Fantasy ~ FableWood ~

[Jecklyn]

Banba sat in another tree, gripping the branch with her toe claws and hands, tail swishing worriedly below her. She eyed her fingers, unconsciously tapping at the bark. She knew that feeling, and she didn't like it. She heard giggled below her, and felt a tug on her tail. Looking down, she spotted the children grinning up at her.


"You're not even trying anymore!"


"That's the fastest we've found you yet!"


"Lets play a different game!" For the first time, she didn't respond, but climbed higher in the tree, reaching the top before she realised what she had done. In her mind's eye, there was a fire. She could almost feel the heat on her skin, and then contact with other scaled beings. She heard the shouts, the burning of trees, and worse, the crying. She shivered, breath quickening. Below her, Banba heard a rustle, and saw the oldest boy halfway up the tree, grinning at her.


"Come on, shifter! Lets pla-" there was a cracking noise, and the branch under his feet snapped, sending the boy plummeting to the ground.


Banba didn't even take in what had happened until after it had happened, and she was gripping a branch, the back of the boy's coat in her hand, his feet inches off the ground. She let herself drop. She had felt the wind of it on her face. Setting the boy down gently, she jumped down, landing beside him. Silence surrounded the group, a few adults staring at them in shocked silence. Banba let her eyes wander around the scene before resting on the boy, staring back at her in awe. The shifter cracked a grin, bending over backwards, setting her feet back down only to be a dog on its hind legs.


"Tell me, have you ever eaten a Mulderberry?"


((AND CRAZY BANBA IS BACK! No more making sense for her! Sorry, I gave her a lil' bit o' lovin'. I feel she needed that.))

 

[SilverFlight]

Alta set the instrument down carefully, watching Luness' pained and distant expression.


"I think its time you told me what happened out there," She said kindly. Pouring more tea and placing it in the werecat's good hand.


@Lioness075


Leia watched the twister with her mouth hanging open. "That. Is insanely cool."


The air spirit nudged her leg, clearly impressed at the flesh being who could control air too. It bounded around Elena and watched the twister, phasing in and out of sight as mist gathered and fell away from its body.


"What else have you tried to make? I know there's the sword...and the vines and now the ice." Now that Leia thought about it Elena's powers had grown immensely. She felt a little envious, but also proud. He air spirit draped itself about Leia's shoulders sighing like the wind through a barely field.


"I still feel like I should give this guy a name." She remarked thoughtfully. "Any ideas?"


Ward whirled around when Rose cried out in pain. He tried to steady her as she dropped to the floor.


"I don't know what's wrong! I've never dealt with curses before. It must be the magic in the cave!" When the necklace snapped Ward reeled back to get away from an expanding wing. He tripped over her tail and landed in the snow.


When he saw she was all right he slowly reached for the pendant, looking up at her in wonder and confusion.


"Rose...what just happened?" His voice was full of concern.


((Hey, Wild, that's a great idea, I'll change the colour of the speaking text when Ward is in gryphon form. I realize it must have been confusing for people before. Oh, and is Ward going to get barbequed if he touches the pendant?))

 

[DawnAntalios]

The magic did not seem to assault only her - and this filled her with concern. This harmless, little adventure has just turned into something more dangerous. Regardless, they pushed on determined. The whispers in her head were now coherent words and sentences: all telling her to go away.


As strange as it was she decided that they would push on under the leadership of Anya. She seemed to know they way quite well and was enhanced by the power of the caves instead of being hindered.


They have reached a massive hall in the cave. Just as they entered the air shifted ans swirled around in a freezing vortex before something emerged in the middle of the room. An enormous, mystical figure rose from the frozen ice, its eyes as cold as the frozen water here. Wearing a massive armor, shield and morningstar it towered above them while it was hovering above the ground.


" HALT! " it thundered with a dark voice " No demon spawn shall enter the inner sanctum as long as I live! "

 

[Lioness075]

Luness shook her head at Alta's question and then set aside the tea before she looked down at her paws, remembering how she'd held her father's head after the life had left his eyes.


