Cerise's Story

Nova was careful in listening to Rokunam and then Mydnyte respectively, annoyed now that he was instructed that he could not move. The paste was stiff now that it dried, so it was a constant reminder to him not to do anything that would kill himself, like a cast. The Kamarians sounded more uncouth than he had ever thought of them before, or simply bloodthirsty. An Ausi would never get hunted down for not meeting a deadline, even if it was something important like an imperialist mission to obtain more resources. At most, the convicted would be detained and put on low rations for upwards of a month, and even the most serious of offenses was only met with banishment. As far as he knew, the Ausi's have not instated capital punishment for over three generations, which Nova took as an enlightened policy that set the Ausi's above the less civil packs. Violence is not always the answer, but when it is, the Ausi's can excel at it.

Nova slumped down on the floor of the cave and thanked Cerise quietly for the meat she had offered him. However, at the moment, it just didn't really look all that appetizing. The warm blood, the severed tendons, the stench...it just seemed so inferior to the fruit he had just eaten. At least that was clean, and once you popped it in your mouth, it was gone. Maybe Hero's earlier vegetarian rhetoric was starting to get to him, this was the first time he had looked at meat in a negative light. Predicting he would reconsider later, Nova replaced the meat at the carcass, saying something about how he was full, and gently pulled himself over to a wall that he could rest against. His mind was not pleased with all the activity buzzing around the cave, so to calm himself, he watched Cerise over her shoulder at the drawing she was creating. The sketch was amazing, even in its primitive stages. It was easy to appreciate art seeing he was awful at making a masterpiece himself.

