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| Bewitched Beasties [Complete]; [P] Shananigans | |
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| Topic Started: Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:33 pm (453 Views) | |
| Vivianne | Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:33 pm Post #1 |
 
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She didn't really feel comfortable in the Calmonah Forest. Although it was only a small section of the Norwood Forest that spread across the center of Imythess, there was something about the environment that set her on edge. The trees were set much further apart, and the undergrowth and canopy were much less thick because of it. It made it harder for the girl to hide her presence as she crept through the trees. Vivianne was garbed in various shades of green, the clothes well-made even if they had obviously been hand-sewn. They would have blended easy in with the lush foliage of the deeper forest, but in this sparse environment she was much easier to spot. The girl stepped cautiously, watching the ground beneath her feet in order to step on any twigs or dried leaves that would betray her presence. Although she always tried to move through the woods as stealthily as possible, the brooding cast of the Calmonah Forest made her grit her teeth in a combination of trepidation and paranoia. She was here because she had hear rumors that animals across this section of the forest had gone insane. Travelers she had eavesdropped on had all been talking about the phenomenon lately, so many people mentioning the odd tidings that she had decided it must have been more than a rumor. The normally calm animals of the forest had gone ballistic in the Calmonah Forest, completely forgetting their natural behavior and viciously mauling any trespassers among the ironwood trees. Bands of mercenaries and poachers had actually been hired in order to tame the outburst of animals, but many of the roaming troupes had disappeared entirely within the woods, suggesting that there was something far darker behind the animal's ferocity than any natural cause. Vivi had sworn to investigate the matter herself out of fear for the animals. She would not be motivated by greed when she set out to find the sorce of the animal's brutality; all she wanted to do was make sure that no creatures were being mistreated. She cared far more for the fauna of the forest than the humans, but even she could tell that this aggressive behavior was unnatural. Of course, the girl was not alone. She was a skinsharer; a rare type of individual that could transfer their intelligence into the body of a willing animal, blending their souls and allowing her to control the beast. Her own body was rendered unconscious in the process, but that was a sacrifice that Vivi was willing to make in order to soar above the trees as a peregrine falcon, or run through the forest at the breakneck speed of a cheetah, or share the strength and ferocity of a massive dreadsnout. Thus far, those were the three animals in her pack. Artemis flew far above her head, the raptor's keen golden eyes scouring the woods ahead of the girl to look for any danger. Hermes stalked at her side, the spotted feline moving with an almost liquid grace. Her nightmare boar, Hephaestus, was plodding along several feet behind the girl, happily chewing on a tuber he had uprooted from somewhere. All three of the animals were incredibly loyal to Vivi, and had proven useful in her quest to protect the creatures of the forest from the cruel machinations of society. She continued through the woods, emerald eyes scanning the trees for anything unusual |
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| Shan Orison | Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:03 pm Post #2 |
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Shan tromped through the forest, his footfalls breaking the occasional twig or crunching dried leaves. The dark shadows and shafts of light provided a beautiful contrast that, if Shan were a painter, have him breaking out his easel. He knew that the forest had been growing darker as of late, but Shan had always been skilled at evading trouble, except with that one time with the werewolves, and that time in the marsh, and then there was when he met Emily in the Dark Lands, and well... Shan altered his footsteps to absorb sounds better. It might be best, considering his luck, to move with a touch more stealth. The deep, eerie quiet of the forest was at once mesmerizing and terrifying, A rustling the the undergrowth beside him caused him to swivel on his heels, ready to grab his violin. A small cadre of four bunnies came blinking out of the brush, watching him with big brown eyes, they're furry brown sides moving rapidly with each breath. "Awww, hey there, " Shan said softly, lowering himself to a crouch. "How are you? Don't be scared." Shan watched with delight as one of the bunnies moved closer. Smiling, he extended a closed hand. It stepped closer, sniffed his hand carefully... And bit down hard into his knuckle. Shan yelped, standing and shaking his hand until the rabbit's jaws weakened and it fell to the floor. It righted itself and continued walking toward Shan, they're movements far too predatory for creatures that each their own leavings. "Um, yeah, you don't need