shadowswolf
Soilder
I'm not evil, just up to no good.
Posts: 217
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Post by shadowswolf on Dec 2, 2009 13:19:20 GMT -5
Storm shrugged. "One of the princes of Sailand, he's secretly a plus anima. I knew he was coming through here...My master was going to use him as ransom for some money and try to start a war between Asteria and Sailand. Also, if I found any other plus anima, to bring them back too."
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taron
Moderator
[The Honorable Mod of +Anima 101]
Posts: 822
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Post by taron on Dec 2, 2009 13:37:56 GMT -5
'A prince..a +anima?' hah! How interesting. What would the laws of Sailand mean then? Would they make one of their own princes a slave, to be used by the others? Oh wouldnt the many mistresses just love that, to see one opponent made to serve their own son. Gariel laughed bitterly.
'Poor him. We should find him. See whats going on' He said, grinning rather evilly. 'Actually, more importantly...' He turned to her. '...We cant let this supposed war come about, and not only this, your mission i'd class as wrong, morally. Even if you had found him, i probably wouldnt have let you hand him over. There are always methods of getting around problems like this'
Feeling the cold again, Gariel hugged himself for warmth, rubbing his arms. 'How long are these people going to take? I'm going to freeze, we might as well leave now if no-ones going to bother to show up' Another thing Gariel hated; people who didnt keep promises, even if they were quite nasty ones.
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shadowswolf
Soilder
I'm not evil, just up to no good.
Posts: 217
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Post by shadowswolf on Dec 2, 2009 17:58:51 GMT -5
Storm smirked. "You really want to meet the Cages, huh?" She glanced around tenatively. "They're probably circling the city now, so I can't escape. It'll take them a couple more minutes." She shivered. "I was planning on running away, but I'll stay. Otherwise you'll be mugged and brought to the arena and I would have to travel all the way across Sailand and drag you out. I'd rather just be captured and brought the arena with you to save the energy and effort."
Her sharp eyes pinpointed a boy with shaggy hair hanging over his eyes. He jerked his chin up defensively. The first warning.
Storm's heart sank. "Gariel, I sure hope you aren't a plus anima," she sighed.
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taron
Moderator
[The Honorable Mod of +Anima 101]
Posts: 822
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Post by taron on Dec 3, 2009 10:46:24 GMT -5
A couple more minutes, huh? Fine, they would just have to wait out in the cold until these 'cages' came. How rude, making people wait like this. Didnt anyone ever tell them not to play with their food? Hah, that was an amusing comparison, and he would have voiced it if he wasnt afraid it might freak Chiera out.
I sure hope you arent a +anima...
Gariel smiled. 'Well then this should be quite entertaining!' Would Gariel really risk irritating these people if he didnt have the lords gift on his side? Actually...he probably would have, even without his powers. Gariel was just like that.
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shadowswolf
Soilder
I'm not evil, just up to no good.
Posts: 217
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Post by shadowswolf on Dec 3, 2009 17:05:48 GMT -5
Storm waited uneasily. The boy with floppy hair had disappeared into the crowd, vanished. Then, someone approached from behind. Alerted, Storm pivoted to come face to face with a second-catcher. The boy looked savage, hardly a human.
"I've come to escort you back to the Cages," he rasped. His dark eyes fluttered to Gariel. "At least you didn't come empty handed. The guys are quite disappointed in you." He smiled, showing sharp fangs. "What will it be? A fight? Or will you accept your fate and come willingly?"
Storm hissed. "I'd fight you anyday, second-tracker."
The boy growled. "Soon-to-be first tracker, once they finished you off. Then I won't have to be your babysitter anymore, following you around." Stormcrest flexed her hands, but she could tell Gariel didn't want her to fight.
"I'll go peacefully," muttered Storm with a sigh.
The boy looked taken aback, almost disappointed. "Never would have figured that," he spat. "Follow me."
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taron
Moderator
[The Honorable Mod of +Anima 101]
Posts: 822
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Post by taron on Dec 4, 2009 10:42:21 GMT -5
Gariel's eyes widened when Chiera turned down the offer to fight, and a pleased look spread over his features. It had impressed him, having just sensed how much she disliked this boy. Gariel felt rather proud, though at the same time wondered just what exactly had held her back.
Passing her a brief smile, Gariel followed this boy. Their escort was oddly built, with inhuman features in places. Most likely some kind of +anima, or maybe a life of fighting had made him that way. What a nasty thought. Gariel shuddered. Actually, he had no real plan. Not only did Gariel strongly oppose violence, he wasnt really that good at it either. If more peaceful methods didnt work, he'd just take to the skies, literally prefering flight, rather than fight. But how easy would that be in this situation?
