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Post by sparklemuffin on Aug 20, 2015 8:47:41 GMT
There was a soft growl from the phantom cat as it turned towards the intruder, twin tails lashing angrily in the air. It kept a back paw on Kee's chest, the weight of which seemed to make it hard to breathe. Were she not shaking with the pain that the beast's scratches somehow brought, she might've been able to appear grateful for the distraction.
The spectral beast open its mouth and shrieked at Tyarnach before it pounced, claws extended. But as its body fell upon the shining horns, it rippled and flickered in and out of existence, vanishing just as it landed fully. This was accompanied by an enraged snarl from the shadows, undeterred by this new setback.
Kee got up on trembling legs, her head pounding from the phantom's influence. "It isn't gone," She warned him, though it was unnecessary. They would both be able to hear its soft rumbles as it paced through the darkness, circling them and planning for a second attack.
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Post by karaikou on Aug 20, 2015 9:01:16 GMT
The shriek was as terrifying as it was painful to the blue beast. Tyarnach wanted to put his paws over his ears but he found that he was frozen, instinct and reason replaced with overwhelming fear as if an icy hand had clutched his heart and threatened to crush it at the slightest breath. But the effects were temporary and when the phantom's victim called out he was quick to come to his senses, moving backwards, closer to her and generating electricity from the static and absorbing heat from the air.
His main stood out on end and sparked with excess amounts of energy, which in turn illuminated the area, making them aware of movement presence. ''I wish I knew what was safer for you.'' Tyarnach grumbled, looking for their foe while talking back at the woman who pushed him out. ''If it lunges, run. Or else we'll be eating venison tonight. But for now stay close.'' To be honest Tyarnach had never faced such a creature but he knew if he could discharge a large amount of electricity in the form of a field it was going to hurt.
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Post by sparklemuffin on Aug 22, 2015 0:06:07 GMT
The presence of electricity was making her short fur stand on end, something that might've given her an intimidation factor if it weren't for the fact she were still very deer-like. Despite the crackling feeling being generated by her fur, she was more than willing to stay to the side of and a few steps behind Tyarnach. Small as he was, the fact he appeared to be just about bursting with lightning did make her feel safer. "I can guarantee that if you jolt me, it'll hurt, if that's what you mean by safe." She let the deer joke pass, feeling it was the least she owed him considering he had come out of hiding for her.
The phantom shied away from the light the two were producing, its body still flickering in places from the initial attack. There might've been lesser prey off in the forest, something it could drain for sustenance, but even an ethereal beast could struggle to get by in the corruption. It circled persistently and finally lunged with its twin tails, risking a shock as it swung them towards Tyarnach's torso.
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Post by karaikou on Aug 22, 2015 0:20:33 GMT
The forest floor and surrounding trees were illuminated by a bright blue-white light that was generated from Tyarnach, but it wasn't for purely offensive or defensive purposes, the static allowed him to sense movement in the air and as their predator went to strike, Tyarnach had vanished leaving the ghastly feline's forked tail in the dirt. Reappearing from behind the blue monster pounced, his front paws alive with lightning that thundered as he struck the ground through the transparent undead creature's spine..
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Post by sparklemuffin on Aug 22, 2015 0:26:05 GMT
The shrill, pained cry that the phantom let out as lightning jolted through its incorporeal form was almost as chilling as the paralyzing screams it had let out earlier. Worse, it conveyed a sense of hurt that made Kee feel guilty about their need to fight back. She turned her head away to shield her eyes from the bright flash of Tyarnach's attack.
The phantom beast writhed against the dirt like a trapped bug, snapping its massive teeth against the electrified paws, thrashing desperately in an effort to get free. Its tail stabbed repeatedly and frantically towards the blue creature's skull in an effort to disorient or hurt him long enough to escape.
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Post by karaikou on Aug 22, 2015 1:41:21 GMT
The more it struggled, the more electricity Tyarnach discharged, the ground scorched back where the two fought. But Kee was safe where she stood, out of the danger as spectral and physical weapons clashed against one another. Through as the tail whipped about, Tyarnach moved his head in a way that he would be able to avoid the blows before biting down on it's ethereal energy.
Their fight was loud and their fight was violent but considering Tyarnach could not physically kill the monstrosity, he released it and let out a warning growl. His fluffed fur changing from jagged to soft as he moved more towards Kee in a protective manner. It would be a fool to try and attack them again.
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Post by sparklemuffin on Aug 22, 2015 1:51:44 GMT
The phantom, now flickering violently in and out existence due to its weakened state, struggled to its feet. There was hatred and loathing in its eyes as it stared the two down, then, with an angered snarl, turned tail and fled into the darkened forest. Its humiliating defeat left no evidence except a lingering impression of vengeance towards the two.
Kee finally dared look up when the sound had died off, her ears and tail twitching with paranoia as she searched the darkness for any remaining sign of the phantom. Relieved, she let out a harsh breath and perked up. "It's gone?" She asked warily, though it was unlikely they'd see it again for that night. "Thank Mystic," She breathed out, then added hastily to him, "And thank you."
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Post by karaikou on Aug 22, 2015 2:05:18 GMT
Tyarnach shrugged and shot the deer an unimpressed glance before heading back to hide in his burrow. He wasn't hurt from the fight but he was still annoyed that he felt compelled to defend her, reasoning with himself he argued that it was purely to repay her, not that he had to of course, and nothing more. Now the two could go their separate ways, she could return to her haven and he could wait until there was some for of sunlight before heading towards the capital.
