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Desert Encounter (DragonSong)

Started by Jiaolong, January 04, 2018, 10:46:50 PM

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Jiaolong

Ruby tensed, quickly shuffling behind her. He did have a weapon, but he would only get in the way of Maka's superior fighting skills. He readied his weapon anyway and tried to pinpoint the source of the "footsteps."

He shuddered. He now knew what that feeling he had was: it was when something truly evil was present. His type of magic had no effect against them. "I sure hope you have a trick up your sleeve," he whispered.

DragonSong

The necromancer paused. Then, with a sigh, she closed her eyes and reached out. Time seemed to slow around her as her power dove into the sand and stone around them, searching, searching...

There.

"Try to back away slowly," she whispered to Ruby, sliding her foot back. She still couldn't see...whatever it was that was hunting them. "We just need a few more seconds..."

Jiaolong

Ruby obeyed, slowly stepping backwards into the darkness. He really hoped Maka had a plan, because he definitely didn't. But it seemed like she knew what she was doing...

Another chill went up his spine, and the footsteps grew louder. He heard a painful howl come from somewhere down the hallway, the wail making him cover his ears.


DragonSong

Maka hissed and flinched back from the noise. "What in all hells is that?"

The sand beneath her feet began to shift and she skittered back a few steps, knowing what was coming. "Ruby, is anything behind us?" she snapped over her shoulder.

They probably needed to run for it.

Jiaolong

"Nothing but more hallway. I can't sense anything else," he whispered. As if reading her mind, Ruby grabbed Maka's arm and dashed into the darkness, the small lantern only lighting up a few feet in front of them.

More screeches erupted from behind them.

"Does it sound like something we can fight?" Ruby panted, only half-joking. He had no idea what lay before them, and if they met with a dead end, he wanted to know they at least had a chance.

DragonSong

"Us? Maybe. Them-" she jerked her head over her shoulder, back the way they'd come- "Probably."

It was too dark to see clearly, but her death sense told her what was happening; it was like the vision of a snake, she could sense the moving bodies as easily as though they were picked out in softly glowing light in the darkness behind them.

Some dozen desiccated corpses, lurching and shambling as they attempted to block whatever was making that gods-awful screeching noise. It would buy them time, but she didn't know how long she could hold the reanimation. Where before sprinting through the sand had seemed easy, now she was flagging, panting and her steps weaving slightly as she tried to keep up with Ruby.

Jiaolong

Ruby looked behind him as he realized Maka was slowing. "You okay?" he asked. He hadn't seen her get injured before—what was wrong?

It seemed that the wails and screeches were getting farther away. That was good. Ruby turned a corner, holding Maka's arm tightly. The circle of light his lantern shed illuminated what looked to be the first few steps of a staircase. "Up we go," he muttered, trying not to slip on the sand that had accumulated on the steps.

DragonSong

Maka staggered along behind him, the reanimation was dragging at her like a physical weight, dogging her steps.

She nearly ground aloud as they started to climb the stairs. "I can't- can't keep up the distraction much longer," she panted.

Jiaolong

Distraction? So Maka was probably using magic to do something...that explained her exhaustion.

A stir in the air alerted Ruby to the top of the staircase. Could there possivly be an exit up there? He hoped so, because it sounded like that monster would catch up to them otherwise.

Ruby glanced back at Maka and crouched. "Here, get on."

DragonSong

"Wh- what?" Maka panted, staring at him in confusion. "Are you..serious? You can't be serious-"

Her tenuous connection to the dead she'd raised trembled and she gritted her teeth. They were running out of time.

"Fine!" Awkwardly, hating it, she wrapped her arms around Ruby's shoulders and let him take her weight.

Jiaolong

Another screech erupted from somewhere behind them, this time sounding closer. Ruby stood with a grunt and ran up the stairs, hoping he was right about there being an entrance up ahead. The staircase led to a hallway, then to another staircase. "There...should be...an opening up ahead...I hope."

But the smell of fresh air grew stronger. Ruby stopped abruptly at a the top of the stairs which seemed to end in the ceiling. Was it the ceiling...or a door? Upon closer inspection, there was a circular cut-out in the ceiling, but it was sealed off from lack of use. However, the air coming through the cracks meant it definitely led to the outside. "The ride is over! Can you help me lift this up?" Ruby asked, setting Maka down on the floor.

DragonSong

Too tired to respond properly, Maka nodded as she slid onto her own feet and staggered toward the sealed door. Grunting, she braced her shoulder against it and shoved.

Jiaolong

Ruby pushed as hard as he could, and with Maka's help, the opening budged. Sand and dirt fell down with the movement. Another scream from the monster gave Ruby a surge of adrenaline, and the two were finally able to lift the cover off.

A cold wind blew, and Ruby welcomed the fresh air it gave. He hoisted himself out of the stairwell and looked around, trying to get his bearings. The sky was cloudless, of course, and stars dotted the night sky.

He turned around a grabbed Maka's arm. "Let's seal this thing before that monster catches up to us."

DragonSong

"Good plan." She scrambled out of the strange trapdoor and quickly twisted to shove the stone slab back over the opening. Her strength was returning, but slowly, and she was still panting almost embarrassingly.

Jiaolong

Ruby squinted at some lights he saw in the distance. "It looks like there's a tavern over there," he pointed, wiping some sweat from his forehead. And even better, it was the place he had originally intended to go to before he'd lost his potions. He turned back to Maka who seemed in need of a place to rest.

"What did you do down there?" Whatever it was seemed to have really taken a toll on her.

DragonSong

A tavern? In the middle of the desert?

Whatever, she was too tired to really question it.

Getting to her feet with a groan, Maka panted, “Trust me, you probably don’t want to know.”

Jiaolong

Ruby shrugged, dusting some sand off his pack. Everyone had their secrets, he supposed.

He climbed to the top of a nearby sand dune, eyes widening in surprise. "It seems those tunnels took us right near one of the main roads to Essryn. We aren't quite in the middle of the desert anymore," he added with a smile. "Let's rest at that cavern. I can pay for food and board for you if you'd like...it's the least I can do for dragging you into this mess."

DragonSong

Getting her breath back a bit, Maka nodded and gave a noncommittal grunt. "Hey, as long as we're far away from...whatever that was, I'm game."

Carefully, she twisted her twin blades back into a staff and slung it over her back. Her eyes were still wary, but she seemed to have relaxed at least a little as they started toward the lights. "Come on then."

Jiaolong

Ruby followed, running a hand through his white hair that glistened in the moonlight. His braid had somehow gotten unravelled during all the action. It would be a pain to tie it up again.

The sounds of the tavern—laughter, shouting, footsteps—became louder as the two approached it. The building was more of a tent, the walls being thick pieces of fabric stitched together. He lifted the cloth that covered the entrance and stepped inside. The smell of food made his mouth water, and he singled out an empty table in the room. "Let's sit over there. I'm about to die of starvation."

DragonSong

The noise and the light and the sense of life had her instantly on edge, but Maka nodded and made her way warily toward the table he'd indicated. Her eyes flickered around warily and she made sure to angle her chair so she had a better view of the entire tavern.

"So. We get some food, hopefully aren't chased by whatever was down there. Then what happens?"

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