Days have passed, wounds healed. Some of them better than others; but life no doubt had become busier and fallen, partly, into old patterns.
Some business was unattended yet still: a peculiar matter for Herla. In exchange for the perseverance of her step-daughter, Verve, she had taken up an unmistakenly shady deal; this was how far desperation had driven her. Yet one half of it was done and resolved: Verve was healing, well at that, and regained back what had been almost taken from her: life. In all that was to life, Verve's prosperity had come thanks to Herla. People had cheered, were overjoyed and the underlying tension of the whitetail doe had been almost silent.
But Herla was far from a state of ease. This emerald gem had been given to her, and its slight glow a constant reminder. Remember who you owe this. No, she could not forget indeed who she owed all of this. The almost-demise of her step-daughter, and the following healing was indeed converging into the same … being. The spirit, the demon – whatever he was – that hunted Aurora, and knew exactly where to hit. A quaint thing – was Verve's life depending on it? It may be. And still she had found herself often on the edge of the pond; pondering to throw the gem away, and be done with it.
Something held her. Was it the threat? She didn't know. But she would not indulge it any more. And neither had the entity been kind about the time frame; he was lurking, Herla felt it. Almost mockingly; yes, Herla, you know exactly what you agreed upon. Now, let me watch.
And so she found herself in front of Aurora; the target; ready to deliver... the gem.
Aurora... I have something for you.
The words were recited with a forced smile. Or he'll take back what was his.
But the piebald didn't respond immediately. Almost glassy azure eyes stared back into ruby red ones, and her heart was pounding. There had been tension ever since the attack; and the moments she had been brave enough to face what was devastated because of her have been scarce and few. The monochromatic body grew rigid with the tension; and it even began to overtook the heavy grey veil that shrouded her very being; the veil of guilt, and desperation.
I do not understand.
Herla balked a moment, but mustered the energy to take a deep breath and step forward; growing more confident in her smile. The kind regards in which she held Aurora had not faded, after all, despite what the sage may think. Or feel.
It's a gift for you, something Gehirn and I brought back for you from India.
I meant to give it to you some time ago.
She was baffled. Lying was so easy.
It’s a necklace, the locals said this gem is good at healing and bringing peace.
Neither was the piebald clearly perceiving what was happening just now. A gift? She did not deserve a gift. She deserved nothing of a nice gesture. She deserved to be banished, forgotten and cast away. Not that suicide hadn't occured to her. Yet Aurora, too, was held back – self-preservation, friends. There just were better reasons to remain alive.
But a gift...
Why... I do not deserve anything.
All her shambling, strained voice could put forward.
Why didn't she take the gem? It was the natural response to just accept a gift. Why couldn't she already take it?
Herla swallowed hard; and her mind was hardly paying attention to Aurora know. Just the gem, and the fact shall adorn her neck..
Why do you say this....?
Why? Did she ask why? Aurora's ears fell back in disbelief.
Because I am responsible for Verve's injuries.
I should have kept him away, and I failed.
Instead I was lazy, I came back, and he found me.
Then he made her family almost kill her.
That's...
A short pause, and the last work only whispered.
...why.
The strain on the black, feathered doe kept growing. Of course. Aurora still felt very guilty; they all hadn't been exactly happy about the incident.
You wouldn't hurt us, not on purpose and not if you could help it...
Once more Herla swallowed hard. Mentally, she was cringing. She wouldn't hurt Aurora either; never, but here she was... delivering an item of the enemy. It only took a memory of Verve's bloodied almost-corpse for to muster more focus; focus on the task that was to deliver this gem.
And not evoke suspicion.
Please, I need you to accept this gift alright? You are my friend.
Aurora was nonetheless confused; but logic in her called out to think intelligently. This gem could be her absolution, could it not? A gift, a gift from the family her presence had hurt so much, why, why not just accept it? Herla would like her more for accepting it, right?
It even looked a bit like her old stone. So nice, so nice...
Okay. Thank you, Herla. It is very nice of you.
Aurora extended her neck forward.
Herla exhaled a relieved breath.
You lost your last necklace, you shouldn't be without one.
Effortlessly, it slipped over head neck, down to her chest.
The smell of burning flesh in the air.
Groans.
Screams.
The frantic effort to lean down, tear the thing off.
But the bulky caribou body gave in to the pain, submitting.
She twitched.
It just kept on burning.
Disturbed azure eyes gaze back at Herla.
Many things were in them; Shock. Pain.Confusion.
But most of all...
The feeling of betrayal.
It was mirrored with utter shock in the ruby eyes; desperation.
I didn't know!
But didn't she?
The fiend had not been kind before. What would have made her hope this would be kind, at all?
A frantic effort made her lunge forward, everything in her cringed for this to stop, tear this gem free – she had to! The moment her maw touched the gem a strong electric jolt shocked her, and instinct made her flinch away.
No, this gem would not be pulled free. Herla had no choice but to watch.
Aurora...I'm sorry.
She cried. I never wanted to hurt you, but Verve would have died, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...
And so...
The piebald shouted inbetween panting, and groaning.
The once gentle voice twisted by pain, and betrayal. You turn to him?!?!
Herla shrunk back, in shame, in desperation.
A last effort to reverse this.
What can I do...
It was unheard.
Aurora's world was turning monochromatic, the vision began to be twisted through improper, off sightings – distorted proportions, and voices, screaming voices.
For just a mere fraction of a second could she see Herla's face. Then it started to grin, to mock her, wrought with arrogance and spite. What may once have been Herla's voice now whispered cruel notions in her laid back ears.
In an instant, she was on her feet. Trembling, shaking. For a brief second, she looked as if she was going to fall down - and in the next second, the body twitches, moves - and like a ghost, shambling and howling, she runs into the depths of the forest.
Only her crying remained.
________________
Interactive part!
Whether your deer knows Aurora or not - they can try to reach out to her, to stop the craze.
Roleplay, pictures - or maybe just a few words!
She's counting on you!
Thank you all for your responses, Aurora will not forget who had been there for her! <3
Mai had been napping up in the trees when she heard the ruckus nearby. She cringed from her perch, brow furrowing in confusion a she pondered what her next move would be. It sounded as though someone was suffering, and although she did not recognize the voices that she heard, her heart twisted in sympathy for the stranger's pain. She wasn't without feelings.
Mai would slowly get to her hooves, grimaving slightly as she remembered the time not that long ago when she herself had been crying out in pain. She shivered, and leapt down in a fluid movement, placing her hooves just so, in order to absorb the shock of the landing without injuring herself. It was an almost feline-like movement. She'd approach slowly, carefully, cautious of what she would find.
Thank you guys for your responses! I am glad you liked reading and heeeeey, this is far from being over. c:
Jinxyness - I'll write a reply tomorrow! Thank you for your response. <3
ON A SIDENOTE, I completely forgot to make a thank you comment for the help I got here.
Credit goes to Sighthoundlady for the first, and Alcinda (lineart) and Wake (coloring) for the second picture. Thank you guys so much, it was a major boost to this blog! <333 I hope you find your work being done justice here.
(Hope this is okay.. Really loving this plot, good job to all of you ♥)
A pitch black doe sulked through the dim light of the forest. The trees loomed ominously overhead and the tall hind shook herself vigorously in an attempt to shake the foreboding mood it created within her. An ear flicked and her head shot up at the sound of a deer crying out. Zahava couldn’t place it, but it sounded vaguely familiar.
