To the War Council Meeting

The three of them (Fiara, Leonardo, and Lilly that is) have traveled quite a distance to make it to their meeting place. They had left early in the morning to travel from Hephaestus's capital, Brennende City, to the harbor city of Meteor Bay. There they met with the harbor master who ferried them across the sea to Erionok. Now they were climbing the central mountain to the designated meeting place for their war council meeting with the Erionok leader and her 2nd in Command. They needed to hurry too, the sun was beginning to set and that was the signal for the start of their meeting.

Fiara grew impatient waiting for Leonardo to catch up, anxious to arrive on time. Being late was not acceptable at all, especially for an important leader such as her. She began flying ahead and then flying back to check on Leonardo's progress. She did this several times before finally roosting upon Leo's head. She let out a sigh of frustration, "If only you could fly, then we would have arrived already. I do hope Lady Jackalyn and Lady Chrysanta haven't been waiting long..."

Lilly grumbled as they climbed the mountain she wasn’t getting impatient because Leonard was so slow, but mostly because it was getting cold and it was making Lilly grumpy. She would usually stay close to the warmest heat source, which in this case was Leonard, but with Fiara flying and now sitting on his head she decided she would rather freeze then be close to someone that hates her guts. She kept close but far enough that she was basically not there. She wanted to get to the meeting fast and get out of the cold soon. Out of habit and the cold her wings turned to pure fore and kept her warm enough at least, she sighed. When they reached the top her wings turned to normal

Leonardo sighs, "I'm sorry my Lady, only if my floating can make me a bit faster," Leonardo hops over a few rocks; he starts to pick up some speed. "Lady Fiara. I promise you we won't be late. I don't think they will mind too much," Leonardo muttered. They were getting closer to their destination and the sun was nearly gone by the time they reached the doors.

Fiara let out a sigh of relief. "Ah, we have arrived. Finally! Leo, be a dear and open the door for us." Leonardo nods and opens the door. Warmth pours in on them and Leonard walks in.

Jackalyn lounged in an arm chair, watching the candles flicker in their lamps checking the length of the time candle she had lit earlier. It was taking them a while. The door opened at least. Well then. She had met Fiara before but the general and second in command.... "You are all much smaller then I imagined" she says ushering them in.

Lilly smiles at this and lands she walks in enjoying the warmth. Lilly grumbled "I'm a fairy, what did you expect a giant?"

Leonardo had a questioning look. "You imagined me bigger? Well I am quite small..."

Fiara fluffed out her feathers, "Who are you calling small!"

"Little flames, strong words! Come in make yourselves at home, or what's left of it. I'm hoping we can pay those bloody Arranudos back for reducing Erionok to this!"

Lilly chuckled at Fiara's anger and turned human size smiling.

Leonardo sighed, "You are right, hopefully after this war we can rebuild."

Lilly nodded and looked around. "That’s true, be great to return some places to what they used to be before the war really," she shrugs.

"Chrysanta is busy down on the mangroves, some 'un got lost. Shall we get this meeting started?"

Fiara flew from Leo's head and landed on the perch directly across from Jackalyn. "Yes, I do believe we should. Send lady Chrysanta my regards."

"Will do m'love. "

Lilly shrugged, "Might as well." She walked to a chair away from Fiara and sat down. She set her bow and sword next to her and waited for the meeting to start.

"Ah yes same here," Leonardo said with a faint smile and sits next somewhat in between Lilly and Fiara.

"Where shall we begin?" Fiara glanced around at everyone. "Perhaps the current state of Erionok?"

"Currently fine, living I suppose. Poor mostly, but comfortable. Influx of main landers lately, they seem fairly disgruntled," Jackalyn responded.

"Perhaps we should open up some more refuge camps in Hephaestus for them," Fiara inquired.

"Probably, do you need any supplies?" Leonardo asked Jackalyn.

"or protection?" Lilly added on.

