The Furry Forums
Creative Arts and Media => Roleplay => Serious RP => Topic started by: Niala Ornitier on March 24, 2010, 09:36:37 PM
-
In the middle of a dark place... her mind, located in her body...so she thought. She winced at the sight of shadow, seeing nothing but black. In the middle of a forest lay Cindy, feeling alone and cold she shivered. Darkness surrounded her now, no light, no air. She twitched nervously and collapsed on cold dirt. the trees towered over her, blanketing her in a deep moss of green. 5 figures approached her, and the Ringmaster closed in. Cindy's eyes flung open and her heart raced, no-one she could see, but she felt them... they were real. Ghost like hands tilted her head back and pushed it forward... She flung her eyes open and an orange and pink glow surrounded her as she stared into the eyes of a Ringmaster, a demon, a fortuneteller, and two marionette puppets with no strings who moved with the ringmaster.
What is this place?
There was a silence before the ringmaster spoke why Cindy, welcome.... welcome to your mind
-
The anthro girl walked through the trees, not making a sound, like a ghost she seemed to glide over the forest floor. Her black hair, highlighted with red and deep blue swaying as she walked. Her eiree gold eyes looked down upon the path which she walked.
I shall be home soon. She smiled to herself. I wonder in my absence who has been admitted into my home now...
After another half hour of walking she stopped and sighed. The asylums welcoming lights beckoned to her. Welcoming her home. She breathed in a deep lungful of air, her cat ears twitching as she heard murmurs of people inside. She smiled as she reconised the voices.
Hmm....the ringmaster doesn't seem to be back yet...
Melanie ruffled her falcon wings and walked up to her home and placed her paw-like hand upon the door nob, her wolf tail flicking.
-
Shiro stood behind the counter at the R0113R SK8T bar, cleaning a partially puked on glass. The night's festivities had been rowdy, and a stoat was busy cleaning up the mess of a recent brawl that had gotten close to calling the police. He looked over at the phone continually. The ringmaster was supposed to call him when she was awake. He didn't have all day to wait.
Once she was awake, he could get the real party started.
"Hey Joey! Take the night off!" he called to the stoat. "I'll finish cleaning up."
"You mean it? Thanks Mr. Chan!"
-
Cindy began to move up slowly, her chest felt as if there was a string pulling against it. Nothing was there. She couldnt control her body, as the ringmaster redirected every limb. soon Cindy was standing on her hind paws and her tail stiffened. The wind brushed past her muzzle and all she could do was blink and breathe. She watched as 10 eyes glared at her. all different colours. they peirced into her.
What are you doing to me...p.please stop! Cindy winced in pain as she felt her tail bend in the wrong direction.
this is no dream Cindy....Cindy open your eyes... all the voices joined in and Cindy was hearing things
C'mon Cindy.. don't resist us
-
Through the forest, the sound of a weeping beast trickled through the trees. Female and soft, yet torn and hoarse, the noise itself pulled at the branches dragging them towards a young broken bunny, with shredded ears held close to her chest.
-
Cindy heard the cries of an animal and she tried to resist the ringmasters pull, she could not. Only in her mind could she talk, her lips felt sewn together and she fell to the floor
let...ARGH LET ME GO!!!!!!!!!!!
-
Melanie looked toward the trees, her hypersensitive ears picking up a sound. She then shrugged and walked inside.
-
Thantos was running on all fours, 'seeing' a rather large amount of movement deep in the forest. He couldn't hear what was going on, or see it. But he felt he should intervene on whatever is going on over there.
When he felt he arrived where he should, he could make out someone on the ground, and a group around her. He cracked his knuckles and growled before leaping out from the trees, and landing between the grouping and the prone figure. He quickly side-stepped to the form on the ground, and put a hand on where he guessed the head was, and after blushing and going to the other side, managed to get some information. Cin... Cin....dy? Mistress Cindy?! he immedeatly got up and got into his fighting stance. He stamped his foot and caught an image of five people. From the information of their images, he could only guess two thugs, and two contructs along with... something. "It would be best for you all to leave before half of you can't even walk."
-
Cindy began to feel her fingers against her thighs as her body curled up am i my own now? she shivered and turned her head towards the dragon, her eyes widening. don't let them hurt you the Lynx curled into a ball and felt as if she was dreaming.
-
Melanie walked up the grand stairs, heading toward her room, her weary body sluggish. On her way she passed a anthro canine.
"When will the ringmaster be back?" She asked it.
It shrugged, its black souless eyes staring over Melanie's shoulder. "Does anybody know?" Without waiting for a response, it turned and walked away.
Melanie turned and walked in the opposite direction. Her room was bare, with only a bed, a wardrobe and a desk. But she knew that she was one of the lucky ones having a room like this, some others here only got a mattress. Being one of the ringmasters favourites had its advantages. She sat on her bed, the springs creaking and looked out the window at the stars.
I'm home at last. She then bit her lip. Was this truly home? She sighed and laid down on her bed, wearily drifting into an uneasy sleep.
-
Thantos 'saw' a contruct rush at him with a rather long kick, but he grabbed the foot, and kicked the contruct away, causing the leg to be torn off. It regained its balance, and attacked again with a fist, which he grabbed and pulled back. As the contruct left the ground and flew towards Thantos, he used the leg to bash the midsection, breaking the contruct into two pieces.
"Well, are you leavi-" the other contruct attacked, and he didn't feel like prolonging the fight. He slid under the golem and broke the knee joints, then grabbed where the thighs would be and pulled himself up and onto the golem's back with a kick through the midsection. He guess they were made of wood from the sound of his kicks, and the feel of the contructs form. "Hm... only one idiot I know who uses wooden golems... Ringmaster, I've just about have had enough of your wood fetish." he said as he walked back to Mistress Cindy.
-
the wooden Marionette dolls reformed and the ringmasters voice grew Demonic don't touch...no no not a good idea to touch The Cheetah had a mist swirl around her and Cindy began to float on mid-air PUT ME DOWN i've had enough of your BLOODY TORTURE!
it hasn't even begun Cindy...It hasn't even begun
-
Thantos grinned as the Ringmaster pulled up the mist, showing herself to him. He rushed past the two approaching puppets and kicks it right in the jaw before knocking it to the ground. "Leave... now, runt"
-
The ringmaster smirked as she watched Thantos Fight her undying minions, she pulled Cindy's head back and Cindy was left staring at a deep dark canopy above them. Sqeals of tortured souls flustered through her mind
why do i suffer, why do i torture w- She stopped talking as she blinked, and saw for the first time, around her. What was really there..
-
He turned around and noticed that Cindy's image was much larger than usual. He immedeatly ran back and leaped slightly over Mistress, and grabbed whatever was behind her. He could feel someone's neck in his hands, and the feel was not of wood, so he tightened his grip.
-
((Idea, what if this is a dream and she wakes up in my bar?))
-
( OOC: waiting for this thread to become active, before I post. Especially with aboves question throwing a wrench into current activities)
-
Thantos put his foot on the body past the one that was in front of him. He wanted to make sure that wether he pulled her away, or pushed her off of his Mistress, that the Ringmaster would not have her claws on her. "You may have most of her mind wrapped around your fingers, but I will never let you take it all!"
-
Cindy's eyes flung open and she stared at the ringmaster and the puppets sprawled on the floor. She screamed for her life for no reason and fled to the bushes and shrubs, hearing talking and whispering in her mind, she looked up ahead and saw many flickering lights of blue and red. Curious, she went closer. But the lights she stared at were never endingly far. She felt herself fall closer and closer to a hard landing.
-
Melanie raced through the trees away from the figures that chased her, scratches adorning her body.
"Why do you run Melanie?" The Ringmasters voice echoed.
"Leave me alone!" Melanie cried.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a figure run up beside her and she darted away from its reaching arms but staggered and fell. There was a crunching of leaves as the Ringmaster knelt beside her and she felt something being wrapped around her wrists and ankles.
"Now now Melanie." The Ringmaster said. "There was no need to run. I just wanted to speak with you."
