ORIGIN - The World is Merciless

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After a brief delay by the doe, the fox was eager to continue onward. Blood on his paws, but not spilled by his hand, his eyes were set on the tower that stood off towards the back corner of the grand room. He hadn't forgotten their last conversation, but his fear had dissipated along with any issues or grievances he had over murder. Everyone's destiny was to die, whether he decided to bring the fate sooner was not going to affect anything. If that was a certainty in life. Beneath his paws the stone turned to a slick, fragmented marble as the stair case for the tower wound up in spirals.

Louie didn't have to hold his breath, this wasn't dramatic by any means merely a conclusion to a chapter that was so short. Their meeting was so brief but he had garnered a lot of information from it. All this was was a symbolic gesture which was why he had to do it before he could move forward with his life. After this, the next chapter of the Merry Men would be poised for commencement. Only time would tell whether or not the end product would be something he could be proud of and considered a success. Left side brushing against the wall, as was habit after his loss of vision, he continued to make his way through the darkness. Only the occasional window that broke a gap in the brick like a cookie cutter let in the light. It was so fleeting, before he was once again alone with his thoughts in the nothingness.

The top was nothing spectacular, as described, a hollow chamber much like a den that never saw furnishing. What purpose it served once before he wasn't entirely sure but that wasn't why he was here. Perched on the edge of balcony outside was the one he sought out and he let a smirk creep across his face again. There was no malice or anger for the creature. In fact he had come to wonder what it would think of his "journey" to find it once again. It was large enough to cause him harm should it wish to tear him apart. They hadn't been in each other's company long enough to gauge each other's magical abilities.

"Should I be surprised to see you here?" Closing his eyes, he shook his head with a snort, "All I can hope is that this meeting is a surprise to you. After all, what sort of fox would I be if I couldn't slyly sneak up on my prey?"

"DO NOT FORGET WHO I AM"

table by lisa

TEMERE

YOU'RE BUYING STARS TO SHUT OUT THE LIGHT

Talons curled around the wrought iron that made up the banister for the balcony, it stared out over the tops of the decrepit city. By now, most of the roofs had crumbled away leaving only blank walls in their place. Homes that used to keep their previous occupants safe now were laid out as a maze with horrors behind every corner. It was not one of those horrors, but it tried to remain close to where those interactions did indeed take place.

It heard the fox and its head raised. Wings shuffling under it, its head swiveled to stare with soulless eyes at the mammal. Though its eyebrows were fixed, its scowl deepened as its crest raised along the back of his neck. "A surprise only for the time. Other than that I had an inkling that you would be interested in coming back to find me." Never had one of the gembounds expressed such interest and concern in finding out more over what it did. In truth, it didn't do anything other than pay respects to the deceased, sending them onto the real outside of Origin.

In a deft swoop, it came to rest on the ground in front of the fox. Easily twice as large as the vulpes, it had no concern in doing so. "What do you come to seek from me? I am no mage, merely one who wanders and acts as I see fit. I believe the one you are looking for for that purpose is the hyena." Referring to Giggle who resided within the place of bones.

WE COME ALONE AND ALONE WE DIE

credit to dammit jim!!

A sharp inhale as the hellion came to rest in front of him. Fear threatened to make him abandon his quest, at heart he had always been a coward. What he had been wanting to do no longer seemed viable as those elongated nails clicked against the ground. Sharpened to a fine point, Louie wasn't sure whether they had tasted blood before. Frankly, he wasn't too keen on finding out as this was supposed to be his moment. Any and all blood that would be spilled today would be by him.

"Whatever the hell it is you actually are, I didn't come here to talk," ears flattening against his head, his expression tried to stay firm but this whole scene felt like it was played out of some soap opera. Honestly it was, killing off Temere would merely serve the purpose of letting him let go of the past. After the accident, he had been all over the place but with his compass needle itching towards south. The ability to mind meld with others was powerful but if he was to use it correctly.

"You stated how death worked. You explained how it was your "duty" as it were to bring people to the other side. To be present in a time when they're at their weakest, most vulnerable and most susceptible to death. I didn't know if you finished them off, I don't think we ever got that far. Death used to be something I was afraid of. But I've grown as a person..." How wrong he was, "After my experiences with Khloros, Baratheon and... Booker, I have figured out who I am."

Lips peeling back to reveal his teeth, he said nothing more. It was getting way too preachy and he didn't have to explain himself. Unspoken words were considered stronger weren't they? 'Conquering the one who brings death.' Perhaps that title for Temere was a bit too grand. After all, he didn't actually know if the bird was just making up lies for the sake of appearing spooky.

"DO NOT FORGET WHO I AM"

table by lisa

TEMERE

YOU'RE BUYING STARS TO SHUT OUT THE LIGHT

Watching the furred creature get agitated was rather amusing, but it didn't change its expression. All it did was listen and absorb the words as they were spoken to it, as it always was a better listener than speaker. Even if the one who was speaking was a bit frazzled and confused with the message he was trying to convey. The history behind it all made some sense, but it clacked its beak in annoyance.

"You still are a boy. Half of your ramblings don't make sense yet you see it as though you speak with the knowledge of the world." It was so blunt, but there was no malice nor judgement to his words. Merely calling it as it was being presented. "Should you wish to fight me, is what I believe you were getting at, then so be it. Though I have no interest in drawing it out longer than it needs to be." Wings spread, it attempted to devoid the area of light, but still the auroras pierced through its film. In a beat, he was in the air. Unable to be seen as his charcoal coat blended with the surroundings.

