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 Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 7:07 pm
[(Xiu -> Lette (just arriving)]
The forest had been on fire, the smell of charred meat and deathly screams filled the air. And yet, despite it all, he had seen the flare.
The green flare. The signal that the Doctor had been found.
The signal that would no doubt draw Lazarus over like a moth to the flame.
...
He had to be there. For better or worse, he had to. The distance did not matter. Neither did the horrors that lay ahead...
...
...
Was that it? Horrors? Were all that they have fought so far just illusions and horrors? It felt real and it definitely could hurt as the flames and the shrapnel and the moving dead bodies had proven.
Part of the Sigel was wary of such a notion but hadn’t he read enough books with such a theme before? And hadn’t these “horror” seem to affect certain members of his team more than most?
All of these thoughts were on the forefront of Xiu’s mind as he made slow journey towards the perceived location of the flare. For the most part, the Sigel had been surprised that Lette had decided to come along. The women had seemed visibly shaken by the fire and yet had resolutely decided to follow when he revealed his intentions.
But that was good in its way. As long as he had a focal point to protect, he could go on. Having an imperative that overrode everything else made decision making much, much easier.
------------------------------
As he neared the place, Xiu was aware of the change in atmosphere. It was an oppressive change and darkness seemed to take on a physical form as it engulfed them. Here and there were broken branches as though someone had recently charged their way through. “Be strong, Lette,” murmured Xiu as a new kind of worry began to take hold. Could the flare also be a hoax? Could...
There were shouts and screams. Chaos up ahead but among the chaos, Xiu could hear voices he thought he’d recognize.
“Let’s be cautious,” said Xiu quietly. “It may be another trap,”
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Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 2:15 am
(( Eiry --> Cesc, Meli, Rivener, Ronan, Zeke, Anya ))
The damage was beyond words.
Eiry, as he came to float close by to Cesc, could only see the catalog of pain upon him. His red eyes, widening at the sight of so much blood and dirt on the other, had to stifle the upset wiggling of his stomach as he ventured near to the stag. He couldn't even count the wounds, so upset was he at seeing his friend in such a state. Eiry couldn't deny though that that he felt an overwhelming sense of relief, just to know that Cesc was there. Finding a friend, especially when his own heart had been so dramatically torn in two, was a much needed source of relief. The minty raevan tried to force a smile onto his face before it wobbled and fell, weighed down by the wounds within him, but at least he had made the effort. Rhedefere was looking to him with such worry, such panic, his eyes as wild as a hunted beast, and when he extended his hand to hold his shoulder, Eiry couldn't help but focus on the weak wobble of his fingers as they clasped onto his bloodied clothing, and then onto his head, affording Eiry a brief moment of closeness with his friend, where he felt as if he were recognized, as if he were cared for. It was a monumental thing to Eiry, who had just faced the dismissal and the rage of his sibling. Another wobbly smile climbed onto his face and he closed his red eyes for a moment, sealing the heat that was welling up within them. He put a pale hand to Cesc's where it pat his head, searching for the wound that wasn't there, and then met the deer's intense gaze with one of his own.
"Not hurt. I am not hurt, Cesc, only bloodied. It is not my blood upon me. My person is safe. I am yet unwounded beyond bruises and small scratches," he promised, trying to give him some more substantial relief to hold onto. Cesc looked so wounded, and the way he began to struggle to just touch him or hold open his eyes, was beginning to really worry the ghostly sigel. He had never seen Cesc act this way, so weak and so horrified. It looked like he were barely hanging on and Eiry had to drop his hand from Cesc's in order to catch him should he wobble and fall. He didn't have to worry for long, though, because another raeven swooped up to them, taking Cesc up in her arms. It was a beautiful sigel, one that Eiry had only ever seen in passing at parties. He was always too shy to go near her, so pleasant was she, but now she looked so sad, and her keen cries confirmed it. She had been a part of the horrors in the forest, she had seen them too.
"My lady," he whispered quietly, as if out of automatic response to her arrival, "Another raeven, still somewhat safe...Lady, keep watch over Cesc."
Eiry's pointed ears perked a little, catching Cesc's first warning and then the rest of them, before he caught the added reminder from behind him from Ronan, the stern man who would not go down, no matter the wounds he carried. Eiry glanced backwards to Ronan to nod his understanding, as well as to let him know that he was still nearby and ready to help the man with the broken ribs and arm should he need it. Around them, more raevans and more owners were beginning to arrive, people he had seen for brief moments at the Lab, or others whom he had been in closer contact with. He had to respond to Ronan first.
"Yes, Ronan, thank you," he said, lifting his crackled voice enough just to be heard before he glanced once to Rivener. The raevan was still moving forward, his eyes focusing on something, and Eiry furrowed his brows, not knowing if anything he would say would be heeded by him, but he wasn't about to let him drag Ronan closer to the danger glaring at them from the cliff's edge. He would try anyways. He moved a little towards Rivener, trying to catch his attention with the limp gesture of his hand. "Rivener, please set Ronan down. The poor man should gather his breath while there is time. Cesc says to keep one's distance! We should heed his warning! Do not look at it, do not heed it's gaze!" That last part, Eiry tried to say louder, using the strength of his banshee's lungs just to make sure that the message was spread to all that had joined them on the ledge. He caught sight of Iorek and the Zeke, and an old man who was quickly joining them, and Zeke, with his bright green hair pushed down into his eyes, was beginning to writhe in panic. He was reaching towards his raevan, the lavender haired queen, and when Eiry moved his gaze to her, he saw a very strange thing happen, almost faster than he could move to stop it. His announced warning from Cesc was too late. Anya's many eyes had already locked onto the monster on the ledge.