Closing her eyes, Luness felt tears threatening to show while her heart ached in a way that she hadn't felt since her mother had died. Except this time was different, because instead of her mother being murdered, it had been a fight to the death between her own father and herself.

 

[zCrookedz]

As the dragons screaming concluded. Leo stood, concern and wonder etched across his face. He had never seen anything like the dragon girls conflicting curses before. Eyeing the broken amulet on the ground he was tempted to pick up the broken trinket and examine it. Just before he made his move to pick up the amulet however, the icy winds swirled in the cavern hall and revealed a hulking figure, dressed for battle. When it spoke it was almost like the words chilled Leos very bones to the core. He reached for his ax, but stayed level headed. "What does it mean by demon spawn?"

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose looked up at the frozen knight and stood up straight and tall. She toward above the others like one big sheild. " He means me " Rose said and extended her wings curling her tail around everyone in a protective manner.

 

[DawnAntalios]

The revenant eyed the group with fury but did not attack.


" The foul stench of your magic permeates the air, dragon. " it thundered once more then looking at the raven it continued " As for the other... blood of the dread raven, rotten to the core, the blood of dark magic courses through her veins. "


It then turned to the rest of the group.


" Why do you bring corruption into the sacred realm of ice? Do you wish to defile the Conduit? If that is your intent then I shall run you through, I warn you. "

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena blushed, looking downward at the compliment. She took out her own book once more and frowned slightly. She felt very limited, even though Leia was being so kind about her abilities.


"I can't create anything in a complex form yet. As in, of skin or life. Here.."


She drew something simple. It was a small winged sort of reptile. While she did so, she though of the other question.


"The name Tadi means wind. That might be fitting." She smiled at the spirit and prepared to bring her picture to life. Maybe after practice it will be possible.


She closed her eyes and allowed her energy to manifest itself in the creature. Like in the sleigh, her perspective left her own body and went to the small weak thing on her pages. She or it went to jump and fly, but Elena felt her own knees give and a twinge in her head ache.


Reopening her eyes, she found herself shaky and kneeling. This lizard creature disappeared.


"I'm sti-still working on it."

 

[Flutterby]

Quincy frowned, wondering how such a simple thing has become so dangerous. She looked up at the ice knight, impressed by his appearance. “Defile the Conduit?" She repeated in a question, her brow furrowing. “We're just trying to get a birthday gift for our friend." She said, secretly proud of using new vocabulary. Her voice was soft, almost as if she wasnt talking to the giant ice man, but there was also no way for him to not hear her as her voice bounced off the surrounding ice.

 

[SilverFlight]

@DawnAntalios I went ahead and stole your guardian, you said lead on...I can get rid of this post if you don't like it. ))


We've come looking for the Glaciem Star." Ward added to Quincy's statement bravely, stepping in front of his friends to protect them from potential harm.


"The dragon and dread raven are both proven friends with pure hearts. They defile nothing!" Ward stood his ground, though inwardly he was a bit nervous.


The guardian eyed them, which was hard to discern for the helmet it wore, but he seemed to be weighing their hearts at the gryphon's word and considering what the kelpie had said also.


"Know this." It boomed. "Ahead lie three trials for any of those seeking the sacred bloom of the North. It gestured to the way forward and Ward was surprised to see a sheet of reflective ice blocking the way.


"The barrier ahead is the first test. Step through it and relinquish your power for the remainder of the journey. Your physical strength is an illusion, only strength of heart will carry you safely through."


Ward nodded, looking ahead of them with his expression set and determined.


With that the guardian vanished in a spray of mist, leaving the group to continue to the challenges ahead.


Ward approached the barrier gingerly. He put a finger on the ice and found that it slipped through, the surface rippling like the surface of a pond.


"Well," he said to the others. "What's the worst that could happen?"


The gryphon stepped through as a human on two legs...which was odd considering he came out the other side moving on four. He looked back to see the barrier had become much larger too and the started as he saw his reflection. There, sitting in the snow, tiny nose quivering slightly was an entirely new animal. He tried to transform back into a gryphon to find that he wasn't able.


"Oh.."