WE COME ALONE AND ALONE WE DIE

credit to dammit jim!!

It didn't take long for it to insult him. Not purposefully as was his mannerisms and he growled, taking a few steps back as the room darkened slightly. Both his sight and his hearing were utterly useless in this fight as the brush of feathers on rock signaled Temere's ascension. Cursing the conversation he had wasted time on, already giving away his incentive for coming here when it wasn't needed in the slightest.

Unable to make the first move, he lowered his body to the ground before the stone that rippled down from his throat cast out a bright light as he called upon the brethren of the micro world. Those crawling around on the surface of the bird were luminescent to the eyes of the trained, however there was only a dim flicker before there was nothing. Teeth clenched so hard that his jaw hurt, he kept himself flattened. "Damn you mongrel..." Death couldn't take him today.

Round 1 of ???
Cast White Sense to see Temere's movements

"DO NOT FORGET WHO I AM"

table by lisa

TEMERE

YOU'RE BUYING STARS TO SHUT OUT THE LIGHT

It took no satisfaction in what it was doing merely eliminating a threat. Under cover of darkness, it watched the fox stumble blindly. The only sound that was made were the talons against brick as it pushed off the wall to launch downwards with talons outstretched at the vulpes. Temere would end this quickly and painlessly, just as it was taught to do. To prolong suffering was not its objective on this earth.

There was fur beneath it and with effort, it heaved and pulled to dislodge the mammal from the earth. Only just having a grip on the hide, it only managed to drag Louie towards the edge, but its mind was made up as its dark eyes were set on the auroras that spanned out over the length and width of the broken city.

WE COME ALONE AND ALONE WE DIE

credit to dammit jim!!

Where he was flattened, he couldn't see shit and as he tried his best to keep his eyes on the sky, it did nothing. Even with his natural ability of night vision, it was no match for the artificial darkness. Louie heard the clack as Temere changed directions suddenly. Next thing he felt scour marks being clawed into him and a howl was ripped from his lungs. Wriggling, he was dragged across the ground and in a panic, he reached up and attempted to latch his jaws around the scaly leg.

Disorientated as he was moving, he couldn't get a hold of the bird and the only thing saving him from being tossed over the edge was the uncertain grip. Louie screamed and felt himself being dropped as the hellbeast was forced in the end to drop his struggling prey. This was not going well and the vulpes scarpered off to the side, the element of surprise on both sides was gone. In a few swift bounds, he was upon the harpy eagle, ready to clash again as the miniature titans duked it out.

"DO NOT FORGET WHO I AM"

table by lisa

TEMERE

YOU'RE BUYING STARS TO SHUT OUT THE LIGHT

Oh it could feel the mammal attempt to break free, but its eyes were set on the destination unwavering. Snaps of teeth were heard from under it and with a final tug Louie had managed to slip out of its grasp. With nothing holding it down, it lifted slightly before deciding to come to a rest on the ground. Vulnerable here, it had no intentions of hanging around as it spread its wings to gain the advantage of the sky once again.

Being so large in such a cramped space was disadvantageous, and before Temere could make off already Louie was beside it in a snarling ball of fury. Silently, it swept its legs up to rake its talons down the length of Louie's face allowing it a chance to escape. It managed to clip the left side, where scar tissue had already been built up as it peeled off some of the thick skin.

WE COME ALONE AND ALONE WE DIE

credit to dammit jim!!

Mid leap, he watched as the eagle effortlessly managed to position itself to land a blow. As it clipped the left side of his face, memories game flooding back of the dragon that had burned him so badly. The betrayal in which he had tried to murder strangers, strangers who later went on to become friends. Before ultimately he had to sacrifice them all. The pain was searing, and he had to stop himself from screaming again. Temere was so composed, just as a murderer and fighter should be. Louie had to emulate that and not let emotions rule his fighting.

Jaws agape, he was aiming directly to knock the eagle over. Even though he weighed less, he hoped that the momentum would be enough. It was easy, with it already unbalanced from trying to fight off Louie, it had left itself open and they both fell into a tussle as they rolled across the stone floor. Talons and fangs, and he felt more gashes being opened up on his soft belly before they thudded into the wall with Louie on top, the throat of death between his teeth. Louie hissed, as he tightened his grip on the throat of the predator.

"Die you mother fucker."

"DO NOT FORGET WHO I AM"

table by lisa

TEMERE

YOU'RE BUYING STARS TO SHUT OUT THE LIGHT

Of course it wasn't enough to stop the fox, it hadn't been able to throw its weight behind the attack as a bipedal animal and it was merely caught up in the flurry of fur and feathers. Tumbling, it felt its beak and claws make contact with easily tearable flesh. Slick blood spilled out onto its oily feathers before they came to a sudden stop. What had previously been assurance that it would win quickly turned to the realization that it was at the mercy of its newest enemy.

It was weird, it wasn't used to have enemies. It said nothing as Louie spoke in such a brash tone. What was he wanting from it, an apology? An explanation? No. It would die with no words instead accepting the fate that it used to guide others through. The shepherd had become the sheep hunted down by the wolf. Feeling the teeth tighten around its neck, instinctual fear drove it to lash about meekly, but ultimately it had no intention of surviving this. The fight had been quick and clean, it had lost. So Temere would die.

With a sickening crack, its neck was broken and whatever "light" there had been inside the husk was gone. Death had brought its comforts to its henchman.

WE COME ALONE AND ALONE WE DIE

credit to dammit jim!!

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