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 Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 6:44 pm
A Summoning...
A generous amount of fumbling and rustling could be heard throughout the small clearing. The rhythmic drumming of a lone stream could be heard close by while a myriad of crickets strummed along to the symphony of the night. From what could be seen, bags and a plethora of trinkets were strewn about the grass... as well as a single girl.
Blue locks cascaded along the girl's shoulders, swirling about as if made of succulent treats found only in tucked away candy shops. While lighting some candles, she leafed through an old book whose pages looked as if they would crumble to the touch. She nodded quietly to herself, crystalline blue eyes swarming over the text, while pulling her leather bound legs closer to her person. Autumn's chill had begun to bite at her toes: perhaps she should have brought that extra jacket with her after all.
Tonight would be a special night. With the candles lit to waltz about their ever fragile waxen stage, the girl lifted her nose from the book and clamped it firmly shut. With a swivel of her legs, she dove for a nearby bag and plunged into its contents. A satisfied grin sprawled over her pale visage as she clamped in her hand an intricate amulet. Glass beads caught the light from the dozens of candle strewn about her. Dangling from the pinwheel like center were braided threads, entangled with what appeared to be some sort of fiber... hair, perhaps?
Next came the part she dreaded. Dealing with pain inflicted on her in the forms of accidents or other occurrences was one thing... but inflicting pain upon herself? From the depths of the same bag she withdrew a hunting knife. Flipping the blade free from its sheath, she glanced at it and the amulet several times before heaving forth a foreboding sigh.
"Remember... this is worth it..." the girl muttered unto herself, sounding entirely unconvinced. It took several moments before she set the amulet gently before her on the moist foliage at her knees. With one hand outstretched over the trinket, she situated the knife so that its blade was resting along the center of her palm.
Eyes clenched shut...
A deep breath...
A single line of blood...
As if it had metamorphosed into a trembling line of lace, the crimson fluid trickled down along the face of the amulet. Muffled whimpers could be heard moments after. The girl frantically searched for something to cease the blood flow; however, before she could... something had begun.
Slowly, the girl turned her head: "Sulfur?"
Horrified by the sight, the girl clamored backwards as the once dormant charm lit into a blaze. The flames that licked about it appeared to be natural at first but than erupted into a flood of iridescent brilliance. Her eyes remained fixated as she lifted herself to her feet, attempting to regain her bearings.
"... it's working?"
As quickly as the amulet came to life, it extinguished... leaving only but a clump of ashes on the ground. Though she was relieved she had not endangered the woods about her with an abrupt brush fire, something was not right. What was once a dimly moonlit clearing now became a obscure, shadow-infested mound of earth. Surely the girl was horrified, but to further fuel her fear was a distinct rustling most definitely not her own.
The darkness bowed and yawned, giving way to a puma-like creature. A shimmering hide of coral flecked with blackened whisps as well as a golden mane dressed this lonesome form. With a shake of its head, its trinity of amber pools peered deep within the crystalline eyes of her summoner. Yet, what was once a proud, majestic creature seemed to immediately degrade into a state of confusion.
"You summoned me?" the beast muttered. A distinctly feminine voice reverberated from the depths of her throat as she continued to eye the girl.
She nodded quickly, starting to regain her composer. Unbeknowst to the beast before her, she was frantically trying to decide if she should kneel before her to be polite or if that would be condescending.
"Surely you are mistaken. Someone such as yourself has no need for a Winiko. You are pure... so why?"
The creature stayed its ground as the girl lowered herself to charred earth. By kneeling, they were eye to eye. A smile enveloped the girl's petal-kissed mouth as she outstretched a hand to the beast.
"My name is Bunneh: Aren't you lonely?"
"What?" she had been struck dumbfounded... what was this girl uttering?
"Let me help you!"
"You're mad..."
"Not really. I'm an outcast, sure, but I see things much more clearly than everyone else. If you'd rather go back to your home, I won't stop you... but I wanted to give you, one of you, the chance at something new."
"You know of the Winiko?"
"Yes... I've read and studied your legends. Your birth is tragic... but that doesn't mean your whole life has to be."
The eyes of this Samaritan-esque girl shimmered with truth: this Winiko was not being mislead. For so long she was captivated by the sorrowful fate of her ancestors... but this girl, Bunneh, had sacrificed herself to act as a portal, a road to a different, more promising future.
"... I, Shaula of the Winiko, accept your offer..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:12 pm
Something Amiss...
Exhaustion had set in after the psychologically charged evening. Despite all of the preparation and the countless sessions of reassurance, Bunneh could not have anticipated the degree of success she had achieved. Not only had the legends been true, but she had summoned a Winiko without fail; moreover, she had accepted her offer. This Winiko, Shaula, agreed to remain on this plane as her companion until her eventual death. Now all that stood before her was ensuring that she honored her word: that she would show this mythical beast a life without heartache.
These were the thoughts that continued to parade about her mind despite her having fallen into a deep slumber. Soon after the summoning, Bunneh felt her strength dissipate. Lacking the energy to return to home, she had cocooned herself with a blanket she had brought along with her supplies and situated herself against an overturned log. While she slept, Shaula remained ever vigilant. From the moment their souls intertwined, she had not left her bound’s side.
While Bunneh’s mind was preoccupied with her unforeseen success, her beastly warden remained restless. Hours had passed since she had been torn from her primordial origins and a charge had been designated as her own. This was a common occurrence for those of her kind; however, her circumstances were far from ordinary. Those who sought redemption through the maws of a Winiko often bore a sin, regret or what have you. Her charge was entirely pure. The only smears on Bunneh’s conscience were minor. So why? Why would she delve into the legends of the Winiko when she had no reason to repent?
“She wanted to help… just one of us…” Shaula murmured quietly. The beast slowly turned her shimmering maw to glance at her bound. This individual had seen passed the allure of a purified soul. Selflessly, she sacrificed her livelihood in hopes of redeeming the redeemer. Inadvertently, the girl had marked herself a martyr. Ultimately, she would allow a once restless soul, driven only by inherited responsibility, to seek solitude in her passing along side her charge.
It made sense despite how outlandish it would sound to her kin. Yet despite having rationalized her predicament, a ghastly weight bore down on her mind. It had started out as blemish of sorts, simply trickling uneasiness into her conscience, but it had now flourished into a malignant mass. She had even begun questioning the painfully obvious intentions of the young girl sighing intently in her sleep.
