[SE] Snow White and the Seven Voids

Elizabeth

On her way to Vox's strange meeting? invitation? request? get-together or whatever, Elizabeth entered King's End via the Boondocks, taking in the overgrown path that led to the broken cliff off the sea. Small patches of colorful flowers dotted the long grasses that brushed against her green travel dress. She felt like a fairytale character, drifting through the wilderness without a worry in the world. 

Until the hissing started.

Like any storybook damsel, there had to be some kind of villain to give her distress. She let out a small squeal of surprise, head whipping from side to side as she took in the creatures that moved to surround her. Panic rose in her chest, trying frantically to figure out how to escape her unfortunate predicament. Magic leapt in her veins as she raised her hands, hoping to ward off the purplish black tentacles from reaching for her.

Some Things I Cannot Change,
But 'Til I Try I'll Never Know

There is love inside this madness
We are walking on the moon

It was the squeal that caught Soh's attention as she made her way from the Boondocks towards the Last Step - well, that, and the hissing.

She came at a run to find a young woman surrounded by angry void creatures. Soh didn't hesitate - she half-shifted as she ran, her fingers lengthening into long claws. She swiped at one of the beasts, enough to make it leap out of the way with an angry noise, and found herself side-by-side with the stranger. Surrounded.

"You okay?" she asked, sparing a glance for the woman as she turned to face their adversaries. There were so many, and there were only two of them - so Soh did what any reasonable Attuned would do. She reached out through the Attuned bond to find nearby creatures to help. Her compulsion called three birds of prey to her, and they dove into the fray with shrieks of glee, aiming for the eyes.

Though I don't believe in magic
I believe in me and you

Sohalia

Elizabeth

Her hero arrived in the form of another young woman, a steady demeanor and claws at the ready. Elizabeth barely took her eyes from the Void Riverstars that snagged at her dress, giving them a small zap of lightning to warn them off as she made another choked noise. 

"Kind of?" Laughing lightly, she finally glanced at the woman, her eyes rimmed with nervous exasperation. "I'll be better when we get out of this." Which seemed more likely as a trio of birds came diving from the sky to assist them. 

The hissing intensified, the barbed tentacles lashing out at anything within reach. Elizabeth saw another brave enough to lunge for them and she braced against her magic as she unleashed it. Lightning cracked from her hands, chaining between the closest riverstar before arcing to the next and the one after. It screeched in pain, its rubbery skin sizzling with the heat as it twitched in death. The others hadn't gotten as much voltage, leaving them tingling with rage and annoyance, their efforts renewed in vengeance.

Some Things I Cannot Change,
But 'Til I Try I'll Never Know

There is love inside this madness
We are walking on the moon

The Sohalia from a few years ago would have quailed at the creatures that attacked the stranger, but this Sohalia had fought a mothman and a yeti - and, frankly, the void riverstars didn't scare her anymore. With a sound that was almost a hiss, she swiped at the one closest to her and felt satisfaction curl in her chest as a tentacle flopped to the ground. Beside her, the woman used a zap of lightning to warn the rest off.

One of Soh's birds snatched a riverstar from the ground, carrying it higher and higher into the sky until it let go, dropping the creature to what Soh fervently hoped would be its death. Another bird missed the mark, but the third managed to scrape at one of the remaining riverstars, leaving deep gouges in its violet flesh. "What, this isn't your idea of a good time?" Soh asked as she stabbed the injured riverstar. Void demon or not, she couldn't let its death be slow and painful.

Though I don't believe in magic
I believe in me and you

Sohalia

Elizabeth

Another riverstar was abducted by a large bird, leaving her facing only a few - although a few too many if you asked her. Elizabeth's laughter felt caught in the momentum of the chaos, light but strained against the lightning that cracked from her fingers. "I think I prefer reading these kinds of scenes than being in them." And then another strike left her, snapping through the air with the hum of electricity before finding the center of a reaching Void creature and flinging it back. 

It scrambled to its feet tentacles and gave another vicious hiss before retreating into the long grasses. Elizabeth glanced around but didn't spot anymore through the rustling of grass and flapping of wings. That didn't mean they were gone, but she let out a soft groan. "Please tell me that's all of them." And that there weren't any others preparing to jump out.

Some Things I Cannot Change,
But 'Til I Try I'll Never Know

There is love inside this madness
We are walking on the moon

As the riverstars retreated, Sohalia's birds gave chase, and the Luminary watched as the last void creature disappeared into the grass, followed by reaching talons. When the rustling had stopped, she summoned the birds back to her side. One perched upon her shoulder, while the other two went to circle nearby - just in case they were needed once more.

Reaching up to stroke the bird that sat with her, Soh turned her attention to the other woman. "I think they're gone, but maybe we should go, just in case they come back with reinforcements." Soh gestured in the opposite direction of where the riverstars had gone. "That was great, with the electricity," she added. "I don't think you even needed help."

