Difference between revisions of "Lost Child/Chapter 5"

Revision as of 03:25, 4 October 2011

The beast-like creatures are in an uproar around the city. It looks like they have splintered into smaller packs and there are many with different ideas on how they should be handling the situation. As parts of the beast rain down on them, there are beasts fighting each other for territory, biting and trying to pull one into the other in some kind of tug of war. Some are fleeing, while a few look hungry upon the small group recovering. Apostasy has just changed in a flash of glory in body shape into an heretofore unseen species, rescuing Crys from the brink of explosion inside the creature itself. Sparhawk has a vial of creature goo, and Kale's body on hir back, while Solixis has Ally in her arms. Crys is busy checking on her mate who lost consciousness while trying to disrupt the big creature, and Tag is unconscious besides Kale.

Cilan rests beside Kale, a concerned look pressed on her features as she watches her comatose love in silence.

Apostasy examines the sword and shield that have just been created from Silverfang. A faint smile touches her lips as she looks at the heraldry on the shield. She looks back to the others as she puts the sword and shield away, and says "Soo.... what shall we call what I am? Any ideas?"

Solixis gently hovers near Apostasy. "Lupine something?"

Crys softly says, "I don't think we have time for this!" shaking her head and pointing at the beasts that have eyed them for dinner. She pulls out her lone blade, the other still in Apostasy's possession.

Apostasy blinks and looks where Crys pointed. "Ah! Shit! Sorry Crys! Still kinda woozy." She draws her sword again, and takes Crys' scabbarded blade and gives it back to her before readying her shield. "Let's get the hell out of here."

Solixis looks on nervously. "Ally, be ready with that gun. Don't know how to fight these things myself."

Sparhawk is the wrath of the heavens, a finger of red light stabbing at one of the beasts that think adventurers are food. The vial in another hand, shi swings down toward the street where shi's less obscured by the overhanging stadium.

Ally nods at the kitsune carrying her while holding the gun unsteady in her hands. She looks out in horror at the beasts, but she seems mostly in shock and awe at the group having actually managed to kill the giant beast that has plagued the city. "I... I can't believe it's dead." she whispers, and then kisses Sol.

Solixis blushes softly. "Save the celebration. We're not out yet."

Crys nudges her mate with her foot, checking for life signs, while trying to keep an eye on the two approaching beasts. She pulls her second blade out and turns to her practiced stance, ready to guard her mate with her life.

Sorien stirs, but seems pretty out of it.

One of the two beasts takes a step toward the group and Ally screams out and fires her gun wildly, the bullet trailing above the creature's head it snarls and backs up.

Apostasy feels a strange tension inside her, begging for release. Not entirely sure why she's doing it, she points her sword towards one of the approaching beasts. A torrent of incandescent silvery-white flame bursts from her hand, running up the sword and blasting towards the creature.

Seeming to be angry with the beasts that may have helped in taking Kale away from her, Cilan pulls the Macmillan tac-50 off of her shoulder, and drops to a kneeling position, readying it by bringing the scope up to her eye, and firing at one of the beasts, aiming for the kill.

Sparhawk fires the laser pistol OF DOOM from a mere 200 feet in the air, tearing off one of the beast's tentacles and lighting its fur on fire while shi concentrates more on the homing signal in hir vial of beastgoo. Hir radio's off, but would be broadcasting repetitive whispers.

Solixis holds Ally close. "How's this? I strafe, you fire." She buzzes past one of the two beasts in front of her.

Both creatures are deluged by fire, Apos' and Spar's shots hitting the same beast, their combined force blasting the creature to a point where it doesn't even dissolve, rather the body turns to ash. Cilan's bullet brains the other, and it turns into the familiar goo before seeping into the cracks in the ground.

Sorien shakes her head and tries to clear it, getting at least to all-fours. "Uhmmm... What happened?"

Crys sees the others having taken care of the immediate threat she immediately sheaths one of her blades and kneels down to take care of her mate. She pats gently at her mate's head and softly says, "It's dead... but Kale's... still not with us, and the beasts are going crazy."

Solixis pulls out. "Damn, Friendly fire much?" She rejoins the group, keeping an eye out for another ambush.

Apostasy stares at the hand from which the blast of fire came. "Wow.... that was cool... since when can I do -that-?" She looks over at Sor. "Oh, and I look like this now."