Surely these thoughts were not her own. Those of the Winiko were deeply in tuned with their bound to the point of being able to peer into their inner eye, allowing for them to see their charge despite their location. Something had penetrated her psyche, tampering with it… and no mortal could do this.
Something was amiss. Amber slivers devoured the ribbons of moonlight, causing them to radiate with a fierce glow. Diligently she scanned: the source had to be close. It was than that she had located it. How could she have dismissed it with such ease. Shifting her weight so that she may lift herself upon her paws, talons glistening, she fixed her gaze upon the blood-tinged pile of ashes from which she had materialized.
“Someone’s coming…”
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:35 pm
The Stowaway...
Winiko are born with an innate ability to bend the fabrics of reality in order to pass freely between the human plane and that of the Inbetween. For those without charges, venturing onto the mortal plane was usually driven by either the desire for knowledge or to quench boredom. After all, a Winiko’s longevity far surpassed their human counterparts so a lust for entertainment was inevitable. Shaula was well aware of all this; however, for another Winiko to pass through the ash of a previously summoned… this meant far more.
Haunches strained, mane tresses bristled and teeth gnashed, Shaula eagerly anticipated the arrival of this stowaway. Whoever this was, the warning they had transfixed within her mind illustrated a clear picture of their intent: malice.
It began as a quiver. Flecks of ash spilled gently off of the peak of the pile until a thin sheet of cinders covered the ground in a neat circle, a meter in diameter. The formation of the ashen disk took approximately five minutes before the center began to undulate. As if a pebble had been dropped, the ash began to ripple outward. At first it was gentle, one would have to peer quite deeply into the ash to even see the movement but within moments the undulation became far more violent until the cinders waved nearly a foot off of the ground.
A burst of flame erupted from the center of the concentrated tidal wave, incinerating what remained of the ash. Within its center was a lone figure, bathed in a cerulean hide which had been woven with silver threads along the forearms, forelegs and face. Lavender eyes shown through a mane of topaz and it was than that Shaula gaped in disbelief.
“Valekai?!”
Haughtiness permeated from the laugh that accompanied the exclamation. Several strides brought the proportionally larger Winiko closer.
“You know of me. Than perhaps you are not as ignorant as I thought.”
“Ignorant? How dar—“
She could not have predicted what had occurred next. For so long she had heard of the ever prideful Valekai who spoke in reverence of no other and who would stop at nothing to attain that which she desired. Perhaps she did not know nearly as much as she had thought, for this vane creature had struck her down in an instant. Staring within the lavender pools of her attacker, she could feel the ever growing weight of gleaming blades burrowing within her throat.
“Do not think for a moment that you have earned the right to speak to me with such blatant disregard to authority. You are a disgrace. No matter how obvious I made it that you were a dispensable member of our legacy, no one would believe me!, So I’ve taken it upon myself to ensure that you do not destroy that which we have struggled to attain!”
“Wha… what are… you… talking about?”
“Dissatisfaction! I’ve seen how you’ve looked in envy of those bound by morality. We of the Winiko mustn’t ever forget the legacy of Ranthor. Our lives are of reverence and repentance! I will not have you philandering about in search of a more comfortable life. You are Winiko and yet you have spat on our legacy!”
“I’ve done no such thing!” Shaula shouted in defiance. Her only response was the mate of the previous paw joining in baring down on her neck.
“Not only do you allow the one sliver of your soul to fall into the hands of this… abomination, you gladly accept her proposal! You should have devoured her the moment she began her incoherent babbling!”
“If I had… If I had!”
“What?!”
“Not only would I have died… but you would have as well!”
The claws at had drank in the warmth of her throat, straining her ability to speech, had begun to emerge from her now disheveled mane.
“How did you know…?”
“No Winiko can pass through the ash of another: it's sanctified. Unless… you tampered with it!” a streak of mauve had careened into the air and met with the cerulean beast. Shaula had now begun driving her paws into the elder’s chest as she sneered in her face, a speckle of violet liquid stringing its way between her ivory maw.
“Why! Why would you do that! You live only for yourself, cutting down any in your way in order to better yourself. Humanity is beneath you! You’ve devoted your life to this and yet now you seek to sabotage my one chance of normalcy… and in doing so you damn yourself! WHY!”
“I will not have you corrupt our legacy…”
“That again?”
“If your antics become common knowledge… if your quest for normalcy becomes known, all that which we have endured will mean… nothing! I will not have you disgrace the name of Ranthor and I will not have you pass on your tendencies to future generations!” a horrific bellow tore free from her now unhinged jaws as she struck Shaula. Unsheathed talons sunk within the palpable flesh of her smaller counterpart’s face as she lunged a top of her. The young Winiko could not move, only howl in distress as the same violet liquid that had strung from her teeth seeped from the freshly attained wound.
“You… you b***h… you’re using me… to give yourself a better name…” hesitantly she turned to face this unexpected adversary whose eyes churned with a molten intent: “You… want to surpass… Ranthor...”
“… Heh, heh… is that so wrong?”
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:56 pm
Duty...
Several days had passed since Valekai's unexpected arrival. Thankfully, the tyrant had fled soon after Bunneh had been startled awake by the two's exchange of blows. The wounds she had bore from the elder were played off as having been delivered by the local wild-life. To Shaula's relief, Bunneh believed her and insisted on returning home so that she may treat her wounds. Why did she deceive her companion? It was not her place to inform her of Valekai's existence let alone her intentions... at least not yet. After all, Bunneh had just gotten over the initial shock of successfully summoning her: any unnecessary stress was to be avoided.
Restlessness had begun to befall the solar-kissed Winiko. With a stretch of her limbs, she lazily rolled upon her stomach to peer into the window just above her. Her bound lived in a modest cabin along the edge of the forest. A handful could occupy the residence; however, all that dwelled within it were Bunneh, an aquarium of exotic fish and now Shaula.
She had not expected to be lulled to sleep by the gentle embrace of the den's fire, but as she roused, Shaula realized that it was already well in the afternoon. The faint whistle of the wind scratching against the window panes brought her to her paws. While padding across the shag-carpet, a glimpse into a befallen mirror halted her in her tracks. Reflected within her amber-lit eyes were the ever tender gashes upon her face. As a Winiko, injuries were often times not as grave in comparison to their human counterparts. Within a few days' time, the gashes had already begun to smooth over, allowing for fresh fur to sprout. Nonetheless, the altercation was borrowed vividly within her subconscious:
If she were to attack her... I may not be able to protect her... Bunneh...
