The Tower...

Status
Not open for further replies.
Der felt a little out of place with the exchange the other two were having. He was wise, and a gifted scout, hunter, and guardian. But despite his connection to the ancient guardian, he was not Fang. He had no trinkets. Neither did he have any powers that revolved around emotions or light.

Still, that didn't mean he was useless. He did have one advantage over the other two. He concentrated for a moment and let his fur return to it's natural metallic black tone with his mane maintaining the silver hue it always held. The color shift was a result of him releasing his concentration on camoflauge and focusing, instead, on detection. He was, after all, a guardian of the Myst Realm. The Gray may not be from there, but it had several characteristics of the Myst there. Many an unsuscpecting traveler had been driven insane by the Myst. That was why the guardians had been assigned. None were allowed in without escort and protective wards from a native of the Myst Realm. Being a guardian wasn't so much about keeping visitors out. It was about keeping Myst creatures in.

It was then, in that very moment that he changed his focus, that he felt it. He stopped suddenly and his lip curled up in a snarl. It was far more similar to a Myst creature than he'd expected. But that would have to wait until later. He knew the others wouldn't sense it. At least not yet. He spoke in haste, though quietly. "Jewel, call the ferret back. Gamel, draw your bow. Something approaches."
 
That small span of time that it took for Der's lip to curl into that growl to the time it took for the first sounds of voice to come from him Gamel's bow was drawn and ready. He had also already located a boulder and a fellen tree to cover and conceal himself. He was ready, as ready as he would ever be.

The light glisten of the quartz sparkled as Gamel stood ready. A tenseness threatened to kreep into him as he stood vigilant. He sought the void, that blank bank of nothing in the back of his mind that he could flush all of his fear, anger, and turmoil into. This would allow him to be ready and unhindered emotionaly if his bow was needed.

A soft hum escaped his lips, barely audible, Gae's song. If she was listening in this place she would hear, he knew she would!
 
Last edited:
Jewel crouched down and laid her hand flat on the soil, in a whisper of soft flowing words she called the ink ferret back to her. It came, swift and as silent as any shadow, back across the ground and up her arm, but instead of returning to its place, it mixed into the other ink creatures that where already swirling and fanning out to cover all of Jewels flesh, they did not draw her form into a shadow, but they did cloak her from sight as she moved behind a large boulder, her blade tight in her left hands grip. She whispered into their minds...

"How many and how large..?"
 
"That I can tell, only one. But it's big." Der elected to not tell them how he was able to detect it so quickly. It was certainly close to a Myst creature, but it wasn't identical. Best to figure out exactly what it was before volunteering too much information.

The mystic wolf padded carefully forward in a diagonal pattern that was more of prey than predator, but he had his reasons. Whatever it was already knew they were there, and it was headed for them. His mind flashed with a dozen possible scenarios. Those brought on even more that begged to be considered, but he knew better than to allow himself to get lost in thought. He flushed his mind of the 'what ifs' and focused on the 'what'.

Gradually, Der made his way farther forward, and closer to the creature. Whatever it was, it seemed to be in no rush to actually get to them. It also appeared to know that a hunter would now be the first thing it encountered. It changed movements and tactics. Then, it did something truly unexpected...

The creature covered several hundred yards in a matter of seconds, and leapt at Der with a terrible pair of claws pointed forward. Der managed to drop to the ground to avoid a direct impact, but it didn't keep the monster's claws from slicing huge gashes down his back. Der's roar of pain was matched by that of the creature, as it grazed the razor sharp mane on the mystic wolf's back.

Der stood and turned to face the creature and was taken aback. It looked like a small dragon, almost twice the size of Der himself. The Gray had completely overtaken the beast. But that wasn't what shocked Der. He knew why it felt so familiar, why it was so much like a creature from the Myst Realm. It was a creature from the Myst Realm. He knew this dragon. He'd spoken with it, and befriended it. Now, corrupted by The Gray, he was forced to face it.

The two faced each other for a moment, and then leapt again, almost simultaneously. Der curled almost into a ball, hoping to strike at it with his mane, once more. He was denied as the dragon spun in the air and landed a tail strike on Der's side, knocking him off to the side. Der tumbled and recovered quickly. He growled at the dragon and spoke though his mind to the others.

"The Gray has made it faster. Hurry to the tower!"
 
