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- ~Mobius Valley Zone~
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- Act V: R.P.G. - Role Play Garden
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- Private Garden
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- Akuma no Sekai (The World of Demons)
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| Akuma no Sekai (The World of Demons); Based off of the InuYasha world; Yami and Me | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 7 2013, 02:05 PM (401 Views) | |
| [Mika] Gumi | Apr 7 2013, 02:05 PM Post #1 |
Sandopolis Act 2
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Prelude: Midnight Meeting with the Neko-Oni Tribe Every night, a council was held amongst the warrior-members of the Neko-Oni Tribe, otherwise known as the Cat-Demon Tribe. They all huddled together on the long stone table, sitting erect, giving their full attention to the figure who sat at the head of the table. The leader of the tribe...Osamu Yūbokumin. The torchlight flickered, casting shadows onto the faces of the demons; their wild, slit-pupiled eyes gleamed dangerously, seeming to capture the fire itself. They were ruthless warriors who killed all those who opposed them. They were disciplined, quick, and agile. They were the strongest tribe, the one who would eventually crush all the other Tribes and rule over the land. They were-- "Kodokuna!" one warrior hissed--an all-black Neko male with bright amber eyes. He had a broad chin and wide shoulders. Strong; he had a high place in the tribe. "What." The reply was sharp and caustic. The body the voice belonged to fully expressed her irritation in both her tone and posture. She sat, slouched, her chin in her right hand and her eyes half-open. Her grouchy frown deepened as she raised an eyebrow at the warrior across from her. He growled lightly. "Do not slouch. Sit up straight. Where is your pride, child?" Oh, she did not like his tone. Not one bit. A small snarl was in her voice as her tail began to wave, slowly. "Why the Hell do you need to know? Focus on your own pride and stop worrying about mine." The black Neko snarled heavily, deeply offended at how she was treating him. The tabby Neko next to him placed her arm on his shoulder. "Pay no attention to her." she stated calmly, a light sneer appearing as she glanced at the snappy female. "After all, behavior is determined by genetics. She can't help it that she has bad blood." As the tabby expected, the girl's pupils contracted as she hissed loudly in anger. Her tail thrashed wildly behind her. "Bad blood?! Bad blood?! I'll show you bad blood, you smug-faced b****! In fact, let's compare right now!" She raised a hand, claws ready, only to hear snarls erupt all over the table. But this female Neko didn't care. She was going to rip that tabby's face off. She would-- "ENOUGH!" A hush fell over all of the seated demons. Even the angry female Neko sat down, although she did claw at the stone table lightly in frustration. Osamu stood, his grey fur shining in the limited amount of light. He glared lightly at the girl Neko, his bright yellow eyes full of disapproval. She glared back heatedly, challenging him. "...Kodokuna. You should know better. Thankfully, this time your temper held out until near the end. Since we all know the basic idea, the meeting is adjourned. Go rest for the night. Tomorrow, we strike fast and hard at the Kitsune-Oni Tribe." All the demons stood, grumbling amongst themselves. The female's ears picked up pieces of their conversations, revealing that quite a few were about her. With one last hateful glare at all the assembled Nekos, the girl stormed off into the forest. ~~~ "Stupid! All of them! Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid-RAWR!" The angry Neko girl from earlier slashed at a dead tree that was still standing. Her claws gouged deep into the flesh of the dead plant, tearing off long strips of bark with every blow. She was seething, hissing continuously in frustration. Her anger suddenly spiked, making her pupils contract even more. She unleashed a furious barrage of claw-attacks until finally, with a deadly strike from her right hand, she split in the tree in half. The girl snarled before slumping back against a tree, panting. Her anger still remained, but it was lessened somewhat. A ray of moonlight drifted in through the trees at that moment. She exhaled softly, her ears twitching. She was a young woman in figure, but she acted like a middle-aged child. Her body was surprisingly lithe and curved, instead of stocky and filled out like most of the other female Neko warriors. Her skin was lightly tanned from long days of training by herself, without any rest. Her hair was short and choppy, since she cut it with a knife a few days ago. Her hair was just above her shoulders. It was a crazy mix of cream, light brown, dark brown, and black. Her ears were black, somewhat large, and very soft. Her tail was the same as her ears. It wasn't just the circumstances of her birth that set her apart from the other Neko-Oni. Her hair color and eye color was simply unnatural. Her hair had too many different colors to be normal. And her eyes...they were a medium-dark purple. No normal Neko had purple eyes. Sure, they glowed in the dark like those of the other Nekos, and she could see perfectly in the dark just like them, but purple? It made her different. It made her...weird. She huffed again, exposing her deadly sharp fangs. When she pouted, they stuck out over her lower lip slightly. But she was too angry to pout at the moment. Her name was Kodokuna. It was meant to be a hateful name, but she used it to inspire her. She would show them. One day, they'd see that they were wrong about her. I don't need them. she growled inside of her head, looking up at the moon. I don't need anyone... (( Okay! So, I have an idea. Since this was inspired by Inuyasha, we can treat each "adventure" in this as an "episode." ^^ We'll trade every other "episode" to create a new mini-adventure in the overall plot. Of course, we'll discuss things beforehand via PMs. So, after you post your prelude, I guess I'll do the first "episode!" And if we really get into it, we can even seperate the various going-ons into "seasons" if we have a long time-skip. Or if a series of mini-adventures follows a sub-plot and then concludes. I hope I'm not confusing you. = P We'll cover most of this in PMs. But this is going to be awesome~. )) |
 "I never felt truly alive unless I was staring death in the face." -Solid Snake ~All Art Belongs to the VG Cats Comic by Scott Ramsoomair~ | |
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| YamiShadow | Apr 7 2013, 06:35 PM Post #2 |
Flying Battery Act 1
