Awwwwwwwww, how sweet! I like it, it's a nice change to have them just really exsisting more then doing anything in particular. Nice change of pace. :D Well done.

Wasn't really done wit' it. Had to shut down the comp 'cause the battery was low...

Next update'll be tomorrow. Sorry fer the long wait, guys...

DAY TWO...

Mid-morning winds kicked up the powdery midnight snow left behind in a blizzardy twister around the screaming playing children.
Umi sighed boredly through the window. Stranger was gone, but left a note this time. It was flattened on the kitchen counter when she first awoke to the peering rays of sun through the glassy window near her face.
It was written, in sloppy hand-writing;

Umi,

Went out ter do some arrands. Be bak befor the evning.

And she knew when he was gone that she couldn't go outside. Not until he got home. Which was until the sun broke behind the mountains.
The children would occasionally glance at the window where the human stared out to them with bored, unshapened eyes. They encouraged her out, but she had to refuse.
Umi growled under her breath, moving away from the window, and slumped on the couch.
"Why does it feel like I'm grounded?" Umi muttered to herself, putting her chin on her palms, and staring at the grass flattened under her bare feet.
Only moments after she had taken this pose, the door was slammed upon loudly.
She jumped up from her skin, walking calmly up to the door, unlocking it, and opening it to the guest.
The Rebel Leader stood with her arms behind her back, staring up at the human with innocent violet eyes.
Umi grinned down at her. She always was the playful type Grubb she thought of.
"What'dya want, ma'am?" Umi asked politely.
"We need you to come with us. You're goin' shoppin' with us, Umi," the Rebel Leader nodded.
Umi folded her arms across her chest, giving a half grin to her again.
"Sorry. I can't. I have to stay home 'til Stranger gets 'ere," Umi shrugged.
The Rebel Leader gave a sly grin.
"He gave you permission to come with us, human," she nodded.
Umi grinned skeptically, raising a brow to her.
"It's true! Would I ever lie to you, human?" she began to flutter her eyelashes innocently to Umi.
Umi groaned. She hated when the Rebel Leader flattered herself to make her look innocent. She huffed a loud sigh, then held up a hand to her face.
"Alright...I believe you. Just...stop that," Umi said.
"Good! Go get dressed, and make it tute' suit!" the Rebel Leader snapped her fingers.
Umi chuckled, turning slowly from the door, and walking in to her bedroom, flashing out her pants, vest, and shirt. She undressed herself of her night garments, then quickly dressed herself in her regular fashion. She trotted back to the Rebel Leader, patiently waiting for the human to come back.
She gave a great smile, leading Umi out of the door.
"Where we goin'?" Umi asked.
"We'll be going to the marketplace of Last Legs. They have a bunch of cool crap down there," the Rebel Leader told, walking down to the docks.
Two Grubbs in a medium-sized boat waved to both of them kindly, holding oars in their hands in the frosty water.
"Old madam Janie might have something to sell as well. She's the one who sewed up your clothes, kid"
Umi and she sat down in the boat, nodding to the Grubbs.
The rowers pushed off the frozen riverbed, stroking gently out to the wide Mongo River. The Rebel Leader sat in front of Umi, beginning to chat with her, as they made their way to Last Legs.