Spoiler

((It turned Ward into something else, but the barrier could do anything to you really, as long as you can't use your powers.))


Leia was about to steady Elena when she dipped to her knees. "Hey, no worries, you can already do a massive amount as it is." She considered the name carefully. Tadi...Tad, you like it?" She asked the air creature who gusted at her happily.


"I think that's a yes!"


She sat with Tad and opened another book. This one seemed to have a smaller effect in that several miniature trees popped up within the pages and more sprawled onto the carpet. Tiny animals began to emerge from the foliage and peeked at them timidly.


"I don't ever want to leave." She said dreamily. "Do you think we're the first humans ever to come here? Or were there more, like a hundred years ago or something?"


Alta tutted as Luness tried to fight her emotions. "Ah, what a fool I am hmm?" She climbed onto the bed, putting her arms about the young cat and shifting back into were form to hold her better.


"Nevermind eh? You talk when you want to talk." She caressed Luness' head in a motherly fashion and began to hum the lullaby softly.


@Lioness075

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose blinked and watched Ward go through she approached the barrier and tapped it with her tail. She took a deep breath in and let it out then went through. She stood next to Ward in a new form.

Spoiler

 

[Lioness075]

Luness stiffened at first when Alta shifted and then joined her in the bed, wrapping her into her own arms. Luness was uncomfortable at first and confused, but she soon relaxed at the embrace.


Luness frowned and looked down at her overly damaged arm in her lap while she tried to figure out her thoughts, which were shooting in every which direction at the moment. She let out a small whine and folded her good ear against her head while she tried to make sense of everything.


Feeling Alta caressing her head, Luness blinked and then surprised herself by letting out a small purr. Hearing the lullaby again, Luness winced at the harsh memories that began to surface. She immediately lurched forward in the bed, clutching her head with her one good hand, as she tried to push away the memories. Letting out another whine at the sharp pain from both her body and the memories, Luness struggled to push everything away.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Nyr was hesitant at first but then walked through the portal as everyone else did. When she emerged she screamed in surprise and almost cried...


" My wings... " said the squeeky voice.

Spoiler

 

[wolfborn4]

(Omg I almost busted out laughing... But that would wake the whole house and everyone is asleep *Ssshhh*)

 

[zCrookedz]

As Leo watched the two before him go through the barrier, a mixture of confusion and fear swirls inside him. But he wasn't about to let that stop him. He stepped up to the barrier and shoved his bulky shoulder through. It felt as if pieces of him were melting away. Thankfully he could still feel his body being held up by two legs, but everything was much colder. He blinked his eyes a few times, then noticed he could blink BOTH eyes. It was an unusual sensation to him. He walked over to the wall of ice and stared at the reflection of a small boy. No mantle, no ax, just green raggs drapped over the small statured figure of a blonde hair, blue eyed child. He touched his smooth skin with his non pawed hands. "This is.....unusual...." His voice now a high pitched noise. Testing the barriers powers, he tried to reach for Lilly. She wasn't there, he was alone. A cold sensation washed over his mind. He did not like this at all.


((can't find a bloody picture. Imagination time kiddies))

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose spread her new feathered wings and took off. She landed on Leo's shoulder and tilted her head craning her neck to look at him. " At least you got to keep your legs " She used her tail feathers to steady herself. Looking at her reflection she shook out her head feathers.

 

[Naeg1]

Zelnite wakes up, noticing that the others already left. "Ugh, I have to stop this habit of oversleeping" He says, scratching his head before he picks up his sword. After taking an apple from a dining room, he heads out to walk around the city, making himself familiar with the houses, alleyways, and shops around town. "Come to think of it, it's Elenas birthdays right?" He told his sword. He wasn't familiar with what a birthday is, so he went to the library to check on what it means.

 

[SilverFlight]

Ward looked about at the crew that had joined him on the other side.


"Rose? Leo? Oh Nyr!" He looked down at the chipmunk, one large ear flopping in his face. He brushed it back with a paw. Suddenly being a rabbit didn't seem as bad. He bit back his mirth, trying his best to take their new predicament seriously.


