Wash had finally come to his senses. (Whew. That was close.) He jumped forwards, forcing his mouth to form words despite his predicament... Well... Words in the Kuhna tongue. Capturing would probably understand, but Wash's new mouth was unaccustomed to making human speech. He'd need to learn again.
"No! If you do that, he'll-- He'll surely bleed to death! You must leave it in if you intend to rush him to a hospital instead of magically healing him here!" He exclaimed, almost positive that his brain was functioning properly. Even if the spike had not driven into Kai's heart, removing it would unclog blood vessels, allowing them to freely bleed his lifeblood until he died. He'd read a story like this in the newspaper once-- about a girl who, walking to sharpen her pencil, tripped and accidentally drove the pencil into her chest. Had she removed the pencil, doctors had agreed, she would have died. (True story, by the way. Happened a few years ago... Can't remember where, though.)
Perhaps it was the same way with Kai.
Lenore snuffled and nuzzled the Leader in thanks and affection. She raised a paw and wiped her eye free of tears, looking at Kai moving... He would still die...? Even though the imp was out. "He is such a sad... A sad idiot." She whispered to the Leader. Confidential stuff. But... The Dark One seemed to have the imp pinned. "But... Why... Why?" She questioned the green-striped Kuhna's return. It just seemed folly, though it had of course proved useful. She wouldn't have returned if she were he... But... Then again... She wasn't exactly he, was she?
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:41 PM
Seeing as the dragon was not dying as fast as he planned, the Grand Hollowheart moved forward in concern that the deed was not being done properly. The Hollowheart stopped about midway, a few feet from the fallen Kai and the dark, odd Kuhna who'd just strode in and pinned down something the dragon had coughed up.... Apparently, it was alive...
He hated this place so much... It was waytoo odd for his own tastes...
Hie serpentine eyes glared at the scene playing out before him. "Do not let his facade win you over. He is a killer of innocents, he deserves the fate that the forces have judged him to have..." he growled. He could remember that very day, sitting in the Throne of the Hollowheart council, when a messenger had unwillingly come to him. 'A village... destroyed...' he'd said.
Oh how he could remember flying as fast as he could to see the carnage himself, the stench of humans' doings plagueing the air, as he stared in horror at the burnt ashes of a city in flames... The burning bodies of dragon children littering that ashes...
Meanwhile, Meachanoir watched in silence, knowing there was nothing he could do for a fellow comrade with his large, clumsy claws. 'Poor lad', was all he could say, head lowered. Sure he recognized the Hollowheart that the young leader was speaking of, but surely everyone deserved a second chance.
The Leader situated cofortably near the other, smaller feline and guarded by his fellow minions watched on in awe. His eyes instantly focused onthe Dark One, and something within him awoke again... then died away... It surprised him as much as any other Hunter there...
The Lucain, upon seeing the dark kuhna, felt an instant connection and could immediately tell he was the one she was looking for! She instantly caught control over her legs again and bolted weakly over to the Eyes of Iiylumiel, a part of herself, and a part of a larger whole. "The Eyes..." she looked at him in wonder, then proceeded to glare at the imp. There were words forming in her mind... Words she didn't know... Words... to destroy him...
"You will NOT be ridding thyselves of Kree so easily, lordd... Remember thisss..." he hissess and squirmed underneath the kuhna's grasp.. "Remember this lorddd..." With that, the words slipped from the Voice's mouth and wrapped themselves tighlty around the dark, little monster of shadows... and there was a screech that could have shattered buildings... And then the darkness that was there, was gone... Kree was banished...
He hated this place so much... It was waytoo odd for his own tastes...
Hie serpentine eyes glared at the scene playing out before him. "Do not let his facade win you over. He is a killer of innocents, he deserves the fate that the forces have judged him to have..." he growled. He could remember that very day, sitting in the Throne of the Hollowheart council, when a messenger had unwillingly come to him. 'A village... destroyed...' he'd said.
Oh how he could remember flying as fast as he could to see the carnage himself, the stench of humans' doings plagueing the air, as he stared in horror at the burnt ashes of a city in flames... The burning bodies of dragon children littering that ashes...
Meanwhile, Meachanoir watched in silence, knowing there was nothing he could do for a fellow comrade with his large, clumsy claws. 'Poor lad', was all he could say, head lowered. Sure he recognized the Hollowheart that the young leader was speaking of, but surely everyone deserved a second chance.
The Leader situated cofortably near the other, smaller feline and guarded by his fellow minions watched on in awe. His eyes instantly focused onthe Dark One, and something within him awoke again... then died away... It surprised him as much as any other Hunter there...
The Lucain, upon seeing the dark kuhna, felt an instant connection and could immediately tell he was the one she was looking for! She instantly caught control over her legs again and bolted weakly over to the Eyes of Iiylumiel, a part of herself, and a part of a larger whole. "The Eyes..." she looked at him in wonder, then proceeded to glare at the imp. There were words forming in her mind... Words she didn't know... Words... to destroy him...
"You will NOT be ridding thyselves of Kree so easily, lordd... Remember thisss..." he hissess and squirmed underneath the kuhna's grasp.. "Remember this lorddd..." With that, the words slipped from the Voice's mouth and wrapped themselves tighlty around the dark, little monster of shadows... and there was a screech that could have shattered buildings... And then the darkness that was there, was gone... Kree was banished...
