|
Post by Monkey Monk on Jul 30, 2006 17:33:28 GMT -6
Hawk's anger diminished rapidly with both Ammolite's words and Azarak's actions. His ears drooped as he noticed what a terrible mistake he had made. However when Istariel approached him he leaped backward a few feet, having already been crouched. He now looked at the spirit of his lover with wide, fearful eyes. The poor creature's mind was feverish and he could not think straight. He did not know she was only a spirit and not brought back from the dead completely. Hawk's people had been superstitious, and he had been raised by them long enough to share their fears. The dead were something to respect and fear. Which when one thinks about it was a hypocritical fear for him, not that his mind was calm enough to notice that.
His heart felt as if it was being shattered. That came from both seeing his beloved Istariel who had literally died in his grasp and the fact that he had harmed one of his closest friends outside of the Defenders with his spiteful words. What good was he? He failed the Defenders with his incompetence, he failed Istariel by not having a way to save her, he failed Ammolite by being so cold to her, he failed Phoebus by letting him die, he failed his children by running off when they were fresh from birth...His children. That was where Istariel truly lived. Those children were all a part of him. The revelation was what steadied his hurt mind. Istariel still lived in a form that he could take care of and love. Maybe it wasn't the same degree of love, but it was still love. Their children were equally her as they were him and he had left them. The mascu took a step backward once more, getting ready to run. "The children...I must go to them. I don't know if you are really Istariel or not, but I do know that you died right in my arms. I love you dearly, but you died. Yet you still live on. You live on in our children, in their eyes and in their souls. I can not leave them without one of their true parents nearby. Because without them, Istariel, you are completely dead."
|
|
|
Post by Felypsa on Jul 30, 2006 17:44:39 GMT -6
The spirit that looked like Istariel gazed at Hawk with unequivocal love. As soon as Hawk had finished speaking, she smiled, and it was brighter than the sun. “Our children. Yes. Go to them. But first, come to me. Let me kiss you one more time. Even if it isn’t real. Hawk, don’t deny me. Come to me. One more time.” She moved towards her beloved, living mate, eyes shining.
At the same time, ’Verna was approaching Fiendark with equal words of love. Ammolite’s father took a step forward, ready to kiss his deceased mate, when something strange started happening. His heart felt cold and clenched, like a giant icy fist had seized it and was trying to yank it from his chest. He gasped, and ’Verna smiled, approaching him. As she got closer, the sensation became worse. He wanted to touch her, to kiss her, but this pain…it was getting to be too much.
“Ixnay,” Azarak muttered, then shouted, “Fiendark! Don’t get too close! This is disastrous.” He leaped off of Hawk and hurried over to Fiendark, grabbing his back foot and pulling hard. “Not—’Verna,” he panted. “Not—real. Don’t—trust.”
|
|
|
Post by Monkey Monk on Jul 30, 2006 17:50:07 GMT -6
Hawk took a step towards Istariel, ready to grant her the last request she would make from him. However the air bode ill will, and it caused him to look over to Fiendark. He heard Azarak's words, and frowned. Not real...then it was all still an illusion. But it was such a wonderful illusion. Would it not be safe to play along with it? However the closer he came to Istariel, the colder he felt as well. This was the prime of summer, such cold could not exist. A frown crossed the dazed mascu's maw and he seemed to snap from the transe he had been under for a moment. To act swiftly before he lost control again, the mascu threw his body through the air. He tried to collide with Fiendark so as to knock them away. He had to prove his worth somehow.
|
|
|
Post by Felypsa on Jul 30, 2006 18:04:43 GMT -6
Fiendark felt the lizard’s pull, but could not obey it. He was so close to ’Verna that he could not draw away even if he’d wanted to. He leaned in close to greet his beloved for the first time in years, but at that moment the great body of Hawk crashed into him and pushed him well beyond ’Verna’s hypnotic reach. He shook his head, and noticed that the painful icy pressure was gone. He bowed his head reverently to Hawk. “I thank you my friend. I do not know what you have saved me from, but it was surely a fate I would not like.”
