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 Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:10 pm
Any signs of enthusiasm went missed, Setsu swipping a paw across her brow. She could feel herself reverting back to her old ways, like the pulsing needed for that stunt had shook her back some paces. Or perhaps sedatives were wearing low. Either way, the femme turned on her heel to face the other kitsu, listening to him with a frown.
That's right, they still hadn't caught sight or smell of Godiva. And honestly, if it had been Project, Setsu may have persude it further. Not that it'd be something she'd admit. But it was a creature none the less, and a child to boot.
Ears darted up as Jabril spoke, tails bristling suddenly to the faint disturbings of vibrations in the ground. No sooner than the scientist had finished his sentence though, the shaking had turned into a noticable presence that had them both holding steady on the ground. "Prank, hm?" Eyes slid to each of the connecting tunnels, urgent and cautious to which one delivered the echoing groan. What now?
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Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:42 pm
"Unless..."
Unless it wasn't a prank, in which case, erasing that glyph might have released something very large and nasty from the bowels of the mountain.
"s**t." Jabril cursed. A litany of more colorful profanities followed, each one more convoluted than the last.
"C'n ye feel it comin'? Stay or run?"
He didn't know how Setsu felt about fighting, with her injury. He didn't know how he felt about fighting, because he wasn't a fighter. All the scientist knew was that this discovery had torn his cozy little world apart.
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Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:33 pm
Now who would take the time to pull a prank in the depths of a tunnel network? No, nevermind, there were enough weirdos in the world to actually consider it. Still, Setsu didn't believe that was their case. Ears pinned back to the slurred and accented curse words being blown behind her. She was almost tempted to slap some calm back into the other..
Hmmm. The femme peered around coolly, as if doing nothing more than shopping. Where was it coming from....? Unfolding her arms, Setsu pointed a paw to a dark and narrow tunnel off to their left. "That way." A certain expression crossed her face briefly, and she tilted her chin down towards Jabril. "What about Godiva?" She was stunned, to say the least.
Shrugging, Setsu glimpsed all the other tunnels. "I already know I'm not agile. And even if this is my element, we don't know...what is here." She looked to the ceiling for a pause, as if the answer would be written there. Then she shook the indigo hair from her face, looking to Jabril. "I say if there is a cockroach, we stomp it now. You can leave if you like.."
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:02 am
Jabril shook his head, and a wild, unstable grin broke across his maw.
"Oh, ye ha' t'be kiddin' me! Let ye go alone? An' then ha' t'get ye patched up if ye get damaged agin? I do'nae think so."
Jabril sat back on his haunches and rooted around inside his lab coat for several long moments. It wasn't clear what he was doing until a pair of vials spilled out from the coat's inner pockets and onto the cavern floor.
"Wouldna get th'right data an' observations from ye anyhow."
He batted Setsu lightly in the shoulder with one of his tails.
"Face facts, m'dear. Yuir stuck wit' me."
Jabril picked up with vials with his mouth and held them carefully clenched between his jaws. The rumbling grew closer with an almost rhythmic regularity.
"Leth go," the scientist lisped around the glass.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:20 am
Blink. "Hey now." Setsu placed a paw on her good hip, leaning forward and poking Jabril. "I swear you are waay too animated for your own good." Here he was one moment cursing and looking grim himself, then grinning and ranting about action and research. "And I don't plan to get injured..." Yeah, that's how the last encounter went too. "And if anyone has a higher risk of injury, I'd place money on you." Mr. Skinny lab rat.
She watched as various vials clinked out of his lab coat, and she briefly wondered how many pockets were in that damn thing. And the floor and walls kept vibrating and groaning like a living organism, making the femme tilt her ears. "Eh." She batted away his random tail, bothered by the thought of being stuck to anything in general. But he made it entertaining, so what the hell.
Once the other had his gear together, Setsu padded over to the tunnel of loudest suggestion. It was smooth and angled like a slide, and Setsu made to crouch in the tunnel as it was too small to sit upright through. Tails bristled warily as momentum took tole, and she soon vanished through the dimly lit space. Then there was an ending light, and she sprawled into a lovely landing at the bottom, grumbling at herself. -__-
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:23 am
Jabril's dark moods rarely stayed with him for longer than it took to think of something to research. Not even his hatred of magic or the value he placed on his life could overcome the thrill he got from knowing there was something new out there to discover. This mountain was full of secrets and mysteries. He was a very happy scientist.
