Illusion Vale: A Spirit's Cry

[Wolfsister]

Van suddenly whipped Sticky towards his body and gave the wooden object a fierce hug, "My Sticky!" he fairly yelled at Eeth and continued to watch him warily out of the corner of his eye. His tail fur was fluffed up and he was breathing erratically.

"Van not know what human is, but Van know you unlost Guardian. Van not sure why you elf, maybe you like elves?" he made a slightly disgusted look, he really didn't like elves, it seemed. He backed up even further and hugged the stick even tighter when Eeth poked a little fun at the idea of eating Van.

"But Van know where you can get more answers. The Spirit bring you here, she knows why, she know how you save Illusion Vale," he sighed, "The Spirit is pretty..." he trailed off and didn't look inclined to talk anymore before Eeth asked another question.

 

[blaster8]

"Relax, Van. I'm just messing with your mind. You make it so easy to do so. Now, tell me more about this place, like who lives here, what's it's like, where everything is, etc.," said Eeth. "If I'm going to be stuck in this land for awhile, I might as well find out as much as I can. So, start talking and no pokin'."

 

[Wolfsister]

Largos and Len

"Okay, just what the fuck is going on here. Where did this grass come from and just who is talking to me. Wait a minute, I have died and this is heaven. I have robbed a lot of people and this is heaven. Does that seem a little bit odd? And why the fuck am I laying here talking to myself?"

Len cocked her head to the side and chirped quietly, ruffling her feathers in confusion. Why indeed was he talking to himself? She hopped to one side, her head still tilted to the left as he rolled over and discovered his hand.

"What is going on here. What the hell have you done to me Seamus!"

She sqwarked and lifted up her wings and then settled down again, hopping slightly closer. "I do not know who Seamus is, but my name is Len. Welcome to Illusion Vale."

"Okaaaaayyyyyy.... That's it. I have finally gone mad."

She gave a little chuckle inside his head. "No you aren't mad, you're just confused. You're in the Dark Woods, near the Tri-River Junction. You've been transported here from the land of the Lost Guardians because we need your help to save Illusion Vale. The Spirit thinks that you can save us and she sent me to help you," she moved her beak across the ground and picked up a solitary worm that had ventured through the ground to the surface.

Then she chirped at him, "What is your name?"

 

[Wolfsister]

Eeth and Van

Van sighed, "Van just explained," he thought a moment and mewed quietly. "Van thinks he can say more," he paused to scratch his head and lick at his haunches frantically then continued, "Long ago, many peoples lived in Illusion Vale but they were in war all the time. One people rose up and gave peace to the Vale. But they turned evil and started destroying peace. Peace gone... no more happy peoples,"

He mewed quietly and licked his paw, then began to stroke Sticky absently as he thought of the history taught to young Neko's, "The Spirit came and made the bad peoples leave, but guardians leave too. Nobody know why, not even Van know why. Spirit make peace again, but now peace going. Spirit call guardians back and now you help save Illusion Vale,"

He nodded his head and propped his elbows on his knees, planting his face into his up turned palms.

"Now many different peoples live here, but guardians not live here. You made elf 'cos you guardian, so live as elf now," he mused quietly, "Maybe you go back when you save us?"

 

[blaster8]

"Many different people live here? I kinda realize that elves live here, as well as your people (whatever they may be), but what other people live here? I don't exactly want to get surprised by something new and not know what it is. You understand?" asked Eeth. "How about getting something to eat? I don't know these lands, so you will have to get the food for awhile, or at least until I get accostumed to this place."

 

[Wolfsister]

Eeth and Van

"Boy, you really ask Van alot of questions. Van not sure Van can answer all. Van can try, but you try not be so dumb, Nya?"

He gestured expansively and then began to work while he talked. He began gathering nearby dry sticks and clearing a space in front of Eeth. He gathered and made a small pile, chatting while he created a small fire.