The girl thrashed as the Ringmaster put a hand on her forehead and her vision started to fade. She didn't feel like herself anymore. Like she was losing her mind.
"My mind is my own!" Melanie shouted.
"I think not!" The Ringmaster hissed back.
"Go and die!" Melanie snarled.
The Ringmaster jumped back as Melanie's figure begun to change. The red, blue and black seeped out of her hair like liquid down her body, colouring the scales that now covered it. The Andaconda Melanie slinked out of the binds and plunged her fangs into one of the demons.
"No!" The Ringmaster roared.
Melanie slithered into the brush, she knew that she needed something faster if she was to escape and suddenly she was running on four paws. The panther bolted through the trees, her ears picking up the sound of a chase behind her. As she ran she was aware that the Ringmaster was no longer present in her mind.
She cant affect me while I'm in my animal forms!
Melanie sniffed the air, smelling salt. The ocean was up ahead and she know bounded forward, knowing she could escape. She jumped out of the trees, the ocean breeze hitting heer, the glittering sea streached out before her. Her way to freedom.
Melanie whirled around, facing the trees and shifted to anthro. She placed her paw-like hands out in front of her, her gold eyes dancing like fire and the trees that bordered the cliff caught on flame.
The girl then ran toward the edge of the cliff, preparing to jump. Hopefully before the Ringmaster broke into her mind again. She spread her falcon wings and leapt, fur starting to grow over her body.
Suddenly her left wing snapped backwards, the pain stopping the transformation, Melanie cried in agoney.
I wasnt quick enough... Her vision started to grow black and the last thing she saw was some type of aura surrounding her and the voice in her mind.
"Nobody escapes from me."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Melanie jolted awake and put her head into her hands.
What was that?
She decided to figure it out later and went downstars to get some breakfast.
-
As Niala ran, the sound of the weeping beast grew closer and closer, reaching its claws of sound to her.
-
Thantos was lucky to have no ability to hear or see, otherwise he would have fallen for illusions time and time again. He spared the Ringmaster, veiwing the safety of this realm's creator as a higher priority. He grabbed a puppet and threw it to the ground, sending a wave that sifted through the trees, and 'illuminated' the now stumbling form of his Mistress. He dashed through the trees, and upon reaching her, shoulderd her weight onto his own, and hand his hand wrap under her other arm and hold up her head. "Calm down, those lights are not real, just relax and let me guide you through." He said this statement with as much honesty and calmness as possible, not wanting her to panic and lose herself to the Ringmaster's madness.
-
Cindy thrashed wildly and screamed. She was being torn by the sobs of the beast and in another direction by thantos. The Lynx felt weak and she struggled to lift her arms once more, her vision going blank. The vision of a crying beast weaved into her sight. Cindy reached out with her paw and soon enough she found herself near the crying beast, with her mind. Her body being held by Thantos, her mind trailing away from it. Cindy looked back and saw her body, limp. she wanted to scream but nothing escaped her lips besides breath....and she tried to near the demon
are you okay?...can you hear me? are you here?...are you real?
-
"Help me! keep me safe," she moaned as she scratched at her ears, pulling them to her chest. She reached out a hand to Cindy, begging her. "Stay with me, here, forever."
-
Cindy looked at the bloody paw, and the beasts shredded ears and shuddered not knowing what to do. She looked around peering cautiously for any tricks the Ringmaster may have put out.... Bingo.. The Ringmaster emerged from Darkness in Cind'ys mind, staring with one eye at her and the other on the demon rabbit. Cindy felt herself falling again, and she woke up back on thantos, still weak.
-
Thantos didn't think much of the thrashing, just guiding her through the forest, his 'sight' letting him walk around without bumping into trees. "There are still a few of us that don't serve her, I know of someone who can treat your injuries. Although he has a bit of a bloodlust issue..." His memories went back to a child who needed care, but the doctor put the child through worse pain before fixing his injuries like he was only created for healing.
-
Cindy looked up at thantos
w...i'm bleeding?
She looked at her paws, all of them now crimson and disfigured
Don't let him hurt me... please
Cindy curled as tight as she could, she became frightened of what was around her now, clinging to Thantos's shoulder, wincing as the pain from her paws attacked her nerves
-
"When I explain things to him, he'll do the best he can to control that urge... for now, lets just get you out of the forest." Thantos replied, even though under the bandages around his eyes, and the cowl that hid his ears, there was nothing but what served as a 'brain' and a 'mouth' for him. "Although you're probably lucky I was one of the few resisting that managed to find you, the others would have fallen prey to the 'illusion of outside' and would be going nowhere fast."
-
“Yes well” Sergi said, cutting Thantos short as he phased in to existence, a few feet ahead of and off to the left of the pair.“Yes this is all fine indeed, Buuut” He said sharply, sitting hunched, perching on the rotting stump of a long fallen tree ” I do not have all day now” Sergi clutched a softly ticking pocket watch in one claw, and a hourglass in the second , reading both of them before looking up at the advancing pair. With an annoyed look on his face, he wound the pocket watch and continued to speak “So, Thantos, how much longer do I have to wait?” He said, as he unceremoniously dropped the watch and hourglass, only to have them dangle off his belt.
-
Thantos didn't stop moving although the extra voice did peeve him to no end. "Sergi, Mistress needs to be carried out of the forest since we all know you can't take people with you into wherever you phase to. So, get out of here before the Ringmaster decides to scramble your senses..."
-
Shiro was waiting for a looong time.
"Thats it, I need to find these guys."
He waved at the stoat to finish up as he went outside and got on his motorcycle.
10 minutes later, he pulled up in the little gathering place.
"So, where is that phone call I have been waiting for? And where is she anyways?"
-
Sergi sighed, and watched as the two passed him. “The ringmaster is not going to scramble me” he said, a bored tone to his voice. He hopped his stump, and strolled up behind the pair. He walked behind Thantos, darting from side to side with an unusial hop-step-hop gait all the while peeking at the wounded and somewhat out of it Cindy, “So this is her huh? What are you going to do?” Sergi asked. He paused suddenly with a gasp, stopping behind them to check a small brass pocketwatch which had stopped ticking. Sergi sighed, looked it over, gave it a shake and then wound it befor looking back at the pair “and how long do I have to wait?”
-
Melanie walked into the mess hall, the clinking of cutlery against plates and chatting filled the air. As she walked down the aisle between two tables, she was aware that people stopped what they were doing and looked at her, whispering to each other.
"Shes back..."
"The masters favourite..."
Melanie flicked her ears and walked up to the bench, picked out her food and sat in a dark corner, away from the staring eyes. As she chewed she thought about the dream she had.
What was that anyway? The Ringmaster said I was born here...She would never lie to me...
After she had finished she put her plate on the bench and walked out of the hall, feeling the stares on her back. She then walked out the front door into the bright sunlight.
-
Cindy moaned, and clung onto thantos as she awoke, her eyes darting frightfully, from side to side. She looked at Sergi, and then at the watch and she used her mind to whisper to Thantos.
Who is he?...why is he following us?
She dug her claws into Thantos's armour, trying to escape. Nothing happened, she was still there. Her dream, it isnt a dream anymore.
-
Thantos felt her emotions and momentarily lifted her up to shake her out of whatever mental state she was before letting her back down. "The annoying one following us is one of my friends, though he should know that the Ringmaster can only be faced when you stop watching the show and shut out the music, or you will be forever at her mercy." He said this with cryptic wisdom as he had fought her when she began to 'twist and turn'.
You could say his failure to stop her the first time made all of this mental chaos possible.
-
Cindy felt limp and stared at Thantos's face blankly then at the creature following and she passed out. Hearing murmurs and sighs as she did.
