The Pride Days (IC): Hurt

Var sighed. "I don't have any idea what's been in either of their pasts. But there is no excuse for Kavis' actions. I know he's killed many. But what Gustave was wrong about, was that Kavis is a bully. Despite his tendency to throw people around, he's far more than a bully. He doesn't bully people. He toys with them. He breaks them down slowly and the ends them. That's what he's doing. Because this isn't a game, an Kavis knows what he's doing."

He looked up at the sun, which was setting. "We need to get some rest. It's been a long day. Let me ask Taru where exactly we are." He fell back to walk with Taru and asked him the question. "So where are we?"

"We're almost to the camp. It's just over that hill."

"We need to rest" said Var.

"If the camp is safe, we can rest there" said Saber. Taru gave a skeptical look. Var walked up to Kyra.

"It's just over this hill" he said. As soon as the group came to the top, they looked directly at a camp similar to their own, but far smaller and on the border of a river and a lake that it fed into.

"Well, here it is. Old home... Or what's left of it" Taru said, noticing the flooded gulches in the middle of the camp.

Saber shook his head, eyeing the area. It was obvious he knew his share of spirits and life, and much about nature, now that he'd truly been enlightened. "There is nothing in the area. We are safe. This place is prowled by spirits. I can feel them. They're everywhere. But, I do not think they'll harm us. I can swim. River Pride was a group of excellent swimmers before the dragons took over."

Var shook his head. "I can't swim Kyra. Either I'll have to find some other way or you guys will have to help me. I was in an accident a long time ago, ever since then I haven't been able to truly face water."

"What happened?" asked Taru.

Var looked unwilling to speak it, but did so anyway. "It was about moon high. It was the night I met Magir. Magir was traveling with a young jackal named Yuona. We were crossing a bridge of branches, a log... It snapped. Each of us plummeted down into a river whose rapids were so fast and whose current was so furious, I had difficultly so much as keeping my head above the surface. I almost drowned. Yuona died in the end. That's when Magir took me in, until my father found me again."

"No, Magir ditched you when you were attacked by the hyenas" Saber said. "Your father found you during the attack, before you could be harmed. Don't lie."

"How do you suddenly know all of this? All of my personal experiences? I thought you were meant to tell the future, not the past."

"Anything and everything that concerns the events of Dalmaa and Snake, I know of." Snake turned to Taru. "This is your camp. Lead us."

Taru's ear twitched. He looked around for a moment almost nervously. "I don't even know where to begin looking for it, Saber."

Taru nodded. "There's a royal cave, just like in Ethiopia. It's smaller though. It's over there" he said pointing with his tail to an opening in a hill, high enough so that the water did not reach it. "Dad might have kept it in there... Let's see if we can get inside."

Taru went first, followed by Saber as the two began wading into the waters, moving across the camp. Var's hairs were standing on edge as he watched. Magir stuck to whatever shallows she could find, but in the end wound up swimming too. Scar seemed to not be bothered by the fact of getting wet as she made it across to the other side. Var gulped, placing a first paw in.

Saber rolled his eyes. "Come on, already!" he rasped, but it may have been too far to hear. Var didn't pay mind. But Taru bucked Saber in the side.

Var grimaced, getting frustrated. "Well, I don't push you into your fears" he said under his breath. He slowly eased his way into the water, carefully and eventually getting in. He gritted his teeth as he made his way across, eventually pulling up to the other side. He had stopped several times along the way, trying to hold himself together. At least the water was still and nothing like the night he nearly died.

He shook his fur, the droplets of water spraying onto the world around him like rain. The moon's light reflected off his wet fur as he stood along the "shore". He looked at the others, who were also trying to dry themselves. All save for Saber, who simply let himself soak.

Var stood quietly at the mouth of the cave, looking inside. It was dark, save for the light the moon brought in, which allowed for some visibility. Taru looked on. He gave glances to the others, seeing if they were ready.