She lurched into a gallop, weaving through the trees, headed in the direction of the pained sound. Muscles tensed and battle ready, Zah swerved past the last tree that blocked her view and balked when she saw the owner of the scream.
She recognized the doe, though didn’t know her name. This was the one countless others and Zah herself had been defending against what they thought to be a monstrous beast; then, the beast proved to be a close one, with some kind of parasitic exoskeleton. Deep down, Zah was still deeply troubled by the event and felt a twinge of stale guilt rise up. She felt she owed something to this one, something more than a simple apology.
No time for guilt now. Zah spun around; her canine-teeth bared at whatever had harmed the black and white doe. Her eyes held a worried expression as she hoped another close relation incognito wouldn’t appear. A good, ferocious beast, that she could handle.
Nothing. The forest was still and quite, save for this doe crying in pain before her. Zah craned her neck to peer down at her with blazing yellow eyes.
“Doe…?” her voice was measured and quietly questioning.
The black doe almost asked if she was alright, but it was quite obvious she wasn’t. No need for redundancy.. Zah couldn’t help the pain, make it stop, or go away. So, the doe would settle for a tangible question. One that could induce her to do something.
may i start too plz i hope u don't mind
_
woke up to the scent of burning flesh notcing the gem charges near the doe and lunges at the necklace grabing the strings using sharp teeth cut the string of the gem then using her teeth grabs the gem out of the mixed colored doe throws it to the ground and stomps it then takes it in her mouth trying as hard and finly sharp teeth cut the gem in half then looks at the wound and says 'how did this happen' trys to use herbs to help the wound
Thank you people! I am glad you caught some interest, and are enjoying it! <3
Jinxyness -
Hours had passed in which Aurora had been more of a walking mass of detachment rather than an own person; the world was drenched in monochromatic shadows, there was neither a light nor a hope; just the darkness. Horrible faces formed at any sight her eyes lingered too long at, and neither was closing her eyes an escape; it just changed the focus from the nightmare to her inner nightmare; horrible whispers in her ears, and the pain, the never ending pain.
Inbetween the cacophony of agony she recognized a new voice, and not knowing why, her head tilts towards it. Already, Mai's faces begun to detort and deform, and Aurora let out a high pitched scream; leaping back in a reaction of fear. The azure eyes were wide open, and wild – no sense could be found in them.
Well, she did not seem alright, no.
riddledrhyme -
Nothing much could exactly protray what was inside Aurora now; a madness of the induced nightmare. Not ending, not fading either, but ever shifting. Time had lost its meaning; there was either the nightmare, or there was the bliss of not being conscious. Aurora preferred the last – but this bliss was fleeting, and her body was not harmed; only the spirit was.
But despite standing bravely, in a relative fashion, it was not quite what it ever used to be. There was wild fear, cringing guilt and a screaming wish to have this just, either way. But recognize a face? Unlikely, unlikely. Even so, her yellow eyes were two huge white chasms in the monochromatic world; looming in front of her. The face had long since been twisted into cruel expressions, and the pain screamed for Aurora to run away; this was no good, a monster, a moster.
"No, no, no, not like this, not like this, NO!", her voice was high pitched and not even a shadow of what it used to be. A ridiculously cruel version of it; the version one thought would never hear, but there it was.
In an instant, the caribou was on her feet again and retreating from the monster she saw; shivering in fear.
Redraptor -
I'm sorry, I cannot reply to this post.
You see, your post does not leave me room to have Aurora react - Rhoda just pulls out the gem, and destroys it. But you see, what happens to Aurora - how others can, or cannot influence her - that is my decision. Rhoda may attempt to pull the gem out of course, but whether it suceeds or not is my decision. Maybe rewrite your post? I don't mean to be nasty here, it's just a general rule of RP. Anytime your character interacts with another - be it a fight, just a touch - leave room for people to handle it. How their character responds, etc. In this case, it is very unlikely Aurora would even let Rhoda as close as to let her touch her chest, she'd have run off before.
Furthermore, I do not intend for the piece to be destroyed just now - I hope you can understand that.
This blog really came together well, the art and the writing look amazing and it did a good job capturing the emotions and motivations of both characters. As terrible as it is for the characters it was still good to see this all come together so dramatically.
The black doe jumped back herself at the shriek. For a short moment, she stood statue still, dumbfounded. Something wasn’t right with the doe; that much was obvious. The question was what and who had done it. Zah cast a fleeting glance around once more before taking off after the other doe at a brisk trot.
Zah tried to circle around the doe to get in front of her. Carrying her head low to the ground, the doe slunk, trying to assume a stance she believed would be nonthreatening. Now, she peered up at the doe. With a quiet and she hoped soothing voice, she spoke. “Easy Doe, calm yourself… Can you hear me?”
(Quick question: is the stone visable as in the picture or is it completely embedded?)
Jinxyness -
(It's in plain sight, if your character can see Aurora's chest. [: )
Aurora's instincts kicked in as the other one started to circle her. Predators would circle their prey, right? And right now, there was just a monochromatic mass of a vile expression, that was getting around her; closer even, coming to mock her? Make fun of her? Or maybe give her the mercy killing, after all? At least the pain would cease. But a creature of the nightmare would not be merciful. They were all the same, malicious expressions and a frightening appearance; there was no telling apart.
Not this time, either. "Hear you? HEAR?! You and your thousands of copies; all of their voices, I can hear them, they whisper the cruel things to me, why wouldn't you stop already?! I can't anymore, I yield, alright, yield!"
The caribou's body cringes from the declining distance between her and the figure; but she didn't run; she'd rather stare into the flashlights.
Dag & Caden - Thank you both! I'd welcome the RP. [:
(You addressed it to Jinxyness, but I’ll assume it was meant for me |D)
Zah paused several feet away from the black and white, her head held low enough that she had to look up. She searched the other’s eyes, trying to decipher the confusing outbursts.
“Steady, doe, I mean you no harm. I think you have me mistaken, my name is Zah.. I attempted to help that day the tall doe was.. Possessed.” The doe spoke softly, hesitating in mentioning the last bit.
Something then caught the black doe’s eye.. A stone. Embedded in the other’s chest. That certainly wasn’t helping the situation. Normally the doe wouldn’t ask such a silly question, but considering this doe seemed so off in her psyche… “Are you aware there’s a stone stuck in your chest?”
okay
_
looks around then smells the air what was that smell? walked up the mixed colored doe and said 'how this happen and who did this to you and why?' stares at the doe and waits for a reply
A shriek echoed off stone and caused the giant to pause; Dag was in the ruins with his nose to the ground like a bloodhound, looking for any unique flowers that might happen to grow there. Hardly anything but dandelions and patches of thick chewy grass, so his browsing had turned into lunch instead. Upon hearing the sound bounce off the ruin walls a second time, he slowly lifted his head and listened for it again, ears perked and darting in every direction. Thrice, and he was tentatively off in the direction it was coming from until he could hear the clearer cry of distress - Aurora. He could recognize her voice and it pained him to hear such a fretting yowl coming from her. Was she being attacked by that thing that plagued her and took advantage of Verve? A red mist descended all too quickly on his mind and be broke into a run. No, a charge; whatever was happening, he would make it stop.
