Marco could hear him just fine, and immediately gave a powerful flap of his wings, landing on the side of the tower, his indigo claws digging into the side of the building, the marking on his arm, now visible on his left flank, his fur a mix of black and indigo.
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"So, should I just… climb on?" Oci frowned for a second, then jumped onto Marco's back. "Alright, do you know the way? You should be able to follow the path we took into the woods. And don't mind me if I start shooting lightning out of the staff or something."
Marco nodded, "Just don't hit me, kay?" he said, still able to speak in griffon form, "And hold on tight!" he launched himself backwards, launching into a spiral around the tower, before levelling out above the ground, following the road back out of the trees.
"You can speak!" Oci gasped. "Okay, I will." He held onto Marco with one arm, keeping the other free so he could hold onto the staff. The view below them was beautiful– from above, the woods didn't look like they could kill you. They looked quite peaceful, in fact.
Marco let his flight even out the launch only taking a matter of seconds as they flew much faster then they had ridden in. "Yep, that's the difference between a Mythic Shifter and normal one, Mythics can speak while shifted, Just know that this only works in this form."
(Ignore whatever I called it before, a lot of what I'm writing relating to Marco's side of the story, is being made up as I go.)
"Oh, that's cool. Well, at least you can suggest ways to get the staff to do whatever it's supposed to do. It can't just be a staff, can it?" He lifted the staff towards his face and squinted at it.
Marco hummed, "When I came looking for it, I was under the assumption that it creates illusions and manipulates the mind." he said softly.
(Oh, by the way, that's fine. Sorry, I forgot to add that.)
"Creates illusions and manipulates the mind? Well, I guess that's why Thorne took a liking to it. What with their Rellusions and such." Oci waved the staff around a bit. "Do you know how to make it do that?" He pointed the staff at the empty sky to the side of them and concentrated on creating a large bird flying beside them. He didn't know if it would work, but it was worth a shot!
"Exactly, it made sense to me, which is why I figure that's what it is." he said, "I mean, there were a few others, but that was the most believable." he hummed, flying a bit higher.
"Yeah." Oci nodded and wrinkled his nose. There wasn't any sort of bird in the air at all. "Is there some sort of switch? Maybe it's made for only shifters–" He noticed a clear gem set into the side, just the right size for his thumb. "Maybe…" He pressed his thumb on the stone. A few seconds later, he squeaked in surprise.
Marco wanted to look back to see what was the matter, "Oci?" he asked worriedly.
"Oh, I'm fine. It just pricked me." Oci pulled his thumb away from the stone, which had turned dark red– the same color as his blood. "Maybe it'll work now?" He pointed the staff at the sky and thought of a bird. Immediately, a large blackbird appeared in the air, gliding beside them. "Yes! I don't know how this will let us kill the king, but maybe we'll just confuse him to death or something!" He put his thumb into his mouth to stop the bleeding.
Marco hummed, "Just be careful what you try, we don't fully know what it's capable of." he said softly, his wings pumping to keep them aloft.
"Yeah. It would be a real shame to come all this way only to be blown out of the sky by none other than me." Oci laughed. "I'll stop, though. Wait until we're not high on the sky."
Marco nodded, letting out a purr-like rumble as he kept going.
Oci fell silent as they kept flying, thinking about the king. He couldn't believe they were so close to their goal. It almost seemed unreal. But here he was, flying over the Everlasting Woods on the back of a griffin.
Marco kept going for most of the day, silence reigning over the both of them as he flew.
Oci watched as the Everlasting Woods fell away below them, replaced by small villages. As the day wore on, the towns grew bigger and bigger. The sun started setting, the capital city on the horizon glowing in the growing darkness. Towering over everything was the king's castle, made of dark grey stone and silver and lit up with magical lights.
(sorry, was busy helping to demolish cakes.)
Marco let out a big yawn as they came in sight of the castle, letting his wings drop a little, "I need to land" he said to Oci.
(You're good… but what did the cakes ever do to you? :)
"Yes, I agree. Both because you just flew almost the entire day, and because the king might shoot you out of the sky if you get any nearer to his castle." Oci nodded, even though Marco couldn't see him.
(((THEY WERE CHOCOLATE AND SUGARY AND HAVE GIVEN ME A SUGAR HIGH!!!!!!!!!!)))
Marco nodded, letting himself fall into a downwards spiral, heading to a forested patch to land.
(Ooh… I wish I had cake… but alas.)
As soon as they landed, Oci jumped off of Marco's back so he could shift back if he wanted. "So, do you have any ideas about how to get into that fortress over there?" He asked, nodding towards the castle. "It's too bad the king is so paranoid now. Remember the days where you could just walk into the castle?"
(Sugarrr highhhh)
Marco hummed, "I suggest we infiltrate at night." he said softly, "I know a back way in." he shifted back and flopped back exhaustedly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need sleep."
(I wish…)
"Ooh, yes, at night. I can make us invisible at night." Oci grinned. "This is going to be so much fun." He looked down at Marco and nodded. "Yeah, you do that. I'll keep watch. The king's warriors don't normally come down here, but better safe than sorry." He dropped onto the ground a few feet away from Marco and put the backpack next to him.
Marco nodded, shifting into a cat and curling up net to him, instantly dozing off