A vigorous shake of the head allowed Shaula to resume her initial course. Striding through the narrow corridor, she continued to reflect on the events leading up to the present. Deep in thought, the sudden ruckus that had sounded from the far end resulted in her entire form to tense: surely Valekai had not returned! Bladed paws clattered across the wooden floor until she skid to halt within the aforementioned doorway.
To her relief, Bunneh appeared to have broken a shelf while attempting to retrieve a canvas. A multitude of obscenities cascaded from her taught mouth while she knelt down, retrieving the splinters from her shelf.
"Are you alright?" Shaula inquired while padding into the room, taking in the entirety of her surroundings. Sketches, paintings and a variety of other compositions done in inks, charcoals and multi-colored mediums seemed to devour any sliver of what was once the beige interior. Not even the ceiling had been spared by the patchwork menagerie: where there wasn't a leaflet, there were doodles, notes and other fragments scribbled along its surface.
"Oh! Shaula! I didn't know you were up..." Bunneh said while attempting to arrange the scattered canvases, "Oh no! I hope I didn't wake you!"
"No need to worry. I over slept anyway. You seem rather busy..."
"Well, I was trying to get a fresh canvas but I think they'd all prefer to gang up on me instead," a heavy sigh, "I really need to get some new shelves."
"You're injured."
"Huh?"
Startled to find her companion beside her, Bunneh watched on as Shaula lifted a paw, carefully retracting her claws, and lowered Bunneh's now bleeding hand.
"You must have cut it when the shelf fell," Shaula muttered, examining the wound for a moment before gripping the bottom of Bunneh's smock. With a generous amount of force, she tore a piece of the cloth free and than pressed the scrap against the injury.
A small smile splayed over Bunneh's lips, "Thank you, but you're the one in worst shape than me."
"Hm?"
"Your wounds still haven't completely healed. It's kind of crazy, though. Your fur is already starting to grow back! I guess that bear was kind of a wimp, huh?"
No longer could she deceive this complaisant soul. The moment their souls intertwined, a bond had been solidified. It was her duty to protect her... even if the assailant was a fellow kindred.
"Bunneh..."
"What's wrong? You seem sad..."
"When you summoned me, you inadvertently summoned another."
"... but how?" ghastly white began to seep into the already pale complexion of the young girl, "I only had your amulet."
"This Winiko... she isn't fond of me. She sabotaged my amulet."
"Why would she do such a thing?!" the girl exclaimed. Only than did realization begin to set in. Shaula had turned her head in order to continue to absorb her surroundings. Amber orbs swiveled back to cerulean pools as Bunneh set her now quivering hand against her injured face.
"She did this to you, didn't she?"
"..."
"I... I could have tried to protect you! I could have helped! You should have w-"
"No," Shaula shook her head, freeing herself of a gentle caress, "Valekai is a force to be reckoned with and it's my duty to ensure your safety. She harbors only ill intent and if that intent is not kept in check... she'll try to destroy all three of us."
"But..."
The weight of her paw against her thigh reciprocated the prior gesture, "You have to promise me that you will not seek her out. She'll come to us when she sees it satisfies her intentions. From now on, I swear my life upon protecting you from her."
"Shaula..."
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 6:43 pm
 An Unexpected Bonding...Hues of coral enveloped the waning sky as the sun dipped over the horizon. With a book of matches in one hand, Bunneh furiously attempted to light match after match... failing at each attempt. A gruff snarl leapt up from her as she snatched yet another cardboard swatch from the rapidly emptying booklet.
"Oh come on!" another failed attempt fell into the dormant grill. Raw burgers and hot dogs were set neatly across the grating, patiently awaiting warmth.
"Finally!" a triumphant cry came from Bunneh as she set the match in between the grating. In an instant, the coals were devoured by fervent flames thanks to having been doused with a generous amount of acellerant.
Bunneh knelt down, retrieving a spatula while simultaneously smoothing out her apron: a black and blue plaid piece of cloth with a bunny chef printed in the center. Monitoring the slabs of meat, she turned about. With a gentle swish of the sliding door, Shaula wandered outside to be greeted with a wide smile.
"Hope you're hungry!"
"It's really not necessary..."
"Oh hush! I have all of this left over burger meat, anyway. It's not like I'm going to eat it all," Bunneh exclaimed while flipping over a patty.
A quick sniff of the air and Shaula soon replied, "Is it supposed to smell... burned?"
"Huh?... WHA!!" panic immediately set in as Bunneh saw that some of the burgers had caught fire. Perhaps she was a little too generous with the charcoal fluid. Shaula retreated back in the house only to emerge moment laters with the fire extinguisher clamped in her jaws.
"Eeeee!" a cloud of compressed foam spilled over the charred meats, as well as Bunneh and Shaula as the former flailed about with the extinguisher.
"... pizza, than?"
"Yeah... pizza..."
"Ugh... were you cooking rotten meat, as well?"
"What are you talking about? This is as fresh as it gets! Give or take a couple of days..."
"Than what is that stench?"
The two glanced about, both exchanging some wafts from the frothy grill before scanning the backyard. Something did in fact smell horribly, and it seemed to be intensifying.
"Bunneh..."
"Just call me Cali."
Shaula whipped about, "What?"
"Bunneh's a nickname!"
"Well, either way, get behind me..."
"Why, what's wrong?"
"Something's here."
"It's not Valekai, is it?"
"No. She may be a b***h, but she takes pride in her personal hygiene."
Nodding, Cali retreated behind Shaula. The cool surface of the sliding door bit at her arms which were still rather warm from the miniature bonfire. Shaula remained alert, peering through the darkness, waiting for any sort of indication as to who her adversary was. What she hadn't expected was the scream from behind her.
Human eyes would not have been able to register Shaula's movement as she whipped about to face her fallen companion. A filthy, patch-worked beast trembled above Cali who was whimpering and beating her fist against her assailant's head.
"No! Cali! Get away from it, it's--!"
It was too late. The arm that was clenched within the maw of the Winiko had begun to shed lines of crimson. A reversal of time seemed to occur, where once it skipped, it now slowed to Shaula's horror. Several droplets of blood descended upon the make-shift amulet that hung about the beast's neck. Plumes of smoke erupted from the tufts of fur until the entire trinket dissolved into a neat pile of ash.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
"Get OFF!" Shaula shouted while catapulting the stranger to the side, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, it just stings like hell. It was weird though..."
"What?"
