Solving a Mystery?

[spiritwolf]

"Well, It was probably my fault the rabbits attacked us in the first place since I killed one of their kin" she admitted modestly. After hearing Keros's proposition, emerald said "It is worth a shot." Emerald was admiring Kero's size and concentaration (guiltily) when out of the corner of her eye she saw all the skulls start to glow a pretty blue color then turn to fruit. She blinked a few times to make sure she was not delusional and when she saw they were still there she walked up and sniffed them. They smelled alright. But looks and smell could be decieving, she knew. She didn't want to break Kero's concentration so she pondered on the matter. Maybe they should find the beast if Kero's idea didn't work. As if it heard, the beast came silently flying toward them. "You called?" he said in a weary voice. "Called?" answered Emerald questionlingly. "Yes, I am doomed to a fate of serving visitors of the Dead Spirit World and eating the bad spirits. Now, what wold you like?" He asked. Emerald hesitated. She called Kero down. Should they risk asking the beast to give them a ride out of here?

[Felypsa]

So far, nothing. Kero had sensed his windy friends just across the portal, and they missed him terribly, blowing about in their concern for him. But he could not get them to cross through the hole; it was as if they did not even realize that there was a doorway in the middle of the sky. He was trying to make them see it when Emerald called him.

He broke free from his concentration, frustrated with himself, but loped down to his companion anxiously. Kero knew Emerald would not call him unless something important was happening. When he returned to her, he saw the curious fruit hanging on a tree that had once borne skulls, and the winged beast hovering nearby, conversing with Emerald. Kero came in time to hear the creature’s explanation of its purpose, and frowned. There had been visitors before then? Well, it certainly wasn’t impossible.

Kero caught Emerald’s cautious hesitation, and took her aside to discuss. “Part of me does not trust this beast,” he said; “it is impossible to tell if that beast is telling the truth. So much about this world is bizarre and untrustworthy. Why should it help us, anyhow? On the other hand, what have we got to lose?” Kero let out a sigh. “This is so unlike any situation I’ve had to deal with. What do you want to do, Emerald?”

Before Emerald could respond, the winged beast called out to them, “I must serve all visitors, but there is one thing I cannot do easily: I cannot go anywhere near the Beyond. Not without…” It paused. “I cannot say more. Forgive the interruption. Return to your discussion.” Idly, the beast studied the fruits, and crunched into one of them, crushing it between its mighty jaws.

[spiritwolf]

Emerald listened to Kero while keepping one eye on the beast. She then listened to the beast. Her eyes shimmered with indecision. She paced anxiously then finally coming to a conclusion, she turned to Kero. "The beast says that it can not go to the "Beyond" easily. I wonder if it could possibly throw us off its back and then once we are in the other world, spread our wings to catch our fall." She said unsurely. She lay down then sat up then finally just sat on the ground akwardly. She asked the beast"What is your name?"

[Felypsa]

Keroberos was a little uneasy about trusting this beast, and was less willing to do so than Emerald clearly was. But so far, he could see no foul play. Emerald’s suggestion struck him as risky, however. What if they were too far from the portal? What if the beast missed while throwing them? “I do not think,” Kero said carefully, “that is our best course of action.” Unless it’s our only course of action.

The beast nodded agreement with Kero. “I do not even think I could get close enough to accomplish that. There is only one way that I could do as you ask, and that is far too risky to even suggest. I have no name,” it went on, looking back at Emerald, “for I am only known as RN-4658-T7. I suppose you may call me Arrenfor for short.”

“Arrenfor,” Kero repeated. “RN-4. Very well, then, Arrenfor, what is the only way you can help us? Risky or not, we deserve to hear it.” It can’t be much riskier than jumping towards a portal we hardly fit through when we cannot fly.

The beast they were calling Arrenfor let out what must have been a sigh. “I am under strict obediance of the Rules. The Rules do not let me—and others like me—go anywhere near the world Beyond. They do not let us do many other things as well. These are the same Rules that condemn me to eat the rebellious spirits. In order to get you home, we must rewrite the Rules. But this task is very…difficult and dangerous, to say the least. I would not recommend it to anyone.” Though Arrenfor was carefully expressionless, his tone of voice indicated that he would like the Rules rewritten for other reasons as well.

[spiritwolf]

As Emerald listened to Kerobero's rejection of her idea, she wondered if they would ever get back to the "Beyond". Emerald listened to Kerobero's and Arrenfor's conversation. She felt left out. Hmph... Well it looks like I don't really matter in this particular conversation. As she was pouting, she heard Arrenfor say something about the rewriting of the rules. She turned arond and faced the beast Arrenfor. "Just how harrd and difficult is it?" she asked.

