Pick a Pathway - (Currently Closed for Halloween Version)

[Areater]

No! I have been very patient in waiting for stories and the next round! I agree 100% with you on the Impatience thing.

[Merlin's Heir]

Thank you so much for being patient, Areater. The patient and the generous shall be rewarded. (havez an idea in mind.... *chuckles evilly).
Anywho... Valent's story has been finished, voting ends in 24 hours. See page 25 for stories and path choices.

[pugtastic.]

I guess you're right. I'm sorry, I guess this just isn't my type of game, I'm too impatient

I won't be joining the next round, but thanks for the experience.. It was fun

[Merlin's Heir]

I'm glad you understand, TinyPug. I'll miss writing about your pet, but if you really think you shouldn't continue, I understand.
And I'm glad you liked the experience. I do try to make this fun, so when I hear that I've succeeded that makes me quite happy.

[Areater]

Why do I get the feeling that something very strange will happen to Mummy the next round? xD

Going to go read Valent's (surely awesome) story!

EDIT: A wonderful, sad, wonderful story. You did awesome!

[headphone raichu.]

Why do I get the feeling that something very strange will happen to Mummy the next round? xD

Going to go read Valent's (surely awesome) story!

EDIT: A wonderful, sad, wonderful story. You did awesome!

What page is the story on?

[Merlin's Heir]

Page 25.

[Howling W o l f.]

I think Skull's dead... :'( Sorry for the impatenceness

[headphone raichu.]

~ Hills of Fruit ~
Tasha, choosing the north-east path, parted from Mummy. Intrigued by the fruity scent, Tasha hurried along quickly. She soon came across the source of the smell. The trees cleared out and opened out into a set of huge, grassy hills. Along the sides of the dusty, dirt path were trees, all with fruit hanging from their branches. Cherries, apples, oranges, pears, mangos, nectarines, peaches, apricots - you name it. As tempted as she was to snatch one down and eat it, Tasha wisely followed her cautious side and continued walking. Soon the kitten noticed that there were bushes in between the trees. Berry bushes. Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, salmonberries, marionberries - again, you name it. She shook off her hunger once more and continued. Soon she became aware of a small stream beside the trees on the side further from the path. The gently flowing water glittered and sparkled with the sun's reflection. Tasha pushed away the thoughts of food and drink and kept walking steadily.
"Why do you not eat and drink?" a deep voice came from the sky. Tasha stopped, startled, and looked up.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "Where are you?"
"I am Ikanopoíisi," the voice said. "And I am in the heavens."
"Ickawnpoe-who-see?" Tasha asked, her face wearing an extremely confused expression.
"Ikanopoíisi," the voice answered. "Ick-an-oh-poh-ee-see."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tasha demanded in a whiny voice.
"It means 'satisfaction'," Ikanopoíisi replied. "I made all this food and water for you. You have had a long, hazardous journey. You must be weary and hungry."
"I am," Tasha admitted. "But you could be evil! The food and water could be poisoned!"
"You're right, it could," Ikanopoíisi agreed. "But what if it isn't? Then you'd have missed out on a wonderful feast." Tasha considered everything carefully, taking her time.
"You could just be trying to trick me into eating it," Tasha retorted after a few moments' thought.
"I could," Ikanopoíisi acknowledged. "But what if I'm not? Then you'd miss out on a delicious meal and a new friend."
"Do you have any proof that I can trust you?" Tasha inquired in a commanding voice after some more thought.
"Yes, I do," Ikanopoíisi told her.
"Then give me proof!" Tasha shouted.
"I can't," Ikanopoíisi explained in a slightly sad voice. "It is a rule amongst us that we do not give any such thing without trust from the one we wish to gift."
"Who is we?" Tasha asked.
"The gift gods and goddesses of Chicken Smoothie, of course," Ikanopoíisi laughed. "Periousía, Makroviótita, Sofía, Timíste, Epiméleia, and the rest of them."
"What do their names mean?" Tasha inquired curiously.
"Fortune, longevity, wisdom, honor, and diligence," Ikanopoíisi told the kitten. "Come now, eat. I have also prepared a little shelter for you and a few servants to attend to your needs." Tasha turned around to see a massive castle with two rows of fifty servants each leading up to the door. Her eyes widened.
"All this, just for me?" she asked. "How long will it last?"
"Yes, it is all for you," Ikanopoíisi smiled. "And it will last forever unless I wish to remove it."
"So I could stay here forever?" Tasha demanded.
"Yes, so you could," Ikanopoíisi agreed. "Unless I removed everything I have put here. Go now, into your castle. Feast and be merry." Tasha thanked the god quickly and rushed into the castle where she soon decided to stay forever.

