We Who Continue to Live

[stray]

The sun was lingering above overhead but was blurred by the thick clouds that were passing over the area. The shadows the clouds produced danced across the valley, giving the area a sort of morbid and deplorable feel. Fresh snow had fallen, only a small blanket, nothing too heavey like he had experienced earlier. He could still pick out the broken pillars which formed the cave he had stayed in with Miss Shay. He still remembered that this was the one of the first places Stray had roamed when he came here. His paws were silent against the pristine snow, leaving behind the footprint of a boot, a paw inside of it.

Lifting his ebony nose to the sky he took in a deep breath. It would start snowing soon, and there were other creatures nearby. None of them had the scent meaning to bring harm, so he paid no mind to them. He continued walking, a white wolf nearly invisible against the snow. THe wounds he had recieved while here had healed nicely thanks to the full moons. Under his eye he still bore a scar running down his cheek, and his shoulder still was wounded from the days of the panther demon.

The wolf was no warrior, nothing brave or worthy of such caliber. He was merely a Stray, one who had wandered the world for a very long time in constant search of what he did not know. Stray, as that was the only name he knew for himself, found a falling pillar on an incline and walked up it. Finding a comfortable spot he laid down on it atop the snow. The only thing that made him visible to someone who passed by was the black nose and the piercing cerulean eyes he possessed. The eyes that bore the pain of the world, the pain of his soul. Kira had found his eyes beautiful and the saddest thing he'd ever seen, and Shay had found them to be the most painful thing to stare into.

Stray listened to the wind, trying to plan where he'd search for his next meal. The breeze told him of others approaching, and though he remained quiet he remained arched and ready to spring to life if need be.

[sorceress]

Lucrecia walked through the freshy fallen snow boredly. At first the snow is a beautiful thing, so white and pure, but then it turns into little more than a nusance. The woman's pale nose and shoulders were tinted pink from the bitter winds and her hair, was becoming soaked as it accumulated snow.

She stopped briefly to shake her head free of snow and open her left eye. She didn't fancy keeping her eye closed for so long but it was better than walking into a tree and looking like a complete fool, even if the only witnesses were a few birds and other few woodland creatures that remained out in the bitter weather. Her left eye only saw in black, white and gray, meaning that with all of the snow Lucrecia could miss a rock or tree and end up injured.

Lucrecia rolled her eye as she trudged on, not too sure where she was headed. She really wasn't too sure about her location and the fact that everything was beginning to melt together was not helping at all.

She dropped her small doll onto the ground, too lazy to carry it any longer and, with a twitch of her fingers, made it walk beside her on it's own. The doll had a sort of idiotic bounce in it's step as it bounded through the snow, it's legs nearly covered.

The two walked on for a long while until up ahead Lucrecia saw pillars scattered throughout a small area of the forest. Mostly everything was white, but the ends of the pillars shown, with the ocasional gravel dropping down and landing in the snow with a 'plunk'. Lucrecia looked around cautiously before spotting a small spot of black atop a broken pillar. Unsure what it was she grabbed her doll and hid behind a nearby tree. Almost certain that whatever it was had seen her, she pulled out a dagger from within one of the many belts adorning her skirt and held it to her chest, she would only attack if it attacked first.

[rhapsody]

Cold, bittercold, fear, ice, locked, chilled, run... run... run... run... RUN!

And run she did. Small legs tumbled through the snow, her cloak lost, her arms bare, her feet naked, and her legs frozen. But still she shouldered on, panic edged in her step, fear lodged in her throat. She'd made her descision and she was regretting it with every inch of her heart. She'd left that which she knew and had grown up in, for something else--for freedom. A silent longer had spurred her into action, and her bandit troup had not objected when she did not appear among the camp. It was one less mouth to feed. Besides, she held no true potential--no magic or special mechanics. They could afford to lose her, and would not waste resources and time to drag her back.

At first, she'd though this a plus... her young mind unable to twist itself around the true terrors of reality outside of the security of a strong and powerful group. Out here there were monsters, which she had already learned within seconds of her departure.

At the ripe, young age of nine she was not abundant in experience, and in her panic at the sight of the beast she'd dropped the little that she had--a knife, some bread, and her covetted cloak. If the demon didn't catch, her then the winter would later. Either way, death was sliding beside her as she ran... and she was too filled with young life to realize it.
Perhaps this worked in her favor, as she was willing to fight for air as long as she could... as best as she could--until it was forcefully taken from her.

However, she'd been running for quite sometime, and the snow was beginning to ice between her bare toes, and crust around her ankles. Her skin was paling and turning blue, and her insides were beginning to grow sluggish as her legs began to fail her--seemingly dissapearing from beneath her. Yet hope still remained, the shelter of the trees and pillars. Yes she saw them. Even if their height wouldn't give her an advantage, the white stalks would provide temporary shelter from the hunting gaze, and the snow would dampen the scent.
With a fervent cry--pitiful, feeble, and desperate--she plunged forward, fighting for air and struggling for balance.