"It was like... she wanted to play."
Shaula stood over Cali, her entire body tense with agitation while growls bellowed through her strained vocal cords, "That's a Winiko... a hideous one, at that, but a Winiko nonetheless. On top of that, the bloody thing is bound to you now."
The two glanced over at the trembling beast who had finally managed to rise up onto its paws. Managing to staunch the bit of bleeding with the skirt of her apron, Cali glanced over at it. She couldn't help but feel a sort of pity for it. A pouted expression began to glaze over her face as it mewed and looked towards her with misshapen eyes.
"Come here!" Cali said while outstretching her injured arm.
"What are you doing? That thing isn't normal! Who knows what it wants..."
"Oh would you relax."
"Cali!"
Yet despite her discountenance, the Winiko shambled over to Cali. It glanced towards Shaula, sinking on its haunches, obviously frightened but Cali waved her hand, inviting her closer. A gentle nuzzle of its maw...
"See, everything's f-OUCH!"
"If you would only listen to me!"
Mismatched teeth had sunken into Cali's hand. The Winiko, though having begun to chew rather vigorously on Cali's hand, seemed perfectly content. Much like a cat, it had begun to kneed its paws against the palpable surface of the girl's jean-clad legs. The initial pang of pain began to subside.
"I-it's... not... that bad!"
"You... are hopeless."
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:39 pm
Conditioning... It had become mundane: the rhythmic gnawing of her patch worked counterpart. Though she forcibly entered an already strained predicament, this abomination of Winiko, now affectionately known as Dae, exuded a child-like demeanor that complimented Shaula's companion. Unfortunately, the accompanying responsibility still remained daunting. Dae was mentally handicapped due to her construction, and thus it had become the duo's duty to condition her to the mortal world.
Pawing through the now vacant den, Shaula glanced towards Dae who had successfully been trained to gnaw on a pair of Cali's old boots as opposed to her legs. What puzzled Shaula was that she seemed more relieved by this behavioral change rather than the victim of the countless "affectionate" attacks. A gentle shake of the head: It could not be helped... Cali was genuinely kind-hearted and likely saw the boisterous attacks as a means of bonding.
A faint jingle sounded from Shaula as she continued to stride through the room, searching for a suitable place to retire for the evening. Dae was not the only one who had begun to condition herself. After much contemplation, Shaula deemed it necessary to make a sacrifice on behalf of the one who had devoted her very being to her. With the help of a rather long sewing needle and many bloodied handkerchiefs, Cali had pierced Shaula's ears at her request. Initially, the girl refused to take part in possibly brutalizing the beast, but she had been persuaded in the end.
Golden trinkets of varying shapes and lengths trembled with each step as she approached a weathered bench. It appeared to be constructed entirely of driftwood, which clashed with the modernized bookcase it had been pressed against. Crossing one paw over the other, Shaula rested her chin upon her folded limbs... settling for a well overdue rest.
"Pleasant dreams, Dae..."
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:56 pm
The Second Coming...
Winter’s frigid allure had descended upon the modest village within which the trio had resided. For several months, Shaula had found solace bathing in the warmth of the nightly fire, stroked for both herself and Dae on a daily basis. Rolling about on her back, she glanced over to a small pine tree embellished with a variety of trinkets and baubles. Cali had explained to her the day before that it was a yearly tradition for humans to gather a tree, much like her own, and to decorate it to celebrate the “holidays.” She had attempted to describe the variety of special occasions that occurred during this frosty season; however, Dae had insisted on interrupting the small tutoring session by pouncing onto the tree and ripping it free from its support system.
After setting the tree to its upright position and replacing a few dozen busted orbs, Shaula and Cali spent the rest of the evening emptying a quart’s worth of water on the patched tyrant. She had finally seemed to grasp that tackling the tree on sight was not condoned and instead began to gnaw on its branches. A plentiful amount of cayenne pepper was than mixed in with the artificial snow to sway her back to her normal consumption habits. Unfortunately, due to the “Winiko-proofing,” the once blue and white themed tree had an unusual pinkish hue.
A chuckle came from Shaula as she reminisced on the antics of the previous night. With a stretch of her limbs, she rolled back over onto her belly before peering down the obscure hallway. Cali had retired several hours prior, having locked herself away to wrap up some packages she had stowed away. Though she attempted to join her, Cali quickly denied Shaula entrance:
“It’s a surprise!” she had shouted before closing the door. All that Shaula was able to see before the door clattered shut was her companion’s ever jubilant expression.
Such wonderful traditions. She had spent the evening in restlessness, attempting to rack her memory of whether she to had experienced such festivities while living in the In-between. Try as she had, no memory was unearthed of such an occasion. Yet another gift from her ever generous bounded. Cali was indeed keeping her promise.
Claws had clattered against one another as she placed her paws beneath her head, resting her chin along her knuckles. Even after concluding that she did not share in the traditions of her charge, something continued to tug at her conscience… keeping her from delving into the realm of dreams. It took her several moments before she recognized the sensation.
As she lifted herself to her paws, the shadows upon the wall adjacent to her seemed to erupt. Slivers of darkness licked at her coral-hued silhouette before winding into the fireplace, extinguishing the brilliance within it.
“Valekai…”
The cerulean beast had not shown herself since her initial arrival. She had made it a point that she would only reveal herself when it served her intentions. Surely this was not the time: Cali, Dae and herself have remained quite docile amongst their mortal neighbors. Nothing of interest had even been brought to mind let alone acted upon. What had compelled her to show herself now?
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:45 am
Crossing the Line...
For the second time since she had arrived on mortal soil, there stood the cerulean beast. As haughty as she had remembered, Valekai took in her surroundings. She obviously disapproved of the accommodations having always been used to a more lavish lifestyle. While she examined the cabin's seating room, Shaula remained perfectly still. It was as if she were faced with a predator of the savanna: never make any sudden movements to provoke it.
"The fact that you can live in a place like this reflects your character. A pity," Valekai uttered while rounding on her heels to face her coral adversary, "I'm sure you're wondering why I came."
"Yes..."
"It's good of you to be curious," she snickered while approaching the Christmas tree. Its miniature lights gave Valekai's coat an attractive luminescence.
"Several weeks ago, I felt a sort of... tug."
"What?"
"Don't interrupt," Valekai snapped before continuing, "It was as if a part of me had been stretched a bit more taught than before. Considering your absentmindedness, I doubt you even noticed it."
"..."
