Jarus Hellborn's Story

It's midnight, the moon's light breaks through cracks in the leaves of the millions of the trees dotting the landscape around the den. The rain creates a soft melody of patting against the roof of the stone den. The air smells so much more fresh than it did at The Spire. The Spire... for years I had been held captive in it, and finally I was free. The air smells not only fresh, but it smells like freedom.

I look around the large mouth of the den from the small crevice at the back. It was a tight fit, but it kept me warm. The fire did too, but it was starting to die out. I turn my attention to the crackling fire. The embers danced into the air before disappearing. It was beautiful. All of it was. The leafy silhouetted giants looming over the den, the moon peaking out from gaps between them. The mushy ground with all sorts of colorful flowers that I had never seen before.

Though, it was very odd at the same time. A Hellborn like me enjoying such a scene? The idea was almost laughable. I hated being Hellborn. It wasn't my choice, I was forced into a life I didn't even want. It's humane. The others were blinded, but I knew. I knew that we would be sent to Forneus for some evil purpose. For all we know, we could be helping him amass an army to kill off every last person in Lyracion.

Bah. None of that mattered now. There was nothing I could do about it now. I let out a long sigh. I stare at the dying fire, twiddling my thumbs. The air was silent, excluding the chirps of crickets and the odd noises of unknown creatures from the dark. They were all too far away to really be alarmed over. In a weird way, it's all like a lullaby. I close my eyes and rest my head against the stone.

Then I heard a twig snap.

I stand up and draw my bow in one, quick fluid motion. It was huge! I stare in amazement at it's size. It's... size... It'd make a good meal, and it doesn't seem to be moving much, just sitting there nice and pretty... It'd be so easy to just send an arrow it's way and then roast it over the fire. I could already smell the meat. It smells... good. But- It's not hurting me. It's minding it's own business, probably just trying to get out of the cold rain, and to my fire, and here I am thinking about eating it. Well, it's not like us... it can't think, it's just an animal, put on this world only to die sooner or later...

I draw and nock an arrow, aiming it straight at the lynx

"I- I'm sorry, but I'm so damn hungry..."

The lynx looks straight at him, standing up and slowly padding forward and as it walks forward the bow suddenly catches fire. In the same instance, the lynx starts to glow gently with silver light as its legs start to lengthen and its features slowly change into that of a humanoid, when she finishes changing, she's clothed in a white blouse and dark blue skirt, her chest bouncing slightly with each step she takes.

"I'm sorry that you're hungry, but I cannot allow you to eat me." she said as she sternly glared at the being in front of her with the burning bow. "It's not often that this den is used by anything other than the creatures of this wood and so I was curious when I saw the light of fire."

With the bow burning into the grass below my feet, I stand bewildered at the scene. I shake my scorched hands slightly, looking form the bow to the woman. What the hell? One second I'm about to shoot some cat thing, and then the next second I'm gawking at a shapeshifter who just made my bow burst into flames. A million thoughts rush through my head, who is this woman? What is this woman? Why is she out here? Hell, I don't even know whats going on!

"You know, I think I liked you better as a cat..." I saw, slowly bringing my hand to a row of the daggers, trying hard to do it discreetly. Finding the small handle I study her for a moment before flinging it suddenly at her. "DIE, WITCH!"

As the dagger flies towards me I simply bend backwards, arching my back so the dagger flies over me with a solid "thunk" as it embeds itself into a tree behind me. I stand upright again, an inquisitive look on my face.

"Witch?" I asked incredulously. "You think me, to be a witch? You, born with the blood of Demons coursing through your veins?"

"How do you-" I trail off. How does she know I'm Hellborn? "Well what else am I supposed to think? You came out of the woods, which as far as I know, is where you live, and then transformed from some giant cat monster to whatever it is you are now. Um, yes, what are you, exactly?" I raise an eyebrow, looking her over, my body tense and ridged.

I grinned, showing my sharp feline teeth. "I am a Lynx Kitsune, as for how I know you're born of Demons, it's 'cause you reek of them."