''Go home, deer.'' He huffed parting words, waiting for her to leave.
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Post by sparklemuffin on Aug 22, 2015 2:11:25 GMT
Kee's ears went back at his dismissive nature. She had thought, or at least hoped, that his act of saving her had been a sign of forgiveness for her actions. Instead of running off as directed, she moved to stand in front of him, planting her hooves stubbornly, for all the good it could do her. "No," She told him firmly. "Not unless you come back with me. I'm sorry for throwing you out - I was sorry about it before you saved me from that... thing. I don't care if you keep your word to the spiders, you deserve to be safe too." It wasn't a particularly heroic speech, and the apology made her speak quickly out of fear of sounding foolish, but she stood her ground when she was finished and looked down at him.
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Post by karaikou on Aug 22, 2015 2:25:40 GMT
He glanced back up at her with an almost uncaring expression, ''You cast me aside and then want me back? I'm sorry but I am no longer interested in your offer of hospitality. I left, as you directed me to do, and now I am here. I appreciate letting me drink from your spring but now I am more than fine and at daylight you'll have your forest back all to yourself, your spiders and your corrupted monstrosities. I have places to be and people to see.''
Being as small as he was he crawled back into his burrow with only his head at the entrance so he could see and retort to the nature spirit if need be, he was stubborn and somewhat offended, ''I only saved you as a repayment for getting me out of that spider nest, we're not friends or even allies.''
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Post by sparklemuffin on Aug 22, 2015 2:35:29 GMT
She couldn't blame him. It stung to hear it laid out so bluntly, but she also realized he was correct, and the guilt made her cringe visibly. "I'm sorry that I did," She told him again. "I was afraid to lose the agreement with the spiders. I need their help, but I shouldn't have cast you out for their sake." He didn't seem willing to leave, but she poked her head down towards the entrance to keep an eye on him. "Please, come back with me. Even if you are safe through the darkest, it's still a danger to travel alone."
There was honest concern in her tone, but she didn't feel she was making much headway despite her pleas. She was afraid to stick her head further into his den, both because of the size of her antlers and because she wasn't certain he wouldn't bite or claw her nose if annoyed.
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Post by karaikou on Aug 22, 2015 3:05:04 GMT
''So what, you intend to go with me?'' He asked with ears pulled back in annoyance. ''I am fine, and was fine until you were attacked. I don't need protection, I'm not weak and if I get corrupted then it's my own fault. Besides, spider treaty or not you still put me out and so out I am. You're annoyingly persistent and yet you can't seem to make up your mind.'' He draw in the dirt with one claw, ''I have a simple plan, I will stay here until there's enough light to get moving again, then I'll go north towards the main roads, once I'm there I'll follow those back to the citadel and no doubt be rewarded for returning despite the fact those morons were eaten by dragons.'' Dusting the drawing away he huffed proudly, ''I do not need to be mucked around by a witch.''
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Post by sparklemuffin on Aug 22, 2015 3:17:35 GMT
It was clear he didn't intend to give in, so she backed her head out of the entrance of the den and turned in a circle, folding her legs up and laying in the dirt right outside. She was clearly intent on keeping watch over him if he didn't plan to return, but she made no declaration about it. "I'm not a witch," She stated casually before moving on to her true concern. "Why would you want to go there? It's an awful place, everyone there is mean or at least doesn't care about anybody but themselves." The fact he had a sharp attitude much like the dwellers didn't seem to occur so much, or if it did, she didn't bring it up.
"The roads aren't safe, anyway. Even if you're not weak, you'd be running into trouble you could avoid. If you're not corrupted, why would you choose to stay in this part of the world? There are safer, nicer places out there."
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Post by karaikou on Aug 22, 2015 3:36:32 GMT
Tyarnach didn't mind the conversation. It wasn't too often that he could actually indulge in conversation and when she sat at a distance the blue monster seemed to relax a little, his pointed ears returned to their normal position. He didn't wish to argue the fact that she was indeed a witch and so he addressed her second question instead. ''I was being transported there prior to that slight delay, the prize money for the pit fighting is rather high and my purpose is to win as much of that money as I can for my master. Of course if I don't turn up then I've cost him a lot of gold, which understandably would not go over well with him.'' The look in his eyes and his raised eyebrows were an emphasis on how important it was that he got there.
''I assume you're asking why I don't migrate to Eternia, the answer is simple. On this side there's purpose for creatures like me, on that side I'd serve no use aside from perhaps being a bad tempered house pet. I'm also not permitted to think of, let alone consider such things. Here is where I belong, I would ask why you spend your time out here with the corruption when you're clearly not from this side.. but I just remembered... I don't really care.''
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Post by sparklemuffin on Aug 22, 2015 3:49:05 GMT
Kee seemed to relax as he spoke, curling her head in towards her body and keeping her attention divided between him and the darkness lurking just past the glow of her antlers. "Why would you allow yourself to be owned and contained at all?" She asked with a note of confusion. "You can always make your own purpose. You don't have to be owned by someone, regardless of where you are. You're out here, alone, a free creature. Why... why would you willingly go back?" It was baffling to her, that every creature could not simply exist in the wild doing whatever it wished.
"Nobody is here to permit or forbid you from thinking. I don't understand it." With such a lack of understanding, and his harsh remark towards her purpose, she couldn't help but look confused and upset.
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