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Post by Tidfe on Sept 20, 2014 13:45:59 GMT -8
Cain dodged and rolled, coming up at against the wall. Looking at Anari's call, he grinned as he noticed that she was far enough away to be out of harm's path. Scrambling to stand up against the solid wall, he let out a yelp as he dived again to miss that stinging tail. As he stood up from his roll, he ran towards Anari, motioning her forward even as his feet sunk and squelched in the mud. "Go! We got to get back to the weryd! Dorth should be there and I doubt this thing wants to tangle with a brooding dragon!" A quick scramble up the slight incline and he reached out to grab her hand, prepare to drag her along in a fireman's carry should it come to that. Just because he was nothing but bones did not mean he still wasn't strong enough to carry Anari should the need arise. Though he was kinda of hoping that the thing would realize they were no threat now and just leave them alone.
Then again, they had busted up some of its legs so the chances it would were about fifty fifty at the moment.
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Post by Anari on Sept 25, 2014 9:07:44 GMT -8
Seeing Cain broke clear, even though at the moment the monstrosity was still in pursuit, Anari took his advice and, after lending him a hand up the rise, ran! She was a bit slower than he was, as her limp was evident with every step. And the creature kept following, charging with its own limp up the rise and roaring at them, furious that not only was his dinner getting away, but it had hurt him too! They had a slight lead, long enough for Anari to take the half a moment to snatch up her jacket and the blooms they had already plucked, and then they were breaking out of the mists and into the sunshine!
“Did we lose ‘em?” Anari asked between gasps for breath, glancing over her shoulder. But the creature answered her question for her, as it stalked out behind them, snarling and apparently sensing that its prey were wounded, sore, and tired. It’s expression was practically a sneer… that quickly melted into a look of sheer horror as a dragon’s roar was heard! (Anari would staunchly deny that she shrieked for the rest of her life.) Snarling, clearly still enraged but not about to challenge a superior predator, it retreated, vanishing into the rift.
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Post by Tidfe on Sept 26, 2014 18:43:21 GMT -8
Cain paused, hand on his knees, trying to ignore the pain in his joints. He did not get out of breath so to speak, but he did get his joints wore down if he ran too fast before his healing ability could catch up with him. Such as this case here. Looking over at Anari, he wondered which dragon had come to the rescue. Not that he really cared as it got the scorpion away from them. Plopping down on the ground, he let out a low groan. "Okay. We mark that area off our list unless we have on of our bonded with us. I don't fancy another tangle with that thing anytime soon." Seeing the flowers that she had picked up, he couldn't help but grin just a little bit. "Dorth had better like these flowers or I am throwing mud on her as she sleeps."
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Post by Anari on Sept 28, 2014 4:56:10 GMT -8
Anari took the same recourse as Cain, dropping into the grass with a groan of her own and trying to rub the cramps out of her weak leg.
“Agreed! Ow…. I just think I’ll sit here for a bit. A nice, long bit…” She glanced up at the dragon, then chuckled at Cain’s comment, nodding skyward. “Unless I am mistaken, I think she can hear you.” Indeed, it had been Dorth that had come to the rescue, as Cain was likely now very much aware as she barraged him with question and worry. The woman flopped onto her back, giving up on getting the kinks out for the moment and just contenting herself with laying in the cool grass, eyes closed and mindless of the fact that in the strong sunlight with her jacket off, several still-healing wounds were visible on her arms – straight lines like cuts or lash marks – as well as on her wrists – manacle marks. “Heh, never thought that something as simple as picking flowers would turn into us running for our lives!”
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Post by Tidfe on Oct 17, 2014 18:09:56 GMT -8
If Cain could have winced, he would have at the barrage of questions from his dragon. After much reassuring that he had no idea in hell what that thing had even been or that they had wondered into its territory, Dorth left in a huff. Though she did take the flowers with her, giving Anari a small breath of hot air as a kiss and a thank you for getting them. Also as an apologize that her ass of a bond lead her into trouble and that he should treat his friends better than that. Of course, she just said this to Anari before flying off. Cain, unaware that he had been called such a thing, laid back, his eyes sockets focused on the sky, but his actual eyes studying Anari.
The still healing wounds did not escape him. They boiled his anger and he had to remind himself that there was nothing to be done about them. The cause of the marks were in another dimension and he doubted that Dorth would help him get there for some revenge. Just cause he did not like trying to kill a dragon, did not mean he wouldn't try in Anari's world. After all, dragon fire just left his bones a bit scorched (he usually ignored the accompanying pain form that) so really, what was the worst they could do? Attempt to crush him to death?
