Laberynth in the Hinterlands

[Ellie who has 0%]

The rain dropped heavily enough to engrave small holes into the wet soil of the Hinterlands. The dark bark darkened to the color of charcoal as an illuminos blue-green light revealed the swirled design on the tree. The bright lighted warp swirled into a doom with a shimmering ding before sparkling off into small fading pixels.

Brown hair flared like rays around the sun, a mocha face, but the rain started to dampen it. The hair began to lay flat with water around a pair of onyx demonic horns. The pixels faded from her face as her eyes opened. What was original a pair of tangerine eyes shrinked into a serpentine slits that widdened like a cat to the adjustment of light. Scales coated her cheeks like a light tattoo. Selene can feel the dark green scales pierce her skin.

"What in the-" Her fingers were lightly tinted once touching her face with red ink before the rain blotted the blood away. The stinging sensation faded away as another feeling caught her attention. The chill of the rain didn't made her shiver, but the feeling of discomfort.

Vulgarly knowing she was alone, the warrioress tucked her hands in the back of her pants with a wiggle. A tail was slowly being drawn away from its cage. The squirming fleshy appendange seemed to be frightened by her grip, but calmed once being free from the tightness of her pants.

"A tail ow-" Her tail spasmed in sensitivity of pain. Her now extended nails have knicked a scratch on it. "Claws, seriously?" This was the first time being forced through any transformation once entering a world. It felt strange, but it didn't take long to feel the natural sense of comfort despite the additional pieces.

The light was officially gone, and Selene was becoming wet. Her feet made sloppy squishy sounds as it sank into the soft earth before lifting back up. She came to Halloween Town to check the heartless activity. It was her duty to find the keyblade wielders, but she might as well check the worlds as well. This one was completely foreign to her, but the computer did give her some information on this Halloween Town. Regardless she was lost among the trees.

"This will certainly take me a while..."

[nandayu]

{Demitri}


As the rain patted upon the soft soil, seemingly dissolving it into nothingness, the sounds of stamping feet could be heard., not far away. The sounds seemed to waver from side, to another, yet they did so rather slowly, as if they were wavering, their own body threatning to drop themselves upon the soil, and just lie there.

Yet, the source continued on strong, however this did not mean the continous threat of dropping down, dead onto the soil did not plague the one whom continued to walk upon this soil. As the sound grew louder, impatient to get to their supposed destination, the source of the sound was soon to be revealed...

And so it had been. The first thing most noticable from the appearance of the male, had, supposedly if you'd been staring at them from his own appearance, seemed to be the crimson red horns that erupted from the center of the male's skull. The horns, leaping high over the dark hair that had spread it's own benefiting plague upon the whole face of the male's head.

So much so, that the dark hair drooped slightly over the male's forehead, shielding his own eyes from the world. Erupting from the rear of his own skull, the same darkness that had fell over the male's sorrowful eyes, which had briefly closed themselves, wallowing in their own self pity. The darkness had been wrapped into a long, black, thick rope of hair, drooping so long, meeting at the waist of the male, resembling that of a horse's tail.

Shielding only 50% of his own face, matching the deep, blood red color that ran thick in the horns that erupted from his skull, the mask seemed ot resemble that of a demon, fangs erupting from the mouth of the mask that clouded the left half of the male's face. The fangs seemed to be able to pierce any weapon that stood before them, unable to be broken themselves.

The eye socket of the mask, however, seemed to be missing from sight, yet the entire socket of the eye radiated with the flame of darkness. The same dark flame that had replaced the youth's soul long ago, yet he could not recall how, why, when, or where this event took place...

Despite the frightening appearance of the young man, whom trodded upon this barren land, it seemed as if the youth would flail about any moment, only to drop dead. From head to toe, the youth had been covered in scars, wounds, pain inflicting itself upon his own body with each step the youth took...

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, the young man let his body go, leaving all things behind, and dropped.

Dropping to the ground like a leaf, tossed about within the thunderstorm, unable to do anything about it.

