Through the Cries of Old Man Autumn's Demise (random)

IC: Alright, I'm itching for a battle, and Mayu hasn't been used in quite awhile. I'd like to know if pipking wants to battle me this time, as we didn't finish our last battle. If not, then it's completely open to anyone, though I'd prefer someone a little more skilled at writing.

IC: Dim sunlight peeked in lazily through the forest canopy, nearly intruding into the foreign events of the forest. Plants embraced the rare sunlight, seemingly reaching up to touch the weary beams, like a lone beacon of light in a violent storm. The forest creatures, however, who were not nearly so plant-like, reeled away from the to-them blinding light, poking their furred heads into any available nook and crevice. The bounded away further still at the sound of catlike footsteps on the newly coloured leaves, which now rested on the forest floor in a mat of death. Old man winter would soon be poking his face out from underneath some hidden rock before long to cover the land in a ribbon of frost.

The fact did not in the least concern Mayu, who at present was stepping along in a catlike way through the now-dormant forest. She glanced around in an uninterested way. The decline of cheerful Autumn into the icy prison of Winter had never failed to discourage her, and this year was no different. She unconsciously eyed a chipmunk as it squirmed away from her sound, but not before stuffing it’s greedy cheeks with a generous helping of chestnuts. In the mists far down the well-travelled trail a bird squawked as it was disturbed by some intruder. Mayu glanced up, her pulse racing. She hadn’t expected to meet someone on this trail, as she had never before. While it may simply have been some figment that had scared the bird, she feared that it could be something less harmless.

Slowly ducking behind a nearby oak and stilling her breath, she was now sure it was a person. The thick, coarse footsteps on the soft carpet of leaves were as piercing as the bird’s call. She fancied a look around the tree’s thick trunk, peering off into the mists ahead. The sunlight, while it had grown no stronger, did little to clear through the fog. She would simply have to wait in silence for the person to reveal himself or herself to her. The hearty footsteps counted down like a pendulum…

One…

Two…

Three…

OOC: I'll fight you, Sear. I haven't ever fought you before, and I think you're really good at writing. I read somewhere else, though, that Mirren was going to fight you here, so, if you don't want to fight me, that's okay. Just let me know, and I'll post an intro!

Well, I'm not sure what's going on with him. I was asking him through PM, and he said he'd fight, but that he wanted to fight in the Battle Dome...so if you want to fight, it's okay with me.

OOC: Okay, I’ll post my intro now!

BIC:

The wind rustled faintly through the foliage of the vast forest, and the sunlight dappled the forest floor in various places, creating an eerie effect. Rhavyn edged slowly toward the silhouette of a figure she had spotted, being careful to stay within the shadows. A voice suddenly began speaking to her, but Rhavyn wasn’t in the least bit startled. She had become used to her master’s presence.

It’s only a little farther, Rhavyn.

“But, Master, I’ve been walking for a long time. Why can I not travel in my natural element and fly?”

Rhavyn was barely able to stifle a yelp as she was suddenly jerked onto her knees. Against her will, her head slammed into the hard-packed earth repeatedly and then she was thrown into the side of a great oak tree. Rhavyn bit her lip to keep from emitting a sound that would betray her presence to her prey, if her master’s admonishment hadn’t already alerted the figure. Rhavyn grimaced as her master’s voice raged inside her head.

Do not question what I tell you, Rhavyn! You are mine! And you will do as I command!

Rhavyn’s master quickly suppressed her real personality, and, soon, Rhavyn was back to being cold, heartless, and calculating.

I have to keep a tighter control on her spirit, growled Rhavyn’s master. Rhianna is still trying to break free.

Much closer to her goal now, Rhavyn threw caution to the winds and stepped into one of the larger patches of sunlight. The figure finally turned toward Rhavyn, and, for awhile, the two just stared at each other. Rhavyn’s target finally broke the silence.

“Who are you, and what is your business here?”

Rhavyn only blinked in response. The warrior tried again.

“Perhaps you failed to hear me the first time. Who are you, and what is your business here?”

Once again, Rhavyn only blinked.

The warrior snorted softly in frustration. “You’re not one for talking much, are you?”

Rhavyn finally spoke, her expression completely blank and her voice even. “I am called Rhavyn, and my master has sent me here to kill you.”

OoC: Wha? I thought that my "Master" concept with Jul 'Kaed was original...sorry if you feel that I imitated you in any way.

IC: Mayu hadn’t expected this. She had hidden behind the oak, crouched and ready for attack, only to swivel around and come face to face with another woman, not the fearsome incarnation that she had been expecting. She’d been tracking the vile thing through these woods for days, but hadn’t seen a sign of it yet. The creature had slaughtered the residents of a nearby village. The villagers hadn’t stood a chance, what with their insufficient weapons. She’d be surprised to hear that they defeated an army of moles with the hoes and rocks that they possessed.