Though I don't believe in magic
I believe in me and you

Sohalia

Elizabeth

Watching the swaying grass come to a stop, Elizabeth backed up, content with the suggestion to leave behind whatever chaos she'd stumbled into. Chuckling, she adjusted her skirt and swiftly made her way to the woman's side. "Good point. Who knows what kind of community they have, or their army structure?" Perhaps they'd pissed off a general getting ready to rally his troops. Or maybe she'd killed a princess and vengeance would be had. No matter what, she wasn't curious enough to stay and find out. 

Elizabeth shifted the bag on her shoulders, quickly finding the path that led towards Mourn as she shook her head at the compliment. "Thanks, but I don't know if I'd go that far." Even if she could have saved herself from the infected riverstars, that didn't mean she liked the experience. She was immensely grateful that someone had come along to help, and she offered the stranger a warm, friendly smile. "I'm Elizabeth, by the way. Thanks for hearing my scream."

Some Things I Cannot Change,
But 'Til I Try I'll Never Know

There is love inside this madness
We are walking on the moon

Sohalia grinned, snorting softly at the stranger's jest. Although, come to think of it, maybe the woman was serious. What did Soh know about riverstars and their culture, after all? But either way, they weren't about to stick around and find out whether there was some political drama they'd initiated amongst the creatures. No, it was past time to leave.

"I'm Sohalia," she said cheerfully. Despite the unwelcome addition of the riverstars, she was in fairly good spirits, after all. "I would say it was a pleasure, but I try not to make a habit of hearing people scream. It is nice to meet you, though. Are you here for Vox's thing?"

Though I don't believe in magic
I believe in me and you

Sohalia

Elizabeth

Laughing, she tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "Good thing I try not to make a habit of screaming." It'd happened more frequently than she liked to admit, but studies had actually shown that verbal exclamations helped release emotions in a healthy outlet, so who was she to argue?

Elizabeth gave a polite nod of her head, patting the book that lay within her bag. "Yes. I can't deny my curiosity." Despite the many warning of the Family's dangerousness, she still found them fascinating, wanting to know more about their motivations and capabilities - purely for the purpose of understanding. 

Granting another warm smile, she glanced behind them to ensure they weren't being followed by any purple tentacled creatures. "What about you?"

Some Things I Cannot Change,
But 'Til I Try I'll Never Know

There is love inside this madness
We are walking on the moon

Elizabeth's curiosity was met with a dubious look. Having been kidnapped by the Family, and specifically targeted by them in Vox's broadcasts, Sohalia had to admit that she would rather avoid them altogether. Of course, that wasn't really an option, given that they had taken over her home region and were now trying to claim the rest of the world. No, she had to find a way to fight back.

But fighting didn't mean that she wanted to find out more about them - at least, not in a purely curious way.

"I guess I'm hoping to figure out what Vox wants," she said, biting the inside of her cheek as she considered how to word things. "What any of the Family wants, really." If she knew what they wanted, then maybe she could use it against them. Or maybe she could find it first.

Though I don't believe in magic
I believe in me and you

Sohalia

Elizabeth

Nodding her head, Elizabeth gave Sohalia another understanding smile. "Then I guess we're in the same boat." She stepped around a large dip hidden among the grass, lifting the hem of her dress to ensure her feet didn't slip in. "Their motives would tell us a lot about who they are and the reasoning behind their actions." As well as what they may do next or ways to negotiate with them, although others didn't seem to share her opinions on that. The woman seemed polite enough, but she wouldn't want to further impose by boring her with thoughts or theories when she might rather walk alone. 

Her brown gaze turned to Sohalia as she asked, "Are you alright with walking together? Maybe those Void Riverstars will think twice about attacking again if they see the both of us." She chuckled lightly, hoping that the distance from the coastline would be enough, but willing to fight again if the situation called for it. Luckily, she still didn't hear any vengeful hissing at their backs.

Some Things I Cannot Change,
But 'Til I Try I'll Never Know

There is love inside this madness
We are walking on the moon

Well, even if curiosity itself wasn't Sohalia's primary motivation, she couldn't argue with Elizabeth's logic. If she could just figure out what they wanted - particularly what they wanted with Stormbreak - then maybe she could figure out how to oust them from their seat of power. And if she could do that, maybe it would give them all a fighting chance in this war. But she didn't want to reveal any of that to a near-perfect stranger, particularly not when Vox was known for listening in on conversations.

Instead, she smiled at Elizabeth, happy enough to have some company. "Oh, of course!" she said. "I'll be glad of the company." And so off they went, heading for Vox's gathering, and leaving the void riverstars behind.

fin

Though I don't believe in magic
I believe in me and you

Sohalia