in the modern world, phoenixes are a dying breed. hunted, even these creatures of rebirth can't completely escape death when their feathers are stripped away and their powers absorbed from them. that's why so many other species have gone into hiding... right in plain sight. disguised as humans, the remaining phoenixes, thunderbirds, elves, dwarves, giants, wizards, werewolves, everything have hidden away from society by blending in to society.
communities have formed. magic is used to prevent them from being found. elves and other humanoid beings often have their own towns right in the hearts of cities. confusion spells and distractions will lead any wandering human in circles. only those of mystical elements can enter.
elves tend to rule these bands as they are the most numerous and the strongest in intellect. they blend in with humans the best and hold many esteemed jobs amongst them. they are also the guardians of the thunderbirds and the ones to bond with these powerful beasts. thunderbirds provide for these communities, after all. give these small pockets of each city or town some life and energy. literally, as how else could their buildings have electricity without someone on the outside suspecting something? in exchange, the elves and other entities protect and care for these great creatures. it is also known that only elves can make the phoenix down potion that can revive a thunderbird. only elves carry the remaining vials of phoenix down in an attempt to protect the remaining avians.
phoenixes are... lost. very few remain, and their locations are unknown. it worries the magical communities, but they hold to hope that these creatures might resurge. that they can be found... can be protected.
LOCATION ;; flexible, default to new york city
AGE ;; 17+ years
STATUS ;; homeless thief
her aunt and uncle knew she was a phoenix because cadence was one, as well. and sarah's grandparents on her mother side. mary? mary, for some reason, was human. it turned out the phoenix blood didn't pass to her. the gene was not hers to carry on. but her sister... her annoying, perfect sister was the beautiful, fiery bird their parents doted upon. and then they died. and then cadence died a true and permanent death. and now the sister and her husband were stuck with the offspring who continued the precious line. with bright, green eyes that had yellow pulsing about the iris, sarah was a reminder to the woman raising her of how she wasn't the same. and even with no one to teach her, sarah could shift.
mary and robert would watch with disdain. and mary couldn't take it. that stupid, beautiful little chick was her hatred manifested. she and robert would try to knock the child around. in fear, sarah's body heat would become too much for them to handle. eventually, they snapped. they sold her to the first hunter that came along. the first hunter that would pay the sum, who would take her off their hands. they didn't care what would become of her... and something would surely become of her.
in this world, copper was a hunter of the magical after his release from the army. he worked with gangs for information and assistance only, he never joined the ring, so it was just him when he was given sarah from her home. he had the right tools, the right equipment. her fire and heat did nothing to him, and he had her chained and bound to him without much of a fight. he would seek out every possible way to exploit her.
she became his thief, she became his heat, she became his source of income. in her beautiful form, he plucked feathers from her. sold them on the black market. he plucked her until she bled, until she was near naked. her entire body would ache... upon being human again, she was riddled with the wounds of his mercilessness. then he would beat her further to make sure she knew she was his. his little bird, his little fire. and when she had no more feathers to bear, he poured gasoline on her and lit it up. she burned to ash. the next day, she was always back. her wounds turned to scars but her feathers returned. thus, he had more. she didn't run out... so long as he killed her over and over properly. so long as he stopped before she had nothing left.
eventually, she did anything to make him stop. by doing such, she lost who she was. she stole more. she killed without hesitation. she used her powers without remorse. but she was scared of him hurting her more. she let him control her because she couldn't bear it. he kept just bringing her back. he still took her feathers when he desired, but he did so less so long as she obeyed. and she obeyed. though copper would call her "little bird," she adopted the name "cat" for herself. a way to fight against him mentally. a silly thing, but it kept her from completely collapsing into the being he was creating out of her.
when she was arrested, copper became enraged. he didn't want to lose his money maker so easily. he tried to get her out. he came for her from within the prison walls. he pulled a weapon on the guards, but his own device exploded in his grip, stunning him until a shower of incendiary bullets from the police finished him off. the explosion? the fiery bullets? none of the guards understood. but cat did. and she watched emotionless as the man's body was covered with a blanket.
she hid her magical truth while in juvie. instead, it was her sinister air and ability to fight that drew vinnie and rissa in. the two also noted ( partially from firsthand experience ) that when bullies came for cat, they recoiled with burns. no one understood, no one would ever guess what she was... but they did know she wasn't normal. this led to the authorities trying to transfer her to a different facility for investigation... but cat easilly took out the drivers, crashing the van to free herself. she fled back into the world.