-
“Annoying!!” Sergi exclamied as he started after the pair again “I am, I am hurt Thantos” He said, with a grin and a psudo-shocked tone to his voice “I suppose I need to try harder I'f simply -annoying-” He said, with a small sigh “Anyways yes Cindy, I'm with him, and were with you. And together, well.. I don't really know” Sergi notices that cindy has since passed out “Oh, I see” He quickly dashed, with a flutter infront of Thantos, and stands with intent to stop him “So.." he sighs "what can I do? As I suppose I should do.. something”
-
Thantos bumped into him because Sergi didn't move enough to register in his 'vision'. Although he heard his thoughts before he spoke, and he thought of an answer. "Well, the Ringmaster should be getting back up soon, keep her puppets busy and if possible, throw her off my trail... you take Shiro with you too. The less that are with me, the less hampered I will be by whatever she tries to scare the rest of you with..." he said before walking around Sergi and continuing on his way to the doctor.
-
Sergi recoiled slightly from Thantos collision, stumbling back a few paces. He listened to Thantos and nodded, sighing at the prospect of having to doing something to interfere with the ringmaster. “Fine, yes I'll see what I can do” He said, as Thantos continued onwards. “Now, to find Shiro....” Sergi stood, and scooped up a watch off of his belt, he looked at it abit as if reading it could tell him where someone was. He wound it and let it drop back, to dangle at his waist “We will meet up at the doctors” Sergi said, before phasing out of existence only to phase in back in on a bench at Shiros meeting place. Sergi coughed abit to get his attention. “Hey, miss me?” He said with a silly grin.
-
"Hunh? Oh it's you. You know the Ringmaster stiffed me again? This has to be the third time." He sighed.
"Hey Sergi, yeah, of course I missed you. Hows it goin and why haven't I seen you in the bar at all?"
-
Melanie stretched and breathed in a lungful of air and walked through the grass toward the trees, going for a run in the woods. She loved to run, it made her feel free. As she reached the trees she hunched down and jumped into the air and landed as a black, red and blue wolf on the otherside of the trees. She then howled and ran into the woods.
-
Rainin....the Sugah Sugah, the candy cane bo' facist lanes....stood on the very edge of the forest, soaking up the rays of the sun, the stem of a giant green apple lollipop sticking out of the edge of her mouth. Her shiny blue body, equally shiny pink dress, purple, curly locks of mane and purple tail catching the rays of the sun luminously. "Well, since the Ringmaster left me, this has been pretty boring," the child-at-heart complained. "There has to be something to do..."
-
Sergi sat and listened, inspecting over one of his talons as Shiro spoke. He nodded and commented “Well, you do know that she is here now, probably why you were blew off. Also, it should be noted, we really need to distract the ringmaster, as they seem to be trying to kill her, or something to that sort. Thantos is taking her to his doctor friend and we need to buy him some time” Sergi streched, and stood up “And you know why I don't go to your bar. When I drink.. things get broken” Sergi said, quickly. “So, what are we going to do hm?”
-
Thantos had arrived outside the doctors office, and opened the door just in time to see a head flying out the window. "Hey, nows not the time to play tennis with the dead bodies Morbis..." "Pray tell when I can, Thantos... a lady gets bored when her knight isn't around to make things interesting..." the word 'lady' made his scales shake in disgust. If only you weren't a homicidal doctor, you might actually seem attractive... he growled inside his helmet as he put Mistress on the table. "A new body to pla-" Thantos grabbed her mouth and almost crushed her jaw in his grip. "You mess around at all, and your head is going on a pike Morbis, so I suggest you treat the Creator with a little more restraint then the others..." "The Creator, why didn't you say that earlier, of course I can fix these simple cuts!!" she said with a rather cute smile despite being covered in the blood and gore of her 'toys'.
Thantos sat on a chair while Morbis caused two more arms to slip out from her scrubs, allowing her to perform more procedures at a quicker pace. Watching her work was almost like watching a magic show, but it also had a similar effect of making uninterested people start to daydream. He, however, had no dreams, only memories of a better life, one before the Ringmaster had become what she is now.
-
The cold table made Cindy flinch, but soon enough she went black. Her mind an unknown place filled with unspeakable desire and hate, more so, with images. Images of pain, freedom, lust, anguish floated by her as a lone figure stood in the middle. Cindy, in Cindy's mind?... She was covered in blood, dirt and foliage and a fading image lay beside her. Soon enough Cindy came back to consciousness and screamed, hastily sitting up and grabbing the doctors throat and holding her in the air with a stern look on her face. What's happening to me....I'm seeing things hearing things and feeling pain from others a silence swept the room and a deep growl erupted from her mouth WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME!? She threw Morbis to the side and lept off the table. The Lynx grew a tail, long and spotted. Ears became shorter and her body was covered in spots. Cindy morphed into a Lynx/Cheetah and looked at her paws. She gaped and fells back, curling underneath the table in a ball, still staring at her paws and at Thantos's feet.
-
Thantos didn't flinch from his seat, and took off his helmet, showing the scars on his earholes and the bloodied bandage wrapped around his eyes. "Mistress, this is your mind turned reality, whatever you feel natural in... you become. Now for the voices, it is your choice whether you want to listen or not, those are fragments of your personality... their screaming is because the Ringmaster has seen fit that they should be 'kept in line'. Now please let Morbis heal your physical pains before I work on your mental ones."
-
She came out from underneath the table and stared deeply at Thantos with her Ice blue eyes. Cindy's new tail flicked from side to side impatiently. She looked up and crawled up onto the table, lying down once more and shutting her eyes slowly and soon enough blanked out again, feeling nothing, hearing nothing, seeing nothing. She dreamed though, she was in a green meadow and was sleeping peacefully on the grass in the middle of the field. But then darkness engulfed that dream... that memory and she was left alone, but she slept alone. Unaware of what was happening to her in 'reality'.
-
Thantos saw sunlight for the first time in possibly eons, only to have it turn dark again. He walked over to her sleeping body, giving Morbis a quick peck on the cheek to not only encourage her to get back into the swing of things, but to give a silent signal that he wasn't going to 'stay' with her for a few moments. He put a gauntlet covered hand on Cindy's head, and injected himself into her dream, rising out of the ground next to her without armor and only a buster-sword as a weapon.
This wasn't out of devotion or a growing love, he knew that if he wanted to have any hope of fixing this mess, he needed Mistress Cindy safe. After he appeared, he left his mental doppleganger inside her mind to protect her from any dream-based invasions while he stood guard for any actual threats. The only drawback was that he couldn't imagine or daydream anything, but his existance was as her gut feeling, not her ability to forsee.
-
In her mind, Cindy saw Thantos. In reaction to a familiar face, she jumped up and curled around his neck, like a scarf. Don't leave me alone... She squinted her eyes and as soon as she did so, they were 'walking' through a meadow like thing, harvested gore and pain, and crops of human flesh. She hid her head in Thantos's neck, sheilding her eyes from torture and fright.
-
The mental avatar (not the race, only the term 'avatar') was in every aspect Thanatos himself, except he had no power in 'reality'. "This is why we need to stop the Ringmaster, sadly, it doesn't stop with her, something influenced her until she became like this. The only way I can justify you being here is that you're here to either destroy her, or reset everything and reverse everything thats happened. Although for reasons I'd like to keep ultra-personal, I would like you to at least pull the Ringmaster out of her abyss." The gory sights continued on, but since they were mostly still, he didn't 'see' exactly how ugly the sights were. "If it scares you this much, think of something else, its your realm..."
-
Cindy whispered into Thantos's ear I can't control my thoughts.... not anymore
-
He raised his sword, and gathering all the mental strength he needed to, banished all of the sights with one swing. "This entire realm and the 'reality' outside are within your mind, if you believe this is your prison, it will be, but its sad when you get locked in your mind with the key, and don't use it. Okay, if you think I'm lying, just imagine me as what you view your personal ideal savior would be... change what I am now, into that image."
-
She looked at Thantos and stroked his cheek with her paw and shut her eyes. In her mind, a Giant Crimson dragon, with golden webbed wings, armour and claws appeared. It had deep Purple eyes and spikes trailing down its back. against her paw, she felt Thantos's armour melt away and scales Ruffle in its place. she opened her eyes to that Crimson Dragon. He stood high above the ground, and she on his shoulder, looked down at the ground, then at his Deep purple eyes and she whispered in his ear. "Can you see... can you hear?" her ice blue eyes stared into his almost black eyes and her paw lifted from his cheek. "can i wake up now?" She curled back up around his neck and shivered.
