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Stranded; Wandering in the desert
Topic Started: Nov 15 2007, 02:10 PM (851 Views)
Akameknon
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A tan, muscular man squinted up at the unforgiving sun and scratched the stubble around his chin. He sighed as he took in the piles of sand which composed the wasteland he was now attempting to traverse.

"This is what I get for trusting beautiful women," he said to the dry air around him, "still, I suppose she was worth it. Even if she did drug me." The man smiled at the thought of the gorgeous red head who had caused his current perdicament.

She had seduced and drugged him as he was enjoying himself at a local bar. The next thing he knew he was being carted off by slave traders across this blasted waste. Naturally, he had escaped their grasp and killed or fatally wounded most of them.

He adjusted the great sword strapped to his back. Fortunately the slavers had kept his sword, probably with the intention of selling it. He sighed again, he had released the other slaves and given them the slavers' transportation before going his own way. A fact which he was now begining to regret as the mid day sun began beating down on him.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum.
"Infinite is the number of fools."
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petenick_1984
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Kei lounged on the soft grass of the oasis she had created, reading an old journal of a great guardian. Using half of a coconut shell, she dipped it into the pool of fresh, clear, cool water and drank. The shade of the trees and brush did not reduce the temperature too greatly. Still, she enjoyed the peaceful still the barren desert offered. Most died within a few days from dehydration, so Kei was relatively safe. She easily could protect herself as well. There were times that she just needed to get away from the village. They were so overprotective sometimes. Treating her with kid gloves and super care got old. Just because she was half guardian...so what? Sighing, Kei closed the book and looked out into the haze of sand and heat waves.

A brightly colored falling object bombed towards her. Without time to respond, she caught the things as it hit her chest. Pulling the small thing away from her, Kei recognized it as a tropical bird.

"Poor thing..." She cooed softly. It must have gotten stranded from the nearest oasis, which Kei knew to be very, very far. Taking some of the water from the coconut, she dripped it into the unconscious bird's beak. Moving her hand over a patch of grass beside her, moss quickly grew and formed a soft bed. Placing the bird onto the tuft, she stroked its breast as it weakly rose and fell. At least her being there saved the little creature's life. Kei found that good always came from her talents. Creating life was the best part of her own existence. She had a purpose. Laying her head down next to the little fluff of feathers, Kei drifted off to a peaceful nap.
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Akameknon
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After a few hours of wandering the desert, Ray was feeling dehydrated and hungry. He was also thoroughly lost. As he put one foot in front of the other the ground gave a slight tremor. Pausing, Ray looked down at the ground. When nothing happened he put the other foot in front of the previous, again the ground shook.

“What the hell?” asked Ray, as the sand beneath his feet suddenly erupted. Ray was flung off his feet as a giant worm-like creature appeared before him.

Ray cursed as he stared at the fanged monstrosity before him. The creature didn’t appear to have any eyes, but it did have rows of hooked teeth dripping with an opaque yellow-green liquid. The creature must have sensed Ray somehow because it suddenly lunged at him. Ray reacted on instinct, drawing and swinging his sword in one fluid motion.

The blade struck the creature’s teeth and sent vibrations down Ray’s arms. The creature reared back, startled by the impact of steel on its teeth. However, it quickly recovered and attacked again. This time Ray was ready, he dodged the creature’s attack and rolled to safety.

The creature’s head struck the sand and kept going as it buried underground. Ray watched as it disappeared beneath the sand. There was a moments silence before the ground trembled. Ray was barely able to leap out of harm’s way before the thing came shooting out of the ground.

Ray swung his sword and connected with the thing’s hide. The steel blade bit into its flesh and it screeched in pain. Ray pulled his sword free as the giant worm dove back underground. Ray held his ground, he now understood the creature’s movements.

When he felt the ground tremble again, he waited until the last instant before using both hands to swing the sword as hard as he could the moment the beast showed its fanged face. The force of the swing propelled the blade through the creature’s flesh and severed its head. The head dropped to the sand, its mouth biting the air, the body continued on its previous course past Ray, leaking green ooze as it went. Ray walked a few paces away from the twitching maw and sat down with a sigh.

“Well, that was a waste of energy.” he said, wiping green ooze from his blade by sliding it across the sand. Sheathing his sword, Ray continued his trek.

Some time later, Ray was begining to feel the wieght of the sword on his back as he trudged through the never ending sea of sand. His body was tired and he was just about to call it a day when he crested a dune and saw a patch of green among the dull landscape.

At first he thought it was his eyes playing tricks on him, but as he got closer he could see that it was not. Upon seeing the pool of water, Ray knelt down and began greedily gulping down the cool, clear liquid.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum.
"Infinite is the number of fools."
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petenick_1984
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A strange noise from the pool of water woke Kei from her light sleep. The little bird still lay asleep on the tuft, breast rising and falling. Smiling gently at the cuteness of the little creature, she turned over to look across the water expecting another animal visitor. Her breath caught in her throat. The vegetation of the oasis began to wilt and turn yellow, the water beginning to dry up and leaving only mud in its wake. Kei still could only look in fear. She thought she was alone. The number of times she had come to the desert and never was disturbed...