(Sorry, my muse is struggling...)

[Ellie who has 0%]

The calves in her legs were beginning to sting; whether it was from the strain of walking in the sinking mud, or the cold from the rain was beyond Selene. In fact, she refused to dwell on the small evidence of weakness; sure pain only tells one the condition of life or death, but with the power of mind over matter, Selene will surely be able to ignore her shivering frame, the water droplets falling on her face, and the stinging of her legs. Ahead she couldn’t make out any glimpse of light; the usually high yellow full moon was out of site and blocked by the rain clouds, which forced the warrioress to rely on her light sensitive eyes. The pupils widened for her to see, while her hands guided her past the soft wet bark of the surrounding trees. Her tail swayed anxiously at the sight up a head as a small smile cracked on her face. A clearing illuminated her hope like the gates of Olympus; her legs were encouraged to keep on going, but the weakness of them was still prominent as she nearly stumbled into the cleared portion of the mass forest.

“Finally,” her skin burned with the effort to get this far, but the rain only intensified it, a similar feeling to a frost bite. Naturally she hugged herself to preserve some heat, while scanning any landmarks to remember; typical the only thing she found was the main element she was surrounded by, trees. Now the astro-warrioress was becoming tired of nature for it was becoming a tiresome opponent. But it seems that fate would play nice for now, the trees around her now were far from the ordinary. On them were doors, each of them different from the other. There was a turkey, a tree, an egg, and so on; it didn’t take her long to bridge the connection, holidays.

Lightening cracked like a whip, and a flash of light rippled through a path that disappeared deeper in Halloween Town. With a silent cheer, Selene’s legs moved with a long stretched and a swifter pace. Not only did she find a possible way to the town, but the storm was getting worse. Wet autumn leaves pasted against her before flapping off with the harsh direction of Autumns Winds. Another crap of lightening ripped through the clouds. Looking up at it, she swore she saw it rippled through it like the speed of sound in water. The clouds were turning a dark charcoal, and the winds were beginning to hiss, while the rain was continuing its abuse of her skin.

Picking up the gait, the trees started to look like a blur of browns as the lightening brightened, but a tinge of red caught her attention in her peripheral. She told herself to keep on going to beat the worse of the storm, but the whispers of her unconscious with the brightening illumination of her sword, Twins of Leto made her stopped. Selene froze as she recognized her own stupidity. Reaching down, the blade was unsheathed and acted as a flashlight, a light that surely picked up a fallen frame a few steps away in-between the trees off the path.

Slowly Selene began to approach the figure from a far with the glow of her blade to get a better look. If it was a heartless, she would surely slay it; the worlds would be better with one less child of darkness that feeds off of heart. Her heart escalated once seeing a pile of black hair trailing from a pale face like a flag. Leaning down, she pushed the frame on its back and softly whipped the mud off its face. She considered it to be human; the blood was enough to persuade her, and the frame of it face was male.

“He needs to be in a shelter,” Selene looked him over with scrunched saddened brows. His wounds were numerous, and the cold rain wasn’t helping. Slowly she tried to lift him on her back to carry towards the town.

[nandayu]

As Demitri lie there, his very existence pouring out of him, slowly, yet surely, and yet there had been so many things left unchecked...

The same woman whom appeared in his broken memories, the puzzle that has yet to be solved...who was she? Had he any relatives, or friends whom he could relate to? Did they know who he truly was? Yet, as his own blood ran onto the ground, he began to doubt much that these questions would find answers.

Although this all haunted Demitri's mind, plagueling him from time to time, again and again. There had always been one word that always appeared in his mind, time after time...

This solemn word had emerged, as soon as the female figure approached himself, he judged from the hair the protruded from her own scalp. As she attempted to lift the young man to his own feet, Demitri could feel her feet clenching onto his own back, the blood running cold on her fingers, his body freezing to the touch. Yet that very word remained, his very soul clinging to life just to hear that word escape the lips of any being in this game we call life.

