I hail from terror [Closed]

[petzisme]

A firm breeze whipped audibly through the trees as dawn set upon the landscape, bringing with it a distant chill that often seemed to accompany these lands. Even though day was quickly approaching, few places on this desolate landscape would be fortunate enough to see the sun's merry rays. Oh no, instead a thin layer of mist would settle along the forest floor as the cool grounds warmed vaguely in response to the rising sun, causing dew to rise on the vegetation and fog the horizon. Little light made it through the dense canopies or pierced through the mountain crags. At night, everything was covered in clear, chilling darkness, while the day was shrouded in an almost constant state of twilight, sometimes fogging over like it was this morning, other times finally allowing the heavy gray clouds to release their burdens on this saddened place, sending thick droplets and thunderous rains down upon the natives. No one seemed to notice or care... if you were a local that is. To most outsiders, it was probably an extremely dreary place, or so it was to one such being.



Purple limbs stretched out gracefully before the lithe female as she weaved between the stumps with all the ease in the world, her pink pads barely making a mark when they softly touched the damp mosses. The vibrant color of her fur contrasted greatly with the dark, dull atmosphere that surrounded her, making the female almost seem like a diamond in the rough, but that wouldn't be the part of her that made her out of place. The locals here were typically highlighted with a similar shade upon their forms, but like the rest of their region, black dominated their features. No, what would clearly mark her as an outsider would not be her violent hue, but the bold words written elegantly upon her form in pink and blue.

Her lovely blue eyes scanned the area with a distasted that had been acquired from years of living in such unsavory conditions, but alas... it was necessary. This place was nothing like the rocky cliffs from back home. She imaged the steep, jutting shelves would be bathed in lovely, brilliant sunlight at this very moment as wondrous color danced across the sky, but she could experience none of it. Not here in Torquehelm. Sun was a rare gift for her now. The fox sighed inwardly, reminding herself why she was here. Between her jaws dangled a small, bruise colored creature with her think black tail tucked firmly between her legs. Aroha knew the little kit was use to this form of travel by now, for she didn't struggle much as they traveled. Of course, she couldn't really in this position, seeing as Aroha's teeth were placed firmly on the back of the mix's neck in just the right spot to release "feel good" hormones into her offspring's body, forcing her to relax. Sometimes, this was the only way to calm her little girl down after one of those tragic moments, but when it was really back... well... even that didn't work.

She lighted softly on a long, smooth black rock underneath tall cypress trees and dropped her kit at her feet gingerly, letting at a little murr in an attempt to soothe the girl. "Zephyr, my dear," the mother croned gingerly, "We're here."

[petzisme]

While Aroha traveled, the little girl existed in a state of almost lifelessness. The world around her had almost vanished completely from her thoughts the instant she closed her eyes, allowing her body to become a semi-tense ragged doll in her mother's grasp. Normally, this action would allow for dangerous, dangerous things to happen in the mixed-breed's mind, but the lovely endorphins pulsing through her veins kept them at bay. Unfortunately, it don't not rid them from her fragile mind. They came back. They always did. Even when she existed as almost nothingness, she knew they were there. Lurking in the corners of her mind. Taunting her. She could feel their eyes upon her. Smell their eagerness... their hunger. It terrified her, but Mama always reassured her that there was nothing to fear. No one was going to hurt her. Bah! Shows how much mother's know.

The instant her mind came back to her, the pup jumped about a foot in there air with a little screech issuing from between her jaws. Gah! Don't touch me! She thought suddenly, the long thin tendrils of various weeds filling her vision the instant she opened her eyes. Green! It's all green! Ahhh! She was in flight before she could control herself, her paws feebly scrambling on the smooth surface beneath her in an attempt to just run straight up into the sky. Oh how she wished she could fly. Wings could save her from them at least. Then they couldn't touch her, get inside her... consume her from within. Take over her body. "Ahh!" She screeched again as the thought sent a shiver down her spine. What if they tried to possess her?! Sadly, she was gifted with neither wings nor flight, so she had to find other means to get away... Or so she thought. A second later, the Torquehelm mix was spiraling through the air until momentum finally failed her, and her slight weight was thumping against a warm, soft chest once more. Oh! Waarrrm. Gooood. Mama.