The Alva growls in annoyance as Battle replies with silence. "Ok. well could you at least tell me your name? Or you can't remember that either?" the Alva snaps. It might have been a little to harsh but he was losing his patience and time with this wolf.

~~~~~~~~~~

Once Cerise was drawing the final highlights to the water she felt someones eyes watching her. She turned her head and saw Nova and decided to make a simple conversation. "So... Can you draw Nova?" She asked curiously.

((Sorry if my posts are lame at the moment."

Nova took the bait to start some small talk, he was tired of just listening to himself think, as amazing as that sounds. "Drawing anything more complex than the alphabet looks little better than if someone spilled a bottle of ink on the paper. Can't say I have ever had the time to practice." Nova commented, truthfully. Sure, he had other past times, but they usually didn't involve sitting around with a sketchpad. He preferred more outgoing activities, like exploring, mock fighting, or fishing. He looked over her drawing once more before returning his gaze to her. She had done a remarkable job, capturing the way the sunlight poking through the clouds reflected off the streams of water pouring over the mouth of the cave, even giving an accurate reflective pool at the bottom where the water collected. He wondered how long it would take to get proficient in drawing, or if he even had the patience to try to do so.

Cerise looked at Nova for a bit. "Oh..." She says quietly. Honestly, she had never thought she would get this far. She turns to her drawing and puts details that were needed. Cerise had never been the one to explore nor the one to go out with friends. Instead she would spend most of her time reading, writing, or drawing. Sometimes she would go up in a tree and relax or fly around Era, enjoying the beautiful mountains and views of the ground beneath her. Once she was done she flipped through some of her earlier drawings like the one of the pups that Hero had shone them, one of Nova, and some scenery that they had all seen before. each one sporting a date in the bottom corner and a small signature. Which reminded her to put a date on the waterfall. "Hey Nova. Do you know what date it is?" She says looking back at the brownish wolf.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The Alva started to get mixed emotions with this wolf. Pity and annoyance clashed out at each other as he frowns at the wolf before him. She didn't have a mask, she was soaked wet, she was deemed a traitor by her own pack, and she couldn't even remember anything, not even something as simple as her name. The Alva sighs and looks at his mask. He growls but a part of him, the part not controlled by Rashid, picked up the skull mask and laid it on her head. He smiles before a shout from the woods could be heard. "Icarus! I found a scent trail that could lead us to others!" Icarus growls some before looking down at the poor wolf. His ears drooped at the thought of leaving one of his own kind helpless without the faintest memory of her past. He looks back "Alright! You go! I'll stay here and put this wolf out of its misery. Its completely and utterly hopeless!" He shouted back. Turning his head to face Battle he approached but didn't strike. Instead he helped her up and started pushing her to the forest. She needed some shelter and any wolf could have gotten to her. The part of his body that Rashid had taken over was forcing him to kill her but he refused and decided to help her. It was unusual for an Alva to help but he didn't want any of his kind to fall into Rashids grasp.

Nova watched as the the rain that had been so steadily falling outside lightened to little more than a drizzle, as the winds high above Nigerius pushed the storm clouds away to a new destination. Outside, there were patches of light poking through the sky and illuminating scattered parts of the forest, each part a muddy quagmire of grass and dirt that would soon dry and be forgotten of. "Well, I figure by now its fourth of fifth by now. Still early in the year I suppose" Nova responds easily, after doing a bit of mental calculations. He was referring to the fourth day of the fifth lunar cycle that year, which was the Ausi way of calendar keeping. Nova wasn't sure what the weights and measures were of other packs, whether they were similar or different, so he just stuck with what he knew. Each lunar cycle reset in thirty or so days, and there were twelve cycles in a year. Figuring out the date was as easy as looking at the shape of the moon, which after years of doing so allowed any Ausi to do so with just a glance.

Nova swallowed a lump in his throat, his mouth dry. He was was still thirsty, which was even more ironic now considering the wetlands outside. Too bad it was "dangerous" to try and move around on his own, he would have liked to go take a drink of sweet river water. He would even be fine with one of those muddy puddles out there. Ah well, patience is a virtue he would have to learn while his body healed.

Cerise nodded. "Thanks Nova." she said cheerfully as she wrote the date down and her signature. When she was done she closed the sketchpad and put it in her bag before getting up and stretching out her back a bit. She walked over to the mouth of the cave and peaked through one of the openings in the water. The rain had died down greatly but it was still hard enough for you to get soaked to the bone if you stood out there long enough. She looked around a bit. It was a beautiful sight. The sun was blaring out of an opening in the clouds creating rays of light to fall down to the earth and cause a rainbow to form over the horizon. By the way the angles of the rays were and the color of the clouds, Cerise predicted it to be dawn. She backed up and shook the water off her head before trotting into the back of the cave. Once she was in her spot she drew the picture in she yawned and plopped down on the ground. She stretched a little before wrapping her tail around her legs and drifting off into her own little world. She wasn't completely asleep yet, in fact she wasn't that tired. she just liked the relaxing and the company of others. Cerise had lost count on how many days they have had a chance to relax ever since she met Battle and Nova.

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The Alva dropped Battle and looked at the others. Standing before him was a rather large group of wolves from each pack, and they also looked quite strong. Icarus furrowed his eyebrows before picking up the mask and putting it on his head. "Hello gentlemen." He says while walking up in front. His voice having a coarse tone to it that was blank and lifeless. "I assure you. We both know of no pack here..." He says emotionless. Because he was brain washed, he didn't know where any of the packs were located. He only knew of his origin and name. Icarus knew the Alva would know he was under Rashids spell, but if they came to close, all it would take is one howl and reinforcements would be on their way.

Schemeko, wasn't a fan of dead prey, he much perferred live catches. He always enjoyed any type of animal wriggling and writhing in pain as he would slowly chew them up hearing their cries of anguish. It served two appetites when he ate live prey, his hunger for sustinance and his hunger for pleasure. Albeit, it was a sick and twisted pleasure as the slightly psychotic Hemlock can't tell the difference between pain and pleasure. Still Schemeko was famished as he ate the stomach in a few bites. Schemeko wasn't concerned with small bites, a Hemlock's stomach acids are much more corrosive than any other pack. In fact Schemeko was one of the few wolves to use this corrosive material by throwing it up and mixing it with venom from the contents of their saliva. Very unique, as the corrosive acid dissolves as toxins are released into the bloodstream that has been melted open. Schemeko particulary enjoyed using the ability even though it is a little bit painful when vomiting acid upon an opponent, escpecially the heatburn that comes with it. As he looked over Schemeko noticed Cerise's artistic abilities.