with hackett, she let him touch her. she let him get on her, waiting for the best moment to give him hell. and she did. third degree burns in the worst possible place. she burned away the ropes tying her to the bed, stood up. she even kissed him, melting his lips to nothing before pulling on her clothes, taking to the window, and once again vanishing from the scene she would leave behind.
since then, she has been traveling. adventuring. looking to feel again. cat has tried to even embrace being reborn, killing herself twice more in flames. each time just coming back as who she was, leaving her angry and defeated. trapped in this life and body she doesn't love. tormented by her abuse and struggle to survive. feeling alone... and that anyone who comes along will only want to use her. as much as she is fighting to be a better person, so far she is trapped in the ways drilled into her by copper.
made of fire and light. long, dancing feathers like the flames she carries. most of her feathers are red and orange, but she has a few yellow, which is a sign of incredible power within phoenixes, as yellow feathers are quite rare. burning green eyes, with a body type similar to a hawk that allows her to fly with grace and speed. it also allows for more concentrated and focused attacks, thus creating a devestating brutality with her fire when she utilizes it. tail feathers are long and trail long behind her like a banner, however. she is large, but perhaps only getting to about six feet when standing upright with her neck. her wingspan and tail length make her appear grander than she truly is. the older and more powerful she gets, the larger her form becomes, hence why her past life was two stories in size.
able to heat her body to extreme temperatures. this prevents people from touching her or making physical contact with her
temperature manipulation within other objects. she can't change the weather, but she can change the temperature within other things, both alive or not. hence how she made copper's weapon explode, the bullets of the guards become incendiary, and vinnie to combust
rebirth. so long as cat's body burns up, she is brought back in her ashes. HOWEVER, despite usual belief, she does not come back as a child or baby. she comes back her same age and form. so long as her mind and body know that she has not lived a proper lifespan, she remains in the same existence. the only major changes are that any wounds she has at the time of her death do carry over as a scar into her next rebirth. only when she's lived her "full" life does she truly get reborn to a new body. rebirth - same life, reborn - new life
fire doesn't burn her, but if she is consumed in fire, it will kill her and turn her to ash for a rebirth or to be reborn
if her body is destroyed in any other way way she cannot burn up after or there is nothing to burn ( like drowning ), then she will be gone forever. also if her energy is absorbed too much for her magic to kick in and begin the process
fire manipulation, but she cannot create fire from nothing. in her phoenix form, she can use the fire upon her to manipulate and use against her enemies, but human form needs a source
her feathers are exceedingly powerful ingredients for spells and potions. most notably in phoenix down potions, which can grant the rebirth or reborn ability depending on how it's made and who it is made for
stronger than her appearance would have you think
cold and water tend to be weaknesses
her name was aurelia, she was often called the “queen” of phoenixes due to her immense power. she did not actually rule phoenixes, but was considered the highest in terms of strength and abilities
she was giant at around two stories tall, this due to her age and strength
she didn’t know how to shift into a human for a long while. it hadn’t been taught to her when she was younger, and when friends began to use her, they required her avian form. it was after she rescued raiden, a thunderbird, that she was taught how to take on her other physical appearance. this was used to help protect her from those who wished to use her
raiden had been encased in ice by frostwings for four months before aurelia discovered him. she freed him and helped him survive the chill in his body. in exchange, he was the one who taught her how to shift human. it was he whom she eventually fell in love with
through raiden, she met mireia and daemon, a unicorn and a night elf respectively
she was on the side of the war that wanted peace between humans and all creatures. most phoenixes were, but their feathers were so highly sought that many of her fellow birds perished due to the treatment they endured. it was also in a way that did not allow them to come back
as a human, her hair was more auburn, glinting red in certain lighting. a few feathers decorated within the tresses. her eyes were bright and still rimmed with gold. she was taller than cat but otherwise similar in appearance
she died before the end of the war, using up the last of her strength to save raiden ( reborn as scott ), mireia ( reborn as laila ), and daemon ( reborn as shawn ), granting all four of them this chance. however, the strength and energy it used up means it took years before they all would return to life, long after the war had ended and with most of their memories weakened or erased entirely
even if fire doesn't hurt her, being engulfed in flames and burning up is actually exceedingly painful. hence why her deaths are so traumatic to her
she didn't meet scott in this verse. nor even his aunt and uncle. her own aunt and uncle were abusive to the point of not letting her go out much
likewise, she doesn't know of magical communities or even other beings. she believes copper sold her feathers and such to other humans who have somehow learned to utilize the potions
her father is also deceased in this verse, but her brother is alive. and he carries the phoenix gene, as well. he lives in a community in chicago, being their one and only phoenix that they keep hidden for protection