(Tasha has won 1 Cookie and 1 Heart Cake)

~ River of Imminent Doom ~
Mummy chose the north-west path. As he departed, he sighed blissfully at the peaceful silence that he could finally have now that Tasha was gone. He soon reached the river. On one side, the side he'd come from, it was bordered by a line of trees. On the other, smooth, rocky cliffs. Mummy stared in terror at the cliffside. On the cliff, the words "The River of Imminent Doom" were carved. He started to back up slowly.
"Oh, Mummy, Mummy, Mummy!" a feminine voice laughed, echoing all around. "So you have come back from the dead just to die again!" Mummy, frightened and angered, looked around quickly.
"Who and where are you?" he asked, noticing no one nearby. A huge Malk Dragon appeared in front of him.
"I am Aire," she replied with regal smile. "And I'm right in front of you. I am the creator, over-seer, and manager of my game."
"Your game?!" Mummy shrieked. "What game?!"
"This game," Aire smiled royally. "The ominous warning on the wooden sign, the paths, the danger, everything. It's all. My. Doing." She smiled again with that typical smile of her's, a mocking, regal, proud smile.
"You?" Mummy screeched. "You're putting us through immense danger and possible death just for your own amusement?!"
"More or less," Aire grinned.
"So why are you here talking to me?!" Mummy demanded loudly. "Why aren't you wherever you usually are, watching me die?!"
"Because I don't know that I want you to die," Aire told him with a smile. "Yet."
"What?!" Mummy yelped.
"You've died once already, haven't you?" Aire inquired, still smiling, though she already knew the answer. Mummy nodded carefully. "But twice in a row in my game... I'm going to give you one last chance. Of course, you won't get any prize or anything during this game... But you'll be back. Yes, you'll be back alright." With that and a regally mischevious smile, Aire disappeared and Mummy found himself back at his home.

(Mummy has hit a dead end)

~ North-East Forest ~
Ilmari, Kujo, Ice, and Skull decided to follow the north-east forest path. They followed along the path cautiously, looking around warily as they traveled. They walked for several hours, hearing and seeing nothing that signaled danger. They soon relaxed and walked on uncautiously, chatting quietly. Birds chittered and chattered among the tall, dark trees. Light breezes rustled the leaves and ruffled through Kujo, Ice, and Skull's fur. A light trickle of water nearby led the four to a small and ice-cold stream, from which they drank their fill. They then continued, less cautious and more relaxed every moment. A blast of warm air, like a giant, giant dragon's breath, suddenly came down upon the company. A squirrel ran across their path, a large acorn in its mouth. Birds flitted from tree to tree, chirping out their songs. Chipmunks scurried up and down the branches, chattering as they went. The forest grew suddenly darker. Birds stopped singing and flew away from the path. Chipmunks and squirrels skittered away as fast as they could. The refreshing breeze was replaced by an eerie stillness. The four companions turned around to see a massive black creature, larger than the one they had seen before, standing behind them. It was using its wings for support as it had no forelegs. The dark creature blinked, its red eyes glaring. No one was able to move. Their were no sounds but the steady breathing of the five creatures on the path. Then chaos. Roars, growls, screams, and shouts filled the once-quiet air. Ilmari dealt the beast a devastating bite on the neck, but the monster, though gravely wounded, shook off the dragon, flinging him away to bash his head on a tree and fall to the ground, motionless. Kujo leapt bravely at the beast, raving mad at the killer of his dragon friend, but was instantly snapped up by the gigantic jaws of the monster. The black figure shot up into the sky and flew south, the lifeless lion still clenched tightly in its mouth. Ice and Skull were standing beside Ilmari, grieving over his death and Kujo's. Suddenly the dragon's scaled body jerked itself up. Ilmari wasn't dead! Ice and Skull leapt for joy and hugged the courageous dragon. Then they told him what happened to Kujo.
"So we have two black, winged monsters that have a liking for the taste of lions..." Ilmari muttered after they told the story. The three quickly sped on their way along the path, soon coming to a fork in the path that brought them great relief.
To the east was a huge, grassy meadow, covered in sunshine.
To the north was a lake surrounded by sandy shores.