They parked away from the boat that was obviously Stranger's, and headed through the now-silent town of Last Legs. Umi only shrugged. It was, after all, Sunday. And Sunday was the most hated day of the week, where all children and people would have to go to work the next day, and regret not having those extra hours of sleep they wanted in.
The Rebel Leader led themselves through the "Tardy Coop," nodding respectfully at the landlord like they knew each other. She turned to the bartender, a grousy-lookiing Clakker, rubbing the inside of a clear-glass mug.
The Rebel Leader smiled kindly to the 'tender, it returning.
"Whut can I do you fer, lil' ladies?" it hung an elbow over the counter.
"We need to get to Madam Janie's place. May we take the undeground tunnels? It's awfully cold outside to walk such a long distance," the Rebel Leader began her innocent fluttering of the eyelashes again, to flatter the old kook bartender.
It gave a hollow smile, turning away behind it to two large basement doors under its feet.
Both of them hung around behind the counter, stepping down the wooden planks to the musty underground tunnel, the catacombs of the city.
The bartender gave a rickety salute to the human and the Rebel Leader.
"Dun' git too messed up down thar, you fragile lil' ladies," it said with a croaky cluck.
The Rebel Leader nodded, rolling her eyes as she turned away from the old Clakker.
Umi followed under, as the Clakker shut the doors behind her.
The tunnel was musty grey, and a nasty, dirty dust floating around the heated walkway. The dust might've annoyed them, but it was better than trotting through ice-cold climates in the morning.
The Rebel Leader took Umi through winding dusty corridors, turn after straightaway, after each basement door to some cluttering store or home. She stopped at an indented door with a black hinged lock holding the door down. She slammed her fist up on it, and waited patiently for the host to answer.
Gentle footsteps slid to the basement doors. The door thumped of the locks opening. A dim light flitered through the unsettling dust, and an old Grubb lady's face smiled gently upon the visitors.
"Madam Janie," the Rebel Leader bowed her head.
"May we come in? I have the human right here,"
The Grubb's face turned behind the Rebel Leader. Her smile broadened under her bags of wrinkles near her lips.
"Very well, my dears. Come on in," Madam Janie moved aside, waving an arm open to her shop.
The Rebel Leader's face lightened up, bowing to the Madam, then made her way in to the shop.
Umi nodded to the old Grubb gratefully, following the Rebel Leader in.
Entering the shop was a sumptuous smell of lavender and vanilla scented candles burning and flickering of orange fire. Shelves and racks of hand-made clothing stood close by each other.
The Rebel Leader broke away from Umi, sorting frantically through the assortment of shirts and blouses, most of the colored a jade green to blue.
Umi glanced at a small stack of jeans.
Denim jeans.
She couldn't get over the fact that she loved denim. Plus, even though she wasn't girly, it went with everything.
She began to unfold the small assortment of jeans.
They were a dark blue, with dark cherrywood-red colored tassles hanging loosely under the legs of the jeans.
Umi nodded in impressment. She didn't know the Grubbs would have such good hand-skills, especially with denim.
She looked over to the Rebel Leader, she holding down a bunch of shirts under her arm, and still sorting through the racks of blouses. She ran back to Umi, holding up a really thin-peering cloth blouse up to her. She shook her head dissagreeing, putting the shirt back behind her, and checking again. This time, it was a loose jade-green poncho with visible green tassles looped with wooden beads.
"Mmm...nope," she frowned, bringing up the last shirt.
This one dazzled both of them just a little.
The shirt was a deep dark green-blue, two tassle ties at the hip, and had two winding snake dragons at the shouter and below the belly. they sparkled multi-colors at each limb of its stitched body.
The Rebel Leader gave an interested grumble, eyeing the shirt and Umi over and over again.
"This might work..." she said, putting up to Umi's chest, and flattening it out.
"try it on"
Umi took the shirt under her arm with her jeans, turning to the Madam.
Madam Janie pointed behind a skirt of beads showering over a doorway by her counter.
She flushed under the beads, disappearing from their sight.
The Rebel Leader and Madam Janie waited patiently, until the jingle of beads sounded.
Umi came out, the shirt fitted perfectly over her body, and the jeans not too short and not too long.
The Rebel Leader gave a half-shrug.
"Not too bad..." she turned to the Madam.
"but you have a surprise for Umi as well, don't'cha, Madam?"
The Madam nodded her head, shuffling her stubby legs back behind the beads as well. She returned, holding up a near-invisible green veil, and walking over to Umi.
"Must be careful with this item, young one," she spoke quivery.
"It is made of the Bolamite's silk. Really hard to obtain from a Bolamite's web. Light as a feather, but as warm as a fire," she put it over Umi.
The veil was a light green, powdering the deep blue-green shirt Umi wore to a lighter shade. She smiled back up to the Madam sweetly.
"Thanks," Umi bowed her head.
The Rebel Leader smiled to the Madam. She walked to the basement doors again, the Madam allowing them to leave.
The Rebel Leader turned to her, giving a respectful nod.
"I'll bring you a Torrent-kiel next time I stop by, Madam!" she saluted her.
Madam Janie nodded kindly.
"I'll keep that in mind, ma'am," she replied, closing the basement doors behind them.
Umi blinked at the Rebel Leader.
"What was that all about?" she asked.
The Rebel Leader's mind began to swirl. She mustn't let out the secret.
"Oh...Uh. I guess Steef knew how bored you'd be, and decided to let me take you out for the day," she lied.
Umi made a quick hum, looking back down the dusty corridors of the catacombs.
The Rebel Leader could sense some suspicion in the human's voice. But she let it go, only to think that if she'd do something else, she'd actually spill the beans. And she wasn't really of a secretive person either, which made things pretty difficult for the Queen and the Steef to trust her...

That's it....Ah c'mon DE! Yer can't jist give us jist that! Yer jist gettin' back at me ain't yer....:D

yeh...fer all the fluff yer gonna make me have to withstand, you dirty varmin...:p

Sorry fer the long wait, guys.
DAY THREE will be up probably tomorrow or on Monday, just to keep you guys informed.
I apologize about this again, folks.

DAY THREE...

Instead of the sun rising up about the jagged peaks, it shrouded its face in to the blanket of dark grey clouds snowing lightly over the quiet village.
Stranger, once again, was up in the early morning, wearing his Steef armor from whence he defeated Sekto in.
It was patched up with bits of similar material to fill the punctures and scrapes dented in the soft leathery material.
He kept his helmet within his den, closing the door gently, not to squeak, and disturb the tired lump on the couch.
He straightened the inside suit of his armor down to his legs, to keep himself covered from the cold, blustery winds that was about to come. When he felt he was ready, he tip-toed in to the kitchen, and opened the door to lightly-falling snowflakes, immediately landing upon Stranger melting back in to cold water.
Hope she still realizes she ain't allowed outside 'til I get's home... Stranger frowned skeptically.
He knew she was a disobediant little varmin. And that's how she'll be until she's gone.
He trotted carefully though the adding up layer of snow rolling on the slight hill down to the docks.
The narrow canyons that held the village in place was wider than before. Bits of rock slid down in to the water, splashing water on the dock.
He stepped carefully down in to his boat, feeling the grip under his feet give away to the icy planks.
He'd remembered what the Queen requested him for, but what? Wasn't he done with all the things he needed to do?
Obviously not, if the Queen wanted him down in Last Legs again.
He broke the icicles making jagged teeth on his oars, and broke them through the forming ice around the restless Mongo River. He was only half awake, only shaking his head to keep himself up and alert, as he pushed away from the shoreline, and sailing off through the narrow canyon passage to Last Legs once again, for three days in a row...

