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OOC: Wow...seems like it's been forever! Sorry about that. (Stupid classes!) Anyways, I loved yours! xD (my first one was derived from a few from Genesis lol)

Jason glanced at her, brown eyes somehow softer. "I...hadn't heard that one before. Thank you, Kasha," he said.

"Neither had I," Farren remarked with a look of interest.

Maiya nodded eagerly. "I love that one!" she said cheerfully. "Does anyone else have one?"

"Sorry," Lyllii confessed. "I probably wouldn't even know the one I told if a...friend hadn't told me," she elaborated vaguely, bringing her knees closer to her chest. His memory still felt much too raw for her to even refer to him without her throat tightening.

"I have one," Farren interjected. "This one is set well after the Time of Cleansing and many of the races had been established," he explained briefly.

_<^>_

"Seasons ebbed before flowing into the next and easing into years. By this time, the decedents of the remnant had all once again forgotten their Creator, turning to new masks for guidance. Eventually these faces were given bodies and became the center of the races' developing cultures, with false messengers ruling the peoples' daily lives with words of fear and spread the seeds of war.

"All of this deeply grieved the Creator who longed for the people he created to know him and desired to bless his creation. Finally, the Creator found a single man who would relearn to listen, and from him, the Creator began a new race that was to bring the others back to him by their actions.

"But that is a story all on its own!" Farren exclaimed suddenly to the amusement of at least the nymph.

The human paused briefly to regain his composure and allow his words to settle before continuing. "Generations later, this race, the Kytharians, were at war with the Phenarites, a humanoid race of large stature that valued brute strength and dominance above all else."

"Sounds a lot like humans," Lyllii snorted.

Farren cast a mildly irritated glare in the nymph's direction for the jibe and interruption before continuing his tale. "This happened to be shortly after the Kytharians had chosen their first king, also an entirely separate tale on its own."

Lyllii shrugged, stretching her legs away from her and clasping her hands around her thighs, content to merely listen for the moment.

"Anyways, the Phenarites had selected one among them to fight as their champion against the Kytharians' champion to the death. If the Phenarites' champion defeated the Kytharians', then the Kytharians' land would then belong to the Phenarites and the Kytharians would be forced to acknowledge the Phenarites as their new rulers. If the Kytharians' champion was victorious, then the opposite was also true.

"However, when the Kytharians caught glimpse of the Phenarite champion, Felgut, who towered above even his own countrymen, their courage left them, leaving only a growing sense of dread and despair. Not one of them would pick up his sword and fight."

"Wait, how come the Phenarites didn't just attack the Kytharians if they were stronger?" Lyllii interrupted again.

Farren sighed. "Simply put, when the Kytharians first settled in the area, they had to fight with other races who were already living there. So long as they followed the Creator's instructions and trusted him, they won every battle. But when they decided to follow their own strategies, they lost each battle miserably. This earned them a reputation among their neighbors as fierce opponents."

Lyllii slowly nodded and grimaced as she struggled to understand.

"Well, that is all of the Kytharian warriors refused to fight; not all Kytharians. Deshnu, a boy probably in his mid teens, was sent by his father to deliver food to his older brothers since most of the soldiers hid in their tents to avoid being mistaken as the "champion" or attacked by the Phenarites if they tried to replenish their rapidly dwindling supplies. When Deshnu arrived, saw the condition of the men, and heard Felgut's jeers against the Creator, he became enraged. Furious, he demanded to see the king and offered himself as champion.

"The king, of course, tried to dissuade him, and his older brothers many of the other soldiers tormented him mercilessly for his brashness. But Deshnu's mind had already decided. When the king had his armor placed on Deshnu, it was several sizes too big for his thinner frame and cumbersome to be of use. The king then ordered for a sword to be brought, but Deshnu, who had never wielded a sword in his life, refused to use it. Instead, he decided to only take with him his sling and his pouch of stones."

"Why didn't they just use magic? Seems much simpler to me," Lyllii mused.

Farren, already anticipating another interruption from the nymph, explained. "They didn't have the understanding of magic like we do back then. Those that did have a basic understanding usually used their abilities to exploit their neighbors, while most received their powers from service to the Fallen -that isn't magic; that's sorcery."

"That explains a lot," Lyllii murmured to herself.

"At dawn the following day, both sides assembled opposite each other. When Felgut began to bellow his jeers and demands for an opponent, Deshnu stepped boldly onto the battlefield and accepted Felgut's challenge with a clear voice. Seeing the slight youth rising up to meet him, Felgut's face burned deep violet. Enraged, he demanded that the Kytharians tell him why they sent a mere child to test his strength. He then boasted that he would not only slaughter Deshnu and conquer the Kytharian's land, but began to utter a new string of mockery against the Creator and the Kytharians.

"Deshnu returned with equal zeal that it was not he who would die, but that the Creator had already given him the victory. Confident that this insolent boy stood no chance against him, Felgut arrogantly cast away his helmet to the ground, unsheathed his sword, and charged. Seizing his opportunity, Deshnu quickly pulled a stone from his pouch, dropped it in his sling, wound up, took aim, and launched.

"The stone whistled through the crisp morning air and struck the giant's skull, burying itself deep within Felgut's forehead, knocking him out cold before his great bulk ever reached the ground with a heavy thud. As he fell, Felgut's fingers released his grip on his weapon. Deshnu seized his adversary's sword with both hands, swinging its blade with all his might onto the Phenarite's exposed neck.