Wincing as her little pup screamed, Aroha recognized the response all to quickly. Zephyr was frequently startled once she came out of the druglike state carrying her by the scruff often induced, but Aroha had little other choices. She tried traveling on foot before in her bipedal form, but the Four would often get lost or go dashing through the trees haphazardly until the vixen could find her spawn again. And when she tried carrying the half-Torquehelm dear in her arms, that only gave her them both undo stress, and a few deep gashes from the fox-hound's struggling paws. Thus, Aroha was left with no other options. Once she recognized the fit, the nimble female stretch forwards and snatched her kit up right out of the air and squeeze firmly once to help bring her back to the present. She hated scaring her, but that was becoming increasingly hard to avoid. "Shh, my kit... shh! You're safe." She whispered after she placed the put down on the rock again, slowly this time. "Look down."

[Kari Muffin]

Loreta sighed as she looked at the horrible weather. Why she ever hoped for better in Torqueheim she never really knew. On the bright side she was having less trouble with her migraines, even if random headaches popped up now and again, she could handle that.

The heron was planning to leave today. She had to get back to work. And Kaden. And just about everything else. Hating real life was on her list of things to do when she got back. Of course, she couldn't complain. She had just put flowers on several graves. Anything else was looking up.

Loreta wouldn't have taken notice to anything weird if she hadn't heard someone's voice in the distance. Her head snapped around, and caught a glimpse of bright purple from between the trees. Well now, that wasn't from Torqueheim was it? Maybe she should keep an eye on whatever it was from a distance for a little bit.

Then she would proceed to make their life miserable.

[petzisme]

Zephyr stopped struggling almost instantly once more, nearly returning to the dazzle-like state until she felt her paws slowly slide to the ground and her paws shift back to her. She would have fought, lifted her legs, cringed... anything to prevent returning to the earth, but something about the firmness of her mother's voice made her stop. Deep violets peered up into clear blues fearfully, her body already starting to shiver. She knew it was only moments now... just seconds until the strands would start to coil up her legs... but then Mama bid her to look down. Slowly, hesitantly, the girl obeyed and noticed, to her amazement and great relief, that it was ROCK beneath her paws. Oh, wonderful, joyous granite! She would have skipped merrily if she wasn't afraid of falling off into the mercy of the horrifying grass below.

Instead, her gaze soften just a little and she inched tentatively towards the center of the boulder and flattened herself down against roughly the instant she got there. For all the grace Aroha possessed, poor Zephyr received none of it. There now. Safe. She thought, then glanced back up into those slanted, loving eyes that somehow did not give her any comfort. The instant she thought safe, it was all over. The voices were starting to creap back in... all of her horrors being kept at bay for far to long slowly drawing closer... closer. She stifled a shiver and waiting for what was coming. Knew what was coming. They had to eat after all, but that meant little to the eight year old.

Aroha smiled faintly, watching her girl adjust to her surroundings for a moment before the smile faded and she was left with the guilt heavy in the air. "Now Phyr. I have to go collect some supplies to finish my next piece for the Courts from the village just through those trees a little." The woman started gently, indicating the direction with her nose. "I won't be long. Be a good girl and stay right here for me. Meezer will keep you company until I get back." Her expressions emphasized her words as emotions coursed through her... the pain and worry of leaving her child, but also the pressing need and promise to be fast. She couldn't bring phyr with her... there were just too many complications.



Instead, she turned and howled into the wind for a few seconds then waited patiently until a small, feline-like creature meandered out of the woods as if she had all the time in the world. Her black little eyes slid from the Villa resistant to the fearful pup with an uninterested, almost annoyed expression as if to question what the hell was so important that they disturbed her from her hunting. It didn't matter that she had been ingeniously tracking them this whole time, or that she really wanted a nice scratch behind the ears right now. No, it was the point. What gave them the right to call her? She had been so ready to bounce the little one too, were it not for the big one to hover over her. Hmm... maybe they deserved a nip for that. Yesss. A nice trail of blood to teach them. Damn, that wouldn't do though. Her person was looking rather unsettled at the moment and Queen Meezer found mercy with in her for the poor species. After all, with the big one gone, the poor wretch was an easy target. The sand pointed bander's eyes blazed menacingly for a second, then her ears flicked back and she glided forwards with falsely submissive and affectionate mrewls. She even took the care to nuzzle up along the large purple leg for added measure. They seemed to like that, and Meezer could reward good behavior. Go away. She urged mischievously.

