The Silence of Rebellion - Semi-lit (Accepting!)

[hdmwolf]

(My little ever-patient friends xD
As much as I wish to write more often, my homework has to come first, and my brother is hogging the computer now for five days straight, playing three or four hours of some game called Terraria. >: This will be a post hopefully finished before my dad picks me up to go to school, and I'm able to write this because I've fended off my brother and I have about 30 minutes before school. Hopefully enough to get by and write this one post. I'M REALLY SORRY.
I just wish that there was some kind of small vacation coming up D:
EDIT - I'm posting this after school, if you're wondering with the mix-up of time and all.)


/ Aulis /


The wolf boy had some strange dreams that afternoon in the shelter of the sacred trees, burrowed into it's roots, close to the core of the magical-ness that everyone thought emanated out of the whole area. Zayn didn't believe too much in it, and Aulis was skeptical, but his dreams were scary real. He saw things. It wasn't as if he were there, but he was viewing. He wasn't able to speak, to make any noise, to move. In front of him, in a hazy mess of black fog were people he had never met before. Those from all the Tribes. They were conversing about something. Aulis felt that he wasn't actually there in the dream, and only meant to watch, and those he was seeing would not see him, but suddenly, one of the figures turned to him. One with wings. The grin on the face was sickening, and as the figure, a girl, advanced towards him, a sharp knife was pulled out. Aulis uttered out a choked cry as he suddenly felt a warmth on his neck as the knife was brought across. But then, he wasn't dead. He was frightened, but not dead. Forced to watch, Aulis stared haplessly as another image rose up before his tortured eyes. It still felt like someone had cut his throat, and the boy wasn't too ready to be struck again by something else, but he wasn't able to break away from the dream.

His home shot up, coming out of the ground like a pop-up book that turned all-too real. Aulis actually saw Zayn, talking to his mother. It was a relatively pleasant scene, compared to what he had experienced before. The whole camp was very detailed, as Aulis had grown up there all his life, but something seemed off. He couldn't quite put his finger on it... There was suddenly a dark shadow cast over the whole camp. Terrified screams rose up from the ground as it turned to ash. The buildings that the whole Tribe of Wolf had taken forever to built, suddenly caught flame mysteriously. Yells and cries rang in the air as the Tribespeople tried to flee, only to be faced by fire. The ground opened up, and everyone and everything fell in. As soon as the remainder were gone, the ground became firm again. No one would have ever knew that that place had been populated by people. Aulis fought back a cry of anger and sadness. Who was toying with him? Who was torturing his mind like this? Or was this what his consciousness wanted him to see? The image was taken away by a wind, and suddenly the image changed once again.

The Four Points loomed into his mind, their bark hard, solid and rough as ever. Aulis remembered that he had marveled at the giant trees the first time they went to a meeting of all the Tribes, but now, here he was, sleeping in them, and nothing was too magical about that. The vision was hazy like the first one, but it was different. No knife-threatening girls. No burning villages and people falling into giant holes. It was almost... peaceful. No people but... No... Aulis noticed a strange figure. Was it limping? Clothed in white and slender, Aulis noticed it was a girl. The white robes that cascaded down from the girl's shoulders were tattered, dirty at the hem, where constant dirt being kicked up had taken shelter. Long white hair flowed behind her as she stood against the path of a breeze. But something about that girl chilled Aulis from the start, otherwise than the strange pale-ness and white garb. The girl had no wings. The girl had no ears. The girl had no tail. She was unnatural. Not only that, but she was wearing a mask. A mask with no ears or a beak, that sat flat on her face. It was white, and only had two black slits for eyes. Turning to where Aulis stood, the strange and not-normal girl raised up her hand. Shocked by it all, with a cry of surprise and the feeling of an earthquake, the white scene and girl disappeared, and then suddenly he was blinded by the dark, and the sound of a familiar voice. "Aulis! Aulis, bro! Wa'e up!"

Breathing deep and labored breaths, Aulis stared with wide eyes at his brother, who's face was wrapped with concern and slight anger, but also wreathed with a hint of relief. "God, man! You're ali'e!" he gasped. "Yes, I am. Stop shaking me." Aulis mumbled groggily, still shocked by his dream, but awake enough to be able to be angry at his brother. Zayn was still staring at him with worry. "Y' a'right?" he asked, wary eyes meeting his brother. "Why wouldn't I be?" Zayn sat back on his heels, offering a hand to pull Aulis out of the cavern of roots. "Y'were givin' me qui' a fi' there. Screami' an' shouti' like there wa' no t'morrow. I' soundid li' y' had trouble breathin'." Aulis stared at his brother with a wary glance. "Trouble breathing?" he pondered out loud, as he gripped Zayn's strong hand and allowed himself to be pulled out of the cavity. Zayn rubbed his arm, staring up at his brother cautiously. "If'n y' don' mind, d'you think y' could tell me what y' dream was all abou'?" Aulis suddenly felt a wave of alarm as he stared back up at his brother. No. He could not. His dreams were not meant to be spread. "No." he swiftly said, for some reason, feeling that he should not tell anyone else about the dream. He just... didn't like the feel that it had. Zayn shrugged. "We'... I gue' i's for th' good o' thin's." Aulis nodded slowly.