Suddenly, a third figure appeared by the mid-air portal. A familiar figure, though he remained half-obscured by light. “Ach…you have foiled my plan yet again, you nefarious interloper. At least for now.” Stepping out of the sunlight, a face could be plainly seen on this third spirit: a vile, smirking face. A half-snakelike face. The face of their old nemesis…Spectre. But he was naught but a spectre, just like ’Verna, just like Istariel. He grinned evilly at everyone gathered. “Confusion is gone for now. That is easily remedied.” Suddenly there were dozens of illusions in the grove. The difference was that these illusions looked solid and real, unlike ’Verna and Istariel. These illusions were also mirror images of Ammolite, Hawk, Fiendark, and Azarak. There were even some ’Vernas, Istariels, and Spectres. A hollow laugh rang out in the clearing. “Try to avoid me now, cretins.”
“Don’t let them touch you!” several Azaraks yelled at once. They immediately glanced at each other and scowled identically. “Great,” they said, “they’re like mirrors. They’ll copy everything we do. Beware, friends. This is a tricksome trap, and it could cost you your lives…or worse, your souls.”
“Spectre!” several Ammolites cried, their eyes all pink with anxiety. “I thought you were dead! Oh, never mind. Hawk, Daddy! Hurry, let’s leave!” Many of them tried to exit the grove, but were thrown back by some inexplicable force. They blinked, and the pale pink of their eyes deepened to red. “I don’t know what to do,” they cried, looking around. “Daddy? Hawk? Azarak? Where are you?”
|
|
|
Post by Monkey Monk on Jul 31, 2006 17:12:16 GMT -6
Hawk was amazingly calm despite their situation. He looked over the mirror images of themselves and thought for a moment. Those glowing golden eyes of his darted around to gaze at each figure in the clearing. Deftly he leaped to the side when one of the Ammolite's ran toward him. The glowing of Hawk's eyes increased and began to pulse. Adrenaline coursed through his body forcefully as he tried to solve this problem in his mind. They were caged in with many astral forms that they could not touch. With a growl the golden pelted wolf took a step forth. Spectre, oh how much he hated that creature. So much trouble was caused by that spirit and what irked Hawk even more was that he was referred to as a "nefarious interloper".
Quite suddenly the mascu extended his wings. The appendages shot up the dry dirt of the ground around him. A cloud of dust hid him for a few moment, pillaring up into the sky as the sound of his wings told that they were still beating. He could only hope that the barrier didn't block off the sky as well.
|
|
|
Post by Felypsa on Aug 1, 2006 11:08:21 GMT -6
The Spectres snarled in contempt as they observed Hawk trying to escape above. “Do you think I am that stupid?” they demanded of him. “This grove is entirely protected. There is no escape. Why do you think I picked it in the first place?” And indeed, Hawk would find his words to be true. It was as if the entire grove was enclosed in a bubble—an impenetrable bubble. No conceivable way out.
Ammolite was lost. There were at least three different groups of her. One group were mirror images, that copied everything she did. Another group was running around, looking at the Azaraks, Fiendarks, and Hawks, calling out “Is that you? Is that you?” Still another group was angrily yelling at all the Spectres. The real Ammolite and her clones merely stood there, eyes a dark red, watching all the goings-on. Suddenly, a pillar of dirt rose to the sky—and another, and another. Whatever Hawk was doing, there was a group of Hawks copying him. Ammolite immediately realized that Hawk was trying to escape via the sky. She watched him—all the many hims—with bated breath. But she heard Spectre’s words, and her hope dropped into despair. How could they possibly prevail? There was only one way…they had to find each other—the real ones—and defeat Spectre. But how? The cunning snake-wolf was already dead. How could they kill what was already dead?
