Esme Rivdell's Story

-// A few houres ago in Tomachi village //-
"Can you be good for a couple hours? I need to go do something." The sound of Esme's velvet smooth voice rang clear in their small hut. It smelled of rotting wood and scented candles. Her little brother, Jayden, sat in the corner playing with one of the wooden totems he’d carved for himself. “Are you going to go steal another magic scroll? Or are you actually going to get us food this time?” Her little brother muttered then glanced at her. Esme locked her jaw gently as she stared at her brother. His cropped brown hair fell and brushed his thick eyelashes, his lips protruded in a disapproving scowl. He didn’t understand how hard it was to get food here. The things she had to do to get enough money for food…He’d never be able to. He was just a kid…”I don’t steal scrolls.” Esme replied, meeting her brother’s eyes evenly, “As a matter of fact, I was going to get food for us.” And…look at some scrolls to buy too. She had to find some way of learning Magic. Anything could happen…She had to make sure her brother stayed safe and that she could protect herself too. There were pigs in this village…The world wasn’t kind to women. She learned that quickly. The sound of her brother’s sigh made her snap out of her thoughts and glance at him. “Go..I’ll stay here. I promise I won’t run off like last time.” She winced remembering how much she’d panicked and scolded him for going off into the forest without telling her. What if he ended up like her mother and father? She couldn’t lose him too..and from the gossip about the village leader hiring some dispellers to take out some sort of a black demon on the outskirts of the village, she had to be extra careful.
As she was buying food, she heard people screaming and running. What was going on? She ran to the center of the village and a fire had started, a black demon crushing the dispellers like flies. Blood was everywhere and she shook her head. “No…” She said and turned around, her first thought being to go to her brother. Their hut was on the other side of the village….and the fire was spreading quickly. “Jayden!” She screamed as she ran down the east pass to their hut, the sound of screams behind her as the fire continued to spread. It was getting hard to breathe and see and she was gasping for breath once she got the hut…Her heart stopped at what she saw and she screamed his name and instantly ran towards their burning hut. She busted the door open and when she saw that he wasn’t inside, she stepped back the fire quickly engulfing the hut. She coughed violently and ran out of it, tripping and falling just outside the hut. Where was her brother? Her hood fell but her cloak remained on her body as she scrambled up and started looking around for him. “You have to get out of here! You’ll die while the village will b—“ She heard man say, then she turned to face him, and he was on the ground, throwing up blood and reaching towards her. “Please...” He softly said. She gasped loudly and scrambled away from him. Her heart was racing and she was hyperventilating as she started running towards the forest, the fire quickly spreading and engulfing the rest of the village.
The sound of her breathing filled her ears as she ran, falling hard on her knees when she thought she was far away enough from the burning village. She clutched the dirt in her hands as she hung her head low and tried to force air into her lungs. Then she slowly started to realize..what had just happened…She hadn’t found her brother…He hadn’t burned in the hut so he must have run off...but where? Did he disappear like her parents? She shook her head and clutched it with both hands, then she slowly opened her eyes and looked down at the ground. There was…blood? She slowly opened her cloak and noticed…the dagger that she kept at her side at all times..was now in her side. She fell back, suddenly feeling the pain and she gasped and caught her breath, groaning as her trembling hand touched the blade. She tried pulling it out, but it the pain that shot through her body was making it unbearable. She grunted and laid there, bleeding and breathing hard as she clutched the back end of the blade with her hand. What if she died here?...Her eyes lid started to get heavy the longer she laid there. The village had burned…her family was taken from her…What else was there to live for anyway..?