"Oh...come on..." Umi groaned, noticing that no other presence was in the house, except hers.
Home alone again, and she wasn't allowed to go outside. Not until he got home.
Not that it would matter...
She would go outside, whether he like it or not.
Umi woke herself up in a hot shower against the early morning. She dressed herself in her regular clothing, but wrapping herself in a long-sleeved denim jacket the Rebel Leader had given to her later last night.
She was beginning to become curious to why the Rebel Leader took her out yesterday, and why Stranger was leaving all the time.
It was more worrying her to why Stranger was gone every morning she woke.
Umi trotted out of the house, leaving the door unlock, and trotting through the half-inch blanket of snow.
Children Grubbs played beside the riverbank, throwing snowballs at one another, and giggling until their stomachs hurt.
Umi smiled playfully, becoming impatient to join in on the fun. She ran down the hill to the Grubbs, sliding on her belly down to the feet of the Grubbs.
The children squawked happily that the human had come out to play with them once again, piling her up under snow they threw on her.
"What took yeh, Umi? We thought you were grounded," a female child asked down by her arm.
Umi didn't reply, just nod. She knew the children couldn't keep a secret, so she dared not to speak the truth.
"Whatever the reason, it's great that you're out here again!"
The children screamed, dog-piling upon Umi, laughing playfully with her.
She felt brilliant that she was outside again with the children. it was livid sitting inside a house, staring at the children playing along without her.
She laughed aloud, rolling away from the children's weight, and throwing snow upon their heads.

Stranger knocked his fist lightly upon the Queen's domain far inside Last Legs.
Chilling winds blew between his legs, but he not even showing a fazed sign of the chills.
Light patter of feet on smooth stone tripped to the door.
The door opened to the Queen's gentle lavender eyes, and warm smile.
"Welcome, Steef," she bowed her head, then opened the door invintingly.
"Please enter. It's colder out there than a blizzard!"
Stranger bowed his head respectuflly, shaking off the snow building on his back off, and stepping lightly on the smooth stone.
The Queen slammed the door shut, leading him and herself deeper in to her home.
The Queen's home was large, and much more grandiloquent. The walls were painted white, and her carpet was white as well.
Two apholsteries were placed beside each other in front of a small stove with a covered fire.
The Queen raised an arm out to the chairs.
"Please. Sit, and make yourself at home, Steef," she smiled back up to him.
"Thank yer kindly," Stranger nodded, stepping carefully on the white carpet across to the first chair.
He sat down on the soft cushion plushing under his bottom, making him feel relaxed.
The Queen left through behind a wall, clattering around cups and a jarful of liquid.
"But may I ask yer a question," Stranger called.
Her voice wafted behind the wall.
"What else must we do ter get this ceremony ready?"
The Queen was silent, not replying to Stranger's question. she returned from behind the wall, holding a steel platter under her arm with two cups of steaming liquid and two tin spoons sticking out of the cups.
"Well," she began, setting the tray between the chairs, and staring up at Steef.
"I need to reherse the ceremony with you, is all,"
She took ahold of a cup, and sipped it lightly.
"Nothing big, just what you need to do,"
Stranger nodded.
She placed her cup back down on the tray, and tapped her fingers together, looking deeply at the Steef.
"What I mean, Steef, is that this ceremony isn't just a few steps up to a holster, a pope, then all done. I mean..."

She walked with hands in her pockets, looking down upon the crystal-glittering ground.
The children had to go in under freezing circumstances, which left her bored under the snowy sky.
She sighed, a cloud of white smog exhausting from her mouth.
Nothing exciting ever happened at a time like this.
Not until...
A shrill scream squawked in the air.
Umi's head snapped up, her hands slipped out of her pockets.
Something was up.
She ran to the source of the scream with all her might.

"...it's complicated to explain. You have to walk the path, alone, until you reach the holster..."

A female Grubb screamed again, pointing out at the river to a splashing child flailing thorugh the ice.
Umi skidded to a stop, staring at the gathering group of Grubbs at the riverbank, staring concernly at the child crying for help.
"My baby! Please someone save him!" the female cried.

"...then the best maid comes up, which would have to be Jala, 'cause she and Umi are best friends. She has to bring her up to you, arm in arm..."

Umi ripped off her jacket, throwing it down on the snow. She pushed through the crowd of Grubbs chatting concernly for the child.
"Move!" Umi shouted, stopping at the riverbank.
The child was far out from the bank, almost at the deepest part of the river. The ice was thicker out there as well, which would be hard to swim through.
The Grubbs now whispered behind the human's dauntless back, staring up at her confidentally to bring back the child safely.
She jumped from the bank, diving through the thin layer of ice, and down under the thickening ice caressing over the water. She kept close under the ice, following up to the child's writhing legs.
She already felt the feeling of frostbite nip at her legs, and freezing her muscles in her arms.
But she would not give up until the Grubb was safely back on the bank.

"...the Grubb elder will have to read to you both the verses from the Pora. It won't be too much..."