Valekai glanced to her, sneering gently while her silver talons played along a string of tinsel, "I couldn't help but be curious as to what triggered this sensation so I called for a meeting with the elders. According to them, some Winiko have experienced this sensation when their charge's soul is divided up amongst several Winiko."
"Dae..."
"What?"
"... nothing."
"... I also discovered that there has been no recorded instance of a human charge having more than one Winiko assigned to them. Curious, is it not? Of course, other species of man have had multiple Winiko: vampires, faes, even other demons... but a mortal, never once. None of the elders could give me an answer as to why this was so. Except for one..."
A p***k of her ears seemed to tug Shaula's glance upward: Valekai had begun to approach her.
"It's because they are frail and ignorant. Often their sins are not as deep as those that are far more long lived; moreover, they lack the means to discover our existence. Cattle..." Valekai snickered, but than began to nod rather contently, "But if a mortal were to be bonded to more than one..."
"Spit it out, Valekai. I haven't the patience for your games."
"Aww, have you grown a spine since our last encounter? How precious!" Shaula's attempt at restraining a rebuttal seemed to please Valekai so she continued: "I believe that by dividing a soul amongst multiple hosts that a human's mortality is extended. After all, just as we become more in tune with them... they in turn, do the same."
"..."
Valekai waved a paw to the patchworked fiend now resting contently beside the Christmas tree. Though repulsed by her very existence, the cerulean beast seemed to approve of Dae.
"By the adding this wretch into the pool, our host has been ensured a far longer life than previously anticipated. Wonderful, is it not?" something gleamed beneath the surface of those lavender pools: something sinister. Shaula's claws emerged from their fleshbound sheaths, her haunches taught.
"Oh, the possibilities. By using her... perhaps I could rally the others. The longer her life, the more bountiful the rewards," the unconscious rambling of the Winiko jolted Shaula to action. In an instant, the distance between the two had closed.
"You will not use Cali for your own devices. She's not some tool for you to take advantage of!"
A sense of both duty and sheer terror trembled throughout Shaula's being. The two had locked gazes, her opponent's smoldering with revulsion.
"And you'll do what? The moment she is bound, a piece of her soul is within you, just as yours is within her," that same sinister smile, "I could dispose of you and she'd still have the fortune of a prolonged life."
"If it comes down to it, I'll kill you. So help me... I'll--"
Reeling backward, Shaula gaped in disbelief as Valekai cackled with a deranged intensity that she thought only the most manic of individuals could produce.
"You! Kill me?! How funny! Surely you didn't mean that."
"I'm not like you: I keep my word."
And with that, a streak of hide and claw tore through the air until the two careened into an adjacent bookshelf. Valekai had driven her sickle-like talons deep within Shaula's face, making it indistinguishable. Two amber eyes attempted to peer through the curtain of warmth yet the other remained dormant.
"You despicable wretch! Never speak to me in such a manner! You are dispensable! You are nothing but fodder: I will do as I please and you will either heed to my will or di-- AUUUUGH!"
It had never occurred to either of the Winiko to contain their altercation. Afterall, there were two others inhabiting the modest cabin. Though she had acknowledged Dae being present in the room when she had initially arrived, Valekai could no longer see the mangled beast at her previous perch. All that flooded her vision now was pain. Blood had begun to seep down her hip and cascade to the bare floor below. Frantically searching the murky room, it was a shock to discover the source of her agony.
Standing in the doorway that emptied out into the rest of the house stood Dae, her mouth generously dowsed in a frothy foam. Directly to her right was the pale female, trembling with a freshly fired gun in hand. Cali looked directly at Valekai, eyebrows furrowed and lips thinly drawn across her exposed teeth.
"You!! YOU!!" Valekai attempted to lunge forward, but two things happened simultaneously: Dae stalked forward, head low and throat rumbling with an eerie bellow while Cali pulled the hammer back on the pistol.
"This next one is going right between your eyes," the force asserted by the statement took Valekai by surprise, much like her manic laughter had done to Shaula. Staring at both Dae and Cali, contempt began to flood over her face, leaving it to be nothing but a mask devoid of its usual confidence.
"Get out, you b***h!" Cali snapped, signaling Dae to stride further towards her prey. Not a single word was uttered by the wounded tyrant: the air about her trembled and thrashed until the distorted pulled her frame through the threshold of the In-Between. With a sigh, Cali began to disarm the the trigger of the firearm while Dae tended to Shaula's badly wounded face.
"'Didn't know you could shoot..." Shaula muttered, wincing at the ragged tongue lapping over her.
"Safety first."
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:46 am
Revelations...
A certain degree of solemnity had befallen the cabin moments after Valekai’s departure. The three refrained from moving for a prolonged period of time, still bound by the shock of the events prior. It was Dae who had broken the silence, mewing helplessly as she nudged at Shaula’s mangled face. With that queue, Cali disengaged the pistol and set it atop of the fireplace mantle before moving to her companion’s side.
“How are you feeling?” was all that she could muster. Having drawn closer to her, little could mask the degree of damage that she had sustained from the cerulean tyrant. Deep gashes were prominent on either side of her face, allowing for fresh crimson to seep into her fur and mane. A set of gashes had nestled into the delicate folds of her left eye where a pool of slowly coagulating blood had settled.
“As you would put it… like s**t,” Shaula groaned, shifting her weight about as Cali tentatively played over her wounds with a piece of her shirt she had torn off.
“Sorry!” Cali shouted as the beast winced. She had begun cleaning the pool about her injured eye: the wound was still raw.
“It’s alright.”
“You weren’t kidding. You know, about Valekai. She’s insane.”
“She’s driven only by selfish desires and the search for power. Anything that gets in her way is expendable…”
“I know, I know, but it’s still hard to believe how… vicious she is,” Cali muttered while setting the blood soaked cloth aside. A distinct sound of sheering cloth could be heard as she dismantled yet another fragment from her pajama top.
“And now… she’ll probably come after me next.”
Shaula grunted, setting herself back onto her hide legs so that she may face Cali properly. With a shake of her head, blood-caked tendrils whipped against her swollen face.
“Cali, what you did today likely did more good than bad.”
“What do you mean? I shot her! I could have killed her!”
“Which is exactly what she needed.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Valekai has always looked down upon humans as well as other people of her own race. She’s never had anyone defy her like you did today. She won’t know what to do next. Knowing her, she’s rattled. Humans are, in her eyes, supposed to fear Winiko. You’ve proven her wrong… and that’s a first for her.”
