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 Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2015 11:14 pm
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Sypon It was the first time Ganyma had gone back to his hive in weeks. Strochio was gone – odd. The hive looked abandoned. He had returned for a set of clothes, but his surveillance had beaten him there. He wasn’t unused to their presence. The drones had watched him carefully since he’d changed allegiances, and hadn’t left him alone during his rehabilitation. Just when he thought he was rid of them, they showed up at his door. Even more shocking, a new set of cuffs was slapped on his wrists. “Ganyma Callow. You are charged with conspiracy against the Empire and corrupting the youth.” The tealblood choked. He was in disbelief, and sputtered, “N-no, please… I know I was wrong, but I’m better now! I—I’m rehabilitated! You can check!” A drone ushering Ganyma out of his own door gave him a grim smirk. “That’s how you avoided a surefire death sentence.” “…What?” Ganyma was near tears. He was paraded to a transport vehicle and shoved inside. This couldn’t be happening. All of this, and they still didn’t believe that he had changed? His gut wrenched, and he fought back the heat in his face by clenching his fists tight. He was completely tense. Everyone Ganyma had associated with flashed through his thinkpan. They weren’t at the rehab center – did they have a definite death sentence? They didn’t know either; no one in their right mind would choose this rebellion path. They couldn’t know it, but now they might be paying for it with their lives. The door slammed shut. Ganyma slumped against the seat. He could hardly feel sensations in his hands now. The air around him was so taut it might have snapped at any moment, but soon a drone continued Ganyma’s sentence. “Your punishment is as follows…” The words filtered through Ganyma’s spongeclots and back out again. He couldn’t register what was happening now, even though the phrases “Four Fronds” and “hunting game” made his sentence all too clear. The drone explaining his condemnation climbed back into the front of the vehicle and left him alone with his thoughts (and a body-guard) in the back. In a while, he would be running through the woods, chased by highbloods. Game meant for slaughter for entertainment, like all the rest. He would live as nobody, die as nobody, and suffer for the mere reason that he had sought to change his ways. Was saving those weaker worth it? The youths and innocents Ganyma cried for were no better off, and now he was destined to die. Rasali lived in Four Fronds. She would be soaking in the hot springs while he was cut down for treason. At least she was safe. Ganyma put his head in his hands, shuddering. He let out a soft, incidental whisper. “Why is this happening?” The drone guard perked up. “We caught a bunch of the rebels at a research plant in Chittentown. Your rebel buddies sold you out for a lighter sentence, Callow,” they sneered. Dangerous talk for a drone, but when facing the condemned there wasn’t much risk. They sat back and watched his reaction. Ganyma cleared his throat. They were caught… How many? Who lied? Everything froze for a moment as he considered the rebellion. His fellow friends, or so called. Kursha might have done such a thing. Maybe that blueblood who he wasn’t acquainted with – Zeffer? But the others? They’d have had to be tortured or worse. Or maybe not. A nauseous feeling bubbled up inside of Ganyma’s bile sack. The royalists had told him all along that the rebels were violent, uncaring anarchists. That he saw the best in people – an admirable but flawed trait. That his closest friends could be the enemy, and that at every corner a rebel is out for the blood of those who fall prey to their lies. They could be anyone. Little Stryke, Vremea... She was good, wasn’t she? She was a rebel with the rest of them: she was in the wrong. And if she was caught, she had her fate coming to her. Did she deserve that? Ganyma wasn’t sure. Weeks of rehab told him so. He kneaded his temples. The one thing that was for certain was that he was no rebel. He hadn’t been since the conflict. He’d been framed. Ganyma’s jaw tensed, and he looked up at the drone. His expression had hardened into solid rock. “Who?” The drone sneered. “Turns out the sentence for shady ex-rebels is the same as ex-rebel snitches. You’ll see them soon, big guy, don’t worry.”
You find yourself in a similar military transport vehicle. The move from the Punishment Pits was a difficult one. As soon as your verdict was reached, the drones came to separate you from the rest of the pack. There was no time for goodbyes or to think, and you barely managed to share a glance with those left in the pits as the drones clapped you in detainment bracelets and lead you out of the facility.