Standing up, Zayn glanced around, breathing in a fresh breath of air. Outside the rain was still thrumming downwards, but it had lessened. Aulis' brother voiced the same thoughts. "Rain's slowed. We' get 'ome as soo' as I' tunes down s'more." Aulis nodded slightly, feeling somewhat cold, and gave off a mild shiver. Zayn noticed the movement and his ears perked up. "Bettah ge' 'ome soon too. Warm fire. May'b we shou' stay i' wolf form?" Aulis nodded. "That'd be goo- oh god..." Zayn glanced up with a questioning look on his face. "Wa?" Aulis, in response, buried his face in his hands. "I just realized how everyone is going to wonder where we are. Mom will kill us." Zayn snorted and gave Aulis a brotherly punch in the arm. "We're manly men. W'can 'andle i'." The younger brother forced a smile onto his face and nodded. Zayn grinned and sat down again. "Le's wait nao."



/ Dusk /


Shoving some hair back from her face, Dusk scowled at the ground. She shouldn't have shown herself. It was all a stupid move in the first place, including the part of introducing herself. The rain was actually getting to her, and she felt that she shouldn't even be on the ground at the moment. She wanted to be alone. But it was hard to break away from a group of people such as these, what with Blair asking random questions and wanting to hang around her. Frowning, the girl fingered the blade hidden in her coat, and then pulled her hood back up, staring silently at the ground. Blair started to speak, and she glanced up again. "Oh... Dusk, Anwe and Ruor..." the boy said, and then continued. "This seems like a freak reuni--" the girl's eyes flashed briefly with anger as she stiffened up a little. She had become all-too used to being called a freak, but normally she didn't like to be around those who thought she was. Normally she could glance it off, but now she really wanted to leave. Flee. Run away. Never speak to these people again.

"Sorry about my friend. He tends to get very noisy. Don't hesitate to punch him in the face." Ruor spoke, and Dusk nodded slightly, but now felt her wariness levels raise. She really wanted to leave now. Something made her feel like she should. As much as she'd like to punch the little nosy snot though who called her a freak... "Haha, Ruor, you're so funn-- Wait... Is that... B-B-Blood?" the word was not uncommon to the girl, and she glanced up to look at Blair, who was staring palely at Ruor's face. Without a second change to tell Blair if it was or wasn't, the boy flopped to the ground in a dead faint. Frowning, Dusk regarded the boy with a bit of disgust. Who was that weak? Blood ran in your veins. It made you live. Yes, it was spilled, but why did it matter? "That's not blood, you idiot... That's paint." Dusk was a bit confused, but leaned backwards a bit, placing her back against the tree, staring at the three of her tribe. "Paint." she simply remarked, tilting her head slightly to the side.



/ Rue /


Rue glared at her brother as Jack walked away, always resisting the urge to punch him more than usual. "Odell, just... go back to the tent. Talk more to those oh-so-amazing Hawk Tribe warriors. Bug them to death, whatever." she mumbled, picking at the ground somewhat moodily. Odell nodded with a grin, turning around to bound back to the tent, when Rue stopped him. "Oh, and also, please, tell Jack and the others that I'll be out in the fields." she requested. I need some time alone... Odell nodded again, doubling his speed to get out of the rain. Rue stared after her younger brother for a moment, and then stared back at the ground again. He had grown up so much since he was little, and at least she could trust him with the task of him telling others where she was. Standing up, the red-head swayed slightly, staring around camp for a small moment in time. The camp that she had grown up at looked desolate and almost foreign. It was getting even darker, and the moon was already rising in the distance. The world had a strange tinge from the rain and the moon lighting it up. Rue had lived her life in equilibrium with everything. With her friends, with her family, with the world. But now... This day, this time. How the Hawk Tribe warriors had requested herbs. How the heavy rain had started. It wasn't uncommon for them to be visited. It wasn't uncommon for them to have rain. But it just felt... off.

Sighing, she jumped down from the small incline she was sitting on and then started to walk towards an entrance to and from the camp. Rue didn't feel like hanging around the strangers right now. She just wanted to be... alone. Walking among the fields was always the best way for her to feel more relaxed. More stabilized. As she walked, Rue ran a finger through her hair, feeling the strands part against the pressure of her finger. Her tail hung limply at her thighs, no lively movement noticed. Her ears were perked up, but still seeming kind of... sad. She didn't know quite where she was going, but she believed that she would be heading for one of the small ponds that you could find in the fields. Then, she wasn't quite sure what she would do. Curious yellow eyes grazed the field as Rue stepped forward down the path, suddenly noticing a shining on the ground. A large shining spot. A pond. Quickening her pace into a super fast run, she ran to the water source. Reaching the water's edge, she knelt down on the grassy bank, staring at her reflection in the water.

It was hugely distorted because of the thousands of raindrops that pelted it's surface, but her face was there alright. Rue pushed a bit of her hair back, almost in wonder as she examined her face. She had changed since the last time she looked at herself. Sitting back on her ankles, she sighed and glanced around, wondering what next. She had gotten her first wish, to be alone, but why did she want that? It was probably because of those warriors. They set her on edge. But still... There was suddenly a noise and quick in a flash with a small gasp of a surprised breath, Rue was flat on her stomach in the grass. Staring ahead, her foxy eyes were out of place on her human skull, but flashing with intensity. Something was out there. Her tail twitched involuntarily as she heard a few more stumbling thumps. It sounded like something walking. Something possibly wounded. Raising her eyes just barely over the grass, she suppressed a gasp of anger and astonishment to the view that met her eyes.