The one word, the only he had managed to utter, as it came into context with a question, apparently...

"Are you...an angel?"

[Ellie who has 0%]

......Unsure how, Selene eye's widdened once hearing his voice. It was very soft compared to the pattering of the rain, which made her shocked that he isn't unconscious and audible. Continuing with the task, the chilled body was lifted on her back to carry. "It all depends on who's asking." Selene hunched over for he wouldn't lean back away from her into a fall. Her arms craddled a seat for him and locked tightly before treading off the sinking mud.

"In such condition, you shouldn't be out here. You are lucky that you're found; I will call that a blessing." The warrioress began to march up the path way. "Why are you even out here this late. and what happened to you?" Selene occupied the package on her back with questions to keep him awake. Only the living would continuing talk, if there was something extremely wrong he would fall silent."If I am to be a proper angel, I must be aware of what caused your wounds," his blood was starting to stick on her as the rain spread it on her frame.

(grrr no likey shortness)

[nandayu]

As the woman carried his own body, she must have realized the weight it held, being a burden. As she hefted the amnesiac onto her own back with such ease, Demitri could not help but stifle a laugh, as the question which she failed to conceal stumbled out of the woman's blood red crimson lips. Demitri heard the words as they should have been said...

"Who are you?"

The young man replied, blood seeping from his mouth, dripping onto the pattered away soil of the soft, torn ground. "Well...I'll put it this way", he started, struggling to heave the solid black glove that had been applied to his own right hand. On top of the glove, seemed to be, a silver gear, shining in the light of the orb in the sky. The rain shot away at it, attempting to destroy the gear that had placed itself onto his own blood covered hand...

"Well...according to this gear...my name...is Demitri." Once more, the young man heaved his hand up to his own face, as he read the words carved onto the gear...: DEMITRI.

Laughing once more, the young man felt the words fall out of his own mouth, "Haha....you sure you're not an angel? You look like one."

(Gah. Muse is dying. D:)

[Ellie who has 0%]

(LIIIIIIVE!)

A brow arched at the odd explanation of his name. According to Demitri, that glove was the only existence or label that could possibly be a name for him. This made her wondered if he truly knew, or he decided now was the time to be playful, while he's bleeding. Whatever rocks his socks, Selene would think. She would continue this little chat just to keep him away. "Well Demitri, you don't sound so sure about that, but Demitri you are."

He laughed. Isn't that something? Not many with bleeding wounds would be laughing, nor was it a wise choice for his wounds. Such laughter can stir up heavily bleeding and blood loss, which all adds up to unconscious or death, events Selene wish to prevent. "Perhaps, but then again, the lack of blood can play tricks on your mind. Funny, I was taught that looks are decieving. Plus I think this world snatches away such angelic appeal."

"You still didn't answer this angel's questions, or are they that off limits." The slope started to increase as she descended down a hill. At the very end the trees started to part away into a valley of low cut grass and mud. She could see distant lumps into the ground, gravestones. The lightening flashed against it to show the intricate designs of skulls on them. She sped up the pace. If there were a graveyard, then it was made for people whom have nearby family, which means a town, civilization, a shelter.

"Intrigue me with a story. It will make this walk seem so shorter."

[nandayu]

A small, muffled laugh erupted from the bloodied lips of this young man. As the woman had stated before, laughing may not be a smart choice, considering the condition Demitri was in as of now. However, Demitri thought otherwise. Even though his memory had been shattered into a humongous puzzle, of which he was starting to become certain he would never gather all the pieces, one thing was certain.

Laughing made everything feel...odd. A warm, embracing feeling, as if the sun may shine through the darkness of the gloomy, clouds that loom overhead, and embrace one, similair to the way a mother embraces their child.

To this young, amnesiac boy, it made everything better.

Drifting off into his own mind, the young boy's ears had disregarded the warrioress questions. "Oh? I'm sorry, I was...thinking. Could you repeat the questions?"