As he got closer, he prematurely announced himself with an intimidatory bellow in the hopes of causing whatever it was to flee from her. In hindsight this wasn't the smartest thing to do, but ever since the almost-tragedy with Verve, Dag was out of patience for this new unseen enemy. But as he rounded the corner and found Rory alone facing away from him, he halted immediately at a safe distance. The momentary rage he felt lifted and was replaced with utter confusion - there was nobody else there.
After he caught his breath, the giant took a step forward, head very low and trying his best to make sure his antlers didn't point at her in the process; though he couldn't see her face, the doe looked scared and flighty. "... Rora? Rora it's me, Dag..."
He didn't know why he felt the need to clarify who he was, but the sounds coming from her were delirious enough to make him very wary. Was it a trick? Was it actually her?
He took another cautious step, "What has happened here? Are you hurt?"
(OHGOD, I am so sorry. Ughn, that was very impolite of me, I apologize! Yes, the reply was of course meant for you.)
The stop of motion from the other didn't exactly make Aurora's tension vanish; but the urge to run ceased somewhat. She was done running. So two azure eyes gaze intently at the other; wild eyed with fear and unlikely to expression much sense at this point.
But her words had sunk in like a rusty knife into an already aching wound. The tall doe. Possessed. No doubt Aurora's current condition must be punishment for letting her enemy go as far as to have Verve almost die; and so with an instant, a new surge of pain rushed through every nerve of the caribou's body. Her fault, her stone in the chest.
"I know, alright? I know! I know I should have been more careful, I know, I KNOW! Why are you saying this?! Can't you see it's enough already? Why, WHY?!"
Her legs decided to carry her own a few metres at first, and then Aurora soon was in a run again, trying to get away; away from all of it. Not that it helped, but there was no alternative.
(Feel free to have Zah run after her - I don't mean to end the RP here! Though I can understand if Zah has zero motivation to do so. :x)
Redraptor -
Aurora merely gazed back at the stranger; not familiar to her and certainly not so in the nightmare she was living in. Her body tensed and she flinched away from the unfamiliar, as she always did. Slowly she backed away; shaking her head. So many questions at once; how could she know this wasn't another scheme, trying to lure her into even more pain?
Dag -
Days have been blurring into one. Occasionally, there had been moments of bliss in which she needed not to fear, think of feel – brief phases of being unconscious from the exhaustion. But alas, she was too healthy; and the spirit she had been steeling for months was paying off. This was the nightmare, and there was no way out. Only different layers of it – sometimes, the whispers, cruel words, got louder; that was when she closed her eyes. Other times, she let them wide open to behold the horrific image cast upon her; a cacopony of absurdity and madness, all too real to even ponder it was just a hallucination; and yet too unreal to figure the forest indeed had turned into, well this.
Suddenly, a bellow. It a memory struck her. A tall figure; adorned with antlers that held many more tines than most pairs did. And a name – Iaurdagnire. But the sound was already sinking into her realization quite differently than she heard it – now it seemed mocking, and coming closer, urging her to run. But why should she? That may be Dag, right?
But a thunder was coming closer; the loud noise was like a storm in this world, and a new wave of fear crushed into Aurora. Helplessly, she began to cover – staring right into the flashlights, hm?
The ears have been kept into the direction of the approaching person; twitching occasionally; and the piebald was still miserably shivering. From exhaustion again, but also from fear. Pain. All of it; it'd never cease, would it?
His voice almost sounded like it always did; Aurora delved into the scarce and few moments in which she was blessed with something not as crazy. It didn't last long of course, and soon her mind was making up the monster that was probably appearing to be behind her. She didn't turn, but she closed her eyes.
"Am I, am I?",, she stuttered, violently shaking her head as if to block the now loud screams out. "Are you here to make me even more hurt?"
The doe's ears flicked to catch panicked words, trying to decipher them as if they were a puzzle. This doe wasn't familiar to her, but something just wasn't right. Did she blame herself for what happened? Surely, the black doe thought, the blame rested more heavily upon herself considering how she had attacked the tall doe with the others.
Zah bolted after the other when she ran. Who knows what danger the doe could cause for herself and possibly others in her state. The black hind stretched her long legs, trying to catch up to her.
If she was able, the black doe would circle around in front of the black and white in an attempt to stop her. Though this time, she didn't even look at the doe; perhaps eye contact scared her. She presented her side instead, looking out into the forest.
"Please, Doe.. I'm trying to help you.." she tried to keep her vocie calm..
Maybe a simple question would be better, "What's your name, Doe?"
What?
Dag said under breath, ears falling back at her question, "No, of course not... Why would I ever..."
He trailed off and walked as quietly as he could around her to see her face, but her eyes were closed - she couldn't even look at him. Why? His keen eye traced the path of tears down her cheek until he could see something foreign. "Aurora, what is that?" His tone grew serious, "There is something in your chest... Please let me look at it, it's hurting you."
Dag moved into a crouch on his forelegs a short distance from her side, balancing as best he could. He then stretched his neck towards her in the hopes he could get a better look at what appeared to be embedded into her chest.
looks calmly at the doe and says 'well calm and let me look at that wound i know some medice that might help it' stares easyly at the doe and says i know what will help and pulls some horse tail out and says 'here eat this it helped me when i got a snake bite from a venomis snake once to ease the pain and stop infetchon' stares at the doe and lays down calm waiting for a reply from the doe
Whenever Aurora was met by an attempt to block her run; she made an abrupt turn, like it is a hare's tactic to avoid enemies. The world was blurring into an ugly hue of grey as trees passed her, and the whispers in her ears urged her for even more speed, for they became vicious whips, striking her back.
But Aurora would not outrun her own body's exhaustion. Eventually its limits were reached, and the piebald was forced – despite not wanting it – to slow down. First just a trot, and eventually a walk. Ultimately she came to a halt – shaking like the leaves, and shaking her head over and over again.
"Call me Vain, for it is what I am."
Dag -
"Yes, why..."
The question was lost in ponder. Many things seemed so blurred, and unclear. As if there was someone trying hard to not have her think – but in the end, that may be just the case. Regardless, Aurora stayed put on her spot. Upon mentioning the gem though, her eyes open – and there was a distinct sign of fear in them.
"Be careful..."
She whispered uneasily; slightly trembling from even the slight but of emotion. No, strength really was not with her right now. But then she also knew what to anticipate – pain. The gem did not like being looked at; but getting an educated guess on it again – perharps that would help.
Redraptor -
Aurora's eyes grew wide as the raptor-like creature came closer, and procured some strange looking items. Her words were already being slurred in the sage's ears, and whatever she had been offering her; in Aurora's vision, it already began a life of its own. Winding and shaking; twisted and turned; Aurora lets out a scream of acute fear – and backs further away, shaking her head.
Who knew if this was going to burn into her flesh, as well.
looked at the black and white colored doe and says 'its okay this plant is called Horsetail it stops pain' and looks at the doe then feels sickness ignores the sickness from fawn and says ' don't worry this plant safe its been used for Hundreds to Thousands of years and stares at the doe hoping to help it
A shift occurred through the forest, ever so slightly. It was a shudder at first, almost like apprehension. Then suddenly it stopped; a dark tension filled the air and it had not gone unnoticed. hmmmm... Ravenflight was no stranger to the darker forces of the forest and it was only now that the seemed far more numerous. Perhaps they were always there, waiting.
She came to a halt in the Birch forest where a piebald doe lay whimpering and writhing in pain; the scent of blood and a feint hissing, sizzled sound surrounded her. Ravenflight had not known of this doe closely, but she knew of her. Her name was Aurora, the seemingly gentle and distanced.