"Deshnu picked up the head and held Felgut's gore stained sword for both sides to see, and in a loud voice declared the Creator's victory and deliverance of his people from their enemies," Farren concluded.

_<^>_

Lyllii wrinkled her nose. "He chopped off the guy's head? Isn't that a bit...extreme?"

Farren shrugged. "I always understood that as undeniable proof of his victory. It's hard to argue with a head. This one was my favorite story, and I liked to pretend I was Deshnu facing off against my own Felguts. It was one my...father, used to tell me."
A pained expression crossed his face as if Farren could hardly bring himself to say, much less accept, what his latter words implied.

OOC: And yet another OT one from me! Though, this one's a much stronger parallel. Hopefully it isn't too terrible in quality (can't claim any originality with how I based it), but with Farren's background, I couldn't get this particular idea out of my mind. I promise that either Sespyn or THAT guy will (finally!) make an appearance in my next post (though, I can't guarantee how speedily I'll be able to reply.) I've got a pretty strong idea of how THAT guy will make his debut, but think Sespyn will enter the seen after the more heavy stuff. Don't want to cause too much of a mood whiplash, but what do you think? Also, do you find the discussion threads useful? I'm considering making one for us to use for this RP (my OOC's are getting pretty long, lol).

Anyways, here's how to pronounce those new names in case you were curious.

-Kytharians: Keeth-thahr-ians
-Phenarites: Phehn-nahr-ites
-Felgut: Fel-guht
-Deshnu: Dehsh-nu

Maiya had relaxed into the steady, familiar rhythm of listening to words and stories, the continuous crackle of the fire underlying it all. Though she wouldn't admit it, the energetic elf was starting to become fatigued, exhaustion tugging at her eyelids heavily. She struggled to stifle a yawn, forcing herself to remain alert; falling asleep in front of these people that she had only met a little while ago - despite how trustworthy they seemed - didn't feel like the best thing to do.

Her struggles to stay awake completely fled her mind as the rain suddenly increased in intensity, the patter of drops against the top of the cave becoming loud and almost chaotic. A flash of lightning was followed by a loud boom of thunder that seemed to shake the very ground. Maiya's blue eyes widened slightly as she flinched as if to escape the noise, finding herself leaning closer to Lyllii as a result.

Taking a steadying breath, she offered the nymph a sheepish smile before her gaze dropped back to the rocky floor. "Sorry," she murmured, giving a small half-chuckle. "You would think I would be a bit more fond of thunderstorms since I'm able to control water."

~~~~

Kasha could relate to the subtle pain that flashed through Farren's eyes when he mentioned his father; the anthro felt very much the same whenever she thought about her own. It still ached, a wailing pain that tore at her heart and soul, even after all of these years. ...But just like always, she shoved the melancholy feeling aside, locking in safely in the back of her mind. It would not do to show weakness in front of these....she supposed she could consider them acquantances.

A loud crack of thunder boomed through the air, and it took Kasha's considerable self-control not to flinch. It looked like Maiya wasn't as focused, however, judging by her widened eyes and jerky movements. Hmm. The elf was right. It did seem rather ironic that someone able to control water was afraid of thunder storms.

Ooc:// I think I might have already taken care of the mood whiplash, lol. I ran out of ideas for another story, so...boom. -shrugs- Hopefully, that was okay.

And I think making a discussion topic would actually help, judging from the way we keep trying to talk about stuff through these little notes.

Lyllii surprised herself by almost instinctively wrapping the young elf in a firm embrace, despite the very action feeling very foreign. A small smile tugged at the corners of the nymph's lips as she cast a bemused glance at the dark haired girl huddled against her for comfort. This was certainly an odd, but somewhat welcome, occurrence for the nymph. It felt nice to be wanted around.

Taking a steadying breath, Maiya offered the nymph a sheepish smile before her gaze dropped back to the rocky floor. "Sorry," she murmured, giving a small half-chuckle. "You would think I would be a bit more fond of thunderstorms since I'm able to control water."

Lyllii's grin morphed into a playful smirk as she gently nudged the elf. "What? Don't ya like to be zapped?"

"Don't worry too much about it," Farren cut in. "We all have our irrational fears. Besides," he added with a chuckle. "Thunderstorms are completely different. Lightning causes thunder, and when it hits something on the ground, sometimes fire. Only someone extremely foolhardy wouldn't have even an ounce of respect or fear for it."

"What I think the human means to say," Lyllii interjected, earning an irritated scowl, "is that--"

Another bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating the entire landscape and the greater portion of the cave's mouth. The ground beneath their feet resounded violently, causing bits of gravel to clatter against the floor and the fire's tongues to sputter momentarily as the beams supporting them collapsed into a fragile heap of petrified wood and sparks before dying out altogether with a sudden gust of escaped wind. A ragged gasp escaped from the nymph's gaping mouth as she in turn clung to Maiya in paralyzing terror, though it was doubtful anyone could hear it over the din.

_<^>_

For a brief moment, black silhouetted against the bluish glow overflowing into the cave's mouth before vanishing with the lightning illumination as if it never existed. A relative silence came with the sudden darkness, only broken by the occasional echoing claps of thunder in the distance and the faint hissing of sparks from a struck tree as it continued to cascade embers that were immediately drowned by rain. Underlying it all the rain continued to pound against the roof, easing back into a slightly more rhythmic drumming.

_<^>_

Finally, Farren arose from his position to remake the fire, only to find the wood thoroughly sodden from both rain and mineral water leaking from the ceiling and forming puddles in various places. He then collected a new bundle of wood from against one wall, only to find it just as damp. Stubbornly, he attempted to build a new fire on a dryer part of the floor; the wood smoked profusely before a flame latched on. Within moments, the single tongue sputtered and dissipated into smoke. Farren snarled in frustration, knocking aside those useless bits of wood with one arm into some unexplored corner of the room and hurled a charred branch against a far wall in his bout of temper. He felt a small twinge of satisfaction at the sound of breaking glass in the general direction of where the branch should have landed.

Farren felt his way back to his spot before sinking back into a cross-legged position, resting his chin against one palm as he stared glumly into the darkness.

OOC: Guess who just made a cameo! ^^

Ooc:// I love building up to the action...^^

Maiya relaxed automatically when Lyllii pulled her into a tight hug, an unexpected warmth flowing through her. This was exactly what her family - well, who she considered her family, anyway - would often do. It was almost painfully familiar, the earthy smell of leaves and rain bringing a wave of nostalgia. She did miss them...but she got the sense that she was doing what she was supposed to by being out there. Lyllii's next comment jerked her out of her thoughts, bringing a more sincere smile to the elf's face.

Of course, that smile faded with Farren's reply. Did he really have to go and mention a reason she was terrified of the storms? It wasn't that she couldn't handle it, but with the storm raging outside...well, it made her stomach feel as if tiny butterflies were residing in it. She shook the feeling off. It was just a storm, it was just a storm, it was just a - An even louder crack of thunder made it feel as if the earth would shake apart at the seams, and the fire went out with a small puff of wind.

Maiya wasn't surprised to hear herself shriek a little; between the sudden darkness and chaos outisde, she thought she had a right to. What did surprise her was the rigid tension in Lyllii's arms as she squeezed, apparently just as startled. Maiya didn't hesitate in hugging back, holding on to the nymph like an anchor.

