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 Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:11 pm
Thankyouthankyouthankyo-
Senga's Insanity-striken voice echoed through Kiwi's ears, roiled up into a roar, ferocious and prepared to attack. Or so the Famine clansman thought.
Silence followed. Dead silence. Not even the chirrup of crickets could be heard.
After a belated moment the horseman flinched, having expected the wolf's head to come rearing down upon him at any moment. In fact, he suddenly realized, he could no longer feel his weapon in his hands.
Kiwi glanced down, focusing on his hand. It was perfectly empty. As was the air around him. Just where was he?? The Famine boil rose slowly, lifting himself onto hands and knees. He coughed a few times, flexing his wings carefully in the dusty, dry air. His limbs sank into a misty white aura, too bright to see.
No, wait. It wasn't bright, it was thick. The fog - no, the Insanity - was incredibly dense. This had to be the heart of the Haunted House. Kiwi glanced about. Some form of it anyway.
After a moment, Kiwi decided to take a hesitant step forward. The ground crunched beneath his bare foot, sharp and rough. Snapping his foot back, Kiwi glanced down.
A vial. One of the vials Medea had given the horsemen. Could it possibly be the same one Soren had tossed to Senga?? ... Kiwi padded his person. He swore he still had his own, but he couldn't seem to find it. Then it hit him. This vial, could it be his own?? ... If so, it was entirely useless now.
The horseman sighed gently, and turned to stare into the fog. He could just make out a light in the distance. It wasn't a particularly pleasant-looking light. In fact, it was a cold light, and bitter, dismal at best. But having noticed nothing else in the gloom, Kiwi had no choice but to head in that direction. And so he set off underfoot, careful not to land his feet on another broken vial.
Quote: Name: Kiwi Faction: Horseman HP: 40/40 Fear: 100% Insanity: 0% Visual Reference:  Inventory: Nada Actions Selected: Prompt #1 - Cold Light - Link to Choice
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:46 pm
"Queen be damned!" Kiwi cursed, dodging FEAR-fed arrows left and right as he wondered what ludicrous notion had led him to this place. His Famine senses were finely attuned to warm climates and after all, this was a Hunter's base for screaming out loud!
In fact, the cold light was not a light at all, but multiple lights set up around a perimeter that wouldn't seem to allow him past. One of the hunter's clever and annoying shields surely. Kiwi grimaced, recalling how those shields had been used during the Colosseum Trials. He really wished he had one of of his own right now.
The horseman managed to duck and weave to dodge several attacks, making a retreat far enough into the fog that the arrows and gunshots fired suddenly stopped. Freedom however, didn't come unscathed. His left arm throbbed with a reminder of the bullet wound that had pierced through, and an arrow had grazed his bare midriff, leaving him with a burning red line angled across one side.
Kiwi shivered, a bit breathless as he started out across through the fog again. Once, twice maybe, he thought he saw something dart from the corner of his eyes. But no, that wasn't right. "Helloooo?? ..." he called into the fog. There was no answer. If the others were out here too ... he shook his head, and continued silently.Quote: Name: Kiwi Faction: Horseman HP: 25/40 Fear: 100% Insanity: 15% Visual Reference: Inventory: Nada Actions Selected: Prompt #1 - Cold Light - Link to Choice
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 10:35 pm
There was someone here. There had to be, Kiwi told himself. The further he walked, sounds kept drifting back to him. The jingling of chimes, the pad of footsteps, light, gleeful laughter echoing into the fog ...
At first he thought his eyes were deceiving him, as shapes began to form in the white void ahead. White fog became light grey, light grey became dark, and darkness gave way to the form of ... buildings?? ... No, booths. Booths lined up one after the other. ... This, couldn't be Halloween Town, could it?? ... Fright Night was over, and his eyes most certainly were deceiving him.
Kiwi paused in front of a booth, reaching out tentatively to touch an old and broken down toy ship. His fingers only brushed through wisps of white smoke, falling out to leave the image hanging before his eyes. Indeed his eyes were at fault here. Even more likely was that this was all a dream, one of Medea's induced trances. He rolled his eyes at the thought. Not that he didn't agree with Medea's wisdom, but ... trance wasn't his favored form of education. If this is trance at all, he reminded himself, and a fresh shiver passed along his spine.
Kiwi began forward again, between the booths that were only figments of his mind. It wasn't very long however, that the Insanity-fed fog seemed to thicken even moreso, rushing suddenly up like a wave to engulf his thin form.
Kiwi found he couldn't move, could barely speak. And ahead, a figure most certainly loomed in the center of this very real illusion. He faltered. Surely then, this was no dream, no figment at all.
What are you fighting for?
That single phrase from the figure's lips hung in the air like the fog around him. Kiwi thought to himself I know good and well what I fight for. I fight to protect our clan, to preserve it. To make certain nothing is ever taken from me again.
The figure only seemed to cackle, pointing behind. There were figures there. Figures Kiwi hadn't noticed at first. But who were they?? ... Were they just like this figure?? ... He peered closer, trying to discern just who these beings were. And what he saw, nearly took the breath from his lungs.
