T̷h̷e̸ ̵G̶a̴m̸e̵ - A VR Role-play

[TamingMaster]

Expecting to have his own questions answered, Evan was just thinking up more as Damir spoke to him, frantically trying to explain the nature of the people that roamed here.

He placed his hands on his head and took a deep sigh as he paced in front of Damir. “So the people with no numbers are basically AI’s, and those with numbers are normal..?” Evan reiterated Damir’s as he stopped in his tracks, “Got it.” He nodded, confirming the information to himself. With the amount of weird things he woke up to today, he was strangely willing to believe anything, logical or not.

Evan looked on with concern when Damir leaned up against the wall, “A little girl led me to an underground station to get here.. but I don’t remember passing by anyone when I left, but what did she look like?” He replied, feeling regret for having run off when he could’ve helped this person find whichever girl they were looking for.

Damir nodded, leaning against the uncomfortable alley wall. He shifted his position a little, taking the weight further off his leg.

"She-" He struggled with his words, desperately trying to fight the growing need to cry. "She had purple hair... Well, purple and dark brown hair... and... and freckles. She was wearing a hoodie- a purple hoodie. A-And she's just a kid."

Damir couldn't keep his thoughts straight, his head was spinning. His breathing gradually grew heavier and faster, until it felt like he couldn't breathe. Why didn't I wait for her?

He glanced up into Evan's eyes, almost pleadingly, as he took a shakey breath.
He wondered if it would really be okay to selfishly ask someone he'd just met, and knew nothing about, to help him find Nina.

(@Thing2 In case you wanted Nina to bump into them. )

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Fabian nodded along, trying to make an effort to listen to Lyra properly. They nodded along with her proposition, thinking to themself as she spoke. That's actually a pretty smart idea. Good job, spider girl.

They fought the urge to remind her about the giant spiders, considering they had been the one who had saved her from the giant spider's web in the first place. But, considering how stressful the entire situation had been, and how that stress could affect memory, Fabian decided to let bygones be bygones.

They paused for a moment, repeating her words back to themself, asking for clarity, in case they'd somehow misheard it. "Biome change? That... explains a few things."

Fabian took a deep breath in, double checking their gear; bag, bottle, food bar, tin of gel, jacket, spare web, and lastly their hammer. They tied their jacket around their waist, just under the bag that sat across their chest, then mustered all their strength for the journey ahead - as well as being nicer to Lyra.

They started with a steady, but slowed, pace out of the cave. Though they were adamant that it was because they were drained, it was also so Lyra could keep up.

Unsurprisingly, when they emerged from the cave, the biome to their right had changed again. Originally a winter horror show that had melted away into a rocky wasteland, it had now become a dead, stenchy forest that had started to leak thick fog into the neighbouring biome.

Fabian flinched as the smell plunged into their nostrils, causing their face to scrunch tightly. Their hand rushed to cup their mouth and nose, as they took a few staggered steps back. The smell brought with it a strange humidity, leaving Fabian feeling a horrid crawling sensation.

To their left, a more sightly biome stood it's ground against the dark forest, sending breezes to push the fog back. Just across from where they stood, the river that Lyra had mentioned was trickling along, with no end in sight.

It wasn't difficult to decide which biome they wanted to continue trekking through.

Fabian crossed into the more appealing biome, getting a good distance away from the smell, before cautiously taking their hand away from their mouth and nose, beckoning Lyra over.

“Yeah, the biomes tend to switch at random.” She broke off as a rather smelly forest replaced the winter land that had been there before “case in…point.” Her eyes watered at the stench and she pinched her nose.
Fabian appeared to have also noticed the scent because they backed up too, “so? Thoughts? Are we going to stick to the river?” She asked.
Lyra barely seemed to notice the amount she actually talked, she could ramble for hours making her a somewhat annoying person to be around but she couldn’t help it. Honestly she sometimes wondered if the reason people didn’t tell her to her face to shut up was because they were worried about hurting her feelings.
When Fabian suddenly headed towards the river she trotted happily after them. The stench was a little more bearable from further away, enough that she could remove the hand from her face and rummage through her backpack for anything. She felt like pulling something out so she pulled out the salve thingy and unscrewed the lid, “did we ever establish what this is? Is it lip balm? If so it sure is a funny colour, I mean personally I’d go for a more pink or red colour, even purple might be nice. Oh if I’m talking too much feel free to just say shut up, lord knows I don’t hear it enough.”
If the salve had a label on it she had totally overlooked it and if she had figured out what it was before she had forgotten.
She yawned and trudged over to the river bank staring at the water, “hmm.” Was all she said.