A majestic elk staggered through the long grasses, it's eyes rolling in it's head, it's sides breathing heavily. It was obvious that it was in pain. It's pelt was sleek and shiny from the rain, and as Rue stared closer for the reason, she noticed something. Two arrows in it's side. they were jabbed painfully into the animal's sides, and as it moaned and took another deep breath, the blood coming from the wound thickened. Rue almost had to eat her own hand to try to stop from crying out in agony. The pain the creature was in. Suffering like this was against the law. The law of the forest. The way of life. No food is to be wasted. No animal is to be hurt and then left to suffer. Biting her lip hard, Rue slowly stood up in silence. The elk regarded her with a crazed eye and let out a bellow, the whites of the poor animal's eyes showing. It was obvious it thought her as a threat. Rue had no intention. It tried to trample away through the grass, but it made it only a few feet when it collapsed onto the grass with a loud thump. This was too much for the fox-girl. Pain and suffering was not meant to be this way. It disgusted her that someone would do this. But who?

Running forward, she shot two quick successions of arrows, thudding two into the beast's chest, killing it almost instantly. It would not suffer any more. Rue sighed and tried to calm herself down, slowing down to a walk, and then kneeling beside the animal's wet hide. If not wet, the fur would be lustrous and dry. Fuzzy. Useable. But the blood that had coated the creature's wounds had soiled the fur. Turning away from the question if the elk's hide was useful, Rue shuffled over to the arrows. It turned out that there were actually five arrows, three on one side, two embedded in the other. Closing the elk's eyes carefully with gentle fingers, Rue took a tight grip onto the arrow and pulled upright with a sharp tug. The arrow, embedded deeply, would not budge until two or three more pulls. As she pulled it out, the wound poured with blood, flooding onto her legs. Rue didn't even notice. Her thoughts were on the arrow. Running her fingers over the shaft, she suddenly realized something. The shaft wasn't of their tribe. Not only did they use smaller feathers, but their shafts were all made of the same wood. Oak. This was rowan. And not only that, but the tip was metal and the arrows of hawk. The breath caught in Rue's throat as she stared at it, resisting the urge to snap it in half and throw both halves across the field. It was a Marquess arrow. She had done this.

Rue's first emotion was rage. How DARE the Marquess do this to an animal? How DARE she? But then it turned into worry and then curiousity. But... why would she meddle with the affairs of hunting? It wasn't like a rich person to send a dying elk into one's territory otherwise than to annoy them, but even that wasn't totally right. There was something else. There was something, a point, that Rue wasn't getting. Running her fingers over the shaft again, she tried to find something. Her finger caught on something. Curious, the red-headed girl peered closer at the wood. What was it? Taking her fingers, she tried to tug at the protruding object, but her fingers slipped in the rain. Snarling with some anger, she stared around. She wouldn't be able to do this in the rain. She had to find some kind of shelter for now, to stay dry. As soon as her eyes fell on a dense grove of trees, she was up and running, leaving the elk behind in the grass. She wouldn't be able to do anything with it by herself. Once it became morning, they would find out if it was useable.

But for now, all of Rue's attention was focused on the arrow. It was like a mystery present that your parents wouldn't tell you, and it drove you crazy. Gripping the shaft so tightly that her fingers turned white, she entered the grove of trees and shook herself, hoping to get rid of most of the water. The rain was barely even noticeable, and it was a godsend for Rue to be out of the rain. Settling down on the semi-dry grass, she stared at the arrow in wonder and began to pry at it. There was something there. Something white. Something that she couldn't get at. Pushing her fingers together the tightest they could get against both sides of the slim slip, she tugged with all her might, and the arrow came apart. Slightly taken aback, Rue recoiled for a second, but then realized that there was a white slip on the ground. Paper. Something that was too valuable to be passed around in the Tribesland, that they used birch bark in most places. Rue was almost afraid to pick it up, but with trembling fingers, eventually grasped the sides of the paper and held it up. The rain had warped some of the words, but it was readable, even if just slightly.


To the finder of this letter,


The Marquess has found that your "community" has run far too long, and she has found that she has been too generous in her allowing you to live. Life is a virtue, and you shall not have it if you do not use it well. Your barbaric ways are too unsuitable for the purity of the land, and the Marquess finds your mutations unreliably strange and unnormal. So, it is from this day henceforth, that the Marquess' words will be put to action. Her words are as followed,


"The Tribes have gone on for too long, with their claims about ancestors. It is time to react to their actions. Come tomorrow at dawn, we will start the descent on the Tribes. It will be subtle at first, but it will worsen. It will begin with one execution from each Tribe. They will not be able to postpone the death. The executions shall be done quickly and neatly before nightfall. The first execution shall be public in each Tribe, to let the others know the suffering that will come from death. The executions shall continue. Resistance is futile. The barbarians have to learn where their place is, which is either serving as slaves alongside my army, or in the darkest pits of hell. Those who give in, will be spared. Selection is apt to happen. Those who resist will be slain. All who give in will be slain one time or another, so really, there is no difference. Death or death. That is what they deserve. Let this be known, that from this day forward, no mercy shall be shown to those who are different, resistant or defensive. That is the law."

