Rogues and Pets vs. Dolls [closed/starting]

Seena

I giggle as RayRay gives an almost frightened look at the thought of the horror stories I could reveal. A plea enters his eyes.

I smile and turn around so Rayden can't see my mouth move. "Later," I whisper to Reva. At least I'm a kind enough sister to tell those stories when my brother's not there listening.

"All hail the Pink Monkey King!" Davnick shouts. He bows low as if he were actually adressing royalty. Keradon shouts something into the tree, but it all sounds like rubbish to me. Davnick jumps up into the air and screams, scratching his head with one hand, and his armpit with the other. He then falls backwards to the ground as if he were hit with an arrow.

"What's happening?" Keradon's muffled voice asks.

"The king's a traitor!" Davnick yells. He gets back to his feet and moves as if he's being bomb-barded by arrows.

He then stops, stands up straight and puts out his right hand. "You shall not pass!" he yells.

Nyx flies out of a tree and lands on Davnick's head. "I am the king! You must do as I command," she shouts. Davnick freezes. "That's it. Now, take me to Wonderland, my blithering troops!"

Tess shouts something about that being her line. Davnick marches around until he reaches the tree Keradon's head is still in. "Move it! It's my turn in Wonderland!"

Keradon mummbles something about a platypus or maybe a hippopattumus

"Tess?" I ask.

"What?" She shouts from where she and Jared are standing. Davnick somehow manages to shove his head in the same whole as Keradon's.

"How long is this supposed to last?"

As if in answer, the tree shutters.

"What the he..." Davnick starts, sounding totally normal. The tree moves again before a big lightning bolt hits it. Keradon yelps as the electricity moves into him. The trunk breaks and the top falls off. Davnick stands up and backs away.

"He looks ticked," Jared mutters to Tess.

"Tess," Davnick growls. Behind him, Keradon fall out of the tree and collapses to the ground holding his head. "I'm gonna' kill you."

That's my cue. I run over to Davnick and wrap him in a hug. He looks down at me confused, but hugs me back. I here Rayden grunt quietly to himself.

"Hey, Davnick," I say, stepping back. "You ready to keep walking?"

"After I finish with a little buisness," he says, turning towards Tess.

I grab his hand and start walking after Everlee. "No time, we're already behind schedule."

Davnick chuckles. "Fine," he says. He walks up beside me and puts his arm over my shoulder.


Everlee

After we finally started walking again, we made some progress. By the time night falls, we've made up for the lost time the day before.

Perfect, Darren whispers. Now we're only one day behind.

Two days until battle, I agree. How far are we from the town?

Actually only one day's travel. We'll have a day to practice, Darren says.

Good, we need it.

We reach the spot Darren picked out for our camp site. Not long later, we have a fire built and burning and most of the tents set up. I sit down next to the warm fire and sigh. Finally, a break.

The group slowly gathers around and joins me.

Why don't you ask them all about their past? Darren wonders.

I was going to. I think we would all feel better about going into battle if we trust eachother. And that seems like the best way, right? I ask. Darren jogs over to me, lays beside me and rests his head on my lap.

"So," I say quietly. "What's everybody's story?"

(Alright. I know we wanted to prolong this, but I want to get to the battle. So, this is the night we were talking about where everyone tells their back story and they just get to know eachother. Razzle, I was thinking that after everyone's story, Everlee could walk off away from the fire so she could be alone.)

Tess:

I was the first to sit by Everlee. After everybody else joined us, she asked about our stories. Nobody answered, so i went first.
"Well, I was a kid escaped the government, met a jerk who betrayed me for only 2 peices of silver, escaped again, met Everlee, and that's about it." I sigh, and then glare. "And don't a single one of you aske for details, 'cause you won't get anything except a broken nose and two black eyes." I say, pointing my finger to them.
Jared shrugs his shoulders. "I ran away from home and lived up in the mountain for eight years. Don't ask any details, because all you'll get is a very long, boring nap." He said, mocking me. Everybody laughs. I laugh on the inside, but on the outside I punched him in the shoulder. Everybody laughs harder, and this time, I laugh with them.

