Well now, it would seem that this girl was just as lost on what was happening as she was. Ceres didn't know if that was particularly comforting or not, all things considered. Casually, she smoothed down the hem of her skirt, rather wishing she had something a bit more practical to wear. When the other girl gave her name, Ceres studied her for a moment before offering a slight smile. "Well then, Astiria, it is good to meet someone else in this place." Her smile turned into a small laugh though as she considered what Astiria had said about a "long-eared creature." "I admit it seems strange to me that we both seem to have the same guide since that same creature has also been with me." She mused as she absently twisted a strand of hair while looking around for any danger.
"I would love to speculate on how that little creature could e talking to more than one of us at once but I doubt this is the best time for such things." Ceres shifted her weight and turned her gaze back to Astiria. It would seem even this girl had no clue of her wish, a fact that made Ceres inclined to think it would be the same with anyone they met at this point. "I agree though, whatever reason or wish has brought me here, I plan to fight." Again that look in her eye seemed to say that she actually wanted to fight. Ceres felt like a barely contained storm at the moment. Still, he tilted her head again. "I take you have faced a fight here already? If so, how badly are you hurt?" Ceres said nothing of her crystal she had found or her own injuries, still somewhat wary of their situation. "Also, I haven't seen anyone else here so far. Have you run across anyone else?"
Esme stood, feeling almost more lost than when she had first arrived. All the girls she had approached had been swept away in the crowds of other faces, and the monster had changed, and was arguing with that horrible little creature. Despite her frustration with it, how it kept talking in riddles,she felt far more willing to listen to it than to this other creature. After all, hadn't it just been attacking them? A fat lot of good it would do to follow it, probably off to get eaten somewhere. No way, it wouldn't put one over on her. She glanced around at the other girls near her, rasing her voice in warning.
"Don't listen to it! C'mon, it was taking swings at you all a moment ago, why would it suddenly want to be our friend now!"
Turning towards the second monster, she gripped her bazooka again, squared her small shoulders, and set her face in a determined frown. With the comforting weight of the crystal in her pocket, she was prepared to face down whatever sort of weird mind games or attacks it threw at her.
Vanessa watched as the thing and the creature spoke to one another, she shivered slightly the words unnerving. Children...deceived? Was she being deceived? Do not forget who you are. Who was she? She was a girl who had made a wish, for something she couldn't remember. She was a fighter who didn't balk at overwhelming odds. She had made a promise...though she couldn't remember it...and promises...promises were important.
She jerked and glared at the thing her body tense, it had struck her, it taunted her, and now it wanted them to come to it? NEVER!
"How can we listen to something that was just trying to destroy us?!"
Enraged she lunged forward determined to attack it, eliminate the threat so that she could focus on what was truly important. Her memories, her wish, her promise.
She struck once, her claw tipped gauntlet lashing forward to tear.
For a moment she feared she wouldn't be able to swing into the rest of the attack because dark shapes summoned up a distant memory. The hazy warmth that came from remembering friends and good times.
She swung up her arms slashing into an X shape as she continued the assault.
Vanessa worried as her vision blurred slightly the sting of tears in her eyes and a deep pain distracting her.
She fell, her claws raking ineffectively as she landed hard and then scrambled to get back. Her body trembled as she felt a single tear fall and hastily moved her hand up to wipe it away wincing and letting out a low hiss of pain as she cut her cheek with her own weapon.
I promise...protect...
A bittersweet memory of her own voice, but the full memory completely eluded her.
OOC
[Name:Vanessa Age: 15 Energy: Green Type: Shaman Weapon: Elbow length gauntlets resembling a cats paw complete with razor sharp claws.]
She felt bone deep weariness and she knew her attempt to attack that thing had been pathetic, nowhere near the vicious assault she'd been determined to make before. She tried to keep her legs steady under herself tried to back away from the fight. She should have stayed away from the start...but how could she skulk in corners while the others found the courage to face that thing?
Her legs went out from under her and she cringed as her knees struck the floor. She put her hand down against the ground to try and push herself back up when she felt it. The sudden swipe and WHAM!
Vanessa's eyes widened what? what was that? Her promise...
She looked at the other girls Poppy, Elspeth, Zelda, & Aria her mouth opened in shock before she tried to reach out. She couldn't manage to say anything, words, voice, vocal cords, throat...black lines formed over her body thin at first. They grew thicker within seconds and before the beat of a heart, before she could fully register that this was it...