~~~~

Kasha shifted uneasily, the fur on the back of her neck standing up and tail puffing out. It would probably look a bit comical to anyone who cared to mention it, but not many did...generally, the giant wooden stick strapped to her back dissuaded them. The thunder battered at her sensitive ears, the darkness only seeming to make it worse. She resigned herself to having to be stuck in this situation for a while, wincing as she settled into a damp patch of ground. She awkwardly wriggled into a drier spot, lip curling in distaste. The sense of unease grew in the few quiet seconds after lightning, before thunder boomed again. She found herself pulling out her staff, the pads of her paw-like hands gripping the familiar, comforting surface.

~~~~

Jason flinched as a stray spark drifted towards him, the tiny ember stinging his skin. He brushed it off, quickly relaxing again; it wasn't a big deal, anyway. He fingered the material of his pants as he watched Farren attempt to restart the fire, then hurl a piece of charred, blackened wood away in obvious frustration. He glanced down at his fidgeting hand; he could summon fire. He could at least make a small flame and provide some light, right? But...it wasn't a skill he liked using. He would usually ignore it, but it did bring back memories of his dad.

He let out a small sigh, brown eyes flitting back to the puddle near his feet. Resigning himself to the dark and damp, he decided not to offer; if it got bad, he would. Until then, he would keep his fire to himself.

OOC: I'm so sorry for not posting in so long! Classes really have me running frantic. T^T

Lyllii's haggard breathing seemingly competed with the incessant drip, drip, plopping of the cave. And they were once again, cold, wet, and in the dark. While stranded in a cave. Stranded in a cave with a ragtag mesh of strangers that might yet pierce his exposed back should he drift off. Oh, and did he mention that one of these so-called "companions" just so happened to be an emotionally unstable female nymph that had a panic attack every time she saw a live flame?

Farren sighed heavily, mentally extending his count from ten to thirty, as he attempted to not further add to the already tense atmosphere. Turns out, he should have extended it to at least fifty. Make that a hundred and fifty.

"Lyllii," he grated softly. "Stop. You're not helping things."

Much to his exasperation, the nymph instead began to scoot further from the group, eventually releasing Maiya from her vice-like grip as she continued to back into a wall. Only for her breathing to grow more panicked.

"Lyllii, for pity's sake, it's just a storm! And if it wasn't for your irrational instability, I'd at least be able to offer a flame for the others to see by!" he snapped, then almost immediately regretted it; she was hiccuping now. Was that nymph now sobbing?

"St-storms, storms don'! Don' whisper!"[/i] she wailed.

"What are you-" he began, then immediately thought better of it. "It's just the wind."

"Nnnnn, NOOO! It's HIM!"

Farren opened his mouth to speak.

_<^>_

"Shhhh... Just the wind."

Lyllii's eyes grew wider, limbs shaking and chest heaving in spasms. Where they blind? She saw him! The unfeeling limestone against her back did little to sooth her, its clammy walls chilling her very core. Still, it was security. She flinched each time a droplet struck her skin, some ice cold, others an unnerving lukewarm. Her eyes squeezed painfully tight as she drew herself further into a fetal position, mentally screaming for it to just stop.

"Nothin's gonna harm you, little girl."

"Not sure what you mean by 'him', but that dumb storm will blow over soon and then it's morning."

"Aren't you gonna answer? Oh that's right, you're too scared!"

"Farren...please stop," Lyllii whimpered.

"Up in the trees
So high and sweet
Slumbering on
In gales they creak,"

_<^>_

"Okay, I'm sorry I snapped at you. But you really-" Farren began. His nape prickled uncomfortably. Were they being watched? Subconsciously his hand moved to his bow, instinct screaming at him to string the weapon. Logic berated him for doing just that with the poor visability.

"Off goes the woodcutter
Axe in hand
Off to the trees
No longer they stand,"

"Okaaayyy...is that someone singing? Please tell me I'm not hearing things," he murmured.

"His eyes then see
The Child of the Trees
Wild in ev'ry way
A sight to see,"

_<^>_

"Please...please stop! No more!" moaned the nymph.

The voice merely laughed. "Oh? I imagined this lot'd enjoy this one. Pity," it taunted, this time rising from a soothing whisper to a volume audible for everyone as it ricocheted around the cavern. "Seems like the fun's been spoiled," it drawled.
At that moment, Farren felt the instinct to turn. Immediately behind him stood a masked figure.

"Surprise!"

OOC: Hmmm...not quite sure how I feel about this one. Hopefully it's as unnerving as intended and not too difficult to follow. *brushes off rust flakes*

Maiya's eyes widened as Lyllii pulled away, jerking harshly out of her arms. Did I do something wrong? she silently wondered. Hearing the nymph's hiccuping pleas stopped that train of thought; she was terrified. Of what though? "Lyllii?" she asked quietly, a bit scared and desperate to help her new friend. But she didn't recieve a response, so she let Farren talk, feeling absolutely helpless.