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Prelude Two: Tea and Treachery for Two A young man sat within the tea house with a beautiful lady who was dressed for travel. They had met earlier that day and talked for a time, taking some liking to each other. The young man was well known to the locals, but he was not of among them. He was said to come from somewhere closer to the mountains that surrounded the valley, but no one knew where he was from. Ketsueki, he was called. He was known to the locals as the "travelling companion," because of his habit of joining travelers for a part of their journey while they were in the valley. Most of his time in the village was also spent at the inn, where he talked of the world outside of the valley at length with those who traveled. He dressed in a white kimono that made him look a lord, but this was set off in contrast to the brown bandanna that he wore, not unlike those worn by the villagers who worked in the village's surrounding rice paddies. The lady who sat across from him was indeed of noble birth, although she was only the daughter of a lesser lord. The two had been pleased to discover someone else who understood the complexity of tea ceremonies and had agreed to have one together. She had said she was travelling through the valley on her way to return home after having spent her childhood as a war hostage for another lord, only recently being released upon his death and the rise of his son to replace him. Ketsueki had offered to join her for part of her journey through the valley, but she had initially declined, claiming that she needed to travel fast and unfortunately would be able to do that better alone. They set down their cups, done their tea, and soon returned to the village outside. "Higeki," Ketsueki began, "Why do you desire to travel alone?" "I wish to reach home soon, after all these years." "I am familiar with the roads here. I might be able to help you find the quickest route." Higeki looked terribly sad then, but she still shook her head. "No. I could not ask that of you. I... I..." Ketsueki sighed. "You weren't really freed to return home, were you? You don't want to involve me in your troubles." She looked away, frowning slightly and sadly. "... Yes and no. I am pursued by trouble, but not of the kind you think. My father has made a mistake and involved himself with the conflict of demons, and now he is tied to a Sasori-Oni tribe, and beginning to regret his allegiance with them. I have to pass through this valley as quickly as possible, because the Inu-Oni tribe that they are fighting reside in this valley. If... If I were to be found by one of them..." The young man frowned now as well and said nothing in reply. "So... I must travel alone, to avoid placing others in harm's way." Higeki truly seemed to hate leaving Ketsueki so soon, but she had made clear how she felt. They stood wordlessly, listening to the sounds of the villages. Hammering, hoeing, children playing, and people chatting. It was a lively place, but somehow still a very quiet place. Ketsueki sighed and the frown soon left his face. "Like I said, I'm familiar with the roads here. I know what sort of dangers are out on them, and how to avoid those dangers. ... I might be able to get you through here safer than you would be if you went alone, if you'll let me." He turned away immediately, rubbing the back of his head. Any who were passing by would see that he was frowning a lot, looking torn. What am I gonna do? I want her to get through safely, but if the others find out... He sighed. "Thank you, Ketsueki." He looked up then, turning to face her. She had the slightest hint of tears in her eyes, and she wore a smile of gratitude. Somehow, the tears did not disturb the breathtaking beauty of her face. ~~~ It was twilight by the time the two reached the edge of the valley. He had led them along the trails which were usually the quietest... And the furthest away from where the Inu-Oni resided. They hid beneath a tree, and Kestueki looked out into the terrain ahead of them, seeking signs of any sort of threat. It was thickly forested on this trail, so he could see little, but that also meant little could see him. Still, he could see better than Higeki could. She had not seemed to notice, but he was worried that she would at any moment. It was not something he wanted to happen any more than he'd like to see any of the others at the moment. He supposed that while the trees made cover for them, it might also make cover for others. He'd have sniffed to search for scents, but... That would have been a little bit too suspicious. Soon, he concluded as definitely as he could that the way was clear. In about an hour, she would be able to reach a roadside in that was always well guarded in case of demon attacks, and he planned to leave her there. From there she would likely be safe. "... I think it's clear. We can go." Higeki nodded, although she didn't seem certain whether he could see it, so she took hold of his hand as well. He walked out from beneath the tree slowly and they started along the road. It was hard to see, but it was quiet and still besides the two of them. Ketsueki was beginning to feel moderately safe. Everything changed in an instant, however. There was a sudden loud rustling and the sound of growls, soon resulting in the two of them being surrounded. Hikegi gasped in shock, and grabbed hold of Ketsueki's arm. "What's this? Bringing home some dinner?" One of the dogs laughed. "Nah," another said. "You know how he is with mortals. Probably wants to bed her." Snickering and assorted jeers arose in the crowd, rising anger within Ketsueki. He growled in answer to the dog demons, baring his usually hidden fangs. "What are you doing here?" Many of the dog demons recoiled a bit from his words, but at the growl of some of their leaders they drew their weapons instead. Higeki let go of Ketsueki's arm and stepped back a bit in fear. "Ket...Ketsueki?" Sadness reflected in his face. She knew, now, what he was. She looked lost and betrayed. "We're here for the girl. Let us eat her, and maybe we won't tell Jinsei about what you were up to." Ketsueki growled again, clenching his fists tightly. "... No. I promised. I promised I'd--" "What? That you'd get her safely through the pass? You know you can't sneak past us, you treacherous bastard. Even with your help she was as good as dead from the start." "N-no. You're..? You're..?" Higeki fell to her knees, overwhelmed. The anger fell away from Ketsueki's face again and the sadness returned to his eyes when he looked at her. "I'm sorry. I'll get you out of here. I promise." Higeki looked down at the ground, clearly no longer believing a word he was saying. "Not gonna hand her over? Guess we'll have to take you back to Jinsei the hard way then. We're not gonna stay quiet for you either." Ketsueki let forth an enraged growl that seemed something like a battlecry. He charged forward, despite lacking weapons, and began to fight against his brethren. It tore him up inside to fight them, but he had to protect the girl. He had to protect her. It wasn't her fault that her father was a damned fool, who'd tied her up in this conflict. She wasn't one of the scorpion demons. They hurt enough people with their conflict; he wouldn't let them hurt her. He shouted out in pain when their weapons came down upon him, but he fought back as well as he could. He clawed at their arms, and bit at them when they moved in too close, but soon he was beaten into submission. Enough remained to keep Higeki from escaping as well. They lashed him up tightly in ropes, and threw him down to the ground on his stomach. He turned his head upward, staring sadly ad Higeki where she stood, with all of them now around her. Their growls and jeers were a torment, but she did not seem to hear them. She had not even tried to rise and escape. All she seemed to be able to do was stare back at Ketsueki in a state of utter loss and confusion. He met the stare with a pained one, pained with his powerlessness to protect her from his own. The road would be painted red by the time they were done, and he would never forget the sound of her screams... (( Opening with a tragedy, yayy~ And, I like that idea! We can discuss details via PM, yes. I'm really excited for this. x3 )) |
 Thanks again to Parabola for the awesome signature! 