Though her comment helped to dissapt some of the anger that was still there. Chuckling to himself, he shrugged his shoulders, feeling the cool grass scrap pleasantly against his old bones. "Neither did I. Though in this world, I should have probably known better. I mean, dragons are top of the food chain here and anything under them would probably have to be terrifying to discourage them eating them. Though I do not think that works out very well."
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Post by Anari on Oct 22, 2014 17:42:11 GMT -8
While Anari thought that perhaps to berating comments about Cain were less-than-warrented – technically it had been at least partially her idea to go down into the rift – she let it slide and just watched as Dorth picked up the blooms, thanked her, and flew off. She was also unaware of Cain’s eyes on her (not having figured out that he didn’t technically have to be looking at her to look at her). She chuckled at his comment, nodding in agreement and reaching over to pull her coat to her… and at the same time noticing the marks on her arms. Trying not to seem like it was her intention, she slid her coat back on, covering them before laying back.
“I’d imagine they would have to be, to discourage a dragon – that, or something not all that tasty!” She looked where Dorth’s form had vanished a bit before musing, “Hmn… first time I think a dragon has ever saved me.” She sighed softly. “Heh, I should probably get it into my head that this world isn’t my old one, and that not all dragons here are wanting to eat me or enslave me huh? I keep making these comparisons. It’s like I can’t help it.” She glanced sidelong at her companion. “Is that normal? I mean, when you first arrived did you think of where you came from?”
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Post by Tidfe on Oct 22, 2014 20:17:09 GMT -8
The question had him thinking and the last of his anger melted away as he looked back over his memories since coming here. After all, while a few were painful like the kurbok bonding, most were nice. Like meeting Terris or Taki or even opening a gift to find the surprise of snakes inside it. Putting his hand back behind his head, he mulled it over some more before speaking a bit slowly as if he was still trying to sort out his thoughts which he still was. "My world is one where most magic and magical things have gone underground so to speak. So people know about them and so many more refused to believe in it anymore. They find a body drained of blood and they think it is the work of some serial killer with a couple of needles and some tubing. But it is not. It is the work of a vampire. Maybe even a werewolf depending on who is in control. Dragons were rare and most have never encountered one in my world. You have very few evil or good dragons. They just tend to be neutral, not really caring one way or another what happens so long as they get sheep. Though there are exceptions to every rule are there not?"
Realizing that he wasn't really answering her question and was basically beating around the bush, he stopped and took a deep breath. "To make a long ramble shorter, it is normal to think of where you came from. I mean, we are not children. Many of us spent more than half our lives in the world we have come from. The saying, 'old habits are hard to break' can not be more truer than in this case."
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Post by Anari on Oct 27, 2014 5:14:28 GMT -8
Anari listened to Cain’s words, finding sound wisdom in them, and nodded.
“I suppose you are right there, about old habits and all.” She tucked one arm behind her head, the other she rested across her stomach, looking up at the clouds and seeing shapes of old familiar haunts and friends, and just as many enemies. “There were always myths and stories about vampires and werewolves, and some claimed to have seen the walking dead, but for the most part – no offense meant – they were all believed to be just folktales that the dragons cleared out long ago. And… thanks. I’m glad to know that it’s not strange that I sometimes hear a voice, and suddenly swear that it’s so-and-so from back home, or round a corner and get confused why I’m not seeing the Watchhouse HQ, and that people aren’t still calling me LT.” She sighed softly, one hand stroking over the grip of her flail. “Then again, I don’t have someone trying to kill me here – aside from the occasional lion-scorpion-spider thing! – so that’s a plus, right?” She glanced over at him again, unaware that she was pretty much looking at him looking at her. “You know, you’re pretty wise… for a walking skeleton who’s Brains are a rodent.” She grinned, hoping he appreciated the joke.
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Post by Tidfe on Nov 2, 2014 17:09:24 GMT -8
Cain snorted and did his own grin back. "Brains would appreciate the comment. And you could say I have been around the block a few times. This is not the first time I have had to live out in a different realm so to speak. Granted, that different realm had been more illusion than reality and I never actually left my home. This...Well, this is something else, but I am fairly sure most of the same things still applied." He moved a finger to thoughtfully tap on his lower jaw, about where a chin would be if he was flesh and blood.
