Welcome. Are you like us?

No?

I suppose I should explain.

My name is Shannon. Yes, like the river. Anyway, I'm one of the last. One of the last hum- people on earth.

See, I nearly said human. But I'm not entirely human anymore. The humans were wiped out by a freak virus. Animals and plants were left unaffected. If the virus didn't kill you, it would make you stronger. But less human.


If you were going to survive, you still got the symptoms. The worst was probably the coughing. I won't give you the gory details. But if you were going to survive, you would get a really bad rash. The rash would eventually fade, but your skin would glow. It's not that obvious in daylight, but we glow like anything in the night.

And we are unique. We can mutate into an animal. One animal. And for some unknown reason, we also have the control of one element, which we can use in either form.

Water And The Cheetah.

Fire And The Eagle.

Air and The Wolf.

Earth And The Bear.

Light And The Snake.

After a lot of searching, we managed to find each other. We began to set up a new city.

It's complete. And it glows.

Like us.

But we discovered that we're not alone. There are people who are less human than us. If that's possible. They slink around in the outskirts of our town, never quite able to get into the light of our city.

The smart one worked it out that that's why we glow. It's to repel the Lurkers as we call them. But the Lurkers seem drawn to our light, even though it makes them weaker, and if we glow too brightly, we can kill them. The Lurkers have unknown powers. And they seem... darker than regular humans.

We swore that we would stay away.

But will we be able to stay away? And will the lure of our light be too much for the Lurkers?

Guess What? This is going to be in the Post-By-Play!!!

Okay. PM me this form entitiled "You Shine Brighter Than Any One" for the mutants or "Perfection is overrated" For The Lurkers.

Code: Select all

[color=#004000][size=85]READ THESE RULES FIRST!!![/size][/color]
No GM or PP.
Stick to the powers I outlined.
The Lurkers' powers will be severely weakened by the Mutants.
Swearing- keep it to a minimum and don't use anything too explicit.
Romance- Great. Keep it to PG-13.
Ditto with Violence.
Keep Gender Ratio even.
Lurkers can develop new characteristics. Maybe they're like bad mutants? Or maybe they're similar to vampires? I'm going to give you more or less free rein!
I will post any new rules here. Keep checking back.

[color=#400000][center]Yay for the Mutant Skeleton!!![/center][/color]
My Name is:
Age:
I Look Like:(Both forms or just human- I won't demand an animal one.)
I Turn Into:
My Power Is:
Personality:
Anything Else?


Code: Select all

[color=#004000][size=85]READ THESE RULES FIRST!!![/size][/color]
No GM or PP.
Stick to the powers I outlined.
The Lurkers' powers will be severely weakened by the Mutants.
Swearing- keep it to a minimum and don't use anything too explicit.
Romance- Great. Keep it to PG-13.
Ditto with Violence.
Keep Gender Ratio even.
Lurkers can develop new characteristics. Maybe they're like bad mutants? Or maybe they're similar to vampires? I'm going to give you more or less free rein!
I will post any new rules here. Keep checking back.

[color=#400000][center]My Lurker Skeleton....[/center][/color]
I Am Supposedly Called:
I Look Something Like This:
My Age Is:
I Have These Characteristics:(Be Original)
Something Else:

My Name is: Shannon
Age:14
I Look Like: Me
Me Too
I Turn Into: Cheetah
My Power Is: Water
Personality: I like to tell stories. I can be quite over dramatic when I want to be, or when I get carried away. I'm generally quite friendly, but I am a redhead, so I have got a temper.
Anything Else?x-x-x

Here's The OOC. Any updates will be posted here. If you can't post for a few days, PM me or post it there.

OOC

A lone figure walked through the glowing streets. She glowed even brighter than the buildings. The glow seemed to come from within. It even seemed to shine through her lustrous red hair. Her gait was relaxed, but it somehow seemed catlike. Between her glowing skin and the glow of the building, her shadow was faint, barely visible. Her clothes contested with her skin. She wore a purple t-shirt and jeans.

Shannon looked around her, her body language relaxed but her eyes were searching. Flicking from side to side, searching for something. She reached up and pulled her hair from her ponytail, covering her pale neck with her thick red hair. She stopped and turned, looking around her. She saw a darting shadow, and turned in it's general direction. After a couple of moments she turned back the way she came. But in her hands, she held a ball of water which looked to be steaming hot. She tossed it from hand to hand nervously. It never touched her skin, always stopping a moment before it hit her skin. Continuing in this manner, she retraced her steps.

