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Post by Monkey Monk on Mar 11, 2006 14:52:27 GMT -6
Zues fell to the ground upon his knees. That short burst of speed had drained him so much. His breathing was heavy as he remained on the ground. The mascu was unaware of the happenings taking place around him. As the mascu panted heavily, Phoebus slowly stirred. He saw the cobra sink their fangs into Fiendark. Still dazed, the hawk swooped over the ground and grabbed the amulet. As quickly as he could, the bird of prey dropped the jewel before the femme. "Quick Ammolite, heal him like you did me!"
Hawk however, was already moving into action. He remembered vaguely a moment in his childhood when a sand serpent had bit him. The venom had paralyzed him and when he was found, his father had drained it from his blood. In a desperate attempt to save the demon, he tried to sink his fangs into the other's back above the bite wound. If he succeeded, he would begin to take the vile poison from the other, spitting it out onto the ground. The mascu hoped dearly that his attempts were not in vain. His dark mood seemed to have disappeared for the time being as he was too focused on trying to help.
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Post by Felypsa on Mar 11, 2006 15:21:41 GMT -6
"I...I don't know if I can," Ammolite said, dazed, staring at the amulet as if she wasn't sure what to do with it. She looked at Hawk, trying to suck the venom out of her father's blood. The sight spurred her to action. She picked up the amulet as Phoebus proffered it to her, and bent before her father, her eyes brimming with held-back tears. Okay, Ammolite. Concentrate. Trees. Plants. Flowers. Daddy... The ammolite gem glowed as she focused. Natural process of healing speeding up. Turn years into seconds. Heal him. Daddy. Don't die.[/color]
Azarak came over to witness the event, worried but trying not to show it. Spectre's venom isn't like any other. Hawk is doing well. He's trying to suck the poison out. But was he fast enough? I fear even the smallest amount left in Fiendark's blood will kill him. Ammolite's doing her best too. But will her healing be enough? I shouldn't say anything. I can't shatter their hopes.[/color]
Fiendark knew that Hawk had managed to get most of the poison out with his quick action. But he could also feel a few remnants spreading through his blood. In a few seconds, it would reach his heart and make it stop beating. Then he felt the warmth of Ammolite's magic spread through his body. It encountered and destroyed the remaining bit sof toxin, until there was none left. Between the two of them, he was saved. For now. But he was still incredibly weak, for the poison had managed to deplete much of the oxygen in his blood. Ammolite's power was working to remedy that, but Fiendark wondered if he'd ever be the same again. That was the last thought he had, however, for Ammolite's sorcery put him into a deep healing sleep like the cave-demons back in the sick ward.[/color]
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Post by Monkey Monk on Mar 11, 2006 15:30:23 GMT -6
After delivering the amulet, Phoebus weakly flew over to the corpse of the dead cobra. With utter loathing he pecked his beak roughly at the body several time. After muttering a few curses, he took to a weak flight. It seemed their entire group was injured or fatigued in some way. Gingerly the bird of prey landed atop Istriel's back and nearly collapsed. When he spoke, his voice was wearing. "Can we please go home now?"
Hawk looked down at the slumbering Fiendark. He looked around at their assembly slowly, avoiding both Ammolite's and Istariel's gaze for the moment. Inside he was fighting his own battle. Yet his figure showed this in no way. Slowly the golden warrior attempted to lift the demon up to his back. If he succeeded, he would look over to Azarak with tired, dull eyes. The blank expression had returned to his facial features as he continued to avoid the eyes of the two femme's. "Yes, Azarak. Where is the nearest place that you can work your sorcery and return us home?"
Weakly Zues rose to his paws. Over the short time he had gained enough stamina to atleast carry his own body. Tiredly he walked over to the group and tried his best to lighten the mood. "I can't wait for a nice sleep upon a warm pile of furs back in the underground. Maybe a bath....no, most definately a bath. This putrid scent about me must not be attractive."
