|
|
Post by Val on Oct 4, 2020 3:30:58 GMT
Wolfgang turned slowly to stare into the darkness beyond, wishing he had a reassuring answer to provide Sasha with. Instead, his feeling of uncertainty grew at the idea of relying on pure memory and luck as they ventured forward, “I’m not sure,” he replied honestly, “But we have to keep moving,” he added decidedly, taking Sasha’s hand again to guide her. He wasn’t sure how difficult it would be for her to navigate through the uneven forest floor, but he didn’t mention it. Blind or not, Sasha always proved herself capable.
It might look insignificant, but this creek can guide you for hundreds of miles, Wolfgang. Follow it north, and it will lead you home. His father’s words came to him out of the blue, and for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to think about the man who had taught him to keep the wolf a secret. For a long time, he resented his father for recklessly having children with the knowledge of the monster he would produce. Eventually, the memory of the man who lived an absurdly rich and successful life had faded away into nothingness, leaving Wolfgang to fill his shoes. And he did. That is, until he caused everything to fall apart.
They trekked for several hours before the faint sound of moving water finally reached his ears. Wolfgang steered them toward the noise, eventually reaching a narrow stream of water that felt familiar enough for hope to swell within him, “Shouldn’t be long now,” he told Sasha, though he ended up regretting those words as the hours dragged on. Night quickly turned to day and the journey continued. The walk felt unforgivingly long, though following the creek bank was far easier than fumbling through the woods. Other than stopping for short breaks along the way, they maintain a steady pace, putting plenty of distance between themselves and the exile house where the others were surely awakening to find them missing.
As evening approached and they started to lose sunlight, the cabin finally revealed itself. Childhood memories came rushing back when they reached a slight fork in the creek where a looming oak tree caused the water to split into two directions. Wolfgang took a sharp left and, after making his way up the sloping edge of the bank, he laid eyes on it; an old cabin tucked away amongst the trees. It was exactly how he’d remembered it, though the wood had aged and the surrounding foliage was beginning to claim the structure. “Come on, you’re going to love this place,” he told Sasha, helping her up the small hill.
Wolfgang began to lead her across the clearing, relieved that they would finally be able to rest after a long journey. But the instant his foot hit the first step of the front porch, the wolf awakened with a vengeance. The rejection was so violently abrupt that Wolfgang was forced to release Sasha and stumble several steps backwards. Without warning, all of the physical symptoms began to assault him at once; erratic heartbeat, rapid perspiration, aching joints, and adrenaline-fueled panic.
“Go inside!” he snapped at Sasha, backing away despite every human instinct telling him to beg for help before he was forced to undergo the transformation. Pain wracked his body and he dropped to the grass, his body contorting in a grossly unnatural manner as his bones began to shift into place. He cried out, his voice filled with agony- why had the wolf decided to betray him? The persistent beast had retreated to the back of his mind during the journey, as though satisfied with Wolfgang’s compliance. Now, it seemed the wolf was done waiting. With great reluctance, Wolfgang stopped fighting and allowed his consciousness to slip away as the werewolf took over and completed the shift.
This time was different. Usually, Wolfgang ceased to exist once the wolf took over. He would blackout and awake only once he returned to his human form, left to witness the beast’s dirty deeds in snippets in his nightmares. But this time, he was cognizant. It was as if he had switched places with the mysterious entity, handing over the steering wheel and settling into the back seat to watch. While the change in circumstances was jarring, it made strangely perfect sense. Just as he’d begun to embrace the wolf, the wolf appeared to be embracing him, too.
The massive creature reared up onto its hindlegs, sniffing at the air with a strange air of desperation. That was when Wolfgang felt it; the most enticing aura flooded through them and everything else ceased to exist. It was like a drug that was just out of reach; not a want, but a need that every last cell of their body yearned for. The wolf tilted it’s head back and let out a long howl into the dusky sky, like a dire call into the abyss, as if someone was listening.
The instant the wolf’s front paws hit the ground, he took off running. Wolfgang never had a chance to look back at Sasha, for the beast was in a frenzy, and he was no longer in control. They charged through the forest at incredible speed, leaving a trail of over turned dirt and torn up thicket in their wake. For the first time, Wolfgang was able to witness the absolute power that the creature had to offer. He could see the enormous paws, clad with dark fur and equipped with claws forged to kill, as they pounded into the earth one after the other. Eventually, they hit the creek again and the wolf splashed to a halt. Another scent. Snout to the ground, they spun in circles, picking up the scent of two individuals- one canine, one man. It was fresh.
A distinct rush of urgency flooded through the beast before they took off again, the captivating smell growing closer and closer. It was intoxicating to the point where all other senses became dull and they were guided only by the incessant need to find the source. Up. It was coming from above. Suddenly they were staring up the trunk of a large tree- so close, and yet so unsatisfying. Without hesitation, the wolf sat back on its haunches before launching upwards nearly twenty feet into the air. He collided with the tree trunk, claws digging into the bark and causing the tree to sway precariously before he plummeted back to the ground with a thud. The wolf snarled with frustration, but the sounds quickly melted away into the high-pitched sounds of an animal in distress. With nowhere else to go, he began to circle the base of the tree, waiting.
Ike listened to Trys with interest as he ate, finding it curious that she seemed to live in isolation. Compared to most people he was acquainted with, Trys was quite sociable, and he had to imagine that she would get quite lonely. He looked away as she turned the attention on him, chewing a large mouthful of fish as he considered his response.
“Values,” he repeated, mulling over the word, “We value strength, skill, fearlessness. The landscape is unforgiving, and the people are even more so. Everything we do is to uphold our traditions and contribute to our cause,” he paused, eyes gaze drifting toward the tree that housed their princess, “We protect people...from them.”
Saying it out loud made Ike feel sick with disgrace. He didn’t deserve to return to his home after the weakness he’d shown. He knew firsthand how creatures like Kiona could devastate entire families and communities. He’d lost so much to the supernatural beings that plagued their land, and yet he was too weak to fulfill his lifelong duty when it mattered most. It was easy to destroy a raging, snarling beast, but when he looked at Kiona, he saw what the Lycan wanted him to see- an innocent girl.
Ike was finishing his last bite of fish when he heard it- a howl in the distance. His head swiveled toward the sound and he tensed, staring into the quickly darkening tree line, “Did you hear that?” he whispered to Trys. Without waiting for an answer, he stood and began to yank the rest of his clothes back on, “Are there wolves out here?” he questioned, turning to stomp out the fire. Even if there were wolves in the area, something about the call had caused a chill to run down his spine. It sounded distinctly unnatural.