to be afraid," Shan said, slowly backing away, "So...if you'll just go back to your burrows now..." The rabbits sprinted toward him. Shan didn't bother breath on screaming. He just ran. He'd dealt with mean, maddened little rodents before, and he'd rather not do it again. Rabbits really shouldn't be behaving like this, Shan's calm common sense noted. All the trees in Cahmonah were tall and old, most of the lower branches just didn't last with the low amount of light near the floor. When he found one that hung low enough to leap for, he made the jump and barely grabbed it. WIth rabbits leaping and biting at his toes, he heaved himself onto the branch and sat, gasping. The rabbits circled the tree, staring up like hungry wolves. "Yeah, I'm not coming down for awhile," Shan told them. "Best if you act crazy somewhere else." They screamed horrible rabbity cries at him and occasionally leapt, trying to reach him. The rabbits didn't seem interested in leaving anytime within the next few days. A sudden squeal and rustling in the foliage made the rabbits turn their heads and run to the safely of the woods. Below him, Shan watched as a spot covered cat and a large boar arrived at the base of the tree. They looked up at him with far more intelligence than Shan would have expected. The boar grunted and walked off, but the feline stayed where it was, not quite looking at the bard, but definitely paying attention to him. Shan watched where the boar headed, and saw resting against the trunk of the tree, a sleeping girl with dark hair and green clothes. She almost looked like a wood nymph, except as far as Shan could tell she was as human as he. He looked down at the cat. Well, he supposed it was an improvement over mad rabbits, but he was still staying in the tree. |
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| Vivianne | Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:41 pm Post #3 |
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Vivi heard a rustling noise in the nearby forest, something that sounded quite like running feet. She stilled herself instantly, focusing on the noise. She could distinctly hear at least one pair of pounding feet, crashing haphazardly through the debris on the forest floor. The girl glanced at Hermes, clicking her tongue at the cat. The feline responded almost instantly, purring and rubbing its soft fur against Vivi's leg. She pet the cat behind its ears, smiling and closing her eyes as she sat down next to one of the massive ironwood trees. There was an odd sensation in her stomach as she shifted her consciousness, skinsharing the cheetah's form. When she opened her eyes again the wolrd seemed transformed, the lush green foliage vidily different in coloration. The first time she had possessed Hermes' body it had taken a while to get used to the cat's version of color blindness, but by now she barely noticed it. Artemis soared down from the sky above, landing on the branch of the tree her human form was slumped underneath. It would do her no good if her main body got mauled by a bear while she was sharing the cheetah's skin. The big cat pounced loped through the trees easily, although she did not have far to travel. There was a man squirreled away in a nearby tree, apparently hiding from a family of four small rabbits. She paused, slightly confused as to what was going on. It appeared as if the rabbits were trying to attack this man! How ridiculous! Bunnies were some of the most frightful and easily intimidated creatures in the forest. There had to be some sort of hidden power making the animals act this way. She neared the tree, growling softly at the rabbits as they tried to climb up the ironwood trunk. Hephaestus had followed her this far, but the dreadsnout merely snorted at the small mammals and turned around, heading back to Vivi's human form. The girl slowly stalked around the rabbits, which seemed completely oblivious to her presence. Perhaps they've only been instructed to attack human invaders... After all, there would be no reason for them to act so ferociously towards other bewitched beasts... As soon as she burst into the clearing the rabbits fled. Whatever had been done to augment their aggression had not completely eliminated their self-preservation instincts; the mere scent of a predator was enough to scatter the rapid-like animals. The cheetah slowed its pace, slowly circling the tree and sniffing the air to detect if there were any other maddened animals nearby. Vivi sat down, staring up at the treed man. She purred warmly, coking her head to one side and watching him the the cat's warm brown eyes. She did not return to her own body yet, unaware if there would be a reason for her to be in control of Hermes' sleek form. Perhaps if she acted domesticated this man would be comfortable enough to descend? |
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| Shan Orison | Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:33 pm Post #4 |
