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 Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 3:43 pm
Rain's route would be indirect, as his bobbing, weaving, shuffling, and shadowevading would make his path zigzag across the forest floor. His feet would slide and shuffle in place, his torso would move erratically around and around as he travelled. All the while, the humming of charging energy slowly and gradually getting louder. As they closed, it would be about then that it would happen. It would appear that there were two Yupas. Wait, no, three of them. Or perhaps more? His entire upper half was moving about faster than the normal human eye could accurately trace, leaving multiple afterimages. Even superhuman ones would have difficulty tracking him. His lower legs would likewise be moving fast, making his feet difficult to pinpoint. The only thing that remained "single" would actually be the area of Rain's hips to his knees. Then, Rain would close, releasing what could only be described as a hurricane of punches. He would start at just before he would have closed, also creating afterimages of his fists, trying to create a buffer zone of fists in case Nemesis wanted to charge in early. The blows would be aimed at numerous spots on Nemesis's person, ranging from his head to his gut and everything in between. And by the nature of the technique, they were almost all hooks, except alternating sides with every high-speed blow.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:14 pm
Past twisting branches.
Through torn leaves.
Ahead of the stillness.
He waited.
"...." Yellowed eyes stared forward as he remained as still as the haggard trees surrounding him. His clothing was that of one born of a nobility long since passed, and the sheathed sword he held before him, both palms resting atop it's pommel, contrasted sharply with his white clothing.
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:19 pm
Leaves were burning.
Sali crashed through the upper canopy and kept going, scorching and sometimes even cropping tree limbs in her wake. She was built for fast movement with devastating consequences.
Splinters exploded from a trunk as she practically implanted herself against it, they froze in the air as coloured sparks, then were sucked into her wake. For every flame made, it was quickly eaten up again, so while her venture into the Dead Forest was far from subtle, it wasn't exactly as bad as it could have been.
The twisted branches moved by force, the torn leaves where quickly put out of their misery. And the stillness became full of life as she came to a rather forceful stop in front of the waiting man, like someone that had met an impenetrable wall. Vines twisted and blackened along the arms that served as weapons, but held her weight as if she was nothing.
Sali stopped dead and stared at those yellow eyes.
What the man was waiting for had come...but what of the passenger from the stadium?
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 4:10 pm
Somewhere over the canopy, a blade spun through the air. Over the woods it travelled, showing no sign of slowing down. It passed overhead, surpassing the Salamander, Victor, Rain and Nemesis, everyone.
As it neared the far side of the wood, it would finally begin to descend, and impale itself upon a mighty oak tree several yards off the ground.
Almost instantly, the tree would wither. Leaves would crumple, lose their color, and begin to fall like it was going out of style. The bark lost its luster of life, and the tree itself begin to twist and gnarl, as well as blacken.
At the same time, what could only be described as a pool of flesh began to bubble along the outside of the tree where the sword had pierced it, growing in diameter and intensity as the tree simultaneously died.
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 9:19 pm
Earlier on....
"-- in the ruddy hell was that --"
Just a few moments earlier, a flier of a different kind had veered to the right to avoid some sort of object sailing towards him as he flew back towards Leviathan stadium. The gift of flight was a mighty gift indeed, except for when the stray flock of ducks got in the way, or in this case, a metal missile. At least ducks had a nice flavor to them.
Actually, that was kind of a nice move he had made there... nice little flip that would have probably gotten him a medal at the Olympic games. But then he realized that dragons probably weren't allowed at the Olympics.
Also, what the hell was an "Olympics?" This was probably one of those things he shouldn't think too hard about. Rage had been carried off by that girl with the cat ears and the guy in the white coat; they were waving medical licenses everywhere, and he knew Rage could take care of himself. At the time, Ryu had simply resigned himself to doing what he did best; working in the background and leaving the heavy lifting to the man he was supposed to be the guardian of.
Curiosity killed the cat; adventure was sure to kill Rage one of these days. But cats never were ones for listening.
All he could do at this point was remember the path he had taken and hope that Rage was ready to go. He really didn't want little kids trying to climb onto his back again.
Some time later, near the Leviathan Stadium Major....
"I hate it when you try that stunt."
He had decided not to ask why his companion had all sorts of metal contraptions hanging off his arm; instead, he quickly took to the skies. "You saved my a** there, you know."
It never ceased to amaze the dragon that there was someone else that could speak his language. To this day he was unsure of how Rage, human or inhuman as he was, had learned to speak it, but it was nice to have someone speak to him in his native tongue.
"Yeah, well... don't breath a sigh of relief just yet. I figured out where they're headed. Just keep those goggles on and hold on tight."
He beat his leathery wings once again, heading towards the forest entrance....
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 1:51 am
Ra'kar stepped out into the clearing in a swish of skirts, her ankle length hair cascading about her lithe figure like a cloak of silk spun from rubies. Her golden eyes glittered in the shadows of the canopy, dainty fangs glinting as those lush lips were fixed in a devious grin.
By the gods, she was happy.