The male trotted over to the chute that Setsu had slid down, and made a choking noise around his vials.
"Wass r'ye doin'?" There might not be a way back up that thing! "I cannae b'lieve ye-"
Tsk, leave it to Setsu to fling herself into danger again. This was just like yesterday, when he'd found her about to pass out in a field and make a nice meal for the scavengers. After this was all over Jabril was going to have to have a talk with her. She obviously needed someone to watch over her and remind her to value her life.
With a rueful shake of his head, Jabril charged in after his moody patient. The ride down was swift and jarring, and it was a struggle not to break the vials in his mouth, but somehow the scientist managed to tumble to the bottom unscathed. Setsu's dead body made a bony cushion when he landed in a sprawl on top of her back.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:21 am
Hmmm, then the male was surely bipolar. Not that Setsu would ever voice such a hunch, mind you. And she wouldn't bother yelling back up the tunnel that she could simply create a way back up to that secret room. Once she was done with her chores down here.
Indigo and red eyes adjusted to the lighting...or darking, of the new location. Her frame was still and crouched, until she was certain there was nothing before her. But they were closer now, the vibrations and mysterious sounds giving evidence to that. And still no signs of that young Nightmare..
The kitsu was just picking herself up to dust off when her ears pinned back to another sliding sound moving quite quickly.....crap. "Hey.., nngh." The sudden weight behind her effectively crashed her forward, face-planting her to the ground like a bag of potatoes. Fur bristled down her form like a static rug. "......get.....off...." Jabril wasn't heavy at all, but that wasn't the point of the matter. Her katana was poking her bandaged side irritably. And she wasn't at all pleased at being dog piled. Pushing herself up heavily, she could feel the other's weight slide from her as she went back to dusting herself off almost too harshly.
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:13 pm
"Mrph!" Jabril protested. "Mrph mfff mphrmlrph mff mfff."
What exactly he was so indignant about would forever remain a mystery to Setsu, because the impact of the fall had driven Jabril's vials further back in his jaw, and he couldn't speak without glass getting in the way of his tongue. He was lucky that nothing had shattered on the way down.
The male wriggled on his back, adding dust and debris to the list of questionable substances that stained his lab coat. Ugh. He must look like a canine begging for a belly rub. Jabril quickly rolled to right himself, making sure that his coat-tails flared out just enough to get some dirt on Setsu's trousers. Her brushing was a little too enthusiastic, and he wasn't above tiny acts of spite.
"Mfffah mffrphimrf. Mrowr."
The lurching groan that was their enemy grew closer with clock-work regularity. Jabril could feel the rock vibrate underneath the pads of his paws. Of all the bloody- they were too far down, and the chute conducted very little light. He couldn't see. If he'd thought to bring a glow-stick, or some phosphorescent chemical, then- but he hadn't. This was so stupid!
Jabril hadn't come all the way down here to die without seeing anything, even if it was some worthless magic trash.
"Rrrrrrr." He growled, before flinging one of the vials in his mouth in the direction of the sound that was coming for them. The liquid inside exploded into flame just in time for both he and Setsu to see the roaring creature charging right at them.
It was three times as large as a kitsu, and Jabril would have sworn that it must be some demon from the Mountain depths, another blind Nightmare, if it weren't for the way its fur hung unnaturally from its body. Jabril's molotov cocktail singed it, and somehow the way its coat smoldered reminded him of the plush fuzz on Godiva's stuffed toys.
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:54 pm
"What now? Yadda....yadda yadda...yadda?" It's not like she had pushed him down the tunnel. And he was so damn light, any complaint of speed would be his own concern. She lifted a brow gracefully to his wriggling, him indeed looking like a begging dog. His coat corners stretched out toward her, and she batted them away with her tails. She already had enough dirt plastered to her uniform now.
She finally had enough, and her two small paws reached out. One went atop Jabril's muzzle, the other under his chin to clamp his mouth shut...well, as best possible around vials. "Would you...please, shut up now." It was pitch black down here, and the best he could do was gurgle a bunch of vibrations to reveal their location.