News of the sentence is quick and brief: You are to be hunted in the forest of Four Fronds. If you survive, you will have earned your freedom. An assured execution seems to be less ideal than a likely one, or even forced labor. But, you escape without a tracking chip or tattoo to show for your crimes.
The road to Busthind is rockier than before. Tense minutes in the vehicle turn to hours, and finally the temperate forests of Four Fronds come into view. Idyllic roads of the aristocratic replace craggy terrain. As the transport rolls into the opening of a popular hunting inlet the drones are on the move again.
“Out.” Command the prison drones, opening the doors gruffly. The march is now a solemn one, but as of now there are no others in sight. There can be no games at the edge of the forest. Blindfolds assure that the easiest trail would be obscured. Once the drones’ marching order has stopped, you feel restrictive bands placed around your ankles. Soon, only the sounds of the forest are around you. The drones have departed.
“Take off your blindfolds.”
A tinny speaker attached to a nearby tree announces.
“In a short while, an alarm will sound. This triggers the beginning of the hunt. Your ankle and wrist restraints will disengage at this time. Your goal is to reach the end of the forest alive. Killing other prisoners will not yield additional rewards. That is all.”
Forera Serpen, Ganyma Callow, and Vulpin Cadmea stand alone in the middle of the forest.
Quote: Only Sypon, quite uneventful and Kimbley Kitty are allowed to post in this thread. When everyone has posted their introduction, the games will begin! There will be intermittent NPC interactions posted by the mule, but otherwise this will be considered a regular RP and can be counted for growth if requirements are met! When your troll escapes, quote the mule. |
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Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:53 pm
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Four Fronds didn't look as radiant and amazing as it did the last time she visited it. She remembered the trees were bright, filled with excitement-- the spas, where she flung mud at some highblood... the lake, the awesome lake that she swam in as a kid...
The memories were all fading now, being replaced with ones of fright and sorrow.
When Forera was pulled out of the empty room, she felt her body follow along dully, feeling more and more like a day-monster than an actual troll with each step she took. She hadn't even been able to see her brother or even contact him... She was such a horrible egg-sharer. She did not fight against the trolls that shoved her in the back part of the vehicle, nor did she try to break the chains that binded her, sitting still and staring at the dirty ground, trying to find solace, maybe a smile in this situation. Nothing came up. She was tired and hungry, and not only did she ruin one of her best friends-- her... old... best friends life, she'd... she probably ruined her brothers, Lunears, and Vulpins. She felt like utter s**t. Maybe this was the time she learned life wasn't all fun games and moonlight.
As she sat in the dull light, recovering her strength, the normally excitable troll curled into herself slightly, looking a lot sadder and miserable than she had in sweeps, since the war between the sides. Her friends had been there for her then... But now, she had no one. Tears brimmed on the corner of her eyes, a teal stream sliding down her cheek as she sniffed and rubbed furiously at her eyes in an effort to keep herself calm. I don't need FEELINGS! She needed to stay the same, she couldn't change. If she changed, she'd become weak. Forera wasn't weak. She wasn't.
After a few hours, Forera felt the transport stop, and she immediately leapt to her feet, walking out and allowing them to place a blindfold on her, walking blindly and feeling the trolls around her lead her to somewhere she didn't know. With each step walked she felt more and more anxious, tempted to run away-- but she stayed with them until the end, where they left her somewhere... and she waited. She stayed still until she heard the speaker resound near her, and Forera slid her hands behind her head, tugging the blindfold off. Her eyes squinted in the moonlight streaming down the now dull trees, eyes fluttering open as she rubbed them slightly. Hearing the speaker crackle to life again, the tealblood pushed its words as second priority, looking around at the others near her and digging her tooth back in her lip. She knew that was Ganyma. The hulky, incredibly muscley body was definitely Ganyma... while the other-- the other was Vulpin. She was sure of it. Forera knew he'd make it out of there...But she didn't know what to say. She honestly, truly didn't.
