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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:46 pm
Pyroth of late had become a little...deluded. He had begun to treat the jungle as though it was part of his own territory, prowling borders he himself had come up with and chasing off any creatures he considered undesirable. He'd ceased thinking in a logical line, falling into the all too easy trap of instinct. He'd since removed his headdress and now looked like a coyote with a necklace on, only the faint traces of tattoo left over hints of who he'd been.
He was at a steady trot around the southern end of the island, skirting as usual those invisible boundaries he had set in his mind, sniffing the air as he went. Pausing in his stride he tilted back his head and let out a howl, not even pausing to consider how strange that action would have been considered by him before. Now such an action came as easily to him as signing his name on a piece of paper, after all, that's basically what it was, except less permanent and instead of paper his medium was island.
Sitting down briefly, he gave his paws a groom, ears alert for any sounds on the wind.
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:05 pm
Zach was not a sterling example of sanity himself. The strangling incident weighed heavily on his mind, making him feel vulnerable and nervous. He only went into the jungle now for food, and his stomach was empty once again. Still being somewhat human, he couldn't just go back and continue eating the deer he'd mangled and partly eaten. He gave it a burial of sorts instead, pushing it off the cliff into the sea and scurrying away. He subsided on whatever looked edible, small creatures like mice and lizards and even (he was almost ashamed to admit it) the occasional large bug. But survival was survival, and as long as it was palatable...
He heard a howl and instinctively froze, his tail flicking slightly at the tip as if looking about for an exit route. His human mode of thinking moved to the forefront to calculate. Snakes didn't howl, bears didn't howl, and lions didn't howl. Certainly anything that howled wasn't a native island species of animal either. He breathed a sigh of relief, and called into the brush where the sound had originated from. "Hello?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:12 pm
Pyroth froze-mid lick at the sound from nearby, his hackles raising in a combination of fear and anger. For the first time in a long time, words didn't register as anything much. All he came up with was that there was an intruder on his territory who needed scaring off. More bold than a typical coyote simply as a result of human arrogance and his current human size, he got to his feet, baring his fangs, then after taking a few steps back, charged full speed into the bushes, all bristling fur and bare gums, aiming to land in front of the "intruder" and swerve to face them with a snarl.
He launched himself over the undergrowth to land in front of Zach, a snarling lunatic, attempting to stare him down despite the fact that even in his current not-quite-there stage, the other islander could probably tear him in half.
The spark of recognition was dawning but very slowly.
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:35 pm
The sudden appearance of what looked like a wolf startled him. In a flash he was up against the nearest tree, digging his claws into it in a failing attempt to scramble up to the safety of the treetops. When at last his poor grip made him slide down amidst a scattering of tattered bark, he turned toward the monstrous thing again, wide eyed, fanning his frill out in a last ditch attempt to scare it off. His eyes traced the necklace around the creature's neck and it slowly dawned on him that this was - or had been - a human being. No longer, it seemed. How odd... he could have sworn that it was familiar.
Still, the shock seemed to scare the speech right out of him. For a brief time he was utterly lost for words, resorting only to hissing and growling in a fluctuating pattern that bore little resemblance to English. When he regained his voice, it was tiny and hoarse. He tried to shoo the coyote away with one hand. "Aah... G-get away... get away from me..."
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:47 pm
Pyroth mentally exalted that he'd been able to intimidate anything out here, especially something as frightening looking as the creature in front of him. However, his little ego boost was short lived as finally the sound of more words set in motion the little cogs of reason in his brain. This in turn, made him actually stop growling and lower his hackles.
He blinked once as logic that seemed to have been missing up till then gave him a little indication that yes, the person in front of him ( and person it was, he could tell now from Zack's scent and appearance ) wasn't some animal to be chased off his petty territory.
He backed off sharpish, taking several steps away from the waved hand, his ears down, circling around to sit at a distance. It took a while to gather together words but he did it eventually, coughing to clear the raspiness out of his tone.
"Uh..how embarrassing. I'm sorry, I thought you were something out to get me." he cringed "I've not been thinking straight."
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:03 pm
He reached very slowly toward the tree again so he could rise to his feet. His mind screamed to get away, but he just couldn't. The creature seemed to stop its growling and threatening after he spoke, so he tried again. "Pleassse, go..."
