Topic: Rescue

Phillipe Gaston

Date: 2007-10-28 21:40 EST
Phillipe?s eyes fluttered briefly, then opened. He shook his head a little, trying to clear his mind of the cloudy feeling that followed unconsciousness. His first realization was that he wasn?t dead. He couldn?t be. He was hurting too much for that. His leg ached horribly, but what bothered him more was that he couldn?t move it.
His hands rested on what appeared to be a smooth, dark surface that surrounded the entire lower half of his body. He could tell that he was actually sitting with his legs out in front of him and his back against the wall, but from his waist down, he was immobilized in the rock-like material.
He looked around dimly. He seemed to be in a cave that was dimly lit by a faint luminescence. Looking closer, he figured it to be a form of phosphorescent algae that was growing on the cave?s surfaces. He did not see the creature anywhere, and figured it must be outside, meaning that it must be nighttime.
Struggling, he tried to pull free for a few moments, but gave up when it became apparent that the effort was pointless.
That was when Phillipe heard what sounded like a faint windy sound. Assuming that it was the creature returning, he quickly dropped his hands at his side and closed his eyes, feigning unconsciousness. The sound grew slightly louder and eventually stopped in front of him several feet away. He was afraid that the creature had come to finish him off, but kept his eyes shut, knowing that a fight was pointless and the ruse may be his only advantage.

?It knows he is awake.?
The voice was gentle and calm. It startled Phillipe so much to hear a voice at all, let alone one that sounded so non-threatening, that he would have opened his eyes from the shock anyways. It also tended to ease his fear somewhat. ?You can speak!? he said. The creature didn?t answer.
?Who or what are you?? Phillipe asked, his voice rising.
?It knows itself as It? the creature responded.
?It?? Phillipe asked. ?You want to be called It??
No answer.
?Well, can I call you something else more descriptive than a simple pronoun??
The creature pulsed, as if considering. ?It may be called?Dark?Massive.?
Phillipe cocked his head. ?Those are adjectives, not names.? It just hovered and didn?t respond. ?How about just DarkMass? It sortof fits you.?
?It will allow him to call it that.? DarkMass replied.
Phillipe actually became annoyed. ?My name is Phillipe, not him, or he.?
?It knows him as Mouse.?
Phillipe was now angry. ?My friends and loved ones call me Mouse,? He snarled. ?And you?re neither!?
DarkMass didn?t answer, but just floated for a moment. Then, as quickly as it came, it moved off and vanished, presumably out of the cave and into the night.
Phillipe breathed a sigh of relief, then gasped when he heard another noise. Looking around, there was a small rock outcropping high up on the wall of the cave. Phillipe looked closer and saw a white shape there. It moved. Then he saw the shape of an owl swoop down. It landed in front of him and hooted softly. He stared at it, recognizing it.
?I?ve seen you before. You belong to Beowulf.?
The owl hung it?s head.
?Did that thing get Beowulf?? It bobbed.
?I?m sorry.? The owl hoted softly.
?Listen, can you find Aj?? Phillipe asked. The owl cocked his head. ?She a pretty girl that rides a bike. She?s staying in the inn right now!? The owl bobbed happily.
?Great! Go get her!?
The owl took off and flew out.
Phillipe sat alone again, and as he did, he began to wonder if he had just done the right thing.

Adrianna

Date: 2007-10-28 21:47 EST
The owl had found her...

Soso, Van, Ryo, and her all put the clues together to find out where this thing was residing... where Phillipe was.

So now they were wandering through the forest heading North.

The owl was flying overhead and Aj was staring up at it like it was an angel, a light from heaven. "Come on guys... keep up!" She yelled to them before continuing onwards, before anyone else. She wanted to see the cave. She wanted to be the first to see it...

She wanted to see Phillipe.

Her necklace hung freely over her shirt and glowed in the darkness. The light showed a bit of her face, and it was a helpful lighting. But she didn't look to the ones along with her. None of them. Her eyes were just gazed upwards towards the owl.