"We're equipped fine so far as defense goes, you're mad to try and attack an island. The bleeding place is more dangerous to itself then outsiders. Supplies are needed though. I believe it's time we mount up an offense instead of recovery. The anger in these people is enough to light the fuse, if ye ken what I mean." A hint of fire burned in Jackalyn’s eyes as she spoke.

Fiara nodded, "If that is the case, perhaps we should focus more on our army's needs. Lilly, how does the Firestorm army currently stand?"

Lilly thought for a sec. "So far we are doing well, but we are in need of more troops in truth," she said thinking if she was forgetting anything else.

"Ah that's true, we don't have many soldiers and we don't have a lot of equipment either, do we?" Leonardo pondered.

Lilly nodded, "Yes, that is very true."

"I do believe I may have equipment covered. I recently had a discussion with Sir Lucrene, the 2nd in Command of Alluvia, and purchased a rather large load of metal ores. It is to be delivered to Brennende City where the blacksmiths will use the ore to forge new weapons and armor for our troops." Fiara informed everyone.

Lilly smiled. "That’s good. Good thinking Fiara," Lilly said with a slight smirk thinking she would ever say that.

"The only problem is transporting the ore across the Barren Dessert. Our railway system is still under construction, so it will have to be transported by caravan," Fiara shook her head in frustration.

Leonardo sighs, "That's true."

Lilly nodded, "Yup."'

"Are you in need of assistance? Our Winged citizens can keep an eye in the sky," Jackalyn asked them.

"Assistance would be greatly appreciated," Fiara nodded approvingly.

"Yes it will, and having eyes in the sky would be very helpful. Just in case something happens..." Leonardo added in.

"I will put out word, in the mean time there ought to be some more training, mayhaps recruitment camp? Serves double purpose, trains a bunch of wet behind the ears soldiers and prepares them to help transport that ore"

"That would be good; we do have some soldiers slacking off. We need to get them in shape!" Leonardo said.

"Those would indeed be necessary. Perhaps we could send the troops to the one on the outskirts of Mirage Village in the desert. There would be plenty of space and even more monsters for them to use in training," Fiara suggested.

Lilly nodded, "Yes that sounds good.”

"Alright, well as grand as I'd like to go telling all the people of the island about this there's just not enough time, how are we teh get the word out to everyone?" Jackalyn asked everyone.

"Some support from our ordinary citizens could prove advantageous in this matter. Perhaps we could have them design propaganda for the war?" Fiara suggested.

"Makes sense,” Lilly commented.

"We should get people to hand out or hang posters and such," added Leonardo.

"Agreed," Fiara nodded approvingly.

"My friend Ali could help deliver some things too. She may be a ball of gas, but she is good at delivering things," Lilly noted.

"There are certainly some pacifists and our elderly to worry about,” Jackalyn brought to their attention.

"Yes that is right,” Leonardo agreed.

Lilly nods.

"hmmmm," Fiara pondered the dilemma. "Even if they do not support the war, I would hope they still support their troops. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I hope so, they are fighting for us," Leonardo sighs.

"If they didn't this war wouldn't end well for us," Lilly responded.

"I should imagine; they lost their homes. Even I could not ignore that," commented Jackalyn.

Lilly nods, "Same. No one should be homeless."

"Yes, they know our soldiers are protecting our land. They will support them," Leonardo responded.

"Then I don't believe we need worry about our pacifists then," Fiara nodded approvingly.

lilly nods " have to agree with that."

"Then it is settled? We'll have part our citizens who intend to join the military go to boot camp, and help transport the ore. Those left over will spread the word of the war?" Jackalyn asked everyone.

"Makes sense," answered Lilly.

"Yup! Sounds like we got some of our major points out," agreed Leonardo.

"I have to agree. Does that conclude our meeting then? Or is there another matter to discuss?" Fiara asked everyone.

Leonardo nods, "I don't have any other matters to discuss,"

lilly shrugs, "I got nothing."

"None that I know of, I am sorry to drag you so far from home for such matters, but this was the safest place I could imagine, should you like there are rooms at our finest houses open for your use," Jackalyn offered the three Hephaestans.