She hit the deep blue mark under the ice, closer to the child. Her lungs became irritated, the air building up, and making her cough under the water.
She broke through the ice in front of the child crying loudly.
"Here, come here..." Umi bundled the child in her arms.
She turned back to the bank, she shivering hardly under the freezing winds and icy water.
She began to break the ice with her arm, making a one-way lane back to the bank.
The Grubbs encouraged her, shouting and cheering for her.
Umi's lips was turning a shallow blue.
She didn't realize how fast she was taking hypothermia.
The child was clutching fearfully to Umi's chest, his arms tightly around her neck, while his hand gripping at her shirt.

"...the Seer reads the lines of "Will you take her as a lawfully bonded daughter", and, of course, you'll answer-"
"Yes," Stranger nodded with the Queen.

Umi shuddered coldly, cutting her arm through the ice, leaving a red mark on the edge of a jagged piece of ice.
The ice became thin, making it easier for her to swim. She kicked to the riverbank, and slopped the child on the bank to his mother.
The crowd cheered loudly, while the mother smothered her child, and scolding him for coming near the bank.
Umi, on the other hand, floated out towards the river on her back, shivering uncontrollably, holding her arms around her body.
The Grubbs shouted concernly out to the human, splashing water out to her.
Umi's hearing buzzed a loud tone, blocking the Grubb's words. Her legs were numb. She couldn't move.
Paralyzed.
Just as if someone struck her silly.
The Grubbs became concern of her non responsive body floating out to the river.
"Someone! Go get her!"
"I won't! That water's cold!"
"Somoeone do something! She saved my child!" the mother screamed.
As the Grubbs frantically ran around the bank, Umi began to fall under the spell of hypothermia, and bodily shock.

"...and you both, will be bonded, officially," the Queen nodded.

A deed done...and the duty fulfilled...
That was the last thought, until Umi's eyes fell blank, and sent in to shock...

Stranger nodded happily. If that was all the ceremony was, then it'd be over within an hour tops.
The Queen smiled along with the Steef, nodding her head as well.
"Too much to ask? Or is that good?" she asked.
Stranger made a gruff sound in his throat.
"Nah. That'll be fine," he said.
"Very well, then!" she clapped her hands together.
"That is all I wanted to tell, besides the fact of rehersal,"
Stranger sat up from his chair, along with the Queen.
"Thank yer kindly, ma'am," he said, both walking along to the door.
She opened the door, allowing him outside. She bidded farewell to him, as he trotted back to the paths of Last Leg's quiet streets.
He walked back down to the docks, setting carefully down in the boat.
He rowed off the dock, not knowing what was happening back at home...

He could hear frantic yells beside the bank near the canyon wall, as he docked his boat.
He became concerned of why the Grubbs were yelling, and sprinted out to the crowd of screaming natives.
They darted to him, and ran up to him with their arms and fingers pointing out the river, shouting incoherent words to him.
Stranger frowned, walking up to the bank, and squinting his eyes out at the pale figure laying flat out in the water.
"Wai'da minute..."
He noticed the shoes, the jeans. And the face.
"Oh my odd," he growled.
"UMI!"
He jumped willingly in to the water, stroking hard and fast through the broken ice.
She laid still, her eyes frozen shot up in the air.
He thrashed to her, wrapping her in his arms tightly, and kicking to the shore as fast as he could.
"Umi...why, why'd you do it?" he moaned to himself, as he clawed his way up the shore, sitting in the snow.
The Grubbs rushed up by the Steef's shoulders, holding their fingers in their mouths.
Stranger pressed an ear close to her heart.
Was he imagining things?
The Grubbs stood in suspense to hear what the Steef had to say.
Stranger's lip quivered, keeping his ear up to her chest.
It was so faint, it almost was nothing.
She was still alive, but hanging by a thin thread.
Stranger's head snapped up, looking to the Grubbs.
"What happened?"
His eyes were locked on all of them rock-hard and seldom.
The Grubbs kept silent, staring at the Steef with their lips quivering.
Stranger's hand balled up, his teeth gritted.
He'd get an answer, and he'd get it quick.
"I said what happened!?" Stranger roared.
The Grubbs jumped, backing away from him, but one.
The mother Grubb, that held her shivering child. She stepped up to the Steef, a frown on her toothless lips.
"The...human saved my child, Steef. S-she floated out to the river after she got back. We tried to get her back, but she was too far out,"
Stranger frowned sadly, looking back down at the blank eyes of the human. He crumbled down, bringing her close to his chest, sobbing quietly to himself.
The Grubbs were also melancholy, feeling tears breach up to their eyes.
"Oh Umi..." Stranger cried, tears rolling down upon her head.
"Yer so reckless..."
He held her tightly in his arms, her life not coming back.
Stranger kept her tightly to himself, as he stood up, and walked through the crowd of Grubbs staring at his back, as he trotted through the slow-falling snow shrouding his essence, as he climbed the hill to his home.