Sorien yips, "I didn't... Get. Didn't free them?"

Crys shakes her head, "You at least let their souls rest my love. They will return to the cycle. Now let’s make sure we don't along with them." And helps lift her mate up on her shoulder.

Sorien isn't quite limp, but she doesn't fight being lifted either.

Sparhawk floats down and lands lightly in front of the ash and goo carnage. "So, I got a compass to what should be those things' wellspring, although it looks like there may be more than one pack of the same species. Kale's soul will be inside there...so finding its physical location is probably the easy part. Who's ready to move?"

The dust and ash that remains of the creature is picked up by a wind that has seemed to pick up. The falling remains from the creature choke the air like the ash from a volcano.

Crys says, "The sooner we're out of here the better for all of us."

Apostasy nods to Sparhawk. "Yes, let's get away from here, and find that wellspring."

Cilan answers Sparhawk with, "Just point the way!"

Solixis nods. "Apostasy, sounds like a plan."

More creatures are settling their internal fights, before turning to look for more prey.

Crys shrugs and begins to walk with her mate away from the largest clusters, heading towards the river, which seems to be the most clear direction.

Apostasy glances warily at the creatures as the infighting ends, and follows after Crys. "Spar, tell us how close we can get to the river before that vial of yours goes dead."

Sori asks, "When I tried that... What happened? I had my eyes closed..."

Sparhawk spins nimbly about and leans forward like a pointer dog. Then shi glances back at Crys, asking, "Are we splitting up now? If Sori needs escape, we can do that first." Then to Apo shi says, "I think the last one was directly vertical, so right on the verge."

Sori says, "I'll be okay. Just gimme a bit."

Crys says, "Love, can you handle if we go directly for the wellspring, or should I get you to the ship?" and then follows with "You managed to turn that thing all black and fuzzy before it... exploded..

Sori replies, "Not quite what I was aiming for... But it's a start. I don't think I can do it again today though."

Sparhawk floats alongside the couple with legs drawn up modestly. "There was a bomb, you see. Quite effective and well-placed. We should go one way or the other expediently, though."

Solixis watches the indecision. "Can we make a choice?"

Sori says, "I think I can walk on all fours at least; let’s get moving. I'll be better with time. I'll at least be able to fight.

Apostasy nods. "If you're sure." She looks at Spar. "Lead the way. Let's get to the wellspring."

Crys nods carefully and says, "We'll follow." and then lifts her mate up into her arms. She softly says, "You rest and recover your energy my love. Lean on me for a change." and then nuzzles her mate before returning to the seriousness of reality surrounding them.

Another throng of creatures bound in their direction, it look as if the area packs have started to consolidate.

Sori doesn't argue, licking back.

Apostasy steps to the front of the group, and braces herself before bringing both hands together in front of her. A whirling inferno of the same incandescent fire erupts from her hands, engulfing the charging creatures.

Solixis steadies herself. "This time, let's see if we can fight back." She keeps herself motionless to aloow Ally a better shot.

Crys is prepared to fight one handed. She has a blade ready, but has continued pushing forward in the direction Spar specified.

Ally leans into Sol and fires at one of the approaching creatures. She shouts in joy as she sees her bullet strike home, eliminating one of the charge.

Sparhawk nods, and floats up into the sky to be a laser satellite deathcannon...fortunately unnecessary. "That sure is a lot of fire going on down there!"

The fire from Apostasy strikes home, reducing several creatures to ash, but Apostasy's wings begin to shed feathers, the magic clearly tapping at her strength.

Crys follows Sparhawk off toward the edge of the city that seems to be drawing them outward. The wellspring clearly not located nearby. "We'll have to come back for the survivors later." she says.

Apostasy drops to one knee as the fire fades, panting. She takes the water flask from her belt and takes several gulps before returning it to its place. "Haah... haah... ok... magic is cool... but really draining...." She lurches to her feet again and follows after the others.

Solixis follows Sparhawk at a respectable distance.

Sparhawk calls out from above, "So much more convenient to do magic while you're already in bed asleep! Wouldn't advise practicing fire there, though." Shi is having problems staying slow enough for Sorien to keep up, and therefore Crys as well, drawn onward by the compass.

The vial thrums repeatedly on the side of the container, it's activity seems greater than it ever was while that big creature existed.