She didn't notice the wolf or the woman, and even if she did... they would be saviors in her eyes--the young eyes of a nine year old human. Nonetheless, she didn't see them and thus with a final leap she twisted... falling to the snow covered ground. The powder stuck savagely to her hair, face and clothes... but she was too cold to know its burning chill.
Crawling desperately, she made it the rest of the way... curling herself up within the acute shadow of a leaning pillar. She had settled herself in the hidden notch, just as the thunderous sound of a hungering beast rumbled ever nearer... into the clearing of white pillared stone.

[stray]

A doll, what a strange thing to see. Stray had never seen a soulless being come to life and walk among the humans. It was intriguing, as was the woman. She bore her confidence like second skin, pride and power that coveted the inner beings of a complex being. The doll was her manipulation, perhaps she could create the pseudo-souls and bring life to those which should remain play things. Despite this, the sound of unsheathing blade brought Stray from his thoughts. The fur on his back raised and the wolf stood upon the pillar. Its front legs spread, back bent just slightly, lips flaring with fangs glistened against the cool air. Clouds of steamy exhale condensed around his nostrils.

The cerulean of his eyes intensified, the carnal instincts of a beast pushing the conscience of the man far away into the corners of his mind. It lost the love that the beaten gateways had. But this was what Stray dealt with, being both and being neither. Pants. Small tiny pants filled the air and Stray turned his eyes away from the intruder, the puppet now hidden from his deadly fangs. Just briefly he caught sight of a tiny little girl crawling to a shelter.

A...little girl?

Memories came flooding back to him, the memories of the little Eskimo girl. It was as if he could see her loving smile and feel her tiny hand tugging on the sleeve of his jacket. The haunting giggles that filled the air, the wolf suddenly did not seem as savage and feral. The memories danced across his eyes, but the spectator and possible threat would not understand what went on in the beasts eyes. She had no shoes, the girl, she had no sleeves, she was going to die soon. Stray knew this, his senses tingled down to the dirt scuffed beneath his claws. The wolf knew hypothermia, he knew how often he'd come within inches of death. Stray did not have time to fight this woman, this little girl needed his assistance.

Leaping from the throne he had stood upon he landed a good few yards behind and to the left of the woman. When his paws touched the ground the rest of his body was already in motion, causing snow to fly against the wind from his skidding as he took off toward the little girl. I may have failed one. I shall not fail this one. His eyes remained glued on the shelter she had scurried under. A small crevice formed by the two pillars, just as he had stayed in with Miss Shay. The wolf, sliding down on its belly, wiggled into the crevice where the girl was.

He put a finger to his lips, "Do not be afraid little girl, I mean you no harm." Ah yes, the human Stray was dominant. The man had soft cerulean eyes, benevolent at best, though filled with the history of mistakes. He wore a white shirt that allowed his emaciated frame to be seen, a heavy brown and dirty grey jacket over it. Black slacks lined his legs and boots that constantly kept two footprints. "I see you've been running, I can tell with your breath," he smiled weakly. "You're just a little one, aren't you? Well here," he shimmed out of his jacket as quickly as he could and draped it over the little girl's shoulders. From his pocket he pulled out a tiny white mitten. This mitten had been fixed many times, blue thread, red thread, green thread, hundreds of tiny stitches were carved into the mitten in hopes of repair. He put the mitten on one of the girl's hands, "I'm afraid that I do not have a second mitten to give you, but I hope this will do for now." Lastly he removed his white shirt, leaving himself bare from the waist up for the girl to see. His ribs were visible, scars followed his shoulder blade, and many wounds from brutal abuse. He handed this shirt to the girl and put it in her hands. "Change out of those wet clothes."

Abruptly Stray turned his head toward the mouth of this small ramshackle of a cave. The sound sent a shiver down his spine, frown etched into his face, "A demon..... Stray took one last look at the girl and ruffled her hair gently, the last thing he hoped to say was in his eyes, that he'd protect her. Stray sprinted out of the cage, the wolf once again returning to the battlefield, leaving behind a trail of wolf tracts within the area of the footprint of a man's boot. The wolf stood its ground at the mouth of the cave, arching down so his nose nearly touched the pristine snow. Tail arched back to continue the downward slope of his body. Growls ensued from the canines open mouth. He side glanced at the woman, who still possessed a dagger at her disposal.

"It will be strong....either fight it or leave now, I will not allow anyone to get in my way of protecting that girl."

