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 Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:34 am
"You talk a lot," Alex grumbled, still eyeing the cloaked man mistrustingly. "I can't even see you, so no, I don't like the idea of you leading us." She lowered her knife just a little. "If your words are true, then why did you hide so long? Why are you out here, in this place?"
Even so, the woman found her eyes moving slowly towards where they had been venturing to. If he was telling the truth...she had almost got them killed. She knew the forest was sick, it was obvious, but Alex wasn't sure she could believe in devils. Her gaze snapped back to him, still narrowed; he must know what brings out this 'devil,' as it certainly wasn't here when they had passed through before. But she couldn't deny that there had been something...something that shouldn't have been...
For all she knew, this man WAS the aforementioned devil. The woman had not survived this long by following strangers in a possessed forest. He'd either have to prove his good faith or leave them be.
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:46 am
The man sighed. "If all possible, I'd avoid contact with any of you. You see, I am a strange...person. I was born with destortions everywhere on my body. People call me a monster whenever they see my face. To avoid that, I hide my features with as many clothing as I could. It is a matter of insecurity, if you are willing to forgive me."
He eyed the area behind the humans. Her sense was indeed gone. He quickly shifted back to the woman and continued.
"I am a journey man, if you could say. I travel around the world, drawing down any strange happenings. I just recently heard about the riot happening in China, so I have traveled here to see what was going on. I tried to talk to the natives about what was happening, but they were rude and unwilling to share any information. I came upon the topic of this forest from their chatterings, however, and decided to come and see for myself if this curse was really true. I got lost for quite a while, and eventually I found out that the forest was actually a maze that was controlled by unknown forces. There was a pattern to the maze, however, and I was able to figure it out. That was why I was able to travel in this forest without any troubles."
the man turned to the temple, "This thing...is most fascinating. I was never able to go into it, but there seemed always to be a strange force residing around here. A sense...to murder, if you know what I mean. I saw a shadow just earlier, it was following you and you two...younglings. I couldn't keep myself hidden no more when you started walking to where the shadow was, I was afraid that you might get killed."
The man sighed, taking a deep breath. "So I thought by showing myself, I'd distract the shadow."
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:54 am
Alex, of course, didn't believe a lick of his story. Well, some of it, perhaps...but not a lot of it. Not enough to make her feel safe. That he saw the shadow, however, and that he tried to do something...she felt it should count in his favor. She didn't like it, but she would have to surrender some control to this...man.
She would not, however, reveal her own profession. It was partially why she didn't believe him, but she kept it to herself. "I see," she said blandly, finally lowering the knife to her side but not putting it away. She could have spat on him when he said the temple was 'fascinating,' but once again, she did not feel the need to reveal information about herself. Alex wasn't secretive, she just didn't trust anyone so shady. That was probably why, in the middle of this fiasco, she was sorely wishing the doctor was there with his straight forward no-nonsense attitude and sound mind. She had to admit she missed the guy.
The woman sighed, slinging her rucksack over her shoulder even though the rest of her body sung with tension. She wasn't going to relax until they were out of here. "Very well. Would you lead, then, and we'll follow?" Alex turned her green gaze to the boys, a hint of a smile tugging on her lips. "I promise I wont disappear this time. You have my word."
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:03 pm
"Yes....Which end are you going to?" The man asked, "to the shore or to the inlands?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:04 pm
"Inland," she replied, pointing beyond the temple, "that edge of the forest."
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:07 pm
"To the inlands, then" The man nodded. "This way please."
The man adjusted himself and walked ahead of Alex and the two students. Keeping his senses hightened. She wouldn't attack him, at least he didn't think. These humans...perhaps he could use them to his advantage.
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:09 pm
DAY 5 HAS ENDED.
====================================================
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:29 pm
It was nightfall, but the man had been good to his word.
Alex had watched the trees start to thin, and the sky become visible as they finally made their way out of the forest. It had been at least two days, but she couldn't be certain; she was exhausted, and relieved that something was going in their favor. The smell of something other than fetid trees was delicious to her, and the air that wasn't so heavy was also a welcome treat, confirming that they were nearly free of this place.
She called softly to the three males, stopping them as she jogged next to the line to alert them. "You...sir," she addressed the yet unnamed man, "please stay here while we awaken some of our friends." She looked at the boys, smiling warmly at them. They had been so strong. "Farlest, Ka'hmesh, please go wake Herei...I'll get the doctor." Alex turned her gaze onto the hooded man one more time, giving him a single nod, "Thank you. I'll be right back."