That, was a very, very scary thought. Because it was the stuff of nightmares that brought a smile to this woman's lips. So why was she in such a 'good' mood now? It couldn't bode well for the guests they were awaiting--
She stepped up beside Victor and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Her smile spreading--
"Y'know-- I don't think your messenger delivered our invitation. But it's no matter now, all of the guests know where the party is."
She laughed, almost sing-songing the words eerily.
"I suppose you already know that your brother is engaging Alpha? Along with two others-- One from Fracture, and Teira's 'brother' ?
Things are certainly getting interesting~"
The demoness had taken an interest in two thirds of those who opposed their ally, the shadelord.
I wonder, Vahn-- you stand beside him now, but what will happen when you discover who it is fighting by your side?
Oh yes. She was very, VERY happy.
"Come pet."
She said softly, beckoning to her Synmalthin, Tellus.
I wonder too, what they will all think of my beautiful doll. Sunstrike. Vahn. Maximos-- you are all tied together in more ways than you know.
Sali The twisted branches moved by force, the torn leaves where quickly put out of their misery. And the stillness became full of life as she came to a rather forceful stop in front of the waiting man, like someone that had met an impenetrable wall. Vines twisted and blackened along the arms that served as weapons, but held her weight as if she was nothing. Sali stopped dead and stared at those yellow eyes. What the man was waiting for had come...but what of the passenger from the stadium?
The demoness grinned and walked over to the Salamander, stroking her cheek like one would do with a great hunting dog, full of praise and silent admiration.
"Well done."
She would turn her eyes upwards to the Shadowling who sat mounted on Sali's back. So doll-like and delicate, yet she was not afraid, she exuded confidence.
"Thank you for coming, Teira."
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 2:08 am
Teira gripped at the Salamander's back with her legs, squeezing with her thighs and hanging on tight around the creature's neck. The hiss of heat and steam, the kiss of flame and the comforting rush of heat was exhilarating as the Stadium, the outlaying area and finally the forest passed around them in a blur of muddled colour.
When Sali came to a sudden halt, her arms and legs held all the tighter as not to be pitched off. Where as, she hadn't been able to see anything before, she could see quite clearly now-- why they had stopped.
'So this is it, huh?'
They'd arrived and the welcoming committee stood before them where the forest opened into a clearing.
Her gold eyes glanced from Ra'kar to Victor and then to a third person whom she didn't recognize. The demoness was the one to approach first and Teira looked down at her consideringly. Did she want to get down? She felt safer up here, wrapped in the power of the elemental creature that had carried her-- but she would not show weakness. These people, this woman-- they fed on such things.
"Thank you, friend." She whispered to Sali, Swinging down, she landed gracefully before Ra'kar and only nodded.
"You're welcome I guess..." Glancing past her to Victor she nodded in acknowledgment. "Are you supposed to be the big bad wolf?"
It was of course, a tribute to their earlier discussion of fairy tails. An odd greeting but one she felt appropriate given the circumstances.
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Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:53 pm
♫Hey there Little Red Riding Hood,
You sure are looking good.
You're everything a big bad wolf could want.
Listen to me.♫
Music made the ride more bearable, but only slightly so; as leathery wings beat the air on either side of him, Rage hunched down slightly to keep his balance and keep wind resistance down. The goggles were there for that purpose, in a way; to keep the air out of his eyes. Yet somehow the freezing air found a way to cut through his leather jacket, his two layers of shirts, and his bandages just to slice into his flesh and bone, chilling him to the core. At the very least his ears were kept somewhat warm by the headphones he wore, an endless stream of music leading up the wire from the gPod his brother had just bought... and Rage had just swiped.
Again.
♫Little Red Riding Hood
I don't think little big girls should
Go walking in these spooky old woods alone.
Owoooooooo!♫
He wasn't sure how long the bandages would hold, or even how long he'd manage to stay alive, much less conscious. All he could do was hope for the best, and try to get the mechanical contraptions off his left arm, still connected via various tubes and wires. It would have been so easy to simply go home, oversee the final touches on the Firebrand, grab a drink, take a shower, and pass out for a day or three. Just the thought of it nearly made him lose his focus and relax a bit too much....
♫What big eyes you have,
The kind of eyes that drive wolves mad.
So just to see that you don't get chased
I think I ought to walk with you for a ways.♫
... but he had to focus. His team had asked, perhaps expected him to join them in this fight; and despite his refusal to do so, somehow he had found himself embroiled in it anyways.
He really was in over his head this time.
He could see the mass of the forest fast approaching underneath; it was a matter of time until he could locate the salamander and the girl, but time was one of those things that he was fast running out of. Was it now or never? Or was he far too late?
Without consulting his companion, he suddenly jumped, sailing down towards the trees and pausing the music on the gPod.
If we are all to be part of a grand play... I want no part in it. I've always been one for improv....
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:19 pm
Flame and fury.
There was no telling how Sali had known. Instinct, gut feeling, the predatory and territorial instinct of one lizard knowing another was in the vicinity.