He opened the door slowly, shutting it closed with his back foot, carrying the bundled human to the couch.
She didn't move at all, but just a lifeless corpse.
He was afraid.
Afraid that she was gone from him.
It was too early.
He really wanted Umi to be his own. His own to raise and teach. To love. And to cherish until he was gone.
He sat slowly down on the couch, the human laying out in his arms. He was still crying over her, as he reached for the blanket, and covered himself and her together.
Why does it have ter be like this?
He heard the very shallow breathing, almost sounding like it had stopped.
Stranger brushed the wet hair down her neck, breaking the frozen water off with his claws.
Her face was a ghostly white, her eyes a crevace open, revealing only a blank white, and dialated pupils.
She looked as if she was dead.
But he knew she would fight for her life.
That's what she was.
A rebel.
And a reckless little tyke.
He just hated the fact that he wasn't there earlier to stop her from going in to such a painful shock to him.
His lip quivered guiltily, as he crumbled down to the human, sobbing uncontrollably, and wrapping his arms so tightly around her.
"Please Umi..." he cried, pressing his nose in her frizzled damp hair.
"Don't leave me..."
He rocked back a forth, his chin rested on her shoulder.
Pressing a tight kiss on her head, he mumbled loudly,
"I love you...so much..."
He sat there, holding the human like that, until the dawn fell in to a cold, dreary night, where he fell asleep, sitting up, and cuddling the human to his chest.

GAH! YOU LEFT IT THERE!? AHHHHHH! HOW COULD YOU!? :eek:

Oh no, oh no, oh no. DE! You have to update ASAP! You're drivin' me crazy here, oh oh oh, hurry, hurry! What'll happen to Umi!? Is she gonna be alright!? What's gonna happen!?

(Can you tell I'm addicted yet? :D)

:evil:
:evil laughter:
Loved that reaction.
Alright, alright, I'll do it...Just 'cause that was a kodak moment. :lol:

*sniffle* Oh my ODD! That's so sad! :crying: Poor Umi, Poor Stranger, yer so mean to 'em DE. *sniffles* Umi'll be alright won't she? I mean, it'd kill Stranger if she died...

*wails* Updaaaaaate!

:kee kee kee kee...:

I'm mean ter 'em? I control 'em! :evil:
Yesea. I will update soon.
Prolly not today, but soon...

And here we go again, folks.
The fourth day of fluffiness...:D

DAY FOUR...

The position he stayed in all night was truely uncomfortable, but it kept the young human bundled under his arms and head warm.
His head was burried under her frazzled hair, gently patting his chin up and down on her shoulder.
It felt as if his synergy had given off to Umi, and warming her up quickly. But he still couldn't feel her move.
His eyes blinked open slowly, stinging of the tears that had came from his pain. Stranger looked down at the locks of hair messed around from his shuffling head.
She hadn't moved an inch from her pose that he took her in last night, which made him feel more worried. He moved back, gently holding back Umi's head in his palm.
Her face had slowly returned of color, a light fleshy pink, but her cheeks were scarlet red and hot.
But her eyes...
They hadn't shut.
Underneath was still white with dialated pupils.
Stranger's throat choked, feeling tears sting at his eyes again.
"Umi?" he asked gently.
He placed the back on his hand on her face, stroking down along the painted stripes down her cheeks.
It stung hotly at his cold hand.
"Umi?" he pleaded quietly, moving closer to her face.
A choking sound gargling in the back of her mouth.
That made him jolt to attention.
"Umi? Speak ter me,"
The sounds stopped, and a huff of air exhausted out of her mouth. Her eyelids fluttered closed, not reopening to Stranger's face.
Stranger waited for another sound. Another movement, hoping to prove that she was still alive.
But Umi didn't move.
She laid completely still in his arms, her mouth open.
"No..." he moaned.
"No...don't do this ter me, kid..."
His arm with her head in his palm moved back up to his shoulder. His arms tightened around with his eyes streaming tears.
"You did so good...Don't give up..." Stranger sobbed.
He smoothed her hair down her neck, stopping at the middle of her back, and his fingers slowly closing on a gather of her jacket.
The pain deep in his heart tore harder at him.
He wouldn't lose Umi.
He wouldn't lose his baby. Not this time.
As he rocked gently back and forth, Umi's strength was gathering back up.
His synergy giving off to her was slowly restoring her.
A flame exploded in her mind. Her eyes popped open, along with a rash, hard cough.
Umi clawed at his chest, coughing hard over his shoulder until she was out of breath. She stopped, and gave a crying moan, pressing her hand to her head, feeling a sick feeling tingle all around her body.
"Ugh...I dun' feel good..."
That voice made Stranger's pain fall away, and swell in to joy, as he squeezed tighter.
"Oh, kid..." he cried.
"I thought I'd lost yer..."
Umi sighed weakly, her head falling limp on his shoulder.
"Yeh...yer gonna make me lose myself, if yer easen up of your squeezin'..." Umi said a bit nasally.
Stranger pulled her head away from his shoulder, holding her down in his crossed-legged lap, stroking her hair gently down.
Her face was a bit pale than before, with deep flushed-red cheeks. But as long as her eyes were open and breathing, he was more than happy alive.
Umi smimled fondly, her head slamming down on his arm, and bringing her hand up on his skin.
"I'm sorry..." she whispered, smoothing her hand down his hairy arm.
He kissed her heated head, and rested his chin upon her.
"Why?" his throat vibrated atop her head.
She kept silent, inhaling deep, and declogging her nose to speak again.
"For makin' you worry..."
"Oh..." he grumbled, closing his eyes.
"You always do, kid,"
Umi made an affirming noise through her hung-open mouth, closing her eyes as well. She was sick, and she knew it well. Hot, weak, achy, all those symptoms that she had when she felt overheated. Which meant only one thing;
TLC, and no fun or play.
But she felt proud of herself. That she had save someone else's life for her own. Well, nearly. Almost sacrificial. It would also prove herself to the Grubbs that she would fulfill her duties as the legendary part of a Steef guardian's life, as a guardian, too.
Even though she would have to regret the effects that happened after the saving...
She groaned, falling asleep with a pounding headache, on Stranger's comforting arm.