"My thats is beautiful work there Cerise, very impressive!" Schemeko said with his toothy grin.

Schemeko, didn't like Mydnyte's response but he isn't going to argue with a Kamarian, that would be particularly bad for your health. Schemeko, hearing of the latest weather report, he began to grow anxious as the Sun began to penetrate that storm clouds. Soon enough he may be able to have everyone play a little game.

Cerise lifted her head to look at Schemeko, a small smile tugged on her lips. "Thanks Schemeko." She says before resting her head on her paws. Ever since the battle with the Hemlock that had almost killed her, she had not been to happy when Schemeko decided to stay with them but she was having second thoughts. Maybe this Hemlock wasn't so bad. She'd just have to watch out for his deadly poison and not provoke him, not that she wanted to. She just didn't want to end up dying from a Hemlock who she had let stay around and trusted somewhat.

As time passed on, Nova's determination to be patient wore away. Waiting half an hour is a good indication of patience, right? He couldn't even sleep with how parched his mouth was, he had to have water before he shriveled away. He imagined that sweet river water of the stream just North of here, not more than two hundred meters. But he knew he couldn't get there alone, he would need someone to use as a crutch. He knew, regardless of Schemeko's advice, that limited movement was not harmful, for he was able to perform it earlier without damaging anything further, its just that it hurt like the devil without this mystical green paste that covered his legs. Who should he ask? He would have probably asked Rokunam if he had his choice between the evils in this cave, but the Tenneth was gone. Mydnyte was too unpredictable, Nova wasn't sure what to think of him yet, and he was afraid the Schemeko might poison him somehow with the spikes in his fur. At least, he heard Hemlock's had those, he didn't really want to find out for himself. That left Cerise, the wolf he still wasn't full able to trust again.

Nova shrugged after first listening to what she had to say, but then asked his own question. He asked her if she would do him a favor and help him limp over to the brook, so that he could relieve his nagging thirst left over from the great chase. "And plus, I really just need to get out of this cave for a moment" Nova finished off. It was true, the air was getting rather stale and these wolves boring, he needed an intermission.

The Tenneth stopped when he heard a shout from the cave. Erebus's ears went flat and he growled. In the cave was one Avira, an Ausi, a Kamarian, and a Hemlock. With all of the varieties of wolves in the cave, he knew he wouldn't stand much of a chance if he somehow could convince the wolves to join Rashids army. Though, this never worked anyhow. He began to quickly calculate what he should do. The Ausi was probably the weakest point since Erebus was a Tenneth, the second easiest was the Avira. Erebus could easily take her down. Most of the effective ways to take down an Avira is to get rid of their wings. The Hemlock wouldn't be to easy because you can't practically touch it, so he would have to use brutal force to knock him out, and the Kamarian... Probably the same as the Hemlock just a lot quicker and he has to always watch his back.

Erebus bowed to the ground before he opened his mouth and fire spewed out and into the cave. Once the fire had touched the water a hissing sound could be heard and steam started to flow out into the cave and outside of the cave making it harder to see. He then ran into the cave; his teeth lit with flames.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cerise turned her head to meet Nova's and then at the mouth of the cave. Outside she saw a figure with glowing grey eyes and no pupils. Before she could look closer though, a blast of fire hit the wall of water and created a mist around them. Cerise got up with her tail up and ears forward.

Mydnyte's tail bristled when he saw the water wall Nova had created explode into mist and he quickly used some of the darkness of the cave to send out a giant, shadowy claw towards Erebus from his body. He didn't know who Erebus was, but he knew that if the wolf was trying to break past the wall now around their home he meant bad news. He stopped the giant claw in front of Erebus and said, "I hate the people in this cave, but I hate it even more that you're disturbing us all, especially me. You make one step closer to this cave and I'm sure about five wolves will kill you in an instant. I intend to take you down first though." Mydnyte gloated to Erebus as he looked out into his gray, pupil-less eyes. To outsiders looking into the cave it was very hard to see anything on Mydnyte except the few red streaks of fur on his tail or the red color of his eyes.

Mydnyte dragged the shadow claw back towards himself pulling up dirt and he did and leaving huge marks on the ground. He wanted his threat to have emphasis and he was about make sure that Erebus got the message. To him it seemed strange though that so many wolves were coming to this cave. He looked back at Schmeko and said, "I know you like to joke a lot from the limited time I've spent here so isn't the time you're supposed to say something like, "Why is it that it seems like everyone wants this cave? It's just a cave!" Mydnyte hardly showed humor, but he figured since Schmeko was slightly shocked by Erebus's sudden coming here that he wouldn't have time to say much yet to the wolf.

"Is that one fire wolf here? If he is have him shoot a fireball back at this wannabee wolf." Mydnyte insisted as he turned his head back towards Erebus.

(Is Rokunam here in the cave?)

"Well I wasn't but good one on your part!" Schemeko chuckled as the fire turned into steam and the shadow claw appearing from Mydnyte. "I do believe things are getting very interesting but I also believe we didn't invite you to this party Tenneth!" Schemeko laughed. Schemeko started to become a bit wildy-eyed as he saw the coming battle ensuing before him, he wasn't much of a forward fighter, he much prefered stealth tatics and other ways of, what some my call, dishonorable fighting or fighting dirty, however your preference is in calling it. Yet, if Schemeko had to he could catch them off guard with a little move that involves corrosive acid, but he rather not waste it on unarmored opponents. Instead Schemeko was more than happy to watch the display of power brought about these formidible wolves of all different packs and origins. "Well Kamarian I do believe your about to turn out his lights right?" Schemeko grinned as he was anxious to see what Mydnyte was capable of.

"Actually, I might turn out our lights." Mydnyte said as he sucked the dark claw quickly back into his body. Very slowly he exerted more dark energy from the area around him and dimmed the cave they were in to the point no wolf could even see their pupils if they looked in on the cave. "Give me one moment..." Mydnyte said as he used this brief cover of darkness around him. He melted into the shadows he'd created and said to Erebus, "Hello, I've just booby trapped the cave in my own special way. Why don't you take a gander and see what's inside. I assure you it won't be pleasant. Schmeko goad him in here since you're such a joke maker I'm he wants to hear your incessant banter rather than mine. All I have to say to him is he's a dumb wolf for coming here."

Erebus was unmoved by their remarks. "Hmm... This is going to be harder than I thought..." Erebus said blandly before he turned to the mouth of the cave and let out a deafening howl. His grey eyes glowed some what and other howls could be heard through out the woods. He then slowly turned back to the others and growled. He wasn't in the mood to fight and with out Icarus this could be harder but he knew help would come soon. By then though, it might already be too late. Erebus breathed in a little before he opened his mouth and fire gushing out and going towards them. He didn't want to kill them since he needed them in Rashid's army, but if they started getting to close then he would have to.