 

[Yowza Wowza]

Leita pressed her back against the hard metal vehicle behind her, being separated by only a thin layer of creeping foliage.

The hyenas let out a dark collective laugh, taking a few daring steps closer, closing the distance between them and her.

Leita grasped her arm, wincing at the dull throbbing that echoed through the muscles. The blood raced down her limp arm, until it reached her fingertips, dripping onto the patch of dirt below.

She glanced around for a way out, for something she could use as an unconventional weapon, or for someone who could help - but there was nothing.

Her jaw clenched tightly as her body braced itself for the inevitable.

The clattering of her sword, as it hit the ground in front of her, caught her attention.
She didn't have the time to wonder how it had gotten there. All she knew was that it was a welcome miracle, especially considering her chances without it.

The sound had startled the hyenas, forcing them to take a few anxious steps back, letting out little cackles as they warned each other of the potential danger.

Leita took it as an opportunity to drag the sword towards her, grasping it by the handle with both hands. She winced slightly as the wound on her arm pulled with her motions, blood seeping onto her white shirt.

A quick sniff of the air, catching the heavy scent of blood, sent the hyenas back into their frenzy. They growled and cackled as they eagerly closed the distance between them and their kill.

Leita swung her sword towards the thinnest hyena, knocking it into the side of the bus with a metallic bump. It slowly faded away, blinking a dull red colour.
She quickly swirled towards the others, slicing at them, forcing them back with each confident step.

Two of them rushed at her, but this time she was ready for them. She slashed upwards, knocking one over her head, straight into the other. It pinned the other to the ground, too injured to move, but not injured enough to fade like the others had.

Leita stared down the leader of the cackle, and it stared straight back at her, teeth bared. A quick glace towards the stacked pair gave the leader its opportunity to attack. It hurtled towards her, its feet heavy against the ground, until it was close enough to jump at her.

She reacted quickly, curving the sword up towards its stomach. The sword cut through, piercing the other side, but the weight of the hyena dragged them both down, putting Leita flat on her back.

It slid down the sword, before blinking purple and exploding into fading, purple confetti. Leaving a handful of silver coins and a faded canine tooth in its place, which Leita eventually tucked away in her bag.

Leita let out a long, relieved sigh, letting her arms and legs go limp, falling to her sides.
The sword dropped to the ground beside her as she took heavy breaths, letting out a gentle laugh.

She glanced over at where the stacked hyenas had been, but they were no longer anywhere to be seen. Leita figured that they'd disappeared, like the others had done.

After a few more minutes, Leita slowly stood up, once again grasping at her injured arm. She dragged the sword over to the bus and her hand parted from her arm to feel along the edge, searching for an opening.

Her hand eventually met a door, carefully giving a push until she felt it open. She brushed past the honeysuckle, tripping into the bus and onto the hard floor, dropping her sword as she did. "Ouch."

Leita pushed herself up, brushing off some of the debris she'd picked up from outside the bus. She turned to the door, pushing it shut, before turning back to study the inside of the bus.

The overall vibe of the interior was grungy and somewhat cluttered, but it was homely enough. Despite the wear and tear, it was kept in decent condition.

"Hello?" Leita called out quietly, half expecting a response from the magenta-haired woman she had seen earlier. But there was no response. The only sound that she could hear was a soft snoring sound.

Leita curiously passed through the bus, following the soft snores to a sleeping person. She pushed past a deep red curtain, making her way towards the back of the bus.

Slumped on one of the couches inside the bus was a tall person with fluffy pink hair and rough, twisting antlers.

At first, Leita was taken aback by their unbreaking, heterochromatic gaze. That was until xe let out another soft snore, and she realised that he was actually asleep.

"Hey?" Leita asked quietly, reaching a hand towards xem. She stopped before making contact with them, noticing the caked-on mix of blood, dirt, and debris on her hands.
She glanced at xem, then back at her hands, before quietly heading towards the front of the bus. I'm sure they won't mind me washing up first...

Leita sat down on the floor, near the door, with her legs crossed. She unclipped her bag, placing it in her lap and unzipping it, taking out her bottle of water.