Echoes of the sound of her heart beating loudly in her ears as her breathing became shallow. Her hand had slipped away from the dagger in her side and rested on the ground next to her as she looked up at the trees. Her vision was blurred and all she could see were patches of green and blurs of brown melting into the blue sky. A thin sheet of sweat covered her body at the temperature of the forest laced with the pain she was feeling. It was..numbing now. She was dying..and it wasn't the slow and painful death she thought she'd have. Everything was numbing.. The Mossy Green in her eyes started to turn a lifeless gray as she blankly stared at the blurred world around her, thinking about her brother as echos of voices filling her mind. I promise I won't run off this time... Can you be good for a couple hours? She swallowed hard, tasting blood in her mouth as she took a shallow inhale. Thank you, I should get back to my brother...He's probably gotten himself into trouble.. Another shallow inhale. (The sound of the villagers screaming for their life) Jayden!! Esme's full lips parted while she laid there in her own puddle of blood, then finally...she began to give up. There was nobody around to help her...She was alone in a forest. What could she do? What fight did she have left inside of her? At peace with the idea that her life was done...She silently prayed her brother was safe before closing her eyes and beginning to fade out of conscious and into the cold embrace of Death.

Ammy was at a loss for words, her eyes staring up at the frailest woman she had ever seen. Her body position was defensive, back turned towards Ammy with that strange green glow over her skin. Her nose worked the air, cataloging several different scents before her nose wrinkled. This woman was like Xin, she probably hated Shifter’s too and was only defending her because she had no idea what Ammy really was. But what was she blocking Ammy from?

Her head turned to see a man, leaning against a tree with his typical blank expression, almost looking bored as he was the first to answer the strange woman.

“No,” he said as he rose. No to what? Ammy’s ears flickered and she perked them forward. “…rest here, but I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t.”

Was that an invitation? He didn’t hang around to make it seem like he wanted an answer. Ammy stood, wobbling on her feet as she carefully pressed her hand against the bark of a tree. Once she was sure she wasn’t about the throw up she gave a little smile and a reassuring nod towards the woman.

“I’ll be alright. Don’t worry about me!” she waved as she then scampered after Earth. Well, sorta. First she needed to find the tree that had all her gear in it. It would’ve been near the village and she quickly made her way directly to it. The log had been struck with lightning some years ago and time had hallowed out what remained. Carefully Ammy wiggled her body through the large split at the bottom disappearing inside. She rifled through the pack after brushing off the leaves and needles that had covered it since the thaw. She pulled out her clothes, leaving behind the black armor she’d stolen from the Lord’s castle.
Once she was out in the open again she stood, pulling the laces in the front undone as she pulled the perfectly white cloth over her head. IT fight tight to her body and she held her head high as she began to tie the laces together, cinching up her chest as she tied the red ribbon tight. She grabbed her bow, the ash wood in her hand simple but strong, before running off to find Earth. It didn’t take long at all, following her nose as her quiver bounced along her back, bare feet running over the soil as she called out to him.

“Hey! Wait up!”

She ran up, stopping as suddenly her nose caught the scent of blood, just inside the trees. The black wall loomed ahead of them, like a cloud of death that made her soul shiver. This was not earth-kin.

“Earth….” Ammy paused, “Earth!”

Inside the trees, Fay was on the ground, fading fast and unconscious. "Hey, wait up!" The sound of of a woman made her eyes slowly open. Her skin was clammy and her skin was paling. "Earth....Earth!" Who was she calling to? His name was Earth? Or was she praising the solid rock that settled beneath their feet? Everything looked so strange...liquid and blurred together. Everything sounded further away than it probably was..This woman sounded close. The disappointment started to rise in her. She was going to die...Couldn't they just leave her here to die? Have some coyotes come and eat her flesh..She'd be much more use to the world if she was given to the food chain. She almost willed the woman to stay away and let her die, though a part of her, wanted to live to find her brother. He was probably all alone and scared...if he wasn't dead.

"Wait," she stepped between him and the wall, tuning her back on it as the hair on her neck began to rise. The tattoos on her shoulders began to tingle, and she started pushing back against his chest.

"There's someone out there, they're hurt. We have to help them" she said gently, pushing him in the direction of the smell of blood.

Esme laid there, listening. "There is nothing here, we are leaving, back to the others." She couldn't tell if it was a male or a female speaking.."There's someone out there, they're hurt. We have to help them" She recognized that voice. No! No...Stay back! Leave me to die...I'm at peace with this! I don't care if I'm being selfish! My brother is strong and will make it through this...All I can do is get him killed! She wished she could scream these words when her sensitive hearing picked up on footsteps coming closer. Please....Stay..back.. She started feeling light headed and her eyebrows furrowed for a brief moment before she closed her eyes. Let me die before they can get to me..