He peered anxiously at the coyote when it moved away. A thought occured to him - it was circling for an attack! One hand leapt protectively toward his throat. It was a wonder when the thing seemed to be completely unaggressive. Words were pouring from its canine muzzle. The voice made things finally click. It was no common animal, it was Pyroth!
... Pyroth!?
His jaw hung open slightly. He remembered seeing Pyroth once, a long time ago, but he'd only been slightly dog-looking. A little hunched over, had more pawish hands than normal, but he didn't look anything like this. It was quite a shock. "Pyroth. You- you're- what happened to you?" He pulled away from the tree, standing shakily on two legs. "It'sss okay. I must look like it. I've been feeling the sssame way, though. Sssome lunatic almossst choked me to death recssently, I haven't been felt very sssafe sssince."
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:14 pm
Pyroth was still somewhat edgy, half wanting to flee, half wanting to bristle defensively. It took him a few moments to actually realise where he'd heard the voice before. Zach had changed. A lot. Even to Pyroth's less than perceptive vision his appearance was beyond altered. And to make matters worse, he couldn't figure out what animal he was turning into, the wings and strange scales like nothing he'd ever seen.
He gave him a wry smirk, come to terms with his current shape even to the point of preferring it slightly over his old creaky human form. At least here he could run like hell and not fall over or pull a muscle.
"The labs happened to me. Someone messed up a serum I think, went too far. Now I'm more canine than I'd like to be but still thinking...mostly, like a human."
He raised a brow "Who'd do that?" He'd have to watch his back closely if there were harmful islanders running around.
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:40 pm
"Ah," he said mutely, pursing his lips till the teeth behind them were making ridged indentations in them. He didn't know what to think about the labs right now. They'd just recently kicked him out over a complete accident, so he was less inclined to side with them on any matters. Still, Sabin had helped him many times in the past... He chose to breeze past the issue, letting his tail swish behind him. "How many changesss does that make? They can't change you again, can they?"
"Yellow and black ssscales. He looksss like a sssnake, sssort of," Zach said, his voice thinning out again. Even the thought of that psychopath made him fear for his life. He shook his head, trying to reassure himself the cobra was not around.
"But he shouldn't bother me again. I asssked Sssabin to deal with him before thisss," Zach suddenly grinned triumphantly, forgetting for the time being that the majority of the island did not share his sentiments. Though most of that night had been drowned in panic, he'd rather enjoyed hearing the fragments of ranting that hinted at the snake-man's evident 'punishment'. "He'll regret what he's done to me. Before, and thisss time."
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:48 pm
"Four. And I'd hope not. Any more changes and I'd just be a dog..coyote...whatever I am." He idly brushed a leaf off his fur before looking back, noting the description of this guy. A snake? "As long as he's not poisonous I'd be able to outrun him most likely." he noted smugly, a little too confident in his own abilities of late.
However, it was his next comment that really piqued Pyroth's interest "You have connections in the labs?" he said, his tone pretty obviously one of someone who had none to speak of. His brain instantly yelled "traitor" at the dragon man for siding with the labs, but survivors found allies where they were best he always found, he was one of life's sycophants.
He inched a little closer, tail flicking.
"If that's true, no doubt he will regret it. Either way if he comes by the jungle I'll keep an eye out for him." he perked his ears "Speaking of which, why are you out here anyway if you don't mind my asking?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:28 pm
"I can't believe that you... that this happened to you. I mean, you... you look ssso different..." His tail stopped moving. "Oh, be careful around him. Him and Rexss, they're crazy and violent."
He blinked and stretched his wings. He had an answer to Pyroth's question, but put into words it sounded odd. "Uh, I guesss that'sss one way to put it. But Sssabin jussst... he'sss trying to protect me." As an afterthought, he added, "I just can't shake the feeling everyone'sss... after me. I think I'm sssafe and someone comesss along and attacksss me."
He watched Pyroth get closer. It was so odd, speaking to him and hearing him reply, when he looked like that. Like a dog. He could only imagine how horrible it must have been to get changed so drastically, and lose so much of one's old self. He found a little more to appreciate in Sabin's words months ago about his luck with serums. He wasn't this, he wasn't an octopus, he wasn't a snake... he was a dragon, far better than any of those.