-
I can see what you see, and I do look formidable, even though I perfer to be gray than red. But you're the Mistress... and yes, you can wake up now, Morbis is done healing you. Thantos in 'reality' did not change at all, mostly because she was focusing on the mental image, and not the 'person' himself. "Now for payment, I want a two minute make-out... fine, thirty seconds..." Thantos shot her a look at 'two minutes', but it softened when she cut it to a fourth of the size. "Only because you're the best doctor here, and you do look rather attractive without the blood."
He hoped Cindy wouldn't wake up within thirty seconds, or it would be really awkward to explain...
-
Cindy turned on the table and squinted her eyes open lightly at the powerful light. She caught a glimpse at the two, but thinking it was her mind, she fell back to sleep and curled into a ball, breathing heavily and inhaling the air around her fur. The most at home i've ever felt She mumbled and licked at her arm, where her old scar used to be. She looked back up to thank Morbis and apologise for choking her.... And she felt her face go red as she blushed and giggled at Thantos and Morbis. Uhmmm... I'll just em.. *she scoffed* Go out there now *she tried to hold in her laughter until she got outside. When she did, she burst out laughing and smiled to herself as she looked at her paw again. most fun i've had in a long time She smiled to herself and sunk down in her seat.
-
If Thantos had any warm emotions building, they froze when he heard Cindy's laughter through her mind. He stopped making out at exactly thirty seconds, and left the doctor to her own devices yet again. "It was payment for getting you healed, honestly!!"
-
Cindy lept up onto Thantos's shoulders and licked his cheek I don't mind, honestly... it's your mouth Cindy smiled warmly at Thantos and curled up on his shoulders.
-
As Sergi waited for Shiro to respond, he fiddled with a random pocket watch. It was a weird little brass one, and on its face were only 3 numbers, a roman numeral three, six and nine. Sergi spun it on the end of its chain, sitting there, watching it and its one hand which sat, unmoving on 3. He sighed, then shuddered as the hand suddenly ticked to 6. “I Have to go, Shiro” He said to the still silent bartender “I'll meet you at Thantos doctor friends place” And with that, Sergi phased out, disappearing into a gray mist. A few minutes later Sergi phased back in, in another gray cloud, and found him self sitting atop Morbis roof peak the little brass watch still clasped in his talon.
-
From a far distance Torid could see them all waiting Thats her alright, giving a unconformable chuckle, "I think I'll go and introduce my self" walking towards them with a light cigarette in his mouth.
-
Cindy's ears flicked and her new tail compensated. She narrowed her eyes in the direction of an on-coming figure and she whispered in Thantos's mind. I feel yet more darkness approaching... She shuddered and held onto her Dragon protector.
-
As he got closer he began to notice Cindy clenching to the dragon, he smiles grimly. He took one last hit from his cigarette before tossing it on the ground. "No need to be afraid love" Tipping his hat towards Cindy. "My name is Torid, and I am here to meet ya."
-
Melanie dashed through the trees, the breeze pulling at her fur as she ran.
I might find the Ringmaster out here...
She didn't really pay attention to the direction of which she headed and skidded to a stop on the outskirts of a town and peered out of the trees.
-
Cindy's fur stood on end. "Meet me?" She studdered "W...What for?" She looked nervously at the Wolf.
-
Torid chuckling at her remark "Your a funny one. Ah I know your a fun gal to hang out with, come on ditch this loser and hang out with me for abit, we'll have a good time" Showing her his hand
-
Cindy's tail flicked, and brushed against Thantos's aromour. She looked at him slowly, so he didn't notice. She then turned her head and looked at Torid, cautiously. "..O..Okay then... but for a little while..." She lept off of Thantos and quickly scurried off with Torid, making sure thantos did not notice her disappearance.
-
Melanies ears flicked as she heard the thoughts of a young girl.
Ahh, the Ringmaster tried to break this one but she got away. I shall fix that.
She then jumped out of the trees and stalked toward the town, following the thoughts of the girl.
-
Cindy began to growl and she looked at Torid with glowing angry eyes. Someone's following me...
-
"Huh?"
Shiro stood as Sergi asked him a question, then said he would see him later.
"Woah, i just spaced out didn't I..."
He shook his head.
"Dam. Oh well, I need to find Thantos. That is where he said he would meet me."
He hopped back on his bike and started there.
-
Thantos was out of it since he was still trying to meld his mental experiences into his actual experience. So he was unaware that she left until he finished the meld. Which he promptly did and then slammed his sword into the ground to create a big enough wave to locate her. He 'saw' her outline in the distance, following one and being followed by another. He dropped onto all fours and his armor shifted to allow feral movement as he almost galloped towards her, and then crashed into the person she was following. "Keep your filty paws off her Torid!!" he bellowed as he quickly changed from feral to anthro. He got the name when his hand was grabbing the wolf by the head, but he wouldn't let go until either the wolf begged for mercy, or had his head ripped off. "The next time, and knowing you... there will be, Torid will be no more"
-
Rainin' was very bored. Bored out of her mind. So bored, was she, she couldn't take it. This wasn't fair. She was the funnest one here. She was the one who everyone should be playing with and sharing candy with....
Speaking of candy....
Rainin' opened up a pouch on her belt shaped like a pink anime pig and pulled out a few neon, sugar coated gummy worms and shoved them into her mouth. Chewing slowly, she started to walk in the general direction of some loud vibrations she'd seen in the ground. Then she used her mind-power to announce her prescence to everyone in the realm. "Sugah's here everyone! Don't you want to play with her? You play with her and she'll reward you... In all likelihood, no-one would want to, but Rainin' had her ways of making people do as she wished....ways she wouldn't employ unless she needed to.
-
Chuckling at Thantos "Careful Hot head, you don't wanna blow out a fuse" Torid grabbed hold Thantos's hand set it ablaze. "And besides Cindy wanted to tag along."
-
The helmet he had put on earlier shielded most of the fire, and he shook the remained off before slamming Torid's head into the dirt. "Tell the Ringmaster that Cindy is off limits..." a split second later he heard Rainin's voice ring in his head, and he quickly retorted. Once everything is fixed, I'll play with you... but the Ringmaster is still corrupted and this realm is decaying faster than a sugar addict's back teeth. Go find someone else to play with 'Sugah'
-
Cindy scurried up Thantos's shoulders and nuzzled into his neck I'm not too sure i want you to leave...someone's following me Her eyes darted from side to side and her fur stood on end And it's getting closer... She thought her words into Thantos's mind I'm not sure about this Torid...i don't like how he hurt you Her eyes watered and she curled up closely to Thantos's neck and nuzzled his cheek.
-
Thantos chuckled when she commented on Torid. Hes your fear and hate, so its hard to like someone that embodies that aspect, and hes a real pain to just be around... As for the other one, I smell the Ringmaster on her, literally. Thantos drew two regular length swords and slowly backed away from the approaching figure, weapons at the ready.
-
Rainin was taken aback but didn't show it, flipping her cotton candy blue mane back and still chewing on her candy. "Well that's boring. Fine. I'll find someone else." Then she smiled, knowing just who amoung the realm dwellers would be the most fun. "Hows about your lovely little friend there? What's your name, dearie? Do you like to play games?" Sugah addressed this mainly to Cindy, though she knew very well everyone else in the realm could hear her too.
-
Torid just laid there for abit "Well that didn't work out as I planed...." Torid reached in the inside of his coat. "Mmm.....My cigs are ok" Torid took out a cig and light his finger on fire "Well then," getting up from the ground. "I have to try harder" smiling wickedly.
-
Cindy blinked and turned in her spot I'm sick of so many voices... no i can't play... not now... not for long times Cindy turned to Torid and gave him a foul look. She spoke aloud, and kept the words from her mind, so Thantos could not hear.
