(All New HtD RP Thread!) RED! RED! RED!

Cestia's body was still exhausted and ached from not walking. Her joints poped and cracked as she hit the wooden floor with a thunk. That surely didn't help any.

Without objection, she obeyed the orders whoever this was. All that mattered now was she was safe and not being beaten anymore. Of course it would only equal the pain she had put on others.

She walked towards this "Browden" located across the ship's deck. The creature seemed pleasant but right now, anybody to sit with would be nice.

"You must be starving," Browden pointed the riverfolk to the kitchen.

She walked down the steps into the kitchen. She should have been able to find it by the wonderful scent but had other things on her mind. The cook dropped a bowl of something in front of Cestia along with some funky-looking bread and water.

Without thinking twice, Cestia chowed down on the food. She savored the taste of whatever it was and soon had polished off another two bowls and almost an entire loaf of bread.

"Hungry eh," the cook chuckled.

She nodded slurping down the last of the broth letting a small trickle run down her cheek. It got wiped off with her sleeve and then gulped down another glass of water.

"What was that," she finally asked.

"Ya may not like the answer to that," the cook answered.

"As long as its not riverfolk, I couldn't care less at this point."

"Then you'll be happy to know its leftover rat stew. Bub," he offered his hand.

This was the first welcoming person Cestia had met since...well, whenever. She shook Bub's hand, "Cestia."

By then, boots were clunking their way down the steps into the kitchen.

Darian woke in the room, noticing all of him was repaired, even his tounge. Though his eye site was still gone, he was glad he could speak when he needed to. He then thought about how he would freak people out and walked over to a nearby closet, finding some clothing, he took a sleave and ripped out some fabric of it, wrapping it around his head, he came outside to hear where his gear was and headed towards Browden to get his equipment.

Waking, up, Leif slowly stumbled to his feet, but soon found he had a problem. Where once he had two legs...

"That's new..." he thought.

He was a tried-and-true bull! He felt rather awkward in this form... and a little fearful. He used to be an elf, then a minotaur. Then he was a minotaur, now a full bull. Was this some form that he was progressing into? Or was it a power?

First things, first. Leif made his second attempt to stand up. For an elf, being made for graceful moves, Leif suddenly felt like a human lummox! Four legs were much more complicated than two... at least as far as Leif was concerned.

Leif steadily got on his front two hooves. Then, he tried lifting his back end. He started to wish he had lived on a farm as a child. Maybe then he would know how a bull stands up!

His back end collapsed, with his front half giving up. He snorted, and unintentionally "mooed." He froze for a moment. He didn't know if he liked making noises like that. No matter... He needed to stand. Again, he started with his front legs, using them to prob up his back legs until they could get some footing... er, hooving...?

Leif then managed to 'hop' up onto his four legs, but not without some side-way stepping into the side of the wall. With all the noise he was making, he figured someone might think there was a fight.

Despite being so clumsy, at least he was on his own four feet- hooves. He took a moment to start clomping his way around. The hay didn't make it any easier to walk, but once he got on the ship's wooden flooring, he felt like he had better stability.

Some crew members he didn't recognize looked in, and saw Leif. They disappeared, so Leif figured they weren't going to bother him. He continued to walk around, getting used to the weight and muscles he'd acquired. He even laid down and worked and standing back up. Finding his form to be very interesting. The druid in him was loving the experience. However, he was ready to get out of it, if he could.

Taking a heavy breath, Leif laid back down. He wondered if he'd be able to. He looked into his mind for answers, but he didn't know. He felt in his heart, and he felt something back. He reached for that feeling, in his soul, something that told him he could return to his minotaur form.

Once he found it, he wondered how he could change back. Again, he looked within. In his meditation, he became lost, focused on finding the power. Then, there!

Leif's eyes opened wide, stressed from the pain that appeared. Again, he mooed, but it was more intense, in pain. His legs kicked the walls, but he didn't notice. His hornless head twitched and shook as his body spasmed at the pain and reshaping. Bones snapped and muscles tore as he began to shift. His hooves on his front legs were molded like clay into five digits that formed around hands. His neck reduced and stretched some. His body withered, but still became shaped. His stomach was that of an extremely hairy man.

