Difference between revisions of "Lost Child/Chapter 3"

Latest revision as of 05:45, 22 May 2013

Click here to return to the index.

Click here to return to the second Chapter.

The group is quickly ushered underneath without much more word, although survivors line the ship, all women of varying age, hushed quiet by the entrance of non-humans. A little nine year old breaks out crying on sight, and many children hide in fear.

Apostasy looks distinctly uncomfortable at the reactions to their forms as she follows behind Bec.

Sorien looks around. "Is this vessel seaworthy, or is it just... A habitation?"

Sparhawk has a sad bird face during the parade, but doesn't say anything in particular. Eliot does yip a couple times, trying to look like a cute dog so people aren't afraid to pet him later.

Ally answers Sorien, her voice quiet, "It's..." and is cut off by Bec. "Not something you need to know." she says quickly.

Sorien glares at Bec. "You know, we're not the enemy. Just a hint, we're talking to you and not hurting you. I was going to say we have a place you could go that’s at least safer than here, but if you're not interested...

REDACTED follows quietly next to her mate, watching with unease at all the eyes who have focused on her form, further exacerbating her already low self image.

Bec's answer comes quickly, "Your ideas you can propose when we arrive, to Kara. We don't have the authority."

A flicker of recognition crosses Apo's face as she hears the name Kara again, but she doesn't say anything yet.

The crowds begin to thin out as they head to lower decks. It was once a cargo ship, but it looks like a majority of the cargo has been emptied out. There are cots lined all over the place, affording little privacy.

Sorien softly churrs, "Fine. (Sori tries to swallow her anger and annoyance with only limited success."

Solixis watches in confusion and curiosity.

Sparhawk ooohs when they reach the lower decks. "Never been in an actual ship before. Closest I got was a sailboat, and no lower decks on those. Yar."

Sorien softly churrs, "I've been on a yacht before, but never on an actual ship. Unless you count a river-paddlewheeler."

Cilan notices all of the fearful survivors, and frowns slightly at the less than enjoyable response to their current forms, but remains silent, not even offering an addition to the conversation about the boats.

Solixis nods. "I've actually been on several sailing vessels... all before P-Day..."

Sorien hands the rifle back to the girl she'd taken it from. "Here."

They are further led into the engine area, and then back up above it to the captain's quarters. The room is clearly converted from more storage, and is sparsely attired, and not luxurious in the least. A woman is sitting near a radio com unit and looks up at the approaching group and makes an odd face that is quickly hidden by a mask. She speaks quickly with clear authority and says, "Tell me, how do you still have your minds?" she directs the question toward no one specific, but her eyes quickly move to study the faces of each of the nonhumans who have entered.

Apostasy shrugs. "Force of will, plus a handy little injection from the Zephyr medics."

Sorien softly churrs, "Most of us back home have our minds. Zephyr Corporation has a serum that helps."

Sorien looks at Apo as they override each other's words.

Sorien softly churrs, "Sorry."

Apostasy chuckles. "No need, Sor. It's not like she asked anyone in particular."

Solixis nods. "What those girls said."

Sparhawk nods agreement to Apo and Sorien. "What they said. It's not perfect, but it is rather reliable."

REDACTED remains quiet at the grilling, looking letting others who speak clearer and better English do the talking. She lightly brushes her hand against her mates.

Cilan lustily hisses, "Uh.. keeping my mind sharp with various tasks, and not giving into the pleasures of the flesh, I guess.. oh, and I think there was something in the injection that I had received once I first got to Fairhaven.."

Sorien takes REDACTED' hand in hers.

The woman, clearly Kara, raises an eyebrow and says, "And you've come here to do what exactly? We can't afford to take on anyone else, as we can barely fit the needs of those we have, but I refuse to turn down anyone who needs help. I take it you didn't come here to rescue us though?"

Sorien softly churrs, "No. Apo, you want to explain?"

Apostasy shakes her head. "Sorry, but no. We came here looking for someone. She was kidnapped from Barton. A Dragoness, kinda like me but smaller. She's somewhere in the city."

Sparhawk tries to subtly listen with perked ears to Apo's explanation, having been left out of rather a lot of background in the matter.

The woman grimaces. "None of my scouts picked up anyone besides you lot in the last few weeks, unfortunately I have no idea where your friend could be, but I doubt they'd have been taken here by anyone in their right mind. If they were, they're dead, I can assure you of that."

Apostasy shakes her head fiercely. "No! She's not dead. She's here. Because she's the bait in a trap."