“We need to take cover,” he decided. Snapping his fingers at Hound, he grabbed his loaded crossbow and retreated into the shadowy cover of the trees, posting up behind a thick tree trunk. The seconds ticked by in silence and he slowed his breathing, waiting and listening. Just when he thought it might’ve been a false alarm, a thundering of footsteps sounded followed by the sound of a collision. He peered around his hiding spot to find Kiona’s tree mysteriously swaying, creaking and groaning from the effort to remain upright. Despite his suspicions, he could’ve never been prepared for the sight of a massive wolf landing in a heap at the base of the tree. He cursed under his breath and gripped his crossbow tighter as the Lycan emitted a disturbing whine. His eyes found Trys and he prepared for fight or flight, survival instincts kicking into overdrive even though the beast had yet to notice them.
|
|
|
|
Post by starrea on Oct 5, 2020 1:04:06 GMT
There wasn’t anything extraordinary that happened, but there was a distinct moment that Kiona knew something had changed. The forest floor rumbled beneath the stride of… something large. Kiona couldn’t quite tell what it was, not from her perch above the canopy of the trees, but she could hear it. She could feel the way the earth shook, see the flocks of birds startled into flight in the wake of the beast’s rampage. It was coming right for her, and much to her own surprise, she wasn’t afraid – until it collided with the tree, the wood groaning from the effort of the assault. The tree shuddered from the assault, the tremors rippling up the tree. As the tree went up, the main trunk divided up into several thick branches that thinned out as they neared the uppermost canopy, where Kiona perched. There was no thick, stabilizing branch to grab onto and the best she could do was lock her arms around the branch in front of her and pray. The branches swayed wildly, and Kiona struggled to keep her balanced centered over the unstable perch beneath her. The fact that if she didn’t precisely keep herself balanced then she would fall sixty or so feet to her death wasn’t lost on her, but the though wasn’t accompanied by panic. She had slipped into survival mode, her body bending and moving with the branches as if she were one with them. When the movements started to slow, Kiona felt dizzying relief. Even with talents as profound as hers, it was mind-blowing that she hadn’t fallen out of the tree. The adrenaline was still coursing through her blood and in that moment, perched sixty or so feet off the ground and having just defied death yet again, Kiona felt completely invincible.
The intoxicating feeling of invincibility was short-lived because the tremors that traveled up the tree in consecutive ripples finally reached the uppermost canopy, and this time, Kiona wasn’t prepared. The fall was seamless; one second, she was safely balanced atop a branch, the next she wasn’t. Her world turned sideways as she fell, the colors blurring together into a wash of greens and browns as she tumbled down, and her mind went blank. There was no panic, no thoughts, no prayers – just mindful appreciation for the way the world had turned into a beautiful, abstract piece of art. The beauty of the fall was lost to a sudden, incredible force on her chest, pushing all the air out of her lungs and replacing it with a dull, deep ache. The world had stopped moving, she had stopped moving and instinct took over, and her arms wound their way around the branch and her body resisted the pull of gravity, rolling back onto the safety of the thick branch and anchoring herself there.
The fall had knocked the breath out of her, and it was nearly a minute before Kiona relieved the burning in her lungs. She groaned as she tentatively sat up, the ache in her chest flaring up, but pleased to feel that nothing else seemed injured besides some superficial cuts. She took a second to gather her surroundings; she was still in the tree and based on where she was, she had probably only fallen ten or fifteen feet before the thick branch she was now sitting on prematurely stopped her descent. She didn’t have time to be relieved; she scooted back until her back hit the trunk and she locked herself around the branch. Her lucky streak was bound to end at some point, and she wasn’t willing to gamble sitting forty-five feet up in the air.
The sound of a high-pitched whine came from below, making Kiona’s blood run cold. Her eyes snapped towards the ground, searching for the beast, but it was hidden beneath the mosaic of branches and leaves. Suddenly, she had to see the beast. Panicked desire sparked her into motion, and she unwound herself from the branch and started hastily descending the tree. She made quick work of the descent, needing only half a minute or so descend most of the tree despite her shaky hands and wobbly legs. She dropped herself through the canopy, perching on a thick branch just beneath, and finally laid her eyes on the beast. Her heart froze; it was a fucking werewolf.
Shock waves rippled through her, so surprised that she nearly toppled backwards off the branch. She didn’t blink, scared that if she did, the beast would use the opportunity to launch itself at her. Fear consolidated into physical nausea at the sight of the large abrasions that ran down the trunk, her mind unhelpfully reminding her that if his claws could pierce through wood like that, then her skin would hardly be a challenge. She tried to think about what the hell another werewolf would want with her – are werewolves territorial? Can it tell that I’m one of them? For a couple of seconds, Kiona just watched the beast circle the tree. With it guarding the tree, there was no way for Kiona to make it down – not without the beast catching her. Even if her journey with Ike ended in death, she wasn’t ready to die today, and not in the jaws of a werewolf.
“Ike!” Kiona screamed, her eyes finally breaking away from the werewolf to look towards their campsite, only to be left shocked when she saw it was empty. Shock quickly morphed into rage; Ike was a truly deplorable representation of their nation, a stain on their reputation. He was the reason that this was happening, he was the reason that they were here. This was his fault. She hoped the beast had already gotten him; it felt justified that Ike die in the jowls of the very beast he couldn't hunt. “Ike, help!” Kiona screamed again, desperation leaking into her voice. Without something to distract the beast, she was stuck up in the tree.
When nothing moved, no one came out to save her, Kiona looked back down at the beast below her. Her stomach churned, but now when she looked down at it, she was less afraid than she was before. “Don’t hurt me,” Kiona said, although she was nearly positive the beast wouldn’t understand her, “I’ll leave, if you want me to. Is that what you want? If you let me down, I’ll leave and I won’t come back,” The premise of negotiating with something that very likely couldn’t understand her felt foolish, but no more foolish than the growing premonition that the beast at the foot of the tree wasn’t here to harm her. |
|
|
|
Post by Elvander on Oct 11, 2020 19:33:40 GMT
Sasha followed Wolfgang's steps, Artemis guiding her onward. She stumbled a few times but made no sound as she ground her teeth and pressed on. She was determined not to be a burden, not to slow Wolfgang down on his quest to find his truth and his freedom. As they neared the cabin, Artemis began to balk, whining, and Sasha knew that something was wrong. Before Wolfgang's foot hit the front step, Artemis had braced himself in front of her and would not allow her to take one more step forward. Her hound was now growling, hackles raised as Wolfgang's change suddenly came upon him.
Sasha steeled herself as fear gripped her- had she been foolish to trust in him, trust the control he said he had? She didn't have time to ponder as he ordered her inside, and she pushed past Artemis towards the cabin as Wolfgang began to transform. She couldn't see the grotesque contortions, but she could hear the snapping of bones and it was enough to make her stomach roil. She stumbled up the steps and slammed the door shut, feeling around for something to barricade against it and finding a table near the doorway, which she pushed against it. It was more for some sense of safety than anything concrete- if Wolfgang wanted to barge in here as a wolf, nothing would stop him. Sasha backed away, her breath quick and short as she tried to calm herself, listening for the sounds of him. It was quiet, and she realized that he had fled the scene. Some small relief. Sasha backed into the unfamiliar space, wondering when, or if, she'd see him again.