~~~

Kasha had brushed off the mumbling for a few moments, but her muscles were tensing with continuing unease. This...wasn't right. Something was horribly wrong, she could tell. Almost against her will, her own breath caught in her throat. Her keen ears easily picked out an unfamiliar, chilling voice as it swelled in volume, rising above the sounds of the storm outside.

"Seems like the fun's been spoiled." A small pause. "Surprise!"

Kasha jerked around, barely managing to avoid whacking Jason in the head with her staff as she did so. "Who are you?" she snarled, Lyllii's frightened sobs still very clear in her mind. The nymph obviously needed protection, and Kasha was not going to let her get injured...or mentally traumatized any more. Because it was apparent now that Lyllii had some deep scars hidden.

~~~

Jason couldn't help it anymore, and flames flickered to life, dancing across his fingertips. Normally, the light chased away any shadows that haunted your thoughts and nightmares.

But this was no ordinary nightmare.

The masked figure became painfully visible, along with the terror etched on to Lyllii's face. Adrenaline shot through his veins and he rose into a half crouch, flames growing larger as his hands balled into fists. What on earth was going on?

Ooc:// It was fine. ^^ It's nice to see this up and running again, lol.

OOC: I'm...ALIVE! *dies*

The sudden change of light caused Farren to blink, momentarily blinded. Moments later, the larger spots on his vision gradually began to subside...though the human inwardly groaned as he immediately wished they hadn't. Still standing in front of him almost larger than life was the imposing and deceptively lithe figure of a man, clothed from nearly neck to foot in dark leather armor lined with tufts of coarse dark fur lining the tops of the intruder's gauntlets and outer sides of his greaves. Underneath, in place of chainmail, Farren caught glimpses of that same black fur peeping through the armor's buckling, extending and tapering down past the breastplate ended and the greaves began.

But what probably unnerved Farren most, however, was not the empty eye sockets of a wolf's head sown into the intruder's hood, but that the man made no move towards the twin long knives strapped to his back nor to either pouch on his sides despite the arrow aimed towards his chest.

The man simply stood there.

_<^>_

He gazed through the empty sockets of his wolf cowl with vague amusement as the ragtag bunch in front of him finally became aware of his presence, glancing at the anthro's staff poised to crush his skull, the bulky ginger's arrow pointed at his torso, and the blond's wildly fluctuating flames as his fists clenched tighter and muscles coiled to spring from his crouch and attack. It was...pathetic, really.

"Who are you?" snarled the anthro.

The masked intruder pretended to ignore the great over-grown cat for the moment as his eyes fixed on his prey; there she was. Even without being born with a heightened sense of smell, he could practically taste the anxiety oozing from the nymph in waves. Perfect. Underneath the thin fabric hugging the lower half of his face and neck, the predator leered.

But seeing that their attention remained fixed on his person, he tilted back his head for a tenor's barking laugh.

"What's this? A cat guarding my mouse? Your time'd be better spent chasing yarn!" he sneered in a mocking tone.

_<^>_

Lyllii's violently trembling form shrank even tighter at the sound of the monster's sardonic laughter echoing and reverberating back through the caverns. Her muscles ached, and she hated the feeling of being so pathetically weak and useless! But her body refused to respond to her mind's fragmented pleas to get up or simply run! Her tears nearly spent, the nymph's sobs gradually morphed into shrieking wails.

OOC: And...stopping it here for tonight.

Maiya's crystal blue eyes widened before they quickly narrowed, icy chills creeping down her spine. This...thing - for surely it was too dark and malevolent to be called a man - was so eerily confident, the cold smugness practically oozing from in between the chinks in his hard leather armor. The elf supressed the urge to shiver, something primal inside of her demanding that she get up and run. Lyllii's piercing wails only magnified this urge until Maiya was close to shrieking herself. Still, she stayed.

One might say that it was a fatal flaw in her nature, but Maiya would never leave a friend behind. She was always trusting and bonded so easily with other people, even if they didn't like her back. That's why she didn't leave, even though that animal instinct buried within her screamed at her to. She literally couldn't, the thought going against every fiber of the humanity inside of her. The two sides raged in an internal battle until Maiya solved it by shifting closer to Lyllii. She couldn't abandon her to this monster that loomed over them, dark and pleased with it.

Maiya didn't hesitate any further in wrapping her slender arms around Lyllii's tense frame, internally wincing when she noticed how badly the nymph was shaking. Then again, Maiya would be lying if she said she wasn't trembling either. "Lyllii, it's alright," she hushed, her own voice shaking so badly that is was on the border of ridiculous. The comment itself was stupid; how on earth could things be all right in a situation such as this? But it had popped into her head, flowing off of her tongue like water, so smoothly and easily. She wanted to be able to assure the nymph that she was safe, but the adrenaline pounding through the elf's veins reminded her that she wasn't, not even in the loosest sense of the word. Still, she mumured quiet reassurance's into Lyllii's ear, trying to comfort herself along with the nymph.