((Terribly sorry for the OOC post, but am I allowed to RP? I posted my character sheet to you))

((Yeah, go ahead.))

Sighing, Hoen sat upon the roof of a large shop that loomed over the streets. This seemed to be his favorite spot simply because of the large and very bright night posted atop the shop. Made him nearly invisible considering it drowned out his light, but at the same time seemed to absorb his own.

Laying his head down so it rested between his paws he breathed heavily preparing to sleep. Though he had no home, like a stray he knew how to make it in the streets without too much trouble. It wasn't too bad of a place to catch some dreams neither. It was quiet and the light kept him warm. Most of all though he didn't get bothered by people asking why he slept on the street.

Then as soon as his eyes drifted slowly into dreams his ears refused. Perking up and turning towards the sounds that now quietly dressed themselves upon the glowing streets.

"Better be careful..."

He growled as he tried to sleep.

((Having to drive to dallas tonight. It's gunna be nearly 5 hours till i can get back on! sorry!!))

((That's okay, just post when you can.))

Shannon walked the streets, her glow lighting up any shadows that happened to hide in the streets. Her ball of water faded away as she relaxed, but she seemed to glow brighter. She seemed to glow with a harsher light than before. Her light seemed to be a defence rather than the gentle glow she had shone with before.

As she walked, she headed towards the brightest part of the city. She stopped at an apartment block that was made of white marble. It glowed brighter than most of the buildings around it. Shannon sighed and smiled, before heading into the building. Inside it was warm and dry, with plush carpets and underfloor heating. She stepped inside the lift and pressed a button for the sixth floor. When the doors opened again, she stepped into a large, modern apartment.

Shannon dropped onto the nearest couch, kicking off her shoes and stretching out. She pressed a button on the remote that was on a coffee table beside her. A curtain swung back, revealing a glorious view of the city. She could see for miles. The view was amazing. The city glowed with a pure rich light, tainted only by the rain that was beginning to fall. Shannon smiled. All seemed well.

Growling lowly and his eyes opened slowly as the rain dropped onto his pelt lightly and then even more heavily.

"Damned weather always making me feel even worse about my living conditions."

Raising slowly his long bangs draped over his lycan eyes.

Snorting he stood on his large black legs and bolted from the roof onto another until he was bounding from shingled tops to metal industrial tops.

"Damn, I hate moving from that spot... Now Katur's men will be on me in no time. All I have to do is make it to the safe-...."

Stopping his dash, Holen sighed as his eyes turned to see three large men standing in his way, "Really expected Katur to send faster and more capable thugs to find me."

Shannon sighed as she saw Katut's thugs prepare to attack Holen. She left her apartment and turned into a cheetah. She sprinted towards the site where she had seen Holen. As she sprinted, she lit the streets with her silver glow. She turned into her human form, and summoned a water ball.

"Hey guys. How're you? Pissed off any more mutants recently? Just because we didn't let you join our civilisation?"

Shannon teased, preparing herself mentally for a fight.

Holen remained a wolf and glanced slightly behind him since he felt something coming fast in his direction. A lit up cheetah rounded the bend and jumped to his side as a human woman.

"I can take care of this myself..."

Knowing damn well he could not, but he felt nearly weak in the eyes of the enemy.

"Whatever, fight if you will, but don't blame me if you nearly die!"

His sleek eyes returned to the men that now began to surround them, wielding pipes and some used element abilities. They pounced onto Holen, two of them. With a massive gust of wind and force shot outwards from himself the creatures and men flew and hit the walls of alleyway. While the last began it's attack on Shannon.

The two that were flung began to stand but one fell unable to sit up because of a broken rib and arm. The larger stood and began walking fast words Holen, "You owe us, Holen! You mangy mut!" Turning into a human, Holen dodged the first round of punches and with one swoop of the arm, the man went down.

Shannon recoiled as the man's punch found it's mark on her collar bone. She growled, and blasted him with a jet of water, giving her time to recover. She then launched a spinning kick at the assilant. It missed her target of the face but her foot made contact with his shoulder, badly bruising it and possibly breaking it. As the man backed off, holding his shoulder and mentally preparing himself for another attack, Shannon rubbed her collarbone. It was definitely bruised. The man managed to catch her by surprise, knockign her to the ground and holding her there. She panicked and launched a series of attacks, only one of them succeding. Her fist landed on his eye. In return, he landed a blow on her nose. Shannon kicked him in the stomach, throwing him off. He landed against a wall, apparently unconscious. Shannon bent over double, trying to catch her breath. The man had kicked her on the side of her torso as she had thrown him off. It made it a little difficult to breathe. Shannon looked over at Holen, wanting to help but she had yet to regain her breath.