What do you want from me... what do you want to do She gave him pleading eyes and curled her tail around Thantos's shoulder, quickly glancing at the Dragon as he focused on the figure lurking towards them.
-
Torid laughed at the glance Cindy gave him. "You are like me, You are afraid to be alone" Giving a grimly smile "You only hang with him because you are afraid to be alone. Am I wrong?" Taking a hit as he waits for a answer.
-
Only because i am at risk She growled back, her eyes slowly turning green and black. Her ears flicked and she turned in the direction where the figure was coming from. Don't bother fighting this one, she doesn't feel a threat at all... not for long She calmed down and lept off of Thantos's shoulders and turned to Torid. I'm not afraid to be alone, and he stays to protect me... I wish for him too She growled.
-
Torid couldn't help but laugh We both know that's a lie, I can see it each time you bury your face in his armor He took another hit I only wanna show ya the true fun when playing with fire. Torid hands caught on blaze but formed small fire balls. He juggled two, then on of them split into two. The fire balls continued to split until they reacted 5 flaming fire balls. Eh? Now what do ya say? Wanna have some fun?
-
Cindy glared at Torid I am no liar Her claws flexed deep into the ground and she spat at Torids fire balls.
-
Melanie stalked down the street, keeping to the dark shadows of the buildings, her gold eyes on the three figures ahead.
Nobody escapes the Ringmaster... Melanie then breached the wall between the Ringmasters mind and hers.
"Ringmaster. Are you there?"
"Yes I am Melanie but I'm too busy to talk."
"Searching for the lost one?"
"Yes. How'd you know about that?"
"I have found her when I was out taking a walk." Melanie smiled to herself.
"Where are you?"
"In the town to the east."
"Very well done my Melanie. Make yourself scarce for now. I shall be there soon."
Melanie severed the contact but the presence of the Ringmaster was still there as it always was and then with her eyes gleaming she turned and ran down the street back toward the forest.
-
Thantos felt a chill go up his spine. Great, shes a light sleeper... only unconsious for a half an hour and shes back on her feet He thought as he picked up Cindy and told her the possible situation. Ringmaster might be coming back, wanna run to the bar, or try your abilities against her? he thought while pointing one of his two swords at Torid. "If you're gonna be useful for once, I need you to distract the Ringmaster, or I can just beat you down for siding with her before running off; its your choice."
-
Cindy shivered and looked at Thantos her mind full of things to say about the Ringmaster... She growled then her face went pale and she clutched onto Thantos's paws. I...I'm not ready yet...not for her
-
Torid pushed the blade out of his face, he didn't look too happy Yea, I'll cause a distraction for ya just let him in and I'll show ya how something ya won't forget fire crept up his fur and slowly rose as he walked up to the door.
-
Thantos chuckled at Torid as he put away his blades. "The Ringmaster is a woman and a master of illusion. But, if you at least slow her down that'd be great." He hefted Cindy back onto his shoulders while making a run for the pub. He stretched his limited telepathy to find Shrio and Sergi; Cindy and I are heading to the pub now, Ringmaster might be following behind as well...
-
Oh wait, You didn't say anything about her being a woman Torid's fire immediately ceased I don't hit womens
-
Melanie crouched beyond the trees looking at the town, her tail flicking in anticipation, waiting for the Ringmasters arrival.
"Be careful Ringmaster. She's being guarded."
Melanie felt the Ringmasters acknowledgement and waited.
-
She's no woman, she's the devil... Cindy growled at Torid DON'T LET GENTLEMEN GET IN THE WAY KILL THE WART INFESTED TRICKSTER She thrashed wildely at the door and collapsed on the ground holding her paws to her head and curling into a ball.
-
Torid slammed his fist at a wall yelling back THEN I WOULD BE LIKE THOSE B******S THAT THINK THEY ARE SO HIGH AND MIGHT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE PHYSICALLY STRONGER. I WILL NOT DEGRADE MYSELF TO THAT LEVEL He stops and continue to walk out the door
-
Cindy roared loudly and stopped Torid, she pounced onto him and pinned him to the floor uncaring if he burst into flames or not. Listen, dog. This 'woman' is here to destroy our lives our minds... she's destroyed families and has taken in one of my old friends, before all this madness... I miss her... and she won't be the only one!!! NOW HELP...OR DIE!! She snapped and flexed her claws.
-
Torid just laid there What about the sanity of my mind? The moment I hit a women, I will loose all sense of sanity I have left. Now tell me is that what you what? Mmh? IS THAT WHAT YOU F***kING WHAT?! barking at Cindy. Torid got up from the ground Now listen here kitten pointing his cig at Cindy I am not fighting no lady. Got that!? He took a hit from his cigarette I will slow her down but I won't hurt her at all.
-
She's not a lady, she's not a woman, she's the devil in disguise Cindy stretched and shook her body And if she doesn't die, everyone else does... She turned her back willfully on Torid and flicked her tail before Jumping onto Thantos's shoulders. She's the ultimate evil and she's only a disguise...
-
Well then as long it is still a woman I will not harm her, I rather die then hit a woman. He heads towards the door You better get the move on and walks out
-
Melanie flicked her ears as she heard shouting in the distance. Her form shifted and she shot up a tall tree. The cheetah laid down, surveying the town.
She shall be here soon...
With that thought Melanie started to hum, flicking her tail.
-
Thantos shook Cindy up when she finished 'talking'.Shes not the devil, she is only the Ringmaster. Calling her the devil, means that people like myself shouldn't exist in this realm. But since I do, she was obviously not always 'the devil'... so until you can put up a fight with her, don't back-talk He set her down on a chair and waited for the others to show up.
-
Cindy mumbled and growled under her breath and she looked up at Thantos and glared, but softened her gaze as she realised he was helping thanks.... Her tail flicked and she looked to the side.
-
“Its funny, how you speak of everyone's death so openly Cindy” Sergi said, his voice disembodied as a grey mist slowly started to spin around a chair that sat in the corner. “With out consulting me, your mortality” Sergi sighed, as he fully phased in, sitting in a reclining position. He sniffed abit, the faint odor of bad cigarettes lingered in the air “Do I smell Torrid? Was he here?” He asked, “Oh well, you know Cindy," He said, redirecting his attention to her “you are terribly difficult to keep up with.”
-
Thanots had a slight chuckle at Sergi's comment. "Yes, it is remarkably difficult to keep up with someone when you can be anywhere at anytime... as for Torid, hes going to keep the ringmaster busy until we find a better place to hide; wheres Shrio?"
-
Sergi gave an exacerbated sigh, chuckled and rolled his eyes“Yes well, it still takes me travel time in the other realm before I can come back into this one” He sat up, his feathers fluffing up gently “And as for Shiro, last I talked at him, he was in one of his distracted moods. I left him in the clearing, I have no idea where he is gone after that” Sergi picked up a small black watch, and looked it over, before winding it. “I could tune him in if I was phased out.”
-
Ugh. Whatta jerk. All of them were jerks. Sugah would show them all right, she'd show them what it was really like to 'play.' Sighing, the young pony began to search for the group of beings that she could sense just barely beyond the edge of what was palapable to her. Once she found them, they were going to play.
Unless the Ringmaster stepped in. And that had happened before, hadn't it?
-
Torid waited for the ringmaster to show up. I wonder who this RingMaster is as he took a hit from his cigarette
-
Only everyone's destruction from the inside out Cindy said as if it didn't matter.
-
Thantos wasn't having it with her comments. Mistress, again with making the Ringmaster more dangerous or evil than she really is... do you really think anything you're saying is going to help Torid against her?!
-
Thantos... you don't know her like i do./.. no one knows how dangerous she really is Cindy growled and lept off of Thantos's shoulders and sat at his feet, staring blankly at a pyramid of glasses and a drunk panda, giving weird looks at him.
-
Actually, I might know her more than you do... its the main reason she hasn't killed me as being her only main threat beyond you. He snickered before continuing his thought. I was her boyfriend for about two years, and had spent four years before that as her advisor.