~~~

A low, menacing growl rumbled in the back of Kasha's throat at the almost degrading tone in the enemy's voice. How dare he mock her! Her razor-sharp claws dug into the wood of her staff reflexively as she gripped the sturdy weapon tighter and she had to consciously remind herself not to damage the one precious possession she had, each groove holding so many memories.

Kasha shoved all of that away as the dark fur on the back of her neck bristled, sticking up in irritated spikes as her tail lashed in fury. She could dimly hear Lyllii's sobs blur into dry, wordless wails of an almost unbearable fear, the sound cutting through the air like a knife. The anthro, for a moment, wished that she could comfort the nymph; it wasn't right for anyone to be in this state. But offering comfort definitely wasn't her forte, so she focused on the steady, rapid thrum of her heart instead, the beat pulsing through her ears and drowning everything else out. The singing hum of adrenaline that rushed through her veins, making her feel truly alive and hyper-aware of everything, overwhelmed Kasha.

"Answer the question, demon!" she demanded, the almost feral-like snarl that edged the words leaving no room for agument. Her feline eyes narrowed as she bent her legs, preparing herself to leap out and strike at even the slightest indication of violence.

Lyllii flinched violently at Maiya's touch, whimpering slightly as her body reflexively tried to pull away. But those arms stayed. Gradually, her trembling began to still as the elf's embrace radiated warmth back into her chilled limbs, though not the harsh and destructive heat of fire. No, this was different. It felt alien, but at the same time awoke a primal craving she had never dared to admit to herself consciously--it was belonging, and felt like she always imagined belonging to a family that her biology denied her would.

'Shh, Lehlee, safe. You're safe.'

That voice. She heard him once before also. Warm, golden, like belonging. Memories flitted behind her mind's eye, faded and murky, yet crisp and vivid before fading back into an echo again.

'Safe...'

_<^>_

"...-lii, it's alright," Maiya hushed.

The nymph's eyelids slowly opened a crack, dark orbs hesitantly peering through them, awareness shining brightly in her eyes as her sanity returned. She silently took note of the elf's face effectively blocking the scene unfolding around them from view. To her surprised confusion, concern and stubborn courage shown in Maiya's obviously terror-widened and overly bright eyes as she continued to murmur soothingly just loud enough for Lyllii to hear her shaking voice against the din. She...stayed?

Lyllii blinked, rubbing grit from her swollen eyes.

They, they stayed. I'm, I'm.../i] "...'m not alone," she breathed, not realizing she spoke aloud. She tilted her head slightly so that her face was directed towards Maiya's. "Why-," a cough wracked her frame. Ugh. This was why she hated crying. She paused momentarily, swallowing in attempt to ease the sandpaper sensation in her larynx before continuing. "Why'd you sstay?" she rasped.

_<^>_

[b]"Answer the question, demon!"/b]

A bemused chortle at the cat's assumed ferociousness and feral like snarl escaped him, causing him to nearly choke on his mirth as he slapped his knee before surrendering to the consequential guffaw and gradually petered into snickers. He soon righted himself, sniffing loudly and reached a hand behind his cowl to wipe the resulting moisture from his eye.

[i]"Nay, Cat," he replied once he regained his composure. "I'm no demon...at least, not yet." At this the masked male nearly became overcome with another bought of manic laughter. "But if you insist..." His gaze fell on Lyllii as he again moistened his lips underneath the half mask concealing his face from nose to jaw. His. Soon she'd be-

"Answer," Farren growled, an unusual hardness entering his voice as he defensively sidestepped into the predator's line of sight.

"Oh, but surely you MUST have heard of me, Bowman's Son," he jeered.

A cold hand clenched Farren's heart, stabbing it with ice. His string lost some of its tension. "Wh-what did, how did-"

"A cat sheathing its claws? Why bother damaging...unless it's all Kitty has left?" The masked terror's head swiveled to face the blond, the chaos rolling off him and his flame nearly intoxicating. "Ahh...and the boy-who-can't-control-his-flame." He stepped forward slightly, leaning down until his head was just inches away. "Why bother using it?" he sneered.

_<^>_

Suddenly, it all clicked. He thought them just stories, told by the superstitious. But apparently there was some truth to fable after all: the masked menace; the faceless predator; the phantom that preyed on fear. The man-who-was-not-a-man. They were one in the same; fact. Stories of random villages slaughtered as if by a single blade, the bodies ravaged and mutilated as only a beast would dare, told from the lips of madmen only to die from their injuries soon after. Mask. The predator's mask.

Farren felt the blood drain from his face as realization dawned on him. "Mask, you're Mask."

"In the flesh," the Mask greeted.