"Many peoples, including Van's peoples live here. In Suvin Forest; elves, in Trinias Mountains; Dwarves. In waters, water people. In Ethari plains; centaurs and giants. Many peoples, Van not know all of them, but Van know most,"

Once he had a small blaze going, he pulled a few eggs and a long strip of meat out of his pack. Then he fished around inside the bag and with some difficulty he pulled out three herb pot plants. Setting them on the ground, he then pulled a large frying pan out of his pack and licked his lips.

"You lucky you get Van, Van know how to cook good!" he brandished the pan at Eeth and set it over the fire, throwing the meat onto it and cracking the eggs over it. Grabbing leaves from the little trees, he sprinkled them over and fried them all till they were cooked nice and tender through.

Taking yet two more plates from his pack and utensils, he dished out some hot food and gave it to Eeth. "Transport make you hungry?" He asked and mewed with pleasure as he dug into his little meal.

"Van know how hunt... but Van very good at buying things too!"

 

[blaster8]

"My ignorance of this land won't last long, hopefully. There will still be questions to come, but they will be few," replied Eeth, as he carefully watched Van prepare the food. The meal was...interesting, to say the least. There were plenty of new flavors for Eeth in the meal, but it was good nonetheless.

"I know how to hunt as well. Just give me a bow and arrow, and I can take just about anything," said Eeth in response to Van saying he can hunt. "As for buying things, well...I can do that too, but I have nothing to buy things with, at least for this world."

"How far is it to the nearest settlement? Oh, and Van, the food was good," said Eeth when he had finished eating.

 

[Angelus]

Largos and Len

He looked at the raven, Len he thought her name was as it sounded distinctly female and tried to digest what she had just told him. He looked at her and wondered just what she was talking about and what he could say next but nothing would come to him. He just sat there and wondered what the hell was going wrong; whether or not he was dead but he didn't think it was possible, then again with the situation it was entirely possible.

He tried to move but found that his limbs didn't seem to move quite the same as he was used to and moved with a grace that he never thought he could or any other human could ever have. It was then that he saw a lock of bright silver out of the corner of his eye and moved his hand to grab it, wondering what it was. When he brought forth bright silver hair that almost went to his waist he was shocked.

Just what the hell is going on with me. Have I turned into some kind of freak? Am I some sort of mutant as in the comic books?

He looked at Len again and remembered the question that she had asked him.

"My name is.... my name is.... Lan- Lan-," it was like his name had been stuck in his throat, as if he had forgotten it but he opened his mouth, "my name is Largos Tanlin."

He reached out with a white skinned hand and grabbed the closed tree root then pulled himself up. He fell face forth back onto the ground with a groan but raised his head far enough to look at the bird.

"What am I? What has happened to me?"

 

[EHawkins]

Becca and Kail

Becca wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and looked up at Kail.

"Beautiful creature?" she said. "Sacred being one with the world? What are you talking about?"

She tried to get up as Kail floated closer to her. She felt the warmth of his calming light and the disorder and confusion in her mind began to quiet a bit again. She felt something as she looked around the forest, something like a pulse, like life.

Becca looked at her dryad hands and then to Kail.

"I didn't... I couldn't have known that this was going to happen. That I was going to get stuck in some fairy land" she said. "Should I have?"

She stood there in silence for long moments. Kail's calm washed over her as well as the pulse of the forest. Her head still rebelled against this place but deep in her heart she knew this was real, and that there was no going back.

"I'm not alone, huh?" Becca said. "Okay... Okay, Kail. What am I supposed to do? Why am I...here?"

The thought of the wisp as a companion oddly eased her mind a little more, and the longer she stayed in the forest the more a sense of kinship with it started to creep in.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Michael took the pipe and stared at the strange little creature. "You are a strange one cailinn." he said "Me name is Michael O'Donnell, and i must ask ya again, Where am I?" He asked a third time. "You wouldnt happen to have matches or anything to start fire would ya?"

 

[thanatos64]

Walter “Buck” Jones looked around the dimly lit neighborhood bar he had been visiting nightly for the last year. The place was beginning to fill up, as was normal for a Friday night. The low hum of voices starting to get louder as more came in.

