Chasing Shadows

[Riamah]

The cat had been in three grand battles after leaving Trian. Two of which she could have been shot in. Luckily it had never happened and she had escaped with only being scared. Now seeing her scared was a fearful sight to somebody looking at her. Typical of a cat, she would puff up to appear larger and more fierce.

She did giggle at the short adventure story Kosh told her and shook her head.

"I've never been kissed so no."

Not liking to wear clothes, Ailuros would probably be able to wear such a swath, but wouldn't like doing it.

"It is good you recovered though."

Wanting to join in the dance, her paw had started tapping to the rhythm of the beats she could sense coming from the group.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

As soon as they entered the circle, they could hear the rhythmic claps and drums coming from an unseen source, so hypnotic it was that soon they too were part of the dance, swirling in an array of colors and sounds that time seemed to have no meaning until finally [member="Ailuros"] was face to face with the spirit they had come to meet.

“My, my a guest we have. Oh cherished day, cherished day. Who might you be to grace our humble dance?” She/ he inquired in voice that sounded like wind chimes dancing in soft breeze.

 

[Riamah]

Dance and ritual meant so much to Ailuros that even if she didn't know the meaning behind the movements, the cat was engrossed in the exercise. Twisting, turning, twirling, bowing and dipping in a pattern, she found herself facing the host of the dance finally.

He spoke to her when he noticed she was a new face. Going with the motion of the music, Ailuros bowed to her new dancing parter and smiled.

"I am Ailuros."

Simple and truthful and ​all that was needed.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

Laughter like silver bells accompanied her host’s bemused appearance. While it was beautiful, the features lacked anything that distinctly male or female traits, almost as if it were a pool of thousand faces and none. “I like this one. So beautiful and so polite. I am Kamatari, you call me Kama. I have a feeling we are going to be good friends, don’t you?”

“But I am sure you are not here just dance and amuse us. Tell me how can Kama help you. What is your hearts desire, [member="Ailuros"]?” The next few seconds would be crucial as the spirit had opened the door to negotiation.

 

[Riamah]

When the conversation started with Kama and he said he would like her, Ailuros would give him a smile that probably showed off her longer canine teeth than what would normally be seen. He continued on to say she was beautiful and polite, she nodded her head to allow him to speak on.

"I was raised to be polite. You ask what my heart's desire is, but that is an answer I can't provide. What I may want today may not be what I want tomorrow."

It may not make sense, but the cat felt it better to phrase it that way.

"However barely a few minutes ago, I expressed wanting to know how to look differently than I really do. I think that is how to put it."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

The being frowned for a second, a mere heart beat but it seemed to stretch to an impossible eternity. “I sense a great sadness in your plea, not in words or actions, but the sadness is there. Your hearts wish shall be granted but there is a price, once done it can never be undone, for knowledge once gained cannot be unlearned. To gain what you seek, you will drink of their essence. Take a part of who they are unto yourself, and you shall be whatever or whoever you wish to become.”

And with that the spirit leaned forward to seal the deal with a kiss, a kiss that held no carnal promise but a gateway to her hearts desire. She will feel it first, rumbling in her belly like a great hunger, then the drumming pulse of heart, finally her mind would seem to stretch out to what seemed like an endless vista before the sensation of falling to the ground ended when their lips parted.

“Have a care child, be careful what you seek for you just might find it.” It quipped before laughing like musically bells and music began to play again.

 

[Riamah]

Not at all expecting the action, even if the kiss wasn't an advance it caught Ailuros by surprise. The sensation what came with it was like nothing she had ever felt before, but had the feeling it would happen again. He mentioned there was sadness in her, but she didn't know what he meant. Maybe it was something that would happen in time. Not right now though. What he said, she would remember and if the need came up for her to have the need to look like something else, she knew what she needed to do.

"Yes, sir. I will remember. Thank you."

The music started​ up again and the dance continued.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

For awhile they stayed and enjoyed the dance, but before she realized it the time had come for them to leave. Stepping out pf the circle her guide led her down a forest path. Deeper and deeper they they walked into the woods as the shadows grew thick, and an uneasy dread creeped up the back of her spine.

Kosh said in a voice not far from a whisper to [member="Ailuros"], “Next we visit Mordacai, the living face of fear and destruction. He lives in the deep woods of despair and misery. Steel yourself and show no fear, if he so much as smells fear on you, he will eat you alive.”

 

[Riamah]

The dance, movement and music filled Ailuros' ears and senses. This was the most enjoyment the cat had in a very long time. Eventually they made an exit though and moved out of the forest clearing. Her heart and breathing slowed back to normal, but she was energized and felt great.

Like a child, she walked with Kosh until a feeling of dread came upon her. It felt like the calm before a storm. The woods were now eerily silent around them and nothing stirred nearby. Darkness came around them, but it wasn't so dark she couldn't see.

Her fur laid back and flattened as a chill went up her spine. When Kosh broke the silence and said who they were going to visit next all she could do was nod. After a few heartbeats, she found her voice.

"I understand."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

They emerged from the canopy shadows, large arachnids the size of small hose, fangs dripping with purple ooze and unhidden menace, propelled by legs with ropy overlapping muscles. They hissed and shrieked in a manner painful to the ears and [member="Ailuros"] could feel the creeping dread deepen even more.