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Shan stayed where he was and watched the cat below him. It was large, but not heavily built like a jaguar or umbra. It's design actually put him somewhat in mind of a dog. It was cat enough to make him worry it could climb. The boar was rooting in the ground near the girl, apparently paying her no mind but staying close. The cat watched back. "Hey, there, Kitty," Shan said, watching for signs of coiling muscles. "Is that your person over there? Are you guarding her?" It wasn't unheard of. He knew there were exceedingly smart animals that could likely outwit him. "That's a good kitty, watching its person. Why not join your piggy friend, then?" The cat stayed where it was. "Alright then," Shan said, trying to make himself comfortable. The shadows began to stretch as time passed. The cat laid down and watched Shan with a bored-but-hoping-for-something-interesting look. Shan shifted on the branch. It was growing more and more uncomfortable, his stomach was rumbling, and the only food he had was edible only when cooked. He was also thirsty, and drank the last of his water a while ago. He could hear a creek nearby, and the sound made his mouth ache with dryness. In contrast, a building pressure suggested he had too much water in him. "Alright, Kitty, you haven't tried to eat my feet, and I haven't thrown any sticks at you. I really need to get down now. I'm not going to bother your person or you piggy friend. I'm just going to slide slowly down and leave peacefully. You don't bother me, I don't bother you, and we can get on with our lives, alright?" The cat said nothing, as cats are wont to do. Shan swung his legs down, waited for the the shooting pain of fangs gripping his calf, and proceeded to lower himself when that didn't come. He dangled from the branch for a bit, then dropped to the ground. He watched the cat and held up his hands, wondering if he'd have time to play anything if it chose to eat him. "See? Completely unarmed and not going to hurt anyone," Shan said, his empty hands raised. "So...hopefully this is a truce?" |
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| Vivianne | Thu Sep 1, 2011 2:08 am Post #5 |
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The man did not seem to want to come down, but that was fine. Vivi could wait. She curled up in the cheetah's lithe body, tail flicking back and forth lazily as she stared up at the stranger. He did not appear to belong in the forest, like she did. His hair was a deep shade of reddish-brown, and although his skin was tanned from exposure something about his demeanor suggested he was uncomfortable in the wilderness. She wondered how such a man had wandered so deeply in the woods. After all, the Calmonah Forest was extremely secluded, in one of the least-populous realms of the Norwood Forest. Perhaps he had been trying to take the shortcut through the ironwoods. The girl was so comfortable in Hermes' body that she did not even realize that her presence was probably what was keeping him in the tree. She had been secluded from other people for so long that she forgot everyone wasn't comfortable around the creatures of the forest as she was. The man stirred in the tree on a regular basis, clearly uncomfortable in his perch. The girl could not relate; the grass was warm and soft, and she almost drifted off to sleep while waiting for him to leave the tree. In fact, she was not even aware that he had lowered himself out of the branches until his feet impacted the ground. She leaped to her paws instantly, staring up at the man. Although she could understand his words, she had no way to respond in the feline's body. Instead, she purred happily and rubbed up against the man's side, nuzzling his hand with her golden fur. Vivi returned to her own body, leaving Hermes to circle the man. Although the cheetah was acting friendly, she had also instructed the cat to keep him from escaping. Perhaps he had a less than idealistic purpose for being in the forest, and she did not want him to escape if that was true. The skinsharer stretched nimbly, working blood back into her sore limbs. Some days she spent so long in her pack's bodies that she almost forgot how to act human. Fighting the urge to yawn, she stood up and walked over to Hermes and the stranger, smiling shyly. She felt her stomach wrap itself into a knot as she approached him. She was still incredibly uncomfortable around other humans; she had seen the cruelty of humankind firsthand on many occasions and had difficulty separating those atrocities from others. "H-Hello... Are you al-alright? Did t-t-those rabbits h-hurt you?" |
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| Shan Orison | Thu Sep 1, 2011 12:43 pm Post #6 |
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The spotted cat began to circle around his legs, much like a friendly stray tom but on a larger scale. It pushed its hand into Shan's hand, inviting him to pet it. Of all the possible outcomes of finally leaving the tree boughs, this was one of the better ones. "So, we do have a truce then, eh?" He said, letting his hand brush across the top of the cat's back as it moved around him. "I'm glad we reached an agreement not to eat me. Now, if you'll excuse me..." Shan tried to take a step back, but at the height the cat was, it would only have resulted in Shan tripping over it and landing on his back. "Alright, so it's loving time now. Much better than mealtime, I agree. Good kitty..." "H-Hello...?" A new voice called out. It was sweet but halting, as if it had to conentrate on each syllable to ensure it came out correctly. Even then, it sputtered and stalled like a novice string player. "Are you al-alright? Did