She wished she could have it all back. However, Forera didn't regret her choices. She was there for a reason, and she'd get through it. Somehow. She was practically immortal... She'd always get through something, even if it meant rebirth.
Right?
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 2:54 pm
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Vulpin rolled his tense shoulders and cracked his neck. Though he felt the tug of the ankle restraint, he couldn't help but already feel a bit freer. Or at least he liked the fact that he wasn't being shoved around like cargo anymore. He had to keep reminding himself that he wasn't free, that the threat of death was still incredibly imminent. That Sly was still holed up somewhere dangerous.
For the first time, he was on his own.
All his life he fought his lusus to give him some space, but now he would take it all back to have the woofbeast by his side again. He wouldn't admit it, but he was honestly frightened for Sly, especially after the condition he left him in. He grumbled, angry at himself for being too weak to help. All he could do was hope they weren't treating him as poorly as they were treating the trolls in the punishment pits. Maybe they'd release Sly if Vulpin managed to free himself. Vulpin shook his head. Wild dreams weren't going to get him anywhere. He shouldn't expect any kind of good treatment from these ruthless royalists. Hope wasn't going to save anyone's life.
The order to remove his blindfold was given. He took it off and pocketed it, knowing that having any material would be useful in his situation. Without his daggers, without his lusus. He might as well have been naked if this was what he had to work with. Really though, being naked would have been better after his sudden growth spurt his turned his sleek disguise into tight nightmare.
His eyes adjusted quickly to the light, and he immediately studied his surroundings. The foliage was indicative of Four Fronds, though he could have figured that out from the context of the situation. He wasn't familiar with these woods, and for good reason. It wasn't exactly a safe place for a lowblood to traipse about. Still, Vulpin had a few tricks up his sleeve. He looked up at the sky, discerning the cardinal directions from the stars. He wasn't sure which direction would take him out of the forest, but this way he could pick a direction and run, and even if he got turned around he'd be able to find his way.
As an afterthought, he turned to the other two, Ganyma and Forera. He was actually more surprised by Forera's presence, thinking that she were better than him than to lie and incarcerate an innocent. And she had chosen the same troll as him. Vulpin raised his eyebrows. He supposed that helped aid his argument, and he felt thankful to her, though in a slightly morbid sense.
As for Ganyma, well Vulpin was now certain which direction he wanted to run, and that was directly opposite of him.
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 8:27 pm
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Ganyma was at peace. The blindfold slipped over his eyes and he melted into the same docile calm he always felt when his vision was obscured. Built from sweeps of his lusus and coping mechanisms, he was at home in the darkness. Even behind the mask of the rebels he was more at ease. He shut off and allowed himself to be marched into the forest. The sounds of the forest were soothing.
The trek was long. When the blindfold was finally released, it was like a shock out of a pleasant dream. He was standing in a clearing, in the middle of nowhere, with the very trolls who had sold him out.
Vulpin. He’d given Ganyma his name at the rehabilitation center, and later he’d played with him. So he was a rebel. Next to him was Forera. They must have been partners.
Ganyma’s nostrils flared. They were both conspiring at the rehabilitation center. They had sat by him; buttered him up. Was that a rebel plan, too? Back when he and Forera were just kids, they wrestled together. Played together. It was clear that those nights had meant nothing to her. Their friendship meant nothing, and his actions had turned her against what was right – inspired her to take action against her fellow trolls and he himself. It was clear to Ganyma that she was different now. Pierced and punctured, a convict and a traitor. Working with shady dealers like this Vulpin character, no better than any of the rebels. Ganyma had changed. His life, while adrift, was finally turning around. He wouldn’t hurt anyone anymore. But, these two had ruined his life – perhaps ended it – and more than anything Ganyma wanted to end theirs. They weren’t children any more. They were dangerous criminals, they were the aggressors here, and Ganyma wouldn’t be accountable. No. Be the better troll.
Ganyma closed his eyes again, but his restfulness had dissolved. He had nothing to say to either of them. When he opened them again he gave both Forera and Vulpin a steady, solemn gaze, and then stared straight ahead.
