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 Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 5:37 pm
 Though the skies had been tinged grey with sullenness from the sight of their unwanted visitor, they had seemed content to haughtily keep to themselves while the monster within their midst slowly lumbered through the clearing. Whipping winds were thick with a foreboding chill as though to better frighten the beast away, but the Nightmare could hardly feel its frozen embrace through the thick leather strapped tightly to his body. Even if he could, the urgency to locate and destroy his current targets would have kept his powerful limbs moving forward no matter how brutal the weather. Ah, but there was the problem... The Tyrant had lost the trail. In fact, it had been cold and dead and almost entirely useless since he had first began his silent stalkings of this rugged mountainside.
Perplexed and gripped with a stifled sense of frustration that normally remained hidden within the monster, he had reluctantly pushed through the dense woods, still fruitlessly searching. It was the river that called to him now, gurgling apprehensively when his razor-lined maw dipped into the cold waters so he could drink. At best, the task was awkward; his lipless jaws sent water spilling through the minute gaps between his sharp teeth and back into the main source--tainted now from the virus that made up his very being. Of course, it would not last long at all in the water, so anyone who drank here shouldn't contract the sickness... unless they were truly unfortunate.
Though his thirst was quenched, the rotting bioweapon made to lumber up and down the muddy shores, glancing almost distractedly at the currents with his sole, milky eye. The other was stapled shut with barbs of steel, but one eye was all the creature needed. A low rumble unexpectedly escaped from the blackening skies overhead, clear warning that Nature's patience was beginning to run thin. In response, the mutated mass of tentacles tightly compacted underneath his skin began to pulse with agitation, faint squelching sounds emerging from his exposed shoulder and back. He could not leave yet. He did not understand where he was supposed to go.
Uncharacteristically, his jaws grated against one another with a sound like ill-tempered steel before he paused, again to glance at the river. It had moved. There, again--ripples fluttering gently at the surface as though something was moving underneath. Another raindrop fell, and then another, and soon the air was thick with them as they pounded against the earth, blending together in one dark sheet of wet. It coated his leatherbound sides and oozed into his hairless flesh, muffling his sickly sweet smell of decay with fresh scents of rejuvinating life. Still, the Nightmare stood silently, as though marveling at the sudden shift in weather though the emotion was beyond his capability to feel.
The darkened riverside flashed to life as a bolt of lightning ripped through the menacing clouds overhead, and the heavens roared their rage at the beast that still dared to lurk within their presence. Yet, the Nemesis did not roar back, nor did he make to leave, nothing more than a taciturn statue of virus-strewn flesh and muscle standing silently in front of the violently churning waters. There was nothing to fear from a storm, after all--sometimes they tended to flush out the best prey.
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:45 pm
White tails now heavy and soaked dragged behind her and black hair skewed across her wide golden eyes. Okay, okay....she knew where she was. Right? Like...HQ was just around these trees. Tromping on her four slim legs, the kitsu rounded some leaking trees and lept some soggy bushes. But no matter how many she passed, her destination was still nowhere to be found. "....daddy?.....mommy?" But even her honey crystal voice whimpering out, her parents didn't show up. Ears fell, heavy with her own gray thoughts. Apparently hide-and-seek wasn't a good game to play when the weather was frowning.
A sound of drizzling hit her ears, though its rythm was somehow...different from the rain. A churring that was more like a pulse than small thuds. Another boom shook the sky, and that alone was enough to spur the daughter blindly into the woods, locating her to the growing riverside.
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:41 pm
He'd stood there with the rain beating its cold, angry fists against his shoulders and skull, unable to think and content to simply be. His senses were extended, hypersensitive and carefully monitoring his surroundings though the beast truly had no enemies to fear. After a moment more of waiting, it seemed he was finally ready to move on and tilted his thick head skyward as though just noticing the rain. His serpentine tongue twisted outward to wipe heaven's tears from his beak, then froze with curiosity as it caught another scent. It was encroaching into his space, his territory right now, and he was fully prepared to defend it.
Heavy claws and booted feet sank into the muddy soil as the Nightmare turned towards the woods, a low, ragged note undulating deep within his chest. On a deep, more primitive level, he understood that this would be a fine opportunity to free the frustration that continued to plague him. Thick jaws parting, the monster unleashed a low, groaning rasp that was both a warning and a challenge. A new hunt had begun, and this time, this time, it would not end in failure.
