|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 3:38 pm
"Someone bad..." Rivener thought about this for a moment, wondering if the spirits would just be saying that... Why would they?
"LOOK THERE!"
Eiry's sudden yell startled Riv, and he inhaled sharply, turning. "What? Where?" A quick glance around... There was nothing there. Turning back to face Eiry with a thin-lipped, humorless smile, Rivener lifted a hand and threw his little brother a rude gesture. "Very funny, dweeb," he said, using the Annoying Little Brother term affectionately.
Riv was annoyed, yes, but he was also kind of proud. He prided himself on being able to see through people, having watched and studied actors for all of his short life. That Eiry was able to fool him meant that the minty Frei was a gifted Actor! If the two of them worked together, there was no telling what they might be able to pull off...
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 8:15 pm
Eiry's laughter was loud and playful, bright and hauntingly mischievious. His laughter had always been a bit creepy, like a child's echoing laugh in an empty place where there should be no sound. Placing a palm to his forehead (for he couldn't slap a knee or hold his stomach), Eiry shook his head at his brother, as if he were amused, affectionate, and disappointed at the same time.
It was then that Rivener saw it.
It was a large dark shape, growing into being from the very fog and darkening with each second behind Eiry's floating minty form. Broad shoulders jutted out from beneath a small round head and the sharp angled cheekbones of a starved thick boned man began to form. Twitching up a lip into a hungry haggard sneer, the darkening shadow reached its arms up and placed its hardening hands on either side of Eiry's head.
Eiry was still laughing at his brother, extremely proud that he was able to perplex his brother, even for a short couple of seconds. The little ghost lights that were dancing around Eiry had spun out into a freakish wobble until they darted away and into the mist, disappearing altogether.
"You're going to fall for it, every time!" Eiry teased, "This is the third time this week I've gotten you!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 11:48 am
Rivener's eyes had been growing into large discs slowly as he watched the fog thicken and take shape. At first he thought he couldn't be seeing this, his eyes must be playing tricks on him... But soon he had to admit that it really was happening.
"E-Eiry... Eiry, come here," Riv tried to coax his brother to come away from the thing, whatever it was. He knew that if he was to say "Look behind you", Eiry would think he's trying to get back at him for the trick... Riv had to act fast, the man-thing's hands were going for his brother's head!
"EIRY!" Rivener yelled, reaching out and grabbing the minty Frei's arm, pulling him swiftly away from the ghost. "What the hell is that?!" Rivener yelled now that Eiry could turn and look from a safer distance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 12:09 pm
Startled and confused by his brother's sudden change in attitude, Eiry could only blink at him innocently until Riv thrust his arms out and snatched him away just as the ghost's hands slapped together around empty air.
Growling, disappointed that his prey was just snatched away, the ghost thing sneered playfully at them. It had a queer frightening smile, one that was fully aware of the weaklings before him. It almost looked as if he were toying with them, or being amused by them. He rolled back his large blocky shoulders and began slowly moving towards them.
Spinning around, Eiry's red eyes opened as well and he began shrinking into his brother's arm that had saved him, "That's...That's...Edgar..." He felt his chest flutter wildly with fear, fear unlike he had felt for a long time.
"Pleased to meet you," the black shadow sneered, "Come on now, stay still..."
The minty raevan shook his head and he looked at Rivener with terror dancing in his red eyes, "He is bad man, Riv, bad man! He kills. That's why!"
Edgar laughed, bending back so his stomach shook as he laughed. Leaning forward, the dead man grinned and sneered, "Good! You know of me! So...That must mean you also know that I don't ever leave anyone alive...Even strange monsters like yourselves. Come here, so I can strangle you!" And he lunged at them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 6:15 pm
Rivener, for a moment, considered fighting. He was strong, he was venomous... But how would any of that be effective against a ghost?! Nothing Rivener saw on TV gave any hint as to what might work... They weren't priests, and the only other way would be to have Ectoplasm guns like in Ghostbusters... And that was far from happening!
