the nights in the desert

From the darkness another was watching them. The creature's belly was low on the ground, it was crouched, ready to flee at any time. Tail pulled in tightly and spines on its back raised, it observed them. Large claws extended and the one eye narrowed, unsure what to make of those before it.

 

Somewhere between the astral fronomia and physical world, Sketch paused. Before her she could see clear as day a massive funnel of what appeared to be and electric green and blue funnel cloud exteding infinately up from the center point between her and Temrin. She assumed it was a combined reaction of their energy and Ras, but was never completely sure of things that happened here. There were no rules. No physics. Nothing that one can rely on. But this great spiral of light was not what drew her attention. They were not alone. A fourth party was present here. She could sense a firey prescence near by. In the distance she spotted what appeared to be a golden spotlight. the landmark of another soul. On a normal day in a normal state of mind she would not have spotted the creature for the sheer reason of visual obscurities. 'Dragon eyes were good, but they were still limited compared to infinate line of sight as that occured in Fronomia.

She could not tell the intentions of this being but as quickly as she could, returned herself to her body. Balancing between two planes was not something to do when danger could be near. Between the two worlds her soul merely balanced upon her own line of fate, moving in her own timeline like a tightrope walker upon a telephone wire with no mat to break their fall, not even the ground but dead space. Emptiness. Few people really understood the terror of isolation, her self included, and for the time being she had no desire to investigate the subject any further. With a zap like a child sticking metal scissors into an electrical socket, she returned to her body, head immediately snapping in the direction of the intruder. Without the slightest hesitation, she took off running at full speed, not entirely sure of what lay ahead.

From behind a dense bush she saw a lupine-shaped form. With a great leap she sprung foreward, pinning the creature, hoping with all her heart that she still held the element of surprise. Instantly she found herself staring into a single violet-blue eye, stunned and surprised. Only then did Sketch see it had quills. She had already launched herself into the air, and was unfortunately a subject to gravity. A split second seemed like several minutes as she felt a sharp burning pain rip through her right paw. To her own horror she watched the bloody spike stab through her flesh and protrude out the other side. In shock, she let that leg go limp, seemingly forgetting that an object in motion stays in motion. She continued to fall, landing on several other spikes which impaled her shoulder and side. But she barely felt them for she continued to stare at her paw. With a single firm jerk, she pulled her paw from the dagger-like quill, and staggared back. Blood poured down her leg, dripping off at her elbow, for she cradled her injury under her chest. Only now did she aknowledge the puncture wounds on her shoulder, also bleeding, but not as badly.

Inside her mind she could hear spike laughing hysterically.

<span style='color:#336699'>/You're so fucking stupid sometimes, Sketchie/</span>
<span style='color:gray'>\Shut up.\</span> She paused, unable to think of a suitable comeback.
<span style='color:#336699'>/You should really think about things before you do them./</span>
<span style='color:gray'>\If you always know everything, why do you just show up to taunt me. If you knew the damn thing had spikes, you could have told me awhile ago.\</span>
<span style='color:#336699'>/I didnt know. I just guessed/</span>
<span style='color:gray'>\Your a stupid liar. Can you live in someone elses head?\</span>
<span style='color:#336699'>/Can't you?/</span>
<span style='color:gray'>\This is my body, man. You're just a guest here.\</span>
<span style='color:#336699'>/I am what keeps you alive./</span>

Of course, Spike was right again. She always was as much as Sketch didnt't want to belive it. But honestly, did she always have to be so degrading? Sketch used to think that she could control Spike if she needed to, but now she wasnt so sure. However she felt that her alter ego would play some part in her life before the end. Everything always had a reason, but figureing out what it was was the hard part.

 

Talcu rolled to her feet and snarled. Something had lept on her from behind, unlucky for the attacker her spines had been raised. She narrowed her remaining eye and sniffed at this new creature. She smelled strange, Talcu couldn't really decribe it. It was just strange.

Her large ears flew back and she bared vicious serrated fangs, her hackles rose. It was one of the ones she'd been watching. She raised her quills a little more and noticed one was missing. She glanced back at the bleeding figure and saw it sticking out of its shoulder.

"Who are you? Why have you attacked me. I did no harm" she said gruffly. She thrashed her tail slightly, waiting for an answer.

 

As blood ran through her matte fur, staining it maybe for weeks, Sketch asked herself why she had done it. While she suggested many reasons like protecting her friends and herself she knew she hadn't really been in much danger. In truth, her mind had begun to slip following the days events.

"Why were you watching us? Could you possibly make yourself any more suspicious? What do you WANT?!"

She glared loathingly at her one eyed opponent, not necessarilly angry at her, but more of a deep anger at her own stupid misfortune.