Joshua still stood there, but then turned his head slightly to the dragon he never met. The large smile he grew on his face shortened slightly, then tilted his head to the dragon. He then reached out his hand, like that of a branch, thinking of this dragon as an animal of instinct, like all should be. He turned his head back to her, remaining to silent still. His other hand wasn't seen, as it reached around the tree, right by her forearm, waiting for her to move that arm so he could snatch it. His white eye gleamed more, squinting harder. He closed his owlish brown eye to give more of a fear-like smile, thinking it distorted without an eye. He merely smiled at her, and he felt the fear rushing off of her. He heard running behind her, and slightly turned his head that way, wanting to hear more, but not looking away from the girl. He looked at her, thinking in his own head I see you as he kept the smile on his face, for some reason enjoying it. He felt power, as if all the pain that it brought him, it helped him in the same way...

Once the footsteps were gone, the smile faded, and only the eye was shown.

Not that far behind Esme, a black pentagram appeared. It was fairly large and the symbols surrounding it were similar to the one used back in the village. At a slow speed, three figures raised through the ground which ripped around their bodies as if it were water. The three people were Jeremy, Charlotte and Charlotte's mother. The black mist around Jeremy had disappeared and the scythe was also missing from Jeremy's possession.
Jeremy had decided to remove himself from the area using a transportation/burrowing spell. Charlotte's fear was concerning bother her mother and Jeremy, he could not allow her to become more scared. And so, he decided to follow the others, maybe he could find that damned moose girl. But instead, he found some dying life energy. Perfect.

Very quietly, Jeremy raised his hand, moving forward slowly and quietly. The other two were standing behind him, Charlotte in her mother's arms, trembling with fear.
Finally, tap!
Jeremy had placed his arm on the dying woman's shoulder, bending forward instead of crouching to reach her level.

"You sure you want to die?" Jeremy spoke softly, his voice seemed reassuring but also cocky. It was mono toned and croaky. Maybe the shouting and anger damaged his throat a little for it to return to be croaky.
"Or are you afraid? You can be immortal after death..." He paused a little, his hand still on the woman's shoulder.
"... I can make that happen."

[this was supposed to happen before Earth and Ammy returned from the wall.]

Ammy found her in a matter of moments. She bent down, stooping to gently grasp the dagger that was lodged in the woman’s side regretting that Earth had pulled it so thoughtlessly.

“BACK OFF JEREMY!" Ammy snarled, pushing herself between the two.

"Can you hear me? It’s going to be alright,” she cooed, placing one hand into the damp soil and the other against the girl’s skin. If she could just find where the girl’s energy was she could manipulate it to help stop the bleeding. It was there, just a trickle that was quickly disappearing even now as Ammy grab hold with her own energy, regretting it almost immediately. Her body slumped forward and her ears went flat, her eyes closed with a snarl on her face.

Come back, damn it! Ammy growled. She couldn’t keep this up forever and as she yanked on the stream of energy it pulled her right back. You don’t want to die!

The tug-of-war Ammy found herself dealing with was quickly making her dizzy and she dug her nails into the soil harder. She jerked back, forcing the energy from the stream and directed it towards the wound. That was all she needed. Finding a purpose seemed to bring her back, her energy pouring into the open wound. Cells were stimulated, multiply, growing, dividing again and again till the capillaries sowed themselves shut.

Joshua, leaving the girl in the dress by herself in the tree, leaped off of the branch, forwarding towards the necromancer. He roared as he ran on both his feet and legs, yelling "Stay away!" He leaped as he landed on the other side of her, his whole figure prowling like that of a tiger or a lion's. His golden brown eye faced towards him, it's fury easily seen. He stopped circling, facing towards him, holding his sword with his right hand, still in the sheathe, but easy to quickly whip out. He meant to do anything so save this girl. "Don't. Touch her." He said, snarling at the fact that he laid his hand, his cold, dark, evil hand on her shoulder. He stared at him, and every now and then at the girl, but only a flicker of the eye. He looked at him as if that was his property, a living thing, that he would take care of. He was enraged, thinking he'd kill her, probably knowing inside, but not now. He just stood there, ready to fight till his last breath, only three feet away from the body. He knew that the she-wolf was near him as well, but thought of them both on the same side, for now. He paid no mind to her, only waiting for him to do something. His mindset was only to back them off, even if it means death, and save the girl. He didn't know her, but she seemed familiar. You're nothing but evil, Joshua thought of the necromancer, staring dead into his eye, and if you hurt her I swear I'll end you.