Left alone to die.
At once Ravenflight was by her side she lowered her head to where the gem was, before looking to her, "Aurora..." she spoke. Ravenflight looked around, to see if the threat was still there before turning to look at the gem again.
Aurora's shaking hadn't much ceased; and standing wasn't helping the matter. Neither did her head lift to gaze at Zah either; she was staring on the ground which in an instant opened up a new chasm of blackness, daring Aurora to jump into it.
"I doubt it can be pulled out." Her words were flatly spoken, and there really wasn't much effort in them – but neither would she stop Zah.
Redraptor -
Aurora continued to shake her head, and backed off. All she was seeing was a bunch of alive, black wires, eager to wind around her neck and twist it. "No... no, no! Get away, I don't want that!" Little force was behind the words; more the fear driving her. In her ears rang the voice of Herla, and with a sudden all too good flash of memory, she kept on backing away from Rhoda.
parrotsnpineapple -
Aurora's days have been blurred into a mass of agony; there was only the nightmare, and the blissful moments of being unconscious, in which her slashed mind was allowed to be cradled in the darkness of the void, inbetween life and death.
Right now, it was the nightmare again; and though her hearing had improved, the sight of the forest was worse than ever. Black, white, black, white – endless, indeed.
Once the other doe had lowered her head to be at level with the miserable, sitting figure Aurora now posed, the empty azure eyes return her gaze. She didn't even ponder too long on what Ravenflight – for she was sure it was her voice she heard, even if it's only been a scare few times she did – and tried to put more focus on her actual words.
"You wouldn't want to know."
That was all her voice brought forward; exhausted, defeated and still with an underlying tune of tension; tension from the pain, from the fear.
"Don't think it could be pulled out.." the black doe repeated, mulling over the words.
She crept forward slowly, examining the stone closely if the doe would allow it. It wasn't natural to her, no. Very unnatural. It seemed smooth so there was no logical explanation. Magicked maybe; the doe growled inwardly at the thought.
She picked her head up from examining, wearily trying to look the doe in the eye. "I'll try to pull it out, if you'll allow it.. If not, would you be opposed to an attempt to cut it out?"
steped back scared of the doe looked around for anyways to escaped the doe hates yelling and trys to get away but no hope walks back head low and says 'sorry! i was trying to help you' upset she ran before falling down fliping upside down and gets knocked out
riddledrhyme - I'll try to pull it out, if you'll allow it.. If not, would you be opposed to an attempt to cut it out?
The words rang in Aurora's head like a sharp blade; and pain was to be expected. And truly, it came cutting like a red hot razor right through her heart, radiating into all directions of her body. She cringed, she moaned, she groaned, and her legs gave in from the further imposed stress the mere notion of getting it out posed. Breathing heavily, the azure blue eyes once more try to focus on what she believed to be Zah through the nightmare-vision.
"I think I'll have to decline that offer..."
A few words brought out before clenched teeth, loaded with the strain. "It doesn't seem possible."
Redraptor -
I consider the RP finished now that Rhoda passed out, if you don't mind?
The more he stared at the gem, the more he understood about Aurora's warning to be careful. There were reasons to be wary, of course, but any kind of enchantment wasn't exactly on Dag's radar. All it looked to him was an odd green stone, forced and held into her chest. "Stay still."
Dag inched closer on his crouched forelegs, and as he did so, his hind legs slowly came to the ground behind him. Sat comfortably, he sniffed around the object at first, making out not very much more than the smell of her blood. Very sharp exhales through flared nostrils helped part the hair around it, and only then could he see it was tied around her neck by a thread. "Hmm."
He disregarded the stone for a moment and clambered onto his hooves again to get a better view. He followed the thread with his nose, hovering just inches away from her coat, until he found where it crossed over the back of her neck. "Be very still - I'm going to try and bite through the thread. It can't be pulled out if its being held there."
Waiting for just a few seconds, he gauged where the thread lay and aimed just below it to work his way up; essentially he had to groom her until he could find the thread with his teeth and break it. It would be fiddly, but Dag was confident he could get to it and so began to groom her gently until his upper lip came into contact with it.
(It's up to you what happens. I hope he gets zapped for being a clever sod. XD)
Dag -
Dag did not need to ask a second time for her to be still – it was done the moment asked. Not entirely out of complaint reasons though; Aurora expected something worse to happen. Already, the gem would being to increase in the strength of the gloomy green hue it seemed to radiate, and already, new strings of pain were stretching through her body like tearing needles.
She ignored it, though. Even so as the pain threatingly grew when the seemingly sentient item began to realize Aurora would also be compliant Dag attempting to do anything in regards of moving it. The piebald herself kept hoping it may work, it may just work and she'd be rid of all of this...
But no such thing.
The item was in wait, like a spring trap, waiting for Dag to step in and then be released. Only a slight buzz announced the force building up, but as soon as Dag's snout made contact with the wire, a bolt of energy was released – a flash, aiming to eletrocute Dag's body. The force was not even by a small magrin – enough to be harmful, for sure.
Aurora released a cry of shock as the new pain slashed her body, scolding her for even considering to part with the wretched emerald – she cowered, and groaned.
riddledrhyme -
A shake of the head was given. It did not bear neglect, nor arrogance – it bore helplessness, confusion and ultimately, desperate. "I don't know, I don't know anything..."
A second was all it took.
The stag threw himself backwards, roaring from the jolt of excruciating pain that struck his body like lightening. The initial pain didn't last for very long at all - it was everything afterwards. He stumbled back, snarling at the air and swinging his antlers in all directions until he fell against a tree. Various angry vocalizations crackled and barked through his clenched teeth with every forced exhale; he was trying to reclaim his breath while the tree gave him something to lean his weight on. It felt as if all energy had been clawed out of him, and that only fueled his determination to rid Aurora of it once and for all.
The visually dominating silhouette of Dag that normally cut his surroundings effortlessly was reduced to a heavy blotch of ink on an otherwise beautiful painting. His strong legs trembled in shock, body sinking lower and lower to the ground, and the flash had temporarily taken his vision - all of which caused nothing but frustration, evident from the beastly sounds coming from him. With his head hung low, he waited for all his senses to return to him, saying nothing until the ringing in his ears had ceased and the tremble in his legs had been replaced with a dull ache.
Suddenly, silence, save for the faint shuffle of grass and dirt as the proud stag took to his feet again. His head rose to look at Aurora, and then a very low, rolling growl highlighted the gravity of words that followed; he wanted an answer.
Inbetween her own shock, Aurora realized the pain Iaurdagnire had suffered during the process – seeing one of the montrous creatures her dense state was producing in agony, that was a first. At least she was sure Iaurdagnire was real – that also was a first. Being genuinely convinced, of something in this world? Truly, a step forward.
If only rather brief. Because that included that Dag truly was hurt – and that her wretched gem had caused it. Little could she tell about the gravity of the injuries, or what exactly had happened, for her eyes were still projecting a horrifying version of the scene to her mind.
"I'm sorry!", she cried, feeling a new kind of emotion inbetween the pain and fear; albeit an old, long known one. Guilt.
It didn't last long though – swiftly, more fear washed in and she ducked a litte. After a brief ponder, Aurora decided to go for an evasive route – the one that posed less danger, less problems, less... everything.
"You wouldn't like to know." Spoken with an uncanny kind of emotion; a hard to place one, but wholeheartedly different from anything the piebald had been displaying so far.