The wolf turned to the forest clearing, "Where are you...demon

[/center]

[gyiupee]

Time and time again she had pushed her limits as to how far she could travel from water, and every time she got into a situation of distress. Gyiupee did follow the boundaries and this time it would have killed her had it not been this season. Half a week away from her home and she knew it was time to return. She only had a week without collapsing to her death without the embrace of water. While passing through these lands of giant pillars she had come upon a realization of dread. It was when she had been passed a lake, which she had intended upon using to recharge her energy enough to get home quicker, and to her terror the lake was frozen over. The lake was a good deal larger than her home lake which meant that indefinitely her home lake was also covered in a sheet of ice. There was no point in walking all the way to her lake to find it as this one. Instead she had put her effort on breaking through the lakes ice. She was no means a warrior of strength. Should she have been coming from the water to the surface she would be able to build up enough momentum to break through, but not now. Two days of wasted strength on attempts to break the ice left her wasted, and taxed of all her strengths. In her effort to be safe from the predators lurking around, she had hid herself amongst the pillars. Only when she opened her bright green eyes would some one see her in the snow. Her ghost skin of white, hair of white and white dress disappeared into the snow. Lucky being a sea creature she didn’t need heat to stay alive, and would have to fear of that death. Yet she still worried away about her skin drying out and dying the painful death.

As she laid there hidden to the world she couldn’t help but hear the crunching of snow; being were about. Not daring enough to move from her spot she sat cramped in the same position she had been in the night before. As she listened to see how many beings were around she could tell that there four, one on four legs, by the sounds of the legs flowing together. The weight of the snow built up on her body from over night was starting to get slightly heavy. The feeling of ice starting to form around her wings was uncomforting. Not covered by any feathers, but just long extensions of bone, in the formation of an arm, with large strained muscles covered in a thick white layer of flesh. Having the wings confided to the little moment and then ice freezing them to their place was painful.

The desire for release from the pain was too great to ignore any more and Gyiupee’s eyes flutter open slightly. She knew there were other beings around, but if they were not to unfriendly looking she could maybe stand up and stretch out without conflict. As her eyes opened the deep colors of the sea waved over through her eyes. Looking side to side without moving her head she saw a woman and what looked to be a doll, but Gyiupee was unsure because of its ability to walk. From where she was sitting, she was forced to move her head if she wanted to see where the other beings where. Afraid to do as much she was hesitant but when words rang out her tension eased a bit. The male was taking care of a child. The angle in her felt for the child and thought kindly of the male, but the coldness she had developed to people was what showed. Not seeing any reason to fear the beings Gyiupee tried to stand. As she rose slowly her muscles wavered at the sudden use when being cramped in her position for so long. Disbelief ran through her, normally she wouldn’t have this type of energy even for standing after being away from water for so long. But as she stood the ice started to crack off and water trickled down from the ice. Her giving up, accepting to sit there and die had saved her. The ice that formed on her over night melted off as her body warmed up with moving again. She was restored for the time being but would soon need the comforts of water again soon, but there was a more pressing matter now. The male mentioned a demon. Did Gyiupee reveal herself too soon?

[sorceress]

Lucrecia cringed as she identified the creature as a wolf who was now bearing his fangs at her in a threatening manner. She quickly put her dagger away and turned back to the wolf. She noticed that his head was turned to the left and followed his gaze to see a little girl, barely even ten years of age, crawling under a pillar for shelter. Lucrecia was about to get up and help the girl but the wolf beat her to it, she eased back onto her knees and watched in intrest as he changed into a human, she saw a kindness in his cerulean eyes and her caution towards him seemed to disolve into guilt.

He gave the girl his shirt, coat and a mitten before emerging from the shelter of the two pillars, once again in the form of a wolf. He turned and for the first time, spoke to her, "It will be strong....either fight it or leave now, I will not allow anyone to get in my way of protecting that girl."

He spoke with such determination, Lucrecia had a slight admiration for his courage. She stood up slowly and came out from behind the tree she had previously used for shelter. She stopped a few feet away from the wolf, "I'm sorry to have made you think I was hostile...one cannot be too sure in a forest. Rest assured I mean you no harm nor do I wish to get in the way of your goal. I am Lucrecia and I will stay and fight...odds are I wouldn't be able to outrun a demon anyway..."

Lucrecia heard the crackling of snow falling to the ground not too far away. She turned her head to the side so see you girl rising from the snow. Her skin and hair were a ghostly white and her eyes were the color of the sea. She seemed harmless by the way she stretched her stiff-looking wings, and by how tired she looked.

Lucrecia took out her dagger and carefully punctured the tip of her index finger, a small droplet of blood formed as she picked up the middle bead on her large red necklace. She turned it over where the kangi 'Rin' was carved into the back and traced the fine lettering with her blood. The kanji began to glow as the snow infront of her began to swirl into a vortex. The vortex slowly became opaque until all of the snow decipated, leaving in it's place a woman, skin as blue as ice and snowflakes decorated her arms and face. With a flick of her wrists Lucrecia was now in control of one of her strongest puppets, knowing that the snowy terrain would put her at a slight advantage.

