Oceans of blue

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:18 pm

Rid heard his whimper, and moved closer, wrapping her arms around one of his, trying to keep him calm

"Its alrite.."

She was looking around, her ears twitching every so often trying to pick up any sounds, anything, namely him.

Her crew came up, but she noticed there was only about 3 when there should be more.

-"We had to lock them up.. they were acting funny, like the first"-

She nodded to them, trying to stay calm and not worry

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:54 pm

Her touch seemed to calm Mikal almost immediately, but he frowned a bit seeing only three of the crewmen left. The ship creaked as it pressed onward into the mist. For long moments there was nothing. No sound, nothing to see, just mist and darkness. Then slowly in front of them something pressed through the mist.

The water around it seemed to glow with a sickening green. The mist itself pulsed with the color. The sky lit up with lightening now and again that strangely had no thunder. Before them lay what appeared to be an island. Tropical plants lay dieing at it's edges, the sands as black as night.

Large volcanic rocks littered the beaches and it seemed as if the island was only old enough to grow the large dark trees and vines that covered it's interior. Mikal pulled out the map again and looked at it. He knew with what they were going to do, there would be no coming back for Ridell unless the Nightmare was with her and in that case he would be able to provide for her.

Mikal squeezed Ridell's arm gently then places her hand on the wheel as he aimed the ship directly at the beach and gave her a look that tried to tell her to trust him. He was going to run them aground on the heart of Dead Water.

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:32 pm

Rid nodded a little, holding the wheel, and looked at the island, slowly closing her eyes

"Kas had better listen to me.."

She whisperedbefore taking another deep breath, and gripping the wheel harder, then yelled out

"Hang onto something boys! We're making a crash dock.."

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Fri Sep 05, 2008 3:53 pm

As if the ship knew what it's pilot had intended it sped up enough to leave considerable wake behind them. The ship him a rock and bounced up into the air then landed back down...only to smash into the beachhead.

Mikal soundlessly grunted as he hit the wheel hard and recoiled back onto the deck. The ship creaked and moaned at the sudden stop and it seemed as if the mast might snap in two. And then silence. The ship settled and Mikal looked upward at the darkened sky, amazed that wasn't worse than it was.

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:24 pm

Rid had been holding tightly onto the wheel and managed to avoid being thrown. As the boat landed, she looked around, the silence sending a chill down her spine. The air was so still, not even a hint of a breeze

"Lets go.. With my crew dropping like flies we're not going to have much time"

The 3 men left stood up, rubbing their heads, and followed Rid off the ship, jumping onto the black sand below

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:32 pm

Mikal dropped onto the sand and noticed it wasn't exactly black. In fact it was a dark shade of red and smelled vaguely of blood. It turned his stomach a bit but he swallowed the feeling down and looked back at their ship. The hull looked intact but there was something strange about it...there was bloodied hand prints all along the bottom. As if the dead had been pushing the ship forward.

He shuddered deeply and drew the rapier from his belt and looked ahead past Ridell to the jungle. There seemed to be a path leading inward but it was filled with darkness. The foliage dripped and was the only sound that came out of the jungle. Mikal looked to Ridell to see if she was ready to find and face whatever lurked beyond.

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:00 am

Rid was staring at the Jungle as well, and took a deep breath, and without saying a word, began to walk forward. She heard the voices still, telling her everything, every doubt in her mind, she wondered if thats how the men on her ship changed.

She pushed the voices aside, knowing she was so close yet so far still from Kas. She just wanted to find him, even if it was just to see what became of him, so she could die peacefully.

She pulled out her rapier as well, walking to the jungle

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:55 am

The jungle was dark and thick with constant moisture making their clothes stick to them. Everything seemed still and quiet as if there was predators around every corner of the path. Slowly in the darkness yellow slits began appearing. A few at first...but more and more as they pressed on. Whatever the yellow, feral eyes belonged too didn't seem to want to move after them, but they stared intently.

