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Post by Daybreak on Jun 20, 2006 22:50:08 GMT -5
It certainly appeared normal enough. Well, for an isolated clearing in the middle of dense, ancient woods. Normal save for the near-perfect circular shape of it. A tidy little grass-covered mound rose in the near-center, uniform on all sides save for one, where it was revealed that the earth itself had lifted up to shelter a small boy and a fox. They huddled together, sheilded from the raw, drizzling rain.
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Farther away, another figure shrank away from the miserable rain. Her shelter, however, was far less efficient, and she was thoroughly soaked.
"I can't believe this," Sybil grumbled. "That... man! He'd better pray we never cross paths again. This is all his fault!" She sneezed water out of her nose and wrung her shirt out. Her stomach growled in protest to the hard living she'd been doing lately.
"...wish it would stop raining..."
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Post by Scarecrow on Jun 20, 2006 23:10:33 GMT -5
Rig pulled himself across the ground, losing clumps of straw every movement he made, his pale, milky blue eyes staring blankly ahead, as his claw like hand reached out in front of him again, knifing a deep groove in the soaking earth as he crawled forward, dragging his sodden carcass across the muddy earth, barely moving a foot at a time, through the dripping darkness of the ancient forest.
The leg of his tattered overalls snagged on a bramble, and he gave up, staring at the young woman a few yards away. His voice was horse and crackling, as he tried to call her over. "Hullo... 'm in need of a liddle assistance here, if y'dun' mind..." his almost permenant grin became strained as he lifted a longfingered hand in greeting.
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Post by Daybreak on Jun 21, 2006 0:22:25 GMT -5
Sybil pulled herself out of her musings, her head snapping 'round to where the voice came from. She found herself staring into opaque blue eyes like nothing liking she had seen. She rose to her feet, intent on bolting the instant the... thing turned dangerous.
"Don't come any closer!" She raised a hand in a commanding fashion. "These woods are old and powerful. Can you prove to me you aren't one of their tricks?" Her eyes narrowed. She had never seen such a creature before. On one hand, this could mean that he wasn't a trap. Most forests, while dangerous, aren't too imaginative. Or it could mean that this place was far older - or more sentient, than any she had encountered before. Unlikely.
She decided to try something. "Tell me your name."
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Post by Scarecrow on Jun 21, 2006 0:27:30 GMT -5
The strange creature tried to haul it's self upright, failing miserably, and slumping back down into the wet, muddy earth. His grin grew even more forced, as he clawed at the ground, trying to right himself as the rain crashed against him. "It's... It's Rigg. Used t'be... I think..." She was afraid of him. Just like... "Molly... Have you seen Molly?" he seemed almost delirious.
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Post by Shippo_no_Neko on Jun 21, 2006 9:19:51 GMT -5
Haruko walked through the rain nonchalantly, whistling. He loved the rain. And the jingle of coins in his pockets was something to be happy about as well. He had just been paid a great deal of money to assassinate some rich man's dog. Naah, it wasn't like that.He thought, The guy's dog had been about to die, from a disease or something, and the guy couldn't bear to see him die in a hospital. Basically, it was a fighting-sort of dog, and I had to fight it... And kill it. And then I got paid. Ugliest dog I've ever seen... More like a co--"OW!"
He tripped over Rigg's body, and fell facefirst into the mud. Hesat up, spitting out mud.
"Okay... This day just got a whole lot worse..."
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Post by Daggertooth on Jun 21, 2006 11:08:22 GMT -5
*KABOOM*
Nychus couldn't help but let out a soft whine as he burred himself deeper into Ashton. Trying to cover his ears more than he already had. Oh he had never been scared of thunder before, at least not that he could remember, but then thunder never sounded like this before. Excrutiatingly loud, vibrating longer and farther than he had ever imagined, plus the sound hurt. At least the smells wern't dizying, rain, ozone, mildew, some blood, and Ashton.
He was increasingly greatful for Ashton. Ashton had seemingly selflesly saved Nychus's life. Even though Nychus was the older of the two by far he couldn't help feel that he was relying more on Ashton than Ashton was on him. At the moment he was just happy to have Ashton as company.
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Post by Wolfy on Jun 21, 2006 14:20:34 GMT -5
Ashton shivered, staring out at the rain. Normally, he liked the rain, but this was different. It was loud and scary.
