Werewolves (RP 9): The Song of the Mountain - Part 1
Quote from Adriana on August 25, 2018, 4:11 pmMae
Ulric pressed his forehead against the stone wall, breathing heavily. His arms and legs were trembling violently under the strain of his own weight.
This is the moment when it is easier to give up than go on; when the body is at the end of its strength and the mind cannot maintain hope; when desperation is fled and nothing is left but despair.
Ulric knew he was not going to make it. It was a bitter pill to think Jackie's effort in vain, but far worse to know he would never see light again. If he had but the strength to apologize, he might ask Jackie to forgive him, and then slip without another word into the abyss. But maybe it was because Jackie was on the other end of the rope that Ulric did not let go. How many times did she try to slip silently out of the world, and who was it that always foiled her?
Ulric garnered the last of his courage and strength and climbed another inch, then another, and another, as if each were his last effort. When suddenly his hand could find no more rope above him, instead - oh, how wonderful! - he reached the ledge and pulled himself over the lip of the cave. At the risk of tumbling down the rock slide, Ulric collapsed on the rocks just outside the cavern. As yet, he was breathing too hard to open his eyes, but the joy of escape and the nature of the thought that saved him was too much to contain; In tired half-wheezes he began to laugh! In his darkest hour, when it was easier to give up than go on, the only thing that saved him was the thought that he would have to face Jackie in the afterlife if he gave up.
Mae
Ulric pressed his forehead against the stone wall, breathing heavily. His arms and legs were trembling violently under the strain of his own weight.
This is the moment when it is easier to give up than go on; when the body is at the end of its strength and the mind cannot maintain hope; when desperation is fled and nothing is left but despair.
Ulric knew he was not going to make it. It was a bitter pill to think Jackie's effort in vain, but far worse to know he would never see light again. If he had but the strength to apologize, he might ask Jackie to forgive him, and then slip without another word into the abyss. But maybe it was because Jackie was on the other end of the rope that Ulric did not let go. How many times did she try to slip silently out of the world, and who was it that always foiled her?
Ulric garnered the last of his courage and strength and climbed another inch, then another, and another, as if each were his last effort. When suddenly his hand could find no more rope above him, instead - oh, how wonderful! - he reached the ledge and pulled himself over the lip of the cave. At the risk of tumbling down the rock slide, Ulric collapsed on the rocks just outside the cavern. As yet, he was breathing too hard to open his eyes, but the joy of escape and the nature of the thought that saved him was too much to contain; In tired half-wheezes he began to laugh! In his darkest hour, when it was easier to give up than go on, the only thing that saved him was the thought that he would have to face Jackie in the afterlife if he gave up.
Quote from Kaqurei on August 28, 2018, 11:22 amIndy
The rope in her palms fell slack, her palms rubbed red and sticky. Her arms rejoiced from their liberation, yet for half a moment she feared the worst: Ulric had let go. She had replayed his last words repeatedly in her mind, haunted they could very well his last. Then her brain caught up, her head snapped up, and there at the back of the cave was Ulric !
She didn’t intend to dare the mountain further. She unwedged her feet from the rocks, then carefully slithered forward on her belly like a snake. Trembling and tired though she was, her arms swung forward as though she had all the energy in the world, and proceeded to drag Ulric where there was daylight.
Panting faintly, she settled at the mouth of the cave. There was no smile on her face, yet instead a serious gravity.
"What… what were you thinking?" she snapped, "What were you even doing up here? I know Timothy was involved but that’s not enough of an excuse"
She cast a dour look into the darkness, "There couldn’t have been anything in there worth dying for".
And as though to prove her point, she took a rock roughly the size of her fist in her hand and sent it cascading down in the blackness. She listened intently for it’s sound — just how far would Ulric had fallen if either of them had failed ?
Indy
The rope in her palms fell slack, her palms rubbed red and sticky. Her arms rejoiced from their liberation, yet for half a moment she feared the worst: Ulric had let go. She had replayed his last words repeatedly in her mind, haunted they could very well his last. Then her brain caught up, her head snapped up, and there at the back of the cave was Ulric !