***
Trys listened to Ike as he opened up about his home, about his people, and felt a stirring of sympathy. She hadn't had the chance to really undersand Ike's perspective when they'd first met. But now she could see he believed he was doing a noble service. And honestly, Trys couldn't blame him or his people for what they wanted to do, even though she was convinced it was wrong. Now, Ike had betrayed himself and his family to help her cart a lycan to an unfamiliar land chasing a cure that probably didn't exist. Before she could reply, the howl split the air and she rose to her feet, already reaching for her bow.
"I don't know," she whispered back as she took cover behind the tree. It would make sense if there were lycans in these forests- they were getting close to Alynthia and those lands had rumors of the beasts. She notched an arrow in preparation as they listened and waited, and he heart sank to her toes when she peered around their hiding place to see the giant wolf at the base of Kiona's tree, hearing the princess scream for help. She looked back at Ike and her blue eyes were saucers of fear, but determination. Could they fight a werewolf, two humans and their bows? They had to try, right? Trys took a deep breath and leaned out from behind her hiding spot, carefully taking aim. She had one shot before the creature turned on them. If Ike wanted to run, she wouldn't blame him. Trys aimed at the creature's neck and let her arrow fly, prepared for whatever may come next.
|
|
|
|
Post by Val on Oct 13, 2020 0:53:35 GMT
As they circled the tree relentlessly, Wolfgang tried to make sense of his wolf’s desperation. It felt as though they had tunnel vision, unable to focus on anything other than the mystery of what was perched in the canopy above. Their rhythmic pacing stopped abruptly at the sound of rustling leaves and creaking branches; something was descending from the tree. Freezing in place, the wolf’s whining stopped, and his ears perked, aiming to capture even the slightest stirrings from above. Slowly, his eyes carved a path up the tree and finally landed on what- or rather who- had put them into a frenzy. Their eyes locked for the briefest of moments, and the rush that followed was as unexpected as it was relieving. The girl was an absolute stranger, and yet seeing her invoked the feeling of being reunited with a long-lost friend.
Before Wolfgang could ponder the strange thought any further, the girl screamed, causing the moment to shatter into a million pieces. The wolf pinned his ears back and faltered a step backwards, as though the reaction was bewildering to him. It was hard to make sense of human language through the lens of the wolf, but Wolfgang could sense that she was calling for help. The realization caused unease to churn within him, but the wolf was still too preoccupied with his discovery to look anywhere but up.
Finally, the girl’s attention returned to them and the wolf remained shockingly patient and docile as it awaited her next move with bated breath. Wolfgang attempted to filter through her words as she addressed them, but the wolf had other priorities. The beast moved slowly, stretching his fore legs out in front to their fullest extent and sinking his claws into the soft earth. His massive head soon followed, descending until his muzzle touched the ground. The wolf’s eyes fluttered closed, and Wolfgang’s vision was lost, but he knew exactly what display the strange spirit was putting on; a bow.
The moment was peaceful, but it was never meant to last. The whizzing of an arrow could be heard before it struck the wolf’s neck with dead on precision. Pain erupted and worked as a catalyst, reigniting the monster’s rage and forcing his senses back into focus. The wolf whipped around and released a roar that practically shook the ground. His eyes scanned the tree line, but he didn’t need to see his assailants; he could smell them. With the arrow still protruding from his neck, the wolf lunged into motion and tore across the abandoned campsite, snarling as it beelined for the tree behind which his attacker was hiding.
Everything became obscure once the wolf turned violent. Wolfgang tried to maintain awareness as the rampage unfolded, but he could feel himself slipping away back into the recesses of their shared consciousness. The bursts of pain were all he could hang onto, letting him know that they were under attack. Or maybe they were the ones attacking. The realization sparked a fierce determination in him; he couldn’t allow more people to die at his hand. The death and destruction had to end- that was why he was out here in the first place, it was all that mattered now. With every remaining fiber of his being that existed within the wolf’s body, Wolfgang metaphorically slammed on the brakes, demanding his body back. There was no way of knowing what happened next, because everything went black.
Kiona’s cries were an all too familiar sound to Ike; a plea for help fueled by fear and desperation. The sound launched unpleasant memories to the forefront of Ike’s mind and momentarily distracted him, long enough for Trys to launch the first arrow into the beast. The earth-shaking roar that followed obliterated all hesitation, causing Ike to round the tree with his crossbow drawn. He didn’t have time to be furious over the fact that Trys had been so reckless, because the wolf was already charging her. Taking aim, he squinted his eyes and zeroed in on the moving target as it rapidly approached Trys’s hiding place. He fired and the menacing crossbow bolt pierced through the air and sunk into the flesh of one of the wolf’s front legs. Hitting his target had the desired effect; the wolf was thrown off balance and slammed into the dirt.
Ike had bought enough time for Trys to flee out of the wolf’s direct path, but he didn’t move from his spot in the middle of the clearing. Instead, he kept the crossbow propped against his shoulder, preparing for the inevitable retaliation. The savage creature clawed its way back onto all fours, only momentarily fazed by the impact of the second projectile. Lycans were rapid healers, and Ike knew that there were very few ways to put a stop to such a rampage- none of which would be easy with their unfortunate lack of preparation. Within seconds, it had zeroed in on Ike and took off like an enraged bull, ignoring the weapon that was aimed between its eyes. Ike loosed a second bolt, but the wolf expected it and reared up, taking the third strike to the chest rather than risking a shot to the face. Ike started to back up rapidly, feeling as though the fight was about to take a turn toward uncomfortably close quarters. Time started to slow as hope for a victory began to dwindle. If nothing else, he would provide a long enough distraction for the women to get away.
There was enough distance between them for one final shot. His fingers hovered over the trigger, waiting until he could clearly see the glowing amber eyes of the cursed creature. He fired, but the final bolt never made contact with its target. It was difficult to make sense of the split-second transformation that followed; one second he was staring into the face of death, the next he was watching the limp body of a man land at his feet. The man slid to a stop, face down in the dirt, seemingly unconscious. Ike aimed his weapon downward and studied the lycan’s human form cautiously. All of the arrows had been dislodged during the transformation and he could see the creature’s healing abilities start to take effect. The wounds rapidly closed themselves before his eyes, leaving only traces of blood and a quickly fading scar. To Ike, it was an abhorrent reminder of how truly unnatural the species was.