Turning to Jewel he spoke hushed and quickly, "Lady Jewel, this way..."

Gea had offered some guidance but only a little. She showed him a small shallow draw to his right that they could move through and avoid the Dragon. Bolting behind Jewel at first he moved quickly and with defening silence, arrow still knocked and ready. The urgency in Der's voice made him realize that it was paramount they move to the Tower quickly. Sparing only a moment to look back to make sure Jewel was following he motioned quickly for her to follow and spoke in that familiar hushed voice.

Second nature kicked in as well, the packs relied on him to communicate with images. He let an image of the draw appear in his own mind as Gea had done for him, and followed it with an image of a hare darting into the brambles and briars. He hoped Der and Jewel took notice!

"...this way..."
 
Der would've been surprised by Jewel if this had been the first time something like this happened. He'd seen his fair share of companions sticking around when one was in danger, even when they were instructed to leave. It generally didn't end well. Thankfully, he knew Jewel was not that type of person. She, too, had seen what happened in those situations.

Truth be told, he could have used their help. When this dragon had been living in the Myst Realm, the two of them had sparred a few times. It was stronger, faster, heavier, and more durable than Der. The sparring sessions had been...interesting. Now, The Gray had increased the physical capabilities of the dragon. Der saw no way he could win while injured as severely as he was. Still, there would be no sense in all of them being taken out.

The wolf padded to the side, analyzing the dragon for signs of weakness, since it was also injured. He manipulated his mane to change from razor-like slivers to two large spikes that pointed out to either side of his body. He may lose this battle, but he was going to do some damage, first.
 
Foot planting and draw, find the anchor point, exhale slightly and release. The quartz tipped broadhead rocketed through the air. The arrow would not penetrate deep into the dragons breast however he just needed it to stick. Jewel had hopefully kept going into the shallow draw but Gamel was not going to leave a life debt unpaid. A second and third arrow followed in quick sussesion to the first.

"RUN! GET OUT OF THERE!"

With that a quick prayer to his goddess. Harness and tame the beast long enough for us to escape, hear my prayers Gea as I am your servant! He pray that she listen, hear, and abide.

Just then the tangle vine near Der lurched and began to race in the dragons direction. Tangle vine was not overly strong in the single strand however many vines had been used to make ropes in the north. If enough could snap into place it would buy the trio the time needed! And hopefully the quartz would weaken the creature of shadow just enough. He turned knowing that he had done all that he could, and slipped into the thick underbrush of the draw and moved towards the valley floor towards the tower.
 
Last edited:
Jewel moved to safety like she was asked, but she had no plans on leaving Der to face the beast alone! She gathered her shadows around her tight, using every bit of life given to the ink, words flowing first from her mind, then her lips as her body reformed and the ink flowed from her skin, all but one mark swirled in the air before her, the paw print of the cat, always remained over her heart. She lifted her hand, motioned up then side ways and whispered...

...Mirror...

The ink forms swirled together tell they formed a beast twice the size of the real beast! This was really nothing more then ink and air, but the flesh and blood beast would not know that...Jewel only hoped Der remembered this trick of hers.
 
The first arrow found part of the wound that was created when the dragon grazed the razor mane. It stuck, though not deep. The creature roared as the tender flesh was hurt further, and it spun to face the direction of the arrows. The other arrows Gamel fired bounced harmlessly off the harder and undamaged scales. The dragon bounded forward a couple times and leapt into flight toward Gamel, slicing and cutting at the vines with large claws and a bladed tail as they approached it.

Der should have known better than to assume they would both just simply leave. He hadn't anticipated the monster having it's attention drawn to someone else. He growled in frustration, but decided to use the opening created by Gamel's attempt to attack. There wasn't really an option. If he didn't, Gamel would be the unfortunate recipient of a dragonic assault. He dug his claws into the tainted ground and dashed toward the dragon as quickly as he was able. He knew he would have to be as fast as possible in order to get to the beast before it reached Gamel.

Thankfully, the vines were enough of a distraction to slow it long enough for Der to reach it. The mystic wolf got to the point where he was almost directly underneath the dragon, then jumped to the air and spun. His claws and mane combined cut into the belly of the monster, again, deeper than the previous wounds.