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| [Mika] Gumi | Apr 8 2013, 06:07 AM Post #3 |
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Sandopolis Act 2
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Episode 1: Crash and Burn The small forest inside of the Neko-Oni Tribe's mountainous kingdom was rather peaceful. A nice surprise, considering the nature of the demons that inhabited the area. This particular morning was rather typical in several respects. In fact, almost every morning started out the same way. First, the sun rose over the horizon. The light spilled out from the ball of orange and yellow fire, coating the land below it with new color and life. The light of the day-time star would eventually reach the part of the forest belonging to the Neko-Oni. As the sunlight began to filter through the tree leaves and touch the ground below, the birds would start to chirp and sing softly, greeting the new day. Second, Kodokuna would always be sleeping in the forest. Usually she would sleep on a lower-hanging tree limb, in order to avoid potential wild demons or uninvited guests. However, this morning found her nestled in a nice patch of tall grass. She breathed in and out softly, actually looking peaceful for once. The way that she slept was always the same: her arms crossed before her, her head slightly sideways and resting on her paws, and her body flat against the ground. When she was younger, the grass used to tickle her bare stomach. Now, she was used to it. As the birds continued to chirp and sing softly, the Neko-Oni's ears began to twitch. Then, they swiveled in the various directions of where the chirps and birdsongs were coming from. Her tail began to wave, lightly brushing both her legs and the ground. This was all a subconscious reaction; she was attuned to noise and the warmth of sunlight. Third, the peacefulness and serenity of the morning would be destroyed by the sound of the Neko-Oni horns and the battle-cry. A sharp, piercing note, followed by loud snarls. This signaled the time for yet another attack on the Kitsune-Oni Tribe. Kodokuna's eyes flew open, her heart already hammering in anticipation of the battle. The blood began to pump through her body, filling her ears with the sound of her heartbeat. She ran back in the direction of her Tribes-mates. It wasn't companionship that she desired; it was the chance to take out her leftover anger on something living. By the time she arrived, the other Neko-Oni had already begun to march. She was too late to join in the pre-battle "fun." Not that she would have wanted to join, in any case. She was, after all, an outcast in her own right. As she marched by the other demons, Kodokuna saw an unwelcome visitor slink through the crowd and begin marching by her. The Neko's lip curled in distaste as the tabby from last night smirked at her. "Good morning, Kodokuna," she purred falsely, pretending to be friendly. "Toraneko," she grumbled in reply. The tabby chuckled somewhat. "Oh, so cold. I guess you're ready for the fight today." "D*** straight. Don't get in my way, or I won't hesitate to cut you up just like one of those mangy foxes." Toraneko didn't say anything as she drifted away from Kodokuna. She just smirked knowingly. ~~~ They were nearing the base of the mountain now. The Kitsune-Oni Tribe lived at the bottom of the mountain, near a few various hot springs. However, they'd likely come up to meet the Neko-Oni and launch a surprise attack. Some surprise. It's like they don't even know how to actually fight! Kodokuna shook her head. A mere seconds later, laughter was heard in the trees above them. The Neko girl looked up, claws at the ready. They used their fox magic to disguise themselves as part of the trees. Same trick, seen it before. As the Kitsune-Oni leapt down, the trees caught on fire. Two Kitsune-Oni decided to engage Kodokuna in a fight. It was a mistake to do so. Swiftly, the Neko crouched down and launched herself at the fox demon to her right. She slammed a fist into his stomach, making him double over and gasp for air; as he straightened up, she did a spinning kick that sent her foot directly to the side of his head. He went flying off into the thick of the battle. The other fox demon tried to grab the cat demon from behind. She ducked down and rolled, her tail lashing wildly as she sprung up, claws at the ready. She slammed her right palm against the female's jaw, sending her flying up. Kodokuna heard two cracks and crunches: when she made contact with the fox demon's jaw, and when the top of the fox demon's head hit the large tree branch square-on. The Kitsune-Oni fell limply to the ground. Probably not dead...but definitely in pain. Kodokuna grinned viciously, turning to fight some more Kitsune-Oni. But her smile quickly changed into a scowl when she saw the tabby Neko, the black Neko, and a few others blocking her way. "Move! I'm trying to fight here!" "That won't be necessary," Toraneko purred. She slunk forward, placing a piece of paper inside Kodokuna's shirt. "Show her, Kurai." Before she knew what was happening, Kurai had leapt forward and punched her squarely in the stomach, sending her flying. In hindsight...she really shouldn't have let them corner her on the edge of a cliff... ~~~ On the road from the nearby human village, there was only one traveler. The morning was loudly silent, and--in his case--most likely melancholy. However, a figure fell from the sky and landed right in front of him, creating a huge crater. The road was absolutely ruined now; no human would be able to pass by. At first, the figure lay as if dead. Then she groaned, twitching. Opening her eyes halfway, she crawled up the side of the crater and stood, shaking her head. It was a Neko-Oni. She looked up at the mountain, catching her breath. And then she started to yell. "YOU