Mikal focused on the path, he knew those eyes all to well. He kept up, but stayed behind Ridell as there was a sudden crash behind them, and as they turned one of the men was gone. The other two exchanged worried glances and Mikal looked to Ridell to press onward.

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:14 am

Rid had turned as well at the sound, her eyes narrowing, but she simply turned back the way they were going and pressed forward.

She reached back, grabbing Mikals hand. She didnt want to be left alone in this place, and deffinetly wasnt about to let him die alone. She figured if he got pulled off, she would too.

She continued staring around at the eyes, and slowly opened her mouth to bare her fangs, growling beneath her breath, as if trying to keep them at bay

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 11:51 am

Mikal grasped her hand tightly not daring to let go. He took a glance at the eyes as Ridell growled and was slightly amazed to see many of them vanish. Part of her was like them and maybe, he thought, that was why they had made it so far already.

The jungle seemed to get thicker and thicker as they pressed on, and as they neared what had to be close to the center of the island they began to hear animalistic sounds. Beasts growling and tearing at flesh and breaking of bone. Each sound made Mikal jump nervously. Still they pressed on and soon they came to a clearing.

The clearing was an open grassland that was just wide enough for the village, if it could be called that, that it contained. Small dens made of bone and stretched skin littered the grasses and fires burned just outside of each one. The bones were clearly humanoid and each one gnawed on.

Each fire had what had once been sailors huddled around them. Beasts now they were, fur sprouting over their bodies as they mewled and growled. Some were more feral than others, with their faces stretched into snouts while others still had vague resemblances to what they once were. None of them seemed to have the coherence they must have once had.

At the sight of the newcomers to their home a few of the feral beasts let out loud roars to warn the others and soon a pack of them were charging towards Rid and Mikal. That is until a voice much louder and terrible than all the others roared out and the beasts stopped in their tracks.

In the center of the village was the biggest hut of them all. Thousands of humanoid bones had been used to make it and sail and skin stretched over to keep the non-existent weather out. Around the foot of the den were thousand more skulls of various races, as if each skeleton that made up the village had lent it’s head to making the leader of this terrible cursed people seem more powerful.

The creature that stood at the mouth of that den didn’t look as terrible or inhuman as the others. In fact if it had not been for the long snouted face , slight hunch, and black fur around his full body, he might still have had that charming grin Kastorin always had.

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:19 pm

Rid moved her hand over her mouth, staring at him. Almost immedietly she felt the tears sting at her eyes, but soon after, she took a deep breath, pulling Mikal along as she walked forward.

She only looked at the other men to growl, making them back off a little, before her eyes settled back onto Kas. She got close to him, but not too close, not saying a word, the tears still in her eyes.

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 3:17 pm

Mikal so badly wanted to run but this was what they came for...and her grip on his arm was close to crushing. The rapier in his other hand was held at the ready, each time one of the best men seemed close to attacking he whined it at him or her and it backed off. Finally he looked forward and saw -him-. The Nightmare himself and it took all his strength not to fall to his knees.

~---~

The beast that had been Kastorin looked on at the four people, his mouth salivating. Two of their scents smelled annoyingly familiar. One was clearly prey but the other...he wasn't sure about. He barked out and the two unknown scents vanished in a hunger rage of beasts. Two of his kin moved onward to the two in front and without mercy or hesitation he flung himself down on the two, snapping their necks and throwing their limp bodies overhead of the two familiar scents and into the frenzy pile.

What was Kas took two steps forward and mewled as he sniffed the air that was now filling with the scent of blood. He stared down his muzzle as the woman particularly. She was different from the other one...she wasn't prey...he growled slightly as a feeling washed over him. He wanted her, needed her badly, yet something stopped him from taking her as he normally would have...

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:10 pm

Rid didnt even flinch when her last 2 sane crewmen were torn apart, except her hand, which held a bit tighter to Mikals arm. She continued to stare at Kas, whispering

"Oh Kas.."

She slowly let go of Mikals arm, but her ears twitched a bit, listening very closely near him, incase she needed to help him.