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:41 PM
A sad smile crept across Kai's lips at the words of the Kanua cradling him. "No... you is... not knowing... what this one... is having done," he whispered, his strength for speech having all but dissipated. His demeanor turned serious as Asyriel approached, and he nodded weakly in response to the Grand Hollowheart's statement. "A-asyriel Lord... he is... telling you... what this one... is having done. As... this one... is not believing... it is being... able to be... telling you itself." He turned his gaze to Kodai, whom had promptly begun ripping her shirt into strips to comply with Cap's call for bandages. "K-kodai... this one is... being repentant... It... is wanting to... to tell you... of its past... but... it is not... having the... mental strength... to do so... when you is... first finding it." Kai took a deep, shuddering breath. "This one... is to be... being sentenced now..." And slowly, painfully, he rose to his feet, his wound releasing a fresh flow of blood due to his movement. Kodai reached out a hand in an attempt to stop him, but he simply shook his head 'no' and staggered forward, a hand still clasped to the shard as if he feared it would fall out and thus destroy his chances... of dying... Luckily for all concerned for Kaibutsu's well-being, it appeared as if he had either not heard or not understood Wash's comment. Eventually he collapsed before his lord, shaking and panting heavily with the effort of walking even that short distance. "A-asyriel... Lord..." He gasped now with every word he whispered. "This... one... It... is... sensing... its... heart... is... slowing... finally... But... this... one's... sentence... It... is... being... with... you..." Kai bowed low and, with his free hand, swept away the hair concealing the back of his neck. "This... one's... life... It... is... being... your... right...... your... duty...... to... take... it..."
Kodai could only watch in stunned silence as Kaibutsu -- her companion, her friend -- solemnly prepared to give up his life. She had always known that there was a story behind those sorrow-filled eyes of his, but he had never told her, and she had never pressed him about it. This was the first time she was hearing about it... "Lord Asyriel... what... what happened?"
As quickly as the imp had vanished, so did the Dark One's eyes cease glowing. He panted heavily, the act apparently taking quite a good deal of energy out of him... hopefully he would never have the need to do that again. Glancing around, his gaze fell upon the Hunters and Lenore, who seemed to be staring back at him. The Hunters, and the Leader especially, still frightened him a little, but he held no hate for them, surprisingly. Trying to summon up whatever courage he had left, the Dark One stepped towards them, keeping his sight concentrated on Lenore (the least threatening of the lot). "Are... are you all right?" He felt rather inadequate at the moment, despite having just banished Kree from the shrine - he felt there was little else he could do to help...
Kodai could only watch in stunned silence as Kaibutsu -- her companion, her friend -- solemnly prepared to give up his life. She had always known that there was a story behind those sorrow-filled eyes of his, but he had never told her, and she had never pressed him about it. This was the first time she was hearing about it... "Lord Asyriel... what... what happened?"
As quickly as the imp had vanished, so did the Dark One's eyes cease glowing. He panted heavily, the act apparently taking quite a good deal of energy out of him... hopefully he would never have the need to do that again. Glancing around, his gaze fell upon the Hunters and Lenore, who seemed to be staring back at him. The Hunters, and the Leader especially, still frightened him a little, but he held no hate for them, surprisingly. Trying to summon up whatever courage he had left, the Dark One stepped towards them, keeping his sight concentrated on Lenore (the least threatening of the lot). "Are... are you all right?" He felt rather inadequate at the moment, despite having just banished Kree from the shrine - he felt there was little else he could do to help...
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:43 PM
The immense Hollowheart looked down to the offering placed before him, the once-dragon now a human. Disgusting... And yet, he couldn't help wondering what it was that drove this monster to such measures, to offering up his life... He looked up, a darkness in his eyes from recalling such a tale.
"One day, long ago human," he thought-spoke, looking towards the one named Kodai. "A village on the eastern coast was left in the care of any of the men there, this one including." He growled... " I was informed of a raid that occurred there that morning, so I ventured there, to see for my own eyes the carnage that had been wrought... I am ashamed to speak of it, but the village was overrun by a rogue human hunting force of sorts who destroyed every last creature in sight." There was an added emphasis on the word 'human'. He paused for good measure then glanced downwards. "All except... one."
Mechanoir, counsellor to Asyriel, could do nothing but take a tentative step forward, then stopped. He could not challenge his master, only perhaps change his mind.
"I can only conclude that this one had not the will to fight such an opposition and die honorably as the rest... or, thar he may have been in league with the despicable monsters..." There was a low thundering in Asyriel's throat. "So, this one can only face his judgement..." There was a snapping open of the jaws, a white hotness could be seen broiling in his maw.
"One day, long ago human," he thought-spoke, looking towards the one named Kodai. "A village on the eastern coast was left in the care of any of the men there, this one including." He growled... " I was informed of a raid that occurred there that morning, so I ventured there, to see for my own eyes the carnage that had been wrought... I am ashamed to speak of it, but the village was overrun by a rogue human hunting force of sorts who destroyed every last creature in sight." There was an added emphasis on the word 'human'. He paused for good measure then glanced downwards. "All except... one."
Mechanoir, counsellor to Asyriel, could do nothing but take a tentative step forward, then stopped. He could not challenge his master, only perhaps change his mind.
"I can only conclude that this one had not the will to fight such an opposition and die honorably as the rest... or, thar he may have been in league with the despicable monsters..." There was a low thundering in Asyriel's throat. "So, this one can only face his judgement..." There was a snapping open of the jaws, a white hotness could be seen broiling in his maw.
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:45 PM
Lenore gave the Dark One a quick glare before witnessing Asyriel. "No... No, no, no, NO!" She cried, a growling intertwined with her voice. Forgetting the Dark One and nearly forgetting the Leader (elsewise she would have done something more drastic), she heaved herself to her feet and began limping towards Asyriel and Kai.
