ORIGIN - Quest: The Beast's Best Friend P2

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His hand suspended in the air, trembling, eyes fixed on where the stone had once been. The stone. The sound. The sound rang through his head, familiar; a thousand memories all dredged up from the darkness of age and time. The Beast needn't shed a glance in the direction the arrow had come from, he lunged forward and grabbed the stone, clutching it in his hands. Only when he noticed something distinct - a new feature, a chip, an imperfection wrought by the arrow's tip - did he swing his head towards the offender and shriek a most otherworldly sound at her.

She had hurt the stone.

Realizing now the meaning of her arrival, the Beast cradled the stone close to him and rose to his full height. He stood at a good seven feet tall, hunching even in the tunnel while his wide green eyes stared the centaur down. How did she find him? How did she know to return, now? He shouldn't have waited. How dare she - how could she? The Beast's lips drew back in a vicious snarl, flashing his teeth at the centaur and eying the arrow cocked on the bow, before his gaze flickered to her face, a familiar face; the face of a traitor. She demanded the Gembounds clear the space between them, but the Beast wouldn't be so foolish, he wouldn't give her a clear shot, not when he was so close.

The shadowy monster slowly side-stepped, failing to break his gaze from the centaur. He dropped down onto all fours, handing the stone off to one of the sub-appendages emerging from his chest. With his other hand he slowly pushed the armor back against the wall, as far from her as he could; his movements were akin to a spider, creeping and crawling, jerking movements that carried the wildly snarling monster back towards the Gembounds. "I did not find them." His ancient, wise voice seemed so unfitting for the ugly expression that crossed his maw. "They did." He spoke, and though he made no gesture towards the Gembounds, he spoke of them. A low rumbling erupted from his chest as he skirted around the Gembounds, and at the same time attempted to move closer to the centaur, watching, always watching that pointed arrow.

Suddenly he stopped and rose onto his hind legs again, standing tall as he loomed over the Gembounds. "Let me have my way." He rumbled, seething. "What do you care for this place after having so long ago abandoned it? Us?" The Beast's force contorted into another vicious snarl, but this time it too held bitterness, and disgust.

(Please allow Game Master CJ to post next!)

Her grip never faltered. When Beast picked up the stone, she could feel the rush of emotion within him. She had chipped it then, she assumed. How perfect. Beast turned and let out a horrific sound that caused her to lift her lips and bare her fangs. All of her teeth were pointed. A hiss slipped through her yellowed teeth as Beast rose to his full height. Even still, she did not falter. She held no fear for a creature so low. Despite her hatred, she could always feel him. Even when he had been so far below her. They were a team once.

As Beast moved the armor pieces, the tip of the arrow followed the exact place his stone was. She wouldn't shoot his heart. She'd shoot his stone. There wasn't any need to try and find his heart, anyway. Deep down, she knew he probably didn't even have one. The thought made her lip curl as she continued to follow the creature's movement. She was close to letting another arrow zip through the air as he touched the armor pieces, but he didn't seem intent on trying to summon that thing with her standing around. Their eyes were locked and her toes dug into the dirt as she restrained herself from killing him right here and now.

It disgusted her that Beast moved behind the creatures, keeping them between himself and her. Meat shields. Even so, the tip of her arrow moved with him. It pointed at the Gembounds as he moved behind them, then followed his stone up as he rose again. The creatures found the armor pieces? She didn't need to look at them. The Gembounds had gems, and that's all they needed for her to know them. "Never," she barked, amused that he thought he could just ask. "I abandoned nothing." Her voice was strong and resilient. "I sought a safer land, and I found it. Why continue to live under the control of another? A slave? A servant for wrongdoing?" she jeered, narrowing her eyes at him.

The bitterness in his snarl caused her to stomp one of her feet. "You are a disgrace," she said coldly.