Soon, though it felt like hours for Leif, the bull had shifted, and he was a minotaur again. He stumbled to his feet, and he was sweating and panting. He ached, but he felt good... He was sore, but his spirit was at ease. He then looked at himself. Naturally, the crewmembers didn't think a bull would require clothing, and though he personally didn't see a need for it, he figured he might get thrown overboard if he strolled around long enough with nothing but his own hide.

Luckily, through the screams and animal calls he made, a man with one eye appeared.

"Ah. Yer awake. Good to see you fixed yourself. That damn Lopex- er James- Whoever! He kept urging we use you as barba-que. Luckily for you, Zoey was around."

The man left, but shortly returned with Leif's gear. He was amazed to see it all there. He thanked the man named Browden, and went about the ship in search of this Zoey.

Darian got his gear and put it in, including his "special" ring he put in his pocket. He was feeling hungry so he went to find food and ending up in the kitchen. He walked over the the Cook
"Food please, any food" He said, walking over near Cestia

Kyria ignored everyone, walking over to the edge of the airship and leaned on the railing. she held her hands out in front of her and looked at them, front and back.

She then clasped her hands and rested her elbows on the side looking out over the red tinged landscape. She thought of her next move in between trying to figure who she herself was.

The wolf followed the party until they got Medrath. Then he stayed away. Seeing the airship leave after a few days or so the wolf tried to keep up with the ship on the ground, but found it hard to do.

So he left them to their own devices. For now.


The wolf took off headed towards the desert. Towards its master. Towards home. Or where home used to be.

***********************************************************


The cloaked figure walked through the sand dunes fo the desert. Sands painted red from the mist. Nothing was safe from it's cover. The dunes looked like swirls of red blood over the contrasting yellowish sands. The figure walked tightly wrapped within his black cloak with it's hood over his head and a mask covering his face. His features couldn't be seen unless you were standing right under him. The figure held his cloak tight to himself trying as best he can to keep the sand off his body. The wind carried granules on its wing beating the figure unendingly.


But this is where he chose to stay. This is his home. This hostile land. This dead land. The perfect place for him.

A place for his thoughts.

A place for his fears.

A place for him to serve his penance.

The man extended his mind feeling for any around him. Thoughts that used to flood him. Thoughts and sights that bombarded him of areas all over Nerin Toth now silent to him. To the man it was like shutting out a part of himself.

"Still nothing." He said to himself

Darian heard a loud SQUAWK!, but of course could see nothing. The rat on his shoulder was squeaking like mad, obviously confused as a monkey hung from a lamp by its tail, poking the small rodent. The monkey squeaked, squawked, mooed, barked, and even croaked, making nearly every sound but that of what a monkey SHOULD make.

"Punky! Leave the rat alone," Aldion yelled angrily, grabbing the monkey by the tail. "Sorry, Punky is a little special in the head. He suffers from multiple personality diso- Have we met before?" Aldion asked the blind man, stunned by the resemblance to someone he'd traveled with.

"Anyways, thats Punky, and I'm Aldion," he says, shaking Darian's hand. "Welcome aboard the Sky Palace." The elf pulls his chair out and sits across from the blind man

Darian sat down across from Aldion
"Darian, Darian Darkbane" Darian introduced himself to Aldion as his food was set in front of him and he began to eat.

Cestia took another bite of the stew, crunching on the pieces of meat and the "vegetables". As disturbing as it was, she and watched as Bub, the cook, set down a bowl for the man next to her along with bread and a mug of water.

He looked as if he could eat an entire pot. She and her new friend let out a laugh realizing how his pet rat licked from the bowl and waiting for the man to take a bite of the rat stew...

Darian could smell the rat in the stew. Personally, he was a vegitarian, would never eat meat as he avoided the rat, eating only the vegitables.

Aldion wrote:

Darian heard a loud SQUAWK!, but of course could see nothing. The rat on his shoulder was squeaking like mad, obviously confused as a monkey hung from a lamp by its tail, poking the small rodent. The monkey squeaked, squawked, mooed, barked, and even croaked, making nearly every sound but that of what a monkey SHOULD make.

"Punky! Leave the rat alone," Aldion yelled angrily, grabbing the monkey by the tail. "Sorry, Punky is a little special in the head. He suffers from multiple personality diso- Have we met before?" Aldion asked the blind man, stunned by the resemblance to someone he'd traveled with.