t-t-those rabbits h-hurt you?" Shan took his immediate attention from the large cat to see the sleeping woman was now awake and walking toward him, each step as cautious as her speech, but far more steady. She watched him carefully, as if she was the one in potential danger. "Oh, um, you noticed that..." Shan said, feeling any claims of his manhood slipping. It was one thing to run from crazy, murderous rabbits. It was another to be seen running from crazed, murderous rabbits. "No, no, I'm fine. Just a bite on my knuckle, though I suppose I do worry it had some sort of disease. Rabbits don't usually act like that, correct? "Um, Is this your cat? It's a very nice feline. Very nice coat, nice sheen and all that. Um, is there any chance you can tell it to let me loose? I'm a bard. I promise I'm as dangerous to you as a bunny. Um, not one of those crazy bunnies, a normal one." Wait, his curiosity said, How does she know about the rabbits if she was asleep this whole time? Let's deal with the big cat with teeth first before any new mysteries are examined, said his common sense, who had never taken its attention away from the immediate potential treat. |
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| Vivianne | Thu Sep 1, 2011 5:38 pm Post #7 |
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The girl's wary eyes flickered away from the man just for a moment, to stare at the cheetah warmly. Hermes was obeying her last command, still winding his body around the stranger's legs so he could not run away. The friendliness in her expression faded as soon as she looked back at the man. "Y-yes. His name i-i-is Hermes." She clicked her tongue several times, beckoning to the cat. The cheetah responded almost instantly, licking Shan's hand one last time before bounding away to stand at the skinsharer's side. She petted behind his rounded ears absentmindedly, feeling the cheetah's purrs vibrate against her leg. "You a-are right. Rabbits would n-n-not normally do that..." The girl trailed off, wondering how much information she should share with this man. wAs he completely deaf, to have no idea of what was going on in the Calmonah Forest? Or was he another person trying to find his fortune by slaughtering her animals? For an instant she contemplated how she should proceed if he was a bandit or poacher. The girl had a small and sharp dagger sheathed at the small of her back, but she had absolutely no proficiency with the weapon. Her pack would have to serve as both her protection and armory now. It should be sufficient; dreadsnouts were terrible enemies, and cheetahs were fast enough to easily encircle most opponents. She continued to pet the cheetah, scanning the man's attire once more. He did not appear to be a poacher... he had no visible weapons and wore no animal skins. Perhaps he was exactly what he seemed: a bumbling travel who had wandered into the deadliest area of the forest with no knowledge of what was happening. "There is s-s-something wrong in these w-woods." She twisted her hands in front of her nervously, adamantly refusing to stare directly in the man's eyes. Hermes stayed at her side, nuzzling the girl's hip. Hephaestus appeared from the bushes behind her, his hooves tearing through the grass. The great boar snorted, a small burst of fire shooting from its wide nostrils. The girl barely noticed the wave of heat on the back of her legs; she had specifically trained the animal to not light its surroundings on fire with every breath. "I am h-h-h-here to find out what is hap-happening. The an-animals are acting... aggressive. As i-if they've gone m-m-mad." |
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| Shan Orison | Thu Sep 1, 2011 6:31 pm Post #8 |
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Shan's eyebrows raised. At least it wasn't just his luck that allowed him to find the only colony of carnivorous rabbits. It was his luck to end up in a forest full of not only carnivorous rabbits, but squirrels, raccoons, deer, opossums, chipmunks, and the already carnivorous but now insane foxes, wolves, bears, and any other creatures he couldn't imagine mauling him to death at the top of his head. There was something else about the girl that struck him as odd, something besides being friends with a large spotted cat and a fire-breathing boar. The way she carried herself, how she seemed to struggle on each word, how she avoided his eyes and seemed be calculating every possible way this meeting could go sour. It was shyer than he was used to, but he knew that look well, even if he'd only seen it from the inside. This girl was afraid of him! Having been the target of a great deal of terror and malice, it was disconcerting to find himself being the source of those feelings, however small she might be experiencing them. It wasn't a pleasant sensation. Well, that's why you're a goody two-shoe bard, his second thoughts pointed out. Now what about her problem? We thank her for letting us live and head out of the woods as quickly and as stealthily as possible, his self-preservation said. You aren't the one with the entourage of dangerous animals. She's far more at home here, and is far better suited to solving her problem than someone who was trying to find the quickest way to the next town. You are joking, correct? Leave this young woman on her own, to face an entire