Soul Takers 2.0

“We could all go then, the three of us.” Neph said

“Nothing.” Rhett replied

At last the rain let up and Kirin's protective pocket of air disipated, allowing her to focus her energy on the power of her wings. Each downward stroke of her wings carried her farther than the last, and soon, the house was in sight. She glided back down to the tree line. As she neared the ground, she shifted into her human form, landing lightly on the balls of her feet before striding through the back door.

"Tired... and annoyed." Colton said. "And if you wanted to train why not train in the training ground instead of up here, on the roof?" He asked.

Luka said. "Well I guess that could work, what do you say Rhett?" he asked the human.

Riley was out on the far end of the property repairing some of the damaged trees.

“Go into town? I guess so.” Rhett shrugged.

"Well then we'll go into town a little bit later." Luka smiled gently.

"Maybe we'll leave so we'll be in town for lunch." Neph said.

"We can try to do that yeah, we'll just want to let dad know before we leave."

Amber studied one of the shingles on the roof, and twisted her hair in her hand. "There's a lot I need to try to learn, but I didn't want to be iin anyone's way. Besides, the air up here feels really nice on my wings."

Luka looked at Neph and smiled. "once you're done eating we'll go find dad and try talking to him."

Kirin tied up her hair and looked around the base to try to see where everyone was.

Nephele jumped out of her seat after finishing breakfast and went upstairs to grab a coat and bag. She came back down and sat by the door, waiting for Riley to come home

Luka looked at her and smiled. He transformed a coat onto himself. "Let's go find dad." He said as he grabbed the handle of the door. He opened it and started to walk outside.

Nephele pushed herself to her feet and swung her bag over her shoulder, rushing past Luka out the door and jumping towards the woods.

Rhett almost didn’t notice them about to leave. He grabbed his coat and walked briskly to catch up after Luka.

Luka looked at him and gave him a small smile. "Slow up Neph. I'll send out a search signal for dad in the moment." He said. He walked off the porch and walked to the lawn. "Now, I'm not nearly as attuned to Earth as dad is, I am a fire demon after all." he said as he pressed his hand against a tree. "But I still have basic abilities." he said as he closed his eye and sent out a pulse of energy. He felt the pulse rock back. He pulled his hand back and gasped. "Alright I know where dad is, come on he's in the west woods." He said.

Neph kept running towards the woods as if she didn't hear Luka. She did hear however that their dad was in the west woods, and she cast her senses out through the roots of the forest as she went. She sensed where Riley was and ran as fast as she could, never tripping over any roots or branches.

"I don't think I was here the last time you were. I've only been here for just over two years now I think..." Rhett said, picking up his pace a little but walking slightly behind Luka. He rubbed and eye tiredly.

Riley was deep in the west woods sitting on a stump. He was surrounded by dead trees, and energy was leaking off his body as he tore of chunks of his skin and threw them onto the ground. Where he threw them trees started to sprout as he absorbed the dead trees from around him and used them to start the growing process. Riley was panting and sweating, looking more tired than normal.

"I haven't been around here in over 300 years. Last time I visited my father was when I was 5 years old." Luka laughed as he clapped a hand on his shoulder. Energy flowed from Luka to Rhett as Luka smiled. "You're gonna need some more energy if we're going to keep up with her." He sighed as he removed his hand and took off running after Neph. "Neph, hey wait, you need to slow down."

Neph ran up to her father, and saw him pulling at his skin. "Why are you doing that?" She gasped, vaulting over a dead log and running to him.

"Thank you." Rhett smiled, feeling better than he felt in weeks. He picked up the pace a bit more, following where Neph had gone.

Riley looked up as he heard her cry out. "Neph, what on earth are you doing out here?" He asked as he stood up on shaky legs. "Why are you out here alone?" He asked looking around as he picked her up and put her on his hip. "Where is your brother?"

"Neph, Neph!" Luka said as he ran after her, quickly losing her in the forest.

"Luka couldn't keep up. He'll be here soon." Neph replied, smiling widely at Riley.

Riley sighed and smiled and looked at her. "You can't run away like that. It is dangerous out here." He said as Luka ran over to them. "Luka, please don't let your sister run off like this." He sighed.

"Sorry Dad. She is a fast little sucker." He said as he looked his father up and down. He noticed how tired he looked.

"I couldn't sense anything around the forest other than you." Neph said. "It seemed safe enough."

Rhett eventually caught up after Luka and immediately went to sit down on a tree stump.

"Neph, it might seem safe but this bad man is not a normal being. I'm not even sure what he is." He told her. "Don't ever run off. I know your strong, but I can't lose you."

"Alright... We're going to the human town. Rhett knows the way." Neph explained.

"Just be careful while you are there and no using any of your powers, no matter what happens." He told her.

"You're not coming with us?" Neph asked. "You should come along too."