It was a matter of action and reaction, in his mind.

Jeremy was suddenly pushed back, his life like condition kept him in balance as he noticed that the moose girl had returned. But she was human. Jeremy quickly glanced back at Charlotte who had no reaction over seeing the moose girl, in fact it seemed as if her face had lightened. Thank goodness, it seems it's best to question the moose girl about her wolf mode. Oh wait, she had passed out with the woman? It can wait.

Suddenly, Jeremy heard a shout, followed by a figure zooming between him and the girls. He seemed a bit pissed off, and was reading his sword. Wait, isn't that guy familiar? That's right! It's the guy with the crossbow. That's when Jeremy remembered, there was an arrow stuck in his chest. He glanced down to see the wooden shaft poking out from his dead heart.
"Oh, it's you! The great pussy who ran from the undead." He spoke out while pulling the arrow out of his chest, it seemed in perfect condition. No blood or bodily fluids. Jeremy's croaky voice was raised a little, showing that he was attempting to be antagonizing.

"Now... Coward Monkey. You finally gonna be brave?" Jeremy was giving off his taunts as he held his right arm out. The same thing happened as it did at the pond, the two horizontal pentagrams formed and separated to form the massive scythe. Gaining the same stance, Jeremy held the scythe with both hands, the blade on the right side and pointed diagonally downwards towards the ground. His legs spaced apart to form a counterweight with his body and to keep his balance.
"You two, stay back." Jeremy warned the two behind him, the both backed off a little. Charlotte called out in a high pitched, tired voice. "Be careful!"

Smiling behind the rags, Jeremy looked back at Coward Monkey. Ready.

Esme laid there, hearing footsteps growing near. Please..No.. The next thing she felt made her gasp loudly and groan in pain. The dagger was taken out, almost carelessly. Her face went pained and she trembled, opening her eyes and staring at the sky, breathing hard now. Then, she saw 3 people. A man...his face was blurred but he had dark hair, another man, and a woman. "You sure you want to die?" The offer was almost too easy to take...If only she could respond. Ye--- Then, her answer cut off. She could hear the woman she'd heard earlier..The woman that was trying to save her. “Can you hear me? It’s going to be alright,” No! Get away from me!! I want to die! She screamed in her mind. Her eyes turned a bright white and she gasped gently, eyes wide as she clutched the dirt with her hands when Ammy tried chasing her life energy. She fought it, with all of her might she fought that woman. What did she know? How did she knew that she didn't want to die?! Her eyes started to fade back to normal when the woman suddenly pushed harder, the other man seemingly gone..her offer of death lost.. NO!! Then she gasped again, eyes shining brighter when she caught a hold of her energy. She felt her wound closing up and she tried willing it to stop healing, but she couldn't anymore... Then, she heard someone else. "Don't. Touch her." Who was that now? Why did fate all of a sudden decide to spare her life? It was tossing everything it could at her to make sure that she couldn't die. Some girl was trying to heal her, a man with her..and now, another man! Protecting her like he knew who she was. Why? Fate decided to give her a helping hand now? Of all times.. When she was done healing, she groaned, her eyes returning to normal as she rolled onto her side. Then, she closed her eyes tight for a moment, eyebrows furrowing. The sound was returning.....but she was too weak to open her eyes... She was alive..and it was all their fault!