Gently picking up the bird and holding it to her chest, she slid away on her rump by pushing with her legs. Kei wanted away from this stranger. No one in the desert had good intentions. If they were not there on their own accord, they were being punished for some heinous crime. His face was not familiar and therefore deserved no benefit of the doubt from her. The little bird woke up and let out a call of surprise. Fluttering its feathers, Kei almost lost her grip on the bird.

"Shh," she whispered to the downy fluff, "We need to leave here now."
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Akameknon
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Hearing a noise, Ray looked up, his hand automatically reaching for his sword. Then he saw a female holding a small bird. He lowered his hand, but remained on guard. He wasn't about to relax because she was a woman.

"Did you escape from slavers too?" he asked as casually as he could. He didn't want to frighten her any more than she already appeared to be.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum.
"Infinite is the number of fools."
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petenick_1984
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Kei caught eyes with the man and held the bird closer to her. A falling, dead palm leaf grazed her shoulder and she flinched. The fact that he would immediately reach for a weapon scared her more. Kei was not afraid of him attacking, she had faith in her ability to get the heck out of there. The problem was that a stranger had seen her face. It was taboo for her to be seen among anyone but those from the republic. They had strict laws governing the mingling of outside beings and those of guardian decent. The bird got loose from her grasp and flew away squawking. Her heart slumped at the loss of her little companion. At least she was able to keep it alive.

The man's question offered an answer to his appearance, but how did she know if that was the truth? He could be lying to gain her confidence only to betray her when he had the opportunity. Especially speaking of slavers. Was he looking for someone to sell? To have as a personal slave? The oasis has thoroughly dried up and the trees stood bare. She furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head 'no.' Kei hadn't escaped slavers nor did she intend to have to. Feeling the sand beneath her, Kei slowly got to her feet. If she needed to run then she was ready.
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Akameknon
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Ray noted the fact that the oasis had withered away, but kept his eyes on the woman. Perhaps the oasis had been created by her, which meant she had some pretty powerful magic. He didn't know much about the magic arts, but it didn't take a genius to link the two together.

The woman stood and looked as if she might run, so Ray decided to get the info he needed before that happened. He wanted to get out of this sandy death trap as soon as he could. Maybe she could take him to the nearest town, or at least point out the direction.

"I don't suppose you know where the nearest town or city is? I'd really like to get out of this blasted desert."
Infinitus est numerus stultorum.
"Infinite is the number of fools."
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petenick_1984
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Kei kept her gaze fixed on the man as well. She didn't trust the looks of him. The inquiry about a city brought up more questions of his intentions. Did he plan on bringing her there to sell her? Should she tell him the truth or lead him into the desert further? He would surely die if she sent him into the heart of the desert. Did Kei want his blood on her hands? No. She did not.

"Yes, I know where one is but you can't go there. They won't let you in. Another is through the desert and you will die trying to get there, everyone does." Those were the only two places she had ever been to. Well, she had never been to Marsotp but she had heard of it. Incredible stories of drugs, violence and sex. Her curiosity was peaked but to make the city more beautiful rather than partaking in the horrid acts. The man, she didn't know how to help him. The people would not want him in the Synester Republic, he looked like a risk to their peaceful lifestyle. He could not possibly be the settling type. Kei frowned at the futility of the man's journey. He was up a creek without a paddle.
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Akameknon
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Ray rubbed his forehead with the base of his palm, he wasn't about to give up.

"Well, I don't see as I have any choice but to go towards the nearest town. Maybe they'll help me get to another town if they'd perfer not to have me around."

He glanced at the woman. He wouldn't blame her if she simply left him there, she had no reason to trust or help him. However, he still hoped this woman could at least point him in the general direction of civilization. He wasn't going to force her to help him though, if she didn't, or couldn't, then he would wander until he got lucky or died.

"Unless you can magic me up a transport to reach the other one." Ray smiled. He had said it as a jest, but watched carefully for any sign that might confirm his suspcion that she had some sort of magical abilities.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum.
"Infinite is the number of fools."
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petenick_1984
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But he'll die...Kei thought to herself when he spoke of traveling. The republic would simply shun him and close the gates should he go that way. It was her place to create life out of nothingness. She had saved the bird that landed in her oasis, how was this man unlike the tiny feathered creature? He might try to kill her though, that was the main difference. Or sell her once they go to Marsotp. Kei was having a moral dilemma in her head. Then the man asked for her help in a subtle way. She looked to her feet and sighed. How could she just walk away now? It was true that Kei desired to see Marsotp and the man could only get there with her help at this point. Still, her family would wonder what happened to her and would send out a group to look for her. A missing guardian was a serious issue. If she could let them know that she was all right, then there would be a chance to go off on her own. They'd never believe it though even if she tried to tell them. Kei had never been off on her own as far as they knew, and in a way she hadn't. Where she was had been as far as she had ever traveled. But she couldn't just let the man die. He hadn't harmed her so far.

Kei looked back up at the man when he spoke again. She smiled at the word magic. If only it were that easy to explain. Had she been able to with a snap of her fingers, she would have given him transportation. However, Kei would have to be a guide more or less.

"I don't know about magic, but I can get you across the desert alive." That was all she had to offer. Kei really couldn't do anything else.

"If you try to hurt me I will defend myself. If I need to I will kill you," Kei decided being up front was the best for the both of them. That way he knew where she stood. Even if she couldn't defeat him, he'd have a hell of a time taking her out.
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