Cilan follows after Sparhawk, a firm and resolute gaze fixated on her form as she moves closer to rescuing Kale, and putting this behind her.

The group is accosted a few more times on their way out of the city, and there appears to be a pack behind them hunting them a while away, keeping the group nervous and on edge, but largely they follow the path as it takes them to the city edge and then back out into the wilderness. In fact, it looks as if the wellspring is off in the direction of Barton.

Sori says to Crys, "I think Spar might be able to do something like I was trying- fissuring the pack into its components by force. Shi'd only need to get it started; trigger a cascade effect."

Crys softly whispers to her mate, "But love, you could easily have been overwhelmed by the pack in the same way. Please be more careful! I can't imagine having lost you to that horror."

Apostasy's wings have been twitching and fluttering as they've walked, occasionally brief white glowing seen by anyone behind her who's watching.

Ally says to Sol, "Are we going to come back for the rest? Bring them somewhere safe?"

Sori nods. "I had to try; Imagine being trapped in a... Thing... Like that. But I promise to be more careful. Its why I did it with a vial of nanites rather than blood or something tho. I didn't wanna be sucked in."

Solixis nods. "Yeah. We're going to come back. I will at least."

Sparhawk's wrath is terrible, especially to creatures who do not make independent choices and don't really die. Powered by the free-floating and enthusiastic nanites, the red beam is a significant warning to following predators. "Destroying the pack is not the current goal. We need to either talk Kale into this body, or drag her out by metaphorical force."

Crys says, "After what she's gone through, is she going to want to return to the body?" Frowning and furrowing her facial fur.

Cilan regally proclaims, "I.. I can only hope so.. I.. cannot bear to think of living without her!"

The group make their way outside the city enough to reach the makeshift bridge where their bus was abandoned. The vial still calling them off somewhere in the direction they came from when coming to the city.

Crys immediately moves to the bus, helping her mate down and up into it. "Let another drive, and go rest and take care of yourself my love. I'll make sure everyone remains safe. Trust me."

The unconscious human Taggart has not stirred since shifting back. He seems to be sleeping, the shifting having sapped his energies.

Solixis gently sets Ally down before ushering her into the bus.

Apostasy headtilts as she gets onto the bus. "Umm... do we have anyone small enough to fit in the seat who actually knows how to drive?"

Sparhawk squawks, "Then propose alternatives. Are you saying she'd rather die?" Sparhawk lights upon the roof of the bus and glares around at the scenery, as if daring it to provide another target for justifiable destruction.

Sori nods and gets aboard. "Unless Cil can shift, I have to drive."

Crys shakes her head, "Teach me how love. I'm not letting you do it to yourself."

Sorien softly churrs, "Okay... (And Sori starts running through what Crys needs to do. She skips traffic law though- that hardly matters anymore.)

With everyone on board, Crys gets into the driver’s seat, her mate just behind her giving her over the shoulder instructions while being woozy and trying to rest. The ride is bumpy as Crys jerks heavily on the brakes until she gets a sense, and the speed is arduously slow initially. Eventually Crys manages to get a hang of things and waits for Spar's instruction on a change in direction as they drive on toward Barton, and then past it, eastward.

Sparhawk hops down and pads into the bus with everyone else, after none of the trees reach out and grab anyone. "We need t'get a road atlas of Oregon if we're going to be doing this a lot. I can give you straight lines, but there are too many bends in the roads."

Ally has moved to the kitchen, looking in awe at the many different kinds of old world foods. She lights up when she sees coffee, and asks if she can make some for herself.

Sori glances back. "Go ahead- can you start the tea water too when you do? Just hit the button over the carafe."

Cilan takes to the skies, seeing as her form would barely be able to fit into the bus itself, the giant dragoness chasing furiously after the bus, attempting to keep close by, or at the very least, keep it in sight.

Sparhawk is on the floor pointing at things, alas! No bubble to support antigravity shenanigans. "Heh, another coffee fan. Bet you'd fit in well in our hometown, the coffee pot is seldom empty or completely full there."

Ally smiles and begins to make coffee, eyes alight. She starts the tea machine as requested and seems to relax into the aromas. Eventually she pours herself a cup and returns over to Sol, falling into her fur.

Apostasy is fidgeting in her seat restlessly. Eventually, she goes up to Crys. "Umm... could you stop the bus for a sec? I need to get off. I'll follow after you... I just really, really need to fly right now."