Feeling his gut drop when he realized that Anya had become the creature's next victim, Eiry's eyes widened further. She was panicking, screaming, and Eiry knew not what to do. He couldn't tell what it was that was ailing her. Before, they had been able to share their horrors with one another, but this time...Eiry couldn't see anything! Anything that was on the outside at least. Perhaps she was feeling something from within? He couldn't tell. Eiry immediately starting spinning his brain within his tired cranium, trying to think of something to help her while, at the same time, trying to stop himself from glancing to the eye on the cliff as if it might provide answers. "Anya!" he called, but he was not as close to her as others were, and he realized that, even if he were to go to her, his flimsy strength would be unmatched against hers in his frenzy, and his magic had nothing helpful or restraining. He was powerless to aid her and even if he tried, he would probably end up worsening the situation, or getting himself involved to the point that he, too, would become useless. Using his intellect, he tried to come up with something, anything, but the beginning of the chaos was too much. Instead, he shouted, "Someone hold down her arms and wings! Or use your magic, something! She's hurting herself! And whatever you do, don't look towards our enemy! Avert your eyes!!"
Eiry didn't notice that, behind him and his bedraggled adopted team, came one more raevan, another friend. Xiu had arrived as well on the scene.
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Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 9:33 am
The sudden darkness of their surroundings didn't bother him, the trail of ruined shrubbery and bloody debri didn't bother him, the absolute silence didn't bother him. Lazarus's heart was pounding in his chest as he trekked ahead of the pack. He didn't need the compass, didn't need the map, he just needed to follow the trail that many had left in their wake, he just needed to move forwards, keep on moving. The sinister turn in his surroundings just signified that they are close, he is close.
There is a feeling of dread in his heart, yet there is hope as well. Only the green flare went up in the sky, there weren't any red ones that followed after, which means Kyou should be alright, right? He should be alive, right?
But why didn't he try to get back? Why didn't he attempted to contact them? Why is he still here?
The many question plagued the Sigel's mind as they raced through the darkening forest. Feeling impatient, he floated faster forwards in front of the rest of the group. They had been slower than most because half of their group consisted of older men. Sure, they had sped up a little bit because Lazarus was carrying the load for Duncan, but still, they were on foot.
As the path descended downhill, things were starting to become clear before his eyes. It was dark, but he could see a glowing ball in the distance, the form of a few people near it, and a few small glowing runes. Raevans no doubt. He hurried forwards at this sight, his heart beating ever so fast in his chest.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion as he approached the small group, all the sounds coming from the people there seemed to be muffled away as he searched for one person.
Kyou.
Red eyes squinted in the faint light, trying to look for one face among the crowd. His mind did not register who he was looking at, at all. At least not really. All the soft chatter just sounded muffled and incoherent, like someone was talking to him underwater.
Where is Kyou?
Face after face, Kyou was not there. Where is he? Eventually, his eyes fell to the form below the glowing eye, and he just froze.
Those shoes, he would recognize those shoes anywhere. Those were Kyou's favorite hiking boots! Even when he was not out on a hike, those stupid boots would always be displayed in a glass cabinet in Kyou's office. Lazarus had always wondered why would Kyou keep hiking boots in glass cabinets, but those were just one of the many quirks the warlock had.
Had...
Could it be? Could that skeleton really be...? The white hair, the boney limbs, he... looked like a corpse! The Sigel's hands were trembling as his eyes fixed on the body laying below the golden eye. A wave of dread washed over him as he was at a loss of what to do. The bags he was carrying dropped to the floor unceremoniously. He would have fell to his knees if he had them, but his height did sank a few inches as he tried to grasp the situation in futility. Everything that was happening around him, he does not register at all. The arachnid's screaming sounded so distant, even though it was so near him. The silence of the darkness overpowered him as he let the hopelessness take over.
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Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 11:54 am
((Xiu -> Eiry, Anya))
So many things happening all at once! The screams, the cries, the frenzied horror that threatened to drag everyone and anyone down with it into a spiralling pit of madness and despair. And at the heart of it all...
Xiu found his gaze drawn towards the cliff’s edge. There sat the being of nightmares, the creature that had spread its influence across this vast jungle like a terrible poison. All of this Xiu took in in a matter of seconds as his mind tried its best to send imperatives that his body simply refused to pay heed to. Had Eiry not shouted a warning at that precise moment, Xiu had not doubt that he would have been ensnared by the creature’s terrible gaze.
Forcing himself to look away, Xiu directed his gaze towards the current victim of the evil eye. Anya. The frei’s cries of agony as she fought with her internal horrors tore through the forest like a knife through silk and yet...
Xiu hesitated for only a moment before rushing over to help the frei. Through the trashing limbs and flailing arms, Xiu sought for an opening and was rewarded with one when the frei rose out of the mud; her nails buried deep into the flesh of her cheeks and her mouth opened for another agonized scream.
Without a second thought the Sigel took firm hold of Anya’s wrists as he held her in what he hoped was a sufficiently restrained position. He would try to get her to calm down; remove her “fight or flight” response...lower her heart rate ...
And if all else fails, he was prepared to...well...knock her out? Maybe?
While thusly engaged, Xiu failed to notice the arrival of the one he had been truly expecting to meet.
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Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 12:21 pm
((Trox --> ... everyone?))