[Felypsa]

Arrenfor looked steadily at Emerald, as if judging whether she was worthy to hear the information he was about to impart. His dark eyes were weary and he let out a sigh. “It has never been done,” the winged beast said softly and seriously. “Many have tried, and failed. Of course, we have never had such powerful mortals step into our world before…” He looked appraisingly at both Kero and Emerald. “You both have strength and ability the like of which I have never seen before.”

Keroberos was not flattered by Arrenfor’s praise. “Just what is expected of us to rewrite the Rules?” he demanded. If it had never been done, chances that they would succeed were slim…whether or not they were indeed powerful mortals. Kero was strong, he knew, and he had seen Emerald’s skill in defeating the rabbits. But much of Kero’s strength was in the wind, which was nonexistent in this world, and they would clearly be taking on much worse than mere rabbits.

Arrenfor looked reluctant to answer Kero’s question directly. “The Rules are locked away, and only the Key can unlock them,” he said eventually. “But the Authority always holds the Key. Whoever wields the Key can write the Rules. Whoever defeats the Authority can wields the Key.” He made it seem so simple, yet Kero suspected it was not as clearcut as that.

[spiritwolf]

Emerald listened to what the beast had to say. She wondered just how hard it was. The beast made it seem simple and easy but if it had never been done before, just how simpole and easy was it? She turned to Keroberos. "Kero, what do you think we should do? Clearly, this rewriting of the rules is all the chance we have of leaving this morbid spirit world. I think we should at least try to do this. I'd rather die than spend the rest of my life here," she said bluntly. She turned back to Arrenfor. "Just what kind of dangers would we have to face?" she asked warily.

[Felypsa]

Keroberos nodded at Emerald, agreeing with her, albeit reluctantly. “It seems to be our only choice.” He paused, looking at his companion with newfound respect. “Your determination is impressive. Then let us take on this task.” He turned around and faced Arrenfor, a serious expression in his eyes.

The winged beast let out another sigh at Emerald’s direct question. “I cannot say exactly. Certainly defeating the Authority is no easy task in itself. But even before we would get to that point, we would have to sneak into the Authority’s Fortress, which is well guarded. If I am seen—” Arrenfor’s face tightened. “I will be exterminated immediately. It is written in the Rules that any Servant caught defying or rebelling the Authority is instantly destroyed. And the Fortress has many eyes and ears.” Arrenfor spread his wings and lowered himself. “You say you are up to the task. We none of us have a choice, really. So let’s get it on.”

Keroberos hesitated only briefly before clambering on to the great beast’s back. Even though Kero was a substantial wolf himself, Arrenfor did not seem to be bothered by his added weight. A good transport, then, though Kero did not like the whole concept of being unable to fly. As a matter of fact, Kero did not like this entire mission. He glanced longingly at the portal in the sky; such a simple, unobtrusive thing, and yet it was causing him and Emerald so much trouble. That moment on the mountains might be the last time I ever saw the living world, he thought soberly. Well, if I must die, then, I will join my brother in an afterlife that is surely better than this one. “Let’s go,” he rumbled, looking to Emerald, his companion in this fearful place.

[spiritwolf]

Emerald felt flattered by Kero's compliment but still felt down in her spirits. She was mainly the reason they were here. If she hadn't flown through that portal... "Thank you but I guess I have to be since it is mostly my fault that we are here," she said downcastly. "Yes, let's go," she added. She sighed inwardly.

Emerald walked over to Arrenfor and looked a little hesitant. But only for a few seconds. She climbed up onto the beast's rough back. Well, who wouldn't be hesitant?They were going to be riding on the back of a giant winged beast who ate dead spirits and could fly without wind. Emerald almost laughed at the thought. She never would have thought in a million years that she would be doing this. Well, in fact, she did let out a small giggle. Why am I so giddy?She thought. Oh, well. I don't think Kero heard the giggle anyway. "Well, let's go," she said.

[Felypsa]

Indeed, Keroberos was a little too focused on their surroundings and on the task that lay ahead of them. Once Emerald was astride, Arrenfor took flight, presumably to take them to the Authority’s Fortress. Kero wondered if they would encounter anyone else
“alive,” like Arrenfor, or if this was a world comprised entirely of mountains covered in skull-bearing trees. Arrenfor startled Kero when suddenly the winged beast headed straight for the tallest mountain, which had no trees but consisted entire of hard rock.