forest of malevolent beasts on her own? his heroic chivalry said, stirred to life by the plight of another. You've sought to become stronger to aid those around you. You can hardly call yourself "good" if you don't even seek a means to help not only her, but the travelers who come after you and the animals tainted by evil. Please, what little strength we have is hardly sufficient to risk ourselves needlessly. Just turn around and leave. Shan sighed. It didn't matter how much he argued with himself. He knew what he'd decide. Moving as slowly as possible, he bent his knees until he sat crosslegged on the ground. His hands wear raised by his sides, palms open and facing her. Since she had such trouble making eye contact, he closed his eyes as well. With her friends, he was at a disadvantage if she decided to attack anyway. He might as well make himself a helpless target to relieve some of her anxiety. "Well, I've seen evidence of that first hand," He said, keeping his voice soft and low, as if speaking to a spooked cat. "I wandered into these woods not knowing what was happening here. I tend to do that a lot, sadly. As I said, I'm just a bard. I'm more skilled in running away than fighting. However, it's seems these animals have been harmed, manipulated to act against their nature. I don't know how I can, but if you desire my assistance, all you need do is ask." And once again, Chivalry triumphs! Oh, silence, you blowhard, his second thoughts groaned. |
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| Vivianne | Thu Sep 1, 2011 10:06 pm Post #9 |
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The man seemed to be having some sort of internal struggle. She wasn't entirely sure what the issue was, but besides his initial shock and dismay at her announcement he had remained as frozen as a statue, although his eyes flickered back and forth. It was as if he was watching some sort of internal bout, his pupils switching from one fighter to the next. Slightly unsure of what was occurring, she focusing on her pets instead of the man. Vivi brought Hephaestus forward. The dreadsnout agreed happily, rubbing his snout against her shoulder. She did not pet him immediately, instead focusing on Hermes. The cheetah straightened, staring directly into her eyes as she murmured softly to the beast. "I need you to be my ears and paws and nose as Artemis is my eyes. Run now. Make sure we are not interrupted." The cat watched her for another moment with its big brown eyes, before nodding in a decidedly human fashion and licking her hand with its gravelly tongue. The cat loped off with an easy grace, the patterned fur disappearing into the underbrush within moments. Vivi ran her hand along the dreadsnout's tusk, making sure to avoid the serrated edges of the protruding teeth. She was about to tap into her mental connection with the peregrine falcon wheeling through the sky when the man finally moved once more, lowering himself into a strangely submissive posture. He held both hands up in the air, as if to signify that he meant her no harm. More accurately, he had probably realized that with the massive boar behind her he had no chance of harming her. She wished she possessed the strength and intimidation of her pet, at times. Hephaestus was not afraid of humans; he would just incinerate them or gut them. "H-help will be welcomed... My name is Vi-Vivianne." She did not share the truth about her abilities. Skinsharing was a rare form of magic that unsettled many people. They did not think it was natural for her to abandon her own body and share the senses of a lesser beast. What humans did not seem to understand that animals were just as complex and intelligent as any other sentient life. She nodded to the man, preparing to speak more, but a harsh cry from above distracted her. She jerked her head up immediately, eyes narrowing as Artemis plunged through the branches to land on the branch that the stranger had just vacated. The girl immediately turned her attention to the bird as it jumped along the branch, squawking and flapping its wings. Although she could not exactly understand the bird's words, she could sense its meaning well enough. "Keep watch." The bird hopped back and forth for a moment in an obviously agitated state before nodding and taking to the air once more. The girl turned to the man with wide eyes, biting her lip nervously. Her shyness seemed forgotten in light of the hawk's news. "Al-although you might w-w-w-want to get back up in t-the tree... I know I plan to." She hopped onto Hephaestus's back, jumping off of its spine in order to perch on the thick bough. She wedged herself in the space between the branch and the trunk, wrapping her arms around her body and shifting her soul. When she opened her eyes Vivi was in a form that felt much stronger and more comfortable. She ground her hooves against the grass, getting accustomed to this new form. The dreadsnout's shape was much bulkier than either her falcon or the cheetah, and it always took her longer to get used to its strength. Heffy was calm and gentle with her, but the wart hog had the potential to be a formidable opponent. However, against this... Her attention was diverted by the bear breaking through the foliage. It was a massive beast, easily ten feet tall at the shoulders. The four rabbits ran in front of it, silent horsemen for this grisly sight. The bear stared at the dreadsnout with small, beady eyes and bared its teeth in a ferocious roar. Vivi did not respond, simply digging her hooves into the dirt and snorting. lowered her head, preparing for the animal's ttack that was surely forthcoming. I never thought I would be uncomfortable in any forest... |