"Um what do you two think?" Leonardo asks Lilly and Fiara.

Lilly looks outside, "It’s dark by now, would it be safe to travel by night?"

"Yes, I agree. Traveling at night is a bit dangerous," Leonardo replied.

Lilly nods and picks up her bow and sword “Then might as well stay the night."

"I believe we should take her up on her offer. It is late and I am weary." Fiara looked over at Jackalyn, "Thank you for your hospitality. Would you be so kind as to lead us to these rooms?"

"Naturally,” Jackalyn responded. “Leonardo I believe I've got the strength of pick you up, if you would kindly not squirm when we get outside?"

"Um okay. I won't" Leonardo laughs. "I do way about a thousand pounds, are you sure?" he asked.

Lilly snickers, "This should be interesting."

"Well, at least he won't be slowing us down this time." Fiara hid a chuckle under her breath. "Shall we get going then?"

Lilly nods, "Sure, let’s go then." She smiles.

Jackalyn led the trio outside, calmly lifting off the ground with a few flaps of her wings. She rested her claws upon Leonardo’s shoulders before flapping harder. Great gushes of wind swirled the dirt about them. "It’s straight down, a little to the east. You'll see the town’s lanterns!" she told Fiara and Lilly. Unsteadily she hovered midair, and with a push lifted from the cliff into open air. She swung in the current before gaining her wings. "Don't look down!" she yelled to Leonardo before tipping her wings. Ground began to rush past at a sickening speed.

"I'll try not too," Yale, the goat head, muttered.

Fiara easily kept pace with the harpy, flying near Leonardo's heads to make sure he's alright. Lilly followed trying not to laugh but keeping her face straight as she flew the other side of Leonard

"Down there, see the outcrop?" Jackalyn tipped one wing, sending her and Leonardo into an accidental barrel roll. "Woops." She left off the speed billowing out her wings to slow down. When she stopped to hover just a few feet above ground she let Leonardo drop. They were in a semi circle of houses on stilts, backed by the dense jungle but facing the ocean.

The rest of Leonardo's heads seemed to enjoy the flight. Yale kept his eyes closed praying it to be over. "Oo I se-" Leonardo started to barrel roll until he stopped.

Fiara immediately flew down and landed on Leo's head, "Are you alright?"

“Let's do that again!" Leo laughed.

"Gosh you're such a child," Yale muttered.

Lilly blinked and smiled at the houses around them and looked at Leonard and smiled, He's fine Fiara." Fiara let out a sigh of relieve.

Leonardo gets up and smiles. "Thank you Lady Jackalyn,"

Lilly smiles, "Seems he had fun with that, well almost all of him did." She snickers softly.
"You're welcome Leonardo; I'm not a lady though." She smiled and looked at the rest of them, "The villagers will gather tomorrow on the beack. It’s a communal breakfast thing. I stay at the ship wreck off the coast. Can't imagine sleeping in anything but a captain's quarters upon a boat. Old habits."

"hm sounds cool," Lilly smiled

Fiara looked around at the odd homes on stilts. "So, which home do we stay in?"

"Doesn't matter which house you choose, they're pretty much the same,” Jackalyn answered her. “There are all the basic amenities, unfortunately not much else. Running water, gas lamps, beds. etc."

"Ah okay," Leonardo said.

Lilly smiled "That’s fine, won't need much." She yawns softly.

"We are still grateful for your kindness." Fiara bowed to Jackalyn. "I do believe I shall call it a night. Farewell everyone. I shall see you in the morning." Fiara took off and flew to the building farthest away from the ocean, she did hate water so.

"Unless there are any more questions I'll bid you good night, and will see you off on the morning?" Jackalyn said, biding them farewell.

Lilly nods, "Night then." She flew to a building far from the water as well but also far from Fiara out of habit.

"Ah good night to you all; hope you sleep well," Leonardo smiles and follows the girls and goes into a building.





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Collab between all the Firestorm admins

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Story was rped out between all of us (minus Akaku) and edited by myself.

Characters (c) their respective owners