Cilan lashes out in anger, "No! I refuse to believe that, Kale.. Kale can’t be dead, I refuse to believe it!"

Sorien softly churrs, "Cil... Please. We know."

Sparhawk clears hir throat. "Perhaps we should mention who is setting the trap, and why?"

Kara looks a little shocked at the ferocity of the responses, particularly wincing at the bared sharp predatory teeth, but remains calm. "You do understand what has become of the city right? We've been broadcasting radio warnings for months to stay away, ever since the tragedy."

Cilan looks to Sorien, seeming a little apologetic, she says, "Uh.. sorry.."

Apostasy nods. "I know what's happened here. That packmind took over. And apparently something else popped up in the sewers. But even so, she'll be alive. My.... father... is using her as bait, to draw me to him. I intend to take that bait... but escape the trap. Everyone with me is here to help in that endeavour."

Sorien softly churrs, "We've gotten no broadcasts. Most communication is down."

Sorien softly churrs, "We can give SOME outside news if you want it."

Kara nods in thank you at Sorien's offer, "We'd appreciate that. I was worried our long range signals weren't working, but I just figured there wasn't anyone left alive out there." She absorbs the dragon's plight, and takes a while to respond, before saying, "I don't really think you understand what happened here. What exists underground didn't come with the plague, those monsters that drove us all here have been subjugated by -it- and are being used to collect more flesh for it."

Sparhawk chimes in, "I concur, we really don't understand. Can we offer tea and instant-coffee services in exchange for that story?"

Apostasy scratches her chin. "In that case... why does it ignore women?"

Sorien softly churrs, "Okay. New York is kind of an armed camp, but stable with humans and the changed kept segregated, but it’s at least stable. Minneapolis and St. Paul are stable but massively depopulated. Las Vegas... Is gone. We're from Fairhaven, California. San Francisco is... Weird. We need to explore it more. There's no word from many other locales, and there is no communication at all outside the US."

Kara suddenly looks intrigued at the mention of coffee. "I haven't had coffee since it went to hell here, and you folks seem neither to be wishing ill on us, nor be able to be convinced not to throw your lives away, so I suppose that'd be a fair trade. You all can stay on the ship tonight, and head out in the morning to try to find your friend. Is that a fair trade?"

Solixis nods. "Sounds wonderful."

Cilan nods slowly, "Alright.."

Kara says, "That's easy, It doesn't ignore women, it just doesn't have power over us. It will take anyone of us in it gets its tentacles on though which is why I beg you not to get yourselves killed. There's been enough death and feeding it with more knowledge is the last thing I want to see happen." responding to Apostasy, and then finally points to Bec and says, "You take down their information and record what's going on. I will have someone broadcast it across the ship if it gives our people hope."

Sorien softly churrs, "We'll share what we know. "

Apostasy smiles darkly. "I have no intention of letting myself get killed. And I take an awful lot of killing. But the concern is noted, and I thank you for it."

Sorien softly churrs, "We've encountered variations on the packmind infection before."

Sparhawk scratches the back of hir head embarrassedly. "It's, uh, more like instant crystals than real coffee, and I'd need to borrow the use of a pot for water. But we do have a lot of assorted beverages. As for combat...we have seen rather a lot of it, but appreciate any advice you can give before we dive in blindly. Diving in blindly tends to have poor results."

Kara says, "You mean packmind, like those beasts in the city that think as one? I think you misunderstand, what is underneath isn't one of those."

Sorien softly churrs, "Oh. Ick. An absorptive creature? One mass?"

Kara taps her nails across her desk, and says, "I think I'll have to start from the beginning for you to understand, but I don't want the details getting out in the ship so it will have to stay in the office here among us. She then nods to the two other girls besides Bec and says, "You two are dismissed."

Sorien nods. "May we sit?"

Apostasy looks around at the furnishings warily. "I'll stand. Don't think any of these seats could take my weight."

Sparhawk settles down to lean against the wall, curling up as much as possible to stay out of the way. "Not much good for chairs anymore, heh."

Kara nods to the four available chairs in the office, "You'll have to make do with those. Unfortunately we can only scrounge so much, so some of you will have to stand."

Sorien softly churrs, "No problem. I'll sit on the floor with my mate. (she hugs REDACTED)"

Cilan is one of those that chooses to stand, her arms fold across her chest as she watches in silence, though her face shows a slight interest to it.

Solixis sits quietly, since everyone else isn't going to take the seat.