Wow, short.

((Rogues! How I missed you while I was gone! Admittedly, Nilly isn't fixed yet, but I am borrowing a computer for the night! SO hello rogues! I love you!))

Reva

I sat down slowly in the circle, next to Seena and watched everything unfold in front of me. We were telling about our pasts? I balked at the thought, I couldn't do that again. I couldn't do it again. There had been more than enough digging into my past, especially in the last few days. It wasn't happening.

My belly twisted with nerves and I stopped really paying an attention. What, did they expect me to just open my mouth and tell them about what it was like to be six years old and starving? Explain what it feels like to have your powers drained from you for the use of another, and then have the person who drained them punish you with them? Was I supposed to describe what it felt like to be abandoned and lose everything you hold dear?

No. There would be no story from Reva Airdronac tonight. I stood up abruptly, with trembling hands.

"I- I'm sorry Everlee. I'm sorry." I stuttered, so completely out of my depth. "I- I can't do this."

I turned on my heels and walked away. I walked away quickly.

Rayden:

I watch Reva change color drastically as Everlee spoke.

"So, what's everybody's story?" I sit opposite from Seena as Davnick-the rat- sat on her one side and Reva the other. Tess and Jared both with a brevity that is almost laughable, tell vague stories then begin to squabble. Everyone is quiet for a second- it is understandable, most here have either painful pasts or ones they're ashamed to talk about... or both. Suddenly Reva stands up trembling, breathing hard- my heart gave a painful twist.

"I- I'm sorry Everlee. I'm sorry." she stuttered,. "I- I can't do this." then walking quickly- almost running- she left the campfire and headed for the woods. Everlee stood up.

"Reva?!" she called and began to start after her but I grabbed her arm.

"Wait, I'll go." I stood and jogging quickly left the circle, breathing a sigh of relief.

I didn't really like this whole idea of sharing our pasts for two reasons. One- I wasn't sure I could keep from falling apart when Seena told her story. the few things she told me had made me feel so guilty that I hadn't saved her. Second- I didn't want to share what I had done in my life. Seena still thought of me as her "white knight" big brother, I wanted her to keep thinking that, at least with my time remaining.

I slowed to a walk and began looking around, I didn't want to over shoot Reva. I found her, back turned to the campsite, shoulders shaking. She was watching the full moon from off the side of the hill I had tumbled down when Dasor was chasing me.

I quietly walked next to her, I had a feeling with her words wouldn't help. Words couldn't always help anyway.

"Three feet Thorn." she said flatly not looking at me, I was confused for a second. "Ground rule- three feet." she added looking at me, her eyes were unreadable, dark. I stepped to the side a little more and shoved my hands in my pockets, unsure of what to say.

.....

Reva

I looked at Rayden for a second, feeling a little sorry for snapping at him, but immediately hardening my heart. What was I thinking letting my guard down like that? I already knew that I would only get hurt. How many times had I gone through that? How many times had I had my heart crushed just as soon as I softened it? I would not put myself through it again!

I had to pull away from the group before I got hurt. I couldn't handle this. I was getting too attached to everyone, even Davnick which was saying something. This couldn't continue, I would only wind up even more hurt. How many times would it take before I couldn't bounce back?

You never did before. An unfamiliar voice reminded me.

I never did before... That was impossible, I was living, surviving, accomplishing things.I was untouchable, it was impossible to hurt me.

"Reva?" Rayden asked.

My eyes narrowed and I slowly turned to him. The infuriating, ridiculous, handsome man that he was. Loud, obvious, and infuriating. He was the biggest problem. The one who was breaking down most of my defenses. My temper flared, and before I could stop it, my power was spiking. The release of a stunning flash of light came naturally to me and I immediately released my visibility. Light danced on my skin, spinning, rippling and preparing for the attack. I launched myself at him, taking Darsor from my belt too quickly to be really noticed. "Leave. Me. ALONE."