“Even so,” more tentative dabs on the beast’s maw, “what’s to say she doesn’t snap and say to hell with all of us? If she kills me… we’re all—“
“We’ll deal with that when the time comes. You’ve done enough: let me finish it.”
“Shaula…”
The two glanced to the side as Dae pawed her way back beside them, having disappeared moments after Cali began tending to Shaula’s wounds. Grasping a bottle of water in her mouth, she looked towards the human with an expression of desperation. A smile reassured Dae as Cali took the bottle and began soaking the cloth with its contents.
“Thank you, Dae.” Satisfaction shown on the patchworked fiend’s face as she settled back beside Shaula and lapped at her counterpart’s fur. Cali could not help but smile yet again: surely this meant this Winiko would continue to make progress. Already she had shown signs of shedding her primal tendencies. Yet her reflection was cut short as the now damp rag revealed Shaula’s punctured eye.
“Oh my god…”
A sigh, “Bad?”
“But I’ve seen how fast you heal! You don’t think—“
“I’m not sure,” she shook her head in defeat, “Surface wounds are one thing…”
“You might go blind in that eye…”
“We’ll see.” And thus, silence once more befell the trio.
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:47 am
At a Glance…
A spritz of disinfectant and a quick swipe of towel: Cali and Shaula let out simultaneous sighs as they proceeded to clean up the kitchen. It looked like a war had taken place: splattered food, knocked over stools, spilled water. Thankfully it had not been caused by war, not even Valekai. The two had once more engaged in rigorous training with Dae, attempting to teach her a variety of skills. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.
Having retired in the den, curled up dangerously close to the fire, the remaining two could return the house in order with their patched friend out of sight. Cali drooped down to gather up some strewn about pens and pencils while Shaula leapt a top the counters, placing dishes in their respective cabinets. A loud thump sounded, causing Cali to rouse up and glance over to the coral beast.
“Are you alright?!”
The dishes had clambered back into the sink and Shaula had sunk her head low, rubbing at it with a free paw.
“Fine, just bumped my head.”
“You couldn’t judge it,” Cali stated matter of factly.
“…”
“Your eye isn’t getting better, is it?”
An exasperated sigh. A single claw drew tentative circles about a mess of scars that had once been her left eye. Now it could only be opened halfway and the orb residing beneath the strained flesh was red, having lost its amber luminescence. It had been nearly two weeks since she had instigated the cerulean monstrosity. Easily overpowered, Valekai had made it clear that she was not to be provoked.
“I think,” Shaula started while turning to face her companion, “I’ll need to get used to being easterly inclined.”
It took a moment for Cali to catch onto the Winiko’s attempt at making light of the situation, but once she grasped it, Shaula received the opposite of the reaction she anticipated.
“So you’re blind in that eye.”
“Yes.”
“If only I had come sooner…”
Roused by yet another abrupt clamor, the girl glanced down to see that Shaula had leapt off of the counter top. Rhythmic taps sounded from the linoleum floor as she padded her way to Cali’s side.
“It’s not that bad. I’m fortunate in having two spares. I’d be far more concerned if it had been you that lost an eye.”
As if replaced by a puppeteer’s broken instrument, Cali gradually sunk to the floor before Shaula. Hands limp to her side and a helpless expression painted quite vividly on her face, it was apparent that the events from many nights prior still tormented the girl. Despite the short span of time the two had been acquainted, already a bond had solidified between them that was far more tenacious than that of their meshed souls. A single glance into the misbalanced eyes of the Winiko delivered a painful blow to her conscience.
“Cali, Valekai is a monster and she’s shown that she’s more than capable of living up to that label; however, she’s not the worst thing that’s out there. She’s nothing. What she did... is nothing. Things could have been a lot worst. So, relax. It’ll be fine.”
She had truly meant the words she had spoken. It pained her to see the girl in such a state of grievance. After all, it was she that had promised to show her a life free of pain and conflict with such jubilance exuding from her. It had become apparent that this girl saw her, a Winiko, as a cherished friend. Watching movies, playing games, painting, even rough housing with Dae, the two had become friends just as two humans would have. Such a sentiment was unheard of amongst the Winiko.
A smile: so much like a child she still was, the beast thought. Cali had encircled her arms about the demon, muttering how next time she’d take one of Valekai’s eyes as payback and how she knew a quaint shop down the avenue that sold an assortment of eye patches. Lifting one paw, Shaula patted Cali’s back, doing her best to reassure her. As Cali saw Shaula as her best friend, Shaula saw the girl as both her friend and her child. It was her duty to protect her, and she would do so fiercely. Never again would this girl become so distraught.
At least, that was what she had convinced herself of at the time. It had only been hours later when Cali had begun to watch a marathon of some obscure show she adored that Shaula began to feel uneasy.
What is this?... Valekai?... No… Something worst…
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:49 am
Special NoteSo, if you've been reading my journal, you probably noticed that things tend to happen chronologically and in order. With my Phoreko x Arry RPs, they kind of poked in before I even introduced Phoreko to the story.
SO!
What I'm going to do is once I introduce Phoreko in this story line... (once I get smacked with inspiration XD), I'll put in little insert posts to previous RPs so things still flow and make sense. Kay?
KAY!
Enjoy my future scribbles! heart ~*~ Insert I[PRP] Metacognition~ Shaula x Caden FINISHED
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:56 am
Preparation for the Imminent...
Her newly found nemesis had the horrid knack of sending tremors down along the length of her spine the moment her essence began to traverse the divide of the mortal world and the Inbetween. Though hardly a fete worthy of praise, it was one that Shaula had grown accustomed to. Atleast, to a degree. It was not until this foreign aura began to lash at her mind that she so desperately wished for it to be the cerulean beast. Unfortunately, none such a wish had been granted. This was something far more sinister.
Despite the intensity of the presence that she had begun to sense, Shaula was horrified to realize that this foreign entity had hardly begun its pilgrimage. It was with the notion of this imminent threat that Shaula leapt to her now highly tensed paws.
“Cali.”
“Huh? Oh hey!”
“Cali, I need yo—“
“Hang on, one sec. It’s just gettin’ good. See, Shalimar is a feral, right? So she goes through feline cyc—“
“CALI!”
With a start, Cali turned to rebuke who overly agitated companion only to bare witness to the genuine concern carved into the maw of Shaula.
“What’s goin on?”
“We need to leave this house… someone… or something is heading here.”