Fiendark backed into a corner of the grove, away from most of the mirrored spirits. He didn’t want to risk accidentally brushing into one of them and…the feeling of that icy grip trying to tear his heart out was still fresh in his memory. He shuddered. There was no way out. But he was determined to find the true Ammolite, Azarak, and Hawk. Together they could stand a chance. Fiendark kept his head down, trying not to look at all the ’Vernas floating around. Even though he knew they were not real, they looked so much like his beloved mate that his heart cried out in agony. His teeth clenched, and found metal. Surprised, Fiendark realized he had bit down on Ammolite’s amulet. He had completely forgotten he was still carrying it. Hope sparked. He closed his eyes, used a bit of the old sorcery, and summoned Ammolite to him. The amulet jerked, leading him past many of the false Ammolites. Fiendark evaded the touch of any of the spirits. Finally, he stood before his daughter. She stared at him, questioning. “Daddy?” Fiendark nodded, and tossed the amulet to her. She caught it, surprised, and put it around her neck. It was the real one. Fiendark stepped close and nuzzled his daughter. Nothing happened. He had found her.
Unfortunately, taking their cue from the real Fiendark and Ammolite, all their copies immediately paired up and imitated their actions. Each Ammolite wore an amulet. Azarak observed all this and shook his head. Sight did not fool him. Fiendark’s action had inspired Azarak. He used his magic to detect which amulet was real. The real amulet would be with the real father and daughter. He was led to a pair in the very center of the grove. Before they could question him, he leaped into Ammolite’s back. Nothing happened. All three of them breathed a sigh of relief. They had found each other. But now all the other Azaraks were matched up with the Fiendarks and Ammolites. The final challenge was for Hawk to find them. Some of the matched-up groups called out to the Hawks, urging him to come to them. Others remained silent. The real group did not say anything. They waited, hoping Hawk would be able to find them.
|
|
|
Post by Monkey Monk on Aug 1, 2006 11:27:24 GMT -6
Frustration bubbled up in Hawk's chest. He was trapped and it brought anxiety to his mind. He watched as his copies shot up into the air as he had. Also did he see that all the other spirits had grouped together, telling him that the others had found their true selfs. The trick was that he had to find them as well. A thought came to his mind. If these were mere spirits, than they did not have solid forms. He could use that and the bubble to his aid. He began to spiral around their prison, being careful not to touch his copies. Dust and dirt began to lift off the ground, swirling beneath the bubble in a make-shift sand storm.
Memories of real sand storms flooded the golden mascu's mind. He remember how he had been taught to find solid forms through the sand. As he looked down through the storm, he saw a large shadow that he hoped to be the group. He tucked his wings to his side and shot down toward them, hoping that his plan had worked. After all if he didn't, he would be soaring head-long toward what could very well be his death.
|
|
|
Post by Felypsa on Aug 1, 2006 11:55:41 GMT -6
Ammolite could not suppress a cry as the Hawks began to form a small sandstorm within the bubble. She shut her eyes tightly against the dirt and fervently hoped that Hawk knew what he was doing. Find us, she begged him silently. Find me. She felt her amulet began to pulse gently, but she hoped it wasn’t a malfunction waiting to happen. That was the last thing they needed—for Ammolite to turn into a mindless, ravaging tornado again. But luckily, nothing happened. Ammolite cracked open her eyes and looked up. A Hawk was heading towards them. She could see nothing else. The sandstorm had completely covered all the spirits. And now, only the real ones could be seen. Ammolite’s maw stretched into a joyful smile as Hawk—she was certain it was he, her heart alone knew that—zoomed towards them. “Thank Dalia,” she whispered. “You’ve found us.”