Laughing once more, chuckling at the thought of even beggining a story. "A story? Hah. Funny. I wish I could tell you a story, but unfortunately, I can't. My mind can only recall...strangely...a girl."

As his voice ceased, realizing he had spoken more than his share of his disoriented puzzle of memories, the young man stopped in mid sentence, his eyes drifting towards the ground once more. "I am unsure of my name, however. You see, I can't recall...anything besides myself awakening, a battletorn ground and...a girl. This girl, for some reason, has much significance to my memories. But, as much as I yearn to, I can't recall her name..."

"However, I would like to know your name. If it isn't too much to ask."

(My muse! It lives!!!!!!!!)

[Ellie who has 0%]

His laughter caused her to cringe; the boy seemed more unstable than she figured. Her mind could picture how insane he must look with blood tainted lips that parted in humor as if his condition was non-existence. Morals had told her to pick up this stray; now she wondered how much more work she weighed down on her shoulders. Every now and then she would loath her somewhat kind-hearted nature, since she did picked him up after all. Normally, she wouldn't put up with danger prone individuals, because they would weigh her down. Selene was starting to think the same for this one.

As soon as I get to the town and know he's undergoing a fair recovery, I will continue. This was most likely why she lacked friendship connections; she doesn't stick around too long, and her priorities doesn't make time or space to care for someone in a similar predicament she's in now.

Selene merely shook her head as a nevermind when he forgot the questions she asked. Now with the new thought of dropping him off, she didn't find it too important to learn more about him, but focused on keeping him awake.

"How unfortunate," the warrioress replied at his lack of memory. When he asked a name, she wondered was it worth giving a real one. She won't be staying to long with him. There wasn't much need to remember her. "Artemis."

Her legs carried them on with a increasing sting in her calves and thighs. The dim lights of Halloween Town was becoming more prominent as she exited the entering gates of the graveyard. Traveling down the stairs and through an alley, orange eyes peeked over the alley's walls to see the central square of Halloween Town. Sure it was raining, but there was enough...living undead life roaming about despite it.

[nandayu]

Once more, small chuckles of laughter could be heard from the young male, whom, despite the existing fact that he is on the brink of death, managed to smile, laugh, and gaze toward the sky in hopes that he shall one day remember.

"I suppose...Artemis, shall be the name that will due. But, I know one thing...hmph, that name is a little too rare for someone, such as yourself. But I shall not ask you for your real name. Though I wish I could always remember you by it, for doing this for me..."

Demitri felt his tone waver, changing as the words seemingly erupted from his lips, sliding off the tongue like the magma that pours out of the mighty volcano.

"Unfortunate? Nah. For some reason, I cannot shake the feeling that I've done something horrible in my past days...Such an odd feeling envelopes me now."

At the thought of these words, the huntress should be able to feel the shiver that crawled up Demitri's spine, as the hairs on the back of his neck bristled up at the thought of him...being so ruthless. The vision of himself that had developed itself into his mind, it did not please him...not at all.

The smile, wavering from his lips, the blood trickling from his many open wounds. "I have no idea...how I got like this...but if there's...anything at all...", coughing in mid sentence, blood spurting itself upon the soiled lands, as it narrowly avoided her clothing. "I apologize..."

[Ellie who has 0%]

"In truth, what you don't know is that Artemis is quite a common name from where I'm from. Please refrain from disrespecting that by thinking otherwise. After all in the end of it all, all you will have is your name. If no one can't get it right, what's the meaning of anything."

Selene started to loathe unknown people accussing her of lies. It would better for them to keep a silenced tongue before they judge someone they barely had any knowledge of. Why can't no one just embrace what's been given to them? Hardly anyone know Selene well enough to detect behavior patterns, and she doubted seriously anyone had the ability to trace it by merely seeing her. That's probably the major ordeal with the worlds. People are too nosey to be content with what they have. They always have questions to be answered, which can lead to total chaos.