S***-EATING IDIOTS!!! I'M ONE OF THE BEST WARRIORS IN THE TRIBE! YOU CAN'T JUST THEOW ME OFF A CLIFF! I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS, TORANEKO!!! YOU TOO, KURAI!!! YOU'RE GOING TO PAY!!!!!" She huffed angrily, clenching her teeth tightly together. She continued to snarl under her breath, her tail lashing wildly. Then Kodokuna remembered the note Toraneko had slipped inside her shirt. She pulled it out, reading it quickly. "...Unbelievable attitude...doesn't work well with others...naturally bad temperament? Possibly broken mind?! Genetically unsound?!! Dismissed from the Neko-Oni Tribe?!!! What???!!!" For the briefest moment, there was disbelief and shock. But the anger returned with a vengeance, becoming fury. She clenched the note tightly, shaking with the amount of her fury. She gashed her teeth for a few moments before she started tearing the note apart with her teeth. She chewed it quickly before spitting the remains on the ground. She then stopped on the pile of leftover paper shreds with her right foot, looking ready to kill. "Can't believe them! I really can't believe them! ARRRRRGH!!!" Her ears twitched then, as well as her nose. She smelled...dog. Kodokuna turned around, glaring daggers directly into his heart and soul. She snapped at him angrily, her fur bristling. "What are you looking at, you filthy canine?!" (( Wow. Definitely tragic. ^^; Er...good job? = P Me too. This will be a work of art! ^^ )) (( Also, meant for the traveler to be Ketsueki. = ] )) |
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"I never felt truly alive unless I was staring death in the face." -Solid Snake ~All Art Belongs to the VG Cats Comic by Scott Ramsoomair~ | |
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| YamiShadow | Apr 8 2013, 09:17 AM Post #4 |
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Flying Battery Act 1
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(( I assume I don't need to put on an episode title, since I'm continuing the same episode. xD; )) The dog demon went along the road, visibly battered and emotionally broken. He had a bit of a limp, and his once shining white kimono was now covered in dirt and blood stains. His limp wasn't a huge problem, since demons healed fast, but the desolate stare in his eyes would likely remain for much longer. Ketsueki would not forget what he had seen. He would not return, either. Even if they would accept him, he did not want them. He would not tolerate them, after what he had seen. The morning was beautiful and sunny, and the sun was just peaking around the mountains. He still wore his bandanna, although it was unnecessary to hide his dog ears, since there were no mortals nearby. It was silent in this place. He could not leave the valley through the pass that the Inu-Oni tribe held, and he had no place that he desired to go, so he was simply wandering along a path by the mountainside. Perhaps he could go to Higeki's father, and tell him of his daughter's fate. Maybe he would speak on Ketsueki's behalf, and possibly the Sasori-Oni tribe would take him in. He would have no qualms about fighting against his brethren, and the Sasori-Oni might be able to use his knowledge. If they had it in them to trust him, at least. He doubted that. The Inu-Oni were a terrible people on a whole, but they were nothing compared to the Sasori-Oni. Trying to ally himself with them was like walking off a cliff. Going to Higeki's father was risky, because of his alliance, and it might end up the same way. He wouldn't be able to do that. It was exactly like walking off a cliff. And then, of course, a loud crash happened just before him, leaving a huge crater in the road. In the middle lay what appeared to be a fairly young neko demon, who appeared to be dead. Ketsueki stopped, not bothering to go around or through the crater. Instead, he stood and stared. After a moment, a thought struck him. ... I see I was correct in assessing what walking off a cliff would be like. He didn't smile, despite the mild amusement he felt. It didn't really bother him that he was feeling amused at witnessing the death of a fellow demon, much to his surprise. He was about to walk around the crater when the neko demon suddenly jumped up, ran to the cliff that made this part of the edge of the mountains, and began screaming up it in a rage. She then read a note aloud, which told him a lot. First, that she was impulsive, and possibly a bit dense, considering how she had chosen to read aloud and had not made note of his presence. Second, she was from the Neko-Oni tribe that resided in the mountains, which was constantly warring with the Kitsune-Oni tribe that lived fairly nearby to the Inu-Oni tribe. Third, she was a fellow exile. Finally, she noticed him. On any other day, a glare like that might of sent a chill running up his spine, but today he matched it with a dull stare. He truly did not care how much hatred she poured at him. "Me? You know very well what I'm looking at. I'm looking at a cat as dense as a rock, and about as hard as one, considering how easily you took that fall. It seems you've ruined the pathway, too. It was one my favourite ones to walk on." He started around the perimeter of the crater she had made, to continue on his way down the road. He didn't want to concern himself with her troubles. That she was an exile worried him, but right now he didn't want to care. He wouldn't be able to help her, so it would be best for him to not learn what happened. When he did, he always wanted to try. (( Thanks. = P Yes! It will. x3 )) (( I thought so. Not as long as your reply, but... Pretty good. ^^; No idea what I could add to this without it simply feeling like adding padding for size. )) |
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Thanks again to Parabola for the awesome signature!