"Take good care of Zephyr." Aroha stated to the bander in a teasing tone, brushing her once with her tail as she turned to gaze back at the small, shaking form of Phyr. The girl never really noticed the bandersnatch before, but lately she's been acting weird around her. Still, Aroha trusted the bander to defend her turf or at least alert the fox to trouble. She sighed faintly, lowering her head to wash the kit's ears affectionately. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon." Her voice flowed silkily just before the vixen turned on her heels and vanished beyond the trees in one fluid motion. Zephyr shivered a little stronger.

All alone, Phyr? A smooth, handsome voice whispered charmingly from somewhere just out of sight for only the Four of Clubs to hear. Well now, how about some company? It asked again, in a cool, even tone.

Phyr's faint shivers turned to a visible tremble as she shook her head fiercely, wild eyes scanning the horizon for the man she knew she wouldn't find. "NO! Leave me alone!" She yelled, helplessly.

[Kari Muffin]

Loreta watched the touching scene unfold before her. Aww. They were absolutely adorable. She was hardly jealous. She had a child of her own after all, and he was just... full of vim vigor and vitality. She rolled her eyes. As much as she loved her child he could be a handful, and this one looked just as bad.

She watched the mother leave. With a small smirk the Heron moved forward through the trees. It was too difficult to fly through the trees, which was why she had been walking in the first place, and as she got closer she noticed the brightly colored bander. Hatter would have had a ball if he were here.

The heron jumped with surprise, nearly falling backwards at the girl's sudden shriek. She wasn't talking to her since Loreta hadn't actually come into plane sight yet. So what exactly was going on?

Not wasting any time, she came up behind the girl. "Hey there, kid, what are you up to in this creepy place?" She looked down at the girl, she sported a pair of wings... but where were her bindings? And what.... was with those words?

[petzisme]

The child had sat up in her minor attempt at confidence when she screamed for the voices to stop, but quickly realized just how much space was between her and the protective mass that she fell back down again with a thud, her feet rabbit kicking beneath her until she recovered her balance, or at least the semblance there of. She now appeared to be laying down with her hind legs haphazardly splayed behind her and her front paws almost digging into the rock and leaving marks. Of course, the nine foot boulder could handle a few scratches from a mere babe, but the young Card took that as showing disrespect for nature. Not just anything that pretends to be nature, but real nature. Nothing like grasses or weeds. They could be ripped to shreds if they touched her unabashed, but to harm the rock gave her great distress. She whimpered softly, the noise coming out in a croak, like a beagle or large dog making it.

The bander was simply delighted to she her person vapor upon her command. It was always good to have obedient ones. Now what about the little black thing? Meezer originally planned to pounce her, sinking her fangs an inch or two into the delicate flesh and then run off with a hiss to assert herself, but now all the shrieking noise irritated. It was a like a squeaky toy that wouldn't shut up. And she hadn't even touched it. Petty. The bander narrowed her eyes into a pointed glare, crouching into an offensive position and hissing in warning. There was only one way to fix toys when they were broken: rip them to shre-

And then a foreign voice echoed in her sensitive ears just after the foot falls alerted her to another's presence. The bandersnatch spun around wickedly and let out a snarling hiss at the Card who dared trespass and interrupt her disciplining the whelp. Must she teach everyone?! Meezer ducked down and flew at the heron like a bullet shot from a loaded gun, aiming to sink her fangs deep into whatever appendage was nearest to her and swat menacingly. How dare it! She was already irritable and now this? Intolerable. She would show it, alright. Attacked until the other bled. Ummm... blood.

Phyr jumped visibly as the heron spoke to her, a pain yelp issuing from her throat before she could stop herself. If she were graceful, she would have twisted around to face the newcomer like the bandersnatch, but she was not. Instead, she fumbled and her cheek met granite with a vengeance. This caused the poor thing to cry out, blinding pain shooting from behind her eyelids and down her neck just as horrible laughter echoed in her head. She growled pathetically, turning around to face this new demon with wide, horrified eyes, almost as if she expected to see Cerberus the three headed dog. Who... who're you? The youngster asked in a shaky, yet sweet voice. By the looks of her, she might have appeared to be pure Torquehelm... save for two things. First, there were no visible signs of what bound her and second, thin script traced her back to form two words in alternating pink and blue. If the heron looked closely enough, she might be able to make out the words "Mindless" and "Terror".

See, the voice chuckled in a good humored matter, now sounding like it was behind both women, even though Phyr knew the other was speaking to her telepathically, or so she thought. Didn't I promise you company?

[Kari Muffin]

The bander's teeth sunk into Loreta's Lowlander leg. The heron did bleed, and shrieked with surprise. However the poor bander was greeted with the taste of rotting flesh. Using her heart ability to ignore the pain--the bander would let go soon enough, they all did--she focused her attention to the girl.

