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 Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:13 pm
Jerome rubbed his eyes and stared at the strange fox as he spoke of circumstances. He nearly choked when he heard Koyuki was missing. "She's gone?" he said quietly to himself as he looked at the ground with a confused look.
"I..I don't know I asked her if she would come by later and I don't remember getting an answer, but I've been in cryo. Had she come by then I would have woken up" he said with a rather concerned look smothered on his scarred face. He looked over at the shop and then back at the odd fox before him. "Any leads as o her whereabouts?" he said raising an ear and lowering another
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:37 pm
Nodding quietly, his own head turned and his optics zoomed over the view from his pod. The sun would be setting soon, its brim nearly touching the distant mountian peaks. "I'm afraid so. Trovalius said the last he saw of her was this morning at oh seven hundred hours. She comes into the garden to help water at eight, and he said when he came back the hose was left on....needless to say he's well...I'd rather not go search the house again untill he's calmed." The bioroid scratched his head with a meager chuckle, apparently it seemed Jerome could know what he was talking about from yesterday; according to the moss demon.
"I talked to a few aquaintances, and it seemed she hadn't been at the shop today, nor did I see tracks up here. I was really hoping she would just be here with you..." Briareos, glanced over to the spartan, seeing the clear as day concern over his face; he knew it since he had the same look when Deunan was out where he couldn't reach her. "We'll find her. She can't have gone far, she really doesn't like to go far alone; nervous little thing she is."
Turning, he began to walk down the hill in the direction of the house, maybe something would turn up. "Im afraid other than a few conversations I don't know her too well. Do you know of any spots she might have gone?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:16 pm
the spartan listened intently. Occasionally he'd through in a "uh huh" to indicate that he was paying attention. When the fox prepared to depart, he was shocked to hear him ask further questions. Jerome pondered for a moment, and paced as he did.
"Have you checked the hill with the people who slide down it?" he asked in curiosity. He had gone there 2 days ago and there was a chance she might be there
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:32 pm
"I didn't know there was a snow hill...." He pondered a moment, pausing in his step with a thought. "Im going to go back to the house, see if Trovalius knows anything or has seen anything since i've left. I'll get word to you if I find her..." Briareos tossed his hand up in a lazy wave, jogging back to the house.
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It was cold, so very cold.
Koyuki's breath barely whisped from her lips as breathing was hard to do, and dangerous. Her once silken cream fur now caked in mud as she hid deep in an abandoned fox hole, hearing the sounds of her persuer above. Her paws ached from running, from falling and from struggle...but she dared not even move an inch least she give away her hiding spot; luckily the snow had dampered her scent trail and the darkness falling would give him little chance to find her.
Boy...did she wished she had her kimono, but it had been left at the hill where the scuffle began...the torn fabric probably still near the inner tube where she'd tried to make her escape, only to have fallen and slid down the slope.
She was alive though, and that was all that mattered...she could get another kimono. Curling in on herself as she clutched tightly to the bleeding wound in her gut, she waited in silence....when soon that was all she could hear up above ground.
The eerie silence of the deep woods.
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:46 pm
Jerome glared at the fox who was trying to leave. "Fine. you continue your 'investigation'! While you do that, I'm going to search for her. ELYSIA! ARMOR!!" he barked as he jumped in the pod. He hated trying to get the clunky stuff on, but it was the only thing that would protect him from anything dangerous.
As soon as the AI had finished attaching the green armor, Jerome jumped out and grabbed a few grenades he had left, his pistol and a few extra rounds, and his favorite. The Spartan Laser Rifle. "Come on Elysia. You've gotta help me. And if you decided to screw with me then I will scrap you!" he snarled as he grabbed the small disk with the AI and put it in the back of his helmet. As soon as he finished gearing up, he took off at incredible speeds towards the slope. He had a strange hunch that she was there
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A few moments later
Jerome arrived at the the top of the slope. The sun had set and the snow had begun to fall again. The Spartan had his helmet lights on, looking for clues. Tracks, a smell, anything.
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:20 pm
Koyuki waited, listening to anything that would have been a sign of life above, but once the light faded from the enterance of the hole something told her her attacker had left for now. She knew she couldn't stay here, her fur had become much to thin to offer her any prolonged protection from the cold. Her bullet wound continued to bleed, but the flow had slowed considerably. She needed something to bandage it, or to try and make it back to the house or shop...but she'd run for so long, her terror consuming her thought that she paid no attention to where she'd gone as long as it was away.
Twisting herself over, the vixen crawled her way out of the hole and poked her head out...the forest was dark and thick, snow had begun to fall which gave her some light; but not enough to know which direction was home. Shaking getting to her hind legs as she couldn't use all of them thanks to needing to keep pressure on her wound, she set out, a trail of blood behind her similar to the beginning trail left back at the slope.