"You... You monster! What... Has Kai... Done to you?" She fell (about half way there), unable to move any further. A few wounds opened (having scabbed over in the past minutes) and she began to seep blood onto the floor. "You... Big... Pathetic... Gah-- I can't even... Think of an appropriate word..." She hissed, bristling where she lay. "Selfish... Arrogant..."
Ooh, now she would get it, she was sure. She always misunderstood things, but that was because she never got all of the facts. Gods, sometimes she hated being so straightforward.
Wash meekly followed Kai as he stumbled forwards. As Asyriel snapped open his jaws, Wash stepped over Kai (as Kai was laying on the ground, he made an easy hurdle to step over.) and assumed a protective stance. "Just as Kree did not hurt Mechanoir, so shall you not hurt Kaibutsu!" He growled, forcing his tongue around his mouth to form the words. He would not think about Lenore's predicament-- surely the Leader would help. "Just as I did not let the imp hurt Mechanoir, I will not let you kill Kaibutsu!" He would force himself to create that barrier once more if Asyriel attacked-- it would expend most of his energy, leaving him weaker than Kai was and probably unconscious...
"You... You monster! What... Has Kai... Done to you?" She fell (about half way there), unable to move any further. A few wounds opened (having scabbed over in the past minutes) and she began to seep blood onto the floor. "You... Big... Pathetic... Gah-- I can't even... Think of an appropriate word..." She hissed, bristling where she lay. "Selfish... Arrogant..."
Ooh, now she would get it, she was sure. She always misunderstood things, but that was because she never got all of the facts. Gods, sometimes she hated being so straightforward.
Wash meekly followed Kai as he stumbled forwards. As Asyriel snapped open his jaws, Wash stepped over Kai (as Kai was laying on the ground, he made an easy hurdle to step over.) and assumed a protective stance. "Just as Kree did not hurt Mechanoir, so shall you not hurt Kaibutsu!" He growled, forcing his tongue around his mouth to form the words. He would not think about Lenore's predicament-- surely the Leader would help. "Just as I did not let the imp hurt Mechanoir, I will not let you kill Kaibutsu!" He would force himself to create that barrier once more if Asyriel attacked-- it would expend most of his energy, leaving him weaker than Kai was and probably unconscious...
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:46 PM
Capturing dashed forward after Kai, hovering nervously about him and dropping to all fours. He circled Kai anxiously and screeched meekly when Kaibutsu exposed his pink neck.
NO! he bellowed forcefully, as Asyriel spoke, and menacingly snapped his jaws. As Wash covered Kai's back, Capturing hissed, hackles raised, lengthened hair standing rigid and straight up. His long deadly claws clacked angrily on the flagstone as he stood infront of Kai protectively. His head was scrunched down low, and his lips peeled and nose furrowed in a snarl. Dog-like, as he hissed and growled, his tongue darted out over his teeth and back, long canines bared. As he slid a paw across the floor, his nails screeched like the were on a chalkboard.
Bearlike, he reared up facing Asyriel. This one is NOT to be harmed! Capturing seemed to radiant protective fury. Or this one will attack you! Fair warning for you! he hissed scathingly.
NO! he bellowed forcefully, as Asyriel spoke, and menacingly snapped his jaws. As Wash covered Kai's back, Capturing hissed, hackles raised, lengthened hair standing rigid and straight up. His long deadly claws clacked angrily on the flagstone as he stood infront of Kai protectively. His head was scrunched down low, and his lips peeled and nose furrowed in a snarl. Dog-like, as he hissed and growled, his tongue darted out over his teeth and back, long canines bared. As he slid a paw across the floor, his nails screeched like the were on a chalkboard.
Bearlike, he reared up facing Asyriel. This one is NOT to be harmed! Capturing seemed to radiant protective fury. Or this one will attack you! Fair warning for you! he hissed scathingly.
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:47 PM
Kaibutsu could not see what was going on around his head (due to his crouched position), but he could definitely hear the remarks the others were making and sense the presence of Wash and Cap above and before him. They were trying to protect him... but why? Hadn't they heard what Lord Asyriel had said? Perhaps if the words came from his own lips...
"Wash... Cap... Please... is... listening... to... this... one... It... is... to... guarding... the... children... It... is... being... attacked... from... behind... Is... believing... it... is... dead... but..." He tried unsuccessfully to keep back the tears. "It... still... is... sensing... goings-on... Hearing... cries... Seeing... blood... Scenting... death... but... is... not... being... this... one's... It... is... not... moving... It... cannot... It... is... being... helpless..." Gradually, he drew himself out from underneath Wash's protective stance into a sitting position and clawed his way out of his shirt. "Kodai... Is... telling... them... what... you... is... seeing..." Kai ordered, gasping heavily for breath because of his actions and bleeding profusely.
"Holy shi-" was the first thing that escaped Kodai's mouth before she recovered herself, apologized to the crowd, and walked over to Kai in order to authenticate what she saw. Tenderly, she ran her index and middle fingers over the six-inch-long scar that ran almost parallel to his right shoulder blade. "Geez, guys... this is one helluva scar. This long-" she held up her fingers to indicate the length, as she was a very poor guesser of measurements "-and it isn't even healed fully yet... I can only guess how deep it goes..."
"That... is... being... all...?"
"Yeah, but..."
Kai appeared to be satisfied with this answer and addressed his audience grimly. "Is... only... being... one... wound... One...! and... it... is... fallen... This... one... is... being... pathetic..." He nearly spat the word out in his disgust. "Its... weak... constitution... is... causing... children's... deaths..." He suddenly collapsed, his body's tremors growing worse. "A...asy...riel... Lord... p...please... is... kill...ing... this... one... now... b...be...fore... it... can...not... be... feel...ing... its... death... Is... kee...ping... them... a...away..." he added softly, directing this last bit at Kodai, still beside him. "It... is... ne...ver... ha...ving... peace... if..."
