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[Ranger of the North]

HECK YES. ENTERING.

[Piefan]

A corpse fell into the hole, grey hair splayed about, dress filthy and torn. Clumsily, clumps of soil were shovelled on top of the dead woman until she was fully covered, only the uneven ground to mark where she lay. Anarchy picked up a small rock - about the size of one paw - and stuck it into the makeshift grave, flattening it with stubby claws. Wordless, he sat beside it and bowed his head. If nothing else, Sandra had passed peacefully and pridefully, magic warding off the effects of old age until at last it had become too much to bear. He doubted he was fit to give her the funeral she truly deserved, but in absence of someone who was, he would have to do.

Stray magic - mana - pulsed all around him like a heartbeat. It was always there, leaking from the earth itself, feeding him. When she had lived, Sandra would take it, manipulate it - she'd carved sculptures and drawings in the stone, none of which h could see but all of which he could feel, tracing his claws over the ridges. He wasn't a magician like she was; really, he didn't have any of the skills that she did.

She had been a storyteller, too, narrating whimsical tales to accompany her artwork.

---WIP, I swear I'm actually gonna finish this story for once

[TheSongOfTheStars]

Hey Range, I can't see the picture, is it working for other people?

[BucketORandomness]

works for me

[L.V.L]

Hey Range, I can't see the picture, is it working for other people?


It works for me, but does this help you?

[TheSongOfTheStars]

.... Wasn't that the last one?

[DeMaizu]

@Five Yeah. How's this?

[TheSongOfTheStars]

Thank you Maizu!!!!! I can see it!!!!

[DeMaizu]

Huzzah!

I should start this thing, eek >'_'<

[.Spaceman.]

((I had to look at the picture twice to notice the little guy standing there xD))



*INNER DEMONS*


And so I traveled, broken and despondent, stopping from town to town for food or a place to sleep. In every tavern, I saw wary eyes stare into my own, tired-out and smokey gray ones. Like they were afraid I'd lash out at any moment.

I knew that as soon as I left the unease left with me, and as soon as my hunched figure had faded into the dust of the horizon all put behind me would return to normal. Just the glint of my long dagger matching my gaze turned people away.

You could say I'm imagining things, and you might be right. But when you're battling with inner demons, reality is replaced with a more subconscious state of mind. Whether they're afraid or not, the cautious looks I get send me in a downward spiral of questions.

What happened to worry them so?

Why must they stare at me with such wide eyes?

What have I done?

Questions left unanswered ring in my head as I continue my journey. Alone. Without her. To the caverns we once had such a lovely time at. Back when I could enjoy the world's wonders and intricate simplicity and way back when the two of us would go for adventures just because we could.

In reality, I likely traveled for two weeks before reaching my destination, but each day blurred together as one. I was practically overrun by a sweeping tiredness but made my way inside the cave nonetheless.

I liked to tell myself I knew every inch of this place. But as I walked around, new things seemed to pop up here and there. Things I'd never noticed. The long stalagmites no longer seemed as inviting. I was more aware that I could see my breath in the cool of the cave, and could feel the slight twitching of my body as I continued.

It might've looked like I was wandering, with a limp in my step and my arms swaying hopelessly at my sides. As I climbed further, traversing up the walls of the cavern, I kept telling myself, "One more battle. Just this last one," I made it to the almost podium-like rock that seemed to grow from the walls itself. The oh-so-familiar place where I'd once taken a knee and let my heart spill. "And then I can fade, fade into this nothingness I've come to know so well..."

I lifted my head to stare. My shuffling had stopped reverberating and was replaced with an eerie silence. Before me stood nothing and everything. Darkness and light. I could, in fact, see light pouring through the cracks of the ceiling, inviting me. The darkness loomed before me, standing in my way. As it always has, and always will if I can't just "Let go."

Her voice came like a song carried in the breeze, soft and gentle, prodding me. The mighty dragon appeared clearer in front of me, its face set in a menacing glare. I took a step back. I was afraid. "Please... if you truly care..." My breath caught in my throat. My lip quivered as the dragon opened its mouth as if to growl, watching me. "Dearest..."

I swallowed, my breath quickening and my heart pounding harder. I hesitated as my tremulous hands reached up to slide off my cloak. It fell to the ground rather unceremoniously and I could now feel the cold through my shirt. I undid my dagger from my belt and that, to, dropped. I removed a pocket knife from my shoe and slid off my boots. When I looked back up at the dragon I felt so utterly unarmed and helpless. I couldn't do this. "That step forward, would you take it for me?"

My bare feet were profoundly freezing and planted in place. I wanted to retreat back to the cloak and weapons I'd hidden behind just moments before. I wanted to go back to hiding from myself. Everything felt better that way. "...I would take that step for you." I mumbled over and over, trying to coax myself.

The first step was the hardest. The dragon veered back, but I took another step. It snarled threateningly. I had to hold my breath as I continued to walk forward and stare at the culmination of all my fears, insecurities, and desperation straight in the eye. I opened my mouth to speak, the words coming slowly but certain.

"I refuse to be bound." The monstrosity did nothing for a moment. I repeated my statement multiple times over, trying to keep my voice steady. Its eyes grew wide with shock as it backed up. It let out a bloodcurdling cry that echoed deafeningly as it shrunk back, fading as though dissipating in the mist. I dropped to my knees and buried my face in my lap, shaking uncontrollably. The ringing in my ears and the cold seeping through my clothes and the relief that it was over was all too much. I could see nothing but the rays of sunshine pouring in when I looked, surrounding me and filling me with warmth. I heard a joyous laugh echo from somewhere as the light engulfed me.