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 9:41 pm
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Ganyma's stare made Vulpin's breath hitch and sent a chill down his spine. He clenched his teeth, fighting back the slight fear bubbling in his bile sack. Fear would ruin him, and he had to have a cool head if he wanted to keep it by the end of this hunt. He turned to Forera, who appeared to be in a much worse condition. He offered her the only words of encouragement he knew, noiselessly mouthing the words, "Don't die."
Almost instantly after he performed the gesture, the sounds of the hunt began. Vulpin's head snapped back to his planned route and his blood-pusher quickened. The tingle of adrenaline coursed through him and he braced himself for the start of the hunt. He kept light on his feet, waiting desperately for the restraint to open.
Vulpin heard click of the unclasping restraint and was sprinting before he had fully registered the sound. He dashed off, not daring to look behind him. After all, he would hear them if they decided to follow. And if he didn't hear anything, well he wished them good luck. Even Ganyma, who he never wanted to see again. Forera on the other hand... he hoped he would get to see her on the other side of the woods.
Coming across a pond, Vulpin dove into the body of water without a second thought. It would slow him down, but the hunters would lose his scent. He was certain the highbloods would be using tracking lusii, and he wasn't going to let them use a tactic that he himself used to win his hunts. Flipping his hair back, he pulled himself up out of the pond. He checked the stars once more before sprinting off.
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:21 am
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Ganyma's silent stare made Forera's blood run cold.
Just... A stare? Her tooth dug back into her lip, body tense and waiting for something, anything— just a sound. But... Nothing. And that just made her feel worse, anxiety levels reaching heights that she herself did not know were possible for a troll of her usual personality. She wanted to fool herself into ignoring this, to wish for ignorance again— but she wasn't going to forget everything suddenly with the whack of her head. However... Maybe... She kept digging into her lip, harder and rougher, sucking on the blood that pooled into her mouth until she could feel the pain instead of anxiety. It was easy to fool herself into ignoring the present with pain...
When the alarm went off, the first thing the tealblood did was let out a small yelp of surprise, obviously unprepared. Turning to look at Vulpin, the tealblood managed to understand the words he mouthed to her before he lithely ran away from them like a— dare she thought it— fox. Sly raised him well. In that moment, if she'd been a kid, she probably would have swooned. He'd looked so cool, and even with his sudden growth spurt and dorky, tight catsuit, he still looked... Kinda cool. His eyes were dead serious, the moment was tense, and the silence rang heavy in the air... 'Don't die', huh? And then he bolted. Of course, what did she expect from a kid who wrote "NO GIRLS ALLOWED" and slapped it on a fort? With a small sigh, Forera immediately felt a little better about the situation— he was her friend, she could say that with certainty, and even though they bickered a lot, she was sure she could trust him, and knew he could handle himself— and knowing the flighty b*****d, he probably had survival instincts like a pro.
Forera didn't.
Forera had never been in a situation for which she had to fight for her life before. So when she finally stumbled the ******** away, shock still ringing through her body, the girl instantly started running, no real goal in sight. She couldn't rely on her meager amount of strength— sure she was considerably strong, but taking on more than one troll, one teen in a battle would be too much for her. And she was extremely sure they were all extremely powerful adults, and resourceful as hell considering they saw this as fun... She needed to find somewhere to stay safe for now. They'd swarm her if she continued at the pace was going now— she was a little stealthy, sure, but she wasn't fast or as resourceful as Vulpin was. Ganyma... She hoped he lived. She really did. He may have hated her with all his soul, but Forera... Forera would never forget the moments they shared as a kid. Even if she was one of the ones who caused this. He was a good guy... he just had his heart in the wrong place.