Thus, are the words of the High Royal Marquess.
Rue could hardly believe what she was reading. She couldn't even comprehend what she had just read. It was just... impossible. The Marquess trying to kill them? Trying to make their kind die off? Slaying them? They had done nothing to her. First off, the Marquess lived so far away. Second, it wasn't them causing disruption, but her. First she took the ability of flight. Then she took their materials. Then she took their spirit. Now she's taking their lives. Rue was so shocked that she wasn't even able to think for a second about it. The idea was just so obscure that she wasn't able to believe it. She half expected Odell to pop out of nowhere and say, "Scared ya, didn't I?" and as much as Rue hoped and hoped for Odell to appear, he didn't. No one did. She was alone. She was burdened with this information. She sat there in silence, alone except for her shadow. And, feeling like she didn't have much else to resort to, a single tear cascaded down her face. In a split second, she was crying the hardest she had ever cried in her whole life.



/ Aella /


Odell came in after Jack had appeared, and said that Rue had gone out into the fields, At first, the girl was slightly concerned, but then she realized that there was no reason to worry. She knew her territory better than anyone else from a different Tribe, and Aella trusted her to... okay, no extent. But still, she was a strong girl and knew how to take care of herself. Freya was finding that she was quite bored, and had asked multiple times if she could go out into the rain, but Aella always told her no. She didn't want her friend getting hypothermia just because she was being careless and let her play in the rain for hours. It was pretty silent, and the way Jack's siblings had frozen kind of freaked Aella out. And more than ever, she wished she could feel wind and coldness. It was like a vaccum down from the mountains. And when in fox form with all that fur, Aella didn't know how they could stand it. Tempest had remained silent the whole time. All of it seemed so unreal. Freya was bored. Aella didn't care. It was a pretty boring moment.

(WOOT WOOT. PROBABLY LONGEST POST EVER.
I got so emotional when I was writing Rue's post ;3; )

[Rocketai]

(Yay! Otty is back! :D
Man, that sucks... I'm currently having tests, but they will end by next monday. Still, it's a little impossible for me to post in this weekend, but you never know!

Also, Otty, I had goosebumps while reading your post of Aulis and Rue. Plot thiiiiiiickens)

Ruor

The only conscious male in that exact situation sighed as he looked the red paint cross his face and fade on the ground, thanks to the annoying rain. He was now looking like an ordinary member of the Raven Tribe, which was quite offensive to him. Ruor never enjoyed that place, and he never enjoyed being one as well. He had large wings that was just as useless as the raven form, which was a disgrace since he couldn't fly. Sometimes he dream of being from the Wolf Tribe, being able to transform into a fast and strong quadruped, or an intelligent fox.

It started to be hard even to breath under the waterfall on his head, running through his coal hair. That was a little unnusual. Normally, heavy rains would only last for a few minutes, but that one was there for more than an hour. Not only that, but a thunder storm would no doubt approach, and Ruor wanted to stay inside of a shelter as soon as possible before that happens... Especially in front of strangers -- ESPECIALLY in front of Blair, even though the angrogynous boy was unconscious yet again, for God's sake. Ruor actually thanked them for the first time.

Ignoring the fact that Blair would no doubt start choking on the puddles that were on the ground, Ruor looked into the horizon, just to stare at the moon slowly rising, slowly killing day and making everything more dangerous and delicate, right in the middle of almost-nowhere. "Listen..." the boy from the Raven Tribe spoke, staring at the hooded figure in front of them, that was still acting strange, but Ruor was in no position to start judging people -- that would make him an hypocrite no doubt "...Can we skip this whole interrogation stuff and find shelter as soon as possible?" he questioned, getting annoyed with each word by the fact that he was a chicken when it came to thunders "I... I don't give a damn that we'll have to return to the Tribe, I just want to be under a roof." he admitted, even though something inside him died.

[intriguing]

~ Jack ~
The young man was trying to ignore it. The worry. The sense of foreboding. His family. Everything. But it was harder than it seemed. It just wasn't like Rue. Though the visitors were not concerned, he was. He knew her too well, he knew the whole tribe too well. This wasn't normal. None of it was. Rue would often go into the fields, he knew that, but why now, why in this rain, why in this horrible horrible rain? What was the matter with it anyway? These were no showers, this was just wrong, abnormal...odd. He didn't like it. It was strange to him, his ears kept twitching, as if trying to pick up some hidden frequency. He did not know what he was searching for. Answers maybe, maybe answers would be nice, but only the Marquess ever held the true answers, the ones no-one wanted to hear. Jack replayed that thought in his mind. The Marquess, the rain. It had rained when she was cast out. The bit that everyone missed from the story. Now, like then, it was raining again. Raining and doing so fiercely. The worst rains, some might say, the worst rains in years. They were not though. They were just the same as before. Jack sat in silence. It was like the last time. She was coming back again. Maybe not her directly, but he could feel it, her and her followers, her many, many followers. Some were 'freaks' like Jack and the other tribes-people, and others were 'normal' like the marquess. Humans, an army of them, and they all hated the tribes. He mightn't be too bright Jack, he might not seem so clever, but he was working it out. He knew about the Marquess, after all, it was his dad that was the first to go. The first one from his tribe to turn to her side.