Var sighed and nodded. "Let's go on then." The group moved inside, the cold cave quickly sunk into their fur, making them shiver. Var had a lot on his mind. The overall quest was in his head, but more personal things were at work. He was wondering about Magir and Kavis. He had a horrible feeling within himself ever since Kavis managed to push Kyra over the ledge. He felt helpless now, like he couldn't protect her. He tried and tried to push the monster away, but he wouldn't budge. It gave Var a feeling that he had failed for Kyra. That he couldn't help her, should something else happen.

He stopped as his eye caught something. It was on the wall of the cave and seemed to be some sort of marking or engraving. Var eventually adjusted to the light and saw that it was some strange symbol. A circle with many snaking lines stretching into it. "Saber," Var called. Saber moved over to the symbol and began inspecting it. Var waited in man moments of silence while Saber took a good look at the symbol,

"The Black Morass. A swamp, just outside of the old River Pride camp. The stone must be there. But oddly enough, why would Star hide his prize in his enemy's hands?"

Var looked puzzled and said nothing. "We'll find out tomorrow. For now we should rest. We've had a long day and if we travel at night we're more likely to he caught by crocodiles" he said. "Taru, is it safe to sleep here?"

"It should be" he said. "But everyone should stay here at all times. No getting up in the night."

The group each found their places of rest, but fighting back the cold chills of the cave. Magir chose to curl up alone, whereas Scar and Taru slept next to each other to keep warm. Saber just a short distance behind them. Var laid down in a spot that gave him a good view of the entrance of the cave. He and Taru had agreed to sleep in shifts. In about three hours, Var would wake him. But for now things were silent.

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Shebla watched as one of Mira's daughters brought in a bit of herbs and sat them down at the entrance to the medical den. Shebla smiled. "Thank you, Naledi" Shebla said.

"You're welcome, Shebla" said the cub, turning away just as Mira approached.

"Is she doing well?"

"Yes, thank you, Mira. She's been a big help to me. The herbs just keep getting lower and lower in supply. All this rain is drowning them and none are quite good to use anymore. I need as many scavengers as I can get."

"Well I'm glad she can be of assistance" Mira said. "I'll leave you be, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mira" Shebla said a she turned away and went back to her den once more. Her sleep would hopefully give her hope.

Shebla felt something odd, some unnamable feeling. She gave a nervous look at Egret and then at the cave. She carefully trekked forward. She stopped for a moment, fearfully. She wondered if she could be hurt, even in this non-physical form. She continued, going into the cave, following Ammon.

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As Kyra came to slumber, she found her own body incapable of delivering her to this new world. In her dream body, she found herself standing in a world of multicolored light. It was colored like that of autumn. Light of red, orange, and yellow swirled around. Most was red, and a bit of black fog would toss here and there.

A large black crack formed in the air, distorting the light around it into grayness. It quickly expanded into an ellipse shape. From the ellipse quickly slipped another shape. As it appeared, the ellipse was gone and replaced by the same beautiful world of light.

This new shape was one Kyra was familiar with. A very beautiful pelt of black. A slender, yet large, body. Two red eyes that were charming and gentle, but at the same time fierce and terrifying. Dalmaa stood before her, his form undistorted and not touched by his usual masks. He smiled.

"Hello Kyra," he said. For some odd reason, his voice was not hostile or filled with an evil effect, but seemed normal and gentle. "Now before you start yelling at me and trying to wake up, consider what I have to say. I kept Usizi and Isisulu from you tonight so I could talk to you. I noticed you have come close to the stone. You've now narrowed down its location. Should you ever succeed, wouldn't you like to know more about who you're trying to wound?"

Shebla sprang alive, being spooked by the statues. She wondered if they could see her. She knew the spirits she'd seen guiding Ammon earlier had seen her. She could only hope their intentions were peaceful. But still it scared her. As she was startled, she had shouted out "Ammon!" And had to remind herself that he couldn't hear her. She was in a dead stare at the lion-like statue, wondering exactly what was about to happen.

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Dalmaa grinned. The light in the world began to twirl, flashing by in a fantastic manner. It would begin to make one wonder if Dalmaa really did have his own image of beauty. Quickly the environment let off a bright white light. Some strange music, much like singing and the beating of drums and the whistling of strange noises came from the light.

