against her chest while closing her eyes, gently easing herself to a sitting position on the ground.

"Ugh. That was an earth specialized mage? More like a freight train without the horn, Teacher."

She remarks, rubbing her chest gingerly as the ancient wolf chuffles from it's spot.

"A mid-range one at that, ability and power wise. Over time, a more powerful one can embue portions of thought and will into pressed forms to make golems, among other things of solely earth." It replies within her mind. "But a mage that can control multiple elements has an advantage in nearly every aspect over one with a single focus."

Trailing off, it looks at a browned stalagmite standing off a ways from the prievious battleground, a small vine clinging tightly against the surface. As Racheria watches curiously, the wolf lifts it's head while opening it's mouth, power radiating out and tingling Racheria's fur as the stalagmite is slowly engulfed by more vines rising out of the ground. The sound of earth crumbling is heard as a trail of gold energy streams from the wolf's mouth into the mass, water spreading out through cracks in the stalagmite as it twists and reaches higher into the air. The vines stream around most of the stone as distinct limbs become arms raised above a head, uncovered from the stone as it crumbles away.

Water rivulets etch smooth lines throughout the figure starting from the base, tracing out veins that pulse with power as smooth, gently curving legs are unveiled from the stone, followed by sleek yet shapely hips holding a toned stomach. Smooth, full half-globes are chiseled out and seem to become subtly soft breasts as shoulders are encompassed by vines, springing out from the cusp of the collarbone and draping down over the body with vibrantly green leaves. A soft chin seats lithe dark brown lips below her slim nose, deep set eyes powdering stone as they open to flash a rich mix of golden brown and sky blue irises. With a crackle on the back of her head water bursts out, spraying out a light mist that fades halfway down her back as the veins pulse dark blue all over her body.

As her eyes open she lowers her arms, the leaves rustling with a rippling pattern down her body as she kneels down on one leg towards Racheria, lowering her head to face the ground. A low rumble of amusement draws Racheria's attention back to her teacher as it closes it's mouth, rising up to sit on it's hind legs. A flash of something dark is partially concealed by the thick fur on it's belly and a foreleg, seeming to curl through the fur as Racheria tries to visually trace it.

"One that controls multiple elements can do more than just battle or change the world. What was once now mixes to create something thought long lost. This I say in reply, rise Nymfae, Daughter of both Earth and Water." It calls out, the kneeling female lifting her head up and standing with both her human hands folded over her belly.

"Creator, what is thy will?"

A gentle voice like the bubbling of a brook passes through her lips.

-----------------------------

White unlocks the room door with the keycard and places his right paw on the holstered grip of his M&P40 as he opens the door, slowly opening a portion of it then tossing it wide as he shifts to the outer edge. The entry is clear, a simple short hall leading down into another space that shows no signs of any forced entry. The clean white walls have a mix of modern and traditional pictures hanging evenly spaced along the distance as he quietly walks over the firm gray carpet, stopping against the wall as he approaches a door. He quickly sweeps the back of his left paw around the edge of the door then grasps the knob, shoving the door open then drawing back his arm as he crouches down against the wall.

After a few moments he draws his sidearm and glances around the corner, sweeping the inner edge with his paw and catching the light switch. Gentle yellow light brightens the room and reveals a small kitchen area, various small steel gray appliances adding to the dark wood cabinetry within. With a last sweep he walks out of the room, moving on down the hall and doing the same to the door just around the corner. The room is revealed to be a bathroom, a curtained shower on the far side while an encased sink faces the door, the toilet between the two. With a sigh he backs out, leaving the door open but shutting off the light as he studies the rest of the rather sizeable room.

Two small darkwood nightstands edge the headboard of the King size bed, the both clearly preselected to match the inset wall depth. A thick white comforter is smoothed out over the bed, lined with a lighter, folded sheet at the foot as an alternate covering. A large bay window is covered in partially see through drapes, the view looking out over the river and at foothills beyond. A desk is nestled in the corner left of the window, a small plugin lamp set on the surface.

With one last sweep of the room he turns and walks down the hall, feeling the edge of his belt for the keycard as he grips the doorknob. With a touch of the plastic card he turns the knob and leaves the room, turning left and smoothly traveling over the patterned carpet of the hall towards a large opening at the end. Light shines down into the space as he looks over the entrance from the stairtop, slowly sweeping the open area from his partically hidden spot.