Once the initial shock had passed, Ike shrugged off his overcoat and threw it over the man’s naked body. He kept his weapon trained on the target, but made a gesture to anyone who happened to be closest, “Get something to tie him up with!” he called out, refusing to look away from the looming threat for even a moment. Though he hid it well, Ike was resisting the urge to lodge a final bolt into the stranger’s skull. It was his instinct, his duty, but something told him that taking such an action would not go over well with his companions. As much as he wanted to deny it, the man laying at his feet was exactly the person they were seeking. He never could have anticipated that a lycan would deliver itself to them, but now that one had, Ike instantly regretted agreeing to their mission.
|
|
|
|
Post by starrea on Oct 17, 2020 1:28:17 GMT
The scene playing out below Kiona was so bizarre that it felt more like a hallucination rather than reality. From her perch up in the tree, all she could do was look down in complete shock as the beast lowered itself into what looked like a... bow? That couldn't be right. The beast was incapable of understanding what such a gesture signified in human culture, but maybe there was some other significance it held in werewolf body language. Still, it was indisputable that the beast was trying to communicate with her, and that alone left Kiona feeling wary. Predators did not try to explain their carnivorous habits to their prey before consuming them. But as she looked down at the monster, she couldn't help but feel that it didn't want to kill her. The creature had significantly calmed down in the seconds she had given it her attention, now resembling a dog awaiting the return of its master rather than a savage beast. The tranquil appearance did not alleviate her apprehension, reminding herself that the beast only needed a single opportunity to end her life. She couldn't afford to be wrong, not when her life was on the line.
Chaos erupted, sparked by an arrow that embedded itself deep into the beast - and to Kiona's surprise, her immediate reaction was distress. Her body lurched, muscles tense and ready to spring down to come to the werewolf's aide, but logic caught up and she stopped herself. Her reaction left her dumbfounded; why the hell was her innate reaction anything but complete disgust? She didn't know this creature, didn't the man he pretended to be when he wasn't a wolf, but intimate knowledge of the creature shouldn't matter. During all of the executions she had attended she had never, not once, felt anything other than repulsion and apathy towards the fate of those at the wrong end of her father's sword.
Her instinctual reaction, despite being involuntary, immediately flooded Kiona with shame. The mortification was overpowering. Kiona banished all thoughts of her family from her head, too humiliated to face her family even in the privacy of her thoughts. Sympathizers were the lowest ranks of society, completely shunned by civilizations. These sorts of people were disowned by families, evicted from their houses and chased from their villages to live out their days alone in the wilderness. Even though her concern hadn't lasted more than a second or two, the very fact that she had sympathized meant that she was not all that different from the very people she had been raised to ostracize, and that thought made her sick. She was a disgrace to her family and their legacy, and she vowed to bury any feelings towards the beast other than abhorrence.
By the time Kiona emerged from her thoughts, the beast below was no longer a beast. In its place, a naked man lay on the ground, discreetly covered by what she was assuming was Ike's jacket. The man wasn't conscious, but she could see the gentle rise-and-fall of his chest. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hated that she felt lighter with that knowledge. The anger fueled her, and she nimbly jumped down from the tree. Despite having jumped from many daunting heights before, Kiona had misjudged how high she had been and landed too hard and too stiff. Pain shot up her ankles, but it was hardly noticeable amidst the sharp, burning pain that ignited in her chest. The pain hit her so hard and so fast that it was dizzying, and she swayed on her feet as she waited for relief. Kiona should have known better than to assume that she had escaped her fall uninjured; the adrenaline must have only masked an injury. She grit her teeth, the idea of having to feel her ribs for breaks only adding to her horrible mood.
By the time she got her bearings, Ike's words were still ringing in her ears and Kiona finally snapped. "How dare you call yourself Grovakhan! Yu ste kwelen, a neindropa nomonjoka. Yu na drein au gon bilaik kwelnes, joka." Kiona snarled, her use of their elite language only adding insult to her attack. It was easy to be mad at Ike, easier than being mad at herself, and she directed all of her rage towards him. "You are a disgrace to your people, your ancestors, and your culture. You are a stain on our empire." She spat, storming forward. Ike no longer scared her. If he had planned on killing her, he would have done it long ago. "You allow this beast to continue to live, to breathe, when you know exactly what sort of evil it is capable of. Give me the knife, and I will do what you are so criminally incapable of doing." Kiona demanded, holding her hand out expectantly. With his death, she would regain control over her wayward emotions and she would continue to preserve her family's legacy. All the while, she tactfully avoided looking at the man on the ground, scared that if she looked at him, she wouldn't want to execute him anymore.
(Translation: You are weak, a fakeass motherfucker. You will bleed for your weakness, fucker)
|
|
|
|
Post by Elvander on Oct 22, 2020 20:33:45 GMT
Trys braced herself as the scene unfolded, and in that moment, she felt that she was making a final stand. Whatever the beast was doing at the bottom of Kiona's tree, she wasn't keen on finding out what sort of destruction two lycans could cause. Trys readied another arrow as in a matter of seconds, the wolf charged at Ike, closing the gap. It happened all too quickly- and then it was over as rapidly as it had begun. A man lay on the ground in front of them, seeming to have snapped out of it on his own. But how could that be? Trys didn't have time to ponder it as Ike threw his coat on Wolfgang and Trys dutifully grabbed some rope, beginning to bind the wrists of the unconscious man. The rope would be meaningless if he shifted again, but if he woke up and was still aggressive, at least a bound man was easier to deal with. She glanced up at Ike- she had to stop meeting men like this. The thought almost made her smile but the situation was still too tense as Kiona stormed in and Trys placed herself between the man's body and the princess' wrath, watching her warily. She didn't understand the woman's language, but she knew it wasn't very complimentary.
"He was looking for you," she proposed the idea softly, pulling a fur cloak over Wolfgang and wrapped it around his body for extra warmth. If his bare skin was pressed against the snow, he'd still freeze even with a cloak on top of him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Val on Oct 23, 2020 19:23:08 GMT
Only after Trys had bound the stranger’s hands did Ike finally relax his aim and sling the cross bow back over his shoulder. Although a piece of rope was hardly any consolation after the monster they’d just witnessed, the man behind the wolf was profoundly unthreatening to Ike. It only took a glance to determine that he was a nobleman; the kind of blue-blooded individual to have never lifted a finger in his life. By now, Ike could surmise that the Lycans were fond of disguising themselves amongst the most privileged of society- the kind of people most would never suspect or dare to accuse.
Ike fixated the princess with a warning glare as she mounted an unprovoked attack on him, spewing the kind of disrespect that only a spoiled princess could muster up. Unsurprisingly, Kiona seemed unable to overcome her identity crisis even after the truth appeared out of thin air and confronted her face to face. Ike could sense that he was becoming an easy target for her to redirect her internal conflict at, but her words were triggering nonetheless, and his patience was wearing thin. After he and Trys had gone out of their way to protect her from the jaws of her own kind, the audacity of Kiona’s insults made him want to throw all sense of his wavering morality out the window. She was asking for it.
“He wasn’t just looking for you- he found you,” Ike built upon Trys’ attempt to make Kiona see the light, but he could tell that it wasn’t effective enough. Kiona was the type of person who needed to learn lessons the hard way, and Ike was feeling provoked enough to play into her dramatics. He slipped a hunting knife from his belt and stormed toward the princess, shoving the weapon into her outstretched hand. He tightened his fingers around hers, forcing her to grip the hilt, “By all means,” he growled, turning abruptly back toward their prisoner. He shouldered Trys out of the way to give Kiona a clear view of her victim and bent to force the man up into a sitting position. “Go ahead. Slaughter one of your kin, make your point. I will take it as full permission to end our agreed upon mission,” Ike asserted, a threat intermingled with the promise. If Kiona wanted to treat Lycans like the beasts they were, then he would do the same, no exceptions.