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| Shan Orison | Thu Sep 1, 2011 10:33 pm Post #10 |
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Shan started at the sudden cry behind him and had to turn to look. It seemed be only a falcon, at least, and one not bent on pecking his eyes out. It continued to cry out, and whatever it had to say banished the woman's trepidation, though it went over Shan's head. She ordered it to keep watch and turned back to Shan. "Al-although you might w-w-w-want to get back up in t-the tree..." she said, "I know I plan to." "Huh? Why? What's happening?" Shan asked. In the time it took for him to ask, however, she had leapt onto the boar's back, moved into the tree, wedged herself in a fork and...passed out. "Okay..." Shan said, confused. "Seems a bit overdramatic, that move..." Then the bear showed up. That the rabbits from earlier - Shan was certain it was the same group of rabbits - burst through the foliage, growling and snarling. It was strange to see a rabbit snarl. You wouldn't think they'd have the teeth for it. "Oh dear gods, not bears," Shan said, ready to bolt for the tree. However, Vivianne's pet boar stayed its ground, pawing at the ground and snorting smoke. Shan was fairly certain that a fire boar could handle itself. After all, boars were considered one of the most deadly things to hunt, right? And that was just the normal kind. However, with Vivianne fainted in a tree, Shan was fairly sure she wouldn't be happy if she awoke and found her boar dead, and the cat Hermes seemed to be nowhere nearby. His chivalry was strong in his mind now, and though it would ruin his tale of being a helpless bard, he had to help somehow. He called his violin to his hand, the familiar weight materializing in his clenched hand with the accompanying bow. With a practiced flourish, he brought it to his chin. He only had two choices right now, and one wasn't going to help much, considering it would take out the boar. Hurrying beside the snorting animal, Shan began to play a furious melody, and whispered a word of power. A blast of sonic energy shot forth, growing in size as it reached the bear and its entourage, knocking them back and deafening them. It wouldn't kill them, but he hoped it would make them retreat. "I really hope you don't tell Vivianne about that, Boar," Shan said, suspecting it and the cat somehow told her about the rabbits. "I don't appreciate her being afraid of me, and I know that won't help matters." |
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| Vivianne | Fri Sep 2, 2011 1:28 pm Post #11 |
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She whipped her thick head around as her small ears picked up the pattering of feet behind her. The man seemed like he wanted to help her fight the bear! Was this the same stranger who had fled from a small band of ravenous rabbits earlier that day? The bunnies might have nibbled at his knuckles; the bear would dismember him without a second thought. He made some bland comments about not wanting to scare her and produced an odd choice of weaponry for a bear assault: a small violin. Vivi turned to watch with amazement as a tangible blast of sound emanated from the stringed instrument, rocketing across the clearing and slamming into the bear with enough force to topple the creature. She squealed happily at the sight. Perhaps this stranger wouldn't be as useless as she had feared! The rabbits recovered first, hopping towards the odd duo with vengeance thrumming through their small, furry bodies. Vivi took the offensive this time, lumbering in front of the violinist and drawing in a deep, full breath. She exhaled violently through her snout, feeling the skin around her nostrils tickle as flames shot from the orifices. She swept her head back and force, a wave of bright orange and red flames filling the air in front of her. The rabbits shrieked in dismay, a sound usually only reserved for when they were killed, and backpedaled away from the unexpected fire. One of the ferocious furry mammals was not quite fast enough, a tongue of fire lashing against its white fur and setting it ablaze. That rabbit shot off into the woods, its agonizing cries echoing through the woods. Vivi felt a sharp pang of guilt at the pain she had caused the creature, but she knew it was necessary. It would save all of the animals if she could find the source of their aggression and eliminate it. By this time the bear had regained its feet, now standing on all fours. It tried to circle the man, clearly wary of his ability to harm it with pure sound. Vivi matched the hunter's movements, staring directly into its fierce features with her own small, piggy eyes. Bears and boars usually avoid each other... I have no idea how this will turn out. The bear began to advance, apparently not deterred in the least by the flames still curling around her snout. The girl sent a burst of fire streaking towards its bulk, but the animal moved much faster than she had expected, darting to one side before lunging at her. She felt a flash of pain as its claws found her haunch, but she brought her heavy skull up in a fierce headbutt that sent the bear reeling away. The dreadsnout pressed its advantage immediately, slashing at the bear with her sharp tusks. One of the bony protrusions caught the bear's arm, easily ripping through its fur to scour the muscle underneath. The creature backed away, snarling under its breath as it continued to circle them. Vivi followed its movements, slowly orbiting around the man to stop the bear if it charged again. Blood was dripping from her tusk and her side, but she barely noticed. The stranger would have to take care of the remaining three rabbits on his own... she had bigger animals to face. |