Rayden:

Before I could react There was a blinding flash of light- it seemed to come from within Reva, she glowed! I shaded my eyes blinking rapidly to try to accustom them to the darkness again.

-What was wrong with her?!

"Leave me ALONE!" she screamed launching herself at me, Dasor somehow in her hands now. I tumbled to the side and was on my feet again, Dante shifting within in a burst of flames to be in his weapon form. Dante and Dasor clashed violently together with a clang that echoed off each of the trees.

"Reva!?" I began but she dodged to my right and lunged again.

"Leave me alone! Stop trying to help me- I don't need your help!" sword met scythe again and I whirled to avoid her down cut, that would have split me from skull to shoulder.

"I was fine before you." She shouted slashing wildly at me, light dancing along Dasors' blade. "Your meddling an happy-go-lucky words, they mean nothing! haven't you seen what goes on in this world? haven't you seen the pain? The sin? how can you be so blind!? how can you honestly act like everything is alright? Look what happened to your family! To Seena! she was forced to serve the government! How can that be alright with you!?"

I blocked a cut from her sword a little harder than I should have and she was thrown slightly off balance. Her words stung, I wasn't alright with it, not at all. I could feel my temper flare.

"That's not true- " I shot back now going on the offensive. "I'm not alright with it!" she dived in again her other hand now outstreached, a beam of light rocketed out and caught me on the side of my face- it burned!

I stumbled back and Reva followed me up, I knocked Dasor out of the way just in time, too keep her from skewering me. instead her body rammed into mine and we both fell, Dante flying from my hands to land with a clang somewhere.

Reva was straddling me, beating me with her hard little fists, I was having flashbacks of Davnick- except now I wasn't coughing, I was raging.

I roughly grabbed her by her waist and threw her off me and then turned the tables- I was on her now.

"Stop it!" I shouted, pinning her arms above her head as she fought me madly. "Stop acting like your the only one who's ever felt pain, who's ever shed a tear! your being childish!" she glared at me and wrenching one of her arms free clawed at my face. I smacked the hand away and before I knew what I was doing my fist slammed into the side of her face.

A roar from behind me was my only warning that Dasor had shifted. I leaped away from Reva as he clawed at me, then pounced. I felt my eyes bleed to red as I hit the ground with a bone jarring thud

"You are a monster." he growled teeth barred.

"No Dasor, you are!" I lit one of my hands alight and punched him with everything I had, he reeled off squeeling in pain as the fur on his muzzle singed away.

"I'm going to Slaughter you!" he raged charging, as both he and Reva became invisible.

"Damnation!" I shouted scrambling for Dante....

Reva

I shot a bolt of light to stop Rayden from reaching Dante. "Stand down Darsor. This is my fight."

Darsor grumbled but transformed back into his weapon form.

"Have you ever been abandoned by your family thorn? No. You haven't." I snapped, releasing a wave of light that sent him flying back. "How about had your powers stolen from you? Have you ever lost every single bit of energy in your body and then had the crap beaten out of you with your own powers?!" I screamed, releasing another hardened wave of light, adding a little extra heat.

My training kicked in and suddenly, the anger drained from me. I wasn't mad anymore. I was ready for the kill. My sights were set on killing the threat to my own safety. Rayden Thorn. I released another pulse of light, letting it slam into him and pin him to the ground. Then another. I knew that the pulses were actually hurting him and on a sick level that made me feel better. I had power over the biggest threat. Survival of the fittest, which wasn't the man before me.

"How about had the one person you trusted, the one man that you confided in growing up. Have you ever watched the person you trusted the most try to kill you? Watched the knife come to your belly? The only reason I am not dead is because I managed to let it go, and stop the threat before it stopped me. I'm not taking the risk again. This time the stakes are getting too high Thorn."