Apparently she had taken a spill as well. She had an awful lot of purple on her for a normal Torque. Maybe she was a mixed realm? Loreta didn't really take noticed to the pink and purple, it wasn't distinguished enough for her to care.

"Loreta. And what's a little girl like you doing with this extra nasty little bander?" This was as nice as the heron had been in a long while. The only saving grace was the fact that this was a child she was speaking to. However, with as skiddish as this kid that probably wouldn't last long.

[petzisme]

Just the sight of something looming over her was enough to raise goosebumps all over the poor female's body, but the shear size of the other Card and the dark, ominous appearance did not ease her mind any. In fact, it almost had a field day when those rounded, fearful eyes reached the unnaturally brown leg the bird possessed. The color patterns were completely unfamiliar, but she definitely knew that appendages came in pairs. And they matched. Two arms, two ears, two eyes, two legs. But this one... this woman? Her legs definitely did not match. A pang of panic settled deep in her stomach she she considered this.

What if? Could it be? No. Phyr didn't want to consider the thought. It would be too much to bare. This couldn't be one of them too could it? She's never seen one of the big ones before. She knew it wasn't him because his voice was different... and it couldn't be the... the monster! No, that one was just as big, but also a boy... she shuddered, eyes glazing over as the panic took her again, a deep chuckle in the back of her head matched with a pair of piercing white eyes, the eerie green glaze beneath them making her stomach churn. Hmm, maybe today's the day, little doll. The dangerously low and gruff voice echoed tauntingly. Think her blood is worth it? She already tastes so sweet on my lips... She whimpered, completely oblivious of the bird for a moment as the world inside her head controlled her. "No! Don't touch her! Leave her alone!" She wailed into the morning air desperately, her teary eyes already searching for a way out... a way to save her. That's right, my pet. Why don't you come to her rescue? I could always set my sights for two.

Phyr cried harder out of frustration, trembling once again. Kare! He's going to hurt Kare! The words came in a rush as she wheeled around on her rock, thinking about running but then realizing she was at a dead end... there was no where for her to go. No way to save her. Kare! Or not... you'll probably be too late anyway. The words began to fade as the vicious bloodsucker said his last statement. The canine did not doubt the other's ability to stalk and possibly kill her dear sister. In fact, she very much believed the floating eyes were very capable of such a feat. But she didn't even know where Kare was. They were so very far away. What a failure.

Hush. We don't want to startle our guest, now do we? The voice reminded her in a patronizing, yet humor-filled tone as she was on the verge of crying herself into a stupor or worse! It was perfectly gentile, yet something about the excited edge to it made Phyr shiver inside. It almost seemed to ooze "danger".

But thanks to the voice, the other Torquehelm came back in view. Her small body took a few paces backwards without her mind even realizing it. It was very intimating to be so small before such a large creature. One moment she was just noticing the sickeningly different legs, and the next there was her bander latched onto it making horrendous noises. Phyr only caught enough to see the sandy one rabbit kick a few last times and then fling herself into the distance, spitting something awful and retching a few times before dashing off into the forest. Meezer wasn't expecting the horrid taste. In fact, she fancied a rich, metallic flavor but that was far from what she got. The initial bite almost made her want to vomit right there, but she was a proud one. So she gripped tighter and started to fling her claws all around, shaking her head and growling loudly until the taste was too much to bare. Once that time came, she hiss-spit and whole string of bander profanities and hate filled glares at the strange card, then ran off to bathe and calm herself down from this very distressing incident.

Phyr winced and glanced up apologetically at the other Torquehelmer, especially after the words spoken. "Sorry 'bout her." The kit whispered lightly as if expecting a reprimand. "She's Mama's. Crazy." Her speech was a little disjointed, as if she didn't socialize much as she hunched down on the rock a few feet away, looking up at Loreta in a tentative fashion, still expecting something to leap out at her and rip her to shreds.

[Kari Muffin]

Loreta was thoroughly confused by the yelling child. What the hell was going on? She was failing around and acting like she was crazy--then again that was probably the reason why her mother so kindly left her there. She was pretty sure that the girl shrieking at the top of her lungs to "Leave her alone" wasn't going to persuade the bander. It was as if she was talking to someone else entirely.