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| [Mika] Gumi | Apr 8 2013, 11:05 AM Post #5 |
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Sandopolis Act 2
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(( Right. ^^ )) Kodokuna narrowed her eyes at the Inu-Oni, her ears pressed flat against her head. "I'm not dense, idiot. I'm pissed off. There's a difference." She then surveyed the damage she had caused, looking mildly interested. Quickly, her scowl returned as she jerked her hand in the direction of the mountain, using her thumb to point. "Sorry about your rocks," she said sarcastically. "Take it up with the Neko-Oni who punched me off the mountain." The Neko then grimaced slightly, bringing a hand to her chest. She pressed down lightly, wincing. The simple movement triggered a reaction in her throat. She wheezed lightly, then she coughed, then her cough turned wet and raspy, and then she spat out a fair amount of blood onto the rock. Looking a little tired now, she wiped the leftover black blood on her lips onto the back of her arm. She eyed the small blood puddle, frowning. Glad it wasn't more than that... She huffed again, ears pointed forward in frustration, her tail still lashing around somewhat. Finally, the Neko turned her full attention to the Inu-Oni, taking in his appearance. She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Huh. Either you suck at fighting, or you're an exile like me. Probably both. You look like utter s***." Kodokuna grinned a little before a new scent reached her nose. She turned back to the mountain, looking up to see the forest burst into flames. After simply staring for a few moments, she scoffed. "D*** Kitsune-Oni. There goes my food and my place to sleep. Ah, well." She rolled her eyes before starting to walk down the road. The Neko made sure to stay in front of the dog demon. If he could see her face, she would be deep in thought. I can't go into a human village. I'm too wild for them. Also, I'm a demon. Any other demon tribe will likely kill me. I guess I could always go into the wild places, but that takes a while to get there. They say a demon without a tribe doesn't last long. Time to put that to the test. The girl whirled around, facing the Inu-Oni. She walked backwards, hands behind her head. She regarded him with an uninterested and somewhat-cold stare that held some contempt. "So...you're obviously dead inside. What's your story? Given up already? Whatever happened, I doubt it's as big of a deal as you're making it." |
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"I never felt truly alive unless I was staring death in the face." -Solid Snake ~All Art Belongs to the VG Cats Comic by Scott Ramsoomair~ | |
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| YamiShadow | Apr 8 2013, 11:39 AM Post #6 |
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Flying Battery Act 1
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Ketsueki shook his head, but didn't seem overly concerned. His ears laid flat against his head as well beneath the bandanna, but if they could be seen he would have looked more dismayed than angry. With them hidden, he simply looked bored. "'Pissed off' would be simply shouting at the rocks. 'Dense' is revealing so much about yourself to a total stranger and trusting them completely. I know where you're from and why you've been exiled because you didn't exercise the caution to read that letter in your head." He continued around the crater, to the far side from the cliff and the neko demon. His limp was small, but visible. He didn't reply when she suggested taking up his complaints with the one who had punched her. Weak. A single punch and she was sent flying? Yet her attitude suggests that she is actually powerful. Or simply ignorant. He grimaced at the sound of her coughing up blood, but managed to hide it well. He did not want to pity her. She didn't want pity anyways. A rock caught his toe, and Ketsueki stumbled briefly. The way this managed to time itself with her words on how weak she thought he was made him snap. He tensed, growling. "You're in no place to call me weak. All it took for you to be defeated was a single punch. It took an entire band of my brethren to defeat me and kill..." His voice trailed off. She wasn't at fault, so he shouldn't be so angry with her. This was his own failure. He sighed and shook his head in hopes of dispelling the remaining anger. It worked, at least to an extent. Not only is she exiled, but her home is lost, even if she weren't exiled. If only... No. There's no reason for me to help her. He frowned in aggravation at how whoever this was had chosen to walk the same way as him. He didn't feel like bothering with people at the moment, and to make matters worse his inner dog wanted to chase her away or beat her senseless. When he visited villages, it was trouble enough to avoid chasing the regular cats. When she spun to face him while walking backwards, the stare she wore made him even more aggravated. She was clearly not going to stop pestering him, so he decided he'd meet it word for word for the time being. "It wouldn't seem as important to you. Part of why you were exiled is "bad temperament" and that you don't work well with others. Obviously, other people don't matter to you. I'm willing to bet that there's no one you miss now that you're in exile." A cynical smirk appeared on his face. "I'm willing to bet that no one will miss you, either." His limp was growing less and less by the moment, so he sped up the pace of his stride until he was right up in front of her. He half stepped around her and half pushed her aside as he continued down the road. Ketsueki did his best to ignore that twinge of pity he felt for her and her lack of companionship. It was a difficult thing to not look back. |
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Thanks again to Parabola for the awesome signature!
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| [Mika] Gumi | Apr 8 2013, 12:24 PM Post #7 |
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Sandopolis Act 2
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"I'm willing to bet that no one will miss you, either." That simple sentence seemed to take all the wind out of Kodokuna's sails. She stumbled back when he pushed her; she was too busy trying to keep her breathing steady. Her body began to shake, then. She had many ideas of how to make the dog suffer for his words. She could easily attack him. Injure him. Maybe she could even kill him. But...she couldn't seem to move. Her body was shaking wildly, yet she couldn't take a step towards him. "...You're right." If he turned around, she wouldn't know. She had turned her back on him, choosing instead to look at the crater before her. Her voice was extremely bitter as she narrowed her eyes. "Hard for someone to miss me when they never wanted me in the first place." She shook her head before lunging forward, running swiftly on all fours. She knew she was crossing into the Inu-Oni territory, but she didn't care. If she wanted to run, then Kodokuna was going to run. I'm not weak. I'm not weak! She had more snappy retorts in her head for that Inu-Oni. But as soon as...he said that... No. He's wrong. They're all wrong! Kodokuna snarled fiercely, pushing herself to run even faster. Her muscles were straining to the point of pain, but she wanted that. She wanted the pain; it would distract her from her mind and spirit. ~~~ A few hours must have passed by the time she finally slowed to a walk. She panted lightly, looking around. Sun's setting soon... Only smoke rose from the forest, the flames having died out by the time she cared to look back. Her home was a bunch of ash and dead twigs. Sniffing the air lightly revealed some water nearby. A small stream? She'd take that. The Neko licked her dry lips as she wandered over, settling into a crouch by the stream. She leaned forward, lapping at the water to sate her thirst. Once her throat was nice and moist again, the Neko rolled back onto her haunches. She licked her hand a few times before rubbing it over her face, her shoulders, and her ears. She then scooped some of the water into her left palm, letting it trickle around her shoulders and her back. She shivered at the cool wetness, but it felt nice. Kodokuna stood, looking around. I better leave the area. I rested long enough. I'm sure I could take on any Inu-Oni if they showed up, but...I'd rather not risk it. |
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"I never felt truly alive unless I was staring death in the face." -Solid Snake ~All Art Belongs to the VG Cats Comic by Scott Ramsoomair~ | |
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| YamiShadow | Apr 8 2013, 02:01 PM Post #8 |
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Flying Battery Act 1
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He stopped. It had taken only two words, but they told him everything. He stared down the long road ahead of him, but his eyes were no longer dead. Instead, they were filled with sadness. Tears slowly rolled down his cheeks, even though he tried to stop them. He began to turn, but her bitterness in the following words stopped him. Ketsueki hesitated, but she was already running away. He cared, now, as much as it tore him up to admit it. She needed help. She needed someone who would miss her if she left. It only took him a moment to realize that she wouldn't turn the path of her running, whoever she was. She was too angry to stop. Where she was going, she wouldn't be safe. His fellow Inu-Oni didn't show the same sort of control that he did, so if she were found they would probably rip her apart. They might even try to eat her, if any of them were still hungry. He made a quick guess at how long it would take for her to run herself into exhaustion, and recalled that there was a stream near there. He planned to speak to the Neko-Oni again when she reached that place. Ketsueki sighed, and his shoulders sagged. Somehow, it felt like he was making a mistake in choosing to help her. But, he really couldn't stop now. Once he cared, it was much to difficult to keep from it. He started to run down the road after her, knowing that she wouldn't likely follow it where it turned, and instead just go straight through the trees. He'd follow the road though, and cut off from it when he was near. That way, the easier path would make up for his slight but recovering limp, and he wouldn't be there a lot after her. ~~~ Ketsueki stood within the trees, downwind from the Neko-Oni. He watched in silence as she drunk then gave herself a brief cat-bath. He wasn't sure when to step out, but when the Neko-Oni rose to her feet he supposed there wasn't time to wait. He stepped from the trees, and walked part of the distance toward her. She'd probably be angry that he followed her, but he guessed that she was always grumpy, so this didn't stop him. "... Hey. About earlier... I'm sorry. Even if you think I was right, I shouldn't have said that. "You were right about me too. I'm also an exile." He hesitated. "... Mind if I tag along, wherever you're going?" |
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Thanks again to Parabola for the awesome signature!