When she's fairly sure Crys is safe being alone at the wheel for a moment, Sori goes and gets tea for herself.

Sparhawk acks. "Lemme get out first and help fly, otherwise you'll tread on me." The gryphon's sprawled out in the aisle as usual, taking up the first three rows.

Crys nods to Apostasy and stops the bus letting Apo outside, and then returns to driving. She tries to keep the busy steady and even as they drive, thankful for the uncongested roads. When they hit Barton and Spar pushed them on she looks a little uncomfortable but they continue, about ten miles east of Barton the roads thin out to more of a country and farmlands area, before Spar's jar begins to go wild, signalling they're nearing the end of their journey.

Solixis curls up and takes a catnap.

As soon as she's off the bus, Apo drops to all fours and bounds a few steps before taking to the air, laughing in delight as she feels the wind against her face. She wheels about and follows behind the bus, revelling in being in the air once more.

Ally nudges Sol awake when it seems like they're about to move and whispers into her ear very softly.

Sori kisses Crys' shoulder. "You're doing fine."

Sparhawk is, by the end of the trip, clinging to the bus roof with non-slip paws. This reduces gas mileage but shi enjoys the wind in hir face rather a lot. Then hir voice comes over the radio, "Eyes open heroes, the goo says it's almost home. I know I would leave some of myself to guard myself, had I the choice."

Solixis huggles the still human and whispers back.

Apostasy stops flying purely for the pleasure of it as she hears Spar's message, and starts scouting around for any signs of the creatures in the vicinity.

Crys brings the bus to a park, leaving it in the middle of the road, and wiping where the nervous sweat would be on her brow if she were human. She immediately runs out of the bus and dry heaves on the ground. Between motion sickness and worry she barely held herself together for the drive.

Sori follows, alarmed at this. "Are you okay?"

The strange howls of the beasts can be heard off in the distance, but no sign of the creatures yet. A horse farm on the west side of the road and the beginnings of forest on the right.

Sparhawk flits down and grins. "Standing next to a bomb inside a giant monster: calm. Operating a moving vehicle that people have been driving for decades: terror! I am amused."

"I'll be all right my love... eventually." Crys hurks again before getting control of herself.

Ally blushes a little at Sol and nods, before she moves up front to see what the commotion is.

Solixis gets out nervously, following the girl.

Sori gives a bit of a glare to Spar and helps Crys clean up when she's finished.

Apostasy comes in for a landing next to the bus, loping along on all fours for a moment before standing upright again. A wide grin is plastered across her features. "That was incredible! Flying has never felt so.. so right!"

Cilan returns to the ground with a loud thud, landing heavily on all fours before returning to a bi-pedal stance, looking next to Sparhawk she asks, "Where next?"

Crys pulls herself together and says, "We should probably move quickly and not give them a time to pull more in to defend their heart. You lead on Spar."

Sparhawk hums a tune from a song named You Fit Me Like A T-Shirt and leaps back into the sky, hoping the wellspring is easily visible from above. "Possibly inside the barn! Don't get out of each other's sight, either."

Apostasy readies sword and shield as she heads towards the barn, signalling the others to follow.

Ally looks around nervously, completely reliant on the others for protection, but seeming far calmer after having seen just how much the group had managed to do in such a short time. She expected them all to walk into their deaths back at the Rose Garden.

Cilan dashes onwards, going past Apostasy and towards the barn, apparently ignoring Sparhawk's latter precaution, along the way, she arms herself with the combination of handgun, and trench knife, preparing for both melee, and ranged combat at the same time.

Solixis follows, protecting Ally, since she didn't exactly choose to go on this mission out of Portland.

Crys shouts, "Make sure you watch up. I've seen them perching remember!" as she follows behind the others.

Sparhawk soars around, spending a few minutes with the interesting distraction of finding the vertical edge of where the vial's signal goes from homing to flailing. Not so distracted as to not keep watch, but Cil and Apo get to poke at the barn a while!

The area contains a giant barn that used to house many houses, and large areas of cleared land in the back that have overgrown in tall grass in the last year without any animals. The big farm house is almost mansion sized, the farmer having apparently made quite a profit off of show horses.

Apostasy gets to the barn after Cil, and starts to move around the outside, looking for any doors besides the main ones. Her gaze flicks up towards the roof every now and then, watching for a creature on high.