All the manner of creatures began to show up after her and among them was Usui. She smiled at his touch and turned to gently bump her head against his shoulder. It was nice having another of your species around, they could say a thousand things to each other without actually verbally speaking. He was sort of like a little brother to her anyhow, a wise little brother. The lioness was about to call out greetings to her other companions and... was that little Quix? Why was she standing underneath Kerberos like that? The lioness was confused for a moment. She didn't have much time to call out to the fox because she felt something squirming between her paws. One quick look down confirmed it was the little cub. Her heart warmed at his timidness she reached down to give him a comforting lick on his head before murmuring, "It's alright. These are friends and if anything does happen I'll keep you safe." With that she raised her head to look at Beast.

That was when the arrow wizzed by and knocked the stone out of beast's hand. The lioness gave a sharp growl of alarm. What on earth was that? She ducked down, shielding the little one beneath her with her body. She said she would protect him and she would. One careful look back showed that the creature who had shot the arrow was a strange... beast... a... a centaur? Was that right? It was certainly strange looking and though Ky didn't raise from shielding the boy she kept her eyes on the creature curiously.

The female centaur seemed angry with Beast and they spoke to each other. Makyna didn't know what was going on... This creature spoke as if Beast was bad. Wherever he went the creature pointed her dangerous arrows and that included pointing it right at them! Makyna tensed, unsure of what to do. She couldn't run and didn't want to speak out. After the dialogue was finally over she looked back and forth between the two. "I don't understand. What is all this for? Beast is our friend and we helped him... but who are you?" Her voice wasn't hostile just openly curious and confused.

words: 371
tagged: Quest
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

"Talking looks like this!"
"Thinking is this!"

take me home where the restless go

reckless 'til the day i rest my bones

αριστερά . κέντρο . δεξιά

Now, Kerberos was not a smart dog, nor even a very good dog. In his opinion, he just wanted to eat things. Especially big, fourlegged almost preyish things. If protecting one side meant he got to eat another side, well. He uh. He seemed to be all for that. So he sniffed his way over to the middle of the room, over to Beast as he stood up (boy, what a huge weird gembound!) and squared himself in front of Beast like a very loyal pet.

"No hurt," Kerberos suggested, sounding almost like it wasn't even a threat. Like, perhaps, he didn't want to eat anyone, for once. "If you do, I'll have to eat you." That was what the puppy thought-- that he had to protect things, no matter how bad he was at it. It was an odd instinct, often time he would "protect" others by suggesting that if they tried to do something dangerous he would eat them. Usui tried to jump in a river once, for example, and the clumsy pup had tried to eat him.

It usually didn't go well for the brutish three headed dog.

"No eat!" He snapped, his voice growing stronger, more forceful. More commanding. "Stop! Listen and learn and speak, but no eat, no fight, no hurt, or teeth. We have lots of teeth, and we'll use them!"

weeping shades of indigo

shed without reason

It would seem my instinct was correct in having hid myself under the protection of the lioness. The interaction with usui and herself warmed my heart, and a small grin exposed as I then felt more like a pride. But soon, something happened. Something I wasn't sure about, and she crouched low. I did the same, falling beneath her even more so with grace and ease as any feline would. The stench if the creature that assaulted the beast was something I couldn't pin point, however I couldn't pin point many scents. But it was different all the same, I couldn't see anything, only hear. I kept myself tucked away in the tawny furs of the lioness, hoping she wouldn't get hurt in the fiasco. Then, she spoke, wondering what was happening as the beast had been friends with us gembounds. Then a voice I really didn't recognize echoed through the cavern, informing the intruder that she shouldn't hurt the beast. And that he had teeth, and would use them. I found that odd, didn't we all have teeth?

Even still, I said nothing. I remained beneath the lioness, hoping everything would play out. I was ever at the ready to dart if I needed to, but would she make it out alive should the situation turn nasty? Well, I mean bloody. It's already turned nasty. I wanted to see, to quell this burning curiosity in my soul but I dared not. I kept hunkered down, reassuring myself silently that I would see when the time was right. I could not help but to experience anxiety, though. My little heart raced, my breathing labored, and I aimed to press my body against whatever part of the lioness's that I could. Her touch would calm me, her warmth caressed me. I wish I was bigger, maybe one day I could scare away all the mean things with one mighty roar.

