Inscrypion x Wings of Fire : Leshy's Endgame

Chapter 7 - Whiteout

As Darkstalker and Clearsight introduce themselves to each other, Whiteout had followed Leshy to a classroom... one that is open-air and full of plants and animals. Leshy sits down next to a couple black birds that make Whiteout think about how much happened. They are a bad omen. However, is Leshy... talking to them? He sounds like a bird. Whiteout giggles slightly as she imagines Leshy as an actual bird. She should paint that sometime. The birds fly off as Leshy points toward the Sand Kingdom, or the Sky Kingdom. He then pulls out some scrolls.

"Want to play a game while we talk?" he asks. Whiteout nods and he tears up a scroll so that each piece is the same size and shape, holding the remains out for Whiteout in two stacks. She takes them and follows Leshy as he, while explaining patiently how to set up and play, does the same for his decks.

It's a small game, one where she has to place cards in four "lanes" to defeat her opponent (in this case, it's Leshy), occasionally pulling some cards off the lanes and into a discard pile so she can play stronger ones ("sacrificing", as Leshy called it). It's a cool idea and it's able to entertain her as she thinks about all the possibilities, but maybe it would've been more fun if she couldn't just cheat and see the future that guarantees her victory. As promised, they talk about the more pressing matters once she knows the basics of their little game.

"So, what is up with Darkstalker? I've never seen him so depressed," Leshy questions as he sacrifices a squirrel and a stoat to play a wolf.

Whiteout shrugs. "He's worrying about what will happen, but I know that he won't snow for a while." Leshy laughs at that as he declares that he will end his turn. Whiteout winces. That two damage brought her down to 1 life left and rose Leshy to 9 thanks to that whole "shared life pool" mechanic that he had invented on the spot at her request when she was annoyed at how fast she was able to do 5 points of damage without any risk to herself. She needs to figure something out.

"Won't snow, eh?" Leshy asks, figuring it out after a moment's pause. "If you ask me, he already is on the inside. Maybe he knows he'll do something bad and wants to hide it?"

Whiteout finally has two lanes filled. That's perfect for her to get her two cats and her Ouroboros out. She's always wondered how useful a card like this is. It seems pretty weak, but something about what Leshy is saying has her interest. She blocks the wolf with it. "Maybe. And I'm done."

Leshy ends up drawing a ring worm (she knows it is thanks to her mind-reading) and mimes choking. She chuckles. The "Ring Worm Curse" strikes again like it had just one game ago. "Were you able to learn anything when he woke up?" Whiteout shakes her head at the question as the Ouroboros, only having one health, dies and she picks it up. Strangely enough, it now does two damage and has two health. That's strange. she was certain those values were both one lower. This may be a way to beat him. Not now, though. Now, she has to admit defeat. That was the worst game out of the five they played so far.

The talk and the game they're playing in parallel goes on like this for an hour. Sadly, they are left with more questions than answers. Leshy is forced to pack up as he realizes that he's pretty hungry... not that Whiteout wasn't. Well, he broke first. At least there's that. They leave and as Whiteout hunts down snakes... being in that sort of mood... Leshy goes off to the market to engage in some thievery.

One of these days, Leshy's going to get caught stealing fruit and the RainWing in charge of that stall is not going to be happy. She glances off, distracted enough for the snake she was chasing to slither away. She thought she heard something. She goes off to investigate, scroll and paint in her talons just in case what she sees is something she really needs to make a painting of.

She sees the strange, metal RainWing from earlier, making sounds that mimic crying. Their eyes are like bright blue, shining diamonds... and they could be for all she knows. It is trying so hard to cover itself and make itself look tiny and non-threatening. She gets the feeling this isn't a trick. She goes over to it.

At the sight of her, it leans away with a quiet, high sound that's almost like a whine. "I'm sorry for attacking you! Don't hurt me, please!" it says in fear.

Whiteout tilts her head. There's nothing in its head to suggest what happened to it. "What's wrong?" she asks as she puts her stuff away.

All it does is shake its head and cover itself even more to the point where she can't see its head at all. Whiteout puts one of her own wings over it sympathetically. She knows how it feels to be scared. Whenever her parents fight, she's left hiding in her room and either Darkstalker or Leshy have to break the fight up and comfort her.

She can't leave the statue here. When the storm comes, she knows it's going to die. She doesn't know why or how, but she does know how to prevent it. With a grim look on her face, one that she makes herself uncomfortable with, she starts slowly dragging it home. If she misses her other three classes, so be it. This thing needs help, and she was going to give it help until it calms down.