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Post by Felypsa on Mar 11, 2006 15:44:14 GMT -6
Istariel nudged Phoebus affectionately, sympathetic for the poor tired bird. Zues was exhausted as well, Fiendark was sleeping on Hawk's back, and Ammolite looked drained from her recent healing. The princess glared at the corpse of Spectre, which lay in a large pool of blood, then padded over to where the others were. Azarak clambered onto Ammolite's back, and they all stood in a circle again. Istariel spoke. "There's no need for Azarak to ensorcel an opening...my pass is two-way, thankfully. We can return the same way we got here. Conveniently, we're in the right place." She eyed the Pyre, and shivered. Spectre's blood had spattered onto it, and it shimmered eerily in the sky's shifting light. "Let's go before the landscape changes." So saying, she spoke something, and the gem at her throat glimmered, spreading crimson light around all of the party members. It engulfed them, transporting them back to Fiendark's chamber Underground, leaving the Spirit for (hopefully) the last time.[/color]
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Post by Monkey Monk on Mar 11, 2006 15:51:07 GMT -6
Once back in the earth realm, Phoebus took off. Wearily he found the nearest place to perch before placing his head under his wing, soon snoring softly. Zues looked at the others and nodded slowly before leaving the chamber. He was too tired at the moment to converse. Slowly he went to his own nearby chamber and did as he had planned to, falling asleep on the floor in a matter of minutes.
Hawk, however, did not join the others in their sleep. Slowly he stepped out of the cavern, after setting Fiendark down of course. He offered no communication or expression to anyone as he strode somberly through the tunnels. It was not long untill he was by the magnificent underground lake. Those golden eyes of his looked across the waters silently. After several moments of gazing at the placcid waters, he looked down to his right foreleg. Where the Defender mark had once been was just golden fur and flesh. The Eye of Ra tattoo gleamed softly in the cavern's twilight. With a sigh the mascu again looked out over the lake.
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Post by Felypsa on Mar 11, 2006 16:06:15 GMT -6
Ammolite awoke in the sick ward. She looked around for the others, but there were only slumbering cave-demons. She dimly remembered that she and her father had healed them before she was whisked off to the Spirit World. She was lying on a table like one of the sick, surrounded by a transparent bubble. She sat up, and tentatively touched the bubble, which popped at contact. But Ammolite was too tired to go seek out the others, even though she was concerned. She fell back against the table, her eyes half-closed, grateful to back in her solid body, back on earth, back to normal...Though I'll never view others the same way again. Spectre had killed a part of her: the trusting part of her. She would no longer be the friendly, cheerful stranger.[/color]
Presently Azarak came to visit her in the sick ward, and clambered up onto the table until he was looking into her eyes. "Ammolite," he said. There was a pause during which neither of them said anything. Finally, the lizard broke into a rare smile. "Welcome home."[/color]
Ammolite stared at her long time companion. When he welcomed her back, she burst into tears. Azarak stood by her, not saying anything, while she gradually cried herself to sleep.[/color]
Istariel left Fiendark in his healing sleep in his own chamber, and watched as Azarak scurried away. She wanted to see Ammolite, but thought that her friend deserved some space and rest first, before everyone overwhelmed her with emotional greetings and exhalations of relief. The cave-demon princess wandered through the tunnels of her home, grateful to be back, and eventually came to Dalia's Lake. She was pleasantly surprised to find Hawk there already. Slowly she padded up to him, reclining beside him, though she said nothing for a while, just gazing across the lake, as Hawk himself was doing. At length, she spoke. "Thank all goodness everyone's alright now."[/color]
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Post by Monkey Monk on Mar 11, 2006 16:17:43 GMT -6
For quite some time Hawk said nothing. He simply stared off over the lake's waters. The mascu had heard Istariel, yet he did not wish to speak at the moment. Slowly his silken furred tail flicked beneath his haunches before forlornly ceasing it's movements. After several moments of silence, the warrior finally spoke up. His vocals were heavily ladened with a confusing mix of emotions. "Yes...atleast everyone is ok...but I've learned that whatever foe you beat is replaced with a much more powerful and devious one..I can not wonder why I continue to help others though..Why don't I just go run off and live my own life? Have I not done enough to atone for my evil sins of the past? Yet every time I decide to run off and live a secluded life, I find the guilt to great. I feel...I feel lonely in this world. And yet I can not stand to be away from those who need my aid..Ra is a confusing deity..."