Solixis sticks to the back, walking cautiously with Ally.

Out on the field property Spar spots the target, a perfect container for a wellspring. It's a stone well that had been abandoned by the property owner and boarded up. The boards have been ripped off in a very unkempt and vicious manner.

Sparhawk radio-squawks, "Found it. Outdoors, in a previously-abandoned well. Going to land adjacent, need Apo and Cil to come and shout helpful things."

The ruffling noise of breaths precludes the group being surrounded, not to mention the aware party members keeping their eyes out give them plenty of prep time. At least a dozen of the nasty looking creatures are trying to fan out and surround them.

Sori watches carefully, already in stance and ready for any that approach.

A snarl can be heard as a few notice Sparhawk heading towards their core. Two immediately charge hir.

Cilan doesn’t give any of the creatures time to act, and quickly fires the armed handgun into the surrounding beasts.

Apostasy heads towards the well, keeping a close watch on the creatures trying to get around them. "We've got company, people. Ten or twelve, at least. Stay sharp." When she sees two heading for Spar, she immediately drops into a ready stance for others coming towards her.

Solixis leads Ally over towards the well, sticking to being on foot.

Sparhawk's voice says "Whoops--" on the radio before it cuts off, followed by one more snap of heated air around the otherwise-silent laser. "Never seen packs crawl out of the wellspring independently, wonder how that works!"

Crys stands back to back with her mate, taking out her blades and eyeing the oncoming creatures.

"Any idea as to what we have to do here?" Sori asks.

Ally hugs Sol and says, "I'll protect you this time." and readies a gun towards one of the oncoming creatures.

Solixis smiles and returns the hug, tails thrashing about behind her.

Cil and Ally both take out two of the group, before the others begin to charge, but the gun fire is almost like the start of a marathon as the remaining half dozen creatures barrel for the group. The two aiming for Spar are traveling through the air intent on protecting their home source. Spar seems distracted by the well itself as shi notices a tentacle come sliding out and a paw reaching over. A creature pulling itself out of the well from the spring below.

Apostasy leaps at the creature charging her, guarding herself with her shield as she rams her sword into its throat, spinning away out of tentacle-reach after she strikes.

Solixis charges into the fray, tails lashing about as she closes with one of the beasts.

Sori starts to move to wherever there seems to be a gap, using far less lethal, but no less forceful, strikes to deal with her opponents.

Sparhawk hunches up into a leaping stance while shi watches the new beast crawling up, fiery hands prepared to smash it back down once the process is reasonably complete but hopefully before it chews on anyone. Shi stands next to the well, tail all aswish.

Crys protects her mate's flank and eyes a creature approaching her quickly. She has both blades out in front of her and growls loudly at the creature. Her snarl is startlingly loud and feral, a noise no one has heard from the woman before.

Cilan continues firing until the beasts come too close, prompting the dragoness to switch to the still wielded trench knife, swiping, and slashing at anything that comes into reach.

Ally screams a bit as another continues at them and Sol, and falls back as Sol's tails lash out at the one oncoming. She tries to fire the gun up close and notices she's out of ammo, before going to fumble with her pocket to look for more.

Solixis falls back a bit at the scream, covering her friend. She watches Ally carefully from the corner of her eye, whaling on the creature in front of her.

The two travelling for Sparhawk land on hir back, their tentacles flailing and teeth gnashing trying to get past Spar's innate defences. Apo finishes off the one coming for her with a slash to its heart and slowly kicks the dying form off her blade before turning back to assist Spar. Spar manages to light the creature approaching from the well on fire, and it falls back yelping and lighting up the contents of the well, until a splash some time after douses the flames with the creature's fall. Cil takes a blade to defend herself and Crys and Sori are taking on three of the creatures. The three try very hard to flank the two fighters but they are both practiced at keeping each other guarded. Crys leaps out with a feint at one, and then as one of the creatures moves to strike she uses her second blade to decapitate the oncoming one. Sori fights, off the one coming for her, but her breath is coming hard, still exhausted from earlier.

Apostasy runs over to Spar, leaping at one of the creatures on hir back and knocking it clear with a bone-crunching kick. She lands on top of it, and slides her sword into its heart, a low growl escaping her throat as she does.