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| [Mika] Gumi | Apr 8 2013, 02:27 PM Post #9 |
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Sandopolis Act 2
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Kodokuna stiffened in surprise, her tail fluffing out. She turned her head sharply to stare at the newcomer. Well...old newcomer. That Inu-Oni again? Why'd he follow me? "You're...sorry?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. She appeared to be in disbelief. First he insults her in various ways, then pushes her aside, but now he comes back to tell her he's sorry and to ask to travel with her? Slowly, Kodokuna sank back onto to her haunches. She simply stared at the dog demon, seeming to see inside of him with her eyes. With the approaching dark, they were quickly becoming more luminescent. "You're an odd Inu-Oni," she grumbled softly, looking back out over the stream. It was the only way she could somewhat-accept his apology without insulting him too much. When she briefly glanced at the Inu-Oni again, she seemed to actually be considering his offer. Her tail waved slowly as her ears stayed forward. Kodokuna looked out over the stream again, still quiet. At last she sniffed and closed her eyes, raising her head a fraction higher. "Humph. Fine. But I want to know that you won't slow me down. Knowing your name would be nice. Maybe you could even tell me why you were exiled." She sniffed again, sticking her tongue out. "And take a bath. The blood on you just makes your scent even worse." The Neko then frowned, looking down at the grass before her. "...My name's Kodokuna. Technically, my name would be Kodokuna Yūbokumin, but it's not. It's a long story I don't feel like telling." She stood again, running her hands over her tail to flatten it. "Anyways...I don't have a destination in mind. But I sure as Hell don't feel like sticking around here for long. The place reeks of dog." |
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"I never felt truly alive unless I was staring death in the face." -Solid Snake ~All Art Belongs to the VG Cats Comic by Scott Ramsoomair~ | |
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| YamiShadow | Apr 8 2013, 03:05 PM Post #10 |
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Flying Battery Act 1
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(( Lovely how she doesn't regard the insults she threw at him in that. ; P It really shows her personality. )) He smiled a bit when she agreed to let him travel with her. Ketsueki was pleased to have succeeded in this, but he knew that it would be more difficult still to keep to the kindness that he hoped to with her attitude. But, he would try his best. She clearly needed it. "I am Ketsueki Sagi-shi. Why I was exiled doesn't matter, but I wouldn't go back, even if the opportunity arose." He sighed when she suggested a bath. He didn't really want to get wet. And, for some reason, he hadn't wanted to get rid of it. Some of it was Higeki's; he had been keeping it reminder, although it wasn't really necessary. He wasn't going to forget. "You're probably right. More than anything, my kimono needs to be washed out, but a bath wouldn't hurt. But, that'll have to wait. We're not safe here." He wasn't sure which of them was in more danger, but he knew for sure that neither of them could stay. Eventually, they would probably have to go further than the human village, but Ketsueki was a bit excited for that idea. He loved listening to travelers tell about the world. Having no particular destination suited him just fine. "I'll find somewhere to do that later. Lead on." He smiled slightly, wondering how she would take this. "I just asked to tag along, after all. You get to pick where we go." He suddenly wondered what they would do about food. He guessed they could hunt, and (if he could convince her to act like a human) they might also be able to get food in the villages they passed. They used some sort of money though, and he didn't know if either of them had any, so hunting might be better. "Do you like fish, Kodo? I bet we're gonna be having a lot of that." He chuckled softly, feeling finally calm. The nickname seemed so cute for her, which made an amusing contrast with her big attitude. This was going to be an interesting trip. |
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Thanks again to Parabola for the awesome signature!