The heron raised an eyebrow at the "She's Mama's crazy" comment. So was the little girl, now wasn't she? Of course, she was probably too far gone in her own little world to notice. The Heart wasn't sure if she was amused or distressed by the entire situation. She had half a mind to pop off the girl's tail with her ability and see what would happen.

Maybe later.

The heron looked down on the the girl, "Did your mother drop you on your head or something. Why are you screaming like a ninny? And where on earth are your bindings?"

It never occurred to the Heron that her bindings were all in the little girl's head. After all, she was used to the concept of seeing them in plan sight, or not at all.

[petzisme]

(So sorry for the delay! I forget I was having surgery on a few days after you posted in my mouth, and the drugs they had me on made it really difficult to focus on anything or comprehend much for a few weeks. Then last week I got some more work done on my mouth and the whole process started all over lol. Luckily I didn't need Valium and antibiotics this time though, so all is good. I'm moving into my college dorm this weekend, so my responses may be slow for the next few days, but I'll get back into the swing of this. Really sorry about that^^)

The child was still in a state of semi-distraction when the waterfowl spoke to her next. Her mind was always in a thousand directions at once, though some might argue it was really no where at all. No one could understand the poor girl really, except maybe her sister, but Mekare was far away right now and this hound was left to her own devices for a few minutes on a slab of rock while her mother when into town. Unfortunately, just a few minutes alone often spelled disaster for the mix, even if her dam rushed as fast as Cardly possible away and back again.

At present, the pup was finding it extremely difficult to focus on anything for very long. Everything was just to overwhelming. If it wasn't one thing that startled her, it was the next. And as the heron's voice boomed in her ears, the large, dark presence was thrust to the forefront of her thoughts again. Suddenly, her precious boulder seemed very small when such a tall female hovered before it. The dear tried to scramble away, to put more distance between herself and the someone menacing Card, but her efforts were to no avail. It was only a second later when she realized she was already crouched at the far edge of the rocky surface. She could hardly back up any further, or else.... The girl shuddered at the thought. Even now, as her violet eyes glanced at the massive green expanse at surrounded her, she was frightened. Though others may not feel it, SHE knew what lurked within those seemingly innocent tendrils of long grass. Why they left others be, she could only guess, but one thing in her mind was sure. They were after her.

She whimpered softly, her round, jumpy gaze peering timidly up into another set of purple spheres for what might have been the first time. Her gaze often wondered around aimlessly while boughs of hysteria claimed her, but now she was really seeing. For a brief instant, she expected to find comfort in them, like her mother's fiery blues often did, but that was not to be the case. Instead, they might have been even more frightening then the unusual leg, particularly when framed by what could only be some type of ear contraption. Each harsh word was like a whip across the whelp's back and she started to shiver in place. Did her mother drop her on her head? Was that why they were after her? Was something wrong with her?! The questions only seemed to make the youth even less stable than she appeared to be before, and yet... somehow, not. Her eyes were still filled with a sort of living, though confused and fearful vigor that they had not possessed moments before. Perhaps the most clarity she would ever display, yet a definite improvement over being completely glassed over.

"Did she?!" Her tender voice stated in shock. That thick, fluffy tail suddenly whipped itself out from it's awkward position beneath her head legs and twisted around in long, rapid S's that were uncannily smooth motions when compared to the girl's generally jagged and jumpy composure. She was purely canine, and yet her tail seemed to move in an agitated fashion, rather than the typical happy swipes of most other hounds. Perhaps it only came alive when it's owner was actually in the real world and not lost in the bindings of her own mind. One could never be sure.

The term "ninny" was completely foreign to her, but the question just made the mix breed think it was something her parents had done to her. Something that made her somehow faulty. "Did they turn me into a ninny?" She howled in sorrow at this, turning around in a complete circle and looking all over as if expecting daemons to leap out from behind the trees to swallow "the ninny" whole. "Are they bad?" She asked in fright, though in a sort of rhetorical way. The last question was completely lost on her. She did not understand what it meant. What did this figure mean bindings? What where they? Mama never mentioned anything about bindings? Are thing part of being a ninny too? Did she have any? Would something happen to her if she did?

And worse, what if she didn't?!!! She gave the bird a look that tried to express all of what she was thinking. Oh how deliciously pathetic you are, my little dear. Absolutely pathetic. How invigorating! The words were like a hot rod stabbing her in the side, though they were positively joyful in tone. She flinched and barked a soft, fox-like whine of despair. "I am not..." She whispered faintly, though her tone only conveyed how much the pup, herself, was having trouble believing it.