Nevertheless, it seemed that combat was inevitable. The woman in front of her seemed incredibly calm considering the circumstances. Mayu was sweating bullets even in Autumn’s cold, yet her opponent seemed to be perfectly content to stand somewhat inadequately clad in the chill air. The woman’s eyes were also somewhat of a mystery; they were clouded and distant, with not even a glint of what light there was resting on their wet surfaces. Mayu sighed slightly, and the thought crossed her mind for just an instant that she should perhaps away and bound off into the trees, never to see the strange woman, but it was extinguished nearly as quickly as it was born. Mayu had never ever turned down any sort of challenge, especially one of such…lethal potential.

“And who is this “Master” of yours, woman? Why should he wish to cause me such a malady?”

A blank stare was Mayu’s only response. Again, the thought of running fluttered around in her mind like a bright cardinal, but it faded. She wanted to run, was desperate to run. Mayu had never had such a strange urge before. She was eager enough to fight, but the utter calmness and mysterious visage of her opponent sparked a fear in her unlike any she had ever felt. No, she couldn’t turn this down. It meant too much to her.

She would fight.

Reluctantly, she drew both Koyo and Vesi from their twin sheathes, their distinct and unique ring sending forest creatures scattering every which way, eager to leave before any sort of possible danger became apparent. Mayu stood at the ready, waiting for her opponent to make her first move, her eyes locked with the cloudy gaze of her foe. She didn’t feel right by doing this, and the urge to run was nearly overwhelming. She managed to force the fleeting terror back down to the depths of her mind, ignoring the small and insignificant voice that urged her to flee.

But she knew it. She would die before she did such a thing.

OOC: Actually, I just came up with Rhavyn about a week ago, so I should be hoping you don’t feel I’ve imitated you. I honestly wasn’t thinking about modeling a character after Jul’Kaed, but I guess Rhavyn sort of turned out that way. I think the “Master” concept is the only similarity between Rhavyn and Jul’Kaed, though. Anyway, on with the fight!


Rhavyn stared blankly at Mayu for a few moments. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she felt that this wasn’t right. Something was wrong about her being this way. Why should I so desire to kill this woman? Unh…I don’t feel like myself… Her thoughts were immediately suppressed by her master, and he sent a jolt of electricity through Rhavyn’s silver collar and manacles. Rhavyn whimpered ever so slightly at her punishment and backed out of the shaft of sunlight into the shadows. Mayu gazed upon this spectacle in confusion, and, to her surprise, Rhavyn’s eyes suddenly didn’t seem as clouded over as before. The moment lasted for only a fleeting moment, however, as Rhavyn’s master regained control.

“You have no need of knowing my master’s name.”

Mayu, still bewildered by the situation, tensed herself and brandished Koyo and Vesi menacingly. Rhavyn held her weapon, a deadly looking glaive, at an odd angle and stepped back into the sunlight. Mayu had practically no warning before the light reflected off the blade of Rhavyn’s glaive shot into her eyes in a burst of brilliance. Temporarily blinded, Mayu reeled backward, dropping both of her weapons and rubbing at her eyes vigorously. She waited for the fatal strike to come, but it never did.

When her vision finally cleared, Mayu first retrieved Koyo and Vesi from the ground and then scanned her surroundings for any signs of Rhavyn. The mysterious warrior had disappeared, however, and the most Mayu could do was constantly turn about in a circle, ready to parry any sort of attack from the shadows. The ensuing attack came not from the shadows, but from the enshrouding leaves of the trees overhead.

Rhavyn dropped down like a rock from the sky onto Mayu, her talons unsheathed and catching the occasional ray of sunlight. She slashed cruelly at Mayu’s back, blood welling up from the deep furrows left by her talons. Mayu didn’t take long to recover from the surprise and immediately whirled to slash at Rhavyn’s left shoulder with Koyo. Rhavyn only partially dodged and took the otherwise debilitating attack on her left wrist. Koyo clanged loudly against the silver manacle there and was deflected away from Rhavyn’s body.

Rhavyn and Mayu each leaped away from the other. Rhavyn still radiated a cold calmness that threatened to infuriate Mayu.

“Can you at least show some emotion?”

Rhavyn only blinked, which caused Mayu to quiver slightly in irritation. However, Mayu didn’t allow Rhavyn’s unemotional state to dictate how she behaved. The two stared across at each other, one confused and a little afraid and the other exhibiting absolutely no emotion whatsoever.

Sorry about the delay. I'll be responding as soon as I get this homework done.