A long, drawn-out sigh was the first audible sound Jack made since Odell had returned. Jack had received the message, loud and clear, but had seemed to not hear it. His thoughts echoed in his mind still, even as his sisters and mother came back round and began to make noise. His eyes seemed glazed, un-focused, yet intent on something. Suddenly the mist in them cleared as he turned to Freya and Aella. "You have to go," he said. It was a feirce demand, it sounded unnatural from this usually bright and content boy. "This rain won't stop till someone's turned to the Marquess's side," he elaborated, though it was not much to go on. This whole idea was based on guesses, but some of it had to be true. To think, it had only just started off as worry, worry for Rue. He must care about her, for the worry had turned to almost blinding fear based on a few well-informed guesses. He left the shelter without saying barely a few more words. All he said was, "It's like Lazuli again," which was enough to paralyse his mother into fear once again.

'The Fields' was such a general term, and though Jack was not complaining, he wished Rue had given a more specific name. He jumped about through the long grass in fox form, but it was futile. He was about to his knees in mud and water, so he changed back, where his boot-covered calves were soaked, but no higher. He trudged through field after field. Not calling out, for that would be useless in this battering rain. He was looking, looking and looking, trying to find her, to tell her, but either the rain was so strong he could not see, or someone didn't want him to, it was hopeless. Jack could not find her at all, and the sick feeling in his stomach began to knot and churn and grow.

((Sorry about not posting for Anwen, I'm not entirely sure what to post for her right now))

[hdmwolf]

/ Rue /


Rue didn't know how long she had sat there in the rain. She almost felt like she couldn't get up even if she tried. She was so... exhausted. The paper lay on the ground, almost threateningly to Rue. Her legs were still covered with blood. She didn't care. She was soaked. That didn't matter either. Her whole Tribe was going to be executed one by one. Now that did matter. Leaning back, Rue's tears mingled with the rain as they streamed down her cheeks, but she didn't notice. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she rested her arms on her legs and then rested her head on her arms. Maybe she should just die then and there. She, by no reason, would ever be dying by the Marquess' hand. She knew that. She would never ever allow that to happen. Maybe she should just go and anger a powerful moose, then let it slam into her ribcage with a crack with it's powerful antlers. That would save the Marquess the trouble. Stiffening, Rue realized how she was suddenly thinking suicidal thoughts, and gripped her hair in slight anger. "No! This can't be happening!" she almost growled. She couldn't believe it.

A baleful eye was cast over the arrow resting on the ground. The others had to know. But could she ever face them and tell them? A new round of tears was about to flow again when they were stopped only for a moment by a sound. The orange-furred ears on her head perked up as she suddenly caught the sound again. Sniffing once, the red-head looked up and stared out of the grove of trees. Who was there? Some pitiless sap of the Marquess' come to kill her? Staring around with more fierce eyes, Rue felt anger. If someone had come to kill her, then that was too bad. She'd get them before they knew what hit them. Picking up her bow and arrow, she notched it silently, drawing the string back, about ready to face anything, when she suddenly noticed something. There was something in the distance. Far away, but visible. Was that Jack?

Dropping her arrow down and putting it back in her quiver, she forced herself to gather her thoughts. What was he doing out here? She really, despite the terrible news she had just heard, did not want to face anyone in her Tribe. It'd be the best in her mind to just sit there and continue to cry, but she wasn't like that. What had gotten into her? She was supposed to be loyal! Gripping her bow tightly, she stared at the letter for one moment, afraid to pick it up again. It seemed threatening. Too threatening. But she knew that she had to, as it would almost be impossible for her to explain it, so she gripped it tightly, stuffing it into a small pocket. She realized how disarrayed she might look to Jack; Blood everywhere, eyes red from crying, staggering slightly from sitting down so long. But she didn't care. She was about half way when she realized that she was too exhausted to actually make it that far. So, she sat down on her knees, staring at the ground, breathing hard. She had never been this tired. Why now, when it seemed that something was important? Could she call out to him? No. It'd be too hard. Maybe... maybe she could shoot an arrow? Land it near him? Right now seemed like a terrible time for fooling around with messages, but it might be needed.

Deciding that it would probably be the only way to keep him from walking in another direction, she fumbled with her fingers to notch an arrow, the bow slippery in her tired and slightly numb fingers. Drawing back the string, she let go, but her finger hit the edge and it wobbled down to earth twenty feet away. Swearing, Rue tried to keep herself together and notch another arrow. Aiming it up and pulling with all her might on the string, she shot it again. Though the rain knocked it off path a little bit, but it landed in the ground closer to Jack. Sucking in her breath tightly, she felt the world sway slightly. He was right there, but she couldn't even call out to him. One more arrow. Just one more... Notching her arrow tightly, she pulled back one more time, and letting go, she suddenly felt an enormous waterfall of tiredness. Jack would never see her. He wouldn't know. She'd probably die right then and there, and then not know what was going on when one of them was killed. It was worthless. And then, very suitably for the moment, Rue was dragged into unconsciousness.



/ Dusk /


"Listen... Can we skip this whole interrogation stuff and find shelter as soon as possible? I... I don't give a damn that we'll have to return to the Tribe, I just want to be under a roof." Dusk clicked her tongue and nodded. "Sure." she said smoothly, secretly marking the tough-looking boy as somewhat of a pansy in her definition. (He. He. No offense meant. I just had to do that. It's Dusk's way of interpreting a lot of people.) She hadn't met him for more than a few minutes, but still, he was acting kind of scared. Maybe it was the thunder or something. Dusk knew the woods like the back of her hand. She spent more time there than in camp all day. She already had a few places that they could hide in mind, but she quickly disregarded them. There was no way they were going to be led by her to the place where she found that no one could find her. That was her own little world, and she didn't need others knowing about it. They could always make a lean-to...