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| [Mika] Gumi | Apr 8 2013, 03:33 PM Post #11 |
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Sandopolis Act 2
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(( That's her trying to be nice at the moment, haha! )) Kodokuna rolled her eyes but said nothing for once. She stood and stretched, her tail also stretching out behind her. "Ketsueki Sagi-shi, huh?" she muttered quietly under her breath. "Okay..." She faced the dog demon fully, crossing her arms in front of herself. I wonder why he doesn't want to say why he was exiled? Maybe he did something he thinks is shameful. He doesn't look like the type to turn traitor or anything, so trying to take over his tribe is out of the question. I'm sure I'll find out eventually... "I guess I should take a real bath too, at some point. I'm still covered in dry dirt, and it isn't exactly the best feeling in the world." she stated grumpily, rubbing her arms. The Neko then turned around, starting to walk down the path again. No s*** it's not safe here. The Inu-Oni keep sentries, don't they? I'm surprised that they haven't surrounded us already. She tilted her head slightly at his statement, feeling a tiny bit caught off-guard. "Er...then...I guess we're just walking until we find a good place to stop." She turned and started walking after that. If Ketsueki expected to tag along, then he would have to keep up with her pace. I wonder what kind of fighter he is. I don't remember the Neko-Oni fighting the Inu-Oni recently, so I wouldn't know their strengths and weaknesses. Not sure if I should ask, either. It could be taken as a threat. The Neko-Oni's ears perked up at the mention of fish, but she quickly spun around at the mention of the nickname. Her fur was bristling again, her fangs bared. But a light blush was on her cheeks; it took away from the effect of her anger. "Who said you can call me that?!" she growled. "My name is Kodokuna. Besides, just because you're traveling with me doesn't make us friends. You're still an Inu-Oni. And, if you call me Kodo, I'm calling you Ketsu." She huffed angrily, but refrained from turning around. She walked backwards, staring at Ketsueki while glaring half-heartedly. The angry blush was still on her cheeks. "...And yes. I do like fish." She pouted now, her fangs showing over her lips. Her tail continued to wave as she continued glare-staring at the Inu-Oni. She hoped she wouldn't regret allowing him to come along... |
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"I never felt truly alive unless I was staring death in the face." -Solid Snake ~All Art Belongs to the VG Cats Comic by Scott Ramsoomair~ | |
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| YamiShadow | Apr 8 2013, 07:45 PM Post #12 |
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Flying Battery Act 1
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Episode Two: Tooth and Claw The following day, around noon, Ketsueki and Kodokuna found themselves roped up back to back with a post between them. The sun beat down upon them hot and bright, likely bringing the two to a slight sweat. The logs piled up beneath them, although not yet lit, probably helped too. The two were likely struggling at the ropes a bit, although at this point they probably both realized that simply pulling at them wouldn't help. They were properly tied, that was for sure. Around them was a well-trodden dirt square in the middle of the residence of the Inu-Oni, which looked something like a military encampment in design. The walls were simple wooden posts with spike tops, but they were tall enough to prevent anyone from climbing in. It'd burn easy enough, but luckily the Sasori-Oni were no good with fire. They would have to stab and cut their way in, whenever they attacked. The Inu-Oni around the encampment kept their distance from the hostages. Some, from repulsion toward Kodokuna because she was a Neko-Oni, others out of repulsion for Ketsueki because of his treachery. Others still kept their distance because they pitied Ketsueki, but didn't want anyone to know it. Backing a traitor was a dangerous thing, if the majority was against you. Ketsueki sighed in aggravation, resigning himself finally to the fact that he wouldn't be able to just simply break the ropes. "... Damn this is annoying. I thought we had gotten far enough away to get away safely, too." He hung his head, much too tired to stare out at the angry people passing by. Being captured, and being taken here, and the struggling had all made him exhausted. He didn't doubt that Kodokuna was tired out from this too. "Any idea how we're gonna get outta here, Kodo?" His thoughts turned, then, to the events leading up to their capture. Maybe thinking them over would help him come up with a way out of this. ~~~ The two of them had reached the edge of the forest, and the moon was well past its highest point. Dawn was not present yet, but it was definitely coming close. Ketsueki actually sighed with relief when they reached the edge. They weren't out yet, but the edge of the forest wasn't far from the end of the Inu-Oni tribe's domain. It was dark, but his eyes still showed the terrain ahead fairly clearly. Kodokuna probably saw things better than he did though, being that she was a Neko-Oni, and that the night was no stranger to cats. "You think things are clear?" he asked. He was pretty sure they were, but the last time he'd been certain the way was clear... He shrugged, realizing that he was being a bit foolish. There weren't near as many trees ahead of them, so he'd definitely be able to see it if there was an enemy in front. Behind was possible, but moving would be better, if that were the case. Ketsueki walked out into the open, ready to go. He would really rather be out of here sooner rather than later. He wasn't scared, at least not for himself, but things were starting to look a little bit too similar to when he had been travelling with Higeki for his liking. The thought of that made him jittery. He walked a bit faster, hoping to put distance between them and the treeline, so that they would be able to see any pursuers before they fell upon them. A howl arose in the trees, and for a moment he thought his fears were true. The Inu-Oni howled, just as the wolves. But... No. It was far away, as of yet. They'd be safe for the moment. "So... What exactly happened to make things finally boil over? The letter of dismissal said a lot, but it was really vague. Something more recent must have happened." He wanted to make conversation, but he didn't like the idea of talking about what had happened to him. In his case, it was his mistake. But, in the case of Kodokuna, at the least she seemed to blame the others, if her shouting was anything to go by. But, the way she had accepted his accusations against her... Maybe this wasn't such a good topic after all. But, he guessed it was too late now. |
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Thanks again to Parabola for the awesome signature!