"Ssshhh... don't speak. I... I think I know your mind... It's like the reason you came out here in the first place -- you need a sense of completion, a sense that everything is right with the world, and if it isn't, you need to fix it... Is that right?"
"Ahhh..." Kai inhaled sharply and winced at that. The reason he had come here in the first place... he hadn't accomplished it. "Ahhh... Iiy...lu...mi...el... Fall...en... is... for...giv...ing... this... one..."
"Oh, you didn't finish your quest? Don't worry... I'll make sure it gets completed, all right? Kai..." The tears coursed silently down her face, but she still managed to smile warmly at him. Suddenly she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, pressing his head to her chest. Let my heart tell you what my mind cannot find the words to say...
In-out. In-out. In-out. Kai found her heartbeat to be oddly comforting... He closed his good eye and let himself be absorbed by it, even as his own continued to diminish. So... so peaceful... Again, he lifted a hand to brush back the hair covering the nape of his neck, offering himself up to the Grand Hollowheart.
The dark Kuhna watched this strange play unfold, helpless to be anything but an observer. There was naught he could do -- it seemed futile to try to change the mind of any of the characters in this drama, as they were all steadfast in their ways and would not be swayed... not by someone who had little confidence in himself. Especially not the dragon called Kaibutsu...
That was what the Voice had said, was it not? "Do... do you know the outcome?" he mused to himself, turning his gaze towards the Ancient Lucain.
"Wash... Cap... Please... is... listening... to... this... one... It... is... to... guarding... the... children... It... is... being... attacked... from... behind... Is... believing... it... is... dead... but..." He tried unsuccessfully to keep back the tears. "It... still... is... sensing... goings-on... Hearing... cries... Seeing... blood... Scenting... death... but... is... not... being... this... one's... It... is... not... moving... It... cannot... It... is... being... helpless..." Gradually, he drew himself out from underneath Wash's protective stance into a sitting position and clawed his way out of his shirt. "Kodai... Is... telling... them... what... you... is... seeing..." Kai ordered, gasping heavily for breath because of his actions and bleeding profusely.
"Holy shi-" was the first thing that escaped Kodai's mouth before she recovered herself, apologized to the crowd, and walked over to Kai in order to authenticate what she saw. Tenderly, she ran her index and middle fingers over the six-inch-long scar that ran almost parallel to his right shoulder blade. "Geez, guys... this is one helluva scar. This long-" she held up her fingers to indicate the length, as she was a very poor guesser of measurements "-and it isn't even healed fully yet... I can only guess how deep it goes..."
"That... is... being... all...?"
"Yeah, but..."
Kai appeared to be satisfied with this answer and addressed his audience grimly. "Is... only... being... one... wound... One...! and... it... is... fallen... This... one... is... being... pathetic..." He nearly spat the word out in his disgust. "Its... weak... constitution... is... causing... children's... deaths..." He suddenly collapsed, his body's tremors growing worse. "A...asy...riel... Lord... p...please... is... kill...ing... this... one... now... b...be...fore... it... can...not... be... feel...ing... its... death... Is... kee...ping... them... a...away..." he added softly, directing this last bit at Kodai, still beside him. "It... is... ne...ver... ha...ving... peace... if..."
"Ssshhh... don't speak. I... I think I know your mind... It's like the reason you came out here in the first place -- you need a sense of completion, a sense that everything is right with the world, and if it isn't, you need to fix it... Is that right?"
"Ahhh..." Kai inhaled sharply and winced at that. The reason he had come here in the first place... he hadn't accomplished it. "Ahhh... Iiy...lu...mi...el... Fall...en... is... for...giv...ing... this... one..."
"Oh, you didn't finish your quest? Don't worry... I'll make sure it gets completed, all right? Kai..." The tears coursed silently down her face, but she still managed to smile warmly at him. Suddenly she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, pressing his head to her chest. Let my heart tell you what my mind cannot find the words to say...
In-out. In-out. In-out. Kai found her heartbeat to be oddly comforting... He closed his good eye and let himself be absorbed by it, even as his own continued to diminish. So... so peaceful... Again, he lifted a hand to brush back the hair covering the nape of his neck, offering himself up to the Grand Hollowheart.
The dark Kuhna watched this strange play unfold, helpless to be anything but an observer. There was naught he could do -- it seemed futile to try to change the mind of any of the characters in this drama, as they were all steadfast in their ways and would not be swayed... not by someone who had little confidence in himself. Especially not the dragon called Kaibutsu...
'A life relinquished by one, foiling the plans...
Though still grasping the world, bears the nape to another...'
Though still grasping the world, bears the nape to another...'
That was what the Voice had said, was it not? "Do... do you know the outcome?" he mused to himself, turning his gaze towards the Ancient Lucain.
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:49 PM
The Lucain turned to her counterpart and shook her head. "That's all I know so far... He... has not told me anything else, and... the words he speaks, they are muffled and confused..." She too could only watch in helplessness, would there be a future for this brave yet burning soul?
Mechanoir, stepped forth from the shadows of silence and tried to speak up, trying to save this poor soul. "My lord Asyriel. Please... consider the words of these others. This one should, most of all, deserve a second chance... My young sovereign, is it within your soul to forgive this poor, innocent one?' he looked towards the back of his master, hoping, pleading... But would he really forgive?