The creature let out an unnatural roar and threw it's tail toward the cause of the pain it felt. As it felt the tail make contact with whatever it was underneath, it moved a bit more forward and landed, then looked toward Gamel, again. It's gaze was met, however, by the image of an even larger dragon. It glared over to Gamel, then up at the fake creature, then quickly glanced at the wounds on it's underbelly. Gray blood dripped from multiple slashes. It let loose with a weakened roar, but took flight, again, and retreated to the direction of the Dark Tower.

There was very little Der could do against the tail. He saw it coming at the last moment, and kicked out a back leg to slow it. Still, it was coming hard and fast, and it slammed Der into the stomach of the dragon with more force than he'd been hit in a very long time.

Der fell and rolled, breathing heavily as he tried to right himself, but to no avail. He was losing a good amount of blood from the deep gashes along his back, and he'd gotten far more than the wind knocked out of him with that last impact. He lay there, debating on whether it was more important to fight off the whispers of The Gray, or try to recover from the fight. He knew he couldn't do both with as weak as he was, and with as long as he'd been in The Gray. He turned his eyes up to the sky and the image of the big dragon, then smiled. "Thank you, dear Jewel. Now you need to get to the tower."
 
That had gone completely wrong! Gamel knew he should have just left, now Der was bleeding and hurt badly. Was there anything that he could do to help? The creature was massive, no way he could carry him to the edge of The Gray!

He stood there looking to the animal. Would Gea help, would she care, Der was not exactly one of her creatures...not completely. A friend was in need of help and for the first time in a long time Gamel did not know where to begin to help him.
 
"You would ask me to leave you?...For us to leave you?...Broken and bleeding? You should know by now that you are in my heart and I never leave behind those that I..I..I love.."

The last words, where ones she had never spoken aloud, and a blush rose to her cheeks, but her mind was made up, she would not leave him behind, not now, not ever.The false dragon shrank down to a puddle of ink and started to flow across the ground towards Jewel. But with a push away motion of her hand and one word ..." Bind " It changed directions and flowed toward Der, covering all but the blaze of his eyes and his muzzel. Jewel turned to Gamel and spoke, as her words came they where tinged with a plea to both him and the one he called Gea.

"I have stopped the flow of blood, but my creatures are only use to doing little bits of healing magik...It would take days for them to heal him enough to allow us to go on...And I will not leave him, no matter what he says... *She gave Der a look*...or threatens!...Will your Gea aid him???!!??
 
"She is weak in these lands, as we all are it would seem..." with that he sat upon the ground legs crossed in his front with "Wind Song" on his lap. The song that sprang from his lips was soft and meak at the beggining, The Tree Song flowed from his lips easily. After a few bars he fealt himself gain vigor again as he began to sing louder. The song was not words necisarily but emotion given voice, flowing from him, from his soul.

Looking to Jewel he knew that her people had their own forms of this ceremony. He knew that she was of the people of the Tribal Clans here. His eyes longed for her to join him, she may call Gea something different but in the end it was all the same!

His song sang to nature about him and under him, around him and above him. Answer my songs he pleaded as his heart fealt ready to erupt and give Der his own lifes essence!
 
Der's heart sank when he heard Jewel's words. It wasn't really any big secret how either of them felt. Still, this was the first time either of them had said it outloud. He didn't realize how much hearing it would affect him. Now he knew.

What made matters worse was the fact that he knew, as much as he knew any other fact, that she wasn't lying. She really would stay with him. That meant they would both be in The Gray longer than they could withstand. He had no words. As the shadows encompassed his body, he shifted his gaze over to her. Feeling this was certainly the beginning of their end, he sent a very quiet, very sincere message to Jewel. "I love you, as well, dear Jewel."

The alicorn that carried Fang and Swish was still a long way up, well above The Gray, but Fang was a warrior, and not known for patience if he didn't absolutely need them. He leapt off the back of the alicorn and manipulated the air currents around him to accelerate his fall. As he neared the ground, he folded the air beneath him into a cushion to keep from injuring himself.

The elder completely ignored the others at first, and instead went directly over to Der. He knelt at the wolf's side and touched his ungloved hand to the creature's head. He had communicated with Der several times over the years. He knew a fair amount about Jewel, and he knew Der had mentioned his connection to the dragon to her. Though they had never met, he suspected it was her. When he touched his former familiar's head, he knew all that had happened in the last few days.