"I would normally say that things attacking you and trying to eat you would not be a plus so to speak, but considering where we landed, it is most certainly a plus." Especially when Cain had his own enemies to worry about back home. While they could not quite kill him, that did not mean they couldn't cause him untold amounts of pain and suffering. "Really though, all wisdom is is realizing that you have made mistakes, what made the mistakes to begin with and trying not to do the same thing twice unless you want the results to happen. Such as, I am never going back into that marsh thermal vent area without Dorth on standby."
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Post by Anari on Nov 4, 2014 1:44:29 GMT -8
Anari nodded whole-heartedly at the sentiment to remain out of the marsh without dragon support! Though she looked over at him speaking of living in different realms and illusions and all.
“You’ve lived in an illusion? And on other realms than your natives ones?” Her tone showed she was impressed. “Seems like between the two of us, you are the more experienced combatant, even if being at the Spire seemed very much like another world…. Perhaps a layer of hell.” She shuddered at memory, as if cold despite the warmth of the sun beaming down. “I suppose you are correct about wisdom, though there are some things that, even if a lot of people call the result a mistake, you would do a hundred times over for the same results.” She thought for a moment, eyes pensive and dark, then turned to look at the skeleton with what she hoped passed for a cheerful, joking smile. “Huh, I guess that would be considered insane as well. After all, doing the same thing over and over regardless of result is a definition of insanity, isn’t it?” She was paraphrasing, of course, but it was the same basic principle in her mind.
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Post by Tidfe on Nov 26, 2014 18:16:28 GMT -8
"When you have lived for over a century, you tend to gather up a lot of battle experience. And when you fight witches or demons, you tend to end up in a lot of dimensions that are not your native one if you are not careful." Sitting up a little, he shook he his head slowly in disagreement. "I don't think that is quite it. I think the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting to get different results each time. While sometimes that is not true, like playing with a deck of cards, most of the time it is highly true." He took the joke like smile at face value, knowing there might be more to it, but it would be reveal in its own time. "Besides. Being a little insane adds some spice to life. Or in my case, the after life."
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Post by Anari on Dec 6, 2014 4:54:50 GMT -8
Anari gave a bark of laughter at his ending comment, before sitting up as well.
“It was once said to me that the sane only think they’re sane, and the happy ones are those who know their own insanity. Given that the most insane things to ever happen to me have strangely brought the most satisfaction, I’m beginning to believe it! Though it sounds like your life has been the far more interesting between us. You’ll have to share a tale or two.” She took a deep breath, then glanced sidelong at her companion, reminded suddenly again that yes, he was a skeleton. As she’s mostly been looking up at the sky, it had been easy to forget. “Well, we got the flowers, so shall we head back?” She’d been standing up as she spoke, but her leg decided it wasn’t quite ready, and it buckled out from under her making her wobble down to a knee and hiss in pain – she had her pride, after all, and didn’t want to cry out in front of her ally.
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Post by Tidfe on Dec 7, 2014 0:17:59 GMT -8
Cain was up like a shot at the hiss of pain and his hands were gently probing the kneecap on the leg that he saw buckle underneath her. "In a few minutes. I think your knee could use a few more minutes without the rest of you on top of it. As for a tale or two, I have them and some of them even end happily." He tried to be as gentle as possible as he massaged the area around the knee to see if he couldn't get the muscles to loosen up some. "Though if you are really set on leaving now, I can help support you. If I don't, Dorth would have my hide for daring to let her friend limp on her own like that. Trust me. I may not have much of one, but I do like my hide right where it is." Moving away, he offered her a hand to help her back into a standing position.
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Post by Anari on Dec 10, 2014 2:20:51 GMT -8
Anari’s leg jerked when Cain prodded at the thigh, and clearly not of her own volition. What touch the skeleton had would reveal that the knee was fairly healthy, but the muscle of the thigh itself felt… off. Parts felt incredibly tense, and another strip about the width of her palm and from hip to knee slipped and slid across the bone in ways that no muscle should, as if it was improperly attached. After that initial stab of pain, it seemed the discomfort faded enough for her to say calm under his examinations.
“Heh, what can I say? The Dragon Highlords aren’t very kind when it comes to their stubborn prisoners. Especially ones that refuse to answer questions.” Her smile for him was at the same time grim but accepting of the state of things as unchangeable. When he offered she accepted the assistance to stand again. “It will be fine. I just ran on it a bit harder than I really should have. I still haven’t entirely figured out its limits yet, other than… than I will never be fully the warrior I once was.” With his assistance she was able to move with only a limp as the leg couldn’t handle her full weight. It was more pronounced than her usual limp, though easily reminiscent of it.
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