Ike’s grip tightened on the man as he finally stirred awake, greeted by what he could imagine was an alarming scene. He kept their prisoner restrained as he pleaded his case and stared at Kiona pointedly, challenging her to follow through with her perceived sense of justice while looking the man in the eye.
Death was turning out to be exactly how Wolfgang liked to imagine it. The gentle hands of a woman enveloping his cold, dead body into a blanket of warmth. Muted, unintelligible voices guiding him to the other side. It didn’t matter what they were saying, he was dead. Just as he had reached a comfortable level of acceptance, the soothing tones morphed into the sound of a loud, angry voice. Before he could make sense of his unexpected return to consciousness, he felt himself being jerked upwards into a sitting position, sending waves of pain crashing through his recovering body. His system struggled to keep up with the outside forces that were manipulating his body, but his mind was already recalling the moments leading up to his black out. All at once, memories of the wolf’s rampage flooded through him and left him with the glaring question of how much damage he had caused this time.
Wolfgang’s eyes shot open and several seconds passed before he was able to focus on the startling image in front of him. Without a doubt, it was the girl from the tree, except now she was planted firmly on the ground, standing over him with a knife gripped firmly in her hand. His eyes widened fractionally, and he instinctually tried to move his hands up in a show of surrender, but they were tied together firmly in his lap. A large hand was clamped down on his arm, holding him in place, though he couldn’t see exactly who was restraining him from behind. His eyes flickered sideways, landing on the third member of the party- a woman who looked just as weary as he felt about the situation at hand. Despite awaking to such unfortunate circumstances, Wolfgang felt relief over the fact that everyone appeared relatively unharmed and there was no obvious carnage in sight. At least to him, it felt like a successful experiment compared to his most recent shifts.
The relief was short lived as he quickly caught on to the fact that they appeared to be deciding whether or not to kill him. He’d talked himself out of a death sentence before, and there was no reason why he couldn’t do it again, “Please, allow me to explain,” he spoke up, meeting the younger women’s gaze directly. His wolf was now dormant, likely in recovery mode, but the stir of familiarity was still present when he looked upon the supposed stranger, “I have no intentions of harming any of you. My name is Wolfgang Van Dam. I hail from the Kingdom of Raevaryn to the south. I have traveled out here for research purposes regarding my…condition. Some-“ he hesitated, and ultimately decided not to pin his frenzy on the girl who was clearly upset by his mere presence, “Something triggered the transformation, but I assure you; you are no longer in danger.” Although he couldn’t be positive of such a statement, he had to do what he could to quell their anxiety as they swallowed the information that he was feeding them.
Despite his vulnerable position, Wolfgang managed to maintain his collected demeanor, but he had a feeling nothing was going to come off quite as sincere as he would’ve liked. He was tethered and mostly naked, though they had the decency to cover him up. Still, he could imagine how deranged he must seem as he attempted to engage in a complicated conversation with apparent foreigners after what they’d just witnessed. Fortunately, winning over strangers was nothing new to the formerly notorious socialite.
“This is a misunderstanding- an anomaly if you will,” he insisted. An anomaly, indeed, and Wolfgang intended on finding out exactly what had occurred. That meant not only convincing these people to let him live, but also recruiting them for his cause. “If I have caused any injury, I have shelter and a friend nearby who will gladly tend to you. A healer- a good one.” The description of Sasha was an understatement, but he hoped that the mysterious travelers would take him up on his offer so that he could return to her as soon as possible. Having said his peace after several long-winded breaths, Wolfgang forced himself to stop speaking and awaited the inevitable questions- or violence- that would follow.
|
|
|
|
Post by starrea on Oct 26, 2020 23:15:04 GMT
Even as Ike stormed towards her with a knife in his hand, Kiona knew he wasn't going to kill her. He hadn't killed her yet and she doubted that he ever would. Still, she was surprised when he encompassed her small hands in his larger, calloused ones and wrapped her fingers around the blade. Up until this moment, the three of them had been acting like she wasn't a prisoner. She wasn't restrained, but she was never allowed out of Ike's range of sight and he was careful about what she had access to. It was a false reality, but a far preferable one to being bound. The only reason Kiona had so boldly made that claim was because she didn't think Ike would just hand her a knife. As much as her culture had taught her to hate supernatural creatures, her hatred for Ike far surmounted her prejudices and the idea of staining the earth with his blood was now possibly attainable.
Kiona's ravings had finally caught up to her, and she was finally forced to look at the man she planned to kill. The first thing she noticed was his age; he was considerably older than her, but not unattractive. He had a certain softness to his features, a trait acquired when one didn't need to struggle to survive - a sure sign of southern nobility. He was tall, tall enough that Kiona expected he would tower over when he stood full height, and lean. His beard was in desperate need of a trim, and his long, dirty blonde hair was mercilessly tousled by the cold winds. Her gaze traveled upwards, navigating the sharp features of his face until she finally reached his eyes. His eyes drew her in and held her there, locked in the depths of their intensity. Her lungs seemed to have forgotten how to breathe, but her heart started to race as she found herself unable to look away. There was nothing overtly special about his eyes, nothing extraordinary, except in the way that they made her feel like she knew this man - or that was she was supposed to know this man. It was like her body something that her mind didn't, something about this man that explained why he was so familiar.
Her grip on the knife was so tight that her knuckles were white, but Kiona couldn't break herself free of the man's gaze. She was frozen, unable to do what Ike couldn't do but unwilling to admit that she shared the very traits she had just finished debasing Ike for. The stalemate didn't last long; with a scream of indignation, Kiona spun around, reaching up with the hand that wasn't holding the knife to knot itself in her hair and pull. She pictured burying the knife to the hilt in Ike's neck, absolutely positive that she wouldn't hesitate for even a moment given the chance. His threat drifted across her mind, and she took a deep breath as she tried to talk herself down. She couldn't kill him because it would inadvertently seal her own fate - or at least, that's what she told herself.
Kiona curled and unfurled her fingers around the handle of the knife, her gaze bouncing between the others. Her paranoia and desperation was reaching a culmination and she was cracking under the pressure. The fragile peace had been irrevocably shattered by the emergence of the stranger, and there was no going back. She was barely tolerating Ike and Trys, but the stranger was so unnerving that Kiona was nearly choking on the desire to flee. His arrival was an abrupt awakening, a forceful glimpse at the secrets that were hidden within her, secrets she wasn't ready to face. She had been outnumbered and weaponless when it was just the three of them, but now she had a knife and Trys and Ike would have a hard time managing two prisoners between the two of them.
