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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 17:15:27 GMT
Gdosimirj was in an eye lock with the enormous cat, trying to stare it down. It was rather difficult to do so with the karoid's eyes beginning to glow red. It tensed, looking almost as if it were ready to pounce on them... and then looked away sharply into the woods behind them. It glanced back down at Gdosimirj and uttered a low growl. Gdosimirj looked back down at the kitten, who suddenly had scampered into the trees. She looked back up into the tree canopy, only to find that the cat had vanished without a sound. She shuddered. "Creepy demons."
She turned back to the group. "It seems our hunters have detected a more likely prey. In other words, I believe we're being followed." She saluted off into the woods towards the feline predator. "Good luck to you, my friend, and I hope you make a good lunch of Axel. Onwards and upwards."
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 21, 2006 17:19:19 GMT
Axel saw a kitten standing in his path. "What the..."
Can't be too far from that village now...
He flung a spear at the kitten to blow off some steam. It hissed and ran for its life. Axel smirked. "That's more like it..."
He heard a low growl behind him, and realized he had just done something very stupid. He didn't bother turning around... he just made a break for it.
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 17:31:48 GMT
The cat gave a growl behind him that sounded eerily like a laugh. She pursued him at a practically loping pace, appearing bored. She was, quite simply, playing with him. Since she had licked his blood off of the stake which had nicked him, she had all the time in the world to hunt him. Besides, she had to teach her kitten the rules of the hunt. This stupid human would be good practice.
*****
Gdosimirj decided to leave a few of the arrow traps unsprung in case Axel somehow escaped the cat. As they cleared the trail, they came to a blocky pyramid, overgrown with vegetation, but still impressive. A waterfall bubbled out of a spring in the hill that it was next to. There was a corridor leading through the center of the pyramid and out of the other side, creating a light at the other end of the tunnel.
"We're going in. But everyone take the hand of the person next to you. Navigation of the pyramid is tricky." She grabbed Lana's hand, who was right behind her, and waited for everyone else to follow suit.
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 21, 2006 17:43:07 GMT
Axel could have outrun a predator like this easy at any other time, but that wound on his leg kept reminding him of its presence. Running won't get me very far... I'm gonna have to fight.
He turned and hurled the bundle of staffs and spears, directing them to attack the predator from all points of the compass. He grabbed one of the spears and aimed it at the big cat's head as he rushed her...
****
Ami took her mother's hand on the right and Squall's on the left. Stephen lengthened the chain by offering an arm to his wife, and then taking his youngest daughter's hand. Reno took Nikky's left hand and Rude grabbed her right sleeve.
Before Rude could do anything about it, Lana had snagged his other hand. To his relief, she turned up her nose at him. "I can see no future for myself with a man who shoots kittens."
Rude looked towards Ami. "The next kitten we see is dead meat. Blame your sister."
Finally, the entire group was good to go...
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Post by lutz on Oct 21, 2006 17:44:31 GMT
A creepy howl could be heard from the sky, it was Chaos closing on the group. the Demonic howls continued as he landed behind the group ready for a blood bath.
Chaos: "I am Chaos! and finally I am free!"
his hands bursting into flames as he growled.
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 17:55:43 GMT
"Hurry, and stay on your toes." They entered the corridor and walked a little way in darkness, but instead of going straight through, Gdosimirj felt for the gap in the right wall, then turned sharply right. "Don't go too far forward. There's a deep pit in the corridor ahead of us." She pulled them into the pitch black passageway, which was distinctly narrower than the original passageway. She felt for the first left turn, passed it, and took the second one. They could see a light coming in faintly at the end of this tunnel as well, but she turned left once again. "We're going upstairs. Watch your step. When we get to the landing, turn right immediately because the next pit will be right after the landing." They turned right, then left, then left again. "Everyone stop." She let go of Lana's hand. They heard a few tentative steps forward, then a loud TWANG and THWACK. She came back and took Lana's hand. "Don't ask, please."
They continued a short distance. "We're taking the stairs downward on the right, then turning left." They kept going, turning in to a very narrow corridor. The walls brushed their shoulders on each side. They turned a hairpin right turn, then walked down a very long corridor which could only have been the entire left side of the pyramid. A light greeted them at a break in the wall on the left.
"Nobody say a word. There will be guards- I'll do the talking."
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 21, 2006 17:59:49 GMT
Ami sighed with relief at their narrow escape from Chaos/Lutz... Good thing Sunset know her way through here. With any luck, he'll get lost following us! If he does catch us, though... what do we do? He's our friend, but Chaos is NOT. What will we do with them?
Ami was about to voice her concern... until they reached the light at the end of the tunnel. She gasped in amazement. "Wow..."