Her body shattered.
No more Vanessa, only nothingness where the girl had once been.
OOC
[Name:Vanessa Age: 15 Energy: Green Type: Shaman Weapon: Elbow length gauntlets resembling a cats paw complete with razor sharp claws.]
Well speak of the devil. Nila had no more then mentioned the strange critter when suddenly it was there again. Only it wasn't just the critter this time, another one of those monsters appeared with it. A hand went out instinctively as if to try and shelter her smaller companion, but her eyes narrowed as both talked, seeming to offer two different things.
The monster said that the creature was the one that stole their memories! In a way that made sense, and her eyes turned distastefully at the beast. But at the same time... the creature had greeted her when she awoke. The creature had told her what little she did know. And it HAD shown her how to use that crystal and make herself feel better. The monster had only hurt her before.
Fighting was one of the only things that had felt right in this whole situation. The weapon in her hand the one comfort. And the monster was telling her.. don't fight anymore?
That was that.. she trusted the animal more (which was hardly uncommon in the first place) and she wanted to know what he had to know.
"Istas. Stay close.. Don't let the monsters seperate us. We'll get through them and then we'll catch that cat rabbit and make it talk."
Once again the bladed fan found it's way between her fingers, searching for an opening. And when it presented herself to her she didn't hesitate lunging forward with a flurry of swipes. Though as each landed something.. pretty off putting happened.
As the first strike cut through the darkness Nila saw something, like a brief vision.. was it a memory? The shapes were dark and the details were fuzzy.. Leaves.. she thought she saw leaves. It was dark but something about it was just.. good. Comforting. Happy even? It was enough to make her pause just a moment, before striking forward again. They were coming back. That was good news!
The next cut brought forth another vision, though this time it filled the pit of her stomach with a sudden wave of sorrow. She barely got out the third strike. And as she drew back the most vivid of visions hit her. She saw the creature! A brief flash of him but he was there nonetheless.. somewhere in her past. The words were garbled. Confused.. in the end only one actually made any sense at all, a word echoed in her own voice. Nature.
Nature...? Nature. Something about that seemed so resolute.. so right. Just like fighting had felt right. Her eyes searched for Istas once more.
Name: Nila Age: 14 Subclass: Shaman - Spirit Assistance natural ability (spirit animal is a snow leopard - Onca) Gem: Green Weapon: Bladed fan Appearance Damage dealt 1st enemy - 10 + 3 + 9 = 22 Damage recieved = 25% - crystal = 0
As her eyes searched for Istas in that moment the monster struck back, claws slicing deftly through Nila's skin. A strange irony... those ghostly claws she'd dealt the last monster.. well this monster had dealt them back, 10 fold. Karma apparently.
It felt cold and unnerving. Her eyes searched for the smaller girl as if to apologize. She was supposed to protect her. She might not have said it out loud but that didn't make it not true. The fan clattered to the ground as Nila fell to her knees before the brunette shattered like a piece of glass.
Name: Nila Age: 14 Subclass: Shaman - Spirit Assistance natural ability (spirit animal is a snow leopard - Onca) Gem: Green Weapon: Bladed fan Appearance Damage dealt - 10 + 3 + 9 = 22 Damage recieved = 25% - crystal = 0
Astiria listened to the other girl and smiled slightly. "I agree to your first questions and statements miss Ceres. As for a fight... I have been in one and I was hurt but it is nothing really. I have also seen others but I have yet to speak with any of them." She starts by saying before listening to her guide and this new creature talking about her choosing a different path. It even had the nerve to say that they had been deceived. She herself believed that promises should be kept. Whether you remember the promise, or in this case her own wish as well, it did not matter. Besides, this was the creature they had just been fighting! With that thought, she looked to Ceres beside her. "I don't know about you.. But I believe it is time to fight." she says to her as her hands grip down on the hilts of the dual twin swords. Then she got into a fighting pose and readied herself for another battle.