-
Cindy's face drained of colour as she stared at Thantos. Her face scrunched up and she circled him, and with an uncaring, mocking tone she spoke. Well then you got her love didn't you, not her hate and pain.... i have a feeling i've known her a great deal of my life She sat beside Thantos and stared into the forestry outside the windows.
-
Thantos snorted at her reply, feeling the Ringmaster getting closer...
For the first two years I was her advisor, it was because my abilities got me the position, she hated how I always stopped her from going where she wanted to, even if it was obviously the wrong path. It got so bad that I repeatedly got smacked around, only to stop her again. The third year there was a rebellion lead by Melanie, trying to overthrow the Ringmaster's rule. I put my life on the line often to keep her forces from reaching the Ringmaster, we ended up putting her in a cell and had her mind locked so she couldn't contact anyone outside her cell. She ended up becoming nicer after that; then we started hanging out when our duties were not immedeat. I'd rather not continue..
Thantos dear... having a nice chat with Cindy are we? He suddenly got out of the chair and readied his swords, on full alert and trying the best he can to sense her movements.
-
"Ringmaster, you're here at last...
Melanie jumped down from the tree she was in, the anthro snow leopard appearing beside her.
-
Cindy paused....Melanie?.... She pondered on the name and froze as she felt the Ringmaster nibble through the walls of her mind, she faught back and hid behind thantos.
-
Melanie jumped from side to side in excitement. Ooooh I cant wait to see this!
"Do you want me to come with you?" She asked the Ringmaster, looking up at her.
"That would be most welcome Melanie." The Ringmaster smiled slightly, looking at the towns lights. "I want you to see this."
Melanie shifted to anthro and her and the Ringmaster walked out of the trees.
The Ringmaster put a hand on Melanie's shoulder. "I'll get you to fly over the town until I call and also make sure no one makes a run for it."
Melanie nodded and shifted into a peregrine falcon and fluttered off into the night as the Ringmaster walked toward the town.
-
Cindy felt her claws grow longer and sharper in her fear, she dug into the floor of the pub and underneath the floorboards and dirt, she sank. her spotted tail flicking and her Lynx ears bending to her head. Not yet you foul creature... She muttered.
-
Thantos yanked her out of her quickly-made hole and went out the back door labled 'fire escape'. He couldn't fight the Ringmaster with Cindy not even adept with her abilities. I can't show whats happening to us now... you'll find out later
Oh a surprise? I love surprises!. Show me what you got as my present, Thantos dear!! The Ringmaster went from a regular walking pace to a mad, almost animalistic dash towards Thantos. If anyone was in the town at that moment, they would realize that anywhere they went, everything looked exactly the same, and the road never seemed to end.
-
Cindy clung to Thantos and nuzzled into his chest, yelling loudly in her head, squinting her tail tight around his wrist. Don't let her get me Than. please! She curled into a ball in his arms and whimpered.
-
Melanie floated on an air draft, watching the town below with her gold eyes.
-
Cindy's ears flicked and she looked up at the sky... the figure distant and definitely not on their side. But Cindy felt there was a familiarity. Melanie?
-
Melanie fluttered in fright as she heard the girl say her name in her mind. How does she know...she might have heard about me from the Ringmaster...hmmm... Melanie trailed off. There was something familar about this girl.
-
Cindy glared at the skies. Thantos, we're being seen by more than the Ringmaster's eyes.
-
Thantos turned a corner then used his feet talons, which were free of the confining armor, and 'hopped' his way up the side of the building. He got a solid footing on the roof and then kept running as he couldn't feel her presence fading. This is what happened after she became corrupt, she did something to Melanie and now that shape-shifter serves her regardless of what occoured in the past... Although I'm surprised that she doesn't know who I am, or she wouldn't dare follow me anywhere
-
Cindy clung to Thantos, as if to hug him. What happened to her Thantos.... what happened to the Melanie i don't see anymore... A tear streaming from Cindy's eye.
-
Thantos sighed, hoping he could fly with armor... but knowing that was impossible for him to carry her, his armor, and himself all on a pair of wings that he rarely used. When the time for Melanie's trial, something caused the sky to get a sickening tinge of purple-red, and before I could realize what was going on, the Ringmaster was struck by a bolt from the sky. I didn't know any healing magic, so the best I could do was stop the shock from doing more damage, so a got on top and acted as a grounding device. Thats the day I lost my sight and hearing... but gained something else to compensate. Anyway, she had a dark look in her eyes, but not as dangerous as the one she has now. She walked over to Melanie, grabbed her by the he- Purple electricity suddenly shot out of Thantos' head, and he roared in pain as he felt his connection to Cindy be forced shut. If you stop telling her what happened I'll restore your eyes and ears. How does that sound, my love? Thantos looked up at Cindy, and could only mouth 'Run' before he coughed up blood and struggled to stay consious.
(In case you're still confused, Thantos just had the connection from his brain to his muscles short-circuited by the Ringmaster, hes stuck like that for a couple moments. Yes, this is quite painful to experience, which is why its hard to not black out.)
-
A wall of fire blazed between Thantos and The Ringmaster Sorry Kiddies, She made a slip past me without me noticing. Thantos you look lovely today Torid laughed as he put Thantos over his shoulders Com'on love, she won't get past there, Lets go to the pub where the others are waiting.
-
Cindy huffed at Torid you were supposed to slow her down... She growled and nuzzled Thantos gently on his muzzle, then she sprinted for the pub. She Dashed into bushes along the way, hoping the two would catch up soon.
-
Well EXCUSE ME love but you can't really slow down anyone you haven't meet, now can you? Jogging along with Thantos on his shoulders
-
Cindy felt tears try to break past her eyelids and she ran back to Thantos and stood by him, she leant down and licked his eyes and nuzzled into his cheek, her tears streaming down her cheeks. You'll be okay Thantos... i promise
-
"Melanie. I need you to surround the edges of the town with fire and the other elements you control. I dont want them slipping away."
"Right Ringmaster."
Melanies eyes gleamed and fire erupted around the edges of the town and the wind whistled overhead around her, making a dome over the town, the trees on the other side of the fire knotted their branches together making a wall.
-
Cindy felt chilled, her fur stood on end. In panic she placed her paws on Thantos's head and with that, a surge of energy pulsed through her, she lifted her hands and saw Thantos wake up a little. Cindy stared at her paws in confusion, unknowing of how she had done that. "C'mon, you lug, please!!!" CIndy jumped in panic. I'm NOT GOOD AT THE WHOLE FIGHTING THING!!!
-
Thantos started to get up, then started to sway a bit as his mind was still in a befuddled funk of pain. His 'vision came back on and he regained his balance, drawing out both his swords and letting out a roar to get a quick scan of his surroundings. I guess I can't get any sleep with all of this going on... Hi again, Shalara! he waved at the Ringmaster, then current situations brought his mind back to the task at hand. "Torid, change of plans, I'll keep the Ringmaster busy, you get Cindy through the fire wall."
-
Cindy gaped at Thantos "Sha...what!? " She looked hesitantly between the two Thantos... no!! She reached out for him but then she was picked up by Torid and pulled in the other direction. She didn't bother to struggle and she whispered softly into Thantos's mind Be careful Thantos...
-
Com'on love you heard the man Torid ran through the wall of fire as if though it didn't exist.
-
Cindy had her paw still out reaching for Thantos as they ran through the fire, and it burnt. She let out a wail of pain and clasped her paws tightly. worst day ever. She huffed and her tail flicked, hitting Torid in the face once or twice on their way of escape.
-
I can feel the love as Torid ran as fast as he could
-
Cindy sighed "Sorry..." She hugged around his neck and sobbed lightly.
-
Torid slowed his pace just a bit. Hey com'on Love, I am sure Thantos will be fine, has he ever let you down?
-
No, i don't care if he lets us down, i just hope he's okay. She stuttered and sighed as her tail wrapped around Torid's arm.
-
He stood there as the Ringmaster came into 'view', and he drew his weapon. "Despite who you used to be, any gift that I recieve from you will be as corrupted as the force that has made you think this way..." "You're only saying that because you've still got that image of a teenager in your head, I've grown up from then my love, all I ask is that you let me reach past the armor once again..."