[Cerberus]

THE MONSTER



"The Jackal"
Known only as the Jackal, this canine beast is the only one of its kind that is known within Algaësia. Recently summoned into life, it has prowled masterless for many days, killing without need, and eating in the absence of hunger. It will pursue any victim it sees fit and has a tireless persistance that can endure for days during a relentless hunt. It is bloodthirsty, but does not lack intelligence. He learns from his mistakes and never makes the same one twice.
Yet, his appearance tells a slightly different story.
His body appears severely emancipated. His ribs stick sorely out, and his bones are obviously visible through the thin flesh. The fur that covers his body is a silvery white, and his image is ghostly and shimmering. At times, it almost appears as if he does not exist and is merely a cloud, shapeless but still existant. This is a part of his demonic nature. His eyes are a molten shade of vibrant red, and he does not see in the same way as you or I. He sees through infrared--the heated spectrum, and very few can escape his sight especially during the cold days of winter where even the slightest trace of heating in a faded footprint will stand out with vibrant color against the cold blue of a frozen world. Yet, though wolfish in appearance, he is not a living creature, but a demon from another plane of existance beyond the realm of man and beast. And so there are some things, such as his emancipated form that he can get away with. For example, though apparently skinny and frail, he moves with an excited quickness that is not usual for starving weak animals, and his strength is notably formidable. His height as well stands out from the normal size of the common wolf. From toe to shoulder he rises up to about the waist of a fully grown adult male, huminod.
He has a very arrow-dynamic figure, and his speed and agility can be astonishing at times. His head and ears are very long and acute--the snout coming to a near point, and his jaw lined by rows of intimidatingly sharp canines and molars.

Now, the Jackal has many secrets and is more complicated than what you may first assume. However, there is only one portion of his whole history and construction that is relevant to the story he finds himself now involved, and thus I shall include only that which is necessary, to take up less space and avoid boring you with unnecessary facts.

currently he is a demon of Ice and Atmos, the doing of someone whose confidence betrayed them. Therefore he is perfectly at home in the wintry tundra of the Valley. As a demon of another plane, he has certain gifts that stand out such as an imperceptable speed that is beyond comprehension. At points his image can merely shimmer before dissapearing and reapearing in a new location not far off. This is a gift of transition--a leaping into the space between Astral (his dimension) and Reality where time does not exist. However, the move is taxing on his spiritual endurance and he's more than capable with his realistic agility and speed to evade mare primitive and direct attacks. Therefore, he rarely transists unless he must.
As a Beast of Ice he can manipulate that which creates the solid, he can take the moisture in the air, harden and condense it, even propelling it over short distances if he must. Such attacks are not really plotted, but merely impulse as the need arises. There are a number of other odd varieties to his gifts as an ICE Enthused, but he himself cannot access them without the assistance of another--a story to be saved for another time, as it is not relevant to this journey.
As a Beast of Atmos, he has minute control over the sky--movements of clouds and shifts in the wind primarily. But the most notable of his own will, is his ability to glide. He can manage to leap large distances, out of sheer lightness, grace, and ability. However... he cannot fly as many who are related to the Wind and Atmosphere can. Again, there are other more powerful abilities that he cannot access without guidance and assistance of a second person--again not relevant to the moment.

[[ooc: That is really all you all will need to know for our little predicament. I hope he proves a challange to you, and I do plan to let him die, so feel free to seek to kill. Lol -- I've talked to Promise on a couple points and she's supporting the ideas. I actually have some plans for "The Jackal" so there is a reason to all this information and absence of, lol....
I'm looking forward to a good fight 4 against 1... fun odds, lol ^_^ I'm excited. Thanks for inviting me in you guys! ;D

Okay now for my actual responce, lol. Sorry for the length of my post guys. ]]

<sup>Claws ripped silently through the layered snow, as his stream-line body weaved through the trees. The scent of the girl was still fresh within his nostrils and his eyes were intent on the path ahead. His blood-thirsty lust was growing inside his withered heart and at every sight of her warm trace of life, led him a little further into the madness of insaciable hunger--a hunger than never ended, that never need satisfaction. He'd been free now for several weeks and already the villages were beginning to notice that members of their townsfolk were dissapearing in the night and when they wandered off. Caravans were found abandoned and broken, and many villages had begun to fear beasts... and rightfully so. The Jackal was a beast of war, and though once designed for a usefull purpose... the masters that had handled him were usually corrupt men and their harsh ways and malicious orders had conditioned the Jackal into the product of their secret war-mongerings. He was a dog of war now, and little else... he could only cause pain and spill blood. That was now his purpose. And though his past life had ended, and again he'd been imprisioned in his dimension for hundreds of years... some ignorant, righteous young man had come upon the relic that would free the beast that the Jackal was.

To put it plainly, the master that summoned him from the Astral plane was not strong enough to seduce the conditioned evil and hatred, and thus he fell beneath the ravanous jaws of the bestial creation that he himself had summoned. It was an ironic twist of fate, but one that now unfortunately left the world with a plague. Plagued by the Jackal.

Suddenly the scent was strong, laced with fear, laced with death... she herself was fading, her energy was fading... he could feel her dispair--and it fueld him on ever more.