Are you waiting for me to post? If so, I'm letting you know that I've read your above post. *sits back and waits for reply*

Mayu was panting with the exertion of fighting this bird-woman. Talons? Wings? Mayu had never encountered such a beast before. She had heard legends of such foul creatures known as harpies, but she doubted that this was one of them. The harpies were supposedly extremely vicious and sadistic, but this one that she faced was just…strange. She just sat there, unblinking, like…like…Mayu couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Mayu’s opponent stared, wings outstretched, talons now dripping with Mayu’s hot, sticky blood. Upon seeing this, Mayu became aware of her injury. With the adrenaline wearing off somewhat, she was brought to her knees in pain. She glanced up to see that her foe had paced forwards, ready to strike at Mayu while she was down. Mayu brandished her sister blades firmly in each hand – it would take more than a few cuts to bring her down.

The talon came down, cleaving an invisible scar through the air towards Mayu’s head. It screeched in silence, coming ever nearer towards its target. Mayu regarded all of this in slow motion. Every inch the talon moved seemed painfully slow. She watched as a drop of sweat glided off of a loose strand of her hair to tumble ever down to the matted leaves below.

She would not fall.

The talon reached the target, but did not make contact. The bird-woman’s face finally showed an emotion – shock. Mayu had simply…vanished.

OoC: Sorry about the length, kind of pressed for time.

I’m not using your character’s name because it hasn’t been revealed to Mayu yet, in case you’re wondering. Also, Mayu is incredibly fast…she didn’t become invisible just now.

OoC: Actually, Mayu does know Rhavyn’s name. At the end of my intro post, Rhavyn tells Mayu her name. That’s okay, though. I miss little things in posts all the time! I don’t think Rhavyn really knows Mayu’s name, but I’ve been using it to avoid mass confusion and annoying repetition. Rhavyn wouldn’t just ask her opponent’s name outright. That’s not in her character. Oh, yeah…Rhavyn also doesn’t know the names of Mayu’s weapons, either… If you want me to edit my previous posts, just let me know.

BiC:

Rhavyn immediately whirled around, searching fruitlessly for the warrior-woman. Had she become invisible? Rhavyn had never encountered a being that could do such things. Warily, she folded her wings against her back and leaped into the colorful, concealing foliage of a nearby beech tree. Careful not to give away her current position, Rhavyn shifted herself ever so slightly to achieve a better vantage point. Unfortunately, in doing so, she disturbed some of the vibrantly colored leaves enough so that they rustled and fell to the ground. Rhavyn bit her tongue in order to keep from uttering an Avarite curse now long forgotten to the world.

But the damage had already been done.

Rhavyn felt a sharp pain in the small of her back, signifying that Mayu had found her. The warrior-woman painfully ripped out the blade she had stabbed into Rhavyn and then delivered a swift kick to Rhavyn’s temple, while balancing skillfully on the branch she occupied. Rhavyn plummeted to the ground and landed with a loud thud. Mayu, however, didn’t allow Rhavyn any time to recover. She descended upon the Avarite, sister blades glinting in the sunlight, but never saw the secret smile that crept across Rhavyn’s face.

Mayu suddenly slammed into a wall of pure shadow that had formed over Rhavyn’s body. As if it had a life of its own, the shadow contorted and wrapped Mayu in its malevolent embrace. Mayu, eyes wide with terror, couldn’t utter a sound, the scream catching in her throat. Rhavyn stood to her feet, staring impassively at the struggling warrior-woman. She held out a talon-tipped hand, palm upward, and slowly began to close it. Responding to Rhavyn’s gesture, the shadow began to squeeze Mayu’s body tighter and tighter as Rhavyn’s hand gradually formed into a fist. Rhavyn stretched out her other hand, and a minute sphere of shadow appeared inside it and formed itself into Rhavyn’s glaive that had been dropped somewhere previously.

Mayu’s face was now turning a satisfactory shade of blue. Just a few moments longer and the warrior-woman would be dead. The voice of Rhavyn’s master urged her on.

That’s it, my pretty one. Destroy the woman, and please me!

Rhavyn’s grip tightened, while Mayu’s face now shifted to the color purple. She was nearly dead now. Suddenly, however, Rhavyn had a thought float to the top of her consciousness. Why am I doing this? Who am I? I don’t want to kill anyone! She immediately released her fist, and the shadow constricting Mayu dissipated. The warrior-woman collapsed to the ground, graciously sucking in massive amounts of life-giving air. Rhavyn shook her head in an attempt to clear it of confusion, but before she could speak, her master’s voice raged inside her head.

This is the last time you will defy me, Rhavyn! Since you won’t do what I tell you to do, I’ll force you to do what I want!

Rhavyn’s silver collar and manacles glowed fiercely as a shadowy aura appeared around her. She was wrenched to her knees, and pain filled her body as her master took possession of it. All vestiges of Rhavyn’s own personality were wiped away, and her eyes seemed to glaze over. She screamed from the intense pain consuming her body and fell mercurially onto her side, facing away from Mayu. There she lay, unmoving, only the slight breeze stirring her hair.