Thantos kept his weapon out, and slowly backed away from the Ringmaster before leaping away at her swipe. "Look at yourself, you won't even have the patience to be calm, you know I can sense hostile intent Shalara, and this is exactly why I can't let you near Cindy until either you purify yourself, or she does it herself." He swung behind him just in time to cleave a puppet in two. "But I feel so good like this, I want my dragon to feel the same, is that so wrong??" "That same power that makes you feel 'good' destroyed my eyes and ears, so its even less believable that I can get them back through the same power!!" He knew that as long he was around and Cindy was not, Shalara would be too infatuated with him to bother with the other two. Imagine, I actually had dreams about her being this forceful, but now I'm trying to run away... He felt the presence of more puppets as he finished his thought, knowing it wouldn't be much longer until he had to let her get close in order to avoid getting caught, regardless of how ironic that sounded.
-
No Cindy, it does matter. If Thantos, ever let you down, he would never have the strength to protect you, thats why he would never let you down. Torid stopped to catch his breath
-
If that happened i'd find the strengths i need. Cindy lept off of torids shoulders and prouled around the area. She looked back and felt her dragon's presence in the mere distance. It wasn't fading. Cindy growled and climbed up a tree to see the eye of the sky.
-
Thantos kept on retreating from the Ringmaster, but couldn't put too much distance or he would be overcome by the puppets and lose anyway. "Please just stop walking away, all I want is to make you feel good again, please Thany?" he blushed at the pet name being said, but kept his delicate pacing between the puppets and the Ringmaster, trying to buy Cindy as much time as he can. This is the first time I feel that escape is not happening, yet I'm not freaking out...
While she approached Thantos with a consistent click of her heels, the Ringmaster sent a mental order to Melanie.Make sure the girl and the one carrying her never leave your sight, I'm in the middle of a date and can't be bothered to let him run away...
-
"Gotcha Ringmaster."
Melanie flew up higher into the night sky, her feathers blending into the night, storm clouds starting to follow her. She saw the shapes of Cindy and Torid flicker through the trees from her view.
You're not getting away kiddies.
-
Cindy poked her head up above the canopy and sniffed the air. "Torid....rain!!!" She panicked and jumped out of the tree.
-
Son of B- Torid didn't even bother finishing the sentence, he picked up Cindy and started to run again. This time he ran on all fours. Sprinting as fast as he could finding some shelter.
-
Cindy clung onto Torid's back and squealed. SHe had never bothered to even think of running this fast, lettalone her hate of being picked up by surprise. She nuzzled into Torid's shoulders and into his fur, trying to hide.
-
Melanie cawed, lightning flashing across the sky, the wind starting to blow a gale and the rain started to pour down as she gave chase.
-
They don't give up. continues to run. Cindy....Hang on tight Torid ran on two legs again, only this time his hands began glowed, What ever you do, don't open your eyes. He had his arms wide open, then he clapped. His hands caused a flash so bright, it temporarily blinded anyone that saw it. As fast it shined, it went. Torid and Cindy where no where to be found.
-
Thantos had finally backed into a wall, and was now beggining to stress. I can't go forward, can only go right or left and hope there isn't too many pup- he turned right and met three marrionets brandishing their own blades. He cut the blades and the puppets in two strokes before heading right, but didn't realize the Ringmaster picked up her pace until he felt her hand grab the back of the armored collar. "Tag, I win... win you, that is" Thantos tried to pull away, but since she had a hand on him, she could put illusions right into his head, as well as make him fall asleep right there. Luckily for her, she performed the second ability rather than deal with a panicked, sword-weilding dragon warrior. "B-Bu-" "No 'but's my love, I've been waiting for six months to have you in my arms, and I shant wait a day longer when you're just ..." she pulled him back into a full embrace, both arms feeling like a blanket to a quickly tiring Thantos. "within my reach... now dream... dream of the past once again, for those times will come back again."
Thantos' mental presence had faded to almost non-existance the instant he went to sleep, making him impossible to locate.
-
Cindy squinted and slowly opened her eyes and she shuddered. I don't feel Thantos anymore Torid... She looked around and tears streamed down her cheeks. Where are we?
-
Melanie screeched in pain flaring her wings up to cover her eyes, after the flash faded she circled over the trees.
No! No! No! No! Their gone! The Ringmaster will have my skin for this!
-
Shhhhh.....I know, I don't feel his presence either whispering. It was too dark to see anything, for the time being. We have to wait for some time, maybe a hour or two, until then just get some rest
-
Cindy whimpered and nuzzled into Torid's fur. She thought out toThantos, being cautious and blocking all else from hearing her thought. HOld on Than, please don't give in, please Than... Cindy curled up and hugged into Torid.
-
In Cindy's thoughts, she hears someone scream and hit the ground, then the sound of dusting. Well, I guess not all of me got out... Mistress, shes captured my body and more than half of my mind. I'm all thats left of the Thantos you know...
The Ringmaster held Thantos in her arms and slowly danced around with him as he started to gain consiousness. "Shalara, is that you?" he muttered with his rather warped voice, and she giggled as he slowly lifted his head up. "I missed you Thantos, more than anything else..." she knew Melanie failed to catch Cindy, but Cindy's 'protector' was now back in her own arms, and would never leave them again if she had any say-so. Its alright Melanie, you'll get off because I just got the one thing standing between me and her, and he would be all too happy to stop anyone who wishes to take his place...
-
*Torid blasted through the hole of a very shallow trunk that covered them* Com'on love we need to get back to the pub maybe there will be others that can help there *Getting out and offering her a hand*
-
Melanie flew down to the town. " I'm glad that your sparing me Ringmaster."
-
Cindy held onto Torid's paw and grip tightly as her eyes swelled with tears. THanto's... i'll get you back... i promise, before it's all over, i'll get you back. Cindy cried into Torid's shoulders Will you protect me now, Torid? She looked up at him as her eyes streamed with tears. Her ears pressed to her head.
-
Well, that is nice to hear, but I suggest staying away from the city, Shalara, Melanie, and my body are all there and any attempt at escaping their sight would be close to none since I can't guide Torid i'll have to play as your 'instinct'... our best bet is to the mountains, it'll be hard for me to spot anything with the way my 'sight' works... and Melanie would need to get dangerously high to spot us from the sky... that and I made an oasis there where I go for mental conditioning, so you can better master your powers there.
Ironically for Torid, the Ringmaster and Thantos had went to the same bar to get reaquainted as lovers, and any intrusion was not going to sit well with them. "Cindy has the rest of my mind, but once we find her, its only a matter of time before we'll both have a true existance outside this mind..." "Just so you know, I didn't agree to this just so we could have a few drinks, my love." "I know, I know, but its all in good time Shalara, all in good time.
-
Now I wouldn't be a gentlemen, if I didn't, now would I? Torid smiled. He continue to head towards town, but Torid stopped at the edge of the forest, as if though something told him to go deeper into the forest. He just stands their for a minute thinking.
-
Cindy held onto torid's arm and looked up at the mountains. "that way..." She looked up at him and started pacing towards the forest. Cindy's paw ran up against Torid's arm, stroking through his fur gently. I'm gonna get thanto's back torid... i'm going to save him.
-
Melanie paced at the egde of the town in her wolf form, waiting anxiously to begin the chase.
-
Cindy hastily tugged on Torids arm... My .....Melanie is around here, quickly lets move further in ... now! She started running for the mountains
-
No need to tell me twice, this should mess her up. Torid got on all fours again, this time he set himself on fire along with Cindy Don't worry love, my fire should hurt ya. Torid's fire started to split and take shape of them. running in different directions.
-
Cindy flinched and looked at her body, aflame. This reminds me of a dream i once had... She looked up at Torid, and it hit her.this... IS my dream... all of these thoughts...they're mine... She held Torid's paw tightly and closed her eyes.
-
Melanie paced at the egde of the town in her wolf form, waiting anxiously to begin the chase.