"You," Kiona screeched, pointing the blade in the direction of Ike, "I'm done entertaining this little fantasy of yours. I am going my own way now," Her gaze snapped between Trys and Ike warily, positioning herself carefully so they both in front of her. Her gaze drifted down, towards the naked and bound man at Ike's feet. Her heart skipped a beat and the frustration for the situation boiled over into her tone, "And you, don't follow me and don't look for me," She didn't ask why he had been looking for her in the first place, getting nausea just at endless possibilities of what the answer could be. She swallowed down bile, giving a hard look to the three of them in front of her and she slowly took a step back, and then another.
|
|
|
|
Post by Elvander on Nov 10, 2020 20:59:49 GMT
Trys watched it all unfold, feeling a profound sense of anxiety grip her. Ike had just given their volatile young friend a knife. She wasn't as concerned for the man bound at her feet, but for Ike. Kiona was more liable to burry the weapon in his neck than the shifter's. Trys allowed Ike to shoulder her out of the way and held her spear warily, her sharp eyes following every movement. It was truly incredible- in a matter of weeks, she'd encountered not one, but two lycans of very different experiences. One, a young princess who had lost her family to her condition, knowing nothing about it. And then this man, who had seemingly been drawn to their party because of her. He appeared to be in control of his monster, and that was what Trys had wanted to find.
"This is why we came here," She reminded Kiona as the girl began to back away, threatening them. Trys was at her wit's end with this journey, and if they had connected her with another person who could help her, she was inclined to make her Wolfgang's problem. "We wanted to go South to meet someone who could help you. And we've found him. Or rather, he found us." She tapped the tip of her spear against Wolfgang's shoulder, "You should go with him. Learn whatever he knows."
|
|
|
|
Post by Val on Nov 12, 2020 4:49:50 GMT
Just as Kiona knew that he wouldn’t kill her, Ike knew that she would not turn the knife on him or any of the others. Despite their many differences and the animosity between them, Ike felt like he understood the girl. Her threats were empty and driven solely by fear, pain and loss- all things Ike was plenty familiar with. The princess managed to bring out the worst in him as she constantly dug where it hurt the most and stood unknowingly as a painful reminder of his past. There were a million excuses for his cruel behavior, but none of them were enough to stop the regret from bubbling up inside of him as he watched Kiona break down.
The man at his feet had undoubtably pushed Kiona over some unforeseen line, and Ike knew that his own immature behavior had only contributed to the distress, even if it was difficult to admit. Ike considered silencing the rambling southerner but decided to allow Wolfgang to speak to his heart’s content, taking in the information while his eyes remained trained on Kiona. The nobleman spoke far too much for his liking, but he seemed unexpectedly forthcoming and willing to become involved with their dysfunctional group. The only problem was getting Kiona to achieve some level of acceptance.
“Kiona,” he spoke impulsively as she took a step back and immediately winced at the harshness of his own voice. It was not in Ike’s nature to be patient, but the last thing he wanted was to have to chase her down again. “You can’t run,” he reminded her, though this time the words were not a warning, but a plea. They both knew that he would find her again, and that the chase and capture would only lead to further tension between them. On top of that, Trys was right; this man was who they’d been looking for. Although Ike had yet to make a decision regarding the lycans in his custody, he was willing to at least learn more about the cursed beasts he resented. He’d come this far, and it would be dishonorable to renege on his agreement.
“I’m sorry,” he forced the apology out, willing to suppress his pride for the sake of cooperation, “Just…stay.” It was all he had to offer, and his eyes reflected his sincerity as well as the weight of his own decision to continue to spare not only her, but the man who’d come after her. Beneath his prickly exterior, he was human and inevitably felt sympathy for her situation. Whether or not she shared the sentiment towards him had yet to be seen.
The silent exchange between Wolfgang and the girl felt incredibly surreal and the sense of familiarity grew the longer they studied each other. She appeared to be around his brother’s age and shared a similar traumatized look in her eyes as the young man. Her gentle features were wrought with stress and exhaustion, and his gaze immediately softened when their eyes connected. Even though she had a visible death grip on the knife, he didn’t feel threatened by her. Rather, he took the growing tension amidst their circle as a signal to silence himself. It didn’t take a genius to realize that there was a far greater problem than his arrival at hand, namely the tangible hostility in the air.
Wolfgang was jolted out of his contemplative state by the touch of Trys’ spear and he angled his head to look up at her curiously as she presented herself as the voice of reason. Her words were enough to ignite a sense of awareness and suddenly all the tidbits of information started to piece together into a full picture, leaving him to wonder how he hadn’t seen it before. Or, perhaps, he just didn’t want to see it. His eyes snapped back to Kiona and he stared at her as the realization came full force. The scent, the recognition, and the sense desolation emanating from her that he knew all too well. She was like him.
As if on cue, his wolf stirred back into consciousness, awakening from his slumber to check on the target he’d been so desperate to find. The entity seemed displeased that his rampage had been cut short, but Wolfgang was far to enthralled by his latest discovery to care. Finally, he’d met one of his own kind. The aching sense of isolation within him was suddenly replaced with an intense desire to know this girl, to take her under his wing, and to let her know that there was hope. Before he had the chance to formulate his thoughts, Kiona let out a scream and set off on a tirade as she prepared for departure. Her pointed demand felt like a pierce to the heart- he knew she was overwhelmed, but it seemed impossible that she could ignore the connection between them. His heart began to thud uncomfortably against his chest as Kiona backed away, seeming unresponsive to the reasoning of her companions. Each step felt like a mile of distance, and the wolf within was mounting pressure for him to act.
“Wait!” The shout exploded out of him like an uncontainable sneeze- a reflex in response to her fleeing. It took him a moment to realize that he had launched himself forward, only to be stopped by the wall of a man that was restraining him and forced back down. He took several deep breaths to calm himself, “I can help you,” he told Kiona adamantly, “We can help each other.”
|
|
|
|
Post by starrea on Nov 13, 2020 5:50:47 GMT
Somehow, hearing Ike pleas were more unnerving than his usual domineering enforcement of her cooperation. Coupled with the exclamation of the stranger, it was enough to cease Kiona's retreat. She recognized that Ike finally acknowledged that she was fracturing, treating her like a wild animal with calm words and slow movements, but he was too late. The panic was already subsiding, giving way to exhaustion. Minutes before, his apology would have only fed into her existential anger, but the hopelessness of her situation had extinguished it. She wanted to ask what exactly he was sorry for; was it her family's massacre? Was it the way he had forced her to face the ugly truth about herself, and then left her to quietly grieve the loss of her family and grapple with her newfound identity and how it clashed with her very core beliefs? Was it because he had basically imprisoned her and forced her against her will on this journey? It didn't matter; his apology was useless and it didn't change a damn thing.