Asyriel, head bent downwards, eyes closed, was silent for a time. His massive chest drew in and out, sucking in the chill, dank air of the sanctuary called Basantha, truly a place of the accursed. His wings were kept folded at his sides like a grand statue, tail held in no dangerous manner, the symbol as his heart beating slowly and sure. That's when the words left his mouth. His eyes shot open.
"No..." he said calmly, in a voice neither angry nor aggitated. "I will be doing nothing but upholding his wishes from here on. I can only try to come to accept the dark deeds of the past and lay them to rest in the grave but... this one has wished for redemption..." With this he stepped quickly over the guardian beasts around the fallen Kai and took the soft figure into his mouth, away from the other human. "So be it..."
There was a horrid snap...
The neck bones crushed under the pressure of a thousand pounds of force through jagged black teeth...
Mechanoir and the Lucain, the Leader and his soldiers of crystal... The Hunters cried out their sorrow and dread at seeing the one who'd freed them from their lives of insufferable darkness... They could only watch in horrid, stunned silence. "The deed is done..." the Lucain whispered under her breath...
The temple dragon quickly recovered, reminding himself of his duty. Pacing over to create a distance between the most likely enraged creatures and his liege, he stood tall and strong, opening his black stone wings, like an immense canvas of the night sky. "My fellow creatures. Please... Hear my words of deep sorrow and understanding." He paused for good measure, to fully get their attention. "My lord has done not only what he, himself, has deemed the best course but also what this one has decided as well," he looked down upon the body of the fallen once-dragon, now placed carefully upon the cold stone. "It would have been unwise to let such a tortured spirit as this one graze the earth evermore for a thing he could not bring himself to find before. His redemption, the cleansing of a soul... It was what brought him to his venture here in the first place. As the human said, closure, an end. The things this one had done to his own body were only the small piece of what he considered would cleanse his spirit and guilt, ridding himself of the past..." His voice was mighty and carried throughout the temple so that all could hear. "My fellow friends, in the end, it is what he would have wanted, what he wished for in his dying breath... So please, blame not anyone here, no one but the accursed will of the fates..."
The great stone Hollowheart's tail curled and waved about smoothly, looking each one standing before him pleadingly in the eye. If all else had failed, if his speech did not hold up... He knew he was willing to sacrifice yet another life to save the one of his tortured liege... His own life...
Mechanoir, stepped forth from the shadows of silence and tried to speak up, trying to save this poor soul. "My lord Asyriel. Please... consider the words of these others. This one should, most of all, deserve a second chance... My young sovereign, is it within your soul to forgive this poor, innocent one?' he looked towards the back of his master, hoping, pleading... But would he really forgive?
Asyriel, head bent downwards, eyes closed, was silent for a time. His massive chest drew in and out, sucking in the chill, dank air of the sanctuary called Basantha, truly a place of the accursed. His wings were kept folded at his sides like a grand statue, tail held in no dangerous manner, the symbol as his heart beating slowly and sure. That's when the words left his mouth. His eyes shot open.
"No..." he said calmly, in a voice neither angry nor aggitated. "I will be doing nothing but upholding his wishes from here on. I can only try to come to accept the dark deeds of the past and lay them to rest in the grave but... this one has wished for redemption..." With this he stepped quickly over the guardian beasts around the fallen Kai and took the soft figure into his mouth, away from the other human. "So be it..."
There was a horrid snap...
The neck bones crushed under the pressure of a thousand pounds of force through jagged black teeth...
Mechanoir and the Lucain, the Leader and his soldiers of crystal... The Hunters cried out their sorrow and dread at seeing the one who'd freed them from their lives of insufferable darkness... They could only watch in horrid, stunned silence. "The deed is done..." the Lucain whispered under her breath...
The temple dragon quickly recovered, reminding himself of his duty. Pacing over to create a distance between the most likely enraged creatures and his liege, he stood tall and strong, opening his black stone wings, like an immense canvas of the night sky. "My fellow creatures. Please... Hear my words of deep sorrow and understanding." He paused for good measure, to fully get their attention. "My lord has done not only what he, himself, has deemed the best course but also what this one has decided as well," he looked down upon the body of the fallen once-dragon, now placed carefully upon the cold stone. "It would have been unwise to let such a tortured spirit as this one graze the earth evermore for a thing he could not bring himself to find before. His redemption, the cleansing of a soul... It was what brought him to his venture here in the first place. As the human said, closure, an end. The things this one had done to his own body were only the small piece of what he considered would cleanse his spirit and guilt, ridding himself of the past..." His voice was mighty and carried throughout the temple so that all could hear. "My fellow friends, in the end, it is what he would have wanted, what he wished for in his dying breath... So please, blame not anyone here, no one but the accursed will of the fates..."
The great stone Hollowheart's tail curled and waved about smoothly, looking each one standing before him pleadingly in the eye. If all else had failed, if his speech did not hold up... He knew he was willing to sacrifice yet another life to save the one of his tortured liege... His own life...
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:51 PM
Kai felt his body being lifted into the air, Kodai's heartbeat still echoing in his mind. To achieve a peace like that rhythm... always had he been searching for it... and now... now he could find it. He kept his eye closed, trying to focus on the wonderful sound, though his thoughts had started to slip away... The sensation of jagged teeth piercing through his soft human skin struck him then, the feeling of bone shattering and nerves screaming, dying... Pain, and then blackness... Was this what it was like to die? Was this what the children had felt, what his fellow Hollowhearts had felt? Kaibutsu could only hope so with his last moment of life... A sharp gasp, a gentle sigh... and he was gone...