Forera continued running, shoes making imprints in the leaves— damnit, were these ever ******** practical?! She wanted to take them off, but if she stopped at the pace she was going, she was definitely going to die. Don't die, she repeated to herself, teeth baring, coated with the teal blood from her cut lip— she'd survive. Don't die— it was giving her confidence— at least someone didn't want her dead. Maybe her brother did, maybe Lunear did, and hey, she wasn't even sure if Vulpin himself did— maybe he told her that as flavor text or something— but it gave her strength, confidence. She suddenly didn't care anymore. Her optimism kept rushing back to her, exciting her, pump biscuit racing in her chest. I'm going to ******** survive.
She'd ******** survive simply because she was alive. Because she would never give up— not for a million sweeps. She was confident and filled with boundless anger at the empire for being so unfair and horrible to the lowerbloods. She may not have been extremely strong, but she'd manage, because strength didn't matter when compared to her desire to survive.
She was a ******** fighter, and she wasn't going to let them forget it.
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:14 pm
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If they were killed, it would be on them. They weren’t self-reliant enough. They weren’t strong enough. It wouldn’t be because of Ganyma. It was a thought process Ganyma had inherited from his lusus, and ingrained in him through lonely walks through the slums and isolated training in the middle of nowhere. It was like his Wriggling Day party so many sweeps ago. He was going to get his boots.
The other two trolls were quick. Vulpin darted off immediately, and Forera soon after. Ganyma would have to figure out an alternative to being swift and stealthy. He broke into a sprint, straight through the foliage. Twigs snapped underfoot, leading a clear trail to the tealblood. Any tracking would be unnecessary – he carved a wide trail with his girth alone. He would just have to be stronger than anyone who caught up to him. At this point, he refused the possibility of guns, lasers, heat-seeking weapons. Clearing out all thoughts in his head, Ganyma sprung over a log and looked around. The ground was getting mushy: a pond was nearby. He’d get back onto solid ground and running again soon, but he was already lagging behind for lack of comfort in the thick forest.
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 11:54 pm
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The hunters surged through the forest. There were five in total, lead by an immense purpleblood with a leonine lusus. The creature was dwarfed by its charge, but was an intimidating form nonetheless. The head of a lion, placed upon a long matted mane that seemed to engulf its entire body. The remnants of scrappy skin flapped across the ground as far too many feet appeared to shuffle in quick flight under the creature’s skin. Its immobile features twisted this way and that, tracking expertly.
The purpleblood halted for only a moment to check the restraints on the ground, and looked to their companions. One dead eye stayed trained on the rightmost path while the other tracked the prisoners. Even then, the troll needed little time to see the path that the three had taken. Amateurs. This would be much too easy, but Traian Munera supposed such a sentencing called for mediocrity of game. They quickly analyzed the situation and began to move, calling to their companions. “They’ve split up, one likely in the pond for cover. Aerials, move out east. Runners to the west; I’ll straight ahead. Group them up.”
With a quick beat to their chestplate, Traian released a battle howl. It incited their companions immediately. The trolls and their lusii were chomping at the bit to get moving, and shot into the forest with incredible speed.
Soon…
The loud rustling of branches preceded a screaming honk, bursting from the canopies. A huge heron with four heads emerged, each needle-like bill snapping and squeaking as it barreled through the sky and back down into the trees. It was clearly burdened by the rowdy blueblood sitting atop its large form, but that didn't keep it from removing all obstacles in its way.
She spotted the slinky form of the brownblood on one of her ascents, and as she dipped back down she yelled for her companion. "Found one!" the blueblood shrieked from atop her feathered lusus. "Ahahahaha!"
She popped back up to check his position, the heads of her lusus trained on one particular spot in the woods. "Where'd ya go, little pet? Jaklip, find it for me!"
With pressure from above, her teal companion whipped his lusus around. "Damn you," he growled. "Can't even keep a ******** shitblood in your sights, eh? Least he ain't in the pond anymore,"
His own lusus hovered above the pond, waiting hesitantly for any sign of Vulpin in the shallow rushes. He pulled on one of his lusus' fleshy antennae and it was off, mandibles clicking over the surface of the water. The two were pushing Vulpin into the central zone.