She didn’t intend to dare the mountain further. She unwedged her feet from the rocks, then carefully slithered forward on her belly like a snake. Trembling and tired though she was, her arms swung forward as though she had all the energy in the world, and proceeded to drag Ulric where there was daylight.
Panting faintly, she settled at the mouth of the cave. There was no smile on her face, yet instead a serious gravity.
"What… what were you thinking?" she snapped, "What were you even doing up here? I know Timothy was involved but that’s not enough of an excuse"
She cast a dour look into the darkness, "There couldn’t have been anything in there worth dying for".
And as though to prove her point, she took a rock roughly the size of her fist in her hand and sent it cascading down in the blackness. She listened intently for it’s sound — just how far would Ulric had fallen if either of them had failed ?
Quote from Kaqurei on August 28, 2018, 11:22 amKaqurei
"You can still choose, Saber," Sabrina said, enunciating the words intensely. "As a wolf, you feel things--anger, fear, a desire to fight, to kill, to run--all powerful feelings. You feel justified in it. All the logic you possess now will be hard for you to understand as a wolf. Do not kill, because it is wrong will not be your first thought as a wolf. And if it is your second, you still may not understand why it is the logical conclusion. Consider your experience as a human--anger is a powerful emotion that is difficult to control. It can cause you to do or say things you regret, things you would not even consider were you in your right mind. But as in such a circumstance, even as a wolf, you still have the ability to choose. Making the right decision is harder, but you can do it. That is why I told you do not fear the wolf. If you think of him as something separate, something you cannot control, he will control you. That is the nature of the creature."
She paused a moment and puffed through her nostrils, which almost sounded like a laugh when her lips curled in a snarl. "It is one thing to know all of this, it another to do it. I swear to you, I will not allow you to harm to anyone tonight--yourself, or others. But do not lose heart if you fail to control yourself tonight. I would be surprised if you did. Most do not learn the art of self control--unless that trait is already ingrained in their human counterpart--for many months, sometimes years."
Kaqurei
"You can still choose, Saber," Sabrina said, enunciating the words intensely. "As a wolf, you feel things--anger, fear, a desire to fight, to kill, to run--all powerful feelings. You feel justified in it. All the logic you possess now will be hard for you to understand as a wolf. Do not kill, because it is wrong will not be your first thought as a wolf. And if it is your second, you still may not understand why it is the logical conclusion. Consider your experience as a human--anger is a powerful emotion that is difficult to control. It can cause you to do or say things you regret, things you would not even consider were you in your right mind. But as in such a circumstance, even as a wolf, you still have the ability to choose. Making the right decision is harder, but you can do it. That is why I told you do not fear the wolf. If you think of him as something separate, something you cannot control, he will control you. That is the nature of the creature."
She paused a moment and puffed through her nostrils, which almost sounded like a laugh when her lips curled in a snarl. "It is one thing to know all of this, it another to do it. I swear to you, I will not allow you to harm to anyone tonight--yourself, or others. But do not lose heart if you fail to control yourself tonight. I would be surprised if you did. Most do not learn the art of self control--unless that trait is already ingrained in their human counterpart--for many months, sometimes years."
Quote from Kaqurei on August 29, 2018, 4:10 pmAddie
Bianca thought about the Alpha's words for some time, having listened to him with interest. She looked up when he stopped walking,
"I think I need to prove myself to them.. they don't even know me yet." she lowered her eyes on the ground, "Of course I want to accept it-but will they?"
---
Logan rested with her back against the wooden beam. Her eyes were closed until she caught her breath and then proceeded to look to the cliffside, watching the last falling rocks from her nearly fatal escapade off the narrow ledge.
When her legs had gained the courage to move again, she stepped away from the beam and examined the underlying shape of the structure, the way the rubble had fallen and stones had come to conceal it... she began to force some of the stones and rocks away to find what she might about the precarious piece of architecture nestled on the spine of the mountain.
Addie
Bianca thought about the Alpha's words for some time, having listened to him with interest. She looked up when he stopped walking,
"I think I need to prove myself to them.. they don't even know me yet." she lowered her eyes on the ground, "Of course I want to accept it-but will they?"