(Ilmari, Ice, and Skull must choose between east and north. Kujo is dead.)

~ South-East Forest ~
Rain was a bit reluctant to part from her friends and go on another path all alone, but she did so nonetheless. She walked along boredly and cautiously for many, many hours. Then she heard roaring and screaming coming from the north, from the path her friends had taken. Rain was relieved that she hadn't gone on the wrong path, but she was also sad about her friends taking the wrong one. And she was terrified. The frightened girl burst into a run, tearing across the pathway in a mad dash for life. Whap!Fwoop... Thud! Rain tripped over something heavy, was airborne for a fraction of a second that seemed an eternity, and then fell with a heavy thud onto the dirt path. Dusty and shaking from adrenaline, Rain got up and brushed the dirt and dust from her coat. Then she looked at what she had tripped over. Rain held back a scream of terror, then let another out as she sped away from the dead body of the lion she had known as Hunter. A bird-like, low screech came from above and another lion's lifeless form dropped in front of Rain, clouding her vision with dust. She knew this lion, too - it was Kujo. The huge beast landed on the ground and advanced towards Rain, snarling. It was even bigger, stronger, and more terror-bringing than the one that killed Kujo - but then how was it that it was the one that dropped Kujo's body before Rain? Rain tried to scream but her throat was empty. No noise could come from it. The terrifying monster snapped its huge, black beak at Rain, snipping off a little of her fur. The leathery wings stretched and then folded again, the owner's sleek, snake-like tail slapping the ground. It slashed at her with its ebony claws, which hit their target. Rain was thrown aside to bash against a rock and fall limply beside it, another count towards the kill of the - three monsters?

(Rain is dead)

~ The Forest of Claw Marks ~
Valent parted from her companion, Dasos, choosing the west path, the one with the claw marks, as she thought it safer. She walked briskly, not afraid, though she did look around slightly warily from time to time, not entirely trusting the claw marks. She heard a loud, bird-like screech from above and faint screams that she didn't recognize - not screams from Dasos, but perhaps from the other animals she had been traveling with earlier. Valent shuddered at the death screams continued, then died away. She stretched her wings, folded them back up, and continued on at a faster pace. Her heavy claws left deep marks in the soft ground. She heard wings above and, thinking it to be Ilmari, the other Malk Dragon, glanced up. What she saw did not make her happy. A massive beast, black as night, with piercing eyes and sleek feathers, loomed above her, its wings moving in silent, rhythmical movements. Its scales glistened in the dimming sunlight. Bright light shone from its ebony talons and beak. The dark, lion-like tail moved back and forth gracefully. The creature alighted with a scream like a hawk's, but much louder and more terrifying. The valient dragon was no match for this terrible monster. It sliced her side with its razor-sharp claws, ripping her scales off of her delicate skin underneath. Scales and blood covered the ground, some embedded into the mud. Soon the unfortunate dragon laid on the ground, her eyes staring out at nothing, her mouth cracked open, her once-beautiful wings torn to shreds. A... fourth... beast? The poor dragon met her match, but did not flee in terror. The courageous soul died fighting, never backing down for a second, never giving ground. Her tale would be passed down from generation to generation, her picture would hang in the Hall of Fame... But she was dead nonetheless.

(Valent is *sniff, sniff* dead. *bursts into tears* I didn't wanna kill herrrrr! *sobs* Voting ends in 24 hours. And Dasos has been pulled from the game so I have less to write)

Poor Valent...

[Howling W o l f.]

*Sniff* She's gone! What a courageous dragon