She ripped her sleeve off, where the hyena had torn it open, and tossed it to the side. She followed with the other sleeve, ripping it off and soaking it with the water; gently cleaning her wound and down her arms.

Leita also rinsed off the handle of her sword, using the tattered scraps to dry it off as best she could.

She reached into the bag again, pulling out the tin of ointment and smearing a decent amount across the wound. Considering the wonders it'd worked on her leg, she wasn't hesitant to try it on her arm.

Once she had packed everything back into her bag, she tucked it beside her sword, near the doors, and decided to check if the other person was awake yet. She stretched as she stood up, before quietly walking around the bus again.

Leita's attention was caught by a floral smell, as she passed a small teapot. Beside it was an empty cup, begging to be used.

She carefully poked her head around the curtain, glancing at the still-sleeping Theo, then back at the teapot. They wouldn't mind if I had just a little taste... right?

After arguing the morality of stealing a sip of tea with herself, she decided that she could always pay them back for it later and poured herself just under half a cup.

She sat back near the door, before taking a gulp of the warm, orange coloured tea. It tasted as sweet as it had smelled, and immediately made her feel relaxed. A little too relaxed.
Her eyes started to feel heavy and her body started to droop. She could feel herself being pulled in by the unfightable urge to sleep.
As soon as she closed her eyes, she was fast asleep; dropping the cup as she slid onto her side.

( @Cluckcluck1215 )

It would be a generous ten minutes before Zulema returned to her homely abode with the slivers of vegetation marked with the scent of hyena inside its enclosed vial.

She was unperturbed when she noticed the trail of scarlet leading from the soot outside the honeysuckle bush towards where would be the door to the bus.

Zulema let a long breath escape through her teeth as she permeated into the bush and drifted inside her hideout.

She announced with petulance upon entry: “Alright, I’m not sheltering anymore freeloaders so I suggest—“

Her words fell as she gazed at the battered, sweaty lump of a woman at the top of the steps laying on her side. She edged towards her, to now where Leita was just as her feet and she could smell the potent medicinal salve glossed over areas of her limbs. Quietly watching the rise and fall of the girls chest, Zulema’s eyes flicked over to the cup that smelled reminiscent of the astringent tea that also gulled Theo.

I should really label my stuff..

“So you too. Huh, blondie?” she said absently, crouching down to near Leita and popping off the cap to give her nose exposure to the repulsive scent of hyena bodily fluids.

Even from where she was distanced from the vial, the smell that had the potency of ammonia forced Zulema to hold her nose as tears threatened her eyes. Giving it a few final whirls which would have woken anyone up after the first, she rose once seeing signs of the girl coming to and moved onto Theo.

Her face gave a slight twist when she returned to them languorously staring off into nothingness as they slept. “I guess I’m not the only odd sleeper around here..” Zulema whispered under her breath, taking a knee to give Theo xir hefty ‘wake-up’ dose.

(@Cluckcluck1215)

 

[Yowza Wowza]

Damir nodded, leaning against the uncomfortable alley wall. He shifted his position a little, taking the weight further off his leg.

"She-" He struggled with his words, desperately trying to fight the growing need to cry. "She had purple hair... Well, purple and dark brown hair... and... and freckles. She was wearing a hoodie- a purple hoodie. A-And she's just a kid."

Damir couldn't keep his thoughts straight, his head was spinning. His breathing gradually grew heavier and faster, until it felt like he couldn't breathe. Why didn't I wait for her?

He glanced up into Evan's eyes, almost pleadingly, as he took a shakey breath.
He wondered if it would really be okay to selfishly ask someone he'd just met, and knew nothing about, to help him find Nina.

(@Thing2 In case you wanted Nina to bump into them. )

An awkward, chilly silence spread between them after Damir described Nina’s appearance to him. Evan’s mouth was pinched in a tight ripple as he read the disparity in Damir’s expression. He knew exactly what he was feeling right now, and it was only appropriate to help locate Nina.

Evan fiddled with zipper on his cross pack as he turned in the direction of where he entered the alley from.

“Uh.. I guess we should backtrack then? Maybe we can search for Nina around the train depot.. it’s a pretty large and noticeable landmark.” He murmured thoughtfully, carefully giving a glance at Damir who didn’t seem to be in the best condition.

