"What are you--?" Marshall blushed as Prosper leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Warmth spread over his face like sunlight falling on him, and he smelled freshly bloomed flowers and dew-speckles grass, and he heard the buzz of lazy spring bugs. It was over in a second, and he spotted glowing on his wrist. A glowing symbol that mimiced Prosper's bracelet encircled his wrist.
"That's a Mark," Prosper told him before he could ask. "It will keep you safe."
The Mark is a physical mark that a Wilder can bestow upon a human. This is used to warn other Wilders away from the human, though the intention can be to keep the human safe from harm, or keep others from using the human's precious resources. The more powerful the Wilder who placed the Mark, the more creatures will be repelled by it. A stronger creature could place a Mark over a weaker Mark, whereas a weaker creature would not be able to override a Mark placed by something stronger than they are.
What exactly a Mark is varies from species to species, and even then, each individual has their own flair when it comes to a Mark. Mages will most often use magic to create a glowing symbol on their charge, while a creature such as a were might leave a bite mark, or an Angel a burn. A true Mark will be able to be perceived by a Wilder's sixth sense; the same that allows them to know the time and what direction they are going, and what allows some Wilders to sense when humans have come through the Archway or when there is something dangerous nearby.
Marks are meant to be a warning to others, but if one does decide to harm a human with a Mark despite this, the one who placed the Mark will sense immediately what has happened and where the human is. Wilders can usually only handle one Mark at a time, as the energy required to stay tethered to the human can be too much on top of regular energy usage. Some stronger Wilders can handle two, while its believed that the Queen can place an infinite amount.
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