Her trail suddenly propelled him into the openess of a clearing, and as suddenly as the white pillars loomed before him so did the scents of several others. The musky odor of a male, canine... wolf; the delicate perfume of a woman accompanied by a stale scent of false life--the puppet; the reptilian scent of leather from an anthro-type female; and there... among the array... his victim--the little girl. Yet, now there were so many, and as his long lanky limbs slide to a smooth elegant stop he perked his ears forward and regarded them passively for a moment. Their heat censored bodies stood out sorely against the snow... the only one that was more difficult to discern was the tall blue puppet--as it did not seem as alive as the others. Yet even it held some residual heat that the sensitive red eyes of the Jackal traced and followed with acute interest.

The lust increased gradually, as the adrenaline and promise of war surged within his decayed veins. The war mongering of past life fought with impulsive jerks, and his long tail seemed to sway behind him, as if sickened with jubilance--excitement and thrill boiling to the surface of his bestial mind.

Yet, he did not attack, not yet... he wanted to observe the scene... see who was week, decide those that were shy... and pick out those who were confident. Eliminate them first, pick of the smaller ones later.

Vaguely now, it was aware of a sound... a voice whispering across the chasm of space. Where was the demon?

Flattering. The Jackal could tell that the white wolf that seperated him from the girl was a little aprehensive, and he was right to be... there was nothing in the appearance of the large silver intruder that would signal anything less than aggressive fight.
Yet he was still at the very edge of the clearing, a fair distance from any real point of worry. However, he quickly changed that.
Slipping into the area between, he danced between astral and reality... his image in reality shimmering for a second before dissapearing.

Not a moment later, his ghostly apparition dissolved again, this time several yards closer. He now made it obvious that he was not passive, as his hackles had rased, his ears had flattened to his skull and his lips curled and twitch in a gentle snarl. First and most was the girl... if they gave her to him... perhaps he would be satisfied enough to leave them be.

Admittingly, he was a tease, and had a bestial confidence that many lesser creatures did possess.</sup>

[Strayrealquick]

I'm giong to wait for rhapsody

Maybe we should start an order?


Rhapsody
gyiupee
Stray
Luceria
Cerberus

[rhapsody]

Ok, The order sounds good ^_^

If we are marked to die, we are enough to do our country loss; and if to live, the fewer men, the greater share of honor.

Shivering in the cold and numb with hypothermia, Rebekah was already mentally hiding--her mind a blank, her body gently rocking to and fro, and her breath forming around her face, warming her skin briefly before the heat evaporated into the sky. She dared not utter a sound, or move any more than the shivering that wracked her frail underdeveloped body. She was strong, and was not yet willing to die. She didn't even understand the concept of death at the age she stood. For a nine year old she was ignorant--lacking the lessons to read and write that more privilaged village children received. The bandits didn't teach her anything other than how to strike with small knives and lift food from carts and pockets. When it came to survival... and the lingerance of death in the world... she still had much to learn.

Fighting tears, she curled her body into a ball, and plunged her face into the security of her arms. Her straight black hair sprawled outwards and draped itself in thin whisps over her arms and back. Yet after a while she dared a glimpse... looking up in time to see a white form running towards her. Her mind formed the blood-covered fangs and the heated red eyes along with the gaunt form of her pursuer... even though this approaching wolf had only the white color of his fur to relate with the monster that had attacked her.

Still it was enough, and with a terrified gasp she threw her head back beneath her hands and clenched her eyes and face... fully prepared for the sharp pain of teeth and breaking bone.
Yet that forewarned end did not fall murderously upon her, and she quizzically lifted her eyes to find herself looking into the face of a rough--but kind young man. She started--still surprised by the sudden appearance--but was quickly overrun with a sense of joy and safety. In the arms of an adult one was always secure... even if the adults of her troup had never shown actually tenderness, they always defended the little ones when wolves or other monsters of the night threatened to come too near.
To see an adult was like seeing hope, and for a second her shaking--brought by her overpowering fear--lessened and nearly stopped. However, the cold continued to plague her and even with his light jacket, it seemed to penetrate even the care of her body. She was tired, and wished only to lay down and sleep away the tiredness.
Her adrenaline is what saved her, kept her heart beating, and her mind occupied--for if she were to sleep now... she would never wake.

So, whatever aprehension she felt towards the new aqauntance, it was soon lost in her perspective and by his words of assurance. She was more than willing to place her trust in this adult... it was something she'd done all her life.
Willing only to spare a nod of appeasement, she accepted his coat, his warmth, and his one mitten. Her frozen fingers could barely control themselves as she slipped it on... and the array of colors and makeshift appearance did not deter her at all. She warmly accepted it as her obedient nature dare not refuse.

What he did next, however... surprised her. He removed his shirt.
She was already cold, and both her necessity to warm herself and her politeness allowed her to willing accept his last offer, but she still could not understand. Did the cold not bother him?
Seeing him so bare only reminded her more of the wintry drop, and a need to offer him something in return for his sacrifice overwhelmed her. Yet she had nothing to give, so she pushed the morality aside for the moment. Later, she affirmed herself... later.