“Are you going to be okay? Do you want to rest up a bit before heading out?” Evan asked sincerely before seeking out some kind of sitting arrangement in the alley that wasn’t busted or a soiled cardboard box. He managed to find a sturdy milk crate and set it down in front of Damir, hoping he didn’t feel like he was pressuring him to take a seat.

“Oh- and my name is Evan, by the way.”

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Hands thrown out on either side to keep his balance on the ice, Zayne took a few cautious steps closer to where Xavier stood. “I didn’t—I didn’t see this coming,” he said, in a failing attempt at humor. Still, his words held truth to them. On a normal day, something of this magnitude would’ve been shown in his visions. While it was possible he simply missed it—it wouldn’t be the first time something like that happened, and the combination of the earlier vision, residual migraine, and adrenaline from the kelpies made the perfect breeding ground for accidents—the change in scenery seemed all too sudden, like fate wasn’t sure it would happen until it did.

He ran a hand through his sweaty hair, brushing loose bangs out of his face as he shivered, the cold nipping at his bare skin. He didn’t think either of them would survive long out here, especially with both of their clothes being wet and mud soaked. If they were lucky, they would reenter the forest, and possibly get quickly eaten by the demon horses. If they weren’t, they’d both slowly succumb to hypothermia, just conscious enough to feel their organs as they gave out. From his experience with a previous roommate never keeping the temperature in their shared dorm above 65F, Zayne would rather brave the horses.

He turned to the direction they came from, paling at what he saw—or rather, didn’t see.

“Uh, buddy?” he said, gently rapping his knuckles on Xavier’s upper arm. “I don’t mean to alarm you, but the trees are gone.”

Sure enough, the tree line was replaced by an expanse of ice and snow, stretching on for what Zayne could only assume were miles. The faint line of snow-capped mountains barely peaked out from behind dark clouds, clouds that look all too close.

“I hate to point out the obvious, but those clouds don’t look too good. I mean, I grew up in LA, so my knowledge of what snow clouds look like is pretty limited, but those look like snow clouds to me.” He turned a pleading gaze to Xavier, hoping his companion would brush him off with a scoff, maybe even a “those are just regular clouds, idiot.” Zayne could count on one hand the number of times he wanted to be called stupid, but admittedly, this was one of them.

“What’s our course of action? If we just stand here, we’ll be dead within the hour. I don’t—I don’t see any immediate shelter, so unless you got some fire powers I don’t know about. . .” he hid his nervousness behind a chuckle, turning it into a cough after a mental ‘now’s not the time.’
“The mountains might be a good idea? Assuming there’s some kind of cave we can take shelter in. But that’s where most of the clouds are. . .” He let his voice trail off, glancing over his shoulder at the aforementioned mountains as he suppressed another shiver.

Xai was only half-listening to Zayne. They were still trying to recover- from the fear of the kelpies, the adrenaline of running and being dumped in a frozen wasteland, the exhaustion from teleporting. Stiffness was settling into its wounded leg, its heartbeat thrumming steadily place of the wound.

They let their gaze slowly find the mountains behind Zayne. "The clouds don't look good, no." It murmured, frowning. Clearly Zayne was waiting on them to make a decision-

A decision that would result in either their life or death.

"The mountains might be a good idea. Providing we get there before those clouds decide to let loose. Then again, we might not. They seem far away, and if the conditions are anything like this on the way," they beckoned to sheer ice beneath their feet. "Then we might not have such luck."

It shuddered, numbness settling into its fingers, and soon would take hold on most of their limbs. "..we'll try the mountains. It's our only option."
And thus, it started the very slow, very painful, trip forward.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

It would be a generous ten minutes before Zulema returned to her homely abode with the slivers of vegetation marked with the scent of hyena inside its enclosed vial.

She was unperturbed when she noticed the trail of scarlet leading from the soot outside the honeysuckle bush towards where would be the door to the bus.

Zulema let a long breath escape through her teeth as she permeated into the bush and drifted inside her hideout.

She announced with petulance upon entry: “Alright, I’m not sheltering anymore freeloaders so I suggest—“

Her words fell as she gazed at the battered, sweaty lump of a woman at the top of the steps laying on her side. She edged towards her, to now where Leita was just as her feet and she could smell the potent medicinal salve glossed over areas of her limbs. Quietly watching the rise and fall of the girls chest, Zulema’s eyes flicked over to the cup that smelled reminiscent of the astringent tea that also gulled Theo.

I should really label my stuff..