"The spirit said this would only last as long as the quest does. Let's get this done then and get our old selves back."


He took a shaky step forward, then tired a hop. Feeling more than silly Ward hopped down the tunnel.


"At least the space is larger." He said, grasping at a bright side.


Before long they came to a large door made of solid blue ice. If they had powers it would be no match for any of them...circumstances being what they were however Ward shifted his small fluffy head about to see if he could find a way to open it.


On a shelf about 4 feet up sat a scroll. ward leapt at it, reaching the shelf but not being able to hold on with his stubby forepaws. He fell into a bank of snow and disappeared up to his ear tips.


"Leo..." came a muffled voice from the snow, "Would you be so kind..."


@Lioness075


"Don't fight it." Alta said tenderly. "Let the memories flow." She did not try to hug her again but instead kept a steadying paw on her shoulder. Slowly the healer began muttering a spell. One that would ease Luness' fragile mind state and help her face the darkness.

 

[Hel]

"Well, nothing lasts forever I suppose not even cool powers." Anya said with a shrug. When she stepped through, she felt something happen, but it didn't seem her appearance had changed. She looked around at all of the others in their new form and almost had to stifle a giggle- they were so cute! As she did this, however, she realized that the world was getting taller- or maybe she was smaller?


"Wait- what's happening? Why am I changing? My other form didn't hold any special power!" She called, her voice noticeably higher, and her 's' sounding rather fronted, or somewhat lisp-like, and her last 'r' was noticeably weak.

Spoiler

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[SilverFlight]

((@KattRai whatever takes her out of her comfort zone I guess, and no worries, take care of those finals ))

 

[Bea Delaine]

It took a moment to get back to her feet. She looked at the drawing with some bit of disappointment and smiled politely.


"Trying hard doesn't do any good if you can't save anyone. Unfortunately in life I believe we are mostly rated on what we can achieve, not how hard we tried." She said this with a small shrug and chuckled as the air spirit seemed to enjoy its new name.


She took the weather book once more and had a snow shower above and within the pages, touching it with her finger to know its real.


"We might have to return one day. I don't want to, myself.. Maybe at one point the darkness existed. If you look back in history, think of the Renaissance. There was a period of time which creative thoughts didn't foster anything. Then it changed after an illness. Maybe the same happened in Fablewood? Those brought here were returned to their homes or somehow ignited constructive creativity."


She thought of her own rant and shrugged.


"I'm probably wrong though."

 

[zCrookedz]

Leo followed the group until they reached the door. Watching a bunny try to climb a book shelf was funny enough, but when he came tumbling backwards into the snow, Leo couldn't help but let slip his child giggle. The noise was so alien to Leo that he was taken about when the giggle escaped his throat. He regained his composure and walked over to the shelf. Reaching on the tips of his toes, his tiny fingers brushed the scroll a few times before he was able to knock it off the shelf and onto the snow below. Being the only one with actuall thumbs, he reached down and unrolled the scroll on the floor so that ward could see its contents. "What is it?"

 

[Hel]

Anya ran after her friends to catch up, and laughed aloud at the bunny-Ward when he tumbled into the snow. "Well, it looks important." She said to Leo, stepping over near him to read over his shoulder. She was glad he didn't turn into a kitten, she would much prefer another human child to a kitten.

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose fluttered down off Leo's shoulder and landed on the parchment looking it over. She could read the ancient language but just barely enough to make sense since she didn't have her powers. She flew back up onto Leo's shoulder and folded her wings up.

 

[Flutterby]

Quincy watched nervously as the others stepped through, but she had no choice but to follow. If the point was to take away their powers, she already had an idea of what might happen. The thing that made her powerful as a kelpie was certainly her equine form. As she stepped through, the world began to get taller. On the other side, she found herself on four legs. A quick look in the barrier confirmed her suspicions- she was a fat little pony.

Spoiler

With a grumpy huff, she trotted quickly after them. “This sucks." She said, thankful that she had kept her voice. As a kelpie, it was important to be a tempting mount, but as a small pony, she was simply ridiculous. The tiny equine pouted sadly at the back of the group, no longer enjoying their little errand.