There actually wasn't any real shelter... biting her lip, Dusk weighed the chances of bringing them to one of her private spots. It wasn't inconspicuous like the others, but it was shelter... "I have a place." she finally spoke, recalling the directions almost immediately in her mind. She knew where to go. "It's not the best, but it's shelter." she continued, standing upright, straightening out her coat. "You game?" she asked, addressing all of them at the same time. They probably would be, but she felt that it was needed to check first. They might want to go home, crying to their mothers after all. It was eerily silent as she waited, and Dusk glanced over her shoulder, touching her wings lightly as she tried to seem interested in something.



/ Aella /


"You have to go. This rain won't stop till someone's turned to the Marquess's side." The sudden voice of Jack had shocked Aella out of a half sleep, and she stared up with wide eyes, obviously confused, and feeling very discombobulated. "Wait, what?!" she exclaimed, feeling a sudden need to protest. "Wait, no. Woah. No. Not cool. We can't go out in that weather!" she continued, staring up at Jack with a look that said 'I hope you're kidding.' But Jack was gone. Freya stared at Aella, raising an eyebrow. "I only caught the word Marquess in that." Aella ignored her friend and went to the door, glancing around, but Jack had gone. Staring back at Freya, somewhat bewildered. "What did he say? Marquess' side? What? We... we can't go now. It's a thunder storm. A... a..." Freya piped up instantly. "TEMPEST!" and then gave a large grin towards the male Hawk Tribe warrior, who glared at the younger girl. Odell stared at the confused warriors. "You gotta go. Jack is always right, whatever he says is normally right." Freya narrowed her eyes at the young boy. "Why you little-" Tempest stood up. "Let's go. We're not wanted here any more." and with no goodbyes, they left like smoke on the wind.

"I just don't get it!" Aella vented as they were walking through the sodden fields of the Fox Tribe territory. She was soaked to the bone, and them being suddenly kicked out didn't help. "Why did they just tell us to leave? We didn't do anything!" Tempest, who had remained silent so far, glanced back at her and gave her an annoyed stare. "We got what we wanted. We found the herbs. That wasn't time for a leisurely talk. We all knew that we'd have to go sooner or later. What'd you think, that we were best friends since they let us stay in their hut?" and with that snap at Aella, he turned back around. There was silence in the air. It remained that way until not too far into the Raven Tribe territory. "I don't want to run into those people we did last time." Freya muttered underneath her mask. "God, it's even creepier at night and when it's raining." Aella replied, staring around at the looming trees. "Let's just get home as fast as we can. It'll be good to be back."

[intriguing]

~ Jack ~
Jack trudged through the sopping wet grass and sludge tha lined the floor. He didn't know where Rue was and the more he moved the further away from her he got. He wouldn't go back inside until he'd found her. He knew he was putting himself at risk, and his family most likely too, but he would rather die trying to find Rue than leave her outside. If only there was no rain. The rain, the fateful, meaningful, oh so grave rain. Why did a usual virtue for this tribe have to become the message of their murder? Jack cursed at the floor and bellowed at his surroundings. So near yet so far. Rue would never be found, and nor would Jack at this rate. He heard something, something barely audible over the rain, but the senses of a fox were toned. He could just make out something, just something small, something little. he shook it off, it was just an animal, or somethign like that.

He walked into the next field, getting closer to Rue, though he did not yet know it. The same noise again but closer, so close. Wait, what was that? It was an arrow. An arrow in the grass. So someone else was out here. Wait. Who were they trying to shoot? Something dawned on Jack and he shuddered eveen more than before. Someone was trying to kill Rue. He didn't have a minute to even think about whether it were possible, whether his thoughts were evn rational. He was running before he'd had time to think another thing. Running in the direction of the arrow. If they had been trying to shoot her... They didn't want to know what he'd do to them. He could feel adrenalin and anger pumping in his veins.

But all was not as it seemed.

As he ran he neared Rue, he drew ever closer, stumbling across another arrow on his way. He had long since shifted into fox form, it was faster even if he couldn't see through the grass and the mud came up to his knees. He was getting so desperate now. Wham. Jack tumbled head-long into a pond, swimming straight back up and gasping for breath, he morphed into a human, jumping out quickly. He shook himself off, more fox-like than human in his habits. Where were they? Where were they? he thought again more angry than ever now. But the sight that met his eyes did not relieve him. Rue was there, the one he'd been searching for for so long, but she was unconscious. He shivered again, his fox reflexes kicking in as he looked at her.

For a few moments he was still, not believing what he was seeing, but it did not last. Slowly he walked over to her as if he did not think she were real. Was it the shock of finding, or the pan of seeing her unconscious that made him like this? He didn't know. Gently he put his hand on her face. There was no reason for the gesture, but it fulfilled something small in Jack's mind. This situation consumed him and he didn't know what to do. He just knelt there by her in the mud, looking at her face, her beautiful, rain-pelted face. He looked away. The arrow had dropped from her limp hands. He picked up the weapon and put it on his back. Then he raised himself up a little. He put one arm under her knees, the other round her back. Supporting her, he lifted her up. He looked around, peering over the top of her body to the surroundings. Nothing had been dropped, it was safe to go. he moved slowly away from the spot. His eyes so focused on Rue's face he didn't even notice the fallen elk in the grass a short distance away.