<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span>
<table class=ooc><tr><td>I appologize for the shortness. Am limited in time. </td></tr></table>

 

"I'm sorry for the injury" muttered Tal' putting her ears back in apology, "I meant no harm, I was only curious. I do not see many when I travell through the desert".

She swished her tail and padded over to Sketch. Carefully she gripped the spine with her jaws and drew it out. "You're luck, my spines are not poisonous like my older brother's. It'll heal in no time, as will your paw, sorry about that, again".

"So, what do you do here?"

 

While normally under such remote circumstances she would not have opened her mouth, but as adrenaline ran through her from the seering pain in a failed attempt to numb her injuries she began to speak.
<span style='color:gray'>
"Hell, I barely know what we're doing here. Our friend here is hurt, not only externally but inside as well. Because of us we're fearing that his spirit has become more or less detatched from his body. I know it seems sort of out there, but I assure you, it is true. You would not belive what we have been through in attempt to save him. When we saw you, we were in the midst of trying to draw him back into himself, a risky proceedure. Great danger to ourselves. Great danger everywhere, but we really have no choice."</span>

As she rambled her eyes stayed fixed upon Ras' lifeless-looking body lying but a few feet away. His blood had now begun to cool taking on the putrid form of dead matter. Their time was running out. But adding another person may be just the miraculous advantage she'd prayed for. The power of three, a triad, was exceedingly stronger than that of just two souls, both weakened. Although she'd barely met this stranger Sketch saw no danger in her eyes. Eye. Whatever. In desparation she looked to Temrin, pulling her aside and speaking in barely more than a whisper:

<span style='color:gray'>"Temrin. She can help us. Talcu, I think her name is. I have seen her before, but cannot recall where. I know its a leap of faith and trust, but I fear we may be running out of options. If she joins us, she poses no real danger to us or Ras."</span>

<span style='color:#336699'>/Unless.../</span>
Sketch blinked her alter ego away.

<span style='color:gray'>Either way, we can't very well leave her roaming about out here while we leave ourselves completely vulnerable. We have no choice"</span>

Motioning with her paw, Sketch lead Tal and Tem back to where there ritual had begun, repeating the speech she had previously given about what was to be done and how. (ooc| read my post from Feb 6 2005, 02:26 PM) When she was done, she relocated herself upon her previous position in their little circle around Ras, and closed her eyes. Clearing her mind she let herself detatch from the world around her and felt as if she were suddenly filled with helium, not daring to move. She tried not to think of the invisable watch ticking... ticking... ticking....

...nor the massive room for screw-ups.

 

<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span>
<table class=ooc><tr><td>lol, yes. Its my special secret. If you can figure out where it's coming from, you get a gold star. </td></tr></table>

 

The stars shone brightly, they always did out in the desert night with no torches or lights of any kind to interfere. Night was a beautiful time in the desert, though the cold made it nearly as unpleasant as the heat of the sun did in the daylight. But for Nylloc it was the very cold that kept him moving nearly all night long. To sleep in the sub-zero temperatures was taking a risk with ones life. Perhaps if he had better clothing or at least a blanket. But all that Nylloc Sha Vullam carried with him were his blades, the tattered rags that had once been fine clothes, and a knawing hunger that was difficult to satisfy on the few lizards of the desert he managed to come across in his hunting. The trees of the large oasis that he made his home provided him with shelter and even some small amount of fruit, on which he sustained himself whenever hunting was meager. In the desert, hunting was nearly always meager. He chewed the last bite of the first piece of meat he had come upon in weeks, a young tmuka. No more than two feet long the small snake was barely more than a snack, but a very well appreciated change from the insects and fruits he had been eating to survive. And in the end thats what it always boiled down to; Survival. There was nothing else in Nylloc's life anymore. No friends, no family, no training in the ancient ways of hunting, tracking, and fighting that had been handed down by his people for so many generations. It was all gone and it was all his fault. He wondered how his father was. He thought of his older brother. He thought of his mother and his younger sisters. He wondered if they were alright. And then he thought of how they would never forgive him. That was when he pushed them from his mind. They were his family no longer. They had disowned him, the whole tribe had. He was no longer of their name. He was Sha Vulllam now, the fallen. Cast off from his tribe, all that was left was survival. And so it was that instinct, that survival mechanism that raised his guard when he heard the stifled scream. He rose quickly to his feet and snuffed his fire with the small pouch of water he had fashioned from the skin of two tmukas. He strapped his blades back onto himself, the long one around his waist, the shorter one to his leg. Something was out there, not far from the little camp he called home-for the moment at least-and it was too close for his likeing. A thought occured to him then; perhaps whatever it is has already been through his camp. He had been out hunting until only a few minutes ago and would have little way of knowing if any had gone through his things. He had very little in the way of property but the thought of someone else touching the small space that for the moment he called his own was enough to bring up the anger and the hatred to dangerous levels within him. He set off into the night, determined to discover the scource of the scream and, if nescessary, silence that scource forever.