After goddess knows how long of walking the owl swooped down and landed on Aj's shoulder. A large cave was before them.

"This is it..." She said to them, still not looking at them. "Here it is... "

Soerl Lute

Date: 2007-10-28 21:58 EST
"I'm going first." Those were the words that escaped his mouth as he released Van's hand and passed AJ. From what they deciphered, this thing wouldn't be able to kill him. That made it obvious in his mind that he go first.

His emerald eyes erupted into a glow. Claws extended from his fingers and his canines were visible even with his mouth closed, sliding over his lips. He was hunched slightly, not knowing what to expect from this encounter. An echo. It was from his footsteps. There was nothing he could about it, though, so he simply marched forward.

There was no looking back. Even if they were right and he couldn't be killed by this thing, it didn't mean he couldn't be hurt. That meant his full attention had to be on his surroundings and not his friends. He could feel the strength coursing through his veins at that very moment. The wolf craved confrontation.

He remained silent, even though the echo had likely long since given him away. He had no idea if the evil thing could hear. Emeralds peered in the darkness, seeing just as clearly as if it were daylight.

Black Velvet

Date: 2007-10-28 22:01 EST
Indeed the owl had found them. It was frustrating, trying to figure out what the thing had to say. And truthfully, Savannah was frustrated. Ever since Phillipe's disappearance, she had to watch as her friend spiraled further and further into a depression. It had gotten to the point that nobody was safe from AJ's sharp tongue.

So when they are all in the alley way and that owl shows up, she sees it as a sign from the Gods. Watching as it scrawled symbols into the dirt and squawking, she shakes her head, confused by it all. Just what was it trying to say? Finally, she'd had enough of the guessing and she simply asks the owl, "Spot, can you show us where he is?"

The owl took wing and they followed him north. Soerl's hand tightly clutched within her own, she was only a pace or so behind him as they climbed and finally reached the opening to the cave. Looking at Soerl and AJ, then to the rest of the party, she slips her necklace out from under her shirt so that it glows brightly in the dark night.

Soerl was safe, they figured that out in the alley way. She kept close to his side and followed him into the cave. The last thing that they had said to do was she and AJ were to get Phillipe out of there so Soerl can distract the creature and tire him so AJ can finish him off. She could hear the echoing footsteps and it sent gooseflesh crawling over her and the hairs on her arms stood on end.

Ryo Tosaga

Date: 2007-10-28 22:07 EST
He followed. He was patient, as he would have to be. Traveling on foot was so much slower than any other means, but he had enough discipline to keep his complaints inside.

Another thing that bugged him was the fact that his clothes would be ruined once their journey was over with. So much for his brand-new miniskirt.

Then again, that didn't really bug him nearly as much as the fact that Phillipe was missing and he just learned about it. He wasn't close to Phillipe, that much was certain, but he still wanted to help. As much as he could, he wanted to help. He didn't really have a reason why, let alone a good one, he just wanted to help. Perhaps to make peace with the man?

"Come on guys... keep up!"

That caused him to jog up ahead to travel alongside AJ. He would keep up, he wasn't the weak child his appearance let him on to be. And soon enough...

"This is it... Here it is..." They'd made it, and not long after that Soerl had transformed. Ryo felt his non-existant heart skip a beat. A werewolf, just like Fayloan. His lips curved into a loving smile. He didn't know Soerl, but now he knew that indeed there was someone Fay would be able to relate He ripped his mind from that thought, and brought it back to the task at hand.

His hands were raised, and along with that, the darkness within the cave. It gathered at the ceiling, illuminating the bottom half of the cavern. A violent motion with those hands brought the shadows out in a quick, powerful motion, and soon enough the darkness was engulfed within the demon's shell of a body.

That, he hoped, would help. Now that the cave was no longer covered in darkness, the humans could see. Ryo then began to follow Soerl, having a very good understanding of what lurked within the cave. The shadows had felt it.