Finding the silence awkward, Gariel decided to risk making conversation with the boy. 'So...what do you earn for bringing us in? Surely you must get something in return, for behaving so sinfully'
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shadowswolf
Soilder
I'm not evil, just up to no good.
Posts: 217
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Post by shadowswolf on Dec 4, 2009 13:38:10 GMT -5
The boy whirled around, snarling. "None of your business, ain't it? Shut up, you'll have plenty of time to squeal when they bring you to the arena." Storm shuddered, having been in that experience herself. It was a wonder that she was still alive from that very experience. After all, her opponent had been a strong one. A bloody thirsty killer.
"Don't provoke him," whispered Storm to Gariel. "To them your just talking prey."
By this time, the boy had lead them far away from the small town. In the distance, a bright fire shown, beckoning them further towards their fate.
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taron
Moderator
[The Honorable Mod of +Anima 101]
Posts: 822
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Post by taron on Dec 5, 2009 11:50:07 GMT -5
Gariel chuckled, for no real reason. It was just funny; talking prey, but at the same time made irritated him. This boy obviously considered him (and Chiera) as inferior; lesser beings. Everyone was equal, and should be treated with respect, something which this boy had a lack of, regarding Gariel.
Deciding to take his friends advice, Gariel continued on in silence, instead focusing on the direction they were going in, in relation to the town, and the area in general. He didnt need to concentrate alot; being the +anima he was, Gariel had a built in sense of direction and very rarely got lost. That would help, should the need for escape come about. Considering their current situation, there was a high chance of that.
'So why are they taking me to the arena?' he asked Chiera (or the boy). 'I thought it was just for +anima' Better to play innocent for as long as he could. May give him a slight advantage later on.
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shadowswolf
Soilder
I'm not evil, just up to no good.
Posts: 217
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Post by shadowswolf on Dec 5, 2009 13:17:15 GMT -5
Storm's eyes flickered. "If you are human, you still know about the organization. My master doesn't let anyone go, even if they are human. That way no one opens their mouth to the king. Everything stays secret."
She swallowed. "They might let you go, but chances are slim. Most humans are brought to my master and are hired as slave hunters, workers that run the arena, spies at the Market. He even hires some humans to work as spies and work in the king's court."
They kept walking, until the day grew old and the sun started to set. At last, they came to their destination.
Four people, all wild and crazy looking as the next, sat around a fire. Their hungry eyes turned to the newcomers with interest. The boy stopped, stifly nodding for Storm and Gariel to go forward.
"Welcome back," cackled a boy. "See you've got a snack. So the mission wasn't a failure after all!"
A girl, the only one out of the five, wacked him in the chest. "Shut up."
The third, even in his human form, looked more wild and anima like then the rest put together. He licked his lips savagely. "Master won't be pleased to hear his best tracker failed such an importanat mission."
Storm snarled, her blood boiling. "If it wasn't for the Cages, I might have him by now." A couple fo them snickered. Storm growled, flexing her fists as she stepped into a defensive crouch.
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taron
Moderator
[The Honorable Mod of +Anima 101]
Posts: 822
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Post by taron on Dec 5, 2009 14:28:36 GMT -5
Gariel took in the scene in silence, observing, trying to read these strangers. It was difficult, and he doubted it would be easy trying to negotiate with words alone. This would be when claws came in handy. Alas, Gariels gift wasnt an attacking one, he had no claws. Talons maybe, but Gariel had never taken the transformation that far. He'd have to get by with just his handy-dandy wings and his skills of persuasion, as always.
When Chiera bent into the crouch, Gariel's eyes moved over her, and he pouted in disaproval, biting the inside of his lip.
'Come now, no need for that. Stop throwing negative comments, calm yourselves' he said. Gariel really had no right to tell these people what to do, and didnt stand a chance 5 against 1, but he couldnt help himself. Better stop the quarrelling before it gets worse.
So...what to do. This whole operation was a bad one. Gariel very much disliked the sound of this arena, and of holding poor humans who know too much. He could alert the authorities, they might help put a stop to things...But he had a feeling people like these, sitting around the fire, would forever track him if he caused trouble. Sigh...Had he got himself mixed up in something he shouldnt have?
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shadowswolf
Soilder
I'm not evil, just up to no good.