~Trench<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span>
<table class=ooc><tr><td>~Hi everyone. Newbie here. This is my first IC post and since im still a little unclear on protocol and such im keepin it kinda short and simple. Batcountry, i am assuming your charrie would scream at least a little at the whole being stabbed thing so thats what i was reffering to. If thats unsuitable for you, just say so and i can make it be something else (thats why i left it so open ended) Later!~</td></tr></table>

 

<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span>
<table class=ooc><tr><td>Hey Trench, welcome to Ramath. Lol, if that post of yours is considered short and simple, then Im fearful to see an elaborate one. lol. But dont worry, you're doing great. Just go with the flow. I only joined about a month or so ago, and trust me, its not a hard thing to get into.


offtopic, but still kinda In topic, im going to delay my post till sunday due to braindead-ness, lack of time and lack of inspiration. Dont worry. When the time is right, it will be worth it. </td></tr></table>

 

Together they rose. While she felt herself leave her physical she was still aware of her abillity to move. There was no more air resistance or gravity. No forces. Only light and dark. There was no up or down. Just infinate directions, all equal and not all at once. Rules no longer applied. But she had experienced this before, several times, not saying that she could control it or even fully understand it. But she had learned basic survival in the astral.

She could see her companions around her. Each of them appeared as a slightly lupine shaped orb of energy, peach and gold in color. She could tell the difference between Tal and Temrin, but did not know why. She could see herself, also an incandecent figure, and could see herself in 360 degrees. How, once again, she did not know.

Extending her conciousness, she reached an arm out to both of her companions connecting their energy, and implied telepathicly that they do the same. Once all touching eachother, their dragonesque figures seemed to dissipate as they all brightened to a blinding white-blue. They lit up the emptiness around them, and there he was. Ras, clear as day, his soul, a simmilar energy form as theirs, but of an emerald green hue. Why? She didnt even question.
He floated through the emptiness, frighteningly still save for the occaisional twitch, like watching a sleeping puppy chase a rabbit in his dream.

Perfect. Together they extended another appendage of their electric ring to sort of lasso his spirit, but as soon as the contact was made, Sketch felt herself waver. They all did. While Ras's vibrant green color lightened to a tropical yellow-green, their own brightness dimmed, and she felt their bonds begin to shake and crumble. <span style='color:gray'>"No... no... no... please no..."</span> It couldn't be. She glanced around helpessly... but then there was a miracle. Like a life preserver floats out of nowhere to a man lost in the ocean, she saw a fifth light Nylloc his name was. His aura glowed with a remarkable white-yellow, a strong minded soul indeed. Without delay, attatched herself to it, and bringing their energy level back up to standard. Without consent, this bystander had joined their mission.

 

<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span>
<table class=ooc><tr><td><span style='color:gray'>SOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry I haven't been here. I tottally forgot about this thread. But how 'bout this. I'm guessing ur al in Ras' mind right now, huh? So, when you all leave, Ras will awaken after a little mental torment hanks to Sketch's mixture.</span></td></tr></table>

 

<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span>
<table class=ooc><tr><td>Ok one little side note here; Nylloc will not be happy about getting roped into anything against his will which seems to already be the case. Should he be inside anyones mind or what have you he will be extremely angry and that leads to violence where he is concerned. Just a little forwarning. Ill post tomarrow. Later</td></tr></table>


~Trench

 

sorry, I've been away and unable to update[/QUOTE]

 

<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span>
<table class=ooc><tr><td>Ah so thats how it is. Pah. Fine I'll just sit here and talk to mahself. </td></tr></table>


In the midst of all the drama, time seemed to freeze. Sketch found herself looking around the stillness. Just like in movies, her surrounding stood perfectly still as she dropped from her place and found she could walk around freely.

"Strange..." she thought, but did not entirely question it's occurance. Sometimes things like this happened to her. Once they were over, there was no way to prove it's reality, but they sure felt real.

She stood on a cloud and walked down a set of invisable stairs. From around her waist she clasped at a pouch. From inside its soft walls she drew out a piece of silvery foil, crumpled in a tiny ball. Inside she retrieved a small white crystal about the size of a pea. With her claws she crushed the white stone to a powder and lay it out on an invisable surface before her. Surfaces tended to appear when needed in this world. From nowhere she picked up a razor blade and separated the powder into six separate lines. One after the other she insuffelated the crystal. Throwing her head back she felt her eyes begin to water, but knew she'd be alright soon. She stumbled back to her place and returned to normal time, ready for whatever would happen next.

<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span>
<table class=ooc><tr><td>I'm just kidding, thats not a real post. Just ignore it. Sorry, I can be sarcastic at times.</td></tr></table>