"Nychus... Ashton doesn't like this scary rain..." he said softly, wrapping his wings around himself. He chewed on his thumbnail, a nervous habit. He flinched at another peal of thunder, his wings tightening around him. "Don't like it at all..." he muttered, shaking his head.
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Post by Daggertooth on Jun 21, 2006 16:21:23 GMT -5
"It's okay Ashton." Nychus said unconvincingly, trying to wrap his tail around Ashton in a way to keep him warm. "Your trees need the rain right? It's good for it. And lightning can't hurt us." Another loud crack caused Nychus to flinch again. "Could be quieter." he muttered, trying to cover his ears up more.
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Post by Scarecrow on Jun 21, 2006 18:41:52 GMT -5
"Gnn!" Rigg made a faint grunting sort of noise as the young man stumbled over him. If he had had lungs, the wind would have been knocked right out of them... But he was awake now, and seemed free of his previous delirium.
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Post by Daybreak on Jun 21, 2006 20:19:30 GMT -5
Sybil stared at the two of them for a half-moment, her face screwed up in an expression that suggested she was trying very hard not to laugh. She stepped forward and bent to help the two of them up. "No forest spirit has its own name. And they wouldn't be clumbsy enough to trip like that. Come on, I am unfamiliar with this territory, but I think I can find us a dry place..."
((Installed games. Obsessed with Psychonaughts. Will try very hard to pop in, but I may vanish a lot.... probably only last a week or so, no worries.))
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Post by Wolfy on Jun 21, 2006 20:29:13 GMT -5
Ashton's wings twitched. Most of the plant voices were gurgling happily, glad for the rain. However, a few of them were mumbling with curiousity, although they were too far away for Ashton to make out. It sounded like they were talking about someone in the rain. But that was just silly. Even the squirrels knew to get out of the rain. Ashton shrugged it off, huddling under his wings at another crack of thunder.
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Post by Shippo_no_Neko on Jun 21, 2006 20:41:20 GMT -5
"O-Oh... Sorry about that..." Haruko said sheepishly, refusing her hand politely and standing. He proceeded to wipe the mud off of his clothes with his gloved hands. He only succeeded in smearing the mud around a bit, considering that his gloves were saturated in mud.
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Post by Scarecrow on Jun 21, 2006 21:40:39 GMT -5
Rigg, on the other hand, grasped her hand and pulled himself into a seated position, and then scrambled so that he was standing, if a little unsteadily. Even then, he didn't let go, though, and he had a grip like a vice. He shook her hand lightly, and finally released her. "That'd be nice, miss. Can't say I know th'place either, tho'." his almost premenant smile became relaxed. "D'ya have a name, Miss?" he turned towards Haruko. "Hullo there. " he held out a sticklike hand to shake, and almost fell over- he was still getting used to the whole made-of-sticks-and-straw thing. He was still human, though. He knew it.
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Post by Shippo_no_Neko on Jun 22, 2006 10:05:30 GMT -5
Haruko's left eyebrow twitched. He shook the scarecrow's hand stiffly.
"I am... Haruko. And not a 'miss....' Very much so a 'Mister...'" He did not bother to mask his annoyance. So what if he had a ponytail! That did not make him female! Ahh! He fumed inside for a while.
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Post by Daggertooth on Jun 22, 2006 11:55:21 GMT -5
Nychus got up and walked to the enterance before he sat down looking at the rain. The first real thunderstorm since he was a fox, he really hated all these firsts, so new and foreign. Like being newborn but fully cognitive of how helpless you are. A bit of a blow to the ego, considering the pride of independance.
"It's really not that bad Ashton." Nychus said, breathing in the smell of rain and ozone. He flinched again, swearing under his breath, he still wondered how he wasn't instantly deaf from the painfully loud booms. But he really wanted to give the show of maturity and age that he no longer felt. "I bet there will be a nice rainbow after this. And really clear sky's once the storm blows itself out."
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Post by Scarecrow on Jun 22, 2006 12:14:14 GMT -5
((Hehehe, sorry, Ship. Shoulda been more clear. He was talking to Syb, and then he turned to Haruko. Argh. v_v))
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Post by Shippo_no_Neko on Jun 22, 2006 16:37:27 GMT -5
((should I edit it? Or will he say, "I was adressing the lady?"))
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Post by Scarecrow on Jun 22, 2006 16:46:34 GMT -5
((Actually, he'll say...))
"Um, hehe, no sir, mister Haruko, I was talkin' t' th' lady. 'Cept for th' hullo." he grinned, to show he meant no harm. This was awkward...