Great, karaoke night, I’ll have a few more, buy a 12 for the road then spend the rest of the night at home.

“Ready for another Buck?” the bartender asked as she finished tending a couple next to him.

“Sure.” he said as he kind of halfway nodded to Gina the bargirl.

“Ya gonna be alright tonight?” Gina asked in a solemn careful sort of way, she knew, as did all the regulars that tonight was the anniversary.

A year ago today Buck’s wife had died. A car accident, they were returning from his father’s funeral, some young stud impressing his girly friend with his driving abilities, clipped his front fender spinning them off the road. Kazuko, his wife, died before help arrived, Buck was pretty banged up himself, though no fault of his own, and he still blames himself. He used to be a happy go lucky sort of guy up until then; now, he is neither hard nor soft just there.

“I’ll get that Gina.” it was “the kid”, as Buck called him, although he was just 10 years Buck’s junior, forty something. “And set us up with a few shots as well, will ya.”

Giving the kid a sideways glance and a nod “thanks shipmate.” they had both been in the US Navy, on the same ship, but not at the same time.

The kid laid a hundred on the bar next to Buck’s stack of cash, which was sort of a sign to Gina that when the money ran out so did they. The kid started some small talk as Buck sat there, every now and then Buck would nod or grunt to acknowledge him.

Buck didn’t know what time it was, nor did he care. He just knew he was done here for the night. He had gotten a twelve pack for the road, if for nothing else but to make sure he didn’t run out tonight.

Buck walked to the front door; he could hear the dogs barking at the back.

Probably barking at De Soto.

De Soto was an orange tabby that decided it wanted to live in Buck’s tool shed.

The dogs must have decided the cat wasn’t worth the energy, or knew they were going to get yelled at if they kept it up, when Buck entered the house. He sat at the dining room table, yanking a beer out of the box.

No use putting it the fridge, it aint gonna last long enough to get cold.

The dogs, Mulan a cinnamon chow and Kuma a malamute, sat at his feet expectantly. He bent and poured a beer into a bowl on the floor; Mulan smelled it and walked away, Kuma lapping at as he always did.

“You’re all I’ve got left guys.” Not sure if he was talking to himself or the dogs.

He reached for the ever present bottle sitting on the table and took a pull of it and washed it down with what was left of the beer in his hand. Kuma rested his chin on Bucks knee, his sign for, please give me more.

“Not tonight buddy; you know how mommy gets when I get ya drunk.”

Buck looked over at the wall looking at a picture he and Kazuko had taken at a fair, dressed in civil war era clothing.

“God, you are a beautiful woman. How on God’s green earth did you end up with me? If only….”

Buck closed his eyes remembering the scene as if it was yesterday, blood coming from her ears and nose, the shallow breathing, that last cough splattering blood on him. All signs of internal injuries, he knew this, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. He promised himself he wouldn’t blame God, instead Buck blamed himself. He had shut the doors to all around him.

Buck took another swig off the bottle, washing it down with a fresh beer, bent down and petted Mulan on the stomach as he came up the world started spinning

“Damn, I’m a cheap date tonight girl.”

Buck finished the beer, while reaching for the next he felt the world spin faster.

“Shit, I’m usually in bed before this happens.”

Buck laid his head on the table hopping to stop the spinning. Instead all went black.

Buck tried opening his eyes.

Damn sun is way too bright. How the hell did I end up out here? Must have thought I had to feed the cat. Don’t remember drinking that much though. Kazuko would skin me alive if she knew I was out here like this.

 

[Wolfsister]

Eeth and Van

Van positively beamed when he saw Eeth shovelling the food down and thought to himself, 'Must have been... see, Van good cook!' He mewed with delight and proceeded to hoe down his own plate.

After packing away all the cooking materials, with a might effort he shoved the various little pot plants back into his pack as well. "Van water you tomorrow," he cooed to them as he grabbed a fistfull of their leaves and scrunched them into the pack.