Nergui, Tseng, Soren, Salbei and Mmur, Heidla, even Faiyum and Eisheth. They were all standing there, staring at him with a sad and frightened look in their eyes, some with what appeared to be scorn.
What rattled him most, was Senga.
He had barely known the War clansman in the past, yet the battle in the Haunted House had already shown him so many things. For one, it had granted him knowledge to a deeper side of Senga. Not only was the colt fierce and brave, he could be gentle, forgiving almost in the way he accepted the blame for something that was entirely beyond his control.
Kiwi could almost feel his fists clench. He wanted to scream it so loudly. None of this is your fault Senga!!!! It was a mistake. The entire clan's burden. Since time anon they had as one gathered the FEAR of the worlds, gathered it to supply their people with the power to survive, and to remain a power in those worlds. It was crude yes, selfish even, but it had worked. It always worked.
Until these hunters arrived. They somehow knew just how to manipulate that power to bring the entire structure down. A crippling act that spawned this Insanity. Why Senga?? ... why blame yourself?? Kiwi's brow creased with emotion on the figure of the clansman, but Senga's gaze refused to meet the Famine boil's own.
With a great deal of effort, Kiwi managed to turn his head just enough that his eyes could meet the mysterious figure ahead, and fierce light began to burn in them. "If you truly believe that I have taken something so valuable to you, then accept myself in exchange for them. I will not have my friends suffer like this!"
And he meant every word.
Quote: Name: Kiwi Faction: Horseman HP: 25/40 Fear: 100% Insanity: 15% Visual Reference: Inventory: Nada Actions Selected: Prompt #1 - Cold Light - Link to ChoicePrompt #2 - Look at the Shapes - Offer Yourself in Exchange
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 3:43 pm
The figure seemed to consider this, and at last gave a slight nod. A wave of his weapon, and Kiwi felt the bonds of mist release him. Not however, before one of the shadows rushed up to meet him, crossing through him with an icy shiver-
The horseman blinked. White mist flooded his vision. Everywhere he looked was white. An endless expanse, empty and void of the strange place he had found himself held prisoner only moments earlier.
Something felt odd though. He swore he could almost hear voices, still echoing in soft whispers through the mist. He glanced about warily, but nothing met him in the blank void.
Until he happened to look down.
He was on his hands and knees, fingers coated in warm, dark ... could that really be blood?? He wondered why he hadn't realized til now, his fingers were pressed tightly to the wound. The figure ... he couldn't make them out. He tried to peer closer, but the fog kept him from discerning who or what the figure was. It could be a hunter, for all he knew. And then again, it could a be a fellow horseman. One of his friends even, and judging from the wound, they wouldn't last long ...
Quietly Kiwi closed his eyes. The whispering hush of voices still echoed through his mind. ... Could they be trying to tell him what to do?? ... He faltered a moment, listening, trying to unearth the mystery of their words, but words and meaning wouldn't come. With a grimace, Kiwi made his own decision. Pressing his fingers tight against the wound, he attempted to heal the wound before the figure took it's final breath.
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 8:07 pm
Kiwi set to work, fingers braced against the figure's skin. Healing was one of his specialties, and a vital task for Famine horsemen braving the desert sands. Why then?? ... why couldn't he seem to make this work?? ...
The horseman wracked his brain, searching for any knowledge of how to heal this dying soul. He worked quickly, all too aware time was of the essence. Try as he might however, the figure only gave a shuddering breath, a rasped "Th-thank youuu ..." mingling among the growing whispers as it fell still entirely.
Kiwi began to shake. He shook for the loss of the Clans, for the loss of the others, the loss of Senga, the loss of this one as well ... Through slatted, bloodied fingers, he watched as the figure slowly began to take form-
A hunter.
He would recognize that white coat anywhere ... he had just tried, to help a hunter, unsuccessfully. A sharp pang shot through him, settling heavily on his chest. The horseman didn't know if he wanted to break down into tears - a rare thing for a soldier such as himself - or curse himself that he had been so foolish. His fists clenched and his eyes closed tightly, listening to the stillness around him, to the hushed voices echoing things that almost seemed safe, almost seemed calming ...
... If he could only understand.
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 8:52 pm
When Kiwi opened his eyes, he noticed the world around him was no longer white.
For one, his right wrist and hand oddly seemed greyed out, as though the color had been drained from it. Surely he was hallucinating?? ... The Famine colt blinked a few times, reassuring himself his eyes did not lie. He quickly clutched his hand to his side, as though fearful it might span out and consume him at any moment. And to a degree, he was afraid. He knew the rumors among the clan, what Insanity looked like ...
The fingers of his left hand touched his skin ever-so-slightly, grazing across the cracked, pale limb. It didn't feel that bad ... He quickly shoved his bangle down, attempting to hide as much of the infection as he could, unaware there was second patch on his left ankle as well as he stood.