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| [Mika] Gumi | Apr 8 2013, 09:16 PM Post #13 |
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Sandopolis Act 2
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At first, no reply came from Kodokuna's side of the post. In fact, all that Ketsueki would hear was the sound of her heavy breathing. The Neko-Oni had fallen asleep. It took a fair amount of verbal prodding, but the cat demon eventually came around. "What?" she yawned, reclining against the post. For a captive, she looked oddly relaxed and smug. Too bad Ketsueki can't see me...he'd think I was crazy. "Well, we didn't," she replied calmly. "And now we're trapped here." She stretched somewhat, nestling back against the pole again. Kodokuna yawned another time; the sun was very warm, after all. It was lulling her to sleep. "Mmm...nope, I got nothing. Not at the moment, anyways. The fun begins when they start to burn us at sundown. When the smoke rises high enough, I'll need you to listen to every word I have to say." She moved her tail, gently brushing it against Ketsueki's arm and side. The female Neko-Oni's voice was full of confidence. "Until then, try to sleep. It might help. And the sun's nice and warm..." ~~~~~ Huh. Why didn't I travel in the dark before? I can see perfectly. Kodokuna walked down the trail calmly, her tail constantly waving back and forth behind her. She stared straight ahead, a light frown on her face. Why didn't Osamu ever have us attack the Kitsune-Oni Tribe in the dark? We would have the advantage. But maybe there are some war rules that I don't know about...stupid, really. She stirred, her ears facing Ketsueki's direction before her body did. "Ehhh...I don't hear, see, or smell anything. So, as far as I know, the coast is clear." The Neko-Oni was content with silence, but Ketsueki had other plans. She was mildly annoyed with his question, actually. It struck her as a bit too personal. "That letter was full of s*** and they know it. I mean...okay, yeah, I didn't get along with the others. But after a few decades, you stop trying. And you're way off on the time frame, Ketsu. They had a problem with me ever since I was born." To divert the subject from herself, she flashed the Inu-Oni a somewhat smug, you're-a-hypocrite grin. "These questions coming from the guy who refuses to talk about himself. All you're getting are vague basics. No juicy details for you." Kodokuna turned her attention back to the road before them. "I can see as clear as daylight, but I prefer this. No glare from the sun or anything. It's...nice." She then grinned widely, narrowing her eyes playfully at Ketsueki. "So, do Inu-Oni howl at the moon? Or is that just a myth? I'm betting that it's true. I'm right, aren't I?" |
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"I never felt truly alive unless I was staring death in the face." -Solid Snake ~All Art Belongs to the VG Cats Comic by Scott Ramsoomair~ | |
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| YamiShadow | Apr 9 2013, 05:57 AM Post #14 |
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Flying Battery Act 1
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Ketsueki found that he was pretty aggravated with the way she seemed to take being trapped. This wasn't some sort of a game; he knew his brethren, and he knew they were thorough. "Burning to death" meant exactly what it sounded like. And, even though it hadn't ever happened, he knew that if you actually got off of the stake, you still had to get out of the encampment. He frowned when she suggested waiting for the smoke. "What, are you planning to burn the ropes off? Half of us will be burned to a crisp before the ropes even catch." He leaned back his head, lightly thumping it against the post. Kodokuna had some sort of a plan, at least. He had nothing. The way she brushed her tail against his arm might have been meant to be comforting, but the effect was lost because her vague hint at a plan hadn't really sparked an idea for him. Sleep? Sorry to say it, but dying in your sleep isn't possible on the stake. The flames'll wake you up. Nonetheless, Ketsueki hung his head again. He hadn't the energy to bicker with Kodokuna any more than he had the energy to stare back at those who passed by. It wouldn't really help, as far as he could tell, but he supposed that there wasn't much else to do. Drowsiness slowly overcame him, and so he let his eyes drift shut. It is warm... ~~~ "I don't doubt they've had a problem with you for your whole life. But, if that's all it was, they would have put you out of the tribe much sooner. Something happened more recently, and I'm guessing the kind of something is you picking the wrong person to yell at, at the wrong time. Maybe a big meeting, where you would prove a huge dishonour to the tribe leader and whatever family you have? Something like that." Her grin brought an angry frown to Ketsueki's face again, despite his best efforts for it to be otherwise. You were exiled because your brethren hate you. That has to be the case, if it's been like that since you were born. It's that simple. 'Why' is something I don't know, but if it's been since birth it wasn't something you did. In my case, though... "A gave you a detail back at the crater. It took a good sized band of my brethren to beat me into submission. That we were openly fighting is your hint, and the only one I'll give. Guess as you want, but I won't say." Her ability to see was certainly nice. It was a big help, knowing that both of them could watch for threats, such as that howl. Despite the obnoxious grin that went with it, her question brought out more sadness than anger within him. She knew not, but he knew very well what it was to hear such a howl. It hadn't happened with Higeki, but short of that it had played out exactly as it always did. "No, not the moon," he whispered. "Prey. Humans. Demons. It doesn't matter, if it's edible. And when they howl is always different. Sometimes, the howl right before jumping upon their prey. Other times, they're completely silent. Other times... They howl right when they pick up the trail. Some of us like a good chase." Ketsueki walked a bit faster, and he glanced back toward the forest. There was rustling among the brush, close, but not quite out of the trees. Dammit. It is us. He started running then, and assumed Kodokuna would follow his lead. He knew she could run fast, so hopefully that would be enough. But, how had their trail been picked up on so soon? Neither of them had left anything behind, so far as he could tell. Unless... He brought a hand up to his head slowly, and grimaced when he felt the lack of a bandanna. It must have gotten caught on something. |
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Thanks again to Parabola for the awesome signature!
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| [Mika] Gumi | Apr 9 2013, 07:28 AM Post #15 |
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Sandopolis Act 2
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The Neko pouted somewhat, her fangs sliding over her lips. "Fine. Keep it bottled up if you want. There's no reason for me to keep asking if you're not going to tell me anything." Kodokuna glowered at the Inu-Oni for a while. But her angry stare faltered when he looked...sad. I wasn't trying to make him sad. I was trying to annoy him. Something must have happened recently. Something...involving a hunt? Wait. Did he interfere with a hunt? Did he try to help a prey get away? I guess I can ask him later. But...maybe I should say something about myself first. "So your kind eats other demons, huh." Her voice wasn't filled with biting sarcasm for once. If anything, she looked somewhat thoughtful. "I don't think I've ever seen or smelled a human. Never eaten one, either. I stick with fish and some of the creatures in the forest. My Tribe believes that a hungry warrior is a good warrior. So I haven't eaten in a couple days." Kodokuna fell silent, looking back over the road. Her tail continued waving, staying in a natural rhythm. Some of them like the chase...does he? I'm guessing he doesn't, but does. It might depend on the prey. With the slightest bit of hesitation, the Neko-Oni turned to face the Inu-Oni. "Ketsueki...if you really wanna know, I--wait." Her body stiffened at the sound of rustling. As she caught the faintest, freshest scent of dog, her eyes widened and her pupils contracted. A low hiss turned into a soft growl of anger as she realized that they are being tracked and followed. Kodokuna got onto all fours and started running, following Ketsueki's example. She caught up to him after a few moments. A quick glance in the Inu-Oni's direction revealed that his ears were visible now. They weren't before. So that means... "Your bandanna must have snagged on a tree, huh? They're tracking us with that scent, right?" she growled. "Why were you still wearing it? Unless..." She eyed him suspiciously, her eyes mere slits. Unless you were in a human village earlier... |
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"I never felt truly alive unless I was staring death in the face." -Solid Snake ~All Art Belongs to the VG Cats Comic by Scott Ramsoomair~ | |
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