Posts: 217
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Post by shadowswolf on Dec 5, 2009 14:43:22 GMT -5
The girl's lip curled upwards. "Entertaining thought, slave," he growled to Gariel. Stormcrest, unable to control herself, let out a yowl of protest. She sprung towards the girl, knocking her down. The wild boy transformed almost instantly, his jagged teeth digging into her skin. The two tumbled around, biting and scratching. Storm felt herself slip into her anima form, an African Wild Dog as she fought. Her claws raked the boy's cheek and her teeth dug into his shoulder.
Suddenly, she was hit on the back of her head, and she stumbled. There was a shrp, distinct click. The boy and the girl jumped away, the boy shifting back into his anima.
Her groaned knowingly. She looked down at her ankle to see that her chain was now connected with a thicker one, which was connected to the ground. She got up, fire blazing in her eyes. The boy that had led them here, the second-tracker, held a club in his hands.
"Get the slave and chain him up too," he instructed, "and fetch the collars while you're at it. The Cages will be here soon." He glared at Storm. "Pity."
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taron
Moderator
[The Honorable Mod of +Anima 101]
Posts: 822
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Post by taron on Dec 5, 2009 15:36:15 GMT -5
'STOP!' Gariels eyes widened and his fists clenched when he saw the two lunge for each other. At first he moved to cut through both of them, but Chiera was too fast. Eventually, he just stepped back, watching with disgust as more and more blows were dealt. How primal, how despicable.
Then the club made contact with the back of her head, and Gariel winced, though his eyes were still narrowed. Atleast it had stopped the fighting, but now she was chained. And apparently, so he would be. So the girl was some kind of canine +anima. He understood now where the chain on her ankle had originally come from, and it made him sick. This was a form of torture. It couldnt go on.
'Stop...Stop it! I demand you release her immediately!!' he said, eyeing the second-tracker, shaking slightly. The others were surrounding him, he knew that. He didnt care. His own life meant nothing, let them take him and enslave his body. As long as the violence ended, as long as Chiera would be set free.
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shadowswolf
Soilder
I'm not evil, just up to no good.
Posts: 217
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Post by shadowswolf on Dec 5, 2009 16:05:47 GMT -5
The second-tracker, obviously the one in charge, took no notice of Gariel's outburst. In fact, he was rather amused. The four came back, carrying collars and chains, dumping them in a pile. The more wild looking anima, collar in hand, tightened it around Storm's neck. She didn't resist, knowing it would make it harder in the long run.
"First time one of our first-trackers had ever rebelled," said the second-tracker with a grin. "You made history. We'll bring ya back to our Master, and he'll take care of ya. Maybe a few months of Loyalty Training, and if you're especially good he might let you be a second-tracker. If not, he'll send ya straight to the arena." The four anima sat down in front of him, looking up at him like trained dogs.
The second-tracker laughed. "Master will make me a first-tracker fer sure. I won't have to wait for you to get in trouble, or wait to fetch you from missions." He snapped his fingers, nodding to the four anima before him. They rose as one. "Fethc the Cages, please."
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taron
Moderator
[The Honorable Mod of +Anima 101]
Posts: 822
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Post by taron on Dec 5, 2009 16:26:49 GMT -5
Gariel's hate was growing, and that was bad. Hate was bad, he mustnt allow such feelings to fester in his heart, but he couldnt help it. This boy, the second-tracker, was evil, in some respects he was beyond help. No...No-one was ever beyond help, dont think like that! Gariel shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind. Frantically he thought, considering options.
Chiera seemed to have given in, accepting the way they were treating her. Gariel turned his gaze back to the man in charge, and felt like spitting in his direction. Of course, he didnt. That would be rude...which made Gariel laugh outloud, confusing the enemy.
'I asked you to release her..well...more like a command really' he said, more calmly this time. 'Come on' he took a step towards the second-tracker, smiling, back to his normal self. 'Lets stop this now, hey? Stop and think about what you are doing, and the consequences' His green eyes flashed at the boy, penetrating his soul. He didnt blink, and his optic hold never loosened. 'Stop...and do whats right' Part of him knew this may never work, but he tried. Gariel always tried.
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shadowswolf
Soilder
I'm not evil, just up to no good.
Posts: 217
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Post by shadowswolf on Dec 5, 2009 16:46:30 GMT -5
The second-tracker spat at Gariel. "Tie him up," he snapped. "He gives me a headache." The two remaining anima ran to do his biding, as the other two anima scurried off to find the Cages. Stormcrest watched sadly, knowing she could have at least prevented getting Gariel caught up in all this. She gave a reassuring smile to Gariel.
The second-tracker lifted his head into the air, as if tasting it. His dark eyes flashed over his subjects. Then, he turned to Gariel.
"Are you a human, or a plus anima?" he snarled.
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