Then he carefully considered Eeth's question, "Van know where Eeth can get bow. But Van not like the idea.." he trailed off and frowned, "Van rather go north, to Abark... but Van think that Abark bows not good as Neferin bows," he continued to chatter about the different and various properties of bows that could be found in Illusion Vale, it seemed he actually knew quite a bit about the subject. Then he stopped and his eyes got really round, "You elf, Eeth. You want go to Neferin, great city of all nasty elves!"

He suddenly jumped up and down on the spot a few times and swiped at his nose with his left paw, "Elves! Elves! All eat Van, why Eeth take Van to Neferin? Not fair! Not fair!" he scrunched up his face and mewed fornlornly, yeowling in despair.

Then he sighed and took Sticky, planting one end in the ground, he drew a straight line, muttering to himself about evil elves and evil Eeth, "Van know Neferin closer than Abark. But Eeth mean for taking Van there! Van helped!! Nya?"

He sniffed and licked his jaws then hung his head, "Okay.. Van come with Eeth, Nya? Van walk whole two days east for Eeth and help Eeth," he nodded to himself, "Van good, mew?"

Then something occurred to him and he suddenly gave Eeth a crooked cat's grin, "Don't worry, Van good at.... getting things... from big cities!"

 

[Wolfsister]

Largos and Len

Len cocked her head to one side and squawked in Largos's ear. Then she seemed to be smiling as she said into his head, "I like that name, it befits an elf of your bearing," she hopped closer and her beak darted forwards to gently grab a piece of his long silver hair, "I like this too, you've done well."

She hopped away from him and chirped cheerfully, "You're in Illusion Vale, Largos. A Call was given and you answered it, when you did, you were transported here, to Illusion Vale. Because the Lost Guardians can no longer live here, you were transformed into what your soul is most aligned with, in your case, a Moon Elf," she hopped from side to side as she 'spoke' to him and once again seemed to be smiling, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it. I'm here to help, by the way. I'm your guide, the Spirit sent me to you because Illusion Vale is in trouble. We need your help, and I'm here to help you help."

She cocked her head to the other side when she realised that, while he was still listening to her, he was also still face down in the earth, "Try moving slowly, I think that might help," she chirped into his head. "You'll get used to it eventually, nothing like this has ever happened," she ruffled her feathers in a kind of bird-like shrug, "Sorry I can't be of more help,"

She hopped closer as he stood carefully, "Do you understand? Questions?"

 

[blaster8]

Eeth and Van

"Well, seeing as how I'm an elf, it would make sense for me to have an elven bow. But I'm not making you go to Neferin, or whatever that city is called. You can come along if you like, and if you do, I'll see to it that the other elves don't eat you," replied Eeth. "Two days walk east, you say? Very well."

Eeth stood up with a grace that surprised him. Must be because I'm an elf, he thought to himself. Taking a look around, he noticed that his eyesight seemed to be pretty good; better, in fact, than before arriving in these lands. He then started walking east, noticing that, despite the leaves and twigs that he walked on, his step was next to impossible to hear. He didn't stop and wait for Van to follow, but instead called over his shoulder "If you're coming, then try to keep up."

 

[Wolfsister]

Becca and Kail

Kail floated above her head, shining his calming light down on her. He spun, softly twinkling as he thought about what he should tell her. He knew she was new to this world and he knew he had to be careful just what he told her. Ever mindful of the restrictive rules placed on him, he softly chimed at her, "Becca, you are now in Illusion Vale. Where you were before, I do not claim to know but I know one thing, you are here now and I am here to help you."

