(Human Form)
Annix crawled out of the cockpit of her fighter, pulling herself up and out of the warm interior. She shivered violently as the cold wind hit her, nearly knocking her off the wing of the plane. She surveyed the landscape with mild disdain, her eyes narrowed slightly as she lifted the helmet off her head. She'd been forced to make an emergency landing due to rough weather, and now, it seemed she was stuck here. She hooked her helmet onto her belt and wrapped her arms around her middle as the wind and the snow began to pick up. She hopped off the side of the plane, and was nearly buried in a snow drift as she landed awkwardly under the bows of a large, snow covered tree.
Growling, Annix shoved her way through the snow, wincing as the frosty cold bit through her skin and into her cheeks. She wasn't equipped for this kind of cold, and she'd never been stuck in anything like this before. Glancing up, she squinted her way through the snowstorm, and began making her way to a giant, dark blob in the distance that she assumed to be shelter. At least, Annix certainly hoped that was what it was. If not...Well, it might be tough to find the plane again. She glanced over her shoulder and was dismayed to see that it was already half covered in snow. She'd have to dig it up in the morning and hope that it still functioned properly. Huffing to herself, she curled her arms around her body and hurried to the dark shape looming off in the distance.
---
Sa'Rabi hadn't slept that well in a while. Come to think of it, she hadn't slept in a while, period. She blinked open her bright purple eyes, the light from the glowing symbols on her fur and the panel on her back illuminating the dark corner she'd claimed as her own. She yawned widely, revealing two rows of razor sharp teeth, and stretched her body like a cat. The last thing she remembered she'd been in a room with a Fenling named Cocoa. But beyond that, everything seemed fuzzy. Sa'Rabi wondered if she'd malfunctioned again, and thus, had her memory files corrupted. It would make sense; she'd malfunctioned multiple times before, and each time something new had been corrupted, re-formatted, or deleted in her files and memory banks.
A soft, mechanical voice seemed to issue through the corridor. “Operating at maximum efficiency. Energy levels: 100%. Last Known Contact: Fenling. Commence scanning for life-forms?” Mentally, Sa’Rabi agreed and a beam seemed to shoot out of the panel on her back, scanning the halls and the dark corridors that made up her home. “Life-forms: Negative. There are currently no biological life-forms within the vicinity.” Sa’Rabi wondered where Cocoa went, and what had happened to her. She’d become fond of the tiny creature. With another yawn and a large sigh, she stood and began her nightly prowl of the corridors, which always seemed to lead her to the entrance of the Shrine. She wondered if it was subconscious; maybe she was waiting to see Cocoa again, hoping she’d come through the doors.
Or maybe she was simply lonely, and just wanted someone to talk to. “Warning: Life-form detected. Estimated Time of Arrival: one minute. Divert course?” Sa’Rabi felt a thrill of excitement run through her, and disagreed with the last question. “Course maintained. Contact: Imminent. Estimated Time of Arrival: 25 seconds.” Sa’Rabi’s course brought her to a skidding halt in front of the large double doors that marked one of the many entrances to the shrine. She watched in silent anticipation as the doors creaked open. but the creature that stumbled through was not what she was expecting. A woman nearly collapsed onto the floor, her skin a pale, almost icy hue.
But, as Sa’Rabi soon realized upon closer inspection, that seemed to be the normal hue of her skin. The Mekkayena stepped back and slid into the shadows, intent on watching this new creature and what she intended to do. She dimmed her panel and disappeared into the darkness.
---
Annix coughed softly, and looked around the shrine. She could’ve swore she saw something move in the darkness. but maybe it was just her imagination. She stepped forward, her boots echoing loudly in the large, dusty halls. “Hello?” she called. “Anyone home?” Perhaps no one lived here. All the better for her. She didn’t want to have to explain why she was here. Wrapping her arms around her torso, she found a large statue that looked remarkably like a large lion, and sat at the base. It was cold in here, but at least it wasn’t as cold as it was outside. She stared up at the ceiling, and suddenly wished she was back at base, in her own quarters, surrounded by her fellow pilots. She sighed heavily and leaned against the leg of the statue. This would just have to do for now.