Ally pulls out another cartridge but the creature tries to bite at her while attacking Sol with its tentacles. She slams down the butt of her pistol on the creature's nose, and says, "Don't you hurt my friend!"

Solixis grabs the two tentacles flailing at her and pulls them while simultaneously slamming a foot into its face.

Sparhawk is no less dangerous on hir back, the sound of Spar's voice saying "Sod off, I'm doing science!" barely audible over the roar of the beast during its attack and after it's lit on fire by the exhaust from the antigravity backpack. Shi leans over the well, trusting the other fighters to fight well for now.

Cilan discharges the emptied clip of the held handgun, and reaches for a full one to replace it, during that time, she still wields the knife in a deathgrip, ready to attack anything that comes close by.

The remaining beast on Spar's back tries to scratch at hir head, and bite at hir flank, although hir armor keeps off it's teeth, the scratch lands and draws blood from hir neck, before it bursts into flame from Spar’s attack, quickly being reduced to ash and goo. One of the remaining creatures approaches Cilan, it readying itself to pounce her, and its intent obvious with its erection displayed lewdly. Apostasy is caught up in killing the one she rests on as it slowly begins to melt below, heading for the well. The bloody nosed one is leaking black blood from its nostrils as it backs up and makes a garbled hiss at the two. Ally finally manages to get her clip back in and levels the gun down aiming for its head and firing, leaving the creature dying quickly. Crys is caught off guard as one charges Sori, knocking Sori into Crys, but her blade comes out forward into the neck of the one remaining in front of her.

Solixis moves to engage another of these beasts in combat.

Sori re-catches her balance, and performs a vicious spinning kick on the one that ploughed into her; she follows with a palm strike and dances clear of the thing; it’s pretty obvious to those who know her that she's running on adrenalin and not much else.

Sparhawk is roused from scientific stupor by bleeding. "Seriously, how am I to get any work done here?" The slow cycling of the laser pistol OF DOOM outside the bubble hasn't recharged yet, so there is a blue streak as a wheel of claws, talons and beaks dashes toward the one with the insufficiently-bloody nose.

Shortly after reloading the weapon, Cilan notices the pouncing tentacle beast, and attempts to sidestep out of the way, roll if need be, should she succeed, the prepared handgun rings out again, firing into the attacker until dead.

Apostasy trusts the others to deal with the remaining beasts, and keeps watch on the well for any latecomers.

Crys turns away from the two dead ones to help her mate who's looking tired and bloody and nearly in shock at this point. She sticks her blade out toward the creature in front of her.

Ally kneels on the ground breathing hard, tears in her eyes, the gun in her lap.

Solixis wheels about, facing her friend. "What's wrong?" She approaches, heedless of the dying violence.

Spar moves off and away as the final one on top of hir burns, and she barrels forward cutting off the rebounding creature knocked away by Sor. Cilan continues firing into the creature in front of it as it seems to grin at her as it's filled with holes. It dies with an intent look on its face. Sori moves forward to the one she kicked and breaks its neck, leaving the defenders dead for now.

Cilan spits on the recently killed creature, and promptly moves to the well, peering inside.

The well is at least twenty feet down, whatever fluid fills it is too far out of the light to see. It smells rancid though.

Apostasy sniffs at the well. "Ugh. Smells like the meat soup of the last wellspring."

Sparhawk trots back to the well and carefully re-arranges the empty meat in the shape of Kale where it toppled off during the monster attack. "So I need a couple of Kale's lovers to come here and remind her what being in a body's about. This was made by the pack, it should still be connected by the pack."

Sori leans against Crys, watching the scene. "I think Spar is the key, with hir own packmind."

Crys says, "The key will be Kale. If she wants to come back or not."

Apostasy moves to Kale's side, and kneels next to her. She gently kisses her, and whispers in her ear, "Please, Kale. Come back to us. We miss you. We need you."

Ally is emotionally overwhelmed by the killing, and the creatures. "I... I ran from these things. I had nightmares about them. They are what killed so many of us. I... never imagined fighting them off."

Sparhawk concentrates a little and closes up the cut on the back of hir neck, stray nanites floating away from the injury in a visible puff of dust. Shi leaves Apo and Cilan to the assigned task, and trots away a few yards. "Lots of things are unimaginable, until you do them. I'm going to walk to orbit, someday."