He spun some more and then came to hover in front of her face, dimming his luminance so that she could look directly at him, "Let me tell you a story to help better your understanding," he paused, spinning for a moment, gathering all the right words, "Long ago, the Guardians ruled this land. Many creatures, great and small both revered and feared their power over Illusion Vale. Some creatures, however, decided that the Guardians weren't the rightful rulers and rose up against them. We call them The Dark Kin. There was a long time before the Guardians finally defeated the Dark Kin, but at a cost to their sanity. The Guardians soon left their caring and nurturing ways and their power corrupted them. They were evil and cruel and the peoples of Illusion Vale now just feared them, they no longer respected or revered the Guardian's rule and the way to ruin was opened. The Dark Kin rose up again, but this time had the backing of all of Illusion Vale. Many bloody years passed and there was no resolution. Finally, a single group of beings came to both sides and proposed a truce. All Guardians would be given a world of their own where no other being would be able to rule and all Illusion Vale would once again be at peace. The instigator of this truce was what we know of as The Spirit. The Spirit sent the Guardians away and the Dark Kin were sated. They had long ago tired of the war and bloodshed and agreed to live the remainder of their days in peace. The Spirit now oversees that peace, nobody knows how old she is but we all love her. Now, the Spirit fears that the Dark Kin are once again stirring, restless from so much peace. She is greatly weakened and fears she cannot protect us. So she gave a Call for help to those Lost Guardians and you are one of those that answered,"

He spun again, now casting a rosy glow on her beautiful features, "Does that help at all?"

 

[Wolfsister]

Michael and Sila

Sila stopped fluttering and perched on a rock before him, blushing slightly, "Oops, sorry, I can get a little forgetful at times," she giggled, "Actually I forget all of the time. When I was young, mum used to call me 'forgetful fairy' and I used to get so angry!" she laughed, "Then I'd forget why I was angry and go play somewhere," she smiled and swung her legs back and forth as she remembered her past, "Dedi used to say that I was a useless fairy. That if I didn't remember not to forget, that I'd never make a good fairy," she giggled, "But then I'd forget what she said and she'd give me a good wacking!" she laughed and skipped off the rock, tip-toeing on the ground, "I used to have to sneak past my teacher cos I'd constantly forget when class started!"

Then she got a queer looking expression on her face, "Did you ask me something?" she bopped her head from side to side, humming slightly to help her remember, then she brightened and shot up into the air to hover in front of his face, "Oh yeah, a fire!"

She raised her hands and brought them down together to give an almighty clap. Then she rubbed her hands together furiously, frowning as nothing seemed to happen. She poked out her tongue stubbornly and began to rub her hands together again, but still nothing. Scratching her head in puzzlement, she gave it a third try. Nada.

She tsked and flew in a tight circle, then suddenly stopped. Then she giggled and clapped her hands together, crying with delight, "I forgot how to do it!" Then after rubbing them furiously once more, she took a huge breath and blew directly onto her hands.

A whoosh of flame suddenly surrounded her tiny little appendages and she gave a witch like cackle, "I did it!" and promptly shoved her flaming hands proudly in Michael's face, "See, I knew I would remember!"

The pipe got caught in her flame and promptly disentergrated, turning into a pile of ash at the werewolf's feet. The blaze went out and she looked down at the ash pile and pouted, "Well that wasn't supposed to happen," she mused to herself.

Poking her tongue out and squinting her eyes, she quickly fished out another pipe from her bright purple hair, "I never forgot what mum used to say, 'Always carry two pipes, never know when you run into a mad Dwarf'!" she giggled to herself and handed him the new pipe.

"Ever hear the sound of one hand clapping?" she suddenly asked him and whipped her left hand around, blowing on it and making it burst into flame again, "Awww... now I'm just showing off," she giggled and lit the pipe for him.

"Oh.. You're in Illusion Vale," she finally said and sat down on the rock once again to watch the big hairy beast smoke.

 

[Wolfsister]

Than and Varic

Varic sat cross-legged on the ground waiting for something. His eyes were closed and his blue-black hair tied back loosely, a few errant strands wisping before his closed lids. His breathing was calm and collected, his hand resting in his lap. His ever present scimitars were on his back, their grips within easy reach just behind his pointed elven ears.