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| Shan Orison | Fri Sep 2, 2011 9:30 pm Post #12 |
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Shan watched as the bear tore into the boar's side, seeming to care little about the inferno at the tusked pigs command. The bear was focused on it, at least. All Shan had to worry about were the three remaining rabbits, who growled somehow and shook their heads occasionally. "Everything always gets complicated..." Shan muttered. If he were by himself, like before, he would simply run. However, with meeting new people he considered friends, or at least people not actively killing him, his sense of self-preservation seemed to stretch out to his allies, which meant succeeding in the goal of survival meant more than his escape. If he ran, after all, there was no guarantee the rabbits would follow him. They could simply go harass the boar, which already had its hooves full with its ursine opponent. Shan had deafened them, which meant that his only other enchantment was no longer an option, at least for a few lengthy minutes. He played again, unleashing another blast to knock them back. They stood again, but each time they approached, he struck them again and again. One decided it had had enough and retreated into the woods after its other AWOL companion. One became so dazed it simply hopped in confused circles, occasionally stopping to scratch a deafened ear. The third, however, Shan knew had to be the knuckle biter. The bard could simply kill it, but...well for one thing, it was a bunny. A malicious, evil, demon bunny, but still a soft, brown, big eyed bunny. For another, he felt Vivianne wouldn't appreciate it if he did snuff its life. She looked to value animal lives far above human ones. While Shan was calculating all this, however, the rabbit focused on the one through in its mad little mind it'd kept all evening, and leapt so high it drew even with the bard's face. Panicked, he struck with the closest weapon at hand. The violin connected with soft, fluffy flesh, and the rabbit soared into the forest's shadows. With the rabbits dispatched for now, Shan ran until he was at a proper angle to hit the bear and not the boar, and unleashed another blast from his violin, pushing the bear to the side and off its feet. Hopefully that would give the boar some breathing room. |
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| Vivianne | Sat Sep 3, 2011 6:18 pm Post #13 |
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The bear attempted to charge at her again, but was met with a wall of bright flames. It was forced to retreat away from the dreadsnout, its fur singed and its eyes filled with fury. Vivi snorted contemptuously, throwing her head in a dismissive gesture. Physically, the two animals were almost evenly matched. The bear had its vicious claws and teeth, while she had her sharp hooves and wicked tusks. It was Hephaestus's ability to breath fire that would decide this match in her favor. She was incredibly glad that she had saved the nightmare boar and taught him how to harness his breath weapon. Heffy could be loud, lazy, and a glutton, but he was a loyal and fierce companion. She could hear the man's violin twang time after time behind her, and she hoped that meant he was holding his own against the rabbits. He had fled from them earlier, but perhaps his surge of chivalry would lead him to defeat the small, furry woodland critters. This time she took the attack to the bear, charging in and slamming into its flank with all of her might. The taller animal staggered backwards, reeling from the force of the blow. She attempted to whip her snout to the side and draw her tusks across its stomach, but the bear had foreseen the attack and taken another step back. Before it could retaliate the animal was struck with another wall of sound from the stranger, sending it sprawling. Vivi did not hesitate; she charged again, breathing fire and brandishing her tusks simultaneously. Blinded by the flames and attempting to avoid the sharp points of the teeth, the bear shambled around slashing randomly with its claws. The boar leapt straight up, slamming its thick skull into the bear's jaw. The great animal collapsed into an unconscious heap, its pelt smoldering. Vivi snorted and nudged the massive body with one hoof to make sure it was not going to get back up. Her fears assuaged, the girl quickly transitioned back into her own form. Her emerald eyes opened slowly as she readjusted to her human form. As soon as the dizziness pass she jumped out of the tree, running over to Hephaestus with a worried expression/ "I'm sorry boy! He got us..." She gingerly ran her fingers over the dreadsnout's wounded flank, wincing as she saw the red lines the bear had carved with its claws. The boar snorted and rubbed its snout against the girl's arm, as if trying to convince her that it was not hurt too badly. She patted the beast on its side and turned to survey the bear, frowning slightly. It seemed as if the animals were not only more ferocious, but working together in defiance of the natural food chain. Something was seriously wrong in these woods... Suddenly realizing that the bard was still there, she flushed and turned to him. "S-Sorry about that... Mister. If w-w-we're going to be helping each other, c-could you t-tell me your name?" |