"spoken words."

@tag
xxx.
muse= 10/10
Sorry ky if I powerplayed D8

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

To her surprise, the creatures around them were working with Beast. Still, her eyes never left him, her arrow never dipped. One of them asked what this was for, and used a word that the centaur would have never used for Beast. Not even back then... "He is not your friend," she said quickly in response to the lioness, "but he is very good at using others, isn't he?" She realized now these Gembounds seemed to have taken a liking to Beast for whatever reason. What had he done to twist their minds? How did he fool them so easily? Were they all so easily persuaded?

"I used to live in the Caves," she offered, adding, "but there were dangers I needed to get away from. As should you." Again, she wanted the Gembounds to move. How cowardice of Beast to hide behind them. Could he not fight by himself? Then, one of the other creatures stood before Beast and threatened her with teeth. Teeth! Lots of teeth! Her eyes flicked to him and she let a wide smile open her lips. Her jaw lowered nastily to reveal three sets of sharp, jagged teeth. She also had teeth. Lots of them. "I've had lots of teeth longer than any of you," she said slowly, jaw returning to normal. "And I know things you don't know. The truth. The danger something like this Beast poses. What do you know of him?" she asked, turning her stare back to him. What did they know? What had he told them? Why did they trust him?

"I know he is a monster," she added, stomping her back left leg as if to draw attention to it. A wild scar ran down the length of her leg. Although this Beast did not make it, the other did. The fighter. The strength. The other half of a disastrous whole. "And it was never his intention to be friends."

Tamelyn
Jul 24 2015, 11:23 PM

Tamelyn Thunderhoof And I will fear no darkness

The Beast's worries seemed to quiet eventually, and he smiled at them all. It was a creepy smile, admittedly, but it was nice to see him not so sad. But just as he was about to reunite the stone with the armor, something whizzed out of the darkness, knocking it out of his hand. Galloping into view was one of the oddest creatures she had ever seen, holding something in her hands with deadly purpose. She spat hatred at the Beast, and when she ordered them to step away from him, Tamelyn stubbornly held her ground. The Beast's shriek of rage startled her, and as the two circled eachother, Tamelyn took a step between the...thing, and the other Gembound, watching her warily. They spoke, some asking questions, others threatening the centaur back.

Tamelyn's frustration had been slowly building, and as the centaur spoke again, she stepped forward. "I know he needed help," she said, looking her in the eye. "He asked for help bringing his friend back to life, and we gave it to him." She looked back at the shadowy creature. "He's alone in here. We all started out alone." Her eyes softened, recalling her own hatchmate, Arkrael. "Then we found friends. What did he do that was so bad, that you wouldn't even let him have that?" Tamelyn knew what danger was. She had run from golems and fought a giant fish and dodged danger since she hatched. But the Beast didn't seem dangerous, just...old.

"Listen to me."

table by lisa, image and modifications by FennecFyre

Game Master Madison
Jul 25 2015, 12:00 AM

It seemed the inky surface of the Beast's skin began to prickle, producing sharp points along his shoulders and spine out of instinct as anger began to take hold. How could she claim she never abandoned them? She was the one that severed them. She was the one that ruined everything. All their plans. Everything they had worked for. She had taken it all away. It had been what, decades, centuries, thousands upon thousands of years - how could she be so blind? "He is gone," The Beast's voice croaked, seeking the gaze of the centaur, through all his anger - as if imploring her to listen. But he knew she wouldn't. She was stubborn and rash. She was everything that they never were.

Any chance of reconciliation (despite everything she'd done, there was always that small strand, that small hope that maybe she would accept this fate) had vanished as she coldly denounced him. A disgrace. No. They had worked so hard. Everything they did, they did for the plan! The Beast snarled, once again revealing rows of sharp teeth - they looked even sharper now, glinting in the light. "TRAITOR!" He roared, flexing his clawed fingers; the serendebite was still tucked safely against his chest by one of his smaller pseudo arms.