Having figured out the situation was not as dire as it had been only moments before, he decided to introduce himself. He stood and looked over to Jewel. "It is nice to finally meet you, Lady Jewel. Der has told me much about you over the years. I am the one called Fang."

It was then that the alicorn came to the top of The Gray and turned it's head back to Swish. "Well, great feline, what's it going to be? You want to go in or do we wait here?"
 
"In, we go in..."
With this the feline vanished into thin air, only to reappear coiled atop Jewel's shoulders like a fur stole. Peering at her with a large smile and wide sparkling eyes. Swish dropped her paw to the paw print on Jewel's chest, it matched exactly! A feeling of great peace fell over the feline. With wonder in her voice she spoke.

"This must be how Chesh felt when he met Light...How Maul felt...O my, it is so much better then mere catnip!"
 
Gamel's song stopped upon the arrival of the warrior. His armor was brilliant! The image of a mighty warrior. He stood and watched a meeting of friends long past, and possibly the immidiate start of a new friendship.

Staying to himself and quiet it was more his nature. He was not sure if Gea had answered his prayer song but something had happened and this warrior and feline were with them now. He stood back and waited as they had there welcomes and things of that nature.
 
Fang nodded to Jewel, and let her and Swish begin a bonding period that appeared to be natural in coming. He kneeled back down to the prone form of the wolf, and placed his hand back on Der's head.

"You have suffered wounds far worse than these in the past, old wolf. Some of them I was present for, and you had been far better off with them. This taint has begun to infect your blood." He looked up to Jewel briefly for his next words. "The Lady Jewel's covering has prevented any more from entering, but we must get to the tower as quickly as possible."

He stood and looked around, sighing as he realized he was going to have to break from his standard practice. "I will take care of the transportation, if everyone is willing." He looked over to Gamel. "And not afraid of heights."

Der could only stare at Fang at first. It had been centuries since they'd last seen each other. True they'd interacted on a mental level from time to time, and thus maintained their friendship, but since their paths split so long ago, they hadn't been in the same area at the same time. Fang had his duties, and Der had his. Now, he looked upon the image of the man he used to literally be a part of, and he felt an odd sense of familiarity.

Fang had always been the one to be able to come up with an instant plan, and to Der's knowledge, those plans were never incorrect. He simply nodded his head, and spoke in a weakened voice. "Lead on then, elder one."
 
Last edited:
Jewel drew the feline from her shoulders and cradled it like a baby as she sat down. Jewel was weaker with only one ink make to flow with life, but with Swish in her arms the Gray had no hold on her heart or will. For her part, Swish lay on her back on the lady's arms, tail twitching slowly back and forth, her eyes abit glazed over...She looked as if she had been rolling in catnip...The two locked eyes and Swish opened her mind to allow Jewel to see what she knew.
 
Gamel had stood atop the highest mountains you cold see from here. Certainly he had no fear of hieghts, however had Gea wanted him to fly he would have most definately been given wings from birth. A small smile cracked his lips at the thought...oO(What would the packs call you then Hawk with Legs)

"Point the direction and Ill find my way in time I hope Ser"
 
Fang relied on the information he and Der had exchanged to continue the conversation. "Der stopped you for a reason. His instincts are never wrong in these matters. The way will be too dangerous by yourself. If you plan to survive through to the tower, you have only one option." Fang looked over to Der, then to Jewel and Swish, and finally back to Gamel. "Wait here."

All of the others were well aware of Fang's true nature. But those who didn't already know if it never found out unless he let them. There were too many measures in place to allow for someone accidentally finding out. Gamel was in for more than a little bit of a surprise. Fang's body just barely started to glow as he ran several hundred feet away in a matter of seconds, then leapt into the air much higher than any human could manage, especially in the full set of armor he always wore. All that would be seen at first would be a brilliant flash of light, though it was dimmed slightly by The Gray. When it was gone, though, the man that had been before them was gone. In his place, stood a midnight black dragon with glowing red eyes. At over 500 feet tall at the shoulders, and nearly double that in length, he was easily seen, and didn't need to move any closer at all in order to be directly in front of them.

The massive dragon lowered himself to the ground, moved a single claw to lift Der, and spoke quietly so as not to erupt the ear drums of all those present. Even so, his voice was still far louder than when he was in his human form, and the sound of his voice still echoed upon itself, as well. "I will fly us to the tower."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom