Fantasy ~ FableWood ~

[DawnAntalios]

Nyr coughed as she stepped near Ward.


" I do not want to hurry you at all... " she said " But can we hasten our pace? This point of view is... not my preferred one. "


Tears appeared in her eyes. In all her life her wings were her pride and now that they were gone she felt very uncomfortable. And unsafe.

 

[Lioness075]

Luness whined at what Alta told her to do. She didn't want the memories to flow. They were too painful.


Suddenly Alta's spell kicked in and Luness' eyes clouded over while she let her good arm drop down to her side again. The pain was still there, but it had lessened for now.


Luness whimpered, as the memories began to play in her mind, the first one bringing her back to very beginning, the night her mother had been murdered.


The night had been just like any other, at least to Luness at the time. She'd been only five years old, a mere kit. At the time, her mother had told her to stay in a nearby meadow, with the usual instructions of hiding herself if anyone were to approach the area while Larassa, her mother, had slinked off to hunt for some dinner for the pair.


Luness had been unaware at the time of the presence of the full moon hiding behind the clouds in the sky. She was too young to understand the full effects, and being a werecat, it only effected her in the manner of giving her extra energy to expend. Bounding around and pouncing on random dandelions, Luness' laughter had filled the meadow with a light and cheerful energy.


She soon heard her mother calling out to her and began trotting towards the sound, her head held high and an innocent grin upon her face. The grin soon dissipated when she trotted around a tree and saw that her mother hadn't been calling out to her for her to join her. It had been a call to run away.


Luness froze in fear, her fur standing on end at the sight before her. A large werewolf had Larassa pinned to the ground and he looked up sharply to see Luness frozen in place. Snarling, the werewolf barked orders and suddenly two werewolves attacked Luness from both sides. Yelping, Luness' face hit the dirt within seconds and she cried out as panic began to set in.


The two werewolves had Luness pinned to the ground and she looked up to see the large werewolf howling at the full moon above, his face of glee and absolute insanity. Tears rolled down Luness' face both in the current time and in the memory, as she felt a realization dawning on her. The werewolf was going to kill her mother. Luness suddenly cried out, "Mother!" and Larassa' terrified face looked to the side to see Luness pinned down nearby. Tears flooded down Larassa's face, as she said hurriedly, "Shh, shh, shh. It's okay, Lune. Everything's going to be okay."


Luness whimpered in response and Larassa quickly added, "H-Hey, want me to sing that lullaby you love?"


Luness folded her ears against her head and whined, as the werewolf howled at the moon again and the other werewolves around them joined in. Both Luness and Larassa winced at the sound, but Larassa quickly recovered and began quietly singing the lullaby to Luness, the very one that Alta had taught her not too long ago in current times.


Perking her ears towards her mother, Luness felt herself calming a bit at the sound, but the sound was soon interrupted, as the werewolf grabbed Larassa by the neck and then effortlessly picked her up until she was completely off the ground. Larassa grabbed at the werewolf's arm and gasped for air, as Luness cried out, "No!"


A lone tear rolled down Larassa's face and she then smiled with her eyes closed as she said calmly, "I love you, Lu-" Her voice was cut off, as the werewolf squeezed on her throat, effectively silencing her for good. He then threw Larassa's limp body to the ground and lunged forward, clawing at her already dead body. Luness screamed in protest and then suddenly was back in the current time, gasping, as she shut down the memory.


Her whole body was shaking from the memory, and Luness brought her shaking, good hand to her face, surprised to find that her fur was soaking wet with tears.

 

[Bea Delaine]

(For the updates, maybe:


Our heroes are... A bunch of furry nonthreatening animals and children)

 

[SilverFlight]

((You all are the most adorable things I've ever seen!))


"Why do you do that?" Leia asked, giving her friend a sideways glance. "Put yourself down all the time?" She shut the book and looked for another one, opening it to release a flock of clear, glossy bubbles.


"My brother said that everybody else in the world will line up just to knock you down." She popped one experimentally. "So why would you be the first in that line?"


She looked at Elena seriously for a moment, "I have no idea who you're comparing yourself to, but I haven't seen one person in this group who hasn't shown how incredible they can be, and that includes you." She smiled through the veil of translucent spheres, merrily making their way to the ceiling.


"Besides," She grinned impishly, "You are obviously impressive, or you wouldn't have caught a certain someone's eye."


Ward jumped up to see what was on the parchment, failing at that he had to ask them to lower it for him.


It was only a few lines:


What force and strength cannot get through,


I with a gentle touch can do.


and many in these twisted halls would stand


were I not, as a friend, at hand...


"Speak the answer..." boomed a voice, which made Ward jump.


"A riddle." He said simply. He liked riddles normally, but somehow he felt that being a rabbit may impede his more complex thoughts...that and he had the unexplainable craving for carrots...


Alta held her close, staying in silence for a long while.


"The past can't hurt you." The healer said softly. "All it can do is make you hurt yourself." She cradled the werecat and stayed where she was...it was all she could do.


@Lioness075


 
((Oh, @Lioness075 I should say that that would be the max I'll allow for graphic violence, just for everyone's reference))

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose squawked a hawks call when the booming voice startled her. She had to hold on to Leo's shoulder a little tighter to stay balanced. " so we have to answer a riddle " she said tilting her head which looked cute in the form she was in.

 

[Lioness075]

Luness whimpered and said softly, "But my past has never stopped hurting me." Pausing, she looked down at her paws and added quietly, "And it came back to bite me yesterday..." She trailed off as she remembered how she'd fought tooth to tooth and claw to claw with her father yesterday. If he'd been able to fight any longer than he had, then he would have surely killed Luness or one of the other group members.

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena took out a map and enlarged it with her hands so it was covering the floors. She became interested in some of the forests when Leia started speaking. She sighed, but didn't allow her expression to be as grim as she felt.


"I know my self esteem isn't the best. It's something I've tried to improve. It's just, coming here and being told I'm destined, well we both are destined to save this land, I feel like no matter what I can do, it won't be enough to hold my own or save others."


She spoke honestly to the friend she was coming to trust greatly.


"Historically, I don't have the best track record. I guess my mentality hasn't caught up to the cool powers we have here."


When a certain someone was brought up, she turned bright red.


"I wish."


She looked up, startled at her own words and tried to back track.


"Wait no! I have no idea what you're talking about!"


Her face was more expressive than it's ever been.

 

[zCrookedz]

Leo listened to Ward speak the riddle. He repeated the riddle to himself a few different times. "A gentle touch..." Suddenly the dragon spoke up with an answer. "Good answer he smiled."

 

[Hel]

"A key?" Anya asked, thinking it through, then she nodded. "A key! Or a Lockpick I suppose." She always loved riddles, it was her hobby in high school when she was bored of classes.

 

[DawnAntalios]

" Clever " Nyr nodded with her furry head as she got on her four. " So now what? We need to find a key in this hall or was the solution the key itself? "


She felt dumbfounded as a chipmunk - always wanting nuts and to eat did not really help her to think, not to mention that even the elements forsake her - probably as the effect of the transformation.

 

[wolfborn4]

" Hey remember what the knight said, this is an area we have to use our hearts and its a riddle so maybe the answer is love " Rose suggested. She flew over to the ledge where the scroll used to lay and hoped forwards looking around inside.

 

[Sleipnir]

Ethan left the hall, looking around. The place was huge and he hadn't really seen any of it yet. He looked down the hallways and decided to do some exploring. Ethan started wandering, not really minding which way he went, and eventually crosses paths with Alexander. "Oh. Hi," he greeted.

 

[Flutterby]

Quincy stood behind the group, feeling gruff and annoyed. And very hungry. “Great, Im short and fat and now theres a riddle." She mumbled, counting the collection of some of her least favorite things. She should've volunteered to decorate. “Im not good at these." She admitted, letting the others talk it out.

 

[SilverFlight]

((Did you solve that yourself? ))


There was a low rumble all around them.


"A key is the answer." the voice sounded again.


"Well done Anya!" Ward said happily, thumping his furry hind foot for emphasis. The scroll evaporated and transformed into a tiny key. Just then the wall before them parted, allowing them access to the next part of the trial.


"Hold on, if the door opened, then what is the key for?" Ward examined it carefully before asking Anya or Leo to pick it up. It looked like is was made of glass and so fragile Ward was afraid to breathe on it.


As he considered its use he proceeded down the passage, making sure to follow Anya anytime they came to a fork.


The cavern sparkled in many shades of blue and the gryphon wondered just how old this place actually was.


"When this is all over, let us never speak of what transpired here." He said firmly, flicking his tiny white paw to rid it of snow.


The next room opened up vast and spacious, icicles shone with the light of a hole in the domes ceiling and everything was carved in an ornate fashion, including two solid cages set into the far wall.


Ward's eye lit up as in one he spied their prize: a magnificent flower. Its petals looked as if they were made of solid ice and glittered in iridescent purples and blues. The cage was barred with a door and a single lock that seemed to fit the key they had won from the last trial. He made a beeline for the cage but stopped as he heard someone sniffle.


The other cage contained quite a different sight; A small imp with furry legs and a boyish torso looked at them dolefully through the bars. His ears were long and bat-like and he stared at them all through golden eyes.


Ward looked from the flower to the imp and back again. "I'll bet the key will only open one door..." he looked back at the others, waiting to hear their thoughts.


Leia laughed and her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Ah! I knew it!" She all but danced with glee. "But seriously though." She said, trying her best to look serious, "I won't mention it to anyone. And hey, you never know what's going to happen until it does, so why worry about it?"


She watched the sun out the window start to dip toward the horizon. "For what its worth; I don't expect you to have my back, but as long as you're here, I know you will. Call it a good feeling."


She closed her book and made a face at the window. What was taking them so long? They must be almost back by now.


"Wanna go check out those shops? I saw a bag that would fit awesomely onto my sword belt...I wonder if they take US dollars?" She grinned, only half serious, she hadn't really ever been shopping with a friend before, but it was supposed to be fun wasn't it?


Alta got more tea and held it out to Luness. "You talk when you want to talk." She repeated. "I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere at all."


Slowly she began to change the dressings on the werecat's injuries, taking care to cast a small charm to quell the pain while she worked. She sponged the wounds down with warm water, dabbed them dry and applied fresh bandages and salves.


"Hey now, you're not doing too badly given what you came in here with. That's somethin'."


@Lioness075


((edit: changed baleful for doleful, the word did not mean what I thought it meant. xD ))

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose came out and flew after them she was getting tiered. When they got to the room she looked around and landed next to Ward and folded her wings. Looking to each cage and hopped up to the imp creatures cage.

 

[SilverFlight]

The imp flinched away from the movement, looking wretched. It curled its clawed hands up over its knees and hugged them tightly. @Wild Born

 

[Hel]

(Yes! I freaking love riddles, they make me feel smart


Anya smiled, and took the key, feeling proud... Too proud, childishly so. She held on to it, and led the party on, though honestly she was just guessing based on what she remembered from before her powers were taken. It seemed to work out though, as the tunnel opened up into a large cavern. She looked between the two, and listened to ward. Unable to prevent her old habit of questioning, she spoke up.


"Aren't imps evil? If this is like a storybook, pretty is good, and ugly is evil, right? Witches are ugly, and enchant resses are pretty." She knew that was a silly way to make a point, but she couldn't think of any other words to describe what she met. 'That sounded so vain, am I really so shallow? That's how it always works in stories, though.' She thought to herself.


Meanwhile Alexander noticed Ethan. "Oh, hello. You are the human boy, correct?" He searched his memory for the boys name and asked "Ethan?"

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose chirped softly " I won't hurt you, I promise " . She moved slower she now sat in front of the cage and fixed her wings. Tilting her head she watched the imp

 

[zCrookedz]

Leo watched as the door opened and the scroll poofed into a key. Following the others he was amazed as the intricate carvings and the iclcles on the ceiling. Once they reached the two cages, Leo paused. I folded his arms and went to scratch his main as he did when he thought, but mearly scratched a bare chin. "This cavern is so full of riddles and illusions, it would nto be a surprise to me if we are being roused right now. What if opening the cage with the flower is a trick, and the imp can show us were the real flower is?" Of course this was merely a speculation. He watched as Rose got closer, wondering if it was possible for the imp to talk and tell us some information about the cages.

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena felt her red cheeks cool a bit as Leia promised not to tell. It was nice to know she could trust the other. She put away the books, drawing some of the forest in her own based upon photographic memory so she might use her own like the magic maps here.


"Thank you. And trust me when I say I will always try to have your back."


The mention of shopping got her thinking. Of course she didn't have money with her jumping off a bridge. And US dollars and Euros probably wouldn't do too good here.


"If love to.. But I doubt it."

 

[DawnAntalios]

Nyr rolled closer on her fluffy behind inspecting the imp and the flower.


" Wait just for a moment. " all started to make sense to her " Did you notice the similarity between the trials? They all shared something. "


Her big black eyes widened in excitement.


" At first we went through the barrier without hesitation - the first virtue: courage. "


She then looked at Anya.


" You then solved the riddle with ease - the second virtue: being clever. Now we are before a crossroad again. Beforehand we acted like heroes, champions of the just, probably we need to act similarly here as well. "


She rolled over to her back and got stuck. She tried to get back on her feet to no avail.


" Well, that's the theory at least. "

 

[wolfborn4]

" That's brilliant, and true hero's are said to have one last virtue... Compassion " Rose said looking to them craning her neck tilting her head as if saying "right"

 

[Lioness075]

Luness folded her good ear against her head upon hearing Alta telling her to speak when she was ready. Looking down at her lap, Luness wasn't sure where to begin, but Alta certainly seemed like a good listener...and she reminded Luness of her mother's caring nature.


When Alta began taking off the bandages, cleaning the wounds, putting fresh salves on, and putting on new bandages, Luness winced and whined the whole way through. Luness was still trying to decide which injury hurt the worse too, her torn ear or her ravaged arm.


The moment her arm was being tended to though, Luness yelped and instinctively went to pull back her arm to her chest. Despite what Alta said, her arm still seemed to be healing rather slowly compared to everything else.

 

[SilverFlight]

"You'd be right most of the time..." Ward told Anya, "But in this case...instead of trying to think our way around this as a puzzle..." The rabbit scratched his chin with a stubby forepaw (a sight that looked absolutely hilarious). "The strength of our hearts..." he repeated what the guardian had said.


The imp didn't make a sound, merely shivered and cowered. Ward looked at him and chewed on his lip with large buck teeth. I believe Nyr and Rose are right. "We can't just leave him like that." He turned to his friends. "And what would Elena say if she knew her gift came at the cost of another creature's misery?"


He turned back and pointed to the imp's cage with his stubby paw. "We must open that one."


"Maybe we'll get a hero's discount?" She ventured hopefully, laughing as she opened the door. The air had turned a little warmer with the heat of the sun now having a chance at its work. There were a multitude of beautiful things laying on the tables and the girls were greeted warmly by the shop keepers. Scarves and necklaces, bags and even weapons hung on display in the outdoor market.


One shop keeper offered them warm drinks which tasted like a sweet, strawberry tart. "Why do I get the feeling I wouldn't be able to make this at home even with the recipe." She asked to no one in particular.

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena wandered through the outdoor market, glad to feel sun on her face for once. Pale skin finally getting a chance to absorb vitamin d, her smile widened at the sight of all of the beautiful merchandise. She was not one to ever admit it, but she had a soft spot for shopping. She removed her coat and graciously accepted the drink.


"I'm sure with the magic and skill they have, you could."


She said with a satisfied grin. She eyed a pale blue stone in a necklace she had never seen before, as well as one imbedded in the hilt of a thin but long sword. It was of course cold the the touch and smooth. Her eyes moved on to some nice sturdy looking bags with room for supplies, with faint interest.


She smiled at the store keepers and said gently and kindly.


"Thank you for welcoming us into your home village. Everything here is beautiful."