By the time the dust had cleared, there were several groups of all four companions standing around in the bubble. The ’Vernas and Istariels had disappeared, and a single Spectre remained—the Spectre. However, the mirror copies of Azarak, Fiendark, Ammolite, and Hawk were still clustered in the grove. Spectre smirked at the real ones. “Oh, I applaud thee. You’ve all found one another…how touching. It won’t do you much good, I’m afraid. There is no escape.” He approached the true group, and at the same time the groups of the mirror copies converged on them, surrounding them. Spectre paused when all his copies had formed a circle around the real companions, his smirk never wavering. “Now, we can do this the simple way or the hard way. There is no escape. So you may as well just give up your souls to me.” He looked feverishly at Ammolite, his eyes shining with an eerie infatuation. “I am particularly looking forward to having yours, my dear. If you just give it to me nicely, I’ll treat you nicely. You’ll still be my slave for all eternity, but you’ll be my special slave, above all the others.” He took a step closer, gazing intensely at her. “Or you can resist. In which case I’ll take your souls forcefully. And believe me, that would not be fun for you.” He leered, his tongue darting out like a snake’s.
Azarak tensed, glaring at the vile Spectre. What he was doing was beyond wrong. The lizard tapped into a sorcery that he hardly ever used, finding it usually pointless. :Don’t listen to him,: he urged the others, speaking in their minds so Spectre could not hear. :There is a way out. I was hoping it would not have to come to this, but…: He paused before going on, then nerved himself to say it. It was the only way. :Spectre came through a portal. It’s right behind him. He’s guarding it. It leads into his terrible world, a place of the damned, where we will all go if we yield now. We have to seal it. If we do, Spectre and his illusions will fade away, for all his power comes from the world of the damned. But there is only one way to seal that portal.: He paused. This was the difficult part. He would be sending one of his dear friends to die. :It requires the life of a souled mortal. One of you. One of you must sacrifice yourself. One of you must die for the others to survive.: It pained him to say it. He knew what they would all say. :One of you. But only one of you.:
|
|
|
Post by Monkey Monk on Aug 1, 2006 15:42:01 GMT -6
The words of Azarak rang through Hawk's mind. The only way to seal that portal would be to sacrifice one of them. The golden mascu looked at his friends for a moment. None of them deserved to die. Ammolite and Fiendark had just been reunited and Azarak was extremely important as probably the last guardian. Hawk had children, but they could be raised by someone else probably far better than he could do it. With these thoughts in mind, the warrior looked back to their foes and concentrated on Spectre. A cold, hard determination was in the mascu's eyes as he began to walk to their enemy. His heavy paws fell onto the ground in what seemed a painstakingly slow pace. Slowly his wings stretched out, catching the light that filtered through the settling dust.
Can I really do this? His eyes began to glow brighter, pulsating with his heart beat. Can I really die and leave my children with no parents? His paws fell onto the ground once more. I have to. I have to save the others. Slowly his wings stretched out more as he approached Spectre. What is this that I feel? It seems so familiar... Slowly his claws extended from their slots, digging into the ground. This is the only way... Fiercely he stared at his foe. The only way to save the others... Muscles tensed as he drew closer. The only way to send this bastard back... Soon he was mere feet from the other. The only way...unless... Quite suddenly the glowing in his eyes intensified. It shot out from his pupils and irises, spreading out over his body. Hawk through back his head and let loose a howl of pain. His body felt as if it was on fire, energy shooting through his veins. This was just like when Kenei had Istariel. Loved ones were in danger and that stirred something in this mascu. With a dazzling explosion of energy and light, Hawk seemed to melt away. He could only hope that this would end Spectre and their troubles from him. If it didn't, Hawk would be unconscious on the ground and at the mercy of their foe.
|
|
|
Post by Felypsa on Aug 2, 2006 12:44:43 GMT -6
“Hawk! No!” Ammolite cried. She wasn’t sure if he could even hear her. He had that look on that face, the look that meant he would not stop until he had finished his goal. But she couldn’t let him. An image of him running up the mountain to save Istariel came to mind. Her eyes blazed violet. I can’t let him die. No, he’s died once already. I can’t lose him. I’ve lost Istariel—so has his children. He can’t let them become orphans. I can’t let him die. She began to run, knowing the only way to stop him was physically. Would she be strong enough? Her amulet pulsed and her heart raced. It was almost too late. He was nearly at the portal. At the last second possible, unsure if Hawk was still even there, Ammolite swerved and tried to hit him on the side. If she succeeded, she would have knocked him clear from the portal’s destructive path. They would crumple on the ground together.