Her ears fell as if drained of blood and replaced with fear to the growling sound so near to them. And she watched as the scientist threw a vial in the specific direction, watching a burst of flame lighten the surrounding area. "The hell is that?" In the moment the room was lit, she forced her eyes to glimpse her surroundings, grateful to find some corners of pebbles and dust littering the area. She grabbed at Jabril's coat, swiftly moving them both off to the side, near a small crevice in the wall to avoid the massive bullet charging them.
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:29 am
"Mrflurf-"
Damn it, this was ridiculous. Jabril spat his second vial into the ground.
"How m'I s'posed ta know?"
The scientist was glad of Setsus bulk pressing him into the crevasse. She made for a substantial shield, even if he felt winded from the way she'd shoved him back so easily. If he'd been alone he might have started shaking.
"Did ye see any me'al? I thought I saw somethin' like." Jabril lowered his voice to a harsh whisper. Bits of the thing's fur were on fire, lighting the cavern with a low, infernal glow, but anything that lived down here wouldn't be dependent upon sight to sense its prey.
The beast made a slow, precise pivot-turn, and then began to stalk towards their hiding place. Its growl sounded again, but there was something strange about it, something Jabril couldn't place. Like this growl was an exact replica of the one before it.
"Do a distraction or somethin'," Jabril murmured into the shell of Setsu's ear. "So I c'n get a better look, yeh? We ha' t'find a weakness."
Their enemy came to a stop in front of the crevasse, and slammed heavy paws into the rock wall above them. It had to be three times the size of any regular kitsu. Jabril could make out the contours of blank eyes and bright fangs in the half-light.
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:56 pm
Damn, that thing was big and fast. Setsu scowled as she pressed herself against the wall cavity, feeling Jabril just beside her. It was a shallow hideaway, and she flinched as she could feel something of the attacker's body graze against her shoulder. It had felt too sharp and hard to be flesh.
"See any what?" His accent and her stretched attention had made her miss his question. The cavern seemed to dance sporatically with the small flames licking on the monster's body as it drove by. That alone was enough to see that the thing wasn't a Nightmare. But what other species were there then?
Ear tickled to Jab's whispered suggestion, and the femme smacked the back of her head against the wall with a jolt, before glaring blunt daggers at the scientist. "A distraction? A distraction?!" What the hell was she, dead meat to throw around? D<
She crouched as their little shelter was shaken, her tails curving almost like a shield defense. With the creature's front paws up onto the wall, Setsu took her chance. Short blade was pulled from its sheath, both paws needed to grip it securely as she bolted under the opponent, piercing and sliding the tip through the underbelly of the other. It was stunning to think it was so large that she managed to slip under and behind it. Then again...she was small in size herself...
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:02 pm
If Jabril'd had any lingering ideas about their enemy being organic, they were completely banished by the shower of sparks that followed Setsu's swipe to the creature's chest. It did not scream, and no guts spilled out onto the floor. The machine gave no indication that it was at all bothered by the flaps of fur-like cloth that gaped open under its chest.
"S'a machine," Jabril called, though he was certain Setsu already knew that. "C'n ye feel any water 'round 'ere? I venture t'would short it out. Mum knows how t'reckon these mechanics better'n I, but if I could just get a wee look-"
The creature raised steel-tipped claws to strike down Setsu, and that would not do. No, it would not do at all. There was no way in hell that Jabril was venturing out of his nice crevasse, but he needed to see the machine up close to get a better idea of what they were dealing with. It must have been triggered by the noise they made all the way up in the chamber above. What a masterwork!
"Oi! Oe're here, beastie!"
Jabril tossed his second vial up into the air, and batted it towards the machine with one paw. Just as it was about to try to smash Setsu into undead pulp it took a hit of pure acid to the side. The chamber was filled with a hissing noise and an acrid smell. That would't be near enough to take it down, but.
The machine had returned its attention to Jabril. And that should be enough.
"Yeh, ye 'eard me. Let's ha' a look at ye!"
Claws scraped against stone, and the mechanical beast trundled over to Jabril's position. He huddled back against the wall as best he could squinted his eyes, and searched for a design weakness. Any weakness.