Umi sniffed, her head peaking over the top of the blanket over her pain-sickened body.
"Oh...yer not goin' out again, are you..." Umi moaned to Stranger shuffling in the kitchen.
Stranger smiled from behind the wall he stood, then trotted out to the front room again.
"Nah. I ain't leavin' yer today,"
He moved towards the bed, resting a hand over her head.
"You's too sick ter leave on yer own,"
Umi sniffed again, turning under the blanket, and resting her head on the pillow. She hated being sick. It was the worst feeling of every feeling she felt. The tenderness of her head, the sick tingle, and the irritating, painful goosebumps popping over her pale flesh.
Umi grouched.
"I hate being sick..." she announced.
Stranger chucked, brushing her hair from her face gently.
"That's what yer get fer bein' outside, and disobediant,"
She snorted, covering her head from his hand.
"I was bored out'a my mind. You only said I was allowed outside until you got home," she told under the blanket.
"and you'd be gone 'til nighttime, and when the kids went back inside,"
He hummed quietly.
True to what the human said, he only allowed her to go outside when he got home. And what he did everyday took all the day to finish.
Guilt began to run through his head. He frowned, pulling the blanket fromover her head.
She laid sideways from his face, staring down from him with a silent face.
"Tell yer what, kid," he smiled, brushing a finger over her rosey-red cheek.
"I dun' have nothin' ter do the rest o' the week. When yer's feel better, we'll go outside,"
She moved slowly back up to him, blinking happily in her ill eyes. She smiled.
"Ok," she whispered.
Stranger nodded, then leaned down, and gave a kiss on her forehead.
She was still hot, but not as hot as she was when she woke up.
"but fer now,"
He moved under the covers, wrapping an arm around her mid-section.
"you's got'a rest. The only way ter feel better,"
Umi scooted closer to him. Her forehead pressed against his chest, mumbling a satisfied sigh. What made her feel better was the presence of Stranger closeby, holding her close in his arm.
And as the late afternoon passed by, both slept, hoping for a better tomorrow.

*fills up...bursts into tears* :crying: Ack! So sad! *hugs Stranger and Umi* Darky's so mean to yer!

On a side note, very fluffy, very heart-warming and my favourite bit to date I think...:D

Actually, if I look back, I think you said that many parts were yer favorite, Lo-bo. :D
And if you look back to yers, I'd prolly say the same thing. :p
There's a lil' update on the chapter.
Day five'll prolly be tomorrow when I get's home.
Or today...
Whenever.

Alright, now.
I'll need a majority vote. (Even though Lobo's the one who looks in 'ere...)
Do you want me to announce the three new creatures that are close on their way?

Are you nuts!? Yes! YES! *jumps up and down* Of course yes! :D

:sighs:
Majority rules.
Give me a minute to get them.
I don't have a pic (I believe) for one 'o 'em.

Ok, 'ere's the first one:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...l/spics004.jpg

This is an Ezum. A docile, yet untamed-type creature, and a close relative to an Elum. Might look savage and carnivorous, but they're actually the plant-type creature, grazing about the lone fields of Oddworld. Makes great transportation, tamed, of course.
Males are easy to point out. They're taller, darker, and more muscularate, and have a larger horn on their nuzzle.
Females are the opposite; Smaller, lighter, and smaller, sometimes, no horns. You are looking at a young male.
Surely a brutal-looking creature, but actually a docile-loving creature, only willing to fight if they need to.

Next:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...l/scan0011.jpg

This is a Hunter,(Kilz-zuz-ll)one of the most prehistoric creatures never to have evolved from its dinosauric state over the eons.
Over years, bones that had been forming in its mouth has breached through the skin on the top of its mouth, and formed in to a separate pair of jaws (mandibles). As the maturation of the Hunter, saliva glands formed under the forming skin of the mandibles, but rarely uses the glands for anything.
As more years of its maturation, the gland's saliva turned in to a secrete toxin, poisonous enough to kill New Yolk city within a day. It now uses its mandibles as a tool of hunting, to bring down hard prey with a stab of its mandibles.
The Hunter is more complex, rather than with its two formet jaws in its mouth. It also uses bird-like claws, to latch on to large prey and bring it down. Or to stalk in high areas.
Two sets of arms have grown attached to the spinal cord of the Hunter. It rarely uses these arms, but sometimes used as a mechanism to mate.
Its feet are also a prime tool in hunting. A raptor-like retractable claw on its foot, and on the back of its leg are used to wound large prey, and a tool for slowing itself down, for it can run really fast.
the last use of hunting is its super-sensitive talons growing out of its head. The talon's nerves are so sensitive, it can sense motion from over a 5-mile radius.