"Well the one way to know what you really done is by..being observant I guess. Some say dreams link to what you don't know you know. Perhaps your mind blocked your past from you, and you never thought that you were your own key to reach it. It's just a thought, a theory." Selene simply shrugged, while feeling the weight on her back quiver and tremble.

Selene kept talking to keep the troubled soul occupied from slipping into unconsciousness, but his shakes were worrying her that it may come sooner than anticipated if a warm sanctuary wasn't found. The wet sound effects that mixed in his cough and apology was enough to make her step beyond her comfort zone to confront the fellow townspeople of Halloween Town.

"Don't say a foolish thing like that when there's nothing to be sorry about," Selene replied before turning to a resident. "Excuse me is there an infirmary anywhere about here for his sake?"

[nandayu]

The dying child chuckled slightly to himself once more, hearing the snaps of Artemis, as her words reminded him much so like that of a mother, whom struggled to divert their only child from the path of chaos, havoc, self destruction.

However, to the untrained ear, she had not been stating anything of the sort, yet Demitri could not help but compare...

"Your words...make me feel as if...I have an older sibling..."

Coughing once more, this time, the blood erupting from his lips, staining them, leaving them cold, as the blood sputtered onto the woman's clothing.

"I am deeply...sorry. But, as I...failed to complete before...if there is anything...anything at all I could do...to repay you...I'd gladly do so...whether it results...in my death, or my...survival."

(Kind of short to me...)

[Ellie who has 0%]

(=o *pokes* We have our short days.)

The resident growled in response to give her directions, but the vampire's eyes widened at the immense blood leaving the weakened one's lips. Sure blood was a delectable of his, but the condition of the young man was too severe to go blood thrsty; also it was against their code of conduct to drink blood of fellow Halloween Town residents and visitors, they saved such terrifying tasks during Halloween.

"Ooo right this way," his stroll was so smooth it seemed like he was gliding. Perhaps it was the illusion given by the long cape that didn't reveal any feet.

Hoisting up Demitri to make sure he was secure on her back, she followed behind the vampire quickly with a whipping tail of determination. The scales on her face flexed a bit as more pressure was placed on her to hurry towards the infirmary for the boy can stop is death bed apologies and promises. There were no need to utter them, if she would do her hardest to make sure he would live to see tomorrow.

"Do me a favor now by stop apologizing. You will see me tomorrow, so you can save it for then." Selene replied with a serious tone, but was cut off by the directing vampire who led her in a place resembling a labatory versus an infirmary. "Is this the-"

"This is the house of Dr. Finkelstein; he's the only one in these parts with the name doctor," the heavy accented vampire replied hastily. "I will go get him immediately. OOh Dr. Finkelstein."

The following sounds were crashing metals and yelling from a old squeaky voice that reminded her of rusty hinges on a haunted house. The owner of the house, this Dr. Finklestein didn't sound to pleased by his disturbance; from his voice and outburst at the panicking vampire, he seemed like the grumpy old people that one's parents would force to respect. Selene sighed hoping he wouldn't give her too much trouble; she would threaten the doctor's life to ensure Demitri's life would be stable.

Gently, she removed him off her back and placed him on a nearbly chair in the cold area od what seemed like a living room. "Someone will help you soon, and if not I will make him." Glancing around, Selene drank in the dark gloomy surrounding, but all was short with the mechanical sounds of a turning wheels.

"Now what did you want?" Indeed it was a grump voice leaving from the mouth of an atrocious being. He was too irregular to be described with his beenie possom black eyes, his stretched out duck like mouth, and cadaver grey skin. The doctor hummed at her lack of response, while she studied his feature. With a grumble, he flipped the lid ontop of his head to reach an itch.

Is that a...b-brain... Selene had to slow down hard to not fill her mouth with bile. "I wish to aid a friend of mine; he was found severly injured in the hinterlands; he's bleeding from the mouth. I wish that he have a succesful recovery." Her tangerine slitted eyes were hard and glassly like marbles when she stared at the doctor.