REDACTED says, "I don't think many of us are exactly built for human furniture these days, so I apologize for us not accepting your hospitality. and holds her mate's hand tight.

Sorien softly churrs, "I'd use a chair, but... (she leans into REDACTED)"

Sorien gets a funny look before she speaks; she adapts a silly voice and says, "Ask me your questions, Bridgekeeper, I am not afraid!"

The two other women exit, and Bec stays behind with a pad of paper taking notes for the captain, but Kara shoos her off to go boil water for the coffee. She's been watching very carefully between the strange and alien faces that seem as expressive as any human's. She observes the closeness of the many tailed creature and the skunk, the anger in the dragoness' face, and the gentle and strangely calm demeanour of the tauric creature that makes no biological sense.

Sparhawk raises an eyebrow at Sorien. "I thought we decided against making random movie references, Sori?"

Sorien giggles. "Sorry. Stress. I had to."

Kara observes the other two carefully, and picks at something, not really sure where to start but says. "I'm one of the few on the ship who's been here since the beginning. I lived in Portland when the world first went to hell. It was strange here, we got news reports of stuff happening all over the world, but out little city seemed calm, at first. Then we started getting waves of people fleeing... something. The city's resources grew overtaxed and yet still we weren't sure what was happening. Tales of horrors grew along with the population. Then the rioting started, violence you wouldn't believe, and those of us still in the military tried to help the police keep the peace, but it didn't last long at all."

Sorien nods, letting the woman continue.

Sparhawk also nods, with similar lack of interruption.

Apostasy listens quietly, having been there for all but the earliest part of the story being told.

"The refugees brought violence with them, particularly the males. Rapes grew to a particularly disgusting high." Kara pauses to shudder, and then continues, "and then the packs came, following the fleeing people. They would enter the city and night and drag the homeless out into the darkness, adding to the growing army. We knew we'd have little choice so we conscripted anyone willing to help, and blew every bridgeway we could into the city, and set landmines on the ground routes in. It was decided we could not accept any more people, and that we were lucky to have survived the plague intact."

Sparhawk raises a hand politely. "How long after the nanite releases were the bridges blown, if I may ask?"

Apostasy speaks up. "Three months."

"For a while we managed, but with the proximity, and the fear, violence only grew. This was before we realized the city had not survived completely intact. There is something subtle in the air that seems to affect male brains. The sexual violence and depravity was exacerbated by whatever is causing it." Kara looks up at the Dragoness who answers perfectly, "And how in the hell would you know that?"

Apostasy looks coolly at Kara. "I was here for it all, Kara. I looked different then, of course. We were... acquaintances, I guess. Never so close as to have been friends."

Sorien gently scritches REDACTED' back as she listens.

Kara's facial expression is hard to read. She studies the dragoness, carefully, watching her expression and mannerisms but still coming up short. "I'm afraid I don't know you, or at least recognize you." She says softly, but seeming to accept that explanation. She returns to storytelling.

Apostasy shrugs. "Wouldn't expect you to. Not now."

Kara watches Sorien and REDACTED' animalistic interactions that merge human behaviour, curiosity clearly piqued by these strange survivors. "Well, that was the beginning of the end. Things got progressively worse for the women, murders were at an all time high, and the population began to shrink rapidly. There was also something -else- going on I wasn't aware of until after the fact..." she trails off.

Sorien softly churrs, "... What? If we can ask..."

Kara says, "I was getting to that. There was a strange cult that grew up among the men in power focused on the darkest aspects of sex. They would hold mass orgies and make sacrifices of women. I have no idea what went through their minds, if anything, but they saw the end of a world as an opportunity I guess. It grew in power and size. Before long, the sacrifices grew from one, to dozens of women at a time."

Sorien softly churrs, "Jesus."

Solixis raises a hand. "Hold up. HOW did they get so many women at a time like that?"

Cilan frowns and asks, "Do you know the name of the leader of that cult?" turning to Solixis she says, "Probably kidnapping.. lots of survivors out on their own.."

Kara says softly, "When I say cult, I don't mean a few people. By the time it was that bad, it was happening in public with thousands of men attending. Men would offer up their wives and daughters to the sacrifice."

Cilan scoffs and says, "Scum that only deserve a bullet to the skull.."

Kara laughs, "Leader? You can ask the creature if it knows now... They're probably still in there somewhere."

Sparhawk frowns thunderously, but says only, "I disapprove."

Apostasy grimaces. "Jesus... it got that bad? It was just starting when I... left... but I never thought it would go that way...."