And lastly:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...l/scan0010.jpg

It is called the Guardian of the Swamp. But it's nickname is the Shredder. (Si-cotic)
Its brain is more powerful than its arms. Has a psychotic nature, hacking in to the dreams of unwarrying creatures, and driving them completely insane. It is called "The Guardian of the Swamp" because it has lived in the Sleg Swamps for eons, and counting, protecting it from unwanting intruders.
Even though large for its size, it can run incredibly fast, for it has six sets of legs. A sickle-like claw, for emergency uses only.
The only thing the Shredder is only recalled for, is its powerful mind, and psychic powers to hurt the minds of other things.
Its tail is the most weirdest part of the Shredder. It has four spines on it, shown like a club, but it is not only a club.
Inside the spines, are tentacle-like vines that can control a creature whenever it pleases, just by digging the tentacles in the creature's throat, and taking control of its vocals and its nerves.
A menace, psychotic creature, The Guardian of the Swamp.

(I do not have a picture for the next one)

The Knifal (Sped-ful) is known for the Guardian of the Chixapox fields, or the watcher. Its main duties as a protector is to keep things in balance, to keep the Hunters from taking one too many Ezums and other graze-type creatures from the fields at once.
Its speed is incredible, more faster than the swift Hunters, and it also has a psychotic nature, but not as powerful.
Its knife-like claws can pierce even the toughest of materials, whether it's the hide of a factory.
Its psychic uses is only to keep the Hunters under control, and fend off any other unwanted creatures up to harm its only land.

There yeh go. Enjoy.

O.O

Ooooooooo. I like them. :D I like them alot. :D Fantastic Darky, abso-floggin'-lutely fantastic. Love them. They're all so coooooool. :D

Yeh...wish I could put up the Knifal, for better description...

Those are great pics Darky;) I love the last one - yer get the athonomy of the body well done, great work:D


~DS~

T'anks, guys.
These newly-added creatures'll be in the next story, after this short one.
And the next update should be a freckle passed a hair...
(Sooner 'r later...)

Ok, peeps.
Since I won't make my own official art thread, 'cause I'd have ter update every time I go to my friends' house, I've decided to make my own thread in here.
The Darky-Elite's un-official art thread, non-Oddworld, and Oddworld.
I shall present to you my new style in drawing dragons.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../IceDrake2.jpg
An Ice Drake. I like the expression on its face. ^.^

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ireDragon2.jpg
DarkFire Dragon. The first one I've done in new style. :D

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ireDragon2.jpg
Fire Dragon. Sorry, I tried to fix it in paint, but the damn thing wouldn't save right.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rl/Knifal2.jpg
This is the Knifal. Yes, a bit scrawny, huh?

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...miUpdate22.jpg
Here's an update of Umi. I actually have two 'o 'em!

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...miUpdate-2.jpg
Second update of Umi. I think this one is better.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...h-Kracks-2.jpg
I've been in an imaginary state over these lil' critters. I;ve made up a new ammo type, I think, is quite effective. Plus, they're a cousin of the Fuzzle. ;)

*GASP!*

Those, are absolutely fantastic!!! Man I love 'em all! :D But I'd try an' make 'em small if I were you Darky mate, their a bit hard to see when they're too big.

I know...I dunno how'ta make 'em smaller...I used photobucket, so if ya know how'ta make 'em smaller, I'm all ears.

When you go in your Photobucket Account, under each picture there's an edit option, there's a resize toggle if you click Edit. :D

There we go!
Much better! It's in smaller size now, folks.
So, enjoy!

There, now that's absolutely wonderful. *applauds*

PS. I fixed Microsoft Word, YAY!

Told yer it can be a pain in the ass.
But eh, we all put up wit' it, don't we? :crafty:

:exaturated sigh:
Ok, people.
I am proud to announce my first ever photoshopped drawings!
Don't laugh too hard, 'cause it was my first try on this...

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...toshopcopy.jpg

I worked 6 HOURS!! to make this look the best!
It's officially 3:00 over 'ere.
I've worked on it from 8-2 a.m, and I'm pooped.
So, only laugh to yerselves, while I go pass out on the front lawn.
G.night.

Well I likes it. *folds arms and nods stubbornly* Infact, I likes it alot. Very good DE, love the colour scheme and the dragon rocks. :D

Aie, thanks, Lobo.
Now, since I've made this a story/unofficial art thread, I shall continue my story, prolly tomorrow, 'cause I know I'll leave it at a cliffy, and I don't want Lobo :glances at her, holding a choke chain, spinning it around ominously:
:gulp: to kill me fer that...>.>;

Too right...:evil:

Although...anymore story would be good. :D

'ey now.
You need's to update as well!
I wanna see more when I'm done with the next day, 'r no more story 'til it's done! :D

Ooooooo, tough break...okay, deal. I'll upload sumat now. :D

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout, Lobo!
Ok, then. As a treat fer you postin', 'ere's back to the story!

DAY FIVE...