Holen's face met brutally by a massive blow from a new attacker. Thinking he was safe since they were all down groaning on the cold brick floor of the alley, Holen lowered his guard and began to head to Shannon. Falling to the ground with a grunt and a slam.

Lifting up slowly he looked up to see his worst fear, Katut himself grinning down at him, "Hello Holen. Playing nice I see." The large man the resembled his animal form in his human form as well, the bear.

"Damn it, Katut, What do you want from me?"

I simply hate that some one so close to me is living on the streets! When you could easily join us and live like a king!"

Holen shook his head and stood, "Why in hell would I join you after you killed them? All of them!"

Katut laughed, "Because unlike them we are strong and powerful. They were weak and frail."

Roaring with rage, Holen charged the large man with the wind pushing every movement faster and more furious than the last, "You idiot! They were kids! Women!"

His punch landed, but only to be matched by a earth slab the pounded Holen into the ground.

"Weak... Frail... The times away from me have made you just... like... THEM!"

Rolling out of the way of a massive smash that now came from a large bear clawed paw. Running quickly to Shannon he picked her up and ran as fast as his legs could carry them away. The sound of laughter could be heard from Katut behind them. Mocking the retreat.

Finally, Holen stopped at a small but secure building's garage and let her down.

"Im so sorry."

Shannon rubbed her side. “Idiots. In killing everyone, they created their worst enemies...” She winced. “Are you okay? They done me some fair damage, but no broken bones, thank God. My collarbone is badly bruised, as is my side. Come on. They won't come into the middle of the city, where we can spot them too easy. You'll be safe from them in my apartment." She transformed into her cheetah form, gritting her teeth. She began to run, trying to strain her muscles as little as possible. She arrived at her apartment where she sat, cleaning her face of the blood.

Stumbling into her apartment, Holen flopped down onto the ground and began assessing the wounds. His face bruised up fast and his cheek bone seemed cracked. As well his hand seemed pretty well destroyed when it met Katut's rock hard face at the high speed that his wind carried him.

"I told you I could handle it. That was a family matter. Personal business."

Holen sighed knowing he was being rude to some one who might have just been the key factor in him living,

"Listen. I'm sorry."

"Stop apologising. You're my friend, and a few bruises are a small price to pay to save your life. If I hadn't, the Lurkers could have torn down this city block by block. You're one of the last few who really want to defend this city." Shannon went into the bathroom. Her face was pretty bruised. It hurt to move, and Shannon knew that it would be near impossible to move the next morning. "Hey, I'm wrecked. I'm going to go to bed. There's a spare duvet in the airing cupboard. If I were you, I'd sleep inside tonight. It's raining and those guys will be regainIng consciousness around now. Just saying." Shannon yawned and went into her bedroom. She changed into her comfy pyjamas and climbed into bed, flicking in her bedside light and pulling out her book. She was reading "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" again.

Turning into a wolf again Holen grunted as he limped on his paw that had cracked bones.

His eyes fluttered shut nearly as soon as he had laid down. Soundly asleep. Dry, warm, and now safe.

His eyes darted rapidly while closed. Whimpers expelled from his shut mouth.

The dream rushed into view. Holen rushed out a door of a small house. Not within the city. It seemed deserted. He rushed out away from the screams of children and women. Sounds of crashes and death resounded from the small hut.

Holen tripped. His paw caught a root and down he went. Hard.

Turning he saw Katut walking to him. His eyes filled with hate. Shadows seemed to flow around him freely. His hand replaced by bear paws now dripped scarlet. The claws gnarled and twisted in preparation for more blood.

"Oh Holen. Why did you have to tell them..."

Backing away quickly, trying to escape.

Katut raised his claws and brought them down with devastating force,

Holen screamed in fear, "Brother! Don't!"

He was awake now. He had screamed that to reality. Looking down he saw the scar that Katut had left him from that memory. A large gash like scar that stretched his stomach to his chest.

"Why brother... Why our family?"