Chaos. The clearing before the cliff was a macabre painting of torment, pain and battle, an image taken straight from a warzone. His breath caught, face furrowed in confusion because how could anything get this bad. A community driven search and rescue had crumbled to a pitiful pool of the injured, the numb and the shell-shocked. All of Harrison’s nightmares, the pallor of his face, the numbness of his hands- they all faded because it was game time. He felt something old within him take flame, a throw back in responsibility. The aviator couldn’t idly play dumb civil servant with his hands in his pockets, he couldn’t shrug this off with an off color remark of ‘s**t, I’m just a pilot, man’. He couldn’t. His spine wouldn’t let him. Before he left he had been in command of 139 soldiers as a company commander. He’d been a platoon leader training soldiers how to fight single battles in large command decisions. He’s pulled security for adjacent forces to clear and conquer. This wasn’t right. The wounded were intermingling with the battle-ready when, despite their drive to fight the fight needed medical attention. And there was yelling, shouting, so much disarray. It made him sick. So Harrison drove on and did what he did best, operate to complete the mission.
He looked around to see what his assets were. It took but a few seconds. Zeke was here. He furrowed his brow and took the raver in. Zeke, Anita, Melisande and Cruz… He recognized no one else. The pilot took a quick breath and a few steps back into the tree line where he then dropped his ruck. Quickly he pulled out all the first aid gear he could in the few split seconds he afforded himself. He then cracked the last three chemlights he had and littered them on the ground by the ruck. They’d act as a marker for a First Aid station. Identifiable, easy to access and off of the objective. Casualty Collection Point- check. He was running out of time, within seconds the shambles the group was in would be disintegrated even further. Zeke was not an option, and with the purple raevan having an episode of aggravated shock, dangerous to be on site. Anita was really his only option so he ran to her.
“Anita, Is that guy under whatever the ******** Kyou?” He called, eyeing Duncan and Ronan. s**t everyone was worse for wear and now wasn’t the time for explanation. He pointed to himself with his free hand, making eye contact with Duncan, “ Harrison Troxel, Anita’s Team member,”
He turned his attention back to Anita quickly, hand pointing to the chemlights littered on the ground.
“I need your help. This has gone to s**t and someone has to do something. My kit, my first aid materials, -- the chemlights. We need ALL of the wounded going over there. Everyone. If there’s blood on them, if they’re catatonic, if they’re having a psychotic episode, they need to not be in this clearing. It’s too dangerous. Can you two help me?” Harrison flicked his gaze over to ronan.
“Everyone needs to be checked over quickly. Stop any major injures, use everything you’ve got, combined we should be good on supplies. Just until Nature Walk Jeremey McGee shows up and we can touch the Doctor and get out of here.”
He took a breath and looked over to Cruz quickly then across to Zeke. The punk-kid was a vet and even a vet in a combat zone became a medic. Why had everything dissolved to s**t. He looked back at Anita, waiting for an answer.
“I need someone calm, I need someone level headed. Some of these kids will be stubborn but I trust you. I am relying on you. And once you do? Come right back and watch my six. I have no clue what this eye of sauron is? But it’s gonna get riddled full of holes soon…”
He gave Anita a sympathetic look, squeezing her hand before sprinting off to about the middle of the group. Nothing physical was attacking them… yet. Which meant they still had time. He glanced back at the eye then back at the shouting cluster of people. He took a breath, turned, blurred out his target and fired into the eye twice.
The gunshots were muffled by the trees but echoed throughout the entire clearing. The noise was deafening and Troxel was regretting not placing hearing protection on but he had no time. His flight surgeon would give him hell later. He turned sideways to the eye and addressed the group at large, using his best ‘command voice’.
“LISTEN UP! MY NAME IS CAPTAIN HARRISON TROXEL” He shouted, looking from face to face, “DISORDER AND CHAOS TAKES LIVES! I NEED ANYONE WHO IS INJURED, BLEEDING, SHELL SHOCKED, OR UNCONSCIOUS TO MOVE TO MY 9’O CLOCK. ANITA WILL TELL YOU WHERE TO GO.”
He took a deep breath, glancing back over at the Doctor “ANYONE WHO IS ABLE BODIED WILL HELP MOVING THE WOUNDED AND ADMINISTERING AID. WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE DOCTOR. STAY CALM AND MOVE NOW.”
He scrunched his face, he had 29 rounds left and that was not a lot considering the caliber and the range of his firearm. Quickly he turned and fired four more rounds into the eye. 25 rounds remaining.
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Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 1:29 pm
(Basil --> Lazarus)
Basil did his best to keep pace with the sprinting Lazarus, sweating and leather-lunged. He felt like any second he could drop dead of a heart-attack, rune sparking, sweat flinging from his brow. Adrenaline could only do so much to keep him chugging ahead, his body too softened by a sedentary lifestyle spent lounging on couches and daydreaming out windows. He wasn't an athlete. He didn't have the grit to cover distances like this. Like a goddamn thoroughbred.
Sometimes he'd scream ahead, "Slow down!" Regretting it. It was his physique and frustration talking. Not his heart or his head, or the little black cat that was slinking inside of him. Rubbing coquettishly against his insides the way cats are known to do. Claiming the ravaged corridors of his empty identity.
The parts of him that knew full well Lazarus would never slow down for him. He was like a man possessed, and Basil felt just the same. He had hitched his wagon to Lazarus' mission, and what the doctor represented to him now, exhaustion couldn't squash. The man was a pivotal figure in any chance Basil might ever have to be happy again. He needed him. Needed to get there. It was just the spirit was willing, but the flesh was... a bit out of shape.
