Journey Below

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk smiled down at Fiendark and bowed as Azarak introduced him. "The femme is your daughter, Ammolite. Now let's get you out of there so we can go find her and my friend." The mascu left Azarak by the edge and struck at the sapling with a grunt. There was an audible crack as the young tree toppled down. Quickly Hawk dragged the makeshift pole over and pushed it to where Fiendark could get a grip. "Grab ahold and I'll try and pull you out."

Phoebus could not supress his wonder as they gazed at the rift. Slowly he looked to their left and alas saw nothing. Yet when his sharp gaze turned to his right, his eyes lit up. About a half league away he could see Hawk trying to pull another out of the right. He could even see that little lizard. Good to see that they're still alive, now time to ditch this bloke. The clever bird looked back to Spectre and bowed his head. "Well sir, it seems that you have been more of a help than I thought. Me and Ammolite can partake in our search alone from here on. I thankyou for your aid."

[Felypsa]

Fiendark’s eyes lit up when Hawk mentioned Ammolite. “My daughter! So she’s alive and well—this is better than I could have hoped for.” Then he looked at the sapling and sighed sadly. “I wish it were that easy, sir Hawk—but the force of the Rift is greater than anything physical can overpower. Still…” He grabbed onto the sapling with his jaw, though he kept his paws firmly on the edge. His jaw muscles were stronger than they looked.[/color]

“Don’t be such a wet blanket, Fien,” Azarak said casually. “Come on—things have changed since you first got here. Be careful, though.” He looked up in the sky and thought he saw a tiny figure of a hawk—but he could have been hallucinating. The light was very hard to see through. “If Ammolite were here, it would be so much easier,” he murmured wistfully.[/color]

“Oh! You see him?” Ammolite asked excitedly. “Oh, this is wonderful! Thank you so much, Spectre, you’ve been a great help! I can’t believe it—” She kept babbling in her eagerness, then paused and smiled shyly at Spectre before licking his ear and prancing away happily. “Phoebus! Lead the way! Oh, this is so fantastic!”[/color]

“No problem,” Spectre called out, watching Ammolite hurry away. “It was…interesting.” He stared at the departing Ammolite before mumbling under his breath, “With luck, we shall meet again.” He did not move until Ammolite and Phoebus were out of sight.[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk gripped the sapling with his own jaw tightly. His muscles strained as he began to pull backwards. Indeed there was a powerful pull. He felt as if he trying to pull a mountain. Yet the mascu did not relent. His ears perked as he heard Ammolite's voice in the distance. Still, he did not cease in his attempts to pull Fiendark from the Rift. Hawk was a strong wolf, but the question was would he be strong enough?

Phoebus soared towards Hawk and the other two excitedly. He drifted over the Rift and felt a powerful downward pull. Quickly he managed to get back over land, his talons scraping the ground as he gained more altitude. "Bloody hell that's quite the pull there." Soon the bird of prey landed beside Hawk, looking over to Azarak with a smirk. "Good to see that no one ate you before I got the chance." It was a mocking, yet friendly greeting. The bird looked back as Ammolite closed in, his fierce yellow eyes sparkling. "Hurry up! Hurry up! Help Hawk pull this bloke out of the mess he's in." The over-social bird then looked down to Fiendark. He bowed his head as he spoke in that comical voice of his. "Well hello there. Bite off more than you can chew?" The bird was insinuating towards the sappling that the demon held in his jaws.

[Felypsa]

“So I wasn’t hallucinating,” Azarak said to Phoebus. “How unfortunate.” Yet his eyes flashed in something like friendliness. He had actually missed the irksome, babbling hawk. “Look, Hawk, our old friends have come again.” He frowned. “Goodness gracious, the Rift is stronger than I imagined. Ammolite…!”[/color]

“I’m here, I’m here!” she cried, arriving just in time to hear Azarak saying her name through gritted teeth. “Oh by Korian’s crown, I don’t think I can stand the excitement! Azarak! Hawk! And…” She stared at the wolf-demon hanging on to a sapling with his teeth for a long time. “…father?”[/color]

