T - Bee, Vyn, Yuiven

[Nathalia]

((The Bird mix hisses slightly, and just gestures ahead of them.
As they round another two corners and a small alleyway, the source of the horrible smell and his gesture become apparent.



The awful smell of stinking rot and coagulating blood in the sewers hits them full in the face as they stop in front of a gory display; the pie-shoppe lady's head on a stick.
Gaurin pauses for a few seconds, before sighing heavily.
"If you think, fer even a second, that we ain't gonna do something abou' this? Yer mad as a wet Hen." He mutters, putting his cigarette out in the sticky blood and flicking it aside.
"Mission's t'get every Lowlander back home. We got a better force built up there an' everyone's come t'gether fer it. No one left out, family feuds aside. We've been focused on gettin' our kind outta the Range and the Capital before they're all dead, 'n then we'll work on something the board's got going'."
He gave her a grin.
"Some kind'a explosion, back at home. They're gettin' it ready. Soon as we all get back. They'll send it out t'the Josiggy. Oughtta be a righ' surprise for th' stupid bastards."

He gave a half-laugh and reached out to close the dead woman's eyes.
A sudden creak behind them had the Bird mix race away into the shadows, hoping the Canine would follow.
Across the street from them, a small party pooled out into the street.
"Feck's all this?" Gaurin mumbled as the hodge-podge group stumbled outside...headed by the Barber?))


Trix will be moving to this thread ---->

decadentsuits.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=outerbazaar&action=display&thread=7339&page=8

The others can follow if they like, or wait for Zeus.)



~Nathalia

[seraaches]

(( SERA IS LATE, PER USUAL. ><; Sorry. ))

It wasn't a hard decision to make, staying in some strange alley or going off to help their realmmates. That's why the Hellhounds bloody existed, after all. "Take us to them," he ordered Mirung without hesitation. He paused only to glance back at Trott running around in his baffling circles, and gave a mental sigh. Why, oh, why had Trott not died yet? The Club was proof of something wrong with the universe, Zeus was sure. "Trott, come on," he ordered the low-ranked Card, and sailed forth following their guide.

They were led precisely three streets and two alleys over, and there, oh, joyous sights, was not just Lowlanders trying to escape the insanity of the Capital, but Hellhounds, his Hellhounds. If he'd been any less hardened to the world, he might have teared up.

"Well, it's about time," he snapped at them. "Where the rot have you all been?"

[Nathalia]

((He will have found the two male HH's and the captive Josiggy, as Trix has moved on from this thread.
Just notify Bee and I'm sure she'll carry on with it. ))

~Nathalia

[Yuiven]

Raphael couldn't help but feel the cold tingle of dread run down the length, every single vertebrae, of his protrusive spine, as soon as Gaurin opened his beak-mouth. The avian crossbreed didn't have to speak, he could see it in his eyes-- whatever Gaurin was going to say, Raphael braced himself to hear the words that he wouldn't want to hear, but he needed to know-- it was essential to know what was going on --he wanted answers. And only Gaurin can give them to him...

No amount of physical or mental preparation could’ve equipped him to cope with this tale of horror. Little by little, the carefully-constructed façade of a reserved Medic was chipped away, for every Lowlander's life lost in such demonstrations of brutality at the hands and other assorted weapons of the infidels, to reveal a disquieted civilian. It triggered an almost painful wave of sympathy in Raphael for this brave man-at-arms, as well as for their realm, for that matter. The Greyhound's face blanched out of involuntary consternation; he couldn't seem to find the right words to say to Gaurin that would relieve the exhaustion and the strain which were so clearly evident on his face. Although Raphael managed to smile, the result appearing somewhat half-hearted and fell crookedly across his muzzle in acceptance of the apology. Now they were certain what exactly Gaurin had lived through and what they were getting themselves into. Under the newfound, burdensome weight of the gravity of this situation, he hung his head, eyes downturn as they shone with the struggle to keep unshed tears at bay.

War... the word, and the concept, weren't unfamiliar to him. But there had been a stalemate between the Lowlanders and Josiggies for years. Unless the enemy which appeared to be peaceful may have been, in fact, merely... biding its time… preparing for the right moment to strike. It seemed that now was the 'right moment' the Josiggies had been waiting for. Hundreds of the population of the Lowlands-- men who had struggled to fight back, women who had tried to save their children, children who had been too weak to outrun the infidels reach --were slaughtered. Too many lives cut short in this violent clash. It was all so senseless...