It wasn't the answer he was looking for, but Dag wasn't going to press her for the truth. Whether it was tiredness or a sudden lack of passion for her plight, he wasn't sure; he didn't like things being kept hidden from him. Then again, the emotional changes the doe displayed during his short time there with her was enough to perhaps convince him that even if there was an answer, it wouldn't be simple anyway.
He closed his eyes and sighed, calmer now. The pendant was not coming off - it didn't just hurt him, it hurt her as well - and that was that. "Very well."
Dag conceded defeat and walked a little ways off to the side of her, finding a comfortable tree to rest against. He sat down and made himself comfortable, making sure he could see her before fully resting his head on the ground. You could certainly tell when Dag was tired - if he couldn't hold his head straight on the ground, one would always hear a faint thud as his head tilted enough for one of his antlers to come in contact with the ground and hold it there for him.
The shock had tired him. He needed to rest, but also didn't want to leave Aurora on her own. "I'll stay for a while."
He mumbled, eyes half closed.
Ravenflight furrowed her brow for a moment; the once stoic and seemingly unmovable doe had been reduced to bleeding rubble on the forest floor. Ravenflight looked around once more, checking to see of any signs of danger before looking back to the does chest where a green emerald attatched itself-sizzling into flesh. The doe cautiously drew her head forward to where the stone was, speaking gently "Do you mind if...." The doe drew her head closer, her own green eyes staring directly at the evil gem. Something about it made her blood churn and feathers stand on end; there were dark magics in this and before the doe could inch closer to its touch she pulled her head away.
She was not sure of the circumstance and whatever the cause or consequence, it did not matter now. It was done and the now was important. Ravenflight was still curious, but chose not to meddle. Slowly she lowered herself to the ground, sitting closeby the piebald and grooming her for all but a moment. Then the warrior-doe spoke.
"Whoever...or...whatever did this to you. I assure you...justice is swift in this forest. Of that you can be certain, Aurora." Ravenflight paused before speaking stronger; Ravenflight was a battler. "Don't you dare give up."
She watched over the doe, staying close. There was not much connection between them in the past, but the now was more important.
(Argh sorry for the wait. Was so busy with ALL the things.)
Dag -
(WOW SUPER DUPER LATE but yeaaahhh, I'ma give this some conclusion? I mean we already had it in forest, but uh. I'm horrible. I: )
Helplessly, the piebald watched from the side as her friend shuffled away a bit; and she felt a wave of guilt as the monochromatic resemblance of Dag showed signs of exhaustion. Aurora had sunk back and let out a defeated sigh herself. It seems that merely pulling it out was not an option – but at least Dag seemed to stay.
For the worst kind of pain was the one of being alone; all alone in the cruel world, with none to cling onto. Dag reminded her of what was real, and what should not be real – but the illusion was tricky, and so the inner fight would rage on for a few more.
parrotsnpineapples -
(No worries! I guess Aurora is back to "normal" already, but I'd still love to finish the RP, if you'd like? Will figure it happened before the situation with the illusion was ended, if that is okay. c: )
Aurora let the ghastly resemblance of what should be Ravenflight approach her; even draw as close as to examine the wretched piece of jewelry. It already began to radiate more pain through her; but Aurora stayed put. She was done running, she was done collapsing from exhaustion – she was done with any of it. Despite that, she appreciated the company, and more theatralic behaviour would maybe drive Ravenflight off – no, she did not want that.
As soon as attention was shifted away from the gem, the pain subsided somewhat. It knew exactly how to protect itself, as if the repulsive energy wasn't enough, already. A joke about proximity maybe – or just a paranoid antagonist.
"Justice for the one who caused this, or justice for the one who initiated it? That would be a fair question at this point." She let out an exhausted breath. Of course she knew who had been behind all of it, but the way it happened – that was just so unfair, it almost made her wanting to shout until her voice broke.
Silently, Aurora delved in Ravenflight's presence then – the touch being a quite real sensation, one of the few things untouched by the gem. She closed her eyes to soak it up more properly, before shaking her head slowly.
AJDFGJHD NOOO RORY ;; epic
Mai had been napping up in
Mai would slowly get to her hooves, grimaving slightly as she remembered the time not that long ago when she herself had been crying out in pain. She shivered, and leapt down in a fluid movement, placing her hooves just so, in order to absorb the shock of the landing without injuring herself. It was an almost feline-like movement. She'd approach slowly, carefully, cautious of what she would find.
"Hello? Are you...alright?"
SCREAMS
omg T___T
The crying picture made me
Thank you guys for your
Jinxyness - I'll write a reply tomorrow! Thank you for your response. <3
ON A SIDENOTE, I completely forgot to make a thank you comment for the help I got here.
Credit goes to Sighthoundlady for the first, and Alcinda (lineart) and Wake (coloring) for the second picture. Thank you guys so much, it was a major boost to this blog! <333 I hope you find your work being done justice here.
wow anyway it said RPs
anyway it said RPs welcome can i RP this a little
just wondered
Ughnnn, poor Rorypie. :c But
But ashgdasd this plot is getting really exciting! Feed me some more. ♥!
(Hope this is okay.. Really
A pitch black doe sulked through the dim light of the forest. The trees loomed ominously overhead and the tall hind shook herself vigorously in an attempt to shake the foreboding mood it created within her. An ear flicked and her head shot up at the sound of a deer crying out. Zahava couldn’t place it, but it sounded vaguely familiar.
She lurched into a gallop, weaving through the trees, headed in the direction of the pained sound. Muscles tensed and battle ready, Zah swerved past the last tree that blocked her view and balked when she saw the owner of the scream.
She recognized the doe, though didn’t know her name. This was the one countless others and Zah herself had been defending against what they thought to be a monstrous beast; then, the beast proved to be a close one, with some kind of parasitic exoskeleton. Deep down, Zah was still deeply troubled by the event and felt a twinge of stale guilt rise up. She felt she owed something to this one, something more than a simple apology.
No time for guilt now. Zah spun around; her canine-teeth bared at whatever had harmed the black and white doe. Her eyes held a worried expression as she hoped another close relation incognito wouldn’t appear. A good, ferocious beast, that she could handle.
Nothing. The forest was still and quite, save for this doe crying in pain before her. Zah craned her neck to peer down at her with blazing yellow eyes.
“Doe…?” her voice was measured and quietly questioning.
The black doe almost asked if she was alright, but it was quite obvious she wasn’t. No need for redundancy.. Zah couldn’t help the pain, make it stop, or go away. So, the doe would settle for a tangible question. One that could induce her to do something.
“Who did this to you?”
may i start too plz i hope u
_
woke up to the scent of burning flesh notcing the gem charges near the doe and lunges at the necklace grabing the strings using sharp teeth cut the string of the gem then using her teeth grabs the gem out of the mixed colored doe throws it to the ground and stomps it then takes it in her mouth trying as hard and finly sharp teeth cut the gem in half then looks at the wound and says 'how did this happen' trys to use herbs to help the wound
tracking...will have Ravey
Awh poor Aurora! D:
Thank you people! I am glad
Jinxyness -
Hours had passed in which Aurora had been more of a walking mass of detachment rather than an own person; the world was drenched in monochromatic shadows, there was neither a light nor a hope; just the darkness. Horrible faces formed at any sight her eyes lingered too long at, and neither was closing her eyes an escape; it just changed the focus from the nightmare to her inner nightmare; horrible whispers in her ears, and the pain, the never ending pain.