Spectre watched Hawk approach with growing contemptuous amusement. “So, you’ve come to give me your soul after all?” he laughed harshly. “I did not think it would be so easy to break you, Hawk. You continue to surprise me.” The vile snake-wolf stopped talking, however, when he saw Hawk’s eyes. Immediately, a burst of energy, like a tidal wave, knocked Spectre back. Unfortunately, he did not go into the portal, though he was sent careening over to the other end of the bubbled-in grove. At the same time, his illusions of the others vanished. There were now only five of them in the grove. Spectre opened his eyes and saw that Ammolite had tried to prevent Hawk from going into the portal. A gravelly laugh escaped him. “How touching. In doing that, my lovely creature, you have only sealed your doom.” Spectre was about to take a step forward when a blur of movement caught his eye.
Fiendark would not let Hawk sacrifice himself. He knew that Hawk had newborn children who had already lost their mother. It was a crime to rid them of their father as well. Fiendark looked at Ammolite, and saw in her eyes a passion which he knew very well. And then, before he could react, she raced over and attempted to stop Hawk. She knew it too. She would not let him. And Fiendark would respect his daughter’s wish. He knew what to do. An old geezer like him who was going to die anyway, his strength stripped away from the many years he’d spend in the Rift. And even if Ammolite had failed to stop Hawk, Fiendark would. He ignored Spectre and ran for the portal. As he got there, he shoved Hawk, brutal but necessary, and let the portal take him. Just as he was breaking apart, feeling his life being torn apart like threads, he looked at his daughter. Their eyes met for the last time. Fiendark whispered, “My last gift to you,” and then he was gone. The portal, accepting this life, closed in on itself. The threat was abated; Ammolite’s father was gone.
|
|
|
Post by Monkey Monk on Aug 2, 2006 13:02:11 GMT -6
It was Ammolite who indeed managed to knock Hawk away. His body was amazingly light and he easily skidded across the ground on his side. When the momentum expended itself, the golden wolf laid on his side upon the ground. He was motionless, silent. For a moment he seemed to be dead. After a moment, his chest at last rose and fell with a breath. His energy was completely drained from the attack he had used on Spectre. The wolf laid there unconscious on the ground, unaware of whether he would awake or not. For all he knew, he had failed and Spectre was approaching him at that moment to end his life. The mascu remained motionless on the ground aside from his slow, tired breathing.
OOC: Sorry for the short post.
|
|
|
Post by Felypsa on Aug 2, 2006 13:14:18 GMT -6
Thankfully, such was not the case. The moment Fiendark vanished, taking the portal with him, Spectre had frozen. If anyone looked upon him, his face was contorted in a repulsive mixture of rage and fear. He knew he had been beaten. Even if he could take anyone’s soul now, it would only be returned to its owner the moment he faded away. He was powerless; he could feel his spirit body breaking up inside him. He turned to Ammolite, who was on the ground near Hawk, tears pouring down her face, and his expression turned to one of malicious hunger. But he would never fulfill that hunger now. A terrible scream of fury and despair tore from him, like a banshee’s harmful cry. Its horrifying echo still lingered long after the wind came and dissolved Spectre like a wisp of smoke.
Ammolite was crying without even realizing it. Both of her parents were lost to the world of the dead now. But she was also crying because she knew it had to happen. Much as it shamed her, she knew that her father was the one to go, and Hawk had to stay. Still, Spectre’s lingering shriek penetrated her heart and she wept, her crystal tears falling onto Hawk’s fur as if she were mourning his death. She knew he was alive, just worn out and unconscious. Her amulet pulsed gently. Carefully, Ammolite used her healing powers on her dear friend, delicately feeding him more energy and hoping he would regain consciousness soon. Spectre was gone. Hawk was alive. But never had such a victory felt so hollow and sorrowful.