OOC: Ugh...the coding messed up. T^T (Stupid computers.) Btw, Lyllii's a "first generation" nymph (and yet more angst and a dash of fluff, lol)

Even amidst the terror flowing freely through her veins, Lyllii's words pierced the elf to her core. "Why'd you stay?" she rasped. Maiya didn't even hesitate before responding.

"Because you're my friend," she whispered, keeping her voice low and soothing, "And that's what friends do." That was a belief Maiya held to firmly; friends stuck together, no matter what, or they weren't really true friends. And she prided herself on being a true friend to whoever needed it. But there was a bit more to it than just that...simply put, Lyllii felt like home.

Not the home that had been destroyed when fire fell from the sky, but her home with the kind wood nymphs that had taken her in so easily. They were the ones to really raise her, and Lyllii's slanting features and earthy forest scent reminded Maiya of them. It made the elf feel a bit homesick, honestly, something she hadn't felt ever since the first few nights after leaving. It was bittersweet, but there was no time to dwell on it, not with fear making her thoughts sour.

So instead she kept focusing on trying to comfort Lyllii, attempting to ignore the awful scene around them. She trusted Kasha, Farren, and Jason to keep them safe; they all seemed to be very capable fighters and had proven themselves to be trustworthy so far. "We won't let him hurt you," she murmured, trying not to pay attention to the chill that was settling deep into her bones, cold and eerie. "We'll keep you safe."

~~~~

Kasha's amber eyes narrowed further into dangerous slits, her lips curling up to reveal razor-sharp teeth. Anger boiled in her veins, tinting her vision red and making her heart pound loudly in her ears. She wanted to succumb to the primal urge, to allow the enraged rhythm to move her body to fight. Despite that, something held her back. There was something clearly wrong and...unnatural, here, and it made the fur on the back of her neck prickle with apprehension.

The anthro forced herself to shake the feeling off, focusing on the rage building inside of her instead. No one just mocked her and got away with it. She didn't appreciate being brushed off like she was some insignificant speck, because she was anything but, and she would be more than glad to show this creep that in the most painful way possible.

The uneasy chill returned full-force though, slicing through the fiery heat of anger like a knife. "A cat sheathing its claws? Why bother damaging...unless it's all Kitty has left?" the enemy sneered. Kasha stiffened, her right ear flicking in surprise. How on earth would he know that?! The wood underneath her skin suddenly felt much more prominent, each groove and ridge clearly felt. She wanted so desperately to snarl something right back at him; this man truly was a demon, because no ordinary man would be able to affect her in such a way. Her stomach seemed to be tying itself in tight, complex knots and her heart fluttered anxiously. It didn't help that the comment was bringing back all of those memories she tried so hard to bury, because they were simply too painful to deal with. She struggled to ignore them the best she could, gripping her staff as tightly as possible.

~~~~

Jason's deep brown eyes widened fractionally as the intruder's gaze fell upon him. The sudden attention struck him like a physical blow, though he tried not to show it. He had to agree with Kasha; this 'man' was a demon. "Ahh...and the boy-who-can't-control-his-flame." Jason would be lying if he said he didn't flinch when the figure moved closer, now only inches away from his face. "Why bother using it?"

Images flashed through the were-animal's mind; empty bottles strewn across the floor, the scent of alcohol painfully heavy. A tall, imposing figure swaying even as he slapped him, the force of the blow sending the child to the floor. Fire, licking at his skin and making it burn and sting, his dad either chuckling or yelling at him to take it like a man. Jason flinched again; those were not pleasant memories, yet he couldn't quite seem to shake them. The flames dancing on his fingertips slowly flickered out until they faded completely, casting the cave in a much more prominent darkness.

Jason probably reached the same conclusion Farren did at about the same time. This intruder was no normal enemy; he was the Mask. That was one story that his dad had told him, usually right before it was time for Jason to go to bed. He had used it to scare him into obedience, and probably to get a few laughs about the look on the child's face. Throat suddenly dry, Jason stumbled backwards a few steps, wanting to put as much distance between him and this ominous phantom from his childhood nightmares as possible.

The warm feeling in her chest swelled. Friends, them? Lyllii had been forced to learn to not use such a title lightly -she only ever had but a few "friends", and at least half of them she wasn't certain to even consider as "more than allies"- but seeing the steadfast certainty on Maiya's otherwise rigid face quickly stemmed off her residual bitterness before her tongue gave them form. Later. She could brood and analyze later. Instead, she allowed a small, but sincere and slightly skittish grin tug at her lips. "Thank you," she simply replied.

And then the lights went out.

_<^>_

3...2...1...

Mask smirked as Jason's flame danced even more erratically before dimming exponentially and vanishing altogether. Using the sudden darkness and change of light to his advantage, the intruder easily slipped by what pathetic defenses those...amateurs attempted to raise. With a flick of his wrist, he easily disarmed the bulky ginger as well in passing. The cat might prove a problem later; any disturbance to her stick would alert his presence to the whack-happy female. Ah, well, can't win them all. But still, a silent congratulations was in order.

_<^>_

A scream.

Farren instinctively reached for an arrow to nock on his bowstring, pivoting on his left foot to face the general direction of the scream...only to find the shaft resting against empty air. My bow! When did he-? A second shout drove him out of his stupor. Flames erupted around both fists with a sharp hiss, recasting the area in a harsh, angry yellow-orange glow.

There! Primal instincts to protect seized control of him as his vision locked on the sight before him, and without a moment's hesitation, Farren allowed his fury to drive him forward into the attack.