Inbetween the cacophony of agony she recognized a new voice, and not knowing why, her head tilts towards it. Already, Mai's faces begun to detort and deform, and Aurora let out a high pitched scream; leaping back in a reaction of fear. The azure eyes were wide open, and wild – no sense could be found in them.
Well, she did not seem alright, no.
riddledrhyme -
Nothing much could exactly protray what was inside Aurora now; a madness of the induced nightmare. Not ending, not fading either, but ever shifting. Time had lost its meaning; there was either the nightmare, or there was the bliss of not being conscious. Aurora preferred the last – but this bliss was fleeting, and her body was not harmed; only the spirit was.
But despite standing bravely, in a relative fashion, it was not quite what it ever used to be. There was wild fear, cringing guilt and a screaming wish to have this just, either way. But recognize a face? Unlikely, unlikely. Even so, her yellow eyes were two huge white chasms in the monochromatic world; looming in front of her. The face had long since been twisted into cruel expressions, and the pain screamed for Aurora to run away; this was no good, a monster, a moster.
"No, no, no, not like this, not like this, NO!", her voice was high pitched and not even a shadow of what it used to be. A ridiculously cruel version of it; the version one thought would never hear, but there it was.
In an instant, the caribou was on her feet again and retreating from the monster she saw; shivering in fear.
Redraptor -
I'm sorry, I cannot reply to this post.
You see, your post does not leave me room to have Aurora react - Rhoda just pulls out the gem, and destroys it. But you see, what happens to Aurora - how others can, or cannot influence her - that is my decision. Rhoda may attempt to pull the gem out of course, but whether it suceeds or not is my decision. Maybe rewrite your post? I don't mean to be nasty here, it's just a general rule of RP. Anytime your character interacts with another - be it a fight, just a touch - leave room for people to handle it. How their character responds, etc. In this case, it is very unlikely Aurora would even let Rhoda as close as to let her touch her chest, she'd have run off before.
Furthermore, I do not intend for the piece to be destroyed just now - I hope you can understand that.
This blog really came
Thank you Sight, I am glad
woops sorry about that may i
The black doe jumped back
Zah tried to circle around the doe to get in front of her. Carrying her head low to the ground, the doe slunk, trying to assume a stance she believed would be nonthreatening. Now, she peered up at the doe. With a quiet and she hoped soothing voice, she spoke.
“Easy Doe, calm yourself… Can you hear me?”
(Quick question: is the stone visable as in the picture or is it completely embedded?)
ohmygosh ;-; Herla nooo,
I might have Caden reply to this later on..eheh
Ah... Ahhhh. ;; Hn. Poor
Poor Rory... I will post something here later.
Redraptor - Sure. Jinxyness
Sure.
Jinxyness -
(It's in plain sight, if your character can see Aurora's chest. [: )
Aurora's instincts kicked in as the other one started to circle her. Predators would circle their prey, right? And right now, there was just a monochromatic mass of a vile expression, that was getting around her; closer even, coming to mock her? Make fun of her? Or maybe give her the mercy killing, after all? At least the pain would cease. But a creature of the nightmare would not be merciful. They were all the same, malicious expressions and a frightening appearance; there was no telling apart.
Not this time, either.
"Hear you? HEAR?! You and your thousands of copies; all of their voices, I can hear them, they whisper the cruel things to me, why wouldn't you stop already?! I can't anymore, I yield, alright, yield!"
The caribou's body cringes from the declining distance between her and the figure; but she didn't run; she'd rather stare into the flashlights.
Dag & Caden - Thank you both! I'd welcome the RP. [:
(You addressed it to
Zah paused several feet away from the black and white, her head held low enough that she had to look up. She searched the other’s eyes, trying to decipher the confusing outbursts.
“Steady, doe, I mean you no harm. I think you have me mistaken, my name is Zah.. I attempted to help that day the tall doe was.. Possessed.” The doe spoke softly, hesitating in mentioning the last bit.
Something then caught the black doe’s eye.. A stone. Embedded in the other’s chest. That certainly wasn’t helping the situation. Normally the doe wouldn’t ask such a silly question, but considering this doe seemed so off in her psyche…
“Are you aware there’s a stone stuck in your chest?”
okay _ looks around then
_
looks around then smells the air what was that smell? walked up the mixed colored doe and said 'how this happen and who did this to you and why?' stares at the doe and waits for a reply
A shriek echoed off stone and
As he got closer, he prematurely announced himself with an intimidatory bellow in the hopes of causing whatever it was to flee from her. In hindsight this wasn't the smartest thing to do, but ever since the almost-tragedy with Verve, Dag was out of patience for this new unseen enemy. But as he rounded the corner and found Rory alone facing away from him, he halted immediately at a safe distance. The momentary rage he felt lifted and was replaced with utter confusion - there was nobody else there.
After he caught his breath, the giant took a step forward, head very low and trying his best to make sure his antlers didn't point at her in the process; though he couldn't see her face, the doe looked scared and flighty.
"... Rora? Rora it's me, Dag..."
He didn't know why he felt the need to clarify who he was, but the sounds coming from her were delirious enough to make him very wary. Was it a trick? Was it actually her?
He took another cautious step,
"What has happened here? Are you hurt?"
riddledrhyme - (OHGOD, I am
(OHGOD, I am so sorry. Ughn, that was very impolite of me, I apologize! Yes, the reply was of course meant for you.)
The stop of motion from the other didn't exactly make Aurora's tension vanish; but the urge to run ceased somewhat. She was done running. So two azure eyes gaze intently at the other; wild eyed with fear and unlikely to expression much sense at this point.
But her words had sunk in like a rusty knife into an already aching wound. The tall doe. Possessed. No doubt Aurora's current condition must be punishment for letting her enemy go as far as to have Verve almost die; and so with an instant, a new surge of pain rushed through every nerve of the caribou's body. Her fault, her stone in the chest.
"I know, alright? I know! I know I should have been more careful, I know, I KNOW! Why are you saying this?! Can't you see it's enough already? Why, WHY?!"
Her legs decided to carry her own a few metres at first, and then Aurora soon was in a run again, trying to get away; away from all of it. Not that it helped, but there was no alternative.
(Feel free to have Zah run after her - I don't mean to end the RP here! Though I can understand if Zah has zero motivation to do so. :x)
Redraptor -
Aurora merely gazed back at the stranger; not familiar to her and certainly not so in the nightmare she was living in. Her body tensed and she flinched away from the unfamiliar, as she always did. Slowly she backed away; shaking her head. So many questions at once; how could she know this wasn't another scheme, trying to lure her into even more pain?
Dag -
Days have been blurring into one. Occasionally, there had been moments of bliss in which she needed not to fear, think of feel – brief phases of being unconscious from the exhaustion. But alas, she was too healthy; and the spirit she had been steeling for months was paying off. This was the nightmare, and there was no way out. Only different layers of it – sometimes, the whispers, cruel words, got louder; that was when she closed her eyes. Other times, she let them wide open to behold the horrific image cast upon her; a cacopony of absurdity and madness, all too real to even ponder it was just a hallucination; and yet too unreal to figure the forest indeed had turned into, well this.
Suddenly, a bellow. It a memory struck her. A tall figure; adorned with antlers that held many more tines than most pairs did. And a name – Iaurdagnire. But the sound was already sinking into her realization quite differently than she heard it – now it seemed mocking, and coming closer, urging her to run. But why should she? That may be Dag, right?