Another roar answered his own, and the monster hesitated for only a moment with confusion until a crackling bolt from above screamed its defiance and raced to strike the tallest object within the clearing--the Tyrant. Flailing tentacles mounted on the creature's back spasmed and slapped at the air as currents of electricity cackled through the mutated flesh, and a guttural bellow of agony ripped itself from the beast's maw. The Nemesis stumbled and collapsed on one side, claws raking at the soft soil in frenzied twitches. His jaws were gaped in a frantic attempt to catch his breath, his eye rolling wildly in its socket until the fat jolts of electricity finally seemed to cease.
Something had gone terribly, terribly wrong within his mind, and he could feel it, could feel his body shuddering until the Tyrant eventually blacked out. A mangled breath wheezed into his lungs, and then another, signaling that incredible endurance had again allowed the monstrosity to live through trauma that might have killed a normal creature. Thick limbs twitched restlessly as he sought to rouse himself, but the lightning had taken its toll on the mechanical workings of his mind.
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 9:40 pm
A smell was the only thing to penetrate her senses as she ran. The cool sting of water was nothing, nor the slip of the ground compared to the strong odor. It was enough to have her nostrils wince despite her jogging. What could smell so horrible?
A bright, bright light struck her eyes then, and Celes staggered to a halt before actually hitting the flowing river. She was seeing stars, and her paws moved up to rub against her sore eyes as she swayed on the spot. Did that come from the clouds too? Before the girl could think this through, the kitsu began to gag, and felt the sudden urge to puke. That smell had changed now, and it was near intoxicating. Rustic and rotten and molten. Time passed as her eyes adjusted, and Celes lifted them carefully to see just what happened.
What she wasn't expecting was the giant mass before her, too twisted and shined by rain to really decipher. Celes crouched low to the ground, shifting forward and back with indecision. Investigate the stinky object, or turn tail to avoid the odor in her coat? Fanged tooth bit her lip as she noticed the thing was breathing, and that made her final choice. There was no thought in her mind to leave something pitiful out and alone being injured, or at least looking so. De-robing her precious coat, the femme folded it upon a rock before approaching the Nemesis. Body language was rigid with caution, Celes' tummy dragging on the floor as she came over, stepping timidly over his tendrils to sit behind his massive back. Compared to him in size, she may have been a baby. Nervously, she placed a paw on his skin to gauge a reaction..
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:18 pm
Some alarm wailed on and on within his head, urging him to get up, to shake off this wound just like all the rest. It'd be easy, so easy to gather up his legs and push himself upright, to find, to catch, to kill the creature he knew was still around--but the Tyrant only worked his jaws wordlessly as though gasping for breath. The sirens shrieked louder, and the Nemesis groaned, low and tired and almost reproachful to the incessant urges.
Something brushed against his charred flesh directly behind him, earning a shudder from the beast. One tentacle twitched in preparation to ram itself through the kitsu's mouth and punch a hole straight into her brain--but could only manage to drape itself upon the paw that lightly rested on his skin. If anything, the rain was falling harder now, forcing the Nemesis to close his eye to keep the water from flooding the delicate sensory organ.
Tired. Wet. He was unexplainably aware of these two symptoms that now plagued him and tried again to roll to his feet. A clawed foot twitched again, but found itself unable to offer real aid. "Hrrrnnnnghhh..." The distorted, quiet grumble pushed itself from the Nightmare, who seemed to have quite forgotten that there was another directly behind it. His sense and reasoning had been shot, completely fried from the lightning (which still flashed across the sky). Normally, he would be possessed by the irresistable urge to haul himself up and seclude himself until he could heal... but even that seemed beyond the beast, as it was.
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 6:26 pm
Golden eyes slid from the massive shoulder to the torturous neck, then to the kitsu's face. It was a terrifying sight that was no lie. Even in the heavy rain, Celes felt like her fur stood on end. Taunt skin like a drowned being stretched over his skull and peeled away into a terrifying muzzle. Large teeth bore out in his gasps of foul breath, and small eye was wide and unseeing. Was this one truly ill, or were all kitsu this size just as mangled? Was this what they called...a Nightmare?
"Eep!" Slight paw lashed back as she realized his tentacle was drapped over it, her limb flailing as if to forget the texture. Ugh, it felt like a cat's tongue! Pouting while glancing over her arm, Celes tucked tails as she turned back to the creature. Did he do that on purpose? Was he trying to tell her something?