"Anyways, thats Punky, and I'm Aldion," he says, shaking Darian's hand. "Welcome aboard the Sky Palace." The elf pulls his chair out and sits across from the blind man

Briarfang had been on the ship for a few days, picked up in the town with most of the other crew. He was surprised he was allowed on. However, the red headed riverfolk seemed to think of the aniver as a pet. Course, being in a dog's form, and befriending the little fella probably had something to do with him getting on board.

Somehow, Briarfang had managed to escape his "owner" and was exploring the ship. He'd heard there was a minotaur on board, but hadn't been able to speak with him.

Briarfang loved to meet with aniver and learn of their forms. So far he's obtained three forms: a white tiger (his own form), a panther, and a dog. A bull form would be very interesting.

The dog walked down near the galley. He wasn't hungry, though, and was going to keep going until he heard something strange. From inside the kitchen, he heard not just a moo (making him wonder if it were the bull he was searching for), but several other animal noises, including frogs, birds, and dogs.

Obviously curious, Briarfang wondered what was going on. Sniffing his way there, he couldn't smell anything but some boring humanoids, a monkey, and a rat. His eyes revealed the same findings. He walked up to the table and looked at everyone, then looked around. How confusing!

"Oh, Rascals!"

After the bar brawl in that town, Popurum was delighted to find himself being whisked away onboard a flying ship. And he found a pet dog too! Only, now, that dog has wandered off. He didn't know if Zoey would like having a stray dog on the loose.

Popurum heard some barking and it lead him to the kitchen. Sure enough, there was a shepherd dog sniffing the area.

"Rascals! Don't bother Ms. Fantasy's crew."

The little riverfolk turned to apologize to the dark haired elf, until he realized who it was.

The little guy gasped, and turned red-faced with anger.

"Aldion..." he whispered.

"Rascals, sick him!" ordered the riverfolk.

The dog, however, just tilted his head and gave a confused whine. However, Popurum was too angry to allow this villain to go unpunished.

"Fine! Leave me like Aldion did!" he yelled at the dog. He then took Darian's bowl of soup and turned it over onto Aldion's head.

Popurum then stomped out in an angry huff.

"Everyone's leaving me!"

Darian paused as he lost his food. He then stood up and walked outside, walking over to a nearby chair sitting down, closing his eyes and beginning to meditate.

Cestia laughed as the man next to her lost his food. Though trying to pick around the rat pieces, the broth was still based from the meat. The pet rat the man had even ate some of the pieces.

"Guess the rat doesn't mind eating rat," she joked to Bub, the cook.

"Yeah," Bub replied with a laugh.

Once Cestia had polished off the last of the rat stew, bread piece, and drink, she thought a moment about having another bowl. As she pondered, a friendly-looking dog came in.

"Hi there," Cestia patted her leg at it.

She reached down patting its head and pulled off a hunk of bread. She had always had a soft spot for animals. From her experience, they were usually much more humane than humans and other "superior" beings.

"Here you go," continuing to pat the dog's head.

Normally, Briarfang didn't care to be patted or petted. However, he didn't want to rock the boat, as the saying goes. He shied away from the bread, however. Food was not his interest at the moment. He continued to search the area with his nose, wondering where the noises came from.

He eventually approached the monkey and elf. The only animal in the room, since the rat left.

Perhaps the noises he heard weren't what he thought?

Monkey was rolling on the table "laughing", chittering and barking at Aldion, whom was wiping soup from his face. He grabbed his own bowl and dumped it on the monkey, "Lets see how you like it you little bastard," Aldion muttered.

Punky squawked angrily at the elf and shook some of the stew out of his hair, splashing Briarfang with it. The monkey moodily jumped off the table and ran for the door, making a myriad of noises along the way.

Aldion looked at the dog, "Sorry fella, he never could take a joke," he said, wiping some stew from his own face.

As the monkey slipped out of sight, it flipped Aldion off and gave an irate "moo".

Dacen finished meditating and decided he should start getting used to his blindness. He went back to the kitchen and over to Aldion

"Do you know where a training room is?" He asked Aldion.

Enveloping darkness.

"It's not time," the woman in white said with love in her voice.

"But I'm so tired," the man in black replied.

"Erron, it is not time yet. You still have work to do," she stated, caressing his cheek.

"You mean I still have to suffer for my sins of destroying the world," he corrected her, leaning in to her touch. Tears welled in his eyes.

"No.....the plague was not your fault," she said.

"Not my fault?"

"No," she smiled.

"What? Who?"

"Everything you've ever known....it was all a lie," she whispered.