“We have established that,” Azarak cut in. “Now, hurry! Touch Fiendark’s paws.” As Ammolite rushed to obey, blushing and staring at her father, Azarak scurried up behind her. “Let us hope that the landscape doesn’t decide to change on us in this pivotal moment,” he muttered. Then he said something that hissed through the air and surrounded both Ammolite and Fiendark. A moment of suspense; and then the pull of the Rift subsided for just a moment. “Can’t…hold it…much longer…hurry, Hawk!”[/color]

The moment he felt the Rift’s pull yield slightly, Fiendark gripped the sapling more tightly with his teeth and scrabbled at the earth with his paws, trying to get up onto safety for the first time in years.[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk could feel the pull of the Rift subside. Yet his energy had been drained in the wait. However, he knew perfectly how to gain a burst of energy. His mind focused on the thought of Tagger. He imagined those metal claws sinking into the flesh of his fallen friends. A loud roar of anger came from the warrior as he pulled with an amazing amount of degree on the sapling. With any luck, the pull might not only help to bring Fiendark over the edge but also tug him a few feet across the ground. Whether it worked or not however, there would be a loud snap as the sapling would break and two which sent Hawk back a fell feet.

Phoebus watched as Hawk entered a fit of rage. Yet the strength seemed to be enough in the bird's eyes. "That's the spirit boyo! Pull hard! I think you've got it!" The bird would then look over to Azarak. "I'm sorry to burst your bubble friend but I am as real as ever. And right as rain thanks to Ammolite. Our little mishap there ended up breaking my wing. Yet she managed to mend the wound. We would not have found you if it wasn't for some fellow called Spectre. Didn't trust him too much myself. However this girl seems to be able to spin a lie as good as yourself."

[Felypsa]

Fiendark was indeed pulled by Hawk's force and landed with a thud on the ground. Sweet ground. "I cannot believe I am actually standing in this grass, after staring at it for who knows how many years," he said wonderingly. Then he bowed his head to Hawk. "Thank you very much, my friend. That was a remarkable feat of energy. You have helped save me...at least, for now." He smiled, then turned to Azarak. "You too, as always. I should've known it was you when I sensed sorcery! Only you could've pulled something like this off." He dipped his head to Phoebus as well. "A pleasure to meet you too. It seems you have kept watch over my daughter..." Mentioning his daughter, he turned to stare at Ammolite, who could not take her eyes off of him. A moment passed; then the two rushed to embrace like long-time friends just reunited. "My daughter, you are alive!" he murmured. "It seems all my dreams have come true in this moment."[/color]

"Daddy," she whispered back, sounding very much like a young pup. "After all these years of not knowing anything...you're here...I can't believe this...this is too wonderful!" After that, words failed her, so she remained speechless, though she returned her father's paternal, affectionate nuzzles. Tears shone brightly in her golden-purple-blue-green eyes. So many emotions. So much feeling.[/color]

Turning away from the sentimental moment, giving Ammolite and Fiendark their space, Azarak listened to Phoebus' recap of their adventures. "It seems wew were both lucky," the lizard remarked. "We got here thanks to a landscape change, a little sorcery on my part, and Hawk's willingness to run for many leagues. Spectre, eh?" He looked thoughtful. "Don't know him myself. Trustworthy or not, we sure owe him one. Things would've been lost without Ammolite...and we all would've been heartbroken if something had happened to you," he added, grinning wickedly.[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk laid upon the ground, panting heavily. He felt drained for yet another time that day. So much had happened this day. He had been reborn in a strange lands, made friends with two new creatures, met an odd being who had been the cause of every sorrow in his life, had to kill a creature he had raised and loved as a son, had the long lost guardian of his family revived, traveled to the spirit realm, and had now aided his new friends. Yet despite all these good and bad things, the warrior could not get one thing off his mind. Tagger. That bastard.. I'll hunt him down. I'll kill him. I'll watch as his blood spills upon the ground..and Deathblood. He did nothing to stop Tagger. He'd just as bad...I'll avenge my brothers..I'll kill them. No...I will not bow down to their level of cruelty...but they can not go unpunished...