Then, it was like the land both opened and vanished at the same time. The sun winked out. Covered as though by a swollen eyelid. The jungle turned bleak and black and infinite, like outer space. The world he came from seemed to shrink away from this place like branded flash, and Basil felt a gnawing sense of distance. He felt violated and strange here. Like a moist organ, severed from its warm living host, and exposed to the cold sterile air of a hospital room.
There was only one light-source, cutting the shadow like a demon headlight. His group stopped in their tracks. Every hair on Basil's body prickled. Standing painfully on end. His eyeballs felt like they were pulsing in and out of his skull with the beating of his heart. His mouth fell open. He covered it, muffling a high and unoxygenated scream.
Lazarus turned perfectly still in front of him. A silhouette against the light. Like a horned paper doll. Black and glowing at the edges. He shook his head, backing from it.
From that thing.
He couldn't identify the body below it. He didn't want to look at it. The image was too much. It radiated pain like the scalding mist over a pot of boiling water. He shook his head even harder, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. There were so many others here. Everyone was screaming. Trying to communicate to each other. Disorganized chaos. Like a troop of monkeys hooting at each other from tree to tree.
"Don't look at it!"
"Stop!"
"Keep your distance!"
"Please!"
He put his fists to his head. Clenching. Fingernails marking the skin of his palms like cookie cutters into dough. No no no no no.
Suddenly, a sound split the madness the way lightning splinters a mighty tree. A cracking, booming sound. He shouted, (a little more girlishly than he would have liked to admit), turning up his eyes to find the source. His eyes swept the field, trying to make sense of the blurry shapes and swatches of color. Two Raevans, purple and green, wrestling in the mist. A pink figure, closest to ground-zero, hugging a blonde.
And then.
He could vaguely see a male figure, not of any specific color. Straight-armed and steely, aiming some kind of handgun right at the monster. From that man, he sensed conviction and control. A stable surface for him to stand on. Or float, as it were. The same things he had once felt from Genie. In the very beginning, before life and Basil had worn her down. Into a brittle woman with teary goodbyes and a pez-dispenser of excuses. Eroded by love.
He was drawn to those qualities. Wanted instantly to be near them. Some kind of buffer between his outsides and insides. Someone to part the seas of chaos and agony, and take a stand.
Bla-kow! Bla-kow!
Each shot made his body jump. Gunshots were louder than he'd thought. He bit his tongue once. A painful reconnect to reality. To his ability to move and react. He had autonomy. Control over his limbs. He had to get over there. Now.
What did he say?
A checklist went through his brain. Injured. Bleeding. Shell shocked. Unconscious. What category was he in?
This was too much. He couldn't take it. What was going on?
Technically he was able-bodied. He could move. He could help. He didn't have much other choice. He didn't want to be a coward anymore, but that was something you just couldn't help. Either you were born a coward or you weren't. Either you made good choices under pressure, or you didn't. Basil didn't have a stellar record on that account... He didn't have a commanding voice or a big gun to shoot the bad guy with. All he had was himself. But he could make one good choice. Right now. Right here.
He leveled his eyes at the back of Lazarus' head. His nerves were hair-trigger. His skin cold and trembling. Every inch of him was telling him to book it. Run for cover. He was scared of whatever he was feeling in Lazarus now. That flat devastation. The void, where anything is possible. Basil was scared that he couldn't see Lazarus' face just now. Couldn't look him in the eye and sense some kind of knowing in him. Something that would reassure him that Lazarus wasn't about to go completely shithouse crazy if he touched him.
He reached out, his fingers connecting with Lazarus' arms. Squeezing. Getting fistfuls of the fabric. Pulling.
"Come on. We gotta go."
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Dangerous Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 3:55 pm
((Melisande -> Eiry, Trox, Cesc, Rivener))
Pasha hiccuped a laugh, still hugging Cesc tightly. He was thanking whatever had kept her safe? She felt ragged and paper thin, like a porcelein statue covered in cracks, but as she pulled just a bit back to truly look at the Stag, she realized he was right. Her hair was tangled, her cheek, arms, and chest smeared with grime from the embrace, and the angry wound on her hand still had lines of red radiating out from it, but she was whole. Her team had kept her safe.
But what had happened to him?
The soft words of a pale green Raevan drifted to her, and she glanced to Eiry with wide eyes. Her...watch over Cesc? He looked like he'd taken on the entire jungle and survived! She nodded before she turned back to the Frei and wiped the tear streaked mud from his cheek with her good hand, holding Cesc's eyes for just a moment longer. The way he looked at her, like she was the eye in the hurricane of chaos that surrounded them, made her feel just a little bit stronger. "It will be over soon. Strawberries and whipped cream." Melisande leaned forward, resting her forehead against his cheek for just a moment before spreading her wings to drift back and release him. "I promise!" She smiled, just for him, until a shriek cut through the air.
The moment she broke gaze with Cesc it seemed like the whole world came unhinged. The nightmarish figures at the edge of her vision were suddenly screaming and lashing...the Muse winced as a Frei spasmed and rolled, clawing at her own flesh. She floated back a bit before she remembered the column of shadow behind her, and the corpse it had feeding upon, and darted the other way, towards the jungle. More figures were closing in from that direction as well, with grim faces and spiked wings...