"Who?"

"One you traveled with," she revealed.

"WHO?!"

Erron's eyes shot open. He struggled with his hands tied behind his back as he swung from the tree being hung to death. Crows pecked at his cheeks and the top of his head.

And then the rope snapped.

Erron crashed into the ground. The noose was still tight around his throat though.

He rolled to his stomach, struggling for air that would not come. He rolled to his back wishing to die, waiting for it all to end.

"It's not time,"

Erron grew angry. He struggled and sat up and wiggled as much as possible moving his bound hands under his legs and finally under his booted feet, to the front of himself.

"Erron, it is not time yet. You still have work to do,"

Erron reached for the noose pulling it loose and finally was able to suck in a large gulp of air.

"WHO?!" he screamed, falling to his knees, and then passing out in the desert sand.

"One you traveled with,"

A wolf sat and watched the man in black slip into unconsciousness.

Since there were no other aniver in the room, and after seeing that strange monkey, it was apparent Briarfang would not find anyone he wished to talk to. Except maybe the elf; he seemed friendly enough.

The man who had lost his meal left for a brief moment and seemed to return rather quickly just to ask the elf for directions. Briarfang barked at Cestia and Aldion, then headed out of the kitchen toward the living quarters. He'd have to heist some clothes. Obviously, Briarfang would need to actually ask about other aniver on the ship, and he figured seeing a nude kitty walking around would cause too much distraction.

Popurum was just SO furious. How dare Aldion be on this ship! I mean, REALLY! That elf had no respect for the riverfolk. Well, Popurum could play that game! From now on, till forever! Popurum would like Aldion either. He sat in a room with several sleeping cots and hammocks. He swayed in his bed livid, YES, livid. He stared up, while his lips quivered in anger.

Then, he heard the soft patter of canidae paws. Briarfang casually strolled into the room and started sniffing around. Popurum was still hurt at the dog, and dared to show the dog just how mad! He went back to staring upward, completely ignoring the dog!

Briarfang however, found some fairly unused trousers and a shirt, completely oblivious that he was being given the silent treatment. He knew the riverfolk was there, just not that he was in trouble. That would quickly change however, once Popurum saw what his "dog" could do.

Briarfang started by giving a small growl. It grew much more aggressive and agitated as he his very shape began to change. The process always hurt, and Briarfang never seemed to get used to the intense stress of it all. First, his ears rounded out. Then his mouth and head grew wider. The sounds of bones snapping and cracking could be heard as the quadruped developed a biped form. His tail became less fluffy and more elongated. The shepherd markings faded into black stripes on silver fur. Briarfang was a feline aniver once more.

Popurum laid there staring, his jaw wide open in shock. He was so intent on watching, he leaned in too much. The hammock he was in compensated by throwing the riverfolk onto the ground.

"Wow!!!! Rascals, I didn't know you were a person!"

The aniver quickly dressed in the stolen clothes and started out the door. As he passed Popurum he gave the riverfolk a grin.

"I didn't know you were a person, either," he chuckled.

For Briarfang, it was time to meet some other aniver.


**********************************************

Leif had gotten steered wrong by the passengers on board. Obviously, the crew was having fun seeing the minotaur wander around the boat, trying to find Ms. Zoey.

Knowing he'd only be given the run around, he headed to one area he had not ventured to yet: the kitchen. Upon entering, he figured this must be the lounge as well. Leif walked in and noticed the cook, a woman, and two men. One man, a dark haired elf, seemed to be the center of attention.

"How goes it?" asked the minotaur taking a seat at the table.

**********************************************

No matter how bad things used to be, things were going great now! For the 6 inch tall Cholley, he found friends in Captain Hellcat, and hopefully Zoey as well. Of course, Hellcat was absent for the moment, but the rest of the crew was here! Even though Zoey was probably in charge right now, Cholley felt like the ship was in his care. He'd guard the ship like it were his own!

However, he often got tired of being in the same quarters all the time. He felt it was time to be out talking with the crew, and the newbies.

Little Cholley scampered along the very tall (for him) wall. He didn't know where he was going, except it was to join in the conversation. He ventured a whole seven feet from where he started, which takes quite a while for someone with such a small stride. Suddenly he stopped. He looked up to see what he thought was a shadow. Then, it merged into the small man's body.

What could only be called a shriek came from Cholley, as he slumped to the ground, sick and in pain.