"Ah, let's go, then."

Adrianna

Date: 2007-10-29 05:38 EST
"I'm going first." She heard Soerl say and at his request she nodded and let him go on first into the cave. Aj was next and she followed, leading the other two into the cave.

Her heart was beating madly and she took a deep breath in through her nose no smell... good, at least it wasn't here. She closed her eyes and did a search for some sort of life in the cave... any sign of life.

Phillipe was in this cave... she could sense his presense. She knew that presense. "Phillipe..." She whispered so softly to him. No way he could be able to hear, because of the simple fact she was so quiet that no one beside her could hear her...

Her almond eyes gazed around franticly for a moment. She wanted to find him. As they traveled deeper into the cave she could begin to see the glow. Looking to the walls she saw the phosphorescent algae that was begining to cover the cave walls in larger patches as they continued onwards.

Almond eyes scanned the cave as they continued and that's when she saw him for the first time. Phillipe was there! She almost forgot to be quiet as she moved ahead, not passing Soerl but she slipped over to him as quickly as she could.

"Phillipe..." She whispered, reaching out to brush her fingertips against his forhead. "We're here... is it here?" She asked, almond eyes gazing around the cave.

Phillipe Gaston

Date: 2007-10-30 20:15 EST
Phillipe nearly wept with relief when he saw Aj. ?It?s about time!? he joked lightly, then his smile faded. ?We?ve got to get out of here. DarkMass will be back anytime.? Aj looked at him strangely. ?That?s the name I gave it. Aj, that thing talks! It actually spoke to me?? He began struggling. ?But I can fill you in later. Can you get me out of here??
Aj shook her head. ?I don?t think so, but Soerl or Ryo might be able to do it.?
?Ryo??? Phillipe asked in astonishment. He looked and saw the little man standing behind the others. ?Well I?ll be?? He shook his head, but he was smiling.
Soerl came forward and studied the strange pool trap that Phillipe sat in. ?well if this was done by? DarkMass?? he looked to Phillipe for confirmation of the name. ?Then my contact with it might break its hold, if the owl is right about my blood being immune.?
?Huh?? Phillipe said. ?What do you mean immune?? he asked.
?Didn?t you tell the owl that my were blood was immune to DarkMass?? Soerl asked. Phillipe shook his head amazed. ?I didn?t even know you were a were-?whatever-you-are.?
?Well that?s strange.? Soerl replied. ?Let?s see if the owl was right in any case.? And he touched the black surface.
Immediately the black material became water again, and Phillipe was able to move again. ?Help me? please.? He said. ?My leg broke when I fell down the stairs at the apartment.?
With the others helping him, Phillipe was able to stand and hobble out of the water.
?Your leg?? Aj whispered, and offered to mend it, but he waved her off saying, ?There?s no time. Let?s just get out of here, and then you can heal it later.?
?Well you have to be able to travel, at least!? she said and raising her hands, she clasped them together and shook them. Two splints appeared from nowhere on either side of Phillipe?s leg as thin strips of white fabric wound around them tightly, binding the leg securely. Phillipe winced a bit, and then smiled. ?Great! Now let?s go!?
They turned to go, and stopped dead. The smell of burnt sugar was wafting up the cave passageway, followed by the hulking form of DarkMass. ?Too late?? Phillipe whispered, and his voice faltered. He realized now that it had all been a cleverly devised trap. And he had been the bait. His hope plummeted, knowing that he had led his friends to their deaths.

Adrianna

Date: 2007-10-30 20:44 EST
Aj stared up to the dark smokey mass that was hovering in front of them. Her heart fluttered as she took one of the glowing necklaces off and slipped it around Phillipe's neck. She kissed him softly and looked to the others. "I have to end this now.. at least for now." She said to the others. "Go... now while I take care of this thing." Her hands were shaking, and she was afraid... but she knew what she had to do.