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Post by Felypsa on Mar 11, 2006 16:41:44 GMT -6
Istariel sighed. "I know what you mean. There's this...obligation you can't break, for if you do, you are forever tormented by your conscience, which is a harsh taskmaster. I am a princess of cave-demons; they all depend on me and my parents. And if something happens to my parents - Korian forbid such a thing - it will be entirely up to me. There's always a desire to escape, to leave this life behind in search for something else...there's always a yearning to be selfish after so many selfless acts. There's nothing can be done to defeat such a longing. We just have to deal with it. But Hawk...if this is any consolation..." She chose her next words carefully, trying to sound warm but not too warm. Careful, Istariel. He might misinterpret and freak out. "Any consolation at all...you are most certainly not alone."[/color]
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Post by Monkey Monk on Mar 11, 2006 16:47:45 GMT -6
The mascu nodded slowly to the first words she spoke. Yet at the last sentance he sighed forlornly. His head lowered slightly as he let a sigh pass over his lips. "There my dear..friend..you are wrong..we both may bare a great responsibility, but we are much different as well...you have no doubt never killed with malice, yet I have. For many seasons of my early life I was a murderer. I had no soul, no regret for my actions. Yet I was a slave as well. Even if I didn't like doing what I did, I knew I had to or face my own death..When Icewolf decided that we had to rebel, I leaped upon the idea like a thirsty traveller to water. Yet now, I feel so confused. I was raised as one who took orders and did as he was told. Even now, I am bound tightly to my god. I am his disciple, his servant. My life has never been my own. All I wish for is to be normal. To make my own decisions, decisions I want to make..I wish for freedom.."
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Post by Felypsa on Mar 11, 2006 17:10:35 GMT -6
Istariel listened with sympathy and some confusion. Once he had finished speaking, she replied, "A prisoner, are you? A prisoner of your own obligation. You desire freedom. Is it true, then, that you believe meeting and helping Ammolite was something that your god made you do? Would you have done that on your own will? Has everything you've done been done because you felt like you should, not because you wanted to? Have you never done anything for yourself? Is that it?" She looked at him and willed him to look at her. Her rosy eyes were soft and warm. "Have you done nothing for yourself?" She repeated quietly. "If you haven't...there is always a first time to everything. Would you like to try it?" She was being very bold, her three tails swishing softly and seductively. I hope I didn't imagine his prior attention to me.[/color]
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Post by Monkey Monk on Mar 11, 2006 17:17:12 GMT -6
Hawk thought for a moment. He could feel her gaze upon him. As his words passed over his lips, he turned his head to look at her. "It is true. I have done nothing for my own gain, directly atleast. Sure I gain many friends in my exploits, and for that I am greatful. Yet I have never met a friend who could understand me. I just-" He found that words failed him as he gazed into her eyes. The pace of his heart raced wildly as he looked into the femme's gaze, lost in the warm look she offered forth. The golden mascu had an inkling as to the meaning of her words. Yet why would she desire such things, if his thoughts were true of course. He was no longer the handsome creature he was only days ago. The prominent scars upon his face had torn apart his atractive features. He felt less confident by this, and depressed at how conceited he had been about how he looked. "What do you mean Istariel?" He had to be sure, sure that her words meant what he thought they did.
