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You walk from the Highland Realm Entrance toward the sound of water. The babbling of the brook becomes louder as you begin to notice larger rocky outcrops in the moist, dark green land before you. A murder of crows seems to chuckle at you as they fly overhead dotting the cloud blanketed sky. You furrow your brow at them and continue on slightly disgruntled. The area lacks trees but you can see a lush forest lining the horizon. The earth is dark brown, the grass is thick and vibrant and the stones jutting from the ground make a great contrast to the darker, earthy tones. While glancing at these light silver stones, you notice what look to be claw marks. You take a closer look and notice that someone or something has scratched strange symbols into these rocks. You take a look at another and yet another, and still another; it seems all of them have been marked. Just as you begin to ponder this, a hot feeling rushes through you and ice cold, needle-like pricks tingle your skin. You twist, flinch and writhe with this odd feeling, this confliction of senses. When the feeling leaves you, you're left short of breath and tense. You look around wildly, suddenly feeling hunted, watched. Your eyes canvas the area but you see nothing, the Highlands are void of danger. A wind whispers passed, disturbing the tall grasses and sending a chill up your spine. You suddenly realize you've crouched down near the last rock you read; a product of whatever unsettled you a moment ago. You shake your head trying in vain to rid yourself of the hot-cold miasma that has clutched your mind and soul so rapidly. With a grimace, you continue on. The ground begins to elevate, you trudge up the hill and when you reach the top your eyes widen in awe. Below you on a flat patch of dark earth surrounded by deep green grasses, are the ruins of what might have been a temple. A few stone pillars still stand as well as statues that line the path to the patch. The centerpiece still stands, a large fountain and beyond that, a tower that may have been connected to the fallen stones that litter the rest of the area. You eagerly march down the hill to the flat dirt road that hasn't had a track on it in ages. You admire the stone statues, so life-like. You are slightly disturbed by their cryptic stares and screaming, tortured expressions like they were suddenly attacked or were in so much pain they could only cry until Death. Gryphons, Dragons, Unicorns, Wyrms, Lions, Wolves, even a Bat, the statues litter this portion of the Ruins. You reach the fountain and admire it for a moment. You walk slowly around it until you are infront of the tower but your eyes remain on the fountain. Was this the water you heard? The fountain is still functionning perfectly but how could you have been hearing it from so far away? The statue is of a young woman, part cat it would seem, with snakes curling around her apparently squeezing her, for her face is cringing. She is reaching toward the sky and a snake is coiled around her arm hissing toward the clouds as well. A wind stirs a bit of dirt around your feet and a shadow is cast over you. Before you can turn something pounces down on you and rises your body from the ground. It drops you to the earth and dives down on you again and again, once more and then he pounces down on you. You cough, cringe and try to push it off. You cannot move, the weight of your attacker is far too great. You feel a hot burst of air against your neck and cheek. The creature growls deep within its throat, opening its mouth seemingly for the grumble gets louder then quiets. It snorts against your skin and then takes a drawn out breath, getting your scent... tasting you. In a quick, single movement and a violent push, the creature seems to have gone. You suddenly start to breathe again, heavily and hesitate to sit up. Your cheek pressed against the cold, damp earth and the feeling that you have survived nearly becoming a meal makes you fall into a dream-like state. It's not quite euphoric but a peaceful, calm envelopment of passing fear. After a moment of phasing out of reality, you push your aching body upward and sit up. You lose your breath as your eyes widen and you instinctively shuffle backward still on your hind end. A large Gryphon-like creature is clutching the statue from the back, snarling at you viciously. Its tail is wrapped around the base and its body looms over the figure. Its eyes lock with yours and it spreads its brown, black spotted wings. It pounces down to the earth, a mere foot from you. It begins to circle you, with a limp. The creature is hunched over, a bipedal creature; its bird-like forelimbs seem somewhat useless.  Apart from the scar on its left leg and his tattered right wing, its thick grey fur is untouched but by its charcoal markings. Its stiff ears are pierced by silver earings which draws you to its predatorial eyes. A glimpse of striking red gets your immediate attention. Clasped around its neck and right foreleg are red leather, spiked collars. It shines its fangs and snorts. "You are unwelcome here, trespasser," his voice is dark, raspy but deep. "There's nothing for you here," he growls. You kneel before him and try desperately to utter something, anything, but your voice is lost. He continues to circle you, slowly as if he were taunting you. You get the urge to flee, but inside you, you know that's what he wants - the hunt. The creature laughs evilly and it breaks out into a maniacal, hysterical roar. His laughter quiets into chuckles, it reminds you of a cross between a feline's hiss, a canine's howl and a crow's caw. "Ah ha ha! You travellers are always so uptight! So disappointing, no chase and all the tension makes your carcasses tough to chew." He sneers sinisterly. Your eyes widen and he laughs even more nefariously. He is neither mysterious or dark but a complete psychopath. He feigns to pounce on you and you jump to your feet, stumbling back. He grins evilly, narrowing his red eyes and fakes a leap toward you again making you stumble back into the fountain. You sit up abruptly, drenched in coold, refreshing water and look at him in horror as he begins to stalk closer to you. Each step of his strangles your muscles and you are powerless to move; immobile in your terror. He crouches, ready to pounce, ready to finish you off and... "CHAI!!" Something tackles the creature out of no where. You recognize the cat-morph to be Lady Reaper and you sigh in relief. You jump out of the fountain and try to no avail to withold your laughter. Lady Reaper snuggles closely to the creature who puts on a face of displeasure in your prescence but in his eyes, he's loving this. "M'lady please..." He pleads in exasperation but even his voice denotes that he adores her. He's a horrible actor. Lady Reaper finally looks at you, still cuddled up to the creature. "I see you've met Fangmeler, only Laurian of the Realm and my sweet Guardian." She squeezes him tightly and he gives in. Purring loudly, he nuzzles her happily. Yes, the large Laurian is impressively intimidating and his mysterious, dark air is still present but to see him like this, you're relieved but lose no respect. Fangmeler snorts. "M'lady names me after the greatest Warrior Summoner of these lands and insists on hugging me infront of Wanderers." He rolls his eyes, looking at you with hopelessness then gazes down at Lady Reaper who has buried her face in his fur. You can just see her face, smiling broadly and you smile at them both. Quietly, you back away. When Fangmeler looks at you, you wave with an evil smirk and he scrunches up his nose, grimacing at you.
Highlands Realm Entrance Lady Reaper |