The doctor pushed a joystick and wheeled forward towards Demitri. "Look up at me boy," although it was a request, the doctor ended up lifting the youth's chin regardless. "Internal bleeding, I seeee," his gazed swept over him quickly, "and external." Reaching in his pocket, he puled a vial swirling with a shimmering green slimy substance. "Drink it boy."

Selene stepped forward to hand to Demitri after grabbing it from Dr. Finkelstein. Demitri seemed drained and in enough pain at the moment, so she took it upon herself to uncap the vial and press the bottle's rim towards his lips.

"When he's done follow me. That shall hold him up a bit with a quick healing fix, while giving me time to take care of the remaining damages." The doctor wheeled away from sight leaving the vampire with them as their guide when they were to travel down to the basement, the labortory.

[nandayu]

Demitri's eyes were wide with some sort of...excitement. Being so close to the cold grip of Death, close enough as to when Demitri could feel Death's cold hands grasp his skull, pulling, gripping, grabbing. Yet, to no avail, as Demitri fought back hard with the spirit, drive, and determination he weilded so valiantly in his struggle for life.

However, though he had been alert this entire time they had ventured together, Demitri's mind began to churn, his head aching with such sudden and brutal pains that aled him so. As the odd, mysterious man whom Demitri's vision had been blurred by the blackness that slowly enveloped the whole of his eyes, lifted his chin with the claws that gripped his skull, the young amnesiac felt his spine tingle, an odd sensation churning throughout his body. Yet, Demitri gritted his teeth grudgingly, struggling not to collapse from the strain such a simple task had put on his body.

As the 'doctor', finished the treatment, Demitri sighed with contempt, his heart begnining to melt as he had realized this woman actually cared for him. Not in that way, however. Neither did Demitri, in the same way, yet the woman's concern reminded him yet of an older sister's. However, judging from the woman's attitude, she acted as if she were to do this with every dying stranger, which saddened the boy much so.

The sadness in his tone was easily detectible, as the woman held the vial to his lips, as he gulped the vile juice down his throat- each drop more severe than the other. Finally, as the woman released the vial from his lips, Demitri shuffled about in his bed, turning to the opposite side, his head facing away from the woman and her company.

"Fine. No more apologies, no more 'thank you's. From now on, I will be silent..."

As he uttered these words, the young man struggled to rest about in the comfort of the bed, his mind aled at this subject. Was he nothing more than a task to him? Did she merely save him because she was obligated to? Demitri sighed lightly to himself, as he shut his eyes lightly, the lids closing softly, staring at the blank wall, with an equal expression.

[Ellie who has 0%]

Tangerine eyes blinked at his statement as he laid in the cold bedding in the laboratory. She wanted to retort, but a push made her knees buckled; the meddle leg holders from the wheel chair it her right behind the knees forcing her to walk ahead. Her brows dipped in a frown at the doctor's pushiness.

"What's the big-"

"If you want me to take care of your friend to make sure there aren't anymore damages, then you must leave. I don't need a she-devil waltzing around in my laboratory peering over my shoulders." The doctor grumbled as a pale lip arched showing his long horizontal row of far spaced teeth.

"Well someone needs to see if you do tend to every damage." Selene growled back, "As of now, I don't see anyone here to be your assistance; every doctor needs an assistance. We don't want you to slip."

The doctor didn't appreciate her lack of cooperation and pushed the joystick foward as he swerved away from Selene and closer to the patient with a loud mumbling, "Fine."

"Well seems like you have to cease your silence. Do you have anymore pain?" Selene asked leaning on the metal table near the bed, which was most likely used to hold suringes and other skin crawling tools."Might as well tell me, don't want you dying on me." Her arms folded over her chest as she watched the doctor closely with intense eyes.

He wheeled himself around to wash his hand, then over to the other side of the room to dry them, and back to find a pair of fresh plastic gloves. She knew he could feel her gaze, and she liked it that way.