I slowly walked over to the fire on the balls of my feet 'padding' towards it before sitting down on the ground. I look up at him.

"You can relax, I'm not going to hurt you."

I continue to stand, keeping the palm of my hand on the hilt of my dagger. "Oh, so you just meet me, burn my bow, call me stinky, then just sit by the camp fire like we've known each other for years... Uh, no. I have another person with me, and we can't have the place so full. I'm sorry, well... not really..." I mumble a bit, getting lost in thoughts. "A- A- Anyways, you have to go. Now. Shoo." I wave my hand in a 'shoo' manner, keeping the other on my dagger. "Go on!"

I look at him. "I'm aware that you're with another, I smelt his scent on you. As for your bow, you were gonna shoot me."

I stand up and stretch a little, obviously relaxed. "Besides, I don't take up much space and I know these woods." I pause for a moment. "And it seems you need a better hunter to survive." I smile, again showing off my sharp teeth.

"Right... well, I've no idea where my other is, you've completely ruined my precious bow, and I'm rather hungry. I suppose I have no choice in the matter." I let out a long sigh as I stare at her, releasing a little bit of my tension. "Just know that I'm keeping an eye on you, witch."

I look around a bit awkwardly before speaking again, "So, you just uhh, go get something to eat and I'll cook it, meanwhile I'll see if it's not too late for my poor, precious bow..." I kneel down by the bow, examining it.

"I'm not a witch and bows are easy to make with the right materials." I glare at him, walking back towards the edge of the light. "I'll be back shortly." I start to glow again as my features return to that of a lynx and I stalk off into the woods.

I mumble to myself as I look at the once beautiful ebony bow, now a melted heap of black tar and mud. "I'm not a witch, just some shape-shifting maniac who lives in the woods and stalks people as a lynx for a living." I move my hand in a 'talking mouth' manner, making goofy faces to portrait the lynx. "Oh? It was the same bow you have been using since you were 17? No matter. We can always make a new bow, no worries. Why so serious? You just need to CHILL!" I stand from my squatting position and kick the heap of bow. "Worthless, no good, sly, bow-burning, sneaky, cat-like, piece of demon witch SHIT! BAHH!" I place one hand on my hip and the other to my forehead in attempt to calm myself, staring at the once-precious-bow.

He hears a rustling sound as I come back into the den from the wet woods, several rabbits limp in my jaws. I pad over to the fire and set them down on a particularly flat stone before I turn around and dart back into the woods. It's at this point, he notices a faint jingling sound as I move quickly.

I sigh as I look over to the rabbits. Great. They've been in her filthy mouth. I squint a little as I hear a slight jingling noise. What was that? Hmph, probably nothing... I shrug it off and look back to my bow. Now that I've calmed down, I realize that the bow is only charred, the same can not be said for the arrow or the bow string. I crouch again, reaching to the bow.

I flinch a little as I touch the bow, still hot with heat, but I can hold it long enough to move it into the rain. So I do so, and let it sit there to cool off, a little relieved that I can repair it. I return my attention to the rabbits. I count five, two of them wet with that filthy lynx woman's saliva. But it's food, and it'll have to do. I wiggle the rock around that they sit in until it uproots, and I move it to the middle of the fire.

To stack onto the problems, the fire was nearly dead, I wouldn't be getting some fresh cooked rabbit with this fire anytime soon. This wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't raining, all the wood is too wet to burn. I smile a little as a devious thought enters my mind. Burning the lynx. Of course I wouldn't do this, however, she did help me, after all. Can't help but grin at the thought, though.

I rub my goatee a little as I ponder the options. I could go get wet wood and let it dry, which could take hours. I could burn some of my clothes, but then I'd have to wear the same clothes that I've sweat all over every day. I push back the thought of burning the lynx woman, again. My brain hits a brick wall. No more ideas.

What next in the parade of constant problems? I wonder. Thats all we needed was more problems. As hard as I tried to think of a solution, the same ideas cycled through my head. I'm never this dull. I must be more tired than I thought. Accepting defeat for the moment, I sit cross-legged next to crevice again, staring at the charred wood in the fire, a few dying lights flicker from an unknown source under the piles of sticks.