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Post by Daybreak on Jun 22, 2006 20:22:52 GMT -5
The faux fae raised an eyebrow. "I don't trust ya that much, not yet. I don't throw around my name. 'Snot terribley smart." She inhaled, taking in the pungent smell of the storm. "This way, looks like it gets rockier. Might get lucky and find a cave."
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Post by Scarecrow on Jun 23, 2006 21:30:35 GMT -5
He kept on smiling, for what little good it did. "Well, then... What'm' I meant t' call ya?" but he followed her, none the less, endlessly awkward. He was discovering, more and more, how little strength there was in straw.
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Post by Daybreak on Jun 23, 2006 23:20:22 GMT -5
"Whatever you darn well fell like, kiddo," Sybil grunted. Come on, I see a clearing. Something that might be a cave... but I don't know how big it is." She eyed the others critically. The thin one (Rigg?) could probably fold up small. The big human would be an issue if there wasn't that much room. Plus she still had reservations about being packed in with a couple males....
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Post by Wolfy on Jun 23, 2006 23:24:05 GMT -5
Ashton twitched his wings irratably. Now, the closer plants were saying people were coming.
"That's just silly," Ashton grumbled softly, flinching at another crack of thunder. He squinted into the rain, trying to see.
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Post by Scarecrow on Jun 23, 2006 23:32:57 GMT -5
Rigg stumbled after her, and it became more and more apparent that he was held together by bits of string, and a good deal of magic. "A'right... But I'll find out yer name, sooner or later, miss!"
((Your choice if Ashton can see him yet, Wolfy! ^^))
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Post by Daggertooth on Jun 24, 2006 9:25:10 GMT -5
"Silly? a little, but...I'm just saying the storms not that bad. Healthy for the plants and.....*hushed and quick*..Ashton! I think I see movement at the edge of the clearing! I think they are people." Nychus said, pointing in the direction of the movement with is right paw.
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Post by Shippo_no_Neko on Jun 24, 2006 10:16:38 GMT -5
Haruko eyed Rigg.
"Hey... You need help walking or something? you.... Appear to be made out of straw, erm.."
Haruko began to get a bit nervous. If this guy was held together with magic (which he reasoned, of course he was) would the magic leak into him and kill him?
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Post by Wolfy on Jun 24, 2006 11:08:26 GMT -5
Ashton blinked.
"The plantys aren't being silly?" he asked. His wings twitched, then folded up as he stared out at the rain. He scratched at the base of one of his horns, apologizing to the plants as he finally caught sight of the movement.
"What do we do, Nychus?" he asked, his wings wrapping around him once more.
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Post by Daggertooth on Jun 24, 2006 12:19:50 GMT -5
Nychus scanned the brush, definatly people, more than one as well. "We stay quiet and stay hidden. More than likely they will pass us by without giving us a second glance." I hope These would be the first people Nychus would encounter in this form, except for Ashton of course....the thought frightened him. "Can your plants give us any details?"
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Post by Wolfy on Jun 24, 2006 14:56:22 GMT -5
Ashton closed his eyes, zeroing in on a tree's thoughts.
"... Tree says it's raining too hard..." he said after a moment, scooting to the back of the shelter. "Nychus should scoot back here with Ashton. ... Should Ashton say you are a pet if they do come? So's they don't know you can talk?" he asked after a moment, chewing on his thumbnail. He knew Nychus didn't like being called a pet.
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Post by Scarecrow on Jun 24, 2006 22:04:34 GMT -5
The straw man chuckled. "Nawww, 'm' a'right." He didn't seem to catch the part about the straw- either that, or he ignored it. Rigg glanced up through the downpour, catching the merest glimpse of the blackened sky, as thunder crashed overhead. He used to like storms... Before it happened. Now, water caused him to fall to pieces, quite literally. Lightening... That was another thing that bothered him. When he had been of flesh... He used to love to watch it darting across the sky, but now...
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Post by Daybreak on Jun 24, 2006 22:23:40 GMT -5
Sybil jumped a little as a peal of thunder broke right overhead. "Dammit. Hurry!" She snagged Rigg's arm and hoisted him half-bent over her shoulder. It was awkward, considering she was so much shorter, but it would get the scarecrow moving faster. She eyed the little mound in the center of the clearing, a pointed ear twitching as she thought she picked up on a voice.
"Ahoy! Anyone in there?"
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