Joshua waited there, his arm still on the handle of his Claymore. He walked forward a little bit, huddling over like a gorilla. "Step back, now." Joshua snarled, too uncomfortable with Jeremy close to the girl. "Why should I step back? I was offering" Jeremy replied, standing his ground. Fear did not fill his body, instead it was anticipation.th him near her. "You don't want this to get any further." Joshua warned, now touching the girl's waist to drag her towards him. "Isn't that a kidnap?" Jeremy gesture."Quiet!" Joshua roared, his teeth bared as he snarled at the necromancer. His teeth looked like he'd been sharpening them like lions on bones, his jaw bones shown now pretty thick. red to Josh's actions. "Dude, chill... Don't get defensive over your actions” Joshua swung the stick in his other hand at the necromancer's feet, attempting to surprisingly trip him. Joshua swung the stick in his other hand at the necromancer's feet, attempting to surprisingly trip him. As Jeremy was lifted, he allowed it. His body was too light to resist, and so he was thrown sideways. As he was spun, he held his scythe out towards Josh's leg. Aiming to either damage of remove it with the momentum. As Joshua swung him, he felt the cold scythe touch his leg, then fell limp, letting them both collapse, removing the threat of losing his leg.

Jeremy was released and skidded across the ground, stopping due to friction. "That was a bit fun..." He spoke out through a giggle as he pulled himself up. Returning to his stance. Joshua's vein popped out, no, both of them on the same side. That was the first step of his adrenaline kicking in again. He turned around, pulling out his Claymore with one hand, looking at Jeremy as he snapped his neck, it taking quick short shots rather than a smooth trip from facing his right to his left.
"The fuck is this guy?" Jeremy thought, intrigued with this power. The life energy seemed to be intensifying at the same time.
"That could hurt someone y'know"

Joshua's lip began to wriggle for a moment, showing a symptom of anger. He then as if a dagger swiped the claymore so its bladed end faced his back, and dashed at Jeremy with the blade going along his forearm in front of his body, with a swift jump at him. Jeremy swung his scythe, deliberately missing in order for it to lodge into a tree. Then, with great power, Jeremy pushed forward and spun around the tree. Appearing behind Josh to attempt to kick him in the back. Joshua felt the kick, and grunted, but the force didn't do anything. He swooped around, his claymore in the air looking like a tail of his hand as he latched onto the foot Jeremy landed on his shoulder with and slammed him on the ground back in front of him.

Jeremy smashed into the ground, no pain, no major damage. But he was in a perfect position. A Large pentagram appeared from under him. The ground had begun bulging as corpses rose from the ground to surround the two. About six of them, all holding bone weaponry. Joshua stood there in awe as the figures rose. He then started to panic, thinking of what to do. These figures looked weak, but they had weapons. His heart began to pump up, at a slow "Thump, Thump, thump" as he decided to dash over Jeremy, going at a speed where the foot above his face would regularly hurt someone, and shattered through the figure near the end of the ring of undead. Jeremy quickly rolled out of the way and stood again. The corpses all gathered around Jeremy in a defensive stance. "I don't think you thought this throw, Coward Monkey." Joshua scoffed as he heard the insult, then turned to a low chuckle. As if immediately like a little kid he muttered "Shut up." and placed his left arm into the ground, punching through the surface."Damn, you really need to chill. I forgot why we are doing this now." Jeremy spoke out. The belts holding his rags over his face had loosened and were slowly falling down his face.

"Shut UP!" Joshua yelled as he underhanded a stone at great speed towards one of the other minions, destroying one's head. "You're annoying me." He responded. "And you're going to hurt her. Those are two things I dislike about people." "Hey, I'm giving her a choice. I ain't THAT evil." Jeremy spoke with a laugh as he clicked his fingers. One of the corpses threw a bone spear at the order towards Joshua.


Joshua rose as the spear sunk into his left shoulder rather than his head, barking as it occurs. He snarls, snapping the handle off and throwing it back at the other fiend with a " shunk as it breaks its spine, making it collapse like a sand castle on a dry day of the ocean. The ocean, how he longed for seas. He shook his head, he's trailing off. He looked back at the group of enemies, counting how many were left. Joshua's heart rate started pumping fast, the metal of the spear falling outward while the wood stayed in, as if part of him. He then realized he only had the rest of the undead to face, for now, unless Jeremy- No! He shot through the dead, feeling a slash on his arm while he crashed through them to get to the girl on the ground.