In a haze she suddenly saw him turn, and was made aware again of the danger that pursued her. Her ruffled her hair and his eyes portrayed something she'd never before seen. It confused her and left her in awe. AS a bandit's wretch she'd never really seen such a look of caring... a true protectorate and thus... at her young unmolded ripe age she remembered, logged it in her mind even though she did not understand it.

In this dark hour, she would never forget and never lose hope that there was truly life beyond that of the Bandit clan, and perhaps it was not so foolish to run as she had first thought.

Feeling safe within his presence, she smiled weekly as her silver eyes locked deeply into his, but could not utter a cry in time to stop him from rushing out of the small niche were she hid. What monster was he soon to come to face... she only hoped that he would not fall to its insatiable hunger.

Deep within her, something else felt differently... not so much towards the man of dog, but to the girl. Though death would leave the inner darkness uselessly free and bodiless, a wound would instill hope of bodily release.

[gyiupee]

As she stood there stretching out her wings and making sure her muscles haven’t frozen solid, she took notice to the faint images of a white wolf like animal dodging in and out of reality. She knew it wasn’t a wolf, but for the life of her she couldn’t think to what it really was. Only to aware of curiosity killing the cat Gyiupee stood back for the scene not willing her to get involved yet. She was aware that she was still alive due to the snow melting, but just it was said; she is alive. She wasn’t recovered in strength. She would be of no use in the fight for the child’s life. Looking back and forth between the wolf-man, woman, doll, and creature that appeared to be made of ice, she thought that they might have a chance at the demonic thing. The wolf-man though was going to have to waste being in the offensive to be defensive of the child. She didn’t see a way for them to win. The demonic thing could appear at random to where it chose, the woman and her “dolls”, for a lack of better naming, could cover enough area for a full-on-effective attack. Not that Gyiupee was all knowing about battle, which she definitely was not; this was common sense to her. Who knew though? They might beat the thing after all.

Never being one to take pointless risks or to try to go against the odds she was looking at the opinion of taking a small flight to the top of one of the large pillars and watching the scene from above. Unfortunately there was that fifty percent of her that couldn’t stand by and watch that. The angel in her couldn’t stand by and watch a soul be damned to death. She had to make her choice; fight a losing battle or walk away. She couldn’t accept either option. Her morals made her thought process cloud and not see a possible third option. It was already too delayed of a realization to beat the demon to the child and save her from harm, but she might be in time to save the child from death. Lifting her heavy feet, Gyiupee put all the effort she could into getting to the child as fast as possible. The horror played out in her eyes as she saw the demon race ever closer. It would be soon that it would most likely strike for the girl and unless the wolf-man could push it off she would be hurt. Gyiupee prayed that if she should attain a wound it not be fatal, for if she could get to the child while she had a living chance Gyiupee could take the protection of the child into her hands and let the wolf fight. She might not have been able to fight in any way, but she could fly away up into the sky to heights that this demon couldn’t reach. Her only worry besides the child being alive by the time she reached her was if the wolf-man would allow Gyiupee to take her away from the ground. She sensed the protectiveness about him.

Gyiupee dared to risk the demon understanding human langue to get her innocent intent across to stray (whose name was not yet known to Gyiupee). “I wish not harm to the girl, but to take her away to the sky where it won’t be able to reach her. I cannot fight where as you can. Give her to me and you can openly fight the demon.” Gyiupee didn’t slow in her pace towards the child; the sooner she reached her the less chance of a second attack on her by the demon. As she moved closer her wings rose up straight behind her. Since she was running against the wind she couldn’t fan them out completely without the wind taking her up into the sky, but it was just as much as a plus. It stray gave the child of to her all she would have to do would be to open her wings and the wind would start to pull and lift both the child and her into the sky. Little effort from there would be needed to get them to a safe height. Should stray not trust her and give over the child, she will do the same but take her leave from the situation fully. She didn’t want to see the child die, but she didn’t wish herself dead either; just one of the many flaws that came with being mortal.

[stray]

Demons, devils, healers, elves, monsters. All creatures of many sorts existed on this barren planet, this slowly dying mother earth. These creatures have only commonality, their sins. We are all sinners, a sin we are not aware of, not the same by specific nature, but by merely sinning, all creatures are connected. The Stray had failed the girl, the Stray had failed the lover, The Stray, had failed himself. Today he stood, with storm clouds overhead, fangs bared, determined. Perhaps he was a gregarious creature, who needed this girl, or perhap he was a fool. The Stray had little time to think these things.

It was in the shillouette of a canine, but not a true one. It was a facade, or a casing, to hold the shape of this strange creature. Soulless, and obviously created with the only intent of kill. The wolf snarled louder. No bloodshed would be spilt on this snow if it could be prevented. The world needed desperately to redeem the chastity and pristine nature it was possessed. It made its intentions clear when it vanished and reappeared closer to the cave he was guarding. He wanted blood, a meal, and something quick. A coward, a savage, a feral beast, was this one.