~~~~~~~~~~

Cerise growled and got into a battle position but gasped when fire started to head towards them all. She gulps and uses her wings to send a gust of wind at the flames to direct them away, but even this did not stop it from getting burns on her wings, legs, and face. Cerise staggered back a bit and leaned on the wall. Smoke was starting to fill up the cave and she needed a second to catch her breath.

(Um, I don't get this. Why do you make so many places in the role play, but not post in them? Most of the posts seem to be in Nigerius Lands. By the way, you put Kaveh into two posts where he wasn't actually supposed to be. I'm sorry if I'm a little mean sounding, but I just want to make sure I get things right here and you have things right and nobody gets confused about anyone else's characters. I suppose at least now people whose characters I tagged in my own post by accident will know what's happening in the cave...)

"Oh, boy, we've got smoke in the cave. I'm actually still wounded you know on my back and I've integrated myself with the shadows along the walls. Do you have any idea how bad the smoke smell is?" Mydnyte complained as his power suddenly drained from him and he collapsed to the ground at the back of the cave.

"This is definitely bad... Can anyone dig a hole out of here?" he uttered as he coughed up a ton of smoke.
--
Meanwhile, not too far away Durandel had walked away from the dead Kamarian he had found, following the tracks left by the other two Kamarians gone hunting for Mydnyte, he heard the familiar sound of erupting flames as he came into the view of the not too distant cave that Cerise and her group occupied. "Now I wonder why there are so many wolves out here?" he thought as he looked on Erebus's group from a short distance away and decided to shoot out lava energy from his mouth. Within a few seconds he gathered the heat in his mouth and let it loose upon the ground about ten feet from Erebus. If the wolf had any brains he would take note of Durandel and run.