Still, he had to protect his little brother. "Eiry, run!" He yelled, turning and pushing at the other Frei, making sure to keep himself between Eiry and the dangerous spirit. "RUN! RUN!" he prompted.
Snarling in anger, Edgar flew towards them as quickly as he could, fingers curled into talons, ready to kill.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 10:38 pm
As soon as his brother shoved him out of the way and compelled him to run, Eiry hesitated. He didn't want to leave Rivener. He was terrified of being alone out here in the marshes, but he was more terrified for Riv's safety. So, instead of bolting away as fast as his floating spirals could go, he ran straight into Riv. Thrusting himself against the scorpian raevan, the two just barely escaped a mad scratching from Edgar who roared by them like a bull.
Spinning on his heel, Edgar growled and charged again, "GET BACK HERE!"
"Come on, Riv, let's go!" Eiry cried, pulling at his brother. "That way! To the thicket!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 2:44 pm
Rivener was furious that Eiry hadn't run, and it had been only through luck that the two of them hadn't been caught by the ghost. When Eiry told him to go to the thicket, Riv had a moment of bullheadedness, wanting to stay rooted in place just to show the other Raevan what it would be like to be disobeyed in such a time... But his instinct survival took over. No time for being petty and vengeful!
Twining his fingers with Eiry's, Rivener zoomed away into the thicket as fast as he could, his wings snapping to give him extra momentum. At least his strength could serve this purpose; he was moving faster than the wind! Dodging trees and brushes, ignoring the tearing of thorns at his ribbon, Rivener ran away. He didn't even pause to look behind. "Is he following?!" Rivener yelled at his brother, trusting the minty Frei to look back for the both of them, while Riv kept his eyes ahead.
Edgar was indeed following, trailing behind them like a whisp of smoke. His snarls, silent screams, were echoing through the forest swamp in an odd way. These strange creatures would not, COULD not elude him for long! He knew these woods and marshes like the back of his translucent hand! Smirking, Edgar suddenly veered to the west. He knew that soon, a copse of thick trees would force them to turn, and he would cut them off at the pass. He WOULD have his kills!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 6:02 pm
Eiry was flagging Riv's trail, following close like a shadow. He didn't have as much strength to float so fast, so Eiry was grateful to be pulled along by his brother. He glanced once over his shoulder, trusting that Riv would keep him on the right path. To his surprise, he turned just in time to see Edgar veer off to the side, a sly smirk on his face. Then the man disappeared. He simply vanished. Unnerved, for the ghosty frei knew most of the ghostly tricks that a astral creature could pull, Eiry tried to stop his brother and change direction. As he did that and paused their journey, little ghost lights appeared again and began flitting around Eiry's head in warning.
"Riv, we shouldn't go that way. Let's go...To the left," Eiry, without waiting for his brother's confirmation, began pushing a trail through the tall marsh greenery.
As the two got further, they found themselves...Back at the graveyard? They had gone south...And now they were at the northern edge of the graveyard. It was almost as if they had jumped to the forest just above the marsh and re-entered. Edgar was standing in the middle, grinning in that same Jack Nicholson manner.
"You can't escape. The marsh won't let you," he said in a husky laugh.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:52 pm
Rivener had dashed off in Eiry's trail, trusting the other's knowledge of ghosts and such things. The lights had been back and floating around the minty frei; Riv assumed they were telling his brother where to go. As they rushed through the greeneries, Rivener tried to find his bearings, but to no avail; the trees blocked the sky, and the near-darkness cast no shadow from which he could tell at least where west was.
As they emerged again into the graveyard, Rivener frowned. "What the hell?!" he muttered. That ghost was staring at them in a disturbing manner...