Determination somewhat resolved, Celes stood and made a wide circle to the front of the male. Head tilted and turned every which way as she analyzed the kitsu from his choice of clothes to his razored toes. What a...strange individual, to be polite. Ears twitched as he growned, and Celes edged near his grand head. "Heyyy there, it's not well to lay in the mud.." Of course the scale of risk was being measured in her mind, but then again she'd never been in a situation like this. Being alone and with a different, larger species of kitsu. What was she getting into? Childishly, she patted his nose as encouragement. "Some on now, you can do it. Just wriggle your toes!"
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 10:31 pm
The slimy, virus-slickened appendage slapped weakly against the earth as it was hurriedly shaken off, the tip curling with agitation at its lack of mobility. It wanted to seize, to crush... but then, after a moment, the tension drained from its length and enabled it to go still. It was the faint flicker of movement that had caught the beast's rolling eye, and it carefully observed the kitsu with an almost similar amount of curiosity. After a moment, pain glazed across the bulging orb and the Nightmare lost focus, staring silently at nothing in particular.
The voice--female, or so his fizzling sensors managed to relay--shook the Nightmare back into awareness. His jaws parted once more in reflexive threat until he paused, listening carefully to what he was being told. ...Instructions? Orders. Orders to follow, to obey, something to give him purpose, because as it was, the Tyrant could remember no orders. A great, heaving breath raggedly clawed itself from his throat before the monster stilled, blinking quietly at the paw that patted idly at his bony, toothy face.
His feet stirred once more as he tiredly made to follow what he could remember; wiggle his toes, remove himself from the mud. Trembling muscles were reluctant to obey, but the Nightmare began to slowly churn his thick legs, feeling the mud suck greedily at the leather there. In turn, pain continued to crackle down his every nerve, reminding him that his wounds were still fresh. Still, with a heave, the monster managed to pull himself to his feet, but his unsteady limbs soon forced him to sink into an awkward crouch. Another low, groaning sound rumbled in his throat before the Nightmare twisted his head to eye the other, beak still resting in the mud. Would that suffice...?
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 9:53 am
Paw withdrew as breath too warm escaped the muzzle. But what she expected to be words was nothing but a breath that carried the sense of fatique. So odd, to think that of such a large creature. White tails weaved behind her as Celes canted her head, letting black locks frame her face better for sight. Maybe if he really was injured, she could help heal him with her practiced spells. She had a knack for recognizing and producing spells of health, whereas her mother couldn't. So maybe it'd be of real use now, if she could even spot the source of injury..
"Oh!" Celes backed off lightly as the male made to move, his motions like a golem slug. Eyes were sharp to watch the others body as he adjusted, in a disgusted awe to the mechanics of his large frame. "There you go, so you do understand me.." She skipped like a yound lemur to his side and near the legs attempting to plot straight on the ground. And once he reached his full hieght, Celes curved back with a gasp. This stranger really was large. He fell and she skipped back within range, tenderly reaching out to rub at those curious horns. "Good job! You did wonderfully!" She rubbed his neck with a hidden grimace to the texture. "Now then let's see....what to do next..." The femme blinked to herself realizing she had no real goal or plan to follow through. Just that she wanted to help the other...
Another boom shook the skies, and Celes dropped to her belly with eyes sealed shut and paws over her head. That noise was so frightening! She waited till it was done growling before daring to peek eyes open again. All the better if they could get out of here sooner..
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 10:34 am
His objective, it seemed, had been completed, executed with only a minor setback that resulted in delay. Otherwise, it had been flawless. The pale creature was flicking back and forth as though she belonged to the stormy environment, and the Nightmare's head shifted barely at the touch to his horns. Where thick sheets of muscle may have bristled, they remained lax and unresponsive to the contact, milky eye half-covered by a rotting lid. More words were offered and he quickly assessed them but found that they contained nothing useful, foreign bits of praise that he could not understand. The beast grunted faintly as she touched his throbbing skin, tentacles squelching with agitation. Underneath the thin, nearly transparent layer, they pressed against the underside of her paw as though to warn it away, unable to extend and mutilate like they normally might have.
The roar of thunder fell on deaf ears to the monster, but the creature's reactions did not. He wordlessly took in her cowering posture and tried to lift his snout from the mud, lifting it instead up at the drifting skies. The softest growl of menace wheezed forth from his aching body, and though he strained with exertion, the Nightmare lurched once more to his feet. His feet had been spared a brutal charring thanks to the mud, and now, he clumsily made to shift his weight over the other's body, towering over her as a wordlessly panting shield from the rain.