“So you too. Huh, blondie?” she said absently, crouching down to near Leita and popping off the cap to give her nose exposure to the repulsive scent of hyena bodily fluids.

Even from where she was distanced from the vial, the smell that had the potency of ammonia forced Zulema to hold her nose as tears threatened her eyes. Giving it a few final whirls which would have woken anyone up after the first, she rose once seeing signs of the girl coming to and moved onto Theo.

Her face gave a slight twist when she returned to them languorously staring off into nothingness as they slept. “I guess I’m not the only odd sleeper around here..” Zulema whispered under her breath, taking a knee to give Theo xir hefty ‘wake-up’ dose.

(@Cluckcluck1215)

Theodore was resting soundly. It wasn't a dreamless sleep though- his mind was carefully grazing the corners of home.
Of Aella and her shop, of the way she always sang. Low and calming. Of her intense presence, of the gentleness behind her touch despite how much power she possessed.
Of rapid half Spanish, half English shouted up and down the halls as Ciro ran after the wolf that escaped his sight. Of Ciro, and the way he was so patient and determined, even when Aella brought a scrawny, abandoned little Seer to his doorstep.
Of the quiet nights spent with Hana, watching her with her katana, the preciseness and fluidity of her movements. Of the times listening to her many stories, her quiet and gentle voice.
Of the heat, of the delicious smells and food, of the loud family nights, music and dancing and singing. Of the few days a year the entire "group" was together.
Of comfort, peace. Home.
Home.

I want to go home.

His nose was burning, his eyes stinging. Something sharp was digging into xyr shoulder blade, and there was a blooming ache in the back of their neck.
But the smell-

They lurched upward, coughing and gagging, and finally pausing, dazed.
Where the hell am..I...
He found Zulema's gaze, and froze, staring at her.
"Oh."
Xe looked around, finding a bloody blonde girl slumped on the ground not too far away.
"Oh."
What the hell did he drink, and why did it feel like he has lost several hours?
"Oh. Dammit."
It all came back. The field, the monster, Zulema, the knife, the tea-

The tea.

Xe found Zulema's gaze again. "I'm sorry," they blurted. "That's the last time I ever touch any of your stuff without asking, I'm so sorry- what is that smell?"

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Most of the people within The Game were in their own little groups or pairs. Most fighting or running from one monster or another, others in dire circumstances.

Saturn was not.

Abandoned by the man and girl on the beach, she set out on her own path, spear as a walking stick, back-pack slung over her shoulders.
Exhaustion pulled at her muscles, aches clinging to her tendons. Sand dunes formed into a dense forest with little warning, dense forest paved a path into a grassy moorland. Wind licked at her sweat soaked hair, wicking away sweat.

Despite her sweatier-than-average and exhausted state, she was on a mission. A journey, a expodiotion to-

Well, she wasn't sure where.
But somewhere.
Civilization.
There wasn't so much as a sign to indicate where she was. No planes flying overhead, no freeways sounding in the distance. It was all a little odd- in the way that everything seemed to switch rapidly, forest sudden become a field, and when she glanced behind her the trees- once thick and lush- were nowhere to be found. Only miles of grass.

She chalked it up to exhaustion and dehydration.

So far, she had come in contact with no one but the old man and the girl on the beach. Not a single massive bug since the encounter with the massive beetle.
There wasn't even so much as a bird.
It unnerved even Saturn, as bold as she was.

It felt like nothing but eating sand when she tried to swallow, her throat dry. Hunger pangs were clawing her stomach, and her legs were growing weary.
She had to have been walking for miles now.

Soon enough, she collapsed beneath a skinny oak dancing in the wind of the moor, tossing the spear to her side. Chest heaving and eyelids drooping, she opened her bag, taking a long slug of water.
How long until I find someone? How did I even get here? I'm going to miss family dinner. Nana will be so upset.

(Open.)

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Flecks of gold stared through the waterfall of Phaedra's tears. Razor teeth grew horrifically closer to her face, owned by an erratically opening and closing set of jaws. A sticky, forked tongue snapped out, splitting the salted river pouring down her fragile cheeks.
Knuckles wielded into useless fists, now cracked and bleeding, pounded against the lizard's thickly plated tail. Her ribs, now certainly crushed and near broken, battled against their confines, desperate to take in even a tiny gasp of the humid air.