---
Logan rested with her back against the wooden beam. Her eyes were closed until she caught her breath and then proceeded to look to the cliffside, watching the last falling rocks from her nearly fatal escapade off the narrow ledge.
When her legs had gained the courage to move again, she stepped away from the beam and examined the underlying shape of the structure, the way the rubble had fallen and stones had come to conceal it... she began to force some of the stones and rocks away to find what she might about the precarious piece of architecture nestled on the spine of the mountain.
Quote from Kaqurei on August 29, 2018, 4:11 pmTeg
As Saber listened to Sabrina's words, something inside of him stirred; He was starting to feel irritated again, but what caused it exactly could only be guessed. Soon after his irritation showed on his face he turned back to watching the scenery as he continued to listen to her words.
A moment passed before Saber even made a move to respond to Sabrina. He looked at her, his voice low. “ If you’ve got this, then that’s good enough for me.” With that, his focus was drawn back to the storms movement in the trees, irritation still present in his countenance.
Teg
As Saber listened to Sabrina's words, something inside of him stirred; He was starting to feel irritated again, but what caused it exactly could only be guessed. Soon after his irritation showed on his face he turned back to watching the scenery as he continued to listen to her words.
A moment passed before Saber even made a move to respond to Sabrina. He looked at her, his voice low. “ If you’ve got this, then that’s good enough for me.” With that, his focus was drawn back to the storms movement in the trees, irritation still present in his countenance.
Quote from Kaqurei on August 29, 2018, 4:11 pmMae
As Ulric recovered his breath he ceased to laugh. He turned his head on the cold stone floor and listened as the rock descended into blackness.
Ting! ... Ting! ... Poom.
Twice the echo of stone on stone reached his ears, the third time it hit something soft and was quiet. Ulric furrowed his brow and turned his head again. He was surprised to see how dark and hazy everything seemed.
With some effort, Ulric rolled over on his shoulder and lifted his head. Confusion and pain were fixed on his forehead. His heart was still pounding and his eyes wanted rest.
"What's down there?" He said, rubbing his brow.
******
Moving stones on a landslide was precarious work, for every stone moved threatened to send many more tumbling to the bottom. But even with one or two stones out of the way, Logan's effort would reveal something worth finding under the dust and debris. Much of the landslide was loose rock and dirt, but about the foot of the beam were many chiseled shapes. Cut rock, and a solid wooden beam were not the works of nature. But there was no more time to consider it, for the wind had hit the mountain, and with nowhere else to go it began racing through the canyon. Soon, darkness and clouds would follow.
******
"That is not your choice." The Alpha's deep voice replied. "You cannot choose for them."
Kratos lifted his head and fixed his ears forward as he heard another tremble in the air. Then all too suddenly a crash and a boom! The sky lit up with light and the deepness of the shadows increased tenfold for but an instant. Kratos could not see the peak through the thick of the wood, but he could smell the rain and hear it coming....
Mae
As Ulric recovered his breath he ceased to laugh. He turned his head on the cold stone floor and listened as the rock descended into blackness.
Ting! ... Ting! ... Poom.
Twice the echo of stone on stone reached his ears, the third time it hit something soft and was quiet. Ulric furrowed his brow and turned his head again. He was surprised to see how dark and hazy everything seemed.
With some effort, Ulric rolled over on his shoulder and lifted his head. Confusion and pain were fixed on his forehead. His heart was still pounding and his eyes wanted rest.
"What's down there?" He said, rubbing his brow.
******
Moving stones on a landslide was precarious work, for every stone moved threatened to send many more tumbling to the bottom. But even with one or two stones out of the way, Logan's effort would reveal something worth finding under the dust and debris. Much of the landslide was loose rock and dirt, but about the foot of the beam were many chiseled shapes. Cut rock, and a solid wooden beam were not the works of nature. But there was no more time to consider it, for the wind had hit the mountain, and with nowhere else to go it began racing through the canyon. Soon, darkness and clouds would follow.
******
"That is not your choice." The Alpha's deep voice replied. "You cannot choose for them."