As she remains unconscious, Jeremy swipes him onto the ground by grabbing his foot, then placing his scythe blade on him oh so quickly. The grin on his face gave Joshua fear, and rather than adrenaline, his heartbeat stopped. And then Jeremy blacked out, seeing nothing but darkness. No, something. He was in a new world, feeling something. He immediately turned around and saw an enormous face, nothing but two gigantic eyes and a “U” shaped smile. He shot up, with the arms of Charlotte and her mother around him, scared. He latched onto her arm, the fear in his eyes, he sat there, motionless. “I see you. I see you, I see you.” He began to pant, looking up at Charlotte, “ “he sees me!” he screamed, frightened. He didn’t notice Joshua’s disappearance till it didn’t matter, this image in his head, even when he blinked, it was there, it just, smiled. Staring at him in the blackness of his mind...

Nothing was as important as this new vision.

Esme's hearing and vision faded in and out while the fight happened and then, she started to close her eyes. She felt..tired. She winced gently and sighed before closing her eyes and passing out.

She woke up, a shoulder digging into her sternum, the ground moving under her and feet stepping every few seconds. Was she being carried? She looked up, and around, realizing her cloak was gone and her brown leather corset was visible underneath. She wore leather boots and fitted tan leather pants. Her long, golden brown wavy hair was hanging forward swaying each time he moved. What the..hell? She was supposed to be dead! "Put me down!" She said, struggling. Her velvet smooth voice cracked when she snapped at him. Who did he think he was? Who was this anyway? Another man? She struggled against and when he didn't bother putting her down, she touched his back, almost harshly burning so that he was forced to drop her. She grunted when she hit the ground and looked up at him, glaring. Her shoulder were bare and her golden brown silky, wavy hair brushed her shoulders, a strand of it in her mossy green eyes as she glared up at him on the ground. Her full lips were set in a scowl.

Was this one of the men that fought for her? One of the men who didn't let her die. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

The way he spoke was almost cave man-like. Why was he talking like that? Esme raised her eyebrow, giving a look of disbelief for scolding her like a child. She hardly wanted to be saved. Why should she be grateful? She didn't need his help. Despite his smile, the scowl remained and she halfway glared at him as he huddled over her like an ape. What was wrong with him? Was he not a man? She crawled back a little then paused when he extended his right hand. Did he expect her to shake it? The burst of his name made her flinch. "..E-Esme.." She softly said, swallowing. His outburst was a little scary. He seemed way to excited for his own good. "Looks, Joshua. I appreciate you trying to help and all..but I didn't want your help. Now..That I'm unfortunately alive..I need to go find my brother. If you'll excuse me." She muttered and got up, dusting herself off before starting to storm away.

When Joshua proceeded to follow, Esme just sighed deeply and continued walking. Maybe if she ignored him he'd just go away.
Her thoughts started to drift to her brother. She had no idea where she should start looking. She didn't even know how she'd take care of herself. There wasn't any water that she knew of, no food.. "..we could get food later. I hunt."
Esme paused. He was offering to hunt for her... She didn't even have to pay him. It was a rare opportunity..Sure he seemed a little daft.. But maybe he could help her. She sighed gently and continued walking, locking her jaw in frustration. She didn't like asking anyone for help. Especially men.

"You know what? Fine." She finally said and turned to face him. "If you want to help me... Fine. I'm looking for my brother. If you want to help me, help me find him. It could take days... Perhaps weeks. Maybe months. If you want to stop tagging along by then, go ahead. I need to find him."

Joshua ignored her offer, as if he was superior to her speech. "I need not to serve you like some slave without your care, girl." He continued to prowl, acting as if he didn't care anymore, in fact, he didn't. He wanted to find the girl, the dressed girl, the dancer he thought. He smirked at that, dancer. He thought of an image of the red dress he brought home for his sister one time, only her wearing it. He shook his head, thinking it weird, he just wanted to talk. She wanted answers, so he'll give her some.