Solixis shudders. Even the dark places in her mind abhor such actions.

Sorien softly churrs, "So many of the changed are heading into the centre of the city... What's happening there specifically? Do you know?"

Sorien softly churrs, "And Cil... I doubt most of the men involved in that were even remotely themselves anymore. "

"They took the sport to the arena in downtown, converting the Rose Garden over to a bloody arena." Kara shudders in bringing this up. "Now, I'm sure you've seen the signs of this creature? You couldn't have made it far into the city without it sending fingers out to take you in?" She sighs, "Anyway, the perversion grew, eventually someone had the bright idea of capturing some of the creatures outside the city and using them as part of the ritual, forcing women to have sex with the creatures and then killing them both."

Sorien softly churrs, "It came through the sewers, and it’s currently paying for attacking us. "

Kara raises an eyebrow to Sorien's response, "I'm not sure I want to know how, but cutting down a few tentacles would hardly hurt that thing." She says, "Things got twisted really fast from there. Something went wrong and what they killed wouldn't die. They sent more into it, and it began to absorb. People however were too caught up in lust to notice until it started overtaking the arena, a giant mass of flesh grew from the watchers. However, unlike the other creatures, all the people absorbed are still in there somewhere... that's where it gets tricky... It's aware, it thinks like any of us do, and plans. It's intelligent, learns, and hunts."

Sorien softly churrs, "Its a pack-mind gone wrong. Gods. And I thought the pack minds and undead were bad."

"Now pray tell out you have a penis and managed to survive this long?" She says suspiciously to Sparhawk.

Sorien blinks, then giggles. "This'll be interesting."

Sparhawk coughs. "What answer would you accept? I have been in this city about an hour longer than you knew of us, and only know of the origins of the horrid sewer-tentacle-monster now. The air is...thick here, but I have some skill in dealing with rampant pheromones.

Sparhawk also shudders at the word 'fingers' during Kara's speech. Surely a coincidence.

Sorien chimes in. "You aren't thinking that the world is all girl now, are you? Because it’s still pretty much boy/girl still with the addition of true hermaphrodites."

Kara raises her eye, "Thus far, you are the only male I've seen who hasn't been turned into a lust monster since the creature came into being. Most give themselves to it without hesitation or question, even after seeing the horror that it is. Please be careful."

Sparhawk grins. "I'm special, honest. I have about fourteen stories I could tell right now, but start with the one that most of us have been into a pack and back out again, without more than a bit of trauma. I promise to tell you some of 'em after we're done here."

Sorien softly churrs, "... I've a question. Why the hell have you stayed here, so close to the city?"

"As you can see from the population here, all we have left in the city is women. The few that haven't been dragged in anyway. I was mostly concerned with keeping it contained, until it started pulling in those packs from the field. I have no idea what it's doing now but I think it's planning something ugly." Kara sighs, "If you are going to try to take it on despite my plea, then at least come back alive and tell us what it's doing."

Kara says, "Fleeing into the unknown wild wouldn't work, and our boat was drained of fuel long before we took her. At least for some reason the creatures and its pet beasts seem to have an aversion to the river water and don't touch us as long as we stay here."

Apostasy sits quietly, mulling over what she's been told. "Sounds like I... was lucky to get out when I did. And somehow, I can't help but feel that my father is at the centre of all this, or close by. Insane as that sounds."

Sparhawk wiggles hir eyebrows. "I promise, on my life, that we will either return alive or die trying. Wait, river..." Shi holds up a vial of blood on a string around hir neck. "So, all the black beasts are part of the thing?"

Sorien mutters quietly, "Wonder what's in the water..." She looks up. "Once we get this dealt with, we'll help you get this beast fuelled so you can come down the coast to Fairhaven. We DO have a feral problem, but we also have a lot of cleared buildings that can be secured. You'd have civilization again."

Kara nods, "They are now. It has thralled them, and uses them to hunt the girls we've had who tried to flee the city."

Kara seems to ignore Apostasy's response, focusing on Sorien's offer. "As mad as it is for me to believe you, if you can offer even the slimmest hope to my girls, I will be overjoyed. You better keep yourselves alive!" She says forcefully.

Sorien stands and offers her hand to Kara. "We'll do our best. We'll leave you directions to Fairhaven regardless; it’s accessible overland and down the coast. There have to be fuelled vessels here, and a fuel dump. This is a port city, right?