Solixis leans in and nuzzles her girl, holding her tight. "Shhhhh... let it out. I'm here for you, girl." She runs her hands gently through the girl's soft hair.

Cilan looks over from the well, and over to the comatose Kale, promptly moving towards her, and kneeling in front of the dragoness, kneeling beside her, and looking endearingly towards her face, "Please.. my love, please come back.. I.. do not want to think of life without you by my side.." a gentle peck is soon placed on hir lips, which holds for a moment, parting she continues, "if.. if you come back.. I promise to protect you far better, my love.. let this never happen again!"

Ally curls up against Sol quietly.

Kale remains motionless, her body is clearly empty along with her heart. Her soul in hiding somewhere.

Apostasy hugs Kale's body, nuzzling at her neck. "Please, Kale! Come back to us! I love you, I don't want to lose you! Not like this. Please..."

Cilan and Apostasy's tears mingle on the girl and begin to glow subtly. An almost pulse-like effect. Anyone watching the well might notice an equal harmony inside. Clearly their motions having some effect.

Apostasy lets out a low whine, and licks and kisses Kale's face. "Don't leave me, Kale... come back to me."

Sparhawk trots over and examines the well on the far side from the emotional scene, noting the glow and resting the Pocket Spectrometer on the well's lip to take recordings. In case of failure, shi takes out the compass vial and whispers into it, coaxing hir own nanites to invade the tiny sample.

Cilan doesn't notice the churning in the well, or the glow of her tears, instead she continues to show Kale's body the love she had given her before, and the love she had yet to show for reasons of her own, "Please.. my love.. I.. have so many things to show you, to tell you.. please.. do not leave me alone.. I.. cannot bear that thought.. I.. I don’t want to leave you.. not here, not now.."

The pulsing glow inside the well is accompanied by strange voices and noises echoing up from the well. Spar's meter displaying all sorts of strange elements being radiated from inside. Cries of pain, moaning, requests to be free, to be killed, ended. It all is a cacophonous mix that at the same time isn't -really- there and just head at the edge of hearing. Kale in the meantime again remains still, but Apo and Cil both recognize a very distinct weeping coming from the well.

Solixis purrs, rocking Ally gently. A lullaby spring to her mind and she sings gently to her charge, attempting to calm the girl.

Apostasy the faint sound of Kale weeping filters into Apo's ears, and she starts to cry as well, her tears falling onto Kale's motionless face. "I know it hurts, Kale. I know he did terrible, awful things. But please. You have to come back. We can help you through it. But only if you come back."

Sori goes over to Spar. "Could we help? Can we get those trapped here, all of them loose somehow?"

Cilan adds to Apostasy's comment with, "I will always be there for you if you return.. I will help you, and your mind.. protect you, help you through your troubles.. but.. please, I cannot do it if you do not return to us.."

The crying stops, as Kale opens her eyes and she begins to scream, loudly, and horribly. Flailing about. She cuts the flesh of the two trying to comfort her and appears somewhere else mentally.

Spar points at the little meter shi has showing it to Sori. Its flashing with different colours. She explains each is a different course, or power of magic. A white aura radiating out of Apostasy, with strange multi-colours wrapping around Kale's frame.

Apostasy cries out in pain as Kale's claws rake her flesh, but she doesn't let go, hugging Kale tightly. "Kale! Kale, it's me! It's Apo! Please, calm down!"

Cilan jumps back as Kale begins flailing, but returns just as quickly, attempting to reach out for one of the hands, trying to take one of her own hands into her own, "Shh.. love.. love, please, calm down, it’s okay.. you're safe now, you're safe!"

The only audible words that can be made out amount Kale's screaming is "Let me go... don't touch me!" repeated in various parts over and over again.

Sori doesn't have any ideas how to help; she simply watches and pays attention to what Spar is showing her.

Apostasy whimpers as she hears Kale's words, and moves back a little. She motions Cil to do the same, giving her some space. All the while, she keeps talking, trying to reassure her love.

Cilan nods affirmatively towards Apostasy, backing up, trying not to smother her panicking love, though she continues saying reassuringly, "My love.. we're here for you.. just remember that.."

Kale brings her hands up to her head and shouts out to the world, "Don't ever touch me!" her cry is loud and sorrowful and echoes among the voices still calling from the well. She drags claws down to her genitals and begins to hack at herself with the claws on her right hand, trying to almost rip the thing off.