She stepped closer to Kas, slowly reaching her hand out towards him, but then, she suddenly leaped forward with a growl at him.

"You cant be Kas!"

She yelled

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:35 pm

The leader of the beasts was taken aback. So much so the other beasts froze and looked at the one who would apparently challenge him. Kas snarled slowly and stepped forward as if to punish her like he would have any other female he wanted, but again...some strange feeling washed over him and it caused him to step back away from her.

Her scent...her voice...it was so familiar...but he knew every inch of the island and the boat he prowled with and she had never been there before, so how could he? He snarled angrily at her and his voice almost shook the ground.

"W'rr'ho arrrre yo'rrr'u!"

~---~

Mikal couldn't take the sight of the Nightmare but he'd not give up, not after so long a journey and such a wasted life. He turned so his back was to Ridell and watched the beasts, daring one to come closer and taste his blade.

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:06 pm

Rid had her dagger out, stopping as he stepped back

"Ridell Namora! Not that you'd remember. Look at you. Look at what you've become!"

Her voice echo'd around, as she growled

"I cant believe this.. I thought that maybe there would be something.. but you dont .. even know who I am.."

She suddenly fell to her hands and knees, more tears in her eyes

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:18 pm

Mikal turned to see Ridell on her knees and anger flared in him as well. Without his voice he made a sickening angry sound and lunged forward with the rapier. He knew it was his death, but he had to do something...anything...

~---~

Steel pierced Kas' shoulder and he turned slightly, his hand shot out and grabbed the scented prey by the throat, squeezing the life slowly from him...until his grip relaxed. The mute man kicked and tried to break free but to no avail. The beast looked back down to the woman and stared at her.

"Rrr'd'll...."

The name struck him deeply and his snarls seemed to be working around words.

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:38 pm

As she looked up to see Mikal being strangled, she quickly stood, her hand shooting out with lightning speed as she hit Kas's forearm, and then within the same second, his wrist, before quickly pulling Mikal down, glaring at Kas

"Dont you..remember me at all?"

She felt so pained, so much travelling and worry to get to where they were, and then, he didnt seem to even know who she was.

She reached towards her neck, pulling on the ring and breaking the chain around her neck, before throwing the ring at his feet.

She whispered quietly to Mikal

"Im.. sorry.. for bringing you out here.. again"

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sun Sep 07, 2008 12:47 am

The beast inside Kas roared at the familiar-...at Ridell's movements, but again he did not strike out. Unnoticed to him or the others, the temperature was lowering considerably, and the beast men slumped and started to back away from Kas' hut.

The beast growled quietly as the prey scent moved behind the wo-...Ridell and he looked down at the bit of shiny she threw at his feet. He knew that shiny...the gold...the lizard...no...dragon...whatever that was he couldn't remember...but it was eating it's own tail...

Behind him, shadows seemed to coalesce forming a vaguely humanoid shape. Kas leaned down and slowly picked up the ring and in his gruff broken voice murmured.

"Et'rrrn'i'ty...."

~----~

Mikal coughed and as soon as his feet touched the ground he was behind Ridell. He merely shook his head as she apologized and gently touched her back, just letting her know he was there, but the shadow appeared behind the Nightmare who growled something that sounded like a word. Mikal pointed swiftly at it and looked to Ridell, trying to show her that was the shadow he saw on the deck of the ship.

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sun Sep 07, 2008 10:57 am

Rid watched him, her eyes still narrowed, but this time, slightly curious. She stepped forward again, whispering

"..What did you say?"

She watched the shadow curiously as well, unsure of what it was, or what it was doing. She had her hand resting on her dagger, not sure of what he was going to do

"..Say it again.."

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:21 am

The shadow form stepped forward and Kas finally caught it's scent. He turned and his eyes grew wide as he swiftly stood back and pushed Ridell and the prey scented man away from it. He had to protect Ridell, even if he couldn't remember why yet. The ring he held tightly, not daring to let it go even if he wasn't sure why.