As was expected, Phoebus was the one to ruin such a joyous moment. The bird of prey landed upon Fiendark's head. His own tiny cranium cocked to the side as he reached forward and rapped Ammolite between the ears. "Can you two perhaps do all this mushy stuff once we get back to the normal realm? I rather miss telling my stories to that Istariel person. She truly seemed interested in what I had to say. Unlike some wolvens." Mockingly the raptor glared over to Hawk who inturn lightened up in his temperament and stuck his tongue out at the smartass bird.

[Felypsa]

Fiendark pulled free from Ammolite's embrace and laughed appreciatively. "I can see patience is not one of your virtues, Phoebus. Nevertheless, you are correct. Istariel, eh? You've met the princess?" He shook his head. "Last time I saw her, she was smaller than you, Phoebus. Hard to believe. And you," he said to Ammolite, "you must tell me. How is your mother? I would dearly love to see her after all these years."[/color]

Before Ammolite could get overly emotional with her answer, Azarak cut in. "She's dead, Fiendark. She came down with this disease, this Sickness, which has since infected and killed many of the cave-demons. You're the only one who can help. I am truly sorry for your loss, Fien, but you've got to help the others."[/color]

As Fiendark turned, shocked, to his daughter, Ammolite avoided his gaze. "It's true, Daddy," she whispered. "We've got to hurry. Istariel was worried..." She looked towards Hawk, who, she noticed, was immersed with his own troubles. She felt sorry for him; having to be dragged here, to this obscure world, then forced back down under the mountains to help people he hardly knows, when he had so much going on. She could very clearly recall the sight of Luke's death. But she could not think about that now.[/color]

"Kha'Verna...dead?" Fiendark was appalled. "The Sickness? I...well." He glanced at Azarak, his eyes suddenly unfriendly. "I should have known that was why you came for me. Only a terrible threat would have forced you to save me. And I don't even know if I can be saved - I may not be able to leave the Spirit World. Not since - " he stopped himself, but looked at Ammolite, his gaze tender and sorrowful.[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Quite suddenly Hawk leaped to his paws. He could sense the mood of the conversation turning foul. So he began to speak up, pushing his own troubles from his focus. "Fiendark is it? I assure you that our coming to save you is not souly to rescue the cave-demons. I make it a point to help everyone in need, no matter what is going on in my own life..." He paused and looked over to Ammolite softly. His golden eyes closed as his head turned back to Fiendark. Those glowing orbs snapped back open as he began. "...I understand your sorrows at having lost someone so close. Despite our intentions of coming, there are lives at stake. For all we know, at this moments the epidemic could be spreading. I beg of your to purge sour thoughts from your mind for now at least. You speak as if something is holding you back from leaving. I vow to you that I will do everything in my power to make sure you can leave these lands and return home."

"Here her-" Came Phoebus' reply to Hawk's words. However he was cut off short as he lost his footing on Fiendark's head and plummeted to the ground. Quickly the bird removed himself from the embarrassing, yet comical position. His chest feather ruffled out as he looked at the other's fiercely. "That wasn't funny..."

[Felypsa]

Only Ammolite burst into laughter at Phoebus's fall, but it was extremely nervous laughter. She was extremely anxious about her father, and about the cave-demons back home, and about everyone...and she didn't like the way Fiendark looked at her when he mentioned him possibly not being able to leave the Spirit World.[/color]

Fiendark listened to Hawk's speech without saying a word. A long moment of silence stretched on. Finally, he spoke. "You're right, friend Hawk. Of course. Forgive me. My nerves are just a little...on end, I suppose. I am not in my right mind. I suppose being suspended from a giant cliff for many years without knowing anything about your world until now...when everything seems to be happening at once..." he sighed. "It's overwhelming. I will do my best. But there is something...I did...that may be keeping me here in the Spirit World..." He looked at Azarak, as if for confirmation.[/color]