Kratos lifted his head and fixed his ears forward as he heard another tremble in the air. Then all too suddenly a crash and a boom! The sky lit up with light and the deepness of the shadows increased tenfold for but an instant. Kratos could not see the peak through the thick of the wood, but he could smell the rain and hear it coming....
Quote from Kaqurei on August 29, 2018, 4:12 pmAddie
The wind whipped at Logan's back, sending long black strands of hair dancing around her face as she crouched at the beam and examined the carvings below. Then she turned her head over her shoulder and saw the dark cloud rolling in.
There was a strange feeling about-as if she was being watched. She came to stand and face the storm. In moments, any chance of finding her allies would be washed away with the torrents of rain. And if this mountain were to take her, her grave would be here among the rubble, buried with whatever memories lie among the old structure.
With the crack of the lightning, she turned to face the slope, then suddenly took off in a sprint into the downgrade, and leapt forward into the air, her body taking flight along the slope! The ground did not meet her as a human, vulnerable to it's dangers; but submitted to the girth of the beast that laid paws upon it with Logan's landing. A few stones were moved beneath her, but with another leap she traversed the last long stretch of the slope and landed among the brush and trees, claws tearing up dirt and foliage as she began into the forest.
Addie
The wind whipped at Logan's back, sending long black strands of hair dancing around her face as she crouched at the beam and examined the carvings below. Then she turned her head over her shoulder and saw the dark cloud rolling in.
There was a strange feeling about-as if she was being watched. She came to stand and face the storm. In moments, any chance of finding her allies would be washed away with the torrents of rain. And if this mountain were to take her, her grave would be here among the rubble, buried with whatever memories lie among the old structure.
With the crack of the lightning, she turned to face the slope, then suddenly took off in a sprint into the downgrade, and leapt forward into the air, her body taking flight along the slope! The ground did not meet her as a human, vulnerable to it's dangers; but submitted to the girth of the beast that laid paws upon it with Logan's landing. A few stones were moved beneath her, but with another leap she traversed the last long stretch of the slope and landed among the brush and trees, claws tearing up dirt and foliage as she began into the forest.
Quote from Kaqurei on August 29, 2018, 4:12 pmAddie
Bianca opened her mouth to respond again, when the terrible crash of the lightning caused her words to get caught in her throat in the form of a quiet yelp, and her ears pinned back against her skull. She instinctively took a step back towards the Alpha, but in that brief moment, saw something glint among the trees that caused the fur along her spine to stand on end.
When the lightning had passed, her head was lowered and her lips drawn back, a low growl rumbling in her chest-ears forward and muscles tightened, she was focused on something in the shadows. But with another bolt of lightning to illuminate the forest, she found it had gone and her growling ceased, replaced with confusion and apprehension.
Addie
Bianca opened her mouth to respond again, when the terrible crash of the lightning caused her words to get caught in her throat in the form of a quiet yelp, and her ears pinned back against her skull. She instinctively took a step back towards the Alpha, but in that brief moment, saw something glint among the trees that caused the fur along her spine to stand on end.
When the lightning had passed, her head was lowered and her lips drawn back, a low growl rumbling in her chest-ears forward and muscles tightened, she was focused on something in the shadows. But with another bolt of lightning to illuminate the forest, she found it had gone and her growling ceased, replaced with confusion and apprehension.
Quote from Kaqurei on September 3, 2018, 6:13 pmMae
A glint, was it the mirror-light of a pair of steely eyes, or the shine of a barrel in the bleak undergrowth?
Kratos huffed a heavy, hot breath into the cold mountain air.
"Stay by me." He said to Bianca.As the mists of the skies began to descend and swirl about the paws of the giant, he proceeded up the mountain into the oncoming storm. In the marrow of his bones he could feel the moon rising over the clouds.
*****
Faraway, the sun rounded the corners of the earth with its last long ray streaming over the edge of the world beneath the clouds. Then, like the hand of a bandit reaching out of the abyss of space, the gold that lit the oncoming storm was stolen from the peak. - Darkness; all that was left. Thunder and light struck the sky! The formidable Phantom stood black over the town of Reknab Bend.
