Post by Dark Emporess of Fury on Feb 19, 2003 4:20:03 GMT -5
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Valianna withdrew slowly to the back of the group and let them take control for the time being. She did not wish to wear herself out before the evening was over. Crimson hues flickered as they adjusted to the dark lighting within the caverns. She decided for their own benefit, and for their own safety, they would walk in the dark through the musky air, forgoing the use of her staff's light. She moved forward a step, carefully using her staff to feel for the path as her stare remained forward, directly down the path in which they must go. A soft smile curved ruby tiers and she waited for the others to begin.
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Myst's feral sights saw easily within the darkness & she felt the unease within Valianna's mind, knowing she was right, no light should be cast outward for it could alert a beast far beyond their imaginations for something had to be protecting the cavern they fell upon the other night. How could something of that great of a magnatude be left out in the open for anyone to befall. She stopped her paces turning to face the two that followed, their steps uneasy within the shadows cloaking. Palm lifted, the flesh spliting as she sent her virus born tenticles to wrap about their waists. "Let me lead you." She turned back, scanning the many passages before them, digits still tight about her daggers hilt she awaited for anything that may jump out. Pace continued, slow & cautiously she moved the scent strong within the air. She turned a corner, there before them was the breaking Katya had fallen upon, literally, the night before.
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Her eyesight was beyond perfect within the dark, better than it was in the daylight, most of the time, but Katya was indeed pleased that Myst was going to guide them. She wasn't in the proper mood to fall back down into the hole she had the night before. Once was embarrassing enough for her, even if she had discovered the gold at the end of the rainbow, so to speak. She stepped slowly forward, gazing back and forth lightly sniffing the musky air. She sensed something was not quite right, and quite frankly it was beginning to worry her. She spoke in hushed tones, barely above a whisper knowing the others could hear her clearly. "Is it just me or ..." She trailed off not needing to finish the sentence. It was obvious what she meant for it did not take a genius to feel the heaviness lingering within the surrounding air.
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She withdrew her tenticle's grasp from her friends, soft demonic chant whispered under her breath as cover of blackened mist concealed her form. She kneeled down as she looked down into the hole before them. Eyes widened at the site before her. She quickly jumped back to stand, arms moved to push the others back from the hole as she regained her visage. "Valianna go look & tell me if you know what that thing is." Slight hint of panic betrayed her calm & usually collected features.
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"Cristahl." Soft murmur slipped beneath her breath as the gemstone atop her staff began to glow brightly. She knew it did not matter, for she sensed their presence within this sacred destination was already well known. Worst yet, she knew they were expected. Upon light chasing away the shadows, she took notice of the panic that had crept upon Myst's features and she took a deep breath. Tiny steps brought her closer to the edge, and she knelt down slowly, peering down into the hole. A choking sob erupted from her ruby tiers as crimson pools locked onto the creature. She inched back slowly and turned to face the others. Normally pale as was, delicate features were drained of all color and crimson hues were devoid of emotion. She rose slowly, her body trembling and she needed full use of her staff as she forced herself to swallow. Her voice cracked and shook as she opened her mouth to speak. "That would be a Raczmont. As a matter of fact, I would have to say that it is a twenty-five foot tall Raczmont."
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"I do not want to know, do I?" Katya spoke suddenly, all her nervousness rushing back into her body. The looks of horror on their faces made it quite known that she did not want to even see the creature. She had images of matted fur and razor sharp teeth just waiting to bite into her supple flesh. She involuntarily shuddered before she spoke again."Why was that thing not here last night?"
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"Last night we were not here to search for the power. We simply found it by accident. Had we stayed to.. take care of business, the beast would have appeared before us. To kill us. He is the guardian of the key, so to speak." She let out a soft sigh and gestured for each of them to come close. "We must go down there. If we walk away without trying, it will kill us. If we fail, it will kill us. If we succeed, it will grant our very desire and prove to be more valuable than even our own lives." She forced herself to swallow and simply fell backwards into the hole, knowing the Raczmont would catch her, for they had been chosen.
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Myst listened with curious ear, not knowing how in the hell Valianna could know all this, for she herself had never seen nor heard of such a beast before. She shoke her head, trying to clear the uneasiness stirring within her very soul. The sinew within her forearms began to twitch madly as droplets of vitae began to drip from her palms. She clenched her fists as she looked up to meet Valianna's gaze only to watch it drop from view. Paniced shriek ripped from her lungs as she lurched herself forward trying to grasp her arm, to stop her from moving so blindly into something they did not know was truely meant for them or was used to only lure them closer for a midnight snack. She fell to the hole's edge, head dropping as she turned & looked to Katya. She spoke in stronger voice, for now it was not just a treasure she was in seach of but her dearest friend was now face to face with danger. There was only one thing to do ... follow. With a quick nod to Katya, she dropped into the abyss before her.
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"That is my strength, I use my brain." She grumbled angrily as she watched Valianna fall blindly into the hole, not lacking in her faith of the situation, then Myst, following suit without so much as a plan other than "jump". It was rather obvious she was going to have to be the one to save them, this time. She inched closer and slid down into the hole, hanging on for as long as she could before she jumped down below. A piercing shriek would erupt from her lips as her eyes adjusted to the pitch blackness and she saw her first glimpse of the Raczmont. Her worst fears realized, for this beast perfectly fit the description that had popped into her head when its name had been mentioned. Another piercing shriek erupted as taloned claws snaked out to grasp ahold of her, whisking her through the air and depositing her none too gently on the edge of the pool.
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[Continued in Part 3]