There came a deep growl from the insides of the cave where Esme and her brother were, its source in a corner of space filled with a undistinguishable darkness. The growl thickened and deepened as out of the dark came a snout followed by a drooling mouth attached to a brown furry head, housing rabid eyes. It was a bear. With heavy footsteps that would shake the ground was it not of stone, it slowly approached Esme and her brother.
As its body came into the dim moonlight (its night isn’t it?), the sheer mass of the creature became apparent. It was standing on four feet, over two meters tall, were it to rise on its hind legs, it would surely measure at least four.
Hiding in the dark behind the great beast was a brown, furry little thing, a puny bear cub. Shrouded in the shadows and darkness, I could not be seen by any eye.
The great beast, which was its mother, further opened her growling mouth into a massive gape and let out an awesome roar displaying the sharp teeth lining her jaw, and the black gum, from which saliva was spat out in threads, caught in the force of the resounding air.

When Esme saw the snout appear from the darkness, she gasped and scrambled back. Then, she froze when she saw what was attached to that snout. A..Bear...She looked into the rabid eyes, suddenly frozen as her heart raced in her chest. The heavy footsteps made her tremble in fear and she glanced at her brother, dead and mutilated on the ground. This bear did this to her brother... She scrambled up and stepped back, seeing the bear take form
It was gigantic..It would be significantly taller than her if it stood on its hind legs...Then, it roared and she stumbled back, eyes wide with terror..

Esme ran .

She ran as fast as they wind could carry her. She was breathing heavily and gasping for breath, holding back her sobs of terror as she heard the bear chasing after her. She had to get away. Why couldn't she remember any spells right now? She ran through the foliage, a light scratch from the branches grazing her cheek, and she looked back. It was gaining...Would she have a taste of Death again?

Joshua heard the noise of the bear, then running footsteps. He blinked, and the strange attitude of his went back to friendly and defensive. He turned around to see an enormous creature, a large black bear, shaggy fur and a giant head. He dashed towards the bear, tackling it's chest, his adrenaline amped up before doing so, ramming both of them into a tree. "Run!" He said, latching around the bear's neck and shoulder. He fell over, looking dead into the bear's face, and moved his head before the teeth removed his face. He let go, dashing under the bear, pulling out the dagger and shanking it multiple times in the stomach. When the bear moved, he latched onto the fur, but a sudden stop jerked him to slide under the bear and out behind him. As he got up, he was suddenly rammed into a tree by the bear, and as its face opened up, he held his iron gauntlet in front of the teeth, blocking its bite to his neck, his arm pushed against his neck. He yelled in pain as he heard a sharp Snap! as he looked a the gauntlet entering his forearm, the bite crunching it oh so easily. He then dropped the knife, shoving his other hand down the throat of the beast, ripping out the uvula in rage and ducked under it as it roared in pain. With a swift jump off the tree, he tackled the bear onto the ground, slamming his fists into the bear's neck, endlessly until it kicked him with it's front foot. He turned and looked at the bear: Almost got it. He then looked around, finding a young tree, and dashed towards it. A matter of time was at the essence, the bear running at him as he tried to rip the tree out. He swung around the tree, making the bear miss. He finally ripped the tree out, and hurled it at the bear which was meters away from him, sinking straight into his throat, making him move still like a pig on a spike. He panted, watching it fall over, and dropped to the ground, exhausted from the battle. He looked down to see a gash where his kidney would be, looking down and realizing it wasn't that bad, but could use some care. What was more important was the gauntlet imprinted into his arm, and he still roared every now and then, having to baby it for a while. Within his mind, he heard a dark voice. Wear it. He thought, but did exactly what he was told to do, as if he gave exact instructions for him to skin the hide and wear the skull. He did so, taking the claws and cutting the fur off of some of the hide. He then felt more powerful, the new appearance he had. He wore a thick fur shoulder cover, two of them, which covered all of his chest except for the upper half of the collar-bone. He made gloves, tied in with the claws of the bear, puncturing a tree as he tested it out. He had boots, made with the teeth of the bear as cleats. Then, he emptied the skull, after minutes of cutting through the hide and then disassembling it off of the spine, making it as clean as possible. Having it as a helmet, he felt more powerful, more mature, more noble. His maturity for some reason boosted and his veins bulged. He looked around inside the helmet; everything still completely visible. He smiled, actually complying with the words of his ghost, and noticing the eye-holes matched what he imaged in the dream.

He then headed for the girl, but not the one in the dress.