Kodai couldn't bear to watch, and yet she couldn't look away. A small whimper escaped her as the sharp crunch reverberated around the shrine, and she winced as she caught a glimpse of the broken neck as Asyriel placed Kai's body on the marble tile. Swallowing her sorrow, she made her way over to the now-lifeless Kai and proceeded to cradle him carefully in her arms, sobbing softly but still keeping that gentle smile on her face. "Kai... I... I hope you find that inner peace you've been searching for... the peace you couldn't find in this life..." She pressed her cheek to his, clinging tightly to him as if she would never let go...
"So... so it is," the Eyes replied, quickly turning his gaze downward so that none could see his tears. What a strange world he had found himself thrust into... and such strange characters... What were the meanings behind these actions? He could not explain why, but the death of this particular creature caused him great sorrow... And yet, there was a feeling that this was not the end for him...
Kodai couldn't bear to watch, and yet she couldn't look away. A small whimper escaped her as the sharp crunch reverberated around the shrine, and she winced as she caught a glimpse of the broken neck as Asyriel placed Kai's body on the marble tile. Swallowing her sorrow, she made her way over to the now-lifeless Kai and proceeded to cradle him carefully in her arms, sobbing softly but still keeping that gentle smile on her face. "Kai... I... I hope you find that inner peace you've been searching for... the peace you couldn't find in this life..." She pressed her cheek to his, clinging tightly to him as if she would never let go...
"So... so it is," the Eyes replied, quickly turning his gaze downward so that none could see his tears. What a strange world he had found himself thrust into... and such strange characters... What were the meanings behind these actions? He could not explain why, but the death of this particular creature caused him great sorrow... And yet, there was a feeling that this was not the end for him...
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:52 PM
Capturing's eyes widened with every painstaking heartbeat that he made in the wake of what had happened. Blood rushed to his head, he could feel the pounding in his ears. He was speechless, no words described his agony, and his head flopped to his chest, a single tear rolling silently down his snout. Kai... dead? On the ground... dead?
His first thought was to run to Kaibutsu, and bury his head into his chest... but then another emotion overtook him... Boiling hot anger...
This one has given warning... he murmured, so softly no ears but his could hear it. There is a price to pay. he said, stronger, and lurched towards Asyriel, frantically scrabbling against the flagstones with his claws, gaining purchase and with it--momentum. He streaked across the floor of the shrine, towards the great Hollowheart, and snapped open his black wings, the leathery membranes billowing as the caught the wind and he leaped. Around Mechanoir, and through the air he surged! Onwards towards the limp body in the mouth of the Hollowheart! If impact was made (I won't powerplay) Capturing would land on Asyriel's nose, and swipe at his eyes wildly, trying to claw them, meanwhile doing all in his power to scratch whatever he could reach.
Snarls and spitting noises would be all that was heard from Capturing; all that was distinguishable in his fury. He would swipe vehemently at the behemoth dragon's eyes, before trying to bite the bridge of his nose. He would hang onto the dragon's head with all his might, back claws firmly scrabbling and holding the area near Asyriel's nostrils, barely fitting for his enlarged size.
You horrible monster! Have you not TRIED to hear what Kai was saying? That he did not know he could still fight? SCARRED! He was sliced open! And you are blindly bullying him about! You are putting the blame on HIS shoulders! You are not thinking twice! He would finally screech.
His first thought was to run to Kaibutsu, and bury his head into his chest... but then another emotion overtook him... Boiling hot anger...
This one has given warning... he murmured, so softly no ears but his could hear it. There is a price to pay. he said, stronger, and lurched towards Asyriel, frantically scrabbling against the flagstones with his claws, gaining purchase and with it--momentum. He streaked across the floor of the shrine, towards the great Hollowheart, and snapped open his black wings, the leathery membranes billowing as the caught the wind and he leaped. Around Mechanoir, and through the air he surged! Onwards towards the limp body in the mouth of the Hollowheart! If impact was made (I won't powerplay) Capturing would land on Asyriel's nose, and swipe at his eyes wildly, trying to claw them, meanwhile doing all in his power to scratch whatever he could reach.
Snarls and spitting noises would be all that was heard from Capturing; all that was distinguishable in his fury. He would swipe vehemently at the behemoth dragon's eyes, before trying to bite the bridge of his nose. He would hang onto the dragon's head with all his might, back claws firmly scrabbling and holding the area near Asyriel's nostrils, barely fitting for his enlarged size.
You horrible monster! Have you not TRIED to hear what Kai was saying? That he did not know he could still fight? SCARRED! He was sliced open! And you are blindly bullying him about! You are putting the blame on HIS shoulders! You are not thinking twice! He would finally screech.
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:53 PM
Wash coughed rather pointedly, shuffling over to Kodai and putting an arm around her as best as he could. As the Lucain had said... The deed was done.
Perhaps a few more minutes of mournng would be appropriate... Kai could be buried as they buried Iiylumiel, or he could be brought back upon the shoulders of some grand creature (or a bunch of small hard-working ones) to be buried elsewhere. As for now, a tear slid slowly down his elongated face and he offered a great fuzzy comfort to Kodai, who would of course be taking the death of her Hollowheart worse than anyone... Except maybe Cap, he thought, eyebrow raised, as the spazzing once-Kuhna attacked Asyriel.
"Cap..." he called, voice cracking. "Don't take your anger out on him... He did what he thought was fair, and to be fair, so did Kai. While the circumstances are unfortunate, the best we can do is pray for Kai's safe passage into the unknown realms. After all, death is just the next great adventure." he attempted to reason with the Kanua without moving, gaze alternating between Kai in Kodai's arms and Cap attacking Lord Asyriel.