Name: Astiria Age: 14 Subclass: Witch Weapon: Dual Short Swords Gem: Red - Brave Damage to self: 25% Appearance
Hoshi Astarte Tenshino
Scott Eros Archer rolled 3 10-sided dice:
10, 5, 7Total: 22 (3-30)
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:51 pm
Astiria draws her two short swords and runs at the enemy, spinning herself to hit with both blades at the last second. However, even as her blades hurt the enemy, something enters her mind. A fragment, or memory of sorts.. It makes a small smile come to her face. For even though she cannot see their faces, or even hear what they are saying, the feelings flow into her. It makes her feel as if she chose the right path. She knows that the people seem to happy even as the faces are blacked out.
Smiling slightly she goes at the creature again with her short swords. However this time it seems she does not do as much damage as another.. fragment fills her mind. This one brings her to the brink of tears and she feels her stomach cramp as she attempts to not let the tears of anguish escape the confines of her eyes. As she backs off for a moment, she shakes her head to clear it before heading back at the creature with a cry of anger.
As the final blow hits her eyes widen as she remembers part of her promise. She yearns to remember the rest, however, she only hears a few things from the garbled words that were said to the long eared creature. She tries to clear her head to remember more but Astiria sighs, annoyed and angry that she can't remember more but decides that she will just have to take the words of 'danger', 'animals', and 'protect' to heart. She knew now, that she had to fight.
Name: Astiria Age: 14 Subclass: Witch Weapon: Dual Short Swords Gem: Red - Brave Damage done: 22 Damage to self: 25% Appearance
Aria stared as the shadow that everyone had been attacking shrunk into what appeared to be the silhouette of a young woman. She reached for her fan, ready to swing should the newly formed shadow choose to pounce. Instead of fighting, the figure chose to speak. What was rightfully theirs? What did it mean? Aria was so busy contemplating this she jumped at the new voice that appeared a small distance away: The creature from before! Aria started stalking towards it with the intend to wring its neck, but was stopped by the booming voice of the shadow.
Deceived... that was certainly possible. She felt her heart stop at the mention of fake bodies. Was this not her true self? It was certainly possible, considering the black mist, though she was unsure if black mist emanating from wound was normal. Who was Aria? Her gaze fell to the ground as she wracked her brain for answers.
She felt a spasm as the words echoed inside her head. Her side? Whose? Aria's eyes watered as she tried to focus on what was going on around her. Her gaze went from the shadowy figure to the small creature as the figure promised peace and the creature countered with its own argument. Something felt wrong here, peace couldn't be that easy. This felt too good to be true.
'You..." Aria murmured, pulling out her gem and staring at its gently violet glow. She brought her gaze back up to the shadow and gave it the sharpest glare she could muster. "I don't believe you!", she screeched at the shadow as she clutched her gem to her chest. "Peace can't be that easy! It comes through effort, cooperation, dedication... not giving up! Besides, if you want peace, why attack us?! It makes no sense!"
Roughly stuffing her gem back into her pocket, Aria unfurled her fan and took a fighting stance. "I may hate that stupid flea-bitten creature, but for some reason I hate you even more! And until I find the answers I'm looking for, I refuse to give up!" She turned and called to the others while keeping an eye on the shadow, her determination plain on her face, "Do you choose to believe something that would so easily attack you?"
"I'll be fine, I still have a crystal if I really need it. I just.. wanted to save it.." Then again, maybe she should just use it for herself. She could certainly do with feeling better. Silently scolding herself, Anua shook her head; she wanted to save it for others who were more capable. She gave another reassuring smile to Bea, "I won't be rash, so don't worry about me." If she could just avoid any further battle..
Nila's caution felt natural, considering their settings. Anua's face went blank when the girl said it was a joke, as the absurdity of it hit her. Apparently she was also gullible. "Haha, er, yeah.." Anua winced, "I suppose a wish would be based on whatever circumstances we were in, sometime in our past."
At Nila's mention of catching the creature, she tried to picture it in her mind. The closest her mental image got was running into a pole in pursuit.
"It blends in with the uh, scenery rather well." Anua peered back out to the edges, wondering where their supposed 'guide' ran off to, "I can't imagine catching it would be so easy. It would be nice if it might speak more openly with us.."
Despite the fact that they essentially had an army of powerful girls, Anua felt cautious of the feline-bunny creature. It felt as if its words were spoken straight to her mind, and it had yet to answer any of their questions. She didn't know whether she should trust it or not.