The shadow's voice broke through the gloom and for Kas it made his knees weak and he knelt to it. The prey scented man whimpered slightly, the sound was gravely and weak.

~---~

~="Ssso....the plan has come to it's climax...here ssstands the pet...the lover...and the redeemed..."=~

The shadow seemed to absorb what little light there was to be found, and it slowly started to grow solid, but painfully slow. With each passing minute it became closer to looking like an actual being but it's face and shape seemed were impossible to see just yet. However, the voice was annoyingly familiar. As if there was two voices, both of which Kas and Ridell knew, were speaking at once.

~="Hhhow does it feel Kastorin....to ssssee the one you pledged yourssself too...but not remember herrr..."=~

~="And you....Rrrridell...doesss it hurt to ssssee him ssso...?"=~

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:45 am

Rid backed up as Kas turned, and stared at the shadow, but there was a grin on her lips

"You're not going to win mind games with me.."

She was obviously unafraid of whatever it was. She moved a bit closer to Kas, her hand moving along his arm, as she said low near his ear

"You'll remember.. Soon.."

She pulled out her dagger, pointing it at the shadow, obviously with some poison dripping from it

"Show yourself for who you are.. Unless youre scared.."

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:09 pm

The beast inside of him roared in anger at Ridell's touch, but the man buried so deep reveled in it. Deep inside his heart man battled beast under the threat of the shadow that loomed before the three of them. He stayed knelt down, knowing if he stood he'd be struck with pain by the shadow as he always had been...but not always so...once...he was free...he fought to regain those memories but the shadow spoke again making him whimper and mewl at the ground.

~---~

~="Ssscared? Of little Rrridell...thief of heartssss...pawn to my pet...Ha!"=~

The final laugh made the darkness burst outward and past them to leave a woman standing there with a smile and sinister grin. She wore the dress as she had when she was seen with Ridell on the docks. Kelterra dressed in a pure white dress, with a long black snake coiled around her shoulders and draped over her arms.

Her eyes dazzled with green but there was something not the same. The look in them spoke of her soul...a soul that was twisted and not Kelterra's. A soul as black and evil as the island they stood on.

~="My dear Misssstresss...you have no idea what'ssss been done to you..."=~

~---~

Mikal looked on to the woman who appeared in the darkness, and was quickly entranced by her. She was the one who had made him kill Devon. He remembered it now. Devon was part of their plan to bring Ridell there, and Mikal had done all he could to help! They planned on turning Ridell into a mindless beast like the Nightmare...and there was nothing he could do!

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:21 pm

Rids mouth hung open, her eyes still narrowed, as she stared at Kel

"You.."

Suddenly her teeth were bared, growling

"You.. Did all of this?"

She then finally looked into her eyes, to see it wasnt quite Kel, it couldnt be, she would never do that to Rid

"..Who are you?"

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:49 pm

~="I am Kelterrra...Dearesssst Misstresss...but I am alsssooo ssso much better..."=~

The woman took a few steps forward and it seemed like she was stepping down from an alter like a goddess descended from the heavens, but with each foot step, the clouds grew darker, the beast-men were all fled to the jungle and Kastorin whimpered and kept himself low to the ground.

~="Do you like what Janine hasss given me? The powersss her elixirsss grant issss amazing..."=~

Kelterra licked her lips and it seemed her tongue had become slightly forked, and as the darkness seemed to glitter along her skin, there seemed to be small shapes patterning along her body, as if it was slowly turning to snake skin.

~=I created this whole issssland for her...to capture Kassss...to lure you here to sssseee Jan's powersss...."=~

Subject: Re: Oceans of blue Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:53 pm

Rid just stood there, almost looking unimpressed

"So in other words.. Jan has changed you.. Surprise Surprise. You're just another weak drone who doesnt know anything and will never think for themself in her little mind games"

She stepped forward, in front of Kas, almost face to face with Kel

"Tell you what.. If you just, go back to hiding, I'll spare your life, no matter how miserable and insignificant it is"