“Valekai?” soon after this statement, Cali rose up off the coach in order to retrieve her trusted revolver, “I’ll take ca—“
“No, it’s not her. It’s something else.”
“How can you tell?”
“Trust me.”
For a moment the human hesitated. Valekai was a newly contracted ailment. Surely Shaula could not be certain. However, Shaula had never given her reason to doubt her in any sense whatsoever. Why should she deviate from this mindset now, especially with the dire air permeating from the coral-kissed Winiko.
“What do we do? I mean, where do we go? I don’t have a car and the town is almost three miles away.”
“I’m not sure…” a moment of a reflection, “The woods! Your knowledge of it is on par with its denizens!”
“Oh come on. I might be a bit of a tree hugger but I’m not that good.”
“Cali! Listen to me. The longer we dawdle, the sooner whoever this is comes bounding on our hides. We need to move. Get Dae and whatever weaponry that you can comfortably carry.”
Silence befell the pair in an instant. No words could provide an ample filler for the void that had slithered into the den. All that could be mustered…
“We’ll go north… towards the rapids.”
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:57 am
Entangled Fates, Clamped Maws...No matter the ground covered, their hastened strides could not press back the presence nipping at their backs. Shaula had taken point, bounding effortlessly through the foliage while Dae scurried clumsily behind, Cali gripping to her hide as she rode the beast. Though not athletically incapable, Cali could not have kept up with her bounding companion: it was as if she knew the placement of every branch, rock and overturned tree meters in advance. Four taloned paws far surpassed the sneaker clad shoes of a human in any predicament.
“Shaula…” a half whimper escaped Cali’s pursed lips as she buried her face deep within Dae’s ragged mane.
“We’re close to the rapids!”
“But…”
“…”
She knew. Even her bound could sense the oppressive aura bearing down upon them. Though slow and damaged, Dae’s frantic steps spoke volumes: whatever was pursuing them… no, hunting them, had no intention of yielding. It was mere moments after this realization that Shaula skid to a halt before the raging rapids. Curtains of frothy white collided with the ever worn rocks and boulders of the river, further ravaging anything and everything in their wake. With a quick turn on her heels, she began scanning her surroundings. Any shift in terrain, any rustle of branches, she would know. She had to… for the sake of them all.
“What do we d—“
“Shh!” curt, but Cali understood. Her senses were dull in comparison. Wide eyes glistened with a film of fear. Slowly she slid from Dae’s back, tapping at the ground to ensure it was solid. A yelp soon followed as Dae gripped at the back of Cali’s neck and pulled her beneath her, much like a mother lioness with her cubs. She had watched one too many Animal Planet programs.
Cali was about to rebuke when Dae hunched down and began to emit the most haunting of howls that she had ever heard. Instinctively, Shaula began to prowl the perimeter, attempting to follow Dae’s line of sight. That was when she caught sight of it. A massive splotch of grey perched rather haphazardly upon an oak’s branch.
“Who are you!” the coralesque Winiko shouted.
My my, two little kittens wandering around at night… the distinctly masculine sound could not be heard, not in the normal sense. It was as if the tones reverberated within the very heads of those that heard it. No one place could be pointed to and said to be the source. No, this was different.
“What do you want with us! Why are you here?!”
Shrugging the inquiries aside, the predator’s voice seemed to inherit a sing song pitch, And what do we have here? A little human as well? The bounty just seems to keep getting sweeter…!
Trembling beneath her makeshift bodyguard’s girth, Cali peered up towards the trees. Behind the curtain of mangy fur and saliva, she caught the glean of emeralds from a tightly woven patch of branches. She attempted to whisper the warning…
“Sh-Shaula… over there…”
“Come out! Show yourself!”
Now, what do you take me for? A brute? the assailant’s voice teamed with arrogance, tickling at the haunches of both the Winiko.
A glimmer of dull silver twinkled in the moonlight as a single limb emerged from the shadows. Shaggy and smeared with dirt, a foul Winiko lumbered forward. No sounds were uttered as the pale moonlight washed over the beast. Devouring the light of the heavens was the bare skull of this hellion, which housed an abnormally large, lolling tongue.  It was in that instant that all was answered: the disembodied voice, the predatory behavior, this entire encounter.
“Phoreko…” Shaula stammered. The once haughty and confident air that had seeped from her now seemed to wane. Her shoulders quivered and her head dipped. Not this beast. It could not be. He of all the Winiko she had learned of was one of the most ruthless. Life was not one to be cherished, not in his eyes. It was to be ravaged, sheered and snuffed. What he saw before him was not kin but playthings meant to be violated and terminated in a most sadistic fashion.
“W-why… are you here?!”
Oh, dear. What happened to that delectably pitiful show of courage! Don’t tell him I’ve frighten you already! Manic laughter burrowed into the three’s mind, churning their blood while his form dispersed before them. Panic ensued. Where had he gone? A yelp sounded, followed by splash. Shaula glanced about only to see Phoreko had thrown Dae into the churning river. Far worst, his grotesque tongue had wrapped about Cali’s neck and the tip of it tickled at her quivering lips.
Now… what to do… what to do?
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:59 am
Unexpected Interventions...
Despite the ample amounts of courage that had once circulated through her, Shaula could not help but feel pangs of fear begin to ravage her pscyhe. Phoreko was not a beast that anyone, not human nor Winiko, wanted to encounter. In the eyes of the Winiko, Phoreko was just as ominous as a raven amongst humans: both were omens of death. Unfortunately, unlike a raven's cry, Phoreko's very presence signaled that you were the prey and that it was your life he sought.
So delicious you look... trembling in the moonlight.
"Why are you here, Phoreko?! What do you want with us?!"
Haha! Why else do I see out a Winiko and their beloved?--
Expecting a response, both Shaula and Cali were startled by the void that coalesced where Phoreko had previously appeared. Panic ensued soon after: Shaula began to prowl backward, keeping her abdomen close to the ground. This allowed her to both feel the earth and ensure that Cali was snug beneath her, shielded from any impending threat. Though strategically this was the best mode of action, the motion itself brought about even more stress: Cali was trembling far more violently than she.
Moments later and Phoreko emerged from an identical void directly before the duo. His expressionless skull gleamed, allowing for Shaula to see the deep crevices and flakes of aged blood splotched haphazardly upon its surface. Only his dreary pools allowed for a glimpse of what this predator was thinking: sheer exhilaration.
