Forum Thread

He jolted awake and found himself clean, healed, and alive. He was lying on his side on a green carpet that spread throughout a long gray hallway, and nothing else. He was confused, as to where he was, what happened to his injuries, and why he was there. Slowly, he rose to his paws and examined his surroundings. The air was thin, gentle and quiet. Too quiet.

He felt like he was safe for once, but he knew, that somewhere in the back of his mind, he was still in danger. Cautiously, he padded through the rock-hard place, down the long hall that seemed to snake everywhere around him. His ears flattened as he thought about home, and his family, hoping more than he ever had in his life that they were okay.

But was any of it real?

Was he just an illusion, as if his whole life didn't exist, or was it his family and memories that never existed? Could he have just been dreaming of having a wild life this whole time, when really, he was living with the beings in a stone palace this whole time?

He didn't understand anything. But as he neared the corner to turn and walk out of the hallway, he developed a creeping feeling that something about this place wasn't right. There was only one way to find out. He turned himself to walk around the corner, and found in front of him just a short walk left at a dead end, with a tall, shining window at the end just over a table. Curiously, he headed for it, and clawed his way up the wooden leg, and onto the table.

At the top, there were many strange things that confused him even more. Seemingly ancient possessions and items were splayed out across the surface, collecting dust and growing faint and dull in color. One of them, though sat almost as if nothing had ever happened to it. He looked closely at it.

It was an image of three of the beings, standing together, looking... happy. He narrowed his eyes to try to make out more of the image before him, but his rapidly growing feeling of unease distracted him from trying to understand these things. Shaking his head, he walked over to the wall right at the edge of the table, reached up, placed a paw on the window sill, and dug his claws in. He did the same with the other and adjusted them constantly until he was sure they were secure. Then, deciding it was too late to go back now and possibly avoid something dreadful, he pulled himself up and looked out the window.

Outside was a land of black, all being a forest thrown to the ground covered in ash and cinders, as a cloud of smoke fumed out of a mountain in the background. The entire land around him was lifeless, either already dead or dying as nature set fire to it. His ears slowly fell as he realized that not just the forest was burning, but also was his home, and his family. Eyes widening and shaking his head in denial, he backed away from the window in fright, jumped off the table, and dashed down the hall to get away from the memories of a cat once called Stone.

(Sorry this one is so bad, but it's a short story of a cat who woke up in a mansion abandoned by people who forgot him, and he watched his home burn to the ground)

Lala made sure the cloak properly covered her, not that it mattered anyway, it could be called magical after all. She supposed it would be a miracle if they didn't throw her into the dungeon, she wasn't exactly welcome in the village. She took a deep breath and steeled herself. She knocked upon the stone entrance to the last holdout of the Elves. The stone opened, revealing two Elves she recognized. Hamar and Celest, they both had hostile looks.

"State your name and your purpose, stranger." Celest stated as she leveled her spear at Lala, who was not cowed in the slightest.

"I am Lala Nightshade. I'm here to turn myself over." Lala answered, as she revealed her face. Both guards glanced at each other. With a snap of Celest's fingers, Lala's hands were bound together with rope. The rope glowed faintly and was covered in runes, Lala knew her fate was sealed.

"Follow us." Hamar ordered, as he dragged Lala inside and sealed the door.

"Aw, it's almost as if you miss having me here." Lala joked, trying to lighten the situation.

"Shut up, traitor." Celest growled.

"Why, so you can goad about how you've captured me?" Lala replied.

"Enough, the two of you. I can't stand being around the two of you together, I swear, you're even worse than the Lady!" Hamar snapped at both Elves. This effectively made them be quiet.

They kept walking, or in Lala's case scampering, until they came in front of double doors. It was wrought of stone, and on it was carved a tree, the royal emblem. Lala's pale blue eyes darted to look at the emblem, before Celest tugged on her wrists. The doors opened to admit them inside, and immediately any conversation in the room stopped. Both Celest and Hamar sunk to the floor in respect, while Lala only gave a short bow. She was aware the only exit to the room was now closed.

The room was circular, with rows and rows of seats rising. But the middle, at a radius of about seven feet, was a circular space with a single chair in the middle. Nearly every seat was filled with an Elf, and in front was a single Elf whom Lala dreaded to see.

She was a beautiful Elf, her emerald green eyes and golden blonde hair making it obvious whose daughter she was. She was wearing Elf armor on top of a black shirt.

Jen was cold. Colder than she had ever felt before, a bone deep cold so intense she could barely shiver. Perhaps it was for the best though, if she froze tonight.

I've never been a good person, she thought, looking at the glowing lights of houses down below. My kids, all in foster care, their dad god knows where. I've been on drugs, and in rehab, and I drink. Maybe it is good that I'm going to freeze.

The glittering world was beautiful in the twilight, there was no denying that. Each house looked like a lantern, about to float off into the night.

Slowly, Jen stood to walk away into the woods. At the very least, she could die having seen this beauty.

But her slippered feet were no match for the snow and the ice, and with a THUMP, she started sliding downhill on her butt, backwards.

Fear enveloped Jen. Unable to see where she was careening, she felt bumps as she passed over boulders and stumps, buried deep under the snow.

Slowly, she came to a stop, right outside a house ready for Christmas. On the outskirts of town, yet still displaying a festivity to make the neighbors wince.

Jen stood stiffly, her bones creaking in protest. Her bruised butt felt like the raw side of a hamburger, and her meager clothing was ruined.

At the window of the house, a young woman looked out. Hurriedly, she ran outside to help the older woman.

“No, go away, I'm not worth saving!” yelled Jen.

“I disagree.” said the young woman. “Every single person is worth saving. Now come inside, and let's get you warm, clean, and dry.”