Static ran in her veins, drowning out the sound of the world. Muffling Jack's raggedly yell. Like her head had been forced under water.
The sky's turning dark...
It was a barely coherent thought, the last thought she had before her head lolled, the severe lack of oxygen affecting her consciousness rapidly.

Until.

Her lungs were able to give up there rampaging fight against the cage of the lizards' tail, and finally-
Finally, a gasp of that sweet, sweet air.
Although, her current conditioning of plummeting several feet to the sand below her was rapidly more concerning than her previous lack of air.

The sand caved below her as she landed with a nauseating crack. Flipping onto her back, she was only aware of the sky pulsing above her, of the tingling numbness settling into her fingertips and entire left side. Of the sand that cascaded on top of her, although she could do nothing to avoid the avalanche, not even when it entered her airways or blinded her.
When Jack's yelp reached her ears, she realized that the ground was shuddering and heaving beneath them, and managed to roll onto her stomach. Nausea rolled in her stomach. Lightning shot through her arms and ribs, digging deep into her bones and hurting.
In the sheerest form of the word- it hurt.

It hurt so much, she barely felt the pang of terror when she looked up and saw the skyscraper height walls of sand circling them. Something bright dove in and out of the circles, something paper white and smooth. Oh my god...
Snakes. Massive snakes, whipping the sand around the pair into a whirlpool. Trapping them.

She vaguely heard Jack's scream, not that she could make it out. She was too focused on the glinting of her sword two feet away from her face. A shriek ripped itself from her throat, sand filled as it was, as she flung herself forward, numb and trembling fingers reaching out and snatching the hilt of the sword.

Just barely.

The world closed around her.

Sharp particles entered her eyes, nose, throat and ears. Deafening her. Silencing her. Soaking up her air like a sponge would with water.
The world when dark.
Silent screams echoed in the back of her mind.

Then it all went numb.


....


It all stopped.

It was cold.

Why was it always so damn cold in her room?

Wait.
Why am I..wet?

Phaedra shot upright, eyes widened as she looked around her. Snow was falling in heavy flakes around her, only did a clear spot remain where she had once laid.

Slowly, it came back.
The desert.
Jack.
The lizard.
The snakes.
The sand.

The world spun, darkness blotting her vision. Someone was pounding on her head.

Oh, wait. It was just a migraine.
Cold was settling into her skin. Where was she? Where was Jack? How did she get home?

(Open, sorry for lack of creativity.)

 

[TamingMaster]

“Yeah, the biomes tend to switch at random.” She broke off as a rather smelly forest replaced the winter land that had been there before “case in…point.” Her eyes watered at the stench and she pinched her nose.
Fabian appeared to have also noticed the scent because they backed up too, “so? Thoughts? Are we going to stick to the river?” She asked.
Lyra barely seemed to notice the amount she actually talked, she could ramble for hours making her a somewhat annoying person to be around but she couldn’t help it. Honestly she sometimes wondered if the reason people didn’t tell her to her face to shut up was because they were worried about hurting her feelings.
When Fabian suddenly headed towards the river she trotted happily after them. The stench was a little more bearable from further away, enough that she could remove the hand from her face and rummage through her backpack for anything. She felt like pulling something out so she pulled out the salve thingy and unscrewed the lid, “did we ever establish what this is? Is it lip balm? If so it sure is a funny colour, I mean personally I’d go for a more pink or red colour, even purple might be nice. Oh if I’m talking too much feel free to just say shut up, lord knows I don’t hear it enough.”
If the salve had a label on it she had totally overlooked it and if she had figured out what it was before she had forgotten.
She yawned and trudged over to the river bank staring at the water, “hmm.” Was all she said.

"Yeah," Fabian replied, keeping somewhat close to the river's soft banks. "We'll follow along the river for a while, see if it takes us anywhere."

They were hoping for some kind of life, other than insects and Lyra, that could help them out of whatever messed-up place they'd ended up in.

They walked slowly, listening to Lyra chatter away. If they weren't so stubborn, they'd probably find her comments a little funny, in a way.

Fabian carefully reached out, tilting Lyra's hand, with which she was holding the lid of the tin. On it was a tiny red plus sign, like you'd see on a first aid kit. "I'm guessing it's something medical."
They retracted their hand, taking a few slow steps forward. "Don't try to eat it though."

With their backs to the other biome, they didn't seem to notice how quickly the fog had crept up on them, wrapping carefully around their feet.

