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 Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:50 pm
With everything apparently finished, Thackery stood still for a few short moments that felt more like a good chunk of eternity, staring down at the little bell in his hand. How could he help now? He managed to pay attention to the events of the current just in time to overhear that they'd be splitting up: some staying, some going in search of Jericho. "If you need more, I'll go with you - I can help heal and whatever you need, if, um...there is stuff you need." He glanced towards Maladore, ears trained on it as he waited to hear its response.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:01 pm
Christof merely patted a hand on Calder's shoulder, gripping his hip as he limped around the horse before hauling himself up onto the Kelpie's back, a determined look on his face.
The Task At Hand is nearly over, Mistress. I have good feelings.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:01 pm
"I understand," Malodore said quietly. "Be well, amica mia." It moved away then, stopping to nod and open its beak in a smile at Thackery. "Of course. What we shall need is currently unknown, so having a variety is to our benefit, is it not?" Roch got a grateful nod, as well, and two words: "Be well." It hurried, then, to try and catch up with Riley if it could, heading towards the area Red had indicated.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:05 pm
Do you? Riley had paused at Christof's words, and swiveled around to stare at him curiously. Do you really feel as though things will be.. will be..
What could she say? Like they once were? Nothing had ever been as it once was, for her. She had no good feelings left - no promises for tomorrow. She was out to save Jericho, but that did not mean she believed she could.
In fact, if history had proven anything, it was that there was no saving anyone, anymore.
She had let Malodore catch up, as she paused, and her eyes saddened as they rested on Christof, speaking before turning away to continue on. I hope your feelings are right.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:06 pm
There wasn't many things Calder could do, but getting to places was one thing she was more than capable of. Tail flicking, the kelpie rose up on all fours and trotted through the snow. Bilious Christof now has NPC control to ride Calder in whatever direction he wants.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:08 pm
For some reason, Malodore's words felt like a noose just tightening around her neck.
Did it really understand?
[According to Captcha, Shehk is Batman. (Gotham City]
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:08 pm
Now that the other dragon had disappeared, Poke stood there with her slackened rope, massaging her arms to get feeling back in them. It took a lot of strength to hold Jericho down , and she was sure her arms would be sore for weeks after this. Though while some of them seemed desperate to find him, she herself felt the need to stay back here and assist the professor. She didn't seem to be lost to insanity (always a a good thing), and she still had some hooks stuck in her. "I'll stay back and help with getting those hooks out." She announced, her bones cracking as a pair of wings shifted into sight. With a jump she was airborne, gaining height quickly. "I can carry others as well, just give me a call if you need a lift!" Came her shout. Once she was high enough, she flew in a little closer in search of lose hooks, trying not to touch the edges of the hooks (nor Red's hide. Because insanity monster kthx nope) as she went about pulling them off.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:54 pm
Terra hesitated, then wandered up to the professor that was a behemoth and held up the slingshot that she had been given to infuse with. "Professora," she said a bit hesitantly, "may I keep the snowball throwing tool?" What? She was attached to it! That Roch started laughing was completely ignored.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:41 pm
The quiet unnerved her. She continued walking, trudging with purpose towards the spot in the distance that the professor had pointed towards, without another pause. She had to get there, and figure out what exactly waited for them, now that she felt comfortable that the professor would be taken care of.
It took longer than she'd expected, but somehow, not long enough. The walk gave her just enough time to leave a blanket of dread resting on her heart.
Every so often, she reached out, trying to feel for him. If he was out there, she thought she would be able to sense him before she saw him. So far, she felt nothing, even as she arrived where Red had been indicating, and the dread sank in deeper.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:42 pm
There was a grove of trees in the distance. Considering the flat fields surrounding them, it had to have been what Red was staring at. The trees were still and covered with snow, silent. Closer inspection revealed that the trees were made out of a familiar-looking gray stone.
But it wasn't the trees that were important. It was the rolling, rounded, and bouncing package that caught the student's immediate attention. Someone had wrapped it in shiny red paper with decorative metallic snowflakes printed on its side. There was even a tiny tag with "TO" and "FROM" filled out, however the present was moving around too fast to read it.
And then it burst open.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:43 pm
The giftbox burst open and out came something with red hair, golden eyes, pointed ears... and stood three feet tall. It was probably much smaller than what most people were expecting to see. Not only that, but he wore a green tunic of sorts, a red and white stripped belt, and... a few jingle bells.
Whatever it was, it definitely was not a red dragon. No. What they had on their hands, was a Christmas Elf.
"HUGS FOR EVERYONE!" he shouted in outburst before hugging the nearest person by the legs, which just happened to be an Illithid. He soon paused and blinked up. Wait. This wasn't a Christmas person.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:55 pm
Trees made of stone felt like they confirmed Riley's worst fears. They stole her focus for a long time, keeping her from noticing the little present until it was too late. It exploded open, and Riley looked down at the empty box, her tentacles rising as they prepared to strike whatever terrible Christmas abomination coming to attack-
And then one of them started to hug her leg.
She glared down at the tiny thing, her hands ripping it off of her leg and holding it up in front of her to inspect it before she killed it.
I do not hug creatures like you, little thing. She growled, her tentacles sliding around to wrap around its neck. The elf with its red hair and its golden eyes-
...
...
As the color started to leave her face, Riley thought her tentacles were better suited, perhaps, to her own neck at that moment.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 9:00 pm
Suddenly he was plucked away and had tentacles at his neck. The elf held his hands up, waving to her frantically.
"Woah! Ho-ho! Take it easy. Though.. I have to ask.. Who the Jack Frost are you? And what are you doing in Christmas!"
He was wondering if he needed to start swinging his fists.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 9:23 pm
Malodore looked more nonplussed at that moment than it ever had in its life.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 9:31 pm
I don't.. I don't know what..
Riley's hands pulled the elf forward, holding it close, inches from her face, to glare at him. He didn't know who they were. Perhaps it was all a cruel, cruel joke. She searched his eyes for any sign, anything deep down inside that could tell her whether this nightmare was truly the result of all their efforts.
Logic. Respond to ridiculous notions as logically as possible. It was the only way.
I am Riley. You are - perhaps - Jericho? What do you remember before this moment, little creature?
Was she really having this conversation?
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