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Post by Felypsa on Mar 11, 2006 17:30:23 GMT -6
In response to his question, Istariel shifted form, until she was more like a wolf than like a panther. She did not take her gaze off of him, however. A smile slowly formed on her maw. His query had somehow made her more confident, more willing to move on. She moved her three tails until they were just lightly touching his own tail, if he allowed such contact. "Actions speak louder than words, Hawk. I think you already know what I mean." She moved over until she was close enough to Hawk to feel the warmth radiating from his body. His face may be scarred, but his integrity was not. He may not be as handsome as he once was, but I think I started liking him before he was hurt so. In any case, it doesn't matter now.[/color]
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Post by Monkey Monk on Mar 11, 2006 17:36:05 GMT -6
Hawk looked shocked by the advances by Istariel. His mind raced wildly as he tried to think of what to do. What do I do? That's obvious, do what your heart tells you. But she is a princess! And? She obviously wants to be with you. Yes, but how strongly? Enough Hawk! It was then that he reached a decision of what to do. He shifted his body closer to her own until their figures were pressed lightly together. Softly his tail began to curl about her three. His golden eyes slowly shut as he seemed uneasy for a moment. Slowly he opened his eyes and noticed how close their faces were. The mascu thanked the spirits for his golden fur which hid the flush in his cheeks. For quite some time he simply looked into Istariel's gaze with his own golden one, wondering what would become of these affections.
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Post by Felypsa on Mar 11, 2006 18:14:23 GMT -6
Istariel felt a little thrill as he moved towards her and entwined his single tail with her three. She sank against him, smiling up into his golden eyes. Yes. We're both resisting obligations. I'm a princess of demons; he's a wolf. This "should" not be happening. But we both want this to happen, so what difference does it make? "Forget the word 'should,'" she said, speaking out loud. "This is 'will.'" She nuzzled him gently, then even was so bold as to softly and briefly lick his scarred cheek.[/color]
When Ammolite awoke, Azarak had left her. She slowly got up, feeling much better now. The betrayal of Spectre seemed long ago, though it had scarred her forever. She had her scars too, and though they weren't as visible as Hawk's, they were just as inhibiting. Nevertheless, she wanted to see her friends and rescuers, wanted to thank them, wanted to pour her heart out to them and tell them how much she loved and trusted them...they were the only ones she trusted...
She went to Dalia's Lake first, expecting to find at least someone there. Secretly, she hoped it was Hawk. She really wanted to talk to Hawk, of all her friends. She had not known how much she'd missed him until she'd seen him again, flying for her in the Spirit World. There was something there she didn't quite recognize, but neither did she deny it. She just wanted to see him and talk to him alone. He was such a good friend, so compassionate and understanding. She could trust him.
She entered the lake area. What she saw gave her quite a shock. She could not help but stare. Istariel and Hawk? Together...romancing? Something strange happened to her then. Though her eyes were orange from surprise, they were also indigo and purple, indicating her confusing mix of emotions. She felt like she was struck in the face. But she didn't know why. She just stared, shocked and oddly...betrayed.
She shouldn't have felt this way, of course. Istariel and Hawk were both her good friends; her best friends, even. She should have been happy for them. But she felt as if they had planned this to hurt her. And if they had, it worked. It worked too well. She gazed at them, unable to move.[/color]
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Post by Monkey Monk on Mar 11, 2006 18:22:38 GMT -6
Hawk felt the lick upon his marred cheek. Slowly he let his eyes shut just as Ammolite entered the area. Tenderly he rubbed his cheek against Istariel's. Is this for real? Or is this just a once in a life time thing? Is this the only time that I will be able to hold her like this? Or will we be this close for the rest of time? So many questions ran through Hawk's mind. Slowly he lapped at Istariel's cheek and pulled back. Tears formed within his eyes as he looked at her. "I don't know if we can let this go on..I mean you are a princess and I am nothing special..you are a cave-demon and I am nothing but a lowly wolf...you are beautiful and I am nothing but a battle scarred warrior...Could any love truly last? Would the others even let our love last? How would you be viewed, falling for one as low and undeserving as me...Istariel..you deserve far better than me.." With that he looked to the ground. A few drops of salty tears fell to the stone floor. It was obvious he was pained by the things he had spoke. Quickly he turned about and dashed from the chamber in which the Lake resided. He tore off quickly towards the tunnel that led to the Hall of Defenders.
OOC: Awww I'm almost crying at this. 
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