"Come on Kyra, lighten up. Have some fun" he said in his dark, smooth voice. He grabbed Kyra by the paw and dragged her quickly to the light. The two then darted through a vortex of light and fell downwards, as though they were leaves being shed from trees. Dalmaa was dancing in the air, oddly. Then, he looked over his shoulder and noted how far they'd fallen. Enormous, raven-like wings shot from his back, some feathers flying out as they did so. He caught Kyra in his paws and began to fly over what looked like some new world.

There were thick clouds of fog just over the little world, but soon they began to clear. Down below was something of majesty and beauty. There was a world built of light and dark, things sculpted of nothingness solidified to make something. Stars shrunk and clustered to make structures and beautiful ornaments. Crystals were dominant and glowed great magical auras. It was such a beautiful place, that mortal words could never describe it. Singing and magnificent music flowed throughout it. Dalmaa slashed a bit of fog with his tail, causing it to solidify. He placed Kyra there and sat next to her. His wings dissipated, letting black feathers she'd and slowly fade. He looked down at this world.

"We cannot enter it. But this, this is one of the many worlds that existed before yours. Look below" he said pointing. Down there were many figures. But these creatures had no real shape or form, but were simply auras of color and light that moved throughout. "I was one of those creatures..." He said. He backed away from Kyra and his form suddenly transformed into a large aura of black smog, swirling around and making loud shrieks and horrible grumbles. It then shrunk back to his usual form. "Auras however are genderless, but are usually described as female. Auras do not have parents, either. However they can have siblings. Auras are said to have no beginning, and were simply there. But their ends are yet to be discovered. Siblings are chosen however, when two Aura pair together and seem to have similarities and can get along. Even though at this point, they have no emotions or feelings. Simply instincts. But all Auras are given the power to sculpt their own fantasies, their own worlds. My 'sister' was Protheus, the spirit you so humbly surge in your endeavor."

Dalmaa gave a scowl at this, but oddly continued to smile. Everything was out of character with him at the moment. Or perhaps it was happiness he'd kept sheltered deep underneath.

"Protheus and I, both going by different names that aren't possible to speak in mortal words, came together and made a world with each other. Because siblings must share their work. Soon however, Protheus grew jealous of my work. Jealousy was a negative trait he evolved. Because once Auras make their worlds, they gain emotions and minds and imaginations."

"I do not brag when I say that my work was beautiful. Protheus and I got into fights. He won some. I won others. Eventually arguments escalated into bigger fights. Quickly Protheus tried to force me out of his world, attempting to break the ways of the Auras. But it was impossible. He was bound to me forever. But when he began to destroy my creations... I got angry. I invented something called horror. Something called sin. Something that would change his creations. Make them my own, and do harm to him. Something he wouldn't like... And it worked. I began creating scary things instead of beautiful things. I spread famine and disease. I plowed murder and madness over the minds of his mortals. I corrupted the just and shamed the mighty with dishonor. Then of course, came the day that Protheus gave me a challenge. He told me I wasn't being fair. He said that if I could go down in the form of a mortal and face all of my terrors, that he'd stop destroying my creations" Dalmaa said. He chuckled. "I did exactly that. Still listening?"

Dalmaa shook his head. "There are some of my creations that Protheus failed to destroy. I created the butterfly, the dove, the eagle, the firefly, the flower. I also created lions and leopards. Protheus was so jealous of my lions... He eventually tried to claim them as his own creation. To this day he takes the shape of a lion spirit." Dalmaa went on. "But, despite this, you can't honestly blame me. But you weren't there, so I won't nag at you."