You have my permission to give chase, but don't expect me to come assist if you foolishly run or fly into a trap... Shalara 'said' to Melanie before she and Thantos retired to a king-size bed at a nearby inn.
-
Melanie then turned and raced into the trees, the wind tugging at her fur, following their scent.
"Your not going to get away..." She said to them. "Why dont you join us Cindy?"
-
Cindy growled as she heard the pain of melanie's words hit her mind. She yelped a little as she felt herself split into 5 forms.
-
Melanie growled, skidding to a stop as she encountered many different paths
-
The Thantos in Cindy's thoughts was thoroughly confused at her division. Am I in one head, or five... because I didn't feel any seperation...
Monster-like puppets soon catch up with Melanie, and went down different paths, leaving only one un-traveled. These were autonomous, so their senses are only advanced enough to spot something in plain sight, but they're physical speed can close the gap since they are only limited to the amount of pressure they can put on their joints.
-
Melanie smiled as she saw the puppets go down the different paths, she then raced down the one ahead, weaving through the trees, jumping from trunk to trunk as she followed the scent while she taunted them.
"Cindy! Oh Cindy! Why are you afraid Cindy? Why do you run Cindy? Why not join us Cindy?"
-
Cindy imagined a way of escape. This was her mind. These were her thoughs. She was dreaming? She, sadly, wasn't. She held onto torid's back and they disappeared in a puff of smoke. Her mind residue on the decoy's Torid had sent.
-
Melanie ran faster, leaping over logs and boulders. I have to catch them!
-
Cindy looked around still clasping torids paw in hers. She looked up at him and then grinned. We're safe than... i saved us!!... how?
-
Cindy looked around still clasping torids paw in hers. She looked up at him and then grinned. We're safe than... i saved us!!... how?
We're not saved until we reach the haven, those puppets can still track us down if you stand around long enough... a stray thought 'said' as it floated through her mind.
-
No love you have escaped Torid answered
-
Cindy looked around through the murky air and winced at the smell What is this disgusting place *she burried her nose in Torid's fur*
-
Don't know but you'll have to get through it with the clone. The clone answered.
-
Cindy stared at The clones fur, it had slightly different markings to what she knew Torids to be. Torid... where are you... why is everyone gone...
-
I am sorry it was the only way I could think of to get rid of her with you being safe. I'll return as soon as I can. The clone answered. This will be a pain if it was a girl I am facing. Torid watch as the figured got closer. Go figured....You must be Melanie. Torid stands there as Melanie came closer
-
The clone carrying Cindy was cut off by a massive surge of dirt and earth that shot out right in front of it. When the dust settled, a puppet in the shape of Thantos; it looked increadibly close to the real thing, but the painted eyes and jittery movements gave it away. "Your journey ends here... unless you wish to surrender now" the puppet said without even having a mouth to speak with.
-
Torin chuckled as he put Cindy down. The only thing I am surrendering to you is my anger. Clone Torid dashed towards Thantos puppet.
-
"why Thantos... " Cindy scrambled for a large oak tree and climbed up its branches. All she needed was a few minutes and soon the tree top was covered in smog and Cindy had disappeared again.
-
Melanie snarled at Torid. "Indeed I am." Her gold eyes flashed. "Give me Cindy and no harm will come to you."
-
Torid chuckled Sorry love, You have been following a dud the entire time Torid could see the disappointed and ticked off look in her eye. Now then shall we dance?
-
Melanie flicked her tail and shifted into a lioness growling and crouched to the ground. "Bring it pup."
-
Now Love I have to ask...Why are you following the Ringmaster? Torid strides closer her. Fear? Admiration? Power?
-
The puppet looked about before chopping down the oak tree with a rather cheaply made sword. "I'm not allowed to kill you, but she didn't say I couldn't cripple you... so I suggest giving up before the others find you"
-
Cindy disappeared into a smog like consitancy again and she teased around the puppet, blocking his sight and detection, and she gave off a laugh I'm not here anymore...come and fiiind meee...
-
Don't think I can't burn you down puppet!!! Torid created a blazing ball of fire and throw it at Thorin's sword
-
The Thantos puppet side-stepped the fireball, knowing exactly where it was going to hit. It was true the puppet was made of combustible material, but Torid would have to tie it down literally to be able to hit him with anything of the sort. "Don't have time for a puppet that can't aim well..." it said before throwing his sword at the clone, the sword having a cord at the hilt for retrieval purposes.
-
Torid side dashed towards Thorin. He quickly side stepped at the blade came close to him. How about this one for size! His feet combusted, accelerating his speed to the point where he was at Thantos with in arms reach. AAAHHH!!! Torid readied another ball of fire aim at Thorin's troso
-
*Cindy reappeared around the foot of the mountain, she looked up and grinned. "The fortune teller must be up there..." On her own, she began to climb.
-
The puppet turned towards Torid, and raised his blade to not only block the fire, but cleave the hand, wrist, and anything else that kept pushing on the blade's edge. Now one would beg to question why a puppet designed to chase or kill, why anyone would think it would be carrying a wooden sword?
Thantos sat in the bed, looking out the window after the Ringmaster had fallen asleep. He stared at the mountains with his regained vision, but felt even more blinded then he ever had been. Cindy, you stole something from me, something I might have to kill you to get back...
He left his armor behind so the Ringmaster could trace him upon awakening before he leaves to hunt Cindy down.
-
Thantos... you'll never find me now, you taught me manythings... i know how to control myself now... don't get your hopes up sweet cakes Cindy grinned to herself as she felt thantos words fill her mind, she began to run up to the cave, she felt her body change again. She became a Cheetah and ran faster up the hill. Torid... why don't you join me up here... she closed her eyes and a sight of Torid on the ground below her appeared, she focused and a mist appeared around that picture and soon Torid found himself next to Cindy. Torid... are you alright?
-
Melanie growled. Shes changed direction! Melanie shifted into an eagle and flew up into the sky but the question that Torid had asked bothered her. Why did she follow the Ringmaster?
-
Sure thing love, that was only a clone. He should of blown up when taken heavy impact. I am just wondering how did I get up here? Looking around. Well I am not gonna bother with it, only makes ma head hurt. Now com'on let go love, we need to get out of here and quick.
-
No, you have to trust me on this one, stay here, and i got you up here Cindy smiled at Torid and a fog began to form around the base of the mountain, moving up and covering them from view of anything, Cindy's eyes began to glow purple and she grabbed Torid's arm with her tail and bolted up the mountain Someone is waiting for us...
-
Both Thantos and his puppet double regrouped at the half-way point of the mountain Cindy is climbing up. "I'll deal with Cindy and turn in the fortune-teller, you keep Torid busy. Also, I give you permission to give up your wooden form" The puppet bowed before Thantos as the wooden texture fell off like ashes, showing a metallic sheen that only the strongest of Ringmaster's puppets were crafted with. "Shall I also recover Melanie when Cindy is delt with?" "You shall..." was all that Thantos replied before they took their respective leaves.
-
Cindy gave off a devious grin and she hugged Torid close to her and laughed aloud as she felt Thantos and his puppet minion. There was a little burst of light and Cindy and Torid disappeared into nothing, another dimension and soon they found themselves in the cave, not at the top of the mountain, a different cave in the new dimension. "I'm full of new surprises, i think Thantos leaving may have been the right thing... i'm still going to save him... He's not in love... The Ringmaster.. isn't real... the ringmaster isn't who she seems... The Ringmaster is me." Cindy looked down at all the flying objects beneathe them as they moved along the path to a room, no walls or doors or floors... but a room none the less and Cindy sat Torid down on the cushion beside her then she sat. "But not me as i am now... as i used to be... It's like i split in two pieces... and i'm here to find out the next clue... i just wonder why Thantos fell in love with my other half..." Cindy blushed as she recalled him calling her Shalara, She wondered why Ringmaster made a new name for herself. "I'm stronger than her now..." and almost evil grin appeared across the new Cheetah's face and then it was just a smile as she turned to Torid "It's almost solved"