In the blink of an eye, the fog rose up, consuming them both. As it rose higher and higher, it started to block out the light.

Fabian took a step back, sticking close to Lyra, so they didn't accidentally get separated. "Lyra? Stick tight, okay?"

They froze as the crawling sensation returned, creeping slowly up their back, brushing against their hair.

Fear filled Fabian's eyes as they locked them with Lyra's, piercing through the thickening fog, and pleading her to check what was causing the crawling sensation.

 

[TamingMaster]

It would be a generous ten minutes before Zulema returned to her homely abode with the slivers of vegetation marked with the scent of hyena inside its enclosed vial.

She was unperturbed when she noticed the trail of scarlet leading from the soot outside the honeysuckle bush towards where would be the door to the bus.

Zulema let a long breath escape through her teeth as she permeated into the bush and drifted inside her hideout.

She announced with petulance upon entry: “Alright, I’m not sheltering anymore freeloaders so I suggest—“

Her words fell as she gazed at the battered, sweaty lump of a woman at the top of the steps laying on her side. She edged towards her, to now where Leita was just as her feet and she could smell the potent medicinal salve glossed over areas of her limbs. Quietly watching the rise and fall of the girls chest, Zulema’s eyes flicked over to the cup that smelled reminiscent of the astringent tea that also gulled Theo.

I should really label my stuff..

“So you too. Huh, blondie?” she said absently, crouching down to near Leita and popping off the cap to give her nose exposure to the repulsive scent of hyena bodily fluids.

Even from where she was distanced from the vial, the smell that had the potency of ammonia forced Zulema to hold her nose as tears threatened her eyes. Giving it a few final whirls which would have woken anyone up after the first, she rose once seeing signs of the girl coming to and moved onto Theo.

Her face gave a slight twist when she returned to them languorously staring off into nothingness as they slept. “I guess I’m not the only odd sleeper around here..” Zulema whispered under her breath, taking a knee to give Theo xir hefty ‘wake-up’ dose.

(@Cluckcluck1215)

Theodore was resting soundly. It wasn't a dreamless sleep though- his mind was carefully grazing the corners of home.
Of Aella and her shop, of the way she always sang. Low and calming. Of her intense presence, of the gentleness behind her touch despite how much power she possessed.
Of rapid half Spanish, half English shouted up and down the halls as Ciro ran after the wolf that escaped his sight. Of Ciro, and the way he was so patient and determined, even when Aella brought a scrawny, abandoned little Seer to his doorstep.
Of the quiet nights spent with Hana, watching her with her katana, the preciseness and fluidity of her movements. Of the times listening to her many stories, her quiet and gentle voice.
Of the heat, of the delicious smells and food, of the loud family nights, music and dancing and singing. Of the few days a year the entire "group" was together.
Of comfort, peace. Home.
Home.

I want to go home.

His nose was burning, his eyes stinging. Something sharp was digging into xyr shoulder blade, and there was a blooming ache in the back of their neck.
But the smell-

They lurched upward, coughing and gagging, and finally pausing, dazed.
Where the hell am..I...
He found Zulema's gaze, and froze, staring at her.
"Oh."
Xe looked around, finding a bloody blonde girl slumped on the ground not too far away.
"Oh."
What the hell did he drink, and why did it feel like he has lost several hours?
"Oh. Dammit."
It all came back. The field, the monster, Zulema, the knife, the tea-

The tea.

Xe found Zulema's gaze again. "I'm sorry," they blurted. "That's the last time I ever touch any of your stuff without asking, I'm so sorry- what is that smell?"

Leita took a little longer to wake from her little nap, retching as the smell finally hit her. She reached up, pinching her nose and mouth shut, before noticing Zulema and the now-awake Theodore.

She didn't know whether to be embarrassed for falling asleep or angry at Zulema for leaving her to be attacked, so she compromised and chose to be both.

"What was that stuff?" Leita muttered to herself as she slowly stood up, finding her balance. She took a few cautious steps towards the pair, glancing at Theodore. "Hey."

Her attention was quickly snatched by Zulema's glowing red eyes, which caused her expression to harden. "Why didn't you help me back there? I could've been killed by those things."

She took a few steps closer, her brow furrowed tightly. "And why did they glow like that?"

Leita took a a few steps back, her hand holding her spinning head. She took a deep breath, scrunching her face up as she caught the lingering smell of whatever Zulema had been waving around. "I just don't get it."