Rivener frowned. "Eiry, follow me!" he called, deciding to try something else. Taking his brother by the hand again, Riv snapped open his wings and beat them down fiercely, taking to the sky. If the marsh wouldn't let them escape, would it keep them grounded as well? This was all Rivener could think of.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 8:02 pm
As soon as Rivener took to the sky, dragging the minty raevan after him, he no sooner than looked up to the stars when he saw Edgar's body floating precisely where he had meant to fly. Startled, Eiry stopped beating his wings furiously after his brother and his small portion body became heavy in Riv's hand.
"Not that way!" Eiry shouted.
They were at a loss. The raevans apparently had nowhere to go.
"There's no where to go, little monsters. You can't leave now. You have to stay." Grinning maliciously, Edgar began stepping in the air towards Rivener, his body face twisted into a hungry sickening grin. "Come here, you little monsters, you...I bet you taste delicious..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:59 am
Rivener, having stopped dead when faced with the ghost, backflapped until he was back at the ground, which he found more comfort in. He was glaring angrily at the spirit, feeling frustrated and powerless... He did not like that one bit. He felt threatened. He no longer had the drive to fight his instinct.
Flaring his wings and leaning down as a Scorpion would, Rivener brought his stingers forward. He opened his mouth and hissed at the ghost, baring his small, often-unseen fangs. His hands were curved into hooks. He didn't know if this would serve any purpose, but he'd be damned if he wasn't at least going to TRY to attack that thing!
Rushing forward as fast as any Scorpion strike, Rivener "stung" the ghost. He quickly recoiled back to where he was, hovering protectively in front of his brother.
The venom that sprayed out of the twin stingers misted through the air and landed on the marsh grass, the already-wet blades of green letting out a disturbing hiss as the potent poison ate away at them. Edgar just laughed, unharmed. The venom had passed right through him harmlessly. "Now what are you freaks trying to do, hmm? Get me angry?"
Rivener gritted his teeth. "Eiry, you're a death-eater; DO something! Eat him!" The request didn't make much sense, but Rivener's will to survive forced him to try anything and everything.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 11:03 pm
Eiry began to say his classic, "I'm not so sure..." statement, but when he realized that his brother had transformed into something entirely different than the brother he knew, Eiry promptly began to float out from behind Rivener's protective arms. He didn't want to disobey his brother, not when he looked like that! He had never seen Rivener look like this before. It sort of frightened him, but he was mostly enamored with how awesome he looked. He didn't want to disappoint his brother or make him mad, either, so he did as he was told. So he cautiously floated up to the ghost and tried whipping an arm at him.
Maybe he could suck him up. Maybe he could simply devour his essence.
Unfortunately, Edgar was not dead. Certainly his body was dead, but ghosts are made of spirits. Not death. So Eiry had nothing to feed off of, and was now placed directly in Edgar's reach.
A wild grin flashed onto the man's face and he lashed out his arm. Almost as soon as Eiry got within range, Edgar snatched Eiry's outstretched arm and dragged him close, wrestling with the struggling frei until he had one hand gripped over Eiry's pale face and the other clamped tightly at the base of Eiry's wing, ready to pinch and twist if need be.
"RIVENER!" Eiry shrieked wildly, trying to tear off Edgar's hand and go intangible. Unfortunately, not even his ghostly intangible powers could help him now. When he went intangible, it essentially meant that he became like the substance of ghosts so he could pass through things and whatnot. Edgar was a ghost as well, therefore, he could grip onto Eiry's form even when he tried to phase through. "BROTHER, HELP!"
"Fools!" Edgar hissed in a husky deep laugh, "I knew you'd do something stupid or later. And now that I have one in my grip, the other will probably do something stupid to try and help his poor comrade. Then I'll have both of you...And FEAST upon you!"