The earth began to rumble, his legs shook with the ground beneath him and trees groaned and swayed. Still he sat calmly, not even bothering to open his eyes. The wind picked up and pulled his hair free, whipping it around his face, lightning arced overhead and a small smile appeared on his face.

He cracked open his eyes and his smile got wider. It's coming.

He leapt to his feet and stood calmly, bracing himself against the roiling ground. He stood with his arms folded neatly across his chest and watched as the skies seemed to open up.

With an unearthly scream, the clouds rent open and a figure fell from the sky. It was huge, vaguely man-like and clearly unconscious. It landed with a loud thud and a final shake of the ground. Varic jumped clear of the mini shockwave and landed firmly on his feet again, an open grin splitting his face.

He laughed at the sky and waved farewell to the lightning, then turned to the unconscious giant in front of him, "Nice of you to drop in. Welcome to Illusion Vale,"

Of course the giant didn't hear him, being out like a light and all, but Varic often found he didn't necessarily need an audience for his quips.

 

[Wolfsister]

Eeth and Van

Van mewed and grabbed his pack, slung it over his shoulder and grabbed Sticky with one hand, then ran to catch up with Eeth. Gently, Van took Eeth by the shoulders and steered him a little to the south, "Its this way," he whispered conspiratorially. Then he dramatically threw up his nose into the air and started marching the proper way to Neferin.

He began walking on his two back paws, imitating Eeth's bipedal stride as best he could. Even though he was walking ahead of the elf and couldn't see him. Then he fell flat on his face.

"Mew! Stupid tree! Stupid root on tree! Stupid ground under root!" he mumbled to himself and straightened as fast as he could. Trying to clean the dirt away from his face in a less than obvious manner, Van called out to Eeth nonchalantly, "Van mean to do that. Eeth follow Van now?"

 

[blaster8]

Eeth grinned at the antics of the walking, talking cat. When Van tripped over a root that was flush with the ground, he chuckled a little. "Of course I will follow. I don't know these lands, remember? Tell me, Van, is it normal for one of your kind to be in the company of an elf?" asked Eeth, letting the cat have his dignity.

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Fay stood back admiring her artwork. It was a giant piece 6' by 14' cityscape, but it wasn't anything new, it was odd and obviously nothing of this world... But it was beautiful. She had been working on and off on this piece for a year. She had done lot's of things to suppliment her living and everything with her animals but this was her passion and love, this painting seemed to have the most meaning and depth behind it. She usually thought of Robert when she painted this peice, the ancient buildings and the large forest, but everything was decently lit.

She knew that she saw it in her dreams...

"Robbie is that you?" She called as she heard the dogs barking. She smiled as she heard him trying to get the dogs away. "Boys!" She hollared to the mutts that she loved and in raced the pack of would be strays. They all knew better than to go anywhere near her paintings.

"Hey, what do you want for dinner tonight?" She asked as she tried to wipe a smudge of blue paint from her face but only effectively smudged it worse.

"I'm not staying," he said trying to keep it upbeat. "I'm going to see my fiance," he said.

"What?" She laughed thinking it was a joke. "I don't understand...." Was he talkinga bout her or joking.

"No my fiance Veronica," he said without any emotion.

"You've been cheating on me?"

"No, I've been cheating on her," he said. "Cheating on her with you."

What happned next was a strange blur. She tried to talk to him and he shoved her sending her into some of her supplies. She got angry and threw an open can of paint at him. He was soaked and she was still pissed.

She screamed and threw he paints around the room finally stepping into a large puddle and slipping in as if being swallowed by the paint. "Heeeeeelp!" She screamed before she was pulled under, her dogs barked at the paint trying to find their master in it.

 

[Angelus]

Largos and Len

As he slowly got to his feet he looked at Len with wide eyes, "Wait a minute. You are telling me that I have been turned into an elf by being transported here?"

He slowly walked over to the closest tree, feeling the strength that was in the body he now had. He could tell by the way that he moved that he could do things it would have been impossible to do in his old body. A smile came to his face when he realized this as he had been able to do alot in his old body, including breaking into places everyone thought was impossible. He looked down at the raven again, the smile still on his face. Maybe something good had come of this.