Why did it affect him like this? No-one could comprehend, but soon he was muttering to the unconscious girl in his arms. Words no-one but himself would ever hear, but words he needed to say. It was meaningless to most, talking to an unconscious body, but Jack had to. Even though she was not dead, he still felt an aching pain lingering inside him as he looked at her. Why was she unconscious, had someone made her so? His whole plan, idea, about the Marquess had fled his mind. It wa sonly Rue that mattered. he had to get her inside and away from danger. There was no way he could take her to the medic. not with the likes of Zylo hanging about. So he took her to the safest place he knew. Inside his own shelter.

Jack walked into the room, looking round at everyone, his eyes and his silence begging for help as he lowered Rue onto the mat on the floor. he didn't know what to do. That was what made him afraid. For the first time in his lif,e he did not know how to help her. He wasn't gifted medically, he didn't know how to raise someone from unconsciousness, so all his worry rested in someone else. He was reliant on someone else to help her.

[hdmwolf]

/ Rue /

In Odell's eyes


The first thing that shot into Odell's head as Jack came in with Rue in his hands was that his sister was dead. He stared with wide eyes at Jack. and felt somewhat uncomfortable to be there, as he knew that he had to leave Jack's family alone. But he didn't want to. He liked staying in their lean-to. Of course, Odell, at first, didn't consider what the consequences of Rue being dead was. At first, he believed, that with Rue gone, he'd get her stuff. But then he suddenly realized something. Rue was dead. Dear god, Rue was dead. Odell's fascination at seeing a dead body quickly turned into horror as he got it into his little brain what happens when someone dies. They don't come back. They stay gone.

Stuttering for words for the first time ever, Odell stood there, almost frozen as Jack laid his sister down on the floor. Rue was dead. What. The. Heck. How uncanny. Again, horror was overcome with wonder, but then replaced again with horror. Back and forth. But suddenly, there was a change. Rue's tail twitched slightly, and Odell nearly leaped out of the room. IT'S A ZOMBIEEEE!!!! he told himself, but again, he changed his mind. Wait... was Rue breathing? She was alive! But... half-dead. "Uh... J...Jack? Should I go get Zylo because we kind of... y'know..." he mumbled, wincing a little when he said the name. He knew of Jack's hate for him. Hanging his head down slightly low, he scurried off, mumbling something about getting his mom.

[intriguing]

~ Jack ~

Jack sat by Rue on his knees, silently begging her to come round. Come on, he though, come on, I'm not letting you die, come on. Just then her tail flicked, and the boy fell back in surprise. He quckly gathered his bearings then looked up at Odell, he grimaced when Zylo was mentioned, but was grateful of Odell's thoughts all the same. he watched him scamper out of the door, only now realising Aella and Freya had gone. Thye had been nice, ever so, but he could not put another tribe's peoplre in danger. Glad they had listened, but sad they had gone, the sogging wet young man leant over Rue again. It felt so lonely and empty. His sisters had dissapeared when Odell had, his mother was still frozen, and then there was Rue, lying on the floor, and Jack feeling so utterly helpless. He was beginning to wish he didn't spent his spare time carving wood and had actually bothered to learn something about medical issues. How much he hated himself in this moment as he crouched over Rue, looking into her face, eeri9ly silent though the rain still thundered outside.

((A wee case of writer's block there))

[hdmwolf]

/ Rue /

In Odell's eyes


Odell had never felt this shocked in his whole life, which wasn't for a super long time, mind you. As soon as he stepped out of the small lean-to and then into the rain, a large jolt of cold shot down his spine. For a moment, he stood there, almost paralyzed. It was as if his brain still hadn't been able to process what had just happened. He didn't know how Rue had fainted, or why, or where, but the fact was that she had fainted, and that someone needed to help her. For a moment, his brain restarted itself as the cold rain made him shiver slightly. But then, it geared up again and he jolted forward, suddenly remembering where he was going. He needed to go to Zylo's, but... he had to tell his mom first. Feet pounding against the slippery ground, his calves and below were covered with dark mud. "Mooooooommmm!" he shouted, regretting it momentarily afterward. He didn't want to alarm her. After all, she could be sleeping, and then she would be woken up by him. Biting his lip, he peeked into the lean-to. Rose was groggily getting up, staring around. "Odell, what? You're supposed to be asleep by now. Why are you up and running? And wh- Oh, just look at you! Covered in mud and wet! That's a terrible state to be i-" Odell couldn't listen any longer. "MOM. Rue went out into the fields, Jack followed her, and now he's brought her back unconscious!" In a flash, almost unable to be seen by the human eye, Rose had leaped up and was already out the door. "My poor baby!" she cried out, almost like a wounded animal. Odell watched as his mother raced across the camp, and eventually made it to Jack's. Sighing, he turned back and focused his thoughts on what was next.

Right. Zylo. Jack hadn't totally said that Zylo wasn't allowed. And plus, it wasn't Jack he was catering to. It was his sister. He wasn't going to try and chop the fingers off of Rue. They didn't totally have it out for each other. The medicine hut was a bit farther down. Odell had felt exhausted before, but now, energy coursed through his veins, renewed by the fact that his sister could be hugely hurt. His arms pumping faster than they had ever gone, he ran through the camp, past all the sleeping members of his Tribe, and then into the medicine hut. Of course, Zylo was asleep, and he hadn't heard the commotion so far. It took a few rough shakes to get him to wake up, and when he did wake up, Odell was met with a sound whap in the stomach from the boy's arm as he reached out. It was totally an accident, but Odell fell to the ground, winded. Looking up, he saw Zylo glance over his shoulder, an angry glare on his face. "Why are you here? You're not supposed to be in here you little-" he stopped himself, as if he were trying to calm himself. "What are you doing here."