Traian stalked through the underbrush, allowing for their lusus to go ahead. They figured the girl would have gone this way. Her heel impressions were clear in the round, and that would slow her down, and her time in the prison pits could have caused her some exhaustion to boot. There was no point in sending the other forces after her; it was a waste of energy. At least the light-footed brownblood had the sense to lose their tracking lusii.
The lion swept over the forest floor quickly; its back undulated in a quick rhythm as it navigated shapelessly over roots and rocks to pursue the girl. It was getting closer. The shouts of the other trackers were becoming more apparent now, and any time at all they'd converge.
The sounds of snuffling were all around Ganyma. s**t. He was too slow -- or were they too fast? Small predatory lusii quickly came into his peripheral vision, followed by the excited yelps of their charges. They wound through the trees, hopping from branch to branch with ferocious energy. They seemed to jump even before registering where to grab: perhaps this would work out best for him if he changed directions.
Playing into their game, Ganyma turned a sharp right and down a steep incline. He'd lost them for a while. No! He saw a flash of teal in the distance. A hunter? Ganyma quickened his pace. They looked to be alone, small, so maybe he could knock them out on his way past... Only on closer inspection did he realize that the bright teal streaks and glinting studs were those of Forera herself. The creatures were back in the trees -- Ganyma lunged forward to try and pick up his pace, now panicking inside. If he hadn't just killed himself, he had just led the trackers right to her. He could... No. There was a pang in his chest. Forera wasn't bait - she wasn't a distraction. Ganyma could overcome all of this.
"RUN!" Ganyma roared.
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 4:12 pm
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Vulpin held his breath as the sound of the hunters drew closer. He hadn't considered the possibility of avian lusii, and he was kicking himself for being so daft. Sly would have chastised him if he were there. Vulpin frowned, trying to shake the thought away. He needed to focus on the present, or else he wouldn't have a scrape of a chance of being with his lusus again.
He clenched his teeth at the sound of the hunter's laughter, blood filling with outrage. How dare these hunters have the audacity to call him names and rub his face in the dirt, when he was already outnumbered, outwitted, and fighting a losing battle? More than anything he wanted to wring their stupid necks, every last one of them.
Slinking behind a tree for cover, Vulpin slipped off his boots and— as quietly as possible— snapped the heels off of them, pocketing them with his blindfold. He tossed the boots into a nearby bush, hoping the sound would provide him a diversion while he stole off in the opposite direction. He tried to keep under the trees for cover, leveraging off their roots to leave less footprints for the hunters to track. He found himself a bit distracted, wondering how the others were doing. In the back of his head he hoped the hunters were sending the worst trouble after Ganyma, but he had a feeling in the pit of his bile sack that said otherwise.
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Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 6:06 am
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Forera's body ached. Thank Jegus for all her times as a kid that she went running and punching things like an idiot. Her small body would've been trapped ages ago. But now... Every movement made her legs ache, every moment she spent running she felt her body grow more and more sluggish. But she wasn't— no, she couldn't... The sounds of their chasing just became louder and more blustering, making her body continue to rush in a frenzy, tears bubbling up in her eyes. What... What was she feeling? What the heck. Was this...
Fear. She didn't need to think twice. It was fear.
An ice cold feeling of dread lashed across her chest as tears streamed down her cheeks during her desperate rush to escape. Forera's eyes deviated from the road, and her only thought was of how scared she was. Hands reached up, clutching her head as she almost stopped to take a breather— when suddenly, she heard a loud yell bellowing through the trees. Pulling her out of her hysteria, the frightened, pierced troll heard his voice so clearly, so distinctly, almost like a megaphone. Like a bomb. Counting down, until finally...
"RUN!"
She dodged a tree, wanting to scream, to run the ******** away, but she was already running, and screaming would alert them of her position. Not that they needed an alert. Ganyma's loud yell had probably ******** them both over. Glancing over in the general direction she'd heard him, the tealblood couldn't help but wonder why he was yelling at her to run. She was going as fast as she could, and this showed he'd... Did he... Still worry about me? She'd sold him out when he was innocent. But this... Hopefully.