Finally they were surrounded on alll sizes as an unseen voice, whose timber seemed to clutch at their very bowels and pull them into the earth asked in a slow calculated tone, “Who dares to tread the sacred walkways of my abode? Speak so they will know whose bones I will be gnawing on.”

 

[Riamah]

True to the advice of Kosh, Ailuros held no fear as they approached the very large spiders. She had far more curiosity than fear for these creatures. While she knew they could gobble her up without a second thought, her ears tipped forward through the pain of the sounds they made. The tip of her tail twitched slightly in irritation, but she had no fear.

As she had stated to the previous spirit, she bravely faced the next one.

"I am Ailuros and you won't be gnawing on my bones I don't think."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“Ho ho ho! Kitty cat is braver than she thinks or perhaps to foolish bravado fills your veins. Either way, we shall see,” The faceless voice taunted [member="Ailuros"] as the ground beneat her rumbled, then cracked open causing all to fall into a lightless divide through the earth. Perhaps it was reality, perhaps an illusion, it felt so real she could tell neither difference.

At the back of her mind she could feel seeds of doubt she would ever see her loved ones ever again. Perhaps indeed this was the end of her story.

 

[Riamah]

Tilting her head to try and pinpoint where the voice was coming from, it still would not pick up on any fear from her. Not even when the ground rumbled and appeared to open under her feet. She did let out a yowl of surprise and that little doubt was felt, but did not overwhelm her and she remained strong.

Kosh had said nobody had died while in here and Ailuros trusted him.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

As abruptly as sudden as sensation of falling, it ended as well. [member="Ailuros"] would find herself alone, standing in the middle pf vast walkways of silken threads woven in complex patterns all around her. The unseen voice seems unpreturbed by her lack of fear and asks her very simple question, “You stand at the bank of a river, its cool waters flowing serenely around a giant boulder that all but blocks the path of the river. Which of the two holds a greater potential for destruction?”

 

[Riamah]

The ground became solid under her feet and Ailuros stood strong. Her tail twiched slightly, but it wasn't out of fear. She looked around and saw the path she was standing on was made of webs like what a spider would craft. It made total sense to her since in the forest they had been talking to what looked like spiders. At the thought of Kosh, she noticed she was alone.

However, she wasn't allowed to dwell long on that when a question was posed to her. Much like what had happened when she met Kosh originally. Listening to what was asked, she came up with her answer.

"The water."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

There was a sound of slow clapping as voice slowly gained formed and a hunched hideous looking humanoid appeared from the webs and approached her. Skin as black as the void of space stood in contast to the bone white air that topped his head. Four arms and four legs rippled in muscular form, yet where his feet touched the web you could see the toes curl as it to grip it in a tight embrace, A mouth filled with sharp fangs, breathed tlhe air laborously as if each breath were a struggle, a long tongue would snake out and moisturise his parched lips which glistened with saliva and who knows what other liquids. Yet the most striking figure were his eyes, at first glance they seemed normal but on closer inspection it would appear more buglike than human, capable to viewing its prey from dozens of refractions, seeing any hint of weakness no matter how well they tried to hide it.

Addressing [member="Ailuros"] he said, “You are not as gullible as the others that at least shows some promise. I will confess you intrigue me fleshie. What is it you wanted?”

 

[Riamah]

Turning to face the new sound, Ailuros remember what Kosh had said about showing any fear. There was none there to begin with since she was ever curious. No matter what aura he projected and he wanted to make sure that fear was felt. If he could pick up on anything other than fear, he would feel that ever present curiosity from her and interest in him.

His appearance was quite intriguing and she took it all in as she looked at him.

"Knowledge, I'm here learning."

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“I offer the knowledge of battle and death, ceaseless destruction and the revitalization from enthopy. Life and death are but endless cycle for me, to study what I know is to learn futility, for no matter what small or great things you do, in the end it is mere dust under wheels of time. I will teach you a song, one you may find useful in the task ahead but only if you are willing to pay my price. Each time you sing the song, you must plant 3 seeds and nurture them until they take root. The price for death is renewed life, there are my terms, do you accept [member="Ailuros"]?”

 

[Riamah]

Nodding as she listened, Ailuros' tail twitched slightly and she could agree to the terms he proposed. She had some questions first.

"What does the song do? Before you teach it to me, I feel I should know what it does. As for the price, are these seeds special or can they be any seed at all?"

If they were some sort of special seed or had any great influence on nature, then she would be hesitant to plant them. Her answer to his offer hinged on what he had to say to her.

[member="Daxton Bane"]

 

[Daxton Bane]

“The song is called Borne on Ill Wind, the effect would vary depending on the tone and pitch you used to sing it with. If sung in a martial manner, full of fiber and vest, your enemies morale will weaken before you unwavering might as you will ignore the effects of every third wound you are dealt in melee during the battle. Sung soft with a haunting lint, you can summon smoke and fire spirits to cause a small explosion of about 5 paces in diameter within your line of sight. How you choose the power is up to you but the price in either case [member="Ailuros"] is the same.”

“All I ask in return is you plant three seeds, preferably a fruit bearing tree or shrub that will thrive on the planet or location the song was used. I would prefer it be part of the eco system or at least beneficial some how to the cycle of life. So do you agree to the terms?”