Shannon heard Holen yelling. She grabbed a dagger from her beside table and sprinted into the main room. When she made it in, brandishing her dagger, she saw Holen alone, breathing hard. "Are you okay?" she said, lowering her arm. She went into the kitchen and filled two mugs with milk. She sprinkled some hot chocolate powder into the mugs and placed them into the microwave. When it dinged, she took them out and placed a few marshmallows into each. She brought them into the main room. She put one down in front of Holen and sat on a White furry bean bag near Holen. 'So. What's wrong?'

"It's those damned nightmares again...About..."

He shook his head and looked away. The cup raised to his lips and he sipped softly. As to not burn himself.

"Katut isn't just some lurker..."

Laying his head down and placing his hands behind his head he stared up to the ceiling, "Do you know who he is to me? How far we go back?"

His misty blue eyes shifted to her and waited for her response.

"I heard rumours, but.... They all seemed to ridiculous to be true." Shannon lifted the mug to her lips and drank. She adjusted herself so that she was more comfortable. She stood up and put her mug on the coffee table. She went into the kitchen and put some brownies, muffins and giant cookies onto a plate. She brought the plate in and set it onto the coffee table. "Here. I have a feeling we'll need them." She picked up a cookie and settled back onto her bean bag.

Holen shifted into his wolf. He seemed more comfortable and less vulnerable while in that form. He laid his snout onto his paws and began to speak.

"My family had once live outside this city. We were safe because of father's light. His was one of the strongest ever seen. It kept the lurkers away. The didn't dare cross my father. A man of power and purity. One day though... My brother, Katut went missing."

Shifting he sat up and looked at her now, "My father being worried left on a journey to search for him. To find his eldest son."

"Promising to be home by dusk to shine his light and to keep the enemy at bay he left."

Holen's eyes lowered and shut slowly, "That is the last time I laid eyes on my father."

Stopping briefly to regan himself he spoke once more, "Not an hour after dusk, my brother returned. This time though... he wasn't my friend that I knew. The man that hugged me when I was scared when I was younger. No this being walking to me was darker."

"I asked him where father had been. If he had seen him. With a smile that turned rivers cold he said, 'No... Never saw him.' I knew he knew..."

Shifting uncomfortably on the rug, Holen sighed.

"Then... It all went to hell. I decided to tell my mother. To show her what I saw. She agreed. She confronted him... Then..."

A tear rolled down the the black wolf's fur, wetting it as it went.

"Then if front of me, my sisters and cousins... The damned monster struck down my mother in one blow. Screams were heard and I went in defense of the children, but he was too strong. He threw me through the door and I landed just outside. I was forced to listen to my family be slaughtered. Crushed by the mad man that was once my brother."

Turning into human once more he stood and walked to the windowed door that looked upon the city, "He came outside once it was too quiet in the house. He looked at me with a devilish smile, 'Oh Holen. Why did you have to tell them...'

Backing away quickly, I tried to escape.

Katut raised his claws and brought them down with devastating force,

I screamed in fear, 'Brother! Don't!' "

Turning to his friend he raised his shirt, "This scar is a monument to why I fight for this city. My Brother... is a lurker."

He winced at the pain that the scar still brought.

Laying down on the couch next to Shannon he smiled,

"I know my story is a terrible one, but the past has happened. I wish to change the future. Its the least I can do for those whom I have lost."

Shannon wiped a tear from her cheek and smiled. "Wow... Do you want to hear my story? It's not half as emotional, but it's very close to me...

"I was the only child in my family to survive. My parents lasted the longest. It was by far the hardest, watching them slowly die. At least with your family, you knew they died quickly. My parents' pain was dragged out for weeks.

"My sister had always been much stronger than me. So when I survived, I presumed she did too. So I went searching for her. I knew she had been living somewhere in the old States. So I travelled there, and began my long and painful search for her.

"I encountered more Lurkers than I can count. One of them may have been Katut, I don't know. He was one of the ones I hid from. I fought most of them, but there was a few that were either too powerful or that I was too weak to fight. Katut was a mix of both.

"When I eventually found my sister's apartment, I used the spare key I knew she had under the doormat.

"The place was empty. My sister hadn't survived.

"I had heard about this city. I travelled here, feeling numb. I wanted to be safe for the first time in years. But the Lurkers are here too. I fought first just to be safe.

"But now I fight to defend the others that I truly care about. My new family. And the people I love."

She looked at Holen, all tears gone from her eyes. "This city is the most beautiful place I have ever lived. It glows. And everyone I care for is here. So I will fight for it. I refuse to be shoved down. I will defend this city, or die trying." She smiled, picking her cookie apart. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that, eh?"