Then came the thoughts the medic knew he should be having next: what about the other Hellhounds? Zeus was out there, somewhere in the midst of this carnage and destruction, with Trottelchen and Obadiah in the Capital. If anything happens to them, I'll feel guilty for being safe in here, while they might need help out there.

Raphael's olive green eyes narrowed and he raised his eyes, but not his head, to meet Squeaky's while Gaurin was ranting at him. Maybe if he thought hard enough over what was said, he'd realize the few important things and nobody needed to get hurt any more than they already were... Raphael eyed his line of thought and shooed it away. No. Darn it. Fudge, the last thing he needed to do was start blaming Cards who weren't to blame. The Josiggy/Yarrow Mix canine who refused to return the same courtesy in offering his own name was only a convenient scapegoat for the Lowlander's anger and grief. Squeaky hadn't killed anyone.

What's you lot got against us?

That's a good question the medical school dropout had often asked, but had never received a straight answer. It was late one night after class, underneath a tree out in the campus courtyard, where the (reformed) stoner was toking a joint made of Sunset Midori Grass Fingers, feeling calm, reflective and thoughtful, when he gained a valuable new insight:

There is no logical explanation for hatred.

Suddenly, his ear flicked twice in the direction of Bellatrix's voice as he heard the lone female member of the Hellhounds speak with the soldier of the Lowlands resistance. Raphael looked back. He couldn't help but smile as pride swelled in his chest upon how impressed Gaurin was to learn they were associated with such a dynamic and imposing figure as Zeus.

Unexpectedly, his sensitive canine nose took in a whiff from their cigarettes. Inhaling deeply the second-hand smoke, nostrils flaring slightly, he felt soothed by the musty, acrid smell.

"For now, I'll stay behind to wait for Zeus and the others," he said in answer to the Husky's question. "My personal beliefs do not permit me to fight and, as a Medic, I'm here to observe, getting involved only if someone gets hurt." Here a pause, as eyes narrowed, then Raphael resumed speaking, the conviction strong in his voice. "With that said, even I must admit that the Josiggies have gone too far. I refuse to stand aside and watch our countrymen get killed. So, I will avail my medical skills to the war efforts. It's the least I can do."

As Bellatrix and Gaurin took their leave, Raphael gave a shaky smile and called out, "So long, and look after yourselves."

* * *

The emaciated Greyhound curled up on the floor during those long hours, listening to the sounds of battle and tensing at every time they came too close for comfort. He felt scared... though, to be honest, he was more afraid for the other Hellhounds who were out there amidst all that. Every now and then Raphael looked at either Mirek or Squeaky, sighed, opened his mouth as if to say something, and then looked away. Any utterances of assurance would be nothing but cold comfort at this point because no one knew what was going to happen.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, there came movement on the other side, and a few shafts of light appeared as the door was pushed open. Raphael lifted his head to look up at a tall, dark silhouette, framed by the door, squinting until his eyes adjusted as a face, a familiar face, slowly came into focus. Could it be? The first faint threads of intuition that it was Zeus, the leader of their team, had blossomed into full-fledged knowledge that not only was it more than a possibility it was more likely a reality confirmed by the timbre of the voice, words laden with distinct frustration.

As soon as Zeus was done talking, Raphael could not be contained. He launched himself to his feet and bounded over-- never stumbling once --to the Doberman, yammering excitedly. He was just so relieved... so glad to see their leader was all right. If he was able to make it in such good shape then the rest of the Hellhounds could too.

[Nathalia]

((Raphael seems to have tripped over a little something!))

Tiny Tree Berries: These small, red and blue swirled berries have just fallen out of the tree above onto your head! They smell oddly like raspberries and are quite tough to chew at fist, though delicious. Once eaten, they will give the creature a new ability. Once a day, they are now able to cause any non-sentient creature within 100 feet (or any Ace) to go completely and utterly feral and angry for a full minute.
All the caster needs do is think the word attack, and up to three non-sentient creatures or Aces will fly to attack a single or a group (up to 5) of opponents.
Once the spell wears off, the creatures affected tend to be frightened of what just happened to them, and will either cower senselessly or bolt.

This item is not automatically assigned to this character and can be eaten by any others or traded later.



~Nathalia