This was an order he could understand and calculate without verbal instruction. She did not like the sounds... He would obey. Something in his mind tickled at his senses, telling him this was wrong; he had another mission to complete, a hunt to resume... After a moment of consideration, he rejected the command; it had not been spoken by this other. There was no need to follow a command that had not been issued.
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 11:38 am
Celes noted the responses, trying to determine just what was pain and what was aggitation. This one reminded her of daddy, always huffing and mumbling but never necessarily showing signs of pain. So it was with a careful eye and sound mind that she watched Nemesis to figure things out. She had no intentions to get bit or even fallen on with his enormous weight.Muddy paws slid from her hair, the young adult ignoring the mud chunked in her strands. No doubt she'd need a washing after this. She could only hope she'd race to the baths before mommy offered to help with her grooming.
Celes clenched her teeth when she realized the other was moving, ears flitting back as he uttered a growl on upwards. It crossed her mind that he may be summoning the sounds, or even interpreting them but there was no quick way to prove this. She flinched as he wobbled over, and even crawled backwards as if to avoid his lumbering form. But his claws were lax and his muzzle not aimed to her, so she froze and watched as he became her blockage to the pelting rains. "Oh, but you can stand now!" Celes stood warily before scurrying over to her now drenched coat. Folding it thrice and tucking it to her chest, Celes turned back to the Nightmare with a nod. "Okay then, let's get out of the rain and mud." And whatever that loud noise was..
Patting his leather bound paw, Celes began trotting the way to HQ at a considerate pace. "Hmm, and I still don't know what to call you.... so what's your name?" Gold eyes tilted back to see the other while she still walked. It wasn't long before they came across a clearing, and some yards away stood the cabin.
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:50 pm
Stand. He slowly processed that word and confirmed that he was indeed doing so, muscles losing some of their tension though the beast still quivered in place. He had completed the objectives set out for him, no matter how clumsily--though the Nightmare lowered his head with tired, politely puzzled curiosity when the small creature skirted away from him. He did not follow. Rotting ears flicked slowly to catch her next suggestion--he chose to interpret it as a comand--and the Nemesis shifted towards the female as she dealt with her soggy clothing. The spasms that still wracked his muscles and the lingering crackle of electricity was interfering with his self-control, but the gentle touch to his clawed foot was enough to reluctantly motivate the monster into action.
His normally silent gait was now rough and clumsy, claws scraping against the wet soil as he practically dragged his feet. The silence was comforting, save for the occasional grumble of thunder. Nemesis had decided that he liked the rain and the way it seeped down his thick neck to moisten the charred skin on his back. A respectable distance behind the other was still maintained, though his head swung upwards slightly at the question. ...Name? His classification was unsteadily brought up by his damaged mind; a Tyrant unit, the 2nd model of the Nemesis branch. A pursuer type, specially programmed to obey orders and fufill them without fail.
"...Nemesis..." The grating rumble was surprisingly soft, and the beast again was quiet. He recognized the cabin that stood before them; he'd ended up savaging a frail and pearly creature within the wooden walls during his search for... The name eluded him for a moment, and he saw no gain in pursuing it. All that mattered was that this was familiar territory.
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Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:30 pm
With lumbering and clumsy claws trailing behind her, Celes had plenty motivation to keep walking forward. The paths were already soaked through with rain, and every step the kitsu took added more mud to her paws and tail tips. If anything it created some similarity to her mop of black hair clinging to her neck and face.
The Nightmare's rumbling voice was easily heard, and breath felt, as he spoke. Celes faultered in her steps just abit to confirm this new information. "Nemesis? Nemesis.." For some reason, her young mind found it hard to accept that as a real name. Even if there was no reason to doubt it, and the larger kitsus then silence left no room for discussion. Reaching the doorway to the building, Celes pushed against it with all her weight while glancing its size as it opened. It was large enough for Nemesis, certainly. "Come on then, let's get inside now." She ushered him in hurrily as the downpour got heavier and more riddled with thunder.
Once both were securley indoors, the pale girl bounded to a nearby couch. Placing her coat down to dry she then pulled out some folded blankets from the corner, laying them out on the ground for the nightmare. "There you go, now sit." She'd come to realize that he reacted quicker...more confidently, to affirmative directions. She waited till he did so before continuing, using her front paws as added detail. "I'm Celes. Ce-les. Now just wait here for me, alright? I'll get some..things." And with that she trotted to the halls.
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