The world then faded, back into the world of autumn light again. "But let me show you what I had once brought to Earth..." He said. Suddenly, stripes of silver blended into the world and quickly took over, creating a silver vortex. Quickly the vortex faded. Kyra now stood in a world unlike her own. The ground was adorned in precious stones that glowed and glistened thousands of colors, many of these colors were ones that didn't even exist. The trees were swirling with sparkling fruits, leaves stretching out in elegant shapes. Thousands of butterflies shimmered throughout the world around. Doves fluttered in the skies far above. The sun, placed above in the sky, glowed all of the colors of the rainbow. It shone down pure iridescent light. The clouds swirled, radiating out from it in blue and violet patterns. The sky was pinkish, with flecks of dark scarlet along the ridges of the horizon. The gras below was multicolored. In some areas it was blue, others it was red, purple, green, yellow, and so on. There were large red crystalline stones that glistened and glowed, embellishing the ground. They would even change colors, some of them. Fireflies shimmered throughout this strange new world. Fantastic creatures everywhere. Some were alien and kinds that Kyra had never seen before. Enormously majestic flowers were everywhere. Colored in gorgeous fashions, they adorned nearly every other inch of the world. Some glowed, some would fly in the air with the butterflies. Beautiful willow trees grew to enormous heights. Creatures climbed on the long strands that hung off each limb.

"Willowirks" Dalmaa said. "I miss those..." He then looked at Kyra.

"I did not always look like this. I was not always this evil, depraved creature. I was once very handsome, a sight for mortals to behold. But every black tear that I shed turned me into... this..." He looked at Kyra. "Let me show you..."

He was quickly raised into the air, his fur quickly glowing an outline of scarlet. It faded to white light a his black fur began to pierce away into a flurry of light. His red eyes vanished with the light. When the light had faded, Kyra saw yet another creature of beauty. It was Dalmaa, though his fur was white and luminous. He was structured elegantly. A tuft of fur hung over his right eye. His eyes themselves were every color of the rainbow, constantly shifting in appearance. His pupils were like fire, blazing brightly pure white and outlined in a fiery color. His claws were colored much like the sun Kyra was familiar with. Bright gold and shining. His tail was fluffy and gorgeous. He had two eagle-like wings at his back. They were full of fluffy, huge, white feathers. With ever bat, fireflies emerged and swarmed all around Dalmaa. He landed back on the ground, his wings folding. The paw prints Dalmaa left in the ground shimmered pure pink. The flesh of his ears were a cute pink color. His nose was a delightful violet. It seemed everything about him was wonderful in some ways. Flowers bloomed around him wherever he walked.

He smiled such a smile that was irresistible, a smile that would charm any soul. Dalmaa was obviously at one point, a very magnetic person who people were drawn to. Or at least, the Ancient Spirits. 

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Shebla stood, waiting and watching. She was wondering what the spirit meant, as it spoke about its enemies. But she was just hoping they wouldn't treat Ammon barely. She watched with anxiousness, wondering if this was good for Ammon or bad for him... or if there was something much, much larger at work.

Dalmaa suddenly scowled, his face turning rotten. Thick, black tears began to pour from his face, much like oil. There was a sudden boom in the sky. The sun darkened, turning reddish. The sky turned a dark scarlet, clouds becoming black. A fierce wind swirled in the area. Dalmaa growling. He got onto a large perch, a small cliff and overlooked much of his work.

"And how can I not bring these evils on all of you when you betray me?" he said, his voice warped and evil as always. "When Protheus sucks every bit of joy and happiness from my life, blotting out all ligh, WHAT ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!"

The leaves among the trees ripped out, swirling around Kyra in a violent vortex. The trees ripped away from the wind. The shrieks of creatures and the booms and whistles of the wind in the background. Dalmaa looked back at Kyra, his new form having lost its luster appearance. His black tears quickly covered his body, turning his fur black and his eyes dark red. He was in his usual appearance now. The slender black leopard. He pounded his jet black claws into the ground, causing it to shatter like glass.

"Do you not see true beauty when you see it Kyra? Why can you not simply bask in what could have been? Why can you not understand what beauty there is? What beauty I AM? Is suffering the only way I can prove myself to Protheus? Is it the only way I can raise myself back to the heights? If that be the only way, SO BE IT!"

Bats swarmed around Kyra, vultures blackening the sky and snakes flying throughout the wind. Flies, gnats, moths, and other ugly creatures festered at every dead tree in the wasteland rising around Kyra. She stood in piles of blood-covered bones. The howls of scavengers in the distance. She caught a glimpse of a tall tree, a black one. So large it seemed impossible. The Shadingtree.