Whatever it was, Rage, as he jumped, would suddenly find his landing a lot sooner, in the form of an eight foot armoured fireball that was protecting what effectively could have been her 'nest.'
It was a head to head collision that didn't leave a lot of room for controversy or denial. The trees just exploded upwards and there she was, willing to give the green-haired man the fight he was looking for all this time. Flaming vines and branches sailed in her wake, making the whole impact like a firework going off against another midair.
Maybe it was a bit of Sun leaking through, still sore over the boot to the face. As it was, both he and Sali would see how he stood up to head butting and armoured face.
CRACK!
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:31 pm
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players...
It was an odd sort of moment. Rage never was one for subtlety; then again, thinking smart was an even weaker point of his. Always rushing into things without the slightest hint of foresight, and usually paying the consequences because of it. It was how he ended up with a hole in his chest, a busted shoulder, broken bones, lacerations, and no small number of other injuries over these last few weeks. You could call it poor decision making. Recklessness was the rule of each and every day. And today was no exception. As he began his free fall, the wind caught his jacket, ballooning outwards to slow his descent ever slightly, while his eyes, covered by his old aviator goggles, were immune to the wisps of wind that tried to grab at his eyes. Eyes that were privy to an entirely different form of pain altogether. Flame and fury. Meet the Flame of Duality. For just a fraction of a second, the world came to a stop. Rage's nose was less than an inch away from a plate of armor, what little of his hair not stuffed into his wool cap flying wildly in a wind that did not blow. His jacket had just begun another ripple from the rising heat that came up below him, while the fibers on his outer shirt showed signs that they might begin to melt and fray from the intense heat. Even the gum stuck to the sole of his left shoe had begun to bubble slightly. And on his face? His scarred, bruised face? A sickly sort of smile. As if this was exactly what he wanted to happen. CRACK~~ The old wound re-opened once again as blood poured from the bridge of his nose. Things felt like they were moving slowly for a moment, as if time itself had been so shocked by the blow it was now playing catch-up. It was how his first clash with Frozen Flame had begun. His battle with Teira, starting with a simple head butt, ending with the buzzer of a clock. There would be no clock this time. Nobody to tell him where to begin and where to end. And as the fireworks exploded below him, as leaves burned and vines sizzled, as the pain finally registered in the back of his mind coinciding with just how stupid this thing he had just done was, he managed to summon the strength to speak. "... nice to see you too, sweet cheeks." He didn't budge from the impact, even as blood gushed from his wound. Instead, he grabbed whatever part of the salamander he could. There was no way he was going to take the long drop down by himself. He would take on anyone who got in his way. Anyone. ... they have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:59 pm
"I'm still getting the hang of my abilities." He shot a smile for the demoness, even as he kept both eyes on the 'prize' so to speak.
The faux shell had indeed done quite the job in delivering his message, even going so far as to return with someone in tow. Victor had more than a few special plans in mind for Rand... the boy's aptitude for swordplay...was quite unique, you could say.
It was necessary of course, since he hadn't quite developed a method to counter Owle's mental abilities... at least on his own. He wanted to limit his usage of TFO's power as much as possible... for obvious reasons.
"I can feel him... we are twins after all." He lowered his head just a bit, even as the Salamander came crashing through the Forest; emerging before them.
"....." He watched with some quiet fascination... the pure elemental force that made up the creature tugged at him faintly... were it not for the protection of TFO, he probably would have fallen to his knees in a pool of his own sweat by now.
And there was, of course, the matter of the young lady to attend to...
"I am.
But that didn't stop you from coming...did it?"
He responded so calmly, even as the Salamander suddenly reared up, and released a gout of flames upwards-- reacting to the sudden presence of an intruder.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:19 pm
Teira's eyes narrowed at Victor, appraisingly before her face brightened in a smile as she replied bemusedly.
"I suppose that makes me Little Red Riding Hood."
Just be aware of the wolf's fangs-- The sharpest teeth aren't always the ones you can see.
A gust of flame and the wind of Sali's own power, caused her battle robes to flab madly about her tiny figure, her hair tossed about her face in a crimson tempest as she grinned.
She could feel the raging fires above her as they raced towards one another in the heat of their own spirits and of battle.
Be careful Rage.
"No. It didn't."
Nothing would have stopped her coming.
This was a step forward. A step towards an unavoidable destiny. The fight for her right to exist. The fight for a future.
"Since I came, would you do me the courtesy of telling me why you invited me here?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:45 pm
"To be freed of course."
He locked eyes with her, even as a full blown battle was raging about above and possibly near them.
"That is, what you desire the most, isn't it?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:01 am
"Everybody desires freedom."
Her response was matter of fact. And even as her eyes locked with his, she spoke plainly. Honestly. From her many hours of reading and her short while observing life around her-- this was a truth she had discovered to be constant.
"Some seek freedom from the bonds of their past, from guilt that haunts them. Others seek freedom from responsibility, inherited or earned. Some seek freedom from circumstance, some from opression. Others seek freedom from judgement-- but it is something everyone seeks.
Before you try and offer me my freedom m'lord, what is it you seek freedom from?"
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