Desperate for escape, Eiry tried to push himself away and elbow the ghost in the gut, but Edgar quickly used his strong hands and twisted Eiry's wing in a way it wasn't meant to be twisted. Filled with pain, the minty frei shrieked a single horrible wail and froze up entirely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 7:33 am
Rivener watched with angry, widened eyes at the ghost grabbed onto Eiry. And he'd been the one to order Eiry up there! Frustrated with himself, Rivener growled and crouched lower. He wasn't listening to Edgar's words; if he had, he might not have done what he did next.
Launching himself forward, Rivener attacked the ghost again, lashing out with stingers and fists alike, trying anything to make contact, to do SOMETHING that would hurt the ghost.
Edgar only laughed. Every sting, every punch passed through him harmlessly. He let go of the Green One's throat, since that one was now held immobile by its wing. With this free hand, he easily grabbed Rivener's throat.
Riv inhaled sharply, and with great difficulty, as he found his throat squeezed. He tried to claw that intangible hand, but he only managed to scratch his own neck, small red trails of blood appearing. He frowned, hissed, bared his teeth, and lashed out with his wings, even with his ribbon, trying to hurt his opponent. Nothing worked.
Edgar was getting annoyed at the red one's constant flailing. He frowned and squeezed harder, cutting off the thing's air.
Rivener couldn't breathe! He started to choke and gasp vainly for air, arms out and weakly reaching for anything, trees or grass, that he might use to pull himself out of this thing's grasp! They were too far from any of that, though. He could only reach and hope.
Tiny stars were starting to dance around in Rivener's vision. Everything was getting blurry... This reminded him of another time, when the Stars almost went Out. His wings dipped limply, his ribbon slowed to a standstill, and struggled to stay up...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 7:40 pm
Eiry was now trying to claw his way to his brother, but every time he moved, Edgar's grip would tighten on his wing. It felt almost felt like it felt when one was getting his ear ripped off except this was far more intense. Shouting wildly, the minty raevan tried everything he could to attack, but he failed. If he tried to move, Edgar would twist his wing.
When the evil man clamped a vicelike grip on Rivener's throat, Eiry's red eyes flared into angry orbs of dancing ruby. His face contorted hideously into something that Rivener would've expected to jump out of closets or dark corners. He thrashed in Edgar's grip and was almost able to spin around and clamp his own hands around the ghost's throat when there as a sudden...disgusting...painful...crack from his captive wing. Eiry had heard that a breaking bone sounds like a snapping twig. Right then and there, Eiry decided that whoever made that analogy obviously never heard a bone snap before. He felt his mouth go dry and tears sprung into his eyes.
Falling limp in Edgar's grasp, the ghostly frei began to wail as if he had never wailed before. They should've never come out here at twilight! He should've listened to the spirit orbs! Eiry believed that all was lost until...
WHACK!
"Get your filthy hands off them, you see-through b*****d of a runaway death-row member!" It was Isi, small crippled Isi, regaining his posture after he had just sent one of his crutches flying through Edgar's head. Spitting at the ghost's ethereal feet, Isi scoffed, "Oh, I get it. The ghost that can't even catch a crippled boy has now sunk so low as to turn his attentions on experiments? You have less dignity than I thought, EDGAR. Let go of them and come after me. I am, after all, the crippled boy who escaped you more than once before. And I'm LIVING flesh. Not half formed bodies like what you have there. I'm, by far, the better meal to feast off of. What'd ya say to that, scum?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 8:26 pm
Rivener's failing vision, failing consciousness, barely registered what was happening around him. He was zoning in and out. He noticed something that looked like Eiry's face, but not quite. He heard a sickening crunch of bone. He saw something zip by his head. He heard what sounded like Isi's voice...
And just when the Darkness threatened to take over, he was let go. He fell, gasping, to the ground, fighting to take control of his breath again.
Edgar, angry and insensed, had been snarling at the boy. That infuriating human, so arrogant and pompous! That, that BOY! The ghost let go of both Frei, turning to the kid. "You're not going to get away that easily this time, Victim. You're in MY grounds now!"
With a malevolent laugh, Edgar threw himself at Isi.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