Mara sits at her spot in the front desk, the computer screen becoming visible as White silently traverses the steps. He glances at the screen and perks his eyebrow in curiosity, seeing several different images of what look to be blueprints and an automated design program actively being worked on in a corner of the screen. As he reaches the bottom step he taps the rounded countertop with his knuckles, causing her to jolt up and look around quickly.

"Still working on those BPs Mara? Made any prototypes yet?"

He asks while reaching over the counter and unlocking the swinging door as a yip escapes her, walking in and leaning against the back counter behind her after a moment.

"Not yet. I've had to sell a few prints to supply the funds for my equipment and stock of materials, but nothing quite like these." She says after a moment. She gestures to the screen and rolls her chair back a little, letting him get closer to the screen. "Take a look. You've had a knack for these before I started, anyway."

With a lift of his eyebrow he peels away from the back counter and crowds the front, leaning his right arm on the top as he studies the design drawings on screen. Several varied vehicle designs with focus on a three-stage electromagnetic suspension system are scattered about, a few meant as upgrades to civilian vehicles while one is built ground-up into a completely unknown vehicle. Hydraulic actuators control 110 degree range rotation disks at two points in each of the four heavy external limbs, settling a monstrous design many have tried but few made able to work in medium-scale.

White grasps the mouse and maximises the windowed design, blinking a few times then rubbing his eyes. After a bit he sighs wearily and clicks to the in-process design program, studying the functions and actions of each part of the tool. With another sigh he steps away from the screen, rubbing a paw underneath his chin in thought as Mara looks at his with a questioning gaze. After a moment he snaps his digits and points at her with an index digit, turning to face her fully.

"...On the XD-11/Limb Integral Traverse Heavy Engagement-Base, have you calculated the maximum range of motion per leg, including the Z axis, and power-to-weight ratio needed just for movement?" He asks, his mind splintering into various calculations. ".... Also balance point, maximum angle of climb, weight load minimums and maximums, power supply, crew, logistical ability, yada yada?"

Mara's slim nose and eyebrows scrunch up in distaste as she swings into place before the screen again, rapidly clicking on various drop-down menus and changing the entire presentation of the XD-11. Various angle radii, weight per module, engine data, maximum plate thickness, harness points, and more appear over the drawing in every nessesary area. She swings herself around and gives him a look that screams 'You asked, smartass?' while folding her paws over her lap.

"Heh, I should have known. Glancing at the data now..... I'd say it's feasible. Cost of development will be a pain though." He says, glancing towards the front doors then giving a stout chuckle. "Anyway, I need to get someone into a real bed. My truck seats might be nice, but not for sleeping while sitting up."

With that he turns and walks out from the counter towards the front doors, Mara watching him with a mix of curiosity that then turns to shock as she stands up from her chair and gawks at him.

"You're a parent?!"

She calls out in a noticably higher pitch than before, White wincing from the sound as he stops and turns around.

"Hell no. I'm not ready for a life-changing event such as that."

He replies, turning back around and exiting out the door with quick steps.

'..... Even then, who would want to with me?'

He thinks as he walks out to his truck and unlocks it, opening up the passenger side to find Racheria still asleep but.... 'What the fuck?'

Her eyes seems to glow slightly through the lids, along with multiple colored lines visible through fur streaming along her veins. Caution triggers alarms in his mind as he grabs the H&K out and hangs it around his neck, letting it drape there as he eases his arms under her legs and back. With a gentle lift he holds her against his chest and out of the vehicle, closing the door with his foot and locking it once clear. Each of his steps ring out into the night as a sense of urgency takes hold of him, propelling him through the door and quickly up the stairs with Mara in tow. He manages to pull the keycard from his belt and unlock the door, passing through the hallway to the bedroom in quick order.

Mara slows to a stop at the edge of the hallway as he sets Racheria down on the bed, the colored lines now not only visible through her fur, but through her clothing as well. Stepping back, he warily watches her as her veins seem to pulse with a mix of energy and color, power radiating from her body in waves and buffeting both of them with its' force. After several tense moments the surges lessen as the colors fading from her extremities back to her core, converging into a bright shine that forces White and Mara to shield their eyes. The light fades away seconds later, leaving only a sleeping wolfess mage and two very confused people.

"What the fuck is going on White?"

Mara asks after staring at Racheria for a bit, locking her gaze on his back.

He takes a deep breath and moves closer to Racheria, grasping her wrist softly and feeling her easy pulse through the tips of his digits.

"Honestly? I have no fucking idea."