Schemeko coughs, "Well its pretty hard to talk with this much smoke!" Schemeko wondered why this Tenneth was trying so hard to flush them out than rather killing them all. Its almost if he wishes to take us alive as prisoners no doubt. But why? Why would the Tenneth want with this ragtag group of wolves? Either way Schemeko had no interest in becoming a prisoner of war, then he notice a bright red ooze coming from outside. "Now if I didn't know any better, that looks alot like lava!" Maybe he is going to kill us after but if he was then how come the lava is appearing from the Tenneth's side and not entering the cave? "Well guys we better make a break for it otherwise were gonna sufocate or worse....melt..." Schemeko cough as he put his nose down to the ground.

Nova regretted ever getting that wolf's attention, for it looked like this one was out for blood. It was easy for Nova to deal with the steamy threat, he could just cool the heated water, but thick cloud of smoke was a different matter. Smoke was thick and filled with ash, there was simply nothing to freeze. And very hard to breath for that matter. The injured wolf was purely confused, and not being able to use his sense of sight was debilitating, having to focus on his already impaired sense of hearing. Barely catching Schemeko's voice over the chaos, Nova silently agreed with him, it was futile to try and shout his response, and he ran towards the last known location of the cave exit.

Nova almost tripped over a pile of flowing lava as he went, and it was only divine intervention that seemed to save him from sliding into the gooey, deadly mass. Choking, eye's watering, and heart pounding, it was all Nova could do to limp a few meters away into a thick shrubbery to hide himself for just a moment of rest.

Erebus looked around the cave at the choking wolves and smiled. He could knock them out easily... Before he could make another move though he heard a thump behind him. The Tenneth looked back and saw the Ausi was getting away. He growls and lay his ears flat on his head. If Rashid were here, he would've killed this wolf and that's exactly what Erebus was going to do. He pointed his muzzle at the already injured wolf and decided to let him slowly burn to death. He opened his mouth and fire started to slither out but before it could make it to Nova, Cerise had regained her breath enough to blow some of the smoke away and bite down on the wolfs neck. Erebus growled and directed the fire at the white wolfs wing which immediately started to burn her primaries. She yelps and trips backward. Erebus snarls and pushes her into the wall taking the breath clean out of her, and with the smoke getting thicker, and Erebus's paws on her throat, the air in her lungs had almost completely been cut off. She frantically breathed but the only thing in the air was smoke. Cerise just simply didn't have enough focus to use her powers. She weakly made a barely audible cry for help before she passes out.

Erebus smiles and pushes Cerise down on the ground. Maybe he wouldn't need backup but the lava had caught his eyes and he immediately changed his mind. He snarls out of frustration.

Having swallowed a good deal of smoke, the world around Nova began to slur together as the dirty air began to affect his senses. The was a bright flash from within the cave, and Nova couldn't tell what had happened. Lava was seeping ever closer to the entrance of the cave, and Nova knew the inhabitants would have to get out soon if they had any chance of escaping. Nova felt useless, at his current strength there was nothing he could do to stem the advance of the fiery goo. He would be hard pressed to even do so at full strength. Suddenly, an almost inaudible cry reached Nova's good ear. Memories of his first encounter with the wolf that made that sound washed over him, the time he had to help that wolf out of the tree, the time that she likewise saved him from that cyclone. He could not in good coincidence abandon the group, and her, inside that deathtrap.

Springing to his feet in an act of pure adrenaline, Nova dashed back into the cave, head low to the ground. Though he still could not see, it was much easier to breath with the fresher air keeping the rising smoke for the cave floor. Within the black mist, Nova could scarcely see a figure, whose large frame seemed to be in a great struggle. In an act of great courage but little thought, Nova tackled the shadowy figure, biting down on its flesh - hard. Instantly, the vile taste that flooded his mouth told him he had bitten the wrong wolf. He had bitten straight into the shoulder of that Hemlock, Schemeko. Spitting out the vile taste he had gotten from the wolf's, hopefully mildly, toxic fur, Nova's mind could think of nothing but one thing, water. Spitting and sputtering the awful taste out of his mouth, Nova raised his head in panic. A poor choice, as instantly smoke filled his lungs. Choking, Nova could only think to backtrack out of the cave, somehow maintaining the state of mind to dodge the ever nearing pool of lava. The world blurring from smoke, venom, and pain, Nova stumbled his way to the brook, where he collapsed on the bank. He forced his head into the cold water, in a futile attempt to clear his senses and his mouth of his toxic experience.