"I think I see-"
The line of its maw came into focus.
Dog. Dog-shaped. Mecha-dog. Canine.
Jabril's jaw gaped. Fear paralyzed him, and all conscious thought left his mind. He was fine with wolves, had no problem with coyotes, but-
"Dog." He breathed. "DogdogdogdogdogdogOHGODitsadog-"
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:18 am
Well that was certainly different. Setsu bolted away from the 'tails' of the creature to press her back along the opposite wall. Her eyes scanned over her blade, checking the damage of scrapping it across metal. And the fur that had shed onto her sleeves wasn't fur at all, just some type of coarse fabrics.
Ears lifted to Jabril's echoing voice, and she glance across the tunnel. Water? Would they be able to smell it? Even so, they'd have to locate it and somehow move this bulk into it...
The monstrosity turned with false eyes, and Setsu glowered to the lifted paw. Good crap, the tunnel was already blocked by his body. The only option was to duck and hope not too much hide was torn off. Bracing herself, the kitsu paused and blinked though...seeing Jabril provide a distraction of his own. And she stood there motionless, watching as the creature was smacked with some chemical aand began sizzling on the side.
As soon as room was made, thanks to the creature showing interest in Jabril's efforts, Setsu cringed out of her cornered spot. She had expected something organic hiding in these caverns, like much else of the kitsu world. But with something mechanic, she only had so much experience with. And those were with human designs; no telling how similiar they were.
Thoughts were cut from her as Setsu flinched, catching Jabrils' paniced ramblings. Dog? The machine was a dog? And in the dark, she couldn't make out Jabril's form....but she also didn't feel any vibrations of him running either. What was wrong? "Run idiot!" Quickly, she slid her left paw across the ground, urging loose sand and dirt to her biddings. The small grains and chunks of earth slithered to their destination, poking their way in the dark to the dog's front, left leg. And like loyal sand, they ran up the limb, falling and filling in the crevices of the mechanics. Effectivelly paralyzing that limb..
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:05 pm
The growl sounded again. By this time, it was clear that the noise must be a recording set on a timer. It had no bearing on the robot's actions.
Jabril remained frozen in place until he was jolted out of his reverie by a splash of sand across his maw. Was someone calling his name? He could hardly tell. Panic clouded his mind and infected his senses. All that Jabril knew was there was a dog and dogs ate foxes oh god mechadog they were going to die die die.
There was a harsh mechanical squack, and Jabril heard the sound of metal scraping on bits of shale. He rushed blindly out of his bolt-hole and across the room. The mechadog's free forepaw struck him in the chest and he went flying into the opposite wall, but his bones did not break and his head did not crack against the stone. Pain pulled him back into his right mind.
"Setsu-" he coughed, not knowing exactly what he was asking. Maybe he just wanted to make sure that she was alive. It was difficult to see what was going on.
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:31 pm
"There we go..." Her lip tilted in a smirk to the groaning of the limb as it was made immobile and as stiff as a board. Gotta love sand. Small and dirty, but hella useful to many certain tasks. Now to see if there was enough dirt left over for the other leg..
Delicate ears brushed her shoulders in reaction to new senses, of vibrations scrabbling on the ground. It was enough of a clue for her to know which direction the other was in, considering their dark environment. "..." Damn. Her claws scratched against stone, at the limit of her resources. Unless she wanted to burn more energy to create more grubble, but that was risky.
Then she heard a sound that she wasn't at all happy with, enough to make her cringe in the dark. That had definitely not been metal. And there was only one other flesh individual here. The idiot. "Hey." She was careful to keep the sand busy and in place, as it was enough to bide time with slowing the machine's movements. Walking blindly and warily, she made her way to where the other rested. Pale paw reached out, feeling familiar and coarse lab coat. Then it drifted up his arm to his shoulder, flitting over his neck then to cup his cheek. "Ah. There you are."
SLAP~
Hmm, sounded like she made target. "What the hell were you thinking. Oh that's right, you weren't." One of the many reasons she hated scientists. So caught up in their little analysis studies to take in the bigger picture. "If you plan to get yourself killed...don't do it in front of me..." She flicked a tail to his paw, willing him to hold it so to keep from getting lost in the dark. They still had to turn off the canine behind them.
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