OoC: Yes, Rhavyn’s master just took control of her body, but her appearance and attacks won’t change. At least…not yet…hee-hee… Also, now that her master is in her body, Rhavyn will probably talk more, but it won’t be her, it will be her master. Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, Rhavyn doesn’t know who her master is. That’s why she isn’t using his name, even though he does have a name.

Kind of busy with homework right now, but I'll get to the reply ASAP.

And no, of course you don't have to edit that stuff. It's fine.

EDIT: Mayu recovered her feet slowly, then stood fast over the twitching, convulsing woman, who was bathed in something of a glow, though glow would be the wrong way to describe it, as it seemed to draw all light away from itself, wreathing it’s captive in shadow. Mayu panted, sweat dripping from the bridge of her nose. She hadn’t quite understood what had happened. One minute, her sword had been at the throat of the murderous bird-girl, the next, her lungs were burning with fires that could only be matched by hell, her vision fading to a small point. And next…it was over. She was on the ground, precious air flowing freely into her eager bosom, and Rhavyn on the soft mat of leaves.

Mayu retrieved Vesi and Koyo from the forest floor, and when she had turned back to the girl, she jumped back in fright, for Rhavyn had now got up and was eyeing Mayu coldly, with the same blank expression, though…there was something different about it. The aura had left her body, however, it was now circling her metal collar and cuffs, dancing in shadow. Mayu regained her composture and cleared her throat. She opened her mouth, but no words were to be heard. Instead, a scream rang forth, so deadly, so awful, that it defied all manner of comprehension. It rattled the few leaves that still clung for dear life onto their wood hosts and sent the abundant forest creatures scurrying off for cover. Rhavyn showed no reaction at all, aside from a slight smirk that had appeared on her face.

After what seemed like hours, the screech halted, and was replaced by an intense silence, that, in some respects was worse than the devilish scream itself. Mayu had dropped to her knees, and was now in a fetal position, twitching madly. Tears freely dripped from her eyes, and sweat had painted a glossy sheen over her rattled body.

And then Rhavyn stretched her talons out towards the shuddering figure that was Mayu.

Rhavyn placed her shining talons around Mayu’s right arm, not with hurtful intentions but just to lift the warrior-woman to her feet. Rhavyn forced Mayu to look into her eyes, which were now beginning to become tinged with blood-red flecks that mottled their yellow color. Mayu could feel Rhavyn’s hot breath on her cheeks, and she made no effort to hide the shudder the moved down her spine. After a few moments of complete silence, Rhavyn spoke, but the voice that issued from her body was no longer Rhavyn’s voice. It was now masculine and carried a note of menace in it.

“Are you afraid, woman?”

Mayu did not, could not, respond. She was paralyzed by the power of Rhavyn's master. Rhavyn gave Mayu’s unresponsive body a violent shake and shouted.

“If you're not, you should be!”

Rhavyn snarled and threw Mayu’s body to the side. She whipped her glaive around, the blade singing through the air, and brought it down in an arc toward Mayu’s prostrate body. However, the blade never struck its target, for the warrior-woman had rolled out from underneath the attack. Rhavyn lunged at Mayu, her glaive alive in her hands. Mayu dodged again, and this cycle of attack and dodge continued around the forest for what seemed like hours.

Rhavyn suddenly stopped, threw her head back, and emitted a blood-curdling scream that reverberated throughout the trees. Mayu crouched behind an oak tree, fearful of what was to come.

“You might be able hide for a while, but you won’t be able to run after I unleash my fury upon the forest!”

Rhavyn swept her glaive to the side, and it disappeared in a swirl of shadow. She then made fists with her two hands and held them out in front of her, closing her eyes in the process. An aura of shadow surrounded her hands and seemed to draw strength from the shadows cast by the sunlight. The aura grew larger and larger until, with yet another cry, Rhavyn opened her hands.

The forest seemed to grow darker as hundreds of midnight-black ravens emerged from the shadows in Rhavyn’s hands. A screech emanated from the birds as they spotted Mayu huddled on the forest floor behind the oak tree. As one, they flapped their wings, creating a fleeting breeze, and sped toward Mayu, their eyes shining with eagerness.

Just to let you know there, Mayu was screaming because of Rhavyn's master's...magic power thinger, nor really because she was afraid. Guess I didn't make that quite clear enough.

I have to go to dinner right now, but I'll be replying shortly. Once the winter break starts, I won't have homework to delay me.

Would you like me to edit? I'd be happy to.

Sure, go ahead if you want. I've got time...dinner won't be ready for a few minutes. :p