Spiked wings! "Rivener!!" Her clarion voice carried, and something jolted through her as she realized the Sigel she was facing was the Scorpion. There was something so terrible written across his face that despite his features and familiar colors, she truly hadn't recognized him for a moment. Even if she'd been willing to leave Cesc's vicinity, that look on Rivener's face would have stopped her cold.
She knew that look. She'd seen it in the mirror for years.
A tiny piece of her heart broke for the Scorpion, and her hand closed around the ring she wore on the chain Zul had forged shut around her neck. She didn't know what he had lost to make him look so stricken, but she knew that pain. She even knew the determined set of his jaw. Hold it in, just a while longer. Smile now...that's what they want to see.
Trox's voice carried to her distantly. He was asking someone if that man on the ground was Kyou, and as she realized that Lazarus was nearby, looking utterly shell shocked, the pieces began to fall into place.
The white hair, the emaciated limbs...that was Kyou?!
It wasn't fear that settled over her, though Pasha still didn't have the courage to turn and look. Instead, something cold filled her, and her delicate hands curled to fists as she sought Rivener's eyes again.
"Save him." The Muse breathed, blue eyes electric. Whatever strength she had left, she gave to the Scorpion, letting her Inspiration fuel the revenge she knew they both wanted. He was the only one old enough, strong enough, angry enough to do what needed done. Trox's gunshots tore past her, but Pasha didn't flinch, still holding Rivener's gaze and pouring whatever was left of herself into him. Her former team mate was bellowing out instructions, but Melisande didn't budge. She was exactly where she needed to be. Next to her friends...next to the doctor.
"Save him." She repeated. Rivener was powerful, he was fast. He was experienced. They'd done this, together, before. "And whatever that abomination is... Get rid of it."
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Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 6:45 pm
(( Anita -- Duncan, Ronan, Trox --> makeshift First Aid Station in the corner --> Anya, Xiu ))
The man's first shouts didn't reach her or the frei. Their names were muffled in all of the chaos combined with the distance. Duncan's approach, however, made Anita's eyes light up and left her breathless as she returned the acknowledging call of her name. "Duncan!" she gasped, even smiling for a brief moment upon recognition but it was quick to fade when the reality of their situation sunk back in. "Yes, my team's fine. I-I think--" before she had time to glance around and really analyze the scene, before she could even pinpoint Kyou's ragged form, a horrible scream ripped through the surrounding clamor and caused her to wince. Anita's eyes immediately whipped to Anya on the ground, writhing like she was being being attacked but there was nothing, absolutely nothing set upon her, nothing on her skin save for dirt and old blood -- were those arrows?!
Trox approached with a commanding gait. Her eyes were wide and attentive, hardly blinking at the question but finally double taking and gazing at the emaciated body lying motionless beneath the dark shadows of the floating eye. Everyone around was screaming not to look at it and the sinister vibe of it all kept her at bay. "I think so," she confirmed before turning back, listening intently and following each hand motion or word. It wasn't a difficult request, at least in essence. She was essentially already starting to do it with Ronan in tow. "Got it," there was no second thought. Even if Duncan couldn't help drag the wounded over he could help apply first aid and she glanced pleadingly to him for a moment before Trox continued.
The last bit made it all more intimidating than perhaps he intended and Anita paled, not returning the squeeze to her hand. Quick as anything he was off again and she started moving, too, after beckoning Duncan to follow. The motion was extended to Rivener as well but there was no telling if the Sigel would follow, he seemed a bit transfixed. She'd make a point to check on him in a moment, he wasn't nearly as bad off as Ronan or Anya were and who knew who else. But if Anya was here that meant Zeke was too and she had to find him, had to get him here along with the spider.
Halfway to the med station the gun went off and she jumped, clinging tightly to Ronan. She didn't let herself pause for more than a second after the first, only flinching at the second despite the sharp ringing in her ears. Everything sounded muffled from then on but not as bad as it must have been for Trox since he was the one firing. She tried to listen to his orders to everyone but she'd already been issued hers and was in the process of carrying them out. Anita knelt down at the chemlights near the dropped kit and deposited her own bags once Ronan was down. She worked on fishing out the kits that she'd packed at home as well as the one she grabbed from the supply table at the start of this ******** and arranged them as well as she could in the clearing so they could be more easily utilized. Once that was done and she got her bag out of the way, she came back to Duncan and Ronan and gripped the older man's sleeve.
"He's already wrapped up but can you give him a once over?" she bit her lip, peering over at the screaming frei who seemed like she was possessed, "I gotta get her over here." Everyone was screaming but only one other seemed to be taking action toward the screeching black widow. With a quick pat to Duncan's arm she sprinted toward Cruz and the small group he'd gathered with that were near Anya. "CRUZ! Get them to the chemlights back there!" she shouted just before another barrage of gun fire. There was no time to look back and check if he'd heard her, if he reacted, as she skid to a halt near Anya's fallen form and the unfamiliar white Sigel holding her wrists. "A-Anya! ANYA! Calm down! You have to calm down! You're hurting yourself!" There were no time for introductions with this other raevan, they both just had to do their best to make sure Anya didn't injure herself anymore than she already was or, god forbid, anyone else. She was in such a frenzy she probably couldn't tell the difference between friend or foe.
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Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:32 pm
[[Rivener >> Meli, the Eye, mention to millions of others. >.< ]]
Rivener handed off Ronan to Anita with a soft sigh of relief, nodding to Eiry and giving Cruz a smile he hoped would be reassuring. His lips did the trick but his eyes didn't reflect his usual cocky assurance: no, Rivener was nowhere near the usually confident Sigel he was. There was something cold in his eyes, and Eiry's warnings that they should not meet the eye of their enemy fell on deaf ears. If no one faced that thing, it would STAY THERE and traumatize them all. It would send more horrors after them. It would-...