"Ix nay," Azarak muttered. "Won't do to mention that just yet. I don't think it will be a problem. But we might need Ammolite's amulet in order to execute our exit." He forced a smile at everyone. "Well, there's no better time than the present, right? Let's hurry up and do this before the landscape decides to change. And if it does, can we please all be in physical contact so that we don't get separated like last time? That'd be great, thanks." So saying, he scurried up onto Ammolite's back. Fiendark moved closer to his daughter, and Ammolite in turn moved over to Hawk. Azarak nodded once that was done. "Right then. Everyone ready? No last sudden urges to go sightseeing?"[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk narrowed his eyes as Azarak cut Fiendark off short. Yet he did not say anything and simply leaned against Ammolite. He felt his heart skip a beat, yet the mascu did not show this anomaly outwardly. Eagerly he awaited the sorcery from the lizard that would send them back to their realm. The mascu desired to be able to sit down and not have to worry about being transported leagues away in a matter of seconds. Those golden eyes of his looked around slowly, getting one last glance at the spirit realm.

Phoebus leaped onto Fiendark's back. Gently his talons gripped the demon's flesh, careful not to injure them. He remembered the last time he had been on Ammolite when Azarak worked his magic. The bird of prey would rather not have to endur his wing being broken again. At the mention of sightseeing, the comical creature tilted his head. "Do you think the spirit realm has a tropical paridise island? One full of tasty lizards for me to eat?"

[Felypsa]

"If there is, you're quite welcome to fly around it aimlessly looking for it," Azarak retorted. "We, on the other hand, will be going on ahead, with or without you. Preferably the latter, but hey, when do I ever get what I want?" He frowned and waved his claw in the air experimentally. "Aren't we lucky. There's an overlap here. But, mind you, I have absolutely no idea where in our world we'll end up. We could be on the other side of the world for all I know. But we'd better take our chances." He inhaled, mumbled his spells, and scraped the air until a portal was formed. "Fiendark, hurry, please go first," he instructed. "If it doesn't work, we'll try again, but please, make haste!"[/color]

Fiendark did not lose a moment. He leaped into the portal - and was sent back, reeling. He was pushed dangerously close to the edge of the Rift, but managed to avoid the Rift's pull. "It didn't work," he said despairingly. "I'm afraid I'm stuck here forever - are you all right, friend?" he asked Phoebus.[/color]

"Damn it!" Azarak swore under his breath. "Ammolite, will you please take your amulet off and drop it on the ground." She looked startled. "Don't argue, miss! Please, just do it. As soon as she does, Fiendark, try again." Though these instructions seemed baffling, both parties did as followed. Ammolite pulled her mother's precious gift from her neck, stared at it for a moment, then dropped it unceremoniously on the ground. It glinted dully in the grass where it landed.[/color]

"Hold on, Phoebus!" Fiendark cried, then made a run for the slowly-closing portal. He made it through, and this time was not shot back. A look of amazement was on his face as he passed into his own world for the first time in so long.[/color]

Ammolite stared, and smiled jubilantly, overjoyed that her father had made it through. But there was no time to celebrate. The portal was getting increasingly smaller. "Hurry, hurry, move it!" Azarak barked. Ammolite meant to retrive her amulet, but Azarak shook his head. "The amulet stays, Ammolite. Now go!" Distressed by this news, Ammolite gazed at the ammolite amulet her mother had given her one last time before jumping through the portal. "Hurry, Hawk!" Ammolite and Azarak called to their friend once they were through.[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk dashed toward the portal. He leapt towards the shrinking hole and made it through, barely. The portal closed directly behind him, cutting off a few strands of golden fur from his tail. Once on the other side, the mascu flicked his tail before his face. His eyes looked at where the tuft of fur had been cut off. Slowly he looked up to the others and raised his brow. "Now if that's not a close call, I do not know what is."

As soon as he and Fiendark made it to the other side, Phoebus took off from the male's back. His wings flapped at the air as he let loose a cry of victory, obviously happy to be back on the other side. Yet Hawk barked at him angrily, beckoning him to swoop back to the earth. The golden mascu looked around slowly, obviously not liking something. He looked over to the others and spoke above a whisper. "Make haste. We have to get back under ground now. And whatever you do, don't make too much noise!" The bird of prey looked down to Hawk with his head tilted, but did not question the words spoken.

[Felypsa]

oOc| I'm moving this thread to The Out-lands, 'kay?[/color]

[Monkey Monk]

OOC: Ok then ^^