The Beast's snarling persisted as a low rumble, and he moved back as the Gembounds suddenly aligned before him, standing against the centaur. The rumbling was consistent, ever present in the pit of his chest as he stood back and listened. He watched them all defend him, blind, unknowing - but fighting for his cause none the less. His snarl twisted into another smile as they all questioned her, but he found it faltering again as she began to explain. Explain what had transpired. Explain her deception. How she had abandoned. And finally, her lies. Lies? Was she wrong? The Beast had only ever wanted one thing. In all his solitary life, he'd only ever wanted one thing.

To be whole.

The creature straightened up again, and then the piebald deer came to his defense, spewing heart wrenching drivel. But she was right - he was alone, like them. But not for long... As her voice carried on, the Beast's wicked smile grew further, extending upon his maw like a jagged jack o' lantern's grimace. Finally she silenced, and Beast again rose to his full height, looming over the Gembounds as he stared with poison green eyes at the centaur. "Teeeeeell them." He pushed, low voice grating against the stagnant air, eyes widened to the point of insanity. "Teeelll them our crimes or FACE THE MANY FANGS!" The Beast cackled, if only because he knew she would be wrong. He had never done anything wrong. He was so close, after all this time, he was so close.

She couldn't stop him now.

Kerberos
Jul 25 2015, 12:39 AM

take me home where the restless go
reckless 'til the day i rest my bones

αριστερά . κέντρο . δεξιά

Kerberos was a giant demon dog from the depths of hell, but he was also a puppy who had learned the value of listening. Where had she come from? Beyond the caves? Yet she had come from the direction of Orion, and in all his exploring he had not found an exit... So where... As the centaur began to show her teeth, not out of threat or even violence, but to prove her point, one of his three heads tilted. The middle continued to bear his teeth, his hackles raised and bristling-- the situation was too tense for him to let down his guard-- and the last, simply blinked and slowly began to speak once more.

"... Are you intending to be friends?" You see, he didn't understand friendship very well just yet-- but he knew that friends shared teeth. If the Beast behind him did not want to be friends, but she did... Well. Kerberos could do that much math. His red-nosed head glanced over its shoulder, peering back at the Beast as he began to snarl, his skin transforming into something disturbingly unreal.

It was, in watching the Beast change, that the dog who knew very little of the situation twisted his body around and backed away from the Beast, back towards the Centaur. No. He would fight with the one more likely to be his Friend, to Share Teeth. He didn't know the motives of the Beast, but the puppy did not like the way he bared his teeth at the Centaur.

Hopefully it was not too late to change sides. Kerberos would continue to listen, but he understood what the Centaur wanted. She wanted to stop the Beast. Kerberos did not know, however, what the Beast wanted. The chances of his plan being more dangerous than his plan being stopped were low enough, and the dog's instincts were strong.

"No FANGS or I eat you! I don't care! I'll eat anyone who does not listen and learn and speak!" The dog snarled, fur bristling, tail vibrating although it did not and could not rattle.

Makyna
Jul 29 2015, 01:20 AM

Makyna did not move, she remained crouched there as she still shielded the cub. The threat had not disappeared, not as far as she was concerned. The centaur spat words but for the most part they made sense. the caves were indeed dangerous with death and strange things all around. Even though they lived here they knew very little. Ky could feel the urge to learn and to know more deep within her. And really... What did they truly know of Beast? He'd only wanted them to go find bits of his friend. He'd offered no information, no past, no nothing... Only that he was searching for his friend. Ky could feel a prickle of doubt, a prickle of suspicion as she looked from the centaur to Beast and back again.

For a moment she remained speechless, allowing the scene to play out as her friends picked sides. It wasn't until Beast spoke again that she looked up to the centaur. "I'd... I'd like to know as well. To clear everything up." She did not want to be lead blindly but she also did not want to turn on a friend. She would need to hear both sides of this situation to make sure that this centaur actually had a case. "Could you please tell us what is going on... please?" Her voice was kind but above all curious.

words: 229
tagged: Quest
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

"Talking looks like this!"
"Thinking is this!"

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ORIGIN > IC Archives > Year 1 Archives > Quest: The Beast's Best Friend P2