Lenore stayed where she lay, soaking up information. She turned her head and lay it sideways upon the floor, watching the people who had been standing there. Were they actually fleeing through the door Mechanoir had opened, or was it a trick of her eyes? Mentally shrugging it off, she turned it the other way, again laying her cheek on the floor, this time to watch the aftermath of Kai's death. It looked devastating... How nice...
And with that pleasant thought, she passed out.
((Think the way Luna Lovegood would talk when you think of her thoughts here. XP))
Perhaps a few more minutes of mournng would be appropriate... Kai could be buried as they buried Iiylumiel, or he could be brought back upon the shoulders of some grand creature (or a bunch of small hard-working ones) to be buried elsewhere. As for now, a tear slid slowly down his elongated face and he offered a great fuzzy comfort to Kodai, who would of course be taking the death of her Hollowheart worse than anyone... Except maybe Cap, he thought, eyebrow raised, as the spazzing once-Kuhna attacked Asyriel.
"Cap..." he called, voice cracking. "Don't take your anger out on him... He did what he thought was fair, and to be fair, so did Kai. While the circumstances are unfortunate, the best we can do is pray for Kai's safe passage into the unknown realms. After all, death is just the next great adventure." he attempted to reason with the Kanua without moving, gaze alternating between Kai in Kodai's arms and Cap attacking Lord Asyriel.
Lenore stayed where she lay, soaking up information. She turned her head and lay it sideways upon the floor, watching the people who had been standing there. Were they actually fleeing through the door Mechanoir had opened, or was it a trick of her eyes? Mentally shrugging it off, she turned it the other way, again laying her cheek on the floor, this time to watch the aftermath of Kai's death. It looked devastating... How nice...
And with that pleasant thought, she passed out.
((Think the way Luna Lovegood would talk when you think of her thoughts here. XP))
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:53 PM
The Dark One's head snapped up suddenly, his green-blue eyes now glowing a pure white. He could see... Kai? And Kai was looking back at him, sitting up in Kodai's arms... But that couldn't be right... He shook his head firmly, and his eyes returned to their natural color. Kai was still dead... but what he had just seen... what was going on?
At Wash's touch, Kodai looked up, the tears still streaming down her face. Her voice was too choked to form coherent words, but the expression in her eyes told Wash everything he needed to know... "Thank you..." Tentatively she reached out to stroke the Kuhna's soft, warm fur, the other arm still wrapped about Kai's cold, bare shoulders, supporting his broken neck so that his head didn't fall back too far.
A loud gasp was emitted from Kai, as if he had been held underwater for too long and had broken the water's surface just in time to save himself. Cold sweat dotted his body, and his chest heaved mightily with every breath he took. His neck no longer appeared to be broken, but the crystal shard remained, quivering in its position. Kai pushed himself into a sitting position, groping for Kodai's shoulders... Kodai herself simply stared at him, completely dumbfounded.
He... was... alive?
Confusion was quickly followed by elation, but that faded just as quickly into concern. His left eye, his good eye... there was something wrong with it, some sort of blankness that should not have been there... Kai found Kodai's shoulders then and placed a hand on each, attempting to look her in the eye yet somehow managing to fail... "...Kodai. This one is being returned by Iiylumiel Fallen. It is having a most difficult task to be completing... but this one is doing it. This one must be doing it. For those who are being innocent..." He turned and swept his strange gaze over the mass of Hunters gathered, then locked eyes with the black Kuhna.
This... this is what he had seen... but it was real now. As if in a trance, the Dark One strode over to Kai, never letting his eyes leave the human Hollowheart's. When he reached him, it became painfully apparent to the Kuhna that Kai's vision was no more. You have given your sight to me... Let my Eyes help you now as you return... The words echoed within the mind of the Eyes, and he nodded slightly. "I am here for you... Kaireibutasou..."
At Wash's touch, Kodai looked up, the tears still streaming down her face. Her voice was too choked to form coherent words, but the expression in her eyes told Wash everything he needed to know... "Thank you..." Tentatively she reached out to stroke the Kuhna's soft, warm fur, the other arm still wrapped about Kai's cold, bare shoulders, supporting his broken neck so that his head didn't fall back too far.
A loud gasp was emitted from Kai, as if he had been held underwater for too long and had broken the water's surface just in time to save himself. Cold sweat dotted his body, and his chest heaved mightily with every breath he took. His neck no longer appeared to be broken, but the crystal shard remained, quivering in its position. Kai pushed himself into a sitting position, groping for Kodai's shoulders... Kodai herself simply stared at him, completely dumbfounded.
He... was... alive?
Confusion was quickly followed by elation, but that faded just as quickly into concern. His left eye, his good eye... there was something wrong with it, some sort of blankness that should not have been there... Kai found Kodai's shoulders then and placed a hand on each, attempting to look her in the eye yet somehow managing to fail... "...Kodai. This one is being returned by Iiylumiel Fallen. It is having a most difficult task to be completing... but this one is doing it. This one must be doing it. For those who are being innocent..." He turned and swept his strange gaze over the mass of Hunters gathered, then locked eyes with the black Kuhna.
This... this is what he had seen... but it was real now. As if in a trance, the Dark One strode over to Kai, never letting his eyes leave the human Hollowheart's. When he reached him, it became painfully apparent to the Kuhna that Kai's vision was no more. You have given your sight to me... Let my Eyes help you now as you return... The words echoed within the mind of the Eyes, and he nodded slightly. "I am here for you... Kaireibutasou..."
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:54 PM
Without any movement, the Hollowheart stood tall and firm, allowing the enraged Kanua to wreak havoc upon his leathery snout. It was... a sort of justification to his actions. As the Kanua screamed, he could feel the claws sinking into his scaled skin, burying not too deep, but deep enough to allow it to bleed freely.