"What do you mean about the Lost Guardians and why is it I have to become an elf to live here. I liked the body that I was in, I liked the life that I had but now I have been brought to this world of Illusion Vale at no choice of my own because I am one of these guardians? Who is this spirit that you speak of and what can I do to help Illusion Vale if it is indeed in trouble? I am just a simple thi- Great, I cannot even say that. Why has this never happened before, was I not meant to be here; was this nothing more than a mistake?"

It was then that he looked down at his clothes to see that although they were fairly simple they were unlike anything he had ever see before. Running his hands slowly over his pants he felt the silk like material under his fingers, another smile coming to his face before running his fingers over his shirt which felt the same. He felt another shirt under it and looked to see the chain mail, unlike anything else there. He looked at Len again.

"What is it you can tell me about where I am and what I have to do?"

 

[EHawkins]

Becca and Kail

Becca stood in Kail’s rosy glow, brow furrowed.

“Let me get this straight.” She said. “The Dark Kin rebelled against the Guardians. The Guardians became corrupt, and the Dark Kin came again, backed by the people. The Guardians got kicked out, and now…”

She paused for a moment, as if the last part were the most difficult for her to say.

“You say I’m some kind of... Guardian?”

Somewhere in the back of Becca’s mind she remembered hearing something that was like a call, and it only lent the wisp’s account more truth about the reality of her situation.

Becca crossed her arms and looked down at the ground. This wispy thing made of blue light was asking her to protect this place and keep an old peace from breaking. She sighed and shook her head.

“I uh… don’t have a good track record of saving anyone or anything. At least not lately... Look, if this Spirit thing called, then maybe I should talk with it--her. I don’t know what I can do to help anyway. I’m a—was—a paramedic. This dryad thing’s out of my league… Maybe she got the wrong person or something?”

Becca looked around the forest. She had absolutely no idea which way to go or how she was going to survive what looked to be wilderness around her.

“Kail,” She said as she started to move through the thick undergrowth with a surprising amount of ease. “do you know where this Spirit is or anything about what I am now?”

 

[Optimas]

Dinnie wakes. . .

Dinnie pulled his hand gun from his holster, and fired.

He had been at the firing range most of that day, his shots were perfect. This made Dinnie laugh, his life was in turmoil, yet he could shoot the wings off a fly.

"Here you go Rob," Dinnie handed the gun to the control officer, "That is it for me today, see you tomorrow mate." Dinnie had a shower and looked at his reflection in a mirror. A husk looked back at him, he wiped a smear across the glass and changed into some clothes.

Dinnie got home late, it was dark, he walked into his three bedroom house. Not one sound emanated in the house, it was cold and deathly. Dinnie sat on the sofa and pulled a whiskey bottle from a small bag. He unscrewed the top ,took two big burning gulps and sucked the air through his teeth. He put the bottle on a table and slid his hand into the bag. Slowly he pulled free a hand gun, tears rolled down his face, slowly at first then like a river, big sobs racked his body. He was finding it hard to breathe. A pain called sorrow, so deep, so ancient, ate at his core.

He rested his hand on the one thing that would - now this day - push him over the edge, it was a picture frame. He put it on his lap then pulled the cord on the lamp. He held his breath, held a second of composure, then looked down at his young family.

A smiling picture, Dinnie, his wife and two kids. A tear hit the glass of the frame, "Why god, Why," an animal sound lanced through the house. The sound of an animal that had lost everything.

It had been two years since the car accident, a drunk had swerved onto the wrong side of the country lane. All Dinnie`s family had died in that one incident, but not until he was by their bedsides. Dinnie had died inside that day, so when he came across the mad-man who killed his family he finally snapped and smashed the knife into the man`s chest.

The police force had been good, they knew why he had snapped, but he could not work the streets until the inquiry had taken place. It was the final straw the only way out was in his hands now.