Gunshots, screams. The world seemed to be full of noise all of a sudden and Rivener covered his ears, flinching down and looking to Troxel for a moment, listening to his commands. It all made a lot of sense. And Rivener had forgotten Jeremy's demands that no one touch Kyou. Maybe it was best for them all to wait. But as he finally looked across the field, Rivener saw the extent of everything. Zeke nearly passed out. Anya screaming her head off. Cesc so wounded he could barely move. Everyone was in some measure of torment, and it was all that Eye's doing?
Lazarus, standing shocked in the middle of the clearing.
Melisande, looking right back at Rivener with eyes that drew him in. Eyes that SAW him, and suddenly the weight of that canvas bundle under his arm seemed heavier. He clutched it close. Save him, she said. Save him, and destroy that thing. Riv felt his waning strength swell and he set his jaw again, nodding at her. She trusted him to be strong enough. She trusted him to save them all. And Rivener would try, by all the Stars in the Sky he would try. Her belief gave him strength.
"Get Lazarus to safety," he asked in return, then turned to face that eyeball, disregarding all the common sense that told him not to. Baring his sharp fangs, holding the remnants of his lover's core against himself, Rivener went for the Eye.
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Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 9:25 pm
((Iorek --> Zeke, Cruz))
Chaos. Iorek’s world had become a torn battlefield with no escape route plotted out. He looked all about as raevans and humans alike surged onto the field and then, like a firework, they burst into all different directions. As much as he wanted to help them fight the beast there was no strength left in him. He was focusing what he had on supporting Zeke, just like the man had done for him just a little while ago.
Against Zeke’s pleas, Iorek dragged the man and himself towards the makeshift area for the injured. “S-She’ll be fine, Zeke. You need to conserve what energy you have left. Look…everyone else is helping her.” Truthfully, Iorek was doing his best to tune out the spider’s screeches of pain as he pulled the raver closer and closer to the resting point. He didn’t want to hear her cries. At this moment in time he didn’t have the ability to help Anya but the cavalry had arrived to lend a hand where he couldn’t. Right now his main goal was to escort an injured Zeke to safety even if it was against his wishes and he fought the whole way.
But before they could reach the healing zone a green raevan full of concern and shouting his name was zooming towards him. Iorek was definitely taken aback by the sudden arrival of Cruz, the giver of his first kiss.
If the situation was different his heart would of fluttered and his cheeks would glow red but amongst all the destruction the symptoms of crushing didn’t appear. Instead what Iorek felt was concern for his friend. “Cruz! Are you hurt? Come here, let me see…float with me to that spot over there.” He told the other raevan as he proceeded to stumble as he tried to look him over while proceeding towards the lights someone unknown had set up.
“Zeke! Stop moving so much or we’ll both fall!” Reks snapped as he grew more and more frustrated as the man wouldn’t stop struggling. The more the green-haired guy fought the harder it was to keep them both upright.
The more they stumbled, the angrier Iorek got until it came to the point that he just had to assume Cruz was well enough to lend a hand, “Cruz! Help me. Grab Zeke’s other arm and we can bring him over together.” The gargoyle knew the man was deeply concerned for his ward but it wasn’t a good idea to let him go over there. “She’s getting help and that’s what you need so SIT DOWN!” Iorek yelled the last bit when they reached the injured station and he fell to the ground with Zeke. Grimacing, the raevan pushed his sore miserable body up and helped his human partner sit. Gently the raevan brushed away blood, mud, and other gunk smeared across Zeke's face. “I’m sorry but can you…can you just…just sit here and get treated. Please, Zeke. You can help by…by staying here and getting bet-better.” He stumbled over his words out of exhaustion. Fighting against Zeke’s mighty efforts to get to Anya put the gargoyle hovering over an empty tank.
While the others charged ahead to help and fight against the eye, Reks was stuck hanging back. He wanted to join his comrades and face the demon but in his current state he'd become a hazard, not a hero. Out there was a danger no one knew how to win against. Wrecks like them needed to stay out of the way, even if it was painful to do.
Iorek moaned and reached up to rub his eyes and take a deep breath in hopes that it would somehow stop his world from spinning. “Sorry..uh..W-What was wrong, Cruz?” He asked as he leaned against his friend for much needed support.
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Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:39 am
(Eiry --> Melisande, Rivener, Anyone else)
As people arrived, Eiry was beginning to realize that it wasn't going to get better. He had maintained that hope for some time now, hoping that, with others, with friends, with kindred, with guardians and relatives, they would all be able to cope together, to somehow protect some barrier wall of protection, for themselves and for Kyou, as if their very being together might form some kind of aura or atmosphere strong enough to wear thin the evils of their enemy, but he knew now that none of that would happen. Zeke and Anya were both far too wounded, far to panicked to do much else than scream and writhe, and the raevans helping them were already wounded themselves and they were tired and unable to contain them. Xiu had heeded Eiry's plea, rushing to help Anya, and he was glad to see the white raevan amongst their company. He turned towards the forest, his gaze catching onto other familiar faces. Eiry could see the frustration on Iorek's face in particular, the thin line of his patience drawing itself ever thinner, even while young and sweet Cruz threw himself to their aid, an exchange occurring between them. The relief shared between them and the other parties wasn't enough to salvage their energy. Even when Trox, a man with experience, took up the responsibility of organizing their frantic clustering, it wouldn't be enough to wrangle in tensions between the other raevans. Gunshots fired into the air, ringing throughout the clearing over the shoulders of flinching raevans and wincing humans, but the blast of sound wasn't enough to startle the survivors from their nightmares. Only a few responded and they moved slowly, heavy with their wounds. Eiry was going to make sure that he did his part in helping, as able-bodied as he was. A broken heart wasn't going to stop him from aiding those in need, and goodness knows there was a good many of them. There were even more raevans appearing on the scene, and Eiry noticed a dark haired raevan along with one he knew quiet well approaching and then freezing at the sight. He hoped that Lazarus and his companion had heard Troxol's warning.