"No! Stop!" the Temple Hollowheart bellowed, ready to grab the feline in his jaws and fling it away...
But that was all before they heard his voice.
"That... can't be..." the bleeding Hollowheart lord breathed, speaking as if a new horror had risen from the grave. Mechanoir too had to stop and turn to see if it was really true... Kai was... back?
Meanwhile the crystalline Leader stooped to see if the female was alright and, seeing her state, figured she had fainted from all the stress and pain. "My friends, please. Aid her and put her near the rest so that they may care for her..." he said a little sadly. No one would take something like him home. Seeing that only a few Hunters could leave the Shrine (a couple of Hunters having tried to walk out the door and sent flying back), the Leader surmised that only a few could leave since the imp's spell had only been partly consumated...
"No! Stop!" the Temple Hollowheart bellowed, ready to grab the feline in his jaws and fling it away...
But that was all before they heard his voice.
"That... can't be..." the bleeding Hollowheart lord breathed, speaking as if a new horror had risen from the grave. Mechanoir too had to stop and turn to see if it was really true... Kai was... back?
Meanwhile the crystalline Leader stooped to see if the female was alright and, seeing her state, figured she had fainted from all the stress and pain. "My friends, please. Aid her and put her near the rest so that they may care for her..." he said a little sadly. No one would take something like him home. Seeing that only a few Hunters could leave the Shrine (a couple of Hunters having tried to walk out the door and sent flying back), the Leader surmised that only a few could leave since the imp's spell had only been partly consumated...
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:57 PM
Capturing froze, breathing raggedly, anger washing away from him in a movement like how the tide leaves the beach.
Why isn't he fighting back? He thought angrily, locking eyes with the great Hollowheart before seeing his gaze turn to something else.
Blood pumped in his ears, he couldn't hear, but then... it receded...
That sweet sound, that cherished... cherished sound was ringing in his ears. Kai's voice... Why did it have to torment him? Why? It was done! Why hurt him now?
But these words... Capturing had never heard Kai speak them before... So he turned quickly (though it seemed to take an indefinite amount of time to him) and saw Kai
alive...
KAI! KAI! KAI! Capturing said happily, tears streaming down his snout. The little Kanua raced to the edge, across Asyriel's nose, and jumped, snapping his wings open and soaring across the shrine, his nails clicking as he touched down and scampered towards Kai.
Why isn't he fighting back? He thought angrily, locking eyes with the great Hollowheart before seeing his gaze turn to something else.
Blood pumped in his ears, he couldn't hear, but then... it receded...
That sweet sound, that cherished... cherished sound was ringing in his ears. Kai's voice... Why did it have to torment him? Why? It was done! Why hurt him now?
But these words... Capturing had never heard Kai speak them before... So he turned quickly (though it seemed to take an indefinite amount of time to him) and saw Kai
alive...
KAI! KAI! KAI! Capturing said happily, tears streaming down his snout. The little Kanua raced to the edge, across Asyriel's nose, and jumped, snapping his wings open and soaring across the shrine, his nails clicking as he touched down and scampered towards Kai.
by Kodai » 09/05/2007 6:57 PM
Wash was shocked. No, shocked would be an understatement.
Wash was flabberghasted. He was surprised, shocked, and had that unpleasant gurgly feeling in the pit of his stomach that reeked of nostalgia and unpleasant familiarity.
He stared unblinkingly at the human Kaibutsu in a sort of sickly wonder, that he had returned from the dead... Seemingly without sight, though... His dog-like snout buried itself in the crook of Kodai's neck as a possible comfort for both of them (though he winced as some of her hair brushed against a scratch on his muzzle).
"Kai..." He choked out, voice muffled somewhat by the girl's shoulder and neck. "Kai... You are alive..." His eyes alighted on the shard still embedded in Kaireibutasou's chest. "But you're still hurt...! You shouldn't be upright like that..." He didn't do anything, though, trusting Capturing to do what was necessary without acting too rash.
Lenore woke slowly and groggily as the Leader spoke and Capturing sprang into action (quite literally). She stared upwards at the Leader with her ears back, watching him with an expression of mingled affection, sadness, and a bit of steadfast horror. "But... But..." She whined, before coughing a few times (and bringing up a bit of blood). "What will you do? I can't... Can't just... Leave you..." Her voice trailed off as she let her head fall back down to the floor, though still doing her best to look at him. "Can't..." She stretched a paw towards him as best as she could.
Wash was flabberghasted. He was surprised, shocked, and had that unpleasant gurgly feeling in the pit of his stomach that reeked of nostalgia and unpleasant familiarity.
He stared unblinkingly at the human Kaibutsu in a sort of sickly wonder, that he had returned from the dead... Seemingly without sight, though... His dog-like snout buried itself in the crook of Kodai's neck as a possible comfort for both of them (though he winced as some of her hair brushed against a scratch on his muzzle).
"Kai..." He choked out, voice muffled somewhat by the girl's shoulder and neck. "Kai... You are alive..." His eyes alighted on the shard still embedded in Kaireibutasou's chest. "But you're still hurt...! You shouldn't be upright like that..." He didn't do anything, though, trusting Capturing to do what was necessary without acting too rash.
Lenore woke slowly and groggily as the Leader spoke and Capturing sprang into action (quite literally). She stared upwards at the Leader with her ears back, watching him with an expression of mingled affection, sadness, and a bit of steadfast horror. "But... But..." She whined, before coughing a few times (and bringing up a bit of blood). "What will you do? I can't... Can't just... Leave you..." Her voice trailed off as she let her head fall back down to the floor, though still doing her best to look at him. "Can't..." She stretched a paw towards him as best as she could.
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