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Post by clouds just clouds on Jan 9, 2015 23:05:40 GMT -8
"Dark and scary?" Imani mused, a smirk twitching her lips. "Poor little cub..." She stood and stretched, letting out a little noise as she did so, and then walked back towards the tunnel, pausing to glance back at Areus. "You're not bothering me. I'm the one who keeps coming back to you..." She paused and tilted her head, watching Areus carefully. "Thank you, Areus..." Instead of explaining why she thanked him, she motioned for him to follow and began to step lightly on the path, heading back towards his little cave.
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Post by clouds just clouds on Jan 25, 2015 19:46:00 GMT -8
[SKIP]
Imani wondered through the caves somewhat near the village. Perhaps she had just taken a walk with her mother and was mindlessly "making her way back" to their hut. Her large eyes searched the bright crystals that lit the way among their tunnels. Her mind dipped back to their own trial, when she proved herself to be a warrior and a woman. She remembered being frightened, yet extremely excited. Back then, she thrived under her mother's approval.
Not that she still wouldn't glow if her mother said how proud she was of her, but there were less things to be proud of Imani for. Mostly with age, and because of her "condition". The tunnel came to a fork with three different paths. Imani already knew which one she wanted to take, but as she stepped into it, she heard echoing voices from one of the other ones.
Since she was close to the village, the voices weren't at all surprising. What unnerved her was the fact that she heard a male voice. Dipping her head low, Imani quickened her pace to more strictly return to the safety of her hut.
After a few turns and choice decisions, the bridge to the village came closer in view. Glancing back, Imani looked to see if the people she heard from before were close behind her, and just then a voice came from a neighboring tunnel and light body smashed into her.
The sound of a little girl's giggle filled the air, "Watch where you're going, Dad!"
Imani's vision immediately swirled and she felt hot breath on her neck, with a male's voice. She saw blackness. Hands groped her arms for a second, as if steadying her, but quickly Imani clawed them away, a scream rising in her throat.
The male quickly fell back and cowered on the ground. It was too late. Horrid memories scratched the tender flesh of Imani's brain and forced their way forward, blinding Imani in fright. Turning on her heels, Imani blindly began to run. Her shoulder slammed into the cave walls, and she let out a yelp of pain, but she continued.
Harsh sobs left her, and her body was shaking from head to toe. Further away from the village, she now dove through the tunnels far less used than others, and then ran through the ones that perhaps she and Areus had taken together (many times, depending on how much they take walks). Thick, gasping breaths left Imani as she ran, whimpers and mindless pleading falling from her lips.
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Post by Dina Doo on Jan 27, 2015 17:00:26 GMT -8
Areus had been wandering around the tunnels when the commotion had started. Perhaps, he had been down underground for at least a week or more and it was still something he wasn't quite used to. Areus missed the sun and hoped that at some point in the future, he would be able to convince Imani to above ground with him. Areus was convinced he was growing paler as the days passed. I'm probably getting fatter too, he thought bitterly.
But he didn't want to leave Imani.
Beside the small riverbank, the warrior knelt. Areus cupped the cold warrior into his hands and splashed his face before slowly standing again, mulling his thoughts over. But that all came to a halt when the sound of someone running nearby reached his ears. Naturally, he assumed it was Imani. She claimed this area was rarely used and during his stay there, that was something that had been true. Going against his better judgement and everything he had ever been taught, he called out to whoever he had heard. "Imani?"
Stepping away from the river, Areus ventured back into the vast network of underground. "Imani?" He called again. And, perhaps in a few moments, Areus finally caught sight of his woman friend. If that were the case, he took a careful step towards in an attempt to stop her. "Hey, Imani, what's wrong?" The warrior's brows pulled together. "What happened? Are you okay?"
Dina is sorry.
In the vast darkness of the underground, it should have been no surprise that there was something else after Imani. Foul black fur twitched with anticipation when prey started to run. Dagger-like claws ticked against the stone as the monstrous beast hurried through the dark. In a matter of moments, the beast stumbled upon the two young adults. Eager for a nice meal, the monster could not wait any longer. With a horrid screech, the skeletal monster pounced. If Cloudy wanted all of this to happen, then the monster landed in front of the two, maybe trapping them or something. Who knows. Dina is sorry about the shitty post.