Sparhawk thoughtfully places the vial back on the outside of hir vest. "More than just thralls if their own react the same... speculation runs rampant today, bah." Shi shakes hir head clear of cobwebs and draws hirself up tall, nearly to Apo's waistline. "It is within my mandate to fix this. Coyote would get upset with me if I were to die or be eaten by this most-horrible-yet instance of the pack-minds, so I will not allow it." An ear flicks Sorien's way. "Er, the name of the city is Portland, madam."

Kara responds, "Although most took off in boats in the early days, and of course in the infighting a lot of it was simply burned, but I appreciate the offer." she pauses to yawn visibly, and says, "I'm afraid we can't offer you beds, or cots, but we do have safety here and there's plenty of space above deck as long as you don't mind sleeping under the stars."

Sorien giggles. "I think I got that far, sweetie."

Apostasy nods. "I'm fine with sleeping up on deck. The further we stay from everyone else the better, I think."

Sorien softly churrs, "Anywhere is fine, thanks. I spent 8 months sleeping in a car or raw, this is much better."

Solixis smiles. "You'd be surprised how comfortable a tail is as a pillow."

Eliot leaps up onto Spar's shoulder and wags madly, just one tail right now. "Are there any kids who need exercise? I can throw a ball and they can throw it back!"

Kara acknowledges Apostasy, "I'm sorry not everyone here is going to be as willing to accept strange creatures without judgement. I generally prefer to judge through actions rather than appearance, and I also had the benefit of spying on you lot over the radio before you even arrived."

Kara almost falls out of her seat when a dog suddenly talks. "uh..." she looks wide eyed at the coyote.

Apostasy shrugs. "Don't worry about it. It's to be expected." She giggles at the reaction to Eliot's talking. "Oh, yeah. Eliot is not your average coyote."

Said coyote grins wide, with his tongue hanging out in an attempt to be disarmingly cute. "Scritchydragon is correct! I am amazing too. And less scary than these big ladies who have ceiling-clearance problems."

Apostasy sticks her tongue out at Eliot. "Hush you. I do just fine. Just have to duck a lot."

Eliot snickers and hops down to the floor with a stop on Spar's backpack along the way, then makes a muffled quacking sound from the far side of Spar's bulk. Spar grins too, unhelpfully.

Kara pauses for a while to consider, "When Bec gets back I'll have her fetch you some blankets at least, and you are of course welcome to mingle as much as you'd like, but please don't upset too many people or cause any trouble. You're welcome to ask any of the three girls who brought you here for help or direction."

Apostasy smiles her thanks. "I'd sooner just go get some sleep, if it's all the same. It has been a very long, and very draining day."

Cilan nods and says, "Then Ill head upstairs, thanks for the hospitality, Kara.." and with that, she turns to leave, along the way, she shifts to a form that might help the various survivors that may come near her.

[REDACTED(#13035)]: Ally is standing just outside peering in, she hops backwards when Cilan opens the door, hoping that Kara didn't see her.

Apostasy follows behind Cilan towards the deck, chuckling as she passes Ally. "Hear anything good, kiddo?"

REDACTED helps her mate up, and before leaving says softly, "It's a blessing for people to have such a level headed leader. They are lucky to have you."

[REDACTED(#13035)]: The girl almost faints as Apostasy bares her teeth while smiling and laughing. "N, n, no..." she says quietly stammering.

Sparhawk waits until enough other people have filed out of the office that shi can give a wide wing-spread bow to Kara. "May your sleep be untroubled, madam." And Eliot privately resolves to eat any nightmares that invade for this one night, at least.

Cilan grins at Ally as she stammers, "Heh.. don’t worry, we're not here to hurt you.. so you can rest easy.." patting her shoulder comfortingly she continues upstairs.

REDACTED and Sorien follow after Cil and Apo, heading up and out, not wanting to cause any trouble below. She quirks her ears curiously as Ally who's still standing there, waiting for... something, but they continue on.

When Apo gets up to the deck, she finds an out of the way corner to huddle into, and settles down, wings wrapped about her like a blanket, before drifting off to sleep.

Solixis ruffles the girl's hair. "You doing okay, little sis?" She smiles.

Ally hugs Sol and says quietly, "I'm doing okay, but I wanted to ask about what it's like out the city. I grew up here and have never really been out. What's it like?"

Solixis hugs the girl. "Well, mostly it's same as here, but, the ferals are far less organized and intelligent. Also, kitties. Proper kitties."

Ally pulls Sol in the direction downstairs and says, "Tell me more."

