|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:23 am
|
|
|
|
They had warned him, after all: the mists would take hold of his body and soul and never let go. This time, it was his own fault. He admitted that.
A few days ago, Sikulu had found comfort with a traveling band of leopards. In exchange for helping them hunt, they shared their kill and their extensive knowledge of the surrounding territories. When he asked them what lay beyond the hills to the south, they all went quiet. Finally, one of them, a copper-colored female, spoke up. "That's where the ghosts live."
From that point on, Sikulu became... intrigued. The next morning, when he and the leopards parted ways, they gave him that final piece of advice. The mists do things to you, they said. Make you hallucinate. Pah! Sikulu had a sharp mind, washed clear by the seas and polished by the sand. Not to mention, he was royalty. Well, once-royalty. That part of him was still hazy. He set off in full stride towards these "ghost lands", welcoming any adventure.
For what it was worth, Sikulu probably would have made a great Mistwalker. His pelt was nearly perfect for these surroundings, not to mention the mist itself couldn't penetrate his coarse mane. Unfortunately, that was about all that made him a great Mistwalker.
Four days had passed, and in those four days, Sikulu had gone through his own personal hell. Trying to hunt in these mists was more or less impossible. Larger animals who had grown up in the mists sensed him quicker than he could. And he wasn't near (or even aware of) any of the rivers that fed into the valley, so water was scarce, as well. For four days, he survived on little more than a few rodents and a tiny bird's egg. On day four, Sikulu's mind had... started to go a bit south, as well. It was bad enough sleeping in a foreign territory, but the mists did little to still his slowly-growing fear. He'd swear he saw something slither through the night fog just beyond his reach. Whispers, too. There were quiet whispers in his ears, or maybe his mind. One of them. Both of them. Maybe neither. He felt hungry. So desperately hungry and dizzy.
Sluggishly, he pulled himself out of his fretful sleep, and began his early morning's pursuit for breakfast. Last night, he made the mistake of trying some of the local fungi and ended up writhing in agony for a few hours. For all he knew, it was still in his system, messing with his brain. He still had a brain, right? That hadn't rotted away like the rest of him? The mist felt unbearably thick as he breathed it in. Swallowing down a gallon of the air, he paused mid-step, feeling a wave of trembling come over him. That mushroom was having its last metaphorical laugh.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 7:12 pm
|
|
|
|
There had been times when wanderers had found their way into the snare of the protective veil of mists. They were a blessing to the pride, a gift from the goddess of mist herself to protect those within from those who would do them harm on the outside. The mists swirled and slipped through the trees, rocks, and the damp stones that guarded the waterfall valley. Sometimes the lions found their way out, other times the patrols spooked them in the direction of the borders to send them scurrying away, and other times those within the mists were brought in to become one of the mistwalkers.
Most of the natives were blessed with misty coats that allowed them to move through the swirling mists along the border without being seen. When the moonlight hit their eyes they would almost seem to blaze, giving them the appearance of specters. Haldir, the second in command, had trailed this particular outsider for much of his bumbling about. He watched, assessing his behavior and allowing the mists to drain his reserves. When it seemed the lion could take no more, Haldir had slipped into the heart of the pride where the mists cleared and the pride resided in peace.
Their arch magi, their highest wise-man, was called to see to the stranger. The lion seemed determined enough. Perhaps he wanted to become a part of the pride? Perhaps he came from a nearby settlement that was in danger, it was hard to say. He could have turned away...
Maji approached slowly, guided by a gruff nod of Haldir's head. He knew the land better than any others within the valley. Maji had grown up here. He knew the rocks under his paws and found his way without need for his sight or sense of smell. The dampness that built up along his mane and fur was as familar to him as an old friend.
He came within a few steps of the strange and held back, just close enough to project a shape through the mists but far enough for the mists to veil his features. The "phantom steps", they called it.
"Who are you, stranger? What brings you to this place?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:06 pm
|
|
|
|
What little sunlight managed to filter through the mist only made Maji's eyes all the more frightening. Sikulu managed to look up just in time to see the magi's form appear before him. By now, whatever chemicals were in his bloodstream were warping his senses. His legs were beginning to feel numb, so he was forced into an unnatural position of half-laying, half-standing.