But a thunder was coming closer; the loud noise was like a storm in this world, and a new wave of fear crushed into Aurora. Helplessly, she began to cover – staring right into the flashlights, hm?
The ears have been kept into the direction of the approaching person; twitching occasionally; and the piebald was still miserably shivering. From exhaustion again, but also from fear. Pain. All of it; it'd never cease, would it?
His voice almost sounded like it always did; Aurora delved into the scarce and few moments in which she was blessed with something not as crazy. It didn't last long of course, and soon her mind was making up the monster that was probably appearing to be behind her. She didn't turn, but she closed her eyes.
"Am I, am I?",, she stuttered, violently shaking her head as if to block the now loud screams out. "Are you here to make me even more hurt?"
(You're fine, no problem at
The doe's ears flicked to catch panicked words, trying to decipher them as if they were a puzzle. This doe wasn't familiar to her, but something just wasn't right. Did she blame herself for what happened? Surely, the black doe thought, the blame rested more heavily upon herself considering how she had attacked the tall doe with the others.
Zah bolted after the other when she ran. Who knows what danger the doe could cause for herself and possibly others in her state. The black hind stretched her long legs, trying to catch up to her.
If she was able, the black doe would circle around in front of the black and white in an attempt to stop her. Though this time, she didn't even look at the doe; perhaps eye contact scared her. She presented her side instead, looking out into the forest.
"Please, Doe.. I'm trying to help you.." she tried to keep her vocie calm..
Maybe a simple question would be better, "What's your name, Doe?"
What? Dag said under breath,
Dag said under breath, ears falling back at her question,
"No, of course not... Why would I ever..."
He trailed off and walked as quietly as he could around her to see her face, but her eyes were closed - she couldn't even look at him. Why? His keen eye traced the path of tears down her cheek until he could see something foreign.
"Aurora, what is that?" His tone grew serious, "There is something in your chest... Please let me look at it, it's hurting you."
Dag moved into a crouch on his forelegs a short distance from her side, balancing as best he could. He then stretched his neck towards her in the hopes he could get a better look at what appeared to be embedded into her chest.
looks calmly at the doe and
riddledrhyme - Whenever
Whenever Aurora was met by an attempt to block her run; she made an abrupt turn, like it is a hare's tactic to avoid enemies. The world was blurring into an ugly hue of grey as trees passed her, and the whispers in her ears urged her for even more speed, for they became vicious whips, striking her back.
But Aurora would not outrun her own body's exhaustion. Eventually its limits were reached, and the piebald was forced – despite not wanting it – to slow down. First just a trot, and eventually a walk. Ultimately she came to a halt – shaking like the leaves, and shaking her head over and over again.
"Call me Vain, for it is what I am."
Dag -
"Yes, why..."
The question was lost in ponder. Many things seemed so blurred, and unclear. As if there was someone trying hard to not have her think – but in the end, that may be just the case. Regardless, Aurora stayed put on her spot. Upon mentioning the gem though, her eyes open – and there was a distinct sign of fear in them.
"Be careful..."
She whispered uneasily; slightly trembling from even the slight but of emotion. No, strength really was not with her right now. But then she also knew what to anticipate – pain. The gem did not like being looked at; but getting an educated guess on it again – perharps that would help.
Redraptor -
Aurora's eyes grew wide as the raptor-like creature came closer, and procured some strange looking items. Her words were already being slurred in the sage's ears, and whatever she had been offering her; in Aurora's vision, it already began a life of its own. Winding and shaking; twisted and turned; Aurora lets out a scream of acute fear – and backs further away, shaking her head.
Who knew if this was going to burn into her flesh, as well.
Vain.. Well.. it was a start
"Well then, Vain. Will you at least let me help you get that thing out of your chest. It certainly isn't doing any good there"
Zah swung her head around to peer into the forest, ensuring nothing lurked in the shadows.
looked at the black and white
A shift occurred through the
She came to a halt in the Birch forest where a piebald doe lay whimpering and writhing in pain; the scent of blood and a feint hissing, sizzled sound surrounded her. Ravenflight had not known of this doe closely, but she knew of her. Her name was Aurora, the seemingly gentle and distanced.
Left alone to die.
At once Ravenflight was by her side she lowered her head to where the gem was, before looking to her, "Aurora..." she spoke. Ravenflight looked around, to see if the threat was still there before turning to look at the gem again.
"Who did this to you?"
riddledrhyme - Aurora's
Aurora's shaking hadn't much ceased; and standing wasn't helping the matter. Neither did her head lift to gaze at Zah either; she was staring on the ground which in an instant opened up a new chasm of blackness, daring Aurora to jump into it.
"I doubt it can be pulled out." Her words were flatly spoken, and there really wasn't much effort in them – but neither would she stop Zah.
Redraptor -
Aurora continued to shake her head, and backed off. All she was seeing was a bunch of alive, black wires, eager to wind around her neck and twist it. "No... no, no! Get away, I don't want that!" Little force was behind the words; more the fear driving her. In her ears rang the voice of Herla, and with a sudden all too good flash of memory, she kept on backing away from Rhoda.
parrotsnpineapple -
Aurora's days have been blurred into a mass of agony; there was only the nightmare, and the blissful moments of being unconscious, in which her slashed mind was allowed to be cradled in the darkness of the void, inbetween life and death.
Right now, it was the nightmare again; and though her hearing had improved, the sight of the forest was worse than ever. Black, white, black, white – endless, indeed.
Once the other doe had lowered her head to be at level with the miserable, sitting figure Aurora now posed, the empty azure eyes return her gaze. She didn't even ponder too long on what Ravenflight – for she was sure it was her voice she heard, even if it's only been a scare few times she did – and tried to put more focus on her actual words.
"You wouldn't want to know."
That was all her voice brought forward; exhausted, defeated and still with an underlying tune of tension; tension from the pain, from the fear.
"Don't think it could be
She crept forward slowly, examining the stone closely if the doe would allow it. It wasn't natural to her, no. Very unnatural. It seemed smooth so there was no logical explanation. Magicked maybe; the doe growled inwardly at the thought.
She picked her head up from examining, wearily trying to look the doe in the eye.
"I'll try to pull it out, if you'll allow it.. If not, would you be opposed to an attempt to cut it out?"
A plan swirled in Zah's mind.
steped back scared of the doe
riddledrhyme - I'll try to
I'll try to pull it out, if you'll allow it.. If not, would you be opposed to an attempt to cut it out?
The words rang in Aurora's head like a sharp blade; and pain was to be expected. And truly, it came cutting like a red hot razor right through her heart, radiating into all directions of her body. She cringed, she moaned, she groaned, and her legs gave in from the further imposed stress the mere notion of getting it out posed. Breathing heavily, the azure blue eyes once more try to focus on what she believed to be Zah through the nightmare-vision.
"I think I'll have to decline that offer..."
A few words brought out before clenched teeth, loaded with the strain.
"It doesn't seem possible."
Redraptor -
I consider the RP finished now that Rhoda passed out, if you don't mind?
The more he stared at the
"Stay still."
Dag inched closer on his crouched forelegs, and as he did so, his hind legs slowly came to the ground behind him. Sat comfortably, he sniffed around the object at first, making out not very much more than the smell of her blood. Very sharp exhales through flared nostrils helped part the hair around it, and only then could he see it was tied around her neck by a thread.