Sparhawk does actually curl around Eliot on the top deck of the ship to sleep, a wing over hir currently-son's body inside the gryphon donut hole. Their intent is to seed hope into dreams, if it's not too hazardous in the local collective unconscious.

Cilan goes to whoever is needed to volunteer to patrol and offers her assistance in guarding the ship.

Solixis puts an arm around the girl's shoulders. "Well, nearly all of my friends are some variant of mammal, which means a lot of soft fur and cuddling. Cuddles are way better like this. And the area just outside the city is pretty neat. We have a farm, a corn maze, and little forest, and a mountain comprised almost entirely of DRAGONS! *squee* It's pretty neat."

Apostasy is passed out rather quick, even before anyone else has managed to sleep her dreams happen swiftly, powerful dreams, her emotions coming to the surface, bubbling up in various imagery. It shifts quickly into vision territory as Apostasy finds herself chained up in a basement, one that looks very much like the place her father had her, except she sees others on the wall near her. On her right is a young girl, human, but she somehow recognizes her as Kale. The girl is unconscious and bleeding from open wounds. To her right another girl is gagged and looks terrified and fearful. The room is dark and musty, the smell of fear prevalent. Various awful tools line the wall where the door is. Apostasy begins to panic almost immediately, trying to claw at the chains and pull herself off the wall, but they don't give in.

The echo of footsteps can be heard from the floor above. Failing to be able to get the chains off Apo looks to the others in the room, Kale clearly gone off somewhere she fails to reach. The other terrified girl she can just barely touch, reading her chained arm out while her neck collar is bolted to the wall, she managed to reach the other girl's face and pulls the cloth out. However instead of the screaming she expected, she hears a singsong familiar voice, it begins to say, "Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie" happily humming some sort of tune a little offkey that Apo doesn't recognize. The footsteps however have moved to the basement stairs, the creeping noise of her father's thick soled cole hahn shoes echoing on the staircase oh so familiar.

The steps suddenly shift from the staircase to the door creaking open, the man Apo recognizes immediately as her father, just the way she remembered turns in and says, "Oh, we have a naughty girl here tonight don't we? He grins and grabs a rotating sander, and casually walks forward to the girl next to Apo and says over the humming girl, "If you can't behave, we're going to have to teach you some discipline. And he smiles, as he turns the sander on. Apo cringes, turning away and sees on Kale's shoulder a small bird. Apo recognizes the hummingbird almost immediately and puts her hand out as the voice next to her continues to try to hum louder over the noise, but the voice cracks a bit as the sound of flesh touching the sander becomes painfully evident. The bird hops onto her finger, and then blinks at her.

It begins to fly in the air around Apo, almost as if trying to figure her out, and shortly after the sound of the sander stops along with the woman's humming, finally have cracked and fallen unconscious. The man turns back and says, "Oh my child, what do you have there? We have a pest in here, this simply won't work. He tries to swat at the thing but it's fast movements keep it out of reach. It then flies right at Apostasy, entering her mouth and forcing her awake and out of the dream. Apostasy awakens shivering cold in the dark of night, sweating covering her body. Wait, sweat? She doesn't sweat.

Apostasy huddles up, shivering in the cold. She brushes hair out of her eyes, and then freezes for a moment, pulling it back in front of her. "Oh man... what the hell is going on?" She pulls her duster tight around herself, trying to retain some heat, looking around for the others.

REDACTED is a log when it comes to sleeping, and doesn't even stir despite the noise Apostasy makes while waking up.

Eliot has crawled out from underneath Spar's wing and is walking around the edge of the deck, limping a little and humming a tune. Spar sleeps like a curled-up log, some ways away from the pile of adventurers, still clad in armour and stuff.

Cilan stops in the middle of her patrol to look over to the waking human, kneeling close by she asks, "Hmm? is something the matter, miss?" a warm smile, but showing moderate concern is given as she asks.

Apostasy looks up at Cil. "Uhhh... you could say that, sis."

Apostasy manages to wake everyone up with Cil's help, having to explain the vision, awkwardly with Eliot occasionally interrupting her with "Lie!" and has to say she has no idea how she ended up in her current form. The group retrieves Sol from below, who slept in Ally's cot, the two curled up around one another. Ally insists on following the group, who checks in one more time with Kara before they depart for directions to the Rose Garden. Kara reacts in recognition when she sees Apostasy, but doesn't bring up their past together. She offers them a pretty hefty explosive charge if they want it.