*****
Ulric felt a chilling wind sweep into the cave. The noise outside was deafening. The trees were creaking and hollering. The autumn leaves were cascading over the rocks in droves. What little light poured in through the exit vanished suddenly, and then the torrents came. At first, it was a distant tearing, then the pounding of a wild gallop, and at last the freezing rain came dashing over the roof of the cave!
Ulric's heart was beating so hard that the veins in his neck ached.
Mae
A glint, was it the mirror-light of a pair of steely eyes, or the shine of a barrel in the bleak undergrowth?
Kratos huffed a heavy, hot breath into the cold mountain air.
"Stay by me." He said to Bianca.
As the mists of the skies began to descend and swirl about the paws of the giant, he proceeded up the mountain into the oncoming storm. In the marrow of his bones he could feel the moon rising over the clouds.
*****
Faraway, the sun rounded the corners of the earth with its last long ray streaming over the edge of the world beneath the clouds. Then, like the hand of a bandit reaching out of the abyss of space, the gold that lit the oncoming storm was stolen from the peak. - Darkness; all that was left. Thunder and light struck the sky! The formidable Phantom stood black over the town of Reknab Bend.
*****
Ulric felt a chilling wind sweep into the cave. The noise outside was deafening. The trees were creaking and hollering. The autumn leaves were cascading over the rocks in droves. What little light poured in through the exit vanished suddenly, and then the torrents came. At first, it was a distant tearing, then the pounding of a wild gallop, and at last the freezing rain came dashing over the roof of the cave!
Ulric's heart was beating so hard that the veins in his neck ached.
Quote from Kaqurei on September 3, 2018, 6:13 pmIndy
Jackie inched closer into the dark shadow of the cave. As the storm approached, the wind echoed and grew in strange ways in that cavern as though trying to suck her further in. Her eyes settled on the gaping void. It wasn’t worth dying for. She knew it wasn’t. But then why did she want to know what was at the bottom so badly?
She closed her eyes, inhaling softly and drawing in the strange dark scents of the cavern. She let the smells linger there for a moment, sifting for information, when suddenly it were as though the entire sky had been split open. The mystery at the bottom of the crevice was forgotten. Instead her eyes flew to Ulric, who was seemingly paralyzed at the mouth of the cave.
There would be no way for either of them to safely descend the mountain now. Ulric was in no state to move, let alone traverse the peak in the rain without breaking his neck. Even she felt wary of it. Human legs did not provide enough traction… the moon was close, yes, she could feel it. But not yet close enough.
She crawled forward, grabbing Ulric by the collar of his shirt, "Looks like we’re camping out here a while. So we might as well keep you out of the worse of it"
She pulled him farther in. He was still close to the mouth of the cave, yet now out of the immediately downpour. She was troubled. Then she knew why; he’d been uncharacteristically silent.
She eyed him over with concern, "Are you okay? Were you badly hurt?"
Indy
Jackie inched closer into the dark shadow of the cave. As the storm approached, the wind echoed and grew in strange ways in that cavern as though trying to suck her further in. Her eyes settled on the gaping void. It wasn’t worth dying for. She knew it wasn’t. But then why did she want to know what was at the bottom so badly?
She closed her eyes, inhaling softly and drawing in the strange dark scents of the cavern. She let the smells linger there for a moment, sifting for information, when suddenly it were as though the entire sky had been split open. The mystery at the bottom of the crevice was forgotten. Instead her eyes flew to Ulric, who was seemingly paralyzed at the mouth of the cave.
There would be no way for either of them to safely descend the mountain now. Ulric was in no state to move, let alone traverse the peak in the rain without breaking his neck. Even she felt wary of it. Human legs did not provide enough traction… the moon was close, yes, she could feel it. But not yet close enough.
She crawled forward, grabbing Ulric by the collar of his shirt, "Looks like we’re camping out here a while. So we might as well keep you out of the worse of it"
She pulled him farther in. He was still close to the mouth of the cave, yet now out of the immediately downpour. She was troubled. Then she knew why; he’d been uncharacteristically silent.
She eyed him over with concern, "Are you okay? Were you badly hurt?"