"But sometimes I get a feeling like.. I can remember things.." Anua shifted uncomfortably, her gaze having already glided naturally down to the ground, "I mean, I still don't actually remember anything. But, when I pulled out my weapon, I sort of knew what to do already. I think our memories.. are still with us.. maybe.." Or maybe she was just making a fool of herself. Anua was too tired to think straight, but not tired enough that she missed feeling her face flush.
That chill, wretched air seemed to tingle along Anua's spine. She froze, her eyes wide as she caught sight of movement. That creature that seemed to swallow light whole had managed to pull itself together into a more cohesive piece. It had given itself a voice.
With words that confused her. Suddenly Anua was presented with two sides of the battle; she didn't know who was telling the truth. The tall figure who had attacked them before made sense, however. They had no memory, their bodies couldn't be natural, and she felt as if she was breaking apart already. Why should she have to fight?
Another girl had yelled out to them, urging them not to trust a creature that would attack them. Anua's fingers were wrenched together, twisting nervously once more.
"But.." She turned to Esme and Aria, unsteadily shifting her weight, "It's offering a truce.. and we don't know why that shadow-cat wants us to fight for it anyways.."
Her words sounded weak even to her own ears. Anua knew that all the others would be united together as a result of having been attacked earlier, but the pounding of her heart and clammy hands made her more eager to consider other options.
It was Bea's words that jolted her mind. Bea's confused look, wrought with the onset of panic reminded her that she couldn't just make a decision for herself, not if her choices had consequences on others. The other girls were all in the same boat. Anua didn't know how to answer Bea's question on what to do, but she took one small step forward, as if to put distance between her newfound companion and the shadows of the creatures. She much preferred the hyperactive Bea to the panicked Bea, which would have let her fall to her own panic and fear. It wouldn't do to have both of them trembling. Maybe she can look up with a little confidence, enough to keep an eye out for the others. And mostly to improve herself.
Anua felt abruptly surprised at her own thoughts. Oh, she was still scared; terrified, really. But it was a little different each time she thought about it. Not much, but it was enough for her to feel.
She had the option to not fight. The promise of peace. She could go with the taller shadow figure and find answers. Anua's fingertips traced her seeping black wounds, the numbness feeling unnatural. She could take the easy path to peace, but she chose not to.
"L-lets.. stay and fight.." Anua tried to swallow through her suddenly dry mouth, looking back to the others, "I think.. we can regain our memories in our own way."
It was funny, just how quickly things could change. She had been trying to talk with the other girls, encourage them, while also trying to remember whatever it was this wish was that the cat-rabbit-whatever creature had mentioned. She wanted to know, she did, and whatever it was seemed to dwell somewhere just out of reach in her memories, tantalizingly close but just not near enough for her to reach out and pluck it, to inspect it, to relive it if at all possible.
The change came when the shadowy thing began to take shape, an almost feminine form, one that she turned towards, her eyes widening as a shocked expression took over her face.
"Wh-wh-wh..." She clamped her mouth shut, determined not to talk, to just listen as the cat-rabbit and the shadow lady held their exchange.
What she heard, she didn't like. Not one little bit.
"N-N-N-NO!" She finally spluttered, turning with wide round eyes towards the rest of the girls that surrounded her. "W-we shouldn't l-l-listen to her! Sh-she at-at-- sh-she tried t-t-to..." She gasped, already feeling the tears that sprung quickly to her eyes, welling up, just on the cusp of spilling over onto pale and freckled cheeks. Tears of passion, but also of fear. She did not want her new friends to go with her, to leave, to abandon the fight that they had already started.
"D-don't go! P-pl-please! St-stay and fight!" She called it to all of the girls around her, hoping beyond hope that they would listen to her words, however stuttering and none to eloquent they were.
Hope. She had to hope that whatever they had been put here for, the answers still lied with the cat-rabbit that had been there when they had awakened. It had something to do with the wish, she was sure of it. The answers were here, and not with her!
OOC
Name: Macy Age: 12 Appearance: Here Gem: Orange- Hopeful Race: Reaper-Mage (fire) Weapon: A small bow that appears to be made of wood, but oddly feels more like metal Damage taken: 25%
Istas giggled a bit nervously when she was approached by another, "N-no I didn't wish ... well I mean I'm wishing for one now. I'm kinda thirsty." She said.
The second a new monster showed up Istas epped, but it changed it was different? The thing was still offering them stuff though. She looked back and forth before eventually clinging to Nila. The whole thing was ending up kind of scary but she'd stick with her new friend.