Sorien softly churrs, "Boom good. Of course we'll bring it! ... Someone who knows what they're doing will, I mean. Ahem. Not me."

Sparhawk stands warily away from said boom. "I prefer more hands-on work, especially in areas of nanite density like this. Anyone /actually/ trained in demolitions?"

REDACTED shrugs, "I did a little when I was young but my knowledge is completely outdated unfortunately."

Cilan says, "Uh.. I use a few grenades, but I don’t think a frag here and there will drop an entire arena.."

Sorien softly churrs, "Well, we'll take it. Just give me instructions. We'll probably need it against the sewer-whatsits, if Tag has left anything intact."

Apostasy says, "I was never really one for explosives of that sort... but I'm sure we could work it out with instructions. Can't hurt."

Solixis looks over it. "I'm pretty sure I can set it up. basic physics and circuitry, right?"

Sorien softly churrs, "Okay. Lead on... Apo? That'll take getting used to."

Sparhawk squawks, "So, stand twice as far away as we think we should. Gotcha. Someone can stuff it in my right rear saddlebag for transport, because we really don't want to use it hastily.""

Kara provides instructions to Solixis and says softly, "Yes, but make sure not to get it wet, and to only trigger it when you're ready." She looks a little sad when she sees Ally throwing her life away with the rest, but remains quiet, waving the group goodbye with an expression that says she doesn't expect to see any of them ever again.

Apostasy blushes a little as she says, "Umm... could one of you carry Silverfang for me? It's still up where I slept... I, uh... can't lift it. Too heavy."

Cilan giggles and nods, giving Apostasy a peck on the cheek as she passes and adds, "Sure thing sis!" finished, she moves to the blade, shifting to a much larger form along the way, and hefting the giant blade in her place.

Solixis slips the explosive into her satchel, a modified computer bag. She also looks a little apprehensive about Ally joining them, but accepts the help, since they need a guide who has been there.

Sparhawk murmurs, "And not feed it after midnight..." REDACTED' explosives volunteering is interesting, as is Kara's continued non-asking about the person the group allegedly left behind. Shi clears hir throat. "I could try to make you bigger, Apo, if you're not too attached to your face."

REDACTED says softly, "Until we can get your shape back for you." she then steps closer and pulls her hip scabbard clear off, handing the scabbarded blade, this one with the etched river scene upon it's blade. She gives Apo a look that says many things, one of which includes a clear image as to what will happen to her if any harm should befall it.

Apostasy takes the scabbard and blade off REDACTED carefully, attaching it to her belt. She nods slowly. "Thank you, REDACTED. I'll not let anything happen to it while I draw breath."

The group heads off ship soon afterward, and follows the edge of the river northward, Ally suggesting the pathway will keep them out of the travels of the creature's search path. The way along isn't far, surprising proximity to the safe place the survivors call home.

Sorien once again goes to watching for trouble.

Ahead of them the Rose Garden, and a giant civic centre can be seen. The two are the city’s main sports arenas and it's clear what their use became in the final days. The top of shell of the Rose Garden is broken open, and a layer of blackish grey vines covers over the surface of the place. A long cylindrical thing sticks up in the air in the centre, and looks like a cable going into nothing, and then it moves. It flicks on occasion, clearly alive.

Sparhawk spends some of the trip teaching Eliot the Privacy Song, which has a similar refrain to the one bouncing around his head when Spar awoke. The limp has evaporated, though Eliot's still a little grumpy.

Sorien softly churrs, "I think we're gonna need a bigger boat..."

Apostasy blinks at the towering column of flesh. "Uhmm... I think I'm glad we took that bomb."

Solixis hovers behind Ally, preparing to shield her new friend should anything happen.

Ally squeals when she sees the thing move like a tongue. "I... I've been told what's inside but I... didn't see it." She hides behind Solixis.

Around the building the occasional tentacle pops out of sewers searching like a finger, and then back down into the sewers below. A stream of the beast-like creatures is heading into the front entrance of the building.

Sparhawk raises eyebrows at the skyhook. "Not compensating for anything, I expect? What is inside, if I may ask?" Shi sounds interested, but not terribly impressed.

Solixis gulps. "Tentacles?" She gets a little nervous. "That's going to hurt..."

Sorien softly churrs, "God. I bet its sort-of eating them... Maybe we can just... Shatter its cohesion somehow, and loose everyone? Even if they're still feral, at least they'd be better than... that."

"Floors and floors of flesh. I've been told specifically woman's... private parts. It goes deep underground." Ally squeaks.