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| Shan Orison | Sat Sep 3, 2011 9:28 pm Post #14 |
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"Oh, um, you're well again," Shan said when the girl leapt from the tree to see to her boar and to the fallen bear. He chose to not mention her sudden fainting bouts. At least it seemed she knew when they were going to happen. "I'm Shan, Shan Orison," he said when asked for his name. "You're boar is a pretty amazing fighter...Um, if you don't mind..." Shan leaned down next to the boar, gingerly placing a hand on its flank. He hummed a simple tune, and the boar's wounds glowed with a soft light, the blood clotting and the wound beginning to scab over. When he felt the Heal spell could do all it could, he pulled his hand away. "It's not a very strong spell, but that should help your friend. It's the least I own him since he protected me from that bear....and drove those rabbits off." Shan went to look at the bear himself. It seemed it wasn't dead, but it didn't look as though it was going to rise again anytime soon. "Something really is wrong here, isn't it? I mean, I can accept being attacked by rabbits as just another bad day for me, but those rabbits getting a bear to help them? That seems...well, off." Shan looked to Vivianne again. "I don't know much about the forest, so I'm hoping you have an idea for how to fix things. All I can think of is someone's meddling with their minds with magic or something, though I have no idea as to who or why." Shan looked back into the forest, and thought he saw a small, rabbity face look out though the foliage, disappearing again once it noticed his gaze. "So...what should we do with the bear? It's going to wake eventually, and I'd rather not be around when that happens." |
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| Vivianne | Tue Sep 6, 2011 6:06 pm Post #15 |
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She tensed up when he stepped forward, but the man didn't seem to have ill intentions when he placed his hand on the boar's haunch. Vivi watched in amazement as magic poured over the animal, creeping along the edges of the gashes and sealing them shut. Although the scabs remained, the blood had stopped flowing and the edges of the injury were no longer red and angry-looking. Heffy snorted gratefully and rubbed its head against Shan. Vivi smiled at the man and patted the dreadsnout on the skull, stopping him from accidentally pushing the man over in his attempts to thank him. "Thank you S-S-Shan..." For the first time she met his eyes. Her irises were the exact same shade as the lush foliage surrounding them, with flecks of gold glimmering in its midst. She looked away after a moment, smiling at the dreadsnout as it started to sniffle at her clothes, always in search of the treats she kept stashed in hidden pockets. "I can usually c-calm down animals... I think a m-magic user is manipulating them s-s-somehow..." What she couldn't understand was why someone would do such a thing. The only magic users with this sort of control over the animals of the forest were the druids. They did live in this area of the woods, but they usually were content to stay in their isolated huts and live the life of a hermit. Perhaps something had gone wrong in Calmonah, some terrible event that had upset the druids and now they were unleashing their wrath on any trespassers? There were simply too many questions, and not nearly enough answers, for the girl's liking. When Shan mentioned that he wanted to be gone when the bear awoke she nodded fervently. "I ag-agree. It should take h-h-hours to recover from that blow... But w-who knows, with everything being c-crazy in here..." She began to walk deeper into the woods, eyes watching their surroundings suspiciously and Artemis keeping an eye out from above. Vivi had not forgotten that the rabbits had somehow informed the bear of their location, and she did not want any spy-like critters to reveal their presence again. She followed the path set by Hermes. She could sense that the cat was half a mile ahead of them, still looking for the source of the animal's aggression. Shan walked behind her, and the dreadsnout brought up the near of the party. Sometimes the boar would stop and tear up a patch of roots or leaves to chew on as they walked. Vivi looked over her shoulder at Shan, her voice tentative. "How did y-you come to be in such d-d-dangerous woods, Shan?" He still did not seem like a forest dweller to the girl. |
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5:11 PM May 22