"R-right. We need to find out what it really wants." When the time to attack came Istas had unlatched herself and followed in Nila's footsteps. With each attack something felt.... different. She'd hit something, the faces, they had gone. What had happened? The next she felt sad. Sadder than she'd had in a while, and then something.... it felt like a promise. She wasn't sure what kind of promise it was. What did ... she promise?
She was looking for Nila... she should help protect? Istas wasn't sure anymore what was going on.
Astiria's eyes widened as she feels the tiredness go through her and she nearly collaspes however as she tried to keep herself standing she saw a contorted claw heading for her. As she scrambled to escape, the claws hit and sent her flying and as she goes through the air Astiria registers an odd feeling and an image.. she found though that she didn't have time to fully grasp it in her mind. As she skidded to a halt Astiria felt the cracking begin. Looking down at herself her eyes widen and she whimpers even as she attempts to keep herself looking forward. Astiria knows that these cracks all across her body cannot be good and she finds herself feeling much like a broken mirror of her former self. Astiria manages to keep herself standing somehow though. "I.. I dont feel so good anymore.." She says softly as she attempts to keep herself from feeling as if she was still normal.
Name: Astiria Age: 14 Subclass: Witch Weapon: Dual Short Swords Gem: Red - Brave Damage to self : nearly dead? Appearance
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 7:14 pm
Odd, really, how this was all turning out to be. Poppy had paused after her fight to look at the little crack that had formed in her pretty blue gem holder that sat in her birdcage. A wish had been mad, a wish for something to put her in this situation... But what exactly had it been? As the young girl considered it, things suddenly changed and an alliance was asked of. In a second she knew her choice and whirled to face Macy. "You're staying?! Why would you do that? Marshmallow Kitty lied to us! That lady said so! We freed her!" With a whirl she looked at all the other girls. "All of you! You can't just stay here and accept what this weird thing told us... That lady has answers! I say we go with her!"
Quote:
Name: Poppy Age: 14 Weapon: Birdcage covered in blue poppies Race: Sorceress Damage: 25%
Elspeth clasped her gem, cracks and all as the essence slipped from it and through her fingers. Whatever it was, it felt as if it was important - tied to her. The voices combated one another, argued and tried to sow seeds of distrust. Some girls left with this other person, but many remained with the creature who was said to have taken their memories. Promises? What promises did they make to it? Was it their wishes? Was their wish was what kept them here? To fight these abominations, these creatures that were hurting them. Just as a new abomination appeared, the other man vanished, offering them an escape.
"P-please, don't go! W-we need you!" She cried to the other girls who chose to leave, to escape from here to somewhere else. Somewhere much safer. Elspeth watched as the girls fought against the creature, dealing damaging and destructive blows and yet the monster seemed to have no signs of backing away. She saw Vanessa and her metallic claws slash at it before being thrown back. And just like that, her body cracked and shattered before her eyes.
"VANESSA!" The girl screamed, clenching her chest so tight as she watched the first girl she had met disappear in front of her. Her life ended. Tears filled her eyes with endless drops. Sobs and whimpers escaped her, intermittent with hiccups. Girls all around her attacked and were thrown back.
What was the point of all this?
Why were they fighting?
Why did it matter?
Blinking back her tears, furrowing her brows, the girl flicked her wrists, unleashing an onslaught of blazing discs from the ruffles of her form. As her arms swung and twisted, gritted teeth and furious yells, the discs flew with direction. Only the creature could stop them, but they were hitting their marks. While she attacked, her mind escaped elsewhere.
A little house on a busy, cobbled street. Her hand in another's as they walked down the path toward a square. A festival around a large fountain, and there was fun and activities. She smiled brightly, looking up to the person holding her hand as if looking for permission. The faceless person nodded and she felt excitement as she disappeared into the crowd.
Just as that had faded, she found herself next to someone laying on the ground on the cobbled streets, her face within her hands. She sobbed as the faceless person laid there and people around them all but just walked by as if invisible. Unnoticed. She sobbed and pleaded, begging and cried, feeling absolutely useless to assist in any way. The person was gone.
"Return everything"
A voice inside her head. Her own voice, but at the same time, it wasn't. She gritted her teeth before leaping forward and spinning once again, throwing her arms outward as tendrils of fire spun out around her and the fiery fan-discs flew true to the creature's form.