Odell was close to hysterics by now. The rain had soaked him. His mother was probably worried to death. His sister was unconscious, and here this boy was, asking him what he was doing there. Clenching his fists, he matched Zylo's stare. "Rue's unconscious." he said in a forced even voice that took a lot of control to keep even. He wanted to seem like he wasn't panicking. He wanted to act grown up. "We need your help." he said, and with that, shut his mouth in a firm line. Zylo gave him an incredulous stare and then laughed slightly. It wasn't a friendly laugh. "Rue's unconscious. Cool. I'll be there in a few secs." Odell stared at him. Why did he say cool? Was he just being sarcastic? Without much to say, Odell turned around and ran out back into the rain, then towards Jack's lean-to. It was probably going to be really crowded. Scooting in behind his mother, he sat down in the corner where he would not take up so much space.

His mother seemed like she was in hysterics, whimpering over her daughter. It wasn't like she hadn't been knocked out before. It happened before, and their mother had just said, "She'll come around. She's a fighter, alright." Or maybe that had been his dad... Never mind. It was actually his dad that said that, and then Rose had acted the same way she was right now. Sniffing in as his nose started to run, he clutched his knees up to his chest and sighed, staring at Rue's faintly moving body. There was a sound outside, and his ears perked up. Zylo squeezed into the den and grinned evilly at Jack. "Hey Jack, long time no see. Fancy meeting you here." there was an edge to his voice that Odell didn't like.

[intriguing]

~ Jack ~

As Odell dissapeared Jack felt comforted, not that the boy was absent, but because he knew help was coming. In warmed him, not physically of course, he was chilled to the bone and soaked through, his hair and eyelashes dripping water onto the floor, splashing with a ripple that blended into the thunder outside. In the whole time Jack was in the hut he stayed close to Rue's side. His sisters had come back in and were sitting with there now roused mother in the corner. She'd relapsed now and was feeling ill again, her hands were shaking and she looked awfully pale. Jack couldn't deal with two ill people in the house, and though it seemed odd, right now he was more concerned about Rue than his mother. His ears had stoped flicking to the rhythm of the rain and his tail had drooped, his mind spinning off thoughts and worries, none of which he voiced aloud.

As Rose came in Jack shuffled closer to her and put his arm around her, gently comforting her as best he could for she seemed in a terrible state. He knew what she felt, but he was keeping it bottled up inside him, which was just as well. He heard a cold sneering voice behind him. Zylo.

Jack turned, removed his arm from around Rue's mother and stared dead on at the young man who had just entered his house. There was a horrible sneer on his face, a malicious grin that he had once been told was 'mysterious' by some fox girl in his tribe. He detested those sharp outlines of his face. Zylo's high cheek bones, once-straight, now broken, nose, thick black eyebrows and sleek, though bed-tousled, auburn hair. It made Jack shiver just looking at the polished face of the brute, the way his dark brown eyes glinted maliciously whenever Jack was near.

Jack tried not to show any emotion, his face was hard-set, it's usually joyous features locked in a sheel ofanger. He knew that he not told odell not to ask Zylo, but he couldn't help feeling a little anooyed at the boy. He stared coldly back into the dark merciless eyes and felt the pang of hatred lapping back into his heart. "Well, it is my house," he said stiffly, with the hint of a smile, even when Zylo was insulting him, he still had the upper hand with cutting remarks. Well, usually.

"So," said Jack, his words slightly choked as he looked from Rue up at the young man, "Are you going to help her, or just stand there?" he asked, stepping up from the dusty floor, staring up that small centimetre at Zylo. Jack's slow and stedy breathing was seen in his chest, his sopping wet shirt clinging to him, his hair flung in all directions over his face. Zylo seemed dry and pristine as ever. Jack just hated it, and he wished he hadn't had to ask for help. Zylo had the upper hand.

[hdmwolf]

/ Rue /

In the eyes of Odell


Odell stared at Jack and Zylo, almost as if they were having a face-off. He felt slightly uncomfortable and sunk deeper into the shadows. As far as he knew, his mother hadn't even noticed him, so it wasn't too bad if he allowed himself to be even less conspicuous. As Jack replied, the room seemed to grow quieter. "Are you going to help her, or just stand there?" Jack asked, and Zylo allowed his ever-present sneer to grow. "I wouldn't let her stay in this condition, if that's what you're asking." he continued, and then Odell noticed something. As Rose glanced around to look at Zylo, his voice had softened. The young boy felt sick to his stomach. He was trying to act pleasant. That was why every other adult tended to like him. Clenching his fists tightly, Odell lashed his tail only a small movement. Zylo sauntered with a slow pace over to Odell's sister. No cutting remarks this time, such as, 'you do realize that she's not dead,' or something like, 'a shame you don't know anything useful' towards Jack. He acted concerned. Odell hated it. Rummaging in a small pouch that hung by his side, Zylo cast a light eye at Rue's legs. "Where'd the blood come from?" he asked as he pulled out a few herbs. He stared up at Jack with a suspicious look, almost like he had done something to put it there.


(Sorry for the short post D: )