Wake up...wake up...
'Why?'
You promised...
'Promised what?'
You promised...
A young girl's voice called faintly through his mind.
Stranger's eyes fluttered open to a dark black environment, only a white pile of snow far ahead of him adding color. He began to move around cautiously through the unknown territory he'd suddenly landed in.
"Hello?" he called loudly, his neon-green eyes flashing nervously.
Wake up...
The voice said.
Stranger's head snapped to attention ahead.
A dissolving body began to shroud in front of the snow, holding its arms behind its back.
"Who are you?"
You promised...
Stranger stopped for a moment, blinking hardly at the figure ahead, only a faint outline showing.
It was familiar. The figure was familiar-looking. Even the voice, too. But it was so youthful...
The hell... his mind raced.
The figure spun around, a wave of golden-blonde hair whipping across its back. As it ran off in to the distant blackness, it began to disappear, slowly and gradually.
"Wait!" he stuck out an arm, moving forward faster.
But the body was gone. Gone from his sight.
He stopped from running, but his foot broke in to the packed snow pile.
He stood frozen, staring down at where he had landed now.
What is going on? he thought to himself.
Then, a sudden coloring of the snow turned to a blood-red, touching his boot wetly.
He stepped back in the snow, only to realize that the snow was bleeding.
"What in Odd's name?" he spoke aloud, stepping further back from the red color dying in the snow.
He stopped at the end of the first tentacle of the red streamers, staring down at the source of where the blood seeped.
It was one large body of blood, almost shaped in to a familiar body.
His eyes narrowed down at it, curiously stepping back up. But he stopped abruptly, when the body he had seen suddenly began to vanish back.
But this time, it was clearer.
He felt his heart skip a beat, as the body turned out clearly.
"Oh no..." he croaked.
Laying face-down in the snow could only be one he knew.
"What...what's going on..." he cried, kneeling down to the corpse.
Was he dreaming? Or was this reality?
I'm dreamin'...this is only a dream, Stranger... he told himself in his conscious.
"To whom may think this is a dream..." a deep voice spoke eerily slow though his mind.
"Believe it...for this is reality...only shown through yourself..."
Stranger ignored the echo of the voice, holding a shaking hand over the shoulder of the body.
His lip quivered sadly, eyes filling with tears.
He placed a hand on the shoulder of the body, and slowly turned it face-side up.
Horror struck his face blindly.
He shook his head in denial.
"No...no...this ain't real..."
He looked in to the eyes of the human. The human known as Umi.
"Steef..." the voice said droning in to an echo.
"You musy know the inevitable...you must look it straight in to the eyes..."
Tears flowed down his cheek, his hand stuck right on her shoulder.
Her face was pale, and her eyes wide open to two dialated pupils under a pool of white-blue eyes.
Her body was torn of hot bullets through her skin. She still bled weptfully.
"...and this... is no dream...The one you knew as the human..."
The dissolved body so faint stood in front of him.
It laughed lively, running away from him playfully.
"...will die..."
The body disappeared back in to the darkness.
Wake up...
The voice chanted again.
You promised...
Stranger cried, bringing the limp head of his close friend up to his face.
No. Not his close friend.
His child.
Stranger...wake up...
The voice said more firmly.
You promised.
"Stranger!" Umi shook his arm.
He groaned mournfully, his teeth clenched tightly.
"Wake up! You promised!" she put her hands on her hips.
"No...no..." he said distantly.
Umi's eyebrows furrowed angrily.
"Don't you say no ter me!"
She began to shake his arm more tensly.
"Stranger!" she yelled.
"C'mon! You promised, and it's passed the morning!"
Stranger's eyes popped open with a sharp gasp. He snapped up on his arms, his eyes wide with shock.
Umi stood away from the bed, also staring at him with a certain shock.
His head moved over to where she stood, a feeling of relief swept over him.
"Oh my odd..." he sighed.
"It was only a dream..."
"Huh?" she croaked.
Stranger looked over to her, suddenly scooting to the edge, and grabbing her in his arms.
"I'm just glad it was a dream..." he mumbled near her ear.
Umi's eyes widened, quite surprised at his actions.
'Dream?' she told herself, but gave a soft smile.
"I guess even the most bad-asses have bad dreams, huh?" she said perkier.
Stranger pulled away from her, brushing her hair back with a relieved smile.
Umi rubbed her cheek on his arm, cooler than yesterday.
"I love you, too..." she whispered.
Stranger nodded in agreement, keeping his hand on her cheek.
She cocked back from his arm, with a crafty grin.
"So..." she began.
"You promised we'd go outside today?"
Stranger kept himself silent, thinking back to the dream he had.
It was his innate instinct to protect Umi, from whatever was out there to harm her. But he knew he couldn't be so protective over her forever. She'd needed to go on her own. Yet, she was so young, and still needed to learn things that he needed to tell, confused of the wonders of Oddworld yet to behold...
"Alright..." he smiled softly.
"A promise's a promise. Go dress, warmly," he told firmly.
Umi's face brightened happily, jumping straight up from his arms, and running in to the wardrobe bedroom, shuffling around swiftly.
He chuckled playfully, awaiting for Umi's appearance back to him.
She returned, with her long denim jacket and her long jeans on, with an excited smile up to him.
"Ok! Let's go!" she said.
Stranger laughed at the child's giddiness. He led her outside, she running down the hill to the playing Grubbs.
He was too glad to become the human's legal guardian. And he couldn't wait for the final day to come.
But the dream kept him in shock. What was so ominous about it?
The invader? The voice that spoke to him.
But how?
It could've been something kept in the confines of his brain, but it felt too real to be a dream...
Something was connecting him, psycho telekenesis. And whatever it was, it was probably showing him the future, of something horrible...

Wow, scary. Bet that shook up ol' Stranger din't it? Poor guy. Hope nuthin' happens to Umi...

Great chapter Darky mate, very thought-provokin'...and kinda worryin'...

Oh, don't worry. You'll figure out what...
:cougcoughspoilercoucoughhack:

Heh heh DE. :lol: :D *gives DE cough syrup*

If you read somat creature's bio, you'll know what I mean by :coughcoughspoilerhackcough: :D