_<^>_

Cold, bone-dry fingertips brushed against the nymph's forearm as a warm, sickly humid breath ruffled the hair around her right ear. Goosebumps prickled on her scalp, and against her will, a scream of equal parts indignant rage and startlement tore through Lyllii's throat. The pressure against her arm increased, drawing a wordless shout from her as she tried to pull away from her would-be captor, but his grasp held fast, forcing her arm to twist painfully as he drew her against his armored chest. What felt like cold metal of a flat blade pressed against her windpipe warningly.

Then the two twin flames flared into life.

Jason's breaths came hard and fast, echoing in the sudden darkness ominously. A scream pierced the air, seeming to drive icy daggers into his racing heart. Chills raced down his spine and his fingers reached blindly for the hilt of his sword, even though he knew such a weapon would be useless in such close quarters; it would only do more damage than good, and he wasn't about to risk skewering himself or the allies he had found.

He flinched when two flames flared to life beside him, and Jason could almost imagine the flickering, taunting fire burning his skin. He shook his head, forcing his thoughts back in order. It had been years ago. He was fine, and there was no point dwelling on the past, not when it was so far behind him. Still, in this dark, terrifying gloom, it was easy for his nightmares and fears to torment him.

Abandoning his sword, he morphed into his animal form, hackles rising as a growl rumbled through him, originating from some deep, primal place inside of him. His ears lay flat against his skull, teeth baring instinctively at the threat in front of him. Heart pounding, Jason resisted the urge to leap at the Mask, knowing that doing so wouldn't end well at all. It was hard though, especially when his keen brown eyes made out the glimmering sword pressed against Lyllii's throat. If he attacked, she would die; all it took was one little flick of the wrist, after all. He couldn't risk it, so he settled for a warning snarl.

~~~~

Kasha's sensitive eyes fluttered shut automatically at the sudden presence of light in the previous gloom, but she forced them back open again almost immediately. They searched the small area of the cave, hunting for the source of the haunting scream. Her muscles, already rigid and tense, froze as she saw Lyllii, held at swordpoint by the Mask.

"I don't know what you want with her," she growled, voice low and dangerous, "but if you hurt her, I swear you'll regret it." She pointed the hardened end of the staff at the enemy for emphasis, though her claws remained sheathed this time. The staff was dangerous enough on its own though, a strong piece of wood that could easily break bones and cause serious damage if used properly. And Kasha was an expert in handling it.

~~~~

Maiya shrieked at the sudden closeness of the Mask, blue eyes squeezing shut almost as if that simple act would erase his presence completely. They shot open again when she felt Lyllii being tugged away, slipping out of her grasp quicker than the elf could regain it. She jerked into a standing position, her knees feeling shaky and weak. She ignored it, frantic eyes searching blindly in the dark for her lost friend.

Two flames flickered into existence, and Maiya gasped when she saw the blade held at Lyllii's throat. "Lyllii!" she called out without even thinking about it. She took a step forward, but hesitated when she saw the cold look of enjoyment on the villain's face. This was a creature who wouldn't hesitate to injure or kill. So instead the elf sucked water out of the surrounding air, the liquid gathering around her fingertips, rippling gently as it formed the shape of small spikes. Maiya wasn't sure how much damage water could do to this...thing, but she was betting even it needed to breathe every once in a while.

Okay, Lyllii...breath. There's got to be a way out of this, so... She exhaled a breath slowly through her nose as she tried to ignore the weapon pressed against her throat. Panicking would do no good, she knew. Still, knowing that didn't exactly ease the fear induced adrenaline or stop the slightly fuzzy quality she found her vision was taking. Another breath exhaled. Cautiously, she gradually allowed her body to go limp, hoping to somehow cause Mask to drop his guard somewhat until either she or her new allies -They're still here!- thought of a better course of action.

Or...that was the plan. She involuntarily stiffened when she realized that Farren's flames not only cast the much needed light into the gloom, but were traveling towards Mask. Towards her.

You human idiot! she frantically thought as she tried to subtly shake her head and make him stand down.

_<^>_
"What I intend to do with her is for me to know, and no business of yours," the Mask snidely sniffed. Granted, not his best line, but his "audience" seemed more rapt on his intimidating presence to care. "But, I suppose you might consider it retribution long overdue. Revenge only ripens and grows sweeter with time, don't you agree?"

His attention was redirected from the cat as he noticed the bulky ginger's advancement. Casually, he tilted his blade slightly and slid it across the nymph's skin just enough to nick and draw a few beads of her amber colored blood. "Ah ah ah," he sneered. "Wouldn't want to unleash a fountain from her pretty neck, now would we?"

_<^>_
Farren immediately froze in his tracks at the sound of Lyllii's sharp intake of breath and felt the fight expel from him. For now. But what could he do? Stand here and do nothing? Belatedly, he realized that's what the others silently conceded to do, though each crouched in respective fighting stances, ready to spring at first opportunity. But would such an opportunity come? It was obvious to him that such an opportunity must be created. However, Mask's warning served as a painful reminder of what could have happened should he give into brash impulses again...that is, if that beast wasn't so intent on toying with them.

_<^>_
He wants me alive...or, at least he won't kill me just yet unless provoked, Lyllii realized with astonishment. Feeling somewhat giddy after her anticipated brush with death, her shoulders relaxed slightly and her gut clenched in her effort to clamp down the hysteria induced giggles that threatened to burst out. Instead, she felt a sneeze threatening to escape she struggled to stifle, ever wary of the blade. Though, that did give her an idea. Pollen, spores...that makes people sneeze. Not so much me, though. However...