Dalmaa pounded the ground again. "WHY MUST I BE CONFINED TO SUCH TERRORS, WHY MUST I BE THE ONE TO BITE THE DUST, CHEW ON THE RUBBLE? THE RECKONING BEGINS AND WILL NOT RELENT UNTIL I'M WHAT I WAS. SO BE IT!"

The dream flashed out, horribly. Kyra was left to wake.

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Shebla was trembling, looking up at Egret. She was speechless for a moment. "I--I... There were spirits in there. They came out of statues, some seal was opened. They just touched Ammon... and I was pulled out. I just heard him screaming. Egret, do you think he's okay?" she asked, with a worried look on her face.

Var had been sitting at the entrance to the cave. He looked back, hearing Kyra sobbing and whispering. He padded back to her, frowning as he gave her a soft lick on the cheek. "What's wrong?" he asked, sitting down next to her. He knew it was something bad. He suspected some form of nightmare, especially now that they were so close. And he knew that if Dalmaa was going to get to any of them, he'd try to get to Kyra first. Var could not stand to see Kyra sad. This was his theory, anyway. He glanced up at the symbol on the wall and then back at Kyra again.

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Shebla was dazed, trying desperately to find the words that fit. She looked at Egret. "One of the spirits declared him the leader of the Xi." She said. She looked around, gazing back at the camp. "No... no... no..." she said under her breath. She had to search Ammon again. She had poured her heart and soul into Ammon before, and now, she would have to do so again. But she would have to do so even harder. She looked back at Egret.

"If anyone has a burden here, it is me... I am the only one with the ability to change Ammon in any way... Ammon is close to my heart, and I care about him so much. But his ability to rebuild those walls, to fall further away, exhausts me."

Var gave a comforting look to Kyra and gave her a lick to the ear. "Well, Dalmaa may have told you all of this to turn us against Protheus, to turn Protheus against us for knowing. But this is... strange. I'm sure things will be revealed when we find the Stone..."

"Indeed" said Saber, who was now awake. The male sat up and looked at them. "Did Dalmaa tell you about the rest Protheus gave him? When Dalmaa came down in the form of a mortal to experience the very evils he had laid to the earth for himself?"



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Shebla looked back. "I suppose so" she said. "We can't really argue with spirits that old and that powerful. I want the best for Ammon. I suppose this is it, isn't it?" She simply kept staring over, hoping Ammon would somehow come out. She wished she could speak to him, have him hear her. She wanted to be able to be seen, to heard. She wanted to meet with him again, and as soon as possible. It seemed like he was just so far away.

Saber nodded. "Dalmaa showed the world that ever dark thing is conquerable. He survived rabies, famine, heat, coldness, he nearly drowned, he was beaten mercilessly, his family was murdered, his home was destroyed by a flood, he fought countless foes. He did this against Protheus, so defiantly. The only thing that killed him... was when he killed himself..."

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Shebla woke up, sighing. She hoped by 'magnitude', that Egret didn't mean so in evil. She knew nobody could be as evil as Dalmaa, for he invented sin. Though nobody knew if that was true, other than Kyra of course. It was only a myth that Dalmaa was responsible for sin, though most mortals positioned him as the highest of all sinful spirits. Shebla got up and moved out to the rest of the camp, simply wondering.

As dawn approached, the group gathered themselves and began moving out of the camp and down a strip of lands that was damp and muddy, but not underwater. They were able to walk safely, moving along a place stricken with bones.

"This is where the final battle between Ridge Pride and River Pride took place... The bodies from the battle still lie scattered, if you look closely" said Saber, pointing at bones grown under the soil. He eyed a specific batch of bones in a large gully, a gulch that sunk in the ground. By the look on his face it was obvious that they were the bones of his old body. Taru and Saber both exchanged an awkward glance and moved on, Saber with a sigh.

Scar walked a bit beside Var and Kyra, and looked at them a bit curiously. "Have either of you been here before?"

Var spoke. "I have, but long before the battle. I don't think Kyra has, she's spent her life in Ethiopia."