I look up to the rabbits, who's fur was still on. Was I really so tired as to not even bother skinning the rabbits? My mind is just so... mush. A wave of exertion piles over me, and it feels as if I can't even lift my finger. Can I lift my finger?

I can't. I can't force myself to do it. I've never felt like this, before. My vision begins to fade and it feels like I'm already asleep, I'm left with a blurred image of the forest.

Except... there's something there, now. A feminine silhouette strolls over to the fire, the fire blowing instantly out as she draws near, and the closer she gets, the more... peaceful everything feels. A strange feeling of security and happiness washes over me as the figure stares down at me, reaching her hand out to my face.

The last thing I hear is the cold but angelic voice whispering "Sleep..."

Then I drift off into a deep sleep.

I came back toward the den with another catch of rabbits and some robust vines, but notice that the fire's out and set it just outside the den and silently stalk my way into the den. I see the female creature hanging over the angry brute, her hand hanging over him as energy transfers from him into her. I jump onto her back and reach around her head with my large paws, digging my claws into her face. I jump backwards off her as she starts to flail and my fur gains a bluish glow to it as she starts to freeze over rapidly.

When the creature is fully frozen over, an ice statue, I shift forms and walk over to the 'hunter' and examine him to make sure he's alright, gently shaking him.

"Hey, are you alright? C'mon, wake up!"

I slowly flutter my eyes, a hazy image of the lynx woman appears. I still feel overbearingly exhausted. I look behind her to see the ice statue that was once a woman, or creature. It was so strange... all I did was blink and when I opened my eyes, the feminine creature was frozen, and the lynx woman in my face, shaking me.

"I- I'm... what was that thing?" I can barely speak, and the most of it comes out as a mumble. I take a few long, hard blinks and then look at the lynx woman. "T- that thing... what did it do to me?"

I grimace slightly. "I do not know what that... thing is, but it was sapping your energy."

I stand up and turn around, pulling the stone off the cold husk that used to be a fire and my hair gains a red tint as the fire springs back to life, before my hair looks normal again. I walk off out of the den and return a few moments later carrying a few more rabbits and some vine.

I sit next to the flat stone with the rabbits, drop the rest of the rabbits with the others, setting the vine aside, and start to skin the rabbits with the knife I had retrieved out of the tree while I was gathering them.

"You should be more careful, there are a lot of creatures in these woods who will take advantage of those with a weak will."

"Weak wi- I'll have you know I have a rather powerful sense of will! I'll not have you come into my home- uhr, den, and insult me!" I trail off and stutter a little before sighing. "I- I'm sorry. Thank you for saving me." I look at the crackling, lively fire. It was nice to be warm again. I stick my hands out and rub them together, allowing my hands to warm rather quickly.

As I sort through some thoughts in my head, I began to wonder what this woman's name actually was. Given the circumstances we're more of allies than enemies. I clear my throat before speaking. "So uhh, I'm Jarus. Don't believe I caught your name." I stare at the fire as I speak, the smell of the rabbits' blood pleasuring my nose.

I spare a brief glance at Jarus before resuming the skinning and gutting of the rabbits. "My name is Serra." I responded curtly, setting dressed rabbits aside on another stone.

"Would you mind getting some sticks to skewer these rabbits on?" I asked as I shifted positions, stretching. "We'll need them to cook the rabbits." I continued as I set another rabbit down on the stone, setting the heads, feet and tails aside.

I grunt a little as I stand, placing my hand on the wall of the den to balance myself. Standing up so quickly was nauseating. I place my other hand to my temple, grimacing. "Eugh... my head. Be glad you weren't the one to be life-sucked." I shake my head a little, walking into the woods. I don't walk too far so I can use the fire's light to see. I toss aside small twigs and what not as I search for eligible skewer sticks.

As I work, I ask, "So, Serra, you've lived in these woods your whole life?" I find a couple of good-looking sticks and toss them over in the direction of her.