He shuffled his feet. "I, er, accssidentally gave Alec sssome food, and a few daysss later I found myssself thrown out here. Moreau made sssome announcssment about it, I guesss. Haven't dared to try finding my way back anyhow, I'd jussst get lost. And even if I did go, I don't think I can get into the village any more. I really misss having a door with a lock."
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:38 pm
New RP
It had been several days since Em disappeared and then wound up in the labs. He had called the labs again the night before on an update, but still couldn't speak or see her. Would she be in there for a long time? In what shape was she in? He was starting to consider writing her a letter. Maybe the staff would at least allow that.
He decided to take a walk through the jungle that afternoon. Lucas figured Reuben would enjoy it more than another walk around the village. Keeping his eyes on the hyper dog, the young man just let the dog make the path while he followed.
He didn't really notice much around him, but something out of place caught his eye. It flapped oddly in the breeze and sunlight bounced off the white paper. Removing it from the bush it had been caught in, Lucas started to look it over.
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:46 pm
The paper was beaten by wind, rain and filth, but was still legible.
The handwriting was a blocky script, presumably written by a man.
My Dearest One,
It pains me to write this letter, as these words may be the last I’ll ever speak to you. You know I am bound for England, to help Ketta through her mourning. This is a ploy. I am not getting on that plane. Even by the time you read this, I may not disclose my location to you. I do not want to get you involved. I cannot lay the burden on you which I have already brought upon myself. I was foolish, so foolish.
I wish, oh, how I wish I could tell you more. I simply must insist - do not look for me anymore. My fate has already been sealed. Whether I may see you again remains to be seen.
I will try. And, something inside me tells me that I will. Yes. We will meet again, Emerwyn.
This is a promise. I'll hold on for you.
Forever in you heart, as you are ever in mine, Jerrick
P.S. It's in the books.
Though little of this would make much sense to Lucas, the name mentioned would at least ring a bell, for he had indeed met the strange young woman named Emerwyn.
Not too far off, a slightly rejuvinated deer wandered through the thick jungle brush.
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:00 pm
Cleaning off certain parts that were smudged with dirt, he read it. Halfway through the reading, Reuben's distant barking distracted him and he called for the dog to return. Once he had finished the entire note, he cleaned a little more off of it, then folded it.
He felt sorry for Emerwyn. Was this her lover? This Jerrick person? He wondered if they ever did see one another again. It was unlikely that such a thing would occur now.
Calling out for Reuben again, the dog ran over to Lucas, tongue hanging out at the side. Before he could pat the dog on the head, he went bounding off in another direction.
"Reuben! No! Bad!" Tucking the the letter into his bag, he chased after the animal.
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:08 pm
Emerwyn had nearly completed her collection of the papers. She was now missing only three.
Two pages of notes - and Jerrick's letter. The photograph she was cherishing as one would cherish a lost pet that recently found its way home. And speaking of lost pets, Emerwyn's ears perked as she heard something that sounded distincly like the bark of a dog. She knew there was someone turning into a dog hair... really long hair, cried a lot... This was a dog though. A real, natural, dog. Emerwyn discovered the truth about this animal when it ran to her, jumping excitedly about her. The deer panicked, and Emerwyn tripped, falling backward. Her heart beated and she tried so hard to calm herself. The person knew there was nothing to fear, but the animal, the animal needed to run, to protect itself from this demon that was one tenth her size.
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Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:19 pm
Lucas could see in the distance that Reuben had stopped, but was bouncy excitedly, tail wagging a mile a minute. He could also see that there was someone else with the dog that was the unlucky receiver of a couple sloppy kisses. Part of the person was hidden by a tree, though, so he couldn't determine who it was. Hurrying over, he reached out for Reuben, wrapping an arm around the dog's neck, and gently pulled him off. He was surprised to see that it was Emerwyn of all people. Was she looking for her letter?
Once Reuben was off of Emeryn, Lucas apologized. "He just got away from me. Sorry about that, Emerwyn. He's harmless, but hyper. You okay?"
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