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Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 12:50 am
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The brownblood was quick. Smart. There was no way Jaklip’s blueblooded companion would find him without help. The tealblood’s lusus released a shriek – echolocation. It jerked in a wild direction and soon they were skirting through trees.
“There you are.” He exclaimed. He was beginning to get testy. Jaklip’s lusus was much quicker than the teen, and he soon overtook him. There was no way out now. Jaklip slid off of his lusus – it was a huge ray-like creature that hovered easily above the ground. “Go find Tritch. She can clean up after.” With Vulpin in his sights, Jaklip raised his hand – in it was a small flare gun. He shot off a blast, streaking orange into the sky. A kill for him would do him well in Four Fronds.
He smirked, appraising Vulpin’s form with darting grey eyes. “Hello. Looks to me like you’re the first to die. Shame…” He rushed Vulpin, in a quick flash drawing daggers from his sides.
--
Ganyma heard a shot. The vague appearance of light, then orange smoke, above the trees. Was that a signal? Oh god. Orange. His blood pusher quickened. Forera’s response to his plea was anger. It was startling – confusing – but there was no time for it. They were being pursued. It was too late for them to part now, even if they wanted. But, rebuffed, Ganyma forged on ahead. He just hoped his pursuers wouldn’t stop to attack the smaller tealblood instead. He tried to swallow, but his throat felt as though it was closing.
--
Meanwhile, the creatures behind Ganyma had come into focus. A simian creature with prominent horns swung through the trees, screaming. Behind it, a terrestrial creature: walking on its hindlegs with disturbing speed, a mammalian lusus covered in blades and scars to match. Its purple saliva flicked onto the surrounding foliage as it hustled through the woods. Ganyma was in sight. Blades shot from its back as it crawled.
In no time at all, the nimble simian had caught up to Forera. It leapt, aiming to latch onto her as it fell, sharp claws at the ready for slowing her to a stop.
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Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 9:24 am
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Orange signal. Forera let out a choked gasp when she saw it, bumping into a tree and loosing steam as she felt the tears in her eyes blur her vision, streaming down her cheeks more and more. They had found Vulpin. He was so thin and... Forera felt her blood pusher squeeze in pain-- What if he was hurt?! Does that signal mean he's DEAD?!? Watching Ganyma take the lead, Forera's feet began to slow down, hand wiping the sweat from her forehead as she felt the dread hang in her body more. No, no, she wasn't anyone's pawn! I need to keep moving...
Screams were echoing in her mind. She didn't know if they were her own screams or someone else's, she just knew that she could hear them, and it was driving her crazy, wild eyes darting everywhere. As she slowly picked up speed again, her body protested against her, dragging her down more and more... When she finally noticed how close the simian creature was to her, it was already too late. Forera let out a loud scream as she tumbled down, the hit knocking the wind out of her and making her roll a little before reaching a complete stop. Letting out a groan, Forera felt the tears want to come back but she wasn't— SHE WASNT GOING TO CRY. ******** that, she may have been caught but she DEFINITELY WASN'T going to die. Something was going to happen. She was sure, s-so sure sh-she wasn't going to di-die... Clenching her teeth and letting out a loud groan from the claws deep in her back, Forera snarled let out a loud snarl in anger. These ******** didn't want to be, but she was scared. Why wasn't she stronger...?
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Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 10:32 am
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Vulpin crinkled his nose at the approaching tealblood, lips curling into a snarl. He wanted to take his dumb flare gun and shoot it down his throat. How dare he insinuate that he would be the first to die? Had he not even seen the other targets? He didn't want Forera or Ganyma dead, but certainly it was more appropriate if they died before him. Vulpin was certain that if he was going to be caught today, he would be the last. Stepping back against a tree, a shot of adrenaline went through him. Vulpin refused to call it fear, but that was certainly a fitting word for his emotions. The full scope of his situation came into his perspective. He was cornered. He couldn't run anymore. He was out of options.
All he could do was fight.
