Ruffians and thugs

MAEA

Even with the benefits of teleportation, crossing the Wilds was a time consuming thing. Particularly when she did not have a destination in mind. Maea had stopped following the arrow of the compass when she realized that it was guiding her towards the Grounds. That was one place she did not long to return to. Instead she went the opposite direction, as much as possible, and lost herself in flowery meadows, stinking marshes, rolling hills and steaming jungles.

It was not comfortable to be an Ascended there. The heat might not be oppressive, nor did the sun shine directly down on her, but the lack of cooling breezes was taking a toll on her. Reduced to traveling on foot, her progress was slow - and hampered quite considerably by the big bone she kept carrying around. Why she had picked it up in the first place was beyond her. There was nothing she wished to remember about the battle, and while light, the bone was too unwieldy to use for a weapon as it was now.

Stupid. Everything was stupid. Especially this overgrown excuse for a road. She had been following it for hours now, as the sun set and dusk turned the whoops and calls of the jungle into something ominous. At least the bugs did not bother her. Ascended fluids did not appeal to them - it was blood they craved.

Light is easy to love
Show me your darkness

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

LOCKE

He hadn't had a proper job since he went properly cat or since Longnight or something. So when the man approached him in the Hanged Man, Locke was a touch confused. He was after a whale bone, or a monster bone? All Locke knew was it was big and a woman who's description was entirely too familiar had it. Admittedly, stalking someone as a jaguar through a jungle was much easier than doing it as a person. Maybe if they were in a city he'd still be in his two legged form but as it stands, he's kittiafied.

He slinks along behind her, keeping to dapples of shadowed sunlight. He's sort of figured out that's where he's hardest to see. He still occasionally missteps but the general noise of the jungle seems to suit him well. The goal is to wait until either night fall or she stops to rest. He has no real bad feelings towards her so the goal is to steal, not kill. He just has to wait for the right time to pounce.

And you got what the whole world wants
So strap that armor tighter on

MAEA

Sparing no thought to the sounds of the jungle around her, Maea kept pressing on. With no need to rest, she simply pushed through the internal discomforts. Resting would not help. Only finding an open space in the jungle once night fell, where the temperature might decrease a little would ease her.

So that was what she did. Pushing on, switching the huge ass bone from one arm to the other to avoid getting it tangled in vines. It was almost twice as long as she was, but so light that she carried it in one hand. Occasionally over a shoulder.

When shadows darkened into night and the path widened up ahead, Maea finally slowed. Drawing in a breath - old habit - she took a moment to gaze up. The breeze was not cool on her face, nor did sweat bead on her forehead, but she could admire the sight of the stars from here. And pretend, pretend, for a second, that she was not numb to the world.

"Fuck everything," she said out loud. Speaking to the void, to the uncaring stars - wishing Caido might actually hear her and grant this singular wish. They could all use a good fucking.

Light is easy to love
Show me your darkness

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

LOCKE

You know what? All of this is easier as a cat. He doesn't get tired as quickly, as hungry, his steps are light and even as the sun sets, he can see her clearly. And when he does lose her, he can smell her. It's a strange feeling that he's not sure how to navigate yet but it comes to him easily, instinctively.

Finally his little spider stops, staring out into the darkness. Curious. He sinks onto his belly, crawling closer only to hear her curse. He licks his lips, it would be so easy to just take it from her. There's no way she could match his speed and agility in this form. But he almost feels bad. He knows it's just the bite, the lingering affects of the pleasure.

He slinks closer, practically flat against the ground. Just a little further and he'll be able to grab it. If he does, he'll dart into the jungle and up into the trees. It doesn't look that heavy after all and he's stronger in this form so it'll be fine, right?

And you got what the whole world wants
So strap that armor tighter on

MAEA

The assault came from nowhere. One moment Maea stood there, admiring the starlight and in the next she was startled by a sharp yank on her whalebone. It was so sudden that she let go, and spun around just in time to be treated to the sight of a jaguar hightailing it into the jungle.

Foul curses spattered after the creature, but though the ascended took a few steps after, she quickly gave up the idea of pursuit. While she could easily outrun the cat in terms of endurance, she... honestly couldn't care less. The bone had taken no effort to obtain. Nor did she know what to do with it.

"Good riddance," she spat into the night, then turned back. Huffing and muttering, she resumed her sky gazing. The stars seemed to mock her with their distant twinkling.  

- FIN

Light is easy to love
Show me your darkness

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3