She'd barely dodged a few bullets, which had sunk into or blown off bits of trees around the slope, it was then that he'd tryied to detain her by the back of her kimono, only to have it rip to send her body down the slope. Carelessly, her assailant had tossed it behind him to presume chase, which now remained stick in the branches of the bushed. It wasn't untill she skidded to a stop at the bottom had he landed a shot in her gut, and since then about two hours ago he'd been following that same trail, even though he had given up for the night. It had been so frightening, yet it was that adrenaline that had kept her going this long.
Koyuki's breath was laboured, his body exausted to its limits...each step as agonizing as the next as the snow made her fur like ice. A twist of pain caused her to cry out, tumbling into the snow as she curled once again, biting her lip. She was so far into the woods, her mother couldn't be found, and Jerome was in Cryo...
For the first time since she had been abandoned, she'd never felt so utterly helpless and alone.
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 11:35 pm
The wind wafted Jerome's face, and his keen nose picked up the bitter acidic smell of blood. He looked down the hill as it was flowing from that particular direction. He scanned the tree line below and saw two sets of tracks. Immedatly, the large Spartan slide down the hill on his feet.
Arriving at the bottom, he followed the tracks into the forest, soon finding a torn mangle of cloth. Jerome picked up and recognized it instantly. He took it and continued to follow the tracks at a running pace. It didn't take long until he saw one set of tracks disappear, and another head off in a different direction. He would have followed the visible set, but a fresh blood trail caught his eye. He set out to follow it, hoping he wouldn't find Koyuki
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:11 am
Sleep was inviting, calling to her as she lay in the snow on her side; curled in a ball for as much warmth as she could muster. It made her think though as her body shivered from the cold, what she could have possibly done to want someone to kill her. Trovalius while mostly vile and rude wouldn't try to kill her, it just wasn't like him. She hadn't made any enemies that she knew of, but was certian it wasn't random.
Her eyes closed as she rested, unable nor willing to go any further. It was a funny feeling, to still feel the almost gentle cold kissed from the snow as it melted on her face. Comforting, in a way.
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:16 am
Jerome continued to follow the blood trail. Only to soon find it had stopped. He looked around trying to figure out why, and soon found that there was a small slope. At the bottom of the slope, he say the curled up figure of a fox. "Oh no..." he said as he strafed down the hill. Upon getting closer, his fear where confirmed, it was Koyuki.
"Koyuki! wake up!" he exclaimed frantically as he shook her shoulders. He soon saw the wound and took a strip of the ripped kimono and wrapping it tightly around the wound. He then put the rest of the kimono over her bare, muddy fur.
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 1:14 am
It had been only minutes after she had passed out, but it seemed like hours. Koyuki hadn't heard him coming, only woken by the sudden shaking as she immediately awoke and lashed out to bite his armor'ed arm out of instinct. Trembling as she winced and her consiousness seeped back into her mind she snapped her head up to Jerome, shocked, confused...and relieved.
She almost didn't believe it, reaching out to touch the cold screen of his helmet. "Jerome.....How did...you..." she was cut off as she wimpered when the bandage was pulled tight against her wound; curling into him as much as she could.
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 1:18 am
Jerome felt almost helpless as she bit his hand. He didn't feel it, but he instantly knew that she had been in trouble. He took a deep sigh trying to keep a calm composure. "Come now. I need to get you back to the shop." He said knowing full he would have to carry her. He knew it wouldn't burden him but he was fearful of touching her.
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:03 am
"Do you want me to walk..?" Koyuki tried to be strong, she'd made it this far right? Grabbing his shoulders she heaved her body up till she stood on wobbly legs, making sure she had her balance before slowly letting go. He'd already come out of cryo, found her and treated her wound...she couldn't ask for more; and a part of her was afraid to.
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:06 am
Jerome looked from where he came and trekked up the hill. "Yes. Just keep talking. I'll know your there and it will help keep you awake" he said as he began to sprint as fast as he possibly could, ducking under branches, side stepping trees and rocks as if he was used to running super fast. Elysia, Send a Nav point to the shop, specifically the medical room. He thought as he began to wonder if the shop had such a thing.
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:37 am
"Talking, why is...." And just like that, he was gone. Nothing but a faded echo and footprints left behind in the snow. None the less, she wasn't in a situation to argue. Slowly she followed his trail back, wobbling and using trees as support, the snow making it hard to see up in the distance.
"I don't know what....to say..." Koyuki spoke out quietly into the forest, already feeling nervous for making any sounds as she followed her own blood trail back; the sight making her a bit queasy. "Its....really quiet..."
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Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:41 am
Jerome suddenly came to a halt and skidded several feet before actually stopping. He looked on he back to see that Koyuki wasn't there. "I thought she grabbed on!?" he said as he turned around and made a mad dash back, feeling stupid for just leaving her. I blame the armor..I can't feel s**t in this stuff.
He saw Koyuki up ahead, stumbling and again he skidded to a halt, this time panting a bit. "Sorry... I thought...you..were on..my back..." He said trying to breath every chance he got. This time he crouched down and to let the injured vixen climb on.
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