"Aj..." Phillipe whispered but Aj shook her head in protest. "All of you... go... now!" She said to them. They all obeyed. "Wait for me..." Was said to them, as Soerl picked Phillipe up and they all ran out of the cave... The dark mass just hovered there still... it didn't seem to want them. It wanted Aj.

"It believes she should pay for hurting it..." The gentle voice said, echoing throughout the cave. Aj simply stared at it with large almond eyes. Soft, and calm. "So it can speak...." Was her reply to it.

"It can." The voice spoke once more. "Ayejaye hurt it..." It said to her and she smirked devilishly. "I can do a lot more than hurt you...." The thing stopped moving all together for a brief moment.

This was when she realized she was alone in the cave with this thing... Was she afraid? Not really... she was simply too pissed off to care about anything else but destroying that ... that thing.

"It wants to see her try." The voice said to her once more, almost in a mocking tone. Aj's hands still shook, only now with rage.

Before another word was spoke the Dark mass surrounded her completly... not taking her into it at all... just hovering all around her. "It wants to know, How is she so powerful?" The voice was a lot louder at this point, the voice becoming harsher by the word.

"She was born that way." Aj replied... her voice still terribly monotone. A soft laughter could be heard echoing around her. The darkness was cold against her skin. Her breath was getting shorter as it came closer... "Does she think she can win?" It asked her. "She thinks so.." Was the reply...

The laughter cut off after a few moments and it seemed to grow more and more anticipated on tasting her magic once more. Draining this poor witch was its only goal.

"Breath in darkness...." She thought to herself as it drew closer to her. The feeling of coldness brushing against her lips. Her breath felt hot on her own lips as her body temperature seemed to drop rapidly. It had her where it wanted her... She opened her mouth and breathed in, a bit of that darkness entering and filling her lungs rapidly. Her eyes shot open... only insted of being that dark almond color they were... they glowed with the purest light anyone could have ever seen.

"Breath out light..." She said as she exhaled and pushed that being out of her body using simply mind power. A smirk formed her lips as the thing hissed with pain. "She is strong..." It whispered to her as it surrounded her once more.

This time when she opened her mouth it submerged more of itself into her. Her eyes still glowed fiercly, her palms begining to take a light as well. She put her hands together and exhaled, but the thing was too strong this time for this simple magic.

She had to do it... Her eyes closed and she focused all of that pure energy into her hands. Her breath was cut off, but her energy was still high. She had only a few seconds to do this right...

Her eyes opened and she pulled her hands apart, and inbetween them was a pure ball of light. A smirk formed on her lips as her eyes dimmed and the light began to glow even brighter... but her eyes were fading to black once more.

Then... a strange thing happened... she took that ball of light and pressed it against her stomach. The light seemed to sink into her. That fair skin of hers seemed to glow angelicly for a moment as the darkness retreated once more. The hissing was loud and turned to a pure groaning...

She stood there shaking, her eyes slowly returning to normal.

Those events... happened in mere moments... but to her it seemed to last for hours. Almond eyes gazed out to the... Darkmass as it left the cave still hissing. She had hurt it.. not destroyed it. It would be back... but hopefully not for a while.

She walked slowly out of the cave to see Soerl, Ryo, Van, and of course Phillipe sitting out there staring at her like she was a ghost. Her skin still had that slight angelic glow to it, and her eyes looked soft.

"Aj..." Phillipe whispered to her as she walked over to him, kneeling down beside him and letting a hand rest on his broken leg. A soothing feeling would take over his body, the bones mending and the bruising fading away. "Let's go home..." She whispered to the others before standing and helping Phillipe to his feet...

"Is it gone for good?" Phillipe asked her and Aj shook her head slowly. "No... no it's not... But it should leave us alone for a while."

With that they began their walk back to Rhy'Din... their new owl friend leading the way. Aj's hand never let go of Phillipe's that entire walk... she felt at peace but knew in the back of her mind that it isn't quite over yet....