For over two weeks, Kiona had been desperately clinging to her plummeting sanity, struggling to hold herself together as she careened towards a breakdown - but when Wolfgang adamantly offered his help, she finally let go. A sense of calm washed over her, rinsing away the unyielding panic that had been strangling her. For the first time since the massacre of her family, the tension in her chest dissolved and she took a full, deep, cleansing breath. The weight of bearing everything that had happened, the weight of needing to survive through it all, lifted off of her and she felt lighter than she had in weeks. She had been carefully avoiding the truth of what she was, denying the very possibility for the sake of her sanity. To admit her nature was to accept that was the embodiment of everything she had been raised to hate; a supernatural monster that only brought destruction and death. She was the same creature they hunted for sport, the same beast they trapped and tormented before execution. Her hatred of werewolves was weaved deeply into her being, deeper than her sense of self-preservation. She didn't want Wolfgang's help; she would rather perish than indulge in the monstrosity that shared her being.
Her fate was sealed; there was only one way this ended, and it was with her death. It didn't matter what paths she chose or what choices she made - they would all lead her to the same destination. She would never be truly free again. The only freedom she would ever experience would be in fleeting moments of escape, but she would always be looking over her shoulder, always running from someone. She would never get to start over. She would never avenge her family's death, never carry on their legacy, never have the chance to fall in love or create a life for herself.
Kiona looked down at the knife in her hands with a new perspective, exploring the possibilities the knife lent that she hadn't previously considered. The radical acceptance of her fate was liberating, giving her the courage to finally face all of the truths she had been hiding from. Now that she was certain her death was unavoidable, the only choice Kiona had to make was how she was going to die. She wasn't going to give Ike the satisfaction of killing her, and she wouldn't let him drag her back to Grovakha to be publicly executed by the traitors who had murdered her family. It was the last bit of control she had; after being mercilessly victimized by the uncontrollable tragic series of events in her life, it felt gratifying to have control over this one last decision. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough, Mom. But you'll see me soon, and we'll be together again.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry too," Kiona said, finally breaking free of the trance the knife had held her under to look up at Ike. Her words were soft and sad and her tone lacked the usual resentment it held when she spoke to Ike. Her gaze drifted down to the bound stranger, her heart heavy with the knowledge of what she was about to do. She swallowed down the urge to apologize to him, as if she knew her actions would hurt him. "And you can't help me," She said softly, looking away a second later, afraid that if she stared too long, she would lose her conviction. Before either of them could reply, Kiona raised the knife to her wrist and quickly stuck it in as deep as it would go before dragging it upwards, leaving a trail of thick, red blood in its wake.
|
|
|
|
Post by Elvander on Nov 14, 2020 21:01:24 GMT
Trys waited, the scene unfolding leaving her feeling fraught with tension. Every muscle in her body was coiled like a spring, ready to respond to whatever happened next. But no one’s pleading was going to get through to the traumatized girl, and when she plunged the knife into her own wrist, it was the last thing Trys expected. “No!” She screamed as the scarlet blood fell to the snow beneath them, knowing she would have to act fast. Once again, the girl was near death, and this time, it was at her own hand. Trys threw herself forward, abandoning Wolfgang to throw the knife from Kiona’s hand. “Why did you do that?” She snapped, panicking as she tore at her clothes to find something to soak up the blood.
|
|
|
|
Post by Val on Nov 22, 2020 1:00:42 GMT
There was something unnerving about the way Kiona was regarding him. Ike could practically see the fight draining out of her, and for a split second he wondered if she would finally give in and take heed of what everyone was trying to tell her. It wasn’t until she mulled over the knife- the knife he had given her- that a sense of dread crept over him. He watched, frozen in place, as she dragged the blade up her arm. His objection was caught in his throat- he was too late, and the situation was wildly out of his control. He watched, motionless, as Trys flung herself to the rescue, unable to follow right away.
Ike was at a crossroads, and he could see the two paths laid out before him that would ultimately decide his fate. As a bounty hunter this was best case scenario. Kiona would bleed out by her own hand, and he could slaughter the remaining lycan and return home a hero. His companionship with Trys would undoubtably end, but it would be for the best. He belonged at home, amongst his people, to serve the noble duty of eradicating evil from the world. The human side of him, however, was witnessing a tragedy. Kiona was a target that he had not only spared, but saved, and now the opportunity presented itself once again for him to change his mind. It seemed like the universe was replaying a cruel joke on him over and over again, testing him; first when the princess had fallen through the ice, and now a devastating suicide attempt.
He could hear Wolfgang speaking to him and, although he registered the words, he did not respond. His eyes had now landed on the knife that Trys had discarded where it laid in thin layer of half melted snow, stained with Kiona’s blood. Numb to the chaos going on around him, he stepped forward and approached the weapon, bending to retrieve it. He held the hunting knife in his hand, the weight of it reminding him of the decision that was yet to be made. He gripped the cold hilt of the blade and turned on Wolfgang, staring the other man down with a palpable sense of loathing. Without warning, he advanced on the man and kneeled in front of him, drawing the knife forward. At the last second, he dipped the blade and cut the rope that bound Wolfgang’s hands together, freeing him.
The decision was made, and yet he still felt a relentless weight bearing down upon him. Now that he’d committed to a path, they still faced the enormous task of saving the princess once again, this time from herself. Wordlessly, he turned away from Wolfgang and hurried to Trys’s side, dropping to his knees beside Kiona. Satisfied that Trys had done her best to stop the bleeding with their limited resources, he hooked an arm beneath Kiona’s knees and placed the other at her back, “Dammit, princess,” he muttered before hoisting her into his arms and rising to his feet with a sense of urgency.
Ike regarded the freed Wolfgang, already questioning his rash decision as he tucked Kiona firmly against his chest, “Take us to the healer,” he demanded, officially putting their fate into the hands of a stranger he didn’t trust.
Wolfgang had tried to kill himself once. He’d been a young man of twenty-two and his father had mysteriously died four years prior, upon which the curse was inevitably passed onto him. His father had tried to prepare him, but one could only be so prepared to live out such a cruel existence. Saddled with raising his kid brother and running his family’s University, Wolfgang had endured several long years of overwhelming responsibility as well as the weight of his enormous family secret. He found his escape through a second life of debauchery- the details of which he was not proud of. During that time, he’d undoubtedly become one of Sahara’s highest paying customers, and she gave him what he wanted, no questions asked- including enough sedatives to put down at horse. He’d indulged with the express purpose of not waking up, but his attempt had ultimately failed.
Now, seeing the blade slice through Kiona’s skin, he felt as if he was experiencing that despair all over again. The action was so unexpected, so violent, that he was left to grapple with the shock of it. He’d been so blinded by the excitement of encountering his kin that he failed to see the obvious; she was grieving. Where Wolfgang had reached a level of acceptance, Kiona was in fierce denial. She was like him all those years ago, when it felt easier to give up than to forge onward. He was empathetic to her suffering, but that didn’t squash the hope he’d felt upon discovering her. Wolfgang knew that it was his duty to save this girl with time and healing and guidance, but first he had to save her life.
