Releasing the Magic: Releasing the Magic

Soul awoke with a jot, her head throbbing with pain and tingles running up and down her spine. Either that was the worst nightmare she had ever had, or something in the waking world was terribly wrong. Slowly she swung her legs from her pile of pillows and blankets she called a bed, and stood, stretching out her long body and tail. Tea, she needed her tea. Hot, warm, slightly sweet tea. 

As she made her way to the kitchen she turned on the water and filled her kettle to set over her wood-burning stove. With a few swift movements, she had a fire roaring and the kettle placed on top to begin to boil. She turned back to the kitchen and pulled out her favorite mug, which she lovingly called "Uggy mug". It was an off-colored, nasty pink, but large and deep and made for the perfect soup/tea mug. Filling her steeper with her favorite tea, Milk Oolong, she set it on the counter and watched the fire flicker from within the stove. She had never had strong magic before, only very latent tingles of something. Fire was NOT her magic, she did know that, even though she wished she could have it like the others of her kind. 

Suddenly she felt a twinge, a twinge of something in her head. She rubbed her fingers to her temple and groaned. It throbbed more, causing her vision to blur slightly. She fell to her knees and whimpered. What was going on, what was happening to her! One deep breath after another, to steady her nerves, she turned her head to the side when something in her mind told her to stop. She gazed into the distance of her cabin home, when she spotted the old dust-covered cabinet she used to store various things she no longer used, but did not want to rid of just yet. She dug her claws into the wood under her and slowly began to drag herself to it. Something was pulling her there, something was saying to come and claim it. As she reached the cabinet, she struggled to her feet and felt for the handle, and swung the doors wide. 

Dust puffed around her, causing her to cough before she focused on what was calling to her. A bow....a bow? She didn't have a bow, at least not that she remembered. What was it doing in there? It was pale, but dark at the tips, a supple rabbit hide wrapped around the handle of it. She reached for it and stroked the smooth wood and something clicked. Her fur stood on end as she wrapped her fingers around it. Something was off about this bow, but something also felt...right. Pulling it from its hiding spot she turned it in her hands. It was strung well, and the hide felt great in her hand. She had fired a bow before but it broke at the start of winter, bad luck for her as it left her with only trapping for her source of food.

"What are you....you strange little thing..." She murmured as if it would respond. Dawning a large billowing shawl, she moved the kettle from the stove before stepping outside. The cool winter air stung her face for a moment before she adjusted and wandered around to the side of her cabin. There she set up a small target, something to at least "aim" for even though she had no arrows. If she was going to keep this...thing...and possibly use it, she needed to make sure she could at least draw it without it breaking. Nothing worse than being on a hunt only for your bow to snap in half. Standing in front of the target she raised the bow. She checked it over, plucking at the string, feeling its weight, before finally drawing it back.

A surge racked through her body, and something at her fingertips burned. Right before her eyes, she saw it. A swirling green light raced up both arms of the bow, sprouting leaves and delicate vines as it went. Where an arrow should be...one formed. The arrowhead, something simmering and magical, the shaft of the arrow ragged and like a recently stripped branch. The feathering was that of something plant-like, sturdy, and stiff. She quickly let the string rest again without firing and took in a deep breath. The arrow slowly faded, the leaves and vines retreating, the bow turning back to its simple self. Her magic, she finally had her magic! 

Soul whooped and hollered in joy, jumping and pumping a fist in the air. It was about time! While it was not fire magic, it was something MUCH  more unique, much more powerful. She was a great shot with a bow, one of the best. And no longer needing arrows? That was a game-changer. She steadied her emotions and self, and took aim once again, drawing back the bow and letting that new tingling sensation of magic take over. It raced over the bow, forming an arrow as well. and began to creep up her arm. She grinned a deep toothy grin and let loose the arrow, striking the center of the target with a thud. It stuck true and stood swirling in energy for a moment, before the arrow slowly vanished into thin air, leaving only the hole from the arrow behind. 

"Finally..." was all she could muster, shock and joy rippling through her hide. The wind picked up and whipped around her, and quickly she had to retreat to her cabin once again. Shutting the door behind her, she placed the bow against the frame and smiled down at it. She had unlocked her magic....and in the most unique way she had seen in a LONG time.