Rayden:

Reva was still invisible. I could hear here screaming at me, but I couldn't see her. The light attacks she was using, were coming from all sides, I couldn't dodge them, and they were burning me! I was as close to fireproof as someone could get but this light was different. I watched in horrified fascination as it burnt me- it hurt horribly and I tried my best to dodge but somehow I liked it- the pain. It meant I was still alive. It meant I hadn't lost to my disease yet.

her last attack had knocked me senseless for a second and I found myself lying on the ground, her voice from somewhere right above me.

"The only reason I am not dead is because I managed to let it go, and stop the threat before it stopped me. I'm not taking the risk again. This time the stakes are getting too high Thorn." she became visible just then, she was looking down at me, her eyes...

-Oh god...

Those eyes, I had seen them countless times before, a cold killers eyes. someone who killed without emotion or remorse. I had seen eyes like that before and I hated them. I leaped to my feet and faced her, fire licking up my arms.

You want to know something Invisible Rouge? I said my voice as emotionless as her eyes. "I'm was meant to kill you." she started ever so slightly, I laughed coldly.

"We Shepherds have many jobs, one of them is to take out demon rouges like you. We each have a list of names- your on mine."

I watched in sick fascination as she shattered before me. As I sensed her preparing for an attack, I released my trump card. I ignited all the trees around us so we were surrounded by a solid wall of fire. I concentrated all my will on the flames heating them up until even the rocks strewn on the ground glowed faintly. The flames then went from orange, to red, and then stopped at blue- my true fires color.

"Welcome to my inferno."

.....

Reva

The heat was incredible. He lit the place up and it just got hotter and hotter, my leggings caught fire and suddenly I was burning all over. The pain was incredible, all over. My flesh was burning, sizzling and dying. I was dying. The realization was awful. My body was shutting down and yet I felt strangely cut off from it. I knew I was hurting and I knew that I was hurting a lot. But it was like it wasn't really me, not completely me. Was this how Rayden felt? Every moment, every second bringing me closer to death which I knew was inevitable. I was dying, and he, a shepherd, was trying to kill me. It was monster against savior. A battle old as time. The lions back in biblical times were killed by the shepherds protecting their flock. I was just another lion. Because I was scared. Coward that I am.

Somehow, when I accepted that I was dying, there was a sudden explosion and drop in my powers. Something was being tapped into, something that was inside of me but I didn't even know was there. I was aware of a cool something coating my skin, healing and smoothing, like water. THe heat was removed and I collapsed to the ground.

Rayden:

As I saw Reva fall, burnt by my fire, my mind came crashing back to me. Who I was now flooded my mind and my fire died, as suddenly as if someone snuffed it out.

-Oh god....

She lay there in a crumpled burned heap-dead- unmoving, and I had done it.

-Oh God!

This time it was a prayer,

-I hadn't meant to kill her, what have I done!

I stood there rooted to my place, unable to move. I had actually killed one of my own kind in anger. It wasn't out of defense! I could have walked away, I could have knocked her out- all the "I could have's" played in my mind as horrified I stared at her-smoke still rising from her body.

"Oh Reva." I breathed, I felt sick, I felt like a monster.

-you are a monster! look at what you've done! she didn't deserve to die, not like this.

It wasn't until then I realized I had been holding my breath, I breathed, then wished I hadn't. the ash and billowing smoke made my chest tighten and I coughed- and couldn't stop.

I kept coughing, each time my chest getting tighter, my breaths shallower, then the blood came. I fell to my knees, blood dripping from my mouth and spattering the ground at my feet, but still I kept on coughing.

-Would this never stop? would the coughing never end?....serves me right, my suffering was earned- I deserved it, if I died right here.

The pain was unbearable, I had one hand on the ground the other clutched around my ribs in a futile attempt to stop the pain. With one cough the blood was bright red, not the darker stuff I normally brought up. The ground before me was red...

-Reva, I'm so sorry.

Reva

I thought for a second that I was dead. The pain in my body was incredible, but was all coming from inside not outside, it was deep in my belly, rising into my heart. And then the coughing started.