It was difficult to hear this ghostly figure's demanding questions, though Sikulu was convinced now that this was merely a hallucination. Over the course of just a few minutes, his pupils had dilated to the size of dinner plates. He looked both terrified, and terrifying. It was like watching an animal die from some unknown genetic disease, or some disturbing parasite that had taken over its brain. Whatever type of mushroom that was, it must have been extremely uncommon to the Mistwalker lands. The Bahari lion had never been so helpless and frightened in his life, not since the tsunami.
His legs could take no more; Sikulu collapsed and lay there on his side like a dead fish. He could only stare up at the shrouded stranger with terrified eyes. "P...please."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:49 pm
|
|
|
|
Sikulu's eyes were glazed over now, but he could still feel the fear course through his limbs as these shadowy creatures seemed to materialize next to him. He let out a struggling growl as they came closer, but it was no use.
Not expecting the assistance, his neck lolled around like a ragdoll as he was lifted up to his feet. Unlike the smooth, assured strides of his saviors, the prince's paws more or less flopped around and stumbled. It was as if someone had tied stones around them. He couldn't even feel them at that point, so if he stepped on a thorn or accidentally trod on one of the others' feet, he wouldn't have known.
Their conversation barely registered to him. It sounded muffled, yet warm. He only picked up a few words, but Sikulu let a weak grin grace his face. " 'M not idiot," he managed to mumble out, before dropping his head back down. His body was still trembling, but due to being sandwiched between the two males, it seemed more under control. The Bahari male tried to glance out of the corner of his eye to get a good look at them, but his eyeballs felt swollen, and doing so made him wince in pain.
As the trio entered the valley and into the heart of the pride, the ex-prince felt the eyes of its members upon him. He'd rather be caught dead than be seen in this state. But he was quite helpless, and could only duck his head down, ashamed to make eye contact with anyone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:57 pm
|
|
|
|
That sweet, sweet embrace of cold. Sikulu rolled his head on its side so he could try to soothe the swelling of his eyeballs. He had tasted the mist from the waterfalls on the way here, and felt his throat suddenly ache with thirst. He felt too wobbly and clouded to form a sentence and ask for water, so this was the next best comfort he could enjoy.
That... what was his name, Haldi? Aldir? Whatever. That guy gave him a bad feeling, and if Sikulu was feeling more articulate, he'd mention something about the sentinel's "friendliness" towards outsiders. Instead, he simply lay on the ground, looking up at Maji. Arch magi? So he was the highest of some sort of special mystical group? The male felt a little honored, if not stunned. He'd only ever met one other royal creature, but she was a bit... well, anyway.
"Never seen it... 'm from B'ha-" Sikulu suddenly stopped himself. He may have been drifting in and out of focus, but he was still in control enough to not let any sort of personal details like that slip out. "B... b'hind mountain."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 5:52 pm
|
|
|
|
"... need water or 'm gon' dry up," Sikulu rasped after a long stretch of silence. He had faintly felt the spray of water on their way to the cliffs. At the moment, he'd rather die drowning than from lack of treatment. But maybe that came with growing up by the ocean.
With a pleading look, he had somehow managed to convince the two to help him to the closest freshwater pool. It lay at the bottom of the path they had taken, and each passing moment felt like an eternity to a lion dying of thirst. The closer they got, though, the louder the roar of the waterfalls became. To Sikulu, it was music.
In fact, the second the pool came into sight, he managed to wriggle out from between the two males, and staggered towards it as fast as he could. He collapsed on the final step, immediately dunking his head into the water.
Water! He could have wept. To him, it was the sweetest, crispest drink he'd ever had. Mouthful after mouthful, the lion drank his fill, until he felt almost drunk. With a final gulp, he finally raised his head above the water, and let out a loud sigh of contentment.
The journey back to the cave was wet, to say the least.
Thalion AND THE WINNER FOR LATEST RP REPLY IS... /shot Hope you don't mind if I sorta made them escort him. xD;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|