The woman stepped out of the forest, and had to control herself when she felt the urge to bolt into the open and dance like a lunatic, she was so happy to be free of that maze. Her deep green gaze turned over the sleeping forms of RuiZhi - who looked as though he hadn't slept a day since they got here - and Elijah. At least they were resting. She picked her way silently through the dark camp, careful not to get too close to Greg; knowing him, he'd wake up fast, and she didn't want the whole place to be alive just yet. It was with that thought in mind that she finally spotted the tell-tale straight hair of the doctor.
For a moment, she was a little afraid. She knew he was going to be mad, but to what degree? Usually she would have counted him to be cold and callous, but she'd heard that scream...
She shook her head and quietly kneeled next to where the man slept, observing his face for any sign of stress. For a fleeting moment, she debated really getting in trouble and trying to wake him with a kiss, but she quickly slapped the idea away; she must have been more tired than she realized! Instead, Alex extended her hand to take his, drawing it to her lap as she gazed upon him. She remembered when she had nearly tripped over him when she chased him through that forest, so long ago. It had been much like this. Leaning down, she kept her voice very quiet.
"Doctor Kenth?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 4:04 pm
((Hope you guys don't mind ^^; ))
Irame hadn’t been sure what to say. She wasn’t normally asked her opinion right out. If things were ever desperate enough to need her help it was asked for as discreetly and unnoticeably as possibly. People didn’t like to be associated with her.
She had shrugged her shoulders and looked up at Herei sadly. She had told him the truth, that there really wasn’t that much to look for that they didn’t already see. If it was a babau it would be intelligent and probably start picking them off, if it was a carronel they would probably end up confusing it for a wolf, and if it was a vilewright then it would be like a babau, intelligent and witty enough to try to out smart them.
She had sent the creature that she made off then, the bird flying off as quickly as she could have it go without making it loose parts of itself. She didn’t talk much after that, as she needed to concentrate on looking at the forest, both for people and the right way to go.
It was in the night, though, when she accidentally let half the thing go, and part of it simply rained down to the ground as blood once more. She had been concentrating on keeping the thing as a bird, but that didn’t mean that she was ignoring her surroundings. She had learned to keep half her attention on each, lest the something that you were looking for try to find you. She had an actual scar to attest to that.
She looked up in surprise as she heard someone talking. Though she couldn’t make out very well what they were saying she thought that she might recognize the voice from when they had all gathered together that first time, and from various other… out spoken moments.
Not wanting to wake up everyone she moved as quietly as she could while directing the bird to perch and wait. She spoke softly and hopefully only just loud enough for one person to hear her.
“Heru Alex?”
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 4:30 pm
He was having a nightmare.
He wasn't sure what he was dreaming exactly, but he could feel his heart jumping beyond its normal pase, and his blood running hot in his veins, shooting up to his head until his brain could not think anymore. He felt like he was running with all his might, but could not move a single bit. He was screaming silently, in fear and for help. It was not something he'd do normally. He could feel sweat tickling down from this neck, and there was no breeze to cool it.
He felt as if he was in hell.
Something also felt strange to him, the presense of someone near, the soft voice of someone he'd knew. But when kenth tried to look for her face he could not see anything. It was a mere shadow that danced and twisted, something like a snake, something sinister.
Kenth could feel his mouth to open and to scream, but as if his throat was cut off, no sound came out other than the hoarse hissing that seeped out directly from his lungs. He was choking himself, as Kenth recognized the symptom. Panicking, Kenth snapped open his eyes so he could see clearly, and what was in front of his eyes were a starry black sky.
Kenth panted softly, realizing that it was merely a dream. For a while, however, he couldn't move his body as it was still being paralyzed in dreams. Seeing the reality, however, made him sigh. Good thing that the darkness wasn't real, good thing that the choking wasn't real, good thing that...
Wait.
The voice, it was still there.
As soon as he could feel his sense coming back Kenth sat up and looked around. He didn't need to look very carefully to see the shadowy figure of Alex beside him. Kenth wasn't able to tell who it was as his eyes weren't adjusted to darkness yet. So he blinked instead, and waited for the voice to come back.
"who..."
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 4:36 pm
Alex had turned her head to look at Irame, but Kenth had moved, and she held up her free hand to the elven woman to indicate she'd be with her in just a moment. She kept her clear gaze upon the man as he came out of what seemed to be an unpleasant dream, his unfocused eyes turned towards her. Even half asleep, those blue eyes of his could make her heart leap.
The woman squeezed his hand gently, her thumb stroking his fingers. "Doctor Kenth," she murmured quietly, "it's Alex." She paused, and added half-heartedly, "We're back. All of us." She wanted to impart the information to him quickly and in a way that answered most of his questions, not wanting him to be impatient with her just yet.