It was a deep, wet cough. One that couldn't be healthy anywhere, no matter who you were no matter what you did. I raised my head slowly, it hurt so badly, and I saw Rayden on the ground, his body shaking with every cough.

No

Realization tightened in my chest. This was my fault, all my fault. If I hadn't decided to feel threatened by him, then he wouldn't be having an attack. I still didn't know what it was, but I knew for sure that it was killing him. I was killing him.

Please no. Oh please no. I begged whatever higher being there is out there to spare him. I couldn't have his blood on my hands as well. Hadn't I killed enough? Wasn't I enough of a monster?

That was just it, wasn't it? I had turned back to the way I had been and attacked, trying to negate the man I had conceived as a threat. How mistaken I had been. Tears pricked my eyes, and my heart stopped for just a moment as a particularly hard bout of coughing wracked his frame.

NO! I have to stop this! I crawled up and over to him, moving on pure instinct alone.

Then do. That strangely unfamiliar and yet familiar voice commanded, and I reacted to her voice.

"Guide me," I whispered, and my burned hands lifted and I reached out to him. There was a flash, but not of light. It was something gentler, softer, and more invisible. It hit him gently, like water lapping the shore and he absorbed it. His breathing immediately smoothed out and my vision swam, but I didn't black out.

Good. That was perfect. This time the voice came from a direction that I could pinpoint. I turned to it and fell back.

"Who- what- I don't understand." I murmured, reaching for it.

Its golden eyes gleamed at me. You will master Reva. You will.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Was that even possible? I already had one. I knew I already had one. But the connection was there, burning me with the knowledge of it's existence. Impossible. This was impossible, right?

((No, she didn't fully heal Ray Ray, he's still VERY sick. But she made him better for a little while, he's better but not even close to out of the water Enter Katerina))

Seena

I watch Rayden follow after Reva with a smug look on my face.

"Seena," Everlee says. "What's your story?"

I frown. What is my story? I don't want to linger over my time with the government, especially since I've forgiven RayRay and Davnick really doesn't want to hear about past relationships. I don't want to tell about how I saw my family murdered. But... That's my story. And that's all of my story.

I bite my lip. "Um... Well..." I honestly can't think of anything worth saying. I look down into the fire. "You all know my story. I ran away from the government and met Tige and now I'm a rogue." Tige... I brush that thought out of my mind. I can't think about it now.

I change the subject. "Everlee, what about you?"

Everlee lets a small, sad smile, spread across her face. I can't help but notice Skylar look up from the fire, suddenly interested in the new topic of conversation.

She takes in a deep breath. "I'm not much different than all of you. I've met my share of lost family... and friends. My father was a rogue and my mother was a doll. After the law was passed..." she let the sentance drift off. "Well... I was left with my younger brother who... uh..." She stops talking and laughs a forced laugh. "I understand why Reva didn't want to do this." Everlee sighs. "He died. I wasn't able to care for him, or maybe it was just his time to go. He was only eight years old..."

Tess leans over and gives Everlee an awkward hug. Everlee smile over to her. "I'll be back," she whispers, standing up and walking the opposite direction of Reva and Rayden. I watch her go and almost stand up to follow.

"She just needs some time alone," Tess says.

I flicker of light catches my eyes and I turn to where Reva and Rayden had wondered off.

"I wonder what they're doing," I mutter.

Skylar Pasten

Little brother? Everlee had a little brother? And he died? At the age of 8? I looked down as Everlee walked away from the fire. You should go comfort her, I thought to myself. I shook my head slightly. That'll only make things even more awkward. I exhaled and stared at the fire. Fire... I smirked and looked at the sheath of my sword, which was dangling from my pocket.

"I'm going to go... somewhere," I said. Seena nodded, while everyone else continued what they were doing. I stood up from my seat and began walking the opposite side of where Everlee walked away. Might as well avoid her.

I came to an abrupt stop when the wind came. I looked up to see the wind playing with the trees. I smiled to myself. It's a beautiful day, no need to bring yourself down... right? I unsheathed my sword and examined the blade in the light, it kind of blbinded me a bit, but I shook it off and put it back.