Apostasy darts forwards and grabs Kale's hand, one pulling it away while her other is held over the injuries she's caused herself, a warm glow radiating from her palm as the wounds heal over. She clutches at the hand. "Oh, Kale, please! You have to focus! You're not there anymore. You're free, you're safe!"

Cilan regally proclaims, "Love, there is nothing there! You're safe now, please.. try to listen to me, recognize my voice, you're with those who love, and only want to protect you!"

Kale shivers violently when Apostasy touches and restrains her. Her other claws comes out right for Apostasy's lupine muzzle. Her claws cut sharply into the flesh and a crunch can be heard. She screams out. "This is your fault!" her voice echoes as her eyes narrow on Apo's features, recognizing her despite the new species. She doesn't even seem to acknowledge Cilan. Which hurts almost as bad as the words.

Apostasy yelps in pain as the claws rake into her muzzle and smash some teeth. She falls back to the ground, letting go of Kale's hand, slurring out "No, no... Kale, please..."

Cilan moves again to Kale, reaching out to clutch her hand, holding it carefully, but saying nothing, instead a deeply concerned look is made, trying to show her she's in caring company.

Kale's eyes fill with anger and hatred, vitriolic emotions spewing from her towards Apo. She shake's Cilan's attempt to comfort off and once again screams at Apostasy, "This is all your fault! You let him do it to me. That monster created you!"

Apostasy whimpers again, tears mixing with the blood pouring from her muzzle. "No, no! Please Kale! I didn't know! I came for you as soon as I knew what had happened!"

Crys watches on in shock and horror, wanting to move forward to comfort her friends, but simply in shock, not sure of what to do.

Cilan regally proclaims, "Please.. love.. please, don’t be too hard on her, I am certain that if she had known sooner, she would have went.. but.. we only found out recently.. please, try to understand.. I.. no, both of us would’ve stopped at nothing to make sure you had remained safe, and secure!"

Kale's voice echoes as her final words to Apo leave her mouth. "I never want to see your face ever again. You brought the unforgivable on me. You weren't there to protect me from him. You didn't stop him. I..." She chokes, and then throws both off her, taking off into the air. She doesn't say anything at all to Cil as she leaves, as if she doesn't even recognize or care that she's there.

Apostasy sobs loudly, curled up on the ground, ears flat and tail tucked between her legs. She makes no effort to heal the horrendous injury to her muzzle, too lost in despair.

Crys moves forward nearly immediately to the two fallen friends. She tries to pull both Cil and Apo into a hug, but is careful not to force either of them.

Apostasy doesn't resist Crys at all. In fact, she barely seems to notice as she's pulled into the hug, so lost in pain and despair over how this has turned out.

Solixis gently lays Ally down to rest, standing up, having winced at every outburst from Kale. She approaches her mate and grips her tightly in the single strongest hug of her life.

Cilan drops to her knees, a vacant look showing at her features as Kale flees from her grasp, the dragoness looking almost like a shell of a person, acting much like Apostasy in not even noticing the hug.

Crys shifts from Apo to focus on Cilan, letting Sol take care of Apo. She slowly brings Cil up into a tight hug, not letting the girl go. Worried she might hurt herself.

Apostasy just cries. She doesn't notice the change in who's hugging her though the flow of blood from her muzzle has stopped as her magic starts to slowly re-knit the flesh and rebuild the teeth, independent of her own desires.

Cilan does not resist Crystala's hug, though lifting her is quite difficult, as the dragoness does not offer any assistance in propping herself back up, the dragoness's stance seeming like should the hug end, she'd return to the kneeling position from before; A shell in every way.

Solixis nuzzles her mate, gently combing her hair and fur with her claws.

It takes a long time before Cil and Apo can be moved back to the bus, but with Spar's help Crys gets Cil, while Sori helps Sol with Apo. Kale flew off into who knows where, leaving no response beyond the hateful marks on her former mates.

Once she gets her mate on the bus, Solixis quickly backtracks and picks up Ally, giving her a quick once over to check for wounds.

Apostasy remains almost catatonic long after she runs out of tears and her injuries have healed themselves. If she's not being lead or carried, she simply curls up into a ball where she's left, eyes shut tight against the world.

Crys and Sori takes turns comforting the two and driving as they bring the bus back to Fairhaven.