A new creature had emerged. It's energy was fleeting.

“I wish not harm to the girl, but to take her away to the sky where it won’t be able to reach her. I cannot fight where as you can. Give her to me and you can openly fight the demon

"If you so bring one scratch to her skin I shall personally allow the blood to cry down your cheeks," he warned her cooly without ever leaving the intense gaze he had on the monster. The growls still echoed across the snow-glazed fields of open space. They only changed slightly to form the words he told the stranger. "My name is Stray and nothing more, and I am trusting you with the life of a child, the life of a stranger. I ask nothing but for you to protect her, and in return I will do what you please. But for the moment, I have this beast to deal with."

The woman had created a doll that had no scent. It was not real, but a different sort of unreal compared to the monster. The puppet had the faint scent of it's master, the blood of the she-magician of sorts. STray knew not of the magic the woman used, but she found it helpful. The puppet of blue skin, who seemed intriguing, if his own life had not been put in this danger.

The wolf raised it's muzzle to the sky and shocked the silence with the sound of his battle cry. THe wolf, this Stray, was most likely destined for failure, but for once he did not care. His day had started out with him just wanting a nap, now he just wanted to survive. Lowering his head the golden eyes glowered as he took off in a mad sprint towards the psuedo-canine.

"I know not your name, your creator, or your past. I know nothing and expect no remorse when I shred you limb from limb," he snarled, paws throwing up the snow behind him as he ran with some grace. He only glanced once at the woman, Luceria, though he did not know the name. He was asking her to wait cautiously, and strike when needed, even at the sacrifice of his body.

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[sorceress]

Lucrecia glanced at the wolf and nodded briefly, allowing her puppet to take a defensive stance, her icy staff raised infront of her body, arms crossed infront of her at about the level of her neck and legs in a bracing stance, the puppet was ready for when she was needed. Lucrecia on the other hand watched the wolf and demon carefully, studying every movement, every sound. She knew by the wolf's gaze that he wanted her to stand down until she was needed but Lucrecia did not want to be caught off guard.

She brushed some of her hair out of her face and took a good look at the demon. It was a truely strange sight to behold. It was an emaciated canine at a first glance. But after a closer look it was muscular, looking less and less unhealthy and more malicious. It's crimson eye peered out onto the land with such a menacing glare Lucrecia wasn't entirely sure what she had gotten herself into. But she was eager to find out.

[cerberus]

ooc: OMG it has been so long it seems, lol -- I'm a little rusty, and too lazy to log in, lol--forgive me guys if this post is a little rough.

bic:

<sup>His keen vision focused solely on the white wolf that was rapidly closing the distances. The opposer was perhaps a touch shorter than him, but overall did not seem to be weak or vulnerable--perhaps not the most sensible, but it was an action that did more than provoke the beast called The Jackel--it riled him... releasing dangerous adrenaline of a different kind, that swarmed through his mind and system, turning his eyes a feirce shade of almost molten red.
Impulse overtook reason, and with a vague form of cunning--the demon launched ferociously into a sweeping stride, that quickly covered the ground between them.

The distance wanned, but the attack was less forward than one might believe.

Suddenly, in the blink of an instant--the Jackel was gone.
Empty air, surrounded the scene, and the new opponent was little more than a spare dusty of blown snow. Neither shadow nor breath resided, for the Jackel had dissapeared as thoroughly as though he had never existed at all.

Yet, just as suddenly... he returned.
Not forward, not direct... no, he came suddenly from the side--materializing beside the white wolf. Terrifying strong jaws, lined with rows of sharp stained teeth sought the tender living flesh of the opponent who came between him and his quarry. His deviant attack would most certainly take the wolf--unbeknown as Stray--by surprise, but it was with great confidence that the Jackel assumed so.

The ghostly apparition was ready to latched on, and remain in close quarters. To dodge in and out, gave the other opportunity to retaliate--retreat was to be enacted only when direly necessary. Yet nothing was for certain yet... as the moment seemed suspended between the initial dissapearance, reaperance, and now most recent attack.

In truth... the predictable percentage of the battle was nigh... say... predictable?</sup>

[rhapsody]

ooc: hey guys, as u all might already know, I'm deleting Kaos. I just don't have the time and motivation for RP right now, and therefore, unfortuantely this "rhapsody" account will have to go to. Anyways, my character here isn't really involved yet, and she was very underclothed for the harsh winter anyway, so it isn't really all that unlikely that she's going to die. So, I'm going to post something to help you guys feed off, so that she doesn't like just dissapear, but I won't really be able to respond back. Besides, you still have good ol' Cerberus to help keep things interesting ^_^

Again, I'm real sorry guys.


bic:

the little girl, squeezed herself tightly into the crevice of the rock, hiding from everything, hiding from life. She was so cold, so terrified, so numb. Her body was stuck in overdrive, and coule not manage to compensate for the havoc that reality was wreaking upon her small frame. It would be unfortunate that now... just as she was finding friends and allies--strong systems of support--that she would fall beneath something as subliminal as winter's kiss. Yet it was to be so.