Everlee.

What the hell? I thought we've been over this. No more thinking about her!

Everlee.

Skylar! I'm serious. Even though it's weird that I'm talking to myself in my head, you've got to stop.

Everlee.

Gah! Lord, take me now.

(Sorry I haven't been posting! I've been focused on other SBs, and planning a story. Skylar's going cuh-razy!)

Katerina

I looked at my master, who was just lying on the ground staring at me, with her mouth wide open. Next to her lay the man she had been so worried about, he was no longer coughing and gasping, instead he was resting peacefully. It was good to know that I had helped the man that Master had been so worried about, and that for the time being he was fine. His illness wasn't gone, but it was held back. One day Master and I would be strong enough to heal him completely. I looked back at my master who still hadn't moved.

What is it Master? Am I too frightening? I asked slowly, looking down at myself. I was large, yes, nearly two feet taller than her at my shoulder, with a white and black striped pelt. I looked very similar to her surrogate pet, so I didn't see what the problem was. Perhaps it was the thick, long fangs that protruded from my upper jaw, reaching nearly a foot in length.

"This is impossible! Tell me that I am seeing things!" Master cried, shaking a few brown strands loose from their bun as she shook her head violently. "Darsor, tell me this isn't happening!"

Her surrogate pet returned to his animal form and I was pleased to see that he was a lot smaller than I was. "Reva, that's a pet, but I don't know whose. I only pray that they are not an enemy." He replied, taking a fighting stance between my master and I.

I twitched my tail, tempted to swipe his little paws out from under him so that I could curl up beside my master. I am Katerina Master. You already know what I am.

She shook her head and slowly stood up, still eyeing me nervously. "A rogue can't have two pets."

A pet can't have babies.

She backed up and tripped over her friend's still body, falling to the ground. Her surrogate pet turned to her aid, but I was quicker.

Master! I cried, coming to her, and lowering my head to look her in her gray eyes. Are you alright?!

She started breathing quickly and harshly, looking at me with a sort of horror in her eyes, until I nuzzled her burned cheek softly. "How is this even possible?" She asked slowly, her hands slowly coming up to stroke my soft fur. I leaned into her hand like a kitten and purred. "I already have a pet."

I stopped listening after that as her fingers started scratching under my chin and I sighed in contentment, turning my head so that she had better access to the sweet spot and rolling to the side so that she would scratch my belly as well. I barely missed landing on her friend, but wasn't worried. Even if I did land on him I would be able to fix him later. I turned into a puddle of a pet as she stroked me and scratched my belly. Having my own body was divine!

((I thought I might get rid of the suspense surrounding Reva, don't worry, all will be explained in time! Also, if this isn't ok, feel free to tell me, but it is Kitty approved))

Reva

I kept scratching the thing that claimed to be my real pet, all the while planning. It was bigger than Darsor by far, in fact, I worried that not even Poca could rival it in size. But size didn't translate to speed, and we had a lot of fast pets in our group. Besides, Darsor could carry a couple of people. I was sure that if we ran for long enough the pet would stop following us and claiming to be mine.

Darsor. On three you grab Rayden and we run. I told him softly, scratching the huge cat's belly as she purred and rolled. It was kinda cute the way she just stopped whatever she was doing for a scratch.

I don't want to carry that fat, ill man. What if he makes me sick?

One.

Reva. I'm serious.

Two.

Reva-

Three! I leapt up and sprinted back for camp, feeling Darsor at my heels. You had better not have left Rayden at the mercy of a crazy pet.

Of course not Reva.

MASTER! The new voice called and I shuddered, running faster until I tripped over a log and almost landed in the fire.

"Holy Crap guys! We gotta go!" I exclaimed, jumping up and batting the fire off the sleeve of my already burned clothes. "There's a crazy pet after me-" I caught sight of Darsor. No Rayden. Oh no. Not good.