Oh my dear, why ask a question to which you already know the answer? each word burrowed within their minds, as if nails being driven across a board. No matter how desperately she wished to flee, Shaula had begun frozen in place, incapable of even bowing her head aside in order to avoid the meaty vine now lapping at her cheek.
"Shaula!" powerless. There was not a single thing she could do except for to watch helpless as this fiend plucked at the slivers of hope that had managed to survive the initial "introduction."
My my! You do have yourself a fetching companion... Phoreko sneered. Snapping a single paw back, Shaula was slung across the jagged rocks of the neighboring rapids. It had always amused him how easy it was to expose the vunerable. No matter the vigor nor skills in combat, none could best him... none could prevent him from indulging in his carnal desires.
The same paw that had relieved Cali of her shelter now needed at Cali's face, So soft... supple.
The shriek that emerged from her bowels caused Shaula to wretch. Quickly she clamored to her paws: no harm was to come to her charge. None! This was unacceptable! The rhythmic pounding of flesh and talon upon earth sounded as she charged toward her adversary. No matter the miles that separated the two in regards to experience, skill or fervor in battle, Shaula would lay her very life before him if it meant that her bound would be spared. It was due to this pledge that her body felt invigorated just as she leap into the air, readying to pounce the beast that now carved at Cali's cheek.
But even she could not have anticipated the events that followed. From the raging rapids below, Dae had managed to find her way back to the small plateau that they had originally fled to. Just as Shaula's claws sunk into Phoreko's ragged back, Dae allowed for the stitches of flesh and twine to unwind so that her misshapen maw could plunge into Phoreko's throat. A primal death rattle of sorts became audible. No one knew where it had come but as Phoreko reared back and threw the two assailants in opposite directions, it became evident that even this fiend could feel pain.
You insufferable wenches! I'll end it now! With out this pitiful mortal, you're nothing! quickly he turned on his paws, his tongue stiffened to a fleshy pike and his once murky eyes now a blaze with anger... yet the site he saw bore nothing more than disappointment: Cali was nowhere to be seen.
Where... where is the b***h?!
There had been no time to react. Shaula, sprawled out upon the water worn rocks had been splayed even further as Phoreko leapt atop of her and began burrowing his talons deep within the confines of her throat.
WHERE IS SHE!
"Has your sight begun to fail you as well, mutt?"
Silence befell plateau. Only the steady assault of water against rock could be heard. Even the heavy pants of the enraged beast had ceased. Surely this was an illusion. A trick of nature upon his ears... her ears. But no... no illusion could cause the three to simultaneously glance above towards the very oak tree Phoreko had revealed himself.
She bore the same haughty expression, despite her brilliant cerulean coat now dirtied by Cali's blood. The human, clasping her injured face, had been drug away from the struggle by an unlikely savior: Valekai.
Ho, ho... so the rumors were true...
With a leap, Valekai descended to the clearing below, a handful of paces away from Phoreko and Shaula, still locked by one another's limbs.
"Release her."
Are you giving me an order?
"Release her and go scurry back to whatever s**t pile you came from, you cur."
Haha! You're still quite the bi--!
The elder had vanished into the Inbetween for perhaps a second and than reemerged, Phoreko's throat nursed within her jaws. Once more the disturbing rattle sounded as the tyrants toubled to side. Poorly aimed flails from the newly appointed prey only allowed for Valekai to bury her talons into his bowels while snapping her head violently to the side, releasing the mound of flesh at his throat free. Blood began to flood the now exposed hollow, drowning the rattle into nothing more than helpless gurgle.
"Leave... or die..."
Though unusual, Winiko bore a white of the eye just as any other species of creature. More often than not, it was the gem like surface of these mirrors that is exposed for others to view. In this rare instant, Phoreko's drab eyes had widen to such a degree that the strained, webby veined whites of his eyes shown free.
It was not necessary to repeat herself, for Valekai's claws splashed into the puddle of crimson that had quickly pooled from her victim's wounds. The predator was no where to be found, having slipped back into the Inbetween, presumably to nurse his wounds... and recalculate his strategy.
Hoarse, Shaula pulled herself to a tangled lying position. She was exhausted and broken. One horror was replaced by another, only for the former to become the savior. Surely life was not this complicated.
"Valekai... why?"
"I've no intention to die simply because you're an impertinent, weakling. Either become stronger or I'll finish what he set out to do."
And with that... silence once more befell the ragged crew, for the contemptuous Winiko just as quickly fled as she had appeared.
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 10:00 am
Restless Interlude...
To think that mere months prior, the catalyst for all of this chaos had been a simple summoning. Though a summoning of a Winiko from its tucked away home of the Inbetween was hardly common practice, it was still something that was easily executed. And what rewards had been sown? A sabotaged amulet, a patch worked monstrosity, a notorious supernatural serial killer and a variety of wounds that have slowly begun to mend.
Many nights had passed since the clash of the Quartet. All parties suffered their share of pain, both physical and mental. Neither Valekai nor Phoreko had shown themselves since, allowing for an interlude of sorts. It had been well deserved: even Cali had sustained a generous amount of damage during the fight. Constantly Shaula fussed over her bound’s wounds, checking them on regular intervals throughout the day for weeks on end. Mortals wounds healed at such a slower pace than that of Winiko; moreover, the risk of infection was a new horror that had been revealed to Shaula after scouring her new found discovery: the internet.
“Shaula, really, I’m more sterile than a surgeon’s room! I’m fine… really…” Cali would say time and time again as the beast gently peeled back old bandages. The coordination she had attained over the weeks with her claws allowed her to complete tasks as if she too had fingers. Dae would often watch on, bewildered and amazed, and than attempt a similar feat… only to fail in the process. A necessary comical relief considering the circumstances.
Countless restless nights plagued Shaula. Being bound to a mortal meant that the two were mutually dependent on one another: the mortal required protection provided by her guardian while the Winiko was dependent on the mortal for its very life. If Cali were to die, than so to would Shaula, Valekai and Dae, all in one swift swoop. Now, all of the recent altercations haunted Shaula, reminding her of what she assumed to be her inability to protect that which was most precious. Not only did Valekai loom overhead, spouting plans of celestial domination, but now Phoreko, a ruthless letch on the hunt for his next joy kill, threatened to sheer away at the fragile threads of life wound about the three.
What was once a proud, confident and dutiful beast of the Inbetween now lie ragged, lain bare, stripped of all that had once imbued her with vigor. Surely…
Surely this could not be so...
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