Even as he watched the blood pour from the self-inflicted wound, Wolfgang did not allow himself to panic in the way his body wanted to. Instead, his mind became hyper focused with the sole purpose of keeping her alive. To his surprise, his wolf shared the sentiment. When they both had the same goal, their minds seemed to meld as one to get the job done- and this job was apparently the most important of all.
With Trys tending to the wound within a matter of moments, Wolfgang refocused his attention on the man who had all but turned into a statue at his side. “We need to get to my healer. Now,” he demanded, losing the passive attitude he’d held only moments before. “Let me lead you,” he persisted, feeling restrained from taking action by the rope that bound his hands. His mind had one objective: get Kiona to Sasha. Sasha would save the girl’s life, and he would make sure that she never felt so hopeless again.
Tension built as he watched Ike slowly stir to life and make a move. It wasn’t until the man turned on him with the knife that he realized he may have critically misjudged the probability of his release. Anticipating the worst, he braced himself for an attack only to feel his hands being swiftly cut free. Releasing a breath of relief, he flexed his fingers and gripped the large blanket that had been thrown around him, wrapping it securely around his exposed body. Once he’d gotten his bearings, he couldn’t get to his feet fast enough. He rose from his knees and planted his bare feet into the cold ground, though he barely registered the bite of the icy snow. By the time he was approaching the group that had huddled around Kiona, Ike had already lifted the girl into his arms.
Wolfgang didn’t need to be told twice. He attempted to catch Kiona’s gaze one last time, wanting her to know that everything was going to be okay, but he had a feeling she wasn’t going to take their help kindly. Instead of wasting precious time, he turned in the direction that he’d come from. His wolf had carved a distinct path of destruction through the forest, making it easy for them to find their way back to the house. With his mind focused on getting from point A to point B, he nodded at the others before setting off on the trail, “Follow me.”
|
|
|
|
Post by starrea on Nov 23, 2020 23:45:58 GMT
The human body is funny; even if the mind wants to die, the body will still fight to survive. It wasn’t the pain that made Kiona hesitate – she was not a stranger of pain – but the sheer force of her body’s survival instinct kicking in. The initial cut was deep; her wrist was splayed open, allowing the blood to flow freely out. There was something relieving about externalizing her pain, something freeing about the way the demons seemed to drain out of her with her blood. She tried to keep going, but her hand was frozen with the tip of the blade embedded into her skin. Her mind and her body were at war, neither side willing to surrender. Turn your pain into power, Inessa’s voice floated through her mind, the familiar words usually spoken after she had knocked Kiona on her ass for the umpteenth time during training, nobody is coming to save you. Her sister's mantra resonated through Kiona, overriding the shock of the reality of what she was doing, and she forged ahead. She pushed harder; the knife gored her wrist open, releasing a tidal wave of red. She dragged the blade up, almost to the crook of her elbow before she finally released the pressure. The pain subsided immediately, numbed by the wave of endorphins that rushing through her blood. Her heart was racing, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from what she had just done. There was so much blood and each frantic beat of her heart only vigorously pushed the blood out faster. Her eyes drifted back to the knife, entranced by the remnants of her blood on it. She remembered her mission; she needed to finish the job. She glanced at her other wrist, but now that she knew she had the conviction to follow through, she raised the knife to her throat.
The knife was gone. Kiona’s mind spun as it tried to keep up, but she was losing focus with every drop of blood that drained out of her. Trys was there, wrapping something around her wrist. Kiona clawed at her, clawed at the wrapping. "Don’t touch me!" Kiona screeched, trying to yank herself free but her strength was fading fast. The sudden exertion made her head swim, the world slipping out of focus into nauseating swirls of color. The world tipped sideways and Kiona crashed to the ground, but she didn't feel the impact. She was floating, too far away to feel pain anymore. She could feel someone pulling at her, something wrapping around her wrist, but it was too far away for Kiona to care. Her eyes fell to the pool of red she was sitting in, entranced by it. Jus drein jus daun, the terrorists had chanted as they stormed the castle, rounding her family up and massacring them one by one, cutting them open and leaving them to bleed out. Here is all my blood, Kiona thought, take all my blood. Let me be with my family.
Darkness crept in from the edges of her vision and Kiona felt unbearably tired. The world was quickly fading but she wasn’t afraid. Just as she was about to slip under, movement jarred her awake and she blinked her eyes open, color assaulting the encroaching darkness. She was moving – no, she was floating. Her head was impossibly heavy and the strength she needed to hold it up had already drained out of her, and it lolled back to reveal the true source of her levitation.
“I want my dad,” Kiona’s mouth moved but there were a million miles between her mind and her mouth and she was too disconnected to know if she actually spoke. “I’m sorry I’m not strong, Daddy.” The words felt slurred, even in her thoughts, but it felt immensely important to apologize before she went under. She caught the flash of someone near her, someone looking at her, but she was too far gone to process the twinge of guilt she felt. The darkness rushed back, enveloping Ike and stealing all the color from the world, and mercifully, stealing her as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by Elvander on Nov 28, 2020 22:48:49 GMT
Trys worked to stem the bleeding as much as she could, piling more torn pieces of her clothing on top of the wrap which quickly soaked with blood. She was so focused on saving Kiona, even as the girl fought to die, that she didn't notice the exchange between Ike and Wolfgang. She didn't even think for a second that this was a turning point for Ike- Trys had believed in the man's good intentions, his capability for humanity, that she hadn't doubted that he would help. As Ike propped Kiona up Trys stood back, staring at her blood stained hands. When would this end? When would things feel calm again?
Her head swiveled toward Wolfgang as he gestured for them to follow. Had he said something about a healer? Trys wondered if the man was leading them to capture, but she didn't have a choice but to trust him. They needed to get out of the elements, and if there was someone who could save the princess, then they had to go. Kiona might not want to live now- but she would, eventually. Trys had a hard time relating to the girl's actions- she had a naturally sunny disposition and a lust for life that nothing had eaten away at. But the lycan princess had also survived a terrible, traumatic tragedy that had left her mind and heart in fragments.
"Let's go," she decided, and left it to Ike to carry the girl as she quickly grabbed whatever supplies were immediately accessible- their packs, sleeping rolls, whatever she could carry, and began to follow Wolfgang to the cabin.
--
Sasha was tense. Her encounter with Wolfgang's wild side had left her shaken, but praising the gods that he hadn't killed her. She always forgot, or perhaps ignored, just how dangerous her friend could truly be. At any moment, he could turn and massacre her, despite his best intentions. And so as the hours dragged on, she paced the cabin, trying to busy herself with getting familiar with the new environment. She unpacked their belongings, started a fire in the hearth, and began to cook a soup and bake bread to pass the time. As the fire warmed the cabin, she strained her ears for any sign of Wolfgang returning. She had to trust him. But what if he returned all bloodied after killing someone? What if he returned with live prey? What if he was injured, or what if he didn't return at all?
|
|