It was risky, and if it failed, downright stupid. But, this was probably her only chance. Her eyes squeezed shut as she concentrated, once again allowing her body to limp gradually in preparation. Slowly, she eased small invisible tendrils of energy from her body towards the blade, the arm, Mask's torso, -anything!- in hopes of finding some sort of plant spore or seed to feed. She nearly sighed in relief as she felt moss and young shoots beginning to germinate brush against her skin instead of metal, leather, or coarsely matted fur. Desperately, she sent more energy towards these despite the immediate tax on her body from the germination. Lyllii's vision spotted repeatedly from the continual sap on her energy as the plants continued to grow at a rapid pace. Almost there-!

With one final shove of energy, her plants widened the gap between her, the blade, and Mask for gravity to aid her body in slipping free of the monster's hold as she collapsed in a heap onto the limestone floor.

Maiya's knees actually went weak from relief, feeling much like the quivering water that coated her fingers. She allowed the cool liquid to spill to the ground, feeling far too distracted and overwhelmed to maintain the connection anyway. It had been strenuous to begin with.

Lyllii...Lyllii was safe for at least a moment more. She wasn't out of the woods yet, not in the slightest, but there was no longer a sword pressed against her neck. Maiya considered that a huge improvement. The Mask probably wouldn't want to let it stay like that, not for long, and the elf ignored the quivering of her slender frame in order to focus on the task at hand: she had to get Lyllii away.

Moving as quickly as possible, her hand darted out and grasped hold of Lyllii's thin arm, pulling the nymph closer with all the strength her body possessed. She stumbled a little before sinking to the cold floor, holding Lyllii close, as much to reassure the other as to reassure herself.

Part of Maiya knew she should probably pull out a weapon of some sort, but the only ones she had were better used at long range or stood no chance of holding off the intimidating, looming figure for very long. Besides, her new friends had already proven themselves to be very trustworthy and surprisingly loyal, considering they had only known each other for a very short amount of time. They would protect them both.

~~~~

Kasha growled, a sound that rose from the darkest, most primal part of her, as those few drops of crimson blood flashed in her vision. They stood out almost painfully against Lyllii's skin and the silver blade of the knife, each one a reminder that the nymph was indeed mortal, and could die at any second.

Kasha was about ready to burst. She couldn't take just standing here, seeing someone in danger like this, while she did nothing. Then again, there wasn't much she could do. Even the slightest motion could be taken as negative, and their foe would end Lyllii's life in a heartbeat. He would probably enjoy it too, from what Kasha had heard so far.

"No revenge is worth your own death, demon," Kasha threatened, voice as cold and hard as she'd ever heard it. "And if you kill her or truly injure her, you will die, and I will be happy to land the final blow." Of course, she still couldn't do anything, but maybe this evil excuse for a living creature would see some sense. It was four against one, and not in his favor, even though he held the bargaining chip.

Needless to say though, Kasha was appropriately relieved when green, sprouting leaves pushed Lylli away from the mask, freeing her from the danger of the blade. What could be best described as an evil, satisfied grin spread across the anthro's face, eyes narrowed and sharp teeth incredibly apparent. She whipped her sturdy wooden staff back into position, the metal capped end aimed at the Mask. "You're outnumbered," she pointed out with a triumphant smirk.

~~~~

Jason, sensing that this could still go downhill at a moments' notice, leapt into action. His muscles bunched beneath raised fur, propelling him forward and in between the space between Lyllii and the Mask. His brown eyes, cold and protective in a way, were narrowed as he studied every single moment the enemy made.

That way, he could attack in any moment. He was already prepared to defend the nymph. A snarl rose in his throat, stating his thoughts more accurately and efficiently than any words could: If you kill her, I kill you. One of them would, at least, because there was no way he would get away with the murder of a friend.

Mask's arm whisked through empty air. A blur of movement caught his eye a split second later; that elf stole his prey! His wolf-cowl slid back from his face at the the sudden motion, exposing his eyes and brow. What little that could be seen of his face twisted in sheer rage. He did not need the cat's invitation to finally draw both blades.

_<^>_
Slender hands laced around Lyllii's arm, yanking her back into relative safety. She felt her stomach clench at the motion, more than slightly nauseous from the energy sap. Then they were falling backwards; Lyllii winced abashedly as she felt the flat of her shoulder blade crash against her rescuer's nose. Her vision spotted again as another wave of vertigo sent the room spinning. She barely registered Jason's secondary form leaping over her and...Maiya? The tightening around her ribcage seemed to confirm this.

_<^>_
Farren silently released a breath of relief. Lyllii, Lyllii was finally safely away from Mask...for now, at least. His relief was short lived as he slowly realized just how weak she must be -she was practically a ragdoll! He allowed his rising fury drive his flames brighter, feet sliding into an offensive position, ready to dash forward at any moment.

He cast a glance each in both Kasha's and Jason's directions. As much as he'd prefer to just knock some sense into that freak and ask questions later...perhaps he should wait for the others' signal or at least try to coordinate some sort of counterattack. Sure, it may look like they had the advantage now, but whatever chance they had with numbers could easily be used against them. This was the Mask they were dealing with, after all.

_<^>_
Mask raised his left blade, sweeping it away from his body towards the dingo-boy's head in what he intended to be a backhanded cuff, right blade held defense. Still in motion, the Mask pivoted, right blade fueled with momentum now arching dangerously towards the two huddled girls, left blade windmilling back to a guard position.

He would not be beat so easily.

OOC: Yay!!! I'm back, and the trip was AMAZING!!!