"Hmm."
He disregarded the stone for a moment and clambered onto his hooves again to get a better view. He followed the thread with his nose, hovering just inches away from her coat, until he found where it crossed over the back of her neck.
"Be very still - I'm going to try and bite through the thread. It can't be pulled out if its being held there."
Waiting for just a few seconds, he gauged where the thread lay and aimed just below it to work his way up; essentially he had to groom her until he could find the thread with his teeth and break it. It would be fiddly, but Dag was confident he could get to it and so began to groom her gently until his upper lip came into contact with it.
(It's up to you what happens. I hope he gets zapped for being a clever sod. XD)
The doe nodded slowly,
"Is there anything I can do to help you, Doe?"
Tracking this before it's too
Dag - Dag did not need to ask
Dag did not need to ask a second time for her to be still – it was done the moment asked. Not entirely out of complaint reasons though; Aurora expected something worse to happen. Already, the gem would being to increase in the strength of the gloomy green hue it seemed to radiate, and already, new strings of pain were stretching through her body like tearing needles.
She ignored it, though. Even so as the pain threatingly grew when the seemingly sentient item began to realize Aurora would also be compliant Dag attempting to do anything in regards of moving it. The piebald herself kept hoping it may work, it may just work and she'd be rid of all of this...
But no such thing.
The item was in wait, like a spring trap, waiting for Dag to step in and then be released. Only a slight buzz announced the force building up, but as soon as Dag's snout made contact with the wire, a bolt of energy was released – a flash, aiming to eletrocute Dag's body. The force was not even by a small magrin – enough to be harmful, for sure.
Aurora released a cry of shock as the new pain slashed her body, scolding her for even considering to part with the wretched emerald – she cowered, and groaned.
riddledrhyme -
A shake of the head was given. It did not bear neglect, nor arrogance – it bore helplessness, confusion and ultimately, desperate.
"I don't know, I don't know anything..."
Ebony3: Thanks! (x
A second was all it took.
The stag threw himself backwards, roaring from the jolt of excruciating pain that struck his body like lightening. The initial pain didn't last for very long at all - it was everything afterwards. He stumbled back, snarling at the air and swinging his antlers in all directions until he fell against a tree. Various angry vocalizations crackled and barked through his clenched teeth with every forced exhale; he was trying to reclaim his breath while the tree gave him something to lean his weight on. It felt as if all energy had been clawed out of him, and that only fueled his determination to rid Aurora of it once and for all.
The visually dominating silhouette of Dag that normally cut his surroundings effortlessly was reduced to a heavy blotch of ink on an otherwise beautiful painting. His strong legs trembled in shock, body sinking lower and lower to the ground, and the flash had temporarily taken his vision - all of which caused nothing but frustration, evident from the beastly sounds coming from him. With his head hung low, he waited for all his senses to return to him, saying nothing until the ringing in his ears had ceased and the tremble in his legs had been replaced with a dull ache.
Suddenly, silence, save for the faint shuffle of grass and dirt as the proud stag took to his feet again. His head rose to look at Aurora, and then a very low, rolling growl highlighted the gravity of words that followed; he wanted an answer.
"Who put it around your neck."
Dag - Inbetween her own
Inbetween her own shock, Aurora realized the pain Iaurdagnire had suffered during the process – seeing one of the montrous creatures her dense state was producing in agony, that was a first. At least she was sure Iaurdagnire was real – that also was a first. Being genuinely convinced, of something in this world? Truly, a step forward.
If only rather brief. Because that included that Dag truly was hurt – and that her wretched gem had caused it. Little could she tell about the gravity of the injuries, or what exactly had happened, for her eyes were still projecting a horrifying version of the scene to her mind.
"I'm sorry!", she cried, feeling a new kind of emotion inbetween the pain and fear; albeit an old, long known one. Guilt.
It didn't last long though – swiftly, more fear washed in and she ducked a litte. After a brief ponder, Aurora decided to go for an evasive route – the one that posed less danger, less problems, less... everything.
"You wouldn't like to know." Spoken with an uncanny kind of emotion; a hard to place one, but wholeheartedly different from anything the piebald had been displaying so far.
It wasn't the answer he was
He closed his eyes and sighed, calmer now. The pendant was not coming off - it didn't just hurt him, it hurt her as well - and that was that.
"Very well."
Dag conceded defeat and walked a little ways off to the side of her, finding a comfortable tree to rest against. He sat down and made himself comfortable, making sure he could see her before fully resting his head on the ground. You could certainly tell when Dag was tired - if he couldn't hold his head straight on the ground, one would always hear a faint thud as his head tilted enough for one of his antlers to come in contact with the ground and hold it there for him.
The shock had tired him. He needed to rest, but also didn't want to leave Aurora on her own.
"I'll stay for a while."
He mumbled, eyes half closed.
Ravenflight furrowed her brow
She was not sure of the circumstance and whatever the cause or consequence, it did not matter now. It was done and the now was important. Ravenflight was still curious, but chose not to meddle. Slowly she lowered herself to the ground, sitting closeby the piebald and grooming her for all but a moment. Then the warrior-doe spoke.
"Whoever...or...whatever did this to you. I assure you...justice is swift in this forest. Of that you can be certain, Aurora." Ravenflight paused before speaking stronger; Ravenflight was a battler. "Don't you dare give up."
She watched over the doe, staying close. There was not much connection between them in the past, but the now was more important.
(Argh sorry for the wait. Was so busy with ALL the things.)
Dag - (WOW SUPER DUPER LATE
(WOW SUPER DUPER LATE but yeaaahhh, I'ma give this some conclusion? I mean we already had it in forest, but uh. I'm horrible. I: )
Helplessly, the piebald watched from the side as her friend shuffled away a bit; and she felt a wave of guilt as the monochromatic resemblance of Dag showed signs of exhaustion. Aurora had sunk back and let out a defeated sigh herself. It seems that merely pulling it out was not an option – but at least Dag seemed to stay.
For the worst kind of pain was the one of being alone; all alone in the cruel world, with none to cling onto. Dag reminded her of what was real, and what should not be real – but the illusion was tricky, and so the inner fight would rage on for a few more.
parrotsnpineapples -
(No worries! I guess Aurora is back to "normal" already, but I'd still love to finish the RP, if you'd like? Will figure it happened before the situation with the illusion was ended, if that is okay. c: )
Aurora let the ghastly resemblance of what should be Ravenflight approach her; even draw as close as to examine the wretched piece of jewelry. It already began to radiate more pain through her; but Aurora stayed put. She was done running, she was done collapsing from exhaustion – she was done with any of it. Despite that, she appreciated the company, and more theatralic behaviour would maybe drive Ravenflight off – no, she did not want that.
As soon as attention was shifted away from the gem, the pain subsided somewhat. It knew exactly how to protect itself, as if the repulsive energy wasn't enough, already. A joke about proximity maybe – or just a paranoid antagonist.
"Justice for the one who caused this, or justice for the one who initiated it? That would be a fair question at this point." She let out an exhausted breath. Of course she knew who had been behind all of it, but the way it happened – that was just so unfair, it almost made her wanting to shout until her voice broke.
Silently, Aurora delved in Ravenflight's presence then – the touch being a quite real sensation, one of the few things untouched by the gem. She closed her eyes to soak it up more properly, before shaking her head slowly.
"No... no giving up.."