Her family stood behind her, slack-jawed.
Reno joined them. "Don't get to see places like THIS very often, either..."
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Post by lutz on Oct 21, 2006 18:05:11 GMT
Lutz dashed through the door, Chaos had a great advange in here with the natural gifts of the Maloki he could catch the sent of the group and light his hands up as if they were torches so he could see. He picked up the sent of them and run fast after them. the group could see the light Chaos was making behind them they could tell how close he was getting.
Chaos Howled as he ran down the hall.
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 18:19:53 GMT
As they climbed up a narrow stairway into the light, Gdosimirj smiled. "Good to be home."
There were enormous rock walls on all four sides of the village, which had created the illusion of the hill on the outside. Lush trees grew out of numerous places within the village, creating a green canopy of trees above the settlement, making it nearly invisible from above. The huts were expertly and beautifully carved, with natural decorations and carvings surrounding them. A central building- the council- rose above the others with a sweeping and graceful structure. A central square before it was populated with people.
The people who walked about the village were anything but the primitive people they expected. Dark skinned, they wore their long hair in beautiful braided designs and patterns, practically sculpted. They all had the Sunset tattoo except for the smaller children. Most shocking, however, was their clothing; they all wore simply cut, impeccably ironed, dark grey business suits matching Gdosimirj's. They were embellished with everyone's own decorations and individual all to themselves, but it was obvious that this was the outfit of the clan. Some played quiet music on flute-type instruments. Some walked about with books in woven bags and cases, many of them sitting in the central square reading to one another or by themselves. There was a wooden sculpture of an enormous book in the center of the square.
Two guards stood at the gates and halted Gdosimirj. She saluted them by stroking her thumb down her forehead. "Makaijd ali'i!" She dropped to the ground in a prostrate bow, then rose. "These are my friends. They need refuge."
The guards looked them over, then nodded. "Proceed."
She tilted her head- funny that they hadn't checked for weapons. She led the group into the central square. "Welcome to Djillaywaska!"
She paused as she heard howling come from the corridor behind them. "Nobody else is with us! He cannot enter!"
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 18:26:15 GMT
One of the guards shouted an order. Much to Gdosimirj's surprise, a group of young men came out of various huts and a training yard with targets and punching bags in it. She had never seen the training yard before- nobody had needed to train.
About twelve young men assembled at the passageway, and then... drew long swords. Gdosimirj gasped. Her head buzzed- weapons in Djillaywaska? Something was very wrong... What else had changed?
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 21, 2006 18:27:51 GMT
Ami looked around in wonder. And I thought the Village was idyllic... this is amazing. She noticed even her parents looked enchanted. She noticed a few funny looks coming from people... Reminds me of my Remnant days. Guess these folks aren't too used to visitors... She had a thought. Or maybe they're all mind readers like Sunset and they know what I was. She resisted the urge to give a challenging glare, as had been her bent back when she had the "family resemblance". One full-strength glare with that creepy face to back it up had been known to make grown men step back and take notice, but right now she just wanted to forget all that mess...
She put an arm around Squall. "Good lord... this place is gorgeous."
Reno took Nikky's hand. "Almost beats the Pier Club, yeah?"
Rude was about to ask about accomodations when he noticed the training yard being set up... "Sunset, I thought you said they were pacifists."
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Post by lutz on Oct 21, 2006 18:37:56 GMT
Chaos had finally caught up to the group and entered the city. He howled loudly at the people that walked by and watched them ran for their lives. HAHAhaha...
Chaos burst his whole body into flames, then the flaming wolf demon slowly walked forward.
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 18:45:04 GMT
The platoon of warriors surrounded Lutz. "HAI!" they shouted in impeccable unison, then rushed him as Gdosimirj covered her mouth. "No bloodshed on this ground!" she screamed.
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 21, 2006 18:49:42 GMT
Ami head Sunset's cry. "Either we spill his, or he spills ours!"
She moved in to pretect her family. "This thing followed me in here... I won't see anyone hurt because I s***wed up!"
She joined the other warriors, her twin blades flashing. "Lutz! Can you hear me?"
Rude tried once again to test the Sacrifice on Lutz. "Why isn't this d**n thing WORKING?!"
Reno and Nikky started ushering Ami's family towards some cover as the fire began flying.
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Post by lutz on Oct 21, 2006 18:51:14 GMT
His anger and rage only increased. any soldier that got close to him was blasted away by fire. Chaos howled scarying the children away. hahaha!!!! Chaos was taken over by Lutz for a few seconds.
Lutz: "I don't have much time! either heal me or spray me down with alot of water!!!"
Chaos: "Shut up! your weak!"
Chaos had full control once more and took a few more steps towards the city.
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