Closing her eyes as she huddled in her tomblike shelter, she let her breath slow, as a tender sleep beckoned her into it. It was escape, and such peaceful escape. It offered warmth, and promisese of a better tomorrow when she dared to wake. Unable to realize the tricks of and icy chill, she did not understand death's beckoning call, and therefore could not avoid it.

And so, balled up, and tightly wound, she fell into slumber--a deadly slumber. One in which, unless actions were quickly taken, she would not awake. Rebekah... would not awake.

Left to a fate nolonger her own, the entity within her, released itself into the night hair, as the mental prison was released. She would fade away now, and bodiless spirit that never died, and yet never lived. Aurora, too... would slowly die, upon the winds of time.

ooc: again, it's a sad responce, but it's a reason why she suddenly isn't so involved. I feel bad for leaving, ya... but hopefully Cerberus's beasty still keeps yall enthralled ^_^

[stray]

Guess it's gyiupee's turn now.

[gyiupee]

o.o.c.- Sorry all, my life has been on the fritz, but I'm back I should have a post up soon. Forgive me.

[gyiupee]

o.o.c.- ok, well I’m not really sure what to do here and muse is super low, so it’s going to be short. Sorry.

Rising up into the air, higher and higher Gyiupee started to feel her load getting heavier. That wasn’t right; it should be getting lighter in her arms. When she looked down though she saw why. The child’s breathing had stopped and her poor heart stopped. She was dead. Sadden at the loss of the child Gyiupee was enraged and chose to take out her anger on the beast below. It was pointless and rash, but she was mortal and made mistakes. Setting the ice cold child on a pillar away from the scene, Gyiupee flew swiftly back to the scene. The adrenaline rush renewing her strength.

Seeing the wolf charge at the beast, and the woman with her creature staying behind she knew to not follow the wolf. Instead she flew swiftly with the wind giving her speed and landed softly next to her. “I’m sorry, there was nothing I could do. The child was dead when she was placed in my arms.” The reptile in her voice making it scratchy and high pitched. “If I can aid myself to your fight just ask it and I shall.” She knew that was offering a lot, but a death of a child was one of the things that upset Gyiupee to a most serious level. Standing there facing out to the beast she lost desire for conversation. She was indulging her senses in the fight before her, memorizing the movements of the beast, looking for a fault in its run. Bending down into a low crouch, Gyiupee’s teeth bore and wings flared back and her claws tensed in the snow.

[stray]

I have, this feeling. I have, this need. This need to protect her, protect her like I could not, and did not, with that little girl. I must protect this weak one, one who cannot defend herself. I need to, I must. I must have some sort of purpose. I want this to be my purpose.

Rapid blurs of thoughts raced through his mind as he pushed past them, running quickly, charging the Jackyl head on. His teeth flared and visible, more than eager to spill the blood of this vile demon. Just as opportunity showed itself, it vanished, as did the Jackyl. Stray tried not to loose his stride despite the shock that was clearly visible on his face. But this shock was soon replaced by another facial expression, pain. The Jackyl, to his left, had rematerialized, and it's carnal fangs were now on the underside of his chest, just before his left hind leg. Eyes forced shut, blood spilling and sullying the snow, the wolf threw his head back and cried to the sky, digging his paws into the ground to stop his fast-paced run.

This stop caused him to fall back, bringing the Jackyl on top of him, in the most unfavoring position. The wolf snarled and kicked, knocking his feet across the Jackyl's face as he desperately tried to swipe. The hiss of a reptile could be heard faintly in his ears, despite the chaos his own body was lost in. I’m sorry, there was nothing I could do. The child was dead when she was placed in my arms.[/b] The girl was dead? His pupils of his eyes widened into saucers, and a sense of failure overcame him. This failure was immediately replaced by anger, fury, and the carnal call of his inner wolf. The man, who lives simulatenously as the wolf, was suppressed, and those emotions of weakness, saddness, grief, were forgotten.

Launching his body weight forward he forced the Jackyl to move and growled, launching his own set of fangs towards the Jackyl's neck while his paws kicked at the legs, hoping to throw the balance. HIs eyes were blue but without pupils, as if born blind and feral. "You shall die. You shall die even if I die as well," the wolf screamed, welcoming the puppet master and the lizard to partake in the ruthless assasination of this demon. "You shall die," he screamed again.


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[gyiupee]

o.o.c.- sooooooo what's going on, we continuing or.... has it gone dead?

[stray]

Rhapsody
gyiupee
Stray
Luceria
Cerberus


It's Luceria's turn, I'm waiting on her.

[gyiupee]

I know, I was just wondering, since I haven't heard anything, sorry I sound like a pest

[stray]

Trust me it's fine, i've been sitting here twirling my thumbs waiting