He wished he had something clever to rebut the tealblood with, but all he could do was stare wide-eyed at the approaching hunter. He clutched at the broken heels in his hands, breathing heavy as he observed the tealblood. The hunter had broken off from his friends and his lusus, leaving himself wide open to attack. There was a chance, although a small one, that Vulpin could make it out of this encounter with his life. The tealblood stepped closer and Vulpin held his breath, waiting for the precise moment to strike.
With a quick leap, Vulpin tackled the tealblood, digging the broken heels viciously into the tealblood's eyes. He opened his mouth to bite down hard on Jaklip's neck, tearing at the skin with a ferociousness he wasn't aware that he had. He let go of the heels and wrestled for the tealblood's daggers, clawing desperately at the hunter's hands. Vulpin growled. He wasn't going to be the first to die here today. He'd make damn well sure of that.
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:24 am
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“Forera!” Damnit. Ganyma turned in time to see Forera stumble and fall, and for his folly received a blade straight to the chest. He roared in pain. He couldn’t go back… He couldn’t. The simian clawed at Forera’s back, slashing down her torso as it scrabbled around. There was no time. There was no time.
“s**t.” Ganyma bolted in the opposite direction, cursing himself and the world. He snarled, passing by the pursuing lusus, rushing to Forera’s aid. “STAY DOWN!” he yelled.
The handwalker hissed in confusion as the tealblood passed him by. It released the last of its sharp stickers into his back, with no avail. Ganyma had too much momentum now. The creature rushed towards Forera (and now Ganyma), ready to make up lost ground, but Ganyma got there first.
Ganyma’s strides fell in the forest ground in quick succession. He barreled through foliage; plantlife crunched under his weight. With every step his shoulders swung broader. His fists clenched tightly enough in his palms to pale his knuckles, and the distance closing between the two counted down by faster and faster paces until the tealblood was a bullet grazing the underbrush. The simian barely saw his coming.
“SHREE!”
Ganyma’s boot connected with the creature’s ribcage with a rattling crack. It flew a great distance as Ganyma followed through, into the low-hanging branches of a nearby tree. With any luck he’d dispatched it with the force, but there was no way of telling. He whipped back towards the other aggressor, casting a quick glance at Forera. His arm extended, and his expression was very clear: They run, or they die.
--
Vulpin was much too quick for the other teen. Bred in stature rather than dexterity, Jaklip was taken by surprise by the improvised weapon. The hit landed gruesomely.
“AAAAAAaAAHH!!” He shrieked. One arm covered his face while the other swung blindly at the brownblood, hoping to get in a hit. “Aa—HHCKK!”
Sharp teeth dug into his throat. It was a horrifying feeling. His blows upon his opponent turned frantic, and then completely lost control as he fought for air with the loss of blood now exerting itself on his consciousness. One of his hands finally slipped from the blood spattered dagger as he squealed.
Tritch came back. Her eyes wide as she witnessed the carnage taking place below. “Jaklip, NO!” This wasn’t supposed to be happening. Horror replaced her normal manic expression, and she dove. It was too late for the tealblood. He crumpled to the ground, falling backwards blind and bleeding out. Tritch screamed. “No, no!!”
Tears sprung to her eyes. She tightened her grip on her lusus and honed in on Vulpin, shrieking with fury. Jaklip was gone.
The huge bird inserted itself between Vulpin and the tealblood, but Tritch didn’t move from her spot. She heaved. With one finger pointed, she gestured to her throat and made a slashing motion. “Let’s go!”
Five monstrous heron heads snapped around Vulpin. There was no escape now from the hulking lusus. It shrieked, one of its thick necks coiling around the brownblood like a snake. They were off the ground.
Tritch hyperventilated. She wheezed until she was ragged. She could drop him right then and there. He’d be dead when he hit the ground – his bones crunched, splat. Suddenly, she saw a signal. Teal. The light shade so close to Jaklip’s own – one that that filthy female prisoner shared with him. She’d lost her Jaklip. He’d lose his, too. The idea came to Tritch in a manic stroke of lucidity. She raced towards the signal, laughing and sobbing.
The tealbloods were in sight. Below them were two lusii. Traian was still taking their sweet time. Tritch had plenty of time to kill.
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