In a snap of clarity and speed he pulled the gun towards his temple and pulled the trigger. . .

Dinnie woke with a start, he rolled onto his knees scanning the surroundings intently, it was dark. He was not aware of anything, his training had kicked in and he felt threatened - someone was close to him.

 

[MilkManDan007]

Todd Jones becomes Asterion

Todd Jones knew that today was the one day he dreaded most: the day he knew he was going to die.

The beginning of the day had gone much like any other in the maximum security prison near Canon City, the routine ground into the inmates to help break their spirit. Morning count, a few hours in the laundry to “earn his keep” as the guards said, an hour in the yard, then back to the cell.

That is the where the routine changed. Waiting for him was a priest, ready to offer the last rites and forgive him of his sins. Todd scoffed as he entered, thinking to himself that no god would forgive the life he had chosen. Jones sent the priest away and snapped to the guard that he wanted his last meal. A hot pizza, a cold beer and hot wings, foods he could never afford fresh and always had to scrounge from the dumpsters.

Todd had been abandoned at an early age and left to fend for himself on the streets of Denver. To survive, he detached himself from reality, placing a mental barrier between his conscious mind and the demonic being he became in order to survive.

His first murder was at age 14. He killed another street dweller over a pair of wool socks. It was quick and relatively bloodless; an ideal first step in becoming the twisted fiend the media would brand him.

Before the police finally caught up to him 15 years later, he had killed more than 30 people. The police would eventually only tie him to five. Some he had killed to survive and others just for the temporary rush of adrenaline. Each killing put more distance between the kind soul that once existed and the fiend now controlling Todd Jones’ body.

Even prison could not stop the bloodletting. Two guards and eight other inmates fell to his hand before the state could step in and fulfill his death sentence. When the day came, the media flocked to witness the spectacle. Todd was lead into the small room where the lethal injection would be administered. The guards strapped Jones’ small frame to the gurney and began to sanitize the needles that would take the lethal chemicals into his veins. The families of his victims, a few legislators, and two prison guards watched through the reinforced Plexiglas window, hoping to feel some kind of closure as this beast was put to rest.

Jones laid back on the gurney, feeling the heavy straps over his chest, arms and legs. He stared at the ceiling smiled. The cheap insulated panels on the ceiling gave him some pleasure in knowing that this life is over. The suffering and pain of life is ending.

A thin shadow crept across the ceiling and passed in front of the bright light above. Jones thought to himself that shadows shouldn’t be able to pass in front of light, only behind. The curiosity was replaced sharply by a moment of fleeting terror as the shadow dropped from above and enveloped him.

A collective gasp came sharply from the gallery. The guards wheeled, reaching for their stun guns almost instinctively, before stopping in mid-stride. The thick leather straps lay limp across the table. Jones had vanished.

The dark veil lifted from Jones eyes and he found himself lying on a moonlit, rocky beach.

“Am I dead?” he thought to himself as he rose, feeling to sharp crags under his calloused feet. As he rose, he began to realize that he was not himself anymore. The soft moonlight cast an opaque reflection on the calm waters. Jones nearly jumped from his new skin when he saw the dark horned beast staring back at him.

“What have I become?” he muttered to himself, “and where the hell am I? Hell?” His thought wandered, trying to grasp at any sort of reason or sense but finding none. Alone again, abandoned from the only world he had known, he stared out over the deep sea at another cruel world staring back at him. The beast within him was gaining strength again, forcing the rational part of his mind behind the mental wall as it had in Denver. He howled into the night air as the evil once again took him into its arms.

 

[rengadeirishman]

"Jaysus and Mary" he exclaimed as the pipe burst into flame in his mouth. he quickly jumed back as the pile of ash that had been the pipe fell to the ground. Sila the produced another and lit it successfully. "Ahhhh much better" he said inhaling the sweet smoke. "Illusion Vale, eh? What pray tell is Illusion Vale? and why if such a place exists, am i great bloody feckin' werewolf?"