Apostasy shudders. "Lovely. Well, no sense standing around aimlessly, people."

In front of the group one of the sewer tentacles appears on the surface for a moment, and then a small squelch as it's pulled underneath and the ground rumbles. The lonely high pitched howl of a coyote follows echoing outward shortly afterward.

REDACTED' ears twitch, recognizing the owner, this being the third time she's heard it now. She begins to run forward.

The howl repeats, the echo coming out from the tunnel below but the owner further away, appearing to be heading underground toward the arena.

Eliot echoes the howls, his small body lacking the giant lungs or the echo chamber of a sewer, but makes an effort at it. Spar hushes him quietly after the first set of yips.

Sorien gets a grim look and follows after REDACTED. She unbuttons her outfit, and shifts as she moves so she can keep up.

Apostasy giggles at Eliot's attempts to howl back, and the subsequent hushing, and starts to follow after REDACTED and Sor, albeit much more cautiously.

Cilan joins in the shudder, but presses forward, "Either way, Kale is probably there, so.. I can’t stop here.. I made an oath to her, and I plan to keep to it.." shaking her head of the thought, she returns to silence.

Sparhawk grimly says, "So we should keep up with our clever distraction, I think. Anyone need a lift?"

The air fills with a loud high pitched noise that is unrecognizable in origin but nearly deafening in scale. It rips its way out of the arena, and the long flagella-like thing swings down toward the line of beasts, knocking them away toward the walls.

Sorien yips, "Holy hell. I bet I know who has it pissed..."

Solixis picks up Ally. "Ready? This is going to be very sticky."

Ally shivers and shakes but nods quietly and curls up in Sol.

Apostasy is noticeably lagging behind Sor and REDACTED now, much slower with none of her mutant powers. She stops and looks back at Spar and the others following. "Uhmm... Can I get a lift Spar?"

Sorien is running on all-fours now, the motion seeming normal for her form.

Solixis leaps into the air and follows the coyote ahead of her.

Sparhawk nods and offers Apo a hand onto hir back. "I hear girls get less saddle-sore than men, especially without a proper saddle here. Hang on tight!"

Apostasy scrambles up onto Spar's back and wraps her arms around hir upper torso, holding on tight.

Eliot whispers to the human face of Apo from inside Spar's arms, "Your dad's a jerk, and I'm gonna bite his ankles like you wouldn't believe.”

The groups moves closer to one of the side entrances of the place, moving across the ground quickly.

Sparhawk gallops with vigour, all six paws leaving the ground momentarily in this odd gait. It's almost certainly assisted by the antigrav pack, given all the extra weight shi's carrying around.

REDACTED reaches the entrance first, having started forward first, but her mate isn't far behind. REDACTED returns to her feet from her quadrupedal run, and breaths in. The place smells wretched of a mixture of sex and death.

Sparhawk arrives full of heavy breathing, and an inability to wrinkle hir nose in disgust due to owning a beak. "Bleh. No matter how many times I go to these places, I never get used to the smell."

Sorien yips, "Ugh. Dammit. Remind me to get some noxema or camphor for next time."

Solixis shudders as she gets closer to the gate the stench almost overwhelming.

The entranceway is a handicapped accessibility ramp, travelling upward into the wall of the stadium seating to the upper floors. They follow the long path gradually upward, until they hit the top canopy that's been sheared off. They avoid the strange pulsing fleshy tentacle vines that hand over, and then look down over the stadium. The place opens up into a cavern below. The bottom few rows of seating gone completely. The place is like a canyon.

Sorien yips, "Good god."

It takes a moment for things to realize, the strange puckered landscape is human skin, with small little protrusions which on close observation are female genitalia. The central area is a wide gaping mouth, with the long black stalk emerging out exactly like a tongue.

Sorien yips, "Okay... Not gonna be sick... "

Solixis smoothly says, "All those women... Inari help them..."

Cilan grimaces at the sight, the dragoness seeming like she's having trouble stomaching this new sight.

Sorien yips, "I think I wanna be a robot again, even if it hurts..."

Sparhawk murmurs something about seeing an elephant, then out loud to Sorien, "Maybe just your head? Or something that doesn't have a proper nose?"

Sorien yips, "I don't think I wanna be meat right now. "

REDACTED comforts her mate while looking on with disgust. She then perks her ears as she notices a small figure bounding across the flesh toward the mouth. Wolf Tag below nearing on his goal at the heart of the thing.

Click here to continue to Chapter 4.