The second thing Kiwi noticed, was that the world around him too was grey. He was now in a room, and a friendly looking figure smiled to him from a dark counter ahead, asking for his help. He couldn't discern it's shape, as he hadn't been able to discern the hunter before. And this made him pause. ... What if she was a hunter too?? ... Would she attack if he got close?? ... She did seem to be weilding ... well, something rather expertly.
Kiwi hesitantly called out: "... Are you a Hunter?? ..." to which the figure only waved warmly and chattered on about how silly he was being. Kiwi raised a brow. ... Mayyyybbee he could trust this one ...
Softly, he stepped up to the counter, scanning the ingredients one by one. There was an odd fluffy thing that seemed nice, a strange tentacled mass, a- was that a fish?? ... All of which stared to him with these eerie white eyes. Kiwi tapped his fingers against his skin, nervous of their stares as he shifted his attention to the last item.
A vial full of an odd, grey liquid. He pursed his lips. Grey or not it was the most familiar, homely thing he had seen while here. And carefully he lifted the vial, offering it to the figure a bit hesitantly.
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 10:14 am
The figured seemed almost surprised. "Oh! I think that was the last of the -. Well, at least we'll be putting it to good use. I hope you like it too! Here, try some now."
Kiwi eyed the liquid warily as it poured from the vial. But the moment it touched his skin, he felt an odd sensation. Warmth, deep and calming, and ... a flash of ... colour?? ... But this place had no color. He shrank back from it a bit fearfully, staring around himself awkwardly as the warmth spread through him, filling him with a fresh sense of purpose.
The figure only giggled. He glanced up to her almost astonished. "D-don't laugh ..." he sighed gently. "... I'm certain it will make a lovely ... whatever it is we are making. ... I do feel a bit better. Thank you."
And for the first time since he had arrived, Kiwi smiled softly.
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:18 pm
Kiwi blinked. The world was white again, his limbs sinking into white mist as he stepped forward.
The door appeared suddenly. He would have tread right into it had he not been careful, and took a sudden step back.
Why would a door be here?? ... The question entered his mind, but it seemed a little moot. After all, he had encountered many things here already that had seemed rather out of place. He stared to the door a moment, it's shifting grey hues and carved edges. It was simply a door, nothing else.
Kiwi stepped up to it, and rapped his knuckles, once, twice, three times. BOOMF BOOMF BOOMF. Nothing. He hesitated a moment. There was something ... something very final about this door. He drew in a breath, and placed his hand on the knob, greyed fingers wrapping around it's smooth, cold surface.
"Waaaaaaaaaa-aaaait-"
The breathy voice caught the horseman by surprise. A touch graced his shoulder, a hand wrapped around his own, arms curved around him from behind. It was both an eerie and comforting feeling, somehow familiar as it was new, and unable to resist, Kiwi sank back into the touch.
"Don't go." A hand tugged at one of his wings. "Please, you don't have to do this. There is still another way!"
Slowly, Kiwi began to recognize the voice. "M-Mara, is that you?? ..."
"Don't go!" The small fingers at his waist squeezed him tighter, a troubled look filled his eyes. He had first met Mara when he was young, on the Famine Isle. She was a small girl, with pale hair and amber eyes, who always wore a dusty brown cloak adorned in little golden charms and beadwork. He didn't have many friends at the time, always ridiculed as Kiwi the dodo-head. And Just look at those wings! He'll never be able to properly defend himself, much less harvest FEAR.
"Mara ..." His hand shook now as his fingers closed around her small ones, squeezing them tight. She had been the only one to defend him. Little Mara with the fiery eyes, screaming back at them how much she truly believed in him. He hadn't seen her since the Isles collapsed. He hadn't ...
"Don't go, brother." How long had it been since she'd called him that?? ... Even if they weren't blood related ... She was like a little sister to him. "Don't leave me again ..." The fingers dug into his bare skin.
Kiwi swallowed, his throat somehow tight. That was why he had come this far wasn't it?? ... He was trying to find his friends. His loved ones. And Mara, she was ...
His hand squeezed hers gently. "I ... I want to stay with you too, Mara. Let's ... go elsewhere."
A sigh whispered among the voices. "You cannot go where I go. Not now, but perhaps..." As her voice trailed off, he could feel her touch vanish. Startled, Kiwi glanced about, but she was gone, and for that matter, so was the door. He stood there a moment, feeling much more refreshed, reliving the imprint of her fingers in his own hand ...
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 10:54 pm
When Kiwi came to, he found that the fog had begun to shift oddly again. He watched curiously as the fog pulsed for a moment, and then like a dune in the winds rolled casually aside, revealing a path in the ground ahead.
It was a stone stairway, he realized, and oddly similar to the ones back on the Famine Isle that had led to the FEAR source the clans relied so heavily on. Would this lead him to his friends?? ...
He didn't know. He had an ominous feeling something terrible lurked down there, and the voices - hushed as they were - were whispering frantically, tugging him back, making the will to flee all the more tempting. But no, he had come this far. What harm could it do to search a bit more?? ... Bracing himself, Kiwi hesitantly stepped forward.
[EXITING]
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