“What are you doing?” Kero demanded, not afraid yet, but perplexed. “At the rate we’re going, we’ll crash right into the mountain.” He turned around to face Emerald, wondering if she had noticed the same thing. He moved a little closer to her on Arrenfor’s back, though there was so little space that the two wolves were already quite close to each other.

“You need not worry,” Arrenfor answered tersely. But it was clear that he was headed straight for the rocky mountain peak. Kero watched them approach it uneasily. And then, abruptly, there appeared to be a very thin tunnel that extended inside the peak. It was this entrance that Arrenfor was headed towards, though Kero had his doubts whether all three of them could fit in it at once.

“Hang on,” Arrenfor instructed, then plunged right into the tunnel. They fit—but barely, as Kero felt his shoulder nicked by the surrounding rock. It was quite a rush, and if Kero hadn’t braced himself, he might have lost his balance. Hastily he looked to see if Emerald was all right too, though it was pitch black in the tiny tunnel. Here, at least, air was rushing past them, and Kero reveled in the presence of this type of wind. It was not nearly as friendly as the breezes Kero was used to, but at least it was there.

And then, just as suddenly as they had entered, they were out. Kero could not help but let out a gasp, for the world they came out into looked entirely different than the one they had just left, though he was sure that it was the same plane. Beautiful, green plains were stretched out below them, and a clear blue lake rested to their right, with many rivers snaking out from it like a spiderweb. Kero turned around to look behind him, but the mountain chain they had just been in was no longer there; there was just a single peak, the one they had come through.

“Bizarre,” he muttered. “This world is just too bizarre.”

[spiritwolf]

Emerald, too, assumed that they were being taken to the the Authority. She looked at the mountain they were headed to;bleak and treeless. Emerald wondered why they were headed straight for the mountain. They would surely crash!. She hoped Arrenfor knew what he was doing.

Emerald too, was confused. "We'll die at this speed if we keep on!" she said to Kero. She turned her head back to face the front, emerald eyes wide and glimmering questionlingly. She stiffened at Kero's touch then relaxed. Why is he moving closer to me? she wondered. Oh well, may as well get used to it. It looks as if a long journey is ahead of us.

What did he mean? 'You need not worry' they were going to crash if they went much farther. She must trust him. He knew this morbid and strange world better than she. All of a sudden, Emerald saw a very narrow tunnel that seemed to go into the very core of the mountain. The tunnel was so narrow, Emerald wondered if they could all fit into it. But they did. Emerald almost lost her seat on Arrenfor when her wing, slightly outstretched, hit against a rock. She quickly steadied herself though.

Emerald could see vaque shapes even in the blackness of the tunnel. She saw Kero turn his head to see if she was alright.Why does he care so much? She wondered, questingly, but not irritably. She had been alone for a while, so it was nice to have a companion for once.

She noticed happily that there were some breezes in here. They were harsh and unfriendly though;nothing at all like home. Suddenly, they flew out of the dark tunnel into a vast plain. She heard Keroberos gasp. "Wow," she almost whispered, as if she talked loudly they would be back in the bleak, unfriendly outside world.

Vast, green plains spread out before them. A blue lake was on their right with many rivers running from it, like a crack on glass. There was one main point then tiny little cracks spreading from it. Emerald saw Kero look back and she looked back too. There were no skull trees just the mountain thay had come from. "I agree with you on that. Around every bend, there are more surprises. I just hope all of them will be as good as this one." she said.

Arrenfor said "This is The Plain. With a capital P. This is where the Authority's headquarters reside." he said as he gestured to a hole large enough to get 3 beasts as large as Arrenfor inside at once. There was a large metal door that seemed as though you could open it up and walk right through it. But looks can be decieving...

[Felypsa]

Keroberos grunted. “Is it really a good surprise?” he asked quietly. “Or a bad one wrapped in the appearance of a good one?” He fell silent, however, as Arrenfor spoke again, indicating the metal entrance on the Plain. “In the Plain?” Kero could not help but ask, a little dubiously. “The Authority lives underground? That’s his Fortress?” Even given all they had seen so far, Kero found this hard to believe.

“Under Fortress Lake,” Arrenfor corrected. “But this is the entrance in which beasts like me must arrive.” He landed by the door and made a strange, high-pitched croaking sound. Kero heard mechanical wheels turn to open up the heavy metal door. Whatever Arrenfor had said was obviously some kind of passcode. Once it was open, Arrenfor stepped in, and immediately there was a tunnel going downwards. Carefully, the winged beast flew down, and there was a lot more light and air and space in this tunnel than in the one on the mountain. Kero looked about and saw that it was fungi and moss that was glowing with the ethereal light.