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Post by clouds just clouds on Jan 27, 2015 20:04:17 GMT -8
Her mind was clouded with panic, and she barely was able to recognize the fact that the male voice she just heard was Areus. Except, she couldn't stop the tears and whimpering. Her legs did stop from running. Instead, she put up her arms over her head and backed away, just to hear a terrible screech. A gasp left Imani and she shakily reached for two long knives that she kept at her sides.
Still, her hands and arms shook with fear. She stumbled closer to Areus, her eyes widening. That's it. She was going to die. That single thought was soon among many others--images and pictures shouting in her mind of the man who took advantage of her, his rotting breath...
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Post by Dina Doo on Jan 30, 2015 10:18:01 GMT -8
If Imani didn't move or strike, she would be killed. Especially since the monster in front of them seemed undaunted by the sight of the blades. It let out a sharp hiss and slowly edged forward. It could smell fear. It let out a roar and crouched, ready to strike and kill. But another roar met the beast's, echoing off the stony walls as a large lion darted out from behind Imani. Monster met lion in battle and the two tumbled down the stony path. The monster let out a screech and lunged in for a bite but a powerful paw knocked it back. As the monster fell, Areus pounced on top of the black fur and lunged for the throat. The monster let out another cry that faded into a gurgle as inky black blood filled the beast's throat, blood bubbling out of its mouth. The monster's body convulsed violently under the lion's teeth. A moment passed before all fell silent, the beast growing still and stiff. It was over. Areus had won.
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Post by clouds just clouds on Jan 31, 2015 0:29:57 GMT -8
Cloudy apologizes for this post. Imani will get over her fit soon, she promises. Ugh Cloudy is such a bad rper.
Imani's eyes watered and she fell to the ground, unable to stand anymore. It was all over with. Areus saved her, from her own figment of her imagination. Her own imagination saved her from her imagination. Except she was so scared. She buried her head into her arms, in a cow-towing position, and just sobbed.
The images in her head started to calm, and her panic slowly began to recede. Imani didn't bother looking up as she shakily said, "Are you okay...?" Her own voice made her fingers curl.
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Post by Dina Doo on Jan 31, 2015 11:18:39 GMT -8
Areus didn't transform back into his human form right away and instead decided to use his form to his advantage in comforting Imani. The lion padded away from the dead monster with a snort and made his way over to the young woman. I still have to be careful, he thought. But she probably thought this was all imaginary anyway.. Areus stopped in front of the cowering Imani and laid himself down flat on his stomach, front paws stretched out in front of him. The lion let out a gruff noise, the closest he could get to a reply.
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Post by clouds just clouds on Jan 31, 2015 21:58:56 GMT -8
Imani heard the shift of movement, and then slowly looked up to look at Areus. "Oh, Areus..." She crawled forward and wrapped her arms around his head and pushed her face into his mane. "I'm so scared... I don't want to be afraid anymore. I don't want..." She shook her head and let out a breath, running her fingers through Areus' mane. "I don't know what's real anymore, Areus." She stared off into the darkness, her voice cracking. "I don't know anything anymore." Her lips trembled and she shook her head. If she was up to being funny, she would have playfully asked Areus to bathe once on a while, but instead she just stayed how she was. After a few moments of sorrow, Imani whispered, "I... I should go to another area... I don't want to be found. Not right away, not like this..."
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Post by Dina Doo on Feb 1, 2015 7:39:15 GMT -8
Areus longed to wrap his large paws around her and pull her close, keeping her safe and with him forever. But that wasn't something he could do, as much as he wanted it. But, if Cloudy wanted, perhaps the lion did press against Imani for a brief moment, saddened that that was perhaps the only form of comfort he could ever give. His words could only do so much. The lion gently pulled away from her before transforming back into Areus. There was an uncertain pause before he spoke, but he gently pressed on. "We can head back to where I'm staying, if you want. And I can get out of your way so you can relax. And I could find some food." His words made him smile softly, but it faltered not a moment later. "With you being away so much, does your mom or your sister worry about you?"
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Post by clouds just clouds on Feb 1, 2015 14:30:36 GMT -8
"I don't think they realize how much I am away," Imani said quietly, looking down at her hands. Slowly, she pushed herself up and put away her knives. Her hands still trembled, so she wrapped her arms around herself. "If they did, I am sure they would..." Reaching under her mask, she wiped away her tears and slowly began moving towards where Areus usually stayed.
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