*********************************************

Popurum began picking himself up off the ground so he could go talk with Rascals. He wanted to see that trick again! He was up on his feet, and started sprinting after the aniver. However, a dark figure seemed to jump out in front of him. Popurum skidded to a halt. A shadow was approaching him. Like to so many curious cats...

A few moments later, a loud cry joined that of a tiny man in another part of the ship.

*********************************************

One might have wondered if the dark haired elf would be getting tired off his company. Dogs, monkeys, an enraged riverfolk, a man, a woman, and now a minotaur.

Leif was about to introduce himself to the elf. With having his memory awry, he was worried he might offend the elf, in case they really did know each other.

Before the minotaur could do or say anything, however, he felt something rise up into him. Like something from the floor was soaked into him... deep into him.

All he knew, was that it hurt. Leif mooed in pain as black lines appeared over his fur, horns, and hooves. He withered in pain, holding onto the table for support. The acorn colored rings around his dilating pupil became misty-gray.

"H-help..."


****************************************

Far from the ship, on desert sand, crows and ravens scattered to the sky as a figure in a dark green cloak walked over to the unconscious body of Erron. It was a small figure that approached him, and it seemed to sense the wolf. Yet, still, it placed a small feminine hand over Erron. Soft words were spoken, and the small beak and talon marks of the crows were patched.

"Are you just going to stand there all day, or are you going to help?" asked a blond haired woman, to the wolf.

Darian paused as he heard one of the shrieks. He looked over to Aldion and the others

"something is wrong, very wrong" Darian said, drawing his bow

Cestia watched as the odd looking creature let out a "moo" then seemed to go into a fit of pain. She hopped from the barstool and landed with a thud against the wood planks.

"What is it?"

Whoever this was, was unable to speak so Cestia began checking the creature for wounds. With all the fur, it was hard to tell anything and without knowing how hurt he was, she wasn't going to start poking and prodding around.

"I don't know how to help you," she screamed in frustration.

After what felt like an entire afternoon, was simply a couple minutes. Muscles spasmed, his head hit the kitchen table, and the minotaur's fur, skin, and horns were permanently blackened. His eyes however, hollowed out, showing only a large pupil with a light sheen. Leif had no idea what was wrong with him. Possibly, it was best.

Fortunately for him, and maybe the others worried about the sudden bouts of screaming, the halls of the ship went quiet. The x's have been marked, the hunters would come. Soon, for three passengers on the Sky Palace, their time in this horrible world would come to an end. It was only a matter of time.

Leif when he could looked at the girl that, he knew, wanted to help him. He managed a meek smile, that faded quicker that it appeared. He looked around for something that may have been the cause of his sudden affliction. What form of magic had attacked him?

Down the hall, the small riverfolk had a similar event, though he was all alone with his curse. He felt terrible, and he was scared. Poetic, almost, in a cynical way, that the riverfolk leave this world the same way he left. Alone and friendless.

Cholley, on the other hand, came into this world and quickly found his place. Despite being so small, the steps he made in this world were larger than most others. He was not yet ready to leave his life with Hellcat and the Sky Palace. Wherever she was, if she didn't find a way to return soon, the captain would discover she had lost her lucky charm.

The world and the responsibility of reviving the world, to keep going, to keep that stubborn hope alive would no longer rest on their shoulders. The Red Mist had come, and it would be a miracle if these three lived to see its passing.

Briarfang however, suddenly found himself in the halls of a ship, with screams coming from all around him. He had boarded the ship, disguised as a dog. His intention was to meet aniver and learn their shapes, in hopes of becoming a master of animal forms.

He silently hoped he hadn't gotten in over his head...

Aldion nearly fell out of his chair when the minotaur began convulsing. "Holy shit!" he he yelled, grabbing his scythe and quickly scanning the room. A woman was already attending to the minotaur, and there seemed to be no one around casting any sort of spell, so it left Aldion as being the proverbial third wheel.

He was only able to watch as the woman set about her work. Punky jumped from a hanging lantern and onto the elf's shoulder, apparently forgiving the elf for his heinous joke.

Unconcerned about the skitzoid primate, Aldion knelt next to the now blackened minotaur. "Need some help up, friend?"

Darian quickly studdied the room, he could not sence any forms of like other than them in the palace but he knew they werent alone, not one bit..

Darian ran out of the room, searching for where the screams came from.