It was all she could do not to stare. She still wasn't used to seeing him without his glasses, and it stirred more memories. Alex shoved the thoughts down; now wasn't the time to be all emotional with the man.
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 4:48 pm
"Alex?"
Kenth paused, trying to get his mind in gear. Alex, Alex....that's right, she was lost in the forest two days ago. He rubbed his temple, trying to calm down. Lowering his head then back up again, Kenth recalled everything back in the forest. They were walking really fast, and when he stopped...she had...
Ran off. She had Ran off.
Kenth's eye's went wide, his puples, now far more piercing without the glasses, shifted its focus onto the woman sitting beside him. The blood in his head that was left over from the dream had not died off, and its help, and the sudden flurry of emotions that transformed themselves as driving impulses, the young doctor raised his hand and drove it right toward Alex's cheek, stopping only less than an inch apart from the woman's skin.
He was panting now, it took all he could to stop himself from slapping the woman. Grinding his teech, Kenth hissed, his face hidden in his silver gray hair.
"Where the hell were you??"
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:06 pm
She watched him quietly as he came out of his sleep, almost cringing as his eyes got wide. Any other time, she would have thought him handsome; right now, on the receiving end of his sudden realization of who she was, she was expecting the worse.
That expectation is what kept her from flinching as his hand nearly struck her face, even though her expression crumbled as if he had hit her. Alex tried to maintain a neutral mask, but it had cracked, showing her relief and seeing him safe and her thinly hidden guilt. That scream echoed in her head, a reminder that he must have suffered greatly once he reached the group without the boys and herself.
She lifted her hand slowly, pressing his against her cool cheek. Alex cupped his hand to her face, closing her eyes and leaning into the touch; he probably would slap her for this, but... "I saw something," she murmured quietly, unmoving from her position, "and I was frightened by it." She opened her earnest eyes, settling upon his hidden face. "I...couldn't risk..." The woman swallowed and tried again, "I know how unhappy you are. I didn't want to be a burden. I was scared, and I followed it..."
Alex sorely needed a hug, and it was absolutely ridiculous to be thinking such a thing. She slowly dropped her hand from his, allowing him to move away from her face. "I'm sorry, Kenth," she sighed, omitting his title for the first time since they had met, "I wanted to help you, so that you weren't alone in this..."
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:15 pm
Scared? Help? What was this nonsense? Kenth's mind was screaming, wanting to hit her again for the words she was saying. Woudln't normal people seek others for protection when they were scared? Wouldn't normal people want to consult if they wanted to help?
Kenth didn't know what to say. A part of him wanted to scream at her for what she did, and the other part was, to Kenth's surprise, relieved to see that she and the students were okay. He fell silence for a while, and finally managed to speak. His voice deep and hoarse, but none the less hard and determined.
"Idiot."
Alex's face felt cool to his hand, and Kenth shivered.
"You didn't...you wouldn't have helped me at all if you died. I don't need people helping me in the first place. If there was anything you wanted to help, then stay by my side so I know you are safe...I don't need someone keeps running off to distract my thinking. You...your action, slowed down all of us, do you understand? Losing you is a great burden to me, to Herei, to all of us." Kenth sighed, and managed to say something that he felt most logical.
"Don't you dare go off by yourself again, understand? We don't need anymore troubles from you."
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Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:26 pm
It was a shame Alex couldn't hear the doctor's thoughts; she could have told him that she wasn't a normal person, and that she hadn't gotten by this far by depending on others.
"I knew you'd say that," she sighed quietly. The woman was inwardly grateful that he couldn't see her scars in this position; he'd then know she had a knack for not staying safe. It wasn't in her blood to sit back and let others do what she was perfectly capable of. "I wont be going anywhere. I've brought you a man who knows what's happened to the forest, and possibly what's driving the natives mad." She couldn't stop the wry smile that crossed her lips, asking coyly, "You didn't think I'd come back empty handed, did you, Doctor? I want to be useful, and I wont let my antics not pay off in the end."
Alex moved as if to stand, and was again taken by the silly notion to be close to him. She had been so worried that he hadn't made it out, or that he truly would hate her, she felt so relieved that she was halfway giddy at the sight of him. Before she could weigh the options, the woman leaned forward and gave the man a very quick, very brief hug; it may have looked like she tripped to anyone watching, it was quick enough. She murmured to him, "I'm glad you got back safe. I never would have forgiven myself if I failed you," before finally standing and motioning towards the forest.
No matter what, they still had a mystery to solve.
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