Readying himself to return to the group that he had just been with, Ronan and Cesc and those who gathered around them, Eiry watched as Anita and Duncan tried to help on their side of the clearing, attempting to follow Troxol's orders. Eiry ordained himself to take care of this side, perhaps to enlist Melisande in this effort, when he turned to see her gone from Cesc's side. He caught her speaking to his brother, hushed and yet intense words shared between them, a begging, almost commanding look to her face as she spoke to him. Eiry had asked her to take care of Cruz, seeing as she was able-bodied, and while he wasn't surprised to see her drift away, he was stunned to see what followed next. The scorpion had lifted his head towards the cliff's edge, followed by the straightening of his shoulders and the stern gaze in Rivener's eyes that Eiry knew all too well.
This wasn't good at all.
Eiry's pointed ears perked, desperate to try and catch onto the echo of their conversation, but it was too late, his sensitive hearing still ringing with the bark of Troxol's bullet. It didn't matter whether or not he heard the exchange between them. He had seen enough. Glancing to Melisande, his red eyed welling with betrayal, he shook his head slowly at her, his body already leaning towards Rivener as he lifted his voice in hurt towards the raevan. "What have you done? Can't you see that he's hurt? My brother's injured! We need to gather the injured together, not send them like toy soldiers towards our foe to die!"
Without another word to her, his heart already turning heavy, welling with more loss and pain in anticipation of what he was about to do next, Eiry whipped himself towards his brother, using his weakly flaring wings to push himself towards him. Again, he felt his heart breaking, and gritting his teeth as hard as he could while he fluttered quickly to him, he promised himself that this was the right thing to do. It was Rivener's life on the line, the eye before them was dangerous, the proof of that laid just below its gnarled black tendrils, and Eiry wasn't going to allow Rivener to get an inch closer to it if he could help it. This, he knew, would be a suicide charge on his brother's part, his mind swollen with revenge. The younger of the Delaran raevan brothers lifted his voice in brief warning. "Brother! I won't let you! We're supposed to stay away! Why don't you ever listen?!" he barked, before he sprung into action, "Rivener!!" Doing his best to focus his gaze on Rivener and not at the eye that he marched towards, Eiry slipped up behind him, and willed his intangibility into action. His hands pushed through Rivener's back and through his stomach to grasp hold of the canvas-wrapped stone that he clutched so dearly to, granting it a moment of his intangibility before he pushed it through Rivener's solid grip, stealing it away from him. Eiry had meant to grasp it, pull it into his arms and flee like a quarterback to Troxol, whose firearms provided the most protection and whose brains might hopefully provide the best verbal defense, but his hands had yanked onto the canvas instead. Eiry had a fleeting moment of sudden panic when the expected weight didn't drag back with it and in that moment, his quickly thought out plans unraveled like the fabric round the stone. As he drew it backwards towards his own stomach, the canvas became unwrapped, and the heavy stone dropped through it, and out of his hands.
The blood that Eiry so dreaded before began hammering in his ears.
No, he knew, it was going to get much worse.
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Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:57 am
((Trox --> Rivener))
Harrison kept his position between the group of Raevans and the eye, pistol charged and ready. He's fired 6 shots into the eye at large, aimed for the pupil and sclera. Maybe the flaming root and tower of the eye would be better. Sever your optic nerve you go blind after all. He looked back at the group. A few were moving, trying to calm the purple haired raevan. Zeke had been moved. Melisande ... stood there. He understood the pull to be with people she cared about especially in a frightening time like this. But people needed attention, they needed help. Troxel shook his head glancing up at her then back to everyone else, they weren't meant for this. It was foolish to expect they'd understand and he chided himself mentally.
Then he saw a flame red rune and ink black ribbon pelting forward. You had to be kidding him. Harrison would not have anyone's blood on his hands. He took this on himself, this idea of an organized and safe attack. Rivener headed straight towards the eyeball giving Harrison only enough time to holster his weapon and spring in front of the sigel. He gripped Rivener's arm while calling.
"Wha-? You with the hair! Wait! Wait, What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Harrison allowed the momentum of Rivener to move him, "Listen, you can fight just THINK about this. Don't rush in there without a plan!"
He was pleading to Rivener, trying to get him to see sense while using his entire body weight to hold Rivener back.
"It's not brave, it's not just! Martrydom KILLS. What happens if you fall and you're without backup? Some other sore ******** needs to go in and drag your a** out! You will NOT endanger the other lives here. Work with me"
Harrison calmed looking straight into the sigel's eyes, "I know jack s**t about floating eyes and crazy magical things. But, I do know how to fight and win against the enemy. Work with me, form a plan, kill the eye, save the Doctor.. Please..."