Jen, after several more protests, was led into the house of the younger woman. It was evident she lived alone, despite the overboard decorations. No presents were under the tree, only one chair looked used. Sure, the walls were covered in pictures drawn by kids, but all the pictures just said “Ms. Angela”.

Jen paused. “You are all alone this Christmas?”

Angela smiled. “Well, all my students are home for break, and I have no family. So I guess, yeah, I'm alone.”

Jen stood in the doorway, Angela making hot cocoa. “But you are beautiful, surely some man-”

“I don't date men.” Angela's eyes were suddenly angry.

“You like girls?” Jen's voice was soft.

“No, I don't....I don't like having intimate relations with anyone.” Angela's voice had softened, almost to a whisper. “I don't like being touched under my clothes at all. It kinda limits my dating pool, if you won't go past kissing.”

Jen had come up to the younger woman. Gently, she wiped away the tear in Angela's eye. “It's okay to be asexual, hon.” Suddenly she laughed. “And look at me! Minutes ago I wanted to die, but just being here with you has brightened my life! How about we celebrate Christmas together, as friends?”

Angela smiled at the older woman. “That would be nice. Most of my friends live elsewhere, this is only my first year teaching in this town.”

That night, the two women bonded and became friends. The next day, Jen called her children to wish them Merry Christmas, and to tell them she loved them.

She stared blankly at the girl before her, icy-blue eyes betraying her emotions. She made to reach out with her hand, but decided against it, her hand hanging limply by her side instead. She turned away slightly, her black hair forming a curtain around her pale face.

"Is it…"

The silence spoke volumes. Lids closed over cerulean eyes, as their owner let out a slight sigh. "Is there no convincing you otherwise?"

The other girl's voice was tight, rigid; no longer flowing like the current would over the smooth rocks. "I can't. You know as well as I do that family problems…are family problems."

The first's lips curved slightly. "Don't we all know," she replied, an undertone of bitterness evident in her voice.

"I wish that our friendship didn't have to end this way," she murmured, her consciousness delving back into her memory, until the time she had first met the girl: observing her writing her stories, marveling at her exquisite choice of words and her skill in weaving an intricate story. Soon, she had taken the courage to talk to her, and the two formed an almost unbreakable bond of friendship. It was almost surreal how the two just…clicked.

She should have known that the companionship wouldn't last for long with her other duties: being a huntress, training and her own job as both a student and a teacher. Slowly, they had begun to drift apart, both wrapped up in their own little worlds, until the news was broken.

She shook herself out of her reverie, staring at the other girl. "I understand," she said softly, before bringing her hand upwards, revealing the silver bracelet adorning her wrist. "Remember me, won't you?"

The other girl's silver attire glimmered in the setting sun. "I've never forgotten you, you know. Ever since you initiated that first conversation, we practically clicked as friends. I never thought that my…"

She understood, shifting her posture to mirror her friend. She finally moved to grip the other girl's wrist, upturning the hand and depositing an item she had kept hidden in her clenched fist.

The other girl stared at her in astonishment. She had expected the reason to be controlled anger, but it appeared she had had an ulterior motive. She took a closed look at the item resting in her palm.

She lifted the delicate chain up, tiny interlocking links clinking together harmoniously as she did so. The sunlight glanced off the necklace, allowing a better view of the precious piece of jewellery.

The necklace was beautiful. Tiny golden links formed the chain, made with regards to the quality. It was clear that it had been worked on with care and utmost precision, as the links were all identical, with no defects whatsoever. The necklace's clasp was just as breath-taking. Two hooks intertwined themselves to fasten the necklace around the wearer's neck. The hooks had a deeper meaning to them, the other girl realized, as she twisted one of them at a different angle. Two crescent moons, made of pure silver, shone in the reflected rays of the Sun as she held them in her fingers. The pendant of the necklace, though, was the piece de resistance. An orchid gemstone hung suspended in the middle of the necklace by one delicate link fused with the jewel. She gazed at it, noting the silvery streak that curved itself into the shape of a bow.

She stared at the other girl, who had a blank expression on her face.

"It's been a long time, since you've used Pluto's blessing, E."

The other girl stared at her. "It wasn't Pluto's blessing. Apparently, Aphrodite's inheritance has a lot more potential than we all realized."

She clasped the necklace around her neck, letting the amethyst rest on her collarbone. The gemstone began radiating a sense of warmth and friendship, much like the presence of her friend.

The other girl gestured to the necklace. "So you have something to remember me by, even if it's for a little while."

"I'll miss you," she chose to reply. The other girl made no sound, letting another silence descend amongst the pair.

"Goodbye," E murmured, as the other girl disappeared in a flash of silver and purple.

A sudden crack of lightning, and the field was empty.

Chorda-

Chorda is a eggshell white, skinny, and about 6 inch tall middle-aged woman. She has a long grey and black smooth dress, that flows easily with every step. Tried around Chorda’s neck is a (fake) raven talon holding a deep black piece of obsidian, the same dull color of her eyes. She had creepily long eyelashes, and long jet black hair. She almost always kept her dull feathery grey wings tucked in, so no mortals could see them. Almost everything was dull about her, and wherever she went it felt, gloomy, dull, and lifeless and crows and ravens seemed to appear the next day. It was weird that she could remember any face that she had seen at anytime, anywhere. Her memories tucked away, she always kept to herself. Her staff, was the only somewhat light thing about her, with a shiny piece of coal attached to the wooden base, this coal provided light when summoned to do so by herself; that didn’t happen often anymore. Chorda’s happiness, energy, and it even seemed like her life, was sucked out of her… Even since it happened...