Azarak padded over to the remaining two living creatures in that cursed grove. It saddened him to think that his old friend was now truly gone, after all they had been through to get him back. Even though the anguish was great, it felt…right. Fiendark deserved to be reunited with his beloved mate after all these long years. He had had a chance to be with his daughter, and to grant her a final wish, before joining her mother. “Thank you, old friend,” he said softly to the sky. So many deaths. So much grief. But when the lizard looked at Ammolite and Hawk, and thought of Hawk’s surviving children, he knew it was all worth it that they lived. Azarak walked over to the edge of the grove and tested it. Like Spectre, the barrier had also faded away. They were free to go. Azarak looked behind him and waited. They would come when they were ready, and not a moment sooner.
|
|
|
Post by Monkey Monk on Aug 2, 2006 16:02:17 GMT -6
For a while, Hawk simply laid there are Ammolite poured energy into him. The attack had brought himself to near death, and he still didn't know how to use it let alone control it. It seemed that the catalyst to that attack had to be a loved on in danger. First it had been Istariel and their unborn children then it had been Ammolite and the others. However it hadn't worked. He had failed in his attempts and Fiendark had been the one to pay for it. Hawk had indeed noticed the absence of Ammolite's parent by the time his eyes fluttered open. A sweeping feeling of guilt fell upon his heart. If he had not been so competent, Fiendark, Istariel, and even Phoebus would be alive. All the deaths in their group had been his fault, at least that was how he saw it. With his head hung low, a great depression fell into place with the guilt he felt. He managed to drag himself to his paws, not uttering a word. Slowly and tiredly he walked to the edge of the clearing. He had children to go to, and he could only hope he would not fail them as he had everyone else he had ever known.
|
|
|
Post by Felypsa on Aug 3, 2006 10:29:38 GMT -6
Relief swept through Ammolite when Hawk finally opened his eyes and stood up. For a moment, just a moment, she had been afraid that she had lost him. But one look at Hawk’s face made her realize that this was hardly a happy ending. Tears spilled over from her dark blue and dark green eyes. Her father was gone. She had seen him rescued only to see him killed not long after. I killed him, Ammolite realized. She choked on a sob. I killed my father. My best friend, too. “Oh, Hawk,” she said, somehow getting the words out. “I know I can’t be forgiven for what I’ve done…but I am so sorry. I only left to make you and Istariel happy. That’s all I wanted for you…but instead, I—killed—them.” She was weeping freely now. If I hadn’t run away, I could’ve helped Istariel survive. If I hadn’t run away, Daddy wouldn’t have had to give his life to save me. “This is all my fault. I am so, so sorry…words cannot express…” And then she broke off, unable to say anything more. It was difficult coming to terms with her own guilt. Her decision to leave Hawk and Istariel to themselves had been a fatal one. Not fatal for her. Fatal for them. And now, Hawk had lost his lover and Ammolite no longer had her father. All because of her. All because of her ridiculous folly.
|
|
|
Post by Monkey Monk on Aug 13, 2006 18:17:34 GMT -6
Hawk didn't seem to register Ammolite's words right off the bat. He simply padded forth slowly for a moment. His muscles rippled beneath his flesh and silky, golden pelt. Blankly his eyes looked at the ground. His irises did not glow, nor did they shine, shimmer, or flicker. The light within was dead, and without that light his eyes no longer seemed golden but more of a dull, ugly yellow. After what might seem an eternity, he would finally speak out to Ammolite, but his gaze did not falter from the ground. "Wasn't your fault...wasn't anyone's fault...never is anyone's fault..." Words he remembered the origin to well. He and his father, back when he was but a child of course, had been lugging back food for their family. Hawk had dropped his pieces and soiled them. The pup had cried out his apologies but his father only chuckled. The wizened old wolf had told Hawk those same words, but with more added on.
"Wasn't your fault son, wasn't anyone's fault, it never is anyone's fault. Bad things happen, but when they do you just have to get up, shake yourself clean, and keep going...see, now the meat is clean. Let's get home quickly, you know how that damn bird gets when he doesn't have his meal on time. Last thing we need is him talking our ears off again."
|
|