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Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 6:57 am
The shots that Harrison fired just passed through the eye without damaging it one bit. The blacken fire did seemed a little bit disturbed as the bullet coursed through, but otherwise it did not have a huge impact to the mysterious relic. It did not even look at Harrison's direction. It may look similar to a human organ, but it is not one.
It's gaze however, is locked onto a black and red Raevan that is heading in it's direction. There were determination in his eyes, but there was also something else. People could hide everything else from it, but it could always see through one thing inside of you.
It didn't take too long to take hold. Even though Rivener's gaze was removed when the precious rock was unfolded from it's protective cloth, tumbling to the ground, the Sigel was already under it's spell. Like in slow motion, the scorpion would see the rock slipped off his grasp, and shattered to a million pieces on the floor, each little piece disappearing in a small spark of fire. And in the end, there will be nothing left, nothing left of his lover.
"This is your own fault! You weren't there to protect Zul when he needed you most. He perished because of you!" He saw Eiry talking to him, the minty Sigel's expression was one of disdain, of loathing. "Look around you, everyone is here except Zul. You're so weak, it's pathetic!"
Harrison rushed in then, he meant well, trying to help. However to Rivener, he only see a stranger, a man he doesn't know snickering at him. "Look at this weakling, he wanted to kill it, but how? Use your head dumb a**." Harrison said as he tapped the butt of his gun to Rivener's head. "Everyone is being useful, helping each other out over there. But you just gunned forwards without any thinking. You think you could save everyone by just rampaging forward like a brainless troll? You might as well jump off the cliff you useless fool!" He laughed, he open his mouth wide and laughed like Rivener was the biggest joke in the world. And Eirdirsceol joined him in his maniac laughter, both laughing at the scorpion.
The rest of the people in the opening just minded their own way as Rivener was laughed at, like the Sigel doesn't exist at all. Melisande was no longer there, pleading for him to save Kyou, Lazarus vanished, they just moved about like Rivener wasn't there at all.
At Anastacia's side, the spell on her lingered even though she was no longer looking at the eye. As she was unceremoniously pinned to the ground with some difficulty, the pain would only soar as she felt her body on fire. A large angry welt on her hand bursts as Xiu pinned her to the ground, followed by one on her face as she felt the sting. How long can she last without passing out? It seemed like once you're under the eye's spell, you won't be able to break from it unless the eye is no longer there.
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Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 8:41 am
(( Jeremy -> Iorek, mentioned others ))
They are here, they are finally here! Jeremy had imagined and played this through in his head dozens of times, the things that he must do to neutralize the situation. Went through several different scenarios, even the worst ones. However it was still not enough to prepare him for the real thing as he gazes at the floating golden eye at the edge of the cliff.
He too, would probably had fallen under the eye's spell if not for a man bellowing out his name to the small crowd. Troxel, was it? His attention was immediately drawn to him and his words, that was when he realized what kind of crowd this is. It was hard to believe that this was the same crowd that he had talked to just yesterday. It seemed... considerably smaller, and people were hurt, a lot of people were hurt. Jeremy could only watch quietly as Iorek heaved a bloodied Zeke to the first aid corner. Was it a wise choice to gather such a large search party after all?
Shaking his head, he pushed that thought out of his head. It is too late for that now, what's done is done. All he can do now is help however he can, and contain the situation. Dropping his bag to the floor, he began to unpack it's contents to the floor by the tree line next to the appointed first aid corner. Things were starting to get serious as Anya's screams and Mr Troxel's gunshot pierced through the quietness of their surroundings. He needed to act fast.
"Here, take this first aid kit and the painkillers." Hurriedly he handed the items to the nearest person, which is Iorek at the moment. "Use them well."
Then without anymore words, he picked out an old tattered notebook from his bag, and a large glass vial similar to one that had contained some fel essences before, and set out to finish what Kyou had started.
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Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 9:57 am
((Rivener >> Trox, Eiry, The Eye))
Rivener tuned out any other voice, any other person. He saw his target ahead, and though it saw him right back, Rivener didn't feel a single tremor of fear. That monster had already taken everything from him, there was nothing else that would keep him back. Eiry tried to tackle him, tried to stop him by stealing Zul's core, and the stone fell out of its wrappings to the ground, shattering like glass. Riv's advance stopped, his eyes going wide and his breath stuck in his throat like someone had jammed a fist into his windpipe.
And here he'd thought the Eye couldn't take anything else from him.
Then some stranger came, the one who'd demanded they move to the corner, grabbing Rivener's arm and calling him worthless, a fool, stupid... Riv's eyes narrowed and he bared his teeth in rage at both the laughing human and his laughing brother. But there was one thing the Eye hadn't calculated correctly: Rivener's reaction to being mocked. "I'll show YOU worthless, weak, and powerless!" Had they looked disappointed and walked away, like he truly wasn't worth the time and effort to belittle, Riv might well have crumbled to the ground in his loneliness, wailing his lungs raw over the shards of his beloved. But with these people staring at him, judging him, Rivener's outraged inner self demanded he prove them wrong.
He would kill this eye. This monster.
So with a strength he hadn't thought he had left, no doubt bolstered by Melisande's words, Riv's now-free hand snapped out to grab Trox's throat, shoving him away. Then he spun and threw a back-hand towards Eiry. As soon as he was freed of them, Riv roared and sped towards the Eye again, both hands crooked into sharp claws, ready to tear that thing to bits. He was powerful. He was a Scorpion, a Sigel, and these were his kin! He would protect them, or die trying!
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