Soon they landed on a deck that was hoisted above a gigantic cave. Sounds of creatures like Arrenfor filled the enormous space. Kero looked down and saw a huge population of winged beasts scuttling and flying about, screeching to each other and performing various tasks. In front of them on the deck was another winged beast, easily twice as big as Arrenfor, and with captivating golden eyes. For some reason, though this particular winged beast was bigger and stronger and seemed more authoritative, Kero got the impression that it was female.

“RN-4658-T7,” she said, her golden eyes searching. “What have you to report?” For the moment, she completely ignored the presence of Kero and Emerald, though they stood out in this great underground cave of winged beasts.

[spiritwolf]

"I hope so..." Emerald mumbled. Emerald could somehow believe that the Headquarters were underground. After all, they had seen mutated rabbits, skull bearing trees and a beast that could fly with no wind. She was not, however, prepared to believe tha The Authority lived under a lake.

Arrenfor let out a high pitched croak;sort of like a frog. The big metal door swung open with a creak. They went into the tunnel that the door had opened up to reveal. Arrenfor flew into the tunnel with ease. The tunnel was airier and lighter than the last tunnel they were in. As Emerald looked around, she noticed some fungi and mosses glowing with a strange light.

Arrenfor flew into a very large cavern and landed on a sort of deck. Creatures like Arrenfor were everywhere. Emerald noticed Kero looking at something and turned her head to see what he was looking at. There standing on te deck was huge beast 2 or 3 times as big as Arrenfor. The beast had golden eyes that seemed to know everything. She had a female appearance. She had a more slender build, while the males, like Arrenfor, seemed shorter and stockier. She looked pretty young;her dark gold scales not yet wrinkly with age and her golden eyes still keen and not seeming weary.Emerald assumed that she was in charge.

"RN-4658-T7, she said in an authoritive voice. "What have you to report?" Emerald was surprised tht she did not seem to notice Kero and herself. "AB-1000-A1," Arrenfor rumbled as he did a sort of bow that almost made Emerald lose her seat, "I have brought back to creatures from the Beyond who wish to rewrite the rules and go back to the Beyond"

[Felypsa]

AB-1000-A1, as she was apparently called, coolly looked over Arrenfor and his passengers. “You may dismount,” she said at length to Kero and Emerald. Keroberos did so slowly, eyeing the great beast, trying to decide whether she would take this news well or ill. Arrenfor seemed to have no qualms spilling out his grand plan. Perhaps that meant he trusted Eibewon (as Kero was already comfortably thinking of this authoritative female), which meant that Kero and Emerald could trust her as well. Still, Kero was wary.

As soon as the two mortal wolves were safely descended, Eibewon strode up to Arrenfor and made an odd croaking noise, similar to the one Arrenfor made when he let them into this underground Fortress. Arrenfor jerked his head back as if he had been slapped, and his eyes glowed resentfully. But Eibewon was speaking, quietly but harshly.

“Fool, what do you hope to accomplish by blurting out your intentions so the whole world can hear them? The Authority has eyes and ears everywhere. How dare you be so bold to come in claiming you can rewrite the Rules, Beyond-creatures or no.”

Arrenfor glanced downward, for all the world looking chastised. Once Eibewon had finished rebuking him, she turned to Emerald and Kero, surveying them carefully. “Mortals from the Beyond,” she said, keeping her voice low. She was obviously worried about the Authority’s spies. “What makes you think you can succeed where others have failed?” Her eyes were searching.

Kero answered first, after considering the question for only a moment. “I have nothing to lose,” he said honestly. “I desire very much to return to my home world, but if I must die, I will die doing something worthwhile. My brother died in such a way, and I would love to join him, but only if I am doing something worthy of his own feat. To free a world from a dictatorial Authority is a noble cause indeed, and one into which I will throw all my power and strength and determination. I am no weakling, though I am mortal.”

Eibewon seemed satisfied with his answer, and turned her probing gaze onto Emerald. “And you?”

oOc| 8/1/07: Pulling Kero out of this roleplay. Sorry, Cira. Maybe we can pick it up again later.

[spiritwolf]

((Ah, thats ok. I wouldn't be able to reply much since my mom grounded me from going on game sites. Yeah, maybe we can pick it up another tiime.)